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Palestinian analyst Mouin Rabbani and Iranian analyst Trita Parsi talks about the latest developments in the Middle East and whether Trump is finally sidelining Israel when it comes to Gaza, Yemen and Iran. Then Vijay Prashad discusses tensions between India and Pakistan and the 80th anniversary of the defeat of fascism. For the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-full-128900208 Mouin Rabbani is a researcher, analyst, and commentator specialising in Palestinian affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He has among other positions previously served as Principal Political Affairs Officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Head of Middle East with the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and Senior Middle East Analyst and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group. Rabbani is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya, and a Contributing Editor of Middle East Report. Trita Parsi is the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute. He is the award-winning author of "Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy" and "Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States" and the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian and journalist. He is the author of forty books, including Washington Bullets, Red Star Over the Third World, The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World, The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South, and The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power, written with Noam Chomsky. Vijay is the executive director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, the chief correspondent for Globetrotter, and the chief editor of LeftWord Books (New Delhi). He also appeared in the films Shadow World (2016) and Two Meetings (2017). Link to the book 'On The Pleasures of Living in Gaza' - https://orbooks.com/catalog/on-the-pleasures-of-living-in-gaza/ ***Please support The Katie Halper Show *** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: https://x.com/kthalps Follow Katie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kthalps/
00:08 — Mouin Rabbani is a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, previously principal political affairs officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria. 00:33 — Jake Werner, Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute. His research examines the emergence of great power conflict between the US. The post Trump Middle East Tour in Wealthy Gulf Nations; Plus, China-US Trade War Truce appeared first on KPFA.
SYRIA/SECURITY COUNCIL This morning at the Security Council, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told Council members that Syria stands at a crossroads: either to return to violence or to overcome the conflict and revive the economy. To take the right path, Syria needs increased and continued international support, he said. For his part, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said that we are making progress on the humanitarian front. We are now using more routes to deliver aid. Premier Danielle Smith delivers the keynote address at the 2025 United Conservative Party Leader's Dinner in Edmonton, Edmonton's conservative movement is strong United and growing and we are just getting started now of course an event like this one doesn't just happen on its own it takes countless hours of hard work dedication and planning and that's where our incredible volunteers and staff come in these folks are the lifeblood of the UCP the ones who give their time energy and passion to ensure that our party and our Province are strong and I do want to take this moment to recognize all of our party volunteers and staff including our incredible executive director Dustin van vot he told me he'd be back at the bar somewhereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with analyst Mouin Rabbani about the current state of affairs, including: the potential for Gaza ceasefire negotiations, Palestinian political dynamics and possibilities, Israeli aspirations and actions in Syria and the Syrian regime's response, and the Trump administration's "unpredictable and erratic" policymaking. Mouin Rabbani is a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. He is a researcher, analyst, and commentator specializing in Palestinian affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and contemporary Middle East issues. Among other previous positions, Rabbani served as principal political affairs officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, head of the Middle East unit with the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and senior Middle East analyst and special advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group. He was also a researcher with Al-Haq, the West Bank affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists. Rabbani is a co-editor of Jadaliyya, where he also hosts the Connections podcast and edits its Quick Thoughts feature. He is also the managing editor and associate editor of the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development and a contributing editor of Middle East Report. In addition, Rabbani is a nonresident fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) and at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNBC Political Commentator. His newest book (published 2025) is Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.
As Syrians prepare for the possibility of returning home from years in diaspora and with elections planned in four years, hope is rising for a vibrant and stable Syria. However, significant challenges remain. Many fear that conflicting interests among external and domestic actors—such as the Kurds, Iran, Turkey, Israel, and the United States—along with militias reluctant to disarm, may lead to inevitable fragmentation. In an effort to delve deeper into these challenges, U.S. Arab Radio hosted an insightful discussion featuring expert perspectives on the factors driving both optimism and pessimism about Syria's future. Our distinguished guest speakers include: Sirwan Kajjo: A Washington-based journalist and expert on Middle Eastern affairs. Dr. Nahed Ghazoul: Syrian academic, researcher, and member of the Civil Society Support Room (CSSR) for the UN Special Envoy to Syria. She is also the President of the Damascus National Council and Secretary-General of the Syrian National Dome.
00:08 — Mouin Rabbani is a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, previously principal political affairs officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria. 00:33 — Natalie Orenstein covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. 00:45 — Jennifer Friedenbach, Executive Director of the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness. The post Foreign Relations for a New Syria Under HTS; Plus, Alameda County Data Report Traces Homelessness in Oakland; And, San Francisco's Houseless Population in Recent Storms appeared first on KPFA.
For our 14th episode, I invited Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin to discuss the climate finance divide and how to overcome it. The climate finance divide is the gap between the funding needed and funding available to tackle the global climate crisis. It is particularly stark in developing and emerging economies, as these countries face high levels of debt and limited sources of public revenue. Because developing countries are responsible for far less of the Co2 emissions than developed countries, yet suffer more from the consequences of it, bridging the climate finance divide calls for international solutions. My guest just returned from COP29 and shares his insights from there and from his career dedicated to finance and international development. Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin is an economist who has held roles as Executive Director of the IMF Group, Senior Vice President at the World Bank and Minister of Investment of Egypt. Currently, he is UN Special Envoy for Financing the 2030 agenda. Links · · Third report of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance (November 2024) · Remarks by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga at the 2023 Annual Meetings Plenary · The Guardian's analysis of the operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at COP29 · 2024 Implementation Report on the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda · Text of the Paris agreement (2015) Timestamps On some podcast players, you should be able to jump to the section by clicking: (01:46) - Mahmoud Mohieldin introduces himself (03:53) – Climate finance is insufficient, inefficient, and unfair (07:46) – Bias against adaptation finance (13:12) – Debt-for-climate-swaps (14:37) – Bilateral and multilateral financing institutions as risk mitigators or credit enhancers (16:25) – Perceived risk vs real risk in developing and emerging markets (17:39) – The role of guarantees to bring in more private capital (19:46) – COP29 in Baku (20:43) – Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (21:45) – The NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal for climate finance) (24:46) – Policy developments in the United States / Inflation Reduction Act (31:59) – The Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda (33:53) – Blended finance Contact For feedback on the show or to suggest guests for future episodes, contact us at scifi@esmt.org
There is a new reality in Syria and the road ahead is still unclear. After rebels swept into the capital Damascus in lightening speed and ended half a century of oppressive rule by the Assad family. Rami Jarrah has reported for years on the human toll of violence in his country, often under a pseudonym for his safety. He joins Christiane today from Berlin. Also on today's show: UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen; US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The United Nations' Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, joins Mehdi Unfiltered to discuss the country's new leadership, the path forward, and the UN's role in it all. Addressing the latest attacks by Israel on sites within Syria, as well as the Israeli military incursion into the buffer zone next to the occupied Golan Heights, Pedersen tells Mehdi that these are illegal under international law.“The message to Israel is that this needs to stop. What we are seeing in the Golan is the violation of the 1974 agreement. This is a very serious issue.”Given the UN has listed the Nusra Front as a proscribed terrorist organization, and given Abu Muhammed al-Jolani and his Nusra Front spin-off Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the offensive against Assad and now controls much of the country, Mehdi asks Pedersen about the UN's approach towards HTS going forward.“This creates obviously challenges and I have been very open when it comes to this… The messaging coming out so far has been good… What we now need to see when they are in Damascus, and of course, they are not alone in Damascus, is that this vision is actually implemented.”A precursor to opening a political pathway for such groups will of course be changing their “terrorist' designations, something that Pedersen says he is willing to take to the UN Security Council.“My message to the Security Council will be, yes, it's time to have a deeper look at this and see if it's possible to delist. But as I said, only if these things happen.”Given Pedersen's six years as Special Envoy for Syria, Mehdi also asks about the UN's role over the last 14 years.“We all failed the Syrian people,” Pedersen responds “and the United Nations, for many, will be the face of that, and we have to take responsibility for that.”Watch the full interview above to hear why Pedersen is cautious in his hope for Syria, and the steps he believes need to be taken to see “Syria developing now, in the next days, weeks, months and years ahead of us.”Please do consider also becoming a paid subscriber to Zeteo to support our independent journalism and make Zeteo the go-to place for exclusive interviews with high-profile guests such as this one!In case you missed it, here is Zeteo's interview with a former child prisoner of Syria's notorious Sednaya prison: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zeteo.com/subscribe
In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, we hear from Mark Carney (former Governor of the Bank of Canada & Bank of England,UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, and Chair of Canada 2020 Advisory Board) and Frances Colón (Senior Fellow International Climate, CAP Action) on our changing economic landscape and turning several enormous global transformations into generational opportunities for progress.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.
On this episode, Mark Carney joins Nate on the podcast to discuss the current political landscape, sustainable finance and the economic opportunities of climate action, and his future in politics as now economic advisor to the Liberal Party and potential future candidate.Mark has served as the Governor of the Bank of Canada and then the Governor of the Bank of England. He now serves as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, and as the Vice Chair of Brookfield Asset Management. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca
Senior U.S. officials have urged Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza as Israel steps up offensives in the northern parts of the enclave. The UN Special Envoy to Yemen says attacks on international shipping continue in the Red Sea. And participants of the Sino-German Automotive Conference have expressed concerns for the planned EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Education is always the first public spending to be cut in a crisis and the last to be restored, according to the UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown.But on Thursday he announced a new $1.5 billion commitment to invest in education for those children and youth most in need, powered by the game-changing International Finance Facility for Education.The former British Prime Minister told UN News's Ben Malor the cash injection would help get tens of thousands of students back to school – part of a wider, innovative plan to prevent whole generations of children from losing out.
On this episode of the GZERO World Podcast, major Western democracies like France, the UK, Canada, and the US are on the verge of sweeping political change, but how will upcoming elections impact our collective ability to deal with the world's biggest challenges like climate, AI, and cyber defense? Mark Carney, former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada and current UN Special Envoy on Climate Action & Finance, joins Ian Bremmer to take a hard look at three of America's closest allies: France, Britain, and Canada.Upcoming elections in France and the UK could mean big changes for the West, similar to the aftermath of Brexit. Carney says there are still many aspects of the UK-EU relationship that need to be recalibrated. He also stresses the strategic importance of the US-Canada relationship and Canada's role as a reliable partner in everything from national security to critical minerals to fighting climate change.Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Mark Carney Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.
On this episode of the GZERO World Podcast, major Western democracies like France, the UK, Canada, and the US are on the verge of sweeping political change, but how will upcoming elections impact our collective ability to deal with the world's biggest challenges like climate, AI, and cyber defense? Mark Carney, former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada and current UN Special Envoy on Climate Action & Finance, joins Ian Bremmer to take a hard look at three of America's closest allies: France, Britain, and Canada.Upcoming elections in France and the UK could mean big changes for the West, similar to the aftermath of Brexit. Carney says there are still many aspects of the UK-EU relationship that need to be recalibrated. He also stresses the strategic importance of the US-Canada relationship and Canada's role as a reliable partner in everything from national security to critical minerals to fighting climate change.Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Mark Carney Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.
It has now been over 1,000 days since the Taliban, the de facto authorities in Afghanistan, banned education for girls beyond sixth grade, a figure described by the Executive Director of the UN children's agency, UNICEF, as “a blatant violation of their right to education” resulting in “dwindling opportunities and deteriorating mental health”.To raise awareness and support Afghan Girls, Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies and crises, has launched a new phase of its Afghan Girls Voices campaign, featuring inspiring works from some of the world's leading artists.Many prominent voices are supporting the campaign, including the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, and former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who told Conor Lennon from UN News that the thousand day milestone was a “day of shame”.
This was the fourth of a series of Public Conversations that Just World Ed is presenting in May 2024, on the theme of "Understanding Hamas and Why That Matters." The series is presented by JWE President Helena Cobban and board member Rami G. Khouri. Our guest in this episode was Mouin Rabbani, a super-smart Dutch-Palestinian researcher and analyst who specializes in Palestinian affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and contemporary West Asia, the region also known by its Eurocentric monicker, "the Middle East." Rabbani has previously served as Principal Political Affairs Officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria; as Senior Middle East Analyst and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group: and a Researcher with Al-Haq, the West Bank affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists. He is currently Co-Editor of Jadaliyya and has numerous other important affiliations. You can see much more information about this project and access the multimedia records of this session and all the others as they occur, at this Online Learning Hub on our website.Support the Show.
The Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace was signed last year at COP28 in Dubai. This recognised the unique challenge of addressing the climate emergency in areas affected by conflict and fragility, and called for “bolder, collective action” to support them.But what does this look like in practice?Despite being among the most vulnerable to climate change, conflict-affected countries receive just a fraction of the climate finance that is allocated to more stable regions.As we build up to the UN Summit for the Future and COP29, this episode examines what can be done to address this critical conflict blind spot in climate action.Guests assess the security impacts of the climate crisis, and the urgent need to scale up funding and support where it is most needed to avoid deepening instability.GuestsSara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODIHanna Serwaa Tetteh, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of AfricaKatarina Kertysova, Climate Security Officer, NATORosita Najmi, Co-Founder, CIFAR and ODI Board MemberResourcesCOP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and PeaceClimate Innovations for Adaptation and Resilience (CIFAR) AllianceCall to Action: Responsible Digital Payments to Accelerate Climate Action (Better Than Cash Alliance)Bolstering Women's Climate Resilience and Adaptation through Financial Services (CGAP)Climate Landscape Series (BFA Global)COP28 finally shines a spotlight on conflict-affected countries (ODI blog)Building Forward Better: a pathway to climate-resilient development in fragile and conflict-affected situations (ODI report)Climate adaptation in no-man's land: research bridging the conflict-climate gap (ODI report)What the case of Somalia can show us about financing climate action in conflict-affected countries (ODI blog)A New Agenda For Peace (UN brief)
Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics
In this weeks "Mid Atlantic," host Roifield Brown and guest expert Mouin Rabbani explore Palestinian politics, with a special focus on the Palestinian Authority and Fatah under Mahmoud Abbas's leadership. They look at the historical evolution of Fatah, the pivotal roles within the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and the controversial dynamics between the Palestinian factions and Israel. The discussion also touches upon the shifting public opinions and the internal and external pressures reshaping Palestinian governance and aspirations.Show Notes:Introduction to the Topic: Overview of Palestinian politics and the key focus on Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah.Guest Introduction: Mouin Rabbani, former UN Special Envoy to Syria and a contributing editor to the Middle East Report.Historical Context: The establishment of the Palestinian Authority through the Oslo Accords and its intended role.Fatah's Role and Evolution: Analysis of Fatah's foundational principles and its impact on Palestinian politics and the PLO.The Oslo Accords and Beyond: Discussion on the implications of the accords and the subsequent developments in Palestinian governance.Current Challenges and Criticisms: Addressing the issues of legitimacy, effectiveness, and public perception of Mahmoud Abbas's leadership.The Future of Palestinian Politics: Expert insights into potential political shifts and the role of international interventions.Audience Q&A: Engaging with listeners' questions about the future of the Palestinian state and the broader geopolitical implications.Further ReadingAl Jazeera's "Palestinian Authority President Abbas fires occupied West Bank governors" discusses President Mahmoud Abbas's decision to dismiss several governors in the West Bank, an act seen as an attempt to respond to political dissatisfaction within the region. The article provides insights into the internal political dynamics and the challenges faced by Abbas's administration (Al Jazeera).WRVO's "What Palestinians in the West Bank think about the war — and Hamas" offers perspectives from Palestinians in the West Bank on their views about Hamas and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It gives voice to the sentiments of ordinary Palestinians living under the ongoing tensions and their views on the political strategies of their leaders (WRVO).Another article from Al Jazeera titled "Abbas accused of power grab after Palestinian appointments" reports on accusations against Mahmoud Abbas of consolidating power through strategic appointments within the PLO. This article explores the reactions from various Palestinian factions and the implications for Palestinian politics (Al Jazeera).The Times of Israel's "Poll: Nearly 80% of Palestinians want Mahmoud Abbas to resign" reflects widespread discontent among Palestinians with Mahmoud Abbas's leadership, illustrating the significant public pressure he faces amidst ongoing governance challenges (The Times of Israel). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chris Gunness demands the UK immediately restores all funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency which provides essential aid to Palestinians in Gaza. He also warns that third party states freezing aid to UNRWA at a time when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled it is ‘plausible' that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza may well make these states complicit in that genocide. Gunness demands the UK and other third party states call for an investigation into the killing of hundreds of UNRWA staff by Israel since 7th October 2023. Chris Gunness is an award-winning journalist who spent 23 years at the BBC as producer, correspondent, and anchor. In 2006 he joined The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) in Jerusalem. In 2007 he was appointed Chief Spokesman and Director of Strategic Information and Advocacy for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He left UNRWA at the start of 2020, and in 2021 established the Myanmar Accountability Project, a legal initiative which brings criminal prosecutions against war criminals in the Myanmar junta. Mark Seddon is a former speech writer for the United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, and a senior information officer for the president of the UN General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa. He was the director of communication, education commission, chaired by Gordon Brown, and a UN Special Envoy for global education. Mark was the first UN correspondent for Al Jazeera English TV, and New York bureau chief. He was the editor of Tribune for 13 years, and an elected member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.
Canadian journalist Nora Loreto reads the latest headlines for Wednesday, April 17, 2024.TRNN has partnered with Loreto to syndicate and share her daily news digest with our audience. Tune in every morning to the TRNN podcast feed to hear the latest important news stories from Canada and around the world.Find more headlines from Nora at Sandy & Nora Talk Politics podcast feed.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcastReferenced articles:Story 1 - Sexual assault charges laid against three teenagers in a case of apparent high school hockey team hazing incident in Manitoba. Story 2 - Gate Gourmet workers at Toronto's Pearson Airport have walked off the job. Story 3 - FOI docs reveal that the UCP had been talking with coal industry execs for months before they announced their intentions to allow open pit mining in the Rockies. Story 4 - The 2024 Federal Budget: Asset dumping, but call it a housing strategy. Story 5 - UN Special Envoy to Libya resigns over lack of good faith among Libya's fueding leaders.
Almost a year after the civil war broke out, we speak to the former UN Special Envoy to Sudan about who is fuelling the war, as famine looms over the country.We also look into the the plan presented to EU member states to use Russian assets in Europe to finance weapons for Ukraine. Also in the programme: Irish Prime Minister steps down for political and personal reasons; and will San Marino's national football team break its twenty-year losing streak?(Photo: A Sudanese family fleeing the conflict sits with their belongings at the border with Chad, Credit: Reuters, Z. Bensemra)
A committed public servant, Gordon Brown has a strong sense of social responsibility. Now United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is working towards a powerful vision: giving every child the chance to go to school. “There is talent, there is potential, there is brilliance in all parts of the world. There's a new Einstein, there's a new Malala, you name the brilliant people around the world. But some of them have been denied the chance, even now, to have even the most basic education at school. And so, if 260 million school aged children are not going to school today, or any day, what a waste.” Modern slavery, trafficking, and child marriage are just some of the factors that contribute to an eyewatering 16% of youth worldwide missing out on school. In this episode, Gordon Brown reflects on the power of education to unleash hidden talent, on his own political legacy, and on why he still believes collaboration is the key to solving global crises.
In this Special Episode of The Horn, we are bringing you a panel discussion on Sudan moderated by Crisis Group's President and CEO, Comfort Ero, at the 2023 Doha Forum. Comfort is joined by U.S. Special Envoy for The Horn of Africa Mike Hammer, UN Special Envoy for The Horn of Africa Hanna Tetteh, founding director of the Sudan-focused think tank Confluence Advisory, Kholood Khair and Crisis Group's Africa director Murithi Mutiga. They assess the latest diplomatic push to try and get a ceasefire in Sudan, ways to better coordinate mediation efforts and the difficult task of bringing the warring parties in Sudan to the negotiating table. They discuss the investments needed to better protect civilians in Sudan and the state of civilian efforts to unify against the war. They also highlight how a prolonged war in Sudan risks further destabilising an already fragile region.Find the link to the video recording of the full panel here.For more in-depth analysis of the topics discussed in this episode, check out our Horn of Africa page, our Sudan page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To hear the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-mouin-94287604 Palestinian analyst Mouin Rabbani shares his insights into Israel's war on Palestine, the hostage negotiations and what the hell Antony Blinken is thinking. But first Iraqi journalist and medic Ahmed Twaij draws on his experience as a journalist and medic in Iraq to explain why Hamas is not Isis and what it's like to try to treat people in times of war. Mouin Rabbani (https://twitter.com/MouinRabbani) is a researcher and analyst specializing in the contemporary Middle East. He has previously served as Principal Political Affairs Officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Head of Middle East with Crisis Management Initiative/Martti Ahtisaari Centre, and Senior Middle East Analyst and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group. He is Senior Fellow with the Institute for Palestine Studies, Co-Editor of Jadaliyya, Contributing Editor of Middle East Report, Associate Fellow of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Policy Advisor to Al-Shabaka - The Palestinian Policy Network. He is also a member of the UN Mediation Roster. Rabbani has published, presented, and commented widely on Middle East issues, including for most major global media. Link to Mouin Rabbani's podcast: https://www.jadaliyya.com/Author/11848 Ahmed Twaij (https://twitter.com/twaiji) is an independent freelance journalist. His work has been published in numerous outlets including The Independent, The Guardian, New York Times, Vice, BBC, Kerning Cultures and many more. His work focuses on US politics, social justice issues and the Middle East. He zealously tells stories as a means to promote equality, as well as holding those in power to account. His work has taken him across the US, UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ahmed is also passionate about photography and filmmaking and has previously worked with a number of international humanitarian and human rights organizations. He is currently working as a director of an, as yet, undisclosed feature length documentary produced by multiple Oscar winning John Battsek. He is also developing a podcast series on Racism in the Arab World. After initially graduating as a medical doctor from Imperial College London in 2012, Ahmed found his passion in storytelling and became a self-taught journalist. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Medical Humanities. After working as a doctor in London for a number of years, Ahmed began volunteering abroad, namely helping with the refugee crisis across Europe, where he developed his desire for storytelling. This passion drove Ahmed to pursue a master's degree in Conflict, Security and Development, with Global Health. Ahmed has also produced and directed a number of videos for which he has been nominated for awards, as well as podcasts. His photography has been featured in various exhibitions across the globe. Ahmed is a member of the Everyday Projects and is manager of everydayiraq, an online social media platform dedicated to shedding light on the daily life of Iraqis and providing a new narrative for the nation. The project has been featured by numerous international outlets, including BBC and Metro. ***Please support The Katie Halper Show *** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: @kthalps
*) Russia says shot down Ukraine drones southwest of Moscow Russia's defence ministry has said it shot down three Ukrainian drones southwest of Moscow, the latest in a surge of aerial attacks near the capital. Ukraine launched the attack at 0200 GMT (5:00 am local time) using "three unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the Kaluga region", the ministry said on Telegram. Kaluga's governor Vladislav Shapsha said there was no damage or injury to people or infrastructure. The air attack is at least the fifth this month over the Kaluga region that Russia says it has thwarted. *) Azerbaijan finds new mass grave in area liberated from Armenia Azerbaijan has discovered a new mass grave site in the city of Shusha in the Karabakh region, local media reported. According to state news agency Azertac, the remains of 17 people were uncovered in the territory of Shusha prison during excavations conducted between August 1-15 by Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons. In June, Azertac reported the discovery of a mass grave in the Saricali village of Agdam district, where the remains of four people were found. The Karabakh region has been the site of mass killings and burials since the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s during the Armenian occupation. *) UN says Taliban's restrictions on Afghan women 'crime against humanity' The United Nations has said that the International Criminal Court should recognise gender discrimination in Afghanistan as a crime against humanity. UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has said 54 of 80 edicts issued by the Taliban explicitly target women and girls and deprive them of their rights. The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women's rights being a key obstacle. *) Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya leave 27 dead, authorities say Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya's capital have killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes unable to escape the violence, medical authorities said. The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. Tensions flared on Monday after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by rival group Special Deterrence Force at an airport in Tripoli, reports said. And finally… *) Hawaii wildfire death toll exceeds 100 The number of people known to have died in the horrific wildfire that levelled a Hawaiian town has topped 100, the state's governor said, as a makeshift morgue was expanded to deal with the tragedy. Governor Josh Green has repeatedly warned that the final count from last week's inferno in Lahaina would grow significantly. The wildfire is already the deadliest in the US in over a century.
Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) – the United Nation's global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises – she is spearheading a global movement that delivers education to those left furthest behind in crisis settings. Under her leadership, in just a few short years, ECW has mobilized over US$1.5 billion dollars, and reached more than 7 million crisis-affected children with holistic, quality education – putting foundational learning outcomes, such as literacy, at the center of our mission. Yasmine is a human rights lawyer with 30 years of experience with the UN working in war zones and crises. She works at ECW's HQ in NY and regularly conducts missions to the field to take stock of needs and ECW's responses in crisis-affected countries.As a global advocate for the right to education, a thought-leader in her sector and global advocate, Ms. Sherif is regularly featured in the media. She is the author of the book, “The Case for Humanity: An Extraordinary Session.” In 2020 she was awarded the Global Educator Award in the United States, and in 2022 she received on behalf of Education Cannot Wait, the prestigious Mother Teresa Award.Background on Education Cannot Wait (ECW)ECW was created at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 to reposition education in emergencies at the top of the international agenda, under the leadership of the ECW Chair and UN Special Envoy for Global Education, the RT Gordon Brown.As a global UN fund, ECW works to generate greater shared political, operational and financial commitment to meet the educational needs of the millions of children and adolescents affected by crises, with a focus on more agile, connected and faster response that spans the humanitarian-development continuum to lay the ground for sustainable education systems.When ECW was launched in 2016, 75 million children and youth did not have access to the safety, protection, hope and opportunity of an education due to crises worldwide. That number has spiked to well over 222 million, according to a new study released by ECW last year.With COVID-19, the crisis in Ukraine, rises in climate-change related displacement, and other wars and conflicts raging across the globe, this number is expected to continue to rise. Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBkBuzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850
People have been talking a lot about a great detente in the Middle East, but some countries in the region, such as Yemen, are still at war. The country has been in a civil war since at least 2014. Hans Grundberg is United Nations' special envoy for Yemen. In his opinion, can a permanent ceasefire be brokered in Yemen?
With recently passed anti-LGBT legislation in Uganda, Eric and Ben discuss what role global health diplomacy could play (and most likely was) in upholding human rights and ensuring that essential HIV-related services reach those most in need - especially LGBT communities. And we answer your questions, second episode in. About the hosts: Eric Goosby is an American public health official and professor at UCSF, where he directs the Center for Global Health Delivery and Diplomacy. An infectious disease specialist, he treated patients at San Francisco General Hospital when HIV/AIDS first began to emerge and take its toll in the early 1980s. Eric joined the Clinton administration to administer newly-authorized Ryan White CARE Act, overseeing the distribution of federal funds and the planning of services in 25 AIDS epicenters, as well as in all 50 states and U.S. territories. He went on to co-found the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, where he helped develop and implement HIV national treatment scale-up plans in Rwanda, South Africa, China, and Ukraine. In 2009, he was tapped by President Obama to be his Global AIDS Coordinator, heading up the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a position he held until 2013. He went on to be the UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis. Eric likes very strong coffee, and is being educated by Ben on the joys of podcasting. Ben Plumley is a global health strategist, currently the Head of Digital Advocacy and Outreach at the Global Health Listening Project, and founder of the Global Health Strategy Agency, Hunuvat. He was Chief of Staff to the Founding Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Executive Director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV & AIDS. He held senior roles in Glaxo Wellcome and Johnson & Johnson. In 2010, he was appointed CEO of the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, succeeding Eric Goosby, where he advised national governments, corporations, the UN and community organizations on infectious disease treatment and prevention strategies in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, China, Ukraine, Laos and South Africa. He is Co-Chair of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and President of the San Francisco Community Health Center. His journey into podcasting began in 2018 with A Shot In The Arm Podcast. Eric has been a mentor to Ben since the early 2000s, including his passion for exceptionally strong coffee.
The UN Water Conference keeps advancing in New York, with this second day and a new series of plenary sessions with many country statements. What's to remember from today? Here's the recap. 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Sentence of the Day: László Borbély, Romania 00:47 Learning 3 - Are we ambitious enough with #SDG6? 02:02 Learning 2 - PPPs have their role to play! 03:36 Learning 1 - We learn more about the UN Special Envoy for Water! 06:20 Daily Zapping 07:26 Flop 3 - Are UN attendees bad pupils? 08:16 Flop 2 - Water and War(s) Ukraine, Karabagh... 11:42 Flop 1 - Are UN Statements boring? 14:29 Conclusion ➡️ Check out my entire collection of SDG 6 topics on the (don't) Waste Water website!
In the series premiere of “Global Health Diplomats”, Eric Goosby and Ben Plumley explore the continuing saga of the origins of SARS CoV2 and the role of global health diplomacy in fostering international collaboration in fighting pandemics threats - and who better to discuss this with than our first guest, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease. -- About the hosts: Eric Goosby is an American public health official and professor at UCSF, where he directs the Center for Global Health Delivery and Diplomacy. An infectious disease specialist, he treated patients at San Francisco General Hospital when HIV/AIDS first began to emerge and take its toll in the early 1980s. Eric joined the Clinton administration to administer newly-authorized Ryan White CARE Act, overseeing the distribution of federal funds and the planning of services in 25 AIDS epicenters, as well as in all 50 states and U.S. territories. He went on to co-found the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, where he helped develop and implement HIV national treatment scale-up plans in Rwanda, South Africa, China, and Ukraine. In 2009, he was tapped by President Obama to be his Global AIDS Coordinator, heading up the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a position he held until 2013. He went on to be the UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis. Eric likes very strong coffee, and is being educated by Ben on the joys of podcasting. Ben Plumley is a global health strategist, currently the Head of Digital Advocacy and Outreach at the Global Health Listening Project, and founder of the Global Health Strategy Agency, Hunuvat. He was Chief of Staff to the Founding Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Executive Director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV & AIDS. He held senior roles in Glaxo Wellcome and Johnson & Johnson. In 2010, he was appointed CEO of the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, succeeding Eric Goosby, where he advised national governments, corporations, the UN and community organizations on infectious disease treatment and prevention strategies in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, China, Ukraine, Laos and South Africa. He is Co-Chair of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and President of the San Francisco Community Health Center. His journey into podcasting began in 2018 with A Shot In The Arm Podcast. Eric has been a mentor to Ben since the early 2000s, including his passion for exceptionally strong coffee.
On February 10 in Vancouver, BC, Canada 2020 and the Urban Land Institute of BC co-hosted a special event to discuss how we can face the economic challenges faced by all Canadians. In a conversation featuring Mark Carney (former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, and Canada 2020 Advisory Board Chair), Ken Sim (Mayor of Vancouver), Christine Bergeron (President and CEO of Vancity), and Anna Gainey, (Executive Chair of Canada 2020), we explore what our cities, governments, and economic leaders can do to build a stronger economy and more prosperous future for us all.
How is the world going to get to net zero by 2050 and who is paying the bill? Former governor of the Bank of England, and UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, Mark Carney, recently put the figure we need to spend at 100 trillion dollars at least. Switching to renewable sources of energy, needs the global financial markets to pay for the necessary infrastructure. Costs will come down as the technology improves; take the example of solar panels where the last two decades have seen an astounding 96% drop, from 10 dollars a watt to 25 cents. Allan Little investigates innovate companies investing in green energy; direct air carbon capture technology and a plant producing the greenest aluminium in the world thanks to geothermal power. But the road to net zero is fragile, and vulnerable to geopolitical events. Every solution to global warming has an impact and unintended consequences. What is the real cost of getting to net zero? Presenter: Allan Little Producer: Anna Horsbrugh-Porter Editor: Susan Marling A Just Radio production for BBC World Service (Photo: Solar power plant, in Fujian Province, China. Credit: Getty Images)
Recorded on 17 July (International Justice Day) at Station Beirut Click to watch: https://youtu.be/zwkryW4QJOk Introductory speeches: Monika Borgmann-Slim, director of UMAM Documentation & Research; Rasha Al Ameer, director of Dar Al Jadeed; and Anna Fleischer, director of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Beirut - Middle East Participants: Ronnie Chatah, host of The Beirut Banyan podcast; Andreas Kindl, German Ambassador to Lebanon; Moussa Khoury, lawyer of Ms. Borgmann for the Lokman Slim case; Aya Majzoub, researcher at Human Rights Watch; Nizar Saghieh, Executive Director of Legal Agenda; and Reina Sfeir, Human Rights professor at La Sagesse University, former liaison officer with families of victims for the STL Moderator: Najat Rochdi, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon and appointed UN Special Envoy for Syria Closing Remarks: Dr. Hana Jaber, director of Lokman Slim Foundation In partnership with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Beirut - Middle East; Dar Al Jadeed; UMAM Documentation & Research; Lokman Slim Foundation; and JUSTICOM
COVID-19 has upended society, from vaccine inequity, to healthcare and to the way we work. In this #aids2022 podcast, we look at how one San Francisco Bay Area-based multinational - Chevron - has responded to COVID-19, by building on its heritage of partnerships forged over 30 years of the AIDS response. Joining Ben, are friends of the podcast: Dr. Huma Abbasi, Chief Medical Officer, Chevron Dr. Chinwe Okala, Lead Physician Chevron Nigeria Ambassador Eric Goosby, UCSF and UN Special Envoy on TB Lance Toma, CEO of the SF Community Health Center Chris Collins, CEO of Friends of the Global Fight Sally Ethelston, Director, Resource Mobilization and Outreach, Malaria Vaccines #COVID19 #HIV #AIDS #TB #malaria #business #partnerships #community #ESG #corporateresponsibility
Can banks and investors shift to climate-friendly business in a way that will have a global impact on slashing greenhouse gases? This panel discussion at Davos 2022 goes into the details of this complex but crucial part of the fight against climate catastrophe. Speakers: Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance Anne Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity International Makhtar Diop, Managing Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Celine Herweijer, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, HSBC David Schwimmer, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange Group Moderator: Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times
Can banks and investors shift to climate-friendly business in a way that will have a global impact on slashing greenhouse gases? This panel discussion at Davos 2022 goes into the details of this complex but crucial part of the fight against climate catastrophe. Speakers: Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance Anne Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity International Makhtar Diop, Managing Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Celine Herweijer, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, HSBC David Schwimmer, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange Group Moderator: Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mark Carney does more than you can imagine – previously Governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, he is now UN Special Envoy for Climate Action, UK government's climate-finance advisor, and Vice Chairman of Brookfield Asset Management. Mark runs miles before the rest of us have had our first espresso. He sings, writes a best-selling book – Value(s) - cooks for his four children and is a master of the technique for grilling a Bistecca Fiorentina to perfection. Listen to him and Ruthie on Episode 37 of River Cafe Table 4 discussing all that he does, and more. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe's open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
*) Russia's offensive in Ukraine enters 100th day as fighting rages Ukraine has marked 100 days of Russia's offensive as fighting rages across the east of the country and Moscow's forces tighten their grip on Donbass. The sombre milestone came on Friday as Kiev announced Moscow was now in control of a fifth of Ukrainian territory. This includes Crimea and parts of Donbass seized in 2014. Following White House talks with US President Joe Biden, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine's allies needed to brace for a gruelling "war of attrition". *) Biden makes emotional appeal for action on gun violence US President Joe Biden has made a fervent appeal for lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws, including a ban on assault weapons. Biden made the address with 56 lighted candles arrayed along a corridor behind him, representing US states and territories suffering from gun violence. After a spate of deadly attacks, Biden condemned the refusal of a majority of Republican senators to support tougher laws. *) Yemen's warring parties agree to renew two-month truce Yemen's warring parties have agreed to renew a nationwide truce for another two months, a rare bright spot for a country plagued by eight years of war. The ceasefire between Yemen's internationally recognised government and the Houthi rebels first came into effect on April 2nd. The new announcement came just a few hours before the original truce was set to expire. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the move. *) Four Kenyans shot dead in protest against dangerous wildlife Four protesters have been shot dead during a demonstration in Kenya against threats posed by wildlife. Protesters blocked a highway and clashed with security forces, resulting in Thursday's fatal shootings, authorities said. Police are set to investigate the incident. Residents have repeatedly called on the Kenya Wildlife Service to find a solution to conflicts between people and animals. Farmers are upset that elephants destroy their crops and at times kill people. *) Rolex worn by prisoner during WWII 'Great Escape' up for auction A Rolex watch worn by a British prisoner during a daring escape from a Nazi concentration camp is going on sale in New York. The watch was worn by RAF Flight Lieutenant Gerald Imeson on March 24, 1944, when a group of Allied soldiers undertook the escape. Christie's said the steel watch with a black luminous dial and hands was "instrumental in the planning and execution" of their bid for freedom. The company expects the timepiece to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000 at the June 9 auction.
Today's episode features an interview from BNEF's recent Summit in New York City, where Ethan Zindler, Head of Americas for BNEF, spoke with Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). As emphasis on sustainable finance grows and reporting frameworks refine, he highlights the importance of corporate disclosure. Mark also shares his perspective on the role of renewable energy in the energy transition, and how it presents an opportunity for greater energy security. To find out about BNEF's Summits and to listen to more interviews, go to about.bnef.com/summit/. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Carney is one of the towering figures of climate finance. In 2020 Mark became the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, and the adviser to the UK on finance for COP 26. At COP26, in Glasgow, he launched GFANZ - the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, whose members manage $130 trillion of financial assets and have pledged to invest them in line with the Paris agreements. Mark co-chairs GFANZ together with Mike Bloomberg.Mark is a Vice Chair and Head of Transition Investing at Brookfield Asset Management and Board Member of Stripe.He was the governor of Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, and then Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 until 2020. He was the chair of the Financial Stability Board (2011-2018) founding co-chair of TCFD - the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure.Mark holds a bachelor's degree with high honours in economics from Harvard University and MPhil and DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford.
Jens Stoltenberg is the Secretary General of NATO and a former Prime Minister of Norway. Although he was born into a political family in Norway, he grew up thinking he would become a statistician, before turning to a career in politics. He served as the Prime Minister of Norway twice. During his second term, Norway experienced one of the darkest days in its recent history, when 77 people were murdered in a bomb attack in Oslo and a mass shooting on a nearby island. Before becoming the Secretary General of NATO, a post he has held since 2014, he spent time as a UN Special Envoy on climate change. His term in office as Secretary-General has been extended until September 2023. DISC ONE: Lift Me by Madrugada and Ane Brun DISC TWO: No Harm by Smerz DISC THREE: So Long, Marianne by Leonard Cohen DISC FOUR: Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen DISC FIVE: Make You Feel My Love by Ane Brun DISC SIX: Til Ungdommen by Ingebjørg Bratland DISC SEVEN: Free Nelson Mandela by The Special A.K.A. DISC EIGHT: From Up Here by Ingrid Olava BOOK CHOICE: A statistics textbook LUXURY ITEM: A pair of skis CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Til Ungdommen by Ingebjørg Bratland Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah Taylor (First broadcast in 2020) Photo credit: NATO
Veteran Algerian diplomat and distinguished conflict mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, provides a front-row perspective on key moments in Afghanistan's troubled history – beginning with his appointment as UN Special Envoy in 1997, after Kabul last fell to the Taliban. He reflects on personal regrets and missed opportunities over years of peace negotiations – from Bonn to Doha – and recalls his interactions with Taliban leadership, including the meeting where a young interpreter played an unexpected part in preventing a war. He also discusses his role in Iraq and why, despite his reservations, he couldn't say no to the task of trying to find a peaceful solution to the war in Syria.
Lecture summary: The legal regime for deep seabed mining in the international seabed Area is a rare example of the international community joining forces to regulate a potential new industry in the interests of humankind as a whole. As set forth under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the international seabed Area and its mineral resources are the “common heritage of mankind”, on whose behalf the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous organization established under UNCLOS, is to act. The mandate comes with concomitant obligations for the equitable sharing of financial and other economic benefits and adoption of the necessary measures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects of deep-sea mining. Despite this historic legal framework based on visions of equity, common interest, environmental health and prosperity for all, tensions are rising. In late June 2021, the Government of the Republic of Nauru called for the ISA to accelerate its work on regulations for exploitation of deep seabed minerals so that NORI, its sponsored entity, could submit an application for authorization to mine as soon as 2023. Just prior to that, hundreds of marine scientists and policy experts issued a Call for a Pause to Deep-Sea Mining, expressing concern that deep-sea mining could result “in the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that would be irreversible on multi-generational timescales.” In September 2021, members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) adopted a resolution calling upon IUCN Member States to support and implement a moratorium on deep seabed mining until specific conditions have been satisfied, including improved scientific understanding, independent review, application of precaution and institutional reforms (IUCN, 2021 WCC Motion 069). Despite recognizing the need for rigorous and binding environmental safeguards, the Secretary General of the ISA has described the rising calls for a moratorium on deep seabed mining in the Area as “anti-science, anti-knowledge, anti-development and anti-international law.” All this is happening at the same time the United Nations is developing a new agreement under UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries, and the UN Ocean Envoy, Peter Thomson has called on the global community to recognize the importance of ensuring “synergy between the forthcoming global conferences addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and the well-being of the ocean.” (Open letter by Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC). The Open Letter further stresses that “the days are gone when any one of these existential challenges can be meaningfully negotiated without bringing the other two to the table.” This presentation will explore these issues in light of the legal regime established under UNCLOS and its 1994 Implementation Agreement, modern environmental norms, procedural principles and current scientific understanding about deep sea ecosystems and the potential impacts of deep seabed mining. It will further describe prior examples of internationally declared “moratoria” or conditional pauses on specific activities. Finally, it will explore some pathways ahead for addressing the potential contradictions between deep sea mining and protection of marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries. (With many thanks to Pradeep Singh, LLM, Researcher, University of Bremen, who co-authored and assisted with this presentation) Kristina M. Gjerde, J.D., is Senior High Seas Advisor to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Global Marine and Polar Programme. Kristina received her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law with a focus on comparative and international law, and practiced admiralty law for several years in a New York City law firm. For the past 30+ years, Kristina has focused on the nexus of law, science, and policy relevant to sustaining marine biodiversity. Kristina has co-founded four science-policy partnerships: the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, The Sargasso Sea Project, the High Seas Alliance and the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI). In addition to advancing a new UN treaty for marine life beyond boundaries, she has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications. Kristina is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh School of Geosciences, an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California, and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lecture summary: The legal regime for deep seabed mining in the international seabed Area is a rare example of the international community joining forces to regulate a potential new industry in the interests of humankind as a whole. As set forth under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the international seabed Area and its mineral resources are the “common heritage of mankind”, on whose behalf the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous organization established under UNCLOS, is to act. The mandate comes with concomitant obligations for the equitable sharing of financial and other economic benefits and adoption of the necessary measures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects of deep-sea mining. Despite this historic legal framework based on visions of equity, common interest, environmental health and prosperity for all, tensions are rising. In late June 2021, the Government of the Republic of Nauru called for the ISA to accelerate its work on regulations for exploitation of deep seabed minerals so that NORI, its sponsored entity, could submit an application for authorization to mine as soon as 2023. Just prior to that, hundreds of marine scientists and policy experts issued a Call for a Pause to Deep-Sea Mining, expressing concern that deep-sea mining could result “in the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that would be irreversible on multi-generational timescales.” In September 2021, members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) adopted a resolution calling upon IUCN Member States to support and implement a moratorium on deep seabed mining until specific conditions have been satisfied, including improved scientific understanding, independent review, application of precaution and institutional reforms (IUCN, 2021 WCC Motion 069). Despite recognizing the need for rigorous and binding environmental safeguards, the Secretary General of the ISA has described the rising calls for a moratorium on deep seabed mining in the Area as “anti-science, anti-knowledge, anti-development and anti-international law.” All this is happening at the same time the United Nations is developing a new agreement under UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries, and the UN Ocean Envoy, Peter Thomson has called on the global community to recognize the importance of ensuring “synergy between the forthcoming global conferences addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and the well-being of the ocean.” (Open letter by Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC). The Open Letter further stresses that “the days are gone when any one of these existential challenges can be meaningfully negotiated without bringing the other two to the table.” This presentation will explore these issues in light of the legal regime established under UNCLOS and its 1994 Implementation Agreement, modern environmental norms, procedural principles and current scientific understanding about deep sea ecosystems and the potential impacts of deep seabed mining. It will further describe prior examples of internationally declared “moratoria” or conditional pauses on specific activities. Finally, it will explore some pathways ahead for addressing the potential contradictions between deep sea mining and protection of marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries. (With many thanks to Pradeep Singh, LLM, Researcher, University of Bremen, who co-authored and assisted with this presentation) Kristina M. Gjerde, J.D., is Senior High Seas Advisor to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Global Marine and Polar Programme. Kristina received her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law with a focus on comparative and international law, and practiced admiralty law for several years in a New York City law firm. For the past 30+ years, Kristina has focused on the nexus of law, science, and policy relevant to sustaining marine biodiversity. Kristina has co-founded four science-policy partnerships: the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, The Sargasso Sea Project, the High Seas Alliance and the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI). In addition to advancing a new UN treaty for marine life beyond boundaries, she has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications. Kristina is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh School of Geosciences, an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California, and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In part three of our post- COP26 series, economist and UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance Mark Carney, and Vancity CEO Christine Bergeron talk about reframing the political and economic narrative of climate advocacy, and the challenges of moving towards a net-zero economy. What opportunities exist in the aftermath of COP26? What role must the private sector play in this transition? And what can individuals, organizations, and governments do to champion progress towards essential climate action?
Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance and Former BOE Governor, says the finance sector is about to get a net-zero scorecard. Troy Gayeski, FS Investments Chief Market Strategist, says now is the time to diversify. Lisa Hornby, Schroders Head of U.S. Multi-Sector Fixed Income, says central banks are always behind markets. Andrew Hollenhorst, Citi Chief U.S. Economist, says the labor shortage story matters more than the jobs number. Jakob Stausholm, Rio Tinto CEO, says it might take until the end of this decade before the company has a clear view on how it will become fully carbon neutral. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
For nearly 20 years the U.S, EU and UK have imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and organisations they claim are involved in human rights violations. But now a UN Special Envoy says it's time for them to be lifted, arguing they've "had an insidious ripple effect on the economy". Should they be stopped, and are they to blame for Zimbabwe's ills? Join host Mohammed Jamjoom. With guests: Obert Gutu - former Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs. Piers Pigou - Senior Consultant for Southern Africa, International Crisis Group. Ibbo Mandaza - Director, Southern Africa Political Economy Series Trust.
At a time when TDs and ministers are usually winding down after the end of the Dáil term, the Government is facing a political crisis. It started last Tuesday August 27th, when journalist Daniel McConnell tweeted that the Cabinet had agreed to appoint Katherine Zappone, the former minister for children, to a newly-created role of UN Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The move sparked calls for clarity over the appointment process, with Opposition TDs describing it as "cronyism" and lacking any real transparency. Then, just as the controversy seemed to be dying down, reports emerged that Zappone had organised an outdoor gathering of friends and former colleagues, including Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. Zappone has since decided to turn down the UN Envoy role. The Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones takes Sorcha Pollak through the twists and turns of this political scandal.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan. Opening music by Hugh Rodgers. www.irishtimes.com/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mark Carney, Former Bank of England Governor & UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, says that 2021 is a "critical year for action" on climate issues. David Rubenstein, Carlyle Group Co-Founder & Host of "Peer to Peer Conversations," discusses his interview with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Ebrahim Rahbari, Citi Global Head of FX Analysis, says the cyclical trade still has further to run. Alberto Gallo, Algebris Investments Portfolio Manager, says this is the time for markets and society to fight inequality. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com