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Tom Fletcher, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, discusses the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Humanitarian diplomacy is a broad landscape and possibly one with internal contradictions. For example, traditionally humanitarian agencies have sought to distance themselves from mediation and human rights activism. The concept of humanitarian diplomacy requires at least an end to these silos. But how is the distance to be managed?In this special podcast – recorded at a recent Sussex Development Lecture – Lewis Sida, IDS Honorary Associate and Co-Director of the IDS-led Humanitarian Learning Centre is in conversation with Martin Griffiths, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations. Martin brings extensive experience as a global mediator and his work has made him a key figure in humanitarian diplomacy.In this podcast Martin presents his own definition of the concept which includes: independent and principled mediation to end conflicts; humanitarian negotiation for access and protection; and advocacy against impunity and violations of international humanitarian law.This podcast is a must-listen for those working and studying in humanitarian issues – particularly in today's global climate where conflict continues and humanitarian advocacy is needed more than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
The White House says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and stop military strikes. But could it work?Today we talk to Martin Griffiths, former Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations. He played a key role in the Black Sea grain deal in 2022 and he gives us an insight on how to negotiate with the Russians.And we fact check claims made by President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in an interview with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson.Today's episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Ryan Johnston and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor is Max Deveson. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
According to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General of Peace Operations, there are many good reasons for increasing the number of women peacekeepers in UN Missions.UN News's Anshu Sharma spoke to Mr. Lacroix at the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers, held in the Indian capital New Delhi on 24 and 25 February, where he was representing the United Nations.The Under-Secretary-General argued that changing the gender balance benefits the work environment in Peacekeeping Missions, improving conduct and discipline.Ms. Sharma began by asking him why it was important to make the trip to New Delhi, and what was achieved.
Isang karangalang makasama natin sa The Linya-Linya Show— ang former auditor ng Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, at International Labour Organization; former Under-Secretary-General ng United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services; at former Commissioner ng Commission on Audit (COA)— Heidi Mendoza!Bukod sa mahabang listahan ng kaniyang karanasan, mas makikilala pa natin si Tita Heidz, sa kaniyang mga kwento at personal na karanasan—mula sa kaniyang pagkabata, pagpasok sa gobyerno, mga karanasan sa paglaban sa korapsiyon, ang kaniyang non-traditional campaign strategy, at mga plano kung palarin siyang manalo sa 2025 Philippine Senate election—lahat ng ito ay ibinahagi niya sa episode na ‘to!Sama-sama tayong matuto at palawakin ang pananaw, dahil sa episode na ‘to, may mga mahalagang payo si Tita Heidz upang mas maunawaan natin ang proseso at sistema ng pamahalaan at magkaroon ng informed decision sa nalalapit na halalan.Makinig at matuto sa pagseserbisyo nang may puso mula sa Imbestigadora ng Bayan, Heidi Mendoza!
War leaves scars not only on people but also on the land. In Ukraine, vast fields are littered with explosive remnants, threatening the future of farming. Tiphaine Lucas, a Programme Coordinator for FAO's Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation Initiative, is on a mission to collect and analyze soil samples, ensuring the land can once again grow wheat and sustain communities. Watch how science and resilience are helping Ukraine rebuild. Financing challenges are at the heart of the current sustainable development crisis. The International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development, a group of experts on Financing for Development, will launch its report on pathways to resolve this crisis on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, at 1:15 p.m. (EST). The launch will take place on the sideline of the 3rd Preparatory Committee Session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will take place at UN Headquarters from 10 to 14 February 2025. The report provides innovative ideas and fresh perspectives critical to shaping the future of financing for development, putting forward proposals for concrete actions across a range of areas, including debt restructuring and strengthening the global safety net. The International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development comprises 14 distinguished experts, including Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate and Professor at Columbia University. Chaired by Professor José Antonio Ocampo, the Commission has developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to support all stakeholders involved in the substantive preparations and negotiations of the outcome document for the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain. The Commission was set up by the Spanish Government, in support of its commitment to advancing the Financing for Development (FfD) process and welcomed by the UN Secretary-General. The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov today (10 Feb) told the Security Council that the “volatile situation in the Syrian Arab Republic is of great concern, especially as there is a risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.” Briefing the Council on the threat posed by Da'esh to international peace and security, Voronkov noted that the Syrian Badia region “continued to serve as a centre for Da'esh external operational planning and a critical region for their activities.” He also expressed concern over the situation in detention camps and other facilities in the north-east of the country. On Afghanistan, Voronkov said ISIL- Khorasan “has continued to pose a significant threat in Afghanistan, the region and beyond,” as supporters have “plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.” He stressed that no State can confront terrorism in isolation, and noted that Member States “must prioritize comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism while strengthening the rule of law and upholding international human and humanitarian rights.” Also, addressing the Security Council on the twentieth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da'esh to international peace and security, Natalia Gherman, the Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, highlighted the UN's efforts to support Member States in addressing the challenges. Gherman said, “the challenges posed by Da'esh remain complex, with humanitarian, security, and governance concerns persisting across regions affected by its activities.” She said, “after devastating so many parts of the world for more than a decade, Da'esh and other terrorist groups now pose the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the African continent.” For her part, United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, “countering ISIS and other terrorist groups around the world is a top priority for the Trump Administration. President Trump has already taken decisive action in conjunction with the Somali government by directing precision airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia on February 1st. President Trump's message is clear: The United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the situation on the ground in DRC “remains volatile and dangerous.” During a press briefing at the United Nations headquarters today (27 Jan) Lacroix said, “The civilian population in a region that is already massively affected, and where the humanitarian challenges are daunting, certainly the risks of a broader humanitarian disaster are very high. And of course, we also want to avoid the risk of a broader war.” To ensure the safety of UN personnel, the mission has begun evacuating staff from Goma “by air and road.” Lacroix noted that the safety and security of the UN personnel “is and must be paramount.” Despite the challenging environment, MONUSCO continues its efforts to protect civilians and stabilize the region, “and that includes disarming combatants in conformity with international humanitarian law. There are significant numbers of civilians and also disarmed combatants that are currently in various MONUSCO premises,” Lacroix noted. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General said, “With close to 6.5 million displaced people in the country, including close to 3 million displaced people in North Kivu, over one-third of the population of North Kivu is already displaced,” in addition to the new Goma crisis unfolding. Lemarquis described the dire conditions faced by civilians as fighting spreads across Goma. “The humanitarian situation in and around Goma is extremely, extremely worrying, with new thresholds of violence and suffering reached today, as active zones of combat have spread to all quarters of the city—all the neighborhoods of the city. Civilians are bearing the brunt of the escalating hostilities. This morning, heavy artillery fire was directed at the city center,” he reported. Hospitals in Goma are struggling to cope. “Hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed in spite of the support provided, for example, by MSF and ICRC. They are struggling to manage the influx of wounded people,” Lemarquis said, highlighting that the General Hospital, with a capacity of 146 beds, was treating 259 patients, including 90 civilians, just three days ago. Basic services have also been severely disrupted, with water and electricity compromised and Internet service cut as of 1 p.m. Monday. “Phone networks remain operational, but it's patchy and not helping the humanitarian response and coordination,” Lemarquis explained. Amid these challenges, the UN is relocating personnel and their families to safety. “We have taken both our international personnel and national personnel and their dependents to two locations—one in-country, Kinshasa, and the other one in Entebbe, where we have a large UN base,” Lemarquis said. Lacroix emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to resolve the crisis. “The recent announcement of an upcoming meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council is very important. We look forward to further engagement by the African Union in the efforts that are currently being made with a view to bringing about the cessation of hostilities. We count on the AU's involvement in those efforts,” he said.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher today (23 Jan) told the Security Council that “the children of Gaza are not collateral damage” and are “as deserving as children everywhere of security, education and hope.” Before today's meeting on the situation of children in the occupied Palestinian territory began, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya asked for the floor. Nebenzya said, “the refusal” of UNICEF's Head Catherine Russell to brief today's Council session, was “a flagrant step which deserves our most serious censure.” The Russian Ambassador said Russell, “during the US presidency of the Security Council, came to brief us at the drop of a hat at a disgraceful, politicized briefing about the so-called children's aspects of the situation in Ukraine, on the 4th of December of last year.” Adding, “it would appear that for UNICEF, children in Gaza are less important than children in Ukraine.” United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea also requested the floor and said, “the idea that the United States is responsible for the terrible suffering there is, just unacceptable to us, and we reject it, in its totality.” Fletcher told the Council that children in Gaza, “have been killed, starved and frozen to death. They have been maimed, orphaned, separated from their family. Conservative estimates indicate that over 17,000 children are without their families in Gaza. Some died before their first breath, perishing with their mothers in childbirth. An estimated 150,000 pregnant women and new mothers are in desperate need of health services. Children have lost their schools and their education.” He said children in Gaza “tell us that the world was not there for them throughout this war. We must be there for them now.” Palestinian author Bisan Nateel, who writes children books, told the Council, “we have always been waiting for the moment when the Security Council would announce a ceasefire to end all these massacres and violations against the Palestinians in Gaza. Today, I hope. To live the ceasefire and for all our children to go back to their schools and for us to go back to our normal life when we used to go to our schools, to work, when we used to play, plant, work. The natural act of life, just to live.” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour called upon the international community “to enable UNWRA to reopen its schools in the Gaza Strip, and to equip it to welcome thousands of children to resume formal education. And to reach every young boy and girl evenly and safely.” For his part, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said, “it is Hamas, not Israel, that has turned Gaza into a war zone. It is Hamas, not Israel, that uses children as human shields. It is Hamas, not Israel, that places its terror infrastructure in schools, hospitals and civilian neighbourhoods. But time and time again, this Council chooses to ignore these facts.” The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that large volumes of humanitarian aid continue to enter Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north and Kerem Shalom crossing in the south. Inside Gaza, OCHA says that aid cargo and humanitarian personnel are moving into areas that were previously hard to reach. Hope in Gaza Press conference by Muhannad Hadi, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. ---------- “When I entered Gaza this morning, it felt like this was probably one of the happiest days of my professional life,” said Muhannad Hadi, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, during a video press conference from Jerusalem. Hadi had just returned from a visit to Gaza, where he observed signs of recovery amid ongoing humanitarian challenges. Speaking to reporters today (21 Jan), Hadi described a markedly different atmosphere compared to his previous visits over the past year. " The people I met had a different attitude. It made me very happy to see that people had already started moving, some of them going back to their places of origin," he said. "I saw people in the streets starting to clean up the roads. There is a bit more law and order compared to the times before, when I was entering Gaza and seeing our humanitarian trucks being looted. This time, I saw things are improving." During his visit, Hadi toured a communal kitchen operated by the WFP in Khan Younis, where he met families reliant on the meals provided, who told him, “If it wasn't for that kitchen, they probably would have starved to death. But they were very hopeful, and they actually gave me a lot of hope for the future," he said. However, the reliance on humanitarian aid remains a source of frustration for many residents. "All of them told me that what they want now, immediately, is to go home. They want income-generating activities. They don't like the fact that they have been depending on humanitarian aid," Hadi explained. Hadi emphasized the need to prioritize sustainable recovery efforts. “We'd like to start with income-generating activities, because this is what people have said. Some agriculture projects, if we can, cash-for-work, and any other opportunities. Rubble removal is a lot of work," he said. Despite progress, Hadi acknowledged the challenges in maintaining and scaling up aid delivery. “The reason I don't like to focus on trucks is simply that there are a lot of services that the people of Gaza need that you don't load on trucks: protection, psychosocial support, education itself.” He also added, “We need to make sure right now that we focus on bringing in as much humanitarian aid as we can.” Hadi also highlighted the critical role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), “It's not easy to replace UNRWA, and we're hoping that they will continue, one way or another, operating. We're talking about education, health, and logistics support. UNRWA employs 13,000 people in Gaza, by the way—it is the second-largest employer in Gaza after the Palestinian authorities. So, you can imagine the critical role of UNRWA,” he said, underscoring the need for continued support for the agency's operations.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
As the US retreats from the international stage, who is going to fill the gap? What will the ‘peace processes of the future' look like? Who has more power, the tech giants or political leaders? Rory and Alastair are joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN, Tom Fletcher, to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Video Editor: Kieron Leslie Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell Social Producer: Jess Kidson Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Press conference by Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division at UN DESA and Mr. Hamid Rashid, Chief, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division at UN DESA, on the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report 2025. The WESP report will also be launched regionally in Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Mexico, Moscow and New Delhi in early January. --- According to a UN flagship report released today (9 Jan), the global economic growth is projected to remain at 2.8 percent in 2025, unchanged from this past year. The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report shows that despite withstanding a series of mutually reinforcing shocks, global economic growth has stagnated and remains below the pre-pandemic annual average of 3.2 percent. The report produced by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), highlights the enduring impact of weak investment, sluggish productivity, and high debt levels on global economic performance. It also underscores the importance of global cooperation and prudent policies to lift growth and place it on a stable and equitable pathway that can accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Talking to the press today, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said, “Our current assessment indicates that the world economy has largely avoided a broad-based contraction despite the unprecedented shocks of the last few years, and the most prolonged period of monetary tightening in recent history. For 2025, we project a global growth of 2.8 percent, similar to 2024. Lower inflation, monetary easing, and the recovery of international trade underpin this relatively stable outlook.” He added, “Nevertheless, we note that this rate remains well below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 percent, recorded over 2010-2019. The recovery remains uneven, driven primarily by a few large economies. Subdued growth prospects pose significant challenges, particularly for developing countries.” This year's thematic chapter takes a deep dive into the subject of critical minerals for the energy transition that can ramp up climate action while presenting opportunities for many developing countries to create jobs, generate public revenues and reduce poverty and inequality. He said, “Addressing debt challenges, curbing illicit financial flows and strengthening domestic resource mobilization can increase the public revenues for investing in the SDGs. For many countries, the rising global demand for minerals critical for the energy transition presents a unique opportunity to stimulate growth, create jobs, and reduce poverty and inequality.” Such favorable outcomes are not inevitable, however, and need coherent national policies as well as international support to become possible. Li Junhua concluded, “Urgent actions are needed to address the debt sustainability challenges in many countries; to close the gaps in technology, financing, and infrastructure that hinder equitable growth; and to ensure that an accelerated energy transition reduces climate risks for all. The challenges we face are complex, but the solutions are within our reach – if we work together. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds a news conference in Calgary to discuss the establishment of a new working group between the provincial government and Enbridge with the aim moving more Alberta oil and gas across Canada and to the United States. She is joined by Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel. Working with Enbridge to develop opportunities to expand the company's footprint and increase global market access is aligned with the Alberta government's goal of doubling oil and gas production. Responding to questions from reporters, Smith comments on Justin Trudeau's announcement that he intends to step down as prime minister and federal Liberal leader. Premier Smith also discusses the need for a concerted approach to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada. n many countries of the Northern Hemisphere, trends in acute respiratory infections increase at this time of year. These increases are typically caused by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other common respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), as well as mycoplasma pneumoniae. Many countries conduct routine surveillance for acute respiratory infections and common respiratory pathogens. Currently, in some countries in the temperate Northern hemisphere, influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) rates have increased in recent weeks and are above baseline levels, following usual seasonal trends. Seasonal influenza activity is elevated in many countries in the Northern hemisphere. Where surveillance data is available, trends in RSV detections currently vary by region with decreases reported in most regions except in North America. Recently, there has been interest in hMPV cases in China including suggestions of hospitals being overwhelmed. hMPV is a common respiratory virus found to circulate in many countries in winter through to spring, although not all countries routinely test and publish data on trends in hMPV . While some cases can be hospitalized with bronchitis or pneumonia, most people infected with hMPV have mild upper respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold and recover after a few days. Based on data published by China, covering the period up to 29 December 2024, acute respiratory infections have increased during recent weeks and detections of seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, and hMPV, particularly in northern provinces of China have also increased. The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year during the Northern hemisphere winter. In China, influenza is the most commonly detected respiratory pathogen currently affecting people with acute respiratory infections. WHO is in contact with Chinese health officials and has not received any reports of unusual outbreak patterns. Chinese authorities report that the health care system is not overwhelmed and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered. WHO continues to monitor respiratory illnesses at global, regional and country levels through collaborative surveillance systems, and provides updates as needed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faith-love-trust--3493635/support.
Press conference by Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division at UN DESA and Mr. Hamid Rashid, Chief, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division at UN DESA, on the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report 2025. The WESP report will also be launched regionally in Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Mexico, Moscow and New Delhi in early January. --- According to a UN flagship report released today (9 Jan), the global economic growth is projected to remain at 2.8 percent in 2025, unchanged from this past year. The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report shows that despite withstanding a series of mutually reinforcing shocks, global economic growth has stagnated and remains below the pre-pandemic annual average of 3.2 percent. The report produced by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), highlights the enduring impact of weak investment, sluggish productivity, and high debt levels on global economic performance. It also underscores the importance of global cooperation and prudent policies to lift growth and place it on a stable and equitable pathway that can accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Talking to the press today, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said, “Our current assessment indicates that the world economy has largely avoided a broad-based contraction despite the unprecedented shocks of the last few years, and the most prolonged period of monetary tightening in recent history. For 2025, we project a global growth of 2.8 percent, similar to 2024. Lower inflation, monetary easing, and the recovery of international trade underpin this relatively stable outlook.” He added, “Nevertheless, we note that this rate remains well below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 percent, recorded over 2010-2019. The recovery remains uneven, driven primarily by a few large economies. Subdued growth prospects pose significant challenges, particularly for developing countries.” This year's thematic chapter takes a deep dive into the subject of critical minerals for the energy transition that can ramp up climate action while presenting opportunities for many developing countries to create jobs, generate public revenues and reduce poverty and inequality. He said, “Addressing debt challenges, curbing illicit financial flows and strengthening domestic resource mobilization can increase the public revenues for investing in the SDGs. For many countries, the rising global demand for minerals critical for the energy transition presents a unique opportunity to stimulate growth, create jobs, and reduce poverty and inequality.” Such favorable outcomes are not inevitable, however, and need coherent national policies as well as international support to become possible. Li Junhua concluded, “Urgent actions are needed to address the debt sustainability challenges in many countries; to close the gaps in technology, financing, and infrastructure that hinder equitable growth; and to ensure that an accelerated energy transition reduces climate risks for all. The challenges we face are complex, but the solutions are within our reach – if we work together. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds a news conference in Calgary to discuss the establishment of a new working group between the provincial government and Enbridge with the aim moving more Alberta oil and gas across Canada and to the United States. She is joined by Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel. Working with Enbridge to develop opportunities to expand the company's footprint and increase global market access is aligned with the Alberta government's goal of doubling oil and gas production. Responding to questions from reporters, Smith comments on Justin Trudeau's announcement that he intends to step down as prime minister and federal Liberal leader. Premier Smith also discusses the need for a concerted approach to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada. n many countries of the Northern Hemisphere, trends in acute respiratory infections increase at this time of year. These increases are typically caused by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other common respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), as well as mycoplasma pneumoniae. Many countries conduct routine surveillance for acute respiratory infections and common respiratory pathogens. Currently, in some countries in the temperate Northern hemisphere, influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) rates have increased in recent weeks and are above baseline levels, following usual seasonal trends. Seasonal influenza activity is elevated in many countries in the Northern hemisphere. Where surveillance data is available, trends in RSV detections currently vary by region with decreases reported in most regions except in North America. Recently, there has been interest in hMPV cases in China including suggestions of hospitals being overwhelmed. hMPV is a common respiratory virus found to circulate in many countries in winter through to spring, although not all countries routinely test and publish data on trends in hMPV . While some cases can be hospitalized with bronchitis or pneumonia, most people infected with hMPV have mild upper respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold and recover after a few days. Based on data published by China, covering the period up to 29 December 2024, acute respiratory infections have increased during recent weeks and detections of seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, and hMPV, particularly in northern provinces of China have also increased. The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year during the Northern hemisphere winter. In China, influenza is the most commonly detected respiratory pathogen currently affecting people with acute respiratory infections. WHO is in contact with Chinese health officials and has not received any reports of unusual outbreak patterns. Chinese authorities report that the health care system is not overwhelmed and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered. WHO continues to monitor respiratory illnesses at global, regional and country levels through collaborative surveillance systems, and provides updates as needed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
Episode 195: The Colonial Roots of Climate Injustice in Africa: A United Front for Strategic Repositioning of the Global South In this lecture, Dr. Fadhel Kaboub identifies the political and economic dynamics between the Global North and South since the wave of African independence in mid-20th century, by which the former has continued its colonial methods of resource extraction, steering the economies of the latter towards dependence on European and American technology and financing. By drawing on examples of large-scale agricultural and energy projects in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Uganda, Dr. Kaboub outlines the process by which African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern resources are captured by foreign energy companies. As Dr. Kaboub explains, poor countries are prevented from developing a domestic manufacturing base, rendering them dependent on companies from the industrialized economies of the Global North, which both produce the technology necessary for resource-harvesting and conduct post-extraction processing or refinement. As such, economies of the Global South are intentionally prevented from industrializing and are instead encouraged to invest heavily in primary resources for subsequent extraction by actors from the Global North. In the final part of his presentation, Dr. Kaboub dedicates his attention to the “carbon credit” scheme, by which large Western energy companies purchase the right to pollute, which they offset by preventing pollution (read: industrialization) in the Global South, in what amounts to painting an environmentally-friendly veneer over the same colonial process. Fadhel Kaboub is Associate Professor of Economics at Denison University (on leave), and the president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity. He is also a member of the Independent Expert Group on Just Transition and Development and serves as senior advisor with Power Shift Africa. He has recently served as Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development at the Organisation of Southern Cooperation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Kaboub is an expert on designing public policies to enhance monetary and economic sovereignty in the Global South, build resilience, and promote equitable and sustainable prosperity. His recent work focuses on Just Transition, Climate Finance, and transforming the global trade, finance, and investment architecture. His most recent co-authored publication is Just Transition: A Climate, Energy, and Development Vision for Africa (May 2023, published by the Independent Expert Group on Just Transition and Development). He has held a number of research affiliations with the Levy Economics Institute (NY), the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (MA), the Economic Research Forum (Cairo), Power Shift Africa (Nairobi), and the Center for Strategic Studies on the Maghreb (Tunis). He is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya and is working on climate finance and development policies in Africa. You can follow him on Twitter @FadhelKaboub and you can read his Global South Perspectives on substack where he blogs regularly. This podcast was recorded on the 9th of March 2024, at the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT) with Dr. Max Ajl, Senior Fellow at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, researcher with the Observatoire de la Souveraineté Alimentaire et l'Environnement (OSAE), and research fellow at the Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM). We thank Mr. Souheib Zallazi, (student at CFT, Tunisia) and Mr. Malek Saadani (student at ULT, Tunisia), for their interpretation of “el Ardh Ardhi” of Sabri Mesbah, performed for the introduction and conclusion of this podcast. Souheib on melodica and Malek on guitar. Production and editing: Lena Krause, AIMS Resident Fellow at the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT).
Syria's new leaders are pushing for legitimacy on the world stage and have been meeting with United Nations and European officials this week. The United Nation's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has been meeting Syria's new authorities in Damascus. He joins the show from the Syrian capital. Also on today's show: former Washington Post Exec Editor Martin Baron; Brady United Against Gun Violence President Kris Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SRSG Pramila Patten, originally from Mauritius, was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict with the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Her office was established by Security Council Resolution 1888 and introduced by Hillary Clinton. USG Patten succeeded Margot Wallström and Zainab Bangura, both of whom have been guests on Global Connections Television. The United Nations Sexual Violence in Conflict Office confronts some of the most horrendous and complex acts during wartime: violence against women, which is a very underreported crime. The Secretary General's Annual Report on Conflict Related Sexual Violence has very specific, feasible and logical suggestions how to reduce this problem. A few examples include: need for member states to comply with Arms Treaties; provide access to the reports and documentation of crimes; adopt time-bound commitments; predictable funding levels; enhance accountability. Every war has shown an increase in sexual violence.
Melissa Fleming is the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations. Previously, she served as the Head of Communications and Chief Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency. Melissa is the author of A Hope More Powerful than the Sea and host of the podcast Awake at Night. This month, we delve into what it takes to be the UN's Chief Communicator at a time of rising global conflicts and backsliding women's rights.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgIn the 79 years of the United Nations, no country has ever declared a UN Secretary General Persona Non-Grata—until now. On Wednesday, Israel made history when it PNG'd Antonio Guterres, saying he was no longer welcome to set foot on Israeli soil. The reason? In a statement condemning Iran's attack on Israel, he apparently didn't condemn it enough. Meanwhile, can the UN stop the escalating war between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran? And finally, we are down to two candidates to be the next Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. We discuss all this and more! https://www.globaldispatches.org/
If you are a regular listener to the podcast and reader of our associated Global Dispatches newsletter, you know that I believe one of the most important issues in the world today is the growing gap between humanitarian needs and the funding available to meet those needs. Climate change and conflicts are causing a surge in the number of people around the world who require a modicum of humanitarian aid to survive. Yet, funding has not kept pace. Far from it. The gap is large and growing. In response to this pressure, one of the largest and oldest international humanitarian organizations, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, is trying something new. While they still rely on traditional donors, mostly wealthier Western countries, they are also experimenting with innovative financing schemes. This includes using insurance in novel ways and exploring how to issue bonds or sell carbon credits to fund their humanitarian work. Joining me to discuss how the IFRC is approaching these complex financial instruments is Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC's Under Secretary General for Global Relations and Humanitarian Diplomacy. We kick off by discussing why climate change is driving up the costs of humanitarian response and the IFRC's new program to support climate-resilient communities before diving into a longer conversation about the novel ways in which the IFRC plans to finance that, along with its regular disaster response.
Jamie speaks with Martin Griffiths. He served as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations from May 2021 until June 2024. They have a wide ranging conversation on today's top humanitarian issues. Jamie asks him about the challenges in Gaza and Sudan. Jamie also asks him about the criticism directed at the UN and how the institution can improve its reputation. Another topic is humanitarian diplomacy. Martin talks about what it is and why it's needed.
The Head of United Nations Peacekeeping has expressed his deepest condolences to South Africa after the loss of two soldiers serving in the SADC force deployed in the eastern DRC. The SANDF earlier confirmed that they were killed and an additional 20 soldiers injured during a rebel M23 attack on the town of Sake, in North Kivu Province. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, prompted by a question from SABC News, explained that co-ordination between SAMIDRC, the U.N. Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO and the DRC's Armed Forces - The FARDC - continued in the context of a complex security environment in the east. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Political Analyst, Professor Thomas Mandrup.
As we sat down to record the episode, Vladimir Putin was being feted in Pyongyang by Kim Jong Un. The two had just signed a security pact revived from the Cold War era, signaling an ever-closer alliance and marking the death knell of nearly 20 years of North Korea nuclear diplomacy at the Security Council. Meanwhile, over the last ten days we've seen the first meaningful progress at the Security Council on the two worst crises in the world: Gaza and Sudan. We discuss what lead to a near-unanimous Security Council resolutions on a Gaza ceasefire proposal and a Sudan resolution aimed at stopping an attack on a major city in Darfur. We discuss whether or not these resolutions can push the warring parties to a cessation of hostilities and what to make of a rather awkward (and heated!) encounter between the Sudanese and Emirati ambassadors to the UN.We wrap up with conversation about Martin Griffiths, the top UN humanitarian official who is leaving his post at the end of the month. We discuss why the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs is arguably the second most important position at the UN behind the Secretary-General, who might replace him—and why this position has always gone to a British diplomat in recent years. The last non-Brit to hold this post, Jan Egeland, joins us to offer his advice for the incoming top UN humanitarian official.Also discussed:* Why a new UN report on children and armed conflict has exacerbated already deteriorating relations between Antonio Guterres and the Israeli ambassador the UN.* Why Malta's UN ambassador Vanessa Frazier's stock is rising around the UN.* Is Jan Egeland the ultimate United Nations Superhero Man?Support this new show with your paid subscription. https://www.globaldispatches.org/SaveUs This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.globaldispatches.org/subscribe
In a crucial year for India, millions of voters are going to the polls in the mammoth six-week election in the most populous country on earth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping to secure a rare third term as the poll hits the mid point. Internationally acclaimed author of twenty-five books, Dr Shashi Tharoor is a third-term Member of Parliament for the Congress and former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr Tharoor is appearing in conversation with Linda Clark in 'The Year the World Votes' at the Auckland Writers Festival.
Ward Wilson, founder and executive director of RealistRevolt, is widely acknowledged as one of the leading sources of innovative pragmatic arguments against nuclear weapons. The title of his recent book is “It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons.” Nuclear weapons, of which there are about 13,000, are some of the most devastating threats on Earth. The nine nuclear countries are: the USA, Russia, China, UK, France, North Korea, Israel, India and Pakistan. The main thrust of his book is that while damage and destruction of nukes is real, their utility and importance have been exaggerated. The United Nations has been in the forefront in promoting treaties, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to limit or eliminate nuclear weapons. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary General of UN Disarmament Affairs, leads the effort to forestall a new nuclear arms race. In 2017, the UN began a process on a treaty for the prohibition of nukes.
Peace Matters - A Podcast on Contemporary Geopolitics and International Relations
The episode was recorded on 29 January 2024. In this episode, we discuss the changing international order and areas where these changes appear the most consequential. We talk about the potential role of the UN in a multipolar international system and why it remains an important global actor despite the ongoing stalemate in the Security Council. We also look at international human rights and humanitarian law from a legal perspective, delving into the political interpretations that human rights are subject to in different national contexts. The discussion highlights China in particular, as both its global ambitions and its reluctance to act in certain conflicts have a significant bearing on the wider world. We also turn to the war in Gaza, discussing the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice on the genocide case against Israel, and we also consider the implications of the changing global order for the EU. Providing a wide survey of ongoing geopolitical developments, this episode seeks to underscore the consequences of an evolving international system. Guests: Angela Kane assumed the position of Vice President of the IIP in 2016. She holds a number of other functions: Visiting Professor and Member of the Strategic Committee at the Paris School of International Affairs (SciencesPo), Visiting Professor at the Tsinghua University Schwarzman Scholars in Beijing, and Chair of the United Nations University Council. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Kane has served in many positions during her career at the United Nations. Until mid-2015, she served as the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Between May 2008 and 2012, she was Under-Secretary-General for Management. She served twice in the Department for Political Affairs, as Assistant Secretary-General and previously as Director. She supported several special political missions in Iraq, Nepal and the Middle East, and established the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala. Her field experience includes Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), a special assignment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and multi-year postings in Indonesia and Thailand. Ralph Janik teaches international law at Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna, the University of Vienna, Andrassy University Budapest, and Universität der Bundeswehr München. His research focuses on armed conflicts, human rights, and the interplay of international law and international relations. He studied law and political science at the University of Vienna and the Universidad Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), followed by an LL.M. in European and International Law at the University of Amsterdam. Moderation: Marylia Hushcha, Researcher and Project Manager at the IIP
The U.N. says 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.2 million residents are currently displaced. To discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza and other humanitarian crises across the world, Nick Schifrin spoke with Martin Griffiths, the U.N.'s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The U.N. says 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.2 million residents are currently displaced. To discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza and other humanitarian crises across the world, Nick Schifrin spoke with Martin Griffiths, the U.N.'s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
"Both the pandemic and the Ukraine crises have demonstrated anew that multilateralism is in trouble." In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Dr Shashi Tharoor. The two discuss several fascinating topics, including the future of the emerging world order with specific reference to India's role in an increasingly multipolar world. Given India's growing assertiveness in international affairs, the two talk about the evolving role of international institutions including the UN and G20 given the shift away from a US-centric unipolar world. They discuss the concept of "geopolitical swing states" and how rising powers from the Global South are pursuing independent foreign policies. Debating ongoing spats between India and China, Manas and Dr Tharoor share insights on developments in trade and economic dependence that may frame future conflicts. Dr Shashi Tharoor is a distinguished Indian politician, best-selling author, and public intellectual. He served 29 years at the United Nations, culminating as Under-Secretary-General, and was named as a "Global Leader of Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum.
Xavier Castellanos was 13 years old when he joined a Red Cross club at his high school in Ecuador. But it wasn't until he experienced a serious motorcycle accident that his life took a serious turn toward a career helping others. The teenage Castellanos almost died in the crash, in part because no one nearby knew how to help. So he rejoined the Red Cross, retook first-aid training and his lifelong humanitarian journey began. Now he works as Under Secretary General for National Society Development and Operations Coordination for the IFRC, the world's largest volunteer-based humanitarian organization.
Madam Catherine Pollard is the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance. What are her views on the financial and human resource challenges the United Nations faces and how can they be overcome? What is her view on the future of multilateralism and China's role in it? What is the latest position of the United Nations on the recent round of escalation in conflict between Palestine and Israel?
The UN's secretary general Antonio Guterres says he is shocked by what he says are "misinterpretations" of his comments about Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza strip. On Wednesday, Guterres said the Hamas attacks in southern Israel had not "happened in a vacuum and there was no justification for the Hamas attacks". Israel has threatened to deny visas to UN officials, and Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan has called for Antonio Guterres to resign, accusing him of "expressing an understanding for terrorism and murder". Air strikes are continuing to hit Gaza where the Health Ministry in the Hamas controlled territory says 6,500 people have been killed 2,700 of them children. Israel says more than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7. A third of hospitals have shut down and the remainder are now down to the barest of emergency services with the territories fuel supplies exhausted after Israel's fortnight long siege of the territory. On Wednesday night, eight trucks carrying food water and medicine crossed the border with Egypt but Israel has banned fuel from entering the territory saying Hamas would use it for military purposes. Palestinian foreign affairs minister, Riad Al-Maliki, yesterday told the United Nations' Security Council that more killing and deaths would not make Israel safer. At the same meeting, Israel's foreign affairs minister Eli Cohen rejected calls for a ceasefire. Israel is now refusing to issue visas for UN officials, including the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths. On Wednesday, New Zealand urged the Security Council to implement a humanitarian pause, corridors for water, food, fuel, medicines and other basics of life, and designated safe areas that are strictly off-limits as targets or military bases. Our interview requests to caretaker Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and permanent representative to the UN Carolyn Schwalger were unsuccessful.
RP Book Club spent four weeks on The Case for a Job Guarantee, by Pavlina R. Tcherneva. Each week featured a different guest expert who led the discussion and answered questions. Listeners to this podcast will recognize their names, including Pavlina herself, Fadhel Kaboub, Ben Wilson, and Rohan Grey. We were also honored to have Bill Black and June Carbone join in.For this episode, Macro N Cheese is releasing the audio recording of all four sessions. Since it is unusually long, the time codes for each segment are included below.[00:03:09 - 01:55:41] Session OneGuest: Fadhel KaboubIntroductionChapter 1, “A Public Option for Good Jobs”Chapter 2, “A Steep Price for a Broken Status Quo”[01:55:41 - 03:17:41] Session TwoGuest: Pavlina TchernevaChapter 3, “The Job Guarantee, a New Social Contract and Macroeconomic Model”Chapter 4, “But How Will You Pay for It?”[03:18:44 - 04:41:57] Session ThreeGuest: Ben WilsonChapter 5, “What, Where, and How: Jobs, Design, and Implementation”[04:41:57 - 06:29:43] Session FourGuest: Rohan GreyChapter 6, “The Job Guarantee, the Green New Deal, and Beyond”Use this link to order a copy of The Case for a Job Guarantee, by Pavlina R. TchernevaDr. Fadhel Kaboub is Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development of the Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC). He is an Associate Professor of Economics (on leave) at Denison University and President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity.@FadhelKaboub on TwitterPavlina R. Tcherneva is an Associate Professor of Economics at Bard College, the Director of OSUN's Economic Democracy Initiative, and a Research Scholar at the Levy Economics Institute, NY. She specializes in modern money and public policy. Find her work at pavlina-tcherneva.net@ptcherneva on TwitterBenjamin C. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Economics at the State University of New York at Cortland and a research scholar at the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity.@autogestion77 on TwitterRohan Grey is an Assistant Professor of Law at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and the founder and president of the Modern Money Network. MintTheCoin.org@rohangrey on Twitter
In the age of Oppenheimer, nuclear weapons didn't have much to do with computers. And, for a long time, most nukes were running on 1970s-era floppy disk systems. But as technology has advanced the US — and all the other nuclear weapons states — have started putting military communications, early warning systems, and even control of nuclear missiles themselves online. So, in this episode, we ask, “Could our nuclear weapons systems… be hacked?” We talk to researchers, policy experts, a top UN official, and a hacker about how a nuclear cyber attack might go down. And what we can do to stop it. GUESTS: Matt Korda, Senior Research Fellow, Nuclear Information Project; Allison Pytlak, Program Lead of the Cyber Program at the Stimson Center; Page Stoutland, Consultant at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Maddie Stone, Security Researcher at Google Project Zero; Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Flying Under The Radar: A Missile Accident In South Asia, Federation of American Scientists Addressing Cyber-Nuclear Security Threats, Nuclear Threat Initiative Glitch disrupts Air Force nuke communications, NBC News A 'Worst Nightmare' Cyberattack: The Untold Story Of The SolarWinds Hack, NPR Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Preparatory Committee for the Eleventh Review Conference, UNODA The Failsafe Review, Nuclear Threat Initiative
In this episode, we welcome Usha Rao-Monari, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the UNDP. We exchange on UNDP's technical assistance and advocacy activities, as well as on her vision for effective development in the South, built over a 40-year long outstanding career in the field. We also discuss with our guest the specifics of the United Nations ecosystem, ways to improve development finance and the impact of Covid-19 and climate change on global development index and countries' development trajectories.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Now there are many more talks focused on the greening of BRI, or BRI 2.0. The BRI International Green Development Coalition, or BRIGC, convened a meeting in Beijing recently to discuss just that. On the sidelines of the meeting, CGTN anchor Wang Guan caught up with Erik Solheim, the convener of BRIGC and also former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Dr. Fadhel Kaboub was recently appointed Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development of the Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC), an international intergovernmental organisation founded by countries from across the Global South. In honor of Fadhel's new position, we're releasing Steve's very first interview with him from back in the day when we live streamed onto Facebook. Steve thinks his questions are very different today — more disciplined. Some of us can't get over how young he sounded. It was only five years ago!Fadhel and Steve discuss the spectrum of monetary sovereignty from full sovereignty to completely non-sovereign. Fadhel explains the structural debt traps developing nations find themselves in. They have deficits related to lack of sufficient food or energy production, forcing them to rely on imports.“Those are things that, no matter what you do as a central bank, you're not going to eliminate those structural issues unless as a country you start investing in renewable energy so that you don't have to import fossil fuels anymore or you invest in a sustainable agricultural policy to let you have food self-sufficiency.”The hole in their trade deficit leads to depreciation of their exchange rate.“And then the next morning or the next month when you as a country try to import food or fuel, you're going to import it at a higher price. So you'd be importing inflation into your domestic economy ... The inflation is related to a weakness of the productive capacity of the domestic system plus the imported inflation that happens because of the depreciation of the exchange rate.”Fadhel and Steve also discuss the devastating effects of unemployment and the potential of a Job Guarantee Program for developing countries.Dr. Fadhel Kaboub is Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development of the Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC). He is an Associate Professor of Economics (on leave) at Denison University and President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity.@FadhelKaboub on Twitter
Fadhel Kaboub is a former Associate Professor of Economics at Denison University where he researched political economy, decarbonisation, colonialism, and the financial and agricultural policies necessary to facilitate a global—and just—green transition. Since recording, Fadhel has been appointed Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development at the international intergovernmental organisation, Organisation of Educational Cooperation.This episode is thrilling. Fadhel explains the traps of inflation, debt, globalisation, and the financial and agricultural policies weaponised by the global north to exploit the global south. He walks us through the three structural traps which keep wealth pouring out of the global south into the global north, amounting to modern colonialism. And he explains why we can afford a just transition, revealing the exciting mechanisms of Modern Monetary Theory by exploring the solutions global south countries can implement to ensure their sustainable development."You can't decarbonise a system that hasn't been decolonized yet, economically speaking. Similarly, you can't democratise a system that hasn't been decolonised yet.Because you can't meet the aspirations of your people and meet their needs in terms of food or housing or quality of life if your economic paralyses you and prevents you from serving those needs, and requires of you to serve the needs of the global supply chains in manufacturing or energy and so on."Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it.© Rachel Donald Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe
After days of transatlantic wrangling and who's-on-first gamesmanship, Ukraine receives a double whammy, with both the United States and Germany publicly pledging to send advanced tanks ahead of a projected Russian spring offensive. The past few days have also brought a corruption scandal out into the open, as Kyiv purges several senior officials, including the deputy defense minister. Tonight, Christiane speaks with his boss, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. Also on today's show: Ronen Bergman, Staff writer, The New York Times Magazine; Martin Griffiths, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; Rev. Liz Walker, Co-founder, Embrace Boston & Hank Willis Thomas, Artist, “The Embrace.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy
Dennison University economics professor Fadhel Kaboub discusses the reality of inflation. Dr. Kaboub has recently been appointed as Under-Secretary-General for Financing for Development of the OEC. See: https://oec-oce.org/en/secretary-general-appoints-fadhel-kaboub-under-secretary-general-for-financing-for-development/ Here's the video of this snippet, with thanks to KRTD Media: https://youtu.be/obSc-Ddcpwc It was extracted from this video, starting at around the seventeen-minute mark: https://youtu.be/ggcsd08LXFA This video was curated by Activist #MMT - the podcast, and produced by KRTD Media. Follow Fadhel Kaboub on Twitter at @FadhelKaboub Follow Activist #MMT at @ActivistMMT Follow Kerberos Media at @KRTDMedia
We discuss with Erik Solheim, a global leader, the expectations for COP27, the role of international organizations in the current climate crisis, and the innovative solutions Erik is fostering. We discuss the role of new emerging actors, especially India and China, and the need for collaboration in the spirit of Indian scriptures. The Whole world is a family, “If we allow people to split us and create confrontation, everything is so much more difficult.” Erik Solheim is a well-known global leader on environment and development and an experienced peace negotiator. He served as Norwegian minister of Environment and International Development from 2005-2012. During that period, he initiated the global program for the conservation of rainforests. He brought through game-changing National legislation - among them the Biodiversity Act and legislation to protect Oslo city forests. He brought Norwegian development assistance to 1%, the highest in the world. He led the peace efforts in Sri Lanka from 1999-2009 as the main negotiator of the peace process and played a vital role in peace efforts in Nepal, Myanmar and Sudan. Erik was the Executive Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (the main body of world donors) from 2012-2016, Executive Director of UN Environment, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2016 to 2018. Currently, he is senior adviser at the World Resources Institute and President of the Belt and Road Green Development Institute in Beijing.
Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks about Elon Musk partnering with Ron DeSantis to use Starlink to help the victims of Hurricane Ian; how to volunteer in Florida; Kamala Harris sparking outrage for her comments about equity in distributing hurricane relief through FEMA; Nancy Pelosi revealing what Democrats really think of illegal immigrants and cheap migrant labor; MSNBC's Joy Reid using her Hurricane Ian coverage to attack Marco Rubio and Ron DeSantis and fearmonger about climate change; Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations Melissa Fleming admitting on camera how the United Nations got Google to censor search results to the organization's wishes because they “own the science”; and much more. Help the people of Florida: https://www.volunteerflorida.org/ ---------- Today's Sponsors: My Patriot Supply - Are you prepared for the coming food shortages? Get stocked up with the nation's largest preparedness company and a wide variety of delicious meals. Rubin Report viewers will SAVE $250 on a Three-Month Emergency Food Kit Go to: preparewithrubin.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the U.N. says they're "partnering" with Big Tech so that you get the right information about Covid & Climate Change! "We own the Science!"
Disinformation is not new. Examples of disinformation and so-called fake news campaigns are plentiful. But with increasing fears about the cost of living – exacerbated by the pandemic and the energy crisis – it is now more critical than ever to tackle disinformation head-on.This podcast contains the audio from an Agenda Dialogue discussion at the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2022 on how the public, regulators and social media companies can collaborate to increase online safety. Participants: Adrian Monck, Managing Director, World Economic Forum Geneva (moderator) Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations Rachel Smolkin, Senior Vice-President, Global News, CNN Digital Worldwide Claire Wardle, Professor, Brown University School of Public Health Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/tackling-disinformation-agenda-dialogues Watch the session: https://www.weforum.org/events/sustainable-development-impact-meetings-2022/sessions/tackling-disinformation Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts: Radio Davos Meet the Leader WEF Book Club Podcast Agenda Dialogues Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club Catch up on all the action from the World Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Impact Meeting 2022 at https://www.weforum.org/events/sustainable-development-impact-meetings-2022 and across social media, using the hashtag #SDIM22.
Writing history & India (part 3): Shashi Tharoor & William Dalrymple tell We'd Like A Word hosts Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan about how they write history, how they got started, why history is important, how history is used as a weapon in today's culture wars, & who has the right to write a country's history. Shashi tells us about his least favourite historian. And William dodges some extreme criticism of the bullet-from-a-gun variety & has a happy reunion with a lost manuscript. We also investigate the rumours that the character of Indiana Jones was based on William. Shashi Tharoor is former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, former Indian Government minister, Member of the Indian Parliament, prolific author & historian. His many books include Riot, India: From Midnight to the Millennium, Nehru: The Invention of India, & An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India also published under the title Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India. William Dalrymple is one of the co-founders and co-directors of the Jaipur Literary Festival, a broadcaster, curator and the author of many books, including In Xanadu, City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi, White Mughals, The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty Delhi 1857, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, Koh-i-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond (with Anita Anand) & The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company. Lots of other authors, people & topics get a mention too - JP Martin's Uncle books, Barabar Tuchmann's The March of Folly: Troy to Vietnam, Anita Anand, Stephen Fry, Gabriel Byrne, Samson Kambalu and the 4th Plinth, Americanisms, Captain WE Johns & Biggles, Operations Bellows, Enid Blyton, The Six Solvers, contested histories, the evolution of language, bloodthirsty St Agnes, Cornish & Irish giants, The Goodies, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Narendra Modi, Neil Jordan's Lord Edward and Citizen Small, Victoria and Abdul, & Miki Berenyi (formerly of Lush, & who has an excellent memoir just out fingers crossed: how music saved me from success). We'd Like A Word is a podcast & radio show from authors Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction & non-fiction. We go out on various radio & podcast platforms. Our website is http://www.wedlikeaword.com for information on Paul & Steve & our guests. We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword & Facebook @wedlikeaword & our email is wedlikeaword@gmail.com Yes, we are embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word to chat, review or read out passages from books. And if you're still stuck for something to read, may we recommend Blackwatertown, the thriller by Paul Waters or Cockerings, the new comic classic by Stevyn Colgan.
Writing history & India (part 2): Shashi Tharoor & William Dalrymple tell We'd Like A Word hosts Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan about how they write history, how they got started, why history is important, how history is used as a weapon in today's culture wars, & who has the right to write a country's history. Shashi tells us about his least favourite historian. And William dodges some extreme criticism of the bullet-from-a-gun variety & has a happy reunion with a lost manuscript. We also investigate the rumours that the character of Indiana Jones was based on William. Shashi Tharoor is former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, former Indian Government minister, Member of the Indian Parliament, prolific author & historian. His many books include Riot, India: From Midnight to the Millennium, Nehru: The Invention of India, & An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India also published under the title Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India. William Dalrymple is one of the co-founders and co-directors of the Jaipur Literary Festival, a broadcaster, curator and the author of many books, including In Xanadu, City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi, White Mughals, The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty Delhi 1857, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, Koh-i-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond (with Anita Anand) & The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company. Lots of other authors, people & topics get a mention too - JP Martin's Uncle books, Barabar Tuchmann's The March of Folly: Troy to Vietnam, Anita Anand, Stephen Fry, Gabriel Byrne, Samson Kambalu and the 4th Plinth, Americanisms, Captain WE Johns & Biggles, Operations Bellows, Enid Blyton, The Six Solvers, contested histories, the evolution of language, bloodthirsty St Agnes, Cornish & Irish giants, The Goodies, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Narendra Modi, Neil Jordan's Lord Edward and Citizen Small, Victoria and Abdul, & Miki Berenyi (formerly of Lush, & who has an excellent memoir just out fingers crossed: how music saved me from success). We'd Like A Word is a podcast & radio show from authors Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction & non-fiction. We go out on various radio & podcast platforms. Our website is http://www.wedlikeaword.com for information on Paul & Steve & our guests. We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword & Facebook @wedlikeaword & our email is wedlikeaword@gmail.com Yes, we are embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word to chat, review or read out passages from books. And if you're still stuck for something to read, may we recommend Blackwatertown, the thriller by Paul Waters or Cockerings, the new comic classic by Stevyn Colgan.
Writing history & India (part 1): Shashi Tharoor & William Dalrymple tell We'd Like A Word hosts Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan about how they write history, how they got started, why history is important, how history is used as a weapon in today's culture wars, & who has the right to write a country's history. Shashi tells us about his least favourite historian. And William dodges some extreme criticism of the bullet-from-a-gun variety & has a happy reunion with a lost manuscript. We also investigate the rumours that the character of Indiana Jones was based on William. Shashi Tharoor is former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, former Indian Government minister, Member of the Indian Parliament, prolific author & historian. His many books include Riot, India: From Midnight to the Millennium, Nehru: The Invention of India, & An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India also published under the title Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India. William Dalrymple is one of the co-founders and co-directors of the Jaipur Literary Festival, a broadcaster, curator and the author of many books, including In Xanadu, City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi, White Mughals, The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty Delhi 1857, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, Koh-i-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond (with Anita Anand) & The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company. Lots of other authors, people & topics get a mention too - JP Martin's Uncle books, Barabar Tuchmann's The March of Folly: Troy to Vietnam, Anita Anand, Stephen Fry, Gabriel Byrne, Samson Kambalu and the 4th Plinth, Americanisms, Captain WE Johns & Biggles, Operations Bellows, Enid Blyton, The Six Solvers, contested histories, the evolution of language, bloodthirsty St Agnes, Cornish & Irish giants, The Goodies, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Narendra Modi, Neil Jordan's Lord Edward and Citizen Small, Victoria and Abdul, & Miki Berenyi (formerly of Lush, & who has an excellent memoir just out fingers crossed: how music saved me from success). We'd Like A Word is a podcast & radio show from authors Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction & non-fiction. We go out on various radio & podcast platforms. Our website is http://www.wedlikeaword.com for information on Paul & Steve & our guests. We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword & Facebook @wedlikeaword & our email is wedlikeaword@gmail.com Yes, we are embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word to chat, review or read out passages from books. And if you're still stuck for something to read, may we recommend Blackwatertown, the thriller by Paul Waters or Cockerings, the new comic classic by Stevyn Colgan.
The State of Humanitarian Assistance with Sir Mark LowcockCrisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast Join us for global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce the risk of global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies. This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). In our next episode we are joined by Sir Mark Andrew Lowcock, a British economist and accountant who served as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) between 2017 and 2021. Prior to his appointment in May 2017, he was the Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development (DFID). He is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC. He is also a Trustee/Director of The Howard Partnership Trust, a multi-academy trust of schools (including for children with learning disabilities) in Surrey. Sir Lowcock's new book "Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times" can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Relief-Chief-Manifesto-Saving-Lives/dp/194469109X Sir Lowcock's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/sirmarklowcock This podcast is brought to you in partnership between Capacity Building International (CBI) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). You can join TIEMS today at www.tiems.info and also sign up for the International Emergency Management newsletter by CBI at www.capacitybuildingint.com. Is there a topic you would like to hear about? Or are you a functional expert and want to be featured on our show? Reach out to us at info at capacitybuildingint.com and let us know!
Rapidly identifying an emerging infectious pathogen is critical to prevent a disease outbreak from becoming an epidemic -- or even a deadly pandemic. But right now, there is no agreed international mechanism to do so. Veteran UN diplomat Angela Kane is trying to change that. She is working to create a new UN body to strengthen UN capabilities to investigate high-consequence biological events of unknown origin. Angela Kane, is the Sam Nunn Distinguished Fellow at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. She is a veteran diplomat who has held several senior positions at the United Nations, including Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Under-Secretary-General for Management, and High Representative for Disarmament.
Closing the UN Ocean Conference on Friday, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Miguel de Serpa Soares, spelled out the challenges that still need to be addressed to ensure lasting protection and the restoration of our Ocean. Looking back on the week, Mr. Soares sat down with UN News's Eleuterio Guevane. He started by laying out what the conference had achieved.
In the wake of wars, climate change, and scarce resources, Sir Mark Lowcock, a former U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, talks about the strategies and systems needed to combat a potential food crisis around the globe. About Sir Mark Lowcock: https://www.cgdev.org/expert/mark-lowcockHis book, Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times:https://www.amazon.com/Relief-Chief-Manifesto-Saving-Lives-ebook/dp/B099PZ153T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Music:Opening Theme Music by Brandon Duke"In This Together" by Humans Win (licensed through Storyblocks)Produced by Karkata Media LLC in association with Perspicacity Media LLC.Copyright 2022, Karkata Media LLC.
In this episode you will learn the following: 1. The importance of conducting micro-experiments towards shaping a meaningful career 2. The art of being a contrarian 3. The power of multi-disciplinary learning and clear thinking An author, politician, and former international civil servant, Shashi Tharoor straddles several worlds of experience. Currently a third-term Lok Sabha MP representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, he has previously served as Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India. During his nearly three-decade long prior career at the United Nations, he served as a peacekeeper, refugee worker, and administrator at the highest levels, serving as Under-Secretary General during Kofi Annan's leadership of the organisation. In the first episode of this exclusive multi-part Network Capital podcast, Dr. Tharoor shares how he followed his curiosity, defied conventional norms and chose to pursue a career in international relations.