U.S. seeks seat on rights council
UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - President Barack Obama has taken yet another step in distancing his administration from the past eight years under George W. Bush by announcing U.S. intentions to run for a seat on the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council in May. The Human Rights Council is a UN inter-governmental body that monitors governments and promotes international human rights. Ajamu Baraka,...
What about Obama’s policy for Africa?
UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - President Barack Obama March 3 extended for a year Executive Order 13288, which declared a national emergency and blocked access to the property of persons undermining “democratic processes or institutions” in Zimbabwe. In explaining his actions, the president said the extension was necessary “because the actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an...
Somalia piracy and the untold story
Somali piracy connected to toxic dumping, illegal fishing Orginally posted: Nov 20, 2008 While CNN, FOX, Times and other corporate media sources have fixated on one-dimensional reporting of the "Somalia Piracy" story, some diligent reporters and outlets have reported the broader picture. The following article and attached video offers that broader picture. UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - The head of the UN's...
Activists demand U.S. attends race conference
NEW YORK (FinalCall.com) - The December 12th Movement, a Brooklyn-based advocacy group, spearheaded a March 21 national grassroots day of protest against a decision by the Obama administration not to attend the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland April 20-24. The meeting is a follow up to a major international conference on race eight years ago. Standing in front of...
Report spurs new call to investigate Bush
NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) - A leaked Red Cross report, detailing chilling accounts of prisoner torture in “black sites” run by the Central Intelligence Agency, has underlined the need for an independent commission of inquiry into possible war crimes committed by senior officials during the presidency of George W. Bush, according to a statement by 25 prominent clergymen and...
Amid global plunge, poor nations need up to $700 Bil.
JIM.LOBE Hit by global downturn, poor nations need up to $700 billion, says new World Bank report WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) - In the latest in a series of increasingly dire predictions, the World Bank recently warned that developing countries may need up to $700 billion in external financing this year due to the squeeze in global credit markets, which has seen...
Government spending secret for most citizens
JIM.LOBE WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) - The vast majority of the world’s governments effectively deny citizens basic information they need to understand how public monies are being spent, according to a report recently released by the International Budget Partnership. The partnership is a Washington-based project that works with civil society groups to promote government transparency and improve accountability. Of the 85 countries surveyed...
Is Africom a U.S. military maneuver or real help?
Is Africom a U.S. military maneuver or real help for the Motherland? NEW YORK (FinalCall.com) - From the halls of academia to the streets of America, has come a call to confront the Obama administration and Congress over Africom, the military’s U.S. African Command that became operational last October. “Concerned citizens in the USA must work to build real...
Political leaders moving continent towards a United States of Africa
(FinalCall.com) - John Atta Mills has become president of Ghana, returning the National Democratic Congress, the party founded by former president, Jerry Rawlings, to power after an eight year hiatus. Some analysts believe the recent election in Ghana marked a new era of democracy in Africa. “That is the greatest lesson for Africa,” stated a representative of the Nigerian-based Alliance...
Bush defends Israel; activists charge genocide
Death toll passes 1,000, over a third are children Israel: No Friend of Obama (FCN, 01-13-2009)Outrage as Israel attacks schools, ambulances (FCN, 01-07-2009) (FinalCall.com) - Israel seized control of high-rise buildings and attacked houses, mosques and smuggling tunnels as it pressed its offensive against the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers on Jan. 5, while the U.S. joined a stream of countries pushing for a cease-fire. At...