Many development and humanitarian NGOs already regard their human rights brethren with a degree of exasperation for their no-compromise stance on Darfur and Northern Uganda  – where their successful push for International Criminal Court referrals in each case made life much harder for agencies trying to negotiate ceasefires or deliver help to people, without producing any obvious results in terms of conflict resolution or bringing baddies to justice. Having watched Human Rights Watch’s manoueverings on Burma over the weekend, I can see their point.

On Friday, HRW sallied forth for some incandescent briefing against Ban Ki-moon after Ban reportedly told General Than Shwe, the head of the ruling junta, that “I appreciate your commitment to moving your country forward”.  Cue the following response from HRW in the Guardian:

“That is absolute nonsense,” said Brad Adams, a Burma specialist at Human Rights Watch. “It’s just what we implored him not to say, to make these diplomatic gaffes. Than Shwe has steadily moved his country backwards.”

Then, over the weekend, Ban toughened up his line substantially.  During a speech to 500 officials, diplomats and opposition politicians in Rangoon, he castigated the regime for refusing to allow him to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it had “missed a very important opportunity” ahead of next year’s elections, in that

“allowing a visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been an important symbol of the government’s willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement that will be essential if the elections in 2010 are to be seen as credible”.

“I am deeply disappointed,” Ban concluded. So how did HRW react to the regime’s rebuff and to Ban’s tougher line?  Here’s the FT this morning:

“None of it was a surprise; his disappointment was almost a foregone conclusion,” said David Mathieson, a Burma researcher for Human Rights Watch. “It’s them saying, ‘We are going ahead with what we want to do and we don’t care what you think about it. The idea that you can come here and fix everything the west wants – forget it.’”

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, seems to be the line coming from HRW HQ – but then, it’s a pleasantly straightforward messaging strategy to sit on the sidelines and accuse anyone who tries to engage with the regime of being a sell-out (and no doubt it plays well with HRW’s members in these tough fundraising times). (more…)

Folk close to preparations for Italy’s G8 next week have been rolling eyes, shruggling shoulders and wringing hands for some months now about the train wreck that the summit looks likely to be: but now that L’Aquila, the venue for the shindig, has just had yet another earthquake, maybe it’s time to start biting nails as well.  Still, at least the briefing pack sent to delegations has detailed instructions for what to do if disaster strikes (bet they all feel a whole lot better for that).

Security, meanwhile, is rock-solid – as two British representatives of the media discovered:

Top secret: a mobile basketball hoop specially installed for Barack Obama to enjoy during next week’s Group of Eight summit of world leaders is strictly off-limits to unauthorised personnel, the heavily armed Italian police guards warned.

Such is the chaotic state of preparations for the July 8-10 summit in a police barracks on the edge of the quake-torn city of L’Aquila that scores of reporters were kept penned for hours outside in a temporary press centre waiting for Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister and host, to speak.

Except, that is, for two frustrated correspondents of the Financial Times and The Guardian, who found an unguarded side entrance into the sprawling complex of the Ministry of Finance Police College and spent an hour mingling with workers before finally being captured at the hoop.

The FT’s Guy Dinmore reports that “digital photographs of the sensitive hoop [were] deleted” by vigilant members of the Guardia di Finanza, but the Guardian’s John Hooper showed more initiative: here’s his snap of the 5 star resort that awaits President Obama.

Nice. Incidentally, if you’re still optimistic enough about the summit to be curious about what’s actually on the agenda, Berlusconi’s modest ambitions include “the financial and economic crisis and the search for new proposals for stability and growth”; “the battle against climate change”; “the fight against terrorism and nuclear proliferation”; “development in Africa and other less advanced economies”; and “regional and global security … with special attention paid to the Middle East and Afghanistan”.

KTUU – ‘Alaska’s news source’ – has the [few] details:

Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her Wasilla home Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor’s Picnic at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks on Saturday, July 25, Palin said.

There was no immediate word as to why she will resign, though speculation has been rampant that the former vice presidential candidate is gearing up for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Steve Benen’s take:

Palin is making a terrible mistake. The lure of the national spotlight is strong, and the day-to-day challenges associated with running the executive branch of a state are no doubt difficult. There are probably plenty of far-right activists and donors whispering in Palin’s ear, telling her to ignore the naysayers and realize she’s ready to lead the nation, but she’s listening to the wrong people. Walking away from the governor’s office after one term is incredibly foolish — but walking away from the governor’s office after two and a half years in office is stupefying.

But the best comment (predating today’s announcement) is from conservative blogger Reihan Salam, who according to Benen “defended Palin repeatedly over the last several months, making excuses for her shortcomings, and arguing valiantly that Palin is a credible national figure” before reluctantly giving up:

Palin’s campaign antics can be forgiven. What can’t be forgiven is the ham-handed way she’s tried to build her national profile since she returned to Alaska. She’s abandoned the bold right-left populism that won over Alaska voters — and me — in the first place in favor of an increasingly defensive and harsh partisanship…. One can’t help but get the impression that Palin is a clownish, vindictive amateur…. What I’m wondering is: Has Sarah Palin undergone some kind of secret lobotomy?

Yes, yes, it’s not a phrase one hears very often these days, but credit where it’s due: Gordon Brown’s climate change speech a week ago was first rate. Don’t just take it from me – Dan Smith thinks so too:

I think the Brown government – covered as it is with the ordure of scandal and recession that is dished out daily by the UK news media, the commentariat and the blogosphere – deserves a whole heap of credit for getting out in front of the crowd like this.

So what’s Brown done that’s so praiseworthy? In essence, the right thing on financing for climate change in developing countries (both the adaptation and the mitigation / technology transfer side of the equation). The key points in his speech are:

- a commitment that “I will commit the UK now to paying its fair share of the global total of [a climate financing mechanism for developing countries]. And we would expect other developed countries to do the same”;

- recognition that climate finance must be additional to the 0.7% aid target, and that “while some climate finance can come from official development assistance – where it clearly meets both poverty reduction and adaptation or mitigation objectives – a ceiling should be placed on this … in the UK we will limit such expenditure to up to 10% of our official development assistance. And we will work towards this limit being agreed internationally”;

- and a headline global needs figure of $100 billion a year by 2020 for adaptation.

These are really significant announcements.  The $100 billion figure is at the high end of the range of figures so far mentioned (and looking at the rate at which the science outlook is worsening on climate damages, the high end is the correct end of the spectrum). But better still is the absolutely explicit commitment on additionality. Aid advocates have been seriously worried about the potential that more and more development aid would end up being diverted to coping with climate, rather than actively reducing poverty – Brown’s speech puts a tough new benchmark in place.

The big question now is whether the Conservative party will match Brown’s pledge on adaptation finance. True, they say that they’re committed to reaching the 0.7% aid spending target (it’s one of only two spending areas that the Conservatives have promised to protect) – but that’s of little use if all the money ends up being diverted to coping with climate change…

Here in the UK, there’s much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth about the fact that it’s even conceivable that we might lose our triple-A credit rating.

But over at ForeignPolicy.com, the bad news is already here: for it emerges that our “security apparatus” is ranked worse than the United Arab Emirates, which kind of makes you question their methodology given things like this - although on the other hand, now that I think of it…

It also transpires in the full list that Iceland is regarded as more stable than Britain; and that Ireland is even better off, being a member of the coveted “most stable” club (other members: Scandics; Aussies; Kiwis; er – that’s it).  And there I was thinking that Ireland and Iceland had felt the brunt of the credit crunch among OECD countries…

Paul Krugman’s NYT column on Monday didn’t pull any punches as far as the 212 Congresspeople who voted ‘no’ on the Waxman-Markey climate bill were concerned:

as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking that I was watching a form of treason — treason against the planet.

He continues:

…sometimes even the most authoritative analyses get things wrong. And if dissenting opinion-makers and politicians based their dissent on hard work and hard thinking — if they had carefully studied the issue, consulted with experts and concluded that the overwhelming scientific consensus was misguided — they could at least claim to be acting responsibly.

But if you watched the debate on Friday, you didn’t see people who’ve thought hard about a crucial issue, and are trying to do the right thing. What you saw, instead, were people who show no sign of being interested in the truth. They don’t like the political and policy implications of climate change, so they’ve decided not to believe in it — and they’ll grab any argument, nomatter how disreputable, that feeds their denial.

(more…)

If one man can see the links between global health risks and national security, it’s Diddy:

“Official Vodka of Summer” and Diddy Celebrate Military Service with an Invitation to the Summer’s Most Exclusive Party

NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – CIROC Ultra Premium Vodka, the “Official Vodka of Summer,” and Sean “Diddy” Combs today have invited Tanya Vinson of the United States Air Force to serve as Diddy’s personal guest as he celebrates our nation’s independence during his world-famous White Party on July 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, which this year is co-hosted by ‘Malaria No More,’ a non-profit, non-governmental organization determined to end the malaria crisis in Africa.

As a sponsor of the event, CIROC Vodka launched a program in April to honor several American service men and women with entry to this exclusive event. The grand prize winner, Tanya Vinson, has received the ultimate CIROC White Party experience for two, including round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and transportation, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to the armed forces.

“As we celebrate Independence Day at this year’s White Party, it’s only fitting that we show our gratitude for the heroic men and women who protect our freedom every day,” said Combs, who entered into a strategic marketing alliance with the ultra-premium spirit more than one year ago. “I am proud to honor our military by personally hosting Tanya at my Fourth of July White Party.”

A staple on the celebrity party circuit, Diddy’s White Party is revered as one of the most sophisticated and stylish events of the year. Although traditionally held at the end of summer, this year’s fete – themed ‘We Are Family’ – will occur on Independence Day in honor of our nation’s independence and the historic presidential election.

Ms. Vinson, a recruiter in the United States Air Force, holds what has become one of the toughest jobs in the military. As one of the faces for this branch of service, she is tasked with replenishing the ranks of our military during one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history.

The maker’s of CIROC Vodka would like to remind all consumers to celebrate life responsibly this Fourth of July. Use a designated a driver. Those without a designated driver can text “DRIVESAFE” to 44264 from their wireless devices to receive taxi information in their area.

Diageo
Taylor PR

Tammy Thompson
Alexandra Sklansky

Tammy.Thompson@diageo.com
asklansky@taylorpr.com
203-229-4876
212-714-5702

Hat-tip: The Intoxocologist

Raymond Chandler got it wrong:

In fact, an analysis by The New York Times of rainfall and homicides for the last six years shows that when it rains substantially in the summertime, there are fewer homicides.

When there was no precipitation, there was an average of 17 homicides every 10 days. But when there was an inch or more of rain, the average dropped to 14.

That does not surprise Vernon J. Geberth a former Bronx homicide squad commanding officer. He said that when there was a downpour, the police would sometimes joke, “The best cop in the world is on duty tonight.”

The gap is even wider when looking just at Saturdays in the summer. Those are the days that typically post the highest number of homicides in a year. When there was no rain, the average number of homicides for every 10 Saturdays in summer jumped to 24. For every 10 Saturdays doused with at least an inch of rain, the average number was 18.

These numbers may add up to something of a bright spot for a city that officially entered summer with the second wettest June on record, according to meteorologists at Pennsylvania State University. With a little more than 200 homicides so far this year, the city is on pace for a low not seen since the early 1960s. The first few days of July promise more of the same damp weather, with a chance of rain every day.

From the Press Association, a headline to thrill the dullest reader:

UN chief to attend committee

From the BBC, something to make you feel a bit icky:

A single mega-colony of ants has colonised much of the world, scientists have discovered.  Argentine ants living in vast numbers across Europe, the US and Japan belong to the same interrelated colony, and will refuse to fight one another.

The colony may be the largest of its type ever known for any insect species, and could rival humans in the scale of its world domination.  What’s more, people are unwittingly helping the mega-colony stick together.

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) were once native to South America. But people have unintentionally introduced the ants to all continents except Antarctica.

These introduced Argentine ants are renowned for forming large colonies, and for becoming a significant pest, attacking native animals and crops.

In Europe, one vast colony of Argentine ants is thought to stretch for 6,000km (3,700 miles) along the Mediterranean coast, while another in the US, known as the ‘Californian large’, extends over 900km (560 miles) along the coast of California. A third huge colony exists on the west coast of Japan.

While ants are usually highly territorial, those living within each super-colony are tolerant of one another, even if they live tens or hundreds of kilometres apart. Each super-colony, however, was thought to be quite distinct.

But it now appears that billions of Argentine ants around the world all actually belong to one single global mega-colony.