How can someone take the UN serious???

ElCubano · Apr 30, 2003

Can sommeone please explain how Cuba gets re-elected to the UN human rights commission?? I mean are they serious here?? Please alfonso ( you seem very knowledgeable about the way the UN conducts itself ) come out and tell me how something like this can happen??.............

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,85526,00.html

Madison · Apr 30, 2003

Earth Summit Attendees Feast On Lobster And Caviar
By Neil Syson The Sun - UK
8-27-02

The sickening champagne and caviar lifestyle being enjoyed by Earth Summit delegates was exposed yesterday.

They are gorging on mountains of lobster, oysters and fillet steak at the Johannesburg conference - aimed at ending FAMINE.

As the summit began yesterday, desperate kids in nearby shanty towns queued for water at standpipes.

Bigwig politicians among the 60,000 delegates, including Deputy PM John Prescott, also get vintage bubbly and brandy.

Taxpayers are footing the Â£500,000 bill for the 70-strong British party. Friends of the Earth called the extravagance "deplorable".

The head chef of the swanky hotel hosting Earth Summit bigwigs described the mountains of posh food he is laying on for their pleasure.

The chef is in charge of meals at Johannesburg,s five-star Michelangelo Hotel, where world leaders and other VIP delegates are staying during the "save the planet" conference, which opened yesterday.

While people are going hungry at shanty towns just a couple of miles away, Mr Morgan told how he had stocked up with an extraordinary array of delicacies and fine wines.

It includes 5,000 oysters, more than 1,000lbs of lobster and other shellfish, buckets of caviar and piles of pÃ¢tÃ© de foie gras.

He has also got in more than 4,400lbs of fillet steak and chicken breasts, 450lbs of salmon, 220lbs of a tasty South African fish called kingclip " and more than 1,000lbs of bacon and sausages.

The huge bill is paid for by taxpayers of participating nations including Britain.

Mr Morgan said: "Whether they want Beluga caviar, foie gras or bacon sandwiches - we have it all. In my experience, heads of state don't decide what they want to eat or drink until the last minute. So I have to make sure I have everything they can possibly want."

Vintage champagne, fine wines, spirits and liqueurs have been flown in from around the globe so the VIPs can wash down their meals in style.

A new kitchen has been especially created for world leaders, including the Sultan of Brunei, who have their own cooks and tasters.

The Â£35million summit - aimed at combating hunger, poverty and pollution - is centred around Sandton, the most exclusive suburb in Africa.

Its streets are lined with expensive restaurants, gated villas and gleaming shopping malls.

Yet close by, families scratch a desperate existence in the sprawling shanty town of Alexandra.

They live in corrugated shacks. Hungry children play among piles of rubbish and queue for water at standpipes.

The average weekly wage for the few who work in the township is less than the cost of a vintage brandy at the Michelangelo.

Aid agencies say southern Africa is facing its worst food crisis for more than a decade.

More than 14million people - most of them children - are threatened with starvation.

The 60,000 summit delegates from 182 countries are expected to drink 80,000 bottles of mineral water during the conference.

Yet each day 6,000 African children die from diseases caused by contaminated water.

Since the last Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992, the number of Africans living in poverty has soared from 220million to 300million.

Several other environmental issues will be discussed at the ten-day summit, organised by the United Nations.

But in another ironic twist, hundreds of trees have been felled around the conference centre so fleets of limousines will have unhindered access.

The 70-strong British delegation, led by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, is costing taxpayers Â£500,000.

Most other countries fund their delegations too - but the poorest nations get financial help from the richest countries.

Tony Blair is scheduled to address the summit for half an hour. He will spend less than 12 hours in his Â£550-a-night suite, complete with butler service, at the Michelangelo.

Globe-trotting Deputy PM John Prescott arrives at the hotel, which boasts an 'executive lifestyle' fitness centre, tomorrow.

He and the British team, which also includes Environment Minister Michael Meacher, have five Mercedes cars at their disposal, plus two people carriers for aides.

Tories have branded Mr Prescott's trip to South Africa - the 16th country he has visited since April last year - a waste of money. He has no official speaking role at the summit.

The conference,s lavish nature was blasted by environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth last night. Spokesman Mike Childs said:

"It is to be deplored, especially as politicians are scrabbling to do nothing about the problems of environment degradation and poverty.

"They are living it up while not taking action for the millions around the world who will die because of inaction.

"The people of Alexandra would be gobsmacked if they could see how people live in such opulence on their doorstep.

"How can delegates sleep soundly in their beds knowing such suffering is just down the road?"

He added: "We have been working closely with communities in places like Alexandra to help them get a voice. But delegates from rich countries just don't want to listen to the poor in society."

Friends of the Earth have sent a ten-strong delegation to Johannesburg to have their say. They flew out economy class and are sleeping on the floor of a school.

Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor dismissed the summit as "absurd".

He said: "The whole thing makes me feel sick. When you think about the starving people in the world and then see this sort of lavish display it just isn't right. I'm sure nothing will be achieved at the meeting except for photo opportunities allowing politicians to say how great they are."

The criticism was brushed off by Downing Street last night. A spokesman said: "I don't think we will be going into these aspects of the summit."

A spokesman for the Department of Environment said: "This is not a jolly, it is a very serious conference. Delegates will not be living it up. And it is their duty to be conscious of costs."

US President George Bush is NOT attending Johannesburg, even though he is the leader of the world,s biggest polluter.

The American delegation is being headed instead by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The summit will discuss how an increasing population can boost and spread wealth without destroying the environment.

But climate change is not directly on the agenda. Former top UN climate scientist Robert Watson yesterday claimed it was left off because of pressure from the US.
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dotslashfuture · Apr 30, 2003

The basic concept of the U.N. is that a bunch of elitists gather together to solve the worlds problems.

It has always been about Central Planning. SOCIALISM.

Even China has realized that central planning is not the holy grail for humanity, when will socialists and academics around the world realize it ? Actually, I think they do realize it, but it doesn't matter. ITS ABOUT POWER FOR THEM. A TOTALLY CYNICAL CON.

AAAintheBeltway · Apr 30, 2003

The UN, global development schemes and foreign aid in general have been aptly described as devices to take money from poor taxpayers in rich countries and transfer it to rich elites in poor countries.

The UN's waste and corruption is a worldwide scandal, albeit one you'll never read about in the liberal press. I could tolerate it if they actually did anything to improve life, but their record is pretty slim. Ditto for another international hobbyhorse, the World Bank and its sibling the IMF. The world's few democratic countries could have easily set up a few G7 steering groups to accomplish the same goals.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the US has no business remaining in the UN. Not only is the organization wasteful, corrupt and ineffective, but it has now begun increasingly to advocate anti-US policies. We may not be able to change the policies but we damn sure don't have to finance them.

hapaboy · Apr 30, 2003

Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

The UN, global development schemes and foreign aid in general have been aptly described as devices to take money from poor taxpayers in rich countries and transfer it to rich elites in poor countries.

The UN's waste and corruption is a worldwide scandal, albeit one you'll never read about in the liberal press. I could tolerate it if they actually did anything to improve life, but their record is pretty slim. Ditto for another international hobbyhorse, the World Bank and its sibling the IMF. The world's few democratic countries could have easily set up a few G7 steering groups to accomplish the same goals.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the US has no business remaining in the UN. Not only is the organization wasteful, corrupt and ineffective, but it has now begun increasingly to advocate anti-US policies. We may not be able to change the policies but we damn sure don't have to finance them.
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AMEN to that, AAA

hapaboy · Apr 30, 2003

Quote from ElCubano:

Can sommeone please explain how Cuba gets re-elected to the UN human rights commission??
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Just another symptom of the rotting carcass the UN has become on certain issues. Don't forget, Libya is the Chair of the commission!

Babak · Apr 30, 2003

The same UN that elects Libya to chair the UN Human Rights body.

AAAintheBeltway · Apr 30, 2003

US out of the UN, UN out of the US.

Doubter · Apr 30, 2003

Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember reading somewhere lately that under Clinton the UN was on a course to take over the national parks in the US and the Heritage sites. I believe there was a battle over some sign in a park in New England about the UN and our parks. Can't remember where.

sunnie · Apr 30, 2003

Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

US out of the UN, UN out of the US.
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I second that! No need for the UN - get rid of them!