George Clooney under fire at the United Nations

By Andreas Sandre von Warburg

The visit to the UN Headquarters in New York by Hollywood star George Clooney, who recently joined the ranks of fellow actor Michael Douglas and Brazilian author Paulo Coelho as UN Messenger of Peace, is creating a lot of attention… Negative attention that is.

Kenya: a new hotspot for the U.N.

by Andreas Sandre von Warburg

The serious deterioration of the post-electoral crisis in Kenya is forcing the United Nations to review is strategy in the once-stable east African nation, where former Secretary-General Kofi Annan is leading negotiation talks between the government and the opposition leader.

New Zealand’s Helen Clark and other world leaders honoured by UNEP

Source: UNEP

From protecting the unique biodiversity of Yemen’s islands to piloting climate-proofing strategies in Sudan and boosting conservation in Barbados, the 2008 Champions of the Earth are making their mark across the planet. Prince Albert II of Monaco, former US Senator Timothy E. Wirth and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark -whose country will host World Environment Day this year with the theme” Kick the Habit: Towards a Low Carbon Economy!” -are among the seven environmental achievers chosen for this year’s awards, the United Nations Environment Programme announced today.

World’s big polluters meet in Hawaii over climate

Source: Reuters | by Deborah Zabarenko

The world’s biggest greenhouse gas-polluting countries are sending delegates to Hawaii this week for a U.S.-hosted meeting aimed at curbing climate change without stalling economic growth.

Briton opposed by Afghans won’t take U.N. post

Source: The New York Times | by Carlotta Gall

The British politician Paddy Ashdown withdrew his name from consideration for the post of United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan on Sunday, after being rejected by President Hamid Karzai in what was widely seen as a move to assert his authority against Western control.

World debate on climate change intensifies

By Andreas Sandre von Warburg

Where water is scarce, violence blooms. Paired with population growth and severe climate change, thirst contribute to poverty and social hardship, putting the planet to a high risk of conflicts. The assessment of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who yesterday addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is blatantly frank and palpably emotional.

Climate change and the threats to humanity

By Andreas Sandre von Warburg

Climate change is “one of the greatest threats facing humanity today.” The warning comes from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is focusing its new strategy on the consequences of climate change and global warming in terms of the increase in human vulnerability.

Report: more troops and stronger political will in Afghanistan

By Andreas Sandre von Warburg

More unity in the international community and a boost in both troops and development aid are needed in order to change the status quo in Afghanistan and implement a successful strategy. According to a recent report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), six years of war and the biggest military operation in the history of NATO have failed to subdue the Afghan insurgency and have left the government of President Hamid Karzai entirely dependent on the continued massive presence of international forces.