George Clooney launches “Peace is Not…” spot

Source: Associated Press on MSNBC | YouTube

Actor George Clooney is commemorating Thursday’s 60th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping with a public service announcement praising the soldiers who wear the U.N.’s distinctive blue helmets for risking their lives for peace.

Book review: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s culture of deception

The Washington Post is publishing today a revealing preview of the memoir book by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, titled “What happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.” The book, released today in the United States by PublicAffairs, reveals how the Bush Administration orchestrated in 2002 a well-planned “political propaganda campaign” to sell the war in Iraq to the American people, “manipulating sources of public opinion” and “downplaying the major reason for going to war.”

Arctic protection needs new approach

Source: WWF International Arctic Programme

WWF has called on arctic nations to use a key meeting in Greenland this week to discuss the urgent need for a new and stronger system for governance protecting a highly vulnerable arctic marine environment from climate change and other potential threats.

Reuters: key world positions on climate change

Source: Reuters

Environment ministers from Group of Eight rich nations and other major greenhouse gas emitters will meet in Japan’s western city of Kobe from May 24 to 26 to try to build momentum for talks on issues including long-term targets to reduce the emissions that cause global warming.

OpEd: Who will watch the peacekeepers?

Source: The New York Times | by Matthias Basanisi

The United Nations, facing criticism that it has failed to police itself in Congo, has hit back in recent days. Press officers insist that there is no problem. Based on my own experience, I disagree.

The BBC and Human Rights Watch have both brought forward evidence that the United Nations covered up evidence of gold smuggling and arms trafficking by its peacekeepers in Congo. The peacekeepers are said to have had illegal dealings with one of the most murderous militias in the country, where millions have died in one of the bloodiest yet least visible conflicts in the world.

U.N. chief meets with Myanmar leadership

Source: Associated Press on Yahoo! News

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon met Friday with the inflexible leader of Myanmar’s ruling junta, hoping to persuade him into allowing full international access to 2.5 million cyclone survivors.

U.N. chief to travel to Myanmar to boost aid effort

Source: United Nations

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to arrive in Myanmar on Thursday to visit the areas that have been most affected by Cyclone Nargis, which swept through Myanmar early this month, and also to meet with senior Government officials.

International community pledges millions for Myanmar’s crisis

By Andreas von Warburg

As the situation on the ground in Myanmar is worsening, the international community is pledging million of dollars in aid to help the survivors of cyclone Nargis.