The UN Continues to be a Disgrace

The United Nations, home of the biggest corruption case in history (the Oil for Peace program involving Saddam and Kofi Anan’s son), whose soldiers routinely rape and abuse the women and children they are supposed to protect, whose membership elected China, Cuba, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia to its Human Rights Commission has now outdone itself by electing one of Mugabe’s thugs to head up a key UN commission. That’s right, the same UN, whose soldiers and agents stood by and watched the Hezbollah bring thousands of missiles and other heavy weapons into southern Lebanon with which to murder Israeli civilians, has now awarded a top post to a key member of the terrorist organization, formerly called Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe, the country that confiscated the lands of white farmers and threw them out just because they were white. See second article.

The United Nations is a disgrace and has been so for many years. We need an organization where the countries of the world can meet and talk, but the present one, the UN, seems beyond repair. John Bolton was making some progress at reform, but his good work was cut off at the knees by the Democratic Party. Perhaps the time has come just to pull out and stop funding this organization.

Mugabe minister voted to U.N. post
By David R. Sands
THE WASHINGTON TIMES (Excerpt)
Published May 12, 2007

“Zimbabwe won approval last night to head a key United Nations body charged with promoting economic progress and environmental protection despite protests from the U.S., European nations and human rights organizations.

The approval was voted 26-21 with three abstentions by the 53-member U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development despite the fact that the government of President Robert Mugabe presides over one of the world's worst-performing economies.

The post of chairman traditionally rotates among the regions of the world and it is Africa's turn this year. The government of Zimbabwe nominated Francis Nhema, the minister of environment, to chair the commission.

Mr. Nhema, who faces sanctions on his personal travel and assets from both the European Union and the United States, was the only candidate put forward for the post.

Jennifer Windsor, executive director of the Washington-based human rights group Freedom House, called the Zimbabwe nomination "preposterous."

"The Mugabe government clearly has nothing but scorn for the U.N.'s founding principles of human rights, security and international law," she said. "But for it to preside over an institution examining ways toward sustainable development is particularly ludicrous."

Critics say the once-prosperous Zimbabwean economy has all but collapsed under Mr. Mugabe, who has been in power for more than a quarter-century.”

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ZIMBABWE: White farmers can stay to harvest their crops
IRINews (Excerpts)

“Food production has dipped by over 50 percent in Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO, 6 February 2007 (IRIN) - More than 100 Zimbabwean white commercial farmers whose eviction notices expired this month can stay on to harvest their crops, but their farms will still be up for grabs. The government is forging ahead with plans to acquire more properties owned by white farmers, according to a senior official….

Zimbabwe's Land Act, passed last month, gave the country's remaining white farmers up to 90 days to vacate their land. The move followed the nationalisation of all agricultural land in a 2005 constitutional amendment that also prohibits white farmers from challenging the seizure of their land in court.

Before the skewed land reforms began seven years ago, Zimbabwe had an estimated 4,500 productive white commercial farmers who hoisted the nation's flag as the region's breadbasket, but now only 400 - whose future looks bleaker than ever - have remained on their farms. Experts note that the number will tumble drastically as government continues the evictions.”

Note: The people of Zimbabwe, which used to export foodstuffs, can no longer feed itself.