This began as an update to Daniel Pipes' Speech at U of Toronto. Then I began looking at Science for Peace and from there I was led to other interesting information and to the UN Conference at Waterloo and more on the UN Oil for Food Scandal; it burgeoned.
Since this is rather lengthy, what follows is
a list of most items, but not all links.
* KQED and The Classical Music Archives -- for enjoyment while you read
Daniel Pipes:* About 350 heard Pipes at University of Toronto -- a well behaved audience -- no problems -- "What Are Islamic Schools Teaching?"
* U of T protests over Pipes fail to materialize -- Middle East scholar's visit preceded by letter denouncing him -- "Islam is not the enemy," [Pipes] said. "Radical Islam is the enemy."
* Campus Watch
* About Campus Watch
* Astounding Tales of Academic Governance
* Middle East Forum
Science for Peace and Links:* Science for Peace -- has NGO status at the UN
* Canada and Ballistic Missile Defence : The Facts
* Letter: Daniel Pipes at the University of Toronto -- protest against
* Science for Peace -- University of Guelph
* Center for Peace Studies, McMaster University
* Very interesting links: Centres and Organizations & NGOs and Other Resources -- one of which led to Pugwash
* Pugwash, how it began -- "in their Private Capacity -- Pugwash Online: Conferences on science and world affairs
* Pugwash: GROUPS WITH WEBSITES
* Science for Peace: Who's Who, World Level Individual -- with excerpts on Mr. David Matas and Cambridge graduate, Prof. Eric Fawcett who started Science for Peace
UN Conference at U of Waterloo, UN Oil for Food Scandal and Links:* UN conference in Waterloo -- with links to information on Paul Heinbecker and Louise Fréchette, who will launch the conference
* FOXnEWS.COM - U.S. & World - Annan's #2 Blocks Oil-for-Food Scrutiny
* Major UN conference slated for Canada -- at Waterloo University
* Conference attracts leading United Nations experts to discuss future reforms
* Laurier Centre for Global Relations -- with Canada's former ambassador to the U-N, Paul Heinbecker, senior distinguished fellow at CIGI and director.
* UN: President of the General Assembly Mr. Jean Ping, H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser chairman of the G-77 -- speaking also for China -- with several links, for example:
"High Level Committee on South-South Cooperation 14th Session 31 May – 3 June 2005" -- "the rationalization of the network of United Nations Information Centres" -- "Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society " -- "Tunis phase. . . place Information and Communications Technologies at the service of development."
* China Urges Support for Kofi Annan
* Kojo's Iraq Connections -- The former business partner of Kofi Annan's son speaks out. -- Mr. Mouselli
* Annan Says He Won't Resign
* Former U.N. Official's Shredding Probed -- Iqbal Riza -- link for .pdf report
* Canadian Coalition for Democracies -- UN Oil for Food Scandal -- link
This post is a follow up to a post on Frost Hits the Rhubarb, Mar. 29, 05 --
Daniel Pipes at University of Toronto: Radical Islam and the War on TerrorWhile you read, may I suggest you listen to a concert? Learn more about the program at
KQED and The Classical Music Archives To listen, click on this link or open your Windows Media Player and insert this url.
KQED: Classical Archives Virtual Concert for March and April! -- The whole program starts with start with
the Baroque era, a large period spanning roughly 1600-1750. The word "baroque" means "misshapen pearl" which suggests the generally ornate and stylized approach to works of art, architecture, and music during these years. This is the period that saw the birth of opera, as well as the rise of purely instrumental forms such as the concerto and sonata; it is also the period in which modern-day harmony (major and minor keys, modulation, etc.) was developed. [. . . . ]
Now, to Daniel Pipes. . . and then to Science for Peace and More.
About 350 heard Pipes at University of Toronto -- a well behaved audience -- no problems What Are Islamic Schools Teaching? Daniel Pipes, CNSNews.com Commentary, March 29, 2005, posted on Cybercast News Service, Mar. 29, 05 -- also in the New York Sun, Mar. 29, 05
Daniel Pipes is director of the
Middle East Forum and author of Militant Islam Reaches America. He has a Ph.D. in early Islamic history from Harvard and taught at Harvard and the University of Chicago.
"Shocked" is how Aisha Sherazi, principal of the Abraar Islamic school in Ottawa, described the reaction of the school's administration and board on learning last week that two of its teachers had incited hatred of Jews.
And "shocked" was how Mumtaz Akhtar, president of the Muslim-Community Council of Ottawa-Gatineau, described his own reaction to the front-page news about the Abraar school. [. . . . ]
There are so many details, along with items detailing the reality in this report, that I can only suggest you read the whole article. Of particular interest to Canadians will be mention of the Canadian Islamic Congress and Mohamed Elmasry of the University of Waterloo.
"Islam is not the enemy," [Pipes] said. "Radical Islam is the enemy."U of T protests over Pipes fail to materialize -- Middle East scholar's visit preceded by letter denouncing him Scott Stinson, National Post, Mar. 30, 05
[. . . . ] About a dozen students handed out pamphlets outside Brennan Hall at St. Michael's College, where Mr. Pipes later addressed a crowd of about 400. The pamphlets accused Mr. Pipes of spreading anti-Muslim racism through his books and commentaries, and of attempting to limit freedom of speech via an organization called Campus Watch, which monitors and critiques Middle East studies at universities and colleges.
[. . . . ] Much of the attention on the visit of Mr. Pipes, the director of the Philadelphia-based think-tank Middle East Forum, was prompted by an open letter signed by more than 100 professors and students that was published this week in a student newspaper and online.
The letter, authored by a campus organization called Science for Peace, said . . . . [. . . . ]
Search: accused Mr. Pipes, ideologically driven, Science for Peace (Scroll down on this webpage for more), Campus Watch, shoddy scholarship I have checked and found
Campus Watch to be informative. You may look up the links, read and inform yourself. This is simply a shortcut to articles. Claims are supported by references.
About Campus Watch with these subheadings.
* Mission Statement
* Why Middle East Studies Matters
* The Problems in Middle East Studies
One item begins:
Analytical errors: University-based Middle East specialists have been consistently wrong in their analyses, as Martin Kramer showed in his Ivory Towers on Sand1. Some examples: [. . . . ]
Another item from
Campus Watch:
Astounding Tales of Academic Governance Former Columbia Provost Jonathan Cole has presented an intriguing theory on the American research university. In remarks to Columbia's Center for Comparative Literature and Society, he fired also in effect fired a preemptive shot back at the administration in advance of the Ad Hoc committee's report on student grievances against faculty members in the Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures.
Cole's first assertion is that the university is self-regulating, completely self-regulating. "The research university was founded on the idea that professors should regulate their own affairs," Cole said. "The essence of a university lies in its multiplicity of voices ... [It] does not decide what is good or bad or what ideas are right or wrong." Indeed, he said, "the university must nurture the creation of novel and sometime unsettling ideas ... [It] must have and welcome dissenting voices and radical critics." [. . . . ]
But you had better read the rest.
Check
Campus Watch for yourself. You may decide to unsubscribe later.
To check what Daniel Pipes and others write, subscribe to Daniel Pipes'
Middle East Forum. Again, you may unsubscribe at any time. Here is an excerpt to give you an idea.
The Middle East Forum, a think tank, works to define and promote American interests in the Middle East. Founded in 1990 the Forum became an independent organization in 1994.
The Forum holds that the United States has vital interests in the region; in particular, it believes in strong ties with Israel, Turkey, and other democracies as they emerge; works for human rights throughout the region; seeks a stable supply and a low price of oil; and promotes the peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes. . . .
Check the list: MEF's latest releases.
Now, to Science for Peace and where that ledScience for PeaceScience for Peace is a charitable Canadian-based organization of natural scientists, engineers, social scientists, scholars in the humanities and lay people throughout the world. It brings together professors, graduate students and first degree students who are concerned about peace, justice and making an environmentally sustainable future. SfP has NGO status at the United Nations -- text version
The first thing that I noted was that this group has NGO status, which may mean Canadian taxpayers' dollars fund them, either in whole or in part. Who do they speak for? How did they achieve NGO status? Who appointed them to speak for whoever they speak for at the UN? Do they purport to speak for all Canadians and did citizens have any say in it? In my world, they speak for themselves -- until I know more.
Check out
Canada and Ballistic Missile Defence : The Facts -- an
excerpt from this webpagePeace In Outer Space (PIOS) is the Science for Peace group which is actively engaged in opposing the weaponisation of space. [. . . . ]
There was a Science for Peace letter protesting against allowing Dr. Pipes to speak at the University of Toronto. Letter: Daniel Pipes at the University of Toronto Scroll down the page for the list of signatories, "names are at the University of Toronto unless otherwise stated"
From there, you will find links to some of the following.
Science for Peace -- University of Guelph and
I noted a branch at Pugwash, Nova Scotia, though it is listed without a link and along with McMaster. Scroll down for more information.
Center for Peace Studies, McMaster UniversityVery interesting links: Centres and Organizations & NGOs and Other Resources , one of which
led to Pugwash.
Pugwash, listed along with McMaster University, actually does have a website; an excerpt follows.
Pugwash, how it began -- "In their Private Capacity"Two quotations:
A basic rule is that participation is always by individuals in their private capacity (not as representatives of governments or organizations
[B]ecause of the stature of many of the Pugwash participants in their own countries (as, for example, science and arms-control advisers to governments, key figures in academies of science and universities, and former and future holders of high government office), insights from Pugwash discussions tend to penetrate quickly to the appropriate levels of official policy-making.
Pugwash Online: Conferences on science and world affairsAbout Pugwash
The purpose of the Pugwash Conferences is to bring together, from around the world, influential scholars and public figures concerned with reducing the danger of armed conflict and seeking cooperative solutions for global problems. Meeting in private as individuals, rather than as representatives of governments or institutions, . . . . Yet, because of the stature of many of the Pugwash participants in their own countries (as, for example, science and arms-control advisers to governments, key figures in academies of science and universities, and former and future holders of high government office), insights from Pugwash discussions tend to penetrate quickly to the appropriate levels of official policy-making.
The Pugwash Conferences take their name from the location of the first meeting, which was held in 1957 in the village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada, birthplace of the American philanthropist Cyrus Eaton, who hosted the meeting.[I believe this is the man who maintained ties with the USSR during the Cold War, if I have remembered correctly. Research for yourself. NJC] The stimulus for that gathering was a Manifesto issued in 1955 by Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein -- and signed also by . . . which called upon scientists of all political persuasions to assemble to discuss the threat posed to civilization by the advent of thermonuclear weapons. The 1957 meeting was attended by 22 eminent scientists (seven from the United States, three each from the Soviet Union and Japan, two each from the United Kingdom and Canada, and one each from Australia, Austria, China, France, and Poland).
. . . . By late 2002, there have been over 275 Pugwash Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops, with a total attendance of over 10,000 . . . . A basic rule is that participation is always by individuals in their private capacity (not as representatives of governments or organizations). [. . . . ]
Check the site for more, such as the following.
GROUPS WITH WEBSITESCURRENTLY, there are national Pugwash groups and loose affiliations of Pugwash members in approximately 50 countries around the world. Several have recently initiated their own web sites. Listed below are some of these national groupings with the names and email addresses of appropriate contacts. [. . . . ]
Who's Who, World Level IndividualSearch: this list has much
more information with each heading so assume [. . . . ] after each heading but I have excerpted only two bits. Read for yourself.
* ADVISORY COUNCIL of Science for Peace
* On International Nuclear Disarmament Initiatives: -- "Senator Douglas Roche, O.C. is the Chairperson of the Middle Powers Initiative"
* On Canadian Nuclear Weapons Policy Proposals: -- a Project Ploughshares connection
* On the Personal Experience of a Nuclear Weapon:
* On Computers in Weapon Systems:
* On International Law and Nuclear Weapons:
Mr. David Matas - Mr. Matas is a practicing lawyer from Winnipeg who specializes in human rights, immigration and refugee law. He has spent his career monitoring the development of international humanitarian law. Mr. Matas organized the human rights and nuclear weapons brief that was submitted to counsel arguing the illegality of nuclear weapons before the International Court of Justice. He has worked with the Helsinki Watch group. Mr. Matas is a member of the International Commission of Jurists and the Amnesty International (International Council). He serves as a Director of the International Human Rights Centre and Lawyers for Social Responsibility. . . .
* On the Effects of a Nuclear Bomb:
Prof. Eric Fawcett graduated with Honours and a PhD in Physics from Cambridge University, and practised research in metal physics in England and the USA, before coming to the University of Toronto in 1970, where he taught physics until retirement in 1993, still pursuing some research. Dr. Fawcett was Founding President of Science for Peace in 1971, an NGO registered at the United Nations that he has guided over many years. He has studied nuclear weapons and the dangers to humanity of their military use, including accidental war. Dr. Fawcett is prepared to provide information on the physical effects of a nuclear bomb. . . .
* On Trade Retaliation if Canada adopts an Independent Nuclear Weapons Policy:
UN conference in Waterloo March 29, 2005, 570 News staff - 11:17 am
Waterloo will host about 90 of the world's top diplomats, politicians and other experts. They'll be in town for 3 days starting on Sunday for a conference on United Nations reform. Canada's former ambassador to the U-N, Paul Heinbecker, organized the event. Among the invited guests are Louise Frechette, the U-N's deputy secretary general and Canada's U-N Ambassador Allan Rock. About 19 other ambassadors from around the world are also set to attend. The Centre for International Governance Innovation is co-sponsoring the conference.
Search / do further research: Paul Heinbecker, Allan Rock, Louise Frechette, Centre for International Governance Innovation Two links for some information on the background of
Canada's Louise Frechette:
Scroll down Frost Hits the Rhubarb, Feb. 27, 05, for "Kofi Annan’s #2 is Canada's Louise Fréchette. Louise Fréchette served under Prime Minister Paul Martin when he held the title of Canada's Minister of Finance." FOXnEWS.COM - U.S. & World - Annan's #2 Blocks Oil-for-Food Scrutiny Major UN conference slated for Canada -- University of Waterloo March 28, 2005, CP. Note: This is the university employing the
founder and head of the Canadian Islamic Congress, Mr. Mohammed Elmasry, the one who made rather intemperate statements on
jihad and Jews on the Michael Coren show.
Waterloo, Ont. — About 90 top diplomats, politicians and other international experts from around the world are expected to attend a three-day conference in this southern Ontario city to discuss United Nations reform.
[. . . . ] It will be the first major international conference on UN reform since Secretary-General Kofi Annan released his reform proposals about one week ago.
[. . . . ] Participants will also talk about the UN's much-criticized Commission on Human Rights.
Ms. Frechette will launch the conference with a public lecture at the Perimeter Institute [for Theoretical Physics] at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Search / do further research: Jean Ping, UN Commission on Human Rights
Scroll down for links and excerpts for items and people mentioned -- e.g. a speech by
Mr. Jean Ping of the UN, one by H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser representing G-77 and China. Conference attracts leading United Nations experts to discuss future reforms March 30, 2005
. . . . the first major international conference on UN reform since Secretary-General Kofi Annan tabled a report, entitled In Larger Freedom, on the subject earlier this week.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) and Wilfrid Laurier University are co-sponsoring the conference entitled "The UN: Adapting to the 21st Century". [. . . . ]
"History leaves no doubt that the secretary general's report will not just sell itself," says Paul Heinbecker, senior distinguished fellow at CIGI and director of Laurier Centre for Global Relations [Scroll down for more information on this group.], Governance and Policy. "It is indispensable that governments come together to endorse those proposals that will produce a more effective UN."
[. . . .] Mr. Jean Ping, president of the UN General Assembly, and Lord David Hannay, a member of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, are among those who will participate in the closed sessions.
Why are there closed sessions? What is the problem with information getting out?
Scroll down for more information, networks and UN connections. Laurier Centre for Global Relations -- with
Canada's former ambassador to the U-N, Paul Heinbecker, senior distinguished fellow at CIGI and director.The Laurier Centre for Global Relations, Governance and Policy was established in 2003, and is a federation of existing Laurier organizations, activities and individuals who share common research and practical interest in improving international relations and governance. These include: The Viessman Research Centre on Modern Europe, The Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the Political Science Department, and the Global Studies program. It is designed to animate research and practical initiatives that can improve the governability and stability of international relations and the global community.
CIGI, which is supported by the Government of Canada as well as the private sector, is an independent centre for scholarly research and policy advocacy established in July 2002, to support improvements in multilateral governance, in particular international economic and financial governance. CIGI has formed linkages with a number of prominent organizations, including the World Economic Forum.
If a group is
supported by the government of Canada, how independent is that?
Search further on the
World Economic Forum.
Just what is meant by "improve the governability and stability of international relations and the global community." -- "governability" by whom? And who gets to decide? UN: President of the General Assembly Mr. Jean Ping, H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser chairman of the G-77 -- speaking also for China High Level Committee on South-South Cooperation 14th Session 31 May – 3 June 2005 -- with links to Mr. Jean Ping and the Chairman of the G-77, H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, among others. [. . . . ]
Statement by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Jean Ping
Statement by the Chairman of the G-77, H.E. Amb. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser [. . . . ]
If you follow that link,
you may download a copy of his speech in .pdf format. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF QATAR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, Commission on Sustainable Development Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser -- and China Statements by the Kingdom of Morocco, Chair of the Group of 77 for ...... Statement By Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser Permanent Representative... Statement by His Excellency Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Ambassador Photos of participants --
Photo gallery -- Four decades of solidarity for the South 1964-2004... BY AMBASSADOR NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF QATAR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, ... It appears to be on small islands -- check further.
What caught my interest are the following --
on the G-77 and on Ambassador Nasser' concerns for information flow and control such as information on peacekeeping, getting out the UN information and I think, changing the US influence over the internet through IANA. This needs further research; I may be incorrect about IANA. Check for yourself.
Statements on behalf of the G77 -- INTERVENTION BY His Excellency Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nation Chairman of the G-77 and ... On behalf of the Group of 77 and China -- Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser On behalf of the Group of 77 and China -- STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA, BY AMBASSADOR NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF QATAR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, BEFORE THE 26TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, 26 APRIL 2004Search: Mr. Shashi Tharoor, UnderSecretary-General for Communications and Public Information (at the UN )
[. . . . ] The Group of 77 and China strongly maintains that the challenge of the DPI [UN Department of Public Information] is not only to ensure a wider outreach of the communication strategies but also to contribute to the concretization of the UN goals and objectives as set out in the Millennium Declaration and in the Medium-Term Plan.
The work of DPI would, therefore, be guided to achieving these goals and objectives, in particular to promoting priority development issues such as poverty eradication, HIV/AIDS, dialogue among civilizations and cultures, sustainable development and the needs of African countries.
Mr. Chairman, The Group of 77 and China stresses that the UN Information Centres play a significant role in disseminating information, in promoting public awareness of and mobilizing support for the work of the United Nations.
The Group of 77 and China takes note of the Secretary-General's report on the rationalization of the network of United Nations Information Centres (A/AC.198/2004/3). In this regard, the Group believes it is premature to present proposals on further regionalization. Enough time should be given to examine the results and possible added value of the creation of the Western European hub before presenting any new proposals, which should take into account, among other factors, the existing differences in information technology and communications between Western Europe and other regions of developing countries.
[. . . . ] The Group welcomes the holding of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society which adopted a Declaration and a Plan of Action and we look forward to the second phase in Tunis to be held from 16 to 18 November 2005. The Tunis phase should come up with concrete initiatives at all levels to bridge the digital divide and to place Information and Communications Technologies at the service of development.
[. . . . ] We attach the utmost importance to the information policies and communication strategies regarding peacekeeping operations. Many Member States, most of them from our Group, . . . . we are gravely concerned about the "information gap" that exists between the new realties and success of peacekeeping operations and the perceptions the public have, as stated in the Secretary-General's report A/58/694. The closing of this gap is one of the ways to "concretize the UN goals and objectives", and a measure of the success of DPI. [. . . . ]
Comment: It appears to concern
controlling the news that emanates, particularly from the member states of the Group of 77 and on "peacekeeping".
I vaguely recall something about according the news emanating from sources (perhaps, sources such as Al Jazeera) the same weight accorded major mainstream international news sources. Check further into the UN initiative(s) to remove control of internet naming, et cetera from the US based organization which presently handles the organization of the internet, IANA, I believe. (things like .com, .info, etc.) There is much more to it than this, of course.
China Urges Support for Kofi Annan Patrick Goodenough, CNSNews.com International Editor, March 30, 2005
Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - China has called on United Nations member states to support Kofi Annan, after the embattled U.N. Secretary-General said Tuesday an independent inquiry into the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal had cleared him of wrongdoing.
Beijing's ambassador to the U.N., Wang Guangya, told the official Xinhua news agency it was significant Annan had been cleared, and attention should no longer all be focused on him. [. . . . ]
The inquiry also found that Annan's former chief of staff had shredded documents pertinent to the time period under investigation.
Scroll down for more on
Kofi Annan and Kojo Annan, Cotecna and Iraq. Note: Mr. Jean Ping is from China;
there are networks involved here which would bear further research, I suspect. Kojo's Iraq Connections -- The former business partner of Kofi Annan's son speaks out. -- thanks to a link on
Jack's NewswatchMr. Mouselli, a French national . . . . Between August and November, Kojo Annan made three or four visits to the embassy. Mr. Mouselli, who speaks Arabic and acted as a kind of go-between, says their purpose was to establish a long-term relationship with the Iraqis with a view toward future business.
Oil for Food was then in full swing and Kojo Annan and Mr. Mouselli discussed plans to establish three joint partnerships registered in Nigeria: one, an inspection business; the second, a food-export business; the third, an oil-trading business. In September 1998, Mr. Mouselli and Kojo Annan had a two-hour private lunch with Kofi Annan on the sidelines of a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Durban, South Africa. The lunch's sole purpose, says Mr. Mouselli, was to inform the Secretary General of their proposed businesses: "If we didn't have the lunch, I wouldn't continue with Kojo." [. . . . ]
Re-read that last bit. Annan Says He Won't Resign(CNSNews.com) - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Tuesday rejected the suggestion that he step down amid the controversy regarding the oil-for-food program and instead urged his son to cooperate fully with the investigation. [. . . . ]
Former U.N. Official's Shredding Probed March 30, 2005, FOXNews.com's Liza Porteus contributed to this report.
NEW YORK — One of Kofi Annan's (search) closest friends and colleagues is now in the crosshairs of Oil-for-Food investigators.
Members of Paul Volcker's Independent Inquiry Committee on Tuesday revealed that Iqbal Riza (search), the former chief of staff, shredded thousands of documents that might have shed light on Annan's involvement in the Oil-for-Food (search) scandal and that Riza acted in contravention of one of his own directives.
[. . . . ] The IIC found that Riza allowed documents of potential relevance to the Volcker investigation to be shredded by his staff, even though he was aware of the ongoing probe.
Read the full report -- (pdf) -- download it Canadian Coalition for Democracies -- UN Oil for Food Scandal mp3chqr radio interview with Al Gordon re Daniel Pipes, oil for food
