The challenge of Security Council reform has been on the agenda at the United Nations for decades with little obvious effect on the workings of the Security Council itself.(1)

But what happens when an action of the Security Council is an improvement over past Security Council practices and presents an important model for conflict resolution in line with the obligations of the Charter? Will there be recognition of the peaceful direction that the action points in or will it be ignored and members of the Security Council revert back to the practice of the past?

The situation I am referring to is the consideration by the Security Council of the sinking of the South Korean naval warship, the Cheonan. The dispute over the sinking of the Cheonan was brought to the Security Council in June and a Presidential Statement was agreed to in July.

An account of some… weiter lesen

 
What is the significance of the recent Presidential election in the US? Barack Obama won the Presidency through a great effort by people in the US and around the world. Also, however, the election demonstrated the great weakness of the political party system in the US as there was little difference expressed on many of the issues in the run-up to the election. Instead of the election being a means for a broad ranging public discussion of the many problems facing the American people, and people around the world, the personality of the two candidates and their perceived capability became a basis for speculating on whether their election would be the basis for a hopeful outcome or not.

While some of the mainstream media have continued the hype of the election process by speculating on whether or not… weiter lesen