George W Bush and foreign aid

George W.Bush initiative devoted about 0.0002 of USA GDP in recognition of dignity of Sub-Saharan people.

This is by far more than any other President. His long-term commitment was real., although he failed to inform his people about this.

Much more effort is needed and more importantly US citizens should know, that their help was working. In Botswana 96% children of HIV-positive mothers are born HIV free. Partially because of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. There is no need for HIV-positive children to be born. In this month US promised $4b for this fund for years 2011-2013. We will, if they can deliver.

It is crucial for USA to maintain or increase founding for evidence-based and cost-effective programs and flame wars don't help this at all.

About environmental practices in Vietnam

Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia.

In the last 20 years Vietnam leap forward, from having worst sanitary conditions amongst those three to best.

Currently "The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Partnership" is being developed..

Current progress and improvement have insufficient rate to achieve desirable goals, but they are significant. In the year 2004 the urban areas 92% of population had access to improved sanitation facilities compared with 52% in year 1990. (In the rural areas it is 18%). Access to safe drinking water in rural areas increased from 30% to 82%. Currently newly build sanitation facilities should comply with Decision of Ministry of Health standards.

Forest coverage increased by 50%. Mangrove forests destroyed in the war with USA are being replanted.

Under-five child mortality decreased from 55 to 24 per 1000 born.

Although hazardous waste procedure don't hold high standards, Imports of electronic waste was banned. To be honest newly bought electronic gadgets are real danger. Another are foreign and country's factories burring garbage illegally.

IMO, bilateral partnership in this case is retarded. Why clean environmental protection should be issue referring only to two countries is beyond me.

Beside cooperation for environmental improvement within ASEAN itself, Ministry of Health is working in partnership with WHO and UN and many international organizations devoted to Water, Environment and Sanitation programs. Like Global Environment Facility, International Rivers.

Descent of man

"The Descent of Man" is a book, where Darwin explains variability within the species. You had obviously no idea about the book.

The senses of man and of the lower animals seem to be so constituted that brilliant colours and certain forms, as well as harmonious and rhythmical sounds, give pleasure and are called beautiful; but why this should be so we know not. It is certainly not true that there is in the mind of man any universal standard of beauty with respect to the human body. It is, however, possible that certain tastes may in the course of time become inherited, though there is no evidence in favour of this belief: and if so, each race would possess its own innate ideal standard of beauty.

                                                                                  The Descend of Man                                                                                    Charles Darwin

About UN Women and US role

Countries, which fail to ratify Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women are:

* Sudan,

* Somalia,

* Iran,

* USA

* West Sahara and some tiny island countries on Pacific,

Countries, which fail to ratify Convention on the Rights of the Child are:

* Somalia,

* USA,

Countries, which fail to ratify International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are:

* South Africa,

* Mozambique,

* Saudi Arabia,

* Oman,

* UAE,

* Qatar,

* Burma,

* Malaysia,

* USA,

* Haiti,

Do you see a pattern there? This is quite amazing. USA virtually never changed its law according to international obligation. Your"rapid respond squad" would have to act inside USA (and other countries, which haven't ratify international conventions).

This will not happen.

EDIT: I think that UN should remain open platform for **global governance**, not global government until members will decide otherwise. Citizens should influence their countries to prefer multilateral solutions over bilateral relationships.

CEAFDAW is a declaration of transparency in law, including comparison official reports prepared by country and shadow reports. Purpose of convention is evaluation by other countries how State party is addressing recommendations and concerns.
It is declaration of responsibility and recognition and recognition of own obligation.
For example Saudi Arabia cannot pretend that there is no issue of "male guardianship" in the country and has received recommendation to end this custom immediately.
It is up to Saudi government to act accordingly. Point is their advancement will be presented and commented by international community. In 2007 literacy level amongst women 15-24 years old reached 96%. This is obvious improvement.
Now, World Bank indicates there are over million girls out-of-school in USA. Is it true? What is opinion of USA on this issue? Should it be changed?
Ratification of Convention by USA may help to underline this and other challenges facing United States citizens.

United Nations Organization is place for international dialogue. I asked three questions and there would be many, many others, which would help USA, or just describe United States as paragon of women's empowerment. This issues need detailed scrutiny, not black and white approach. There are lot of people, who would like to evaluate approach to women rights in the Country in minuscule details.
You don't believe that United States lawmakers and policy makers can learn something new? Or other countries can learn from US government?
This isn't possible, without transparency in law and careful systematic determination of women's (and not only women) entitlements in United States. For example, how good is secured girls' entitlement to education and quality of this education.

Foreign Workers in Dubai

Average salary for construction worker in Dubai 2010 is around $2500 a month (including overtime). From this you should subtract $2000 - $4000 in recruitment fees and cost of living. It take months for them to go out of debt. Companies pay bonuses only at the end of contract (which is form of control).
why don't these companies use local workers?
In Abu Dhabi average person has $23m in assets. In Dubai significantly less, but nevertheless much. They can earn same amount of money working less in more pleasant condition. There is no incentive for Arabs to recruit for construction works. Overcrowding of living space and low hygienic condition are still common.
So these companies choose to import these workers instead of using local workers and then they take their passports away because they don't want them to run away.
This is illegal and I can find several instances, where it was happening. Noticeably Saadiyat Island.
Since 2007 UAE are undergoing reform of labour law. Living condition are improving, but employers are still depraved of right to association and right to free trade unions.
Law in UAE guarantee them this rights, but rate of implementation is slow. AFAIK, UAE labour laws lack protection of collective bargaining and don't recognise rights of domestic service and right of family members of immigrants.
This may be pretty bad condition, but better than in Pakistan. If you want to find forced labour in Dubai look at domestic service, not construction workers.

Sexual violance in Congo DR

AFAIK, sex is handled as form of forced labour or for other economic/political function.

For example this action in August 2010 in South Kivu was perpetrated mainly by group of militia protecting local population. They wanted to get employment in governmental forces.

They have very direct thinking in Mai-Mai groups. In their view, as long as there is danger in their region people will support their protectors. This

This is problem, because Congolese juridical system lacks expertise on handling rape cases.

Newly appointed judge is 22-year old young man, who had for its entire education authoritative lectures concentrated on results of exams.

On the other hand Congo DR has tens on women's NGOs, which advocates punishment for perpetrators.

Oh, I think better question would be - why they used the term "systematic rape"?

It is recognised, as crime against humanity. by Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and Congo DR is state party to the Rome Statue. If government will use term "systematic rape" is obliged to act accordingly.

Interesting that USA, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Sudan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and number of lesser countries haven't ratified the statue.

Seriously, why world cannot have some legal backbone?

Misquoted lord Kelvin

Lord Kelvin said nothing of this sort.
Actual response for request to join aeronautical society:
I am afraid I am not in the flight for “aerial navigation”. I was greatly interested in your work with kites; but I have not the smallest molecule of faith in aerial navigation other than ballooning or of expectation of good results from any of the trials we hear of. So you will understand that I would not care to be a member of the aëronautical Society.
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