60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Every Human Has Rights - Campaign Highlights from Every Human Has Rights on Vimeo.

This year is the 60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It's so sad that so few read or take it seriously. This is what I found on the UN Site:

On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act, the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Here's a link to the spoken word version of the Declaration:
http://www.knowyourrights2008.org/

If you'd like to sign a pledge to uphold the goals of the Declaration, go to this link:
http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/

To read the Declaration, please go to http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/2007/hrphotos/declaration%20_eng.pdf

Could you imagine a world in which every person lived and abided by this Declaration? We most certainly wouldn't be at war in Afghanistan or Iraq, Israel and Hamas wouldn't be in an undeclared war, and women and children (and some men) wouldn't be raped, trafficked or abused (see the UNIFEM YouTube video stream at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8N8orgQ_0Q
and the UNIFEM link http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/vaw/).
How do you think we can achieve peace and respect for human rights in the world?

To see what is happening in the world to refugees and displaced persons, check out UNHCR's YouTube video stream at http://www.youtube.com/unhcr.

I won't repeat what I've already stated, so please look down along the right side of this blog and go into the archives to read my earlier posts or simply click on the following links:

Children Murdered for Political Gain, Yet Again
http://palmerspurview.blogspot.com/2009/01/killing-of-children-yet-again.html

Looking for Humane, Peaceful Solutions in Gaza
http://palmerspurview.blogspot.com/2009/01/looking-for-humane-peaceful-solutions.html

Women and Gender-Based Hate Crimes
http://palmerspurview.blogspot.com/2008/08/women-and-gender-based-hate-crimes.html

Niger Refuses Entry to Doctors Without Borders
http://palmerspurview.blogspot.com/2008/10/niger-kept-doctors-without-borders-away.html

Please Help the People of Burma
http://palmerspurview.blogspot.com/2008/11/check-this-out-to-help-burma.html

ADDENDUM 1/31/09
I just signed a petition requesting a Special Prosecutor be appointed to conduct an investigation of possible war crimes by the Bush Administration. Here is what I wrote:
The United States of America was a signatory to the Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. No representative of the American people should feel they are above the rule of law, or have the right to create loopholes through which they can walk to violate the spirit, if not the letter of the law. Please pursue an investigation into possible war crimes committed by the Bush Administration and its authorized representatives.

Five Secretaries of State: Advice to the New President, on CNN

CNN's Christiane Amanpour and Frank Sesno brought together five former Secretaries of State, Warren Christopher, Henry Kissenger, Madeline Albright, James Baker, and Colin Powell, to give advice to the new President of the United States. All five unanimously agreed that one of the first things the new president should do is close Guantanamo. They also agreed that the United States should be a leader in combating global warming and climate change, and excising waterboarding from our interrogations. The next president should look to cooperation with other nations, as well, improving our respect around the world.

In relation to dealing with Russia, Powell stated we should look at both sides and truly analyze the entire strategic situation before we leap to the favor of one side. Strategic, not tactical means of dealing with them should be used, said Baker. As for Iran, Albright says it is important to discover the right level at which you might meet to begin talks with Iran. Can the world live with a nuclear Iran? They agreed that once you know how to create 5% enrichment, it is easily scalable to 90% enrichment. Albright believes we need to better understand the culture and economy of Iran and stop vilifying Iran, which only serves to empower them. All five concur that we should negotiate with Iran. Many of these leaders believed there should be talks with Iran initiated at the level of Secretary of State. Kissinger believes that as a negotiator, you should tell the other side what you're trying to achieve and the outcome you have in mind, so that they have something to react to. He states we should make the content of negotiations clear.

On the question of Iraq, the Pentagon believes the war in Iraq is winding down and Afghanistan is ratcheting up. Powell believes we should 'get into the Afghan government,' create a relationship with Pakistan to bring control over the tribal border areas and better deal with the Taliban. Baker states we must beef up our soft power areas including foreign assistance and diplomatic personnel in order to reconstruct these countries. Our Department of Defense budget is 20% higher than that of the State Department. Hard power has been overutilized over soft power. Even Gates stated that military solutions cannot completely solve the problem. In relation to Israel and Palestine, Baker says we should engage with Syria and attempt to pull them away from their marriage of convenience with Iran. Try to make Syria our ally, instead.

All in all, this evening's interviews were powerfully informative. I hope that both Presidential candidates listen to their collective advice.