Honorary Ahmadinejad event criticized

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A scheduled New York event meant to honor Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is "obscene," Catholic League President Bill Donohue said Monday.
The religious leader called on his supporters to attend a rally Monday night in New York aimed at disrupting Thursday's Ramadan event, a Catholic League news release said.

"Catholics need to stand with their Jewish brothers and sisters in protesting this obscene event. Ahmadinejad is a menace to freedom-loving people the world over, and the sight of religious groups embracing him is nauseating," Donohue said. "The Catholic League is proud to take part in this rally and we encourage people of all religious groups to have a contingent represent them on Thursday evening." [You tell 'em!--Amanda]

The religious groups behind the honorary event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel are the Americans Friends Service Committee, Mennonite Central Committee, Quaker United Nations Office, Religions for Peace and the World Council of Churches.

The rally was initially organized by Women International and the Jewish Action Alliance.




Leaders call for stronger action against world poverty

UNITED NATIONS, New York: World leaders pushed Thursday for stronger action to reduce global poverty as financial turmoil spreads and high food prices threaten to aggravate the problems of the poor.

Addressing world leaders at a summit meeting on poverty, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations called on countries to be bold and generous.

With sufficient funds and political will, the fight against poverty, hunger, disease and inequality could be won, he said.
...
Ban said this week that the fight against poverty could be won if rich countries provided about $72 billion a year.




Obama and McCain Pledge Action on Global Poverty and Disease, Says Global AIDS Alliance Fund

WASHINGTON, Sept 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today at the Clinton Global Initiative, Senators Obama and McCain spoke about why Americans, even in the context of financial crisis, should back bold action to end global disease and expand access to primary education.

Each explained how aid was essential to strengthening American security and promised further action, though only Obama made clear funding commitments and set specific deadlines for success linked to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals. [To the tune of almost $900 billion.]




Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe accuses Britain of genocide in UN

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has used an address to the United Nations general assembly to accuse Britain and America of genocide.

In an angry diatribe delivered to the assembly hall, the veteran African leader brushed off accusations he has badly damaged his country and blamed Western countries for Zimbabwe's problems.

"By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction," Mr Mugabe said in his speech.

"The masses of innocent men, women and children who have perished in their thousands in Iraq surely demand retribution and vengeance. Who shall heed their cry?"



Doesn't that make you want to hold hands and sing "Kumbaya"?