Tuesday, December 09, 2003

The United Nations could be funny...

I was over at the United Nations News Centre looking for the latest pufferery about the big Internet "summit" on Wednesday. It's an alternative reality that's so bizarre, it makes you wonder when they beamed down. How about:
BENEFITS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT UPCOMING COMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT

“This event is a chance for indigenous people around the world to become engaged with the World Summit on the Information Society”, said Ole-Henrik Magga, Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. “By discussing opportunities and challenges facing people around the world, we are creating solutions that will help indigenous peoples move forward in meaningful ways.”
I wonder if they'll cover casino technology?

And how about:
Local authorities can help bridge the digital divide, Lyon conference told

UN-HABITAT's Deputy Executive Director Daniel Biau called on local authorities not to forget that 1 billion people around the world live in slums and have no access the Internet or even a telephone.

"The Information Society ignores them and this is what we must change, what you must change," Mr Biau said.
It's not clear what Danny proposes, but I'm sure it involves lots of cash.

All of this is amusing in a sick sort of way, but then there's things like:
UN General Assembly votes to ask ICJ for opinion on Israel's separation barrier

The United Nations General Assembly, at the resumption of its long-running tenth emergency special session, adopted a resolution today asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's construction of a separation barrier between itself and the West Bank.
...
The tenth emergency session on illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory dates back to 1997, when Israel began construction of a new settlement south of East Jerusalem.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, the Netherlands, and established in 1946, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has the dual role of settling legal disputes between member states and issuing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by international organs and agencies.
And quite a bunch of organs they are, I'm sure.

Ah, the flip side of the comedy. Along with feathering their ample nests, the sleazy UN stuffed shirts are prime enablers of international thuggery.