Why there is a lack of respect for UN
The UN is a mockery of what a useful and beneficial international institution should be. I'm wondering if we should simply drop out and have nothing more to do with it. Let the corrupt monstrosity rot.
Washington Times:
Zimbabwe won approval last night to head a key United Nations body charged with promoting economic progress and environmental protection despite protests from the U.S., European nations and human rights organizations.
The approval was voted 26-21 with three abstentions by the 53-member U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development despite the fact that the government of President Robert Mugabe presides over one of the world's worst-performing economies.
The post of chairman traditionally rotates among the regions of the world and it is Africa's turn this year. The government of Zimbabwe nominated Francis Nhema, the minister of environment, to chair the commission.
Mr. Nhema, who faces sanctions on his personal travel and assets from both the European Union and the United States, was the only candidate put forward for the post.
Jennifer Windsor, executive director of the Washington-based human rights group Freedom House, called the Zimbabwe nomination "preposterous."
"The Mugabe government clearly has nothing but scorn for the U.N.'s founding principles of human rights, security and international law," she said. "But for it to preside over an institution examining ways toward sustainable development is particularly ludicrous."
Critics say the once-prosperous Zimbabwean economy has all but collapsed under Mr. Mugabe, who has been in power for more than a quarter-century.
Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation rate at over 2,200 percent. Unemployment is estimated at between 80 and 90 percent, and severe food shortages are common in a country once considered southern Africa's breadbasket.
Just this week, Harare announced daily power cuts of up to 20 hours for households across the country, to give struggling farmers enough electricity to run irrigation systems.
...
Human rights groups say the United Nations is likely to face -- and fail -- another test next week when the General Assembly elects 16 new members to the 47-nation Human Rights Council.
Belarus, considered the most authoritarian regime in Europe, is expected to win a seat, as are Egypt, Angola and Qatar. A coalition of some 40 human rights groups are circulating a letter urging U.N. members to vote against Belarus.
The report does not mention that Zimbabwe's life expectancy has fallen to just 36 years. It does not mention that Mugabe threw people out of their shacks in the cities and sent them to live in the country without shelter. Most people in the country were far better off under colonial rule and even under the apartheid government of Rhodesia. If nothing else, Mugabe and Zimbabwe have proven that there are far worse things than colonialism.
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