Supreme Court delays hearing Troy Davis case

From Amnesty International:

Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court delayed a decision on whether to grant Troy Davis an appeal until after it returns from recess in September. The court's decision (or non-decision) should be taken as a good sign. It gives us hope that at least some Supreme Court Justices may finally be waking up to the strong claims of innocence in this case and want to take more time to weigh the facts.

We are convinced that if the justices agree to hold a hearing and allow all evidence to be weighed, then they will come to see what we have known all along – the pieces just don't add up. When Davis was sentenced to death for the 1989 shooting of a police officer in Savannah, there was an absence of any physical evidence against him. Furthermore, the majority of witnesses who testified against him then, have now recanted or changed their stories altogether.

Troy's case continues to inspire the support of millions of activists and countless leaders speaking on behalf of human rights, including former President Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Desmond TuTu.

Our activism has already put the U.S. Supreme Court and Georgia officials on the fence. Now we've got to do all we can these next couple of months to guarantee justice for Troy Davis!

Join the thousands in Savannah, Georgia who are calling for the new District Attorney to reopen Troy's case.

The Rightwing Coup in Honduras and the Need for a New Good Neighbor Policy

by Norman Markowitz

On the surface, the coup in Honduras might be seen as the same old same old. The military, supported by the provincial exploiting classes, ousted a President pursuing policies clearly in the interest of workers and farmers, a president whose policies have aligned him with Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales and others who have gained leadership in a number of Latin American countries on explicitly or implicitly socialist programs.

In the past, meaning the entire 20th century up to the present administration, U.S. governments either aided and abetted or, in a number of important cases, directly created such coups throughout central America and the Carri bean, including Honduras, which along with Guatemala and Nicaragua, was long referred to derisively as a "banana republic."

The Obama administration has condemned this coup, which is a large step forward, compared to other postwar U.S. presidents--remember the CIA created coup in Guatemala in 1954; the CIA failed invasion of Cuba in the Bay of Pigs in 1961; The U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 to prevent the ousting of a junta which had ousted a democratically elected president two years earlier; the U.S. government's full political, economic and military support for those who overthrew the socialist Peoples Unity Government in Chile in 1973 and established what most scholars of Latin America regard as the most brutal regime in the region's history; the U.S.-CIA support for the contra war against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua and for the reactionary oligarchy and its political henchmen in El Salvador against revolutionary insurgents which together claimed tens of thousands of lives. And this is just the tip of a big iceberg in post WWII U.S. Latin American policy. The role of U.S. corporations and the government over the generations in sustaining and profiting from "underdevelopment" has stunted the lives of tens of millions of people in Latin America.

In the 1930s the Roosevelt administration withdrew marines from a number of Latin American countries, proclaimed a "good neighbor policy" for the region, and significantly improved relations with the government of Mexico during the presidency of Lazaro Cardenas, whose administration advanced the rights of workers and peasants, nationalizing Mexican oil to the howls of U.S. oil companies and investors. The Roosevelt administration's "good neighbor" policy was in reality limited, as its representatives often worked behind the scenes to thwart peoples movements and continued to support reactionary dictatorships in a number
of the countries where U.S. marines had previously been stationed---Roosevelt famously, in response to criticisms from the left, said of these tyrants (Somoza in Nicaragua, Batista in Cuba Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, they were virtually interchangeable) that "he's a son of bitch but he's our son of a bitch."

Much of what was positive in the "good neighbor policy," the emphasis on pan-Americanism, the U.S. government support for reforms which would raise Latin American living standards, were buried in the cold war era. The Obama administration has now opposed a coup which virtually every post WWII U.S. president would have supported, directly or indirectly. But in forging a new foreign policy that rejects the long history of gunboat-dollar diplomacy in the region, it can and should do much more.

First it can join directly with the nations, including Venezuela and Bolivia, which have condemned the coup, and use its influence to end it and restore Zelaya to power. It can make the institutions which previous governments have hypocritically proclaimed as defending "democracy and peace" in the region actually work for democracy and peace. It can use this crisis positively to side with the people and begin to establish with Chavez, Morales and others the sort of relationship that Roosevelt had with Cardenas of Mexico in the 1930s. In the process, it can win the respect and admiration of the peoples of Latin America as Roosevelt (with all of the limitations and distortions of the "good neighbor" policy) did in the 1930s and 1940s. And it can go well beyond that policy by making it clear to everyone in the hemisphere that those who overthrew Zelaya and for that matter hold power in Mexico through a fraudulent election and in other countries in the interests of reactionary upper classes are no longer "our sons of
bitches."

Health reform can't wait

From Health Care for America Now (June 25th rally):

AFL-CIO condemns Honduras coup

AFL-CIO: Honduras Coup Is ‘Unconscionable’
by James Parks, Jun 30, 2009
AFL-CIO Blog

The AFL-CIO today called on the U.S. government and the international community, particularly the Organization of American States and the United Nations, to “make every effort” to restore constitutional order in Honduras and reinstate democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military coup Sunday.

In a statement, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called the coup “an unconscionable attack on the fundamental rights and liberties of the Honduran people.” He urged governments to condemn the coup and withhold recognition of the current government. Zelaya was ousted after pushing for a referendum on proposed changes that would allow the president to run for re-election and create new procedures for amending the constitution.

The recent internal conflict relating to the proposed constitutional referendum cannot in any way justify the extra-constitutional measures undertaken by the armed forces. These measures are a flagrant violation of the most basic democratic principles and of the rule of law.

Read more...

Take next steps to end the Iraq war

From United for Peace and Justice:


Bring the Troops Home!

Today, the Iraqi people are celebrating the beginning of U.S. troop withdrawals as 'National Sovereignty Day'. This, because under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the Iraqi government and the Bush administration, all U.S. combat troops are to withdraw from Iraq's cities and towns on June 30th, today. After six long years of war and occupation, it is no wonder Iraqis are celebrating this first symbolic benchmark.

But huge challenges lie ahead for the Iraqi people, as they work to regain control of their country and address the fragile political, economic, and security situation found there.

The road for the U.S. military out of Iraq remains much too long. And even this first positive step, now officially underway, is not a certainty. It is a benchmark toward total withdrawal -- and from what we know so far, the U.S. military is far from meeting that test. U.S. military officials have already described how combat troops will be 're-missioned' as 'trainers', so that they can continue combat operations in another guise. The Army Times magazine reports on frantic construction and expansion of U.S. military bases just outside municipal boundaries so combat troops can sleep outside the major cities, thus fulfilling the SOFA's obligations, while continuing to conduct combat operations.

Since this immoral, illegal war was launched, we have said that the roadblock to a secure and sovereign Iraq is the U.S. military occupation! That is still true. The U.S. occupation troops have not been able to protect Iraqi civilians from the vicious toll of the last two weeks' bombings. When we hear pro-war politicians question whether Iraqi troops are "ready" to provide security for the Iraqi people, we must remind them that it is the U.S. occupation that fuels insurgency.

We must keep Iraqi in the public eye and continue our call for the rapid and total end of the U.S. occupation even as each SOFA benchmark arrives.

An endless occupation is not in the interests of the Iraqi and U.S. peoples. 73% of Iraqis want the U.S. troops to leave. At this moment of economic crisis, we cannot afford the hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for this war (including the $77 billion Congress recently allocated to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan just through this September!). The security and economic needs of both the Iraqis and the U.S. peoples cannot be met while the war and occupation continues.

We urge that you mark this day by calling your Congressional representative at 202-225-3121 and contacting the White House at 202-456-1111. You can also contact the White House online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT.

Tell the President and Congress to:

• Implement the spirit, as well as the letter, of the Status of Forces Agreement. We want a total and complete withdrawal -- not just changes in job titles.
• All the U.S. troops could leave before the current 2012 deadline -- if President Obama takes the steps promised when he announced an 18-month withdrawal plan. He said, "Going forward, the United States will pursue principled and sustained engagement with all nations in the region, including Iran and Syria." Diplomacy, not more war!
• Take the same path out of Afghanistan: stop escalating, withdraw the U.S. troops, and begin negotiations.

Final Statement by d'Escoto Sends Message of Solidarity

by Mike Tolochko

UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Esocto's Final Statement sends a message that supports the world peoples'; Seen as a disaster by neo-liberal corporate militarists.

Coup in Honduras Timing Was Probably No Accident

The coup by right-wing elements with their military supporters in Honduras, we are learning, did not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the political scene in that country. The developing solidarity among the majority of Latin America, and, in fact, almost every nation with the exception of Colombia and few others, was a source of great worry and fear to the neo-liberal theoreticians with the corporate and military supporters. Those fears, no doubt, were not confined to Latin America, but were evident in U.S. and European corporate circles. Those who stand to make their money through the IMF, World Bank and its Regional Banks were not happy.

General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto was very aware of the growing democracy and independence taking place in his neighboring country, he is from Nicaragua. That is probably why he called on the Honduras representative to the United Nations to speak first on Wednesday in favor of the OUTCOME DOCUMENT, whose goal was the minimization if not elimination of neo-liberal power, the IMF and World Bank and its regional banks.
The full description of the Latin American financial organizations, i.e., ALBA and the Bank and Of South, sent a message that Latin American countries would no longer be under the thumb of neo-imperialism. It is a powerful example to Africa and Asian countries.

Now that the OUTCOME DOCUMENT IS THE LAW OF THE UNITED NATION LAND, President d'Escoto has released his final statement. After reading this, you can see the importance of increased solidarity in face of reaction; and, especially, the reaction that took place in Honduras.

ADDRESS BY MIGUEL D'ESCOTO BROCKMANN, PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UPON ADOPTION OF THE OUTCOME DOCUMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE WORLD FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, 26 JUNE 2009
Excellencies,
United Nations Colleagues,
Representatives of Civil Society,
Brothers and Sisters all,

We have come to the middle of the third day of this historic United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. I congratulate you all for successfully initiating the global conversation on the economic crisis that continues to unfold around us and for beginning an in-depth, unprecedented review of the international financial and economic architecture.

The world has had the opportunity to hear the voices of the G-192. All the Members of the General Assembly have had and continue to have the chance to express their points of view. Today our efforts have culminated in the adoption by consensus of an outcome document that represents the first step in a long process of putting the world on a new path towards SOLIDARITY, stability and sustainability.

The United Nations General Assembly, the G-192, has now been established as the central forum for the discussion of world financial and economic issues, and this in itself is a major achievement. In addition, the General Assembly has been asked to follow up on these issues through an ad hoc open-ended working group.

The issues to be followed up range from crisis mitigation − including global stimulus measures, special drawing rights (SDRs) and reserve currencies − to topics such as the restructuring of the financial and economic system and architecture, including reform of the international financial institutions and the role of the United Nations; external debt; international trade; investment; taxation; development assistance; South-South cooperation; new forms of financing; corruption and illicit financial flows; and regulation and monitoring.

At the same time, it has been recognized that the financial and economic crisis must not delay the necessary global response to climate change and environmental degradation through initiatives for building a "green economy".

The G-192 has proved itself capable of reaching consensus on the convening and modalities of this Conference and on a substantive outcome document that addresses issues of great importance to humanity. It has also been able to chart a course for carrying the process forward on the basis of the lines of action set out in the Conference outcome document.

We have had three days of very successful work and, now that the outcome document has been formally adopted, it is only fitting that we salute each other's efforts and, in particular, that we congratulate the two facilitators, Ambassador Frank Majoor of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Ambassador Camilo Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Of course, we also express our warmest thanks to the President's Commission of Experts, which was so ably coordinated by Professor Joseph Stiglitz.

We are happy but not content, or rather, not completely satisfied. Other crises loom on the horizon, such as the clean water, global warming, food, energy and humanitarian crises affecting millions of our brothers and sisters, especially children suffering from hunger and thirst.

We must all join forces to confront these crises. The proposals we have adopted today point in this direction. But much remains to be done.

We are heartened by the expressions of political will to shoulder our shared responsibility to cooperate, but we will not be content so long as these pressing issues remain unresolved.

My role as President of this General Assembly, which brings together representatives of all the world's peoples, is to invite you to look beyond today's economic concerns and to hold out hope for the common future of the Earth and of humanity.

We may well ask, what next? Not necessarily in terms of the economy, but in terms of humanity. Where are we headed? At this point it is unlikely that anyone, however wise, can answer this question with certainty. But even without having the answers, we can all seek and build together the consensus that will lead us towards a more hopeful future for us all and for Mother Earth.

This reminds me of the vision of the great French scientist, archaeologist and mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. In China, where he carried out his research on "Homo pekinensis", he had something like a vision.

Looking at the advances in technology, trade and communications that were shortening distances and laying the foundations for what he liked to call planetization, rather than globalization, Teilhard de Chardin was already saying, in the 1930s, that we were witnessing the emergence of a new era for the Earth and for humanity.

What was about to appear, de Chardin told us, was the noosphere, after the emergence in the evolutionary process of the anthroposphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere and the lithosphere. Now comes the new sphere, the sphere of synchronized minds and hearts: the noosphere. As we know, the Greek word noos refers to the union of the spirit, the intellect and the heart.

Where are we headed? I venture to believe and hope that we are all headed towards the slow but unstoppable emergence of the noosphere. Human beings and peoples will discover and accept each other as brothers and sisters, as a family and as a single species capable of love, solidarity, compassion, non-violence, justice, fraternity, peace and spirituality.

Is this a utopia? It is undoubtedly a utopia, but a necessary one. It guides us in our search. A utopia is, by definition, unattainable. But it is like the stars: they are unreachable, but what would the night sky be without stars? It would be nothing but darkness and we would be disoriented and lost. A utopia likewise lends direction and purpose to our lives and struggles.

The noosphere, then, is the next step for humanity. Allow me a small digression: if, in the time of the dinosaurs, which inhabited the Earth for more than 100 million years and disappeared some 65 million years ago, a hypothetical observer had wondered what the next evolutionary step would be, he probably would have thought: more of the same. In other words, even bigger and more voracious dinosaurs.

But that answer would have been wrong. That hypothetical observer never would have imagined that a small mammal no bigger than a rabbit, living in treetops, feeding on flowers and shoots and trembling at the possibility of being devoured by a dinosaur, would eventually become our ancestor.

From that creature, millions of years later, emerged something completely new, with qualities totally different from those of the dinosaurs, including a conscience, intelligence and love: the first human beings, from whom we who are gathered here are descended.

And so it was not more of the same. It was a break, a new step.

I firmly believe that today we are once again on the threshold of a new step in the evolutionary process: a step towards a human family that is united with itself, with nature and with Mother Earth.

I am tempted to echo the words: "I have a dream!". It is, indeed, a dream. A glorious, beautiful, happy dream.

The main focus of this new step will be life in all its forms, humanity with all its peoples and ethnic groups, the Earth as a mother with all its vitality and an economy that creates the material conditions for making all this possible. We will need the material capital we have built up, but the focus will be on human and spiritual capital, whose most wholesome fruits are fraternity or brotherhood, cooperation, solidarity, love, economic and ecological justice, compassion and the capacity to coexist happily with all our differences, in the same shared home, the great and generous Mother Earth.

They say that Jesus, Buddha, Francis of Assisi, Rumi, Tolstoy, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King and many other great prophets and teachers of the past and present, of which every country and culture has an exemplar, were ahead of their time in taking this new step.

They are all our most formative teachers, our lodestars, who fan the flame of hope that assures us that we still have a future, a blessed future for all of us.

As our dear brother Joseph Stiglitz aptly put it: "The legacy of this economic and financial crisis will be a worldwide battle of ideas".

I firmly believe that new ideas, new visions and new dreams will galvanize our spirits and our hearts. The old gods are dying out, and new ones are emerging with the vigour of newborn infants. My reflections are meant to bring energy and enthusiasm to this battle of ideas and visions.

If we humans are to take a qualitative leap forward, we must give up our quest to become the lords and masters of creation, forgetting that we are not owners but only caretakers, which, after all, is no small thing.

Only when we accept the fact that we are caretakers and not owners and that we will one day be held to account for our stewardship will the grandeur of our humanity shine forth.

Thank you.

____________________________________________________________
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Honduras President Zelaya invited to address UN GA

Honduras' Zelaya invited to address UN Assembly
Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:35pm EDT
Reuters

UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Reuters) - U.N. General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto said on Monday he had invited ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya to address the assembly "as soon as possible."

"I have sent a letter to the President of Honduras ... to come to the United Nations and address the General Assembly as soon as possible and give us an updated report on events in his country," D'Escoto said.

D'Escoto, a former foreign minister in the left-wing Sandinista government of Nicaragua in the 1980s, was speaking at an assembly session he had convened to discuss the coup in Honduras.

The Honduran military seized Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica on Sunday amid a dispute over Zelaya's bid to extend presidential terms in office. (Reporting by Patrick Worsnip, Editing by Sandra Maler)

Honduras On Side of New Financial System at UN

by Mike Tolochko

H.E. Mr. Aristides Mejia Carranza, Vice President of the Republic of Honduras
Spoke at the UN General Assembly Meeting on Economic and Financial Crisis

NY Times and Wall Street Journal Reporting of Coup; Blame President Zelaya

The first person called on by General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto to speak in reference to the OUTCOME DOCUMENT on Wednesday, June 24 was H.E. Mr. Aristides Mejia Garranza, Vice President of the Republic of Honduras. There was a statement by d'Escoto that solidarity was needed for that country from the General Assembly.

The Vice President said that there needs to be a new financial architecture for the world's economic and financial future. He opposed the privatization of the state government that was demanded by the monolithic organizations now in charge. He said that he had little faith in the market system. He also deplored the legal protections being given to the speculators.

He reported that growth the Honduras was 6% in 2006; 7% in 2007; 4% in 2008 and they anticipate a growth of just 2% in 2009.

The military coup took place in Honduras over the weekend; a couple of days following these statements at the United Nations. President Manuel Zelaya was militarily removed from his home, in its capital of Teguclagalpa, and taken to Costa Rica.

The NY Times lead front page story minimized the anti-democratic, militaristic actions taken and chose to emphasize Zelaya's solidarity with other newly elected, democratic forces in Latin American, most of whom are left and left center. That the Organization of American States and the European Union opposed that military action escaped the front page NY Times article. The United States voice strong opposition to the coup was like an after thought to the Times.

The commentary by Simon Romero, the NY Times reporter for Latin America started with a truthful headline, "Rare Hemispheric Unity in Assailing Honduran Coup." But, that is where fact moved into fiction. The Romero, "New Analysis" column did all but blame the coup on President Zelaya. Romero has given Times readers a constant stream of anti-progressive, anti-democratic opinion on Latin America. The NY Times and Romero should be reminded of their own rhetoric that the cold war is over.

The Times news article also failed to highlight that the military coup also forcibly removed from the Capital the ambassadors from Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

The Wall Street Journal predictably attacked the solidarity that President Zelaya received from other Latin American countries, but did report that he called for unions, peoples' organization and others to protect and defend their democratic freedoms. They also warned that the coup would feed into the perception that interventionist forces would use military means to gain what it could not gain democratically; and, citing the failed coup in Venezuela where the U.S. played a major role.

Honduras is bordered on the south by Nicaragua, on the east by El Salvador and north by Guatemala.

Senior admin. official on Honduras coup

This is a quote from an unidentified senior Obama administration official speaking on a State Department conference call. This version of that official's remarks were distributed by the State Department:

"...all of you are familiar with the events of this morning and as they played out in the course of the day, and probably also familiar with the statement released by the White House from the President and also from the State Department from the Secretary. In addition to those statements, we’ve been working in the OAS Permanent Council towards a consensus resolution that will condemn the effort to depose President Zelaya of Honduras, calling for his return to Honduras and for full restoration of democratic order. Although that resolution is not done yet, but I think it shows how quickly the OAS under the leadership of a variety of key countries, the United States included, has responded to this event and how relevant the OAS, and in particular the Inter-American Charter, has been in determining how the OAS and the regional countries respond to this kind of event.

Obviously, this has been an event that has been a long time in brewing. We and other regional partners have worked very hard to try to address the underlying causes of it, to address the political polarization in Honduras, and especially to facilitate dialogue between competing institutions to ensure that there was a democratic resolution of the differences in Honduras and a resolution that respected constitutional order.

It’s profoundly regrettable that that was not the case and that this morning the military moved against President Zelaya, detaining him, and then expelling him from the country to Costa Rica. As noted, we’ve condemned this action. We view President Zelaya as the constitutional president of Honduras, and we’ve called for a full restoration of democratic order in Honduras. And we will continue to work with our partners in the OAS and elsewhere to ensure that that happens, but then also to begin to address the underlying political polarization and problems that led to this...."

US backs Zelaya against military coup in Honduras

U.S. says Zelaya is the only president of Honduras
Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:32pm EDT
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration recognizes ousted President Manuel Zelaya as the only constitutional president of Honduras, a senior administration official said on Sunday.

"We recognize Zelaya as the duly elected and constitutional president of Honduras. We see no other," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters in a conference call organized by the U.S. State Department.

A second official on the same conference call stressed that the United States strongly backed efforts by the Organization of American States to forge a resolution condemning a coup d'etat ousting Zelaya on Sunday and calling for him to be reinstated.

"This is not a process that should be interfered with bilaterally by any country in the Americas," said the second official.

"Ultimately the answer is going to arise from a resolution of the political tensions that led us to this moment."

The two officials also reiterated earlier U.S. statements that condemned the Honduran military's takeover and called for a return to the democratic rule of law and a peaceful resolution of the crisis through dialogue.

Un General Assembly Calls for New World Economic and Financi al Order

by Mike Tolochko

United Nations General Assembly Calls for a
New Financial and Economic World Order

OUTCOME DOCUMENT Is Passed Unanimously by Consensus

NY TIMES; WASHINGTON POST; WALL STREET JOURNAL BOYCOTT

[Venezuelan Government Minister Denied Visa to Attend UN Session]

At 3:00 PM on Friday, June 26, 2009, Miguel d'Escoto, President of the United Nations General Assembly, gaveled the meeting to order. He then announced that the OUTCOME DOCUMENT, which was previously agreed to through often-fierce negotiation, had passed the General Assembly unanimously by consensus. [See June 25th Blog on Day One of UN Session for entire DOCUMENT]

A very loud applause followed.

This moment has been seen by most of the General Assembly's 192 nations as a turning point in the struggle to bring the world back from economic and financial crisis. It was previously noted by everyone that this current crisis came on the heels of the Food, Energy and Climate Changes crises. And, on more than one occasion delegates and d'Escoto called for full nuclear disarmament. Nuclear disarmament is the theme of the annual NGO meeting-taking place in Mexico City in September.

It was President d'Escoto who coined the term G192 to deal with them all. This as compared to the G8 or the G20, which is dominated by the major powers; which gave us these crises.

There was a great spirit in the main General Assembly hall and the gallery who witnessed the event.

The most important part of the DOCUMENT is Item #53. This section of the DOCUMENT clearly came from the rejection of the "CONDITIONALITIES" that the IMF, World Bank and its Regional Banks placed on their financing. And, also, the demand that any future monies will not ADD to the debt that most developing countries already have accumulated. Section 26 made it clear that previous commitments made must be honored: "Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus, the 2005 world Summit, at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, in the Doha Declaration by 2015, and the G20 London Summit." Here it as stated in the DOCUMENT:

53. In order to operationalise the lines of action agreed to in the Conference and as a bridge to on-going processes through which Member States may be informed on a timely basis of on-going work and decision-making processes, the following mechanisms might be considered:
 Establish a multi-stakeholder Panel of Experts to offer independent advice to the General Assembly and to the Economic and Social Council on issues that they shall deem relevant to each of the main areas of global economic, financial, trade, and regulatory coordination and action.The Panel shall include well-respected academic experts, as well as representatives of social movements and the private sector.
 Establish a new Global Economic Council that is part of the United Nations system which provides coordination and oversight of concerted responses in addressing the broader range of global challenges.
 Review how ECOSOC can more meaningfully implement its mandated role to make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters and make recommendations with respect to any of such matters to the General Assembly, to the Members of the United Nations, and to the specialized agencies concerned (Article 62.1.) in order to promote consistency and coherence of and support consensus around policies on global economic issues.
 Review the agreement between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions in collaboration with these institutions, focusing particular attention on the mechanisms for enhancing coordination and cooperation between the respective institutions, as well as the opportunities for contributing to strengthening the development mandates and effectiveness of both institutions.
 We request the President of the General Assembly to keep the Conference open and name the following seven ministerial and technical level working groups:
1. Global Stimulus for Restructuring and Survival
2. Finance for Restructuring and Survival
3. Emergency Trade Stimulation and Debt Relief
4. Global and Regional Reserve Systems
5. Regulation and Coordination of Global Economy
6. Restructuring International Institutions
7. Role of the United Nations
We further request the President of the General Assembly to program subsequent meetings with the first at the technical and ministerial level to take place in the first fortnight of September, 2009, and the last at the level of Heads of State and Government, prior to the end of the 64th General Assembly. Measures should be taken to ensure the continuity of this process through its culmination.
54. We hold these extraordinary undertakings to be appropriate and necessary for the times. And we believe that the truest measure of our success shall be told in our ability to work together to build a better world that affords to all members of our global society equal opportunities to live in conditions of far greater economic opportunity, prosperity, security, and justice.

Part #53 is the centerpiece of the G192 and the source of most of the discussion.

In the area of jobs the document placed demands on the International Labor Organization in number 51: "The International Labor Organization to elaborate a proposal to create a Global Jobs Pact based on the Decent Work Agenda. This pack would make the global response for recovery job-intensive and shape a pattern for sustainable growth, which would also include ensuring adequate access to credits for small and medium sized enterprises and for farmers, especially in developing countries."

Speaking on the New Document

President d'Escoto started calling on the assembled nations for their last comments. The first to speak was the United State of America.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, was not present; which was probably a big mistake. The person speaking clearly needs to get in sync with the method of speaking by the new Administration. After giving some comments that he listened to the previous couple of days and welcomed the comments from developing countries; he said that he would be giving the United States interpretation of the document. His tone was bellicose and condescending.

He focused on item # 53: He made it clear that the US does not agree with the Ad Hoc Expert Panel being a co-equal partner with the Breton Woods groups, i.e., the World Bank, their regional banks and IMF. He said that the governing bodies of those two groups had to be respected. And, that trade agreements must be honored.

Then he went through ten different parts of the Document giving the US interpretation of what was said. He said that the G8 $250 billion would make a real difference.

What was probably most offensive was his assertion that the UN didn't have the expertise to have an Ad Hoc Expert panel. This was clearly a direct slap at Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who heads the General Assembly's expert panel. He is a Nobel Prize winner and a former head economist for the World Bank.

The European Union was represented by the Czech Republic and also supported the IMF and World, but was clearly very respectful of the General Assembly's Document and the process that generated it. He did call for all nations to work together.

CUBA

The next nation to speak was Cuba. The speaker complemented the GA leadership for working hard to get the Document before the body. He said that document should have directly documented the failure of the Neo Liberal Model and that that Model created the crisis. He said unless real action takes place, soon, the United Nations' MDGs are in deep jeopardy. He said the human being should be at the center of the solutions. And, he emphasized that the UN needs to be at the center of the activities; not the G20 or G8. "The International financial system has to be restructured from the bottom up."

The Cuban speaker said that the discussion of "Human Security" must not be interpreted for imperial actions of strong countries interfering in weaker countries.

[3. Globalisation has facilitated the rapid international diffusion of the crisis, and it compels us to devise a coordinated, comprehensive and global response. Most countries lack the individual financial capacity to either affect the system or provide the necessary ameliorative stimulus measures. But those countries nonetheless have ideas, concerns, perspectives and a necessary historical role in shaping the institutions that would mitigate or prevent such crises in the future. Only the inclusive presence of all States and their
collective voice in the General Assembly of the United Nations can ensure the enduring legitimacy of our future international financial system and institutions. And, No. 6. This Conference represents the beginning of an ongoing and concerted engagement of the entire global community with the pillars of our financial architecture. We stand at the crossroads of growth and development; and at the threshold of a new era of global fiscal responsibility and people-centered progress. The bedrock ethics and values of our common humanity must also inform our global financial interactions, and cannot be sacrificed on the altar of reckless speculation or onerous conditionality. Our continued pursuit of profit and economic growth must be leavened by our collective responsibilities in the satisfaction of human needs, the realization of human rights and the achievement of human security.]

He said that the food, energy and climate change crises are now confronted with the economic and financial crisis.

Venezuela

Venezuela was next. He complemented the leadership of the General Assembly for his work in getting the Document in the best shape he could. He fully supported the Document's Expert Working Group/Task Force as a logical follow through.

He also said that, "imperial powers might use the working of the Human Security phrase in the Document."

He cited the two Latin American institutions: ALBA and Bank of the South as the wave of the future.

The representative from Nicaragua voice great pride in the work of President d'Escoto who is from Nicaragua. He said that the final document was a compromise text. The "Human Security" phrase also worried him.

The Canadian speaker said that the United Nations General Assembly has brought the world consensus together. Of course, he voiced support for the Breton Woods groups, but in a calm, not bellicose manner.

The Iranian representative supported the Document and that it sent a positive signal to the world. He also expressed concern with the Human Security references.

The representative from Jamaica speaking for the CARICOM nations, the Caribbean countries were very supportive of the Document. He spoke at length about the value of the Document. At the end of his statement, in praising the working of d'Escoto he read the lyrics of a famous Bob Marley song, the historical Jamaican songwriter and performer.

The Bolivarian representative emphasized the G192 aspect of the report. He expressed doubt that the Free Markets and Free Trade years can be regulated by those who were supposed to be doing that. He called for a restructuring of the Breton Woods groups.

Sudan spoke for the Group of 77 plus China. They reported for support for the DOCUMENT especially the continuation group: the Ad Hoc Committee of Experts.

Japan was the last nation to speak. They voiced support for the Document, but also for the Breton Woods groups.

President d'Escoto then called an end to this segment of the GA meeting. Declaring the DOCUMENT passed and commented on. He said that the DOCUMENT would bring: SOLIDARITY, STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. He said that this was a major achievement and a good first step. Reforming the International Finance Institutions is top priority.

He emphasized the need to continue work on Climate Change.

He thanked everyone associated with the document; especially Joseph Stiglitz who headed up the EXPERT PANEL. He said we are in a battle of ideas and the Expert panel did a great job of leveling the field.

He was heartened by the political will to get this DOCUMENT THROUGH.

He reminded everyone that we don't own the world; we are its caretakers.

The General Assembly then continued making its comments.

The next speaker from Venezuela made the stunning announcement that their government's minister who was to give this discussion point was denied a visa from the United States embassy in Caracas.

The speaker spoke at length about the new directions being forged in Latin America with the ALBA and the Bank of the South. And that the SUCRE would be the common currency of the new system. The ALBA and its SUCRE were highlighted in the DOCUMENT.

He said that the IMF and World Bank are obsolete. He also ripped the Washington Consensus of the 1990s, which unleashed the developed world against the developing world.

He said that the G192 was the most legitimate, democratic way to proceed. He also cited Reuters and the financial news of people associated with nation who work at the UN in their demeaning comments on this General Assembly meeting. One said that the meeting was a "Joke" and the other called d'Escoto a REBEL priest.

US News Boycott; Internationally the Session was Fully Reported

The New York Times, Daily News, Weekend Edition of the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post ALL completely rejected any reporting on this special UN General Assembly meeting and its outcome.

On the other hand, Reuters gave full coverage, but the U.S. mainstream press did not pick them up.

China Daily and Xinhua gave full coverage.

Book Review: When Will There Be Good News: Atkinson

by Eric Green

Book Review: When Will There Be Good News
Kate Atkinson
A Novel [Mystery]
2008
Little Brown

For the growing number of Kate Atkinson fans, if they haven't already read her newest novel, "When Will There Be Good News" doesn't waste anytime doing so. It fits right into her novel/mystery world. In this one she has her main characters: Detective Chief Inspector Louse Monroe and ex-cop Jackson Brodie once again doing battle and getting the bad guys.

Her previous successes of Behind the Scenes at the Museum and Case Histories have another partner in success.

In this one Atkinson has a 16-year-old heroine, Reggie, taking us through many harrowing experiences; most of which no one would want to endure. But, for Reggie, given her own person and family history, it all made some kind of sense.

Her relationship with Dr. Joanna Hunter [Mason] and Hunter's husband Neil is complicated enough to keep your interest. And, of course, her brother makes her life a living hell.

Reggie's "mom" Mrs. McDonald has her set of complications that fit into the main disaster of the book, which Atkinson is also at the top of her form.

Weaving in the convicted molesters, Decker and Needler are a nice aspect and one, which goes through the book.

Brodie's wife, Tess Webb, the love of his life and the stability he had been looking for provides a final episode in the book.

Atkinson is truly a mystery novelist that just keeps making better and better worlds for her readings to enjoy. And, I should add, the reader learns even more about Scotland's world of Edinburgh and Glasgow

Keep 'em comin'.

Do as I say not as I do

On labor issues, bishops say one thing, do another
Jun. 26, 2009
By Rita C. Schwartz
National Catholic Reporter

On June 22, 2009, “Respecting the Just Right of Workers: Guidance and Options for Catholic Health Care and Unions” was released by a Coalition consisting of the AFL-CIO, SEIU International, Catholic Health Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The National association of Catholic School Teachers, a national union representing teachers in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, takes issue with the members of the Bishops’ Conference because of their negligence in the application of Catholic social teaching when their fellow bishops are involved, especially in regard to employees most directly under the bishops’ control, in particular, Catholic school teachers.

In the foreword to “Respecting the Just Rights of Workers,” Bishop William Murphy talks about the ten year dialogue exploring “how Catholic social teaching should shape the actions of unions, management and others in assuring workers a free and fair choice on questions of representation in the workplace.” What follows is a blueprint to be followed by management and labor in Catholic Health Care institutions to ensure a process that is “free, fair and respectful.”

Throughout the document, the U.S. Bishops are making clear to Catholic healthcare employers that a worker’s right to unionize is “a fundamental principle of social justice recognized by the church.”

This is the latest social justice document of the U.S. Bishops that all but sky writes DO AS WE SAY, NOT AS WE DO. Where were the bishops when Cardinal Sean O’Malley cut the archdiocesan high school system into individual units and discarded the 30 year history of union recognition and negotiated contracts, making the teachers employees at will?

Read more...

House passes historic climate legislation

by Joel Wendland

After a contentious debate, during which the main Republican position seemed to be that global warming isn't real and that freedom equals the right to pollute unhindered, the House tonight passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

The bill would create a cap and trade system in which polluters will buy pollution credits. The goal is to create an incentive for them to change their ways and find cleaner methods of production. In addition, the bill mandates a gradual increase of electricity production from clean resources, like wind and solar power instead of coal-fired energy plants. The ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and limit its worst effects.

The funds raised by the cap and trade system will be in the hundreds of billions over the next ten years and will fund investments in clean energy production, and along with it millions of so-called green jobs. Put simply, if a similar bill passes in the Senate and becomes law, we are quite possibly looking at the end of the monopoly Big Oil and Big Coal have on energy production. The transition will be gradual, but it will be ongoing.

Some of the resources will be used to offset higher energy costs for working families.

Barack Obama had originally planned that some of the funds raised would also finance making his working families tax cuts permanent after 2010. It passed as part of the economic recovery act, but they expire after 2010. That tax offset hasn't shown up yet.

ACES has the support of labor and environmental coalitions like the Blue-Green Alliance and the Apollo Alliance. Some on the left in the Democratic Party opposed the bill because it didn't go far enough, and others like Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, wanted stronger guarantees in the bill itself for new investments in revitalizing the manufacturing sector with subsidies that will offset the impacts of the cap and trade system in ACES. A Senate bill, known as IMPACT, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, would take those steps.

The most drama came from Republican Minority Leader John Boehner, a well-known drama queen, who filibustered with an hour-long speech after he realized his side didn't have enough votes to block it. That's what it feels like to be on the wrong side of history, I guess.

Now the fight turns to the Senate. A Democratic majority of 59 or 60 doesn't guarantee easy passage, however. Time to step up the fight.

Day Two of UN Session: Ecuador President Speaks

by MIKE TOLOCHKO

DAY TWO OF UN MEETINGS: PRESIDENT OF ECUADOR SPEAKS OUT

IMF AND WORLD BANK IN THE CENTER OF STORM

Thursday's UN sessions on the financial and economic crisis continued in a few venues. Under the guidance of President Miguel d'Escoto, the General Assembly continued the procession of nation's responding to his call.

At a special morning roundtable, "coordinated and collaborative actions and appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis on development" various speakers presented.

Martin Khor spoke from a group home based in Geneva whose mission is to focus on developing countries, South Centre. Khor is the executive Director. The full house heard a very sharp proposal that the UN play a central role in the next phase of recovery and stabilization. He endorsed the prevailing position that the crisis was not of "our" making; yet are suffering the most. He fingered, as none had before, Wall Street and the U.S., as the culprits. In another repeat, he also said that the few "green shoots" in the U.S. means nothing to the rest of the world. Secretary-General of UN Ban Ki-Moon said that earlier.

This is the fear that as improvement starts, may start, in the developed world, the G8, there won't been a need for worldwide action.

Khor said that any help given to the developing nations cannot be credit driven. We don't need to go into further debt.

He said that the G8 or G20 is not the solution; it is the UN with its 192 nations. There is a crisis in credibility that has to be overcome.

Speakers from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Supachai Panitchpakdi; and, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific, Noeleen Heyzer, both repeated the theme that the developing nations did not create this crisis; but they are feeling it the worst.

Also, each of the speakers, as did almost every other speaker, pointed to the crises in Food, Energy and Jobs that were taking place before the general economic and financial crisis hit.

Robert Johnson, a member of the Stiglitz Expert Commission, sounded a particularly almost ridiculous tone when appealed for compassion from other countries for the crisis in the U.S., the developed countries. He cited the crisis in Michigan and its high unemployment rate. He said that he has heard such comments as "Just rewards" and similar vengeance comments at the U.S. as pleading for some compassion.

But, he did end with saying that the full UN, the G192, must be part of the solution, even though they were not part of the problem.

Needless to say, most speakers said the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals MDGs set by the UN under Kofi Anan, were in deep jeopardy.

President Rafael Correa Delgado

In another special session held in the prestigious ECOSOC Chambers, the Economic and Social Council, the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa spoke before a full house. The session was sponsored by "Our World is Not for Sale" Alianza Social Continental; Friends of the Earth International; Jubilee South; Social Watch; 10 Days of Action; and Anlazaqndo Alternativas.

The Title of the Session was; People's Rights Not Corporate Profits; Closing the International Centre for Settlement of Investment ?Disputes [JCSID] and Challenging free Trade Agreements on the Road to Build Just Economic and Social Governance.

The Permanent missions of Ecuador and the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the United Nations were cooperative partners in this session.

Correa's talk made it clear that Latin America, while suffering in the current crisis, is not suffering had it not gone its own road; each country and also together separate from the United States massive influence that used to take place.

Correa said that the crisis was inherent in the Capitalist system. "We are not the authors of the crisis; that is the IMF. He said that even today, after talking with Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega, that the IMF is still imposing instruments of backwardness with its lending."

"As far as I am concerned the IMF should go away," that got a standing ovation.

He than talked about the Bank of South that is being started by: Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. This regional bank will be free from the influences of the World Bank and the IMF.

He said gone are the days when our money will be used to invest in Florida and loose money.

He pointed to the need for a common currency; and the contradiction that his own country used the US dollar.

He pointed to ALBA [see yesterday's blog] as a real step forward. Both ALBA and the Bank of the South will give all of Latin America, Central America and Caribbean countries an alternative to the Brenton Woods groups, i.e., the World Bank and IMF.

All of these measures are to protect us from the globalization that has given us the crisis.

PEOPLE FIRST BEFORE MARKETS was his main cry and he received a standing ovation.

Venezuelan ambassador to US Alvarez calls for cooperation

Statement of Venezuelan Embassy:

Ambassador Alvarez underlines the historical importance of the expeditious restoration of ambassadors

(Press Unit of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the United States, June 26, 2009) On Friday at 5:00 pm, the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez, arrived in the US capital. His return to the U.S. takes place immediately after the governments of President Barack Obama and President Hugo Chavez agreed yesterday via reciprocal diplomatic notes, to annul the measures taken against their respective ambassadors in Caracas and Washington in September of 2008.

Speaking from Ronald Reagan National Airport, Ambassador Alvarez told the press “that the reestablishment of ambassadors constitutes the first step in normalizing relations, recovering the political and diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, and reclaiming common ground in bilateral relations, such as in the area of energy cooperation.” Likewise, Alvarez pointed to “the historical importance of the decision of both presidents to choose the most expedient path towards the normalization of relations, by removing the persona non grata status placed on the ambassadors.”

This is an unusual measure in U.S. diplomacy.

In the exchange with the press, the newly reinstated ambassador also emphasized unresolved issues that require prompt attention, such as the extradition case of Luis Posada Carriles. Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States deteriorated notably during the Bush administration. Since the election of President Barack Obama, both governments have expressed the desire to normalize relations.
This measure has received the support of many important sectors and people in both countries.

Sebelius reiterates Obama's support for public option

Sebelius reiterates Obama's support for public option
by Joel Wendland
People's Weekly World Newspaper
06/26/09 15:34

Pressing hard on the urgency of needed health reform, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a set of new state-by-state reports this week documenting the nation's broken health system.

The new reports reveal that it doesn't matter which state or region, "the health care crisis impacts all of America," Sebelius told reporters on a conference call June 26. In her responses to questions, she reiterated President Obama's support for a public option as part of the needed reforms.

The reports, produced by HHS's Agency for Health Research and Quality, showed a dire picture of far too many people without coverage and far too many with insurance who have only inadequate access to care. "Skyrocketing health care costs are hurting families, forcing businesses to cut or drop health benefits, and straining state budgets," the reports point out. "Millions are paying more for less."

Read more ....

Working families rally in D.C. for health reform

Remarks as Delivered by AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker National Health Care Reform Rally Washington, DC
June 25, 2009

My name is Arlene Holt Baker. I'm Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO and I'm speaking today on behalf of 11 million workers who are members of AFL-CIO unions.

When Congress finishes its work on national health care reform, voters will be asking one question of their elected officials: "Does this mean I will be able to get high quality health care for myself and my family at a price we can afford?" The answer, my sisters and brothers, had better be "yes."

Health care just for the wealthy will not do. Health care without strong cost controls will not work. And health care without a quality public plan option to lower costs is totally unacceptable.

As trade unionists, we know what out-of-control health care prices are doing to our contracts and our family budgets — we've been fighting the fight for affordability for many, many years.

In our brand new 2009 Health Care for America Survey of more than 23,000 people, more than half said they cannot get the health care they need at prices they can afford. A third of them have to forego basic medical care because it costs too much. Forty-three percent of those who have health insurance still can't get the care they need at prices they can pay.

Accessibility for all, high quality care and affordability are the building blocks of a new health care system for America. Nothing works without all three and affordability is the key. We demand no less, we will tolerate no less, we will accept no less.

Thank you for being here and for all that you will do in the days ahead.

Catholic Bishops Stand Up for Workers Rights

Bishops’ labor document seen as breakthrough
Jun. 24, 2009
By Jerry Filteau
The National Catholic Reporter
WASHINGTON

A new U.S. bishops’ document aimed at improving long-troubled labor relations in Catholic health care “is an enormous breakthrough,” said Manhattan College religious studies professor Joseph J. Fahey, chairman of Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice.

“This is a milestone event,” said union leader Gerald M. Shea, assistant for government affairs to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney.

“It’s just stunning,” said John Carr, secretary for justice, peace and human development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “I mean, you have the highest levels of the labor movement and the Catholic Church reaching an agreement when nobody else can, and it’s a wonderful process.”

The 16-page document, released June 22 by the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, is titled “Respecting the Just Rights of Workers: Guidance and Options for Catholic Health Care and Unions.” It is available on the Web [1].

The result of two years of dialogue by a team of bishops, national labor leaders and top representatives of Catholic health care, it offers a constructive alternative to what retired Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington called the “antagonistic, confrontational and resisting tactics which too often come in” when workers in Catholic hospitals seek union representation. Cardinal McCarrick chaired the dialogue.

“The heart of this unusual consensus,” he said, “is that it is up to workers -- not bishops, hospital managers or union leaders -- to decide ‘through a fair process’ whether or not to be represented by a union and, if so, which union, in the workplace.”

Read more...

US State Dept. statement on ambassadors issue with Venezuela

Statement of Ian Kelly (State spokesperson), June 25th:

Through an exchange of diplomatic notes, the United States and Venezuela have agreed to rescind the declarations of persona non grata issued in September 2008 and return U.S. Ambassador Patrick D. Duddy and Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Álvarez to their respective posts in Caracas and Washington.

An experienced career diplomat, Ambassador Duddy enjoys the full confidence of President Obama and Secretary Clinton. With his return, full diplomatic representation will resume. This important step will help advance U.S. interests by improving bilateral communication and enhancing our outreach to the Venezuelan people.

UN General Assembly President d'Escoto's Outcome Document Opens Three Day Session

by Mike Tolochko

The UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development

General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Rallies G-192 To Fight Against Global Corporate Greed

Outcome Document Ready for Action

Starting back in 2008 with the establishment of a Joseph Stiglitz Expert Commission and a major General Assembly session and working day to day for the next 8 months, President Miguel d'Escoto opened the official Annual General Assembly session, today.

It wasn't without a four-week postponement, which appeared to stem from the time it took to come up with Draft Outcome Document that the assembled nation delegates would be considering. [See below for full document.]

What was supposed to be the final draft was unacceptable and had to be revised. The paragraph that is reported to be unacceptable is: "Much of the modern rise in prosperity and worldwide growth is attributable to the successes of globalization and free trade. The global recovery from this financial and economic crisis, and our future global resilience, require a speedy conclusion of the WTO DOHA Round and provision of much need trade finance."

A NY Times story about the postponement attacked d'Escoto for being a factious president ["At UN a Sandinistas Plan for Recovery," NY times May 25, 2009]. But, that attack from the Times clearly fell on its face. The excitement of the opening session was clear.

General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon opened the session. He declared the opening of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly and asked for acclamation that Miguel d'Escoto be voted as the President of the session. It was done.

Speaking in Spanish, d'Escoto delivered a powerful speech that sent a clear message to the world that the United Nations must be a major player, if not the central player in solving the world financial crisis.

His remarks were replete with comments that made it clear that he is speaking for the base of the UN not its top sections. "This is a unique moment of human history." "Our futures are at stake." "We are citizens of our individual nations, but also citizens of the world."

He said we must avoid a human crisis. "We have to seek inclusive solutions."

And, that there is no better place to gain the global democratic inclusiveness than in the General Assembly with the G-192; which is all the nations in the GA.

d'Escoto said that we "cannot build a Noah's ark around the developed nations, leaving out the developing nations."

He repeated a theme that "we are not responsible for this crisis." It came from an "Irresponsible Powerful Minority." They represent a selfish way of life that only produces and consumes. They represent a perverse world of social injustice.

He said we have to reverse this world tide or will become like dinosaurs.

A New Paradigm

The president said we have developed a new, sustainable way of life of social coexistence. We have to development a new way of looking at the world.

Given his religious background, he is a priest, d'Escoto often made references to "Mother Earth" and the need to respect her.

"The earth can live without use; but we cannot live without the earth." he was making reference to the food, energy and climate change crises that have happening the last years.

But, as the same time, he attacked the neo liberal demands of privatization of public services. He called for a new international covenant on water. Water must be accessible for everyone. He said that same about forests.

He said that those who build machineries of death must be stopped. "Abolish nuclear weapons completely, not just reduction." "Zero tolerance."

He gave 5 pillars to guide practice:

• Sustainable use of scarce natural resources;
• Give the Economy its rightful place; but must be respectful of values; it is not a value itself;
• Spreading democracy in all social relations; political sphere and also into the economy, culture and everywhere;
• Baseline ethics; multicultural exchanges;
• Spiritual vision of the world.

Four ethical standards:

• Overall respect;
• A caring world;
• Universal responsibility
• Cooperation

d'Escoto made it clear that the solutions for the crisis must not just benefit the minority; it must benefit the majority of nations.

He then quoted Pope Benedict XVI that we must have a new time of world solidarity and wisdom. Every human being is important.

Ban Ki-Moon then rejoined the discussion stating that this is the worst crisis in the history of the UN and the "shoots of recovery are negligible when compared to the millions being pushed into poverty. One billion go to bed hungry. "We need International Solidarity; We need the U.N."

He made reference to the G8 and the G20, but he said the UN represents everyone; all humanity.

Following d'Escoto and Ban Ki-Moon nation delegates were called on to speak.

Representatives from Honduras; Gambia; Zimbabwe; Belize [speaking for the CARICOM nations, i.e., the Caribbean countries} and others. A recurring them was the Solidarity comes before the Market.

During the lunch break, a "Side event" was held by the UN Institute for Training and Research: "Migration and the World Crisis." At this session H.E. Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra from the UN section on the least developed countries spoke about the economic crisis that is creating migrating workers around the world.

H.E. Ms Maria Fernandez Espinosa, the permanent representative from Ecuador to the UN spoke of the 3 million Ecuadorians in the U.S., with one million in the New York region alone. She cited the new Ecuadorian constitution, which gives extended rights to everyone living in that nation.

Professor Bimal Ghosh, Columbian School and Fellow at the Bogotá University hit a very somber note. He made it clear that the crisis has not reached it bottom point and migrating workers will become more prevalent.

Stephano Manservisi of the European Commission cited the recent anti-migrant workers EU elections that something must be done quickly. Fernandez had said earlier that 3 Ecuadorian workers were murdered in NYC.

The General Assembly continued it nation reports in the afternoon, but a major roundtable was held in regard to the Expert Panel headed by Joseph Stiglitz. Each panelist was given 10m minutes so that the audience could comment and ask questions

Stiglitz is Chairman of the Commission of Experts of the President of the General Assembly on reforms of the International Monetary and Financial systems. He reported on the Commission findings, which are reflected in the Outcome Document. [SEE BELOW FOR FULL DOCUMENT] It is highly critical of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The Fund was represented by Mr. Muilo Portugal and the Bank by Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. They attempted to defend their actions and tried to show each was being flexible and adapting to the crisis.

Mr. Yu UYongding, former Director of the Institute of world Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Scientists and former Member of the Monetary Policy Commission, People's Bank of China associated himself with the Stiglitz Report. He served on the Expert Commission.

In the give and take that following the Expert Panel most nations sided with the need for strong action.

CUBA AND VENEZUELA

Both the Cuban and Venezuelan representatives attacked the neo-liberal policies that created the crisis. They said the G20 nations have done nothing to deal with the crisis. They said its anti-democratic nature makes it impossible to solve the crisis. They called upon the General Assembly to lead the process.

The Venezuelan representative was even more explicit. They said that they have not felt the crisis because the Venezuelan government withdrew its money from U.S. banks. He pointed to ALBA as an alternative financial method to the IMF and World Bank.

He said that among the members of ALBA is Ecuador, Honduras, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines and of course Venezuela. They see it as an alternative to the capitalist system. [SEE BELOW FOR ALBA DESCRIPTION]

[ Description of ALBA: The ALBA (Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas), as its Spanish initials indicate, is a proposed alternative to the U.S.-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA, ALCA in its Spanish initials), differing from the latter in that it advocates a socially-oriented trade block rather than one strictly based on the logic of deregulated profit maximization. ALBA appeals to the egalitarian principles of justice and equality that are innate in human beings, the well-being of the most dispossessed sectors of society, and a reinvigorated sense of solidarity toward the underdeveloped countries of the western hemisphere, so that with the required assistance, they can enter into trade negotiations on more favorable terms than has been the case under the dictates of developed countries.

By employing more effective mechanisms to eradicate poverty, ALBA—as proposed by the Venezuelan government—provides a counterweight to the policies and goals of the FTAA. This alternative model also identifies the most crucial impediments to achieve a genuine regional integration that transcends the prerogatives of the transnational corporations. One of the obstacles to confront is the deep disparity that exists in development between the countries of the hemisphere, whereby poor countries such as Haiti or Bolivia are compelled to compete with the world's leading economic power. In order to help overcome trade disadvantages, ALBA pushes for solidarity with the economically weakest countries, with the aim of achieving a free trade area in which all of its members benefit (a win-win alliance)….from web site.]

THE CONFERENCE CONTINUED TO THURSDAY…..

18-05-2009
Outcome of United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis
and its Impact on Development

We, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives of Member States, met in New York from 1-3 June 2009 for the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development.

1. The governments and peoples of the 192 Member States of the United Nations are collectively mired in the midst of the most severe financial and economic crisis since the establishment of the modern international financial architecture. It has become necessary to view this moment of crisis through the prism of 65 years of history, and to apply the lessons learned from the successes and failures of our manifold socioeconomic
endeavours. Our globalised economic order has evolved to contain elements that are under -regulated, unsupervised and unequal; and it has proven to be unstable and unsuited for the demands of the 21st Century.
2. As the fickle tides of financial optimism have ebbed, they have revealed the unfortunate shoals of poverty, suffering and wretchedness. Both within and between countries, the amassing of wealth has been accompanied by the accumulation of misery. The organisations and institutions whose actions precipitated this crisis did not
seek such a collapse, but their unintended human consequences are palpable and undeniable. Unfortunately, international financial institutions were unable to give warning, prevent or fashion an adequate response.
3. Globalisation has facilitated the rapid international diffusion of the crisis, and it compels us to devise a coordinated, comprehensive and global response. Most countries lack the individual financial capacity to either affect the system or provide the necessary ameliorative stimulus measures. But those countries nonetheless have ideas, concerns, perspectives and a necessary historical role in shaping the institutions that would mitigate or prevent such crises in the future. Only the inclusive presence of all States and their
collective voice in the General Assembly of the United Nations can ensure the enduring legitimacy of our future international financial system and institutions.
4. Developing countries are now bearing the brunt of this crisis, for which they are least responsible. The ongoing food and fuel crises have only compounded the effect of the financial and economic collapse, and exacerbated the burdens and sorrows of the developing world. Nonetheless, the destiny of developed and developing countries in an interdependent world and a globalised economy is inextricably linked. Therefore,
short-term stabilization measures must protect the poor, and long-term measures must ensure sustainable financial flows while simultaneously reducing the likelihood of future crises.
5. Peace, stability and prosperity are indivisible. Today, all nations are far more closely interconnected than ever before as active participants in the modern globalised financial and economic system. We believe that this critical moment calls for prompt, decisive and coordinated action to address the causes of the crisis; mitigate its global impact; and establish mechanisms to prevent similar crises in the future. Today, we have set forth
our global consensus on the responses to this crisis; prioritized the required lines of action; and defined a clear role for the United Nations in the implementation of our coordinated approach.
6. This Conference represents the beginning of an ongoing and concerted engagement of the ent ire global community with the pillars of our financial architecture. We stand at the crossroads of growth and development; and at the threshold of a new era of global fiscal responsibility and people-centred progress. The bedrock ethics and values of our common humanity must also inform our global financial interactions, and cannot be sacrificed on the altar of reckless speculation or onerous conditionality. Our continued pursuit of
profit and economic growth must be leavened by our collective responsibilit ies in the satisfaction of human needs, the realization of human rights and the achievement of human security. Present State of World Economy
7. This crisis follows in the footsteps of the food and energy crises and of the challenges posed by the impact of climate change. The global economic downturn is much deeper than expected, and the recovery will be gradual and uncertain. The United Nations estimates that the World Gross Product (WGP) will fall by 2.6 per
cent in 2009; the first decline since the Second World War. It is rapidly turning into a human and development calamity. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world are losing their jobs, their income their savings, their homes, and their ability to survive. More than 50 million people have al ready been driven into extreme poverty, particularly women and children. The number of chronically malnourished is expected to rise to over
one billion.

Impacts of the Crisis
8. The effects of the crisis are extremely disturbing and are likely to worsen. The crisis has produced or exacerbated severe, wide ranging and disparate impacts across the globe. The negative impacts, which vary by region and level of development, include the following:
 Rapid increases in unemployment, poverty and hunger
 Deceleration of growth, or severe economic contraction
 Negative effects on trade balances, balance of payments and foreign reserves
 Dwindling levels of Foreign Direct Investment
 Large and volatile movements in exchange rates
 Growing budget deficits and falling tax revenues
 Drastic reduction of world trade
 Sharp contraction in exports
 Falling prices for primary commodities
 Declining remittances to developing countries
 Sharply reduced revenues from tourism
 Massive withdrawal of private capital flows, also increasing the funding problem of the private sector in emerging and developing countries
 Drastically reduced access to credit, and trade financing
 Reduced public confidence in financial institutions
9. However, the greatest impacts may be difficult to quantify. At its heart the present crisis is a crisis of human security. The impacts of the crisis include the loss of self-esteem and self-worth, the evaporation of hope in a better future, despair, and fear for what the day of tomorrow may bring. We are deeply concerned wit h its severe adverse impact on development. This crisis put a disproportionate burden on women. Women also face greater income insecurity and increased burdens of family care. The crisis has exacerbated the challenges and impediments to the attainment of our internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. It risks becoming a social and human crisis – with implications for political stability and
peace.

Causes of the Crisis

10. The drivers of the financial and economic crisis are complex. We recognise that the root causes include structural crises in the fields of environment, energy, food, and water. They also include systemic factors such as the concentration of income and wealth as well as excessive market cycle volatility. These factors were made acute by global imbalances and major failures in financial regulation, supervision, and monitoring of the
financial sector. These regulatory failures, compounded by an overall lack of transparency and financial integrity, have led to excessive risk-taking, unsustainably high asset prices, irresponsible leveraging, and high levels of consumption fuelled by easy credit and inflated asset prices. Financial regulators, policymakers and institutions, which were preoccupied with the formal banking sector, failed to appreciate the risks in the
shadow financial system or address the extent of the growing economic vulnerabilities and their cross -border linkages. Other weaknesses of a systemic nature also contribute to the crisis. The overreliance on market self- regulation, the pursuit of unsustainable profit, and insufficient emphasis on ethical and equitable human development have resulted in severe deficiencies in our global financial and economic architecture, and significant inequalities among countries and peoples. The unfolding crisis has shown the need for better and more government involvement in the economy ensuring a new balance between the market and public interest.

Response to the Crisis

11. We are all in this crisis together. We will therefore work in solidarity on a vigorous, coordinated and comprehensive global response to the crisis in accordance with our abilities. Much of the responsibility for restoring global growth lies with the developed countries. An immediate priority is to stabilize the financial markets and restore confidence in them and counter falling demand and the recession. Major actions have already been taken in this context by developed countries. However, emerging and developing countries have a key role to play as well in improving the growth outlook,
maintaining macro-economic stability, and strengthening the international financial system. At the same time, strong and urgent actions are needed to counter the impact of the crisis on poor countries and help them restore strong growth and recover lost ground in their progress towards our internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. Therefore, a much larger share of the additional resources—both short-term liquidity and long-term development financing—will need to be made available to developing countries, especially the low- income countries. Although this crisis continues to have a devastating impact on the peoples of the
world, we believe that it represents a rare opportunity for meaningful change. Going forward, our response must focus on creating jobs, increasing prosperity, equalizing imbalances, developing sustainably, and having a strong gender perspective. It must also lay the foundation for a fair, inclusive and sustainable globalization supported by renewed multilateralism. We are confident that we will emerge from this crisis stronger and more vigorous and more united.

12. We reaffirm the purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in its Charter "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character," and "to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends." We seek to strengthen this Charter imperative in the light of the current crisis. This United Nations Conference is part of our collective effort towards recovery. It builds on and contributes to what already is being undertaken by other actors and in other fora and is intended to give political guidance and direction to future meetings, action and measures undertaken by the world community.

The Need for Prompt and Decisive Action

13. We recognize that our collective response to this crisis represents a transformative moment in international cooperation, coordination, and reform.
14. We undertake to do all that is necessary to:
 restore confidence, growth, and jobs;
 protect the poor and vulnerable;
 provide additional support to safeguard hard-won economic and development gains;
 rebuild trust in the financial sector and restore lending;
 promote global trade and investment and reject protectionism, and
 foster an inclusive, green, and sustainable recovery
 reform the world financial and economic system and architecture.

Lines of Action

Make the stimulus work for all.
15. In attempting to combat the immediate impacts of the crisis many States, groups and institutions have already initiated a number of coordinated and effective responses. We welcome those efforts, and seek to encourage greater cooperation and coordination among countries' fiscal and economic actions.
16. Developing countries in a position to do so should utilize the room for fiscal stimulus that they posses. The response of individual countries should be tailored to their specific circumstances. Countries should also use available scope for domestic resource mobilization.
17. Support for development is an essential and integral part of the solution to the global crisis, inter alia through actions aimed at supporting sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development. National stimulus packages should have a strong international dimension and take into account the impacts on
third countries, particularly on developing countries.
18. The majority of the world's developing countries lack the fiscal space to initiate the countercyclical measures that may be necessary to combat the effects of the crisis and spur recovery. A much larger share of the additional resources—both short-term liquidity and long-term development financing—will need to be made available to developing countries, especially the low-income countries. We therefore support the examination
of modalities to ensure the global implementation of various stimulus measures, which would contribute to developing countries' budget and trade financing, priority investments in infrastructure, agriculture and green technology, and critical human security needs.
19. We recognise the commitments made at the G20 London Summit to make available an additional $1.1 trillion program ($850 billion through the International Financial Institutions, and $250 billion for trade finance) of support to help the world economy through the crisis and to restore credit, growth and jobs. The fulfilment of these commitments should be properly monitored. We call upon the G20 countries to follow through on these commitments. However, only a limited amount (less than $20 billion) was targeted to the poorest countries. We therefore stress the importance that the financing needs of the poorest countries are adequately dealt with.
20. Developing countries need access to new funding, including credit and liquidity facilities, infrastructure investment, and support for domestic financial systems, for social response and for corporate borrowing. We support to the urgent establishment of new credit facilities as necessary for intermediation between surplus countries and those that most need financing for the disbursement of the additional funding required to address
the impact of the current crisis and to allow for appropriate countercyclical policy measures. These facilities should have democratic governance structures that allow both the surplus countries and the recipients' equal participation in their governance structures. They should also operate without unwarranted conditionalities so as to allow the necessary policy space. The funds could be administered through new structures, through IFI structures but with a separate governance structure (along the lines of the Global Environmental Facility), UN agency trust funds or directly through IFIs.
21. Countries must be afforded the necessary policy space to enact the types of tailored and targeted responses to the crisis that have been established in developed States. We call for a reformed lending paradigm and the prompt end to unwarranted conditionalities, which curtail the individualized options available to developing countries and needlessly exacerbate the financial, economic and developmental challenges faced by these
countries. In this context we note the recent improvement of the IMF's lending framework, through modernizing conditionality, as a welcome step. However, many new and ongoing programmes still contain unwarranted pro-cyclical conditionalities. The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), in close coordination with the IMF, must move forward on flexible, fast disbursing, and front -loaded instruments designed to
substantially and quickly assist developing countries facing financing gaps in the context of the current crisis.
22. Within the context of national responses to the crisis we recognize the continued importance for good governance along with national ownership of development strategies. We call on all Member States toaccelerate our collective recovery from the crisis through improved transparency, reduced corruption and strengthened good governance.
23. The crisis has resulted in disparate impacts across regions and sub-regions. These heterogeneous impacts have added complexity to our common goal of reducing poverty and inequality, while providing for critical human security needs. Given the sensitivity of regional and sub-regional institutions to the specific needs of their constituencies, the need of stable sources of funding, and the greater equitable representation of developing
countries within these bodies, we encourage for enhanced regional and sub-regional efforts including through regional development banks, regional commercial and reserve currency arrangements, and regional integration initiatives, as part of a global coordinated efficient response to deal with the current crisis. Contain the effects of the crisis and improve future global resilience.
24. This crisis does not occur solely at the level of the financial sectors or structural imbalances. We recognize the various human and social dimensions to the crisis, and our responsibility to address the human security challenges that it has created and xacerbated. Short term measures should be complementary to long term goals, especially those related to environmental protection, food security, clean energy, health and education.
We commit to the strengthening of existing social safety nets, protection of social expenditures, and advancement of people-centred development. We reaffirm our commitment to timely achievement of our internationally agreed development goals, in particular the Millennium Development Goals.
25. We call for additional resources for social protection, food security and human development to be made available through voluntary bilateral contributions to the World Bank's Vulnerability Financing Framework and similar initiatives. We support the development of a joint UN system-World Bank mechanism for a common articulation and implementation of the Vulnerability Financing Framework.
26. Globalization and free trade have been important drivers, among other factors, for economic growth and prosperity, and the global recovery from this financial and economic crisis, and our future global resilience, require a speedy conclusion of the WTO Doha Round and provision of much needed trade finance. The crisis has also emphasized the importance of achieving the true development outcome of the Doha Round. We
therefore reiterate our commitment to an early conclusion to the Doha Round that places the needs of the developing countries at the centre, to implement duty-free and quota free-access to least developed countries, to the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, to the elimination of agricultural export subsidies, as agreed in the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, and other trade distorting agricultural
subsidies, and to meeting our existing aid for trade pledges. We agree to explore the possibility to bring forward the implementation of already agreed measures to support the most vulnerable developing countries. We undertake to resist protectionist tendencies and rectify any protectionist measures already taken. In this context, we reiterate the importance of monitoring and reporting on new barriers to trade and investments. We
should also resist unfair treatment of migrant labourers and the imposition of undue restrictions on labour migration.
27. The global crisis cannot be an excuse to avoid existing aid commitments. There is an urgent and unavoidable need for donors to fulfil their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments. Developed countries must meet the commitments made in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus, the 2005 World Summit, at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, in the Doha Declaration by 2015, and at the G20 London Summit.
Aid effectiveness, as well as speed of delivery, flexibility of response and predictability of aid, is also crucial. We reiterate the importance for donors to work on national timetables, by the end of 2010, to increase aid levels within their respective budget allocation processes toward achieving the established ODA targets. Bilateral donors should review, and if appropriate redirect, their development assistance to assist developing countries to mitigate and more effectively respond to the crisis.
28. Our global problems require new and innovative forms of financing. We encourage the scaling up of existing and the establishment of new innovative sources of financing initiatives to provide other stable sources of development finance. Through these mechanisms part of the much needed resources could be generated for the provision of global public goods and for climate change financing. We repeat our request to the Secretary General to produce a progress report by the 64th session of the General Assembly, taking into account all existing initiatives.
29. The deepening crisis threatens to negatively affect the indebtedness of developing States. This growing indebtedness limits the ability of these States to enact the appropriate fiscal measures to mitigate the impact ofthe crisis or engage in development financing. We affirm that the appropriate measures must be taken to minimize the impact of the crisis on the indebtedness of developing states and to avoid a new debt crisis. In
that regard, we support increased flexibility of the Debt Sustainability Framework and in eligibility for debt relief; the provision of increased funds for debt rollover; innovative debt swap criteria; increased concessionalities, and call on states to accelerate previous commitments regarding debt relief.
30. The crisis has illustrated the extreme vulnerability of small, indebted, middle-income countries, whose size, fragile economies and open markets have made them highly susceptible to external financial shocks. We therefore call for expansion of concessionary financing to small, indebted, middle-income countries to mitigate
the significant sustainable development challenges that have been exacerbated by the ongoing crisis. The access to this financing must be based on factors beyond GDP, which is, by itself, a poor indicator of economic sustainability.
31. The crisis cannot be an excuse to avoid or delay the necessary global response to climate change and environmental degradation. We acknowledge that the response to the crisis presents an opportunity to establish the basis of a new and modern green economy. In this context we support the UNEP-led Green Economy Initiative and the related discussions on a Global Green New Deal which should ensure that the stimulus is
used to initiate investments for sustainable long term growth, creation of decent jobs, and poverty reduction.
32. We recognize the important role to be played by increased SDR allocations in increasing global liquidity, and the potential for expanded SDRs to contribute to global stability, equity and economic strength. We commit to undertake further examination of the role of enhanced SDRs in the expansion of liquidity, stabilization of the reserve system, and the promotion of development. We strongly support and call for early implementation of a new general SDR allocation of at least $250 billion. We also call for the urgent ratification of the Fourth Amendment of the Articles of Agreement of the IMF for a special one-time allocation of SDRs, as approved by the IMF's Board of Governors in September 1997.
33. There are calls for a reform of the global reserve system to overcome the insufficiencies of the current system. We recommend to study the feasibility of a reserve system with a more prominent and effective role of the
SDR. The global reserve system could be complemented by a stronger role for regional commercial and reserve arrangements, including among developing countries such as the ASEAN+3 $125 billion facil ity, and the ALBA SUCRE arrangement.
Improved regulation and monitoring.
34. The current crisis has revealed numerous deficiencies in the international financial regulatory framework. We accept the critical need for more effective regulation of all economic actors, including financial institutions, credit rating agencies, audit firms, and the principals in the shadow financial system. The need for tighter and more coordinated regulation of incentives, derivatives and the trading of standardised contracts is also
apparent. We reject the imposition of needlessly onerous regulatory requirements, but call for credible and enforceable regulations to ensure the necessary global transparency and oversight at all levels of the financial system.
35. The crisis has illustrated the need to evenly employ effective measures against non-complying tax jurisdictions and financial centres that fail to meet basic standards of transparency and regulation. We recognize the strong need for truly multilateral and inclusive cooperation on international tax matters within the United Nations
system. Cooperative frameworks should ensure the involvement of both the major onshore jurisdictions and small offshore jurisdictions, whose economies, development and growth are heavily dependent on financial services. Developing countries should be able to secure the benefits of a new cooperative tax environment. We call for consistent and non-discriminatory application of transparency requirements and international standards for exchange of information.
36. Illicit financial flows out of developing countries are estimated to amount to several times global ODA and have a harmful effect on development. Measures to enhance regulation of and transparency in the shadow and regular financial system must therefore include steps to curb illicit financial flows.
37. The current crisis has been compounded by an initial failure to appreciate the full scope of the risks involved and their potential to destabilize the international financial architecture and the global economy. We recognizethe need for more even handed and effective surveillance of systemically important countries, international
capital flows, and financial markets.
38. The ongoing crisis has highlighted the extent to which our economies are integrated, the indivisibility of our collective prosperity, and the unsustainability of the narrow focus on profit. We need a new global consensus on the key values and principles that will promote sustainable economic activity. We believe that corporate social responsibility is a critical component of this consensus and of equitable globalization. Reform international financial and economic governance.
39. This crisis has highlighted the urgent need for our International Financial Institutions to be reformed and modernized to better enable them to respond to the current financial and economic emergencies and to the needs of Member States, and to better equip them to strengthen existing monitoring and surveillance roles to prevent the occurrence of similar crises in the future.
40. International Financial Institutions must have a clear development orientation and must be responsive to needs and circumstances of their clients. Accordingly, we call for improved integration of global public goods within the development mandate of the International Financial Institutions.
41. We stress the urgent need for ambitious and expeditious reform of the governance structures of Bretton Woods Institutions and make them more representative and legitimate, in order to enhance the perspective, voice and participation of developing countries, and to more properly reflect current realities.
42. We call for a swift completion of the ongoing reform process of the World Bank's governance structure and of an accelerated road map for further voice and representation reforms in its governance, to be completed no later than April 2010, based on an approach that reflects its development mandate and with the involvement of all shareholders in a transparent, consultative and inclusive process.
43. We recognize that it is imperative for the reform of the IMF, in particular, to be prioritized and fast -tracked, given the critical role to be played by the IMF during the crisis and beyond. We endorse the roadmap to implement the package of IMF quota and voice reforms agreed in April 2008 and call for its prompt ratification and strongly support a substantial increase and realignment of quotas in the IMF to be completed
no later than January 2011, thus enhancing the legitimacy and effectiveness of the organization.
44. We agree that the heads and senior leadership of the International Financial Institutions must be appointed through open, transparent, and merit-based selection processes, and without regard to nationality.
45. We view the unique perspectives and representativeness of the United Nations as critical to lending legitimacy to the reform and functioning of our International Financial Institutions. Accordingly, we call for mechanisms to ensure increased cooperation and exchanges between the United Nations and International Financial Institutions.

The Way Forward

46. We, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives of Member States, have decided to provide opportunity for and call on all Member States to contribute in the fashioning of the global response to this
crisis, including in the processes of reforming the United Nations and the world economic, financial, and trading system.
47. We recognize that the ongoing work of established forums and mechani sms for resource mobilization, surveillance and regulation, coordination of policy action, and development including rules for international trade must continue to function and be improved upon according to their respective mandates and procedures.
48. To achieve a practical balance between short term needs for effective action, and equally compelling requirements for the review of the framework of our global economic system, we propose the following course of action:
49. We request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to:
 Develop a proposal to establish a unified and responsive United Nations Vulnerability Monitoring and Response Mechanism, that will draw information systematically from throughout the UN system, including its relevant funds, programs and agencies, the Regional Commissions, and the specialized agencies, to track the full impact of the crisis and to promote effective, timely coordination of multilateral responses. We request the Secretary-General's to report on the establishment of the mechanism no later than July 1, 2009. We also request the Secretary- General to report quarterly on the findings, actions, and recommendations to the General Assembly and ECOSOC.
 Develop urgently a joint and comprehensive strategy setting out the response of the system in its multiple dimensions, globally, regionally and nationally. We support the recent agreement of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) on nine joint initiatives, and call for their swift development and implementation.
 Monitor, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and report on compliance with announced international commitments for additional assistance, institutional and policy reform; and to identify possible new barriers to trade and investment as well as key impediments to policy action, and to make recommendations for more timely and effective response.
 Continue to provide support for the Secretary General's High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, to assess the impact of evolving conditions, and report to the General Assembly as necessary.
 Prepare, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, a draft Charter for Sustainable Economic Activity no later than 15 April 2010.
 Establish an interagency taskforce to provide technical and pol icy advisory services to countries on designing and implementing green economic programmes.
50. We request the United Nations Funds and Programs and Specialized Agencies to review, and if appropriate redirect, their assistance to developing countries to mitigate and more effectively respond to the crisis and to report to the July meeting of ECOSOC.
51. The International Labour Organization to elaborate a proposal to create a Global Jobs Pact based on the Decent Work Agenda. This pact would make the global response for recovery job-intensive and shape a pattern for sustainable growth, which would also include ensuring adequate access to credits for small and medium-sized enterprises and for farmers, especially in developing countries.
52. We request the Economic and Social Council to:
 Make recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with the Doha Declaration of 2 December 2008, for strengthening of the Financing for Development process, and for consolidating that process with the related initiatives outlined herein, no later than 1 September 2009.
 Analyze and make recommendations for strengthening the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation on Tax Matters, to better contribute to the functioning of a stable international economy.
53. In order to operationalise the lines of action agreed to in the Conference and as a bridge to on-going processes through which Member States may be informed on a timely basis of on-going work and decision-making processes, the following mechanisms might be considered:
 Establish a multi-stakeholder Panel of Experts to offer independent advice to the General Assembly and to the Economic and Social Council on issues that they shall deem relevant to each of the main areas of global economic, financial, trade, and regulatory coordination and action.The Panel shall include well-respected academic experts, as well as representatives of social movements and the private sector.
 Establish a new Global Economic Council that is part of the United Nations system which provides coordination and oversight of concerted responses in addressing the broader range of global challenges.
 Review how ECOSOC can more meaningfully implement its mandated role to make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters and make recommendations with respect to any of such matters to the General Assembly, to the Members of the United Nations, and to the specialized agencies concerned (Article 62.1.) in order to promote consistency and coherence of and support consensus around policies on global economic issues.
 Review the agreement between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions in collaboration with these institutions, focusing particular attent ion on the mechanisms for enhancing coordination and cooperation between the respective institutions, as well as the opportunities for contributing to strengthening the development mandates and effectiveness of both institutions.
 We request the President of the General Assembly to keep the Conference open and name the following seven ministerial and technical level working groups:
1. Global Stimulus for Restructuring and Survival
2. Finance for Restructuring and Survival
3. Emergency Trade Stimulation and Debt Relief
4. Global and Regional Reserve Systems
5. Regulation and Coordination of Global Economy
6. Restructuring International Institutions
7. Role of the United Nations
We further request the President of the General Assembly to program subsequent meetings with the first at the technical and ministerial level to take place in the first fortnight of September, 2009, and the last at the level of Heads of State and Government, prior to the end of the 64th General Assembly. Measures should be taken to ensure the continuity of this process through its culmination.
54. We hold these extraordinary undertakings to be appropriate and necessary for the times. And we believe that the truest measure of our success shall be told in our ability to work together to build a better worl d that affords to all members of our global society equal opportunities to live in conditions of far greater economic opportunity, prosperity, security, and justice.