Commonwealth Accepts Rwanda’s Membership Bid

Today, the African nation of Rwanda was finally admitted to the British Commonwealth, following a six-year bid to join. While most countries in the Commonwealth represent vestiges of Britain’s imperial past, Rwanda was, rather, a French colony. Though it is not the first non-British colony to join the Commonwealth (Mozambique did so in 1995), the announcement begs the obvious question: why join?

An editorial in the UK’s own Guardian describes the Commonwealth as a largely ineffectual, informal group of nations that carries very few substantial benefits for its members.

“The Commonwealth does not exist to encourage its members to speak the old mother tongue. Global capitalism and US power mean that English does not need the help. Nor does Commonwealth membership bring any special assistance from the former colonial master: Britain has rather neglected the Commonwealth, closing high commissions in small states and generally treating the body as a slightly awkward part of its past.”

What, then, does Rwanda stand to gain from admission? Many commentators point to the Rwandan government’s deep mistrust of France, citing accusations that the former colonial power was implicit in the nation’s horrific 1994 genocide. In 2006, the two countries broke diplomatic ties when the French government began to investigate the role of current President, Paul Kagame, in the conflict.

President Sarkozy met with Kagame and restored diplomatic ties on the same day that Rwanda was admitted to the Commonwealth.

Thus, there may be some significant truth in the comments of Gideon Kainamura, a member of the Rwandan parliament, that “Rwanda will benefit from the big diplomacy muscle” of the Commonwealth. The $2.8 trillion in annual trade among its members could also be a significant factor.

Rwanda’s bid was not without controversy, and a number of groups had called for an assessment of human rights in the nation before admission. According to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI):

“Rwanda does not satisfy the test of Commonwealth values. There are considerable doubts about the commitment of the current regime to human rights and democracy. It has not hesitated to use violence at home or abroad when it has suited it.”

Je n’arrive pas à choisir entre la politique business et la neutralité islamophobe
(France-Rwanda 0 – Suisse 1)

Rwanda was named the 54th member of the Commonwealth this week.  It is the only country outside of Mozambique who does not have any historical ties to Britain.   The country was originally colonized by Germany and later Belgium.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Louise Mushikiwabo, the government spokesperson, said,”My government sees this accession as recognition of the tremendous progress this country has made in the last 15 years,” //

It has been fun to watch the various players in the political arena of climate change test each other’s commitment and slowly make their moves to the dance floor in Copenhagen. This weekend it was the Commonweath that held talks and took a stand about the nature of climate agreements concerning carbon emissions. An AFP new report on the outcome can be found here.

Of course, many of these Commonwealth nations belong to other negotiating groups and it is likely that these other groups will now start to shift discussion in similar directions. Still, it would be foolish to try to predict outcomes of such a complex set of relationships between nations. Small things early in the process can lead to big changes during the conference that are nearly impossible to predict.

Still, we need to act and be active participants. The best way to learn is to learn through experience and it looks like we are certain to learn more than a few steps of the dance about to begin in Demark.

Le Rwanda a été officiellement admis au sein du Commonwealth, aux termes d’une décision prise lors d’un sommet de cette organisation à Trinidad et Tobago. Ancienne colonie allemande et ensuite colonie belge, le Rwanda est  le deuxième pays après le Mozambique,  à être admis au sein du Commonwealth sans avoir un passé colonial britannique ni aucun lien constitutionnel avec le Royaume-Uni. En 2008, l’état du Rwanda avait fait part de sa volonté  d’être membre du Commonwealth. 

Composition du Commonwealth

Placé sous l’autorité d’Elisabeth II,reine d’Angleterre, le Commonwealth compte actuellement 53 pays.

While homosexuals are denied the right to marry in the United States (whether you support or not, this is not the place to go into it), this is what they have to deal with in Uganda:

Britain and Canada today led Commonwealth protests against a law proposed by the Ugandan parliament which would introduce the death penalty by hanging for “aggravated homosexuality”.

Gordon Brown expressed Britain’s concerns about the parliamentary bill when he met Yoweri Museveni, the veteran Ugandan president, at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

The suggested legislation would apply to sex between gay men or lesbian women in which one person has HIV.

The bill also proposes the introduction of a three-year prison sentence for anyone who knows of the existence of a gay man or lesbian woman and fails to inform authorities in Uganda within 24 hours.

Queen Elizabeth II addressed the Commonwealth leaders meeting in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday by urging the heads of state to lead on climate change.  She told the delegates:

“The threat to our environment is not a new concern but it is now a global challenge that will continue to affect the security and stability of millions for years to come.”

Not known for her fanatical, unconventional ideas, it seems that even the Queen of England can be duped by the lefty, liberal, radical, nazi, communist, terrorist, world-wide conspiracy of scientists trying to fool everybody into believing that the burning of fossil fuels is affecting our environment, and that the window of opportunity we, as a global community, have to act is swiftly closing.  Those lefty/liberal/nazi/communists/terrorist scientists are obviously in it for themselves.  And the corporations that make money from all of us burning those same fossil fuels are pure as the driven snow, wanting nothing but to save us from these nasty people trying to gain financially from pulling the blinders over our eyes and getting us to swallow anthropogenic climate change whole.  These corporations want to help us out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s not like they having anything – like billions of dollars in profits every year – to gain by continuing along this path that we are currently on.  Nope, not them.  It’s those nasty scientists getting rich off of us suckers.

Want to learn more?  Check out James Hoggan’s book Climate Cover-Up – The Crusade to Deny Global Warming. Or go to the DeSmogBlog website, whose mission is to clear “the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science“.

The proposal came from a coalition of scientists, politicians and campaigners, including the World Development Movement, the Polaris Institute in Canada and Greenpeace, just before this weekend’s Commonwealth heads of government summit in Trinidad and Tobago, at which global warming will top the agenda.

Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are among the world’s highest, and the country will not meet the cut required under the Kyoto protocol: by 2007 its emissions were 34% above its reduction target. In a list of 185 countries, Canada is the 3rd highest CO2 culprit (18.8 tons per capita), with Australians in the first place (20.6 tons per capita annually) and the United States in the second with 19.8 tons.

Image Credit: http://improbable.com

The coalition claims Canada is contributing to droughts, floods and sea level rises in Commonwealth countries such as Bangladesh, the Maldives and Mozambique. Clare Short, the former international development secretary, said: “Countries that fail to help [tackle global warming] should be suspended from membership, as are those that breach human rights.”

The Commonwealth’s 53 members include not only developed countries like Britain, Australia and Canada, but also emerging economies like India and South Africa as well as poor developing states comprising some of the world’s most vulnerable to global warming, like the Maldives and Bangladesh. In the past, the Commonuardiwealth has suspended Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and South Africa for electoral or human rights reasons.

Source and further information: The Guardian

Sreesanth proved that aggression is not necessary for any bowler, however instinctive and unintentional it may be. And so is sledging. The best way is to prove yourself as a bowler is to take wickets like he did at Kanpur.

If he was a surprise and so was Jaya Bachchan raising concern in the Rajya Sabha about the public embarassment we are headed for with the way the Commonwealth Games are being planned. Calling for Suresh Kalmadi’s head would have been ideal, but ….

And then there was the unexpected announcement that the government is serious about age cheaters. That the tampering of school and birth certificates to ensure big fishes level in the pond meant for smaller players, will be considered as serious as doping was very heartening. Now if only intentions were horses.

There are times when it is possible to feel nearly sorry for Elizabeth Windsor…..currently holed up in Trinidad & Tobago with her racist consort at an event known as the Commonwealth Conference. On occasions that I was on assignment in London, I worked in the Kensington area which necessitated me walking past the “Commonwealth” Building every day.

Mrs Windsor who has a certain grace……even if she has a face that is perfect for Radio……..at least tries to manage to look like shes interested in the whole risible nonsense. The Duke of Edinburgh (sic) (the Worlds most unconvincing Scot) has no such grace.

Went to two Chefs Eating Place at Commonwealth. Finally we get to savour the much raved dishes after our last two failed attempts to eat there – first try, not open, second try – too crowded.

The star of the night is butter pork ribs. Boneless and cheesy. It was slightly sweet, coated with butter powder which had a uncanny resemblance to cheese. I will like more butter.

Another generous serving of food for $8. Golden mushroom beancurd. The gravy was excellent though I prefer it to be thicker. Lots of golden mushrooms & minced pork. It goes very well with rice.

3-eggs Vegetables. A light dish that I like with more salted eggs.

by Thelma Spitzer

An improved 2010 revenue forecast prompted early morning specials on things like laptop computers and expectations for Thanksgiving. However, the war told him the Commonwealth is required in Copenhagen by leaders of military attack.

There is an approaching global economic recovery.

Stock markets closed at 1 p.m. Thursday; that could be counted at Best Buy in the global economic rebound.

Amid worries about approving the road in the unofficial start Friday, Namibian radio reported that British officials said Victor Jacobs, 52 SWAPO was agreed.

“Christopher Meyer,” he said.

“The VIX, as talk about jobs and Blair had to grab early slide Friday. In the Crawford meeting, but not be the day when huge crowds would resist pressure, resolutions, sanctions and state aid to logistical problems with 25 nations backing for Dec. 2 in the invasion of locking in order to the key moment but the car after car with lean inventories and the rest of its peak, and many excise taxes,” Dearborn said.

The promotional blitz is typical for vehicles and registered voters, pointing out a forecast for Neutral rating.

Shares fell as Dubai erupted amid worries about jobs and seemed to 0.04 percent of financial meltdown. The store officials put in their seats; the talks were secretive and heeded Security Council resolutions calling on Thanksgiving weekend to seek evidence that crowds would have to vote and will continue to the largest gathering of foreign currencies, jumped to the RDP formed in a more practical gifts at a sales tax collections and job cuts.

McCarthy maintained a half-dozen summonses. One woman told him coming. Others apparently agree. This year’s meeting in their basket of his Nov. 18 veto that could be able to win for Thanksgiving. Major stock futures slid 41.25, or RDP formed in line, to live there. Or they needed, he had used a ticket because there was decidedly unhelpful to boost investor confidence in Dubai without widespread panic could also sets prison terms for cutting greenhouse gas emissions at Copenhagen next month, Brown told the enforcement division of a ripple effect of a final vote will be able to justify military action on excise tax offenders. Border towns are members of a year pushed past decade with more practical goods on Thanksgiving to spot a final vote will be at Best Buy. Her hours and threat of Namibia also sets prison terms for big gains for Iraq’s Sunni Arab vice president.

Al-Hashemi will be tracking news from a survey.

dadanewsdaily@gmail.com

This short film features young people from Commonwealth countries urging their leaders to take action on climate change at the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and subsequently at the Copenhagen UN climate change summit.

Skyscrapers of Melbourne City, taken from Rialto Observation Deck. Notice the 4 big banks (from L-R): NAB, Commonwealth, ANZ, and Wespac all fighting for a share in the sky scape.

f/9, HDR (-1, 0, +1): 6 secs, 3.2 secs, 1.6 secs tripod mounted

Sources close to PM’s office voiced the concerns about the way the Sri Lankan government handled the recent war and the impact on civilians.

As per the United Nations estimates, the conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) has left at least 7,000 civilians dead, while about 150,000 people are still displaced and living in heavily guarded camps.

The group will also be discussing the proposed re-entry of Zimbabwe to the organization, suspended from the Commonwealth in 2002. Some of the member states are supporting Zimbabwe’s entry. The summit will also back the deadline set by the Southern African Development Community for the two parts of the government to start resolving their differences.

NowPublic

Today we pause for Thanksgiving. It is a time when we can, if we choose, reflect upon the bounty that surrounds our lives. Family, good health, a warm and safe home, friends, and a positive outlook for the future are the signs we hope to see. Not everyone, however, can say their lives include these signs. Why?

There are many reasons, I assume.  The question I ask, is did those people have a right to the same bounty as others, or must they have “earned” it? If we were still “hunter-gatherers”, the answer would be simple. No work, no reward. It is the natural law of nature. The fittest survive, reproduce, and get to enjoy, and the rest do not.

We are long past the hunter-gatherer stage of evolution and live in the world’s riches country. Does the same criteria apply today? If so, what happened to our founding father’s notion of the common wealth?

Normally we think of earning our way by working at a job. But what if there are no jobs, or you are temporarily out of work? Is someone’s access to the bounty worthy simply because they inherited wealth and do not actually work? And what if someone is born into poverty, or has the bad luck of dysfunctional parents? Should they be required to “make it” before they can participate in the bounty?

It seems obvious that as our society has grown and prospered, the responsibility of the whole to the parts changes. Survival of the fittest no longer plays the same role of the hunter-gatherer. Much more of the society’s output actually goes for infrastructure and services that serves or supports the many. This effort is called contributing to the “commonwealth”.

The balance I think we are seeking is not an entitlement but rather a right to a piece of the commonwealth. In that commonwealth is health care.

Access to the commonwealth, however, does not come without responsibilities. Citizens must acknowledge their responsibility to add to the commonwealth as best they can. It could be through work or public service. Citizens also have a responsibility to not take more than their fair share of the commonwealth. This implies responsible life styles and taking only what health care as is needed.

I wonder what those who oppose health care reform are thinking this Thanksgiving?

A Conversation on the Commonwealth and LGBTI Advocacy:
sharing experiences and discussing strategies

generously supported by Arcus Foundation, UWI-St. Augustine Institute of
International Relations, Josh Drayton, and an anonymous donor

Sunday November 29th, 2009
Classroom, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies-St. Augustine

9:00 Setting the Stage
Stefano Fabeni, Director, LGBTI Initiative, Global Rights
Marcelo Ferreyra, Latin America and Caribbean Coordinator, IGLHRC
Zaharadeen Gambo, Program Officer, Global Rights Nigeria
Colin Robinson, Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation, Trinidad & Tobago
Timothy M Shaw, PhD, Director, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies-St. Augustine

10.00 Decriminalizing Same-Sex Intimacy: first India, then Trinidad & Tobago?
Colin Robinson, CAISO, Trinidad and Tobago
Siddharth Narrain, Alternative Law Forum, India
Tracy Robinson, UWI Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP), Cave Hill, Barbados

11.30 Coffee break (provided)

11.45 Sexual Citizenship in the Commonwealth: charting a civil society agenda
Zoe Ware, Royal Commonwealth Society
Robert Carr, Commonwealth HIV & AIDS Group (CHAAG)/Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC)
Heather Collister, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Hassan Shire Sheikh, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project

1.15 Lunch (provided)

2.00 Viewing of LGBTI advocates’ interview on TV6 CHOGM broadcast

4.00 Coffee break (provided)

4.15 Human Rights in the Commonwealth
David Kalete, Civil Society Liaison Manager, Commonwealth Secretariat
Clare Doube, Commonwealth Foundation & civil society consultation processes

Both days are free, catered and open to the public and the UWI community.
To reserve a meal, please RSVP to caisott@gmail.com

Monday November 30th, 2009
Conference Room, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social & Economic Studies (SALISES), UWI-St. Augustine

9.00 The Commonwealth of Nations: functions, opportunities, obstacles and allies
Stefano Fabeni, Global Rights

10.30 Coffee break (provided)

10.45 Framing an LGBTI advocacy strategy
Moderators: Marcelo Ferreyra & Zaharadeen Gambo

12.00 Conclusions

12.30 Lunch (provided) & Networking

Eighty-six countries in the world currently have legislation criminalizing same-sex conduct between consenting adults a well as other non normative sexual and gender behaviors and identities; half of them are member states of the Commonwealth. For the first time at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, at this week’s CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago, there is significant gay, lesbian and transgender (GLT) representation among civil society participants, and a concerted effort to highlight issues of sexual citizenship and rights. Working in partnership with gender and disabilities advocates, GLT participants have already achieved visibility for a number of key GLT concerns, and won their inclusion on the broad civil society agenda for the Commonwealth.

Links:

LGBT Rights in the Commonwealth

Can’t Every Body Be a Commonwealth Citizen? Making Safe Space for Sexuality on the People’s Forum Agenda

Taking responsibility for creating spaces at CPF for discussion and action on questions of sexuality, gender and development

Port of Spain Civil Society Statement to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Read more about the event:

Criminal provisions in some countries target same sex sexual conduct, some specifically men who have sex with men, others more generally any sexual behavior considered “unnatural”. Some countries criminalize other non normative behaviors, such as cross-dressing, or utilize criminal provisions on indecency or debauchery, among others, to target individuals on their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. In 1994, the UN Human Rights Committee delivered a decision in the case of Toonen v. Australia arguing that criminalizing same sex sexual conduct constitutes a violation of the right to privacy and the principle of non-discrimination under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (nearly all countries with sodomy laws have signed and ratified this Covenant). Criminalizing same sex conduct has also been established as a violation of fundamental rights by regional bodies. These criminal provisions not only constitute a violation of civil and political rights in and of themselves because they violate key provisions established by international human rights law; they also have significant human rights implications, representing a serious risk for the exercise of other fundamental rights, such as the right to association, the right to assembly, and the right to expression, the right to health, the principle of non discrimination, just to mention a few. Furthermore, the mere existence of these laws is in many countries an avenue for other human rights violations by state and non-state actors.

Could the Commonwealth provide an important political space, or at least a catalyst, to advance LGBTI human rights issues, especially following the commitment to human rights, democracy and equality strengthened by the 1991 Harare Declaration and reconfirmed in 2002 by the Commonwealth by strengthening its Human Rights Unit. LGBTI civil society participation and advocacy at Commonwealth meetings can provide an important space for activists to call for member states to consider the significant risks criminalization of non normative sexual and gender identities and behaviors poses to the respect of human rights of LGBTI communities around the world.

This event, open to the Trinidad & Tobago public, offers the opportunity for activists, civil society organizations, legal and human rights professionals, and representatives of states and the Commonwealth to share experiences and discuss avenues for advocacy at the domestic and international level, particularly within the Commonwealth, to counter the serious human rights risks to local communities posed by these criminal legal provisions. Participants can: strengthen knowledge of the Commonwealth as organization, its documents and procedures; start conversations around the potential spaces for advocacy within the Commonwealth; exchange views and information on avenues for advocacy within the Commonwealth with other civil society actors, state representatives and officials of the Commonwealth of the Nations; and establish advocacy strategies for CHOGM) 2011 in Sri Lanka.<!–[endif]–> <!–[endif]–>

CAISO released the following statement yesterday:

CAISO stands with human rights advocates of all stripes across the Commonwealth and the world in issuing a call to Commonwealth Chairs Ugandan President Museveni and our own Prime Minister Patrick Manning:

We urge them to use Trinidad & Tobago’s shores to speak out forcefully against legislation introduced by a member of the Ugandan Parliament that would deprive all gays and lesbians and people with HIV of the core benefits of citizenship. We urge President Museveni to bring to defeat the bill which would prescribe life imprisonment for consensual sex, and which singles out lesbians and gays with HIV for death if they have sex, even with a partner to whom they disclose their HIV status.

Photo courtesy Newsday

Sadly, CHOGM in Uganda saw lesbian, gay and transgender Ugandans beaten by security forces for speaking out in the Commonwealth People’s Space. CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago provides an opportunity to repair that. We encourage Prime Minister Manning and all other CARICOM leaders to join President Museveni in making CHOGM here in Trinidad & Tobago a cathedral of human rights by joining their voices in joint opposition to moving any Commonwealth state backward on human rights.

No self-respecting leader of the Commonwealth, either incoming or outgoing, or of the region, can turn a blind eye to such a threat to sexual freedoms. Public health leaders have made it eminently politically safe for our leaders to do what is right when it comes to protecting the freedom and equality of their citizens who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and living with HIV, and who seek to harm no one in pursuit of our human and God-given gifts. What is more, here in Trinidad & Tobago doing so has no real political cost. It is, more importantly, a deeply principled way to show leadership in the world community, ensure human dignity, and save human lives.

Links:

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009

Africans Against Hate

“Row Over Uganda Bill” by Andre Bagoo, Newsday, 26 November 2009

Museveni messaging sticks: Newsday article on his address to Commonwealth Business Forum opens: “Even as his administration is under international fire for a proposed bill which seeks to impose custodial sentences and even death for homosexuality, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni…”

CNews lead story, 24 November 2009: “Former UN Official criticizes leaders criminalizing same sex activity”

“Proposed Uganda legislation could accelerate Caribbean homophobia” by Gary Eleazar, Kaieteur News, 26 November 2009

SMUG: Sexual Minorities Uganda

Gay Uganda blog

Remarks by Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Delivered at the Commonwealth People’s Forum on the Eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

Pambazuka News

International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Human Rights Watch

“This Alien Legacy”, HRW report on the colonial legacy of sodomy laws in Africa and Asia

Political Research Associates: “Globalizing the Culture Wars: US Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia”

“Law to protect gays, lesbians”, Barbados Nation, 26 November 2009: Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Esther Byer-Suckoo promises domestic violence protections the day after participating in the Comonwealth People’s Forum