UN Peacekeeping Salon
From April 21-28 2008, Mark Malan, the Peacebuilding Program Officer for Refugees International and Executive Coordinator for the PEP, participated in an online UN peacekeeping salon that facilitated dialogue regarding a paper written by William Durch of the Stimson Center that discussed the peacekeeping challenges awaiting the upcoming administration in 2009. The online discussion, hosted by UN Dispatch and Foreign Policy Passport, featured a total of five participants and two moderators.
To read the discussion blogs and learn more about past salons sponsored by UN Dispatch, follow the link below:


Reader Comments (1)
Perhaps this will find it's way to someone with good sense and foresight; me, having seen the world take a course for the worse, over the last few years (writing this after seeing the recent CNN Incest House-of-Horrors reports):
Cleaning-up our world is simple. And, we have the technology to do it immediately. Crime, terrorism, wars and, - unknowingly - having whackos as our neighbors will continue; as long as some of us are allowed to live SECRET LIVES. This is THE solution: World governments - as different as they may be, politically - MUST agree on a worldwide law-enforcing entity, in which EVERY person, aged 12-100 would pass a bi-annual survey, to include a written inquisition; a lie detector test. Our property is searched, and can be at any time without notice, by agents of this new world law-enforcement. Compliance is assured - because a chipped card(requiring your fingerprint for use) would allow us [those of us who pass every six months] to work, buy food, water, etc. Any failure of the bi-annual survey means you cannot obtain these things to live. Failure to pass; the severity of the things committed, would determine successful treatment at a pro-active detention center, or eventual or immediate execution. What do YOU have to hide? I'll be the first one to volunteer. Imagine a world without all the criminals and whackos. I would be considered such a whacko for even suggesting this, but in my world, crime would cease to exist...every six months. There would be no terrorists or extremists. The criminal element would be gone from the planet. Probably 4-5 billion vacancies. Which leaves a lot of everything else enjoyable in the world, for the rest of us, that just want to live peaceful lives, helping others. By the way, I have a medical and law-enforcement background. I have saved about 3000 lives over the years. The problem with the criminally-minded is empty hearts and seared minds. There must be one person out there that thinks like me.