letters

Politics and religion, human rights and suppressing the mosquitoes

Religion and Politics

I agree with your view that political advocacy of faith based social policy should not be immune to public scrutiny and critical debate; however your inference that Catholic social policy, regardless of its current conservative direction, is influenced by Pope Benedict's forced membership in the Hitler Youth is highly unfair and incorrect.

In fact, your comment is an unfortunate "cheap shot" making reasoned and open debate of this difficult and volatile subject more difficult.

Stephen Farrell

Jacksonville Beach, FL

To avoid mosquito breeding

I just read your editorial on dengue fever, and your call to control standing water, where the mosquitoes breed. Many people have found success in deterring breeding by placing a small amount of oil (salad oil) in water storage containers.  The amount of oil depends on the surface area. The oil disperses across the top of the water and creates a shield, as the mosquitoes will not lay eggs in this. We have used this for water barrels for watering gardens, about 1 Tablespoon for a 50 gal container is sufficient. Since oil floats, potable water could be drawn from below. Let's keep the flower pots, okay?!

Soda cans are another issue.

name withheld

Koffi Annan ought not retire as a symbol of lost opportunities

It is not only in Nepal or Bangladesh or Fiji where despite the UN's recent involvement and noises of concern, nothing worthwhile can be attributed to the UN. At best the UN is seen to be lamenting after every thing has happened thus leaving the vulnerable countries as a victim as ever, of political uncertainties.

Even in the field of human rights, the UN's role and record is quite dismal. This is evident from Indian experience also.

From time to time former Chief Justices of Indian Supreme Court and its high courts, including chairmen and members of various State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC) and the NHRC have been airing their views in media (the latest being the articles dated December 9, 2006 by former Chief Justice & member of human rights committee Mr. Rajinder Sachchar and MP HRC Chairman Mr. D.M. Dharmadhikari in prominent print media of India) to the effect that despite declaration of human rights in1948 by UN, in India human rights is still a distant dream due to Shuman rightsC & Nhuman rightsC not having any teeth to enforce their orders. But these well meaning writers do not realize that:-

1. Human rights Laws have meaning only when there is a Law enforcement agency which can be only international armed force contributed by member countries of the UN for the enforcement of human rights. Because the Laws made and enforced by member countries (through their executive, legislative and judicial organs) have to conform to UN international laws on human rights.

2. This IAF means the co-existence of international sovereignty along with national sovereignty, which member countries will gradually accept and will subscribe to optional protocols to UN covenants. 

3. The ultimate power can not be left with IAF as any armed force is likely to misuse it as is evident from the reports of serious human rights violations by also the Armed Forces of India in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and in Northeast Regions.

4. The solution lies in institutionalizing IPP through the UN where these human rights based IPP shall be required --- to get registered at the UN for functioning in more than one member countries of the UN, to submit the list of their office bearers to the UN after every annual organizational election and to submit the audited accounts of their annual financial statements to the UN. These IPP shall participate in the elections to form the governments of respective countries.

It is needless to mention that the relation between political stability of a country with the satisfactory condition of human rights enforcement in that country can hardly be over emphasized.

Though as a Secretary General of the UN, Koffi was petitioned to initiate the program of UN patronized IPP in the interest of human rights. But Koffi lost this golden opportunity. Even now Koffi can declare this program of IPP through the UN.

And still better, after his retirement Koffi himself can launch one such IPP with Koffi as its founder president. Koffi can always count on a huge support and membership for his IPP from, India --- the largest democracy of the world.

Hem Raj Jain

Bhawani Mandi

Rajasthan, India