UN Summit (Day 2)

We begin day two of our coverage of the UN Summit with two topics to cover.

The first topic is perhaps today's main topic: combatting poverty. This topic today was carried sucessfully by Mexican Presidente Vicente Fox. You can read the full article (in Spanish) here: http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=24240&tabla=primera

Fox gave voice (as did the President of Jamaica) to countries that are still under development or perhaps just starting. Fox called for a true commitment to erradicating barriers to foreign trade, forgive the debt of the poorest countries of the world and to commit to the percentage of GDP promised as foreign aid by the first world. All of this, as you might recall, are part of the Millenium Development Goals.

The first world was represented by Bush who for once did not change the subject of the discussion to fighting terrorism. Unfortunately, he did not speak about taking on the commitment to increase their percentage of aid. Instead, he did ask that the developing nations make a strong commitment to eliminating corruption and other economical & political barriers. I agree that the removal of these barriers Bush speaks of is important but I don't agree that they become a condition for aid. I believe that even in corrupt environments, money can be given as aid to help the combat of said corruption and to bring in a culture of transparency that will in turn, give birth to a favourable environment for sustainable development.

The second topic of the day was that of Iran. Read the article (in Spanish):
http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=36592&tabla=internacional_h

Despite the disaster in Irak, the US has started to turn its sight on Iran and continuedly accuses that nation of using its domestic nuclear energy program as an excuse to pursuit nuclear weapons. Europe has attempted to negotiate with Iran but Iran continues to assert that its nuclear program is not for military use. The IAEA has also shown its concern at Iran's program and hardline on nuclear energy. Nevertheless, Iran claims that, even with its vast oil and natural gas reserves, it needs nuclear energy. What will happen? And why has North Korea been forgotten?