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Annan to press world on 'horror' of Sudan


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -- Outgoing U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will ask Friday how the international community can allow the "horror" in Sudan's Darfur region to continue and say there is more than enough blame to shared all around.

In a speech to be given in New York, Annan says blame can be shared by those valuing abstract notions of sovereignty over human lives; those whose response of solidarity puts them on the sides of governments and not people; and those who fear commercial interests could be jeopardized.

"The truth is, none of these arguments amount even to excuses, let alone justifications, for the shameful passivity of most governments," Annan says in the speech to be given to mark International Human Rights Day.

"We have still not summoned up the collective sense of urgency that this issue requires," said Annan, who pledged earlier this week to make the killings in Darfur his priority until he leaves office on December 31.

Some 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur since the rebels took up arms against the central government in 2003, while another 2 million have been driven out of their homes.

Sudan wrote Annan a letter last week, accepting U.N. support for an African Union force of 7,000, which has not been able to stop the violence. But Sudan wants a voice in deciding how many troops can be on the ground, which is difficult to sell to the U.N. Security Council, which pays for operations.

Sudan has accused the West of exaggerating the violence in Darfur while its Arab allies have in general backed Khartoum.

"We must do better," Annan says. "We must develop the responsibility to protect into a powerful international norm that is not only quoted but put into practice, whenever and wherever it is needed."

"Above all we must not wait to take action until genocide is actually happening, by which time it is often too late to do anything effective about it."

Annan, who will be succeeded by South Korean Ban Ki-Moon, questions whether he has succeeded during his decade in the job in making human rights the "third pillar" of the United Nations, on a par with development and peace and security.

He also says the world body must work to end impunity, build an anti-terrorism strategy that does not "merely pay lip service to human rights but is built on it" and work to make human rights a reality in each country.

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I never use livejournal anymore....or anything like it. The internet has mostly been a place to check my bank account from time to time and pile up junkmail. HOWEVER, I am making a small and brief come-back to tell the world of all the recent developments in my life because there are a MILLION AND A HALF! :) Yes, my life is very busy, and very good, and a lot different in the last month or so, so here's the run-down:

I moved! Yep. I now live half a block from Gardner Hall (hip-hip-hooray!). Which means I can practice till 10pm and be at home in bed by 10:15 No joke. It's like a five-minute walk. I have a new kitten who is my pride and joy! OMG she's so cute and so sweet and she loves me so much! I <3 her!!! (She's a secret at the new apartment though, SHHHHH!) Her name is......don't laugh.......LYDIAN. I know, I'm a dork, btu it really fits her perfectly. (If you have no idea why that makes me dorky I'm not telling you :D)

The new room-mate's name is Courtney. She's really nice and super adorable. A psych major and a fabulous painter. Things are great here, and though we still have NO furniture, it feels like home. No really, Our living room consists of a TV sitting on the floor. I don't even have a kitchen table. The only thing to sit on in the whole house is my piano bench.

My car was totalled due to some teenage assholes this summer, but I finally got a new one! It's a 98 Honda Accord, Stick, pretty purple-ish-silvery color. It rocks! Except that I still have trouble starting the car in first gear. I have gotten really stressed out driving that car, but everyone says it gets better!

My class load is crazy! But I'm loving it. I've got 18.5 credit hours. I am very busy, but also satisfied. I like being insanely busy over not doing much of anything with my life. It's been nice to come back to school.

It's finally september and nearly AUTUMN! This is my favorite time of year!! I am having a birthday party, and invitations will follow SOON! (Like this week) So watch out and keep the day time of the 23rd open (Like, 2-5pm) It will be a blast.

My boyfriend is adorable and wonderful and brilliant and sweet. :) We celebrated six months in August and I'm still head over heels for him. He is my balancing point and my number one confidant. He keeps me focused and is so supportive. I love him!

Well, that's basically it. For now. I hjope all my lovely friends are having a good day!

Does any one have ANY ideas on how an individual might be able to procure funding or sponsorship for a promising scientific experiment? Particularly one that would yield huge profits if it worked?

This was posted in my journal on January Fourth, earlier this year:

"But people...if you're reading my fucking journal, don't judge me for it. It you are going to judge me--then just don't read this shit, ok? this should be a safe place for anyone who feels like posting in it. if you can't play fair, don't play. I can't control anyone, so i jsut leave it up to you . . . to have enough integrity to respect my wishes."

it's time for me to re-itterate this.