Warning: Blog-like Content Now Available From The UN (Wizbang)

Via my JunkMail folder I've learned the United Nations is now sponsoring a "blog."

I was preparing to send an email announcement about a new blog I'm administering sponsored by the United Nations Foundation (http://undispatch.com), but Howard Kaloogian and WorldNetDaily beat me to it.

In the many hours I spend surveying blogs and online forums to prepare the Daou Report it's clear to me that there's a very narrow range of UN-related content on blogs, virtually all of it associated with controversies such as Oil-for-Food. There's little discussion of the wide range of humanitarian work performed by UN bodies, everything from measles initiatives to Tsunami relief to global environmental issues to women's rights.

Helping children in need, working for a healthier environment, leading disaster relief efforts around the globe, these are not partisan issues, and I believe that stepping up to defend the UN's works in these areas is the right thing to do. I'm aware that UN Dispatch will be the target of criticism by opponents of the UN. I welcome a vigorous debate, and invite everyone on this list to be part of the discussion.

You can see from the UN Dispatch blogroll - which will continue to expand - that this is not about "discrediting conservative critics," as the above-mentioned sources allege, but about engaging in a wide-ranging and productive debate. The blog was launched earlier this month and will soon be open for reader comments.

I looked at the blogroll. It may not be about "discrediting conservative critics," it looks more like ignoring them...

Thanks to Peter Daou for the heads up, but UN Dispatch is not a blog. UN Dispatch is a slick UN operation to put out press releases and Kofi Annan ego stroking stories; masquerading as a blog.

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Comments (9)

Sure their aid organization... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Just Me | February 23, 2005 12:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Just Me:

Sure their aid organizations may help people eventually, but I bet if you did a comparison, a reliable private aid organization would do it faster and more cheaply.

I would rather just save the money, and ditch the UN. There isn't anything good the UN does that couldn't be done elsewhere by like minded countries.

Posted on February 23, 2005 12:46

I think they should put a c... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Faith+1 | February 23, 2005 12:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Faith+1:

I think they should put a counter on their blog marked "Days Without A Major International Scandal". Shouldn't be hard to maintain. Pretty much could hard code a zero in there...

Posted on February 23, 2005 12:54

I think what we'd all like ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by TallDave | February 23, 2005 12:58 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

TallDave:

I think what we'd all like to know is:

When will Kim Jong Il start a blog?

Posted on February 23, 2005 12:58

You should do it anyhow - n... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by fgirstbrokenangel | February 23, 2005 1:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

fgirstbrokenangel:

You should do it anyhow - no one seems to be covering the horrendous raping of young girls by UN peacekeepers for a long time and I'm sure there are Many other stories that people don't know.

Cindy

Posted on February 23, 2005 13:03

I'm just waiting for the ad... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Laurence Simon | February 23, 2005 2:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Laurence Simon:

I'm just waiting for the ad banners there.

"Need a date in the Congo? Haiti? Just call the local UN Peacekeeping Coordinator and we'll set you right up!"

Posted on February 23, 2005 14:59

Any bets on how long it wil... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Just Me | February 23, 2005 3:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Any bets on how long it will take for a leftie to come along and tell us what a great job the UN is doing?

Posted on February 23, 2005 15:39

When will Kim Jong Il st... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by McGehee | February 24, 2005 11:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

McGehee:

There was a Kim blog on Blogspot last year, not sure how long the perpetrator was able to keep up the shtick, though.

Posted on February 24, 2005 11:00

Just Me,That lefti... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Pat | February 24, 2005 11:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Pat:

Just Me,

That leftie is on the way. Clinton has been appointed by the UN to oversee tsunami activities. He announced it the other day, but I'm not sure when he begins his duties (hide the young girls and the money).

Posted on February 24, 2005 11:06

Coming Attractions at the U... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by BR | February 25, 2005 1:01 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

BR:

Coming Attractions at the UN: Monicagate Part II - "Food for Sex."

Posted on February 25, 2005 01:01

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