Trump has pulled the U.S out of UNESCO and will stop funding it because of its anti-Israel bias. Hopefully, this is just the first positive move against the corrupt UN.

Yep! it's the UN that's corrupt....everyone else has clean hands especially the US and Israel
Of course incompetent is one thing...corruption is another and as long as the UN is on US soil it will always be irrelevant.

Not a fan of the U.S or Israel, then? The UN would be even more irrelevant if it left U.S soil because it doesn't pay it's bills to the U.S. I'm hoping that Trump kicks them out, and they fizzle out, removing one of Israel's nastiest enemies.

Great. About time tax payers money stop being used to promote the killing of the unborn and homosexuality. Trump gets more impresrusive every day

Well it's a start, but there is a hell of a long way to go to clean up the UN.

There would not be enough prisons on the planet, if all the corrupt rip off merchants in the UN were tried & brought to justice.

Oh good lord here we go.

Dear Hasbeen,

If there are so many "corrupt rip off merchants in the UN" then name me three. You sound like such an expert it really should be quite easy for you.

The UN for all its supposed faults has done incredible work not only in preventing conflict but saving lives whether through aid, health or refugee programs. If it were left up to the likes of penny pinching blokes like you this nation, one of the wealthiest per capitia would not be giving a solitary dollar in foreign aid. Own own Doc Evett was one of the far thinking people who helped shape the UN.

I fully support the UNESCO in standing up to the two bullies of the US and Israel. And to think this country once stood with the rest of the world in condemning the brutish actions of Israel time and time again. we really have lost our way.

The corrupt UN is against Israel and North Korea because those flags are similar.

runner, we live in the information age now. If you don't know what UNESCO does, you can find out pretty easily. I suggest you do so rather than condemning them based on what you wrongly guess they do.

The United States has announced that it would be
pulling out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organisation, better known as UNESCO.
Israel has apparently followed suit. The United States
pullout will take effect December 31, 2018.

Apparently this should not come as such a surprise.
In 2011 after UNESCO voted to grant full membership to
a Palestinian state, the United States stopped funding the
Paris-based organisation.

President Trump is not the first American President to pull
out of this group. President Reagan ditched the group in the
1980s, believing it to be favourable toward the Soviet
Union - then a US enemy. The US rejoined the group in 2003.

According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper President
Trump's foreign policy has found its theme - "The Withdrawal
Doctrine." President Trump wants to abandon - The Trans-
Pacific Partnership trade agreement, The Paris Climate Accord,
The North America Free Trade Agreement and the Iran Nuclear
deal.

Sooner or later the US will see Palestine in every UN agency.
The question is - will the United States respond by withdrawing
from the World Health Organisation and other UN agencies as
well? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The United States withdrawal from UNESCO is not going to
derail the organisation but the withdrawal is meaningful
because the United States is a huge contributor of funds and
of legitimacy.

Still as Danny Danon, Israel's permanent representative to the
United Nations stated, UNESCO - by granting full membership to a
Palestinian state in 2011 - it showed - "There is a price to
pay for discrimination against Israel."

Aidan really good idea to check facts before mouthing off.

https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/unesco-promotes-sex-change-abortion-kids/

UNESCO should lose US support.

"UNESCO’s own short guide, “The essentials characteristics of effective HIV prevention,” suggests, among other things, that HIV-positive individuals should not be obliged to disclose their status to sex partners, even though it increases the risk of infection for them and their other sex partners.

“The right to health cannot be separated from the right to privacy (including physical privacy and confidentiality regarding HIV status) and cannot be promoted at the expense of privacy,” the guide reads. UNESCO did not address the danger to others or the consequences for public health for the possible victims of a willfully undisclosed HIV status."

and,
"UNESCO proffered another IPPF guide suggesting “key actions,” such as guaranteeing “access to hormone treatment for transgender and intersex adolescents, with the proper care and guidance from medical providers and without the need for parental consent.”

"The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19".

runner and leoj,

You should indeed check the facts before mouthing off. Marianna Orlandi is bearing false witness!

If you actually follow the link to the guide itself, which is at http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001885/188528e.pdf you'll find that far from suggesting hat HIV-positive individuals should not be obliged to disclose their status to sex partners (and failing to address the consequences) it ACTUALLY recognises the problem and tries to address it.
From page 18:
"Is lack of confidentiality and/or HIV stigma and discrimination preventing people from: Getting tested and counselled for HIV? Gaining access to other HIV services? Disclosing their status to their sexual or drug- using partners? Adopting safer sexual behaviours and/ or measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV?"

And it is far from clear what Marianna meant by "proffered" but she appears to be criticising them for having controversial documents from other organisations in their online library.

As for her other criticism (regarding UNESCO's guide defining gender identities as “individuals’ understanding of themselves, regardless of their biological sex or their sexual orientation”) that's the most appropriate response in the context of trying to stop the spread of HIV. People whose understanding of their gender does not match their biological sex are far more likely to engage in risky behaviour, so it makes sense to avoid anything which could alienate them.

Aidan,

Since anal sex has been normalised and there is a lot of pressure on girls and young women to comply I would go further to require that any male who has had sexual experience with another male must declare that fact to his intended female partner as a prerequisite to obtaining consent.

I don't know why the tradition should be continued where the female is always ultimately responsible for contraception and for preventing the spread of STIs and the health of the next generation. But since that grossly unfair practise is embedded in society they should be given some support. The girl/woman should have some rights too. No, the 'rainbow' doesn't reign supreme. -Even if 'Progressives' have forgotten girls, or see them as collateral damage, in their enthusiastic support for anal sex.

Regarding adolescents and hormone or surgical treatments and I would include the associated directed counselling in that, I again ask how can a child give informed consent? I have no doubt at all that in the very near future lawyers will be making a packet out of compensation claims and rightly so.

First do no harm.

//The United States has announced that it would be
pulling out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organisation//

Yeah, can't say I find that surprising. Education, science and culture would have to be a few of Trump's least favourite things.

//I don't know why the tradition should be continued where the female is always ultimately responsible for contraception and for preventing the spread of STIs and the health of the next generation.//

I dunno what culture you're a part of where that's a tradition, but here in the West males use condoms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDBjsFAyiwA

leoj,
Those sorts of unenforceable regulations are likely to be deeply counterproductive, increasing the stigma of HIV but not encouraging the practices that actually stop it spreading. And yes, of course the females should have rights - but real rights, not the bureaucratic rubbish you seem to be advocating. I suggest you try actually reading that UNESCO guide - the contents are quite reasonable.

BTW who do you think is enthusiastically supporting anal sex?

I am not surprised that Trump would attack what he perceives as the great enemy of His United States, the United Nations. The UN can't be good, after all it gives a voice to 80% of the worlds population, which is the poor and disadvantaged people of the third world. When you are in the ultimate position of power and dominance. you don't want the belligerent poor making trouble. You do your best to silence them. Be they Mexican or Palestinians, be whoever, it don't matter to Trump, those SOB's have to be put in their place, and shown who is boss!

Whatever the UN does, it does mainly at the expense of the U.S.

US is not a member of the International Criminal Court for "bringing to justice the perpetrators of the worst crimes known to humankind – war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide".
Not UNESCO. So we can expect Trump not to claim the high ground for human rights , it's the economy .

Toni Lavis, "I dunno what culture you're a part of where that's a tradition, but here in the West males use condoms"

Precisely how does a male promising to wear a condom allow the girl or to make an informed choice, give consent, where her health and that of her possible future children are concerned?

Your few minutes of fun, a lost or slyly removed condom and the girl's or woman's life is changed forever. But that is her misfortune and try to prove it, you might say.

Parents especially mothers should be taking extra care to impress on their daughters early and often, that a claimed 'low' risk where the consequences could be life-shattering is automatically a red flag where the only rational response is NO!.

Aidan, "BTW who do you think is enthusiastically supporting anal sex?"

A question is not a rebuttal, although that is a popular tactic for some.

For you, informed consent where girls and women are concerned is not on the selfish and egocentric rainbow horizon. However, health authorities are particularly concerned by the increase in risky experimental sexual behaviour of quite young people and the frequency of reports of girls and women generally being coerced and tricked into anal sex.

If sex without the promised properly applied and used condom (and frankly how many men comply with the standard instructions for use?) is to be considered rape and it should be, so too should be failing to inform the female partner of existing disease and possible harm that the male partner was aware of or reasonably ought to have been aware of. That means that the Lotharios, particularly the very high risk 'bisexuals' must take some responsibility for the risks and awful consequences they inflict on their targets.

Why shouldn't girls be raised to expect to be shown a recent clear test? PLUS, not instead of, mandated routine condom use unless she has consented otherwise.

http://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/who-should-get-tested

That still doesn't adequately deal with the deceit of a man's pursuit of excitement in Thailand, for something new and different that the 'stodgy'(sic) GF or wife cannot provide, or a woman's scalp-hunting, cutting a swarth through a visiting sporting team. That is where informed consent that really does mean informed comes in.

Well look at that, UNESCO yesterday elected its first Jewish director who was able to beat a gentleman from Qatar for the top position.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/13/unesco-gets-first-jewish-director-after-u-s-leaves-over-anti-israel-bias-united-nations-international-organizations-culture-education-diplomacy/

This certainly takes some wind out the sails of those who claim UNESO's attitudes toward Israel is a manifestation of hatred Jewish people in general.

Indeed the accusations of bias are not for any overt action by UNESCO towards Israel but simply for them recognising Palestine a full member of their body. Hardly a crime in most people's eyes except for the highly blinkered.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said
Britain remained committed to UNESCO.

"The Government is committed to continued UK
Membership of UNESCO and to working with other
Member States in support of its important work,"
the spokesman said.

And how could you not support the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) that works to improve education for girls
in desperately poor countries and in scientific
fields as well as to promote better understanding of the
horrors of the Holocaust and to defend media freedom,
among other activities.

UNESCO has always worked against anti-Semitism and to
preserve the memory of the Holocaust.

Now with the appointment of a Jewish female Director-General
of UNESCO - this only proves that they deserve full support in
their important work.

I wonder what the Australian Government's position will be
in all of this. Will they also be committed to continued
Australian Membership of UNESCO?

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

leoj,
> A question is not a rebuttal, although that is a popular tactic for some.

A rhetorical or semirhetorical question can sometimes be a rebuttal. But my question wasn't; I asked it to find out the answer, as I'm not enthusiastically supporting anal sex, and AFAICT UNESCO isn't either.

> For you, informed consent where girls and women are concerned is not on the selfish and egocentric rainbow horizon.

A strawman is not a rebuttal, although that is a popular tactic for some.

> Why shouldn't girls be raised to expect to be shown a recent clear test?

Who says they shouldn't?
But do you seriously expect they will?

>PLUS, not instead of, mandated routine condom use unless she has consented otherwise.

I think most would consider that overkill.

> That is where informed consent that really does mean informed comes in.
No, it's where it goes out. At that point, if not before, you're just going to have to accept that that the problem is too complicated just be reduced to one of insufficient consent.

//Precisely how does a male promising to wear a condom allow the girl or to make an informed choice, give consent, where her health and that of her possible future children are concerned?//

Yeah, I'm not sure whether you realise this or not, but preventing STI's doesn't really work the same way as preventing pregnancy. There are no pills you can take to prevent, say, the Pox. You can take antibiotics to cure it if you get infected, but the only effective methods are avoiding sex with infectious individuals, or an impermeable barrier which prevents transmission of the Treponema pallidum pallidum bacterium - i.e. a condom.

There are such things as female condoms but they're not commonly used, there's a vaccine for HPV, and I think there's some sort of oral preventative for HIV. But for all the other STI's I can think of, condoms are really the only effective option for sexually active people, and thus the burden of STI prevention falls primarily on the male.

//a lost or slyly removed condom//

Yeah, I hate it when you absent-mindedly misplace your johnny halfway through a root. It's like walking around looking for your glasses when you've been wearing them the whole time, you feel such a fool. 'Now where could that damn condom have gone, I know I had it just a minute a go...'

As for the 'slyly removed condom': Jesus, leoj, why on Earth would you do that? Of all the bizarre, nonsensical things I've heard from you... it would be like me pouring concentrated acid in the lab and deciding halfway through to take off my safety goggles. WTF? I mean yeah, I can see cowboys who aren't worried about safety ignoring safety goggles completely, but I can't see anybody having some sort of epiphany halfway through and throwing caution to the winds at that point.

//and frankly how many men comply with the standard instructions for use?//

Any with any sense. You don't appear to realise that it is possible for men to be infected by women who are carrying STI's.

Remember, leoj: She may look clean - but you can't beat the Axis if you get VD.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/10/article-2339094-1A3EC701000005DC-922_634x827.jpg

//Why shouldn't girls be raised to expect to be shown a recent clear test?//

Why shouldn't men?

You're starting to sound an awful like some feminists, leoj. How long until you sign up for Emily's list?

I had a bit a wry smile at some of these replies - just thinking about the regular stories of condoms that don't fit and the efforts being made by manufacturers to remedy that and encourage proper use ie in full compliance with the instructions.

I do not believe that a condom replaces 'No!' where the risk consequence to the woman could be serious harm or death.

I remember read a while ago that for every $1 than UNESCO gets, only 5c actually goes to those that need it. The organisation is stuffed with bureaucrats that are largely there for the kudos and spends vast amounts of money on meetings etc.

The managers are voted in based on connections and favours and has nothing to do with their contributions. It is why the head of the UNHCR is a Saudi Prince.

The U.S. military budget is $824.6 billion . Only a small percentage gets to North Korea.

Nick,

I'm sure that North Korea will be getting its fair share of the US military budget soon.

Either that or Trump joins Paris agreement , Criminal Court ,
UNESCO and free trade and cuts all weapon deliveries into Pyongyang. Iran will be easier to supply with radiation.

Dear Shadow Minister,

So this is what you have been reduced to? Making glib unsubstantiated claims based on something you might have read some time ago.

Are you being mentored by Hasbeen? He may have joined the cult of Trump but I didn't think that included all of you from the right. Perhaps it does.

Pity.

A question for you. Do you think the US and Israel would be withdrawing from UNESCO if it hadn't given the Palestinians rights as an observer state?

SR,

The effectiveness and efficiency of organisations like UNESCO have been an issue for decades or perhaps you slept through them? The first time the US pulled out of UNESCO was precisely because of corruption and "financial mismanagement". Perhaps you would care to educate yourself by reading about the issue before issuing your own glib comments.

UNESCO tried to elevate Palestine to statehood in 2011 when Obama cut funding to UNESCO, but I believe the last straws were the decrees issued by UNESCO that the Jews had no heritage claim to the Temple Mount and other Jewish sacred sites.

Dear Shadow Minister,

You wrote;

“The first time the US pulled out of UNESCO was precisely because of corruption and "financial mismanagement" “

What tosh.

Do you even know what precisely means?

Firstly 'corruption' was not flagged as a reason at all.

Here was the over arching reason given by Reagan's administration

"UNESCO has extraneously politicized virtually every subject it deals with. It has exhibited hostility toward a free society, especially a free market and a free press, and it has demonstrated unrestrained budgetary expansion."

Financial mismanagement was indeed included but was only one of the reasons given and it was last in the list.

"Much of the the debate has swirled around how the sites are named – and in what language – with the latest version using the Jewish terms of reference for the Western Wall, and without quote marks.

, Saeb Erekat, .“Contrary to what the Israeli government claims, the resolution that was voted [on] by Unesco aims at reaffirming the importance of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam."

Quote marks are horrible and are an offence to English-Hebrew king David who burned " " in the vale of Hibron of the martyrs and pastrycooks.

So move the UN out of the US, declare the US in breach of International Law on each occasion that it transgresses, politely tell it to remove its bases from all foreign soil, and you can include Israel in that definition, and stop all trade with the US.

Of course not all countries will have the courage, and of course some trade will go on, but tax it, impose delays, inspections, whatever and eventually US citizens will get the idea that they are not welcome, anywhere.

Washington Post: "Allen Frances wrote the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder used in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and he doesn’t think Trump qualifies. In “Twilight of American Sanity,” Frances says the diagnosis requires the patient to experience significant distress because of his condition. But throughout his life, Trump “has been generously rewarded for his Trumpism, not impaired by it,” Frances writes. “Trump is a threat to the United States, and to the world, not because he is clinically mad, but because he is very bad.”

He trashes Trump as a “secular antichrist,” a “two-bit, would-be Mussolini,” even an instrument of divine vengeance. “If you were assigned the task of punishing humanity for its original sins,” he thunders, “you could do no better than invent a Donald Trump and give him extraordinary power.”
-
The 3 finger gesture by Trump is readily explained as the pitchfork of Satan and his pointy hair is horns. Lusty as a goat , he wants to put rocket-man in hell. And the thumb and finger sign - it's 666.

SR,

How naive are you? Read this link to the New York times:

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/18/weekinreview/the-world-unesco-s-critics-have-their-say.html

Meanwhile, the State Department said it would support a Congressional investigation of allegations of mismanagement and corruption in Unesco. American officials said the organization's director general, Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow of Senegal, was trying to delay the probe. Mr. M'Bow charged his critics with conducting a ''veritable smear campaign'' against him."

Note that corruption is an extreme form of financial mismanagement. Given the excessive waste at the UN, the US is not going to try and displace the UNESCO director for simple incompetence.

It seems that the Yanks' primary objection to UNESCO is that unlike America it doesn't dance to racist Israel's tune. Neither should anyone else.