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 Cesar Chelala

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Cesar Chelala
Cesar Chelala, MD, PhD, is an international public health consultant for several UN agencies, and a writer on human rights, medical and foreign policy issues. He is a winner of an Overseas Press Club of America Award. His articles have been published in more than 70 countries worldwide.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 3, 2003
Israeli debate over soldiers' duty deepens
NEW YORK -- The recent refusal by 27 high-ranking Israeli Air Force officers to follow superiors' orders that would involve attacking Palestinian civilians signifies a rebuke of the Israeli government's policy of "targeted liquidations." What makes the pilots' decision particularly important is that...
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 9, 2003
U.S. need not fear the ICC
NEW YORK -- In recent years regional courts have been set up in Europe and the Americas to deal with the most serious human rights abuses committed by governments. International "ad hoc" criminal tribunals have been set up to deal with atrocities and massive killings committed in the former Yugoslavia,...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 4, 2003
Congo's riches continue to bring only death and misery
NEW YORK -- Since achieving independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been ravaged by internecine ethnic strife that has claimed millions of lives. In spite of that, the conflict has been largely neglected by the world's industrialized governments. The United Nations Security Council's...
COMMENTARY / World
May 25, 2003
Marooned Argentines trust in Kirchner
NEW YORK -- The election of Nestor Kirchner as Argentina's new president offers hope for a national economic and social recovery following decades of government mismanagement. Kirchner will need to back his intentions with prompt implementation of effective policies to convince Argentines that he will...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2003
Stop demolitions of Palestinian homes
NEW YORK -- Systematic home demolitions, severe travel restrictions, curfews and town blockades are cruel occupation policies aimed at intimidating Palestinians and making them leave their lands. Since the start of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands in 1967, more than 10,000 homes have been demolished,...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 10, 2003
U.N. must control Iraqi relief operations
NEW YORK -- Even before the war against Iraq has reached its climax, the U.S.-British invasion of that country had already provoked a humanitarian crisis that is proving to be a nightmare for international relief agencies. Although much has been done by relief agencies in preparation for this emergency,...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 31, 2003
Posturing of 'truths' failed to derail U.N.
NEW YORK -- One of the first casualties of any war -- although often overlooked -- is language. Perhaps this has never been more true than in the present war against Iraq. Diplomacy, we are told, "failed." The United Nations, we are told, has become "irrelevant." The attack against Iraq, we are told,...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 8, 2003
Death and despair await Iraqi civilians
NEW YORK -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's forceful presentation to the U.N. Security Council failed to convince key council members of the need for an immediate war against Iraq. Concern for the consequences of another conflict in the region could possibly explain France, China and Russia's...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2003
Only Mitzna offers real hope for peace
NEW YORK -- The Jan. 28 elections in Israel offer voters a clear choice: either they choose to continue with policies that have only brought increased violence and misery to their country, or they can take the bold step of choosing a candidate with risky but novel ideas on how to deal with the ongoing...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2003
Israeli 'transfer' of Palestinians feared
NEW YORK -- A war against Iraq could have devastating consequences not only for the Iraqi people but for the course of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as well. A statement by 187 Israeli academics -- later joined by several hundred from overseas -- calls attention to the possible "transfer"...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 15, 2002
Fight poverty by closing education gaps
NEW YORK -- Among the issues highlighted by the 2002 "State of World Population: People, Poverty and Possibilities," released by the United Nations Population Fund on Dec. 3, is the impact of poverty on education and, consequently, health -- particularly that of women of reproductive age. According to...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 24, 2002
Angolans starve as oil revenue vanishes
NEW YORK -- It is a sad paradox that one of the potentially richest developing countries in the world is going through one of its worst crises in history. It is a humanitarian crisis that is, to a large extent, the result of that country's corrupt leadership. While the threat of starvation rages throughout...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 9, 2002
Public health problems in the Americas
NEW YORK -- Latin America and the Caribbean enter the new century showing measurable gains in several health indicators such as life expectancy, infant survivability and the fight against several infectious diseases. Most countries in these regions, however, still face daunting challenges due to sprawling...
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 28, 2002
Poverty and poor health go hand in hand
NEW YORK -- Poverty cannot be defined solely in terms of lack of income. A person, a family, even a nation is not deemed poor only because of low economic resources. Little or no access to health services, lack of access to safe water, illiteracy or low educational level and a distorted perception of...
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 5, 2002
AIDS: a medical and social epidemic
The rapidly increasing number of AIDS orphans worldwide is one of the most serious consequences of the AIDS epidemic today. It is estimated that more than 13 million children currently under 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Asia, the rapid spread of the infection...
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 8, 2002
Ethical dilemma in war of 'self-defense'
NEW YORK -- The recent unjustified killings of Palestinian civilians -- several children among them -- have not only raised the anger of the Palestinian population but also some of Israeli civilians. More importantly, those brutal killings endanger the withdrawal negotiations and threaten to condemn...
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 18, 2002
Domestic violence: the hidden epidemic
NEW YORK -- Gender violence, manifested essentially as violence against women -- although it is generally unrecognized and underreported -- is one of the most significant epidemics in the world today. That violence against women is considered normal behavior in many countries does not diminish its seriousness...
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 13, 2002
HIV epidemic taking its toll on Myanmar
NEW YORK -- According to the latest statistics, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Myanmar continues to rise, fueled by drug abuse, population mobility, poverty and a lack of effective government policies. Thai medical experts report that the epidemic, if not controlled, may soon eclipse the worst situation...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 24, 2002
Shameful progress on reducing hunger
NEW YORK-- The World Food Summit in Rome underscored the severity of malnutrition around the world. More poignantly, it showed how slow the progress has been so far toward eliminating hunger and malnutrition. According to some estimates, 800 million people worldwide -- among them 300 million children...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 2, 2002
Rebuilding Argentines' shattered hopes
NEW YORK -- After returning from Argentina, my native country, I am deeply puzzled. It is difficult to reconcile the image of the proud country I left more than 30 years ago with the one I saw again recently. How can I explain the hundreds -- or thousands -- of people who go scavenging every day as soon...

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