Emily F. Keller: Journalist

United Nations Celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities

    On December 2^nd, the United Nations (UN) celebrated the 19^th annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a tradition started by the General Assembly in 1992. The theme of this year’s event was: Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.

     The day included a discussion of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a human rights treaty establishing international legal standards for governments and international governmental organizations to promote equality in the areas of health, education, international cooperation, gender equality and standard of living.

United Nations Holds Fourth Annual Convention Conference

    The United Nations (UN) held its fourth annual conference to discuss the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

    The CRPD is a human rights treaty establishing international legal standards for governments and international governmental organizations to promote equal rights for people with disabilities. The CRPD addresses issues such as health, gender equality, education, international cooperation and standard of living.

United Nations Holds International Disabilities Day

    The United Nations (UN) celebrated people with disabilities December 3 with an annual celebration of speeches, panel discussions and films.

    Speakers at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event included Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Stelzer, Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philippines, Ambassador Ombeni Y. Sefue of Tanzania and Ambassador Yanerit Morg of Mexico.

Lighting the Torch: Winter Paralympics Draws 500 Athletes

    From March 12 to 21, more than 500 athletes with disabilities from all parts of the world took part in the Winter Paralympics Games in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada.

    John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for this year's games, said in his speed at the opening ceremony, "Let these games also serve to honor and recognize men and women of sport the world over who have made it their personal mission in life to use sport to build better lives, to inspire children, to bring hope and inspire peace - men and women who have dedicated themselves to helping the remarkable athletes gathered here to achieve their dreams."

    Click here to view the front page. Click here to continue reading about the opening ceremony and here for the results. Click here for the conclusions to the last two stories. Photos by Carter Farmer.

Messenger of Peace: U.N. Celebrates International Day of People with Disabilities

    Disability rights groups from all over the world celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations, Dec. 3rd.

    The 2009 theme was the inclusion of people with disabilities in the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals that aim to reduce extreme poverty, child mortality and AIDS by 2015.

    The day’s events included a panel discussion of the theme, a disability film festival and the appointment of musician, singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder as a U.N. Messenger of Peace.

    This article was published in Able News. Click here to read page one. Click here to read page two.

Umoja Founder Visits Brooklyn

    Rebecca Lolosoli of Samburu, Kenya visited the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture to talk about how she created a village for women raped by British soldiers and rejected by their families. The event was organized by the international women’s rights organization MADRE. Published in Courier-Life Publications. Read the story.

Holocaust Survivor Publishes ‘Bitter’ Memories

    Jafa Wallach tells the story of how she survived the Holocaust in the book "Bitter Freedom: Memoirs of a Holocaust Survivor," nearly half a centry after she wrote it. Published in Courier-Life Publications. Read the story.

Nostrand Avenue Forum Rails Against Immigration Bill

    New York City Council members and Brooklynites discussed the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Immigration Control Act of 2005, and racism faced by immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, at a community forum. Published in Courier-Life Publications. Read the story.

Orphaned Child Is Reunited With Coney Island Granny

    Twelve-year-old Raisa Skakun was recently reunited with her grandmother and brother in Coney Island after being left behind in the Ukraine because the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied her entry into the U.S.

    Published in Courier-Life Publications on March 2, 2006. Read the story.

Biological Chemical Weapon Deployment Faces Little Prevention Before Attack

    Two days after Aum Shinrikyo's sarin (nerve agent) attack on Tokyo, the FBI obtained a search warrant for the religious sect's New York City office. With little real-life experience of locating biological chemicals, FBI agents investigated Aum Shinrikyo's office without protective wear, and without notifying local health officials. Sarin is a human-made, clear, odorless, chemical agent, similar to but more deadly than pesticide. It can evaporate into vapor and spread into the environment.

    Read the story at Think & Ask.