Ulysses Gaze wrote: » And from internal insurrection. Once the oil runs out, and their money they've invested in the West, the House of Saud is screwed. Back to desert and raising camels for them at best. Or death at worst.
Junkyard Tom wrote: » Em.. no. They probably think they're leading us by example. They need to be treated the same way South Africa was for its behaviour.
ScumLord wrote: » So isolate and look down at them? I'm sure they'll love that and change their minds immediately. To me that seems a bit like giving out to someone for not reading a book but refusing to sell them the book. There's no way they'll lead the rest of the world by example, even they must know that the west see's them as backwards when it comes to human rights. They'd be laughed at if they tried to persuade western countries to be more like them. This allows them to witness the process of bringing about equality. It's not like we've even gotten it perfect yet.
Elmer Blooker wrote: » Yes, an very enlightened and well motivated UN. Is that why the vote was kept secret and the 5 EU states that voted for Saudi Arabia are not being disclosed? Why not? We are entitled to know who these five are. What is wrong with a secret ballot? The UN is beyond a joke at this stage.
RobertKK wrote: » In case one did not know the UN is a joke, here is another example. Saudi Arabia has been elected to the sit on the UN commission on the status of women. The UN commission in question is responsible for gender equality and the empowerment of women. In Saudi Arabia, a woman needs a male guardian with her to leave her home, and needs the guardians permission to marry, travel, get medical help and do business. Women are not allowed to vote or be involved in politics. Saudi Arabia also sits on the UN commission for human rights. One could not make this up. Shame on the UN.
The Rape of Lucretia wrote: » Fundamentally what is wrong with this? The UN is all-inclusive. Saudi Arabia's views on the status of women may not agree with yours, but their perspective is as entitled to be heard or have input as much as any other country - more possibly if their view is considered a minority one. It is great that the UN is not prejudicial on this point, and does include all views in commissions on such important issues. Their inclusion suggests an enlightened and well motivated UN - certainly not a joke organisation as you suggest.
Augustine Worried Ping-pong wrote: » What a load of codswallop. Inclusion my arse. We are not talking about some minor differences between men and women here, we are talking about limited rights for a gender.
Glenster wrote: » Secret ballot for voting is fairly standard. TBH it's best practice.
ScumLord wrote: » But if you exclude them from the equality process how do you ever expect them to change? The fact is modern capitalist societies required women to work, we needed the labour, a traditional family where the woman stays at home just isn't workable for a lot of people in the west. I suppose Saudi imports slave labour so they can keep women out of the work force. I think they need to be involved, even if the odds of them changing is slim it creates a chance that wouldn't exist otherwise.
Augustine Worried Ping-pong wrote: » I didn't mean to imply that they should be excluded, but why the hell would you allow them to lead?
They are the complete opposite of a role model.
ScumLord wrote: » What's the alternative?
BalcombeSt4 wrote: » Thats what the US does when they disagree with anyone. Really nobody should be suprised by this, the US does not care about human rights abuses, aslong as you are some way useful to them they don't care what what abuses you have committed, it's nothing new they supported dictators like Pinochet, Saddam Hussien & even defended the right of the Khemer Rouge to have a seat at the UN. This whole foreign policy of "my enemies enemy, is my friend" has totally failed. Saudis are an enemy of Iran that makes them a friend of the US.
Ulysses Gaze wrote: » And Oil. And the $3 trillion that the Saudi's have invested in the US economy.
BalcombeSt4 wrote: » Well that also helps alot yeah.
Junkyard Tom wrote: » A cultural and sporting boycott would be a good start.
ScumLord wrote: » I wouldn't be opposed to a boycott, a full on one from government level, because the end consumers don't buy a lot directly as far as I know. I really don't see that happening though, we want/need their oil. The rich go there on holiday, maybe start boycotting anyone that goes there and promotes that fact. Saudi will run out of resources, and like Ulysses Gaze says we'll all drop them like lead balloons. But I don't like half measures, if we're going to continue to appease them to get access to their resources, including them in our equality processes is the only way to encourage any kind of change. The other problem is the saudi leadership will probably survive their country going into the gutter, they'll have invested enough money to keep them in lamborghini's long after the oil has run out. So we have little to hold over them.
Ulysses Gaze wrote: » When both run out, and they will, the Yanks will drop them faster than lead **** filled balloon.
pangbang wrote: » The UN is irrelevant, hasn't been for decades. Its just becoming too weak to even hide it anymore. It was a club setup to stop war, and from the very beginning it failed. The further down the path we follow the UN and its absurdity, the worse off we'll be. The first few off the sinking ship will get the life raft.
Ulysses Gaze wrote: » There are 15,000-20,000 members of the Royal Family in Saudi. They'll burn through their post-oil resources quickly because they will not be able to rein in their spending.
RobertKK wrote: » Irish foreign minister Charles Flanagan refuses to say if Ireland was one of the 5 European countries that voted for Saudi Arabia to be on the UN women's rights commission. He should clear it up despite it not being the norm to disclose votes. We should know for transparency reasons.
Ulysses Gaze wrote: » It is just a more convoluted and bureaucratic League of Nations. About the same success rate in stopping conflict as well.
Christy42 wrote: » As much as I disagree with the decision unless there is a general agreement to discuss what was a private vote he should keep quiet. This decision to make this public should be made in agreement with others.
Ulysses Gaze wrote: » They won the geological lottery and could have changed the world for the better - could have advanced science and technology for the benefit of mankind. Instead they buy supercars and fund terror.
The Rape of Lucretia wrote: » The UN is there to hear all voices. Sure, they arent minor differences. But you cannot ignore those he believe there should be large differences between the rights for both sexes just because you are of an alternate view. The mission of the UN is to include all nations, cultures, religions and views - not to exclude. It is the UNITED nations. Have some cop on.