U.S. cuts UNESCO funding after Palestinian membership vote - CNN

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Yep. We believe in democracy. The vote for Palestinian membership was 107 - 14. Democracy? Arab Spring? Not for Palestinians.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/31/world/meast/unesco-palestinian-membership/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

(CNN) -- The United States is cutting funding to the U.N. education and science agency UNESCO after the agency voted to accept a Palestinian bid for full membership, the U.S. State Department said Monday.

"Today's vote by the member states of UNESCO to admit Palestine as member is regrettable, premature and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive just and lasing peace in the Middle East.," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

"The United States will refrain from making contributions to UNESCO," she said.

The United States was going to make a $60 million payment in November, and will now not do so, she said.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

1. to give some more information on the decition

Legislation dating back more than 15 years stipulates a complete cutoff of American financing to any United Nations agency that accepts the Palestinians as a full member. Unesco — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — depends on the United States for 22 percent of its budget, about $70 million a year.

The Obama administration and Unesco had tried to avert the approval and diplomats had desperately negotiated with Congress, the Palestinians and other Unesco member states to find a resolution that would preserve the agency’s budget.

***

My advice would be to see about getting that legislation repealed to continue funding

[yellowwood]

2. unacceptable

not in my name.
We must appeal this.

[frebrd]

3. Absolutely Disgusting!

Of course, just about every day this administration comes up with something that's absolutely disgusting.

:grr:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Funny how things like this never make it to "The List".

[yellowwood]

5. Why Is That?

This is very important. How can we convince the world that we care about the democratic process if we continue to act like this. We are cutting funds for science and education! Shame!

[RufusTFirefly]

6. Whaa?! Did we change our UN ambassador while I wasn't paying attention?

[Posteritatis]

7. This is based on some legislation that's been around for awhile

Sometime in the 1990s Congress pushed a law that involved revoking funding from any UN agency which recognized Palestine.