Negotiators in Durban, South Africa extended their annual conference on climate change 24 hours beyond the expected close of debate in an effort to find a last minute deal on carbon emissions. Discussions appeared to pay off as representatives from almost 200 countries announced a last-minute compromise yesterday morning. While not yet proposing any legally-binding targets to reduce carbon emissions, the Durban Platform lays out a plan to reach such an agreement by 2015.

President Obama took to the podium today at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and spoke to that body-and the world--about the progress that's been made since last year's UNGA and the multitude of challenges that lie ahead. This was a speech more focused on lofty goals than concrete proposals or policy commitments, but nevertheless it was powerful and touched on many key issues at the heart of Citizens for Global Solutions' mission. 

The key theme of Obama's speech?  "Peace is hard."  But it's also worth the effort.

With time running out before a temporary federal funding measure expires on March 4^th, the House of Representatives last week passed H.R. 1, which would provide funding for federal agencies for the rest of the fiscal year, through September 2011-but it cuts deep into the international affairs and peacekeeping budget. 

Don Kraus, CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, laid out the consequences of the House budget to IPS News: "The House FY 2011 funding bill would have a devastating impact on U.S. foreign affairs funding, and if adopted could be a serious setback to U.S support for the Millennial Development Goals (MGDs).  The legislation would cut funding for critical poverty fighting food aid programs by up to 50 percent, decimate support for refugees in Africa, Burma, Iraq and other places, and shrink funding for fighting AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.  This legislation represents a serious retreat for U.S. poverty reduction efforts."

Dan Maes, the leading GOP candidate for governor of Denver, came out against his rival Mayor John Hickenlooper over a bike sharing program. Maes spoke about the B-Cycle program, which places 400 rental bikes around the city to make commutes healthier and more environmentally friendly. Maes claims "if you do your homework and research, you realize ICLEI is part of a greater strategy to rein in American cities under a United Nations treaty."

ICLEI is an international association of local governments committed to sustainable development. Denver became a partner with ICLEI before Hickenlooper was Mayor. Why is it then that Maes seems to think there is a deeper motive?