Published News Articles by Prof. Anouk Guiné

Assistant Prof. Anouk Guiné was the only woman resident faculty of the Gender and Peace Building (GPB) programme at UPEACE. Her contract at UPEACE was recently terminated, as per the announced cost-cutting decisions at UPEACE (see Letter from Dr. Georges Tsai, http://upaz.blogspot.com/2007/08/letters-by-prof-ronnie-de-camino-velozo.html). The loss of Dr. Anouk Guiné comes as a major blow for the GPB programme. Alarmingly, as per an informal communication by Dr. Georges Tsai to UPEACE faculty in an internal meeting, the gender department at UPEACE "could one day disappear". Dr. Guiné recently published two articles in Costa Rican newspapers/periodicals - in La Nación and La Tribuna Democratica - which provide clarity to the events and the changing ideologies at UPEACE. These articles are below.


Article of Dr. Anouk Guiné in La Nación, dated August 20, 2007
Link: http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/agosto/20/opinion1208650.html

More Conflicts at UPEACE

Questions regarding the new Rector of UPEACE and ties with Maurice Strong

By Anouk Guiné, French, Ph. D., dismissed professor (non-renewal of contract) of the Gender and Peace Building Programme at UPEACE

The recent appointment of Mr. John Maresca as Rector of the University for Peace (UPEACE) has been questioned by some of the university’s professors, students, alumni, administrative and technical personnel, as well as members of the international community and mass media. The reason? A past filled with actions incongruent with a university entrusted with disseminating knowledge on peace and social justice.

Let us see: Mr. Maresca is tied to multinational corporations plagued with a dark history of violation of human rights that, nevertheless, are generally and unfortunately legitimized by the United Nations. This past is in direct conflict with the mission of UPEACE. For example, as Dr. Levine explains clearly in "A dissenting voice: Part II. Chronic stress in the system" (Journal of Genocide Research, 2004), Mr. Maresca worked during the 1990s decade for U.S. geo-strategic objectives that were aimed at the control of oil resources by the largest North American companies in Central Asia. And we already know what happened in those regions then. There is more. Since 1999, the Business Humanitarian Forum (BHF), an institution directed by Mr. Maresca in Geneva, has in its board of advisors members that have also repeatedly violated the international norms of human rights. How can there be no reaction when, in his first meeting with UPEACE personnel, Mr. Maresca celebrated the sales figures of the Wal-Mart Company (U.S.) as an example of his faith in the private sector? Anyone who knows the overbearing manner in which Wal-Mart has always exploited its employees would not find this a cause for celebration.

Until when shall UPEACE continue to be managed by the followers of Maurice Strong (the Ex-Rector of UPEACE, and Ex-President of the Earth Council and the Council of UPEACE) and of his employee Mr. Krishnamurthy Panchapakesan (the financial and human resources advisor in both organizations)? They are the ones who sold the lands donated by the Costa Rican government to the Earth Council.

Loss. This policy of disrespect for the most elementary human rights has established its beach-head at UPEACE. A process of dismissal of resident faculty has begun in July 2007. By some strange coincidence, the professors – such as Dr. Ronnie de Camino Velozo (Chile) - who most actively questioned the appointment of Mr. Maresca, were dismissed. Besides, how is it explained that Spanish-speaking professors were dismissed just when the Government of Costa Rica managed to persuade UPEACE to focus in the future on Latin American programmes in Spanish? UPEACE did not calculate the very high costs that these dismissals imply: loss of academic quality; loss of its image before the traditional allies of UPEACE; loss of image before the main academic partner of UPEACE: American University; loss of credibility with its donors… and this list is long.

The programme of Gender and Peace Building at UPEACE is now seriously affected. The university dismissed the only resident woman professor that this programme had. Let us look chronologically at additional facts that should worry us. In 2001, the United Nations expressed its hope that UPEACE shall take "the leadership in the integration of Gender Studies at the global level". Was this fulfilled? In 2003, thanks to the report "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010", the members of the General Assembly were told that "the subjects related to gender are central to the objectives of UPEACE and are integrated in all the programmes of UPEACE".

This is not the case. Today, contrary to what is said in the official discourse of UPEACE, the gender perspective is not integrated in its programmes in a systematic way. Nevertheless, a few months ago, the Ex-Rector, i.e. G. Tsai announced informally that the Gender Programme "could disappear" and be replaced by a policy of ‘gender mainstreaming’ in the other programmes. We already know that this will not occur because of the lack of political will. It is painful to think that this is happening in an entity that supposedly defends social justice, democracy, transparency, protection of the environment, education for peace, freedom and academic excellence.

The question is: how to reconcile the respect for human rights in a university whose institutional culture is becoming more like that of a private company that has no qualms in dispensing its own personnel by ‘firing squad’ whenever its feels necessary, and like that of an organization with a secret agenda and a discourse of double standards? The university’s students and alumni have initiated a petition on these issues, which can be accessed online at:

http://univpeace.epetitions.net/

Let us hope that Dr Sanguinetti, former President of Uruguay, member of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, and the present Chair of the UPEACE Council, will be able to heal and consolidate this institution - an institution that we want to believe in and want to strengthen.

Articulo de Dr. Anouk Guiné in La Nación (the original article in Spanish)
Link: http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/agosto/20/opinion1208650.html

Más conflictos en la UPAZ

Cuestionamientos sobre nuevo rector de la UPAZ y vínculos con Maurice Strong

Anouk Guiné. Francesa, Ph. D., profesora despedida del Programa de Género y Construcción de la Paz

El reciente nombramiento de John Maresca como rector de la Universidad para la Paz (UPAZ) ha sido cuestionado por algunos profesores, estudiantes, exestudiantes, parte del personal administrativo y técnico, la comunidad internacional y algunos medios de comunicación. ¿La razón? Un pasado lleno de gestos y actos no congruentes con una universidad destinada a impartir conocimientos sobre la paz y la justicia social.

Veamos: El señor Maresca está ligado a corporaciones multinacionales plagadas con oscuros antecedentes de violación de derechos humanos que, sin embargo, son generalmente legitimadas –es lamentable decirlo– por Naciones Unidas. Esto colisiona con la misión de la UPAZ. Por ejemplo, como mostró el doctor Levine en “A dissenting voice: Part II. Chronic stress in the system” (Journal of Genocide Research , 2004), el señor Maresca trabajó en la década de 1990 para los objetivos geoestratégicos de EE. UU. dirigidos a un control del petróleo por las más grandes empresas norteamericanas en Asia Central. Y ya sabemos qué ocurrió en esas regiones entonces.

Hay más. Desde 1999, Business Humanitarian Forum, institución dirigida por el señor Maresca, tiene en su consejo de asesores a miembros que también violaron reiteradamente normas internacionales de derechos humanos. ¿Cómo no reaccionar cuando, en su primera reunión con el personal de la UPAZ, el señor Maresca celebró el volumen de negocios de la empresa Wal Mart como ejemplo de su fe en el sector privado? Quien conoce la manera prepotente con que Wal Mart explota desde siempre a sus empleados no lo celebraría de esa manera.

¿Hasta cuando la UPAZ seguirá siendo manejada por los seguidores de Maurice Strong (exrector de la UPAZ, expresidente del Consejo de la Tierra y del Consejo de la UPAZ) y de su empleado Krishnamurthy Panchapakesan (consejero financiero y de recursos humanos en ambas organizaciones)? Son quienes vendieron los terrenos del Estado costarricense que fueron donados al Consejo de la Tierra.

Pérdida. Esta política de irrespeto a los más elementales derechos humanos ha sentado ya su cabeza de playa en la UPAZ. Se ha iniciado un proceso de despido de personal docente. Extraña coincidencia: se despide a los profesores –entre los cuales el doctor Ronnie de Camino Velozo (Chile)– que más activamente cuestionaron el nombramiento del señor Maresca. ¿Cómo explicar también los despidos de profesores que son hispanohablantes, justo cuando el Gobierno de Costa Rica logró que se elaboren en el futuro programas latinoamericanos en español? La UPAZ no calculó el altísimo costo que los despidos implican: Pérdida de calidad académica, pérdida de imagen ante aliados tradicionales de la UPAZ; pérdida de imagen ante el principal socio académico de la UPAZ: American University; pérdida de credibilidad con los donantes... y así la lista es larga.

El Programa de Género y Construcción de la Paz está ahora gravemente afectado. Se despidió a la única profesora residente que tenía. Hagamos una relación cronológica de hechos adicionales que nos debe preocupar. En el 2001, las NU esperaban que la UPAZ tomara “el liderato en integración de los estudios de género a nivel mundial”. ¿Se cumplió? En el 2003, gracias al informe “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010”, se comunicó a los miembros de la Asamblea General que “los asuntos relacionados con el género son centrales a los objetivos de la UPAZ y son integrados en todos los programas de la UPAZ”.

No está. Hoy, contrariamente a lo que se dice en el discurso oficial de la UPAZ, la perspectiva de género no está integrada a los programas de manera sistemática. Sin embargo, hace unos meses, el exrector a. í. Tsai anunció informalmente que el Programa de Género “podría desaparecer” y ser remplazado por una política de gender mainstreaming en los otros programas. Ya sabemos que esto no ocurrirá por falta de voluntad política.

Cuesta pensar que esto ocurra en un ente que defiende, se supone, justicia social, democracia, transparencia, protección del ambiente, educación para la paz, libertad y excelencia académica.

La pregunta es: ¿cómo reconciliar el respeto por los derechos humanos en una universidad cuya cultura institucional es cada vez más la de una empresa privada, que no duda en fusilar a su personal cuando lo cree necesario, y la de una organización con una agenda oculta y un doble discurso? Véase sobre este asunto la petición de los estudiantes:

http://univpeace.epetitions.net

Esperemos que el Dr. Sanguinetti, expresidente de Uruguay, miembro de la Comisión Mundial sobre la Dimensión Social de la Globalización y actual presidente del Consejo de la UPAZ, sepa sanar y consolidar esta institución, en la que queremos creer y que queremos fortalecer.
__________________________________________________________________

Article by Anouk Guine in La Tribuna Democratica, dated August 04, 2007
(In Spanish)
Link: http://www.tribunademocratica.com/2007/08/nueva_crisis_en_la_universidad_para_la_paz.html

Nueva crisis en la Universidad para la Paz

Columnista huésped | Agosto 04, 2007 | 796 palabras

Por Anouk Guine, profesora, Programa de Genero y Construcción de la Paz, UPAZ

Dos profesores de la Universidad para la Paz no vieron su contrato de trabajo renovado para el año entrante, según anunció el Rector ad ínterin Tsai, el 9 de julio. Además, otro profesor renunció. Ninguno de ellos será reemplazado, incluido un cuarto profesor que deja el país por motivos personales. La decisión, de despedir por un lado, y de no sustituir el 25% de los docentes por otro, fue condicionada por la difícil “situación financiera” que enfrenta la Universidad. Por una extraña coincidencia, los primeros tres profesores fueron los que más activamente cuestionaron el reciente nombramiento del Sr. Maresca. No se dio ninguna explicación de los despidos desde el punto de vista de sus implicaciones académicas, ni se dieron explicaciones satisfactorias a estos profesores en particular. ¿Cómo explicar también los despidos de profesores que son hispanohablantes (lo cual rara vez es el caso en la UPAZ), justo cuando el Gobierno de Costa Rica logró que se elaboren en el futuro programas latinoamericanos en español? Ruth Dreyfuss hizo mención particular a este tema en su discurso durante la graduación, como uno de los principales cambios que se está emprendiendo en la UPAZ. Con su inesperada “estrategia”, la dirección de la Universidad logró reforzar el nivel jerárquico superior (directores de departamento, director de programas académicos, vice rector y rector), a expensas del nivel docente. Esta nueva composición afectará la calidad académica de la universidad, debilitando al mismo tiempo sus programas. Despedir y no sustituir los profesores es más incomprensible cuando el próximo mes de agosto, se esperan más estudiantes que nunca en el campus. Eso significará, además de los problemas ya expuestos, más carga laboral para los profesores que se quedan, un área de investigación debilitada, ninguna posibilidad de aumento salarial y ninguna garantía de un empleo estable.

El Programa de Género gravemente afectado

Como resultado de esta situación, el Programa de Género y Construcción de la Paz (www.upeace.org/academic/masters/GPB.cfm) se queda sin profesora residente, dejando a los estudiantes sin guía académica, y debilitando a su vez el programa. Preciso que era el único programa de la UPAZ con una sola profesora residente. A pesar del mandato que tiene la UPAZ de comprometerse en este campo, los estudios de género no parecen ser una prioridad para esta universidad. En el 2001, después de reunirse con el Consejo Académico de la UPAZ en Nueva York, K. Annan declaró que esperaba que la UPAZ tomara el liderato en integración de los estudios de género a nivel mundial. En el 2003, K. Annan transmitió a los miembros de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, el informe de la UNESCO “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010” (Ver: http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/kits/Resolutions%20UN/A_58_182.pdf). El documento dice que “los asuntos relacionados con el género son centrales a los objetivos de la UPAZ y son integrados en todos los programas de la UPAZ”. Hoy día, la perspectiva de género no es central a los objetivos de la universidad, y no está integrada a los programas de manera sistemática. Sin embargo, hace unos meses, el Rector a.i. Tsai anunció informalmente que el Programa de Género podría desaparecer y ser remplazado por una política de “gender mainstreaming” a través de una especialización de género que se ofrecería en los otros programas. Me parece un grave error ya que de ser así, se elimina toda posibilidad de formar a verdaderos especialistas de género. Hoy día y más que nunca, hay una necesidad urgente de salvar este programa y de dotarlo de profesores residentes que tengan la capacidad y la determinación de poner la perspectiva de género al centro de la misión de la UPAZ.

Cuesta pensar que esto pueda ocurrir en una universidad que se dice “de la Paz”, y que defiende, se supone, los derechos humanos, la democracia, el respeto mutuo, la diversidad, la educación para la paz y la libertad académica. La pregunta es cómo se logra reconciliar el respeto por los derechos humanos en una Universidad cuya cultura institucional es cada vez más la de una empresa privada que no duda, cuando lo cree necesario, en fusilar a su personal. Al tener la idea de crear esta Universidad en 1980, don Rodrigo Carazo no sospechaba que algún día se llegaría a denunciar, tanto de parte de profesores como de estudiantes y exalumnos, la manera en que esta institución maneja su misión de paz intra y extra muros. Esperemos que el Dr. Julio Maria Sanguinetti, expresidente de Uruguay, miembro de la Comisión Mundial sobre la Dimensión Social de la Globalización, y próximo Presidente del Consejo de la UPAZ, sepa sanar y consolidar esta institución en la cual queremos creer. Petición de los estudiantes:

http://univpeace.epetitions.net/

Columnista huésped | Agosto 04, 2007

Open Letter From UPEACE Students to the UPEACE Council

Below is the text of an open letter sent by students of the 2007 class at UPEACE to the UPEACE Council. This open letter seeks clarity on the suitability of Mr. John Maresca as UPEACE Rector, given his past history of involvements in international human rights violations, and in international natural resource based politics that may have been a precursor to regional violent conflicts. The letter also raises questions about the closed and non-participative nature of the process used by the UPEACE Council to select a new UPEACE Rector.

Below are also the responses of Mr. William F. Martin, President of the UPEACE Council, and Mr. John Maresca, Rector-Elect of UPEACE, to the Open Letter of Concern from the students.

Open letter of concern to the Council of the University for Peace

July 13, 2007

Members of the Council

The University for Peace

Dear Members,

The undersigned, students of the 2007 class of the University for Peace, are hereby expressing our concerns about the selection of Mr. John J. Maresca as the new Rector of UPEACE.

We would like to clarify that this letter does not reflect a “radical” anti-corporate or anti-United States stance on our part, neither is it meant to discredit Mr. Maresca’s accomplishments in his diplomatic career, nor his views that ethical business practices can contribute to humanitarian causes. Also, our concerns are not expressed with the intent of supporting any particular alternate candidate for the position.

Our concerns are rather directed at Mr. Maresca’s alleged and largely publicized close involvement, throughout his career, with geopolitical and industrial interests that have in the past carried out, and continue presently to undertake, actions that are not in line with the promotion of peace and human rights throughout the world, and particularly in countries in the Global South. His alleged involvement with these interests, as it will be further detailed, may seriously harm UPEACE’s credibility and legitimacy as an "international institution of higher education for peace”, whose mission further calls upon it to “help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations".

We are also concerned about Mr. Maresca’s seeming lack of academic credentials and background in managing an academic institution that would befit the leadership of a higher education institution such as UPEACE in its unique mandate of peace education as “the best tool for achieving this supreme good for humankind”.

Furthermore, we are uneasy about issues of transparency in the selection process, which excluded the participation of adequate faculty and student representation and, according to statements published in Costa Rican media, the justification for the selection was not properly communicated to some members of the UPEACE Council.

Now, we would like to bring to the Council’s attention the specific elements of Mr. Maresca’s background which seem to conflict with UPEACE’s mission:

i. Unocal and geopolitical interests in the Caspian and Middle East.

Mr. Maresca was Vice President of International Relations of Unocal between 1997 and 1999. In February of 1998, he testified before the U.S. Congress about Unocal’s interest in building a Central Asian oil and gas pipeline across Afghanistan to the Indian Ocean. Numerous news reports have denounced the interests of corporations like Enron and Unocal as the alleged principal drivers of U.S. military policy in Afghanistan since the early 1990s.[1]

ii. Unocal and human rights violations in Myanmar (Burma).

Mr. Maresca states in his CV that he created a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program at Unocal, became an industry leader in the field, and that he made the company aware of the importance of maintaining a positive record of responsibility. However, Unocal was sued for its alleged complicity with the Myanmar military for human rights violations, including slave labor, rape, murder and displacement of Burmese villagers, when said military provided security for the construction of the Yadana pipeline in the 1990s. Unocal settled the lawsuit with Burmese villagers in 2004.[2]

Nonetheless, according to the media articles, Unocal’s spokespersons continuously denied that any human rights violations occurred during the construction of the pipeline. The U.S. State Department and Unocal’s own consultants though, it was reported, had acknowledged that the Myanmar military used forced labor. In 2002 Unocal rejected its shareholders’ requests to withdraw from the country, claiming that the project was “a good investment for the company and a good investment for the people of Myanmar.”[3] In spite of Mr. Maresca’s legacy of a leading CSR program, these actions do not seem to reflect the conduct of a corporation that is committed to corporate accountability.

iii. Membership in the BHF and apparent “bluewashing” by businesses that actively oppose corporate accountability.

As an academic institution with a mandate to promote fundamental social values including positive peace, respect for human rights, environmental justice and gender mainstreaming, UPEACE’s credibility and legitimacy in these fields is essential.

For this reason, it is worrisome that when in 1999 Mr. Maresca first established the Business Humanitarian Forum (BHF), many international human rights and social justice organizations protested against the participation of UN institutions like the UNHCR and UNICEF in the Forum, because they believed their involvement would allow corporations violating or overtly opposing human rights standards to earn a positive image while maintaining their harmful practices (a practice they dubbed ‘bluewashing’). Although those protests were dismissed as “radical” or “isolationist”, today there are indications that the concerns of human rights organizations may have been real. A quick internet search can reveal much about the human rights track record of many BHF member companies[4].

Another profound cause for concern are news reports that several members of the BHF advisory board have actively campaigned against international standards and mechanisms that can hold business accountable for human rights issues, allegedly claiming that the existence of institutions like the BHF and the Global Compact make those standards unnecessary. A briefing published in 2004 by the UN Observer indicates that the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the US Council for International Business (USCIB) were among the most vocal opponents against the Norms for Business and Human Rights unanimously proposed by a Sub-commission of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.[5] Mr. Robin Aram, then Vice President of Shell, is singled out in the briefing as the person leading these efforts. Today, three positions in the BHF Board are held by Mr. Aram and by former heads of the ICC, and the USCIB. The stance of ICC, USCIB and Mr. Aram was strongly criticized by advocates of business accountability, including Sir Geoffrey Chandler, Founding Chair of Amnesty International’s UK Business Group, who called it "an extraordinary attack on international human rights standards".[6]

Mr. Thomas Niles, who former president of the USCIB and BHF Boardmember, is also named in a Toronto Star article as a leading opponent of the Alien Torts Claim Act (ATCA), the only U.S. legislation that can hold U.S. companies accountable for their complicity in human rights violations in other countries.[7] Coincidentally, it was under ATCA litigation that Unocal settled to compensate Burmese victims of human rights violations allegedly in relation to the construction of the Yadana pipeline. At the moment, suit is also being brought against Shell, under this legislation for human rights violations in Nigeria.

In view of all the circumstances described above, we feel that UPEACE’s international credibility as the only UN-affiliated institution authorized to issue graduate degrees in Peace and Human Rights may be seriously compromised if Mr. Maresca were to become the head of this institution.

We respect the importance of diversity in education, and recognize that voluntary business approaches are one mechanism worth exploring in the promotion of human rights. However, UPEACE is responsible for maintaining its academic independence and this is unlikely if its foremost academic authority has such strong links to corporate and political interests that seemingly oppose international human rights standards.

For this reason, we ask that the Council to reconsider this matter, in the light of these concerns, and revoke the appointment of Mr. Maresca, in order to undertake the search for a more suitable candidate, who could lead UPEACE to the fulfillment of its mission with the highest levels of academic excellence and international credibility, as well as meet its financial needs.

We also ask that additional measures be undertaken to strengthen the transparency of the selection process, including adequate student and faculty representation, and the establishment of clear standards for the position. These standards should include suitable academic credentials and a strong alignment with the principles of the UN Charter, such as a proven commitment to justice and human rights standards.

We feel fortunate for having had the chance to study at UPEACE, and recognize that with this opportunity comes a profound duty to promote the values and mission of the University. Now, we are speaking up out of care for UPEACE’s mission and concern for the University’s continued legitimacy. We hope that the Council will reconsider its decision in view of these serious concerns and revoke Mr. Maresca’s appointment, in order to select a candidate who can best serve the University’s needs and its mandate.

In peace,

Signatories (to the full contents of the letter)

Sergio Guillen, Francesca Dall’Acqua, Tanya Roberts-Davies, Jennifer Scharf , Shreya Jani, Karen Huggins, Anat Nir, Cecilia Sbernini, Brigit Glustein, Kimberly Rafuse, Loizos Loukadis, Joakim Daun, Candice O’Grady, Yusuf Alam, Jennifer Ribachonek, Julian Perez, Lauren Herzer, Taina Christiansen, Laila Said, Nora Mahmoud, Katherine Braggs, Joshua Cerretti, Marcel Fomotar, Bassey Archibong, Viviana Mourra, Sean Khalepari, Maryam d’Hellencourt

Signatories (with comments/reservations)

Signature: Mary E. Lind

Comments/Reservations: I endorse the Open Letter of Concern to the UPEACE Council and only take exception to one element: the appeal for the revoking of the appointment of Mr. Maresca. While I share all of the concerns detailed in the letter, I want to hear the perspectives of council members who made the appointment and reflect further on the complex set of interests and issues before standing behind such a request. In every other way I support and endorse the letter of concern.

Signature: Katharina Felgenhauer

Comments/Reservations: Acknowledging that UPEACE might possibly benefit from Mr. Maresca's longstanding experience, I refrain from asking the council to rescind his appointment immediately. Instead, I would like to urge the council to thoroughly clarify how the concerns addressed in this letter will be mitigated, given the representative and highly symbolic role Mr. Maresca would assume as rector of our university. I strongly request the council to decisively increase the level of transparency of their reasoning and decision-making processes.

Signature: Catalina Vaughan

Comments/Reservations: I fully endorse the letter, and before asking the Council to revoke a decision, I do want to hear the process and the real reasons or electing this candidate. If this is not expressed with weight, I also ask the revoking to occur.

Signature: Menadro Abanes

Comments/Reservations: I endorse the letter, however I am a bit uneasy about the defensive stance of the letter as “ ‘radical’ anti-corporate or anit-United States” I feel that I can take a stand without adopting any "ideological" position on this matter by being an advocate of transparency and accountability of the processes taken and actions done. Second, I am more agreeable to the idea that the Council (selection) will reconsider its appointment. Or it can point out their reasons and rationale of having Mr. Maresca as the best person among the candidates to lead UPEACE.

CC: UPEACE Council Chair-Elect Julio Ma. Sanguinetti

UPEACE Rector-Elect John J. Maresca

UPEACE President Emeritus Rodrigo A. Carazo

---

[1] http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MAD201A.html , http://www.zmag.org/monbiotpipe.htm , http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html

[2] www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/atca/2005/0322unocalsettle.htm

[3] http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Oil_watch/ProfitGunpoint_UnocalBurma.html

[4] Rio Tinto http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF41.htm

Nestle http://www.ibfan.org/english/news/briefing/nbeval.html

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=240

Shell http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=305

http://www.earthrights.org/legalpr/lawsuit_against_shell_for_human_rights_violations_in_nigeria_to_proceed.html

Suez Lyonnaise http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/files/pdfs/Suez%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Unocal.http://www.earthrights.org/legalfeature/judge_finds_evidence_unocal_used_burmese_military_despite_knowing_of_its_abuses.html

[5] http://www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=1526&blz=1

[6] http://www.reports-and-materials.org/Chandler-respon se-to-IOE-ICC-April04.htm

[7] http://www.laborrights.org/press/Unocal_Toronto_091403.htm

_____________________________________________________________

Response of Mr. John Maresca, Rector-Elect, to the above Open Letter of Concern

GEN-RE-CS-07-06

Geneva, 23 July 2007

Dear Signatories of the ‘Open Letter’ dated July 13, 2007,

I received your ‘open letter’ with some surprise. Most of the issues it cites have not been raised with me previously, in spite of the long discussion I had with the faculty, and my availability for meetings at the campus in June. It might have been useful to ask me about these matters before writing your letter.

I would nonetheless be happy to discuss the issues you have raised with you or your representative when I am back at the campus in August. If you wish to have such a discussion, please contact my Assistant to arrange an appointment.

Sincerely,

John Maresca

Rector-Elect

___________________________________________________________________

Response of Mr. William F. Martin, President of the UPEACE Council, to the above Open Letter of Concern

Chairman

31 July 2007

OSC/C/YS/07/057

Dear Signatories of the Open Letter of Concern, of 13 July,

I have read your 13 July 2007 letter carefully, and while I take the points you have raised seriously, I believe that your concerns about Mr. Maresca’s election are unfounded. I know that you were all very busy with the final stages of the academic year, including the commencement ceremony, but I wish your concerns would have been mentioned at the time of the Council’s meeting at the campus, when student and faculty representatives where invited to speak to the Council, and when the Council’s members were mingling often and informally with members of the faculty and the student body.

I understand that the new Rector of the University has offered to meet with you or your representatives to discuss the issues you have raised with respect to his background. I think that is a useful and very forthcoming position, and I hope you will meet with him. I think you will find that he is open, friendly and understanding of your concerns.

On the process used for the election of the new Rector, I agree that there is room for improving it. As a matter of fact, the Council adopted at its recent Sixteenth Session a resolution stating that the University will develop a procedure for electing the Rector to be submitted for approval at the next session. However, it is important to stress that Mr. Maresca’s election was in keeping with all existing procedures established by the Rules and Procedures of the Council of the University. Furthermore, the Executive Committee, which had been mandated by the Council to conduct the process, adopted a very rigorous selection process. Nominations and expressions of interest were sought from around the world on the basis of a vacancy announcement that identified four key selection criteria: academic credentials, ability to raise funds, management abilities, and commitment to the goals of the United Nations and the University for Peace; there was a full discussion in the selection committee of each nominee; a short list of the best qualified candidates was agreed by consensus; the short-listed candidates were invited to meet with the selection committee for interviews; there was a full and open discussion in the selection committee of the qualifications of each of the candidates; and this discussion resulted in a unanimous opinion of the selection committee in favor of the candidate who, in the opinion of the Committee, in addition to his worldwide experience, knowledge and professionalism, exceeded all four key criteria referred to above. I believe we have found a dynamic and capable leader for the University who is able to address UPEACE's current priorities and challenges. I hope that, after reflection, you will agree.

Yours sincerely,

William F. Martin,
President of the Council

Students Signatories of the Open Letter of Concern, of 13 July

University for Peace San José, Costa Rica

cc: President Rodrigo Carazo, Rector-elect John J. Maresca

Links to Informative Articles on Mr. John Maresca, Mr. Maurice Strong and Mr. Julio María Sanguinetti

This is a list of links to online articles on Mr. John Maresca (UPEACE Rector), Mr. Maurice Strong (Ex-Rector of UPEACE, Ex-Chair of the UPEACE Council and the Earth Council) and Mr. Julio María Sanguinetti (Chair of the UPEACE Council). These articles provide information of their past and present involvements/links in international security and human rights issues - involvements that are of grave concern to the UPEACE community.

Some additional informational links are at the bottom.

Articles on Mr. John Maresca's involvements in geo-strategic oil politics:

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/linkscopy/Maresca2USG.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,579174,00.html


Article on the protest of Mr. Fernando Berrocal Soto, Minister of Security, Costa Rica, and member of the UPEACE Council, to the appointment of Mr. John Maresca as the UPEACE Rector:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/junio/30/pais1151477.html (Spanish)

Copy of the official letter sent by Mr. Fernando Berrocal Soto to Mr. William F. Martin, Ex-Chair of the UPEACE Council:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/03/opinion1154076.html (Spanish)


Article by Mr. Julio Rodríguez in the La Nacion newspaper (Costa Rica) questioning the selection process for the UPEACE Rector:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/junio/06/opinion1121948.html (Spanish)

Article by Mr. Julio Rodríguez in the La Nacion newspaper (Costa Rica) questioning the appointment of Mr. John Maresca as the UPEACE Rector:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/junio/27/opinion1146768.html (Spanish)


Articles on Mr. Maurice Strong:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250789,00.html
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/23/pais.html (Spanish)
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/23/pais1157459.html (Spanish)


Articles regarding the legalities of Earth Council’s financial and land transactions in Costa Rica:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/23/pais1157422.html (Spanish)
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/23/pais1157503.html (Spanish)


Articles in the Latin American press about Mr. Julio María Sanguinetti, Chair of the UPEACE Council, explaining his role in human rights crimes during his tenure as the President of Uruguay:

http://www.larepublica.com.uy/lr3/larepublica/2007/08/26/politica/272542/premio-nobel-solicito-el-cese-de-sanguinetti-de-universidad-de-la-paz/?nz=1 (Spanish)
http://www.larepublica.com.uy/lr3/larepublica/2007/08/27/politica/272638/organizaciones-sociales-rechazan-designacion-de-sanguinetti-como-presidente-de-la-upaz/?nz=1 (Spanish)