October 11, 2016 – RFE/RL Former Soviet leader and Nobel laureate Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that the world has reached a “dangerous point” as tensions between Russia and the United States have soared over the Syria conflict. Relations between Moscow and Washington — already at a post-Cold War low over the Ukraine conflict — have […]
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Holocaust victims included in Belarus-US pact preserving cultural heritage of ethnic groups
September 22, 2016 (JTA) — Belarus and the United States signed an agreement to preserve and protect the cultural properties of all ethnic groups, including those of Holocaust victims. Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makai and the chair of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, Lesley Weiss, signed the agreement Wednesday at the World […]
Why US sanctions could play into Putin’s hand
The new round of US sanctions slapped on Russia over Crimea Thursday may already be taking a toll on Russia’s economy. But how effective the measures will be in curbing Russia’s aggressive policies remains a controversial question. In fact, the Kremlin leadership could have planned for the sanctions in a way that would mute their immediate impact on their intended targets, Russian President […]
UCSJ Attends Second Annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable
On Thursday, June 27, 2013, UCSJ’s President, Larry Lerner, and Associate Director, Maria Weissman, attended the second annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable event. The IRF is an informal alliance of over one hundred faith-based organizations, religious freedom advocates and NGOs. The event was held on Capitol Hill in the Cannon Caucus Room and was co-sponsored by Advocates […]
U.S. State Dept Report Cites Russia, Uzbekistan as Among Worst in Human Trafficking
The U.S. State Department’s annual report listed Russia, Uzbekistan and China as countries that have made the worst efforts to combat human trafficking, Reuters reports. They have fallen to Tier 3, which is the lowest level, placing them in the same category as North Korea and Iran. The report states that in Russia, the government […]
A Few Thoughts from the President – Look For The Union Label
From the Desk of the (UCSJ) President– I thought of the old ILGWU fight song while recently meeting with the directors of the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL division) in Washington DC to discuss how to counter the new Russian Extremism law which has targeted religions that don’t conform […]