WS Nicole Halseth News Editor Wee leaders remain divided over what actions to take regarding the situation in Syria, At the end of the first day of the official G20 summit at St. Petersburg, Russia, the debate is ongoing, and is spurring divisive conflicts within the group. The G20 is an international group comprised of 19 of the world’s leading economies and the European Union. It was formed in 1999, and now stands as the leading global economic forum. At the beginning of the summit, it was confirmed that Syria would be one of the topics to be addressed at the G20 working dinner by Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. Though Syria was not put on the official agenda, member states had requested that the subject be up for discussion. Tensions were already running high before the summit even began, and key member states stood for completely opposing sides. The United States of America, through President Barack Obama, have confirmed that they wish fo proceed with military action, and are strongly pushing for backing to that effect. However, opposing powerhouses Russia and China stand in firm opposition, cautioning the U.S. to wait for United Nations approval before undertaking any action. In response to the stance taken by the United States, the Syrian parliamentary speaker, Mohammed Jihad al-Lahham, has written directly to the speaker for the US House of Representatives. In this letter, he too cautions the US Congress to wait and avoid any “irresponsible, reckless action.” Syria has faced ongoing conflict for approximately 30 months. Tensions have risen internationally regarding the conflict after it was alleged that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against the civilian population. There have been numerous intelligence reports to this effect, from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. ) » \ é. Violence in St. Petersburg, June 2013 AP/BBC World News Nicole Halseth News Editor he push against the LGBIO community in Russia continues this month. A lawyer in Moscow published a draft bill on the government's website on 5 September 2013 that, in essence, serves to deny gay parents the right to custody over their children. In the dratt bill, it is proposed that the “fact of nontraditional sexual orientation” be used as a legitimate basis for denying custody. This basis would then join already existing factors towards denying custody, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and other forms of abuse. This draft bill is only the latest development in the recent upswing of anti-homosexual measures and action within Russian society, as well as within the political and institutional spheres. It follows the release of another recent bill aimed at banning materials classified as homosexual ‘propaganda’ among youths. The original creators of the ‘propaganda’ bill have stated that the primary focus of the bill is the protection of children and youth, rather than the suppression of LGBIO persons. The draft bill, proposed Thursday, is a continuation of this law. Its author, Alexei Zhuravlev, builds on the principle that this ‘oropaganda’ must not only be forbidden in the public arena, but within homes and families as well. Homosexuality was officially decriminalized in Russia over 20 years ago. However, there are still numerous factors that make Russia an unfriendly and unwelcoming place for members of the LGBIO community. Homosexual civil partnershios and marriages are still not allowed, and there is currently However, the Syrian government has continually denied these allegations, placing all the blame on the rebel faction. Currently, over 100, OOO people have died in the conflict, and over two million have been classified as refugees, according to the United Nations. Possibly the most significant barrier to international military resoonse regarding the Syrian conflict has been the question as to whether or not the Assad government has, in fact, used chemical weapons against civilians. President Putin and the Russian government are not convinced that this has occurred, due to the instability of the evidence to date. This has led to hostilities between Russia and the US, and insults have been said by both parties. The US envoy to the UN, Samantha Power, has accused Russia of obstructing progress within the UN Security Council. Additionally, Power has said that Russia has ensured that there is “no viable path” for action through the No Rainbows in Russia: no law against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Additionally, in a recent Ilga-Europe survey of 49 European states aimed at assessing the state of international gay rights, Russia was ranked as the most difficult European state for gay individuals to live. This survey was released even before the propaganda bill was made, and included assessment factors such as hate crimes and recognition within the family. According to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in a press release from Amsterdam in April, “in Russia there are no infringements on sexual minorities’ rights. They're people, just like everyone else, and they enjoy full rights and freedoms.” Despite this outlook, however, according to Russia's urban foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, homosexual individuals must not be permitted to “aggressively promote their values, which are different from those of the majority, and to impose them on children." This recent increase in anti-homosexual action has inspired international Tensions of Suria: Considering Response Security Council, as Russia has already blocked two resolutions pertaining to international response in the area. While opinions on the Syrian crisis are mixed, the US is pushing forward with action. The use of US military force in Syria for 60 days, with a possible additional 30 days, has been approved by the US Senate panel. Should this measure get full backing in the Senate vote next week, and in the US House of Representatives, it would mean immediate US military response. Should the US proceed with military action in the Syrian conflict, it would likely also bring involvement from countries such as France, who have already stated their support for the initiative. As neighbours to the US, and with close social, political, and economic ties to the countries likely to be involved, Canadians will doubtlessly feel the effects of any significant action. Like the rest of the world, we will be waiting for the results of the next few weeks. aight for Rights response. This response has come from LGBIO communities and organizations worldwide, as well as individuals and other institutions. One individual is Wentworth Miller, known for his work on the television show Prison Break. He was recently invited to a film festival in St. Petersburg, which he declined in order to protest against the anti-homosexual laws and the recent upswing in violence against homosexuals in Russia. In a letter to the director of the festival, Maria Averback, Wentworth expressed that he is ‘deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government,” and that he “cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.” lt seems from the breadth of the response that this is a widespread sentiment, both in Canada and around the world. However, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the near future.