UNA Connecticut Division and Connecticut Post Publish Supplement for the Schools

The Connecticut Post has published a supplement "The United Nations and You" for UN Day 2009. This Newspaper in Education supplement was spearheaded by Division member Mary Keane and includes a welcome letter from Division president Dr. Joseph Baxer. Lafayette College senior Alina Stelman served as editor. The supplement has been distributed to schools in Bridgeport, as well as electronically. Hard copies distributed by the Division included the excellent annual Peace Calendar. Congratulations to all involved!

I particularly enjoyed a recipe for "Peace Pudding", which starts with "In a large bowl, gently sift 1 c. tolerance, 1 c. respect, 1/2 c. empathy, 1 tsp. patience...."

The Supplement includes articles on the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, US Ambassador Susan Rice, and pieces on a number of Connecticut people who have devoted their time to global issues and the United Nations. Other articles are on Sports and Peace, Model UN, UNA-USA Student Alliance, and UN Peacekeepers. Some articles first appeared in supplements produced by The Journal News Newspaper in Education program.

If the supplement becomes available on-line, this blog will let you know!

UNA-USA Student Alliance Program

The very exciting UNA-USA Student Alliance Program is successfully re-launched, with groups starting up at colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools around the country, including in Westchester County and elsewhere in New York State.

The program is designed to meet "the needs of today’s globally minded middle school, high school, and undergraduate college students. UNA-USA Student Alliance is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing American students to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter. With the spirit of change in the air, UNA-USA's Student Alliance seeks to engage students in a nationwide network of motivated individuals, student advocacy groups, international affairs clubs, and Model UN teams who stand poised to collectively sound their voices and make their opinions heard amongst their peers, in their communities, across the nation and around the world! President Obama and his top officials have pledged to strengthen America’s global leadership through a renewed emphasis on international cooperation, diplomacy, and active participation at the United Nations."

The four areas of focus currently are: "Human Rights and International Justice," "Building a Consensus on Climate Change," "Strengthening the United Nations," plus a UNA-USA Student Alliance group can identify a priority interest of their own. Setting up a group is easy, and student leaders can participate in leadership training through periodic telephone calls with UNA-USA leaders and others. For more information, go to: http://www.unausa.org/studentalliance#

Hillary Rodham Clinton Previews the US Role vis-a-vis the UN

In preparation for the United States role in the work of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC on Friday, September 18 on US and UN relations, and President Obama's upcoming speech at the United Nations. The US is chairing the Security Council during September. Her commentary on the United Nations is refreshing for those of us who have cringed the past 8 years on the US stance toward the UN. She noted,


"As President Obama leads our U.S. delegation at this year’s General Assembly, I hope we can demonstrate that the United Nations does not have to be just a diplomatic talk shop on First Avenue. At its best, it can be an institution that brings the world’s nations together to solve global problems through adherence to rules and principles set forth in the UN charter. And it is the responsibility of the 192 member nations during the General Assembly and beyond to capitalize on the opportunity for global cooperation and progress that the United Nations affords to each of us."


Secretary Clinton's speech discusses the revamping of the Bush-era missile defense program, to counter any threats from Iran's nuclear program. She broadly discusses human rights, climate change, nuclear nonproliferation, and her leadership of a U.S. delegation to a conference on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

“A New Course in the World, a New Approach at the UN”

On August 12, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice gave a major policy speech at New York University on US-UN Relations. In "A New Course in the World, A New Approach at the UN" she offers thoughts about how the United States is changing its course in the world, and particularly and dramatically the US approach to the United Nations. She notes three core premises: (1) "...the global challenges we face cannot be met without U.S. leadership." (2) "While U.S. leadership is necessariy, it's rarely sufficient." and (3) "Others will likely shoulder a greater share of the global burden if the United States leads by example, acknowledges mistakes, corrects course when necessary, forges strategies in partnership and treats others with respect."
These premises are consistent with the mission of the United Nations Association, namely, "educating, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter."

Rice goes on to say, "..as President Obama has said time and again, America’s security and wellbeing are inextricably linked to those of people everywhere..." Citing examples in Haiti, Liberia and the Congo, she notes that "Building the capacity of fragile states is a major part of our work every day at the United Nations, since it is the UN that is leading the charge in many of the toughest corners of the world. At its best, the UN helps rebuild shattered societies, lay the foundations of democracy and development, and establish conditions in which people can live in dignity and mutual respect."

She further states, "When the United States joins others to confront these challenges, it’s not charity. It’s not even barter. In today’s world, more than ever, America’s interests and our values converge. What is good for others is often good for us. When we manifest our commitment to tackling the threats that menace so many other nations; when we invest in protecting the lives of others; and when we recognize that national security is no longer a zero-sum game, then we increase other countries’ will to cooperate on the issues most vital to us."


Rice ends her speech with a promise: "We work with passion and resolve, because we know that the change that has come to America can also change the world. The time for action is now. The challenges we face are vast. But the opportunities are even greater. And we will seize them—because the United States is back."

The idea of the United States being "back" is a starting point for all those passionate in supporting the UN. The US is paying its back dues, and there are prospects for timely payment to the UN in future in the month of January, rather than end-of-year payments. That kind of support to the UN shows the world indeed that "the United States is back."

Important steps for the US on the world stage will take place in September, when President Obama will address the UN General Assembly on the morning of September 23 at its opening. In September too the US takes its turn for a month as chair of the Security Council. President Obama will chair a high-level meeting of the Security Council on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament on September 24th.

It is ever more important for those of us who support the UN and a strong, positive role of the US in it, to educate all Americans about the work of the UN and its importance to UN foreign policy and to the world we leave for our children.

Hope for Madagascar

There is new hope for resolving the political crisis in Madagascar. Madagascar may be on its way toward a path to a new government, bringing to a close the drama that unfolded over several months earlier this year, in which President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted in a coup.

Various news agencies have reported on a meeting this weekend (August 8-9) in Maputo, Mozambique, which brought together Ravalomanana and his rival, former mayor of Antananarivo Andy Rajoelina, who led the coup and has been functioning as head of a "High Transition Authority" government. Others in the meeting included former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.

Led by the former president of Mozambique and with participation of a United Nations Mediator, the meeting also included the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the International Organization of French-Speaking Countries.

In the agreement, there will be a political transition government for 15 months, representing all parties, while preparations are made for nationwide elections.

The United States and most European countries stopped all but humanitarian aid months ago because of the illegal coup. Madagascar is a least-developed country. Earlier in this blog I reported an appeal for funds for humanitarian needs, relating to the devastation of several cyclones and continued malnutrition of many children.

UNA-USA Student Alliances

There's a great new opportunity for students to become involved with the UN and with the Unitd Nations Association of the USA The UNA-USA Student Alliance program will re-launch in August with a new format. UNA's Membership Department is working with the Council of Chapters and Divisions Steering Committee and others to develop a trial format for the UNA-USA Student Alliance program. The one-year trial, which is scheduled to start in August in time for the 2009-2010 school year, will offer students an opportunity to learn about the UN, to become involved in leadership in important global issues, and to receive benefits from UNA and local chapters and divisions where they exist.

The UNA-USA Student Alliance Program will invite students to form UNA-USA Student Alliance Groups, at the middle school, high school or college levels. Students may also join individually. More information will be posted on the www.unausa.org website soon.

UN's New Website!

What a great surprise to find a pleasant, accessible new website for the United Nations. Worth exploring: http://www.un.org/ . On the home page, just tap on Welcome in the language you want to read.

Losing women's rights

The Dominican Republic has added a clause to its constitution effectively prohibiting abortion. But Dr. Milton Cordero, according to a DR1 article, notes that approximately 90,000 abortions occur in the Dominican Republic annually, contributing to the third leading cause of maternal death. These are mainly self-induced, or at the hands of an untrained practitioner.

I know from my lifelong work in public health (maternal and child health, family planning and HIV/AIDS) that those abortions which were previously done by a trained physician are now likely to go underground. The Dominican Republic in 2000 already had about 150 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births - higher than many of its peers in the Caribbean and Latin America. One can expect more deaths of pregnant women if clandestine abortion becomes the norm.

According to an article online in Latina, Aldrian Almonte, president of the Dominican Gynecology and Obstetrics Society has warned that the number of maternal deaths will increase considerably once the new laws are enforced and women are no longer able to gain access to safe and medically supervised abortions. Even if the pregnancy endangers a woman’s life, abortion will no longer be a feasible option for physicians. “I would like the honorable legislators to tell me: What are we going to do before the presence of a woman with severe eclampsia, convulsing in any emergency room around the country? What must we do, see her die to protect ourselves from the repercussions this law stipulates?” Almonte asked.

According to Dominican Today (April 29, 2009), the national focal point for the UNDP Human Development Report, Miguel Ceara Hatton, has further said that the new Constitution excludes the women’s right to life and encourages the incidence of clandestine abortions and maternal deaths in the country.

The work of the UN's agencies to educate about and promote safe women's reproductive health must continue in support of women's reproductive rights in the D.R., while the draconian new policies are reviewed by the country's people.

UNESCO Launches World Digital Library

Bravo to UNESCO which, with 32 partner institutions, under the guidance of James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, today launched the Bibliothèque Numérique Mondiale (BNM), or World Digital Library (WDL). The library will offer on the website http://www.wdl.org/ the world's accumulated knowledge in seven languages for students everywhere. Adding to the six official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish), the site includes materials in Portuguese. It will feature unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world, and will include manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, and prints and photographs. It will provide unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.

The library has started with about 1,200 documents and their explanations from scholars. It is designed to accommodate an unlimited number of such texts, charts and illustrations from as many countries and libraries as want to contribute. The digital library's main server is also in Washington, but officials said plans are underway for regional servers around the world.

According to the UNESCO website, the WDL was developed by a team at the Library of Congress. Technical assistance was provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. Institutions contributing content and expertise to the WDL include national libraries and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, Egypt, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The digital library's main server is in Washington, but plans are underway for regional servers around the world.

Current offerings include rubbings of oracle bones from the National Library of China, delicate drawings of court life from the National Diet Library of Japan and a 13th-century "Devil's Bible" from the National Library of Sweden. Each is accompanied by a brief explanation of its content and significance. The documents have been scanned onto the site directly, in their original languages, but the explanations appear in all seven of the site's official languages.

Users can sort through the information in several ways. They can ask what was going on anywhere in the world in, say, science or literature during the 4th century B.C., for instance. They can look up the history of a certain topic over the centuries in China alone, or in China and North America. By cross-referencing, a user can see how one area of the world compared with another at any given time. Materials also can be viewed by Place, Time, Topic, Type of Item and Institution.

This phenomenal site adds to work being done through Google and several universities to make books available online, and to the collaborative effort by Wikipedia in producing an encyclopedia of the world's knowledge.

Philanthropy and Global Public Health

Yesterday (February 23) I attended a Preparatory meeting for the 2009 High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council on the theme of Philanthropy and Global Public Health. The meeting explored collaborative opportunities in advancing progress in maternal and girls' health and neglected tropical diseases. The aim was to share best practices and lessons learned and to build new innovative partnerships and alliances to address the Millennium Development Goals. Links to websites of co-convenors of the meeting are available.

It was brought out that half a million women die annually of consequences of childbirth, many from postpartum hemorrhage. That number hasn't changed in a decade or two (but denotes some progress, as the global population has increased). Another 300 million are debilitated by childbirth. The statistics are horrifying; young women, aged 19 and below, are particularly vulnerable.

Excellent papers were prepared before the event, and are available on the UN ECOSOC Website:
Background note:
Leadership for Health: Harnessing Business Skills with Social Needs

Issues note on Improving the Health Outcomes of Women and Girls

and
Issue note on Raising the Profile of Neglected Tropical Diseases

A UN webcast of the event is available. Look for the February 23 Special Event.

President Bill Clinton synthesized the meeting, giving a well-received keynote closing address in which he offered his ideas about the direction of philanthropy in the current tough economic situation globally. His remarks start at about 2 hours 48 minutes and I encourage you to watch.

Horrific Attacks on Mumbai

Once again the few have attacked the many. No matter the underlying feelings of self-justification, terror is not the answer to cure perceived ills.

My sympathies go to the people of Mumbai, the people of India, and the people of the world, who have come under attack while leading their peaceful lives. It is vital that good people and governments of the world come together to work toward peace and to root out those who would create havoc and destabilize nations. It is important for the United Nations truly to unite toward the betterment of humanity and for nations, including the United States, to use multilateral cooperation and coordination to improve the lives of the billions who live in poverty. Unless there is hope for better futures the world is at the mercy of terrorists.

President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and US Ambassador to the UN Dr. Susan Rice will have their work cut out for them as the new American administration sets out to reinterpret America to the world and to build coalitions that foster peace.

Barack Obama wins Presidency!

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama, who will take office on January 20, 2009 after an historic campaign and winning a sizeable margin of electoral college votes and the popular vote. See below for his response to questions about the United Nations, which herald stronger ties to the UN and to multilateralism.

Obama embraces MDGs

I believe that it is vital for America to have a positive voice in the world, and that working with the United Nations and entire UN System can facilitate important international achievements. The global economic crisis, climate change, the increasing need for renewable energy and sustainable development, nuclear proliferation, worldwide poverty where a billion still live on less than $1 a day -- can only be solved with worldwide cooperation. With good political leadership and through partnership, we can make a major difference in the world we leave to our children. We can set important goals, and work together to meet them. Good scientific and technological research, strengthened education of our children, conservation, investment in the future and imagination will be stimulated by such leadership.

During the High-Level Segment of the UN General Assembly, Senator John McCain and his running mate visited the UN to meet world leaders. Despite this high-profile visit, McCain's policies seem to side-step the United Nations itself, and focus instead on bringing together only "democracies." Now, just a month before the presidential election, I am asking our readers to write to Senator McCain to ask him to support the United Nations, the UN MDGs, and to set forth a coherent policy that will give voters an understanding of his position and his global vision.

By contrast, in a speech to the Clinton Global Initiative on September 25, 2008, Senator Barack Obama embraced the UN Millennium Development Goals with the following statement:

"We all have a stake in reducing poverty. There is suffering across the globe that doesn’t need to be tolerated in the 21st century. And it leads to pockets of instability that provide fertile breeding grounds for threats like terror and the smuggling of deadly weapons that cannot be contained by the drawing of a border or the distance of an ocean. These aren’t simply disconnected corners of an interconnected world. That is why the second commitment that I will make is embracing the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015."

That said, I heard Senator Obama in a televised speech state that his plans for foreign assistance may need to be spread out over several years, because of the current economic crisis.

It is important to stay informed about the candidates' attitudes and policies toward global issues and their vision of the role of the UN. Sen. Obama has answered questions submitted to him by UNA-USA and the Better World Fund; you can see his replies here: http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=3879851

Sen. McCain has not responded, but perhaps with encouragement from the public, he, or perhaps his running mate, would reply. It's time to press for this and to help American citizens understand the candidate's views related to the UN in this important election.

Year of Change, Year of Choice: America and the United Nations

As I write on September 11, 2008, seven years after the World Trade Center disaster, I feel sorrow for all affected by the event. Over 3,000 people, including from 80 countries, lost their lives at the World Trade Center, and others on American Flight 93 and at the Pentagon. They deserve mourning and our respect. I regret that the United States squandered much of the good will the world poured out toward America just after that date.

The US and the UN have had a rocky relation since the advent of the US war on Iraq, undertaken without UN concurrence and based on erroneous information. This has colored US-UN relations in many other ways, although the US continues to support a significant piece of the UN budget and that of its agencies.

Many important treaties and conventions are awaiting US ratification or signature: Law of the Sea, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and others. Others have been abrogated by the current administration. Beyond this,the administration has vetoed Congressionally-mandated funding for the UN Population Fund. It has also overridden the Geneva Conventions on Treatment of Prisoners of War and has challenged the existence and authority of the International Criminal Court.

On November 4 we will elect our new president, congress, and one-third of the Senate. And on November 8, with those results in hand, the conference "Year of Change, Year of Choice: America and the UN" will take stock of the potential direction for US-UN relations for the upcoming years.

This First United Nations Association Mid-Atlantic Conference will be held at the UN on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. YPIC and the Council of Organizations are co-sponsors with the UNA Southern NY State Division and the New Jersey Division.

Ramu Damodoram, Deputy Director of Outreach of the Department of Public Information, will give the welcoming address. Opening plenary invited speakers are New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. The Conference will focus on three topics: Human Rights, Peace and Security, and Climate Change. A Youth Speaker will be invited to participate in each panel.

Updates on the program and information on registration will be posted at www.unasouthernny.org

Going Global with the UN reaches 70 videos

For information about purchasing these videos (DVD/VHS), contact Jeanne Betsock Stillman, jbs@stratdev.com or 914-478-3450.

SEE VIDEO TITLES BELOW NEWS UPDATES.

NEWS UPDATES: Going Global with the UN has received some nice publicity from the Stanley Foundation, regarding its availability online through cooperation of UNA Westchester and Dallas, and Richland Community College. 51 of the series are now available at the website. http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/modelun/videos.htm

We expect that the rest of the series -- Videos 53 to 70 -- will shortly go online. Those 18 are interviews by Bill Miller (UNA, Frankfort, KY), who hosts a Global Connections TV series produced together with UNTV.
http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/think/2008think8.html

ALSO: The UNA Westchester Chapter will resume showing Going Global on ten public access stations in Westchester County, NY beginning October 2008. Offerings will include Episodes 1 - 8 plus 53-70.

OVERVIEW OF THE UN AND UNA

Episode 1. The UN Working for Us All – United Nations, 2004, An overview of the various areas of work of the UN including relief, peacekeeping, human rights, development, education, health, and security. Narrated by Michael Douglas. with The UN Security Council: Keeping the Peace- UN, 2004, An overview of the history, present, and future of the Security Council & its crucial place in the UN.

Episode 2 . UN-UNA: Partners for a Better World- UNA, 2002. Traces the development of the UN and the United Nations Association from 1945 to the important work being done today by both.

Episode 3. For Everyone Everywhere: The Making of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- UN, 1998. Outlines the drafting and passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the early days of the UN, as well present day instances concerning human rights.

Episode 4. A Place to Stand, UN, 1995. Discusses the importance of the UN as a voice for all the peoples of the world, as well as crucial UN involvement in areas we don’t often realize, including telecommunication standards, air and sea craft regulations, and weather service. with UN in Action #968-972, UN, 2005. A compilation of short pieces on UN work including AIDS in Mozambique, UNICEF in Colombia, UNODC Brazil, ILO and forced labor, and gender violence in Burundi.

EDUCATION

Episode 5. Peace Makes the World a Better Place, UNA Westchester, 2005. A film documenting UNA-USA West-chester’s work on an art contest in Yonkers’ schools and interviews with children on the subject of peace. with Children’s Rights Cartoons, UNICEF, 2004. Ten Cartoons illustrate Children’s Rights.

Episode 6. Education for All: Bangladesh, World Bank Institute & UN Film Festival. Discusses successful campaigns and programs in Bangladesh to combat a large population and widespread poverty and provide education for both boys and girls.

Episode 7. Education for All: The Ugandan Experience, WBI & UN Film Festival, 2004. Documents Uganda’s efforts since 1979 to provide education for all and one teacher’s efforts to convince families to send their children to school.

Episode 8. I Want to Go to School, UNICEF, 2002. Three girls from three different countries struggle to get an education when tradition and poverty often outweigh girls’ education.
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Episode 9. Knowledge and the Environment, World Bank Institute. Illustrates the importance of knowledge, people and communities in protecting the environment.

Episode 10. A World of Biodiversity, Food & Agricultural Organization. The importance of biodiversity and resource preservation in Ethiopia, Cambodia, Lake Tchad, and Peru.

Episode 11. Water Drop of Life, UN. Discusses the importance of clean water, the scarcity of this valuable resource, and the problems than can occur if it is not conserved. with A Message from Secretary General Kofi Annan, UN. A brief speech from the S-G on the International Decade for Water. and “Splish-Splash”, UN. A video on the importance of water conservation directed at children.

Episode 12. A School on the Lake, FAO. Teaching children the importance of environmental preservation in “Floating Schools”. with Seeds of Diversity, FAO. The diversification of seeds in Ethiopia for maximizing farming without harm to the environment.

Episode 13. The Broken Flight, UN. Explores the compatibility between economic and ecological concerns in Senegal, Venezuela, and others.

Episode 14. Blue Algae of the Desert, FAO. Nutrition and health from the natural environment in Tchad. with Nomads of the Island – The needs of nomads lead them to islands for resources. and Fish and Rice – The dangers of over-fishing and the importance of environmental protection.

Episode 15. No Place to Run, World Bank Institute, UN Film Festival. Reveals the global connection between environmental changes and global epidemics.

POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT

Episode 16. Hear Our Voices, World Bank Institute, UN Film Festival. Examines the complex problem of poverty from the viewpoint of poor people and the ways they work and organize to gain a voice of their own.

Episode 17. Toil and Trouble, UN, 1995. Focuses on disadvantaged groups in several societies, their experiences and views, and what can be done to reduce poverty.

Episode 18. They Call Me Dog- UNICEF, 1995. Documents the dangerous and exhausting tasks taken on by children in order to survive.

Episode 19. Mauritius: Island of Ingenuity, World Bank Institute, 1998. An overview of the steps taken by the island of Mauritius to become an important player in world trade and to stimulate economic development.

Episode 20. Peru: Road to Recovery, World Bank Institute, 1998. Chronicles Peru’s economic growth and increased stability since problems with terrorism, overcrowding, and inflation in the 1970s.

WAR AND PEACE

Episode 21. 3551: Demobilization of Child Soldiers in Southern Sudan, UNICEF, 2001. Follows the work of the UN in the demobilization of 3551 child soldiers and process of reuniting the children with families or villages.

Episode 22. Our Bodies…Their Battleground, UN Film Festival & IRIN News. Reveals the gender based violence and rape facing women and girls during times of conflict, and the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia in particular. with UN in Action #973 & 974, UN, 2005. Two short pieces on the work of the UN worldwide. (Episode 22)

Episode 23. Secrets in the Sand, UN, 1997. UN inspectors tackle the problem of biological weapons, one of the more difficult to detect and eliminate forms of warfare, yet one of the easiest to create.

Episode 24. Small Targets, UNICEF, 1997. Exposes the issue of landmines left behind from conflict and international efforts to de-mine and provide prosthetic limbs for injured children.

GENDER AND AGEING

Episode 25. Defying the Odds, UN, 1995. Follows the lives of four women for the Beijing Women’s Conference who are adopting new roles in society, including a lawyer in Pakistan, a factory worker who forms a worker’s union in Guatemala, a Latvian theater director juggling family and work, and an immigrant to Canada who wins a local election.

Episode 26. Portraits of Age, UN, 1994. Discusses the important role of the elderly in their respective societies and the problems they face as the fastest growing segment of the population.

US-UN RELATIONS

Episode 27: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks at the Power and Superpower Conference, June 6, 2006. Also: Building a world fit for children (UNICEF)

Episode 28: UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown speaks at the Power and Superpower Conference, June 6, 2006. Also: The First Mile, on access to markets in Tanzania and how technology can help.

Episode 29: Former UN Assistant Secretary-General Gillian Sorensen speaks at UNA’s April 5 event. If you missed the event, be sure to catch her excellent presentation.

UN REPORTS

Episode 30: UN Year in Review: 2005; UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report 2006; UN Development Program, Human Development Report.

THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) -- INTRODUCTION

Episode 31: Introduction: The MDGs: Dream or Reality? Also: UNDP MDGs.

Episode 32: MDGs: – Albania: Roadmap to 2015. Also: Too Brief a Child: Voices of Married Adolescents

MDG Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Episode 33: Helping Ourselves. The program looks at two projects that are helping Indian communities move out of poverty. Also: Feeding Schoolchildren in Rwanda.

Episode 34: Yemeni Futures. The program asks what is being done to address the fundamental needs of the Yemeni people, and achievements since the unification in 1990 to raise the quality of their lives. Also: Millennium Village in Malawi

Episode 35: Central African Republic: Silent Crisis. The country is on the verge of complete collapse. It is one of the least developed countries in the world and one of the poorest. 13 per cent of children die in infancy and only a third of the population has access to safe drinking water.

Episode 36: The Angle of Hunger. The documentary features FAO’s field work in the Peruvian Andes and the Ethiopian Highlands and explores why a disproportionate number of mountain dwellers experience periods of hunger and food insecurity.

MDG Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Episode 37: Achieve Universal Primary Education. Two approaches to improving the lives of poor people -- one through education, as in the Shilmundi project in Bangladesh, the other through "community-driven development" in Indonesia. Also: Colombia - Medellin Girls; and Nepal - Welcome to School.

Episode 38: Educating Yaprak. Education for children, especially girls, in Turkey. Also: 10 Ways to change the world with children.

MDG Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Episode 39: Las Borregeras. An IFAD-supported project in Mexico helps a women’s group set up a sheep farm. Also: Agents of change 2005: The 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference and progress until now; and Fighting Poverty with Roses in Rwanda.

Episode 40: Women on the Run. The famous Kenyan marathon runner Tegla Loroupe starts a peace race to help end armed conflicts in her poverty-stricken home area. The Kenyan politician Linah Kilimo, who herself ran from the knife, strives for the goal of putting an end to female genital mutilation.

MDG Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health

Episode 41: Fight for Life: Making Pregnancy Safer. This episode describes the attempt to improve maternal health in Moldova.

Episode 42: Fight for Life: Making Pregnancy Safer. This episode describes the attempt to improve maternal health in Bolivia.

MDG Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

Episode 43: Malaria, Killer Number One. Africa’s Malaria Crisis. Ethiopia is among the places hardest hit by the disease. New cures, preventive action and massive intervention by the international community bring a glimmer of hope. Also: Fistula Advocacy Video. UNFPA brings awareness to this childbirth problem.

Episode 44: Research Capacity and Self-reliance in Developing Countries. The video explores needs and solutions to public health problems caused by neglected infectious diseases. Also: The Road Towards Universal Access. Reaching the MDG on HIV/AIDS requires far greater access to prevention, treatment, care and support than is currently available. Also: AIDS: For a Social Vaccine (ILO).

MDG Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Stability

Episode 45: Global Focus: The New Environmentalists. Features intimate portraits of seven dedicated individuals who have put themselves between government powers, corporate interests and other rivals on behalf of the Earth's well-being. Each compelling story takes place on a different continent.

Episode 46: Weather, Climate, Water in the Information Age About the World Meteorological Organization
Also: The other side of Paradise. About the December 2004 Tsunami and its impact; Grenada hurricane and impact; Sea Turtles in Barbados; Environmental Changes and impacts on islands.

Episode 47: Tomorrow's Catch. The video highlights FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
Also: The First Mile. This IFAD video looks an innovative two-year pilot project underway in Tanzania. Also, Inner Mongolia leads China in Wind Power Generation.

MDG Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Episode 48: Breaking Through. This film gives a glimpse of what microfinance means for millions throughout Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East, through the Grameen Foundation. Also: World Community Grid: IBM works with many partners to create the largest public computing grid benefiting humanity. Also, ITU backs ICTs to Aid Development. The International Telecommunications Union and information communications technology.

Episode 49: The EU and the UN: The Natural Partnership. Talks about the partnerships and achievements of the European Commission with the United Nations. Also: Millions Saved. Improvements in Global Health in Africa, the Americas and Asia which result from partnerships.





Peace & Security

Episode 50: In the Wake of War After. 10 years of civil war, Burundians are ready for lasting peace This documentary follows the stories of three people who are attempting to rebuild their lives. Also: Grass Roots Justice in Rwanda.

Episode 51: Kbiit (Courage) East Timor Nation Building: Documentary on peacekeeping and peace-building in Timor-Leste, highlighting the partnership between the United Nations system and the Timorese to build the first nation of the millennium.

Episode 52: Between 2 Stones: Nepal’s Decade of Conflict. Since the 1996 beginning of Nepal’s civil war, more than 12,000 people have lost their lives as the ruling monarchy battles with Maoist rebels. The civilian population is trapped in the middle. Also: Extra-Judicial Killings in Colombia. A 40-year armed conflict has claimed the lives of many indigenous people. Complaints from residents to the Human Rights Office will help to convict those responsible for these crimes and bring justice to the victims and their families.

2006 State of the UNEpisode 53: The first half of this episode reviews United Nations progress, successes as well as issues that were addressed in 2006. The second half focuses on four different stories: (a) highlighting issues Bahraini women face in seeking political positions; (b) China Population Report 2007, with a focus on urbanization; (c) how the impact of global warming in polar regions affects the rest of the world; and (d) how the Alliance of Civilizations came about and its goals and strategies for reducing tensions among different societies.

Global Connections Interviews by host Bill Miller, UNA Kentucky, filmed at the UN in cooperation with UN TV (Episodes 54-69, except #59)

Episode 54: Public-Private Alliance Foundation and the Dominican Republic, including MDGs. Global Connections host Bill Miller speaks with the Executive Director of the Public-Private Alliance Foundation, Dr. David Stillman and Ambassador Francis Lorenzo from the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations about the United Nation Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), highlighting the examples of progress made in the Dominican Republic. Ambassador Lorenzo and Dr. Stillman speak to the importance of cooperation between the UN and host countries. Stillman speaks on the work of the Public-Private Alliance in encouraging partnerships for development and its focus countries of Madagascar and the Dominican Republic.

Episode 55: UN’s Role in dealing with Avian Influenza In an interview with Global Connections host Bill Miller, Dr. David Nabarro, the UN System Senior Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza addresses issues surrounding the possibility of an avian influenza outbreak both in a local and global contexts, and the relationships with human influenza. Dr. Nabarro speaks about the potential for an outbreak to occur, and what sort of precautionary plans the UN has for dealing with such an occurrence, such as with issues of livestock and animal rearing. He also talks about how the UN plans to get control of the situation if an outbreak were to transpire.

Episode 56: UNA-USA, Model UN and Global Classrooms Dr. Lucia Rodriguez, the Vice President for Education at the United Nations Association – USA, and Elizabeth Scarinci, intern at UNA – USA speak with Global Connections host Bill Miller about the Model UN and Global Classroom program from an organizational and a student perspective. Dr. Rodriguez discusses the Model UN program and how it helps students become more aware of world issues and become global citizens. Ms. Scarinci speaks about what it is like to participate in such a program, what she has learned, and how it has helped give her a clear focus for her college and career goals.

Episode 57: Sport for Development and Peace Global Connections host Bill Miller interviews Dr. Djibril Diallo, the Director of the United Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace about this unique approach the UN is taking to help combat issues of illiteracy, poverty and hunger. Dr. Diallo comments on the role sports have in development and how communities can use sports and physical education to help further their economic development and to tackle issues of gender inequality. In addition, Dr. Diallo speaks about how important partnerships between the UN, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector are to the success of this innovative approach to development.

Episode 58: UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) (now the UN Office for Partnerships) Amir Dossal, the Executive Director of the UN Fund for International Partnerships speaks with Global Connections host Bill Miller about his work in promoting partnerships in development work between the public and private sector. Mr. Dossal stresses the importance of these relationships and how it positively benefits countries as well as how collaboration between groups focuses attention on dealing with issues affecting US citizens and others around the world.

Episode 59: UNICEF State of the World’s Children This episode profiles the UNICEF Report on the State of the World’s Children in ten different countries; Iran, Romania, Chad, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Brazil, USA, Djibouti and Madagascar. It gives viewers snapshots from each country into how the health of children is inextricably linked to that of their mothers and others in the community, thereby showing how important it is to consider these issues in development.

Episode 60: What does the UN Deputy Secretary-General Do? An interview with Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr. Migiro talks about her role as Deputy S-G, in relation to the UN Millennium Development goals, management issues within the UN, climate change, and other timely topics.

Episode 61: The Founding of the United Nations Professor Stephen Schlesinger, author, Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations

Episode 62: Informing the Public about the United Nations Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Public Information. See: http://www.un.org/news/

Episode 63: Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/index.html

Episode 64: George and Nick Clooney in Darfur Nick Clooney, Media Celebrity See:http://www.clooneystudio.com/charities.html or http://www.notonourwatchproject.org/

Episode 65: Feeding the Hungry in Crisis – the World Food Program Bettina Luescher, North American Spokesperson for the UN World Food Program http://www.wfp.org/english/

Episode 66: The UN Democracy Fund: Roland Rich, Executive Head, UN Democracy Fund.
See: http://www.un.org/democracyfund/XWhatIsUNDEF.htm

Episode 67: The UN Global Compact Georg Kell, Executive Director, the UN Global Compact. See:
http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

Episode 68: The United Nations and Disarmament Affairs Ambassador Sergio Duarte, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. http://disarmament.un.org/

Episode 69: Dealing with Climate Change and Counter-Terrorism Dr. Robert C. Orr, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General
For information about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, see: http://unfccc.int/
For information about the UN and Counter-Terrorism, see:
http://www.un.org/terrorism/

Episode 70: The World Federation of UN Associations Pera Wells, Secretary-General of WFUNA, speaks with host Bill Miller about the work of the Federation, which has over 100 members.
For information: www.wfuna.org

Lehman College Honors UN

Lehman College is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding as an independent Unit of the City University of New York.
On May 21, the college presented "The United Nations at Lehman College: a Homecoming." To see photographs of the event (taken by David Stillman), see:http://www.flickr.com/photos/unasouthernny


President Ricardo Fernandez introduced a panel, which included Sir Brian Urquehart, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Special Affairs and Mrs. Margaret Bruce (Molly), whose work for human rights and women's rights began at Lehman. Professor Duane Tanenbaum, of the History Department, moderated the panel and also read the remarks of Ms. Betty Teslenko, who could not attend. She had begun her UN work at the founding Conference of the UN in San Francisco in 1945, as an interpreter. After the Symposium, Molly was interviewed by Channel 12 News of The Bronx.

Activities began in the "Old Gymnasium," site of the meetings of the UN Security Council in spring 1946. About 100 people attended, including UNA Southern NYS Division Officers and Board Members Catherine White, David Stillman, Phil Reynolds, Peg Shannon, Jackie Fisher, Sohrab Kheradi, and David Cockroft as well as members of the Bronx Chapter. Former ASG Lila Das also attended, as did Andres Castellanos, George Saddler and other AFICS members (Association of Former International Civil Servants). Brad Kaufman, who collects memorabilia about the UN in Queens also attended.

President Fernandez then led the re-dedication of a Peace Grove of trees, originally dedicated in 1996 on the 50th anniversary of the UN. Photos were taken of some of the crowd as well as of the Mohicans. The paragraphs below about the Mohicans are reprinted from the Summer 2006 newsletter of the United Nations Association of Maine. They appeared in a larger article by R. Bruce Stedman, retired Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and a member of the Mohicans. He was sorry he couldn't attend the Lehman College event.

"The first temporary headquarters of the United Nations was established at Hunter College in the Bronx in March 1946. The girls’ dormitories became offices, staff lounges were converted into meeting rooms, the girls’ swimming pool became the temporary home of the Security Council. The organization transferred into more appropriate headquarters in Lake Success in July of that year. Staff members who were on board at Hunter College established an organization to commemorate their pioneer status, called “The UN Society of the Mohicans”. I reported for duty at Hunter College in May of 1946 and thereby became a “Mohican”. We were a happy band, proud of our status as workers in the world’s best hope for peace — the United Nations.

It has been the custom of the Mohicans over a great many years to hold an annual luncheon at UN headquarters. I attended such a luncheon on June 15th, 2006, the organization’s 60th birthday. I’m told that there were about 500 of us at Hunter College. About 90 are still alive; eighteen attended the luncheon and decided that it would be our final formal affair. That makes me one of the Last of the Mohicans! These are old folks (in their eighties & nineties) — many quite frail — but all still filled with the spirit of the international civil service, deeply enjoying reminiscences of shared experiences over the years."

2008 Members Day at the UN

Riley McMahon, of UNA-USA HQ, has announced that 2008 Members’ Day at the United Nations will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 1:00–5:30 pm.
Members must register by March 21, 2008.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has set ambitious goals for the UN in 2008 to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues, both new and old. This year brings two significant milestones for the UN: 2008 is the midway point for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the sixty year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While the UN will use these milestones to direct much of its work, a range of ongoing issues have to be addressed.

The United Nations Association of the USA invites its members from around the country to United Nations headquarters in New York for a members-only event. This FREE annual event is a unique opportunity for our members to learn more about the work of the UN from those who carry out the organization’s unique mission to confront the global challenges facing the world today.

Discussion Topics
The UN’s Goals for 2008
Climate Change
Human Rights
The Millennium Development Goals

Register online at www.unausa.org/MembersDay2008 by March 21, 2008.

George Clooney named UN Messenger of Peace

Adding to a long list of prominent people affiliated with the UN, on January 18, 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has named American actor George Clooney a United Nations Messenger of Peace. He will work mainly on Peacekeeping issues, stemming from his work on the Darfur crisis. UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said Clooney was recognized "for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues." Only the Secretary-General names UN Messengers of Peace.

United Nations Messengers of Peace

George Clooney
Michael Douglas
Jane Goodall
Elie Wiesel
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein
Daniel Barenboim
Paulo Coelho
Midori Goto
Yo Yo Ma

Many UN agencies have their own Goodwill Ambassadors. These give of their time, energy and often funding and other resources to the various areas of work of the United Nations. These include:

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Roger Federer (Swiss; world tennis champion), 2006
Amitabh Bachchan (Indian film star), 2005
David Beckham (English football star), 2005
Lucy Liu (actress), 2005
Lang Lang (pianist), 2004
Ricky Martin (pop singer). 2004
Jackie Chan (actor), 2004
Danny Glover (actor), 2004
Clay Aiken (singer), 2004
India Arie (singer), 2004
Whoopi Goldberg (comedian/actress), 2003
Angela Basset (actress), 2003
Alyssa Milano (actress), 2003
Jessica Lange (actress), 2003
Isabella Rossellini (actress), 2003
Liv Tyler (actress), 2003
Shakira Mebarak (singer and songwriter), 2003
Femi Anikulapo-Kuti (Nigerian musician), 2002
Angélique Kidjo (West African singer), 2002
Annette Roque Lauer (model), 2002
Sebastião Salgado (Brazilian journalist), 2001
Téa Leoni (actress), 2001
Mia Farrow (actress), 2000
Susan Sarandon (actress), 1999
Sarah Jessica Parker (actress), 1998
Summer Sanders (swimmer), 1998
Claudia Schiffer (model), 1997
Maxim Vengerov (Siberian violin virtuoso), 1997
Vendela Thommessen (model and actress), 1996
Laurence Fishburne (actor), 1996
Vanessa Redgrave (actress), 1995
Johann Olav Koss (Norwegian Olympic speed-skating champion), 1994
Judy Collins (singer and songwriter), 1995
James Kiberd (actor), 1995
Leon Lai (singer and actor), 1994
Nana Mouskouri (singer), 1993
Katie Couric (TV host), 1993
Youssou N’Dour (Senegalese performer and bandleader), 1991
Sir Roger Moore (British actor), 1991
Jane Curtin (actress), 1991
Lord Richard Attenborough (actor, director), 1987
Harry Belafonte (concert singer, actor), 1987
http://www.unicef.org/

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Nicole Kidman (actress), 2006
http://www.unifem.org/

United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime

Tetsuya Komuro (Japanese musician), 2000
Eduardo Najera (NBA)
Vlade Divac (NBA)
Khodadad Azizi (Iranian soccer player)
Hidetoshi Nakata (Japanese soccer player)
Nene Hilario (NBA)
http://www.unodc.org/

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Didier Drogba (African soccer star), 2007
Misako Konno (Japanese actress), 1998
Ronaldo de Lima (soccer star), 2000
Maria Sharapova (tennis star), 2007
Zinédine Zidane (French soccer star), 2001
Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, 2004
Dikembe Mutombo (NBA)
Lurdes Mutola (athlete)
http://www.undp.org/

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

José Antonio Abreu (Venezuelan musician), 1998
Adamkus Valdas (President of Lithuania), 2003
Mehriban Aliyeva (First Lady of Azerbaijan), 2004
Alicia Alonso (Cuban ballerina), 2002
Patrick Baudry (French astronaut), 1999
Pierre Bergé (French entrepreneur and co-founder of the Yves Saint Laurent), 1993
Montserrat Caballé (opera diva), 1994
Pierre Cardin (French fashion industry icon), 1991
Claudia Cardinale (Italian cinema actress), 2000
Catherine Deneuve, (French actress), 1998
Princess of Hanover, 2003
Nelson Mandela, 2005
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, 2005
Ivry Gitlis (Israeli violinist), 1990
H.E. Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker, 1989
Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, 1997
H.R.H. Princess Firyal, 1992
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, 2001
Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Nobel Peace Price Laureate), 1996
Kitín Muñoz (Spanish navigator, sociological explorer), 1997
Kim Phuc Phan Thi (peace activist), 1994
Susana Rinaldi (Argentinean tango singer and actress), 1992
Mstislav Rostropovich (cellist), 1998
Giancarlo Elia Valori (Italian economist and businessman), 2001
http://www.unesco.org/

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the (UNHCR)

George Dalaras (Greek musician), 2006
Muazzez Ersoy (singer and musician), 2006
Osvaldo Laport (Argentinean soap star), 2006
Giorgio Armani (Italian designer), 2002
Julien Clerc (singer-songwriter), 2002
Adel Imam (Egyptian actor), 2000
Angelina Jolie (actress), 2001
Barbara Hendricks (American opera soprano), 1986
http://www.unhcr.org/

World Food Programme (WFP)

Drew Barrymore, 2007
Lauren Bush (American model) 2005
Ronaldhino (Brazilian soccer player), 2005
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, 2005
Kaka (Brazilian soccer player), 2004
Paul Tergat (Kenyan marathon runner), 2004
Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, 2004
Mahmoud Yassin (Egyptian actor), 2004
George McGovern, 2001
http://www.wfp.org/english/

World Health Organization (WHO)

Yohei Sasakawa, 2005
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, 2005
Liya Kebede (model), 2005
Sylvie Vartan (singer), 2005
http://www.who.int/en/

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Chucho Valdés (pianist and composer), 2006
Ronan Keating (Irish singer), 2005
Beatrice Faumuina (athlete), 2005
Raúl González (Spain's leading soccer goalscorer), 2004
Carla Fracci (Italian dancer), 2004
Khaled, rai musician (Algerian singer), 2003
Maná (Latin American / Mexican rock band), 2003
Achinoam Nini Barak, a.k.a Noa (singer), 2003
Oumou Sangaré (singer), 2003
Roberto Baggio (Soccer player), 2002
Debbie Ferguson (Olympic athlete), 2002
Justine Pasek (former Miss Universe), 2002
Massimo Rainieri (Italian actor and singer), 2002
Dionne Warwick (singer), 2002
Magid Al Roumi (singer), 2001
Al Bano Carrisi (singer), 2001
Gilberto Gil (singer), 2001
Mory Kanté (singer), 2001
Youssou N’Dour (Senegalese singer), 2000
Gong Li (actress), 2000
Dee Dee Bridgewater (singer), 1999
Gina Lollobrigida (actress), 1999
Miriam Makeba (singer), 1999
Prof. Rita Levi Montalcini (Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 1986), 1999
http://www.fao.org/

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Princess Basma Bint Talal, 2001
Alfred Biolek, for Germany, 2001
Lara Dutta, for India, 2001
Chea Samnang, for Cambodia, 2000
Mpule Kwelagobe, for Southern Africa, 2000
Mary Banotti, for Ireland, 1999
Bartrand Piccard, for Switzerland, 1999
Geri Halliwell, for the United Kingdom, 1998
Mikko Kuustonen, for Finland, 1998
Yuko Arimori, for Japan
Ctaraina Furtado, for Portugal
Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, for Bhutan
Kari Jaquesson (Fitness professional)
http://www.unfpa.org/

United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Maxim Mirny (Tennis player from Belarus)
Jackie Chan (actor/martial artist, from Hong Kong)
Salma Ahmad (Pakistani actor)
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lankan Cricketeer)
Bill Roedy (President of MTV Int’l)
http://unaids.org/en/

UNA's Mission in 2008

The UN and the world are facing immense challenges, including the recent tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. Conflicts in Darfur, Iraq, the Middle East, Eastern Congo and other areas of the world persist. Global warming and the enormous growing gaps between the super rich and the middle class and the poor challenge everyone, especially ordinary citizens. Poverty and hunger diminish whenever funds diverted to war and arms decrease, and decreasing small arms as well as nuclear stockpiles is vital. The UN Millennium Development Goals remain laudable, and with adequate sense of purpose by the international community and ordinary citizens, can yet be achieved.

The United Nations Association of the USA and the Southern NY State Division and the chapters it serves have roles to play in educating the American people about these issues, and about the importance of the United Nations in facing them. It is important to focus on membership, on outreach, on publicity and on an "each one bring one" attitude. Development and building of partnerships with NGOs, organizations and businesses are one way to proceed. The generation represented by YPIC, and those involved in Model UNs and Student Alliances are essential to building a broad understanding of the United Nations in this country.

As UNA-USA members we need to support the United Nations as an important home and a tool for building international consensus. We need to ask political candidates who are running for office in the US in 2008 to explain their attitudes and positions toward the UN. Bhutto's assassination highlighted the need for leadership by the President of the US on global issues and revealed the presidential candidates' strengths and weaknesses in this sphere.

There is much to do during 2008, and we need to build coalitions, write editorials, and otherwise reach out to publicize the value of the UN to the American public and the world.

Best wishes to all for a productive and peace-building New Year.

Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination is a blow to good governance in Pakistan by forward-thinking people. It is a blow to all women as well. We will never know what changes she might have made in her country if elected in the planned January elections. What we do know is that political turmoil is likely, for some time to come.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have condemned the assassination as a blow to stability in Pakistan and its democratic processes.

Bhutto's assassination is akin to those of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi in neighboring India. Fortunately India has gone on to continue a tradition of democracy, and its current path to greater prosperity coincides with this. Pakistan can be set back for decades if extremism is allowed to take over, with great consequences for neighboring countries and the world.