Friday, October 17, 2008
Year of Change, Year of Choice: America and the UN
The UNA Mid-Atlantic Conference, will take place on Friday, February 6, 2009. Feel free to contact Catherine D. White (CatherineDWhite@aol.com) or George Garland (GAGarland@gmail.com) with any questions. As details become available they will be posted in this blog and also at www.unasouthernny.org
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Barack Obama responds to UNA-USA questionnaire
UNA-USA has released a letter from Senator Barack Obama concerning his views on UN-US relations. http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=3879851 He notes, "Despite its evident flaws and failings, the UN remains essential to advancing U.S. interests, to enhancing global security, spurring development and providing food, medicine and life-saving assistance to the world's most needy everyday."
Senator John McCain did not reply to the questionnaire.
Senator John McCain did not reply to the questionnaire.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Going Global with the UN Videos
You can now watch Bill Miller's interviews with UN and related notables on your computer! Bill (Global Connections, UNA Frankfort, UNA-USA Board member and Rotary International) creates his programs at UN Headquarters, working with UNTV. These 30-minute programs are great for anyone who wants to learn about the UN through the eyes of those involved, or for students active in Model UN. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, UN historian Stephen Schlesinger, Ambassador Francis Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic, David Stillman of the Public-Private Alliance Foundation, Bettina Luescher of the World Food Program and Pera Wells of the World Federation of United Nations Associations are just a few of those Bill has interviewed.
The Dallas Chapter of UNA and Richland Community College, with the Lecroy Center for Educational Communication, have just uploaded videos 53to 70 of Going Global with the UN. I want to thank Noeli Biggs and all others involved. You can watch the videos at http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/modelun/videos.htm
I want to thank the UNA Southern New York State Division for its financial support for the series. The videos are again being shown in fall 2008 in Westchester County, New York on many cable TV networks, sponsored by the UNA Westchester Education Committee, whose chair is Marcia Wallace.
I also want to thank, again, the people involved in production of the series: Dan Hamilton, who is responsible for all of the technical work, making many disparate videos into seamless 30-minute productions. Dan also created the "bumpers" - the front and end pieces of the series, and Gregory Stillman's voice is heard in these. Nicoletta Barolini generously created the lovely Going Global with the UN logo.
Several interns, starting with Julianna Koch, have worked the series, sifting through many hours of potential source material, and obtaining permissions. Vanessa Van Arendonk, Ebi Spahiu, Declan Galvin, Samantha Young, Charlotte Ambrozek, Kristyn Kadala and others have supported the project.
If there is demand in future, we'll create more videos for "Going Global with the UN". Bill Miller interviews several notable UN-related people each month, so that content is available, and after a year's hiatus from looking at other source materials, I'm sure we can find many excellent new videos from throughout the UN System.
Special thanks go to David Stillman, who was president of the UNA of Westchester when the project started, and who has lived with hundreds of videos and dvds in our home and office!
Now the job is to market these across the country. I'll be glad to answer questions, and to ensure that any order you may place is quickly filled (with Dan's help, of course). DVD's are $10 each plus shipping and handling. Contact me at jbs@stratdev.com, or phone 914-478-3450. For a full list of all 70 videos, see a related article earlier in this blog, or look at the Richland Community College Model UN website.
"Ginger" Stillman
The Dallas Chapter of UNA and Richland Community College, with the Lecroy Center for Educational Communication, have just uploaded videos 53to 70 of Going Global with the UN. I want to thank Noeli Biggs and all others involved. You can watch the videos at http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/modelun/videos.htm
I want to thank the UNA Southern New York State Division for its financial support for the series. The videos are again being shown in fall 2008 in Westchester County, New York on many cable TV networks, sponsored by the UNA Westchester Education Committee, whose chair is Marcia Wallace.
I also want to thank, again, the people involved in production of the series: Dan Hamilton, who is responsible for all of the technical work, making many disparate videos into seamless 30-minute productions. Dan also created the "bumpers" - the front and end pieces of the series, and Gregory Stillman's voice is heard in these. Nicoletta Barolini generously created the lovely Going Global with the UN logo.
Several interns, starting with Julianna Koch, have worked the series, sifting through many hours of potential source material, and obtaining permissions. Vanessa Van Arendonk, Ebi Spahiu, Declan Galvin, Samantha Young, Charlotte Ambrozek, Kristyn Kadala and others have supported the project.
If there is demand in future, we'll create more videos for "Going Global with the UN". Bill Miller interviews several notable UN-related people each month, so that content is available, and after a year's hiatus from looking at other source materials, I'm sure we can find many excellent new videos from throughout the UN System.
Special thanks go to David Stillman, who was president of the UNA of Westchester when the project started, and who has lived with hundreds of videos and dvds in our home and office!
Now the job is to market these across the country. I'll be glad to answer questions, and to ensure that any order you may place is quickly filled (with Dan's help, of course). DVD's are $10 each plus shipping and handling. Contact me at jbs@stratdev.com, or phone 914-478-3450. For a full list of all 70 videos, see a related article earlier in this blog, or look at the Richland Community College Model UN website.
"Ginger" Stillman
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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
Thursday, June 5, 2008
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
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
Friday, May 9, 2008
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."
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