This week's blog post is being put aside to instead feature reports from inside the UN on Climate Change and General Assembly happenings.
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The largest-ever gathering of world leaders devoted to climate change took place at UN Headquarters on 22 September, with 101 Heads of State and Government and 163 countries participating. The Summit focused high-level attention on the issue, mobilized political will and reinvigorated the negotiating process aimed at sealing a global climate deal at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December this year.
The event emphasized dialogue rather than set-piece speeches. By giving leaders the opportunity to pre-record their national statements, which were then made available globally through the Internet, the Summit enabled leaders to engage in direct and small-group discussions throughout the day.
At the end of the Summit, the Secretary-General invited 23 world leaders to a smaller working dinner on the crucial issue of financing for climate change. He urged them to establish a $100 billion per annum fund to support adaptation and mitigation actions in developing countries during the next decade. Two days after the Summit, the Secretary-General attended the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, where in-depth discussions on climate change continued.
Regarding Seal the Deal: “There is still much hard work ahead of us if we are to achieve success in Copenhagen”, the Secretary-General said. “I intend to engage leaders both individually and collectively, in concert with the Prime Minister of Denmark, to maintain the new momentum and consolidate progress in the run-up to Copenhagen. As a start, I will visit Europe at the beginning of October to consult further with the Prime Minister of Sweden, which holds the EU presidency, and the Prime Minister of Denmark.” Denmark will host the December climate conference, which is being organized in the context of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Faces from UNHQ while the General Debate continues
This week's blog post is being put aside to instead feature reports from inside the UN on Climate Change and General Assembly happenings.
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As police barricades turned sidewalks into an obstacle course and street vendors were missing from their usual strategic locations, the General Debate of the 64th Session of the General Assembly began on Wednesday, 23 September in New York.
As they do every year, the world's leaders have come to the United Nations Headquarters in full regalia. For those unable to witness the events first hand, here are some photos of the scene from various locations.
Inside the buildings and behind the scenes, a host of staff and associates work hard and for long, extra hours to orchestrate this massive event. From the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, conference officers in the General Assembly Hall prepare documents and set up the room while interpreters get ready in the interpreters booths. Protocol staff log long hours escorting high-level official and making their visit to UN run as smoothly as possible.
In the Department of Management, Facilities Management Services have special events coordinators who make things happen. Broadcast and Conference Support conference technicians work from the GA Hall control booths to provide live coverage.
In the Department of Public Information, Webcast, UNTV, UN Photo, meetings coverage and News Centre staff disseminate summaries, stories, still and video images of what takes place to the world at large.
Special Services and ARAMAK [sic] contractors have done a great job in preparing and servicing the various lunches and dinners, particularly for the Secretary-General's functions.
The Department of Safety and Security must work closely with a number of law enforcement and security forces to ensure the safety and security of delegates, staff and associated personnel.
This is only a brief and by no means exhaustive mention of the offices involved in the general debate, which continues tomorrow, Saturday and resumes on Monday, 28 September, running through the 30th.
_____________
As police barricades turned sidewalks into an obstacle course and street vendors were missing from their usual strategic locations, the General Debate of the 64th Session of the General Assembly began on Wednesday, 23 September in New York.
As they do every year, the world's leaders have come to the United Nations Headquarters in full regalia. For those unable to witness the events first hand, here are some photos of the scene from various locations.Inside the buildings and behind the scenes, a host of staff and associates work hard and for long, extra hours to orchestrate this massive event. From the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, conference officers in the General Assembly Hall prepare documents and set up the room while interpreters get ready in the interpreters booths. Protocol staff log long hours escorting high-level official and making their visit to UN run as smoothly as possible.
In the Department of Management, Facilities Management Services have special events coordinators who make things happen. Broadcast and Conference Support conference technicians work from the GA Hall control booths to provide live coverage.In the Department of Public Information, Webcast, UNTV, UN Photo, meetings coverage and News Centre staff disseminate summaries, stories, still and video images of what takes place to the world at large.
Special Services and ARAMAK [sic] contractors have done a great job in preparing and servicing the various lunches and dinners, particularly for the Secretary-General's functions.The Department of Safety and Security must work closely with a number of law enforcement and security forces to ensure the safety and security of delegates, staff and associated personnel.
This is only a brief and by no means exhaustive mention of the offices involved in the general debate, which continues tomorrow, Saturday and resumes on Monday, 28 September, running through the 30th.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Every day the UN works to solve global challenges
This week's blog post is being put aside to instead feature reports from inside the UN on Climate Change and General Assembly happenings.
_____________
As New York staff members arrived at work this morning, they were greeted by a fellow staff member or intern, introducing themselves while handing out a white and blue wallet-sized card.
The card highlights 10 amazing achievements accomplished by the UN, every day of every year. The numbers show the impact the Organization has on the world’s poverty stricken and those affected by climate change and violence. These 10 global challenges also highlight peacekeeping efforts and increasing primary education in developing countries.
Every UN staff member has a hand in these achievements which positively impact the world, every day of every year.
_____________
As New York staff members arrived at work this morning, they were greeted by a fellow staff member or intern, introducing themselves while handing out a white and blue wallet-sized card.
The card highlights 10 amazing achievements accomplished by the UN, every day of every year. The numbers show the impact the Organization has on the world’s poverty stricken and those affected by climate change and violence. These 10 global challenges also highlight peacekeeping efforts and increasing primary education in developing countries.
Every UN staff member has a hand in these achievements which positively impact the world, every day of every year.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Women, gender equality, and climate change
This week's blog post is being put aside to instead feature reports from inside the UN on Climate Change and General Assembly happenings.
_____________
To coincide with the Summit on Climate Change today, 22 September, and to mark Global Climate Week, 'WomenWatch', the UN portal on gender equality and women’s empowerment, launched a new online feature on the gender perspectives of climate change. Illustrating the need for gender-sensitive responses to climate change, and for involving women as agents of change and decision-makers, the web page offers a downloadable sheet with key facts, issues and recommendations.
Visit WomenWatch for comprehensive information for advocacy, research and programming for Governments, NGOs, United Nations entities, global and regional bodies, academia, women’s groups and networks and interested individuals. There is also comprehensive information on all relevant global UN commitments, resolutions and other intergovernmental outcomes, UN publications, UN events, and other resources on UN web sites.
WomenWatch was developed by staff of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for the Advancement of Women, the WomenWatch Task Manager, in close collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality Task Force on Gender Equality and Climate Change, an initiative co-chaired by the UN Development Programme and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
_____________
To coincide with the Summit on Climate Change today, 22 September, and to mark Global Climate Week, 'WomenWatch', the UN portal on gender equality and women’s empowerment, launched a new online feature on the gender perspectives of climate change. Illustrating the need for gender-sensitive responses to climate change, and for involving women as agents of change and decision-makers, the web page offers a downloadable sheet with key facts, issues and recommendations.
Visit WomenWatch for comprehensive information for advocacy, research and programming for Governments, NGOs, United Nations entities, global and regional bodies, academia, women’s groups and networks and interested individuals. There is also comprehensive information on all relevant global UN commitments, resolutions and other intergovernmental outcomes, UN publications, UN events, and other resources on UN web sites.
WomenWatch was developed by staff of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for the Advancement of Women, the WomenWatch Task Manager, in close collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality Task Force on Gender Equality and Climate Change, an initiative co-chaired by the UN Development Programme and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Playing nice in the political sandbox
I didn't blog last weekend, opting instead to enjoy three full days off thanks to Labour Day. In my mind, I saw it as an expression of solidarity, since writing is my 'labour,' of sorts. More to the point, if you were staring at the gruelling week I was about to launch into, you too would have opted to stay in bed all day Monday. Starting Tuesday and ending Friday, each day was filled with a lot of hot air from well-meaning but ineffectual bureaucrats in the UNDP Executive Board.
It seems the United Nations doesn't have a monopoly on hot air, though. Canadian politicians are doing a commendable job generating their own brand of greenhouse gasses and I have to say, it's doing nothing to help Canadians or the political landscape in this country.
The news that Micheal Ignatieff is no longer going to prop up the Harper Conservatives comes as no surprise. Ignatieff's accusations of Harper's lack of cooperation, his disingenuous approach, his mean-spirited ideology, and his underhanded tactics are all true. We've seen it in the policy that has come out of Ottawa, we've seen it in the Government's contempt for Canadian institutions and traditions, and we've seen it in the Conservative quest to make Canada something it must never be – a 'mini-me' of America.
Perhaps not in recent memory, but Canada used to be a place where a plurality of voices was welcomed and differing opinions could be openly expressed without fear of retribution or ridicule. In my opinion, this trait has been a critical part of setting ourselves apart on the North American continent. But our leaders – political, business, academic – also had a lot to do with it, establishing a level of maturity and security where all could speak, but where consensus would ultimately rule, with an eye to achieving the most good for the most people. That's what makes a society fair and just.
Harper, as we have seen, cannot be trusted to promote such an environment – his team is, at best, unaccountable and petty. But the next question that comes to mind is, can Ignatieff and his team handle the task any better?
I have doubts, which were very quickly confirmed late last week, when the Liberal leader decided to announce to all Canadians he would never form a coalition government with socialists (NDP) and separatists (Bloc Quebecois). I'm wondering if any of the geniuses advising him thought about the irony in making such an announcement. I've played the scenario over and over in my head: Ignatieff, insisting that the Harper Government is unwilling to cooperate with others in the House of Commons and therefore justifying a unilateral decision to defeat the Government at the earliest opportunity, has essentially taken the same arrogant, inflexible, acrimonious approach to wrestle power and govern the country. But how, if not without the help of the other two parties?
He's either a hard-core gambling man – gambling with his career and the fortunes of the Liberal Party – or he's banking on some kind of miracle to secure him a majority. But either way, it's a zero sum game. By taking Canada into a rather bitter, some might even say wasteful, election, he risks antagonizing a large number of Canadians of all political stripes. Conversely, there's no majority in sight for any party.
And so Iggy's rather foolish announcement of not willing to work with others seriously handicaps his attempts to form a "compassionate, moderate government of the centre." Let's face it, even if you don't want to play in the sandbox with the other kids, throwing sand is more likely to get you a spanking than a lollipop. It's a rookie mistake in the typical cut-and-thrust of politics, and you can be assured a seasoned veteran like Bloc Quebecois leader, Gilles Duceppe, will have a field day with it.
I'm worried. At the end of yet another election, we will end up with the same political gridlock in Ottawa – possibly with a different grey-haired white man leading – only with a more fatigued, disenchanted, disinterested and distant Canadian electorate. Worse, the dishonest breath of Canadian politicians is likely to add tons more hot air into the atmosphere. Sadly, I don't think I'm wrong in saying that, unlike the collection of bureaucrats with whom I spent the week, there's not much good intention coming out of the jokers in Ottawa.
It seems the United Nations doesn't have a monopoly on hot air, though. Canadian politicians are doing a commendable job generating their own brand of greenhouse gasses and I have to say, it's doing nothing to help Canadians or the political landscape in this country.
The news that Micheal Ignatieff is no longer going to prop up the Harper Conservatives comes as no surprise. Ignatieff's accusations of Harper's lack of cooperation, his disingenuous approach, his mean-spirited ideology, and his underhanded tactics are all true. We've seen it in the policy that has come out of Ottawa, we've seen it in the Government's contempt for Canadian institutions and traditions, and we've seen it in the Conservative quest to make Canada something it must never be – a 'mini-me' of America.
Perhaps not in recent memory, but Canada used to be a place where a plurality of voices was welcomed and differing opinions could be openly expressed without fear of retribution or ridicule. In my opinion, this trait has been a critical part of setting ourselves apart on the North American continent. But our leaders – political, business, academic – also had a lot to do with it, establishing a level of maturity and security where all could speak, but where consensus would ultimately rule, with an eye to achieving the most good for the most people. That's what makes a society fair and just.
Harper, as we have seen, cannot be trusted to promote such an environment – his team is, at best, unaccountable and petty. But the next question that comes to mind is, can Ignatieff and his team handle the task any better?
I have doubts, which were very quickly confirmed late last week, when the Liberal leader decided to announce to all Canadians he would never form a coalition government with socialists (NDP) and separatists (Bloc Quebecois). I'm wondering if any of the geniuses advising him thought about the irony in making such an announcement. I've played the scenario over and over in my head: Ignatieff, insisting that the Harper Government is unwilling to cooperate with others in the House of Commons and therefore justifying a unilateral decision to defeat the Government at the earliest opportunity, has essentially taken the same arrogant, inflexible, acrimonious approach to wrestle power and govern the country. But how, if not without the help of the other two parties?
He's either a hard-core gambling man – gambling with his career and the fortunes of the Liberal Party – or he's banking on some kind of miracle to secure him a majority. But either way, it's a zero sum game. By taking Canada into a rather bitter, some might even say wasteful, election, he risks antagonizing a large number of Canadians of all political stripes. Conversely, there's no majority in sight for any party.
And so Iggy's rather foolish announcement of not willing to work with others seriously handicaps his attempts to form a "compassionate, moderate government of the centre." Let's face it, even if you don't want to play in the sandbox with the other kids, throwing sand is more likely to get you a spanking than a lollipop. It's a rookie mistake in the typical cut-and-thrust of politics, and you can be assured a seasoned veteran like Bloc Quebecois leader, Gilles Duceppe, will have a field day with it.
I'm worried. At the end of yet another election, we will end up with the same political gridlock in Ottawa – possibly with a different grey-haired white man leading – only with a more fatigued, disenchanted, disinterested and distant Canadian electorate. Worse, the dishonest breath of Canadian politicians is likely to add tons more hot air into the atmosphere. Sadly, I don't think I'm wrong in saying that, unlike the collection of bureaucrats with whom I spent the week, there's not much good intention coming out of the jokers in Ottawa.
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