One of a series of posters focusing on the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
United Nations
Manhattan, NY
9 October 2011
Category Archives: United Nations
Lent 8: evil
Filed under Human Rights, Lent, Photo, United Nations
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche of the UN
This originally appeared on Swords into Plowshares, the blog of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
I passed through Ralph Bunche Park at 43rd Street and First Avenue on Sunday. And it wondered me why the story of Dr. Ralph J. Bunche‘s life is not told more often.
A political scientist, academic, writer, and diplomat, Bunche took part in planning for the creation of the United Nations. He was an adviser to the U.S. delegation for the “Charter Conference” of the United Nations held in 1945. He took part in drafting the UN Charter. Along with Eleanor Roosevelt, Bunche played a key role in the creation and adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 1947, Bunche served as the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. He became the Principal Secretary of the UN Palestine Commission. He served as the Personal Representative of Secretary-General with Count Folke Bernadotte, the United Nations Mediator on Palestine. Following Bernadotte’s assassination in September 1948, Bunche became the Acting Mediator. He chaired the UN mediation efforts that led to the successful negotiation of the four armistice agreements that helped end the conflict.
For his work, Bunche became the first African-American and person of color to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He continued to served the UN for over twenty years. His work included helping to end colonialism.
Bunche was an active and vocal supporter of the U.S. civil rights movement. He participated in the 1963 March on Washington and in the Selma to Montgomery, Alabama march, which contributed to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 and federal enforcement of voting rights.
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche is one of so many people to honor – so many stories to remember – during Black History Month and always.
See you along the Trail.
25 January – an Orange Day
Today, January 25, and the 25th of each month, is an Orange Day – a day to witness and work for an end to violence against women and girls.
On this day, I:
- wore an orange tie,
- asked my Senators to co-sponsor the Violence Against Women Act, and
- took part in a conference call to orient the Presbyterian delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women where we will advocate in the global community for policies to end violence.
Work remains. Much work remains.
See you along the Trail.
Democracy
Democracy is as much about what happens between elections as it is about what happens during them.
Sergio Vieira de Mello
I have finished Chasing the Flame, Samantha Power’s biography of Sergio Vieiria de Mello. Actually I finished it some time ago. Among the quotes that stay with me, is this reflection on democracy.
We – the United States – has come through an election cycle. We voted on the federal, state, and local level. We made choices on a president, senators, congress people, governors, mayors, city council people, judges and more. In some places, people made decisions on ballot issues such as marriage equality and the death penalty.
Candidates and PACS raised and spent tons – obscene tons in some ways – of money. Candidates said words profound and words disturbing. Fundraising appeals filled our email in-boxes. Robo-calls annoyed us. People went door-to-door and made phone calls and stuffed mail and entered data and planted posters and more on behalf of the candidate of their choice.
All important. All critical. All needed. And yet, only a part of democracy.
The votes are counted. Our work begins. Here are some ways that I know we can work:
We advocate for our concerns and about decisions that impact our sisters and brothers with those who have been elected.
We take part in community organizations and community organizing.
We support campaigns that address issues of concern to us and to our sisters and brothers.
We make phone calls, send emails and letters, visit.
We engage in the public policy making process when those policies are made by governments and when they are made by corporations.
We use our money through gifts and purchases to express our values. Or perhaps, we ponder what values our use of money expresses and whether we need to reshape how we give and spend.
What are some others? How do you practice democracy between elections?
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Current Events, United Nations
Orange flowers: End violence against women and girls.
Today’s flowers are orange. They serve as a reminder that November 25 is an Orange Day – it is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In fact, the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign has designated the 25th of every month is an Orange Day to end violence against women and girls.
On November 25 and the 25th of each month, orange your day: wear orange and act for a world free of violence against women and girls.
See you along the Trail.
Orange tie
Today – and the 25th of every month – my tie is orange. I wear it to state my commitment to ending violence against women and girls. It reminds me to take actions toward that goal as well.
The 25th of every month is an Orange Day to end violence against women and girls. 25 October is the fourth Orange Day.
On the 25th of each month, join the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign and orange your day! Check out the Facebook album to see how others took action last month. Here are some things you can do on Orange Day.
Pray
- Pray for guidance for all those who work to end violence against women. Pray that all people turn from violence.
Advocate
- Ask your members of Congress to pass an inclusive Violence Against Women Act that protects all women.
- Ask candidates for Congress how they will work to end violence against women and girls.
Act
- Take part in the Stop Rape Now campaign to stop the use of rape in war.
- Wear orange. Take pictures and share them on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #OrangeDay.
- Join Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence.
- Create a group in your worshiping community, mid-council, school or other location to work to end violence against women and girls.
- Sign the global call for action to tell governments around the world that you want them to make ending violence against women and girls a top priority.
- Ask 3 people you know to sign the call to action.
- Join SayNO – UNiTE to End Violence Against Women on Facebook and share why you think ending violence against women and girls should be a priority for decision makers around the world.
Tweet
- Want to take a stand to make ending #violenceagainstwomen & girls a priority worldwide? Wear orange on the 25th! #orangeday via @SayNO_UNiTE
- Wondering what to wear? Wear orange on Thu,25 Oct & say NO to #violenceagainstwomen & girls! #orangeday via @SayNO_UNiTE
- Thu,25 Oct is #orangeday! Get ur orange shirt out of the closet &take a stand on ending #violenceagainstwomen & girls! via @SayNO_UNiTE
Post on Facebook
- Change your Facebook cover photo to this banner.
- Use this post: The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign is proclaiming every 25th of the month as Orange Day! Wear orange to take a stand on ending violence against women & girls, and encourage all your friends to do the same!
Imagine
- Use your imagination to identify and implement other ways of working to end violence against women and girls. Share your ideas.
Of course working to end violence against women and girls is not a task for one day a month. Orange Days provide a reminder that, in Christ, we are called and freed to love one another and to pursue justice for all – each day and every day.
Thanks for teachers
Today, World Teachers’ Day, I give thanks for:
Father
Mother
Grandmother
Aunts
Sister
Brother-in-law
Cousin
Miss Stuck
Jim Hassel
Larry Sells
Jack Stotts
and all (well at least most) of the teachers and educators I have known.
Each has touched my life and shaped my being.
From each I learned about the subject matter at hand.
From the best I learned to think, to question, to live, to be.
This day, as I should every day, I give thanks for teachers.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Current Events, Family, United Nations
Humiliation and diplomacy
The art of diplomacy is to avoid placing yourself in a position where you can be humiliated.
Sergio Vieira de Mello
The book of the moment is Chasing the Flame by Samantha Power – thanks Joe, Joel, and Ryan for the recommendation!
Power tells the story of Sergio Vieira de Mello and his career with the United Nations. Vieira de Mello joined the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 1969 and found himself engaged in many of the most critical UN efforts from the birth of Bangladesh in 1971-72 until his death in Iraq in 2003. As she recounts his life, Power provides insight into the man and a fascinating view of the UN and how it works.
The quote above relates to a moment when UN officials were turned back at a checkpoint in Cambodia as they tried to exercise the free movement promised to the UN by the Paris peace agreement. In the agreement, Cambodia’s four main factions agreed to demilitarize, allow refugees to return, and hold free elections. The UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, a peacekeeping mission began to arrive in March 1992.
Vieiera de Mello’s assessment of diplomacy resonates with experience. There is wisdom in refraining from asking questions when one knows the answer and does not want to hear it. There is also wisdom in silence when one knows what answers could be and knows that among those answers are some one does not want to hear.
But – does the time not come when for the sake of truth, for the sake of justice, for the sake of others, for the sake of solid relationships – we must move ahead, make ourselves vulnerable, and take the risk of humiliation and even worse? Perhaps the question is how we recognize those times and how we respond when we do?
It will be interesting to see if this concept is explored any further in the book – either directly or simply through the life of Vieira de Mello. There is much to ponder.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Books, Friends, United Nations
Manifestacion
They are scattered across the city, the Permanent Missions of the member states to the United Nations. I am still learning where they are.
Yesterday when my friend David Bowie and I left the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations we heard the chants of a demonstration. As we made our way up 44th Street toward Grand Central, the sound became louder. At the corner of 2nd Avenue, we saw the people – Syrians.
Men and women, old and young, under flying flags they called for justice and peace for their country.
From their courage and faith, hope leached into my heart as we stood and watched for a few moments. I waved and gave the peace sign as we passed by.
This evening David asked why the group had gathered there. Who did they hope to influence? Groups who come to the UN often do so on 1st Avenue – Ralph Bunche Park is a common location. We wondered if maybe they could not get a permit.
And then I looked up the address for the Permanent Mission of Syria. Sure enough – 820 Second Avenue – between 43rd and 44th – right across the street from where the crowd had gathered to make their witness. The people’s witness touched me; may their witness and the witness of their sisters and brothers in Syria touch their country’s leaders. May peace and justice prevail for Syria and for all peoples.
See you along the Trail.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICFE
Another one originally posted on Swords into Plowshares:
Presbyterian United Nations Ministry
It has been a long time since I have attended a Halloween party.
I did so tonight, joining nearly 200 adults and children to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
This program began in Philadelphia, the idea of Presbyterians Clyde and Mary Emma Allison who wondered “Why can’t kids collect food for starving children?”
In the sixty years since those orange cartons (decorated milk cartons were first used) have been used by children and adults to raise almost $160 million dollars.
Those funds are used by UNICEF to provide food, medicine, and education to help children thrive.
Monroe Allison, his wife Dianna, and UNICEF Jenny (all shown in the picture) attended the event to be recognized for his parent’s vision. Monroe attended the 219th General Assembly (2010) where UNICEF gave thanks for the role of his parents and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in creating and promoting Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
By participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, Presbyterians serve in the global neighborhood as disciples of Jesus who calls us to love one another.
What are you doing this Halloween?
The Office of Child Advocacy provides a bulletin insert on Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in color and in black and white.
Download Trick or Treaf for UNICEF story about the Allisons and the origins.
Find the resources needed to Trick or Treat for UNICEF.
Along the Graybeard Trail 