UN Fights World Hunger, One Country at a Time

Swaziland is just one of many countries currently suffering from the Food Crisis. However, unlike other countries, Swaziland’s situation is currently exaggerated by the worst drought in over fifteen years. In order to better the situation, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization has assisted the local government in establishing "Input Trade Fairs" where farmers are given vouchers which they can trade in for seeds and other necessary tools. This initiative is funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, providing farmers with relief from the environmental and economic conditions hindering them. This program demonstrates the UN’s self-sustaining approach to aiding farmers in Swaziland, giving them long term means to help themselves, rather than direct short term aid.

712 Displaced Congolese Return Home with UN Help

“Now, I can have a real roof and not live under anymore plastic sheeting,” said one Congolese man to a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) officer. This man was finally able to return to his home in the Northern district of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Previously he was living in a displaced persons camp due to violent inter-ethnic clashes that have occurred since the end of the DRC civil war. He was just one of the 712 citizens of the DRC returned by UN chartered boats to his hometown July 21, bringing the total of returned internally displaced persons under the UNHCR assisted return program to 3,000. Over 1,800 more IDPs are expected to return home with help from the UNHCR in the coming weeks.
Hope and success are increasing in the region as rebel forces are disarmed, stability is rising, and fighters are being reintegrated into society. IDPs returning home are receiving food and agricultural assistance from UN agencies, attempting to rehabilitate war-torn lives and sustain lands ravaged by violence. UNHCR says they hope to complete the IDP return program by the end of the year.

For more details on this story and more from the DRC, visit un.org/news

UN Unites Kids and World Leaders

In an initiative lead by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), nine kids drafted their proposals for global development and presented them to the leaders of the world's most industrialized nations at the 2008 G8 high-level summit in Toyako, Japan. They served as representatives for the 2008 'Junior 8' Summit held in Chitose City in Hokkaido, Japan. After months of preparatory work, the 39 participants issued the Chitose Declaration, a statement consisting of recommendations for how G-8 leaders can address the issues of climate change, development and poverty, and global health. Among its suggestions is the establishment of international "Green Indexes" to encourage consumers from all nations to buy green. Additionally, the Chitose Declaration advocated the end of politically-based aide and the support of universal educational programs centered on disease prevention, nutrition, sanitation and sexual education. It also insists that governments should not be able to restrict the availability of health education and contraceptives. With the help of UNICEF, young people's ideas are being turned into action and a new generation of proactive, professional leaders is being forged.

Reaching for the Top

Have you ever dreamed of scaling Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world? This year, that dream became reality for a group of Nepali women. The first all-female, all-Nepali expedition team successfully reached the summit of Mt. Everest in May 2008. Known as the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 (FIWSE 2008), this group of women came together from a wide range of castes and ethnic backgrounds to promote tolerance and break down traditional gender barriers. Supported in part by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Food Program (WFP), their climb promoted the Millennium Development Goals by facilitating women’s empowerment and gender equality. The ten courageous women who reached the summit this spring hope that their actions will encourage young girls in Nepal to pursue an education, enter male-dominated professions, and strive for success regardless of their gender or caste.

Read UNDP’s press release about FIWSE

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Environment for Sustainable Development

Did you know that the UN Environmental Program is bettering the world for all global citizens? Since its inception in 1972, UNEP has served as the voice of the environment, partnering with governments, NGOs, media, and the private sector to help developing countries while minimizing environmental damage for future generations.

Before the UNEP, the number of governments with environmental ministries was only at 58. Now, there are over 200 governments dedicated to protecting their environments! Nationally protected areas have increased 5 fold, and both the Elephant and Rhino species have been brought back from very near extinction. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by UNEP, shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for their efforts to build up greater knowledge about climate change. A UNEP partner program, green.tv, has also established a television channel which brings high quality campaign and conservation videos to a worldwide audience. In an age where climate change is affecting both developed and developing countries alike, UNEP's work touches us all.

To learn more, visit UNEP's website above.

Check out green.tv at http://www.green.tv

US Congress Approves $665 Million for UN

On June 26, US Congress approved $665 million for the United Nations and other international organizations. The money would be allocated for crucial peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, and Liberia. $141 million would also be deposited into the Contributions to International Organizations account to assist with UN work in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the president approves this bill, a great step would be made in boosting American-UN relations. Citizens in countries where UN missions are active would also experience the benefits of increased funding in their daily lives as the UN works to improve democracy, human rights, and equality worldwide.

George Clooney on 60 Years of Keeping the Peace

The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Peace-keeping Forces. Also known as “Blue Helmets”, the UN Peace- keepers have become one of the most adaptable and reputable international forces since World War II. The UN has deployed the forces over 110 times since 1945. The UN Peace-keeping forces, whose members represent 119 countries, are currently fighting to maintain peace, and sustainability in 17 countries (betterworldcampaign.org). To find out more information, you can watch this video, or visit united nations peacekeeping.org.

UN Teaches Americans about Millennium Development Goals

Do you want to know more about the Millennium Development Goals? “Core Concepts of the MDGs,” an online course provided by the UN, seeks to delve deeper into educating Americans as to the origins, strategies, and hopes of the 8 MDGs. Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, establishing universal primary education, empowering women and promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing global partnerships for development. These goals were born when 189 world leaders met in 2000 to form the Millennium Declaration, and have been primary objectives of many UN organizations since their development.
Half-way through the 15 year time-span set for the MDGs achievement, great success has already been realized, but there is much more to be accomplished. This interactive and inspiring course includes messages from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and graphics which illustrate the implementation and urgency of the MDGs. It tests newly gained knowledge and encourages Americans’ involvement in the achievement of the MDGs, giving all of us a chance to have a share in the reduction of poverty, hunger, and inequality worldwide!

Take the course and learn more! Visit the link above

PARTY, UN STYLE!

Celebrate!


Holidays let us collectively remember the past and daydream together about the future. International observances bring Haiti together with Sweden, get Liberia reminiscing with Kazakhstan about the good times, and let Thailand and Canada contemplate about tomorrow over a glass of UN punch. The United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council (UNESCO) have founded countless holidays and coordinate global festivities to unite the world in celebration and remembrance. Here are just a few of the countless holidays recognized by the UN:

• January 27- International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• February 22- World Day for Water
• March 21- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• April 23- World Book and Copyright Day
• May 15- International Day of Families
• June 23- United Nations Public Service Day
• July 11- World Population Day
• August 9-World Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
• September 21- World Day of Peace Day
• October 24- United Nations Day
• November 20- Universal Children’s Day
• December 1-World AIDS Day

Learn about more holidays!

So put on your traditional party costumes, call up those neighboring countries and get ready to party like you never have before!! But remember, don’t outdo yourselves: you have two more this week!

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A 'Swish' Heard around the World

He dribbles, he shoots, he scores!

With that swish of the net, the Bulls forward Luol Deng gets the crowd cheering, and gets Sudanese kids on their feet as well. Luol donates $50 for every basket he scores to Ninemillion, a campaign created two years ago by the UNHCR, with Nike and Microsoft as invaluable team members. It hopes to give over nine million children, many in South Sudan, better access to education, sports and technology by 2010. Not only does the campaign strive to secure donations, but it wishes to give a voice to the refugee children and to inspire people of every nation with their undying courage and limitless strength.

Team up with Luol and the UNHCR in guaranteeing a brighter future for refugee children and in inspiring a new generation alive with their own hoop dreams!


JOIN OUR TEAM!

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Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters...THE UN!

Imagine being a child traveling in a foreign country and walking down the street with your family. All of a sudden there is an explosion and you get separated from your parents. You learned in school what to do in an emergency: Call 911! Suddenly you realize that 911 doesn’t work, you can’t find you parents, and there is nobody to help you.

So what can you do as a trapped, lost, or injured child in a foreign country? Thankfully, the UN has your back! The UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has asked countries throughout the world to link to a global child helpline. The UN has proposed the helpline number to be 116 111, which is already being used in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Portugal and Sweden. Child Helpline International’s (CHI) data shows that more than 10.5 million calls are made to child helplines every year for counseling and emergency intervention. In today’s globalized world, a universal child helpline will greatly benefit the well-being of children everywhere. Next time you are a child in an emergency, all you have to do is call 116 111 and help will be on the way!

For further information

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Peace Talks Occurring in Darfur to End Violence

The AU and UN hybrid mission to bring peace in Sudan has been holding new chats with the Sudanese government and rebel groups in an effort to curb violence in areas like Darfur so that humanitarian aid may be distributed to civilians and peace talks can begin.

The situation in Sudan, especially Darfur, has only worsened over the course of the past five years. The UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was created to help with the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement in July 2007. Hopefully these talks will be a step forward for the UN and AU and for an end to the violence in Darfur.

To learn more go to:

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html

Looking at aid on google

Google and many UN humanitarian aid agencies have now teamed up so that you can use Google Earth to look up the locations of aid distribution around the world. The UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) has now posted maps that show the refugee camps located in primarily Darfur, Iraq and Colombia.

This partnership is a tool to show Americans and the world the actual work that the United Nations is performing. It brings the work of humanitarian aid home.

This project is a continuance of a number of programs, in partnership with Google, that operate as tools to connect developed countries with the stories of people in developing countries and with the work that international organizations are performing. Such other projects include UNICEF's initiative to share children's stories on www.ourstories.org, a website where children from developing countries can record their journey and share it with the world.

To learn more about this:

Read the original news article:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24966&Cr=child&Cr1=

Webcasts from the UN

Ever wanted to know what happens within the United Nations Headquarters in New York City? Now you can experience what it is like to be an Ambassador when you go and watch the webcasts that are posted of various meetings and debates on the UN website. Every day at noon, the UN holds a briefing that is streamed online for all to see. You may not be an employee for the UN but you also can find out what is going on and see for yourself all the great work the United Nations is doing.

Check out the webcasts at:

www.un.org/webcast