Rotary Club of New York at the United Nations

Rotary Day at the UN November 2011

2012-01-03T00:47:00.001-05:00

On a cool and sunny autumn Saturday morning on November 5, 2011 hundreds of Rotarians were lining up at the front gates of the United Nations on 1st Ave in New York City. Rotarians, in their usual fashion introduced themselves to each other, discussed some of their club projects as they watched the thousands of marathoners across the street preparing for a 5K warm-up race. This was the day before the New York City marathon.
For more than twenty years, Rotary International has been welcomed to the United Nations Headquarters to review their progress of the partnership with the United Nations in reducing global poverty in the areas of health, clean water, disaster relief and literacy.

As is customary, more than two dozen or so of the current or past officers, directors and trustees of RI from around the world attended. This year, there were 1,176 attendees from thirty-three countries and twenty eight states. One third were not from the United States, with seventy-five from Canada and twenty visitors from Italy. There were eighty-five Rotaractors, and 532 Interactors for their own customized program.

After the required security announcements, Past District Governor, Brad H. Bradley Jenkins - RI Representative to the United Nations, from the Berkley Heights Rotary Club in New Jersey introduced Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information for the United Nations, Kiyotaka Akasaka. A national of Japan and a former senior negotiator in the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change, as well as member of the Secretariat of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, welcomed the Rotarians to the UN’s world headquarters. He thanked the assembly for the “sterling record” of Rotary’s contribution in economic as well as environmental contribution to alleviating many of the world’s problems. Rotary assistance was especially helpful this year with so many events such as the creation of South Sudan, and the Arab Spring.

Sustainable development is currently the top priority of governments, the UN, and Civil Society, and this is where Rotary can help provide some solutions. While health, disaster relief, agriculture, ethnic tolerance, and literacy have improved since 1992 because of partnerships with civic-minded organizations such as Rotary, he concluded, yet more needs to be done. He called attention to the fact that two billon of the world’s seven billion people are less than twenty years old. Around the world, many young people are voicing disapproval because of the lack of opportunity available to them.

Rotary International President–elect Sakuji Tanaka welcoming one of the Rotaractors.Immediately following was a welcoming statement from Rotary International President-elect Sakuji Tanaka. Also a national of Japan, President-elect Sakuji, a former trustee of the Rotary Foundation, a past director of Rotary Intentional, Chairman of the Daika Company, and president of the National Household Papers Distributers Association of Japan has been a member of the Rotary Club of Yashio since its charter in 1975. "Since I joined Rotary, I have embraced every new challenge of Rotary service. To me, challenge is a very important word. It inspires us. It also helps us to be and to do our best. It allows us to bring out our fullest potential." President-elect Tanaka encouraged all to help Rotary reach its potential by finishing the job of polio-eradication and using the organization's strengths to enhance its ability to "do good in the world."
The President of the United Nations Foundation, the Honorable Timothy E. Wirth also addressed the audience. Mr. Wirth was the first president of the United Nations Foundation that was founded by Ted Turner more than fifteen years ago. When Mr. Worth first joined the UNF, Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended that his first trip should be to meet with Rotary officials in Evanston Ill. Mr. Wirth chronicled how Ted Turner loved the tie designed for the Rotary Centennial with all the flags of the world. Ted Tuner would wear that tie often.
Helen Reisler PDG (Center) and the Rotaractors from the Youth Panel were Amna Bhatti (left) and Arooj Javaid (right).Mr. Wirht also informed the gathering that current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was recently reappointed for his second five-year term, and strengthening UN partnerships is the main theme for his second termxxxxx. Rotary’s commitment to partnerships is cited often and is considered the paradigm of public –private partnerships, he said.

The Health Panel was moderated by New York Rotarian Sylvan M. Barnet (aka Barney) and he pointed out that there is an emergent shift of emphasis from communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Barney introduced Dr. Jacob Kumaresan, the Executive Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) who detailed that it was Rotary’s energy and commitment and the one billion dollars raised by Rotary that motivated other NGO’s and governments partners to join Rotary’s efforts. Rotary has mobilized twenty million volunteers, and as a result two billion children were vaccinated and eight million people have been saved from contracting the dreaded polio virus. This is probably the largest health undertaking in history, the doctor stated.

He outlined several essential strategies to enhance polio immunization including full coverage, surveillance and follow up. “While we are at the last mile to rid the world of polio, it still will take courage because it is dangerous on the Pakistan boarders. We need to support the volunteers, and the local leaders must provide safe-passage to the volunteersxxxxxxxxxx. Rotary expects to have raised a total of $1.4 billion dollars for the Polio-plus program by 2015.

Moderator Barney introduced Dr. Zulfiquar A. Bhutta a professor at AGA-Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. His research interest including newborn and child survival and micronutrient deficiencies. The doctor personally thanked Rotary because forty-five years ago, he received a Rotary scholarship and it had a significant impact on his life’s work and goals. His university is working to transform the customary medical educational system with broad refinement and more coordination between education and health sector to ensure that the type of health professionals trained matches the health needs in every country.

The Water Panel was moderated by PGS Edwin H. Futa. He introduced the New York based Senior Advisor of Water Sanitation, and Hygiene Section (WASH) of UNICEF Andrew Trevet. Mr.Trevet was a lecturer at the Water and Sanitation at Cranfield University in the UK before joining the World Health Organization in 2006.
Mr.Trevet emphasized the importance of creating an “improved drinking water source”. The improved water source should be clean and within one mile from your home and simple latrines need to be built. The real problem is that many diseases, including polio are water borne. Yet, almost fifty-percent of the developing world’s population lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 880 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources. Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more, he remarked.
The second guest speaker was fellow Rotarian Ron Denham, the chairman of The Water And Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG). Rotarian Ron received his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering in England and has consulted in several continents and is involved in many water projects. With currently 4,000 individual Rotary WASH programs going on this year alone, WASRAG was created in 2007 to provide the know-how, consistency and credibility essential to achieve success over the long term. Ron emphasized that sustainability is critical to a successful water project which requires not only securing local support for a water project but also making sure the community can keep it going.
There are too many number of non-functioning wells. Too often, Rotary clubs start with the idea of putting in a well or delivering filters in one year. Rather, it should be considered as a long term- three to five years - project. More importantly, the development of “software” (local community commitment) is more important than “hardware” (the donation of the well) that is the key to a sustainable well.
Members of the Rotaract of the United Nations acted as Sergeant at Arms with Leon Horwitz PDG of the White Plains N.Y. Rotary Club(right).The AM Closing Panel was launched with John Hewko, the new Rotary International General-Secretary. Three months ago, Rotary International hired John to be its new top executive. In this position, John will manage more than 600 employees at RI headquarters in Evanston, Ill., and its regional offices in seven countries. From 2004 to 2009 John was vice-president of operations for the Millennium Challenge Corporation that delivered foreign assistance to the world's poorest countries. In the early 1990’s, he also assisted in the working-group that prepared the initial draft of the Ukrainian Post-Soviet constitution. Having just completed his first one hundred days in office, John reviewed the role of Rotary in the early years of the United Nations and pointed out that five of the UN’s General Assembly presidents were Rotarians.
The next speaker in the AM Closing Panel was Rotarian Barry Rassin (PRID) from District 7020 in the Bahamas. He outlined Rotary's Haiti Earthquake Relief program. His district established the Haiti Task Force as the conduit for all Rotary Foundation-related projects to review the initiatives, advise clubs, and to help designate the appropriate club projects. First created in 2007, this task force was very helpful and knowable during the 2010 Haitian earthquake relief.
Rotary clubs worldwide have contributed to a special Haitian Relief Fund with an emphasis on projects that address the issues of education, sustainable housing, and the need for prosthetic limbs. More than fifty projects have been approved for funding, a majority of them education-related.
Rotary clubs have provided more than $18 million to Haiti by leveraging their donations with District Matching Funds and The Rotary Foundation Matching grants. One of the projects was the earthquake-proof reconstruction of six classrooms.
Also included in this panel were Past RI President William B. Boyd and currently Chairman of the Rotary Foundation.
Chairman Bill stated that we support peace because we are Rotarians, we dream for those who themselves who have no hope. The world is a better place because of Rotary. In concluding Chairman Bill sang out the title song of a Sesame Street “Why Are There So Many Songs About Rainbows”?
President of the Rotary Club of New York Giorgio Belistrane welcomes visiting Rotarins form Italy
The next speaker in the panel was Dickson Despommier PhD and a professor at Columbia University. As the author of The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century he outlined the benefits of the experimental “Vertical” (hi-tech indoor) farming. These farms are particularly useful in Korea and Japan where there is a shortage of productive farmland. Just like the cell phone, the professor anticipates that with a learning curve Vertical Farming will become more economical and productive over time.

We face the challenges of rapid population growth, climate change, and dwindling resources. As such we need to find alternative sources of food, water, and energy and Vertical Farming will allow us to: Grow food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, protect crops from unpredictable and harmful weather, re-use water collected from the indoor environment, provide jobs for local residents and utilize abandoned factory buildings, eliminate use of pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides, drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels, prevent crop loss due to disease or pests, and stop agricultural runoff.
The next speaker was Ginny Wolfe who is the Senior Director of U.S. the “One” campaign which was co-founded by rock star, Bono. It currently has close to three million signed-up members and this organization asks for their advocacy and voice for many of the same issues that RI has been working toward, including extreme poverty, preventable diseases, raising public awareness, and persuading political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that save lives.

After lunch, The RI Representatives Panel was moderated by Brad Jenkins to review some of the United Nations and other Global Organizations in other parts of the world that RI observes. These include Rotarians working with African Union, Council of Europe, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ,Economic Commission for Africa, World Bank World Food Program Economic Commission for Europe , Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Fund for Agricultural Development ,Organization International de la Francophonie, Organization of American States, UNESCO and United Nations Environmental Program.
RI Representatives are asked to establish relationships and contact their XXXXXXX assigned organization and to inform their assigned organizations about Rotary’s humanitarian programs and projects and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration with Rotary.
The first speaker was Dr. Michael P Jazzar, RI Representative to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, (UN-ESCWA). Rotarian Michael, a dental surgeon who lives in Beirut, Lebanon informed the audience that ESCWA was established in 1973 and headquarter in Beirut with the objective to support economic and social development to promote cooperation between the countries of the region. Dr. Michael was instrumental to have Rotary International’s forms and brochures are translated into Arabic, for example.

The final speaker of this panel was Richard S. Carson, a computer consultant and owner of Carson Industries. Richard is RI’s Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarter in Washington DC. The OAS four main pillars are democracy, human rights, security, and development. He outlined the work of the OAS and applied for Rotary to be accepted as a credentialed NGO of the organization. In 2008, sixty participants from Rotary International attended an OAS briefing and hosted an evening reception. The OAS is asking Rotary for assistance in teacher training programs throughout the Americas.

The Youth Panel was moderated by New York Rotarian Helen B. Reisler PDG. Helen asked the winner of her district’s The Four Way Test Essay Contest to read her essay. XXXXAmna Bhatti, born in Pakistan and moved to New York as a child, read her award winning essay about the relevance of “The Four Way Test In Today’s World.”

The next panelist was Arooj Javid from the Rotaract Club of Mississauga, Ontario. Arooj is a sales operations representative at Hewlett Packer and lead the program that raised $9,500 for Pakistan Flood Relief Drive through her Rotaract club. More than 300,000 sq. miles and twenty million people were affected by these floods. Arooj’s club collected boxes of supplies and send approximately 750 boxes of supplies to the flood victims.

The last panel was the Literacy Panel that was moderated by Joseph xxxxxxxx of the Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Laurie Noe, a professor at HousatonicXXXXXX Community College in Early Childhood Education, and Barbara Welles-Nystrom of Fairfield University spoke about their South African Literacy Project. This project was to bring Bridgeport, Connecticut teachers to several South African communities looking for qualified early education preschool teachers. Many of the classrooms in South African communities they attended were in poor condition and lacking furniture and books.
Afterwards, South African teachers were invited to Bridgeport Ct. preschools for three weeks to interact with Bridgeport teachers and students. Dr. Noe and Professor Welles-Nystrom concluded that teachers from both countries learned from each other with long lasting consequences and dividends.

President Wayne Chales of the Rotray Club of Harlem New with Marlend a RI Ambasaadorial Scholar who will be stdying in Hong Kong
Lise Monty, the PP of the Rotary Club of Wilmington outlined her club’s Pakistan Project which is a multi-faceted program promoting international understanding and good will. The project featured distinguished speakers from the Embassy of Pakistan, hosted in the homes of Wilmington Rotary members. who will serve as host and moderator and featuring a discussion leader from the Pakistan-American community, and the development of a long term relationship with the Lahore Mozang Club in Pakistan. It aims to build understanding and relationships between the two countries while promoting education and literacy among Pakistani girls.
The most recent initiative under the project involves supporting the Ghazali School, founded in 2001 Lahore Mozang club, renamed the Unity School to mark the club’s partnership with the Wilmington Rotary Club. The club had raised $23,000 to cover schooling costs for nearly 30 girls for five years. The club raised an additional $5,000 to add a girls’ sixth-grade class.
Twelve delegates from the Wilmington club recently completed a 10-day trip to Lahore to meet with members of the Lahore Mozang Rotary Club and observe their work in promoting education and literacy across Pakistan.

Only twenty-percent of school-age girls in Pakistan attend school. Yet one visit from the Wilmington delegates not only had a remarkable effect on motivating more children to get enrolled in the school but also brought a fresh wave of understanding between the people of America and Pakistan.”

Holy See Permanent Observer

2011-01-16T08:54:00.005-05:00

The guest speaker at the December 2010 breakfast meeting was Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt who was appointed on July 17, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI as the Vatican’s top envoy at the UN. Born in India, Archbishop Chullikatt is the Holy See Permanent Observer at the UN, replacing Archbishop Celestino Migliore, who last month was named the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to Poland.

The Vatican was granted the status of non-voting permanent observer state at the UN in 1964 under Pope Paul VI by an invitation from Secretary General U Thant. Archbishop Chullikatt is the first non-Italian to head the Holy See’s Mission in New York. In addition to his native language, Malayalam, the archbishop is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin. Since 2006 he was assigned to the Middle East as the apostolic nuncio to war torn Iraq and also Jordan. He has also served as a Vatican diplomat in Honduras, in southern Africa and the Philippines at the Vatican Secretariat for Relations with the States - the Holy See’s equivalent of a Foreign Ministry. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Counselor for the Holy See Mission to the UN in New York.

He was ordained a priest in 1978 and holds a doctorate in canon law and joined the Vatican’s diplomatic service in 1988.

He is known for his outspoken defense of the persecuted Christian and other religious minorities in Iraq there, his work on inter-religious cooperation and good relations with Muslim leaders. Terrorists frequently targeted Christians and churches in Iraq, as well as his residence on several several times.

Uzbekistan Ambassador

2011-01-16T08:53:00.010-05:00

The Guest speaker at the November 2010 breakfast meetings was H.E. Murad Askarov, Ambassador, Mission of Uzbekistan to the United Nations. (center) He spoke about Uzbekistan's Political and Economic Situation and the Activities of the Mission of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country. Its 28 million people, concentrated in the south and east of the country, are nearly half the region's total population. Uzbekistan had been one of the least developed republics of the Soviet Union; much of its population was engaged in cotton farming in small rural communities. The population continues to be heavily rural and dependent on farming for its livelihood.

The economy is based primarily on agriculture and natural resource extraction. Uzbekistan is a major producer and exporter of cotton, but natural gas has replaced it as the dominant source of foreign currency earnings. It also is a major exporter of gold, uranium, and strategic minerals. (Uranium is Uzbekistan’s largest export to the U.S.) Manufacturing has become increasingly important, particularly in the automotive sector, which is aimed primarily at export to the Russian market. Since independence, the government has followed a policy of gradual transition to a free market economy but most large enterprises are still state owned or controlled. Copied from the U.S. State Department

Rotarians Attend UN Prayer Service

2010-09-18T05:13:00.014-05:00

Rotarians attended the Prayer Service for the start of the 64th Session of the General Assembly lead by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. The Archbishop recommended adopting a “tongue common to all of us that has at its center the human person the heart of all institutions, laws and works of society." He made these comments on September 14 at the Church of the Holy Family, (the United Nations Roman Catholic parish). The Vatican’s Permanent Observer at the U.N., Archbishop Celestino Migliore, as well as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, spoke at the service.

With an ostensible reference to the Tower of Babel, the Archbishop noted that the international community would be better served if it used as an official language "a voice, a tongue, common to all of us, and one that does not demand the use of a dictionary or grammar. This tongue speaks of help and hope, mercy and tenderness, of fatigue over war, of longing for simple decency and dignity."

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also addressed the attendees and stated: "I am deeply honored to join with you once again for this service. I look forward to it every year. For the United Nations, September is the season of renewal. And we begin right here. By giving thanks, gathering strength, and looking forward in faith: Faith in our universal values, faith in our common humanity, and faith in our shared future."

A reception immediately followed the service at Holy Family's Community Center. (Photos)

Religions For Peace

2010-09-18T05:04:00.009-05:00

The guest speaker at the September 15, 2010 meeting was Mr.Stein Villumstad, the Deputy Secretary General of World Conference of Religions for Peace. (third from left) Mr. Villumstad is also the Chair of the global coalition that works toward a UN Decade of Inter religious and Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace. He has also worked for twenty years with Norwegian Church Aid.

Mr. Villunstad has contributed a number of articles including: "Social Reconstruction on Africa: Perspectives from Within and Without." (Action Publishers, Nairobi, 2005)

From their website: Religions for Peace is the largest representative inter-religious collaboration in the United States. RFP-USA, that seeks to translate deeply held and widely shared values into concrete multi-religious action through programming initiatives with three foci:

Championing diversity
Building community
Mentoring emerging leaders

For RFP-USA, peace and justice are the motivation, process, and outcome of their efforts. As an educational, information-gathering organization, RFP-USA brings leaders together, facilitating the development of new relationships between communities while strengthening the connections that already exist. RFP-USA is trusted advisor: a collaborative organization with a body of knowledge it is eager to share—ready to serve as a consultant and guide for corporations, agencies, and civic organizations working on matters of diversity and inclusion.

New York Rotarian, Sheila Washington (right), invited Irina Karyachkina, the secretary for the
Nizhny Novgorod Rotary Club in Russia to participate in the breakfast meeting discussion.

Three Instruments to Foster Global Business Ethics by Josef Klee, Ph.D.

2010-08-17T00:38:00.001-05:00

Three Instruments to Foster Global Business Ethics
The Rotary Four-Way Test, the UN Global Compact,
& the Global Economic Ethic Manifesto

By Josef Klee, Ph.D.

Doctor Klee is a former UN Deputy-Director and adviser to the Holy See Mission to the UN. He has published 4 books and more than 60 articles about management topics. Presently, he is Adjunct-Professor at the St, Thomas University in Miami.

The Need for Global Business Ethics

The latest global financial and economic crisis has intensified discussions about business ethics which have become a topic of widespread interest. Today, politicians, business leaders, clergy, scholars, etc. all participate in the debate about ethical issues related to the economy and the conduct of business operations.

Business ethics are not a new or recent matter of concern. Throughout history, there have always been merchants and business owners who, in their business dealings, have applied certain values or virtues and moral principles often rooted in their religious beliefs.

At the beginning of the last century, however, business leaders and scholars recognized the need for a common ethical framework for operating a business and began to address business ethics in a more systemic fashion.

Rotary International, founded in 1905, was among the first global organizations to adopt a set of ethical principles to be observed by its members with respect to their professional and business responsibilities. From the outset, practicing high ethical standards in business and professions is one of Rotary’s guiding principles for its membership.

In the academic world, Catholic universities took the lead in establishing chairs for business ethics.

Since the Second World War and in particular after the corporate scandals
in the 1980’s, the interest in the issue of business ethics exploded; and most of the leading business schools invested heavily in business ethics programs.

Considering these efforts to promote and to teach business ethics, one must ask the question, how to explain the many scandals and serious ethical management offenses in recent years. Serious doubts remain whether one can successfully teach values, virtues and good ethical behavior with the objective to ensure proper, just and fair business operations.

This also raises the question concerning the wisdom of constructively teaching ethics in business schools. How can a graduate of a business school reconcile the dilemma to be expected to act as an aggressive and smart manager geared towards maximizing profits or shareholder value as taught in classes of marketing or finance, and at the same time, to practice social responsibility as taught in the ethics course?

Since the fall of the Soviet Empire, we have witnessed a rapid pace of economic globalization. Both political and business leaders have recognized that the world needs a new approach to dealing with the challenges of globalization, in particular regarding its negative effects in developing countries as well as concerning the state of business in industrialized nations. There is a consensus in the international community that the global economy can only function effectively if it operates within a framework of ground rules for a fair and sustainable commercial exchange and for cooperation. Such a framework must include ethical principles which are accepted in all cultures and traditions.

In my understanding, there are three important public examples of ethical principles which enjoy universal acceptance and can serve as guidance for participants in the global economy. These three instruments are:
the Rotary Four-Way Test
the United Nations Global Compact
the Global Economic Ethic Manifesto

These three instruments share similar values and ideals and pursue the same objective, namely to encourage and foster the application of high ethical standards in business. All three instruments rely on voluntary observance and are not legally binding. They serve as a moral/ethical code or guide for proper attitudes and behavior in conducting business decisions and operations.

At some level, these instruments are connected and complement each other. For example, Rotary International and the United Nations Global Compact Office have specifically recognized and acknowledged that they share the same values implied in their work. They have established a formal agreement of cooperation in a joint letter “to encourage a set of joint activities to advance the shared ideals of high ethical business practices, sustainable humanitarian action, and world peace and understanding”.

In a similar way, the Global Economic Ethic Manifesto and the United Nations Global Compact are linked by mutual understanding and support. Both instruments share core values which are universally accepted; and Hans Kung, the initiator of the Manifesto, has expressly stated that the Manifesto intends to support the Global Compact from the angle of ethics.(1)

The Rotary Four-Way Test

Rotary International, the world’s first service-club organization, is truly a universal and global organization. More than 1.2 million members live and serve in 200 countries. Rotary enjoys all over the world a unique reputation for its high ideals of service and its
hands-on approach to assist people in need. The former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has described Rotary’s highly successful signature program to eradicate polio “a shining example of private/public partnership”.

From its inception, Rotary’s mission, besides the ideal of service, included the obligation of its members to achieve high ethical standards in business and profession. Thus, as mentioned above, Rotary is considered as one of the pioneers in fostering business ethics.

In 1932, Herbert J. Taylor, a successful businessman and prominent Rotarian who also served as President of Rotary International, developed the Rotary Four-Way Test. In designing the test as an instrument to encourage and foster ethical behavior in business, Taylor had studied existing ethics codes and concluded that they were too long and difficult to memorize, rendering them impractical. His aim was to develop a simple guide in form of a checklist because he believed one should not tell a person what he/she can or cannot do. Instead, a person should ask questions concerning his/her behavior, decisions and actions in conducting business.

Finally, he formulated the so-called Four-Way Test consisting of four questions which now constitutes the hallmark of Rotary International. The four questions of the Test are:
1. Is it the Truth? 2. Is it Fair to All Concerned? 3. Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships? 4. Will it Be Beneficial to All Concerned?Taylor and his managers themselves tested the new guide and applied it in their daily business dealings. With the application of the Four-Way Test, Taylor was able to make his company profitable and very successful.

In 1943, Rotary International officially adopted the Four-Way Test as an ethical guide for its members. The Test has been translated in more than hundred languages, and in many Rotary Clubs worldwide, the Test is recited and reconfirmed regularly at the meetings.

In addition, many Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts have developed special projects, such as essay and speech competitions regarding the meaning of the Test, as well as awards for outstanding applications of the Test to promote its dissemination.

The Rotary Four-Way Test as an instrument for business ethics has the distinctions that it is simple to apply and has proven its acceptance in all cultures; thus the Test has made a unique difference in the lives of Rotary members and the people they serve.
The United Nations Global Compact
The former United Nations Secretary-General , Kofi Annan, initiated the Global Compact. At the 1999 World Economic Forum in Davos, the Secretary-General had
expressed his concern that the growing opposition to globalization in many parts of the world could impede free trade and free flow of investment, hinder sustainable economic growth and ultimately threaten social, economic and political stability worldwide.

He asked the business leaders not to wait for governments to impose new laws but to demonstrate responsibility and take the initiative for constructive change by embracing a set of nine principles for the practice of their global operations. These principles are derived from universally accepted international agreements on human rights, labor standards and environment protection, and they relate to the following issues:

In the area of human rights, business enterprises should:
1. Support and respect the protection of human rights; and
2. Ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.Regarding labor standards, business enterprises should:

3. Uphold the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
4. Eliminate all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
5. Abolish child labor; and
6. Eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Concerning the protection of the environment, business enterprises should:
7. Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
9. Encourage the development and the diffusion of environmentally friendly technology.

In 2004, a tenth principle, derived from the United Nations Convention against Corruption, was included in the Global Compact. This principle against corruption reads as follows:

10. Business should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Companies wishing to engage in the Global Compact have to declare in writing to the United Nations Secretary-General that they support the principles of the Global Compact and are committed to take concrete actions such as:
Issuance of a statement of support for the Global Compact addressed to the company’s stakeholders, employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders;
Application of the ten principles of the Global Compact in all corporate activities, submission to the Office of Global Compact of reports on concrete examples of progress made or lessons learned from implementing the principles; and
Partnering with United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to assist in solving global problems.

The Global Compact is a voluntary instrument. It is not a legally binding and enforceable code of conduct. Rather, the Global Compact is meant to foster constructive cooperation among the participants in dealing with the impact of globalization, and it is designed as a forum to share information and expertise for finding global solutions to remedy negative effects from globalization.

In July 2000, the Global Compact was formally launched at a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York attended by about fifty leaders from business, labor and civil society. Today, more than 7700 corporate participants and stakeholders from different industries and from every continent have joined the Global Compact.

Governments, trade associations, universities and other institutions have organized events and meetings to present and to promote the Global Compact. Participating companies have organized national and regional networks to share their experience in applying the principles in their business strategies and operations. Also, companies cooperate with United Nations agencies and NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance or development aid in various parts of the world. In addition, universities have started to teach and conduct research on the Global Compact and related global issues.

However, the Global Compact has its critics. They claim that participating in the Global Compact allows companies to embellish their reputation, or that participating companies use the Global Compact for public relations purposes only without intending to ever change questionable corporate behavior

In addition, some critics believe that the Global Compact is not effective because it functions on a voluntary basis and therefore lacks monitoring and enforcement authority.
The Global Compact is still evolving. Its success will ultimately be measured by how effectively its member corporations will cope with the challenges of globalization and how they will contribute to improving human rights, alleviating poverty, improving working conditions, protecting the environment and to eradicate corruption.

The Global Economic Ethic Manifesto

The Global Economic Ethic Manifesto was composed by a committee of German and Swiss scholars and senior business executives; and it was launched last year at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York in the presence of ambassadors and United Nations officials.

The Manifesto provides an ethical framework guiding the actions of the global economic and business community. In the words of Hans Kung: ”It provides to everybody in these stormy seas an orientation as a chart to steer by, a map with clear ethical coordinates, … an ethical guideline for the difficult decisions that need to be taken in the harsh reality of everyday life”. (2)

The Manifesto is built on the values and principles expressed in the “Declaration toward a Global Ethic,” issued by the Parliament of World Religions in 1993.

As indicated above, the Manifesto aims at supporting the United Nations Global Compact. Josef Wieland, one of the drafters of the Manifesto, states that “one of the intentions of the authors is for the Manifesto to provide individual and virtue-based ethical foundations to the management principles of the United Nations Global Compact”. (3)

The Manifesto is a rather elaborately worded document. Its text consists of a preamble and two chapters with 13 articles. Its preamble outlines the vision and core-values and principles of the Manifesto.

The first chapter defines the principle of humanity as “Being human must be the ethical yardstick of all economic action” (4), and it consists of four articles:
Article 1: Economic action must fulfill human being’s basic needs so that they can live in dignity.
Article 2: The dignity and self-esteem of all human beings are inviolable.
Article 3: To promote good and to avoid evil is the duty of all human beings.
Article 4: What you do not wish done to yourself do not do to others.
The second Chapter defines different basic values of global economic activity and consists of nine more articles linked to four general headings
Basic Values of Non-Violence and Respect for Human Life
Article 5: All human beings have the duty to respect the right to life and its development.
Article 6: Sustainable treatment of the natural environment is an uppermost value-norm for economic activity.
Basic Values of Justice and Solidarity
Article 7: Justice and the rule of law are fundamental values of economic life.
Article 8: The pursued of profit is necessary for the survival of a business. The prevention of corruption is the duty of all stakeholders.
Article 9: Equal opportunity, distributive justice and solidarity ensure sound economic development.
Basic Values of Honesty and Tolerance
Article 10: Truthfulness, honesty and reliability are essential values to promote general human well-being.
Article 11: Diversity is a source of prosperity and discrimination of human beings violates the principles of ethics.
Basic Values of Mutual Esteem and Partnership
Article 12: Mutual respect, understanding and fairness are indispensable for economic success.
Article 13: Partnership finds its expression in the ability to participate in economic life.
The authors of the Manifesto claim that its ethical principles prescripts and stipulations are universal. It remains to be seen if the Manifesto will find worldwide acceptance. Due to its rather complex structure and particular stylistics concerning the wording of its text, the Manifesto is not an easy guide for daily use in corporations and government offices. However, the Manifesto is an excellent document to study and to teach global values and ethical principles both at universities and in the business world.
Conclusion

The three instruments discussed share the overall objective to foster ethical behavior in business and to provide principles and guidelines for achieving this goal. However, they differ widely concerning the focus and priority of specific targets of ethical behavior and of methods of implementation.

A company or organization interested in promoting ethics could choose one of the instruments and, if necessary, to make modifications to tailor it to its specific needs and corporate culture. It would be most important that the leadership of such a company or organization make a serious commitment to adoption and implementation, and do simply not pay lip-service for image and public relations purposes.

Reference:
Manifesto Global Economic Ethic, Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag ,2010
(1) page 170
(2) page 175
(3) page 144
(4) page 155

Author: Dr. Josef Klee, New York , is former UN Deputy-Director and adviser to the Holy See Mission to the UN. He has published 4 books and more than 60 articles about management topics. Presently, he is Adjunct-Professor at the St, Thomas University in Miami.
Autor: Dr. Josef Klee, New York, ist ehemaliger Deputy-Director der Vereinten Nationen und Berater der Vertretung des Heiligen Stuhls bei den Vereinten Nationen. Er hat 4 Buecher und mehr als 60 Aufsaetze ueber Managementfragen veroeffentlicht. Zur Zeit ist er Adjunct-Professor an der St. Thomas University in Miami.

Standing Room Only

2010-05-08T04:51:00.000-05:00

Application for Recognition as a

2010-05-02T03:20:00.009-05:00

Application for Recognition as a
Global Networking Group

I. Proposed Group Name: Rotary Action Group for Corporate Social Responsibility. RAGCSR

II. Proposed Group Category (check one): __ Rotary Fellowship x Rotarian Action Group

III. Statement of Purpose: For Rotarians around the world to encourage and promote the principles and strategies of the UN Global Compact. By doing so, business, as a primary agent driving globalization, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles concerned with human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

IV
· Proposed Bylaws are attached at end of document
· Background of Founding Officers:
Josef Klee PhD, Rotary Club of New York , is a former director of an international consulting firm and a former UN Deputy Director. He has served as an adviser to the UN Global Compact Office and the Holy See Mission to the United Nations. He has published books and articles on international management topics including business ethics. He has hosted the monthly Rotary Club of New York breakfast meetings at the German Mission to the United Nations for the last six years.
Sylvan Barnet of Rotary Club of New York has maintained the position to the Rotary International Representation to the United Nations for many years and has been instrumentation in organizing the Rotary International Day at the United Nations for more than 20 years.
Thomas McConnon of the Rotary Club of New York has been the Editor of the Rotary Club of New York at the United Nations Newsletter and the “Findings Editor” for the Annual Rotary International at the United Nations Day since 2004.
Shelia Washington Management Consultant, Rotary Club of New York Please fill in
Kama Klink, Rotary Club of New York,
Dieter Lohneis, Rotary Club Munich International, Germany
Klaus Schreiter, Rotary Club Munich International, Germany
· List of proposed officers (a minimum of three) including names, addresses, phone numbers, classifications and responsibilities:
Josef Klee, Senior Active - Rotary Club of New York - Chair Sylvan Barnet, Senior Active - Rotary Club of New York - Vice Chair -Tom McConnon, Senior Active - Rotary Club of New York - Vice Chair -Sheial Washington Management Consultatn Rotary Club of New York

List of willing members from at least three different countries.

Annamaria Andretta Fragiacome Rotary Club Munich International, Germany

Sandra Roberts Rotary Club Miami Shores, USA
Angelo Santagostino Rotary Club Brescia Ovest Italy
Gabriela Wahl-Multerer Rotary Club Munich International, Germany

· Why is the promotion of the UN Global Compact Relevant to Rotary?
The Objects of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society. Rotarians are committed to apply high ethical standards in their business actives and professional lives.
Recently Rotary International and the UN Global Compact Office exchanged a letter of cooperation to promote the ten principles and strategies of the Global Compact and to seek stronger alignment through joint activities and programs between the Global Compact Local Networks and the more 33,000 local Rotary Clubs.
Rotary International has played an essential role in building support during the formative years of The United Nations. As such, more than 60 years later, Rotary International still maintains the highest consultative status with the United Nations as an non-governmental organization. In this capacity, Rotary International and the United Nations has built a strong and productive partnership in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of 2000, in the areas of global eradication of Polio, literacy, education, water/sanitation and promotion of peace conferences around the world.

Plan of Action:
Rotarians are committed to apply high ethical standards in their business actives and professional lives.
As stated above, Rotary International and the UN Global Compact Office have a collaborative agreement to promote the implementation of the ten principles of the Global Compact through practical measures. Our Action Group will support this goal through the following initiatives:

Build upon current website to motivate Rotarians worldwide and the public at large to support the Global Compact.
Development of training modules about the Global Compact for Rotary Clubs and universities.
Planning and organizing an annual Rotary Conference on global corporate social responsibilities.
Design of a Rotary award program for outstanding examples of corporate social responsibilities at the local level as well at the global level.
Establishing a strong working relationships with UN offices, universities and NGO’s
Assist and advise Rotary Clubs to promote sound social corporate social responsibility.

Example of Projects would include:

Our group will continue to organize monthly Rotary breakfast meetings at the UN headquarters in New York with speakers from UN Missions and UN Offices.
Our group will continue to publish and maintain a website providing summaries of Rotary and UN activities concerning the promotion of corporate social responsibilities.
Our group will continue to invite and mentor Rotaract and university students who serve as interns in UN offices or in missions and encourage them study topics of global corporate ethics.

IMPORTANT: Before agreeing to the following terms, please be sure that you have familiarized yourself with the Rotary Code of Policies excerpts pertaining to your proposed Global Networking Group category. Proposed groups are reminded that if denied recognition by the RI Board, they may not reapply for a period of two years from the date of such denial. Any preliminary questions may be addressed to RI Staff at: rotaryfellowships@rotary.org.

V. Please acknowledge the following terms of recognition, as found in the Rotary Code of Policies.

All Global Networking Groups are expected to assume the following time-sensitive responsibilities:

v Respond to communications from the general secretary in a timely manner.

v Publish a newsletter (which may be distributed electronically) for members of the group in good standing at least once during each Rotary year, and to file a copy of this and other important communications with the general secretary.

v Hold an annual forum by way of a newsletter, annual meeting, or other activity appropriate to the group, through which members in good standing can interact.

v Respond to inquiries from members, potential members, and the general secretary.

v Submit to the general secretary proposed articles of incorporation in advance of such action. Articles of incorporation must include a statement to the effect that the group is not an activity or agency of RI.

v Notify the general secretary of plans to approach other organizations for funds in excess of $25,000 or other cooperative relationships in advance of such action.

v Obtain the approval of the appropriate district governor or governors in advance of any effort to request the cooperation of districts, clubs or Rotarians outside of the group’s own membership for any purpose whatsoever.

v Submit an annual report of activities, including cost of membership dues and a financial statement showing revenues and expenditures during the past Rotary year, and a statement of funds on hand at the time of the report, to its members with a copy to the general secretary by 1 October of each year.

v Rotarian Action Groups must also include a summary of service projects completed with their annual report. Rotarian Action Groups with annual gross receipts or expenditures of more than US$25,000 or equivalent are required to provide an annual financial statement and report that has been independently reviewed by a qualified accountant, to their members, and supply a copy to the general secretary by 1 October in each year.

The Global Networking Group hereby agrees to comply with the criteria for recognition as set forth by the RI Board of Directors. The Global Networking Group understands and accepts that recognition of the existence of the group by Rotary International in no way implies legal, financial or other obligation or responsibility on the part of RI, or any RI district or Rotary club. The Global Networking Group agrees not to act on behalf of RI, or represent or imply that it has authority to act on behalf of RI. The Global Networking Group also agrees to comply with RI policy on use of the Rotary Marks. The Global Networking Group agrees to add the following clause to its bylaws or constitution:

The Global Networking Group acknowledges that it is not covered by RI insurance and will assess its own risk and secure coverage as appropriate.
Name of Proposed Chair (please print) Josef Klee

Address 870 UN Plaza Apt 20C New York N.Y. 10017

Telephone 212 752 0959 Fax E-mail j.u. klee@att.net

Signature of Proposed Chair Date

Send to: Rotary International, Service Support & Awards Department (PD210), One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3698, USA, Fax: (847) 866-6116, E-mail: rotaryfellowships@rotary.org.

ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP STANDARD BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1.1. The name of this Rotarian Action Group shall be ______________ (action group).

Section 1.2. The office of the action group shall be located at ______________. The email address of the action group shall be ______________.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

Section 2.1. The purpose of this action group shall be...

This action group shall operate in compliance with the requirements for recognition of Rotarian Action Groups as set forth from time to time by Rotary International (RI), but it shall not be an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS

Section 3.1. Membership in the action group shall be open to all active members of Rotary Clubs (Rotarians) in good standing, spouses of Rotarians, and members of Rotaract Clubs (Rotaractors). The action group shall assume no liability for services rendered by its members.

Section 3.2. Membership shall be on a/an (annual/multiannual/lifetime membership) basis. Annual memberships shall expire on 30 June of each year unless renewed. A Certificate of Membership shall be issued to each member of the action group as directed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 4.1. The governing body of the action group shall be the Board of Directors. The number of Directors shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall be increased or decreased in a manner approved by the Board of Directors, but in no event shall there be fewer than three Directors. At least one member of the Board of Directors shall be a past district governor of RI. All directors shall be active Rotarians.

Section 4.2. A simple majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Attendance by conference call or via Internet shall be considered the same as attendance in person to the extent permitted by law.

Section 4.3. Directors shall serve until their successors are chosen and qualified.

Section 4.4. Terms for Directors shall be either two or three years as determined by the Board, except that the terms of the members of the initial Board of Directors shall be set to allow the terms to be on a staggered scheduled. For terms of two years, one half of the Board of Directors shall be elected each year; and for terms of three years, one third of the Board of Directors shall be elected each year, in order to promote continuity. No Director shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Terms shall commence on July 1 of the calendar year elected.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 5.1. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and so indicated in a notice to the members. Notice sent by mail or transmitted via email or Internet to the last known address of the members shall be considered good and sufficient notice to the extent permitted by law. The Nominating Committee shall receive nominations for the Board of Director’s positions until a specified deadline, whereupon nominations shall be closed. The Nominating Committee may also offer its own nominees for election. All nominees must have indicated their willingness to serve by a specified deadline to be considered valid nominees for election.

Section 5.2. The names of the nominees for Director shall be mailed to the members in good standing at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting. Such mailing shall include a ballot for election. Ballots sent by mail or transmitted via email or Internet to the last known address of the members shall be considered a valid mailing. Ballots shall indicate that they must be returned to the Nominating Committee seven days prior to the annual meeting.

Section 5.3. The Nominating Committee shall tally the votes cast and announce the newly elected Directors (Board of Directors-elect).

Section 5.4. Following the annual meeting of the members, the Board of Directors-elect shall meet and elect from its members the officers of the action group, including the following Officers, who shall take office on the first day of July following their election: A President, Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

At least one of the action group’s Officers shall be a past district governor. All Officers and Directors shall be Rotarians.

Section 5.5. A vacancy in the Board of Directors, or any office, shall be filled by action of the Board of Directors. A vacancy in the position of an Officer-elect, or Board of Directors-elect, shall be filled by action of the members of the Board of Directors-elect.

Section 5.6. A Director or Officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, or, by a two-thirds vote of the membership.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

Section 6.1. The Officers of the action group shall include a President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer, and other such officers as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. The terms of Officers shall be one year and shall coincide with the Rotary year. The Board shall establish an “executive committee,” composed of the President, Vice-President, and at least two other members of the Board to act on behalf of the Board when necessary and convenient to do so.

Section 6.2. The Officers shall perform the duties and functions usually attached to the title of their respective offices, together with those fixed by law, and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section 7.1. An annual meeting of the members may take place at the RI Convention each year at which time the installation of Officers and other business shall take place. The exact date, time, and location of the annual meeting of the members shall be announced to the members at least 60 days prior to the meeting, and such date, time and location shall be set by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.2. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall take place immediately subsequent to the annual meeting of the members and shall be open to any member.

Section 7.3. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the President, by any three members of the Board of Directors, or by one-third of the membership.

Section 7.4. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors under any provision of law, or otherwise, may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Board shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action.

ARTICLE VIII - FISCAL MATTERS

Section 8.1. The fiscal year (Rotary year) of the action group shall be 1 July through 30 June following.

Section 8.2. The action group’s dues shall be set by the Board of Directors and shall be due on 1 July of each year. The action group’s dues shall be of a reasonable amount and limited to that necessary to cover administrative costs.

Section 8.3. Binding contracts shall be signed by any two of the President, Vice-President, and the Secretary.

Section 8.4. Funds shall be deposited in a financial institution approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 8.5. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, disbursements of the action group’s funds shall be by check, signed by the Treasurer or the President for amounts not exceeding US$1500.00, and shall be signed by both the Treasurer and the President for disbursements of US $1500.00 or more.

ARTICLE IX - COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION BY ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Section 9.1. The action group shall comply with the requirements for recognition of Rotarian Action Groups, as set forth from time to time by RI, including, but not limited to:

1) Publishing a newsletter (which may be distributed solely by electronic means) for members at least once during each Rotary year, and file the newsletter and other important communications and documents with the general secretary of RI.

2) Holding an annual forum by way of a newsletter, annual meeting, or other activity appropriate to the action group, through which members can interact.

3) Responding to inquiries from members, potential members, and the general secretary of RI.

4) Submitting an annual report of activities, including a summary of service projects completed, cost of membership dues and a financial statement showing revenues and expenditures during the previous Rotary year, and a statement of funds on hand at the time of the report, to its members with a copy to the general secretary of RI by 1 October in each year.

5) Providing an annual financial statement and report, that has been independently reviewed by a qualified accountant or audit committee, to the members, and supply a copy to the general secretary of RI by 1 October in each year, if its annual gross receipts or expenditures amount to more than US$25,000 or equivalent.

If an audit committee approach is selected, then it must:
(a) be composed of at least three members;
(b) have all the members be active Rotarians;
(c) have at least one member who is a past governor;
(d) have at least one member with accounting and audit experience;
(e) not allow current officers to serve on the audit committee; and
(f) have the members selected by the action group at its annual meeting in accordance with the procedures established by the Rotarian Action Group.

6) Submitting a copy of any grant applications for funds in excess of US$25,000 or memoranda of agreements or partnerships with third parties to the general secretary of RI.

7) Maintaining minimum membership requirements for Rotarian Action Groups as may be set forth by RI.

8) Regularly undertaking service projects that fulfill the purposes of the action group, as set forth in Article 2.1 above.

The action group understands and accepts that recognition of the existence of the group by RI in no way implies legal, financial or other obligation or responsibility on the part of RI, or any RI district or Rotary club. The action group, and its members, directors and officers shall not act on behalf of RI, or represent or imply that they have authority to act on behalf of RI and agree to comply with RI policies on the use of the Rotary Marks by Rotary Entities, as set forth by RI from time to time.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Section 10.1. These bylaws may be amended at any duly called regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors. Written notice of such proposed amendment(s) shall be given to the Board of Directors and to the membership at least thirty days prior to the meeting. Such meeting shall be open to any member then in good standing.

Section 10.2. These bylaws may also be amended at any duly called regular or special meeting of the members of the action group by a majority vote of all members. Written notice of such proposed amendment(s) shall be given to the Board and to the membership at least thirty days prior to such meeting. Such meeting shall be open to any member then in good standing.

Section 10.3. Notwithstanding the above provisions, these bylaws may not be amended so that they conflict or are in any manner inconsistent with the standard bylaws for Rotarian Action Groups as promulgated by RI from time to time.

Leader PP Kim Pitt, Rotary Club of Kingston Team Patrick Fagan, Devonport, Associate Financial AdvisorDanny Gibson, Launceston, Promotions ManagerTamara Palmer, Geilston Bay, Child and Family Health NurseLaura Richardson, Ulverstone, Osteopath

United Nations University

2010-04-25T07:47:00.007-05:00

The guest speaker at the April 2010 Breakfast meeting was Jin Zhang, the Program Manager of the United Nations University, New York Office (UNU-ONY). Ms. Zhang studied History and Economics at Peking University and Public Policy at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Her previous posts include the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York, and the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, UK. She also coordinated activities on partnerships initatives for UNU.

(UNU) is a United Nations agency that was established in Tokyo in 1973 to "research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations and its agencies". Its was created by the Secretary-General U Thant in 1969, with the motto of "Advancing knowledge for human security, peace, and development."

The United Nations University provides educational opportunities to researchers mainly at the graduate and post-graduate level through an extensive range of fellowships. It operates through a number of research centres around the world, where research fellows or Ph.D. students from other universities can come to do research. It especially targets researchers and students from developing countries. UNU is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

It does not receive any funding from the regular UN budget and relies upon voluntary contributions from member states with an annual budget of approximately US$37 million.

Honduras Ambassador: Focus on Central America

2010-03-28T05:13:00.005-05:00

The guest speaker a the March 2010 Breakfast meeting was Ambassador Jorge Flores from Honduras. He has a long career in the service of his government at home an with its foreign service. He served at the UN Mission of Honduras as an economic counselor and as the Deputy Ambassador. In this capacity he has participated in some of the major global UN conferences such as the World Summit for Social Development, the World Conference on Women and the International Conference on Population and Development. Since 2005, Ambassador Flores is a member of the essential United Nations Advisory Committee on Administration and Budget. Ambassador Flores is also familiar with the private sector as he is also the vice Charmian of a company in Honduras.

2009-12-24T05:18:00.009-05:00

The guest speaker at the February Breakfast Meeting was Mr. Francis Dubois. Born in Alsace, France, Mr.Dubois had a distinguished career within the United Nations. He was first
stationed in Uganda , then in New York City before being assigned to the Palestinian Territories, where he served as Deputy Coordinator of the Secretary General. Mr. Dubois was then posted to Iraq as the Head of the UN Office ( with the rank of Ambassador ) , and subsequently in Algeria , and Tunisia in the same capacity.

Mr. Dubois is an active member of several inter-religious non-governmental organizations and serves on numerous boards.He lives in New York City. The meeting was moderated by Wall Street Rotarian Sheila Washington.

2009-12-24T05:16:00.002-05:00

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Rotary Joins UN Global Compact

2009-12-13T07:16:00.009-05:00

Photo: The Guest Speakers at the December16th meeting: Matthias Stausberg (right) and Jonas Haertle (left) with Moderator Josef Klee (center). Mr. Stausberg jointed the UN Global Compact Office in September 2002. As lead Spokesperson, he heads the initiative's public affairs and media relations work and is a frequent speaker and writer on issues of corporate responsibility and sustainability. Born and raised in Germany. He is a German National Merit Scholar and a Fulbright Scholar and he earned a Master's dress in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolin's School of Journalism. Mr Haertle works as Coordinator for Networks and Academic Initiatives at the United Nations Global Compact Office. He is in charge of coordinating the work of the Global Compact country networks in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. In his role as academic initiatives coordinator he works with approximately 250 business schools and universities which participation the Global Compact. He earned a master's in Global Affairs from Rutgers University and European Studies from Hamburg University, Germany.

The UN Global Compact and Rotary International have agreed to deepen their collaboration and encourage Global Compact Local Networks and the more than 33,000 clubs local Rotary Clubs in 200 countries to seek stronger alignment through joint activities and programs.
The announcement was made on the occasion of Rotary International UN Day, hosted at UN Headquarters on November 6 2009. The event, held annually to celebrate Rotary’s longstanding relationship with the United Nations, brought together more than 1,600 Rotary members from around the world, as well as representatives of various UN organizations and departments.
In a joint letter to be sent to Rotary District Governors and Global Compact Local Network focal points, Rotary International General Secretary Edwin H. Futa and UN Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell encourage a set of joint activities to advance the shared ideals of “high ethical business practices, sustainable humanitarian action, and world peace and understanding”.

More specifically, the letters ask Global Compact networks and Rotary clubs and districts to engage in education and information sharing; local project implementation or collaboration (particularly those addressing the Millennium Development Goals); and coordinating a joint, collaborative effort promoting the best of corporate social responsibility practices and volunteer leadership and action at the local, district or national level.

“Through discussion, collaboration and joint cooperation, Rotary clubs and the United Nations Global Compact can foster high ethical standards, universal principles, and tangible humanitarian successes,” said Futa. “Together, we can work for the benefit of all.”

In addition, Rotary members are encouraged to facilitate further business participation in the Global Compact, and invite Global Compact Network participants to join local Rotary clubs.
“Both Rotary International and the Global Compact are rooted in a shared vision of responsible leadership to address global challenges,” said Georg Kell. “Seeking stronger collaboration between our local networks and Rotary clubs makes much sense, and I am confident that working together will make a significant contribution to the advancement of sustainable development in the spirit of universal values.”

About the United Nations Global Compact
Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is a both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With over 5,200 corporate signatories in more than 130 countries, it is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. For more information, visit http://www.unglobalcompact.org/.

Concert to End Polio

2009-12-04T19:04:00.003-05:00

Itzhak Perlman (the violin virtuoso and a polio victim) and the New York Philharmonic joined with Rotary to "End Polio Now Concert". The December 2 concert at New York's Lincoln Center was performed to a full theatre. In 1988, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF joined Rotary International Polio eradication program and launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since then Rotary club members have contributed $800 million, and countless volunteer hours to help immunize two billion children worldwide.

Costa Rican Ambassador on the Environment

2009-12-04T17:32:00.006-05:00

Ambassador Jorge Urbina, the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, first presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Urbina was a Program Coordinator at the International Centre for Human Development, San José, Costa Rica (1998 to 2006).
Before he served as a permanent consultant at the Program for Democratic Governance in Central America, United Nations Development (1993 to 1998), and held the post of Associate Researcher at Centro de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales in Montes de Oca, Costa Rica (1990 to 1993). During that same three-year period, he was also a professor at the International Affairs School of Universidad Nacional in Heredia, Costa Rica.

He received a master in law degree from the University of Costa Rica in 1973, and obtained a doctorate in law from the Université de Bordeaux, France, in 1977.

Next month, the world will converge in Copenhagen for the United Nation Climate Change Conference and Costa Rica is proposing a similar carbon capture program that was originally brought up in Kyoto 12 years ago.
Costa Rica was one of the first countries to propose a mechanism to capture CO2 produced in developed nations through the forests and national parks.

When the Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon, the challenges of climate change were a distant problem, but today the problem is real. Countries that share their borders with any of the world's oceans are worried that they might lose territory because of the rising sea levels. There is also the increase of violent storms like hurricanes. It's not only the disasters by themselves that have increased, the production cycles of food are changing dramatically with the change of weather.

Costa Rica is also hoping to change the current classification of countries' incomes. Middle-income countries have been "punished" because of this classification. Costa Rica abolished their military 50 years ago and uses that money towards social development programs such as education and health services. Costa rico is not emitting CO2, instead we are absorbing CO2. Middle-income countries like Costa Rica, Uruguay and Panama, which has also abolished their army recently, can receive benefits from international aid.

The Costa Rican National Institute for Biodiversity is developing new pharmaceutical medication and materials. The Institute uses the jungles and forests of Costa Rica as a giant lab.
"We are conducting research to find new drugs for the future, new fuels for the future and also learning the way the animals in the forest have survived, so learning from nature is an opportunity."

Rotary International at the United Nations: November 6, 2009

2009-12-04T16:40:00.014-05:00

Findings by Thomas V. McConnon A.G.
Rotary Club of New York

On November 6, 2009, more than 250 New York area Rotarians, and their guests from around the world, had just spent the night celebrating the 100th Birthday black-tie bash of the legendary Rotary Club of New York #6. The festivities continued way into the early- morning hours. Nevertheless, many of the celebrants including some of the panelists were still able to arrive at the United Nations bright-eyed to celebrate Rotary International’s sixty-five year collaboration with the United Nations.

By 8:00 am, the line of enthusiastic Rotarians, Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary Peace Scholars, Rotaractors, and Interactors already stretched more than a city-block. There were more than 1,600 attendees in all, and many had traveled overnight, for this standing room only, sold out, annual symposium. In fact, participants came from more than thirty-six states, and forty-six countries. Two hundred and fifty attendees came from Canada, twenty-five from Nigeria, twenty-six from Taiwan, twenty-seven from Mexico, twenty-one from Germany, ten from France, and hundreds of others from more than forty other countries.

During the morning, in Rotary fashion, the comparatively newly established Metro-New York Rotary Club(established in 2002) was able to accumulate a truck-load of food items, and pockets-full of cash donations from the generous visiting Rotarians as they sauntered through the quick-moving security line. There are four new Rotary clubs that have been established in Manhattan since 2001, including the Inwood Rotary Club (2003), the Rotary Club of Wall Street (2009), and the soon to be established Rotary Club of Harlem. All these 21th century clubs have 90 percent of the membership under the age of 40, and already have earned an exemplary reputation of community service and contributions to The Rotary Foundation.

The president of Rotary International, John Kenny, along with R.I. President-elect Ray Klinginsmith, Glenn Estess, Chairman of The Rotary Foundation, and most of the RI directors also attend the conference. As is customary, PDG Brad Jenkins, the RI Representative to the United Nations, with support from the four Alternate RI Representatives to the UN that included Sylvan Barnet, Robert A. Coultas, William A. Miller and Helen B. Reisler were the panel moderators.

The main theme of the day that developed clearly encouraged and accentuated the significance of partnering with other like-minded organizations. The global problems that Rotarians endeavor to alleviate around the world cannot be solved by any one government, or any one foundation, or any one service organization. In fact, the track record of dozens, even hundreds of organizations working together at what they do best, was clearly evident during the conference.
Moderator Brad explained that this will be the last meeting in our usual large conference room for several years. The UN buildings are being thoroughly renovated, and the conference room that Rotary International has used for the last decade or so will be used as the temporary meeting-room for the UN’s Security Council. All the buildings at the UN are being restored with modern infrastructure, yet will maintain their original architectural design which is considered by many as an iconic example of the 1950’s architecture. The renovations are estimated to cost $1.9 billion and will be completed by 2013.

At the start of the conference, Rotary International Treasurer, Michael Colasurdo, introduced the directors and officers of Rotary International and also the past-President of Kiwanis International, Tony Kaiser.

“The Welcome to the United Nations Panel”
Moderated by H. Bradley Jenkins PDG
The Sergeants at Arms from the Smithtown N.Y. ClubThe first panelist was Maria-Luisa Chavez who is the Chief ,NGO Relations Officer at the UN Department of Public Information and a national of Mexico. Having worked for the United Nations since 1981, she welcomed the Rotarians to the United Nations headquarters, and pointed out that Rotary was one of first non-government organizations of the UN. Ms. Chavez reminded all that in 1942, Rotarians from 21 nations help to create what was to become UNESCO, and that 49 Rotarians were at the conference to sign the UN Charter in San Francisco. Ms. Chavez also thanked Rotarians for the two billion children vaccinated against polio. She highlighted that Rotary’s greatness is the partnerships it has developed with other organizations, and that Rotary is a very valuable partner to the United Nations, and to the world.

“The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands.”

As many already know, President John Kenny is from the Grangemouth, Scotland Rotary Club and is a past-dean of his local law faculty, a judge, and a notary. During his keynote address, President John outlined that for more than one hundred years, Rotarians have been working for peace, understanding, and good-will around the world. He emphasized that Rotary and the UN share a similar vision to bring about peace. He warned that poverty is the worst form of violence, because those that have nothing, have nothing to lose. While Rotarians conduct thousands of projects to promote literacy which breaks the cycle of poverty, bring health care where it is most lacking, provide fresh water and sanitation facilities to villages that lack basic sanitation, “the one thing we cannot do is nothing”.
President John also went on to say that International partnerships, with government and non-government organizations can give the tools for people to help themselves. For example, twenty years ago, Rotary made a promise to eradicate polio from the planet, and shortly afterwards the World Health Organization (WHO) joined our efforts. While we have come very close, with only a few small pockets in four countries still with polio, coming close is not enough. So we still need to finish the job. “And we will.” President John emphatically stated.
President John also reiterated that no single organization can achieve the Millennium Development Goals alone. But together we could bring about a greater and safer world. Rotarians cannot stand ideally by, and “a better future is in our reached, and the future of Rotary is in your hands”. He also invited Rotarians to support the upcoming “Concert to End Polio” at New York’s Lincoln Center on December 2, 2009.

“Climate Change Is the Most Formidable Challenge Of Our Time”

Mr. Jonos Pasztor, who is the director of the Secretary General’s Climate Change Support Team, made clear that climate change is a huge global threat. In fact, he stated that it is the most formidable challenge of our time, and it is at the top of the international agenda. Furthermore, he stated that climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is also the key economic issue of our time, and as such, the world must be determined to develop clean-energy alternatives for the world. In the upcoming The United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark between December 7 and December 18, 2009. The member states need to reach agreement on:
· Reduced emissions.
· Financial support for the vulnerable communities.
· Provide market incentives to develop clean-energy alternatives.

The Water Panel
Moderated by Sylvan M. Barnet, Jr.
Dr. Nicholas Alipui, Director of Programs UNICEF, a physician and a native of Ghana, received his medical training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Clug-Napoca, Romania. The doctor started his presentation stating that that conditions are getting better for the world’s poor, but warned that national averages do not tell the whole story. Many times there are pockets where progress in not being met.
According to the UNICEF website: “Almost fifty per cent of the developing world’s population – 2.5 billion people – lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 884 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources. Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more.
Poor sanitation, water and hygiene have many other serious repercussions. Children – and particularly girls – are denied their right to education because their schools lack private and decent sanitation facilities. Women are forced to spend large parts of their day fetching water. Poor farmers and wage earners are less productive due to illness, health systems are overwhelmed and national economies suffer. Without W.A.S.H. (water, sanitation and hygiene), sustainable development is impossible.”

Some of the diseases caused by lack of sanitation are:
· Pneumonia,
· Diarrhea , 80% caused by unsafe drinking water
· Malaria,
· Measles
· HIV/AIDs

Bringing Clean Water to Honduras
New York Rotarian Takako Johnson hosts a visiting Rotarian from Japan
One Rotary partnership that is helping to bring clean and safe water to local communities is the collaboration of the Rotaract of the United Nations, Engineers Without Borders, and the Peace Corps. Joanna Bonfiglio and Svetiana Fisher of the Rotaract Club at the United Nations, who are also mechanical engineering students at the City College of New York explained their Rotaract financed water project.
The project was constructed in the Omoa region of Honduras and consisted of the Engineers Without Borders reinforcing a water tank in the center of the village. Locals were able to draw water from several spigots, and a half-mile pipeline connecting the stream’s water to the tank.
Sylvan Barnet, the moderator of the Water Panel, reiterated that water is about “War and Peace”. One billion people have no safe water, and two billion people have no sanitation facilities.

The Literacy Panel
Moderated by Robert A. Coultas, PRID
Ms. Caryl M. Stern, the President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF affirmed that many lives have been saved over the last twenty years because of partnerships with UNICEF. In 1985, over thirty million children were dying before age five from preventable diseases, and today it is now below nine million. But nine million are still dying from preventable diseases, and therefore too many, she illuminated.
Ms. Stern also confirmed that tetanus, a disease we rarely think about in the developed world, is a very serious one in poorer countries, primarily because of illiteracy. Mothers have to learn to read and learn how to prevent diseases that could harm their children. When a child cannot read, they only know the village, and there is less hope and less opportunity.
“Progress in global literacy has been made. “
In 2002 more than 115 million did not attend primary school, yet by 2007 this number has been reduced to 101 million. Consequently, global adult illiteracy has decline from twenty-five percent to twenty percent. Ms. Stern concluded her address with a quotation from Thomas Jefferson: “If we solve all the problems of the world, but fail to solve the problem of education, our children will destroy what we bequeathed them. But if we solve only the problem of education, our children will solve their own problems.”

Mr. Roger J. Hayward, PDG of District 7070 in Canada, who earned advanced degrees from both Canada and the U.K. affirmed that ninety-seven percent of adults in developed world are literate, but in Africa it is less than fifty-percent. There are 9oo million adults in Africa who cannot read or write. He counseled that there are two key instructional technologies that can increase literacy. The first is Computer Assisted Learning Solutions (CALS) which is a computer based reading system that has benefited more than 1,800 students in California. The other program that he recommends is the Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE). This program does not require any equipment, and it is being successfully used in the northern part of Egypt.
He also recommend that “Reach Out to Rotary Membership in Africa” is an important project because there are only 23,000 Rotarians on the continent of Africa. The African clubs are primarily located in only four countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Uganda with only sixteen clubs in Tanzania. More Rotarians in Africa could help to promote more literacy programs.

The A.M. Closing Panel
Moderated by H. Bradley Jenkins

RI President-elect Ray KlinginsmithRay Klinginsmith, President–elect of Rotary International is from the Kirksville, Missouri Rotary Club and is an attorney who works primarily in commercial and corporate law. He comes from “cattle country” in Missouri, and made it known that the core Rotary-values of Service Above Self, and to make Rotary membership more attractive for younger members will be important issues for his upcoming year. In fact, he specified that if we could put the same effort that we did for the Polio-Plus Program to attract younger Rotarians, “our greatest days are still ahead.”
The second panelist was the Vice President of the National Basketball Association, Mr. Todd Jacobson. Mr. Jacobson is responsible for community relations for the NBA, and launched “The NBA Cares” program in 2000. He is a native Long Islander and a retired professional soccer player. He asked Rotarians to support sports as a way to achieve development, peace, education, family development, and health. Also, he mentioned that sports can help break down political borders and barriers.
The four main components of the “NBA Cares” program are:
· Philanthropy: $115 million donated.
· Service: Players and former players are promoting community service.
· Legacy: How we give back to the community such as computer center and libraries.
· Buildings: NBA Cares built eighty-one centers with partners where kids could work and play in nineteen countries.
· Basketball Without Borders: There are four camps around the world, and over 150 current and past NBA players who participate to break down political barriers, in partnerships with the United Methodist Church.
Mr. Jacobson also stressed the importance to measure a program’s success by implementing a five year plan, and then conduct an honest evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.
“Rotary brings hope with every local and district project”.
Glenn Estess,, Chairman of The Rotary Foundation The Chairman of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Glenn Estess is originally from Pike County, Mississippi and earned a degree in chemistry and physics from Tulane University. Glenn conveyed to the conference that Rotarians know that war will never be alleviated by military action. Poverty, inequality, deprivation, and lack of hope, are the causes of war. Furthermore, since we have eliminated polio by 99.9 percent through steady progress, we have earned the trust of many.

The last panelist was Gavin Powers, Deputy Executive of the UN Global Compact. Mr. Powers has the responsibility to recruit private companies to embrace a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption practices.
The ten principles are:
· Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
· Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
· Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
· Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
· Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labor.
· Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
· Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
· Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
·
Twenty-five participants were from NigeriaPrinciple 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
· Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Top of Form
Bottom of Form

The Health Panel
Moderated by William A. Miller, PDG
Mr. Tom Grant, a graduate of the NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and the producer of the “The Final Inch” was the first Health panelist. A 2008 Academy Award nominee, The Final Inch is a 38 minute snapshot of the grassroots mobilization for polio eradication in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and was aired on HBO last year. It can also be viewed on YOU-TUBE.
Mr. Grant made clear that there are two essential items to make a documentary: access and funding. Google.com provided the funding of the documentary, but it was difficult to get access to many parts of Afghanistan due to the war.
“Banishing the horrific iron-lung in to the proverbial trash bin of history is ninety-nine percent completed.”
The panelist often accepted questions from the audience

The Health Panel also summarized the 2001 Measles Initiative. This is a partnership led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. It has helped reduce measles deaths by 74% globally and 89% in Africa (compared to 2000). Working closely with national governments and local communities, the partnership has supported the vaccination of more than 600 million children in more than 60 countries.

oooooooooooo
The third panelist was Dr. Robert Ziner PDG, is the only European recipient of Nigeria’s Shahon of Zarrau award, in recognition of his fifteen years of humanitarian service to the poor of northern of the country. The doctor outlined the “Save the Mothers and the Children Program”, a joint Nigerian-Austrian-German Rotary project to treat and prevent obstetric fistula, a painful birth injury that often results in a stillborn child and leaves the woman with chronic incontinence.
Dr. Ziner emphasized that the treatment of fistula patients is a humanitarian commitment to help the weakest in Nigeria’s society. But this can only be the first step. “What we actually pursue is a comprehensive approach to raise awareness for medical care for women and THUS prevent obstetric fistula in the first place. “

The Youth Panel
Moderated by Helen B. Reisler
Sohia Hameed was a student at Miami High School Interact Club and is currently studying at New York University. She spoke about her former high school’s Interact program. Sohia was born in India, but raise in the United States. When she returned to India as a high-school student she observed with how little supplies the school children had. Her club decided to raise funds to send backpacks filled with school supplies. Her Interact Club sold 1,000 paper heart necklaces and a Walk- A- Thon for the Project “B4US” and raised $3,000. The Rotary Club of Miami matched the funds up to $2,500. The Interact club was them able to sent 400 backpacks to the students of an Indian School. Sohia’s most significant lesson was the critical importance of youth involvement, and she states that the “Future of the world is in our hand” Sohia received an extended standing ovation.
The Youth PanelThe other impressive panelist was Anne-Charlotte Perrin, a member of the Rotaract of Paris and a former Rotary exchange-student in the United States. Her Rotaract club started a “Microcredit Project” in Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world and one of the poorest countries. .Anne-Charlotte’s Rotaract club raised funds to purchase zebus, sometimes known as humped cattle, to the poorer families in Madagascar. An investor purchases the zebu and rents it to Madagascar farmer, and the farmer sends a small repayment.

The conference ended at 4:00 pm sharp and many Rotarians attended either the cocktail reception hosted by the Rotaract Club of the United Nations or The Rotary Foundation Alumni reception on Madison Ave. ( End.)

Arab Human Development Report 2009

2009-10-11T07:49:00.016-05:00

The guest speaker at the October 14, 2009 meeting was Theodore Murphy, the Program Research Specialist for the Regional Bureau for Arab States of the UNDP. Mr. Murphy received his Masters Degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in 2003, and a BA from the University of the Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1999. He is an International development professional with extensive experience in communications, policy analysis, and research, especially in human development issuses.

As stated on RBAs website: Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) launched the Programme on Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR) in early 2000. Recognizing the strong link between good governance and sustainable human development, POGAR aims to assist government actors, civil society, and the private sector to improve governance processes in the Arab states, always with a view to achieving sustainability. POGAR assists in a governance-augmentation process that is owned and managed by the countries themselves by offering an array of options, rather than blanket prescriptions, and working in partnership with actors in the region to identify needs and solutions.
POGAR's program activities relate to Rule of Law, Participation, and Transparency and Accountability. These activities include providing policy advice, engaging in institutional capacity building, and testing policy options through pilot projects. Since its inception, POGAR has launched projects to promote dialog about judicial reform; build the capacities of parliaments, and educate governance actors about methods for combating corruption.

Incoming President of the Rotary Club of New York, David Del Monte, welcomed visiting Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Moscow, Elena Grigoreva, an attorney with the Legal Business Consulting Company of Moscow (left), and the newest member of the Rotary Club of Wall Street, Joanne Lam, a financial planning executive with Smith Barney (right) at the October 14, 2009 breakfast meeting.

Turkish Armenian Protocol Agreement.

2009-10-11T06:52:00.014-05:00

Photo: NY Rotarian, Kaan Soyak, second from the right , at our breakfast meeting held earlier this year where he kept members informed of the progress being make in Turkish- Armenian relations.

New York Rotarian, Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, emailed New York Rotarian's on a minute-by-minute update of the historic accords signed between neighboring Turkey and Armenia on Saturday, October 9th. Kaan who has worked for nearly a decade in promoting more commercial activity as a bridge toward peace between the two countries noted that the accord opened a brand-new chapter in the two countries’ relations, which have been troubled by genocide allegations for more than one hundred years ago. The signing ceremony took place at the University of Zurich.

“There has been a lack of confidence between the two countries and nations and the protocols will draw the two peoples closer to each other. The region does not have the luxury of waiting another 15 or 16 years for the normalization of the ties is crucial for stability in the Caucasus,” said Soyak.

As reported by The New York Times, The United States, along with France and Russia, played a key role in prodding the two sides to come to terms. President Obama placed an encouraging call last week to the president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, while Mrs. Clinton was in regular touch with leaders of both countries.

The first protocol, which will establish diplomatic ties, and the second, on the further development of relations, are accompanied by an appendix that sets a clear timetable for the implementation of both. The agreements envision the opening of the border within two months after the second protocol goes into force, although this step requires approval from the parliaments of both countries and their presidents.

Peace and Development Conference in Mexico

2009-09-19T06:15:00.012-05:00

Photo by UN photographer Ivan Stephens. One of the youth events held as part of the annual UN DPI/NGO conference that focused on Disarmament: for Peace & Development that was held in Mexico City on September 9-11. Kelly Roberts (third from left) was the New York Youth Co-Chair for the Conference Planning Committee is also the presdient of the Rotaract of the United Nations here in New York. Kelly welcomed the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Moon (right) on behalf of the NY and Mexico Youth Committees.

The Secretary General attend two special youth events in Mexico City during the conference. To see more photos from these youth events in Mexico go to: http://www.unmultimedia.org/photo/

Welcome!

2009-09-19T00:56:00.003-05:00

(Photo: This photo, which is taken from our meeting venue on 23rd floor of the German Mission, clearly shows the progress of UN 's major construction project.)

All Rotarians are invited to attend the NY Rotary International Breakfast Meetings which are normally scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month and held at the German House located at 871 United Nations Plaza (49th St. and First Ave). These meeting provide an opportunity for Rotarians to stay informed regarding United Nation programs and to exchange views on related topics with UN officials and representatives of its member states. There are usually no meetings in July and August. Reservations for attending the meetings can be made at: ny.rotary@verizon.net and copy to GBRotary@aol.com . The monthly meetings are coordinated and moderated by N.Y. Rotarian Josef Klee, Deputy-Director of the United Nations (Retired) and Sylvan Barnet, Alternate Rotary International Liaison to the UN. Our newsletter editor is Assistant District Governor Thomas V. McConnon.

A history of Rotary and the Formation of the United Nations, click : http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/05/test.html
A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2008", click:
http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/05/rotary-international-day-at-united.html
. . A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2007" click:
http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/12/type-company-name-welcome-to-united.html
A Summary of the "Rotary Day at The United Nations 2006" click.
http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/11/rotary-international-day-at-united.html
..A summary of A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2005" click nations 2005" .http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/rotary-international-day-at-united.html

"Caritas In Veritate"

2009-09-19T00:17:00.013-05:00

The guest speaker at the September 16, 2009, breakfast meeting was Rev. Philip Bene J.C.D. of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations. Father Philip follows human rights matters and international law at the United Nations. He earned a license and doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome and is an active member of the Canon Law Society. Originally from Saint Louis he was ordained to the priesthood for the S. L. Archdiocese in 1994.
He clarified the Pope's Encyclical Letter CARITAS IN VERITATE (Truth in Charity). This letter is the third encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI and was published on July 7, 2009. The letter addresses the global economic and social issues of our time and has received great acclaim in the international community. It clarifies the role of charity and truth in life and gives insight on the current economic conditions of the world today.

The United States Conference of Catholic bishops stated, "The encyclical offers sound reflections on the vocation of human development as well as on the moral principles on which a global economy must be based. It challenges business enterprises, governments, unions and individuals to re-examine their economic responsibilities in the light of charity, governed by truth. The Pope points out the responsibilities and limitations of government and the private market, challenges traditional ideologies of right and left, and calls all men and women to think and act anew."

The charity aspect of the document calls upon individuals to include charity in their everyday life and calls upon people to answer the challenge proposed to them by the document. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that charity, along with truth, is at the heart of Catholic social teaching. However. Pope Benedict cautions readers not to perform charity for selfish reasons but to think of others.

The encyclical also deals with the role of the human family in society.

North Korea and the United Nations

2009-09-13T07:21:00.007-05:00

H.E. Mr. KIM Bong-hyun, the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations for South Korea was the guest speaker at the July 2009 International Breakfast meeting of the Rotary Club of New York. After studying in Korea, Ambassador Kim received a Masters degree form the University of Illinois in 1982 and has served in posts in Japan, the Russian Federation, and Pakistan. He also shared with the Rotrains that he has just completed his PH. D. During the 56th General Assembly, he also served as the General Assembly's Presidential assistant.

The Ambassador outlined that the July 2009 North Korean nuclear test is the most pressing issue facing the Security Council and the passage of Resolution 1874 of the Security Council expressing its gravest concern that the nuclear test and missile activities carried out by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea have further generated increased tension in the region and beyond, and determining that there continues to exist a clear threat to international peace and security. encourages UN member states to search North Korean cargo, in the aftermath of an underground nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009.

While there are approximately 50 million in south Korea and 23 mission in North Korea Ambassador Kim emphasised that to understand the Korean peninsular there is an important elements must be understood. First and formost the the Korean people are a Confusion based society for more than 800 years. As such, a Confusion Society there is instilled in all Koreans a strong loyalty to country, respect for elders, and faithful and obediance to family.

The Ambassador also emphasised that South Korea with an economy the size of Brazil or India is the world's leader in ship building and a leading country of computer production and automobile production.and ranks about thirty ith in contributing to the support of the United States. While it contributes about 1 Billion to the MDG it plans to increase its donations to 2 billion in 2012, and 3 billion in assistance by 2015.

North Korea on the other hand is reliant on food aid and earns most of its hard currency from selling military and weapon systems to Iraq and Syria.

The other issues for the future are that Kin's oldest son is living outside of North Korea, and Kim is grooming his third son to replace him in light of his poor health. Reports that Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke in mid-August heightened speculation about a successor.
Kim will hand leadership over to his third son, Swiss-educated Kim Jong Un, who is in his mid-20s, Passing power to a third son is not customary and may not be considered ligament to the NK citizens.. However, the possibly of a collopsed state is also a huge concern of China where they would have to curtail a huge number of refuges cross over the China Boarder.

China and Russia as neighbors of North Korea were very affected by the possible pollution of this testing and both have joined in the resolution. There are still 30,000 United States Troops station on the border.

Welcome to the Rotary Club of New York at the United Nations Newsletter

2009-06-28T05:38:00.010-05:00

(Photo: This photo, which is taken from our meeting venue on 23rd floor of the German Mission, clearly shows the progress of UN 's major construction project.)

All Rotarians are invited to attend the NY Rotary International Breakfast Meetings which are normally scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month and held at the German House located at 871 United Nations Plaza (49th St. and First Ave).

These meeting provide an opportunity for Rotarians to stay informed regarding United Nation programs and to exchange views on related topics with UN officials and representatives of its member states.

There are usually no meetings in July and August.

Reservations for attending the meetings can be made at: ny.rotary@verizon.net and copy to GBRotary@aol.com .

The monthly meetings are coordinated and moderated by N.Y. Rotarian Josef Klee, Deputy-Director of the United Nations (Retired) and Sylvan Barnet, Alternate Rotary International Liaison to the UN. Our newsletter editor is Assistant District Governor Thomas V. McConnon.

A history of Rotary and the Formation of the United Nations, click : http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/05/test.html

A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2008", click:

http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/05/rotary-international-day-at-united.html

.
. A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2007" click:

http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/12/type-company-name-welcome-to-united.html

A Summary of the "Rotary Day at The United Nations 2006" click.

http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/11/rotary-international-day-at-united.html

..A summary of A summary of "Rotary Day at the United Nations 2005" click nations 2005" .http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/rotary-international-day-at-united.html

"UNited to End Violence Against Women", UN Secreatry-General's campaign

2009-06-21T10:33:00.034-05:00

In the photo are from right to left is our guest speaker, Enzo di Taranto, moderator and host Rotarian Josef Klee, and Incoming District governor of 7230 Karl Milde.

Our guest speaker for the June 2009 breakfast meeting was Mr. Enzo di Taranto who was appointed as manager of the Secretary-General's UNite Campaign to End Violence against Women program in May of this year. With vast international experience in a wide range of management and leadership roles with the United Nations, European Union, and NGO's, Mr. Di Taranto also holds a Master degree in international relations from the Oriental University Institute in Italy. He has also received training at Harvard University and Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris. He is the author of several videos, websites, essays, and books on international affairs.

From the UN Website In February 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched his campaign, “UNite to End Violence against Women,” a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.

In November 2008, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron was designated a UN Messenger of Peace with a focus on ending violence against women.

Violence against women not only constitutes a gross violation of human rights but also has enormous social and economic costs, and undercuts the contribution of women to development, peace and security. It poses a serious threat to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
Stretching from 2008 to 2015, the campaign calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. It builds on existing Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls international legal and policy frameworks and harnesses the strong momentum around the issue, reflected in a growing number of initiatives by UN system partners, Governments and NGOs.“There is no blanket approach to fighting violence against women. What works in one country may not lead to desired results in another. Each nation must devise its own strategy,” said the Secretary-General at the launch of the campaign. “But there is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”

Rotary Publications Translated into Arabic, RI Representative to the United Nations to Western Asia - ESCWA

2009-06-21T10:33:00.033-05:00

Arabic Rotary Publications

Dr. Michel P. Jazzar (left) is the RI Representative to The United Nations Economic and Social Commision to Western Asia and is a dental surgeon from the Kesrouan Rotary Club - Lebanon).

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, is one of the five regional commissions under the administrative direction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. UN-ESCWA promotes economic and social development of Western Asia through regional and subregional cooperation and integration. ESCWA has 13 member States,and reports to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Rotary International took a wise and historical decision to support the printing and distribution of 12 essential Rotary publications into Arabic language. Past President, Michel P. Jazzar, a Lebanese Rotarian, was appointed to perform this challenge.

By Michel P. Jazzar

Introduction:
On November 1999, the RI Board of Directors recognized the importance of providing Rotary Clubs with the information they need in readable and understandable languages. Meanwhile, a list of essential publications was established.
On February 2000, the Board agreed that a district or group of districts (who speak other than English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Italian and Swedish) may, on a voluntary basis, translate, print and distribute essential club information to the clubs in their district(s).
They further approved a volunteer’s publications translation plan. First, districts in Finland, The Netherlands, Taiwan and Thailand were selected to participate in this project. Other interested districts were considered to participate. As for District 2450, they were invited to assign a committee or a group and to participate in this project on behalf of the RI Board of Directors. As for the costs of printing and distributing these publications, RI will reimburse district governors the fees.
On November 2007, the RI Board of Directors took the decision to have Rotary International produce in-house a very limited of publications into Arabic. The RI Board included Arabic as one of ten additional languages into which RI will translate and produce documents deemed necessary to the introduction of Rotary into new countries or to support membership development and growth.

What are the RI policies regarding the official languages and translation of publications?

RI Official Language
English is the only official language of RI and all official documents, including club charters, shall be issued in English. A non-English charter issued in a non-English-speaking country was acceptable if accompanied by its translation. Such translation shall not bear the seal of RI or the signature of its Officials.
Study of Languages
Rotary endorses efforts to enhancing the global community and enriching the world’s culture. All Rotarians are encouraged to study languages other than their own for further international understanding, goodwill and peace and to assist in fulfilling the Object of Rotary.
Translation of Rotary Literature
RI policies:
1. RI will provide translated versions of essential club and district information in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Italian and Swedish.
2. All RI publications shall be revised in English and other languages on a staggered, triennial basis, with those publications affected most by the Council on Legislation. The General Secretary will be authorized to make exceptions to this policy, as necessary.
3. A district or group of districts in which the Rotarians speak a language(s) other than those listed above, may on a voluntary basis, translate, print and distribute essential club information to the clubs in their district(s). Publications translated by volunteers shall not be considered as official.

Role of General Secretary in Translations of Rotary Literature
The translation and printing of Rotary literature shall be under the direct supervision of the General Secretary, who is authorized to approve translations on behalf of the Board and, to modify the text of translations where it appears necessary or advisable in order to make publications more useful to the clubs. The distribution of Rotary literature to clubs shall be made by the Secretariat Office.
Use of Rotarian Volunteers in Translating
The General Secretary shall prepare a database of Rotarians who are able to interpret and translate documents into many languages. By selecting Rotarians to interpret /translate, the General Secretary shall ensure that they will provide a sample of their work.
Translation of Constitutional Documents of Rotary International
A note shall be included in all editions of the Manual of Procedure in languages other than English preceding the section that includes the constitutional documents, to indicate that:
if any question arises regarding the meaning or interpretation of any submitted constitutional documents, the English-language text of these documents remains the official text;
each Governor has a copy of the English-language edition of the Manual of Procedure, including the constitutional documents;
a copy of the constitutional documents in English may be ordered.
Publications Priority List
The General Secretary shall remove and/or add publications to the priority list in order to keep the list updated and in harmony with RI programs.

Translation Early years:

Individual efforts were done in Egypt, in Lebanon and in other Rotary Arab countries to translate Rotary publications into Arabic language, to print and to distribute them on hard copies and on CD as well.
We recognize all these volunteer efforts which have lightened the road. We thank every Rotarian who showed us the way which will be followed by others.
These publications were translated, printed and distributed without RI support. Only the District 2450 has covered the expenses. In the past, Eugene Barakat [Lebanese] a member of RI staff in Zurich office has translated some documents with the support of RI. But all publications were “officially “stopped when Eugene has left the office.

The Story:

It started during the Rotary International Representatives meeting at Evanston on October 2006. At the opening session and after the RI President 2006-07 Bill Boyd welcome’s address a dialogue was opened between the RIP Boyd and the 17 participants. The Rotary extension and image was discussed frankly. RI Representative to UN-ESCWA Michel P. Jazzar, coming from Lebanon [RI D.2450], has asked a question on Rotary development in the Arab and Islamic countries. He captured the attention of all attendees on the following: “How RI could plan for extension and communicate with a foreign language while more then 300 millions of persons spoke Arabic and almost one billion of Muslims consider the Arabic as a holy language!?”
This debate was reported by Doris Margolis, RI Representative to United Nations and member of RC Washington DC, to her fellow Rotarian Theodore [Ted] Hamady who sends his wishes to RI Staff to support within Rotary clubs, Districts, Rotarians and other organizations the project of translation of essential Rotary publications to Arabic language.
This commitment pushed the RI Staff to get in contact with RIR to UN-ESCWA Michel P. Jazzar who accepted the charge to be the RI Contact for Arabic Rotary Publications – ARP - project.
Enthusiastic to this project, District Governor 2007-2008 Farid Gebran appointed then a District 2450 Committee to fulfill the project, this committee was re-appointed into its mission for 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Rotary International support:

Coincidentally, additional support in this area recently came from the RI Board of Directors who took the decision in November 2007 to have Rotary International produce in-house a very limited of publications into Arabic.
The RI Board included Arabic as one of ten additional languages into which RI will translate and produce documents deemed necessary to the introduction of Rotary into new countries or to support membership development and growth.
The Arabic language is now one of the languages which have the support of RI but It is not yet an official language of the Rotary International.
Since 2007, RI has appointed Michel P. Jazzar as contact for the project of 12 essential Rotary publications to be translated, printed and distributed. These publications will be updated regularly according to the English language.

The project:
The facts:Some of the communities in the Arab world are against Rotary for misunderstanding and lack of communication. Our philosophy:The Rotary respects the human cultures. Our vision:Is to promote Rotary with a great tool: The Arab publications. [We leave to Clubs and District to promote their projects within RI and TRF Programs by direct support and/or by International co-sponsors support.] Our Strategy:Is to develop a big range of yearly publications with the support of RI, Districts, Arab speaking Rotarians and Clubs, International Districts, and Clubs and Rotarians as well. The direct link with the RI Staff is the key of success. A District committee will supervise the project under the leadership of the District Governor. The RI will appoint once a year an RI member who will be responsible of the expenses sheet’s signature which will be covered by RI and to follow the RI policies regarding similar projects. Our Goals:Translation, publication and distribution of the Essential Rotary Publications in full commitment and respect of the RI Policies.
We have divided the publications into two parts:1-Publications for Rotary Administration:
It will be all internal publications needed as material for clubs' administration. The number of copies will be limited for Rotary Officers elected for two consecutive years. The PEs for the coming year and the year after should be very well prepared. So the number will multiply by 3 times the number for Rotary Clubs Presidents [e.g. President Kit].2-Publications for Rotarians and the large public of Non-Rotarians:All publications with general information on RI and TRF Programs that would be interesting to be known by all Rotarians and Non-Rotarians. The number of copies will be 5000 or 10000 to help in promoting Rotary in the Arab Region. We are very interested to let current and new members, as well as Club's guests and weekly speakers be informed on our International Organization.

What are the Essential Rotary Publications?

Rotary Year 2007-2008 publications
001 This is Rotary
035 Manual of Procedure 2007
159 Foundation Fact Card
219 TRF Quick Reference Guide
225 Club Officers Kit
242 District Membership Seminar Leaders' Guide
243 PETS Leaders Guide
244 Assistant Governors Training Manual
254 How to Propose a New Member
414 New Member Orientation
595 Rotary Basics
828 District Assembly Leaders' Guide
900 President's Theme Message
900A President's Citation Program
900B Application form for the President's Citation Program

Other Rotary publications will be translated, printed and distributed by the District 2450 Committee:
Glossary [English-Arabic]
770_RCC Handbook [The Rotary Community Corps – RCC - is a Rotary Club’s project for non-Rotarians]
769_Organization form RCC
788_Brochure RCC
RCC_Guide
RCC_Photo_form
RCC_Update_form
RCC_Presentation
RCC_Presentation _ppt
808- Organizing New Clubs
Organizing a new Clubs: Instructions and Forms

New Publications authorized 2008-2009:
084 (1007) - Rotary Centers brochure
611 Peace Fellowship poster.

Media project for Arabic and Islamic countries:
Project which is now under design , will be explained on time.

The District 2450 Committee 2007-2008:
The District 2450 Governor 2007-2008 Farid Gebran has appointed for this purpose the 1st District Committee. DGE 2008-09 and DGN 2009-2010 are also members of this committee as to secure the work for the two years to come. Also two Rotarians are appointed as "International support" because we are aware that this project will cost money and we should cover all expenses. Here are the names:1. DG 2008-2009 Zakaria el Shafei.
2. PDG 2007-08 Farid Gebran3. DG 2009- 2010 Nijad Al Atassi
4. Michel Jazzar - RI contact for translation and publications
5. International Support: Rotarian Theodore [Ted] Hamady – USA.6. International Support: PDG Najib Zakka – France [Europe].Budget:

The budget will cover: Translation, printing, distribution, miscellaneous expenses. This is Rotary [10000 copies] Rotary 2007-2008 Theme [5000 copies] Rotary 2007-2008 Presidential Citation [5000 copies] Rotary Citation form [5000 copies] Rotary Basics [10000 copies]. Other publications’ copies will depend on the Rotary Officers number.

Bank account:
Favor: Bank Of Beirut S.A.L
Dora Branch, Beirut-Lebanon
Beneficiary: Rotary Association-Lebanon, District 2450
Account Number: (11.401.676118.00)
Swift Code: BABELBBE
Correspondent Bank: Bank Of New York-NY

Rotary Association-Lebanon
GEDCO Center
7th Floor
Sin El-Fil
LEBANON
PO Box 5531 Beirut Lebanon

Communication:

-DG Farid Gebran has introduced this project in the Governor's Monthly Letter. -A blog was launched to introduce the ARP project. http://arpub.hautetfort.com/
You may download the 12 essential publications: Club’s Kit, Assistant Governor manual, logos, RIP Theme and Citation and more on both pages:
http://arpub.wikispaces.com/Rotary+Essential+Publications
http://arpub.wikispaces.com/Other+Arabic+Rotary+Publications

What are the feedbacks?

When we debate on the image of Rotary and Membership Development, we have to be practical. Once a project is launched and got such a support, local, district support and International support, that means we have reached our objectives and fulfill our vision.
We have the support of RI – part for the budget
We got the approval of the DG – part of the budget.
We got the support of the International sponsors:
USA: RC Washington DC and Basra, Iraq Prosthetics Project, RI District #7620 International project.

Conclusion:

More then 300 millions of Arabs and almost one billion of Muslims have in common this language, Arabic is a holy language for almost one billion of human beings!
Rotary International who respects the human diverse cultures took this wise decision [late but better then never!] to give its support [with some restrictions] and to promote the publications in Arabic language.
This project needs now all Rotarians’ continuous support in District 2450 and District 9010 as well because when RI supports our language it means that we are now on the right direction to increase the Membership Development and enhance Rotary image in the Arab countries.
How many of us are happy when a foreign approach is "Salam Aleykoum". These two words are the best ice-breaker. Also it is the same to others when we approach them with their language!
Communication within the Arabic language is still the best way to promote Rotary in the Arab world communities.
This project is expected to cover all clubs of District 2450 and District 9010 [North Africa].
Twelve essential publications and more on RCC are under translation and will be printed and distributed between December 2007 and May 2008. Some will be sent to clubs later on according to the updated publications received from RI.
We have already a financial support confirmation from RI, District 2450, Clubs from District 2450, International sponsors from USA and from individual Rotarians.
We have reached our expectations.
Now we can say: It is done..! Congratulations…

I would like to thank hearty:

-RI Representative to UN Doris Margolis, Rotarians Ted Hamady and Linda Smythe as well who pushed together this project forward to be implemented during year 2007-2008.
-The RI Staff: Hollie Horn [Manager], Cherise Thurman [Coordinator], Jane DeMoss, Jackie Granat and Michele Moiron and unknown RI staff.
-PDG 07-08 Farid Gebran, DG 08-09 Zakaria El Shafei, DG 09-10 Nijad Al Atassi whom gave their full support.
-Members of the Arabic Publications Committee.
-Translators.
-All Clubs and All Rotarians from District 2450, District 9010 and other RI Districts who support this millennium challenging, visionary and ambitious project.

Thanks to All of You, Rotarians and friends of Rotary!
You have made me proud of my Rotary pin and of each of you.

For further information on financial support or project’s inquiries:

Michel P. JAZZAR
RI Contact – ARP - Arabic Rotary Publications
PO Box 1951 – Jounieh – Lebanon.
jazzar@dm.net.lb

UN Secretary-Gerneral's program to "Unite to End Violence Against Women

2009-06-21T10:33:00.024-05:00

In the photo are from right to left is our guest speaker, moderator and host Rotarian Josef Klee and Incoming District governor of 7230 Karl Milde.

The June 2009 breakfast meeting was a discussion of the Unite to End Violence against Women program.
From the UN Website In February 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched his campaign, “UNite to End Violence against Women,” a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.

In November 2008, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron was designated a UN Messenger of Peace with a focus on ending violence against women.

Violence against women not only constitutes a gross violation of human rights but also has enormous social and economic costs, and undercuts the contribution of women to development, peace and security. It poses a serious threat to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
Stretching from 2008 to 2015, the campaign calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. It builds on existing Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls international legal and policy frameworks and harnesses the strong momentum around the issue, reflected in a growing number of initiatives by UN system partners, Governments and NGOs.“There is no blanket approach to fighting violence against women. What works in one country may not lead to desired results in another. Each nation must devise its own strategy,” said the Secretary-General at the launch of the campaign. “But there is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”

Rotary Publications Translated into Arabic - RI Representative to the United Nations to Western Asia - ESCWA - Translates Rotary Publications

2009-06-21T10:32:00.004-05:00

Arabic Rotary Publications
By Michel P. Jazzar

Dr. Michel P. Jazzar (left) is the RI Representative to The United Nations Economic and Social Commision to Western Asia and is a dental surgeon from the Kesrouan Rotary Club - Lebanon)

Rotary International took a wise and historical decision to support the printing and distribution of 12 essential Rotary publications into Arabic language.PP Michel P. Jazzar, a Lebanese Rotarian, was appointed to perform this challenge.

Introduction:
On November 1999, the RI Board of Directors recognized the importance of providing Rotary Clubs with the information they need in readable and understandable languages. Meanwhile, a list of essential publications was established.
On February 2000, the Board agreed that a district or group of districts (who speak other than English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Italian and Swedish) may, on a voluntary basis, translate, print and distribute essential club information to the clubs in their district(s).
They further approved a volunteer’s publications translation plan. First, districts in Finland, The Netherlands, Taiwan and Thailand were selected to participate in this project. Other interested districts were considered to participate. As for District 2450, they were invited to assign a committee or a group and to participate in this project on behalf of the RI Board of Directors. As for the costs of printing and distributing these publications, RI will reimburse district governors the fees.
On November 2007, the RI Board of Directors took the decision to have Rotary International produce in-house a very limited of publications into Arabic. The RI Board included Arabic as one of ten additional languages into which RI will translate and produce documents deemed necessary to the introduction of Rotary into new countries or to support membership development and growth.

What are the RI policies regarding the official languages and translation of publications?

RI Official Language
English is the only official language of RI and all official documents, including club charters, shall be issued in English. A non-English charter issued in a non-English-speaking country was acceptable if accompanied by its translation. Such translation shall not bear the seal of RI or the signature of its Officials.
Study of Languages
Rotary endorses efforts to enhancing the global community and enriching the world’s culture. All Rotarians are encouraged to study languages other than their own for further international understanding, goodwill and peace and to assist in fulfilling the Object of Rotary.
Translation of Rotary Literature
RI policies:
1. RI will provide translated versions of essential club and district information in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Italian and Swedish.
2. All RI publications shall be revised in English and other languages on a staggered, triennial basis, with those publications affected most by the Council on Legislation. The General Secretary will be authorized to make exceptions to this policy, as necessary.
3. A district or group of districts in which the Rotarians speak a language(s) other than those listed above, may on a voluntary basis, translate, print and distribute essential club information to the clubs in their district(s). Publications translated by volunteers shall not be considered as official.

Role of General Secretary in Translations of Rotary Literature
The translation and printing of Rotary literature shall be under the direct supervision of the General Secretary, who is authorized to approve translations on behalf of the Board and, to modify the text of translations where it appears necessary or advisable in order to make publications more useful to the clubs. The distribution of Rotary literature to clubs shall be made by the Secretariat Office.
Use of Rotarian Volunteers in Translating
The General Secretary shall prepare a database of Rotarians who are able to interpret and translate documents into many languages. By selecting Rotarians to interpret /translate, the General Secretary shall ensure that they will provide a sample of their work.
Translation of Constitutional Documents of Rotary International
A note shall be included in all editions of the Manual of Procedure in languages other than English preceding the section that includes the constitutional documents, to indicate that:
if any question arises regarding the meaning or interpretation of any submitted constitutional documents, the English-language text of these documents remains the official text;
each Governor has a copy of the English-language edition of the Manual of Procedure, including the constitutional documents;
a copy of the constitutional documents in English may be ordered.
Publications Priority List
The General Secretary shall remove and/or add publications to the priority list in order to keep the list updated and in harmony with RI programs.

Translation Early years:

Individual efforts were done in Egypt, in Lebanon and in other Rotary Arab countries to translate Rotary publications into Arabic language, to print and to distribute them on hard copies and on CD as well.
We recognize all these volunteer efforts which have lightened the road. We thank every Rotarian who showed us the way which will be followed by others.
These publications were translated, printed and distributed without RI support. Only the District 2450 has covered the expenses. In the past, Eugene Barakat [Lebanese] a member of RI staff in Zurich office has translated some documents with the support of RI. But all publications were “officially “stopped when Eugene has left the office.

The Story:

It started during the Rotary International Representatives meeting at Evanston on October 2006. At the opening session and after the RI President 2006-07 Bill Boyd welcome’s address a dialogue was opened between the RIP Boyd and the 17 participants. The Rotary extension and image was discussed frankly. RI Representative to UN-ESCWA Michel P. Jazzar, coming from Lebanon [RI D.2450], has asked a question on Rotary development in the Arab and Islamic countries. He captured the attention of all attendees on the following: “How RI could plan for extension and communicate with a foreign language while more then 300 millions of persons spoke Arabic and almost one billion of Muslims consider the Arabic as a holy language!?”
This debate was reported by Doris Margolis, RI Representative to United Nations and member of RC Washington DC, to her fellow Rotarian Theodore [Ted] Hamady who sends his wishes to RI Staff to support within Rotary clubs, Districts, Rotarians and other organizations the project of translation of essential Rotary publications to Arabic language.
This commitment pushed the RI Staff to get in contact with RIR to UN-ESCWA Michel P. Jazzar who accepted the charge to be the RI Contact for Arabic Rotary Publications – ARP - project.
Enthusiastic to this project, District Governor 2007-2008 Farid Gebran appointed then a District 2450 Committee to fulfill the project, this committee was re-appointed into its mission for 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Rotary International support:

Coincidentally, additional support in this area recently came from the RI Board of Directors who took the decision in November 2007 to have Rotary International produce in-house a very limited of publications into Arabic.
The RI Board included Arabic as one of ten additional languages into which RI will translate and produce documents deemed necessary to the introduction of Rotary into new countries or to support membership development and growth.
The Arabic language is now one of the languages which have the support of RI but It is not yet an official language of the Rotary International.
Since 2007, RI has appointed Michel P. Jazzar as contact for the project of 12 essential Rotary publications to be translated, printed and distributed. These publications will be updated regularly according to the English language.

The project:
The facts:Some of the communities in the Arab world are against Rotary for misunderstanding and lack of communication. Our philosophy:The Rotary respects the human cultures. Our vision:Is to promote Rotary with a great tool: The Arab publications. [We leave to Clubs and District to promote their projects within RI and TRF Programs by direct support and/or by International co-sponsors support.] Our Strategy:Is to develop a big range of yearly publications with the support of RI, Districts, Arab speaking Rotarians and Clubs, International Districts, and Clubs and Rotarians as well. The direct link with the RI Staff is the key of success. A District committee will supervise the project under the leadership of the District Governor. The RI will appoint once a year an RI member who will be responsible of the expenses sheet’s signature which will be covered by RI and to follow the RI policies regarding similar projects. Our Goals:Translation, publication and distribution of the Essential Rotary Publications in full commitment and respect of the RI Policies.
We have divided the publications into two parts:1-Publications for Rotary Administration:
It will be all internal publications needed as material for clubs' administration. The number of copies will be limited for Rotary Officers elected for two consecutive years. The PEs for the coming year and the year after should be very well prepared. So the number will multiply by 3 times the number for Rotary Clubs Presidents [e.g. President Kit].2-Publications for Rotarians and the large public of Non-Rotarians:All publications with general information on RI and TRF Programs that would be interesting to be known by all Rotarians and Non-Rotarians. The number of copies will be 5000 or 10000 to help in promoting Rotary in the Arab Region. We are very interested to let current and new members, as well as Club's guests and weekly speakers be informed on our International Organization.

President Obama's Election and the United States Mission At the United Nations

2009-06-11T15:35:00.012-05:00

The guest speaker at the May 2009 breakfast meeting was Mr. Thomas Kirk McBride, the Deputy Political Counsellor of the United States Mission to the United Nations (right). He has spent twenty years at the US Mission to the United Nations and his main responsibility is to represent the interests of the United States with the issues connected with the Security Council. The meeting was moderated by Sheila Washington (left) a management consultant, and a member of the the Rotary Club of New York.

Mr. McBride noted that the foreign policy that United States does not change very much with different Presidential administrations. Perhaps, the only minor difference may include some additional funding for birth control methods, for example. However, he said, it should be noted that the world has celebrated President Obama's election, particularly in African countries where the citizenry was so elected that one would think that President Obama was elected as President of the African Union.

Similarly, President Obama's administration elevated the new US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, to a Cabinet-level position. While this has been the case in some other administrations, it is indicative of the level of importance that the new administration places on diplomacy, and the complexed issues facing the United Nations.

The New York Times biography of the new ambassador stated that Ms. Rice was born in 1964, and is the daughter of a former governor on the Federal Reserve Board. She grew up in Washington, where she was a star basketball player, and valedictorian at the National Cathedral School. In college, she earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, and both a master’s degree and a doctorate in International Relations from New College at Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. After graduation, she worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company before joining the Clinton administration. ambassador rice later became a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and is married to Ian Cameron, the Canadian-born, executive producer, of ABC News’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” They have two children.

Our guest speaker stated that his position is dealing with the issues of the Security Council where some of the the major concerns are Peacekeeping operations, Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and Accelerating global climate change.

Regarding United Nations Peacekeeping missions there are eighteen ad-hoc missions now being supported with over 92,000 troops serving around the world. He explained that before the Bosnia peace keeping missions of the 1990's, the troops maintained an "established peace". However, since Bosnia, many of the peacekeeping forces have been involved in situations with significantly more combat.

The United States funds about twenty-six percent of all the peacekeeping missions and there is a $7 billion in the budget. However, the United States and the European Union supply less than five percent of the solders, with the largest percentage of solders coming from Pakistan and India. The United Nations reimburses the local governments that supply the troops at $1,040 per month, per soldier. In addition, the troops also receive significant training and additional funding for uniforms and equipment. Many developing countries find that they benefit financially from providing the troops.

The most difficult areas for the United Nations were the United Nations Operation in Somalia, (UNOSIM) Congo, and the Sudan. As such, the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) had recently been established.

It is important to recall that Chapter 8 of the UN Charter states that regional organizations should handle regional problems, but the African Union has not been successful.
As such, the AU and UN has formed an umbrella relationship to establish peace in these troubled regions.

Regarding the Sudan all outside parties are on the same side but the technical operation is hard to get right, our guest speaker noted. However, without doubt, the United States has been very supportive in assisting in the financing of $60 million toward the support of the efforts. However the US government has criticized the AU because it has not been able to provide transparent and documented accounting of the the funding. The EU is not as strict in requiring accurate accounting of the funds they have provided to the region.

The United States funds about 26 percent of all the Peace Keeping missions and there is about $7 billion in the budget.

Welcome!

2009-03-15T05:23:00.005-05:00

(Photo: This photo, which is taken from our meeting venue on 23rd floor of the German Mission, clearly shows the progress of UN 's major construction project.)The International Service Division of the New York Rotary Club is delighted to present this newsletter in order to demonstrate the commitment and continuing support of Rotary to the United Nations and its Millennium Development Goals.This newsletter will also serve as a platform for information and dialogue between all Rotarians who are interested in the programs of the United Nations and in contributing towards achieving its goals. We invite you to share your experiences from collaboration in projects between Rotary and the United Nations. Please forward any examples and comments regarding recent projects to nyrotaryun@aol.comAll Rotarians are invited to attend the NY Rotary International Breakfast Meetings which are normally scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month and held at the German House located at 871 United Nations Plaza (49th St. and First Ave). These meeting provide an opportunity for Rotarians to stay informed regarding United Nation programs and to exchange views on related topics with UN officials and representatives of its member states. There are usually no meetings in July and August.Reservations for attending the meetings can be made at: ny.rotary@verizon.net and copy to GBRotary@aol.com . The monthly meetings are coordinated and moderated by N.Y. Rotarian Josef Klee, Deputy-Director of the United Nations (Retired) and Sylvan Barnet, Alternate Rotary International Liaison to the UN. Our newsletter editor is Assistant District Governor Thomas V. McConnon..
To read the history of Rotary and the Formation of the United Nations click : http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/05/test.html...

Rotary's Youth Program at the United Nations - November 2008

2009-01-25T07:47:00.008-05:00

Photo: More than 600 high school students left their home towns in the middle of the night to arrive at the United Nations by 8:30am

The Youth Program of Rotary/UN Day" - November 6 2008

The 2008 Youth Program, at the United Nations, on "Rotary/UN Day" was an outstanding success. PDG Helen Reisler, Rotary International Alt. Representative to the UN, a Past President of the Rotary Club of New York, and a Zone Director of the Rotary Global History Fellowship, was chosen to organize and coordinate this important event. She took on this responsibility with a passionate belief that this generation of youngsters, our future parents, professionals, business and community leaders, are the hope for ensuring Rotary's future.and our "tools" for greater peace and understanding.

The purpose of this Youth Program was to show the High School audience how Rotary works with young people such as themselves, and guides them in doing United Nations work in communities around the world, while enriching their own lives in the process.

To reach this goal, Helen's first step was to choose a planning team of Rotarians from various clubs, each possessing an individual skill. Along with Andrew Morzello and Omar Herrera who were co-moderators, the team was composed of John Porco,a graphics designer who kept the audience mesmerized with informational "Hip Hop" videos, Roger Risko who set up a "Radio Rotary Tent" to interview the youngsters, Matts Ingemanson who imparted his expertise on "The Young Paul Harris", Susanne Wetzel who challenged the students with "The 4-Way Test", Roger Swanson, our Student Exchange coordinator, Sue Donnelly, Interact/Rotaract expert, David DelMonte, scheduling master, Scarlett Pildes who utilized her various connections., and Kelly Roberts President of Rotaract at the UN.

Effective Publicity resulted in twice the audience of last year's event, drawing 650 people, and featured more than 20 presenters on 4 panels. The topics were varied and presenters travelled in from many locations. The presentations, which kept the attention of the audience for three hours, included:
"Overview of the UN", "Model United Nations," Shelterbox;Global Response to Humanitarian Needs," "Ending Child Trafficking," "Elderact;Enhancing the Lives of Seniors," "Making an Impact in Your Community," "Gift of Life," "Fighting Aids in Africa/Spreading Happiness in Harlem," "Water Projects in Honduras with Engineers Without Borders," "Community Based Rotaract," "Spring Break;a Time for Fun or Service?," "Safe Childhood;Emergency Medicine for Uganda Children," "Building Leaders Locally," "Expanding to International Leadership," "Exploring a New Culture in France," "How My Life Changed in Chile." the panels covered Interact, Rotaract, RYLA and Exchange Student projects.

RI President Dong Kurn Lee concluded the program with inspiring words meant to encourage the students to begin to make service a part of their lives.Followup analysis showed that many students took this seriously by adopting projects into existing Interact Clubs, or starting new clubs in their High Schools. Interestingly, "Ending Child Trafficking" was one of the favorites.

Listing of Articles

2009-01-25T06:29:00.055-05:00

Uzbekistan Ambassador

Religions for Peace

Global Business Ethitcs

United Nations University

Honduras Ambassador

Rotary Joins Global Compact

Concert to End Polio

Costa Rican Ambassador on the Environment

Arab Human Development Report

Turkish Armenian Protocol Agreement

Peace and Development Conference in Mexico

Caritas In Veritate

North Korea and the United Nations

UNited to End Violence Against Women

Rotary Publications Translated into Aribic

President Obama's Election and the United States Mission

Rotary's Youth Program at te United Nations

Rotary's Man at the United Nations - Sylvan Barnet

Public-Private Alliance

Rotary Day 2006 http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/11/rotarians-and-rotaract-fill-united.html
2008 Elections http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/04/united-nations-electorial-assisantce.html

UNESCO http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/04/unesco.html
Norway http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/01/norways-ambassador-encouraging-more-ngo.html

Ban Ki Moon http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=7575825020085378873

Alliance of Civilization http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=116203217733751697

Siera Leone http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post_19.html

Rotary Unilevel and Cirque du Soli Honored At UN http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

June 2006 china Ambassador http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/06/china-and-united-nations-june-2006.html#comments

Mia Farrow http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/04/unicef-goodwill-ambassador-and-actress.html

Gender http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/01/ambassador-eva-tomic-deputy.html

Bolton http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/12/united-states-ambassador-john-bolton.html

military http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/12/secretary-generals-un-military-advisor.html

Singapore http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/04/singapores-ambassador-meets-new-york.html

Iraqi Ambassador http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=113623752690889379

Kenya http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/kenyan-ambassador-promotes-african.html

German Analysis of 2005 Summit http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=113623918752848443

Russian http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/deputy-ambassador-of-russian.html

Holy See http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/holy-see-in-international-arena-june.html

Rotary's Man at the United Nations: Sylvan Barnet

2009-01-25T06:29:00.053-05:00

"Sylvan Barnet: Rotary's Man at the UN" from the July 2009 Rotarian Magazine.

For more than 20 years, Sylvan M. Barnet Jr. has been one of RI's representatives to the United Nations. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he worked in Paris at the International Herald Tribune, becoming its publisher in 1954. In 1959, he cofounded Barnet & Reef Associates, a pioneer in international public relations, and he later worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Barnet, known to his friends as "Barney," is a member of the Rotary Club of New York.

The Rotarian: Rotary was one of the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that contributed to the UN charter in 1945. What's Rotary's role at the UN today?

Sylvan Barnet: We're a consultative NGO, so we've got a lot more clout than the information-only NGOs. There are some 3,000 NGOs at the UN, but only about 150 of us in the UN's General category -- for that, you have to be worldwide and work on a number of issues, not just one.

TR: How important is Rotary's role?

Barnet: Think of Rotary as being representative of 1.7 million people, if you include Rotaractors and Interactors. The rep from Grenada, he represents 90,000 people. So why shouldn't they listen to us? Take polio eradication. Rotary's real legacy there is social mobilization. That takes planning, manpower, networking, monitoring, and surveillance. That's experience we've had at the global level, in 121 countries where we've eradicated polio. Governments don't have that kind of manpower.

TR: What changes have you seen in your years at the UN?

Barnet: For starters, there are 89 new democracies in the world and not as many mad dictators. In that sense, the world has gotten better.

TR: Is there a sense in which it's not better?

Barnet: They all have one vote. Tiny countries have the same vote as big ones. So you've got a nondemocratic Security Council and a much-too-democratic General Assembly. But there are also new parts to the UN system, like the office for the least developed countries and small island developing states, which helps them greatly.

TR: How has financing for development evolved?

Barnet: The private sector is now welcome, with foreign direct investment. There's an old saying, goes back to the Depression years, that you can't do business in a poor house. Private investment and capital flows are now much bigger than government flows of aid.

TR: Why do we need the UN?

Barnet: With all its faults, the UN is the only place in the world where it all comes together. Newspapers mainly report on the Security Council, so people don't realize that 80 percent of the UN's work is humanitarian. No other place has [so much] information and resources, and all these people coming together, including civil society (NGOs). That's got to be worth something.

2009-01-25T06:29:00.043-05:00

Rotary Day 2006 http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/11/rotarians-and-rotaract-fill-united.html
2008 Elections http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/04/united-nations-electorial-assisantce.html
UNESCO http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/04/unesco.html
Norway http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/01/norways-ambassador-encouraging-more-ngo.html

Ban Ki Moon http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=7575825020085378873

Alliance of Civilization http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=116203217733751697

Siera Leone http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post_19.html

Rotary Unilevel and Cirque du Soli Honored At UN http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

June 2006 china Ambassador http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/06/china-and-united-nations-june-2006.html#comments

Mia Farrow http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/04/unicef-goodwill-ambassador-and-actress.html

Gender http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2007/01/ambassador-eva-tomic-deputy.html

Bolton http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/12/united-states-ambassador-john-bolton.html

military http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/12/secretary-generals-un-military-advisor.html

Singapore http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/04/singapores-ambassador-meets-new-york.html

Iraqi Ambassador http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=113623752690889379

Kenya http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/kenyan-ambassador-promotes-african.html

German Analysis of 2005 Summit http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20440208&postID=113623918752848443

Russian http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/deputy-ambassador-of-russian.html

Holy See http://nyrotaryunitednations.blogspot.com/2006/01/holy-see-in-international-arena-june.html

World Health Organization

2009-01-25T06:28:00.015-05:00

Our guest speaker at the March 2009 meeting was the Senior External Relations officer of the World Health Organization at the UN Headquarters in New York. In this position, Mr. Obermeyer (right) is responsible for UN reform, inter-governmental processes and UN system entities based in New York, and non-governmental organizations that focus on public health issues. Prior to joining WHO, he served as Deputy Director in the UN Environment Program, and served in the South African Foreign Ministry on various assignments in Africa and South America. Most recently, he served as Deputy Permanent Representative in Kenya. Mr. Obermeyer was trained as a political scientist and has extensive multilateral experience in negations relating to environmental sustainability and governance.

Also at the meeting and in the photo is Dr. Giorgio Giovannoni (middle) and the Benin Minister Counselor to the United Nation (second from the right) to announce the establishment of the new hospital in Benin that Dr. Giovannoni was instrumental in building and financing.

The World Health Organization has partnered with several of Rotary International's world-wide action groups including diabetes, malaria reduction, and treated bed nets distribution. In addition to the recent grant of $255 million from the Bill Gates Foundation, Rotarians have already raised $700 million and is expected to have spent about $1 billion in the Polio-plus campaign within the next future.

Our guest speaker pointed out that The World Health Organization was established on April 7 1948 and was a continuation of the Health Organization of the League of Nations. As a result, it has retained its headquarters at the former League of Nations compound in Geneva, Switzerland. It is funded by the 193 member states with offices in 147 countries within six regional centers.

Unlike most other UN agencies, WHO still uses the regions based system based on the League of Nation delineation rather than that of most of the post-1948 organizations of the United Nations.
Labeling medicine and establishing a world wide standards The New York Office is to work with UN headquarters and works closes with the UN economic and Security council. The Secretary General has made health one of his three top priorities for his first term. Global health and foreign policy-Secretary general to adapt resolution global and heath security

Label medicines and establishing a world-wide standard on medicines and doses is one of the long established responsibilities of WHO. It is essential that health practitioners can be assured that drugs and drug names are consistent throughout the world. A second responsibility is that with more than two billion air travel passenger a year, WHO has established health containment standards for governments to inform other governments health containment of acute transmittable diseases on a cross-boarder level

Future challenges of WHO include:

Complete eradication of polio with the support of Rotary. While there are less than two thousand cases of Polio worldwide some educational and organization work still needs to be continued

Curtail Diabetes increase due to increased economic development and improved life style changes an unintended consequence is such less exercise and changing diets and diabetes is on an upward curve in many countries.

Climate-change has already had a negative impact on disease and food production. For example malaria is on the increase in South America when it was primarily an African and Asian disease. Agricultural production may be affected.

Malnutrition causes one-quarter of the worlds children' death, and 240 million are undernourished at any given time. Climate patterns change China Gobi desert is encroaching on agricultural lands in southern China need to feed more than 1 billion people Global warming is affecting weather patterns creating dryer conditions. If the warming continues, deserts which make up 25 per cent of China’s land will expand to 40 per cent.

Finical crisis - governments are retooling their $2.3 billion budget and WHO sees no increase in their budget. WHO will have to do more with much less during the current fiscal crisis. Historically, education and health budgets are the first to be reduced when governments are under pressure

Partnerships with private sector Ambivalent relation with pharmaceutical. WHO is partnering with Pfizer and help distribute drugs and also on research.Pfizer announced collaboration that gives access to its library of medicinal compounds – the world’s largest – and also brings scientists from developing countries into Pfizer’s laboratories for training in drug discovery techniques.

Moderator Joseff Klee (left) invited two law students from St. Thomas University in Florida to participate in the discussion.

Public-Private Alliance Foundation to Reduce Global Poverty

2008-12-28T10:32:00.033-05:00

(Photo: Ambassador Zina Andrianarivelo-Razafy (left) and David Stillman.)

The guest speaker at the January 2009 Breakfast meeting was David Stillman, a founder and the first Executive Director of the Public-Private Alliance Foundation. David also consults on human security issues, peace-building, human rights, gender and United Nations system development cooperation. Working with the United Nations Secretariat from 1974 to 2004, as a Senior Officer in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, David also was an Advisor in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Development Support and Management Services. In the mid-1980s he served as Assistant Resident Representative in Islamabad, Pakistan, with the UN Development Programme, responsible chiefly for agricultural programs. Before joining the UN David worked in Togo, Ghana and Kenya. Mr.Stillman holds a BA from the School of International Service of the American University and an MA and PhD in political science from Duke University.

Also participating in the the discussion was Ambassador Zina Andrianarivelo-Razafy, the Permanent Representative of Madagascar to the United Nations. Previously he was also Ambassador to the United States, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

As stated on the PPAF website: The Public Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing poverty in the world by bringing together business, governmental, community, academic, United Nations and other interests. Through collaboration, we help stimulate entrepreneurship and commerce-related activities and encourage investment for sustainable development. Focusing initially on the Dominican Republic and Madagascar, our vision is to make a difference for human betterment.PPAF works in program areas including agribusiness, education, microfinance, health, information technology, remittances, renewable energy, and water and sanitation. It works closely with the United Nations for policies that advance public-private alliances.

Enhancing The Pharmaceutical Infrastucture in Africa

2008-12-28T10:32:00.032-05:00

Our guest speaker for the February 2009 Breakfast meeting was Dr. Rolande R. Hodel, the founder and president of AIDSfreeAFRICA.

Dr. Rolande received the 2009 Astellas USA Foundation humanitarian award for her work as founder and president of AIDSfreeAFRICA, a non-profit organization based in New York. http://www.aidsfreeafrica.org/ Born in German, Rolande is a US citizen and a legal resident of Cameroon. She has worked for companies such as BASF/Germany, Nanocrystals Technolopgy/NY, Pharmaceutical Discovery Corporation/NY (today Mannkind/CT) and Emisphere Technologies/NY. Education: She received her Masters of Science in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Kansas in 1995 and her Ph D in Organic Chemistry from the City University of New York, Queens College in 2005. American Chemical Society (ACS). Activities: Member since 1991; Director at large NY Section 2010 asked to run and 2004 served; Westchester Chemical Society, Director 1995-1997 and treasurer since 1998 to present. ACS Committee on International Activities, appointed Associate 2009. National Tour Speaker for ACS speaker’s bureau speaking on “Drug Production in Africa”. Other activities: Serves on the board of directors of Chemists Without Borders. Represents Servas, an international peace organization at the United Nations. She is active in Rotary.

It was very appropriate that since our breakfast meeting is held at the German Mission Dr. Rhonde sent the quote "The humanity of our world will be measured against the fate of Africa," from Horst Koehler, German President and former managing director of the Washington, DC-based International Monetary Fund, in his inauguration address in 2004.

AIDSfreeAFRICA, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization, recently advanced into the semifinals of the Buckminster Fuller Design Challenge: An annual distinguished award of $100,000 prize to support the development and implementation of a strategy that has significant potential to solve humanity’s most pressing problems. The goal is the emergence of a pharmaceutical infrastructure that provides Africans with access to affordable drugs, diagnostics and tests. AIDSfreeAFRICA gives technical advice and management expertise, arranges for training, provides donated equipment and makes capital available. AIDSfreeAFRICA facilitates the utilization of donor money in projects that have an immediate and profound impact on the lives of the recipients, their families and communities on a local level through microfinance programs.

Also at the breakfast meeting was Melissa Kushner of the Goods for Good organization. As stated on their web site: Through partnerships with companies in the United States and local organizations in Africa, they are able to provide much needed school supplies, clothing and health and hygiene products to orphans and vulnerable children, while at the same time reducing waste at home.
Goods for Good rely on donations of surplus goods from a wide range of companies. Their volunteers help to sort the items and donors fund the shipment. In Africa, they build on the success of local schools and community centers by supplying them with the tools they need to care for and educate children.
Many of the items we ship to children were gathering dust in warehouses or were slated to be destroyed. On the other side of the world, these same products have an immeasurable worth to disadvantaged children.

2008-12-28T10:32:00.005-05:00

Italian Rotary Delegation Welcomed at United Nations

2008-12-28T10:31:00.016-05:00

A delegation of more than forty Rotarians from Italy's Viterbo and Rome Clubs visited the United Nations during the first week of December, 2008. Included in the delegation from the Viterbo Club was President Stefano Marini and from the Roma Appia Antica club was President Enrico Bruschini and from Bolsena, Ducato Di Castro. In addition, the former INNERWHEEL Governor, Mrs. Maria Teresa Battistelli Lecchini also attended. New York Rotarian, Giovanni Cicero, was their host, who is a frequent friend and visitor to their clubs, when he is in Italy.

They visited the United Nations on Dec. 5, 2008 and attended a conference mainly on the governance and the legal side of the United Nations. After the conference, they enjoyed a fellowship lunch at the German Mission to the United Nations. On Dec. 6 an Inter-club Gala Dinner was attended, and on Dec. 8 they attended the weekly lunch of the Rotary Cub of New York at the Harvard Club on West. 44th Street in Midtown New York.

At the conference, it was pointed out that Rotary has RI presidential-appointed representatives to every part of the United Nations system: There are five Rotarians assigned to New York, two in each Rome, Geneva, Paris, Vienna, and Nairobi, respectively. There are also Rotary representatives to the World Bank, the African Union, and the Organization for American States (OAS), and to the regional commissions of the Economic & Social Council.

Sylvan Barnet, the Alternate Representative to the United Nations, noted that in Rome, Rotary representatives work with the Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program. He also explained that Rotarians also helped to write the UN Charter in San Francisco in 1945, with 49 Rotarians in 29 delegations active in the process. With this long and productive partnership, Rotary shares the highest status among NGOs at the UN with about one hundred and fifty other NGO's. Rotary contributes to over twenty social/humanitarian issues
particularly those dealing with the UN Millennium Development goals to:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Achieve universal primary education.

Promote gender equality and empower women.

Reduce child mortality.

Improve maternal health.

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases,

Ensure environmental sustainability

Develop global partnerships for development

The visiting Rotarians included:

ROTARY CLUB: VITERBO
MARINI BALESTRA
ANDREA STEFANO, President
BETTINI ROBERTO
LECCHINI PAOLO
GUSMAN ADOLFO
PAGANO GIUSEPPE
DE SPIRITO Stefano
PROFILI ALDO
BERDINI LUIGI
MOLTALBOLDI PAOLO
CIULA ROBERTO
LUDOVISI FABIO
NARDUZZI LUIGI
MALE` ALDO
ZUCCHI SANDRO
RINALDUCCI AMEDEO

ROTARY CLUB: ROMA Appia Antica

BRUSCHINI ENRICO, President

MARCONI ANNALISA

VAGNONI LUCIANA

BORRA CARLA

SCALA ANDREA

TRAMONTANO CARLO

MAGRONE GIANDOMENICO

MARTELLA PAOLO

ROTARY CLUB: BOLSENA

DUCATO CASTRO

ZAPPATORE UGO, President

Past GOVERNOR INNERWHEEL Center ITALY:

BATISTELLI MARIA TERESA

Inter-Religious Cooperation at the United Nations

2008-12-20T08:40:00.013-05:00

(Photo: Elias D. Mallon is fourth from right and Jacob Bender is fourth from left.)
At the December 2008 Breakfast Meeting the Rotary Club of New York had two guest speakers to discuss Christan, Jewish and Muslim interaction and understanding. Jacob Bender is a documentary filmmaker and interfaith consultant is currently directing the documentary "Out of Cordoba" a portrait of the historical and contemporary importance of the Spanish philosophers Averroes the Muslim, and Moses Maimonides the Jew. Mr Binder graduated from the University of California with a degree in History of Religions, and has taught Jewish history at many synagogues around the United States. He was also the Director of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.

His other films include "The Voice Still Speaks: Jews and Revelation and So Goes a Nation:Lawyers and Communities"

The second speaker was Elias D. Mallon, a native New Yorker, and an ordained member of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (Graymoor). He obtained a degree in the Old Testament studies and a PhD in Middle Eastern Languages from Catholic University of America. He has been involved in the Roman Catholic/Christan-Muslim dialogue since 1985 and has published two books. The first was "Neighbors: Muslims in North America", and "Islam: What Catholics Need To Know". He is on the NGO Israel-Palestine Working Group and is involved in several new inter-religious peace initiatives which have recently come out of the United Nations.

Rotary is growing as fast in Islamic countries as in any other parts of the world with more than 1,000 clubs formed all across North and West Africa. In addition there are over 100 clubs in Bangladesh and Indonesia, respectively. Rotary's Polio-Plus Program has made much of this interest in Rotary possible. In addition, Rotary has formed an international committee on Muslim expansion. Rotarians believe that we are all one family.

Brother Mallon noted that there are two types of inter-religious interactions, with two different types of goals: "Inter-religious cooperation" is where various faiths are working together, but don't necessarily endeavor to understand each other. "Inter-religious dialog" which is becoming more fashionable, is where different faiths try to understand the faiths of one another, and strive to develop an appreciation for one another. Brother Mallon argued that Inter-religious cooperation is more goal oriented and each faith is encouraged to remain differentiated, and policy makers should be guided by "Better a small success that a spectacular failure".

The speakers emphasised that the world has indeed changed significantly since the 1967 Second Vatican Council. However, Inter-religious dialog did not begin then, but ther was a huge push to strengthen one's own faith and at the same time to understand the faiths of others. Vatican II sought to reconcile church teachings with modern principles, praising the advances of science and technology, democratic government, and religious toleration. Numerous non-Catholic sources praised Vatican II and it marked a major transformation in official Church teaching. The Council unambiguously stated that each individual possessed the right to choose his or her religion and practice it free from political persecution. As a result of Vatican II many non-Christian religions acknowledged that world religions (other than their own) also taught fundamental truths.

United Nation's Member States have expressed interest to engage in a new dimension and attitude toward religions as a major contributor to development and security. In 2005 the General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Interfaith Cooperation for the Peace. The Tri-Partite forum which included the Philippines, Pakistan, sixteen other States, and several UN Agencies introduced the resolution to reduce religious tensions.

In 2006 the Secretary General commissioned a high-level study group that resulted in the formation of the Alliance of Civilization aiming to reduce cross cultural polarization between Islam and the West.

Russian-Georgian War, August 2008

2008-08-20T04:00:00.018-05:00

The Guest speaker at the November Breakfast meeting was Irakli Alasania, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations. Prior to this assignment Ambassador Alasania had served as the Adviser to the President of Georgia on Conflict Resolution and is also the President's Special Representative to Georgian- Abkhaz talks. He received an International Law Degree from the Tbilisi State University in 1995.

The Georgian-Russian conflict was of particular importance since in 2005 the Rotary Club of New York went to Georgia to start the country's first Rotary club. Even then, it was a sensitive issue as to which Rotary district the club should belong. Should it belong to the Russian district or the Eastern-European District?
Our guest speaker returned from Georgia just two weeks ago, and it was his first trip back to his country since the August war with the Russian Federation. He pointed out since Georgian independence in 1993 there was always been conflict with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Both regions have been under separatist control since that time, even though sixty-five percent of the population were Georgians and the minority was ruling the territory. The origins of this conflict date back to the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1987.
Since 2005, our guest speaker attempted to reach an agreement to end hostilities, but there was no political will to sign the agreement. In fact, it did seem that for the last year or so Russia was preparing for an invasion and established for full scale buildup on their shared border. Since last May there was escalation with a tit-for-tat shelling of villages in and more Russian troops brought troops were brought into the separatist areas.
While, the Georgian position is that the full-scale invasion is without question against the UN Charter, the Ambassador noted that lots of mistakes were made on Georgian side. For example, it has been reported that Georgia reportedly initiated a military offensive to regain control over its breakaway region of South Ossetia on Aug. 7. In response, Russia, sent in soldiers to defeat the Georgian troops. However, the government of Georgia never thought Russia would put “boots on the ground" of Georgian territory.
There is still speculation who “fired the first shot”. Therefore, to determine who started the aggression, both Russia and Georgia have agreed to provide information and cooperate for an international investigation. A diplomat team has been appointed to establish an inquiry. Swiss diplomat, Heidi Tagliavini, will lead an EU investigation into the origin and progression of the Georgia-Russia conflict. The 58-year-old career diplomat has extensive regional knowledge and experience. She was deputy head of the UN observer mission in Georgia (1998-1999), the Swiss ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001-2002) and a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)'s first assistance group to Chechnya (1995). A preliminary cease-fire mediated by the European Union was signed on Aug. 12, although fighting did not stop immediately. Only Russia and Nicaragua recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region of Georgia, whie most of the United Nations do not.

As a consequence of the war, there were several hundred ethnic based civilians killed by Russian soldiers. This year’s EU’s Rotating President Sorkazy established the Six Point Plan. The Sarkozy-Medvedev six-point plan stipulated renouncing the use of force, halting all military action, providing free access to humanitarian aid, the return of Georgian Armed Forces to their bases, the return of Russia's Armed Forces to their positions prior to combat, and the start of international discussions on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and on ways to ensure their security.
The Ambassador noted that the United Nations needs to monitor and investigate the incidents such as three police offers that were killed recently. Clearly, Georgia is a democratic state and we need to redefine our Turkey Armenians and ajibijan relationships. Also we need to Forge and institutional our relationship with the United States which has been very friendly since 1992 ,and has been very helpful in building our economy.

NATO membership of former Soviet satellites is one of the main irritants of Russia. However, Georgia believes that there are two principles that should be followed:
· Doors of NATO should be opened
· Every nation has a right on whom to align with. It is not up to Russian to block the integration of NATO.
The ambassador noted that it will take years to repair the Russian and Georgian relationship The Russians want naval bases. There are still 250,000 displaced persons for 15 years who want to go home to go back home.
The Ambassador pointed out that it will take years to repair the physical damage, and the Russian-Georgian relationship. In addition, investment confidence has been damaged which is essential to portray Georgia as a stable country in the eyes of the world's investors.

2008-05-21T16:28:00.027-05:00

The tragic impact of two World Wars within the fifty-year life-span of Rotary has directed the thoughts of many leaders toward the age- old problem of discovering some method by which international questions might be settled without resort to bloodshed. Symptomatic of this interest was the Rotary conference called in London early in 1942, which succeeded in assembling ministers of education and observers of twenty-one governments—many of whom were then in exile in London—for the purpose of considering the organization of a vast educational and cultural exchange after the conclusion of the war. Later, in that same year, the same group began laying plans for UNESCO.
Rotary International issued, under the title of “Essentials for an Enduring World Order,” two booklets setting forth articles interpreting the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals. The principal objective was to stimulate discussion by Rotarians everywhere on the newly proposed world organization. Two pamphlets entitled “Pattern for San Francisco” and “The Bretton Woods Proposals” also were sent to all clubs, with the result that the proposals were widely discussed.
At the organization conference of the United Nations held in San Francisco in 1945, the United States delegation invited Rotary International to appoint consultants. Eleven prominent Rotarians served in this capacity with resulting influence on the humane aspects of the Charter. In particular, Article 71 of the United Nations Charter attests this influence:
The Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence......
Subsequently, , and through the years prominent Rotarians have served as observers at various important meetings. The right to make proposals has not been exercised, how ever, since Rotary International cannot claim to know the opinions of all Rotarians generally on particular questions. The main role, which has been exercised with great effectiveness, has been in the wide dissemination of information about the United Nations.
Even before the United Nations was firmly established, Rotary’s president, , had proclaimed a week in October of 1945 as “United Nations Week” for simultaneous observance by Rotary clubs in all parts of the world, for the purpose of spreading knowledge of the United Nations. This observance was continued with growing scope and intensity from year to year. In 1953, its designation was changed to “World Fellowship Week in Rotary Service” which now includes UnitedNations Day—24 October—as fixed by the United Nations General Assembly.

A great variety of activities have distinguished this observance. Dinners, school assemblies, public
forums, essay contests, parades, exhibits, folk and film festivals, distribution of literature, and special programs at Rotary club meetings during the week. One feature has been the linking by correspondence of innumerable Rotary clubs with clubs in other countries. Out of this vast correspondence has come much that is good, not to mention a sympathetic understanding of mutual problems.

a meeting of the Rotary Club of Guatemala in October of 1953, in Observance of U.N. Day.

In the British crown colony of Ceylon there is a Rotary club with has international service as its principal objective -- in this instance a program in observance of United Nations Day.

The Rotarian has presented, through the years, many critical and explanatory articles by prominent spokesmen. From Here On! — a 124-page commentary on the United Nations Charter — was published in seven successive editions with a total distribution of close to a quarter million copies.
In the Minds of Men, a booklet dealing with UNESCO, was acclaimed by the deputy-director general of that organization, as the best commentary on the constitution then available. Its successor, The World at Work was similarly acclaimed by many school officials. Stimulation of teaching about the United Nations in local schools became a popular and widespread project of Rotary clubs. The Report on U.N. by Rotary International was published monthly for five years, 1947—1952. It was an unbiased, objective recording of outstanding events, and attained a circulation of 50,000 in English, French, and Spanish editions.
Rotary International shared with the Carnegie Foundation the cost of maintaining fifty students, many of them Rotary Foundation Fellows, for an eight-week period at the Head quarters of the United Nations, so that these students might have a first-hand knowledge of the work of the organization. This project was continued for two years.

Radio programs on the U.N.

Many radio programs built around the United Nations have been sponsored by Rotary clubs in the United States and Canada through the co of local radio stations. These programs followed largely the pattern of panel discussions. The scripts were provided by Rotary International. Subjects included the international exchange of ideas and goods, disarmament, aid to under-developed countries, and many other topics of broad human interest. The stations contributed the time as a public service and the prominence of the participants in many of these discussions—in one notable instance a bishop, the editor of a metropolitan daily, and the president of a university—insured an audience of many millions.
Statement of Policy—Adopted by the board of directors of Rotary International in 1952, and confirmed in 1954, is the following statement of policy relating to the United Nations:While Rotary International neither gives nor with holds endorsement of the provisions of the United Nations Charter, nor of the actions or enactments of the United Nations, it does encourage Rotarians to acquaint themselves with the activities of the United Nations directed to the advancement of world peace.The secretary is instructed to bring to the attention of Rotary clubs program information and other helps in connection with the study of the charter and the activities of the United Nations to the advancement of world peace.
Continued publicity shall be given to the reports of the observers for Rotary International who attend the meetings of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
Rotarians desiring to make a proposal concerning the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies should function through the duly constituted governmental channels of their own country.
This is not the whole story of the United Nations and Rotary. The whole story can never be told—for it has to do with the quiet influence of many Rotarians who were members of the various delegations, men who exercised leadership in the many discussions when the charter was being formulated. Such men as Paul Henri Spaak, of Belgium, who was to serve as president of the General Assembly, a long-time honorary member of the Rotary Club of Brussels. And Fans El-Khouri, of Syria, one of the signers for Syria of the charter, now a member of the International Law Commission of the U.N., the founder of the Rotary Club of Damascus.
Also there should be noted the name of Warren R. Austin, for many years the distinguished head of the United States delegation to the U.N., a charter member and first president of the Rotary club of his home town in Burlington, Vermont.
Another signer of the charter is also a former vice-president of Rotary International, CarlosP. Romulo, of the Philippines, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Manila, who also served as president of the General Assembly.The message which he sent to his club while serving U.N. in that important capacity might well stand as a concluding note to this recital of Rotary’s contribution to a world organization for law and order and justice to all peoples everywhere. This is the message that he sent:
"GOODWILL — the core of every Rotarian’s service to his community — is one of the very essentials of this Union of States. Without good will, no international agreement is possible. To this end, I propose, in the best tradition of good will known to Rotary to discharge the delicate and multifarious duties of my present office. I make public avowal of Rotary influence in having enriched my international outlook and human under standing, and in thus having helped to prepare me for this difficult responsibility.I send you my most heartfelt Mebuhay, confident that you will carry on with faith and optimism. To you, as the poet said, I hand the torch; be yours to hold it high."

From:

"Rotary, Fifty Years of Service" 1905 - 1955 Copyright Rotary International, Pages 99-102

Welcome!

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The International Service Division of the New York Rotary Club is delighted to present this newsletter in order to demonstrate the commitment and continuing support of Rotary to the United Nations and its Millennium Development Goals.This newsletter will also serve as a platform for information and dialogue between all Rotarians who are interested in the programs of the United Nations and in contributing towards achieving its goals. We invite you to share your experiences from collaboration in projects between Rotary and the United Nations. Please forward any examples and comments regarding recent projects to nyrotaryun@aol.com. Also all Rotarians are invited to attend the NY Rotary International Breakfast Meetings which are normally scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month and held at the German House located at 871 United Nations Plaza (49th St. and First Ave). These meeting provide an opportunity for Rotarians to stay informed regarding United Nation programs and to exchange views on related topics with UN officials and representatives of its member states. Reservations for attending the meetings can be made at ny.rotary@verizon.net and copy to GBRotary@aol.com.

The monthly meetings are coordinated and moderated by N.Y. Rotarian Josef Klee, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (Retired) and Sylvan Barnet, Alternate Rotary International Liaison to the UN. There are usually no breakfast meetings scheduled in July, August or September.

Click to view videos on Rotary International Water Projects in three parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teDPj6i2vkg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtQmIxPNA8E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIPTgqqxLKU&NR=1

Giorgio H. Balestrieri – Chairman NY Rotary International Service Division

John German – Co-Chair and UN NGOs Liaison

Kaan Soyak – Co-Chair, Rotary Clubs Liaison

Committees of the International Service Division

Ambassadorial Forum for Peace & Understanding (A. Boccardelli - H. Kilic)

Ambassadorial Scholarships & Group Study Exchange (E. Corredor - R. Sainburg)

Ambassadorial Scholarships

Art, Business, Creativity in Disabilities (S. Parrino – G. Giovannoni)

Conflict Prevention & Interreligious Dialogues (G. Balestieri - K. Soyak)

Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation (K. Soyak - M. Tajima)

Gift of Life (W. Currie)

http://www.giftoflifeinternational.org/

Health Educational Programs (G. Giovannoni – S. Parrino)

IT Projects - Education/Literacy (J. German - K. Kilinc)

Rotary Extension (H. Schneider - K. Soyak)

Trees for Peace (P. Caruso – G. Balestrieri)

UN / International Service Division Meetings (J. Klee - T. McConnon)

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UN / RI Programs (S. Barnet - H. Reisler)

UN Public-Private Alliance Projects (Z. Andrianarivelo - R. Celotto)

Young Girls' Education (T. Johnson)

Water & Environment (S. De Simone – A. Viscardi)

World Community Service (W. DeLong – G. Giovannoni)

http://unclebillydelong.blospot.com/

Rotary's Role in the Formation of the United Nations 1943-1959

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Photo: June 12, 1959 - Dag Hammarskjold, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressed the closing session of the 50th Rotary International Convention in Madison Square Garden in New York City. He thanked Rotary for helpinf the "less fortunate" countries.
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The Rotary Club of New York, as many other Rotary clubs, played an essential role in building support during the formative years of The United Nations, and in selecting New York City for the Permanent Headquarters of the United Nations. As such, more than 60 years later, Rotary International still maintains the highest consultative status with the United Nations of any non-governmental organization. In this capacity, Rotary International and the United Nations has built a strong and productive partnership in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of 2000, including the global eradication of Polio, cultural exchanges, literacy, education, water/sanitation projects, and promotion of peace conferences around the world.

By the late 1940's, Rotary International was one of the largest "international" organizations in the world. There were more that 6,800 clubs in more than 81 countries. More importantly, Rotary was already working on projects around the world to diminish the causes of war and aggression. In fact, during a 1943 Rotary conference, held in London, an outline of the development of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established in 1946 and Rotarians helped write its constitution. Additionally, many of the delegates at the San Fransisco Conference that were representing their respective governments, were also members of their own Rotary clubs and utilized their clubs to develop support for the soon to be established United Nations Organization (UN).

Formation of the United Nations:
August 1941 - It was during the Atlantic Conference, off the coast of Newfoundland, where President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a joint pronouncement that an effective international organization would be needed to replace the struggling League of Nations that was unable to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War. There, too, the Four Freedoms were promulgated as fundamental freedoms humans "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy: Freedom of speech and expression, Freedom of religion, Freedom from want, Freedom from fear.

January 1, 1942 - The term "The United Nations" was first announced by Franklyn D. Roosevelt, several weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor. It was the name given to the coalition of countries lead by the United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union to defeat the Japanese and German aggression. By February 15, 1943 more than forty countries had joined the United Nations and had severed diplomatic relations and signed a declaration of war on the Axis powers.

In October 1943, at the Moscow Conference, the "Big-Three" and China (referred now as the "Big Four") formed a Four Power Alliance pledged to commence the creation of a post-victory, international, military force and organization to maintain peace, and to quickly curtail any future aggression. The Moscow Declaration stated " the necessity of establishing at the earliest practicable date a general international organization, based on the principle of sovereign equality of all peace-loving states... for the maintenance of international peace and security."

August 21-October 7, 1944 - At Dumbarton Oaks, an estate in Washington DC (photo), the "Big Four" met with the main objective to create an organization that "would maintain international peace and security, by peaceful means, if possible, and economic sanctions and force if necessary; and to promote security by encouraging economic and social cooperation among nations." While the foundations were laid out, some details on voting procedure had to be decide at a later time.

February 1945 - At the Yalta (Crimea) Conference, the provisional government of France was also invited to take a leadership role at the San Francisco Conference along with the "Big Four". In addition, forty-six other countries that waged war against the Axis Nations were also invited to participate at the conference at San Francisco, that was formally known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization. Their mission was to create the charter for the United Nations basically along the guidelines of those proposed at the informal conversations at Dumbarton Oaks.

April 12, 1945 - Two weeks before the San Francisco Conference was to meet, President Roosevelt died. Exhausted and ill, he was resting at Warm Springs, Georgia, when he suddenly complained of a terrible headache. Two hours later, he was pronounced dead of a stroke. Roosevelt was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman, who vowed to continue with the formation of the United Nations Organization.

April 25 to June 6, 1945 - At the San Fransisco Conference, 49 of the 800 delegates and advisers were active Rotarians. Some of the notable Rotarians that attended the conference were:

Thomas J. Davis, past president of Rotary International (1941-42) and unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate;
Luther Hodges, past president of the Rotary Club of New York (1945-46). Luther also went on to become governor of North Carolina, Commerce Secretary for President Kennedy(1960-63), and President of Rotary International in 1968.
Gabriel L. Dennis, the Secretary of State of Liberia was a signer of the Charter for Liberia

Jan Christan Smuts, the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948.
Carlos Romulo of the Philippines was also a signer for the Philippines. He served as Resident Commissioner of the Philippines to the United States Congress from 1944 to 1946, President of the Forth Session of the General Assembly ( 1949-50), and was the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1950 to 1984.

Jan Masaryk, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia from 1940 to 1948.

As a result, many have argued, it was decided at the conference that the causes of aggression and war, such as poverty, ignorance, and lack of human rights, would have to be ameliorated as well. As a consequence, the UN Charter was designed to help achieve these goals much more than originally planed at the Dumbarton Oaks conference. Rotarians contributed to the drafting the charter , its Preamble, and the articles on ECOSOC and the NGO's.

October 24, 1945, the Charter was ratified and the United Nations came into existence.

Rotary Helps Overcoming United States Isolationist Sentiment:

The UN leaders knew that the American public, and the American political leaders had to fully support the newly created organization. Without full United States support, the soon to be created United Nations Organization would be powerless - as had been Woodrow Wilson's discredited League of Nations. With this in mind, the U.S. Department of State commenced a public relations campaign to build support for the proposed organization, and partnered with a number of civic and religious organizations including Rotary Clubs to build up this support.

The following pages will outline some of these activities.

On October 9, 1942, the Rotary Club of New York hosted the "United Nations" luncheon and Sir Gerald Campbell the well known special assistant to the British Ambassador, addressed 600 members and guests at the Hotel Commodore. He informed the Rotarians that unity and organization were gradually being achieved by the United Nations. Twenty-one trade and consular officials of the United Nations also attended the luncheon.

April 16, 1943 - Ray O. Wyland president of the Rotary Club of New York simulcast its annual "Pan-American Day" Luncheon with the key note speaker Under-Secretary of State Sumner Welles. The Secretary traced the development of the United States relations with the other Central and South American republics. Attacking the tariffs of 1921, 1922 and 1930 said that this slow strangulation of international trade was one of the chief causes of the "world crisis". He asserted that other Western Hemisphere republics “will never forget the dislocations caused in the economic life of many of them by the successive tariff increases in the United States."

June 27, 1944- Col. C. V. Jenkins, a past president of the Rotary Club of New York, heads campaign to change the name of Sixth Avenue in New York City to "The Avenue of the Americas" - The Gateway to the Americas. The purpose of the name change was to "help make real the dream of a unified Western Hemisphere Community of Nations". Plans where submitted to install flags of the Latin Consulates and countries along the avenue.

On August 18, 1944, on his way to London, the President of Rotary International, Richard H. Wells addresses the Rotary Club of New York and vowed to re-establish Rotary clubs in the Axis countries within 5 years after the war. At a meeting, he stated that the Nazis had "Run Rotary out of Paris" but President Richard vowed to re-establish nearly 500 European Rotary clubs disbanded by the war.
April 13, 1945 - Nelson Rockefeller, The Assistant Secretary of State, was the keynote speaker at the annual "Pan-American Day" luncheon of the Rotary Club of New York. His speech, in front of more than 500 Rotarians, was also simulcast by radio to the Western Hemisphere. Rockefeller stated that "No nation, large or small can solve all its problems alone. Yet united, we face the possibility of great productivity, prosperity and peace if we work together. That is the purpose of civilization." His speech was broadcast through out the Western Hemisphere including translations in Spanish and Portuguese. Rockefeller reaffirmed that the world's nations affirm their recognition of responsibilities to the world effort, and should be pulling for a new workable "international security organization".

In May 1945, Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius Jr., invited Rotary International to send one representative and one alternate to the San Francisco Conference to act as consultants to the American delegation. 41 other non-government organizations (NGO's) were also invited to send a delegate and alternate (Photo of the San Fransisco Opera House site of the conference.)

September 1945 -NBC Radio Network Schedules Seven Hours of Programs to Celebrate UN Week. Secretary of State George C. Marshall launched the week of broadcasts. Rotary International President, Leo E. Golden, gave a half hour presentation asking all civic minded businessmen and professionals to support the United Nations. Other speakers included, poet and author of the UN Preamble Archibald MacLeish, and Secretary John Foster Dulles.

United Nations Committee Votes that The New International Organization Should Be Located In the United States and New York City is Interim Site:

December 15, 1946 - At the London Conference, after heated discussion and debate, the United Nations committee selects Westchester County of New York and Fairfield County of Connecticut, as the general area for the Permanent Site of World Headquarters. New York City was chosen as the location for the "Interim Headquarters" until the exact Permanent Site could be located and constructed. The Chairman of the UNO Headquarters Committee, Dr. Eduardo Zuleta Angel of Columbia states that "New York is a city where every race and every nation of the world is represented, where the different peoples of the world are molded in a common society".

The reasons that the United States was chosen by the U. N. Preparatory Commission were:

Europe was no longer the world's political or economic center.

Unlike the League of Nations, if the new UNO is located in the United States, it would insure United States participation.
Europe could break-out in war again.

United States government maintained neutrality and abstained from voting on location.

Russians strongly in favor of the United States as the location.

Geneva (site of recently completed League of Nations compound) was not an option because "Swiss neutrality" would demand that any Security Council decision to use military force had to be held outside of Swiss borders.

A 1946 map from the New York Times outlines the recommended site for the "Permanent Headquarters for the United Nations" as decided at the London Conference. At the time, it was originally discussed to create somewhere from a two square-miles to forty square miles self-contained campus.

A 2008 Photo of the Queens Museum that was the early home of the Security Council after it Hunter College.

March 26, 1946 - The UN Security Council opened its first session at the "Interim Location" at Hunter College's Gymnasium in the Bronx. A few weeks later, Secretary General Trygve Lie also selected the New York City building from the 1938 World’s Fair site at Flushing Meadows for the temporary meeting hall of the General Assembly, the Secretariat, and the Security Council. The other bodies and commission will meet at the Sperry Gyroscope plant at Lake Success in Nassau County. The New York City building at Flushing Meadows was rent free and reduced rent for the Sperry plant was paid to the War Assets Corporation. New York Officials hoped that the Flushing Meadows location would be considered as a possible site for the Permanent Site of the UN Headquarters. Robert Moses, a New York Rotarian was authorized to spend $1.2 million to improve the Flushing Meadow site and Secretary General Lie signed a three year lease for the Sperry plant for the General Assembly. New York Rotarian, Robert Moses, made available 1,612 apartments in Parkway Village in Queens, and Peter Cooper Village, at the average cost of $25 per room.

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December 1946 - Rotary Clubs organize to host 250 employees and delegates of the United Nations to spend a 3 day Christmas Holiday in private homes in Binghamton, Endicotte, and Johnson City in Upstate, New York. A special train took the guests to their destination.

175 New York Rotarians visited the Temporary General Assembly Building at Flushing Meadows, Queens. (This is the current site of the U.S. Tennis Open and the building is now a public ice rink). A few weeks later sixty members of the Philadelphia Rotary Club were also welcomed at the Lake Success Building.

This is the only reminder at the Flushing-Site in 2008. This plaque is located in the front lawn of the former Security Council Buiding that is now the Queens Museum of Art.

December 10 1946 - Westchester and Fairfield Eventually Rejected and UNO Seeks a New Location:

Protest from increasing number of Westchester and Fairfield County citizens caused the Selection Committee to reconsider locating in Westchester and Fairfield counties.

The Lake Success and Flushing temporary sites offered by New York City were too far from city and unattractive.
President Truman offered the San Fransisco Presidio - the beautiful military base with park-like grounds overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge -rent free! However, the Europeans thought this was too far from Europe.

Philadelphia offered the attractive Belmont-Roxborough site. It was on the eastern coast of the United States and was considered attractive to most members of the site location commitee.

However, on Friday night, December 6 ,1946, at the midnight hour, before Philadelphia was to be voted on as the Permanent Site, Secretary-General Lie, Robert Moses, and Mayor O'Dwyer called Nelson Rockefeller Assistant Secretary of State to arrange for his father to finance the purchase of a six block area of slaughter houses and run-down buildings on the East-side of Manhattan known as Turtle Bay for $8.5 million. They thought it was "worth a try" since the Rockefeller family had generously donated the library to the League of Nations and the family was very supportive of the new international organization.

December 15, 1945 - New York City Voted to be Site For Permanent World Headquarters

The site offered by John D. Rockefeller Jr.

March 26, 1947 - Trygve Lie, the first Secretary-General (Center, Front Row) receiving the $8,500,000 gift from John D. Rockefeller 3rd. (right- front row) to purchase the land at the Turtle Bay Section of New York City where the UN headquarters is now located. New York Rotarian Robert Moses (back row, left) was instrumental in helping to locate the UN World Headquarters in New York.

Rotary Starts the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program:

September 1946 - President Truman at the National Commission of Education, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation in Washington, asks the attendees to assist the United Nations. In his speech the President stated: "it is understating that gives us the ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's view point, and he understands ours, we can sit down, and if there are differences , we can work them out." As a consequence, at the June 1947 International Convention in New York, Rotary International expanded its one-year- old program and awarded an additional fifty-five "Ambasadorial Scholarships" to college graduates, from fifteen countries, to study for a full year in another country of their choosing.

June 9 1948 - Rotary International and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace partner to donate $12,000 to bring forty students from Member States to intern at United Nations Headquarters. The interns stayed at Adelphi College that is located near Lake Success, and had lunch at the United Nations Cafeteria. While up to this time, the UN had several interns from the United States , this grant gave students from foreign countries an opportunity to work at the UN.

June 1949 - Rotary Club of New York Hosts 40th Rotary International Convention
at Madison Square Garden.

Largest Rotary International Convention with more than 15,000 Attendees with Theme to Support the United Nations and UNICEF

In June 1949, Trygve Lie, the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressed the 40th Rotary International convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
(Photo: RI president Angus S.Mitchell - left- welcomed Trygve Lie to the Rotary Convention)
More than 16,000 Rotarians attended and was the largest Rotary Convention ever. NYC's Mayor O'Dwyer welcomed the delegates of fifty countries. He stated that that is was fitting that the United Nations was in New York because the city is an example of how people of all nations and races can live together peacefully.

Also at the convention, Madeleine Carroll, the British actress, also challenged Rotarians to take up the cause where the the United Nations has up to now failed to realize its goal. The rehabilitation of the hungry and sick children of the war-torn areas still needs to be solved. She went on to say that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency (UNICEF) fund is "only a drop of water in the bucket." Miss Carroll asked that even with the limited help of UNICEF, it was vital for individuals and community groups to help, where governments have failed. “If, as it seems, UNICEF is to fold up, something must take its place, and immediately or millions of children will die and suffer."
She went on to say that "the world’s Rotarians being powerful, could really help the children of the world". The actress suggested that Rotary undertake “a new children’s crusade".
Miss Carroll, who was the only women speaker at the convention, received a standing ovation in tribute.

In the convention's Keynote address, Secretary General Trygve Lie said that "the one thing he was sure is that no war of importance will ever be started while the General Assembly is in session, because an aggressor could not get away with it". He went on to say, "there is only one way, however, by which to prevent a third world war in the long run. The only way is to bring into the United Nations, and to keep within the United Nations, all the nations of the world, and to make the United Nations work on a universal basis."

A letter by President Harry Truman was also read by the Secretary of the Navy. The President stated: "I believe it is equally important, that to the world's orderly progress, that business leaders of all nations also have much closer ties that in the past. Certainly one of the greatest influences for bringing that about should be Rotary International. I am sure that it will be, for Rotary has always been at the forefront of any great movement for improving the welfare of people everywhere."

Ambassadorial Scholars Program Started:
At this convention, Rotary voted to spend $750,000 during the next three years to promote better understanding and friendlier relations among the peoples of several nations. Additionally fifty-six college graduates were awarded scholarships to spend the next academic year in countries other than their own. Additionally, part of the funding was to be used to send speakers to various countries to explain the workings of the United Nations and otherwise promote international unity.

June 1959 - Rotary Club of New York Hosts the 50th Annual Rotary Convention - Once Again, Promoting Support for the United Nations.

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June 12, 1959 - Dag Hammarskjold, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressed the closing session of the 50th Rotary International Convention in Madison Square Garden in New York City. He called for government and business to help for the less fortunate countries. He warned that the economic gap, already wide, between prosperous countries, and those less fortunate, is steadily becoming wider. And he asked the wealthier nations to help.

He also said that no one should forget the special value of the United Nations as an instrument of negotiation between the Atlantic Alliance and the Geneva Alliance, or between the traditional Western countries and the new countries of Asia and Africa.

Rotary at the United Nations November 8, 2008

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On the chilly and misty morning of November 8, 2008, the United Nations hosted more than 1,600 Rotarians and their guests at the Annual “Rotary International Day at the United Nations”. At this annual conference, Rotarians take the opportunity to examine the working partnership between Rotary and the United Nations in alleviating global poverty. The all- day conference was organized and moderated by Rotary International Representative of the United Nations, Brad Jenkins PDG, and the three Alternate RI representatives Sylvan Barnet, Bill Miller PDG and Helen Risler PDG.

The enthusiastic attendees were from forty-four countries and twenty-seven states. Included were two-hundred Rotaract (young members of Rotary International from college age to approximately thirty years old), and six-hundred Interact members, (high-school students sponsored by local Rotary clubs).

Starting in 1988 with only a hundred or so participants, this Rotary conference has became a salient event that is also attended by most Rotary’s International directors and officers, including the current President D.K. Lee and incoming President John Kenny.

“Rotary Is An Indispensable Partner of the UN”
The first speaker was Erik Falt of the United Nation’s Department of Public Information (UNDPI). Prior to joining the UN, Mr. Falt was the Press Attaché for the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations. Eric has been a long time supporter of Rotary since the time he was stationed in Chicago and frequently visited clubs throughout the Mid-west and he has recognized that Rotary is an indispensible partner to the United Nations. He also pointed out the long history of Rotarians in the creation of the United Nations, with no less than forty-nine Rotarians contributing to the twenty-nine delegations at the San Francisco Conference in 1945.

Mr. Falt strongly encouraged Rotarians to take advantage of the United Nations Speaker Program. The UN hopes to work even more closely with Rotarians and asks that Rotarians invite United Nations personnel to speak at organized events throughout the United States. The speakers do not accept honorarium, however, they only ask that the clubs finance travel and accommodations expenses. He also invited Rotarians to the UN’s annual events around the world. The upcoming conference will be in Paris, and the year after that to Mexico, with the program dealing with human- rights and disarmament.

“Rotarians Do Not Differentiate”
The next speaker was Dong-Kurn Lee (aka DK), the President of Rotary International and the chairman of the Bu-Bang Manufacturing Company in Seoul, Korea. He joined Rotary in 1971 and in 1996 he charted thirty-two new clubs and added 1,800 new Rotarians to his district.
It was only two months earlier, when President DK addressed government and civic leaders at the forum convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, on September 25, 2008. At the forum, attended by top government and civic leaders, President DK reaffirmed Rotary's commitment to working with the UN to eradicate polio, and to build a healthier, more peaceful world. He stated that Rotary has helped to bring “the world closer to the end of a disease, and to the achievement of the fourth Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality” In a speech during a breakout session on health and education, President DK said that "We have created partnerships that will endure and will yield benefits far beyond the elimination of one disease."
At today’s address to Rotarians, President D.K confirmed that Rotary is a very diverse organization, but we know that on the inside, people are all alike, and we trust in the same “golden rule”. When a country or village needs assistance, Rotarians do not consider how the people address, or how they speak, or
RI President DK Lee and Eric Falt of the United Nations Public Information Department.
how they pray, he said. “What matters is that they are all human beings and they need help.” As a result, for the last twenty years we have partnered with the United Nations, Rotarians have donated $720 million to Polio irradiation, and have immunized more than 2 billion children in 122 counties and we and our partners reduced polio cases by 99 percent in our organized Polio-Plus program. President D.K. concluded his address encouraging all of the 1.2 million Rotarians, in more than 200 hundred countries, to continue working to “Make Dreams a Reality”
“MDG Progress Has Been Made In The Aggregate, But Not In All Countries.”
Salil Shetty, a native of India, joined the United Nations in 2003 as the Director of the Millennium Campaign. Prior to joining the UN, Mr. Shetty was the Chief Executive of Action Aid, a leading international development NGO in South Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa. He provided an assessment of the progress at the half-way point of the Millennium Development Goals

He noted that some regions, particularly China and India, have made significant progress, especially in the first goal of eradicating poverty and hunger. In addition, the world has made advances with much of the crippling debts being canceled, and that forty-million more children are going to school. Overall, he noted that on the global level, it is likely that we'll reach the universal target of halving extreme poverty by 2015.

Yet, he emphasized that these goals are not about aggregates, they are about the people of individual countries. He pointed out that there are still huge difficulties in Sub-Saharan Africa and many countries in south Asia and are not likely to reach the goals. Also, he specified that in some parts of Latin America, things are not as successful as the numbers may indicate be-cause of the high degree of income disparities in many of the countries with a large indigenous population.

There is concern that even though the world has made strong and sustained progress in reducing extreme poverty, however, this is now being undercut by recent higher prices of food and oil and of the global economic slowdown.

Most of the Directors and Officers of Rotary International attended the conference and use the opportunity to conduct their scheduled RI Board meeting.
Mr. Shetty’s department at the UN organized more than 115 million of people around the world to “Stand Up and Take Action” on October 17, 2008 and to remind their political leaders that they expect them to deliver on the commitments made in 2000 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. While the global movement in support of the Millennium Development Goals is growing from famous film actors and musicians taking part, more assistance is needed.
Our speaker also noted that the Doha Development Rounds, which are the current trade-negotiation talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - also part of the United Nations - needs to allow developing economies to sell their competitive products to the industrialized countries without imposed trade barriers. The most recent round of negotiations in July 2008, broke down after failing to reach a compromise on agricultural import rules.

Secretary-General’s Letter to Rotarians

Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was scheduled to address the con-ference but had to unexpectedly travel to Nairobi, Kenya for the African Union Regional Summit on the conflict situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His welcoming letter was read by Mr. Kim Won-soo who has been the Deputy Chef de Cabinet since January2007 and assistant to the Secretary-General. Prior to that he served as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea as head of the Transition Team for the eight Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Dear Rotary International President Lee and Rotarians:

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the United Nations. It is always a pleasure to host Rotary International. We share your commitment to securing global public goods, and we value the energy you bring to global challenges. Ours is a good, long-standing partnership. Today we need your hard work more than ever.
Earlier this year, I started speaking about what I describe as “a people crisis”. Soaring prices for food and fuel, accelerating climate change, and stalled development for the world’s poorest people, are some thoughts I was eager to raise. Today, we see that if anything, it was an understatement. The global financial crisis has brought an additional shock compounding all the others. Although it may have receded from the headlines, the food crisis is still very much with us. Food and fertilizer prices are two times as high as they were one year ago. Climate change is worse with every passing day and some ask how we can take steps to prevent climate change in the middle of this financial crisis. But given the situation we can create green-jobs and spur investment. I ask, how we can offer not to.
And progress toward the Millennium Development Goals has been uneven; many countries are falling behind especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. We hear about of how our problems on Wall Street affect people on Main Street. We also need to think about people around the world even with no streets at all. A series of upcoming meetings provide an opportunity to get back on track. These include the G-20 gathering in Washington, the Finance for Development Conference, later this month in Doha, and climate negotiations early next month in Posna Poland. We must make the most of these occasions.
Partnerships will be crucial as we move ahead. The United Nations attaches great importance to close ties with Rotary International, and is grateful to the contributions you have made to global health, education and poverty eradication efforts. We also look forward to working with the administration of the new President Elect Obama, who has spoken often of the importance of diplomacy, international cooperation, and especially strong United Nations. Together we must deliver results for a safer, healthier, and a more prosperous world. It is encouraging to know that the United Nations will continue to be able to count on Rotary International to do its part. Please accept my best wisher for a memorable day at the United Nations. I thank you.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon,

Secretary-General of the United Nations

“Water May Become the New Oil”

The moderator of the Water Panel, Bill Miller, reaffirmed that water is critical to human sur-vival. However, over 1.1 billion do not have access to clean water, and over 2.7 billion are engage in a conflict over water. Water could become the new oil.A member of the Water Panel, Tom Hamlin a native of Canada worked with UN Environment Program (UNEP) department has work-ed on alternative energy and transportation projects in more than thirty countries in the last ten years. He currently works for the UN Department of Technical and Social Affairs.
Mr. Hamlin pointed out that approximately thirty countries, representing 2.8 billion people, especially China, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Peru confront chronic water problems. Furthermore, effects from climate change can be very dramatic within the next twenty years, particularly in Africa. One projected effect is that there will be twenty-percent drop in available water supply, with a concomitant an increase in population. There is evidence that floods and droughts are occurring more frequent and are more severe.

The tactics to moderate water shortages are:
· Seek new sources - desalinization and reverse osmosis.
Save water - repair porous pipes and upgrade water delivery systems.
Reduce demand – initiate water efficient farming techniques and reduced flow-rates in faucets and toilets.
Recycle - terrace farming, hierarchical, multi-uses of water, and more water treatment plants.
“There are Three Legs to End the Cycle of Poverty: Health Hunger, and Education”

Frank Mayhew, from the Sebastopol, Rotary Club of California, updated Rotarians about the “Ending Poverty - One Village at a Time” model. Frank and his wife, Cathleen, were inspired by Jeffry Sach’s book “The End of Poverty “to create this program, and it was first initiated on the couple’s trip to visit a fellow Rotarian in Uganda.

To reduce the “cycle of poverty” requires meaningful improvements in health, hunger and education improvements. To clarify the “One Village at a Time” model an effective metaphor of a three-legged stool was provided by Frank: If all “three legs” of the stool are present, the stool will stand. If one leg is missing, the stool will not stand. The same is true with poverty reduction, with the three legs being health, hunger and education.

The project starts by a Rotary club in the developing country doing a “needs- assessment.

The Water Panel included William A. Miller, James Sniffen of the UN, and Rotarian Frank Mayhew

Rotarian Greg Arcaro and Bob Benson (PDG) from Westchester N.Y., hosted Ambassadorial Scholar Kiriko Ooka and her sister who are from Japan.

Rosemary Gill and her husband from the Kennett Square, Pa. Rotary Club traveled with more than 15 Interactors.Literacy Panel Focuses on Getting
Books to Children
The panel moderator, Sylvan Barnet, explained that significant progress has been made in literacy around the world, and local governments are spending substantial resources. Nevertheless, currently there are still 102 countries that have not yet reached universal literacy and about 72 countries are not on track in achieving the millennium Development Goal of Universal literacy.

Dr. Carmen Ramos-Bonoan MD, a pediatrician and a native of the Philippines, is the National Director of “Reach Out and Read” (ROR) in the Philippines. She is also very familiar with Ro-tary because her husband has been a long-time Rotarian. Started in 1989 in Boston by a concerned group of pediatricians, ROR encourages literacy promotion as a standard part of pediatric primary care so that children will grow up with books and a love of reading. Doctors, nurses and other health care providers advise parents about the importance of reading aloud, and give age-appropriate books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, ROR helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading. This program has helped more than three million children. Dr. Carmen concluded her presentation informing the attendees that with the help of the United Nations and Rotary “we can eliminate illiteracy”.

The Rotary Books for the World program was summarized by Rotarian Charles Clemmons (PDG) of the Rotary Club of Seabrook, Texas. He and his wife, Barbara, are recipients of the Rotary International's “Service-Above-Self A-ward". With vast Rotary service, Charles and Barbara co-founded the “Books for the World Project” which collects used books from schools, libraries, and individuals and then ships them to southern and eastern Africa. The program has sent over eighty shipping-containers of books over the last few years. Many of the used books are collected from school districts in Texas and are then sent to Johannesburg, South Africa. The Texas and African school districts are storing the containers, and students are stacking and dis-tributing the books.
The containers sea transport cost about $4,100, and a container itself cost about $2,100 to purchase. Stemming from a recent promotion, Johannesburg Rotarians have received more than 7,000 requests for books. Charles also underscored the might of Rotary Inter-national’s Foundation Matching-grants to leverage the funding. The program, however, does not ship to countries that require custom duties to be paid on the books.”Rotarians Take Actions to Prevent War and to End the Reasons For It”
Incoming RI President of Rotary International, John Kenny of the Rotary Club of Grange-mouth, Scotland has been a Rotarian since 1970, and is a past dean of his local law faculty, and a judge. He is a Major Donor to Rotary Foundation, and has received the Foundation’s Meritorious Service, and the Distinguished Service Award.
President-elect John gave a brief, yet insightful address insuring that our real riches are those that we keep inside us, commonly known as our values. Those of us that have joined Rotary, know that it is not only our thoughts, but our actions that make a difference. Rotarians take actions to intelligently prevent war and to end the reasons for it. We train future leaders, conduct international service projects of water, health, hunger, and education, and by establishing international fellowships with em-phasis on ethical and honest behavior, with the other Rotarians in more than two-hundred countries and geographic regions. The in-coming president concluded that we want to bring solutions to the problems of the world, and Rotary is the organization that helps us to do this.
Grace Agwaru, a native of a Uganda, is an agricultural economist and was the first recip-ient of the Gift of Life Program where she was to sponsored and hosted to receive heart surgery at Saint Francis Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island in 1974. Grace was four years old then. This program, that was initiated by the Manhasset, New York, Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Kampala, Uganda, provides heart surgery to children from countries where the life-saving surgical procedures were not available. This year, the Gift of Life provided surgery to more than 10,000 children and is established in fifty-two countries.

William Currie ,(left) the current President of the Gift of Life with recipients Grace Agwaru and Ray Halberstrom. Grace was the first recipient of the program in 1975. More than 10,000 children have been operated on over the last thirty-three years, and the program was one of the favorite charities of former first lady Nancy Reagan.

Grace gave a moving account of how grateful she was that Rotarians gave her the Gift of Life. When she was four years old, she simply had a dream to be a child, but she soon learned that she had a hole in her heart, and she was diag-nosed not live to adulthood. As the first re-cipient of the program, and since so many have sacrificed for her, she was inspired to use her life to give back to others. Grace is currently a community development manager of the Teso Foundation for Education, Research and Rural Development. Funded by the Pearl of Africa Foundation, Teso is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose aim is to enhance the lives of the people of Kumi District in eastern Uganda. Uganda was given the name the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill when he was overcome by Uganda’s magnificent natural beauty.
Grace is very active in micro-finance, ed-ucation, and other community programs. She has also started a Rotary club in Uganda which is working to provide open-heart surgery for more than the 350 children in Uganda waiting for surgery.
Grace received a standing ovation by many when she told the conference that “When we save the life of one person, we are also saving the life of thousands of people, and by saving my life, you have helped me to reach out to the poor in my community”. Wilf Wilkinson, the immediate Past –President of Rotary International, and a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton, Ontario substituted for the chairman of the Foundation, Jonathan. Past President Wilf read an inspiring letter from Chairman Jonathan B. Majiyagbe, reminding Rotarians to bear in mind Margaret Mead’s words to “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing has ever had.” He points out in his letter that when Rotarians work together, we can truly “Make Dreams Real” and our foundation is our way of each Rotarian of being part every Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary Peace Centers, polio eradication, and every Rotary project that our foundation supports. The letter concluded with that when we support our foundation “we shine a light that will illuminate a path to understanding and peace, and it is our priv-ilege and responsibility to keep that light shin-ing for generations to come.”
Mr. Jonas Haertle, who was asked to fill in as a guest speaker the night before the conference, is a senior advisor and local network co-ordination for the United Nations’ Global Compact in the Americas, Africa, and the Middle-east. The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environmentand anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary agent driving global-ization, can help ensure that markets, com-merce, technology, and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
The ten principles are:
· Support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
· Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
· Uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
· The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor.
· Eliminate effective abolition of child labor;
· Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
· Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
· Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
· Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
· Work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Incoming President John Kenny was also speaker at the conference.
The Health Panel Focuses on Polio and Diabetes Anand Balachandran, the inter-agency co-ordinator of the World Health Organization gave an update on Rotary and the World Health Organization’s Global Polio Irradiation Initiative. As most Rotarians are well aware, in 1985, Rotary International unilaterally em-barked on the world-wide initiative to bring about a polio-free world. At the time, there were 125 countries that were polio-endemic and 350,000 children were infected every year. A few years later, the global health community joined and partnered with Rotary in 1988. He noted that Rotary’s initiative has saved more than five-million children from polio-inflicted disabilities by vaccinating more than two bil-lion children. Also, what is less recognized, is that this vaccinating program prevented the deaths of an additional 1.2 million children by providing Vitamin-A along with the vaccine.
However, there a few regions, in four coun-tries, that have been elusive where the Di-rector-General of W.H.O. has intensified efforts. The four countries are Nigeria with over 750 cases in 2008, India with over 500 cases, Pakistan with over 100 cases, and Af-ghanistan with over 30 cases. As a result, since polio knows no geographic boundaries there have been polio cases detected in Chad, Sudan, Angola and Geneva Switzerland due to the stubborn persistence of polio in these four countries.
While Type 1 polio - the most dangerous strain - is prevalent in only one or two state in India, in Nigeria, there has been a disturbing outbreak in a much wider cross-section of the country. Being the largest country in Africa, Nigeria has threatened the world-wide progress on the war on polio, he said. Of the four endemic countries, Nigeria has been singled out by the United Nations to increase efforts in their national universal immunization program. This is one of the few times a single country has been pressured by the 192 member-states of the UN and the Secretariat-general to muster the “political-will”.
WHO is planning steps to immunize for the Type 3 polio virus. This is a much less dan-gerous strain of the virus, and is easier to fight. Sadly, Mr. Kalitadra also pointed out that a suicide bomber attacked a clearly marked Un-ited Nations convoy on September 15, 2008 in southern Afghanistan and killed two WHO doctors together with their driver. They were on their way to provide polio vaccinations to children.
Bill Miller PDG,,Anand Balachandran, Dr. Martin Silink and C. Wayne Edwards of the Health Panel
Dr. Martin Silink, of the Rotary Club of Lane Cove, Australia, is a professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Sydney. He is also President of the International Diabetes Federation: the umbrella group of over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 coun-tries.
Dr. Silink gave encouragement and thanks to New York Rotarian and RI representative to the UN, Sylvan Barnet. He thanked “Barney” for his “indispensable help to open the door and assist in the campaign for the UN resolution in 2006”. The 2006 resolution recognized that diabetes is a serious risk to family, and the entire world, and designated World Diabetes Day on Friday, No-vember 14, 2008.
Dr. Silink pointed out that diabetes in the de-veloping world it is an epidemic. 250 million people worldwide or 6% of adults have dia-betes, and it is increasing by seven-million in-dividuals per year. There are two types of dia-betes. Type one is due to insulin deficiency and type 2 is primarily caused by obesity and in-creasing. Approximately 440,000 children have Type 1 diabetes and 70,000 are in truly desperate circumstances. Due to lack of access to insulin, for example, the life expectancy of children with diabetes in Mozambique and Malawi is less than one year. The doctor pointed out than several Rotary clubs in Australia have partnered and have supplied insulin and syringes for 1,000 children in eighteen countries. He also pointed out that the cost of insulin is prohibitive in many countries. The average-days-to- needed- to-work to buy one month of insulin is more than two weeks in many countries.
C. Wayne Edwards, PDG of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee. Florida and a certified Financial Planner outlined his district’s assistance to as-sist in diabetes. Wayne underscored that there is no vaccine for diabetes, and without insulin a diabetic child will die. With this in mind, each Rotary club in the Tallahassee Rotary district were given “Pink Piggy-banks” that were donated by Walgreens Drug Stores, and each club was asked to make a donation.

The clubs raised $25,000 and leveraged this initial amount with District Designated Funds and an RI matching grant, and the $25,000 grew to $106,000 dollars. With this funding, in partnership with IDF the Tallahassee club organized a diabetes camp in Bolivia. Seven Bolivian clinics were established to instruct diabetic children on how to live with diabetes, provide the insulin they needed, and arrange transportation for the parents and the patients to the clinics. Since then, the Bolivia Program now has expanded and established several clinics in Nigeria and Cameroon.

C. Wayne Edwards, PDG of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee Spoke About the Bolivia Project of Diabetes Camps.

In addition, The Eli Lilly Corporation’s Foun-dation donated $180,000 placed in trust with the Rotary Foundation to the project. The corporation also produced a video that has been nominated for an Academy Award about the program. Rotarian Wayne was informed at today’s conference that an Insulin Rotary Action Group has been ap-proved by the Rotary International Board of Directors at their pre-conference meeting.

Hunger Panel Promotes Villagers Growing Their Own Food
Dr. Ian Darnton-Hill is a physician and public health nutrition official in UNIEF headquarters in New York. He stressed that hunger al-leviation is the underpinning base of all development programs for UN agencies and partnerships. 850 million people suffer from hunger and additional 135 million more have been significantly affected this year’s price rise of food staples. There are six to eight counties in Sub-Sahara Africa and south Asia where the situation has gotten worse. 64 countries are on target, but 51 counties are not making progress and there are 24 countries that have a have a chronic shortage of food. Work is still needed to improve breast feeding, diarrhea and parasite control, treat severe malnutrition, and improve household food security.
Additional effort is needed for women during pregnancy and the child’s first two years of life. If a child is malnourished for more than the two years of life, the damage is probably irreversible. While more than a third of all child deaths in developing countries are from malnutrition for those that survive, “it blunts their intellect, saps the productivity of every-one it touches, and perpetuates poverty.”
Although fewer children are undernourished than in ten years ago, over 140 million children in the developing world are still underweight. Significant progress has also been made in relation to Vitamin A supplementation, thanks to Rotary’s Polio Plus program. However, micro nutrition (essential vitamin and mineral intake) deficiencies remain significant public health problems in many countries.
UNICEF needs partners such as Rotary com-mitted to scale-up and sustain the current high impact nutrition interventions in areas such as Infant and Young Child Feeding, Micronutrients Nutrition Household food security in emergencies, and nutrition and HIV/AIDS.
“If you give a child a meal, you feed him for a day; teach a child to grow food, feed him/her for life.”
John Batcha, of the North Mecklenburg County Rotary Club in North Carolina was an execu-tive director of the Asgrow Seed Company, that distributs garden seeds to twenty-nine countries. He is now president of Seed Programs Inc. and partners with Rotarians Sowing Seed To Fight World Hunger.

This program is based on the ancient proverb:
If you give a man to fish, you feed him for a day; if you teach him to fish, you feed him for life. John emphasized that the Rotary Seed Program does not give food, it teaches children how to grow their own food, with the result that “If you give a child a meal, you feed him for a day; teach a child to grow food, feed him/her for life.”
It also provides informational material to plant the seeds and partners with Peace Corps volunteers to work with school, and orphan-ages to plant local gardens in developing countries. The SPI has already sent eleven mil-lion packages that planted one million gardens in sixty countries. The vegetables produced are rich so a

. The Hunger Panel included Helen B Reisler PDG, Rotarian John Batcha,, and Dr. Ian Darnton-Hill of UNICEF
The conference ended promptly at 4:00 pm and there was every indication that all of the at-tendees discover more about the important partnership of Rotary and the United Nations. More importantly, the day highlighted just how well Rotary provides the organizational structure to assist ordinary business and pro-fessional people to do extraordinary things.

Many participants sauntered across the street to Trump’s World Bar and attended a cocktail reception hosted by the Rotoract Club of the United Nations. At the reception, which was held on the main floor of the tallest residential building in the country, Rotarians of all ages continued their support of Rotary projects by participating in the omnipresent “Rotary Raffle” with the proceeds supporting the Rotaract water project in Central America.

It was a day well spent!

Photo: More than 600 high school students left their home towns in the middle of the night to arrive at the United Nations by 8:30am

Itailian Rotarians Visit the United Nations

2008-05-21T16:23:00.009-05:00

A delegation of more than forty Rotarians from Italy's Viterbo and Rome Clubs visited the United Nations during the first week of December 2008. Included in the delegation from the Viterbo Club was President Stefano Marini and from the Roma Appia Antica club was President Enrico Bruschini and
Bolsena Ducato Di Castro.
In addition, the former INNERWHEEL Governor, Mrs. Maria Teresa Battistelli Lecchini also attended. New York Rotarian, Giovanni Cicero, was their host, who is a frequent friend and visitor to their clubs, when he is Italy.

They visited the United Nations on Dec. 5, 2008 and attended a conference mainly on the governance and the legal side of the United Nations. After the conference, they enjoyed a fellowship lunch at the German Mission to the United Nations. On Dec. 6 an Inter-club Gala Dinner was attended, and on Dec. 8 they attended the weekly lunch of the Rotary Cub of New York at the Harvard Club on West. 44th Street in Midtown New York.

At the conference, it was pointed out that Rotary has RI presidential-appointed representatives to every part of the United Nations system: There are five Rotarians assigned to New York, two in each Rome, Geneva, Paris, Vienna, and Nairobi, respectively. There are also Rotary representatives to the World Bank, the African Union, and the Organization for American States (OAS), and to the regional commissions of the Economic & Social Council.

Sylvan Barnet, the Alternate Representative to the United Nations, noted that in Rome, Rotary representatives work with the Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program. He also expained that Rotarians also helped to write the UN Charter in San Francisco in 1945, with 49 Rotarians in 29 delegations active in the process. With this long and productive partnership, Rotary shares the highest status among NGOs at the UN with about one hundred and fifty other NGO's. Rotary contributes to over twenty social/humanitarian issues
particularly those dealing with the UN Millennium Development goals to:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Achieve universal primary education.

Promote gender equality and empower women.

Reduce child mortality.

Improve maternal health.

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases,

Ensure environmental sustainability

Develop global partnerships for development.

New York Rotarian Meets With Pope Benedict XVI at United Nations

2008-05-21T16:22:00.009-05:00

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New York Rotarian Josef Klee welcomes Pope Benedict XVI during his April visit to United Nations Headquarters. Mr. Klee is a volunteer adviser to the Holy See at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
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On April 18, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization at the organization’s headquarters in New York. He is the third Pope to address the United Nations, following Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. (Pope John Paul II addressed the United Nations twice, in 1979 and in 1995.)
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Upon arriving at the United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI was welcomed by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Srgjan Kerim. Before addressing the General Assembly, Pope Benedict met privately with the Secretary-General.
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He noted that the founding principles of the United Nations – the desire for peace, a sense of justice, respect for the dignity of the human person, and cooperation and humanitarian assistance — are just aspirations of the human spirit. The Holy See shares an interest in these principles.
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Questions of security, development, reducing inequality, and care of the environment require collective action in good faith for the common good. While scientific and technological advances can be of great help, some can rob the human person and the family of their identity. He called on the international community to act with juridical means when needed to safeguard human rights.
The Holy Father spoke of the critical importance of protecting human rights, noting the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Promoting human rights is the most effective strategy for reducing inequality and increasing security. Human rights are not simply a matter of law, but of justice, based in the natural law written on the human heart.
Once again, the Holy Father spoke of the importance of dialogue between religions as a way of building consensus in service of the common good. He emphasized the importance of freedom of religion in its public as well as its private dimension.

Pope Benedict said that the Catholic Church wishes to offer her proper contribution to international relations, making available her centuries of experience. He concluded his address by greeting the assembly in all the official languages of the United Nations, wishing them peace and prosperity with God’s help.
The assembly responded to his address with a standing ovation.
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.....................April Breakfast Meeting -

The Guest Speaker at the April Breakfast meeting was the Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Economic Department of the German Mission to the United Nations Victoria Zimmerman Von Siefart. She has worked with the German Foreign Service since 1985 and has an impressive backgroung of heading Foreign Service Departs in London, Philippines, Switzerland and New York. Ms. Zimmerman Von Siefart was born in Bombay, India and was educated in The Netherlands and Germany, and studied in Paris, Freiburg im Breisgau, and Bonn.

According to the Economic and Sustainable Development Commision, efforts to reduce poverty and improve food security in developing countries are hampered by declining support for strong agricultural growth, long considered a hallmark of successful poverty reduction strategies, according to the 2008 Trends in Sustainable Development report published by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The report highlights recent trends in agriculture, rural development, land, desertification and drought – five of the six themes being considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its 16th and 17th sessions (2008-2009).

Strong agricultural growth is four times more effective than growth in other sectors in benefiting the poorest half of the population, the report finds. However, while many developing countries have posted gains in agricultural production, distribution and exports, people living in areas of high inequality and in isolation from the broader economy typically benefit little from them.

Recent Food Crisis and Price Increase

The United Nations Secretary-General established a Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis under his chairmanship and composed of the heads of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, Bretton Woods institutions and relevant parts of the UN Secretariat. The primary aim of the Task Force is to promote a unified response to the global food price challenge, including by facilitating the creation of a prioritized plan of action and coordinating its implementation. The Secretary-General appointed UN Under-Secretary-General John Holmes as Task Force Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General David Nabarro as Deputy Coordinator

More Support for Africa

The second meeting of the MDGs Africa Steering Group was held at UN Headquarters in New York on 10 March 2008 reviewed a first set of draft recommendations from the MDG Africa Working Group, and proposed that African Governments work, with support from the international community, to:
launch an African Green Revolution to accelerate economic growth and combat hunger;
implement comprehensive school feeding programmes using locally produced food and ensuring coverage of micronutrients;
achieve the Education for All Goals by 2015, including gender parity at all levels, and implementing the Action Plan for the Second Decade on Education;
control infectious diseases;
ensure access to emergency obstetric care for all women by 2015;
provide family planning services for all by 2015;
meet the water supply and sanitation MDG targets;
make critical infrastructure investments in power, transportation, water and sanitation to raise productivity, ensure low-cost service delivery, and integrate Africa into the global economy; and
implement the Marrakesh Action Plan for Statistics.

United Nations Electorial Assistance Department

2008-04-28T10:07:00.004-05:00

The April 2008 guest speaker for the International Service Division of the Rotary Club of New York was Mr. Deryck Fritz, a Senior Political Affairs Officer with the the United Nations Electoral Assistance Department. Mr. Deryck, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, studied at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, and Pace University in New York. For more than a decade, Mr. Fritz has worked in several UN field electoral missions, including Cambodia, Mozambique, Western Sahara, Timor-Leste, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Iraq. Most recently, he was part of the technical assistance team to the mediation efforts of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Panel of Eminent African Personalities.

Historically this department of the UN included advancing the principle of self-determination of peoples through the development of self-government and decolonization. In the modern period, it has entailed establishing and advancing the principle of democracy and political rights.

Today, the United Nations system is engaged in a wide range of development assistance activities which are intended to support the efforts of governments to promote democratic election processes. Since 1989, the United Nations has received over 140 requests for electoral assistance from Member States. Member States most often seek advice and assistance on the legal, technical, administrative, and human rights aspects of organizing and conducting democratic elections or seek the Organization's assistance in supporting the international observation of an electoral process.

In practice, the objectives of United Nations electoral assistance are essentially two-fold:
(1) to assist Member States in their efforts to hold credible and legitimate democratic elections in accordance with internationally recognized criteria established in universal and regional human rights instruments;
(2) to contribute to building the recipient country's institutional capacity to organize democratic elections that are genuine and periodic and have the full confidence of the contending parties and the electorate.

It was pointed out that the United Nations recognizes that there is no single political system or electoral method equally suited to all nations. While comparative experience and examples provide useful guidance for the construction of democratic institutions, assistance strategies should ultimately be shaped by the particular needs and circumstances of the country seeking assistance, taken within the framework of international standards. United Nations activities in the field of electoral assistance are conducted in conformity with the basic principles of the sovereign equality of States and respect for their territorial integrity and political independence, as enunciated in the UN Charter. Assistance activities are carried out only where requested by national authorities of Member States and broadly supported by the people of the country concerned.

UNESCO Director Outlines Goals and Objectives

2008-04-28T09:20:00.006-05:00

(Photo: From left to right are New York Rotarians Kamu Kilinc, Sylvan Barnet and our guest speaker Ms. Gosselin)

The March speaker at the Rotary Club of New York International Service meeting was the director of the UNESCO's Liaison Office of the New York Office Hélène-Marie Gosselin. Prior to her current position, she was Director of the UNESCO Caribbean Cluster Office in Kingston, Jamaica, covering 20 English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries.

Ms. Gosselin joined UNESCO in 1993 as Director of the Office of Public Information at the Organization’s Headquarters in Paris, France. In 1997, the Secretary-General appointed her as Commissioner General for the United Nations at the World Exposition Expo 1998 on the Oceans in Lisbon, Portugal. Ms Gosselin was once again appointed by the UN Secretary-General and by UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura, in 2002 as the Commissioner General of the United Nations for Expo 2005, Aichi, Japan on the theme of Nature’s Wisdom.

Ms. Gosselin joined the United Nations in 1979. She held several posts at UNICEF in the Information and External Relations Division at the Organization’s Headquarters in New York, as well as, in the Geneva Office for Europe in Switzerland. She returned to New York as Assistant to the Director of the Information Division in 1985.

From 1987 to 1991, she headed the Regional Communication, Information and External Relations programme of the UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. In 1991 she was appointed Director-General of the Communications Branch at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Ottawa, Canada.

A History graduate, Ms Gosselin pursued post-graduate studies in Political Science, History and Business Administration at the University of Montreal in Canada. As Editor-in-Chief of a business monthly magazine, published by Southam Business Publications, Ms Gosselin received several national journalism awards. She was appointed at the European Union Canadian Delegation in 1976 as Deputy Head in the Press and Information Service.

As outlined on its website UNESCO functions as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues. The Organization also serves as a clearinghouse – for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge – while helping Member States to build their human and institutional capacities in diverse fields. In short, UNESCO promotes international co-operation among its 193* Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. *As of October 2007 UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture. This role is critical, particularly in the face of terrorism, which constitutes an attack against humanity. The world urgently requires global visions of sustainable development based upon observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities.

Through its strategies and activities, UNESCO is actively pursuing the Millennium Development Goals, especially those aiming to:
• halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in developing countries by 2015
• achieve universal primary education in all countries by 2015
• eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005
• help countries implement a national strategy for sustainable development by 2005 to reverse current trends in the loss of environmental resources by 2015.
• UNESCO and the United Nations Millennium Goals

UNESCO AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

Since its inception, UNESCO has recognized that non-governmental organizations and foundations which have concerns close to its own play an important role in international cooperation in the service of peoples.
For more than a half-century, UNESCO has woven a valuable tapestry of cooperative relations with a number of such organizations in its fields of competence, thereby enabling it to work with civil society in achieving its objectives and to disseminate through them its democratic and ethical ideals. Currently, UNESCO is enjoying official relations with 310 international NGOs and 19 foundations and similar institutions which are working in the fields of competence of the Organization. In addition to this formal framework, the Organization has been carrying out a range of activities hand in hand with NGOs, not only at international and regional levels, but also at national level.

Welcome!

2008-02-12T09:57:00.003-05:00

Giorgio Balestrieri - International Division Chairman,

John German Co-Director,

Josef Klee - Coordinator,

Sylvan Barnet - Rotary International Alt. Representative to the UN,

Tom McConnon - Newsletter Editor

Other Committees of the International Service Division

- Ambassadorial Forum for Peace & Understanding
A. Boccardelli - H. Kilic

- Ambassadorial Scholarships & Group Study Exchange
E. Corredor - R. Sainburg
Ambassadorial Scholarships

- Art, Business, Creativity and Disabilities
S. Parrino

- Conflict Prevention & Interreligious Dialoges
G. Balestieri - K. Soyak
http://www.nyrotary.org/00serviceprojects/conflictresolution.asp

- Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation
K. Soyak - M. Tajima
http://www.nyrotary.org/00serviceprojects/conflictresolution2.asp

- Gift of Life
W. Currie
http://www.giftoflifeinternational.org/

- Health Educational Programs
G. Giovannoni - G. Balestrieri
info@puntomwdico.it

- IT Projects - Education/Literacy
J. German - K. Kilinc

- Media & Public Relations
T. McConnon - N. Ozturk

- Rotary Extension
H. Schneider - K. Soyak

- Rotary International Convention 2008
President Elect

- UN / International Service Division Meetings
J. Klee - T. McConnon

UN / RI Programs
(S. Barnet - H. Reisler)

UN Public-Private Alliance Projects
(Z. Andrianarivelo - N. Soyak)

Young Girls' Education
(T. Johnson)

Water & Environment
( P. Caruso - A. Viscardi)

World Community Service
(W. DeLong)
http://unclebillydelong.blospot.com/

India's Consul General Outlines Impressive Economic Growth and Cultural Contributions

2008-01-19T06:02:00.002-05:00

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On Monday January 14, 2008, the Consul General of India in New York, the Honorable Neelam Deo (left) provided an impressive summary and analysis of her country's economic growth and cultural contributions over the last decade. She gave her presentation at the Rotary Club of New York's lunch meeting held at the Harvard Club.

In the photo the Consul General is introduced by the president of The Rotary Club of New York, Dr. Camilo Uy (right).

Ms. Neelam Deo was appointed the Consul General of India, New York in October, 2005. She has a Masters degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and had taught in Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University. As a career diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service with over three decades in the Indian Diplomatic Corps, Ms. Deo has been India’s Ambassador to Denmark and Ivory Coast, with concurrent accreditation to Sierra Leone, Niger & Guinea. Prior to her assignment in New York, she was Head of the Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar Division in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, dealing with India's overall relations with these countries. Ms. Deo has also worked in India’s Diplomatic Missions in Washington DC, Bangkok, and Rome.

The relationship between the world's largest democracy and the USA is strong with some of the examples including:

The largest number of international university students in the US is from India.
10% of the CEOs of the top 250 U.S. companies are Indian.
50% of start-ups entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are from India.
The $2,500 car in India will change the way cars are manufactured.
Indian film and media writers, many who have studied in American universities, are very successful in the US.

Some of the earliest Indian classic works of literature such as the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, treatises such as Vaastu Shastra in architecture and town planning, and Arthashastra in political science are becoming increasing know in Western countries.

It was also mentioned that there are more than 2,100 Rotary Clubs in India, the third largest number of clubs after the US and Japan.

Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the UN Meets with Rotarians

2008-01-19T05:58:00.003-05:00

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On Wednesday January 15, 2008 H.E. Joe Robert Pemagbi, (Front center) the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, met with Rotarians for an informal breakfast meeting to review a variety of democratic and economic issues facing Sierra Leone, and humanitarian projects Rotary is conducting in Africa.

Also included in the photo are (left) Sister Marie Adele of the the Fraternities -Notre Dame, AG - Thomas McConnon, Club Service Chairperson - Shelia Washington, GSE Liaison - Professor Eva Corredor, PDG Paul Caruso and Doctor

From 1999 until his current appointment, Ambassador Pemagbi was Chairman of the National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights in Sierra Leone, and a member of the Commission since 1994, where his duties included formulating and raising awareness about democracy, civic rights and responsibilities, and human rights. He received his master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Leeds (1976) and his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Sierra Leone in 1972.

Sierra Leone became an independent nation from Britain on April 27, 1961. A military coup overthrew the civilian government in 1967, which was in turn replaced by civilian rule a year later. The country declared itself a republic on April 19, 1971.

The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991, initiated by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Tens of thousands died and more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) were displaced because of the 9-year conflict. Neighbouring countries became host to significant numbers of refugees attempting to escape the civil war. It was officially declared over on 18 January 2002.

Considered one of the world's poorest countries, Sierra Leone has been ranked last by The United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI) for 2007-08.

The HDI is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. It is used to distinguish whether the country is a developed, a developing, or an under-developed country and also to measure the impact of economic policies on quality of life.

About two-thirds of the population engages in subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 52% of national income. The government is trying to increase food and cash crop production and upgrade small farmer skills. Also, the government works with several foreign donors to operate integrated rural development and agricultural projects.

According to the U.S. State Department, Sierra Leone is rich in minerals and has relied on the mining sector in general, and diamonds in particular, for its economic base. By the 1990s economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. Over the next decade much of Sierra Leone’s formal economy was destroyed in the country’s civil war. Since the cessation of hostilities in January 2002, massive infusions of outside assistance have helped Sierra Leone begin to recover. Full recovery to pre-war economic levels will require hundreds of millions of additional dollars and many more years of serious effort by the Government of Sierra Leone and donor governments.

COSTRUCTION OF THE SAINT BAKHITA DISPENSARY IN BENIN

2008-01-12T03:00:00.009-05:00

Photo: Andrey V. Pirogov, Assistant Director-General - Executive Director of the WHO Office at the UN (third from left) is presented with the report of Dr. Giorgio Giovannoni, Chair of the Health Educational Programs Committee of the International Service Division of the Rotary Club of New York. The report outlines the need for the construction of the Saint Bakhita Dispensery in Atacora, Benin. Also in the photo are (from left) John German, Giorgio Balestrieri, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Celine H.L. Tsai from the Taipei Millenium Rotaract Club in Tiawan, Rotarian Bill Delong and Sister Marie Adele of the Fraternite Notredame.

Editor's Notes:
This report was originall written in Italian and traslatted into English. Some minor changes have been made by the Newsletter Editor.

Saint Bakhita is The Catholic Saint of Africa. She was born to a wealthy Sudanese family, and was kidnapped by slave-traders at age 9, and given the name Bakhita by them. Sold and resold in the markets at El Obeid and Khartoum, finally purchased in 1883 by Callisto Legnani, Italian consul who planned to free her. She accompanied Legnani to Italy in 1885 and worked for the family of Augusto Michieli as nanny. She was treated well in Italy, and grew to love the country. An adult convert, joining the Church on 9 January 1890, she took the name of Josephine as a symbol of her new life. She entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice, Italyin 1893 taking her vows on 8 December 1896 in Verona, and serving as a Canossian Sister for the next fifty years. Her gentle presence, her warm, amiable voice, and her willingness to help with any menial task were a comfort to the poor and suffering people who came to the door of the Institute. After a biography of her was published in 1930, she became a noted and sought after speaker, raising funds to support missions.

Tom McConnon provided Doctor Giovannoni, that is the project cooordinator (www.puntomedico.it/benin), the contacts with the District Governor in Benin for this important project that besides the NY Rotary and other rotarians in Italy and Benin has as supporting members the Veneto Region, the Health Unit No. 15 of Padova District, Guerrato Spa of Rovigo, the Savings Bank of Padova and Rovigo, the C.I.S.L. of Padova, the Association of the Rural Families of the Piave and Giuseppe Olivotti s.c.s. a non-for profit organization.

GENERAL SITUATION OF THE REGION

Economy:

Natitingou Diocese is situated in Atacora, the only region in the whole Benin characterized
by the presence of mountains. Seasons sequence is marked by a rainy period, which lasts
from May to October, and by a dry one dominated by Harmattan, with dry winds coming
from the Sahara.
Inhabitants mainly live in houses made up of mud and straw, although in few cases it’s
possible to have building with iron-plated roofs, which are often further less unfit than the
straw one, because of the high temperatures. Jobs mainly consists on cultivations and animals breeding. The instruments used to work the fields are very rudimentary such as the hatchet, while oxen are rarely used. The main products are: millet, beans, potatoes and yams.
All of them are produced for a subsistence economy, and are often damaged by acts of
nature, like: drought, overflows, and parasitical epidemics.
Only growing cotton, although limited in some areas, permits a very modest income from
abroad.
Agriculture is obfuscated by the presence of uneven ground, rains which are often
insufficient and concentrated in short periods of the year. Another negative factor for
economy of this area is the complete absence of other industries, apart from agriculture,
such as handicraft.

Population:
The population of Natitingou diocese counts up over 40.000 inhabitants who chiefly live in
rural areas and it is divided in more than 20 different ethnic groups; however, only 5 of
these are acknowledged on the cultural side and officially recognized and they are: the
Ditamari, who live in the Tatas Somba; the Wamas, who occupy the middle area of the
region; the Baribas at the east; the Berbas in the north-west; while the Gourmantchés are
nomadic.

These ethnic groups, although maintaining their ethic and traditions, are able to keep a
relation of agreement among them; share the same difficulty in every sort of communication,
even if the population feels to be isolated and left alone, both by local politics and by
international organizations.

School-attendance index:
School attendance is limited, less than the 30% of young boys and girls being in school
age attends it regularly. This phenomenon is further more diffused among young females.
School is often interrupted because of the pressing necessity of job for the families.
Children’s labor is often required for fields growing.
Another difficulty consists on the poverty of the families who haven’t got sufficient money
neither to permit their children to enter school nor to buy goods of bare necessities.
In addition to poverty, there’s a lack of sensibility towards the importance of school
education.
In many cases, relatives themselves have never attended school, and, so, they hardly
understand the importance of giving a school education to their sons.

Health:
Having a bad nutrition affects especially children and young persons, and, among young
people, almost the 50% suffers from it and haven’t got sufficient food, and often this is due
to ignorance and taboos; as consequences of this, we have sickness and damages which
obstructs the children’s natural growth. The principal sicknesses affecting this area are:
malarial fever, anemia, diarrhea due to the use of undrinkable water.
Other sicknesses, although less frequent than the formers, are diffused in spite of
vaccination campaigns carried out, and they are: meningitis, cholera and jungle fever.
There are still many big villages which can’t take advantage of a Health Center to take
care of themselves and this because of various reasons.
Land and economy characteristics in the area of the intervention:
The area interested by their project comprehends 23 villages, which are Natitingou diocese
parishes and is situated in a mountain region of Benin.
The ground is poor, although, with appropriated techniques, it is possible to improve the
production with new growing techniques, fertilizing, irrigation, although this last one has to
be limited to the richest horticultural crops because of the lack of water, especially
during the drought.
The area is crossed by a river with a flow that may change during the year worth a
maximum reached in the rains period, that is to say from May to October, and a minimum
in the dryness from November to April.
To increase water availability for human uses, for animals and crops and making the
period of utilization last for longer, it is possible to project the creation of some
along the course of the brook, and some wells thanks to the presence of a deep stratum
rich of water.
These resources would make water available to the population during the whole year and
to all the components of the family, furthermore even to those sites where will take place
the attendances expected by the actuation of the project.
It is known that water is a strategic factor for a productive, economic and social
development of a community and, without it, it is hard to accomplish an improvement on
the present situation of poverty. Other positive aspects in this area concern the presence of a road to Natitingou, which is only 22km far away are the availability of 30 hectares of already settled and good quality ground;
The possibility of having other adjacent 30 hectares of ground at disposal and the
prospective of a market place where to collocate agriculture and animal-breeding products.
Population’s attitude towards this project is another considerable factor, thanks to
the activity of the dioceses development committee. In fact, expectations on this project are a factor essential for the promotion and the participation of the community in the realization of any development initiative.

SITUATIONS OF MEDICAL STRUCTURES PRESENT IN NATITINGOU DIOCESES

After being invited by Natitingou bishop, Pascal N’koue, who had previously
been our guest in Italy, we went to Benin and visited the dioceses in order to rate the social
and hygienic conditions and check the level both of medical structures and organization of
the region. We examined two clinics, one situated in Nattitingou city and another one which are about 100 kilometers distant among them, I’d like to remember that there are only 7 clinics in the dioceses and that they are many kilometers far away one from another.

Natitingou clinic appeared absolutely insufficient for what concerns the structure, the
spaces reserved to the medical assistance, the equipment and, furthermore, for the small
number of the equipped members. We were impresses especially by the delivery room,
which was insufficient for dimensions, equipment and hygiene.
Spaces set for recovering and visiting the patients( the obstetric room is furnished with 5
beds; while general cases are managed in a room furnished with 6 beds) seemed
unavailable to receive people both because of the bad ambient conditions and the
hygienic ones.

There’s even a surgery applied for check up and a lab where any microbiological and
parasitical exam could be done; however they are very hampered by a bad equipment.
In this medical structure work a doctor, an obstetric assistant and a lab expert.
The doctor appeared very motivated and well-prepared; he and his colleagues complained
about the situation in which they have to operate in the hospital delivery room.
We visited even the clinic 100 km far away from Natitingou. This structure was in better
condition than the former. The delivery room, the spaces used for recovering women who
have just given birth to a baby and the ward (2 rooms with 5 beds each) looked clean
enough and quiet comfortable; however, it was shocking to discover that this clinic suffers
from the absence of a doctor who is neither available. This clinic is managed by a nun who
operates there as a nurse, with the help of an assistant who had experience of obstetric.
Patients attending this clinic are managed both for the diagnosis and the cures by the
equipment previously described, but in case of necessity and not without troubles, they are
moved to clinics more furnished (don’t forget that the only hospital is many kilometers
distant from the clinic). As a consequence, patients may run into serious risks, especially those women whose labor and childbirth present complications.

In spite of all these aspects, what impressed me in a greatly positive way, is the motivation
and the strength of these persons who daily give themselves to the assistance of poor and
needy people 100 km far away from Natitingou.
Furthermore, we visited a clinic in the north of Tanguieta, close to Porga, which has not
been operative yet, but will soon start working. This clinic is applied with an ambulatory for
check-up, a lab, an obstetric ward, a pediatric one and one for first aid, although offering
few beds, it looked very functional and clean.
Very close to this clinic, it has been built a hostel for hosting the religious members of the
equipped who will handle the clinic. This type of building should be taken as a model for the
reorganization of Natitingou clinics.

Clinic of Porga
Finally we went to Tanguieta’s hospital in the north of Natitingou dioceses.
For what concerns the medical equipped, the hospital counts up: a medical director, who
manages every aspect relating to surgery (from general surgery to orthopedic surgery);
furthermore, the medical equipped is formed by 7 doctors, while there are about 100 people
joining the paramedical personnel as nurses.
The hospital has a well furnished surgery room where can take place any kind of
emergency operations and specialized ones. There are even 3 beds used for intensive
therapy, in addiction to the surgery one, a ward which is very important and worthwhile for the
hospital is the pediatrics one with 120 beds, although is some period of the year there
might be recovered more than 180 children.
It’s obviously present an obstetric ward and one where are recovered even many patients
dying for AIDS virus.
This hospital is remarkably managed by the FATEBENEFRATELLI foundation, which
operates in a very wide territory going from Benin up to Togo and Burkina Faso. In fact,
there are many patients coming to this hospital even from 1000 kilometers of distance.

URGENT SANITARY NEEDS AND PROPOSAL FOR THE FUTURE
After the on-the-spot investigation and after the exchange of opinions we had with the
doctors and the religious members who work in the clinics previously described, and in
particular with the doctor at the head of Natitingou’s clinic and the medical director of
Tanguieta’s hospital, it has been brought out the exigence of pursuing the following tasks:

1. Finding a doctor to be responsible for all the clinics in Natitingou dioceses (at the
moment, there’s only one doctor who operates in Natitingou city), who will
periodically visit all the clinics in order to control the work of the paramedical
personnel; check the furniture and visit those patients considered in need of a more
specialized visit by the paramedical personnel and that only the doctor can carry
out. The presence of a doctor might be important even because the doctor could
become a reference for the population in those places and so create a relationship
based on faith towards the medical clinics and the cures practiced.

2. Join all the clinics among them by the mean of a radio network in order to make it
possible to them to communicate in case of collaboration and advice. It might be very useful even the availability of a motor ambulance to connect the clinics.

3. Reorganize the clinics for what concerns the necessary furniture and the equipped
members. In particular, Natitingou clinic urges to be reorganized, while waiting for a
new building, and to be improved. In case it would be impossible or inconvenient to
make it wider, it would be better to optimize the use of the spaces available (such
as the delivery room); to apply it with the minimum furniture and the instruments
necessary for medical activity.

4. The building of a new clinic in Natitingou results fundamental first of all because the
present one is absolutely insufficient for the medical cures required by Natitingou
population; furthermore it could be an important reference for Tanguieta’s hospital.
At the moment the hospital of Tanguieta hosts many patients who might be
recovered in other local buildings at the same fine way as in Tanguieta’s hospital. If
only there were local clinics well functioning, the hospital of Tanguieta could
become a reference only for cases of extreme emergency, so saving means and
cures to patients who really need them.

5. To spread among the population a sentiment of sensibility towards the use of the
medical buildings of their area, making them comprehend the usefulness and the
benefits they can obtain for their health in those structures, without revolutionizing
their beliefs and habits.

6. To activate a clinic at the farm of Pam Pam in order to give medical assistance to
people who work there and to all the population living in the surroundings. Such an
employment and the sanitary buildings might help, as time passes by, the formation
and development of a village close to the farm.

7. Promote collaborations among the clinics.

Submitted by Dr. Giorgio Giovannoni
Rotary Club of New York

Executive Director of World Health Organization in New York Reviews Global Fight Against Polio and Other Health Projects.

2008-01-12T02:08:00.003-05:00

Andrey V. Pirogov, Assistant Director-General - Executive Director of the WHO Office at the UN was the guest speaker at the February 25, 2008 International Service Breaffast meeting.
He joined WHO in 2006 as Executive Director of the WHO Office at the United Nations in New York. Prior to that, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia in Geneva and in this capacity served as the principal counterpart to WHO and other multilateral health institutions. He has been involved in UN affairs for more than 20 years. Mr Pirogov graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Relations in 1977. He joined the diplomatic service of his country the same year and has since held a wide range of diplomatic posts in the Foreign Ministry of the USSR and Russia.
Mr Pirogov professional appointments include positions with the USSR Embassy to Cameroon, the Russian Mission to the European Communities in Brussels and participation in numerous international conferences. During his diplomatic career, Mr Pirogov gained wide experience with the organizations of the UN system and in such areas as European security, relations between Russia and the EU, disarmament, international security and the external economic relations of Russia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
1. Promoting development
2. Fostering health security
3. Strengthening health systems
4. Harnessing research, information and evidence
5. Enhancing partnerships

Mr. Pirogov as does the WHO web site recognized Rotary International’s Polio Plus program that was established in 1985. Rotary was the first to have the vision of a polio-free world, and continues to play a crucial role in global efforts to eradicate polio. More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to protect more than 2 billion children in 122 countries from polio. Rotary provides urgently needed funds - to date, the organization has contributed more than US$ 500 million, and raised an additional US$119 million in 2003. In addition, Rotary's Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over US$ 1.5 billion to the effort. That amount, combined with direct funds from Rotary, is more than half the money needed for the entire global polio eradication program. Rotary members also provide valuable field support during National Immunization Days through social mobilization and by administering the oral polio vaccine to children.