The United Nations and YOU: Members Day 2012
On Friday, February 10th, hundreds of scholars, citizens, and community members gathered in the hallowed halls of the United Nations to learn about human rights and the global frameworks for peace, prosperity and progress.
- Members Day allowed the general public an amazing chance to imagine themselves as global leaders:
Happy to be here at #membersday2012 A bit off topic: any way to turn off the A/C? Maybe, I should have sat in a warmer climate? ;)
Just chillin in the United Nations general assembly room all day. Nbd. #Membersday2012 #roadtomyfuture
Grateful to be here in the UN General Assembly for free as a high school student hearing what I'm hearing #membersday2012
- Dr. Jeffrey Sachs (pictured below) of the Columbia University Earth Institute and author of The End of Poverty gave the keynote address and was hands-down the most quotable speaker of the day. Enjoy the little pearls of wisdom that were captured by the twitterati below:
@JeffDSachs: There isn't an alternative to the @UN. It either works, or the world fails. There just isn't a Plan B. #MembersDay2012- [The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the moral compass of the UN] @JeffDSachs #MembersDay2012
- Sachs issued a challenge to the youth in the audience urging them to consider ending global poverty their generation's homework assignment:
- four pillars of development: end poverty for homework, group work OK, you have 15 years to finish @JeffDSachs to youth #MembersDay2012
- Alma Morrison, board member at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston remarked that Sach's speech made her hopeful that her grandchildren's generation will be able to live up to the challenge to end poverty and achieve sustainable development.
- The Security Council: Assertiveness and Restraint in the Security Council's Maintenance of Peace
- Ambassador DiCarlo put forth a diplomatic paradox that was one of the most-quoted of the afternoon:
- Your adversary today is your ally tomorrow on another issue- Ambassador DiCarlo #MembersDay2012 - #MembersDay2012
UN Amb. DiCarlo: the US has yet to enter dialogue w Iran, "your adversary today is your best friend in dialogue tomorrow" #MembersDay2012- On expanding what R2P (responsibility to protect) means holistically:
