UPDATE
September 2005
(Hurricane Katrina – Please keep in your prayers all who are suffering from the devastating effects of the hurricane. In particular – UI member community, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Cabrini Sisters) sponsor Cabrini High School in New Orleans and their students, faculty and the community served there need help. If anyone would like to make a donation to the Cabrini High School-Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, you can do so by sending a check to Cabrini Mission Foundation, 227 East 19th Street, New York, NY 10003, USA or on line at www.cabrinifoundation.org).
International Day of Peace – 21 September. Once again UNANIMA International invites and encourages all of us to Join in the 23rd Annual Observance of The International Day of Peace -Peace Day - September 21. Besides whatever you might choose to do locally the organizers are asking that each of us observe a moment of silence and prayer at noon our local time so that there will be continuous prayer for peace around the globe. See the web site http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/ for suggested activities and ways to become connected. Please contact UNANIMA International at fergcf@earthlink.net to let us know about your activities so we can let others know about them through our website.
Annual NGO DPI Conference – 7-9 September at the UN’s New York Headquarters: UNANIMA International will be well represented. In addition to Ana and Catherine, we will have four representatives from Latin America: Marta Alvear, SP (Chile), Maria Teresa Andant, SUSC (Argentina), Rosalinda Pajuelo Ureña, CBS, (Peru), Anabel Torres, CSA (Nicaragua). Also Rosa Maria Eubanks, CCV, Jean O’Meara, SHCJ, Pierrette Boissé,CND, with a delegation of other CND representatives will be attending. We hope it will be a time for some strategizing about our UN activities this year.
UI is also a key sponsor for an educative session on good approaches to HIV/AIDS care – Care with Dignity. The session features a speaker from India, one with experience in South Africa and another from Africa speaking on their community based programs.
Main events can be viewed on line at http://www.un.org/webcast/index.asp
High Level Summit and Opening of General Assembly - 14-28 September
Heads of State, key ministers and others will be negotiating UN Reform and important points about the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in these days. This event will be key in setting directions for several years and in possibly making UN reforms of significance to NGOs and their work at the UN. The outcome document is well developed through work that has taken place since early January. As a result of NGO interventions in June, the document has been strengthened in its promotion of the rights of women and children, in its condemnation of violence against women and gender discrimination. It also proposes a peace building commission and a human rights council along with other needed reform elements. Unfortunately with the intersessional appointment of John Bolton as the US Ambassador to the United Nations, it appears some of this work will be undone. Insiders at the UN indicate the US has marked up the 37 page document with over 700 items for change eliminating all reference to the Millennium Development Goals and concrete time bound objectives for all nations to meet. The draft document can be found on the web at http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg.
UNANIMA International Board Meeting – 23-24 September
The Board of Directors will hold its annual board meeting at the Cabrini Medical Center. Since this begins the second three year cycle of membership for the founding communities, five new board members will begin their terms: Patricia Mulhall, CSB, Kathleen Scanlon, RJM, Mary Lois Speaks, OSU, Veronica Piccone, MSC, and Peggy Kennedy, SNJM on a temporary basis. We welcome them and give thanks to Louise Cleary, CSB, Janice Farnham, RJM, Cheryl Clemons, OSU, Roselle Santivasi, MSC, and Lesley Sacouman, SNJM, for the services of all of their gifts and talents in getting to UI off to a speedy and effective start.
A Research Tool: UN Issues 2005 Report on World Social Situation -
Late August the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs released the "Report on the World Social Situation 2005: The Inequality Predicament" which indicates that the World now experiences greater inequality than 10 years ago. The Report sounds the alarm over persistent and deepening inequality worldwide. It focuses on the chasm between the formal and informal economies, the widening gap between skilled and unskilled workers, the growing disparities in health, education and opportunities for social, economic and political participation. According to the Report, inequalities between and within the countries have accompanied globalization.
The whole report can be found at: http://www.un.org/publications