|
New York, the 12th
of September, 2005.
Dear Sisters,
The whole 3 days at the UN
for the 58th DPI/NGO Conference were good, a great learning
opportunity for which I’m grateful.
The Conference had been named
“Our challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal”
and focused on fostering
partnerships across all sectors to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals and on fulfilling the goals outlined in Kofi Annan’s
report In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights
for All (www.un.org/largerfreeedom/):
Freedom
from Want, from Fear, to Live in Dignity, and Strengthening the United
Nations.
Srs Marta Alvear SP (Chile),
Rosa Maria Eubanks CCV (Mexico), Rosalinda Pajuelo Ureña CBS (Peru), Anabel
Torres SSA (Nicaragua)
and I had been invited by UNANIMA INTERNATIONAL to participate. Srs
Catherine Ferguson SNJM and Ana Martinez de Luco CCV
from UANIMA introduced us to the formal scenario of the UN Organization that
is being questioned and challenged right now by governments
of some individual countries.
The voices of UN officials
and representatives of the civil society from almost every corner of the
world joined in one voice claiming
to end Poverty. Some of them used the _expression “Take action against
Poverty”. Others said that Poverty is the consequence of
wealth therefore let us “Take action against the obscene wealth and unequal
distribution of resources all around the planet”.
Participants were able to
participate through written comments and questions at the end of the
presentations and/or voice concerns,
make recommendations and name issues at the different workshops and
roundtables.
I chose to participate in the
following workshops:
“A New Paradigm of Security for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal” on
Wednesday,
“Challenges and Opportunities in Combating Poverty” on Thursday, and
“Words, War and Emotions: Communication to Bridge Cultural and Religious
Differences” on Friday.
I was part of the roundtable:
“United Nations and civil society”.
The experience was
overwhelming in terms of the diversity of peoples and the agreement in what
was said. I don’t think that our participation
will affect the Summit of the Heads of State (each one of them comes with
her/his own explicit or hidden agenda) to be held at the UN
headquarters in New York this week. I think we have to trust in the process
and not expect immediate results – “not get frustrated if the
outcome is not what you have expected” I tell myself. It is in the process
of participation, construction of partnerships and renewal toward
democracy at the international level, that enduring action for justice and
equality will affect the local and global situation.
To have links between
grassroots and higher levels of decision making is important to keep the
doors and windows open to the
Creative Spirit of God flowing above desolation/ chaos.
Before finishing I like to
share this “Call to Action” with you:
“We, the hundreds of NGOs
meeting at the UN today, urge at this crucial time in the world’s need for
security, peace and development,
that you embrace the larger vision of the UN to benefit all the people of
the world. We urge you to yield narrow interests and to compromise
with each other for real change, expressed in concrete terms in the 2005
World Summit Outcomes Document. Please do not squander this
important opportunity.” 58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, 9
September 2005
Thanks again to the Holy
Union Women around the world who made possible my participation through
UNANIMA,
Maria Teresa Andant susc
Something else ... I'm
available for questions and if any of you would like some ofthe material
gathered at the UN just ask for it. Please, be
aware that Bush's Administration is pursuing a weaker UN. If there is not
enough information in the newspapers of your country do not hesitate
and find international newspapers in internet.
|