My Experience at the United Nations
By Sister Mary Louise Knott, OSU
1-12 May 2006

 How awesome to be here at the United Nations – the organization that was established for world peace and the betterment of humanity!

 As a representative of UNANIMA International I was privileged to attend the meetings at the UN from May 1-12.  Just being in New York for the first time was exciting but to see and hear 191 nations dialogue on the Commission on Sustainable Development was rather awesome.  Usually many of these nations are at war with one another but here they are taking turns at the invitation of the chairman to report on the steps they are taking to meet the 7^th Millennium Development Goal which is to ensure environmental sustainability.

 “Sustainable development can be briefly defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  (Policy Brief, Mar. 2006)

The CSD focused on four main areas:  (1) energy, (2) air pollution/atmosphere, (3) industrial development and (4) climate change.  Recommendations were made especially for new research for renewable energy and for energy efficiency.  These renewable energies include those that do not put toxic emissions and health hazards into the environment and are accessible to the economically poor – such as solar energy, windmills, tidal waves and dams.  There needs to be full recognition that nuclear energy cannot provide solutions to these issues.  It has been proved to be too hazardous to store and transport and does nothing to alleviate poverty.  Chernobyl is the best example of this.  LP Gas has been recommended as clean, accessible and sustainable. 

“The NGOs would like to stress that in the current situation the world needs urgently to move away from fossil and nuclear energy systems as part of sustainable development.  New renewable energy solutions are the only way to give access to modern energy services in a sustainable way for the 2 billion persons who are currently excluded from them.”  (CSD Today)

 Secretary General Kofi Annan said “What is not sustainable is not responsible.”  (UN, 5/11/06)

 He stressed the importance of education in order that positive steps be taken in the future.  Otherwise changes in patterns of behavior will not be taken for integration of sustainable development to be effective.   

“We only have one mother earth.”  (Taking Issue, 5/4/06)