Goodwill Ambassadors of the World

How to Become a UN Goodwill Ambassador

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:06:00 +0000

A Guide for Aspiring Goodwill Advocates

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the world? Do you have a unique platform and a desire to use your voice for good? If so, you may be considering a career as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Did you know some local United Nations Associations have their own Goodwill Ambassadors?

What is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador?

A United Nations (UN) Goodwill Ambassador, also known as a UN Ambassador, is a renowned individual from the arts, music, cinema, sport, literature, or the sciences, who has been enlisted to advocate for the various causes the United Nations champions.

Shakira Education Appointment Recognizes Her Long History of Work in the Field | IBTimes

General Job Description

In general, the job of a UN ambassador is to promote the work of the United Nations in areas where there is a need to focus worldwide attention. This work may take place at a national, regional, or international level.

Their main objectives are to:

Raise public and political awareness
Motivate people to act in the interest of improving their own lives and those of their fellow citizens
Participate in certain pre-approved UN events
Travel to UN operations in the field for first-hand observation
Engage in public advocacy and fundraising activities
Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the United Nations
Obtain guidance on specific activities from the UN staff assigned to act as a liaison

Difference Between a 'UN Ambassador' and an 'Ambassador to the UN'

The term "United Nations Ambassador" is often confused with the term, "Ambassador to the United Nations." A UN ambassador is a celebrity advocate who helps draw worldwide attention to issues that affect the wellbeing of millions, or even billions of people.

An ambassador to the United Nations, on the other hand, is a diplomatic official accredited to the United Nations to serve as the official representative of their country, and represent their country's interests in the UN General Assembly, and/or on the UN Security Council.

Simply put, a UN ambassador is a celebrity advocate, and an ambassador to the UN is a politician.

How Much Do They Earn?

UN ambassadors volunteer their time, passion, energy, and talents to promote peace and other aims of the Charter of the United Nations. They are not paid a salary. A symbolic payment of $1 per year or equivalent may be granted to them.

UN Goodwill Ambassadors may be given travel and daily subsistence allowances when they are traveling on behalf of the UN, depending on the discretion of the sub-organization that they represent. UN Goodwill Ambassadors are, however, encouraged to self-finance their travel.

Characteristics Needed to Become a Successful UN Ambassador

The UN doesn't just pick anyone to become one of its Goodwill Ambassadors. If you hope to become one someday, you must meet the following criteria:

Be at the top of your field: You must be a household name. Whether it's broadcasting, politics, the literary world, the performing arts, or in a sport, your talents and achievements must make you stand out from those who stand out.
Represent cultural values: To have the maximum impact on a target population, you must represent the cultural values of that population.
Personal values: Arguably the most important trait you'll need is a set of personal values that align with the mandate of the UN. Do you have a deep concern for the world's poor, environmental sustainability, protecting human rights, or empowering women? If so, you're off to a good start.
Live and breathe it: In the past, some ambassadors have been accused of merely using their title as a UN Goodwill Ambassador to boost their image. Doing so would impede someone from becoming truly successful in this role. You must be committed to upholding the UN's values in your everyday life, as well as in the role, in order to succeed as a UN ambassador.

Who Creates Jobs for Them?

It may seem obvious that the United Nations creates jobs for its ambassadors, but it's a big organization. Since 1954, a total of 16 United Nations system organizations (2006 statistics) have at some time had an ambassadors program in place. These programs are, however, at different stages of development; some fully fledged, while others are still in development. These organizations include:

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Food Programme (WFP)
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Being Chosen as a UN Ambassador: Selection Criteria

Individuals who are invited to serve as UN Goodwill Ambassadors must typically meet the following criteria:

Have widely recognized talent in the arts, sciences, literature, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life
Demonstrate a strong desire to help mobilize public support for the cause
Demonstrate the commitment and proven potential to reach out to significant audiences, including decision makers
Have good credentials related to the mandate (such as the environment, human rights, etc.) in work or life
Must be passionate and inspiring with regards to the mandate of the organization
Possess the personality and dignity required for such high-level representative capacity
Be influential beyond their national borders, thus having the ability to promote the values of the UN internationally
Be knowledgeable and articulate with regards to the goals and activities of the mandate being represented
Not be engaged with or endorsed products, organizations or causes that conflict with the UN's values

Please Note: At the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Goodwill Ambassadors are selected for their experience in the private sector and international trade, to play an advisory role, in addition to the customary advocacy function. They are typically bankers, industrialists, and business people, rather than celebrities.

Who Appoints UN Ambassadors?

United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors are designated by the heads of United Nations Funds, Programmes and specialized Agencies, such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP) and The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Goodwill Ambassadors are subsequently endorsed by the Secretary-General.

How Many Ambassadors Positions Exist?

Goodwill Ambassadors may have different titles at each sub-organization within the UN. As of 2006, there were more than 400 Goodwill Ambassadors for the UN, under the different categories and titles.

Similar Occupations

If you're interested in becoming an Ambassador for the United Nations, the following careers may also be of interest to you:

Animal Rights Coordinator
Diplomat
Human Rights Activist
International Aid Worker
Social Worker

References

To find out more about what a United Nations Ambassador does, and how to become one, please consult the following resources:

United Nations website: https://www.un.org/en/
United Nations Development Programme website: https://www.undp.org/
UN Women website: https://www.unwomen.org/en

Applicable Majors

The university majors below are applicable to a career as an ambassador for the United Nations, as they can teach you relevant skills and competencies. Click on the majors to find out what other careers are applicable to them!

African Studies
International Development Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology

Additional Resources

"Blue Book"
- Available online, the "Blue Book" contains contact information for all 193 Member States. Information given includes the address and phone number of the Permanent Mission of each Member State in New York City, the name of their Ambassador, and the names of other Mission officials and staff members.
Delegates' Handbook
- The Delegates' Handbook is a booklet that contains information of a general nature about United Nations Headquarters and is applicable throughout the current session.
Manual of Protocol
- The Manual of Protocol has information every delegate needs to know, from letters of credentials, diplomatic privileges and immunities, and more.
Web Portal
- Delegates have their own website at deleGATE, which contains information of interest to delegates, with both public and restricted content.
UN Journal

The daily Journal of the United Nations lists the meetings and events being held at UN Headquarters each day, including General Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council meetings.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 11:42:00 +0000

UNICEF Leverages Star Power with Goodwill for Children's Rights Around the World

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global organization dedicated to protecting the rights of every child. To amplify its message and reach a wider audience, UNICEF collaborates with influential figures across the globe who serve as its Goodwill Ambassadors that advocate its purpose. These individuals, drawn from the worlds of entertainment, sports, literature, music and more, use their own platforms and social capital as public figures to raise awareness about critical issues affecting children and mobilize support for UNICEF's programs.

Goodwill Ambassadors working for UNICEF are technically considered benevolent non-state actors mostly disconnected from their place of origin, politics, and/or state within the context of their celebrity to represent their causes (issues), they are encouraged to develop their own personal methods and style as human rights advocates.

Unlike other Divisions of the United Nations UNICEF engages hundreds of local celebrities which are not so well-known outside their nation of region. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors all receive 'Letters of Credence' and a 'Goodwill Ambassador Commission' from their respective division and program directors under the endorsement of the Secretary-General. Prime ministers, presidents and other world leaders are all advised when UNICEF designates a new ambassador to their region or country.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors - Photo UNICEF Website

Types of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors

UNICEF engages Goodwill Ambassadors at three levels:

International: These are globally recognized figures who represent UNICEF worldwide, advocating for children's rights on a global stage.
National: These ambassadors focus their efforts on specific countries, working to address the unique challenges faced by children in that nation.
Regional: These individuals concentrate on a particular geographic region, promoting children's rights and supporting UNICEF's initiatives within that area.

Role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors serve as powerful voices for children, utilizing their influence to:

Raise awareness: They bring attention to critical issues such as child poverty, education, health, and protection.
Advocate for change: They lobby for policies and initiatives that improve the lives of children.
Fundraise: They help generate financial support for UNICEF's programs.
Inspire action: They motivate individuals and communities to get involved in UNICEF's work.

Meet Some of UNICEF's Global Goodwill Ambassadors

UNICEF has a long history of partnering with prominent figures who are passionate about children's rights. Here are a few examples from a recent Google Search:

Amitabh Bachchan: A legendary Indian actor with a massive global following, Bachchan has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005.
David Beckham: One of the world's most famous athletes, Beckham uses his platform to advocate for children's rights, particularly in the areas of education and health.
Ewan McGregor: The acclaimed Scottish actor has been a dedicated UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveling to some of the world's most challenging places to raise awareness about child protection issues.
Orlando Bloom: The British actor is a vocal advocate for children's rights, focusing on issues such as education and humanitarian aid.
Shakira: The Colombian singer-songwriter has used her global platform to advocate for early childhood development and education.
Anita Rani: The British radio and television presenter has been a strong voice for girls' education and empowerment.
Cate Blanchett: The Academy Award-winning actress has been a vocal advocate for refugees and displaced children.
Emtithal Mahmoud: The Sudanese-American poet and activist has used her powerful voice to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and displaced children.
Hima Das: The Indian sprinter has inspired young people around the world and has been a strong advocate for girls' education and empowerment.
Jackie Chan: The renowned martial artist and actor has used his global fame to promote education and child protection.
Kareena Kapoor: The popular Indian actress has been a vocal advocate for girls' education and empowerment in India.
Karen Mok: The Hong Kong singer and actress has been a strong supporter of UNICEF's work in China and across Asia.
Khaled Hosseini: The Afghan-American author has used his powerful storytelling to raise awareness about the plight of children in conflict zones.
Lilly Singh: The Canadian comedian and actress has used her platform to advocate for girls' education and empowerment.
Priyanka Chopra: The Indian actress and producer has been a vocal advocate for girls' education and empowerment.
Rania Al Abdullah: The Queen of Jordan has been a passionate advocate for children's rights, focusing on education and early childhood development.
Ricky Martin: The Puerto Rican singer has been a dedicated advocate for children's rights, particularly in the areas of child protection and HIV/AIDS.

You can see more of the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors on the United Nations website or for a more complete list of them see their goodwill ambassador list on Wikipedia.

UNICEF's Global Presence

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories around the world, with a particular focus on regions where children are most vulnerable. Some areas where UNICEF has a strong presence include:

Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing issues such as child mortality, malnutrition, and access to education.
South Asia: Focusing on child poverty, education, and child protection.
The Middle East and North Africa: Working to protect children affected by conflict and displacement.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and violence against children.

By partnering with Goodwill Ambassadors and advocates, UNICEF amplifies its message and mobilizes support for its critical work. These individuals as Goodwill Ambassadors play a vital role in raising awareness, advocating for change, and inspiring action to ensure that every child has a chance to thrive.

Looking for Change in the World?

Join us as a Friend of the Goodwill Ambassadors and become an Honorary Goodwill Ambassador in your own community or state. Learn more about becoming a public figure, become a goodwill ambassador, and become eligible for other nominations in your life's journey.

Join us now, support Goodwill Ambassadors!

Introducing the Goodwill Ambassador Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:46:00 +0000

The Goodwill Ambassador Title: A New Era for a Great and Distinguished Honor

In the Public Realm the Honorific Appellation of the Title Represents Commissioned Civil Authority, Integrity, and the Public Diplomacy for the State Designating the Honor

The Goodwill Ambassador Commission of each legal jurisdiction separates and regulates this Honorable Title distinguishing it independently from the unofficial and uncommissioned good-will ambassadors of churches, nonprofit organizations, sports teams, and manufacturer retail brand ambassadors. In Arkansas they have the Arkansas Traveler, in Kentucky it is the Kentucky Colonel, both of these honors recognize the recipients as its Commissioned Goodwill Ambassadors with their "rights, privileges, and responsibilities appertaining thereto" with "letters patent" signed by the governor.

Group of Goodwill Ambassadors, Arkansas Travelers, Knights of Honor, Orinoco Admirals, Kentucky and Tennessee Colonels discussing the significance of the Honorable Title and necessity for the use of introductory honorifics, social protocol, and courtesy titles.

Clarifying, Protecting, and Celebrating a Legacy of Service

The title of "Goodwill Ambassador" has a long and storied history, dating back to the 1920s with Colonel Charles Lindbergh before becoming a mainstay institution of the United Nations with the introduction of the title's first official uses in the 1950s by individual US states.

It's a title that carries immense honor, signifies a commitment to serving others, and represents advocates struggles to resolve the world's greatest issues. However, the last few years have seen an alarming rise in the misuse and appropriation of this seemingly innocent honorific title including deceptive scams involving the United Nations departments and confusion with them. But moreover, there are 25,000 or more uncommissioned and unofficial global goodwill ambassadors on LinkedIn that are often confused with real "Goodwill Ambassadors" working for organizations and international commissions.

To address this, we're establishing the first official assembly for the association of legally designated Goodwill Ambassadors by officials governments and organizations authorized to create them. Our goals are to protect the integrity of the title, support current and future Goodwill Ambassadors, and provide clear guidelines for using the title. Currently it is against the law in the United States to impersonate a Goodwill Ambassador generically with the legal title in a commercial sense, goodwill ambassadors can only be created by universities, state institutions, and civil society organizations.

Did you know that the Goodwill Ambassador title is synonymous with many other honorable standing awards granted by US Governors?
Did you know that Goodwill Ambassadors often naturally enjoy some diplomatic privileges when traveling abroad?
Did you know that there are many ways to be recognized as a Goodwill Ambassador based on other types of official recognition?

Our Action Plan

Verification and Licensing: We will verify the credentials of individuals and organizations claiming the title "Goodwill Ambassador." We will issue licenses identifying those who have been officially designated by a competent jurisdictional authority, ensuring the title's proper use by a public figure.
Handbook and Manual: We will create a comprehensive "Goodwill Ambassador Handbook and Manual" to guide the professional conduct and activities of Goodwill Ambassadors. This resource drawing upon the policies of the European Commission, the United Nations, and the United States will provide clear guidelines and best practices for using the title effectively. The handbook will be intended for limited circulation among Goodwill Ambassadors, departments of government, law enforcement, and border protection officials.
Education and Advocacy: We will educate the public and media about the proper use of the "Goodwill Ambassador" title. We will advocate for laws, policies and regulations that protect the title's integrity and prevent its misuse.

Benefits of Joining

Community and Networking: We will foster a vibrant community of Goodwill Ambassadors, providing opportunities to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other.
Advocacy Support: We shall provide resources and guidance to amplify your advocacy efforts and maximize your impact.

Clarifying the Role of a Goodwill Ambassador

Advocacy: Goodwill Ambassadors advocate for issues and struggles facing the world's children to governments, businesses, and the public. They also educate the public through the media and events.
Fundraising: Goodwill Ambassadors can launch initiatives and campaigns in their own name or the name of their embassy as the executive in charge. They can also stay to witness the impact of their work by traveling to the field. Goodwill Ambassadors are trusted to receive and apply donations to their causes and therefore be transparent in the social media.
Best Practices: Goodwill Ambassadors are committed to the values and principles set forth in the UN charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Sustainable Development Goals through 2030, and other humanitarian guidelines.
Ambassadorship: Goodwill Ambassadors are granted special benefits, rights, privileges, and responsibilities that only a head-of-state or international organization or jurisdictional representative can grant in office. It is up to each ambassador which of these extraordinary powers they officially exercise.

Cost of Participation

New Ambassadors: The cost to become a certified, verified, or vetted Goodwill Ambassador through a third-party facilitator was previously in the range of $3,500 to $25,000. This included professional services such as profile development, mission training, getting news coverage, creation of a Google Knowledge Panel, and addition as a subject in Wikipedia.
Existing Ambassadors: With the introduction of the new Goodwill Ambassador Guide, Handbook and Manual, individuals can manage these aspects for themselves, eliminating the need for external professional services. From the book any organization can manifest a greater presence and increase the temperature of their public diplomacy efforts.
Chapter Designation Fee: To be listed as a permanent delegate member or start a chapter of the Goodwill Ambassadors Association or a Goodwill Ambassador Club, (goodwillambassadors.org) for your a particular territory, city, state, country, interest, or cultural region there is a one-time patronage of $1,250 USD for a commission certificate. This charter and licensing fee can be donated or pledged in installments over the course of the first year, it also assures that your full name and designation will appear in the handbook and your biography as a goodwill initiative leader on our website.
Listing and Registry Fee: To be listed independently as a Goodwill Ambassador Title Mark user and member of our association you can join us by donating $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 and paying dues of $13.00 each month. The donation includes registration of your title in a searchable database and a listing under our Unified List of Goodwill Ambassadors. Members at the introductory level that are current in their dues for three consecutive months are automatically listed in the handbook being published near the end of 2025. See the Registration Form.
Sponsor a Featured Goodwill Ambassador: Goodwill Ambassadors have their fans, friends, and admirers that document and follow some of the world's favorite Goodwill Ambassadors like Katy Perry, Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, and many others which we routinely use as our role models. Sometimes this person is the public relations secretary of the celebrity themselves. By sponsoring an unrepresented celebrity article you can take the credit for the article as a Goodwill Ambassador Consular Officer or a Friend of a Goodwill Ambassador, which are one step away from becoming a Goodwill Ambassador (in theory and practice) yourself. Depending on the background of the work being distinguished up to three authors can contribute to a single work edited by our team.

Call to Action

Join us in our mission to safeguard the integrity of the Goodwill Ambassador title. Your donation, no matter the size, will make a difference. Together, we can ensure that this title remains a symbol of service, dedication, and global goodwill.

There are different ways to help. You can become a Goodwill Ambassador or you can become a Friend of Goodwill Ambassadors or a Fan.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:27:00 +0000

This year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, being held today, 9 August is expected to cast a spotlight on the importance of traditional knowledge in environmental management and the role that indigenous women have in preserving Indigenous culture. Likewise Globcal International and the Goodwill Ambassador Commission (Goodwill Ambassadors) are onboard with focused activities on deterring climate change with Indigenous Peoples on the frontline.

Ten Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities from 9 Countries Bag 2022 Equator Prize by the UNDP

All ten Equator Prize winners promote gender equality and showcase the importance of placing traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions at the heart of local development.

NEW YORK – The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and partners announce the winners of the 13th Equator Prize, recognizing ten Indigenous peoples and local communities from nine countries. The winners, selected from a pool of over 500 nominations from 109 countries hail from Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Mozambique and Argentina. The announcement also marks the Equator Initiative’s 20th anniversary, recognizing 264 winners to date.

This year’s winners highlight the theme of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.” Four of this year’s Equator Prize winners are women-led initiatives, while all ten promote gender equality in their community, and all showcase the importance of placing traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions at the heart of local development. The winning organizations demonstrate the ways that innovative, nature-based solutions can enable communities to achieve, even in a time of economic, environmental, political and public health shocks.

"For 20 years, Equator Prize winners have shown that local communities are already putting into place the economic and development transformations we need, to achieve a nature-positive future for all. Now more than ever, it is time to emulate their leadership and support their efforts. We are grateful to the ten Equator Prize winners for the inspiration they provide, and we are grateful to the Government of Norway for their generous support to the Equator Initiative,” - stated Francine Pickup, Deputy Director of UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.

Among this year’s winners are also an Indigenous women-led group of grassroots organizers protecting jaguars through political and cultural advocacy; a coalition of Indigenous tribes making the field of conservation research more inclusive to local communities; a local environmental justice organization at the forefront of international efforts to conserve and protect vital biodiversity hotspots – mangroves; and a community-managed forestry project that protects local livelihoods while safeguarding the endangered Bonobo.

Equator Prize winners will receive US$10,000, and the opportunity to take part in a series of special virtual events associated with the UN General Assembly, the UNDP Nature for Life Hub, COP 27 in Egypt, and COP 15 in Montreal. They will join a network of 264 communities from over 80 countries that have received the Equator Prize since its inception 20 years ago.

The celebration of the Equator Prize winners will take place in late November during UNDP’s Nature for Life Hub, just before the long-delayed global biodiversity conference.

For more information, please visit the Equator Initiative website and join the conversation by using #EquatorPrize on Twitter or Facebook.

The Sunkpa Shea Women’s Cooperative is an Indigenous-women-led shea butter cooperative in the savannah region of Northern Ghana. This cooperative has been able to take a community-led approach to creating a sustainable and inclusive shea butter value chain that has provided economic opportunity to over 800 women within the cooperative.

Meet the Equator Prize 2022 Winners

RED TICCA "Territorios de Vida en Argentina" – Argentina

This consortium of Indigenous peoples throughout Argentina is conserving, managing and governing 3.5M ha of “Living Space,” through the largest Indigenous Conservation and Conserved Area (ICCA) network in the country. This network allows them to uphold their right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as well as push for their cultural values are integrated in public policies.

Associação Bebô Xikrin do Bacajá – Brazil

Working in the Trincheira Bacajá Indigenous area in Brazil, Associação Bebô Xikrin do Bacajá has developed a sustainable production system of coconut oil. The local action of Xikrin women has turned the community’s ancestral knowledge into an income-generating opportunity that funds the conservation of their lands.

Associação Rede de Sementes do Xingu – Brazil

Associação Rede de Sementes do Xingu has brought together women from 25 Indigenous, agricultural and urban communities to collect and commercialize over 220 different species of seeds for large-scale ecological reforestation of the Amazon and the Cerrado. In doing so they have generated incomes of over $700K and financially empowered Indigenous women throughout the region.

Mbou-Mon-Tour – Democratic Republic of the Congo

This organization has developed a locally, community-led system of ecosystem conservation in the DRC that promotes the coexistence of Indigenous peoples and local communities with local Bonobo populations. They have done this through a legal framework of Local Community Forest Concessions (CFCL) that are specifically designed to protect native biodiversity and respect local customs.

Coordinadora Nacional para la Defensa del Ecosistema Manglar (C-CONDEM) - Ecuador

C-CONDEM promotes participatory and community reforestation of mangrove forests, reclaiming areas deforested by the industrial aquaculture and promoting an alternative, sustainable and inclusive land use. At C-CONDEM, rural women from an Afro-Ecuadorian minority relentlessly combat mangrove deforestation through activism and global restoration campaigns for the ecological rights of coastal communities in Ecuador. Their activism led to the proclamation of International Day of Mangrove Ecosystems.

Organisation Écologique des Lacs et de l’Ogooué (OELO) – Gabon

OELO successfully created a sustainable solution to freshwater resource management in and around Gabon's largest Ramsar site - the Bas Ogooué. Through their work, they created the first community-written sustainable freshwater fisheries management plan that was signed into law in 2018, improving the lives of local fisherfolk and creating numerous alternative economic opportunities in the region.

Sunkpa Shea Women's Cooperative – Ghana

This Indigenous, women-led cooperative is setting an example for sustainable commodity production through their shea butter production cooperative. The group managed integrating their organic production into international supply chains while improving the lives of 800 women.

Ocean Revolution Moçambique – Mozambique

Ocean Revolution Moçambique is empowering the local communities surrounding Inhambane Bay to play a central role in deciding how to best conserve their marine resources. By encouraging the community to become active participant in their conservation efforts, the organization trains the next generation of ecotourism and conservation divers in the region.

Organización de Mujeres Indígenas Unidas por la Biodiversidad de Panamá (OMIUBP) – Panama

This Indigenous, women-led organization builds capacity in biodiversity, climate change, and traditional knowledge conservation techniques. Their overarching goal is to protect jaguars and to preserve territory and culture at the same time.

Mauberema Ecotourism, Nature Conservation, Education Research & Training Center – Papua New Guinea

Breaking barriers in the conservation field of Papua New Guinea, Mauberema Ecotourism, Nature Conservation, Education Research & Training Center is leading a consortium of Indigenous community-based organizations to conserve their ecosystems. As a youth-led organization, they also partner with local universities to spur Indigenous youth to be the future of conservation workers in Papua New Guinea.

For media inquiries please contact Sangita Khadka at sangita.khadka@undp.org

Can we all be Ambassadors of Goodwill?

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 19:41:00 +0000

This article is being republished from Okinawa, Japan in 2012 by an anonymous blogger (contributor) of the III Marine Expeditionary Force where it was placed in the public domain. This article does not reflect the positions or views of the Goodwill Ambassador Commission, but Goodwill Ambassadors felt that it important and should be republished.

We Can All Be Ambassadors of Goodwill

Original article - III Marine Expeditionary Force

We often hear the phrase, “Be a good ambassador,” but we may not know just what this means for us, as Marines, sailors, DOD civilians and family members. After all, there already is an official U.S. ambassador to Japan, who is located in Tokyo, who represents the president of the United States and the U.S. government here in Japan. So, how can we, as individuals far away from the capital of Japan, really be considered ambassadors, you might ask?

Officers of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (Photo: Okinawa Marine 2008)

The modern version of the word derives from the French word, “ambassadeur,” but its early origins can be traced to the Latin word, “ambactus,” which means “servant.” According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, there are at least four definitions for ambassador:

a diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time;
a diplomatic official heading his or her country’s permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations;
an authorized messenger or representative; and
an unofficial representative, such as ambassadors of goodwill.

It is this last definition that is most relevant here, and the one we should take to heart in all that we do in Japan, as well as wherever we find ourselves when abroad in both official and private capacities.

Some of us may not realize or fully appreciate it, but our behavior and attitude in our daily activities and interactions with residents form lasting impressions of who we are as Americans. Indeed, for many people, especially children, we may be the very first American they have ever spoken to, shared a seat with, or have had a door held open by. As such, these first (and perhaps only) impressions are crucial in our engagement with the Japanese people.

Conversely, when we misbehave, are rude, speak with profanity, dress sloppily, break a law, or are otherwise obnoxious and offend our Japanese neighbors, we are certainly not being good ambassadors to our host nation.

A good rule to follow on being a good ambassador is an extension of “the Golden Rule”—treat others as you would wish to be treated. In other words, we should act in a foreign country as we would want visitors to the United States to act in our country. It is that simple.

My background is as a professor and writer of diplomatic history. There are countless incidents from the more than 150-year history of the U.S.-Japan relationship where bad behavior and the misunderstanding that developed out of the incident affected the bilateral relationship for years to come.

Our misbehavior and failure to respect local laws, customs and courtesies can have serious implications and repercussions. They reflect badly on not just ourselves but on our command and on our country.

Importantly, on the other hand, there are many more episodes where one positive interaction, one act of kindness, one gesture of goodwill and compassion changed a person, school or community forever and, in some cases, their view of the United States and its people.

Which do you want to be remembered for, Mr. or Mrs. Ambassador?

Kwaio, One of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Veneke Ylikomi) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:00:00 +0000

Kwaio culture – purity, respect for food, and simplicity

9th August is celebrated as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Today we highlight Kwaio peoples, an ethnic group found in central Malaita, in the Solomon Islands. We will examine the culture from the perspective of a goodwill ambassador and Swedish international human rights activist, the Honorable Maria Veneke Ylikomi

Means of transport in East Kwaio. Photo: Ann Arika

Ann Lindvall Arika was born in Sweden. After travelling in many parts of the world, she settled down in the Solomon Islands where she fell in love and married Robert, a man from the ethnic group Kwaio.

Most Kwaio have accepted Christianity, but a minority practise their own, indigenous religion. These non-Christian Kwaio are sometimes called “the hidden people”, since they prefer to live by themselves. Originally, they were called “the heathen people”, but this is now considered offensive.

Robert's village in East Kwaio, Malaita. Photo: Ann Arika

Purity is something fundamental in Kwaio culture – and in Roma culture

“Life in Solomon Islands consists of a fine net of relations, rules and considerations; all that is called ‘culture’. A lot of it circles around water and purity. The Pacific islanders must be the cleanest people in the world, who preferably take a shower two or three times a day. If they have access to water and soap.”

The paragraph above is a quotation from Ann Lindvall Arika’s latest book “Solomon Grassroot”, in which she describes her everyday life in the Solomon Islands. Ann is an unusually humble person, and it is a great pleasure to read about her experiences of other countries and other cultures.

In the book Solomon Grassroot, Ann has written a whole chapter about “Water and Culture”. She tells the reader that free running drinking water is an incredible global luxury and she thinks it is a paradox that the islands in the Pacific Ocean suffer from a lack of water. Ann explains that there sometimes are arguments about the water pipes in the local community Koa Hill where she and Robert live together.

It is mostly between the Kwaio and non-Kwaio. The Kwaio have strict, almost ritualistic, rules for purity.

Ann is washing clothes close to the water pipes in Koa Hill community, Honiara.

Ann further explains that she recognizes some features of the Kwaio culture, for example purity, within the Roma culture.

I worked with Roma people in the 80's and also hung out privately with some. I read everything I came across, books, magazines, listened to the radio, watched TV shows and learned a lot. The view of purity also among the Roma is not only physical, but it goes deep, almost something existential.

Traditional Roma people have to wash their hands the first thing they do in the morning before doing anything else. You must absolutely not use the same cloth for the floor as for the table, do not put shoes on the table (but Swedes would hardly do that either). It was a Roma who wanted to insult other Romas in a camp in Sweden at the time Roma people lived in camps. He used the dishcloth to wipe the floor, and in this way he got the whole camp 'declared unclean', which was a social disaster.

Respect for food

Another feature that Ann describes as an important part of the Kwaio culture is a deep respect for food.

Preparation of taro pudding for a feast. Photo: Ann Arika

“Since time immemorial, the Kwaio have a deep respect for food. There is hardly any waste; everything is used. But something, however, is always left over, be it grains of rice, crumbs, fishbones. That is why, in traditional villages, they eat sitting close to the fire, so these small leftovers can be consumed immediately by the fire and not be polluted. And food deserves a better fate than to be flushed down with toilet water. That is lacking in respect and absolutely taboo. Among the hidden people, it is a serious offence. The guilty must sacrifice at least one pig; otherwise the spirits will make something dreadful happen to her or him. The Christian Kwaio, too, take this seriously. It is simply a part of the Kwaio culture”, Ann writes in her book Solomon Grassroot.

East coast of Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Photo: Ann Arika

Calm and harmony, purity and simplicity

After settling down in the Solomon Islands, Ann realizes that she has a strong feeling of calm and harmony.

This is the life I wanted to live, a quiet life in purity and simplicity in a tropical country, she writes in the book Solomon Grassroot.

Ann tries to describe the simplicity she is talking about and makes a comparison between life in the Solomon Islands and life in Sweden:

It is clear that life here in the Solomon Islands is different from life in Sweden. I mean both technological simplicity and the simple way of life. There (in Sweden) there are so many amenities, electricity, household appliances, broadband and an endless range of goods are taken for granted. I admit that in Sweden there is a kind of fundamental honesty, and government officials usually want to help (without bribes). There is also more stress, more self-preoccupation, more whining, more pseudo-problems. Here is more “real life” or what I should say. My friend from New Zealand, who lives here, says the same thing.

Basket weaving from coconut leaflets. Photo: Ann Arika

Five important features of Kwaio culture

What do they mean by kastom and what do I mean? For me, it is the same phenomenon that appears in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, and by all means in many other parts of the world: manners and traditions, values and mentality, yes, everything that is called culture. The Kwaio (especially the hidden people’s) culture is the very quintessence, the hard core, of Melanesian culture”, Ann reflects in the book Solomon Grassroot.

The first feature that Ann mentions among the most important parts of the Kwaio culture is family and kinship cohesion.

Family/relatives are part of one's identity. The most important thing is to maintain cohesion and harmony, even if it goes against one's own wishes. It shows up in hosting and feeding visiting members. As society changes, this can become burdensome in the long run; Kwaio in town, unlike those in the village, have to buy all the food. Some visitors contribute with bags of sweet potatoes or other foods, others do not.

The second important value that Ann mentions as a part of the Kwaio culture is humility, not to emphasize oneself but instead care about others. The third feature she mentions is purity and respect for food that is also mentioned above. The fourth feature is the physical relationship between people.

You should not walk between two people communicating, and do not step over someone's outstretched legs. You should not pass in front of someone but instead behind or at least nod apologetically.

The fifth feature is something that Ann’s husband Robert, who is a Kwaio man from the village Fousisigi, adds. Ann declares that she has not been thinking about this so much.

This applies to the relationship between different family members. The distance between adult men and female in-laws is especially important. In-laws are called 'taboo', which actually means 'forbidden', and it is forbidden to encroach on their privacy. We have for example Robert's nephew and his wife (both about 20–25 years old) living with us. Then Robert cannot go into their room and get something, for example if they borrowed his mobile and kept it, out of respect for the female-in-law. But he can ask a woman or a child to do it. And Robert cannot go into his brother’s and his wife’s (both about 70 years) house, because his wife is a taboo. That is why there is an outer space to gather in, which is open to all. Getting engaged is called being 'declared taboo'.

An economically equal society, but not gender equal

Ann experiences the Kwaio society as an economically equal society.

There are no feudal lords who own land and have subordinates who take care of it. All Kwaio are self-employed farmers. A family owns a land that an ancestor has measured out, and everyone in that family has the birthright to part of that land. All land in the Solomon Islands is thus privately owned.

On the contrary, Ann hardly experiences the Kwaio culture as a gender equal society.

Women are by definition considered unclean and must follow more taboos than men. They are expected to do shitty jobs like cleaning and heavy jobs like agriculture. Among non-Christian Kwaio, they live in a separate house when they are menstruating. This does not mean that women must be treated badly. There are certainly as many happy marriages among traditional Kwaio as in the rest of the world. The high incidence of family-related violence in the Solomon Islands as a whole is partly due to the collision between the ancient culture and the so-called modern society with the dilution of alcohol, a very common phenomenon in the world.

Ancestral spirits

Ann explains that there are many taboos in Kwaio culture and breaking a taboo can have severe consequences.

Ancestral spirits must not be offended. This can be done by breaking a taboo. There are many taboos. One is for example to wash dishes or to have leftover food flushed into the same water that goes to the toilet (respect for food). It could be that a woman pees in a potty indoors. It could be that a woman is sitting over, or stepping over, food or pots. Then the spirits can punish the guilty one by letting her or him become ill or the like. They can be appeased if for example the guilty one sacrifices a pig.

Dance in traditional dress. Photo: Ann Arika

The Hidden People

“The religion is based on ancestral spirits, andalo, and the contact between the spirits and the common people is mediated through the priest. The ancestral spirits are constantly present and rule the lives of the people. They must not be offended or insulted, such as when somebody breaches a taboo. A breaching demands purification and sacrifice to the spirits”, Ann writes in the book chapter called The Hidden People.

In the beginning of the chapter, she describes the hidden people:

“The hidden people have been mentioned here and there in this book. They live their traditional life in the mountains of East Kwaio. Nowhere and never has the kastom concept been stronger than here. The hidden people have rejected Christianity and until just recently also clothes and other modern inventions. They live a traditional lifestyle with shifting cultivation and move from place to place to be close to their gardens.”

The hidden people arranging “shell money” for economic transactions. Permission to publish by Wilzen Orisi.

In the same chapter of the book, there is the following description of the important Kwaio feature of purity already mentioned:

“The culture or kastom of the Kwaio in general, and the hidden people in particular, is founded on the concept of opposites like ‘purity – pollution’ and ‘high – low’. The view of purity has an almost ritual quality, and to avoid pollution, there are, as we have seen, several restrictions and rules. The difference is that for the Christian Kwaio it is a recommendation, while for the hidden people it is an absolute law.”

Above left: Robert Arika, born in East Kwaio, Malaita. Lives in Koa Hill, outside the capital Honiara. Driver, hobby carpenter, hobby electrician. Robert is wearing a headband, a traditional ornament. Above right: Ann Arika, originally from Sweden. Lives in Koa Hill since 2007. Writer, soap maker, housewife.

Robert and Ann Arika in Österskär in Sweden. Photo: Maria Veneke Ylikomi

Text: Maria Veneke Ylikomi

This article contains excerpts from the book Solomon Grassroot written by Ann Lindvall Arika.

Alberto Lati appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:54:00 +0000

Journalist, sportscaster and writer Alberto Lati appointed as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

Renowned Mexican journalist, sportscaster and writer Alberto Lati, has today been announced as a UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, Goodwill Ambassador for Mexico.

Through his reporting and authorship, Lati has long been a champion of the refugee cause. He began his collaboration with UNHCR in 2015 with the “Around the World in a Backpack” campaign. Since then, he has continued to promote refugee rights throughout his work and in the media.

In 2016 Lati boosted the visibility the Olympic Refugee Team at the Rio Summer Games, when he interviewed two members of the team, Yusra Mardini and Yiech Pur Biel, for international media. He has also profiled prominent international refugee athletes such as recently appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, footballer Alphonso Davies, and marathoner Yonas Kinde, who was part of the Olympic Refugee Team. In all of Lati’s books, refugees feature prominently.

Visiting Tapachula, near Mexico’s border with Guatemala in 2015, Lati witnessed displacement movements first-hand, as Central American refugees seeking safety from gang violence and organized crime crossed the Suchiate River. In 2021, he visited the northern Mexican cities of Saltillo and Monterrey, where he met with refugees who were relocated by UNHCR and were able to integrate in their new host communities.

“I am very honoured today to be appointed the title of UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. I know from my own experience how sport can make a positive difference in the lives of people who have been forced to flee their homes and sport will be one of the tools I use to promote refugee rights,” Lati said. “My commitment is with all refugees worldwide. Together we can shine without leaving anyone behind.”

UNHCR’s Representative in Mexico, Mark Manly, welcomed Lati’s appointment as Goodwill Ambassador. “Alberto’s commitment to refugees is truly exceptional. For six years he has listened to their stories and shared the realities of forced displacement with a wide audience,” said Manly.

“In his journalism, he excels at conveying empathy and solidarity with refugees and how sports can open the way for inclusion”.

For more information please contact:

Silvia Garduño, Public Information Officer UNHCR Mexico, Mexico City; Phone: 55 2848 7440, mexmepi@unhcr.org / garduno@unhcr.org

Angélica Montes, Public Information Associate, Phone; +52 1 55 2504 4169, mexmepi@unhcr.org / montessa@unhcr.org

Encouraging G7 Countries to Share

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:53:00 +0000

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Fighting Pandemic

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors join 28 high-profile UNICEF supporters to urge G7 countries to donate COVID-19 vaccine doses to poor countries. Ahead of G7 leaders summit this weekend, UNICEF Ambassadors and Supporters published a joint letter urging G7 leaders to commit to sharing at least 20 percent of available COVID-19 vaccine doses.

News for Immediate Release

NEW YORK, 8 June 2021 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, David Beckham, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Whoopi Goldberg, Angélique Kidjo, Liam Neeson and others have joined an extraordinary call by 28 high-profile UNICEF Ambassadors and Supporters demanding that G7 leaders commit to donating doses of COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries now.

The open letter, published today ahead of the three-day G7 Leaders’ Summit (Friday 11-Sunday 13 June) in Cornwall, UK, urges G7 leaders to commit to sharing a minimum of 20 per cent of COVID-19 vaccine dose supply urgently, to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further and the threat of mutant strains.

Ramla Ali, Fernando Alonso, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, José Manuel Calderón, Sofia Carson, Gemma Chan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Olivia Colman, Billie Eilish, Pau Gasol, Whoopi Goldberg, David Harewood, Sir Chris Hoy, Angélique Kidjo, Téa Leoni, Lucy Liu, Juan Manuel López Iturriaga, Ewan McGregor, Alyssa Milano, Andy Murray, Liam Neeson, Liam Payne, Katy Perry, Sergio Ramos, Claudia Schiffer, Teresa Viejo and P!nk are joining UNICEF in calling on G7 world leaders to donate doses and ensure fair and equitable vaccine supply to low- and middle- income countries.

“The world has spent a year and a half battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is still spreading in many countries and producing new variants with the potential to put us all back where we started,” the letter reads. “This means more school closures, more healthcare disruptions, and greater economic fallout – threatening the futures of families and children everywhere.”

The letter goes on to warn that COVAX, the global initiative supporting poorer countries in gaining access to vaccines, is already facing a shortfall of 190 million doses, and proposes that, in order to help cover this shortfall, G7 countries donate 20 per cent of their vaccines between June and August – over 150 million doses – as a temporary stopgap measure to compensate for this shortfall. Recent data analysis provided by Airfinity, the life sciences research facility, and commissioned by the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), indicates that G7 nations could do so without significant delay to current plans to vaccinate domestic adult populations.

“As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador I believe in the crucial benefit of vaccinations,” said David Beckham, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. “The pandemic won’t be over until it’s over everywhere, so it’s vital that all communities around the world have fair access to COVID-19 vaccines urgently.”

UNICEF is also warning that without urgently ensuring fair and equitable access supply, the world will continue to be at risk of deadly virus mutations – like the devastating second wave of COVID-19 sweeping across India and other South Asian countries including Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“The crisis at home in India and across the region of South Asia is devastating. This deadly surge of COVID-19 is placing an enormous strain on health facilities across India, with hospital beds, essential medical supplies and oxygen running out. It’s also of huge concern to all of us at UNICEF to hear about children falling ill with this new variant - while many are also losing parents and left alone and at risk, unable to access critical health care, vaccinations and education,” said Priyanka Chopra Jonas, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. “The crisis in India shows why we must act now to avoid further deadly mutations ravaging low- and middle- income nations around the world. UNICEF and its COVAX partners are ensuring vaccines and treatments reaches the world’s most vulnerable populations, but cannot do it alone. A clear solution to this is G7 countries committing to sharing their surplus COVID-19 vaccine doses immediately with the countries whose health workers and vulnerable populations need them the most. That’s exactly why I’ve joined my fellow UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors in signing this letter, urgently asking G7 leaders to make this commitment at the UK summit this week, to keep families and children everywhere safe from COVID-19.”

Finally, the letter argues that “this weekend’s G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for you to agree the actions that will get vaccines where they are most needed, fast…” and urges leaders to set out a roadmap to scale-up donations as supplies increase, noting that forecasts suggest as many as one billion doses may be available for donation by year end.

Until vaccines are available to everyone most people need to protect their families.

“Countries need not choose between fighting the disease at home or fighting it abroad. We can, and must, do both simultaneously – and immediately,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “This is a pivotal time in the fight against COVID-19, as leaders meet to set priorities for what form this fight will take in the coming weeks and months. I am pleased so many UNICEF supporters are joining our call for emergency support for COVAX, so we can continue to wage this fight globally. After all, the disease is not respecting boundaries on a map. Our fight to get ahead of the virus, and its variants, should not either.”

Open Letter from UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors

Dear G7 Leaders,

The world has spent a year and a half battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is still spreading in many countries and producing new variants with the potential to put us all back where we started. This means more school closures, more healthcare disruptions and greater economic fallout – threatening the futures of families and children everywhere.

The pandemic will not be over anywhere until it is over everywhere, and that means getting vaccines to every country, as quickly and equitably as possible. This weekend’s G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for you to agree the actions that will get vaccines where they are most needed, fast.

UNICEF is already on the ground delivering vaccines on behalf of COVAX, the international vaccine equity initiative. But right now, COVAX is 190 million doses short of where it needs to be, which leaves vulnerable people dangerously unprotected. Some countries have committed to donating vaccines later this year, but doses are needed now.

UNICEF analysis shows that G7 countries will soon have enough doses to donate 20% of their vaccines between June and August – over 150 million doses – without significant delay to current plans to vaccinate their adult populations. We’re asking you to make these urgent donations by August and to set out a roadmap to scale-up donations as supplies increase.

Forecasts suggest as many as 1 billion doses may be available for donation by year end. The hopes of the world rest on your shoulders. Together, you must rise to this challenge. Let’s build a healthier, brighter and fairer future for every child and for everyone.

* UNICEF has left the text of the letter open for additional signatures from UNICEF Ambassadors and Supporters. This press release was updated to add Selena Gomez and Lionel Messi (June 8), Jeremy Lin and Lily Singh (June 9).

UNACWCA Goodwill Ambassador, Fighting for Women's Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 12:47:00 +0000

Ghana's New UNA Goodwill Ambassador

Not all United Nations Associations have goodwill ambassadors that can be used to represent their organizations internationally, but they do in Ghana. The United Nations Association of Ghana Commission for Women and Children Affairs (UNACWCA) has just officially appointed their own goodwill ambassador consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative's Goal 5 focused on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Ghana.

UNACWCA News Release

Accra, Ghana - The United Nations Association of Ghana Commission for Women and Children Affairs (UNACWCA), has reached an agreement with the former IBF Lightweight Champion Mr. Richard Oblitey Commey, to have him serve as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Commission.

Women and Children - SDGs

It comes after the Commission has monitored Mr. Commey's good conduct and humanitarian services in diverse ways. This agreement has been made possible by Mr. Commey's own passion to do something enduring for women and children in Ghana. His management - Streetwise Management Limited, has also consented to this agreement.

This is a long term relationship which will see Mr. Richard Commey works closely with the UNACWCA, government, civil society and other interest groups to facilitate the attainment of UN SDG 5 - Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Ghana.

As you may be aware, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) are set of 17 goals and 169 targets agreed by all UN member states with the aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.

Agreement Signed

Today's signing of the MOU between UNACWCA, Mr. Richard Commey, and Streetwise Management Limited is a seal on this deal and details among many things, specific responsibilities of the Goodwill Ambassador;

As a Goodwill Ambassador, the UNACWCA, hopes to leverage on Commey's notability as a highly reputed public figure in Ghana to help focus national attention on the work of the Commission in-country. Particularly, in achieving SDG 5 - Gender Equality.
Richard Oblitey Commey shall be partly responsible for delivering humanitarian relief, help in the implementation of the UNACWCA programs, and providing development assistance to demonstrate benevolence and compassion for women and children.
Articulate the philosophy of the UNACWCA in the area of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
Motivate people to act in the interest of improving their own lives and those of their fellow citizens especially women and children.
Participate in certain pre-approved UNACWCA events at the UN headquarters and elsewhere as when it becomes necessary.
Engage in public advocacy and fundraising activities
Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UNACWCA

It is the UNACWCA's hope that by working with Mr. Richard Commey, and other stakeholders, it shall be able to deliver on its mandate areas such as:

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

World Kindness Movement, Australia's Goodwill Ambassadors

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:31:00 +0000

Be the Gift that Keeps on Giving, Be a Goodwill Ambassador

Michael Lloyd-White created kindness campaigns championed by Goodwill Ambassadors to generate meaningful and positive exchanges within organisations in both the private and public-sector spaces – and the results speak louder than slogans. Secretary General of The World Kindness Movement, Lloyd-White connected the principles of the World Kindness Movement Campaign with the idea of the goodwill ambassador in Australian cities.

Australian Cities Adopt Goodwill Ambassadors

By Michael Lloyd-White

Local Government bodies across Australia have embraced the Goodwill Ambassador concept both at elected councillor and bureaucratic levels. The motion is moved through a “Mayoral Minute” at a full sitting of Council and a bipartisan Declaration of Support is called for from the floor to support World Kindness Australia’s endeavours to make our world a little kinder for our children. A presentation is made, and the Declaration of Support is produced at a signing ceremony for all councillors to sign regardless of which side of politics they may be from. At the invitation of the Mayor and on behalf of the community, a company can have its own board follow suit.

The Gold Coast City Council in Australia, with a constituency of 550,000 and employing over 3,500 staff, appointed their own Goodwill Ambassador in 2012, Councillor Glenn Tozer.

“We saw the appointment of a Goodwill Ambassador as an important part of our city identity and an opportunity to partner with and highlight the already active members of our community contributing positively to overall morale. Our commitment to driving tourism in the Queensland economy is enhanced by a willingness to acknowledge how important kindness and compassion is when promoting our appeal to a prospective tourist. Of course, the everyday community needs a hug too sometimes and acts of generosity and kindness make our city a better place to live, conduct business, and raise a family,” says Tozer.

Fast forward to late 2017 and the City of Gold Coast had not just consistently met its Kindness Performance Indicators, it exceeded them and was recognised by the peak global body the World Kindness Movement by its endorsement as a world first ‘World Kindness City’. This is significant as the Gold Coast is host to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, welcoming 70 nations in 2018.

In January 2018, Variety International become another member of World Kindness USA and we look forward to getting them on board our Kindness Performance Indicators too. Many will be familiar with Variety as the charity for children in operation for over 90 years with 22 offices in the US and a footprint within 20 countries worldwide. Variety will be appointing Goodwill Ambassadors in each of their offices and hosting Signing Ceremonies to assist engaging its staff in a global kindness campaign.

While organisations may have the reach and resources to make a huge impact in kindness, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador can start from the home. The fact is, no one person can do everything but all of us can do something. If we follow this philosophy then we will be one step closer to seeing kindness become our default position. It costs nothing to show kindness, but the return is immense, and enduring…

Secretary General of The World Kindness Movement, Michael Lloyd-White, Photo: INDVSTRVS

The World Kindness Movement proposes the following top ten actions for corporates to consider:

Place Kindness on The Agenda
Host a regular panel where conversations in kindness can take place
Develop a Kindness Policy and Workshop
Create a pledge to always seek the kinder option
Appoint Goodwill Ambassadors to co-ordinate, acknowledge and reward acts of kindness
Collaborate in kindness through seeking ideas from all stakeholders, external and internal
Undertake a quarterly Kindness Index
Aim for your organisation to become an “Agent for Positive Change” through having a purpose greater than its bottom line
Encourage the Board to sign a Declaration of Support in an official Signing Ceremony inviting all key stake-holders to witness; and
Insert a Kindness Clause into your agreements or constitution.

Additional Credits:

Read the entire article: Be the Gift that Keeps on Giving, by Michael Lloyd-White
Read more about the author: Secretary General of The World Kindness Movement

Globcal International, Honorificus and the Goodwill Ambassador Foundation recognize the World Kindness Movement program ambassadors with the official title of WKM Goodwill Ambassador and Australian cities that have a Goodwill Ambassador of __(CITY NAME)__, as an honorific style and form of address.

Ato Dakheel, a Yazidi living in Sweden

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Veneke Ylikomi) — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 14:15:00 +0000

The Sun Shines all over the World

Ato Dakheel is a Yazidi born in Hardan, a small village in northern Iraq. In 2014, Ato and his family fled Iraq when ISIL attacked the city of Sinjar near the Sinjar Mountain close to the Iraq-Syria border. After a long journey, Ato ended up in Sweden, where he today goes to school. In an interview he tells in detail about his, Yazidis’ and Kurds’ history.

Today he serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Yazidi/Kurdish people through sharing the account of his migratory journey.

The sun is an important symbol for Yazidis, Ato explains.

"On November 26, 2015, I came to Sweden and I call it my birthday," says Ato Dakheel.

Sunday, August 3, 2014 – Sinjar Massacre

Ato Dakheel says he will never forget Sunday, August 3, 2014. It was on that day, at 11 am, that ISIL attacked the city of Shingal, or Sinjar as it is also called. The city is located in northwestern Iraq near the Iraq-Syria border. About 80 percent of the city's population were at that time Yazidis, about 15 percent were Muslims and about 5 percent were Christians. The UN has described the ISIL attack on the Yazidis as genocide.

ISIL attacked and slaughtered all men and the elderly. Young girls were taken as sex slaves. ISIL took more than 50 cousins of mine on August 3, 2014. It was 12 kilometres to the mountain. We walked all the way and ISIL was behind us. ISIL calls Yazidis “kafer”, which means that you don't believe in anything. We believe in God and angels, Ato explains.

The World Community Needs to Act

In recent years, there have been a lot of tensions in the area around Shingal between different Kurdish forces.

“The world community needs /… / to act and put an end to the impunity that has been prevailing for a long time in a practically lawless Iraq. The UN has become lame and refrain many times from acting because they depend on the Iraqi government for their presence in the country. Failure to intervene, however, will lead to continued uncontrollable violence, law violations and war crimes,” the Swedish war correspondent and Middle Eastern analyst Magda Gad wrote in the Swedish newspaper Expressen on October 17, 2017.

The Kurds were one people

Ato Dakheel explains that the Kurds a long time ago were one people.

All Kurds were Yazidis. The Kurdish flag also testifies this. The Kurdish flag has a sun in the middle. The sun is an important symbol for us Yazidis.

Ato says that Kurdistan has its own territory in Iraq.

Kurdistan has its own president, prime minister and parliament, but belongs to Iraq.

Ato is very knowledgeable in this area and he knows his history well.

Before the First World War and even during the war many wars against religions took place. The Ottoman Empire wanted everyone to become Muslims. Many became Muslims after the First World War. Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which during the First World War was a friend of Germany. England and France wanted to divide the Ottoman Empire to make it weaker. After the First World War, the borders between Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey were drawn in the middle of Kurdistan.

The Kurdish flag

Some brief facts about the history of Kurdistan

1922: A Kurdish man in Turkey, Sheikh Said, fought against the Ottoman Empire. He was executed by Turkey in 1925.

1942: Mustafa Barzani, a Kurdish man from Iraq, wanted to make a revolution. His son Massoud Barzani is now president of the Kurdish part of Iraq. Along with an army of Peshmerga soldiers, Mustafa Barzani fought against the Iraqi state for an independent Kurdistan.

1946: Qazi Muhammad, a Kurd from Iran, fought against the Iranian state with the help of the Soviet Union. He was executed by the Iranian state.

Ato Dakheel explains that it was with the help of the United States that the Kurds in 1991 got their own region in Iraq where the Kurds could almost decide themselves. He further explains that the people of Iraq have suffered many wars.

On August 2, 1990, the Gulf War started when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq by attacking the capital Baghdad with aircraft and missiles.

March 16, 1988 – Halabja Massacre

March 16, 1988 was another tragic day in world history.

“30 years ago, Saddam Hussein's regime used the chemical weapons mustard gas and nerve gas to murder the Kurds in Halabja as part of his genocidal campaign, the so-called Al-Anfal Campaign, against Kurds. On March 16, 1988, 5,000 Kurds were murdered and more than 10,000 were estimated to be severely injured by the attack. Several thousand Kurds were reported to have died after the attack as a result of various complications, diseases and birth defects. The gas attack in Halabja was one of forty issued against Kurds during Saddam Hussein’s time where a total of 182,000 Kurds are estimated to have been murdered as part of the Al-Anfal Campaign. Even today, the survivors suffer from the traumatic experiences of that day, but also from the health problems that these chemical weapons brought. Experts have demonstrated that dangerous mustard gas still exists today in some of the city's cellars,” the International Women's Association for Peace and Freedom (Internationella Kvinnoförbundet för Fred och Frihet, IKFF) wrote on its blog on March 16, 2018.

Escaped to the Sinjar Mountain

Ato grew up in the small village of Hardan in northern Iraq. He says that there is very beautiful nature in Kurdistan. Water and mountains.

Ato went to school for nine years in Iraq. He says that the teachers beat the students if, for example, they forgot a school assignment. He also says that Yazidis could not go anywhere outside the area.

It happened many times that they kidnapped Yazidis and demanded a ransom, Ato says.

Ato lived in the village of Hardan until August 2014 when his family and many other Yazidi families fled up to the Sinjar Mountain.

We were on the Sinjar Mountain for eight days without food and without water. We had to eat leaves, Ato continues.

Kurdish military, PKK, came to the mountain and opened a small road.

We walked to Syria. There were about 500,000 people. There were children and there were women. Many cried. We slept in the field.

Worked 12 hours a day in Turkey

Ato draws a map to show how the borders go through Kurdistan. The countries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria are close to each other. He draws the city of Shingal, which ISIL attacked on August 3, 2014. Then he draws the province of Duhok, which borders on Turkey in the north and Syria in the west. Through the province of Duhok, Ato and his family – and about 400 other Yazidi families – were able to go to Turkey and a large mountain.

There, the Turkish military took us. We slept under the trees for four days. Then we got help from Kurds from Turkey. In Shernak we lived in a school for 16 days. We were 16 people in two rooms. For us Yazidis it was extra difficult in Turkey.

Ato says the family moved to the city of Siirt, where they lived for a year and a half.

We worked 12 hours a day, every day of the week. I was digging in the ground for one dollar a day. We lived 16 people in an apartment with two rooms and a kitchen.

Boat trip to Greece

Ato explains that his aunt, who lived in Småland in Sweden, called and told Ato’s dad that she could help one person. Ato says that he has two older brothers and two younger brothers. Ato’s father did not want to leave the family in Turkey. Together, the family decided that Ato should go to Sweden.

I was scared and worried, Ato says. I went to Istanbul with some friends. We stayed there for a few days. From there we went in a small inflatable boat. 64 people. Children, women, elderly, young people ... We would go to Greece, one to two hours boat trip across the sea. We couldn’t swim. The small children cried. The boat began to fill with water. We prayed to God many times, Ato says and clasps his hands.

Ato continues his story and says that they all arrived on the Greek island.

The others who I travelled with in the boat hugged each other, but no one hugged me. Then I felt alone in the whole world.

Long journey through Europe

The journey went on to Athens, an 8 hours long journey in a large ship.

Then we went by many buses to Macedonia. There were refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Africa ... I was with a family. It was a mother, a father and two children. It was November and it was cold. We went by bus to Serbia, where we stayed for two or three days. We were outside all the time. Day and night. We couldn't buy food. We got some bread with butter and cheese.

Ato is very talkative and continues to tell the story about the long journey. The journey continued by bus through Croatia, Austria and Slovakia.

In Austria we stayed for four days. We were outside all the time.

Ato ended up in a refugee camp in Germany. A cousin of Ato lived in Hamburg. The cousin wanted Ato to stay in Germany, but Ato had already decided; he was going to Sweden. Ato’s cousin helped Ato to the train station and onto a train to Copenhagen. The cousin explained that Ato had 30 minutes in Copenhagen to find the train which would go to Malmö in Sweden.

From one refugee camp to the other

Once in Copenhagen, Ato approached a man and asked for help. It turned out that the man was Kurdish and could speak Kurdish. The Kurdish man helped Ato to get onto the train that went to Malmö. Once in Malmö, November 26, 2015, Ato was taken to the police station. The police interrogated Ato about what he would do in Sweden and Ato replied that he was a refugee. Ato’s aunt came to Malmö to meet Ato, but first she was not allowed to meet him. After a few days, however, Ato came to his aunt in Småland.

The family who remained in Turkey thought that “we should live a better life or die” and decided therefore to go to Sweden. Ato’s mother, father, younger brother and younger sisters came to Sweden on December 12, 2015.

Ato’s older brothers, one 30 years old with four children and the other 25 years old and single, stayed in Turkey and came later to Greece.

The EU decided that all Yazidis would move to Germany, Ato says. Therefore, my older brothers moved to Germany.

Ato and the family members who were now in Sweden moved from Småland to a refugee camp in Malmö.

We were many who slept on the floor, Atos's mother interposes. She shed some tears.

A woman from the church helped the family

Later the family moved to another refugee camp between Lund and Hässleholm and then they were moved to another refugee camp in Hanöhus.

Then we came to Listerlandet, Ato explains. We were eight people. Six of us stayed in one room. My brother Serbest and I lived in a cabin. We lived there for eight months. One day a woman who was active in the church came to the refugee camp. She wanted to integrate us into Swedish society. She wanted to integrate not only my family but everyone in the camp.

Ato says that the woman asked Ato questions.

Then I could not speak Swedish or English at all. We had a neighbour who could speak English fluently who interpreted for us. The woman asked if I had signed up for school, but I had not. I didn’t know I had that opportunity in Sweden. The woman promised she would sign me up. This was a Friday. The woman said that “on Monday I’ll pick you up and we’ll go to school”.

On Monday, the woman drove Ato to a school in Sölvesborg. The whole family attended a church course in simple Swedish for new Swedes/refugees.

From the beginning I was afraid of the church because ISIL in 2014 treated us so bad because we are Yazidis.

Ato Dakheel and Maria Veneke Ylikomi

Demonstration against war and for democracy

In 2016, Ato and his family came to Kungsmarken in Karlskrona in southern Sweden.

We knew almost no one, Ato explains. We called the woman from the church who made sure we got to meet a man from Kungsmarken Church. The Kungsmarken Church has helped us a lot.

Ato tells with a smile that he started a course at the Naval Museum in Karlskrona.

There I got to learn Swedish and we learned history. We participated in a competition with the museum, a competition between several museums in Sweden. The Naval Museum won the competition and we went to Stockholm to receive the award.

It went well for Ato in the Swedish school and he quickly completed a nine years’ (!) study plan.

In June I got all the grades, Ato says happily, explaining that it meant a lot to him.

Ato had the luck to go to India on a school trip.

We were 2 students out of 300 who went to India. I gave a lecture in India, Ato says with enthusiasm.

Ato came to the Swedish Parliament and met the Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven. At the wall in the Dakheel family’s living room, there is a portrait of Ato together with the prime minister.

We learned in school about the different parties and what they want.

In October 2019 Ato Dakheel led a demonstration in Karlskrona together with a friend. It was a short time after Turkey entered with soldiers into the Kurdish area of Rojava. The messages from the Kurdish demonstration were clear against war and for democracy.

When asked whether Ato feels welcome in Sweden or if he in any way feels discriminated, Ato answers that this is a difficult question.

It depends on different people. When we demonstrated we appeared in an article in the newspaper. Then there was one woman who wrote “Go home and help instead of complaining here”. Then I didn't really feel welcome.

"Do anything but do not kill people. Do not use weapons," says Ato Dakheel.

Ato's clear message: “Do not kill people. Do not use weapons.”

Ato has a clear message that he would like to convey:

Do anything but do not kill people. Do not use weapons. I hope that women and children in the Middle East will enjoy more freedom. Not a dictator who decides everything. Women should have time for themselves. I will fight for the rights of women and children throughout my life.

In the summer of 2019, Ato Dakheel founded the Kurdish Democratic Association in Karlskrona. On the question of how Ato wants the Kurdish Democratic Association to develop, he answers:

Freedom and democracy. We should all help each other. Everyone is equal.

Article by Maria Veneke Ylikomi, Goodwill Ambassador for Globcal International, 30 November 2019

US State Goodwill Ambassador Titles

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 13:59:00 +0000

Be Recognized as a Person of Goodwill in US States

All states have honorary titles and awards to recognize their noteworthy citizens and international friends from abroad. Some of them are very well known like the "Kentucky Colonel," "Arkansas Traveler" and the "Sagamore of Wabash" and others not as much, some of them are very unique, some may seem odd. All of them do have one thing in common is that they are all honorable distinctions and they can 'nearly' all get you legally recognized as a goodwill ambassador for a US state or for a great social cause. This article below reblogged from Atlas Obscura explains a few of the better and less known titles of honor.

The Goodwill Ambassador Foundation recognizes many of these titles when they are executed by the governor of a state or commonwealth, as well as from national and international organizations like the scouts, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, the IUCN, the United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, and award recipients working on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

You Can’t Be Knighted in the U.S., But You Can Be Named a Sagamore of the Wabash. Or a Kentucky Colonel. Or a Nebraska Admiral. Or a Commodore of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

By Eric Grundhauser on November 08, 2017

EVERY U.S. STATE BESTOWS AWARDS and honors, but only some come with a ceremonial title. Probably the most famous of these titles is that of the Kentucky Colonel.

Colonel Sanders, the most famous Kentucky Colonel. Painting by Norman Rockwell

Kentucky Colonel

Being named a Kentucky Colonel is the commonwealth’s highest official honor, and is bestowed by the sitting governor. Though civilian in nature, the title has its roots in military awards, dating back to 1813, when then-governor Issac Shelby awarded the title of “colonel” to a member of the state’s disbanded militia. After that, the title took on an increasingly ceremonial role, eventually evolving into a beneficent order and independent non-profit organization in the 20th century.

It’s up to each governor to decide who should be honored as a Kentucky Colonel, so the exact requirements for the award are not set in stone, and the number of recipients in any given year can vary a great deal. Essentially, anyone a sitting governor likes, they can make an honorary colonel. Some of the more famous Kentucky Colonels include Muhammad Ali, Lily Tomlin, Mike Pence, and most famous of all, KFC’s Colonel Sanders.

Kentucky isn’t the only U.S. state that gives out the title of Colonel. A number of states have adopted the practice of awarding notable residents with some version of Colonel, or Lieutenant Colonel, including Tennessee, New Mexico, and Georgia.

Other Distinguished Titles from other States

In other states, individuals can be granted similar ceremonial military titles. In Rhode Island, the title of Commodore can be bestowed as a special honor. In both Texas and Nebraska, the governor can award prominent residents the honorary rank of Admiral. Nebraska’s ceremonial honor, formally styled as Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska, is especially tongue-in-cheek, since Nebraska is uniquely landlocked among U.S. states. Recipients of this honor include Bill Murray, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Ann Landers.

But it’s not all military titles. In the 1940s, Indiana Governor Ralph F. Gates was to be named an honorary Colonel by the governor of Kentucky, and decided that he should have a similar award to give in return. Thus was born the title of Sagamore of the Wabash, an honor that was until recently the state’s highest award. According to the official description of the award, “The term ‘Sagamore’ was used by the American Indian Tribes of the northeastern United States to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for wisdom and advice.” The “Wabash” refers to the Wabash River, which runs across the entire state of Indiana. [We should note that while from today’s perspective the title sticks out as an example of cultural appropriation, it is still a respected honor, and the state even introduced a new, higher honor, the Sachem Award, in 2005, again using an American Indian term.]

Other states honor individuals by naming them as members of a special order. For instance, since 1964 in North Carolina, residents can be inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. In South Carolina, since 1971, citizens can be granted an Order of the Palmetto honor. And in Delaware, the governor can name friends of the state as members of the Order of the First State.

Arkansas Traveler Certificate to Koya Suzuki - Photo: Arkansas Secretary of State Website

Perhaps the most poetic of the high honorary titles awarded by U.S. states is that of the Arkansas Traveler, a name based on a popular folk tale. According to the story, a (real) Confederate colonel got lost in the Arkansas wilderness, and ended up at the home of an unpleasant settler. However, they began to play the fiddle together, and the settler warmed, offering him all the Arkansas hospitality he had. The story has also gone on to inspire songs and other works. The title of Arkansas Traveler was established in 1941 and unlike many other state honors, is only given to visitors from outside the state, such as foreign dignitaries. The first Arkansas Traveler honor was awarded to Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The recipients of state honorary titles are not always precisely tracked from governor to governor, and registration in any related organized groups is voluntary, so the exact number of Commodores, Sagamores, and Long Leaf Piners is unknown. Since such lofty, if completely ceremonial, titles can be given to just about anybody, you might even know a state-level Colonel or an Admiral and not even realize it.

This article was republished from Atlas Obscura.

Jimmy Engineer, Goodwill Ambassador of Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 11:11:00 +0000

A Goodwill Visit

By Muhammad Zahid Rifat, Commentary article from the Daily Times

Besides official delegations which visit foreign countries from time to time to promote bilateral relations, cooperation and trade, prominent figures from different fields can and are doing quite appreciable work to promote and highlight the positive, soft, moderate and forward looking image of Pakistan and its peace loving people before the world. This is what world renowned Pakistani artist, social crusader, peace activist and philanthropist Jimmy Engineer has been doing quite actively, sincerely and successfully for some time.

Jimmy Engineer, who regards himself as unofficial goodwill ambassador of Pakistan, recently completed his month long goodwill visit to Canada. During the visit, Jimmy Engineer participated in a number of well-attended functions and events in Mississauga (Ontario), Toronto and Ottawa.

Jimmy Engineer attended a function in Toronto titled 'Artists for World Peace' which was organised by the Universal Peace Federation and the Women's Federation for World Peace, at which he along with two other people was conferred with a certificate as The Ambassador for Peace.

During his frequent goodwill tours to foreign countries, his work was selected and showcased at The Mall, Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga Ontario.

On the opening day of the week long painting exhibition, Jimmy Engineer talked about life; illustrating his thoughts and motivation behind his paintings. He also answered questions from the audience which included a large number of people from the Pakistani community as well as local artists, art lovers and diplomats.

He told the appreciative and responsive audience that the sole purpose behind different countries frequently displaying his creative art work is to tell the world at large that Pakistan has great people and great artists. He said displaying his art in foreign countries indeed carries a message, as a lot of people do not know much about Pakistan and this is the best way to highlight the positive side of Pakistan.

Jimmy Engineer said he wears four hats, as a social worker, an artist, a human rights worker and a peace activist.

Prominent figures who were present at the inauguration of the exhibition included Senator Salma Attaullah Jan, MP Iqra Khalid, MP Khalid Rasheed, Consul General of Turkey in Canada Erdeniz, President Flato Developments Inc Shakir Rehmatullah, President Canada — Pakistan Business Council Samir Dossal, Founder and Chief Executive officer of Mindshare Workspace Mississauga Robert Martellacci, President of Ontario Zoroastrian Neville Patrawala and Consul General of Pakistan, and Imran Siddique among many others.

By and large, the visiting world renowned artist, social crusader and philanthropist Jimmy Engineer, has dedicated his life to social causes; his paintings were highly appreciated not only in Pakistan but also all over the world. Through his arthe spreads the message of peace and harmony and promotes a soft and a positive image of Pakistan and its people, each of his paintings duly highlights the different aspects of the lives of the people, their struggle and achievements.

Over the last four decades, Jimmy Engineer has created more than 3000 paintings, 1000 calligraphies and 1500 drawings which are in museums and private collections in more than 60 countries including Italy, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Russia, India, China, Yugoslavia, Japan, Australia, Canada, Britain, Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, Singapore, Sweden, Belgium, Abu Dhabi , Dubai (UAE), Austria, Spain, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Turkey, USA and of course Pakistan. Many of his paintings have remained undocumented as he has been giving countless of these away to charities to raise money for good causes.

As a social crusader, to his credit he continues to spread awareness about food programmes intellectually and developmentally disabled by entertaining them in posh hotels and restaurants and other places of entertainment in Karachi, Lahore and also in Sri Lanka. To raise awareness he has taken almost 100 solo walks for myriad of issues, mainly relating to disadvantaged children, widows and orphans as well as to the hardships and the endemic health problems they continue to endure.

Jimmy Engineer was duly covered and appreciated by the Canadian press and TV as well.

Jimmy Engineer attended a function in Toronto titled ‘Artists for World Peace’ which was organized by the Universal Peace Federation and the Women’s Federation for World Peace, at which he along with two other people was conferred with certificate as The Ambassador for Peace, in appreciation and acknowledgement of his service and contributions as a peace activist. He also addressed the gathering on the occasion and also answered questions from the guests present. Both the Universal Peace Federation and Women’s Federation for World Peace enjoy consultative status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations.

The Canada-Pakistan Business Council has also acquired two wonderful works of art of Jimmy Engineer which are part of his ‘Peace Series’ for the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum. The paintings have been selected by Museum Curator Deepali Dewan.

Jimmy Engineer embodies national integration. He was born to a Parsi family in Loralai, Balochistan, had his education in Lahore and is settled in Karachi, since he became a professional and is perhaps the most well travelled Pakistani artist with international art exhibitions in a number of countries around the globe.

The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist, Columnist and Retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan, Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail.com

Become a Local Goodwill Ambassador!

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 20:32:00 +0000

Start Local, Represent a Community

As a goodwill ambassador and having worked at both local and international levels for over 15 years I am frequently contacted by people that are interested in joining us and becoming goodwill ambassadors. I always tell people to try to find local recognition before contacting us to get involved in international missions or international cooperation. The best way to do this is by becoming a representative in your own community for a cause or to represent local tourism or a local city (neighborhood) beautification project.

Ms. Isatu Timbo Speaks At The Way To Happiness International Convention In Los Angeles

Become a goodwill ambassador in your local community to gain recognition, serve as a figurehead for a business, a community organization, a town, a university, or a city. This report from Inside Jobs based on US Department of Labor statistics explains the employment outlook for goodwill ambassadors and I provided some links at the end for those interested in pursuing it further.

How to become a Goodwill Ambassador

Most Goodwill Ambassadors have no higher education and get on-the-job training. Think about earning a Certificate or Bachelor's degree to increase your competitiveness in the field.

Quick Stats

Salary Range: $17,000 – $44,000 Data from U.S. Department of Labor

What do Goodwill Ambassadors do?

A Goodwill Ambassador is a prominent individual in their community or profession who serves as an honorary Diplomat between entities, like organizations, cities, and nations. If you pride yourself on being a good friend, you might have a future as a Goodwill Ambassador.

Common examples of Goodwill Ambassadors are Actors, Scientists, Authors, and Activists who go on “international friendship missions” to foreign countries, where they present gifts, offer humanitarian relief, and socialize with their contemporaries and counterparts. Like these people, it’s your job as a Goodwill Ambassador to represent one group of people to another for the purpose of building friendly relationships that will be economically, culturally, socially, or politically beneficial in the future.

To accomplish your mission, you typically travel, attend social functions, participate in roundtable discussions, make public appearances, do media interviews, and lobby Legislators.

Although most Goodwill Ambassadors do humanitarian work for organizations like the United Nations, some act as “welcome wagons,” representing businesses to prospects. In this case, it’s your job to find and ingratiate yourself with sales leads by presenting them with token gifts, information, resources, etc. Either way, your job is “making nice” as a means of promoting peace, prosperity, and fellowship.

Should I be a Goodwill Ambassador?

You should have a high school degree or higher and share these traits:

Team Player: Can you communicate and work with lots of different people?

Trustworthy: Are you known for your personal integrity and honesty?

Social: Are you happy working on teams or with other people?

Also known at local levels among other locals as:

Welcome-Wagon Host/Hostess - Source: InsideJobs; Goodwill Ambassador

International Ambassadorships (Updated October 2020)

Update Notice: Globcal International is an international civil society organization (iCSO) promoting global citizenship, indigenous peoples, international cooperation and sustainable development for the United Nations under our stakeholdership, as of October 2018 we updated our legal requirements and procedures for new and continuing members who wish to serve as goodwill ambassadors at a professional level in benign non-state and non-governmental diplomatic affairs with international communities and corporations under the formal protocol of United Nations and best practices emulated by some of the most well known international authorities.

Globcal International began a diplomatic corps training and development program which has become standard fare for all natural persons working with global issues internationally with states abroad. The program is recognized by the United Nations internationally as a partner with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a UNESCO partner and is collaborating with several organizations internationally.

"The formal process for the legal development of our own goodwill ambassadors is proprietary and exclusively for our own members. It is a process that involves investiture, nomination, orientation, assimilation and presentation to world leaders and international public figures resulting in letters patent and/or a letter of credence. Ambassadors are also developed through the building of their authority through notable institutions, recognitions, homologation and apostilles of documents."

New ambassadors are qualified and assimilated individually during the course of their first full year following their investiture as a lifetime member with an appointment as a goodwill ambassador at-large under full diplomatic authority while engaged in their vocation or mission. Once fully engaged ambassadors can be recommended and nominated to international orders, to heads of state for honors, pursue knighthood, be recognized by enclave nations and states, and receive a PhD equivalency in the form of Honoris Causa.

The processes can be costly, each vetting procedure may involve several FedEx packages, an attorney, several notaries and a personal visit to one of our 3000 partner centers in 120 countries before an ambassador can legally become recognized. Those joining must be able to provide documentation of a good deed for which they can be cited; recently or over the past 10 years. (Most classic deed would be rescuing a cat from a tree or another deed and then getting your photo in your local news or tv.)

New applicants should also have a diploma or an equivalency certificate from high school and be at least 25 years of age or older; OR may be bilingual and have a university degree. All new applicants must show a valid passport, a birth certificate and a well elaborated CV. Current membership programs are described at the Globcal International; our exclusive development program is developed to form both local and global representative ambassadors, generally most ambassadors will be qualified to serve and work locally within their own state of residence prior to working internationally.

Volunteer Recognition in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 11:33:00 +0000

How an Ethiopian Immigrant became Canada's most Esteemed Volunteer and Goodwill Ambassador

When Geza Wordofa, the founder of the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron (MAPH), received a letter last year from Governor General David Johnston informing him he had won a 2016 Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, he had a hard time believing the news.

Even when he called Johnston’s office to confirm the letter had indeed been sent to the correct Geza Wordofa, the honour still didn’t seem real.

In fact, since Wordofa was unable to attend the Governor General’s Award ceremony last year to receive his medal in person, it wasn’t until this year’s ceremony on March 9 in London when the reality of this prestigious honour truly set in (see photo).

“I’m very blessed and I’m enjoying the recognition,” Wordofa said. “To be a volunteer is not easy, and sometimes very difficult. I’ve been involved, day-to-day, with newcomers (to Canada). What does it mean to be a refugee, what does it mean to be a newcomer or an immigrant? It can be good, but sometimes for them it’s very difficult.”

After Wordofa, an Ethiopian by birth and a former United Nations goodwill ambassador, emigrated from Russia to Canada to settle down with his wife Nicole in 2011, he quickly learned first-hand the hardships immigrants and refugees must go through to start a new life in a completely foreign country.

Whether it’s finding a job, shopping for groceries, obtaining a driver’s license or passport, navigating Canadian law, applying for citizenship, learning to recycle, or even something as seemingly simple as learning to use various kitchen appliances, adjusting to life in Canada can take a while. For some new immigrants, that process can be very confusing and often frustrating.

“When I came here from Russia, from Geneva, there was nothing for me. I had no job… there was not any service that gave me my paperwork,” Wordofa said.

Luckily, he had Nicole and the Canadians he met through his work with the UN to help him settle into his new country and his new home in Stratford, but for many immigrants and refugees, it’s not that simple. In September, 2011, only five months after he settled in Stratford, Wordofa founded MAPH, an organization that helps guide new immigrants through the resettlement process.

“We have money for them, we have a house, we have a couch, live. It’s not as simple as that. You give them money, they don’t know how to spend that money. So we give them guidance (for example) on how to eat properly, or to give them some advice (for whatever they need),” Wordofa said.

But without the support and effort put forth by Wordofa’s fellow volunteers in Stratford and the surrounding community, MAPH would have never been able to assist the immigrants and refugees in both Perth and Huron Counties who need that help and guidance most.

Wordofa also had a chance to meet and have his picture taken with Ontario Lieutenant General Elizabeth Dowdeswell. (Contributed Photo)

“I share this medal with my community and all of the newcomers. When I met the Governor General, I had no words. I said thank you for my community in Stratford who gave me this opportunity,” Wordofa said. “…I want to give back to my community through volunteerism. I want to give back for the community who helps newcomers. They run around for them, they give them rides, they take them to the hospital – I have a long list of people to call who are willing to help out. I love to serve for my community. I don’t expect anything in return.”

For more than five years, Wordofa has worked five days a week for MAPH without pay to better the lives of new immigrants and refugees. An immigrant himself and now a Canadian citizen, Wordofa and other volunteers like him share a unique perspective with those they help, allowing them to better understand the issues, both large and small, that prevent newcomers from living a full life in their new country.

When Wordofa first established MAPH, he was meeting with new immigrants in a coffee shop in downtown Stratford, but since then, thanks to a generous donation of space and resources by Loreena McKennit, MAPH now occupies several rooms in the basement of the Falstaff Family Centre on Waterloo Street, where volunteers have the ability to meet with families, provide them a safe and quiet space to discuss the problems they are dealing with, and determine the next steps in both solving those problems and making their lives in Canada as fulfilling as they possibly can be.

On a more personal note, after living for 15 years as an immigrant in Russia, where people of different skin colours and ethnic backgrounds are often viewed with suspicion and treated with outright hostility, Wordofa is thrilled to be living in a country where the government recognizes his efforts on equal footing with people of all backgrounds, races and religions. That notion was made abundantly clear to him at the awards ceremony in London last Thursday, where he had the chance to meet and speak with both Johnston and Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, as well as many other dignitaries, politicians and service medal recipients.

“I’m equal as anybody. When you go in the coffee shop, you are also the same as anybody – everybody says hi even if they don’t know you,” Wordofa said. “… I am so lucky. We have to respect this country, we have to love Canada.”

Even before moving to Canada, Wordofa spent much of his life helping others, be that working to establish a soup kitchen in Moscow, securing clean drinking water for the people of Ethiopia, or donating toothpaste to new immigrants and refugees in Utah. In Canada, along with founding and working tirelessly for MAPH, Wordofa has also volunteered his time with non-profit groups such as the Salvation Army and The United Way.

For his lifetime of volunteer work, in the past Wordofa has been honoured with the Ontario Government’s Newcomer Champion Award, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award. Now, he can add the 2016 Sovereign Medal for Volunteers to that list, a medal which he plans on wearing proudly at this year’s 150th Canada Day celebration. (Source: Stratford Beacon Herald)

Inspiring Goodwill with Poetry

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 16:10:00 +0000

Whatever Happened to The Goodwill Ambassador?

Paul Amrod

Whatever happened to the goodwill ambassador?

A poem by Paul Amrod

Witnessing the selfish routine of lobbyists and a money mechanism
becoming cynically the normal affair of our passing hours.

Greeting a neighbor with a 'Good Morning' and a pleasant wish
has vanished with the dawn demonstrating a hideous pessimism.

Allocating the atrocities which somehow our sympathies devour.

The political conscious is contorted around shortsighted principles
contributing to a prognosis of supposed terror playing with gullibility.

I ask myself many provocative questions concerning seriousness
of intention with open-ended book shelves of fairytale like scribble.

Trying to capitalize upon the weakness of others in their deliriousness,
overly excited aggravating their stress, while destroying tranquility.

The boisterous message of alleged superiority exhibits narcissism
with an inkling of conceit compelling avoidance and dismisses
ingenuity while enlivening resistance over absurd acquittals.

May I inquire; Whatever happened to the goodwill ambassador?

The ignorance of a military cooperate complex has perplexed
the intellectual environment in search for the left of middle.

Attempting to impress the youth with false promises the collectivism
is appalled with a continuous barrage of invalid and corrupted fixes.

Better to relax beneath a linden tree whistling with birdsong outdoors
and taking a pen to a page envisioning a princess with a troubadour.

Engendering a paradise of dreamlike passages composing a riddle
tickling our imaginations with pleasurable moments so gently expressed.

Nevertheless our aspirations are daunted and our direction is statically
inactive arousing the frustration of a meandering directionlessness.

Intentionally ignoring the media's spin as their irrational euphemism
is exposed as utter gibberish and nonsense exposing senselessness.

Saving acclamations for a fortuitous occasion can't keep us abreast
of the defiance necessary to counter the streams of grotesque fish
that swim through our legs as we venture courageously against the current.

I ask again; Whatever happened to the goodwill ambassador?

He travelled the world with his mission of cooperation and neutrality
giving of his substance to clarify our deliverance and impartiality.

We were given the power of deduction with the capability of verbal deterrents
to bless our surroundings with examples of his statements assessed.

Showering us with admiration and inspiration presenting his altruism
to reconcile our tribulations and heal our jealousy forevermore.

With insight into the mediation of all philosophies he adores
a genuine and authentic resolve of spiritual abundance and veracity.

Reminding us as well of our groves and gardens galore
there to flourish in Nature and transport us organically.

We are a being, the precious component of this Earth's entirety,
gifted with shrewdness and the curator of our terrestrial décor.

We possess a sanctified position under the universe's Godly city
to protect the perfect balance of our sequence as heaven's servant.

Petitioning once more; Whatever happened to our goodwill ambassador?

We send a lamentation to our archangels above to implore
a betterment of our situation at hand as we whine for it is a pity.

Selfishness and greed perpetrate the world as we slay the serpent
with a cooing murmur of poesy melting the cold heart we deplore.

As the goodwill grows with significance we salvage our sanity
with one last breath of hopefulness as patience warrants our success.

Poem by Paul Amrod Restyled format for Globcal International News

Danny Glover Denounces Racism as Afrophobia

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 08:22:00 +0000

Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover calls out racism, Afrophobia in the Americas

Danny Glover attends the Special Meeting of the General Assembly. UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

30 June 2016 – The international community must increase its commitment to fighting Afrophobia and discrimination against people of African descent, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and actor Danny Glover has said, speaking during the International Decade for People of African Descent.

In a recently released message, Mr. Glover, who advocates on behalf of the estimated 200 million people of African descent living in North and South America, urged national and multilateral partners in the Americas to ensure that policies work with and in support of this often marginalized group.

“The three UN themes – respect, justice, development – must be utilized as an interrelated guide,” Mr. Glover said, adding that the successes of the Afro-descendent populations help to guarantee successes of the entire society.

In an interview with the UN News Centre, Mr. Glover, an African-American whose grandparents were born in the 1890s in the southern United States city of Louisville, Georgia, spoke personally about race and the segregation of the United States.

“One of the moral underpinnings of my childhood was that my mother would always say that she was eternally grateful for her mother and father because she didn’t pick cotton in September, she went to school in September,” he said, a decision that allowed her to graduate from college in 1942.

These familial experiences are what anchor Mr. Glover, who growing up in San Francisco, California, did not attend a segregated school, in his work on behalf of the UN and the International Decade for People of African Descent which runs through 2024.

“I would hope that there would be a place within this period for specific projects,” he said. Listen below to the types of political projects for which Mr. Glover is advocating.

Today, there are at least 40 million people in the United States alone who identify themselves as being of African descent, and many of them are among the poorest socio-economic groups, according to the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that people of African descent are “among those most affected by racism. Too often, they face denial of basic rights such as access to quality health services and education.”

The promotion and protection of human rights of people of African descent has been a priority concern for the UN. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, agreed to at the 2001 World Conference, acknowledged that people of African descent were victims of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, and continue to be victims of their consequences.

“Wherever we are, whether we’re in Brazil or Colombia or Ecuador, we are decedents of the transatlantic slave trade,” Mr. Glover said. “Whether we’re in the Caribbean or here [the United States] or Canada, we can trace our identity to that moment in human history when essentially we became the capital of the new system that came into existence.”

Listen to Mr. Glover speak more about the shared experience between people of African descent in the clip below.

The International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution 68/237, provides a framework for the UN, Member States, civil society and all other relevant actors to join together with people of African descent and take effective measures for the implementation of the programme of activities in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.

In addition, the Decade is meant to underline the important contribution made by people of African descent to international societies, promote their full inclusion, and combat racism, radical discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Mr. Glover said the timing of the Decade is particularly important given the ongoing events in his home country of the United States.

“[At] this time in history, you not only have to say more but do more,” he said. “We have an opportunity as we talk about all the things happening internally in the United States, as we begin to look at the present industrial complexity in the United States, the justice system of the United States, the lack of youth employment, violence against young black men and black women, all those things resonate here are a microcosm of what is happening in the rest of the world.”

Republished from News Source: UN News, Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover calls out racism, Afrophobia in the Americas.

Green Holidays and International Observances

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:59:00 +0000

World what day? Today, are you sure?

Every culture has traditions and celebrations which to many may seem odd or strange especially to the casual observer, but not to the world or global citizen. To them our own traditions also probably seem odd when we attach our traditions and history to them. Celebrations, observances, anniversaries, and the seasons all bring cause to celebrate, remember or observe different days of the calendar and solar year.

Girls dressed in traditional clothes and with their faces and bodies painted in white dance during the official opening of a school for rangers and the environment, at the opening of the World Environment Day activities in Menongue, in the province of Cuando-Cubango, Angola, Photo: UNEP

With these celebrations, observances and festivities come those people wishing to collaborate, participate, remark and reflect on creating a better life and bringing human purpose full circle to the ideals being presented. Among those leading and promoting these events are goodwill ambassadors from all walks of life representing the ideals and goals of these many international global and local observances from Africa to Asia and from Australia to America.

International Observances

Currently there are over 100 different 'official' international observances that are presented around the world each year covering a whole range topics and ideals, many of them are on the United Nations official calendar. Their purposes are broadly diverse and developed to bring attention to things in our human civilization that are vital to our well-being and the well-being of our societies. These events cover topics like hunger, war, inequality, climate change, forests, water, trademarks, social groups, cooperation and many others are all presented to give people around the world a general knowledge education about both the plight, pain and the prosperity of our human condition.

Most of the international observances are all based on good causes and ideals, some people may be critical of some of them but that may because there are politicians involved in creating some of them; however in general because they are coming from organizations that are not subject to nation-state politics they focus on the real problems and ideals we need to make the world a better place.

In 2009 when Globcal International began we found that promoting these international observances was a great way to bring attention and social interest to these observances within the social media community. As an experiment to take poll results we developed over a dozen different pages on Facebook so we could use them in training exercises and to conduct demographic studies. Since then we have passed the torch to others while we remained with some lesser known days that are convenient to our forum like Biodiversity Day, Earth Day and Forest Day which both complement and strengthen our online efforts with the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals program.

Still Celebrating Ideals

Globcal International and our Goodwill Ambassadors Corps have maintained a page that we call International Observances where one of our ambassadors, the Honorable Maria Veneke-Ylikomi maintains several posts each week that focus on both official and non-official observances that are popular on a global scale. Though it is not as well followed as it once was (on Facebook you need to pay to have the features we once enjoyed) we still maintain it as a way to advise members and friends of ongoing events.

Over the weekend we celebrated World Environment Day which has now turned out to become one of the more remarkable observances of the year around the world and a great introduction point for communities around the world in need of environmental programs and awareness especially in light of the new climate change agenda. Tomorrow we will celebrate World Oceans Day.

Good for Education

Children need activities that expand their consciousness, build their minds and prepare them for the future. Personally I remember all good times in making up an Earth Day poster in 1970 when our class marched through the community to commemorate the occasion, they are very fond memories which has led me through my life to do what I can to make the world a better place.

Children playing outdoors at an international summer community (Friendship Day, July 30th) for youngsters 9-18, near Bedford, Virginia, United States. UN Photo/John Isaac

Today the ideal of schools is mostly the same, basically reading, writing and arithmetic. Surprisingly and much to my satisfaction many of these international observances are green (environmental) but many people have complained about the new emerging educational system because it differs so much from the indoctrinate nationalist education that they had when they were children.

The activities of saving dolphins, tigers, oceans, equalizing women, eradicating poverty, remembering our past, and honoring children are far from the ideals my baby-boomer generation celebrated, after examining the curriculum however I think the themes presented are much more fun and educational than teaching children about dead presidents and revolutionary heroes to boost national pride. The ideals we have evolved for the educational systems allow children today to respect diversity and prepare them for a future that free of polarizing ideals and for the most part politically and religiously neutral.

What about Traditional Days?

On the lighter side there are long-term traditions that we hold close to our hearts are not counted in this mix because they are rooted in regional or religious custom rather than logic or necessity, and today do not hold much substance within the reality of our existence. Holidays like Christmas, Ramadan and Hanukah are respected based in socially just freedom and today can only be promulgated by lifestyle or belief systems than necessity. Now beginning in 2016 it will be against the law to promote such holidays publicly or in the school system because of the diverse make-up of our populations today.

I was once among these people who held in high regard days like Christmas and Thanksgiving at least until I moved away from the United States, today I still enjoy preparing grand feasts and organizing celebrations but now I create holidays based on the occasion of spontaneous events or reaping a harvest, this is much how the indigenous peoples of the Amazon celebrate. I really don't miss these days personally, but I bet if I were to travel to my family home and see some snow on the group I would probably break down and come to tears for all the fond memories I hold in my heart.

Explore All of the Days

Share this article with your friends, encourage them to adopt a new global calendar that brings their awareness and consciousness to a whole new level. Explore all the days by visiting the links we are sharing here to give life a greater purpose as an ambassador of ideals, compassion and knowledge. For more information and to learn what you can do follow these links on Wikipedia, there are others that link to these based on region and other purposes.Have fun, have a holiday or celebration today.

Taking Measures to Assist Europe's New Residents

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 01:25:00 +0000

Taking on Measures to Assist Europe's New Residents

Palermo, Sicily; October 21, 2015 - Goodwill Ambassador Karen Cantrell and Ambassador Antonino Landi met in Palermo to discuss the migrant crisis and the destinations of future refugees.

Globcal International is an organization that takes a very serious view on all matters relative to human rights and our great civilization.

Ambassador Cantrell reported that; "there was a great deal of debate and misgiving," she witnessed, "first hand a great deal of discrimination, but also a great deal of pro-refugee awareness and activism." She said in closing, "Germany is run by people with great minds and they have accepted this enormous social responsibility when others have turned their heads. Chancellor Merkel has stood fast on this issue and has the support of the majority of the German people. Those who fear a takeover have to live with their narrow mindedness and discriminatory nationalist ideals." She also cited the example of the Turkish wave of immigration years ago which has turned out historically to be very beneficial to the country's economy and the betterment of the society in general.

Including Everyone in the Global Agenda

After careful review of international law all the recent immigrants to Europe each and all possess particular human rights as refugees under the United Nations and may potentially become new global citizens under the Globcal International program based on the updated development of our project as soon as this January.

Are Migrants Global Citizens?

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 00:29:00 +0000

There Are No Migrants, Only Global Citizens

Robert C. Koehler for Buzzflash at TruthOut

Who are all these people?

Here’s another global problem — this flow of refugees — that national governments are apparently incapable of dealing with in a long-term, cooperative, globally responsible way. As with climate change, as with war and disarmament, they retreat into insularity in the face of such matters and become protective of their short-term, individual “interests,” which mostly concern the bureaucratic sacredness of their borders and an obsessive distinction between us and them.

“The European Union, (French President François Hollande) said, needed to create ‘hot spot’ reception centers at those borders under the greatest onslaught — in Greece, Italy and Hungary — to register new arrivals and turn back those who do not meet the requirements for asylum,” reports the New York Times.

And: “(British Prime Minister David) Cameron said Monday that Britain would accept up to 20,000 Syrian refugees, but they would most likely be limited to those who apply for asylum from camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The British government is wary of giving migrants any incentive to make the dangerous journey into Europe, officials said. . . .”

Of course, it gets a lot worse than that: razor wire, brute force, big walls. Desperate people risk their lives. Boats capsize. Children die as racist slogans reverberate. Families flee war and poverty, hell on earth. They need new homes. What a nuisance.

The photo of the body of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who washed up on a Turkish beach after his family’s boat capsized as they tried to escape Syria — his mother and 5-year-old brother also died — has turned the refugee crisis, at least temporarily, into something more than an abstraction. “Within hours,” Jamie Fahey wrote at the Guardian, which initially published the photo, “the image had gone viral and become the top-trending picture on Twitter with the hashtag #KiyiyaVuranInsanlik (humanity washed ashore).”

Humanity washes ashore, but does anything change? There’s only one way for real change to happen: The value of human life must supersede citizenship. Refugees — people forced by terrible circumstances out of their homes — shouldn’t have their escape routes blocked, either by barbed wire or bureaucratic minutiae, because they have been rendered “stateless.”

For instance, while Aylan’s family had relatives in Canada and, therefore, could legally have entered that country, his parents “had been unable to get family reunification visas that would have given them a legal route out of Turkey,” the Washington Post reported. “Instead, they tried to reach Greece by boat, with tragic consequences.”

The arguments defending border restrictions concern the sanctity and necessity of maintaining national order. But these arguments begin to crumble when one considers the extent to which potential host nations bear responsibility for much of the chaos in those broken parts of the world — such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan — from which most of the world’s refugees are fleeing.

This phenomenon isn’t usually included in news stories about refugees. Thus they are portrayed either as pitiable unfortunates who need our benevolence or would-be freeloaders trying to get a good deal for themselves in some wealthy country with generous benefits.

But as Robert Parry, who as a reporter for the Associated Press in the 1980s helped expose the Iran-Contra fiasco, wrote recently: “The refugee chaos that is now pushing deep into Europe . . . started with the cavalier ambitions of American neocons and their liberal-interventionist sidekicks who planned to remake the Middle East and other parts of the world through ‘regime change.’

“Instead of the promised wonders of ‘democracy promotion’ and ‘human rights,’” he continued, “what these ‘anti-realists’ have accomplished is to spread death, destruction and destabilization across the Middle East and parts of Africa and now into Ukraine and the heart of Europe. Yet, since these neocon forces still control the Official Narrative, their explanations get top billing — such as that there hasn’t been enough ‘regime change.’”

The neocons, who began their “cult of regime change” in Central America during the Reagan era, reclaimed control over American foreign policy when Bush Jr. was elected president and used 9/11 to cohere support for their long-sought invasion of Iraq. This action, of course, shattered the country and let loose the howling chaos of civil war. Since then, the U.S. and its allies have perpetrated similar disasters in Libya, Syria and elsewhere, as they’ve continued to impose regime change on select Middle Eastern countries they hope to control.

But today’s global refugee crisis goes deeper than the neocons. The colonial powers of the Western world conquered and exploited the whole planet. Even when these powers relinquished their control over the Third World, they left behind a patchwork of states with randomly drawn borders that were in many cases deeply ungovernable.

As Gurminder K. Bhambra wrote recently in the Australian publication The Conversation: “The failure to properly account for Europe’s colonial past cements the political division between legitimate citizens with rights and migrants/refugees without rights. . . .

“If belonging to the history of the nation is what traditionally confers membership rights upon individuals (as most forms of citizenship demonstrate), it’s incumbent upon us to recognize the histories that would see refugees as already having claims upon the states they wish to enter.”

There should be no such concept as stateless migrants, left to the mercy of the weather and the tides, the smugglers of human cargo, the border bureaucrats. There should only be global citizens.

This is all of us, equal to one another in our humanity, equally deserving of the chance to live and prosper. The photos of a 3-year-old boy washed ashore in Turkey make this clear.

Blogger's Note: It is our objective to bring you timely information relative to our program developments, currently we have over 120 volumes and several hundred significant documents discussing the topic of "global citizenship" available to members. If any of our readers identify new articles that portray a negative discourse on the ideal of world, global or universal citizenship please bring it to our attention for the opportunity to provide debate and include it within the developing philosophy. Also feel free to submit articles on the topic of your own devise. Our projects are based in academic and philosophical ideals and we appreciate examining all perspectives to develop and maintain a nondiscriminatory position. The articles we post on our blog do not necessarily reflect our point of view. Thank you.

Social Media Integrity with the Global Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:54:00 +0000

Professionalize your Social Media Profile for Transparency

New days, innovations, and ideals are ahead for us all as the world embraces and comes to grip with the new United Nations' Global Goals (SDG)s that promise to change humanity and the world-view. Consider the fact that we are going to end poverty, alleviate hunger, and change the world to create the equality we all want around the world. Now is the time to adapt!

The conversion will be in many ways abrupt, well-controlled, orderly, stubborn, and exhausting, but will involve a high-degree of transparency. This change must involve transparency because if trust and integrity become an issue there will be a disaster. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, YouTube, and many other Internet based enterprises are already directly involved with the globalization of local micro-economies and their integration with the macro or global economic system; they would probably be indirectly involved anyway whether or not they support the United Nations SDGs or not.

Using the Social Media to Create Trust and Transparency

The social media will play a big role in updating our world to comply with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, or Global Goals that were signed last week by world leaders at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York. Now nations fear losing their sovereignty while people gain more control their personal human rights and over the destiny of the planet within the guidelines to meet the goals. This will all be done using the Internet (super-connected world) to govern the rule of law and monitor progressive development within the nations. Its our understanding international transparency teams are also being used to eliminate corruption in governments.

Social media and online personal profiles will play a gigantic role in the implementation of these Global Goals. The protagonists of the great development will be expected to be transparent in the delivery of their work as social entrepreneurs and members of international organizations otherwise the public, donors, and other organizations will not be able to trust to receive their funds and execute projects.

Focus on your Presentation

Create a well-elaborated social media profile that people can find using Google and Bing search engines. You can create profiles on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, XING, VK, and other social media platforms that are compliant with the new emerging Internet Governance under RDFa and Schema.org/

A good social media profile allows people to reach you by email or through your profile directly, include your place of employment, where your currently reside and your home location. It will include your personal photograph or resemblance. Your social media posts should be adjusted so everyone can see your work, if you use Facebook or other networks for family and personal purposes too, you can adjust your posts.

Goodwill ambassadors working with Globcal International are encouraged to keep a public figure profile that provides a transparent curriculum vitae of their life's work, and expect that all others responsible for handling funds derived through donations, philanthropy, or other bequests do the same if they work with non-governmental organizations (NGO)s, with government, foundations, or with corporations. Transparency best practices start with the person working within the NGO or corporation not under the political protection of a corporate body and reputation.

There are a great number of other organizations, corporations, and Internet social entrepreneurs that are jumping on the bandwagon to take advantage of the 176 trillion dollars being spent by the World Bank to realize the SDGs over the next 15 years to create "the World We Want." Many players are very skeptical because they know that there is too much work involved of value from our former social generation that needs to be adapted so the matrix or system does not come tumbling down upon itself; so it may be some time before we fully understand how these 17 goals will be pursued and realized.

Best Practices and Business

Using the Internet, organizations like Globcal International, the Rand Corporation, the Council on Foreign Relations and other think tanks (public policy institutes) are examining and analyzing the world playing field with the advent of the UN's new Global Goals and Post-2015 Agenda we are prepared to adapt and understand a global rule of law involving ecological integrity with other nations and as it seems corporations.

Directly ahead we can expect to see a great degree of sovereign, national, and corporate imperial policy manipulation to maintain control and ties over land, mining, and exploitable natural resource interests. Utilizing the ideals of best practices and transparency (as stipulated) corporations and non-governmental organizations established under the jurisdictional laws of the United States of America will have both the most to gain and most to lose when it comes time to adapt, beginning now to the Post-2015 Agenda.

Transparency is the Key

It is our understanding as advocates of goodwill, the Global Goals, fair-globalization, and social reform will greatly depend on the social media based on the design and development integrity involving Internet RDFa, those who operate quietly in the shadows as unknown or global corporate citizens will be required step-up and show themselves so that other non-corporate global citizens can believe in them and trust them. Be understood without the corporate veil, people trust people not corporations, it would be unnatural to trust a non-human corporate person. With the Global Goals the system of trusting governments, corporations, and non-profits became much more difficult or challenging for everyone involved, but much better too!

Pope Francis, a Goodwill Ambassador for Mother Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 16:50:00 +0000

Pope Francis, Champion of Life on Earth

Equality, eliminating climate change, defending the poor, stopping discrimination and re-examining our place and purpose on the planet as humans, the Pope. It's about time!

"Any harm done to the environment is harm to humanity.” -Pope Francis

NEW YORK: Pope Francis addressed the largest gathering of world leaders to ever converge in the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan today, where he put climate action at the heart of his call for social justice, sustainable development and global peace.

Pope Francis, Time Person of the Year

Speaking before the pope’s address at the UN General Assembly,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Pope Francis’ visit to the US will inspire the global community to act on climate to “ensure a life of dignity for all”. He said: “Like the United Nations, you are driven by passion to help others.” Pointing to the pope’s recent speeches on economic development and the environment, he said: “Your visit coincides with the Agenda to Adopt the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but that is no coincidence. […] Climate change is a principal challenge facing the world. This message is critical as we head toward Paris in December.”

In his address which was watched live around the world, Pope Francis called to improve the imbalance of power to tackle climate change, due its impact on the world’s most vulnerable. “We human beings are part of the environment and believe in communion with it. And the environment itself has ethical limits which humans must actively acknowledge and respect.” He continued “Any harm done to the environment is harm to humanity.”

“Every living creature has an intrinsic value its existence, its life, its beauty and its dependence with other creatures. We Christians together with the other religions, believe the universe is the fruit of a loving decision by the Creator […] but man is not authorized to abuse it, must less he is authorized to destroy it.

“In all religions the environment is fundamental good. Misuse and destruction of the environment are also accommodated by a relentless process of exclusion. A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material and prosperity leads to other misuse of available natural resources and the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged.”

Pope Francis stressed the importance of the UN SDGs and the upcoming global climate talks in Paris, COP21.“Adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the world summit which opens today is an important sign of hope. I am confident that the Paris conference on climate change will secure fundamental and effective agreements. Solemn commitments however, are not enough even though they are a necessary step toward solutions.”

He concluded by affirming that human development “must continue to rise on the foundation of respect for the sacredness of every human life.”

The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate commented: "People applaud this pope as being more personable or else more sociable; others dismiss him as being too controversial or even as too political. What people fail to understand is that is solely and exclusively scriptural and evangelical.

"Pope Francis “gets” it. He can make the connections that so many people either deliberately omit or unwittingly overlook. He is able to connect the dots between faith and life, between economy and ecology, and especially between poverty and pollution. That’s why what he says matters; and that’s why what he says hurts!"

Climate Week NYC is a key event in the international calendar that brings together leading governments, investors, businesses, innovators and opinion formers. The Climate Group launched Climate Week NYC in 2009, and has acted as the secretariat since its inception.

Host to more than 100 affiliate events from September 21-28, Climate Week NYC 2015 is the collaborative space for climate events in support of the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Climate Week NYC 2015 is supported by BT Group, Siemens, Procter & Gamble, Nike, SkyPower, SolarCity, CBRE Group, and Bank of the West - BNP Paribas; and the We Mean Business coalition members: BSR, The B Team, CDP, Ceres, The Climate Group, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group and WBCSD.

ClimateWeekNYC.org | @ClimateWeekNYC | #CWNYC

By Clare Saxon Ghauri, the Climate Group Image by Alfredo Borba

Goodwill Ambassadors as Global Citizens

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:55:00 +0000

Goodwill Ambassadors of the United Nations

The United Nations reminds us this month about the importance of Goodwill Ambassadors, Messengers of Peace Champions of Sport, and other Special Representatives that work to promote ideals that foster humanity and unity as international civil servants under a great number of departments and specialized divisions.

Each of the celebrities and public figures (which include actors, artists, authors, musicians, politicians, and other popular figures) has expressed an interest in advocating and serving the United Nations as a politically and religiously neutral figure to serve as an ambassador to promote ideals that are universal and global.

UN Goodwill Ambassadors

UN Special, Magazine, No 752, September 2015

The UN Special: Magazine of International Civil Servants this month highlights the accomplishments and horizons of this humanitarian task force we know as goodwill ambassadors and their work around the world. The United Nations has been using goodwill ambassadors since 1954 when they introduced actor, singer and dancer Danny Kaye as their first special representative with the special title of Goodwill Ambassador.

Today the UN has nearly 500 goodwill ambassadors actively working with organizations like UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNEP, UNDP, and a dozen other specialized divisions.

Coincidentally this month the United Nations, hundreds of iNGOs, and their goodwill ambassadors will lead 193 nations toward creating a sustainable world when the global priority shifts to the recovery of the global ecosystem and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, some say it will be the biggest change ever experienced by human-kind. People should expect many changes in lifestyle and methods that have been identified as unsustainable.

New Opportunity

Every state that participates will be rewarded well for their compliance through the Climate Fund and the World Bank; the UN and independent organizations like Globcal International are positioned to create facilitatory services to the public and private sectors to benefit best from the SDGs. The United Nations is implementing international observers and economic oversight to protect against corruption, Globcal similarly will offer special services through a cooperative service and trading program designed for global citizens.

Become better positioned and prepared for the change as a member of Globcal International (as a goodwill ambassador or global citizen) to work with us on UN SDG projects, in Biosphere Reserves, at UNESCO sites, archeological parks, and within Indigenous Territories. Many of our members move onto careers with the United Nations and other iNGOs like the Red Cross.

Globcal International and the Goodwill Ambassadors of the World program began promoting the new Post-2015 Agenda and programs that promote sustainability with the MDGs and are now positioned for the SDGs with the development of a special sanctioned global citizenship pilot program designed to exempt global citizens and goodwill ambassadors in their work and travels. To learn more about becoming a goodwill ambassador working for Globcal International and the United Nations please contact us for a private personal development consultation.

New Partnerships with the World Bank Promote SDGs

noreply@blogger.com (Hon. David J. Wright) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 22:56:00 +0000

New Generation of Goodwill Advocates

A new generation of goodwill ambassadors and philanthropists is emerging to promote the new SDGs with the World Bank and the United Nations.

World Bank, Novak Djokovic Foundation Partner to Promote Early Childhood Development in Serbia and Globally

New York, August 26, 2015 – In a major boost for young children around the world, the World Bank and the Novak Djokovic Foundation today announced a new partnership to promote early childhood development, which will include global advocacy on the importance of investing early in the lives of children as well as investments to help disadvantaged children in Novak Djokovic’s home country of Serbia.

The joint “Early Wins for Lifelong Returns” initiative combines the Bank’s deep knowledge and programs on early childhood development with the power of Serbian tennis player Djokovic’s commitment to bring sustained attention to the social and economic benefits of early childhood development (ECD) programs for children around the world. Djokovic is the men’s world No. 1 tennis player and founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which focuses primarily on early childhood development.

The new partnership announcement comes a week before the start of the U.S. Open at a press conference in New York City called by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and Djokovic. At the same press conference, UNICEF also announced Djokovic as a Goodwill Ambassador for early childhood development.

In Serbia, the World Bank-Novak Djokovic Foundation initiative will work together with the Serbian government to level the playing field for young children from poor and disadvantaged families. As a first step, the Bank is in discussions with the Serbian government about a project of up to $50 million for inclusive education and early childhood development in Serbia in the coming years. The project will be subject to approval by the World Bank Board and Serbian Parliament. The Novak Djokovic Foundation will mobilize additional resources for early childhood development through private sector partnerships and individual donations.

“All children deserve an equal chance in life, yet millions fail to reach their full potential due to poverty, poor nutrition, and few opportunities for early learning and stimulation,” saidKim. “It gives me great pleasure to announce this new partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which will help reach these children and give them a fair start. Working together – with national governments like that of Serbia, partners such as UNICEF, civil society organizations and foundations, and champions like Novak Djokovic -- we can achieve early wins today that will yield incredibly high returns tomorrow, both for Serbia and for the world.”

Rigorous studies show that children benefiting from early childhood development programs learn better when they enter primary school and earn higher wages as adults. Investing early through these programs—which cover the physical, socio-emotional, language and cognitive aspects of development—gives disadvantaged children a chance to succeed through a positive effect on their lifelong learning and productivity.

In Serbia, only half of all children aged 3-5 years go to preschool. Less than 10 percent of children from the poorest households in Serbia attend preschool. Indeed, among those from the Roma ethnic minority who are living in informal settlements, preschool enrollment drops to just 6 percent. Addressing this problem has far-reaching consequences for breaking the cycle of poverty and enhancing Serbia’s long-term competitiveness and labor productivity.

“Today is a great day for our children,” said Djokovic. “Thanks to this partnership between the World Bank and the Novak Djokovic Foundation much more will be done to improve quality and access to Early Childhood Education in my country in the following years. The early years of life are crucial, since most cognitive and social development occurs before the age of five. Therefore, we need to make sure all children have an equal chance to grow up and develop into productive, caring citizens of the world. I was fortunate to have had this critical support as a young child, and my dream is that all children, in Serbia and across the world, can fulfil their unique potential.”

“Serbia has over 2,500 locations without preschools. Early education of children aged 3 to 5 is one of the weakest aspects of the education system, despite its importance for later education and development,” added Djokovic. “Serbia's education system faces many problems, including insufficient capacity, uneven distribution of facilities, financial constraints on poor parents, inadequate understanding of the importance of preschool education, as well as a lack of diversity of programs and service providers. We hope to change that for the better.”

Djokovic invited other organizations, including corporations, to join efforts to address these challenges. “We hope many will be supportive of this cause, because only by working together can we make great things happen for children,” he said. “By giving them a fair start in life, we are improving the future of our whole society.”

During the launch of the partnership, Kim and Djokovic signed a Memorandum of Understanding to define collaboration between the World Bank and the Novak Djokovic Foundation for achieving their common goals in early childhood development and inclusive education.

Key activities under the new partnership will include advocating for the importance of early childhood education globally, and working to improve access to quality early childhood development for disadvantaged children in Serbia and beyond.

“The Serbian Government welcomes the new partnership between the Novak Djokovic Foundation and World Bank,” said Dusan Vujovic, Minister of Finance of Serbia, who was present at the signing. “Serbia is undertaking difficult reforms to help restore economic growth and competitiveness. The success of these reforms hinges on Serbia's ability to enhance the quality of its human capital for sustained productivity increases. We recognize that investing in children is key to such human capital growth and greater competitiveness, as well as the best way to ensure a just and equitable society in the future. That is why we will join this initiative through a new World Bank financed project designed to support inclusive education and early child development.”

Although preparation is in early stages, the education project would likely support the building of new preschool facilities and converting under-used primary school classrooms to preschools, improving the quality of teaching and learning in preschools; and increasing financial access for low-income families.

The partnership comes at a significant moment for global development. In one month, member countries are expected to adopt a set of international targets known as the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations. Recognizing the importance of investing early for lifelong returns, one of these targets is to extend quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education to all children by 2030.

Getting Ready for Global Citizenship

noreply@blogger.com (Col. David J. Wright) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:33:00 +0000

U.N. Puts Global Citizenship at Center of Agenda

By Thalif Deen

A peace sign formed by people in Croatia. Credit: Teophil/cc by 3.0

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 12 2015 (IPS) - When Denmark hosted the World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) in March 1995, one of the conclusions of that international gathering in Copenhagen was to create a new social contract with “people at the centre of development.”

But notwithstanding the shortcomings in its implementation over the last 20 years, the United Nations is now pursuing an identical goal with a new political twist: “global citizenship.”

“Our world needs more solar power and wind power. But I believe in an even stronger source of energy: People power.” -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Reaffirming the opening line of the U.N. Charter, which says “We the Peoples”, the United Nations is adding the finishing touches to its post-2015 development agenda – even as there are increasing demands from civil society organisations (CSOs) to focus on issues relating to people, including poverty, hunger, unemployment, urbanisation, education, nuclear disarmament, gender empowerment, population, human rights and the global environment.

Addressing a star-studded Global Citizen Festival in New York City’s Central Park last September, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared: “Our world needs more solar power and wind power. But I believe in an even stronger source of energy: People power.”

Speaking at the 20th anniversary of WSSD, Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea and Vice President of the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said while one of the three major objectives of the Copenhagen Social Summit – poverty eradication – was incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000, the other two – productive employment and social integration – were not.

“An integrated approach advocated at the Social Summit to simultaneously pursue the three key objectives was left behind,” he told an ECOSOC meeting last week.

“There was a need to re-examine where the new United Nations development agendas would come from,” the Korean envoy said.

Economic growth in itself, while necessary, was not sufficient to reduce poverty and inequality, he said, stressing the need for strong social policies, as well as inclusive and sustainable development.

Similarly, there were many links among social, economic and environmental fields that must be effectively addressed, he added.

Meanwhile, the concept of global citizenship has taken on added importance, particularly on the eve of the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda which is expected to be approved at a summit meeting of world leaders in September.

Asked how relevant the concept was in the post-2015 context, Roberto Bissio, executive director of the Third World Institute, a non-profit research and advocacy organisation based in Uruguay, told IPS: “If by citizenship we mean rights, and in particular the right to bring governments to account, and decide how taxes are used, we are very far from global citizenship.”

In fact, he said, there is little talk of citizenship in the current discussions around the Financing for Development (FfD) conference in Addis Ababa in July and the September summit of world leaders on a new development agenda.

Instead, he said, there is a lot of attention being given to “multistakeholderism”.

The notion of “stakeholder”, as opposed to “shareholder,” was originally a way to make corporations more accountable to the people affected by their actions.

Now “multistakeholder governance” in the Internet or in “partnerships” with the United Nations means that corporations will have a role in global governance, without necessarily becoming more accountable in the process, he pointed out.

“This means less rights for citizens, not more,” said Bissio, who also coordinates the secretariat of Social Watch, an international network of citizen organisations worldwide.

On the other hand, he said, if the FfD conference approves a U.N. mechanism for tax collaboration between countries to counter widespread tax evasion by multinational corporations, citizenship (including the elusive ‘global citizenship’ concept) may emerge strengthened.

Pointing out the successes of people-oriented policies, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, former president of Chile, said when he was the leading his country in 1995 he had supported several initiatives to promote democracy and social justice.

Over the last 25 years, he said, Chile had succeeded in drastically reducing poverty to 7.8 per cent from 38.6 per cent, with extreme poverty reduced to 2.5 per cent from 13 per cent.

The WSSD, he said, was the largest meeting of heads of state that resulted in shaping a new model of development that would create progressive social equity that addressed imbalances around the world.

“The human being was placed at the centre of development, as reflected in the World Summit action plan,” he said.

Highlighting achievements resulting from implementing the plan, he said Chile had increased investments in social development and was, under current President Michelle Bachelet, continuing to do so in order to address inequality.

While Latin America had reduced poverty, it remained “more unequal” than other regions and currently, 28 per cent of its population of 167 million lived in poverty, with 71 million living in extreme poverty, he said.

But some of the pressing tasks, he said, included thinking about a new fiscal pact and tax reform that would improve income distribution in order to avoid “false” development. Corruption and institutional reform also needed to be addressed.

“As such, the World Social Summit remained as valid today as in 1995,” he said.

Going forward, combatting poverty and inequalities required an ethical foundation and a sustained effort. At this crossroad, it was time that governments gave more impetus to that “moral movement”, the former Chilean president said.

Juan Somavia, a former director-general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ex-Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, told the ECOSOC meeting the yet-to-be-finalised “zero” draft of the new post-2015 agenda recovered the spirit and dynamism of the 1990s and was a good basis for negotiations.

“The document reflected a supremely ambitious vision, with its 17 goals and 69 indicators focused on a people-centred poverty-eradication sustainable development concept,” he noted.

With regard to challenges, he said, policy support from the United Nations would be critical.

Since the world had discussed the three elements of sustainable development but had not yet implemented them, the basic challenge ahead was to ensure integrated thinking and to shape methods for using it to clearly explain the types of interactions between the agenda’s three pillars that were needed to fulfill commitments, he declared.

That difficult task required an initiative from the U.N. secretariats in New York and Geneva, its Funds and Programmes and the multiple networks in regions in which the organisation operated, he said.

Unless that process began immediately after the new agenda was adopted, the “goods” would not be delivered, Somavia warned.

That initiative would also require the recognition of the balance between markets, the State, society and individuals. “In recent years, people’s confidence in the United Nations had dropped.”

The manner in which the United Nations presented the new agenda was essential in addressing that issue.

As the Social Summit’s Programme of Action had recognized the importance of public trust, he emphasized that the new development agenda must acknowledge and address that current lack of confidence, Somavia declared.

Edited by Kitty Stapp, The writer can be contacted at thalifdeen@aol.com