United Nations: 70 years in the service of peace and justice

United Nations: 70 years in the service of peace and justice - 24 October 2016

The United Nations held its 70th anniversary on 24 October 2016. The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, opened the International Court of Justice (ICJ) exhibit on 24 October 2016 to mark 70 years in the service of peace and justice. At the United Nations headquarters in New York, Ban Ki-moon and the President of the International Court of Justice, Ronny Abraham, opened the ceremony for the exhibition entitled ’70 Years in the Service of Peace and Justice.’

The photography exhibition represented the history of the International Court of Justice and how it works for the peace of the international community. The exhibtion included examples of judgements and advisory opinions that showcase the ICJ’s contribution to peaceful resolutions of conflicts around the world. The exhibition will be on display until 28 December 2016.

The United Nations also held ceremonies around the world to commemorate 70 years in the service of peace and justice. They included concerts, conferences, sporting competitions, art exhibitions, and film screenings.

In Brussels, the exhibition to celebrate 70 years was called ‘Around the World in 70 Days.’ Elyx, the UN’s first digital ambassador, created by French artist, Yak, journeyed for 70 days – Elyx has no nationality, no gender or race, nor does it speak, representing a universal character. Elyx’s journey began on 15 August and ended on 24 October, UN Day, at the UN headquarters in New York, visiting UN offices around the world. The adventure was documented on social media (#UN70 and www.elyx70days.org).

In the Russian Federation, a special event was held at the Bolshoi Theatre. President Vladamir Putin addressed the event organised by The Russian Public Committee for the Observance of UN70, which included short ballets staged by choreographer Alexei Ratmansky.

The Islamic Republic of Iran held a UN Journalism Award Contest with five winners selected. Belarus promoted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a blue Express Train Tour, which travelled across the country visiting seven cities to hold more than 250 events. Austria held a travelling photography exhibition called ‘We the Peoples’ to mark 70 years – it was launched in September in Vienna, and will continue to Germany (Bonn) and Hungary (Budapest). Poland celebrated the UN’s 70th anniversary with ‘The Blue March of Peace’ in Warsaw. Peru held a photography exhibition called ‘For a Better World’ from 12-25 October in Miraflores, and will continue in November and December in other locations around the country. Pakistan held a photography exhibition called ‘Pakistani People and the United Nations – Human Stories through Photography’ in the City Heritage Museum in Lahore. India launched the UN@70 campaign and the YoUNg@70 initiative in New Delhi with the theme ‘The Future we Want’ to raise global awareness of sustainable development. And Turkey held a ‘Youth and Music’ event, which included videos and posters, as well as orchestral concerts.

https://www.un.org/un70/en/content/events/around-the-world

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Flaws in the Glass, a self-portrait by Patrick White: book review

The manuscript, Flaws in the Glass (1981), is Patrick Victor Martindale White’s autobiography. White, born in 1912 in England, migrated to Sydney, Australia, when he was six months old. For three years, at the age of 20, he studied French and German literature at King’s College at the University of Cambridge in England. Throughout his life, he published 12 novels. In 1957 he won the inaugural Miles Franklin Literary Award for Voss, published in 1956. In 1961, Riders in the Chariot became a best-seller, winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 1973, he was the first Australian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Eye of the Storm, despite many critics describing his works as ‘un-Australian’ and himself as ‘Australia’s most unreadable novelist.’ In 1979, The Twyborn Affair was short-listed for the Booker Prize, but he withdrew it from the competition to give younger writers the opportunity to win the award. His autobiography, Flaws in the Glass...

Sister cities discussed: Canberra and Islamabad

Two months ago, in March 2015, Australia and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to deepen ties. The relationship between Australia and Pakistan has been strong for decades, and the two countries continue to keep dialogues open. The annual bilateral discussions were held in Australia in March to continue engagements on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. The Pakistan delegation discussed points of interest will include sports, agriculture, economic growth, trade, border protection, business, and education. The possible twinning of the cities of Canberra, the capital of Australia, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were also on the agenda (i.e. called twin towns or sister cities). Sister City relationships are twinning arrangements that build friendships as well as government, business, culture, and community linkages. Canberra currently has international Sister City relationships with Beijing in China and Nara in Japan. One example of existing...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog