The United Nations: Our bridge to the future

LAST week, we witnessed the convergence of dramatic global events with the observance of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in New York City whose primary purpose is the prevention of World War III, thus insuring a better future for Mother Earth’s nations and peoples.

THE HEADS OF STATE/GOVERNMENT (HOSG) OF 195 MEMBER-NATIONS ARE USUALLY INVITED TO ADDRESS THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPECIAL SESSIONS IN THE UNGA TO DEBATE CURRENT ISSUES WITH UNIVERSAL IMPACT. IN FUTURE YEARS, BEFORE 2022, WE HOPE P.DU30 WILL FAVOR THE U.N. WITH A STIRRING SPEECH DURING ITS ANNIVERSARY.

EARLY BACKGROUND

TO FVR, AS PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT, IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME – AND SUPREME MISSION TO MARKET OUR BELOVED COUNTRY AND PEOPLE TO THE WORLD – TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE U.N.’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY LAST 24 OCTOBER 1995. EXCERPTS OF HIS SPEECH BEFORE THE UNGA FOLLOW:

“IN FIVE TURBULENT DECADES FROM 1945–1995, WE SAW THE DECOLONIZATION OF VIRTUALLY THE WHOLE WORLD, THE RISE OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO THE FOREFRONT OF WORLD CONCERNS, THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR WORLD COMMUNITY IN REFORM FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WOMEN, MINORITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND, MOST OF ALL, THE WORK OF RE-ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT TO INSURE ITS BENEFITS WOULD BE SPREAD TO THE POOREST REGIONS OF THE WORLD. AGENDA FOR DEVELOPMENT

“AS WE STEER THE U.N. TOWARD A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEMAKING, WE MUST PURSUE WITH GREATER RESOLVE ITS POSITIVE AND FRUITFUL WORK IN SPREADING ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE WORLD.

“THE COMING-INTO-FORCE OF THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS) IS ONE INSTANCE WHERE – IF WE WORK IN CLOSE COOPERATION – ALL CAN PROFIT; IF IN A SPIRIT OF SPITE, HOWEVER, THE WEAK AND THE POOR WILL CONTINUE TO FALL BEHIND. OUR PEACE MANDATE: NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION

“IN THE WORK OF PEACE-MAKING, CLEARLY ADJUSTMENTS ARE IN ORDER. WHILE THE THREAT TO GLOBAL PEACE FROM NUCLEAR CONFRONTATION HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED, IN ITS PLACE HAVE ARISEN MANY REGIONAL AND ETHNIC CONFLICTS THAT ARE AS DEADLY AND WHICH CONSTITUTE BOTH A CHALLENGE AND AN AFFRONT TO THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE OF MANKIND.

“WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT A U.N. RAPID-DEPLOYMENT FORCE, PROPERLY TRAINED, ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED, AND READY TO GO AND RESPOND TO DISRUPTIONS OR THREATS TO PEACE.

“BUT SUCH A FORCE WILL HAVE TO BE SUFFICIENTLY FINANCED AND NOT FUNDED BY THE DIVERSION OF RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE DEVELOPMENT WORK OF THE U.N. OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE LAUNCHING OF PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS MUST BE ESTABLISHED IF ONLY TO PREVENT THEIR USE IN THE SERVICE OF ANY ONE POWER’S POLICY OBJECTIVES.

“PARADOXICALLY, AS NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAVE BEEN PROVEN UNUSABLE IN ANY MEANINGFUL MILITARY SENSE, WE SEE SOME COUNTRIES MOVING AGGRESSIVELY TO TEST AND DEVELOP NEW NUCLEAR DEVICES – NOT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IN OTHERS’ BACKYARDS. WE PRAY THAT THIS ASSEMBLY CAN WORK IN CONCERT FOR THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPREHENSIVE TESTBAN TREATY THAT WOULD PUT A STOP TO NUCLEAR TESTING FOR ALL TIME.

“WE OF THE PHILIPPINES CONDEMN THIS GROTESQUE OBSESSION WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND WE ARE SQUARELY JOINED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THESE NUCLEAR TESTS AS A GRAVE DANGER TO HUMAN HEALTH AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.” HUMAN RIGHTS

A THIRD FEATURE OF THE CHANGE THAT HAS COME UPON THE WORLD OVER THE LAST 72 YEARS HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE. WE HAVE COME TO ASSOCIATE SUCH CONCERNS WITH THE ALLENCOMPASSING ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. IN FACT, CONTINUED FVR, THE PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS TODAY COME IN MANY FORMS.

“PERHAPS, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TODAY CONCERNS THE LARGE SCALE TRANSMIGRATION OF PEOPLE – MANY OF WHOM ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTS AND WORK IN EXTREME CONDITIONS TO EKE OUT A LIVING. ELEMENTARY JUSTICE AND DECENCY REQUIRE EACH NATION TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THESE MIGRANT WORKERS WHO CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. REFORMING THE U.N. STRUCTURE

“FINALLY, LET US NOT ALLOW OUR COMMEMORATION TO PASS WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF REFORMING THE U.N. – ITS ORGANIZATION, ITS PROCESSES AND ITS FINANCES.

“AND LET US DELIBERATE ONCE AND FOR ALL ON THE LONGSTANDING PROPOSALS FOR A GLOBAL TAXATION SCHEME ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES THAT CAN HELP FINANCE THE UNITED NATIONS. SUMMATION “THIS IS NOT TO EXPRESS IMPATIENCE WITH AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS SERVED OUR WORLD WITH SUCH DISTINCTION AND DEDICATION FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY NOW. OR TO DISHONOR THE MEMORY OF MANY INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS WHO THROUGH THE YEARS SERVED SELFLESSLY TO PURSUE THE WORLD OF PEACE AND PROGRESS. SAYANG, MISSED CHANCE

IN HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH DRUG ISSUES, AND BY ASSIGNING AN ALTER-EGO TO SPEAK FOR HIM BEFORE THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, P.DU30 MISSED THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM AS U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO SPEAK ON CURRENT SURVIVALOR-DEATH ISSUES. SAYANG!!!

TERRORISM, NUCLEAR BULLYING, DRUGS, HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – UNFORTUNATELY, CONTINUE TO BEDEVIL MANKIND.

(IN THE CASE OF FVR, THE UNGA PLATFORM WAS SHARED WITH CUBA’S FIDEL CASTRO – BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY.) SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

THIS WEEK, WE ALSO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GALLANT TROOPS OF THE AFP, PNP AND PCG FOR THEIR VALOR IN THE DEFENSE OF MARAWI CITY/ LANAO DEL SUR AND THE ELIMINATION OF STATELESS TERRORISM WITHIN OUR SHORES. BY THE SAME TOKEN WE, THE FILIPINO CITIZENRY OF TODAY, PLEDGE OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO HAVE PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF LIFE AND FORTUNE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR BELOVED PHILIPPINES AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WITH THIS SONG:

GOD’S WAY (Sung to the tune of “My Way”)

I’ve tried so many times. To please the Lord

The way I’m living. And yet, it seems

That I’m not in accord and unforgiving

I tried to make it work. And when I failed

To do it may way, I learned that it was best, To do it God’s way. And what a change it made. When I gave all

To serve the Savior. watched ambition fade

And idols fall, I didn’t waver. I tried to make it

work. And when I failed. To do it my way

I yielded to the Lord. And did it God’s way.

What can I say? I’m really changed.

And my whole life. Is rearranged.

God is real, He’s real to me.

I’m not the man I used to be.

As days go by, I’ll testify. I did it God’s way.

I’ve shared the message true, With everyone

Who cared to listen. keep on sharing too.

Tell everyone. Just what they are missin’.

The things that once were sad, Turned into joy

When I left my way. And yielded to the Lord And did it God’s Way. Thank God I’m free, From I I’ll