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September 1994 | February 1995 |
United Nations October 24 is U.N. Day. A close relationship with the U.N. is maintained by the league and the USA-United Nations Association, which has a Hawaii Division. Programs vary in different communities but together they each work to encourage U.S. leadership at the United Nations, reshape public perceptions of the U.N., and revitalize the association. As the 50th anniversary of the United Nations (1995) approaches, local and national associations will focus on long range goals and short term activities to highlight the celebration. Leagues throughout the U.S. are also having programs focusing on the United Nations. Margery Cohen represents the league at the United Nations and acts as chair of UNA-USA's Conference of U.N. Representatives, a working arm of the Council of Organizations. She wrote a synopsis of League's quest for peace which started with League's founding and how this continued and led to involvement in and support for the United Nations. She noted that League's close partnership with the UNA-USA is one aspect of its efforts on behalf of a stronger world organization. Celebrating League's 75th and the U.N.'s 50th anniversaries recognizes LWV work "for change to improve people's lives to benefit all." The January issue of World interviewed the chairman of the United Nations Association of the United States, William J. vanden Heuvel, who had served as deputy representative to the U.N. with the rank of ambassador in Geneva during the Carter administration. When asked about changes ahead for the U.N., Mr. Heuvel responded, "We are now at a point in history-both in our own country and the world-to where the United Nations, I think, will play a more significant role, because no nation wants to be the world's policeman. The only available institution that can in fact play a role in bringing some sense of law and order and justice in the world is the United Nations. That will not be done unless the United Nations is led by the United States, and that is the significant historical challenge of our times." In writing to UNA-USA members, Mr. Heuvel said, "The United Nations needs our support. We must rebuild the bipartisan coalition that created the U.N., reinforcing it with the manifold evidence that the overwhelming majority of Americans continue to support the U.N. and want their government to be the leader in the quest for global stability. To help the U.N. fulfill its potential, we must be knowledgeable about what it can and cannot do. We must be willing to correct misinformation, be responsive to honest doubt, be realistic in our proposals, and be tireless in our efforts to help our countrymen understand how their lives are benefited and our nation's interests served in countless ways by the U.N. system." In the past the Hawaii Division has worked with the Law School on the model U.N. program (see LWVHI interest in the board highlight article); it has also worked with the East-West Center Population Program, Zero Population Growth, and the Conservation Council for Hawaii on an interactive videoconference on population, consumption, and the environment. League members who have an interest in U.N. can join in by sending a note to the UNA-USA Committee, c/o P.O. Box 11238, Honolulu 96828, or by calling 732-3191.
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