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Think Spring (Myra Rudin)

During the heat of last summer, readers may remember “Think Snow!” presenting a collage of the snowy Alps. Now as many of us are enduring actual snow and freezing temperatures, I thought a look towards spring with colorful flowers might be welcomed! **********************************************************************************
Recent posts

News Links - 27 February 2026

 

Ordinary People Just Helped Save Millions of Lives : Shared by Kul Gautam

Many thanks, dear Sam, for sharing this inspiring article. So proud of our RESULTS.org colleagues and the transformational advocacy skills that you have instilled in them. I recall fondly how RESULTS advocacy helped mobilize similar US support for the highly successful "child survival revolution" interventions spearheaded by UNICEF in the 1980s and 90s. Let's hope that these life-saving appropriations for global health, approved by Congress and signed by the President, will actually be disbursed, and not withheld by OMB under any pretext. Thank you. Kul Ordinary People Just Helped Save Millions of Lives Sam Daley-Harris  The Renovator February 26, 2026  Click here for the article   Summary  When U.S. lawmakers signed appropriations legislation on February 3, 2026, funding for global health programs came in at $9.4 billion — far above the Trump administration's request of $3.8 billion, and close to the prior year's $10 billion allocation.  Maternal and Child Hea...

Gates-Epstein Ties Expose Philanthropy's 'Hypocrisy' : Shared by Angela Raven Roberts

News Links 26 February 2026

 

Catherine Russell at the Security Council - Red Hand Day

Event - Advocacy Webinar with Bystanders No More - 4 March 1900 Geneva 1300 NY : Shared by Robert Cohen

Update # 21: Sharing UNICEF Zimbabwe Children First Newsletter

UNJSPF News - February 2026

  Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous  For the French version, please see below UNJSPF News - February 2026 Join our next Pension Townhall sessions. Check the dedicated  Pension Townhall page  for more information. Secretary-General Appoints Robert van der Zee of Netherlands Representative for United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Asset Investments Mr. van der Zee served as Chief Financial Officer at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Italy (2024-2025), bringing 30 years of experience across various financial management roles. He possesses extensive and in-depth organizational and financial knowledge and expertise along with a strong track record of senior leadership in both the financial services industry and in international organizations.   Click  here  to read the article. Published on 2 February 2026 Understanding your pension: the milestone years explained You might be wondering whether working a few more months o...

A Panoply of Milestones, Events and Personalities related to UNICEF@80: Fouad Kronfol

As we all know 2026 will be UNICEF's 80th Anniversary. There will certainly be many manifestations throughout the Organization to commemorate this date some of which we hope will be shared with our group. On the other hand the XUNICEF Network itself should start thinking of how we as a group and as individuals can contribute to the global effort. Here are a few ideas of major events and issues that we can work with to determine those which we want to showcase in our Blog and in any other publication or activity. We would appreciate your views and suggestions as early as possible so that a plan can be developed .

Cartoon of the week: Fouad Kronfol

 How many unicef cars with UN flags will be driving around Nairobi?

Points to Ponder While You Wait for a Blizzard to Pass : Shared by Jim Mohan

 

Plastics free world: A mirage : Ramesh Shrestha

Plastics is not a problem There is a serious need for public education on dangers of nanoparticles of plastics on human health, much more beyond environmental pollution by plastics.

Would you like to submit an article for the XUNICEF blog?

With a new team of editors being formed, we would like to streamline how members can submit their own articles for posting. It is easier than you think. Here is what you need to do.

News Links - 25 February 2026

  South Sudan Opposition forces allege that government troops killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children, in what they describe as a "massacre" in Pankor, Ayod county. The killings come as fighting in Jonglei state has displaced more than 280,000 people since December, with UNICEF warning of widespread sexual violence, a near-total absence of GBV services, and a cholera outbreak that has now reached 98,000 cases nationally. 

News Links 24 February 2026

 

The Tale of the Wooden Spoon, by Edgard M. Seikaly

A soon to be published collection of verse born from the embers of war and the whispers of peace;  rooted in the ache of longing, the grace of family, the fire of passion, the solitude of the soul, the fracture and the healing of the human heart, the silent witness of observation, and the eternal shelter of a mother's love.

Report - Private Military Companies and Child Rights : Shared by Tom McDermott

This is an important and very timely report, coming as the Human Rights Council opens its latest session.  Tom

Today in Focus and News Links for 23 February 2025 : Tom McDermott

 

Nilourfar shares article on slashing of food aid

 Niloufar has shared the below interesting article" Global humanitarian aid slashed by one-third" - Governments drastically slash their international development assistance budgets as they focus on domestic concerns — and aid organizations warn acute food insecurity will expand as a result. https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/global-humanitarian-aid-slashed-by-one-third/

Today in Focus and News Links for 22 February 2026 : Tom McDermott

 

Moral Ambition in a Driverless World : Shared by Kul Gautam

Donald Trump’s Pantomime United Nations : Shared by Sharif Shafiq Alam

New York City Commissioner Defends the UN’s Presence in Turtle Bay : Shared by Narinder Sharma

From the Editors for the Week of 15 to 22 February 2026

Comments 13 to 21 February 2025

 

News Links for the Week up to 21 February 2026

 

Have A Laugh : Shared by Sree Gururaja

Child Soldiers - Sudan's Disney Stars on TikTok

 

At Least 15,000 at Large After ISIS Detention Camp Collapses in Syria : Shared by John Gilmartin

Join the Discussion

Sometimes, articles spark off some interesting comments and discussion. Don't miss any of this! We recommend you visit the blog throughout the week.  The last six comments made by our readers appear in the right margin (if you visit the blog on a laptop screen). If you visit the blog on your smartphone, tap the 'hamburger' (the three small horizontal bars on the top right of your smartphone screen) and the last six comments will appear. Join the talk. For more tips, click the label 'Tip' at the end of this post, or wherever the label 'Tip' appears.

Science Journalism on the Ropes Worldwide : Shared by John Gilmartin

New study suggests severe flu can damage the heart : John Gilmartin

2nd XUNICEF Community Communications Meeting : Tom McDermott

 

Board of Peace inaugural meeting : Shared by Kul Gautam

Stand with Francesca Albanese : Ellen Tolmie / Niloufar Pourzand

F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine : Shared by John Gilmartin

Death of the Oslo Accords : Shared by Fouad Kronfol

Redaction as a Management Tool :

Redaction as a Management Tool : Author's Name Redacted

US pays about $160 million of the nearly $4 billion it owes the United Nations: Shared by Sharif Shafiq Alam