Weekly Digest 16 - 23 July 2023

Welcome to a brief overview of articles that appeared last week on our website. Please don't stop here - be sure to browse the full list of articles that appeared this week. 

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Our Feature of the Week: 

Frameless Fantasies - Digital transformation

Gautam goes digital. "I had always wondered if technology could be creatively applied to explore new possibilities in visual art. The visit [to the frameless gallery] took me beyond abstraction to transform some of my recent exhibits to near perfect bilateral symmetry through digital creativity". Follow Gautam to the frameless gallery and - ultimately - frameless fantasies by clicking here.

Our Columnists This Week

 Ken Gibbs: Babble from the Balkans (3)

 Nuzhat Shahzadi: Waves Whisper in Tarawa!

 Ramesh Shrestha: Social Contract

Good news: Immunization figures are up again, globally! One needs to read a few stories to let the message sink in. India reaches record levels of DPT3 coverage, UNICEF and WHO report a return to pre-pandemic levels, and UNICEF reminds readers that remaining gaps put children at risk everywhere. Also, UNICEF prepares for a major roll-out of the long awaited anti-malarial-vaccine. In my view, high immunization coverage is mainly reached by countries taking the right steps and adopting good public health policies, but we haven't seen an analysis of what countries actually did. Do you happen to know? Let us know!

More Public Health: At the same time, a WHO brokered global deal allows low cost TB drugs to be manufactured by generic drug companies without the permission of patent holders - some critics say that this is not good enough - click here to find out why.  And the debate over the proposed pandemic accord continues, with some saying that - again - companies are trying to control the negotiations. In my view, you need to invite companies to the negotiations if you want them to play a role - but then you can't complain if they don't agree with your views. Or what do you think?

The new book: We carry two articles about the launch (in the UNICEF Bangladesh Office) of a book written by UNICEF retirees: We were there. Yes, some UNICEF retirees do write! We are pleased to carry an online copy of the book here. Talking about Bangladesh: Find out whether you agree with the Executive Director of BRAC on his Theory of Change.

Rather shockingly, Sigrid Kaag, former UNICEF staff member and Deputy Prime Minister of The Netherlands resigned over hate speech and death threats. This was in the wake of the breaking up the  Government coalition over the disagreement on policies on immigration and asylum seekers. Too sad. It shows that there is a lot to do even for those of us who have retired into so called stable democracies.  

Jack of All Trades: We often carry articles that contemplate and discuss the role of the UN - where it should focus, whether it has the necessary competence, and the role of its diverse agencies. You have been with the system for much of your life, and I am sure you have your views. This week, two rather contrasting articles illuminate the bandwidth of where the UN is trying to be relevant: Regulating Artificial Intelligence and Aid for Syria. I am not sure that the current reform of the UN Development Group and the Resident Coordinator System will show light at the end of tunnel.

Detlef Palm

Editor of the Week

Missing You: Pedro Manuel Barretto

Marco Vianello Chiodo: Memorial Card

Marco Vianello Chiodo: His funeral

Photos of the Week

Three traditional bangles pieces of South India, called “Simha bangle”, symbolising the lion. The bangles are from  1969, 1997 and 2004 worn by Sree, her daughter and her daughter in law.

Mini-Reunion 18 July: Sree and friends

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