At the individual level, remaining hopeful and optimistic boost our morale especially during hard times. It helps people to have much better coping mechanisms and avoid going into depression. We all remain optimistic for a better future for everyone, especially for the next generation. I also recall during one of UNICEF’s senior managers’ workshops there was a session on apperceive enquiry. The heart of this session was to focus on what works and move on. The implicit message was to move on with optimism with what works and not to dwell on things that didn’t work. Was it fair to leave things that did not work unattended? You be the judge.
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst
At the institutional level such as the United Nations, the above seems to be the mantra to avoid difficult issues, giving hope to the people but not solving the problem in order ‘not to rock the boat’. How far can this approach take us in addressing the UN’s global agenda? Not far enough! There are many issues requiring the UN's collective response to protect human civilisation. Our civilisation is faced with existential threats due to the negative impacts of increasing threats of warfare, climate change, and our maligned economy impacting the majority of the population globally. In addition, there are new emerging diseases, misinformation and disinformation in the media and the potential application of artificial intelligence in warfare which could spark serious global armed conflict. Remaining optimistic will not be enough for the UN for the remaining decades of this century. The cost of optimism without action may prove to be a serious gamble.
Optimism is good but realism is better
There are no substitutes to replace the UN system, which works for the benefit of mankind. The global community has enjoyed and benefited from the works of the UN system for over seven decades with many ups and downs. Today, the most important issue faced by the UN is the criticisms of the UN system itself for its inability of making serious dents on substantive issues such as human rights, peace and security. Everyone interested in the UN is pondering about the future of the UN system with the evolving geopolitics. Thus far all UN member states have persevered on every step of the works of the UN system. Is it enough for the rest of the 21st century? Perhaps not.
Reform of the UN system to improve accountability, transparency and overall management has been on the agenda since the collapse of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. But exact pathways to reform has never been clear. The ideas proposed by ‘experts’ range from completely eliminating the UN system to make it to a full-fledged world government. The first suggestion is insulting. The world needs an anchor to steer issues of global importance such as peace and security. The second suggestion contradicts with the mission of the UN. The existence of the UN is not to undermine the sovereignty of its member states. There was also a talk to limit the works of the UN to purely humanitarian issues. It is an inadequate suggestion. Agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, etc. provided and continue to provide technical and material assistance to needy countries. The technical agencies of the UN system such as ICAO, ILO have provided guidelines to meet international standards on many technical issues. Of course, the industrialised countries have their own standard that may be above the standard recommended by the UN.
Johari matrix & the UN system
The various issues in the UN fits well in the Johari matrix. Take for example the top left box of the Johari matrix. There are known problems known to everyone, such as the working of the Security Council. It is the most intractable problem at the heart of the UN’s system for which the solutions remain elusive. There are suggestions to enlarge the permanent members in the Security Council for a broader representation of Arica, Asia and Latin America. The P5 members are known to protect their friendly member states. By enlarging the P5 membership it will further complicate the works of the system instead of resolving by enlarging the web of countries protected by the P5 members. The P5 could eventually look like gangland warfare.
There are other serious issues which needs urgent attention but the Security Council itself has become the stumbling block. Top in the agenda is human rights violation. In recent years the human rights violations range from ethnic cleansing in the Balkan to the mass exodus of Rohyinga minority from Myanmar to the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their centuries old homes to the targeted bombing of hospitals, schools and expulsion of Gazans. There were few statements with regards to Rohyinga expulsion and in the case of Gaza, it took more than a month in agreeing a statement for humanitarian corridor for humanitarian relief, not for a ceasefire.
There are many smart and well-intentioned people in the system and organisations working with the UN. But they are made disabled by the international system and role of the Security Council. Similarly, there are peace activists but they are silenced by their own governments. How much longer should people remain optimistic while innocent people continue to die and poverty continues to rise?
Media malaise
People and governments worship freedom of speech only till it serves their purpose. Speaking truth has become life threatening for journalists and publishers. In 2023 as of mid-November, 69 journalists have been killed while doing their job; 62 of them in Gaza and West Bank, 2 in Ukraine and 5 in five different countries. Besides journalists, people critical of certain governments have also been targeted in several countries. Could the UN intervene in any of these countries with penalties for individuals or organisations involved? In theory yes, but in practice no as it will fall apart in the Security Council as has been noted in the past. In recent days even the High Commission for Human Rights has come under attack for doing its job and the Secretary General has been asked to resign for speaking out the truth. Where will it all end? What gives people hope for optimism?
Countries are losing faith in the UN system for lack of teeth in taking actions on issues of global importance. Climate change is supposedly a non-political issue where the UN continues to plead with no substantive actions by any country. Negative impact of climate is being felt much more severely in countries which did not contribute to emissions of GHGs. COP 28 is starting with full swing in Dubai this week, which incidentally is one of the highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases. It released 218.8 million metric tons of GHG in 2022, an increase of 2.62% from 2018.
How far optimism can take you?
Remaining optimistic is good but failing to meet the expectations of optimism could result in many negative consequences. In our contemporary world the politicians and the fake scientists are telling people that technology will solve all our problems. Technology has contributed substantially in improving our living standard, no doubt. But the technology also has its unintended biproducts which are harming life on earth such as overwhelming amounts of chemical wastes which the nature is unable to break, sophisticated weapons & seemingly irreversible atmospheric pollution. By remaining overtly optimistic people forgot to understand the negative cost to the society and nature of all these ‘progressive’ development activities. We are approaching a time for people to recognise that the world needs to look for alternatives for life on earth while the door of optimism is closing.
Media malaise
People and governments worship freedom of speech only till it serves their purpose. Speaking truth has become life threatening for journalists and publishers. In 2023 as of mid-November, 69 journalists have been killed while doing their job; 62 of them in Gaza and West Bank, 2 in Ukraine and 5 in five different countries. Besides journalists, people critical of certain governments have also been targeted in several countries. Could the UN intervene in any of these countries with penalties for individuals or organisations involved? In theory yes, but in practice no as it will fall apart in the Security Council as has been noted in the past. In recent days even the High Commission for Human Rights has come under attack for doing its job and the Secretary General has been asked to resign for speaking out the truth. Where will it all end? What gives people hope for optimism?
Countries are losing faith in the UN system for lack of teeth in taking actions on issues of global importance. Climate change is supposedly a non-political issue where the UN continues to plead with no substantive actions by any country. Negative impact of climate is being felt much more severely in countries which did not contribute to emissions of GHGs. COP 28 is starting with full swing in Dubai this week, which incidentally is one of the highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases. It released 218.8 million metric tons of GHG in 2022, an increase of 2.62% from 2018.
How far optimism can take you?
Remaining optimistic is good but failing to meet the expectations of optimism could result in many negative consequences. In our contemporary world the politicians and the fake scientists are telling people that technology will solve all our problems. Technology has contributed substantially in improving our living standard, no doubt. But the technology also has its unintended biproducts which are harming life on earth such as overwhelming amounts of chemical wastes which the nature is unable to break, sophisticated weapons & seemingly irreversible atmospheric pollution. By remaining overtly optimistic people forgot to understand the negative cost to the society and nature of all these ‘progressive’ development activities. We are approaching a time for people to recognise that the world needs to look for alternatives for life on earth while the door of optimism is closing.
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Or contact Ramesh at ramesh.chauni@gmail.com
Or contact Ramesh at ramesh.chauni@gmail.com
Ramesh very meticulous and holistic statement you made, as old saying goes easier said than done vis-a-vis never too late to take following imperative action by UN.
ReplyDelete1. Be pragmatic action rather than plethora statement produced.
2. Review entrenched neutrality standing of UN rather than take righteous stance.
3. Not only word but also action on cost effective and efficient UN system.
4. Expedite the rounding up of over due UN reform process.
5. SC veto power should be revoked immediately replaced by majority voting power.
6. Please note that UN can not please everybody, if try to please everyone will please no body and loss of credibility.