From the Editors for the week of 19 to 26 May 2024

Luis Oliveros contributed our feature this week, Forchtenstein Castle.  Luis kindly responded to our plea for features and other original articles from our readers. We thank him and hope that others follow suit in the future. This is the only way we can continue to publish our XUNICEF news and views.

Was this the silver lining in the clouds of war? The whole world (almost) welcomed the news of the ICJ ruling  which demanded that Israel stop its assault on Rafah in Gaza. The fallout of this historic ruling is yet to be seen, but hope springs eternal, as they say, and we all are looking forward to at least a pause, or better an end, to the conflict.  At the minimum, we hope the ICJ ruling will lead to vastly increased humanitarian aid reaching the desperate population, especially the children and women.  

Also of major consequence for this conflict has been the announcements from Spain, Ireland and Norway that they will recognize a full Palestinian state.  This comes after the recent UN General Assembly vote where the overwhelming majority (143 nations) voted for full membership.The addition of Norway is significant since it was the seat of the infamous Oslo Accords in 1993.  Added to these was the statement from the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, that all EU donors have now resumed their  funding of UNRWA.  Borrell went on to note the indispensable role of UNRWA as Gaza's lifeline. In a later statement, moments after the ICJ ruling, Borrell noted that, "We will have to choose between our support to the international institutions and the rule of law, or our support to Israel,..."

We noted with some emotion that our SG ,in receiving a shield as a gift from the Emir of Kuwait, decided to dedicate it to the almost 200 UN staffers that have been killed in the Gaza conflict. (see video)

On a different mode, we want to heartily congratulate our India retirees for their celebrations of the 75th anniversary of UNICEF cooperation. See "UNICEF India @75" by Krishna Mahapatra and Neena Gupta and "India@75: Why am I filled with pride?" by Pavitra Mohan.

A very sympathetic article comes our way from Paula Claycomb as she relates her efforts to "down-size", especially her accumulation of sundry items from 30 plus years of UNICEF career. She looks to the stack of documents she has kept and wonders which will continue to be useful in the future. She goes on to ask us, What UNICEF treasures have YOU saved?.

In "Weapons of War" Ramesh Shrestha notes how our world has come to accept the weaponization of so many aspects of everyday life, including food and water, education, religion, media, and public opinion.  He goes on to point to the weaponization of foreign aid as a means of vote-buying at the UN.  

Ken Gibbs in "Life in the Raw" tells us how his UNICEF experience taught him that a 10 litre bucket was the optimum means of carrying water home, but worked just as well for rescuing escaped ducklings.

Daffynitions is our offering of 'lighter stuff' this week.  This is a collection of words where one letter is changed and a different definition is offered.  Most of these came from a competition, but I have added 3 others related to our recent Reunion in Malta.

Fouad Kronfol

Editor for the week