Comments from our Readers 21 - 27 September 2024

Jesper Morch commented on "The Youth of Yesterday: Detlef Palm"

21 hours ago

It is always a joy and a lesson to be read a column from your pen. We are momentarily drowning in coverage of the UN General Assembly by and/or about current or former high ranking UN officials. Many are old friends for whom I have the highest regard and affection. But I cannot help but think along the line of Detlef. With some notable exceptions, the GA and its side events are preaching to the already converted by people in their majority in their late thirties upwards. WHO (the band, not the organization) used to express the hope that we would die before we got old. Now those of them still alive are performing well into their 80s. That’s kind of sad - they have nothing new to say but there are plenty of others and younger to lift their torch. Where do young people today fight for their agendas with their hopes and dreams. I am afraid it is not in New York and the UN. I hope I am wrong.

Unknown commented on "The Youth of Yesterday: Detlef Palm"

Yesterday

As David Bowie aptly put it: "These children that you spit on, as they try to change their world, are immune to your consultations, they are quite aware what they're goin' through" (Changes)

Unknown commented on "The James P Grant Award for Child Survival Established : Kul Gautam"

2 days ago

Thank you Kul. Your dedication and tenacity paid off. This is one more recognition of the remarkable Jim Grant. I remember prof. Ihsan Dogramaci well and the many times he spoke on behalf of developing countries and helped convince Executive Board members to think outside the box. Habib

Ian MacLeod commented on "The James P Grant Award for Child Survival Established : Kul Gautam"

Sep 26, 2024

Thanks Kul for the great news - although VERY OVERDUE. Let's hope as an absolute minimum that UNICEF contributes the $25,000 from Prof Dogramaci in 1995 (even without investment and interest it should be worth $50,000 in today's terms).

Mary Sidawi commented on "Lebanon - Two UNHCR Staff and Child of One Killed in Israeli Airstrikes : Frances Mao / BBC News"

Sep 25, 2024

May their souls rest in peace

Unknown commented on "Statement by the Principals of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC)"

Sep 25, 2024

GA 46/182 is least bureaucratic and a simple action plan with timelines to deal with emergencies. DHA got its manage from it. The IASC of today is a mandate creep and therefore quite ineffective. Humanitarian matters are meant for the GA to protect that space from politics and preferences.

Unknown commented on "Statement by the Principals of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC)"

Sep 25, 2024

How exciting and a noble gesture! Not sure if the wider world knows what the IASC is.

Momtazul Karim commented on "Boy meets girl - Ken Gibbs"

Sep 25, 2024

Wonderful Love story Ken. Read it in one breadth. My God you remembered every bit of details well after 50 long years ! Bravo keep it up.
Momtaz (an ex -WATSAN Man in Africa).

Detlef Palm commented on "Summit of the Future - Final Outcome Document"

Sep 24, 2024

I am wondering how many Heads of State read this document before voting on it, and how many XUNICEF members will read it.

John Skoda commented on "A Two-State Solution that Can Work : Omar M. Dajani and Limor Yehuda / Foreign Affairs"

Sep 23, 2024

Karl Erik Knudsson, when he was the RD at Nairobi, used to say that African countries would do well to look at the Swiss (Confederation) constitution as providing a framework for governance. It worked for a multi-lingual, tribal society; therefore, it may well be a better model than the French or British colonial models. Before Indian independence, a Quaker cleric had even suggested a Confederation for India - which might have saved it from partition. Highly centralized governmental systems may be cheaper but not necessarily better.