4 hours ago
Racism is an uncomfortable topic. I agree with Thomas that racism is easiest to discuss in countries where open dialogue is fostered and there is no fear of reprisals. While the narrative of a racist West exists, a large portion of our salaries have been and are funded by Western donors. Racism should be discussed more broadly, especially where it is not allowed to be addressed. Fortunately, XUNICEF's members are all experts who have worked in many countries, often forged intercultural connections, and can contribute their perspectives.
Doreen Lobo commented on "Textures of Thought: Artist-Machine Collaboration - Gautam Banerji"
23 hours ago
You’ve demonstrated an unthinkable collaboration in art between man and machine. Alas! If only this was available in my childhood, my grades in drawing would have been higher!!! Well done Gautam. And above all thank you for your contribution . Doreen
2 days ago
@ unknown: can I swing the cat by the tail for you?
Gautam Banerji commented on "Textures of Thought: Artist-Machine Collaboration - Gautam Banerji"
Nov 6, 2025
Fascinating. It can still be done with old machines. Incidentally I consider the old box camera no less a machine. And perhaps the potter’s wheel was the first machine to combine creativity with utility. That creative urge drives it all. Thank you Akhi for the comments. I wish more would chip in.
Nov 5, 2025
UNICEF went WAY OFF TRACK the past 20 years as we experienced unchecked and exponential growth at NYHQ and as well our 7 regional offices. Before this current crisis hit in early 2025 - just over 49 % of the entire international professional workforce of UNICEF was based in HQ or RO location - i.e half of our best and most costly staff were sitting in the most costly duty stations on EARTH - not doing any implementation but were in teams with overlapping tasks that had almost nothing to do with supporting country offices to do better work. No one would ever wake up in the morning and invent an organisation with as many layers and as lopsided as how UNICEF became. You could walk into 3 UN plaza and swing a cat by the tail - and in each swing you would strike a D1 or D2 - they were stacked in HQ like so much fireword. Why this self importance? Why put so many resources out of the mouths of kids and into the pockets of pompous gangs of D1s and D2s surround by HUGE teams of P5s and P4s - all very busy doing what? We lost our way - we lost our soul - we lost the plot. Now we pay the price for it - not the people at the top - but 1000s of young P2 and P3s are losing their jobs - and there are NO jobs to go into. NONE. We are sitting in a pile of ashes wondering what hit us. That is why we are suffering - leaders with very poor vision - nepotism at the highest level - and no regard for our lopsided growth - we had unprecedented income - but that did not mean we should embrace unprecedented growth at HQ and RO level? None of us XUNICEF can imagine what these 1000s of Ps and P3s are doing now they lost their jobs. It will take a long time for us to get back on track as UNICEF - to reinvent a new UNICEF - and to be truly FIT FOR PURPOSE. RIP.
Nov 5, 2025
thanks for this wisdom Fritza and Kul - i am days away from retirement. The UN is nearly irrelevant these days and very far from being "fit for purpose". We have extremely mediocre UNRCs "leading" even less mediocre teams of UN agency Reps - with a few exceptional people in the mix - but largely full of mediocre people steeped in nepotism and full of themselves. It is like a ship is sinking and the UNRC (or on a bigger ship - the SG) is the captain and he is somehow fixated on where the violin player is sitting vs the cello and what kind of music goes best with the happy hour drinks. The SHIP IS GOING DOWN - will we land in a lifeboat and find our way to safety - or just become chum for the sharks. As we cut 1000s and 1000s of posts in UNICEF and elsewhere in the UN - we are gutting the crew of the ship - maybe the most functional crew members whom we really need are losing their job - while the ones with more stripes on their uniform are protected - but they no longer know how many scoops of coal it takes to fire up the engine or how to read a compass or what to do when the ships toilet is clogged. We are adrift - we need to find that lifeboat - and charter our way back to dry land - and re-think about our journey.
Fouad commented on "Textures of Thought: Artist-Machine Collaboration - Gautam Banerji"
Nov 5, 2025
Fascinating development in your work Akhi. Congratulations. This reminds me of another era and another machine to art relationship. Those of us who can remember that before photocopying came around, unicef and the UN used the Gestetner duplicating machine for all copying work of documents etc. The machine used ink to make the copies. When one took out the originals after copying one could see that the ink that seeped through th3 original left some amazing designs on the back of the document. It looked very much like the ink blot in the famous Rorschach psycho test. I used to collect some of the more interesting ones and even recall framing a couple. Unfort7nately I no longer have any left.
Unknown commented on "Mourning the rapidly disappearing UNICEF NY Headquarters : John Gilmartin"
Nov 3, 2025
revision of a line from john G. observations is suggested by Adhiratha Keefe.
"Okay, it’s been in NYC 80 years, yes Eleanor Roosevelt was our first Exdir, yes it won the Nobel Peace Prize in the 1960’s, ..."
The first Executive Director of unicef was Maurice Pate. There is a good monograph on his life and work.
Eleanor roosevelt was amazing, a driving force. for the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
However, she did not at first (as a very prominent and public member of the u s a delegation) support the continuation of unicef once the initial efforts in Europe had some success.. Because of overwhelming pushback from the delegations, especially if Africa, Asia and Latin America. UNICEF. mandate was eventually extended. The USA delegation and Mrs Rossevelt (in governmental and public forums) then became very supportive of unicef ongoing work. In the different regions of the world.
"Okay, it’s been in NYC 80 years, yes Eleanor Roosevelt was our first Exdir, yes it won the Nobel Peace Prize in the 1960’s, ..."
The first Executive Director of unicef was Maurice Pate. There is a good monograph on his life and work.
Eleanor roosevelt was amazing, a driving force. for the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
However, she did not at first (as a very prominent and public member of the u s a delegation) support the continuation of unicef once the initial efforts in Europe had some success.. Because of overwhelming pushback from the delegations, especially if Africa, Asia and Latin America. UNICEF. mandate was eventually extended. The USA delegation and Mrs Rossevelt (in governmental and public forums) then became very supportive of unicef ongoing work. In the different regions of the world.
Nov 2, 2025
Was very glad to see you Shahida and Naheed after so many years. You both look great reflecting what is inside you. Hope that we will meet someday soon. Mary
Nov 2, 2025
Thank you Mary for your kindness and the encouragement. I have responded to your request by email. It will be a pleasure to be of any further assistance to your students. Do feel free to share my email address with them if needed.
In Response to a comment by Mary Racelis
Nov 2, 2025
An anonymous Bard. Is it Fouad by any chance???? Yes, we celebrated Helene's special day. Such a treat to meet up so unexpectedly. UNICEF in Malta? I'm all for it.
In Response to a comment by Unknown
Gautam Banerji commented on "Developed, Developing and Least Developed: Gautam Banerji"
Nov 2, 2025
That’s a smart rejoinder, Thomas. You seem to have said it all.
In Response to a comment by Thomas Ekvall
Dorrit Alopaeus-Ståhl commented on "Textures of Thought: Artist-Machine Collaboration - Gautam Banerji"
Nov 2, 2025
Congratulations to Gautam for the art works shared and to Mary for encouraging comments.
Unknown commented on "Future Focus Initiative, Bulletin #2"
Nov 1, 2025
This message from Hannan appears more for folks on the other side of First Avenue and less for informing staff and folks internally. It is clear that she has set her sights on positions in the UN and showcasing the surgery and
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