From the Editors - 18 to 25 January 2025

XUNICEF News & Views - an Exciting Opportunity

The editors have posted "Hold On", the third in our series of vacancy notices (appeals) for former UNICEF staff — or at least those not yet 'fossilized' — to join them in the exciting work of editing the XUNICEF blog.

But,      

What happens if....

If a new team of editors does not step forward soon, the XUNICEF blog will close at the end of March. Then what will replace it?

Last week we invited all our readers to join us in an online discussion of what form communication between XUNICEF members might continue. Would members create a new forum? A new blog? A group on social media? Whatever it is, the team of editors want to help, but someone will have to step up with ideas and a plan to lead the new platform.

We hoped that a group of at least 10 to 20 concerned members would join the discussion. Sadly, aside from the editors themselves, only one other member joined the meeting. We were very disappointed. Do other members not care about keeping communications going in XUNICEF?

We plan another online discussion on this coming Wednesday, January 28th at 12 noon EST (NY time) .  Please join, but note that this is not a discussion of what we - the current editorial team - might do to make the current blog better.  It is a discussion of what platform could replace it after March - a new blog, website, or social media group -  AND what you personally can do to make that new platform a success!!

Our Feature : In  Central Park - The Gates Detlef takes us on an exciting visit to New York's Central Park and a spectacular 2005 exhibition by artists Christo Yavacheff and French artist Jeanne-Claude. The exhibition involved erecting over 7,500 steel and fabric 'gates' along the pathways. Detlef also gives us a glimpse of another 'fabric wrap' spectacle by Christo in Monschau in 1971 - in this case of the ruined tower of Monschau Castle.

Columnists

Ramesh Shrestha offers us Part 2 of his essay asking whether human errors have reached a tipping point. 

Crises

Syria - turnover of control from Kurdish forces to the new Syrian army for three provinces of northeast Syria has resulted in chaos, leaving at least 24,000 women and children, dependents of Islamic State fighters, without access to food, water, and medical supplies. 

Iran - the UN Special Rapporteur said that Iran's crackdown on protesters may constitute crimes against humanity.

The Board of Peace

Kul Gautam shares the full text of the charter of President Trump's Board of Peace and the speech of Canadian PM Mark Carney in which, among many other points, questions President Trump's efforts to replace the UN Security Council with his Board of Peace.

Shamsul Farooq shares the growing list of governments signing on to join the Board of Peace following a ceremony at Davos.  Tom McDermott adds reports on how the proposed mandate of the Board is rapidly growing beyond reconstruction of Gaza into a competitor to the Security Council.

UN Pension and Insurance

Pension - Sharif Alam shared an editorial from the UN Pension Blog expressing deep concern over the forthcoming review of the pension system based on demands of the US and other delegations for a shift to defined contributions and two tiered benefit schemes.

Health Insurance - AFICS and HLIS announced that the agreement between Blue Cross / Blue Shield Anthem with Mount Sinai hospital system has expired, resulting in changes in coverage.  

UNICEF

US Contributions - The US House of Representatives voted to restore a $50 billion allocation for foreign aid, which the White House sought to cut.  The amount includes $339 million in allocations for UNICEF, UNDP, OHCHR, UNEP and OCHA .  Lawmakers also specifically directed that "UNICEF should continue receiving support at past levels."  However deep doubts remain over whether the President will ultimately release the funds allocated by Congress.

FFI - The Executive Board heard an informal briefing on the decisions taken in the Future Focus Initiative for restructuring and downsizing UNICEF. 

The 4th Industrial Revolution - Victor Karunan shared a major study on the impact of AI and the 4th Industrial revolution on marginalized and vulnerable groups in ASEAN. Victor was one of the authors.

Water - Niloufar Pourzand shared a major report by the UNU's Institute for Water, Environment and Health titled Global Water Bankruptcy  

Comments from our Readers.