From the President
Once again, for the third year in a row, the US contribution of $34 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been eliminated from the federal budget by the Administration in Washington. The reasons given are mainly the alleged abortion and coercive family planning practices in China, a recipient of UNFPA funds.
As a former UN adviser on population policies and development, I can assure you that the UN has not promoted coercive family planning measures (including abortion or sterilization) and that none of the projects financed by UNFPA include these activities. Family planning programs supported by UNFPA aim at preventing unwanted pregnancies and helping women have safe pregnancies. They mainly focus on the dissemination of information and the education of women in family planning practices and on providing material and guidance for controlling pregnancies. UNFPA funds not only family planning programs, as most people know, but other population related activities, such as mother and child health programs (MCH), the prevention of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, demographic data collection (population censuses and surveys) and population studies and research.
China adopted strong measures for family planning programs, with an ambitious target of one child per family, mainly because of its large population and relatively low level of development, especially in providing basic needs such as food. Though very effective, China's population policy has been criticized internationally because of abuses which often occurred due to misinterpretations and rigid applications of government policies by local authorities. But as China's population growth has been more or less stabilized and economic development sustained at a relatively high level, the once rigid family planning measures and other social practices have been relaxed by the authorities. In fact, since 2002 many fact-finding missions to China, including one carried out by the US State Department and nine by religious groups (Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant), reported that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations regarding Chinese coercive abortions and sterilizations.
When UNFPA was established in 1969 it enjoyed strong support from the USA, which not only had been the biggest contributor but also the greatest advocate of family planning programs as measures to reduce the rapid growth of world population. Among its efforts to promote family planning programs the US Government financed the building of a computerized projection model (RAPID), showing the devastating impact of rapid population growth on basic needs. Though simplistic in my opinion, RAPID was a successful tool for persuading national leaders to accept family planning programs. Now I am surprised to see that the American Government has inflicted a �killing� blow to the program it helped establish just when it was working well. The cut of US contributions to UNFPA, which is �chronic� and unpredictable, depending on the mood of the US Government each year, has the effect only of jeopardizing the UN work program and budget commitment, and forcing the UN to discontinue a number of essential country projects. According to UNFPA, the contribution of $34 million from USA could prevent 2 million unwanted pregnancies, 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths, and 77,000 infant and childhood deaths around the world.
Personally, I believe that punishing countries that need help because of a �fault� committed by another country, is not one of the �smart sanctions� promoted by the UN. It looks rather like an act of unfairness that the world condemns.
I believe there are better solutions. If the objective of the US Government is to discourage coercive abortion and to ascertain that UNFPA will not finance abortion projects or any projects including an abortion component, or projects in any countries that the US Government believes practice coercive abortion, such as China, the following conditions could be attached to US contributions: (a) a separate account should be established for US contributions; (b) US contributions could be used only for projects in which there are no abortion components; (c) US contributions could not be used to finance projects in China; and (d) arrangements should be made for the US Government to monitor projects financed from the US account during their implementation period.
If this solution does not work, I propose another solution, the simplest: Just leave China alone!
Daniel Luu
Broward County
The Broward County Chapter held regular monthly meetings open to the public alternating between the SW Regional Library in Southern Broward County and Broward Community College Library North Campus in Northern Broward Co. Attendance ranged form 8 to 35 people. We had a video and discussion session on the �Kofi Annan Center of the Storm Millennium Summit of World Religious and Spiritual Leaders�; also, Dr. Nasseer Idrisi, a professor at the University of Miami, spoke about �Restoring Wetlands in Iraq: The Political, Social and Economic Impact .� Bill Miller, from the National Board of UNA-USA spoke at Nova University, co-sponsored by the Nova Bah�'� Unity Club, about the UN's role regarding the situation in Iraq. He will return in November to address classes at Broward Community College Davie Campus on the �Role of the UN in the 21st Century.�
Our UN Day Celebration will be held on Sunday Oct. 24th from 2 to 4 pm at the Broward County Community College North Campus. It will be a multicultural event with music, poetry and dance as well as have a �Learning About the UN� interactive component with the audience facilitated by Model UN students.
We plan another Night of 1000 Dinners event, our fourth, on Nov. 6th. Early in 2005 we will co-sponsor a Human Rights Video Project at the SW Regional Library. Ruth de Vargas
Tampa Bay
The UNA-USA Tampa Bay Chapter plans our UN Day Celebration on Saturday, October 23rd with a Film Festival on Women�s Rights from 10 am through 7.30 pm. This event will be co-sponsored by the University of Tampa and the League of Women Voters of Pinellas.
Our speakers are Ms. Linda Osmundson, Executive Director of CASA and a delegate to the 4th UN Conference on Women in Beijing (1995) and Mr. Garry Fullerton, Past President and Treasurer of the Tampa Bay Chapter. The Film Festival will be at the University of Tampa, 2nd Floor (Reeves Theater), Vaughn Center, 401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606 with free parking on campus.
Previously we celebrated The People Speak 2004 at a luncheon on September 25 at the University of Tampa�s Crescent Club. Susan George
Gainesville
The Gainesville Chapter hosted a fund raiser for the model UN groups at the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College on September 9th, featuring a dinner donated by local restaurants, an Indian dancer and a silent auction where we raised over $1700. We also arranged a UN Day featuring a three person panel, keynote speaker and demonstrations by the UF model UN group. Alachua County and the city of Gainesville proclaimed October 21st as UN Day and the city will fly the UN flag on that day. We are trying to arrange a �People Speak� program jointly with the University of Florida.
Dr. Robert Hornberger
Brevard County
Our UN Day Celebration will feature �THE PEOPLE SPEAK: Energy Choices and Environmental Challenges� moderated by Nancy Higgs of the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast. Other participants include: Addison Bain, NASA Engineer and Program Manager (Ret.) and author of �The Freedom Element�Living With Hydrogen�; Philip Fairey, Interim Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, Building Science Expert and published author in the area of energy analysis; Frank Leslie, Adjunct Professor at Florida Tech in Melbourne, Specialist in Renewable Energy (wind, hydropower and similar energy forms); and Duncan Marsh, Program Officer for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy at the UN Foundation. The program is scheduled for October 28th in Viera at the Brevard County Commission Chambers, Building C, Government Office Complex, from 6:30 � 9:30. The County Commission approved a resolution declaring October 24, 2004 as UN Day in Brevard County.
Marla Brick-Suiter
The Wave
A Tampa Bay group will welcome the New Year in a novel way. The Clean Millennium (C2M) is a vision to create a grassroots effort to cleanse the Earth over the next millennium. The unique approach begins with an annual event for children, �WAVE Day,� at noon each December 31st. Participants will rendezvous to share their successes in promoting justice, peace and a cleaner environment. Connected by e-mail and the Internet to other similar groups in 237 countries spanning 24 time zones, their hope is to promote global solidarity through grassroots efforts. Contact Neil Cosentino ([email protected]) at 813-251-4669 for more information.
Sarasota-Manatee
United Nations Day Celebration:�United Nations comes to Sarasota�
The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of United Nations Association USA will celebrate the 59th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations by sponsoring a Model UN for Adults on Monday, October 25, from 5:30 to 8 pm, at Sudakoff Center, New College. A diversified group of community leaders from Sarasota and Manatee counties will role play as Delegates and Alternates to the UN Security Council in a Model UN simulation. �Ambassadors� will debate �The Role of the UN in Iraq.�
The Model UN program is presented by Robert Coppenrath, Chapter�s President, Dorothy Watson Vice-President and UN Day Chair, Daniel Luu, Model UN Chair, Thomas Cook, Model UN Director, Brian Sutliff, Model UN Director, and Pattie Lanier, Public Relations Chair.
The event will be followed by an International Reception; it is free and open to the public.
Dorothy Watson and Robert Coppenrath
Fifth High School Model UN- Sarasota (SMMUN V)
The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the United Nations Association is organizing its fifth one-day Model UN Conference (SMMUN V) at the Sudakoff Conference Center (New College), Sarasota, on Saturday, November 13, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Around 200 students are expected to participate in SMMUN V.
The Conference will simulate three concurrent UN sessions:
(1) Commission on Human Rights: Session on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
(2) Commission on Population and Development: Session on Population Policies with particular reference to Family Planning and Mother and Child Health (MCH) programs
(3) UN Security Council: Session on the Role of UN in Iraq: Security, Peace and Post-war reconstruction
Complimentary light lunch will be offered to all participants.
Daniel Luu
Minefield Clearance in Vietnam
(Mission accomplished)
The Florida Division has successfully collected $ 19,384 for the minefield clearance in Vietnam. The following is quoted from UNA-USA President William Luers� letter to UNA Florida Division President Daniel Luu: �On behalf of the Adopt-A-Minefield@ Campaign, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for UNA Florida Division's most recent contribution of $19,384.01. Your donation has been applied to mine action team VTM-MAT3 in Le Thuy Quang Binh. Your exceptional generosity and support of the Campaign continues to save lives, clear minefields, and return land to productive use in Vietnam.
The United Nations and our mine action partners are firmly committed to helping people who are struggling to regain their lives and rebuild their communities. We are proud to be a partner in this enormous task, and we will ensure that the project receiving your donation is carried out according to international standards. We work closely with the UN and our partners to monitor this process and to ensure that all contributions are properly allocated.
Once your funds have been applied in the field, we will forward you a copy of the official report as well as an Adopt-A-Minefield clearance certificate.
Thank you again for helping us to clear a path to a safer world�
Florida UN Day Honorary Chair
The UNA Florida Division would like to congratulate Ambassador Ambler Moss on his appointment by Governor Jeb Bush as Florida�s Honorary Chair in observance of the United Nations Day on October 24.
Ambassador Moss is presently Professor of International Studies at the University of Miami. He is widely known for his expertise and extensive experience in international and UN matters during his outstanding professional career. His numerous Foreign Service positions included serving as Ambassador to Panama, appointed successively by Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and as a member of the U.S.-Panama Consultative Committee. He received decorations from the governments of Spain, Panama, Argentina, and Catalonia. He was also given the Harold Weill Medal from New York University School of Law, the U.S. Department of the Army Commander�s Award for public service, and granted a �Lawyer of the Americas� citation by the Inter-American Law Review of the University of Miami.
�I can think of no better person to represent the Sunshine State during United Nations Day celebrations given your unwavering commitment, support, and dedication to strengthening Florida's role in the international arena. Your service to both Florida and the U.S. is a true testament to the mission and ideals of the United Nations and we thank you for your outstand contributions� wrote Dr. Pamella Dana of the Executive Office of the Governor in her letter to Ambassador Moss.
Return to Newsletter's Contents
Links to other sites on the Web
United Nations
UNA-USA National
UNESCO
UNDP
ILO
Sarasota-Manatee Chapter