Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
| ||||||||||||
Sample Press Release Sample Press Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Jim Paul, Global Policy Forum, (212) 557-3161
Worldwide Vigil to Protest United Nations Financial Crisis
New York City, October 17, 1998 -- A broad coalition of groups working on peace and international affairs announced today that vigils will be held worldwide on October 23 – the eve of United Nations Day – to protest the UN’s financial crisis and to demand that all countries pay their UN dues on time, in full and without condition.
For over two years, the UN has been on the verge of financial collapse. Member states now owe the organization $2.5 billion, and the United States owes more than all other members combined. The financial crisis has forced the UN to make crippling budget cuts. Citizen organizations have built a broad movement of protest in countries around the globe, with petitions, resolutions, letters, parliamentary initiatives, and other campaigns.
Organizers today listed [forty-five] vigils worldwide, including [twenty-three] vigils and associated events in the United States -- in New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Akron and more.
Local committees have organized [twenty-two] vigils and related activities in cities outside the United States, including Rome, Tokyo, London, The Hague, and Nairobi. Organizers post daily the latest vigil list on a world wide web site, at - http://www.globalpolicy.org/vigil/index98.htm
[Local information here, for example:] In New York City, vigil participants will assemble by candlelight at Ralphe Bunche Park, across the street from UN headquarters, wearing blue ribbons as a sign of their support for the UN and their concern at its financial plight. Musicians will perform on exotic instruments like conchs and gongs. Leaders will make a statement, then deliver a message to the United States UN Mission.
[Quote here from local organizers]
Organizers point out that the United States government currently owes $1.54 billion to the UN – a very large sum by UN standards but only a tiny fraction of the U.S. federal budget and less than the price tag of one B-2 bomber. As a condition on payment of the UN arrears, the US Congress has imposed dozens of "benchmarks" that further cripple the organization by attempting to impose policies that other members do not agree on.
"It's time for governments to respect international law and pay up," said Bill Pace, Executive Director of the World Federalist Movement.
"Deadbeat governments have been sending a dangerous message to their own taxpayers" said James Paul, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum. "If governments flout their legal obligations to pay, citizens may start doing the same thing. I'd like to put 36 conditions on my income tax!"
"The vigil proves that people do care," said Sharon McHale, Program Officer at the World Federation of United Nations Associations in New York. "People are very excited about it. It's going to have a big impact."
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C ß 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
