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U.N. fan recaps General Assembly
By Zoë Williams
williamz@mscd.edu

September is an exciting month for the United Nations. Most of the year, this intergovernmental giant passes resolutions that are inevitably ignored, gets some media attention and sits idly by while the world plunges ever closer to hell.

Every year at this time the United Nations holds its General Assembly meeting. Over a hundred heads of state arrive in New York to take the podium to discuss domestic and international affairs. Every member nation in the United Nations is invited to the meeting, making it an international-relations hoopla.

Following are some of the best and worst moments of the 61st General Assembly.

The one person I took seriously from the assembly was also the only person who made an outward effort to include humor in his speech, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Chavez and I have very different views on governance, yet every time I hear him speak I wonder if I couldn’t love him more. Chavez told U.N. representatives that peace does not come from war, freedom does not come from oppression and people everywhere are ready for a new world. Chavez also openly asserted that the United Nations was “worthless” and has “no power to make any impact on the terrible situation in the world.” He even suggested moving the U.N. building to a nation in the “global south,” such as Venezuela. The term global south describes the socio-economic differences between countries of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

I watched his speech and nearly leapt from my desk with excitement. Sure, he used some ad hominem attacks that may have hurt Bush’s feelings, but Chavez struck a much-needed spark of debate in the General Assembly.

However, I believe Esteban Lazo of Cuba gave the most important speech of the event. Lazo did not just speak about the state of affairs in Cuba, but dedicated a solid portion of his presentation to an update on the 2006 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, which took place one week prior in Havana. Summit participants represent 61 percent of the world’s countries and have become a voice for the poor global south. Lazo stated the summit’s desire for justice, complete disarmament, ending pre-emptive war and exploitative globalization, accountability for developed countries and opposition to “regime change policies.” It was a speech the world’s powers did not want to hear, which is exactly what made it necessary.

While I am cynical about women rising to power in a man’s world, it was rather encouraging to see the first Arab and Muslim female president of the United Nations, Shaikha Haya Rushed Al Khalifa, appointed this year. There were also appearances from other female heads of state, such as the first female African president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

My favorite among the ladies was Michelle Bachelet of Chile. Bachelet is a single mother, agnostic and a socialist. She is the kind of woman the citizens of the United States need to see in the spotlight. In her speech, Bachelet politely emphasized disarmament, human rights, fair trade and the true attainment of peace.

Now, I cannot go on without mentioning the best wardrobe of the event sported by Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai. This man’s outfits were so well put together not even the sharpest eye could catch the U.S. marionette strings that inspired atrocious comments like, “We must destroy terrorist sanctuaries beyond Afghanistan, dismantle the elaborate networks in the region that recruit, indoctrinate, train, finance, arm and employ terrorists.” I think Karl Rove greases this guy’s gears, too.

Of course, our dear President Bush needs a mention as well. As usual, Bushie Poo was the biggest joke of the event with his dastardly public-speaking skills and propagandist speech. He was criticized repeatedly and called the devil by Chavez. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had a better reception than Bush.

Our fearless leader even had the nerve to be the only head of state to address the male secretary general of the United Nations prior to addressing the female U.N. president. After this rude gesture Bush shared brilliant statements like, “Freedom, by its nature, cannot be imposed. It must be chosen. From Beirut to Baghdad, people are making the choice for freedom.” Which is why mass aerial bombardment and military occupation were required in both nations, I suppose. Can anyone take this man seriously?

Whether my reviews have you seething in rage or laughing, I strongly suggest students take the time to visit the U.N.’s website, un.org, and read or watch the speeches for themselves. It’s an excellent and rare chance to witness an alternative view of international affairs.