the Dinner Program - United Nations Association of

United Nations Association of New York
The 2012 Humanitarian Award Dinner
Celebrating the 67th Anniversary of the United Nations
October 25, 2012
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United Nations Association
of New York
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I want a
brighter world.
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04-08-11 09:11
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U N I T ED NAT IONS
NAT IONS U N I ES
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
-MESSAGE TO THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
ANNUAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD DINNER
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New York, 25 October 2012
It is a great pleasure to convey warm greetings to the good friends of the United
Nations who have come together for this annual dinner.
You gather at a time of profound turmoil, transition and transformation. Our world
faces multiple challenges, from climate change to growing unemployment to the terrible
bloodshed in Syria. This is a time when we must work together, yet in many parts of the
world, the politics of division rule the day.
The deplorable video that has caused such anguish is but the latest example.
That is why I very much welcome the theme you have chosen for this year’s
dinner, “intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, peace and development”.
In the humanitarian work of the United Nations, we practice disaster risk
reduction. We know that we cannot prevent earthquakes or tsunamis, but we can take
concrete steps to limit any damage. We should apply the same practice when it comes
to cross-cultural understanding. We may not be able to prevent every merchant of
hate in every corner of the world. But we can build bridges that are strong enough to
withstand those forces.
Shortly after the release of the video, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
initiative launched a campaign on Twitter called “Represent Yourself”. In just a few
days, the effort engaged more than 3 million people who were determined to ensure that
the voices of moderation were not drowned out by the vocal and violent minorities on
any side.
This is one small way in which the Alliance has helped to open minds and promote
peaceful coexistence. I am pleased to note that your honoree tonight, His Excellency
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, will take the reins of the Alliance in January. He brings
to this role a distinguished record of leadership at the United Nations, including his
recent tenure as the President of General Assembly.
October
24, 2012
October 25, 2012
October 24, 2012
Dear Friends:
It is a great pleasure to welcome everyone to the United Nations
Dear Friends:
Association of New York’s annual Humanitarian Award Gala Dinner.
Dear Friends:
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On behalf of all New Yorkers, congratulations to tonight’s honoree, Ambassador Nassir
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offer my best wishes for a wonderful evening and continued success. a wonderful
evening and continued success.
Sincerely,
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Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor
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MichaelR.R.Bloomberg
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United Nations Associations around the world play a vital role in promoting our
values and objectives and in bringing our work closer to the people we serve. Thank
you for your commitment to that mission. Together, as partners, we can meet today’s
tests and seize the opportunities of an era of dramatic change.
4
Ban Ki-moon
5
United Nations Association of New York
380 Lexington Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10168
Phone 212-907-1353
[email protected] www.unanyc.org
October 25, 2012
Distinguished Honorees, Guests, and Friends,
I am honored to be able to welcome you to our 2012 UN Day Gala
Dinner marking the 67th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
We, at the United Nations Association of New York, look forward each year to
this opportunity to celebrate with you, our loyal friends and faithful sponsors,
and also to recognize those distinguished individuals who have valiantly
contributed to the United Nations’ ideals of selfless service and responsibility.
Our 2012 Humanitarian Award reflect the commitment of this year’s
designee, His Excellency Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, outgoing
President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and
former Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN. On September 22, 2012, His
Excellency was appointed High Representative to The Alliance of Civilizations,
(UNAOC) by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We are honored to announce that
both officials are with us tonight.
Our theme this year is “Intercultural Dialogue, Peace and Development.”
In conferring the Ambassador’s new title, the Secretary-General observed
Ambassador Al-Nasser’s exerted efforts to mainstream the importance of
UNAOC as a tool for cross-cultural understanding, dialogue, mediation, and
persistence to realizing the UN’s vision of a world free of intercultural conflicts
and divisions.
On this 67th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we take
great pleasure and pride in our position and responsibilities as the Host Chapter
of UNA-USA.
Please accept this expression of our on-going gratitude to you for all your
generous support through the ensuing years. Our mission is to highlight, inform,
and inspire the public about the UN’s crucial work. We can’t do it without you.
Sincerely,
Paula Rice Jackson
President
6
7
United Nations Association of New York
The 2012 Humanitarian Award Dinner
Celebrating the 67th Anniversary of the United Nations
K ey note spe a k er
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
PRESENTATION OF AWARD
Introduction of the Honoree by His Excellency Ambassador Adrian Neritani
RECEPTION
His Excellency Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
6:30 pm
President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
and Former Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations
DINNER
7:30 pm
Honored for his leadership and accomplishments in mediation,
cross-cultural understanding and dialogue and his strong commitment to
realizing the vision of a world free of intercultural conflicts.
WELCOME REMARKS
Paula Rice Jackson, President, UNA-NY
REMARKS
Mr. Feike Sijbesma
Chief Executive Officer, Royal DSM
Master of cer emonies
Richard Lui, Anchor/Correspondent, MSNBC
PERFOR MANCE
Farah Siraj
Video PRESENTATION
8
Closing REMARKS
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine
UN Photo/Mark Garten
The History and Work of the UNA-NY
9
United Nations Association of New York
380 Lexington Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10168
212-907-1353 • www.unanyc.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY COU NCIL
Paula Rice Jackson
Sylvan M. Barnet, Jr.*
William L. Bernhard
Jutta Bertram-Nothnagel*
Peggy Sanford Carlin
Sylvia Howard Fuhrman
Michael W. Galligan
Sen. Roy M. Goodman
Joan Gudefin
Nadine B. Hack
Ambassador Ahmad Kamal
Hope S. Miller*
Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed
Jackie Shapiro
Gillian Martin Sorensen
Desiree Watson
John C. Whitehead
P r e s i de n t
Ann Nicol
E x e cu t i v e D i r e c to r
Sherrie Murphy
E x e cu t i v e V i c e P r e s i de n t
Joan Levy
Abid Qureshi
V i c e P r e s i de n t s
Robin van Puyenbroeck
T r e a su r e r
Jonathan Tabar
S e c r eta ry
Trisha Bauman
William Karg*
Dr. Peter Rajsingh*
Dr. Chonita A. Spencer
John C. Sweeney*
Leila M. Zubi
Per for mer
Royal DSM
Roger Davidson
David Rockefeller
Convention of Independent
Financial Advisors (CIFA)
Irfan Kathwari Foundation
Farah Siraj
SPECIAL THANKS
to the following organizations,
businesses and individuals whose
support contributed to making
our 2012 Humanitarian Award
Dinner a great success.
Bartlett Greenhouses and Florist
Littlefield & Company
ShackletonThomas
UN DPI/Photos
*Past president
Student Ushers and Volunteers: GALA DINNER COMMITTEE
Abid Qureshi
Dr. Peter Rajsingh
Robin van Puyenbroeck
G a l a CO - C H AIR s
Trisha Bauman
Lisa Hofflich
Paula Rice Jackson
Ann Nicol
Cecilia Nicol
Benita Norrmén-Smith
Keiji Obata
Tomoyo Rezvani
Michele Vaters
Sabrina Bektesevic (Intern)
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Sponsors
James Baldo
Sabrina Bektesevic
Stephen Bogda
Dan Connelly
Caroline Dockery
Arielle Kaplan
Cecilia Nicol
Juliette Norrmén-Smith
Brandon Peckman
Sophie Shackleton
Tatiana Tylosky
Caroline Vaters
Alexandra Wolff
Michael Youhana
Named Jordan’s “Musical Ambassadress”,
the Jordanian virtuoso Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the United
States, Europe and the Middle East. Farah
has performed at some of the world’s most
prestigious platforms, including the Nobel
Prize Hall, the World Economic Forum,
the TV show Good Morning Live in the
USA, and the Antena de Oro Awards
of Spain. Farah has performed before
HM King Abdullah II and HM Queen
Rania of Jordan, HM King Juan Carlos of
Spain, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum and HM King Hamad of
Bahrain. In recognition of her humanitarian efforts, Farah also represents Jordan
annually on World Peace Day.
Farah has toured the Middle East, Europe,
the United States and South America, on
a mission to spread the message of peace
and cultural understanding through her
music. Farah currently leads an ethnically
diverse quintet based in New York, with
world-class musicians from the Middle
East, Europe and the United States,
performing arabian classics and originals
fused with jazz and flamenco. Time Out
New York named Farah “The Norah Jones
of the Middle East”. Last year, Farah
internationally released her album entitled
NOMAD, funded personally by His
Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The production includes middle eastern
music, flamenco, jazz, with lyrics in
Arabic, Spanish and English.
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UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
The United Nations Association of New York (www.unanyc.org) is the
New York affiliate and host city chapter of UNA-USA. UNA-NY is dedicated
to supporting the principles and vital work of the United Nations in order
to strengthen the United Nations system and promote constructive United
States leadership. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the founding forces behind
UNA and the specific mission of UNA-NY has changed little from her original vision — we continue to work primarily through public outreach and
educational programs. Peter Godwin, author of The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe.
At our Annual Meeting in May, award winning journalist Kati Marton discussed
the biography, The Unquiet American, about the life of her late husband, Richard
Holbrooke. We also hosted James Fallows who discussed his latest book on China,
Is China Really Taking Off. Our fall series opened last month with a conversation
on the Middle East with journalist Robin Wright focusing on her book, Rock the
Casbah. Our next book presentation will feature Vaddey Ratner in a discussion of
her book, In the Shadow of the Banyan.
Our Monthly Programs are the main interface with our members and the
public. During these programs, expert speakers and panels from various backgrounds focus on subjects relevant to the UN.
Our Student Alliance Program encourages globally-minded high school, undergraduate and graduate students to make their opinions heard on international
issues. The program continues to grow at St. John’s University and St. Peter’s
College. The Student Alliance Program students also organize school wide events,
lectures, and films to engage other students and explain the importance of the
Millennium Development Goals.
The Worldview Institute continues to attract young executives and managers seeking to broaden their understanding of international affairs. Our popular
and informative seminars (ten sessions) are taught by distinguished associate
faculty in academia, diplomacy, and business. This year Worldview Institute
topics ranged from US-Pakistan relations and the European Union to counterterrorism and business strategies with China.
Screening the Issues, the film series of UNA-NY, is now in its fourth year
and continues to explore the work of the UN with films that address important issues. Shown in the screening room of the Tribeca Grand Hotel, the films
are followed by lively discussions with the filmmakers, producers or subject
experts from the UN. This year we screened Granito, followed by a discussion
with the director, Pamela Yates; The Lady, with a discussion on Burma with
Maureen Aung-Thwin, Director of the Burma Project; Pad Yatra, with His
Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa in attendance; Fire in Our Hearts and Under Fire.
We also participated in the 2012 Human Rights Watch Film Festival in June
and sponsored the screening of three films, Brother Number One, Color of the
Ocean and Salaam Dunk.
Our Ambassador Series, in collaboration with the Columbia University
Club of New York, brings UNA-NY and Columbia Club members face to face
with UN ambassadors to discuss topical issues. The Ambassador Series is now
in its fifth year. This year we heard from Ambassador Namik Tan, the Turkish
Ambassador to the US and also from a panel of ambassadors from Ireland,
Mexico and India on the role of the EU in global affairs. The panel was moderated by the head of the EU Delegation to the UN. This year we have added
the Consulate Series to our varied program line-up. We were warmly welcomed by Deputy Consul-General Daniele Ayotte of Canada at the Canadian
Consulate and Consul-General Koula Sophianou at the Consulate of the
Republic of Cyprus.
The UNA-NY BookTalk series, in partnership with the Institute of
International Education, focuses on current books and authors. We hosted
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For the past three years, the Education Department of UNA-NY has partnered with The Links, Inc. to expand and broaden partnerships through common goals and objectives. The Education Committee works to establish further
partnerships and collaborations with colleges and universities. This year, the
highlight of our program was a field trip to the Schomburg Museum and Center
for Research in Black Culture. The students toured the museum and watched
the award winning documentary A Small Act, about education ‘across the miles’
in Kenya, where students competed academically for scholarships to attend high
school. The Honorable Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, the Kenyan Ambassador to the
UN, shared exciting stories with the students on her life in Kenya, her country’s
work and achievements in reaching the MDGs, and the importance of students as
global learners and active leaders in our world today and tomorrow.
UNA-NY hosted a Career Program on the United Nations, An Insider’s Guide
to Getting a Job at the UN, with John Ericson from the UN Office of Human
Resources Management. This November we will hold a program on jobs at the
UNHCR.
In July we had an extremely successful Summer Evening Soiree at the Soho
Grand Hotel. An estimated 500 internationally minded young people met for an
evening of fun under the stars during this networking social affair for our new and
prospective members.
This October we again celebrate UN Day with our Annual Humanitarian
Award Gala honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to
international affairs. This year we honor Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser,
the President of the 66th Session of the General Assembly and former Ambassador
of Qatar to the United Nations. We recognize his stellar guidance of the UN
General Assembly, his enduring vision of a world free of intercultural conflicts,
and his resolute commitment to the values and mission of the United Nations.
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PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
2008
Toray Industries, Inc.
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
His Excellency Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
United Nations Under Secretary-General and
Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
2009
Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo
1999
Sergio Vieira de Mello
Lord Foster of Thames Bank OM
2000
Giandomenico Picco
2010
Royal DSM
Amir Dossal
2001
Harry Belafonte
Actor and Activist
2011
Johnson & Johnson
Brian Urquhart
Christy Turlington Burns
2002
Shashi Tharoor
Winston Chung
1996
Carol Bellamy
1997
H. E. Mr. Kofi and Mrs. Nane Annan
1998
Olara A. Otunnu
2003
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Executive Director, UNICEF
Secretary-General of the United Nations and Mrs. Nane Annan
United Nations Under Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
United Nations Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs
United Nations Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
United Nations Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
Secretary-General of the United Nations
The President of the Republic of Iceland
Founder and Chairman, Foster + Partners
Executive Director, United Nations Office for Partnerships
Founder, Every Mother Counts
2011 Inaugural Award for Social Entrepreneur & Philanthropist of the Year
Gillian Sorensen
Senior Advisor, United Nations Foundation
2004
Mary Robinson
2005
The Links Incorporated
Liya Kebede
International Federation of Health Plans
2006
General Electric Foundation
Ann M.Veneman
2007
Unilever
Guy Laliberté
Rotary International
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland
World Health Organization, Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal,
Newborn and Child Health
Patchi congratulates
H. E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser,
the honoree of the UNA-NY 2012 Humanitarian Award.
Executive Director, UNICEF
Founder, Cirque du Soleil, One Drop Foundation
usa.patchi.com
800.998.0605
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