• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to footer navigation

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

  • Home
  • About
    • Platform
    • FAQ
      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
      • What social life is there in Ethical Culture?
      • How is Ethical Culture religious?
    • Ethical Brew
    • Ceremonies
    • Philosophy
    • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Contact Us
  • Ethical Kids
    • Sunday School
      • Primary Class
      • Elementary Class
      • Junior Class
      • Senior Class
      • Sunday school FAQ
    • Youth Group
  • Leader
    • Leader Curt Collier
    • Leader’s Talks
    • Joe Chuman, Retired Leader
      • Talks by Dr Joseph Chuman
      • Speaking of Ethics: Living a Humanist Life
      • Wedding Officiant
  • Social Action
    • All Social Action Articles
    • Battling Racism
    • Environmental Action
    • Healthcare
  • Adult Ed
    • Job Club
    • Socrates Cafe
    • Ethical Culture Review of Books
  • News
    • President Column
    • UN Report
    • Platform Addresses
  • Events

At the UN, Where are We Going?

March 1, 2017

By Drs. Sylvain Ehrenfeld and Reba Goodman

The issue of the pros and cons of the United Nations continues to baffle us. This is especially so during the transition to new Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the amazing dramatic ups and downs of Donald Trump as the new president of the United States. This is a good time to consider the forthcoming prospects of the UN.

Most people don’t know much about what the UN does. This is due in part to absence of adequate media coverage. Why is the media reluctant to disseminate the information that the UN provides?

For example, how many people know that the UN provides food and housing for the staggering 65 million refugees in a variety of camps like in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey? Recently it was announced that the UN’s World Food program was running out of money and had to reduce food rations by half. The UN is chronically short of money for its vital humanitarian activities. The UN excels in providing clean water, sanitation, vaccines for fighting disease in children and maternal health care to 30 million women. The media mostly ignores these programs.

Transition Out of Poverty

In fact, in recent years the world has been experiencing a remarkable historic transition. Every day about a quarter-million people worldwide move out extreme poverty. In the 1980s more than 40 percent of all people were living in extreme poverty. Now, less than 10 percent are. Since 1990 more than 100 million children have been saved through vaccinations, breast-feeding promotion and diarrhea treatment. People are living much longer than they did 50 years ago and many more girls are getting an education. It is baffling that the media ignores these historic trends.

The new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is an able, polished politician from Portugal. He was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 until 2002 and UN High Commissioner of Refugees for 10 years. He is acutely aware that funding for UN operations is vital.  He also recognizes that one of the great failures of the UN in recent years is preventing conflict and maintaining security. Due to the veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council, the UN has been unable to prevent war crimes in Syria, South Sudan and Yemen.

Guterres is in tough spot. He will have to prevent a collision course between the UN and the new U.S. president and a Republican Congress that is mostly antagonistic to it.  President Trump is considering serious cuts in many UN programs.

Promoting Cooperation

One the one hand, Guteress has to ensure U.S. buy-in to keep the UN running and relevant. On the other hand, he has to be a guardian and advocate of UN principles, including human rights and promoting cooperation when possible.

President Trump in his America First rhetoric is mostly antagonistic to the UN and international cooperation. His comments on climate action, human rights and UN funding run counter to UN positions. Trump has reintroduced the “gag rule,” which denies U.S. funding to any organization that provides reproductive information and mentions abortion. Vice president Mike Pence is a vocal critic of women’s rights and abortion. The UN Population Fund, which oversees maternal reproductive health programs, may become a victim.

Let us consider Trump’s unusual inaugural address. He did not reach out to the millions that did not vote for him, which is unusual. He was totally insensitive to the historic background of the America First language–the isolationalist movement in the 1930s before World War II and the Nazi-like language of Charles Lindbergh. Trump in his speech seemed to belittle international alliances and pursue American interest as he sees them.

In the increasingly globalized world, the reality is that to achieve American interests you have to work cooperatively with other countries. His vision is counter to the UN’s vision, which promotes human rights and cooperation. If Trump pursues his vision, he will most likely experience pushback. If he doesn’t learn from this experience, we may be in for a rough ride.

Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld, an IHEU representative to the UN and Dr. Reba Goodman, Ethical Culture Society member of Bergen County NJ. 

Primary Sidebar

Recent News

  • Society Gets Grant to Explore Concept of ‘Sacred Spaces’
  • Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails?
  • Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’
  • Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun
  • Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America

Sign up for our newsletter.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Ethical Brew

Being White And Its Hidden Assumptions

‘How Race Impacts Conservation’

About Us

Ethical Culture was founded to focus on community and good works, rather than personal salvation. Read more…

Archives

Footer

Connect with Us

Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: [email protected]

Sign up for our newsletter.

 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Society Gets Grant to Explore Concept of ‘Sacred Spaces’ January 31, 2023
  • Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails? January 30, 2023
  • Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’ January 29, 2023
  • Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun January 29, 2023
  • Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America January 28, 2023

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children church-state separation civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical education ethics family Felix Adler gender global warming happiness healthcare humanism humanist humanists human rights Israel Joseph Chuman meetinghouse Middle East politics racism religion Robert Gulack Secular Humanism social action Socrates Cafe Sunday School technology Trump unemployment world health youth

What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and more. Come join us!
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

Important Links

  • Member of the American Ethical Union
  • Ethical Brew
  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
  • NJ Website Designer
© 2021 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Copyright © 2023 · Kreativ Pro On Genesis Framework · The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County · Log in

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE