Global Issues Seminar Held at U.N.
Episcopal News Service. December 3, 1981 [81315]
Barbara Benedict
NEW YORK -- World hunger. Peace-keeping. Refugees. Aging. Press Freedom. These were some of the concerns explored by journalists from the religious press -- including five Episcopalians -- during a two-day Global Issues Seminar at the United Nations, Nov. 19-20.
The event was sponsored by the United Nations Association of the United States of America, together with the American Jewish Press Association, Associated Church Press, Catholic Press Association, and Evangelical Press Association.
Opening speaker was Robert G. Muller, Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, who called the UN "a fabulous observation tower of the human condition." A Frenchman from the war-torn area of Alsace-Lorraine, Muller, who has been with the UN staff since 1948, views the world body as a "cosmic venture." Citing the transformation of Dag Hammarskjold and the saintliness of U Thant, both former Secretaries General, he forecasts that it will be elevated from the scientific and political and end up as aExpressing confidence in the future, Muller says he sees the prospects for world peace much improved compared to the situation in 1948 and predicted that in the next few years people will say "enough" to the "nonsense" of nuclear saberrattling. spiritual organization.
Asked how his optimistic worldview might be transmitted to other diplomats, he replied that it was not diplomats but the press corps which needs educating. "It's a scandal for people to be fed catastrophe day after day," he said.
Other speakers included Brian Urquhart, Under Secretary General for Special Political Affairs; Poul Hartling, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (whose office just received the Nobel Peace Prize for the second time); Olof Rydbeck, Commissioner General, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees; Tekle A. Tomlinson of the World Food Program; Jerald Ciekot of the American Friends Service Committee; Hamilton Whyte, C.M.G., Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the U.N.; Carl Gershman, Counsellor and Spokesman for U.S. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick; Susan Markham, Chief Information Officer, World Assembly on Aging; Joseph Mehan, North American Information Officer, UNESCO; and Leonard Sussman of Freedom House.
Secretary General Kurt Waldheim and Ambassador Kirkpatrick, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, had also been scheduled to address the editors but, it was explained, Waldhein is meeting with no one from the media while balloting for the post of secretary general continues, and Mrs. Kirkpatrick was out of town.
Representatives from five Episcopal diocesan publications were among the more than 90 journalists present: Mabel Allen, editor of The Voice, Diocese of Newark; Barbara Benedict, managing editor of The Colorado Episcopalian; Jay Mallin, editor of The Net, Diocese of Southeast Florida; Erwin M. Soukup, editor of Advance, Diocese of Chicago; and David E. Sumner, editor of Interchange, Diocese of Southern Ohio.