MWR : Articles : U.N. Witness

Last updated July 27.

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Articles : U.N. Witness

Time for a Palestinian state

When the United Nations reconvenes in September, many people expect the Palestine Liberation Organization to request recognition of the state of Palestine.

Learning at U.N.

I first heard about the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office at the 2009 Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay, where I participated as an Asian delegate to the Global Youth Summit. I thought it would be a great place to work.

The woman in the red coat

I will never forget my first day at the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office. At the airport all of my luggage was opened and the contents examined piece by piece. My laptop was held for two weeks, and my family and I were interrogated for almost seven hours.

All want peace, but how?

We the people of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind … And for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure … that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest. — Preamble to the United Nations Charter

Building bridges opens eyes

As a young Ethiopian living in New York, working in the shadow of the United Nations headquarters is a great opportunity. It allows me to see a sample of the world and to understand many of the events happening all around it.

Climate change battle joined

News about global warming commands our attention. Climate change already has caused large-scale and possibly irreversible damage to the environment. It has become one of the most serious threats humanity has ever faced.

MCC’s United Nations role

The 1945 charter of the United Nations states in part: “We the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind … unite our strength to maintain international peace.”

Uganda: Escape from the LRA

The Lord’s Resistance Army, a “Christian” cult guerrilla force, has been fighting the Ugandan army since 1987. The LRA was started by Joseph Kony, who has declared himself a spirit medium and has said he wants to establish a society based on the Ten Commandments.

Palestine’s strangled future

Standing on the foundation of an unfinished house in Bethlehem with other Mennonite Central Committee staff, I looked out over the small parcels of cultivated land and businesses operating out of limestone houses.