AP: Obama seeks reforms in talk with UN chief

President-elect Barack Obama is urging the United Nations chief to embark on "far-reaching reform" of the world organization to help it address pressing global issues.

At the same time, in a telephone conversation Wednesday, Obama told Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon that the United States "should rededicate itself to the organization and to its mission," said Brook Anderson, chief national security spokeswoman for the Obama transition team.

Last month, Ban called for greater cooperation from the United States.

During his presidential campaign, Obama said in a statement to the U.N. Association of the U.S. and the Better World Campaign that "no country has a greater stake in a strong United Nations than the United States."

Read the full AP article here.

More on Barack Obama and the United Nations

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UNA-USA President Ambassador Bill Luers and thirty-six prominent policy figures urge the president-elect to revitalize the US relationship with the UN.  Read the statement here.

In “A Memo to the President-Elect” (.pdf) Ambassador Bill Luers lays out a broad agenda for the new administration’s engagement in the United Nations.

View President-elect Obama's letter to UNA Board member Josh Weston here. (.pdf)

Obama’s Win Could Mean Stronger UN-US Rapport
by Barbara Crossette

Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan awarded first ever YouTube Visionary Award

This past weekend, YouTube honored Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordon with the first ever YouTube Visionary Award underscoring the global impact of the channel.

“YouTube encourages us to be active participants in a global conversation, making our voices heard, giving us the power to broadcast ourselves, increasing knowledge of each other, breaking down the barriers between us clip by clip,” said Queen Rania.

Queen Rania wasn’t able to make it out there in person, but sent in the very unique and non-traditional thank you clip featured below, taking its cues from David Letterman's Top Ten lists.

Watch the YouTube Live Presentation of the Visionary Award

An article about the award from the Jordan Times

Council of Organizations Briefings

UNA-USA's Council of Organizations offers unique opportunities for leaders from more than 100 nongovernmental organizations to partner with the United Nations and each other. Groups with interests in education, religion, labor, sustainable development, human rights, health and women's issues work together to encourage strong US leadership in the United Nations and play a critical role in educating millions of Americans about the UN's importance in world affairs.   Learn more about the COO at www.unausa.org/council.

Listen to this month's New York briefing below.

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Opportunities for the Incoming President
Thursday November 13, 2008
Location: Church Center for the United Nations

Featured Speakers
Barbara Crossette 
UN Correspondent, The Nation, & Publications Consultant, UNA-USA

Stephen Schlesinger
Author and Fellow, The Century Foundation

With the 2008 Presidential election scheduled to take place a week prior to this monthly UN Briefing, UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations took the opportunity to ask experts on the US-UN relationship to reflect on opportunities for President-elect Obama once he takes office. Will the new President be supportive of the United Nations and present constructive new policies towards the UN on Capitol Hill? How will his policies differ from, or resemble, those of the Bush administration? How can the new President repair relations with other countries over key US foreign policy priorities while working to improve relations with the UN? These questions and more were answered by our experts at this monthly UN Briefing.

One Planet One Chance

UNDP has commissioned Magnum in Motion to create a photo-essay on climate change.

Rich countries are already preparing public health to deal with future climate shocks. For poor countries it is much harder: they need international support to adapt. We are drifting into a world of adaptation apartheid. View the online photo-essay here.

Interested in climate change? UNA-USA's 2009 Essay Contest aims to answer the question 'What can the U.S. do to help ensure environmental sustainability?'

Click here to learn more about the Essay Contest.

"In My Name" campaign featured at the 2008 UNA-USA Global Leadership Awards Gala

Will.I.Am and others explaining the 'In My Name' campaign that was featured at the Global Leadership Gala.

Visit In My Name's YouTube channel.

The gala marked the midway point of the MDGs that Secretary-General Ban recently reminded the world were set up “to free humankind from hunger, illiteracy, disease, disempowerment and environmental degradation” by 2015. The diverse group of honorees was selected by UNA-USA for their ongoing contributions toward these efforts.

Honoree Shawn (Jay-Z) Carter at the 2008 UNA-USA Global Leadership Awards Gala

US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad presents Jay-Z with Global Leadership Award at the Waldorf=Astoria on October 1, 2008. Click on the video below to see Jay-Z's remarks.



Jay-Z was recognized for visionary leadership of Water for Life and exceptional partnership with the United Nations to address the fourth MDG – reducing child mortality.