Liaison Newsletter > LIAISON Vol. 2, No. 6, November 1998 - Articles

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Peaceful Wind for a Peaceful Third Worldwide Vigil: When a UN Blue Flag opens a walk...
By Cathy Senay, Communications Officer at UNA-Canada

To support the United Nations and to deplore its financial crisis, the United Nations Association in Canada and the World Federalists of Canada held a Candlelight Vigil on October 23, the eve of United Nations Day. This year, similar vigils took place in 43 cities around the world. In Canada, vigils were held in at least eight cities, including Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In the U.S., more than 250 people in Washington were pleased to be joined by actor Michael Douglas, while 150 participants in New York had the chance to hear speeches from influential people involved in NGOs and in the UN.

Since Erskine Childers first proposed the project of Worldwide Vigils over three years ago, we have asked ourselves if these events have a real impact on the UN financial situation. Do they really raise the awareness of the population about the major difficulties that the UN is facing? Has the situation changed?

Jim Paul, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum and Worldwide Coordinator, believes that, even if this event does not gather thousands of people, it still has a significant impact: "The vigil itself introduces a certain focus to make people think about the UN on the eve of United Nations Day. It is basically the most important opportunity that we have to spread information about the UN financial crisis and to raise the awareness of the media, NGOs and the population."

The United States which is the major debtor country, now owing the UN US$ 1.6 billion, representing two-thirds of the total due, is far from adopting a resolution to reimburse its due in totality.

"The US pays enough to avoid losing their vote under Article 19 on the Charter, but still maintains a backlog of debt which keeps the UN in a difficult financial situation," stated Harry Qualman, Executive Director of UNA-Canada.

"About the US debt, all I have to say is that we have to keep on working," says Paul. "For three years, many organizations have been working on that issue. As a result of this, the NGOs and the public are more aware of this major problem. The American Congress is under pressure to pay and the UN mission no longer denies the fact that the UN is in a bad situation, mostly because of the American attitude."

According to Fergus Watt, Executive Director of World Federalists of Canada, Worldwide Vigils have more potential.

"I think that we can do more. This issue has to get more profile and have a stronger impact."

At the Ottawa vigil, while Watt’s speech was more focused on the attitude of the Americans and how the UN financial crisis affects peacekeeping operations, Harry Qualman expressed his concerns about the importance of the UN and its plight.

"No one has an optimistic view for the future of the UN. The worst may still be to come. This coming year will be extremely difficult for the Organization."

In Ottawa, the Third Worldwide Vigil about 40 people, many of whom were Journalism students in Journalism from Carleton University. Preceded by the UN flag, the crowd grew as the vigil passed along the streets. Vigils are held to demonstrate that citizens, the People, are not apathetic and do care about this very important organization.

FLASH!

On November 4, 1998 the United States Government paid US$586 million for the regular and peacekeeping budgets. Therefore, the United States keeps its vote in the General Assembly. Its arrears now stand at US$1.28 billion.