UN @ 70: Bridging divides

The United Nations was born 70 years ago after the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, California, USA on October 24, 1945 with the express mandate to rid the world of the scourge of war. Unfortunately the UN is still mired in some intractable conflicts worldwide resulting to loss of many lives to war. In the midst of all of these, more than a billion suffer as they still do, from the violence of poverty, torture of ignorance and disease, and the cruel wounds of global warming and disaster.

At the heart of these sufferings is deprivation. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), now Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will remain hollow until we win the fight against fear and against want. I believe that this fight could be won by bridging three (3) divides, namely: (1) those of the past and the future; (2) of experience and vision; and (3) of promise and fulfilment.