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Secretary-General’s message to the Ceremony Marking the 77th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki

It is an honour to send this message to the people of Nagasaki.

On this day four years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the hallowed ground of your city.

I was humbled by the sheer devastation caused by a single weapon of mass destruction. I was forcefully reminded that this can never happen again.

And I was inspired by the courage of the hibakusha, who continue their brave crusade, despite their unimaginable losses.

Their message of peace and nuclear disarmament is as powerful and relevant as ever. I pledge to do everything in my power to make sure it continues to be heard, everywhere.

The use of nuclear weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused a humanitarian catastrophe unique in history. Continue reading →

As virus spreads ‘freely’ COVID-19 ‘nowhere near over’: Tedros

Rising COVID-19 cases are not only putting further pressure on already stretched health systems and workers but also triggering an “increasing trend of deaths”, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists at the regular weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

He reportedOpens in new window that the Emergency Committee on COVID-19Opens in new window last Friday concluded that “the virus remains a Public Health Emergency of International ConcernOpens in new window”. More

Crises unfolding in Ukraine ripple throughout Europe – Security Council hears

After three days of intense clashes across areas in parts of Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure are growing, and the United Nations and its relief partners are working day and night to care for the injured, the Security Council heard on Monday during an urgent meeting on the humanitarian situation in the country.

Addressing the Council, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi highlighted that despite the evolving situation in Ukraine, UN humanitarian organizations and NGO partners have remained in the country and are “now caught up in this deadly conflict.”

“They are still striving to deliver help to people in need whenever a small window of relative security allows for humanitarian aid to be distributed…often in extremely dangerous circumstances,” he said. More

Joint Press Release – Pacific Leaders meet with United Nations Secretary-General

Pacific Leaders met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 23 September 2021 in a virtual meeting held on the margins of the high-level week of the seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Prime Minister of Fiji and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Josaia V. Bainimarama, opened the meeting, commemorating 50 years of Pacific regionalism and collective action as the Pacific Islands Forum. He noted that Pacific Leaders would soon consider the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a vital step in addressing the challenges facing the Pacific, from planning and owning its development agenda to building regional resilience and a blue economy. The Prime Minister commended the Secretary-General’s advocacy on issues facing the Pacific, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, oceans, the Sustainable Development Goals, human rights, and nuclear legacy concerns. He also welcomed the opening of a multi-country United Nations office in the North Pacific. The Prime Minister urged the Secretary-General to continue to spread the region’s collective message of urgent climate action to the world. Continue reading →

CMS Ambassador and Australian Human swan’ to make 3,000-mile UK flight to raise climate awareness

Australian adventurer and UN CMS Ambassador, Sacha Dench, will this week start her 3,000-mile journey in an effort to demonstrate what effect climate change has on biodiversity and in particular, migratory birds. This record-breaking attempt is planned to coincide with the lead up to the COP 26 UN climate change conference taking place in Glasgow later this year.

Sacha will take off near Glasgow today in a electric paramotor, flying anti-clockwise around the coast and returning six weeks later. She will stop along the way to speak with school students and locals about climate challenges and their thoughts on solutions. By documenting her journey through compelling images and story telling, Sacha hopes to reach millions more.

Julia Dean from UNIC Canberra spoke to Sacha about why care about climate, more on what she is doing to promote the issues and her call out to world leaders leading up to COP26.

But she first asked Sacha what was the formative experience that sparked her passion as an environmentalist.