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Sree Gururaja
Nov 12, 2020, 3:59:53 AM11/12/20
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Dear all
Suggestion 1
I like Detlef’s idea. Though I was born in 1945 let’s invite everyone to send a recent photo of your choice!
We could do two pages of collages of the photos received from the 800 members of the network ( or use their file photos) and feature the collage pages every weekly update in 2021- unicef’s 75 Th anniversary! This could replace the painter/ photographer slot and ease the pressure that Doreen and Gianni in their search etc.
Sent from my iPhone
On 12-Nov-2020, at 5:29 AM, forum-...@googlegroups.com wrote:
- xUNICEFers @ 75 - 3 Updates
- Aw: Re: President Biden, - 1 Update
Detlef Palm <detlef...@gmail.com>: Nov 11 01:05PM -0800
Here is an idea for how to engage our elders:
For our 75 years celebrations, we should ask every member of the network
who was born in 1945 or before, to submit a picture of her/himself.
* Only one entry of each members 75 years old or older is accepted
* The image is to show only the member (or the member and spouse). No other
people.
* The picture was taken when the person was 75 years old (or older).
* The picture can be portrait, full size, or showing the person in one of
her or his favorite activity (sitting at the computer; reading, gardening,
shopping, etc)
* All entries have to be accompanied with the full name, the year pf birth
(will not be published) and the (approximate) date when the picture has
been taken
All entries will be shown on the xUNICEF's instagram page, and possibly in
the UN75 Quarterly. As everyone like to see pictures of themseeves, this
might increase our visitors to instagram and xUNICEF.
Please, editors, respond by going to the forum
<https://groups.google.com/g/forum-xunicef> and posting your response
there.
Do not respond by email, unless you encounter technical difficulties.
Best, Detlef
Editors XUNICEF News and Views <xunicef.n...@gmail.com>: Nov 11 01:50PM -0800
I am not sure, but suspect that whatever our age, we tend to send photos of
ourselves when we were at least 10 years younger. We are not alone in
this. If you look at the photos that columnists show of themselves in
newspapers or authors show in their book covers, the photo bears little
resemblance to the current reality.
There may also be something of a gender difference in how folks approach
this request. My grandfather had no problem with how he looked in photos
at any age - he was happy just to have survived so long. My grandmother,
on the other hand, took scissors in hand whenever someone found of her past
age 40.
Tom
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 2:35:57 PM UTC-7 Detlef Palm wrote:
Editors XUNICEF News and Views <xunicef.n...@gmail.com>: Nov 11 02:15PM -0800
True dat. But I thought that the option of pictures showing you in your
favorite setting (e.g. showing your back in front of your
library/bookshelf) would allow some sort of compromise. Also, in my
proposal the 95 year old xUNICEFer can still show his youthful self when a
mere 75 years young. But in any case - nobody should want to hide when they
are at their wisest!?
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 10:50:38 PM UTC+1 Editors XUNICEF News
and Views wrote:
"'Silvia Pasti' via xUNICEFers" <allme...@xunicef.com>: Nov 11 12:06PM
Thank you.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 11:00, Karsten Sohns <Karste...@gmx.net> wrote:
Dear Karin, dear Bilge, dear Stephen, dear ex-colleagues, I read with interest most of the comments re the overdue ratification of CRC by the US government and remembered at once an activity by UNICEF Brazil while I worked there. At the time a reward/ceremony/price e.g. USD 3500,00 was offered to the journalist who wrote most articles about street children and related projects in Brazil during a year´s period. I found this a very elegant/smart way to reach the public and through it the government. Could it not be repeated by e.g. the US National Commitee for UNICEF re CRC information / re ratification? Sorry, as an old engineer I am looking more at the practical side. While working in Brazil, I often had the impression that UNICEF did a lot of good things re children and mothers but officials from the government took the praise and often while Unicef did the job, it was not even mentioned in the public or in publications. I would like to use the occasion of this mail to wish you all healthy days ahead and many positive developments in the year to come. Karsten Sohns, Germany Gesendet: Dienstag, 10. November 2020 um 01:17 Uhr
Von: "Karin Sham Poo" <shampo...@gmail.com>
An: "Kul Gautam" <kulg...@hotmail.com>
Cc: "James Himes" <jrhh...@gmail.com>, "Stephen Umemoto" <sume...@yahoo.co.uk>, "Bilge Bassani" <bilge....@gmail.com>, "kimberly gamble-payne" <kgambl...@gmail.com>, "Marta Mauras" <marta...@gmail.com>, "carlos Santos-Tejada" <csantos...@gmail.com>, "Richard Jolly" <r.j...@ids.ac.uk>, "Debra Fox" <hike...@comcast.net>, "Eileen" <etr...@optonline.net>, "Eimi Watanabe" <eimi.w...@fasttvnet.dk>, "Emma Garcia" <eigarc...@hotmail.com>, "Fred Fox" <foxfi...@aol.com>, "George Kassis" <gka...@gmail.com>, "George Mills" <gsmi...@comcast.net>, "Hamaspyur Karapetyan" <hamas...@gmail.com>, "James Mohan" <jjm...@hotmail.com>, "Jerry Lewis" <jgcl...@yahoo.com>, "Jim Mayrides" <jimma...@gmail.com>, "John Williams" <jlwng...@yahoo.com>, "Linda Holt" <li...@lindaholt.com>, "Linda Tawfik" <lta...@comcast.net>, "Lisa Chase" <lisa.m...@gmail.com>, "Marian Clare" <mcla...@gmail.com>, "Marina Kmentt" <Marina...@skynet.be>, "Mary Racelis" <maryr...@gmail.com>, "Merle Moore" <m3...@estesvalley.net>, "Penelope Rogers" <falling...@outlook.com>, "Per Engebak" <peng...@hotmail.com>, "Tom McDermott" <mcderm...@gmail.com>, "Zeina Hakim" <zeina...@hotmail.com>, blanca_s...@yahoo.com, hamasi.k...@gmail.com, "jim swanson" <swanson...@hotmail.com>, "margaret harrell" <marha...@hotmail.com>, "moira hart-poliquin" <moira...@gmail.com>, "xUNICEFers" <allme...@xunicef.com>, "Susan Bissell" <drsbi...@outlook.com>
Betreff: Re: President Biden,We should never give up, I remember when Hillary Clinton spoke at the memorial for JPG saying that the president had decided after the letter he received from JPG just before he passed away, to sign the US intention to ratify the CRC. I was present when ambassador Madeleine Albright did so on behalf of the USA, it is now more than 25 years ago, and I still hope it will happen sooner than later.
Sent from my iPad
On Nov 9, 2020, at 6:43 PM, Kul Gautam <kulg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Colleagues, I agree with Jim Himes and Steve Umemoto, that there is a greater chance of success for expediting ratification of CRC by creating a groundswell of public discourse and activism involving a network of NGOs, celebrities, faith groups, youth groups, mayors and governors - as has been the case with the climate movement - rather than focusing on the Senate and the State Department, initially. UNICEF need not always be at the forefront, just like the UN was not the most visible or the front row player (in the US) in getting the Paris Accord or the Iran Nuclear Deal or any number of worthy causes pushed to the successful finale (in the US). But the UN was always reliably there to be an authoritative voice whenever needed in the background. Re JPG and the Child Survival Revolution, remember when Jim had difficulty even convincing WHO (when Halfdan Mahler initially took a swipe at it as being a "vertical", "mono-focal", "selective PHC" that was contrary to the "holistic PHC"), Jim helped establish an independent non-UN-based, Child Survival Task Force led by Bill Foege at Emory University in Atlanta, comprising senior officials from USAID, CDC, Rockefeller Foundation, UNDP and UNICEF (not visibly led by UNICEF, nor funded or serviced by UNICEF). That was extremely helpful to make the case for CSDR at the US Congress. As was the advocacy of the RESULTS.org's grassroots network (that organized the amazing Candlelight Vigil in support of the Summit for Children). I know the current UNICEF USA CEO's strategy (with the tacit blessings of UNICEF ExDir) is precisely along this line. So, I encourage UNICEF retirees - especially the Americans - to press along this line with the rest of us supporting them when and where useful. But I would NOT press UNICEF as such to make ratification of CRC in the US its big, visible priority at this stage. As they say, many roads lead to Rome. There is not just one single highway.
======================
Kul Chandra Gautam
www.kulgautam.org
twitter.com/kulcgautam
kulg...@hotmail.com
https://amazon.com/author/kulgautam
From: James Himes <jrhh...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 5:37 AM
To: Stephen Umemoto <sume...@yahoo.co.uk>
Cc: Kul Gautam <kulg...@hotmail.com>; Bilge Bassani <bilge....@gmail.com>; kimberly gamble-payne <kgambl...@gmail.com>; Marta Mauras <marta...@gmail.com>; carlos Santos-Tejada <csantos...@gmail.com>; Richard Jolly <r.j...@ids.ac.uk>; Debra Fox <hike...@comcast.net>; Eileen <etr...@optonline.net>; Eimi Watanabe <eimi.w...@fasttvnet.dk>; Emma Garcia <eigarc...@hotmail.com>; Fred Fox <foxfi...@aol.com>; George Kassis <gka...@gmail.com>; George Mills <gsmi...@comcast.net>; Hamaspyur Karapetyan <hamas...@gmail.com>; James Mohan <jjm...@hotmail.com>; Jerry Lewis <jgcl...@yahoo.com>; Jim Mayrides <jimma...@gmail.com>; John Williams <jlwng...@yahoo.com>; Linda Holt <li...@lindaholt.com>; Linda Tawfik <lta...@comcast.net>; Lisa Chase <lisa.m...@gmail.com>; Marian Clare <mcla...@gmail.com>; Marina Kmentt <marina...@skynet.be>; Mary Racelis <maryr...@gmail.com>; Merle Moore <m3...@estesvalley.net>; Penelope Rogers <falling...@outlook.com>; Per Engebak <peng...@hotmail.com>; Tom McDermott <mcderm...@gmail.com>; Zeina Hakim <zeina...@hotmail.com>; blanca_s...@yahoo.com <blanca_s...@yahoo.com>; hamasi.k...@gmail.com <hamasi.k...@gmail.com>; jim swanson <swanson...@hotmail.com>; margaret harrell <marha...@hotmail.com>; moira hart-poliquin <moira...@gmail.com>; xUNICEFers <allme...@xunicef.com>; Susan Bissell <drsbi...@outlook.com>
Subject: Re: President Biden, I agree this is a good 'conversation' and one that needs to become much broader and with a much higher profile. That said, I find myself in the camp of those who don't see the likelihood of an early CRC ratification by the USA. I suspect, with Kimberly, that CEDAW and CRPD are likely to have more traction in the Biden/Harris Administration. Thanks to those famous Founding Fathers, we're stuck with a highly unrepresentative Senate, with arcane rules of seniority and procedures, not to mention the Electoral College. which will continue to make the CRC an uphill battle, to say the least, for years to come. But that's of course no reason to back away from the specific steps Kul, Steve and others have proposed. The good news is that a Biden Administration -- and who knows, perhaps a Harris Administration starting in 2025 !-- should be able to nail down a number of legislative achievements in areas central to child rights and well-being, including more affordable health care, maternal and child nutrition, juvenile and racial justice reform, equity in education, etc which are of course among the ultimate impacts we are all striving for. As Philip Alston has pointed out for years, the principles of economic, social and cultural rights are hard sells in the USA. Those advances in these areas in this country, going back to the Progressive Era and FDR's New Deal, have been achieved partly under the "rights" banner but sustained achievements, such as Child Labour Laws, School Desegregation, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have resulted from grass roots and other political and social pressures and not so much as advocacy for economic and social rights. But they have gained widespread popular support. 'Thanks' to Covid-19, we're starting to see that change in the area of affordable and accessible health care in the USA, and not just from Bernie and his followers. But in the often dysfunctional US political system, we'll need a multi-pronged strategy on critical issues of child survival, development and protection to attain our goals. Eventual CRC ratification may finally come more as a result than a cause of important achievements in child rights and well being. May the conversation continue and the outreach flourish! Best to all,Jim On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 4:53 PM Stephen Umemoto <sume...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Bilge, I fear that those "long term opportunities" may not arrive for another thirty years. The issues of climate change and structural poverty will not be resolved for a long, long time. We have to hope that US youth activities is broad enough, and deep enough, that it can push on a number of fronts at the same time. Steve On Monday, 9 November 2020, 20:11:32 GMT, Bilge Bassani <bilge....@gmail.com> wrote: I agree with Kul, Kimberly and Carlos. My organization carefully studied this issue from a civil society engagement angle. Also US youth is seized with climate change and structural poverty for the near future. We can keep our radars open for the long term opportunities. Bilgé Ögün BassaniChair, FXB USAVice Chair, Advisory Committee , FXB Health and Human Rights Center at Harvard bilge....@gmail.com, On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 1:30 PM Kul Gautam <kulg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Completely agree, dear Kimberly, CEDAW and CRPD are very likely to be ratified earlier than the CRC. The public momentum for CRC is weaker and less well-organized at present. Even if both Democratic candidates win in Georgia, a razor-thin majority in the Senate is not enough, we will need an overwhelming majority to turn things around on a subject like CRC that is not currently a political priority. I find UNICEF USA's approach very strategic for steering the eventual ratification of the CRC. Its new CEO Michael Nyenhuis is very committed and tactful. Fondly from KG to KG -
======================
Kul Chandra Gautam
www.kulgautam.org
twitter.com/kulcgautam
kulg...@hotmail.com
https://amazon.com/author/kulgautam
From: kimberly gamble-payne <kgambl...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 1:10 AM
To: Marta Mauras <marta...@gmail.com>
Cc: Kul Gautam <kulg...@hotmail.com>; carlos Santos-Tejada <csantos...@gmail.com>; Richard Jolly <R.J...@ids.ac.uk>; Debra Fox <hike...@comcast.net>; Eileen <etr...@optonline.net>; Eimi Watanabe <eimi.w...@fasttvnet.dk>; Emma Garcia <eigarc...@hotmail.com>; Fred Fox <foxfi...@aol.com>; George Kassis <gka...@gmail.com>; George Mills <gsmi...@comcast.net>; Hamaspyur Karapetyan <hamas...@gmail.com>; James Himes <jrhh...@gmail.com>; James Mohan <jjm...@hotmail.com>; Jerry Lewis <jgcl...@yahoo.com>; Jim Mayrides <jimma...@gmail.com>; John Williams <jlwng...@yahoo.com>; Linda Holt <li...@lindaholt.com>; Linda Tawfik <lta...@comcast.net>; Lisa Chase <lisa.m...@gmail.com>; Marian Clare <mcla...@gmail.com>; Marina Kmentt <marina...@skynet.be>; Mary Racelis <maryr...@gmail.com>; Merle Moore <m3...@estesvalley.net>; Penelope Rogers <falling...@outlook.com>; Per Engebak <peng...@hotmail.com>; Tom McDermott <mcderm...@gmail.com>; Zeina Hakim <zeina...@hotmail.com>; blanca_s...@yahoo.com <blanca_s...@yahoo.com>; hamasi.k...@gmail.com <hamasi.k...@gmail.com>; jim swanson <swanson...@hotmail.com>; margaret harrell <marha...@hotmail.com>; moira hart-poliquin <moira...@gmail.com>; xUNICEFers <allme...@xunicef.com>
Subject: Re: President Biden, Dear All,
Another concern is the absence of the CRC in the Democratic Party Platform. CEDAW, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and LGBTQ rights are strongly supported in the Platform, but not the CRC……
There will be an all out push for CEDAW for sure (along with the Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution), maybe even with support from some of the new Republican women in the House. There is also momentum building behind disability rights.
Both of those efforts would require the State Dept to embrace economic, social and cultural rights and that in turn could open a path for the CRC, eventually.
You all have probably seen this, but Philip Alston’s report on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights in the US made a strong case for a policy change on economic social and cultural rights. That could be an important first step. The right to health and the right to education could lead the way for a coalition effort to “evolve” the policy.
Here’s a short interview with Philip on his tour of the US and US policy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5gVsj21uiQ
It feels so good just to have this conversation after such a long time.....
Kimberly
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 12:32 PM Marta Mauras <marta...@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Kul and all,Of course agree that with a hostile Senate there is no hope. But, two things to consider: one, there is currently a political momentum that is blowing on the more progressive direction. Two, we may have a surprising result from Georgia’s election. Plus, one of the things Biden will do is to engage again with the UN and possibly return soon to the Human Rights Council. If so, UNICEF should be supporting a movement towards CRC ratification. Bet you UN Women might try with CEDAW and Harris will listen!Fondly,Marta
Marta Maurás Pérez Director Permanent Forum on Foreign Policy-Chile (2019- )Chair of Unitaid Executive Board (2017-2018)Former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Chile at UN, other International Organizations and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (2014-2018)Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2009-2013) T +56 9 82283270m...@gmail.com@mmauras Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 9, 2020, at 2:12 PM, Kul Gautam <kulg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Sadly, I tend to agree with Carlos. My understanding is that the timing is not at all ripe for a push to get the US to ratify the CRC, until the Democrats have a more solid majority in the Senate. Even Clinton and Obama with a more favorable Senate did not prioritize CRC ratification. Biden would not use his limited political capital on CRC when he has so many other battles ahead. On the positive side, the new President/CEO of UNICEF USA is very supportive of child rights and has taken a strategically sound approach to build up the momentum for the eventual ratification of CRC from the grassroots up through a child-friendly cities approach. My conclusion is based on having addressed this issue multiple times with both recent UNICEF ExDirs & CEOs of UNICEF USA publicly as well as privately. The US State Department and even the more
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Sreelakshmi Gururaja
Nov 12, 2020, 4:02:03 AM11/12/20
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