United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day).
United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day).
On 31 October 2011, the world’s population is expected to reach 7 billion.
A world of 7 billion poses many challenges: in fighting poverty and disease, in securing education and sustainable livelihoods and in mitigating climate change. But this milestone for humanity can also be seen as an opportunity to renew our commitment to work individually and together for a better world.
A campaign spearheaded by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), called 7 Billion Actions, seeks to inspire change that will make a difference by highlighting positive action by individuals and organizations around the world. You can read their stories or add your own at 7billionactions.org
As part of the annual outreach programme, UN4U, on 24 October Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School in New York City. There he announced the countdown to 31 October and promoted the 2011 theme for UN Day: “Ways the United Nations Makes a Difference in Everyday Life.”
>> Current World Population <<
* Data provided by 7 Billion Actions website
> United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day).Background.
>> United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day). History of the Day
UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assemblyrecommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.
>> 2011 UN Day Concert theme: Celebrating Cultural Diversity
The UN Day concert is a traditional part of the celebration of the day at UN Headquarters. This year’s concert is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations and is dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity. It features the traditional “longsong” and throat-singing, the unique Mongolian forms of singing which have been included, along with the Mongolian horse-head fiddle on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.
Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity – in particular through innovative use of media and ICTs – are conducive to dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding.
The promotion of cultural diversity – the “common humanity heritage” according to the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, 2001 – and its corollary dialogue, has become one of the most pressing contemporary issues and, for this reason, is central to UNESCO’s mandate.
> United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day). Message for UN Day 2011 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“Let us unite, seven billion strong, in the name of the global common good.”
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” Days from now, the human family will welcome its seven billionth member.
Some say our planet is too crowded. I say we are seven billion strong.
The world has made remarkable progress since the United Nations was born 66 years ago today.
We are living longer. More of our children survive. More and more of us live at peace, under democratic rule of law.
As we have seen in this dramatic year, people everywhere are standing up for their rights and human freedoms.
And yet … all this progress is under threat. From economic crisis. Rising joblessness and inequality. Climate change.
Around the world, too many people live in fear. Too many people believe their governments and the global economy can no longer deliver for them.
In these turbulent times, there is only one answer: unity of purpose.
Global problems demand global solutions.
They compel all nations to unite in action on an agenda for the world’s people.
That is the very mission of the United Nations:
To build a better world.
To leave no one behind.
To stand for the poorest and most vulnerable in the name of global peace and social justice.
On this special day, let us recognize:
Never has the United Nations been so needed.
In our increasingly interconnected world, we all have something to give and something to gain by working together.
Let us unite, seven billion strong, in the name of the global common good.”
Ban Ki-moon
> United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day). UN Day Concert.
Traditionally, UN Day is marked by an international concert in the General Assembly Hall.
The 2011 UN Day Concert will take place on Thursday, 27 October 2011, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York.
In observance of the 66th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Organization, the concert this year is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations, and is being dedicated to Celebrating Cultural Diversity.
>> Programme
Featuring the Mongolian National Horse Fiddle Ensemble and the National Academic Ensemble of Folk Song and Dance, the 90-minute concert will feature a selection of Mongolian traditional music, opera, contortion and dance, as well as contemporary pieces and world classics.
The concert will be available live and delayed on UN Webcast and Time Warner Cable Channel 150 in the New York City area.
The Horse-Head Fiddle
The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation. The morin khuur is one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity identified by UNESCO. It produces a sound which is poetically described as expansive and unrestrained, like a wild horse neighing, or like a breeze in the grasslands.
Long-Song
This genre is called “Long song” (Urtyn duu) because each syllable of text is extended for a long duration. A four-minute song may only consist of ten words. Lyrical themes vary depending on context; they can be philosophical, religious, romance, or celebratory, and often use horses as a symbol or theme repeated throughout the song.
Throat Singing
Perhaps the best-known musical form of the Mongols is the throat singing tradition known as hoomii. Sung differently than traditional vocals, this unique type of singing involves the production of two distinctively audible pitches at the same time, including a low pedal note, or drone, derived from the fundamental frequency of the vocal cord vibrations, and higher melodic notes that result when the singer’s mouth acts as a filter, selecting one note at a time from among the drone’s natural overtone series pitches.
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> United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day). Past Observances.
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> United Nations (UN).
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.
When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:
- to maintain international peace and security;
- to develop friendly relations among nations;
- to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
- and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
** More information at United Nations (UN)
