Round two. This time I showered at an appropriate time and decided that today was the day that the action would happen. For some reason the term "general debate" had me imagining country's yelling across desks with accusations of the atrocities they allow on their citizens. (Rookie move) I learned quickly that general debate actually means the High Commissioner making a statement abo
ut important types of human rights problems and then 50 or so country's tell her that they wholly agree with everything she said. But seriously give me a freakin break, wheres the justice? where's the truth? I have sadly yet to see it. But when my ears perked up at the mention of my own country I heard them say something that few others did. " Laws without implementation are just words so we can sit around and keep talking of rights or we can make something of them." Although I can feel the Uncle Sam sentiments all over that statement it felt good that someone had finally after 40 sum country's called a spade... a spade. This is of course unless the people violating the rights are the US government I learned. The statements made about prisoner withholding, torture and Guantanamo didn't even get mentioned within their 3 minute statement although they were directly addressed by the President of the commission. Funny how that works. After an over priced lunch and a San Pellegrino we headed to a lecture being given by the smartest man I think I will ever hear speak. As we walked into yet another grand hall filled with semi-circle seating we were told it was an open event and we could sit where ever we pleased. Well, like kids in candy shop Caitlin and I ran to any country's seat in an attempt to feel really important and plopped down at Estate- Unis (USA) and Ethiopia extactic for the photo opportunity. We were still giggling from excitement when the actual Ethiopian delegates standing behind us, ask if we will be speaking on there behalf (joking thankfully). We both turn beet red and apologised repeatedly for our silly mistake. We joke for a minute about what we would say if asked anything I tell them "no comment no comment"we blush some more, slowly exit there seats, and gossip about it until the lecture starts. The lecturer is Jeffery Sacks, now I won't go into his background of extensive academe but trust me on this one, the man knows his shit. He talked about the climate crisis and as he spoke the knot in my stomach festered. There is nothing more terrifying than a Harvard Professor telling you literally that your world is going to end. A speech that had intend
ed on motivating governments left me feeling helpless and tiny in a world full of garbage and smog. Way to end the day right. As always in this fiction novel of a life of mine it was raining when we exited the United Nations. Down the grand exit lined by the flags of the world I tried to imagine what it would be like if there was a way all the nations could function together ...peacefully. I could hear a soft spoken voice inside my head " Sleep on it Heidi, you've had enough for today." I agreed it probably was right.
ut important types of human rights problems and then 50 or so country's tell her that they wholly agree with everything she said. But seriously give me a freakin break, wheres the justice? where's the truth? I have sadly yet to see it. But when my ears perked up at the mention of my own country I heard them say something that few others did. " Laws without implementation are just words so we can sit around and keep talking of rights or we can make something of them." Although I can feel the Uncle Sam sentiments all over that statement it felt good that someone had finally after 40 sum country's called a spade... a spade. This is of course unless the people violating the rights are the US government I learned. The statements made about prisoner withholding, torture and Guantanamo didn't even get mentioned within their 3 minute statement although they were directly addressed by the President of the commission. Funny how that works. After an over priced lunch and a San Pellegrino we headed to a lecture being given by the smartest man I think I will ever hear speak. As we walked into yet another grand hall filled with semi-circle seating we were told it was an open event and we could sit where ever we pleased. Well, like kids in candy shop Caitlin and I ran to any country's seat in an attempt to feel really important and plopped down at Estate- Unis (USA) and Ethiopia extactic for the photo opportunity. We were still giggling from excitement when the actual Ethiopian delegates standing behind us, ask if we will be speaking on there behalf (joking thankfully). We both turn beet red and apologised repeatedly for our silly mistake. We joke for a minute about what we would say if asked anything I tell them "no comment no comment"we blush some more, slowly exit there seats, and gossip about it until the lecture starts. The lecturer is Jeffery Sacks, now I won't go into his background of extensive academe but trust me on this one, the man knows his shit. He talked about the climate crisis and as he spoke the knot in my stomach festered. There is nothing more terrifying than a Harvard Professor telling you literally that your world is going to end. A speech that had intend
ed on motivating governments left me feeling helpless and tiny in a world full of garbage and smog. Way to end the day right. As always in this fiction novel of a life of mine it was raining when we exited the United Nations. Down the grand exit lined by the flags of the world I tried to imagine what it would be like if there was a way all the nations could function together ...peacefully. I could hear a soft spoken voice inside my head " Sleep on it Heidi, you've had enough for today." I agreed it probably was right.
good call on sleeping on it. the rookie moves...i would have done EXACTLY the same thing! in fact, i did (the equivalent) when i got to attend that brain surgery a few years back. i touched something sterile and they had to change the entire dressing for this huge machine in the operating room because i couldn't keep my curiosity and excitement under control. good times good times. at least you get to say you sat in those chairs! :]
ReplyDeleteHeidi can use her technologies? Haha, lovin' the pictures added to the blog. Keep on keeping on...
ReplyDeleteIt is always an interesting moment in life when you can imagine the unimaginable. The flags of the grand exit force my mind into imagining what that exit might look like if those flags transformed into the people they represented. Perhaps they could stretch their arms and fingertips out to one another, envision their families in the eyes of a stranger.
ReplyDeleteImage each person as a child and the grand exit becomes a space of impassioned preoccupation.