Mexico City. September 9 to 11, 2009 five delegates from AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) participated in the 62nd annual United Nations Department of Public Information / Nongovernmental Organizations (UN DPI/NGO) Conference. The theme this year was “For Peace and Development: Disarm Now.” Around 500 delegates from all over the world came to Mexico City for the annual event which was inaugurated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
The urgency of solving all of the problems of the world that hamper peace and the peace process was voiced in several of the sessions. In the panel discussions that followed the first day, most of the delegates had great opportunities to discuss in detail practical ways to foster peace and development. It was also an occasion for the exchange of opinions and networking among the social workers serving in the several nongovernmental organizations present at the conference.
Very interesting and creative projects were presented during the three days, showing that with the right desire and effort anybody can be of great help. One lady from Japan, now living in San Francisco, presented a project based on post cards that express a social theme varying according to the main concern or campaign. We participated by drawing our own postcard and contributing to the online project during the engaging live session. A group of very young activists were building schools with the help of volunteers in several countries around the world. The voice of wisdom was heard also from political activists stressing the need to press the US government on the peace process. Among the delegates not everyone was satisfied with the way the UN carries out its responsibilities in the peace process, and some wanted to reform the charter document.
Overall it was a great opportunity to be in the middle of the political and social arena and to become conscious of the several actors and conditions that are involved in relief and development activities around the world.
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