World Issues Dominate the Stage
By Ekaterina Strekalova
July 8 -- Surrounded by the lush French Renaissance decor of the Lotos Club in New York City, Tom Miller, president and chief executive of UNA-USA, and Jeffrey Laurenti, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, discussed some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century as well as the US and UN role in the global economic crisis and conflict zones.
 | | From left, Jeffrey Laurenti, Linda Fasulo and Tom Miller at “The Changing Global Landscape” discussion event. Lotos Club, New York, June 24. Ekaterina Strekalova Photo. |
The event titled “The Changing Global Landscape,” was moderated by Linda Fasulo, a longtime UN reporter for NBC News and contributor to National Public Radio. The forum started with a reception and proceeded to a spirited discussion about the new US presidential administration involvement in the UN to date; the secretary-general’s personality; and world issues that demand joint US-UN involvement.
The Obama administration has a “daunting agenda” -- from the economy to health care – to address, Miller said in his opening remarks adding that with foreign policy, the US is “on triage.” Susan Rice, Obama’s foreign policy adviser during the presidential campaign and now the US ambassador to the UN, a cabinet-level position, was endorsed by both Miller and Laurenti as the right person for the job.
Miller answered several questions, including one asking whether Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s low-key personality negatively impacts his effectiveness as a leader. A more charismatic personality is not required for a UN secretary-general to get things done, Miller said, who commended Ban for his diplomatic skills – often seen out of the public eye -- that consistently translate into results.
Addressing a question about economic leadership in the changing global arena, Laurenti said that despite the potential economic powers of China and the European Union, the US is still universally acknowledged as the largest global financial entity.
To view photos of the panelists and the audience, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/unausa/sets/72157620732649056/
Ekaterina Strekalova is a publications intern at UNA-USA and a Ph.D candidate in early-childhood education at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
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