The London Globalist is continuing its little expedition to the Big Apple, with a trip this morning to the United Nations. So we have come to find out what our leading delegates are having for Breakfast. Well not quite, though I am sat in the Starbucks across the way trying to find out if UN Representatives like one shot or two in their PSL…

Walking down First Avenue on New York’s Upper East side, the famous line of waving flags were brought to life in the light breeze of the autumn morning sun. A subdued buzz hovered around the entrance, as cups of coffee and security passes were shown to the Security Guards alike. Inside, the building was clinically clean. White washed walls and grey concrete floors were decorated only with sparse pieces of donated artwork and the iconic golden emblem. Staff purposefully darted down the corridors dressed in smart attire, often with only a tie colour or well placed accessory hinting at their national identity. Architecturally, the building was simplistically pristine, yet as different nation-states had often donated the funding for decorating different Council Rooms, there were subtle hints of global style integration within the four walls.

Born out of the ashes of World War Two the United Nations still remains the world’s only international governmental organization. Global in scope with nearly universal membership, it aspires to solve the international crises that face our community today through promoting collective co-operation. Founded upon the three pillars of peace and security, development and the Human Rights Regime its creation promised to eradicate the horrors of war through promoting a peaceful global community. Yet almost 60 years on from those first meetings in San Fransico, the question still remains: how effective this organisation actually is in solving the problems of the 21st Century?

The UN headquarters itself is a beacon of international co-operation. It is in fact the home of international deliberation. It invites representatives and delegates from all of its 193 member states and two observer states to discuss issues and concerns facing countries worldwide. It is a symbol of international rule and order and attempts to set the norms of behaviour on an international stage. Whilst it may not always achieve such an aim, it is difficult not to respect the value and symbolism of its far reaching intentions.

Yet, the Headquarters is filled with the self pride of the organisation. From the UN Charter to the Declaration of Human Rights to the displays of peace keeping memorandums, visitors are encouraged not to forget its historic origins and achievements. And to an extent, so it should. We are currently living in the most peaceful time in human history and whilst many may disagree as to whether the UN has been directly behind such an achievement, its active campaigns worldwide for social development and eradicating poverty herald a lot of recognition. From their peace keeping missions, international food programmes which feed in excess of 22 million people annually, and campaigns for the empowerment of young women across the world, the organisation and its millennium development goals have certainly gone a long way to ameliorating the pains of 21st Century.

Yet, as the tour came to a close and I had to find my way out of the building, I did feel a sense that the United Nations is still suffering from the problems of wasted potential. After about a 20 minute meander through a maze of underground corridors, exit signs pointing different ways and confused looking security guards to find my way to the street outside, I wondered how far as a global community we have to go to fulfil the original ambitions of global peace through co-operation. The difficulty of finding my way out the building alone seemed to epitomise some of the problems facing the UN. Whilst the organisation is seemingly heading in the right direction, and its ideals and aims are correct, its path to solving international problems is far from clear and direct.

So, what’s happening in the world of the UN headquarters today? Here is our round up of the goings on in the United Nations today…

Are we doing enough to fight Ebola?
It is no surprise that transnational problems require international responses and with Ebola knowing no boundaries it becomes the responsibility of international organizations such as the UN and WHO to co-ordinate an effective treatment service. UNICEF’s Global Ebola Emergency Coordinator Dr. Peter Salama will address the GA at the 12.00 briefing giving updates on the Pandemic in Western Africa and what the UN must do to contain the deadly virus.

Who Run the World?
Addressing the problem of global inequality is constantly on the Agenda of the UN. Earlier this week Gen-Sec Ban Ki Moon stated ‘The confluence of crises we face, rather than distracting from the imperative of gender equality, should drive us to do even more to live up to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and global norms’. The third Millennium Devolvement Goal calling for the empowerment of women, highlights the organization’s need to address and solve systematic inequality that continues to face girls, women and leaders across the globe.

Crimes against Journalists
In the last decade over 700 journalists have been killed (with many more suffering at the hands of torture, intimidation and violence) trying to bring us the international stories that change the way in which we see the world. As such the UN has set an Action Plan, declaring the 2nd November the International Day to end Impunity for crimes against journalism. Today the Economic and Social Councils will be holding a‘interactive panel discussion’ on ‘Ending Impunity: Upholding the Rule of Law’.

What’s in Ban Ki –Moons schedule?
The Secretary-General Ban-KI Moon, is currently not at home in his headquarters but is over in Vienna opening the 2nd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

We can’t forget Climate Change…
Climate Change has become synonymous with the United Nations. The inability to create comprehensive action on the issue of protecting our planet is often regarded as one of the greatest failings of the organisation. The IPCC released a press statement yesterday claiming that the dangers of climate change are to become ‘irreversible’ if action is not taken soon. Ahead of the Paris Climate Summit next year, 2015 is going to be a big year in the international fight against the Climate Challenge.

General Assembly Discussion
The General Assembly are set to meet this morning to examine the Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency whilst the Permanent Secretary of the Ukraine is addressing the General Assembly to brief the representatives on the current political crisis occurring in Eastern Ukraine.

In other news…
Over in Geneva, this afternoon António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, will launch UNHCR’s Global Statelessness Campaign. A mission which seeks to solve the problem of 10 million individuals world wide not being considered a national from any country. As well a Panel at 1.15 will be discussing the role of the UN and International Entrepuernership.

The London Globalist….yes we take selfies at the UN Security Council