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Ban Ki-moon and Social and Economic Policy

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The Secretary General: Ban Ki-moon


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Ban Ki-moon

UN's Ban Urges G20 Not to Forget the Poor (November 13, 2008)
At the financial summit in Washington, Secretary General Bank Ki-moon urged the twenty richest countries in the world to hold their promises of increasing aid to developing countries despite the financial crisis. He said the poor are not responsible for the crisis and should not have to bear the costs. And unless rich countries live up to their commitments, the global crisis could worsen the security situation in poor countries and lead to civil unrest. (Reuters)


UN Chief Calls for Protection of Migrants amid Financial Crisis (October 29, 2008)
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged countries to deal with the financial crisis by allowing foreign workers into their country. The ILO estimates that over 200 million people will lose their jobs in 2009. The crisis can deepen the inequalities between rich and poor in the world, and force millions of people to migrate in search of a better life. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)

The New Face of Hunger (March 12, 2008)
In this article for the Washington Post, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addresses the problem of high food prices. He identifies climate change and the increasing use of biofuels as the main causes. Ban also offers solutions to the food crisis, insisting that UN members increase funding for the World Food Programme and strengthen other UN agencies that work on hunger. As a longterm solution to world hunger he points out that "we must boost agricultural production."

Going Global for Good (July 9, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon argues that whereas the first stage of globalization benefited mainly rich countries, the second and current stage "the Age of Mobility" of people, also brings riches to the poor. In 2006, migrants sent US$264 billion – "triple all international aid combined" – in remittances to their home countries. Still, Ban argues, migration has so far mostly "benefited richer countries and generated worries about brain drain in poorer ones." (Washington Times)

A Climate Culprit in Darfur (June 16, 2007)
In this Washington Post column, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discusses the role of climate change behind the conflict in Darfur. Ban asserts that underneath the sociopolitical unrest, the real reason for the conflict is an ecological crisis. Since the 1980s, a sharp temperature rise in the Indian Ocean has caused a 40 per cent drop in Sub-Saharan Africa precipitation levels. The resulting water shortage triggered the violence between black farmers and Arab nomads in Darfur. Ban proposes economic development as the solution and urges UN member states to work in conjunction with Khartoum, humanitarian agencies and NGOs to cater to Darfur's urgent needs.

Current Global Trade Talks Cannot Afford to Fail – Ban Ki-moon (April 23, 2007)
Speaking at a conference on democracy, development and free trade, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for greater efforts to push through the Doha Round of trade talks. Negotiations came to a standstill in July 2006 after governments failed to agree on key issues such as agricultural subsidies and tariffs. The UN chief emphasized that successful talks could result in a global trading system that would "create opportunities for the poorest countries, instead of leaving them at a disadvantage." (UN News)

Coherence, Coordination and Cooperation in the Context of the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (March 20, 2007)
This note by the UN Secretary General presents four themes for discussion at the 2007 special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council, which will review implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and prepare for the 2008 follow-up Financing for Development Conference in Doha, Qatar. The topics include realization of the WTO Doha development agenda and improving aid effectiveness. (United Nations)

Climate Change as Dangerous as War - UN Chief Ban (March 1, 2007)
Ban Ki-moon calls global warming "an inescapable reality" that requires immediate attention and action. The UN Secretary General further draws attention to the increasingly evident correlation between climate change and other global threats, including war, as predicted by top scientists. While acknowledging the human contribution to the crisis, Ban urges influential governments, particularly the US - the top greenhouse gas emitter - to commit to tackling global warming. (Reuters)

UN Secretary General's Address to the Economic and Social Council (January 17, 2007)
In his first address to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon outlined five recommendations to make the Council stronger and more effective. He encouraged ECOSOC to "take a leading role" in helping member states achieve the Millennium Development Goals by providing a forum for multilateral discussions and coordination of global development efforts. (United Nations)


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