A Crime of Aggression or Crime Against Peace is the planning, initiation, or execution of a large-scale and serious act of aggression using state military force. It is illegal. Think Nuremberg or the Tokyo Trial.Hamas is a terrorist organization whose actions are heinous and illegal, but this is not a government.
Israel, however, is now guilty of Crimes Against Peace. Anyone who supports either Hamas or Israeli under Netanyahu has blood on their hands. 1200 deaths is unacceptable. 34000 deaths are even more unacceptable. I urge our friends to speak out against this violence, this Genocide. Those who remain silent are complicit.
New York, N.Y. As I approach my fiftieth birthday, I am feeling incomplete. Part of me – my soul? – is still missing. In secular terms, I think I am not yet in touch with the best way to serve humanity. In theological terms, I would say I have yet to stumble upon God’s full plan for my life.
Ten years ago, I envisioned building a network of orphanages in the developing world with a standard far higher than existed. I had witnessed how impoverished these child-warehouses could be when I adopted my own son, then ten months of age. His orphanage was so destitute I was asked to leave his tattered t-shirt behind for the next child.
My mother (Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce), a child psychologist, encouraged me to bring this vision to life. Later, beginning with my portion of her estate, I created an organization to build small homes for children who had lost their parents to the Tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and a hurricane in Haiti.
About a year ago Orphans Internationalexpanded our model to include family care, placing children far too numerous for my organization to handle inside their own extended families, providing health care and education to both children and caregivers. Tanzanian children orphaned by AIDS are next.
After the Tsunami, I left Wall Street to devote myself full-time, pretty much “18/7,” to raising funds to pay for it all, and to coordinating the actual work – a challenge considering the enormous cultural, religious, linguistic, and even time zone differences.
I have given everything away – my inheritance, my savings, my pension – and devoted my home, my career, even my immediate family to this effort. Nevertheless, I have this nagging feeling that I have missed something. That none of this is quite enough. Moreover, I am rather tired and in need of spiritual sustenance.
I tire of colleagues assuming that I can work for room, board, and an allowance because I have a trust fund or other hidden assets. I tire of being asked to take a vacation when I have no funds to pay for it. I tire of not being able to afford going out to dinner with my friends.
Am I unsuccessful at the age of 49 to have nothing left? Or am I marching to the beat of a different drummer?
I have traveled this path, perhaps, since witnessing my parents protest the Vietnam War and march for civil rights and social justice. It is a path I have traveled since seeing the horror of street children in Bogota, Colombia thirty years ago. Abject poverty first repelled me in my youth, but eventually engaged me. How could I use what I have to help?
Although others are called to create wealth to assist the needy, after years of contemplation I am convinced that my own calling is to use my meager gifts to build a bridge between those who have and those who have not, plus the villages needed at the feet of these bridges. Wealth is needed to build these bridges, but the simple bridge-builder himself has no need of affluence.
Is this path genetic? My father (Dr. Stanford L. Luce) rejected his Andover-Dartmouth-Yale past as part of the East Coast Establishment that he felt was intrinsically evil. He dedicated his life to academia and, on the side, built homes for Habitat for Humanity. I was lucky to have more than my father’s influence.
I have had three mentors in my life, now dead or comatose: Paul Moore, Cheddi Jagan, and Betty Millard. Paul was the Episcopal Bishop of New York. He was a Moore (Benjamin Moore Paints) and grew up in great luxury. He gave it all away to focus on the city’s poor. Paul was an early role model to me and asked me to be his driver/assistant.
Cheddi was president of Guyana – twice. His commitment to non-alignment sent him to jail for years, yet he persevered. I dined with Cheddi many times, and although I never built the volunteer corps he wanted me to, recruiting young, technically savvy Americans to give a year to his people, his imprint on my life was enormous.
Betty Millard saw me on Donahue twenty-five years ago and invited me into her life, eventually serving as the super of her Greenwich Village apartment building, and spending weekends with her at her farm in Duchess County where I could discuss a life dedicated to social change, stroll the trails, and focus on my writing.
What would a vow of poverty do for me? In college I seriously considered – and then rejected – the notion of being a minister. I do not believe in a literal Trinity, and I am convinced that if you are paid to do good, society either ignores or sneers at your example. Is this vow the middle ground I have been seeking?
Like a marriage ceremony, a vow of poverty allows the community to offer support before God to the individual making the commitment, often providing the continuous motivation to persevere. How many marriages have hit the inevitable rocks in the road and then been helped by friends and family to continue onward? It is natural for one’s circle of life to offer encouragement. I already count on them more than they know.
Further, as I continue to build my organization, I am appalled by the number of humanitarian institutions run like businesses. Helping humanity cannot be a 9-5 job, and however much health insurance is needed, if you want to make a buck, work at a bank.
Voluntary poverty is often an essential element of faith from Buddhism to Christianity – from the simplicity of the Society of Friends (Quakers) to the monastic vows of Roman Catholic priests. Members of the Franciscan, Jesuit, and Maryknoll Orders have traditionally forgone all individual forms of ownership to better embrace the poor whom they serve so nobly.
In this context of sacred vows, personal poverty may be understood as a means of self-denial in order to better place oneself at the service of others.
I also wish to inculcate in my own staff, my volunteers, and my board the idea that service must come before self. Our mission of helping the least of those should mean we allocate as many of our resources to our children as possible. I cannot bear the idea of high rent, large salaries, or extravagant overhead. Simply put, I advocate a life, not a job.
Some would argue that foundations will never fund my organization if we cannot pay our executive staff “living wages.” I argue for a new paradigm: Staff that is willing to work for next to nothing evidences commitment that assures sustainability. An organization where the staff is under-committed can never be sustained.
I have concerns that a vow of poverty might be seen as too Christian, in spite of its tradition in Buddhism and Hinduism. As a thirteenth generation Anglican in North America, I cannot do much about my roots. I was baptized in the Episcopal Church in a dress that dates back almost 200 years. Two of my great grandfathers were Episcopal priests.
My Anglican upbringing emphasized social justice and responsibility, being a good steward of our finances and our Planet Earth, and belonging to the Family of Man. I was raised simultaneously Episcopalian and Interfaith – kind of Unitarian, but with a baptismal dress.
I once heard from the pulpit that no thinking Episcopalian had literally believed in the Trinity since the Reformation, and I do believe I can focus more doing God’s work outside of church than in. The tasks that I perform daily, however, are deeply rooted in my Anglican heritage.
I have heard all my life of building the Kingdom of God – right here, right now. As an active homeless shelter volunteer in New York City in the 1980’s I came to understand that Hell is not mythical: It exists anywhere people are forgotten.
Being Christian means helping others regardless of their faith. It is “The Good Samaritan,” the “Prodigal Son,” and our responsibility to “the least of these.”
Yet I can also study and appreciate the Talmud, Tzedakah, and Tikkun Olam. I embrace Islam‘s love of widows and orphans. The simplicity of Buddhism and the concept of doing no harm are striking. Hinduism’s pantheon of deities who guide us towards tolerance inspires me.
Mahatma Gandhi lived a simple life, as did Oscar Romero. The Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh represent some of the best traditions in Buddhism. Katharine Drexel and Dorothy Day are two American women whose lives have lit my pathway. These heroes have helped direct me down the road of life, in the same direction as my personal mentors.
Nevertheless, my roots reach back to England. No matter how I embrace interfaith ideals, at heart I am culturally Episcopalian. My own vow of poverty would be, if I proceed, The Act of Commitment taken from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. It is straightforward:
Celebrant: May the Lord guide and strengthen you, that in this, and in all things, you may do God’s will in the service of his kingdom here on earth.
Community: We commend you to this work, and pledge to you the prayers, encouragement, and support of this community of faith.
Celebrant: Almighty God, look with favor upon this person who has now reaffirmed his commitment to serve in your name. Give him courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all – Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Moslem, and Hindu – in our vocation of witness to the world, and of service to others.
My new friend Peter Yarrow sings, “Tell me why you’re crying, my son? I know you’re frightened, like everyone. Will it help if I stay very near? I am here.” In the simplest sense, this sums up my commitment to the world’s children orphaned by the storms of life. Can my commitment be strengthened through voluntary poverty?
The road leading to my possible vow of poverty has not been smooth. The destination is not clearly in view. Yet I am convinced that this road, however windy, is not a dead end. Neither is it the road to glory, nor the road to salvation for the world’s orphaned children. After almost fifty years of travel, however, it promises to be the road towards my own personal salvation.
Those who do not know me are curious about my motivation. Those who know me well often ask, bluntly, “Are you nuts?” If thinking one man’s moral choices can change the course of the world, I would truly be nuts. I have come to poverty through faith and not stupidity.
The notion of a vow of poverty fills me with more peace of mind and soul than I have ever felt. A vow of poverty for me is the idea that I can do no more than I am doing. It lightens the enormous burdens of my life commitment.
As my 50th birthday looms, I yearn to feel complete. I need to find that part of me that is missing. A vow of poverty seems to me the best way to serve humanity. It is my fullest understanding of God’s plan for my life.
An investigation into alleged “stolen children” in an adoption house Guatemala has thrown a spotlight on adoption practices in the developing world, and on fears there of an illegal trade in children. Jim Luce, the founder of Orphans International Worldwide (OIW), an NGO associated with the United Nations, says fears of an illegal trade in children can change an atmosphere very quickly, as he found out on a trip to Haiti in July.
Port-au-Prince. The angry mob was screaming at us in Creole. Even though I didn’t know at the time what the words meant, I knew we were all in grave danger – three small children from our orphanage and us three adults.
This was my 16th trip to Haiti and I had never experienced anything like it. With a new government in place, Haiti was doing better than we had ever experienced. Local friends had assured us the political and economic violence was over. Jim Luce believes adoptions fuel fears of corrupt practices.
With me were OI Haiti director Jacques Africot, a child psychologist from New York, Dr. Doris Chernik, and the three youngest kids from our orphanage in the dusty city of Gonäives – four-year-old Patrick, plus Walter and Jean Kerby, both five.
We’d taken them wading in a local river in the cool green of the mountainous countryside. It had been a great day out up to then. But things turned for the worse when we stopped to fill the SUV up with fuel.
Jim Luce believes adoptions fuel fears of corrupt practices
It was hot in the back of the car, so we let the kids out. We sat on the curb, waiting for the jeep to be serviced.Some local villagers started to gather around us, curious to see these beautiful children who were smiling and happily clapping their hands together.T hen the villagers began to question our kids. The villagers’ mood shifted. Suddenly they seemed less friendly. Our kids stopped smiling and fidgeted nervously .A man stomped over to me and began to scream at me in Creole – a language I don’t understand.Face-off
The crowd didn’t believe Jacques when he tried to explain to the crowd in Creole that he was the project director of an orphanage helping Haiti’s children. They dismissed him as merely a driver for the rich whites. Suddenly little Jean Kerby was screaming, high pitched and frantic, as the crowd began to yank him from our car.
The growing crowd began to chant louder and louder in the local village dialect, ‘Ti melet!’. I learned the meaning later – ‘child-thieves.In seconds, the crowd had grown from 10 to 50. The villagers, now shouting louder, started banging on the car.We put the car in reverse, but couldn’t move it – our rear wheels had been blocked with boulders.
Jacques, calm and in control, shouted that he was going on foot for the police.Suddenly little Jean Kerby was screaming, high pitched and frantic, as the crowd began to yank him from our car. I held on to his feet and, as the adrenaline kicked in, pulled him back, winning this human tug of war.
The chase took place in the mountains near Gonäives.
To the Rescue
The back door opened again.It was Jacques, who – amazingly – had managed to find a policeman in the local restaurant.The gigantic policeman clambered into the front seat. A man was about to heave a cement block through our front window and another one raised a block to our left side.The policeman jumped out and screamed he was taking us to the local police station.
They backed off a bit.In haste, the officer drove a mile down the road and then stopped. He now seemed as frightened as we were, but he needed to get some facts.As soon as we stopped, new people began to gather around us. I was worried, but the big policeman in the driver’s seat ignored them. Doris and Jacques kept explaining who we were, and the policeman seemed satisfied.We now understood for the first time the angry crowd thought we were kidnapping their children for the international black market.
Suddenly, people in the crowd lifted up cinder blocks ready to throw them through our windows.The policeman pulled out his gun and aimed it squarely at the lead block-thrower’s chest and with his booming voice screamed something – perhaps “Back off or you die!”It worked.
Lying in Wait
The officer sped us to the village square with its sleepy police station. But dozens of people chased us.Tyres squealing, gravel flying, the policeman raced our jeep around the village square.He was shouting out of the window to friends on their porches to use their cell phones to call for reinforcements: ‘Now!’
He then made the critical decision to head up the mountain, on a narrow, zigzag road, to the next police station 14 miles (22km) away, up in the village of Marmalade. Our reinforcement was waiting at the foot of the mountain road, the police officer’s civilian brother riding the officer’s police motorcycle, and now serving as our escort.Up the hill we sped, bouncing off the huge pot-holes. All I could feel was the sense of impending death.
With our car, we can out-race mobs, but with cellular technology, the villagers could dial their friends and family all the way up the mountain.Many groups were lying in wait to attack us.At the first market, dozens of angry Haitians stood ready to block the road and burn our car.The policeman, like Bruce Willis in an action movie, hung out of the car window, pointing his weapon at the angry crowds who then backed away as we raced by.
Jacques sat in the back seat, little Jean Kerby balanced on his lap, calling on his cell phone, trying desperately to reach the Haitian national police, and the UN police, both in Gonäives – now an hour away – as well as the American ambassador and the UN peacekeepers in Port-au-Prince, six hours away. The policeman was also on his cell.Then, our hero cop received word that the police at the top of the mountain could not come to our assistance as their only car was broken.
We were on our own.Death by lynch mob?For more than an hour, all I could feel was the sense of impending death.But we kept trying to be cheerful with the kids, telling them how brave they were not to cry.Suddenly, the road was blocked as we had feared. We braked to a stop. Office tables lay across the street, with construction debris piled behind them.
Two enraged women pointed at me, accusing me of trying to kidnap one of their sons.
An angry official demanded to know why the policeman was assisting the kidnappers.I later learned that he was the village mayor, and the policeman had told him our lives were in severe danger and to move out of the way: ‘Now!’The tables were moved aside and our policeman angrily drove us over the piles of debris.Six blocks later we screeched to a stop in front of the mountain-top police station where eight policemen had gathered to protect us. But they also had to fill in some official paperwork on us. A new mob gathered outside the gates, including some familiar faces from the gas station far below. And soon the media arrived.Satisfied with our story, the police chief called the national police and the UN police in Gonäives for reinforcements.
Facing the Accusers
The ringleaders of the gas station riot were brought in to be questioned in front of us.Two enraged women pointed at me, accusing me of trying to kidnap one of their sons as he was swimming, the day before.So that is how it all started.Or had they just invented the story?
Haitian police made supreme efforts to protect the OI group.
The police quickly determined that one of the women had only heard that ‘two whites’, whom she had never seen, had tried to kidnap her child. Nor had she reported the alleged kidnapping to the police.Luckily, we had a receipt showing that we had hosted a party for our children at Doris’s hotel, 60 miles (96km) away.
The police scoffed at the women’s story and then scolded them in Creole, apparently ridiculing them for coming very close to getting international development workers killed.Some six hours later, another police car arrived and – with the police riding shotgun in case of ambush – we drove down the mountain.Police from Gonäives and the U.N. met us at the bottom, and they took us back to safety.Sitting at the breakfast table the next morning in Gonäives, I realized I’d saved other people’s lives before, but this was the first time my own life had been saved.
Post script: One week later, Jim found out that his “Bruce Willis” police officer hero, Florestal Olondieu, had been shot and killed in an unrelated incident.Undaunted, Jim has since visited Haiti 27 times, and had close brushed with death twice more in a collision and a house fire.
Photo: Children gather in the Orphans International residence in Gonäives, Haiti. Credit: Orphans International.
The United States has plenty of affluent do-gooders who are taken with the idea that with their experience and creativity they could harness expertise and money to better the lives of people in the developing world.
Jim Luce with orphans from the 2004 tsunami.
New York, N.Y. I know now, seven years after founding my own global charitable organization, that this is possible though often problematic. You need to have a lot of passion, energy and wits, but so must the people overseas who are helping you.
Working on Wall Street years ago, I encountered a mosaic of people of diverse ethnicities and personalities, all happily pursuing the almighty dollar. I realized that, with a mutual cause, all differences are surmountable.
At the time, I was spending weekends contentedly rescuing dogs and cats from the streets of New York. But I was interested in doing something to help the world. Asked by an Indonesian friend to travel with him to his hometown in the Celebes Islands, I jumped at the chance and off we went. My life was about to turn dramatically.
By happenstance, we drove by an orphanage, and I felt drawn to visit it. I was intrigued. Over the years, orphanages have been phased out in the United States, replaced by foster care. Stepping inside the dimly lighted facility, I was overcome by the extraordinarily poor conditions. There was plenty of loving care, but the facility itself was dilapidated. If these children only had more money for food and shelter — about $600 a year would do it, I figured — they could thrive. What could I personally do to make this happen?
One infant literally stood out from the others, and his pleading yet determined eyes seemed to demand that I take him home with me. His name was Mathew. He was ten months old.
The connection between us was immediate, and after talking to my fiancée, I agreed to adopt him. The staff asked that his undershirt, full of holes, be left for the next child.
Within a year Mathew had cleared Indonesian and American bureaucracies and was in my arms at Kennedy Airport.
Before Matt arrived, I had discussed what I had witnessed with a sharp-minded child psychologist in Boston — Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce, my mother and friend. I could not stop thinking about the other infants at the orphanage, existing in such Dickensian conditions, worse than New York’s animal shelters. They could not all be adopted, but they could be helped. My mother and I talked about ways we could do that.
Then came the denouement: “Mom, guess what?” I said. “I adopted that little boy — you are now his grandmother!” It took her only seconds to realize that the theoretical was now deeply personal — and a new page in our family history had been turned. The matriarch of our family, with deep roots in Puritan and Anglican New England, had been given a Chinese-Indonesian grandson.
When Matt came, she immediately embraced him as her own and gave him the same tour of Harvard Yard that she had given me as a child, pointing out our family’s roots there. Today he is your average New York City teenager.
Solutions to the overall problems I had encountered in the Celebes Islands had to exist. My mother studied my inclination to give love and affection to the needy and challenged me to conceptualize my aim to improve the lives of orphans.
So was born the idea of a surrogate foster care system in developing nations. My concept was based on small homes with only four children and a house parent at each dwelling. My vision was to raise orphaned children from toddlers to adulthood the way I would raise my son. This simple notion is now codified as “Mathew’s Rule.” Could Mathew thrive here? This is our strict and primary criteria.
My mother died in 2001, and in her will she designated money with the hope that I would begin Orphans International. Given my heritage — from a co-founder of Harvard (Thomas Dudley) to the founder of the Naval War College (Stephen Bleecker Luce) — perhaps she believed institution-building was in my genes.
We incorporated Orphans Internationalin Indonesia later that year, and opened our first home in Sulawesi. In 2002, we incorporated in New York and began raising money here. We started work in Haiti in 2003, eventually opening a home in Gonaïves.
Then, the tsunami slammed across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Sri Lanka. Contributions poured in, from my own Roosevelt Island community and from prominent families around the world that had heard about us through word of mouth. We placed staff on the ground— actually in the mud — within days in Aceh, Indonesia, quickly set up a home and embraced our first tsunami orphans with love and compassion. I thought of my mother.
When the wave smashed Sri Lanka, a young Sri Lankan-American couple were caught in its deadly grasp on a beach near Galle. The husband was washed away. His American wife survived. In his memory, her father pledged to build an orphan village in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Luce with his son, Mathew, whom he adopted as a baby.
Backed by our board, we built a United Nations-associated nongovernmental organization. Our umbrella organization is Orphans International Worldwide, with our administrative office staffed by volunteers in Lima, Peru, and our volunteer internship program in New York. This structure enables us to maintain a low overhead; our latest audit shows less than 8 percent spent on administration.
To underwrite these efforts, we created the usual Founder’s Circle, President’s Circle and Advisory Board — each group with specific financial commitments. Since we became associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, Matt’s Rule has been fleshed out and become a standard for orphanages in the developing world.
After the tsunami, I resigned my Wall Street job to dedicate myself to increase financing, build programming and assure compliance with our global standards. Tremendous progress has been achieved with honest, supportive and caring local professionals. We had hoped they would help us avoid the setbacks — including countless cases of nepotism and corruption — that we have encountered. They have to some degree, but challenges still occurred.
For example, a board member for one of our programs pressured us to hire his mistress as our director and rent his brother’s mansion as our orphanage. No. A staff member saw dollar signs after the tsunami and the millions in aid flowing after, and announced he was taking over the organization. No. Another officer, with me for two years, could not account for funds. Again, no. How can anyone betray their own children?
Despite these behind-the-scene battles, we are on the ground in 12 countries and have an annual budget of a half-million dollars, with projects in Haiti, Indonesia and Peru and opening in Sri Lanka. Interestingly, Sri Lanka is the only country in which we have never been cheated. There we have not faced corruption, but rather the slow torture of a bureaucracy. I believe our project there, which is about to accept its first children, may become the model for our global efforts.
Banda Aceh
Orphans International has become my calling, and it can be a dangerous one. Last summer in Haiti, out for a swim with our local director and two of our children, we were attacked by a mob of people who thought we were kidnapping their children. The Haitian police saw the danger and rescued us but were themselves overrun by the violent crowd. Ultimately, we were saved by United Nations peacekeeping soldiers.
Ultimately, I believe, patience, trust, good will and the Internet make our efforts possible. We communicate with our 218 volunteers across time zones by e-mail, instant messaging and Skype. Plaxo, Facebook and LinkedIn also play a role in our outreach. Plans are for our child sponsors to be able to greet their children directly via Skype.
As on Wall Street, the 100-hour weeks continue, except now I no longer receive a salary or annual bonus. In 2006, I cashed in my retirement plan savings to keep our efforts afloat. My focus continues to be pursuing the almighty dollar — only now for others.
Jim Luce is the founder and president of Orphans International Worldwide.
New York, N.Y. Who we are is shaped by where we have been as much as by where we wish to go. For me, knowing where my family has been over the last several centuries gives me the sense that I fit into the world as I should without worry about my place. I know I am exactly where I should to be. To be a part of the mosaic of America, with my adopted Asian son, is intensely international as well as American. I also know that I, as most families, have my share of skeletons in the closet.
Although I go by plain Jim Luce, I was born James Jay Dudley Luce. There is now a foundation being formed in that name. The first time I ever heard my entire name read out loud was when as I was approved by voice vote at an Episcopal Diocesan Convention as youth representative at the age of 16. I thought, That is a name I will need to live up to.
Yale UniversitySkull and Bones included Henry Robinson Luce in its 1920 roster. Although a secret society, I understand my father joined at Yale 25 years later. Skull and Bones was founded by Alphonso Taft, my fourth cousin, six times removed.
Older Americans always ask me about me relationship to Henry Luce (“Harry”), founder of Time-Life magazines. Yes, it is the same family, but not particularly close. The original Henry Luce was born in Gloucestershire, England in 1640 and came over to Martha’s Vineyard. He is my eighth great grandfather. I am a direct descendant of his oldest son Robert (Henry/ Robert/ Jonathan/ Rowland/ Elisha/ George/ Rev. Frank/ Stanford/Stanford/ me). The publisher Harry Luce was a descendant of the original Henry’s youngest son (Henry/ Josiah/ Nathaniel/ Nathan/ John/ Stephen/ Van/ Rev. Henry/ Harry). This makes him my seventh cousin, twice times removed. Always hard to explain in detail at cocktail parties.
My son loves to point out the description of one biographer who described Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce as “Intensely unhumorous,” laughing that it must be genetic.
The Luces had a large impact in history, long before Harry Luce and his “American Century.” Consider Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce, founder of the Naval War Academyat Annapolis and proponent with Alfred Thayer Mahan of America’s Manifest Destiny (fifth cousin, four times removed) and Renaissance woman Clare Boothe Luce (wife of seventh cousin, twice removed). Hank Luce III, past president of the Henry Luce Foundation, was a friend and supporter of my organization Fundamentalists Anonymous (FA) dedicated to fighting religious extremism. I wrote an obituary last year for his colorful wife Leila.
Charter of Harvard College, signed in 1650 by Gov. Dudley, my ninth great grandfather.
My mother’s Harvard side of the family — the Dudley’s — always looked down on the Luce’s since they arrived in 1663, several decades after the Dudley’s arrived in 1630. Thomas Dudley, the Third Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, signed the Charter that created Harvard University. His daughter, Anne Bradstreet, was the first published female poet in either the Colonies or England (he is my ninth great-grandfather.
Dudley Castle, West Midlands, England, is where the longest line of my descendants comes.
Luckily, my father’s Yale side of the family also have the Delano’s, who go back to Plymouth (Lt. Richard Warren, Nathaniel Warren, Mercy Warren, Jabez Delano Sr., Jabez Delano Jr., Jabez Delano III, Capt. James Delano, Sophia Delano Luce, Rev. Frank Leonard Luce, Stanford Leonard Luce Sr., Dr. Stanford Leonard Luce Jr., James Jay Dudley Luce).
It is amazing to know that the same side on which I am related to FDR, the husband of my second great-grand aunt Sophia Delano Luce, in a line that goes back to my eleventh great-grandfather Jean De Lannoy, born in Aquitaine, France in 1511. But the Dudley side is longer, going back to my thirtieth great-grandfather in 1030 in Lincolnshire, England. That, believe it or not, is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather DeSutton.
Luce Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy, housing the departments ofLeadership, Ethics, and Law, was named for Stephen Bleecker Luce
I remember my paternal grandmother explaining to me the importance of her family, the Foote’s, but now I cannot recall exactly why. I know they trace back to John Foote, my twelfth great-grandfather, who was born in 1490 in Hertfordshire, England. Perhaps Grandmother Foote-Luce was talking about Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote, my fifth cousin four times removed, or maybe his father, U.S. Senator Samuel Augustus Foote. She has passed on, a wealth of information now buried.
In the U.S. Civil War, Andrew Hull Foote led the gunboats in the Battle of Fort Henry.
As in most families, our family genealogy has been handed down verbally, in old records, and in family Bibles. As a child, my paternal grandmother dragged me to see Luce Hall at Annapolis, while my maternal grandmother pulled me around Harvard Yard to see Dudley House and the Dudley Gates. The Internet had helped confirm all of the notes I have taken since the age of ten, and has filled in missing gaps. My grandmother Irene Simpson, for example, explained how she was related to Wallis Simpson, who went on to marry King Edward VIII, who was then downgraded to Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. We’re cousins of some kind. Although Granny lived to be 104, she too is now gone and I can no longer confirm with her.
My mother, Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce (child, middle), with her motherIrene Simpson Alleman, brother Dudley Alleman, Jr. (r.) and Irene Alleman (l). Taken in their back yard in Portland, Maine, 1928.
The other week my electronic calendar informed me it had been fifteen years to the day that I had brought my adopted son Mathew James Luce home from Indonesia. The same week I helped him with his genealogy homework assignment. I explained to him about “Boston Brahmans,” the historic core of the East Coast establishment that my own father rejected. Mathew was able to report in his homework his “roots” to the Delanos, Dudleys, Footes, Luces, Simpsons, Tafts, Warrens, and Winthrops. Who knows what his teacher thought. In theory, America is a meritocracy, the nation of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Pedigrees are not supposed to matter.
My mother’s father, Dudley Alleman, is the boy sitting in the middle.
There is more. My ninth great-grandfather, Richard Warren, was Lieutenant on the Mayflower. He settled in Plymouth Colony and was among ten passengers of the Mayflower landing party with Myles Standishat Cape Cod in 1620. Warren co-signed the Mayflower Compact and was one of only 19 — among 41 — signers who survived the first winter. My son Mathew thought that was so ‘cool.’
My ninth great-grandfather Richard Warren co-signed the Mayflower Compact.
Born in 1640, Robert Taft was my ninth great-grandfather. This makes President William Howard Taftmy fifth cousin, a mere five times removed. From 1901 to 1903, this distant relative served as the first civilian Governor-General of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. Coincidentally, Alphonso Taft, my fourth cousin, six times removed, founded Yale’s Skull and Bones Society.
My ancestors were as bad as they were good. Some are presumed to have captained slave ships, and others are documented to have owned slaves. The government record of my second great-grandfather, Warfield Simpson, shows that he had five slaves, “Black” and “Mulatto,” in 1850. I am connected to American slavery, which makes the concept of civil rights so much more real to my son. I am excited to be moving soon to Haiti — the world’s oldest free-slave nation — to work with the organization I founded a dozen years ago, Orphans International Worldwide (OIW).
Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor were cordial with Adolph Hitler, the epitome of evil.
Harry Luce was also a tremendous fan of Chiang Kai-shek and admired Mussolini in his early days. Wally Simpson was on friendly terms with Adolph Hitler.
Slave records for Warfield Simpson, 1850 – my great-great-great grandfather.
In my family there are doctors, lawyers, ministers, professors, naval officers, governors and senators – with lots of gentlemen farmers thrown in. Very few were business people. Harry Luce of Time-Life was unique in that his own father was part of the Presbyterian mission in China, along with Pearl S. Buck, where Harry was born. Although we have some Protestant, French Huguenot roots, it is mostly White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP). Most of my ancestors were Presbyterian or Episcopalian (Anglican).
Clare and Harry Luce were ardent supporters of General and Madam Chiang Kai-shek.
My son Mathew wanted to know how our family background has helped us, and how it related to the egalitarian ideals of America he is learning in social studies. He realizes that in any family you have the good, the bad, and the indifferent. I explained that in my own experience being “Brahmin” – and having a Metrocard – gets me on the subway. He thought that was pretty cool, too.
Originally published in The Huffington Post, Oct 16, 2010
New York, N.Y. New York-based Pakistani American author, poet, and filmmaker Mumtaz Hussain has etched his name in literary history by clinching the prestigious International Impact Book Award for his English masterpiece, “Portrait in Words.”
The grand ceremony, held in New York, witnessed a gathering of luminaries from the literary world, including authors, writers, and scholars, as they celebrated Hussain’s remarkable achievement.
Hussain’s triumph signifies a watershed moment in the nation’s literary landscape, placing him alongside legendary Urdu short story writers such as Manto, Ghulam Abbas, and Asmat Chughtai. His diverse portfolio, which includes accolades in painting and filmmaking, further cements his status as a pioneering force in literature.
His latest work, “Portrait in Words,” distinguishes itself by intertwining storytelling with captivating paintings, setting a new standard in literary expression.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, Hussain remarked, “It’s a tremendous honor for me to be recognized in this manner. This award is incredibly encouraging.”
The Pakistani American community and literary circles have showered Hussain with congratulations, affirming that his victory is well-deserved and a moment of pride for all.
New York-based Pakistani-American Writer, Poet, and Filmmaker
From the Lahore Mirror
New York, N.Y. New York-based Pakistani Americanwriter, poet, and filmmaker Mumtaz Hussain has made his name in literary history by clinching the International Impact Book Award for his English book Portrait in Words.
This prestigious accolade, bestowed upon him in 2024, represents a monumental triumph for Pakistani literature on the global platform.
Mr. Hussain’s achievement stands as a significant milestone in the country’s literary landscape, placing him in the esteemed company of renowned Urdu short story writers such as Manto, Ghulam Abbas, and Asmat Chughtai. The grandeur of his accomplishment was celebrated in a lavish ceremony held in New York, attended by eminent figures from the literary world, including writers and scholars.
With a repertoire that already boasts accolades in painting and filmmaking, Hussain’s latest triumph solidifies his status as a trailblazer in the realm of literature. His success resonates as a source of immense national pride, underscoring Pakistan’s rightful position on the international stage.
The International Impact Book Awards, which recognizes outstanding works for their content, quality, writing style, presentation, and cover design, serves as a testament to the caliber of Hussain’s book and its contribution to the literary and professional domains.
Upon receiving the award, Hussain graciously expressed his gratitude, remarking, “It is a great honor for me. This award is incredibly motivating.” His sentiments reverberated throughout the Pakistani American community and literary circles, who hailed his victory as commendable and a source of immense national pride.
As traffic cop to the world, Francis M. Deng is a thought leader and global citizen extraordinaire. I am confident that if there is one man who can identify and stop genocide before it occurs, it is he.
By Jim Luce, Editor
New York, N.Y. Last year, I met a Sudanese diplomat who was so interesting that I have not been able to get him out of my head – his name is Francis M. Deng [Luce Index™ Score: pending] He is the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide at the level of Under-Secretary-General.
I was introduced to Francis at a cocktail party honoring H.E. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann [Luce Index™ Score: pending], the U.N. General Assembly President. Peter Yarrow [Luce Index™ Score: 99], of Peter, Paul & Mary, had invited me as his guest to this event.
I met recently with Francis at his office overlooking the busy traffic of the F.D.R. highway below to discuss how he is handling such a weighty responsibility. As the U.N. Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis’ job is to alert the world of situations in a particular country or region that could potentially result in genocide and make recommendations for preventing or halting the bloodshed. He acts as a catalyst of action within the U.N. system and, broadly speaking, within the international community.
Francis believes — based on his many years as a diplomat and thought leader at various institutions — that genocide is almost always a result of national, racial, religious, and ethnic identity-related conflicts. As such, it can be anticipated and even stopped before it begins by understanding these underlying causes. The conflict does not result in the mere differences but in the inequities discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion associated with those differences.
Identity-related conflicts ultimately become a clash between those who “belong” and those who have been excluded and marginalized to a point of near statelessness. Francis acquired global insights into these identity issues when he was Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from 1992 to 2004. During his missions to the affected countries, after meeting with national leaders and government authorities at various levels, he would then meet with the displaced and traumatized persons.
As he left, he would ask them: “What message do you want me to bring to your Government leaders?” The response was often, “Those are not our leaders!” Government authorities identified these tragic victims with the rebels and saw them as part of the enemy. Francis feels he must be able to diagnose the disease before he can proffer a cure. Inevitably, this includes managing diversities and trying to create shared national identities. He attempts to work with all sides of a conflict to build a framework which establishes basic equalities.
He is well-educated – to say the least! He holds a LL.B. degree from Khartoum University in the Sudan, and both a LL.M and J.S.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) from Yale University. He also attended London University. He has been frequently recruited as an expert researcher, teacher, and “thinker” at many prestigious institutions. These include Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, New York University, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies as well as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the Kluge Center for Scholars of the Library of Congress, the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and The Brookings Institution.
Francis has served as the Ambassador of Sudan to Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, and as Sudan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He has authored and edited over 30 books in the fields of law, conflict resolution, internal displacement, human rights, anthropology, folklore, history, and politics and has written two novels on the theme of national identity crisis in his native country of the Sudan.
He wrote The Man Called Deng Majok: A Biography of Power, Polygyny, and Change (Yale University Press, 1986) about his father, the renowned Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka in the Sudan, which Francis was kind enough to autograph for me.
Francis’ father had over 200 wives and thus Francis has over 1,000 siblings – that fact alone is sure to grab one’s attention.
He was appointed to the full-time position of Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide by U.N. Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon in 2007, as part of a continuing effort to strengthen the U.N.’s role in genocide prevention. The Advisory Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, which provides guidance and support to the Special Adviser’s work, includes:
David Hamburg as Chairman. President Emeritus of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, who has played a pioneering role in the prevention of genocide and deadly conflicts,
Sadako Ogata of Japan, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,
General Romeo Dallaire, whose heroic attempt to stop the Rwanda genocide was constrained by the limitations on his U.N. mandate,
Monica Andersson of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs which had been instrumental in promoting U.N. action on genocide prevention,
Zakari Ibrahim of Nigeria, a former Senior Government Official,
Roberto Garreton of Chile, former Special Rapporteur on Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC),
Juan Mendez of Argentina, Francis’ predecessor as Special Adviser, and
Gareth Evans, former Foreign Minister of Australia, who has been a leader in the development and promotion of the emerging norm of the Responsibility to Protect.
Francis and his colleagues at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Project developed the concept of Sovereignty as Responsibility which guided his work on IDPs and which has now been widely acknowledged to have contributed to the evolution of the ‘Responsibility to Protect.’
When it comes to his current work, Francis believes strongly in two principles:
One, that the diplomacy needed to stop genocide is to a significant degree an art, not entirely a science. While Conflict Resolution Studies are a good foundation, the cultural milieu is so complex that academic expressions are not enough. Like an artist, technical skills only go so far. One must have the touch, culturally nourished. A major aspect of Francis’ intellectual work has been devoted to cultivating cross-cultural perspectives on matters that are relevant at local and global levels.
Two, that national sovereignty is key. Governments must manage their own affairs and protect their own people. They may need international support to discharge their national responsibility. When they cannot, international bodies must be ready and able to respond to the crises. This is the essence of the three pillars of both “Sovereignty as Responsibility” and “the Responsibility to Protect.”
The U.N. genocide prevention system is straightforward. The Office of the Special Adviser has developed three clusters of countries:
Those on the brink of disaster or actively engaged in genocidal conflicts are coded red.
Yellow indicates that problems exist but have not yet passed the tipping point into genocide.
Green – you are essentially in North America, Europe, and most of East Asia, not genocide or genocide-risk regions.
However, Francis emphasizes that since diversity and disparity are widespread, the potential for genocide is equally global, even though some countries and regions are more vulnerable than others. Francis is not quick to name the red team, as he must have the ability to work with them to shift them to yellow and green.
“I am sometimes asked to ‘name and shame,’ but such tactics make it difficult to move toward resolution and reconciliation,” Francis admits. He believes that constructive engagement based on exploring a common ground promises better results than confrontation. He admits, however, that there is room for different complementary approaches.
Going on the offensive against a government might preclude Francis from travel to that country and thus hinder his ability to negotiate with the government – or see the actual conditions. Some independent human rights experts have angered governments so much that they are not allowed to visit the countries concerned. They have written their reports from outside the country, using sources that governments then feel justified to discredit since the expert does not have first-hand information.
As the U.N. Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis’ role is to call attention to crises. His voice is not needed in regions where the big international players are already involved although his silence in such situations is also untenable. His job is mainly to shine a light into the darkest corners of humanity, not where there is light already. “Genocide” itself is an emotive term that has both legal and popular definitions. Francis is not the arbitrator of what genocide is or is not.
He simply advises the U.N. Secretary-General on specific problems that could erupt into genocide and possible solutions to those problems. Francis is torn between three constituents, each of whom have different objectives and concerns:
Foreign governments, who do not want him interfering with their sovereignty;
His colleagues at the U.N. for whom the label “genocide” creates an accusation that often makes their work on the ground more difficult; and finally,
NGOs many of whom often focus on issues of human rights in a rather adversarial manner.
Human beings are normally harmonious in their relations, Francis believes. Conflicts — caused by national, racial, religious, and ethnic clashes — are the negation of human cooperation and peaceful coexistence in its natural state. Francis feels he has a call of duty to help communities return to this natural state of harmony.
Like the city traffic below our window, Francis points out that the cars flow in cooperation, not conflict. When a car — or an individual or groups of individuals — go against the traffic rules, conflict ensues. As traffic cop to the world, Francis M. Deng is a thought leader and global citizen extraordinaire. I am confident that if there is one man who can identify and stop genocide before it occurs, it is he.
Originally published in The Huffington Post, June 7, 2009.
TAGS: Ambassador of Sudan to Canada, Ambassador of Sudan to Denmark, Ambassador of Sudan to Finland, Ambassador of Sudan to Norway, Ambassador of Sudan to Sweden, Ambassador of Sudan to U.S., Anthropology, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Argentina, Australia, Ban Ki-moon, Biography of Power, Polygyny, and Change, Brookings Africa Project, Brookings Institute, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Center for International Studies, Chile, City University of New York, Columbia Law School, Conflict resolution, Conflict Resolution Studies, Cross-cultural perspective, National sovereignty, CUNY Graduate Center, David Hamburg , Democratic Republic of the Congo, Diplomacy, Discrimination, East Asia, ethnic identity-related conflict, Europe, Exclusion, Folklore, Francis M. Deng, Gareth Evans, General Romeo Dallaire, genocide, Genocide prevention, Genocide-risk regions, Global citizen, History, Huffington Post, Human cooperation, Human rights, Human rights, IDPs, Inequities, Internal displacement, Internally Displaced Persons, international community, International support, Japan, Jim Luce, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Juan Mendez, Khartoum University, Kluge Center for Scholars, Law, Library of Congress, London University, Marginalization, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, MIT, Monica Andersson, Name and shame, national conflict, National identity crisis, New York City, New York University, NGOs, Nigeria, Nobel Peace Prize,, North America, Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka, Peaceful coexistence, Peter Yarrow, Peter, Paul & Mary, Politics, Prevention of deadly conflicts, Prevention of genocide, racial conflict, Responsibility to Protect., Roberto Garreton, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rwanda genocide, Sadako Ogata, South Africa, Sovereignty as Responsibility, Special Rapporteur on Zaire, Statelessness, Sudan, Sudanese diplomat, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Man Called Deng Majok, Thinker, Thought Leader, U.N. General Assembly, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, U.N. Secretary General, U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, U.N. Under-Secretary-General., U.S. Institute of Peace, United Nations, Woodrow Wilson International Center, Yale Law School, Yale University, Yale University Press, Zakari Ibrahim
New York, N.Y. A child’s right to education entails the right to learn. Yet, for too many children across the globe, schooling does not lead to learning.
Over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are in school. For out-of-school children, foundational skills in literacy and numeracy are further from grasp.
Children are deprived of education for various reasons. Poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers. Children living through economic fragility, political instability, conflict or natural disaster are more likely to be cut off from schooling – as are those with disabilities, or from ethnic minorities. In some countries, education opportunities for girls remain severely limited.
Even in schools, a lack of trained teachers, inadequate education materials and poor infrastructure make learning difficult for many students. Others come to class too hungry, ill or exhausted from work or household tasks to benefit from their lessons.
Compounding these inequities is a digital divide of growing concern: Most of the world’s school-aged children do not have internet connection in their homes, restricting their opportunities to further their learning and skills development.
Without quality education, children face considerable barriers to employment later in life. They are more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes and less likely to participate in decisions that affect them – threatening their ability to shape a better future for themselves and their societies.
Attacks on schools, students and educators are attacks on children’s right to an education – and on their futures.
A girl stands in her classroom. Credit: UNICEF/UN0311775/Kokic.
New York, N.Y.Attacks on schools, students and educators are attacks on children’s right to an education – and on their futures.
The problem.
Around the world, attacks on children continue unabated, as warring parties flout one of the most basic rules of war: the protection of children. The protracted nature of conflicts today is affecting the futures of entire generations of children.
Without access to education, a generation of children living in conflict will grow up without the skills they need to contribute to their countries and economies, exacerbating the already desperate situation for millions of children and their families.
The solution
A child’s right to education cannot be safeguarded in conflict zones without education itself being protected. Education can be a lifesaver. Out of school, children are easy targets of abuse, exploitation and recruitment by armed forces and groups.
School should provide a safe space where children can be protected from threats and crises. It is also a critical step to breaking the cycle of crisis and reduces the likelihood of future conflicts.
What is the Safe Schools Declaration?
The Safe Schools Declarationwas opened for state endorsement in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015. It is a political commitment to better protect students, teachers, schools, and universities during armed conflict, to support the continuation of education during war, and to put in place concrete measures to deter the military use of schools.
Today, 119 States have endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration. By endorsing the Declaration, States commit to restoring access to safe education and to developing education systems that are conflict-sensitive and promote respect between social or ethnic groups. The Declaration is a framework for collaboration and exchange, and endorsing countries meet on a regular basis to review implementation of the Declaration.
What is UNICEF’s role?
UNICEF works with states who have endorsed the Declaration and other armed groups to protect education from attack. UNICEF is on the frontlines in conflict-affected countries to develop school safety plans, get children back to learning by providing psycho-social support and informal learning opportunities, training teachers, rehabilitating schools, and distributing supplies for teaching and learning.
UNICEF also works with a range of partners to help children learn despite conflict and insecurity. For example, a partnership with governments across West and Central Africa is helping expand an innovative radio education program that provides an alternative learning platform for children and youth affected by crises.
TAGS: Access to education, Armed conflict, Armed forces, Attacks on children, Basic rule of war, Central Africa, Child abuse, Child exploitation, Child recruitment, Children, children affected by crises, Children living in conflict, Children’s rights, Conflict, Conflict zones, Cycle of crisis, Education, Educators, Military use of schools, New York City, Norway, Oslo, Protection of children, radio education program, Right to education, Safe Schools Declaration, Schools, Students, Teachers, UNICEF, Universities, War, West Africa, Youth, Youth affected by crises, Youth rights
New York, N.Y. The past six months of Israel’s military campaign has also brought “relentless death and destruction to Palestinians”, with over 32,000 reported killed, the vast majority women and children. “Lives are shattered. Respect for international law is in tatters,” he said.
The resulting humanitarian disaster is unprecedented, with more than a million “facing catastrophic hunger.” Children are dying due to lack of food and water: “This is incomprehensible and entirely avoidable”, the U.N. chief declared, repeating that nothing can justify such collective punishment.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres briefs the media outside the Security Council on the situation in Gaza. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Marking six months of war since the “abhorrent” Hamas-led terror attacks of 7 October, 2023, António Guterres told journalists at U.N. Headquarters in New York that nothing could justify the horror unleashed by Palestinian militants that day.
“I once again utterly condemn the use of sexual violence, torture injuring and kidnapping of civilians, the firing of rockets towards civilian targets and the use of human shields”, he said, calling again for the unconditional release of all hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
Having met many of the family members of those held captive “I carry their anguish, uncertainty and deep pain with me every day”, added Mr. Guterres.
‘Relentless Death’
But the past six months of Israel’s military campaign has also brought “relentless death and destruction to Palestinians”, with over 32,000 reported killed, the vast majority women and children.
“Lives are shattered. Respect for international law is in tatters”, he said.
The resulting humanitarian disaster is unprecedented, with more than a million “facing catastrophic hunger.”
Children are dying due to lack of food and water: “This is incomprehensible and entirely avoidable”, the UN chief declared, repeating that nothing can justify such collective punishment.
Weaponized AI
Mr. Guterres said he was deeply troubled by reports that the Israeli military has been using AI to help identify targets during its relentless bombing of densely populated areas of Gaza.
“No part of life and death decisions which impact entire families should be delegated to the cold calculation of algorithms,” he said.
AI should only be used as a force for good, not to wage war “on an industrial level, blurring accountability.”
UNRWA staff in Amman, Jordan, attend a ceremony to remember colleagues who have lost their lives in Gaza. Credit: UNRWA/Shafiq Fahed.
Humanitarian Deaths
Branding the war “the deadliest of conflicts”, he highlighted that 196 humanitarians including over 175 U.N. staffers have been killed, the vast majority serving with Palestine relief agency UNRWA.
“An information war has added to the trauma – obscuring facts and shifting blame”, said the U.N. chief, compounded by Israel denying journalists entry into Gaza, consequently allowing disinformation to spread.
Tactics Must Change
And following the appalling killing of the seven staffers with World Central Kitchen, the main problem is not who made the mistakes but “the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again”, the Secretary-General said.
“Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable changes on the ground.”
He said the U.N. had been told by the Israeli Government that it was now planning to allow a “meaningful increase” in the flow of aid to Gaza. The UN chief said he sincerely hoped the increase in aid would materialize quickly.
‘Failure Would be Unforgivable’
“Dramatic humanitarian conditions require a quantum leap in the delivery of life-saving aid – a true paradigm shift.”
He noted last week’s Security Council resolution calling for hostages’ releases, civilian protection and unimpeded aid delivery.
“All those demands must be implemented. Failure would unforgivable,” he said.
Six months on, the world stands on the brink of mass starvation in Gaza, a regional conflagration and a “total loss of faith in global standards and norms.”
The violations committed since 7 October in Israel and Gaza, as well as the destruction and suffering of civilians in the enclave are unprecedented, the U.N. human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday, warning that the risk of further atrocity crimes is high.
OHCHR upheld the need to ensure aid delivery and the protection of humanitarian workers, noting that attacks against them may amount to war crimes.
The Israeli airstrikes that killed the World Central Kitchen personnel underline the horrific conditions under which humanitarians are operating in Gaza, said Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva.
“Israel has also killed law enforcement officials and others involved in securing humanitarian aid delivery, directly contributing to the breakdown of civil order and putting humanitarian workers and those in need of aid in further danger,” he added.
Following the attacks, World Central Kitchen and other NGOs suspended aid delivery and distributions in Gaza, “increasing the already real risk of more deaths from famine and disease at larger scale.”
War Crimes Warning
Mr. Laurence recalled that international law requires all warring parties to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and ensure their safety, security, and freedom of movement.
As the occupying power, Israel has the additional obligation to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the basic needs of Gaza’s population are met. This means the authorities must either ensure that people can access food and medical care or facilitate the work of humanitarians delivering this assistance.
“Attacking people or objects involved in humanitarian assistance may amount to a war crime,” he said.
He pointed out that U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk has repeatedly stated that impunity must end.
New York, N.Y. The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is set to allocate $3 million on a pilot project that will provide peacebuilding and professional skills to Somali refugees volunteering to return from Kenya to Somalia.
Temporary homes are pouring into the overflow area of the Ifo Extension camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Photo: UN OCHA
Announcing the pilot project on Tuesday, the Fund said it will also help refugees settle down, and begin reintegration process into a community.
UN Peacebuilding notes that the project is unique as it reaches across borders and targets the same population, first in asylum in Dadaab, Kenya, and then upon return to Baidoa, Somalia. It builds on an agreement between the governments of Kenya and Somalia and Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Dadaab.
UNHCR in Kenya, as well as UNHCR, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Somalia will receive the funding. The Peacebuilding Fund is currently also sponsoring other projects in Somalia, aimed at strengthening the national authority in areas liberated from rebel control.
The initiative is designed to promote coexistence and peaceful resolution of conflict in Somalia, in addition to supporting the Government’s priorities for stabilization and peace dividends, including investment in jobs. The Fund also aims to continue launching similar initiatives on return and reintegration of refugees.
New York, N.Y. United Nations officials have expressed their outrage over Friday’s killing by Israeli security forces of a 21-year-old Palestinian volunteer medic who was helping the injured along the Gaza border.
“Healthcare workers must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of death or injury,” said the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick.
Attacks on medical teams in Gaza not only risk the life and health of staff and patients, but also undermine the overall capacity of Gaza’s chronically underfunded health system. Photo: @OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territory.
He added that it is difficult to see how the killing “squares with Israel’s obligation as occupying power to ensure the welfare of the population of Gaza” – the Palestinian enclave occupied by Israel.
According to media reports, Razan al-Najjar, a member of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), was hit by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces while trying, with other first responders, to reach those injured during Friday’s demonstrations against Israeli policies in Gaza, dubbed the ‘the Great March of Return’.
Ms. al-Najjar was taken to the European Gaza Hospital after being reportedly shot in the chest, but died shortly afterwards. Three others in her team were also injured.
The protests, still ongoing, were initially organized to take place from 30 March to 15 May to mark “al-Nakba” or “the Catastrophe,” by which Palestinians remember their mass displacement during the 1948-1949 war.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have marched along the border of the Gaza Strip – the Palestinian enclave occupied by Israel.
Fuelled by United States recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the official opening of its embassy there on 14 May, the demonstrations peaked that day and clashes at the border fence resulted in the killing of at least 60 Palestinians by Israel security forces.
The latest incident comes on top of “an already-staggering number of attacks on healthcare personnel” reported since the end of March, said a statement released by UN agencies on Saturday; 245 health workers and 40 ambulance crews have been caught up in the attacks, according to data provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, PMRS and the Union of Health Work Committees.
Attacks on medical teams in Gaza not only risk the life and health of staff and patients, but also undermine the overall capacity of Gaza’s chronically underfunded health system.
“Such attacks on health care must not happen, and we need to enhance our efforts to ensure the protection of our frontline health workers. There are clear obligations to safeguard healthcare under international law and these must be respected,” said Gerald Rockenschaub, Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in the occupied Palestinian territory, or oPt.
Under international human rights law, lethal force may only be used as a last resort when there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury.
“It is very difficult to see how Razan posed such a threat to heavily-armed, well-protected Israeli forces in defensive positions on the other side of the fence,” James Heenan, Head of Office, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
“Reports indicate that Razan was assisting injured demonstrators and wearing her first responder clothing, clearly distinguishing her as a healthcare worker, even from a distance,” he added.
New York, N.Y. Senior officials from across the United Nations family today condemned the deadly attack in Nice, France, calling for stepped up efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism.
Members of the Security Council observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the 14 July terrorist attack in Nice, France. UN Photo/Manuel Elias
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement from his spokesperson, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of “this horrific act,” including to the Government and all the people of France. He underscored the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
“The Secretary-General hopes that all those responsible for this massacre will be rapidly identified and brought to justice,” according to the statement.
This morning, Ambassador Koro Bessho of Japan, as the President of the Security Council for the month of July, read out a statement issued last night in which the Council “condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack” and stressed that terrorism constituted one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
“The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” Mr. Bessho said.
When the Council met later to discuss the situation in Iraq, all members stood to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims.
According to media reports, a truck rammed into pedestrians gathered to celebrate the French holiday in the southern seaside city of Nice on Thursday night, killing more than 80 – including children. Dozens of people have been injured.
The President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, expressed “horror” at the number of people killed and injured.
“This slaughter of innocent civilians is yet another horrific example of the terrorist movement’s total contempt for any kind of humanity,” he said.
Mr. Lykketoft noted that this is one of a number of these mass killings across the world in recent weeks, and it is “a dire call” for even stronger international counterterrorism cooperation.
Appalled by the horrendous carnage, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the murderous assault on ordinary people, using a simple truck as a deadly weapon, is yet another blow aimed at the heart of humanity by extremists, according to his Office (OHCHR).
“There are now so many deadly attacks – in Baghdad, Brussels, Dhaka, Istanbul, Medina, Orlando – to name just a fraction of those that have occurred in recent months, that words of condemnation sound like damp leaves fluttering to the ground after another violent storm,” Mr. Zeid said through his spokesperson in Geneva.
He noted that while the driver’s motives are still to be established, “we are confronted by an ideology that seems to be creating an endless supply of fanatics prepared to kill for the sake of killing.”
The response, Mr. Zeid cautioned, needs to be “carefully calculated and highly sophisticated” so that it is not simply about heightening security but about deflating the ideology itself.
Irina Bokova, who heads the France-based UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), expressed the organization’s “deep sadness and sincere condolences” and stressed the importance of education and social inclusion in fighting terrorism.
“This barbaric attack will never win over our shared resolve to unrelentingly pursue our efforts to prevent violent extremism through education for global citizenship and human rights, respect for cultural diversity and the power of culture as a force for social inclusion,” Ms. Bokova said.
Adding his voice to the chorus of condemnations, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, also called the incident an “outrageous attack” and a “barbaric crime that is unjustifiable by all means.”
Taleb Rifai, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, said that “in the face of these forces of darkness, we must more than ever remain united to fight this global threat.” He added that Nice will continue to be one of the leading tourism destinations in France and in the world.
In 1939, at the height of the Sino-Japanese War, a 19-year-old Harvard art history student set off for the remote region of Lijiang, China, in search of the mysterious ancient culture of the Naxi (Nah-shee). Launched on his quest after receiving a gift of a 40-foot Naxi funeral scroll depicting a soul’s journey through heaven and hell in a pictographic script, Quentin Roosevelt, grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, traveled for four months before he finally reached the mountainous region on the Tibetan border.
Crown. Northwestern Yunnan Province. 18th-early 20th century. Paint on cardboard. 4.3 x 7.3 in. Private Collection, Spain.
There, with the help of the Reverend James Andrews, a family friend and Pentecostal missionary based in Lijiang, he spent ten days assembling what was to become one of the most complete collections of Naxi art outside of China. This first-ever exhibition of the collection of Naxi art that the young Roosevelt gathered on his journey of discovery is on view at the Rubin Museum of Art. Quentin Roosevelt’s China: Ancestral Realms of the Naxi, which will remain on view through September 19, 2011, unites the Roosevelt collection with that of legendary botanist-explorer Joseph Rock, the first Western explorer to extensively study the complex religious and linguistic traditions of the Naxi, and whose collection has also never been publicly displayed.
Quentin Roosevelt, grandson of Teddy Roosevelt, traveled for four months before he finally reached the mountainous region on the Tibetan border.
Guest curated by Cindy Ho and anthropologist Christine Mathieu, along with the Rubin Museum of Art’s former Chief Curator Martin Brauen, the exhibition includes 147 works showcasing the art central to the Naxi Dongba religion, a highly-structured tradition comprising approximately one thousand ceremonies and sub-ceremonies. Much of the art is adorned with a pictographic script that is unique to the Naxi, and possesses a freshness and spontaneity that suggests a focus on content rather than artistic labor. Among the highlights are: Ceremonial funeral scrolls, which are central to the Dongba religion as they act as bridges for souls to reach the realm of the gods. One such scroll, forty feet long and a foot wide, leads a soul on the arduous journey through the gates of hell on to the realm of the gods in intricately painted scenes of the various realms of existence. Funeral scrolls are unique to the Naxi religion and are found nowhere else in China or Tibet. Ritual cards were used in the many Dongba ceremonies. One set of cards that represents flying creatures was ritually hung above the altar. The ten brightly painted cards that each depict a wild bird, except one which shows a bat, were used in a ceremony called Sizhpiu to request longevity. Ceremonial Manuscripts were written by Dongba priests in a pictographic script and contain the entire religion’s corpus in about one thousand ceremonial books. The pictographs represent words or syllables, and script tended to be altered as priests took on their own styles and created their own schools. The exhibition will include a number of texts, including those used in divination ceremonies, funerals for those who died at a young age, and ceremonies for honoring spirits of the natural world, among others. The dramatic story of Roosevelt’s journey is brought to life in the exhibition’s Explore Area, which features digitized photographic documentation, written correspondence, and actual artifacts from his trip, including Roosevelt’s camera and passport. This section provides a glimpse into Roosevelt’s personal experiences on his journey—what he saw and felt as he encountered the Naxi culture, religion, and art.
Manuscript Page. Northwestern Yunnan Province; date unknown. 3.5 x 11 in. Harvard‐Yenching Library, Harvard University.
Residing in a remote mountainous region between Tibet and the south-western Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, the Naxi and especially their religious art are still relatively unknown. In fact, the thesis Roosevelt wrote as an undergraduate in 1941 remains the only academic thesis on Naxi art in Western and Chinese scholarship. “In an era before easy air travel and GPS, the young Roosevelt, inspired by the gift of an enigmatic scroll, embarked on an extraordinary journey to a remote region of war-torn China,” said Martin Brauen. “His expedition has brought exceptional artifacts to the United States and the Naxi culture to the attention of a larger public, a great and enduring contribution.”
Ritual Cards. Northwestern Yunnan Province. 18th-early 20th century. Watercolor on hemp paper (?). 8.9 x 6 in. Collection of Dr. John M. Lundquist.
Guest curator Cindy Ho first researched and conceived of an exhibition on Naxi religious art in 1993. Ho gained access to Roosevelt’s personal journals and collections through the generous support of his family, enabling her to track down all of the works he had assembled through his explorations. She traveled to Lijiang four times, retracing his footsteps and visiting villages he and Joseph Rock had written about. In 1997, Ho was joined by ethnohistorian Christine Mathieu, who had just received her PhD on the reconstruction of the social, religious, and political history of the Naxi. Mathieu traveled to Yunnan twice to research the details of the Roosevelt collection in consultation with Naxi priests and scholars. In 2009, sixteen years after Ho first began working on a Naxi exhibition, she and Mathieu were approached by the Rubin Museum of Art’s Chief Curator Martin Brauen about collaborating on a show about the Naxi culture.
Manuscript Cover. Northwestern Yunnan Province. 18th-early 20th century. Ink and paint on paper. 3.6 x 11 in. Private Collection, Spain.
“Roosevelt’s detailed study of the Naxi tradition, illustrated with his own diagrams and photographs, provides an invaluable window into the world of a little-known culture. His undergraduate work exhibits tremendous courage in its original interpretations and analyses,” said Ho. “In many ways, it has been a blessing that the exhibition took so many years to realize. The Rubin Museum is the perfect venue and has allowed us to expand on our original concept of exhibiting Roosevelt’s collection.” The ancestors of the Naxi people, called Mosuo (Mo-so), settled in the Lijiang plain in Yunnan province, China in the tenth or eleventh century. Today, the Naxi are one of fifty-six national groups that form the Chinese nation. The Naxi have fascinated scholars and visitors from around the world with their complex and highly-structured religion, Dongba, and especially for the spontaneous and freeform pictographic script in which the religion is written. Dongba artist-priests were recognized for their artistic ability and the most influential created their own styles and schools, adding to the complexity and mysteries of the tradition. Quentin Roosevelt’s China examines and explores the artistry central to the Dongba religion. “The Rubin’s curatorial and educational programs are focused on journeys of discovery. Discovering new cultures and ideas. Discovering rare and magnificent works of art. And personal discovery for our audiences as they encounter cultures and worlds for the first time,” said Marcos Stafne, Head of Education and Visitor Experience. “The museum strives to create a window into a diverse landscape of artistic expression and to capture the shared human drive to explain the complex world around us.”
Chinese troops fighting along the Salween River front, 1942.
Quentin Roosevelt’s China continues the museum’s tradition of bringing to the fore previously little-known cultures and creating ground-breaking exhibitions. In 2007, the museum presented Bon: The Magic Word, the first major exhibition in the world dedicated to art of the Bon culture and belief system that predates Buddhism in Tibet. In 2009 the museum was home to the first public display of Carl Gustav Jung’s famous Red Book, in conjunction with the first ever facsimile and translation of the original work. The exhibition on the Naxi religion exemplifies the museum’s interest in providing audiences with unprecedented experiences. Cindy Ho reconstructed the Quentin Roosevelt collection and conceived the idea for an exhibition on the Naxi based on the collection in 1993. She identified the Naxi Dongba artifacts collected by Roosevelt, forgotten and dispersed in five different locations. Ho has lectured about the Roosevelt collection at Harvard University and New York’s China Institute. In 1997, she produced Trailing the Written Word: The Art of Writing Among China’s Ethnic Minorities and West of the East – A Journey Through Macau, Asia’s First and Last Colony in 1999, sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts and supported by Fundaçao Oriente. Ho lives in New York City. Christine Mathieu is an ethnohistorian and anthropologist who has studied the histories and cultures of the Naxi and Mosuo people since 1989. She was one of the first anthropologists to work in the field of Naxi studies after the communist revolution of 1949. In 1997 she joined Cindy Ho to work on the Roosevelt exhibition. She has contributed chapters to several anthologies and authored two books on the Naxi and Mosuo, A History and Anthropological Study of the Ancient Kingdoms of the Sino-Tibetan Borderland and the internationally-acclaimed Leaving Mother Lake, with Yang Erche Namu. Mathieu lives in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Martin Brauen, former Chief Curator at the Rubin Museum of Art, studied Buddhism at Delhi University and anthropology and history of religions at Zurich University. Field studies have taken him to Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Brauen joined the museum as Chief Curator in 2008 and served until July 1, 2011. He had previously been head of the Department of Tibet, Himalayas and the Far East at the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich. He is the author of numerous English language publications about Tibetan and Himalayan art and culture, including The Dalai Lamas, Dreamworld Tibet, and Deities of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as a number of publications in German. The exhibition Quentin Roosevelt’s China: Ancestral Realms of the Naxi is accompanied by a 200-page color-catalogue edited by Christine Mathieu and Cindy Ho that offers a comprehensive introduction to Naxi art, iconography, and religion and will be the first publication of its kind. The contributions include introductions by Mathieu and Ho; two biographical pieces: the first on Quentin Roosevelt’s journey to China by Chief Curator Martin Brauen, and the second on the life of Joseph Rock by Rock’s late biographer Sylvia Sutton. It also includes essays by scholars of the Naxi nationality on Naxi history, Dongba art, and women in the Dongba religion; a comparative review of Naxi and Mosuo religious traditions; an essay on Dongba language and the pictographic script; a comprehensive review of Dongba religion and its history by Mathieu; and an interview with Yang Fuquan, also a scholar of the Naxi nationality and vice-president of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences. The Rubin Museum of Art holds one of the world’s most important collections of Himalayan art. Paintings, pictorial textiles, and sculpture are drawn from cultures that touch upon the arc of mountains that extends from Afghanistan in the northwest to Myanmar (Burma) in the southeast and includes Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, and Bhutan.
The larger Himalayan cultural sphere, determined by significant cultural exchange over millennia, includes Iran, India, China, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. The museum explores these rich cultural legacies—largely unfamiliar to Western viewers—from a variety of perspectives, offering multiple entry-points for understanding and enjoying the art of the Himalayas.
See Stories by Jim Luce on: Art | China | New York | Tibet
My partner John Lee and I were there at the Sheraton Hotel when Andy Cuomo was elected last fall. He promised us he would bring gay marriage to the Empire State. I cheered, but did not hold my breath. In less than six months, he kept his promise. I may nowmarry the man I love. As can any resident or non-resident of New York State from anywhere in the world. I am stunned and overwhelmed, Andrew. Thank you.
The Heritage of Pride Committee has run the parade brilliantly for almost 50 years
New York, N.Y. A sea change in New York. Although I have attended the NYC Pride Parade since 1983 – many as a marshal – this one was different. As the lesbian on motorcycles thundered into view down Fifth Avenue I did something I had not done in 28 years. I burst into tears. After 28 years in New York City, I finally have the right to marry the man I love. Thank you, Andrew Cuomo.
History of NYC’s Pride March
The first New York City Pride March, also known as the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, took place on June 28, 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots. The march began at Washington Place in Greenwich Village and moved north up Sixth Avenue, attracting thousands of participants. The march was intended to end in Central Park, but organizers didn’t have a police permit.
Governor Andy Cuomo promised us he would usher in gay marriage. Promise kept. With him was Mayor Mike Bloomberg, NYC’s Chris Quinn, and NYS’s Tom Duane.
New Yorkers United for Marriage – the grand coalition of activist organizations – performed an unexpected miracle in Albany last week with the help of Republicans.
The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar that was a hub of the city’s underground gay community. Community members fought back against the raids, which sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement and the organization of the first Pride March.
The Heritage of Pride (HOP) organization has produced and organized the parade and related events since 1984. HOP is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that welcomes participation from all ages, genders, races, religions, and more.
The NYC Pride March takes place on the last Sunday in June each year and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. Over the years, the march has reflected the community’s evolving priorities, highlighting issues such as anti-gay legislation, AIDS support, and marriage equality
Rep. Maloney Supports Gay Rights
Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Representative from New York representing the Upper East Side and our Roosevelt Island, has firmly established herself as a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, showcasing an unwavering commitment to equality and inclusivity throughout her political career.
With a resolute dedication to the cause, Maloney has consistently advocated for LGBTQ+ equality on both local and national fronts. Her unwavering support has been evident through her co-sponsorship of crucial bills aimed at bolstering anti-discrimination protections, advocating for marriage equality, and safeguarding the rights of LGBTQ+ youth. By lending her voice and influence to these initiatives, Maloney has helped pave the way for tangible progress and social change.
Beyond legislative efforts, Maloney has emerged as a vocal advocate and ally for the LGBTQ+ community, using her platform to amplify their voices and champion their rights. Her outspoken stance on various issues pertaining to gay rights has resonated deeply, earning her widespread respect and admiration within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
Corporate America was out in full strength – including New York Life, MasterCard, Delta, Wells Fargo – with their impressive stage coach – and a host of others.
One of my favorite groups, – Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, marched with pride.
Perennial good guy and senior U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer celebrated with us.
One of Maloney’s landmark achievements in advancing LGBTQ+ rights came with the introduction of the first measure in New York to recognize domestic partnerships, inclusive of those formed by same-sex couples. This groundbreaking initiative not only symbolized a significant step forward in the fight for equality but also underscored Maloney’s unwavering dedication to fostering a more inclusive society for all.
In essence, Carolyn Maloney’s steadfast commitment to gay rights epitomizes the essence of principled leadership, as she continues to advocate tirelessly for equality, dignity, and justice for the LGBTQ+ community. Through her actions and advocacy, Maloney has left an indelible mark on the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, reaffirming her status as a beacon of hope and progress for generations to come.
New York City’s finest—our police force—honored us, as did our fire department.
Every great organization marches down Fifth Avenue to the applause of the crowds.Every great organization marches down Fifth Avenue to the applause of the crowds.I actually knew Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin – what pride we have in our community!I actually knew Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin – what pride we have in our community!New York University buses were used to chauffeur SAGE members – our wise elders.New York University buses were used to chauffeur SAGE members – our wise elders.
As I watched the parade I remembered my impression from my very first parade three decades ago – no city in the world is as diverse as New York, and no community in the world is as accepting as our LGBT community. In this one parade you have the Irish, Puerto Ricans, Israelis, Macy’s balloons, our police drummers – and fire trucks. All of the multi-nation corporations headquartered here that embrace diversity. Our universities, churches and synagogues. Our progressive political leaders from both sides of the aisle. I am so proud to be both gay and a New Yorker.
My own U.S. Congress Member Carolyn Maloney has a superb gay-positive record.
Borough President Scott Stringer was there – Manhattan now gay capital of the world.
My partner John Lee and I were there at the Sheraton Hotel when Andy Cuomo was elected last fall. He promised us he would bring gay marriage to the Empire State. I cheered, but did not hold my breath. In less than six months, he kept his promise. I may now marry the man whom I love. As can any resident or non-resident of New York State from anywhere in the world. I am stunned and overwhelmed, Andrew. Thank you.
Bangladesh, a country rich in history and culture, is forging ahead in the global arena, propelled by its commitment to education. In this essay, we delve into the transformative power of education in Bangladesh, exploring its significance in shaping the nation’s future, fostering economic growth, and promoting social equity.
New York, N.Y. Education stands as the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s development journey, with significant strides made in recent decades. Despite facing numerous challenges, including poverty, limited resources, and natural disasters, Bangladesh has prioritized education as a means of empowerment and progress. The nation’s commitment to education is evident in its policies, investments, and grassroots initiatives aimed at expanding access to learning opportunities for all.
School children in Bangladesh. Photo: Scott Wallace / World Bank.
One of the most compelling aspects of education in Bangladesh is its role in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Education empowers individuals to transcend socioeconomic barriers, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue better livelihoods.
By investing in education, Bangladesh is investing in its people, equipping them with the tools to contribute meaningfully to society and participate in the global economy.
Moreover, education serves as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation. A well-educated workforce fuels productivity, drives technological advancements, and attracts foreign investment.
Bangladesh’s thriving garment industry, for example, has benefited from a skilled labor force educated in vocational training programs. By nurturing a culture of lifelong learning and skill development, Bangladesh is positioning itself as a competitive player in the global marketplace.
Three girls walk home from school. Photo: Scott Wallace / World Bank.
Education also plays a pivotal role in promoting social equity and inclusivity. In a diverse society like Bangladesh, education serves as a bridge between different communities, fostering understanding, tolerance, and respect. By providing quality education to marginalized groups, including girls, minorities, and children from rural areas, Bangladesh is fostering a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The empowerment of women through education is a particularly powerful driver of progress in Bangladesh. Historically, women in Bangladesh have faced numerous barriers to accessing education, including cultural norms, early marriage, and lack of resources.
However, concerted efforts by the government, NGOs, and grassroots organizations have led to significant improvements in girls’ education rates. Educated women are more likely to participate in the workforce, make informed decisions about their health and well-being, and advocate for gender equality. As a result, investing in girls’ education not only benefits individuals but also strengthens families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
Students get water. Photo: Scott Wallace / World Bank.
Furthermore, education plays a vital role in environmental sustainability and resilience. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, facing threats such as rising sea levels, cyclones, and floods. Education empowers communities to adapt to environmental challenges, implement sustainable practices, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. By integrating environmental education into school curricula and promoting eco-friendly initiatives, Bangladesh is fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and resilience.
School girls returning home from classes in Gazipur. Photo: Scott Wallace/ World Bank.
In addition to its tangible benefits, education also has intrinsic value, enriching individuals’ lives and expanding their horizons. Through education, people gain a deeper understanding of the world, cultivate critical thinking skills, and develop a lifelong passion for learning. Education not only prepares individuals for their careers but also equips them to be informed citizens, active participants in democracy, and agents of positive change.
Despite the progress made, challenges remain in ensuring universal access to quality education in Bangladesh. Issues such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and disparities in educational attainment persist, particularly in rural and remote areas. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and disrupted learning for millions of children across the country. Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment, innovative approaches, and collaborative efforts from government, civil society, and the private sector.
Education is not merely a pathway to success but a fundamental human right and a catalyst for national development. In Bangladesh, education is empowering individuals, driving economic growth, promoting social cohesion, and fostering environmental sustainability. By investing in education, Bangladesh is investing in its future, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous tomorrow for generations to come. As the nation continues on its journey of progress, education will remain a guiding light, illuminating the path towards a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient society.
Jim Luce’s extensive coverage of Bangladesh captures a nation at a pivotal crossroads, documenting its journey from the traumatic birth following the 1971 Liberation War to its current struggles with democratic governance and development challenges. Born from the ashes of East Pakistan after a genocidal conflict that claimed countless Bengali lives, Bangladesh emerged as South Asia’s first secular state, though its constitutional identity has evolved over decades—from socialism to Islamic republic and back toward secular principles. Through his reporting, Luce chronicles both the promise and perils of this densely populated nation, from the political upheaval surrounding authoritarian leadership and the recent indictment of ousted Prime Minister Hasina, to the grassroots innovations of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the persistent public health crises affecting rural communities. His work reveals Bangladesh as a complex tapestry of resilience and struggle, where democratic aspirations clash with authoritarian tendencies, and where educational empowerment and social entrepreneurship offer hope amid ongoing challenges ranging from political instability to environmental and health crises.
Above:Aravella Simotas with Gerry Ferraro and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
New York, N.Y. Today she was put to rest. Last summer, at 11am on Thursday, August 26, I attended the Long Island City Post Office Dedication Ceremony – for only one reason. The building was being dedicating to one of the singular women leaders of our times, the Hon. Geraldine A. Ferraro. Her presence was electric.
Important women from America’s Democratic establishment were there in droves, including my own U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, as well as U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman of California; Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut; Terry O’Neill, President of NOW; and Ellie Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Democratic stalwart Loula Loi Alafoyiannis and others sat in the packed audience.
Gerry, of course, was best known for being the first woman to run for Vice President on a major party ticket and was honored for her many years of dedicated public service to New York and the nation. The bill, Public Law 111-50, was sponsored by Carolyn Maloney, and signed into law on August 19, 2009 by Barack Obama.
Like many political figures, Gerry was an attorney. She grew up in Queens, never losing her accent, becoming first a teacher and then a lawyer. She joined the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in 1974, where she headed the then-new Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. Her experiences there impacted the dedication she showed to the downtrodden throughout her political career.
According to Wikipedia:
She was elected to the House in 1978, where she rose rapidly in the party hierarchy while focusing on legislation to bring equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans. In 1984, former Vice President and presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Ferraro to be his running mate in the upcoming election.
In doing so she became the only Italian-American to be a major-party national nominee in addition to being the first woman. The positive polling the Mondale-Ferraro ticket received when she joined faded as questions about her and her husband's finances arose. In the general election, Mondale and Ferraro were defeated in a landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
In 1992 I explored running in the Republican Primary against Alfonse D’Amato to force him to spend down his campaign chest (story). Our effort eventually rolled over onto an education campaign against him called Dump D’Amato in ’92!Gerry ran in the Democratic primary that year, as she did again in 1998, both times starting as the front-runner for her party’s nomination before losing in the primary election. Bobby Abrams went on in ’92 to represent the party until Italian-American D’Amato beat Bobby down for referring to D’Amato as a fascist.
Gerry’s primary opponents in ’92 included State Attorney General Bobby Abrams, Reverend Al Sharpton, and New York City Comptroller and former CongresswomanLiz Holtzman. Bob was considered the early front-runner. The D’Amato campaign feared facing Gerry the most, as her own Italian ancestry, effective debating and stump speech skills, and her staunch pro-choice views would have eaten into several of D’Amato’s usual bases of support.
Gerry became the front-runner, capitalizing on her star power from ‘84, and using the campaign attacks against her husband John Zaccaro as an explicitly feminist rallying point for women voters. But Liz ran an exceptionally negative ad accusing Ferraro and Zaccaro of taking more than $300,000 in rent in the 1980s from a pornographer with purported ties to the mob.
To paraphrase Wikipedia, the final debates were nasty, and Liz kept attacking Gerry’s integrity and finances. In an unusual election-eve television broadcast, Gerry talked about “the ethnic slur that I am somehow or other connected to organized crime. There’s lots of innuendo but no proof. However, it is made plausible because of the fact that I am an Italian-American. This tactic comes from the poisoned well of fear and stereotype…” Bobby went on to defeat Gerry by less than a percentage point in the primary. Gerry refused to concede she had lost for two weeks, leaving Bobby weakened and vulnerable to D’Amato’s powerful forces.
Geraldine A. Ferraro with Congressmember Carolyn B. Maloney. Photo: Jim Luce.
Wikipedia finishes her biography, stating:
She served as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 until 1996, in the presidential administration of Bill Clinton. She also continued her career as a journalist, author, and businesswoman, and served in the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ferraro died from multiple myeloma, 12 years after being diagnosed.
Born August 26, 1935, Geraldine Anne Ferraro passed on March 26, 2011. Her ascendancy as a woman candidate for the office of the Vice President was the harbinger of Barack Obama’s election to the presidency. With each barrier broken, more and more possibilities occur. Her long-term survival of multiple myeloma Gerry Ferraro was another broken barrier. Gerry was a fearless candidate, a devoted wife, and an exceptional survivor.
The nature of contemporary conflicts has posed new challenges to the concept of the protection of civilians. The LTTE terrorist group, for example, made the Tamil civilian population under its control a part of their military strategy. During almost three decades of combating LTTE terrorism in our country, the Government took utmost care to draw a clear distinction between civilians and terrorists while the terrorists callously used the civilians as a human shield. Their objective was Machiavellian. The coerced presence of thousands of civilians around the retreating terrorists was designed to slow the advance of the Security Forces and as a means of formulating an escape strategy for the leadership. If all else failed, it was a useful foundation to later develop allegations of breaches of global humanitarian standards.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s last report on the subject in November 2010 focused on recurring and emerging concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the proliferation and fragmentation of non-State armed groups, the displacement of populations within and across borders, the predicament of women and children and the continuing impunity in certain situations.
Civilians used as human shields by the LTTE poured into government-controlled areas during the conflict.
By all accounts, the state of civilians in conflict situations in 2011 has not qualitatively improved despite the concerted efforts made by the United Nations and, in particular, the Security Council. Ad-hoc approaches do not appear to achieve the desired results. Slow change underlines that the protection task cannot be addressed solely in theoretical terms, as it requires us to be conscious of a multiplicity of different factors ranging from political realities, socio-economic factors, basic individual rights, proliferation of small arms, and the increasing sophistication of terrorists. The use of modern technology and subtle propaganda tools by terrorist groups and their networks of sympathizers are becoming an increasing challenge in protecting civilians and require the detailed attention of the United Nations.
The Sri Lankan government provided care and medical assistance to the IDPs during the conflict.
Many a time reality is drowned by clever terrorist propaganda. The practical realities based on the experiences of Member States, particularly those which have successfully countered terrorism, must be seriously looked at instead of a theoretical application of one size fits all humanitarian framework. Sri Lanka has seriously taken account of the principles underlined in the Council’s thematic resolutions since 1999. Its commitment is demonstrated by the manner Sri Lanka addressed civilian protection issues during the conflict with the most ruthless terrorist LTTE and in its aftermath. While adopting a zero civilian casualty policy, at cost to itself, despite the use of vast numbers of civilians as a human shield by the terrorists, subsequently, it addressed the question of IDP resettlement with remarkable speed and efficacy. The robust nature of its ongoing post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, and the committed pursuit of accountability and reconciliation processes are noteworthy.
In the post conflict phase, the State, has invested heavily in an ambitious development program in the former conflict affected areas focusing on civilian infrastructure and livelihood development. Billions of dollars have been committed for the purpose. Sri Lanka set up special Women’s Protection Units with female Police officers and Women’s Centers in the former IDP camps and is continuing to provide counseling services in the North and the East. The Government has given special consideration to uplifting the social and economic status of war widows. Already bilateral assistance has been obtained to initiate a self-employment program for war widows in Batticaloa in collaboration with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) based in India. Children have been a special focus and over 900 schools damaged during the conflict having been restored, largely using state funds. The protection of war affected women and children is a priority for the Government and every effort is being made to ensure that their lives are returned to normalcy as soon as possible. The role of the UNICEF has been vital in this respect.
The nature of contemporary conflicts has posed new challenges to the concept of the protection of civilians. The LTTE terrorist group, for example, made the Tamil civilian population under its control a part of their military strategy. During almost three decades of combating LTTE terrorism in our country, we took utmost care to draw a clear distinction between civilians and terrorists while the terrorists callously used the civilians as a human shield. Their objective was Machiavellian. The coerced presence of thousands of civilians around the retreating terrorists was designed to slow the advance of the Security Forces and as a means of formulating an escape strategy for the leadership. If all else failed, it was a useful foundation to later develop allegations of breaches of global humanitarian standards.
Throughout the final phase of the armed conflict, from 2006 to 2009, Sri Lanka engaged with the United Nations (U.N.) and its agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and representatives of the international community and civil society – both in Sri Lanka and outside. The challenges Sri Lanka faced in protecting its civilians was a challenge to the State itself and its institutions. Yet, the Government remained committed to its zero casualty policy. Our troops underwent training to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Assistance was obtained from the ICRC in the training of troops in human rights law. However, the inevitable casualties of a conflict imposed on the state and ruthlessly affected by the terrorists are now the basis of a massive propaganda campaign.
I specifically wish to address the question of the LLRC which some delegations have referred to. In keeping with the principle that it is first and foremost the responsibility of States themselves to investigate infractions of global humanitarian standards, the Government established a Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to address a range of issues relating to the conflict, reconciliation and confidence building, accountability, etc. The LLRC was given a wide mandate that allows it to recommend measures to ensure reconciliation, restitution for victims and address the root causes to discourage non-repetition of any internal armed conflict. It has conducted an exhaustive inquiry. This independent commission is due to submit its report this month and subsequently, it will be presented to the Parliament.
The LLRC has made interim recommendations, many of which have already been implemented by an inter-ministerial mechanism. Sri Lanka will be submitting itself to the Universal Periodic Review of the HRC in October 2012 and looks forward to this interaction with the HRC. Sri Lanka takes the view that it needs to be given the time and space to deal with these issues. An inevitable consequence of armed conflict is internal displacement. There are over 27 Million IDP’s worldwide according to U.N. reports. The State has the primary responsibility not only to provide for the welfare of its displaced civilians in terms of food, clothing, medical care and shelter, but also to ensure their safety, in keeping with the provisions of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Recognizing this fundamental issue, Sri Lanka first ensured the provision of basic needs such as housing, water, sanitation and the reestablishment of communities.
The Government then embarked on providing an array of services such as education, vocational training and livelihood support, fisheries and agricultural development, health and other services, proper administration, policing and a host of governmental functions at an unprecedented scale. 95% of the displaced are now successfully returned to their villages with the balance awaiting the demining of their land. It is estimated that the LTTE terrorists laid around 1.5 million landmines. The local economy has shown vast potential for growth with a 22% rise in the GDP of the North last year. As President Rajapaksa said in his address to the General Assembly in September, “I am deeply mindful that the battle for peace is every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror. After the eradication of terrorism, my government has turned its undivided attention to building anew, the foundations of a unified and vibrant nation, drawing upon the inherent strengths of our country.”
Reconstruction in the North and the East of Sri Lanka after 27 Years of conflict in Sri Lanka.
My delegation hopes that the Council discussion on the Protection of Civilians will facilitate practical outcomes based on ground realities – realities that differ from situation to situation. It is also hoped that the Council’s efforts will be channeled to assist countries to achieve the noble goals that we all subscribe to. It is for this reason that my delegation has sought to share our experience, and for all of us to invest greater efforts in preventing conflicts and their recurrence and to respond practically and proportionately to situations affecting civilian populations. All photos courtesy of M.O.D. Sri Lanka.
H.E. Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona has received many awards over the years, including the 2010 Global Citizenship Award for Leadership in Helping Humanity presented by Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW). Dr. Kohona is the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. The above article is taken from his address to the U.N. Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, November 9, 2011. See other Diplomatic Viewpoint Articles: Sri Lanka: an MDG Success Story U.N. Ambassador Kohona Returns to Sri Lanka, Notes Parks Popular Again U.N. Ambassador Kohona: Sri Lanka Refugee Situation Improving See Stories by Jim Luce on: Extremism | International Development | Sri Lanka | United Nations The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation (www.lucefoundation.org) is the umbrella organization under which The International University Center Haiti (Uni Haiti) and Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW) are organized. If supporting young global leadership is important to you, subscribe to J. Luce Foundation updates here.
I am in Bodh Gaya, in the state of Bihar, India where Siddhartha Gautama obtained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. I am a pilgrim following in The Buddha’s footsteps across eastern India and attending the gigantic Kalachakra here. Bodh Gaya is a sleepy historic enclave of about 50,000 – swelled this week to what some have estimated at over 500,000 for the Dalia Lama’s Kalachakra. One can almost no longer walk through the street due to the throngs. My friends with me have shared their photos with me below.
The Buddha covered in garlands at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Crowded street scene in Bodh Gaya where Japanese and Indian motorcycles are prevalent. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya where the Bodi Tree grows. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Fog from the cold, humid winter and smoke form cow dung fires and incense choke the town. Photo by Vanessa Cabezas.Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. Beautiful flowers are as ubiquitous here as beggars. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Back of cart in Bodh Gaya. Transport includes auto and bicycle rickshaws as well as motorcycles and horse-drawn carriages. Photo by Vanessa Cabezas.Beggar with performing monkeys on a Bodh Gaya street. Photo by Vanessa Cabezas.Goats and cows stroll the streets, although each belongs to a specific family. Photo by Vanessa Cabezas.Cow dung used for cooking fires dries on the walls. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Girls sharing stories and doing laundry – a universal. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Warning sign outside building in Bodh Gaya. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.Paul Goldsmith presents Hindu iconary used in public health advertisement. Photo: courtesy Paul Goldsmith.
Pilgrimage to Buddha’s Holy Sites Main Sites: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar Additional Sites: Sravasti, Rajgir, Sankissa, Vaishali, Nalanda, Varanasi Other Sites: Patna, Gaya, Kosambi, Kapilavastu, Devadaha, Kesariya, Pava
On Pilgrimage: Following the Footsteps of Buddha Across N.W. India in 14 Parts
#1 – HuffPo: On Pilgrimage: Following the Footsteps of Buddha Across N.E. India #2 – Daily Kos: Under the Bodhi Tree in Gaya Where the Prince Became The Buddha #3 – HuffPo: Photo Essay of Bodh Gaya, Where Buddha Became Enlightened #4 – Daily Kos: Next Step of Indian Pilgrimage: Mountain Where Buddha Preached #5 – HuffPo: Touching the Untouchable in a Rural Indian Village #6 —Daily Kos: Rediscovering the World’s First Great University in Buddhist India #7 – Daily Kos: Buddhism for Beginners: Insights from a Non-Buddhist #8 – HuffPo: Can I Help Rescue Education and Orphan Care in Bihar, India? #9 —Daily Kos: Buddhism and Social Responsibility #10 – Stewardship Report: Most-Photographed Man in the World Prepares to Retire #11 – HuffPo: Co-Sponsoring a Future Indian Leader #12 – Daily Kos: Varanasi: Holy City of Buddhists – As Well as Hindus, Jainists, Jews #13 – Daily Kos: On the Banks of the Ganges: Continuing the Search for My Soul #14 – HuffPo: My Pilgrimage Complete: Lessons Learned, Life Continues Like a Wheel
The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation (www.lucefoundation.org) is the umbrella organization under which The International University Center Haiti (Uni Haiti) and Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW) are organized. If supporting young global leadership is important to you, subscribe to J. Luce Foundation updates here.
Jim Luce writes in the field of philanthropy with a unique, deeply personal perspective shaped by decades of hands-on leadership and giving. As the founder of Orphans International, launched in 1999 with proceeds from his mother’s estate, and the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, established in 2007 with his father’s legacy, Jim Luce has devoted his life to advancing global humanitarian causes. In 2010, he took the extraordinary step of making a Vow of Poverty, donating his entire savings, assets, and pension to charity. Drawing from his experience running a global NGO that receives philanthropic support and managing a foundation committed to improving humanity, Luce offers insights that bridge the worlds of donor and recipient, blending practical wisdom with a profound commitment to service.
