Polio in Syria: An Urgent Reminder To End Polio At Its Source

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

I was saddened to learn yesterday of a tragic development in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria. The World Health Organization reports that polio, a crippling and often deadly virus, has resurfaced 14 years after being driven from the country.Thankfully, the Syrian Ministry of Health and its regional counterparts appear to grasp the threat posed by the outbreak and have sprung into action. A vaccination campaign is already underway in the affected area, the first of many […]

Polio in Syria: An Urgent Reminder To End Polio At Its Source Read More »

Stark reality of maternal mortality shown on NBC’s Revolution

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

The post-apocalyptic hit NBC series Revolution takes place 15 years after the lights have gone out around the world. The global blackout has plunged the US into warring factions and a primitive existence. This guest post written by Whitney Showler, who heads Music for Relief, the non-profit established by Sustainable Energy for All supporter Linkin Park, touches on some of the issues covered in this week’s episode. Although we may consider childbirth routine, without electricity it can be very dangerous. Women give birth

Stark reality of maternal mortality shown on NBC’s Revolution Read More »

Three mHealth Innovations Changing Health Care Delivery

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

Mobile phones are more than just communications devices; they are also powerful tools to improve health care. Since 2012, TechChange and the mHealth Alliance have offered a four-week online certificate course in mHealth: Mobile Phones for Public Health. Our mHealth course has brought together an incredible group of roughly 100 doctors, community health workers, academic researchers, IT administrators, and government officials from over 35 countries to share knowledge. Each time we do the course, we’ve

Three mHealth Innovations Changing Health Care Delivery Read More »

The Senate to Debate UN Disability Treaty Again

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

Jordie Hannum, Director, Better World Campaign I want to be sure this is on your radar: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will take up the United Nations Disability Treaty again today, Tuesday, November 5, and we need to rally in a big way if we have a shot at getting it ratified. In case you need a refresher, the UN Disability Treaty is an international treaty that provides a framework for countries to embrace the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities. Sounds non-controversial, right? Well, believe

The Senate to Debate UN Disability Treaty Again Read More »

Celebrating Global Leaders and the UN

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

On Wednesday evening, big names and bold voices like Ted Turner, Jane Fonda, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Her Majesty Queen Rania, and Priyanka Chopra joined UN Foundation board members, UN supporters, diplomats, and business leaders at our Global Leadership Awards Dinner. This dinner, hosted by the UN Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), benefits our Global Classrooms Model UN program, which connects students in underserved communities with global issues and

Celebrating Global Leaders and the UN Read More »

We made history – but not in a good way

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

The U.S. made history today – but not in a way that’ll make you proud. For the first time ever, we lost our vote in a United Nations organization for failing to pay our dues. And the agency we just walked away from is none other than the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), whose programs are clearly and directly in the interests of Americans. UNESCO, charged with promoting education, science, and culture worldwide, works to

We made history – but not in a good way Read More »

Typhoon Haiyan: How the United Nations is responding and how you can help

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

Following the devastating destruction by Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) that hit the Philippines on November 8, the United Nations, the Government of the Philippines, and other humanitarian organizations are mounting a massive coordinated humanitarian response to provide families with immediate lifesaving aid. “UN emergency response teams arrived in Tacloban city within 12 hours of the disaster. Specialist teams from member states and humanitarian agencies are committed and mobilized, and making their way to

Typhoon Haiyan: How the United Nations is responding and how you can help Read More »

7 Reasons to Care about Pneumonia

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

November 12th is World Pneumonia Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about this disease. Here are 7 reasons why you should care (and take action by tweeting the links below). 1. Pneumonia is the leading killer of children under age 5 worldwide (tweet this). In 2012, 1.1 million children didn’t make it to their fifth birthday because of pneumonia. 2. Pneumonia is responsible for almost 60,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.  3. According to a report from

7 Reasons to Care about Pneumonia Read More »

Progress on family planning – and why it matters

Leave a Comment / UN - United Nations /

This week, thousands of researchers, development experts, policymakers, and others are gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss one of the most important global issues: family planning. Around the world, more than 220 million women want, but don’t have access to, modern contraception – which means they aren’t able to decide the timing and spacing of their families. Denying them this basic human right has far-reaching effects for themselves, their families, their communities, and their

Progress on family planning – and why it matters Read More »