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Awake At Night: Daily Summaries Delivered
by United Nations, Melissa Fleming
What does it take to be a United Nations worker in some of the world's most complex and dangerous places? How are UN humanitarians, human rights advocates, prosecutors, development experts, climate leaders and peacekeepers improving our world? Stationed in all reaches of the world and witness to suffering and atrocities, how are they helping people and coping themselves? To find out, Melissa Fleming meets them.Here you will discover extraordinary personal stories from people who devote their lives to helping others.
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- 5 days ago47 min
It is a gift to serve humanity, with António Guterres - United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres' drive to serve those less fortunate saw him rise from a volunteer in the slums of Lisbon to the highest spheres of politics, eventually taking on the world's most important diplomatic role. Now in his final months in office, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations shares what keeps him awake at night. "First of all, [it's] the enormous suffering because of all the conflicts and injustices that we have. Second, thinking about the future, the two existential threats that we are facing. One is climate change, and the other is artificial intelligence running away without control." Preventing wars, easing suffering, acting as the world's moral compass, all these and more count among the formidable expectations placed on the UN Secretary-General. In this episode, António Guterres looks back on the milestones and setbacks of a long career, reflects on the personal tragedy of the loss of his first wife, and shares why his lasting hope is rooted in the promise of "We, the Peoples." Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-antonio-guterres-it-is-a-gift-to-serve-humanity Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hOdCTRbMfyQ
- 1 weeks ago35 min
Planting hope in remote communities, with Alvaro Lario - President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Growing up in rural Spain, Alvaro Lario's parents managed a small fruit farm that sold melons in local villages. Now he is President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is helping small scale farmers to thrive all around the world. "All of these people are extremely entrepreneurial. They're extremely creative. They have a lot of willingness and energy. Many times it's just the lack of opportunity or the lack of means, and I think that's what makes this job or this role very rewarding." The UN supports rural communities around the world as they gain economic self-reliance through agricultural activities. In this episode, Alvaro Lario reflects on attracting private sector investment for those projects, on what indigenous groups can teach others about resilience to global shocks, and shares how building one new road can transform thousands of lives. Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-alvaro-lario-planting-hope-in-remote-communities Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cww_7PYrvTY
- 2 weeks ago48 min
There's no problem that can't be solved, with Garry Conille - UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya
Garry Conille knows that resilience, hope and determination can be powerful foundations for change. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, he hopes to contribute his wide-ranging experience to help accelerate the country's development. Meanwhile, he hasn't let go of his brimming optimism towards his troubled home of Haiti, where he served as prime minister. "It's been years of challenges and stress and distress, yet when you walk in the streets of Haiti, you will see these young children with their hair just tightly done, and these uniforms tightly pressed, walking for hours to go to school. [That's] what defines Haiti more than anything else." The UN and its agencies stand alongside all low and middle income countries as they work to improve the lives of their citizens and those who seek shelter within their borders. In this episode, Garry Conille reflects on the dangers faced by young migrants, on the promise of Kenya as a new hub for diplomacy, and about his drive to seek solutions for even the most intractable problems. "I've seen countries take their future in hand and transform themselves. Having worked in different countries, I've seen countries come from a very bad place and do well, and find unity and create a vision and rebuild. So I know that's possible. I'm also convinced that there was no problem that we have in Haiti, for which there's not a proven solution." Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-corinne-momal-vanian-the-UN-is-my-life-my-family Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMMqQyjxaI
- 3 weeks ago39 min
'The UN is my life, my family,' with Corinne Momal-Vanian - Outgoing Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation
Outgoing Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation Corinne Momal-Vanian previously spent three decades serving with the United Nations. For her, the UN's founding values have always been a north star, not just for her career, but also for her family and her whole life. "It's really putting the human dignity at the center. That every human being deserves to live a fulfilling life and life in dignity, that's also at the heart of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and those are truly universal aspirations." From working against apartheid to stabilising post-genocide Cambodia, Corrine Momal-Vanian has deployed for the UN at compelling moments across the world. In this episode, she looks back on serving two Secretary-Generals during some of the darkest and dangerous moments in the organization's history, and shares why the UN was always so much more than a job. "Despite all our efforts, people just don't realize that actually their whole life is assisted by the UN... making international phone calls to flying planes internationally, sending mail abroad and having vaccines that are certified by the WHO as being healthy and useful." Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-corinne-momal-vanian-the-UN-is-my-life-my-family Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShsqmkX9akc
- Aug 18, 202639 min
Devising an end to hunger, with Máximo Torero Cullen - Chief Economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Máximo Torero Cullen is one of the world's leading voices on global hunger and food security. Currently serving as Chief Economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he uses his economic expertise to work towards the goal of a world where nobody goes to bed hungry. "I have been through many problems in life, which I have learned a lot as an economist. I was in the hyperinflation in Peru. I was in wars in Peru and terrorism... I have been in massive earthquake situations. So I have seen a lot, but I never expected how complex this sector would become." FAO partners with governments around the world to invest in areas with untapped agricultural potential, transforming lives in rural farming communities. It also works to secure the global food supply during crises such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, or the crisis in Strait of Hormuz. In this episode, Máximo Torero Cullen reflects on the process of dampening food price shocks, on investing in sustainable nutrition, and shares why he always trusts the knowledge of farmers. Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-maximo-torero-cullen-devising-an-end-to-hunger Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XzRaFSKPW_s
- Aug 11, 202641 min
Surviving war to fight for peace, with Ozonnia Ojielo - United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia
As a child, Ozonnia Ojielo survived a brutal civil war in his native Nigeria in which starvation was used as a weapon. After training as a lawyer, an encounter with fellow survivors gave him new purpose and propelled him to his current role as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia. "She started crying. All the other guests started crying. I started crying as well. There I was, a very successful lawyer making a lot of money. But I said to myself, this is much more valuable. Trying to change people's lives, or at least be there as a voice for them." From Rwanda to Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, Ozonnia Ojielo has supported communities around the world as they navigate difficult journeys from violence to peace. In this episode, he reflects on the long shadow of genocide, on the delicate work of reintegrating both perpetrators and victims, and shares why the biggest currency the world can offer young people is hope. Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-ozonnia-ojielo-surviving-war-to-fight-for-peace Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cN7ImhAXj8s
- Aug 4, 202636 min
Open the strait, with Arsenio Dominguez - Secretary-General of the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Oil price surges have put international shipping in the spotlight in recent months. But what about the people behind the headlines? What happens to them when the news cycle moves on? "[Seafarers] feel forgotten because when they turn on the media, all the headlines are about how petrol is going up, how this is affecting the global economy, how things goes three, four times the price that normally they will pay for it, and nobody talks about the seafarer. We need more countries to recognize them as key workers." With up to 90 percent of all goods globally transported by sea, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) works to help commercial shipping and international trade ride the waves of war, piracy and geopolitics. Growing up near the Panama Canal, Arsenio Dominguez was always fascinated by mighty cargo ships sailing through on their way to distant shores. Now Secretary-General of the IMO, his role is to defend seafarers and give shipping the recognition it deserves. "Whenever you affect shipping, everybody else gets affected, even if you're not part of the conflict. This is not good for anyone. This is not good for the global population, for the global economy, for politics. We need to protect shipping more." In this episode, Arsenio Dominguez reflects on years of back-to-back challenges for international shipping, on efforts to decarbonize, and shares why the power of positive thinking and the encouragement of his mother have always been his guiding lights. Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-arsenio-dominguez-open-the-strait Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LsGArn7T8i8
- Jul 28, 202647 min
Use AI responsibly for a better world, with Tshilidzi Marwala - Rector, United Nations University (UNU)
Growing up in rural South Africa, Tshilidzi Marwala first learned about engineering from his grandmother's handmade clay pots. Now rector of the United Nations University, the Under-Secretary-General is a vocal advocate of using artificial intelligence (AI) for good. "I would not trust AI. You are not supposed to trust AI. You are supposed to use it, always doubt it, always verify what it tells you, cross validate, so that you can be able to use it responsibly." Education has been a driving force throughout Tshilidzi Marwala's life, alongside the seismic transitions he has witnessed in his native country and around the world. "We [returned to South Africa just after the end of apartheid] and then we realized that freedom is beautiful… Democracy is a beautiful concept, but it's a very difficult journey. It's not an overnight thing." With a doctorate in neural networks among his many academic achievements, the UNU rector is familiar with the architecture behind the current rapid developments in AI. In this episode, he reflects on the intersection of political freedom, education and technology, and shares why digital literacy is among the most important skills of our age. "[AI is] making health accessible to people ... if you look at issues of food production, zero hunger is a reasonable goal. You know, I think AI can play a big role." Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-tshilidzi-marwala-use-ai-responsibly-for-a-better-world Podcast full video available on YouTube: <a href= "https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3
About Awake At Night
What does it take to be a United Nations worker in some of the world's most complex and dangerous places? How are UN humanitarians, human rights advocates, prosecutors, development experts, climate leaders and peacekeepers improving our world? Stationed in all reaches of the world and witness to suffering and atrocities, how are they helping people and coping themselves? To find out, Melissa Fleming meets them.Here you will discover extraordinary personal stories from people who devote their lives to helping others.
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