"I did not think the grid lock or security situation here
in New York could get any worse. I was wrong – today it did. And the reason for
that – US President Obama and Russia’s President Putin were both in town today
to address the UN General Assembly, along with other significant leaders such
as Raul Castro from Cuba.

The GA has moved away from consideration of the
Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality and are now in main session,
looking at the issues facing nations today.

Very early morning and International President Yvonne and
I were heading across town to the other side of Manhattan- we decided to walk,
mainly because we didn’t realise how far it was to our venue. That mistake was
in our favour as we walked past row upon row of cars, lorries and taxis stacked
up across every road.

 

Photo: L-R IDA Pat Black, IP Yvonne Simpson, GED Deborah Thomas

Fortunately we arrived on time but only Yvonne was
allowed in as there were over 500 people who had applied for the event
organised by Open Society Foundation to discuss what Civil Society Organisations
could do to formally organise themselves. After a couple of hours discussions a
small steering group of five organisations has been set up to take things
forward. They hope to get a website up and running quickly and will try to
co-ordinate work done by civil society organisations in monitoring the
implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

I was not able to get access to the event because they
were allowing only one person per Organisation into the event so I battled my
way back east to try my luck at the UN. I should have realised I stood no
chance when Obama and Putin were in the building!

So next I thought I would catch up on the paperwork!  Wifi
access is not easy so I was pleased to be able to catch up on dozens of emails.
I was just in the middle of catching up with recording the events Soroptimists
have been involved in when my small lap top decided to pack up completely.

So I have resorted to my iPad to continue my writing.

I am also able to keep an eye on what is happening at the
UN thanks to their excellent TV coverage. As I write Raul Castro is addressing
the GA for the first time since the USA and Cuba restored relationships.
However, he is not holding back on his criticisms of the levels of poverty and
literacy around the world. His comments on climate change hit at the heart of
those countries who do not wish to recognise the urgency of doing anything to
reduce carbon emissions or refuse to acknowledge the dangerous rise in sea
levels.

Presidents Obama and Putin have already addressed the
General Assembly, taking some verbal shots at each other’s actions. The GA is
celebrating 70 years of existence of the UN and speakers are reminding each
other of the reasons behind its formation. But there are also criticisms of the
structures and how they have become significantly out dated in dealing with the
issues of the modern world.

Perhaps it is a good time to go back and remind ourselves
of the original UN Charter; of the hopes contained within it for a better world
recognising the Human Rights of every person.

I have been struck today with the differences in tone of
the speeches of the world leaders. Over the last few days I have heard a great
deal of optimism and belief from leaders who together and jointly felt that the
Sustainable Development Goals augur a brave new world for the people’s of this
earth. Today I seem to have been brought back to earth with a bump as leaders
of strong nations cross verbal swords with each other, demonstrating that if
2030 is going to look very different to 2015 then somehow we have to find a way
through the ‘real politique’".