UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on March 1 called on younger generations around the world to take better care of Planet Earth than his own had, amid global warming. Mr. Ban warned that as unsustainable practices are deeply entrenched in everyday lives, the absence of decisive measures will cause the true cost, or "an unconscionable legacy" to succeeding generations. At a UN International School conference in the General Assembly Hall in New York, he expressed his hope that the carelessness in looking after the planet is finally changing and the environment is being better preserved. He stressed that the danger posed by war to all humanity is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming. He said he would discuss climate change with global leaders at a summit of the G-8 of industrialized countries this June. Since he took office in January, Mr. Ban has made action on climate change one of his top priorities as Secretary-General and has strongly committed to ensuring that … [Read more...] about UN Secretary General urges better care of Earth
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UN Secretary General begins Asia tour
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on June 28 arrived in Japan, the first leg of a two-week Asia tour, according to news reports. The Secretary General is expected to stay in Japan until July 1. He will subsequently fly to China and then to the Republic of Korea, his home country. After his stop there, he is to head for the Group of Eight summit in Japan's Hokkaido. In Japan, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will hold talks with Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and other officials, local media reported. In a recent interview with Japanese media ahead of the trip, the UN chief expressed his hope that Japanese Self-Defence Forces troops will participate in UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan. He said Japan has ''capacities and assets'' and its participation in the UN mission would be ''a great contribution.'' On climate change, the UN chief said he hoped Japan will take the initiative in getting talks on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework moving … [Read more...] about UN Secretary General begins Asia tour
UN Secretary-General welcomes US removal of travel restrictions for people living with HIV
"I congratulate President Obama on announcing the removal of the travel restrictions for people living with HIV from entering the US," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "I urge all other countries with such restrictions to take steps to remove them." The UN Secretary-General has made the removal of stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV a personal issue. He initially called for the removal of travel restrictions in his address to the General Assembly during the Global AIDS Conference in August 2008. "That they should be discriminated against, including through restrictions on their ability to travel between countries, should fill us all with shame," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. At his request, several countries including his home country, the Republic of Korea, are in the last stages of removing travel restrictions. Other countries that are considering removal of travel restrictions include China and Ukraine. In 2008, the UNAIDS board … [Read more...] about UN Secretary-General welcomes US removal of travel restrictions for people living with HIV
State President meets with UN Secretary General in HN
VGP - Vietnamese State President Nguyễn Minh Triết welcomed the first official visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Việt Nam on the occasion of the 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit. Việt Nam pledges to implement the UN Resolutions, especially the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said President Triết while receiving UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday in Hà Nội. Việt Nam, said Mr. Triết, backs the attempt of the UN Secretary General to speed up inter-governmental negotiations on the reform of the UN Security Council and promote connectivity among member organizations of the UN system. The State President also hailed the operation of the UN organization in Việt Nam and hoped to seek further support from the international body to poverty reduction and socio-economic development. In addition, the host leader proposed the UN provide information and financial assistance for Việt Nam to cope with climate change as Việt Nam is among countries badly suffering the worst consequences of … [Read more...] about State President meets with UN Secretary General in HN
UN Secretary General’s secret visit to VN family temple
VietNamNet Bridge - Local newspapers recently reported about a personal visit made by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the temple of forefathers of Phan Huy family in Quoc Oai district, Hanoi in May 2015. The information has ignited rumors on the Vietnamese origin of Mr. Ban. Ban and his wife visited the family temple for 45 minutes on May 23 and they were escorted by several guards only, said Phan Huy Thanh, a member of the Phan Huy family. During the visit, Mr. Ban burned incense, wrote on the visitors' book, saw the family tree of the Phan Huy family, shook hands with the family members and took photos with them. He did not specify the reasons for the visit and did not express a wish to see the family genealogy, Thanh said. The UN Secretary General wrote in the visitors' book: "I'm deeply humbled to visit and pay my deep respect to this home of worship of Phan Huy Chu and other Phan family members. Thank you for preserving this house of worships. As one of the Phan … [Read more...] about UN Secretary General’s secret visit to VN family temple