V.Muthuswami, Author at UN Post

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Human Situation in Globalized World

"Man is, at one and the same time, a solitary being and a social being. As a solitary being, he attempts to protect his own existence and that of those who are closest to him, to satisfy his personal desires, and to develop his innate abilities. As a social being, he seeks to gain the recognition and affection of his fellow human beings, to share in their pleasures, to comfort them in their sorrows, and to improve their conditions of life." Albert Einstein, born on the 14th of March, 1879,…

Post author:V.Muthuswami

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Leadership in Globalized World

“Think globally, act locally” – David Brower (1912 - 2000) - Friends of earth. “The clearest way to show what the rule of law means to us in everyday life, is to recall what has happened when there is no rule of law.” – Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969). In a recent interview with Fareed Zakaria of the Time magazine (Asian edition of 18 Oct 2010), the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao described his country’s goals as: To let everyone lead a happy life with dignity; To let everyone feel safe and…

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Democracy in Globalized World

Tony Blair, former British PM, in his memoir "The Journey" Sept 2010, said: "My conclusion, strangely, is not that the power of politics is needed to liberate the people; but that the power of people is needed to liberate the politics.” The debate on the growth of democracy in the context of globalization has been in vogue for over a decade now. Globalization effects on democracy have received much attention time and again, though there is STILL little consensus about what precisely those effects are – positive or negative -…

Post author:V.Muthuswami

un peace

Price of Peace – UN

"We the Peoples of the United Nations Determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better…

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Judiciary Notebook – UN Style

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Martin Luther King, Jr. Code of Conduct for the UNDT/UNAT Judges: (UN GA Document # A/65/86 of 15 June 2010). Unsurprisingly, it has taken a year or so to write/publish Code of Conduct for the judges working for the reformed UN Internal Justice system since it came into being on 1 July 2009. This code is now going to the General Assembly for a “routine” clearance.…

Post author:V.Muthuswami

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Democracy and Self-Development

“Development engineering is less about formulas and more about integrity. If an administrator is sensitive to the problems of the public, he can find innovative solutions within the given resources”. Rigzin Samphel, young Indian Administrator in one of the large federal states, with large poor communities. Churchill's famous dictum: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time". From a House of Commons speech. The timing of this famous remark is significant. Churchill won WW-II, but in the…

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UNGA

Appeal to UN General Assembly

When you mention a famous race horse, they always ask, “from which stable?” The stable is important, as it establishes the ancestry, authenticity and the breed. When you name a lawyer who has done well, people ask you, “from which chamber?” The Chamber is important. It establishes the hierarchy and cultural tradition in which the lawyer was born and has been reared. (Remembered quotes of the eminent advocate Fali Nariman, former chairman of International Commission of Jurists) Similarly, when you quote certain judicial norms and democratic conventions, people ask, “do…

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visualize

Transform Distress into De-Stress

Don’t cry because it is over, think and smile because it happened. World HR Trainer. Throughout history new technologies have revolutionized communication and the spread of information. Cyberspace has become the fifth domain of warfare after Land, Sea, Air and Space. Thanks to technology, even the UN Internal Justice System has sought to employ cyberspace and has created an atmosphere of honesty, transparency and accountability, howsoever unreal that may turn out to be in the final test. Has this improved technology enhanced human understanding, mutual respect, concern and compassion? The…

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UN Dark

Judgment on UN Retirees Common Cause Appeal

“When a judgment and justice be the same?” - quote from ancient Eastern wisdom. More than a year after the appeal was submitted, firstly (May 2009) with the Standing Committee of the UN Pension Fund and after nine months it was presented (August 2009) to the UN Appeals Tribunal, and after an uneventful 80 minute oral hearing session on 22 June 2010, the Tribunal President pronounced its judgement on Thursday, 1 July 2010: “the case was dismissed”. The reasons for this decision will be a month in coming. Why? Especially…

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pensioners

UN Pension and After Life

“It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978). A number of cases reviewed through the first session of the UN Appeals Tribunal in Geneva (15 March – 1 April 2010) showed lack of coordination between the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) and the participating…

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performing assets

Non-Performing Assets of the UN

"A manager's task is to make the strengths of people effective and their weakness irrelevant--and that applies fully as much to the manager's boss as it applies to the manager's subordinates." Peter Drucker. "Good management consists in showing average people how to do the work of superior people." John Rockefeller. In a classic definition, what does Non-Performing Asset (NPA) mean? A classification used by financial institutions that refer to loans that are in jeopardy of default. Once the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days,…

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world press freedom day

Brand-Naming the Political-UN

“If the United Nations is a country unto itself, then the commodity it exports most is words.” Esther B. Fein. “In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion. Mr. Kofi Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2001. I have been both a participant and a facilitator in a local senior citizens workshop to…

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Uncommon Delay of Common Cause Appeal

"It is in justice that the ordering of society is centered." Aristotle (Greek Philosopher: 384 BC - 322 BC). "Justice delayed is justice denied." William Gladstone (British Politician : 1809-1898). This is an open appeal to the UN Appeals Tribunal regarding Common Cause Appeal # UNAT 2009-001. As far as the writer remembers, there had been several individual appeals during the period 1980's to early 2000's from UN retirees asking for the clarification and justification for the life-long denial of full pension to the 1/3 lump sum seekers despite the…

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Support Non-Political UN

“Let the ruler be a ruler, the subject a subject, the father a father, the son a son.” "Truly if the ruler be not a ruler, the subject not a subject, the father not a father, the son not a son, then even if there be grain, would I get to eat it?” Confucian Quote 12.11. The main political function of the United Nations is to preserve international peace and security. Chapter 6 of the UN Charter provides for the pacific settlement of disputes, through the intervention of the Security…

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integrative medicine

Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda – Science of Life

Traditional Medicine (Ayurveda - Science of Life) in the eyes of the UN Health and Insurance. Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the successes as well as stresses of your lives. From ancient Sanskrit verse. Ayurveda as per Wikipedia: Ayurveda (Devanāgarī: आयुर्वेद, the 'science of life') is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian Subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledge' or…

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UN General Assembly Session

Appeal to UN General Assembly

This is an open appeal to the UN General Assembly from a senior world citizen in the largest democracy. "I want to live in a world where people become famous because of their work for peace and justice and care. I want the famous to be inspiring; their lives an example of what every human being has it in them to do — act from love!" Dr. Patch Adams (born 28 May 1945). First of all, it is not my cup of tea to advise or admonish the UN General…

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