https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-23-2025
"In New York City this morning, the United Nations opened its General Assembly,
marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations itself.
The day began with a General Debate, the meeting in which heads of state and
government outline their positions and priorities in an era of changing and
complex global challenges.
Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres opened the debate,
reminding the audience that leaders who had lived through the horrors of World
War II had created the organization to prevent another such conflagration by
establishing “cooperation over chaos, law over lawlessness, peace over
conflict.” It was, he said, “a practical strategy for the survival of
humanity.”
“Eighty years on,” he said, “we confront again the question our founders
faced—only more urgent, more intertwined, more unforgiving: What kind of world
do we choose to build together?”
He warned: that “we have entered an age of reckless disruption,” when “the
principles of the United Nations…are under siege.” Will we choose “a world of
raw power—or a world of laws? A world that is a scramble for self-interest—or a
world where nations come together? A world where might makes right—or a world
of rights for all?”
Guterres urged member states to choose “peace rooted in international law,”
“human dignity and human rights,” “climate justice,” “to put technology at the
service of humanity,” and “to strengthen the United Nations for the 21st
century.”
Guterres recalled that his youth in Portugal was spent “in the darkness of
dictatorship, where fear silenced voices and hope was nearly crushed. Yet, even
in the bleakest hours—especially then—I discovered a truth that has never left
me: power does not reside in the hands of those who dominate or divide. Real
power resides from people, from our shared resolve to uphold dignity, to defend
equality, to believe—fiercely—in our common humanity, and the potential of
every human being.
“I learned early to persevere. To speak out. To refuse to surrender, no matter
the challenge, no matter the obstacle, no matter the hour. We must—and we
will—overcome.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
