Paparazzi!

On the last night of the Clinton Global Initiative, Esperanza Garcia (my partner in crime and adventure) and I lurked in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel....Sue Ellen was there on the video camera and we were all ready to get interviews (or THE picture) of the Conference.

We were Paparazzi  (for the first & last time in my relatively short life). And did we have success (relatively speaking as we were at the Clinton Global Initiative not the MTV or Academy Awards). The evening started with us watching the closing ceremony at the Sheraton bar in the lobby (fyi, the service is AWFUL there...the bar staff were better than the floor staff but not by a whole lot). I started talking to a ITC expert on security from the UK about the future of corporate security. Then Esperanza, and the camera crew called me. I rushed over to find Esperanza interviewing Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland). I quickly took on the role of identifying who to interview and trying to keep them happy until it was there turn.  The highlight of the evening was asking Ben Stiller a question...the only question that the press were given. We also interviewed the President of Portugal.

We made a great team as we got prime interviews and made great connections. But the fun didn't end there....just as we believed that things were done....Vin Diesel walks by and we snagged him for a photo (I was suddenly starstruck, pathetic...I know). I was completely blase until that stage of the evenings proceedings. That was when I realized that this was real....I was one of those crazy camera people. That was when we retreated to one of the five after parties. w00t! Clinton Global Initiative was amazing! This is the superficial surface experiences....but it went a little deeper. Real commitments were made during the event and I never even realized it existed.

And now it is over for another year, lets hope that the commitments made are kept!

Closing CGI Annual Meeting & Equality

The closing plenary of the Clinton Global Initiative 2010 Annual Meeting was impressive in the way that only money and connections can buy. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Bill Gates joined the Clinton's to end a week of pledges, commitments, and interesting sessions.

Closing Plenary

“I’m proud of the nearly 300 new commitments, valued at $6 billion, that we’ve announced during the Annual Meeting,” President Clinton stated. “In total, more than 1,900 commitments have been made, worth $63 billion, and they have improved the lives of nearly 300 million people. CGI's continued success is to the credit of our members, who come back with better ideas, more ambitious commitments, and greater innovation year after year, who turn ideas into action and meaningful results. They are changing the way sectors work together and how we solve problems worldwide." This sounds impressive. It is impressive. But what struck me was the number of pilot projects that were being funded. Pilot projects that go nowhere or at least don't seem to have proven results.

According to the press release "CGI members’ commitments have had the following impact:

• More than $1.75 billion in new capital has been invested in or loaned to small and medium enterprises.
• More than 16 million women and girls have had access to empowerment initiatives.
• More than 10 million people have improved their access to capital and financial services.
• Nearly 5 million people have obtained access to information technology.
• More than 2 million girls have been reached with efforts targeting female enrollment in schools.
• 50 million children have been given access to education in formal or non-formal school programs.
• More than 90 million acres of forest have been protected or restored.
• More than 400 million metric tons of CO2 emissions have been cut or abated.
• Enough clean energy has been generated to power more than 400,000 homes.
• 75 million people have increased access to maternal and child health and survival programs.
• Nearly 20 million people have increased access to safe drinking water."

But these stats are vague. How are they measured? Who measures them? Where do they come from? Who monitors these initiatives? Where is the tangible proof of what is being stated? I know that I sound cynical when I ask...where do these stats come from? Who created them. They sound impressive but not in contrast to the problems that they seek to address. 

Let us look at the empowerment of women as an example. According to CGI, more than 16 million women and girls have had access to empowerment initiatives. The worlds population is estimated at 6,697,254,041. 

Over half of these are considered to be women. Inequality is persistent and pervasive. However, women are not empowered and even in 'western' countries, where women are considered to be 'equal', women earn less then men and are not given the same opportunities. 

If you look at the worlds richest men, the majority (who haven't inherited it) gained their wealth through business, finance or technology. The worlds richest women tend to be those who are in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the worlds most powerful women tend to be married to a powerful male. 

According to the UN Women :

• Globally, women held 19.1 percent of seats in single/lower chambers of parliament in May 2010, compared to 11.3 percent in 1995.
• Only 28 countries have achieved the 30 percent target for women in decision-making positions set in the early 1990s.
• In early 2010, only 15 Heads of State or Government were women.
• There is a persistent shortfall in the financing of women’s needs in post-conflict recovery plans and post-conflict disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. Employment and economic recovery efforts have not included women on an equal basis with men.
  Yet, since 1992, women represented, on average, fewer than 10 percent of official negotiating delegations in peace talks, and only 2.1 percent of signatories to peace agreements.
• To date, the UN has never appointed a woman as a chief mediator in an UN-supported peace process.
• The deliberate use of sexual violence on a large scale as a tactic of warfare has devastating consequences not just for its immediate victims, but also for communities and for national recovery. More than 200,000 cases of rape have been documented in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1996; the actual numbers are considered to be much higher.
• Women increasingly participate in the media sector, and contribute to making the media more inclusive. Yet only about 24 percent of the people interviewed, heard, seen or read about in mainstream broadcast and print news are female; only 16 percent of all stories focus specifically on women.

Empowering Women and Girls: Session at CGI Annual meeting 2010

This is scary. I believe that men and women are equal. That doesn't mean that we are the same. However, it does mean that we should have the same rights, opportunities, pay and power. This is our struggle and it hasn't ended. I am lucky. My father raised me to believe that I am am equal to men. That I have the same mandate, legitimate claim and possibilities. Therefore, I do not see the same barriers that some do. However, I would be very naive to claim that I have never encountered the reality of the prejudice that arises over my gender. The message that I take away from the CGI is that this is a start. We have a long, long way to go--and together-- we can make this happen. It will be tough but there is hope.

Please watch this:-

“Real Men” Don't Buy Girls

“Real Men Don’t Buy Girls” Ashton Kutcher stressed at the official launch of the DNA Foundation's new campaign. I was impressed by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's hope to raise awareness of child sex slavery and child sexual exploitation and child pornography.

When I was 12, I read a book about a girl sold by her parents and sent to India to be used in the sex industry. Her experiences as a sex slave made me cry. I felt so helpless and saddened by the idea that anyone should be forced to endure such injustice. In the novel, she was younger than I was. Yet, her parents sold her for less money than it cost for my family to eat out for dinner. Her innocence was ripped away repeatedly. It shook me. It made me realise that to be female was to make me weak. That being female meant that men could view me as an object rather than as a human being. Furthermore, due to the male dominated society in which we currently live...it meant that I was sexually vulnerable. I am no longer twelve and I realize that the book was fictional. However, I know that worse things are happening daily. GLOBALLY. Ashton Kutcher told us real stories: such as that of a girl child gang raped in the US. He impressed me. I was not a fan of his movies. He tends to act in Chickflicks. Not my type of film. However, I have changed my mind. I may not have much power. I am still just one voice. However, he has a voice and he choses to use it. That impresses me. If watching his films aids this, then watch them I will...because I know that he is using his voice and fame for a worthy cause. 


This campaign has some chance because it is supported by good technological sense. Jack Dorsey, creator, co-founder and chairman of Twitter and CEO of Square, Pamela Passman, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs both discussed their corporations initiatives to help end the child sex trade. This impressed me.

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore launch "Real Men Don't buy Girls"

Ashton Kutcher impressed me. It is rare. I think that the message that was stated has value. It is true. Real men don't buy Girls. REAL men, don't hit women or rape them or intimidate those who are dis-empowered. Real men don't. But how do we get real men involved in ending this? The sex industry is surrounded by taboos. Yet 1 in 3 men have participated in it in some way. Whether by watching porn or by going to a strip club. They do not see it as wrong. We as a society are beginning to lose the boundary between what is reprehensible and what is acceptable. But children do not have a choice. We must give them the choice. It is our (ALL our) collective responsibility to shield the most vulnerable within society from those who would take advantage. The scariest part of this cycle is the role that women also play in it. We turn the blind eye, we ignore it, we hide it, we raise sons who continue the cycle, we condemn ourselves and the future generations by saying nothing or taking no stand.


However, it is hard to do so. Society, culture and life is such that women can't always stand up against this. Sometimes, it is not possible to take a public stance; however, that is not an excuse for not trying to change things. Whether it is not blaming the rape victim for being raped, standing up against marital violence or raising a future generation of REAL men...we can all do our part to make sure that this doesn't continue. Children do not make choices. Therefore, we must protect them.


"There is no way we could live in this world, and not do something about it," Kutcher said. He is right. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN LIVE IN THIS WORLD and NOT DO SOMETHING.  Help End Child Sex Slavery! Please join the campaign. Demi Moore stated

"Real men don't buy girls. They protect them...We're

 recruiting real men who have the courage to stand up

 against this issue" 

Recovery in Haiti [CGI]

This session of the CGI is one that fills me with excitement.Bill Clinton has gathered key leaders from government and business to discuss how the international community can help Haiti rebuild. This ties in with the recent work that I have been doing and the research that I am currently conducting. Therefore, I was thrilled to have been given a pass to get in (Press access to CGI sessions is limited).



As you are undoubtedly aware,on the 12th of January, a earthquake in Haiti resulted in the death of 200,000 people, caused widespread homelessness and destroyed the fragile infrastructure. 


This tragic example of a natural disaster at its worst is hard to explain in words. Its impact is far reaching, lives were torn apart and a nation is still suffering the effects. The session discussed the opportunity to rebuild Haiti in a way that addresses the long term well-being of the Haitian people. In April 2010, the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), was established by the Government of Haiti. The IHRC is working to coordinate the efforts of the international community including donor governments, NGOs, and private sector entities to ensure that projects are in line with the Haitian government’s priorities and initiatives, and the needs of the Haitian people.


As previously mentioned, I have been involved (on a much much smaller scale) with a similar project. Therefore, I was very interested in hearing what was to be discussed. You can read the script of the event here. That was not the lasting memory that I took away from the session.


The event confirmed my believe that the rebuilding process must be led by the indigenous people for long term change to be effective. The Haitian people must take ownership of the process. It is hard with all the offers flowing in for any organisation to turn away offers. However, I hope that IHCR have that strength, pragmatism and will power. This is a process that has just begun. Let us hope (for millions of people) that it is a successful one.

Program Participants Included Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister, Republic of Haiti, President Bill Clinton, Founding Chairman, Clinton Global Initiative; 42nd President of the United States, Magalie Noel Dresse, President, Caribbean Craft Haiti, Adam Goldstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Caribbean International, Maryse P. Kedar, Director, Progress and Development Foundation, Mati Kochavi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AGT, Denis O'Brien, Chairman, Digicel, René Préval, President, Republic of Haiti, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

UN MDG SUMMIT & IRELAND

For two days, September 20-22 in New York, the United Nations hosted leaders from around the world for a summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whose targets—to be achieved by 2015. This high level, security packed event is the highlight of the UN General Assembly (for me). I have previously written about the MDG's and I am highly involved with the International Youth Council that promotes youth activism around this area. Ireland's work toward the MDG's is considerable.

As an Irish youth, it interested me that Ireland launched a Hunger Task Force. I know that Irish Aid is a key player in the international field when it comes to achieving the MDGs. It is also great to hear that the United States is launching a "Feed the Future and the Global Health Initiative". I hope that both fulfill their purpose. Food security is becoming an increasing worry in public policy and IR. It is vital that reducing hunger and malnutrition are made a priority. Listening to this event unfold. I was proud to be Irish. You can read comments by Irelan'd Minister of State during this years summit

Networking No How

I have spent from 6pm until now (11:34pm) in the freezing lobby of the Sheraton Hotel...networking. I have met a number of individulas that ranged from Philippe Cousteau to Madeline Albright. However, the most fun meet up happened as I began to wind down....

It was 10:30pm, in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, when Esperanza Garcia spotted on the ID of a passerby that she was from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. We decided to summon our courage (it is the lobby afterall...therefore a public place) and request an interview with Ms. Geet Rao Gupta, Senior Fellow, Global Development. She introduced us to a friend and an interview for Friday was born. To prevent jinxing myself. That is all that I will share. But I am gaining networking know how. Keep reading! 

Profiting from the Poor?

Microfinance is a term that leaves many baffled.  To some it means lending money to the poorest to create income (aka generate income) without collateral. To others, it is another term for profit. 


Today, at the Clinton Global Initiative, I had the opportunity to listen to the leading voices in the micro finance world discuss the ethics, ethos, models (both existing / potential) and bare facts behind this often nontransparent process. 

Vikram Akula, Founder and Chairperson of SKS Microfinance Ltd, presented a commercial (for profit) model that he said was created when a poor woman who had walked from a far away village asked him (while he worked for an NGO that could only focus on specific areas due to funding restraints) "Am I not poor too? Do I not deserve an end to poverty?" Whether you accept this as being the eureka moment that sparked his for profit or not....the fact remains that now in India, he runs a company that runs micro finance IPOs. He argues (and shows convincing statistics) that his commercial model will accelerate income generation. 

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking, presented a model that combined a for profit model with a non profit model. She stressed that in order to "empower poor (and women) there is a need to move beyond credit". 

These views contrasted starkly with Muhammad Yunus, Founder and Managing Director of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and Noble Peace Prize Winner. " Yunus pioneered microcredit, the innovative banking program that provides poor people––mainly women––with small loans they use to launch businesses and lift their families out of poverty. In the past thirty years, microcredit has spread to every continent and benefited over 100 million families. But Yunus remained unsatisfied. Much more could be done, he believed, if the dynamics of capitalism could be applied to humanity’s greatest challenges. " He argues that the "money of the poor should not go to someone else. Profit should be kept by the poor". He isn't opposed to profit. But merely "who benefits" from the profit. He stresses that the Grameen Bank is for profit--not opposed to profit. The money is there....and banks need to be self reliant. The bank is there to facilitate the poor to be autonomous and the banks are created to be self generating.

A question that stuck with me was "Can we connect capital markets to investors without commercial capital?" Mary Ellen Iskenderian said no...as she couldn't see how their will be enough investment donors to make it feasible...or how the gap can be bridged without commercial capital. Akula stated that they are not like typical banks. Their investment rates are not what the market can bear but rather they take their profit from greater stakeholder value. Their bankers are not rewarded for size of loans (ensuring that the loans are repayable by the poor). He notes that this year, they had a 22% return on equity while their loan sizes remain the same. Yunus disagreed and stressed that "conventional business has its own logic, and other interests...and therefore gradually Akula's direction would change and that they are  going in the wrong direction. Akula disagreed argued that "the key perspective is that of the borrower and if the customer is also doing well" (rather than merely investors).

The problem is that most people are not interested in "invest in us and you won't make a profit". They prefer "Invest in us, help and make a profit". 

So, I pose this question to you...what do you think Micro-finance IPOs do overall (as there is no data on the most effective way to implement them).  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

UN Digital Media Lounge

I am proud to have been invited to attend the UN Week Digital Media Lounge, which started today. This year is the first year ever and it is being organised by Mashable,the United Nations Foundation and 92nd Street Y. I don't know how I was lucky enough to be picked. Unfortunately, I am also currently accredited to attend the Clinton Global Initiative.

Paola Garcia and Saba Loftus at UNDML

Let us hope that I can make time for both. I am really excited. It should be an amazingly filled week!!! UN Week 2010...here we come. Mashable say it best " The conversation about the world’s biggest challenges no longer belongs to a small set of voices — it is a global conversation with an increasingly online pulse." And nothing represents this shift more aptly than social media!

CGI starts: President Clinton Opens the 6th Annual Meeting

"CGI members come from 90 different countries, speak many languages, work in all sectors, and approach problems in unique ways,” President Clinton stated during the opening plenary. “But together, their desire and capacity to build a better world for our children and grandchildren has resulted in 1,946 commitments, valued at $63 billion dollars, which have already improved nearly 300 million lives."


The panelists focused on collaborations between social actors such as corporations, governments, non-profits, civil society and foundations to "empower the poor, improve access to education and health care, develop alternative sources of energy, and create a cleaner environment". The panelists were Bill Clinton, former President of the USA, Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Robert McDonald, president, chairman, and CEO of Procter & Gamble, and Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google. 


This opening plenary sparked my imagination and hope. It struck me that in places like this meeting, money is not an obstacle...ideas were. The commitments were flowing, the ideas being seized and actioned. Pledges were being made and reported on. There was a tangible excitement and it surprised me. The number of pilot project that were being financed worried me. This is an amazing event, it is a huge step forward but it is vital that the lessons that have been learnt the hard way are not ignored. The lasting impression that I took away from this event was that ANYTHING is possible. The only limit is ideas. Therefore, if you have an amazing idea that you think can assist in empowering the poor, improving access to education and health care, developing alternative sources of energy, and create a cleaner environment...this is the venue for funding!

Clinton Global Initiative Begins........

Bill Clinton opened the Clinton Global initiative this morning by introducing a series of panelists. I will be sharing more information and photos soon.

I need to learn how to take photos while being pushed

I am learning a lot. I am discovering people and that journalist are more aggressive than most. I just need to find my laptop. I promise to be more organised ASAP.

hugs

Saba

Dial "M" for Media

Today, the Clinton Global Initiative held media training...except no media were allowed. It was bizarre for me...media without the medium. As a recently accredited member of the press (my shiny yellow badge proclaimed this), I felt a little excluded from something that I thought would prepare me for the week ahead. I decided to take up the security on their offer and waited to see if some participants didn't show. Luckily for me, my patience brought a positive result. I slipped into the almost "exclusive" media free media training....only to discover that its aim was to teach NGOs / Foundations how to get positive notice in the press. As the moderator put it "Great deeds need their own poets" as positive media coverage is apparently a vital ingredient when applying for grants. He stressed that media used to be a closed world but is now open due to new media, bloggers and technology. Since times have changed, CNN now analyse twitter. This new shift has been dubbed the "democratization of media". But why couldn't journalists be present for this (question still baffled me).

"Media all about the attention business!"


Well, apart from house keeping announcement (APCO is on 2nd floor and each member is entitled to one press release). It was pretty tame. They discussed...what are journalists looking for? They gave a few guidelines such as know your Audience (You need to know your audience and the audience of those in the media you approach. Do your homework). The most interesting question they answered was....how to get attention?


1. What is most important
2. What interests people
3. Ethos
4. Topics you chose should be ones that interest you (so do homework to approach right journalist).
5. Find your audience.


They also suggested learning from organisations that are successful. Develop news and that ever company should think of itself as a media company. They stressed that before you do something...think: How would this look on the internet? This thinking could make you rethink everything you do.


The moderator discussed the way that "news is anything that happens around an editor" yet also argued that we are entering a post shame world. A example he gave, was noticing a tweet from McCain to Snoki about "Obama taxes causing increases in her tanning salon. He mentioned McCain's 1.3 million twitter fans. Which is scary if you think about it. Who really knows that many people?


The lessons that stuck with me were:


1. Keep it simple
2. Unexpected
3. Concrete
4. Story to tell as we love stories (provocations...someone to root for / against / for hope).
5. People want the same but different (local slants on stories...i.e telling people they already know but presenting it in a different way...e.g DCs Aids epidemic is worse than Port au Prince)

Well, my first taste of Clinton Global Initiative has made me even more excited. Tomorrow, we kick off the event with Obama and Bill Clinton. I can't wait!!! I will bring you LOADS more. So, keep reading.

MDG Awards 2010:Unvarnished Truth!

Sunday 19th of September will go down in history as the day that I discovered that I could survive any disaster with pose....barely! The event started with a few weeks of inviting USG's, Directors of UN Agencies, Permanent Missions to the UN, ICT's, NGOs and VIP (aka 'celebrities'...and this part had nothing to do with me--not taking responsibility for Chris Brown).

Basically, the evening started tamely with a briefing, then a brief saunter over to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC. We all were happy, cheerful, optimistic, excited and trigger happy (talking about cameras here folks). We swept through security with our Crew Badges and up to the fourth floor on an high of enthusiasm and eager expectation. This is when things began to get chaotic....but nothing prepared me for the evening ahead.

But I should have known. Organizing Captains began moving people around....some began briefing their volunteers, while others did not show up and walk throughs did not happen for those volunteers that needed it. Then guest began to arrive, complete with suitcases that they demanded must be stored (Waldorf's cloak room had not opened yet....and a frantic radio message was sent out to them and to the Captain of Registration....emily who had been hired as a event manager to handle registration and table seating....she was too busy with the secret service to assist us....So, I handled requests from a Permanent Mission about pre-registering their important representatives, and secret service about the same important representatives. Then I tried to snag her as she rushed by....unfortunately, she didn't have time to brief us. So, we began to create our own system to cope with the trickle of guests....

However, when the one or two guests turned into 10s and 20s. I ended up taking over registration....primarily due to my familiarity with the guest list. A guest list from hell (honestly) because there were only about 700 (being generous with my estimate here) seats. There were approximately over 1000 people on the guest list and about 60+ who turned up uninvited with a fw.fw.fw'd copy of the pdf invite demanding to be granted access. The guest list..was not in alphabetical order and was almost impossible to understand unless the guest guessed their classification correctly.

This was when the unbriefed volunteers, struggling against the tide of guests, started to freak out....I over heard one telling the Director of DESA....that she was not on the guest list. But that was merely the start of a rapidly unraveling Registration process.

I was the problems desk...and the Captain's (there were two) of registration....where no where to be found. It was traumatic, I had Permanent Representatives (aka Ambassadors)....yelling at me because they had been told they were not invited, CEOs threatening me, and a horde of justifiably angry individuals plus those who wanted to crash the party swarm around me. Clambering over a marble partition, I took cover in the Waldorf's Cloak room, which you guessed it! had not even opened yet!

Thankfully, this barrier appeared to calm down most but not all of the individuals with problems. I took names and contact details and directed anyone who I thought was legitimate to the upstairs reception. I directed them to the balcony afterwards unless they received a call from me. I think this sparked part two of the bad side of the evening....table seating nightmare!

Luckily, Eric (Registration Captain) arrived to rescue me and started flying through the list assigning people, making apologies to those who had been disinvited (yes, due to huge number of Heads of State that RSVP'd last minute...we spent Thursday and Friday uninviting people). Some turned up anyway, some didn't check their emails....and it was so hard to tell them. I do not envy Eric or I our task.

At this stage, the reception ended. This was when the nightmare began....this was when individuals that I had directed upstairs began stealing seats. This was the stage where grown men began throwing tantrums when security tried to redirect them. This was the stage where I felt completely helpless. Governments, PA's, Ambassadors, Executive Assistants, Directors of UN Agencies, ASG's, and USG's started arriving at the problems desk in droves to report people in their seats....who were also Permanent Representatives etc.

It was a protocol nightmare:-after-all, who gets the unpleasant task of kicking out a country that never RSVPd? This was my crash course in Diplomacy as I frantically reseated people, balanced necessity with my future existence and credibility. Then I got complainssts cos it was too cold in the Grand Ballroom, then complaints that the starters had been served 30 minutes prior and the next course had not arrived. Then complainst from awards recipients who wanted to leave but the ceremony was taking too long. Then a volunteer text me from the Emergency Room (she couldn't breathe and was on oxygen) at NYU.

 I looked around at the relatively calmer (people seemed to be enjoying themselves....honestly!) place...and decided to catch a taxi down there. After-all, life is more important that a mere party....even if I have been helping with the thing for over a month.

It was a little discouraging that after all that preparation work--things unraveled on the night. However, as one guest put it (aptly). It gave me the opportunity to see people "in a whole new light". Even people I knew.

So, the learning curve was steep. I learnt how to remain calm under pressure, be polite yet firm and how to take initiative in chaos. So, the event wasn't a loss after-all. Besides, I made some friends that night...that will last a long time. Because our friendships were forged in the fire ;) A little clichéd perhaps but there is always a sweet silver lining to lighten these things up. Besides, who will remember next year? Lets learn from the disastrous moments (and forget the rest).

Eve of the MDG Awards.....

Registration MDG Awards 2010

Friday was the final mad dash before the event. It was that last working day. Last minute RSVPs flew in from all over the world. Regretfully, we had also reached capacity so the day became a juggling act that left E*** diplomatically juggling ICTs, Missions, Private Sector, NGOs, VIPs and the personal guests of lots of people. I do not envy him his task, despite ending up sharing his duties. I spoke with a range of individuals who ranged from powerfully well connected to their representatives. As the guest list grew and culling was necessary, we googled, cross checked and redirected calls. We sent reminders and invitations to those who had lost theirs.

It was high octane organised madness but I thrive in those situations. Today is the volunteers briefing....so I had better go.

UNDML

Guess what? 


I have amazing news..


I feel like a teenager...(or maybe it is the gazillion cups of coffee I have consumed preparing for the MDG Awards) but I am buzzzzing--feeling exuberant, enthralled, eager, enthusiastic (but no...it is not that type of news)!


 I, Saba Una Loftus, got accreditation to attend the UN Week Digital Media Lounge.  The Lounge is being organised by the United Nations Foundation and its partners, Mashable and 92Y. Therefore, this September 21-24, 2010 (ahem, in New York City). I will be driving you crazy blogging about the exciting line up of formal briefings, roundtable chats and live streams from the UN.  I can't wait! I have my week all planned (as i will also be squeezing in attendance at the Clinton Global Initiative).


This amazing experience will include:

•         Key UN experts to provide insider perspective on MDG Review Summit and UN General Assembly.

•         Leaders and innovators in social media and on-line conversation leaders who are helping to drive real solutions to global problems.

•         Issue experts to brief and ask for input on how to solve global problems including HIV/AIDs, Malaria, women’s health, and child mortality.

•         UN Millennium Campaign to address the road ahead and the role of grassroots supporter.

•         Live feeds to major addresses, including Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President Obama.

•         Link TV to showcase the winners of their MDG View Change Contest.

•         High level U.S. Government official to brief on the Obama administration’s approach to reducing global poverty.

And I will be there to experience the quality panels, and participate in direct discussion opportunities (and it will be my pleasure to share the gems with all of you). 

In addition, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, UN Aids, UN Development Program, civil society thought leaders, the NGO community and will be there to add even greater depth to the discussion.  


I can't wait!!! I hope you are as excited as I am! This is going to be amazing, so hold on for the ride as I launch off into blogger time (aka no sleep, too much caffeine but the insanely unbelievable experience of my short lifetime ;) )


Together, we are going to attempt to freeeeeeeeeeze time by innovatively trying to do it all and focus on 
the most important things!


Peace! SL

Fundraiser to Support Youth involvement in High level negotiations

Last night, I coordinated the event logistics for a 

Fundraiser to Support Global South Youth for Climate Change. The

goal of the event is to help empower youth from the global south in international climate negotiations by helping youth delegates attend and prepare for the UNFCCC COP16 conference in Cancun, Mexico from November 28 - December 10, 2010. I personally would love to attend the Climate Change negotiations in Cancun but the reality is that (like for most youth) it is probably going to be a distant dream. However, I can do my best to facilitate other youth who are being directly impacted by Climate change to make a difference and to advocate for change. Now. Not tomorrow.

Chris, Jamie and Claire

This event was hosted by Chris Bashinelli, Actor, Executive Director of Bridge the Gap TV. I grew up in Tanzania, therefore, I found his innocent videos particularly amusing but the cause is a worthy one and Chris appears to be a genuinely sweet and wonderful person. He is also one of the rare Wazungu that have actually bothered to try and learn Kiswahili. He impressed me greatly.

I was recently introduced to Ambassador Oscar de Rojas, Director of the Financing for Development Office UNDESA and

 Mr. Kola Badejo, Special Advisor of Africa of UN Global Compact

 through my work with South South News. They both attended the event as honored guests. This event was also attended by 

Ms. Afaf Konja, United Nations Correspondent for Press TC, 

Ms. Claire Buffie, Ms. New York 2010, 

Mr. Frank Ucciardo, CBS News Correspondent and 

Ms. Kaity Tsui, I love NY Greenest New Yorker. 

Despite a horrific thunderstorm, the event still raised over $1000. I hope Esperanza had an amazing birthday (same night).