News September 2006

Dr Jonathan Gallagher at the UN Conference

Church Representative Adds Adventist Voice to Global Concerns

New York, NY… Over 2,500 representatives of non-government organizations gathered September 6 at the United Nations in New York to consider best practices to develop better partnerships for security and development. Under the banner theme of "Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development," the UN-sponsored conference brings together the leaders of civil society and government to find practical methods to make the world a safer and more humane place.

"We have such huge tasks now that I sometimes ask myself, 'Will we make it?' " UN General Assembly President Jan Eliasson told the conference participants, adding that "working together, creating international structures, creating strong and effective international cooperation, strengthening the United Nations, is a good thing for the world." He called on non-government organizations to become more involved, saying "We need your voices; we need your contribution. I want you to feel that you are partners with us in the work on development, security and human rights, and the basic pursuit that we must work for a life of dignity for all."

Seventh-day Adventists attend regularly such conferences and express continuing concern for the deplorable living standards and threats of violence facing people in many parts of the world.

"Adventists are committed to social action, recognizing that our interest is in the whole being of what makes us human-mental, physical, social, and spiritual," says Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, Adventist church representative to the UN and participant at the conference. "Consequently we are very much involved in making this world a better place through humanitarian action that includes health, education, disaster relief, development aid, social development programs and so on. We believe that by so doing we are following the example of Jesus in caring for all the needs of humanity."

The three-day conference concluded with definite plans of action that seek to make talk a reality, and to make a practical contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. [PARL News]

NGO participants arrive for the Conference / Conference in Session

Conference theme

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