The Paradox of Progress: Opening address at International School of Nadi (ISN) Model United Nations (MUN) Conference – 22 July 2024

Dear readers,

On 22 July 2024, I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address at the Model United Nations (MUN) Conference that was hosted by the International School of Nadi (ISN), in Nadi, Fiji.

Please find below my statement on the theme "The Paradox of Progress"

I am deeply honored to be here with you today, and I thank you for the privilege to offer these opening remarks at this International School of Nadi MUN 2024 conference. As the proud parent of children who have actively contributed to MUN activities in Dubai (UAE) and Dhaka (Bangladesh), I am excited to join you today as you embark on this journey of dissecting the “Paradox of Progress”, the theme of this conference.

“The Paradox of Progress”. This theme highlights the technological, economic and social advancements of today’s world and the importance of finding ways to tackle the issues that come with it, to create a better future. We believe that this theme is important because society is changing rapidly and our world is becoming increasingly modern, which is creating issues that are relevant in the world today.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organization saving and changing lives worldwide.

We bring life-saving relief in emergencies and use food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impacts of climate change.

In the Pacific, WFP’s focus is on capacity strengthening - working with governments and partners to prepare for and respond to disaster, in the areas of food security, logistics and emergency telecommunications.

First, my motivation for joining the UN:

I was born and raised in Sierra Leone (about 4 times the size of Fiji, and about 9 times the population of Fiji).

I saw, often firsthand, the work of the UN in bringing order to chaos. I joined UNDP in 1994, lived through the war in Sierra Leone, and moved to WFP in 2000. Since then, I have had the privilege of serving in North Korea, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Italy, Senegal, Kenya, UAE, Bangladesh, and Fiji, and visited over 80 countries. I’ve witnessed global challenges (e.g. Kosovo, famine in Ethiopia, Rwanda genocide, etc.) and I have seen how people have come together to solve these challenges during our darkest hours.

I’ve led WFP’s emergency tech team’s response to major crisis including the Ebola response in West Africa, and many other emergency hotspots around the world.

Quite recently, I worked in Bangladesh where the humanitarian community was supporting the Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar.

Today, I’m leading WFP’s presence in the Pacific – serving the Pacific people.

Throughout this journey, I have learned to appreciate the work and hope that the UN brings to people around the world, irrespective of their circumstance. I am truly proud to serve an institution that brings hope to the lives of so many.

Second, I want us to acknowledge that we live in a very different world today:

We now live in a global society that is changing rapidly. No doubt, we have made significant progress in technological advancement, we have built solid economies, and our social lives are better than in any other time in history.

We have made significant progress over the centuries

Technological advances have made us more connected and created new opportunities for prosperity.

Countries have made great economic progress. People living in extreme poverty has drastically reduced.

People now live longer healthy lives, thanks to new advances into medicine.

These are advancements that we should be proud of. However, while we have made significant progress in our lives, we have to acknowledge and deal with the price of our success and development – we have to deal with the intended and unintended consequences on our people, our planet, our collective prosperity and peace.

This progress has led to significant challenges for our planet and for humanity.

(1) Climate catastrophe is deepening:

Climate change is real, and we’re reaping the benefits of climate inaction – with devastating floods, fires, droughts and heat.

Extreme events are destroying lives, destroying economies, and damaging health;

It is an enemy to sustainable development; forcing people from their homes; and rocking the very foundations of peace and security. People are increasingly displaced and vital resources are depleted.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, there is an eighty per cent chance that global annual average temperature will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next five years.

1.5 degrees is an important threshold:

Because this defines the difference between minimizing climate chaos or crossing dangerous tipping points: The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees could be the difference between extinction and survival for some small island states and coastal communities (such as in the Pacific). 

The richest one per cent emit as much as two-thirds of humanity. This is an affront to climate justice where those least responsible for the crisis are hardest hit and they are the ones who face the risk of being left behind - the poorest people; the most vulnerable countries and communities; Indigenous and marginalized Peoples; women and girls.

 

(2) Poverty, hunger and inequality are rife:

Conflicts, climate change, COVID-19 (3Cs) and their impact of food security.

The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 in recognition of its role in building a pathway to peace and stability through food assistance – by strongly advocating for food not be used as a weapon of war. The world recognizes the vicious cycle of food insecurity, hunger, and conflicts.

Sadly, the World Food Programme has had to reduce or abandon assistance to people facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity – or IPC level 3 – to focus on those facing emergency, catastrophic or famine levels of hunger. We have to take food from the hungry to feed the starving. The result is a risk of driving even more people towards these higher levels of food insecurity and hunger.

(3) Mistrust and division are pulling people apart:

If we examine the role of technology; Technology has transformed the world but not always in a positive way: More people are addicted to digital devices, and we have become more isolated from other fellow humans; fake news and disinformation abound are mainstreamed into our daily lives; social media platforms have eroded civic discourse instead of enabling it.

The spread of hatred and lies online is causing grave harm to our world.

In one of the UN Secretary-General’s statements on the challenges of technology, he mentioned how Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fueling prejudice and violence; exacerbating divisions and conflicts; demonizing minorities; and compromising the integrity of elections.

On the advent of Artificial Intelligence, these technologies are racing ahead of regulation. They’re being rolled out with virtually no regard for the consequences. And they are inflaming tensions and divisions.   

All of these is a recipe for profound instability.

 However, AI can be turned around to support human rights, sustainable development, and benefit all humanity. 

(4) Conflicts continue to rage:

There is an unprecedented increase in conflicts globally:

We have witnessed increasing threat to multilateralism: More powerful nations are taking matters into their own hands and diminishing the role of the UN in negotiating for peace.

(5) The Sustainable Development Goals are dramatically off-track, and developing countries are left without the support they need to invest in their people:

2030 is around the corner and none of the Pacific countries are on track to reach their targets.

We’ve seen that the lack of funding for primary healthcare services directly translates into an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, worsening maternal and child mortality, and loss of mental health and psychosocial support.

And when food security and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance is not adequately funded, people face a heightened risk of disease.

But:

Our international financial architecture is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair to those who need it the most. The rich are over-represented; the poor are under served.

We have seen the emergency of a New World Order: South-South cooperation is increasing, BRICS is expanding. Therefore, Politicians should focus on acknowledging what others have done and are doing, and how we can all do more.

Third, you can be the solution – make a difference in people’s lives:

In the face of these challenges, we must not lose sight of our objective of a more peaceful and sustainable world.

The need for action is unprecedented but so is the opportunity – not just to deliver on climate, but on economic prosperity and sustainable development.

6 billion people are expected to have Internet access in 2025, compared with 16 million 30 years ago. That’s progress.

Climate action cannot be captive to geo-political divisions.

Climate crisis: China and India are leading the green energy transition.

Development actually works: UN is best hope for humanity especially when big players are not talking to each other.

As the former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld once said: “The UN wasn't created to take mankind into paradise, but rather, to save humanity from hell.”

I joined the UN over 30 years because I believed in that hope for humanity, and I still do.

You the youth of today, you are the solution to today’s problems and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise.

As you deliberate this important theme, I am confident that you will stand up for humanity and come up with durable solutions for a peaceful, healthy planet and a prosperous world. It is not a choice of one over the other. We must do both and we can.

Thank you. Vinaka Vaka levu.

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