ANNUAL UN DAY FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

Each year, the local United Nations Association celebrates the founding of the United Nations and this year was no exception.
At noon on a cold and windy Wednesday morning, the Chairman of West Berkshire Council, Andrew Rowles, Chairman, Secretary and members of the UNA, Council employees and myself assembled outside the Council Offices and saw the UN flag raised to the top of the flagpole. Delegates from the UNA read out extracts from the UN Charter declarations. We then returned to the Council Chamber for refreshments and an update on the current activities of the UN.
The main issues were the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals which the 191 states of the UN have pledged to meet by 2015;
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,
Achieve universal primary education,
Promote gender equality and enpower women,
Reduce child mortality,
Improve maternal health,
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases,
Ensure environmental sustainability,
Develop a global partnership for development.
Various UN operations throughout the world were announced and progress reports given. Having seen a number of UN peacekeeping operations operating in various parts of the world, it is regrettable that an organisation such as the UN does not get the support it deserves. Hopefully, this will change in the future. My best wishes to the local UNA group members for their contribution.