Those who like a bit of irony mixed with politics and world history, were offered a further example sour two weeks ago. On 16 November, the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco, in the acronym) was celebrating the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of 1945 held an international symposium in Paris. The aim of the conference was not merely retrospective, but since then a lot of time invested in an ambitious project to write the history of UNESCO in all its manifestations. This meeting was also intended to encourage educators, scientists and other academics to go ahead with the broad and essential task of promoting knowleent and understanding. Technical projects, the translation of foreign books and the identification of heritage sites are part of humanity the powers of the body, but beyond and above it is the original commandment of Unesco, "... because that wars begin in the minds of men, is in the minds of men that built the defenses of peace. "
The irony that this conference should be held now and in the center of Paris is clear. Less than 15 miles from the elegant headquarters of UNESCO in the Place de Fontenoy, are, in the suburban communities of Sevres, St. Denis and Suresnes, remnantscharred cars, destroyed schools and local McDonald's burned. And these same scenes can be seen all over France (in fact, almost 300 people), including tourist attractions such as Avignon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux. Although a specific event (the death of two students of African descent who fled from the police to a dangerous electrical substation) led the October 27 explosion at the national level, before there were many indications that trouble is brewing. In fact, The Economist says that in the first seven months of 2005, burned in that unhappy country a staggering 21,900 vehicles. In France there seems to be evidence of the emphasis of Unesco in "intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity "or a demonstration that the world has come so far," the education of humanity for justice, freedom and peace ", which are the central ideas of the Constitution.
This was not one month too good to internationalist and free market advocates. While overturned and set fire to cars in the suburbs of Paris, tens of thousands of people took to the streets and stadiums in Argentina during the Summit of the Americas protest against the idea of promoting freer trade, and in particular to campaign against the presence of that individual who love to hate, the president of the United States. In an unfortunate contrast, the same crowd applauded ar MLXC
Our world, when more closely inspected, is by no means uniform. There are still some promising areas and some cities (Singapore, Dublin, New Delhi) that still exude confidence in our future. But my general feeling is that in large parts of the world there is an increase of human anxiety. Whether U.S. workers in the automotive sector, French farmers scared for his job and family prospects, young urban centers disappointed, disillusioned electorates that rely on "strong men" in the republics of Central Asia and rest of the former Soviet Union, or radical peoples of South America, not the time pintminutes, it would be difficult for service workers, factory workers and small farmers with low wages would not be harmed and even more frustrated. What could they do? Do we really think that the recent demonstrations in France and Argentina were isolated events that will not repeat? Were precisely those anxieties that concern both the founding fathers of UNESCO for six decades. They believed that the world society, if he wanted to recover and flourish, would have to rely on a three-legged stool. To prevent future wars and aggression, should be solid diplomatic and military instruments, above all, the Security Council United Nations. To prevent companies from being carriedadas-conflict economic desperation, should have policies and mechanisms (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the Development Programme United Nations and the Marshall Plan are examples of this idea) to increase prosperity and reduce poverty.
But the "legs" economic and military were not sufficient, because the lesson of the thirties was that instability, nationalism and aggression were deeply affected by cultural biases, religious and ethnic groups, ie , the fear of others. For 60 years, UNESCO has undertaken to help meet that need, and provide the third leg to our international structures. However, not even his best
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