Associated Press

 Down to the Wire: One Session Left

February 27^th, 2011.

Associated Press

            As of yet the United Nations building remains still silent.  As the sun rises, slowly the exhausted delegates, daises and reporters trickle in.  It is visible on their faces that they’ve put everything they have into the past few days and the effort has taken its toll.  Still, looking into the eyes of any of the early arrivals and one sees only determination. 

           

            Despite the exhaustion, frustration and immensity of the task asked of this weekend, all those here have stepped up to the plate.  Delegates have prospects to push, and this will be the final stretch to do so.  After an amazing first three days of sessions, nobody expects anything but an explosive last session before the end of this conference.

            Yesterday showed some amazing progress towards solid resolutions.  The delegates had been here long enough that all distractions had been processed and were now ignored.  The subject matter at hand was elbow deep, and progress was made.  The WHO, the Summit on Indigenous Peoples and the HRC all passed a resolution while the Security Council passed two.  Subjects ranged from the HIV/AIDS crisis to dealing with the terrorist attacks in Sweden.

            All of this was accomplished under the greatest of strains.  Not only were the subjects grave, but the international community was rocked by further leaks from the now infamous Julian Assange.  It seems unlikely that the release was timed in relation to the terrorist attacks in Sweden, though the lack of restraint after such a sever occurrence. 

            Still, the world and especially the governments of France and England were rocked by yesterday’s releases.  Much of world is muttering in fearful breaths at the possibility that nuclear arms have found their way into the arms of Al-Qaeda and its allies.  Protests have also risen around the world around corporate greed that turned research away from a potential cure to HIV.  For all the day and night efforts of those here at the United Nations, it remains to be seen if these issues can really be overcome with a few strong words and the strokes of a pen.

            We at the Associated Press stand confident.  Human perseverance is great.  Compromise, understanding and little help from technology brings the world closer together with each passing day.  We’ve seen over this weekend how that growing global village is learning to work together as a common entity, understanding themselves as global citizens, to resolve global issues.  There will be bumps on the way, but we will overcome.