Clearing a Path to a Safer World

Growing up in South Korea, Kangmo Lim, president of the United Nations Association (UNA), Mid-Missouri Chapter, remembers stories of landmine explosions in his home country.  "Nearly a third of the world's nations still contain landmines that injure and kill between 15 and 20 thousand civilians each year," he said.  "A single landmine that costs $3 to make can take $1,000 to detect and clear."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Mine Ban Treaty where signing countries outlined efforts to clear the world of minefields.  To support this work, the United Nations (UN) launched a worldwide effort called a Night of a Thousand Dinners.  Since the program's inception in 2001, participants in over 50 countries have held dinners to raise money to clear minefields, provide assistance to landmine survivors and raise awareness about the global landmine crisis. 

On April 21st, the UNA Mid-Missouri Chapter held a trivia night fundraiser and dinner at Heidelberg restaurant which raised over $300 for the Adopt-A-Minefield campaign.  "I am encouraged to see so many involved in supporting this worthy charity," said Jim Scott, MU associate vice provost for international initiatives.

The United Nations and the New U.S. Administration

Erika Roberts, UNA Mid-Missouri Chapter vice president of programs, helped to coordinate the fundraiser and featured speaker, Will Davis, director of the UN Information Centre in Washington DC.  As the senior representative for the UN in Washington, Davis works as a UN liaison between the United States executive branch, congress and the public.

"I met Mr. Davis at the UN national convention and later found that he would be in the Mid-Missouri area during our Adopt-A-Minefield fundraiser," Roberts said. "We are very excited that he agreed to join us as our special guest and speaker."

The United Nations, created in 1945, is a global organization representing 192 sovereign states that works to maintain international peace and security while promoting social progress and human rights.

Davis calls his office in D.C. a “mini embassy” that serves as a resource for U.S. governmental, non-governmental, and civil-society organizations as well as the American people. “The UN is a reflection of its members and the world we live in,” Davis said. “The United States is the largest contributing member, and what the new U.S. administration does has a significant impact on the world and the organization,” Davis said.

He recalled a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, where Obama said that before he leaves office, he is prompted to share with the American people an understanding of the importance of the UN in the global society.

“The UN is not well understood,” Davis said. “We are UNICEF educating children and families while providing better health. We are the World Food Program brining food to over 80 million people. We are peace keepers working in areas of the world like Darfur.”

In addition, he said that the UN helps create the infrastructure for the global world by setting best practices and guidelines for everything from aviation and property rights to food and postal standards.

Davis sees the new administration as optimistic and says that Washington is getting a sense of what the UN can do to help multilateralism around the world. “I am proud to work for an institution where each country can voice its views and vote on them."

Learn more about the UNA Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign by clicking here.