My First Post: The United Nations, Agenda 21, Sustainable Development, and the brand new Sustainable

Introduction

Hello everyone!

This is my first original thread on here so bear with me. I've been reading ATS for a long while and also posting here and there. Over the last ten years I've read as much politics, history, social science, religion, and philosophy that I could get my hands on. I've also, in the name of trying to figure out what is really going in our world, read much of the conspiracy literature, ranging from Alex Jones to left-wing socialist blogs. I find myself believing much of the claims about our governments and policies being dictated by industrial or special interests. I also think that much nefarious activities occur behind the scenes in regards to our American foreign policy. The media seems to also be bought out by the same military-industrial complex, and hence represent propaganda.

However, I also find myself at odds with some of the views and claims in the conspiracy world.

For example, I have spent the last two years studying and working with United Nations professionals and policy makers. I have been engaged in various internships and meetings at the UN since January, including sitting in on all kinds of high level political meetings. I did this in part again to try to learn about the world.

On the rest of my post, I'm completely open to an interesting debate on the nature of the UN, whether or not it is good, effective, etc.

I have to say that contrary to the claims of the UN being a vehicle for the New World Order, or wanting to dissolve national sovereignty, or what have you, on a daily basis at the UN we are talking about how the UN really has no teeth and may never because the very UN Charter guarantees national sovereignty and most UN resolutions and or compacts are basically voluntary for each country. I've read both the conspiracies about such things as Agenda 21 and the actual documents. Moreover, my boss at the UN used to work on Agenda 21 with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The document and program is solely focused on protecting the environment, instituting sustainability, addressing poverty, protecting the rights of the vulnerable such as indigenous tribes, and so on. My boss, who worked with Agenda 21, can't believe some of the statements that many conspiracy theorists make. He is an insider.

The issues below are not only more and more the crux of what the UN does but also what I personally work on. Moreover, many citizens aren't really aware of the UN's development agenda, so here it is below in a nutshell. Important stuff.

Millennium Development Goals

The UN actually is making a lot of progress in addressing sustainable development issues. Many people do not know it on here, but from 2001 - 2015 we have been operating globally under the auspices of the Millennium Development Goals, which set out eight global priorities. They were:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development

Each has sub targets. For example, under goal one a sub target was "Reduce the proportion of chidden who are chronically malnourished by 50% by 2015."

These are coming to a close. These focused on developing countries, such as India or Kenya. Many countries made progress on these, some didn't. But overall the actual programs are for the most part very positive. For each sub target the international community invested in entire programs, NGOs, interventions, doctors, engineers, you name it.

Sustainable Development Goals

However, the MDGs as they are called not only did not address many aspects of development such as inequality or many environmental issues, such as climate change, they also did not address problems in DEVELOPED countries, such as the U.S. For example, there has been rising inequality in the US and other countries. Also, there are still environmental issues here.

Hence, for several years now the global community has been developing and creating the so-called Sustainable Development Goals, which will be the successors to the MDGs and run from 2015-2030. They have engaged in country consultations with every country, including the US and Europe. And approximately each month there has been an Open Working Group composed of diplomats, NGOS, private sector, etc from around the world. At each OWG panels of experts on all manners of global issues gave presentations and discussions on key issues, from global finance to climate change to war.

This past week, the final and 13th OWG closed, which I attended among others. There is now a draft list of SDGs that will affect literally every country for the next 15 years. Right now there are 17 goals and around 140 sub targets. By the General Assembly in September, they will probably cut them down to be more concise, like between 12-14 goals or something around there.

Billions of dollars will be invested into the fulfillment of these goals. And, all of our governments will be developing and adapting government programs to align with the SDGs. For example, US' USAID development agency will be working on these issues.

I will put in my next post the list.

sustainabledevelopment.un.org...

Here are the first four draft SDGS. There are 17 so I suggest going to the link to not only see the other goals and targets but also read the introduction, which includes the background.

"Sustainable Development Goals
Proposed goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

1.1 by 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

1.2 by 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

1.3 implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable

1.4 by 2030 ensure that all men and women, particularly the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology, and financial services including microfinance

1.5 by 2030 build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations, and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters

1.a. ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular LDCs, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions

1.b create sound policy frameworks, at national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies to support accelerated investments in poverty eradication actions

Proposed goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture


2.1 by 2030 end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round

2.2 by 2030 end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving by 2025 the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons

2.3 by 2030 double the agricultural productivity and the incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment

2.4 by 2030 ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality

2.5 by 2020 maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at national, regional and international levels, and ensure access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge as internationally agreed

2.a increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development, and plant and livestock gene banks to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular in least developed countries

2.b. correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets including the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round

2.c. adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives, and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility

Proposed goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


3.1 by 2030 reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births

3.2 by 2030 end preventable deaths of newborns and under-five children

3.3 by 2030 end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases

3.4 by 2030 reduce by one-third pre-mature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and wellbeing

3.5 strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

3.6 by 2020 halve global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents

3.7 by 2030 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes

3.8 achieve universal health coverage (UHC), including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

3.9 by 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination

3.a strengthen implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries as appropriate

3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all

3.c increase substantially health financing and the recruitment, development and training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in LDCs and SIDS

3.d strengthen the capacity of all countries, particularly developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks

Proposed goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all

4.1 by 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

4.2 by 2030 ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.3 by 2030 ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

Great read and hopefully has debunked some agenda 21 conspiracies.
The goals look like goals worth going for and I hope they achieve many.
I suppose it is a little bit socialist so many on ATS will not want to help with any of the goals.
S&F keep up the good work.

So i'm a curious, since you work close with these people at the UN.. What is their position on ISIS? Seems like it would be a high priority for them to deal with that situation.. Lately it almost seems as if all the global players are just going to kick back and wait until Iran and Russia are forced to deal with the situation themselves..

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14
DOOM PRON, NEEDS MORE DOOM PRON!!!

Good thread, S&F.

Now tell us how you want to take our guns and put us in camps.

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

I admire your thoroughness. However much of what you describe could well be Trojan Horses designed to deceive those like yourself. Instituting sustainability for example could actually be building massive unhealthy systems. www.abovetopsecret.com... My own experience of 'renewable energy' is that it is inefficient junk sold with lies to buyers tempted by very generous subsidies. Some of the installers have admitted they know it's all a fraud. But they still do the work in exchange for a wage.

Which brings us to the private financiers fiat currency/fractional reserve banking system. Learn all you can on that subject and everything you mention can be seen in a different light.

originally posted by: KawRider9
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14
DOOM PRON, NEEDS MORE DOOM PRON!!!

Good thread, S&F.

Now tell us how you want to take our guns and put us in camps.

Lol, it is our every desire to do so. Just biding our time....

originally posted by: boymonkey74
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

Great read and hopefully has debunked some agenda 21 conspiracies.
The goals look like goals worth going for and I hope they achieve many.
I suppose it is a little bit socialist so many on ATS will not want to help with any of the goals.
S&F keep up the good work.

Thanks man. The goals will be edited and cleaned up. But they really and truly are based on, for every single one, expert and peer-reviewed input. For example, for let's say the nutrition or food security targets, the best and most credible experts on the topic were brought in to identify not only what the most pressing issues are but also what would have the most impact. The same goes for economic or environmental targets.

I understand that many ATS'ers are afraid of "socialism" or global cooperation. But seriously, in this increasingly and unavoidably globalized world, we now face a series of interconnected challenges that require transnational cooperation, especially ones pertaining to the environment, peace, economics, and so on. Global challenges require global solutions.

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

I can really see a one world government happening and in fact If we want to strive outwards it needs to happen.
We can still be Brits and Americans but after time and after many years we will do away with the nationalistic stuff and just be humans.
Lets just hope we vote for the right people eh?.

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

The UN is feared by certain demographics because it exudes an element of intellectualism and altruism. The same people who fear it and accuse it of being part of some "NWO" are normally the same people who fear everything from food stamps to education.

Tell your boss he (or she) should be proud of being part of the NWO 'cause it beats the hell out of being a part of the Old World Order.

originally posted by: SUBKONCIOUS
So i'm a curious, since you work close with these people at the UN.. What is their position on ISIS? Seems like it would be a high priority for them to deal with that situation.. Lately it almost seems as if all the global players are just going to kick back and wait until Iran and Russia are forced to deal with the situation themselves..

Now here is where I agree with many critiques of the UN. The UN is fairly solid and just when it comes to the aforementioned sustainable development stuff, like poverty, education, etc.

However, I'm really not satisfied by the consistency with which both the UN addresses conflicts and countries listen to the UN or international law.

For example, when Bush invaded Iraq, it totally was a violation of international law and the UN Charter. So was water boarding and torture. Did you see the UN sanction the US or Britain? No, but they sanction other countries like Iraq or Libya.

As to Isis, what would you have them do? Send in peacekeepers?

Going back to my original post, the UN often can't do a whole lot for the precise reason that the UN Charter is very protective of national sovereignty. Originally, the UN Security Council was charged with stopping countries from violating each other's sovereignty, not charged with dealing with internal affairs, as that would violate sovereignty. See what I mean?

Then in the 90's as a result of such crises as the Somalian and Rwandan situations and bloodbaths, the UN was criticized for not protecting people internally during internal crises. Before that and during those the UN could send peacekeeping troops but they weren't allowed to intervene, again preserving sovereignty and only observing.

Hence the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect was developed, which states that governments have a responsibility to protect their citizens, and if they don't then they themselves are not practicing sovereignty and the UN could come in to restore sovereignty. But it's only been practiced once, in Libya, and Nato folks like France and Italy violated the mandate of protecting citizens by providing weapons to the rebels. And, the mandate did not allow for removal of Ghadafi, which happened. Therefore many countries in the UN system are hesitant to sign on to another intra-country intervention, for example let's say Syria or Iraq.

The UN AND the international community really need to work on the conflict side of the law and practice. The permanent status and veto power of the so-called P-5, Russia, U.S., China, France, and U.K., needs to be revoked. The US and Russia veto all of the time arguably necessary actions but ones that affect their geopolitical interests.

Thanks for the reply.

With all due respect, those goals are a result of extensive and thorough expert input. Most of them have been suggested individually for decades, such as reducing poverty or increasing energy efficiency. As a former science teacher and a person who has worked in development globally, many of these goals are not only necessary but time critical, especially all related to the environment. We cannot afford to wait any longer to take action. Many of the environmental issues are so vast and transnational that anything less than global cooperation, helping each other, financing solutions, trading tech, etc, will not cut it. Once one looks at all of the science and evidence, one moves from "is there a problem" to "there is a major problem and the only responsible thing to do is to address it."

It is absolutely critical that we move towards energy efficiency and a greater share of non-fossil fuel energy systems. Even the energy companies now admit this, seriously. When coal and oil companies even now admit it, it's a truth. Solar energy tech is poised very soon to become cost competitive with fossil fuels. When you remove subsidies and the so called externalities of fossil fuels, many experts calculate that solar already is. But that is neither here nor there. We do have to move towards a more sustainable energy future. Virtually all experts agree, from oil scientists to climatologists. Exactly how to do that and do so effectively is the key question.

I really don't agree with you that all of these goals are just nefarious vehicles to "get us." Again, science and evidence, whether that is economic, social, you name it, are the basis of why these goals have been outlined. To say they were all nefarious or unnecessary would be to ignore the mountains of evidence for let's say the negative effects and prevalence of poverty, or the great need for environmental sustainability.

originally posted by: Kester
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

I admire your thoroughness. However much of what you describe could well be Trojan Horses designed to deceive those like yourself. Instituting sustainability for example could actually be building massive unhealthy systems. www.abovetopsecret.com... My own experience of 'renewable energy' is that it is inefficient junk sold with lies to buyers tempted by very generous subsidies. Some of the installers have admitted they know it's all a fraud. But they still do the work in exchange for a wage.

Which brings us to the private financiers fiat currency/fractional reserve banking system. Learn all you can on that subject and everything you mention can be seen in a different light.

Lots of Authoritarian/Totalitarian methods needed to achieve Agenda21.

Not easy is it.

originally posted by: Cuervo
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

The UN is feared by certain demographics because it exudes an element of intellectualism and altruism. The same people who fear it and accuse it of being part of some "NWO" are normally the same people who fear everything from food stamps to education.

Tell your boss he (or she) should be proud of being part of the NWO 'cause it beats the hell out of being a part of the Old World Order.

Yeah, I mean i can see how people might fear it as many people don't actually know much of what the UN does programmatically and all that. Usually the news only reports random sanctions or pronouncements from the UN regarding conflicts.

But at same time, I also think it is an education issue as to the issues themselves. For example, the conflict side of the UN Charter is all about reigning in the Old World order of countries unilaterally attacking other countries. That's why unilateral military actions without a UN Security Council vote are not legal. To prevent old world conflicts. But we still have many countries ignoring those laws.

It is the same with sustainable development issues. The issues that the UN is attacking aren't dictates. They have been very slowly developed after countless conferences with country representatives, experts, and so on, not to mention a lot of research and money spent. These issues are really important. If people were really educated on the issues and the UN structure they'd probably be less afraid of the UN.

The whole point of the UN really is to stop conflicts and human rights abuses everywhere and address challenges that are transnational in nature, which includes conflict and also large development challenges, such as economic or environmental issues.

I also think that many people or politicians are downright selfish. Many US people and leaders don't want to follow the UN Charter or address climate change and environmental issues simply because the US is really powerful and wants to follow the old word model of might makes right. And, many people don't want to have to change their lifestyles or reduce their profits in order to be more sustainable. Don't underestimate the greed or selfish factor.

originally posted by: xuenchen
Lots of Authoritarian/Totalitarian methods needed to achieve Agenda21.

Not easy is it.

Well, how about pick one aspect of Agenda 21 and let's discuss it and why you think that.

originally posted by: Quetzalcoatl14

originally posted by: SUBKONCIOUS
So i'm a curious, since you work close with these people at the UN.. What is their position on ISIS? Seems like it would be a high priority for them to deal with that situation.. Lately it almost seems as if all the global players are just going to kick back and wait until Iran and Russia are forced to deal with the situation themselves..

Hence the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect was developed, which states that governments have a responsibility to protect their citizens, and if they don't then they themselves are not practicing sovereignty and the UN could come in to restore sovereignty.

Yes, but not only is Iraq's sovereignty dissolving, Their entire country is disintegrating... and no one will argue against the fact that the US is at fault... And now, you have the UN, not only not doing anything... but they are even advising the US to not intervene...

The US and Russia veto all of the time arguably necessary actions but ones that affect their geopolitical interests.

Ok... but what about the UN's geopolitical interest? Its becoming increasingly more difficult, not to believe that ISIS is being used as a tool, by globalists, to topple IRAN...

Should ISIS not be considered a threat to the US as of right now? Border protection has been so lacking lately that even a blind man in a wheel chair could cross it without issues. It scares me to death to think that ISIS members might be learning a little bit of spanish, entering America, and stationing themselves in major cities..

All of the Goals you mentioned are fantastic, and would absolutely be idealistic for the world as a whole.. but its the underlying interests that really worry me...

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

I did say "much" not "all". Thats a Delphi Technique ploy to reframe another's words.

A more sustainable energy future is a future in which we all use less. Recent studies suggest older people who are used to a more frugal lifestyle are greener than younger people who claim green awareness yet cannot do without the heavily advertised luxuries they are accustomed to.

originally posted by: Quetzalcoatl14

originally posted by: xuenchen
Lots of Authoritarian/Totalitarian methods needed to achieve Agenda21.

Not easy is it.

Well, how about pick one aspect of Agenda 21 and let's discuss it and why you think that.

Sure.

from your 2nd posting;

"Sustainable Development Goals
Proposed goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Can all this be accomplished by non-authoritarian means ?

It would take an array of Socialist/Redistribution laws correct ?

originally posted by: Kester
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

I did say "much" not "all". Thats a Delphi Technique ploy to reframe another's words.

A more sustainable energy future is a future in which we all use less. Recent studies suggest older people who are used to a more frugal lifestyle are greener than younger people who claim green awareness yet cannot do without the heavily advertised luxuries they are accustomed to.

I think that you are battling me without needing to man. I think that it is better for us to have a discussion. I am not some evil other. You might find that we in the UN or sustainable development world are quite reasonable and have spent a lot of time looking at various sides. Ask what my position is rather than attack or assume, please.

For example, your second point. Energy studies and research show that most gains in efficiency in energy intensity, which is energy use per capita or energy use in units per unit of GDP, mostly has come from end user efficiency increases, meaning improvements in a variety of consumer energy use. For example, the advent of more efficient light bulbs, or machinery, has made huge gains. However, sustainability does not mean less standard of living at all, but "decoupling" GDP or economy or actual need from energy intensity. So, for example, if an economy is producing 1000 units of x, one goal is to reduce the input of energy necessary to get that much.

Where use is gratuitous or non-necessary or wasteful, then yes, sustainability can mean reducing. For example, there is tremendous amounts of food waste across the globe. In developing countries, it is mainly within the supply chain because of poor storage, refrigeration, and transportation. In developed countries, it is mainly through throw away waste. In these cases, wasting or using less does not mean a reduction in standard of living but instead better systems and more responsible usage.

originally posted by: Cuervo
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

The UN is feared by certain demographics because it exudes an element of intellectualism and altruism. The same people who fear it and accuse it of being part of some "NWO" are normally the same people who fear everything from food stamps to education.

Tell your boss he (or she) should be proud of being part of the NWO 'cause it beats the hell out of being a part of the Old World Order.

Nice one, but curious when most of the rest of the world thinks the UN is a puppet of the US, while many Americans think that the UN is a socialist agenda against their interests, especially when Ol', "Read my lips" was one of the first to actually say, "A new world order".
As for 'beating the hell' out of the old world order, where's the difference? it doesn't say how all those goals will be achieved, it just mentions goals.... "No informations"
Well there is some, I think? oops no there is not. Oh yeah, that 2030, $1.25 subsistence per day thingy
what a carefully calculated figure that is don't you think? Let's see now, a pair of cheapest Asda/Walmart jeans you can buy for around £6.00 or $8,$9 or $10 whatever but not much more. Then go figure how many pairs of jean workers have to make per day, and their payment for each item, (PBR) Just one pair to get paid their daily subsistence, $1.25? Meh! I don't think so, and it's been going on from at the very least, the old century to the new.
So , do you see ASDA and Walmart..and all the rest being told by the UN to hike their jean prices BIG TIME, and all the way back down the line to the workers so's they can be taken out of the real, [enforced] poverty.
Enforced, is not a word the UN uses, Goals is.