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United Nations

Author of Basic Facts About the United Nations

1,605+ Works 3,187 Members 38 Reviews 2 Favorited

About the Author

Series

Works by United Nations

Your United Nations (1969) 12 copies
The Essential UN (2018) 6 copies
Climate Action 2009/2010 (2009) 4 copies
Everyman's United Nations (1959) 4 copies
World Drug Report 2010 (2010) 3 copies
ABC des Nations Unies (2012) 2 copies
Expropriation (2013) 2 copies
World Drug Report 2020 (2021) 2 copies
Contigo Avanzar 2 copies
Policy Paper 1 copy
Annual review 1981 (1981) 1 copy
The United Nations - a pictorial book — Corporate Author — 1 copy
Fakta om FN 1 copy
Colombia--de narcōtĭcis (2004) — Author — 1 copy
World Drug Report 2019 (2019) 1 copy
World drug report 2009 (2009) 1 copy
Action for Disarmament (2014) 1 copy
Africa Water Atlas (2010) 1 copy
Profiting from Abuse (2002) 1 copy
World Drug Report 2012 (2012) 1 copy
DERECHOS HUMANOS (2002) 1 copy
Law of the Sea (1983) 1 copy
Le Fanage 1 copy
L'Ensilage 1 copy

Associated Works

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Common Knowledge

Other names
Организация Объединённых Наций
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Reviews

I'm trying to write reviews for all the books I read. For this one I need to make the confession up-front. I wrote the book. Hence the review can hardly be objective. Nevertheless, with the benefit of hindsight, plus the fact that a new version of the guide has been written (by another author) I think I can make some considered observations about it. This was the third version of this guide produced by the International Trade Centre and although I had these earlier versions to use as basic research material, I really found them inadequate and in every case, I really had to begin the writing from "scratch". There were also some constraints imposed by the ITC on me...specifically by the project manager, Bertrand Monrozier. Bertrand had fairly firm views on what he wanted included and, to my mind anyway, a rather overly positive view of the over-riding importance of networking. So networking is, perhaps over-emphasised in the book. Though I acknowledge Bertrand's friendly and capable guiding hand...especially in negotiating the politics of the ITC.
One thing that I would like to have seen in the book was an index and I argued loud and long with the editors about this....ultimately, unsuccessfully. And I still feel that it is a deficiency. I've had trouble finding sections myself that I know are in there....simply because there is no index. The editors argued, and perhaps they are right, that with electronic versions and electronic searching n Index is redundant.
But what about the content? Actually, I think the content is pretty good. I put a lot of myself and my own experience as an international trade representative into the book......and I know others have found it of great value. A was always concerned about the contents dating too fast.....especially with the web sites and links listed. In fact, I did suggest that it should be revised every six months as far as these electronic links were concerned ....but the ITC did not have the resources for this.
My original draft was considerably larger and the primary editor cut it back savagely. On the whole, I think she did a great job and i enjoyed working with her.....but the nuances have been lost. Where I might have said something like; "You might like to consider the consequences of participating in a trade display with less than five exhibitors"....the editor was blunt: "Don't exhibit with less than five exhibitors". So their tone of the whole book is much more directive than my original version. Maybe it's better for it. And it is certainly a lot shorter.
I was later approached by a Government Organisation to help them in restructuring their own trade commissioner service because they really liked the tables and forms etc which I'd included in the book. And they still look pretty good to me....even with the march of time and the increasing use of technology. I must say, that one of the best things that I think is in the book are the short lists of 14 things that trade representatives need from their home organisation and 14 things that the home office needs from the trad representatives.)Boxes 1 and 2). I remember showing these lists (which are really self-obvious) to one of the General Managers of my old organisation (Austrade) ...and he exclaimed....."Oh Gee!....we are not doing that"..... for the first item on the list. And, the reality is that most trade organisations are not doing most of these self-obvious things.
Actually, to write this review, I've been forced to take the book out and re-read various sections. I still think it's pretty good and well worth five stars. (others may disagree).
… (more)
 
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cpcs-acts | Sep 21, 2020 |
Préstamo permanente de Alfonso Vera a la Biblioteca
 
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Consultoria | Jun 17, 2016 |
Volumen 1 y 2, préstamo de Alfonso Vera a la Biblioteca
 
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Consultoria | Jun 17, 2016 |

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Works
1,605
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3,187
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Rating
3.8
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38
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1,962
Languages
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