United Nations

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 show more 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). show less

Of course you support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You probably know some of them. “All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights”: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person”: "Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work." You’ve heard these, haven’t you, in one form or another? But do you know all thirty articles? Are you able to cite them and support them when you see, or hear of them being show more ignored? To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the declaration, proclaimed in December 1948, Allen & Unwin, in association with Amnesty International, has produced a lovely, hardcover, pocket sized illustrated version, now published in the US by MacAdam/Cage.After the official preamble, each of the articles are set out on their own page with a facing illustration. Michel Streich’s illustrations are simple, in dark red, back and white, and are abstract enough to convey the full meaning of the words without leading the reader. The paper is thick matt, and it includes a nice grey ribbon bookmark, making this book attractive enough for a gift.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights isn’t a legally binding document, nor is it a treaty, but it provides the basis for many of the treaties and laws that we follow today, and is certainly a clear basis for a sectarian morality that can be referred to regardless of background or affiliation. That the focus of these rights is the inherent dignity of mankind, rather than an arbitrary dictation by external agency or “book”, makes them particularly valuable. Streich’s imagery will stay with you and provide a good memory jog.The articles themselves are timeless, and worthy of committing to memory. Most of the principles here have been ignored or flouted by just about every nation at some time, and some nations continue to do so overtly and shamelessly, so the repetition of these succinct and powerful words is important. It’s only by continuing to stress the inherent and “inalienable” rights of the “human family” that we can begin to move towards some semblance of freedom and peace in the world. Pie in the sky maybe. But it certainly can’t hurt to teach these to our children, and individually live by them. This simple, but pretty book will appeal to children and adults alike, and makes it easy to visualize and indeed cite the articles regularly, and certainly when you see them being abused.Though it’s only small, this book packs a powerful punch in terms of its striking prose which is no less relevant today than it was 60 years ago, its apt illustrations, and its applicability to the way we choose to live our lives. show less

http://nhw.livejournal.com/231336.html

I found it more interesting than I had expected, especially the first bit, reflecting at some length on both a) what states' mutual and internal obligations now are in the 21st century, and the way in which we have moved on from the Westphalian (or Montevideo) conventions. Also the reflections on what the new security threats actually are, and what can in fact be done about them, made the whole mess feel rather less like the ineluctable forces of nature show more that it sometimes does feel like, and more like something that one can actually do things about.

The core of the report is of course the specific set of proposals for UN reform, and as someone who's not close enough to that policy nexus I can't really judge how utopian or likely the proposals are; they all seem to make sense anyway. show less

It reads as a glorified new year's resolution. It's sufficiently vague with long-winded sentences to appear ambitious without concrete plans.