From the inside out: Observations on Quaker work at the United Nations - Softcover

Atwood, David

9780646569383: From the inside out: Observations on Quaker work at the United Nations

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0646569384 ISBN 13: 9780646569383

Publisher: Glass House Books, 2012

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Quakers have maintained offices at the United Nations in New York and Geneva almost since the beginning of the UN system in 1945. While much work by Friends in the cause of peace is local, Friends have long understood that real change towards a more just, peaceful and sustainable world also requires effort at the international level. The 'quiet diplomacy' and other approaches of the staff teams at Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva and New York, and in other parts of the UN system, have been important over the decades of the life of QUNO in the evolution of norms, practices and institutions at the international level on a broad range of concerns to Friends. In this Backhouse Lecture, David Atwood draws on more than sixteen years of experience of QUNO work in Geneva to look at Quaker witness at the UN 'from the inside out'. In something of a 'nuts and bolts' account, Atwood explores such questions as how decisions are made about what issues to work on; tensions that shape choices; and other dimensions and dynamics intended to help Friends to know better the nature of the work done in their name at the UN. He draws especially on his own experience as QUNO-Geneva's Representative for Disarmament and Peace to shed light on some key lessons about the ongoing nature of this style of Quaker engagement. Through several case histories, Atwood demonstrates how it is possible to make a difference, and that considerable change is possible. While confirming his belief in the continuing relevance of Quaker UN work, Atwood concludes by pointing to a number of realities which, in his view, will be important for the future sustainability of that work. In particular, he offers a challenge to Friends to consider the nature and adequacy of our structures for managing that work. He also raises the question: how capable are we as Friends to find that core message for our era, behind which Friends could unite and speak and act globally, with one voice?

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About the Author

David Atwood has dedicated his life to the cause of peace, and served as Representative for Disarmament and Peace in the Quaker UN Office in Geneva. David Atwood grew up in North Carolina, USA, but has spent more than half of his life living in Europe. He has dedicated most of his adult working life to the cause of peace. He served for nearly ten years as Peace Studies Tutor at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, UK, followed by a period as General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. He joined the staff of the Quaker UN Office in Geneva in 1995, where he was Representative for Disarmament and Peace until his retirement from QUNO at the end of June 2011. During this period, David also served as QUNO's Director from 2004 and Interim Director at QUNO-NY in 2007. He remains actively involved in many of the issues under consideration in this lecture. David is a member of Geneva Monthly Meeting (Switzerland Yearly Meeting). Married to Marie-Hlne Culioli, he is also the proud father of Hannah Keilloh, who lives in the UK.

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