The UN has a local TV and billboard ad campaign called “Everyone’s a Delegate” to get New Yorkers to see beyond the inconveniences of the General Assembly meetings this week and focus on the important issues on their agenda.
I particularly like the TV spot where a New Yorker gives delegates directions on how to avoid 2nd Avenue.
One of the cute billboards from the UN ad campaign you see around the city says:
“We apologize for causing traffic gridlock, but hopefully we will break through a little political gridlock.”
Despite this claim, it was still not clear as of Friday whether or not governments were going to be able to break the deadlock in negotiations with the United States on their proposed changes to the General Assembly “Outcome Document.” The hundreds of 11th hour changes introduced by the US delegation this month have rankled NGOs and delegates who have been working on the draft text diligently since June.
Meanwhile, several civil society groups have organized their own “Open UN” event taking place at Riverside Church tomorrow. It’s the only UN-focused event that is totally open to the general public. Among the participants are the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Wangara Matthai. I’ll try and check out at least some of the gathering.