These two days were very enlightning. Thursday had a meeting of my first committee on Nuclear Test Ban Treaty chaired by our Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith. Australia has already signed and ratified the agreement. UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon informed us that the latest number of countries to sign are 179, with 144 ratifying the agreement.
The actor Michael Douglas delivered the peace message at the meeting where he described his role as being "a citizen of this planet".
The most lasting impression for me was from the former US secretary of Defence, Mr William Perry. As the meeting was private it would inappropriate of me to expand further. However perhaps I could use a quote from former Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, when he was quoted in an article in the "Australian 25/9/08; "Those moral and intellectual pygmies who yearn for US power to be radically diminished do not know anything of what they speak. They would find a world run jointly by Vladimir Putin, the Chinese Politburo and the leaders of Islamist chauvinism an infinitely uglier place than the merely imperfect world we inhabit today".
That night the Ambasador Robert Hill gave a function at his home for PM Kevin, his wife and the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
On Friday I attended a meeting to discuss the protection of journalists in armed conflicts. Also attended a meeting held on the achievements of China about the Millennium Development Goals and the lessons learnt. The Millenium Development Goals are really about health, wealth and equity opportunities for Developing Nations.
Said goodbye to Minister Smith today as he went back to Australia.
We had a meeting with all the parliamentarians at the 63rd session of the UN. Was good to meet and discuss how they operate their parliaments, but like back home .. everyone wants to talk and very few listen.
Today Sunday, as I write this blog, have just returned from a Sunday service at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine to commemorate the opening of the General Assembly. The Church itself was breathtaking as was the organ recitel and the singing.
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