Happy 75th anniversary to the United Nations
The first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations started 75 years ago today. The event ran from 10 January to 14 February 1946.
But where did you think this meeting was held? Not in the subsequent headquarters of the UN in New York City which I’ve visited a couple of times. No, it was in my city of London in a building that I’ve visited countless times. The building is the Methodist Central Hall opposite Westminster Abbey.
So now you know.
During the appalling US presidency of Donald Trump, the United States – while hosting the UN – has played a very poor role in this institution, even planning to withdraw from the World Health Organisation. This should all change with Joe Biden in the White House.
Never have we more needed international cooperation to tackle global problems like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, poverty and refugees.