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The UN at 80: Achievements, Failures, and the Fight for Relevance

The UN at 80: Achievements, Failures, and the Fight for Relevance

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 To mark the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, we trace its origins, major achievements, and reflect upon its vital role in multilateral cooperation. We also note its shortcomings and consider the many challenges it faces at what seems like a critical crossroad in world history. Can the UN stay fit for purpose and hold together as global powers increasingly shift focus to regional influence and finding unilateral solutions to issues like migration, security and health? As UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, despite its need to reform, the UN may never be more needed. As always, we invite listeners to join us in holding intentions and prayers for wise leadership, fairer funding, and renewed global cooperation. Prayers and intention start at 42 minutes 31 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we consider the vital role and many challenges the UN faces as it marks its 80-year anniversary, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that all global leaders will be moved by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to “Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.” Please join us in holding this. Mentioned in this episode: Contemplative activism online workshop hosted Legacy Labyrinth Project THIS SATURDAY, 31 January 2026 at 10am MST (2 hours): https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/llpa Find out about the UN’s 80th anniversary, its achievements and challenges at: https://www.un.org/en/UN80 Chapter markers: 00:00:08 Introduction 00:01:32 UN’s 80th Anniversary 00:08:08 Achievements of the UN 00:17:09 UN’s Challenges and Critiques 00:24:44 Current UN Engagements 00:31:09 UN’s Future Initiatives 00:37:48 The Path Forward for the UN 00:42:31 Intentions and Prayers 00:46:16 Contemplative Activism Initiative Sources referenced in this episode: https://unacov.uk/un80-initiative/ https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/wb12-un-greatest-accomplishment/ https://www.ungeneva.org/en/meetings-events/events/observances-special-events/2025/10/united-nations-80 https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/09/un-marking-80th-anniversary-plan-for-change/ https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-foreignpolicy/failures-and-successes-of-the-un/ https://www.cfr.org/timelines/major-moments-un-history https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7128315/ https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb13-ten-challenges-un-2025-2026 https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2025/11/un-peacekeeping-operations-closed-consultations.php https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/world/united-nations-humanitarian-aid-cuts.html https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-01-15/secretary-generals-remarks-the-general-assembly-priorities-for-2026 https://press.un.org/en/2026/db260119.doc.htm https://press.un.org/en/2026/db260120.doc.htm https://www.unrefugees.org/news/un-refugee-agency-estimates-25-million-people-need-resettlement/ https://www.zif-berlin.org/sites/zif-berlin.org/files/2025-11/ZIF World Map Peace Operations_2025-2026.pdf https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/united-nations-peacekeeping-ministerial-2025 https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/stronger-together-milestones-that-mattered-in-2025 https://www.who.int/about/general-programme-of-work/fourteenth https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/policy-briefs/pact-for-the-future-from-adoption-to-implementation/ https://www.justsecurity.org/103380/un-future-pact-reform/ https://globalsolutions.org/updates/mondial-journal/the-pact-for-the-future-steps-toward-a-modernized-united-nation/ https://www.un.org/pact-for-the-future/en/about-pact https://passblue.com/2025/01/14/security-council-reform-when-and-how-it-can-be-done/ https://unfccc.int/news/secretary-general-s-remarks-to-the-general-assembly-on-priorities-for-2026 https://www.ipinst.org/2025/09/the-un-at-80-charting-a-path-for-the-future-of-multilateralism https://www.un.org/en/climatechange https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goals https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16201.doc.htm https://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?en_historical-examples https://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/the-2016-world-humanitarian-summit-report-card-both-failing-marks-and-substantive-gains-for-an-increasingly-globalized-humanitarian-landscape/pdf/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8490833/ https://unfoundation.org/unga80/ https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166783 https://www.un.org/en/about-us/history-of-the-un/2011-2020 Join us in person for intention holding: https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention ...
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