New York: Europe and the Arabs

In a message marking the start of the new year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to leaders everywhere, urging them to take action and choose humanity and the planet over suffering. He said that our future depends on us collectively having the courage to work for justice, humanity, and peace.

In his message, the Secretary-General added: “Today, as we enter a new year, the world stands at a crossroads. All around us is chaos and uncertainty: here, there, there, climate collapse, and systematic violations of international law. There is even a general retreat from the principles that unite us as one human family.” According to the UN Daily News, a copy of which we received Tuesday morning,

Guterres said that people everywhere are asking: “Are there any leaders even listening? Are they prepared to do something?” “Peace must prevail.”

As we turn the page on a turbulent year, the Secretary-General said one fact speaks louder than words: “Global military spending has risen to $2.7 trillion, an increase of nearly 10 percent. This is more than 13 times the total development assistance and equivalent to the entire GDP of Africa.”

The Secretary-General noted that this is happening while conflicts are raging with a ferocity not seen since the Second World War. He called for a new year in which we must resolve to right our priorities. To make the world safer, the Secretary-General stressed, we must start by investing more in fighting poverty and less in waging war. “Peace must prevail,” he added.

António Guterres said that it is clear the world has the resources to improve living conditions, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice.