Special News--October 2023
Are You a Non?Respecting Colleagues--Balancing Influence The word "non" can be used inadvertently or intentionally to define relationships,
levels of influence, and even worth in civil society and government engagement.
The United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York. Image--UN photo
Note that it is United Nations Day on 24 October 2023.
Use it as an opportunity to learn more about the UN." ‘We the Peoples’ are the celebrated opening words of the UN Charter. It is ‘We the Peoples’ who are embarking today on the road to 2030. Our journey will involve Governments as well as Parliaments, the UN system and other international institutions, local authorities, indigenous peoples, civil society, business and the private sector, the scientific and academic community – and all people. Millions have already engaged with, and will own, this Agenda. It is an Agenda of the people, by the people, and for the people – and this, we believe, will ensure its success.” Paragraph 52. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations ------------
Overview
In this Update (#88), we feature Kelly's brief op-ed, "Wrong Way! A Reality Check on Being a Non." Kelly explores how the term non "can be used inadvertently or intentionally to define relationships, levels of influence, and even worth in civil society and government engagement." Our intention is to encourage us all to reflect on--and hopefully change--how we use such terms in our international interactions and work.
We conclude the Update with some personal perspectives on being "people of faith-hope-love" in the Christian tradition who embrace "common ground for the common good." It is an inclusive approach which encourages active partnership with a diverse group of colleagues on behalf of wellbeing for all people and the planet.
Suggested Applications--Making It Personal
- Read "A Reality Check on Being a Non." What are some of your initial responses and ideas? We have included several excerpts below and also a link to read the entire three-page piece.
- Consider a term besides a "non" to describe and refer to (individually or combined): civil society, private industry, academic sectors, and philanthropic organizations. Any suggestions?
- Share this Update with your colleagues, organization(s), and network(s). Discuss practical applications for your life and work.
See these Global Integration Updates:
Warm greetings,
Kelly and Michèle
MCAresources@gmail.com
Featured Resources
Are You a Non?
Respecting Colleagues--Balancing Influence
“The scale and ambition of the new Agenda [for Sustainable Development] requires a revitalized Global Partnership to ensure its implementation. We fully commit to this. This Partnership will work in a spirit of global solidarity, in particular solidarity with the poorest and with people in vulnerable situations. It will facilitate an intensive global engagement in support of implementation of all the Goals and targets, bringing together Governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations system and other actors and mobilizing all available resources.” Paragraph 39. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations
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Wrong Way!
A Reality Check on Being a Non
Kelly S. O'Donnell, PsyD
(link to full article HERE)
The word "non" can be used inadvertently or intentionally to define relationships,
levels of influence, and even worth in civil society and government engagement.
Have you ever felt belittled—a bit or a bunch, subtly or overtly--when interacting with someone who seemingly has more power than you do? I certainly have. Unfortunately, this can be a frustrating experience when trying to engage relevantly on a more equal footing in many settings such as at events hosted by United Nations and government agencies. Feeling second class and being treated that way—even unintentionally: think of micro-aggressions--is not exactly conducive to an all of society, collaborative approach to tackle some of our world’s toughest problems.
The designation and use of “terms” are a major culprit. I want to tap into my background as a psychologist to remind us how the use of terms can both psychologically and practically disempower (maintain power imbalances) and marginalize (minimize inclusion) people and groups.....
The case in point is the almost ubiquitous, entrenched, and unquestioned use of the term "non" in English within international, intergovernmental, and multi-sectoral discourse. For example: non-Westerners, non—governmental organizations, non-state actors and other deleterious and frankly “non-sense” designations. Surely there must be better terms—and if so what might they be!
Practically, non-sense is about conveniently defining others by what they are not. And psychologically it is about feeling more secure by referring to others as "non-us.” Further, it’s about who is in the in-groups and who is in the out-groups. It’s about “othering.”
We all engage in this type of categorization to an extent of course as labels and groupings help us make sense of the world around us. However, it remains important to question the implicit valuing embedded within our designation and groupings. When we use the qualifier non as part of a group’s label, let’s ask ourselves: “Is it really necessary? Is it really neutral? Is it really helpful? Is it really fair?”
And consider these two equally important, corollary questions: Why on earth do people tolerate being referred to as nons? Surely there is a better term and terms to use!
Read the full version of this article HERE.
United Nations emblem in the General Assembly Hall in New York.
Photo: UN/Cia Pak
Note that it is United Nations Day on 24 October 2023.
Use it as an opportunity to learn more about the UN.
Personal Reflections
Being People of Faith-Hope-Love
California Coastline USA--Image courtesy and © ENOD 2016
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1964
As people of faith who practice Christian spirituality, we are committed to responsibly engage with others in the challenges facing our world, locally through globally, while holding firmly to our belief that we are in God's hands. We pray that God's purposes "will be done on earth as they are in heaven;" acknowledge that prayer, repentance, and relationship with God are key to human-planetary wellbeing; and live in hope for the time when God through Jesus Christ will decisively intervene in human history with equity--righteousness and justice--to restore all things. And in the meantime, we seek to embrace lifestyles of integrity that prioritize a deep, practical love for truth, peace, and people--and this includes being willing to acknowledge, resist, and confront evil in its many forms (starting with ourselves ourselves, etc.).
We do not want to further problematize our world's plight by focusing primarily on the negative. Rather we want to also promote the many examples of the good going forward, as people of integrity find common ground for the common good.
Finally, we want to highlight that the despair and disillusion that result from seemingly intractable problems like corruption can also be quite positive. They can embody a crucial existential message about reality that can be "revisited"--explored and heeded--rather than simply "resisted." They can point us to Someone who is bigger than ourselves, the SDGs, humanity, and our world--the knowable, Eternal One who is both in and beyond space-time and who loves us all dearly.
The above thoughts build upon the Personal Reflections in Perils, Paralysis, Hope: Sustainable Development-Sustainable Destruction? (Global Integration Update, October 2022).
Member Care Associates
MCAresources@gmail.com
Member Care Associates Inc. (MCA) is a non-profit, Christian organization working internationally from Geneva and the USA. MCA's involvement in Global Integration focuses on the wellbeing and effectiveness of personnel and their organizations across sectors (e.g., mission, humanitarian, peace, health, and development sectors) as well as global mental health and integrity/anti-corruption, all with a view towards collaboratively supporting sustainable development for all people and the planet. Our services include consultation, training, research, resource development, and publications.
