Twelve Quotes that Sum Up this #UNGA

What is the story we will tell about this UNGA week? I posed a similar question to panelists and attendees at the #SummitoftheFuture at UNHQ. Heading home almost a week later, I leave inspired by the community I’ve met and the friends I’ve made.

Yes, we do live in frightening times but these are people who refuse to stop doing what’s right, who continue to innovate, who seek out new collaborations and partnerships and who claim and use their voices for change.?They remain optimistic but realistic, they are committed to persevere despite being war-weary, they?are brimming with innovation while clear-eyed about its limits.

As always, we need leaders to step up and lead. And those are still few and far between.

Here are twelve quotes I heard that stood out to me this UNGA. If you heard more please feel free to add them in comments and get in touch! ? ?

“I’m not against people being rich. I’m against people being poor”: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil at the Gates Foundation #Goalkeepers:

“As leaders we do not have the luxury to despair…” and later, “Some things are more important than staying in power…. we are here to serve the people.” President Biden in his last address to the General Assembly: ?

“Nobody likes to be taxed”: Chenai C. Mukumba , Executive Director of the Tax Justice Network Africa , in a #SummitoftheFuture panel conversation about changing the narrative so that citizens understand better how taxation provides things we all benefit from (hint: transparency, efficiency, accountability).

“Debt sustainability has become about the ability to pay. That’s not sustainable. Debt sustainability should be about the ability to pay, to learn and to grow.”: ?Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary General UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on the debt crisis facing developing nations.

"Young people must be in conversations about the global debt crisis because it’s usually a young analyst who is working late at night to do the debt sustainability analysis!": Angela Zhong , youth advocate and representative of UN Major Group on Children and Youth (to loud applause).

“Vote with your fork in the food choices you make…but also vote with your vote!" Anna Lappé , Executive Director, Global Alliance for the Future of Food at a Climate Week event hosted by Food Tank and the The James Beard Foundation .

“Anyone who’s an activist who is not persistent is not an activist.” Jamie Drummond , Co-founder of the The ONE Campaign at its 20th anniversary event:

“We shouldn’t just be talking about food security, we should be talking about nutrition security.”: Dr Cary Fowler , Executive Director of Crop Trust and World Food Prize Foundation 2024 Laureate at Foreign Policy Food+ Forum.

“If you use the business to drive humanity forward you’ll find success for the business.”: Hamdi Ulukaya , Founder and CEO of Chobani at the Devex The Future Can’t Wait event. (Chobani is the fastest growing food and beverage company in the US).

“The responsibility is on us to make sure we do not make the same mistake of the last technological revolution - and to ensure AI is inclusive": Manu Chopra , CEO pf Karya , which uses AI to provide dignified work to rural Indians, at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Impact Data Summit.

“Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow - we are leading now”: Anoushka Sinha,FRSA The ONE Campaign Youth Advocate.

“The bus is all messed up because of this UN shit!”: Woman commuter on Manhattan’s west side on Thursday morning, just to keep us all humble…. :-)