MERIDA — The United Nations (UN) admires Merida because it is a city of examples, not only for its peace and community coexistence, but also for the commitment and alliance of citizens with their institutions, said on Tuesday August 15 the director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar), Alejandro Mejía, at the international conference “Alliances to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2030”.
“The organized civil society of Mérida,” he added, “deserves respect and for this reason, in the name of the UN, where I have been working for five years, I express this recognition to your participation and commitment to face global changes.”
Director of Unitar, Alejandro Mejía (Photo: Celis, Diario de Yucatan)
The former Ecuador Minister of Finance offered a lecture on the 17 objectives that the 193 nations that signed the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda pact, among them Mexico; the talk took place in the University Council Hall of the central building of the UADY.
The organizer of the event, Héctor Navarrete Muñoz, regional director of Grupo Asur and the International Center for the Formation of Authorities and Leaders (Cifal) in Mérida, said that federal, state and municipal governments are concerned about what the future holds and work convinced that together they can contribute to a better world.
Navarrete Muñoz stressed that the authorities are clear about the proposals of Agenda 2030, which seeks a spirit of equality and sustainability. In this sense, the municipal authority has understood the actions to prepare the city of the future, organized civil society represented by the Chamber of Commerce supports these initiatives, and the academic sector, represented by the UADY, seeks the excellence of its students.
“Merida has a very special content with respect to other cities, we care about the future and for that reason we are working on those objectives, we are convinced that we can contribute to a better world,” emphasized Navarrete Muñoz.
Dr. Alex Mejia said that the old model of government is exhausted, it is obsolete because it leaves citizens behind and considers them subjects, and although the citizen has the power of his vote, they only uses it every 6, 3 and 2 years or when there is referendum every two months as in Switzerland, but then the citizen remains owned by the national or local government.
If there are no alliances among citizens, he warned, the 17 objectives of Agenda 2030 will not be achieved. This agenda came into force in 2016 and partner countries have 13 years to improve the conditions of the planet and the inhabitants. Mexico is a country that has committed and restructured its management, environmental and budgetary policies to fulfill its part.
“The only way to achieve the goals is through alliances and the most important of all is the alliance among citizens,” said Dr. Mejía. “Many people believe that the alliance must be with the private sector to achieve development, but it is not the most important; others believe that it is with the press, it is very important, but it is nothing more than a vehicle; with the academy is much more important for the role it has in the formation of the new generations, because it awakens the creativity of people, develops competitiveness and intellectual skills, but all of them are not the most important. The most important are the alliances that make the citizen with the citizen because among all we can make our world better.”
Corruption, poverty, inequality and bad politicians are not only seen in Latin American countries but also in developed countries. All political evil does not think about the damages it causes and although the people seemingly all are equal, the most valuable citizens are those who contribute to society, he said.
Alex Mejia, also said that the first step in the improvement of the Planet were the Millennium Development Goals established in 2001 and now the agenda 2030 is the second part, that is only possible if all collaborate.
Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure global peace and prosperity.
2) Zero hunger
3) Health and welfare for all
5) Gender equality
6) Clean water and sanitation
8) Decent work and economic growth
9) Industry with innovation and infrastructure
10) Reduction of inequalities
11) Sustainable cities and communities
12) Responsible production and consumption
13) Climate action
14) Sustainable underwater life
15) Life of terrestrial ecosystems
16) Peace, justice and solid institutions
17) Alliances to achieve the objectives
Goals
According to www.onu.org.mx, each objective has specific goals, which should be achieved in the next 15 years. In total there are 169.
Source: yucatan.com.mx/merida
