Kutesa rallies Christians to act on global crises

Sep 30, 2014

The president of the UN General Assembly, Sam Kutesa has rallied Christians across the globe to act decisively to address global crises.


By Taddeo Bwambale

NEW YORK - The president of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sam Kutesa has rallied Christians across the globe to act decisively to address global crises.
 
In his address during a worship service held at the Cathedral Church of St. John The Devine in New York on Sunday, Kutesa said: “As you are probably all aware, I hail from Uganda in East Africa. I was educated as a lawyer and went on to serve in my country’s Parliament for more than three decades.”
 
Then alluding to Bible teachings, he pledged to draw on his experience as a government minister and diplomat to highlight issues affecting the globe.
 
“I have served as Attorney General; Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and most recently, as Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
 
Citing the book of Genesis chapter 1, Verses 26 and 27 that touch on God’s creation, Kutesa said he would use them as guiding tools in his quest to address pressing global challenges.     
 
“These passages speak to me in a very special way. I view them through the lens of our world today, particularly when reflecting on the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change, violence and conflict, terrorism and man-made natural disasters,” Kutesa stated.
 
He observed that human beings, as custodians of this Earth, have not done a very good job of protecting God’s creation. 
 
“Although we were commanded to rule over the Earth, we have not done so in a kindly manner,” Kutesa said, according to a statement issues by his spokesperson, Jean-Victor Nkolo.
 
“Collectively, we have not ruled the earth with a sense of responsibility.  We have failed to take care in protecting the earth and have instead spoiled the gift we were given.”
 
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Kutesa opened the general debate during the 69th Session of UN General Assembly last week
 
He appealed to the world to uphold this sense of responsibility to all of God’s creation and warned that failure to do so would lead to catastrophic consequences. 
 
“We must endeavour to manage the earth in a caring and loving manner.  Failure to do so could result in catastrophic consequences, some of which we are already seeing today.”
 
Kutesa cited rising sea levels, spreading deserts are spreading and extinction of wildlife as pointers to growing threats nature posed man. 
 
“The future existence of small Island States is in serious doubt. Entire villages are being swept away by floods and landslides, which are increasing, both in frequency and intensity. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the devastating reality that planet Earth is suffering at our hands.  It would seem an understatement to say that time is running out.”
 
As a pledge, the UN leader said he would keep momentum on climate change issues that have featured prominently on agenda of the 69th session.
 
He also noted that so many places in our world were inaccessible due to problems of mankind’s own creation, yet all human beings aspire to live well. 
 
He drew the congregation’s attention to a rise in conflict, tension and disillusion’ around the world said dedication to the teachings of the Bible requires the UN to focus on bringing people of all faiths, ethnicities and cultures together.
 
Kutesa pledged that the UN would play a leading role in resolving global conflicts among them poverty and hunger; maternal health and child mortality; inadequate health and education systems; poor infrastructure; gender inequality; and unemployment, amongst many others. 

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