The purpose of the UN is to "preserve peace, advance justice and constitute a permanent structure for

international cooperation." In other words, the United Nations acts as a world forum to help countries work together
to achieve peaceand human rights.

Good morning everyone!

Thank you so much for inviting me here to speak with you today.
How great it is to be here at the Stockholm International School, surrounded by academic excellence, and also to connect
with you future leaders, artists, business people, wherever life takes you.
SIS is certainly going to be a great beginning.
Today is United Nations Day. Sixty-nine years ago today, the United Nations was founded in San Francisco to promote
international cooperation.
Every year on October 24 we celebrate this momentous event. Why?
You know what the UN means to me? When I hear the UN, I think of myself at age 9, standing next to my father, who at
the time was a professor of international affairs at Columbia in NYC, just a few years before he became President Carters
National Security Advisor.
The UN was founded in San Francisco, but it is based in a big building in NYC today.
My father had taken me to an event at the UN to celebrate space exploration. I remember the room vividly -- they had
made the ceiling of the room light up with stars.
And there were so many different people in the room, from all over the world, looking up at the ceiling together.
The people in the room were from different places, they were wearing different kinds of clothes from where they came
from in the world some were from Japan, wearing Japanese Kimonos; some were from Kenya, wearing traditional Kenyan
attire, some were wearing Sahris and some were wearing headdresses.
And all of us were smiling together as we looked up at the ceiling to celebrate space and the future frontier together.
That was something special for me and it is a vivid memory.
I think that could be the day the seed was planted in my mind to go into diplomacy and to become a diplomat. I began to
see what a constructive role my country the United States can play in the world bringing people together.
I said thats what I want to do bring people together through diplomacy.
But even in my wildest dreams at that time, I could not imagine standing before you today as US Ambassador to Sweden,
representing a historic US President Barack Obama who absolutely believes in and is committed to the UN process.
I must say I am so proud that the most recent two US Ambassadors to the UN are friends, and also who are women who
reflect the diversity of America African American, Irish American America embraces our multicultural identity.
In certain ways, that is what SIS is about a celebration of diversity and multiculturalism, and learning from each other.

What does international diplomacy mean? What do I do? How can the UN be used to change the world and to make it a
better place?

Talking with others, including those you disagree with;

Finding things in common and working together to solve problems (future of the Arctic)

The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based
on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people.
Every one counts.
United Nations Day is an occasion for us to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the work of the United Nations and what it
has done for the world.
When we celebrate United Nations Day, we are celebrating the values we all hold true - the values of humanity, unity, and
world peace.
As we look at the state of the world today, we need this more than ever.
I dont want you all to inherit a world with more wars, more conflicts, more challenges. I want you all to inherit a world
with none of those things.
We need to work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop
environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms.
In todays highly connected world, we need to be united more than ever.
The power of collective action is incredible, and it starts with amazing students like you.
Value of Education vehicle for empowerment.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela:
"Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world."
Remember, the world is yours! Go out and get it!
Thank you very much for having me here today. I wish you the best in your future.

Before coming
over tonight in
the Secondary
Schools Night,
Iwas thinking w
hat message I
shall deliver in

your wonderful
celebration. I
was thinking I
must have a
limited time to
speak;after all,
the coronation

primarily gives
honor and
glamour to
theroyal court of
the 2011 Her
Majesty Queen
MA. VENICE

SHANEZand
His Highness
CHRISTIAN
RENZ, and their
royal court
Tonigh, I feel ver
y much proud of
the accomplish

ments ourinstitut
ion has made,
with the support
and cooperation
of parentsand
teachers of this
school, because
since then when
we trustedso

much the
opportunity to
develop and
nurture the
young mindsof
our school
children, we are
here together as

we celebrate
the61
st

founding
anniversary of
Saint Joseph
High School of
Laoag,Inc.