Speak to World Leaders through YouTube
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05:11 pm | September 24, 2009 | Politics
Be a Citizen Ambassador to the United Nations:
Speak to World Leaders through YouTube
As world leaders from 192 United Nations Member States converge on New
York for the 64th session of the General Assembly, the Department of
Public Information is launching a groundbreaking campaign entitled
"Citizen Ambassadors to the United Nations", which encourages people
everywhere to directly engage with decision makers by uploading video
messages on the UN YouTube channel.
The innovative "Citizen Ambassadors" campaign will take place from 23
September through 10 October 2009, coinciding with the General Debate
part of the General Assembly. It harnesses the power of online
video-sharing and offers a unique opportunity for world citizens –
youth in particular – to make their voices heard during the United
Nations General Assembly by responding to the question: "If you had
the opportunity to speak to the world leaders, what would you say?"
Videos featuring Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and high-profile
celebrities, including UN Messenger of Peace George Clooney, will be
posted on the UN YouTube channel beginning 23 September 2009. It will
ask online users to reply with their own video messages on how to
create "a better, safer, world" by 10 October 2009.
The United Nations will select the best five video entries. The
finalists will be designated "Citizen Ambassadors," and will be
invited to United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the 64th UN
Day. There, they will take a special guided tour of UN Headquarters,
have their photo taken with Secretary-General Ban and receive VIP
seating at the UN Day Concert, to be held on Friday 23 October 2009.
The campaign is the latest in a series of initiatives by
Secretary-General Ban, which seek to utilize the power of the Internet
and online social networking to increase awareness of the work of the
UN and to engage a new generation of world citizens in the importance
of international diplomacy. These initiatives include the "We Must
Disarm" campaign, which utilizes the online social networking sites,
Twitter and Facebook, to actively disseminate information about
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
The UN YouTube Channel can be found at
For further information, please contact Ms. Einat Temkin, Outreach
Division, Department of Public Information, [email protected],
tel. 917-367-5841.