List of Past Events

June 1, 2008
U Thant Institute Annual Ambassadors' Luncheon
Venue:     Shorehaven Golf Club, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
Focus:         “Latin America and the Caribbean: Opportunities and Challenges”
Address by:     Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean,  United Nations Development Programme
Ms. Diane Goss Farrell, Board Member, Export-Import Bank of the United States

January 22, 2008
U Thant Institute Anniversary Lecture-Luncheon: “Prospects for Peace V”
Venue:     Private Delegates Dining Room, United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:     “National Reconciliation in Myanmar/Burma: The Role of the U.N.”
Address by:     Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar

June 13, 2007
U Thant Institute Launch of the "Friendship Across Cultures" Education Program with the support of UNESCO and UNICEF
Venue:     Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:     "Education for Peace"
Launched by:     Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek, wife of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

January 22, 2007
U Thant Institute Welcome Luncheon in Honor of Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek, wife of U.N.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Venue:     Metropolitan Club, New York City, USA
Focus:     "Empowerment Through Education and Economic Initiatives
Address by:     Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women

December 1, 2006
U Thant Institute Anniversary Lecture-Luncheon
Venue:     United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:         “Prospects for Peace IV: Promoting Oneness of the Human Community”
Address by:     Shashi Tharoor, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications & Public Information and Dr. Jonathan Clarke, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs

June 16, 2006
U Thant Institute Ambassadors’ Dinner
Venue:     The Inn at Longshore, Westport, Connecticut, USA
Focus:     “Opportunities and Challenges Facing Africa and the United Nations Response”
Beneficiary:     African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF), Kenya
Address by:    H. E. Mr. Samuel O Outlule, Permanent Representative of Republic of Botswana
H. E. Alpha Ibrahim Sow, Permanent Representative of Guinea
H. E. Mr. Tens C. Kapoma, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia
H. E. M. Pascal Gayama. Deputy Permanent Representative of Republic of Congo

Keynote speech by H. E. Maged Abdelaziz, Permanent Representative of Egypt

December 15, 2005
U Thant Institute Anniversary Lecture-Luncheon & United Nations’ 60th Anniversary Celebrations
Venue:     United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:     “Prospects for Peace III:  Politically Speaking - United Nations, Moment of Change”
Address by:     UTI Advisory Trustees: Professor Ibrahim Gambari, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Sir Brian Urquhart, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs

October 14, 2005
United Nations University Symposium
Venue:     United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan
Focus:     “The Role of the United Nations Secretary General: The Past as Prelude to the Future”
Address by:     UTI Advisory Trustee: Honorable Anand Panyarachan, former Prime Minister of Thailand

June 5, 2005
U Thant Institute Ambassadors' Luncheon
Venue:     The Inn at Longshore, Westport, Connecticut, USA
Focus:     “Helping children affected by the devastation of the 2005 Tsunami”
Beneficiary:     Am/Pulavarmani Sharifdeen Vidyalaya, Periyaneelavanai, Maruthumunai,
Kalmunai school, Sri Lanka

Address by:     Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
Ambasador Iftekhar Ahmad Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations

April 22, 2005
U Thant Institute Lectures
Venue:     United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:     “Day of Peace.”  The event explored the essence of Buddhism that inspired U Thant’s belief that universal love is espoused by all great religions of the world.
Lecture by:     Venerable Sayadaw Ashin Inaka of Myanmar, Pandith  Venerable Kurunegada Piyatissa of Sri Lanka  and Andrew Ollendzki, Executive Director of Barr Center for Buddhism, Barre, Massachusetts.

December 3, 2004
U Thant Institute Anniversary Symposium
Venue:     United Nations, New York City, USA
Focus:     “Prospects for Peace”
Address by:     Ambassador John Dauth, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations,  Senator Timothy Wirth, UN Foundation ,
and Under- Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari

June 6, 2004
U Thant Institute Ambassadors' Luncheon honoring Ambassadors from ASEAN countries
Venue:     The Inn at Longshore, Westport, Connecticut, USA
Focus:     “The Trafficking of Women and Children in South East Asia and the United States”
Beneficiary:     The Development and Education Program for Daughters & Communities, Mai Sai, Thailand
Keynote speech by Ambassador Rezlan Ishar Jenie, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations. 
The Luncheon was attended by ambassadors from Brunei, Cambodia,  South Korea, Laos,  Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

“To make a better world one must understand the world we live in.”  (U Thant)