| Notes |
Not all news coming out of the United Nations is raising eyebrows.
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has appointed Duane Parde, executive director of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the nation's largest organization of state legislators, to the United States National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO for short.
Actually, the United States withdrew from UNESCO during the end of President Reagan's first term in 1984, citing irresponsible spending and a bloated bureaucracy. In the 20 years since, UNESCO significantly improved its overall operations, leading President Bush to rejoin the global organization in 2002.
Through the State Department, the commission advises Uncle Sam on issues related to education, science, communications, culture, and the formulation and implementation of U.S. policy toward UNESCO.
"As we look toward our children's future, it becomes extremely important to place a high value on communication, information and knowledge," says Parde. "This is precisely how we will break down the digital divide and create opportunities for all people, regardless of race, creed or economic sustainability." |