The EU and World Regionalism, co-edited by Philippe De Lombaerde of UNU-CRIS, investigates the impact that the EU has on regionalization in other parts of the world, and whether that impact has been direct as well as indirect.

The UNU has signed an agreement with and Japanese advertising and media company Dentsu to collaborate on joint projects. The aim is to “garner the wisdom of humankind” in search of new values for the twenty-first century.

In October, the UNU held sessions of its Global Seminar series in Namibia and Ghana. The former considered “Africa’s Natural Resources: From Conflict to Sustainable Development” while the latter focused on “Strategies for Sustainable Development and the Pressures of Globalization”.

Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of the UN University, is the recipient of the 2009 Matteo Ricci International Award. Established in 1998 by the Faculty of Political Science of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan), the award recognizes the unique contributions of individuals to bridge cultural and intellectual divides for the betterment of mankind.

The award ceremony, held on 27 Oct., marked the fourth time this award has been bestowed. In his speech, delivered in Italian, Rector Osterwalder recognized the role of dialogue, justice, dignity, risk and responsibility as defining features of humanity. He affirmed that the UNU is uniquely placed to encourage the dialogue of trust among cultures that is necessary to arrive at viable responses to sustainable global development.

United Nations Day (UN Day) is observed annually worldwide on 24 October to commemorate the founding of the United Nations in October 1945. To celebrate UN Day 2009, on Friday, 23 October, the UNU presented an academic symposium and, along with UN agencies in Japan, welcomed the public to outdoor activities, exhibitions and performances at United Nations…