Ambassador of Austria to the UN and President of the ECOSOC, H.E. Martin Sajdik (with yellow tie) with UVU faculty and students
Sign under the photo: “My best wishes to the Utah International Mountain Forum in – so ably – promoting the SDGs, and the post-2015 Development Agenda. With my fondest memories, Martin Sajdik.”
In recent years Utah Valley University has been no stranger to visiting dignitaries from prominent international bodies and countries. Thursday, February 12, 2015 was no exception. His Excellency Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations (UN), and President of one of the six primary organs of the UN called the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), came to UVU to present the goals of ECOSOC in the next fifteen years with regards to sustainable global development.
His Excellency Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations during meeting with UIMF members
Before his presentation to the larger student population Ambassador Sajdik met with students and faculty from Utah International Mountain Forum, (UIMF), a coalition of various clubs at the university focused on sustainable mountain development (SMD). At this meeting Mr. Sajdik engaged these students on how their organizations could work in conjunction with ECOSOC to facilitate sustainable mountain development right here in Utah, and how Utah can network with other mountain regions to communicate best practices.
UVU is gaining increasing attention from the UN by successfully hosting conferences in 2007, 2011 and 2012 on women’s issues in mountain areas. UVU is also planning on hosting its fourth conference this fall. Furthermore, UVU has participated with students and faculty at other international forums in years past that focus on sustainable development, and especially in mountain areas.
At the beginning of the meeting Jesler Molina, President of UIMF introduced a handful members of coalition to the distinguished guest, Mr. Sajdik and his wife. He briefly described main goals and initiatives of UIMF since its creation in 2011.
Distinguished guests and the audience then watched a short documentary video about UIMF and its main achievements in the advocacy of SMD agenda both in the state of Utah and globally.
Then Ambassador Sajdik spoke of the upcoming goals of ECOSOC. He addressed the framework for goals laid out in Rio + 20, as well as how ECOSOC is adjusting to implement those goals. He expressed the importance to have strong stakeholders, especially in the United States who will encourage the government to join these vital international coalitions, and than hold them accountable afterward. The United States has a lot to offer to other nations when it comes to sustainable mountain development, and also may learn a lot from successful practices of other mountain nations.
Mr. Sajdik expressed his enthusiasm to see where sustainable development lands in the next fifteen years. He also went on to explain that ECOSOC is the vehicle for which countries may work together to brainstorm and implement sustainable development goals. ECOSOC is then responsible for facilitating an international platform that will allow for the bilateral and multilateral agreements to grow and succeed.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting Ambassador Sajdik took questions and ideas from students. He was impressed to see that UVU, for example, contributed to the promotion of the international year of farming.
His Excellency Martin Sajdik, PR of Austria to the UN With UIMF members: Deann Torsak ( L ) Kiersten Dumas (second R) and Deena Aigne ( R )
Distinguished guest heard from one student named Kiersten Dumas, about her experience growing up on a farm and family farming in Utah, and in the United States. Ms. Dumas also informed Mr. Sajdik about engaging high school students in an essay writing contest this fall in conjunction with UVU’s Women of the Mountains conference, and experiences on hosting a similar one during 2014 on the topic of family farming in Utah. Hailey Eggleston, another UVU student shared with Ambassador Sajdik her excitement with organizing the fourth international Women of the Mountains Conference in Utah and asked to find interested partners and individuals in Austria. Other students also had the opportunity to ask questions and engage Mr. Sajdik directly concerning topics of sustainable development.
Dr. Bob Palais, one of the advisors for UIMF, also informed guest with joint activities and contribution from the prominent mountaineers in the United States and from abroad, Austria included in SMD advocacy.
It was a great event and a vivid example of engaged learning for UVU students on a global level.
Visit of dignitary from the United Nations took place thanks to the efforts of the Office of International Affairs and Diplomacy and personally Dr. Rusty Butler, who is a head of that office and also a focal point for the Mountain Partnership at UVU.
Jesse Gray, UVU and Vermont Law School alumni
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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS
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UVU Press-Release: http://blogs.uvu.edu/newsroom/2015/02/02/austria-united-nations-ambassador-to-lecture-on-new-global-strategy/#more-6109
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Audio Recording of the meeting with Ambassador Sajdik
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