Tag: #UN

When Art Speaks: Ode to ARTivism©

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry15 Comments

Covid-Conflict-Climate with personal traumas double

Leave no doubt our world is in big trouble

Divides are growing wider

Challenges are becoming greater

Inequalities are entrenching deeper

Bodies of women, girls weaponized, rights rolling back further

The drum-cry for climate action, conflict cessation beats ever louder

It ricochet off United Nations walls where world leaders gather

It’s in the tapestry of poetry, spoken word reciter

It’s in the brush and colorful strokes of muralist, painter

ARTivism. Conveyed on walls, painted on jaguar’s sculpture

The voices of world leaders and artists echo, efforts redouble

Our world is in big trouble

BUT

There is something we each can do

You plus me—8 billion strong—not few

We have the collective power to pursue

Policies and legislation whether old or new

Pen’s power mightier than sword rings true

To move from words to act, action-on-action accrue

The agency of voice, power of vote—change will breakthrough

To build back better systems, post-Covid debut

Better means just with equity, reaching equal outcome for all, not the few

The divides don’t need block restorative field of view

There’s enough to go around inequalities undo

Challenges we can overcome—political, socio-economic too

Our world is in big trouble, that’s true

But, there is something we each can do

…art activism in progress
Muralists use variety of spaces: Eduardo Kobra climate action themed mural, “For the Planet”, currently mounted at the UN
Artists use the strokes of brush: art exhibit at the UN to call for the elimination of female genital mutilation (female circumcision)
… art/artist activism speak
Jaguar Parade NYC 2022, organized by Artery, is an open-air art exhibition of forty jaguar sculptures designed by global artists now parading through NYC
Poets use their words: Amanda Gorman, “An Ode We Owe” recited at opening of UNGA77

Poem inspired in part by the UN Secretary-General’s address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA77) and by the power of art to ignite activism and inspire change. All photos taken by me. 

2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved

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End Racism, Build Peace ©Dawn Minott | International Day of Peace, 21 September

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry23 Comments

For your needs left unmet in a world of wealth immeasurable

For all the times you were abused, your rights taken or violated

For the times when you’ve been let-down, and treated as undeserving

For all the years that’s passed your dreams unfulfilled along the way

For all the times you tried and tried, repeat, repeat but failed

For all the unrecoverable time of days and years bygone

For all the times your voice was silenced, screamed but no one heard you

For all the times like a ‘thing’ set aside, obsolete, no longer needed

You—the left-behind, the marginalized, the abused and oft forgotten

For all those times, keep up your fight, there’re others in your corner

This poem was first published July 5, 2021 under the title “Fight”. Republished today to mark International Day of Peace. The 2022 Theme: End racism. Build peace.

After-word: Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

2022 ©Dawn Minott All rights reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee

The Jaguar Parade©

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry16 Comments

She’s America’s largest cat
Iconic symbol of
Power
Beauty
Freedom
Resilience
Grace
Yet she’s being eradicated from our world, her world
Steadily and deliberately hunted
Her habitats threatened by loss, fragmentation
Overhunting of what’s her prey leaves her less to partake, she strays
In territories of people, there’s conflict she looses limb and life, she dies


Today she roars her message of conservation and protection
Across the globe she parades
She sits at the seat where world leaders gather
She bids them welcome to their 77th session
The General Assembly of the United Nations
Called to action with artistic glow
Life imitating art
She brings her cause front and center for the world’s attention
Do you see her?
Will you save her?
The Jaguar Parade

Jaguar Parade NYC 2022, organized by Artery, is an open-air art exhibition of forty jaguar sculptures designed by global artists, now taking over the streets of New York at the same time that the 77th United Nations General Assembly convenes to spread a pressing message—it’s time to act for jaguars.
Also contributing to Ragtag Daily Prompt— the word is glow.
2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved

Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 to subscribe & follow the blog. I love hearing from you, so remember to “like” & comment. For more content start HERE👈

In creative solidarity, Dee