U.N. Meets to Tackle Climate Change

NEW YORK CITY—The United Nations held its general assembly at its headquarters in New York City last month. The organization of world leaders addressed topics like climate change, nuclear disarmament and the world economic crisis. This was the largest meeting on climate change ever, with 101 world leaders participating!

“Tackling climate change can set us on the road to peace and prosperity for all,” says U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling the need to address climate change urgent. Leaders will meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December for further talks on ways to control climate change.

The latest U.N. summit also put some controversial world leaders in the spotlight. When Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the U.N. assembly during the opening session, some delegations walked out to protest his anti-Semitic views. Other countries boycotted the Iranian president’s speech from the start based on previous statements in which Ahmadinejad denied the Holocaust really happened.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi also spoke in front of the general assembly for the first time. Although speakers are expected to limit their remarks to 15 minutes, the Libyan president spoke for an hour and 36 minutes. That falls short of Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s four and a half hour speech in 1960.

Gadhafi spoke against the U.N. charter and the Security Council, calling them unfair and outdated, and suggested that U.N. headquarters be moved away from New York to somewhere in the Eastern hemisphere.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez also went over his allotted time, speaking almost an hour and then finishing with a song.

President Barack Obama made his debut at the U.N., telling world leaders that they cannot “stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone.”

The U.N. brings together leaders from 192 nations to work on global issues. This international group was formed in October 1945, in the wake of the devastation following World War II, to help maintain peace and security, and to promote human rights and social progress.

Powerful Quake Devastates Sumatra

PADANG, Indonesia—A killer earthquake jolted Indonesia’s island of Sumatra Sept. 30. Hardest hit was the coastal city of Padang with a population of 1 million. Indonesia is a group of islands between Australia and Malaysia.

The powerful, 7.6-magnitude quake leveled more than 500 buildings, shattered roads, set homes on fire, and cut off electricity and phone service. Over 1,000 people are believed dead; many are buried under tons of rubble. Recovery officials fear that huge landslides set off by the violent shaking could double or even triple the number of deaths.

Padang has been DEVASTATED, and witnesses say that the heavy equipment needed to remove huge chunks of concrete and twisted steel is scarce. Help and financial aid have been slow to reach more remote areas on the island.

The islanders are doing what they can to find survivors and recover bodies. Many are willing to risk their lives to help in the crisis. Heavy rains in the area have made the work even more dangerous.

Governments around the world are offering money and other help, like food, medicine, tents and blankets. The United States sent a team of disaster specialists and gave $300,000 to Indonesia. At least $3 million more is promised.

Many of the survivors suffered injuries that need medical attention, forcing healthcare workers to work in shifts around the clock. Most survivors are being treated for broken bones, cuts and head injuries.

Officials fear that the widespread damage to things like plumbing, electrical lines and other infrastructure could lead to unsanitary conditions and the spread of disease for those on Sumatra.