Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has given her first statement to the UN General Assembly and deserved thunderous applause from world leaders for her speech espousing global cooperation and kindness, with a gentle rebuttal and stark contrast to Donald Trump’s rejection of ‘globalism’ in favour of patriotism.
Although her speech never mentions Trump by name, Ardern joins the club of leaders who have used their speeches to hit back at the US President, some more vigorously than others.
In her speech the line “Me Too must become We Too,” received huge applause and was in stark contrast to US President Donald Trump’s, which along with drawing laughter from other world leaders – stated: “We reject the ideology of globalism and accept the doctrine of patriotism.”
“In the face of isolationism, protectionism, racism – the simple concept of looking outwardly and beyond ourselves, of kindness and collectivism, might just be as good a starting point as any,” Ms Ardern said.
“We must demonstrate that collective international action not only works, but that it is in all of our best interests.”
In a speech focusing heavily on climate change in the Pacific, generational change and equality, Ms Ardern also made a plea for international cooperation on social issues.
“I for one will never celebrate the gains we have made for women domestically, while internationally other women and girls experience a lack of the most basic opportunities and dignity,” she said.
Ardern used her opportunity at the UN to highlight what a crumbling of multilateralism would mean for countries such as New Zealand and the Pacific, especially on climate change.
“Any disintegration of multilateralism – any undermining of climate related targets and agreements aren’t interesting footnotes in geopolitical history. They are catastrophic.”
However, afterwards Ms Ardern told New Zealand reporters the speech had been written before the general assembly and was not intended to hit at Washington. “We have held those values long before I was around. It’s not new,” she said.
>Juthy Saha
UN applauded Jacinda Ardern's speech
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