UNESCO finds the idea of an Earth Anthem creative and inspiring, but shows reluctance to walk the talk citing resource crunch.
UNESCO's Assistant Director General (ERI) Mr. Eric Falt in a reply to a query said, "We find that the idea of having an Earth Anthem is a creative and inspiring thought which would contribute to bringing the world together."
Indian poet-diplomat Abhay K's proposal of an official Earth Anthem selected from the best judged entries through a global online competition was recommended for UNESCO's consideration in January 2014 by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO, Paris.
In fact, UNESCO in its draft medium term strategy 2014-2021 has put forward a limited set of nine well-articulated strategic objectives.
Empowering people to be creative and responsible global citizens is one of them.
An Earth Anthem, a song that people across the world can sing together, would contribute in achieving this strategic objective of the organization.
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UNESCO recognizes that an Earth Anthem would contribute to bringing the world together, however, does not seem to be ready to take up the challenge.
Mr. Falt, UNESCO's Assistant Director General said responding to a query, "Given the prevailing situation of the Organization with limited financial and human resources, we are not in a position to organize an online competition, as proposed by Mr Abhay Kumar, to select an official anthem for the planet."
He did not elaborate though, which other organization could do so or if UNESCO could accept the Earth Anthem written and produced by Abhay K as the official anthem till it organizes a global competition.
UNESCO seems to be ready to take up the challenge of organizing a global Earth Anthem challenge if directed by its Governing Bodies.
Mr. Falt added, "Such an activity would require a well prepared conceptual plan with the definition of a targeted public for its successful implementation, while we are rather asked by our Governing Bodies to streamline our actions in the priority areas."
Indian poet-diplomat Mr. Abhay Kumar, the author of the Earth Anthem, when asked about the way forward, offered to help UNESCO with preparing a comprehensive conceptual plan and ways to implement it, if requested by UNESCO, as he had the experience of organizing 'India Is-Global Video Challenge' earlier while serving at the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.
While UNESCO finds the idea of an Earth Anthem proposed by Abhay K as creative and inspiring thought which would contribute to bringing the world together, it claims to lack resources to organize an online global competition to select an Earth Anthem.
The cost and efforts to organize an online competition for selecting an official Earth Anthem would merely be a fraction of resources available with the organization while benefits of this noble undertaking which UNESCO could be great compared to other projects undertaken by the organization.