Having worked my way from the bottom of the ladder to the top [of the UN] certainly helped me navigate that complexity, both political and bureaucratic. Kofi Annan More Quotes by Kofi Annan More Quotes From Kofi Annan Children are our future, and their mothers are its guardians. Kofi Annan guardianmotherchildren Neutrality is a tough call for the weaker ones. Kofi Annan neutralitytough The international community... allows nearly 3 billion people - almost half of all humanity - to subsist on $2 or less a day in a world of unprecedented wealth. Kofi Annan communityhumanitypeople When things are really desperate and hopeless and you can't do anything about this, and there's a sense that something must be done, that is something usually leads to the U.N. Kofi Annan desperatehopelessdone Education is the great equalizer of our time. It gives hope to the hopeless and creates chances for those without. Kofi Annan hopelesschancegiving I often quote an African proverb that says: "The world is not ours, the earth is not ours, It's a treasure we hold in trust for future generations." And I often hope we will be worthy of that trust. Kofi Annan environmentalgenerationsworld [Professional accountants ] should be encouraging companies to enhance their green credentials by switching to renewables, and to respect core labor standards and human rights. Kofi Annan switchinggreenrights If we get agriculture right in Africa, where most of the people now are working in that sector, not only would it help boost development but we will be secure in terms of food and nutrition and then be able to move on to other areas. Kofi Annan agriculturepeoplemoving To live is to choose. Kofi Annan live-for-todaytoday I think what gives me hope is I have the sense that the people of Kenya have turned the page. They are keen to get a new political dispensation. They are keen to fight corruption and impunity, and in that sense they are leaving the political elite behind. Kofi Annan fightingpeoplethinking Access to a secure, safe and sufficient source of fresh water is a fundamental requirement for the survival, well-being and socio-economic development of all humanity. Yet, we continue to act as if fresh water were a perpetually abundant resource. It is not. Kofi Annan survivalhumanitywater Let us choose to unite the power of markets with the authority of universal ideals. Let us choose to reconcile the creative forces of private entrepreneurship with the needs of the disadvantaged and the requirements of future generations. Kofi Annan creativechallengesinspire Human beings are not property. On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us redouble our efforts so that the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - 'no one shall be held in slavery or servitude' - ring true. Kofi Annan rightsmenchildren Young people - with their dynamism, their energy and their inherent understanding of our interconnected world - have much to teach us. Increased educational attainment, advances in technology and the spread of information have made this generation the best educated, most connected and most informed in history Kofi Annan educationaltechnologypeople As one of my predecessors said, our objective is not to take people to heaven, but to prevent humanity from going to hell. Kofi Annan humanityheavenpeople The UN doesn't work in a vacuum. Kofi Annan vacuums As we move forward, you cannot resolve the potential food crisis or shortages without science being part of the solution. Science has to be part of the solution but African governments - and these are decisions for governments, whether they embrace or do not embrace genetically modified food - and for the moment, most African companies do not accept genetically modified seeds. Kofi Annan governmentdecisionmoving On this International Day of Peace, let us dare to imagine a world free of conflict and violence Kofi Annan conflictviolenceworld Let us, above all, be clear that, without a convincing program of debt relief to start the new millennium, our objective of halving world poverty by 2015 will be only a pipe dream. Kofi Annan debtreliefdream On this International Day of Peace, let us all honor those who have suffered from violence. Let us hold in our hearts the ideal of peace. Kofi Annan honorheartpeace
