by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
The 60th anniversary of the United Nations was celebrated in the SUB on Monday.
Sally McMillan, president of the United Nations Association Albuquerque Chapter, said the event had more than 12 workshops with an emphasis on health care.
Martha Dominguez, a nutritionist at New Mexico State University, said she enjoyed a workshop on water issues. Water has become a global issue, she said.
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"It's going to become a prime price item," Dominguez said. "It's going to cause a division for those who can afford clean water and those who cannot."
She said the workshops were helpful and insightful. She said the United Nations must exist because it provides help to countries in need.
"Right now we're hearing that the United Nations is unnecessary by many sectors, including the administration," Dominguez said. "The United Nations has a value, and these workshops were an example of that."
McMillan said she was impressed with the adequate turnout. She said there was an average of 20 people in each workshop.
"During the day a lot of people are at work, but most of these rooms were filled for each of the workshops, and we had three workshops going at the same time," said McMillan.
She said one of the rooms had informative videos playing during the day, which were pertinent to global issues such as population problems. That room was not as popular, she said.
The chapter celebrates the anniversary of the United Nations every year, but programs in the past were not as comprehensive as the one held this year, McMillan said. She said this was the first year the chapter decided to hold educative workshops.
"This year, being the 60th anniversary, we decided to have something big," McMillan said.
McMillan said the event turned out to be informative, but she didn't know if they would be holding a similarly extensive anniversary for next year.
"It was a lot of work," she said. "I don't know if we want to do it again next year because of all the work."
More than 24 groups cosponsored the event, she said.
