YouSaid · the spoken record

Apedo-Amah

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS APEDO-AMAH

lines on the record: 60
first: 1963-09-24
most recent: 1965-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Leopold Sedar Senghor, the President of the Republic of Senegal, who said in substance that all the peoples of the earth together play a vast symphony. The industrialized Powers are the ones that lead the orchestra. This we readily admit. We the countries of the under-developed world —the greater part of mankind— are the percussion section. If the orchestra leader becomes dizzy and loses the beat, we are there, steadily beating out on the drums the harmonious rhythm of man's life on earth, thus compelling him to come back down and listen to us. If our symphony is not to become a dreadfully stormy, tormented and ragged cacophony, it cannot be otherwise. 104. The time has come, therefore, to listen a little more, indeed a great deal more to us —the peoples of the under-developed world.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“I realize that certain ventures, certain experiments which in the past were judged mad and useless later produced results which today benefit us all. The cautious or timid souls who opposed them at the time seem so ridiculous to us today! But in present world conditions, my country is not afraid of ridicule of that kind and is prepared, so far as it is concerned, to assume before history the responsibility for delaying the moon flight for some years —time for vast organized and active human and world collaboration to bring rays of light and joy into all the homes on earth and to restore balance in a world which the Creator intended to be harmonious but in which harmony is everywhere destroyed. 103. On this subject of harmony an image comes to mind. I borrow it from the eminent African Head of State Mr.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“The wish expressed by a large number of delegations from this rostrum is that there should soon be general disarmament, affecting both atomic and conventional weapons and that the colossal sums hitherto spent on the manufacture of bombs and guns should henceforth be used to give bread to those who have none and to improve our earth so that all men may taste the joy of living. 102. Therefore, at a time when the circumstances attending this eighteenth session justify hope in this regard, space competitions and feats and this idyllic flight to the moon ought not to be encouraged. As long as poverty continues to ravage the world, such feats and moon flights, because of the considerable sums which must be sunk in them, can represent only a fantasy, a foolish waste.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“Nature has spread immense and inexhaustible riches before us. Life on earth is potentially sweet and good for all. However, all do not yet have their fair share of the inheritance. Some have much more than they need. But others —and they are the overwhelming majority— are without the absolute minimum; and it is certain that the way things are going, the rich countries are continuing to get richer and the poor countries poorer. This is an alarming situation which urgently calls for rigorous action. Then why not remain on earth? Why spend fortunes to reach another planet, which may be only a desert hostile to man, when on our own earth we have not yet fulfilled all our duties as good heirs and fathers?”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“From my country's point of view, this gesture was made in order not to leave the three protagonists alone face to face and to make them feel that the matter was not only their problem but the problem of us all, in order to caution them formally against any retrogression and, lastly, in order to encourage them to go forward to general disarmament in the very near future. 101. The fact that the three authors of the Moscow Treaty overcame all manner of obstacles in order to reach agreement in the interest of peace is a good augury in itself. It must be welcomed. The momentum gained in this way has led them, or at least two of them —the United States of America and the USSR— to envisage a joint flight to the moon. At this point I should like to make a comment. Our planet is hospitable and generous.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“We in Togo had thought that the total destruction, under control, of these bombs and their carriers would be decided upon at the Moscow meeting. But the time when our anguished spirits will at last feel the relief of which we have so often dreamt is still distant. The Moscow Treaty therefore had not aroused any great enthusiasm in my country. Our anguish remains, but our hope, too, abides and will not die. There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon: we do not have the right not to acclaim it. 100. History, of course, has taught us the value of treaties which are concluded only the better to be broken. We are, however, among the many countries that have acceded to the Moscow Treaty and have signed it.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“A portentous event —and a pledge for the future— preceded the opening of the eighteenth session; the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics —the only countries which possess atomic weapons— at last realized the mortal danger in which they alone placed this planet which belongs to us all; they agreed among themselves and promised to renounce a certain category of nuclear tests and sealed their agreement by a treaty signed at Moscow. It is understood, unfortunately, that other categories of nuclear tests may continue and that the immense stockpiles will remain intact and available for the apocalyptic use for which they are intended. These monstrous stockpiles are said to represent more than twenty times the quantity required to blow up our planet. 99.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“For that reason my delegation has been particularly responsive to the remarks made from this rostrum supporting the strengthening of the world peace —unfortunately too precarious— that we now enjoy, the abolition of racial discrimination, and, lastly, a general rapprochement of all peoples. If the present session of the General Assembly could keep this promise, it would mark a decisive turning-point in the history of mankind. 98.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“Whenever, in my country, the bonds of national harmony have loosened so that order and peace were threatened, we have always found that a patient and eager search for all possible means of effecting reconciliation and restoring peace with freedom and justice has invariably saved us from the danger. What is true for my country must also be true for all countries, especially for those in which the people, because of skin colour or the will of some to dominate others, or as a result of intolerance, are divided into antagonistic groups, superimposed like oil and water in a bottle, unable to mix, to know and to value one another. 97. My country, as I said, is entirely devoted to peace and harmony.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)
“We, the Togolese people, are profoundly and sincerely attached to peace and the union of our countrymen; for we know that we are not alone in the world and that our peace and well-being cannot be complete when danger threatens our neighbours near or far. We are just as firmly attached to world peace, whether It be in Asia, in the Near East or, especially, in Africa. We are attached to the reconciliation of all peoples and to human and world solidarity. My country was therefore acting in accordance with its deepest beliefs when it participated with five other African countries in the preparatory work for the historic Addis Ababa Conference. 96.”
1963-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 18 (1963)