Last week I had a visit from Riverview Boys High School from Sydney. They asked me to show them around the UN. Whilst the school is not in my electorate, the parents from one of the teachers lives at Culburra Beach. It was not until the 18 boys and 3 teachers saw the magnitude of the General Assembly that they really understood the enormity of so many countries coming together on the world stage.

This week started with a very powerful meeting of the first committee where the Australian Ambassador made a strong speech on our stance on Disarmament and international security.

Also met with Prof. Ronald McCallum AO who is our candidate for Australia for the UN committee on the Right of Persons with Disabilities. Prof.McCallum is an extraordinary and inspiring person who is blind and yet amongst many other interests is also a Professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney. Lots of lobbying going on amongst other countries to see him elected.

Today Tuesday, I was at a meeting where the first lady of the United States, Laura Bush, was guest speaker. She is passionate about literacy and development. Mrs Bush was a former teacher and librarian. One of her comments that stuck in my mind was a quote from a young African man who had been taught how to read and said"now I don't have to go and find the world - the world can now come to me".