Ask Ban Ki Moon

Ban Ki Moon Osama Faisal / Reuters

In January 2007, South Korea's Ban Ki-moon became the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. A former foreign minister who worked on peace negotiations with North Korea, one of Ban's biggest priorities as secretary general has been climate change: he once identified global warming as a danger as big as any current war. He's had plenty of them, too, overseeing the U.N.'s response to everything from the Darfur crisis to the Congolese conflict (in which 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers, the world's largest U.N. peacekeeping mission, are currently involved). Use the form below to submit your questions for Ban Ki-moon; then read the interview in an upcoming issue of TIME magazine.

NOTE: Submitted questions may be edited for length or clarity. Your first name, last name, and location are required and may be published along with your question in print and online. Your information will not be used for any other purpose.

215 Questions >>

Submit your question to Ask Ban Ki Moon (215 other responses).

Posted by Mills Chapman in Philadelphia,PA:
Secretary-General Bam

I think I am the only person in the world proposing an integrated school in Jerusalem for the children of the Israeli and Palestinian politicians, as well as similar ones in Nicosia (Cyprus), Panmunjeom (Korea), Wagah (India), and other towns located on a conflict's divide. For people like me, whom at the UN should they contact where their creative ideas might get a fair hearing?

(Time editors, my website is http://www.1for2.org. If you don't include this question, I hope that you might still share this website with SG Ban's office. I am really gearing this schooling model for Cyprus first, and I know that the UN is desperate to resolve that problem. Thank you.)
Posted by Heesoo Hyun in DiamondBar,CA:
I think people are getting more comfortable with seeing diverse nationalities in political positions. Did being South Korean ever effect your political position in any way?
Posted by paul bagus in hamilton,ontario:
what steps or measures are you taking towards climate change?
Posted by paul bagus in hamilton,ontario:
do you still aim for the union of north korea and south korea?
Posted by paul bagus in hamilton,ontario:
what changes will you implement in the UN now that you are in office?
Posted by C. J. Cervantes in Austin,TX:
Which previous United Nations Secretary-General inspires you the most? Do you attempt to emulate them? What can we learn from previous Secretaries-General?
Posted by Kyle Roberson in Roseville,California:
How do you feel about all of the criticisms of the U.N. and do you have any plans to win those critics over?
Posted by Jonathan Clark in Hanover,Ontario,Canada:
You have stated in the past that UN Resolution 2758 justifies Taiwan's exclusion from the United Nations and that "the People's Republic of China is representing the whole of China as the sole and legitimate representative Government of China." If this is so, in what way has the PRC represented the interests of Taiwan, and how has Taiwan benefited from the PRC being their sole representative within the United Nations?
Posted by Will Hayward in GlensFalls,NY:
Would you rather see the United States withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan or commit peacekeeping forces to areas like Darfur or Zimbabwe?
Posted by Yoonchan Choi in Newton,MA:
What are your views and measures you are willing to take in response to various terrorist attacks around the world, including the recent Mumbai situation?
Posted by Jenna Gardiner in Marietta:
What do you hope to accomplish with President-elect Barack Obama? Also, in regards to global warming, have your goals to combat this problem changed any, based on the outcome of the election?
Posted by Abraham José Mercado in NewYork,NY:
How do you think, is the best way to harmonize economic development and sustainable development in such a manner that one does not present an obstacle to another?
Posted by Kibwika Nathan in Kampala:
1 What are your major archivements as regards war resolutions?
2 What are the boundaries of UN in civil wars.
3 What is your stand on people who smoke in public
4 Is there any opportunity of a fresh graduate working in the UN?
Posted by Maria Torio in Lincoln,NE:
When there's the incredibly difficult task of acheiving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 because of the insufficiency of resources, isn't it frustrating when you see that there's a 700 billion dollar spent on the bail out for the US financial industry? Is it being considered the increase of the minimum percentage of GDP in the International Aid budgets of the developed countries?
Posted by Alex Traum in Bellmore:
do you think nato is irrelevant in todays world ?
Posted by Alex Traum in Bellmore:
do you think Nato is stil relevant in todays world ?
Posted by Sekari Vaidy in Sunnyvale,CA:
Do you have any innovative ideas for the UN to have more teeth?
Posted by Sekari Vaidy in Sunnyvale,CA:
Is it feasible for the UN to play an innovative, pro active role to prevent economic meltdown like what we are witnessing now?
Posted by Sekari Vaidy in Sunnyvale,CA:
Does the UN under your leadership have any fresh ideas for promoting religious, ethnic, racial tolerance and harmony among the peoples of the world to prevent strife and bloodshed?
Posted by Senior del rochio in Wakansas:
Yo, dude, what's up? What's your plans for when the Illuminati are finally exposed to the public, you lizard tongued SOB.
Posted by Chase Dalton in Coronado:
Do you believe that the UN should mediate a collaborative international effort to pull us out of our current global recession?
Posted by Chase Dalton in Coronado:
In the case of civil wars what is your stance on how the UN should act, given ample resources?
Posted by Steve Chastain in Palatine,IL:
Sir,
What steps is the UN taking to clean up the corruption within? Lots of Americans would like to treat the UN as a great institution, but are concerned about political and financial corruption. I was wondering if the UN had created any new rules or standards for member countries to follow that would guarantee a more honest institution.
Best wishes, Steve Chastain
Posted by Danny Milobar in Tucson,AZ:
In your opinion, what is the best way to negotiate with intolerant or stubborn people?
Posted by Cy Ford in Lapine,AL:
In the past, there have been calls to move the United Nations from NewYorkCity to another country? Do you agree or disagree?
Posted by Cy Ford in Lapine,AL:
What actions do you think the UN can and should take inorder to encourage changes in the environmental policy in China.
Posted by Sirish Vepa in Chennai,India:
Secretary-General Bam

I am 48 years old. Would I be able to see peaceful times in my time? Would I atleast be able to hold out this promise to my children?
Posted by Vincent Borden in SanAntonio,TX:
Secretary-General Ban,

Given President Mugabe's resistance to relegating power in Zimbabwe and the current Congolese conflict U.N. forces are engaged in, are there any options left in dealing with his stubbornness other than diplomacy and a prayer? And do you think he continues to remain arrogantly defiant because he's judged the current world climate to be working indirectly in his favor?

Finally, good luck with getting those extra 3,000 U.N. troops for the Congo.
Posted by Vincent Borden in SanAntonio,TX:
Secretary-General Ban,

Your work ethic is legendary. What drives you day in and out? Do you have any advice on establishing it?
Posted by Mills Chapman in Philadelphia,PA:
If someone has a creative idea for resolving a deadlocked conflict, whom at the UN can they contact?
Posted by Jimmy Chang in Novi,Michigan:
Admittedly, UN hasn't been the most effective in carrying out its original missions. As CNN reporter, Christianne pointed out in her report, many genocides (Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur, to name a few), could either have been prevented or stopped in their infancy. Many cries for help ended in deaf ears as politicians play the usual political games. As a result, millions died and the killers mostly went unpunished. Do you think that UN is still capable of serving its purposes or should there be a fundamental changes in how the veto powers be taken away from its original founding nations? thanks
Posted by Manjeet Singh in Hazaribag,Jharkhand,India.:
Can the UN play any real result producing role in containing terror and terror sponsoring rogue states like Pakistan? Is the UN's role limited only to declaring a few organizations as terrorist organizations? How does the UN intend to guarantee a terror free world?
Posted by Daniel Park in Seattle,WA:
What do you envision as the future of North-South Korea relations?
Posted by Aweis Adde in Mogadishu:
Mr. UN General Security,
for give me if I say you are USA big toy, after my kidding. I would like to ask you Why UN see above somali problemms and dont want to do reality solve? You know Djibouti meeting was only a big lie story to more people who are refugees in their city(countery)?
Dear Sir, the world children have their freedom, live they want, have schools, also enev foods? but we in the east africa you are forgetten us? so why and why please.
Posted by Vinod Gangadharan in Bangalore:
Does the UN really need a huge secretariat and bureaucracy for the limited impact its work has in resolving world problems?

Does the UN have a future at all?
Posted by Saravanamuttu Muttiah in London:
Mr.Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General

A recent in-depth independent NGO Report on "Genocide" released in New York this month identifies eight 'red alert' countries and several others in 'orange alert' on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights! Is this not a blot on the UN and on humanity in the 21st century? What do you propose to do about the contents of this Report to check this fatal malaise in its tracks and make the world a better place fit for fellow humans?
Posted by Jacqueline A. Madatta in Seoul:
Why the UN does not intervene - Zimbabwe to pull out the conservative leader, Mugabe who's causing lot sufferings to the civilians?
Posted by OPEYEMI KOMOLAFE in TALLAHASSEE:
What specific goals did your special envoy to the DRC,Olusegun Obasanjo achieved? And was he properly vetted to be given the role of a peace broker giving the gross human rights abuse that was perpetrated against the Odi people in Nigeria during envoy Obasanjo's reign as the president of Nigeria.
Posted by Carl Sack in Vancouver,B.C.:
What can we do as individuals to halt the global climate crisis?
Posted by Atle Myhrer in Trondheim,Norway:
Given the circumstances of the the Mumbai terror, how will the UN cope with the situation on insuring peace between the two atomic neighbours India and Pakistan?
Posted by Tamrat W. Gebriel in AddisAbaba:
Mr. Secretary-General,
Why did the United Nations and the International Community fail to grasp an opportunity to set the Somalia problem right by building on what Ethiopia started and let the peril to continue to grow to an unimaginable degree?
Posted by Suh Yoon Lee in Guangzhou:
Dear Secretary General Ban,
Being a Korean student attending an international school in China, I come across peers from a diversity of nationalities. Many,like me, are concerned about our global community and want to help out. In fact, I enjoy the model united nations conferences held between schools anuually to hold mock debates concerning world issues. What are some ways that the youth can get involved physically rather than just verbally?
Posted by Firdaus in Singapore:
Mr Ban,

The world has a lot of problems that requires someone with leadership and able to guide the world in providing solutions. Right now, too few people are willing or able to do so. How as the Secretary-General of the United Nations is able to provide leadership?

Also, how can you convince the world that everyone needs to work together in solving the current problems and that of the new ones?
Posted by Kang San Lee in NewHydeParkNY:
When South Korea was colonized by the imperial Japanese, many nationalists fought against the Japanese in ways that may be classified as terrorism. As a South Korean, does this affect your view on the many terrorist organization and the terrorist attacks that are being carried out against countries that had colonized them?
Posted by Gilberto Coker in Obregon.Sonora.Mexico:
How do you feel about the ignoring of many U.N. proposals by the U.S., and its voluntary exclusion from the Kyoto Protocol, and what do you plan to do about it?
Posted by Gilberto Coker in Obregon.Sonora.Mexico:
Mr. Ban Ki Moon

Will the failing economy affect in any way the United Nations efforts to prevent carbon emmissions? Will priorities change?
Posted by Gilberto Coker in Obregon.Sonora.Mexico:
Do you feel the U.N´s influence is too limited? its punishments too light? What will you do about this?
Posted by Gilberto Coker in Obregon.Sonora.Mexico:
What would you recommend President Barack Obama do first in his administration and in foreign policy?
Posted by Gilberto Coker in Obregon.Sonora.Mexico:
What do you plan to do about the failing global financial and food distribution systems?
Posted by Senior del rochio in Wakansas:
^^^ What a moron.

1 2 3 ... 5 Next »

Each week in TIME Magazine and on Time.com, 10 Questions gives readers a chance to put their own questions to newsmakers, celebrities, and world leaders. Check every week for a new guest at Time.com/10questions.