The Advocates

 with

Richard J. Garfunkel

 WVOX – AM Radio 1460- 12 Noon Wednesday

January 7, 2009

Wednesday, January 9, 2009, at 12:00 Noon, I am hosting my show, The Advocates, on WVOX- 1460 AM on your dial, or you can listen to its live streaming at www.wvox.com . One can call the show at 914-636-0110 to reach us on the radio. My guest on this year’s first edition of The Advocates is Ms. Judy Cheng-Hopkins. Our subject today is the ongoing problem of refugees in the world today, and what is being done about it by the United Nations.

Ms. Judy Cheng-Hopkins is the United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for refugees.  This position, supervises all UNHCR operations in the world. It also oversees the Division of Operational Support which includes the Emergency and Security Service.

Prior to this job, Ms. Cheng-Hopkins was the Director of the World Food Programme Office in New York.  She was also Director for Asia and Eastern Europe in WFP (1997-2000) where she oversaw large and complex emergency operations.  Prior to that, she served UNDP in Africa for 10 years, first in Zambia (1982-1988), then in Kenya (1988-1992) and as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa (2002-2003).

Ms. Cheng-Hopkins received a Master of Arts degree in Economic Development from Columbia University (1978), USA.  She has also received diplomas from Université d’Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France and Harvard University, USA. Ms. Cheng-Hopkins is Malaysian.  She is married and mother of two daughters.  She enjoys playing tennis and listening to jazz. She is also married to Dr. Tom Hopkins, who was on this show on April 9, 2008. Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, who is deeply involved in Development/Strategic Planning, has worked on these efforts all over the world and is the author of an unlimited number of reports, the last being “Capacity Assessment Guidelines: A Systems and Strategic Management review about Somalia and Nairobi.  You can access our interview by going to http://advocates-wvox.com .

Meanwhile the mission of the “Advocates” is to bring to the public differing views on current “public policy “ issues. “Public policy,” therefore, is what we as a nation legally and traditionally follow. Over the years the “public policy” of the United States has changed or has been modified greatly. As an example, “free public education” is the public policy of the United States. Also, over time great struggles have ensued over the control of the direction of “public policy” For example: free trade vs. protectionism, slavery vs. emancipation, state’s rights vs. Federalism, and an all-volunteer armed forces or the “draft.”

Over the next few weeks, The Advocates will host; Michael Cohen, previewing the President Obama’s inauguration, Jill Alcott talking about her work with the environment, author Alida Brill, and her book on pain, Chris Breiseth, the now retired head of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute talking about the Roosevelt Legacy and what it means for the challenges of 2009 and Cynthia Koch, the head of the FDR Library, in Hyde Park and the critical role it plays regarding political and historical research.

Richard J. Garfunkel, The Advocates: http://advocates-wvox.com