LATEST NEWS:

On 9 February 2024 - The 26th January salon was attended by 31 UN writers, of whom 18 read their poems and short stories. UNSW noted inter alia the 100th birthday on 30 September of Truman Capote, author of Breakfast at Tiffany and In Cold Blood, as well as the 99th birthday of Jimmy Carter on 1 October and the 100th birthday of the late George H.W.Bush on 12 June.  Charles Aznavour would have turned 100 on 22 May, and his song "Que c'est Triste Venise" was read out, as well as a poem on the absurdity of the mega cruise ships in the Lagoon.15 December 2023.  We did not forget to honour the 79th birthday of Mia Farrow, former wife of Frank Sinatra and conductor Adré Previn, the 81st birthday of the Nobel laureate in Economics, Joseph Stiglitz, and the 77th birthday of Carla del Ponte -- all on the 9th of February.

Some photos of the event can be found here

Ex Tempore 34 is printed and has been forwarded to members.  A digital version can be viewed here

5 May 2023 - General Assembly of UNSW/SENU.

Martine Thevenot becomes the new treasurer to replace the late Ivaylo Petrov.  Marko Stanovic announces the new MOU with the WHO staff union and New Special. The new board consists of Marko Stanovic, President, Carla Edelenbos, Vice-President, Martine Thevenot, Treasurer, Amos Taporaie, Secretary, and Alfred de Zayas, editor-in-chief.  We discuss possibilities of future literary events at the Villa Dutoit, Ferme Sarasin, and, of course, the tee littéraire in the North Garden.

21 March 2023

Together with the UN library, UNSW invited UN staff to the celebration of International Day of Happiness and International Poetry Day. I read several of my poems in English, French and German, Karin Kaminker read hers, Cristiana Giordano and others.  A very successful event -- and we got two new members!

27 January 2023

After a 2-year hiatus because of Covid-19,  UNSW held its traditional January literary salon.  25 members came to read and listen in the six UN languages.  The staff journal New Special reported on the event in the March 2023 issue, p. 16. The issue can be viewed here

10 January 2023

The 33rd Edition of the Ex Tempore Now Online

We are pleased to announce that the 33rd edition is now available online and can be viewed or downloaded here

With essays, short stories and poetry in all six UN languages. Reviews are more than welcome!

For previous editions of the magazine, click here

Membership

Membership in the United Nations Society of Writers/ Société des Ecrivains des Nations Unies -- is open to active and retired staff of the United Nations, specialized agencies, CERN, Permanent Missions and Observer Missions, inter-governmental organisations, NGO’s and the press corps.  Unfortunately we are unable to publish even very meritorious submissions from non-UN persons. There must be a genuine link to the United Nations organization or any of its subsidiaries.

Membership in UNSW entitles you to receive the annual number of Ex Tempore.  Authors who contribute poetry, short stories or essays to Ex Tempore are entitled to receive two copies.  They can obtain additional copies at 10 CHF per copy.

We invite you to subscribe to Ex Tempore and support the Society of Writers of the UN Staff Socio-Cultural Commission. The membership fee is SFr. 40.— per year.

Please send your generous donations directly to Ex Tempore’s account with the Union de Banque Suisse, Geneva

IBAN CH56 0027 9279 CA10 0855 0

Pax optima rerum -- maxim of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 -- Peace is the highest good.

Si vis pacem, para pacem -- if you want peace, prepare for peace by establishing the conditions for living together in harmony.

Contact: Alfred de Zayas This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and/or Marko Stanovic This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it