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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
 Fiorello H. LaGuardia, while Director General of the UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), enunciated his "One World" philosophy. He believed that recipients of food and reconstruction assistance should be determined by humanitarian need and not dictated by foreign policy. Long an advocate of international cooperation and the provision of economic assistance to emerging nations, UNRRA provided the ideal mechanism to put his beliefs into practice.
LaGuardia worked tirelessly to bring aid and assistance, not only to our allies, including over 800,000 concentration camp survivors, but also to the communist-controlled nations of Eastern Europe, including Poland, Russia, and Czechoslovakia. UNRRA aid reached as far as China, where the provision of modern agricultural tools and technical assistance was a critical beginning in the alleviation of starvation.
The LaGuardia Foundation sees the “One World” philosophy as a one of the earliest articulations of the concept of globalism. Without benefit of modern globe-shrinking technologies, Fiorello understood instinctively that our future prosperity depends on the social and economic well-being of our neighbors. In part as a result of his efforts, Italy has emerged as a global economic power. Increasingly, Italian institutions have recognized the responsibility this entails and become partners with the LaGuardia Foundation in funding sustainable development projects in other parts of the world. We work in China, India, and Brazil with many partners. We operate in local economies and believe in the power of cooperative markets as a vehicle for development.
The LGF strives to perpetuate LaGuardia’s vision for one world through programs that foster
- Community-based development
- South to South technology transfer
- Sustainable agriculture
- Improved access to water
- Renewable energy technologies
- Health and education
- Academic exchange
For more information about the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), consult the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2004, Columbia University Press at
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Last Updated ( Monday, 03 March 2008 )
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