Your Ideas

Historically, America's reputation for promoting freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity has made the United States among the most respected nations in the world. More recently, our standing in the eyes of the world has waned. The next U.S. president will have an opportunity, On Day One, to present a new face to the world, strengthen America's reputation, and foster international cooperation on some of the world's most pressing problems -- such as poverty, nuclear proliferation, and climate change.

What can the next president do to enhance America's standing in the world? How can the new president get the world to better understand the United States and what it stands for?

The answers to these and other questions have the power to change the way America is thought of in the international community. And you can help. Share your ideas.

Polls indicate that the most pressing issue the next president will face On Day One is the war in Iraq. U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq for four years at a cost of more than $500 billion and significant sacrifice for soldiers and their families. More than four million Iraqis are displaced, and basic infrastructure, not to mention safety, for those that remain is tenuous.

How should the new president recalibrate U.S. strategy in Iraq? What role can international cooperation and the United Nations play in finding a solution to the challenges in Iraq?

Clearly, there are no easy answers. But there are always new ideas. Share your ideas for how the new president can change course in Iraq On Day One.

Since the end of World War II, the number of nuclear-armed nations has climbed from one to nine, and an increasing number of nations have nuclear technologies that could lead to the proliferation of weapons. The spread of nuclear technology, coupled with the deadly intentions of terrorist organizations, makes the prospect of a nuclear strike more possible than ever before.

Should the next president recommit to nonproliferation treaty regimes? Should he or she work to reduce the U.S. nuclear stockpile and spur global nuclear disarmament?

Share your ideasfor reducing the nuclear threat On Day One.

Horrific terrorist acts in the United States, Spain, London, Egypt, and elsewhere have made homeland security and international efforts to combat terrorism a top priority for the United States and the next president.

The United Nations has recently developed a Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, agreed to by all UN member states, to take practical steps to prevent terrorism. It includes efforts to disrupt global terrorist activities through counter-terrorism committees, international conventions, and sanctions.

What steps can the new president take to strengthen international cooperation to halt deadly terrorist acts?

Share your ideas for making our world safer On Day One.

It is a moral tragedy that 30,000 children die each day from hunger, malnutrition, and disease. Poverty is a root cause of various trends that impact the security and interests of the world’s people and is an issue that the next president needs to confront.

The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals constitute a global action plan for halving poverty around the world by 2015. Achieving these goals will require significant new efforts and leadership from the United States.

Does the United States do enough to alleviate poverty around the world? Can we do more? What steps can the new president take to help advance achievement of the Millennium Development Goals?

Share your ideas to make poverty history On Day One.

No UN peacekeeping mission can be created or extended without the active agreement of the United States. Today, UN peacekeepers are maintaining peace, fostering reconciliation, promoting democracy, and building long-term stability in 18 missions around the globe, including in Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti

How can the next president support UN peacekeeping? Should the United States pay its fair share of the costs so that U.S. troops need not be deployed to areas where the UN can provide stability?

Share your ideas for strengthening UN peacekeeping efforts On Day One.

Americans value the right to self-determination and know that when the roster of democratic nations expands, the prospects for global peace and prosperity are enhanced. International cooperation has long played a key role in advancing and strengthening democracy around the world.

How can the next president work to strengthen the United States' past collaboration with the United Nations to foster democratic governance throughout the world?

Share your ideas for advancing democratic governance around the world On Day One.

Global climate change is emerging as the greatest economic, environmental, and political challenge facing the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – which recently won a Nobel Peace Prize for its work – has clearly articulated the consensus of the world’s scientists: climate change is happening, and it is a direct result of human activities.

Mother Nature herself is confirming these findings in altered weather patterns and rising sea levels. The scale and nature of the climate challenge compel urgent, purposeful international cooperation. Emissions of greenhouse gases must be stabilized immediately and dramatically reduced by 2050 if we are to avoid catastrophic impacts on nations and peoples around the world.

How should the next president lead a global response to climate change? On Day One, what should the U.S. – one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases – do to stop global warming?

Share your ideas to confront climate change On Day One.

Empowering women around the world and ensuring that their universally recognized human rights are upheld are crucial for human dignity and global prosperity. In too many parts of the world, women are abused, exploited, and discriminated against. There are practical steps that countries can take to help empower women through the provision of education, health care, economic opportunity, and legal reform.

How can the next president best advance the cause of women around the world? What steps can the new president take to advance women's and girls' education, health care, and economic opportunity?

Share your ideas to make gender equality a top priority for international cooperation On Day One.