The address by Premier Balen Shah to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has been under the scrutiny of people both inside and outside Nepal. Several people in Nepal heaved a huge sigh of relief after hearing his speech, which was non-controversial compared with a few speeches delivered in the past. Several foreign newspapers commented on his speech, including The New York Times, which referred to the sunglasses he wore while delivering the address. The hallmarks of his speech can be identified as follows. Firstly, he asserted that climate change should not only be the concern of Nepal but of the whole globe. Secondly, he invited neighbours India and China to work together to prevent climate-induced disasters. Thirdly, he said that support for countries such as Nepal, whose carbon emissions are minimal, in dealing with climate-change-induced disasters should not become yet another disguised form of money-making through heavy loans and light grants. Leaders of several countries have spoken from the UN podium from 1946 to 2026, a span of 81 years. Some of the speeches have been very unpleasant, such as Libya's Muammar Gaddafi tearing up a page of the United Nations Charter in 2009 and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev allegedly banging his shoe in 1960. There are also examples of peaceful and humorous speeches. Yasser Arafat, in 1974, said that he had come bearing an olive branch in one hand and a freedom fighter's gun in the other, requesting that the olive branch not be allowed to fall from his hand. President Donald Trump's 2025 speech drew laughter from the assembled leaders when he said that his administration had accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of the United States. More humour erupted when he said that he did not expect that, but that it was okay. The main objective of Premier Shah was to persuade countries to provide aid for reconstruction following the astronomical damage caused by the Himalayan tsunami. Aristotle, in the fourth century BC, said that logos, pathos, and ethos-or logic, emotion, and credibility, respectively-form the basis of persuasion. Naila Ijaj et al., in their article entitled 'Exploring Persuasive Strategies Used in the Political Speeches of Sub-continent Leaders in United Nations General Assembly,' analysed the persuasive speeches delivered by Narendra Modi, Imran Khan, and Hasina Wajjed, the Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi premiers, respectively, in 2019. Persuasive methods used in the speeches included tone, allusion, analogy, alliteration, anecdote, contrast, inclusive language, rhetoric, repetition, and statistical data. It was found that Imran Khan used seven of the aforementioned persuasive methods, while Modi used six and Hasina only three. Balen's speech can also be viewed from these parameters of persuasion. He used a serious and solemn tone throughout his speech. He also used allusion, or made passing references to earlier events, by saying, firstly, that the United Nations was born from humanity's experience of horrific world wars and, secondly, referring to the conceptualisation of the notion of human insecurity by the UNDP back in 1994. The very mention of the Himalayan tsunami, or the 'roof of the world,' reflected alliteration, a literary device. The Premier also made use of contrast by saying that a peasant in Nepal cannot get fertiliser while intercontinental missiles arrive on time. Inclusion is reflected in the statement, 'the dignity of every human being would matter.' Rhetoric can be seen in the statement, 'when a climate-driven disaster destroys the infrastructure of a poor country, the answer cannot simply be another mega loan or a patchwork of small grants.' Repetition was also used through phrases such as 'ask Bangladesh, ask Bhutan,' and the like. Statistical data was included when he said that Nepal's emissions account for less than 0.1 percent. It therefore appears that Balen's speech also made use of eight parameters of persuasion and was hence persuasive. But persuasion should be achieved not only through words but also through deeds. Through words, the Premier has done more than enough. But through deeds, he missed a golden opportunity by not going a little earlier and staying a few days after the opening day. He could have used this time to talk to different leaders. As the youngest Premier in the world, who secured a near two-thirds majority almost single-handedly, everyone would have looked forward to meeting and talking to him. His homecoming has certainly not been that sweet. Rescue and relief efforts for the Bhotekoshi victims are good but need to be better. Moreover, heavy rains caused by the low-pressure system that developed over the Indian Ocean have further strained the national disaster risk-reduction machinery. Another Himalayan tsunami is likely to occur at anytime and anywhere in the country. For one thing, we know the locus of such a tsunami: it is between the mountains along the riverbeds. It is thus necessary to shift riverside settlements to higher terraces. Furthermore, we should make use of climate-resilient materials in reconstruction, as the unnecessary use of climate-injurious materials such as steel and cement does not augur well for the reception of climate-resilient funds. Resort should be made to materials such as bamboo, stone, and mud, which our ancestors used for a long time-not in their original form, but in an improved form. Being an engineer himself, the Premier can find a way forward by consulting people who have researched this field. It is very heartening to see that Balen has made a good impact at the UN. But seeking financial support from the UN, which itself is facing a dire shortage of funds, is like the proverb, 'oneself a beggar and a beggar at the door.' However, it is certainly a good podium, attended by virtually all world leaders, for conveying one's concerns, and the Premier has fared very well.