........update on the United Nations and UNA-UK: news, action points and events
Welcome
Welcome to the February 2008 e-newsletter of the United Nations Association of the UK (UNA-UK).
Each issue of ‘UN Matters’ features news updates and events listings, as well as suggested monthly actions and activities you can undertake in support of the United Nations.
What is UNA-UK?
UNA-UK is the UK's leading independent policy authority on the United Nations and a vibrant grassroots membership organisation with a base of supporters throughout the UK.
UNA-UK is committed to a strong, credible and effective UN at the centre of an international system governed by multilateralism and the rule of law. We believe that a strengthened and reformed UN is in the UK's national interest, and we strive to promote consistent and constructive government support for the UN and its work.
UN in brief: since last issue
Joint UN-African Union force takes over in Darfur - but critical gaps remain >>>>
Security Council fails to agree on future status for Kosovo – Serbia and Russia remain opposed to independence >>>>
UN targeted in Algeria – 17 staff members killed in tragic bomb attack >>>>
Secretary-General welcomes Bali climate conference outcome – but now the hard work begins >>>>
Do something: help ban cluster munitions
A new Early Day Motion in Parliament is calling for a comprehensive ban on cluster munitions. UNA-UK encourages its members and supporters to write to their MP asking them to support this EDM. Why should cluster munitions be banned? Visit www.una.org.uk/banclustermunitions to find out about the unacceptable humanitarian cost of using these bombs.
UN chief reflects on his first year in office
With visits to nearly 40 countries on six continents, 2007 was a busy first year in office for Ban Ki-moon. Mr Ban spent much of his time pushing for action in key areas such as climate change, the Darfur conflict, the Millennium Development Goals and UN reform.
Click here to read the Secretary-General's own reflections on his first 12 months.
Winter issue of New World released
The latest issue of UNA-UK's flagship quarterly magazine, New World, leads with an article by Lord David Hannay on the future of the Middle East peace process. It also features contributions from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime.
Click here to download a copy.
A busy few months for UNA-UK advocacy work
- On 18 December Lord Hannay wrote on behalf of UNA-UK to the Secretary of State for Defence urging the UK government to make available any helicopters at its disposal to UNAMID, the UN-African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur. The letter was referred to the Foreign Office – read the original letter and the reply.
- In January UNA-UK submitted its response to the government’s consultation on war powers. The consultation seeks to give a formal role to Parliament in the decision to send British troops overseas. Read the submission here.
© Photo: Damir Atikovic/Norwegian People's Aid
© UN Photo / Evan Schneider
FEBRUARY
Saturday, 2 February
UNA Cheltenham – ‘Lessons from Bali’
John Davidson, Chairman of Global Dimension Trust, will talk about his experiences as a participant at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. The talk will take place at Parmoor House, Lypiatt Terrace, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham. Coffee will be served at 10.15am, and the talk will start at 10.30am. All are welcome. For more information visit www.unacheltenham.org.uk or e-mail suethompson682@hotmail.com
Monday, 4 February
UNA Exeter - Helping and protecting refugees around the world
Peter Kessler of the UN Refugee Agency will give a lecture in the Music Room, Exeter Central Library, at 6.30pm. Admission is free. For further details contact Noel Harrower on 01395 271 731 or n.harrower@btinternet.com
Monday 4, 11, 18 and 25 February
UNA Merton
Alison Williams will be conducting a series of workshops on human rights and the United Nations. The workshops will run twice a day - from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and again from 8pm to 10pm - and will be held at 11 Wilberforce House, 19 Worple Road, London SW20 8ET. For more information contact Alison Williams on 020 8944 0574 or alisonwilliams36@tiscali.co.uk
Tuesday, 12 February
UNA Stocksfield – public meeting
At 2.00pm Stocksfield branch is holding a public meeting at the Friends Meeting House, Branch End, Stocksfield. Gordon Smith will give a talk entitled ‘Understanding Islam’. For further details contact Les Ashworth at les.ashworth@virgin.net
Friday, 15 February
UNA Norwich & District - Zimbabwe today
A talk at 1pm by Abby Dalgleish in the Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. People are welcome to bring a packed lunch at any time from 12.15pm. Hot drinks and biscuits are served, included in the cover charge of £2. For more details contact David on 01603 435 790 or unity.eastwards@ntlworld.com
Saturday, 16 February
UNA Eastern Region - Council meeting and talk
Eastern Region council will meet at 10.30am at the Stoneyard Centre, St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge. At 2pm, Illuminée Nganemariya will be interviewed by Paul Dickson – both are co-authors of the book 'Miracle in Kigali'. All are welcome to attend. For more details contact David on 01603 435 790 or unity.eastwards@ntlworld.com
UNA Southampton – Talk on refugees
From 12 noon to 2.00pm, UNA Southampton will meet at Edmund Kell Hall, Bellevue Road, Southampton. Mike Brown will speak on the work of Refugee Action. Optional bread and cheese lunch is available from 12.00 to 12.30pm, is £2.50. For more details contact Margaret Matthews on 02380 557 334.
Tuesday, 26 February
UNA Oxford - Peacekeeping and the Western Sahara
Erik Jensen, former UN Special Envoy to the Western Sahara, will give a lecture from 1 to 2pm at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church Hall, New Inn Hall Street. The meeting will be chaired by Sir Adam Roberts. Refreshments will be served from 12.30pm. For more information please contact Neville Shepherd by e-mail on neville.shepherd@metronet.co.uk or phone 01865 761 630.
MARCH
Tuesday, 4 March
UNA Putney & Roehampton - Health as a bridge to peace
John Wynn Owen, Chair of the University of Wales Institute and board member of the UK Health Protection Agency, will give a talk starting at 8pm in the Gallery Room, Putney Methodist Church. For further information contact Jo Stocks on 020 8870 5536 or jo.stocks@talk21.com
3-8 March
UNA Norwich and District - Women peacemakers through the ages
This exhibition from Bradford University Centre for Peace Studies will be on display in the Friends Meeting House, Norwich. It will culminate in a celebration to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, which will comprise a seminar and workshops on the theme of women peacemakers. For more details contact David on 01603 435 790 or unity.eastwards@ntlworld.com
Saturday, 8 March
UNA Harpenden – AGM and public meeting
At 10.30am UNA Harpenden will hold its AGM in St Nicholas Church Hall, Leyton Green, Harpenden AL5 2TP. This will be followed at 11.00am by a public meeting which will be addressed by David French from the Westminster Campaign for Democracy on the subject of building democracy in a troubled world. For further details contact Trevor Evans on 01582 713 895 or e-mail jandt.evans@ntlworld.com
UNYSA Annual Conference
The UN Youth and Student Association is holding its annual conference in Birmingham. Among other speakers, UNA-UK Executive Director Sam Daws will be giving a talk on UN careers. For more information contact UNYSA President Luke Harman on unysa@una.org.uk
Monday, 10 March
UNA Westminster – talk by Hans Blix
At 6.30pm, UNA Westminster Branch will hold its annual Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture at the Brunei Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1. The lecture, titled ‘War and Peace’, will be given by Hans Blix, former head of the IAEA and chair of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission. The lecture will be followed by a buffet reception. All UNA-UK members are welcome but please register by e-mail at info@unawestminster.org.uk or by mail to UNA Westminster, 61 Sedlescombe Road, London SW6 1RE.
Tuesday, 11 March
UNA Oxford - Britain’s Role in the UN
Lord Hannay, Chair of UNA-UK and former British Ambassador to the UN, will give a lecture from 5.30pm to 6.45pm at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church Hall. The meeting will be chaired by Hugo Brunner, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. All are welcome. For more information please contact Neville Shepherd by e-mail on neville.shepherd@metronet.co.uk or phone 01865 761 630.
Wednesday, 12 March
UNA Exeter - Branch meeting and information about UNA Annual Conference at Exeter University
The event takes place at Exeter Friends Meeting House, Wynards Lane at 7pm for 7.30pm. All members are welcome. For further details contact Noel Harrower on 01395 271 731 or n.harrower@btinternet.com
Friday, 14 March
UNA Sheffield - Schools event
Schools will be bringing groups of 14-15 year-old pupils to play a simulation game featuring the World Trade Organisation. The event will take place in the Town Hall, Sheffield. For more information please call Elizabeth Coates on 01442 377 583.
Tuesday, 18 March
UNA Sheffield - Fundraising event
From 10.30pm to 12 noon, Margaret Chamings is hosting a fundraising coffee morning at her home, 263 Warminster Road, Sheffield. For more information please call Elizabeth Coates on 01442 377 583.
Friday to Sunday, 28-30 March
UNA-UK - Annual Conference
This year’s Annual Conference will take place at Exeter University on 28 to 30 March 2008. Every member of UNA-UK is encouraged to attend and take part in our policy-making process. Click here to download a registration, accommodation and meals booking form. The keynote speaker will be Lord Malloch-Brown, former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN under Kofi Annan.
Wednesday, 2 April
UNA Exeter - AGM and report back from UNA Annual Conference
The event will take place at Exeter Friends Meeting House, Wynards Lane at 7pm for 7.30pm. For further details contact Noel Harrower on 01395 271 731 or n.harrower@btinternet.com
Saturday, 12 April
UNA Stratford-upon-Avon – talk on child slavery
Stratford-upon-Avon UNA branch is holding a buffet lunch at 12.30pm at the Wesley Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon Methodist Church, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon. The speaker will be Meghan Macbain from Anti-Slavery International. All are welcome. Please let Evelyn know if you would like to come by calling 01789 296 726 or e-mail limho21@hotmail.com
Thursday, 17 April
UNA Sheffield - United Nations, women and development
Paddy Beck, former Secretary of UNA North-East Region and current convenor of UNIFEM UK Yorkshire Branch and board member of UNIFEM UK, will give a talk from 7.30pm in the Ommanney room, St Mathew’s Rooms, Carver Street. For more information please call Elizabeth Coates on 01442 377 583.
Friday, 18 April
UNA Norwich & District - People of the Middle East
A talk by Juliette Harkin in the Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. The talk is from 1pm and will last about 45 minutes. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch at any time from 12.15pm. Hot drinks and biscuits are served, included in the cover charge of £2. For more details contact David on 01603 435 790 or unity.eastwards@ntlworld.com
Tuesday, 29 April
UNA Shipley and Basildon - AGM
At 7.30pm Shipley & Basildon branch will hold its AGM at St John's Church Hall, Baildon, West Yorkshire. The AGM will be preceded by a presentation by Cath Webber on ‘PEACEJAM’, a peace education programme for young people. For further details please call Thelma de Leeuw on 01274 481 645 or e-mail tdel@globalnet.co.uk
Wednesday, 14 May
Exeter UNA - Branch meeting
The event takes place at Exeter Friends Meeting House, Wynards Lane at 7pm for 7.30pm. All members are welcome. For further details contact Noel Harrower on 01395 271 731 or n.harrower@btinternet.com
Friday, 16 May
UNA Norwich & District - Back from the West Bank
John and Hazel Cribb will speak from 1pm in the Friends' Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch at any time from 12.15pm. Hot drinks and biscuits are served, included in the cover charge of £2. For more details contact David on 01603 435 790 or unity.eastwards@ntlworld.com
Wednesday, 11 June
UNA Exeter - Question time on international affairs
With Professor Neil Armstrong, Deputy Vice Chancellor University of Exeter. The event will take place in the Music Room, Exeter Central Library, at 7pm for 7.30. For further details contact Noel Harrower on 01395 271 731 or n.harrower@btinternet.com
JOIN UNA-UK TODAY!
If you're already a member: why not tell a friend about UNA-UK? For more details visit www.una.org.uk
Members receive regular updates about UNA-UK activities and campaigns, as well as invitations to branch, regional and national events. All members automatically receive a subscription to our quarterly magazine, New World.
FEBRUARY
Monday, 4 February
Rescheduled LSE talk – John Hutton MP on ‘An Open Economy – the Progressive Response to Global Change’
For further information, click here.
Tuesday, 5 February
National Liberal Club – Panel discussion on ‘Zimbabwe: Whither the Revolution?’
For further information, click here.
Saturday, 9 February
Network for Peace – a talk by Stefanie Grant, a lawyer specialising in migration and refugee issues and former Head of the Research and Development Branch of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
For further information, click here.
Tuesday, 12 February
LSE talk - Professor Michael Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund the Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on ‘Access to Prevention and Treatment of AIDS in the Developing World: Evidence for Hope’
For further information, click here.
Friday, 15 February
LSE talk - Professor Muhammed Yunus, Managing Director of Grameen Bank and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, on ‘Creating a World Without Poverty: How Social Business Can Transform Our Lives’
For further information, click here.
Saturday, 23 February
Campaign for UN Renewal – AGM and talk on ‘The Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and the Role of the United Nations: Human Rights 1948 – 2008’
For further information, click here.
Monday, 25 February
LSE talk - Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, University Professor of the Columbia Business School and winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Economics, on ‘The $3 Trillion War: The True Cost of the War in Iraq’
For further information, click here.
MARCH
Tuesday, 11 March
LSE talk - Linda Melvern, journalist and author, on ‘UN Peacekeeping/Peacemaking: The Lessons of Rwanda’
For further information, click here.
10-12 April
The Scottish Mediation Network and Mediation Northern Ireland - European Mediation Conference: Building Relationships and Getting Results.
For further information, click here.
Monday, 31 March
Human Rights Watch – closing date for entries to ‘Right Words’, an essay competition focusing on the lives of young people in Darfur
For further information, click here.
ARE YOU A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL?
The YPN - UNA-UK's Young Professionals Network - has a monthly newsletter offering careers, a list of upcoming events and a round-up of the latest YPN news. To sign up to the newsletter and the YPN, visit www.una.org.uk/ypn
Legal Notice:
Events are the responsibility of national, regional or branch UNAs or other bodies that organise them. Events may be subject to change at any time, and such changes may not be reflected on the above listings. Please therefore check with the local contact for each event. It is assumed that local organisers have obtained all legal permissions required for their events and have provided UNA-UK with the correct contact details. UNA-UK is not responsible for such events - and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the above information.
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