........update on the United Nations and UNA-UK: news, action points and events

Welcome

Welcome to the July 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 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 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 Secretary-General delivers major speech to UNA-UK in London

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a speech under UNA-UK’s auspices in his first major public appearance in the UK. In the speech, entitled ‘Securing the Common Good: The United Nations and the Expanding Global Agenda’, Mr Ban praised UNA-UK’s role in cultivating constructive UK government engagement with the UN and in ‘explaining the UN to the UK while helping to convey the concerns of British citizens to the UN’.

He said that the international community had ‘an unique opportunity to enhance the UN’s central role in world affairs’ to deliver results for a more prosperous, more secure and more just world.

Click here to read more and to view pictures from the event.

Do Something: Help save Zimbabwe from Mugabe

The recent elections in Zimbabwe have been heavily criticised by many governments around the world. In the run-up to the 27 June run-off presidential election, nearly 90 opposition supporters were killed and as many as 2,000 jailed. Surrounded by such violence and intimidation, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote, and the UN Security Council unanimously declared that a free and fair election was impossible given the campaign of violence prevailing in the country. Mugabe has since declared victory in a poll for which he was the only candidate.

Support Morgan Tsvangirai and condemn the actions of Mugabe - Avaaz has launched an online petition to South African President Thabo Mbeki and other Southern African leaders urging them to work for a legitimate Zimbabwean government that reflects the will of its people.

Click here to sign the petition and show your support.

Last chance to apply to teach Model UN in Ghana this summer

Reminder – act today! Last chance to apply is 10am Friday 4 July. UNA-UK is offering up to two Model UN volunteer positions in Ghana this summer. Volunteers will be assisting Life-Link Ghana to prepare school children throughout Ghana to take part in a large Model UN conference in Accra at the end of October 2008.

The volunteer(s) will travel to Ghana at the end of July to train high school and junior high school students in UN issues, giving them the skills to become Model UN delegates. They will stay until mid-September. Travel, vaccinations, visa fees, food and accommodation will be covered by UNA-UK and Life-Link. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and must be UNYSA members.

Click here to apply.

JULY

28 June - 12 July

UNA Sudbury and District – Celebration of International Life and Culture: ‘The World in Harmony’
The festival will be taking place at venues in and around Sudbury, Suffolk and will include concerts, art exhibitions, dance and story-telling. For further details, please contact Rev. Malcolm Hill on 01787 375 503.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July

UNA Merton – Screening of Lord Malloch-Brown’s speech at annual conference
On Tuesday evenings in July, there will be screenings of Lord Malloch-Brown’s address at UNA-UK’s annual conference and will be followed by a discussion. The events will run from 8 to 10pm at Flat 11, Wilberforce House, 119 Worple Road, London SW20 8ET. For further information, please contact Alison Williams on 020 8944 0574 or alisonwilliams36 (at) tiscali.co.uk

4 July

UNA Westminster – Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary concert
UNA Westminster branch are holding a concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of UDHR. The concert will include music by Haydn, Brahms and Liszt played by Libor Novacek on the piano and songs by VOCES8, an a capella vocal ensemble. There will also be a 15 minute play called 'How the Universal Declaration was won'. The concert will take place at St John's, Smith Square, London from 7.30pm. YPN members qualify for a free glass of wine or soft drink during the interval. To find out more, click here.

UNA West Oxfordshire – David Cameron speaks about climate change
The Rt Hon. David Cameron will deliver a talk entitled ‘Climate Change: threat and response’. The talk will take place between 5.30 and 6.30pm in the Friends’ Meeting House, Market Street, Charlbury. For further details, please contact Malcolm Harper on 07778 450 515.

7 July

UNA West Oxfordshire – Barbeque for Ugandan exchange teachers and students
The barbeque will be held for Ugandan teachers and pupils on an exchange visit to Burford School. The evening will also include singing and dancing. The barbeque will take place from 7pm at The Cottages, Church Lane, Charlbury. For further details, please contact Malcolm Harper on 07778 450 515.

8 July

UNA Tynedale – Climate change discussion
The discussion group will talk about effects of climate change in Northumberland, including potential problems and opportunities for the region. The event will begin at 2pm at 23 Riding Terrace, Mickley. For further details, please call 01661 842 675 or e-mail les.ashworth (at) virgin.net

UNA Brighton and Hove – Lunchtime meeting
Matthew Cadbury, Director of UNIFEM will speak about UNIFEM’s work for women’s equality. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. The meeting will start at 12.30pm at 23 Pelham Square, Brighton. For further details, please contact Jack on 01273 507 543.

11 July

UNA Canterbury – Garden supper and talk
Neville Grant will speak on writing textbooks for the developing world. This event will begin at 6pm at 5, The Terrace, St. Stephens, Canterbury CT2 7AJ. For further details, please contact Madeleine Webster on 01227 761 894.

26 July

UNA Harpenden – Public Meeting
Elizabeth Brown from the Mothers Union and Hilary Ratcliffe from the Soroptomists International will speak about their experiences at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The meeting will take place at St Nicholas Church Hall, Church Green, Harpenden AL5 2TP. For more information, please contact Trevor Evans at jandt.evans (at) ntlworld.com or 01582 713 895.

AUGUST

2 August - 9 August

UNA Wales – Eisteddfod 2008
UNA Wales will be present at the 2008 Eisteddfod music festival. It will be held in Cardiff on the Pontcanna Fields behind Glamorgan Cricket Club and Sofia Gardens, CF11 9JP. UNA Wales will be sharing a stand with the Welsh Centre for International Affairs and the Council for Education in World Citizenship. All are welcome to drop by! For further details, please contact Ona Flindall on 02920 228 549 or onaflindall (at) wcia.org.uk

SEPTEMBER

9 September

Action for UN Renewal – Lord Hannay gives speech
UNA-UK’s Chair Lord Hannay of Chiswick will deliver the annual Erskine Childers Lecture hosted by Action for UN Renewal. The speech, entitled 'Who rules the world? Global challenges and the role of the UN in peacekeeping, human rights and international law' will take place at 7pm at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London. This event is free and open to all. For more information and to register, please contact Vijay Mehta on 020 7377 2111 and vijay (at) vmpeace.org

19 September

UNA Wales – Cardiff University Fresher’s Fayre 2008
UNA Wales will be holding a stall at this year’s Fresher’s Fayre at Cardiff University. Students interested in our work are very welcome to look out for our stall and drop by. For further details, please contact Ona Flindall on 02920 228 549 or onaflindall (at) wcia.org.uk

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.

JULY

2 July

Amnesty Screening
'Taxi to the Darkside' (cert 15) is an exposé of the use of torture in the 'War on Terror'. Admission is free but booking is essential. For further details and to book, please click here.

8 July

Lord Malloch-Brown talk on ‘Climate change, peak oil and rising food prices: new challenges for African conflict prevention?’
The event will be held by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues and the Africa All-Party Parliamentary Group from 6 to 7pm in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Westminster. If you wish to attend this event, please email appgci (at) gmail.com

ODI event on ‘The first Millennium Development Goal: What do recently published and forthcoming international reports on poverty tell us about policies for its elimination?’
This event brings together research institutions, development agencies, representatives from developing country governments and members of the public to hear presentations of five recently published and forthcoming international reports on poverty. The report will be followed by a discussion. The event will run from 10am to 4pm with a one hour lunch break in the middle. It will take place at ODI, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD. For further information, please click here.

9 July

Lord Malloch-Brown on ‘Britain & the United Nations’
The event is hosted by the Young Diplomats in London and will take place from 6.30 to 7.30pm in the Mall Room, The Foreign Press Association, 11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AJ. To attend this event, please contact youngdiplomatsinlondon (at) yahoo.co.uk or sarah.feurey (at) ypfp.org

15 July

21st Century Network
This event, entitled ‘Globalisation & Fair Trade’ will take place between 6.30 and 9pm at the House of Commons. Speakers will include Malcolm Bruce MP and Harriet Lamb, the Managing Director of the Fair Trade Foundation. To register for this event and to find out more, please click here.

16 July

Frontline Club media talk on ‘Iraq – A Fragile Sovereignty’
This discussion will involve the future of US commitments as well as internal issues within Iraq. The panel will include Patrick Cockburn, journalist; Yahia Said, Revenue Watch Institute and will be chaired by John Snow. The talk will begin at 7.30pm at The Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ. Entrance is £10. For more information, click here.

ARE YOU A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL?

YPN - UNA-UK's Young Professionals Network - provides its members with regular e-mails offering careers information, a list of upcoming events and a round-up of the latest YPN news. To sign up to the YPN, visit www.una.org.uk/ypn