A People’s Movement for the United Nations
April 2009 Update – Vol 1, No 5
News
Flash! Coming Events!
o
UNAA(WA)
Book Club Launch -
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Environment
Committee Annual Tree Planting -
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UNAA(WA)
Quiz Night in July - details to be announced shortly
President’s Message
April 2009
The past
month has been a busy month for the association. Two excellent forums have been
held. One forum was arranged by the Environment Committee and one by the Human
Rights Committee. The association was honoured to have the Western Australian
Chief Scientist, Prof. Lyn Beazley, act as MC at the Alternative Energies
forum. She chaired an impressive list of speakers and lively questions followed
the presentations. The second forum to mark World Health Day presented high level
and challenging speakers. Sadly UNAA(WA) members
attending both forums were few. At the 2008 Annual General meeting, one member
commented that not enough events were offered to members. The present committee
has been working hard to present more activities. Are the activities being
presented at the wrong time of the day or on unsuitable days? Please send your
suggestions about encouraging attendance to the office.
Carolyne
Gatward, Vice President, will represent the association at the Perth Anzac Day
services, while I will attend the service in
Congratulations
to Joan Mann for facilitating a lunch themed on Peace as a fundraiser for the
work of UNAA(WA).
The Annual
General Meeting of the association will take place on
Secretary required
The
association urgently requires a secretary to complete the year April to August.
Duties include processing the correspondence and working with the President to
respond to correspondence. Much of the work can be done by email; one visit to
the office per week would be required. Attendance at the monthly committee
meeting is essential. Anne Harris, the minute secretary takes the minutes of
the meetings and prepares the agendas. Please contact Judith Parker 95272438 or
email: judithannparker@bigpond.com if you can assist in this
position. You help will be much appreciated.
Judith A. Parker AM
UN International Days
May 2009
3 May: World Press Freedom Day
15 May: International Day of
Families
17 May: World Telecommunication Day
21 May: World Day for Cultural
Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22 May: International Day for
Biological Diversity
29 May: International Day of United
Nations Peacekeepers
31 May: World No Tobacco Day
4 June: International Day of
Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
5 June: World Environment Day
UNAA(WA) Human
Rights Committee
The Human
Rights committee presented an interesting forum on 7 April to mark World Health
Day. The speakers included:
Carol
Franklin,
President and founder of the CASA group. This group is committed to securing
accommodation and respite care for those with severe physical and mental
handicaps. Carol’s presentation was most thought provoking regarding the needs
of the person and the families.
The Hon.
Helen Morton MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Hon. Dr Graham Jacobs
MLA, WA Minister for Mental Health. Helen spoke about the government’s
initiative to establish a Ministry for Mental Health and its soon to be
released Mental Health Policy. She made particular reference to the needs of
Indigenous people and provision for these needs in the new policy.
Judith
Parker
discussed briefly the millennium goals relating to health and the progress
towards the 2015 target for these goals.
On 31 March,
a fundraising lunch was held by Joan Mann, UNAA(WA)
Human Rights Committee Convenor. Congratulations to Joan and her team who
raised $540 for the work of UNAAWA. The theme of the lunch was Peace.
The next
meeting of the Human Rights Committee will take place on Friday 1st
May at Claisebrook Lotteries House between 12 noon - 1.30pm. Come long and
bring your lunch, new members welcome!
UNAA(WA) Environment Committee
The Environment
committee is holding its annual tree planting at the Wooroloo
Brook, Noble Falls Bushland on
In March,
the Environment committee organised a public forum on Alternative Energy and
Options for Climate Change Mitigation at UWA with four speakers covering WA's
Synergy response, Geothermal Energy, Nuclear Energy and CO2 sequestration.
Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of WA, acted as MC. It was followed by a
lively panel discussion and questions from an audience of approximately 60
people.
This
friendly committee is always keen to welcome new members, and where possible,
give support to any community projects or undertakings which they may be
interested in, provided such events are in keeping with UNEP Principles.
Please contact us through the UNAA(WA) Office, if you
would like to know more. Phone 9221 9455, or email unaawa@tpg.com.au.
UNAA(WA) Book Club Launch -
An informal
meeting to discuss forming a UNAA(WA) book club will
be held at
UNYA Conference 2009 - "Crossing the Line: Territories in
Dispute"
Anita
Kelleher, Executive Member, UNAA(WA).
I had the
honour of representing UNAA(WA) President Judith
Parker at the opening of the 2009 UNYA conference held from the 6-8 March 2009
at UWA’s Claremont Campus. UNYA President Rosie Sitoris, Vice President
Tom Antoniazzi and Master of Ceremonies, Mark Katsikandarakis, welcomed the
delegates and outlined the theme of this year's conference: "Crossing the
Line: Territories in Dispute". The ambitious 3-day agenda included a range
of activities and debates designed to encourage students to examine territorial
disputes around the world. The Minister for Youth, Donna Faragher,
officially opened the conference and commended the 100 delegates and 30
facilitators for their commitment to human rights issues.
Melissa
Parke MP, the Federal Member for Fremantle, gave a relevant and motivating
keynote address. Specifically, she shared her personal experiences of working
for the United Nations in
I came away
from the opening ceremonies really impressed with the high standard of
organisation – no doubt the result of many months of hard work by a dedicated
team of conference organisers – and the professionalism of UNYA members who
looked after their guests from arrival to departure. I only wish I were
young enough to have participated in the conference sessions!
Congratulations UNYA!
Further Resources
· Subscribe to UNity for 2009, as well as earlier issues are available at: www.unaa.org.au
· For international updates, sign up for UN Wire: http://www.smartbrief.com/un_wire/index.jsp
·
Read
more about the Millenium project: www.unmillenniumproject.org
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