A People’s Movement for the United Nations

 

June 2009 Update – Vol 1, No 2

 

News Flash!!

Please join the UNAA WA as they mark the UN International year of Astronomy with a Quiz Night! The Quiz night will be held at the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club on Tuesday 7th July 2009 at 6.30 for a 7 pm start. For further information please contact the office or call the Events Committee Convener on 0421 316 717. Tables are selling fast!

 

 

President’s Message:

 

Welcome to Amber Jitts, Secretary of the UNAA WA. Amber will be pleased to receive nomination for the committee 2009/10. She is at present working on the Annual Report. Treasurer, Harvey Davies has been busy setting up the new computer system and transferring date from the old system. He will soon be sending out renewal invoices for the 2009/10 dues. Remember you must be financial to vote at the Annual general Meeting in August. Office Manager, Curtis Clark is enjoying an overseas trip. The office is unattended on Thursdays. If you are able to devote several hours to the UNAA WA your help would be appreciated. Office volunteers handle the mail, phone calls, and respond to visitors. Occasionally there are other tasks such as assisting with the mail outs. Please contact the office if you can help.

 

The AGM will be held on Monday 10th August 2009 at Claisebrook House meeting room at 6 pm. A light meal will be served at 5.45 pm with a Gold Coin donations requested. The Annual Report will be presented and there will be a quest speaker. Your attendance will be an acknowledgement of all the hard work the committee has completed this year.

 

The Annual Huelin Lecture will take place on the 10th December 2009 at the State Library Theatrette between 6-7 pm. I will ask to present the keynote address at the opening of the Photographic exhibition mounted by the Tamil Youth group on Saturday 23rd May 2009 at the Perth Town Hall. This exhibition demonstrates the plight of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. This exhibition occurred on the same weekend that the Secretary-General of the United Nations visited Sri Lanka to inspect the living conditions of the thousands of civilians surviving in the camps. On the following Monday, the Human Rights committee held a special sitting to discuss the plight of the civilians and the denial of their Human Rights. For more information, consult the UN website. I congratulate the Tamil Youth committee for arranging this display which created a greater awareness and understanding of the situation.

 

My sincere thanks go to those who have sent congratulations on my investiture as a Dame in the order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller. I was thrilled to have my family present at the investiture and intern, Kelly-Ann Philps along with other friends.

 

Judith A. Parker AM, DSJ

 

2009 Diary Dates/Events

 

5th July – International Day of Cooperatives

 

7th July – UNAA WA UN International Year of Astronomy Quiz Night held at the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club. The evening will commence at 6.30 pm for a 7 pm start.  Bookings can be made by calling the Events Committee Convener on 0421 316 717.

 

11th July – World Population Day

    

9th August – International Day of World’s Indigenous People.

 

12th August  -  International Youth Day

 

23rd August - International Day for the remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its abolition

 

 

 

UNAA (WA) Human Rights Committee

 

The Human Rights Committee has welcomed some new members to meetings.

Discussion has taken place on the rights of those with disabilities. Curtis Clark attended the briefing held in Perth by the Federal Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.      

A short submission is being prepared for the enquiry on the right to mobility for those with disabilities

Members of the committee are collecting information on the use of Tasers in WA and will discuss this issue fully at the next meeting and make a recommendation to the executive committee regard further action.

It has been agreed to partner with the National Jewish Council WA to arrange a tour and presentation at the Jewish Holocaust museum in January 2010

Plans are under way for the Huelin Lecture which will be held to mark the International Human Rights Day on December 10th 2009 at the state Library Theatre at 6pm.

The next meeting will be held on Friday August 28th at the office 33 Moore Street East Perth at 12 noon. All Welcome

 

UNAA(WA) Environment committee activities

 

Please stay tuned in the next update for a review of the activities.

 

UNAA WA Office Volunteers

 

The UNAA WA office is open most week days and is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers. UNAA WA is most appreciative of their support, time and expertise. The following members are regular volunteers: Nola Andrews, Kadi Ngele, Scott Lambert, Harvey Davies and Curtis Clark. Please call the office on 9221-9455 if you can offer a few hours. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers for their time and effort within the UNAA WA office.

 

 

 

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