A People’s Movement for the United Nations

 

December 2009 Update – Vol 1, No 13

 

News Flash!!

The UNAA WA would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

Holiday Greetings from the President

 

On behalf of the committee I wish all members a joyous holiday season. Let us hope that it will be a time of peace throughout the world.

 

On Saturday December 12th at 4pm-6pm all members and their families are invited to join the committee in Kings Park for a picnic to celebrate a busy and worthwhile year for UNAAWA. Bring along a rug, chairs and picnic and meet on the riverside of the road opposite Frasers and the snack bar. Those travelling by public transport can catch a bus from St Georges Terrace up to the Park                                                                                                                                                                       Claisebrook Lotteries House will be closed from Dec 18 to Jan 4. It is expected that the renovations to lotteries house will begin early in the New Year.

 

The environment committee has worked intensively to prepare a statement to go to the Australian delegation to Copenhagen. After approval from the committee the statement was forwarded to the delegation via Minister Penny Wong’s office.

The Human Rights committee has organised 3 events to mark important International days. On 20th November we marked World Children’s Day- workshop lead by Dr Dawn Butterworth on Children and Violence                                                                                                                                                                                On 1st December we held a viewing of the film Goodness and Happiness to mark World HIVAIDS Day, on                                                           10th December we held the Huelin Lecture to mark UN Human Rights Day and the 61st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Human Rights. Plans are underway to mark Jan 27 the day of remembrance of the victims of the holocaust

I would like to thank all the volunteers who keep the UNAAWA office open 5 days a week. Their support is much appreciated.

Vice President Carolyne Gatward has put together an application to Lotterywest for funding to enable the association to develop a strategic plan for the future. This application will be submitted before Christmas.

UNAAWA Ambassador Joseph Caruso has been busy with arrangements to visit different parts of the world in 2010 and we look forward to his reports.

 

The work of UNAAWA is spreading out to the community and overseas-well done everyone.

My sincere thanks to members for your concern regarding my recovery after a nasty car accident. I look forward to being fully recovered and full of energy in 2010

 

Judith A. Parker AM DSJ

 

Next Committee Meeting Wednesday Feb.3rd at 5.30 pm Claisebrook Lotteries House

 

Diary Dates/Events

 

10th December -      Human Rights Day

 

18th December – International Migrants Day

 

19th January – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

 

 

 

UNAA (WA) Human Rights Committee

 

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

 

The Heulin Lecture for 2010 was held at the State Library on 10th December 2010. A review will be in the next update.

 

Event review

 

World AIDS Day Dec 1st 2009                                                                                                 

An event was arranged in partnership with the WA AIDS Council. Members of UNAAWA met at the WA AIDS Council in Murray Street Perth to view the film “Goodness and Happiness- sisters in KwaZulu- Natal”.

The film is a tender, realistic and moving insight into the lives of two Zulu sisters, Goodness and Happiness whom were living in a remote rural village after the sudden death of their mother from AIDS. One in five children in KwaZulu Africa is parentless. The film explores the important role of play in a child’s life and how a doll can make a difference.

Georgia from the Uthando project explained how this grass roots organisation based in Western Australia is dedicated to raising awareness of the emotional needs of children. Handmade dolls are sent to KwaZulu South Africa to give joy to the children and their carers and allow an expression of their grief and loss through the HIV AIDS pandemic. Film maker Natalija Brunovs talked about her experiences in visiting South Africa for the first time to make the film. A copy of the film is available from the UNAAWA library and is recommended viewing.

 

Next year the Human Rights Committee will discuss the possibility of presenting a workshop in partnership with the  Uthando Project to make dolls to be donated to children in Africa.

 

Judith Parker Chair Human Rights Committee

 

 

UNAA(WA) Environment committee activities

 

Review

 

The Australia Delegation,

United Nations Climate Change Convention, Copenhagen.

 

The members of the United Nations Association in Australia - WA Division - wish for the best outcomes for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.  As citizens amongst many on an Earth that requires the inspired managing of our vital resources for the survival of all living beings, we would respectfully like to draw to the attention of the Delegates, the World Charter for Nature, UN 1972, and its insistence that no unnecessary action be undertaken which has the potential to seriously disrupt and even to destroy the vital well balanced and sustainable interaction of all life forms currently in existence on Earth.

 

We acknowledge that even sitting together on this vital subject, that transcends all boundaries of nations, cultures and faiths, is a great achievement in itself. We would like to congratulate those whose efforts have brought this about. There are many issues to reconcile, in order to make for a healthy and sustainable situation for all on Earth. At the same time, there are many possible solutions and all need to be heard and assessed, to achieve the best outcome. 

 

It is our sincere wish that the Copenhagen Talks provide the world with a strong and realistic solution to enable Earth to continue as a vibrant life supporting entity, for humanity and all other life together on one Planet. Accordingly, our best wishes and encouragement are offered to the Australian Delegation and all other official State and National Representatives at Copenhagen.

 

This statement was prepared by the UNAAWA Environment committee in consultation with the executive committee.

 

UNAAWA 30/11/09

 

Postal address: UNAAWA 33 Moore Street East Perth WA 6004

Phone: 08 9221 9455

Email  unaawa@tpg.com.au

 

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UPCOMING EVENT

 

UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day

 

Organised by the UNAA (WA) ,

NCJWA (WA) and the Holocaust Institute of WA

 

On Wednesday 27th January 2010 at 1.30 pm

 

Visit to the Holocaust Museum of WA

 

At the Jewish Community Centre
61 Woodrow Avenue, Yokine

Guided visit to the museum

Short documentary 

Survivor story   

Light refreshments

 

For details please phone: 9527 2438 or 9276 8040

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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