text: UN Matters Update July 2011 | Kendal United Reformed Church at OneOSix: Embracing Life
  28 July 2011 / admin / Congregation, Ecumenical / No Comments
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  July 2011 Newsletter What is UNA-UK?
  Welcome to the July issue of UNA-UK's e-newsletter.
  This month, we are asking our members and supporters to:
  • Take action for refugees
  • Send us inspiring examples of UNA-UK members who are making a difference in their communities
  • Give us feedback on our flagship magazine, New World
  You are receiving this email because you are a member of UNA-UK. Thank you for your support. If you know anyone interested in the UN, why not forward this email to them?
  UNA-UK is the UK's leading source of independent analysis on the United Nations and a UK-wide grassroots movement campaiging for a secure, just and sustainable world.
  UNA-UK's networks comprise:
  • UNA-UK Members
  • Young Professionals Network (YPN)
  • UNA Youth (formerly UNYSA)
  The UN General Assembly has appointed Ban Ki-moon to a second term as Secretary-General, to run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Mr Ban's re-appointment had previously been recommended by members of the UN Security Council.
  After taking his oath of office, Mr Ban pledged to be a 'harmoniser and bridge-builder', saying 'we live in an era of integration and inter-connection, a new era when no country can solve all challenges on its own and where every country should be part of the solution. That is the reality of the modern world. We can struggle with it, or we can lead'.
  To mark World Refugee Day, the UN Refugee Agency is celebrating the contributions that refugees make to society with its '100% British, created by refugees' campaign.
  UNA-UK's 2011 policy-making conference took place on 18 June at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Some 130 members from around the country participated, debating pressing issues on the UN's agenda and discussing what action UNA-UK could take to further the UN's goals in the UK.
  Members also heard from UNA-UK Chairman Sir Jeremy Greenstock and Executive Director Phil Mulligan, who presented a draft of UNA-UK's new four-year strategic plan. The outcomes of the policy debates will be posted on the UNA-UK website shortly.
  UNA-UK Members Young Professionals Network (YPN) UNA Youth (formerly UNYSA)
  • Policy Conference in Cardiff
  • You inspire us – who better to inspire others to join UNA-UK that you, our members? Help us to showcase your work by sending us your stories
  • What would you change about 'New World'? We want your views on UNA-UK's flagship magazine – click here to complete our short survey
  • Do you have a background in sustainability? Apply to represent UNA-UK at a major UN NGO conference in Bonn
  • YPN event on food security – click here to find out more
  • Call for articles! The next issue of UNA-UK's magazine will focus on peace and security. What do you think is the most pressing threat we face? Send 500 words by 22 July to the Editor on samarasinghe@una.org.uk
  Find out more about the YPN
  • Meet your new Youth Council and read about their plans for the coming year
  • Fantastic opportunity to represent UNA-UK at major UN NGO conference in Bonn
  • Where will the UN take you? Here's a sneak preview of our exciting new Freshers' Fair competition
  Find out more about UNA Youth
  UNA-UK is calling on its members and supporters to take action for refugees by participating in Refugee Week's Simple Acts campaign. We believe that if all our supporters commit to just one of these simple acts, it will go a long way towards challenging the stereotypes of refugees that persist in the UK.
  In May we asked our supporters to urge the UK government to prioritise funding for UN Women and support this new UN agency's vital work.
  Thank you to all those who took action for UN Women via our website. We are pleased to inform you that we have received an encouraging response from the Department for International Development (DFID), which is due to announce its funding commitment shortly.
  Watch this space and keep up the pressure
  Career Developoment Upcoming Events
  • UNA-UK – Programme development intern opportunities
  • The Elders – Personal Assistant to the Policy Team
  • Islamic Relief – DFID Partnership Co-Ordinator
  Click here to read our young professionals' guide to careers at the UN
  • 9 July – UNA Harpenden: Rt Rev Richard Llewellin speaks of his experience as an ecumenical accompanier in Israel/Palestine.
  • 12 July – UNA Canterbury: 'After Libya: where now for UN Peacekeeping?'
  • 12 July – UNA Westminster: 'So how will we feed the bottom billion?', hosted by Heidi Alexander MP
  Click here for full event listings including UNA branch events across the UK
  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.
  all banner photos © UN Photo
  United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UNA-UK) is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 2885557. Registered office: 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL.