I came across a very interesting resource for international development jobs that might be of particular interest to UNA Young Professionals for International Cooperation, or anyone seeking employment in the international development area. There seems to be a broad range of positions, in the US and UK and generally internationally.
http://www.indevjobs.org/subscribe.htm
Monday, October 26, 2009
UNA-USA Southern New York State Division Elects Officers
At its Annual Meeting on October 20, at the National Arts Club in Manhattan, the UNA-USA Southern New York State Division elected officers for 2010-2011. Elected are: Jeanne Betsock Stillman, President; Catherine D. White and Marcia Brewster, Vice Presidents, Margaret Shannon, Secretary, and Lee H. Bloom, Treasurer. The two-year terms begin January 1, 2010. You can double click on the photo to get a larger size.
Ambassador Tom Miller, President of UNA-USA, spoke of his vision for UNA-USA and especially work with the Chapters and Divisions. He mentioned that the strength of UNA-USA is in its 12,000+ members, and its 135 chapters. The challenge is to educate the American people about the UN, and to work on certain policy issues. He concluded by saying, "We have the wind at our backs, with an administration that 'gets' multilateral diplomacy, and the challenge for us is to take advantage of this."
Jeffrey Laurenti, UNA-USA Board member representing the Mid-Atlantic Region, spoke on international policy issues before the Obama administration as well as how chapters, divisions and individuals can be strong advocates for a positive US policy vis-a-vis the United Nations. Laurenti is senior fellow and director of foreign policy programs at The Century Foundation.
Dr. Joseph Baxer, president of the UNA Connecticut Division, spoke about his travel to South Korea to attend the International Plenary of the World Federaion of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), held in Seoul from August 10-12, 2009. He, Ambassador Miller and Jeff Laurenti were part of a 10-person U.S. delegation to the conference. He gave some of the history of WFUNA, and UNA-USA's important role in it. He urged that chapters and divisions should consider partner relationships with other countries' UNAs. Bilateral relationships were good, but chapters and divisions could also become involved. For example, the Connecticut Division had for some time partnered with the Dominican Republic.
Patricia Sacristan, Chair of the Division's Young Professionals for International Cooperation group, spoke of the upcoming travel by YPIC members to Haiti, as part of their flagship program, The Haiti Expedition Project. The group planned to fly on UN Day to Port-au-Prince, and to return to New York on November 1. They planned to meet with UN, Inter-American Development Bank and other officials and to volunteer with several non-profit organizations.
For more and links to photos, see the UNA Southern New York State Division website.
UNA-USA Student Alliance Program
The very exciting UNA-USA Student Alliance Program is successfully re-launched, with groups starting up at colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools around the country, including in Westchester County and elsewhere in New York State.
The program is designed to meet "the needs of today’s globally minded middle school, high school, and undergraduate college students. UNA-USA Student Alliance is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing American students to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter. With the spirit of change in the air, UNA-USA's Student Alliance seeks to engage students in a nationwide network of motivated individuals, student advocacy groups, international affairs clubs, and Model UN teams who stand poised to collectively sound their voices and make their opinions heard amongst their peers, in their communities, across the nation and around the world! President Obama and his top officials have pledged to strengthen America’s global leadership through a renewed emphasis on international cooperation, diplomacy, and active participation at the United Nations."
The four areas of focus currently are: "Human Rights and International Justice," "Building a Consensus on Climate Change," "Strengthening the United Nations," plus a UNA-USA Student Alliance group can identify a priority interest of their own. Setting up a group is easy, and student leaders can participate in leadership training through periodic telephone calls with UNA-USA leaders and others. For more information, go to: http://www.unausa.org/studentalliance#
The program is designed to meet "the needs of today’s globally minded middle school, high school, and undergraduate college students. UNA-USA Student Alliance is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing American students to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter. With the spirit of change in the air, UNA-USA's Student Alliance seeks to engage students in a nationwide network of motivated individuals, student advocacy groups, international affairs clubs, and Model UN teams who stand poised to collectively sound their voices and make their opinions heard amongst their peers, in their communities, across the nation and around the world! President Obama and his top officials have pledged to strengthen America’s global leadership through a renewed emphasis on international cooperation, diplomacy, and active participation at the United Nations."
The four areas of focus currently are: "Human Rights and International Justice," "Building a Consensus on Climate Change," "Strengthening the United Nations," plus a UNA-USA Student Alliance group can identify a priority interest of their own. Setting up a group is easy, and student leaders can participate in leadership training through periodic telephone calls with UNA-USA leaders and others. For more information, go to: http://www.unausa.org/studentalliance#
Michael Lapsley (South Africa) to Speak in Ossining
Fr. Michael Lapsley will speak on November 15 at 7:30 pm at St. Paul's-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, 40 Ganung Drive, Ossining, NY 10562-3936(914) 941-6627 . All are welcome.
I've received a note from Lisa Rosenbloom, who writes:
Bob and I had the privilege to meet Michael Lapsley at the Institute for the Healing of Memories when we were in Cape Town last year. He is truly a remarkable man and an international leader in addressing the "post traumatic" stress of ordinarily people who have survived great injustice - in South Africa, Rwanda and elsewhere. By coincidence, he is living at Maryknoll for awhile and is going to be speaking at St. Paul's, Ossisning, on Nov. 15 at 7:30.
Lapsley is an Episcopal priest whose own road to recovery, from a South African security forces-inspired package bomb, was clearly informed by his own belief system, but his project is a secular one. He is a friend of Bishop Desmond Tutu, has been praised by Nelson Mandela and is linked on Wikipedia to Albie Sax, another leading light of the anti-apartheid movement.
LIsa further writes, "He's very much worth the effort [of coming to hear him.]"
I've received a note from Lisa Rosenbloom, who writes:
Bob and I had the privilege to meet Michael Lapsley at the Institute for the Healing of Memories when we were in Cape Town last year. He is truly a remarkable man and an international leader in addressing the "post traumatic" stress of ordinarily people who have survived great injustice - in South Africa, Rwanda and elsewhere. By coincidence, he is living at Maryknoll for awhile and is going to be speaking at St. Paul's, Ossisning, on Nov. 15 at 7:30.
Lapsley is an Episcopal priest whose own road to recovery, from a South African security forces-inspired package bomb, was clearly informed by his own belief system, but his project is a secular one. He is a friend of Bishop Desmond Tutu, has been praised by Nelson Mandela and is linked on Wikipedia to Albie Sax, another leading light of the anti-apartheid movement.
LIsa further writes, "He's very much worth the effort [of coming to hear him.]"
Saturday, October 24, 2009
US-UN interactions on Climate Change; also some great resources
Historic meetings on climate change took place on Monday, September 22 -- one led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, where national leaders spoke at the United Nations, or addressed the issue through videos available on YouTube -- and a luncheon program with roundtables organized by the UN Global Compact and President Clinton, which brought together business leaders, members of civil society and others to address their commitment to climate change.
On that day President Obama stated, "No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Rising sea levels threaten every coastline. More powerful storms and floods threaten every continent. More frequent droughts and crop failures breed hunger and conflict in places where hunger and conflict already thrive. On shrinking islands, families are already being forced to flee their homes as climate refugees. The security and stability of each nation and all peoples -- our prosperity, our health, and our safety -- are in jeopardy. And the time we have to reverse this tide is running out."
More of the President's speech is available on his weblog:
http://obamaweblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-nationcan-escape-impact-of-climate.html
I've been impressed by the excellent articles on these topics from UNA-USA. The UNA-USA World Bulletin reports on UN and US relations and important global topics. The October 23 issue includes Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's UN Day message, as well as many other articles. It's worth looking at back issues from September 23 and October 7 which highlight renewed US involvement with the UN, including President Obama's.
Also, Jeff Laurenti of The Century Foundation writes consistently interesting and erudite articles about UN issues and US actions. Read them and entries by others here .
Another excellent resource for UN-related material comes from Dr. Max Stamper, Editor of MaximsNews Network - You can subscribe and get regular updates. MaximsNews is rich with materials by many contributors, many videos, and other resources.
On that day President Obama stated, "No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Rising sea levels threaten every coastline. More powerful storms and floods threaten every continent. More frequent droughts and crop failures breed hunger and conflict in places where hunger and conflict already thrive. On shrinking islands, families are already being forced to flee their homes as climate refugees. The security and stability of each nation and all peoples -- our prosperity, our health, and our safety -- are in jeopardy. And the time we have to reverse this tide is running out."
More of the President's speech is available on his weblog:
http://obamaweblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-nationcan-escape-impact-of-climate.html
I've been impressed by the excellent articles on these topics from UNA-USA. The UNA-USA World Bulletin reports on UN and US relations and important global topics. The October 23 issue includes Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's UN Day message, as well as many other articles. It's worth looking at back issues from September 23 and October 7 which highlight renewed US involvement with the UN, including President Obama's.
Also, Jeff Laurenti of The Century Foundation writes consistently interesting and erudite articles about UN issues and US actions. Read them and entries by others here .
Another excellent resource for UN-related material comes from Dr. Max Stamper, Editor of MaximsNews Network - You can subscribe and get regular updates. MaximsNews is rich with materials by many contributors, many videos, and other resources.
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