UNA Connecticut Division and Connecticut Post Publish Supplement for the Schools

The Connecticut Post has published a supplement "The United Nations and You" for UN Day 2009. This Newspaper in Education supplement was spearheaded by Division member Mary Keane and includes a welcome letter from Division president Dr. Joseph Baxer. Lafayette College senior Alina Stelman served as editor. The supplement has been distributed to schools in Bridgeport, as well as electronically. Hard copies distributed by the Division included the excellent annual Peace Calendar. Congratulations to all involved!

I particularly enjoyed a recipe for "Peace Pudding", which starts with "In a large bowl, gently sift 1 c. tolerance, 1 c. respect, 1/2 c. empathy, 1 tsp. patience...."

The Supplement includes articles on the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, US Ambassador Susan Rice, and pieces on a number of Connecticut people who have devoted their time to global issues and the United Nations. Other articles are on Sports and Peace, Model UN, UNA-USA Student Alliance, and UN Peacekeepers. Some articles first appeared in supplements produced by The Journal News Newspaper in Education program.

If the supplement becomes available on-line, this blog will let you know!

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#

UNA-USA Student Alliances

There's a great new opportunity for students to become involved with the UN and with the Unitd Nations Association of the USA The UNA-USA Student Alliance program will re-launch in August with a new format. UNA's Membership Department is working with the Council of Chapters and Divisions Steering Committee and others to develop a trial format for the UNA-USA Student Alliance program. The one-year trial, which is scheduled to start in August in time for the 2009-2010 school year, will offer students an opportunity to learn about the UN, to become involved in leadership in important global issues, and to receive benefits from UNA and local chapters and divisions where they exist.

The UNA-USA Student Alliance Program will invite students to form UNA-USA Student Alliance Groups, at the middle school, high school or college levels. Students may also join individually. More information will be posted on the www.unausa.org website soon.