Welcome to

TWICKENHAM & RICHMOND UNA

ABOUT US

Reflections of the Branch Chairman

After years of travelling overseas during my student days I became fascinated by the role of humanitarian agencies. I worked for the United Nations Development Programme in South East Asia for around a year which opened my eyes to the good that agencies can do but also the need for change.

When I returned to the UK in 1999 I stayed updated with the work of the United Nations (UN) and other agencies. So in 2007 when the Twickenham and Richmond United Nations Association (TRUNA) were looking for a new chairman I was delighted to apply and be voted in.

The work which TRUNA does both locally, and further a field, is very impressive. As with the UN our local branch supports a number of key local and world issues.

Do you wish to:

1) Promote world peace?
2) Advance human rights?
3) Protect the environment?
4) Improve race relations?
5) Fight world poverty?
6) Support culture?

If so please do Join Us. Over the years we have a number of interesting events with a wide range of speakers. In 2008 we had Zac Goldsmith talking on local environmental issues as well as worldwide concerns. Previously we have had Martin Bell, Trevor MacDonald and Richard Attenborough.

What is UNA-UK?
(This section taken from www.una.org.uk)

The United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UNA-UK) is the UK's leading independent policy authority on the UN. As we are independent of the UN system and receive no funding from it, we can be critical of its decisions and activities when we need to be and can call for the organisation to be reformed so that it is better equipped to fulfil its fundamental functions: to maintain international peace and security, to promote development and to uphold human rights around the world.

We are proud to be a UK-wide membership organisation encompassing individuals of diverse ages, backgrounds and interests.

My personal interest in making a change is in bringing the importance of culture to the fore. From working abroad, both as part of the UN and now as an author, I can see that all too often culture is sidelined because it is such a complicated subject. If we continue to do this there will be disastrous consequences, as there has been in the past, usually leading to war or extreme poverty.  Find out more, learn about joining us.

Virginia Morris

JOIN US NOW
Come along to one of our events. Just turn up, you will be very welcome. Or make contact to find out more. We have over 100 local members and plus affiliated groups and offer many opportunities for helping to expand our activities. Join Us
Be angry, be sad, be passionate, but don't be silent.