UNA TWICKENHAM AND RICHMOND

The Newsletter

From the Chairman
Schools
I was delighted to be asked by Dennis Wilmot and Mary Holmes to speak at two local schools -
Denmead and The Mall for their Global Citizenship project.
The topic was global warming. Each group of children represented a country and they had to defend
their governments record on the subject. The room was setup as if the United Nations debating
chamber. I opened the proceedings with a general talk on the United Nations. Then the children did a
two minute presentation to the others and after a debate ensured.
I was extremely impressed. The children were very knowledgeable on the subject. This reflects well on
the efforts put in by Dennis and Mary as not only do they get invited back year in year out but they have
kept the work of the United Nations at the front of the school curriculum. I do hope other schools will
follow suit.
Richmond Council Supports the Declaration of Human Rights
In our last newsletter I mentioned that TRUNA have partnered with the local branch of Amnesty
International in order to celebrate the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I contacted the Council to see if they could assist in any way and they have got back with some positive
news. One suggestion for a prominent location within the Borough for our monument is Champions
Wharf in Twickenham along the River Thames (the sculpture park). They have also said that we might
be eligible for their scheme which gives up to £5,000 for community projects.
Deadlines are tight but we are aiming to have a ceremony on 10th December. If you would like to get
involved with either the design of the monument or come to the unveiling please contact myself.
Chairman’s Comments on Forthcoming Events
BBQ / GARDEN PARTY – Please come along to this wonderful occasion. We are raising money for a
new TRUNA banner to be displayed at meetings and events & a sculpture to celebrate the 60th
Anniversary of the Declarations of Human Rights.
It will cost £10 a head which will include food and refreshments (£8 going to fund raising pp), to be
held on 13th September, 12 to 3pm at 5 Longfield Drive, East Sheen, London SW14 7AU.
If you would like to attend the garden party please reply to Olivia Richardson at Flat 15, 166
Kingston Lane, Teddington, TW11 9HD. Please make cheques payable to TRUNA.
AGM – We are delighted to welcome Susan Kramer MP as our guest speaker at our AGM. She will be
talking on her fascinating recent trip to Ethiopia and how the 60th Anniversary of the Declarations of
Human Rights is so important. It will be held on 22nd September at the Vestry Hall, 21 Paradise Road,
Richmond TW9 1SA. There will be a meeting for the TRUNA committee starting at 7pm first and our
guest speaker will be starting at 8pm, taking questions after.

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STATION COLLECTION – To be held on 18th October and 29th November 2008 to raise money for
UNA & UNICEF. Please contact Derek Smith for more details or if you would like to help - 020 8892
4186.
CIVIC SERVICE - To be held at the Richmond and Putney Unitarian Church, Ormond Road,
Richmond, TW10 6TH UK. The final date has yet to be confirmed (due to summer holiday
commitments). It is to be either Friday 24th October or Saturday 25th October. Please call Olivia
Richardson on 020 8943 3646 for the final details.
PUB LUNCH – We are having a speaker who is very involved in monitoring British investments in
charity works around the world and how it all happens. This will be held at the Cabbage Patch in
Twickenham – very likely to be in November. Please contact Dennis Wilmot on 020 8977 9434 for final
dates.
If you would like to receive this newsletter by email only please do contact me
info@truna.org.uk
Virginia Morris
Our annual UNA/UNICEF street collection (for which we have permission to collect anywhere in
Richmond upon Thames) will be on Saturday, October 18th. So, if you would be willing to collect for
an hour or more on that day at a location of your own choice, I should be very glad to hear from you.
We are fortunate also to have been given permission for a collection at Twickenham Station on
Saturday, November 29th, which is the day of the England v New Zealand rugby match. For that
occasion we shall need a team of at least eight people, so if you are able to help please let me know.
I have been organising UNA/UNICEF collections on behalf of the branch for the past ten years, so I am
sure that by the end of this year it will be time for me to pass on the baton. Since I reached the ripe old
age of eighty I have been gradually divesting myself of various voluntary jobs for which I have been
responsible. I am very glad to report that in each case so far the result has been the introduction of fresh
enthusiasm and valuable new initiatives! This particular job is not an onerous one, so if you would like
to know more about it please contact me.
Derek Smith
Ban Ki-moon Meeting
On 13th June Margaret Rayner, Denis Wilmot and I attended a Meeting addressed by the UN Secretary General
at the Royal Geographical Society in London. He was surprised when the audience wished him “A Very
Happy Birthday”, saying it seemed some secrets cannot be kept.
In the presence of some very exalted people, he said the UN had a unique opportunity to work for the good of
the world and UNA to support the Organisation. The pendulum of support is swinging the UN’s way with the
Millennium Development Goals helping to raise awareness of its importance. It needed to mobilise resources
to deliver results for a more secure world and for that it needed political support from all Governments. There
are unprecedented numbers of UN Peacekeepers manning the many missions based in large numbers of
troubled regions. The UN member states needed to supply military personnel, police and finance to make the
UN effective, especially on the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Global threats spare
no one and they will escalate and endanger all countries, crossing borders, if we do not counter terrorism,
combat climate change and fight against disease pandemics in a concerted manner and with collective
action. No one can solve such problems single-handedly. Global challenges require global responses.

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The number one priority for the world is combating climate change. Antarctica is
unrecognisable. Droughts are extended, cyclones increasing in number. The climate is changing fast and
international response is too slow. There is an impending crisis and man-made emissions are
responsible. The International Panel on Climate Change recently received the Nobel Peace Prize. We
need to build on Bali. By the end of December 2009 actions on climate change should be mandatory
since we need to deal with the threat with the greatest urgency. In actual fact action should have been
taken yesterday. We must capitalise on momentum.
The second problem facing everyone is dealing with disease. Viruses migrate and the impact of
pandemics would be devastating. The world has the ability to treat and control disease. The UN is
pushing hard in the fields of maternal and child mortality and in defeating HIV Aids, malaria, TB and
other such diseases but the response is fragmented in nature. Co-ordination and accountability of health
organisations is long overdue. It is time to be decisive and bold.
Terrorism is the third threat against mankind. The UN Counter Terrorism Plan was adopted by all its
members in 2006 and a Counter Terrorism Task Force set up. It needed to be supported and taken
seriously by all.
The fourth problem States needed to solve is Nuclear weaponry which makes no discrimination when
used. It is essential to eliminate all Weapons of Mass Destruction and to limit all other types of
conventional weapon.
All these threats require collective thinking with all people of the world working together for the
collective good if we are to face them and solve the problems.
There were questions from the Floor on Burma, the Status of Women, the Congo and Zimbabwe. The
Secretary General answered frankly and as fully as he could.
Olivia Richardson
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Education and Children’s Services
International Projects Seminar—27th June 2008
In response to the commitment of schools across the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames to
develop and celebrate International projects and global education, a seminar was delivered on 27th June
2008.
The seminar was coordinated and delivered by Local Authority Officers, Colin Bell, Head of Recruitment
and Retention and Anne Farren, Modern Foreign Languages Adviser. The seminar was attended by
Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers and Teachers representing schools from special, primary and
secondary phases. The seminar gave delegates the opportunity to:
 meet and identify organisations which support overseas study visits
 investigate funding streams connected to international school development
 develop international curriculum areas
 enhance professional development
 develop cross phase international school dimensions
Representatives from a variety of organisations delivered presentations and question and answer sessions
on a variety of subjects. The organisations included:

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 British Council www.britishcouncil.org.uk
 League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers www.lect.org.uk
 School exchanges and International curriculum development experiences. Presentations were
given connected to specific study visits and exchange programmes to China, Japan, North
Africa, India and Denmark.
 International Schools Award www.globalgateway.org.uk
 United Nations UK www.una.org.uk
The seminar was designed to build on many areas of good practice which have been identified schools
across the borough. For example the DCSF International School Award (ISA) is widely supported by
Richmond’s schools with many having attained either the bronze, silver or gold level of the award.
The International School Award is an accreditation scheme for curriculum-based international work in
schools. It is open to all UK schools and is free of charge.
The international dimension in education is an increasingly important part of agendas such as Every
Child Matters and Community Cohesion in how it supports the cultural heritage of teachers and
learners and positive learning across schools.
The ISA features in Part One of the 2007-8 SEF for schools in England as a 'significant award' that
contributes to giving the school a 'distinctive character'. The ISA is also featured in the new
curriculum guidance from QCA, particularly with regard to the Global Dimension.
The ISA supports schools to develop the following:
 an international ethos embedded throughout the school
 a majority of pupils within the school impacted by and involved in international work
 collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
 curriculum-based work across a range of subjects
 year round international activity
 involvement of the wider community
 evaluation from a variety of sources allowing you to improve your activities and your
international programme.
The ISA also offers:
 a framework within which to form and develop international partnerships and achieve curriculum
goals.
 ideas for developing collaborative curriculum-based international work with partner schools.
 recognition for teachers and their schools that instil a global dimension into the learning experience
of all children and young people.
 opportunities to raise the school's profile through local and national media coverage
support for delivering on the Sustainable School agenda. The Sustainable Schools National Framework
states that :
By 2020 the Government would like all schools to be models of good global citizenship, enriching
their educational mission with activities that improve the lives of people living in other parts of the
world. Richmond is making excellent progress to realise this vision.

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Mark Rusling, Campaigns & Education Officer from United Nations UK delivered an excellent
presentation outlining the varied role and support which UNAUK can offer schools across Richmond upon
Thames. The presentation was very well received.
Mark has discussed his responsibility for membership support, UNYSA development, and the Association's
Model UN and educational work. Mark has taught primary school children in India and international
secondary school students in Cambridge, where he used Model UNs as a key strategy for teaching.
Central to UNA-UK's educational strategies are MUN activities and facilitating teaching about the UN
through the Citizenship curriculum. In addition to new resources, UNA-UK is developing an online
Citizenship resource, including lesson plans covering all aspects of the UN and its work. Mark offered
further support to Richmond’s teachers and he would be able to deliver further training for teachers and
trainee teachers on UN and Model UN issues.
Mark introduced the UNA-UK website and reminded delegates that this is an excellent resource to use
within the school context. Model UN resources and briefings on issues connected to the following can be
found on the UNA UK website:
 water and development
 children's rights
 protecting human rights
 state recognition and self-determination
 nuclear proliferation
I was also happy to highlight TRUNAs proactive role in supporting the UN’s role in citizenship curriculum
strengthened
TRUNA played an integral part to maintain the UNs status within the National Curriculum. In late 2006,
UNA-UK was concerned to learn of proposals to drop specific references to the UN from the revised Key
Stage 3 citizenship curriculum. The draft curriculum for pupils aged 11–14, which will be active from
September 2008, would not have required students to learn about the UN’s role. Thanks to TRUNAs
campaigning and the involvement of UNA UK this is required under the current curriculum.
In December 2006, UNA-UK representatives met with Lord Adonis, DfES (now DCSF) Minister
responsible for citizenship, to raise these concerns. Following this meeting, the UN component was
reinstated into the curriculum, released in February 2007. Pupils are required to explore the UN’s role in
securing human rights, together with “the role of the United Nations in the context of topical events
affecting the international and/or global community”.
UNA-UK and TRUNA believes this has strengthened the UN’s role in the citizenship curriculum, and will
help ensure that all pupils have some understanding of the UN’s work, and of the UK’s role within the UN.
Finally, Mark endorsed the excellent work of TRUNA and encouraged all delegates to find out more and to
get involved with our successful local UNA UK branch. Details of Dennis Wimlot’s Global Education
work, wider branch activities, contact details and past newsletters were distributed to all delegates.
Mark stayed for lunch and continued to network during this informal session. Evaluations from the event
indicated that the seminar was a success and the information relating to UNA UK and TRUNA proved of
interest to local school representatives.
For further information contact Colin Bell, c.bell@richmond.gov.uk
Colin Bell

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Regional Council Meeting
On Saturday June 28th, Estelle and I attended UNA’s London and South East Region Summer Council
Meeting which was held at the South African High Commission, Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately, we
were the only members of our branch able to go on that date, but we were delighted to find that there were
over one hundred people present. The principal focus of the meeting was the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in this its 60th Anniversary year. The major part of the programme consisted of
presentations by five keynote speakers, followed by an interval, and then a question-and-answer session
with a panel discussion involving the same five people.
On arrival we were greeted with some exotic Thai food and excellent South African wine. When we
assembled in the comfortable hall for the afternoon session we were warmly welcomed by the No. 3
member of the High Commission staff (apologising for the unavoidable absence of his two seniors!) He
may perhaps have been slightly surprised by what immediately followed because (characteristically for
UNA) it proved to be an Emergency Resolution, moved by David Wardrop of Westminster Branch.
Having thanked H.E. Dr. Lindiwe Mabuza for the generous hospitality of the High Commission it then
registered disappointment in the way the mediation role for Zimbabwe had been undertaken by President
Mbeki on behalf of SADC. It concluded, “In this 60th anniversary year of the adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, an initiative which the former Apartheid regime resisted, we look to the
government of today’s South Africa to show more robust recognition of the importance of the Declaration
and the aspirations it manifests for all peoples in all countries.” The resolution was carried nem con.
It is impossible in this brief report to do justice to the presentations of the five speakers, so I can only list
them and indicate their backgrounds. They were:-
1. Selina Goulbourne, General Secretary of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association
2. William Say, stalwart UNA Member, who has written about his experiences in Korea in the
most recent edition of The Dispatch
3. Marie-Clare Faray-Kele, Congolese research scientist and executive member of W.I.L.P.F
4. Alexandra McDowell, currently legal officer at the London Office on UNHCR
5. Philip McAllister, Project executive of Right to Sight
These five individuals were, of course, able to draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience which
they gladly shared with the large audience. For me the two abiding messages to emerge from the
presentations and ensuring discussion were (i) The crucial importance of the Declaration for the peoples
of all nations and (ii) The courage and determination needed to secure its implementation.
Derek Smith
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60th Anniversary Concert
On Friday, 4th July a Concert to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
was held in St. John's, Smith Square. Czech pianist Libor Novacek played Joseph Haydn's "Sonata No. 38 in F
Major", Johannes Brahms' "Eight Piano Pieces Op. 76" and Franz Liszt's "Annees de Pererinage-Suisse"
with verve and passion alternating with delicacy and romanticism which were much appreciated by the audience.

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A short play "How the Universal Declaration was won" gave much food for thought, highlighting the
ways in which the Universal Declaration fell short of its original intentions and the ways the Cold War
caused its authors to feel disillusionment and pessimism. There is obviously a long way to go though
much has been accomplished in the 60 years of the Declaration's existence.
The evening's entertainment was wound up by eight young singers called Voces8 who performed
brilliantly in Latin and English John Tavener's "The Lamb", Richard Dering's "Factum est Silentium",
Leonard Bernstein's "Maria", Orlando Gibbons' "O Clap your Hands", Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis",
Wallace Willis' "Steal Away", George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" and
Kurt Weill's "Mack the Knife". They brought the house down with a very amusing encore of classical
pieces used in TV adverts.
There were refreshments and socialising in the crypt afterwards, but Derek and Estelle Smith and I left
for home as it was getting late.
Olivia Richardson
Pub Lunch, 12th July 2008
At our last Pub Lunch in the Cabbage Patch on 12th July our Chairman, Virginia Morris, posed the question “Should
culture be considered with development aid?”
She had travelled widely and her experiences caused her to wonder about the precise nature of poverty. It exists in
pockets. Why had it arisen? After gaining her PhD she spent a couple of years in South East Asia, meeting her brother
in Nepal, where he was teaching music, then travelling on to Bangkok and then Cambodia and Vietnam, but with the
borders closed she took a job with a development agency in Laos. The country is small and agency staff very low-paid.
The 200 expats in Vientiane proved suspicious. During her year there with UNDP she concluded that those were some
of the reasons development aid is less effective than it should be. What factors should be taken into consideration to
make aid more effective? Laos has a rural environment and is the most diverse country on earth, its 4.5 million people
speaking more than 400 languages, based on 4 streams. Paperwork holds things up. People fire first and ask questions
later. Black magic is also a problem. Her local guide helped her to contact many ethnic groups in the jungle. They
walked for 10 days to a crater lake on the border which WWF had suggested was a suitable place for research.
All these experiences led her to analyze poverty and what leads to it both in Britain and in Africa where poverty takes a
different form, leading to mass starvation.
Denis Wilmot, who works with schools, said that poverty was a good topic for discussion in model UN events.
Children try to solve the problems, suggesting that rich countries should give money to poor countries, asking how
much money we need, what it is to be used for and whether use can be checked. It is also said that people who are poor
are often happier than those in the West who strive for more. Brian Jackson said that it was calculated by the UN that
adding 1% to gross national product could help us lift people out of poverty. However China’s growth is impacting on
the rest of the world. In assessing poverty and development what indicators should be used? Anthropologists use the
term “cultural suicide” when nomadic dwellers are forced to stay still to conform with Western standards. There is a
difference between cultural poverty and true poverty which is caused by bad politics. In Laos poverty was caused
initially by war but a government remote from the people has made matters worse. In 90% of cases cultural poverty and
true poverty occur together but when we attempt to change things while ignoring a people’s culture we cannot hope to
be successful in dealing with poverty.
After a delicious lunch our small band of UNA members parted with much food for thought in our minds.
Olivia Richardson

United Nations Association UK —Twickenham and Richmond Branch
Newsletter Compiler: Sam Trevelyan - 020 8979 6179 - samtrevelyan@gmail.com
Branch Secretary: Olivia Richardson - 020 8943 3646 - kemindine@yahoo.co.uk