United Nations Society

University of New South Wales

eNews Online - 24 May 2008

A copy of our latest eNewsletter is posted below for your reference.

You may also access our eNews archive here.

Dear Members,

It may be coming to the end of the semester but the UN Society still has a number events planned for the next few weeks. Of particular importance is our major humanitarian awareness event for the semester, which will be taking place this coming Wednesday. We will be drawing everyone's attention to the current crisis in food supply in many developing countries, where prices are rising at unprecedented rates. See the details below, share some food with us in this lucky country and find out the scale of the crisis and how the UN and the international community can help out.

Also see below for details on our final social event for the semester, as well as some preliminary information about an upcoming MUN session that we will be holding in the winter break. Finally, we have included in this issue some information on the Red Cross's relief work in natural disaster areas.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about anything UN, don't hesitate to get in touch at unsociety@unsw.edu.au.

Kind Regards,

The Executive
UNSW United Nations Society

Humanitarian Barbeque - Focus on the Food Crisis

Date: Wednesday 28th May (Week 11)
Time: 11:00am - 2:30pm
Location: Gravel Area Outside the Library

Next week on Wednesday, we will be holding a BBQ with the aim of raising awareness about the current world food crisis. In tandem with a straight-forward information stall we will be running a mock grocery stall with realistically inflated prices to try and contextualise some of the ramifications of the current crisis. The other key aim of this day is to provide information on the UN's position on some of these very controversial issues.

The BBQ/stall will run from 11am - 2:30pm on wednesday of week 11 in the gravel area outside the library. This should be an original, exciting day! Come along, check it out, grab a bite and have a chat to other interested individuals.

As always we need a few helpers to make the stall and BBQ run as smoothly as possible. This is a great oppertunity to get involved and have some fun. If there are any members out there who can spare some time and would like to help out, contact Alistair or Nesha at z3185698@student.unsw.edu.au or neshabala@hotmail.com. Thanks everyone, hope to see you there!

End of Session Social

Date: Thursday 29th May
Time: 6:00pm - 9:0pm
Location: Club Bar, the Roundhouse (upstairs)

Join us for our major end of session social event. Come, relax and talk UN before bunkering down for final exams. As always, we encourage our members to discuss issues of interest. It is also a great forum to let the executive know what you want out of the society in semester two.

Holiday MUN Fun!

Date: Thursday 3rd July
Time: All day! Exact times TBC
Location: TBC

We will be holding an all day AMUNC training session the week before the team leaves for Adelaide. The majority of the time will be spent in MUN simulation with a brief rules preparation session beforehand. Although AMUNC delegates will get first pick of the positions, the event will be open to all members and guests. It would be a great idea to come along if you want a better feel or what a longer MUN will be like or if you want more specific training on the Rules of Procedure.

More details will be sent around shortly.

AMUNC Update

We have closed registration for our AMUNC Delegation and finalised all our country assignments. BUT if you still want to come along, you may register as an individual. See www.amunc.net for information. You will have to organise transport and accomodation yourself, but you are more than welcome to come and hang out with our great delegation during the conference!

In this issue...

Humanitarian Barbeque
Focus on the Food Crisis
End of Session Social
Holiday MUN Fun!
AMUNC Update
Red Cross Relief Work

Red Cross Relief Work

As we are all well aware, these last few weeks have wrought havoc on so many people in Myanmar and south-western China. Natural distasters of this magnitude require a global response to help the affected people meet the most basic of needs. A lack of food, shelter, sanitation and fresh water is threatening those fortunate enough to have survived the initial disaster. If anything, the situation will deteriorate in the near future as disease, illness and malnutrition take hold. So the question is how we, as members of the global community, can help in the relief effort?

Many global charities have been taking an active part in the relief effort, supplying all manner of goods and manpower to the affected regions. Supporting any one of the myriad of international charities could have a profound effect upon the victims.

One such organisation is the Australian Red Cross, which is affiliated with the global Red Cross and Red Cresent movements. They are currently involved in distaster relief wok in both of the affected regions. Members are encouraged to visit the Australian Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.au for more information.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Red Cross is their neutrality principle. Effectively, they pledge not to 'take sides' or to speak openly about the poitcal situation in conflict or disaster areas. This philosophy gives them to provide assistance to people in a huge number of places that other organisations are not allowed into, because the controlling authorities do not fear negative publicity. On the other hand, this policy is sometimes critised as being naive and passive, arguments that the Red Cross thoroughly rejects, but are challenging issues nonetheless.

If youa re interested in the work the Red Cross does, or in their principles, either get in touch with the UN Society executive, or visit the Red Cross website: www.redcross.org.au