2012 03 UNANZ Newsletter

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1

UNANZ NEWS

ISSN 11798009 (print) ISSN 11790817 (online)


THE PEOPLES MOVEMENT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS 2 UNANZ.ORG.NZ

UNANZ NewsContentsIn this issue:RIO+20 UN Conference onSustainable Development 3UN International Year ofSustainable Energy for All 1725th Anniversary of theDeclaration on the Right toDevelopment 18UNDP/UNAIDS Meeting atParliament 19

UN International Day of Women2012 19The Dag HammerskjoldSymposium on the Responsibilityto Protect, Beijing 21Branch Reports: Tauranga,Wellington 24UN Youth Report 27

UNANZ EVENTSSecondary Schools SpeechAwards Final May 19(morning) at ParliamentNational AGM May 19(afternoon) at Turnbull House,Bowen Street

UN INTERNATIONAL DAYS2 April World AutismAwareness Day4 April International Day forMine Awareness and Assistancein Mine Action7 April Day of Remembranceof the Victims of the RwandaGenocide7 April World Health Day[WHO]

Upcoming events:



UnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopmentIn the last newsletter, Gray Southon,Special Officer for UN Renewalprovided a summary of the UNs workon sustainability, the key timeline andreference points of which are:1971 UN Conference on the HumanEnvironment deliniated the rights ofthe human family to a healthy andproductive environment. It created anumber of global institutions withinthe UN system.1980 International Union for theConservation of Natural Resourcespublished the World ConservationStrategy (WCS) which provided aprecursor to the concept ofsustainable development.1982 48th Plenary of the GeneralAssembly the WCS initiative led tothe World Charter for Nature.1983 World Commission on theEnvironment and Development(WCED) was created and by 1984 wasconstituted as an independent body byUN General Assembly and asked toformulate A global agenda for change.1987 WCED produced report OurCommon Future and advanced the

understanding of globalinterdependence and the relationshipbetween economics and theenvironment. The report wove togethersocial, economic, cultural andenvironmental issues and developedglobal solutions.1987 Montreal Protocol instituted thatphased out ozone depleting gases.1988 World Metrological Organisationand the UN Environmental Program(UNEP) formed the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change (IPPC) whosetask was to review and assess themost recent scientific, technical andsocioeconomic information relevant tothe understanding of climate change.1989 General Assemble resolution44/228 established the Conference onthe Environment and Development(UNCED) which became the Rio EarthSummit.Twenty years on from the EarthSummit, RIO+20 will be held in Rio deJaneiro June 20 – 22 2012The objective of RIO+20 is to renewpolitical commitment, to engage majorgroups, to assess progress and address

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/futurewewant



new and emerging challenges. Theconference will focus on the GreenEconomy in the context of sustainabledevelopment and poverty eradicationand the institutional framework forsustainable development.The New Zealand Government, alongwith NGOs and sector groups, havemade submissions and submittedpapers contributing to the Zero DraftDocument currently being prepared.UNANZ RIO+20 SeminarThe UNANZ Seminar held inParliament’s Beehive Theatre on March8th focussed primarily on the issuescovered in the NZ submission and itoffered excellent presentations fromexperienced and informed speakersfrom a range of backgrounds. Itallowed for dialogue with Governmentofficials responsible for preparing theNew Zealand submission and with otherNGOs and major sector groupsrepresentatives.The 20 page Draft Zero document wasincluded in background papers alongwith the New Zealand submission:www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/futurewewant This focused on a Green Economy,Oceans and a Blue Economy, Fossil FuelSubsidies (NZ is a member of theInternational Committee examiningthese) and the Institutional Frameworknecessary to address deliver.The key topics and points covered bythe seminar are outlined here and thefull document is available on theUNANZ website unanz.org.nzOpening AddressHon Dr Nick Smith

“New Zealand’s priority at the UnitedNations Rio+20 Summit in June will beon improving environmentalmanagement of oceans andopportunities from greening growth,

"Environment Minister Nick Smithsaid when opening the United NationsAssociation New Zealand Conferencein Wellington on March 8."We are putting strong emphasis onoceans in New Zealand’s contributionto RIO+20 because it is so importantfor our part of the world and moreneeds to be done globally to protectthe marine environment. Our concernis that illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing continuesunchecked and often supported byGovernment subsidy."New Zealand will also be promotingits ideas around greening growth atthe RIO+20 Summit. We have a realcontribution to make noting ourranking as best performer in the 2011Global Green Growth Index. Theglobal community, in these difficulttimes, needs to focus on policies thatenable improved living standards andincomes while ensuring betterstewardship of natural resources."We will be particularly active inadvocating for reform of fossil fuelsubsidies. The debate on carbonpricing to reduce emissions isundermined by global subsidies of$500 billion per year of fossil fuels.There is real opportunity forsignificant emissions reductions andsaving for governments fromremoving these distorting subsidies."Real gains were made at the originalRio Earth Summit with conventionson climate change, biodiversity anddesertification. Our ambition forRIO+20 is for progress to be made onimproving management of our oceansand on greening global economicgrowth.”


http://unanz.org.nz




Sustainable Business: Phil O’ReillyBusiness NZThe Green Growth Advisory Groupreport had been launched earlier in theweek and its Chair, Phil O'Reillysummarised its 26 recommendations.He emphasised that there was nochoice but sustainability and it needsto part of mainstream business, notingthat green jobs are only green if you“green” every aspect of them."Business needs to lead andGovernments follow, and their role isnot to pick winners but rather to setstandards, eg Food standards. Wecurrently need 1.4 earths to sustainourselves we are taking from thefuture. Therefore we need innovation.Clean technology derives from hightechnology. Different countries needdifferent solutions. Ours is not likeAustralia. They have a very differentenvironment and perception, but wecan learn from different countries whatis necessary though is to get everyoneon board and this is the purpose ofRio."The Green Growth report listed 26recommendations. They include Publish Green Growth Indicatorsevery three years Guide collaboration between centraland local government in managing

natural capital and resolving issues ofeconomic development andenvironmental protection Help coordinate and integratecapabilitybuilding in small andmedium size enterprises Promote standards and certificationaimed at raising environmental andeconomic performance Refocus the role of EECA towardshelping businesses, farms andhouseholds reduce their greenhousegas emissions, with a particular focuson small and medium size enterprises. Continue current reforms in theinnovation system including changeswithin Crown Research Institutes,establishment of the AdvancedTechnology Institute, and better linksbetween science and business Support transfer of knowledge andtechnology from overseas to facilitategreen growth Include green growth considerationsin funding programmes in science,innovation and tertiary education Ensure sustainability principles areput into practice as part of theGovernment’s publicsectorwideprocurement policy Create a nationally consistentbiodiversity offsetting regime that willfacilitate projects for economic growthwhile delivering net gains tobiodiversity and environmental quality Support research that increasesunderstanding of biological systemsand biosecurity risks associated withthe food and beverage sector New Zealand’s mineral andpetroleum resources should beavailable for extraction but underwhat constraints? Investigate wider benefits frompetroleum and minerals royalties,

Phil O'Reilly and Chair Doug Kidd answeringquestions. Photo: Lachlan Mackay

Keynote Panel



such as longterm infrastructureprovision; biodiversity andenvironmental protection; social orother programmes for communities,iwi and regions most directly affected;or a sovereign wealth fund or similarto create longterm intergenerationalbenefitsThe Green Growth Advisory Group’sreport is available onwww.med.govt.nz andwww.businessnz.org.nzEconomic priorities andenvironmental issues. Dr RickBoven Director NZ Institute

Keynote: Dr Rick BovenPhoto: Lachlan MackayWith a population of 7 billion people,Earth’s economy and environment areinextricably linked. The economydepends on the environment forresources and conditions that sustainlife and commerce. A strong economyis required to allow protection ofenvironment resources and to producetechnologies and products that willimprove environment outcomes.In the short run, improvingenvironment outcomes provideseconomic benefits for somebusinesses and many leaders of thosebusinesses are using their influence toimprove environment outcomes.

Businesses should pursue thosewin/win opportunities vigorously.Where business interests are notaligned and environment risks arematerial, governments are expected toregulate.Twenty years after Rio, carbon dioxideconcentration continues to growstrongly. Businessasusual energyprojections indicate ongoing emissionsincrease while prudent climatemanagement requires a materialemissions decrease. Twothirds of theservices provided by nature are indecline. As a result the carryingcapacity of Earth, with currenttechnologies, is declining.Technology development in the pasthas increased carrying capacitydramatically. Fossil fuels, agriculturaltechnologies and trade have allowed ahuge increase in the sustainablepopulation density. However theecological footprint of humanitypassed one Earth around 1980, is nowaround 1.5 Earths and on the currentcourse is heading for two Earths in2050.Scientific arguments for greater effortsto sustain environmental productivityand reduce environment risks arecompelling. Many technologies andpolicies are available to improveenvironment outcomes but not enoughare being deployed to reverse or evenslow the adverse trends. However,there is not yet a sense of urgency. Itis generally left to the market, withsome incentives but also somecontinuing harmful subsidies.The issue now is mobilising effort.Economies and populations are usuallymobilised when serious issues arise,for example in wars. This time severalobstacles are combining to weaken theresponse.Two paradigms are in conflict. The

http://www.med.govt.nz

http://www.businessnz.org.nz



economic paradigm assumes theeconomy is small relative to theenvironment and that resources canbe drawn from the environment andwastes disposed of into theenvironment without limit. Thisparadigm predicts the future will bean extension of the past and thesocietal goal should be to maximiseGDP per capita.The ecological paradigm assumes theeconomy has become large relative tothe environment, creating risk of anovershoot crisis. In this paradigm, thefuture will not be an extension of thepast and the societal goal should be tomanage risks. Adherents to the twoparadigms often talk past one anotherwithout confronting the fundamentaldifferences between their world views.Incumbent businesses threatened byregulation may also slow the responseby their lobbying efforts. Capitalmarkets' discount rates meanbusinesses place a low value onoutcomes beyond ten or fifteen years.Directors are legally required to act inthe interests of the company and arenot free to pursue environmentalgoals where these conflict withcompany interests.Governments in democracies providewhat voters want or are replaced.Voters want more consumption andevaluate governments on GDPgrowth. Governments may beinfluenced by lobbying fromincumbent businesses unlesscountered by influence from civilsociety.Activists and others who wish toimprove environment outcomesshould focus their efforts onincreasing public engagement.Influencing opinionleaders whoinfluence the public builds the demandfor sustainably provided goods and

services and increases the pressure ongovernments to act to reduce longterm environment risks.Science perspective: Sir PeterGluckman Govt Science Adviser

Keynote: Sir Peter GluckmanPhoto: Lachlan MackayWhile we need to sustain a level ofeconomic growth, sustainabilitytensions occur between the needs ofthe people and their expectationsconcerning resource consumption.The population is predicted to benearly 10 billion by 2050 withunrealistic and irreconcilableexpectations. We need a legitimatebalance. Our knowledge will always beincomplete – post normal science –and science will never be valuefree.Values are not linear. Risk is notlinear. When do we have enough datato decide on action? The ClimateChange debate was not about theamount of data but aboutintergenerational equity. The Mediahave not always helped. We do need abalance between growth andsustainability and there is a need for amore balanced approach. Risk analysisis not something the general publicunderstand well. The role of theGovernment is to manage risks – tokeep society safe. We need to be bothrealistic and ambitious but we do need

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1a balance between extraction andresource preservation.NGO Overview

Sustainable Development: BarryCoates, OxfamOxfam has engaged in sustainabledevelopment issues at a local, nationaland international levels since wellbefore the work was termed‘sustainable development!' A crucialelement of the negotiations in Rio islikely to be the shaping of theoutcomes, so that the leadup to theUnited Nations Conference onSustainable Development in June 2012

(RIO+20 process) is able to lead toaction rather than merely restating ofthe Rio principles and Agenda 21.Oxfam considers that this is anopportunity for world leaders to remandate the international system tomake tangible progress towardssustainable development in a coherentway. The UN agencies, specialisedagencies and bodies (including theIMF, World Bank and WTO), intergovernmental agencies and regionalbodies should be charged with a cleardirection to adopt a consistent andcoherent approach to sustainabledevelopment throughout their work.

The Rio+20n conference will befollowed by the HighLevel Summit onthe Millennium Development Goals in2013 There is a growing debate onhow to draw up renewed andexpanded global development goalswhich bring together the twinobjectives of poverty eradication andenvironmental sustainability. Anyvision of sustainable development fitfor the 21st century must recognisethat eradicating poverty and achievingsocial justice is inextricably linked toensuring ecological stability andrenewal. Progressing towards thatvision requires clear goals andindicators to act as a compass for thejourney ahead.Oxfam’s Discussion Paper, “A Safe andJust Space for Humanity: Can we livewithin the doughnut?” available athttp://www.oxfam.org.nz/resources/onlinereports/dpasafeandjustspaceforhumanity130212en.pdf aims topresent a framework and explore ideasthat could help to provide such acompass. The paper sets out a visualframework for sustainabledevelopment – shaped like a doughnut– which brings planetary boundariestogether with social boundaries,creating a safe and just space betweenthe two, in which humanity can thrive.Moving into this space demands fargreater equity – within and betweencountries – in the use of naturalresources, and demands far greaterefficiency in transforming thoseresources to meet human needs.Oxfam New Zealand believes that,over the next decade, we need tomake a rapid transition to a newmodel of prosperity, one whichdelivers economic development,respects planetary boundaries, andhas equity at its heart. The NewZealand government can and shouldplay a crucial role in this process, both


http://www.oxfam.org.nz/resources/onlinereports/dp-a-safe-and-just-space-for-humanity-130212-en.pdf

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1as a country widely perceived as aleader in sustainable development andas the Chair of the Pacific IslandsForum.Dr Gray Southon – UNANZ WFUNAThe United Nations Associationpromotes the understanding of theUnited Nations and engagement withit, working with the community, NGOsetc.Sustainability has a variety of differentmeanings: ranging from incrementalissues such as efficient light bulbs,recycling, public transport, andconservation, to the other extreme ofseeking fundamentally restructuring ofour fossil fuelbased, consumeristsociety. There is increasing evidencethat assuring the future of our planetrequires changes more toward theradical end of the spectrum. There isconsiderable controversy about theseissues, but the scientific data suggeststhe need for strong measures.Whatever way you look at it though,sustainability is clearly an issuethatdemands effective internationalcooperation. There are seven billion ofus sharing the one planet and much ofwhat we do is related. Many global

systems are being stressed, some ofthem irreversibly. We have aneconomic system inherently dependenton growth, and about 80% of thepopulation poorly developed, seekingthe standards that we enjoy in thedeveloped world. We are heavilydependent on nonrenewableresources, all of which are essentiallyunsustainable. Our legacy for futuregenerations is looking rather grim.These issues have been extensivelyresearch and analysed for over 40years, much of it under the UNumbrella. There have been myriad ofmeetings and agreements, with somehallmark successes, such as theMontreal agreement on protecting theozone layer, but also rathercatastrophic events such as theCopenhagen “train wreck”.Overall there has been disappointingcompliance from nations. Much is saidabout political will, or the lack of,accounting for the poor progress todate. Underlying this is a lack ofnational capacity and popular will.Both rich and poor countries seem tobe suffering from lack of resources andpoor governance, and desire for

improved materialwealth. The continuingdependence on growthand fossil fuels make theradical changes thatmany prescribe verydifficult. The alternativeto effective action couldbe a saga of resourcewars while the globalcommons degenerates –an outcome which is toohorrible to contemplate.We have recently had theDurban climate changeagreement which was farless than is required to


UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1contain temperature rise to 2 degreesCentigrade. Sustainability, of course,includes climate change as a majorcomponent, but includes many otherissues.We now have fresh set of documents,many urging widespread change,including some from suchorganisations as the World BusinessCouncil for Sustainable Developmentand the World Economic Forum. Thereare pressures for change coming frommany directions, but also widespreadresistance.So what about RIO+20? This, ofcourse, will be not only a diplomaticexchange between governments, butalso a massive global exchange ofdiverse parties involving possible24,000 attendees. We hope there willbe a formal outcome agreement, butthere will also be a host of informaloutcomes arising from exchangesbetween these people and the eventsthat they organise. Perhaps thesubstantial outcome may come morefrom the informal than the formal.Where does New Zealand fit in?The government’s position is relativelycautious, arguably in line with ourlimited international influence and theresources made available for theproject. It is good that the Minster ofForeign Affairs is leading the team,and the issues selected are ofimportance to NZ and to its Pacificpartners. However, one could beforgiven for suspecting that thegovernment wanted to avoid anyissues sensitive to New Zealandersthemselves. Such a suspicion would bereenforced by the minimal publicitycurrently given to this event.However, given the seriousness of thesituation, and its impact on the futureof NZ and the broader world, might

something more substantive beconsidered. Perhaps we could see it aspart of a national effort to help preparethe nation for the sustainabilitychallenges ahead so we are able toadapt and benefit as much aspossible? What would we be doing ifwe took on this challenge?1. Undertake a concerteddiplomatic effort, in conjunction withother countries and parties wherepossible, to facilitate negotiations,particularly between key groups, as wehave in the past, and encouragenegotiators to seriously address therequirements for global sustainability.This would require a strong nationalteam with experienced NGO reps andcompetent and enthusiastic youth.2. The government would make astrong political statement about theimportance of sustainability, the costsof inaction, the need for seriousengagement and the potential benefitsof participating.3. Encourage interest groups tofamiliarise themselves with the issuesbeing addressed and the proceedingsinvolved, particularly in terms ofengaging key players such asbusiness, local government and NGOs,as well as the community in general.Business, for instance, needs to be in aposition to identify opportunities, bothdomestically and internationally, in thechanging environment. The same goesfor NGOs and the community ingeneral.4. Keeping the public informedabout the preparation for RIO+20 andthe results afterwards, emphasisingthe various achievements of our team,as well as the conference overall.5. Expand our perspective toconsider social and economic issuesmore thoroughly, particularly in areas


UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1of sustainable consumption andproduction, especially where NZ cancontribute.While it is probably late to startreconsidering the structure of theteam, there are other ways ofparticipating. Certainly those that aregoing should be coordinated so we canshare our perspectives. However,people should be encouraged to followthe debates on line, share theirperspectives and possibly providefeedback to the team on site. Effortsneed to be made to identifyparticipants at Rio which have similarinterests to ours, and those fromwhich we can learn. Those parties withinternational connections could makeuse of these to learn about otherperspectives.Children’s Rights – UNICEF: PipBennettPip stressed the need to have youngpeople in the delegation as childrenneed to be at the centre of sustainabledevelopment – intergenerationalresponsibility. So far there has beenno NZ youth consultation. UNICEF andUNESCO are planning Youth Rio+ 20Seminars in the main centres and thiswill be fed back into MFAT.RIO+20 Platform Committee:Diana ShandDiana stressed the need to focus theConference on SustainableDevelopment not just theEnvironment. The NZ submission hadfocussed on the Blue Economy,reducing Fossil Fuel subsidies andInstitutional Framework. The NGOPlatform focus has been onassessment of results from MEAs,creating an enabling environment –ability to access policies pfGovernments alternatives to GDP andgreen economy They are currently

preparing a CSO/NGO position paper.See websitewww.angoa.org.nz/angoa_docs 20120309Specialist PanelOceans and Biodiversity: DrCarolyn Lundquist NIWANew Zealand’s Exclusive EconomicZone (EEZ) is over 4 million km2 andranges from subtropical to subantarcticover 30 degrees of latitude, and fromshallow coastal and estuarine habitatsto 10 km deep abyssal trenches.New Zealand is an internationallyrecognised global hotspot forbiodiversity, with 80% of the nation’stotal biodiversity found in the sea, andhigh proportion of our marine species(44%) found only in New Zealand.The biodiversity in our oceans isimportant for key economic sectors,including tourism, recreation (includingrecreational fisheries), and commercialfisheries.There is also growing recognition ofthe importance to society thatecological goods and services – thebenefit arising from the ecologicalfunctions of healthy marineecosystems provide for health,social, cultural, and economic needs.Renewable goods from the oceansinclude the use of marine fish,invertebrates and seaweeds for foodand other raw materials, medicinal orchemical products from marinespecies, and energy (wind, wave,tidal) and water resources.Nonrenewable goods include oil andgas resources, sand and gravelmining, and marine mineral resources.Ecosystem services are often moredifficult to put economic value upon,and include atmospheric and climateregulation, carbon sequestration,


http://www.angoa.org.nz/angoa_docs 2012-03-09



coastal protection and erosion control,habitat structure including nurseryhabitats for commercial fisheries, andnutrient cycling, biological regulation,and waste processing.We also derive significant social andcultural services from our oceans,including tourism, leisure, andrecreation, cultural heritage andidentity, education and research, andaesthetics.We do have the technology and theskill base in New Zealand to map theecosystem goods and servicesprovided by our oceans at a spatialscale relevant to local, regional andnational marine management.We also have the technology to predictour environmental futures, or how thegoods and services provided by ouroceans are likely to change as climatechanges and biodiversity is faced withhigher temperatures, changing stormfrequency, increasing ocean acidity,and sealevel rise.The ecosystem goods and servicesprovided by the biodiversity in ouroceans are important drivers ofsustainability, and these goods andservices are the scientific foundationupon which we should evaluatemanagement of New Zealand’s marineecosystems for sustainability, includingnew management strategies such asmarine spatial planning.EnergySmart Food for People andClimate: Prof Ralph Sims MasseyThe presentation gave an overview ofa recent UN Food and AgricultureOrganisation (FAO) report the authorwas commissioned to produce late lastyear and that was launched by FAO atthe UN Climate Change COP 17conference in Durban, South Africa.At the Wellington RIO+20 event, thepresentation linked closely with other

presentations covering food, water andenergy. Indeed, an additional slide wasadded to show the IEA analysis offossil fuel subsidies – having beenraised in earlier presentations anddiscussions that morning. The authorhad been based at the IEA as a SeniorAnalyst for four years, before returningto Massey University at the end of2010, and had worked on variousrelevant publications including theWorld Energy Outlooks.The FAO report EnergySmart Food forPeople and Climate was commissionedby the FAO due to their projection thatthe world will need 70% more food by2050 due to population growth andimproved diets, but there are growingconcerns at the high dependency ofthe entire food supply chain on fossilfuels. For example fertilisermanufacture currently consumesaround 5% of total natural gasdemand. The global agriculture andfood supply industry, including that ofNew Zealand, therefore must reduceits dependence on fossil fuels to securefood supply in the future.The current dependence of the foodsector on fossil fuels may limit thesectors' ability to meet future globalfood demands so the challenge is todecouple food prices from fluctuatingand rising fossil fuel prices. The foodsupply chain already uses 32 per centof total global energy and produces 22per cent of greenhouse gases. Butthen we fail to consume one third of allthe food the world produces. Thisleads to a high wastage of land, waterand direct and indirect energy inputs.So from ‘paddocktoplate’ theindustry has to become smarter.Variations in energy demand, GHGemissions and losses occur betweenhigh and low GDP countries but allhave the opportunity to produce and

http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1deliver food more efficiently. Food lossreductions can occur during improvedstorage, preparation and consumptionhabits, and demand reduced by dietchange and reducing obesity levels.High and fluctuating prices of fossilfuels and growing doubts regardingtheir future availability at low prices,mean that agrifood systems need toshift to a more energysmart model,and energysmart is climate smart.At each stage of the food supply chain,current practices can be adapted tobecome less energy intensive.Efficiency gains can often come frommodifying, at no or little cost, existingfarming, fishing, food processing,transport, storage, retailing andcooking practices. Steps that can betaken at the farm level vary betweensubsistence farming in developingcountries and family and corporatefarming as in NZ, but can include theuse of more fuel efficient tractoroperation, the use of precisionfertilizing and nutrient recylcing,irrigation monitoring and targetedwater delivery, adoption of notillfarming and conservation practices andthe use of crop varieties and animalbreeds that need fewer inputs. Afterfood has been harvested, improvedtransport infrastructure, betterinsulation of food storage facilities,reductions in packaging and foodwaste, and more efficient cookingdevices offer the possibility of reducingenergy use throughout the entire foodsystem.In addition, farmers, fishers and foodprocessing companies usually haverenewable energy resources availableonsite (such as wind, solar, minihydro, animal wastes, crop residues,food processing rejects), that can beconverted costeffectively to provideheat, electricity and transport fuels

(including biogas) for their own use orfor sale offsite to generate additionalbusiness revenue.Many good examples already exist inNew Zealand. Fonterra, for example,has reduced the greenhouse gasemissions from its farmer members by8.5 per cent per litre of milk and itsenergy inputs per tonne of milkproduct by 13.9 per cent. This is astart, but purchasers of our foodproducts continue to investigate farmand food processing practices witheverincreasing scrutiny – feedingdairy cattle on palm oil residues beingjust one example.A positive message for New Zealandfrom the report is that food miles areless important than choosing food fromregions of high productivity notinvolving high input levels. Producingurea from lignite would be just oneexample of failing to maintain ourpresent natural advantage, which isimperative if New Zealand is tobecome a leader of energysmart foodproduction.The full report can be found as a freedownload at:http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2454e/i2454e00.pdfProtection of Animals: BridgetVercoe WSPAOne billion of the world’s poor rely onanimals for work/income, foodproduction etc, and issues includeoverfishing, water use animalsproducts and spreading of diseases.Livestock are a major part of foodproduction using 70% of arable land.There have been increases in largescale commercial farming and this hascreated greater problems than it hasresolved. RIO+20 Document needs toencompass the protection of animals


http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2454e/i2454e00.pdf



Institutional Framework

Institutional Framework Panel: Diana Shand,Prof Klaus Bosselmann, Betsan Martin and BillHamiltonPhoto: Chris ParkInstitutions of Trust Building: ProfKlaus Bosselmann – EnvironmentalLaw, Auckland University1. Lost Trust?The 1992 Earth Summit did not bringabout the changes that the 1987Brundtland Report had called for withits plea for a new ethic and a Charterpromoting strong sustainability. Initialmoves within the UN to adopt an EarthCharter were not followed through bygovernments. Instead, the 1992Summit settled for the less aspirationalRio Declaration leaving aside the allcritical question how sustainabledevelopment should be defined andhow it should be incorporated ininternational law. The leadership gapbetween civil society (calling for strongsustainability) and governments(allowing weak sustainability andbusinessasusual) has never beenbigger than today.The only significant step taken in NZwas the adoption of the 1991 ResourceManagement Act. Its potential was,however, never realized. NZ has fallenwell behind international efforts to shift

towards sustainable development.Today, it is one of very few OECDcountries without a national strategy,without an independent sustainabilitycouncil and without legally enforceablesustainability policies. Neither pastLabour governments nor the presentnational government have shown anyleadership to initiate the necessarydialogue on meaning, status and policyimplications of sustainabledevelopment.2. Rebuilding TrustDialogue, openness and a relationshipof mutual trust are indispensable forachieving sustainable development (asarticulated in the Rio Declaration andAgenda 21). In many countries, theEarth Charter has served as aframework and catalyst for buildingsuch relationships. NZ should followthat example. Continued dialogue (e.g.GOV/NGO platform), nationalgatherings (e.g. ‘sustainabilitysummit’), drafting of a nationalstrategy and Charter, andestablishment of an independent(statutory) sustainability council wouldenable Government to rebuild trust.Fundamentally, democracy isgovernance built on trust (between thedemos and the kratos).3. Building Institutions of TrustAs an essentially ethical concept,sustainable development must beunderpinned by shared values andprinciples. The two key themes ofRio+20 are intertwined no greeneconomy without effective institutions but also require commitment to ashared morality for the common good.This kind of morality is lacking in both,economic markets and currentgovernance mechanisms. Therefore,we will only reach our objectivesthrough reforms in governance aboveand beyond the marketbased reforms

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1being proposed for a green economy.The necessary reforms need to beframed by the reality that Earth is ourcommon home with natural limits to itsexploitation, and that people in allnations have a common destiny andshared interest in protecting thecommons (water, oceans, biodiversity,atmosphere). In institutional terms,this calls for trusteeship for the globalcommons. At Rio+20, NZ shouldtherefore support proposals forinstitutional reform (e.g. WorldEnvironment Organisation) based onthe principles of trusteeship andresponsibility.Response Ability An integratingEthic for Sustainability: BetsanMartin ResponseThe International Forum on Ethics andResponsibility is cultivating cultures ofresponsibility in regions across theworld in professional and socialnetworks such as environmentaleducation. A Charter for UniversalResponsibility was drafted in 2003 andthis is now being proposed as a third“pillar” or agreement for internationallife. Responsability speaks togovernance and decisionmaking. Itprovides a framework for integration ofsocial environment and economy fordevelopment of a green economywhich addresses poverty and is acounterpoint to a rights basedstrategy. Responsibility is proposed asa framework for an institutionalframework to navigate towardssustainable development in aglobalised and interdependent world. Itwould provide a relational ethic andbasis for collaboration aligned withindigenous systems of intergrateddecisionmaking and aspirations forkaitiakitanga, manaakitanga andsustainability.

Indigenous Perspective: BillHamilton Ngati Kahungunu IwiIncorpNgāti Kahungunu, as an indigenouspeople, define our identity as a peoplethrough our inalienable, inheritedconnection with the naturalenvironment that forges a reciprocalrelationship whereby our ancestrallandscape gives us holistic sustenanceas a people, and we cherish ourobligations to the environment to actas guardians, protecting the ability ofour descendants to have a living andfull relationship with the naturalenvironment.Ngāti Kahungunu consider indigenouspeoples contributing leadership tosustainable development is afundamental aspect of our status asIndigenous peoples and a necessaryexpression of our inherited values andrelationship with the naturalenvironment. Recognising thealignment between our values and thedriving objectives of RIO+20, we sharethe optimism of many that theconference will galvanise a stepchange in global practice towardsustainable development and greengrowth.Ngāti Kahungunu wish to signal ouraspiration to develop, in advance ofRIO+20, a partnership contributingIndigenous peoples, private sector andstate leadership in the protection andrestoration of the Pacific Ocean.For Ngāti Kahungunu, the PacificOcean is fundamental to our identityas we are a voyaging people who traceour migration to New Zealand acrossthe Pacific Ocean, and through ourmigration, forged strong genealogicalconnections with many of the peoplesof the South Pacific. In addition totracing our identities to the PacificOcean, we also celebrate the critical


UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1role of the Pacific Ocean in contributingto carbon sequestration and the widersustenance of many states andcommunities.Our vision is to restore Indigenousknowledges and peoples to beingactive guardians of the Pacific Ocean,generating economic, environmental,social and cultural outcomes. Inadvance of Rio+20, we intend toexplore the development of a multistakeholder partnership amongstIndigenous peoples, states and privatesector actors in the form of paymentfor ecosystems services arrangement.Panel: Voice of Youth

Voice of Youth Panel: Jimmy Green, WillWatterson, Emma Moon, Sudhvir Singh &David Tong. Photo: Chris ParkEmma Moon 350 Aotearoa whoattended both Cancum and Durbansaid civil society needs to push for amore ambitious agenda.David Tong Chair of P3 – a YouthPoverty Eradication programme nowrecognises that it needs to encompasssustainable development more into itsagenda. Youth are the key to civilsociety movement. In Durban “wewere told that youth were the hope ofthe Conference” and then we wereignored. You have been negotiating, hereminded us, all our lives. He didthough accept though that youth need

to be encouraged to be more involvedin the political system. The Greenswere the most successful of thepolitical parties in enrolling them.Sudhvir Singh Med Students forGlobal Action had attended Cancumand as a medical doctor said thatclimate change was a major healthissue. What is good for theenvironment is good for health. Heagreed with Sir Peter Gluckman thatthere was a manipulation of science bythe media.Will Watterson said he believedthrough the Global Poverty Projectwe are leading governments. Theprogramme focuses on delivering theMillennium Goals which includeenvironmental issues. There have beensome successes but more needs to beachieved if we are to meet the targetsby 2015.The seminar covered a number ofissues but the question of socialequity, health delivery, sustainablejobs and values systems were notincluded. It is hoped these can bediscussed with our affiliatedorganisations at the UNANZ AGM onMay 19. Write it in your diary.Full summaries of papers presentedare on the website and available inhard copy on request.Robin Halliday




UN InternationalYear of ...More than three billion people indeveloping countries rely on traditionalbiomass for cooking and heating. One anda half billion people are without electricityand even when energy services areavailable, millions of poor people areunable to pay for them.Thus, there is an inextricable link betweenenergy and sustainable development andmodern, cleaner and more efficient energyhas relevance in the eradication ofpoverty.Access to modern affordable energyservices in developing countries isessential for the achievement of theinternationally agreed development goals,including the Millennium DevelopmentGoals, and for achieving sustainabledevelopment, which would help to reducepoverty and to improve the conditions andstandard of living for the majority of theworld’s population. Therefore, the UNGeneral Assembly of the UN emphasizedthe importance of investing in access tocleaner energy technology options toachieve a climateresilient future for alland also pointed out the need to improveaccess to reliable, affordable, economicallyviable, socially acceptable andenvironmentally sound energy servicesand resources for sustainabledevelopment.It also stressed that the wider use andexploration of available and additionalcleaner, new and renewable sources ofenergy require technology transfer anddispersal on a global scale, includingthrough NorthSouth, SouthSouth andtriangular cooperation. It also emphasizedthe need to take further action to mobilizethe provision of adequate financial

resources, of sufficient quality and arrivingin a timely manner, as well as the transferof advanced technology to developingcountries and countries with economies intransition for providing efficient and wideruse of energy sources, in particular newand renewable sources of energy,Further, it reaffirmed the importance ofnational policies and strategies tocombine, as appropriate, the increaseduse of new and renewable energy sourcesand low carbon emission technologies,including cleaner fossil fuel technologies,and the sustainable use of traditionalenergy services, and enhancing nationalcapacities to meet the growing energydemand, as appropriate, supported byinternational cooperation in this field andby the promotion of the development anddissemination of appropriate, affordableand sustainable energy technologies, aswell as the transfer of such technologieson mutually agreed terms.With leadership from UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon, UNEnergy – acoordinating group of 20 UN agencies – isundertaking a new global initiative,Sustainable Energy for All.This initiative will engage governments,the private sector, and civil societypartners globally to achieve three majorgoals by 2030:• Ensure universal access to modernenergy services.• Reduce global energy intensity by 40per cent.• Increase renewable energy use globallyto 30 per cent.http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/

http://www.oxfam.org.nz/newsroom.asp?action=view&type=News&id=2989





25th Anniversary of theDeclaration on the Right toDevelopment(Left) A farmer in the AltaiSayan EcoRegion of Uvs Province, Mongolia. TheUnited Nations Development Programme(UNDP) AltaiSayan Project, which worksto preserve the biodiversity of the region,has helped Mongolian farmers byconverting unused land into anagricultural park. 2009UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The United Nations Declaration on theRight to Development unequivocallyestablishes development as a right andputs people at the centre of thedevelopment process.The groundbreaking document,adopted by the United Nations GeneralAssembly on 4 December 1986, firstproclaimed this inalienable right,declaring that everyone is ”entitled toparticipate in, contribute to, and enjoyeconomic, social, cultural and politicaldevelopment, in which all human rightsand fundamental freedoms can be fullyrealized.”It belongs to everyoneThe pursuit of economic growth is notan end in itself. The Declaration clearlystates that development is acomprehensive process aiming toimprove “the wellbeing of the entirepopulation and of all individuals on thebasis of their active, free andmeaningful participation indevelopment and in the fairdistribution” of the resulting benefits.Like all human rights, the right todevelopment belongs to all individualsand peoples, everywhere, withoutdiscrimination and with theirparticipation. The Declarationrecognizes the right to selfdetermination and to full sovereignty

over natural wealth and resources.25th anniversaryThis year marks the Declaration’s 25thanniversary. Yet many children,women and men – the very subjects ofdevelopment – still live in dire need ofthe fulfillment of their entitlement to alife of dignity, freedom and equalopportunity. This directly affects therealization of a wide range of civil,political, economic, social and culturalrights. High Commissioner for HumanRights Navi Pillay has called ongovernments and all concerned toseize the opportunity of thisanniversary to move beyond politicaldebate and focus on practical steps toimplement the Declaration."I am dutybound to raise thisanniversary call. We must enddiscrimination in the distribution of thebenefits of development. We muststop the 500,000 preventable deathsof women in childbirth every year. Wemust free the millions of children fromhunger in a world of plenty. And wemust ensure that people can benefitfrom their country’s natural resourcesand participate meaningfully indecisionmaking. These are the kind ofissues addressed by the Declaration,which calls for equal opportunity and ajust social order. … It’s not an act of



nature that leaves more than onebillion people around the world lockedin the jaws of poverty. It’s a result ofthe denial of their fundamentalhuman right to development.High Commissioner for Human RightsNavi Pillayhttp://www.un.org/en/events/righttodevelopment/UNDP/UNAIDS Meetingat ParliamentBy Lachlan Mackay,UNANZ National Vice President

On 5th March, the Rt. Hon. HelenClark who is the administrator of theUN Development Programme and Mr.Michel Sidibe, who is the executivedirector of the UN AIDS, deliveredimpassioned talks on what the UNDPand UN AIDS were doing to combatthe aids epidemic globally.Ms Clark and Mr Sidibe focused onthe challenges the UN is facing withthe epidemic and what each agencywas doing to progress theachievement of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals related to theeradication of diseases, especiallyHIV/AIDS, before providing theopportunity for an in depth questionand answer session.The evening event was hosted by MP

Charles Chauvel who is a member onthe UN Global Commission on HIV andthe Law and was attended bydiplomats, individuals from NGOs,parliamentarians and formerparliamentarians and invited guests.For more information please visit thefollowing links:http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/speech/2012/03/20120305_SP_EXD_New_Zealand_MFAT_Town_Hall_en.pdfhttp://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2012/03/05/undpandunaidsleadersbeginhighleveljointmissioninnewzealand.htmlUN International Day ofWomen 2012By Lachlan Mackay,UNANZ National Vice President

On 8th March, a number of UNANZmembers participated in theWellington Women for Peace walkmarking the UN International Day ofWomen.The idea of the Peace Walk wasconceived by Belinda BonsonLiu,Syerina Syahrin, Matilde TayawaFiguracion and Samitha Nair during atypical exchange about the ill state ofthe world at an interculturalinterfaith

http://www.un.org/en/events/righttodevelopment/

http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/speech/2012/03/20120305_SP_EXD_New_Zealand_MFAT_Town_Hall_en.pdf

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2012/03/05/undp-and-unaids-leaders-begin-high-level-joint-mission-in-new-zealand.html



initiative associated with the Officeof Ethnic Affairs and Voice Arts TrustAotearoa late last year. What setthis exchange apart from other dayswas that they felt they had to take astep to do something for globalpeace but starting at a grassrootslevel in Wellington.“We hear statements that the worldis becoming increasinglyinterconnected. Women’s nurturingrole is essential for creating andmaintaining an environment ofpeace at home and their extendedcommunities. We need to moveforward together to extend ourresponsibility to one another thusextending our community to createan environment where peace ispossible. We hope that this walk willbe the start of each woman’sparticipation, advocacy, immersionand support towards the culture ofpeace … we invited all women fromall walks of life, from differentreligions or diverse beliefs, and from

different ethnicities and cultures to walk.It is their hope that this will be the startof each woman’s participation, advocacy,immersion and support towards a cultureof peace. The walk focused on the areasof speaking out against violence onwomen and children, against war and forthe empowerment of women”.The walk started on parliamentarygrounds and ended in Civic Square whereHer Worship Mayor Celia WadeBrownaddressed the audience along with VanisaDhiru, the executive director of VolunteerNew Zealand. The walk ended with ademonstration on how to nonviolentlyprotect yourself from harm. Before thecrowd left, they signed a petition whichwould be presented to UN WomenDirector, Michele Bachelet by Rae Julian,

the President of UN Women New Zealandwhen she visits the United Nations laterthis year.The peace walk was endorsed by theUNANZ along with other organisationsincluding the Human Rights Commission,Soka Gakkai International NZ, Women’sInternational League for Peace andFreedom NZ, NZ National Council ofWomen, Women’s Refuge NZ, VictoriaUniversity of Wellington, PNND, PeaceMovement Aotearoa and UN Women NZ.For more information please visit theWWW4Peace website:http://women4peace.weebly.comPhotos: Edwina Hughes & Alan Rigg

http://women4peace.weebly.com/



In December, I was privileged to beasked to represent UNANZ at the DagHammarskjold Symposium in Beijingas a youth delegate. The symposiumwas run by WFUNA in collaborationwith the Swedish Embassy in Beijing,the United Nations Research Centre atthe Beijing Foreign Studies University(BFSU) and the United NationsAssociation of China. It was run as apart of a series of symposia on theResponsibility to Protect (R2) as partof WFUNA’s wider Peace and Securitywork theme.The conference was hosted at theBeijing Foreign Studies University(BFSU) and was attended by many ofthe diplomatic community in Beijing(although, disappointingly, no onefrom the New Zealand or Australianembassies attended), experts,international organisation, youthrepresentatives from five UNA’s, andthe staff and students from a numberof Chinese universities.For a student of international law andpolitics, this was a most intriguingconference to attend, a conferenceabout R2P being held in China – one ofthe most staunchly antiinterventionistpowers on the international stage. Andsecondly, while Mr Hammarskjold wasa visionary and progressive SecretaryGeneral, he had tragically passed

away before the concept of R2P cameinto being. While he pioneered handson diplomacy and radicallytransformed the role of the SecretaryGeneral, Mr Hammarskjold was inprinciple antiinterventionist.The symposium was comprised of fiveexpert panels on a range of topics;‘What is R2P?’, ‘Conflict Prevention,Early Warning and Capacity Building’,‘Hammarskjold’s Legacy – The ThreePrinciples of Peacekeeping’, ‘CaseStudies – Cote d’Ivoire and Libya’ and‘Given the change in the nature ofworld conflict, what would DagHammarskjöld think of the UN’semerging norm of “The Responsibilityto Protect”’.The very interesting case studies thatwere discussed at the symposium areavailable in summary from theInternational Coalition for theResponsibility to Protect (ICR2P)website:Libya:http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisisinlibyaCote D’Ivoire:http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisisinivorycoastChina was among the many stateswho endorsed the responsibility toprotect at the 2005 World Summit.

The Dag HammarskjoldSymposium on theResponsibility to Protect,BeijingMary DaviesColleyVice PresidentUnited Nations Association

http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-libya

http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-ivory-coast

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1However, they have often opposedintervention at the international level– most recently by exercising theirveto over the resolution on Syria.While China has indicated support forR2P in principle, in practise theyfavour a narrow or restrictiveinterpretation of the duties implied bythis norm in the area of humanitarianintervention. This world view wasreflected in dialogue at thesymposium where when the subjectof military intervention was raised,

many of the Chinese speakers raisedtextbook criticisms of the norm. That isnot to say that their criticisms are notvalid – I think in many respects thereservations about R2P that wereexpressed at the conference areimportant and are in urgent need ofaddress. However, I felt that oftenmany of the very illustrious speakersthat represented the Chinese view ofR2P did not fully engage with thearguments put forward in opposition by

those who held a more progressiveview of the norm.In particular, a number of speakersnoted concerns that the principle ofR2P could be abused by strong statesin pursuit of their own interests andthat this would undermine thelegitimacy of the norm. This is certainlya valid concern given that interventionshave sometimes preceded ratherdubious oil contracts etc. However, noreal alternatives to the current R2Pframework to combat this danger were

suggested. Some speakers suggestedthat the threshold for interventionneeded to be more clearly defined –that better definitions of the four massatrocity crimes (genocide, war crimes,crimes against humanity and ethniccleansing) were needed. But othersdisagreed noting that this would dolittle to assist in forging consensus asfairly comprehensive definitions ofthese crimes are already in existencewithin international law. The otherTHE PEOPLES MOVEMENT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS 22 UNANZ.ORG.NZ

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1facet of disagreements over the R2Pnorm largely concern the interpretationof the concept of state sovereignty.This was an area in which I felt thatthe speakers often talked past eachother – perhaps because there reallywasn’t much time to go into depth onsuch contentious but somewhattechnical topics.A comment I found very interestingwas a point raised regarding the role ofother, “nonWestern” states in theprocess of normcreation. It wasargued by Professor Zhang Xiaomingthat China had thus far played the roleof a norm taker, rather than a normmaker. However he noted that China islearning to be a responsible participantin the norm creation process.The symposium was reported on in theChinese media by People’s DailyOnline. Interestingly, this articlementions the Responsibility to Protectnorm only once as one of the threetopics covered at the symposium. Therest of the article emphasises the noninterventionist views held by MrHammarskjold. At the symposium MrHammarskjold’s legacy served as avery important common ground for thesymposium participants from which todiscuss whether the direction thatinternational law was headed in todaywas the right one. Mr Hammarskjoldwas widely respected and is believedby many to have been one of the bestSecretariesGeneral and internationalleaders the world has ever seen. Therespect that his legacy engenders wasa good foundation for discussion. Thequestion was posed “Given the changein the nature of world conflict, whatwould Dag Hammarskjold think of theUN’s emerging norm “theResponsibility to Protect”?”.It was said of Dag at the symposiumthat he held a very pragmatic view of

the UN Charter, believing that timesof crisis were opportunities for the UNto prove itself and as such theCharter should be adapted to meetnew needs as they emerged; that theUN should be a dynamic instrumentin the hands of member states. Dagtransformed the role of SecretaryGeneral introducing the Good Officesaspect to the role during the Lebanoncrisis; this change reflected his beliefin personal diplomacy. Hisinnovations made the SecretaryGeneral a key political player in theglobal arena.Many of the more conservativespeakers emphasised Dag’s statedcommitment to nonintervention.However, a number of the moreprogressive speakers argued thatgiven the principles and values Dagheld, in combination with thedramatic change in the nature ofconflict since his death, that Dagwould support the development ofthe R2P norm. They further arguedthat several of Dag’s keyachievements in office (such aspeacekeeping operations) paved theway for the emergence of the R2Pnorm and development of theinternational community in thisdirection.Overall I found the symposium veryinteresting and enlightening. I wishthere had been more time fordiscussion as I think the panelexperts could have easily spent a dayon each of the symposium topics. Ilearnt a lot about R2P and DagHammarskjold both at thesymposium and in preparation for it;a big thank you to Robin Halliday whocollated a selection of briefing papersfor me and to others who forwardedme interesting articles on the subject.


UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1BRANCH REPORTSUNANZ has active regional branches inAuckland, Waikato, Tauranga, Whanganui,Wellington and Canterbury. The best way to getinvolved in UNANZ is through your nearestregional branch:Auckland: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

President: Michael Shroff & Gary RussellNORTHERN BRANCHNorthern Branch was pleased to havean address by Diane Winder on “Ethicalissues and the UN” in early November.Lachlan Mackay visited Auckland 15 –17 December and a number of us metup with him over coffee.Our first activity of the New Year was agarden party to welcome everyoneback in 2012. The event was held atKinder House, Parnell, which we hopeto make our base for the foreseeablefuture. The weather was good and wewere treated to a musical interludefeaturing Pedro from Chile on doublebass, Audrey Van Ryn and sister Hazelperforming a flute duet, while LaurieRoss sang and played the guitar.We will be holding our AGM on March 7at 6 pm, to be followed by an addressby Antony Vallyon. The topic will be“Global Challenges for this Decade andWhy We Need a Strong EffectiveUnited Nations More Than Ever”.The AGM is to be held at Kinder House.The Auckland International CulturalFestival will be taking place on 1 April,and we will once again have a stand.

President: Gray SouthonTAURANGA BRANCHFollowing our excellent evening withthe National Council of Women lastNovember, the UNAT Exec has beenfocussing on our youth program forthis year. Notable aspects are:The new team – Danniella Schroderand Spencer Voorend, both fromBethlehem College – have joined us,replacing Lucas Davies from MountMaunganui College and ChennoahWalford from Tauranga Girls’ College,who are going on to University. Theseare both very talented and enthusiasticpeople, and we look forward toworking with them. These studentschair our model UNs, prepare the draftresolutions and assist with organising.They also serve on the branchexecutive and help liaise with theschools.Speech Awards. The topic this yearwill be: “NZ and the Security Council:What do we have to offer?”This topic gives students anopportunity to explore one of NZ’smajor policy initiatives in the UN.The event is expected to be towardsthe end of March at the Tauranga Girls’College, with the national finals being


UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1organised in conjunction with UNYouth.Senior Model UN. This year we areplanning to have the model UN in theTauranga Council Chambers, courtesyof the mayor, sometime in May orearly June. Two topics are beingconsidered, one on sustainability andthe other on control of the internet.This work in schools is a vital part ofour work, and we look forward anyassistance in running them.Other items of significance:Tauranga Ethnic Festival 17th March,Historic Village. This annual event is amajor opportunity to engage with thecommunity and tell them about ourwork.Annual General Meeting. Ourregular event to review what we havedone and where we are going is beingplanned for March 29th, with ourregular shared meal and there will bean update on recent events andactivities.UN Forum. This informal Saturdayafternoon event was held on anoccasional basis last year, and resultedin many dynamic and productivedebates. However, peoples’ availabilityis not always predictable, so theforums are dependent on theavailability of four or more people.Keep an eye out for them.National Conference. TheAGM/Conference this year will be alittle scaled down in scope, possiblyhaving only a seminar instead of aconference. It will be in Wellington, onSaturday 19 May.UN Activities

Amongst the host of regular activitieswithin the UN is the preparation for themajor event of the year: RIO+20 theUnited Nations Conference onTHE PEOPLES MOVEMENT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS 25 UNANZ.ORG.NZ

Sustainable Development (seehttp://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/).Climate Change is one of the importantfactors, but there are many moreissues as well. The conference is onthe 2022 June, at Rio de Janiero. Thisis part of a long series of conferencescommencing 40 years ago that areoutlined in the National Newsletterarticle attached.It is generally agreed that the currentlevel of resource use is leading to manycatastrophic effects for the world, buteven more so if the undeveloped worldpursues its goal to achieve the livingstands that we in developed countriesenjoy. It is clear that some veryfundamental changes have to be madein our lifestyles, technology anddevelopment priorities. However, toofew countries, both politicians andpeople, want to consider theimplications of this requirement.New Zealand is preparing for thisconference and a group of NGOs isworking with them. We hope we canmake have an influence instrengthening the government’sposition.President: Robin HallidayWELLINGTON BRANCHThe Wellington Branch held theirAnnual General Meeting on 2nd March.A Committee was elected with a newSecretary Matt McGrath and newCommittee member Simon Clegg.Great to have young or youngishmembers with new ideas on board.Colin Keating, a former senior diplomatwho served as Security CouncilPresident in 1994 and later becamefounding Director of Security CouncilReport, spoke of the Security Council in2012 – its strengths and weaknesses

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/



understanding of regional issues.Smaller countries can call on them foradvice. While Peacekeeping – actionafter conflict has reduced conflictsbreaking out again it is an expensiveexercise and costs four times the UNBudget. Diplomacy is a much betterand cheaper alternative.Colin was thanked for his excellent indepth analysis of the work of theSecurity Council.Wellington Branch members were ableto attend the IOo+20 Seminar thefollowing week.The Wellington Regional SecondarySchool Speech Award will be held onApril 27th at the Wellington CityCouncil Chambers.

The very attractive lapel badge abovecommemorating the United NationsInternational Year of Cooperatives isavailable for $5.50 each (including P &P) from:New Zealand Cooperatives Association,Level 3, 75 Ghuznee Street,Wellington 6011.The badge measures 30 mm across and25 mm high.

has it changed and can it be changed?Beginning byoutlining thepurpose of theSecurity CouncilReport and itsorigins he said itwas essentially avision by Canadaand Norway oftrying to improvethe capacity ofcountries tocontribute; it wasnot so much an advocate as aninformation source. Highlighting thesuccess of the Security Council overthe seven years he was monitoring itand the mix of 40 countries who heldoffice during that time he said thathuman rights had become no longer asubject that would not be discussed bysome countries and was now central tosuch topics as women in conflict,sexual violence in conflict, andHumanitarian Law. InternationalCriminal law and the Court systembeing developed had been mainlypositive and the concept ofResponsibility to Protect had beenincorporated in resolutions passed onthe Ivory Coast and Libya and beenaccepted by both African andInternational Governments. Syria isdifferent because of the long standingrelationship it has with Russia. It couldbe compared he believed with the USIsrael relationship.

Problems though still exist withinternal issues and bilateralrelationships eg Syria and Russia. Rootcauses are not addressed andDiplomacy is not given the role itshould have to prevent conflict. Somecountries like the UK have considerableresources in intelligence gathering and

UNANZ NEWS MARCH 2012 ISSUE No 1ELIZABETH CHANPresident, UN Youth AotearoaNew [email protected]

UN Youth has begun with a roaring startto 2012, with the regions busy organisingregional Model UN events. The NewZealand Schools Delegation to The HagueInternational Model UN conference hasrecently returned from Europe, havingenjoyed an UN study tour in Hong Kong,Brussels, Paris, Geneva, Berlin,Amsterdam and The Hague. We arelooking forward to the Youth Declarationevent in April in Auckland, and NewZealand Model UN in July in Wellington.As seen below, the regions are a busyhive of activity.Auckland — The Auckland Region isstarting to power up for the busy yearahead. Auckland High Schools ModelUnited Nations has an exciting formatand plans are in place for it to be thebiggest and best yet. The AGM is comingup soon, along with a novel, surpriseevent. The Auckland Regional Council hasbegun to look ahead to what we want toachieve this year, with consolidation ofour existing, fantastic events alongsidereaching out into the further ends of ourextensive region.Wellington — Over summer, theWellington Regional Council has beenbusy planning an exciting year with brandnew initiatives to look forward to. In thecoming weeks, the Wellington Councilexpects to hold both Wellington ModelUnited Nations and Central North IslandModel United Nations (Palmerston North)where a number of national eventscholarships will be up for grabs. TheWellington Council also plans to hold anew event in Porirua and move

Wellington Universities Model SecurityCouncil to earlier in the year as well ashost more social evenings for ourmembers.Otago — As of 1 January, Chelcie Luttonbecame the new Otago Region President.From this point onward the RegionalCouncil has been in the midst of planningSouthland Model UN and the OtagoUniversity Model Security Council.Direction and planning is well under wayfor Southland Model UN which is the firstModel UN event in this area, and theconference will be held during the firstweekend of March. Otago UniversityModel Security Council will be held in themiddle of March. Along with these twoevents the Otago Council has also beinggetting ready for March National Council,scouting out an amazing venue andevening social plan.Canterbury — The Canterbury Region isbusily organising three conferences forthe beginning of this year. TheCanterbury Model UN conference will beheld on 20 and 21 March, themed aroundreligious conflict. The Canterbury Councilis also gearing up for its two outreachModel UN events in Nelson andGreymouth. These two conferences are avital link between UN Youth and thestudents in these areas, as many areunable to afford to travel to attend ournational conferences. The CanterburyCouncil has also begun the initialplanning of a Model European Unionevent, in collaboration with the NationalCentre for Research on Europe (based atthe University of Canterbury).



UNANZ PEOPLENational Council

National PresidentMichael PowlesNational Vice PresidentsMary DaviesColley, Lachlan MackayUN Youth PresidentElizabeth ChanTreasurerRobin HallidayNational CouncilRepresentativeIzolda KazemzadehSpecial OfficersNatasha Barnes Peace and SecurityJohn Morgan Human RightsGray Southon UN RenewalVictoria Clarke Model UNProgrammeGray Southon WFUNA LiaisonOrdinary MembersMargaret Arnold, Alyn Ware, IzoldaKazemzedah, Ivan DensemAffiliate RepresentativesBradley McDonald (Esperanto)Beryl Anderson (NCW)Joy Dunsheath (UN Women)Helena McMullin (WILPF)Branch PresidentsNorthern Region: Michael Shroff andGary RussellUNANZ Membership:Name: ______________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone: ___________________Email:______________________________Region of choice: Membership Fee: Canterbury Tauranga Individual/Family $30Wellington Waikato Student/Unwaged $20Whanganui Northern Affiliated Oganisation $50

Send to: PO Box 24494, WGTN Donation: $___________

Waikato: Mano ManoharanTauranga: Gray SouthonWhanganui: Kate SmithWellington: Robin HallidayCanterbury: Mary McGivenLife members and AffiliatesHonorary Life MembersGwen Ryan, Margaret Knight,Dame Laurie Salas, Robin Halliday,Lady Rhyl Jansen, Joan Morrell,Grace Hollander, Ivan Densem,Carrick Lewis, Diana Unwin,Clinton Johnson, Gita Brooke,Mary Gray, Colin McGregorAffilate MembersNational Council of Women NZ,NZ Assn of Rationalists & Humanists,NZ Council of Trade Unions,Operation Peace Through Unity,Soroptimist International SW Pacific,NZ Esperanto Association Inc,UN Women, NZ Baha’i Community,Women’s International League forPeace and Freedom (WILPF),National Consultative Committee onDisarmament (NCCD),Post Primary Teachers Association(PPTA), AFS InterculturalProgrammes, UNICEF New Zealand,NZ Educational Institute (NZEI)International Physicians for thePrevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW),The Asia Network,Australia New Zealand CulturalCentre, Oxfam (NZ),Humanist Society New Zealand,Zonta Club of Wellington,NZ Federation of Womens Institutes,NZ Federation of Graduate Women.

ABOUT THEUNANZ NEWSThe UNANZ News is thequarterly publication of theUnited Nations Associationof New Zealand.UNANZ News welcomesarticles, short letters, andimages. If you would like tosubmit an item forconsideration, please send itto editor Pete [email protected]

CONTACT

PO Box 24494Wellington CentralWellington 6142,New Zealand(04) 496 [email protected]

PATRONS:

His Excellency, Lt GeneralThe Right HonourableSir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM,QSO, GovenorGeneral ofNew ZealandRight Hon Helen Clark Administrator UNDPWE THE PEOPLESFOUNDATION

Trustees: Pamela Jeffries,John Hayes, RussellMarshall.

To make a donation orbequest to the We ThePeoples Foundation for thebenefit of UNANZ pleasecontact [email protected] Comm CC38918Incorp. Socy. 215914

2012 03 UNANZ Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of 2012 03 UNANZ Newsletter