Annual General Meeting 2015

The Region’s AGM was held on 21.11.2015 at Resource for London, N7 6PA

The Region’s Chair, Catherine Pluygers, reported on another fantastic year of exciting collaboration and inspiring events. The Region work with likeminded NGOs. In 2015, we collaborated with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the International Centre for Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ICERAS). We also supported our President Stephen Hockman’s campaign for an International Court for the Environment (ICE). Mar 2015 Spring Council with guest speakers Arthur Goodman, Dr Fady Abusido and Carol Gould, asked "How should HMG contribute to a sustainable solution for Israel/Palestine Issues?" Jun 2015 Summer Council discussed the Sustainable Development Goals and asked "Global Warming - Surely there must be a Law against it?" with Peter Greaves, Nicola Peart and Stephen Hockman QC. Jun 2015 Together with WILPF and ICERAS, met with DFID's Africa Department to raise the question "Why is there such an exodus of people leaving Eritrea?" Oct 2015 Multi-faith thanksgiving service at Temple Church to mark the 70

th anniversary

of the UN. Speakers included Stephen Hockman QC and Natalie Samarasinghe.

No report would be complete without acknowledging the impressive number and variety of events mounted by branches in the Region, too numerous to list. (Refer to past issues of LaSER for reports of branch events.) Catherine thanked the hard working Executive Committee, especially Rodney Mantle for coordinating the IMO tour; Alison Williams for her work on SDGs; David Wardrop for the successful Vienna study tour and high profile events at Westminster UNA; Jane Beeley for her work with UNA-UK and UN APPG; Peter Webster for his work on grants and setting up the new finance committee; Wendy Higgs and Keith Hindell for ongoing branch development; and Neville Grant and Linda Leung for developing the LaSER newsletter and the new website. The second part of the AGM was on "The Current Refugee Crisis - Causes and Solutions", chaired by Neville Grant. Guest speakers were Lul Seyoum (Trade Analyst, Founder & Executive Director of ICERAS - 'International Centre for Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers) and Joseph Willits (Parliamentary and Events Officer at CAABU - The Council for Arab-British Understanding).

The Stevens trophy was awarded to Peter Webster, Chair of Streatham UNA.

Funding Opportunity

Grants are available from the London & SE Region Trust for projects undertaken by a branch or an individual that further the

objectives of UNA-UK; branch capital funding; meetings/hustings or local group support; study tours. UNA branches Canterbury, Eastbourne, Blackheath & Greenwich, Merton, Dartford & District and Westminster have received funding in 2015. Do you or your branch have a project that will benefit from some extra funds? For an application form, contact Catherine Pluygers (Chair), 119 Woolstone Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 2TQ / (catherinepluygers@hotmail.com).

Photos from left to right: attendees at the AGM; AGM guest speakers, Lul Seyoum and Joseph Willits.

2015 AGM 1

Funding Opportunity 1

Canterbury’s UN Service for Word Peace 2

Security Council at 70 2

Westminster’s UN 70th

Anniversary Service 3

Putney & Roehampton’s Meeting on Refugee Crisis 3

Ruling the Waves 4

A Linguist’s Labyrinth 4

Waltzing through the UN 5

Multi-faith Service on Human Rights Day 5

2015-16 Executive Committee 5

Eastbourne’s Climate Change Conference 6

News in Brief 6

Faith Matters 7

Would a multi-faith service look like this? 7

Events 8

Editors: Neville Grant & Linda Leung

Copy date for the next issue: 9th May 2016 Contribution guidelines and past issues, go to: www.unalondonandse.org The London and South East Region is part of UNA-UK, currently serving 23 branches in the Region. Views expressed in this membership newsletter do not necessarily represent the policy of UNA-UK or the Region.

ISSUE

27 FEB 2016

London & SE Region United Nations Association

NEWSLETTER OF THE LONDON & SOUTHEAST REGION

WORKING FOR A STRONG, CREDIBLE & EFFECTIVE UN

The United Nations Service for World Peace

Canterbury UNA | 25.10.2015 | The Nave of Canterbury Cathedral

The service, themed “The Pursuit of Peace”, began with the Procession of the Peace-Makers: 14 of our sister organisations took part, including the Movement for the Abolition of War, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Greenpeace and Amnesty International. The service also included music from the Eclectic Community Choir, the Gurkha Youth Peace Foundation and Michelle Harris, a mezzo-soprano who sang Verdi and Bernstein. Over 200 attended. Emmy Award-winning actress, Anna Calder-Marshall, read from Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Lecture. Councillor Sally Waters gave the bible reading and Reverend Jonathan Easton-Crouch gave the sermon.

In the lead up to the service, Bruce Kent (MAW and UNA) gave a talk at the nearby Friends Meeting House on the situation in Syria in relation to the UN. In 2014, as we commemorated the centenary of the First World War – "the Great War to end all Wars" - the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR reported that war, conflict and violations of human rights have forced the highest number of people to flee their homes since the Second World War. We dedicated the collection at this service to UNHCR-UK. For more information about the United Nations Service for World Peace, please contact lead organiser, Nigel Gregory (greg@bluemoon137.com).

Photos from top to bottom: Trisha Rogers and Jane Grant with the WILPF banner; David Wardrop headed the procession of the Peace-makers with the UNA flag, followed by Neville Grant with the London and SE Region banner; Bruce Kent with the Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) banner. © Neville Grant

The Security Council at 70

Keith Hindell suggests that prayers aren’t enough . . .

In the shadow of wars in Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq, practitioners in the UN system plus academics met in January to assess the current state of the Security Council. They convened in Church House, Westminster, where the first Council met 70 years ago. The UN was fashioned on the anvil of an appalling world conflict and the primary objective of the Security Council then was to save mankind from the 'scourge of war'. The consensus among experts 70 years on was that the Council had helped to save us from a clash of titans but had not been able to suppress 'acts of aggression', as stated in Article 1 of the Charter. In designing, the UN the founders implied that global necessity would be put before national interest, but in practice this has not happened. National sovereignty is the main block to action, not just in the Security Council but throughout the UN. In the 1990s, the Council proclaimed that each member state has a Responsibility to Protect its own citizens but in practice, any preventive action mooted or undertaken by the Council is seen as "intervention" and was as often as not blocked or ignored.

Of course it is the veto that has stopped effective action in Syria, Ukraine and Palestine and no one thinks that's likely to change. Proposals to enlarge the Council have been discussed on and off for 25 years but still change seems as distant as ever. The developing countries cannot agree as to who among them should be permanent members, and the Secretariat apparently thinks that enlargement would prolong discussion and make stalemate more likely. Peacekeeping is the major innovation of the Council which has grown in strength. However, so far such forces have proved ineffective against irregular terrorists. Most regrettably, the UN Security Council has not organised an enforcement action to rid us of the scourge of IS even though it occupies parts of two member states and threatens 'doomsday' for all that deny the legitimacy of the Caliphate.

A new National Anthem? Recent discussions in the popular press about an English National Anthem have elicited suggestions such as Jerusalem, and Land of Hope and Glory. Many of us favour Jerusalem, but if Land of Hope and Glory were selected, there would be an opportunity to rewrite the words to reflect our diverse community (and help to dispel the shadow of Cecil Rhodes?) We must thank Betty Scharf, alas, no longer with us, for this non-jingoistic and more inclusive version: Land of hope and hazard One world for all life May we be your safeguard Curbing greed and strife Honour Nature's boundaries! End the waste of war! We can guard Earth's riches Now and evermore We will guard Earth's riches Now and evermore Neville Grant

PAGE 2 LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST REGION United Nations Association

United Nations 70th

Anniversary

Westminster UNA hosted a historic service to mark the occasion.

70 years ago, on 10th

January 1946, the first UN General Assembly took place at the Methodist Central Hall Westminster. Exactly 70 years later, the same venue played host to an anniversary service attended by a large congregation comprising members of the public and UNA. Clement Attlee, UK Prime Minister, opened the first session of the General Assembly in 1946. The pictures on the right are from the UN Archives. On the podium to the rear, from the right are: Trygve Lie, First Secretary-General of the United Nations; Paul Henri Spaak of Belgium, First President of the GA; and Andrew Cordier, Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General. Interestingly, the first Resolution agreed 70 years ago was to 'Establish a Commission to Deal with the Problems Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy.'

The service was addressed by the Reverend Tony Miles. The usual morning act of worship was given a definite UN slant, both by his address with readings by UNA's Dr Kishan Manocha and David Wardrop, and an "Act of Resolve” pledging the congregation's commitment to the Preamble of the UN Charter. (The congregation comprised over 25 different nationalities.) The service also featured an interview with Sir Peter Marshall, KCMG, CVO, who joined the UK's diplomatic service in 1949, and served on the UK Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, and later as the UK's representative to the UN in Geneva. His article on the UN can be found on the news pages of Westminster UNA www.unawestminster.org.uk. After the service, refreshments were served, and those present were invited to visit an exhibition of The UN in Pictures: 70 Years of History.

Putney and Roehampton UNA Public Meeting

Catherine Pluygers reports on the branch’s meeting to discuss the current refugee crisis.

The meeting was held at Putney Methodist Church on 25

th January,

entitled "The Current Refugee Crisis- Causes and Solutions". Speakers included Lul Seyoum (Trade Analyst, Founder & Executive Director of ICERAS - 'International Centre for Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers) and Louay El-Abed (Chairman of Syria Relief).

Syria Relief was founded in 2011 in the

UK. Initially a small medical charity, it has grown to become an international NGO working in Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. With offices in major cities in Syria and an extensive network of trained people there, Syria Relief can get aid fast to people in need and as a result now partners with the UN and major NGOs including Save the Children. Syria Relief is non-partisan - its sole aim is to keep the people (and their skills needed to rebuild the country) in Syria and stop the perilous migration to Europe. Having already distributed over $24 million in aid, current projects include: the support of 80 acute care and emergency hospitals, 16 primary health care centres, 2 prosthetic limb clinics, 2 psychiatric clinics and a maternity hospital. Expanding from medical provision, their work also provides educational support for 40

schools and support for orphans vulnerable to child trafficking - an increasing problem in Syria.

ICERAS works with Eritrean refugees both in the UK and abroad. The horrendous conditions are endured by all but

especially women. Dictatorship, military conscription and a staggering level of gender violence have forced many to flee. ICERAS works with UN agencies, IMO, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Its partnership with the Refugee Council has helped encourage refugee's involvement in the UK party political process. On June 4

th 2015, the UN Human Rights

Council produced a report on human rights in Eritrea in accordance with Human Rights Council Resolution 26/24. The UNHCR commission concluded that the country sustained gross violations of human rights often on the pretext of defending the state, including torture, arbitrary detention, forced labour and indefinite conscription. The committee's recommendations to the International Community include: providing refuge and safe passage for Eritreans fleeing the regime, inter-state

co-operation to prevent people smuggling/trafficking, ensuring centrality of human rights in all engagement with the country, assisting Ethiopia and Eritrea in their disputes through diplomatic means and for the ILO to address the issue of forced labour in Eritrea.

PAGE 3 LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016

www.unalondonandse.org

New Book Alert Jane Grant (Blackheath & Greenwich UNA) will launch her new book in March. In the Steps of Exceptional Women: the story of the Fawcett Society, is an account of its long campaign to get women the vote, and secure equal rights. Suffragist Millicent Fawcett was campaigning with J.S. Mill to get women the vote in the 1860s (1,499 women signed a petition at that time): remarkably, she lived to see final success in 1928. As Shirley Williams observed:  “The suffragettes got the publicity; the suffragists got the result.” Copies available from: Francis Boutle Publishers, 272 Alexandra Park Road, London N22 7BG (020 8889 7744)

Ruling the Waves

A report by Judith Ridgway, Chair of the Business, Professions and Government (BPG) Division of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) on her visit to the International Maritime Organization. It was first published in the Institute’s Journal “The Linguist.”

How many of us realise that the majority of the things which we own, touch and buy arrive to the

UK by sea? And how many are aware that maritime regulations for commercial shipping are controlled by the prestigious International Maritime Organization, based in London, overlooking the Thames? Thanks to BPG committee member Rodney Mantle’s links with the Twickenham and Richmond Branch of the United Nations Association (TRUNA), 24 members of the Division were privileged to visit the IMO headquarters on 3

rd November 2015.

Established in 1959, when the need for universal standards in shipping and the protection of the marine environment was recognised, the IMO now employs around 300 staff of 50 nationalities and has 171 Member States and three Associate Members. Even landlocked countries like Zambia, the most recent member, are dependent on goods transported by sea – indeed nearly 90% of world trade is carried by sea. Shipping underpins the global economy. Standards and guidelines are set, including for safety and security on board ship, response to accidents, recycling of ships and pollution, and Member States are expected to monitor practice to ensure that these standards are adhered to. Increasingly too, there are security concerns over piracy and terrorism. Many of the issues dealt with are extremely complex. Security plans for shipping, for example, raise questions of liability regarding on-board armed guards, and conventions on pollution have to recognise that 80% of marine pollution originates from the land and that micro-organisms are transferred around the world in the ballast water of ships. And then there is the issue of human error, which cannot simply be accepted – there has to be assessment of what causes it. Even before the tour started, one IMO-trained CIoL visitor regaled those waiting with tales of his life in merchant shipping, including being on a ship which struck an iceberg. His accounts proved an excellent

introduction to IMO’s motto: “Safe, secure and efficient shipping in clean oceans.” Although technical repairs were in progress in the Main Hall, our guide Tamara Vassilissin took us there first. It is where the IMO plenaries take place – a kind of mini-UN General Assembly. The CIoL visitors were clearly absorbed by her explanations of the practicalities of running IMO meetings. Exceptionally, later we were even allowed access to the interpreters’ booths, normally not part of public tours.

Photo © Rodney Mantle

The next highpoint was a DVD, followed by a presentation by Natasha Brown, Media and Communications Officer, Public Information Services, on the IMO’s complex and varied work, ranging from legal matters to pollution. This was linked with a short talk by Hilary Evans of TRUNA about the United Nations Association, including the distribution of UNA information materials, as well as a document prepared by Rodney on translating and interpreting at the UN. The tour was rounded off by a visit to the Maritime Knowledge Centre, introduced by Sharon Grant. It houses a wide variety of information on maritime activities and is much used by researchers from many countries. The cafeteria (and the view of the Thames and the Houses of Parliament) was appreciated by all, and many stopped on the way out to study the numerous international maritime exhibits IMO has accumulated over the years. This was a visit which would not have taken place without Rodney Mantle’s intervention, and thanks are expressed to him together with the IMO and UNA colleagues who made the visit so enjoyable. Footnote: Rodney Mantle drew our attention to the UN World Ocean Assessment by Alan Simcock in Oxford Today, Michaelmas Term 2015/Vol. 28 no. 1 (www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk)

The Linguist In an article in the London Review of Books (November 2013), Lynn Visson, a veteran staff interpreter at the UN, remarks that a seventh language has to be added to the six official languages of the UN – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and Russian. That language she calls the UN's own "Bureaucratese", or (rather tautologically) its "linguistic Esperanto". In this language, (I call it UN-ese - or should one say Unease?) we never do something, we implement. We don't repeat, we reiterate and underscore. We are never happy, we are gratified or satisfied. You are never doing a great job, you are performing your duties in the outstanding manner in which you have always discharged them. There is no theft or embezzlement, but rather failure to ensure compliance with proper accounting and auditing procedures in the handling of financial resources. Who would be a translator or interpreter? Neville Grant Photos: UN interpreters at work.

PAGE 4 LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST REGION United Nations Association ©

UN

Pho

to/P

aulo

Filg

ueira

s

© UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Waltzing through the UN

Rodney Mantle reports on Westminster UNA’s study tour to Vienna (4-10 October 2015).

We UNA members can pride ourselves on knowing more about the UN and its organisations than most members of the public: but do you know what UNOOSA stands for? If you ask people, “Where does the UN have offices?” Most will quickly say, “New York” and “Geneva.” Fewer would say, “Nairobi”, “Santiago”, “Manila”, “Bangkok” or “Cairo”. And almost as few would say: “Vienna”. In October 2015, David Wardrop, Chairman of Westminster UNA, led a study tour to Vienna, consisting of some 20 participants, including myself.

In fact, UNOOSA is one of a number of UN agencies located on the outskirts of Vienna, on the other side of the Danube, part of a huge complex known officially as the Vienna International Centre and (locally) unofficially as ”UNO City”. Some 650 people work there, covering over 150 countries. It has its own restaurants, supermarket, bars and even a post office, where I managed to add Vienna to New York and Geneva on the list of places from which I’ve sent a postcard with a UN stamp on it. Apart from UNOOSA, we visited UNIDO, UNICTRAL, CBTBTO, UNODC and INCB. Do I hear, “Too many acronyms?” CBTBTO = Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-

Ban Treaty Organization INCB = International Narcotic Control

Board

UNICTRAL = United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

UNIDO = United Nations Industrial Development Organization

UNODC = UN Office on Drugs and Crime Oh, I nearly forgot: IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency That wasn’t all. Vienna is also home to the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) – not part of the UN, but working closely with it. We were privileged to attend part of a Forum for Security Cooperation, with both military and civilian representatives participating. We didn’t just see big organisations. Another highlight was the tiny, moving Peace Museum, right in the city centre, with a street

gallery of portraits of Peace Heroes. Among other memorable experiences: Michael Platzer, Director, Academic Council on the UN System introduced the group to the upcoming UN General Assembly debate on Femicide; and a reception at the Residence of the UK Ambassador to the UN. If you would like to know more, why not come to my pub talk on 18

th June? See page 8.

P.S. UNOOSA = United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Multi-faith Service on Human Rights Day

Hosted by Golders Green Unitarian Church.

The service, led by Rev. Feargus O'Connor on 6th December 2015, was conducted under the auspices of UNA London and Southeast Region, the Golders Green Unitarian Church and the British Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). The gathering was welcomed by Dr Kishan Manocha, Vice Chair of UNA London and Southeast Region; and included addresses by Pejman Khojasteh (on Human Rights in the Quran) and Dr David Kirkham of the International Centre for Law and Religious

Studies (on Global Challenges to Human Rights). The service concluded with music by the London Baha'i Choir, Dr Sarah Majid, and Catherine Pluygers who performed two pieces on the oboe (picture to the right, © Rodney Mantle). The collection at the service was dedicated to the Red Cross Syria Crisis Appeal.

London & SE Region 2015-16 Committee

Following the AGM in November, we are pleased to confirm the 2015-2016 Executive Committee. CHAIR Catherine Pluygers Putney & Roehampton / Westminster UNA

TREASURER Peter Webster Clapham & Streatham UNA

SECRETARY Neville Grant Blackheath & Greenwich UNA

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Jane Beeley Tunbridge Wells UNA

Roger Hallam Enfield and the Barnets UNA

Wendy Higgs Blackheath & Greenwich UNA

Keith Hindell Westminster UNA

Kishan Manocha Westminster UNA

Rob Storey Putney & Roehampton UNA

Meena Storey Putney & Roehampton UNA

Antony Vallyon Westminster UNA

David Wardrop Westminster UNA

NEW MEMBER

We particularly welcome new Committee Member Antony Vallyon.

Antony is a member of UNA-UK Westminster Branch, currently working and studying at the University of London. He was active in UNA New Zealand as Waikato Branch Vice President 1998-99, Northern Region Branch President 2003-07 and as National President 2007-10. He led a delegation to WFUNA plenary in Seoul 2009.

www.unalondonandse.org

Photo © Isabella Qin

LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016 PAGE 5

Successful Climate Conference Puts Eastbourne UNA on the Map

Ian Elgie reports on the branch’s successful conference.

On 14th

November, Eastbourne UNA organised a full day public conference at the University of Brighton, attended by over 100 members of the public. The Conference was designed to raise public awareness of the seriousness of climate change and was timed just ahead of COP21 in Paris. The Conference had a range of expert speakers covering vital climate-related issues. Sessions covered global sea-level change, local coastal management; perceptions of vulnerability and risk, water and food security and public behaviour in response to climate change. The Conference concluded with a panel session entitled: ‘Green Routes to a Better Future’ which gave an opportunity for a range of local NGOs including Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace to speak on local

initiatives. In addition, the Conference hosted an exhibition of the work by local NGOs in raising awareness of the need for a more sustainable future, each with their own valid and sometimes innovative solutions. Local press publicity and good public support at the Conference certainly raised the profile of Eastbourne UNA and helped recruit new local members. Another success was the support by the University of Brighton to the Uganda tree planting programme – with payment for 2,000 trees as part of their own carbon reduction scheme. Last but not least, Eastbourne UNA would like to thank the London and South East Region UNA trustees for their generous grant which helped offset the significant cost of hosting such a conference.

News in Brief

The UN at 70: time to invest

in our global system - A

conversation with Ban Ki-

moon, UN Secretary-General

The visit by the UN Secretary-General attracted a massive and

enthusiastic audience at the Central Hall Westminster on 5

th February 2016.

UNA-UK marked UN @ 70

A special celebration organised by UNA-UK to mark the 70

th anniversary

of the UN was held at the Guildhall (London) on 9

th October. It was a very

well attended and enjoyable event. The event opened with a panel discussion featuring Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Hina Jilani, pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner in Pakistan, with a focus on the complex global challenges facing the UN. Keynote speaker, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on his first public visit to the UK, urged the government to think carefully before opting out of international agreements on human rights. If the UK, which had played an important part in

drafting some of these agreements, could opt out, so could repressive regimes around the world. Biography of a peace-maker

In September 2015, former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari launched a biography called The

Mediator detailing his service as an international diplomat, and peace and conflict mediator. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his lead role in bringing independence to Namibia, Serbia’s withdrawal from Kosovo, the decommissioning of weapons in Northern Ireland and autonomy for Aceh in Indonesia.

COP21

On 29th

January 2016, Janos Pasztor, was appointed as Senior

Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change. He noted that less than two months after 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, the global community is already seeing signs of it being a decisive turning point.

“The Paris Agreement sent a clear message to markets and investors that it's time to get serious about climate change. We're now seeing evidence that the signal has been received loud and clear,” Mr. Pasztor stressed. Twickenham and Richmond

UNA on Climate Change

On Saturday 30th

January 2016, there was a house meeting at Dennis Wilmot's home in Teddington. Discussion was led by Mary Holmes, entitled "The UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December 2015. What did it achieve?" Doubts were expressed as to whether it was "too little, too late," but there were some positive features. Blackheath & Greenwich

UNA raised funds for UNHCR

The International Art Auction in November 2015 raised £1,200 for UNHCR’s work in and around Syria. Dartford and District UNA

This branch issues a very useful newsletter, summarising developments at the UN, UNA, and around the wold. To subscribe, please email Sam Thompson (sathomps@aol.com).

PAGE 6 LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016

Photos from top to bottom: exhibition showcasing the work of local NGOs in raising awareness for a more sustainable future; Dr Ajay Bhave (Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment) speaking at the Conference.

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST REGION United Nations Association

Faith Matters?

Not many people are aware that February 1

st - 7

th is the annual UN

Observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week. First proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan, it was unanimously adopted by the UN in October 2010, and designates the first week of February each year for its observance. The question arises: as the UN is a secular organisation, should it have anything to do at all with religion? Neville Grant discusses the question. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative, which initially called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue, and adopts as its two guiding principles “Love of the Good”, and "Love of the Neighbour”. This formula includes all people of goodwill: those of other faiths, and those with no faith. The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform — one week in a year — for all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to meet together. It is hoped that this initiative will provide a focal point from which all people of goodwill can recognise that the common values they hold far

outweigh the differences they have, and thus create peace and harmony in and between their communities. But it's not just about faith – it's about good works too. At a recent meeting in Bristol of 24 faith groups, a representative of UNDP, Paul Ladd, heavily involved in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, said "More than 80% of the world's people express a religious affiliation . . . knowing this, it becomes clear that the UN needs to work closely with faith communities over the next 15 years if the new global roles for sustainable development are to be achieved." For all its secular origins and ethos, the UN is increasingly having to pay attention to what it calls "FBO" – faith-based organisations. In 2014, the UN Population Fund convened a meeting on religion and development involving a dozen UN agencies. Among its conclusions: "Development actors must learn how to navigate the complex world of religion, rather than ignore or marginalise its significance." And UNA? As a secular organisation, UNA can perform the useful function of providing neutral ground for people of different religions or none to meet and have dialogue. The UNA London and SE Region recently sponsored a service at a Unitarian Church in Golders Green which brought several different faiths

together under one roof; and the Region's UN 70 service was a multi-faith event. In Ipswich, a similar event was hosted at the Sri Chinmoy Mediation Centre. Until recently, the only places which offered a venue that could be shared by people of all faiths, and no faiths, were prisons, airports and hospitals. That situation, happily, is now beginning to change – though, arguably, such events may be best carried out in secular venues. As UNA member Kishan Manocha says, "I think the UNA can adopt a secular approach to religion and faith (in the sense of not promoting one to the exclusion of others, and being neutral, even-handed and fair) by taking its lead from UN-backed initiatives such as the World Interfaith Harmony Week."

Would a multi-faith service look like this?

On Saturday 10th

October, the Region commemorated the 70

th anniversary of

the UN with a multi-faith service of thanksgiving at the historic Temple Church, courtesy of the Middle Temple. Addresses were given by Natalie Samarasinghe, Executive Director of UNA-UK and Stephen Hockman QC, Treasurer of Middle Temple and President of UNA London and Southeast Region. This multi-faith service was led by Dr Rev. Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of the Temple and Temple Church and included Prayers for Peace read by Ms Zehra Balman, Chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahai's in Enfield, Mr Imram Ahmed Khalid, Missionary for the London Region of

the Muslim Ahmadiyya Association, and Carol Gould, UK-based American broadcaster and author, who delivered a Hebrew prayer. The service included music played on the oboe by Catherine Pluygers, readings from the Charter of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and an address by the Rev Dr Griffith-Jones "From the Magna Carta to the United Nations". The service was followed by a reception generously hosted by Stephen Hockman QC, co-founder of the ICE Coalition (Creating the International Court for the Environment).

Participants at a special event entitled “Interfaith harmony: Implementing the Transformative Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals”, co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Committee of Religious NGOs. 03 Feb 2016, United Nations, New York. @ UN Photo/Manuel Elias

www.unalondonandse.org

LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016 PAGE 7

Photos from top to bottom: Dr Rev. Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of the Temple and Temple Church, addressed the congregation. Different faiths offering prayers. Photo @ Rodney Mantle

Events

PAGE 8 LaSER | Issue 27 | February 2016

www.unalondonandse.org

UNA-UK ACTIVIST SUMMIT 5th

March 2016 @ 09:30, Ravensbourne, 6 Penrose Way, London SE10 0EW We call on people with a passion for global justice to explore, debate and take action on one of the UN’s most urgently needed reforms: a fairer, more inclusive process to select its next leader. Climate change. Armed conflict. Terrorism. Pandemics. The UN is needed now more than ever, and needs an outstanding, highly qualified and visionary leader to tackle the global challenges we face. A new Secretary-General will be appointed later this year, but the current appointment process is secretive, outdated and unsuited to finding the best person for the job. UNA-UK believes that the world deserves better, and that's why we're leading the call for change. We launched a global campaign - 1 for 7 Billion (www.1for7billion.org) – in 2014 and we’re making progress. We’re close to ending the shady backroom deals, moving towards a fair, open and – above all – merit-based process that allows all states, with input from civil society, to select from the world’s most competent women and men. This Activist Summit will equip supporters of UNA-UK to join this global movement. For more information or to book your ticket, visit www.una.org.uk/summit

LONDON & SOUTHEAST REGION SPRING COUNCIL 19

th March 2016 @ 11.00am – 4.30pm

Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

11.00 am - 1.30 pm: Branch Health (i) How and Where do we find new members/supporters,

especially younger people (ii) Ensuring we have a wide range of skills to promote

UN/UNA and its activities 1.30pm Lunch (BYO) 2.30 – 4.30pm: Region business (i) Review of business including accounts (ii) Presentation and discussion

"WHAT WAS ACHIEVED AT THE PARIS CLIMATE TALKS AND WHAT NOW NEEDS TO BE DONE?"

Speakers include Stephen Hockman QC (the Region’s President), Anastasia Kantzelis (environmental campaigner) and Alison Williams (Chair of Merton UNA). For more information, visit www.unalondonandse.org or contact the Region Chair, Catherine Pluygers catherinepluygers@hotmail.com

Twickenham and Richmond UNA 9

th April 2016 @ 12.15 - 2.00pm (pub lunch @ 1.20pm)

The Adelaide, 57 Park Road, Teddington TW11 0AU

THE WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT

The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, convened by the UN Secretary General, will be held in Istanbul on 23 -24 May 2016. Wars and humanitarian disasters greatly reduce the chance of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Martin Barber, who has been working as an advisor to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the Summit, will assess expectations and suggest ideas that UNA could promote in the run-up to the Summit.

18th

June 2016 @ 12.20 – 2.00pm The Adelaide, 57 Park Road, Teddington TW11 0AU

WALTZING THROUGH THE UN

Rodney Mantle to talk about Westminster UNA's study tour to Vienna (October 2015). Numerous UN agencies are located on the outskirts, on the other side of the Danube, part of a huge complex known officially as the Vienna International Centre. Some 650 people work there, but the Centre is little known. For more information on the above two events, contact Rodney Mantle (rodneymantle@hotmail.com / 020 8892 4628).

Westminster UNA 14

th March 2016 @ 18.30 to 8.00pm

Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0AL

14TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LAW LECTURE The 14

th Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture

entitled “Chasing Religious Persecution in Law: bloodshed, concerted attack or maintaining representation?” will be given by Dr Nazila Ghanea, Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford.

25th

May 2016 (time TBA) Royal United Services Institute, 61 Whitehall, London SW1A 2ET

13TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UN PEACEKEEPERS After the reviews and anniversaries, what’s next for the UN’s peace operations? The conference programme will feature key speakers who will examine and discuss the challenges facing the UN in this field. For more information on the above two events or to register your attendance, visit www.unawestminster.org.uk

Putney and Roehampton UNA 14

th March 2016 @ 7.30pm

Putney Methodist Church, Putney SW15 6SN Corner of Upper Richmond Road and Gwendolen Avenue

COMBATING MATERNAL MORTALITY AND HIV - WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Free public meeting in celebration of International Women’s Day. The public meeting will be chaired by Catherine Pluygers with speakers from Plan and Womankind worldwide. For more information, contact Robert Storey (020 3072 0087) or Jo Stocks (jo.stocks@talk21.com).