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Dear Reader, We include below a number of stories relating to the two major issues facing the world: COVID-19 and climate change. For example in his article written for a new UNA-UK report, the UN Secretary-General identifies 6 climate actions that need to be taken as the world recovers from the pandemic. Our article on the Independent SAGE attracted more readers than any other in the history of our website. And we note a new report on the reform of the UN Security Council, which fits in well with an online debate we will be holding in June on the reform of the UN. Find all this and much more by following the links below. And remember we are still running UN75 sessions at 2-4pm UK time on the first Wednesday of every month during 2020. Join in a global conversation about what kind of world we want and what the UN should be doing to make it a reality simply by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/71964075097 Please stay safe and be considerate of others. Philip Brown Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk |
Recent News HighlightsSee our website for more of our recent news articles. |
This article by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is the foreword to the UNA-UK's report Climate 2020: The path ahead The recovery from COVID-19 should be focused on securing a sustainable, equitable and resilient future. There are six climate actions that need to underpin this recovery and social consequences and bring the disease under control. But we must also recover better …
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Shagufta Hamid-Khan, Mohammed Aaqib, Roxana Anton, Nsikak Inyang and Philip Brown from the United Nations Association Coventry Branch were joined in a teleconference on 28 May by Will to debate the motion This house believes that people of sound mind have the right to die when they decide Follow the link to watch the debate. Read more. |
UNA-UK has released a major report on implementing the climate deal agreed by UN member states in Paris in 2015. Climate 2020: The path ahead is the fifth in a series of major reports on the Paris Agreement on climate change. We have now reached 2020, the year that has appeared on the front cover of these publications since the series began. It …
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The Together First campaign is commissioning a series of reports looking deeper into specific issues arising from the erosion of multilateralism in our global system. For the first of these expert reports, they have commissioned Mona Ali Khalil to address the reform of the UN Security Council. Mona served in the UN and the IAEA for 22 years - including …
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During its 73rd meeting, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a landmark resolution to bring the world together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It calls for the intensification of efforts to control the pandemic, and for equitable access to and fair distribution of all essential health technologies and products to combat the virus. It also calls for an independent and …
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A review of the origin, current state and an idea for the future of International Day of Living Together on 16 May 2020 by Philip Brown, Secretary of the United Nations Association Coventry Branch. He says that at present this day is not currently celebrated in the UK, which is a shame since it fits in well with peace, reconciliation …
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Who should advise governments on how to respond to emergencies and should their advice be made public? Former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, Sir David King, believes the experts on the government's current Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) are deferring to ministers. Asked if that meant they were not free to speak their minds, Sir David told …
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This article was first published on the UNA-UK website on 14 May 2020. The Together First campaign has launched its "to do list" for global leaders in their latest report "Stepping stones for a better future". The report presents 10 ideas for world leaders who are serious about building a safer, fairer, and more equal world. The UN Secretary-General has called …
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The following is the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appeal for a global ceasefire amid the COVID-19 pandemic, issued on 23 March 2020. Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly. Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world. The most vulnerable — women and children, …
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On 23 March 2020 the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, appealed to all warring parties across the world to lay down their arms in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19 — the common enemy that is now threatening all of humankind. "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war”, he said. “That is why today, I …
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The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is attended by health ministers and delegations from all 194 WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General every …
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In this telecast by the United Nations Association Coventry Branch on 15 May 2020, Philip Brown explores the background to this year's theme "Families in Development: Copenhagen and Beijing + 25". 2020 is the 25th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action and he looks at these documents. He also includes a webcast run by the …
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Once the COVID-19 lockdown ends, tracing the contacts of people who become infected and telling them to self-isolate will be the only way to stop the disease spreading again, until a vaccine is available. This can be achieved by people going out and trying to find those contacts. But that is expensive and difficult to achieve. But there is another …
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwyAIbi2EkM Philip Brown of the United Nations Association Coventry Branch introduces a celebration of International Nurses Day 2020 and the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. He plays extracts from a conversation between the President of the International Council of Nurses, Annette Kennedy and the Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bk8mylXb3w for the …
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Forthcoming EventsIf you have an idea for an event you want us to organise, please contact events@unacov.uk |
Participate in UN75, the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. These teleconversations will be held on the first Wednesday of every month during 2020. Why #UN75? Tackling issues such as COVID-19, the climate crisis, inequality, new patterns of violence and the major changes we are seeing in population and technology in …
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The UN has designated 5 June as World Environment Day. The theme in 2020 is Celebrating Biodiversity. The United Nations Association Coventry Branch will be hosting a meeting on this afternoon and are hoping to attract speakers who can address the issues. If you would like to help us organise this event please contact philip@unacov.uk More Information https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/ https://p.widencdn.net/bedxcl/WED-2020-Working-Brief
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Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 it will be held online from 15-21 June through a range of digital performances and interactive activities. Events 15-21 June Moving Worlds The theme this year is “Imagine” and will feature a special of selection …
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Amidst higher public scrutiny and the climate crisis, it is becoming increasingly important for those seeking funding and support for policies, programmes and projects to demonstrate their holistic value beyond the usual financial metrics. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an accessible and effective language through which we can articulate social, environmental and economic benefits of any investment. In …
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The Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization. The Charter came into force on 24 October 1945, now commemorated as UN Day.
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On 26 June 2020, the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, UNA Coventry will be organising an online debate to discuss the motion: This house believes that the UN system will not survive unless it is radically reformed UN Secretary-General António Guterres has made proposals to reform the United Nations since the beginning of his term in …
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Participate in UN75, the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. These teleconversations will be held on the first Wednesday of every month during 2020. Why #UN75? Tackling issues such as COVID-19, the climate crisis, inequality, new patterns of violence and the major changes we are seeing in population and technology in …
Read more. |
2 September 2020 will be the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Germany had surrendered in May but the war with Japan continued until the dropping of atomic bombs in August. The Japanese officially surrendered a few weeks later on 2 September.
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Note the date of this event has been changed due to the Coronavirus emergency. From 11 to 27 September, Keep Britain Tidy will once more be organising the UK's biggest mass-action environmental campaign: the Great British Spring Clean 2020. In 2019, more than 560,000 people took part. 17,097 clean-ups were held and 957,377 bags of litter collected – that’s 239,344 wheelie bins full of rubbish or 4,308 …
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Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. This year the United Nations Association Coventry Branch are planning an online TeleCelebration. Coventry, in the United Kingdom, is a City of Peace and Reconciliation, so it is the ideal place to host this innovative TeleCelebration. How to join the TeleCelebration Follow this link from …
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UN Day is 24 October, anniversary of the day the UN Charter entered into force in 1945.
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United Nations Climate Change and the UK and Italian Governments announced on 1 April that the 26th Conference of Parties due to be held in Glasgow in November (COP26) has been postponed due to COVID-19. It is now scheduled for 1-12 November 2021. Deferring the meeting should not mean deferring climate action, according to a leaked letter signed by Cop26 …
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