UNESCO Student Ambassadors @ UConn

Moving to Wordpress

2009-04-10T14:48:00.001-04:00

Hello all. This blog has moved to unescosa.wordpress.com see you guys there!

Minutes 4/8/'09

2009-04-09T19:08:00.003-04:00

Present: Erinn, Julie, Alana, Simon, Adan, Jenn, Kara, Dan, Shefali, Sharielle, Abena, Amanda, Pronoma, Aaron, Hannah
Letter from Kerry

Beautifully written, we miss you/her too!

Workshop on HIV/AIDS report

Went really well
students already knew how malaria works, had some form of sex ed
Did map project on where students thought HIV rates were highest and lowest, did quite well
for Malaria, Erinn, showed video

Workshops at other schools?

Robertson school-Manchester
Willimantic/Windham high school/Windham Middle School

Plan Conference?

Include Mansfield and Windham
A lot of work, but great opportunity to bring people together
Keep on working with MMS, and other schools
Have past participants help teach workshops
Underprivileged, under served schools

need to approach Human Rights education as not ideal, abstract, but something that's implemented everyday

EAT!!!

Walk for Hunger

Aim for $475, each of us should raise $20
Go to website at http://site.foodshare.org/site/TR/Events/WalkAgainstHunger?fr_id=1050&pg=entry to join the Student Ambassadors team

Reflections on Adan's grandfather's visit
Sharielle's Presentation on Gentrification

REALLY good discussion/debate

Minutes April 2nd 2009

2009-04-02T19:50:00.002-04:00

Presente: Aaron, Sharielle, Amanda, Erinn, Adan, Dan, Jason, Kara, Rafa, Stephanie, Allison, Simon, Jenn, Romana
Regards: Alana, Nikki
UN Agenda for Tomorrow

cameras are allowed

Commissioner Zonke Majodina, Deputy Chairperson, South AFrican Human Rights Commission and Member of the UN Human Rights Committee

4-6 PM SU 312
Confirmed: Abena, Amanda, Erinn, Alana, Jennifer, Romana, Hana, Niki, Rafael, Pronoma, Sharielle, Allison, Dan, Aaron

UNESCO Lecture Series:

UN and Human rights in Africa: Reflections of a UN diplomat with Abdulrahim Abby Farah
Thursday, April 19, 12:30-1:45 Castleman 212

Ripples of Hope

Please take poll on blog
Still accepting articles through next week

MMS update

went really well
talked about gender equality
Talked about education, lack of access to it

Eating...end of semester coming quickly!
Walk for Hunger-Sharielle

Free to walk
in Hartford
May 3rd
Drafting of parent letter to go on walk for hunger

invite families to come

Pennies for Hunger-Penny Wars

Combat HIV/AIDS Workshop

includes malaria, TB, toher serious diseases
avoid talking about sex/transmission
Cup and liquid activity
Malaria/TB-facts, impacts, history, etc..
connect HIV to Maternal/Family
link it to importance of education
Dots activity-stigma
Guessing Game
creative informing

Maternal Health

access to healthcare/quality of healthcare
child survival rates around the world
positive projects
Obama's Child Healthcare plan
Find surprising facts against US
maternity/paternity leave
insurance-healthcare
costs->hard choices
malnutrition
parishable goods
Education->occupation

2009-04-02T17:44:00.000-04:00

FYI

2009-03-28T11:09:00.001-04:00

Hi all, Here's some info given our collective interest in human rights education.

Subject: Joint NGO written submission to the UN Human Rights Council 10th session

Dear Colleagues,

We wanted to update you on the developments regarding the Joint Statement on human rights education to the Human Rights Council.

We received over 600 responses to our call for signatures last month. Thank you all very much for your support! I am still responding to all e-mails individually, so please be patient -- you will receive an answer!

The Joint Statement, along with a list of all signatories, is now available on the Human Rights Council's 10th session website. The document number is 112 (A/HRC/10/NGO/112):
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/sdpage_e.aspx?b=10&se=83&t=7
or directly at:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/119/92/PDF/G0911992.pdf?OpenElement

For all participants at the Human Rights Council session, NGO written statements numbers are also indicated as relevant documents under the Agenda Item to be dealt the Order of the Day (daily schedule) on the day.

The written statement was submitted under Agenda Item 5 of the Council: Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms. The general debate on Agenda Item 5 is now re-scheduled to be dealt with this week at the Council.

During the general debate, some interventions by member states are expected on the draft UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, and the World Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE). A number of NGOs of the NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning, Geneva, will make two joint oral interventions.

There are two resolutions of the Human Rights Council expected to be put on the table during the rest of the 10th session - one on the Draft UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training and the other on the WPHRE.

Sincerely yours,

Kazunari Fujii
Chair
NGO WG on HREL, Geneva
Of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN
(CONGO)
~~~~~~
Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
Geneva UN Liaison Office

Frank Elbers
Director of Programmes, HREA

unesco meeting minutes 3.26

2009-03-27T08:47:00.002-04:00

UNESCO Student
Ambassadors Meeting Minutes

March 26, 2009

U.N. trip, please
submit your form ASAP.

April 6^th,

member of Human Rights committee will be at Uconn for a dinner and
reception with Student Ambassadors.

April 9^th-

12:20-1:45 Tentative location: Castleman 212

New Lecture is

schedule with Abdulrahim Abby Farah, former Under-Secretary General
of the United Nations

Ripples of Hope:

If you’re
interested in doing an article related to poverty, Rafa would like to
have it by this Saturday March 28th, and the article would be due the
following Saturday April 4th.

Sharielle:

Collecting donations for a walk against hunger.

Looking into relay

for life recycling idea. Fundraising options are being brainstormed.
I.e. bake sales, m&m guessing game, penny wars, etc.

Aim is to reach

$10/person. Stuff a husky type idea.

Mansfield Middle

School:

The workshop was a

great success and the students seemed to take away a lot from it
about gender equality. The Ambassadors were impressed with the
students and how much they knew.

Erin and Sharielle

will take the lead on penny wars at Mansfield Middle School.

First Mansfield

write-up is in, the next one is due next week.

Sunday April 19^th-

Bbq at Dr. O’s house

Adan’s

presentation on “The current situation in Somalia, and an
introduction to the Republic of Somaliland”

Minutes 3/19/'09

2009-03-19T19:01:00.002-04:00

Present: Kara, Jen, Erinn, Alana, Julie, Sharielle, Pronoma, Nikki, Hannah, Romana, Rafa, Abena, Aaron, Dan, Jason, Allison, Amanda, Simon
Random brainstorming drawing activity
Reactions to Keith Snow

Not as aggressive as last year
really made us think about the "system" we're in
main point to generate discussion

EATING!!!
Report back on MMS Workshop

Went well, students very receptive
Spoke about UDHR, MDG, Map activity, what people can do to help
Very high level students
After each workshop, prepare outline of what you did by next Thursday (unless you go on Wednesday, give in by Saturday)

Plans for Hunger Walk

Walk with MMS students
May 3rd (Sunday before Finals week, i.e. next day finals starts

April 3rd->UN Trip

go to last session of Human Rights Committee
Sign statement of understanding for going to UN

April 6th->Deputy Chairperson of South African HRC coming to UConn, dinner tentaviely 4-6
go to http://www.doodle.com/eg9sbe8grymnt8xa to rsvp above events
Amanda->Keeping PIRG on fee bill

unanimous vote of support

ROH

e-mail sent out....please read it if writing articles

Dan's School wide community service project idea

one day to have university community reach out to community
requires reaching out to other groups

Social Business->Erinn's presentations

links to videos online on social business-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW-4gJmXy5M and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C3XQ3BTd4o

Human Rights Workshop

2009-03-16T11:49:00.001-04:00

CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE AGE OF PROPAGANDA AND GENOCIDE:
A Workshop with Mr. Keith Harmon Snow  

Thursday, March 19, 2009
12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Castleman Room 212
How does the mass media operate? How does one interpret information and determine if, when and how the news is slanted? How do you “read” information that passes your way? What is the value of information and when is information being used against us? Should one be reading the mass media at all?

Join Keith Harmon Snow for a workshop exploring the western mass media system. Using specific case studies based in his human rights work and media analyses, Keith will offer insights into the media, including structural deceptions, political agendas, racial biases, stereotypes and corporate seductions. The workshop will address ethical and moral issues and will challenge participants to evaluate truth, justice, equality and what it means to pursue right livelihood in the present era.

Keith Harmon Snow is the 2009 Regent's Lecturer in Law & Society at the University of California Santa Barbara. Over the past decade, he has been recognized for his work in contesting official narratives on war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. He has also worked as a genocide investigator for the United Nations.

Please visit www.unescochair.uconn.edu for more information, or call 486.0647.

Minutes 3/5/'09

2009-03-05T19:04:00.001-05:00

Present: Sharielle, Adan, Romana, Dan, Kara, Nana, Erinn, Amanda, Allison, Simon, Abena
Hoodies coming in soon
ROH-2nd issue done, working on 3rd one
Keith Snow
    -Last time here talked about Media and propaganda
    -this time going to talk about how to sift through information to get to the truth
    -Part workshop/lecture March 19th 12:30-1:45
    -Castleman (Engineering building) in room 212
Friday April 3rd-Trip to UN
    -briefing from Human Rights Committee (HRC), last day of meeting
    -Leave 6:30 AM to get to 9:30
    -Each person responsible for buying own lunch
    -WHO briefing (April 7th world health day)
    -Tour pre-paid
    -Back on campus by 6:30 (leave UN by 3:30)
    -Going with learning communities going to UN
    -Think of good questions to ask
    -Deputy Chairperson of Human Rights Commission in South Africa, part of HRC, coming Monday April 6th, time TBA
Alana wrote letter to Robertson Elementary school in Manchester
Hanna's Fashion show
    -Raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDs
    -Any ideas
Relay for Life Cancer UConn Alumni survivors speaking at 7 PM March 17th in SU theater
MMS Workshops
    -Class-More special ed students than last time
    -one student who has lived in a Somali refugee camp
    -one student who is Iranian
    -Combatting HIV/AIDs, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and other major diseases
        -probably not going to completely reach goal, but doesn't mean we've failed
        -talk about issues of access
    -goals
        -promote action in local organization
        -keeping a notebook of what students are learning
        -promote pen pal(?)
        -keep it creative
        -promote children's rights and emphasize responsibilities
    -each group can outline before workshop what going to do, then refine afterward, and then put on UNESCO website
Break up into action groups
Allison's discussion on Water Privatization in Developing Countries
    -Dirty water
        -2.2 million people die each year from contaminated drinking water
        -intestinal worms affect 10% of developing world
            -causes sever malnutrition and Anemia, lots of children die each year
    -Solutions
        -small scale solutions being implemented
    -Discussion of our own water usage
    -Should governments or private institutions distribute water?
    -Need to find way to have people help themselves
good night!

UNESCO MINUTES

2009-03-05T17:36:00.001-05:00

Minutes

UNESCO

Meeting February 26,
2009

February 27, 2009
5:45pm

Louise Girson-Luck,
Leadership, and Legitimacy

South Africa and Middle
East

Intergenerational Forum
Application due February 27, 2009

Student Ambassador
Profiles due Midnight February 26, 2009

One Voice Movement
Monday, March 2, 2009 4:30pm Dodd Center Konover Auditorium

Keith Snow Lecture on
Media and Propaganda Thursday, March 19 Castleman

Updates on Projects

-Fundraiser for
HIV/AIDS (Hannah)

Three countries
(Zimbabwe, South Africa, and third)

Fashion Show

Nikki suggests
Partners in Health

Jason has friends in
costume department

Hannah distributed
sheet for sign ups

Dan knows
coordinators of Asian American Fashion Show

Abena knows people

Stephanie brought up
Steven Lewis and a film/tv show

Dinner

Spring Break plans

-Alana-Florida

-Erin-DC

-Abena-working

-Romana-New Orleans

-Jason-working

-Allison-going home
and relaxing

-Hannah-Puerto Rico

-Nikki-South Dakota

-Jen-Spain

-Amanda-Texas

-Nana-at Uconn

-Dan-Belize

Mansfield Middle School
Programs

Changes to our
schedule

Kara had sent out an
e-mail

We will start on March
16^th

We will meet at Wilbur
Cross before going to the school

Mr. Burnam would like
for us to come back but Wednesday is only day available

-We have yet to
decide on topics for his class

-10:25am-11:10am on
Wednesdays

-1:45-3:00pm on
Wednesdays

Working on curriculum
for these programs that can be used for future

-Abena and Erin
inquired about this

Gender Equality on
Wednesday will have 1 hour and 30 minutes—longer

Jen asks if we will
create uniformity

Abena clarifies that
we want a template that other groups can see and a record

Intro. Poverty/Hunger

nametags

explain MDGs

ask students about
fundamental rights

Nikki notes that
children have short attention span

Romana can bring YHR
UDHR to distribute

child-friendly UDHR

Relative wealth—guilt

show physical items

Give portion of rice
to each child

Amanda says big world
map and put buttons on countries based on wealth then do it again
based on population

Abena suggests
cardboard cut out

Break students into
groups

Show what is being
done in outreach locally

Sending a positive
message

Nana mentions that
encouraging empathy is more important than guilt

Each group can bring
a fact sheet

Each student can
write in a fact sheet/notebook

Universal Education

Aaron suggests that
children think they know about human rights, but it's important to
explain them

Allison mentions that
there is a school in Indonesia to have pen pals with

This connects to
global partnership

Aaron suggests to
make a video about who we are

Use photos of other
projects

Utilize UDHR

UN Literacy Decade

Jen suggests give
sheet with something in a different language and have them look at it
to show how difficult it is when one cannot read

Cycle of
illiteracy-when one language is language of the elite, but you do not
speak because family does not

Different language
activities

Give them the example
that after this year they will not have any more education

“What if”
scenarios

Real Life
implications

Connect back to
poverty

Effects on family,
society

Imbalance in society
because only have particular opportunities

What kind of jobs you
can get

Whole is greater than
parts

Dream jobs and then
explain why cannot do them

Here we are able to
dream and attain, other places people cannot even dream

Education shapes
perception of reality

Gender Equality

In the United
States-how much women earn compared to men

Gender equality in
primary schools, secondary schools, work place

Cultural perception
of gender roles

but still enforce
UDHR

Reasons behind gender
roles

Cycle that exists

CEDAW

moral obligations,
responsibility

Be careful to not
alienate men

Jason points out at
young age thinks everything should be fair

Point out from male
perspective

Boys should have the
abilities to learn all the tasks that girls know

Ex. Rwanda—half
of legislature=women

Everyone should have
fair and equal access

Jen suggests make up
occupations on cards and show stereotypes

Allison suggests
statistics for students their age in developing countries and
physically divide class

Cards with
professionals on one side and pay on other side

Men don't have right
to take off from work when have baby

Jason's Presentation--

UNESCO MINUTES

2009-03-05T17:34:00.001-05:00

Minutes

UNESCO

Meeting February 26,
2009

February 27, 2009
5:45pm

Louise Girson-Luck,
Leadership, and Legitimacy

South Africa and Middle
East

Intergenerational Forum
Application due February 27, 2009

Student Ambassador
Profiles due Midnight February 26, 2009

One Voice Movement
Monday, March 2, 2009 4:30pm Dodd Center Konover Auditorium

Keith Snow Lecture on
Media and Propaganda Thursday, March 19 Castleman

Updates on Projects

-Fundraiser for
HIV/AIDS (Hannah)

Three countries
(Zimbabwe, South Africa, and third)

Fashion Show

Nikki suggests
Partners in Health

Jason has friends in
costume department

Hannah distributed
sheet for sign ups

Dan knows
coordinators of Asian American Fashion Show

Abena knows people

Stephanie brought up
Steven Lewis and a film/tv show

Dinner

Spring Break plans

-Alana-Florida

-Erin-DC

-Abena-working

-Romana-New Orleans

-Jason-working

-Allison-going home
and relaxing

-Hannah-Puerto Rico

-Nikki-South Dakota

-Jen-Spain

-Amanda-Texas

-Nana-at Uconn

-Dan-Belize

Mansfield Middle School
Programs

Changes to our
schedule

Kara had sent out an
e-mail

We will start on March
16^th

We will meet at Wilbur
Cross before going to the school

Mr. Burnam would like
for us to come back but Wednesday is only day available

-We have yet to
decide on topics for his class

-10:25am-11:10am on
Wednesdays

-1:45-3:00pm on
Wednesdays

Working on curriculum
for these programs that can be used for future

-Abena and Erin
inquired about this

Gender Equality on
Wednesday will have 1 hour and 30 minutes—longer

Jen asks if we will
create uniformity

Abena clarifies that
we want a template that other groups can see and a record

Intro. Poverty/Hunger

nametags

explain MDGs

ask students about
fundamental rights

Nikki notes that
children have short attention span

Romana can bring YHR
UDHR to distribute

child-friendly UDHR

Relative wealth—guilt

show physical items

Give portion of rice
to each child

Amanda says big world
map and put buttons on countries based on wealth then do it again
based on population

Abena suggests
cardboard cut out

Break students into
groups

Show what is being
done in outreach locally

Sending a positive
message

Nana mentions that
encouraging empathy is more important than guilt

Each group can bring
a fact sheet

Each student can
write in a fact sheet/notebook

Universal Education

Aaron suggests that
children think they know about human rights, but it's important to
explain them

Allison mentions that
there is a school in Indonesia to have pen pals with

This connects to
global partnership

Aaron suggests to
make a video about who we are

Use photos of other
projects

Utilize UDHR

UN Literacy Decade

Jen suggests give
sheet with something in a different language and have them look at it
to show how difficult it is when one cannot read

Cycle of
illiteracy-when one language is language of the elite, but you do not
speak because family does not

Different language
activities

Give them the example
that after this year they will not have any more education

“What if”
scenarios

Real Life
implications

Connect back to
poverty

Effects on family,
society

Imbalance in society
because only have particular opportunities

What kind of jobs you
can get

Whole is greater than
parts

Dream jobs and then
explain why cannot do them

Here we are able to
dream and attain, other places people cannot even dream

Education shapes
perception of reality

Gender Equality

In the United
States-how much women earn compared to men

Gender equality in
primary schools, secondary schools, work place

Cultural perception
of gender roles

but still enforce
UDHR

Reasons behind gender
roles

Cycle that exists

CEDAW

moral obligations,
responsibility

Be careful to not
alienate men

Jason points out at
young age thinks everything should be fair

Point out from male
perspective

Boys should have the
abilities to learn all the tasks that girls know

Ex. Rwanda—half
of legislature=women

Everyone should have
fair and equal access

Jen suggests make up
occupations on cards and show stereotypes

Allison suggests
statistics for students their age in developing countries and
physically divide class

Cards with
professionals on one side and pay on other side

Men don't have right
to take off from work when have baby

Jason's Presentation--

Raquel's Letter

2009-02-19T21:44:00.001-05:00

This is my response to Raquel's letter. What does anybody think?

Dear Mr. Márcio Lacerda

      The UNESCO Student Ambassadors for Human Rights (SAHR) are dismayed at the current state of housing in Vila Acaba Mundo in your beautiful city of Belo Horizonte. It is unfair that families who have lived in Vila Acaba Mundo for over 60 years be evicted. This is a direct violation of their housing rights. It is urgent for you to declare the expropriation of the area where the people of Vila Acaba Mundo are threatened with eviction. Moreover, a reversal of your veto on the bill that would have given Vila Acaba Mundo status as an area of special interest would greatly ameliorate the current situation.

Regards,

   Rafael Péres-Segura on behalf of UNESCO SAHR
   University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut USA

Minutes Feb 19 2009

2009-02-19T19:01:00.001-05:00

Present: Kara, Stephanie, Simon, Alana, Aaron, Dan, Sharielle, Hannah, Jenn, Jason, Rafa, Allison, Amanda, Dr. O, Pronoma, Romana, Adana, Nana
ROH
    -sign up with story
    -more details next week
    -articles due March 13
    -Theme is poverty
Stephanie
    -School supply drive for Haiti
Aaron
    -Support concert (?) possible project
Hannah
    -Fashion show to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS (?) possible project
Dr. O
    -Theme for next UNESCO Conference is Health and Human Rights
One Voice Movement
    -Largest youth organization that fosters Israeli-Palestinian dialogue
    -March 2nd 4:30-6:30 PM
    -Cosponsoring event would probably entail advertising on our part
Adan
    -Wants to present in a couple weeks on Somaliland and Somalia
    -Wants to take on project on helping Somaliland gain International Recognition
Hannah's Presentation on Zimbabwe
    -Zimbabwe has big crisis with under nutrition, as a result leading to thousands of deaths
    -Zimbabwe economy is shambles
    -no freedom of press
    -Dr. O
        -Zimbabwe used to be bread basket of Africa, tragic that it has fallen so hard
        -Is there a project that can be done by SAHR to extend awareness of the issues in Zimbabwe?
        -Raising money for Zimbabwe could be considered, but done in an apolitical fashion
MMS
    -Preliminary Schedule for MMS...soon to be confirmed
    -Meet in groups of what you want to do to work on workshops, sign up for first choices

Minutes Feb 12 2009

2009-02-12T19:09:00.001-05:00

Present: Adan, Erinn, Abena, Julie, Romana, Sharielle, Jennifer, Amanda, Hannah, Nikki, Kara (duh!), Rafa, Simon, Dan, Jason

Today is Red Hand Day

    -Today in 2002 UN commissioned committee to reduce child soldier recruitment

Housing Rights

    -Interested in sending out letter of support

    -General template e-mail written

        -each person can tailor e-mail and send it.

        -Rafa writes generic letter for housing by Sunday noon.

EATING

Reflection on trip to Cambridge MA last Friday

    - very inspirational person

    - described art and justice
    - supreme court designed differently from European counterparts
Newsletter presentation
April 3rd- UN trip to HRC sessions
Nikki's presentation- Darfur
    -Darfur Western Region of Sudan, in North of Sudan
    -Nobody can agree on how many civs killed
    -UN determined not officially a genocide
    -Darfur exaggerated?
        -many unknowns
        -Darfur has most refugees in world
MMS (Mansfield Middle School) and MDGs (Millennium Development Goals)
    -Sign up for times
    -make video with kids?
    -Topics based on MDGs
    -Dan will make Subject list for each class period
One Voice Movement
    -Israelis and Palestinians coming March 2nd with Arab student Association.

Urgent Housing Appeal

2009-02-10T09:46:00.000-05:00

Please check this out...

Dear friends,

I believe you remember that in Brazil I work with an organization which fights for housing rights in slums (favelas).

I currently work with a small favela called "Vila Acaba Mundo" (End of the World Village). My essay to the UNESCO forum described how my organization and the residents of the slum are struggling in order to have their housing rights observed.

Although we have a municipal law which guarantees that the area should be used to housing the poor population of the city, the real state sector is succeeding at reducing this area dramatically.

Currently 71 families are threatened with eviction, even though they have lived at “Vila Acaba Mundo” for over 60 years. They have nowhere to go.

Last year, we presented a law bill to the city legislative branch declaring that area as one of special social interest so that we could reduce the speculation over the area. The law passed unanimously. Unfortunately the first act of our new mayor was to veto that law.

However, the mayor did not think that the citizens would react to that veto. We are pressuring, but we have the real state sector against us. The main newspaper of the city has dedicated its main section to criticize our struggle.

The mayor’s secretaries have agreed to meet us and promised to expropriate (with compensation) the lands where people are threatened with eviction. However, they are taking too long to do that and we are afraid they are waiting so that it is no longer possible for us to promote the override of his veto.

Pressure is essential at this moment: we're in the media; the Village population – 350 families - is mobilized. We can't afford to let this moment go if we want this government to respect housing rights.

That's why I ask you all to send e-mails to our mayor showing that the international community demands respect for housing rights and that it is aware of what is going on at Vila Acaba Mundo, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

We're sure that the support of your organizations can exert pressure over our mayor who is starting his mandate.

Send an e-mail to gabpref@pbh.gov.br and to smgo@pbh.gov.br

The name of the mayor is Márcio Lacerda. Make sure to mention that it is urgent for him to declare the expropriation of the area where people of Vila Acaba Mundo are threatened with eviction. If you prefer, you can sign the attached letter.

Send me a copy of your e-mails so that I can publish in the alternative media the support of the international community to our cause.

If you have any other ideas on how to pressure the mayor, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would appreciate if you could forward this message.

In the belief of a globalization of human rights movements,

Peace,

Raquel Portugal Nunes

Minutes-Feb 5 2009

2009-02-05T19:00:00.002-05:00

Introductions
Present: Jason Abbott, Samantha Dolat, Jennifer Chevinsky, Nikki Rubin, Romana Heider, Dan Lin, Alana, Sharielle Applewhite, Adan Abbey, Hanna Etim-Gorst, Erinn Arbelaez, Stephanie Guirand, Allison Lex, Amanda Ploch, Simon Haley, Kara O'Brien, Rafael Pérez-Segura, Pronoma Srivastava, Shefali Mamak

Hoodies-Money must be in by Monday at UNESCO Office-$28.52
Art and Justice event: The Art of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

meet on Friday at 3 PM in the Office of the UNESCO Chair

Amanda, Hannah, Nikki, Erinn, Romana, Rafael, Kara, Shefali, Pronoma
leave by 3 PM Friday

If interested in Middle School, e-mail schedule by Sunday evening to unescoambassador@uconn.edu

sample workshop online

Discussion- Promises, ideas

highly thought of
some reservations on being out-of-date
Many view points represented
Hamas

Shown very favorably
doesn't address voting in of Hamas

will we be able to handle being apolitical on topic?
Erinn explains background behind Gaza-Israel video screening event
Jenn offers idea of seeing Israeli-Palestinian children together

Everyone please take a look at the website: www.onevoicemovement.org
Israeli and Palestinian youth leaders coming Feb 28th-March 5th
member leader for promises/onevoice movement=Erinn

advertising

advertise really well
emphasize humanitarian issue
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Romana brings up idea of panel discussions

make fact oriented

Adan

Facts not agreed on by all sides

Daniel Lin and Barnaba Institute

Asking to have a student endorse a play about Prostitution
Around April 24th (but not the 24th)
Institute would pay for space and plane ticket, but not necessarily for rooms at a hotel

MMS Workshops

Literacy Around the World-definite workshop for this semester
Ideas

consistently talk about UNUDHR, Convention on the Rigths of the Child
awareness->acceptance->understand->involvement/action (giving options, what you can do)
be very specific
child labor
3 facilitators
Base workshops on Millennium Development Goals

End Poverty and hunger
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Universal Education
Gender Equality
Environmental Sustainability
Global Partnerships
Child Health
Maternal Health

Prison and Human Rights-Amanda Ploch

Doing bible study at Correctional Facility near UConn Depot Campus

volunteered in South Africa at a detention center
has learned a lot about inmate's lives

Recidivism

real problem, many get out and come back again
no better or worse off than when inmates first came in
people need tools once they get out of prison

Why do prisoners deserve taxpayer money to learn when our own schools don't have enough money?

very difficult question
answer unclear

Discussion

Sharielle- Who people hang around with once out of prison has a lot to do with how much chance they have of going back

to answer about who deserves taxpayer money, it should be who wants it more.
idea-network of organizations that specialize in hiring back people who were imprisoned or wrongfully accused of something
has relative that has had to deal with the stigma of going to jail now that he's out

Hannah

prisoners dynamic in personalities
asks: more expensive to keep people in jail than to educate them?

Jail per capita costs $22,000, education costs will pay themselves back over and over again

Amanda

no continuity between prison system and transition to society
Would choose to educate the person in prison because person in jail to begin with because law abiding student would generally have a better chance to figure stuff out

clarification-recidivism means going back to jail, not necessarily back to crime

Adan

American prisons a shame
US holds self to higher standards
people come back many times worse than before.

Shefali

many prisoners sometimes encouraged to do crime again out of desperation
change is difficult

Simon

Asks: What actually happens when people get released?

Amanda answers: Programs about only a year long, not enough time for most people to adapt again

Ask: Government incentives to have companies rehire people who have proved themselves out of prison

Amanda answer: doesn't really know, but it seems like a good idea.

there actually is a bakery that hires many ex-convicts who actually stay there

important to recognize when ex-convicts are really willing to make change their ways

Play to be presented in question poster (look at latest minutes)

2009-02-05T18:19:00.002-05:00

The World March for Peace and Non-violence

2009-02-02T17:08:00.001-05:00

Oct 2, 2009 - Jan 2, 2010

"Because we can end world hunger with 10% of what is spent on arms.
Imagine how life would be if 30-50% of the arms budget went toward improving people's lives instead of being used for destruction."

The World March for Peace and Non-violence, is an international project that will start in New-Zealand on October 2nd of 2009, and will arrive in Punta de Vacas, Argentina, on January 2nd of 2010, after crossing 90 countries around the world! It is an initiative of the NGO "World Without Wars", which is organizing it at the international level. There are many organizations and volunteers working on it locally in many countries. The project has received so far a very high number of supports, from citizens all over the world, universities, NGOs, politicians, institutions, intellectuals, artists etc.

The web site of the World March is: www.marchamundial.org/en

Minutes - January 29, 2009

2009-02-02T13:11:00.001-05:00

January 29, 2009 - Student Ambassadors for Human Rights Meeting
Minutes recorded by Erinn

Dr. O’s welcome:
- UNESCO Chair regards us as a group of very special students

Student Visibility on campus:
- Abena, Hanna*, Jason, Erinn, Rafael and Pronoma expressed interest in having a subcommittee led by Dan that would focus on getting our name out there. The committee would email each other, possibly meet a few minutes earlier, etc.
-Possibly design a new poster to advertise SAHRs

Promises:
-look into showing it at the Dodd Center on a Thursday around 7:00 possibly during the last week in March and the first two weeks of April, the best week is probably the first in April
-everyone should watch the movie by next week’s meeting

New Meeting Times:
-meetings will now be 5:00-7:00pm every week with dinner

February 6th, 2009 Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa will be giving a presentation on The Art of the Constitutional Court of South Africa at 6:00pm in Cambridge at Harvard University- there will be a survey sent out to see who wants to go

Rafa’s Topic: “Two Sides of a Border: One Violent, One Peaceful.”
Article from The New York Times by James C. McKinley.Published: January 22, 2009. Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/23elpaso.html?scp=1&sq=%93Two%20Sides%20of%20a%20Border:%20One%20Violent,%20One%20Peaceful%94%20&st=cse

-Drug trafficking violence is much stronger on the Mexican side of the border, most likely because Mexico is very militaristically trying to crack down on drug dealing
-There is a big power vacuum in Latin America about who is going to control the drug trafficking industry because the demand is still very high but there was a huge crack down on drug trafficking in Colombia and the Caribbean so a lot of drugs started being brought through Mexico.
-In the North it is like a war zone with innocent people dying. People trying to help, like aid workers from the Red Cross, are being attacked.
-Links between this situation and what’s happening in Afghanistan with opium – farmers switching from growing food crops to drugs. Rafa makes the point that what needs to be addressed is educating people in the U.S.A., Europe, etc. that the drugs they’re using have these other negative effects on the people that are being basically forced to supply the drug to them.

Brainstorming of Ideas from Orientation Day Jan 24 '09

2009-01-24T14:20:00.001-05:00

1. Reach out to Willimantic (?)

build relations
start discussion

2. Education

Point person-Jen

Mansfield-Build reputation and aproach
human rights
child rights->CRC
UDHR-> it exists, it applies
MDGs
Direct action awareness
our rights, our responsibilities
quantify measures
integrate MMS with fundraising

3. Gaza

Documentary "Promises"
Panel
Peacetalks-US Fundraiser
moderator (submit on papers?)
purpose
media
CRC-Participation
Watch the doc-netflix

4. Action

Fundraising

H2O-Bright Star Vision

library-Amir

support periodical subscription
integrate book drive with MMS

What Works?

bake sale
flex pass
jewelery
photography, art
company appeal
appeal to sports tickets
auction for next semester?
Make honors event

Namaste

Haiti

Point peopl-Allison and Stephanie

Darfur reawareness

inform ourselves

5. News/Video to share with group topics - about 25 min.

Narco-trafficking-Rafa
Trafficking of Women and Children-Pronoma
Religious Persecution-Akosua
Self determination-Jason

Minutes Jan 22 '09

2009-01-23T15:45:00.002-05:00

1. Introductions

2. News

Reflections on Gaza

3. Opening up of orientation to new members
4. Consensus to order pizza and meet at Wilbur Cross 110 at Noon

5. Student Involvement Fair Sign up...email will be sent out on who signed for when also

2-3 PM (set up) - Pronoma
3-4 PM - Amanda, Nikki
4-5 PM - Jason
5-6 PM - Sharielle, Abena
6-7 PM - Julie, Rafael
7-8 PM - Simon, Allison

6. MMS

Work more with Sherry Andrews
Work on workshops

7. Get article/video, share with group
8. Intergenerational App open

Abena explains nature of forum

China Kitetsi
meet people from everywhere

9. Amir's letter

Result of library building in Rwanda
Asks for donation of books

10. hoodies

$28.52
Payment due by 1/29/'09

11. Guest SPeaker Marla Ludwig, brights Star Vision (Not Foundations)

Mentioned Kerry (Not McCole) going to help with making/designing school
60 yrs old, last 35 years raising 3 sons by self
high school, but no college education
Became systems mainframe engineer @ travelers
everyone introduces selves, where traveled, why human rights
picked Ghana because found people friendly, no war, spoke English

told should bring books, hesitant, but did donate
got money to make library

Kerry talks about asymmetric program

nationwide program for architecture, construction, and engineering
mix of inner city and non-inner city students
Made complete plans of construction for Marla's kindergarten

Ground has been broken
roof costs $20,000, still need funds
upcoming fundraiser (flyer passed around)
if interested in going to Ghana in May, talk to Marla

January 22, 2009 - Meeting Agenda

2009-01-22T19:58:00.000-05:00

Student Ambassadors for Human Rights
January 22, 2009

1. Welcome back & Intro.s
2. Minutes
3. Orientation, 12 – 4pm, Wilbur Cross, Room 110
a. Use the front door
b. Lunch
4. Student Involvement Fair – sign-up (3 – 8pm Wed, Jan 28, 2009)
5. Mansfield Middle School
a. New class?
b. Schedules
c. Connecticut Children’s Commissioner
6. Articles/Media
7. Intergenerational Leadership Forum - - - - Applications are open
a. Letter from Amir
8. Hoodies - $$$ - $28.52
9. Guest speaker : Marla Ludwig, Bright Star Vision

Spring 2009

January 22 - Welcome back!
January 24 - Orientation, 12 – 4pm, Wilbur Cross, Room 110
January 28 - Student Involvement Fair, 3:00 – 8:00pm
January 29 -
February 5 -
February 12 -
February 19 - INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY (Feb 21)
February 26 -
March 5 - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (March 8)
March 12 - Spring Break
March 19 - Keith Snow Guest Lecture, 12:30 - 1:45pm
MARCH 22 - WORLD WATER DAY (2009 Theme: Transboundary Water)
March 26 -
April 2 - WORLD HEALTH DAY(April 7)
April 9 -
April 16 -
APRIL 22 - EARTH DAY
April 23 -
April 30 -

Possible Trip Dates: March 20, March 27, April 3

2009 UN International Year of Astronomy

Child Rights event - New York

2009-01-15T11:28:00.002-05:00

If anyone is interested in attending, please let Kara know asap.

Invitation to Attend the Third Child Policy Forum of New York

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROSTITUTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2009
TIME: 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.
PLACE: CHURCH CENTER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS MEETING ROOM 212 777 UN PLAZA, NEW YORK

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a human rights treaty created specifically to promote and protect the best interests and human rights of children worldwide. Since 1990, 193 countries have ratified the CRC. The U.S. and Somalia are the only two countries which have not ratified this historic treaty.

Although the U.S. has not ratified the CRC, it has ratified the Optional Protocols to the CRC on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) on 23 December 2002.

The U.S. has submitted an official report, which was discussed in Geneva in May/June 2008 with official recommendations by the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child. The recommendations and treaty obligations for implementation and monitoring will be the topic of our Forum with an emphasis on New York State.

Opening Remarks
Gertrud Lenzer -- Professor, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center/CUNY
Director, Brooklyn College Children's Studies Program and Center/CUNY
Christoph M. Kimmich -- President, Brooklyn College/CUNY
William A. Tramontano -- Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Brooklyn College/CUNY
Kathryn Grant Madigan, Esq. -- Immediate Past President, New York State Bar Association

Speakers
Angela O. Burton, Esq. -- Associate Professor, CUNY School of Law
Howard Davidson, J.D. -- Executive Director of the ABA Center on Children and the Law
The Honorable Jeffrey Dinowitz -- New York State Assembly
Gertrud Lenzer -- Professor, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center/CUNY
Director, Brooklyn College Children's Studies Program and Center/CUNY
Rachel Lloyd – Executive Director, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS)
Marta Santos Pais – Director, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (Pending Final Confirmation)
The Honorable William A. Scarborough -- Chair of the Standing Committee on Children and Families,
New York State Assembly
Carol Smolenski -- Executive Director, ECPAT - USA

Hosted by the Children's Studies Center & the Brooklyn College of The City University of New York in collaboration with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Covenant House Nineline, CUNY School of Law, ECPAT-USA, and the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the LawSupported by the CUNY University Affirmative Action Committee of the Diversity Projects Development Fund and the New York Community Trust/Mark Family Fund.

For information visit our website: http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/childrensstudies

In case you're looking for a new class this semester. . .

2009-01-15T11:26:00.003-05:00

FOUR NEW CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING COURSES OFFERED THIS SPRING
Are you interested in learning a community-building approach that emphasizes applied creativity, collaboration and everyday democracy? The University of Connecticut’s Creative Community Building program helps individuals and communities look within at their strengths, assets and resources; and provides tools for deliberately collaborating to shape and create the kind of community in which people want to live, work and play. If you are working to promote human rights and social justice, these Spring 2009 courses can help you learn and apply complementary skills and ideas. Please consider signing up now -- and invite your friends, too!

Choose from among four Creative Community Building courses (3 credits each), which will run from January 20 to May 1, 2009. Note: If you know anyone who is 62 or older, s/he can register on a space-available, non-credit basis through the Senior Citizen Audit program for $15/semester. For more information about the audit program, contact the Center for Continuing Studies at 860.486.4631.

GS3088-*91 (12969) BUILDING A COOPERATIVE ECONOMY: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES
Taught by Erbin Crowell, University of Connecticut-Storrs, Wednesdays,
6:00-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-*90 (12956) CREATIVE DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
Taught by Len Krimerman, Ph.D., University of Connecticut-Storrs,
Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-H90 (13065) CREATIVITY + SOCIAL CHANGE
Taught by Steven Dahlberg, University of Connecticut-Hartford, Tuesdays,
6:30-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-N68 (12923) NONVIOLENCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Taught by Joanne Sheehan, University of Connecticut-Avery Point,
Thursdays, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

More details and full course descriptions are available online at
http://www.CreativeCommunityBuilding.org or by calling 860.486.0358.

WHAT PREVIOUS CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THESE COURSES:

* “I learned a lot about linking creativity to every aspect of my life, not just my artistic work.” - Amanda Stauble
* “I wonder if education in general can be transformed to resemble this course.” - Chris Grohs
* “I learned that there really are other people who struggle and love to create in the face of skeptics in today’s world.” - Kaitlyn Newman
* “I rediscovered my community and am beginning to think that this society is ready to change for the better.” - Robbie Steller
* “I gained so much inspiration that will drive me to use more creative approaches … to affect positive social change.” - Allyssa Milan

Minutes for November 13, 2008

2008-11-13T20:14:00.001-05:00

Attendees:
Rafael
Spencer
Kerry
Shefali
Nikki
Jason
Stephanie
Claire
Avital
Teki
Pronoma
Jennifer C
Erinn
Allison
Simon
Amanda

1. Introductions
a. Updates
2. Special visit from Dr. O (talk about trip to UN)
a. Purpose of the trip is to be involved and engaged so that you can see how things happen at the individual level in real life rather than reading it in a book
b. Imagine yourself at some period in your life doing a similar thing
c. After you get back, take time to reflect on your experiences.
i. What inspired you?
ii. What made you think?
d. Questions
3. Break out: people going to NY vs. people not going
4. Hot Cocoa and Cider Night in McMahon
a. In global house room
b. Focus on poverty in the United States
c. Focus on poverty around the world
d. Tables set up with global poverty, poverty in US
e. Thursday, December 4th
f. 8PM- 9 PM
g. On Main Level (floor above the dinning hall)
h. Prototype for a bigger event next semester
5. How should our meeting work for Dec 4?
a. Meet --> go to dinner together --> event
6. Shefali has an event on Monday, November 17, 2008
a. Needs help with advertising
b. Will email people flier, if they have a printer
c. Other fliers will be in the UNESCO Office (2nd floor WC Building)
d. People assigned to different areas on campus to put them up
e. Would student ambassadors like to set up a table there?
7. T-shirt design
a. Simon’s design is a globe is an open cage --> letting peace out into the world
b. Nikki
i. Sweatshirt with her logo (gun in a knot)
ii. T-shirt with Simon’s?
c. Price quote
i. 3 printing
ii. UNESCO design on left breast
iii. Right breast= Student Ambassadors for Human Rights
iv. Back= design
v. Range of prices
1. Sweatshirt
a. Hoodie (3)
b. Zip up (13)
2. Polo (0)
3. T-shirt (1)
vi. We chose Zip up around $35 to $40
vii. We chose Simon’s design peace coming out of the cage
8. Stephanie’s Event on December 12, 2008
a. Bad: speaker missed the event
b. Good: good discussion on toothpaste
i. Watched movie from organization’s website
ii. Handout
iii. Action planning
iv. School supply drive from now to the end of the school year
c. Speaker went to her class and talked:
i. Event supposed to talk about education in Haiti. Organization works to get textbooks and materials to children. Action planning: plan a workshop and you can actually go to Haiti and teach the students your workshop. A translator would help translate handouts and help you communicate with students.
1. Contact Stephanie if you are interested
9. Stephanie’s workshop at Mansfield Middle school is on November 14th
a. Only Rafa and Stephanie can go
b. Is anyone else interested? Jennifer!
10. Ripples of Hope
a. If you are confused email Rafa at ROHeditor@gmail.com
11. Open letter to Barack Obama
a. Will be sent to NY Times, Economist, etc.
b. Acknowledges President elect Obama and shows hope that he will spread his human rights activism throughout the world
12. Announcement
a. Sustainable development project for Haiti
b. Working with AHEAD
c. An event will happen in February on one night
d. Would UNESCO like to have a table?
e. It will cost a little to get into the event, but it will be a good fundraising opportunity
f. Email Stephanie if you are interested
13. Nikki- possible event
a. Stand Now
i. Go to standnow.org
ii. Event December 3rd
iii. Fast for the day
iv. Forgo one luxury item (such as a cup of coffee) and donate the money to Darfur
v. When women leave the refugee camp to get firewood for their families they are either raped or killed. Money will be given to them so they can either set up patrols or buy firewood. Three dollars would buy firewood for about a month
14. Kara
a. November 20th - International Children's Day - Senate briefing about the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Washington D.C.
15. Studentpeacealliance.org
a. Campaigning to form a Department of Peace
b. Send postcards showing your support for President Elect Obama
16. Break out into groups

Newsletter Link

2008-11-13T17:00:00.001-05:00

Hello there,

Just wanted to let you guys know that there's an actual link to the newsletter on the right hand side under "Human Rights Links" so you don't have to go searching for it on the UNESCO Chair's website.

Cheers!

Minutes from November 6, 2008

2008-11-12T12:00:00.003-05:00

Recorded by: Jason A.

Discuss fact sheet on world water factoid sheet, discuss Water related problems/ controversies

Is water a right?
Should we be able to privatize water?
In South Africa, must pay for water, In U.S. Must pay for water via taxes or in restaurant.
In South Africa, water problem has to do with race
Maybe just an economic issue?
If everyone used water like developed country, would it be gone too quickly?
Does pollution to a great degree amount to air pollution?
Sometimes corportations buy rights to coastal waters, depriving fishing villages of a living

Break for Introductions

Legislative Reform Convention: collection of money, review of attendees

Mansfield Middle School Project:

 Human Rights Leaders workshop, discussion of workshop, breakdown of session
 Romani Children Workshop last Friday breakdown of workshop, discussion
of “freeze game”
 teacher used workshop for three other classes
 Education workshop for next week

Discussion of School Supply Organization:
 plan to gather school supplies and send to organization in Haiti
 possibly have flier
 letter passed around for approval
 need boxes, help making fliers, help collecting boxes
 to be shipped to Cainbridge, MA

Wednesday the twelfth, Presentation in conference room about education in haiti, consisting of movie, speking by pres. Of orgainzation, action planning. From 6-7pm

Soup Kitchen:
 leave at 3
 need to arrange ride

Ripples of Hope: Any questions, ask Raphael
 articles in by 29th of november
 open letter to Obama including hopes for presidency
 reading of draft letter
 suggestion to include community organizing refference

Tomorrow in Putnam CUP diversity and acceptance meeting from 9-12

FYE group possibly talking to CA's

Reproductive rights panel:
 does UNESCO SAHR want to help?
 Summary of panel activities
 reproductive rights meaning not abortion, but HIV/Aids, Lesbian rights, access to Condoms/contraceptives

Further discussion of possible CA related projects

Questions about further steps on projects
 Mansfield Middle school group only needs 10 minutes of planning for the time being

 FYE group discusses what to do next
 Even if few people show up to CA workshops, perhaps still a good idea
 will there be enough interest?
 Might be more efficient projects/ larger numbers of people
 are there any other ideas?
 Possibly reach out to all CA's in one building, rather than individual CA's
 Maybe Shipee to pull in honors kids
 Talk to Hall Directors
 FYE group should possibly meet more outside of UNESCO meetings to practice presentation
 focus on coming together as a unit
other SAHR's welcome to participate

Need some way to unite all SAHR's to feel more enthusiasm, and generate more dialogue
 Something fun? Less stressful at end of semester
 Is there enough time to prepare an event?
 Coffee house might be easy
 Link CA project and coffee house
 Live Music?

Alex: Grad student doing work on Human Rights Education, wants to meet with Mansfield Middle School Group

Conference agenda passed out
Dr. O coming next week to discussion
Email Kara with questions

Break Into Groups.

Minutes for Thursday, 30 October, 2008

2008-11-03T12:43:00.005-05:00

Recorded by: Sharielle Applewhite

1. Discussed the UNESCO Conference last week and the feedback from what we thought of the conference.

2. Military Expenditures vs. Human Rights Expenditures information sheet was passed
out.

3. Updated the Ambassador contact sheet.

4. Discussed the UNICEF Legislative Reform Conference at the U.N. on November 18-19, 2008. The cost will be $75.00 and is due on November 13, 2008, and a check payment is preferable for administrative purposes. We will be leaving from the from the front of the Student Union by the bus stop. We will be leaving at 6:45pm on Tuesday night and won't return until late Wednesday night. We also confirmed who will be coming on the trip (Allison, Nikki, Julie, Teki, Stephanie, Sharielle, Pronoma, Jason, Rafael, Shefali, Simon, Erinn, Kara).

5. Rafael talked about the Ripples of Hope newsletter and asked for those who have helped outside of the U.S. to share the experience in the upcoming newletter. Therefore if there is anyone who wants to share contact Rafael.

6. The next soup kitchen is on Friday, 07 November 2008, and up to four volunteers can go if they don't have their own transportation. Ambassadors who went to the soup kitchen last time shared their experience and they were all positive and insightful.

7. Plans and ideas for new UNESCO t-shirts were discussed. There were ideas shared about color, sizes, type of clothing (hoodies, sweatshirts and etc). The cost was briefly discussed with a rough estimate being $13.00. The group on a whole discussed ideas, but so far no plans have been finalized.

8. The Mansfield Middle School project was shared with the group. Overall the workshops have been going well. The students at the middle school are very aware of issues. The teacher was very pleased with the workshops and suggested that there should be a little bit more interactive activities for the children. The plans for the next workshop were shared briefly.

9. Stephanie shared her action plan about collecting school supplies for children in Haiti. She shared a mission to collect backpacks for the children as well as school supplies and referenced Millenium Development Goal 2: Achieve primary education. Ideas were thrown out about ways to help accomplish this goal (exp: UConn students could donate school supplies and backpacks). Several Student Ambassadors offered to help with this project.

10. Kara suggested that we incorporate longer human rights education discussions in our meetings, perhaps once a month. Consensus from the group.

11. Birthdays that occurred during September, October and November were briefly celebrated with ice cream cake.

12. Ambassadors separated into their groups, either the FYE group or the Mansfield Middle School Culture of Peace group.

Newsletter is Up!

2008-10-28T16:11:00.002-04:00

The first issue of the Student Ambassadors for Human Rights' newsletter is up here. Any feedback would be great.

'Say 'No' to Violence Against Women' Campaign

2008-10-27T15:16:00.002-04:00

30 days and counting to reach Say NO campaign one million signatures goal ...

Dear Friends,

Thanks to you, more than 375,000 individuals have given their names to UNIFEM to be counted in the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, helping to break the silence and give voice to women and girls who have experienced violence.
The 25 November challenge: To deliver one million names to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 25 November.

Why is it so important? To demonstrate the broad-based international support for making ending violence against women a top priority.

How to beat the challenge? Spread and post UNIFEM’s Say NO Widget — specially designed for websites:
If you have a website, blog or social networking site (for example, Facebook, MySpace), you can put the Say NO to Violence against Women widget on your page and collect names for the campaign right on your website.

Go to http://rocketxl.com/unifem
Click on “Embed”
Press the Facebook, MySpace or LiveJournal button (depending on the type of networking site you have),
Please Use and Spread the Say NO Widget

The current UNIFEM HTML-based site, www.saynotoviolence.org, continues to run, so please, make full use of it.
Thank you so much for being a key outreach advocate.

ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PEACE EDUCATION

2008-10-27T14:26:00.000-04:00

Announcing the Launch of the

ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PEACE EDUCATION

http://www.tc.edu/centers/epe/

The online Encyclopedia of Peace Education provides a comprehensive overview of scholarly developments in the field to date as well as new insights from across the globe from various actors involved in advancing peace education. This online resource serves as a living reference guide that traces the history and emergence of the field, highlights foundational concepts, contextualizes peace education practice across international and disciplinary borders, and suggests new directions for peace educators. From core conceptual perspectives to the moral and spiritual foundations of the field to the role of the United Nations, the Encyclopedia grounds peace education in a solid theoretical and practical framework through the writings of some of the field's most renowned scholars and its emerging voices. This online resource targets undergraduate and graduate students as well as scholars and practitioners working in international and non-governmental organizations in the field of peace education.

Interesting Projects

2008-10-18T09:40:00.003-04:00

Every year the BBC hosts the "World Challenge," a contest that gives innovative, world-changing grassroots projects some publicity...and some money! Projects from around the world can be nominated. The BBC and a panel of judges narrow the submissions down to 12 finalists, and profile each one on a website and TV program. Viewers/readers can then vote for their project of choice. The winning project gets $20,000 US and two runners-up each get $10,000.

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/

Minutes, October 16, 2008

2008-10-16T19:59:00.002-04:00

Welcome

Nov. 19th- Wednesday, UNICEF conference: final list of people going needs to be sent in tomorrow
Everyone who needs a letter to get out of class needs to email Kara

Oct. 21st- Conference: 168 high school students are coming for discussions

11:30 panel discussion that SA’s are encouraged to participate in & a lunch afterward where
SA’s would be wanted to mingle with the students

SA’s should wear their UNESCO shirts to the conference if they have them; otherwise navy shirts and khaki pants

Conference goes from 9-9 - For the full schedule visit: http://www.unescochair.uconn.edu/upchrconference.htm

New Shirts? Nicole, Julie, and Simon will work on a new shirt design

Oct. 17th -People going to the soup kitchen tomorrow will meet at 3:30 in the UNESCO office

Oct. 23rd-SA’s going to Lawyers without Borders will drive over together next Thursday

Feedback on FYE workshop:

We’d like to expand the workshop out to different FYE classes and possibly RA
programs

It would have been better to have run through the presentation a couple of times
and have a timeline worked out about how long we wanted to talk about
[Other feedback: More real life examples from Student Ambassadors would be helpful for students to connect and relate . . . to place themselves in the shoes of change makers.
Consider surveying students to understand the impact of the conference]

It’d be good to send out an email to the FYE director about the possibility of doing a lot more workshops.

Brainstorming for Different Events/Issues to Focus On:

• World water day event working with Eco Husky
• Poverty dinner: charging people for ex. $10 and then people will be given a sheet of paper explaining what class of society you belong to and based on that you’d get certain foods and you’d sit at ex. A table or on the floor and then money was collected for homeless & food shelters—possibility of having someone from covenant soup kitchen come and talk
• David Adams lecture
• HR’s film or a speaker
• Something to do in Idealist United week
• Eradicating Malaria
• Genocide: history, information, Darfur
• A thousand paper cranes?
• Homeless shelter: volunteering or raising money, might be good to talk to CO, they have a semester long program- Inequality within the US, and education problems
• Human Trafficking
• AIDS
• Having our own alternative break?
• MDG’s
• Art show of Caribbean paintings & selling them to raise money for a school
• Environment
• Fair trade issue educating people about what it really means and how to know what you’re buying is fair trade- getting all the products here to be fair trade through the CO-Op- do research on different companies and their fair trade possibilities
• Water- clean water & access to water & portable
• NGO’s
• UN standards
• Humanitarianism

Discussion on Human Rights & Religion
We all looked at UDHR for information on articles that apply to religious human rights

Internationally Recognized Days

2008-10-16T19:47:00.002-04:00

October 24 - United Nations Day
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance
November 17 - International Students' Day
November 20 - Universal Children's Day
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
December 1 - World AIDS Day
December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
December 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons
December 5 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
December 10 - Human Rights Day
December 18 - International Migrant's Day
February 21 - International Mother Language Day
March 8 - International Women's Day
March 22 = World Water Day
April 4 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
April 7 - World Health Day
April 22 - Earth Day
May 3 - World Press Freedom Day
May 10 - World Fair Trade Day

* For a full list and background on internationally recognized days, years and decades visit http://www.un.org/events/ or http://www.takingitglobal.org/understand/intdays/?msg=noday

2008-10-16T19:15:00.003-04:00

Minutes: October 9, 2008

2008-10-13T19:27:00.000-04:00

UNESCO Student Ambassadors for Human Rights
Minutes from October 9, 2008

Friday, October 17th is the first trip to the Covenant Soup Kitchen—there will be a second trip on November 7th. To sign up or for more information, e-mail Kerry.

October 17th is also the Lawyers without Borders forum at 6:30 p.m.—for more information, e-mail the UNESCO ambassador and check out the blog at: http://unescosa.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 21st: UNESCO Conference
- volunteers are needed between all day, e-mail the office to volunteer
- all student ambassadors are expected to volunteer at some point during conference, if possible

Thursday, October 23rd is the Wine and Cheese Festival in Hartford, which needs volunteers—several student ambassadors volunteered already—to sign up, e-mail the office

We are hoping to attend a UNICEF International conference in New York City on November 19th. This may become an overnight trip, given the time we would need to leave Storrs in order to be at the conference early enough.

At this point, we went into action planning.
- The group working with the FYE class will be having their presentation this Tuesday.
- The group working with Mansfield Middle School is hoping to begin their presentations this coming week.

---

There will be NO MEETING on October 23rd.

For the next meeting (October 16th), start brainstorming other projects for this semester or next semester, as we will be looking for something else to take on now that action planning projects will be underway.

Also at the next meeting, we will welcome new student ambassadors for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Clinton Global Initiative '09

2008-10-12T11:01:00.001-04:00

Hi all,

This FYI was passed on from a Student Ambassador alum. If the links don't work, visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ for details.

Dear Friend,

I am excited to invite you to join President Clinton and a growing community of students, global leaders, and university administrators at the second Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Annual Meeting, which will take place at the University of Texas at Austin from February 13-15, 2009.
At CGI U, young people from around the world will come together to create innovative solutions to global challenges such as education, energy & climate change, global health, human rights & peace, and poverty alleviation.

In order to attend, all students must complete the CGI U 2009 application. Each attendee must also make a Commitment to Action - a tangible, measurable plan for addressing a specific problem on campus or around the world.

Since the inaugural CGI U meeting in March 2008 at Tulane University, nearly 1,000 commitments have been made by students and universities worldwide. Click here to browse these commitments before making your own.

Attending CGI U is FREE, and travel assistance is available for those who qualify.

The deadline for early decision applications to CGI U is November 7, 2008. The final deadline for applications is December 12, 2008. However, applications will be processed on a rolling basis and we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

So apply today, make your own commitment, and network with other students who want to make a difference. To learn more, visit CGIU.org, sign up for e-mail updates, and connect with emerging student leaders through the CGI U Facebook community.

We hope to see you in Austin!

Sincerely,

Keisha Senter
Director, CGI U

PS. Please forward widely to other students in your network who might be interested.

CGI U
1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
Click here to unsubscribe
Privacy Policy
cgiu@clintonglobalinitiative.org

Google's Project 10^100

2008-10-08T10:59:00.000-04:00

For all of you with amazing ideas, here's an interesting opportunity:

Google's Project 10^100 (pronounced "Project 10 to the 100th") is a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible.

For more details, visit http://www.project10tothe100.com/

How it works

1. Send us your idea by October 20th.
Simply fill out the submission form giving us the gist of your idea. You can supplement your proposal with a 30-second video.
2. Voting on ideas begins on January 27th.
We'll post a selection of one hundred ideas and ask you, the public, to choose twenty semi-finalists. Then an advisory board will select up to five final ideas.
3. We'll help bring these ideas to life.
We're committing $10 million to implement these projects, and our goal is to help as many people as possible. So remember, money may provide a jumpstart, but the idea is the thing.

Lawyers Without Borders events

2008-10-08T09:55:00.003-04:00

Hi all,

Here are two opportunities to participate in events with Lawyers without Borders. If you are interested please email Kara.

1. International Law Association's Annual Forum

October 16-18 is the International Law Association's annual forum of panel discussions. The event is free for students. LWOB's panel discussion is Thurs Oct 17 at 6:30 pm. I know that is a "school night" so that might be limiting.

Here is the full info: http://www.ambranch.org/

If people are interested they should touch base with me or Tanya Hills (thills@lwob.org). We have some interns from Uconn so I'm sure carpools can be arranged to Hartford or New Haven.

2. Wine & Cheese Fundraiser, October 23rd 5pm-9pm at the Bond Hotel in Hartford

LWOB has identified two time frames during which they need volunteers:
2pm to 5pm and
5pm to 9pm.
Volunteer who can commit to a 1 hour or 2 hour shift would also be great.

"The principle role of the 2-5pm shift is setting up the banquet hall, the silent auction items, informational material on LWOB and the photographs of our 2008 programs; while the 5:00 - 7 pm or 9 pm (however late they can stay) will help as greeters, a secretary to keep track of all the winners of raffle prizes, and we'll need a good photographer to document the event. At the end of the evening volunteers will help distribute the prizes and clear out the space. All volunteers are invited to participate in the raffle and silent auction.

As there will be alcohol served we would prefer not to have any under 21 volunteers for the 5:00-9pm shifts. This is for insurance purposes and the liquor license of the establishment. We should be able to cover wine and hors d'oeuvre for about 10-15 volunteers max during the event.

All volunteers (afternoon or evening) will be welcomed to Pizza and soda for all their help! (this will be around 4:30 - 5:00pm)."

Please let Kara know if you're interested in helping out with this event.

Facilitators needed!

2008-10-08T09:44:00.003-04:00

Hi all,

We look forward to seeing you at the UNESCO Chair conference on October 21!

Please email Kara if you are able to facilitate discussion groups with high school students from 11 - 12pm on October 21 as part of the conference. Facilitators will need to be present throughout the morning in order to generate discussion about what the speakers present. We will have a discussion guide for you to work from and will be happy to provide a letter for professors explaining your absence from class.

Thank you!

Ninth Annual International Human Rights Conference on Religion
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
9:00 A.M.
Student Union Theatre

Conference overview:
Whereas religion has been one of the richest and most local of human activities that has fostered human solidarity beyond provincial grounding, it has also at times, in its exclusivist approach, been used to discriminate against other people. There has, therefore, been an uneasy fit between religious and human rights thinking and approach. Thus today, for example, the so called thesis on the clash of civilization is in fact a coded expression about possible conflicts between different religious traditions.

This conference is convened to probe into three related issues. The first is to assess how religion and human rights have symbiotically interacted in human history. The second is to examine why sometimes advocacy of freedom of worship has resulted in the restriction of cultural diversity or diversity of values. And the third is to share and recommend approaches that might lead to dialogue among religions, as well as reciprocal and reinforcing interaction between religion and human rights.

Speakers include: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Rusmir Mahmutcehajic, MJ Akbar, Zahid Bukhari, David Coppola, T. Jeremy Gunn, Rosalind Hackett and Madhu Kishwar

To register, please call 486.0647. For a conference schedule, please visit: www.unescochair.uconn.edu.

Values, Spirituality and Human Rights

2008-10-08T09:39:00.001-04:00

UNESCO Chair’s 9th Annual International Human Rights Conference on Religion
Evening Keynote by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
7:00 P.M.
Student Union Theatre
University of Connecticut, Storrs

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader and multi-faceted humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a violence-free family has inspired millions of people worldwide. An icon of non-violence and universal human values, he seeks global peace through service and dialogue. He will share his message of service and social responsibility and the importance for individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honoring other paths. His ecumenical approach transcends class, race, religion and nationality.

Born in southern India, he is responsible for starting the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization in 1981. In 1997, he founded the International Association for Human Values, a humanitarian nonprofit organization that advances human values in political, economic, industrial, and social spheres. His social initiatives address an array of issues such as conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, youth leadership, women's empowerment, female foeticide, child labor, and access to education. To learn more about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, please visit: http://www.srisri.org

Lecture is free, however seating is limited. Please call 486.0647 to RSVP. Sri Sri’s Keynote is part of the UNESCO Chair’s 9th Annual International Human Rights Conference on Religion. For additional information, please visit: www.unescochair.uconn.edu.

2008-10-02T21:37:00.000-04:00

October 2, 2008

Attendees:
Anusuya, Kerry, Teki, Nikki, Marielle, Shefali, Simon, Allison,
Pronoma, Erinn, Spencer, Rafa, Jason, Amanda
October 4^th,
2008- articles for Ripples of Hope due by midnight
Remember to check
the blog at unescosa@blogspot.com
- Important dates
  will be listed there
Remember the trip
to the Covenant Soup Kitchen is October 17, 2008
Grade 6 social
studies class confirmed
- Meeting with
  teacher next week
October 14, 2008
is the FYE class
Thanks for the
applications!
Discussion topic:
Convention on the Rights of the Child
- November 20^th=
  child day
- US has not signed
  the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Somalia also has
  not
- Everyone under
  the age of 18 considered a child
- Rights based
  approach
  - All rights are
    equal and universal
  - Obligation
    placed on states to work towards ensuring that all rights are
    being met
  - Children have
    become “economically worthless and emotionally priceless”
    lost say within the family
  - Who can act in
    the best interest of the child?
    - Does the child
      have that right or are the state/ parent always right?
  - Monitoring,
    implementation actually in the CCRC (this differentiates it from
    the UDHR)
Austria has given
the vote to all 16 years old and up
- Amanda: supports
  - No taxation
    without representation and since 16 year olds can vote, they
    should be able to vote
- Teki: supports
  - The people that
    would vote would make the effort to be informed. Kids not mature
    enough to vote probably won’t
- Kerry: supports
  - Age is relative
- Simon
  - Maturity is
    beside the point. A lot of people make choices based purely on
    personality. More relevant is how the votes actually count in the
    election. What can children vote for? How much does their vote
    count?
- Etc.
Jason is in
student government.
- Safety advisory
  committee is having a safety fair, Wednesday, October 15^th
  - He will get some
    literature
  - How to make a
    safer environment on campus
  - Dow field
    (between library and the armory)
- We could have a
  booth at the fair talking about COP
- Dinner talking
  about sexual assault and violence
  - Would UNESCO
    office like to be invited to the dinner?
Minute taking
- Should we have a
  sign up sheet for the rest of the semester or just keep
  volunteering
- Remember to send
  minutes to Rafa and to Kara
Action planning
break into groups

Ripples of Hope Submission for Second Issue

2008-09-26T15:22:00.003-04:00

Hey there all. Just a reminder that Ripples of Hope submissions are due by October 4th. Please send them to roheditor@gmail.com. E-mail if you have any questions, want a narrower topic, or just need help on starting, I'll be more than glad to help.

Resources for UNESCO Student Ambassadors

2008-09-06T17:28:00.003-04:00

Just to remind everybody (especially prospective members), on the rights side of the blog under "Human Rights links" is the link to the website of the UNESCO Chair, where applications for this semester can be found. Just click on the UNESCO Chair's link and under the "Opportunities for Students" menu click on "Student Amabssadors". There you will find the goals set out for the UNESCO SAHR that were on the fliers given out at the involvement fair. The application is also available there. Hopefully this is helpful!

2008-09-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

SAHR Minutes August 28th 2008 Meeting #2

Minutes taker: Rafael Pérez-Segura

Present: Pronoma, Erin, Carrie, Teki, Kara, Shefali, Joelle, Spencer, Olivier, Nana, Dr. O

Introduction: Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu
Agenda Presented
1. Opening Remarks
  1. welcome to new members
  2. orientation success
  3. new address, unescoambassador@uconn.edu
  Dr. O’s house gathering-date friday Sept 12, 5-8 pm
  1. car pooling would be cool
  2. volunteer for doing barbecue????
  3. RSVP Sept 10
  November 17 and 18 traveling dates, keep in mind, overnight type of visit, let Kara know
  1. New York, UNICEF Related
  2. read Convention on the Right of the Child before going
  Shefali-Month of Kindness (MOK)
  1. MOK still uncertain of what they’re doing
  2. could get activities on their calender, good advertising
  Rafael and Kara-Ripples of Hope newsletter introduction
  
  Olivier shares experience
  1. went to Niger to stay with family
  2. joined SAHR last year
  Experience at conference
  1. Pronoma
    1. inspired
    2. motivated, great experience to hear about others’ actions
    3. listening to others
  2. Joelle
    1. interesting to see people applying what she learned in school
    2. saw what she learned theoretically could be adapted for different situations
  3. Teki
    1. good experience
    2. networking was impressive
    3. fun
  4. Shefali
    1. didn’t realize what you can do until you meet conference participants
    2. amazed by people quitting their job and giving their lives to human rights
  5. Rafael
    1. amazingly fun
    2. met a lot of very awesome people, learned a lot about central Asia
  6. Erinn
    1. workshops challenged you to take a step forward
    2. MDGs workshop provoked thought of practicality of implementation
COP
1. Spencer presents Culture of Peace as a semester theme for the SAHRs
2. alternative way of thinking, SAHR brainstormed ideas
  1. contract to sign to promote a culture of peace
  2. disseminating culture of peace, get students interested in human rigths
  3. show as possibility, not just a random ideal
3. Facebook group update: closed but you can be invited if on UCONN network
Involvement Fair Poster
1. Put on posters with quotes
  1. UNESCO Constitution excerpt, “war begins in minds of men”
  2. Rev. Niemoller
  3. Robert Kennedy
  4. starfish story
2. COP explanation
3. Flyers on colored paper
  1. quotes
  2. meeting time
  3. graphics-bright
  4. marquee
  5. baked goods
  6. pens
  7. work on it 12-3 on Monday
4. quick run through of projects we’ve done, concrete examples
5. What does UNESCO stand for? on poster
6. UNESCO SAHR diagram of hierarchy
7. put info on meeting times and location
8. New people ice breaker
  1. map (where you’ve been, who you are) Spencer running it
School workshops
1. Introduce COP, then specific topic, such as human trafficking
2. change approach for different age groups
Carrie-Covenant Soup Kitchen Erinn Habitat for Humanity, MACC
1. Friday Oct. 17th 3:30-6:30
2. Friday, Nov 7th, 3:30-6:30
3. MACC
  1. a saturday morning
4. Habitat for Humanity
  1. Pending
Next meeting: September 4th, 5:(30)-7:00 PM

Poll and Semester Closing

2008-05-03T11:33:00.001-04:00

Hello all!
Well, I don't have the minutes of the last meeting, but I would like to thank those who voted in the poll and to everybody on UNESCO Student Ambassadors for Human Rights (SAHR) for a great semester. Hopefully the summer will be great, and alumni will keep in touch! Maybe we'll get an actual website on the UConn server once I finally learn HTML, haha...

Minutes of SA Meeting 4/17/’08

2008-04-18T15:35:00.002-04:00

Minutes SA Meeting 17^th of April, 2008

Here's the DL on our last meeting:

List of attendees:
1. Adan Abbey
2. Akanksha Bajaj
3. Dadrian Ellington
4. Dan Cornelious
5. Erinn Arbelaez
6. Ishan Desai-Geller
7. Kerry McCole
8. Lena Dillman
9. Nerminka Muratovic
10. Olivier Bucyana
11. Pronoma Srivastava
12. Rafael Pérez-Segura
13. Sergio Mobilia
14. Shefali Mamak
15. Spencer FrancisYoung
Sign up for Dr. O's Barbecue
1. List of things to bring (list courtesy of Pronoma):
  1. Plastic cutlery
    1. Knives
    2. Forks
    3. Spoons
  2. Paper towels
  3. Napkins
  4. Plastic cups
  5. Water bottles
  6. Paper/plastic plates
  7. Table cloth
  8. Ice, lots of it
  9. Charcoal/gas
  10. Garbage bags
  11. Soda
    1. Coca cola
    2. Sprite
  12. Plastic gloves
  13. Juice
    1. Apple juice
    2. Lemonade
    3. Strawberry-kiwi punch! (OMG!)
  14. Fruit & veggie platter
  15. Salt & pepa
  16. Serving spoons + large knife
  17. Hot dog/hamburger buns
  18. Coolers- to put all drinks in
  19. Cookies & candy
  20. Sponges
  21. Windex
  22. Big bowl- salad and for other things
  23. Bug spray(?)
  24. Chips & dip
  25. Condiments
    1. Relish, ketchup, mustard
  26. Popsicles & ice cream
2. Shefali giving rides, up to 8 people (party van, woo woo!)
Erin up-date on Nothin' but Nets: Earned $77
Akanksha and Books for Burma
1. Extension until 28^th of April
2. Waiting to get approval of extension to the end of the semester
Newsletter: Articles need and volunteers
1. Soup Kitchen-Spencer
2. Trip to New York-Pronoma
3. Tsakane Mahlaule's visit-Shefali
4. Curbing AIDs-Adan
5. Bake Sale-Erin
6. Drug Workshop-Rafa
7. Mansfield Middle School visit-Nerminka
8. Bling-Dan
9. Dr. O's Party-Carrie
10. All newsletters need to be in by 31^st of May to Shefali
Dadrian's Announcement (given by Adan): Sign up for event Friday, April 18, 2008
Dan going to MMS on Tuesday, April 22^nd with education group
1. Screening documentary to show at MMS
2. Ishan developed powerpoint
3. Powerpoint e-mailed to all members going to MMS
Planning for next semester
1. More immediate planning and follow through
2. More with food share
3. Make a mission statement at SA orientation
4. Month of Kindness (MoK)
5. Website: google groups (can forward stuff to huskymail)
Orientation: Tye-dye!
1. Work on projects
2. Keep momentum going
Next week: assessment of projects

By yours truly,

Rafa

More Details on Workshop

2008-03-22T12:35:00.002-04:00

Hello there! Here's the DL on the Human Rights and Drug Trafficking Workshop. Basically,a short 15 minute-ish documentary will be shown. After that there will be 40 minutes of panel discussion followed by 20 minutes of Q & A. After that, everybody will break up into groups and discuss and write down their thoughts on 4 or 5 "guiding questions". The purpose of this is to have all your thoughts come out. Each group will be moderated by either a panel member or a member of the UNESCO Student Ambassadors. They're awesome, and will help you effectively and succinctly express your views. After this discussion, everything will be printed and will be attached to an introduction prepared by a student ambassador urging the UConn History/Social Studies/ any other pertinent departments to try to involve more human rights and drug use problems into consideration when preparing their syllabi. Everyone will sign the packet at the end to show their support and give more weight to our "suggestions". Okay, it may sound intense, but it'll be fun and rewarding. And hey, it's a very direct way of making a difference. Remember, it will be on Friday, April 4th, from 5-7:30 in ITE Room c80 (it's underground, ooooo!) The ITE building is the Information Technology Building which is between The Business School and Babbidge Library. Any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact Rafa @ bafalacoste@gmail.com. Cheers!

Poll Re-opened!

2008-02-03T12:42:00.001-05:00

I've reopened the poll, hopefully more people vote. The background info is somewhere on the blog, it shouldn't be too hard to find...
cheers!

Minutes of 1/31/'08 meeting

2008-02-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

Here are the minutes made by me (Rafa), enjoy!:

UNESCO STUDENT AMBASSADORS MINUTES 1/31/’08

I. Everyone introduced themselves, lots of new people!
II. Joe Tarantino spoke on the Month of Kindness (MOK)
a. Annual series of events every November that promotes kindness centered activities
b. Integrate other organizations with the MOK to help out with activities
c. Free advertising for UNESCO Student Ambassadors
d. Our events can be put on a calendar
III. Rafa spoke on the Human Rights Workshop
a. Full report due for next meeting
b. Basically Drug trafficking workshop that will pool minds to figure out how to help people, especially the youth, to understand the link between drug trafficking, consumerism, and human rights
IV. Reflected on Soup kitchen,
a. Need to get contact info. To go again
V. Thinking of going to local middle schools/high schools
a. Need contact information
VI. Spencer spoke about picking up cans in the parking lot during spring weekend (?) early in the morning.
a. Interest expressed by high school students and others willing to wake up early
b. What will be done with the cans
VII. Groups split up into:
a. Women and Children
b. Education
c. And Health and the Environment
VIII. Group action plans for next week.
IX. Good bye!

New Posters

2008-01-30T13:34:00.000-05:00

Hello there! If you're here because you were invited to post, remember to post to your hearts content! If you need permission and you are part of Student Ambassadors, send me an e-mail at bafalacoste@gmail.com. Hopefully all goes well this week. Also, reminder that the meeting is only 1 hour and is from 5 to 6 PM in Wilbur Cross Room 110.

Student Ambassadors Last Meeting 12/6/'07

2007-12-06T20:28:00.001-05:00

For everyone who was not there, I hope to describe the meeting well (and maybe make some quais-minutes in the future). Dr. O and Nana both thanked us for all the work and commitment that we have given to the group. We reflected on the soup kitchen and how we felt about going again on a constant basis. Also, I have tentatively scheduled a Human Rights workshop for March 8th with Drug Trafficking and Human Rights in Mexico as the topic. If anyone has any ideas for speakers and/or activities, e-mail me or post a comment or separate post. Also, we said good bye to Anna Aluko, who is graduating this semester. Hopefully she'll be back to see us all in May. Please, please, please use this site to post and visit often, as I get better at posting much more often, hopefully daily. Have a wonderful vacation, and let's all keep in touch! tiau!

Too much food?

2007-12-06T20:17:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Hope your finals are going well. Adam brought to my attention an interesting aspect of free rice. Is it really true that the World Food Program doesn't have enough food? Is it really that people are taking advantage of the aid and selling it? Does it matter if the world food program has enough food if it can't even efficiently proportion what it has? Check out this skeptical opinion and the responses to these opinions here. For an opinion supporting free rice, click here. Research more if you're really interested! They're not from renowned sources, but hey, it's good to know what any type of person thinks.

Free Rice!

2007-11-15T16:15:00.000-05:00

I just got word of an awesome site called freerice.com! Play it, it basically gives you vocab and multiple choice of what the word means. For every one right, a sponsor (normally corporate) gives 10 grains of rice to the World Food Program (WFP) of the UN. It's legit, and opened up in October. I've donated 2,370 grains of rice! I'll try to add a link to it. Hopefully all is well. Tiau!

Facebook Group

2007-11-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

Hey there all!

The facebook group is up. It's called "UNESCO Student Ambassadors" and its free for anyone to join. Please look for it in Facebook (if you have one). Also, if you want to know more about the blog, please look at the older posts. Also, remember to vote on the poll, I reopened it! If you need me to send you a permission, let me know!
tiau!
Rafa

Human Rights Film Series- Tuesday!

2007-09-14T09:32:00.000-04:00

Hi All!
I wanted to let everyone know about the first Human Rights Film Series of the school year!

It is this Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 6:00pm in the Konover Auditorium in the Dodd Center (next to the library.)

The title is "Goodbye Hungaria" directed by Jon Nealon--and he will be at the viewing to answer questions after the film!

The film focuses on the 14th Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

On a more personal note, my friend is Hungarian and his family had a very difficult experience trying to move. Many people, if not wealthy and maintain some degree of power, in the society are not allowed to leave their birthplace.

Film Description:Both political tale and love story, "Goodbye Hungaria" is set in a refugee camp in Hungary. This cinema verité documentary chronicles the lives of a Palestinian refugee and an American volunteer. They both struggle to make life better in a camp caught in the bureaucracy of international politics and, in the process, fall in love. The film traces their unlikely story from the hopelessness of the refugee camp, to the United States where they come to start a new life.

And We're Off!

2007-09-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

Tons of ideas have already been swirling around in all our heads about what we can do. In today's meeting Dr. Omara-Otunnu gave wonderful insight into what human rights are and how they should be approached. We hope to all see you soon! I expect to send out e-mails inviting all members to post (there's also a forum link to the right, where you can register yourself). I'll also make subgroups (such as specific committees) have their own links if they wish. The semester ahead is going to be spectacular!

Modern Day Slavery (Read before taking the poll)

2007-07-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

One of the sad facts about the 21st century is that modern day slavery still exists because of the illegal human trafficking industry. There has been a lot of debate on whether organizations should buy slaves' freedom or find other ways to free slaves since slave traders may be motivated to buy more slaves just to sell to foreign Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). People who support buying slaves' freedom cite the following reasons:

It is unconscionable to not free the enslaved from all the abuse that they are receiving.
The slaves are bought with the local currency and bought with a cap of around $50 per person.
Freed people are followed back to their places of origin to make sure that they're not frauds

People who are against buying slaves' freedoms (but do want to free the slaves somehow) say that:

According to the laws of economics, buying slaves fuels demand, only encouraging slave traders to buy more slaves, maybe even fraudulent slaves (people who are really free).
It is not realistic to follow every slave freed to their place of origin, and even if you could, the possibility of being misled is still apparent.
According to Kevin Bales, president of Free the Slaves "This is like paying a burglar to redeem the television set he just stole"

What do you think? Take the poll! For more info, check out http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2004032600&type=hitlist&num=0&

Human Rights Video

2007-07-17T09:30:00.001-04:00

Hey there! There is a really good video about human right number 1 from you tube. Check it out at the bottom of this page!

Welcome!

2007-07-16T14:21:00.000-04:00

This is the inaugural post of the UNESCO Student Ambassadors @ UConn blog. I hope that this blog will be used to share ideas and easily contact each other. It'll be like an ongoing meeting! Updates on a conference coming up in the spring will be announced. Stay tuned!