The Global Connection
March 2022
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Join us for International Women's Day!
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Our 2022 digital media contest is here!
Share with the students in your life -
help them tell their story and compete to win exciting cash prizes!
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Celebrate World Water Day!
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Reflections on COP26 by Young Professionals Climate Chair, Brandon Hermoza-Ricci |
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Before landing in Scotland with the UConn delegation for the second half of the two-week long United Nations COP26 event, the news coming out of Glasgow from the first week was not good. In the weeks leading up to the event, the United Kingdom Non-Governmental Organization, Global Witness, found 503 individuals attending who had links to the fossil fuel industry among the official participant list published by the United Nations. For context, the largest nation state delegation represented Brazil with 479 delegates. So, when activists and grass roots organizations involved in the climate movement called it a greenwashing event, I couldn’t counter them.
As I boarded the plane to the United Kingdom, I couldn’t help to think about the inequity that occurred with vaccines. Just as quickly as it was created though, so too were wealthy nations acting to hoard as many doses as they could. All the developing world could do was watch as western nations renormalized, becoming oblivious either intentionally or unintentionally to share their vaccines.
To me, climate change and COVID-19 are both a shared burden for humanity. The only difference is one was unexpected while the other was a known consequence from decades of inaction, greed, and self-preservation. We saw how nations acted with vaccines. I can’t imagine we’ll act any better when entire island nations disappear and the refugees come.
Unlike COVID-19, though, the origins of climate change are certain. The international scientific community has proof linking the changes to weather occurring right now to decades of pollution primarily coming from industrialized nations. I knew how far fossil fuel industries were willing to go to save face at COP26, my only question to myself was: is it going to work? There was only one way to find out.
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The United Nations Association of Westchester stands with Ukraine |
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Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement today on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
“The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion and subsequent attacks on Ukraine. Russia’s military offensive on another sovereign nation contradicts the fundamental principles of the United Nations and is a clear violation of the UN charter. We echo the UN Secretary-General’s call for Russia to end its assault and bring its troops back home.
“We know all too well the destructive impact of war, and innocent civilians always pay the highest price. Amid the escalating violence, more than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries with millions more impacted and expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in the coming days and months.
“As UN partners scale up humanitarian operations on the ground in Ukraine and at its borders, UNA-USA stands committed to helping the Ukrainian people caught in the middle of this conflict.
“Our thoughts are with the millions of people in Ukraine impacted by this egregious act of violence. This conflict must come to an end – immediately."
How You Can Help:
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Donate to OCHA’s Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) and other UN agencies, like UNHCR and UNICEF, working on the ground in Ukraine and at its borders to provide critical support and assistance to people in Ukraine.
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Ahead of tonight’s State of the Union address, send a message to your Members of Congress urging them to support full funding for the UN and its agencies to ensure they can continue to carry out their life-saving work around the world, including in Ukraine.
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Participate in a peaceful protest. Find one close to you here.
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2021 Calendar of Upcoming Public Events for UNA Westchester
Ongoing until April 22 | UNA Westchester's Digital Media Contest for Students - send submissions to unawestchester@gmail.com
May 22 at Greenwich Public Library | Annual Meeting - registration opening soon
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From the UNA-USA-Westchester Chapter Membership Committee
Join Us!
Are you a humanitarian?
As our President, J. Yuhanna Edwards, tells us, that is the only criterion for joining the Westchester chapter of UNA-USA. If you care about the world and its people, if you believe in reaching across national borders, if you cherish the notion of a nation and a world based on justice, equity, and peace, this is an opportunity for you. If you are looking for the chance to work with other socially conscious people, to contribute your expertise, experience, and interest in areas such as social media and advocacy, to be a voice for change, and to support and protect the increasingly vital work of the United Nations, this is the organization for you.
Every year, the Westchester UNA-USA chapter hosts events on Human Rights Day, the anniversary of the United Nations, and International Women’s Day. Each year there is an Annual Meeting and Community Consultation on the Future of the United Nations at which your voice can and will be heard.
Our events are amazing—important, timely, educational, moving. Among our many public events this past year, the chapter held an online discussion on ......
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE: HERE
And - See below for information about becoming a member.
Welcome!
Ronnie Lichtman
Membership Chair
Board of Directors, UNA W
AND: Please also send an email to our Membership Committee Chair (Ronnie.lichtman@gmail.com) so we know you have joined and can invite you to our welcome for new members.
See below, to join us ...
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Now …
would be the perfect time for ALL our friends to join as Members.
Remember, Students Join Free! Thank you!
You can become a member easily by going to https://unausa.org/join/. Make sure to click on Westchester in the drop-down box.
If you are 12-25, it’s free. For all others, first year membership is only $25.00
If you prefer to send a check, include your full name, address, phone number, email, and chapter location (Westchester, of course!) and mail to:
Memberships
UNA-USA
PO Box 96397
Washington, DC 20090-6397
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MASTHEAD & SUBMISSIONS
Editor
Raina Kadavil
Line Editor
Marcia Brewster
Online Placement
Nicole Butterfield
Social Media Editor
Raina Kadavil
UNA WESTCHESTER LEADERSHIP
Officers
Yuhanna Edwards, President
Marcia Brewster and Lilli Schindler, Vice Presidents
Karen Rockwell El-Badry, Secretary
Larry O'Connell, Treasurer
Joan Katen, Nominations
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Directors
Tricia Baldes
Daniel Bena
Ambassador Francis Okelo
Nicole Butterfield, Program Co-Chair
Colleen Gardephe, Program Co-Chair
Raina Kadavil, Young Professionals Co-Chair & Communications Chair
Ronnie Lichtman, Membership Chair
Demetrios Mihailidis
Paul Presendieu, Young Professionals Co-Chair
Brenda L. G. Smith, Partnerships Chair
Have your work published in the UNA Westchester Global Connections! Send submissions to the Editor at rainakadavil@gmail.com for consideration.
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