We are the Johnson County affiliate of the United Nations Association - USA, a national, non-partisan, non-governmental movement advocating for the life-changing and life-saving work of the United Nations.

Board of Directors: Barbara Eckstein, President; Britta Loftus, Vice President; Amy Brewster, Secretary; Meredith Gall, Treasurer; Jerry Anthony, Mercedes Bern-Klug, Stefanie Bowers, Nittaya Burnham,

Farnaz Fatahi, John W. Fuller, Wangui Gathua, Donna Hirst, Bijou Maliabo, Lucie Mordecai,

Jean Paul Mugemuzi, Jim Olson, Sanaa Sebaaly.

E-Newsletter Editor, Jim Olson

JCUNA members, family, and friends, ranging in age from 10 months to 82 years, marched in the UI Homecoming Parade, September 26.

International Day of Older Persons, October 1

The Fourth Age of Life: The Challenges of Aging and the Joys of Connecting

Wednesday, October 1

4:30–6:00 p.m.

Voxman Recital Hall

93 E. Burlington St., Iowa City

Mercedes Bern-Klug (UI School of Social Work) and Amy Colbert (UI Tippie College of Business)

Sponsor: Oberman Center for Advanced Studies

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Saturday, October 11

10:00 am - Noon

Iowa City Senior Center

28 S. Linn St., Iowa City

Community members will share Hispanic traditions, music and food. Join us for this fun, free, family event!

Sponsor: Iowa City Senior Center

Looking Ahead to November

• JCUNA Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 9. Details to follow.

• UNA-USA Leadership Summit, November 14-16, St. Louis. Join other JCUNA members at our national organization's signature event -- close by in St. Louis. Theme: "Meeting the Moment -- Our Moment." For more information and to register: CLICK HERE

80 Accomplishments in 80 Years

In previous issues we listed 48 UN accomplishments in the organization's first 48 years. Here is the fourth installment.

80 Accomplishments in 80 Years,Part Four, 1996 - 2012

1996 The UN General Assembly adopts the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

1998 The UN Tribunal on Rwanda is the first effort to enforce the 1948 Genocide Convention.

1999 UN establishes peace in East Timor.

2001 The UN and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan jointly receive the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to promote international peace and security. Annan was recognized for his efforts to revitalize the UN, prioritize human rights, and address issues like HIV/AIDS and international terrorism. 

2004 The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is established. Its mandate includes monitoring, reporting on and advocating for the rights of women and children and other groups.

2004 Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, the UN provides food to over 1.7 million people, shelter to 1 million, and drinking water to over 1 million.

2005 The International Atomic Energy Agency is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

2006 The UN General Assembly establishes the universal periodic review, a process for peer-review of the human rights record of each UN member government.

2007 The UN Human Rights Council establishes a complaint procedure for those who believe a government has violated their human rights.

2007 The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in recognition of its work in collecting and disseminating climate science.

2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

2008 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

2010 UN Women is created to serve as the UN’s lead agency on gender equality.

2010 The UN and its humanitarian agencies provide both short term aid (food, water, medical assistance, shelter) and long-term support (removal of debris, rebuilding infrastructure, environmental protection, job creation and coordination of international assistance) to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

2011 The UN Support Mission in Libya is created following the civil war in that country to mediate between factions, monitor the ceasefire, and monitor human rights .

2011 The UN Food and Agriculture Organization announces the eradication of rinderpest, a viral disease affecting cattle.