Blog Archives
All about Poland and Pierogi
Hey readers,
We’re sure you’re just as super excited for the Young Professionals ‘Taste of Poland’ event next week as we are here at the UNA-GB! In life, you may not be able to have your cake and eat it too, but here at the UNA-GB, you can make your all the pierogi you want and eat them until you’re completely satisfied! This blog post will be introduce you to the wonderful food form and throw in a few fun facts about Poland along the way.
What, exactly are pierogi you may ask? They are an age-old Eastern/Central European delicacy that serves brilliantly both as an appetizer as well as the main course of a meal. Pierogi are basically dumplings of unleavened dough – first boiled, then baked or fried with butter and onions. The best part is – perogies are super diverse and can be stuffed with anything, from potato filling and cheese to ground meat and sour cream, or even your choice of fruit. You can have all sorts of fun with cooking them too! Pierogi can be semicircular, triangular, rectangular or any shape you want if you’re feeling creative!
Fried Perogies – Yum!
Traditionally considered ‘peasant food’, the exquisite taste of pierogi quickly spread across Poland throughout all social classes including nobles. Outside Poland, they are very popular in other European countries such as Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. Many cookbooks from the 17th Century describe pierogi as a staple of the Polish diet, and each traditional holiday had its own special kind of pierogi. Different kinds of fillings and shapes are observed for occasions such as Christmas and Easter, and important events (such as weddings) have their own special kind of perogies – ‘kirniki’ – filled with delicious chicken meat. There are also ones made especially for mourning/wakes, and even some for caroling season in January!
Surely, a country that gave birth to this wonderful cuisine must be pretty amazing itself. Here are some fun facts you may not have known about the Republic of Poland to ‘chew’ over before Taste of Poland:
- Poland is the 69th largest country in the world, 9th largest in Europe.
Marie Curie – A Polish physicist, chemist and two-time Nobel Prize winner.
- Poland boasts 17 Nobel Prize winners, including four Peace Prizes and five in Literature
- Polish born astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to propose that the Earth was not the center of the universe
- Saint John’s Kupala is a popular holiday in which people jump over fires, a tradition that predates Christianity
- In Wroclaw there is an annual citywide medieval festival, including jousts, horse archery, medieval dances and other activities
- Pizza in Poland does not contain tomato sauce. The waiters bring sauce to the table in a pitcher, and you pour it on top. Sometimes, the sauce is just ketchup.
- There is a ‘Pope Channel’ on TV. Anytime one wishes to see the pope, they can tune him in
- In popular Polish culture, bananas are peeled from the blossom end, not the stem end
- The most popular name for a dog in Poland is Burek which translates directly to ‘brownish-grey color’
- In Poland, the name day is considered more important than the birthday
- Around 90% of Poles have completed at least secondary education
We hope all this information has you excited for YP ‘Taste of Poland’. Tickets are $15.00 only, and June 13th is quickly approaching. Be sure to mark your calendars, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn how to make pierogi from local Polish experts, enjoy eating your delicious creations, and meet with other globally minded Bostonians. Get tickets in advance please so we can buy the right amount of ingredients, details can be found here! We hope to see you all there!
Meet our Spring 2013 Interns!
A new year has started, and here at the office, we have so many new and returning interns that we would like for all of you to meet. Each intern has shared with us some quirky and interesting facts about themselves. Check out what each had to say below:
Naa Aku S. Addo- Education
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
Michelle Obama. An African-American woman in power is something I aspire to be. A diplomatic woman whose focus is on the wellness of women is inspiring. Hopefully in the near future, I can also be a woman of color in office who will give young girls and women a voice to feel empowered.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would love to go to Dubai, The United Arab Emirates. I have heard great things about that place. The hospitality, shopping malls as well as the rich Arabian history the land and museums hold.
What is your favorite hobby?
Traveling and Shopping with my mother
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I speak three Ghanaian languages: Ga, Twi and Fante
Jiwon Ma- Education
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
Tina Fey. She radiates with beauty, intelligence, humor, and confidence. She makes humor, and intelligence go hand in hand, and she makes it look so easy! Whenever I’m stressed out, Tina Fey reminds me that life can be difficult, but you can make the best out of the situation.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would love to visit Machu Picchu. I have been so fascinated by it, and it has inspired me to study Spanish ever since I was in middle school.
What is your favorite hobby?
While I’m not on almost every social networking websites – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flipboard, and the list goes on – I love to read classical novels, write in my journal, read up on interesting historical facts, drink coffee, knit, listen to music, hang out with friends, and collect mugs.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
When I was 2 years old, and my brother was 4 years old, I was bigger than him. I have pictures to prove it if anyone is interested.
Grace Holley- Education
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
If I could be one person for a day, I would be Jay-Z! He has a commanding presence that draws attention from all over the world, and I would use that power to speak (and record a few songs) on world/community issues. The power of music is incredible– I’ve always thought that the potential of a lot of mainstream songwriting is wasted when it could be bringing attention to bigger things and spreading more positive ideas. Plus, I’d get to be seen with Beyonce.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would like to go everywhere in the world, but if I had to choose, I would go to Bhutan. It seems to be unlike any place I’ve ever been, and it would be interesting to learn about a way of life that is said to be more centered around peacefulness than anything else.
What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy traveling, drawing, dancing, reading/watching inspiring speeches by world leaders and studying maps.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
In middle school, I placed 3rd in a national Scrabble competition, winning a box of Hasbro games the size of my living room! One other fact is that I hope to move to DC soon and eventually work in the Foreign Service!
Nathalie Van Der Elst- Education
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
There are so many people I wish I could be, and when I look at their traits, I realize it is because I want to be someone excellent and passionate about what they do, whatever that may be; a world-class athlete, a great mother, or the best pizza-maker in all the land. These people inspire, their words and actions send chills down my spine, and they gain happiness and fulfillment in their lives. I hope to achieve this level of excellence and character.
If you could travel to any place in the world, and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would go to New Zealand for the beautiful landscape, and to visit locations of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy (best movies!).
What is your favorite hobby?
I love to sing, to the point that it annoys others. I sing in the shower, while I cook because it makes cooking bearable, at work (yep the UNAGB office) on a daily basis, mouthing on the T, and ‘occasionally’ at karaoke. I guarantee UNAGB karaoke will happen!
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I was born practically bald, but as you can see in my photo, I have grown to have a nice, thick set of hair. Thanks Dad!
Cynthia Haas- Education
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
I usually say that I wouldn’t trade my life even for a day but the semester is getting a little heavy so…I’m gonna take a break from this life and be Oprah for a day! Yay!! Oprah has been my secret best friend since about age 4. Being so tiny and underage for adult content, I would hide behind the sofa and watch her every day as my parents sat on the sofa thinking I was being an obedient child doing my homework. For as long as I can remember, one of my biggest dreams has been and still is to meet the world. Being Oprah I’d be able to do just that. So let the dreams come alive! It’s Oprah time!
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
Hands down, I would go to Spain. I feel a spiritual connection to the colorful houses, the motor scooters and the summer romances that are in nearly every movie.
What is your favorite hobby?
My absolute favorite hobby is to travel. More specifically, going on random adventures trying anything and everything I’ve never done. This is my expertise, so much so that Megabus and Travelocity are two of my absolute best friends.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
Fun Fact: I’m kind of obsessed with New York. I run a talk show there that you should all know about because it leverages the voice of youth like us! www.GimmeMo.com! Oh, another fun fact, I thread eyebrows! Yay for being groomed! Want to know more about me? Follow my journey @CynthiaHass on Twitter! See you there!
Devin Denny- Programs: Signature Events
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
Nicholas Kristof. I admire his work concerning women’s empowerment across the globe, human rights abuses, and advocating for underrepresented communities. In the future, I hope to expand upon Kristof’s work through advocating for human rights and gender equity.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
India! For the past six years, I’ve been studying Hinduism as an academic hobby. I would love to travel around India to see the Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple, Rajarajeswaram, and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple.
What is your favorite hobby?
Traveling, going to Celtics games, and bikram yoga.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I drink a minimum of three cups of coffee a day.
YeJin Kim- Programs: Young Professionals
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
I would love to be my parents for a day so that I can understand (at least a little bit) how it feels like sending a daughter to another country and not living together.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
Egypt to see the Great Pyramid of Giza
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading blog posts about food that I can’t cook by myself, listening to Broadway musical soundtracks, writing greeting cards, and taking photos on sunny days
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I love “card shopping” at Papyrus because I like picking out cards with sweet phrases/messages to give to people. Christmas card shopping is my favorite part of the year.
Marcela Aguirre- Programs: Communications
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
This is a hard one because I have two options. One option is to be Secretary General of the UN for a day. Being able to work for the UN is one of my dreams so it would just be amazing to see international relations in action. My second option is to be Paloma Herrera, principal ballet dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She’s such an incredible dancer and it would just be amazing to dance like her for a day. Additionally, it would be a dream come true to dance for ABT!
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
There are so many places to which I would love to travel. However, if I could only choose one, then I would choose Brazil. Ever since I started learning Portuguese a few years ago, I’ve become a bit obsessed with everything about Brazil: the country itself, the culture, the food, the music, the language, to name a few.
What is your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobbies include dancing (ballet, modern, jazz), traveling, reading, playing tennis, and learning new languages. I also enjoy photography!
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I’ve been a hardcore Francophile since I was 6 years old! It was at this age that my brother, who is a few years older than me, taught me a few words in French. I immediately fell in love with the language and so I made it my mission to learn it. Every school project that I ever did in elementary, middle, and high school was related to France. I even minored in French as an undergraduate! I just love everything about France and the French. My dream/goal is to be able to speak French fluently and live in France.
Valeria Vidal- Programs: Membership
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
I would be Michelle Bachelet, ex president of Chile and former executive director of UN Women. Her work is extremely inspiring in Latin American politics while making a breakthrough in history.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would go to Japan! I actually just got accepted to a month program to be there and study comparative politics and public policy!
What is your favorite hobby?
Traveling as much as possible! Locally, going on long bike rides.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
I just recently became a US citizen and now have dual citizenship with Peru!
Eliza Berg- Programs: Women’s Forum
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
Because Devin swooped up Nick Kristof already, I would choose to be Hillary Clinton (or anyone who gets to work with/for her!) I greatly admire Ms. Clinton for many reasons, one being that she has worked to empower women around the globe by focusing on programs and initiatives in the State Department that address gender issues. I hope to emulate her work ethic and dedication to her job in my present and future life!
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
Everywhere! I haven’t been to many places outside of the U.S., so there are many areas of the world that I hope to explore one day. One place that is top on my list is Turkey. I’m fascinated by the history of this not quite European but not quite Middle Eastern country! I think I would split my trip between Turkey and Sweden (an unlikely duo, I know). I have relatives in Sweden and it is also a country that I admire!
What is your favorite hobby?
I love to dance, sing (as in sing in the shower), read, learn languages, explore new places, and hang out with family and friends! My favorite hobby is probably watching a good TV show series! “Seinfeld” will forever and always be my favorite TV show.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
When I studied abroad this past summer (with Marcela!), we casually walked past Jack White on a side street in Brussels.
Patrick McNicholas- Programs: Consuls Ball
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
Secretary of State. Past, present, or future. Being in the middle of the most important and complex foreign policy decisions would be a dream come true. The travel, the people you would meet, and the experiences wouldn’t be bad either!
If I could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I would love to see all of Italy. The country has so much to offer from the mountains up north to its gorgeous coasts and cities. I am a bit of a history nut and Italy certainly has plenty of it.
What is your favorite hobby?
Favorite hobby is definitely golf. Takes my mind off of everything.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
New England boy for life!
Nars Chang- Programs: Consuls Ball
If you could be any person for a day, who would you be and why?
I don’t want to give up any single day of being myself. I hope that I can truly be myself everyday—not to giving in for fears, not to give up out of frustrations, always speak for my heart, and fight for what I truly believe.
And I would like to be anyone who fits the description.
If you could travel to any place in the world and spend 2 weeks there, where would you go?
I want to travel, just travel, in the next 10-20 years. No idea where I am going yet!!
In this case, if I can go somewhere and spend 2 weeks, I want to go back to Taiwan and spend 2 weeks with my family and friends.
What is your favorite hobby?
Movies!!! I love movies. Walking and biking are great also.
Any other fun fact about yourself that you would like to share!
Taking pictures of shadows—bright vs. dark, shadows are just pretty!!
*Want to be an intern for this upcoming summer or next Fall? Then, check out this link to find out how to apply: http://www.unagb.org/get-involved/internships
UNA-GB’s Mission in Action: Annual Advisory Council Meeting and 2012 MUN Summer Institute Kick-Off
Despite the dreary weather on Monday, UNA-GB launched a fantastic week of programming. Staff and interns took a field trip to Harvard Business School where the 2012 Model UN Summer Institute’s first session kicked off, with nearly 50 6th-12th grade students from around Boston and the country coming together for an intensive week-long program focused on global diplomacy and leadership.
L-R: UNA-GB ED Lena Granberg, Pam Pelletreau, Ambassador Robert Pelletreau, UNA-GB Board VP Arese Carrington, and UNA-GB Board President Richard Golob.
Across the quad, in Spangler Hall, UNA-GB staff, Advisory Council members, and Board officers gathered for our annual Advisory Council luncheon. This year we were pleased and honored to welcome Ambassador Robert Pelletreau and his wife Pamela as our special guests.
Pelletreau has impressive and timely expertise in the Middle East, having served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs as well as Ambassador to Egypt, T
unisia, and Bahrain throughout his 35 year career in the Foreign Service. Upon leaving government, he joined the international law firm of Afridi & Angell , and in 2002, along with his wife, became Co-Director, of Search for Common Ground in the Middle East. Mrs. Pelletreau was an active volunteer of UNA in New York, and since moving to the Cape this year, has become more involved with UNA-GB.
The luncheon opened with an energizing introduction from UNA-GB President Richard Golob, who spoke enthusiastically about the Advisory Council and their role as ambassadors to the Boston community. Council Member Peter Smith echoed Richard’s comments, describing the crucial role of the Advisory Council as not only spokespeople for UNA-GB overall, but also specifically as avid supporters of our Model UN global education programming.
Ambassador Pelletreau spoke next, giving all those gathered at the table a clear, organized and engaging update on the current status of political changes in the Middle East, while also bringing in charming personal anecdotes; he opened with a story about playing squash with former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. 
During his remarks, he shared 4 general observations on political uprisings in the last year or so:
- globalization of communications
- the key role of a slumped global economy
- a shift in demographics due to a huge youth population
- and the rise and influence of Islamist parties.
Pelletreau stated that a combination of these factors was the catalyst for the uprisings, pointing out that in an increasingly globalized world where news access is everywhere and stories can spread like wildfire, it is harder to cut your citizens off from the rest of the world. Ambassador Pelletreau gave his take on what the future may look like in this region, and in Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria specifically, saying that while much is unclear, fighting is likely to continue. As a final wrap up to his informed commentary, Pelletreau shared another anecdote, this time about Henry Kissinger’s legendary trip to China in 1971, during which Premier Zhou was asked about the implications of the French Revolution – he replied that it was “too early to say”. All those in attendance laughed at the irony, and with understanding that issues as complicated as those currently faced in the Arab world will indeed take time.
After a brief time of Q&A, Executive Director Lena Granberg updated the Council on UNA-GB programming so far this year, particularly highlighting the successes of our Model UN program, now serving almost 3,000 6th-12th grade students in the greater Boston area. 
(To catch up on recent UNA-GB events or upcoming programs visit the website). Ann Kirby, who works on educational development at UNA-GB, gave a brief introduction to the Model UN Summer Institute, which teaches 6th-12th graders the values of debate, teamwork, and public speaking while engaging in simulated negotiations on real-world global challenges.
The Advisory Council members then had a chance to sit in on one of the Institute’s sessions to experience the impact of this transformative college-preparatory program firsthand.
The students were finishing up an exercise through which they established a working definition of human rights for use in their simulations. This was followed up by an engaging and entertaining public speaking exercise where they had to go around the circle, state their name, the names of those before them, and an activity/like they have. It provided much fodder for discussion about the importance of active listening and ways to remember key facts when speaking.
It was great to see various aspects of UNA-GB come together in one place, and to see our mission come alive through the Summer Institute. Teens from the Greater Boston Area as well as active community members, professionals, and former ambassadors were all laughing and learning together. And no amount of torrential rain could dampen the inspiration felt around both the work of the UN and UNA-GB’s work to empower the next generation of global leaders that afternoon!
Wondering how you can join in? Check out how to get involved on our website!
-Jessica P
What Future Do You Want?: Rio+20 Kicks-Off in Brazil
Today thousands of participants, including world leaders, CEOs, and global citizens alike are convening in Rio de Janeiro for Rio +20, also known as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the conference in Brazil and is an opportunity for us to reflect on the strides we have made in supporting our environment as well as what lies ahead in the future of sustainable development. In 1992, Earth Summit in Rio concluded with an adoption of Agenda 21, a framework for rethinking economic development; this year the UN hopes to take it further by bringing together institutions to agree on measures that promote development and help to alleviate poverty in the most sustainable ways.
The emphasis of the conference, which takes place from June 20 through 22, is “the future we want”; not only are we urging corporations, NGOs, and the everyday citizen to be more conscious of our environment today but we also need to look forward to future generations. “The Future We Want” taps into two main focuses of the Conference on Sustainable Development: green economies and international coordination. Rio+20 is also focusing on 7 key global environmental issues: jobs, energy, cities, food, oceans, water, disasters.
Essentially, how can we act together to establish a greener path for development, today, tomorrow, and in the long-run? UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released a statement on YouTube last week expressing the future he wants? The Secretary-General’s statement promotes us to ask ourselves, “What is the future we want?”, and more importantly “How does Rio+20 factor into that?”
In a recent Guardian article, a UN official stated, “We want there to be more ambition so that it actually leads to sustainable development. At the moment, there is a risk that instead of the future we want, we will go back to the past we had.” Rio+20 serves as a forum for leaders from diverse backgrounds and sectors to come together and discuss ways in which we can move forward rather than backward.
Texts and documents have already been drafted through which corporations and groups pledge to make efforts to protect the environment. Yesterday 190 delegates drafted an agreement for approval on Friday, Rio+20’s last day, which addressed fossil fuel use, ocean protection, and support for renewable energy. The draft text is fittingly titled “The Future We Want” and delegates hope for it to act as a road map for businesses and policy makers in all areas.
Today the conference opens up with statements from Ban Ki-moon as well as Secretary-General of the conference both establishing their hopes for Rio+20 over the next few days and beyond. High level round table discussions will take place in addition to countless side events throughout Rio de Janeiro. For forum and event schedules check out the take a look at the conference page.
Although Rio is nearly 5,000 miles from Boston, you don’t have to feel far away from the action. Rio+20’s website has constant updates, and the Guardian’s Jo Confino and Adam Vaughan are detailing their experiences through daily diaries and live blogs. Rio+20’s webpage has an entire section dedicated to how you can be engaged and Rio+Social continues to be an easy way to be vocal. 
Rio+Social, a social media conference and live stream which took place on June 19 let global citizens voice their opinions and express what they hope Rio+20 will accomplish. Although the live stream has passed, social media fans can still be involved by tweeting about sustainability using hash tags such as #rioplussocial or #rioplusfood, or going to Rio+Social on Twitter and Facebook. Liking and following UNA-GB on both Twitter and Facebook is also a great way to stay looped in!
Stay tuned for our post-conference reflection and analysis. Additionally, we are continuing to answer the question about what is the future we want and are working towards here at UNA-GB, beyond Rio+20, and we hope you continue to join us. While there’s a lot of ways to get involved, one exciting area we are growing here in Boston is our engagement around sustainable and responsible efforts of Boston and Massachusetts corporations. Earlier this month, we teamed up with John Hancock Financial as they received their LEED Platinum certification for environmentally conscious design and joined some of their staff on a beach clean-up for World Environment Day. 
Additionally, at our annual United Nations Day Luncheon in October, we acknowledge several companies and universities that are signed onto the United Nations Global Compact, Principles for Responsible Investment, and and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) with our corporate honor roll. Not only do we gladly shine a light on the valuable efforts these institutions are making but we also hope to inspire other local companies to follow suit. Stay tuned on ways to engage more in these efforts!
-Jessica P
Celebrating World Environment Day with a Boston Corporate LEEDer
Tomorrow, June 5, UNA-GB is teaming up with John Hancock Financial to celebrate the 40th anniversary of United Nations World Environment Day and its theme, “Green Economy: Does it include you?”
The annual World Environment Day was created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1972 as a way to raise awareness about environmental issues. UNEP 
focuses on several areas ranging from environmental governance to disasters, conflicts, and climate change, and encourages global citizens to care for our environment in order to improve our quality of life. World Environment Day serves to personalize environmental issues and urge civil society to realize that it is our responsibility to take action. Not only is WED a celebration but it is also an opportunity to come together and initiate change in support of sustainable lifestyles and development.
More specifically, this year WED will hone in on issues of green economies– economies that are low carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. UNEP suggests that because a green economy is socially inclusive that means that we as global citizens are integral in making a change, that it is not only up to businesses and policy-makers; this is where the bulk of this year’s theme comes into play.
These questions arise just as the UN is gearing up for the Rio+20 conference, taking place June 20-22. The conference marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon acknowledges World Environment Day as the perfect opportunity to prepare for Rio+20 and to reflect on how we fit into green economies (read his official statement here). World leaders and thousands of participants from governments, NGOs, and the private sector will convene to discuss “priority areas” including green economy and its role in poverty eradication. For more information on this topic, check out Rio+20’s green economy resource and this Guardian article on green jobs and how they can help lift workers out of poverty. And to get involved take a look at Rio’s page on engagement.
UNA-USA has sprung into action by responding to efforts to ban UN’s Agenda 21 and encouraging members to let their voices be heard and write letters to editors. 
Additionally, the UN Foundation has established Rio+Social and the 6 Minute Speech project as a way to connect to the event through social media- an easy way to get involved! Both organizations are hosting a live web conference on June 22 @ 1 PM EST to get an insider’s look at Rio+20’s sessions (RSVP here).
With all of those options there are still more opportunities to help! UNEP challenges us all to join in the WED and Rio+20 action by not only asking ourselves how we can be included in promoting sustainable development but also by simply organizing a neighborhood clean-up, planting a tree, or even walking to work. More than 8,400 WED activities, including Tuesday’s program at John Hancock, have been registered at UNEP’s global 2012 WED website.
This year John Hancock Financial’s headquarter offices at 601 Congress Street in downtown Boston became the first existing building in New England to become LEED certified at the platinum level by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 
At UNA-GB’s event, John Hancock Financial will be recognized for its environmental commitment and leadership. Our hope is to encourage other corporations in the Boston area and beyond to take similar steps such as striving for the greener rankings as John Hancock did or by supporting environmental efforts elsewhere in their company or surrounding communities.
Although the event focuses on corporate action, we must not forget this year’s WED theme; does the green economy include you? We should ask ourselves what we can do to be more involved in environmental issues. UNA-GB will be volunteering with the Boston Harbor Association on Tuesday by cleaning a park near John Hancock at 12:30pm.
UNA-GB is also deeply committed to educating the next generation of global citizens about environmental sustainability beyond just World Environment Day – through our Model UN program this past year, more than 600 students have debated environmental topics, including clean water, green building and sustainable development.
What will you do to celebrate World Environment Day? What actions will you take to support the environment on June 5? And on June 6th and beyond? A great first step is to join us for World Environment Day on Tuesday. Hope to see you there! You can also check out how else you can support the planet with 50 Ways to Help.
Boston Event details recap:
Tuesday, June 5
Event at John Hancock Financial, 601 Congress Street
10:15-10:45 AM- Tour of John Hancock’s new LEED certified building
11:00-11:30 AM- Brief speaking engagement with UNA-GB Board President Richard Golob and State/city environmental officials.
12:00 pm- John Hancock vendor fair
12:30-1:30 PM- Park clean-up with Boston Harbor Association (To participate in the clean-up, email info@unagb.org your name!).
-Jessica P
Child Marriage Call & Response: An Afternoon of Action for Africa
Yesterday afternoon, May 21, the Women’s Forum@UNA-GB welcomed many guests to celebrate Africa Day with a delicious lunch and inspiring conversation. 50 community members and leaders joined us to raise awareness about the issue of early child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. At noon the room was buzzing with lively conversation as guests enjoyed Kenyan dishes from Taste of Kilimanjaro Catering and delicious fresh fruit juices from Teranga Senegalese Restaurant.
UNA-GB Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships & Development, Kaitlin Hasseler, opened up the forum, framing how one goal of the Luncheon was to celebrate how far Africa has come – she shared hopeful statistics including that between 2000 and 2010 six of the ten fastest growing economies were African, the poverty rate has been on the decline by about 1% every year, educational opportunities have expanded and more girls are in school, and in 2010 Africa achieved a major global milestone when South Africa hosted the World Cup. She then introduced Wamburu Mitaru, a Berklee student originally from Kenya, to start off the celebration with a powerful song dedicated to the children of Africa.
Despite the encouraging progress in Africa, there are also significant challenges the region faces, including the 2nd highest rate of child marriage globally, which the panelists were then tasked with expanding upon. The focus was not only on engaging in a dialogue about child marriage but also shining a light on those whom have already begun making a difference in their communities to combat the practice. Blessing Rogers of Hope for Children International, Inc., Josephine Kulea of the Sambura Girls Foundation, and Amanda Grant-Rose of Lift Up Africa, offered different perspectives on the issue of child marriage. Ms. Rogers provided more information about the historical and cultural context surrounding the topic, explaining where the practice originated from and what kept communities tied to the practice. Josephine spoke more about her organization and shared her personal experiences, including detailing a particular marriage intervention that she led in her home community of Samburu, Kenya. Amanda Grant-Rose followed by highlighting Lift Up Africa’s work supporting the organization HELGA and their bride rescue project – this work is led by Priscilla, a Maasai woman who has earned the trust of her community and spent the past 2 decades rescuing girls and educating them (when Kaitlin visited this program in November 2011, she had rescued 706 girls at that point!).
Our panelists- Blessing, Josephine, and Amanda
To close, our panelists offered simple action plans encouraging guests to share what they’ve learned and make small steps towards change:
- Blessing shared that while we can’t all travel to Africa, we can get engaged in advocacy efforts by voicing our opinions and communicating with state and federal bodies directly. She specifically mentioned organizations such as USAID.
- Josephine asked for support to build a dorm/rescue center for her girls, underscoring the importance of concrete solutions that directly help the community (you can learn how to support these efforts here). She also invited attendees to sponsor a girl.
- Amanda encouraged everyone to go home and share what they learned with least 5 people about the broader issue of child marriage and what they can do, again stressing the importance of the impact that education and small actions can make.
- Kaitlin emphasized the importance of educating the next generation, sharing information about UNA-GB’s partner, UN Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign, geared towards adolescent American girls, as well as UNA-GB’s Model UN program, which educates 6th-12th graders in Boston about critical global issues including child marriage.
Wamburu Mitaru ended the luncheon with another beautiful song that was a call and response with the audience – a fitting end to an event focused on how we as a community can answer the call to action on ending child marriage!
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped to make it a wonderful afternoon! See more photos here from the Luncheon and stay tuned for upcoming events with our Women’s Forum on our event calendar.
-Jessica Pires
“A Bad Bill for Everyone”
“At a time when the U.S. and United Nations are working together to address the world’s most pressing challenges — from humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa and Haiti, to political crises and violence in Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Afghanistan — it’s more important than ever that America maintain its longstanding commitment to global leadership and engagement.” This quote comes from The Better World Campaign’s “Let US Lead” petition. The petition is a place where individuals can go to show their support for the United Nations and their feelings on a new bill (H.R. 2829), recently introduced in Congress, that threatens to cut U.S. funding of the UN.
The bill, introduced by the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and 57 co-sponsors, is being called a “Bad bill for everyone,” by the Economist, while CNN has referred to it as a “temper tantrum,”. To put it simply, the bill threatens to make substantial cuts to UN funding as well as all funding to agencies such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme.
The piece of legislation, or “United Nations Transparency, Accountability and Reform Act,” puts much of the good that the UN does throughout the world – such as feeding children impacted by famine and disease, and taking care of refugees – in serious jeopardy. Likewise, the bill would devastate US leadership within the UN, damage critical US national interests, alienate US allies, and put heavier costs on US taxpayers. If passed this new legislation wouldn’t just be harmful to US interests, but it would cause serious detriment within the UN. Such damage would mostly be due to the fact that since its founding the UN’s biggest contributor has been the US. Currently, the US funds 22% of the UN’s regular budget and more than 27% of its peacekeeping budget. Of the UN’s $22.3 billion budget, the US paid $6.4 billion. Because of the US’s continued high involvement and investment into the UN, its withdrawal of support would severely inhibit the organization’s ability to follow through on its commitments.
So why was this bill even introduced if it has the ability to be so harmful to the UN? First, Ros-Lentinen has been a critic of the UN for a long time. She believes the UN has been continuously plagued by scandal, mismanagement and inaction. Thus, her legislation, if passed, would withhold US funds to the UN if the organization does not change its funding systems so that dues are paid on a voluntary basis rather than an assessed one as it stands now. Specifically, as proposed by the bill the UN would have two years to phase in funding reform before the US withholds funds. After those two years the US would begin by withholding half of its contributions to the UN regular budget if less than 80% of the UN’s budget is not funded voluntarily at that time.
The second issue that Ros-Lehtinen has with the UN is its potential to support a Palestinian statehood proposal. She explained to her colleagues that the purpose of her bill is to also avoid a Palestinian self-declared state which she believes would “short-circuit the negotiating process, and would severely undermine opportunities for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.” As a result her bill includes funding cuts to UNRWA, the agency that administers Palestinian refugee camps in the occupied territories and neighboring Arab 
countries. UNRWA’s budget for the fiscal year 2011 is currently set at $230 million. In this portion of the bill there is currently no condition attached to the cuts, Ros-Lehtinen simply wants to cut off funding to UNRWA.
As the Economist reported, the reality of the situation is that threats of funding cuts will most likely not be a deciding factor as to whether or not Palestinian statehood will be recognized. Rather, a Palestinian statehood proposal will be voted on in the UN’s General Assembly where, as it stands now, the 2/3rds vote in favor of recognition is likely to be met. However, Ghana, India, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Eritrea, France and the Dominican Republic are likely to not change their votes because of the US’s threat to cut off funding to UNICEF – a huge supporter of their states.
In an interview with The Cable on Wednesday, September 7th Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) said that Ros-Lehtinen’s bill was “ill-advised” and “probably dead on arrival.” Berman said he can never see this bill becoming an actual law.
“I think there are some radical proposals here,” Berman said. “I understand the frustration with a number of the U.N.’s actions and I share her frustration and anger at many of them. But the U.N. does tremendous amounts of good work. If you wipe out the funding base of the U.N., as her proposal does, you get the bad stuff but you will eviscerate the good things they are doing.”
Likewise, the White House has openly spoken negatively about the bill, saying that President Obama and his administration opposes the legislation, and although it is believed within the administration that the UN does need reform, this is not the correct way to go about it. Instead the White House suggests that the U.S. work with the UN to continue to make it stronger and more flexible.
Now more than ever is a grassroots movement supporting the good work of the UN important! Visit Let US Lead today and tell Congress to oppose H.R. 2829 by signing the petition. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. You can also schedule an in-person meeting with your member of Congress during the Columbus Day recess (Oct. 13-30). To receive more information on these issues, contact Roger Nokes at UNA-USA for talking points and meeting materials. This is a great way to really ensure that your voice is being heard during this crucial time for the both the UN and America.
If you want to get more involved on advocacy in the Boston area, UNA-GB invites you to join us at our Annual Meeting (September 28) where our programs and priorities for the year will be discussed in depth. It is a fantastic opportunity to get connected on these issues and network with other like minded global citizens in the area – register here today!
A Humanitarian’s World
“Let those we honour today inspire us to start our own journey to make the world a better place and bring our human family more closely together.” -UN’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Today is World Humanitarian Day, which was established on December 11, 2008 in honor of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, an outstanding humanitarian that tragically lost his life in Baghdad, along with 21 other U.N. personnel, on this day in 2003. Along with the United Nations and governments all over the world, this day is recognized to pay tribute to the hard work, perseverance and dedication of humanitarian workers as they continue to sacrifice their lives to ease the suffering of people in crises. This year’s theme is “people helping people”, encouraging more involvement throughout the world. Check out some amazing stories from humanitarians helping around the world and artists spreading the word through music in a special music video made for this year’s recognition day.
-Lorainne Marie S. Lopez
A Historical Moment For Genocide
Our newest blog series is about to start–Get Educated, One Topic At A Time! Learn about a variety of global issues and countries around the world as we highlight each week the work of one of our Education Department Interns , who are hard at work creating Topic Guides covering everything from Child Poverty to Foreign Direct Investment for our classroom-based Model UN program. Check out the first post below and check back each Monday for the next post in the series.
While the International Criminal Court (ICC) is making headlines today for issuing an arrest warrant for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, international law and justice reached another milestone recently. On Friday, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda issued the first conviction of a woman on the charge of genocide under international law.
The woman, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, served as family minister for the Rwandan government during the Rwandan Genocideof 1994. Nyiramasuhuko directed and aided militia groups in attacking members of Rwanda’s Tutsi minority.
The genocide, which the Rwandan government covertly supported at the time, took place over the course of 100 days in 1994 (April-July) and resulted in the deaths of about 800,000 individuals. The relationship between Rwanda’s two ethnic groups – the Hutu and the Tutsi – had been violent and contentious for decades. Prior to European involvement in sub-Saharan Africa, the minority Tutsi population dominated the Rwandan elite and established a monarchy. The Germans and Belgians, who administered Rwanda before and after World War I respectively, preserved this system and limited the opportunities available to the majority Hutu population for decades.
However, after World War II and the beginning of decolonization, the Belgians pushed for reform in Rwanda but faced resistance from the Tutsi. By the late 1950’s, the Belgians had called for elections in Rwanda, which led to the rise to power of the majority Hutu. Following independence from Belgium in 1962, the dynamic between the two groups reversed as the Hutu dominated the political elite via their huge majority. Under Hutu rule, Tutsis were required to carry identification cards (eerily reminiscent of the Nazi policy of Jewish identification), were limited to a small percentage of public sector jobs, and faced widespread discrimination in the private sector.
From the 1960’s to the 1990’s, anti-Tutsi violence routinely broke out in Rwanda, resulting in thousands of deaths and a massive flow of Tutsi refugees to Rwanda’s neighboring countries. Although the Rwandan government officially condemned this violence, evidence suggests that it actually supported it in some cases. By the 1990’s, evidence suggests that the Hutu-dominated Rwandan government began covertly training and arming Hutu militias (known as the Interahamwe, “those who stand together”) to attack Tutsis inside Rwanda. The anti-Tutsi Rwandan Genocide in 1994 was largely carried out by such groups and it is these groups that Nyiramasuhuko has been convicted of aiding.
The United Nations faced enormous criticism regarding its response to the genocide. Despite the fact that the UN had 2,500 armed peacekeepers in Rwanda in 1994, they did not intervene to stop the violence. In fact, members of the UN Security Council (including the United States) actually voted to reduce the number of UN troops in Rwanda in response to the violence. The resulting devastation marked what is quite possibly the UN’s greatest failure. Today, a Tutsi leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which fought the Rwandan government and ended the genocide, is President of Rwanda. He has controversially banned the use of the terms “Hutu” and “Tutsi” in any official capacity to avoid inflaming past tensions.
Ever since, the UN has gone to great lengths to learn from its mistakes in Rwanda rather than hide from them. International intervention since Rwanda has been more frequent and more effective. Most recently, the UN Security Council approved measures to protect civilians from government-led massacres in Libya, which NATO has taken responsibility for carrying out. In addition, the UN created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which has convicted over two dozen individuals for their roles in the genocide. Nyiramasuhuko is the latest Rwandan official to be convicted. The ICTR demonstrated that international tribunals can be effective, and influenced the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has jurisdiction over all its member states to convict individuals for crimes against humanity, in 2002. Although the United States is not a member of the ICC, it did support a UN resolution that referred Moammar Gadhafi to the ICC, which has since indicted him.
Although the Rwandan Genocide will forever live on as a painful stain on history, its legacy serves as a constant reminder of the tragedy of genocide and how the international community should respond to prevent them in the future. Next year, the UNA-GB will help further the UN’s mission to educate the public about genocide with a simulation of the crisis leading up to the Rwandan Genocide at our annual Regional Model United Nations conference.
– Nicholas Blake, Education Intern
Consuls Ball 2011: Boston’s must attend global gala!
UNA-GB’s Annual Consuls Ball is almost here, and you don’t want to miss out! Celebrate Boston’s global leaders of today and tomorrow with us!
This highly anticipated event is Boston’s premier international gala of the year, bringing together well over 350 prominent members of the diplomatic, business, political, and academic communities across the Greater Boston area, set to be held this year on April 29 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. This is a very special opportunity for attendees to mingle and network with distinguished guests while supporting the Model UN Program, which empowers thousands of Massachusetts youth in urban areas to learn about critical global issues and to see the world from new perspectives. To celebrate this elegant, vibrant event, guests are encouraged to dress in black tie or national dress, network and converse with leaders in the Boston community, experience exceptional international cuisine, and dance the night away! Watch the slideshow above and check out our Consuls Ball 2010 Facebook album to see past years’ activities and attendees!
The Ball honors Boston’s global leaders of today, including the Consular Corps of Boston, who represent over 50 Member States of the UN (one-quarter of all UN Member States), and who serve their nationals locally and facilitate economic development and international understanding between their countries and the US. The night offers an opportunity to recognize and honor their service to the greater Boston area and is unique among Boston events in celebrating the many cross-cultural, business, and personal ties that enhance the city’s international character.
This year, Carol Fulp, SVP of Brand Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for John Hancock Financial, will receive UNA-GB’s 2011 Leadership Award in honor of her outstanding contribution to the local and international community. Nominated by President Barack Obama in September 2010, Fulp is serving as a Representative of the United States of America to the Sixty-fifth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. We are thrilled to honor such an excellent example of a local leader making a global impact!
The Consuls Ball also benefits the global leaders of tomorrow – the money raised at the Ball goes directly to UNA-GB’s global education program, which serves over 70 Boston-area schools and reaches over 2,200 students annually, more than 1,000 of whom are from urban schools. Model UN prepares students for academic and workplace success by teaching core 21st century skills, including negotiation, problem solving, public speaking, and analysis. They learn to critically analyze an issue from a new perspective, offer tangible solutions, work with others to reach an agreement, and ultimately become leaders who inspire others. Model UN allows young people to gain perspective through participation, and therefore become informed, responsible and active global citizens. UNA-GB’s program also helps bridge the achievement gap by expanding access to the life changing skills learned in Model UN to all students regardless of socioeconomic background, because we believe that all young people have the will and capacity to understand and address the complex issues facing the world today, and just need access to the right resources.
If that’s not enough, the Ball will have many special features throughout the evening, including:
- a Mystery Box drawing in honor of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials (the same day as the Ball!), featuring a classy Longines men’s watch and a striking sapphire and diamond ring inspired by Diana’s (and now Kate’s) engagement ring. Guests will have a chance to purchase a box for $100 – courtesy of Shreve, Crump & Low, the winning boxes will have the watch and the ring, and all boxes will have a sterling silver key ring that is redeemable for $100 worth of credit at Shreve, Crump & Low’s stores.
- a delicious Signature Cocktail called “Ocean Blue” provided by one of our sponsors, Ocean Spray Cranberries.
- an internationally-inspired menu, with delectable courses from around the world. Travel from Africa to Europe to Asia, all in one meal!
- a Live Auction featuring desirable getaways including to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, a Red Sox nation fever package, and more.
- a Silent Auction with more amazing packages featuring local restaurants, New England excursions, sports tickets, health clubs, and so much more!
All in all, the Consuls Ball is a unique, glamorous, and memorable celebration that is not to be missed!
Help us celebrate the rich diversity and international spirit in and around Boston, while also empowering the global leaders of tomorrow!
Come join us for an extraordinary evening on April 29, 2011 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston!!
DETAILS:
Friday, April 29, 2011
7:00 PM Reception and Silent Auction
8:00 PM Internationally Themed Dinner and Program
Dancing and live music all night
Fairmont Copley Plaza
Black Tie Optional; National Dress Encouraged
We would like to extend a special thank you to our current 2011 Consuls Ball sponsors for their generous support and participation:
State Street Corporation
Shreve, Crump & Low
GGA Software Services, LLC
HULT International Business School
John Hancock Financial
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc
If you are interested in joining us as a sponsor for the 2011 Consuls Ball, you can learn more here and contact us at 617-482-4587 for more information.
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