Fall 2011 UNA-Boulder County Newsletter Now Available!

Download the latest newsletter from UNA-Boulder County to discover upcoming events and read reports on past events. Also, read member analysis of current events and issues!

UNA-Bounder County Fall Newsletter 2011 (pdf)

Spring 2011 Newsletter Now Available!

Click the pdf title below to download the latest issue of the UNA-Boulder County newsletter, which covers the newest project from UNA-Boulder, a book review, the winner of the human rights award and more.

UNA-Boulder County Spring Newsletter – 2011

Microcredit — UNA-BC Film Series

“Microcredit: origins, practices, and future impact”
Film and Panel Discussion
UNA/Boulder County Film Series
Thursday,  February 17, 7:00 p.m.
Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1241 Ceres Drive, Lafayette, Colorado 80026

Microcredit is considered one of the most effective ways to combat worldwide poverty, and is an approach being used throughout the developing world.  It refers to the extension of small, non-collateralized loans to those in poverty.  The success of the microcredit model was exemplified by the work of Muhammed Yunus and the Grameen Bank (of Dhaka, Bangladesh) which he founded, for which they were awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

The program will begin with the showing of a short film, “Breaking Through: Year of Microcredit — the United Nations in Action”, followed by a panel discussion and question/answer period.  Panelists will include representatives of local NGOs:  Bead for Life, Friendship Bridge, Tibetan Village Project, and the Boulder County Circles Campaign (BCCC).  The first three NGOs practice microcredit in several parts of the globe, while the BCC’s approach pursues a slightly different model.

Discussion Group – Library – February 17, 2011

A UNA/Boulder U.N. & International Affairs Series library discussion public event
Thursday, February 17, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Boulder Creek Conference Room, Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Avenue

Topic: “Educating young people around the world:  What do they need to learn to become future world leaders?”

Resource person:  Eric Glustrom, Founder and Executive Director of the NGO “Educate!” “Educate!”works to directly address the most fundamental challenge facing Africa: the lack of socially responsible leadership across diverse sectors of society.  Go to experience educate.org for more information.

In 2002, after traveling to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda to create a film about the life of refugees, Eric Glustrom met there
Benson Olivier, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who inspired him to found “Educate!” after he saw the potential in Benson and so many other youths to become the leaders who would bring solutions to the challenges facing Uganda and beyond.  Eric graduated from Amherst College in 2007 with a degree in biochemistry.

Reading references for this session are expected to be posted, starting on February 11, at this URL

Fall 2010 Newsletter Now Available

Download it now by clicking on the link below.

una fall newsletter 2010

Readings/Commentary for Discussion Groups

This Web site, http://www.google.com/notebook/user/16856056956749335607, is where you can find the reading references for each topic in our UNA/Boulder library discussion sessions.  Reading references relevant to the topic of each session are posted by Bob Cohen one week prior to the session.  You can access these valuable references through Web links found on this master Web site by clicking on the session of interest.

The reading references—usually about a dozen periodical articles that can be found on the Web — are compiled by Bob and Bill Kellogg, the co-organizers of these sessions, with some assistance from session participants. The reading references are selected to provide both background information and a range of perspectives on issues relevant to the session topic.  Even if you never attend a discussion session, you can access this easy source of information on topics relevant to the UN & IA and to Geopolitics.

The UNA of Boulder County library discussion sessions are held twice a month—the United Nations and International Affairs (UN & IA) on the third Thursday and Geopolitics on the last Thursday (except during the December holiday period).

The above comprehensive Web site is open to the public, and Bob and Bill encourage its use by other UNA chapters and organizations interested in such topics.

UN Day: Oct. 24, Boulder Library – Hammering Out Human Rights: Eleanor Roosevelt at the United Nations

CELEBRATING THE 65TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED NATIONS
This year’s UN Day celebration in Boulder County is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, October 24th, from 2:00 pm until 4:00, in the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Theater, 11th and Arapahoe, in Boulder. The speaker for this free, public event will be the scholar and actress Susan Marie Frontczak in the role of Eleanor Roosevelt, speakig on “Hammering Out Human Rights: Eleanor Roosevelt at the United Nations.” Ms Frontczak finds that this first lady’s story has a great deal to offer the world today. (See http://www.storysmith.org for further information.) A reception will follow where, as in previous years, refreshments will include a UN birthday cake.

Sponsors are the Boulder Public Library, Boulder Library Foundation, and United Nations Association (Boulder County Chapter).

Cosponsors are:
Boulder Friends of UNICEF
Boulder WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
Citizens for Global Solutions
League of Women Voters of Boulder County
Model UN Clubs at the University of Colorado at Boulder and at Boulder High School
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center
Zonta Club of Boulder County
Zonta Foothills Club

Where:    Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe, Canyon Theater and lobby
When:     Sunday, October 24, 2 pm to 5 pm
What:        UN Day Celebration

Newsletter – Spring 2010

The Spring 2010 Newsletter is now available – download it now to catch up on happenings from UNA-Boulder County. Click on the link below.

UNA Spring Newsletter 2010

UNA Boulder Fall 09 Newsletter

una fall newsletter 09

Click on the link above to download in pdf form the UNA-Boulder County Fall Newsletter! Catch up on all past and future events with the newsletter, which is sent to members. Enjoy!

Support Obama’s Generous Budget Request for UN Peacekeeping

President Obama has requested US$836.9 million for peacekeeping operations, a significant step toward restoring our credit and credibility with our allies at the United Nations.

 

Please take a moment – really, that’s all it takes – to use UNA’s letter-writing tool to send a short letter to our Senators and your Representative. Compose the letter using their talking points, or adding what you want to say, and it does all the addresses.  

 

Click here to read about this issue, and to use the UNA’s letter-writing tool.

 

Given tight budgets these days, you might also want to add that UN Peacekeeping operations are, according to the Office of Management and Budget, up to 8 times more cost effective than sending our own troops (and it means our men and women in the Colorado Guard can stay here to help us in emergencies!).

 

Pass this along to anyone you know who might be sympathetic.