In 2000 I was asked to take over the job of representing St James’s affiliation with the local branch of the United Nations Association (U.N.A.), and having just returned from travelling around the world for a year found it hard to say no. The U.N. Association exists broadly to promote the U.N. and originally the membership was mainly concerned with promoting peace. Whilst peacekeeping is still the biggest U.N. task it also has many large and global challenges including poverty relief and climate change.

Education
When I joined U.N.A. our local Twickenham & Richmond branch had recently lobbied government successfully to include the UN in the new syllabus for Citizenship in schools. I therefore thought it appropriate to build on this local success and approached local schools offering an introduction to the U.N.
Another member of U.N.A., Mary Holmes, and myself have run U.N. events for 11 Richmond secondary and preparatory schools over the years, ranging from assembly addresses to helping the school organise a model U.N. General Assembly. We typically help the school organise this event where pupils role-play becoming rich or poor nations and we often become chair and secretary on the day. It is incredibly rewarding to see enthusiastic pupils putting their hands up to offer ideas trying to solve global issues related to poverty or climate change. It is good to think that hundreds of children growing up in the borough will now be more likely to engage with the global issues with which the U.N is involved. The U.N is not a world government and at its simplest level is nothing more than you and me. Its leader is not a president or a prime minister, he is a secretary.

UNICEF
One of my other very rewarding duties is organising collections at Twickenham Station on rugby days and with typically more than 80,000 fans arriving, mostly by train, we have a golden opportunity. Up to 12 collectors are involved and we have raised many thousands of pounds for UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) over just the past three years, with a small percentage going to UNA — most of which gets recycled to other charities, typically ‘No more Landmines’ (formally Adopt-A-Minefield).

I often refer to UNICEF as the ‘best charity in the world’ as it is the main organiser for support for suffering children all over the world, whether it is Haiti, West and Central Africa, and even working in the UK. I think the world owes this next generation so much and only UNICEF can really deliver at the global level.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In early May 2010 I watched the official unveiling of a monument outside York House, Twickenham, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UNA were involved in the project from the start. Our chair at the time, Councillor Virginia Morris, was instrumental in getting the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames to adopt the initial idea as a public art project, resulting in a considerable input of funds. UNA also contributed along with the local branch of Amnesty International. Pupils from two Richmond schools and residents from the Twickenham Day Centre were involved in the design of the installation and UNA members talked to the pupils about the Universal Declaration prior to the meetings with the artist Samantha Haynes. The monument was unveiled by the Mayor of Richmond, Councillor Celia Hodges, accompanied by Virginia Morris, Samantha Haynes and John Reekie from Amnesty International.

Spreading the Word
Our local branch of UNA organises many events where members engage in global issues. We have had quite a few well-known visitors talk to us recently, including Chris Patten, now Lord Patten, the former Conservative Minister and the last Governor of Hong Kong; Martin Bell, a British UNICEF Ambassador, and a former BBC correspondent and independent MP; and Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, environment campaigner and son of the late financier Sir James Goldsmith. On a smaller scale we have meetings in local pubs and members’ houses with invited speakers on a range of topics.

The UN pervades almost every aspect of life and I often point out to school students the aspects of the UN which only it could control, such as civil aviation or maritime shipping. Another example is deciding how a postman in the US or Australia, for example, is paid to deliver a letter you write and send from the UK with stamps you buy here. All this is done with many fewer staff than the US fast food giant McDonald’s employs worldwide.

So think about the UN. It is incredibly easy to criticise, often because people don’t understand how it works, but it does need a lot of support. What is the alternative?
If you are interested in the UN Association, or in joining the Twickenham and Richmond branch, you can speak to me anytime. You will find more information online at www.truna.org.uk.

Source: Dennis Wilmot, The Spire Magazine - 2011 March