| |
St. James’s Church
is an affiliated member of the Twickenham and Richmond Branch of the
United Nations Association (UNA). The UNA generally exists to promote
the work of the United Nations. ( UN
Charter)
Membership of the local branch gives us a means of working for peace
and justice and making our voice heard in support of UN principles.
|
| Twickenham and Richmond is an active
branch with over one hundred individual members as well as affiliated
members. The chairman is Councillor Virginia Morris.
Regular activities include lobbying local MPs, public and smaller meetings,
local charity fairs and fund raising activities, pub lunches with invited
speakers, collections for UNA/UNICEF, the production of a quarterly
newsletter, proposing resolutions to the national UNA conference, and
an annual civic Service to celebrate United Nations’ Day. Recent
talkers have included Chris Patten, Martin Bell and Zac Goldsmith.
The branch, together with Amnesty International, has successfully lobbied
the council for funds to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This has taken the form of a monument located
in front of York House, Twickenham, very visible to traffic on the Richmond
Road (opposite the Shell petrol station). UNA members addressed children
in Richmond schools about Human Rights prior to their consultation sessions
about the design with the artist.
|
|
Education is a particular area in
which the Branch has worked for several years, providing talks and helping
local schools to hold Model UN General Assemblies. These enable students
to engage as they represent different countries debating an issue such
as Global Poverty or Climate Change. Branch members help with the planning,
the students’ preparation and chairing the actual event. |