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]]>By: Koyali Burman
March 7 2022 / Vancouver
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate women’s achievements but also an opportunity to voice our concerns for persisting gender inequalities. As the world continues to struggle with the impacts of COVID-19 – and with our reliance on digital technologies at an all-time high – it is the perfect moment to highlight the digital gender divide. The digital divide between those who can access digital technologies and those who cannot remains a big gap. The COVID-19 pandemic not only laid bare existing disparities in digital access, but also widened the gap for many.
- Provision of independent devices to migrant women in need, as well as supports to address data poverty and enable access to reliable internet connections, through community organizations, schools, and other charity programs will facilitate enhanced digital inclusion.
- Tailored and culturally responsive digital literacy programs for migrant women of all age groups.
- Addressing the digital divide and erasing digital poverty is key to facilitating the meaningful inclusion of migrant women into new and emerging digital spaces.
Author: Koyali Burman is an accomplished stakeholder engagement and economic development strategist. She has a decade of experience in research, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation both locally and internationally. Originally from India, she holds a Master of Arts in Adult & Higher Education from the University of British Columbia. She holds a leadership position and has spoken about international migration in various platforms and universities in Canada and India. She has held various board of directors and advisory positions in Canada with the most recent ones being Vice President (Board) to Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC and Secretary to United Nations Association in Canada-Vancouver.
Over the past 15+ years she conducted extensive research on women and girls from Sub Saharan Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to help develop relevant skills that will lead to livelihoods. She has developed a Gender-Sensitive Information & Communication Technology Strategy in Open Schooling and presented the strategy in the Pan Commonwealth Conference in Nigeria, Africa in 2014. Koyali in partnership with financial institutions, has helped create a Small Business Hub to empower women entrepreneurs. In 2018, she received the prestigious Pan Asian Recognition Award for her leadership role in supporting Pan Asian communities in British Columbia. As an executive to the United Nations Association in Canada-Vancouver she is passionate about supporting the UNAC-V’s vision on the Sustainable Development Goals to build strong, safe and resilient communities that will be inclusive and innovative for decades to come.
@ 2022 Koyali Burman
Original Article:
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]]>As the annual Raincouver rainy season has begun and the spring blooms are flourishing, now is the perfect time to start your spring cleaning! Spring has traditionally been the season of renewal; a time to clean your home and refresh your surroundings! So, this year while spring cleaning, why not also focus on keeping your community sustainable and renewable?
Many communities and cities treat spring cleaning as a part of their annual rituals. This may involve getting rid of unnecessary items in your home or simply disinfecting your house from top to bottom. During COVID-19, it is now more crucial than ever for each of us to do our part to keep our environment safe, clean, and healthy.
In line with SDG 13: Climate Action, it is important to keep in mind the environmental impact of spring cleaning when going about cleaning your surroundings. SDG 13 is focused on climate action, which can also be incorporated into your daily cleaning routine. Additionally, SDG 11: Sustainable Development strives to create sustainable cities and communities. In order to encompass these SDGs into your spring cleaning, follow some of the tips below!
Use less water to clean your laundry by hanging it up to dry.
Opting to hang your clothes to dry instead of running your dryer can end up saving you some cash while also helping to reduce the energy used from this mighty, power-sucking appliance. BC Hydro states that “…dryers can account for 12% of your home’s energy. Dryers typically use more [energy] per use than any other appliance.” Since most of us are spending an extra abundance of time at home these days, hanging your clothes to dry can also be a great way to get a few extra minutes of exercise in!
Clean with reusable towels instead of paper towels
Whenever appropriate and available, using reusable towels is an eco-friendly alternative to disposable paper towels. Paper towels are single-use and therefore end up collecting in landfills without the possibility of being reused. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of paper towels and other disposable products has skyrocketed. This is alarming for the environment because paper towels require a huge amount of water to be produced – specifically, “…to make one ton of paper towels, 17 trees are used and 20,000 gallons of water are consumed.” So instead, try to utilize reusable towels when possible. You can even tie-dye or customize old rags or clothing into unique, DIY reusable towels!
Get creative with your wardrobe and shop vintage or second-hand.
Snagging an outfit from a thrift store isn’t only a cool look for Mackelmore! According to the 2019 ThredUp resale report, more than one in three Gen-Zers will buy secondhand and 51% of all consumers plan to spend more on second hand clothing in the next five years. Purchasing from a thrift or vintage store online or in-person means that the item gets a chance to be reused without being dumped into a landfill. Other ways to get second-hand items include trading clothes with friends or family, buying pre-loved items from Facebook Marketplace or Etsy, or even using recycled fabrics to create a whole new look. This also applies to clothes you already own and might be considering throwing out this spring. Consider gifting an item that no longer fits to a friend or selling it online before tossing it out. You can also donate your old clothing to a local shelter, thrift store, charitable organization, or reuse it as dish rags.
We hope you this helps you incorporate sustainable and ethical choices when it comes to your springtime routine. If there are any other tips or tricks you have, please share them in the comments below. Happy spring from all of us at UNAC-V!
Special thanks to our Communication Volunteer Sharon Neb for her article contribution!
References:
https://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2019/hang-dry-your-clothes.html
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]]>The Vancouver Branch of the UN Association of Canada (UNAC) is proud to note that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
In a small coronavirus-restricted award ceremony on Friday the chairwoman of the committee said that the award was given to WFP because it wanted to focus the world’s attention on “the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger.” She added that hunger is used as a “weapon of war and conflict.”
In its citation the Nobel Committee praised the UN agency for its contribution to creating peace in conflict-affected areas such as Syria and Yemen. In a tweet of thanks, WFP responded “This is a powerful reminder to the world that peace and #ZeroHunger go hand-in-hand.”
The UN World Food Programme joins former UN Secretary-General the late Kofi Annan who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for revitalizing the UN and UN Peacekeeping Forces who received the award in 1988.
UNAC Vancouver is proud to acknowledge its board member Rosio Godomar who served in the UN WFP from 1991 to 2011.
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The theme for the International Day of Peace, September 21st, 2020 is “No More Hirosima, No More Nagasaki,” recognizing this year as the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of both Japanese cities.
The City of Vancouver today issued the above proclamation recognizing the importance of this day.
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]]>The post The UN at 75: Time to Redouble Efforts for Effective Global Governance appeared first on United Nations Association in Canada.
]]>Monday, September 21st marks the annual United Nations International Day of Peace, a day dedicated to the core foundation and mandate of the UN – maintaining peace and security. The annual General Assembly begins, also marks another milestone, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter by the fifty governments who made up the UN’s founding member states. Tweeting in June this year the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, noted “[the UN Charter’s] principles ring just as true today. It is a much-needed guide to solving our shared problems. Let us now realize the vision of peace, human rights, justice and development – of dignity for all.”
It is the role of the UN Association in Canada (UNAC), as well as UNAs around the world, to empower and educate their citizens, and especially youth through informing them about the UN’s role, and advocate for the goals and ideals of that organization.
The first mention of the United Nations was in 1942 when the wartime Allied leaders conceived of an international organization that would ‘…save future generations from the scourge of war.’ The UN Charter, which came into force in October 1945 calls for the organization to maintain international peace and security; promote social progress and better standards of life; strengthen international law; and promote human rights. In the intervening years, the UN Secretariat has been joined by UN specialized Agencies such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and others, dealing with Human Rights or refugees for example. These agencies have focussed attention on some of the world’s most intractable problems.
The broad range of tasks envisioned in the UN Charter 75 years ago is as valid today as it was then. The goals, values and ideals which the Charter sets for the UN remain the capstone for a world mired in a pandemic, torn by discrimination, endangered by climate change and scarred by poverty, inequality and war. Every generation of young people in all 193 UN member states demands that the goals and ideals of the UN must be promoted.
In honour of the International Day of Peace each year the UN General Assembly calls upon the global community to participate in 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. On that day, staff in UN offices around the world from New York to Bangkok to Nairobi will celebrate the day with the communities they serve. Military and civilian staff from UN Peace Operations in diverse locations such as Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cyprus will use the day to advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflict.
At the UN Headquarters in New York the UN General Assembly will this year hold a virtual event. Because of the pandemic, world leaders will participate in the meeting through recorded video statements while their representatives will be in New York. The theme will be ‘The Future We Want; the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism.’ It will focus on collective problem-solving and efforts to ensure that effective global governance is a reality when it is needed.
The United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also be taking center stage during the 75th anniversary commemorations. The main purpose of the SDGs is to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. For a more detailed view of the UN SDGs, please see the related article on the UNAC Vancouver website as well as the UN website.
As the UN marks its 75th anniversary, the UN Secretary-General acknowledge that many political, economic and social problems “are ratcheting up.” The organization itself faces a number of political and economic challenges yet it remains, after 75 years, a key part of the world’s response to those problems.
If you would like to get involved, please join us in sharing your views through this global survey and check out what UNAC Vancouver and other associations around Canada are planning.
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The Vancouver Branch of the UN Association in Canada was pleased to partner with SFU in hosting the successful 6th annual Rosemary Brown Symposium on the evening of Thursday, September 26th.
A large public audience in the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue was able to listen and learn from the keynote speaker, Joy Johnson, Vice President, Research and International, SFU. Additionally, Marion Buller, as the recipient of the Rosemary Brown Award for Women, spoke on “Reclaiming Power and Place”. The theme of the evening was “Women & Social Justice”.
Thanks to Dariel Filwood for contributing the event photos.
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]]>The post Nominations Closed for Gibbard Award appeared first on United Nations Association in Canada.
]]>Thank you to all of those who nominated a youth or youth group in the metro #Vancouver area working to make positive changes in the world globally or locally with a global focus. Nominations are now closed.
Each year on the occasion of United Nations Day, the United Nations Association of Canada, Vancouver Branch recognizes the work of a young student or group of students for their dedication and commitment to working towards a better world.
The John Gibbard Memorial Award is presented in memory of John Gibbard, who was a supporter of the League of Nations from its creation in 1919, in the wake of the First World War.
The Award is given to youth up to 25 years of age in recognition of their dedication and commitment to working for humanity and a better world locally or internationally.
Previous winners include Andrew Sheroubi, Red Cross Student Movement, Gurkiran Mann, founder of Youth Transforming Society (2016), Anjali Katta, CEO of Girlsco. (2015) and Ta’kaiya Blaney, indigenous and environmental activist/singer & songwriter (2014).
See our website for details and the nomination form: https://unavancouver.wordpress.com/john-gibbard-memorial-a…/
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The Vancouver Branch of the UN Association in Canada held their Annual General Meeting to review their achievements of 2018. The branch welcomed long-time and new members and supportive guests as well as inducting Jeff Brooks to a co-President position alongside continuing co-President Deirdre Moore, and Rhiannon Dominy-Pergentile as Secretary. Dedicated board members Jessica Steele and Jessie Sunner (co-Vice Presidents), Rosio Godomar (Treasurer), George Somerwill (Past President), Greg Neumann (Past President) and Directors Karen Truscott, Melanie Walker, Greg Doudican, Jocelyn Pittel (Giving), and Shirin Yadegiri with Honorary Director Dr. Patsy George will continue to inspire and advocate for United Nations ideals and related events as board members in 2019-20.
The meeting took place inside the inspirational LuluLemon offices in Kitsilano. Thank you to Safeway and Starbucks; both companies donated refreshments for our meeting.
The Vancouver Branch is run entirely on volunteer efforts and is funded through your donations, memberships and partnerships. All members of the public who wish to see more public engagement on global issues are encouraged to become members. Visit unac.org, click the “Get Involved” tab, “How to Donate or Join”, then scroll down to “Become a Member”. Under “Messages” indicate you wish to join the Vancouver Branch. Additionally, you may “Donate” to by specifically indicating “Vancouver Branch”. We thank you for your support as always. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
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The Vancouver Branch of the UN Association in Canada (UNAC-V) welcomes all local members to attend the Annual General Meeting taking place Monday, April 1st from 7pm until 8pm with refreshments at 6:45pm. The meeting will convene in the office space of Lululemon’s Vancouver headquarters located at 1818 Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver. Please RSVP to [email protected].
The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide the framework for the continued work we do in the areas of gender equality, peacekeeping, development, poverty reduction, and reducing inequalities to name a few. We would like to share with you these successes as well as the challenges we face moving forward.
We believe that the work of UNAC-V is very important: ensuring Canadians understand and support the goals and ideals of the United Nations.
The UN Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch, is a volunteer-run organization. All membership fees and donations go towards the hosting of public events and advocacy work. We welcome you to join our organization as a member; to become a member visit the website of our national organization and be sure to indicate under messages that you are joining the Vancouver Branch.
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