International Day of Peace
UNAA QLD
International Day of Peace (IDP), 21 September, is always an important day for the UNNAQ. This year, there was a special 'joy,’ as we celebrated the extraordinary performance of two of our members, Teresa and Augnes Joy, who set an official world record by singing the world’s 195 National Anthems in 100 languages over several hours in St John's Cathedral.
This was a family contribution, as their parents had worked with them to coordinate and plan the event with special support from our past President, Clem Campbell. Teresa and Augnes dedicated their talent and strength in their Salute the Nations contribution, to acknowledge the need for peace and the role of the United Nations. There was significant media interest locally and from India and we are sure this a record which will not be broken!
St John’s Cathedral also welcomed the IDP lecture that evening, a special event involving our Peace and Security team. This year retired Admiral Chris Barrie concentrated on the two major threats facing Australia today; the threats of nuclear war, and the threat of climate catastrophe. He encouraged the activism and involvement of young people and the need for them challenge the leadership of the past.
Retired Australian Army Major, Cameron Leckie, introduced the speaker by discussing his personal 24 years of military service and his reflection on the government decisions on deployment.
Each year, The Rotary Peace Centre at University of Queensland presents Local Agents of Peace Awards at the lecture. Our Vice President, Annette Brownlee, a key member of the organising committee of IDP, and involved across the sector for many years, was one of the awardees this year, alongside Maggie Pistorius.
Our thanks to the wonderful St Johns Community, with Dean Peter Catt, the Union Choir, and the Soroptimists (celebrating their centenary) for their catering all day.
UNAAQ is concluding an MOU with Hurtfulness, which practises yoga, meditation and well being. Thank you Dr. Patricia Jenkins from NSW who introduced us to a similar relationship in UNAA NSW. Our first shared event was International Day of Peace in Toowoomba in early October, alongside the wonderful Pure Land Buddhist Learning College, we celebrated peace in beautiful Laurel Bank Park....dancers, music laughter, and UN flags in the glorious gardens reinforced the real message of peace.
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International Day of Peace at Windaroo Peace Park
UNAA QLD
Another QLD celebration for International Day of Peace was at Windaroo Peace Park where UNAAQ and local Soroptimists gathered at the Peacekeepers Memorial. Our Past President, and Soroptimist, Donnell Davis welcomed local councillors, families and friends as a beautiful peace sculpture by artist George Virine was presented to Logan Council by his daughter Galila Arthur.
This event focused on the messages in the Secretary General’s 2021 message which called for the world to unite and recognise the only future relies on genuine peace. The retired peacekeeper, Bob Wiley, dedicated many years to develop this park and care for it watched from his home, as we sang the Peace Anthem.
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Raising Peace Festival
UNAA NSW
The Raising Peace Festival was held online from 16-26 September 2021 as part of International Day of Peace on September 21.
37 events were held by over 30 organisations working for peace in Australia. Raising Peace explored the significance peace has to First Nations people, women, youth, refugees and the environment. It looked at the different ways we define and understand peace, from the absence of war to peacekeeping, peace-building and peacemaking
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UN Peace Action Webinar
UNAA NSW
The webinar was presented by UNAA NSW Vice President (Ops), Major General (Retired) Tim Ford AO, who was previously a UN Head of Mission and Military Advisor in UN Peacekeeping. It covered a range of topics, including the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Political and Peace-building Affairs.
We also held a post-webinar activity on youth and peace – the purpose of which was to interact with the online platform Padlet and answer the question “How can young people contribute to the UN and its role ‘to maintain international peace and security’?”. Discussions in the breakout rooms involved a diverse input of opinions and experiences.
If you have any further ideas on this topic, please contact fergus.ewington@unaa.org.au
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Securing WA's Food Future: Are We Ready for 2030?
UNAA WA
Guest speakers and panellists at the Independent Summit Dialogue for the 2021 UN Food System Summit in Perth, Western Australia.
The UNAA WA, together with Sustain: The Australian Food Network, held WA's only Independent Summit Dialogue for the 2021 UN Food System Summit, at Murdoch CBD Space in Perth.
Josh McGuire delivered a powerful Welcome to Country, treating the audience to beautiful song as well as highlighting the role of Traditional Knowledge in healing Country and securing our food future. President of UNAA WA, Dr Sandy Chong, followed with a motivating address highlighting the interconnectedness of all 17 SDGs, and how food systems are inextricably linked to each and every SDG.
Alan Beattie, CEO of Noongar Land Enterprise Group, delivered an insightful keynote on the state of Australia’s native produce industry. The report was commissioned by Food Innovation Australia, this event marked the first public preview of the findings. Alan spoke to the growing bush food market, “valued at $20-50 million per annum”, and the need to grow First Nations representation – which currently sits at only “1-2% participation rate by value”. Greater protections are required to safeguard Traditional Knowledge and avoid further exploitation and appropriation occurring in the food system sectors.
Themes from the keynote trickled into the panel discussion, with speakers discussing how elevating First Nations voices, different agricultural methods, and educating our young people can help transform our food system by 2030.
The panel discussion was led by Chair of UNAA WA SDG Forum Lily Jovic and the speakers included: Professor Stephen van Leeuwen (Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity and Environmental Science at Curtin University), Marissa Verma (Managing Director of Bindi Bindi Dreaming), Meena Srinivasan (Year 8 student at Perth Modern School) and Jeff Pow (Regenerative Farmer at Southampton Homestead).
Four breakout discussion groups were gathered around the four pillars of food security – availability, accessibility, utilisation, stability. The multi-stakeholder groups were made up of 10 people from all corners of the local food system.
A full report will be released in the coming weeks, detailing they key outcomes from these facilitated discussions.
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The UNAA is a Not-for-profit charity and relies on donations to support our events and continued efforts. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.
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