United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Friday, 25 January 2013 06:38
United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27th
The Prime Minister will launch a New Zealand-produced artistic educational project, ‘Shadows of Shoah’ at the official Auckland commemoration of United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday 25 January. This invitation-only event is being held at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom Girls’ Grammar School.
Dr Edna Tait, speaking for the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, will remind the participants of the importance of forward-looking education to learn from the Holocaust.
As UNESCO’s Director General, Mme Irina Bokova, put it, “The history of the genocide perpetrated during the Second World War does not belong to the past only. It is a ‘living history’ that concerns us all, regardless of our background, culture, or religion. Other genocides have occurred after the Holocaust, on several continents. How can we draw better lessons from the past?”
Auckland City Council, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, and the Raye Freedman Arts Centre are joint sponsors with the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.
"We are gratified that the first official commemoration of UNIHRD in Auckland is supported by Auckland City", said Holocaust Centre of New Zealand Director Mrs Inge Woolf.
"Spreading deeper understanding of what the Holocaust means for New Zealand society is a major part of our purpose, and this needs to be at community level as well as in schools."
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand has organized and part-sponsored the first group of 22 New Zealand teachers from all around the country to attend a Holocaust education seminar at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, in January 2013.
The Raye Freedman Arts Centre has given generous support for the invitation-only observance enabling the ‘Shadows of Shoah’ presentation to have an appropriate venue. Photography and original music selected episodes from survivors’ experiences are presented in a brief, compelling format. While carefully maintaining historical accuracy, Shadows of Shoah uses evocative art to reach a generation for whom the Holocaust increasingly holds little relevance or significance.
Holocaust survivors will be present at the commemoration as a poignant reminder of how the race-hatred of Nazi Germany 70 years ago had a devastating effect on individuals.
United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day has been observed in Wellington for a number of years by a commemorative ceremony at Makara cemetery, Wellington (happening this Sunday). Friday’s event is the first official commemoration in Auckland. The official day of commemoration is January 27th, the anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz death camp by the Soviet Army in 1945.
Wellington Event - United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27th
The public is invited to attend the annual observance of the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day at Makara Cemetery, Wellington this Sunday 27 January at 3pm.
The commemoration includes those present placing a stone on the Holocaust Memorial in the Jewish section of the cemetery at Makara.
Dr Andrew Matthews, speaking for the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, will remind the participants of the importance of forward-looking education to learn from the Holocaust.
As UNESCO’s Director General, Mme Irina Bokova, put it, “The history of the genocide perpetrated during the Second World War does not belong to the past only. It is a ‘living history’ that concerns us all, regardless of our background, culture, or religion. Other genocides have occurred after the Holocaust, on several continents. How can we draw better lessons from the past?”
Wellington City Council, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, the Wellington Regional Jewish Council, B'nai B'rith and the Council of Jewish Women are co-sponsors with the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.
The other keynote speaker is the Mayor of Wellington, Her Worship Celia Wade-Brown, who will explain the proposal for New Zealand’s Button Memorial to the Children of the Holocaust, a national memorial in Wellington based on 1.5 million buttons - representing the children who died during the Holocaust - which were collected by pupils at Wellington’s Moriah School.
"The Holocaust Button Memorial will be a major project for the Holocaust Centre , as we see it making an important statement to New Zealand society," said Mrs Inge Woolf, director of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand jointly with the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO organized New Zealand’s first official commemoration of United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Wellington on 27 January 2010. The day chosen for remembrance is the anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz death camp by the Soviet Army in 1945.
A free bus, sponsored by Wilson Funeral Homes, leaves Molesworth Street outside Parliament at 2pm for Makara, stopping at Karori Library at 2.15pm, and returns to Parliament after the commemoration. Everyone is welcome to attend the hour-long ceremony, and invited to participate in the stone-laying.
UNESCO Outstanding Student Award - Realise the Dream
Wednesday, 19 December 2012 09:07
Congratulations Minushika
Student Investigation into White Clover wins Travel Award at prestigious event
Minushika Punchihewa aged 16 from Palmerston North Girls’ High School has won the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO Outstanding Student Award at the prestigious Genesis Energy’s Realise the Dream awards evening held and hosted by the Governor-General at Government House (Dec 14).
Minushika won $3,000 cash and will be one of four students who travel to Sydney for four days of sightseeing in early February which will include a walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not only that her trip includes a sightseeing flight over the Antarctic. There will be ample opportunity for Minushika to view the magnificent landscape. Some points of interest will include McMurdo Sound, the Ross Ice Shelf, the Mertz and Ninnis Glaciers and Mount Erebus.
Congratulating Minushika on her award, Dr Andrew Matthews, Deputy Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO said that the National Commission’s sponsorship of this award reflects UNESCO’s global commitment to attracting and retaining young people in science education and supporting young researchers, “The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO has a strong commitment to promoting science education in New Zealand, and particularly increased participation by young women.like Minushika “. Dr Matthews said.
Minushika set up an experiment to demonstrate principles of Mendelian inheritance in white clover. White clover based pastures underpin sheep, beef, and dairy industries that earn New Zealand $16 billion export income annually. For her experiment she studied the inheritance of three traits: a maroon coloured leaf marking, a white V-shaped leaf mark pattern, and the production of hydrogen cyanide in damaged leaves, which is thought to be a defence against predators.
Minushika first observed 1500 white clover plants to find 10 suitable parent plants with the right combinations of traits for her inheritance study. Using cloned copies of 6 of those parent plants, she then made 7 different crosses between specific pairs of plants. Having harvested and germinated seeds from her hand pollinated plants, Minushika scored those seedlings for presence or absence of the red fleck and white V leaf marks and assayed for a specific genetic precursor and enzyme need for the production of hydrogen cyanide. Minushika’s research on trait inheritance in a plant breeding context went a long way towards showing what it takes to create a better clover plant.
Minushika has spent the last week at Genesis Energy’s Realise the Dream – a national and prestigious event which rewards 20 students for undertaking a piece of excellent science research or engineering. They have been hosted by many science organizations around the country including Leigh Marine Centre, the Liggins Institute, DairyNZ, Massey University, Genesis Energy and NIWA. Not only have they been exposed to some of New Zealand’s cutting edge science they have also had the opportunity to participate in lots of social activities through the week.
On the morning of Friday 14 December, the group toured the NIWA laboratory at Greta Point in Wellington where they were hosted by Dr Els Maas, a member of the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sub-commission. Els introduced some of NIWA's work on climate change including ocean acidification as well as introducing the group to NIWA's marine collection for the students to get an impression of the New Zealand's very rich marine biodiversity. In addition, Dr Matthews gave the students a backgrounder on the work of the National Commission before award ceremony at Government House.
Pacific and Māori Youth Converge to Talk Disaster Resilience.
Monday, 03 December 2012 10:27
PACIFIC AND MĀORI YOUTH CONVERGE TO TALK DISASTER RESILIENCE. Around 50 young Pacific Island and Māori youth delegates (15-35yrs) from around New Zealand and the Pacific, will arrive in Auckland today and tomorrow (Dec 3rd/4th) to share experiences, attend workshops and develop action plans on youth engagement in strengthening community resilience in the face of natural disasters.
The three day event (Dec 4-6th), 'Power Shift Pacific: Looking Beyond Disaster - Youth Forum’ precedes a second youth event on climate change: ‘Power Shift NZ-Pacific’ - the biggest youth climate summit New Zealand has ever seen. Whilst organised separately with different themes and objectives, the two events are connected by the voice, leadership and passion of the young people attending.
POWER SHIFT PACIFIC: LOOKING BEYOND DISASTER – YOUTH FORUM, 4th - 6th December, Auckland, NZ.
“One Ocean, One People, One Voice”
The youth forum on disaster resilience aims to enhance and strengthen the young participants’ leadership skills and equip them with tools and resources to enable them to contribute positively to their communities and decrease the vulnerabilities of island communities to disasters. It also presents an opportunity for Pacific Island and Māori youth to develop their networks and widen their perspectives on their contribution to disaster preparedness through community resilience and to develop a spirit of volunteerism.
As a metropolitan city with the largest Pacific island community living abroad, Auckland will serve as an ideal location for the forum, bringing youth delegates from across the Pacific region and Māori youth the indigenous people of Aotearoa together. Youth participants currently confirmed are from Pacific Island communities including Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau and Vanuatu.
Funded by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and organised by a group of Māori and Pacific youth with support from Generation Zero and 350 Aotearoa, the forum outcomes will include the development of disaster resilience action plans to be implemented by the participants in their home communities.
Senior Advisor Youth, for the National Commission Vicki Soanes says the voice of young people is crucial in post-disaster environments.
"This event is truly owned and run by youth - which is what makes it so special. Participants at this forum will join an international community network of youth ‘Looking Beyond Disaster'. The first Forum using this format was held in Christchurch a year ago and such was the success of that, a second forum was held in Sendai Japan earlier in the year. Both of those forums enabled the young people attending to develop not only their own voice and articulate and share their experiences of living through natural disasters but they worked on action plans that they took back to their respective communities to lead and implement."
The 50 participants are mostly members of youth council or civil society groups in their respective communities and a core group of young leaders have been involved in planning the event since December 2011.
Vicki says that this forum is a direct result of one of the action plans developed in an earlier forum.
"A group of Pacific and Māori youth developed an action plan to address the need for greater youth representation from the Pacific region at forums to ensure that the voices of some of the most vulnerable societies are heard. What I've seen throughout the last two forums is that providing the space, time and format for young people to work together is powerful in itself. Participants often feed back to us how empowered they feel by the end of the forum - not only able, but passionate about using their voices, networks and shared experiences to contribute to their respective communities."
"Organisers of both Power Shift events could see the potential in linking up for the benefit of the young people attending - and there is substantial cross-over between climate change and disaster resilience. We think it will be a powerful opportunity for participants to engage deeply with a variety of issues while they are in one location."
The outcomes of this Power Shift Pacific: Looking Beyond Disaster Youth Forum, will include the development of action plans and youth projects to be implemented in different communities, as well as the development of a Pacific youth volunteer network enabling an exchange of information between Pacific Island youth living abroad and their island communities.
Feedback will be incorporated into the subsequent event, "Power Shift NZ-Pacific" which runs from the 7th to 9th of December, to ensure the presence of a Pacific perspective to climate change - an issue of extreme significance to the Pacific region.
The organisers include Pacific youth that were at the 'Looking Beyond Disaster Youth Forum' in Christchurch, the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO as well as a partnership with the organisers of Power Shift NZ-Pacific (www.powershift.org.nz) , Generation Zero and 350 Aotearoa. Supporting organisations include Pacific Youth Council, Oxfam, Commonwealth Youth programme Pacific centre, Auckland University Pacific Island Student Association (AUPISA).
PowerShift Pacific: Looking Beyond Disaster Youth Forum runs from December 4th to December 6th and will take place in The University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.
Memory of the World - New Inscriptions
Thursday, 25 October 2012 20:29
UNESCO RECOGNITION FOR NEW ZEALAND’S DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
Maori Land Court Minute Books from the 19th century and a documentary recording the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand have been inscripted onto the UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand register for documentary heritage.
Announcing the new inscriptions in Wellington today, Chair of UNESCO’S Memory of the World Asia Pacific Programme, Ray Edmondson, said the minute books and Patu! tell stories of events from two powerful periods of New Zealand history. They still have an impact on society today and are highly regarded sources of research for historians, Maori researchers, educators and many others in the wider community.
The Maori Land Court Minute Books 1862 to 1900 document the early years of the Native Land Courts and record the hearings and evidence given to establish the Native Land Court titles across New Zealand, recording tribal history, whakapapa and evidence of iwi/hapu use and land occupation.
The minute books are a source of research for Treaty of Waitangi claimants. They also help Maori maintain their connections to land, hapu, iwi and their history.
The early Minute Books are housed at Archives New Zealand. Copies of the books have been produced in a variety of formats for public use. The Maori Land Court has also created electronic copies within its database, the Maori Land Information System for the public to use at Maori Land Court registries.
The documentary Patu! records events from the 1981 Springbok Tour to New Zealand, from the opinion of those who were against the tour. Featuring the work of many New Zealand film and documentary makers, it was created by veteran documentary maker Merata Mita (who passed away suddenly in 2010).
The 1983 theatrical length release of Patu! and supporting material is held by the New Zealand Film Archive who say that the documentary lives on as an educational and cultural resource as the impact of the tour is assessed and researched here and overseas. It was screened at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year. A version of the documentary can be viewed on the NZ Onscreen website.
UNESCO recognition draws attention to the significance of documentary heritage and the institutions that are their custodians. Inscription on a register raises awareness of the custodian institution’s holdings and helps ensure the inscribed items are protected, preserved and accessible.
UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme in 1992. New Zealand’s Memory of the World Programme was established in 2010 and is an example of the international community working to promote the importance of documentary heritage through UNESCO. This UNESCO programme sits alongside UNESCO’s better-known World Heritage List and Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Memory of the World Programme register is the flagship and promotes the nation’s heritage stories to the wider community in New Zealand and overseas. The Register can be viewed on: www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/register/.
End
Looking Beyond Disaster - Sendai
Thursday, 16 August 2012 16:16
New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
PRESS RELEASE - August 13, 2012
CANTERBURY YOUTH TAKE LESSONS FROM DISASTER TO JAPAN
"LOOKING BEYOND DISASTER" - YOUTH FORUM
CHRISTCHURCH, DEC 2011 AND SENDAI, (JAPAN), 16-19 AUGUST 2012
Six young Cantabrians are about to travel to Sendai, Japan to attend a second forum on the contribution of young people to community resilience in the face of natural disasters.
The NZ National Commission for UNESCO (in partnership with UNESCO’s offices in Bangkok and Apia) organised the first forum in December 2011, "Looking Beyond Disaster: UNESCO Youth Forum" in Christchurch.
The world-first forum brought together one hundred young people from 19 countries in the Asia Pacific region, to discuss natural disasters and community resilience.
Participants shared their experiences of disaster and worked together to develop action plans to rebuild their communities in a way that reflected their needs and aspirations. The action plans will feed into an international youth focused strategy for disaster response and recovery.
Following the overwhelming success of the first forum, the second forum will enable young people to meet up and to report back on the progress of the action plans they developed in December. Organised by UNESCO Bangkok together with partner organisations, the forum will include new participants who will also develop action plans, inspired by the work of the first forum.
Sendai, Japan which will host the second forum, was one of the many regions which suffered catastrophic damage from the devastating tsunami in March last year which claimed over 15, 000 lives.
The NZ National Commission for UNESCO are very pleased to support the participation of:
1. Chloe Biddick
2. Rachael Hodge
3. Bradley McPherson
4. Hohua Kurene
5. Jason Pemberton
6. Benazir Kumar (Benazir is a student at Van Asch deaf Education Centre at Hagley College and her participation will be supported by a volunteer interpreter and her teacher.)
NZ National Commission to UNESCO Secretary General, Elizabeth Rose says that the voice of young people is crucial in post-disaster environments.
"It was wonderful to see some of the participants sharing their experiences in the first forum in Christchurch, where they were fully supported by other young people who had been through disasters. There was real determination and energy from the young people to take their action plans back to their own communities and start implementing - that's what Sendai is all about."
ends
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The delegation participants were selected after an open call for applications, and they were all active participants in the first forum in Christchurch. NZ National Commission Senior Advisor for Education and Youth Vicki Soanes, will accompany the delegation. The Christchurch Forum communiqué and the action plans that were developed during the Looking Beyond Disaster Forum can be found at the UNESCO Bangkok website: http://bit.ly/LBDAction
Other background media links:
Watch young people tell their stories at the Christchurch Forum: http://bit.ly/LBD2011
Watching the digital watchers - Forum and discussion
Thursday, 16 August 2012 16:11
PRESS RELEASE, August 16, 2012
New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
DIVERSITY FORUM AND YOUTH FORUM – Auckland, NZ, 19-20 August, 2012
“Who watches the digital watchers?”
This question is being posed by a panel on Monday 20 August as part of the 2012 New Zealand Diversity Forum. This session is being held at Auckland’s Aotea Centre from 1.30 p.m until 3.00 p.m and is open to media writers, commentators, academics and anyone interested in the area of digital media rights and responsibilities.
The session is one of more than forty sessions that are part of the 2012 New Zealand Diversity Forum whose theme this year is “Aotearoa, A Fair Go for All”.
The annual forum is a unique national convention, at which people involved in race relations, human rights and cultural diversity come together to share ideas and good practice.
The panel for the media session is being convened by the Human Rights Commission. The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO’s Culture Commissioner Brian Pauling will be one of the panellists. UNESCO places freedom of expression as one of its principal priorities and supports the right to exercise that freedom internationally. However, freedom of expression needs to be balanced by responsible guidelines and this is particularly critical for digital media.
A commentator from the Broadcasting Standards Authority is among the panellists at this forum. It is hoped that participants at the Youth Forum being held alongside the Diversity Forum will also contribute their views and ideas to this discussion.
“Engaging with youth and ensuring that their voices are heard is an increasingly important focus for the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO”, says its Chair, Neil Walter.
“We have played a role in the dialogue surrounding the rebuild of Christchurch city, and have worked hard to make sure that young Kiwi voices were represented at events at the recent Rio +20 conference held in Brazil."
"If we can blend our concerns globally with the emerging voices of youth, we may reach the goal of Rio +20:'The future we want'. "
ends
CONTACTS:
For more information on the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO please contact:
Gina Garvey
Part-time Communications Advisor
021 380 330
For media enquiries related to the Forum please contact:
Gilbert Wong
Human Rights Commission
(09) 306 2660
027 445 7333
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
To register for the media session, or to find out more about the Diversity Forum and its programme:
Speech delivered by Elizabeth Rose, Secretary General, NZ National Commission for UNESCO at the opening of the "Looking Beyond Disaster UNESCO International Youth Forum", at Rehua Marae, Christchurch on the 9 December 2011
Tena koutou, tena koutou tena tatou katoa
Greetings, greetings to you all gathered here today.
It is a very great pleasure for me to be here in Christchurch this morning and to represent the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO at the opening of Looking Beyond Disaster: the UNESCO Youth Forum 2011. A very big thank you first and foremost to the Rehua Marae for hosting this opening powhiri. Over 80 young people from 25 countries of the Asia and Pacific region are present in this room today , including many young people from Christchurch, the courageous and resilient city which is our host city for this event.
I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to those of you who are visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand. I know how hard many of you have worked to find the ways and means to come here. I want you to know how much we appreciate the active commitment you have made to this event and to making a contribution to the Forum’s objectives:
·The creation of an international network of young people across Asia and the Pacific sharing experience and exchanging ideas on disaster and community
·The design of international youth projects for implementation in different countries
·And the development of recommendations to governments, UNESCO and other bodies on youth resilience ,strategies for rebuilding communities and disaster response .
And equally I would like to welcome the young Cantabrians who are taking part in this Forum. The forum had its genesis in an event which the National Commission funded earlier this year- the Youth Voices for Christchurch Challenge when many who are here today, the emerging young leaders, of Canterbury came together to outline your vision and the potential for the rebuild of Christchurch . At the conclusion of that event the participants presented a capability statement to a selection of key listeners including Members of parliament and local leaders. That was the beginning of a conversation between you, the youth of Christchurch ,and decision makers that revealed a strong desire for young people to be part of the city’s reconstruction. The outcomes of the Youth Voices for Christchurch Challenge have been incorporated into the planning processes of the Christchurch City Council and other agencies. That event was also linked to New Zealand’s response to the UN International Year of Youth. One of the goals of the IYY was to challenge the often negative pre-conception that the wider NZ community shares about young people.
In the aftermath of the February Earthquake young people of Christchurch had well and truly challenged that negative perception. As key players in the Christchurch community’s response in the immediate aftermath of that disaster, they were the first to step up, to literally pick up their shovels and to take the initiative to support their communities. The event which begins today grew out the desire expressed on the part of those young people who organised the first youth forum that they saw value and would derive support from sharing their experience with others from the Asia and Pacific region who had experienced similarly traumatic events.
A unique feature of this Forum is that it is truly an event for young people designed and led by young people. I have only just returned from the General Conference of UNESCO, the biennial meeting of all the Member States of UNESCO. At the Conference the role of young people as agents of positive change received unprecedented attention. As one delegate put it : “Youth capital is the world’s most valuable resource.”
In her opening address to the Youth Forum which immediately preceded the General Conference , Madame Irene Bokova, the DG for UNESCO acknowledging the tremendous youth –led movement toward democracy and the reaffirmation of human dignity occurring most visibly in the Arab region, but echoed across the world told the young people present:
“You are not only leaders of tomorrow – you are the leading actors for today.”
There is no question that at UNESCO young people are being regarded in an entirely new way not just as a group that is the target of UNESCO programmes but as a group that must be empowered to lead initiatives not only for the benefit of their peers but also for the benefit of their communities and nations as a whole. The Forum that begins today epitomises that model of a youth led activity.
The Steering Committee is made up of youth and is led by Sam Johnson , the Leader of the Student Volunteer Army, and acknowledged one of New Zealanders foremost young leaders. Stephen McConnachie ( Linwood High School) and Chris Henderson ( Aranui High School) have volunteered their services as Forum facilitators . They have worked with a small committee to develop the programme and will be taking the lead during the event. Peer facilitators will also play a role.
The New Zealand National Commission is particularly appreciative of the voluntary contributions of members of the planning committee and others to make this event happen. We are proud to be stand beside you in delivering this unique event. There are a number of contributors to the forum whom I would like to acknowledge this morning I would like to thank the generous sponsors of the Forum including: UNESCO’s Bangkok and Apia Offices; JCI International; Rotary International; the Student Volunteer Army ; College House; and the University of Canterbury I would like to acknowledge Lorraine McKewan for her hard work on the logistical arrangements And last but not least I would like to acknowledge Darryl Macer of the UNESCO Bangkok Office, who is himself a Christchurch resident, and my colleague at the Ministry of Education, Vicki Soanes for their commitment and passion and sheer hard work over recent months . My congratulations to you both for bringing this event to fruition.
Finally I have a very special acknowledgment to make and that is to the late Bronwen Dean, a New Zealand woman with a strong interest in world affairs and social justice, a teacher, a public servant and a community radio presenter. On her death in 2007 Bronwen left a bequest to the National Commission to be used for our work. We have been looking for an appropriate project ever since and I believe we have found it in the current forum. It seems to us particularly fitting that we should allocate Bronwen’s bequest to this activity because she spent 10 years of her life in Christchurch. We understand that she would be very pleased to know that her bequest had gone to an event that benefits Christchurch and youth- especially in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
In closing ,I would, on behalf of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, like to wish you all well for a wonderful and fulfilling four days in Christchurch. All of you young people here today have lived through tragic loss
- from the deadly earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands in northern Japan ,
- to the floods that devastated Queensland ,
-to our own quake-ravaged Christchurch and the Canterbury region.
And all of you are demonstrating tremendous courage in your willingness to share what must be the most painful of experiences – to draw on that experience and allow it to be utilised in a way that contributes to building the resilience of other individuals and other communities
who may be faced with similar situations in the future.
Go well and I look forward to hearing the outcomes of your deliberations,
Nga mihi nui kia koutou, Kia ora!
Thursday 8 December 2012
This weekend more than eighty young people from throughout Asia and the Pacific who have experienced natural disasters in their homelands will meet in Christchurch to develop a plan for the future of our region.
“ ‘Looking Beyond Disaster: UNESCO International Youth Forum’ will create an international network of young people across Asia and the the Pacific who will share experiences and exchange ideas about disaster and community,” said Elizabeth Rose, Secretary General of the NZ National Commission for UNESCO.
“There are some amazing young people taking part who have suffered and survived disaster and who are now committed to looking beyond disaster and into the future. Their stories and hopes are an inspiration to us all.”
Christchurch’s own Student Army Volunteers helped organise the forum that will see survivors and response workers share stories from throughout the Asia Pacific region that include the: 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami; 2011 Queensland floods; 2009 Chilean earthquake as well as this year’s earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan.
UNESCO is indebted to the support of Ngai Tahu, who will be hosting a powhiri welcome for participants on Friday 9th December, at Rehua Marae from 9am The southern tribe has also been at the forefront of the response to the Christchurch earthquake said Ms Rose.
Forum participants will design a series of youth projects for implementation in countries throughout the region and they will also develop recommendations to governments, UNESCO and other organizations about the importance of young people playing a role in strategies to respond to disaster and rebuild communities.
UNESCO thanks individuals and organisations who have made the forum possible, particularly the University of Canterbury, College House, Rotary International and JCI New Zealand. The work of the Student Volunteer Army in coordinating the forum has been invaluable.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, is a specialised agency of the United Nations. Established in 1946, UNESCO works for world peace and international understanding through its key programme areas: education, natural and social sciences, culture and communications. It is represented in New Zealand by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO.
UNESCO help for Christchurch
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) stands ready to assist New Zealand in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the city of Christchurch last week says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
The organisation’s Director General Irina Bokova has written to Prime Minister John Key to express distress and sadness at the news of the earthquake.
“Madame Bokova also offered any help that UNESCO may be able to provide, both in the aftermath of the earthquake and in the mammoth task of reconstruction that will follow,” said Mr Gould.
“UNESCO is able to deploy specialist expertise, especially in fields like the preservation of cultural heritage and support for communities and schools.”
The city of Christchurch holds special memories for UNESCO as the southern city hosted the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee in 2007 - the first time this prestigious event had been hosted in the Pacific sub-region. More than 600 delegates from member states around the world attended the World Heritage meeting. World Heritage Director Francesco Bandarin has expressed his deep sadness at the unfolding tragedy but also great admiration at the strength and
courage of Christchurch people.
“In 2007 Christchurch welcomed the world, four years later the world community is mobilising and ready to help, said Mr Gould.
UN Year of Chemistry - NZ launch
Tuesday, 08 February 2011 16:32
Throughout 2011, United Nations member states will celebrate the science and art
of chemistry and its contribution to humankind. The UN General Assembly
declared 2011 the International Year of Chemistry and nominated UNESCO as the
lead UN Agency for the year.
New Zealand's launch kicks off this Wednesday with a fashion show - highlighting
the amazing Merino Gold, a Kiwi creation of gold atoms and fine merino yarn -
and a lecture by visiting Cambridge lecturer, Sir Richard Friend. UNESCO sees
the International Year of Chemistry as a way to inspire young New Zealand
scientists.
"Kiwi ingenuity and creativity is a legacy handed down to our youngest
scientists by world leading scientists such as Nobel Prize winner Ernest Lord
Rutherford whose revolutionary research saw the discovery of the nucleus," says
NZ National Commission for UNESCO Deputy Chair, Andrew Matthews.
"Each year UNESCO helps sponsor the annual Realise the Dream Awards that
celebrates our nation's leading junior scientists from schools throughout New
Zealand. Their intelligence and passion for science and how it can change our
world is truly awesome."
The Royal Society of NZ and the NZ Institute of Chemistry are partners in
promoting the year in New Zealand.
UNESCO Realise the Dream Senior Student Announced
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:40
Outstanding Cambridge High School Year 13 student, Jake Martin, has won this year’s UNESCO Senior Student Award in the national science and research, Realise the Dream competition.
“Jake’s innovative research has the potential produce some revolutionary new materials. For a scientist of any age, these inventions are truly exceptional,” says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
“UNESCO’s natural science programme aims to promote sustainable development options and champion science and research amongst secondary schools. Jake’s project encompasses both of these visions.”
Over the past year, Jake discovered that charcoal produced by his clean wood burning engine - last year’s supreme Realise the Dream winner - was paramagnetic. This was a significant discovery that saw him working long hours alongside scientists at WaikatoUniversity where he is also taking some university papers. As well as a top scientist and inventor, 18-year-old Jake is also a champion rower and House Leader at his college.
Twenty nine extraordinary science students from all over New Zealand are selected to take part in the annual Realise the Dream event that is organised by the Royal Society of New Zealand. Genesis Energy is the event’s principal sponsor, Dairy NZ and the NZ National Commission for UNESCO are supporting partners.
All participants took part in a six-day series of events in December 2009 with winners announced tonight at an awards dinner in Wellington.
“Every young researcher selected to take part in Realise the Dream are innovators and leaders in their fields. I congratulate them all on their determination, acumen and enquiring minds,” says Mr Gould.
UNESCO is the only United Nations specialised agency with a specific mandate to promote science and education. "Realise the Dream" sits within UNESCO's commitment to science and its recognition of the role the application of science plays in international cooperation towards peace, human rights and development.
Minushika Punchihewa aged 16 from Palmerston North Girls’ High School has won the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO Outstanding Student Award at the prestigious Genesis Energy’s Realise the Dream awards evening held and hosted by the Governor-General at Government House (Dec 14).
T
Find us on Facebook
