|
 Every year the United
Nations Association of New Zealand (Inc), (UNANZ) holds its
Annual Conference, Annual National Secondary School Speech Competition
and its Annual General Meting in May. In 2002, the dates are May
8, 9, 10, 11, 12. A different branch undertakes the responsibility
to host the event each year. The United Nations Association of New
Zealand (Inc) Northern Region Branch is hosting the event in 2002.
We
are fortunate to have the Auckland University
of Technology (AUT), co-hosting the UNANZ Conference 2002 with
us, and it will be held in the AUT Conference Center.
The
theme of the event is always based around the United Nations designated,
"International Year of." Recognizing its global importance,
the United Nations designated the year 2002 as the International
Year of Ecotourism and the International Year of Mountains, and
its Commission on Sustainable Development requested international
agencies, governments and the private sector to undertake supportive
activities. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) And the United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP) have joined forces in the preparation
and coordination of some activities to be undertaken at the international
level during the year.
It
is our hope that all speakers at the UNANZ Conference 2002 would
provoke and challenge people's thought processes "beyond the
square" so to speak.
Hopefully,
participants are then moved to create a new state of awareness and
are prompted to look at ways of how we can make our planet and those
who are a part of it, a safe and poison free place for our children
and grandchildren to live on. As you know, the state of our planet
is well documented by the United Nations, and many commentators
from all over the world. It is our sincere hope that people will
also be compelled into activity to achieve these ends. We believe
it is now time for action to redeem past mistakes, and prevent further
mistakes happening from now and into the future.
No
excuses any more. To this end, this year we have the opportunity
to focus on Ecotourism and the Mountains.
One
of the main objectives of the UNANZ Conference 2002 will be to devise
resolutions/remits that will be presented, via our New Zealand delegates,
to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,
South Africa, beginning on Monday, August 26, and concluding on
Wednesday, September 4, 2002.
|
