The United Nations “Citizen Ambassador to the UN” video contest encourages world citizens to voice their opinions to Heads of State and Government and weigh in on the decisions made by the member states of the United Nations. 

The innovative contest is hosted on the United Nations channel on YouTube on an annual basis, coinciding with the General Debate segment of the General Assembly and culminating on United Nations Day, 23 October.

The campaign is the latest in a series of initiatives launched by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which seek to utilize the power of the Internet and social networking to engage a new generation of world citizens in the importance of international diplomacy.

Winners will receive:

1. HD Mino Flip Cam courtesy of UN Foundation and Flip Video
2. Honorary title of "Citizen Ambassador to the UN" for two years
3. Complimentary flight + 2 night stay in New York City for UN Day 2010
4. Meeting and photo-op with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
5. VIP seating at UN Day Concert in the GA Hall at UNHQ
6. The winning videos will be screened at the UN by end of year 2010

For more information: http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/citizenambassadors/lang/en/home

I'm looking for research participants to take part in my master's project. Please contact me if interested or pass this along to others you think might want to participate.  Thank you.ShannonNOTE: please do not distribute this information to listservs without their permission. Thank you.

Now is your chance to incorporate ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION into your day-to-day lives!
Teachers and their families* are being provided with the opportunity to participate in an action-based environmental education program.
This program will enable teachers to explore and engage in environmentally responsible actions in their daily lives and achieve new life practices with the support of their families and other families in Saskatoon. 
Participants will be rewarded for their involvement and reimbursed for environmental resources and other costs incurred.

*The term “family” refers to a collective of individuals living in a household who identify themselves as a family. Voluntary involvement from the whole family is necessary. 
This 5 month research project will start in September, 2010. 
For more information, please contact Shannon Dyck SLD492@MAIL.USASK.CA or (306) 880-0373
This program is the focus of a Master’s research study being offered through the School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

“Our Treasures at Risk – World Heritage Sites in Times of Climate Change”

16 - 29 October 2010 in Mt Fuji/Nagoya, Japan 

1. Concept

Young people will have to bear the consequences of today's (in-)actions and decisions – therefore their points of view should play an important role at international conferences and in political decision-making. The Youth Forum Go4BioDiv-World Heritage, which will take place in parallel to COP10, is embedded into the broader framework of the UN-Year of Biodiversity and the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. It aims at raising awareness about the interdependencies of biological and cultural diversity and inter-generational responsibilities for the conservation of our global treasures. It offers young participants the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and exchange views on natural World Heritage Sites as the emblematic and visible ‘flagships’ of nature conservation, and the effects climate change has on these sites. This initiative carries on the achievements of the first Youth Forum Go4BioDiv held during COP9 in Bonn, Germany, in 2008.

2. The Venue and activities

Go4BioDiv activities will mainly be conducted in close contact with nature, at a camp near Mount Fuji. This exceptional cultural landscape is deeply associated with Japanese mountain worship and the country's artistic and literary tradition and thus a wonderful example of the intricate linkages between nature and culture. To present their messages and creative activities at COP10, participants will stay in Nagoya during the High-Level Segment of COP10. The young people will prepare a creative exhibition on natural World Heritage Sites and their personal experiences with photos, comics, videos, haiku poems or stories, previous to the Conference. When they come together at Mount Fuji, they will discuss and creatively engage with general issues of World Heritage sites and biodiversity conservation and present their messages at COP10 in the form of a joint declaration, creative side events, discussions with politicians and colourful stage performances.

3. Participants and Costs

The Youth Forum presents a unique opportunity to bring together young people from the most outstanding natural sites our planet has to offer. The participants, who live or work in natural World Heritage sites, will be young adults aged 18 to 28, representing more than fifteen natural sites from i.e. Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Tunisia, Cameroon, Congo, Vietnam, China, India, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Canada, Germany or the host country Japan. The cost for logistics (travel and accommodation in Japan, plus part of tutorship and creative elements) per participant is 3500 Euro, plus international flight and visa. These costs will have to be covered by projects, partners or national organizations. Preparative costs are covered by the German Ministry BMZ.

4. Timeline and Organisation

Sites and participants should be nominated by the end of June, since preparative works will start from July onwards. The following organisations support the Go4BioDiv-Youth Forum: Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, IUCN, GTZ, Tsukuba University and other partners.

Humanitarian Affairs United Kingdom in collaboration with the Malacca State Government would like to extend an invitation to 10 College Youths to participate in the Inaugural University Scholars Leadership Symposium from August 1 to 7, 2010 in Malacca, Malaysia.

Humanitarian Affairs seek to nurture next generation leaders to become world-class citizens with global vision and understanding of human needs. The Symposium allows young leaders the opportunity to understand more about the global humanitarian need, to learn how to organize a humanitarian relief and be challenged in their worldview.

The Prime-Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia has personally endorsed this initiative. Please see supporting letter from the Prime-Minister.

 This year, we are honoured to have many Extraordinary Speakers such as former Australian Diplomat Geraldine Cox who has devoted her life to the Homeless Children in Cambodia. A BBC documentary based on her story, My Khmer Heart, won the Hollywood Film Festival Documentary of the Year Award.  Another renowned Nobel Peace Prize candidate Tim Peters will share his experience on humanitarian relief for North Korea and how he has successfully helped the North Korea refugees to escape to third world countries.

The registration fee of USD650 includes 6 night accommodation at a 4-Stars Hotel (Mahkota Melaka), meals (3 Meals + 2 Coffee Breaks per day), local transportation,  field trips, site visits, guest lectures, workshop discussions, a souvenir T-shirt, Certificate of Participation, an Official Welcoming Dinner host by the Melaka State Government, and more importantly, the opportunity to network with future World Leaders.

Including Cambridge University, and also Asian top Universities such as University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha Woman’s University, University of Macau, the University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsing Hua University, University of Malaya, National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and 27 other top universities from various part of the world have confirmed their participation.

More information about the Symposium can be obtained from the Official Website  at www.universityscholars.org.uk or at the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service website at http://www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?article2328 and the United Nation Youth Flash for this month have encouraged Youth of All Nations to participate in this conference. Please see information at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/yfv7n4.htm

To facilitate planning, please send us the completed registration form of the future leaders whom you have nominated before 15th July 2010

Dear All,

Please be forwarded the following message from Mr. Sinamta Kalita (RCE Guwahati) to follow up the thematic discussion on ‘Better School for ESD’ during the 5th International RCE Conference in Curitiba. Simanta also kindly volunteered to take the lead in setting up a task-force for ‘Better School for ESD’. If you are interested in joining this task-force, please kindly let Simanta (simanta.kalita@ceeindia.org; rceguwahati@gmail.com) and the Global RCE Service Centre know.

We look forward to your active participation!

Warm regards,

The Global RCE Service Centre

***************

To:                          All the RCE Coordinators

From:                    Mr. Simanta Kalita, RCE Guwahati on behalf of the ‘Better Schools for ESD’ thematic network

Subject:               Thematic panels of resource persons

Dear RCE Colleagues across the World,

In the 5th RCE Conference in Curitiba, Brazil, during the thematic network discussion on ‘Better Schools for ESD’ held on the 20th May 2010, it was realized that most of the RCEs are engaged with schools and are involved in organizing training programmes and interaction programmes for teachers and students. Thus, it was felt that -

1.       There is a possibility of inter-RCE collaborations in School programmes

2.       If we can bring in resource person(s) from another RCE to the training/ interaction programmes, it will add value to the programmes, motivate participants and draw media attraction

3.       Wherever possible, RCEs may try to bring in external resource person(s) from another RCE. But, it may not be possible always

4.       Hence, we may take help of IT tools like ‘Skype’ to virtually bringing in resource persons to different programmes.

5.       While, RCEs have the liberty of contacting individual resource persons from other RCEs, it was felt that Thematic panels of identified resource persons for various School related subject areas may be of immense help to all RCEs.

6.       Thus, Mr. Simanta Kalita of RCE Guwahati was given responsibility of compiling a list of resource persons who can volunteer to contribute in School related programmes either by physically going and interacting (if budget permits) or through ‘Skype’.

7.       The following subject areas were identified during the meeting for which we are requesting for volunteer resource persons from all RCEs across the globe-

a.       Climate change

b.      Sustainable Consumption and Production

c.       Wildlife Biodiversity

d.      Plant Biodiversity

e.      Agro Biodiversity

f.        Water issues

g.       Waste management

h.      Disaster Risk Reduction

i.         Ethics, values and traditional knowledge

j.        Poverty and livelihood issues

k.       Human Migration

l.         Energy issues

As the thematic network gave the responsibility of identifying and enlisting the resource persons onto me, thus, I am writing this mail to you for your kind suggestions. Kindly fill in the attached format and mail back to me at simanta.kalita@ceeindia.org and rceguwahati@gmail.com with a copy to RCE Service Centre. The attached format has a sample entry for your reference. Just delete the entries before filling it.

With sincere thanks,

Simanta Kalita

RCE Guwahati Coordinator