UNA - USA: Greater Seattle Chapter

11/12 Friday Film Night @ St. Mark's 7pm

2010-11-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
Nov. 12
Expiration Date (2006, NR, 94 minutes, USA)
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month: A special joint event with
First Nations Committee (Diocese of Olympia); Special guest Rick Stevenson,
film maker; Venue: Bloedel Hall

Death interrupted: a romance

Charlie Silvercould III carries around a family curse passed down from his
grandfather; death by a milk truck on his 25th birthday. With eight days left,
Charlie accepts his fate and starts taking care of his unfinished business,
like watering his plants and returning his library books and so on. But while
he's out casket hunting, he meets a girl who just won't let him die in peace.
Rick Stevenson writes and directs this dark romantic comedy, which is set in
Seattle

Winner of 17 awards including American Indian Film Festival, Bluegrass
Independent Film Festival, Durango Film Festival, Ojai Film Festival, Rhode
Island Int'l Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival

Beehive Design Collective

2010-11-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

I recommend you not miss this appearance by the radical young activist-artist collective from Maine. They are prodigious! I plan on being there.

FREE

TUESDAY, November 9, 6 pm.

Wyckoff Auditorium is in Bannan, the giant engineering building. one block west of 12th, between Marion and Columbia.

Friday Film Night 11/5

2010-11-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

Film: Maboroshi No Hikari
When: Friday, November 5, 2010
Time: 7:30pm
Where: St. Mark's Cathedral, Leffler House

Maboroshi No Hikari aka Maborosi (1995, NR, 110 minutes, Japan)

Life in the Shadow of Death

Translated as “mirage,” Moborosi follows the spiritual odyssey of Yumiko, a
young Japanese woman recovering from her husband's inexplicable suicide. But
that description doesn't begin to evoke the essence of a movie that is a
pictorial tone poem of astonishing visual intensity and emotional depth.
Haunted by the disappearance of her grandmother years ago, and distraught over
the apparent suicide of her husband, Yumiko eventually finds love again in the
form of a fisherman who's also lost his spouse. But when Yumiko discovers that
her husband's death may not have been self-inflicted, old doubts and pains
resurface. Hirokazu Koreeda directs this exquisitely beautiful, meditative and
award-winning drama.

*Winner of 9 awards including Awards of the Japanese Academy, Brothers Manaiki
Int’l Film Festival, Chicago Int’l Film Festival, Mainichi Film Concours,
Vancouver Int’l Film Festival, Venice Film Festival

*Suggested donation is $1. For more information, contact
filmnight@saintmarks.org. For detailed schedule information, please visit:
http://www.saintmarks.org/JusticeMinistries/FridayNightFilms.php

Eastside Networking Event Tomorrow!

2010-10-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Starts:	Thursday October 28, 2010, 06:00PM PDT
Ends:	Thursday October 28, 2010, 09:00PM PDT
Event Type:	Networking/Meetup
Location:	Rock Bottom Brewery 550 106th Ave Ne #103 Bellevue, WA 98004 US
Price:	Free
Website:	http://www.rockbottom.com
Industry:
Keywords:	High Tech, Financial, Mortgage, Business Development, Social Media, Start-ups, Networkers!
Intended For:	Anyone who is interested in building their professional network should attend!
Organization:	http://eastsidenetworkingevent.com/

This event is for everyone! We had over 300 networking professionals attend the last event and what a group of highly qualified and successful individuals. This event is attracting the best of the best from companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia, Facebook, Google and some of the hottest start-ups in the Seattle area . Whether your looking for a job, Trying to fill a position or just trying to network for business purposes this event has it all.

UN Day A Great Success!!!

2010-10-25T12:06:00.001-07:00

Read about it here:

http://humanosphere.kplu.org/2010/10/how-did-you-celebrate-un-day/

Buy your UN DAY Tickets ASAP!!

2010-10-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

UN Day is this Sunday 10/24.

Please reserve a spot at this great event by purchasing your tickets at:
brownpapertickets.com/event/131710

For more info regarding this event, scroll down or visit www.unaseattle.org

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2010-10-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

October 17

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.

At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half by the year 2015 the number of people living in extreme poverty - people whose income is less than one dollar a day.

The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty -- “Working together out of poverty” -- highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate actively.

Links to United Nations Sites:

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty(Department of Public Information)
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty(Department of Economic and Social Affairs)
1st UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)
UN Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Campaign - Voices Against Poverty
Poverty Curriculum (Cyberschoolbus)

World Food Day 2010

2010-10-16T14:45:00.001-07:00

October 16th is United Nations World Food Day, observed annually on the occasion of the founding in 1945 of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO. This year's theme is "United Against Hunger."
New numbers from a joint report by the FAO and the UN World Food Program indicate that the number of chronically hungry people has fallen for the first time in fifteen years, dropping from just over one billion to nine hundred twenty five million. Nonetheless, this still means that nearly one of every six people goes to bed hungry every night.

The hungry are mostly the rural poor living in developing countries, mostly subsistence farmers, mostly women and children. And most of them live in Asia or South America, and especially Africa.
Hunger is a consequence of poverty, and also one of its causes. Hunger exists because many countries lack social safety nets; because in many countries women, although they do most of the farming, do not have as much access as men to training, credit or land. Conflict, governance systems that do not encourage investment in agriculture; poor management of land and natural resources, lack of educational opportunity, displacement of small farmers by natural disasters; and financial and economic crises that eliminate jobs at the lowest levels, all contribute toward creating conditions that push the poorest into hunger.
If we are to reach the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal of cutting in half the proportion of people suffering from hunger by the year 2015, public and private sectors, whether they be local, national or international in scope, we need to work together to eliminate hunger by giving the poor the tools they need to help themselves.
Ending gender inequality, and empowering women farmers by giving them equal access to training and credit are necessary steps towards ending hunger. Improving small farmers’ access to both domestic and international markets would also help. But the most acute need is for increased investment in the agricultural sectors of countries with the highest numbers of people living in food insecurity.

"With a child dying every 6 seconds because of undernourishment related problems, hunger remains the world's largest tragedy and scandal," said UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Director-General Jacques Diouf. "This is absolutely unacceptable."

Film Event Sat 10/16 @ UW

2010-10-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Dear past, present and future supporter of FRIDAY FILM NIGHT,

Here is info from our friends at Anakbayan, The Arts Kollective, PUSO, and Pinay sa Seattle re: a film event this coming Saturday, Oct. 16th at UW Ethnic Cultural Center. The film is titled DUKOT (loosely translated as Abducted), a Philippine film made in 2009.

There will be a meet and greet session prior to the screening and a panel discussion to follow after the screening. Expected to attend are the director (Joel Lamangan), one of the actors (TBD) and Melissa Roxas (a US citizen who was tortured by the Philippine military). Mr. Lamangan is a highly revered director in the Philippines, who incidentally was a budding actor in one of the greatest Philippine films ever made (1982), titled HIMALA aka Miracle, which Friday Film Night screened in May of 2009.

Thanks and see you at the movies,
Jerry
FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
Saint Mark's Cathedral

Dates From October 15, 2010 6:00 PM
Through October 16, 2010 6:00 PM

Location
UW Ethnic Cultural Theater
3940 Brooklyn Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98145 [map it!]

Price $10.00

Info Line 2063000927
Website http://www.dukot.com/

Contact Donna Denina

2063000927
dukotustour@gmail.com

Description
Written by: Bonifacio P. Ilagan
Directed by: Joel C. Lamangan

Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of militant activists, crusading journalists and government critics constitute one of the more disturbing phenomena in recent years in the Philippines.

Since 2001 when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became president, over a thousand cases have been recorded by the human rights organization Karapatan. Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, who came, looked into the situation, and filed a report indicting the present government for the "culture of impunity" now reigning in the country.

The Philippine government has flatly rejected responsibility and denied complicity in these heinous crimes, professing adherence to the Bill of Rights and to all international protocols on human rights.

"Dukot" could very well be the first full-length film that gives the lie to the claim. It deals squarely with the "culture of impunity" that has, of late, made possible the Maguindano massacre of 57 people, including 31 journalists.

In this horrid sojourn in search of the missing, the story of Junix and Maricel – and the seething unrest and its consequent social movement in the Philippines – unravels.

"Dukot" is based on true stories. All incidents in it have actually happened.

About Pinay sa Seattle:
PINAY* sa Seattle-GABRIELA USA is a collective of Filipinas celebrating multifaceted identities, revolutionary history, and rich culture. We work to build a community in the Seattle area invested in educating, defending, and advocating for the human rights of Filipinas globally.

About PUSO
PUSO - “heart” in Tagalog - is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Filipino people’s National Democratic struggle social and economic justice and self determination. Based in Seattle, PUSO upholds the human rights of Filipinos and participates in building international people’s solidarity.

Friday Film 10/15 @ St. Mark's 7:30pm

2010-10-13T23:20:00.001-07:00

Friday Film Night @ St. Mark's Cathedral! Friday, October 15th @ 7:30pm

Film: A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash (2006, NR, 83 minutes, US)A special collaboration with United Nations Association - Seattle Chapter

CLIMATE CHANGE: The Four Challenges to Sustainability will be presented by Doug
Smith, UNA Environmental Affairs Adviser preceding the film

Location: Bloedel Hall (western edge of Saint Mark's Cathedral -1245 10th Ave E)Suggested donation: $5

Desperately seeking alternative energy!

Award-winning filmmakers Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack examine the world's dependency on oil and the impending chaos that's sure to follow when the resource is dry in this straight-from-the-headlines documentary.

Starting tomorrow!

2010-10-04T09:39:00.001-07:00

October 5, 2010

Food: Eating Your Environment – UW’s premier lecture series of the year

Join the University of Washington for a conversation about food, from its security and politics to consumption.

Food: Eating Your Environment is the UW’s premier lecture series of the year. It will touch on all things food related—from field to kitchen and spanning the globe from Seattle to the deserts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Bringing public intellectuals as well as practitioners to campus, we will collectively explore the most personal yet public resource relevant in our world: food.

Among others, hear from 2009 World Food Prize recipient Gebisa Ejeta, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust Cary Fowler, and managing editor of the 1988 Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health Marion Nestle.

When:
Tuesdays, Oct. 5–Nov. 30, 2010 from 6:30–8 p.m.

Where:
Kane Hall, UW Seattle

Cost:
Free and open to the public

Get more information and register online…

To guarantee your seat, advance registration is offered for your convenience.

Learn more at UWalum.com/food.

Other lectures in the series are: http://www.washington.edu/alumni/learn/poe/2010food.html.

UNA of Greater Seattle is promotional co-sponsor.

Scroll down for job/networking info this weekend!

2010-09-30T11:30:00.001-07:00

From Infidel to Nomad: A Conversation with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

2010-09-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Author and Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute

Wednesday September 29, 2010

Register: 6:30pm
Program: 7pm
Cost:
$30 members
$45 non-members
$30 students

Location:

Town Hall Seattle
1119 Eighth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

http://world-affairs.org/event_Ayaan_Hirsi_Ali.htm

An outspoken speaker on women's rights in Islamic societies, the relationship between the West and Islam, and Islam in Europe, Ayaan Hirsi Ali will discuss her life since leaving the Netherlands, her attempt to reconcile her Islamic past with her passionate adherence to democracy and Western values. She will address her most-recent bookNomad, including her views on why the West must compete with the jihadis for the hearts and minds of its own Muslim immigrant populations, and how three key institutions of the West—universities, the feminist movement, and the Christian churches—can help Muslim immigrants to resist the fatal allure of fundamentalism and terrorism.

The World Affairs Council presents author Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Ms. Hirsi Ali escaped an arranged marriage by immigrating to the Netherlands in 1992. As a member of the Dutch parliament from 2003 to 2006, she worked on furthering the integration of non-Western immigrants into Dutch society and defending the rights of women in Dutch Muslim society. In 2004, together with director Theo van Gogh, she made a film, Submission, about the oppression of women in conservative Islamic cultures. The airing of the film on Dutch television resulted in the assassination of Mr. van Gogh by an Islamic extremist and a death threat issued against Ms. Hirsi Ali. She again made headlines when she was to be stripped of her citizenship and resigned from the Dutch parliament.

Ms. Hirsi Ali has been recognized as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” and as Reader’s Digest’s “European of the Year”. Her internationally-acclaimed, bestselling memoir, Infidel, was published in 2007. Her most recent book,Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations, was published by Free Press in May. A Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Ms. Hirsi Ali established the AHA Foundation in 2007 to help protect and defend the rights of women in the West against militant Islam.

Note: This event will be a moderated discussion with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions in writing during the event. Submit your questions in advance by emailing us at wac@world-affairs.org.
Books provided by The Elliott Bay Book Company.

Volunteer!

2010-09-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

Forest Restoration in the West Duwamish Greenbelt

Date: Saturday, Octobr 2, 2010 10am-2pm

Location: Various (4408 Delridge Way SW Seattle, WA 98106-1347)

Facility/site: Various locations in the Greenbelt in neighborhoods West of Seattle

Event type: Community, Nature/Environment, Volunteer/Work Party, Youth

Contact: Amy Truax

Phone: 206.923.0853

Email: volunteer@naturec.org

Pre-register: YES

Registration details: RSVP by contacting Amy Truax, or visit their website at www.naturec.org/volunteer

Event Description: Help Nature Consotrium restore the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the

largest remaining contiguous forest in Seattle! The greenbelt is over 500 acres of forest located on the

Eastern edge of West Seattle. We always need volunteers to help pull invasive species, mulch, and plant

native plants and conifers.

Volunteers should be able to handle basic garden tools and be able to hike 7-10 minutes to the restoration

site. Minimum age for this opportunity is 13 years and older.

Job Interview Basics

2010-09-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Job Interview Basics at the Rainier Beach Branch

Fri, October 1, 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Summary: Do you have an upcoming job interview? Do you want to know how to stand out as the

best candidate for the job?

Contact: fps.lqs@gmail.com

http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=calendar

How to Conduct a Networking Campaign

2010-09-28T14:49:00.001-07:00

Job Search

How to Conduct a Networking Campaign
Details It is best to be on-site 45-60 minutes before the class starts. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes before the event. 36 tickets maximum.

In this workshop, jobseekers will learn to build and expand a network of contacts to generate referrals, set up informational interviews and improve their interactive/communication skills with the goal of transitioning into new opportunities and potential career options.

If you are in need of accommodation or translation services to participate in this workshop, please notify the Front Desk in advance.
When 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM
10/1/2010
Main Contact Customer Service
Contact Phone 425-861-3700 / TTY 425-861-3708
Location Name Redmond
Location Details WorkSource Redmond
7735 178th PL NE
Redmond, WA 98052
Event Type
Workshop
Event Category
Job Search

http://www.worksourceskc.org/events/calendar/event-view.asp?EventID=7272&year=2010&month=10&Cats=205&Cal=187...

Keep an eye out for updates in the news!

2010-09-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

UNA-USA's Council of Organizations invites you to This is the United Nations-Focus on Haiti and Pakistan A Seminar Series about the UN September 27-October 25, 2010 3:00-4:00 PM This week: From Haiti to Pakistan: How the US and the UN Work Together to Respond to Crises Monday September 27, 2010 3:00-4:00 PM Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2456 Capitol Hill Washington, DC (Capitol South Metro Station on Blue/Orange Lines) Featured Speaker Will Davis, Director UN Information Center-Washington Host Carole Conors, Co-Chair, UNA-USA's Council of Organizations Executive Committee; League of Women Voters of the United States In a speech on September 15, Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, stated, “International organizations enable us to rally a global response to critical needs. We saw this response when the U.S., UN and international community responded immediately to catastrophic natural disasters in Haiti and Pakistan. Indeed working with the UN and the international community were integral parts of the U.S. response to the humanitarian crises in Haiti and Pakistan.” Yet despite this clear need for US cooperation with the UN, the UN still suffers from a perception here in the US that it is little more than a talk shop. The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. In the case of large humanitarian crises, like the recent floods in Pakistan, the UN is the international community’s first responder, bringing to bear full resources of the network of Funds, Programs and Specialized Agencies that make up today’s UN system. In many instances, when disaster strikes, the UN is already on the ground, as with the devastating earthquake in Haiti from earlier this year. Want to know more? Join us on September 27 to learn about the importance of the US-UN relationship in responding to crises around the world. These sessions are open to the public. For last minute event updates, such as room changes, please revisit this website.
Location:	Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2456 Capitol Hill Washington, DC (Capitol South Metro Station on Blue/Orange Lines)
Contact:	Jessica Hartl, jhartl@unausa.org, 202-462-3446.

Friday Film Night 9/24

2010-09-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Friday, Sept. 24th, we're presenting a Sundance Film Festival
award-winning documentary, AFGHAN STAR.

For the Friday that follows, on Oct. 1, look forward to our screening of UN PROHETE,
a recipient of multiple awards that include Cannes Film Festival.

Sept. 24
AFGHAN STAR
(2008, NR, 88 minutes, UK)

"American Idol" after 3 decades of Taliban rule

In “Afghan Star,” an engrossing documentary, suspense surrounds a talent
competition that becomes a national obsession, lending a steady narrative drive
to this portrait of an “American Idol”-style television show in Afghanistan.
The excitement is more than a matter of who will win. The movie uses the talent
show “Afghan Star” as a prism through which to examine the fragmented tribal
culture of Afghanistan as reflected in the backgrounds of four finalists (two
of them women) and the public responses to their performances. It reveals a
precedent in this suppressed and war-torn nation: all ethnicities, genders and
age groups are equal -- but everyone competing risks their lives to sing for
enthused audiences

Winner of 2 awards at Sundance Film Festival

Oct. 1
UN PROPHETE aka A Prophet
(2009, R , 155 minutes, France)

Artifacts of French colonialism die hard.

After refusing to snitch, 18-year-old Arab Malik is thrown
into a French prison, where the Corsican mafia rules with a firm fist. The
obedient newcomer slowly rises through the organization's ranks but soon
begins to double-cross his superiors. The New York Times film review
describes this as the story of the education of a young man within a
specific social order and as a potential allegory about France and its uneasy
relations with generations of Arab immigrants and their children.
A follow-up to his 2005 gem The Beat My Heart Skipped,
French director Jacques Audiard's Un Prophete was nominated for an Oscar
for Best Foreign Language Film.

Winner of 25 awards including BAFTA Awards,Cannes Film Festival, Cesar Awards,
London Critics Circle Film Awards, National Board of Review USA, Etoile d'Or

FRIDAY FILM NIGHT aims to to inform, to pique curiosity, to
trigger discovery as well as to inspire, in support of Church in
the World Ministries Mission to work boldly for justice,
reconciliation and peace among all people, to resist injustices
perpetuated against the earth and its inhabitants and
to engage the entire community of Saint Mark’s by creating
awareness of and fostering responsibility for our impact on the world.

Each Friday evening, @ 7:30 pm, a powerful drama, hilarious comedy,or
insightful documentary is screened and discussed in the good
company of our congregants, friends, and neighbors, at the Leffler House Living Room,
next to the Cathedral Shop, south of the Cathedral, a mere stone's throw
away.

A ministry initiative of Church in the World Ministries.

Suggested donation is $1.

For more information, contact filmnight@saintmarks.org.

visit: http://www.saintmarks.org/JusticeMinistries/FridayNightFilms.php

Thanks and see you at the movies,
Jerry de Guzman
FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
Saint Mark's Cathedral

Missed Goals: UNMDG's

2010-09-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Missed Goals
Rich nations have not contributed the money needed to make the so-called
Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) a reality. They have to deliver.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/opinion/23thu1.html?th&emc=th

NY Times - Kristof on the MDGs: Boast, Build and Sell
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
It's been 10 years since world leaders created eight
antipoverty goals to be achieved by 2015. Here are three
suggestions to aid and inspire the process.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/opinion/23kristof.html?th&emc=th

Obama's Speech to the UN

2010-09-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

President Obama's speech to the United Nations General Assembly
Thursday, September 23, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/politics/24obama-text.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Today is Social Good Day

2010-09-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Social Good Day (Th 9/2310)

Can Social Media Make The World a Better Place? We Think So.

Mashable and RED invite you to attend or organize a meetup in your community to celebrate, share, educate, and engage in a discussion on how social media can be used to tackle some of the world’s social challenges and issues, in particular how it can be used to help fight AIDS in Africa.

How to join Social Good Day:

Sign up to attend or organize your own Social Good Day meetup on September 23rd on the Mashables Meetup Everywhere
Join (RED) on Facebook and Twitter to share your ideas on how to help fight AIDS in Africa using social media.
Tweet about what your solution is, using the #socialgood hashtag. We’d love to hear your solutions @mashable & @joinred. (RED) will host a stream of tweets including the hashtag on its website. Write a blog post and share it.
Post to Facebook about what you or your company is doing.
Record a video about your solution and upload to YouTube with #socialgood tag
Get inspired by watching the 30-minute Spike Jonze and Lance Bangs documentary 'The Lazarus Effect' on YouTube. Presented by (RED) and HBO the film follows the story of HIV positive people in Africa who in as few as 40 days undergo a remarkable transformation thanks to access to treatment.

For more information go to: http://www.joinred.com/social_good_day/index.html%20or%20http://blog.joinred.com/2010/09/join-red-mashable-in-celebrating-social.html

UNA Seattle's Annual Meeting this Saturday 9/25

2010-09-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

65--But NOT RETIRING!

Annual Meeting to Reflect on the 65 Year History of the United Nations and the UNA

The annual meeting of the Greater Seattle Chapter convenes on Saturday, September 25 at 10:00 am in the Fireside Room of the University Temple Methodist Church. By way of acknowledging sixty-five years of support for the United Nations, we would like to reminisce a little about seven decades of that effort.

The morning begins with a panel, four people with stories to tell about the life of the organization, starting with long time activists, Pat Baillargeon, who traveled with Eleanor Roosevelt organizing citizen support for the nascent United Nations, and Kay Bullitt, who remembers joining the UNA sixty years ago. Our other panelists, Sahar Fathi and Amanda Lazarone, are associated with the Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC). Further, Sahar clerked for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and Amanda served as research associate and coordinator for the Kofi Annan Papers Project.

With warmest regards, we invite longtime members, new members, and those associated with the Chapter at one time, to come with stories to tell about the Chapter's work across seven decades of UN and UNA history. And come, too, with ideas about the future goals. What do you want the United Nations to accomplish in the next decades? As usual, we will have coffee, cookies, and election of officers and board members.

Friday Film Night 9/3

2010-09-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

As a prelude to the fall season, we're presenting a critically acclaimed film
from Israel titled AJAMI this Friday 9/3 at 7:30pm.

For the Friday that follows, on Sept. 10th, look forward to our screening of a
documentary titled GREAT SPEECHES FROM A DYING WORLD.

This film, we hope, will set the stage for SMC's hosting of Tent City 3,
which commences during the last weekend of September.
Homeless Advocacy Ministry will host this special Friday Film Night event.

See details below and please spread the word.

FRIDAY FILM NIGHT aims to to inform, to pique curiosity, to
trigger discovery as well as to inspire, in support of Church in
the World Ministries Mission to work boldly for justice, reconciliation and
peace among all people, to resist injustices perpetuated   against theearth
and its inhabitants and to engage the entire community of Saint Mark’s by
creating awareness of and   fostering responsibility for our impact on the world.

Each Friday evening, a powerful drama, hilarious comedy, or insightful
documentary is screened and discussed in the good company of our
congregants, friends, and neighbors, at the Leffler House Living Room,
next to the Cathedral Shop, south of the Cathedral, a mere stone's throw
away.

A ministry initiative of Church in the World Ministries.

Suggested donation is $1.
For more information, contact filmnight@saintmarks.org.

To view the September schedule (which will be available after the Labor Day
weekend), visit:
http://www.saintmarks.org/JusticeMinistries/FridayNightFilms.php

Thanks and see you at the movies,
Jerry de Guzman
FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
Saint   Mark's Cathedral

Sept. 3
Ajami
(2009, NR , 120 minutes, Israel)

Is the race for money, love and power, universal?

When their uncle wounds an important clan member, 13-year-old Nasri and his
older   brother, Omar, fear he has put their

whole family in terrible   danger in this moving, Oscar-nominated drama set on
the West Bank. A truce is   arranged, but Omar must start selling drugs to pay
the fine he now owes. Meanwhile, a number of other locals struggle to
negotiate the political and social tinderbox of Jaffa's Ajami neighborhood.

A NY Times film review of this NYT Film Critics' Pick comments: "The petty
machinactions of the police, drug dealers and influence peddlers in Ajami unfold
in a context of political conflict and communal mistrust........
where bonds of family and friendship can be both sustaining and fatal."

Sept 10
GREAT SPEECHES FROM A DYING WORLD (2007, NR, 92 minutes, USA)

Broken dreams and oratory from the streets of Seattle: reflecting on Tent City 3

A unique and compassionate exploration of the hard luck, wrong turns, and
broken dreams that reside on the streets of Seattle. This unsettling and
honest documentary uncovers the stories and struggles of 9 Seattle homeless
people who recite famous speeches from history ……from Shakespeare to JFK to
Chief Sealth.

From the 2006 award-winning director of "Walking to Werner" (Seattle Int'l Film
Festival, Northampton Film Festival, Newport Documentary Film Festival)

Observations and Stories of a Journey to Iran

2010-08-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

August 25, 2010

Location: Saint Mark’s Cathedral – Bloedel Hall

Time: August 25, 2010 7-8:30pm (please arrive early)

1245 Tenth Avenue East
Seattle, WA

Hear about the perplexities and challenges of contemporary Iran.

Abdi Sami and Brooke Loughrin our 18 year old delegation member will make an audio visual presentation on UNA’s delegation journey of April 2010 to Iran. Abdi and some of the delegation members will answer your questions after the presentation. Abdi was Associate Producer of the highly successful “Rick Steves’ Iran” on public television and has led two UNA delegations to Iran in the past two years.

Tonight 8/6 6pm @ Green Lake

2010-08-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

-- "FROM HIROSHIMA TO HOPE" --

LANTERN FLOATING PEACE CEREMONY AT GREEN LAKE,FRIDAY AUGUST 6

From Hiroshima to Hope, Seattle's annual peace event honoring the victims of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and all victims of war and violence, takes place from 6:00 pm. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 6 at Green Lake, just south of the Seattle Public Theater.

This year's commemoration marks the 65th anniversary of the bombings, and the 25^th anniversaryof the From Hiroshima to Hopecommemoration event in Seattle.

The Seattle event, which concludes with the floating of the lanterns on the lake at dusk, has grown to be one of the largest commemoration held anywhere outside of Japan. More than 1,000 attendees are expected again this year.

This year's keynote speaker is Mona Akmal, co-founder of Dreamfly, a local non-profit organization working to improve education and health for children inAfghanistan and Pakistan. Dreamfly has built schools in the two countries, and develops programs to enhance the well-being of children and help them develop into strong contributors to their communities. The program also features two poets from the Hope for Youth program of El Centro de la Raza: Christina Garcia, a poet and El Centro Youth Board Member, and Vivi Perez, a young poet and rising local hip hop artist.

Pre-event activities begin at 6:00 p.m. and include lantern calligraphy, folding of peace cranes and a Meditation Space sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. The program begins at 7 p.m. with performances by Gene Tagaban, a noted Tlingit/Cherokee storyteller, dancer and musician, and Seattle Kokon Taiko, a Japanese-American taiko drum performance group. At 8 PM, the program continues with keynote speaker Akmal, readings by the youth poets, as well as additional musical performances. The program concludes with the Toro Nagashi lantern floating ceremony at dusk, with music by Marcia Takamura, koto, andJames Jennings, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboos flute).

From Hiroshima to Hope has been organized by local peace, faith and community organizations every August 6th since 1985. The many sponsors include Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, Peace Action of Washington, the United Nations Association, WA Chapter, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund.

The From Hiroshima to Hope commemorative event offers the hope to resolve our conflicts without violence and to join hands together in friendship to walk the pathway to peace. The Seattle Public Theater (formerly Bathhouse Theater) is located at 7312 West Green Lake Drive North, served by Metro bus routes #16, #48, #358. For more event information, please call 206-453-4471.

2010-08-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

VOLUNTEER for the

United Nations Association of Seattle’s

65th UN Day Celebration!

October 24, 2010

Benefits: -1st Year UNA membership free

-Help your local community connect globally

-Meet with world leaders & decision makers

UN Day Events @ the Seattle Center:

1a. Conference Topics with guest speakers and a Q&A to follow:

A. Health: “Give a Hand for Global Health”

B. Environment: “Green Me, Greener Earth”

C. Peace: “Consequences of War” & “Preemptive Peace through MDG’s”

1b. Exhibits - MGD driving technology company’s, charity’s and organizations

2. Festival—Music, art, dance, competitions

3. Gala— dinner, auction, awards, reception

We need 50-100 volunteers for the following:

Pre-event: -Phone bank, data entry, volunteer recruitment

Day of: -UN Day headquarters operation (registration)

-Conference/Exhibit Operation

-Festival Operations

-Gala Operations

Contact:

Sachi Maekawa, UNA-Seattle YPIC Chair

ypicseattle@gmail.com

(206) 795-2618

www.unaseattle.org • www.ypicseattle@blogspot.org

Water

2010-07-16T17:03:00.001-07:00

Water as Human Right Threatens to Split World Body
http://act.commondreams.org/go/1478?akid=115.63961.feTNCm&t=2

Eyewitness report on a trip to Gaza!!

2010-07-16T09:36:00.001-07:00

July 18, 2010 Eyewitness report on a trip to Gaza

Location: University Temple United Methodist Church chapel

1415 NE 43rd Street
Seattle, WA

In May, members of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) traveled to the
Gaza Strip. While there, the delegation of nine provided humanitarian services and support for
hundreds of patients and colleagues in Gaza. The medical delegation included specialists in
the fields of cardiology, neurosurgery, urology, psychiatry, orthopedics,oncology and grief and
bereavement. In addition to clinical work, the delegation toured the small area of land and met
with hundreds of individuals to learn more about the consequences of the ongoing siege.

On July 18th, WPSR delegates from the Seattle area will give an eyewitness report on what
they saw, did and learned while in Gaza.

Please join us for an informative presentation followed by a time for discussion. The program
begins at 7:00 pm at the chapel at University Temple United Methodist Church, at
1415 NE 43rd Street.

This presentation is co-sponsored by Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility,
the Church and Society team of University Temple United Methodist Church,
United Nations Association of Greater Seattle, and Interfaith Network of Concern for
the People of Iraq.

For more information, please contact Collin Tong at collin_tong@yahoo.com or [206] 782-5802.

Friday Film Night in Capitol Hill

2010-07-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Friday Film Night at St. Mark's Cathedral's Leffler House Living Room, next to the Cathedral Shop at 7:30pm. Suggested donation is $1.

July 16
La Mujer Sin Cabeza (2008, NR, 87 minutes, Argentina)

A country's historical memory denied

In "The Headless Woman," after she runs over   something with her car -- maybe
a  dog, maybe a human -- affluent dentist Verónica suffers a strange breakdown and finds she can't recognize familiar faces in her rural Argentine town. Stephen Holden, a NY Times film critic, exclaims that the story's focus on Verónica’s brief meltdown is quite possibly "a meditation on Argentina’s   historical memory." Director Lucrecia Martel's third feature, a loosely structured, visually complex reflection on grief, guilt and class relations, was nominated for the  Palme   d'Or at the 2008 Cannes    Film Festival.

July 23
Iraq in Fragments (2006, NR , 94 minutes, USA)

Political vision confronted by human reality

Honored with an Oscar nod, director James Longley's striking portrait of a
nation divided presents a collage of images and commentary by ordinary Iraqi
citizens coping with the effects of war, political unrest, religious feuds
and an   unclear future. The film moves beyond the abstract, powerfully   capturing the indelible humanity of those living in a   battle-scarred country that finds itself defined by conflict. Filmed during trips to Iraq between February 2003 and April of last year, it offers no ready answers, nor does it argue for a particular point of view, but the film is not easily summarized as a text of hope or a brief for despair. It is instead an invitation to look again and afresh at a country many Americans may be tired of thinking about, and to be reminded of the complicated human reality underneath the politics.

Winner of 10 awards including Amnesty Int'l Film Festival, Chicago Int'l Film
Festival, Gotham Awards, Human Rights Watch Int'l Film Festival, Sundance Film
Festival.

July 11th - World Population Day

2010-07-12T10:31:00.001-07:00

World Population Day was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989 as a way to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues.

It was an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987. http://www.unfpa.org/public/wpd

Theme 2010: Everyone Counts
Each year UNFPA selects a different theme to rally around. World Population Day 2010, Everyone Counts, will underscore the importance of data for development. It will foster an understanding of why reliable, disaggregated data is so crucial to progress and encourage people to participate in the census and other data collection efforts.
http://www.unfpa.org/public/site/global/lang/en/world-population-day

Participation
People around the world observe World Population Day in different ways. Many UNFPA Country Offices and other institutions mark the day with celebrations, poster or essay contests, sports events concerts or other activities to bring attention to population issues.

UN News Center

2010-07-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

For the most up to date UN related news, visit http://www.un. org/news/

Tonight: Seattle Conference on Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

2010-06-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE CONFERENCE ON GAZA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Friday, June 25th at 7 PM

St. Mark's Cathedral's Bloedel Hall., Capitol Hill, Seattle

In light of the recent Mavi Marmara disaster, we invite you to attend a conference on the Gaza humanitarian crisis organized by

Sabeel of Puget Sound

SPEAKERS:

Steven Niva of Evergreen College--failures of U.S. policy regarding Gaza

Richard Silverstein--rising tide of political repression within Israeli society

Dave Schermerhorn--his experience as a passenger on the Mavi Marmara

Hazim Shafi, whose uncle is Haidar Abdul Shafi, a former senior Palestinian leader--his family's current suffering while living in Gaza

You will be able to donate to Gaza relief.

Please join us and express your conviction that Gaza needs a new and fair deal from the U.S., Israel and the world community: end the siege, talk to Hamas, and create a credible international investigation of the Gaza flotilla tragedy.

Tonight: Friday Night Film Night @ St. Mark's

2010-06-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

Looking to expand your awareness of the US government's policy and modus operandi on torture?
Join us during our June 25th screening of TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE.

FRIDAY FILM NIGHT aims to to inform, to pique curiosity, to trigger discovery as
well as to inspire, in support of Church in the World Ministries Mission to work boldly for
justice, reconciliation and peace among all people, to resist injustices perpetuated against the
earth and its inhabitants and to engage the entire community of Saint Mark’s by creating
awareness of and fostering responsibility for our impact on the world.

Each Friday evening, a powerful drama, hilarious comedy,or insightful documentary is
screened and discussed in the good company of our congregants,
friends, and neighbors, at the Leffler House Living Room, next to the
Cathedral Shop, south of the Cathedral, a mere stone's throw away.

A ministry initiative of Church in the World Ministries.

Suggested donation is $1. For more information, contact filmnight@saintmark s.org.
To view the June schedule, visit:
http://www.saintmar ks.org/JusticeMi nistries/ FridayNightFilms .php

Thanks and see you at the movies,
Jerry de Guzman
FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
Saint Mark's Cathedral

June 25
Taxi to the Dark Side (2007, R, 106 minutes, USA)

Hidden from view:
Torture - Policy and Action under Bush

Alex Gibney, who filmed "Enron: The Smartest
Guys in the Room" directs this Best  Documentary Oscar winner that uses
interviews, news footage and firsthand reports to examine the
Bush administration' s policy on torture. The film focuses on the case
of Dilawar, an Afghan taxi driver who picked up three passengers and never
returned home. Instead, he wound up dead at the Bagram Air Base,
killed by injuries inflicted by U.S.  soldiers. Though Dilawar was
never charged with any crime — and was never shown to have any
connection with Al Qaeda or the Taliban — he was subjected to horrifically
harsh treatment. Taxi to the Dark Side,” however, does not simply
recount a single, awful anecdote from the early days of the war on terror;
rather, it traces the spread of a central, controversial tactic in that
war.

Winner of 10 awards including Academy Awards USA,
Chicago Int'l Film Festival, News & Documentary Emmy
Awards, Writers Guild of America USA

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

2010-06-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

The United Nations' World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is annually observed on June 17 to highlight the urgent need to curb the desertification process. It also aims to strengthen the visibility of the drylands issue on the international environmental agenda.

http://climate-l.org/2010/06/17/world-day-to-combat-desertification-celebrated/
17 June 2010: In statements marking World Day to Combat Desertification, celebrated annually on 17 June, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja have called attention to the interlinkages between soil, biodiversity and climate change.

In his statement, the Secretary-General notes that the " human, environmental and social vulnerability come together with unusual force and symmetry in the world’s drylands. Climate change will only exacerbate such pressures." He further suggests that, in this International Year of Biodiversity, "we must remember that drylands are areas of enormous biological diversity and productivity. Thirty per cent of the crops that are cultivated and consumed in every corner of the world originate in drylands. The biodiversity of dryland soil also plays a critical role in transforming atmospheric carbon into organic carbon – the Earth’s largest pool of organic carbon."

Executive Secretary Gnacadja's statement highlights that “Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere” is this year’s motto for World Day to Combat Desertification, and states that the theme "places soil health where it needs to be: at the very foundation of our survival and well-being."

Helpful Links:
UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Conbat Desertification) website
http://www.unccd.int/publicinfo/menu.php

About the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/world-day-to-combat-desertification

Upcoming Event 6/21 on Global Health Issues

2010-06-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

There is a great event through the World Affairs Council this coming Monday 6/21!

What: "How I Caught the Global Health Bug: An Evening with Ray Suarez"

Who: Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent, PBS News Hour

When: Monday June 21, 2010 7pm (Register from 6:30pm)

Where: University of Washington, Kane Hall 130, Seattle, WA 98195

Cost: $10 members (World Affairs Council), $15 non-members, $10 students

There will be a reception to follow which has a separate cost. Also, if you plan on attending, they would like for you to pre-register online or by calling the Council.

Please visit the following link for more detailed information:

http://world-affairs.org/event_Ray_Suarez.htm

UN News Centre

2010-06-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

With Breaking News from the UN News Service
http://www.un.org/news/

Nuclear Button Design Contest

2010-06-14T09:16:00.001-07:00

Nuclear Button Design Contest

“Peace out Nuclear Weapons”

Nuclear weapons pose a constant threat to global peace and security. World leaders have the ability to detonate a nuclear weapon within minutes with the push of a single button.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) has noticed that the traditional “nuclear button” -the button that is pressed to launch a nuclear weapon- is rather boring in design, and doesn’t symbolize the grave consequences of its use. We think you could come up with a more suitable one!

What do you want your world leaders to see when considering pressing the nuclear button?

WFUNA is hosting a global contest for youth to design their version of the nuclear button.

Design a better nuclear button and you could win an Apple iPad!

Go to www.wfuna.org/NuclearButton to find out more!

1st place wins an Apple iPad

Runners-up (2) receive Flip Video Camcorders

Deadline: 12 July 2010

June YPIC Meeting Today

2010-06-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

The June YPIC general membership meeting is tonight at the Uptown Espresso in Belltown (4th & Wall) from 6:30-7:30pm.

The meeting agenda includes but is not limited to:

-Environmental Issues

-Bills and Legislations

-Happy Hours

-Movie Nights

-Upcoming Events & Projects

New UNA Seattle Website Launched!

2010-06-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

UNA Seattle has official launched its new and improved website!! Follow the link below:

http://unaseattle.org/

*Info on YPIC is under programs

World Oceans Day 6/8

2010-06-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

The United Nations has designated Monday, June 8th as the first World Oceans Day to raise awareness about important oceans issues.Unfortunately, when World Oceans Day is celebrated, the United States will still remain outside the world's common legal framework regulating all uses of the oceans and promoting marine conservation, the Law of the Sea Treaty. The treaty's many environmental, economic, and national security benefits for the United States have been recognized by a broad array of experts, policymakers, civil society groups, and oceans industries, as well as the Obama Administration.This diverse coalition of supporters provides a strong chance for the treaty to win the advice and consent of the Senate, but a small group of Senators has blocked a vote from taking place in the past.In the spirit of World Oceans Day on June 8th, join UNA-USA and other organizations and activists around the country in a national day of action in support of the Law of the Sea Treaty!

The world's ocean:
Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
Helps feed us
Regulates our climate
Cleans the water we drink
Offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines
Provides limitless inspiration!

Welcome to YPIC Seattle's Blog!

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here you will find the most up to date information on what we do, current events, upcoming events, and helpful resources for you to stay informed!

To start, the following is some basic information about YPIC in general:

Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) is a program of UNA-USA that seeks to engage young professionals in discussions of international affairs, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation and the United Nations. While we appreciate supporters of all ages, YPIC members are typically between the ages of 21-40, and are a diverse group of individuals from the fields of business, law, government, nonprofit, the arts and philanthropy. YPIC provides an exciting opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals and gives young professionals from all walks of life a unique forum in which to learn more about current international issues, the United Nations, and the work of UNA-USA.

YPIC Locally
As active members of the UNA-USA, young professionals engaged in the Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) program are committed to fostering international cooperation and community education on international affairs. Currently, each YPIC group works locally in different regions of the United States promoting and implementing various programs that benefit both the local and international communities at large. Local YPIC efforts are further supported at the regional and national level through the UNA-USA YPIC National Leadership Council, which seeks to coordinate and substantially improve this growing program.

Current YPIC Regions:
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hwaii, Illinois, Massachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C., Washington

http://www.unausa.org/ypic