THE BULLETIN

World Citizens Association (Australia)

Institute for Global Peace and Sustainable Development

Coalition for a World Security Community

www.wcaa.org.au

www.igpsg.org

www.coalitionforawsc.org

Volume 16: Issue 1  Summer 2019 ISSN 2651-9453

President’s Column..............................................

Global News..........................................................

Local News............................................................

WCAA General Meeting.......................................

Bangladesh Aid Project.......................................

Education report..................................................

Junior World Citizens program...........................

Model Global Parliament program...................

Visit of Andreas Bummel.....................................

Coalition for a Wolrd Security Community.......

President: Chris Hamer, C.Hamer@nsw.edu.au

Secretary: Luiz Bispo, luizbispo03@gmail.com

Treasurer: Radhiga Dey, radhiga.dey@gmail.com

Editor: Margaret Webb, marg2511@gmail.com

President’s Column – The Changing of the Guard

Our Annual General Meeting on September 22nd saw some substantial changes in our Council.

Daryl submitted his resignation as President, citing his very heavy workload, with deadlines looming for writing two high school textbooks in Legal Studies and Modern History, plus recent ill health. He did accept a new role as Vice-President (Education), however. He is currently teaching a course on ‘War & Peace’ at the Australian Catholic University, in which he makes reference to the campaigns by the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and Democracy Without Borders (DWB).

The meeting warmly applauded Daryl for all his efforts on our behalf for a better and more peaceful world!

No one else stepping forward, I said I would take over again as President, as an interim measure until a younger person can be found.

At the same time, John Hegarty indicated his wish to pull back from his position as Director of the Junior World Citizens program, citing advancing years and frailty. He will continue participating as an ordinary member.

The meeting applauded John for all his amazing efforts to promote world citizenship, and voted that he be accorded Life Membership in the WCAA. He will continue to be invited to board meetings, despite stepping down from all official positions.

          Zeny Edwards also indicated that she wished to pull back from her official role as Director of the Sydney Model Global Parliament program, citing lack of time due to her increasing role as grandmother(!), and other major commitments. Despite her brief tenure, she showed extraordinary energy and efficiency in her efforts, and we will miss her help sadly.

We also welcomed two young and energetic new members to the Council:

           Luiz Bispo accepted the position of Secretary. Luiz Fernando Pereira Bispo has a Bachelor degree in Forest Engineering and a Licentiate degree in Agricultural Science from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He was awarded a full scholarship programs to study at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) during his bachelor's degree. In 2014, he was awarded as the "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" by UNSW ARC Volunteer Army, and with the "2014 Hidden Eco-Hero" by Samsung Engineering in partnership with the U.N. Environment. Among other initiatives and engagements, Luiz is also one of the delegates of the "UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme". Currently, he is pursuing an advanced MBA degree at Torrens University Australia.

Margaret Webb also agreed to act as Editor and Communications Director for the WCAA. She has a Bachelor of Inclusive Education and Disability Studies and a Masters in both teaching and Theology. Margaret is currently the director of BeeU2day, a community organisation aimed at advocating for inclusive education for students with disabilities. She is currently completing her PhD in attitudes towards people with disabilities.

The WCAA invited Andreas Bummel, the global coordinator of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA), to visit Australia in the period 2-12 September 2019. Our aim was to raise public awareness of the Campaign, generate public support, and ultimately to secure the Australian government’s agreement to become a supporter of the Campaign. During his visit, we organized a Symposium at the Australian National University on the theme "Towards a More Democratic United Nations" and a Seminar at the University of Sydney on the broader theme “Strengthening Democratic Global Governance: Towards a World Parliament” Read more