Liaison Newsletter > LIAISON Volume 6, Issue #1, January 2002

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New Year’s Message from the Executive Director
By Steve Mason

The sentence on the cover of the United Nations Association in Canada’s new information and membership brochure reads “A better world starts HERE.” Inside, further sentences elaborate on the initial sentiment: “It starts in our homes. In our schools and communities. In our country. It starts with you.”

The intention of this message is to bring out what has always been a key focus – and a key strength – of UNA-Canada: connecting the local to the global, and empowering individuals in Canada to grapple with the challenges facing the world and to become part of the solution. For the past 56 years, UNA-Canada has developed and run innovative projects and programmes which aim to engage various Canadian audiences in the values and principles of the United Nations and international issues more broadly. We perceive this educational role as essential not only in furthering the possibilities of international cooperation, but also in generating cross-cultural understanding, in fostering a spirit of humanitarianism and in addressing key global environmental, economic and social justice issues.

In 2002, UNA-Canada is building upon this solid foundation and reputable tradition as it pursues projects, programmes and activities centered around four strategic focuses. These focuses are: engaging youth, promoting sustainable development, strengthening the organization and increasing public profile. Our on-going youth-driven projects in sustainable development and anti-racism education, our top-quality resources for educators and our Model UN and youth international internship programme all work directly to support these focuses. At the same time, UNA-Canada will be undertaking a key initiative in the early part of 2002 – the Blue Ribbon Campaign.

The Blue Ribbon Campaign is a partnership with Canada Post that will involve the distribution of blue ribbons at every postal outlet in Canada. The ribbons symbolize the values on which the UN was founded – peace, cooperation, tolerance – and are to be worn on the lapels of all Canadians who wish to demonstrate their commitment to these values, their support for peaceful resolution to local and global challenges and their pride

in Canada’s reputation as a peace-building nation. A third partner, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, will spread the message of the blue ribbons to 2.5 million school children across the country. This exciting national campaign will not only raise important funds for our organization, but it will also put forth a prominent message of hope and peace to the Canadian public at large. This type of activity is crucial in outreaching to new audiences, and I encourage you to pick up a blue ribbon at your nearest post office and wear it proudly.

If you would like to find out more about our work and our goals, please visit our website at www.unac.org or contact us by telephone at (613) 232-5751 or by e-mail at info@unac.org.