Rick Steves--author of 30 European travel guidebooks and host of the PBS-TV series, Rick Steves' Europe-- believes that thoughtful travel expands our world view and shapes how we address the challenges confronting our nation politically. Having spent four months a year overseas for the last 25 years, Rick feels that travel helps us “challenge truths we were raised to think were self-evident and God-given.” His classes have helped millions of Americans not only enjoy maximum travel thrills per mile, minute and euro…but become better citizens of our planet. Rick shares how the other 96 percent of humanity sees our nation and explores how his social activism has grown naturally out of his travel experiences. He’s fresh back from lots of travels (including a TV production trip to Iran) and will be on hand after his talk for questions and autographs.

Several Orange County members will be driving in. Call 714/538-5689 or email info@una-oc.org for more information or to arrange carpooling.


UNAUSA Orange County Chapter members and friends are invited to any of the daytime sessions of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast held at Soka University

June 19th (Friday) - 2:00 - 5:00 pm
June 20th (Saturday) - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
June 21st (Sunday) - 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

The theme of the Conference is The Dynamics of Culture and Environment.

ASPAC is the Pacific Rim conference of the Association for Asian Studies. It is dedicated to promoting a better understanding of Asia. By holding an annual conference, graduate student prizes, teacher training, and two publications, the ASPAC Occasional Papers series and E-Aspac, a peer-reviewed electronic journal. Begun in the late 1960’s and incorporated in 1992, ASPAC is nonpolitical, nonprofit and works completely through volunteer effort.

More information and directions can be found at http://aspac09.soka.edu/Home.html. For specific information email Nalini Rao
at nrao@soka.edu.


Recent Chapter Activities

May 2nd - International Fair, Soka University

April 15th – 2009 UNAUSA/OC Coffee Talk #2 in recognition of Earth Day

The state of the world's oceans:
Why sharks are in danger
... and why we should care 

Jenny Miller Garmendia
Director, Project AWARE

Ms. Garmendia spoke on international fishing disputes, marine policy, and international law and aquatic environment issues at international conferences. She has traveled extensively, and has lived in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Guam, Liberia, and Okinawa, and is currently based in Orange County.

Many shark species are endangered and could soon become extinct. Why this matters, and what is being done about it, were the focus of this provocative talk by internationally recognized marine expert Jenny Miller Garmendia. The Project AWARE Foundation is an inter-national non-profit organization that works in partnership with divers, surfers, and water enthusiasts across the globe to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy, and action.  

March 9th - 2009 UNAUSA/OC Coffee Talk #1 in recognition of International Women’s Day

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez sent a brief DVD with one of her aides speaking directly to us about her concern for Human Trafficking and thanking us for having a program educating about this issue

“Sandie Morgan, Administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking
Task Force, gave the first UNA critical issues presentation of 2009 on March 9 at Soka University, in Aliso Viejo, to an interested group of UNA members and supporters from other local local NGOs. This presentation was given in recognition of International Women’s Day.

Her presentation provided an overview of human trafficking in Orange County, with an emphasis on gender perspectives in our changing global community. Since California is part of the Pacific Rim, she gave special attention to the connection between Orange County and Southeast Asia; and emphasized the relationship of the law of supply and demand to the prevalence of human trafficking locally. Just as Orange County has a task force to counter human trafficking, the United Nations also has a task force to counter human trafficking in Southeast Asia, called the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP)

UNA co-president Ken Tye welcomed the audience and said a few words about the UNA. After a brief video of support provided by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Gaye Christoffersen, UNA Vice President for Programs, introduced the speaker. More information about the OC Task Force can be found at
www.ochumantrafficking.org

More background:
- UN Office of Drugs and Crime - Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

- Actress Mira Sorvino named UN Goodwill Ambassador to combat human trafficking

Chapter Newsletters

March 2009
December 2008
August 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007
Summer 2007
January 2007
December 2006
October 2006

 

Chapter Messages

A message from Co-Presidents Barbara and Ken Tye

Links

United Nations
United Nations Assoc.
So Cal Division UNAUSA








 

People of all ages and backgrounds participate in the
UNA-OC.

Membership offers you the opportunity to become engaged in many issues on the UN Agenda - from UNICEF, world peace, human rights, conflict resolution, tolerance, the environment, and many more.

 You will meet people who have a well-informed interest in foreign policy and know how to be effective in advocating for a better world.
 

Become a Member

Please join the United Nations Association USA today! 

Click for Membership Form and online link.    Select CA (Southern): Orange County Chapter if joining online
 

Board Members

Co-Presidents -
Barb & Ken Tye
VP Programs -
Gaye Christoffersen
VP Membership -
Deirdre Le Pera
Co-Treasurers -
Therese Lynn &
George Wilson

Secretary –
Dorothy Augustine
Council of  Organizations /NGO Networking –
Asma Men
Communications -
Susan Eaton
Education/MUN Outreach Gerri McNenny
Media Relations - Marianne Smith
Resource Development - Anita Penner

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the following members for making donations to our chapter recently:

 Heather Bovee
Versie Burns
Molly McClanahan
William Wever
Fred Bush
Kitty Bergel
Aniko Sherry

Special Thanks to
April Virk,
Newsletter Editor
Dan Carter,
Webmaster
Former Board members and others who have agreed to serve on the above committees.

Where would you like to help?

Upcoming Events

June 17th - Travel writer Rick Steves, hosted by the SoCal Division of UNA – see the lead story on this website; car pooling available

June 19-21 - 43rd Annual Conference of the Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast
June 19, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
June 20, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
June 21, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
UNA members will be admitted free to all sessions of the ASPAC Conference at Soka University – more info on p. 1 of this website 

July 26 - coffee talk #3 – Jeff Laurenti, international security expert and senior advisor to the United Nations Foundation (in the works—check this website again in early July for details)

September (date, location, time and speaker TBA) coffee talk #4

Oct 3rd - Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will be the guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by our UNA chapter and co-sponsored by the Chapman University Chancellor’s office, the College of Educational Studies, and the Political Science Department. Details of this event will appear in our late-summer newsletter and on our website, but we urge you to pencil the date in your calendar now and plan to attend!

Oct 24th - UN Day (plans in progress)

 

Board Meetings are held on the 2nd floor in the Special Events Center (back building) at 480 S. Batavia, Orange 92868 most 3rd Saturday mornings. Call (714) 538-5689 or email if you would like to attend.
 

Advocacy Campaign

Advocacy Campaign



http://www.unausa.org/
advocacy

Orange County Congresspersons: Ken Calvert, John Campbell, Gary Miller, Dana Rohrabacher, Ed Royce and Loretta Sanchez (Go here for help in finding your representative. )

 

Contact Information

Phone: (714) 538-5689
Email: info@una-oc.org

Orange County Chapter
UNAUSA

P.O. Box 16067
Irvine, CA 92623-6067
 


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