The Wellspring

International Youth Foundation-funded social enterprise organisation YouthActionNet is calling for applications from young social entrepreneurs to fill the 20 positions in its annual Global Fellowship Program. The yearlong program includes a seven-day, all-expenses-paid, capacity-building and leadership retreat in Washington, DC, regular advocacy training, and networking, media and funding opportunities throughout the year. The program is open to young people aged 18 - 29 leading existing social projects.

For further information and to apply online, see http://youthactionnet.org/index.php?fuse=fellowmainpage. Applications close 15 May 2008.

The 4th World Youth Congress will be held at Laval University, Quebec, Canada from 10 - 21 August, 2008 (which, very strangely, will mean that the Congress overlaps entirely with the Beijing Olympics) on the theme “Youth-led Development”. It will be the next in a series of events that will bring together 600 of the world’s young activists (aged 15 - 30) in the field of sustainable development in order to demonstrate that young people are one of the most valuable resources in governments’ and international development organisations’ mission to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

At the Congress, organized by Peace Child International, World Youth Congress 2008 and TakingITGlobal, young people will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges of sustainable development, exchange best practises, submit ideas and define strategies together with government representatives.

For more information and to apply online as an individual or organisation, see http://www.wyc2008.qc.ca/.

Applications close 31 October, 2007.

The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO are inviting young people (up to 25 years of age) from around the world to enter its annual essay contest.

Essays must be 800 words or less and can be submitted in English, French, Spanish or German on this year’s theme: “The role of media and information and communication technologies in building a peaceful world”.

First prize winners will receive a cash award and a trip to Japan.

For more information and the complete guidelines, see http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702_00.htm.

Entries close 30 June, 2007.

Symbolising the priority placed on fighting global warming, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently appointed three special envoys on climate change. The envoys - former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland (famous for propagating the commonly-held concept and definition for ’sustainable development’), former South Korean Foreign Minister Han Seung soo (Ban’s former boss!) and former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos - will work with Ban and political leaders around the world on fostering new climate change negotiations.

For more information, see the UN News Centre’s release at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22410&Cr=climate&Cr1=change.

(Incidentally, the UN-Truth blog has an interesting (but somewhat rambling) article on the proliferation of UN Special Envoys: see http://www.un-truth.com/?p=203.)

In spectacular timing, the next day, the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water Resources called for the Kyoto Treaty to be scrapped, arguing the agreement belongs in the “pages of climate history”. The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP said that with no limits set for developing countries, a lack of deforestation provisions and no chance the U.S. will ratify it, the world should focus on creating a new document. Critics countered that the government is merely trying to gloss over Australia’s rising energy and transport emissions. Ruh roh!

For further information, see the Reuters article at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD71858.htm.

The New York Times has an interesting story about the only blogger accredited as one of 200 full-time resident correspondents at the United Nations. Matthew Lee runs innercitypress.org, which attracts 289 000 visitors each month (though from my perspective the stories seem a little haphazardly organised and are a tad confusing). The NYT reflects on how bloggers operate amongst other reporters at the UN, and how the institution is coping with a trend that can see practically anyone setup a website and start writing.

To view the article, see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/business/
media/30blog.html?ex=1179806400&en=e971e95ceab9f80f&ei=5070 (free registration required).

From Friday 31 August - Monday 3 September 2007 the Brisbane City Council will host the 6th Asia Pacific Cities Summit (APCS), the region’s “premier government and business forum”. The Summit’s theme will be “Renewing Asia Pacific Cities” and will look at the issues of:

• sustainability
• livability
• economic development
• leadership and governance

For the first time ever, the Asia Pacific Cities Summit registration fee will be fully paid for 100 young people aged 16-25. Businesses and participating cities will sponsor the AUD $1250 delegate registration fee for young people across the region, who will be selected through an open application process.

(For the purposes of the Summit, the Asia Pacific region includes East Asia, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the US and Canada.)

For further information and to download an application form, see http://www.visible-ink.org/default.aspx?TabID=229.

For further information on the APCS and its associated activities, see http://www.apcsummit.org/.

Applications close Monday, 28 May 2007.

The United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) has published its Year in Review 2006 publication, which gives a snapshot picture of civil society engagement in the policy and normative work of the UN. It reviews the various consultations, forums, policy dialogues, hearings and civil society arganisation (CSO) advisory committees that have taken place throughout the last year.

By detailing the variety of different avenues through which CSOs can get involved in the UN’s decision-making, the publication may be of special interest to those who are looking at working more closely with the UN agenda and building experience working in an intergovernmental environment.

To download a copy of the Review, see http://www.un-ngls.org/site/IMG/pdf/YiR2006.pdf.

The Australian National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is currently calling for expressions of interest from young Australians interested and active in UNESCO’s areas of work to join the National Commission’s Youth Network. Young people with strong interests, experience and networks across the Pacific region are especially encouraged to apply.

UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its major objective is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations in the fields of education, the sciences, culture and communications. See http://www.unesco.org/ for further information.

The Australian National Commission for UNESCO advises the Australian Government on all matters relating to UNESCO, liaises with organisations, institutions and individuals on matters relating to UNESCO and supports programmes which contribute to achieving UNESCO objectives and ideals. Members are eminent Australians with experience and backgrounds in areas relevant to UNESCO and are appointed by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs. See http://www.dfat.gov.au/intorgs/unesco/ for more information.

The Youth Network is one of the National Commission’s six thematic networks (the others being education, culture, natural sciences, social sciences and communications and information technology). Each Network is a small group that reports to the Australian National Commission for UNESCO and is chaired by one of its members.

The network provides advice to the National Commission (for example, on endorsement or funding requests), develops its own strategies and project proposals (such as draft resolutions for the UNESCO General Conference), collects and disseminates information and conducts or assists with relevant National Commission projects (such as the 2004 UNESCO International Youth Leadership Event in Adelaide).

Members of the Network have opportunities to attend meetings of the National Commission and to participate in external events on behalf of the National Commission (such as the 2006 Pacific Youth Festival). Membership may also provide exposure to a variety of opportunities in other activities and organisations.

The Youth Network is currently focused on developing a capacity-building event for young community activists from across the Pacific, to be held in Melbourne in September 2007, and on preparing for the upcoming UNESCO General Conference, to be held in Paris in October 2007.

Expressions of Interest from young Australians aged 12 – 25 and active in the issues and areas in which UNESCO works (education, social science, natural science, culture and / or communication) can be forwarded by email to the Chair of the Youth Network, Alan Wu (alanwu-at-alanwu.org), by Monday, 30 April, 2007. Prior experience in UNESCO programmes or initiatives is not required.

Applicants may wish to include a short introductory note detailing their background and interests in UNESCO’s areas of work, and a CV. Members will be selected based on their activity, knowledge and interest in a UNESCO area of work and access to broad-based networks for communication and consultation (with a special focus on interests, experience and networks across the Pacific region).

Please feel free to leave any questions regarding the Network or its aims and activities in comments to this post.