The programme was preceded by a flag-raising
ceremony at the University of Bedfordshire on 24 October, attended by
the Mayor of Luton, Councillor Farooq Ahmed, Dr Nazia Khanum OBE, Chair
of UNA-Luton and Trevor Evans, Chair of UNA-Harpenden and others.
David Jonathan from
Luton Council of Faiths and Grassroots presented the event. The programme started with a UN Peace
Prayer by Sister Marie from Luton Council of Faiths. Bill Rammell,
Vice-Chancellor of the University and Honorary President of UNA-Luton, welcomed everyone, speaking about the
international dimensions of the University of Bedfordshire and the
importance of education, peace and cooperation. Dr Nazia Khanum, Chair of UNA-Luton, shared
the story of when and how UNA-Luton was set up with its first AGM in
2009 and the official launch in 2010. Luton is a super diverse town
whose international population is affected by incidents happening
thousands of miles away, while what happens in Luton can have an impact
on people in other countries. Local challenges often depend on global
solutions.
The keynote speaker, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Chair of the United Nations Association UK, used the UNA-Luton platform to launch the UNA-UK’s
10-point foreign policy manifesto, A force for good. He stressed the
10th point - to enhance the UN’s effectiveness by improving the
transparency of its leadership selection. His interesting and erudite
speech on ‘Is the UN Working?’ was informed by his experience and
insights into geo-politics. He emphasised that the UN is a collection of
governments and governmental organisations. As important as it is to
have a space for deliberating on the issues confronting our world, what
eventually matters is to think globally but act locally. We must
remember our identity as global citizens.
Gavin Shuker, MP for Luton
South, spoke about his experience as Shadow Minister for International
Development. He, Sir Jeremy and Kelvin Hopkins, MP for Luton North,
formed a Panel to respond to questions during a lively Q & A
session. The issues included: the plight of people in Kashmir; the
emergence of ISIS in Syria and its possible aftermath; issues relating
to Palestine; growing tensions in the far east between Japan, North
Korea and China; the lack of trust in the political machinery and
organisations like UN, to make positive changes nationally or
globally.
Some University students were keen to see a students’ branch of
the UNA in the University. Dr Khanum said she would do her best to see
this happen and also made an appeal to the guests to consider joining
UNA-Luton. While concluding the meeting, Trevor Evans, Chair of UNA-Harpenden, hoped that this
would become an annual event at the University. The
University has put a brief report on their website along with a video of
the whole event:
The University website has a video and brief report of the event
