Inside this issue

December Program ..................... 1

Tampa Events.............................. 3
UNA-USA United Nations Association UN News……………………….…...4
Tampa Bay Chapter Chapter Info.……………………….6
www.unatampabay.org

“Working Together for Peace, Freedom and Justice” Dec. 2008 Volume XXXIII, No. 10

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THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
With PIUS NYAMORA
“POLITICAL PERSECUTION UNDER A PRESIDENT”

PLEASE JOIN US
FOR THE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008 AT 7:00PM
CELEBRATIONS! THE GRAND SALON ROOM, PLANT HALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA
TICKETS: $15 - Please RSVP at www.unatampabay.org

Former Journalist Pius Nyamora fled Kenya after threats from President Daniel Moi's authoritarian government. His
crime was to publish the truth about the repressive policies of the government. President Moi had instilled so much
fear among Kenyans that many persecuted individuals were too scared to speak. Nyamora shares his story of
persecution as he reflects on those frightening years in Kenya, the hardships in prison, and how he fought back to
be free with the help of Article 19. Human Rights Day is December 10th -the Secretary-General launched a year-
long campaign in which all parts of the United Nations family are taking part in the lead up to the 60th birthday of
6:00 PM the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on Human Rights Day 2008.

Drinks/Networking Come listen to Nyamora’s remarkable story along with drinks and hord’ouevres. This meeting will be combined with
our year-end Christmas party and also the installation ceremony of the new Board of Directors. The meeting is
open to the public. For directions and a map, please go to: http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=122
7:00 PM WELCOME THE NEW 2009 UNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pius Nyamora
The UNA Tampa Bay Chapter held its
Presentation elections on Nov. 21st, 2008. The
following members were elected or re-
appointed to the Board of Directors.
The new Directors have broad
8:00 PM experience in public policy, education,
government and advocacy work, and
Installation of New committed to enhancing the UN
mandate. (Back L-R) Dr. Mark Amen,
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Yingst, Kelly Miliziano,
UNA Board & Enir Valente, Sara McMillan, Dr. Carol
Zavarella, Jimmy Suarez, Jill Isaac.
Christmas Party (Front L-R) Allison Cuffaro, Kelly
Renolds, Alex Koutsogiannopoulos,
Roslyn Linnen.

THE IMPORTANCE OF
WESTERN INTERVENTION
ARTICLE 19 is a human rights organization with a specific
mandate and focus on the defense and promotion of freedom of
expression and freedom of information worldwide. It’s core
belief is that all people have the right to freedom of expression
and access to information, and that the full enjoyment of this
right is the most potent force to achieve individual freedoms,
strengthen democracy, and pre-empt repression, conflict, war
and genocide.
ARTICLE 19’s work is organized into five Regional Programmes
– Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – and
a Law Programme. ARTICLE 19 also works on global issues of
concern that cut across national boundaries. For more
information of how this organization makes freedom of
expression a reality all over the world, go to:
http://www.article19.org/work/index.html
"What is there to be discouraged about? Gandhi said the victory
is in the struggle itself. The struggle itself is the most important
thing. I tell our followers that when we achieve democracy, we
will look back with nostalgia on the struggle and how pure we
were." Aung San Suu Kyi
The role of western intervention must not be forgotten. It was
western backing that emboldened Suu Kyi in adopting a
confrontational stance against the military in 1990. Her attempt
to wield western power against the generals, including her calls
for sanctions and disinvestment, has only entrenched the
military's suspicion of her. The west's insistence on peaceful
change, combined with Suu Kyi's own religiosity, led her to
demobilise an enraged population that had managed to
overthrow the Burmese Socialist Programme party regime in
1988. While Suu Kyi remains popular, the resulting passivity has
disillusioned many, while the hoped-for western rescue has,
unsurprisingly, never come.
Western NGOs have used Suu Kyi's iconic status to impose
counterproductive policies on Burma, locking western states
with no better ideas, and no courage to face down activists' shrill
demands, into a course of confrontation and sanctions. The
failure of these policies has been manifest for a decade. They
may assuage the consciences of western liberals, but have a
cost: sanctions have harmed only the poor, while the military
remains entrenched in power.
Western policy needs a rethink. Sanctions should be ended
immediately and normal aid relations restored. A political
approach based on a realistic appraisal of the balance of
domestic forces must be substituted for doctrinaire democracy
promotion: only a process acceptable to the military and
Burma's powerful neighbors has any chance of success.
Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/13/letter-
burma-suu-kyi
Tampa Bay Chapter 2
“NEW ERA” FOR U.N.
· AFTER
OBAMA VICTORY
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said he looked for "a
new era of partnership" with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama. Ban told
journalists both Democrat Obama and Republican John McCain, who was
defeated in the presidential election, were "outstanding men" but he spoke
warmly of Obama and said working with his administration would be "an
historic opportunity."
"I am confident, today, about future relations between the United Nations and
the United States," the U.N. secretary-general said. "With a glad heart, I
welcome this new era of partnership for change." I expect that the United
States will take a more active participation in all United Nations organizations
and activities," he said in reply to a question.
Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE4A491820081105
OBAMA’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK ALWAYS
FOCUSED ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Based on his Senate history, Barack Obama as president would likely push
to expand human rights and reduce poverty abroad using cooperation rather
than confrontation. Aside from his vigorous opposition to the Iraq war,
Obama spent more of his time on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
on speeches and inspirational trips than on investigations and aggressive
oversight. He was a junior senator with an agreeable manner who was just
beginning to cut his teeth on foreign policy issues when he decided to run for
president.
Since he took office in 2005, much of Obama's work attracted little, if any,
attention because of the nation's focus on the Iraq war. Obama pushed
through legislation that condemned violence by the Zimbabwe government,
for example. He helped raise awareness about Darfur and called on the
administration to do more to reduce global poverty.
In 2005, he traveled with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to Russian nuclear
sites. In 2006, he visited the Middle East and Africa, where he and his wife
publicly took HIV tests in Kenya to encourage citizens there to do the same.
Obama’s approach to issues attracted the attention of Lugar, the committee's
senior Republican. After their visit to former Soviet states, the two co-
sponsored legislation aimed at making it easier to detect and destroy
weapons stockpiles.
Source:http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/26/america/Obama-Foreign-
Policy.php
 Tampa Bay Chapter 3

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SCHOOLS A LOOK BACK AT THE U.N.A.

ASSOCIATION (ISSA) TAMPA CHAPTER IN 2008
The 8th annual ISSA Conference will be held in Tampa, FL! The Ambassador’s Luncheon at the
Join us January 17-19, 2009 at the Westin Tampa Harbour
Tampa Convention Center
Island for the 8th annual ISSA Conference. Optional school
site visits will take place on Tuesday, January 20th.

The ISSA conference provides educators with ideas and resources to infuse
the curriculum with a global viewpoint. Sessions are designed for educators
in all disciplines and will emphasize methods of teaching about important
global issues of water and sustainable development in the K-12 curriculum.
The Conference is hosted by the ISAA in conjunction with the Global
Schools Project of the Patel Center for Global Solutions. This network of K-
12 schools and educators dedicated to improving students’ understanding of
the world. The ISSA is the number one source for information and resources
on preparing your students for today’s global society.

WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER CAROL BELLAMY

• President & CEO of World Learning

• Former Executive Director of

UNICEF and Peace Corps

Ms. Bellamy is a world-renowned champion of children's rights and

proponent of international development. Throughout her career she has
challenged countries to invest in child healthcare, safety, and education as a
means for promoting security and stability. Ms. Bellamy is currently the
director of World Learning. This organization works in over 75 countries to
promote international and intercultural understanding while fostering global Public Service Day with Mayor Iorio in the
citizenship through education, training, exchange, and development Grand Salon Room at the University of Tampa
activities.
Ms. Bellamy is also well regarded for her productive tenure at the helm of
UNICEF. During her ten years, Ms. Bellamy focused the organization on five
major priorities: Immunizing every child, enrolling all boys and girls into
school, and getting all schools to offer quality basic education, reducing the
spread of HIV/AIDS and its impact on young people, fighting to protect
children from violence and exploitation, and introducing early childhood
education programs in every country.
For more info. about the conference go to: http://www.organizational-
services.com/issa2009/Logistical%20Information.pdf

The UNA Tampa chapter will be sponsoring teachers to attend this

conference. If you are a K-12 educator and interested in attending the
conference, please email Kelly.Miliziano@sdhc.k12.fl.us
An application form will be sent to your email.

U.N. LOOKS TO REFORM/EXPAND
SECURITY COUNCIL WITH NEW
member PLAYERS
states all cities
The UN General Assembly has agreed to begin negotiations on
expanding the membership of the powerful Security Council no later
than next February 28, 2009.
After hours of long bargaining, the assembly adopted by consensus a
resolution on Security Council enlargement on the last day of its 62nd
session. The text decides that the inter-governmental negotiations
would begin in an informal plenary of the General Assembly during its
63rd session, "but not later than February 28, 2009, based on proposals
by member states, in good faith, with mutual respect and in an open,
inclusive and transparent manner." It said the aim was to "garner the
widest possible political acceptance by member states."
The 192-member Assembly is to kick off its 63rd session Tuesday with
a new president, Nicaraguan Roman Catholic priest and former foreign
minister Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, who is to succeed Srgjan Kerim, a
former Macedonian foreign minister. The thorny issue of how to enlarge
the 15-member Security Council to make it more representative and
reflective of today's global realities has for years divided the UN
membership.
Last year a report by five "facilitators" stated that most UN members
support council reform but could not agree on how to bring it about.
The authors gave no suggestion for a final solution, but noted that many
members seemed willing to look for compromise. The report suggested
moving forward in steps, with an "interim arrangement" that includes a
"mandatory review to take place at a predetermined date."
During the transitional period a number of configurations, including a
repartitioning of seats on a regional basis and the most delicate, the
veto-wielding power of the five permanent members, could be
considered. The Council currently has 10 rotating, non-permanent
members and five, veto-wielding permanent ones (China, United States,
France, Britain and Russia).
Its makeup has remained largely unchanged since the establishment of
the United Nations in 1945. In 2005, a so-called Group of Four --
Germany, Brazil, India and Japan -- made a strong push to join the
council as permanent members, along with two African countries, but
without veto rights. But their bid failed to get enough support as it ran
into strong opposition from regional rivals such as Italy, Pakistan and
Argentina. Source:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080916013231.2hji7bxl&show_
article=1
“No co-operation with evil is a
sacred duty.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Tampa Bay Chapter 4
MOVEMENT TOWARDS REGIONAL
BLOCS AS AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR
ASIA-PACIFIC ALIGNMENT: A RISE
TOWARDS 10 KINGDOMS
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has suggested that Asia and
Pacific countries, including the region's heavyweights such as China,
India and Japan, form a regional bloc similar to the European Union.
"The key thing is to enhance security and regional co-operation, which
at present is fragmented," Rudd said in a radio interview on
Wednesday, AFP has reported, after he presented the idea during an
address to the Asia Society of Australasia.
He argued that an "Asia-Pacific Community" could be founded by 2020
as a forum for tackling climate change and terrorism, as well as settling
territorial conflicts, such as over Kashmir, the Taiwan Straits and the
Korean peninsula.
Furthermore, it could serve as a trade platform to help exploit the
benefits of the looming economic power of the region, which he thinks
will be "at the centre of global affairs" throughout this century.
"Put simply, global economic and strategic weight is shifting to Asia," he
said.
Commenting on possible comparisons with the 27-strong European
Union - which is set to enlarge further - Mr Rudd said that it does not
serve as "an identical model of what we would seek to develop in the
Asia-Pacific, but what we can learn from Europe is this: It is necessary
to take the first step," according to Radio Australia.
His suggestions come shortly after a similar process of regional
integration has resulted in the creation of the Union of South American
Nations (UNASUR), set up by a founding treaty signed last month.
The new supranational and intergovernmental body has combined two
previously existing customs unions – Mercosur and the Andean
Community – with 12 participating countries, including Argentina, Brazil,
Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Chile.
Its institutional structure directly copies the EU model, with UNASUR's
headquarters to be located in Quito, Ecuador, a South American
parliament seated in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and a 'Bank of the South' to
be situated in Bogota, Colombia.
Other regional groupings inspired by Europe include a single market
without trade barriers for goods and services agreed by the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the African Union.
Source: http://euobserver.com/24/26277

GLOBAL COMMUNITY LOOKS DOWN
ON INDIA’S HINDU VIOLENCE
member states all cities
Anti-Christian violence, which began in a remote district of India's tribal
belt in the eastern state of Orissafor over a year, has become an
international embarrassment for India's secular Congress-led
government. It has spread to four more states, including Karnataka, the
home of the subcontinent's information technology hub in Bangalore.
On the sidelines of the signing of an Indo-French nuclear deal, Nicolas
Sarkozy, the French president and current European Union president,
said he had conveyed to Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, the
EU's "serious concerns" over "massacres of Christians". Mr. Singh has
condemned the violence and asked state governments to step up
security. The ruling coalition fears the rise in tensions between majority
Hindus and the Christian minority could play into the hands of the
opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party."It is a bloody war, a
systematically organized crime primarily targeting Christians," says Dr
Swarupananda Patra, president of the Orissa Minority Forum and local
head of the YMCA, a non-government organization running a relief
camp for about 600 victims.
About 20,000 Christians in Kandhamal have taken refuge in state-run
camps that remain off-limits to relief agencies and journalists. Christians
who have lost their homes have been told they can return only if they
convert to Hinduism.
Members of the BJP, which rules the state in alliance with a regional
party, deny that people are targeted for being Christian. "This is conflict
between two communities," says Jual Oram, a BJP member of
parliament from Orissa. The former minister for tribal affairs in Orissa
accuses the local Pana, of whom 95 per cent are Christian, of posing as
Hindus to secure access to government jobs and education afforded to
lower-caste Hindus under India's job reservation laws.
Villagers say Hindu militant outfits have been distributing a list of more
than 12 Christians who, they allege, were behind the killing of Swami
Laxmanananda Sarawati, the priest. He is thought to have converted
50,000 Christians to Hinduism since he arrived in the state the late
1960s. Many observers believe that Hindu nationalists have turned an
old conflict over identity, rights and entitlement between two
communities into a religious one in an attempt to win votes for the BJP
in the forthcoming national elections.
The proxy war over faith is fought between the original inhabitants, the
predominantly Hindu tribals of the Kandha ethnic group and the former
Hindu Dalits - formerly known as untouchables - of the Pana ethnic
group, who have converted in large numbers to Christianity to escape
India's caste system.
Source: http://www.persecution.in/node/3268 The Financial Times Limited 2008
“America did not invent human rights. In a very real
sense…human rights created America” –Jimmy Carter
Tampa Bay Chapter 5
FIVE SHARIA COURTS OPERATING
IN BRITAIN A WORRY FOR WOMEN
Surprisingly, five sharia courts have been set up in London,
Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester and Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
The government has quietly sanctioned that their rulings are
enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the
county courts or High Court. Previously, the rulings were not binding
and depended on voluntary compliance among Muslims.
Lawyers have issued grave warnings about the dangers of a dual legal
system and the disclosure drew criticism from Opposition leaders.
Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: "If it is true that
these tribunals are passing binding decisions in the areas of family and
criminal law, I would like to know which courts are enforcing them
because I would consider such action unlawful. British law is absolute
and must remain so."Douglas Murray, the director of the Centre for
Social Cohesion, added: "I think it's appalling. I don't think arbitration
that is done by sharia should ever be endorsed or enforced by the
British state." Muslim tribunal courts started passing sharia judgments
in August 2007. They have dealt with more than 100 cases that range
from Muslim divorce and inheritance to nuisance neighbours.
It has also emerged that tribunal courts have settled six cases of
domestic violence between married couples, working in tandem with the
police investigations. Sheikh Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, whose Muslim
Arbitration Tribunal runs the courts, said that sharia courts are classified
as arbitration tribunals under a clause in the Arbitration Act 1996.
The rulings of arbitration tribunals are binding in law, provided that both
parties in the dispute agree to give it the power to rule on their case.
The disclosures come after Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, sparked a national debate and calls for his resignation for
saying that the establishment of sharia in the future "seems
unavoidable" in Britain.
In July, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the Lord Chief Justice agreed
that Muslims in Britain should be able to live according to Islamic law to
decide financial and marital disputes. Mr Siddiqi said he expected the
courts to handle a greater number of "smaller" criminal cases in coming
years as more Muslim clients approach them. Two more courts are
being planned for Glasgow and Edinburgh. "All we are doing is
regulating community affairs in these cases," said Mr Siddiqi, chairman
of the governing council of the tribunal.
There are concerns for women suffering under the Islamic laws, which
favors men. Mr Siddiqi said that in a recent inheritance dispute handled
by the court in Nuneaton, the estate of a Midlands man was divided
between three daughters and two sons. The judges on the panel gave
the sons twice as much as the daughters, in accordance with sharia.
Had the family gone to a normal British court, the daughters would have
got equal amounts.
In the six cases of domestic violence, Mr Siddiqi said the judges
ordered the husbands to take anger management classes and
mentoring from community elders. There was no further punishment.
In each case, the women subsequently withdrew the complaints they
had lodged with the police and the police stopped their investigations.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2957428/Sharia-law-courts-
operating-in-Britain.html
 Tampa Bay Chapter 6

DIRECTORS

Kelly Miliziano -President

Dr. David Randle-VP Advocacy
Allison Cuffaro-VP Technology
Jill Isaac - VP Education
Sara McMilllan-VP Membership
Dr. Mark Amen
Dr. Tim Kennedy
Javier Alamillo
Alex Koutsogiannopoulos
Enir J. Valente
Paul Yingst-Former President
Dr. Carol Zavarella -Treasurer
Kelly Reynolds-Secretary
Jimmy Suarez-University Rep.
The YPIC (Young Professionals International Co-op.) Tampa Chapter folded since
September 2008. All YPIC members are requested to join as a regular member of the UNA meetings. We
appreciate supporters of all ages and YPIC members are typically between the ages of 21-40, and are a
diverse group of individuals. YPIC has held two community-involved projects each year. We thank YPIC for
their efforts and for collaborating in the upcoming UNA programs. Former YPIC members are asked to
contact the VP of Membership: Sara McMillan at sara4rights@gmail.com
Membership Application/ Renewal
Name: ___________________________________
Address:________________________________ City:_________________ State:__________ Zip:__________
Telephone: _________________ Email: _______________________
Annual Membership (select one)
Introductory Individual ___ $ 25 Student ___ $ 10 Patron ___ $500
Individual Renewal ___ $ 35 Organization ___ $ 40
Family ___ $ 40 Sponsor ___ $ 100

Yes! I want to make a donation of $________ to help the work of UNA-USA.

All dues and donations are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to: UNA-USA and send to:
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www.UNAUSA.org

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UNA-USA Tampa Bay Chapter
www.unatampabay.org