World Council of Peoples for the United Nations is pleased to collaborate with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), the International Labour Organization (ILO),  and University of Bath to hold the briefing:

“Voices from the Mine: Exploring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 and Decent Work in the Informal Mining Sector”

Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2019
Time: 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Conference room 2, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP required by Friday, 14:00: RSVP

About the event: This session will begin with the presentation of a new 33 minute documentary film, Voices from the mine: Artisanal diamonds and resource governance in Sierra Leone, by Roy Maconachie from the University of Bath’s Centre for Development Studies. Coinciding with the Centennial of the International Labour Organization, this presentation at the United Nations will examine challenges of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, through the lens of the artisanal mining sector, in a conversation with the film’s Director, Representatives of the United Nations, the World Bank, experts in extractive industries and socio-environmental conflicts, as well as leaders in responsible sourcing, moderated by the Director of the International Labour Organisation’s United Nations New York Office.  About the film: Diamond mining is Sierra Leone’s most lucrative export industry, with annual production of up to $US 250 million. But due to the challenges associated with the informal and unregulated nature of the artisanal mining sector, only a fraction of this wealth returns to the areas where diamonds are mined. While international traders reap vast rewards, for those in the mining pits, poverty and hardship remain. Based on two years of fieldwork in Kono District in Sierra Leone, Voices from the mine: Artisanal diamonds and resource governance in Sierra Leone, follows the pathway of artisanal diamonds from mine to market, offers an insider’s perspective of the challenges of formalizing the sector, and explores why exploitation continues to persist at the bottom of the chain. Offering testimony from a wide range of stakeholders both in Sierra Leone and Antwerp, Belgium, one of the world’s oldest and most established diamond trading hubs, the governance challenges in artisanal mining are critically explored.

22 April, 2019  –

On the occasion of the Ninth Interactive Dialogue of the United Nations General Assembly on Harmony with Nature commemorating “International Mother Earth Day” WCPUN was pleased to join in supporting the event with volunteer work led by Leadership Development and Education Chair, Amy Su Zhang and Youth Representative, Ben Kim. The Dialogues aim to move the United Nations Member States away from a human-centered worldview – or “anthropocentrism” – and establish a non-anthropocentric, or Earth-centered, relationship with the planet. Under this new paradigm, we recognize Nature as an equal partner with humankind.

WCPUN Representative for South Florida, Luiz Rodrigues, with the Brazilian Film Festival co-presented the documentary Salt of the Earth at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden Earth Day Event, bringing a diverse public together with representatives of the municipal government, local and international environmental organizations.

27 November, 2018 – WCPUN/What Moves You? in collaboration with Cinema Tropical and NYU’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies are pleased to present En el Septimo Dia, a film by Jim McKay. Opening Remarks by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, post-screening Panel Discussion with filmmaker, Jim McKay; actor, Genoel Ramirez; New York Immigration Coalition representative, Kemah George; moderated by WCPUN Executive Director, Shamina de Gonzaga. 6:00 pm at NYU’s King Juan Carlos Center.

15 November, 2018 – WCPUN/What Moves You?, Cinema Tropical, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at NYU, are pleased to present a special edition of the INDOCUMENTALES immigration film and conversation series, with David Riker’s 1998 film LA CIUDAD. Following the screening, filmmaker David Riker, and Rev. Schuyler Vogel of the Fourth Universalist Society, which is actively working for the rights of immigrants in New York City, will engage the audience in a conversation on NYC perspectives on immigration, past and present, moderated by WCPUN Executive Director and INDOCUMENTALES co-founder, Shamina de Gonzaga. 6:00 pm at NYU’s King Juan Carlos Center, 53 Washington Square South.

09 November, 2018 – WCPUN Executive Director, Shamina de Gonzaga, and International Rescue Committee Board Member and Former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Gillian Sorensen were invited to address the Unitarian Universalist Association at the United Nations. Hailing from across the US,  UUA members expressed support for Sorensen and de Gonzaga’s call to remember the interconnectedness between global issues and national interest, and focus on developing inclusive approaches to problem-solving.

08 November, 2018 – WCPUN Vice President and Chairman of the UNA-USA Council of Organizations, Aaron Etra, hosts a briefing for civil society representatives with Peter Yeo of the Better World Campaign and the UN Foundation, on the implications of the US Midterms for US-UN relations. Peter Yeo emphasized the importance of constituent voices in engaging new members of Congress to understand the work of the United Nations, and its relevance to issues on their agenda.