Media Release
April 10 2007
New generation students take on world issues in Adelaide
While the 2003 IEA Civic Education study may have found
that…Australian students do not have a strong grasp of the impact of
economic issues in the functioning of a democratic system, this year
hundreds of local students and the United Nations Society plan to prove
the finding wrong.
Adelaide-based members of the UN Society are keen to dispel the notion that this generation of young people are selfish and issues-shy.
“I think it is easy for people to lap up the marketing stereotypes and write-off young people as a political and social force – but they would be wrong to do that,” UN Society conference organiser, Yolanda del Valle-Buetefuer says.
“Young people care very much about world issues - political, social, and environmental - but they understand that you need to be more than idealistic about change.
“You need to get educated – understand how things work and then set about making a plan for change that has more than one dimension.”
And that education will take on an intense phase this month when the University of South Australian United Nations Society hosts the Model United Nations Conference for the first time in Adelaide.
Held at UniSA’s City West campus on North Terrace, the conference runs from April 12-14.
The model conference will see students take on the role of advocates for different countries to work through issues and act out the negotiating process that happens across nations with different economic, and geopolitical problems.
The conference theme is Building Bridges, Upholding Humanity, Securing our Future.
“By modelling a world economic and political scenario we can more fully appreciate the role of the United Nations and increase awareness of the complexities global issues management,” del Valle-Buetefuer says.
“In times of heightened levels of economic, political and cultural tensions, building bridges is more important than ever before, particularly between those of different cultural and religious groups, because these relationships affect the condition of humanity on an individual and global level.”
Five committees will convene over the three day conference to debate issues ranging from economic impact of climate change to Indigenous rights.
In addition, there will be prominent guest speakers, including World Vision regional Vice President Lynn Arnold and the Director of the Australian Refugee Association Kevin Liston.
Contact for interview
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SAMUNC Secretary-General Yolanda del Valle-Buetefuer mobile 041 5117 472 email delyy001@students.unisa.edu.au
Media contact
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Kathryn Jensen mobile 0415 887 332 or Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673
email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au