SI MONTHLY NEWS DECEMBER 2005 Comments
From SI Exco News
Comments and eGA
Servas and United Nations
some varying view points
this follows from Gary Sealey's article in Servas Monthly News, September.
Against:
Servas and the United Nations are two different
organisations. One is a non-political organisation
and the other is a political one consisting of all rich
and powerful nations of the world. One promotes
peace through people contact, be they rich or
poor, throughout the world, while the other tries to
bring peace to the Governments of the nations at
war through political discussions.
I think Servas should not get involved with the
activities of the United Nations. Just because the
current Peace Secretary of Servas and his
predecessor were able to be represent Servas at
UN meetings doesn't mean that Servas members
should abide by its decisions.
S.C. Sundararaj (Malaysia)
For:
I think that it is very important that Servas is a part
of the United Nations. The United Nations is our
best hope for peace in the world. When there was
no United Nations or it was ineffective, we ended
up with World War I and II. If at least, the
countries' leaders (or their representatives) are
talking to one another, there is less of a chance of
war. If there was no place for all the world leaders
to communicate, work things out and be
susceptible to world pressure, we would likely
head down the path to war again. For example,
when US President George Bush took his idea of
invading Iraq to the UN, the majority of countries
refused to go along with Bush's plan to invade Iraq
-- so it is not a UN sanctioned war/invasion.
As well, the UN does noble things like working
towards eliminating poverty.
The United Nations is our only hope for world
peace.
As a Servas member I am very pleased that we
are associated with this peace making body.
Sylvia Krogh
Planning for the eGA
The following article was taken from http://www.siexco.org and shows some of the planning being done for the eGA. It is important that all members of Servas are aware of how their organisation is run. The eGA is a major international meeting which determines the direction of Servas. It is up to members to know what is happening and give their recommendations to their National Secretaries who will represent them at the eGA.
Letter to NS's & AC's regarding
Agenda Working Group
From SI Exco News 8th December 2005
We wanted to update you on the Servas
Conference Programme
EXCO received proposals for more than a hundred
items to be included in the agenda for the Servas
International Conference being held at Latina
(Italy) in April 2006.
There are five main types of sessions:
1. "Formal eGA sessions", where delegates and SI
officers may speak, and where decisions are
made, by voting on the agenda items.
2. "Associated Working Group sessions", used to
prepare for the Formal eGA sessions. These
sessions will give you opportunities to clarify
issues, help resolve differences, and focus items
for final decision by voting during the Formal eGA
sessions. Some of these Associated Working
Group Sessions may be set up during the eGA
and others may begin before the eGA (working by
e-mail or teleconference).
3. "Discussion Forums" will provide a place to
concentrate on specific subjects. These forums
may bring reports or motions to the Formal eGA
sessions.
4. "Education and Training Workshops" are
intended to build our capacity to work together
effectively. They are not intended to result in
decisions or voting at Formal eGA sessions.
5. "Social sessions" will also be planned for your
enjoyment.
As President I am keen to ensure that all the
agenda items submitted receive a fair hearing.
Therefore, it is essential that the items are
scheduled in a logical and effective way, to make
best use of eGA time. Also, as you can see from
the summary of agenda recommendations posted
on www.siexco.org many proposed agenda items
will benefit from preparatory work.
In peace and friendship
Geoff Maltby, President – Servas International
inserted by Amelia
