The Guardian

Tuesday 17th June 2008

I was invited by The Guardian newspaper to present a speech about WILPF at the London Graduate Fair as part of an interview panel.

The session was called "Making the most of your gap year: Volunteering and developing your skills set". My outlook was mainly to drive at how important it is to volunteer during studies and create networks to help progress one's future career. Also, you don't have to go abroad to have a great experience. By volunteering at home, you not only save money but network locally and use your skills within your own area for development and progress, and of course, you will still be learning.

It was very nice to be asked by The Guardian to participate. I would like to thank Melanie from SOAS for putting me forward for the panel, for having faith in my ambition and ability.

Insight to the United Nations Association

Tuesday 10 June 2008

I was invited by a fellow WILPFer to attend a small seminar organised by a London branch of the United Nations Association. Once every week throughout June 2008, former UN Guide Alison William's set up discussions surrounding the issue of the United Nations Global Compact aims and effectiveness in the international society.

The seminar covered an overview of the Global Compact, focus on Human Rights & Labour (which was the only one I managed to attend), focus on the environment and focus on anti-corruption.

Coming from a business point of view, it was educational to know that the UN is making efforts to tie business and politics together for ethical practice and fair trade, an area which I wish to specialise in. The UN Global Compact has grown from a proposal by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1999, to unite companies with UN Agencies, Labour Organisations and NGOs/ civil society to meet the challenges of globalisation in ways that protect vulnerable people and the planet.

Tuesday 10 June: Focus on Human Rights & Labour – review of principles relating to Labour Standards and Human Rights – samples of Notable Progress reports, eg Indian Farmers’ Co-op and Post-Earthquake reconstruction.

I hope to learn a lot more from Alison and keep good ties with her.

WILPF AGM

March 15th 2008

On this day, dedicated WILPF members across the nation got together to debate, reflect and recall achievements, annual highlights and pressing matters at the AGM. We were lucky to have Krishna Ahooja Patel, President of India WILPF, as keynote speaker presenting "Women's International Resistance to Conflict".

Krishna touched upon the lack of economic distribution from business' to the rest of society and how women are true victims of war. The link between poverty and conflict opened my eyes to the irresponsibility of so many large corporations who do little in sustaining development. With the increase number of conflicts across the world, there is also an increased number of violence made against women. In the 21st century, people wonder why women's peace organisations still exist - because equality and peace still hasn't prevailed. Women even in the UK are continually being raped, discriminated against, and in extreme cases, being trafficked across the world. If the world was so safe today, then why are millions of women in Africa being raped by militias and rebel forces over the fight for resources?

Krishna said, "Globalisation has not led to globalised wealth but to globalised poverty" meaning development is required in every country to improve's women's situations. This means educating not only women in society but also men. We need more men to be involved in women's organisations to enforce these understandings and empowerment of women in society and homes.

After the AGM, I attended Amy Barrow's workshop "Working through the United Nations". I didn't find this as insightful as the rest of the group did. I already know quite a bit about the UN, at that time writing a thesis about Japan and the UN. However, I managed to contribute to the group discussion, making suggestions to how WILPFers needed to be educated about the UN so that we can have a more effective relationship with our international office in UN Geneva. Without understanding the system, lobbying the government and changing policies will be a challenge, when members don't know what is already in place and how changes come about.

Well done for Finn Mackay in presenting a very moving speech regarding our Emergency Resolution on prostitution. This moved me to become an activist for WILPF's Violence Against Women working group.
My focus is researching exit strategies for women coerced into prostitution, with a particular focus on training and putting women back into 'respectable' roles at work. Time to contact a few reporters, trade unionists and job centres on their views.

Model United Nations of Kyoto, Japan

June 2006 - Kyoto

Funny how one suggestion from an unknown man from my management class changed my career concept completely.
My BA degree isn't exactly politically moving, nor does it have any relation to International Development. But speaking to so many people in the sector made me believe that Management and Japanese will enable me to have an alternative viewpoint on how things in society can change.

I originally wanted to get into Management Consultancy, hoping to make large and powerful corporations see how much more they can do in eradicating poverty and help sustain development. But these organisations clearly saw my ideas as 'radical', a clash of interest to their desire to profit-making, resulting in not hiring me. So, I moved onto the non-for-profit sector, after pushy interviews from blue chip organisational sales teams.

Joining Model United Nations (MUN) in my second term of uni at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (Gaidai) - 2006 - was perhaps my first real encounter in UN activities. I didn't know that this group existed but I was fortunate that Japanese members welcomed me with open arms. At times I felt the meetings to be intimidating but my friend Ako tutored me through everything. I had no idea what working papers were and all fancy UN terminologies. Furthermore, having the meetings in Japanese didn't exactly make things easy. I felt left behind looking up the term nuclear disarmament and similar names on my Japanese dictionary and frantically trying to jot them on my notepad. But as time went on, I learnt we had to write a proposition paper about Nuclear Disarmament at a MUN meeting at the university. We had the choice to write in Japanese or English. I choice to write my paper in English but wrote my preparation speech in Japanese, representing my country as the UK. My first 5 minute speech was in English to explain the UKs position on "Nuclear Arms Disarmament and Proliferations", but I managed to write a second speech in Japanese during the meeting.

Very early start for a Saturday, but the 30th June 2006 marked the first step to a possible start of a future career. Even though Gaidai's big UN event was in October (unfortunately I was back in England by then), the MUN General Assembly practice made us all realise how exciting and scary these debates were. Being the only foreigner in the club, it brought lots of credentials becoming the group team leader and forced the Japanese to use their English. In real UN meetings, Japanese isn't used and helping facilitate the meeting was an honour.

Thank you guys for a wonderful experience.

Introduction

After looking at one or two blogs from my contacts, it moved me to do my own - closely following my moves into a demanding and moving career.
From my movements at SOAS, I never in my life thought that I'd want to choose a career towards politics and development. Anyone reading my CV and learning of my passions and interest can immediately tell which uni I am from and how inspired students and campaigns at SOAS have riveted me to change the world with other dedicated followers.

Now, after my graduation, I am on a mission to carve a successful and most rewarding choice in my life to bring about change for women, and society - free from nuclear threats, war and undemocratic societies. The aim of this blog is to highlight key points from events and seminars I attend, what I learn from the people I meet and how all the new things I'm experiencing is actioning me to change and create campaigns on a grassroot level. With the help of the organisations I am active in, I hope to achieve a good level of complacency from key decision-makers.

I hope that keeping an account of my footsteps will help individuals develop and move into progression. We need more young people involved to move decision-makers to make the right choice, and be informed of the current failures which are breaking our society.
This is my mark to start something monumental in my life and I hope to have a band of people who believe in the same things I do. Peace!

From SOAS to the world, here comes Talyn!