event details
Event report written by Dominic Younger:
Few words rang more resoundingly in the room than; global democracy, progress and initiative and that is because in many ways the launch of Dundee UNA Branch was an appreciation of all of these and more. The pivotal influence of a strong contingent of students (both foreign and native) in attracting the attention of UNA Scotland by taking the initiative and implementing positive changes within our university campus has led in the last few years to a socio-political revival amongst students, restoring in some part, radical Dundee to its grass roots activism of previous decades. For example this can be no better evidenced than by the Diplomats@Dundee society, now 100 strong in only 2 years, debating and engaging in styles ranging from Westminster to Brussels. The UNA Scotland launch of a Dundee Branch was more or less a celebration of this work and marks our progress in creating an active platform of democratic political activism which will embrace the voice of grass root participation from our University, the surrounding region and its citizens.
The launch began with an enthusiastic speech by Ken Stewart, Honorary Treasurer of UNA Scotland and Director of Strategy at Miascape Ltd, who highlighted the impressive work undertaken by Dundee students, which has in turn, paved the way for a more organised, political and progressive future as members of UNAS. This speech was in turn given more weight and emphasis by the thought-provoking talk by Dr Duncan Bury, CEO of Miascape, on the topic; “The World is Broken.” Dr Bury began his talk in addressing world problems but also including many which occur closer to home. He constantly teased and probed the audience for answers. Sometimes verging upon provocative challenge, and often creating personal discomfort, the presentation openly confronted raw global facts and international reality. However uncomfortable his lecture left us, our minds were left spinning with new insights and a craving to research, learn and discover more about realpolitik. The talk however did inspire hope as the overarching theme was about progressive thinking and creating sustainable global transformation, and the questions which remained in one after the talk were; how can we change and achieve it?
Some of these questions were answered by the inspiring discourse which was then delivered by Mr Rob Crawford, of George Watson's College and member of UNAS whose belief in the potential of young people, has established in the last six years, one of the most impressive Model UN's within the UK; a model which now attracts over 600 delegates each year. Through his work, Mr Crawford has assembled and inspired thousands of debaters, thinkers and politically active students who each year, run the MUNs themselves and in so doing, encourage and support similar MUN gatherings to address and debate global issues and governance.
Overall, the Dundee UNA Launch should be seen as recognition of the inspiring work of current and former students; however, it is also one more solid step towards political rejuvenation at the University of Dundee. In recent times, UNA Dundee Branch has inspired students in the lower years to step up and take part, hungry for participation and progress, and this is the overwhelming theme of the UNA – a global platform, delivering space for people, not the state, to use as a vehicle of social conscience. It allows citizens to congregate, debate and to highlight concerns and to drive issues forward. It is, for this student at least, fantastic that UNA Dundee is now a facet of this pivotal and historic movement. However, Ken Stewart reminded us that our task has just begun and our challenge now is to engage with civic society throughout the Dundee Region. With this in mind, we intend during the year ahead, to begin a series of introductory initiatives to extend membership outside Academia and meet with, encourage and offer UNA Dundee Branch involvement to members of Churches, Political representatives, Charitable organisations, City Councillors, Trade Unionists, commercial business, the Media and of course, the citizens of our City and region.