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by Judy Wickens, Union of International Associations, UIA
A New Year, the year 2012: may it bring you success, readers.
The Year of...? 2011 was declared the Year of Forests by the UN, and the Year of Volunteering by the EU. Are these 'Years' effective, do they make a difference? The Year of Forests evoked a late flurry of interest and activities, and in 2011 we heard of efforts to preserve, maintain or enlarge woodlands appreciated by local communities, but we heard yet more about the destruction of natural forest, mostly to make way for oil-palm plantations destined to produce agro-fuel. Our wish to counter our carbon footprint has been a boost for the planting of trees elsewhere. A project to map forests of religious significance revealed the surprising extent of these properties, from groves for quiet contemplation to ancient sacred sites, where lack of disturbance has fostered remarkable biodiversity.
UNESCO and IUPAC called 2011 International Year of Chemistry, encouraging celebration of achievements as well as participation in activities to stimulate general interest in science. Chemical companies have drawn attention to the many ways in which their products improve our everyday lives. Special Years, Weeks, Days – there are more.
The Year of Volunteering? Now here is a subject familiar to the association world. Help from unpaid enthusiasts, for a short time and a specific project, is a boon to numerous organizations and especially charitable foundations. Nonetheless, the use of volunteers should never be a smoke screen for work which could provide employment for a person needing a job and an income.
And 2012? What Year is this? For the UN it will be the Year of Cooperatives, grist to the mill of some international associations. For the EU it is the Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, a cumbersome title: can we make it possible for the older generation, increasing in numbers, to remain fit and busy while retiring to liberate posts for the young?
Some campaigns do have an effect: the Year of Biodiversity in 2010 was widely recognised. Maybe because we were curious to know what 'biodiversity' signified? Certainly we understand and use the term widely now. Since we thought we knew what forests and volunteering meant, was the impact less?
So let your tree grow, and prepare to cooperate, age actively and demonstrate solidarity with other generations. Let's hope for a Year of Happiness.
Photo: Karin Claus_photocase.com