Year: 2019

UN Women rallies partners to take a stand against sexual violence on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Stuart Mitchell

From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, multiple events worldwide, such as marches, art competitions, cycling rallies and marathons will be organized as part of the UN System-wide activities for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, to urge actions to end this scourge that impacts one in three women worldwide. At the UN, the annual 16 Days campaign, which mobilizes governments and public alike, is commemorated under the umbrella of the Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women. The…

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‘Councils have a duty to communicate’ – PRCA responds to ‘bins, not spin’ campaign

Stuart Mitchell

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has issued a response to a recent article in the Belfast Telegraph condemning the number of press officers employed by Northern Ireland Councils. The article states that Northern Ireland councils employ 36 press officers, and questions whether the hiring of more ‘spin doctors’ is the best use of public money. Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, and Executive Director, LGcommunications, said: “This idea of public relations practitioners as ‘spin doctors’ is an antiquated and frankly harmful notion, and is everything the PRCA stands…

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UNESCO and Expedia Group join forces in Sustainable Tourism Pledge

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO and Expedia Group have signed a global agreement to promote sustainable tourism and heritage conservation through an industry-first Sustainable Tourism Pledge whose pilot phase will be launched in Thailand this year before going global. It is the first collaboration between UNESCO and a global online travel agency. The Sustainable Tourism Pledge requires tourism industry members to introduce concrete measures to eliminate single-use plastic and promote local culture. During its pilot phase in Thailand, it will be implemented in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), before expanding globally.…

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UNHCR launches sustainable energy strategy, strengthens climate action

Stuart Mitchell

In recognition of the growing climate crisis and to boost refugees’ access to safe and sustainable energy, while minimizing its own environmental impact, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a four-year Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy. The strategy promotes the transition to clean, renewable energy at refugee camps and hosting sites, including for individual households, communal areas and support facilities. “There is no escaping the fact that climate change is contributing to underlying causes of conflict and displacement. From drought and famine to more frequent extreme weather events, the impacts…

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Nesta launches £15,000 prize for innovative new forms of storytelling

Stuart Mitchell

Innovation charity Nesta has launched Alternarratives, an open prize for writers and creatives to explore new ways of using short-form narrative to engage young people (aged 11-16/KS3 and 4)with reading and storytelling. With rates of reading for young people at record lows and games having overtaken books and music combined in the creative economy, Nesta is making the £15,000 prize available to the best example of innovative accessible short-form storytelling for young people. This is an open call for bold written narrative ideas that push the boundaries of storytelling. Entries…

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