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Montréal
‘06
2006 International Convention
The second annual Student World Assembly International
Convention took place at McGill University in Montréal,
Canada from March 9-12, 2006 and brought together students
from all over the world. The Convention focused primarily
on the topic of HIV/AIDS, which was examined from different
perspectives, such as treatment, prevention, and possible
new preventative medications. This resulted in the passage
of two resolutions dealing with measures to increase drug
therapy distribution and enhance awareness education.
The three SWA Committees met, held elections
for SWA Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and discussed
activities for the upcoming year. The newly—elected
Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the SWA, who are charged with
representing the organization and ensuring that the actions
of the different committees are in line with the mandate
of our organization, were announced as well. We would like
to extend our best wishes and congratulations to the newly-elected
SWA Assembly Speaker Adebari Adeolu, from Howard University
in the United States, and Vice-Speaker Moses Kanduri from
the Catholic University of Ghana.
The Student World Assembly would like to extend our sincere
appreciation to the SWA chapter at McGill University for
graciously hosting a successful convention. We would also
like to thank our entire membership for their continued
dedication to supporting the SWA through participation in
programs that promote its ideals of democracy and human
rights. SWA is gaining momentum because of all of you!
***
SWA International Convention Resolutions
During the three days at the International
Convention, delegates discussed and deliberated over what
SWA members, as a collective student body, can do to aid
in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The First Resolution
This resolution concentrated on the lack of drug therapy
available in developing countries and the subsequent consequences
to their populations, specifically the students. Due to
this disparity in treatment availability, SWA members focused
on creating ways to urge the various drug companies and
other corporations to take a personal interest in this problem.
To accomplish this, SWA delegates laid the foundations for
a SWA HIV/AIDS Ad-Hoc Committee, consisting of a President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Chair,
and Alternate, whose primary focus will be to develop guidelines
for various HIV/AIDS programs and to assist our many chapters
in implementing these programs. The SWA General Membership
is encouraged to participate in the HIV/AIDS Ad-Hoc Committee
through open-forum discussions, where they can contribute
thoughts and ideas on the issues dealing with the problems
of drug- therapy dispensation. Adding an Ad-Hoc Committee
has never before been done in SWA history, and emphasizes
our members’ sincere commitment in combating the HIV/AIDS
epidemic that extends well beyond the walls of the Convention.
The resolution suggests lobbying pharmaceutical companies
for assistance through letter writing campaigns, possibly
focusing on shareholders of these companies, and forming
partnerships with other relevant organizations and companies.
Creating positive publicity for those companies or corporations
who participate in future programs is one method that can
be used to stimulate a larger interest in increasing HIV/AIDS
drug availability.
The Second Resolution
As we all know, HIV/AIDS education needs to be an ongoing
process. The second resolution passed calls upon the creation
of a fund that will be used to sponsor HIV/AIDS educational
initiatives. Some of the educational initiatives mentioned
were the incorporation of culturally sensitive sex-education
courses within learning institutions, deeper involvement
by community leaders, youth-to-youth support programs and
youth outreach, to name a few. SWA will work to construct
the fund through sponsorship and membership donations. Moreover,
the Student World Assembly will strive to build coalitions
with other organizations that are also targeting HIV/AIDS,
coordinating our educational efforts with others who share
similar goals.
***
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Memorandum
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Our New Server
Dear Friends,
The Student World Assembly Managing Team would
like to extend its humblest apologies for the lapse
of time since our last update to you. Due to a dramatic
increase in membership we were required to make
some technological changes, through converting to
a more advanced server, thus allowing us to communicate
with you all more effectively.
We appreciate all of your support, participation
and, most of all, your understanding of the occasional,
and inevitable, inconveniences of being such a fast
growing organization.
Thank you to our technical team for making this
update possible and thanks to our members for their
continued support!
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Book Review
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The Fortune at the Bottom of the
Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits
"C. K. Prahalad argues that companies must
revolutionize how they do business in developing
countries if both sides of that economic equation
are to prosper. Drawing on a wealth of case studies,
his compelling new book offers an intriguing blueprint
for how to fight poverty with profitability.”
Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect,
Microsoft
“An important and insightful work showing
persuasively how the private sector can be put
at the center of development, not just as a rhetorical
flourish but as a real engine of jobs and services
for the poor.” Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator,
United Nations Development Programmer.
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Submissions |
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SWA Update
Did you have an event you want to tell everyone
about?
Or, is there a great book that you think should
be featured in an SWA update?
Well, send your information to Ginger
Albertson, SWA’s Publications Coordinator,
at ginger@studentworldassembly.org.
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