Environment

The UNi-Group was founded in 1988, is comprised of students from Berlin and Potsdam and associated with the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), chapter Berlin-Brandenburg. Our student organisation is represented by two permanent seats within the executive committee of the DGVN (www.dgvn-berlin.de).

We are financially as well as organisationally independent. Often are our members also part of the DGVN, however that poses no prerequisite for any voluntary work within our university group. Additionally, the UNi-Group is founding member of the United Nations Youth Association Germany - JUNON - (see further activities), a network of young UN-groups from all over Germany.

The purpose of the UNi-Group is to integrate the United Nations as well as events of international politics into everyday life, reseach and teachings at universities and schools through regular debate and information. We offer political education for the wider public, through which also our own members gain the opportunity to obtain further information about the UN and a better understanding for international politics, conflicts, communication and different approaches.

Furthermore, the UNi-Group is politically independent. The group is meant to be an association of young people who identify themselves with aforementioned objectives and are willing to pursue these intentions actively. The own enthusiasm for the ideals of the United Nations is our drive at all times. However, ensuing from this motivation we accompany and observe the development and work of the United Nations critically as well.

Gepa: A Story of Success in Fair Trade

"Jute instead of plastic." This is the slogan that made the Gepa well known. In May of 1975, the two big ecclesiastical denominations in Germany founded the "society for the promotion of partnerships with the Third World" (gepa) in Wuppertal, Germany. Since then the gepa has developed into the largest fair trade organization in Europe with a turnover of more than 36 million Euros for the financial year 2003/2004. The gepa is also a member of an international fair trade network that is committed to the observance of binding principles like fair prices, long-term trade relations, consulting on developing products and organic farming. In this manner the gepa improves the living conditions of people in the South in accordance with the Agenda 21 program established by the UN economic, social and ecological sustainability.

More than 100,000 volunteers work in Third World shops and action groups. In addition, a large number of consumers has been acknowledging the high quality work of the gepa's trade partners by buying Fair Trade products. The gepa transfers about 15 Million US dollars annually for food products such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, or crafted products such as footballs, baskets or stainless steel kitchen tools for the approximately 150 farm cooperatives and socially committed private corporations in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

In addition to Third World shops and action groups, gepa products are also available in many supermarkets, natural food shops, company canteens and education centers throughout Germany. You can order coffee, tea, chocolate or organically grown wine directly at www.gepa.de.

Schumacher College is a unique international educational institution. It provides individuals and groups from across the world with the opportunity to learn on numerous levels about subjects relating to environmental and social sustainability. The College runs an extensive program of short courses from 4 days to 3 weeks on a whole range of subjects including economics, business, design, ecology and art. A full time MSc in Holistic Science, the first of its kind, is run from the College as well as a Certificate in Education for Sustainability.

ASW, the Action for World Solidarity Organization, is an independent organization involved in development policy. It has been sponsoring basic projects in India, Africa and Brazil since 1957. Our main aims are to promote women's rights, protect the environment and defend political, social, economic and cultural human rights.

These projects have all been started by people within the communities themselves. They are working together for a better future and they need our financial support to continue their efforts. We do not send experts or development workers; instead the projects remain the responsibility of the people who start them.

We know that the situation in the developing countries cannot improve unless change takes place in the developed world, too. Our second major aim, therefore, is to provide people with information on our project partners, their needs and their progress.

We provide this information in exhibitions and presentations, as well as in our journal "Solidarische Welt." In addition, we show how everyone's actions in Germany and the rest of the Western World affect the lives of people in developing countries and what each one of us can do to help our partners. In the "ASW-Test" series we examine how consumer goods for the German market are produced in developing countries, and how this affects the conditions there. We also provide information on what consumers here can do to stop unfair production practices.