CS Ubuntu Newsletter December 2015

Lastly, we would just like to say, that you should keep an eye on our event group and Facebook-page. We have a lot of interesting events that we will still do, and at these we would love to see all of you!

We’re almost running out of words to rhyme, but we just want to remind you one last time: you can still register and sign up here, to become an Ubuntu-member for the rest of the year. :)

Save the Date: Upcoming CS Ubuntu events

10 December 18:30, Ubuntu goes to AISU's Schrijfmarathon & Drinks afterwards, Bibliotheek Utrecht, Oudegracht 167
As to participate in the International Human Rights Day on December 10, Amnesty International Students Utrecht has organized a Write for Rights marathon.
The goal of this event is to convince government officials to release people imprisoned for expressing their opinion, stop tortures , halt death sentences...
Become engaged in human rights activism, join Ubuntu and then discuss with us with some drinks! For the Facebook event, and to let us know if you're planning to join, click here.

16 December 19:30, Meet the Masters, Drift 23 room 103
Next in line in the series of events with people to meet is 'Meet the Masters!' This night will be all about master students of the Utrecht University masters in Conflict Studies and Human Rights. You will hear everything about their experiences, their expectations and their recommendations while enjoying a drink with them and other Ubuntu-ers. If you're interested in taking the masters and want some insider information, this is the place to go! To keep up-to-date for the event, or let us know you're attending, please take a look at the event-page on Facebook.

Other activities that might be of interest to CS Ubuntu-members

15 December 18:45, Human Rights Café Kenya, Louis Hartlooper Complex
In this thirteenth edition of the Human Rights Café, there will be a focus on land rights in Kenya.
The Kenyan human rights defender Lydia Mukami will speak about her work as chairman with the Mwea Foundation. Her focus lies on land rights and women’s rights in this particular area. There will also be a yet to be announced guest speaker and a short documentary about the Mwea Foundation will be screened.
Entrance is free and you will be provided with a free drink and snacks! For more information, click here to see the Facebook event-page.

10-15 December, Free entry Humanity House, The Hague
On December 9^th, 2010, the Humanity House first opened its doors in The Hague. Now, 5 years later, they celebrate their 5^th anniversary by admitting their visitors for free during 5 days! From 10 to 15 December, you can get a free trip of experience through the Humanity House, on what it’s like to be a refugee. And with the current actuality of refugees from violent conflict, this couldn’t be more relevant. For more information and opening hours, check the Humanity House website.

In the Spotlight!

Starting this month, the CS Ubuntu newsletter has a new segment: In the Spotlight! Where before in Member of the Month we highlighted one of our members, from now on this can be anything or anyone: members, non-members, organizations, and much more. And of course, if you would like to nominate someone or something, don't hesitate to contact us at info@csubuntu.nl!

And the first In the Spotlight features... the International Crisis Group!

History
The idea for the International Crisis Group was first coined in 1993 by several international diplomats. They felt that there was a need for an international organization that engaged in the preventing and resolving of violent conflict in a different manner than what was common until then. The International Crisis Group would be ‘an independent organisation that would serve as the world’s eyes and ears on the ground in countries in conflict while pressing for immediate action’. In 1995, the ICG was officially established.

Current work
As of today, the ICG makes reports on the prevention and resolution of violent conflict. An important factor in these reports is an analysis based on fieldwork. These reports are then presented to governments and supranational organizations as an advice. Another aim is to monitor the chances of conflict, as well as its possible escalation or decline in a certain area.

Highlight
During the small study trip to Brussels in May this year, CS Ubuntu visited the headquarters of the ICG. We had a presentation about the current work of the ICG, and had a Q&A and debate afterwards. (Wanna join CS Ubuntu on our next small trip to Berlin? E-mail us at info@csubuntu.nl for more info!)

Website
Most of their current work, as well as the archives of conflicts in the past since 1995, can be found on the ICG’s official website. Here, the ICG publishes articles and summaries of their reports, and a tracking list for current conflict situations. Also, the website gives you more information about the ICG as an organization. Check it out!

Food for Thought

New Dutch Connection is looking for volunteers!
New Dutch Connections, an organization aiming to bring together people from different backgrounds, is looking for volunteers who want to help and support young refugees and asylum seekers in (re)discovering and exploring their talents for a project called ToekomstAcademie (English: FutureAcademy). Do you want to help these youths aim for the future - wherever that may be? Then the NDC is looking for you!

If you would like to know more about what this project entails, or if you are in another way interested, you are welcomed at their info night on December 17, at 19.30 at Biltstraat 166, or you can send an e-mail to info@newdutchconnections.nl.

Foreign Affairs Magazine, November/December 2015 Issue
Some of you may have heard of the magazine Foreign Affairs before. Issued once every two months by the American Council on Foreign Affairs, the magazine covers American foreign relations and other global affairs. This month, the focus lies on ‘the Post-American Middle East’, with contributions by several experts on, among others, the ‘Pax Americana’, counterterrorism, the status-quo of several Middle-Eastern states, ISIS and the European refugee crisis.
The November/December issue costs €14,99, and is to be found in quality book stores. For more info on Foreign Affairs, click here.

Heads up: small trip to Berlin!
As you might have already heard, this year’s CS Ubuntu small trip will be going to… Berlin!

From January 29-31, we will visit this wonderful city and some of its organizations that are concerned with conflict, past or present. Also, we will pay a visit to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp a few kilometres outside the city. And of course, there will be free time and fun time, too! The travel will be by train, and we will stay in a hostel in the city.

The definitive fee for the trip will be announced on Facebook soon, as well as the subscription form. If you want more information about the trip, keep track of our Facebook page and the next newsletter, or e-mail us on info@csubuntu.nl.

Please note: in order to subscribe for the trip, you must be a FULL member, so we need to have received your membership fee!

Website & Next Newsletter
As you will most likely know, we have our own website! Check it out at www.csubuntu.nl.

Expect our next CS Ubuntu newsletter in your inbox in the first week of January. If you have any input, feedback or updates on interesting events, please let us know at info@csubuntu.nl. We love to hear from you! :)