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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2001.
or, youth delegate to UN
At the UN in NY
Elizabeth MacGregor of Londesboro was one of two Central
Huron Secondary School students to be delegates at the
Students Conference on Human Rights at the United Nations
in New York. (Photo submitted)
FROM LONDESBORO
UC celebrates
Christmas
Churchgoers to Londesboro
United Church on Christmas Sunday
were greeted by Garnet and Marg
Wright and ushered by Sylvia and
Karen Trick.
The Advent candle of joy wa„ lit
by Rev. Paul Ross. The congrega-
tion was reminded that Christmas is
about the birth of Christ, not all the
other things that intrude at this time
of the year.
The choir anthem was Ring A Bell
for Peace.
During the children's time, the
youngsters talked about how a
Christmas card brings good news of
happy events and good wishes from
friends. Rev. Ross explained that the
good news of the Christ child was
brought to the shepherds and the
world by an angel.
Old Testament prophet, Micah, in
chapter 5: 2-5, prophesied the birth
of David, a foreshadowing of the
birth of Christ.
In Luke 1: 39-45, Mary visited her
cousin, Elizabeth and they both real-
ized how special are the children
they were carrying. Although both
women were troubled by their preg-
nancy they had accepted the news
brought to them by a messenger of
God.
In his message, Christmas
Presents, Rev. Ross told of three
gifts given by God. The first gift
Christians receive are the people in
their lives who support them on their
life journey. Everlasting life through
Jesus Christ is God's gift to those
who have faith. God's most precious
gift is that all of God's gifts are given
in love.
On Dec. 31, Londesboro United
Church celebrated by using the serv-
ice prepared for the cancelled
Christmas Eve service, the Graft
Proclamation of Christmas. Rev.
Ross recited Isaiah 9: 2-7 which was
a prediction of the coming of Christ.
The New Testament scripture pas-
sage was Luke 2: 1-20, the
Christmas story.
The anthem When Love Was Born
was sung by.the seniorchoir.
From the storybag was drawn a
book titled For All the World with
plenty of pictures to explain the text.
Read by Rev. Ross, the book was the
story of the birth of Christ and the
children learned that Christ was
God's gift of love for all the world.
The message was a monologue,
Joseph's Dream. Supposedly during
the night in the stable when Christ
was born, Joseph fell asleep. In a
very real dream Joseph was visited
by God and had a revelation of how
events would unfold in the years
ahead. He was reassured of his role
in Mary's and Jesus' life.
A package of tied comforters will
be sent to Metropolitan United
Church in London for their out of the
cold program shortly. If you have
anything to donate please let
Radford's Farm Equipment know.
Educators have always realized
there are students who need greater
challenges in learning than the aver-
age curriculum can provide. The
Avon Maitland school board
arranges enriched programs for these
students periodically.
Also, the board makes students
aware of opportunities happening
outside their jurisdiction which the
young people might find interesting.
Two students from CHSS in
Clinton recently accepted the chance
to be delegates at the Student
Conference on Human Rights 2000
at the United Nations in New York
City. Elizabeth MacGregor of RR I,
Londesboro, a Grade 10 students is
still excited about the experience.
Since our military was reorganized
and reduced in size a few years ago,
Canada's armed forces have gained
the reputation of being peacekeepers
in war-torn areas. The media keeps
us informed of the activities of these
missions around the world.
Perhaps you've wondered just
who these men and women are?
On leave from a current tour of
duty in Bosnia, Allan Hillis his wife
Kathi and baby daughter, visited
with Bob and Anne Marie on Dec.
23. Now 29 years old, Allan attend-
ed Hullett Central Public School and
played minor hockey in Blyth.
Following some high schooling in
Clinton, Allan moved to Kitchener
and joined the reserve forces there.
Not finding satisfying employment,
he joined the forces full time and
spent some time at Pettawawa.
Currently he is based at the station
in Winnipeg from where he was sent
on training missions to various parts
of the United States. In mid-
September his platoon was sent to
Bosnia on a peace mission.
Fortunately his leave coincided with
. Kevin and Stacey Le Page of
Barrie were the organizers and chap-
erones of the 109 Ontario student
delegates to the conference.
Elementary and secondary stu-
dents from Ontario, New Brunswick,
United States, MexiCo, India and
South Africa came together to learn
from each other and the UN speakers
from Dec. 6 - 9. Also attending the
conference sessions were the chil-
dren of the United Nations' delegates
from around the world.
The Ramada Inn in Fairfield, New
Jersey, an hour's bus ride to-the UN
building, accommodated the Ontario
youths. One of the teacher chaper-
ones gave an identifying red felt
scarf to everyone on Elizabeth's bus.
Christmas and he arrived back in
Canada on Dec. 11.
On Dec. 27 he returned to Bosnia
where he will remain until April. As
the driver of an armoured vehicle,
his duties include patrolling the city
streets, enforcing curfews and doing
gun control.
Anne Marie claims she was not
surprised to learn Allan had enlisted
considering the games of his child-
hood. Parajumping, the coast guard
or more military service have all
been spoken of as future possibilities
by Allan when his current military
contract expires.
Ip Please Recycle
'6.. This Newspaper
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' Keep Your
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(
41!) "Kids Safe r- , e=t,
First Aid
Injuries kill more
children under 19 than
all other causes of death
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near you.
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p.
The scarves quickly became decorat-
ed with pins the young folk traded or
bought. Elizabeth also handed out
small Canadian flags.
The group had some opportunities
to be tourists and Elizabeth walked
down Broadway and 42nd. Street
went up the Empire State Building,
visited Times Square and the
Rockefeller Centre and took the
Staten Island ferry.
All student delegates were given a
guided tour of the United Nations
Building and all its assembly rooms.
Concern for the youth of the inter-
national community was the focus of
this conference. During their session
together the delegates heard speech-
es and debates by UN delegates
involved in various ways in improv-
ing the lives of youth around the
world.
The speaker who most impressed
Liz was Mr. Olara Ottunnu, special
representative of the Secretary
General of the UN for Children and
Armed Conflict. A number of dis-
turbing facts were revealed in his
presentation. Of the world's 21 mil-
lion children under 21, 300,000 are
soldiers and child soldiers are used in
the most dangerous war situations.
Civilians represent 49 per cent of
war's casualties. Millions of children
are killed or orphaned by war. By
annihilating youth, rebel forces
ensure no resistance to future
plans.
Modem warfare exploits a nation's
natural resources in order to buy
a
arms. One sixth of the world's peo-
ple live on $1 a day.
Delegates drew up a declaration
requesting that the special rights of
youth below the age of 18 be
acknowledged by the international
community. This declaration was
presented to Harri Holkeri of
Finland, president of the 55th
Session of United Nations General
Assembly for consideration. In short,
the declaration affirmed that, as the
world's future, youth are entitled to
special care and protection to assure
their development and education
regardless of race, sex, colour,
nationality or politics.
Delegates learned of innovative
projects/activism efforts undertaken
to improve the conditions for chil-
dren around the world. Two interest-
ing ones assist children in Sierra
Leona where soldiers abduct and
mutilate children. The Victoria
Harbour (Ont.) Elementary School
sells calendars depicting life in
Sierra Leone.
Liz also painted the face and dress
on a fabric pattern of a 'friendship
doll'. Each doll is unique and put
together by a group in Australia for
selling.
In spite of the cost of the confer-
ence, Elizabeth feels the knowledge
she gained about human rights will
be of benefit as she pursues a career
in international law. By speaking
about her trip she hopes to make peo-
ple of Huron County aware of the
plight of the world's children.
Call Red Cross for courses