City could host UNESCO meet

chris.calcino@thechronicle.com.au TOOWOOMBA could play host to an international UNESCO conference as early as February next year.

A delegation of faith and community leaders has returned from a UNESCO conference in Paris with optimism about the city’s bid to host the two-day meeting.

Toowoomba’s involvement stemmed from a 2011 plan to turn the city into a “model city of peace and harmony”, initially led by the Buddhist Pure Land Learning College.

The work came to the attention of UNESCO, which led to last year’s maiden trip to deliver a presentation at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Andrew Wielandt was among the group on the most recent trip.

“This year they wanted an update. Nothing is set in stone, but I’m feeling pretty confident that we have left enough of a favourable impression for them to seriously consider coming to Toowoomba in 2015,” he said.

Mr Wielandt said he met Australian ambassador to UNESCO George Mina who was “very optimistic” about the chances of Toowoomba hosting the UNESCO ambassadors.

He said it would take six to eight months of planning with an earliest possible date of next February.

“But wouldn’t it be magical if we could get them here for the Carnival of Flowers in September?” Mr Wielandt said.

Mr Wielandt said the conference would showcase Toowoomba to the world and give schools a rare opportunity to see how the United Nations worked.

“The ambassadors would have the opportunity to impart their life experiences,” he said.

“One woman was a refugee in the Balkans and has gone from that to being the president of UNESCO. These are the kinds of people we’re trying to get here so our young people can learn from their experience.”

Stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Formed in 1946 Created with the mission to build the defences of peace in the minds of men

Constitution states: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

Has 195 member states and nine associate members

Main objective is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations