STUFF HAPPENING AT JUST FOCUS
All JF members should have received a lovely piece of REAL mail from us, with the latest issue of Global Bits magazine, “Weather Wars”, looking at the politics of climate change If any of you have any comments on the mag we’d love to hear from you (reply to us at info@justfocus.org.nz ).
It also contained a flyer for ways you can get more involved with JF. If you’re too busy at the moment with end of term exams, stick it on your wall till you’re bored over summer then get in touch! We always need new stuff to keep the site lively and interesting — and we’d love you to be involved in that…
Didn’t get any mail? Well we must have not got your details correct - reply to this email with your address and we’ll post it out…
Not a member yet? Join by filling in the online registration.
And big thanks to Elisabeth Perham and Elise Broadbent for putting together the December page for JET mag on Christmas and Rubbish. We need more writers for the next issue — to be decided soon — if you’d like to give it a try mail info@justfocus.org.nz.
RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Last week Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death. Read an interesting and chilling analysis of this by veteran Middle East reporter Robert Fisk, “This was a guilty verdict on America as well”
As you all know, Climate Change is a hot topic. The Stern report looked at the economic consequences of global warming and suddenly the politicians are sitting up and interested. Funny that! Read the BBC’s summary of the report, At-a-glance: The Stern Review
And find out more about local action to challenge climate change — there was a day of action in Auckland last weekend. Read about it on Indymedia. If you have thoughts on this issue visit the forum discussion on An Inconvenient Truth.
And there was a really big shake up in American politics yesterday. In the mid-term elections the Democrats have won control of the House. This is being viewed as that public wanting change on policy in Iraq and, as a result, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned. Let’s hope it really does bring a change… Read more on the Guardian’s site.
And here in Aotearoa, last night’s conscience vote in Parliament to raise the legal drinking age to 20 was defeated by MPs by 72 votes to 49 on its Second Reading. Listen to the report on National Radio this morning. Read what other Just Focus members think about this issue in the forum discussion, “The Drinking age and NZ’s alcohol attitudes”, and then have your say!
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF
Enter the Reel Short Film Festival
The Reel Short Film Festival is being held in February 2007. It’s held by Youthtown and is a chance for people aged 13-18 years to make a film (fiction, documentary or animation) for other young people. This includes a global category — you have a chance to have your say on an issue which is affects us here in Aotearoa but is part of something happening worldwide. For more info on the film festival and how to get involved read more here. Closing date for submissions is 14 Feb 2007.
Join a force for Global Change…
Oxfam International Youth Partnerships offer young people (aged 18 — 25 as at Oct 1st 2007) a chance to be part of a global network of young people working with their communities to create positive, equitable and sustainable change. If you are working with your community to create a positive future then you can apply to be a part of the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships. Between 2007 and 2010 you will have opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding and to talk and share with other young people. You will be able to use these opportunities to support your work with your community. For more info visit the OIYP site. Closing date for applications is 14 Feb 2007.
Also keep an eye on the Events page on this site.
NEW STUFF ON THE JUST FOCUS WEBSITE
We’ve recently posted 2 new pdfs on the site for you to download - our Guidelines to Writing for Just Focus, and a Guide to Reviewing Music and Movies — you can read them on the Take Action page, or mail us and we can send you a hard copy if that’s easier.
And we’ve got a whole lot of new articles for you to read. Check out TeRito Peyroux’s Reflections on the PYF.
And Eva came in to the office last week and had a morning rant! Read Wallking Billboards: What Does Your T-shirt Say About You? This is a good example of how JF is not all about academic style articles. Have you got something to say? Well here’s a space for you to vent!
One of our most active members, Omar Hamed, is off to Melbourne to join the protest against the G20 which is meeting there from 17-19 of this month. For more info on what the G20 is and why Omar and thousands of others will be protesting read his two articles:
Get Up! Stand Up! Say No to the G20 and What’s Wrong with the G20’s Neo-liberal Agenda?
And Nicole Mathewson looks at the rise of “dumb” female celebrities and the trend for young women to copy them by dumbing themselves down. Read more in her article Stupid Girls? and then comment in the forum discussion.
Hanna Butler is involved in running a GuluWalk in Wellington on November 25 — this event is designed to raise awareness about the plight of children in Northern Uganda, where thousands of children have been abducted by rebels and forced to become soldiers. Read more about this horrific situation in her article Uganda’s Invisible Children and join her on the walk.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
Why do you like Just Focus? Lena is trying to find this out — to help us revamp our About page on the site — can anyone help by answering in the forum?
There’s been some interesting discussion around the meaning of feminism — would you call yourself a feminist? What does the word mean to you? Read what others have to say and add your own ideas in the forum.
WANNA GET MORE INVOLVED?
Want to add stuff to the next newsletter or the Events Page, or to write an article/review, or take a photo/create an image for the Just Focus website? Reply to us here, it’s always great to hear from you.