28 September Newsletter
STUFF HAPPENING AT JUST FOCUS
Kia ora koutou,
Apologies for the late newsletter, we have been busy and Jennie was on leave for some of last week, so we got a bit behind schedule…but better late than never, eh?
Over the last couple of weeks Just Focus has been out and about… The Wellington regional group had its first meeting, which went really well! The group met at Zeal and over a few fair trade coffees discussed global poverty and ways to address it… The next meeting is Tuesday 9 Oct, same place, same time! The JF team went along to the discussion forum on the voting age and heard from young activists, academics and others (see below for details). Tessa went up to Auckland and met up with heaps of interesting peeps. The Outlook for Someday competition closed, with lots of great entries in, judging will commence soon, so keep an eye on the site for news!
RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Weeks of peaceful protests in Burma against military rule turned into violent confrontation that saw at least 13 people dead and hundreds arrested. The thousands of monks, students and other protesters on the street last week have been replaced by thousands of soldiers and police. Fear is winning in Burma and only a few protesters brave the streets, briefly breaking the silence. Remaining hope for democratic reform rests with the international community applying pressure on Burmese rulers, (e.g. through diplomacy and sanctions) but with the internet lockdown and other links to the outside world cut off, there is a chance that the crisis just slips off the global radar. Check out Avaaz for ways to take action and make sure that doesn’t happen!! And for loads of info on the Burma situation go to the Guardian.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in the US last week to address the UN General Assembly He used his address to reiterate Iran’s plans for a peaceful nuclear programme, question the legitimacy of the Security Council and criticise the US’s ability to halt the violence in Iraq. President Bush appealed directly to the Iranian people telling them ‘their leaders were misleading them about the United States’ intentions, while using their national treasury to sponsor terrorists and build nuclear weapons.’ While this was a war of words there is still debate about whether a real war in Iran is likely? Some think it is, others think not.
Green Party MP Sue Bradford may have retracted her private members’ bill calling for the voting age to be lowered to 16, but that’s certainly not the end of the debate. Around 40 young people, youth workers and others gathered in Wellington last month to talk through the pros and cons of the idea. The panel, Young Labour spokesperson Sonny Thomas, Young Green Zack Dorner, Victoria University Lecturer Fiona Beals and Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro, all spoke in support of the young people being more involved in the democratic process. Most who attended the discussion were in fact in favour of lowering the voting age – though there was disagreement over how and when that should happen. If you are interested in more information about this forum or are keen to hold a similar forum in your area contact the YWCA.
UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIONS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF
This October, London-based D-Fuse visit Auckland to exhibit Re-imagining the City at MIC. The exhibit focuses on our shared urban future through the eyes of designers, architects and film makers and is part of Creative Cities, a cultural and artistic project promoting global citizenship across East Asia.
The International Day for Disaster Reduction is next Wednesday, 10 October. The frequency and severity of recent floods, droughts and earthquakes across the globe is a reminder that more needs to be done to ensure people’s safety and the economic security of at risk regions. The day is part of the International Strategy which also focuses on creating safer schools and empowering school children to serve as agents of disaster risk reduction. In Aoteaora New Zealand next week marks Disaster Awareness Week and you will be encouraged to get ready, get thru!
Life after oil. Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s foremost Peak Oil educators, is speaking at public meetings being held in October in Auckland, Wellington and Taupo. You will find more info on the Green’s website.
Young Maori Leaders’ Conference 2007 is coming up on 23 & 24 October 2007, at the Wellington Town Hall. This conference aims to create greater understanding of the interconnectedness of all parts of society and the diversity of this countries future. More info here.
Noa Noa from the School Programme at GEC is looking for a volunteer or two to undertake a chemical additives assessment for the next issue of Global Issues. It will be easy as, just keep a diary for one day of the kinds of foods and products you use and send it to us. Keen? Contact Noa Noa.
LINKS TO OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
First MTV created Switch (a half-arsed attempt at encouraging MTV viewers to think about their environment… they want people to make changes to their lifestyle so small they won’t even notice them. Great, that’s gonna help!) But now they’ve gone one step further and launched Think, to give young people all over the world the opportunity to make their life, community and world better. Whadda ya think?
Youth Organised and United (YOU) is being formed as a political lobby group, for youth, by youth. YOU aims to empower young people, involve them in society and break down the barriers of hypocrisy, and age discrimination that exist in Aotearoa New Zealand. For more info contact luke.craven@xtra.co.nz
Pamela Anderson asks you to stop eating KFC and Kick the Bucket!
Have a go at preventing a disaster using this simulation game.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
The thread on ‘The People’s republic of NZ’ has been reignited, you may want to check out this recent article and then go to the forum and have your say on this, and loads of other interesting (and sometimes contentious) issues! And for an opinion on the Maori perspective, check out this article.
NEW STUFF ON THE JUST FOCUS WEBSITE
For those of you who don’t read JET, don’t you worry, the latest articles are now posted on the Just Focus website. Cameron Walker looks at the life of migrant workers and Omar Hamed examines the plight of the world’s 12.8 million refugees.
And don’t miss Storme Sen’s investigation into the pros and cons of stem cell research.
NEW STUFF FOR YOU
The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times
Over the coming years we will need to move from a global culture addicted to cheap, abundant petroleum to a culture of compelled conservation, whether this is through government directive or market forces. This book takes a positive, upbeat, and optimistic view of “the Great Change,” seeing it as an opportunity to redeem ourselves, and re-frame our relationship with nature and with each other.
This book and heaps of other books, guides and great films are available to borrow FREE from the Global Education Centre. Email justfocus@globaled.org.nz for info on how to borrow them.
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 at info@justfocus.org.nz, it’s always great to hear from you.
