SYP Weekly Update 120
20th November 2009
Find out more about what's happening in the SYP in our weekly updates, click on the section title to take you to more information for each of the articles...
List
Events
- What do you think about debt?
- Alive & Kicking
Communications
- Official SYP Facebook has landed!
UK and International
- The Wave update
- Democracy. Your voice. Your video.
- YGL Youth Task Force
- One Young World
- Commonwealth Conversation
Policy
General
- On the Move conference
- Children's Environmental Health Good Practice
FYI
- Derek takes part in Brian's Big Debate
- Graeme meets Cabinet Secretary
- Fast Times in Glasgow Springburn
- Dumfries & Galloway Elections
NOTE: Some of the opportunities mentioned in the Weekly Update may apply only to Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). Please email rob.g@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk for guidance.
What do you think about debt?
At the moment Scotland, along with the rest of world is experiencing a financial recession. With less money going round, people are feeling the pinch, with the level of debt rising and many people unable to afford repayments.
The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) was introduced five years ago, but because less people than expected are taking up the offer and with the current financial climate, the Scottish Government is proposing to make changes to it.
The DAS currently allows people to repay several different debts over a longer period of time. A Debt Payment Programme (DPP) is drawn up with an approved money adviser. Two years ago, changes were made which included freezing charges and interest on the debts covered by the DPP.
As debt affects many young people across Scotland, the SYP is keen to gather your views and tell the Government what young people think of their plans. So, with that in mind we’ve put together a short survey, which will only take a few minutes to fill in and will allow us to take your views to the heart of Government.
Click here to take the survey! Closing date for all responses is Thursday 3rd December.
Alive & Kicking
Do we really understand the implications of extending life? For most of our Weekly Update readers old-age is a long way off, but medical advances suggest that many people born today could live well into their nineties – this raises important questions and challenges for the NHS, families and society itself. Fancy looking for some answers?
The Health Challenge Series is a collaboration between organisations and individuals, including medical professionals and academics, seeking to explore challenging health issues. On Wednesday 2nd December they’re holding an open space event looking at the above theme and are keen for MSYPs to take part. It’s taking place at the Playfair Library in Edinburgh and kicks off at 9am through ‘til 4.30pm, with lunch provided. Unfortunately, the SYP can’t pay expenses, but the event is free, so if you’re free and fancy going along then email steven.k@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk.
Back to List Official SYP Facebook has landed!
OK OK, so we might not have had the best track record with our social networking sites, but things are about to change! SYP have joined the world of Facebook and are looking forward to heating things up with debates, interesting links and hot news, and if you haven’t already checked out our Bebo page, what’s holding you back?! We need your comments, thoughts and links to what’s been going on in your area; we’re also tweeting these days too.
So if you’re a fellow addict to the social networking phenomena give us a shout, we’re lonely down at SYP! You’ll find the links below.
SYP on Facebook – New! Click here to become a fan
SYP on Bebo – www.bebo.com/officialsyp
SYP on Twitter – www.twitter.com/officialsyp
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The Wave update
As we told you in the last couple of editions, on Saturday 5th December, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, thousands of people from across Scotland, from all walks of life, will flow through the streets of Glasgow to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all. The Wave is organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
This week, the organisers have confirmed that the march will set off from Bellahouston Park in Glasgow at 11am. Please assemble at Bellahouston Park at 10.30am on Saturday 5th December. Further details are available on their website which you can find by clicking here.
Details on spare places on buses heading to Glasgow for the march will be posted on their website. Oxfam Scotland have also arranged a £4.50 deal for return bus journey to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station. Book online at www.megabus.com/uk quoting the promotion code 'RSPB01'. This promotion covers travel from anywhere on the megabus.com network to Glasgow and applies to travel between the first service on 4.12.09 and the last service on 6.12.09. Full information at www.the-wave.org.uk/scotland.
Please continue to tell everyone you know about The Wave and encourage them to join in. Together we can send a clear message about climate change to world leaders and help secure the international deal we need prevent runaway climate change.
The Wave is Scotland’s biggest ever demonstration in support of action on climate change! They want the UK Government to Share Scotland’s Ambition, Protect the Poorest and Act Fair & Fast. Click here to find out the key messages the Coalition wants to put across.
The organisers are looking for people to come along to the event – click here to sign up. If you want to get even more involved, they’re still looking for volunteers to be stewards on the march. If you are able and willing to help out please get in touch with Sarah Watson on 0141 285 8875 or sawatson@oxfam.org.uk.
Democracy. Your voice. Your video.
The Challenge set by Democracy. Your voice. Your video. is to create a short 3 minute video that completes the phrase “Democracy is…”. Videos can be any style: fiction, documentary, animated or live action. The Prize is an amazing all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C, New York and Hollywood! Gala screenings of the winning videos in Hollywood, New York and Washington. Not to mention exposure to filmmakers in the U.S. film and television industry, and Meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society! Sound good?! Yuh-huh!
Find out more by following this link to the Democracy Video Challenge site.
YGL Youth Task Force
The Youth Task Force, an effort of the Young Global Leaders, involves a campaign to solicit feedback from young people around the globe. The focus will be to engage voices of children and youth under the age of 25 in order to provide input to the Global Redesign Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
This feedback will take two forms: (a) town hall meetings in partnership with select universities and community partners around the globe with attendance open to young people who submit meaningful comments online (b) online through social media including video, live chats and discussion forums. And it’s dead easy to get involved! All you need to do is sign up by clicking here.
One Young World
One Young World invites 1,500 young pioneers from every country in the world and a range of backgrounds to come together to attend the Inaugural Summit in London from 8th-10th February 2010 and help create a global resource of leadership and ideas.
What is it?
It’s a gathering of the brightest and best of the next generation (that’s you!), and gives young people a place to engage and have their voices heard about their future. Supported by Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof among others as counsellors, it’s the world’s first event with 2 delegates from every country in the world and the remaining delegates are in line with the spread of the world's population. Delegates to the Inaugural Summit will discuss the biggest challenges the world faces and propose new ways forward.
Are you, or do you know someone who has potential to be a future leader?
One Young World Delegates will be selected through a process of nomination by leaders in business, the public sector and the voluntary sector and from individuals from each of the 192 countries in the world. One Young World has asked these leaders to nominate and to sponsor people who were born during or after 1984 and who, in their view might have a positive leadership impact on the world.
Prospective delegates must have the following qualities:
- Be a team player
- Show leadership potential and skills
- Are concerned about global issues and his/her place in the world
- Show ability to grasp complex concepts and provide valuable insights
- Have a proven record of volunteering and extra-curricular activities (evidence to be supplied)
Brave New Talent are One Young World’s official Delegate recruitment partners and in order to become a Delegate you must register via their website, which you can find by clicking here.
They have a leader board for their candidates on Facebook, where you may nominate yourself as a candidate, log on and vote for your friends or just keep an eye on the competition - if you think you have what it takes to be a Delegate, these are the people you'll be up against. What you waiting for?
For more information check out the website by clicking here.
Commonwealth Conversation
As regular Weekly Update readers will know, the Royal Commonwealth Society is currently working on an ambitious interactive project called ‘The Commonwealth Conversation’. This will be the largest global public consultation ever undertaken on the Commonwealth and its provisional findings will be presented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad later this month. The Commonwealth Conversation website can be found at www.thecommonwealthconversation.org.
As part of their consultation, the RCS has launched an exciting competition for the Commonwealth’s younger generation, entitled ‘My Commonwealth’. Did you know that over half of the Commonwealth’s population – some 1 billion people - are under 25 years old, and that in 2009 the Commonwealth’s theme is ‘serving a new generation’? For this reason, they are particularly keen to hear what young people think about the future of the Commonwealth, and have developed a simple, creative competition for under 25 year olds. There is a prize for the best entry of up to £200 in Amazon.com vouchers!
On one side of paper, entrants should simply write and/or draw a response to the following...
"The year is 2049. It’s the Commonwealth’s 100th birthday! Imagine that you are the Commonwealth Secretary-General. What would your Commonwealth look like and do?"
The deadline for the competition is 31st December 2009. You can find out more and enter by heading over to their website here.
If you have any questions, get in touch with Anushya Devendra on anushya.devendra@thercs.org or 020 7766 9205.
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Queen's Speech
This week, the UK Government announced its plans for the year ahead in the Queen's Speech. Headlines in Scotland were dominated by the Government's desire to drive forward the recommendations of the Scottish Commission on Devolution which could see further powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Following in the wake of the Scottish Government's intention to hold a referendum on potential independence, 2010 is shaping up to be the year of the constitution. With our debate on the options for Scotland's future at the June Sitting, we're one step of the game at the SYP, and we'll be telling decision-makers what MSYPs think of their plans when we respond to the National Conversation to tie in with St. Andrew's Day.
The Queen's Speech also includes the Child Poverty and Equality Bills, which the SYP has already responded to, as well as other measures that will affect young people in Scotland. For more info about what's been annonced, head over to the BBC News website by clicking here.
What do you think of the Government's plans? Will they make a difference to you and your constituents' lives? Get in touch with Rob Gowans at rob.g@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk to share your views!
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On the Move: A National Training Event for Young Leaders
Girls on the Move is running a residential training event over the course of a weekend. This event is aimed at young women, aged 16 -25, who would like to develop their leadership skills in dance, sport or physical activity. The event will run from mid morning on the Saturday to mid afternoon on the Sunday.
What's on offer?
- A series of workshops and training sessions will run throughout the two day event, depending on level of leadership experience.
- A chance to meet other young people who are interested in leadership and physical activity.
- A choice of group relaxation sessions on the Saturday evening, such as yoga, head massage or meditation.
- All leaders who have been nominated for the 'Moving Forward' Award for the most progression in leadership will be celebrated at the event.
How do you apply?
Fill in the booking form by clicking here as soon as possible to ensure you get a place. Places are limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Successful applicants will be asked to pay a commitment fee of £20. All other costs are covered (excluding travel costs).
More information...
Visit the On the Move pages of Youth Scotland's website by clicking here or get in touch with Jo MacDonald on 0131 5542561 or girls@youthscotland.org.uk
Children's Environmental Health Good Practice
In 2004, Ministers of Health and Environment of countries in the European, Caucasus and Central Asian region signed the “Children Environmental and Health Action Plan for Europe” (CEHAPE). Three years later, a competition of children's environmental health projects resulted in the successful "Good Practice Awards" celebration. The next Conference of Ministers, entitled “Protecting Children’s Health in a Changing Environment”, will award eight new good practice projects, which will be invited to present their projects at the Ministerial Conference in Italy.
Eight awards of 1,000 Euro each will be given by the ministers to the winners, at the
5th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, 10-12 March 2010, in Parma, Italy.
The travel expenses and accommodation of the eight winners will be covered by the
organizers.
This award and the award ceremony is sponsored by the governments of Austria,
Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and supported by the European
Commission.
The project entries will be evaluated by an independent international jury, formed by two experts per each prize category. The jury will be composed of medical, sanitation and environmental experts, youth representatives, representatives of international organisations as well as representatives of environmental and health networks from across the 53 countries of the WHO European region.
Any type of organisation or group working on improving Children’s Environmental Health are entitled to enter the competition – for example schools, youth groups, local authorities, non-governmental organisations – from one of the 53 countries in the larger European, Eastern European, South-Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asian region. The activity should either already been completed or in current operation.
The “good practices” should focus on one of eight categories described below:
- Water and/or Sanitation
- Accidents and/or Physical Activity
- Indoor air and/or Outdoor air
- Chemicals and or Radiation
- Youth participation Cooperation across generations
- Mobility
- Climate protection
- Schools
Selection criteria: Projects will be scored 0 (inadequate) to 5 (excellent) on the basis of relevance, concrete outcomes, information & awareness raising, partnership/multi-sectorial approach, transferability, originality and cost-effectiveness of the project.
For more information and examples of the previous CEHAPE award projects, please see the
Healthier Environments for Children website by clicking here. http://cehape.env-health.org
Alternatively, get in touch with Olivia Radu on olivia.radu@wecf.eu or +31-30-2310300
Back to List Derek takes part in Brian's Big Debate
This afternoon, SYP Chair Derek Couper MSYP sat on the panel for a special Children in Need debate live on BBC radio Scotland. Hosted by Brian Taylor, Derek sat alongside fellow panel members- Michelle McManus, Chick Young, Janice Hendry and James Mackenzie. The panel were blasted with questions on hot issues, such as Cyber-bullying, Climate Change, Votes at 16, and physical exercise in the curriculum.
Amongst the audience David Leitch MSYP and Liam Beattie MSYP were actively involved in putting forth their views on the questions raised. To get the real flavour of the debate listen online for the next seven days on the BBC iPlayer, just follow this link and listen away!
Got anything to add to the points made on the debate? Head over to our freshly pimped Facebook page, or Bebo for a neb why don’t you!
Graeme meets Cabinet Secretary
If you’ve been keeping your eye on the Weekly Update over the last few months you’ll know that Glasgow Pollok MSYP Graeme McGhee will be travelling to Copenhagen in December as part of a UNICEF delegation to represent the UK at the Children’s Climate Change Summit, which will take place alongside the historic meeting between world leaders which will decide how the planet deals with the threat of climate change.
To warm up for the Summit, Graeme has been meeting with key figures in the debate and recently had the opportunity of interviewing Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP. Graeme asked Mr. Swinney about the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Act, how we deal with carbon emissions in a time of economic recession and the importance of young people’s voices in the debate.
All in all, it makes for really interesting viewing, and through the magic of modern technology you can watch it at the Scottish Government’s YouTube page by clicking here. The story was also featured in Graeme’s local paper, the Glaswegian and you can read it online by clicking here. [Please note this link is to an external website, and the SYP has no control over the content]
Well done Graeme! We’re looking forward to hearing about your climate change journey to Copenhagen and beyond!
Fast Times in Glasgow Springburn
It was a busy old week for Glasgow Springburn MSYP Julie Lennox as she grabbed her notebook at set out to track down several of the candidates in the UK Parliament by-election in her local area, Glasgow North East. She managed to interview five of the leading contenders, including the eventual winner Willie Bain.
A few days later, Julie showed her opposition to racism at the 'Scotland United' march in the city and wrote a report on the memorable event for this very website - click here to read about her busy week!
Dumfries & Galloway Elections
Regular Weekly Update readers will know that elections have been taking place in Dumfries and Galloway over the past couple of weeks. The elections, held entirely online really caught the imagination of young people in the south west and this week, SYP Chair Derek Couper was on hand to witness the results being announced.
A healthy and impressive 2,944 votes were cast in the Dumfries & Galloway MSYP elections to decide our fantastic new MSYPs- Ami Kirk, John Brown, Laura Bell and Liam Murray. On behalf of everyone at The Scottish Youth Parliament welcome! We look forward to meeting you all at our next Sitting and really making an impact over the coming year!
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