DarwinLoz

ACT NOW!! 21-06-2011 06:20

Hi all,

Long time no speak!

I am writing today over action I am going to be taking over reading this horrendous story on Ninemsn: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8259147/mum-gives-boob-job-voucher-to-daughter-7

Now I know the media is full of these kinds of stories, real, not real...because bad parenting and plastic surgery sell. They shake our moral fibres and play on our own insecurities.

I fear that in a world that now changes very quickly, giving botox to young girls and allowing 16 year olds to have boob jobs may soon become something we don’t think twice about. This cannot happen.

Many studies show that our parents have an immeasurable impact on our body image, from their own self talk to their physical actions (for example constantly engaging in negative self talk, dieting). Parents need to be educated just as much as young people do about their effects on others and about building foundations on which to respect and love yourself in what ever form that comes in.

I’m not against plastic surgery per se. You might spend your whole life under the knife wanting to feel better about yourself and never feeling that you’ve achieved perfection. At the same time, some people have aspects of their bodies changed and it makes a huge difference to their confidence. It’s the difference I guess between a proper psychological assessment and a poor one. I am however hugely against anybody under the age of 18 having access to plastic surgery and incensed that parents across the world feel that it is ok to encourage and mould their children into people who feel that plastic surgery is just part of life. That slicing yourself into your idea of beautiful is acceptable at an age when you’re not even thought ready to have an official say in who runs our country, you’re just about to learn how to drive and you can’t drink yet (you’re still developing...fancy that).

So I ask you all to help GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE A CHANCE. Accepting and loving ourselves is difficult enough without having this kind of pressure. Object to this kind of abuse and seek out Sarah Burge’s advocacy videos for young people and plastic surgery – if you feel strongly about this issue comment on them and let Sarah know about it!

03-05-2011 05:56

It’s been a long time between drinks...

I’ve been a bit ActNow slack lately, however I feel like I have been running on nothing but adrenalin for months! As well as my love for Reach Out and being a Reach Out reporter, I am a returning member to the Round Table of Young Territorians and a member of the headspace Youth National Advisory Group. I am also hoping to this year finish uni (and work full time).

There are many things you can do to make a difference in your community. Seeing as I am at pretty much total capacity, I have decided that my next activity would not be something that is all consuming. I have embarked on ‘Hello Sunday Morning’ and selected the three month option! This initiative, created by a young person, gives us a period of time where we eliminate alcohol from our lives in order to give ourselves a break and reassess the role it plays. I’m two weeks in; the longest I have gone without a drink since I was 18 and getting the best sleep I have in ages! Moreover, I get to blog about the experience and I am hoping that this will allow others to have a closer look at this issue too.

May is also the time of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council, so you could get your school, workplace or friends involved. And, for something I am particularly passionate about, Friday 6 May is INTERNATIONAL NO DIET DAY! I am pleased to share my birthday with this day and glad that there is a day that focuses on the need for us to be able to eat without guilt, stay away from the dangerous diets and live a healthy and confident life. You can visit the Butterfly Foundation’s website for info on how to host your own shared afternoon tea or lunch!

xo

Understanding asylum 16-03-2011 01:30

Recently I have found myself infuriated and, if truth be told, a little devastated, at some of the comments that have been in the media – from the public – about asylum seekers. Now, more than ever, we see ourselves as ‘citizens of the world’. Technology blurs boundaries and it is normal to be able to instantaneously communicate with friends and colleagues across the country or across the world. We buy products that come together from parts that have been sourced from opposite ends of the globe.

17-02-2011 11:04

Aged 22, Kevin Kardirgamar is already very well known in his community. He is:

• Chair of Multicultural Youth NT
• member of the Australian Youth Forum Steering Committee for 2011
• board member of the Australlia Day Council NT
• NT Rep on the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils Australia Youth Committee
• Vice Convenor and NT Rep on the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council Youth Committee
• President of the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Students’ Society; and
• a member of the CDU Model United Nations.

PHEW! I had a chat to him about getting involved in the community.

Kevin, you have been heavily involved in the community for some time now; what was it that made you want to actually start making a difference?

 I first got involved with student activities at High School like the SRCs etc... because it sounded fun and I wanted to make the most out of all the opportunities. Being involved in such activities soon gave me the realisation that through representative bodies and youth organisations, we as young people actually do have the ability to make some positive changes to our peers and the community at large. (E.g. even a small change like advocating for a more convenient bus route for students inspires you to do more for the community). These experiences gave me the empowerment and inspiration I needed to embark on new projects and initiatives like Multicultural Youth NT (MyNT) which gives us all the opportunity to make our ideas become reality. 

Tell us a little about MyNT.

MyNT is a product of young people at a multicultural youth forum in 2007, voicing concerns that there was not enough opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds to unite in common goals.  MyNT is an independent youth led organisation under the legal auspice of the Multicultural Council of the NT, founded on the premise that “With a united body of young people, we can achieve a better Territory for youth with more opportunities and greater understanding”. As per our mission statement, “MyNT is r’un by youth for all young people, as a voice for our issues, a support network to make our ideas a reality and have fun improving our community”. MyNT's membership is open to all young people aged between 15 and 30, and is led by a an executive committee of young people aged between 15 and 25. MyNT has a fulltime youth Co-ordinator who supports the leaderhip and the members in carrying out our projects and activities, which broadly fall under the areas of networking, peer education and youth SAFE (sports, arts, fun, entertainment). Recently, we have been active in advocacy and support for young asylum seekers in detention, the launching of the Darwin Youth Organisations Network, and the anti-bullying and bitching project in schools. We also have input into youth policy and advocacy on a national level by having representation on key bodies like the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition-Policy Advisory Committee, the National Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (NMYAN) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils Australia (FECCA) Youth Committee, and has recently been selected as one of 20 youth led organisations to have representation at the National Youth Led Organisations Roundtable. We are always open for new ideas and welcome new members anytime! We would love to hear from anyone interested in MyNT by email: youth.mynt@gmail.com.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing young people in your community?

Although we live in a generally progressive, multicultural society, discrmination is a major issue that is echoed by young people, particularly those from indigenous, refugee and migrant backgrounds. I have, in our consultations with young people as part of Multicultural Youth NT and other youth organisations, heard this broad issue being articulated in many ways.

I find that the issue of discrimination is inextricably linked to the theme of multiculturalism in Australia, and the conflicts of identity faced by young people. Youth from diverse cultural backgrounds often find themselves 'living between two cultures', and find it difficult to belong to a certain 'nationality'. This often leads to segregation amongst different ethinic groups and can be a cause of youth violence. It is essential to promote a sense of unity amongst all young Australians.  Our society has culturally diversified to such an extent that it is no longer appropriate to limit the term 'multicultural' to describe those from backgrounds other than White Australian.We need to recognise and promote the society as a whole as multicultural, and celebrate the oneness of Australia as much as its diversity. It is for this reason that MyNT, in furthering its key goal of promoting unity amongst young Territorians, includes all cultures including White Australian and Indigenous Australian into the definition of 'multicultural'. In recent times, it has been saddening to see that sometimes the notions of multiculturalism and national pride have come to be seen as mutually exclusive concepts. Young people must be led to take pride in their common identity as Australians while maintaining cultural roots.  

United effort by youth organisations and student leaders - collaboration and networking

What would be your advice to young people wanting to make a difference in their community?

Make the most of your opportunities. Never under-estimate how much you can achieve and the impact you can have. One small step can go a long way and lead to many great leaps in the future!  

Young People Taking Action 07-02-2011 03:10

The moment I have been waiting for... 27-01-2011 03:19

The Skin Deep Project is now public!!

You can check it out here (as well as some other awesome projects from proactive young Territorians):

http://www.nt.gov.au/health/youth_affairs/decision/round_table.shtml

Don't forget, anybody can do this!! If you have something to say, something you think needs to be improved, do your research and SHOUT IT!

What great things have happened to you this week?

Helping out 21-01-2011 11:26

Tomorrow I am putting my money where my mouth is:

Flood image from the QLD Government Flood Appeal site (linked below)

A friend and I have organised, in conjunction with our local council, a family fun day fundraiser for the Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The kind people at Darwin City Council and our local pool are donating ALL ENTRY FEES between 11am-2pm and we will be running a sausage sizzle and running activities like giant soccer, giant chess and playing around with a huge parachute :)

If you are considering what you can do to help and want to run an event, see my blog below the National Youth Week interview.

I strongly suggest beginning by seeing if you can get a friend involved and deciding on what kind of event you can run – then select potential venues get calling, explaining what the event is being run for, what you want to do etc. It gets the ball rolling!

If you would like to donate to the cause, you can do so through the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.

If you or you know somebody who has, been affected by the floods, check out this great Reach Out help sheet.

What are your ideas for helping out?

Fasting… 19-01-2011 03:34

Its just going to be the fruit in Feb!

On a Sunday morning early this month I made a decision. I’d woken up feeling distinctly better than I had the few weekends before and that was it.

I signed up for Febfast.

Febfast means that all participants, including me, will give up the grog for the whole month of February to raise funds for organisations such as Mission Australia and the Bushmob to continue their drug and alcohol programs across Australia!

In March 2010, when the Round Table did a survey of almost 500 young Territorians, we were told that alcohol and other drugs, in conjunction with other issues, was the biggest issue concerning them.

The misuse of drugs and alcohol is something many of us have come into contact with, regardless of race or religion, whether it is binge drinking, alcohol and drug related violence, alcoholism or a range of other associated issues.

Please consider supporting me in raising money for these organisations, or sign up for your own Febfast!

http://www.febfastfundraising.com.au/lauren_moss

What interesting things is everyone up to in Feb?

OWN IT! 12-01-2011 11:58

Larnie Mcclintock, Northern Territory Young Member, National Youth Week

In April, the “Own It” themed National Youth Week will be here! So what is it all about? Larnie Mcclintock, Northern Territory Young Member for National Youth Week, tells me all about it.

Larnie, can you start by telling me what National Youth Week is?

NYW is an annual, nation-wide celebration of young people aged 12-15. It’s the largest celebration of young people in Australia! NYW is a chance for all young people around Australia to get involved, participate in events run, or even run your own event!

When is National Youth Week 2011?

NYW runs from the 1^st to the 10^th of April 2011.

You are the Northern Territory Young Member for National Youth Week – what made you apply?

I applied for this position as I saw it as a great opportunity to get involved and make sure that the voice of young people in the Territory are heard at a national level, being the young member means I can get very involved with the planning at a National and Territory level. This includes everything from choosing the theme, the promotional material we use during the week and even participating in the choosing of the national artwork and posters. As the Young Member in 2010 and in 2011, it’s been such an amazing experience, and I have had so much fun planning and participating with all other young member’s throughout Australia!

What has been your National Youth Week highlight so far?

I have had lots of NYW highlights, one would be being able to film the television ad for NYW in 2010. Another highlight would be the opening and closing celebrations help in 2010 in Darwin, watching all the young people get involved and participating was amazing!

How can young people get involved in National Youth Week?

Anyone can get involved with NYW, you can plan your event, enter talent competitions, and attend numerous events held around the Territory. All information can be found at www.youthweek.com.

What are you looking forward to for National Youth Week 2011?

I am looking forward to another successful NYW in the Territory, with lots of events and lots of opportunities for young people to be recognised for their contributions and participation in their community.

So what will YOU be doing to celebrate National Youth Week?

Queensland floods - ways to take action 11-01-2011 02:54

Amanda from Hot100 (right) and myself at a carwash to raise funds for the Queensland Flood Appeal

                           HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It has admittedly been a while since I updated, however inhaling vast amount of food over the Christmas period tends to take up a lot of time!

This year I made a decision that I was not going to make flimsy New Year resolutions for 2011 – they were going to be based around goals that I’ve had for a while:

1)       Finish my uni degree

2)       Learn more about youth and mental health

3)       Give more of my time to community organisations and events that I care about

That really is about it. The new year has started well – on Saturday I helped a couple of friends of mine with a car wash they organised to raise money for those devastated by the Queensland floods - $1100 was raised, which was mammoth effort!

You can donate a number of ways, such as through the Queensland Government website or Australian Red Cross.

Don’t have any money to donate? Organise your own fundraising!! There are plenty of tips in the ActNow tool box to get you started. Try contacting local businesses to see if you can run a sausage sizzle on their premises and secure donated sausages, or contact a service station with lots of traffic going by and see if you can organise a car wash, ensuring that all of the money you raise is donated through reputable organisations.

How are you going to make a difference in 2011?