Speak Up for Change Blog

[Insert Cause Here]

2012-01-17T23:01:00.011-05:00

By Jeff Goins

Something happened in the past 10 years--between the time college students were reading hard copies of The New York Times and when they started skimming social justice blogs, reading about new and inventive ways to do good in the world.

Charity became cool.

One doesn't have to look far today to find someone doing good--whether it's movie stars or a next-door neighbour. From someone wearing the ONE campaign on his wrist to watching charity: water commercials on Hulu, this new trend is hard to miss: philanthropy is "in."

This fad has also made an entrance into the business world. Charitable causes are no longer monopolized by nonprofits; now they're embraced by the white-collar CEO and the tech-savvy twentysomething alike. In this uber-connected world of smart phones and social media, businesspeople are realizing consumer conscientiousness is at an all-time high and people want to feel good about the products they buy-whether it's by purchasing a bag of fair-trade coffee or a handmade purse from Africa.

Businesses like TOMS Shoes and Warby Parker are able to legitimately give back to the world in an impactful way and, at the same time, make a profit. From a business perspective, this idea of infusing products with meaningful causes makes sense--people can relate to it and want to tell others about it. It's free marketing and, because they're making a profit, sustainable philanthropy.

But is it necessarily a good idea? What are the potential long-term effects of consumer-driven compassion?

Think back to before Product(RED). Back when clothes represented favourite bands and sports teams, and making a difference in the world used to be its own reward. A decade ago it wasn't cool to care about the conflict between north and south Sudan; the burden of proof for why someone should care about geopolitical issues, unless he or she was a political science major was clearly on the one doing the convincing.

It's hard to imagine a time when cause-oriented attire wasn't all the rage of college campuses and the local mall. But times have changed.

So the question becomes: As social enterprise gets more popular, does it risk becoming entirely commoditized?

It's normal nowadays for someone's email inbox to be inundated with messages of people giving away their birthdays for well-building projects in Africa. Nobody thinks twice about a movie-star wearing a ONE T-shirt or sporting a pair of TOMS shoes in the pages of a popular fashion magazine.

Social enterprise--the practice of using business to support social causes--is hard to miss. Popularized by organizations like TOMS that have taken for-profit business models and turned them into vehicles for promoting social good in the world, it's especially hard to ignore the effectiveness of combining compassion with commerce.

But is it without negative consequence?

The good news of social enterprise is that the economics of it work. As many once-stable economies are now struggling or even toppling, nonprofits around the world are scrambling to find sustainable means of revenue to keep going.

Since the American recession in 2008, nonprofit giving has been down--and not just in the United States. An article in the Toronto Sun described an online study that found a third of Canadians surveyed had reduced their giving since the prior year due to economic constraint. Incidentally, a poor economy has led to greater participation in social causes.

When times are tough, people are looking for more than just a bargain. They want meaning to be caught up in a larger story. This is where social enterprise really is a "win-win": it offers consumers an opportunity to do more than just consume, while still buying goods.

With this new model, organizations are no longer selling a commodity; instead, they are selling an ideal. They aren't asking for money; they are, in turn, giving the consumer purpose. They are providing an opportunity for the purchaser to make a difference.

This does, however, raise a new concern: Even if the end justifies the means, will this trend last? The "bad" of social enterprise is the questionable longevity of it. Fads by definition are short-lived, so what happens when compassion is no longer cool or when T-shirts and rubber wristbands go out of style?

"Compassionism," as some have called it, is a quid pro quo service. It is the mixture of doing good while consuming goods. But at the heart of it is a consumption mentality, and one can't help but wonder if motive shouldn't at least play some small part in philanthropy.

Social enterprise is a complicated issue that is, undoubtedly, doing a lot of good in the world. The questions of longevity and sustainability are certainly worth asking, but it's hard to argue with the fact that in the short term, people in need are receiving help.

In the meantime, people should consider the long-term effects of charity--being conscientious in the process and wary of potential downsides to consumer-driven compassion. At the end of the day, change is still up to each person, and whatever you do--be it buying a pair of TOMS or giving to a nonprofit--do something.

As published on Reject Apathy.

Visit http://accesscharity.ca/takeaction/fundraising/ to see ACCESS Charity's initiatives and to purchase their new, unique Fair Trade Products.

The True Heroes

2012-01-10T20:48:00.004-05:00

There are heroes who choose to be courageous, and there are heroes who are forced to be. Of the latter group, a great example is the children of Africa.

Kids in Africa have less food in a month than most American kids eat in two days. Their stomachs, as we're all aware, try to "fill them up" by becoming bloated. Yet these facts, the terrible reality in which they were born into, does not turn them into savages.

Hunger does not stop them from raising children, and uncomfortable living situations don't stop them from loving their family and friends.

Yes, these children are some of the world's greatest heroes, but they shouldn't have to be. Children should not go hungry, mothers should not have to watch their children die of hunger before them, and people who are not in this situation should not hoard excessively, while this is happening to others in the world!

Every person should have the right to a decent, respectable life as a human being. Every child should grow up with hopes for a better future, and the ability to obtain that future.

Have fun, have a good life, but before you buy something extraordinarily expensive, ask yourself: Is this really important to me? If you see a charity box or a man collecting money, or a beggar on the street--take a minute. Because one minute of yours is an entire week or even a month of joy for one of the world's greatest heroes.

As published on teenink.com.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T18:16:00.003-05:00

On behalf of the entire ACCESS team, we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. Most people see the beginning of a new year as a fresh start, the first blank page in a book of 365 pages, a chance to start over and an opportunity to change. We hope that 2012 brings great things your way. Common New Year's resolutions and goals usually surround oneself, but it's important to remember that you not only have the power to change yourself and your own bad habits, but you can help change the world through your daily choices and actions. The way you choose to spend your days are up to you, but here's a little reminder of how precious that time may be:

This New Year, don't only hope for change within yourself, do something to change the world for the better. Don't know how? Writing for this Speak Up for Change blog is one way, by using your writing talents and passion for words to write articles and blog posts that serve as a voice for those who are usually left unheard. Whether it's child soldiers or people suffering from poverty, writing about global and social issues will not only bring awareness, but may also ignite someone else's passion to take action on the injustice in our world.

Sign up at http://speakupforchange.blogspot.com/p/contribute.html to receive upcoming topics or email editor@accesscharity.ca.

Blog Action Day 2011: The Gift of Food

2011-10-16T14:44:00.007-04:00

By Naomi Leanage

Food is necessary for human survival and growth, and it is something that we in North America forget to appreciate. It's truly sad when you think of all the excess amount of food we have available to us and how little to nothing people in other parts of the world have.

I was reminded of food's importance and the fact that there are thousands in the world who suffer without it during a family vacation this past summer.

While on a 5-day cruise, one of the main stops was Ensenada, Mexico. This wasn't going to be the first time we were exposed to the poverty in Mexico and child beggars, so we left the cruise ship prepared with a backpack full of food from one of the many open buffets. We stocked up on apples, pears, oranges, milk cartons, mini cereal boxes and even mints. Most of these were untouched by cruise guests, because of the extensive amount of preferred hot meals that were offered.

As expected, we were greeted by street merchants and souvenir stores, and soon the first child approached us. Around five years old, wearing no shoes and dirty clothes, with muddy hands and no ability to speak English, the young boy appeared in front of us holding a container of handmade bracelets saying "One dollar, one dollar." As soon as we stopped to reach inside our bags, a huge smile appeared on his face. When we pulled out a green apple instead of a green bill his smile, surprisingly to us, grew even bigger. He immediately took it and ran to his mother who was sitting on the floor beside us and began to eat it.

It's hard to describe the amount of joy and relief one simple apple gave to that young boy. An apple, that usually just sits as a forgotten ornament on our kitchen table until it becomes rotten, was probably one of his, if not the only, meals, for the day.

The bag of food we had brought disappeared in under fifteen minutes, and our simple effort brought happiness and hunger relief to so many children and their families.

That trip and experience really did make me appreciate food that we have and don't think twice about.

We're all guilty of complaining about how there is nothing to eat in the house, when in reality there is a fully stocked fridge and cupboards, just nothing you happen to be craving at the moment. Unfortunately, we can't all go to Mexico and give those kids food, but what we can do here in North America is simply appreciate what we have and try not to waste the food we eat. It's important to remember that not everyone is as fortunate as we are.

This brother and sister extend their hands asking tourists for money or food to spare.

(This blog post is a part of Blog Action Day and the 2011 theme of Food. Blog Action Day which started in 2007, brings writers across the world to write on current global issues on one single day.)

beremedy - Social Media for Social Good

2011-10-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

beremedy is an organization that takes advantage of social media for the greater good of society! Through everyday websites such as Twitter and Facebook, beremedy is able to alert others of people in their community who are in need of help. Whether it is a single mother in need of a fridge or a family of four searching for a dining table, by spreading the message, these needs are most often met by people willing to help in the area!

Be sure to watch this video on the organization and learn more about their great initiative:

Canadians Create Change in Peru

2011-10-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

Every year, around 120,000 young Peruvians join the ranks of those who are neither studying nor employed. There just isn't enough work, and many can't afford schooling.

But despite the obstacles that life puts before them, many youth in San Juan de Miraflores -- a poor neighbourhood of Lima, Peru -- are creating a better future for themselves and their families.

Three youth involved in an innovative Youth Employment Centre in San Juan agreed to tell their stories. The Centros de Jovenes y Empleo is a collaboration of CUSO-VSO, the Quebec NGO Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi de l'Outaouais, and the Peruvian NGO Kallpa.

Jacky’s Story

Oswaldo’s Story

Wilmer’s Story

Want to get involved? Check out www.cuso-vso.org today to see how you can help!

4 Billion People Literate: International Literacy Day 2011

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

Literacy is a cause for celebration since there are now close to four billion literate people in the world. However, literacy for all – children, youth and adults – is still an unaccomplished goal and an ever moving target. A combination of ambitious goals, insufficient and parallel efforts, inadequate resources and strategies, and continued underestimation of the magnitude and complexity of the task accounts for this unmet goal. Lessons learnt over recent decades show that meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts but also for renewed political will and for doing things differently at all levels - locally, nationally and internationally. (Source: UN)

ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education focuses on literacy and educating children in developing nations. Learn more about the youth-based, non-profit ACCESS at accesscharity.ca.

Below is a list of resources relating to Literacy, provided by the United Nations:

Links to UN and UN System sites:

In its resolution A/RES/56/116, the General Assembly proclaimed the ten year period beginning 1 January 2003 the United Nations Literacy Decade. In resolutionA/RES/57/166, the Assembly welcomed the International Plan of Action for the Decade and decided that Unesco should take a coordinating role in activities undertaken at the international level within the framework of the Decade.

Unesco
International Literacy Day
UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012)
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)
Literacy for All
Education for All
Literacy Exchange - World Resources on Literacy
EDUCAIDS - The Global Initiative on Education and HIV/AIDS

United Nations
Literacy rates - Achieve universal primary education (Millennium Development Goal 2)
UN Education Portal
UN Works for Women - Education
UN Literacy Decade - Education for All (2003-2012)
UN Cyberschoolbus

UNICEF
UN Girls' Education Initiative
Basic education and gender equality
Teachers Talking about Learning

United Nations Development Programme
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education(Millennium Development Goals)

World Bank Group
International Literacy Day
Achieve universal primary education (Millennium Development Goal 2)
Education

A Child in the Dominican Republic | ACCESS

Change Our World with International Youth Day

2011-08-12T13:54:00.005-04:00

This year's International Youth Day (IYD), celebrated on August 12, represents the culmination of the International Year of Youth - designated by the United Nations to comprise the 12 month period between IYD 2010 and IYD 2011 - and the 25th Anniversary of the first International Year of Youth.

As such, “Change Our World” has been chosen as the theme for IYD 2011 as it not only expresses the level of impact that young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a global community that is a core principle of the United Nations.

Message for International Youth Day 2011

"The international community must continue to work together to expand the horizons of opportunity for these young women and men and answer their legitimate demands for dignity, development and decent work. Failing to invest in our youth is a false economy. Investments in young people will pay great dividends in a better future for all."

– UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Celebrate International Youth Day by participating in the Change Your World 2011 contest: find out more on Facebook.

For more details on International Youth Day, you can visit the UN website.

Be Bold. Take Action.

2011-07-26T00:06:00.007-04:00

This week in Edmonton, Alberta at the Global Youth Assembly, over 500 youth will explore the connections between water and an array of issues and topics. Water and youth engagement. Water and development. Water and education. Water and production. Water and indigenous rights. Water and Africa. Water and art.

The GYA 2011 will help youth deepen their understanding of water in relation to the issues that interest them and in relation to each other, their communities, and the world. You can read more on the Speak Up for Change blog.

Speak Up for Change will be covering the Global Youth Assembly from Edmonton, Alberta. Look for updates through our Twitter @SUFC and our blog here!

The Power of Words

2011-06-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

This short film illustrates the power of words to radically change your message and your effect upon the world.

Watch this short video below (or at this link).

The Story of a Sign by Alonso Alvarez Barreda
Music by Giles Lamb
Directored by Seth Gardner

No money for food, some turn to exploitative income

2011-06-21T07:30:00.001-04:00

By Yumna Abbas

You often hear cases about child prostitutes and how they work for a living. Although when we mention these children and talk about their daily lives, do we think about where and when it began? We usually don’t. We just see the big picture; less fortunate people trying to make a living. The purpose of this article is to help teach the children that are fortunate enough to have parents that are over protective of them that even though sometimes you think your parents are totally unfair, children all around the world have parents who treat them as objects rather than human beings.

The story of Leonilla Olayres' daughters can only make you feel grateful towards everything you have, especially the freedom, the rights and the parents that will never leave your side.

Leonilla is a 33 year-old woman who maintains a family that is poor but not starving. However, it is not she who deserves credit for the food that is placed on the table every night. The credit goes to her oldest daughters, aged 10 and 12, who were forced into selling themselves along with their virginity, by their mother, to a Japanese man named Hisayoshi Maruyama, for cash.

The girls were handed over to Hisayoshi on five occasions over the previous year that their mother can count of. The most recent time, they received $60. The last five occasions has been enough for Leonilla to buy a karaoke music system that costs hundreds of dollars.

As the police were responding to a complaint from a relative and found Maruyama and the ten year old girl, in his hotel room, naked. Police reports conclude that he had sexually abused her, tied her up, photographed her and then forced her into performing oral sex.

Leonilla did not know of this for she apparently believed that he was just taking her picture for a Japanese foster-parents’ organization. She also added that many of her other neighbors had also hired their daughters to him.

The two girls had refused to be interviewed about their mother after being taken to a shelter that was run by the government.

Maruyama was not arrested when caught in the hotel room. He was brought to the police office and was then told he could bribe his way out for $4,000. He was arrested when he was unable to pay.

Even though he was taken to jail for his horrific and repulsive actions, being given the opportunity to bail out with a bribe should not have taken place at all. It will only make him more aware of what he is doing next time and would probably keep more cash on him. The police are in no way protecting their people with their laws if you can bend them with bribes. Even though the country of this story is anonymous, it is important for people to acknowledge the things that are taking place in this world, for knowledge is power and without knowledge, who can do what?

References: Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times

The Moon

2011-06-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

By Arzoo a.k.a. Cercatore

Author's Note: I came up with this poem after observing the crescent through my window. Enjoy this joyous epiphany!

The tranquil moon hid behind the mysterious clouds
Joyously playing hide and seek with her passive crowd
Radiating white light to create an ethereal halo
The young crescent hid playfully behind the chateau

The viewer wondered, “Tis a beautiful world but alas
…… why do children throw shoes at the moon?
Gazing quizzically at the serene white, the viewer knew….
…. the moon knows the folly of mankind
…..the moon understands
So, it shines majestically, just to share her light
To guide the “lost souls” in the “night”
Rejuvenating their faith in God, by simply being…
“Herself-the White Moon”

Feeling alive now, the viewer listened to the light of the moon
Of that white tiny speck that radiated an ethereal tune
Joyously the moon whispered some folktales to her viewer
Serenely submerging him in a light that was azure

Zzzzooooommm! A car scooted nearby
Metallically intruding this hushed spiritual expression
Protesting the viewer held out his finger, circling the moon
Reminiscing about his insignificant existence
Majestically, the moonlight penetrated within
as the feeble mind of the viewer cozily encossed itself
within the ethereal light of this moon
Feeling warm and strong, the viewer smiled
As this ephemeral feeling lasted, for a bit

Spellbinded, the viewer gazed at the moon
…half afraid, half skeptical; speechless
Being pulled towards the moon and then disconnected
The viewer felt empty and complete…a living paradox
And then a soliloquy began….
Do others realize the strength of that white round disk?
Was this willful contact a reality or a dream?

The viewer slowly transcended beyond his mortal being
Surrendering smilingly to the moon’s magical bidding
Gradually allowing the moon to illuminate his silent world
Hearing moon’s silent lullaby, he slipped into the dream-world

Then he dreamt of angels silhouetting the moon
& heard a playful orchestra of the clouds, moon and luminance
Sleepily he hummed……
“Oh moon, oh moon! Seek no more the companionship of the stars
simply befriend thy’s friendly viewer”
In his innocent sleep, a silent whisper escaped his lips
“I love you moon” and the moon smiled back

So people! Let the moon speak
& Hear
…Hear the moon

View more of Arzoo's writing on her blog.

Global Youth Assembly 2011 Video: Be the Change!

2011-06-14T06:30:00.001-04:00

Global Youth Assembly: Be the Change!

Watch this short video for this year's 2011 Global Youth Assembly.

The theme of this year's conference is Our World, Our Water. To read a variety of blog posts about Water on the Speak Up for Change blog, click here.

Come be part of the Change this July in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

For details, visit www.youthassembly.ca.

Are we becoming soulless?

2011-06-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

By Mozafer Rajabali

Some people might call it a political stunt, and some may see it as an exemplary model, but that is not the argument Cynthia McKinney’s actions bring to the table. Rather, it brings to light the injustice faced by so many innocent people who aren’t even perceived as innocent. Stalin’s quote that “one death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic” puts into perspective this whole scenario. McKinney wrote a letter from an Israeli jail, stating that she was a human rights activist and was trying to take medical supplies, building supplies and crayons for children. She further goes on to say that the doctors from Jordan and Norway told her that Gaza has become a “weapons testing laboratory” for the Israelis. If this holds any truth, what on Earth happened to human dignity, why are we, the general pubic still not coming forward to raise our voices, sign petitions, participate in demonstrations.

Cynthia McKinney is amongst many people who are wrongfully imprisoned. Abdel Razik was held in prison in Sudan under US law, but the Canadian human rights activists protested day and night until his bail was produced. However, until today the Canadian citizen remains on the list of terrorist suspects for the US.

Not very long ago did Amnesty International come out and publicly state that Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza. This was somewhat shocking to the international community, because of Israel’s prestigious status with the US, and yet senior political figures remain quiet. On a personal note, I thought it was about time that an international organization shed some light on these war crimes perpetrated in Gaza. Hamas was always criticized as mischievous, causing chaos and taking lives, however they were in reality only part of the problem.

Come to Iraq, and the bringing down of the great Saddam Hussein was considered a massive coup by the western media as it happened. Not until later was it discovered that the reason to enter the country was merely an excuse. Until today chaos seems to reign in Iraq, and peacefully earning any livelihood for the local people is somewhat difficult.

My question is to myself, and the youth of today. Where were we while these injustices were taking place? Why can’t we prevent them? We are by far the most motivated group of people on this planet, and need to do something about it.

Mozafer Rajabali is a student who wants potential to be recognized in the most deprived of countries.

The Story of Sriy

2011-05-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

By Yumna Abbas

“We say that slavery has vanished from civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution” was expressed by Victor Hugo as he referred prostitution to slavery.

Sriy, a thirteen year old girl living in Cambodia, is one of tens of thousands of children in Asia, who are slaves, working in a house of prostitution, commonly known as brothels. Every time she giggled, you could see her beauty of sparkling eyes and white teeth, her laughter drowning out the grunts, moans and cries of a pornographic video a few feet in the distance.

As the brothel owner, a woman in her late twenties, who paid a great deal of money to buy Sriy, walked towards her, she enthusiastically offered Sriy to an interested customer while emphasizing a great deal on her features. The owner was not about to settle the deal with a ten dollar fee and explained to the customer that “she only just lost her virginity” and therefore was worth much more than ten dollars since she would have a very low chance of giving her customers AIDS. What the customer, that was about to buy Sriy, didn’t know, was that Sriy was sold into prostitution two years ago.

In an attempt to sell Sriy, the owner pulled Sriy’s dress downwards to show her left nipple. Sriy is forced to undergo these humiliations, as well as ten customers every night. Sold by her stepfather to a brothel, which then sold her to the brothel she is currently in, she is labeled as the brothels owners’ property. She will most probably work until she gets AIDS from being abused everyday. If she makes any efforts to escape, she will be without a doubt caught, brutally beaten, possibly starved and locked inside her room and will still be forced to have sex with many more customers a night.

A brothel nearby to where Sriy is currently staying, was burned down. It was then discovered that two girls, whose bodies where found in the ruins of the brothel, had shown signs of wanting to escape and were, therefore, locked up in rooms, never allowed out, while being forced to have sex with whoever sent into their rooms.

Europeans assisted North Americans in constructing child prostitution trade in Asia. Due to the partnership of the local owners of the brothels along with the Westerners, the internet notifies sex tourists that Cambodia has children for sale and that "a 6-year-old is available for US$3.00"

References: Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times

Exploring the world with heart, not eyes

2011-05-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

By Shellyann Siddoo

Thee years ago I was given a unique opportunity to see and explore our world with my heart rather than just my naked eyes and I am able to give hugs rather than handshakes. Amazing isn’t it?

At the tender age of 24 I taught that I was living the life that I have always dreamt off. I was working in a lab in downtown Toronto while earning my degree when my life had an unexpected turn. On April 7, 2008 I went to work as usual not knowing that my life would be forever changed. While working in the lab my face, neck, chest, arms and hands were severely burnt resulting in my vision becoming impaired.

At first, my vision was blurry then gradually over the next few weeks it began to deteriorate. Knowing what the future might hold my thoughts were to get myself ready emotionally and mentally if the unexpected vision loss were to occur. Over the next few weeks with the help of loved ones we moved stuff around in my room and around the house so I will not bump into things. Approximately three months later I woke up one morning was not able to see anything. Feeling sorry for myself was not an option but with the help of family and friends they made sure my life was normal by making me do things that I never thought was possible at the time. Some of the activities we did were going to the mall, parks, shows, shopping, and restaurants. Believe it or not I even went to the movies with my loved ones narrating the entire movie. Having the support of family and friends made my transition from seeing everything to being in complete darkness much easier and safer.

I clearly remembered the morning I woke up and was not able to see anything. I was overwhelmed with the feelings of fear and sadness. I had to stop myself for those feelings and think of the 24 wonderful years I had with being blessed to see all the beauties of the world. I was in complete darkness

Feeling sorry for myself was not an option. Instead I have decided to share my experience with others.

I no longer see cloudy days. Everyday I am faced with new challenges but I don’t let them hold me back from accomplishing my dreams.

Who will ever think I will be making a difference in another person life. I don’t have the use of my hands and my vision is impaired but instead of making a difference in one person life I am making a difference in countless of lives globally.

Do not allow fear to hold you back from your dreams and goals. Go out each day and be the best you can be. Nothing is happening to you, it’s all happening for you.

My mission is to educate and inspire you to live life to the fullest through the channel of love and enjoy this beautiful gift of life that has been graciously given to us.

Through my life experiences you can relate and also be encouraged to know that there is no obstacle too great to overcome.

With my strong faith in God and my belief that incurable means curable from within, I am now able to see shadows after being in complete darkness for almost three years.

Everything is possible!

Bullying: The Silent Epidemic

2011-05-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

By Anita Pajak

In Canada, one out of 4 kids are bullied, one out of 5 kids are the bully, and 282,000 high school kids are attacked each month nationally.

Bullying has been a huge problem affecting children and teens for as long as I can remember. Through my years of elementary school and high school I’ve witnessed kids being laughed at, made fun of and tormented just for being who they are. And yes, I can admit to falling victim to the bystander effect once or twice in a situation, and I am definitely not proud of it. I’ve realized bullying is not something that should be taken lightly. It can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and in some cases it can lead to suicide. It is overwhelming to think that someone can feel so hopeless and so alone; believing their only way out is taking their life.

There are three types of bullying: physical, verbal, and social. You have all heard the quote “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” So you think why is verbal bullying so rigorous? Well, the verbal abuse is what cuts the deepest. Words are a powerful thing. They can make someone laugh, or they can make someone cry.

“Words can be great, or they can degrade, or even worse, they can teach hate.”
– Eminem

Every day kids are feeling as though they are not good enough, as if they are not special. Yet, who is a bully to tell someone they are worthless? It seems as though awareness is not enough to solve this silent epidemic. A change needs to be made, and soon.

What you can do is help. Don’t be a bystander. You have an incredible amount of power to stop bullying from escalating when witnessing it happen.

“It doesn’t take a genius to help somebody out, it only takes courtesy.”
– Stanislav Lekarev

I, myself have been a victim of bullying. At some point, everyone is. But hopefully there will come a point where nobody is.

Anita is a high school student from Brampton, Ontario.

Water and Africa: A Blessing or a Curse?

2011-05-10T06:29:00.000-04:00

By Odeyemi Tope

Water is a basic requirement for all life; we all need water to survive. In Africa, we cherish water and most people see water as a blessing to mankind. Some people make ends meet from water; there are scores of fishermen in Africa, on both large and small scale fishery. Most countries in Africa solely depends on hydrogenation (generating electricity with water), to survive. We depend so much on water for our survival, just like every other continents, we drink, we bath, we invest in farming, our pets needs water, our wildlife survive on water, we depend on water for the major house chores. Water is indeed a blessing to Africa but, let me take you to Niger/Delta Nigeria, where water is a curse to them.

The Niger Delta is Nigeria's largest wetland region and is the third largest wetland in the world. It covers over 70,000 square kilometers between latitude 4o15'N and 4o50'N and longitude 5o25'E and 7o37'. It is characterized by extensive interconnectivity of creeks, deltaic tributaries, flood plains, mangrove swamps and other coastal features. The Niger Delta has been declared a key zone for the conservation of the Western Coast of Africa on the basis of its extraordinary biodiversity. It harbors a large family and species of wildlife, especially important and fascinating variety of birds, some of which are endemic to Nigeria. Birds species recorded in Nigeria include about 940 species, of which 4 are endemic and 5 are rare or accidental (Wikipedia, 2007). The production of oil, discovered in the Niger Delta 40 years ago, is having a devastating effect on Nigeria's largest wetland region. Oil production began in the Niger Delta about 45 years ago and so did the practice of flaring associated gas. The development of the oil industry continued during the 16 years Nigeria spent under military rule, and Nigeria has become a major source of oil for the developed world. Today, Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and 11th world largest. Oil exploration and exploitation activities has resulted to frequent oil leaks in the Niger delta, amounting to thousands of barrels of oil been spilled into the water. Petroleum products released into the water have an enormous impact on everything from animals, to plants, to people.

Water has not brought them life but also impoverishment, conflict, human rights abuses and despair to the majority of the people in the oil-producing areas, according to a new Amnesty International report. Pollution and environmental damage caused by the oil spillage have resulted in violations of the rights to health and a healthy environment, the right to an adequate standard of living (including water) and the right to gain a living through work for hundreds of thousands of people.

Oil spills on water have also seriously damaged agricultural land. Long-term effects include damage to soil fertility and agricultural productivity, which in some cases can last for decades. In numerous cases, these long-term effects have undermined a family’s only source of livelihood. The destruction of livelihoods and the lack of redress have led people to steal oil and vandalize oil infrastructure, thereby endangering the life of the community, youths in particular, in an attempt to gain compensation and make ends meet.

To the people in this region, water is a curse, they wake up in the morning without an assurance of a clean and healthy water and yet Government is not doing enough to stop the oil spillage, they refuse to provide portable and fresh water. They make the youths in the region results in violence, kidnapping of innocent citizens and foreigners, under the name of seeking audience and solution from the Nigerian Government.

Youths, for how long are we going to fold our arms and watch our brothers and sister suffer, water should be blessing to all and curse to none, but there are many races, regions and countries in other parts of the world, that also face similar agony like the Niger/Delta part of Nigeria, if not worse. Tears freely roll than my face whenever I remember how people suffer due to lack of fresh water. Let us speak up, fight against the abuse of human right, our children must not lack good water

Odeyemi Tope attends the University of Wollongong

Speak Up on World Press Freedom Day

2011-05-03T06:44:00.002-04:00

World Press Freedom Day 2011 focuses on 21st-century media

Source: UNESCO

The theme of today's World Press Freedom Day is 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers, celebrated on 3 May 2011. Events are planned in more than 100 countries to celebrate the Day, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the promotion of free and pluralistic media.

Among the highlights will be the presentation of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The Prize, created in 1997, is awarded annually to a person, organization or institution that has made an important contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom, anywhere in the world, especially if it involved taking risks.

An international conference is also being held in Washington from 1-3 May on the theme for the Day, organised by UNESCO, the U.S State Department and over 20 civil society partners. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a leading funder of the event, which will be supported by private donations. The conference will be held at the Newseum, which is a museum devoted to the history of the press and to freedom of expression worldwide. Discussions will focus on the increasing role of the internet, the emergence of new media and the dramatic rise in social networking. For a complete list of the organizations welcoming this dialogue and volunteering to support the co-hosts in organization of the event, click here.

A special event is planned for 4 May at United Nations headquarters in New York to mark the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration. Adopted in 1991 after a conference held in Windhoek (Namibia) on the development of a free African press, this declaration emphasizes the importance of an independent press for the development and preservation of democracy and economic development. Two years later, the UN General Assembly established World Press Freedom Day.

This anniversary will be celebrated in Windhoek with a regional conference to review the future of the media in Africa. A publication, “So this is media freedom? 20 years after the Windhoek Declaration on press freedom”, analysing two decades of media freedom in Africa, will be launched.

In the Arab States, UNESCO and the satellite network Al Jazeera will work together to host a series of events to mark the Day.

UNESCO is also encouraging all those who are celebrating World Press Freedom Day to observe a minute of silence in memory of the journalists who have given their lives for our right to be informed.

Shoes for fashionistas with a conscience

2011-04-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

"Made in Africa" is not something you see often on a label, but Tal Dehtiar is trying to change that with his shoe business.

Oliberte is the first international company to market casual shoes made entirely in Africa. And, it does not use exploitative measures like many settings around the world.

A Canadian featured on TV's Dragon's Den, Dehtiar is one of a growing number of social entrepreneurs who want to do good while doing well. Below is a CNN video story about his socially-conscious concept!

"If you want quality footwear, if you want to pay people right, if you want to treat them with respect, use good product, then come to Africa." - Tal Dehtiat, Oliberte

Step towards a greener future by taking the Tread Lightly Challenge

2011-04-22T00:21:00.005-04:00

At our current rate of consumption, humans require the equivalent of 1.4 planets to provide the resources we use and absorb our waste. As greenhouse gas emissions increase along with our rate of consumption, the situation is getting worse. We need to reduce our consumption now because we only have one planet.

Pledge to reduce your footprint and see what a big difference small changes can make!

Create a personalized challenge for yourself by choosing where you would like to reduce your footprint. Commit to one or more of the following categories.

Here's how to participate:

Measure your ecological footprint.
Commit to reducing your footprint in one or more of the five categories in the Tread Lightly Challenge – food, water, waste, transportation and energy. You will get 100 points for every category you commit to. Decide how long you want your Challenge to be - one week, two weeks, or longer!
Encourage your friends and peers to join you in the Challenge. You'll receive 50 points for every friend who accepts.
Change your habits and record the actions you take to keep track of your progress. You will get 10 points for every action you take.
Use the Comment box to document your progress by sharing pictures, videos, and words of encouragement.
Measure your ecological footprint again at the end of your challenge, and celebrate your achievements with your friends!

Tread Lightly is a climate education program offered by TakingITGlobal through the generous support of the Staples Foundation for Learning.

For more details please visit Tread Lightly here.

Defend the Environment on Earth Day

2011-04-21T23:15:00.010-04:00

Today is Earth Day!

Environmental Defence reminds us that protecting our environment is key to the strength of our economy, our health:

In the midst of an election in which the environment appears to be taking a backseat, we could all use a bit of inspiration to keep our eyes on the prize and continue working for a greener future in Canada.

Here's what some of Canada's green leaders have to say about the challenges we are facing right now:

“Air pollution in our cities is causing asthma and costing us millions in health care expenses. Putting a price on pollution, using energy more efficiently and shifting to cleaner energy sources will save lives and money.” - Rick Smith of Environmental Defence.

“There has been much talk about securing our economic future during this election, but Canada’s economy is wholly dependent on our environment. Protecting our environment is essential to ensuring Canada’s economic prosperity.” - Gerald Butts of World Wildlife Fund Canada

“Despite promises to take climate change seriously, the current government is on track to miss its climate commitments by a long shot. Political leaders will have to demonstrate a clear action plan to meet Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions targets if they intend to improve Canada’s international reputation and ensure Canada does its fair share.” - Bruce Cox of Greenpeace

“The federal government’s economic stimulus spending for infrastructure could have created nearly three times as many jobs if it had been invested in clean energy. Our kids will have to compete for jobs in the clean energy market, and they will only succeed if our government keeps pace with investments in research, market development and the commercialization of clean energy systems.”

- Ed Whittingham of the Pembina Institute

“Local organic food sources help reduce pollution and eliminate unnecessary pesticides, while government efforts to properly label food can help consumers make healthy choices — for the environment, their communities and themselves." - Sidney Ribaux of Équiterre

“Protecting at least half of Canada’s precious public land and water is also vital in keeping the water we drink and the air we breathe pure and fighting climate change.” - Eric Hebert-Daly of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

Do you have any inspiration to share with us and your fellow Canadians? Or are you so frustrated with where Canada stands on the environment that you want to get out your soapbox? Let it out!

Tweet your thoughts to @SUFC on Twitter or on our Facebook Page.

By Erin Charter

Environmental Defence

How to spend a year giving to Charity

2011-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Occasionally, Speak Up for Change comes across stories that are too 'good' not to pass on. Being a blog on social activism in an online platform, the story of a man who chooses a different charity daily to feature on his blog and donate to is great inspiration! Below is the story as posted on social media site Mashable.com.

By Zachary Sniderman

Try donating to a different charity every day for an entire year. Sounds hard, right? Well, it is, but that’s the exact goal that Carlo Garcia set for himself when he started Living Philanthropic, a one-year, one-man project to donate money 365 days in a row.

Every day, Garcia chooses a new charity and donates a small sum of money — usually around $10, but never less than $5. He then documents that day’s charity in a blog post on his Tumblr, where he describes the cause and provides some insights or personal stories to highlight its mission. Garcia, a Chicago-based actor and director, has minimal experience with blogging and social media but now relies on a suite of digital tools to spread his message, including a Twitter account, @deusexrockina, the hashtag #GiveEveryday, Facebook Page, and crowdrise profile.

Garcia admitted on his site that he doesn’t come from money, nor does he have an especially large bank account. The project was built on the belief that any support can make a difference. To make room for the donations, Garcia gave up some daily frills, like a cup of coffee or indulgent purchases like extra plaid shirts. By day 306, Garcia had given more than $3,500.

But Living Philanthropic is more than just a way for Garcia to feel good about himself. The project is as much about raising awareness as it is about the individual donations. Garcia’s daily blog posts serve to highlight and provide exposure for smaller non-profits (like a Portland animal rescue or a school-building expedition in Mexico).

Garcia acknowledges that 365 days of disparate micro-donations won’t make as much of an impact as if he focused his attention (and money) on just a couple causes. Instead, the project acts as a kind of local charity tasting menu: By no means exhaustive but certainly expansive. Garcia hopes that in the different charities he features and supports, his users will find at least one charity that they love and will continue the chain of giving.

The outreach and positive messages have worked. According to his site, readers have donated more than $8,500 in support of Living Philanthropic’s mission. “The awareness and the power of the community that has built up around this grassroots idea is worth more than the actual money I can give,” Garcia said.

How would you go about doing this yourself?

The blog post on Mashable also provides the following suggestions:

Start Locally: create a list of non-profits you want to support in your community.
Start Small: You don’t need to go broke, donate what you can.
Jar-to-jar: Set up a jar for loose change. At the end of the week, month or year, donate that amount to your chosen charity.
Vetting: Make sure the non-profits are properly registered. You can use sites like Guidestar.org to do a quick, free search.
Money Isn’t Everything: If you don’t have disposable cash, consider volunteering, raising awareness, or donating gently-used clothing and toys to local drives.
The Great Opt-Out: After donating, ask to receive updates by e-mail rather than snail mail. You’ll keep your mailbox clean and save some trees while you’re at it.
Give Anything: It doesn’t matter how small, every donation helps. If you miss a day, don’t give up.

Read the Original Blog Post on Mashable.com

Capacity Building: Keeping not-for-profit engines running

2011-04-12T06:30:00.008-04:00

By James Temple

Today, not-for-profits are operating on a “lean and mean” basis and, in many cases, are stuck in a vicious cycle. We all understand the importance of training talented people, keeping the lights on and making great impacts in the community, but do we understand what it takes for not-for-profits to get there?

Bottom line: there’s a disconnect between funder perceptions and the needs of the charitable sector. But, there’s a way to close this gap. One of the answers lies in having candid conversations about capacity building.

What is capacity building? It’s a way of thinking about how to we can change funding behaviours. We need to listen to charitable organizations to determine how we can help them achieve their missions. Boiled down, capacity building is about ensuring a not-for-profit has the fuel to keep its engines running.

For funders, it means providing the right mix of resources to enable not-for-profits to operate at maximum capacity. For not-for-profits, it’s about educating everyone on the true costs of keeping their lights on and what they need to help them achieve their goals.

In light of this, PwC developed a new discussion paper called Capacity Building: Investing in not-for-profit effectiveness. Simply put, we want to help corporates make stronger investments that improve not-for-profit effectiveness.

Check our paper and join the discussion on Twitter #NFPCapacity.

James Temple is the Director of The PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada Foundation. Follow James on Twitter @CSRjames and learn more about the foundation at www.pwc.com/ca/foundation.

Silent Activism

2011-04-12T06:30:00.001-04:00

By Erin Hartmans

Never underestimate the old saying “actions speak louder than words”. When it comes to tackling social justice issues, this form of “silent activism” can be an immensely effective and powerful way of bringing about wide-spread change. The little choices we make everyday (often when we spend our hard earned dollars) have the power to change the world. Think of what you “say” with the following actions…

When you buy chocolate that isn’t fair trade, you support child labour.
When you consume meat that wasn’t sustainably and ethically produced, you agree that factory farming is okay.
If you buy most of your food from countries far far away, you support the mentality that “eating local doesn’t matter”.
Every time you buy food that isn’t organic, you endorse the use, over-use and mal-use, of pesticides on our crops.
When you buy paper made of trees that weren’t sustainably harvested, you agree that it is okay to chop down old growth forest.
And every time you buy food that is overly packaged you agree to fill up our landfills with unnecessary garbage.

Often what we “say” with our actions does not reflect our moral beliefs at all. Unfortunately, in making those simple choices we empower the companies and corporations by feeding them them our money and giving them no reason to change their toxic business practices.
Some people may argue that making the choice to “buy better” is too costly and time consuming. But what price are we willing to pay…

To improve the lives of the hundreds of thousands of child slaves working on cocoa plantations.
To have a safe water supply that isn’t contaminated with pesticides or animal runoff.
To ensure that local farmers can continue to provide quality food to our community.
To keep old growth forests alive to be enjoyed for generations to come.
To not have to show your grandchildren pictures of what nature “used to look like”.

These are questions we need to consider each time we try to save those few extra pennies at the grocery store. A healthier world is worth the extra effort and dollars.

Think before you buy: about where your food came from, how it was produced, and what impact it might have had on people and the environment.

We owe it to ourselves, to our ancestors, to future generations, and to the earth that made and feeds us, to express the immense power of our actions by making choices that benefit not just our wallets, but the whole world.

Erin Hartmans is a student activist from Guelph, Ontario.

Originally posted on the Reach Lesotho Blog, a program of I Have Hope.