Vision Generation

Gettin' Hacked with Justin Dillion of Call and Response

noreply@blogger.com (NigePresto) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:19:00 +0000

Last week was really exciting. Justin Dillion, creator of the rockumentary about human slavery - Call + Response - was in Australia to launch his film.

Antoinette Chiha of Triple J's Hack team caught up with Justin and some of our VGen NSW crew: Matt Darvas, Luke Richmond, Leah Sawell and Cory Duker to talk about the making of the film and what we've been doing here in Australia.

Can't view the clip? Check it out here

Get down to your cinema and watch the film, then start taking action through the Don't Trade Lives campaign.

VGen fights Climate Change on Blog Action Day

noreply@blogger.com (NigePresto) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:39:00 +0000

by Alana Smith, VGen National Director

If you are addicted to the ‘on-line way of life’, whether it be for work or play, make it your priority to contribute something productive to the on-line conversation – on Blog Action Day!
What's Blog Action Day?

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices.

VGen first embraced National Blog Day last year when the theme was ‘Poverty.’ While the topic was general, it encapsulated much of VGen’s core business, its existence being the motivation behind our campaigning initiatives.

This year’s topic is climate change – an issue that VGen has focussed on in relation to its impact on the world’s poor. Accordingly, the time is NOW for VGenners around Australia to get blogging on climate change, hardly difficult given that this issue has been our focus for the second half of 2009. Our focus on climate change and poverty has manifested itself into fundraising initiatives such as the 40 Hour Famine as well as campaigning initiatives such as Youth Decide and STIR Sessions.

The link between poverty and climate change is undeniable
...We will either solve the problems of climate change and poverty together or we will solve neither of them.

Climate change is the greatest threat affecting those in the developing world – it affects their ability to grow food to feed their families, results in difficulties in accessing water, makes it difficult to control the spread of infectious diseases and can result in conflicts over dwindling food resources.

Why the fuss about the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen this December?

“We can see that we are standing in front of a fork in the road,” Al Gore recently said.

“We can say to the scientists ‘we don’t want to listen to you.’ If we take this option, it will no doubt lead to a catastrophic outcome for our generation and those in the developing world. OR “we can respond to the opportunity that this climate crisis presents – the opportunity to take serious action – and invest sensibly in the building of new infrastructure that can make our countries stronger and put people to work and give them money that they can spend to get the economy moving again.”

National Fortnight of Action: 23rd November– 5th December 2009

VGenners around Australia will have the opportunity to be involved in a fortnight of action. Stay tuned for suggestions on how you can contribute during this period. This fortnight is crucial as it marks the week before the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen are to begin.

During this period, local politicians will be based in their electorate thus presenting VGenners with the perfect opportunity to meet with them to:

Present the Youth Decide results both nationally and for their specific electorate and challenge them to share the results with the Prime Minister and/or do a speech in parliament on Youth Decide and climate change
Use these results to demonstrate that there exists a strong youth voice campaigning for stronger action on climate change, particularly as we draw closer to the negotiations in Copenhagen.

Visiting a politician is one of the most important things you can do whilst campaigning for an issue as important as climate change. It carries much more weight than signing a petition, sending a postcard, making a phone call or even sending a letter. As someone who has been elected to represent your concerns in Parliament, they will be very interested to know what action young people think the Australian Government should be taking in relation to climate change.

Head to youthdecide.com.au for tips!

Next week on Wednesday 21 October,

I’ll be in Canberra to share the Youth Decide results with key politicians. So far, we are locked in to speak with Minister Kate Ellis, Kay Hull MP, Greg Hunt MP. Senator Christine Milne, Prime Minister’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Dr Mal Washer MP. We’re also hoping to secure meetings with Malcolm Turnbull and Senator Xenophon. I’m looking forward to hearing their thoughts on how they will respond to the results from Youth Decide.

Walk Against Warming
National Day of Action: 12 December 2009

Across Australia, in each capital city, VGenners will be joining thousands of fellow Australians in the Walk Against Warming on 12 December. This event is Australia’s largest day of community action on climate change and deliberately coincides with the midpoint of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit and International Day of Action on Climate Change.

So right now...

Blog Action Day presents bloggers worldwide with a unique opportunity to embrace their inner-online-activism. Blogs can play a crucial role in influencing and sparking debate in the community that may lead to inspiring others to take up a cause, eventually resulting in social change.

The reality is that for our generation, much of our activism journey begins online – we may google ‘youth volunteering’ or ‘getting involved’, may join a Facebook group or cause to show our support for a particular issue and/or take part in online forums - the hope is that this online experience will be so inspiring that they will feel compelled to join a real-life community that advocates for the world’s poor such as VGen.

VGEN decides on Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Vision Generation has played a huge part in the recent YOUTH DECIDE VOTE that saw a staggering 37,432 young Australians around the nation declare what they want from out government when it comes to climate change action!

Vision Generation was spurred into action by the knowledge that climate change is ALREADY affecting the worlds poorest and most vulnerable. With drought in the horn of Africa, flooding in Bangladesh and sea level rise threatening to sink some of our Pacific neighbours, there has never been a more urgent time to take action.

Accross Australia, Vision Groups headed the call and ran a range local events aimed at educating their schools, universities and communities on how climate change is affecting the poor and then getting them to take action by voting in YOUTH DECIDE!

Here is just a snapshot of some of your events!

"We decided to take part in YOUTH DECIDE after listening to Ben Namkin, an activist from Kiribati, tell us how his home will be destroyed by rising sea levels at a recent Stir Session "Uncovered: The Global Food Crisis. That is why we decided to act... So the year 9 Ravenswood Vision Group organised 114 girls to spell out ‘YOUTH DECIDE’ on the oval!"

Sophie and Jess, Ravenswood School for Girls Vision Group

"We thought it was important that not only did people vote but that they were introduced to the issues and made to engage with the debate. As we know, climate change is a contested topic and there are many views. This is why we ran an open forum with a youth activist from India, a goverment worker from Kiribati and a local Uni student organising a youth delegation to Copenhagen!"

Jesse, University of Sydney Vision Group

"We just opened up the computer labs and in they came! We had over 320 students vote and we have an article for our newsletter to publish."

Drew, Killara High School Vision Group

Vision Generation is committed to the fight against Climate Change and you can expect things to be ramping up on the way to the vital negotiations at Copenhagen in December this year.

WANT TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW?

Go to the UN Climate Trackers and follow our Australian UN Climate Tracker Cara Bevington who is in Bangkok right now! There you can read her take on what is happening and participate through taking DIRECT ONLINE ACTION that will put immediate pressure on our leaders.

Find more videos like this on A Climate For Change

Youth Decide Action

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:13:00 +0000

VGenners, what are you doing to drive Youth Decide?

VGroups that send in photos and stories about the local initiative they run to get young people involved in Youth Decide could be selected to be filmed as the showcase for a promotional piece for VGenners post-Youth Decide to encourage continued local community action towards Copenhagen AND to demonstrate the links between global poverty and climate change. They will also get a teleconference with cool VGen peeps like Alana, Brett, their State Director, and a WV media liaison to help them develop plans for local community action towards Copenhagen.

So tell us, how are you championing Youth Decide?

YOUth Decide

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Get ready to give the Government permission to protect our climate future!!

Last week in Tasmania, I asked groups of school students in Hobart and Launceston a simple question: 'Why do you care about climate change?' People care about climate change for so many reasons - and hearing these students' varied responses reminded me that climate change is an issue that will affect everyone in countless ways. As a VGenner, I care about climate change because I know the true cost of climate change will not be measured in dollars, but in lives; lives of the poor who will be most affected by climate change and least able to protect themselves.

'I care about climate change because if we don't do something now, it will be TOO LATE!'

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This year world leaders will decide the global response to climate change at the United Nations' conference in Copenhagen. Here they will literally be defining our climate future. The science tells us we must keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees to avoid catastrophic climate change. This means we need to act now. We need the Australian Government to take a leadership role in Copenhagen to ensure that the world leaders come up with meaningful solutions to protect our futures.

'I care about climate change because it affects everyone and we can fix it as a community.'

Politicians will literally be defining our future (and the future of millions of children in the developing world) in Copenhagen and so we want to make sure they are making the right choices for us. VGenners need to get into our communities and empower young people to give the Government permission to take the lead in Copenhagen to protect our futures.

VGenners all around Australia are going to be voting on climate change from the 14th-21st September and telling the Government to ensure a sustainable, stable future for us. As a part of Youth Decide, a new initiative being organised by World Vision and the AYCC, VGenners will be able to get young people in their schools, unis, communities and workplaces to join in the youth vote. The more people we have take part in the vote, the more powerful it will be.

Students I met with in Tassie had great ideas for getting all people aged 12-29 in their schools to vote online. Some students were going to open up the computer lab at lunchtime and encourage the students to vote there. Some students were going to spread the word on facebook or email everyone in their address book asking them to vote. Some kids were also keen to repeat the exciting flash mob from Flinders Street Station. For more ideas look here.

VGenners, what are you guys going to do to spread the Youth Decide message?

Sending you climate friendly love and good luck for rocking Youth Decide,

Brett

Sydney Uni VGroup inspired by World Vision CEO

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

It was the University of Sydney’s second year participating with the 40 hour famine and the campus was buzzing with the energy of real hope and change for families and children in over 50 developing countries who face the reality of the global food crisis everyday.

Around 200 students got on board to challenge their privileged lives by sacrificing something they loved; food, technology or furniture.

USYD vision generation was committed to inspire the campus by getting Tim Costello, World Visions CEO, to untangle the hype of the global food crisis which currently affects about one sixth of the world’s population.

With an audience of over 100, each had an opportunity to reflect on what the global crisis meant for their lives. Factors contributing to this global problem such as increasing oil and fertiliser prices, climate change and subsequent land degradation, rising price speculation in foods necessities such as rice were understood in terms of their impact on the poor. The occurrence of the food shortage may not have direct consequences for our daily lives until you examine our internal perception. Costello painted a picture for us; food is a social experience common to man and thus will always remain important to our humanity. He identified that our culture can be a blinding agent in preventing us to see the real change we can make in the waters of the global market. The dreams and livelihoods of others are behind the privileged lifestyle we lead and each of us is to be responsible to connect the dots and see our contribution to the world. By actively supporting the 40 hour famine and perhaps other NGOs fighting for a humane cause, Costello argued that hope can be delivered to farmers in need of sustainable education on farming practices and families in needs of emergency aid and food and water supply.

A story which stood out from Costellos numerous anecdotes on the importance of culture and our experience of food in our society sees Costello working with Hugh Jackman on a humanitarian project in Ethiopia. He recalled fun times with an energy supplier named Du Cali who became a good friend of theirs. For one moment while they were getting their hands dirty and digging manure, Du Cali and Hugh Jackman, although from completely too different worlds were sharing a common experience and felt humbled by it.

This personal note lingered in the hearts and minds of volunteers and attendees, who quickly made lines in front of our 40 hour famine sign up stores. Our stalls remained for the following two weeks to encourage university students to sign up to share in this global experience which dominates our fellow people in countries like Africa and India. Our volunteers did their best in painting a picture of the developing nations, who experience once every three years a drought, are too familiar with grief and death from preventable food/health related diseases and whose families spend about 80-85% of their earnings on food to survive, be it as little as one meal a day.

This year, in building momentum from the last, Sydney University aimed to build a stronger collective will for participants by focusing the attention to the personal plight behind the global issues of climate change and poverty so that all who continually hear our voice of concern for the poor are inspired to join the fight for the good humanitarian cause that we stand for!

University of NSW VGroup Receives Honorary Degree in "Rocking Famine"

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:20:00 +0000

The 40 Hour Famine at UNSW took off with a blast! The stall was set up on the library walkway and in the quadrangle, two high traffic zones that kept enthusiastic members signing up. Over 100 people signed up over the first four days!

The VGen team took great effort into preparing the 40 Hour famine in order to sign up as many people as we could. Our campus was decked out in colourful posters, and some of the execs showed their creativity.

We’d have to say that over the two weeks in which the stall was held, it was quite an attraction. The 40 Hour Famine banner/sail in particular, got quite a few second glances. Our volunteers, with their funky blue Famine shirts looked awesome as well!

Our aim was to spread the message about poverty, addressing the key issues surrounding the global food crisis. Our volunteers made sure that everyone who signed up [or happened to be passing by] knew a little extra about the global food crisis than they did before. Our volunteers and execs had a fantastic time getting to know each other, working as a team and sharing a common passion of making a difference through VGen and the 40 Hour famine. Last year, Vision Generation UNSW raised over $5000, we want to see if we can beat that this year!

This year the entire executive board participated in the 40 Hour famine, many of us giving up food for the first time! We can’t wait to hear some of the feedback from participants. A majority of participants, (including members of the exec at UNSW) found that participating in the 40 Hour Famine allowed them to empathise with those in third world countries who go without food everyday, as well as become more appreciative of things that are often taken for granted here in Australia.

We look forward to hearing some great stories about the Famine at our ‘Famine Achievers’ night which will be held in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone who got involved in the 40 Hour famine at UNSW, we hope you had a fantastic famine weekend!

The VGen team at UNSW

Brisbane Boys College VGroup Leader meets with his Federal MP!

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:51:00 +0000

With the 40 Hour Famine weekend now finished and with Youth Decide coming up fast, some QLD VGenners from the Ryan electorate thought that it was an ideal time to pay their Federal MP Michael Johnson a little visit! Present at the meeting were Ryan Drake (Vision Group Leader of the Brisbane Boys College VGroup), Tess Evans (Ryan's VGen Coach) and Steph Carter (VGen QLD State Director). The VGenners spent almost an hour with Michael, discussing the 40 Hour Famine and the Global Food Crisis, Ryan's Vision Groups plans and activities and had a good chat about climate change and the impending Youth Decide online youth vote which Michael was very interested in. Ryan impressed Michael with his plans for the school VGroup, even handing over a detailed document for Michael to read through, while Tess challenged him with her knowledge of climate change!

As a Grade 10 student attending his first MP meeting (and with a Federal MP no less!), Ryan certainly held his own and provided Michael with some follow up actions points for the next few months such as attending some of the VGroup activities at Brisbane Boys College. The meeting was a largely positive one and ended on a good note- afterall, what better way to make a lasting impression on an MP than to have a Vision Group Leader named after their electorate!

Astronaut inspiration for pioneering VGenner!

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:05:00 +0000

That's me in the front!

Hey guys its Dan here from VGen NSW! This year has been my first doing the 40 Hour famine. I gave up food and I’m not going to lie, it was difficult. After attending the NSW Vision Group training day on the Global Food Crisis in July, I knew I had to go back and get my whole school on board, so I did just that!

This has been the first time my school has done the 40 Hour famine in a few years. The famine has been a great success. Around 100 students and even a teacher had participated. Getting feedback from various students I can see a lot of money will be raised. Some raised $10, some $50, some $200-300.

My motivation for the famine was a quote by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, “If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger”. 1 billion people are affected by the Global Food Crisis; this quote inspired me to not give up hope. One day we will conquer hunger, just like we conquered space.

So everyone good luck in your endeavours and keep doing what you’re doing!

Coolum State High VGroup spreads the famine fever!

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:26:00 +0000

Well it was a jam-packed day when Steph and Jess from the VGen State Team joined the Coolum State High School Vision Group on the Sunshine Coast to share in their famine launch on Friday 21st August! The group were spreading the famine fever to all corners of their school, holding a 'White Faces' day. The group facilitated interactive workshops focused on the GFC with various grade 8 and 9 classes throughout the day, held a BBQ during lunchtime to raise funds, were busy painting faces (with white paint of course) and even had some of the VGroup members dress up as 'Kiss' for the day- the idea behind this was to 'Kiss Poverty Goodbye'!

The group did a fantastic job of raising awareness about the 40 Hr Famine and in educating other students (and teachers who joined in!) about the Global Food Crisis and even signed up more students at lunch for the famine. The school was covered in famine posters for the day and the Kiss band certainly attracted a lot of attention. On the weekend, the school's chaplain opened up his property for students doing the famine to come along and join in for some fun games and activities- pumping up the famine atmosphere over the weekend!

Well done Coolum SHS!

A day of silence for the 'silent tsunami': Upwey Vision Group does us proud

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:55:00 +0000

-- From Jasmine Zapka, Vision Group Coach in Victoria 22/8/09

Today the Upwey Vision Group held a mime day to mark the start of this years 40 Hour Famine. They got permission to dress as mimes and remain silent for the whole day in an effort the put a spotlight onto the Global Food Crisis and the millions of people who remain voiceless in society. Dressed in black and white, with painted faces and cardboard signs draped over them, they stood strong in their school despite a very mixed response from fellow students.

They had their local paper come in and take a photo agreeing to do a story, so we wait in anticipation for the article next week.

They got up on stage with at lunch time and explained what they were doing and why. After the presentation their fellow students then understood what the group was trying to achieve with their silent protest. They received a standing ovation and round of applause from all their fellow students and teachers.

Such an amazing moment.

At the end of the day we had a chance to debrief and talk about the day and how they felt. It inspired me beyond words. Although they were scared of rejection and a lot of students did reject them initially, they knew that they were getting a taste of what it is like for others who don't have the freedoms we do. Others feel that way everyday of their lives.

They collected donations all day and managed to raise over $500!!

We were all so proud. This just reminds me of what it's all about. Being local activists, not being afraid to stand up when others sit down, not being afraid to speak out when everyone else is silent or, in their case, to listen when everyone else ignores.

Turning a town upside down: biting back at hunger!

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:48:00 +0000

Around 4 odd hours out from Melbourne you'll find a town called Warrnambool. It's known for its maritime museum, whale watching... and its pumping Vision Groups! Jacki McLeod, our gutsy VGenner, has been rallying young people around her to do something real about the poverty and injustice in our world. More often than not, young people in such regional towns have a bad rap for binge drinking and causing mayhem, but Jacki has a real vision for the leaders in her community to see what great things young people are capable of and can accomplish!

We are so proud of her and the Warrnambool girls - have a read of what they have been up to first hand!

From Jacki McLeod -

Can eight teenage girls teach their community an important lesson? You bet! On Friday July 31st, 130 students, teachers, church leaders, principals and community leaders gathered to learn about the Global Food Crisis, at Warrnambool's "Bite Back at Hunger!"

After splitting the guests into "rich" and "poor", and waiting upon the rich with maison and chocolate slice, the unfair nature of poverty really struck a chord with the crowd. Following on from this simulation, Robert Waddell from World Vision spoke to us about the Global Food Crisis, before we took to the stage and introduced Vision Generation and our aim to educate, empower and inspire our peers to fight against poverty and injustice! We had a heart-warming performance of "We are the World" by Holiday Actors, and then taught the audience how to be everyday activists by making simple choices in their schools and workplaces.

For supper, we served Fairtrade coffee, hot chocolate and tea, and had Fairtrade choclate taste testing. We had stalls by a Fairtrade friendly store, Enique, and a Fairtrade raffle of chocolate, coffee and Etiko sneakers! Along the way, we raised $433, which will all go to the 40 Hour Famine. This amazing night has generated a big buzz in Warrnambool for the 40 Hour Famine, and we're planning to make it the biggest yet!

So, if your VGroup has big ideas like we did, don't be scared to put in the hard yards to bring your plan to fruition. With the right planning, guidance and dedication, you'll be amazed at the difference you can make in your community!

PRODUCTION: quality and quantity

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0000

So what's the problem?
Poor countries are struggling to grow enough food because of inefficient farming techniques and a lack of funding for farming research projects. How will everyone get fed if we don’t grow enough on our land??

Farmers in poor communities are often unable to produce enough on their land because of limited access to new technologies and equipment. A lack of agricultural research and development has meant that productivity has been slowing over the past 20 years. Both developed and developing countries need to spend much more on improving farming techniques to increase food production. Poor farmers often turn to exploitation or child labour when they can’t make ends meet.

How can you be a part of the solution?
--> THIS WEEK <-- Commit taking on one or more of these actions. Make sure you tell people what you are doing a why! (Thanks to VGen QLD for sending these through!)

1. Make sure you keep spreading the Fairtrade message.
Fairtrade means farmers, third world producers, are getting a fair price for their produce and have a better chance of being able to purchase things to increase their production. The Fairtrade 'premium' is invested back into communities which can help to increase production and aid sustainable practices as well.

2. Around the world a lot of people are moving to cities to find work and no longer are producing their own food or farming.
This drives up the price of food. Being inspired to start your own veggie garden - how exciting to eat food that you've grown yourself!

3. Invite a local food producer/farmer along to an event to talk about the complexities of growing food - particularly in harsh climates - and the need for more investment in agricultural research and development.
Highlight/create awareness about why people are going hungry due to farming production methods/lack of funding for projects etc.

4. If you're super keen - continue your research and encourage our government to invest more aid in the area of agricultural research and development - it's urgently needed to help alleviate the effects of the Global Food Crisis and to start thinking about sustainability with an ever growning world population.

PEOPLE: thinking about sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:42:00 +0000

So what's the problem?
The world’s population is growing, more people are moving to the city and well-off people are demanding more resource-hungry food (like meat and dairy). We want more and better food, but where’s it going to come from??

Countries like China and India have been growing quickly in wealth. People in these countries (who are just like you and me) are now able to buy more food, especially resource-hungry meat, fish and dairy. This is great – millions are better off – but as more people haggle for food, the price goes up. This kind of growth is causing hunger for millions of people left behind in poverty!
'Urbanisation' is also an issue for people living in poverty.

Living in the city is great – it’s easy to get to schools, doctors, entertainment venues and all the other things you need and enjoy. More than half the world’s people now live in cities or towns. The problem is, most people who live in cities don’t grow their own food. They must buy their food in shops or markets, and if prices rise they have no choice but to pay more to survive.

And the world’s population just keeps growing. This makes the issues around urbanisation even worse. Last year there were 75 million more mouths to feed around the world.

How can you be a part of the solution?
--> THIS WEEK <-- Commit taking on one or more of these actions. Make sure you tell people what you are doing a why! (Thanks to VGen Vic for sending these through!)

If the world's population is growing and everyone is to have their basic needs met, we need to think about how much we are consuming as individuals, as families, and even as a nation.
Set yourself some goals to live more simply this week.
Think about how much you consume: foods, petrol, luxury items, new clothes... and how much you waste: rubbish/what you throw out, left over food...
- May be keep a tally to challenge the way you and your household live.
- Think about sharing, borrowing and lending
We've learnt that meats and dairy products are 'resource hungry' food. This means it takes a lot of energy and food just to produce/feed/care for that cow, pig or chicken before it ends up on your plate. That food could go much much further if it was eaten by people instead of the duration of the animal's life. Maybe you want to look at how much meat you consume in a week, cut down, or even go vego? (make sure you explain to people why!)
Watch Silent Tsunami from the 5 mins 30 sec mark to get a visual representation of the link between 'People' and the Global Food Crisis. Share it round.

Key statistics and phrases:
1kg of beef requires 7 kgs of grain (which the cow consumes) – if 500 million people replace a meal of rice or grain with meat 3 times a week what will happen to the price of grain?

If everyone in the world consumed as much stuff as we do in Australia – we’d need 4 Earths to sustain us.

FUELS: Re-think Biofuels

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:31:00 +0000

So what's the problem?
Biofuels are chewing up precious food supplies so people can fill up their cars with plant-based fuels instead of petrol. This makes the remaining food supplies more expensive. In the meantime, oil prices are rising, making food and fertiliser production more expensive. How are poor families going to pay for food when it doubles in price??

Oil is a finite, natural resource – so one day it will run out! Oil prices have risen sharply in the past couple of years. We use oil to transport food and make fertilisers which are used on farms. When oil is more expensive, food is more expensive too! And don’t be fooled by changeable petrol prices – oil prices will continue to rise in coming years. One solution to the oil problem? Use renewable plant-based resources instead! We can also make energy from plants, like corn and canola, but unfortunately there’s a big problem with that. Farmers are now selling this food to energy producers – not for people to eat. This means there’s less food available AND the food prices are higher. One estimate found that filling the tank of the average car with biofuel uses as much corn (Africa's main food source) as one African person consumes in an entire year.2 The bottom line? The poor are starving so the rich can fill up their cars.

How can you be part of the solution?
--> THIS WEEK <-- Commit taking on one or more of these actions. Make sure you tell people what you are doing a why!
(Thanks to VGen SA for sending these through!)

1. A lot of people don't understand the negatives of using biofuels like ethanol. Educating people is the first step. There is a great section in the 'Silent Tsunami' clip that explains how we are feeding our cars what should be feeding humans (from the 4mins and 20secs mark). You can find the clip here.
Post it on your Facebook, embed the video in an email and send it round to lots of people to educate them.

2. Talk to people about biofuels this week, bring it up in conversation to ask people what they know - share with them what you have discovered

3. The music video 'Running On Empty' presents a literal example of taking food from the poor to put int your cars. Circulate this clip as well!

4. Organise a 'mini flash mob' in your school / uni during lunch break.
Use the 'key statistic' below get creative with some corn (ask you Vision Group Coach for left-overs from the GLCs) and demonstrate visually how much corn it takes to fill a fuel tank. Make some signs/pictures and have handouts to give people to re-think biofuels.

Key statistic for use:
It takes 232kgs of corn to produce one full tank of biofuel – that’s as much corn as an African person consumes in an entire year.

Youth Ambassador recruits local MP for the 40 HOUR FAMINE!

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:19:00 +0000

Here at VGEN we are using this years 40 Hour Famine to spread out into our local communities and advocate on the Global Food Crisis.

900 Million people hungry is a big deal!

So we're telling EVERYONE about the causes of the Global Food Crisis, where it is happening and who it is affecting!

2 NSW Vgenners recently thought to themselves, "Who better to tell then our Federal MP, one of our nations decision makers??"

Check out how it went bellow then grab your mates and do the same!!
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Meeting your local MP is not so scary!

Kristin Ledley (my awesome VGROUP Mentor) and myself discovered this on Tuesday 7th July, when we had an extremely successful meeting with MP Alex Hawke of the Mitchell Electorate. Our aim was to get Mr Hawke into the 40 Hour Famine and I shared with him about my experiences in Cambodia. Mr Hawke was so eager to hear my stories and feelings about what I saw in Cambodia and the effect of the Global Food Crisis on a more personal level. Mr Hawke then begun to ask some more in depth and challenging questions about the Global Food Crisis which showed his interest and willingness to learn and be involved in actions he could take as a Minister of our Government! His questions went beyond politeness, to asking how governments are acting and the effects of biofuels on food production and prices.

After a great chat, we gave him a 40 hour famine t-shirt which he wore with pride (we’ve got photos!), and we asked him for his support in a few ways. He has agreed to participate in the 40 Hour Famine and is positive that supporters in the community will sponsor him. He will be putting links on his electorate homepage and will publish this news in his community newsletter. Mr Hawke also agreed to coming to a famine launch at my school and is happy to ask local newspapers to run stories to promote the 40 hour famine. On top of all that, he was eager to be involved with a possible Global Food Crisis Forum for students in the Hills Area.

With all these great outcomes, Kristin and I walked out of his office with smiles from ear to ear. I encourage all Vgenners to get out and start talking to their local communities, Mayors and MP’s. It’s a truly rewarding feeling when you get those with influence and power in your community on board.

Action story filed by NSW Vgenner and 2009 Youth Ambassador, Jocelyn Clark

GREED: Week 1: Fight greed

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:18:00 +0000

So what's the problem?

Business people are also pushing up food prices by making bets on the future price of crops like corn and rice. How will poor countries afford ever increasing food costs??

Food investors are adding to higher food prices. These guys make their dollars by investing in areas where they think food prices will go up. Buy at a low price, sell at a high price – easy. This is called “price speculation”. But as more and more people buy and sell food stocks, it creates even higher food prices and wild market swings. All of which has nothing to do with the world’s most basic demand – the need to eat!
Then there’s the other GFC – the Global Financial Crisis. As many western countries stop making profits, companies in richer countries are cutting back their spending in developing countries. Poor countries are also unable to sell as much to rich ones.

Greed is fuelling the Global Food Crisis.

How can you be a part of the solution?

--> THIS WEEK <-- Commit taking on one or more of these actions. Make sure you tell people what you are doing a why!
(Thanks to VGen WA for sending these through!)

1. Buy direct from farmers (i.e. shop at markets instead of at the likes of Coles and Woolworths) Buy locally-grown products and reduce your need to import food. Aside from helping the local economy, “buying local” reduces our reliance on food from other countries.
2. Talk to friends and family about fair cost breakdowns and what they can do to help combat the developed world’s greed
3. Demand fair cost breakdowns from distributors such as Coles and Woolworths (i.e. send them a letter and ask).
4. Start a veggie garden so you can be satisfied that other people aren’t missing out down the food chain!
5. Keep raising lots of money for the 40 Hour Famine because we’re helping out developing countries by supporting sustainable agricultural projects!

FACEBOOK:
Copy the 'greed' icon into your display picture.
Use a procovative status to get people thinking. Direct them to the Famine site for more information!
e.g. Greed allows 1 billion of the world's population to go hungry. This is what I'm doing about it: http://trans.worldvision.com.au/40hourfamine/default.aspx

Everyday Action for Everday Activists - 5 weeks for 5 causes

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:07:00 +0000

All signed up to the 40 Hour Famine? Awesome.

So when you're not fundraising and preparing for your 40 hours of fasting, what can you do?

Each week for the next 5 weeks (concentrating on one cause a week) we are going to give you ideas for how you can be a part of the solution to the Global Food Crisis by merely using your choices, everyday choices, to make a difference. VGen state teams from around the country have presented local actions that Vision Groups and individuals can take on to combat the 5 causes we've identified as fuelling this GFC. We will be revealing them each Monday.

You might like to take on a couple actions yourself, commit to one as a group, may be even get your school involved! You may even like to just focus on one cause over the next few weeks -- do with the actions what you will... but make sure you do something ; )

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN EACH MONDAY TO SEE WHAT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE ON RELATED TO EACH CAUSE

WEEK 1: Beginning 20/7/09
WEEK 2: Beginning 27/7/09
WEEK 3: Beginning 3/8/09

WEEK 4: Beginning 10/8/09

WEEK 5: Beginning 24/8/09

From our National Director - Alana Smith on The Global Food Crisis, Climate Change and Ethical Consumerism

noreply@blogger.com (Wallisimo) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Many of my friends would say that on multiple occasions they have experienced a food crisis. It usually happens when I invite them over for lunch or dinner and cook for them and things just don’t quite go to plan. The lasagne burns. I confuse flours and use plain flour rather than self raising flour so that my cake doesn’t rise. Or perhaps I struggle to distinguish between a zucchini and a cucumber and my zucchini slice suffers as a result – cucumber is no substitute for a zucchini. These days I specialise in fruit – I enjoy cutting up apples and peeling oranges and because my name rhymes with banana (Alana) I have a special soft spot for bananas, especially when they are found in a banana cake.

The crisis my friends experience when I cook for them is nothing compared to the crisis that 900 million people around the world are currently experiencing as a result of the global food crisis.

Climate Change and Poverty - the connection
As I’ve highlighted in previous blogs relating to climate change, we are at a turning point in history. We will either solve the problems of climate change and poverty together or we will solve neither of them. Climate change is the greatest threat affecting those in the developing world – it affects their ability to grow food to feed their families, results in difficulties in accessing water, makes it difficult to control the spread of infectious diseases and can result in conflicts over dwindling food resources. The climate change conference in Copenhagen is about putting together a new climate treaty as the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012. The discussions that will take place in Copenhagen, along with the negotiations that occur around the world in the lead up to December, are some of the most important relating to climate change that the world has ever witnessed. “We can see that we are standing in front of a fork in the road,” Al Gore recently said. “We can say to the scientists ‘we don’t want to listen to you.’ If we take this option, it will no doubt lead to a catastrophic outcome for our generation and those in the developing world. OR “we can respond to the opportunity that this climate crisis presents – the opportunity to take serious action – and invest sensibly in the building of new infrastructure that can make our countries stronger and put people to work and give them money that they can spend to get the economy moving again.”

Al Gore is spot on. I think most of us are cheering for the second option.
But are our everyday actions as individuals enough? No way. The Australian government needs to step up – we need some seriously leadership on climate change.

How can young people's voice be heard on Climate Change?
Youth Decide presents young Australians with the perfect way to give the Australian government permission to get serious about climate change. World Vision have partnered with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) to bring you Australia’s first youth online vote relating to climate change, providing an opportunity for Australians to tell the government how they should tackle climate change in the lead up to Copenhagen. There will be a week in which people can vote – 14 – 21 September 2009 and we’re encouraging Vision Groups and VGenners to mobilise their community on this issue by running an event at their workplace, school, university or community group. The results from this vote will be complied and presented to government leaders to demonstrate that young people believe that the government should be more active on this issue.

During last weekend’s Powershift conference in Sydney, I caught up with a mate Pat (who I randomly met at youth hostel in Kenya earlier this year!!). He sent me a message in relation to Youth Decide today and I thought I’d share it with you -

Youth Decide makes so much sense!

Why wait for 2010 election when the politicians present what they're going to do, and we get to choose between a douche and a turd sandwich?

The idea of holding a nationwide vote and tell them what we want is serious democracy in action - I can't wait to get involved!!

To get involved and find out more about this exciting initiative register at http://www.youthdecide.com.au/

But what about Ethical Consumersim?

Still living and breathing it everyday.
Many VGenners and Vision Group leaders have asked whether Don’t Trade Lives is still a focus in their campaigning especially as we move into promoting the 40 Hour Famine, the global food crisis and climate change. Absolutely – in fact, I know that for many VGenners, ethical consumerism and ensuring that what you consume is ‘slavery free’ is a part of your everyday life as an activist. We have all taken action in different ways and many of us are always looking to new projects or initiatives to increase awareness of these important issues in our everyday life. I recently discovered some very funky ethical clothing – the designer and founder, Hayley has a great website http://www.heidiandseek.com/ and I recommend that you check it out. She is a big advocate for ethical fashion (why should any of us be allowed to look good at the expense of others?) and her clothing is eco-friendly (reconstructured frin 100% recycle materials and reclaimed fabrics and sweat shop free. I must admit that I hate shopping - but my friend Dhakshy and I certainly enjoyed this experience! )

So where is VGen at and what's to come?
The next few months are seriously exciting – STIR sessions across the country relating to climate change and the global food crisis and then World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine!! September will bring us Youth Decide, a week that will certainly be important in the lead up to Copenhagen.

These are historic moments in our lifetime. What are you doing to bring them to life? Or more importantly, what are you doing to ensure that these events, initiatives and campaigns are catalysts for serious change in your life?

Alana Smith.

The ethical purchases...the latest additions to my wardrobe. Very exciting! Make sure you check Hayley's website out. Oh, and just so you know - these pictures aren't me trying to get my modelling career kick started (I gave up on that long ago!) - it's the designer herself!

Meet Kate Ellis MP: VGen Ambassador

noreply@blogger.com (NigePresto) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:19:00 +0000

In late 2008, we had the privilege of having Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth and Sport become VGen’s Ambassador. Our connection with Kate began through VGen members in Kate’s electorate of Adelaide meeting with her regularly to highlight the Make Poverty History campaign as well as World Vision’s Don’t Trade Lives campaign.

Kate’s interest and passion for social justice, along with her belief in the power of young people to influence change make her the perfect ambassador for VGen, particularly through her ability to represent VGen’s (and World Vision’s) campaigns in parliament.

Watch: VGen's Alana and Brett enjoyed the opportunity to meet Kate in early 2009 and ask her thoughts on Ethical Consumerism.

In her role as VGen’s Ambassador, Kate will be adding value to many of our initiatives and campaigns nationally. 2009 is set to be an exciting year.

Keep an eye out for VGen events and initiatives where Kate will be speaking and presenting…and watch this space – you will soon have a chance to ask Kate a question too.

In the meantime:

Check out Kate's own website, or
Take part in the discussion on the Australian Youth Forum

VGen hits World Environmental Day at the Sunny Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:34:00 +0000

Where better to hold an Environmental Festival than QLD's Sunshine Coast! On Sunday 28th June, VGen QLD was invited to hold a stall and run a few workshops at World Environmental Day at Sunshine Coast University. With the help of some Sunshine Coast VGroup members who came along for the day, we chatted to potential VGenners at the stall and ran the GLC resource game in the festival's youth area with high school and uni students from the Sunny Coast and also those visiting from Brisbane for the day. We had some great responses to the workshop and the atmosphere throughout the day was certainly conducive to some great discussions!

Ipswich Girls Grammar School Mini-GLC in QLD

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:29:00 +0000

On Thursday 18th June the Ipswich Girls Grammar School Vision Group welcoming their school youth rep Daryl Brown, VGen Coach Ally Crowe and VGen QLD State Director Steph Carter into their school to hold a half day Mini-GLC- it was a fantastic day. 90 girls missed school to come along (record numbers) and spend the time participating in the resource game, learning more about the Global Food Crisis and discussing ways that they can effectively run the 40 hr famine within their school next term. The school's Vision Group attracted much interest from students, which bodes well for their famine plans come next term. Additionally, the group's leaders Ash and Caitlin, alongside the QLD World Vision Community Campaigner Gill Marshall, are preparing to meet shortly with their Mayor Paul Pisasale as he is wanting to become an accredited fair trade council! Spreading the VGen love around Ipswich!

Online Doco About Child Labour on Cocoa Plantations in the Cameroon

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:51:00 +0000

CHECK IT OUT HERE:

Director: Rockhopper Productions
Produced In: 2007
Synopsis: "There are over a quarter million children who work in the cocoa plantations of West Africa. It's hazardous work, which exposes children to highly toxic pesticides. This episode of the BBC World TV series "Survivors Guide" goes to Cameroon, where the International Labour Organisation has been working to eliminate child labour from cocoa production and help children return to school."

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

SA VGenners Flash Mob - World Day Against Child Labour

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:37:00 +0000

The World Day Against Child Labour on June 12th was celebrated by VGenners in Adelaide - 35 campaigners braved the cold weather to join in a flash mob in Rundle Mall.

Check out the footage - it's incredible.

Vic Student Forums Mobilising Schools for a 'Fairer World'

noreply@blogger.com (Vision Generation) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:14:00 +0000

"A group of Berwick students has joined forces to change the world - one cup of coffee at a time." - that's what the local paper had to say about St Margaret's Vision Group, and we couldn't be prouder!

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE HERE

As part of their efforts campaigning around Fairtrade Fortnight the St Margaret Vision Group in Victoria ran a Don't Trade Lives Student Forum to engage their school and surrounding schools on the issue of slavery. Sounding the ethical consumerism trumpet, attendees got to hear all about Fairtrade and how they can start to fuel a movement of consumers who demand products that are slave-free.

Hosting speakers like Tim Costello as well as Jason Wood MP (local Member of Parliament for Latrobe) and Lynette Keleher (local Greens Councillor) they started to engage their local government and work towards the City of Casey becoming a certified Fairtrade Community. Jason Wood MP, even committed to sourcing Fairtrade products for his work place!

With an audience of well over 100 young people and teachers, and at least 8 schools represented, we are excited to see the vision groups this event can birth in the surrounding area!

Earlier this year in April, Glen Waverley Secondary Vision Group also ran a Don't Trade Lives Student Forum and we have seen groups like Brentwood Secondary Vision Group birthed and going strong! The Monash Council have are also pursuing status as a Fairtrade Community and their Glen Waverley Vision Group Leader Daniel Christianz now sits on the Steering Committee.

Congratulations to St Margarets and Glen Waverley Vision Groups - you are our heros!

The domino effect that happens when young people inspire other young people is truly amazing!