YouthLinkExpress Newsletter vol 9.5 – 15 June 2009

Translation:
Mike Alves, Janine Padilla, Aleksandra Radyuk and Christine Seifert.

Dear Friends,

On June 24-26, the UN General Assembly is organizing a Conference on the World Financial Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. The crisis has had, and continues to have, a large impact on the world, but the responses so far have focused on rescuing banks and companies in the US and Europe that are considered too big to fail. The meeting this month will address the architecture of the global financial system and the long-term responses that can prevent another crisis from emerging.

In preparation for the meeting, the President of the General Assembly convened a group of experts, led by economist Joseph Stiglitz, to issue a set of recommendations on how the financial system can be reformed to better serve the needs of all people. The Stiglitz Commission has issued a preliminary draft of the report, which among others calls for increased transparency and accountability in global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and increased intellectual diversity in the economic theories that have often dominated development debates and policies. There has also been opportunities for civil society groups to contribute to the debate, through a consultation organized by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service.

There are no quick short-term solutions to the crisis, but the meeting in June will be important to lay the foundations for the long-term response. We should move away from the practice of making vital economic and financial decisions behind closed doors, towards a transparent, fair and just system where citizens can hold their leaders accountable. As with climate change, it is young people who will benefit, or suffer, the most from the decisions that are made today.

TakingITGlobal's Panorama issue in May compiles writings from young people on this topic, and it is very interesting to read about the different ways the crisis is experienced around the world. Please take a moment to read, reflect and share your opinions and experiences.

In solidarity,

Vidar Ekehaug
Program Manager

Be true to yourself, Wayne Marshall tells youth leaders
05/26/2009, Jamaica Observer, Jamaica
"Listen to what is in your heart, a good leader stays true to himself," dancehall artiste Wayne Marshall told over 400 young people… More here.

Young party leaders and students urge people to protest
05/13/2009, El Universal, Venezuela
Young party leaders and Venezuelan students are more united than ever to defend the rights of the citizens, mainly freedom of expression, said Juan Daniel Tapia, the secretary of youth of the Social Christian Party Copei, according to a press release. More here.

Survey on Social Integration
The Global Youth Action Network has contributed to the work of the NGO Committee for Social Development in developing a survey on good practices of social integration. If you and your organization have any examples on how social integration and inclusion can be achieved, please share! The results of the survey will be presented at the UN Commission for Social Development in 2010. For more information, please click here.

Fundraiser event for GYAN and TIG
The Global Youth Action Network and TakingITGlobal are hosting a fundraiser in New York City on Friday, June 12. Please come join us as we celebrate the power of young people to renew the world – we would love to see many of our friends and partners there. If you cannot attend the event, please consider a donation to support our work of connecting and empowering young people around the world. Click here for more details.

Green Your School
This new feature on the Earth Day Network's website summarizes the expertise and knowledge of hundreds of schools, teachers, students and administrators to provide teachers the ways and means to make their students' educational experience sustainable. These new documents provide the background research, teacher lesson plans and student action plans for dozens of different school greening possibilities. Check it out here!

Tikkun Magazine Youth Writing Contest
Tikkun Magazine, a bimonthly critique of politics, spirituality, and culture, is holding a youth writing contest to generate submissions for its September/October issue, which will focus on youth activism and organizing. The magazine seeks big-picture, visionary pieces that are rooted in a discussion of a particular project or a particular individual's experience. Applicants must be under the age of 25, the application deadline is June 15th, 2009.

Shoot Nations 2009
This year's theme of this photography competition is growing up in the 21st century. The competition is open to anyone aged between 11 and 25 and the best photos will be exhibited at the United Nations and at several other places around the world. The application deadline is July 31st, 2009. Find out more here.

Shouting all the way to the European ballot box
05/16/2009, expatica.com, Spain
Young people are the future of the world, and that includes Europe. But how do you get the MTV generation to cast their vote? More here.

Chinese youth feel attached to country, aware of social issues
05/24/2009, chinaview, China
Born in the year 1990, Bi Jia has a career plan different from most of her classmates, who dreamt of becoming career diplomats after graduation from the elite China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU). More here.

Three Northern Regions' Youth for Development launched
05/06/2009, Joy online, Ghana
The Three Northern Regions' Youth for Development (NORYDEV), has been launched with a call on the members to eschew factionalism and petty partisanship. More here.

'Children of Hope' going on world stage
05/26/2009, Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Children who live in Ankara's Altındağ district, an area with a high crime rate, have started taking the stage instead of playing in the streets thanks to a project initiated by the Ankara Police Department. More here.

Youth rally against HIV/Aids
05/07/2009, informante, Namibia
In a bid to help curb the escalation of the HIV/Aids scourge in the country, hundreds of youths from across the country gathered in Walvis Bay last week to brainstorm on strategies to fight the disease. More here.

New EU strategy for youth policy
05/06/2009, welcomeurope, France
The EU Commission adopted the new cross-sectoral strategy entitled "Youth – Investing and Empowering". The actions involve key policy areas that affect Europe's young people, particularly youth education, employment, creativity and entrepreneurship, social inclusion, health and sport, civic participation, and volunteering. More here.

Technology Trends
05/04/2009, YouthActionNet, USA
From advocating through social media to creating virtual offices, today's young social entrepreneurs are leveraging the power of technology like never before. More here.

:: PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Best Practices on ICTs for Development
The UN Committee of eLeaders for Youth & ICT, in partnership with the UN Global Alliance for ICT & Development and TakingITGlobal, present an opportunity for young people to showcase their work in using ICTs for development. There are many young people doing amazing things in various corners of the world and it would be great to bring such to light through a publication of best practice efforts. For more information, click here.

:: EVENT SPOTLIGHT [Full Calendar]

ECOSOC High-Level Segment
Date: July 6-9, 2009
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
The annual meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) brings together governments to discuss economic and social policies and to improve coordination of global efforts. The 2009 thematic debate will focus on Current global and national trends and their impact on social development, including health. For more information, click here.

African Youth & Governance Conference
Date: August 12-14, 2009
Location: Accra, Ghana
The 3-day event is being organized to engage the youth in Africa in development dialogue with other stakeholders on governance in African countries and the continent as a whole. It will also have highlights on the ratification of the African Youth Charter and the Africa Union's declaration of Decade of Youth Development in Africa. For more information, click here.

International Youth Summer School on Peace
Date: July 25-31, 2009
Location: MacCarthy Island, Gambia
The International Youth Summer School on Peace gathers young people from all over the sub region to discuss issues affecting them and map out strategies of resolving them. Participants will work to build their capacity issue and develop strategies to ensure lasting peace in Africa and the world at large. For more information, click here.

:: BE CAUTIOUS – POTENTIAL SCAMS
Many scams invite people to register for a youth conference, and intend only to collect registration fees. Please beware and only pay fees when you are certain it is a legitimate event. Common schemes include events taking place both in the USA and other countries.

International Conference of NGOs in London, UK from June 10-20, 2009.

World Youth Aid Organization global youths combined conferences taking place from June 15-18, 2009 in the United States and Senegal from June 23-26, 2009.