Have your say on what YOU think the Australian government should do about climate change. Because the truth of the matter is climate change is affecting the poorest countries the worst.
From September the 14th to the 18th anyone between the ages of 12-29 can vote online. We will be opening up G5 for Senior School students at lunchtime. For Middle School this will be integrated into English or humanities classes.
Get voting! 
Tuesday March 10 – the day I’ve been anticipating for a week at least. I sat myself in the Lecture Theatre with only a minimal amount of year 12s and a whole bunch of middle school students, about to watch the wonderful reckless documentary that got the likes of Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Hayden Panettiere, Kirsten Bell and the whole world at their feet – Invisible Children: Rough Cut.
Invisible Children merchandise sold well
While watching the film, I admit I had laughed at these filmmakers as they were funny and nerdy right at the beginning but as soon the film rolled in, it made sense as to why millions of viewers wanted to help these kids and why these three boys transformed into three young noble men who were passionate to create an inspiring documentary and movement. As a viewer, you would learn that this neglected war affecting the children of North Uganda has been running for 23 odd years; a war where children live in fear of abduction by rebel soldiers and subsequently being forced and brainwashed to fight as part of a violent army. Boys and girls as young as five have guns strapped to their chest and look too alienated to be even considered a child. Abuse such as brutal and slaughtering attacks are affected by many victims – adults, other innocent children and even their best friends. Crying is also degraded within these territorial areas as it can be measured as a sin and a sign of weakness. Children who do cry may even be killed as punishment. The film can be considered similar to ‘Blood Diamond’, but this is the harsh reality that is affecting dozens everyday.
Being a teen human rights activist, I’ve been blabbering to others a particular scene in the film that was mesmerising and literally broke my heart to even watch. One of the young boys seen in the film was Jacob, previously a child soldier. He mentions that his older brother had been killed in the ever-lasting war. It was pretty much interpreted that his older brother was his protection and guardian and Jacob further mentions that “If he was here, I would say I love you and miss you and I hope we’ll see each other in heaven one day.” As he realised what he had said, he broke down and cried. There was that immediate interpersonal connection that you received from this young boy – the burden of the war, the missing of his older brother, the everyday fear of being abducted, the loneliness of growing up without a mother or father, and the feeling of having no future, since he cannot afford to go to school. During this scene, Jacob admits that he would rather be dead than alive.
This scene has been fixed in my mind for a while now and it has come to my discovery that if these children are taught that crying is a negative reaction, then how many kids hold in their fear of simply shedding a tear? I’d imagine if we were to put all of the affected children into a room and allowed them to expose how they really feel, the way Jacob did, the crying would be as loud as a symphony orchestra – powerful and moving at the same time.
I was lucky enough to see a screening of the film and to watch the progress Invisible Children have made since the breakthrough in 2003. I will tell you that I have been “forever changed”. Thank you to the exceptional Melody, Jamie, Colin and Christina, the official Invisible Children down-under ‘roadies’ who devoted their time to show and discuss the film and even come back on Friday March 13th to sell IC sweatshop-free merchandise. Over $1000 was raised for the cause in just over half an hour! The money raised will go towards health and safety resources, the need for quality education, mentorships, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability in North Uganda.
Get involved! Email gwsc@vgroups.vgen.org
- Melissa Him, Year 12
This is the transcript of a speech given by Gabriel and Daniel at both the Senior School and Middle School Assemblies (Period 3 & Period 5 respectively)
We have a vision for Glen Waverly Secondary College, that Glen Waverly Secondary College be a school of advocacy. That Glen Waverly Secondary College will be aware of the issues facing the wider community.
That we will have an understanding of the United Nations Human Rights and the rights of Children. That every child has a right to an education, that every child has a right to play, and that every child a right to be protected from any form of abuse or violence.
For those of you who don’t know me I am Gabriel and this is Daniel and we are part of Glen Waverly Secondary College’s new Social Justice Vision Group.
Our social justice group is developing a community of like minded people within the school who promote awareness of certain social issues. We are currently focused on human trafficking and child slavery. Human trafficking and child slavery is a complex issue which we aim to tackle head on. Daniel will now speak about what it is.
One of these complex issues facing us today is child trafficking. Child trafficking is when a person under the age of 17 is recruited for military regimes, transferred without their will or taken for the sole purpose of exploitation.
They are trafficked because people want to exploit their labour or force them into sex trade. Approximately 27 million people are trafficked world wide. We believe that every individual, every man woman and child trafficked is one too many.
We believe that there are practical solutions available to every individual in this room. These solutions will not merely change lives but save lives.
If you would like to be educated, empowered and inspired to change GWSC and be a voice for those who do not have the right to speak out, we invite you to become a member of the GWSC Vision group by registering your interest on our online forum.
Register by visiting http://s1.zetaboards.com/vgroup/. If you have any problems email vgroup.gwsc@gmail.com or won0047@gwsc.vic.edu.au.
Wearing fair trade clothes, means that you’re not only making a fashion statement by wearing the funkiest sneakers and t-shirts, but you’re also making a statement that YOU don’t want children to work for 15hrs a day, for minimal pay, just so you can look cool. Visit www.nosweatshoplabel.com/ethical_retailers.asp for a list of ethical retailers. Visit www.etiko.com.au/urban/stir_sneakers.html to check out some great fair trade sneakers. $10 from every pair of STIR sneakers sold goes to STIR Child Rescue – helping children who have been trafficked.
Make sure you can enjoy the treats you love without the guilt of knowing that children have suffered to make those products. Make ethical choices at the supermarket and always ask for fair trade alternatives when eating out. Visit www.fairtrade.com.au/FTproducts for a list of ethical products and look for the Fair Trade Log.
Buy from these shops in the Glen that sell Fair Trade Products – Macro Wholefoods, Safeway, Coles
3. TAKE UP A CHALLENGE
By doing the 40 Hour Famine you’ll not only be raising money to help eradicate modern day slavery, you’ll also be able to see what it’s like for many children in India who go without things like adequate food, education and technology. Visit www.worldvision.com.au/40hourfamine/index.asp to register to take up a 40HF challenge.
This year GWSC is aiming to raise to $10,000. If you did it please bank it ASAP or before September 30th.
4. SUPPORT DON’T TRADE LIVES
Child labour is only one of the forms of Trafficking and Slavery that are prevalent in today’s society. Millions around the world are forced to work in dangerous conditions, like on the cocoa fields in Ghana, or are forced into sex slavery. Support World Vision’s Don’t Trade Lives Campaign to stand up against all slavery and trafficking. Visit www.donttradelives.com.au/dtl/TakeAction/Chocolate to take the chocolate challenge and spread the Don’t Trade Lives Campaign in your community.
5. CREATE SLAVERY FREE
Use your artistic skills to help spread the anti-trafficking message. Visit www.stir.org.au/Art4Aid to get creative and win some fabulous prizes.
6. LISTEN TO SLAVERY FREE MUSIC
Support artists who are passionate about issues that are important to you. Vision Generation’s STIR CD has some of Australia’s best artists on it – John Butler Trio, Paul Kelly, Hilltop Hoods and Lior to name a few – all who are passionate about working with us to make a change. Visit http://stir.org.au/stir/stirmusic to check out the STIR cd.
8. MAKE YOUR WIDER COMMUNITY SLAVERY FREE
As well as make ourselves slavery free, we need to spread this consumer awareness in our communities and take responsibility for turning all our local cafes into fair-trade havens! Is there a local café that you are your friends frequent? How about starting there and asking them to stock fairtrade coffee. How about taking on a shopping centre? Project The Glen (Coming Very Very Soon)! Visit www.vgen.org/vicadvocacy to start or join a Project near you.
9. BECOME A YOUTH ABOLITIONIST
A Youth Abolitionist is a young person who is using their own unique skills and passion to help eradicate modern day slavery in their community. This is an exciting opportunity for you and your team to change the face of your community! We want YOU to develop a community awareness campaign and then have the opportunity to be involved in exciting large-scale campaign events. Visit www.vgen.org/vicadvocacy to find out more about this amazing opportunity.
Join with us for the Day of Action: TODAY’S ABOLITIONISTS on Tuesday September 23rd – Term 3 Holidays. Details and registration forms available by visiting http://www.stir.org.au/stir/Content.aspx?topicID=94#1
Also sign up for TREK AGAINST TRAFFICKING where we will be trekking to Canberra on the 24th-27th November. Applications close on the 26th of September. Details and registration forms available by visiting http://www.stir.org.au/stir/Content.aspx?topicID=94#3
10. EDUCATE YOURSELF
To make real changes for children in India you need to be armed with knowledge. Hear from World Vision’s global child labour and trafficking experts at our next Stir Session on the 25th of July. Visit ww.vgen.org/vicadvocacy to find out about Stir Sessions and other opportunities to get informed!
- Extracted from the World Vision VMag June 2008, Issue 1 – What role do you play in child trafficking?
