SpunOut.ie Blog
May, 2008
New alcohol awareness campaign
Blog: Check out the campaign and TV ad about underage drinking.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has launched a new alcohol awareness campaign aimed at delaying the age at which young people start to drink.
The campaign features a thought provoking TV advertisement, which shows young people in a variety of situations where they have the opportunity to get alcohol or drink alcohol.
You can also watch the TV advert and find out more about the campaign here:
http://www.healthpromotion.ie/alcohol/
The campaign has been launched as preliminary results of research carried out by the HSE show that:
- 91% of adults agree that underage drinking is a problem in Ireland today.
- 50% of those questioned believe there is nothing they can do to stop young people from drinking alcohol.
- Just 15% believed their own drinking habits influence the drinking habits of young people around them.
- 81% of those questioned believe that it’s easy for under 18’s to access alcohol in pubs and off licences.
- Just 40% of those questioned would drink less if they thought it would discourage young people around them from drinking alcohol.
We want to know what YOU think about underage drinking and the new campaign. Have your say in the SpunOut.ie forum or sign up as a media maker for SpunOut.ie here.
If you or someone you know has an urgent drugs and/or alcohol problem, for example: taken an overdose, fear the drug has been contaminated or experienced an unusual reaction to a drug then you should immediately: Go to the casualty unit of the nearest hospital or CALL 999 Emergency Services.
Find out more about alcohol and drugs issues.
Find out how to help drunk friends.
See the help section for supportive information and contacts details of support organisations.
Opportunity to Take Control!
SpunOut.ie Focus Group.
We are currently in the process of redeveloping SpunOut.ie and we want to hear some more feedback from young people in Galway.
We will be hosting a focus group this coming Saturday (24th) between 11am-1pm at SpunOut HQ (4th Floor, The Halls, Quay St, Galway).
We need anyone between the ages of 16-25 to help us by coming along to look at our website for an hour or so, and telling us what they like and don't like. Major plans for the future will be decided upon by YOU!
Refreshments will be served!
Where: SpunOut HQ, 4th Floor, The Halls, Quay St. (Map)
When: Saturday 24th May, 11am-1pm
Please RSVP to sean@spunout.ie ASAP as places are limited.
Time to stop the cyber bullies!
Take action against the cyber bullies.
The recent RTE Primetime feature on cyberbullying highlighted this growing problem among young people today. Link
Cyberbullying can involve unwanted text messages, phone video recordings or web posts being used to threaten, abuse or harm someone. It’s like physical or verbal bullying, just using technology.
Cyberbullying, like all bullying, is difficult on the victim. It can be hard to prove and difficult to get the courage to report it.
If you are experiencing this form of bullying it’s vital you don’t suffer in silence. Also if you have witnessed it it’s important that you take action and address the problem.
Steps you can take include:
- Don’t reply to the messages.
- Saving the evidence (photo/video/web post) as proof.
- Telling a trusted adult such as a close relative, a family friend, a teacher, health professional or a youth worker.
- Contacting a free confidential support service such as Samaritans Tel. 1850 609090. See directory of help services here: http://www.spunout.ie/help
- Informing the Gardai if it’s a legal matter.
- Reporting the bullying to the technology providers such as the mobile phone company, web host or website owner.
More info on stopping bullying
http://www.spunout.ie/health/bullying/stop-bullying/70-1293
Discuss the issue of Cyberbullying on the SpunOut.ie forums
Get involved with SpunOut.ie
Write an article on bullying and your experiences.
Email Emily@SpunOut.ie for more info.
Watch RTE news story (20/05/07) with SpunOut.ie input
Gardai say some cyber bullying needs criminal investigation http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/230-2376741-320-180.smil
Useful links
www.watchyourspace.ie
www.webwise.ie
Young Social Innovators speak out!
New videos from the YSI showcase 2008
SpunOut.ie, working with the amazing Young Social Innovators organisation, recently did a series of video interviews from participants at the annual YSI showcase at the RDS in Dublin. We asked young people taking part in the showcase to tell us about the things they would like to take control of, in their lives and in the world around them.
Check out the videos below to see their replies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcby0FOpmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghg1v_irZlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yv83m6Sxfo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEAgZ5cP5Ho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TiGklADYxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-rpU-zpZFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iokZDFmDonU
Leave a message after the BEEP!
Blog: Creating the message, SpunOut.ie Youth Board style.
SpunOut.ie Youth Board member, Stephen McFadden talks about brainstorming the SpunOut.ie message:
It really was a case of the morning after the night before when the SpunOut.ie Youth Board gathered in The Halls in Galway for an all day meeting recently. The agenda was about defining our message and telling the world what SpunOut.ie is all about.
Of course though, the meeting started at 10am, the morning after we had gathered for the SpunOut.ie AGM, late in the evening, which was followed by a lovely meal. Needless to say, for over-18 members of the Youth Board, this was followed by much merriment throughout the establishments of Cathrach na Gallimhe.
So, after a lovely wake up text from Ruairí, SpunOut.ie’s big boss man, (a text for everyone except me- he obviously trusted me), we all trundled across Eyre Square to The Halls for a day of what turned out to be very, very hard work!
You’d think that after being involved in Spunout.ie for so long, we’d know exactly what its message is, what exactly it means to us. But, no, no, no, how very wrong we were! Forget about knowing SpunOut.ie’s message. We couldn’t figure out what ‘A message’ was!
Two phrases stick vividly in my memory from that day:
- “I’m confused” we cried in turn as each poor soul stared at the mounds of flipchart paper which had been jotted on, doodled on, scribbled on and turned into balls of crumpled paper by frustrated note takers.
- And, “is that it, is that our message?” chimed the lovely Claire Herbert, Youth Board member, wondering if maybe, finally, we could put this beast to bed!
You’d be amazed at how much discussion went on over two sentences of text. By the end of the day, even Ruairí, SpunOut.ie’s CEO, was zapped of energy, and Anna, SpunOut.ie’s Editor, stepped up and took control of the flipchart until we had a phrase down on paper. We managed it. At five o’clock we managed to wind up and head home.
What was clear though was that even at the end of the day, when we were knackered, the room was still roaring with passion. We were and are ready to take on the country and the world.
This is SpunOut.ie’s year. No more not knowing where we’re going. This is it. Take off to total youth media in Ireland. Watch this space!
By: Stephen McFadden
YSI 2008 rocked!
Blog: All the buzz from the young social innovators event.
We're just back from rocking it out at the YSI event in the RDS!!
The two days were really exciting and the SpunOut.ie team are seriously motivated from meeting such an inspiring bunch of people.
The number of fantastic projects, stalls and stands blew us away. Plus we got chatting to 1000's of young people attending which has us buzzZZzzed up to the max.
Our cool new t-shirts caused a stir too! Some people fought to the bitter end for them during competitions such as break dancing and karaoke as well as slow dancing...guys, you know who you are!
Thanks to all of you who came up to say hi. It was super to meet you all and we're looking forward to staying in contact as we know lots of you were really keen to get involved with us.
Over and out for now...
Love the SpunOut.ie crew ;-)
Wanna sign up to get involved? Check out all the info here!
Meet SpunOut.ie at the Young Social Innovators
Blog: The SpunOut.ie team are heading east to the YSI 2008!
The SpunOut.ie crew are soooperly doooperly (we make up our own words here in HQ!) excited to be heading to the big smoke to attend this year's Young Social Innovators Awards. This event is taking place over two days, Wednesday May 7th and Thursday May 8th in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
This is the biggest celebration of social innovation in Ireland so check it out and support the 5,500 young social innovators of Ireland! Come and say hello to the SpunOut.ie crew too. We'll be in the 'Media Zone' on the balcony of the RDS and we can't wait to meet you there!
We'll be having heaps of competitions throughout both days so you'll be in with the chance to win some cool prizes if you come and check out our grooOOoovy stand.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Peace and love . . .
The SpunOut.ie crew
Young Social Innovators 2007:
Féile Bealtaine and May Day
Blog: Beannachtaí na Féile Bealtaine no SpunOut.ie.
The first of May is one of the most important days in the old Irish or 'Celtic' calendar, when it marked the beginning of one of the main annual celebrations at that time.
It represents the start of summer, the season of Bealtaine, which signals a time of purification, good luck and closeness with 'the other world'.
People in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and other Celtic parts celebrated Bealtaine with bonfires, dancing around May Poles and by hanging flowers and wreaths at their door. Many parents and grandparents will still remember these traditions.
Workers holiday
May Day also represents a traditional workers holiday, a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the trade union and labour movement throughout the world. Before these achievements, such as fair pay, safe conditions, holiday pay etc., workers were often exploited by their bosses.
May Day remains a workers holiday in many countries. In Ireland it is a public/bank holiday, which takes place on May 5th in 2008.
Here at SpunOut.ie we’re enjoying the start of summer with some time in the sunshine and virtual flowers for you. We hope you celebrate the start of summer in style!
