SpunOut.ie Blog
November, 2008
Look behind the label this Christmas!
Young people are calling on shoppers to look behind the label and help stop child labour.
Christmas shoppers are being urged to 'look behind the label' when doing their Christmas shopping in the coming weeks. The National Youth Campaigners from Concern's 'Stop Child Labour' campaign met in Galway recently and declared their commitment to encouraging awareness and action on this issue.
The campaigners, hosted by SpunOut.ie, are highlighting the fact that up to 218 million children worldwide are involved in the manufacture of products such as chocolate, clothing and toys.
Concern Youth Campaigners at recent Galway meeting.
According to Youth Campaigner Rachel Clancy the campaign is about: '"Young people uniting with other young people around the world and standing by them and their right to a fair life".
Everyone is encouraged to ask questions about where their products are made, to shop ethically and to log on to www.stopchildlabour.net for more information.
SpunOutter shortlisted for volunteering award
Blog: Fingers crossed for Andrew, who is in the running for an Ireland InVOLved award.
SpunOut.ie volunteer Andrew Gibbons, from Castlebar, has been honoured with a shortlisting for Volunteering Ireland's first annual 'Ireland InVOLved Awards'. The awards aim to shine a light on the phenomenal contribution made by ordinary people and the amazing impact they have on every aspect of Irish life through their volunteering activities. Andrew has been nominated for all his work over the years for SpunOut.ie.
Andrew's energy, sense of humour and eagerness to take on new challenges is infectious among the many young people he encounters with SpunOut.ie, as part of his extensive volunteering. He is an essential part of the backbone that makes the charity what it is - fresh, fun, relevant and inspirational to young people in Ireland today. Spokesperson for SpunOut.ie, Susan Quirke commented: “Andrew has demonstrated huge commitment to SpunOut.ie over the years. We are thrilled to hear he has been shortlisted and wish him all the best on the night”.
On November 26th the winners will be announced at the Ireland InVOLved event in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. An overall winner will be selected who will go on to represent Ireland in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the occasion of the United Nations International Volunteer Day on the 5th of December. This European leg’ of the event is being held under the patronage of President Sarkozy of France. Volunteering Ireland is the Irish partner to this event.
Upon hearing of the news Andrew said: “I'm delighted with this nomination for my work with SpunOut.ie. I think it's great that the work of volunteers and the difference they make to everyday life in Ireland is being highlighted with such a ceremony'”.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed for Andrew this week!
SpunOut.ie sleeps in
Blog: Urging you to take it easy.
Last night your SpunOut.ie crew threw out our alarm clocks, turned off our phones and prevented anything from going cock-a-doodle-do so that we could have an extra lie in this morning.
Yep, that's right, we decided to lead by example and had an extra snoozzzzzzzzzzzzze and we want you to do the same.
November is a month when we want to snuggle up under a duvet and hit the snooze button until the New Year. But all too often we're on the go non-stop: being told that we should prepare for Christmas, cramming for Christmas exams and coursework at school and college or dealing with end of the year deadlines at work.
Well we say no more!!!!
Grab that duvet and snuggle up and give yourself some extra 'me' time.
So from your SpunOut.ie team.......ohhhhhh I'm getting quite tired.... yaaaaaaaaaaawn.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(Photo: flattop341)
SpunOut.ie short-listed for Golden Spiders
Blog: The third award short-list in two months for SpunOut.ie!
Phew! What a couple of months for SpunOut.ie. We have worked our bums off this year and the hard work is starting to show. We've already been short-listed for two awards this year (the Irish Web Awards and The Irish Healthcare Awards) and another one has just come flying through the door.
We have been short-listed for an esteemed Eircom Golden Spider Award in the Best Community & Charity Website category. SpunOut.ie won the Golden Spider for the same category last year, which was a super scoop for the team.
The Golden Spider Awards, organised by Business and Finance magazine, honour Irish individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievements online and celebrate the successes of the Irish Internet and digital media. The Golden Spiders are considered a mark of excellence in web based business strategies and are commonly known as Ireland's internet 'oscars'.
The awards take place November 20th so fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed that we get lucky again this year. We'll keep you all posted.
For more info check out: www.goldenspiders.ie.
Hit the snooze button
Blog: Put positivity into your body this November.
November is a month when we want to snuggle up under a duvet and hit the snooze button until the New Year. But all too often we’re on the go non-stop: being told that we should prepare for Christmas, cramming for Christmas exams and coursework at school and college or dealing with end of the year deadlines at work.
This year – give yourself a break and follow these youth tips on how to boost your health and happiness in the winter months.
SpunOutter Sinead says:
"What we put into ourselves and surround ourselves with is what we’re made up of. Be it food, TV, music or thoughts. It affects us and we are influenced by everything that surrounds us. So pay close attention from now on and make any positive changes that need to be made!"
Sinead’s tips for boosting your health and happiness:
- Eat as healthily as you can. Take a look at that food pyramid and fill yourself full of what your body needs. Balance your diet and make food fun. Mix it up!
- Listen to happy music and dance to it. (Especially if you’re by yourself at home!) It’s fun and that mix of music and dancing often pumps out the good vibes and happy hormones! I recommend: Bruce Springsteen’s album The Seeger Sessions, the Magic Numbers, the Beach Boys, Belle & Sebastian, Autamata...but I’m sure you’ll know what makes you jig.
- Watch comedy films and programmes, and laugh, laugh, LAUGH! Friends, Scrubs, the Panel, Will Ferrell, Richard Pryor – they are all good for you.
- Think about the people you talk to every day. Don't listen to TOO much moaning and groaning and whinging. If you have too much of that going on, it will eventually rub off on you. Try to regularly talk to people who you know are uplifting, refreshing and positive thinkers!
- Get into nature as much as you can. Hug the trees if you fancy! Even if the weather is a tad dull or wet or chilly from time to time, get out there and sniff that fresh air. Look at the sea, the forest, the mountains, the stars, the sky, even the farm. It’s all beneficial to your wellbeing. Take that good energy from the outdoors. Sup it into you – it’s freeeeeeeeee!
Protect yourself from the winter blues and fill your life full of all the goodness out there, that’s just waiting to make you happy and healthy! I'm sure you can even think of loads more ideas - so share them with us in the forum.
Find out more about healthy living.
By: Sinead McKiernan, SpunOut.ie Youth Board
