SpunOut.ie Blog
January, 2009
Where is our O'Bama?
Do young people belong in Irish politics?
So the United States of America, and indeed the western world, has a new leader. Not only is he black, left of centre and independent from the old boys club, he’s also young. Well relatively young.
We’ve heard the distracters claim that young means inexperienced, a lack of wisdom or lacking in direction. Whilst there may be some truth to be found in aspects of this, perhaps more emphasis should be put on the value of youth.
Youth brings with it energy, ideas, enthusiasm and vision. Lack of baggage and bitterness from past disappointments can drive action for change at a pace the old guard could only dream about. In the case of Obama there's also the not insignificant factor that he is simply the leader of a much bigger party, and a much bigger movement than him. There's the Kennedys and the Clintons, those from the old school, those that have been around, learned the hard way (or not!), and can perhaps offer valuable counsel and direction when needed.
In a world that needs urgent action and a new vision to tackle climate change, inequality, recession and global conflict; this mix of young energy leading the charge backed by old wisdom is possibly the recipe for change if we're to overcome our vast problems. The world needs it, the U.S. needs it and Ireland, (where the average age of our TDs is 52) screams out for it.
We want to hear what YOU think about the state of youth participation in Irish life, and we'd love to hear from young politicians and activists, those who work with young people and those who simply don’t have faith in the system.
What do you think?
Do you think it’s important for young people to play their part? Can they play an active part in leading the country?
We want to hear from you! Email comments to examiner@SpunOut.ie, or discuss this in the forum and we'll publish a selection of your comments here soon.
Have your say:
Email: examiner@SpunOut.ie
Discuss in the forum by clicking here.
Beat Blue Monday
Blog: The saddest day of the year will breeze by with these tips on how to beat the blues!
SpunOut.ie is today – "the saddest day of the year" – calling on everyone to rally together and beat what researchers are calling 'Blue Monday'.
The third Monday of January, experts say (Find out more here), is the unhappiest day of the year due to terrible weather, unpaid Christmas bills and failed New Year's resolutions. Perhaps this year it is especially miserable with news of continuing job losses and economic woes.
Beat Blue Monday:
- Tune out the news.
- Do one thing at a time.
- Say yes to everything offered to you for one day (like the yes man!).
- Just play - be silly.
- Turn off your phone for a day - have some YOU time.
- Listen to reggae or your favourite happy music and jump around.
- Carry your radio on your shoulder whilst walking to the shop and sing along and dance about... look like an eejit - who cares?!
- Check out other young people’s chill out tips here.
- Have a laugh - every minute or every hour of the day! Check out this link, get giggling and you’ll soon turn Blue Monday into Groovy Monday for everyone who meets you!
Get support during tough times:
We all need to take control of our lives during these tough times. SpunOut.ie’s Susan Quirke spoke out about Blue Monday and said: "We must try to do everything in our power to beat the blues. It can be tough going during these dark days and with all the recent bad news and bad weather it's natural that people might be feeling a bit down. However, it's the time of year for resting up, doing a bit of hibernating and trying to recover from the Christmas festivities. Instead of being hard on ourselves we can beat the blues by taking a few simple steps."
- Go easy on yourself – Life can be hectic and we expect a lot from ourselves and our families. It's time to stop, take stock and take control of how we are living our lives.
- We can take control of our problems by taking a positive outlook and tackling them head on and also by sharing what we are going through with family and friends, by talking to someone or by visiting a GP or support service if things are really bad. (List of services at www.SpunOut.ie/help).
- We can take control of our finances by spending less and planning properly for the year ahead. Talk to the Money and Budgeting Advice Service for help if needed.
- We can take control of our diet, which has a huge impact on how we feel, by trying to eat more fruit and veg and less processed sugary foods which can cause us to feel low.
- We can feel better by really connecting with our families and friends. Now that money is tight, it's a great opportunity to have friends around for simple dinners and fun in our homes.
- We can also feel better by getting more sleep. Sleep is healing for the body and mind especially at this time of the year so try to get to bed at a good time.
- Taking more exercise, even light walks, getting away from the telly, into nature and the fresh air can make us feel great and sleep better too.
- We can refresh those New Year's resolutions in preparation for February 1st, which is the traditional first day of Spring, and keep focused on having a positive, healthy and happy year ahead.
- Finally, let us know what you’ve been doing to beat Blue Monday! Share your tips, jokes, and good vibe music suggestions in the SpunOut.ie forum.
It's time to take good care of ourselves and each other and blast off the January blues.
Winners of the video clip competition
Blog: News just in! Check out the rocking winning 'My Place' videos.
For all of you fine folk out there who entered the 'What I love about my place' kick ass competition, a big mama well done to you!
There were some really wonderful entries and judging the videos was one of the hardest things we've had to do. SpunOut.ie judged the competition along with Credit Unions and a member from the YouTube team. The savage raw talent out there is astounding. Much thanks to all who entered.
Here's a reminder about what the competition was all about for those who missed it. To mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Credit Unions on the island of Ireland, credit unions teamed up with SpunOut.ie to launch a video clip competition entitled "What I Love About My Place" last September.
The competition was an opportunity for you guys to record a short video — a maximum of 60 seconds — detailing what it is that makes your place special. Entrants submitted their videos to the YouTube competition page.
To view the ten finalists click on this link.
Total cash prizes for the competition were a whopping €10,000!
So time to cue the trumpets ....
A huge congratulations to our first prize winner: Paul Leonard who has won a massive
€4,000!
Paul is ROCKIN it out on this super cool vid. We all loved your video Paul! Great tune ;) Watch Paul’s video here: www.spunout.ie/mag/TV-%2526-movies/My-place:-Changes-all-the-time
Second prize went to Ruth Lanigan. Ruth has won a lovely
€2,500
This entry surprised us all. It's beautiful to watch, original and creative. Well done Ruth! Watch Ruth’s video here: www.spunout.ie/mag/TV-%2526-movies/My-Place-is-Moi
Third prize went to Manuela Corbari who has won an impressive
€1,500
This video really surmises the energy and buzz of Galway. Congrat's Manuela! Watch Manuela’s video here: www.spunout.ie/mag/TV-%2526-movies/My-place:-Galway,-city-of-the-tribes
€2,000
His video highlights his love of Clontarf and features his giant bike– bought with a credit union loan! Watch James' video here: www.spunout.ie/mag/TV-%2526-movies/My-place:-Clontarf
Congratulations to all from the SpunOut.ie team!
On a similar note, SpunOut.ie is an alternative space for you to get making your own media – we’re looking for films, interviews, true life stories, calls to action and opinions! Click here link to find out more.
SpunOut.ie shortlisted for a Digital Media Award
Blog: Celebrating our place in the final of the Best Use of Social Media category!
2008 was a mammoth year for SpunOut.ie and what a way to kick off 2009! We have just been informed that we've been shortlisted for a Digital Media Award in the "Best Use of Social Media" category. Rock on the SpunOutters!
Although we all know awards are not the be all and end all, it's still fantastic that SpunOut.ie is being acknowledged on a national level in this way. We're here, everyday, in our Quay Street office working our bums off to make SpunOut.ie as great as can be for you! We believe in the power of SpunOut.ie and so it's good to know that the word is spreading.
Launched in 2003, The Digital Media Awards were engineered to raise awareness of the emerging digital media sector in Ireland and more importantly to act as a showcase for the varied dynamic works being created by companies and third level institutions across a broad spectrum of categories in Digital Media.
The awards are taking place Friday, 13th February (Friday the 13th?! eeeek) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. Guest of Honour is Minister of State, Sean Power, T.D., at the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources with Radio and TV celebrity Dave Fanning hosting the awards.
The night promises to be a great celebration for the digital sector and business community in Ireland.
Elbows, eyes and knees crossed for us! We'll keep you posted.
Big big love,
Your SpunOut.ie crew.
For more info log on to: www.digitalmedia.ie/2009/index.html
Tearing it up in '08 ready to rock out in '09
Blog: SpunOut.ie steps back to smell the roses!
SpunOut.ie is like a hyper wee puppy that just never tires! Check out a taster of what our community has been up to in ’08, and have a peek at what’s in store for ’09.
YOU are a vital part of what makes SpunOut.ie rock, so please keep dishing out the ideas and feedback about what direction we should head in and any and all ideas that should take us there.
Pat YOURSELF on the back for helping to contribute to the below achievements. Think you didn’t do anything to play a part? Think again. Getting involved takes many shapes and forms, all of which make SpunOut.ie the unique beast it is. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
2008 achievements
- Reaching over 270,000 website visitors, 1 million pageviews and millions of people connecting with SpunOutters via the national media including 2 items on RTE TV news.
- Publishing over 400 articles (health and info factsheets, true-life stories, youth media articles and opportunities) and 7,000 discussion forum postings.
- Major website content review with 30 volunteers and complete website redesign and redevelopment.
- 3 new staff (Youth Participation Officer, Operations Manager and Mental Health Project Worker) and 3 new freelancers (Web Developer and Forum Moderators) joined the team.
- New North West Mental Health outreach initiative got underway and visited over 20 schools, colleges and community groups.
- Major marketing programme including new promotional materials, an online marketing drive, extensive national TV, radio and press exposure, a colourful presence at over 20 talks, events and conferences and a range of promotional partnerships.
- Youth Participation Strategy revamp resulting in improved youth protection policy and controls, 3 National Youth Board days, and 100s of young people becoming involved as volunteers, media makers, forum users and health and social advocates.
- Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award for 'Best Social Enterprise' in Connaught and short-listings for the Irish Web Awards, The Eircom Golden Spider Awards and a commendation in the Irish Healthcare Awards.
- Partnerships with Samaritans, Young Social Innovators, Google Ireland, Today FM, The GAA, EMI, The Examiner, Concern, The Galway Junior Film Fleadh, The Credit Unions, Treoir and the National Economic and Social Development Organisation.
- A new HSE-SpunOut.ie Reference Group was set-up and we held 3 Advisory Network meetings with representatives from Mental Health Ireland, Samaritans, the HSE, the Irish Association of Young People in Care, the Irish Family Planning Association, Bodywhys, the Daughters of Charity, Console, NUIG, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, TCD, Headline, Shine, BelongTo, Drugs and Alcohol Programme, Pieta House, NYCI, Grow, USS, USI, Youth Work Ireland, Exceptional Lives and Volunteering Ireland.
- Funds and support was gratefully received from HSE, from a philanthropic foundation, from Google Ireland (via Google grants) and donations from the Cliona Ring Foundation, Hannover-Re, The Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund, The Communicating Europe Initiative, The iRadio Naked Bus promotion and Ernst and Young.
- Organisational development revamp with new structures, operational policies, procedures and systems and improved staff development mechanisms.
2009 priorities
- Marketing: getting our message out there, reaching the masses, increasing our user base and rolling out a range of media and corporate partnerships.
- Advocacy and action: developing resources, events and opportunities to support young people as advocates and agents for change.
- Fundraising: filling our funding deficit through a new corporate sponsorship and CSR programme and a range of fundraising proposals and events.
- Website development: re-designing SpunOut.ie, making it more interactive and generating new content and multimedia features.
- Research and evaluation: conducting an independent evaluation of our work and increasing our evidence base with a view to influencing and changing policy through advocacy and action.
Interested?
Got ideas? Do you want to get involved?
Give us a shout- emily@spunout.ie or 091 533693
Doom and gloom won't hold us back
Blog: SpunOut.ie rises above.
As many politicians, companies and state agencies struggle with the current mix of social and economic pressures, SpunOut.ie is sending out a strong message we are up for the challenge of these changing times.
In setting out plans for 2009 SpunOut.ie Founder, Ruairí McKiernan, dishes out his 2 cents:
- "We've been informed that we are likely to be affected by the current health funding cuts, which is hugely disappointing, particularly for the young people who are greatly benefitting from our work...
- However, we are going into 2009 after an amazing year where we won awards, recruited staff, reached over a quarter of a million people online and millions more through the national media and helped countless young people realise they could get the information, help and opportunities they need in life.
- We've grown as an organisation at a phenomenal rate and all the indications are strong that the year ahead will be huge for SpunOut.ie."
According to Ruairí, 2009 is going to be the year where SpunOut.ie comes into its own as a leading force for social change in Ireland.
- “Ireland is at a huge turning point and needs the energy, ideas and talents of young people, combined with the power of the net, to help steer us into a better future. SpunOut.ie is helping make this happen and we are appealing to SpunOutters (that means YOU!), Irish people, politicians, agencies and companies to row in behind us and ensure the web is at the forefront of bringing about positive social change."
Got ideas on how SpunOut.ie can get bigger and better? Tell us here.
Wanna get involved with SpunOut.ie in some way shape or form? Email emily@spunout.ie today or text your name, age and interests to 085 1611812!
New Year, NO new you
Blog: SpunOut.ie says Happy New Year and all that jazz.
Here's the SpunOut.ie Team with some New Year's wishes for YOU:
Emily, SpunOut.ie's Youth Participation chick says:
"This year SpunOut.ie is rocking into '09 with the theme, 'New Year NO New You!' I'm wishing everyone out there a joyful new year filled with lots of positive vibes. Let's stop being so hard on ourselves! Nice and easy, one thing at a time. We're never going to be perfect, so why keep aimlessly trying?! Give yourself a smile and maybe a cheesy wink in the mirror today, because believe it or not you've got some great things going for yourself! Now go on and work it!"
Ruairí, SpunOut.ie's Founder guy says:
"A huge 'HOOOOOOORAY' to everyone involved with SpunOut.ie for making 2008 so kick ass and for staying on board and on track to set '09 up for being an amazing year that sees us grow, improve and make a difference. There would be no SpunOut.ie without you so please stay tuned, stay involved and stay active in making SpunOut.ie better, making Ireland better and changing the world around us for the better! - Bring it on!"
Wille, the Boss Man with a plan says:
“2009- Upwards and Onwards, do all the things you wanted to do, say all the things you wanted to say. Obama said yes you can, SpunOut.ie says we know you can!”
Susie Q, Comms goddess says:
“Hi guys... It's January. It's dark. It's cold. It's still time for you and you and you to hibernate. So rest up and take it easy until the Spring sun comes along to wake up our bodies. So many out there are pushing that this is a time to get up and GO GO GO and get moving and all the jazz, but it's just not so. It's been a long winter and we need to take care of ourselves. You can log on to SpunOut.ie to find good ways to chill the beans and relax. We're all happy in our nappies to be back. You can expect big things from SpunOut.ie this year. We are seriously excited and buzzed up about 2009 so come on and join the SpunOut.ie ship and get your thoughts and ideas out there into the nation. Help us spread the good word!”
Anna (a.k.a. Sham), Editor supreme says:
“Happy new year and a huge thanks to all the Spunoutters who made us laugh, cry, be inspired and feel part of an amazing online community in 2008. I’m buzzing with the thought of more online adventures with you lot in the year ahead!”
Ian, Man on da street says:
“Wishing every SpunOutter a great 2009, ye are what keeps us going.”
