Comments for Conversations for a Better World

Comment on Are mainstream and social media ignoring famine in the Horn of Africa? by angela Kabiru

angela Kabiru — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:44:55 +0000

There is a persistent misconception in the minds of many people that many problems in Africa are more often than not brought about by conflict. Actually this is partly true, but conflicts occur simply because there is too little for people to share. We should not forget that the Horn of Africa is very dry and most times rainfall is inadequate to grow enough grass or other plants that are required for the large herds of animals that these people rely on. It is this kind of africa-apathy that people have- that there are endless problems in Africa brought on by Africans themselves-that makes potential donors to withhold their money.
We cannot do anything about the fact that the pastoralists live here or the fact that they keep animals that eat all the grass and plants. What we need is a way to minimise the impacts on the land (this is the tricky bit) such as a reduction on the number of animals kept. But how do you explain this to a man who has no other means of of economic production, and whose wealth is measured by the animals he has, or whose main diet comes from the cows or camels, in a place where dowry is measured by how many cows….?
Urging these people to change their way of life to something more sustainable is one option, but we should give them time to adapt. After all, the Agricultural revolution did not happen in 10 years.

What the social media is not doing is correcting people’s misconceptions about Africa, giving the right information pertaining to particular situations. There is too much negative publicity about Somalia and Al Shabaab, fighting in Eritrea and Ethiopia, etc. etc.What about Kenya where there is no fighting?. Some people cannot differentiate between different countries within the Horn of Africa,and so places and problems are lumped together in unsuitable unions.
What we need is more positive information about Africa in general; let the world treat Africans as people who understand their world and make an effort to solve their own problems rather than people waiting for never ending aid. After all, how have we survived on the continent ever since we first made an appearance in the world?

Comment on Violence against women in India by Neeru

Neeru — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:09:23 +0000

I totally agree with your article. I am doing research in the topic of Violence Against women. I also seen many of the cases where girls has been killed because of honor killing or they are a girl so its being a burning issue of today’s India. And the main reason to solve this problem is that many of the voices never say anything about the mishappening they have daily treated…..

Comment on In the gender digital divide, women fall behind by Digital Divide Between Gender « digitaldivide2012

Digital Divide Between Gender « digitaldivide2012 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:32:34 +0000

[...] the long run. For example, in Africa, a great amount of women do not have access to computers and Museveni (2005), the President of Uganda states, “Without access to information and knowledge, women, who are the [...]

Comment on #7Billion: Topic of the Day – Youth and Innovation by chasd60

chasd60 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:22:24 +0000

I think one problem the youth should focus on is how to develop betters ways to handle the waste we are generating, such as sewage, we need to use the natural environment to our advantage not work against it. Most people in this country believe “out of sight out of mind” so we design systems to put our waste underground as fast as possible so we think it is gone when it would be more efficient to design systems that would use the trees and other vegetation to absorb and neutralize the organic waste we create. Design natural wetlands, and marshes to let our waste be exposed to the bacteria and plants in the top soil and not put the waste way underground where it will go into the ground water. There are many different ways to handle organic waste at the moment most are power intensive which is not the way too approach the problem.We need new ideas for handling this problem in the future or we will run out of drinking water.

Comment on Philippines: A pregnant woman’s right to study and work by thet

thet — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:59:46 +0000

im not married living in with my partner and now im 4 mos pregnan.when the company knew that .they give me an option to get married or else i wil bbe fired.im working in private company for almost 6 yrs.i want to know what is my right for the discrimination for women like me.

Comment on Philippines: A pregnant woman’s right to study and work by ann

ann — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:12:10 +0000

Hi, i’m 2 months pregnant and a solo parent i want to work but no company here in our country accept pregnant women…i am a degree holder, i’ve been working before as an accounting clerk and then a call center agent..where do can i ask help…thanks and more power..

Comment on Violence against women in India by deepak rana

deepak rana — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:44:04 +0000

hey,this is the high time for us that we empower the women because i think without their participation we cant develop our country.friends as we know that crime against women specially against young girls in our country infect according to my personal survey i found that in our country about 65 % girls don’t know their rights and also they don’t know schemes which is launched by the govt for them.I think we must provide education of self defense in schools or colleges.

Comment on From Zimbabwe to New York – join the prevention revolution! by Home Page Backlinks

Home Page Backlinks — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:06:59 +0000

This is a awesome article.. I truly respect this… Thank You SO much!!

Comment on Comprehensive sexual education: who must provide it? by FELIX REYES

FELIX REYES — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:35:29 +0000

I am director of the Dominican Network of youth living with HIV / AIDS, we are working for safe motherhood from the perspective of young people living with HIV / AIDS (JVVS), where from our institution for sexual rights advocate responsible breeding, this has led to a change in the sexual reproductive health law, but the most important of them know the decision makers who are there, we have the same rights to sexual and reproductive life
We have achieved
We have developed an advocacy plan to have the following results:
Awareness of health personnel.
The significant reduction in vertical transmission
Gender equity
Dominican authorities see us as rights agent.
And will continue to advocate for JVVS ls because nothing for young people without young

Comment on Can young people can make a change for a better world thanks to media? by jordi torrent

jordi torrent — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:25:35 +0000

Check the videos from the 4th UNAOC forum. Jeffry Sachs on youth:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xn12q3_interview-jeffrey-sachs-at-the-4th-unaoc-forum_news#rel-page-under-2

Comment on Youth Empowering Youth: Speaking Out about HIV by Rob Condom

Rob Condom — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:15:31 +0000

The youth needs to face the reality of hiv, we need easier ways and steps to find out information on HIV, was browsing the other day and came across a great website filled with information on HIV and AIDS , here is the sites address go and check it out: http://www.hivaidsguide.com

Comment on AIDS and the revolution by DR.NOHA KHALIFA

DR.NOHA KHALIFA — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:15:59 +0000

I wish you all the best in all your efforts. I am a an Egyptian currently in the USA and would love to help in any way I can.

Comment on Can young people can make a change for a better world thanks to media? by jordi torrent

jordi torrent — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:19:45 +0000

SEE THE 23 PLURAL+ 2011 AWARDED VIDEOS:
http://www.unaoc.org/pluralplus/winning-videos/plural-2011/

Comment on Philippines: A pregnant woman’s right to study and work by Miles

Miles — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:49:06 +0000

Hi… This is a fairly interesting topic, and if I may, I would just like to express some of the things that are happening in some schools through the experience of friends and relatives alike…

There are schools and catholic universities that do not expel unmarried pregnant students and there are those that do. However, I believe that these things are taken on a case to case basis. For example, Catholic schools may require the female student to wed her partner in exchange for continuing school that semester, especially if the student/s involved are open to such arrangements — with parental consent, of course. If in any case that the student is not amenable to this condition, then another option is set that requires the student to go on leave for such time — go to classes while her “tummy” still doesn’t show, and when it does start to show, take a leave for the rest of the semester and come back after giving birth.

Many of the Catholic schools now follow some sort of arrangement just like that mentioned above, and I praise these schools for the understanding they give to the student, as there is still a “Christianity” in their actions towards the person involved. However, I also agree that those schools who do not even give a single consideration to these kids be condemned, as they really are doing more harm that helping the student by denying her the capacity to provide a better life for her and her child…

There are and should be limitations and standards set – YES, of course – but it should not mean that we can just start discriminating against other women – especially with the kind of generation that we have now. Women in this case is only half – even a fourth of the problem. It always takes two to tango, so what of their partners? Shouldn’t they carry the burden together? And what of the academic system? The parents? There will always be some sort of liability to all parties involved and affected, but in this battle, it is the soon-to-be mother and her child that is left to suffer – which should not be the case…

Comment on #7Billion: Topic of the Day – Youth and Innovation by Mu'azu Muhammad

Mu'azu Muhammad — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:04:06 +0000

Its real, we are living in a time that Social Media plays important role on our lives. With this we are lunching a campaign to promote contraceptive education and awareness while promoting Family Planning among young people using social media in Nigeria. Details will follow later.

Comment on AIDS and the revolution by Egitto: la difficile lotta contro la stigmatizzazione dell’HIV/AIDS · Global Voices in Italiano

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:14:27 +0000

[...] un altro post sul sito Conversations for a better world, Ahmed parla delle conseguenze della rivoluzione del 25 gennaio sull'HIV/AIDS. Spiega che il [...]

Comment on Key highlights from Mashable’s Social Good Summit for United Nations Week by Anup

Anup — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:08:46 +0000

Thanks for sharing this crisp read. 2015 is not to far and social media is not to away. In last few years we have connected social media benefit with all possible cause. Let it be national disaster like japan earth quack or Political turmoil like Jasmin revolution. Undoubtedly social media has given power to mass and this can be leverage for Millennium development goal as well.Its best fund rising tool and Social awareness medium for digital society. Only questions which arise in my mind is How many people in remote African or poor countries owns mobile or have access for internet.All those who are tweeting about malaria already literate enough to understand Malaria . How can we connect them with social media ? How can we develop self sustainable social media strategy .

Comment on AIDS and the revolution by Rising Voices » Blogging Positively: The Challenge of Stigma in Egypt

Rising Voices » Blogging Positively: The Challenge of Stigma in Egypt — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:19:38 +0000

[...] another blog post for the site Conversations for a Better World, Ahmed writes about what has happened to the issue of HIV/AIDS after the January 25 Revolution. He describes how the new government decided to stop certain programs that aimed to educate and [...]

Comment on Can young people can make a change for a better world thanks to media? by Joseph Chikwemva

Joseph Chikwemva — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:22:52 +0000

I would like to learn more on how best we can engane the youth more and more

Comment on Can young people can make a change for a better world thanks to media? by Dinesh Gajendran

Dinesh Gajendran — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:36:00 +0000

We the youth always have a power to say within our self. But someone needs to induce the mind of the young people. Thats the way the media acts with its role.Now see the impact of social media and how its reflects the opinions of youth from different parts of the world .Thanks for hosting such a wonderful contest which helped us to raise our voice

Comment on Can young people can make a change for a better world thanks to media? by jordi torrent

jordi torrent — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:51:32 +0000

Yes, media makes a difference. Because most of what we know, most of our perceptions, most of our knowledge, is actually filtered through media representations of the world. What we understand as the truth, is, most of the times, a media construction, a representation. But media needs distribution, needs to be seen. And that’s the + of PLURAL+. It’s not just a festival, it’s a platform for the distribution of youth voices on these relevant and very pressing issues.

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Jayne

Jayne — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:37:25 +0000

i recently had some discussions with a group of young women on issues concerning family planning and the use of contraceptives, to my surprise 50% do not use contraceptives.They insist that information and accessibility is a major problem and all agreed that they were all at risk for unplanned pregnancy and STIs.
i believe strongly that credible information from all sources-family, friends, Mass media,schools, churches and health centers(Doctors/health workers should do more than just writing down prescriptions but should include more counselling).young people should be informed on the use of contraceptions. they are afraid to talk about sex but they want to have sex therefore they need accurate information on the use of contraceptions.
for the women of Nigeria where i come from,there is need for information on the importance of family planning, if women access education, plan their families the economy will benefit. MDGs achieved.

Comment on World Contraception Day: That Is Not the Life I Wanted by jayne

jayne — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:51:27 +0000

One basic fact remains that illiteracy in Nigeria is a major challenge.young people need to be informed on issues regarding sexual and reproductive health and know their rights;they have the right to walk into a health center and demand for contraception without fear but filled with the knowledge that they are on the right path to preventing unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
a lack of information is a major problem, Myths and misconceptions concerning the use of contraceptions also play a big part.young people are afraid to talk about sex and yet many of them want to have sex.
let us work towards giving credible and accurate information on the use of contraceptions to young people in view that both sexes need to work together for them to succeed.

Comment on Are mainstream and social media ignoring famine in the Horn of Africa? by Frank Humphreys

Frank Humphreys — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:33:49 +0000

Thanks for putting your article together. We reference and link to it in this story on worldandmedia.com:

http://www.worldandmedia.com/somalia/media-inattention-towards-horn-of-africa-crisis-qinconceivableq-and-qwrongq-2209.html

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Bridget Nwagbara

Bridget Nwagbara — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:18:59 +0000

WHY YOUNG PEOPLE IN GREEN AND WHITE ARE NOT LIVING THEIR LIVES… NO CONTRACEPTIVES…
“I had a dream to be the best that I can at anything I want to be….I couldn’t because I became a mother at 15 years. I never wanted the baby. Now, I have to cope with the demands of being a mother without going to school. That is not the life I wanted”…..*Anne
“I thought it was cool to have as many girlfriends as I wanted. Nobody ever told me what to do to keep them from getting pregnant. Today I’m living with HIV and I also have a child. I get all the blame. That’s not the life I wanted”….*Bayo
“I envy women who have gone to school….they have cars and wear nice dresses…I can’t because I got married at the age of 13 years and now I have 6 children at 25 years…..Now I want a better life.. How do I get it?”…..*Surraya
These voices echo those of Nigerian Youths who don’t have access to basic reproductive health choices today. They were never told what contraceptives were all about, where to get them, how to get them and how to use them….Then the big question; Why are they denied the right to decide freely and responsibly when to start having sexual relationships, having children and the number they want? The answers are not far-fetched and it is important we bring them to fore today on World Contraception Day.
Although Nigeria has about 31% of its 150 million people between 10-24 years, political commitments to protect their sexual and reproductive wellbeing are not tangible. The National Adolescent Health Policy was developed in 1995 followed closely by the National Adolescent Reproductive Health Strategic Framework in 1999 to provide technical guidelines that will facilitate translation of the policy into actionable plans. Ironically, the National Health bill which will create an auspicious atmosphere to actualize these policy and action plan is still gridlocked in executive bureaucracy. Mirroring poor legislative protection of protect young people’s right to contraceptive education and service provision.
Financial indifference to reproductive health services is congruent with existing lack of political will since these policies and action plans are yet to be matched with investments. Presently, public health expenditure in Nigeria is below 2% of the GDP giving a picture of how poorly financed reproductive health services are at the moment. Worsening the scenario is dwindling donor funds dedicated to sexual and reproductive health particularly family planning in the past decade. Consequently, they are very few facilities on ground to deliver basic contraceptive services and inadequate mechanisms to sustain reproductive health supplies (particularly contraceptives) in most parts of the country. Over the years, government hasn’t scale up on the 9 youth friendly reproductive health centers in the country being provided by Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria. With too few youth friendly services, young people have to travel far distances to get contraceptives.
Another germane issue denying young people access to comprehensive contraceptive care is the critical shortage of health workers. Africa has only 3% of the world’s doctors, nurses and midwives. Reaching adolescent at the grassroots will require health care task sharing with well trained and motivated community health extension workers to educate and mobilize young people to accept contraceptives. This is particularly important in hard to reach areas with very few skilled professional health workers. In turn they should be supported by qualified doctors and midwives domiciled in health facilities to help achieve universal access to contraceptives. But with very few health workers across all cadres coupled with existing inequities in their distributions the outlook for Nigerian Youths is gloomy in this regard. Moreover, personal assumptions, cultural and religious ideologies prevent health workers from being friendly to youths when they come forward to ask for contraceptives. Young people are not at ease coming to health facilities and discussing their life’s circumstances/choice with such health workers.
Religious, cultural and social norms maintain a recondite view of sexuality. Youths who are outspoken about their sexuality are stigmatized and labeled “amoral or promiscuous”. To conform to these perceived standards of morality, young people restrain from discussing and sharing information on contraceptives. Parents and adults equally shy away from providing life skills mentoring for young people on sexual and reproductive health issues. Pro-Life stance by some religious organizations openly prohibits the use of contraceptives including condoms. Didactic “Abstinence only” educational programs are promoted without equipping young people with adequate information and alternatives to make sexual and reproductive health choices. For instance, Zip Up, an abstinence promoting advert targeted at youths ran on Nigerian TV and radios for years without giving young people enough education on how to maintain abstinence, financial autonomy and alternative avenues to exert their creative energy. Worse still, other forms of contraceptives and basic information on Sexually Transmitted Infections were not promoted on the same scale. This is substantiated by the fact that at the time this advert was running only 57% of Nigeria’s young people had adequate information on how HIV spreads and the rate of adolescent pregnancy didn’t reduce.
Other prevailing issues that militate against young people’s access to contraceptives in Nigeria include child marriage, transactional sex, gender based violence and stigmatization of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered. About 16% of adolescents in Nigeria are married. Child marriage is permitted by most cultures in Nigeria and young people are forced into marriage for economic reasons. Early marriage perpetuates the inability of women to make autonomous reproductive health decisions as it limits access to schooling, social networks, financial independence and other resources a woman needs to exercise her sexual and reproductive rights. Young Nigerian women living slightly above or below the poverty line are forced into transactional sex daily to improve their economic circumstances and meet their daily needs. Such transactional sexual relationships deny women the right to negotiate safe sex. A cloak of silence has been placed on gender based violence despite advocacy by human rights groups on the pervasive nature of the problem in the Nigeria. Policymakers, health professionals and donors are yet to effectively integrate gender based violence into family planning programs in Nigeria, making it difficult for survivors to get basic information and access these services. Vulnerable groups like people who have sex with same sex are left out in the design and implementation of most contraceptive services for religious, cultural or political reasons, denying them access to contraceptive education and services.
At this point where we have only 4 years left to achieve the millennium development goals and the World’s population hits 7 billion, we need to make concerted efforts to ensure that issues which affect young people and deny them the rights to achieve their full potential and live fulfilled lives are addressed using evidence based and multidisciplinary approaches. Our government should assert their leadership and ownership of adolescent reproductive health care by establishing more Youth Friendly Centers manned by well trained and youth friendly health workers to deliver contraceptive guidance to young people. Nigerians need to dispel religious and cultural barriers that hold young people at ransom when it comes to contraceptive choice. Steps should be taken to make sure that young people get all the information they need on contraceptives before sexual debut. Measures should be taken to protect young people from early marriage, gender based violence and stigmatization.
EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE IN GREEN AND WHITE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES, KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND LEARN ABOUT CONTRACEPTIVES.
*not their real name

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Sarah Bunoti

Sarah Bunoti — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:01:21 +0000

Lack of information and the perception/attitude of adults are the key obstacles to young people’s access and use of cotraceptives.
This can be changed by giving proper and prompt infornation to young people and sensitising of the adults ( the stakeholders)
Definately, young people have a right to contarceptive information and services

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Today is World Contraception Day: Live Your Life and Know Your Rights | 2011 International Conference on Family Planning

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:38:56 +0000

[...] Get Involved: ADD YOUR OWN PERSEPCTIVES AT THE CONVERSATIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD BLOG SERIES ← A North Carolinian Honors World Contraception Day About the 2011 Conference The 2011 International Conference on Family Planning will examine cutting edge research and programs that are helping to advance the health and wealth of families and nations worldwide. Follow the conference * Subscribe to our email list to receive updates. [...]

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Bridget Nwagbara

Bridget Nwagbara — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:11:33 +0000

We will share our ideas. Counting on your support

Comment on Youth Tapping into the Power of Smart Advocacy by Hira

Hira — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:26:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing Mischa, thats really a ‘smart’ way to advocate.

Comment on World Contraception Day: Let’s Talk About Young People and Contraception by Mu'azu Muhammad

Mu'azu Muhammad — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:41:48 +0000

This is a good initiative,and I will be there.

Comment on Are mainstream and social media ignoring famine in the Horn of Africa? by Sara Malkan

Sara Malkan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:25:48 +0000

Great insight. Unfortunately famine is not the only misery in this part of the world. The Horn of Africa has been devastated by wars and destruction for years and it has taken place right in front of our eyes. This constant state of war and destruction of lands has only exacerbated the problem of famine in an area already deprived of simple natural resources such as water. Their problems are our problems and will ultimately hurt us in one way or the other. Our societies pride themselves on the ability to coordinate preventive measures in order to contain potential future damage. Why not in this case? Are we just shortsighted?

Comment on Juventud cuenta en UNGASS by Zaiyah

Zaiyah — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:35:17 +0000

It’s much easier to unrdesntad when you put it that way!

Comment on Your thoughts on the International Year of Youth? by Hanane AZAOUAGHE

Hanane AZAOUAGHE — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:04:00 +0000

dear everybody;
in our society, there is not just the problem of reprodutive health but there is a lot of other problems like drugs , the unconscious women, the emigration, more and more young problem’s so we have to program for all that and we have to passe trainings to be strong in front of this problems, not just a two training in peer education, we need experiences, we need help to work more than that, we have to work in reality not passed 25 personnes in a training and after this we find just 2 prsonnes in hard works.
thank you for your attention

Comment on Your thoughts on the International Year of Youth? by sallie kimani

sallie kimani — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:01:18 +0000

In kenya unemployment is a pressing issue thus leading the youths to go into drug abuse.

Comment on MTV “Ignites” a Change in Kenya, Zambia, and Trinidad & Tobago by Twitted by esietukeme

Twitted by esietukeme — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:19:21 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by esietukeme [...]

Comment on Your thoughts on the International Year of Youth? by He Dian

He Dian — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:34:38 +0000

I believe that reproductive health is still a very severe and importnat problem for the youth, espacially on abotion among the youth in China. The number of the abortion is huge every year and this problem effect their health and development. So, it is urgent need to take some effective measures to address the problem in future.

Comment on Are mainstream and social media ignoring famine in the Horn of Africa? by Marie-Anne McKee

Marie-Anne McKee — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:28:58 +0000

This is very true, the famine in Africa has not been as present in the media as similar events in the past. Reading your article made me think of ‘bystander apathy’ (a psychological theory relating to understanding why people don’t help others in distress). If we were to apply this theory we could suggest that the timing of this was unfortunate as it coincided with other global and maybe more personal or ‘closer’ issues. Due to this it took an initial back seat in the media, the media ignored it, we then ignored it which made the media ignore it more and so it spiraled. It made me wonder if people have almost been over exposed to the plight of Africans, especially when they are being presented in a helpless manner. Particularly whilst they themselves maybe feeling helpless during this global recession. Looking at helplessness is very difficult especially when you yourself feel helpless. I also wonder if pervious attempts in the past have seemed to fail and the situation in Africa doesn’t seem to improve perhaps this makes people less likely to put the same effort in again. I really don’t know. We live in a village and we do a yearly fund raising event. I suggested, last year, that we raised the money for an African charity, it was ruled out under the argument that the group wanted to help people in our own country before helping others…..are there more problems at home now or are we more aware of them? I don’t know, but it is unthinkable and desperately worrying that so little is being done.

Comment on Women are trapped in a cycle by Julie Lindsay

Julie Lindsay — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:17:31 +0000

Totally agree with this analysis. Please take 2 minutes to see our short video on the topic and the positive efforts underway to end this practice: http://www.ghfn.org/_webapp_4100194/Teens_fight_for_child_brides

Comment on Have your say at the Youth Summit: What do world leaders need to know about your life? by Jackline Shali Mwadime

Jackline Shali Mwadime — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:09:05 +0000

I would like world leaders to know that youths are the leaders of tomorrw.Hence,they should treat us with respect instead of using us as tools to accomplish their selfish political ambitious.On the other part,Youths should stay focus to their dreams and remain Proactive.Let stand in one voice to erradicate War,hunger,Hiv/Aids,Drugs and substance abuse and all deviant behavious that remain to be -a thorn in the flesh in our community.Peace!!;-) -Shali (Kenya)

Comment on If I could change one thing in my community… by CTO

CTO — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:23:19 +0000

If I could change one thing about my community, I would want to educate more young people on how to live purely and free themselves from destructive behavior that leads to teenage pregnancy, diseases, out-of-wedlock child-bearing, infidelity in marriage, divorce, and overall a desensitized outlook on the purpose of sex to bond married spouses and create babies.

Comment on If I could change one thing in my community… by Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:40:23 +0000

I was there as well and while I wasn’t interviewed, if I could change one thing about my community, I would end abortion. I think that abortion is the horrible killing of innocent life and it needs to end.

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Shaukat Channan

Shaukat Channan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:11:39 +0000

Dear Shahzad, Great work you have done…..Im also proud to be the part of orange family….Keep it up…..

Comment on Join me! I’m chatting from the Youth Summit in New York by Regina Diouf

Regina Diouf — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:54:35 +0000

What a great observation–I agree that it’s exclusive to most women, however..I think the point of using football as an effective hiv/aids intervention technique is so that men (who do value masculinity) can have an open, honest and non-judgmental discussion about gender equality with their peers–as opposed to taking young men, plopping them into a room with a bunch of human rights advocates telling them what to do…what do you think?

Comment on Join me! I’m chatting from the Youth Summit in New York by Meghan

Meghan — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:25:30 +0000

Regina I’m curious about the football being used for gender equality. It’s not a sport that many women would think to play. Girls are supposed to cheerleaders, however men can be too. Do you think it’s the idea that it’s a more physical, violent, aggressive sport? And is this the same mentality keeping women off the fronts in war zones?

Comment on I’m live-chatting from the High-level meeting on Youth! by Maele Masibi

Maele Masibi — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:15:07 +0000

Well, I would say that I personally find it fascinating to live in an era of increased amount of youth formations engaged in fruitful discourse and conveying visibility on issues facing young people across the world; I mean it is something that can never be looked down upon. Having said that, we need to ask ourselves a question as to what exactly is the outcome of these talks? What information is being filtered from the Corridors of world bodies like the UN, IMF, World Bank and so on…. to the remote outskirts of countries like Uganda, Somalia, Chad, Sudan, e.t.c

What do you say to a child solder in a country like Liberia, a young girl who has suffered may years on unpleasant childhood…. at the hands of a country torn apart by Civil war and does not even know what it entails to be a young person?
I mean you don’t need to look far but take a look at some of the reports that the UN publishes on my Why sub-Saharan Africa economic growth performed so poorly since the early 1970s. You will then realise that our leaders cannot claim not to know what must be done to develop a modern economy for young people to thrive in. This will be an environment where young people can be able to adopting new ideas, innovations and technologies etc.

Now the question boils down to what I’ve come to call the impediments to the economics of development. These are some of the factors that are at the heart of this crisis:
•Domestic policy issues (e.g. Poor governance, institutional capacity, corruption, rent seeking, etc)
•External-Policy: Exchange rate and trade regimes which are in favour of developed countries

Phrased more blatantly, I will put it to you Nomvula that Douglass North was right when he said “Institutions are not necessarily or even usually created to be socially efficient: rather they or at least the formal rules, are created to serve the interests of those with bargaining power to create new rules”. Rules created at the most unfortunate dismay of young people.

NOW THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE IS THE ROLE AFFORDED TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND THE CREATION OF NEW RULES FOR THEM TO THRIVE IN?

Comment on Have your say at the Youth Summit: What do world leaders need to know about your life? by Ebrima Dem

Ebrima Dem — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:56:54 +0000

I strongly believe the concern and ideas of young people shouls be put into account in every aspect of development.

Comment on From HUMAN rights to INHUMAN actions by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:57:35 +0000

Thank You brother, yes indeed many many innocent people dies every day for nothing, and we are talking about the right of one person people who are against the nature, while on the other hand trying to kill the 99 % people for nothing. its so pathetic.

Comment on From HUMAN rights to INHUMAN actions by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:56:22 +0000

Thank You Raza for your appreciation and support, we really need to realize the truth, become one hand and fight for the inhumanity action in our own country Pakistan as well as in the rest of the world. this is the time to come forward and take initiative.

Comment on From HUMAN rights to INHUMAN actions by Zohaib MianJee

Zohaib MianJee — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:49:18 +0000

it is really pathetic that one one hand people are free to choose their death and they are attacked by nowhere and all of sudden they are finished with their families including innocent children….and on the other hand …gays and lesbians are given rights to merry against the rules of the nature….hell of double standards ….basheer keep it up….good words for making them realize their double standards….

Comment on From HUMAN rights to INHUMAN actions by Raza Ravjani

Raza Ravjani — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:25:45 +0000

Bashir! You raised the voice of millions of Pakistanis fighting for humanity. This is great piece of writing and shows the pain you have against inhumanities in our country.. God Bless!

Comment on Join the global Facebook discussion on education by OSHONE OKU JENKINS

OSHONE OKU JENKINS — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:19:24 +0000

TO DAY IS MY FIRST TIME OF FACEBOOK

Comment on Discrimination Free World…That’s Where I Want to Live! by Aram

Aram — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:56:42 +0000

Couldn’t have said it better Lisa, thanks for sharing!

Comment on Discrimination Free World…That’s Where I Want to Live! by Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:55:03 +0000

Hey Aram!

Thanks for sharing. I think we need to also be very specific about what interventions we’re advocating for. The majority of harm reduction interventions are targeted at that “stereotypical” youth drug user, homeless and disenfranchised. While these interventions are life saving and under-funded by themselves do to stigma against harm reduction services (i.e. needle exchange, opiate substitution therapy, etc.), maybe of them ignore the other realities of youth. There are very few interventions that are funded beyond the scope of HIV prevention, and Hep C is just starting to be a priority to governments as the epidemic begins to outrun HIV in certain communities. As well, sexual health interventions do not talk about the complexities of working with youth who use drugs; issues of consent, negotiating condom use, and boundaries are different. The reality is youth who use drugs are very cognoscente of what services they need, but very few people think to ask. Thanks for bridging this topic during the 10 Days of Action. I think that the HIV/AIDS global community still has a long way to go before we can recognize that condom campaigns are not enough.

Comment on “Me, myself and peer pressure” Vol.2 by ILIA

ILIA — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:58:23 +0000

Excellent article to read. IT becomes more and more interesting to read with each word and finally when it came to the term “energy”… it was like a strong current inside of me. We can review your activity in the organisation from the point of view of physics and quantum mechanics and we see that it’s not just a waste of time, but a concentration of necessary electromagnetic energetic fields in one organisation and using it eventually to help, as it was written, to try to help others, and without no doubt it will be a success, I don’t know how great it will be, but a positive outcome is guaranteed. So, Let There Be Light!

Comment on “Me, myself and peer pressure” Vol.2 by Beka

Beka — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:37:34 +0000

very interesting article Sandra, I liked it And the most important thing is that it reflects the situation in Georgia really very well.
thanks

Comment on Youth: Can you imagine a world of 7 billion people? by ametemma

ametemma — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:40:02 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful article.As a youth activist from Ghana West Africa,I am inspired by the passion and energy of the young people of today.Indeed,this generation is exposed to many opportunities as well as many challenges.The sustainability of every youth in this generation which is full of competition must be championed by gallant sons and daughters who are willing to be partners in every struggle on all fronts.With this global village we live in, its imperative to train the youth in new media skills, to prepare them to face todays challenges as better communicators.

I started Youth Affairs Ghana -YAG to give young people a voice and a seat at the table regarding local and international issues of youthful interest.http://youthaffairsghana.wordpress.com

I invite young people across the globe to join hands with us in our efforts.
Youth Affairs Ghana-YAG
http://youthaffairsghana.wordpress.com

Comment on Youth: Can you imagine a world of 7 billion people? by Jorge Palma

Jorge Palma — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:50:02 +0000

Impresionante el mensaje. Sin mebargo, me gustaría y desearía:

que los/as tomadores de desición sean más proactivos
que hagan verdaderamente un mundo más prospero para nosotros los jóvenes, pero sin retórica
que sus acciones no nos confundan de lo imaginario con lo real
que nos vean como lo que somos jòvenes capaces de desarrollar el mundo.

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Elijah Rugendo

Elijah Rugendo — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:52:24 +0000

Thanks Zohaib,that a Great step ahead in pakistan.let me find you on facebook and am sure we will learn much from one another have a great day.

Comment on Youth: Can you imagine a world of 7 billion people? by Aleksandra Nadiradze

Aleksandra Nadiradze — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:06:14 +0000

Mr. Babatunde,
Thank you for your support and sharing your thought with us.
I, as a young person and member of UNFPA Youth Panel , welcome the opportunity this century brings to us: getting connected easily with our peers around the globe to share our cultures, traditions, views and dreams. It’s amazing to be part of this huge interconnected family.
Yes, I am one in 7 billion people but I strongly believe I can make significant difference in lives of youth. Several years ago, when I become a peer educator, there were only few people talking about Reproductive Health and Rights in Georgia. Today, with great support from UNFPA, we have reached more than 36, 000 young people through Information-Education sessions at summer camps in various regions of Georgia. We have spread the messages about SRH, HIV Prevention, Gender and GBV issues all over the country.
As a peer educator, I meet a lot of youth and I see the change: young people are becoming more and more open, interested and willing to advocate for their health and rights, promote sexual behavior among peers. This fact gives me great feeling of accomplishment but at the same time, I realize how much more needs to be done. There are so many youth that lack an opportunity to get connected to their peers and participate in building their own future.
Last year, peer educators network of Georgia came together to establish Georgian Youth Development and Education Association (GYDEA) through great support of UNFPA. Now we are communicating to other youth as peers – united in one organization. After reading your message, we are more than sure that support to our activities will extend and we will reach youth not only in Georgia but in other parts of the world.

Thank you

Aleksandra
Y-PEER Georgia

Comment on Youth: Can you imagine a world of 7 billion people? by Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:24:08 +0000

Thank you for the artical. Yes it is time for the youth to claim their stake to this planet. The powers tat have lead us to the current state of affairs must be addressed with true justice by the people. The current world government have miserably failed their people. All around the world. I trust in the near future the youth will demand better forms of democracy. The youth will demand their governments be accountable for their decisions with laws that severly punish corruption. They demand transparency openess and unteathered access to all government information in real time. We demand that their be no more secrets within government. Any government withholding information from the general public must be viewed as treasonous, and against the interests of national security. The only way to ensure the people can make informed decisions is with openness in government. Till western democracy is reformed or streamlined freedom will continue to be an illusion. I have formulated a form of democracy that would truly represent it’s people. The democracy that I invission
demand

Comment on Youth: Can you imagine a world of 7 billion people? by Irfan ullah khan

Irfan ullah khan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:15:59 +0000

ow it superb for the youth of world and Pakistan youth real enjoying it

Comment on Integration of migration – embracing the newcomers by Madina Ibragim

Madina Ibragim — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:21:19 +0000

I believe that migrant receiving nation needs to be economically and socially prepared before letting newcomers in. So called southern or developing nations can’t provide immigrants with proper services and create conditions for this vulnerable group to successfully integrate into the local society.

This is not just an opinion of mine, but observed reality of modern Kazakhstan and migration issue in there. With the huge land (9th largest in the world) and tiny little (comparatively) population successful policy was crucial. But it turned out that not only legal base needs to be prepared for success, social and ECONOMICAL conditions turned out to be way more important. So what happened after government servants introduced a policy motivating ethnic Kazakhs to move back to their native lands? Legally (getting resident status and related) it was easy, but economically those people with their backgrounds were not demanded by employers and even with governmental support (which is ridiculously small) those people were left to deal with their problems on their own. Corruption in governmental bodies is also a big deal – “If u want to be part of good welfare program – PAY”
Socially there is also a bias towards immigrants, they are seen as criminals or useless part of the population supported by regular taxpayers.

Again, stating my core idea – migrant receiving nation has to be prepared and overthink all possible negative outcomes before letting in immigrants, sometimes cons can significantly overweight all the pros. So I guess it is receiving environment that could make migrants “evil”.

Best regards,
Madina

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Zohaib MianJee

Zohaib MianJee — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:12:15 +0000

dear Elijah…thanks for your time, interest and appreciation…Pakistan and many African countries have similarities in many aspects and i will be very glad if we could work together for making a positive change in our societies..YPeer Pakistan is working harder for prevention of STIs and have been achieving success in this regard…YPeer Pakistan is working with Government Institutions, Politicians, Educational Institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders for preventing HIV/AIDS in Pakistan and it makes sure that these efforts must be conveyed to the society by Print and electronic media also along with the direct beneficiaries of YPeer Pakistan activities….at this time YPeer Pakistan is having about more then 100 peer educators, 170 district focal points and National Advisory board as well. This structure allows YPeer Pakistan to make more decentralized and more effective decision making process and activities. This bring them more broader affect on society. We may keep our self in touch by joining YPeer Pakistan on facebook and by joining me on facebook also…I am sure we will be helpful to each other.. and I am sure you will also exchange your experiences in Kenya…

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Elijah Rugendo

Elijah Rugendo — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:39:52 +0000

Thanks for the efforts.In kenya the situation is the same as your country .So how can we reach to one another for exchage of ideas,information and resources as Y-peers to help a good number of young people globaly,to make a real change in the world? capacity building thro’ government institutions and NGOs and other stakeholders would be very efffective anyway.

Comment on Teenage Pregnancy and Indian Cinema by Julie G.

Julie G. — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:46:04 +0000

Hello,
First sorry for my bad english,
I’m looking for a movie that I saw when I was young, I can’t remember the title.
I was searching on the web and I read your very interting post, so I thought maybe you could help me.
The story is about a young girl (poor) in a village, her mother is dead, and her father drink a lot.
she’s hired at the landlady house to work, one day she asks the landlady to teach her indian dance.
The old landlady’s grandson comes in the house, he’s running for some kind of election and he abused the young girl who gets pregnant.
she hides and keep the baby.
That’s all I remember, but I really want to see it again, so if you know which movie I am talking about could you help me please?
Thanx a lot.

Comment on How to spend Bill and Melinda’s money: we asked and you answered by BATHALUNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC.

BATHALUNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC. — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:27:40 +0000

The BATHALUNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL located at # 26 Congressional Rd.,Batasan Hills,Quezon City,Philippines asking your help and donation for our Poor Children here in the Philippines , they asking Books, School Supply , shoes for the Boys and Girls , Feedings , school Uniform for boys and girls , also Second Hand School Bus ,for your cash donation please Deposit at LAND BANK Philippines,
Account Number…….1691-1349-93
Account Name ……..BATHALUNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC.
LAND BANK Address….Commonwealth Ave.,Batasan Hills,
Quezon City,Philippines
Tel. # (02 ) 431-8398 / Mobile # ( 63 ) 9173514135

Thanks,
Dr. Hermie Bathaluna

Comment on How to spend Bill and Melinda’s money: we asked and you answered by Dr. Hermie Bathaluna

Dr. Hermie Bathaluna — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:48:36 +0000

TO : BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
FROM : DR.HERMIE BATHALUNA,# 26 Congressional Road,Batasan Hills,Quezon City,Philippines ( 63 ) 917-3514135
E-mail Address
Subject : Royal Leaders Meeting
Date : May 29,2011
MISSION :
1. To initiate a movement for a Righteous Form of Government to govern us in the next generation of righteous people.
2. To inculcate moral values to all the members to be a future righteous leaders to lead a righteous form of Government which is different from other form of government.

VISION :
1. To bring all people and all nations closer to God and have fear in the Lord who has created us.

GOALS :
1. To totally transform all leaders of all nations to govern their constituents in the righteous way, to attend peace and order in the entire world.

BENEFITS :
For Royal Leaders / Managers
a)Appointment duly approved by the Royal Ambassadors
b)Salary / wages : Php 1000. a day

Functions :
1. Invite 50 persons to undergo On the Job Training ( O.J.T. ) with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years old.
2. Php. 346,000.00 initial budget for the O.J.T.
a ) Free breakfast
b ) Merienda
c ) lunch
3. Php. 150.00 fare back & forth
4. Laptop – purchase
5. Open for all O.F.W.

For more Information :
Ask Dr.Hermie Bathaluna
mobile # 917-3514135
E-mail Add

In Christ,
Dr.Hermie Bathaluna

Comment on How to spend Bill and Melinda’s money: we asked and you answered by Dr. Hermie Bathaluna

Dr. Hermie Bathaluna — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:01:56 +0000

CIUDAD PROMISED LAND COOPERATIVE – Philippines , Located at # 26 Congressional Rd.Batasan Hills,Quezon City, Philippines with Contact # ( 63 ) 917-3514135 or ( 02 ) 431-8398 .
In this connection we have at present a cooperative,CIUDAD Promised Land Cooperative, which we derived from Exodus 33.1-3.
Our purposes of the Cooperative are :
1-To build Computer Institute in every Community
2-Housing for the low-income group- the less fortunate people in our community.
111-Livelihood project to raise the living standard of our people.
1V-To take care of the young generation to give them education.
V-To protect women and children from abuses.
V1-To help the elderly and Senior Citizen.
Since your concerned as stated in your Bill & Melinda Foundation I being chosen as your friend benefactor hereby solemnly swear to the Almighty to accomplish what you are instructing one to do of the funds you are entrusting to me.
Needless, to say may I reiterate that we are always praying for your helping to recovery all the illness people in the world.

Comment on Moving beyond the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS by Casimir Caidor

Casimir Caidor — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:53:38 +0000

Cogratulations Ricardo for your hard work during the HLM on AIDS this year at the UN. Youth are very important to make good change concerning AIDS. All governments are called upon to respect and encouragement to facilitate us doing our best to get AIDS to zero new imfection and zero discrimination. Keep up that good work Ricardo! You are really inspiring continuity of working at country’level.

Comment on Integration of migration – embracing the newcomers by Emily Akullu

Emily Akullu — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:22:15 +0000

Dear Ambrose,

Thank you for contributing! That question that you just posed is the biggest dilemma world over today I guess. Illegal is such a terrible word in the ears of the migrant populace, but yet can’t be avoided. My question is, isn’t there a better way of handling this other than the commonly inhuman way in which sometimes the migrants are handled, much less the humiliation that they have to go through. I would only love that they be treated with such decency and understanding of what leads them to whichever circumstances

I Thank you once again

Comment on Integration of migration – embracing the newcomers by Ambrose Awici

Ambrose Awici — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:49:31 +0000

Norway like many other countries has done alot to intergrate immigrants and help them be constuctive in their new adopted country.
However this applies to legal immigrants only,so my question is how can such countries faily deal with what they call ilegal immigrants?

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Zohaib MianJee

Zohaib MianJee — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:50:51 +0000

thanks sami..:))

Comment on Awareness and capacity building among young people in Pakistan by Sami

Sami — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:52:16 +0000

Good Effort!

Comment on Catholics Call on Pope Benedict to reconsider Vatican’s ban on contraceptive pill by Kenny Meek

Kenny Meek — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:14:18 +0000

As crazy as I would have once thought this comment to be, Jimbo is absolutely right. This pill has catalized a level of permissiveness in our society which has made it so our teenagers now think it’s their God given right to have sex and if they happen to procreate in the process than so be it. Paul VI saw Sodom and Gomorrah coming and he was absolutely right. We have sexually active teens running rampant in our society and they learned it from us. Shame on us all.

Comment on Teenage Pregnancy and Indian Cinema by Zohaib MianJee

Zohaib MianJee — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 06:46:09 +0000

excellent work dear….congrats….

Comment on The continuum between violence against women and girls in private and violence against women in public by kirabo claudine

kirabo claudine — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:28:32 +0000

there is need to stop domestic violence,the governments and non government parastatals have played a big role but still women need to come up, open up so that we break the silence

Comment on Comprehensive sexual education: who must provide it? by CTO

CTO — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:09:46 +0000

This article provides a thoughtful and synthesized analysis of the opinion that the government is responsible for providing sexual education to youth, though it in the spirit of dialogue, I wish to engage a few key points in its rationale.

First, I agree that it falls upon the government to protect its citizen’s rights, but what constitutes its rights? A healthy society looks to the government to protect the basic human rights “directly,” such as food for the hungry, clothing for the naked, shelter for the homeless. So then some ask, how about sexuality? It is natural and good for any youth to want to understand their sexuality, how it can be an appropriate expression of their true inner dignity, but these lessons cannot be found in textbooks, movies, or by the trial & error method. No, instead, they are revealed at the appropriate time in one’s life when their sexuality can be an honest expression of a life-long union with another. Sexuality communicates an everlasting commitment of fidelity to the other. This is why someone feels shame when sexuality is expressed to a friend, partner, or anyone outside of marriage.

Those who no longer feel shame have not conquered their sexuality…rather, it’s the opposite – they’ve become enslaved (addicted). Why is it a problem to no longer feel shame? Because then, a person can neither experience the beauty of sexuality when expressed correctly. Inappropriate expression of sexuality is like a poison that kills both the negative feelings and positive treasures…what’s left is nothing and the person is left always unfulfilled and unable to receive what would fulfill them.

Sexuality is not crucial to making life decisions. The choice for how to express it in a way to bring the most lasting happiness is clear: to one’s spouse after marriage. Many joyful people vow to remain chaste their entire lives, again showing that one can be totally free and happy while not expressing their sexuality…how do they do it? They realize sexuality is not an appetite, but discover its true meaning and then freely choose to abstain, witnessing to the world that sexuality is not the ultimate fulfillment we seek.

Understanding sexuality can never be comprehensive – as soon as it does, a person begins to view it as a way to grasp for pleasure while using the other person. Sexuality is meant to be a gift, and one that can only be honestly communicated when each person vows to love the other for their entire life, thus only in marriage.

Finally, the role of government is not to be a slave of its people’s wishes if they are against the values of the country or what would be beneficial to the common good and the good of each individual person. Even if the majority of a country wants comprehensive sexual education, it’s the government’s role to support the institution that was made to help youth understand it over time…the family.

So the questions then become – how can youth grow more aware of sexuality as a gift to be appropriately expressed and how do they look to their families for answers and growth? How does government empower and support the family to fulfill these roles?

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:29:54 +0000

thank you brother ….

Comment on Activism 3.0: what does the future hold for youth activism? by felix reyes

felix reyes — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:39:36 +0000

Activismo 3.0: ¿qué depara el futuro para el activismo de los jóvenes?
Pienso que es uno de los más grande recto donde los mas importan es partir de los logrado en materia de juventud, sigue siendo de gran barrera la falta de creencia y oportunidades que las y los jóvenes necesitamos, esto limitan nuestros trabajos y permiten que nuestros grande objetivos no sean alcanzado, uno de los más notables son los ODM si se hubiese creído realmente en la juventud los resultado fueran otros más alentadores.
Esta travesía necesitas más oportunidades sin limitaciones
Att. Félix reyes
Director general
Red nacional de jóvenes viviendo con VIH/SIDA
Republica dominica

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:13:41 +0000

Thank You Amna for showing your interest. i shared Information on your email regarding ToT,
Best Regards

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by Amna

Amna — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:18:54 +0000

I went through your facebook page but I didnt get an idea what ToTs are ( and i’m sorry for this )
I live in Karachi , and I would really like it if you could brief me as to how can I be a part of it. Thanks.

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:52:37 +0000

Dear Amna thank you so much and i really appreciate your valuable idea.. but the fact is that we are already working on it. We are conducting trainings and tots regarding HIV/Aids and trying to connect more and more people with each other and convince them to accept the reality. for the first time in Pakistan we are conducting provincial ToT instead of natioanl tot this time. You can be the part of this training if you belongs to KPK, Gilgat bultistan or Sindh, we already conducted the tots in queta and Punjab.
thanks..

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by Amna

Amna — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:24:14 +0000

But we need to work out possible solutions to this problem , instead of just identifying it . We know very VERY well that no one in our country will let even the topic of HIV AIDS to be included in our curriculum. The very first thing we need to do is to make people and higher authorities contended with the fact that now , at this level , there is a dire need to make students/citizens realize that one gets infected to this disease through other means too.
Secondly, we need to figure out WHAT to include in the curriculum (i mean what % of this topic )

Comment on Comprehensive sexuality in Haitian schools by CTO

CTO — Sun, 29 May 2011 02:11:16 +0000

HIV/AIDS is without a doubt a real problem in Haiti. I question though the effectiveness CSE will have on preventing its spread. A person’s understanding of their sexuality is bound to their faith and moral identity. CSE divorces itself from faith assuming sexuality is appetite to be satisfied, and therefore encourages youth to treat it as such. Because sexuality and faith & morals cannot be separated, the only proper place for a child to learn about sexuality is through the teachings within their family.

Comment on Contraception, myths and young people by CTO

CTO — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:11:27 +0000

Thanks for your response. I’m in my mid-twenties, living in the United States, living in Boston and finished graduate studies from MIT a few years back. The science behind the breast-cancer inducing risks for oral contraceptives are much different from Aspirin, though. Oral contraceptives cause a woman to have dramatically higher levels of estrogens and progestins (hormones) causing more rapid growth of breast cells that can become carcinogenic and lead to tumors. A study by WHO showed that women receiving a progestin hormonal contraceptive for 2 years before age 25 had a 190% increased risk of developing breast cancer…so what this is saying is that since right now, 1 in 8 women have breast cancer during their lifetime, over 1 in 3 women in the category just described will have breast cancer during their lives. Wouldn’t you agree that is an effect worth serious consideration?

Comment on Activism 3.0: what does the future hold for youth activism? by Daniel Kalajdjieski

Daniel Kalajdjieski — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:31:40 +0000

Can you provide the first and the second video with English translate?

Comment on Contraception, myths and young people by Daniel Kalajdjieski

Daniel Kalajdjieski — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:22:48 +0000

I am not a medical doctor or a researcher, but in my knowledge the risks that you’ve mentioned are happening very rarely. It’s the risk from every pill. If you see the description for precautions for using Aspirin, there are written many bad things, but still people are using aspirin.
I have experience for 8 years in working with young people in this area and the video is based exactly on that experience. One of the reasons why they are not using are those myths. One research in Macedonia showed that women and girls prefer abortion instead of pills. You can made the conclusion by yourself.

And one question. Can you tell me from which country are you coming from. Maybe we can compare the situations and discuss further on this issue.

Comment on Contraception, myths and young people by CTO

CTO — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:53:04 +0000

The video shows that oral contraception does not cause body hair growth or weight-gain. How about the research that proves a significant increase in breast cancer, especially for those taking the pill before their first pregnancy, and the presence of abortificients in the pill, changing the uterine lining and preventing an embryo from attaching? Aren’t these the real reasons why young people avoid contraceptives? I think so.

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by Tahira

Tahira — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:21:20 +0000

Great work man. A much-needed voice from KPK

Comment on Invest in youth, now! by ccasimir

ccasimir — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:40:34 +0000

youth deserve a special attention to make good change for a better world! And I should mention investing in them is essential to achieving MDGs 5b because we are a great proportion in the world population and we are more vulnerable to contract HIV/AIDS And be raped and suffer in our sexual life . As it is shown in Haiti the situation is not a good spectacle and the statistic about the country prove the important investment the government should do to respond to the high fertility and ensure the equity of gender for a great participation ! participation of youth!
We want the government and international deciders change the world with us!

Comment on Invest in youth, now! by ccasimir

ccasimir — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:38:17 +0000

youth deserve a special attention to make good change for a better world! And I should mention investing in them is essential to achieving MDGs 5b because we are a great proportion if the world population and we are more vulnerable to contract HIV/AIDS And be raped and suffer in our sexual life . As it is shown in Haiti the situation is not a good spectacle and the statistic about the country prove the important investment the government should do to respond to the high fertility and ensure the equity of gender for a great participation ! participation of youth!
We want the government and international deciders change the world with us!

Comment on Adolescents and youth migration:Harnessing the development potential while mitigating risk by Michael Boampong

Michael Boampong — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:05:59 +0000

Thanks Tulsi for your comment

Comment on Adolescents and youth migration:Harnessing the development potential while mitigating risk by Tulsi Pokhrel

Tulsi Pokhrel — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:23:59 +0000

i am a Nepali student &youth activist. i have recently completed my masters in Population Studies . i am interested in these issues. My country is also one of the sending country. Meny Nepali youth are in Gulf as semi-(un)skilled labourer. Abroad study migration of urban adolescent is in peak. 21% of GDP is shared by remmittance. i really like this article. hope i will get chance to read this type of article again and again.

Comment on Teenage Pregnancy and Indian Cinema by Raquel Wexler

Raquel Wexler — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:51:18 +0000

What an excellent post. I studied some years ago in the Department of Radio Television and Film of the University of Texas @ Austin where a good deal of similar research was being done on Brazilian telenovelas and and reproductive health/demography. Brazil is the most populous country of Latin America having a population of more than 180 million. Its fertility rate has declined significantly in the last 15 years and now stands at 2.3 children per woman. In rural areas, larger family sizes are still found in rural and impoverished regions of the country, and teenage pregnancy remains a issue…In Brazil everyone watches telenovelas, especially the most popular ones that follow the evening news. 88% of households own a color television set so the vast majority of households, rich and poor own a TV. Telenovelas air from Monday to Saturday and are of short duration ( a few months rather than years like American soap operas). Scripts are developed and novelas aired within a short period of time 10-14 days if not less, so what you see on TV can very much reflect what is happening in the socio-political realm of the time – and makes for interesting viewing (for subtext etc). TV Globo is one of the largest TV producers in the world. In Brazil it reaches more than 60% of the viewing public and their novelas are exported all over the world. I recently observed a couple living in a village with a population of 2 in rural town in The FYRo Macedonia captivated by a dubbed Brazilian telenovela….There have been many experiences of successful collaboration between Globo and the integration of SRHR issues through the medium of telenovelas. A recent example is Paginas de Vida (Pages of Life). Read more at http://www.grist.org/article/2010-09-25-soap-operas-spread-messages-about-reproductive-health-population
I’ve also included a related academic article by Hornik and McAnany ( on Mass Media and Demographic Behaviour) http://www.unm.edu/~werder/Documents/553readings/Reading23.pdf

Comment on If you could change ONE thing, what would it be? by Alexander Pak

Alexander Pak — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:34:30 +0000

Youth needs to be part of decision making and we shouldnt talk about youth but with youth. Youth is a very diverse group and we should really know who are the most vulnerable among them, as there are better off youth as well. Youth are different in every region that is why we also need to know youth specifics of every region

Comment on If you could change ONE thing, what would it be? by Kamila Abdullaeva

Kamila Abdullaeva — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:30:47 +0000

From a personal perspective these issues are important because I am a mother of 2 who are not yet considered “youth” but will soon be of that age. It important that we speak of the risks that young people face and the opportunities that may be available to them, as we all want the best for our children. This conference has been a great platoform for this type of dialogue

Comment on If you could change ONE thing, what would it be? by Mahbub Alam

Mahbub Alam — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:23:55 +0000

The most important thing that we can do for youth is to improve their access to the right information and to create an enabling environment so that people can exercise their rights – in terms of rights to information to services etc. The government needs to help create such an enabling environment to amend policy frameworks as needed and improve the extent and quality of youth health services while creating a space for youth participation.

Comment on If you could change ONE thing, what would it be? by Nese Savas

Nese Savas — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:11:38 +0000

I think this Youth Conference has great potential of bringing all the ideas into implementation especially by the representation of young people and high-level government officials in the same place. It is not only crucial but also effective to realize the needs of the young in a society and giving them the opportunity to share it with their peers and implementing institutions.

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by bashir ahmad

bashir ahmad — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:08:32 +0000

yah so truee… thank you for supporting my idea. what we need is to work on it.. its our responsibility to aware people about this..

Comment on Reproductive health and rights in Pakistan – a health or a social issue? by faryal khan

faryal khan — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:11:32 +0000

being a citizen of karachi! i am agree with you in many cases i have seen these controvorcy here alsoo!the people should aware of it ……