The annual SDLP Youth Dublin Trip takes place on Wednesday Thursday 19th February 2009.
This year will include a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin, a chance to meet with the Fine Gael leadership, a tour of Leinster House, and the usual dinner + night out. Other events are still to be announced!
Transport will be provided from Belfast and Newry, leaving early on Wednesday Thursday and returning on Thursday Friday morning.
We need numbers as early as possible, so if you are aged 16-30 and would like to go, please contact us ASAP.
SDLP Youth are to hold an election to elect a new Public Relations Officer to the Youth Executive. The election will take place at a special meeting on Monday 1st December at 7pm in SDLP HQ (121 Ormeau Road, Belfast).
SDLP Youth are seeking active young party members from across the north, who have a vision of what they would like to see the party and the youth group doing, to put themselves forward for the positions. The Youth Executive’s term began in July 2008 and runs for approximately one year.
Candidates are requested to create a short canvass email of why they should be elected. We encourage as many candidates as possible. Voting will take place by secret ballot. The deadline for candidates will run until 5pm on the day of the meeting.
If you are interested please email us or phone Peter Armstrong at SDLP Party HQ on 028 9024 7700.
As part of the SDLP’s Sustainability agenda, SDLP societies at Queen’s and University of Ulster have requested that the universities in Northern Ireland carry out an environmental audit as a matter of urgency to establish how much Universities are contributing to wasted energy.
While the SDLP’s University groups do appreciate that some Universities have moved in the right direction the group feels that University’s can move much further, much faster and go greener quicker.
Commenting on the request SDLP Youth Chairman Peter Armstrong said, “The SDLP has long been committed to delivering a sustainable environment as part of our manifesto pledges.
“Through this campaign we aim to ensure that universities are cutting waste, by taking some actions as simple as not leaving hundreds of unused computers on standby, and that they are contributing fully to environmental protection. As economic development advanced in recent years, our efforts to improve our standards of living and enhance our education have had an adverse impact of the environment.
“We are now consuming more resources than ever and causing pollution through waste products. Now it is all our responsibility to do everything we can to protect our environment and as we strive to save the planet we will also save pounds in our pocket.”
Dominic Bradley MLA has asked the Minister for Education for a breakdown of the backlog of maintenance work to be carried out on schools.
The response from the Minister contains a list of hundreds of schools owed large amounts of money - £217 million in total and many schools are owed several millions pounds each. This money is meant to be available to help improve nurseries, primary and secondary schools but the Minister isn’t providing the funding when it’s due.
It’s another gigantic blunder by the Minister. Here are some schools owed money:
Sydenham Primary £1,603,325
St Anne’s PS £1,954,862
Holy Trinity PS £1,226,056
Belfast Girls’ Model £3,586,395
Belmont House Special £1,055,871
Dominic Bradley MLA has said this means “many children are being taught in substandard classrooms. This shortfall is putting the health and safety of children at serious risk. There are serious questions to be answered like just how long have the Minister and her officials been aware of this? How long will the Minister allow this situation to continue? And what exactly are the implications for the pupils in our schools?”
Well done to SDLP North Belfast MLA who today had his moustache shaved off for BBC Children in Need. Donations are still welcome - by calling Catherine on 028 9052 1319.
With Children in Need fast approaching the Chair of the SDLP Assembly Group, Alban Maginness MLA, has agreed, with a little persuasion, to shave off his moustache in the name of charity. This decision has not been taken lightly by the esteemed member – the moustache has been an integral and longstanding part of Mr Maginness’s makeup.
Alban hopes to hold a shaving ceremony on Thursday of this week and photographic evidence of this particular piece of decommissioning will be provided! Speaking today Alban said:
“This is a decision I have not taken lightly. My moustache has been a close friend to me over the years, through good times and bad, through thick and thinning! It was present at the birth of my children and during many election campaigns walking the streets of North Belfast. The thought of being without it, for even a short while, fills me with both fear and trepidation.
On a serious note though, the moustache can grow back, I may even prefer life without it, but through the small efforts of many fundraisers throughout the North every year, Children in Need provides hope for many of the most needy and most overlooked sections of our society.
The truth is that we all can make a difference, however small. We can all work alone or with others to, to draw attention to the event, raise funds for Children in Need, and take part in the knowledge that we are taking part in something bigger. My moustache may have been a major part of my life, but it is only one small story among thousands that are told every year when raising money for Children in Need.”
SDLP Youth and Young Unionists joined forces today to host a Schools Debate in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The day was organised in conjunction with the NI Assembly’s Education Service.
Peter Armstrong, Chair of SDLP Youth said: “We were delighted to co-host the Schools Debate 2008. The event brought together young people from schools across the north to the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings for a cross-community debate on local and international politics.
“This was a very worth-while event as our aim was to bring more young people to the seat of local government.”
Alisdair O’Hara Organiser for the Young Unionists said: “I am extremely pleased with today’s event. It highlights that some political parties can still work together. In this instance we were able to bring sixth formers from various schools across Northern Ireland to debate some of the most relevant local and international issues.
“Engaging young people in politics is extremely important and being able to host this debate at Stormont was very significant”.
Fantastic news. Historical significance. A victory for Civil Rights. A ‘Cooler’ America.
Many didn’t have faith in America to elect such an outstanding candidate. We all thought they’d pick the idiot. Of course, Americans shouldn’t blame us for thinking this - as they previously elected Bush & Cheney (in 2000 and 2004!).
Certainly, if the world could vote, 87.3% would have voted for Barack Obama - a majority voting for Obama in every country and terrority (except FYR Macedonia & Albania where people voted for McCain - not sure what’s going on there..).
This is how our politicians summed it up:
The decisiveness of his triumph and the hope which it heralds is in contrast to the divisiveness of previous elections. His election is a sign of positive progress, not just in the United States but in terms of international leadership. Mark Durkan MP MLA, SDLP Leader
I congratulate President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden, not only because they have Irish roots, not only because they are pledged to continue to support our own peace process, but because what they have done is historic by any standard. We have reached a turning point in international affairs and I believe we can all be more optimistic this morning. Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP MLA, SDLP Deputy Leader
Today, I’m sure many Americans wish they had our system, where Obama would win on 4th November and be inaugurated on 5th November. Nevertheless, even if we have to wait until January for Inauguration Day, the next 4 years and hopefully the next 8 years should be a lot brighter than the previous 8 years under Bush. America is in troubled economic times, but it has a lot to look forward to.
President Obama has been left a huge amount of work by his predecessor, but we believe he can make huge changes to the US and the world. He recognises the importance of civil rights in America, he recognises that climate change exists, and he has plans to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Avaaz have set up a “Goodbye Bush, Hello Obama” message board. Well, more a message wall - if you sign up on their website, they will display your message on a giant wall in Washington DC.
Dear President Obama:
As citizens across the world, we congratulate you on your election, and celebrate your campaign commitments to sign a strong new global treaty on climate change, close Guantanamo prison and end torture, withdraw carefully from Iraq, and double aid to fight poverty. No one country or leader can meet the world’s most pressing challenges alone, but working together as one world in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, yes we can bring real and lasting change.
We also have to recognise the hard work on the Republican side *cough*. They sure kept us entertained.
Via Niall’s blog, two prankster DJ’s from CKY Radio in Montréal phone up Governor Sarah Palin (before the election) who believes that she is talking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Monday 10th November 2008
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
The Schools Debate will take place on 10th November 2008 in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings. The event is being organised by SDLP Youth (youth group of the Social Democratic and Labour Party) and the Young Unionists (youth group of the Ulster Unionist Party).
We are planning the day in conjunction with the NI Assembly’s Education Service. It is a cross-community event and use of the Senate Chamber has been granted by the Speaker of the NI Assembly.
Peter Armstrong, Chair of SDLP Youth said: “We are delighted to co-host the Schools Debate 2008. The event will bring young people from schools across the north to the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings for a cross-community debate on local and international politics.
“There will be four debating sessions chaired by SDLP and Ulster Unionist MLAs. Also the MLAs will be joining with the students in debating the various motions, in topics including local government, the impact of race relations in the US elections, and international issues such as the conflicts in Darfur and Georgia.
“We are always looking to bring more young people to the seat of local government, and I hope this is a hugely beneficial opportunity for all the students.”
The agenda for the day is as follows:
Arrival - 10:30
Debating Sessions:
11:00 - Devolved government is good for NI
11:30 - Race relations has had a major impact on the recent US Presidential elections
12:00 - Military intervention is required in Darfur
12:30 - The recent Georgian conflict signalled the restarting of the Cold War
13:00 Photo opportunity with Media in Great Hall
13:10 Lunch provided
Members Notice
SDLP Youth are to hold an election to elect a new Public Relations Officer to the Youth Executive. The election will take place at a special meeting on Monday 1st December at 7pm in SDLP HQ (121 Ormeau Road, Belfast).
