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.
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.
SDLP Youth are to hold an election to elect a new Campaigns Officer to the Youth Executive. The election will take place at our next general meeting on Tuesday 21st October at 7pm in SDLP HQ Queens’ Students Union (4th floor, Room 2).
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.
SDLP Youth have today urged people to sign a petition calling for ex-President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe to resign from his autocratic post.
It is four and a half months since Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC won power, but they have been denied their seats by Robert Mugabe who controls the army.
Most of the country is starving, but the media can’t see the real situation while they are banned. Humanitarian agencies are not allowed to distribute food themselves, and must give it to the government to distribute. Inflation has gone up by 40,000,000% and probably more while you read this.
Zanu PF and its army operate torture camps in former primary schools, and 12 opposition MPs are currently in jail on false charges.
Once Mugabe is removed, the EU, US and UK have pledged $1.9 billion in finance to support Zimbabwe’s economy and feed it’s starving citizens.
This weekend in S Africa, Mugabe meets with 15 other African leaders to discuss the progress of talks with the opposition. A massive group of trade unionists will march through Johannesburg calling for Mugabe to resign, supported by 100,000 people who have signed the Avaaz petition. The trade unionists are also threatening to stop handling any Zimbabwean goods, therefore cutting off trade to the country, if the talks do not have a satisfactory result.
The SDLP has just announced Rosemary Flanagan as their candidate to contest the Enniskillen by-election.
Rosemary is an Education adviser working in post-primary schools. The SDLP site describes her as “a longstanding member of the party since the 1970s and is currently chair of Enniskillen Branch and Fermanagh District Executive and also served as Chair of Policy Committee for a number of years”.
The SDLP is focusing on delivering real commitments, at a time when other parties are doing all talk and no action.
Part of the SDLP’s mission and their manifesto commitment will be to put people before politics, and work to make Enniskillen the best it can be - economically, socially, politically, culturally and environmentally.
For a better Ireland and a better Enniskillen, vote Rosemary Flanagan No. 1!
The UK Youth Parliament have commended Foyle MP Mark Durkan for slamming other MPs who have suggested that 16-year-olds ‘would not be mature enough or wise enough to vote’ during a Westminster debate on the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill which calls on the government to lower the voting age to sixteen.
Andy Hamflett, Chief Executive of the UK Youth Parliament said:
“The UK Youth Parliament welcomes Mark Durkan’s support for lowering the voting age to 16 in the reading of the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill debate at the House of Commons.
“His support during this debate sends a very strong message that politicians from all parties are ready to start taking young people seriously; that there is an urgent need to reconnect young people to democracy, and lowering the voting age is a crucial step towards engaging them and building their trust in politics.
“Many of the young people with whom we work tell us time and again that politicians don’t listen to them enough and that, with proper citizenship education providing them with the appropriate background information, they would love to be able to vote. Mark’s support is a clear indication that there are politicians who do reach out to young people and signifies that there is a very real chance of success for votes at 16.”
Mr Durkan said:
“I very much appreciate that the UK Youth Parliament has expressed their gratitude for my support in this matter.
“I fully support the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill which is calling on the government to develop the necessary framework for reducing the voting age to 16.
“It is important for the entire democratic process that young people are given such an opportunity to vote at a key formative time in their lives – when they are forming habits of a lifetime.
“Those arguing against votes for 16-year-olds are suggesting that they would not be mature enough or wise enough to vote, and that they would not have a sophisticated enough interest in politics – exactly the arguments that were used against votes for women.
“The time is right to reduce the voting age
“16 is the age at which many of our young people start to make real decisions about their lives, and many significant rights come into play.
“Indeed, 16 and 17-year olds can pay taxes, join Armies and get married, so denying them a vote is simply inconsistent.
“As MPs, it is our duty to encourage political engagement among our young people – especially as it is currently at an all time low.
“Lowering the voting age could play a huge role in helping our young people to feel more connected with political processes and is the next logical extension for citizenship education occurring in our schools.”
Please note that the deadline for nomination to run for election to the SDLP Youth Executive is 5pm on 27th June 2008.
At the SDLP Youth conference to be held on 5th July 2008, the SDLP Youth Executive for 2008/09 will be elected and we are now inviting members of the party aged 30 and under to nominate themselves to run for the positions. The seven posts available are: Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Officer, Campaigns Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Universities & Colleges Officer.
Members can put themselves forward for more than one position.
The election will take place between 10am and 1pm at the conference, with counting taking place in the afternoon and the results announced thereafter. The election will be operated using the PR-STV system. To be entitled to vote, you must be a paid-up 2008 party member, aged 30 and under, on 1st July 2008.
During a Westminster debate on the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill, SDLP Leader Mark Durkan has slammed MPs who have suggested that 16-year-olds would not be mature enough or wise enough to vote.
The Foyle MP, who is supporting calls on the government to lower the voting age to sixteen, said:
“Those arguing against votes for 16-year-olds are suggesting that they would not be mature enough or wise enough to vote, and that they would not have a sophisticated enough interest in politics – exactly the arguments that were used against votes for women.
“I fully support the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill which is calling on the government to develop the necessary framework for reducing the voting age to 16.
“The time is now right to reduce the voting age.
“16 is the age at which many of our young people start to make real decisions about their lives, and many significant rights come into play.
“Indeed, 16 and 17-year olds can pay taxes, join Armies and get married, so denying them a vote is simply inconsistent.
“As MPs, it is our duty to encourage political engagement among our young people – especially as it is currently at an all time low.
“Lowering the voting age could play a huge role in helping our young people to feel more connected with political processes and is the next logical extension for citizenship education occurring in our schools.”
SDLP Youth activists have mounted a demonstration at the Dáil calling for northerners to be allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections.
Speaking at the event, SDLP Youth Chairperson Gary McKeown said, “People living in the north have the right to identify themselves as Irish, so it is only fair that they should be allowed to vote for their head of state. This is in-keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthens democracy. We believe that anyone who is eligible to vote in the north should be allowed to cast a ballot in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.
“This should not be seen as an attempt to undermine the right of unionists on this island to identify themselves as British. It is simply aimed at providing people in the North of Ireland with the democratic right to vote for the President of Ireland alongside their counterparts in the Republic. Indeed, it is ironic that our current President is from the north- we have a ridiculous situation at present whereby someone from the north can stand for President, yet people living in that part of the island can’t actually vote in the election.”
The Newry Representative continued, “The SDLP has the strongest track record of developing cross-border links and working with our partners in the Republic to build a better future for everyone on this island. This SDLP Youth campaign promotes an all-island normalisation agenda which respects everyone’s rights and strengthens democratic participation on an all-Ireland basis. By working with other parties, we believe that a resolution to this issue can be found more quickly.”
Magherafelt SDLP Youth Member John O’Doherty concluded adding, “We had invited representatives from all the main parties elected in the south to join us at this demonstration. It was disappointing that we were told by most of them that their respective parties have no policy on this matter. I would urge all parties to think in an All Ireland context on such issues and to join with us in the fight to secure voting rights for people living in the northern counties.”
SDLP Youth Colleges Officer Peter Armstrong attended the launch. He said:
”The SDLP manifesto sets an agenda for achieving a better Ireland for our young people. It represents more employment and enterprise, affordable housing, and improving public transport and infrastructure. The SDLP can provide better government – delivering on healthcare, childcare and equality.”
“The SDLP manifesto contains many reasons why young people need to get out and vote this March 7th. A vote for the SDLP is a vote to end the political deadlock of SF/DUP politics; politics that will never agree and can never work together.
“An SDLP agenda includes opposing water charges – a double tax that we already pay for in our rates. Opposing the increase in regional rates, stopping water privatisation and the police tax that direct mis-rule ministers have lined up.
“We want to see increased cross-border trading, better deals for our farmers, for the self-employed, for rural education, agus an Acht Ghaeilge atá cuimsitheach.”
“More police away from desk jobs and onto the streets, safer communities, a Bill of Rights and more provisions for community groups and youth clubs. It’s guaranteed – when the SDLP is strong, progress always gets made. Vote for the better future that we all deserve – and let the SDLP make change happen. I urge young voters to vote SDLP on Wednesday 7th March.”
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).
