Belfast City Councillor Tim Attwood is helping Tiny Life, Northern Ireland’s only premature baby charity.

On 20th December he will take part in a two day, two team challenge with one mission - to save Santa! It’s a live online event you don’t want to miss! Two teams of 4 will be battling against each other live on the Internet - facing numerous challenges over two days.

Please take a moment to visit www.helpsavechristmas.com and place your vote online for the team you think will win! If you’re right you might win an iPod.

The event starts on Saturday 20th December 2008 @ 2pm.

Members Notice

A Chara,

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

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.

Hey Guys,

Michelle here from SDLP!! Firstly, thank you for signing up to the SDLP at the freshers fair in Magee - hope you all enjoyed your rubix cubes!!

Now for the exciting news…..SDLP is finally coming to Magee for their first meeting this year ….why not come along for some information and show your support??

The meeting taking place on Wednesday 29th October at 3:30pm is just a short introduction which will last about half an hour and possibly elect a new executive…we need a President, Chair,treasurer and secretary…these posts are not time consuming at all…plus, it looks good on the CV! If you are interested, please email me.

Date of meeting: 29/10/2008

Time:            3:30pm - 4:00pm

Venue:           MIO22 Aberfoyle House

Please get back to me if you will be attending the meeting - email me

SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY!!!

Michelle

University & Colleges Officer
SDLP Youth

Dear Friends,

Due to last minute funding, SDLP Youth are able to send one representative to the IUSY - PYO Seminar 2008, which takes place from 30th October to 4th November in Beirut. This is an amazing opportunity but it’s just over a week away, and we must decide who to send by Tuesday (see deadline below).

The event is hosted by Progressive Youth Organisation of Beirut and 25 fellow representatives of IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth) will attend.

Flight costs will be covered. IUSY/PYO will provide hotel accommodation and daily meals for all participants in Beirut.

Aims of the seminar
• To strengthen and support youth organizations and democratic forces in Lebanon that work towards democracy and openness, against fundamentalism and totalitarianism
• To share experiences in democratic organizing, gender conscious work, etc
• To update IUSY member organization about the political situation in Lebanon, and encourage common activities and projects
• To discuss and share views about the situation in the middle East in general, the current situation in Palestine in particular as well as to raise awareness about the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Do you want to attend for us?
SDLP Youth have one place at the conference and we must decide who to send by Tuesday 21st October @ 12 midday (please note this is a final deadline!). Our representative will be required to represent the SDLP, to make speeches at the seminar, to share views on conflict resolution, and to send us back reports of the trip. This trip is open to all SDLP Youth members BUT previous experience at representing SDLP Youth in Ireland will be necessary before you can represent us internationally.

You can put your name forward by replying to the topic on our members forum @ http://forum.sdlp.ie/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=422 OR by contacting us by email.

The University of Ulster Students’ Union is organising a protest against the extortionate ticket prices for the bus to Jordanstown.

Date: Thursday 16th October
Time: 1pm
Place: Outside Great Victoria Street Station, beside the Europa.

SDLP Youth will be participating in the protests so please come along and join us. Translink want to increase the bus fare to Jordanstown yet again, but students are already paying way too much. Stop robbing students!

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.

Amnesty International will screen their Secret Policeman’s Ball this Saturday night (4th October) in the Errigle Inn, Belfast, broadcast live by satellite from London’s Royal Albert Hall.

It features an all-star line-up of comedy and music talent standing up for human rights – and the Belfast audience will experience it all at the same time as Ball-goers in London. The Belfast Event is to be hosted by Tim McGarry and will be followed by a disco of Northern Soul, Funk and Reggae by Hydroponic.

If you’re available on Saturday night there should be great craic at the Errigle - tickets cost £10 from the Amnesty site.

However, if you happen to miss the event, it will be screened on Channel 4 on Sunday night at 9pm!

The Civil Rights Commemoration Committee is hosting an international conference on Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th October 2008 in the Guildhall in Derry to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Duke Street march.

The conference will reflect on the importance of civil rights, highlight civil rights issues in Ireland and the world today and will consider the impact of the media on civil rights.

President Mary McAleese will give the keynote addresses at the conference.

Speakers include John Hume, Ivan Cooper, Nell McCafferty, Patricia McKeown, ICTU, Monica McWilliams HRC, Maurice Manning IHRC, Mark Durkan MP MLA, Martin McGuinness MP MLA, Gregory Campbell MP MLA and many others.

The full agenda can be downloaded here.

If you wish to attend contact Tim Attwood at civilrights1968@yahoo.co.uk or Tel: 07802 279939

REMINDER: Impending Event on Monday 22nd September

SDLP in West Belfast have organised a public forum discussion addressing the issue of All-Ireland Politics, the changing face of politics in the North, the impact of the credit crunch and if the executive is measuring up to the needs of the community.

The debate will also consider the SDLP and potential realignment: what this will mean for unionists, what effects it will have on politics in the north. But most of all, it is a chance for you to tell the SDLP and other politicians what you are thinking.

The Panel will be:

* Alex Attwood SDLP

* Basil McCrea UUP

* Edwin Poots DUP

The evening will be a short introduction to the issues from all panellists followed by a question and answer session.

It will take place on 22nd September in Forthspring Community Centre, Springfield Road, West Belfast at 7pm.

All members of the public, party and press welcome.

For more information contact, Matthew McDermott 028 9080 7808/9