UU Jordanstown: Hundreds of PC's Wasting Energy

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.”

More photos from Stormont Schools Debate 2008

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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”.

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

Following the horrific attack of a young woman in South Belfast, Michelle Byrne, Vice Chair of SDLP @ Queens is urging people to make a stance and stop this happening again.

The young girl suffered this horrific attack on Agincourt Avenue. Michelle says “It is ridiculous that this girl was the victim of such a violent attack. Seeing as this is the fourth sexual attack in South Belfast in just one month, I think it is essential that the PSNI work hard and do everything in their power to ensure that this does not happen again. It is important now that the University works in conjunction with students and the PSNI to ensure a safe environment for all students and residents in South Belfast. I would urge anyone with information to contact your local PSNI station. Stop these attacks from happening in the future.”

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!

Just a wee note to say thank you to any of you who helped out on the freshers days….we done very very well this year and I am so happy!! We recruited higher numbers than last year in Magee, Jordanstown and in Queens….with Queens being very successful!!

We will be having a meeting in Queens on Wednesday 8th October @ 3pm in Club Room 2 so a big turnout would be even better!!

Well done SDLP Youth….you’ve done me proud

Today seen another promising day at Queen’s University for the SDLP@Queen’s, as the group achieved a record number of new recruits at today’s Freshers’ Bazaar.

Vice- Chair of SDLP Youth, Katherine McCloskey described the day as a great success; “It is inspiring to top of our Freshers’ campaigns across the north with such a successful day here at Queens’. I hope that we can keep up this momentum over the next year and I am optimistic that the Queen’s branch can go from strength to strength with this new, enthusiastic group.”

“As the current Chair of the SDLP@Queen’s, I am eager to welcome new students to the University and to get this years’ agenda up and running.”

University and Colleges’ Officer, Michelle Byrne expressed similar views; “Not only have we seen our recruitment top last years’ numbers at Queen’s but recruitment at the University of Ulster campuses have also proved to be a huge triumph for the Party this year.”

The SDLP@Queens’ will be meeting on Wednesday 8th October at 3pm in Club Room 2 of the Students’ Union.  Everyone is welcome and we would encourage you all to attend.

More photos from SDLP @ Jordanstown here

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The SDLP branch at the University of Ulster’s Jordanstown campus have tripled their membership in this year’s recruitment drive.

SDLP Youth Chairman Peter Armstrong said, “The SDLP have recruited three times more members than last year at Jordanstown. We are delighted with the interest our stall has received. Young people are concerned about student top-up fees, housing and accommodation issues and student safety, and SDLP @ Jordanstown will be campaigning on the issues that affect students most during the next university year.

“Our team have been distributing new SDLP Youth booklets, chatting with students, answering questions and recruiting new members. We have also had local councillors speaking with students and listening to their concerns.”

Our members can attend meetings at Jordanstown or in Belfast if it’s more convenient. If you are interested in getting involved, at whatever level suits you, please contact us.

Fantastic news!

Palestinian student Haneen Wishah has been granted a visa by the Israeli government, allowing her to travel from Palestine to Egypt, and she is now in Ireland preparing to start her course at the University of Ulster in Coleraine.

SDLP Youth urged everyone to sign a Trócaire petition to the Israeli ambassador earlier this month so we are delighted to hear that Haneen can now begin her Masters in Business Innovation scholarship.

Here’s what Haneen had to say:

Dear friend,

I want to address you like that because to me you are indeed a friend. You are somebody who helped to bring about something that I thought was impossible - as of almost one week ago I am out of Gaza!

I want to express my heartfelt thanks for all the efforts you made on my behalf - emails, phonecalls, faxes, meetings, letters, media interviews; everything that was done contributed to the decision by the Israeli military to let me out of Gaza to pursue my studies in the University of Ulster.

I am so grateful.

My Dad, who works for the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, has always said to me that we are made stronger because of the support of people all around the world.  Now I appreciate how true this really is.  You helped me to keep hope even in the darkest of times.

So I am grateful personally.  But I am also grateful as a Palestinian. All the actions which you took helped to highlight my plight but also the plight of 1.5 million other Palestinians trapped in Gaza.  So, thanks to you, and to Trócaire for arranging this wonderful campaign on my behalf.

Because I am one of the lucky ones.  Even though it took over one year and the efforts of countless numbers of people - I got out.  There are still hundreds of students stuck in Gaza, unable to fulfill their dreams and their potential.  That is not to mention the cancer patients who can’t get access to radiography machines or the farmers who can not export their figs or their strawberries.

Gaza is still under siege.  The work to free it, and the people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, must continue.

Some of you may have heard that Mahmoud Darwish, the Palestinian national poet, died recently.  One of my favourite poems of his was called ‘Under Siege’.  I always find this verse inspirational:

“Here on the slopes of hills, facing the dusk and the cannon of time
Close to the gardens of broken shadows,
We do what prisoners do,
And what the jobless do:
We cultivate hope.”

This is our job as Palestinians, as people living under 41 years of occupation, 60 years of nakba and refugee status - to ‘cultivate hope’.  I want to thank you again for helping us to do this.

Yours sincerely,

Haneen Wishah

PS. And, who knows, perhaps as I start my studies in Coleraine we may bump into each other on the streets there to talk about how to free the other 1.5 million Gazans living under siege.:)

More photos from SDLP @ Magee here

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SDLP Youth today received a record number of new members to the SDLP branch at University of Ulster’s Magee campus.

SDLP Youth Chairman Peter Armstrong said, “We have recruited a record number of people to our branch at Magee than in any previous year. Our stall has been buzzing all day long and we are extremely satisfied. We have had a team of youth members at our stall distributing new SDLP Youth booklets, chatting with students, answering questions and recruiting new members.

“Over the coming months the SDLP Magee branch will be campaigning on student safety in Derry, student welfare issues, and housing/tenancy rights. They will be meeting with local councillors and Foyle MP Mark Durkan to discuss these issues, and also attending SDLP conferences and events, such as our annual Dublin Trip in January and our week-long Mystery European Tour.”