NEW WEBSITE

We havre RELOCATED our website! It has changed from http://www.youthworldimpact.blogspot.com/ to...

www.youthworldimpact.com  !!!!

Be sure to check it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And dont be afraid to comment!

Article to the Toronto Sun

Recently we endeavoured, once more, to have an article (written by us)published in a newspaper, in this case the Toronto Sun.

   In our attempts at being published, we have been in touch with Rob Granatstein, an employee of the Toronto Sun who has been extremely helpful in helping us get our article out to the public.
   
  We were informed that room was no longer available for a hard copy print of the article, however it was put online for us! 

Check out our article available at the Toronto Sun Online!

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/2010/06/25/14521521.html



As for the G20 Contest, we are thinking about extending the deadline to get more submissions... We'll update you soon.


Thank you to everyone who has already sent in a submission! 


-YouthWorldIMPACT

Why should YOU care about G20 in Toronto?

 What Is the G20? 

Why are people protesting?

What decisions are being made that affect you?

These are questions that most of our classmates, do not seem to know how to answer. We also think that most of the youth is not engaged/aware about the event that is taking place right here in Toronto, on June , 26-27, 2010.

Our group, YouthWorldIMPACT, has decided to change this situation by learning and conducting research to educate ourselves.

We would also like to challenge other students in grade 9-12 to join us in learning, educating, and debating the issues, that will affect our collective future.

To make this a fun and interesting learning experience, we are organizing a contest to award the best submission/essay with a $100 Eaton Centre gift card.

Are YOU up to the challenge?

Oh, the scandals..

Some things you just hope never to see happen. Among these are the several scandals that arise each year, where those in authoritative positions stir up controversy beyond belief.

And just yesterday, another arose.

Britain has allegedly, in the past, knowingly handed over Afghan detainees as "routine" (Really? Come ON) interrogation, and yesterday, London judges were handed a a huge stack of papers(thousands, even) claiming this.

Ok. This is absolutely ridiculous. Prisoner or bureaucrat, guilty or innocent, nobody deserves to be tortured as a method of interrogation. That is NOT the way it goes. You prove someone guilty by way of unequivocal evidence, not by forcing them. And I don't mean to be so.. abrupt here, but DUH.

So what now?

Really, we can only wait and see. If there's justice to be had, we only hope that justice is served. Because if these detainees were indeed tortured as a method of interrogation, then they did NOT receive justice in the fairest way possible. And fairness is any government's job to achieve (not to say that they all achieve it, anyways).

Anyways, we'll follow the story, and fill you guys in when there's any new news!

Check back regularly!

-YouthWorldIMPACT

This can't be left alone..

Decision made. No, the J8 program isn't officially happening this year, but that doesn't mean we should just let our work go in vain.. and so we addressed the head of our country.. we contacted Stephen Harper.

Yesterday, a letter was sent to the office of the Prime Minister offering a few of our ideas, and pleading with him to allow us to attend the G8 summit, and present our ideas.

We don't know what to expect from this, though. But it was definitely worth a shot. Optimism is key in situations like this, and optimism will be kept.

Anyways, we'll see what happens!

Stay posted,

- YouthWorldIMPACT

Good ol' Stephen Harper..

PM Stephen Harper is seeking Michael Jean's replacement.

Sometimes it's interesting the moves these politicians make.

Michael Jean did exactly what she needed to do as viceroy: she acquiesced to every last suggestion Stephen Harper passed by her.

SO WHAT THEN?

In this day and age, hardheadedness seems to have become all- too prevalent. First, we have Stephen Harper and his proroguing of Parliament, letting no persuasions make him question his decision. Then, we have Hilary Clinton and her implicated persistence to keep Canada's troops in Afghanistan while her own leave the Middle East to go home to their families.

WHAT IS THIS NOW?

When has there ever been anything wrong with playing it safe, and staying with a tried and true viceroy candidate? Michael Jean would continue to do her job exactly as her predecessors did should Stephen Harper have decided to make the ethically sound decision, and extend her term.

Now, of course useless speculation has begun. For nothing. Speculation like: Who will be the next Governor General? Will there be another Governor General?- Most Canadians believe that Michael Jean did well during her time at Rideau Hall. Many others believe that Canada doesn't even need a viceroy.

Canada has been through some ridiculous times, politically. Really, we don't need another. Michael Jean added an iconic diversity to Canada's political system. She made, and makes millions of Canadians proud quite regularly. Her response to Haiti's devastation with the earthquake was nearly instantaneous, showing a good face for Canada, and staying true to her heritage.

What more can you ask for in ONE Governor General?

Sadly though, Stephen Harper doesn't change his mind, whether his decision be for the good of Canada, or to its potential downfall. Which is unfortunate, because if one's mind can never be changed, they're prone to make more foolish decisions than beneficial ones. And a poor decision maker does not a good Prime Minister make.

Stephen Harper CARES. Well. Would you look at that?

Today was a good day. Today was a day of enlightenment, fulfillment... but most of all... closure.

Today, we as Canada have worked in spite of all the media's speculation that we piggy- back the US everywhere. Well. A change of heart, perhaps, occurred today..

For once, I can say that YES, Stephen Harper has Canada's best interests in mind. Why, you ask? Well. it's simple:

Many of us heard of the faulty reasoning US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton displayed yesterday when in a CTV interview clearly stated that the US wants Canada to stay in Afghanistan beyond its set deadline. WHAT?!?!?! WHY, as the US is well on its way out of Iraq must we stay in Afghanistan? We. Are. Canada. We have our own government whom we so painstakingly ELECTED. IN A DEMOCRATIC ENVIRONMENT. Sheesh.

But YOU, Uncle Sam, are withdrawing your troops from Iraq at a steady rate. And WE, the Canadians, must stay beyond our deadline in Afghanistan? For what? To rob more men and women of their lives? To thrust their friends and families into states of total agony and shock?

Yes, peace needs to made and kept in the Middle East. Clearly, the US thinks that. And as they profess their passion for peace in the Middle East, they withdraw thousands of troops from Iraq, to please their citizens. But WE, little ol' Canada, must stay in Afghanistan. Oh, no, no. Forget pleasing OUR citizens by leaving Afghanistan. Peace needs to be maintained.. remember? So Canada must stay to keep the peace while America, the "land of the free and the home of the brave" (*snort*. Brave.) sits back and watches Canada's already small population dwindle further.

Do they MOCK US?

The US wants peace to be kept forcefully without them having to keep it.. forcefully.

Huh.

Draw your own opinions from that, will you?

With Hilary Clinton's little "slip up", America's true intentions were revealed. A word to the wise, Mrs. Clinton: REHEARSE what you want to say in an interview, speech, whatever. And SAY NO MORE. Like Barack does.

Anyways, I was proud of Mr. Harper this morning when I read that he remained firm in his conviction: Canada will be out of Afghanistan by 2011. After he prorogued parliament last December, MANY Canadians lost hope. Thought he lost some screws. Lost them all, as a matter of fact. But now, as he defies this latest hypocritical request from the US, that hope which was lost has now been rekindled.

As our national anthem says:

O CANADA, WE STAND ON GUARD FOR THEE!

Yes, Mr. Harper, you've got the right idea. DEFEND Canada and its people. Stay strong. Make the right decisions. We knew you could do it, we knew you could prove yourself as our PM.. deep, deep, DEEP down.


And so for now, Mr. Harper, we salute you.

-YouthWorldIMPACT