students&reporters, are you ready? Amnesty call!

Student Human Rights Reporter Award

The Student Human Rights Reporter award recognises the very best in student journalism from universities and colleges across the UK.
The competition celebrates rising stars who are already proving they've got what it takes to expose the truth about human rights abuses, raise public awareness and put the spotlight on those responsible.
This is your chance to be named Student Human Rights Reporter of 2013 and win an exclusive package of prizes:  

• Up to $2,000 Pulitzer Student Travel Reporting Fellowship (pdf)
• Two weeks' work experience at the Observer
• A VIP invitation to the Amnesty International Media Awards 2013 to pick up their prize
• Plus an AIUK, NUS and Observer goodie bag

Competition deadline: 5pm 18 February 2013. Please read Terms & Conditions (pdf) first. The competition is open to any student studying in a UK university, higher education college or further education college who will still be studying on 18 February 2013.

Entry form: Please enter your report or article here

The Student Human Rights Reporter Award is run by Amnesty International UK, in partnership with NUS, The Observer and Pullitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.
Last year's winner was Amy Mackinnon (above) with her article The Curious Case of John Oguchuckwu for the Glasgow Guardian:
"Human rights journalism is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. My sincere hope for this article was to raise the profile of the way in which John was so ceremonially stripped of his human rights. I hope that this nomination will help to raise the profile of John's case, and the plight of thousands others like him."

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=12225&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=monthly_email&utm_campaign=Students&utm_content=SHRR_award

how to support VOTE@16

Support lowering the voting age; what you can do. 

Written by
WIMPS Web Editor

Posted onOctober 25th

0Comments

The Assembly will be debating lowering the voting age. If you want to see the voting age lowered and want your voice in the debate, then here are some things you can do.

Green Party MLA Stephen Agnew has proposed the debate saying “The voting age should be reduced to sixteen for all elections and referendums.” His motion calls on the Westminster Government to introduce legislation to accommodate this change.

What you can do:

1 – Log into our website www.wimps.tv and go to the Votes at 16 Campaign Page and “Support This”

 

2 – Use the Contact Your Politicians webpage app to write to all of your Assembly members. If you are not sure what to say, you could cut and paste the message below.

 

3 – Talk to your friends and ask them to support the campaign and write to their MLAs.

 

4 – Visit your MLAs office and ask them to support the motion.

 

 

Here’s the letter to the politicians.

 

Dear [Politician's name],

I am writing to ask you to support WIMPS campaign to lower the voting age to 16.

 

In the UK, the age of consent is 16. People can marry at 16. They can join the armed forces and pay taxes at 16.

Young people are fellow citizens and we believe they should be consulted on the laws that affect them.

I believe that reducing the voting age would be good for democracy. There is evidence from Europe that young people will participate given the chance. In 1996 in the German city Hanover, for example:

 


- there was a 56.5% turnout of 16 and 17 year olds. 


- 41.1% of the 18 to 24 age group turned out to vote.

 

I am writing to ask you to support our campaign in the Assembly debate.

 

You can show your support by signing into the WIMPS campaign page at http://wimps.tv/campaigns/votes-at-16/ and clicking on the “Back This” button.

 

Thank you

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 


[your name]

 

---

on November 6th

Assembly to debate voting age 

Written by
WIMPS Web Editor

Posted onOctober 25th

0Comments

The Northern Ireland Assembly is expected to debate the voting age on 6 November.

MLA Stephen Agnew’s motion to debate the Voting Age has received support from Sinn Féin. Last year’s No Day Motion from Sinn Féin did not make it to the debating chamber.

In an interview on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback Karen Devlin who leads the WIMPS Votes at 16 campaign set out our arguments as to why she supports the lowering of the voting age in the wake of the agreement between the UK government and the Scottish Parliament.

 

Also on the programme Sandra Overend UUP MLA for Mid Ulster said that her party was “not against” and open to discussion on the subject. Barry McIlduff MLA for West Tyrone said that his party supports the lowering of the voting age. DUP who didn’t appear on the programme issued a statement to say they were opposed.

 

However in an interview with Karen last year DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson indicated that he might be open to discussing the subject. Watch the video here.

 

Support our Votes at 16 and get politicians from across the political parties to take part in the debate and vote for lowering the voting age. 

Tomorrow Belfast Festival at Queen's it's starting

Ireland's biggest international arts festival. This year they are celebrating their 50th anniversary! October 19th - November 4th 2012

From small beginnings the festival grew through the 1960s and 1970s, expanding to a two week long event. Performers during this time included Jimi Hendrix, Laurence Olivier, Rowan Atkinson and Billy Connolly.

The festival is held at many venues across the city, including the Mandela Hall, the Naughton Gallery, the QFT and the Whitla Hall at Queen's, as well as the Grand Opera House, the Waterfront Hall and the Cultúrlann centre.

Follow the festival on 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/mybelfastfestival

Twitter - @BelfastFestival

opening

Fifty fanfares tomorrow in Victoria Square at 5.30 pm (free admission),

a specially commissioned work by belfast composer Michael Alcorn in celebration of the 50th Belfast at Queen's.

Evs will be in:-)

Malala, a young campaigner for education for girls

I am Malala 

Written by
WIMPS Web Editor

Posted onOctober 15th

0Comments

 

Malala Yousafzai is 14 years old. She wants education for girls in her country Pakistan.

Although only 14 years old, Malala was well known as a campaigner for education for girls. 

She was attacked on October 10 as she was returning home from school in Mingora in north-western Swat. This week she is expected to be flown to the UK for medical treatment.

 

The BBC reports “Two armed men, on foot, stopped a van packed with about a dozen schoolgirls in a congested area of the town.

 

“One of them got into the van and asked which of the girls was Malala Yousafzai before he fired three shots, hitting Malala in the head and injuring two others.

 

“The Taliban has warned they will target Malala Yousafzai again.” 

 

Four people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

 

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is now the UN's Special Envoy for Global Education, said he was launching a petition in Malala's name "in support of what Malala fought for".

 

Find out more and join the petition here 

 

You can also read Malala’s diary posted on the BBC website.