TakingITGlobal Proudly Presents:
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The TakingITGlobal Dispatch!
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For the month of February 2004 (Volume 4.2)
In this Issue:
1 -> Welcome to the Dispatch
2 -> Monthly Theme: Indigenous Peoples – Parallels Across Diversity
3 -> TIG Survey - Evaluation of TakingITGlobal.org
4 -> Global Gallery: Imagining Histories
5 -> E-Cards Contest Winners
6 -> Zine: Meet youth from Indigenous communities around the world!
7 -> Participate in Global Youth Service Day 2004
8 -> Wrap up
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++ 1. Welcome to the Dispatch ++
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Welcome to TakingITGlobal's Dispatch for the month of February!
In this issue, we invite you to participate in our new monthly theme
of "Indigenous Peoples – Parallels Across Diversity", give your input
about how we can improve our online community at TakingITGlobal,
contribute to the “Imagining Histories” Global Gallery contest, check
out the e-card contest winners, and meet Indigenous youth from around
the world through our new interview section of the Zine.
Read on, and stay connected!
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++ 2. Monthly Theme: Indigenous Peoples – Parallels Across Diversity ++
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This month we discuss the sometimes marginalized topic of Indigenous
Peoples, their cultures and the current issues they face today. Join
us as we try to further our knowledge by learning more about
Indigenous peoples and their diverse cultures and regions. We hope to
further our understanding of Indigenous peoples and their struggle for
self determination, and will explore the growing concerns of the long
debated and polemic dilemmas of Indigenous peoples, their rights, and
their lands.
As we are in the final year of the Decade of Indigenous Peoples which
was proclaimed by the United Nations, we see there are still pressing
issues facing Indigenous peoples worldwide. These problems have yet
to be resolved. While many have been left in the dark about what has
really been going on due to a lack of media coverage, and a deliberate
withholding of certain information by various governmental agencies,
there has also been a simple disregard with many people looking the
other way from the injustices experienced by Indigenous communities.
However, these issues can no longer be silenced as they are
increasingly becoming global issues instead of isolated problems. The
concerns facing Indigenous people are also intertwined with universal
concerns such as environmental degradation and the mad scrabble for
resources. This has and still is destroying vast amounts of land and
wildlife which has and still is being taken from Indigenous groups that
have lived and protected this land for thousands of years. Other
concerns to be discussed are the issues of rampant poverty,
discrimination, and the continued threat of the loss of language and
culture in the face of globalization.
To learn more, visit the theme page:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/themes/indigenous/
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++ 3. TIG Survey - Evaluation of TakingITGlobal.org ++
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This month, the TakingITGlobal research team is conducting a survey to
better understand the impact of our online community. The survey was
launched January 19th and will continue until February 9th. Over 1,800
members have already filled it out! We appreciate the time and effort
you took to complete the survey. Your input will help us improve the
quality of our website and to remain responsive to the needs of all
TIG members.
For those of you who have not yet filled out the survey, it's not too
late! Just visit http://surveys.takingitglobal.org/tigsurvey.html and
\fill out the survey. All those who participate will be eligible to
win a prize (including a TIG T-shirt, mouse pad, a mug, as well as post
cards and book marks) through a draw that will be held after the
February 9th deadline.
Thank you!
The TakingITGlobal Research Team
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++ 4. Global Gallery: Imagining Histories ++
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Creation myths to legends to everyday stories teach and preserve one's
culture and language. Oral traditions have been and still are an
integral part of many Indigenous cultures which in turn teach about
belief systems, values, and customs. For many Indigenous groups, the
sharing of oral traditions are usually passed on from one generation to
the next through the art of storytelling. Due to the continued threat
of assimilation by mainstream or dominant societies or by simply having
a desire to share one's culture with others, many oral traditions are
being written down to avoid the disappearance of this cultural tradition.
This month the Global Gallery contest "Imagining Histories" is an
exploration of how stories can inspire us, teach us valuable lessons,
and let us dream of a time immemorial. To start off we encourage you
to look out of the box as you read these enchanting stories, legends or
myths that are readings from the Mayan, Cree, Maori, and Dogon. As we
open this Pandora's Box to the tradition of storytelling we encourage
you share stories that you may know about Indigenous people in your
country as we acknowledge there are thousands of stories to share.
Afterwards, share with us through your artwork your interpretation of
these stories. Your works of art can be a concrete illustration or an
abstract image of what you have envisioned through imagining these
histories.
To learn more about Indigenous culture and oral traditions visit:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/gallery/contests.html
If you are from a different ethnic group which also has this cultural
tradition and would like to share a short story, myth or legend with
the rest of us, please visit the Zine:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/
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++ 5. e-Cards Contest Winners ++
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Instead of a Global Gallery contest, for the months of December and
January we ran an e-Cards contest. Listed below are the three winners:
"Happy Eid" by Ahmed Aqeel :
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/ecards/?action=send&design=279
"Welcome Spring!" by Irene :
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/ecards/?action=send&design=354
"An Island Christmas" by Antoine Sands :
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/ecards/?action=send&design=355
Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone
who participated!
Check out this month's Global Gallery contest here:
http://gallery.takingitglobal.org/contest
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++ 6. Zine: Meet youth from Indigenous communities around the world! ++
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In our new Interview section of the Zine, we bring to you an array of
perspectives of young Indigenous people from different regions of the
world. Members are now able to have a first hand account from
Indigenous youth who have been willing to share with us their personal
reflections, the anecdotes they have experienced, and the challenges
facing their communities.
To get a glimpse into the worlds of Indigenous youth visit:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.2/express/
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++ 7. Global Youth Service Day (GYSD)
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You are invited to participate in Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) the
largest celebration of young people making a difference in the world!
Over the years, millions of youth have participated in GYSD across the
globe and together, with the leadership of organizations such as yours,
they undertake thousands of volunteer projects that benefit their
communities.
We are currently looking for National Lead Agencies in many countries,
because this year we want to continue increasing the number of young
people celebrating GYSD! You can help us by submitting an application
and acting as National Lead Agency, or by joining the National
Coordinating Committee if an NLA has already been selected. For more
information check: http://www.gysd.net/ - To contact the coordination
team, write to info@gysd.net.
We look forward to having you involved!
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++ 8. Wrap Up ++
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Your interest, support and involvement with TakingITGlobal helps our
community to grow and encourage more young people to be inspired,
informed, and involved everyday! Thank you for being a member with the
vision of positive change!
In friendship,
The TakingITGlobal Team
dispatch@takingitglobal.org
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The TakingITGlobal Dispatch is the official newsletter of
TakingITGlobal, electronically published via email, and compiled from
various events and news from within the TakingITGlobal network.
Contributions should be sent to dispatch@takingitglobal.org. Please
include your full name, age, and your member name.
Past issues of the Dispatch can be read in the dispatch archive, found
at http://www.takingitglobal.org/community/newsletters/dispatch |