Read Past Issues
The Substance Abuse Podcast
Recreational drugs are increasingly viewed as acceptable among youth today, and this might be the reason that substance abuse is becoming widespread very quickly. Check out the Substance Abuse podcast that poses some food-for-thought about this very pressing issue.
Listen here
The Wall of Experience:Civil Strife
The recent strife in Sri Lanka has brought an important issue into focus: that of civilians being caught in between two warring sides. Being caught in a war zone is a harrowing, and traumatic experience for many, but can also be a learning one. Have you been a victim of conflict? Do you have an experience that you would like to share about war? What is your perspective on the plight of millions of displaced civilians around the world? Send your thoughts to the Wall of Experience in Panorama, and speak to TIG-world!
Share your experience
Be Heard:Vote For Your Favourite Democracy Video by June 15th
TakingITGlobal is a partner in this year’s Democracy Video Challenge! Participants were asked to complete the phrase: Democracy is… From over 900 video submissions, eighteen finalists for the global online film competition have been announced! From May 15th until midnight EST June 15th, cast your vote for the videos that you think best tell the democracy story. Six winners - one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia and East Asia Pacific - will be announced mid-June 2009. The winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip in September to Washington, New York and Los Angeles. Vote now!
Vote Today !
Youth are among the most affected and vulnerable when it comes to substance abuse, but there are a number of prevention programs being put into action to bring this very big issue to the world's notice. Abuse of drugs extends far beyond illegal substances like marijuana and cocaine, and even consists of consuming excessive and harmful quantities of medication, cigarettes and alcohol. The impact of illegal trafficking and the trade in mind-altering substances has led to major health concerns, fueled civil conflicts, and has led to other industries like the trade in human beings, and smuggling. Find out more about the issue on our Global Issues page, join in, and contribute, or start your discussion, and find out how you can get involved. June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, so have your say about the issue!
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World No-Tobacco Day
The United Nations and its member countries have made a special effort to combat substance abuse, and has started with one of the most common and widespread kinds: cigarette-smoking and the use of tobacco. May 31 was World No-Tobacco Day, and was only the first step to stopping the use of tobacco. Visit the TIG page, and play the Tobacco Card Game to learn more! With the introduction of smoke-free environments in many parts of the world, the drive to eliminate cigarette-smoking is getting stronger. Sign a petition, or create your own, to spread the word about the harmful effects of tobacco.
Resources
Sprout e-course Applications Closed
Just a reminder to the TIG community that enrollment in Sprout's e-course is now officially closed. Participants, facilitators and e-mentors are now being selected, and they will be announced in July. Visit the course's website to read up on the e-course and watch this space for more information!!
GYAN Volunteers
The Global Youth Action Network, is currently looking for a new generation of young, passionate, and committed volunteers to join the GYAN team and help us take this network to the next level. As our generation faces an unprecedented convergence of challenges - fixing the economic crisis, stopping climate change, eradicating poverty, creating sustainable development, and many more we recognize that we must come together to find the solutions that are being called for. GYAN believes that if we unite together as a generation we can create the change we want to see in this world. To achieve this ambitious goal, we are currently seeking volunteers to fill the following roles and responsibilities: Member Engagement Coordinator, Network Outreach Coordinator, UN Liaison, Newsletter Editor, Blog Manager, New Media Coordinator. [t]Visit the TIG Opportunities page to learn more
Apply Today
Evolution vs. Creationism vs. Intelligent Design
With the recent discovery of the 13 million-year-old Fossil Ida and previous discoveries in the field of human evolution, the debate of Evolution as according to Charles Darwin, versus Creationism, and the newer theory of Intelligent Design, have led to numerous debates on the origins of the universe. What is your take on the matter?Join the discussion, or start one, to make your point-of-view known to the world.
Donate
TIG is currently conducting a donation drive.Support our organization to:
Build our capacity to expand TIGweb.org to even more languages.
Help re-launch our educator platform TIGed.org and improve functionality.
Integrate more customization into our online tools.
Support our global team of Community Connectors and translators. Donate Today!
Resources For You
TakingITGlobal's website resources are always expanding to include fun and innovate ways to help spread awareness, and give members a voice on the World Wide Web. Did you know the TIG website features games on issues from No-Tobacco Day, to the Millenium Development Goals? There's also more ways to express yourselves other than words. The Global Gallery and Podcasts sections are a way to contribute pictures, music and videos that you think would make a difference. Check them out!
Check it out
Next month's Featured Issue
Next month, we feature an issue that is relevant to us all, as members of an international, networked online community. July 11th is World Population Day, and the concept of Global Citizenship would mean that we, as members of the human race, are collectively responsible for one another. It is the concept of being a citizen of the world, and not of any one country or region. What does this mean for the youth of today, and how can we use this to our advantage, to network and to solve the most pressing issues of the world collectively? Stay tuned for more information on Global Citizenship in Dispatch 9.5, for July 2009!
Learn more
In friendship,
The TakingITGlobal Team