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Shop through our marketplace and support SWA!
 To
shop with a conscience is one of the most powerful, yet
simple,
personal decisions you can make. The act of choosing
to shop through online marketplace will have an impact
on our organization. Start
shopping now...
Promoting
Democratic Participation
Benin City, Nigeria
On Thursday, October 26th,2006, SWA-Nigeria
held its first Inaugural Lecture on the "Nigerian Project
2007: The Expected Social Democratic Roles of Stakeholders."
The lecture was delivered by Mr. Izuagie Lexington, a Lecturer
of the department of History and International Studies at
Ambrose Alli University in Edo State Nigeria. He touched
on the need for students and youths to see themselves as
stakeholders in the task of rebuilding Nigeria. He stressed
the need and importance of the current voter registration
process, which will enable Nigerians to part take in the
Nigeria Project 2007 for the General Elections next year.
Mr. Lexington also put a spotlight on political corruption,
encouraging youth to say no to money politics.
The event was attended by many students and members of the
University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, Obafemi Awolowo
University in Ile-Ife, Delta State University-Abraka, Federal
Polytechnic-Auchi, Federal University of Technology-Akure,
St. Philomena School of Midwifery, Benin City, Edo State,
National Directorate of Employment, and the Man O War.
Special guests in attendance included Justice Michael I
Edokpayi, the Chief Justice of Edo State; Hon. Omon Ezomo
JP, the Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly; and
Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, the National Chairman of National
Conscience Party – NCP.
The Inaugural Lecture was also used to prepare everyone
for the well-advertised, upcoming Pan African Event. Frank
Edoma and the lead committee did great work on this event.
Congratulations to SWA Nigeria on their continuing success!
Click here to view more photos of the event...
Youth Activist Leadership Training
A Columbia University, New York
- USA
On Saturday, November 4th, over 70 participants
gathered for a day of activism and leadership training with
Student
World Assembly and Amnesty
International USA. Organized and run exclusively by
students, the day's sessions were designed to bring activists
critical tools, new information and opportunities to apply
to their continued leadership in global human rights and
social justice campaigns from the NYC area. Welcomed by
SWA founder Paul Raynault, Field Organizer Matthew Kennis
gave an overview of Amnesty International, and Janine Palludan
introduced SWA's model of global citizenship.
SWA volunteer and Columbia Graduate Tatiana
Kotylarenko led the first session on International Sex Trafficking
in Russia, highlighting in detail the crisis of this dangerous
trade and its global implications. Darin Kingston, the NY
representative for Americans
for Informed Democracy, then worked with participants
to help them develop critical strategies for discussing
pressing global issues with Americans. Her session included
ways in which activists could work to frame arguments about
complicated political human rights issues which could be
understood and approached by the public.
During lunch, students and faculty took the
opportunity to discuss arts and activism initiatives with
AIUSA in New York city, contribute to a peer-discussion
about activism on Darfur, and view a special photography
exhibit at the day's host location, the
Harriman Institute, entitled "Subject to Arrest:
Portraits of Russian Artists: 1984 - 1995" by photographer
Peggy Jarrell Kaplan.
During the skills-building breakout sessions,
facilitators Shaunte Baboumian and Hannah Dunphy, both volunteer
leaders for SWA and AIUSA in New York, led students through
the basics of event planning. Wissam Nasr, of the Council
of Islamic- American Relations (http://www.cair-net.org/),
worked with students to understand the challenges and inside
information on steps to engage the media in activism.
The issue of Corporate Accountability and
Business and Human Rights concluded the day's event, with
a special presentation by Amy O'Meara, Director of AIUSA's
Business and Human Rights Program. The internet censorship
campaign (http://irrepressible.info/) mentioned in Ms. O’Meara’s
presentation seemed to spark up particular interest amongst
the leadership training attendees.
After an inspiring address by Dr. Reza Fahkari,
SWA Academic Advisor and member of the Board of Directors,
all participants at the leadership training voted for what
they felt to be the "most pressing global issue"
for the Student World Assembly to address in 2007, which
will additionally become the theme of the 2007
SWA Internatioanl Convention in Accra, Ghana.
Click
here to view more photos of the event...
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Take
Action |
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Who
Should Determine
the Future of Iraq?
With a new wind
blowing in the U.S. Congress after the 2006 national
elections, there will be a change in U.S. strategy
with regard to the war in Iraq. This
is a great opportunity for all of us to discuss
what we believe would be the best solution for Iraq.
SWA encourages you to debate on whether Iraqis
should have sole jurisdiction over the decision
for the Coalition to “stay the course”
or to pull all foreign troops out of Iraq. Can the
Iraqis use their new democracy to deliberate and
decide how and under what conditions the United
States should stay or withdraw from Iraq? On the
other hand, the situation in Iraq may have deteriorated
to such a degree that open democratic elections
can not be possible. In that case, should the U.S.
be able to determine the course of action in Iraq
without consulting the Iraqis?
The results of such a poll by SWA members will
be widely distributed and will seek to influence
the development of international policymaking on
this issue. So,
take this opportunity to let your voice be heard
on this crucial issue, which is on the brink of
change!
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Vote
for the 2007 Int'l Convention Topic |
On November 2nd, 2006, the Student
World Assembly polls opened for voting on the
2007 SWA International Convention topic-the
issue that members consider the most pertinent
and which will determine the course of action
that SWA and its members will take for the upcoming
year. The issues proposed for this year’s
Convention Topic are: Access to Healthcare, Child
Abuse and Child Soldiers, Drug Trafficking, Gender-Based
Violence, genocide, globalization, unfair trade
and economic effects, human trafficking, hunger
and poverty, terrorism, and universal primary
education.
Take a couple of minutes to review and discuss
these issues online and help decide which issue
SWA will focus on in 2007.
The
polls close on November 30th, 2006, so now is
the time to participate!
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Run
for 2007-2008
Int'l Officers |
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Nominations
for Assembly Speaker and Assembly Vice-Speaker are
now open to SWA members all over the world.
The Assembly Speaker and Vice Speaker are elected
through online voting by the general membership
immediately prior to the Convention, and are expected
to oversee the activities of the international committees
for the upcoming year. The candidate receiving the
highest vote will be considered the Assembly Speaker
and the seat of Assembly Vice-Speaker will go to
the candidate with the second-highest vote.
Voting starts on January 1st, 2007,
so there is no time to lose.
Become an International Officer for Student World
Assembly, and develop your leadership skills on
a global level!
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Submissions |
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SWA
Update
Send
your information to
Ginger Albertson, SWA’s Publications Coordinator,
at
ginger@studentworldassembly.org |
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