Some of you may already know about this, but I thought I'd share anyway. I received an email from our local environmental organization today that seemed like a really great opportunity for young people who are passionate about the environment. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) is apparently developing a youth network in North America. They're looking for 16-20 university students from the U.S. and Canada to take part in UNEP's new Kick the Carbon Habit Education Campaign, who would be invited to attend a conference in the fall of 2008 and work together to launch this campaign around North America with the help of UNEP.

The application deadline is July 28 (soon!). If you have any questions, the contact is unepyouth.na@gmail.com. I don't think it's possible to attach stuff to TIGblogs, but if anyone is interested, let me know, I can forward you the email and the application form!

-------------Information form cut and paste from attachment in email---------------------------------
KICK THE CARBON HABIT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN YOUTH NETWORK

Are you interested in being part of a new environmental youth network in North America?

If so, the United Nations Environment Programme is now accepting applications from dynamic youth who would like to be part of its new Kick the Carbon Habit Education Campaign Youth Network.

UNEP recognizes education as a key part of understanding and mitigating climate change. This campaign will help empower and educate youth and the general public on ways to conserve resources. In collaboration with UNEP, representatives of the youth network will play an active role in spreading this educational effort around the country.

UNEP’s goal with the Kick the Carbon Habit Education Campaign is to set in motion an ongoing effort by university students to educate their communities about methods of conservation in a world where natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce. As the network grows, representatives will create a self-sustaining network of youth leaders around the country.

Sixteen to 20 youth from around the U.S. and Canada will be selected for the 2008-2009 school year to launch the Campaign. The aim of this nation-wide campaign is to increase awareness of resource conservation, and will be led by university and high school students who will use educational events to reach out to their communities. Three audiences will be specifically targeted: children ages 8-14, youth ages 14-22, and the general community. University and high school students will engage these audiences in events such as a resource conservation fair at an elementary school or handing out eco-friendly bulbs to homeowners around a university campus.

Youth Network representatives will play a unique role in this campaign, as they will not only be the direct connection to UNEP, they will also be the distributors of the campaign “start-up kit.” The campaign will kick-off with a conference in November, where this pioneer group will learn how to reach out to solicit new involvement in the campaign and distribute “The Kit”. They will liaise with UNEP and with each other to develop strategies for the growth of the campaign, write and distribute a monthly e-newsletter to update volunteers on activities taking place within the network, and play a leadership role in deciding future goals of the network.

This campaign is new, but not unique in its efforts to educate the public about climate change. Youth who have had experience in organizing grassroots activities or other educational campaigns are encouraged to apply; however, such previous experience is not necessary.

Back to Ottawa, getting into the swing of studying full time this summer (which means procrastinating by all means necessary instead of working on an essay that's due in 2 days that I have barely begun).

But, I just found out that I got accepted into a project in Togo in August! C'est pour travailler avec des étudiants primaires et secondaires dans un village rural qui s'appelle Kouma Adame. Je suis super contente là, ce sera ma première fois en Afrique. Je suis actuellement en train de suivre un cours de vie politique en Afrique, qui est très intéressant, mais bon, les articles academiques sont guère comparables à une expérience sur le terrain. J'ai super hâte!

In other less exciting news, I came to the realization yesterday following my first jazz class that I am a terrible dancer.

Just saw a documentary as a part of the 5th Human Rights Watch Film Festival in Toronto on abandoned children living with HIV/AIDS in Romania and their foster parents.
Before the screening, a lady from CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research) gave a short speech, and she mentioned something that might be interesting to fellow Canadian youths who are interested in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. CANFAR runs a program called Have a Heart, which is organized in conjunction with high schools across Canada in all provinces and territories. CANFAR provides to schools HIV/AIDS materials to raise awareness and also supplies to create "heart o'grams" for fundraising, which goes specifically towards youth-related HIV/AIDS research. Sounds pretty cool: I just checked out the website, and apparently the registration for 2008 has closed, but there's always next year!
Have a Heart link here!

Woohoo! The TIG impact survey is now available in العربية ! We're on a roll here :)

Thanks to Tala and everyone on the Arabic translation team!

Just in time for International Mother Language Day too :)

Pesquisa de Impacto de Membro do TakingITGlobal!

Muito Obrigado por completar essa pesquisa!

Hey everyone,

The TakingITGlobal Member Impact Survey is out!!! Exclamation marks galore!!!

If you have a few minutes, please go fill out the survey to let us know whether TIG has had an impact on your life!

Thanks in advance for your comments and feedback!

It's been a while (wow, more than a decade now that I think about it) since I've celebrated Chinese New Year with my whole extended family, but I remember it being lots of fun. I miss the noise, the laughter, the extreme heat and lack of air because there would be 100 people crammed into a room, and the food. Definitely the food. Copious amounts of everything delicious.

This year on the eve of the lunar new year, I celebrated starving student style - I had originally planned to attempt to cook, but after realizing that I actually needed ingredients other than salt, nutella, and pasta sauce to make something vaguely edible, I opted for a meal of chips and grapes instead, and stared at the snowstorm outside as I ate. (Yep - I sure know how to party.)

Have a great lunar new year, everyone.


**Afterthought**
I really hope that most of the migrant workers in China were able to make it home for the Spring Festival this year, despite the freak snowstorms (climate change anyone?). I can't imagine what it must be like to be separated from your loved ones for most of the year and to have the one fleeting occasion to spend with your family ruined. Best of luck to anyone who's still trying to get home.

Today was my first day at TakingITGlobal, and I must admit, it was kind of overwhelming at times! I didn't realize that the website was so extensive, and I am really surprised and impressed at how generally well run it is. Looking forward to the rest of my time co-oping here!

In other news, still trying to adjust from the difference in time zones now that I'm back in Canada after my exchange in France. I keep wanting to go to bed at 8pm only to wake up at 5 in the morning.

Also, wow, Toronto is really huge. I got lost today trying to get from the metro station to home. Basically walked in the wrong direction, started suspecting I was doing so, turned around and walked back, started doubting whether I was wrong in the first place, did another U-turn.... and half an hour later, I'm still on the same street, about 10m away from the subway station.