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NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 7, Issue 2
February 16, 2007
Contents:
Introduction
NYRA Expands from North and South
New Interns Get To Work
16 Voting Age Proposed in Austria
Corporal Punishment Ban Introduced in California
News from the Web
Conclusion
Introduction
2007 is off to a great start! Two new chapters have been founded with
spectacular potential. Both chapters have hit the ground running and
you can expect to hear a great deal about them in the months to come.
It is likely they won’t be alone either. Chapter formation is
receiving an unprecedented level of attention in the organization
right now. Spurred by the hiring of two new interns working at the
NYRA office, NYRA is expected to break all records for chapter
formation this year. With new chapters comes more members, more
visibility, and more real world progress for the movement. This is
just the start, expect much more in the weeks and months to come!
NYRA Expands from North and South
NYRA is on track for meeting its goal of 12 new, active chapters this
year with the official formation of NYRA-Watkins Glen and the
NYRA-Pensacola Brigade. Based in upstate New York, NYRA-Watkins Glen
has already enjoyed some early press coverage in the local paper, the
Review & Express. Watkins Glen held a debate in conjunction with
their school's history club. The topics they discussed included curfew
laws, voting age, and drinking age. It was a blowout success. Chapter
President Ben Stamp intends to lobby the county legislature regarding
curfew laws and the voting age.
The NYRA-Pensacola Brigade is NYRA’s newest chapter. Founded by
Travis Cummings, the chapter is making plans to participate in local
demonstrations, city council meetings, and petition projects. The
chapter has begun work on more flyers, with plans to distribute and
wheat paste them throughout Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. A news release
has gone out announcing the creation of the new chapter.
New Interns Get to Work
After moving in to its office, NYRA’s first task was hiring interns.
After a brief search two excellent interns were found and began work
on February 2. The interns were initially arranged by the Howard
Gardner school in Virginia, an alternative high school that gives
students time on Friday to pursue internships. Luke Remchuk, a
student at that school came to interview and brought along his friend,
Spencer Hopkins, a student at Walter Johnson high school in Maryland.
Both were very interested in youth rights and were eager to begin
work. They have been hired as grassroots organizers working
specifically to start new NYRA chapters. With more time and resources
devoted to chapter formation it is hoped this year will be our best
yet for expanding our grassroots.
16 Voting Age Proposed in Austria
Austria may soon be the first European nation to lower its national
voting age to 16. The proposal to lower the age comes from Austria's
"grand coalition" of Social Democrats and the conservative People's
Party following elections on Oct. 1. Currently 16 year olds are able
to vote for local elections in many major cities, including Vienna,
but the new change would apply for all elections nationally. Lowering
the voting age has been suggested as a way to counterbalance the views
of an increasingly aging population.
Corporal Punishment Ban Introduced in California
Some forms of corporal punishment may soon be a thing of the past if a
new bill introduced in the California legislature is successful.
Introduced by California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, the bill will
make spanking in any form or fashion of a child up to age 4 a
misdemeanor. Spanking also sends the message that violence is an
acceptable tool to get what you want in life, a message that is
internalized and leads to violent behavior among youth as they age.
Many advocates of this bill point out the inequality of our current
system that allows a small child to be physically hit, when such “good
discipline” is outlawed for employees, spouses, inmates, and all other
adults in society.
News from the Web
Teacher Porn Conviction Sparks Tech Debate
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10134
Couple gets 2 years in "caged kids" case
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10124
Why are Dutch children so happy?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10115
Equal lack of opportunity: Global job market squeezes the old and the young
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10112
Smoking in a Movie? RATED R!
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10109
Schools must block MySpace, many other sites
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10105
Amendment plan would let 18-year-olds in legislature
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10094
Bill would lower voting age to 16
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10093
11 suspended for cyber-bullying
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10075
Teens convicted for exploiting... themselves
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10069
Couple charged with having sex in front of child
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10058
Watkins Glen Students Start New Clubs
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10049
Spanking to be outlawed?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10045
Study finds young MySpace users not as dumb as parents think
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9974
What killed boomers in '60s kills them now
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9972
Student vote on board likely
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9970
Growing worldwide teen boom could fuel a dangerous generation gap
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9967
Into politics, but no vote
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9966
Study says ageism affects young and old
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9944
Girls charged with conspiring to kill classmates, Oprah
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9932
Senator Wants Restrictions on Social Networking Sites
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9910
Florida Teen Gets $35K in Topless Lawsuit
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9902
Lunchtime rule at Catholic school: No chatting
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9895
Army vets give arm & leg - but can't get drink
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9875
Three quarters of Finns reject giving vote to 16-yr-olds
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9874
Thompson teen, parents take youth curfew to court
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9873
Leaving children in cars OK to many
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9838
More Than MLK's Words And Dreams
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9830
Many in Senate Back Mandatory HPV Vaccination
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9829
MySpace Tracker Tracks Teens
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9809
3 Pregnant Teens Accused in Utah Attack
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9797
Orange County May Consider Teen Curfew
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9792
Pitt-J'town Cracks Down On Drinking With New Party Rules
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9788
Software monitors children online
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9762
Austrians Split on Voting at Age 16 Plan
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9752
Lawmakers to ponder bill on voting rights for student member of school board
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9749
Conclusion
Not only is NYRA mobilizing on new fronts, the country – and indeed
the world is a buzz with youth rights news. A bill to lower the
voting age to 16 in Austria and Minnesota. Voting rights for student
school board members in Maryland. Colorado is considering lowering
the age to run for office, and California may soon ban some forms of
corporal punishment. It isn’t all good news however. Attacks on
social networking sites such as MySpace are increasing, curfew laws
are multiplying, and teens continue to be victimized by overzealous
authorities. Only a strong, active NYRA can defend the rights teens
currently have, and secure the rights we are denied but so desperately
need. Starting March 1, the 3rd Annual NYRAthon begins. This is your
chance to do your part to make NYRA the strong national organization
this nation needs.
------NYRA------
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