[NYRA] "NYRA Freedom" Vol 8, Issue 2

Thu Mar 6 20:39:25 EST 2008

---- NYRA Freedom ----

ISSN 1933-5229

Volume 8, Issue 2

March 6, 2008

Editors: Lexi Johnson and Justin Graham

---- Table of Contents ----

- Introduction
- New York City Meet-Up Only Days Away
- 2008 Annual Meeting Date Announced
- Movement to Lower the Voting Age Spreads to Washington and Illinois
- Get Your Voice Heard for Youth Rights! Join the Letter Writing Group!
- Vermont to Study Lowering the Drinking Age
- Recent NYRA Blog Entries
- News from the Web
- Conclusion

---- Introduction ----

There are many things currently going on for youth rights. There is a  
meet-up in NYC, movements to lower voting age in two states,the letter  
writing group and protests in Louisiana. This a wonderful time to join  
the cause and let the world know what you think of ageist  
restrictions! So don't hesitate as there is no time like the present!  
Meet up in NYC, speak out in support of the lower voting age, join the  
letter writing group, grab a picket sign, form a chapter! Take  
advantage of these wonderful opportunities to do something for youth  
rights or create an opportunity of your own!

---- New York City Meet-Up Only Days Away ----

The Youth Rights Meet-Up in New York City is just days away, and all  
NYRA members in the NYC metro area are strongly encouraged to attend.  
The Meet-Up will be held on Monday, March 10 at 5:15 P.M., at the  
Whole Foods on the corner of Houston and Bowery. NYRA advisor and  
Freechild.org founder Adam Fletcher will be in attendance, as will  
Kathryn Whitehead, the executive director of the Community Alliance  
For the Ethical Treatment of Youth, NYRA executive director Alex  
Koroknay-Palicz, and many local youth and student rights activists. On  
the agenda will be student rights, the voting age, the drinking age,  
freedom of speech, economic rights, and more. This Meet-Up is an  
excellent opportunity for local youth rights supporters to network,  
discuss strategy, and work together towards a common cause. More  
information can be found here:
http://nyra.meetup.com/49/calendar/7140690/

---- 2008 Annual Meeting Date Announced ----

At the conclusion of this year's election for the NYRA board of  
directors, NYRA will hold its Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The  
meeting will be held Saturday, August 2.  Annual Meetings are a lot of  
fun, with youth rights workshops and informational presentations on a  
variety of issues. In addition, those in attendance will be the first  
to hear the election results, and will get to hear our executive  
director deliver the annual report. Everyone is invited to  
participate. Voting for the election will begin July 2. If you are not  
yet a member and would like to vote in the election please visit:
http://www.youthrights.org/membership.php

If you are a member and are interested in running for the board of  
directors, please throw your hat in the ring by sending us an e-mail  
to: nyra at youthrights.org

---- Movement to Lower the Voting Age Spreads to Washington and Illinois ----

On the heels of the introduction of a bill in the Arizona state  
legislature to lower the voting age in that state to 16, legislators  
in two more states have proposed a lower voting age. In Washington  
state, representatives Tami Green, Dave Upthegrove, and Marko Liias  
have introduced bills to amend the state constitution (HJR 4226) and  
state law (HB 2662) to lower the voting age to 16 statewide. And in  
Illinois, a House committee passed by a vote of 5-3 a state  
constitutional amendment (HJRCA29), sponsored by representative Lou  
Lang, that would lower the voting age for local and state elections  
throughout that state to 17. The amendment now goes to the full House.  
NYRA members in Washington state and Illinois are strongly encouraged  
to contact their representatives in state government and express their  
support for these bills. More information can be found here:
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14209

---- Get Your Voice Heard for Youth Rights! Join the Letter Writing  
Group! ----

If you would like to take a stand for youth rights join the Letter  
Writing Group. The Letter Writing Group is the brainchild of NYRA  
president Stefan Muller. Quite a few people have already volunteered  
and the group is very close to being up and running. The group aims to  
write polite letters of dissent to businesses, schools, local  
governments, and other places that have been in the news for  
anti-youth or ageist policies and actions. So what are you waiting  
for? Join the group, write a letter, make a change! Interested people  
should contact Stefan Muller either by posting in the "Letter Writing  
Group" thread on the forums or by email at smuller at youthrights.org.

---- Vermont to Study Lowering the Drinking Age ----

Vermont has become the latest state to seriously consider lowering the  
drinking age from 21. A Vermont Senate committee has passed a bill,  
authored by state senator Hinda Miller, to create a task force that  
will study the issue, weigh the pros and cons, and make a  
recommendation to the state legislature by early 2009. In 2005, NYRA  
campaigned aggressively for a lower drinking age in Vermont, and the  
drinking age issue has gained increasing traction nationwide over the  
past several months.

"Our laws aren't working," Sen. Miller told the AP. "They're not  
preventing underage drinking. What they're doing is putting it outside  
the public eye. So you have a lot of kids binge drinking. They get  
sick, they get scared and they get into trouble and they can't call  
because they know it's illegal."

NYRA welcomes the support of Sen. Miller, and NYRA members in Vermont  
are encouraged to contact their state senators to express their  
support for this bill, and for a lower drinking age. More information  
can be found here:
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14243

---- Recent NYRA Blog Entries ----

Are Women Inferior to Men?
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/03/03/are-women-inferior-to-men/

Board of Education
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/02/11/boe/

Meet NYRA
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/02/09/meet-nyra/

Youth Rights Hits National Op-Ed Pages
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/02/06/youth-rights-hits-national-op-ed-pages/

Final Words from Susan and Youth Truth
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/01/21/final-words-from-susan-and-youth-truth/

What We're Up Against
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/01/10/sold-car/

Youth Rights as a Political Issue
http://blog.youthrights.org/2008/01/07/youth-rights-as-a-political-issue/

---- News from the Web ----

Spare the Rod?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14301

Fewer Youths Jump Behind the Wheel
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14188

Why we should sterilise teenage girls...temorarily at least
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14171

Cruel and Gratuitous
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14122

Sheriff Wants to Lower Age for Learner's Permit
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14100

Get 'Em (Voting) While They're Young
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14099

Lawmaker's amendment would lower voting age to 17
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14098

New Law: Parent's Permission Required for Myspace/Facebook Account
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14090

UE and USI Have Developed Programs to Steer Students Away from Heavy Drinking
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14192

Campaign '08 Not Just for Adults - Kids Love It
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14071

Homeless Youth Bill Clears Panel
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14064

Is 18 Really the Age of Adulthood? / Proposed Reduction From 20 seen  
having widespread impact on daily life
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14210

Students Searched by Teachers Over Missing $5
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14212

Kindergartener Suspended for Mohawk Haircut
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14213

How Teenage Rebellion Has Become A Mental Illness
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14234

Mom's Mall Meltdown: 'I had to hit him'
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14245

Vermont Latest to Eye Lower Drinking Age
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14243

Bill to lower voting age to 17 goes to House floor for debate
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14209

AP: 13,000 Abuse Claims in Juvie Centers
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=14277

---- Conclusion ----

This is an exciting time for NYRA. Perhaps for the first time, a lower  
voting age is truly within our grasp. More and more people, including  
politicians responsible for setting public policy, are understanding  
the injustice of the 21 drinking age. NYRA and our causes are  
receiving increasing publicity in both local and national press, and  
the traction that youth rights is currently enjoying is certain to  
continue over the next months. And you can help.

Join NYRA, if you're not already a member. Start a chapter in your  
area or join a current chapter. If you're in the New York metro area,  
attend the NYC Youth Rights Meet-Up. Network with other youth rights  
supporters. Contact your representatives in local, state, and federal  
government, and write letters to the editor of your local newspaper.  
Donate to NYRA. The momentum is building, but NYRA needs your help to  
continue moving forward.