Internship - youths in Africa need it

Internship is a job offer in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, making it similar to an apprenticeship.
Interns are usually university students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. Student internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, or gain school credit. Internships provide the employers with cheap or free labor for (typically) low-level tasks, and also the prospect of interns returning to the company after completing their education and requiring little or no training.
Internships may be part-time or full-time; typically they are part-time during the university year and full-time in the summer, and they typically last 6-12 weeks, but can be shorter or longer
Types of internships
An intern type means doing internship in an organization or in specific subject of study. Internships exist in various industries and settings. Here are two primary types of internships that exist.
Work experience internship: Most often this will be in the second or third year of the school period. The placement can be from 2 months to sometimes even one full school year. During this period the student is supposed to use the things he/she has learned in school and put it in practice. This way the student gets work experience in their field of study. The gained experience will be helpful to finish up the last year of the study.
Research internship (graduation) or dissertation internship: This is mostly done by students that are in their last year. With this kind of internship a student does research for a particular company. The company can have something that they feel like they need to improve, or the student can choose a topic within the company themselves. The results of the research study will be put in a report and often will have to be presented.
International student internships
Many students do internships in a different country to get international experience and learn an extra language.
Internships are validated work experienced opportunity as part of a degree program.
University staffs give students access to vacancies and students apply direct to employers. Some universities hold fairs and exhibitions to encourage students to consider the option and to enable students to meet potential employers. In the modern labor market graduates with work experience in the form of sandwich placements are not only deemed more desirable to employers but also research has demonstrated they attain higher level degree classifications than those graduates without such experience.
In these countries they have split the types of internship in unpaid or paid. The unpaid internship are mostly the ones that are chosen by students who are either still in school and doing an internship as part of the requirements of school or who have just left school. The purpose of these internships are to get understanding about how work is conducted in the English-speaking world and to improve one's English. Another plus is to learn about work ethic and to experience cultural diversity. The paid internship is mostly for people that want to come to these countries to improve their English. The job for them is not something that they are specialized in, but see it as something that will give them enough money to support their living in these countries.
Over the years, A Ray of Hope, UNESCO has been involved in the internship processes in several universities across Africa. It was noted years back that a typical African youth does not take the opportunity that comes with internship so a process was formed to make internship a reality for the African youth.
There have been kind and encouraging comments as youth found out that Internship is a sure way to develop and create opportunities for themselves. Direction and planning are critical for career management. This is particularly important for developing your career in any field of study.
It's important to have the right attitude towards knowledge and experience. Career progress requires a deep understanding of the importance of work experience. Though you can acquire knowledge and skills from training and other learning resources, in every field especially the technology field, work experience is key for relevant career growth. Getting work experience isn't exactly easy street for most newcomers. But it always helps to have a total picture that shows an understanding of the need and opportunities.
There are some suggestions while on your part you have to be creative in getting benefit.
You will need to understand the benefits and essence of internship as well as the nature of internships. How can you make the most out of your internship experience? And which areas should you consider for such opportunities?
• Understand Internship
Naturally, when you analyze the nature of work a person does, it is possible to divide up the course of study into two major areas of business support and academics/research. Business support refers professionals involved in the use of that course of study in all aspects of life – commercial, education, social and government while academics/research refers to individuals involved in the academic and research side of the field of study. Irrespective of the environment, distinction is expected in the nature of work carried out by the individual. For example an Information Technology professional providing operations, support and programming services in a university for student records is providing business support. The other person (working in a university or the lab of a software firm) that teaches and investigates vulnerabilities and secure programming is carrying out academics/research work.
Though many academic institutions provide qualifications and a solid grasp of the fundamentals in academics and research, business support is a major minus. Many students graduating with certifications or degrees are unprepared to deal with the needs of the environment. Qualifications aren't enough. What all sectors of society need are individuals who are ready to solve problems and create opportunities using their experience from day one. The labour market and society wants thinking contributors not just qualifications.

Educational institutions attempt to address this deficiency by building Industrial Training programs known as SIWES or SWEP and internships into their degree programs. Most academic programs relating to technology require students to perform internship at specific stages of their academic programs. Such academic programs incorporate work experience as an integral part of a student's core curriculum.
Graduates and certified individuals who wish to develop hands-on work experience can also take the initiative to secure internships. During such periods of internship, students get exposed to working life and experience, where they gain some hands-on skills.
• Benefits of Internship
One of the most important and obvious goals of an internship is the acquisition of actual real world experience. Industrial attachment and Internship across the world gives you a full and realistic view of workplace environment. This is not a storybook, fantasyland, feel-good activity. What is the workplace culture? What are the expectations? It means going through the highs and lows. You need to ask, is work experience for me? Is it an environment in which I can thrive?
Internships are known for giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real world environments. At the same time, they will also develop skills which will help them perform better at their jobs.
Internships are a great way to "try-out" career possibilities. Participating lifts the veil by allowing the student to learn more about the specific industry, field, technology, product or company. With a real feel of the nature of work you have more realistic judgment values that aren't coloured by fantasy.
The importance of having a better picture of what is really going on can't be overstressed. Lack of direction and unrealistic expectations, and not lack of intelligence, are some of the major reasons why many careers don't take off. You can and love to calculate and excel in theoretical work but how much do you know about other things a worker must perform - like nature of work? Is the area of specialization you have in mind the still your choice? Your internship experience should aid you in analyzing your options and your situation.
But it's not just to gain a sense of the work environment. Internship makes it possible to link the academic environment with workplace and professional realities in terms of opportunities and challenges. Internship is an opportunity to learn firsthand about valued requirements that can't be taught or experienced in the classroom.
One problem commonly cited by employers is that many graduates do not have the practical skills necessary to excel in the job market. They also feel that the professionalism of students is less than it should be. Even though there are a large number of theories on how to encourage employees and increase profits, it is apparent that enhanced levels of education are not enough to prepare students for a real world environment. Being able to improve these weaknesses will make graduates much more effective in their careers.
Furthermore your educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments that expose you to the work of the employer (the internship provider). By participating in an internship, you gain hands-on experience and enhance your knowledge in a career field. The opportunity to develop professional competence is a major plus - learning and contributing in the workplace. You should invest in internship to develop new skills and gain professional experience in the IT profession. Competence is particularly important in today's world, as industry requires competence not just qualifications. Having quality work experience increases your marketability. Qualifications and certifications may open the door but they can't keep the door open. It's beyond passing exams. Qualifications will not provide an umbrella for incompetence.
Seeking an internship is a brilliant way to acquire job search and interviewing skills. You use the internship search to learn how to market yourself for opportunity. You gain experience in job-seeking skills such as resume and cover letter preparation and interviewing. The self-evaluation you go through when developing your resume and other job search helps you better define what you want in your future. Usually students with two to three internship experiences during formal education are often the most productive in securing full time employment quickly upon graduation. These are the important guidelines that the Youth One-Stop Centre will be giving you.
Working in industry is about working with people. "No man is an island" - John Donne. You might be a strong academic performer with the best results or grade in your class but please experience is not about one-woman-or-one-man-riot-squads". It's important to know how to learn and work with people to get results. People aren't machines or zombies.
A study was conducted which included about 20 universities in Africa and a total of 100 students were included in this study. Before they could start their internship, the students were required to take a career development program. In this program the students learned how to conduct an interview and how to enhance their careers. The results of the study demonstrated that using a variety of different teaching methods is effective in giving graduates the traits which are desired by employers. The students gained skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and computer skills.
The vast majority of students in this study had high to above average scores. The students also demonstrated enhanced abilities in the areas of oral communication and leadership skills. The goals of the study were largely successful. The role of the Youth One=Stop Center is to get Universities and educational programs can encourage their students to take internships, it is likely that many of their graduates would have the skills necessary to succeed. Setting up the right program for employees can be a challenging process. The students who participated in internships performed much better than students who graduated from the program without going into internships.

Internship is therefore useful for learning and improving soft skills such as communication, problem solving, analytical, decision-making, leadership, presentation, teamwork, networking and interpersonal skills (empathy, sensitivity, and friendship). Internships will also allow students to learn about time management, discipline, and effective communication skills. In the business world, critical thinking skills are very important. Graduates must be able to make quick decisions which are based on logic. In addition to this, their work ethic will increase, and they will be confident in their abilities.
Internship helps students build professional networks. Your interaction with working professionals during your internship can lead to career opportunities. Deepen and expand your network. It is easier to succeed when you build your own personal network of individuals that you can rely on for advice, job leads, technical assistance and other helpful support.
To cap this up, there is the need to know that when you build network with other students from over the world at your internship place; this is one network that you will need and hold on to forever.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Temmylade Ayo Aladeokin is UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace. He has been involved in youth empowerment programmes for 5years. He is the initiator of Youth One-Stop Centres in Africa with the support of A Ray of Hope, UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace – an organization that is involved in educating African youths.
Temmylade is a graduate of the Africa Leadership Forum and holds a lot of certifications from Institutions in East and West Africa.
Currently works as the advisor, liaison and promotions person for A Ray of Hope, UNESCO.

Barrack's Character Should Inspire Africa to Produce Own Obamas

Kigali — The world's top darling, Barack Obama, enters the White House today, as America's most unpopular president in as many decades, George W. Bush, leaves a problematic Oval Office to the first African-American president.

Today's inaugural ceremony of Obama's four-year presidency has expectedly assumed an international dimension. Thus, it comes as no surprise that even our own Rwanda Television - which has on several occasions failed to broadcast many crucial events - is not about to miss out this time round, alerting viewers as early as Sunday that it will transmit live Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony.

Obama, son of a Kenyan father, has excited politicians, musicians, students, the old and the young alike, throughout the last two years of his political carrier, emerging as a beacon of hope for this increasingly troubled world.

Understandably, it was a dream come true for billions across the globe when ordinary American voters gave the world's favourite, a presidential mandate on November 4, 2008.

Having watched Africans as ecstatic as never before over a foreign presidency election outcome, several questions have come to my mind: What will happen after all this excitement has dwindled and Obama busy confronting most pressing challenges for which Americans gave him their votes?

Will Africans sit back and wait for the former Illinois senator to come and solve their perpetual problems? And will the young generation stop at only buying attires with Obama look-alikes instead of seeking to walk in Barrack's footsteps?

If there has ever been any incoming president with more reason to worry than to celebrate, it's Obama. While Obama's success is the envy of many, very few can enthusiastically want to take on the kind of challenges he is inheriting from Bush-a sinking economy, two tricky wars, the ever bleeding Middle East and the global warming time-bomb. But even in the face of the political and economic uncertainty that lies ahead of him, Obama has been as resilient as ever, repeatedly telling Americans that no problem - however intimidating it would seem-was insurmountable.

Speaking at a pre-inauguration celebration on Sunday, the 44th American president stated resolutely: "Anything is possible in America … Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure - that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time."

In light of the challenges never seen in decades that the world is currently facing, Obama's statement demonstrates never-say-die character; one that African leaders and Africans in general need if they are to turn around their beleaguered continent.

Obama comes from the minorities. His father may not be a descendant of African slaves in the US, but his wife is, as are most African Americans. But against that bitter backdrop, Obama has chosen to promote the 'we are one' ideology, which has the potential to break the walls that exist between the various American racial groups.

Forget about John McCain's 'Country First' campaign slogan: Barrack Obama's transition decisions have been a true reflection of his long-held belief that America and the world cannot genuinely thrive on polarization.

He has demonstrated that by including Republicans in his Cabinet, which remarkably, has whites, blacks, Asian Americans and Hispanics in it.

In Africa we have had a handful of leaders whose political actions are bipartisan in nature. Rwanda is one of those countries currently enjoying the fruits of all-inclusive politics introduced in a nation that had suffered the brunt of bad leadership for decades. Well I don’t exactly know what to write about Nigeria on this.

While only two Republicans occupy Obama's Democrat Cabinet, Rwandans put in place legal provisions that prevent the ruling party from occupying more than half of Cabinet posts. The rational is simple: despite your political affiliations, national interests must always prevail over individuals' or party interests. Nigeria has a political system that allows all party delegates to be represent either at the House of Representatives or the Senate.

In Rwanda, not only does the 2003 Constitution bar the ruling party from taking over 50 percent cabinet seats, it also stipulates that the Speaker shall not come from the same political organization as the Head of State.

This is the all-inclusive politics that President Paul Kagame's government has been promoting over the years. And that is, by and large, a shift from the pre-genocide politics which excluded a section of the society not only in Government positions, but also in schools and other many societal aspects.

Nonetheless, Obama's cabinet picks suggest the incoming US president is determined to move away from the 'winner-takes-it-all' philosophy that hitherto characterizes many governments - former US administrations inclusive.

Secondly, Obama's decision to think out of the box by refusing to go most of his predecessors' way demonstrates that in politics or otherwise, there is no such a thing as 'one-size-fits-all'.

But there is need to remain even focused as we pass on this new thinking to the next generation.

And to Africa in general, our continent need not only to celebrate US' Obama's success, but also to start seeing our own Obamas rising.

James Munyaneza (in the New Times: a Daily News Paper in Rwanda) on January 20, 2009.

Global Youth Connect

The mission:

Global Youth Connect is dedicated toempowering youth to advance human rights and create a more just world.

We envision a world where the human rights of all people are equally respected, fully protected and universally realized. We also envision a world where all young people – irregardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, class, gender or other differences – are encouraged and empowered to non-violently claim their own rights and serve as advocates for the rights of others.

GYC’s programs provide youth (ages 14-30) from a wide range of ethnic, national, economic and religious backgrounds with opportunities to enhance their ability to take action on pressing human rights issues. Our programs weave together: experiential training programs and workshops; skills development in grassroots organizing, conflict transformation, human rights activism and leadership; mentoring and technical support for on-going organizing efforts; on-the-ground experience in human rights organizations and doing human rights work; and connection to a global community of youth activists.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world..." --Gandhi

"The young people who do this work are amazingly courageous and passionate. Standing witness and taking action helps shine light on issues and problems that need urgent change. We want to be part of the solution and demonstrate to the world that there are alternatives that work , and work well." --Jennifer Kloes, Executive Director, Global Youth Connect.

The Need for Our Work

Memorials scattered across the Rwandan landscape provide a grim reminder of how the egregious violation of human rights can lead down a dangerous path to genocide. The bones and remnants of clothing laid out for display prompt us to ask how it was possible that the Rwandan government was able to rally neighbor to turn against neighbor. They bear testimony to how the international community has time and again failed to meet its obligations to uphold the standards enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention and other agreements.

Unfortunately, Rwanda is not an isolated case. Similar stories and testimony can be found in other former zones of conflict around the world – from the streets of Sarajevo to the killing fields of Cambodia, from the rural areas of Nepal to the indigenous highlands of Guatemala. Today we are urgently confronting unspeakable atrocities in Darfur, sectarian violence and foreign occupation in Iraq, ethnically motivated killings in Kenya and severe authoritarian repression in Burma, to name but a few notable cases. Furthermore, in communities across the world, rampant social and economic injustices, including discrimination, poverty, exploitation, the destruction of entire cultures, and ethnic and religious intolerance, are creating an increasingly where new conflicts and wars may be far too easily ignited.

There is an urgent need to better understand why war, mass violence and genocide occur. More importantly, there is a clear need to invest in strategic solutions that aim to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future. There is also a need to ensure that this knowledge is passed on to the next generation of human rights leaders.

In considering strategic approaches to breaking the cycle of conflict it is particularly important to recognize that -- in Rwanda and elsewhere where lives have been touched by mass violence -- young people have been particularly vulnerable to human rights violations. This is largely due to the fact that youth typically lack the knowledge, skills or opportunities to take action for social change or to stand up against intolerance, discrimination and oppression. Insufficient resources are being invested to provide young people with the knowledge necessary to defend their human rights and the rights of others in their communities. Without such support, young people can become disempowered, frustrated, disengaged, and vulnerable as the injustices pile up around them. They are also more likely to be victimized or join in the violence (just like many young Rwandans who took up machetes).

There is a clear need to direct more energy towards informing young people of their rights in tandem with providing them tools for taking action. Youth must feel confident in their ability be part of the solution by standing up to racism, violence, poverty, genocide, torture and other tough human rights problems, preferably doing so before they escalate into widespread violence. Although some schools and organizations are doing great work to jumpstart youth engagement in human rights activism, there is significant need to create additional opportunities to enable youth to develop and strengthen their activism skills, expand their knowledge on current and past human rights crises, exchange ideas with others and take action to test their ideas and see the immediate results of their efforts. If we don’t empower them now and direct their energies to promoting non-violent social change, we will continue to feed the global cycle of violence, oppression and injustice for generations to come.

Additionally, among those young people who are already taking a stand for change, we must provide additional support. Young frontline activists generally lack sufficient opportunities for training and their work and efforts are largely undervalued. There is a need to help them generate new ideas, connections and strategies that will help them provide the breakthroughs necessary to transform problems that now seem intractable. Investing in youth who are already leaders in their communities, especially those who are working with other youth, also makes sense since they are best poised to share what they’ve learned with many other people, creating a ripple effect. Rather than spreading resources thin by trying to reach every single young person, working with youth leaders is an extremely wise strategy to ensure maximum impact of limited resources.

Motivations and Inspirations.

A deep-rooted desire to help put an end to the dehumanization and devastation of genocide and mass violence inspires the work of Global Youth Connect. We believe that investing in youth and enabling them to serve as active bystanders to promote and protect human rights is a critical strategy to help prevent and minimize the escalation of conflict as well as heal divided and traumatized communities seeking to rebuild after conflict. Based on our experience, we believe that the concepts and strategies of human rights education offer today’s youth the most powerful tools of understanding and motivation to take action.

Who We Serve

Our programs serve a global community of youth and young adults, ages 14-30. We support youth who are already established leaders in their community and who are looking for ways to strengthen their skills, expand their understanding, deepen the impact of social justice projects and build a network of supportive allies.
We also serve youth who are at an earlier stage in their activism to enable them to better understand how to use their unique talents to advance human rights. As a global organization with programs in a variety of countries around the world, the youth we work with come from all backgrounds – from the poorest communities to the wealthiest, from the “developed” world to the “underdeveloped” world, and from a wide range of ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds.

Goals and Objectives

-->Increase understanding among youth of both the theoretical and practical context of the human rights framework

-->Build the skills, knowledge and confidence of youth to raise awareness, take action and work collaboratively on projects to promote and defend human rights;

-->Facilitate meaningful dialogue, enable critical thinking and analysis of complex issues and encourage joint problem solving to address shared human rights concerns;

-->Foster personal and emotional growth by testing boundaries and limitations, reflecting critically on our own lives and cultures, exploring how the choices we make affect others;

-->Build strong personal connections and community among youth activists;

-->Provide positive outlets and opportunities for youth to work to promote human rights; and

-->Create, inspire and nurture both new and existing youth-led projects aimed at promoting and protecting human rights.

Human Rights Framework

It is no coincidence that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was agreed upon on the heels of the Nazi holocaust. In 1948, the UDHR was proclaimed as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,” directing all humans to “strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.”We believe that the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provide us with a guide for action. We also believe that it is critical to embrace the entire spectrum of human rights – the economic, cultural and social as much as the political and civil with a consideration for both individual and collective rights – in order to work towards implementation of the ideals offered by the UDHR.The promotion and protection of human rights needs to be at the forefront of any youth movement dedicated to peace building, reconciliation and violence prevention. At the same time, we also seek to explore the complexity and interconnectedness of human rights challenges as experienced in the real world. And we aim to identify the ways in which nations, institutions, individuals as well as ourselves must take responsibility to act in order to ensure human rights and dignity for all.

Educational Methodology

Our educational methodology is drawn from a mixture of techniques and strategies used by the popular education movement. Our programs are highly interactive and experiential. We promote a “whole person” approach to leadership development as well as understand the importance of providing experiences for participants to connect with others in to engage in meaningful shared work. Our goal is to help young leaders learn about the ideas, concepts and strategies of human rights through engaging in meaningful dialogue, promoting critical analysis, encouraging self-reflection and fostering action. Emotional and psychological development and community-building are just as important to us as intellectual content.

Please contact africaeducation@unesco.co.uk or contact@globalyouthconnect.org for more information on Global Youth Connect.

Peace Education!

The following section supplements the Learning Units offered in the Learner as Teacher section and gives an overview of the broader theory of peace education. Navigate through the three sections on the left (Content and Methods, the Importance of Educational Environments, Challenges and Opportunities) to gain information on the substance and scope of the field. Content & MethodsPeace education brings together multiple traditions of pedagogy, theories of education, and international initiatives for the advancement of human development through learning. It is fundamentally dynamic, interdisciplinary, and multicultural and grows out of the work of educators such as John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Paulo Freire, Johan Galtung, Elise and Kenneth Boulding, and many others. Building on principles and practices that have evolved over time, responding to different historical circumstances, peace education aims to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to achieve and sustain a global culture of peace. Understanding and transforming violence is central. The following diagram helps visualize the core relationship between violence and peace.

Peace is understood not only as the absence of traditional forms of direct violence, but also as a positive presence. Educating for and about all aspects of peace constitutes peace education. The following diagram illustrates the relationships among the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes of peace education. They are drawn from educational initiatives all over the world.

In the classroom, peace education aims to develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge with co-operative and participatory learning methods and an environment of tolerance, care, and respect. Through dialogue and exploration, teachers and students engage in a journey of shared learning. Students are nurtured and empowered to take responsibility for their own growth and achievement while teachers care for the wellbeing of all students. The practice of peace education is an opportunity to promote the total welfare of students, advocate for their just and equitable treatment of youth, and promote individual and social responsibility for both educators and learners. Through pedagogy and social action, peace educators demonstrate that there are alternatives to violence. Japanese peace educator
The Importance of Educational EnvironmentsCentered on developing the capacities of learners, peace education is relevant in a variety of different educational settings from rural to urban, school-based to community, and within formal curricula or non-formal popular education projects. To a large extent, the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts in which educators work shape the specific content and methods they choose. However, the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes discussed in the Content and Methods section are relevant across educational environments. Many teachers infuse peace education into traditional academic subjects such as literature, math, science, history, language, civics, and the arts. Various aspects of peace education may even serve to enhance learning across subjects, as indicated in a recent conflict resolution initiative in the United States. Ultimately, educating for peace is as varied as the teachers who practice it.
Challenges & OpportunitiesPeace Education does not teach students what to think, but rather how to think critically. In the process, its holistic and participatory approach may conflict with more traditional curriculum design or strict standards-based schooling. Peace education aims not to reproduce but to transform. It consists of people "consciously striving to educate their successors not for the existing state of affairs but so as to make possible a future better humanity." (John Dewey, Democracy and Education) And with this task comes significant challenges and opportunities for all involved.
One way to meet the challenges of peace education is to build bridges of support among key participants. Just as learning takes place in a broader social context and not exclusively in schools or classrooms, so peace education relies on families, communities, and social networks to affect positive and lasting change. The notion "think globally, act locally" is central to educating for a culture of peace in that it links theory with practice, international issues to individual efforts. As a peace educator, you need not work alone. The international peace education community is active and growing through networks, publications, global campaigns, national initiatives, and international programs. Concerned citizens, educators and activists of all ages around the world are promoting and building peace through education.

Here Comes David Suzuki!

The 21st century is an exciting time for young people. Technology like email and social networking websites makes connecting with people easier than before, and Google puts a virtual library on everyone's desk. This current generation of youth has unprecedented exposure to knowledge. And the old adage that knowledge is power still holds true.

I've been approached by different groups to talk to young people at universities this month. I'm speaking at campuses across Canada, either in person or by video, on a tour with the Canadian Federation of Students, about global warming and its solutions. My daughter Severn and David Suzuki Foundation CEO Peter Robinson are also speaking at some stops. I'll also speak to young people in Ontario as part of a campaign called Flick Off, which is encouraging people to consider renewable energy as a solution to some of the serious environmental and economic problems our dependence on fossil fuels has created.

Whenever I talk to students, I'm reminded of the joy I experienced as a college student, surrounded by intellectually curious classmates who were also forming their opinions about the world. Public interest in the environment is at an all-time high today, and that's bound to affect the values students form and the choices they make as they go through life. Attending college is an exciting phase of life, and students should be encouraged to question the way things are and consider the way they could be.

But I don't envy today's students, even though they have great new gadgets such as iPods and digital cameras to play with. They are seeing the effects of global warming first-hand. They can see the mess that previous generations have created by ignoring the natural world and living beyond its limits. Today's university students will have to deal with increased smog-alert days, clear-cut forests, nuclear waste, overfished marine ecosystems, and other environmental problems that older folks have created.

In my college days, I was active in the civil-rights movement. The opportunity to right historic wrongs was a powerful incentive. The people I marched with took action and eventually helped change society and repeal discriminatory laws. Is there still racism and bigotry today? Absolutely. But things have certainly improved since the 1950s.

Back then, many things seemed divided. There were the activist organizations full of young, energetic people demanding change. Then there were older, established groups that constantly seemed to say, "We agree with you, in principle, but..." to any arguments put forth in favour of equal laws for all. Thankfully, things evolved and eventually the excuses for inaction melted away.

I see parallels with the battle against global warming. I hope we are entering a new era in which the old excuses for inaction are no longer given any credence – and students become active in solving some of the serious problems in the world. There's evidence that this is already occurring. Renewable energy is a very realistic part of the solution, not only to environmental problems but to economic difficulties as well, and I think young people can play a major role in pushing for a switch from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable.

It's heartening to see the number of people saying "yes" instead of "no" to topics such as energy conservation and renewable power. And it's a diverse group. If there is one positive thing to come out of global warming's threat to humanity, it's that it's bringing together different factions to work together for change.

In the not-too-distant past, environmentalists were treated as a "special interest group" and relegated to the fringes of public discourse. But now we're starting to see organizations as diverse as student groups, major corporations, technology companies, Crown corporations, and financial institutions talking to each other to find solutions to issues such as climate change. The environment may continue to be a "special interest," but it's one that concerns us all.

Today's young people know this. And it's interesting to see them use the tools at their disposal, such as email, blogs, podcasts, and social networking sites, to become online activists. Combined with individual actions, this is a powerful way to call for change at all levels of society.

When I see the energy of today's youth, I'm inspired. Although they haven't learned all the answers to climate change yet, they haven't learned all the excuses, either.

HOW TO FIGHT PROSTRATE CANCER AND WIN!

"You have prostate cancer and hereis the prognosis...."

There aren't many men who can hear those dreaded words and not feel frightened and panic stricken. And, with good reason. US estimates for 2008 call for 186,000+ new cases and almost 29,000 deaths.
Many people assume that prostate cancer only attacks the elderly and figure they'll just wait and hope for the best. Bad decision. While the majority of cases do occur in men over 70, it has been known to attack men as young as 50.
The disease also crosses ethnic lines and is the second most common malignant cancer in men. African American men are at a higher risk than white men including Hispanic men.
According to the National Cancel Institute, "Dramatic differences in the incidence of prostate cancer are also seen in different populations around the world." This is telling because there may be dietary or other environmental factors involved.
Getting all the answers
Just like any disease, the earlier the detection the better the chances of beating it. That's all well and good, but how do you know if you are at risk or heaven forbid, already showing symptoms? What are the symptoms? You really need to have a good resource available for reference.
That's where "Dealing With Prostate Cancer" rides in to give you all the information you need to be prepared. So often when dealing with a serious medical situation just having answers can bring some much needed relief.
"Dealing With Prostate Cancer" understands your fears and provides you with answers to those most burning questions. A few examples of what will help to ease your mind are:

· What are the different types of prostate cancer
· What is the progression or stages of the disease
· How common is prostate cancer
· Analysis of who is at risk for prostate cancer
· What symptoms should be watched for
· How should the disease be treated
· Are there alternative therapies for prostate cancer
· Your immune system and prostate cancer
· Does prostate cancer make a man impotent
· Nutrition and diet for prostate patients
· The right exercises your doctor may consider
· Is it possible to father children after treatment
· Can prostate cancer be prevented

Put your fears and anxiety behind you once and for all! Get the answers to these burning questions and MUCH MORE inside "Dealing With Prostate Cancer."
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get the answers. Fear of the unknown is the worst case enemy you need to fight. Getting the answers to the unknown is the first step to peace of mind and living a long and healthy life!
Do it right now while you are focused. Don't wait until it's too late!

To order a copy of the book please contact baladeokin@yahoo.com http://www.freedomfromcancers.com/ or visit

BOTV CARE4YOU.632 Old Kent Road,London SE15 1JB.United Kingdom.

E-Mail: Info@freedomfromcancers.com

FREEDOM FROM CANCERS - De-Mystifying Cancer

What You Don't Know About Cancer Could Be Deadly

By The Time You Are Diagnosed - Will It Be Too Late?

Are you playing Russian roulette with your health? Do you suspect that you may have cancer but have been ignoring the symptoms hoping they will just go away?

It's hard to believe that people would actually ignore something that important, doesn't it? But it happens. Thousands of people die every day of cancer related illness.

The sad thing is that many of those premature deaths could have been avoided with just a little bit of knowledge and early detection.

The major problem with much of the information about cancer is that it is very general and written in medical jargon that is nearly impossible to decipher. That's where "De-mystifying Cancer" comes in.

"De-mystifying Cancer" has taken all that technical information and broken it down in plain English so that anyone can get answers to their burning questions. Questions like these:

What is cancer?
How does it develop?
What are the major types of cancer?
What are primary and secondary cancers?
What are carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemia, lymphomas and adenomas?
How is your immune system affected by cancer?
Who gets cancer?
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer?
What are the risk factors for cancer?
How do you diagnose lung cancer in men and women?
Are you at risk for prostate cancer?
How can you detect breast cancer in its early stages?
What imaging processes are used for detecting cancer?
What are the different types of biopsies?
Do you know what treatment options are available?
Are there alternative treatments and therapies?

And that just scratches the surface. "De-mystifying Cancer" is jam-packed with answers to every question you could possibly have about cancer.

One of the most important things you will find inside is an Action Plan for Coping with a cancer diagnosis. This section will help you:

1. Inform yourself
2. How to choose the right doctor
3. How to communicate with your family members
4. Innovative approaches to treatment
5. Changing your diet
6. How to continue with your normal daily life

Don't put it off any longer. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have cancer and need answers to those burning questions, "De-mystifying Cancer" is just what you need. Don't wait until it's too late. Get your copy now!