Dublin Pride

Last month marked the annual Pride parade in Dublin City Centre. Our photographer Laoise went along to soak up some of the atmosphere.

Smells like teen spirit

Smells like teen spirit

Last month almost 10,000 young people from across Europe were hosted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, for YoFest and the third annual European Youth Event, to debate issues affecting young people. In this two part series, Ellen Butler looks at the discussion on legalising drugs.

A debate at the EYE asked is it time considered the decriminalisation of marijuana? The panel included voices from both sides with French psychiatrist, Redwan Maatoug; Lucas Nilsson, director of Nocturum; and Kenzi Riboulet Zemouli, head of research at FAAAT (For Alternative Approaches to Addiction – think & do tank).

Social exclusion and development
Young people are too ill-informed to take drugs, or so said prohibitionist, Maatoug. He argued that 15 year olds do not have the necessary information on the impact of drugs on mind and body. He turned to the psychiatric effect of cannabis, claiming that, with prolonged use, most users develop a form of schizophrenia.

Nilsson corroborated, dubbing cannabis “the drug that makes people close the door on society.” He linked its use with an increase in mental health problems, and finding that is mainly used by younger members of society. Zemouli instead claimed that those who suffer mental health problems after drug use are already predisposed to mental illness; “drugs do not create mental illnesses”. Maatoug argued that rules are not made to be broken and it is in the interest of the wellbeing of everybody that prohibition legislation is upheld and respected. Both he and Nilsson argued that drug usage distracts young people from their social lives and vital social development, which can only be reached by going out and meeting people.

Market for drugs
We already marketise alcohol and the discussion asks what it so different with other drugs? 20 percent of alcohol consumers have a problematic relationship with the substance, according to Nilsson. Despite restrictions on alcohol, it still causes major health and societal issues. He worries that restrictions on drugs will simply not work, judging by large numbers of underage drinkers. Due to political lobbying by large companies within the alcohol industry, alcohol is the only product in the EU that does not have its ingredients listed on its packaging, according to Nilsson. He argued that marketising drugs and letting companies make a profit, will make it much more difficult to regulate the market properly and protect the consumer.

 

Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash

Body&Soul highlights

Body&Soul highlights

Heading along to Body&Soul this weekend? We got you covered with our top picks for what you can’t miss.  

 

  • Hit up the main Body&Soul stage to catch the best acts. Saturday kicks off with a solstice meditation followed by Saint Sister, O Emperor and Pillow Queens.  Sunday keeps going with appearances from Daithí, Soulé and Iron&Wine.

 

  • For a more chilled atmosphere, head to the Woodlands stage. Nestled between centuries old pines, the ambient music and light performances enhance the its natural beauty. This stage also features in depth panel discussions about the recent referendum on the 8th amendment and the history of Irish Activism.

 

  • For some of the best medicine, check out the Vodafone Comedy tent all weekend. With appearances by Alison Spittle, Kevin McGahern and Dublin Comedy Improv, it’s the perfect place to wind down.

 

  • Did you know that humans have left tonnes of waste, not only on Earth but in Space too? To see the human impact of space exploration check out an excerpt from the Science Gallery’s current exhibition, Life at the Edges.

 

  • If you feel like flexing some muscles in critical thought, the Library of Progress has you covered. With podcasts from Blindboy Boatclub and Waterford Whispers, this stage can be lighthearted but also engages with some of the most important discussions about how we think and why.

 

  • There’s plenty of food options but if you’re eco-conscious then pay a visit to Food on Board. Wanting less waste in the world, food here is served on a wooden platter, then washed and reused, with all waste composted on site.

 

 

Photo via Body&Soul

Career knowhow: Senator Ivana Bacik

Career knowhow: Senator Ivana Bacik

Every Month, STAND brings you a quick fire Q&A from people who work in NGOs, with government or in community projects.
First up is Labour Senator Ivana Bacik, a qualified Barrister and senior lecturer in law at Trinity College Dublin. While she was President of TCD Students’ Union in 1989, the union was brought to court for providing information on how to access abortion.

 

What do you love most about your job?
Being able to make a contribution to changing the law.

What do you dislike most?
The long hours and being away from my family.

How did you get into this area?
I was active in politics as a student because I felt so strongly about the need to make Ireland more equal, especially for women and girls; and I stayed active as an adult and ran for election to the Seanad first in 1997. I was elected a Senator in 2007 and re-elected again in 2011 and 2016.

What advice would you give to students who want to work in this area?
If you feel strongly about political issues and want to make a change, then you should get active in politics either through campaign groups or a political party!

 

Image William Murphy via Flickr.

International Women’s Week at Trinity College Dublin

International Women’s Week at Trinity College Dublin

Trinity made headlines last week with many students and staff members protesting the incoming €450 fees to sit supplemental examinations. However, amongst all of the uproar, the college community still found the time to celebrate International Women’s Day. The Students’ Union, in conjunction with a variety of student-run societies, organised a programme of events which ran throughout the week.

Repeal
The week placed a huge amount of focus, on repealing the eighth amendment, an issue which the Student’s Union has been mandated to endorse. Tuesday was ‘Repeal Day’, which encouraged open discussion and education about repealing the eighth amendment. The highlight of the day was ‘Canvassing Training’ hosted by Trinity’s own Repeal Committee, with a view to preparing for the referendum which will take place in May of this year. On Thursday, International Women’s Day, many Trinity students also marched in Dublin as part of the March for Repeal.

Sexism
One of most successful events of the week was a workshop on ‘Confronting Sexism’ with Trinity Women in STEM. the purpose of the workshop was to discuss and challenge the predominance of casual sexism in today’s world: whether that’s in the workplace, in college, or even in informal settings. We were each split into groups and discussed this widespread form of sexism and the actions we can take to stop it happening. This was a somewhat more low-key event than some of the others which took place during the week but it was one of the most effective as it encouraged participants to reflect on ingrained societal sexist behaviours and attitudes that many of us don’t even notice in our everyday lives.

DJs
On a more light-hearted note, Thursday night saw an all-female DJ session hosted in the student bar, The Pav, called ‘All Gals on Deck’. This provided a perfect setting for many to relax after a long week or warm up after the March for Repeal, while promoting incredibly talented female artists. These artist are often overlooked in favour of their male counterparts, in the hugely male dominated world of dj-ing.

Overall the week was a great success despite a lack of events focusing on women in other parts of the world. It is important to celebrate the beautiful diversity and uniqueness of all women, no matter what part of the world they were born into. However, celebrating and acknowledging the equality of the women in our own college community is a great place to start.

 

Photo courtesy of Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment.

Life as a student parent: what needs to change

Life as a student parent: what needs to change

Full-time Trinity student and parent, Carly Bailey, explains what needs to change to see an increase in student parents. 

What do you think are the main issues for student parents?

Cost
In my case, I am eligible for the Back to Education Allowance and part of the SUSI grant that covers the student contribution charge. Without that, I would have been unable to attend college full time. However, there is no state help towards the extra costs of education such as books, laptop and software, travel costs etc. It would be much cheaper for me to stay at home than study. The money I spend on my education is taken from the family budget. Missing college because you don’t have the price of bus fare is something most student parents have faced. Then of course there is the cost of childcare. Some colleges offer subsidised rates for student parents with very young children, but once you have a school going child, you are pretty much on your own.

Timetabling
For many student parents, evening and very early lectures and tutorials are incredibly difficult to make and are often missed. This is because they can’t afford the extra cost of childcare in the morning, cannot find a space in a breakfast club or because many providers close by 6pm. For example, I have two lectures that start at 5pm. It is 6pm before I leave college and it can take me up to an hour to get home by bus. Many student parents feel there is a huge imbalance in power, often saying they are too afraid to be seen in a bad light, to complain or ask to be moved to more suitable times.

What are the main supports for student parents?

In Trinity College, there is a creche and students can avail of a subsidised rate, depending on their income, and this has had a huge impact on participation and retention levels for students with children from 1 to 5. However, there is nothing in place for school-going kids. Last year, I applied to the Equality Fund in Trinity to set up a school holiday camp for student parents. School holidays fall on a different week to when we get our mid-term break and often student parents simply disappear for the week as they cannot afford the increased cost in childcare. The camps are run by the TCD Sports Centre and were absolutely brilliant. However, trying to find a permanent source of funding for this has proven impossible. Everyone thinks it is a great idea, but no one is willing to actually provide the funding necessary.

Do you believe that there is enough support for student parents from colleges and government?

No, there is not enough support from government. They have lots of reports on increasing participation among groups such as lone parents but offer very little in the way of tangible supports to encourage them. Colleges vary across the country. I would say Trinity is potentially leading the way in the university sector while many ITs appear to offer some great supports. But it is patchy and of course can always be improved. This needs joined up thinking between higher education institutions and government and of course funding. Neither of which appears to be forthcoming.

The SUSI grant system also needs radical overhauling. For example, a lone parent that I know is living at home with her parents and her child because she cannot afford to rent outside of the home. She is 30 years old and independent from her parents. She pays rent. However, SUSI will not assess her as an independent person. Her parents are on a modest wage but just above the threshold for SUSI and therefore she doesn’t qualify for even the grant to cover the €3000 charge. So she has to borrow the money each year and work part-time as well as study and be a mum. Because she works to pay off the loan, she has since lost her medical card. The entire system is just not geared up for non-school leaving students.

 

Thinking Gender Justice – First Annual Conference

Thinking Gender Justice – First Annual Conference

Though gender studies have made considerable leaps since the 1980s, what is its role in today’s world? Gender still has much to offer in terms of assessing the rise of the right, new nationalism and ethnic conflict.

The UCD centre for Gender Feminisms and Sexualities has opened calls for papers for its first annual conference, taking place from 23rd-25th May. The conference aims to address the status of gender studies and how multidisciplinary gender analysis can provide valuable insights to society.

Keynote speakers include: Professor Inderpal Grewal, Chair of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University and Brigid Quilligan, manager of the Kerry Travellers Health and Community Development Project.

To take part in the conference, send an abstract of less than 250 words and a short bio to the centre for Gender Feminisms and Sexualities by 2nd February.  The centre was formed in April 2017 with the aim of using multidisciplinary approaches to further research into gender issues and is hosted by both the UCD School of English, Drama & Film and UCD School of Social Work, Social Policy & Social Justice.

If you want to learn more see below: 

https://www.facebook.com/UCDCGFS

https://cgfs.ie/

What it is like living with a visual impairment

What it is like living with a visual impairment

Robert Morrissey tell us what its like during your education living with a visual impairment.

Explaining to someone what your visual impairment is and how it affects your day-to-day can be difficult. Describing what life is like through your eyes, you can’t paint a picture, the perspective you have is not the same as that of a person with a better level of vision.

 

Living with my level of sight made certain tasks more difficult, reading, judging steps, note-taking etc.. How you overcome is important. Meeting visually impaired and blind people at events organised by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), many of them would say the same. Life is what you make of it. In my case, support through the NCBI and assistants in schools over the years has made a difference, allowing me to pursue things that, without their help, would seem and be more tough to achieve.

 

I have lost count of how many eye tests, hospital visits, and days off from school I used to have. You get tired of course, The positive was that I understood more and more how my sight developed, what the diagnosis of retinal dysfunction and congenital nystagmus was.

 

You get told that you can do a lot of things, for me the level of sight that I had made some doctors – not all – put you in a category. It would be said you would never play football or stuff like that, which when thrown around it can set a fear about your progression in life. It didn’t stop my parents believing I could be independent, and they were right. Independence is a huge factor in any disabled person’s life I would say. You have every right to do things by yourself, but sometimes it is asking for help when you stumble that requires you to be at your most independent mindset.

 

At school, I sat near the board and used magnifying tools supplied by the NCBI. Around the age of 10, I started learning touch-typing and braille. Skills that are invaluable to me now.

 

The Department of Education supplied me with a laptop – which was a big help – given the delayed focus in my vision which often left me behind in finishing class work. In my teens, I began to wear contact lenses, improving my peripheral vision, though still left with a very low-level of sight.

 

Secondary school was difficult, we moved to a new room for each class and you meet new people. Overcoming that was in part, down to just having understanding teachers and friends. Having a laptop and an assistant to help me take notes, along with a new device called an Opti Verso, a zoom camera on an extendable arm  that hung over the laptop on a pad. The hesitation of getting around and finding a viewpoint became less daunting. For exams, The Department of Education issued specially enlarged exam papers, some of which had not been attempted before, so it was trial and error but has helped them define papers for students like me.

 

College was exciting. Unfortunately, only a few colleges in the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme offered media or journalism courses. The scheme would have given me the chance to go on using Department of Education equipment, but it was limited to the number of colleges at the time. It seemed like a headache but when I found Griffith College, they were approachable and helped me with similar exam conditions and lecture notes on PDFs. They were keen to assist and for that I was lucky since the DARE scheme and SUSI grant were not available.

 

It is important to raise awareness about what is out there for young people who are blind or visually impaired. Assistive technology like Ash Technologies’ low-vision aids, products like Dragon Dictate and built-in accessibility software on our devices, prove there are always new ways to help improve the way we live. For those who are visually impaired or blind, they should look to the NCBI, AHEAD and DARE to provide help and excel in education. Most colleges also have their own disability office too, to help academically and to support your independence.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

 

 

Critical higher education studies, transforming higher education

Critical higher education studies, transforming higher education

This coming Saturday December 2nd, The Critical Higher Education Studies Research group are holding talks entitled, “The Civic University Symposium: Re imagining the University for Public Purpose”.

The Talks Will Include an Exploration Of:

What is the purpose of higher education? Is higher education a public good – and if so, how do we understand the claim that this requires a private cost, and therefore a private gain?
Is the knowledge produced by higher education a public good – and if so, how do we understand this in relation to the tendency to lock this knowledge behind paywalls demanded by private publishing companies, and the exclusion of the Global South?

Does higher education contribute to building a democratic citizenry – and if so, how does this relate to the increase in performative demands on teaching and research?
What are the ethical responsibilities of higher education in the Global North in relation to the majority of the world?

This symposium marks the first public event organised by the Critical Higher Education Studies (CHES) research group, and aims to initiate a generative conversation about the transformations of higher education, and its role in creative re-imaginations of the university, its spaces, mission, activities and purposes, with equality, inclusion and rights as fundamental commitments.

Speakers at the event include
Prof Vanessa Andreotti is a professor at the Department for Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia and holds a Canada Research Chair in Race, Inequalities and Global Change.
Prof Ronaldo Munck is Head of Civic Engagement at DCU and a Visiting Professor of International Development at the University of Liverpool and St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia.
Dr Karen Pashby is Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University in the Department of Childhood, Youth and Education Studies and the Education and Social Research Institute.

 

All welcome but places are limited.
To RSVP and for more information please see
https://civic_university_symposium.eventbrite.ie

For more information see: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/cyes/staff/profile/index.php?id=2637

 

Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash

Looking at the work Suas do on World Children’s Day

Looking at the work Suas do on World Children’s Day

 

Every year on November 20th the world celebrates Universal Children’s day.  The day was established by the United Nations in 1954. This year Unicef have invited children from all over the globe to voice their support through media for all their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted.

Children all over the world are still being deprived of an education.

On World Children’s Day, let’s take a look at the work that Suas do to help Children both, at home in Ireland and all over the globe gain an education.

The belief that education is the most important tool for creating positive social change is at the very heart of everything we do in Suas. When children are educated they live longer, healthier lives, have access to employment opportunities, and are able to participate in decisions that affect their communities. Ultimately, it gives them power.

Unfortunately, for millions of children who need this power the most, there are huge barriers to them accessing quality education. That’s why we support the work of our incredible partners in India, Kenya & Zambia, as well as our own Fast Forward programme, to ensure that children have safe, well-equipped places to go to school, in classrooms run by properly trained teachers.

Suas Ireland work with children who have literacy problems. To date they have helped over 3,300 children in disadvantaged schools improve their literacy skills. With your help this number can grow even higher.

if you would like to volunteer with Suas, either in Ireland or abroad, head to https://www.suas.ie/

By lighting the fire of education in these children’s lives, together we can give them the tools they need to realise their full potential.

 

Celebrate women in film at The Dublin feminist film festival

Celebrate women in film at The Dublin feminist film festival

Next weekend Dublin’s feminist Film Festival will be happening from November 16th-November 18th in The New Theatre, 43 Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 to help counteract the mis/under-representation of women in film.

 

Now in its fourth year, the Dublin Feminist Film Festival has established firm roots on Dublin’s cultural calendar, shining a spotlight on women in film. The DFFF promotes and celebrates female filmmakers, hoping to inspire and empower others to get involved in filmmaking.

This involves considering women on-screen, but also behind the camera, through the dual-aspect of celebrating and showcasing fantastic female filmmaking, as well as demonstrating that women make compelling and complex characters and subjects. The DFFF weekend is a celebratory couple of days and our commitment to inclusive art is reflected in the programme each year, showcasing a range of work, from documentary to drama, short form to feature, films from different places and representing different perspectives, as well as work by women-of-colour.

 

ABOUT THIS YEAR

The theme for #DFFF2017 is FeministFutures. Our programme this year foregrounds topics such as science and the universe, magical realism, technology and the digital world, contemporary feminist issues and movements, sci-fi, dystopia, and the future female. We’re asking questions about future generations of women – what challenges we will continue to face; how female filmmakers are shaping stories about our existence as human beings in a vast universe; how humour and beauty can be harnessed for illuminating serious issues, what makes something subversive; what makes us laugh? Under the spotlight are the roles that activism, tech, art, geography, reproductive (in)justice, youth culture, gender violence, or science might play in our FeministFutures… as well as the shockingly overlooked subject-matters of lesbian space-aliens and kitsch witches!

This year we want to showcase contemporary FeministFutures work, so every feature film is under five years old and we are proudly screening four Irish premieres. Each year we also screen a selection of Irish and international shorts – and award a ‘Best Short’ prize. We’re hosting a lecture dealing with intersections of new media, technologies, women’s bodies, sex and sexuality, in addition to a ‘Make a Movie with your Phone’ workshop for teenage girls – the future is theirs, after all.

 

Whats the future for food in Ireland?

Whats the future for food in Ireland?

 

Demand for food and drink has changed and consumers now wish for their food to be produced in a sustainable environment. For many the primary consideration is addressing climate change; for others it is about water sustainability; for many more it is about economic sustainability. The only difference is the priority that consumers place on these differing aspects of sustainability.

 

The issue of sustainability and increasing environmental costs has the potential to undermine the growth potential of the Irish Food and Drink Industry. For the food processing sector, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) stands as a clear example of how measures can rapidly become significant costs on operations and the wider part of sustainability however needs to be addressed. The burning of fossil fuels in processing, refrigeration and transport are primary emitters of CO2. Emission sources from primary agriculture include methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

 

Irish agriculture is now challenged with a legal obligation to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 20% by 2020. The primary objective for Irelands Agri-Food Industry must be how to turn this challenge into opportunity by implementing greater efficiencies leading to cost reductions, while enabling sustainable production growth.

Future in Food Ireland will address these issues to ensure that the Irish food industry will become the global source of high quality sustainable food and drink.

 

Photo Credit: Box Media.