Videos for a better world: Made by youth, like us!

Take a look at these great videos, shared with us by YFCI Member and Ambassador Kate Alyzon from the Philippines. She asked her class to create videos that represented the United Nations' Millenium Developement Goals (MDGs). Check them out!




Created by "Orlando Agustin, Arvin Flores, Charles Luna and Karl Yap." Make sure to watch at 2:18, when the video takes a turn and the teenagers realize that THEY CAN DO SOMETHING for the poor. Inspiring and motivational at the same time.



Created by Abuso, Anne, Camille. The second video shows that teens united as one can "LEND A HAND" (reminiscent of our partner organization ABC4ALL's mission statement) and make a difference for many different causes. Bravo!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All of these videos proclaim the essence of our organization and our goals. Youth for Change International is a movement from youth around the world that are united to create one, just world where people are given respect and humility. Thank you so much to the students of Kate's "Instory" class for sharing this with us!

The YFCI Team, on behalf of the hundreds of youth from around the world in over 80 countries, united as one.

CNN: Witness of Baharestan Square Massacre (Iran Conflict)

A Witness to the Crackdown on Protesters in Baharestan Square Shares Her Story with CNN (Video Curtesy of CNN) Youth for Change International is a non-political and non-religious organization of young people from around the world that want to express themselves and make a difference.

"I was going towards Baharestan with my friend. This was everyone, not just supporters of one candidate or another. All of my friends, they were going to Baharestan to express our opposition to these killings and demanding freedom. The black-clad police stopped everyone. They emptied the buses that were taking people there and let the private cars go on. We went on until Ferdowsi then all of a sudden some 500 people with clubs came out of [undecipherable] mosque and they started beating everyone. They tried to beat everyone on [undecipherable] bridge and throwing them off of the bridge. And everyone also on the sidewalks. They beat a woman so savagely that she was drenched in blood and her husband, he fainted. They were beating people like hell. It was a massacre. They were trying to beat people so they would die. they were cursing and saying very bad words to everyone. This was exactly a massacre... I don't know how to describe it."

(Witness of attacks; Curtesy CNN International)

What is your reaction to this interview? What is your opinion of the Iranian conflict overall? Share your thoughts, commentary, insider experiences and more.

Click here to post.

Iran: Stop the Crackdown

Image Curtesy of Getty Images

What do you think about the Iran Election crackdown? Do you think the election was fair? Sound off your opinion at the YFCI Discussions.

Here is a message from our friends at Avaaz.org

------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

The crisis in Iran has reached a tipping point. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has warned millions of democracy protesters to be silent or face the consequences, and last night 19 more protesters were killed. Experts warn a massive bloody crackdown is imminent.

Our governments have been cautious, but this is not about taking sides -- everyone should agree that the murder and violent intimidation of peaceful protesters is never acceptable. We need to press all our governments to take a united stand at this historic moment, condemn the crackdown, and withhold recognition of any new Iranian government until the people are permitted to peacefully address their election concerns.

Every day counts -- Top Iranian leaders are split down the middle over whether to support a crackdown, so every bit of pressure matters. Sign the petition below, and forward this email to friends and family -- let's build a massive global outcry of 1 million voices against the crackdown:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/iran_stop_the_crackdown/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Some countries like the US have reason to be careful, but Iranian activists say a united international community cannot be so easily dismissed. Our best hope is to show Iran's leaders that a united international community will reject the verdict of a violent crackdown.

We'll publicize the number of signatures in each country, and also deliver our petition directly to the leaders of the EU, Turkey, and Iraq -- Iran's largest trading partners, as well as UN.

Today the hearts and hopes of people around the world are with the protesters facing awful risks on the streets of Iran. Their struggle for democracy and basic rights is our struggle; it's time for us to stand with them.

Youth for Change International is a non-political and non-religious organization.

Obama's Message to the "Islamic World"

Earlier today, U.S. President Barack Obama made a speech in Cairo that addresses issues that are considered essential in the Middle East, during his 3-day trip to the Middle East.




What's your initial thoughts and opinions after hearing this speech? Add your opinion to the newest thread at the YFCI Discussions. Post your opinion!

Become part of the YFCI Staff!

youthforchange

become part of the YFCI team!

Dear YFCI Members,

I am proud to annouce that we're ready to begin Youth for Change International's Staff Reorganization, and we're opening up the process to you! Do you want to become part of one of the largest up-and-coming youth-led organizations and help shape its future? Do you have a passion for youth organizations and activism? If you said YES to either of these questions, WE WANT YOU to become part of THE YFCI TEAM!

Find out more information by visiting:

http://www.youth-for-change.org/becomeastaffmember.htm

There are many new staff positions that we want to fill and we want to bring new members onto the "playing field." We want staff to be part of our Member Services, Magazine, Promotion, Partnerships, Discussion Forums, Media Team and many more departments!

We also are introducing a new staff department at YFCI: Our Grassroots Networking Coordinators, who will help connect YFCI members to events and projects in their region!

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN JULY 3RD!

We hope this new staff will bring a new era of active participation in this organization, as well as spark more innovation and ideas through a fresh new staff body.

If you're interested, please visit today:

http://www.youth-for-change.org/becomeastaffmember.htm

Thank you very much!

Together, we can make a greater difference!

p.s.: As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at zach@youth-for-change.org with your concerns, comments, suggestions or questions. Thanks so much!

A new kind of cap

I recieved this email from our friends at the Environmental Defence Fund.

Check out their newest project!

----------------------------------


Meet the mayor of Braddock, PA, John Fetterman.

John Fetterman looks more like he belongs on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line than who he really is—a Harvard-educated mayor of a struggling western Pennsylvania steel town.
In Braddock, PA, the hats are hard, just like the economic times. Once called the jewel of the Monongahela, this factory town has seen better days.

That's why Mayor Fetterman is a champion for another kind of cap—a carbon cap. Because John Fetterman knows that capping carbon will put the citizens of his endangered town back to work.

We want all of America to meet John Fetterman and hear his story.

The battle of a lifetime is underway—to cap carbon, to stop global warming, and to put Americans back to work rebuilding our energy economy.

Please don't let the global warming denial machine thwart our efforts. They're sinking hundreds of millions of dollars on propaganda, distortions, and junk science to lobby against us.

The biggest—and to me most offensive—lie the deniers are telling is that capping carbon will cost us jobs. Tell that to Mayor Fetterman and the men and women of Braddock.

Every wind turbine has 8,000 parts and requires 250 tons of steel. With tens of thousands of wind turbines waiting to be built, imagine how many people we'll put back to work when we cap carbon and unleash our clean energy future.

How to Schedule a Meeting with Your Congressman

I found this very helpful video from our friends at The ONE Campaign. It can help you understand how to start a meeting with your congressperson. It was aimed at people in the United States, but the guide can be used worldwide.

More information at www.one.org