Have fun at your Global Youth Assembly, jerks.
I won’t be there, because I’m not in your sexy, coveted youth demographic of 16-28. No, I’m 29. It’s too late for me to make a difference. I had my chance, but that’s over now. I must resign myself to a life of increasing irrelevance and isolation, shuffleboard, creamed corn and writing long, aimless letters to the editor of various publications who ignite my ire. I’ll just enjoy my Metamucil while you guys get together at your big fancy party, solving all the world’s problems and discussing who your favorite Jonas Brother is. Hmph.
Oh, come on now, obviously, I’m kidding. Well, I’m sort of kidding. I am actually too old to partake in the event – but I’m sure it’s less about ageism and more because they don’t need clowns like me relating everything that happens to TV shows went off the air in 1993. “This is just like in that episode of Murphy Brown where…,” “you know, I think Patrick Duffy said it best on that episode of Step by Step…”.
ANYWAY, if the prime of your life hasn’t passed (did I mention that adding insult to injury, even though today is Jeff’s birthday, he’s still young enough to go?), here’s a brief rundown of the 4 day symposium, from the GYA website:
The Global Youth Assembly (GYA) is about bringing youth between the ages of 16-28 together from diverse geographical and personal backgrounds to learn from each other and become part of a movement to advance peace and human rights. The goal is to provide these youth delegates with a vibrant social forum where they can gain new knowledge and perspectives make new friends, create new goals and projects and the confidence and support they need to take action and ignite change in their communities.
In 2007, the John Humphrey Centre partnered with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Rights and Democracy and TELUS to present the first Reach Out Speak Up! Ignite Change Now—Global Youth Assembly, hosted in Edmonton Alberta. From August 1-August 4, delegates participated in workshops centred around the 8 Action Areas for a Culture of Peace and Human Rights as defined by UNESCO and featured world-renown keynote speakers including Dr David Adams, Kim Phuc, Dr Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and Sol Guy, just to name a few. Events included the Get on the Good Foot For Peace Hip Hop Summit and the Open Mic Night.
The event is taking place over at NAIT’s main campus, and includes seminars with topics like politics and building community, shopping for change, and social work through hiphop. Noteworthy speakers at the event include Governor General Michaelle Jean and ex-foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy. An event schedule for the whole she-bang is available here.
And if one of you whippersnappers winds up going, do me a solid and keep an old lady in the loop about what’s going on. Links to your blog postings, pictures, video, ETCETERA, would be most appreciated.
I’m starting up a Global Middle Aged Person Conference, where the rest of us who don’t get into the Cool Kid’s Club can sit around and talk about how our hips hurt and how we’re glad there’s a recession because that means that all the young kids won’t be able to get jobs at Arby’s that pay $11/hr because when we were their age, we were just lucky to have jobs and we were ecstatic to find something that paid more that $5.20/hr and why do they have to play their music so loud and what kind of name is ‘Lady Gaga’ anyway? and remember when music was good, like ‘the Doughboys’ and ‘Alice In Chains’? not like this shit nowadays like ‘The Justices’ or ‘The Collected Animals’…
You old people bore me.
derjis can’t hear you. he fell asleep watching matlock.
Probably should have emailed us…because we would have then told you that the GYA just isn’t for the age demographic stated–it’s for everyone. We only just tell people it’s for 16-28 year olds because that’s where the programming is aimed. But people over 28…are also welcomed. No joke.
Feel free to come to the Governor General’s dialogue tomorrow night. Still not too late to register. rsvpedmonton@gg.ca
Cheers,
The GYA Team
I feel young again! My hip hasn’t felt this limber in years. Thanks for the heads up, you guys. We’ll definitely try to make it out.