Earlier this month, public submissions closed on a new government proposal to tighten up copyright laws. There are plans to allow internet service providers to cut off your internet access if you’re caught downloading material that you haven’t paid for. For many years, the music and movie industries have been struggling to change young people’s downloading habits and to curb copyright abuse, but it seems they have made little progress. So, will these tough new measures help to change young people’s downloading habits for the better, or is it a lost cause? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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Today’s emerging stars seem to have a lot to say about all kinds of issues, from cancer to climate change. They front campaigns, they show up at charity events, and sometimes they write out a cheque. But not everybody is impressed. Last week, at a business forum in Brisbane, John Key lambasted Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes for calling for a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Key now says his comments were “flippant”, but the question remains: what role do young celebrities have in promoting worthy causes, or should they just butt out? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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Mark Lundy was convicted of murdering his wife and daughter in 2000. The police claimed he drove at speeds of 150km an hour, from Petone to Palmerston North. Some believe Lundy was wrongly convicted, and that it was impossible he could have made that road journey at such speeds. Last week, Victoria University’s student magazine, Salient, announced an event called the Lundy 500, a car rally, to put the police claims to the test. The idea was met by opposition from Lundy’s extended family, and by the media. The event has now been called off. Was it a publicity stunt gone wrong, or did Salient have a valid point to make? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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Failure is a natural part of life, but according to some, it’s no longer a natural part of growing up. NCEA has been blamed for giving high school students an easy ride, and for rewarding mediocrity and average achievement with a pat on the back. For many years, some schools have been giving students the chance to resit their tests or assignments over and over again, even if they have failed multiple times. The NZQA has decided to put a stop to that. How many second chances should we be giving to students who aren’t achieving academically? Do they deserve it, or should they face their own failures? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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It began as a study project, but an Auckland student’s online experiment has now landed him in hot water with the media. Last week, you may have read a story about 18-year-old Michael Chal, who decided to sell raunchy photos of his mum online. The media lapped the story up. Now, it has been revealed that Michael is in fact a 22-year-old design student who wanted to see how far he could push the limits of social media. The photos were staged, and they weren’t even photos of his real mother. So, how did he manage to pull it off, and why do the media seem so incensed? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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For many years, schools have struggled to get their students to develop a love for books. Teachers have always had jars of lollies to hand out to enthusiastic readers. Now, one Wellington school is going a step further. Rongotai College has developed a reward system to get it students to read. The school is doling out prizes like fizzy drinks, food vouchers, movie tickets and cellphone top-up cards to students who dig out their library cards and do some bedtime reading. But have we really reached a point where teenagers need to be bribed to read? Or is this “reward scheme” no different to other incentives to get students interested in their studies? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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This week is national Volunteer Awareness Week, and youth volunteering is firmly under the spotlight. In the past decade, the number of 15- to 24-year-olds involved in volunteering has fallen. The pressures on young people’s time are increasing and, despite an array of communication tools, community groups say they’re finding it hard to connect with young people. Is youth volunteering dead? If not, what will it take to get more young people connected to their communities? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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Most Kiwi young people have never experienced a financial crisis, let alone a recession. Now, times are tough. Financial commentators are warning that young people’s spending habits urgently need to be reined in. They have been telling us that for years, but Generation Y is still laden with debt, and research suggests that many students have poor saving habits. But now, we are seeing the first signs of a turnaround: New Zealand young people are changing their spending habits. Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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Rowdy rugby players aren’t uncommon in New Zealand. The link between alcohol and sport has been debated for many years. Even so, stars like Jimmy Cowan and cricketer Jesse Ryder have attracted bad press to their sporting codes. Their off-field antics have distracted everyone, including themselves, from their game. Now, sports associations are stepping up the fight against their players’ misbehaviour. Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
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As the recession tightens its grip, big businesses aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch. Young graduates and employees are stuck in a tightening job market, with fewer jobs available. The figures paint an ugly picture: our youth unemployment rate could go as high as 20%. So, if one in five young people end up unemployed, how will they cope? What about those degrees and qualifications they’ve been scooping up? And how can new graduates get back in the job hunt? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
Listen/Download Jehan Casinader on Youth Employment
