Upon meeting someone, we tend to make small talk regarding our school, work, hobbies, and of course race. We are obsessed with race. We often hear phrases like, “So, what’s your ethnicity?”, “What’s your background?” I’ve even heard “So, what are you?” which is hilarious and I really want to reply with some sort of alien.

I do sort of feel like an alien sometimes. Having a Chinese mother from Hong Kong and a white Canadian father caused me to grow up feeling a bit alienated from both cultures. But hey, it’s 2011, and I’m not alone. According to an article in the Vancouver Sun, research showed that mixed-race children are one of the fastest growing populations in Canada. Vancouver is the culprit, as it has the largest percentage of mixed-race couples at 8.5%.

With a higher representation of hybrid individuals in Canada, there is often public confusion with mixed-race identities when someone doesn’t look like where they’re supposed to be from. I’ve been called anything from Russian to Native to “a white girl with weird features”, all of which reflect this common exercise of categorizing race. I always tell people I’m half-Chinese, which is also interesting in itself seeing as I never say I’m half-white, which tends to be assumed.

People often tell me I could pass for Eastern European or full-white. This brings up the question of whether or not I would be treated differently if I purposely ‘passed’ for another race. The whole notion of ‘passing’ for something reflects the associations we have with certain ethnicities. These associations have developed over time and even if we try to ignore race altogether, we are still forming thoughts and assumptions about people according to their race or what we think their race is. I love ordering in Cantonese at Chinese restaurants in Vancouver but often get a blank stare or gasp from the waitress. I was only trying to identify myself with that part of my culture and obtain a sense of belonging. Sometimes I don’t do that, and just order in English but then I get treated like I don’t belong to the Chinese culture at all, and get offered water and a fork instead of tea and chopsticks. Though the world is mixing because of diaspora, etc., I think the categorization of race is still prevalent and the notion of ‘racial passing’ is growing.

The term pheneticization, coined by local Vancouver poet Wayde Compton, was created to replace the term ‘racial passing’ and to shift the focus from the mixed-race individual (the viewed) to the viewer, meaning that it is what the viewer is doing that is producing the notion of racial passing, not the viewed. Mixed-race individuals now commonly identify with and turn to terms like hapa, halfer, and Eurasian to describe themselves. “I don’t like that people refer to themselves as half because we’re not broken, we don’t need fixing,” said Jeff Stearns to Vancouver Sun’s Vivian Luk. “I’ve grown to understand that we’re still 100-per-cent whole, we’re Canadian.” Stearns even suggested to Luk that maybe we shouldn’t celebrate multiculturalism anymore, but the idea that we’re blending and mixing. Perhaps the confusion and annoyance I’ve experienced while growing up will disappear as more and more youth are being born out of mixed-race marriages. The whole notion and questions about race are going to change.

Photo from zazzle.ca

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If you are looking to share your skills in Math, Socials, Science, and/or English with other students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who might need some extra help, then volunteer at the Get It Done Club!

When: Wednesdays from 4pm – 6pm at the DRPC 1000 E 59 Avenue, on the east-side of Moberly Elementary School

Application deadline: November 30, 2011

For more information on this volunteer opportunity, please visit http://www.vsb.bc.ca/engaged-immigrant-youth or contact Jennifer Reddy by phone (604) 713 5878 or email jreddy@vsb.bc.ca

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Y57 recently posted a poll question asking youth whether or not they’d participate in an unpaid internship. 81% said yes while 13% said no, and the rest asked if unpaid internships were illegal. Seeing as an overwhelming amount answered yes, it seems that most of us are willing to work for free in the hopes of gaining experience in a particular field and being able to one-up our peers. It seems that the majority of youth believe unpaid internships are okay and maybe almost necessary in order to make a name for themselves in the working world, but are they really?

I personally answered yes because I’ve done it. I spent some time interning for probably the best sports organization of all time, Canucks Sports & Entertainment. Though I received just an honorarium at the end of my five months, I couldn’t just measure my experience in dollars. Clearly I knew my time with the Vancouver Canucks would be a catalyst for my future, or even help me find my way back to Rogers Arenapost graduation. I honestly didn’t care about the money, the experience itself was worth it.

In some cases, interning isn’t the most glamorous thing in the world. Days could consist of coffee runs, filing, endless data entry and photocopying. If the internship is unpaid, shouldn’t it ideally be benefiting the intern more than the company who hired them? In some cases, unpaid interns are doing the same work as regular employees without compensation when it should be more of a job shadowing position. Watch this segment from ABC News that discusses more on the political and legal aspects of unpaid internships. As youth we’re taught that volunteering is something employers look for on a resume because it illustrates the fact that we maybe care more about the experience than the money. We’re also taught that we need to work our way up and pay our dues in order to gain experience, build connections and get our foot in the door.

But wait, let’s not forget the recent economic downtown that requires companies to cut costs, and by costs I mean staff. This could mean that unpaid internship positions are created or expanded in order to meet the needs of the ongoing economic crisis. The economic crisis doesn’t just affect companies but what about starving students who are expected to pay for tuition, bills and rent while excelling in school and somehow graduating with a beefed up resume? Unpaid internships are not plausible for all students for that reason, so is it unfair for them to work in the service industry getting paid minimum wage and getting no where post-graduation while wealthier students can handle unpaid internships and graduate with experience?

So that’s the downside of unpaid internships, but if we can somehow change our mindset and not look at it in terms of dollar value, maybe we can see the positives. Unpaid internships may include menial work, but youth could get the chance to attend meetings, meet with clients and experience long term job shadowing in a specific field. Although unpaid internships are increasing, there are still paid internships elsewhere, and as horrible as it sounds, its a great way to pad your resume. In the long run, it might be easier to find an awesome paying job in the field you want. Another alternative is for youth to create opportunities for themselves and be their own bosses, like Y57 =)

Photo credit: www.howstuffworks.com

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 Youth who are fortunate enough to grow up with and have access to computers and the Internet have a space to generate their own content, and not just continue to be consumers of it. They can be producers. The Internet contributes to our participatory media system, one that the youth definitely have a voice in.

22 year old Communications Manager from OpenMedia, Lindsey Pinto, has been contributing her own voice and content online for various publications including OpenMedia and Save Our Net. OpenMedia is all about advancing and supporting a media communications system in Canada that promotes access, choice, diversity, innovation, and openness, and Save Our Net hopes to protect our Internet’s playing field. Lindsey believes the input and contribution of our young generation to online content is important, and that youth in general should know what the Canadian media provides in order to make a decision about who they want to be, and what kind of impact they want to make.

“A participatory media system, one where the youth have a voice, is crucial – our stories are part of a picture of Canada. Our input is valuable, no matter what, because it explains our worldview, and gives us a foundation from which to attempt to understand the views of others.” – Lindsey

However, with various online social mediums and distractions like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, today’s youth may not be taking complete advantage of what the Internet has to offer in terms of having a voice and contributing to an area where youth formerly did not have a space to do so. It is always up for debate whether having a Facebook profile counts as contributing to online media and creating an identity for yourself, or just becoming a consumer of whatever websites like Facebook offer you. Nonetheless, the fact is that there is a space for youth to participate and contribute to online media, whether or not we take advantage of it is still in question.

Help support Lindsey and OpenMedia, who is currently running an email-in campaign to keep Sun TV News from pressuring the CRTC into granting it a licence. The Commission’s deadline for submissions is Friday, October 1. Click here for details.

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How could we forget the very first awkward Sex Education class we had in school that included curiosity, chatter, and a large amount of giggling. As awkward as it may have seemed, it was an open space to talk and learn about issues related to sex and body image. When it comes to homophobia and bullying (both prominent issues facing today’s youth, especially queer youth) there is a call for a similar space for open discussion.

The Out in Schools program is working toward filling that void. Their website offers thought provoking statistics in relation to homophobia and bullying. For example, 34% of queer youth say they have been threatened with violence at school, 17% have been physically assaulted, and 71% have seriously considered suicide while 46% claim to have actually attempted suicide.

Clearly these issues have not been given enough attention.

The program, that began in 2004 by the Out on Screen Film and Video Society, brings awareness by showcasing queer films in local high schools and by opening discussion with youth on bullying, homophobia, and stereotypes. The main goal of Out in Schools is to help youth better understand these issues through a safe educational space. During the 2008-09 school year, Out in Schools presented 46 times reaching over 4,800 students.

The films shown by Out in Schools are all independent films made about, for, or by youth. Through these films, the program “hopes to encourage all students – and especially queer students – to develop a cultural voice and seek out media and art that speaks to and represents their individual identities.” Out in Schools also facilitated NO HATE, an anti-homophobia youth filmmaking boot-camp from July 19-23 that offered a five free filmmaking workshop for LGBTQ Youth from ages 14-25. These films were featured during the 22nd annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival and in classrooms across British Columbia.

Make a donation!

Become a volunteer!

Book a screening

Submit a film!

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It’s amazing to see youth take it upon themselves to create change, and to build a space for youth to get involved and to grow both as a group and individually. There are so many areas where youth aren�t expected to form an opinion, but a group like Y-TASC is working towards changing that.

Y-TASC (Youth Taking A Stand for Change) is a youth-led organization based in Surrey where a group of University students �help create a platform for youth to help them grow personally and professionally. They do this through organizing fundraisers, community building projects, debates, and much more. Y-TASC describes themselves as a highly motivated group of young individuals who are determined to work towards the development of their community.

Words that this organization live by are  Think change, Press play,� and have a future vision of being the strongest and most effective youth organization in North America promoting human rights, democracy, global awareness, environmentalism, multiculturalism, entrepreneurship, and a healthy lifestyle.

Y-TASC didn’t miss out on the opportunity to join the heated discussion on the recent HST tax that hit British Columbia on July 1, 2010. They hosted a debate on the 7% increase on June 18th, 2010 hoping to raise awareness as well as help participants get their questions answers and have their voices heard.

Keep up-to-date with Y-TASC through Facebook, or e-mail them at youth.tasc@gmail.com for upcoming events and ways you can help!

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This isn’t what you may think it is. Get your mind out of the gutter. Women in fact have a very unique connection with water. Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall recently hosted a CBC radio show titled “Women and Water” last spring that led to an online televised talk-show featuring local female activists. The show, which was meant to raise consciousness about the threats to our most important resource, took place Tuesday, March 22, 2011, on Granville Island.

Michelle describes her show as a place to highlight the work that women are doing. She was most inspired by her time living in Africa where women would walk four of five kilometres a day just to bring back the dirtiest water for their families. This continues to have a huge impact on women’s role in society in places like Africa, not to mention their health and well-being.

Michelle lives in a beautiful water-rich community in the Kootenays and is passionate about water sustainability here in British Columbia, much like the citizens she represents. Though BC residents may seem concerned about our water usage, it hasn’t stopped us from over using it.

“The people I represent are incredibly passionate about water. We live in an area that has some of the largest fresh water resources in the world. In Canada, we’re the second largest users of fresh water at 340 litres a day. We’re passionate about water but we really need to start conserving water.”

To be a British Columbian means to have the ability to neglect what’s happening globally ‘n terms of natural resource shortages and crises. We see it locally in gas and food prices, but that’s about it. It’s crucial for us to begin to understand the connection between global and local water issues.

“Vancouver and Nelson-Creston are so important because we produce 50% of the Province’s hydro-electricity, and 70% of the Province’s demand are right here in the Lower Mainland. So if something happens to those dams, well you’re not going to be able to get home, especially if you live on the twentieth floor and need an elevator, right? So those are those global issues that go right to your door step.”

It’s not just women that have a special relationship with water, but youth as well. This is going to be a huge area of importance for our generation. Whether it be doing things day-to-day like turning off the tap while brushing our teeth, or being a part of a political party concerned with preserving BC’s water sources, we need to start thinking about it. Michelle stressed the importance of young people, especially those old enough to vote, to get involved in the one place that can create the most change. There isn’t a more perfect time for this than right now as the date of our next federal election comes closer.

“What people really need to do is get involved in elections. The government is going to have a huge say over water and how our resources are managed. They need to know that our voice as younger people count, and that we are concerned about water.”

Check out the Women and Water website at www.womenandwaterforum.ca!

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Friday, March 11, 2011, marked a devastating day as the Tohoku earthquake hit Eastern Japan at a 9.0 magnitude. It was known to be the most powerful known earthquake to ever hit Japan. As destructive as it looked on-screen, and as terrifying as it was to listen to it on the radio and read about it in many, if not all online and offline news sources, I couldn’t help but realize how much it had caught the world’s attention and for such a long time.

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The era of wasteful consumption and environmentally dangerous products is slowly disappearing. Unlike our parents, today’s youth have grown up with a “green” mentality and tend not to think before making environmentally friendly decisions. “Green living” is something almost innate to the lifestyle of the green generation.   The “green” mentality is something that older generations have to actively shift to constantly after having grown up thinking it’s okay to throw everything in the garbage.

They’ve been exposed to a great deal of information about the green lifestyle and in some cases just don’t know how to take it all in. Just as adults take longer to learn the ins and outs of computers and cell phones, it will take them just as long to adapt to the green lifestyle today’s youth have been born into. It’s as if they must assimilate into a new culture and still maintain some of their old accent. We’ve all heard that with age comes wisdom, but to be completely honest, today’s green generation may be more wise about being eco-friendly than the generation who was forced to adapt.We are more likely to save something electronically in the work place rather than constantly printing and photocopying and we are probably would send an ‘e-vite’ rather than paper invitations.

Clearly the ways in which today’s youth are growing up are constantly changing and evolving; hopefully for good reason. In the case of the green lifestyle, this is a necessity that we can all teach each other. It’s great to see consumers turning down plastic bags at the grocery store and bringing their own, drinking filtered tap water in personal water bottles rather than plastic and purchasing greener products. However, I don’t want to scare you with more talk about global warming, climate change and the apocalypse, but there’s always room for improvement. So as youth, it’s our job to remind the generation before and after us about living green. When in doubt, remember the 3 R’s! – reduce reuse, recycle.

Photo from www.superstock.com

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The recent construction of the Woodward’s Building and surrounding condos in downtown Vancouver is a start in the goal of phasing out the long-term home of marginalized communities struggling to live in the Downtown Eastside, many of which are prostitutes. As an SFU student I was excited for a new campus but didn’t realize how we were just ignoring the ongoing issue of prostitution in the Downtown Eastside and that for many if not all of these women, prostitution was not a choice. The fact is that they may not have had a choice at all. With a lack of social programs and laws to help single mothers or those living in poverty, prostitution is a last resort.

Our Lives to Fight For is an organization whose mission is to create awareness that will lead to the abolition of prostitution in Canada. They believe that the ideologies surrounding prostitution and human trafficking need to be changed and this change is rooted in policy and law. Our Lives to Fight For released an amazing and thought-provoking documentary on this issue with a local perspective featuring organizations such as the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, Aboriginal Women’s Action Network (AWAN) and Asian Women Coalition Ending Prostitution (AWCEP). They heavily advocate for the Swedish/Nordic model of prostitution that criminalizes men (pimps and johns) rather than women and challenges the normative view of prostitution as a choice.

The norm is to blame women for getting themselves into such sticky situations where they resort to prostitution. Why not support single mothers who probably have one of the most challenging jobs? Our Lives to Fight For hopes for a platform to give the most vulnerable citizens a voice. Their opinions are disregarded when looking for a solution to the high numbers of prostitution in the Lower Mainland. Locally, everything that has been tried has failed. After trying to clear out the numbers of prostitutes near Knight and Kingsway, they just relocated somewhere else. As of right now, the city is trying to rebuild the Mount Pleasant area pushing more women to East Hastings. We can’t just force these women to leave and ignore the real issue here. There isn’t enough money or opportunities for those on welfare and for some, prostitution is seen as a legitimate business with the term “escort” and the booming online sex-work industry. Current laws are just protecting men who feel entitled to purchase sex and the pimps who control their sex workers and leaving women in the dark to deal with poverty and abuse.

To learn more about this issue, please watch the documentary by Our Lives to Fight For here and check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

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In hopes of sparking youth interest in global issues, Christina Guan created News4Teens, an online news source offering written works on global business, entertainment, science/technology, sports, and much more. Christina, unlike many of her peers, is highly interested in increasing the amount of globally aware teens, and hopes to finish off her graduating year at Moscrop Secondary with this in mind as she continues to offer a source that is much like Y57, something created for youth, by youth.

News4Teens ensures every article is 200 words or less in order for the information to be concise. Each piece of writing also includes what they call “readable” language and vocabulary. It may seem odd to limit themselves on how they write, but considering the minimal amount of youth interest in current events, especially when it comes to online news sources, News4Teens might be catching on to something.

A Harvard study conducted in 2007 concluded that 28% of teens between 12 and 17 said they pay almost no attention to daily news. Youth tend to enjoy soft stories about celebrities rather than hard news stories like the war in Iraq or anything to do with politics. To battle this trend, News4Teens promotes their heavily global and controversial stories on their homepage. Before clicking on the entertainment or sports section of the site, readers must first glance over headlines about the Sri Lankan or Brazilian floods, or the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that recently hit Iran. The study also concluded that one in 20 teens say they rely heavily on a daily newspaper to stay updated on local and global news rather than going out of their way to read other sources. It’s hard to pick up a newspaper and disregard the front page. News4Teens must face a common threat of being an online news source. With the Internet it’s easier to play games, conduct research, or play around with social media without seeing news.

On the Internet, readers have to make a deliberate choice to read news, and it seems that teens and young adults just aren’t doing it. Christina and her team hope that their accessible and youth-created content will stimulate youth interest in less celebrity stories but in stories that aid youth in learning about the world. Make sure to check out their website where you can submit your own article or add them onFacebook!

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In order to stand out from their rivals, the BC Liberals are introducing new ideas related to elections to grasp the attention of a much younger audience. Liberal candidate Mike de Jong recently spoke to the media of the ongoing problem of a low BC voter turnout, one that is especially low among young people.

Generally speaking, half the people in BC no longer vote, and less than a quarter of young voters do not cast theirs at all. De Jong says that lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 will spur political interest among BC youth. Perhaps giving senior high school students a chance to participate could mean that fewer people will wait until they reach middle age to cast their first vote.

�So why not let grade 12 students, as part of their graduating exercise, have their first experience democratically electing a government of their choice?� � De Jong

De Jong�s idea has been taken in by many, but also rejected, seeing as the image of young people may just be that of an easily influenced special-interest group that the Liberals would like to market to and nothing more; or perhaps that youth at the age of 16 are simply not mature enough to participate in a democratic process such as voting, and don�t care much for issues such as property taxes rising.

On the other hand, perhaps allowing 16 year olds to vote could spark a more politically minded education system where an interest in BC politics could be introduced at an earlier age. Youth do pay taxes seeing as 80% of high school students do work at some point before graduating, they live under the same laws, and therefore perhaps should have the vote. If youth are granted the vote, politicians may work harder to represent the interests of youth, a group that tends to feel alienated from politics in general.

Nevertheless, youth do have a unique perspective, and if educated at a younger age, they could be the politically minded group that the Liberals hope them to be. Make sure to vote in our online poll whether the voting age should be lowered!

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