JUNIOR DIGITAL
Can a person really make a change in society?
Does the person need to have a title like a king, queen or a prince?
Do they need to hold a position like a prime minister or a principal…maybe a doctor or a lawyer?
Or do you need to be wealthy and donate lots of money to make change?
Can change be achieved without these things?
Could a person who lives in a standard 3 bedroom house create change?
I’d like to believe so…. And I’d like you to meet my Papa.
My Papa had a very successful work career and throughout all his life he’s volunteered his time.
He knew when he retired he wanted to give back to the community.
This is when he joined the Men’s’ Shed.
He helps people, lots of people.
People like the refugee ladies from Zara’s house in Jesmond, where he help built them a shed so they can safely store their belongings.
He built some garden beds at a local pre-school because they couldn’t afford it. Now the kids can learn how to grow plants and take care of them and feel proud of their achievements.
He’s built ramps for people in wheelchairs so they can access their homes more easily
He’s organised and delivered fridges and furniture to needing people so they can take care of their families and live a better life.
I’ve watched Papa for a long time now and he says there’s thousands of Papa’s and Peters, Sally and Sarah’s out there doing things like he does.
And as much as it may not seem a lot to some it must all add up?
This makes me wonder how much better the world would be if we all spared some time and did something for someone else?
Would our actions create a climate for substantial change?
Would it make things change quicker and for the better?
If we ALL followed Papa’s lead…… I think so!
— Jacob Flynn, ‘Can a person really make a change?’, Year 6, St Joseph’s Merewether, NSW.
INTERMEDIATE DIGITAL
How Climate Change Affects Developing Countries
Busola Bello: Hello, I am Busola Bello, and I am here with Ms. Kudzai and today we will be discussing climate change and how it affects developing countries. I have two questions for you today, the first one is: Why are developing countries more vulnerable to Climate Change.
Ms. Kudzai Gracious Tavonameso: To answer your question, I think developing countries are susceptible
to climate change because of how vulnerable the society and the environment is. When we look at Africa or when we look at other developing nations, we see that they do not have the resources climate
wise to adapt to climate change or to other things that may happen as a result of climate change, just like natural disasters, if I can put it that way.
The nature of the environment and lack of the resources, lack of knowledge as well, lack of early warning systems. They can't detect whether a cyclone is coming and if they can, it might not be as reliable as it is in developed countries, if I can put it that way. So that is the other reason why developing
countries are suspectable to climate change.
Busola Bello: Thank you. That's an amazing answer. And my second question was how can the Australian
Government and the government of the developing countries reduce the risks of climate change?”
Ms. Kudzai Gracious Tavonameso: Through building resilient communities. When we look at the United Nations sustainability goals, they give us a framework or a guideline as to how to build resilient communities. Because when we are looking at sustainability or when we're looking at international development it varies between countries, it varies between context. What is sustainability or what is resilient in Australia, by definition, is different from what it means to be resilient or
to be empowered or to be sustainable in developing nations.
So just understanding what those terms mean in those nations and helping them to build resilient communities based on what it actually means. So, for example, it can mean making sure that women and girls, they have access to everything that they need, like to basic human needs, be it clean water or sanitation, be it energy, be it education. So it's like looking at the development issue based on the environment, looking at what the people needs and the nature of the environment and then taking all of that information and aiding or helping them to reach where they want to reach. We are talking about climate change in terms of regions. It's really different, it's subjective to the country and to the region.
Even when we look at Mozambique, there was the cyclone that happened, I think it was 2018, and the community was impacted. But the most group of people that were impacted were the girls and the women to the extent that little girls, they were trading their bodies for food, it was that bad.”
Because if there is no rain, if there is drought, it means that parents can actually sell or trade off their young girls to get that food for them to survive. So those issues, they are really different in developing countries. So it just depends on your region, the specific region that you're actually looking at.
Busola Bello: Thank you so much.
Ms. Kudzai Gracious Tavonameso: You're welcome.
Busola Bello: I really appreciate the time and I really appreciate the advice and insight as well.
Outro:
We have been privileged with a beautiful world.
Yet our leaders have neglected their people, And the needs of others for economical gain.
Wars can occur with lack of resources due to global warming,
Young girl’s are at-risk.
Farmers and Labourers are vulnerable to early death.
We must urge the government to do something.
Amnesty international has petitions to be signed.
As civilians we uphold much power as well.
Use of social media to promote education.
Donation to developing countries.
Writing of letters.
Reduce littering.
Stop sponsoring companies that benefit from global warming.
Do something.
The little changes, are the foundation to the big ones.
— Busolami Bello, ‘How climate change affects developing countries’, Year 9, Thomas Carr Colege, Terneit, Vic.
SENIOR DIGITAL
Little Better Than Today
In the realm of youth, misunderstood and unseen,
Our voices are silenced, like whispers in between.
Dreams for the future we’ve already discarded
Within us, flames barely flicker, heavily guarded.
On Melbourne steps, rallies unfold
Disgusting views with fervour they uphold.
They treat our home like an object,
While they approve the Willow project.
Swallow your desire to debate,
They tell us to just trust the State.
Like locusts drawn to blue light,
We have completely lost sight.
Succumb to the chronic apathy,
That way you can ignore the tragedy.
Invest in Spotify premium,
Or watch a Netflix comedian.
We are selfish, lost and resigned to our fate,
Simply put the Generation too late.
The world looks away, blind to our might,
Yet despite it all, there is a beacon of light.
You hold the key to a future unknown,
With passion and courage, you’ll make it our own.
Break this silence, let your voice be heard,
With every word spoken, a revolution is stirred.
Sign a petition on Twitter,
Or even just pick up a piece of litter.
Raise your hand in defence,
And we can begin to recompense.
You are the architects of a world anew,
Unveiling the potential, let yourself dream something new.
With hope as a compass, you can chart the way
Make tomorrow a little better than today.
We are the kids of 06,
And we burn like a phoenix.
A new world we will create,
Together let's give the next generation something to celebrate.
— Thea George, ‘Little better than today’, Year 12, St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, Vic.