Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 22 (211 total reports)
15.05.2023-21.05.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as a group of fascists seeks to end bodily autonomy in the US.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Bill Gates: 'You need to read' this new book about AI and education
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/19/bill-gates-you-need-to-read-this-new-book-about-ai-education.html
The book recommended by Bill Gates written by the brilliant founder of Kahn Academy, Sal Kahn, “Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That’s a Good Thing).” In my past work with Education, Social Services, and Youth Corrections, I referred many young people who were falling behind in education to the incredible learning opportunities available through the Kahn Academy. Kahn continues to innovate, now providing free AI mentoring to students worldwide through an app called Khanmigo.
Best Links of The Week
21.05.2024
The Funding Crisis Behind Teacher Layoffs
The GNP and Stock Market are misleading ways to measure the financial vigor of a country, more indicative is whether you can educate your children, feed them, house them, and clothe them. The US is a financially healthy country for the wealthy, but the signs laid out in this article show children there are suffering and going to suffer more. The backbone of teaching is not technology, it is not curriculum, it is teachers. There is perhaps no greater investment in the future of a country than its investment in educators, not education… but educators. Equipping them, training them, hiring them, and paying them. Budgets show priorities, they reveal values, what does it say about a nation that “can’t afford” to educate, provide health care, and food security to its own children? Budget projections by the GOP show they want to produce children, they just don’t want to take care of them. Donald Trump has spoken frequently about “post-birth abortions,” but the real post-birth abortions occur between the average age of five and 18, when children go to underfunded schools or have no food programs in place. The US is in grave danger of becoming one of the least educated countries in the world, and not just least educated, but MIS-educated. Educating children in religious and/or political ideology creates a close-minded, fearful population and will ensure eventual economic collapse.
20.05.2024
Pope Francis says U.S. conservatives have a "suicidal attitude"
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/pope-francis-60-minutes-interview-takeaways
Pope Francis is a world influencer that is both loved and hated by billions around the world. That’s why his words on US conservatism and his definition of conservatism is so important. He defines conservatism as "one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that." Using that definition, perhaps we all need to examine what things we cling to and do not want to see beyond? This matches closely with yesterday’s deeper concept of loneliness by Ms. Hannah Arendt. It would be a great conversation to put both ideas together and discuss their influence on our lives, our relationships, and our politics.
19.05.2024
Is Loneliness Making Us More Totalitarian?
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/05/19/mag-weiss-samantharosehill-q-a-00158439
German philosopher, Ms. Hannah Arendt, whose writings were the basis for this article, has an important definition of loneliness that includes being closed-off both emotionally and mentally. When one occurs, so does the other, resulting in a deeper isolation that most people identify. This deeper isolation also makes one susceptible to a longing for totalitarianism and, as Ms. Arendt explains, a broader leaning towards authoritarianism.
18.05.2024
Interstate travel becomes a target for the anti-abortion movement with Texas filing
Currently, four states will not allow a woman who is pregnant to divorce their husband, which has led to an increase in peripartum homicide, child marriage is legal in 38 states and the GOP is pressing for more, and now many GOP legislators are attempting to block women from interstate travel during pregnancy. This can only be done if States track women’s menstrual cycles—which Senator Katie Britt (yes, of the Republican’s creepy response to the State of the Union address) is attempting to legalize. These are but a some of the draconian attempts to end bodily autonomy being introduced by fascists in the GOP.
17.05.2024
Yes, That’s Right: American Fascism
https://newrepublic.com/article/181258/american-fascism-look-like
This article was helpful to me personally as I believe the greatest threat to our young people’s future right now is the rise of authoritarianism. For this reason, i have re-focused most of my writing on that subject. Sometimes I receive comments like, “What does this have to do with Youth Advocacy?” This article helped me with that change of focus, it debates whether the global rise in authoritarianism can be labeled fascism and points out that, rather than debate if the label is correct, it is more important to raise an alarm about the dangerous trend occurring globally.
16.05.2024
The 2024 Ranking of America’s Most Racist States
https://becausemomsays.com/25-states-confronting-the-highest-levels-of-racial-inequality/
Atheists Take Up More Than Half the Population in These 15 States
https://living.alot.com/entertainment/the-most-atheist-states-in-america--20655
It’s rare that I post two “Best Links of the Day” but these two links illustrate something very important when viewed together. The most racist states in the US are also the least educated, with the highest poverty, and the most reliance on the Federal Government for social assistance. Take a look at the article to view other signs of government failure in these states. Alternatively, the least religious states are also the states performing best the key scales where racist states are failing. You can draw your own conclusions from these articles, but it makes me even more wary of the White, Christian, Nationalist, Nation that Trump, the Heritage Foundation, and the GOP want to create.
15.05.2024
To Defend Democracy, We Must Protect Bodily Autonomy
https://msmagazine.com/2024/05/13/philanthropy-democracy-attacks-women-lgbtq-race-gender/
Ms. Magazine names this issue quite accurately, it is not abortion that the GOP is attacking, it is bodily autonomy—in all forms that disagree with their White, Christian, Nationalist, viewpoint. It includes those who decide to make personal choices about sexual preferences (and yet, the GOP seems extremely lenient about child marriage and rape). House Speaker Mike Johnson showing up to defend serial sex offender, Donald Trump, at his fraud trial reveals the height of their hypocrisy.
This Week’s Links
21.05.2024
The Funding Crisis Behind Teacher Layoffs
Trump Allies’ Horrifying Plan to Undo Democracy for Good
https://newrepublic.com/post/181707/trump-allies-plan-fbi-democracy
20.05.2024
Pope Francis says U.S. conservatives have a "suicidal attitude"
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/pope-francis-60-minutes-interview-takeaways
At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is 'still the way'
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/19/1252367711/joe-biden-morehouse-college-gaza-ceasefire-democracy
After yet another far-right controversy, how do we trust the Supreme Court with our rights?
https://www.advocate.com/voices/scotus-advo-convo-flag-alito
4 Tips for Talking So People Will Listen
19.05.2024
Is Loneliness Making Us More Totalitarian?
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/05/19/mag-weiss-samantharosehill-q-a-00158439
Bill Gates: 'You need to read' this new book about AI and education
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/19/bill-gates-you-need-to-read-this-new-book-about-ai-education.html
Decline of Decorum - 21 Manners Today's Parents Fail to Teach Their Children
Trump’s most important legal team isn’t in court. It’s on Fox News.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-trial-fox-news-coverage-rcna152819
‘How do you get hypothermia in a prison?’ Records show hospitalizations among Virginia inmates
No one should think that Trump’s ‘surrogates’ are mere ‘members of the public’
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-surrogates-hush-money-trial-rcna152894
18.05.2024
Interstate travel becomes a target for the anti-abortion movement with Texas filing
Not Sure Why I'm Surprised That Greg Abbott Pardoned A Racist Murderer
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a60831547/greg-abbott-daniel-perry-pardon/
Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/17/1251963778/youth-detention-juvenile-crime-sexual-abuse-lawsuits
This wholesome banger from a group of Irish kids is the spark you need
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/17/1252089387/irish-kids-rap-song-the-spark
17.05.2024
Yes, That’s Right: American Fascism
https://newrepublic.com/article/181258/american-fascism-look-like
7 Books for Better Mental Health
https://bookriot.com/books-for-better-mental-health/
Winners of the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024
16.05.2024
The 2024 Ranking of America’s Most Racist States
https://becausemomsays.com/25-states-confronting-the-highest-levels-of-racial-inequality/
Atheists Take Up More Than Half the Population in These 15 States
https://living.alot.com/entertainment/the-most-atheist-states-in-america--20655
Trump's "God Bless the USA" Bible deletes women's voting rights and slavery amendments
The “Day One” Dictatorship
https://newrepublic.com/article/181224/day-one-dictatorship
The End of Civic Compassion
https://newrepublic.com/article/181274/end-civic-compassion
The Heritage Foundation is gunning for your Social Security
https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/heritage-foundation-gunning-your-social-security
US prisoners are being assigned dangerous jobs. But what happens if they are hurt or killed?
Psychologist Adam Grant Says Your Overall Success at Work Comes Down to Three Familiar Words
https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/adam-grant-explains-success-comes-down-to-three-words.html
15.05.2024
To Defend Democracy, We Must Protect Bodily Autonomy
https://msmagazine.com/2024/05/13/philanthropy-democracy-attacks-women-lgbtq-race-gender/
8,000 women a month got abortion pills despite their states’ bans or restrictions, survey finds
New model suggests envy fuels the radicalization process and distorts perceptions
Trump’s War on Government Will Take Public Health Back a Century
https://newrepublic.com/article/180704/trump-war-government-administrative-state-public-health
Florida outdoor workers vow to continue heat protection fight after DeSantis ban
https://prismreports.org/2024/05/14/florida-outdoor-workers-continue-heat-protection-fight/
Donald Trump, Who Is Banned From Buying Firearms, To Address NRA
'They should all be executed.' How Trump's attacks on judges are fueling calls for violence
Trump Brought His Little Gang of Weird Buddies to Court During Michael Cohen’s Testimony
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a60787873/republican-senators-visit-trump-trial/
Devout Christian Mike Johnson Shows Up to Hush Money Trial to Defend a Guy Accused of Cheating on His Wife With a Porn Star
Winning isn’t enough for Thomas and Alito. They want praise for their destruction.
The most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/14/senate-bipartisan-senators-republicans-democrats
Don't focus on time management, try energy management instead
https://www.fastcompany.com/91123763/dont-focus-on-time-management-try-energy-management-instead