TakingITGlobal Proudly Presents:

        The TakingITGlobal Dispatch! 
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For the month of June 2003 (Volume 3.5)

In this Issue:

1 -> Welcome to the Dispatch
2 -> Your Thoughts on the Environment
3 -> The Value of Water: Art Contest
4 -> What's Your Environmental Challenge?
5 -> Featured Article: Environmental Awareness
6 -> Featured Member: Haseeb
7 -> World Environment Day
8 -> Contest Winners!
9 -> Wrap Up

~*~ Welcome to the Dispatch ~*~

During the month of June, TakingITGlobal is inviting you in the spirit of cooperation and 
shared responsibility towards the enhancement of environmental quality on a local, regional, and global 
level. With this month's theme of Environment, we will be supporting and providing a workspace for youth 
who want to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, while promoting an understanding 
that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues.

Visit the Environment theme page at 
http://takingitglobal.org/themes/environment/ 
to get started!

We look forward to hearing your input on the Environmental issues going on within your 
community and the world at large!

In friendship,

The TakingITGlobal Team
mailto:dispatch@takingitglobal.org

~*~ Your Thoughts on the Environment ~*~

You can share your thoughts about the environment, pollution, issues on water and other issues 
by participating in our online chats! Scheduled chats have been organized, with fellow members passionate 
about environmental issues coordinating these chats. You are invited to attend the sessions and you can 
start your own topic specific chats.

Our scheduled chat will look at a variety of issues, including Kyoto, Pollution, and Oil and 
the environment. It will take place on:

-> Date: Thursday June 26th, 2003

Time: 07:00 (EST) :: 12:00 (GMT) :: 22:00 (Sydney)

The TakingITGlobal chatroom is located at: 
http://takingitglobal.org/community/chat.html
		
You can also share your thoughts on the Environment discussion board: 
http://takingitglobal.org/discuss/forumdisplay.php?forumid=18
	    
	    
*We will look at these issues among others:
		
* How do nations develop clear policies on how to use the available freshwater resources?
		
* The impact of pollution on our health, our environment and our economy
		
* Is the oil industry or sociological issues preventing alternative energy?
		
* The origins of, and the damages caused by, air pollution from transport
 
		
* How much influence do oil rich nations have over non-oil rich nation's decisions?
		
To help you start your thoughts, here's what some TakingITGlobal members have been saying:
		
"It is my sincere desire to see environmental issues take a strategic place in the program of 
any government. Environmental issues should be a central concern in the 21st century." Temitope, Nigeria
	    
"...Kyoto Protocol emission target requires global reduction of the consumption of the fossil 
fuels that produce GHG wastes." Muhammad, India
		
"...oil is a very convenient and relatively plentiful fuel. Replacing this convenient fuel 
will be felt by all." Robert, United States
	   
	   
	    
~*~ The Value of Water: Art Contest ~*~
	    
This month the world is celebrating World Environment Day on the 5th of June. The theme for 
this year is 'water - 2 billion people are dying for it'. As a community that is aware of and aims to take 
positive action on global issues, TakingITGlobal will be running this month's Global Gallery contest 
focusing on water. The title of the contest is 'The Value of Water' and you are invited to share your 
visual thoughts and artwork in the Global Gallery, relaying the importance of water conservation and 
fostering a sense of appreciation for the world's greatest life source. Let's help each other understand 
and preserve our environment, starting with most precious source of life on our planet - WATER!
		
Submit your artwork, images, or photos to the Global Gallery contest on The Value of Water and 
you could win an HP Digital Camera! -- visithttp://gallery.takingitglobal.org/contest/ to submit!
	   
	    
~*~ What's your Environmental Challenge? ~*~
	    
What are the major environmental issues affecting your community? What is it that you wish you 
could change? Is there too much pollution? Do you have water and/or sanitation problems? Is littering ramp? 
Now you have an opportunity to expose, discuss and act towards creating that effective change.
	    
This month on the environmental challenge, TakingITGlobal is encouraging its members to 
identify an environmental issue in their community that they feel needs changing and using their varied 
skills to create an effective platform for that change.
	    
Throughout the challenge you would be guided with next steps scenarios to give you support 
and guidance on what you need to do next. Therefore having a clearer path way and understanding of how to 
take action without having to feel overwhelmed. Keep track of progress by posting updates about your 
challenge here: 
http://takingitglobal.org/themes/environment/challenge.html

	   
	    
~*~ Featured Article: Environmental Awareness ~*~
	    
We have received exciting articles for the theme of Environment and this month's featured 
article is 'Environmental Awareness' by Temitope Oketunji from Nigeria. Temitope discusses the importance 
of community awareness of natural systems and the role that people could play, if more educated, on improving 
the state of the environment.
	    
Read the article: http://takingitglobal.org/express/article.html?cid=1373
		
Check out all the Environment articles in the Zine! http://takingitglobal.org/express/
		
If you would like to have an article featured in upcoming newsletters, please contact 
editorial@takingitglobal.org -- we'll coordinate with you on preparing for upcoming themes.


	    
~*~ Featured Member: Haseeb ~*~
	    
This month's featured member is Haseeb Humayoon from Afghanistan, who has been very active on 
the site as well as with introducing TakingITGlobal to the youth in Afghanistan. Haseeb's goal is to 
represent and give voice, representing Afghanistan's war shattered youth outside the borders of Afghanistan 
and hopefully be able to build a network of youth keen to help peace routes get firm.
	    
Haseeb has this to say about TakingITGlobal: "When I got to know TIG I realized that this was 
the place where I can be able to express my thoughts and get constructive feedback on them... with 
Need Peace (http://takingitglobal.org/express/gallery/viewsub.html?GGsID=2077 
- April's winning contest submission) illustrates a reality and it is what I have seen with my eyes and have then 
tried to let the others see what I have seen, I am glad I have been successful to an extent in expressing it 
through the global gallery."
	    
Read more about Haseeb: 
http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/haseeb
	    
If you would like to become a featured member, or have a story you want to share in the next 
upcoming newsletter, please write to dispatch@takingitglobal.org for more information!

	    
~*~ World Environment Day ~*~
	    
World Environment Day, commemorated each year on the 5th of June, is one of the principal 
vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances 
political attention and action. 
	    
The World Environment Day theme selected for 2003 is Water - Two Billion People are Dying 
for It! The theme calls on each of us to help safeguard the most precious source of life on our planet - 
water. To learn more about the events scheduled and the ways to get involved visit 
http://takingitglobal.org/opps/event.html?eventid=2688
	        
	    
	    
~*~ Health Promotion Contest Winner! ~*~
	    
For last month's contest, we asked you to share your visual interpretations of wellness and 
illness with the TakingITGlobal community. Some questions that we asked you to address were:
	    
- What do you think of when you think of a healthy lifestyle?
	    
- What are the health-related issues and epidemics people face in your community?
	    
- What are steps we can take to begin living healthier lives?
		
The winner of an HP Digital Camera for May's contest is Yara Kassem of Egypt with a 
submission which addressed her concern with SARS. You can view her winning submission here:
     	
http://takingitglobal.org/express/gallery/viewsub.html?GGsID=2131
	    
Congratulations, Yara!
	    

	    
~*~ Wrap Up ~*~
	    
If you would like to help prepare for upcoming themes, you can fill out your 
‘Contributions to TIG’ profile here: http://www.takingitglobal.org/aboutus/tigopps.html
	    
Your interest, support and involvement with TakingITGlobal helps our community 
to grow and encourage more young people to be inspired, informed and involved 
everyday! Thank you for being a member with the vision of positive change!
	    
Stay connected,
	    
Your friends at TakingITGlobal 
dispatch@takingitglobal.org
	    
--
	    
The TakingITGlobal Dispatch is the official newsletter of TakingITGlobal, 
electronically published via email, and compiled from various events and news 
from within the TakingITGlobal network. Contributions should be sent to 
dispatch@takingitglobal.org. Please include your full name, age, and your 
member name.
	    
Past issues of the Dispatch can be read in the dispatch archive, 
found at http://www.takingitglobal.org/community/newsletters/dispatch