This week, I had an assignment at uni that involved me looking in depth at the Devon and Cornwall Police campaign, No Consent + Sex = Rape. Rapes are notoriously under-reported to the police these days, as there seems to be confusion over what "real" rape is. The aim of this campaign was to make young people aware that actually, rape isn't just commited by strangers in a public place, or a break in using force and injury, but actually that rape can also be commited by someone you may have met or known, and often happens in houses or flats. It was also important that the myths of rape were cleared up for all to see.
By talking to young girls, aged 16-21, they managed to put across the point, that excessive comsumption of alcohol can lead to them being vunerable. Not only talking to young women, but talking to men aged 17-37 they raised awareness of the consequences of having non consential sex.
To tackle this campaign they used a variety of methods, from posters and ad banners to bluetooth campaigns and facebook pages. Pretty different to see the police using facebook don't you think? Videos were also created and shown via youtube and in cinemas.
After a successful summer of campaigning, reported rapes went up 13% which is a great achievement, but as young people ourselves, what do you think would help to tackle the problem or rape, and alcohol related rape?
And to any men reading this, do you ever think about how drunk a girl is when you meet them on a night out, and what may happen later on?
Georgina x
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Friday, 12 November 2010
Tuition Trouble
As most of us are aware, this week came the student protests in London against the cuts in education funding. The cause itself is an issue that affects thousands upon thousands of people in the coutry, not just students, but parents, and universities alike.
By cutting funding for education, fewer and fewer people will be able to begin even thinking about university as a path of choice, let alone make it there. With fees being uncapped for tuition, some could look at paying £9000 a year, before they have even thought about how they are going to actually live, eat, cloth themselves, then fund the costs that courses bring with them.
How is this fair you may ask, well lets look at it from the negative side. Many students struggle enough with the debts we have already from current fees, and granted yes, if we didn't go out and spend as much money on beer and vodka as we do, then we may be a little better off, but let's face it, thats not realistic and isn't going to happen. Being as less well off as others doesnt mean you are stupid, or don't deserve to have a fantastic education. If these cuts are not biased towards those who come from money, then pigs may fly.
But, as always, we must look at things from two sides. If there is more money from tuition fees being pumped into universitys, surely those who are lucky enough to make it into the higher education system will be getting more from their money, and a better quality education? We would hope so, as over the past three years, there have been some lectures and seminars where I was unsure how anything was relevant.
Unfortunatley, during the protests, the few outweighed the masses and had to ruin it for all. Do some ignorant people really think that by throwing fire extinguishers into the crowds, they are going to end the cuts in funding? Well, no, actually now they could be looking at being prosecuted for attempted murder and spend a fair few years in a prison cell.
Change doesn't come through bullying, change comes from listening to two sides of a story, and making a compromise, something I learned in my lectures, and something others clearly didn't.
Georgina x
By cutting funding for education, fewer and fewer people will be able to begin even thinking about university as a path of choice, let alone make it there. With fees being uncapped for tuition, some could look at paying £9000 a year, before they have even thought about how they are going to actually live, eat, cloth themselves, then fund the costs that courses bring with them.
How is this fair you may ask, well lets look at it from the negative side. Many students struggle enough with the debts we have already from current fees, and granted yes, if we didn't go out and spend as much money on beer and vodka as we do, then we may be a little better off, but let's face it, thats not realistic and isn't going to happen. Being as less well off as others doesnt mean you are stupid, or don't deserve to have a fantastic education. If these cuts are not biased towards those who come from money, then pigs may fly.
But, as always, we must look at things from two sides. If there is more money from tuition fees being pumped into universitys, surely those who are lucky enough to make it into the higher education system will be getting more from their money, and a better quality education? We would hope so, as over the past three years, there have been some lectures and seminars where I was unsure how anything was relevant.
Unfortunatley, during the protests, the few outweighed the masses and had to ruin it for all. Do some ignorant people really think that by throwing fire extinguishers into the crowds, they are going to end the cuts in funding? Well, no, actually now they could be looking at being prosecuted for attempted murder and spend a fair few years in a prison cell.
Change doesn't come through bullying, change comes from listening to two sides of a story, and making a compromise, something I learned in my lectures, and something others clearly didn't.
Georgina x
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Remembering The Bling
Its the time of the year where we are seeing poppys everywhere, and not because we've had a spell of sunny weather, but Rememberance Day.
Each year most of us donate some of our change, in order to recieve a small plastic and paper poppy to pin onto our coats in order to remember those who fought in World War I. This year, the small poppy has caused a huge uproar, as Swarovski, famous crystal merchants, have produced a replica of the paper poppy, covered in spangling crystals. Retailing at £84.99, this limited edition has been sported by various celebrities, notedly on this weekends X-Factor by Simon and the gang.
Have we as a nation forgotten the values of the plastic paper poppy, and opted to go fashion concious, even with our charity choices, or is it an idea that can be marketed for the greater good. For those who buy this limited edition poppy, a larger amount of money is actually going to the greater cause, in return for an item that wont get soggy in the rain, wont fall off the pin and get swept to the side of the pavement, but something that people can keep forever, and pass down if they like?
As with everything, there are two sides to every story, and I think the two sides in this story each speak for themselves, is it a sign of vanity, clever marketing, or is it a sign that times really are changing, and that nothing can ever be simple?
Georgina x
Each year most of us donate some of our change, in order to recieve a small plastic and paper poppy to pin onto our coats in order to remember those who fought in World War I. This year, the small poppy has caused a huge uproar, as Swarovski, famous crystal merchants, have produced a replica of the paper poppy, covered in spangling crystals. Retailing at £84.99, this limited edition has been sported by various celebrities, notedly on this weekends X-Factor by Simon and the gang.
Have we as a nation forgotten the values of the plastic paper poppy, and opted to go fashion concious, even with our charity choices, or is it an idea that can be marketed for the greater good. For those who buy this limited edition poppy, a larger amount of money is actually going to the greater cause, in return for an item that wont get soggy in the rain, wont fall off the pin and get swept to the side of the pavement, but something that people can keep forever, and pass down if they like?
As with everything, there are two sides to every story, and I think the two sides in this story each speak for themselves, is it a sign of vanity, clever marketing, or is it a sign that times really are changing, and that nothing can ever be simple?
Georgina x
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