#PoliticalResponse

[breaking-news-pro]

A tale of two presidents: How L.A. fires show the difference between Biden and Trump

As communities across Los Angeles County burned Wednesday in a spate of wildfires, the crisis highlighted the stark difference between the incoming and outgoing presidents and their relationships with California.

President Biden stood next to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat, at a fire station in Santa Monica and pledged to provide full federal support to the state.

"We’re prepared to do anything and everything for as long as it takes to contain these fires," Biden said. Click for details

[audreythompson1]

JUST IN: Lady Gaga Just said: “The chaos in USA is the result of Donald Trump's irresponsible campaigning. He is not a role model, look at this mess he created” What’s your message to Lady Gaga?

[justsaying4041]

Reasons why we NEED to take a more active part in the 'Running' of the Country

The current state of governance in the United States is a reflection of both systemic challenges and the level of civic engagement among citizens. Political polarization, mistrust in institutions, and the influence of special interests often overshadow the needs of the people. However, the fabric of a functioning democracy depends on the active participation of its citizens. Here’s why and how…

[phumelelanene]

A Single Spark Ignites a Wildfire of Change

In Kenville, a community with its fair share of challenges, the first five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are undeniably the most pressing. No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Gender Equality, these are the priorities, and rightfully so. My supervisor, Chantal, always emphasizes giving more time to what's most important, especially in a community like this. And its true action is being taken on these goals, whether by us or by others. Although the efforts are not enough yet, they’re getting the attention they deserve, and I’m not downplaying their importance. But that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore the other goals. After all, if given the chance, the so-called “lesser” goals could have just as much impact. Even if it’s just getting people to think about them, or teaching them that these goals exist, it's a start.

Take electricity, for example. Some people in Kenville have hooked themselves up to the electricity illegally. You see the wires hanging around when you walk through the community. So, while I’m not going to preach about solar power or anything fancy, I can at least raise some awareness about safety. It’s funny, in a sad way, because this wouldn’t even be necessary if the government provided safe electricity. But oh well, we make do with what we have. Preventing electrocution, especially among kids, is a top priority. I plan to raise awareness on simple, practical steps, like hiding electrical cords, placing them out of reach, and securing exposed wires. It’s about taking what we have and making it safer, even if the government seems to have forgotten that we exist.

Economic growth in Kenville starts with women. We already have a job skills training program, but the turnout is not what we hoped it would be. Women, who are the backbone of this community, just aren’t showing up. My mission? Get them motivated. We need to remind them of their power and potential. Maybe it’s about showing them success stories from within their community or simply making the sessions more engaging and relevant. If we can get the women of Kenville involved, we’ll start to see real change.

In a community like Kenville, it’s not realistic to jump straight into talking about big ideas like infrastructure and industrialization when the basics aren’t even in place. It’s all well and good to dream big, but how can we discuss massive infrastructure changes when kids can’t even walk safely through their own streets? Infrastructure isn’t just about grand projects like highways or skyscrapers; it’s also about making sure that the everyday spaces where people live, work, and play are safe and clean. Let’s start small. Take the trash problem, for example. It’s everywhere littering the streets, pilling up in playgrounds, and in between their houses. When it’s not sitting there, it’s being burned, releasing who knows what into the air. Children play among broken bottles, dirty diapers, and other horrors that should be properly disposed of. This is where we begin, not with grand plans for industrialization, but with simple actions to clean up the spaces people use every day.

My first step is practical: I’ll be sending an email to the eThekwini municipality to find out why waste isn’t being collected in Kenville. If their response isn’t not up to par, I’ll take it further, all the way to the Minister of Water and Sanitation if I have to. Because while it’s important to think big, we can’t forget about the small, everyday issues that have a huge impact on people’s lives. Infrastructure is about making sure everyone in the community can live in a safe, clean environment, and that’s where the real work starts.

When it comes to reducing inequality, it’s about more than just making sure people with disabilities have equal access, tackling issues like gender inequality, racial discrimination, and economic disparities, though that’s important too. It’s also about creating a more inclusive environment for everyone, including the LGBTQI+ community. Recently, I wrote an essay about being inclusive in my practice, and I’ve started making some changes, even if they seem small. One simple yet powerful step I’ve taken is to ask my clients how they’d like to be referred to, rather than making assumptions based on appearance or gender norms. It’s about recognizing that not everyone fits into the traditional boxes society tends to use. For example, I don’t assume that a male client’s partner is female just because that’s the norm. By doing this, I’m not only respecting their identity but also creating a space where they feel seen and understood. These might seem like small gestures, but they make a big difference in fostering inclusivity and reducing inequality. It’s about laying the groundwork for bigger changes by starting with the way we interact with individuals on a day-to-day basis

So yeah, I’m just one OT student, working in a community with problems that seem way too big to handle. But don’t think a small spark can’t do much, because that’s how the biggest wildfires start. That’s what I’m aiming to be: a spark that sets off something huge. In Kenville, while the first five sustainable goals are definitely important, that doesn’t mean the others don’t matter too. Even if I’m just raising awareness about safe electricity use or motivating women to join job skills programs, it’s a start. Whether it’s emailing the municipality about waste collection or making sure everyone feels included, these small steps can lead to something much bigger. The changes I’m making, the awareness I’m bringing, these are just the start. The difference I hope to make is so big, there isn’t even a word for it yet. I’m not here just to tick off boxes; I’m here to shake things up, to push for something better, and to start something that will keep going even after I’m gone. The challenges may be big, but the potential for change is bigger, and it all starts with a single spark.

Links to Further Reading

Illegal Electricity Connections and Safety:

Understanding the Risks of Illegal Electricity Connections

Safety Measures for Informal Settlements

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Community Settings:

Implementing SDGs in Disadvantaged Communities

Case Studies on SDG Impact in Informal Settlements

Inclusivity in Occupational Therapy Practice:

Inclusivity in Community-Based Occupational Therapy

Gender and Sexual Identity in Healthcare Settings

https://www.statssa.gov.za/MDG/SDG_Country_report.pdf

References

eThekwini Municipality. (2022). Waste management services in informal settlements: Challenges and strategies. eThekwini Municipality Waste Management Department Report.

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (2021). Guidelines for inclusive practices in community-based occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3), 123-130.

Jones, S. R., & Abes, E. S. (2019). Negotiating gender and sexual identity in healthcare settings. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 13(2), 97-112.

Campbell, C., & Jovchelovitch, S. (2000). Health, community, and development: Towards a social psychology of participation. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 10(4), 255-270.

Bartlett, S. (1999). Children's experience of the physical environment in poor urban settlements and the implications for policy, planning and practice. Environment and Urbanization, 11(2), 63-73.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Health as the pulse of the new urban agenda: United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development.

Townsend, E. A., & Wilcock, A. A. (2004). Occupational justice and client-centred practice: A dialogue in progress. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(2), 75-87.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2022). Gender equality strategy 2022-2025.

[votermood]

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Discover the various powers and responsibilities of the Leader of the Opposition. Learn how this role influences governance and ensures accountability in the political system. जानिए नेता प्रतिपक्ष के पास क्या-क्या शक्तियाँ और जिम्मेदारियाँ होती हैं। जानें कैसे यह भूमिका शासन को प्रभावित करती है और राजनीतिक प्रणाली में जवाबदेही सुनिश्चित करती है।

[tmarshconnors]

Lowering the voting age in the UK.

Lowering the voting age? Are you serious? Unless we start teaching our children how the political system actually works, this is nothing more than a blatant attempt by Labour to scrape together a few extra votes. Let's get real here: our youth are barely managing to figure out their own identities, let alone navigate the complex web of political parties and policies.

Just think about it for a second. We're talking about an age group that spends more time scrolling through TikTok and Instagram than engaging with current affairs. They can tell you the latest viral dance move, but ask them to name the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and you'll be met with blank stares. 

It's not all their fault; we haven't equipped them with the tools to understand or participate meaningfully in the political process. Don’t get me wrong they can learn by themselves just like I did.  Personal responsibility goes a long way.  

If we lower the voting age without addressing this glaring gap in education, what are we really achieving? A superficial sense of inclusion that does nothing to foster informed, responsible citizens. Instead of genuinely empowering young people, we’re setting them up to be pawns in a cynical game of vote-chasing.

The Labour party needs to grow up and face reality. If they’re serious about engaging the youth, they should be pushing for comprehensive political education in schools, not pandering to a demographic that isn't ready to shoulder the responsibility of voting.

The truth is, many of today's teenagers are still figuring out who they are in a rapidly changing world. Expecting them to make informed decisions about the future of our country when they can barely decide what they want for lunch is not just unrealistic, it's downright irresponsible.

Sure, young people have a fresh perspective, and their voices are important. But let's ensure those voices are informed and educated before we hand them the power to shape our nation's future. Lowering the voting age without proper education is a disservice to both the youth and the democratic process.

So, unless we're ready to make a serious commitment to political education, let's drop this ridiculous idea of lowering the voting age. It's time to stop treating our youth as political pawns and start investing in their future the right way.