Standing Up For Communities!

[Ógra Shinn Féin]

Ógra Shinn Féin will launch a major National campaign on Drugs and Alcohol this coming weekend in Dublin.

The launch will take place this Saturday 19th January at the youth movement’s National Congress in the ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin at 2pm. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will be attending the launch.

The campaign which will run for the next 6 months is called N.A.R.C, an acronym for not another ravaged community.

It will focus on many issues relating to drug and alcohol abuse, including youth and community action, gaining a more concerted effort from government, and rolling out a vigorous and broad based awareness programme.

The National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McColgan speaking on the importance of such a campaign, said,

“Drug and alcohol abuse present a huge problem to modern Irish society leaving behind a trail of destroyed lives and ravaged communities. Ireland has for a long time struggled with chronic levels of alcoholism, and in recent years witnessed an alarming growth in the misuse and abuse of illicit drugs.”

“This cannot and will not be a finger wagging exercise, while our message is essentially pro community and anti drugs, we aim primarily to raise awareness on all matters relating to drugs and alcohol. This is not about lecturing young people but about acting as peers who are concerned at the negative effects which drugs have on a community.”

“As young republicans we believe in community led socialism, in a confident people collectively determining their own future on a localised and needs basis. However, we have all witnessed the disempowering and destructive effects that drugs, and those who are building drug empires have on communities and we wish to ignite a spark that will challenge and reverse that.”

“This will be a broad based campaign and throughout we will be engaging and working with many different progressive and related groups. This is an issue for all of us, an issue that collectively we can begin to address.”

“The N.A.R.C campaign has the potential to act as catalyst in re-igniting a proper discussion on the whole issue of drugs and how we the Irish people can relevantly campaign and act to lower the huge levels of abuse and devastating effects on our communities.”

http://ograshinnfein.blogspot.com/2008/01/gra-shinn-fin-to-launch-major-drug-and.html

[belfast rep]

Ógra Shinn Féin will launch a major National campaign on Drugs and Alcohol this coming weekend in Dublin.

The launch will take place this Saturday 19th January at the youth movement’s National Congress in the ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin at 2pm. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will be attending the launch.

The campaign which will run for the next 6 months is called N.A.R.C, an acronym for not another ravaged community.

It will focus on many issues relating to drug and alcohol abuse, including youth and community action, gaining a more concerted effort from government, and rolling out a vigorous and broad based awareness programme.

The National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McColgan speaking on the importance of such a campaign, said,

“Drug and alcohol abuse present a huge problem to modern Irish society leaving behind a trail of destroyed lives and ravaged communities. Ireland has for a long time struggled with chronic levels of alcoholism, and in recent years witnessed an alarming growth in the misuse and abuse of illicit drugs.”

“This cannot and will not be a finger wagging exercise, while our message is essentially pro community and anti drugs, we aim primarily to raise awareness on all matters relating to drugs and alcohol. This is not about lecturing young people but about acting as peers who are concerned at the negative effects which drugs have on a community.”

“As young republicans we believe in community led socialism, in a confident people collectively determining their own future on a localised and needs basis. However, we have all witnessed the disempowering and destructive effects that drugs, and those who are building drug empires have on communities and we wish to ignite a spark that will challenge and reverse that.”

“This will be a broad based campaign and throughout we will be engaging and working with many different progressive and related groups. This is an issue for all of us, an issue that collectively we can begin to address.”

“The N.A.R.C campaign has the potential to act as catalyst in re-igniting a proper discussion on the whole issue of drugs and how we the Irish people can relevantly campaign and act to lower the huge levels of abuse and devastating effects on our communities.”

http://ograshinnfein.blogspot.com/2008/01/gra-shinn-fin-to-launch-major-drug-and.html


maith thu Ógra

[Hildy]

This is one of the best programs I've heard of in a long time. That's tremendous, good luck to all involved! Way to go SF! Everyone should attend that can and support the N.A.R.C. Campaign.

[JPL]

Good work lads.

*waits for the inevitable attacks on ógra as per usual*

[East Tyrone]

This is a very positive development with the potential for considerable, societal benefit.

[robertemmett]

how is the campaign going to address the problems concerning alcohol, as most of the press relase concerned the use of drugs and associated problems

[Hildy]

how is the campaign going to address the problems concerning alcohol, as most of the press relase concerned the use of drugs and associated problems


Alcohol is considered a drug, robert. Its an addictive substance, so their message can be used inter-changeably depending on whatever the user is abusing.

[robertemmett]

Alcohol is considered a drug, robert. Its an addictive substance, so their message can be used inter-changeably depending on whatever the user is abusing.

well, jesus, hildy thanks... you are a real mine of information.

so can we expect to see protests etc outside the home of local drug dealers

or will it take the form of a "just say no, kids" approach??

[Hildy]

well, jesus, hildy thanks... you are a real mine of information.

so can we expect to see protests etc outside the home of local drug dealers

or will it take the form of a "just say no, kids" approach??


LOL! http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s6/hildydonovan/Emoticons/hysterical.gif

Well, robert......it must be my job to keep you 'abreast' of all the information and answer all yer questions! I'm just yer friendly Customer Service Representative at IR.net! Now, how else may I help you, sir?:icon_lol:

[robertemmett]

LOL! http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s6/hildydonovan/Emoticons/hysterical.gif

Well, robert......it must be my job to keep you 'abreast' of all the information and answer all yer questions! I'm just yer friendly Customer Service Representative at IR.net! Now, how else may I help you, sir?:icon_lol:


i am interested in the form this campaign is going to take.... are osf going to present it as some sort of west belfast version of "rockstars against drugs"?? and how do they differeniate between the drugs of choice?

[belfast rep]

[QUOTE=robertemmett;50457]i am interested in the form this campaign is going to take....

go to the launch

[robertemmett]

can none of the osf on this forum tell me, as dublin is a long way away and osf dont pay for my diesel

[Hildy]

i am interested in the form this campaign is going to take.... are osf going to present it as some sort of west belfast version of "rockstars against drugs"?? and how do they differeniate between the drugs of choice?

Did you not go on the blogspot link? It looks as if they will be working with various community youth groups and family service groups to bring awareness and participate in various functions to put the focus on this issue.

"It will focus on many issues relating to drug and alcohol abuse, including youth and community action, gaining a more concerted effort from government, and rolling out a vigorous and broad based awareness programme."


They will most likely be announcing these events later on their website, I would imagine.

[East Tyrone]

can none of the osf on this forum tell me, as dublin is a long way away and osf dont pay for my diesel

I'm sure they will put out more detailed information closer to, or after, the launch.

[belfast rep]

can none of the osf on this forum tell me, as dublin is a long way away and osf dont pay for my diesel
why not wish a much needed campaign good luck?

[robertemmett]

why not wish a much needed campaign good luck?


did i wish it anything else?? dont be so defensive. i was merely enquiring as to the details of the six month campaign.

osf did post it the dicussion section of the site.

i was actaully showing some interest in the nuances of their campaign, rather than the rather simple "way to go, OSF, youse are the best, so youse are" response that they seemingly crave.

[belfast rep]

did i wish it anything else?? dont be so defensive. i was merely enquiring as to the details of the six month campaign.

osf did post it the dicussion section of the site.

i was actaully showing some interest in the nuances of their campaign, rather than the rather simple "way to go, OSF, youse are the best, so youse are" response that they seemingly crave.

i am not defensive, but i do believe you are trying to find an angle to criticise just because it is Ósf.

[robertemmett]

god, why would in want to do that? i just thought that some osf here could explain their job of work for the next months? as i said before i would interested in seeing how their approach to alcohol abuse would differ from harder drug abuse.

i.e do they consider there to be a heirarchy of seriousness of the drugs??

i.e am i ravaging my community if my mate has a couple of cannabis plants in his loft and provides me and our social network with some blow? if then i use that to sit in my home to get really high.

how would this campaign tackle that or even that mindset?

[belfast rep]

god, why would in want to do that? i just thought that some osf here could explain their job of work for the next months? as i said before i would interested in seeing how their approach to alcohol abuse would differ from harder drug abuse.

i.e do they consider there to be a heirarchy of seriousness of the drugs??

i.e am i ravaging my community if my mate has a couple of cannabis plants in his loft and provides me and our social network with some blow? if then i use that to sit in my home to get really high.

how would this campaign tackle that or even that mindset?

sorry i didn't realised you were coming from a position of a vested interest

[belfast rep]

god, why would in want to do that? i just thought that some osf here could explain their job of work for the next months? as i said before i would interested in seeing how their approach to alcohol abuse would differ from harder drug abuse.

i.e do they consider there to be a heirarchy of seriousness of the drugs??

i.e am i ravaging my community if my mate has a couple of cannabis plants in his loft and provides me and our social network with some blow? if then i use that to sit in my home to get really high.

how would this campaign tackle that or even that mindset?

“Drug and alcohol abuse present a huge problem to modern Irish society leaving behind a trail of destroyed lives and ravaged communities. Ireland has for a long time struggled with chronic levels of alcoholism, and in recent years witnessed an alarming growth in the misuse and abuse of illicit drugs.”

“This cannot and will not be a finger wagging exercise, while our message is essentially pro community and anti drugs, we aim primarily to raise awareness on all matters relating to drugs and alcohol. This is not about lecturing young people but about acting as peers who are concerned at the negative effects which drugs have on a community.”

“As young republicans we believe in community led socialism, in a confident people collectively determining their own future on a localised and needs basis. However, we have all witnessed the disempowering and destructive effects that drugs, and those who are building drug empires have on communities and we wish to ignite a spark that will challenge and reverse that.”

is that not clear enough

[robertemmett]

is that not clear enough

well yes, it is fine and dandy, but really, what does osf say to young people who smoke abit of dope and dont bother anyone?

[belfast rep]

well yes, it is fine and dandy, but really, what does osf say to young people who smoke abit of dope and dont bother anyone?


This is not about lecturing young people but about acting as peers who are concerned at the negative effects which drugs have on a community.”

i am sure there are members of Ógra 'who smoke abit of dope and dont bother anyone. (well apart from your self)
this whole project appears to be based on education rather than condemnation, which is an excellent Starting point, once again you are nit picking because it is ÓSF if you have a better idea how to carry out a campaign get to work, you will my support, rather than criticising for the sake of criticising

[robertemmett]

i am sure there are members of Ógra 'who smoke abit of dope and dont bother anyone. (well apart from your self)
this whole project appears to be based on education rather than condemnation, which is an excellent Starting point, once again you are nit picking because it is ÓSF if you have a better idea how to carry out a campaign get to work, you will my support, rather than criticising for the sake of criticising

i have not critcised them over this at all, as i said trying to finding out the nuts and bolts of the campaign.

so, on the issue of dope for e.g. if they are not following a finger wagging approach, so i could expect to see a leaflet produced by OSF warning me of the dangers of prolonged and regular consumption??

[Hessian Peel]

As much as it hurts to praise OSF - best of luck with the campaign.

[belfast rep]

i have not critcised them over this at all, as i said trying to finding out the nuts and bolts of the campaign.

so, on the issue of dope for e.g. if they are not following a finger wagging approach, so i could expect to see a leaflet produced by OSF warning me of the dangers of prolonged and regular consumption??
i hope there are leaflets on the dangers of abusing all drugs, why shouldn't there be and why are you isolating it down to one drug?

[robertemmett]

well dope is probably consumed more than the other non alcohol drugs. and probably becuse it is the one drug that is less black and white in peoples minds. i think that everybody can agree on the dangers and anti social implications of pills coke etc.

but i would be interested in how the campaign will work over alcohol abuse. as leaflets alone will not cut with a 14 yr old sitting on a wall swigging cheap cider.

what strategy would be best there? a visit to the parents, offy, school. i am just interested in how this works in practice.

[Hildy]

well dope is probably consumed more than the other non alcohol drugs. and probably becuse it is the one drug that is less black and white in peoples minds. i think that everybody can agree on the dangers and anti social implications of pills coke etc.

but i would be interested in how the campaign will work over alcohol abuse. as leaflets alone will not cut with a 14 yr old sitting on a wall swigging cheap cider.

what strategy would be best there? a visit to the parents, offy, school. i am just interested in how this works in practice.

Well robert, what would have made you stay off the weed?

[robertemmett]

Well robert, what would have made you stay off the weed?


not all the tea in china:eusa_shifty:

[FTA69]

i think that everybody can agree on the dangers and anti social implications of pills


What? A load of people dancing and hugging each other?

[robertemmett]

What? A load of people dancing and hugging each other?


i was refering to the production and supply and distribution of these.

[DARRAGHB]

Good luck to all involved!

[Ernie O'Malley]

Ógra does alot a good work too I must admit, when I was young Politics was "RA RA RA brits out RA RA RA Bomb shoot stiff RA RA RA sing a tiocfaidh tune and head home" there was no actual community activism apart from purely republican interests.
Although I feel Ógra has alot of republicans involved in a movement that doesnt really cater for republicanism anyway apart from this (lol) Ógra Shinn Féin especially in campaigns like this one and the highlighting they did recently of road safety is a brilliant way to involve young people in the community and create a conscientious network of people with a wide understanding of issues beyond "brits out" and if in the future they reembark on the anti-partitionist route then those parties who get "dissaffected Ósf" members will only benefit

[Takeshi]

Firstly, I think it's a bad idea to put alcohol and drug abuse together. If you want to make any progress on the issue of drug abuse, the illegal nature of it and the financial support that people who buy drugs gives to groups like the UDA needs to be highlighted.

Is anything going to be done to encourage responsible levels of drinking. In many countries in Europe, such as France and Italy, children are introduced to wine mixed with water at an early age with dinner. Their parents model responsible drinking habits to them and as a result they do not have the problem with binge drinking that we have. For some reason we believe that 18 year olds magically know good drinking habits on their 18th birthday.

Until there is a change in how people view alcohol, things will never improve.

[duggie-89]

good work raising the issuse

[robertemmett]

i wonder if there is anypoint including the big retaliers of alcohol in such a campaign. i know the young people can send a older person in for them. but alot of the alcohol sold is directed at younger drinkers

ie bicardi breezers, and sweet alcohol drinks.

on this this case could the campaign include the vinters association that market these drinks to young girls in particular.

i strongly suspect that whiskey has poor sales amongst this demographic due to the accquired taste for it.

[duggie-89]

i wonder if there is anypoint including the big retaliers of alcohol in such a campaign. i know the young people can send a older person in for them. but alot of the alcohol sold is directed at younger drinkers

ie bicardi breezers, and sweet alcohol drinks.

on this this case could the campaign include the vinters association that market these drinks to young girls in particular.

i strongly suspect that whiskey has poor sales amongst this demographic due to the accquired taste for it.

i would agree entirly. i think the alco pops need to be looked at because if it was pints of beer and whiskey few young kids would drink.

well from my experinces whiskey has a poor support among the light binge drinkers but with me and my "aquired taste drinking friends" we have regualry went into an off licence and got whiskey that was covered in dust and drunk it that night.

[robertemmett]

i would agree entirly. i think the alco pops need to be looked at because if it was pints of beer and whiskey few young kids would drink.

well from my experinces whiskey has a poor support among the light binge drinkers but with me and my "aquired taste drinking friends" we have regualry went into an off licence and got whiskey that was covered in dust and drunk it that night.


aye but that south derry ones for you, they supped whiskey from their mama's breast. :icon_laugh::icon_laugh:

[Ernie O'Malley]

In my opinion "Drink is the Devils buttermilk", If any man had have had sense he'd a never touched it its the ruination of all before youth! Im off it a while now thank christ but if their had have been a campaign like this when I was younger I might have listened and saved a whole lot of money time embarrassment hassle and sickness !

Educating young people on how to drink responsibily and knock the mad binge sesions on the head would save alot of futures.

[McDaid--1916]

Firstly, I think it's a bad idea to put alcohol and drug abuse together. If you want to make any progress on the issue of drug abuse, the illegal nature of it and the financial support that people who buy drugs gives to groups like the UDA needs to be highlighted.

Is anything going to be done to encourage responsible levels of drinking. In many countries in Europe, such as France and Italy, children are introduced to wine mixed with water at an early age with dinner. Their parents model responsible drinking habits to them and as a result they do not have the problem with binge drinking that we have. For some reason we believe that 18 year olds magically know good drinking habits on their 18th birthday.

Until there is a change in how people view alcohol, things will never improve.

In fairness the legal age to purchase alcohol is 18 but the legal age to drink it is, believe it or not, 5!...

Maybe its not the government but our parents who enduce these habits of drinkin on young people?

[FTA69]

i would agree entirly. i think the alco pops need to be looked at because if it was pints of beer and whiskey few young kids would drink.


Hardly any young people drink "alcopops", well, not the youngfellas anyway. Most of the time its flagons of cider and cans of cheap beer.

[robertemmett]

was talking to some people today, actually from belfast, about cigarettes, who made the point that the there has been a huge drop in the numbers of teenage boys who were smoking. that smoking was mainly the preserve of teenage girls.

they made the point that due the rise in interest in sport and fitness amongst boys, especially as result of GAA successes, had made the point to teenage boys of the dangers of smoking.

though i have to admit in my experience, alcohol does tend to be the "vice" for such lads, with the desire to prove how how macho they are by showing how much they can drink.

[Ernie O'Malley]

My mates started drinking when we were about 14 and we were the fierce big men all together, 4 bottles of bud on the hike from school and sick for an hour...after that public humiliation it was time to show people what we could consume we were all the same Half a bottle of Vodka and down the hatch wohoo bright lights dizzy spells and the traditional pointless scrap with the fellas from the other school because they think they're hard men (hi)
Nobody ever (apart from the parents) said it was in anyway bad or harmful and to some it wasn't there are people who can go "buck mental" on the week end and thats them to the next week for other though 14 years of age quickly becomes 18 years of age and a whole youth enlightenment spent blocked. A pint after football with the team mates, a pint after the match, a pint after the commemoration with comrades, a session at the weekend...when alot of people reach 18-20 football training can be completely replaced with a "pool night" spent drinking and talking of how you "could a made county" only for the booze and the fegs and after an seeming eternity of every enjoyable aspect of ive starting or ending with a drink having a good time relies on having a drink.
Any move to change this cycle is welcomed a few of my mates and myself have a few regrets about taking our first 4 bud and for any young person I would say try and leave it nothing wrong with a drink but when it becomes the only way to enjoy a night out its a bad road ahead, and I hope Ógra highlight this well.

[FIM-92]

My mates started drinking when we were about 14 and we were the fierce big men all together, 4 bottles of bud on the hike from school and sick for an hour...after that public humiliation it was time to show people what we could consume we were all the same Half a bottle of Vodka and down the hatch wohoo bright lights dizzy spells and the traditional pointless scrap with the fellas from the other school because they think they're hard men (hi)
Nobody ever (apart from the parents) said it was in anyway bad or harmful and to some it wasn't there are people who can go "buck mental" on the week end and thats them to the next week for other though 14 years of age quickly becomes 18 years of age and a whole youth enlightenment spent blocked. A pint after football with the team mates, a pint after the match, a pint after the commemoration with comrades, a session at the weekend...when alot of people reach 18-20 football training can be completely replaced with a "pool night" spent drinking and talking of how you "could a made county" only for the booze and the fegs and after an seeming eternity of every enjoyable aspect of ive starting or ending with a drink having a good time relies on having a drink.
Any move to change this cycle is welcomed a few of my mates and myself have a few regrets about taking our first 4 bud and for any young person I would say try and leave it nothing wrong with a drink but when it becomes the only way to enjoy a night out its a bad road ahead, and I hope Ógra highlight this well.

Post of the year :p

[Ógra Shinn Féin]

Barry McColgan
National Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin

Ógra Shinn Féin’s N.A.R.C (Not Another Ravaged Community) campaign recognises the highly negative effects drug and alcohol abuse is having on communities and young people across Ireland, and is attempting to play a positive role in tackling this problem.

From the outset, N.A.R.C is not a finger wagging exercise; it is not about lecturing young people or communities, but rather starting a process of recognition, awareness and engagement.

Recognising there is a problem, raising awareness on all aspects of drug and alcohol abuse, and engaging with young people. We want to ask young people their opinions, on why there is a culture of drugs and alcohol misuse in modern Ireland.

Through engagement the campaign hopes to identify the underlying problems responsible for high levels of abuse and will attempt to highlight and address these issues.

This campaign is pro-community and pro-youth; it is about challenging the stereotyping and misrepresentation of modern Irish youth as anti –social and disengaged from community life.

In promoting youth, it is important to point out that more young people assist and are involved in volunteer, community, charity and sporting programmes than any other demographic group.

N.A.R.C is a campaign that stands up for communities and encourages young people to take pride in their local area. It urges everyone to collectively work together to ensure proper job opportunities, and fully resourced and funded youth facilities.

In tackling the national epidemic of drug abuse and attempting to empower communities, the campaign will strive to ensure, ‘not another ravaged community!’

The N.A.R.C Campaign will work to:

- Promote Drug and Alcohol awareness
- Lower Drug and Alcohol abuse
- Promote young people and community spirit
- Campaign for proper job opportunities and youth facilities
- Engage youth at a community level and spark a proper debate on drug abuse

http://ograshinnfein.blogspot.com/2008/02/standing-up-for-communities.html

[TomClarke]

have we not had this thread before?

[quirk]

Yes. Threads merged.

[soldier of life]

good post ernie..true