Latest news with #youthaction
National Post
a day ago
- Politics
- National Post
Michael Bloomfield: Greta Thunberg's doomed ship of moral superiority
Article content For generations, children have read the story of Hansel and Gretel, where choices have consequences, whether motivated by selfishness or kindness. Today, a new story unfolds on the Mediterranean Sea. But it is no fairy tale. It is real, dangerous, and wickedly told by those who claim to champion truth and justice. Article content Enter Greta Thunberg, a symbol of youth action. She sails toward Gaza with a group claiming to spotlight a humanitarian crisis. But there is a dark irony. They are not advocating for the victims of Hamas, including those still held in brutal captivity over 600 days after the October 7, 2023, massacre. Nor do they acknowledge that on that day, Hamas broke the ceasefire by massacring over 1,200 people and abducting 250 hostages, including women, children, and Holocaust survivors. Article content Article content Article content She does not mention the families destroyed, children murdered, or people tortured. Instead, her voyage signals support for a fanatical movement that inflicts suffering on its own people, weaponizing their pain. Article content Article content The October 7 attack was not a military operation. It was a grotesque slaughter, misogynistic, homophobic, genocidal, and antisemitic. Terrorists live-streamed as parents were butchered before their children, victims were burned alive, raped, mutilated, and paraded through the streets. Homes and fields were torched. Yet many who claim to stand for human rights refuse to condemn these crimes, justifying the horror as 'resistance.' Thunberg and others on this voyage of moral posturing may not intend to support terrorism, but selective outrage has consequences. By amplifying only one side's suffering, they empower a violent movement that victimizes both Israelis and Palestinians. Article content Mahmoud Abbas, president of the supposedly moderate Palestinian Authority, praised the October 7 attacks. Greta's support for this cause, whether intentional or not, aligns her with an ideology that glorifies terror and rejects peace. Article content Article content Yes, we must care for innocent Palestinians caught in the crossfire. But we must also face the truth: many have been raised in hatred, fed lies about Jews, and manipulated by leaders who use them as pawns in a war against coexistence. The 1988 Hamas Charter is openly antisemitic, explicitly calls for Israel's destruction, and rejects peace. Article content Article content What Thunberg once represented, truth, justice, and a livable future, is now polluted by moral confusion. You cannot defend human rights while excusing the worst violations of them. You cannot stand with the oppressed while siding with their oppressors. Article content Tiny Israel holds just one per cent of the region's land. It has made peace with former enemies and repeatedly offered compromise. The refusal has come not from Israel, but from Islamist leaders who glorify martyrdom and see coexistence as betrayal.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
National Youth Council, KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) co-design youth action programme for youths to drive social sustainability projects with industry mentor
Launch of Gen2050, a structured accelerated programme to drive youth action in the area of social sustainability with an engagement series on key social issues Avails opportunities for youths from all backgrounds to start ground-up initiatives with the support of industry mentors and subject matter experts Provides youths with critical skillsets such as stakeholder management and seed funding to advance innovative ideas SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - The National Youth Council (NYC), KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) today unveiled a youth action programme, Gen2050, to nurture youths' ability in tackling pressing societal challenges. The tripartite collaboration aims to bring together expertise and support of the public, private and non-profit sector in the areas of youth engagement, industry perspectives and part of commemorating SG60, Gen2050 seeks to equip more than 1,000 youths with practical skills to influence, mobilise and drive meaningful change. The programme aims to reach out to youths of all backgrounds, including students with disadvantaged backgrounds, to provide easy access to critical skills and competencies including social entrepreneurship, problem solving, stakeholder management, and knowledge to develop impactful and scalable offers two tracks - a structured programme with four key modules led by industry experts who will share insights to help participants develop and refine their ideas, and receive funding and mentorship to pilot them. The mentorship process also allows students to be plugged into professional networks where they get to discover potential career paths. Following the programme, selected participants of this track may be considered for national youth leadership second track features a curated series of youth engagements that offer youths the opportunity to directly engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and peers to discuss critical societal issues like the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, equitable access to digital skills and mental wellness. These insights from these engagements will support the development of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year action plan that holds the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore with the support from the rest of demonstrates how public-private collaboration amplifies youth-driven impact. NYC brings its expertise in youth engagement and understanding of the youth landscape, KPMG supports programme implementation with industry insights and its Leaders 2050 network of young professionals focused on driving positive impact. IPRS equips youths with strategic communication skills to augment the impact of their solutions."This tripartite collaboration demonstrates how the whole of society, and not just government, can collaborate as a collective to give our young people opportunities to learn, grow and drive impact at the same time," said"And if they do not succeed in implementing their ideas, they will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence. We also aim to give youths with less access the opportunity to go through this programme.""Young people have the passion and energy to address the pressing challenges of our time, from social sustainability to climate change," said"Channelling that restlessness into collaborative movements that drive meaningful progress is not straightforward. At KPMG, our experience with global youth programmes gives us a deep understanding of our next generation talents' challenges and potential. Through Gen2050, we are dedicated to equipping youth with the guidance, skills and networks they need to transform their aspirations into impactful, lasting change."said, "Great ideas often make their biggest impact when they are clearly and authentically communicated in a manner that rallies others to the vision. At IPRS, one of our focus areas is on equipping youth and participants with practical strategies and skills to sharpen their messaging, build credibility, and drive action, ensuring their go-to-market solutions translate into real-world, measurable outcomes."For more details about Gen2050's structured accelerated programme and youth dialogues, please see: Hashtag: #KPMG The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About KPMG KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. For more detail about our structure, please visit For more information, visit LinkedIn: About the National Youth Council At NYC, we believe in a world where young people are respected and heard and have the ability to influence and make a difference in the world. Together with our partners, we develop future-ready youth who are committed to Singapore by instilling in them a heart for service, resilience and an enterprising spirit. About the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Established in 1970 as a non-profit organisation, IPRS is the only accrediting body for Public Relations (PR) practitioners in Singapore. The Institute promotes excellence in the industry through knowledge exchange platforms and training programmes that are aligned with the many changes and developments in the practice of PR and Communications today. IPRS has a growing membership consisting of professionals from diverse backgrounds in public relations, journalism, advertising, marketing, education, and management – a factor that has contributed to the Institute's strength and dynamism. There are 10 Student Chapters with various tertiary institutions to create opportunities for communications students and IPRS members to share expertise and experiences. The IPRS introduced the Biennial PRISM Awards (Public Relations In the Service of Mankind) in 1987 to recognise and reward excellence in PR and Communications in Singapore and the region. About the SG Youth Plan SG60 is about Building Singapore Together, and how each of us can contribute to a Singapore that we will proudly call home. NYC and its partners are organising a year-long series of engagements for youths to connect with others who are just as passionate about making a difference and taking action to build our shared future. The engagements will culminate in an SG Youth Plan – a five-year action plan created by youths, for youths, and supported by all of us, so that we collectively do our part for Singapore and fellow Singaporeans. The SG Youth Plan will hold the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore, and details ideas for how every part of society can play a part in empowering youths to be the best versions of themselves.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
National Youth Council, KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) co-design youth action programme for youths to drive social sustainability projects with industry mentors
Launch of Gen2050, a structured accelerated programme to drive youth action in the area of social sustainability with an engagement series on key social issues Avails opportunities for youths from all backgrounds to start ground-up initiatives with the support of industry mentors and subject matter experts Provides youths with critical skillsets such as stakeholder management and seed funding to advance innovative ideas SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - The National Youth Council (NYC), KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) today unveiled a youth action programme, Gen2050, to nurture youths' ability in tackling pressing societal challenges. The tripartite collaboration aims to bring together expertise and support of the public, private and non-profit sector in the areas of youth engagement, industry perspectives and mentorship. Two-prong programme to enable youths to drive meaningful change As part of commemorating SG60, Gen2050 seeks to equip more than 1,000 youths with practical skills to influence, mobilise and drive meaningful change. The programme aims to reach out to youths of all backgrounds, including students with disadvantaged backgrounds, to provide easy access to critical skills and competencies including social entrepreneurship, problem solving, stakeholder management, and knowledge to develop impactful and scalable solutions. Gen2050 offers two tracks - a structured programme with four key modules led by industry experts who will share insights to help participants develop and refine their ideas, and receive funding and mentorship to pilot them. The mentorship process also allows students to be plugged into professional networks where they get to discover potential career paths. Following the programme, selected participants of this track may be considered for national youth leadership programmes. The second track features a curated series of youth engagements that offer youths the opportunity to directly engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and peers to discuss critical societal issues like the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, equitable access to digital skills and mental wellness. These insights from these engagements will support the development of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year action plan that holds the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore with the support from the rest of society. Gen2050 demonstrates how public-private collaboration amplifies youth-driven impact. NYC brings its expertise in youth engagement and understanding of the youth landscape, KPMG supports programme implementation with industry insights and its Leaders 2050 network of young professionals focused on driving positive impact. IPRS equips youths with strategic communication skills to augment the impact of their solutions. "This tripartite collaboration demonstrates how the whole of society, and not just government, can collaborate as a collective to give our young people opportunities to learn, grow and drive impact at the same time," said David Chua, Chief Executive Officer of NYC."And if they do not succeed in implementing their ideas, they will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence. We also aim to give youths with less access the opportunity to go through this programme." "Young people have the passion and energy to address the pressing challenges of our time, from social sustainability to climate change," said Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore. "Channelling that restlessness into collaborative movements that drive meaningful progress is not straightforward. At KPMG, our experience with global youth programmes gives us a deep understanding of our next generation talents' challenges and potential. Through Gen2050, we are dedicated to equipping youth with the guidance, skills and networks they need to transform their aspirations into impactful, lasting change." Ross Gan, President of IPRS, said, "Great ideas often make their biggest impact when they are clearly and authentically communicated in a manner that rallies others to the vision. At IPRS, one of our focus areas is on equipping youth and participants with practical strategies and skills to sharpen their messaging, build credibility, and drive action, ensuring their go-to-market solutions translate into real-world, measurable outcomes." For more details about Gen2050's structured accelerated programme and youth dialogues, please see: Hashtag: #KPMG The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About KPMG KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. For more detail about our structure, please visit For more information, visit LinkedIn: About the National Youth Council At NYC, we believe in a world where young people are respected and heard and have the ability to influence and make a difference in the world. Together with our partners, we develop future-ready youth who are committed to Singapore by instilling in them a heart for service, resilience and an enterprising spirit. About the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Established in 1970 as a non-profit organisation, IPRS is the only accrediting body for Public Relations (PR) practitioners in Singapore. The Institute promotes excellence in the industry through knowledge exchange platforms and training programmes that are aligned with the many changes and developments in the practice of PR and Communications today. IPRS has a growing membership consisting of professionals from diverse backgrounds in public relations, journalism, advertising, marketing, education, and management – a factor that has contributed to the Institute's strength and dynamism. There are 10 Student Chapters with various tertiary institutions to create opportunities for communications students and IPRS members to share expertise and experiences. The IPRS introduced the Biennial PRISM Awards (Public Relations In the Service of Mankind) in 1987 to recognise and reward excellence in PR and Communications in Singapore and the region. About the SG Youth Plan SG60 is about Building Singapore Together, and how each of us can contribute to a Singapore that we will proudly call home. NYC and its partners are organising a year-long series of engagements for youths to connect with others who are just as passionate about making a difference and taking action to build our shared future. The engagements will culminate in an SG Youth Plan – a five-year action plan created by youths, for youths, and supported by all of us, so that we collectively do our part for Singapore and fellow Singaporeans. The SG Youth Plan will hold the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore, and details ideas for how every part of society can play a part in empowering youths to be the best versions of themselves. KPMG
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kids care deeply about our planet, so adults need to start listening
'I wish adults knew that I really care about the environment and want to help, but I sometimes feel like my ideas don't matter because I'm just a kid.' This is what a nine-year-old respondent told us when we asked how they feel about the environment. In today's current political climate, many adults seem resigned to climate catastrophe and even dabble in climate change denialism. However, our survey of 1,000 youth aged eight to 14 from Canada and the United States found that children care deeply about the planet and are ready to take action. The findings from our report were produced as part of an ongoing study with the Humanity in Motion Society, a Canadian non-profit organization focused on engaging youth as key stakeholders in advancing environmental stewardship. Almost 90 per cent of the kids we spoke to recognize climate change as a real and urgent problem, calling for intergenerational collaboration and bolder environmental mitigation and adaptation commitments. It turns out that our nine-year-old respondent speaks for many children. Kids know what's at stake, want a seat at the table and need adults to act with them. Many of the kids told us they regularly take action to mitigate their carbon footprint, including recycling, embracing reusable items and conserving energy. Their accounts are consistent with numerous academic studies on youth involvement in environmental citizenship. However, many understand individual action alone is not enough. In fact, most kids recognize that systemic accountability is necessary to tackle the climate crisis. As one kid in Grade 6 shared: 'I wish big industry and governments would stop asking us to do something when they continue to fly in private jets [and] drill for oil and more; we are asked to recycle.' Kids have a deep understanding of current political issues, including the cost-of-living crisis and the harmful 'drill baby drill' sentiments, but also underscore a stark disconnect: while we instil environmentally responsible values in our children, elected leaders remain consistently inactive on these very same issues. Read more: The kids in this study display impressive knowledge about the steps that need to be taken to address the climate crisis. Our findings demonstrate that youth are not just passive recipients of knowledge but, rather, play an active role in being climate communicators. For example, two thirds of our respondents say their friends learn about climate change directly from them. Even though many children note that they do not have climate clubs at school, they are curious about the role of big oil, deforestation and corporate greed in the ongoing climate crisis. In addition to teachers and parents being the most influential sources of knowledge for children, social media content has an impact on kids' environmental behaviour and feelings of empowerment. Specifically, our data shows that talking to others online has a significant positive relationship with reported sustainable behaviour, and that watching videos has a significant positive relationship with how much kids feel they can make a difference. One young girl reflected on using Tiktok for insights on climate change while also capturing an awareness among her generation: 'I would say if there's a really big issue, like, I know there's something called the Climate Clock in New York…I mean, the thing with social media, you never know what's true and untrue, but that thing [Climate Clock] came on my 'For You' page…and everybody in the comments, they were saying 'this is very real, we have to do something about it.'' This shows that kids would benefit greatly from spaces to continue in-person environmental discussions with adults in the room. One young respondent captured the potential for meaningful engagement: 'There are a lot of things that can be done, curriculum integrations…sustainable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and maybe explore the ecosystems and biodiversities and actually encourage students to design and implement climate-friendly projects and carry out field trips and organize visits to renewable energy sites or environmental organizations and sometimes, maybe occasionally, the school can invite climate experts, activists or scientists.' These ideas were shared by others who called on adults to lead more experiential approaches to climate education inside the classroom and beyond. Read more: Here are five ways to help bring about change: Adults need to step up. Adults play a critical role in shaping how youth engage in climate action. Our report found that teachers and parents, in addition to the internet, are among the most influential learning sources for youth today. Kids often take pro-environmental values, actions and cues from their parents. Apathy is not an option if we want change. Youth are looking to leaders and elected officials to invest heavily in infrastructure and education to improve our environment. Intergenerational collaboration promotes better environmental values. Despite the consequences of climate change, youth share a sense of optimism and emphasize the need for intergenerational responsibility. Provide spaces for youth to take leadership roles and engage in climate dialogue. Kids want to do more to build a sustainable future, but don't know where to begin. Providing opportunities in the classroom and beyond are critical next steps to raise the next generation of climate leaders. Promote bold action. Kids should be able to answer the call of many climate activists who recognize the need to pursue a greener economy by working together. Our survey findings highlight a hopeful message about young people's engagement in climate action, underscoring their impressive knowledge of the systemic changes required to address the crisis. As adults across the political spectrum bicker about climate policy, young people are growing impatient and hoping to lead the way. Our results refocus attention on the future we're creating and challenge us to listen seriously to children when they seek to address what may be their generation's greatest crisis. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jen Kostuchuk, University of Victoria; Erik Steiner, York University, Canada, and Sean Lyons, University of Guelph Read more: Record rainfall in the south, drought in the north: what's causing Europe's unusual spring weather? What a 120-year-old research station is telling us about the warming of the sea around the UK Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070 Sean Lyons has received funding from Mitacs in support of an earlier iteration of the study discussed here. Erik Steiner and Jen Kostuchuk do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
