Youth rights as a philosophy and as a movement, has been formed and is led by a variety of individuals and institutions across the United States and around the world. In the 1960s and 70s John Holt, Richard Farson, Paul Goodman and Neil Postman were regarded authors that spoke out about youth rights throughout society, including education, government, social services and popular citizenship.
The National Youth Rights Association is the primary youth rights organization for the youths in the United States, with local chapters across the country and constant media exposure. The organization known as Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions is also an important organization. The Global Youth Action Network engages young people around the world in advocating for youth rights, and Peacefire provides technology-specific support for youth rights activists.
Practice:
1. Answer the following questions and write a brief essay on one of the proposed topics for discussion:
1) What is the aim of youth rights movement?
2) What is ageism? Have you ever experienced it? When?
3) What are civil rights of young people?
4) Are there any organizations in our country protecting youth rights?
5) Is it necessary to protect youth rights?
6) Are there any obligations and duties for young people?
7) What are the areas of activity of International Youth Organizations all over the world?
Find out information about Youth organizations in our country. What are the spheres of their activities? Are they the organizations to defend youth’s rights?
UNIT 10. HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE
Text 1. New anti-drugs campaign
For young people
Active vocabulary to remember
| survey expel to convince drug double to admit stimulant hallucinogen LSD Pulp Fiction to rebel to treat dare helpline illegal to increase to addict the media female male | – обзор, опрос, анкетирование – увеличение, рост – убедить – наркотик – удваиваться – признавать – возбуждающий – галлюциноген – ЛСД (наркотик, вызывающий галлюцинации) – «Криминальное чтиво» – протестовать – относиться, обращаться – вызов – телефон доверия – незаконный – увеличивать, расти – привыкнуть – средства массовой информации – мужчина – женщина |
New survey shows that Britain's drug problem is growing. The highest increase in drug use is among teenagers. How can they be convinced to stop?
Last year, a European survey showed that the number of teenagers who had tried drugs was 6 per cent in Greece, 15 per cent in France and 30 per cent in Britain.
Statistics show that drug use by British teenagers has doubled since 1989. The half of teenagers who were interviewed admitted they had tried at least one type of a drug. 70 per cent said they had been offered drugs in the past 3 months.
The drugs that the government is most worried about are stimulant drugs such as Speed and Ecstasy (or E as it is commonly known) and hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD. They are worried that many young people believe these drugs to be exciting and fashionable. They think that many of teenagers will be influenced by films such as Transporting and Pulp Fiction, which show attractive people taking drugs.
The government decided that it needed a new anti-drugs campaign. However, before it did this, it studied young people's attitudes. The survey showed that teenagers knew that drugs were bad for them but they could not actually name any health risk associated with particular drugs. It also showed that 61 per cent of teenage drug-users would consider stopping using drugs if they thought they were a serious danger to their health.
It was also understood that many teenagers ignored drugs warnings in schools because they thought they were childish. In fact, it was proved that in some cases, the reason for taking drugs was to rebel against warnings from adults.
Using the results of the survey, new campaign has been started. The new campaign hopes to treat teenagers like adults. It informs young people of the health risks associated with particular drugs. It does this with photos of teenagers. On the advertisements, the parts of their bodies, which can be damaged by drugs, are indicated by biological diagrams showing the health risks.
Many teenagers try drugs as a 'dare' to show their friends that they are not scared. Often their friends insist until the person says ‘yes’. The health authority hopes that the advertisements will help teenagers to say "no" to this and be able to have good reason to say it. In addition to posters, the health authority has also made radio advertisements and put the number of their drugs helpline (a telephone number that can be called confidentially for help) in a lot of places. The people at the helpline advise people what to do if they have a drug problem or need more information about the dangers of drugs.
DRUG FACTS
· 31% of teenagers interviewed could not name a health risk associated with Ecstasy.
· Eton (one of England's most expensive schools) and several other schools introduced drug tests. If the tests show a pupil has used an illegal drug, he / she is expelled, and has to leave the school forever.
· It was discovered that children of 10 years old were being sold hallucinogenic drugs (LSD). The drugs had pictures of cartoon characters on them to attract the children.
· 49 % of young drug-users say they would stop using drugs if they thought they were getting addicted.
· 35 % of young drug-users say they don't know why they use them.
· MOST young drug-users say that they listen more to what their friends say about drugs than to what the media say about drugs.
· THE NUMBER of young males taking drugs is higher than the number of young females.
· THE GREATEST increase in drug use in the past eight years is by 15-16 year olds.
· MANY people argue that smoking kills more people than drugs.
· 9.75 % of British 12-13-year-olds smoke at least one cigarette a week.
· 26.4 % of British 14-15-year-olds smoke at least one cigarette a week.
Practice:
1. Answer the following questions:
1) Can a person be too young or too old to have problems with drug addiction and alcoholism?
2) Are amphetamines addictive? Are they dangerous? Why?
3) What are the signs that someone is addicted to drugs?
4) Is it possible to become addicted to a drug even if you have only tried it once?
5) What does heroin addiction do to a person’s life?
6) How are alcoholism, nicotine and drug addiction different?
7) How can you tell if someone has a problem with alcohol?
8) Can you become addicted to ‘club drugs’ such as ecstasy?
9) What can you suggest to fight drug addiction?
10) Is it a real danger to be nicotine addicted?
11) Is it necessary to introduce criminal prosecution for drug abuse?
2. Read the text again and find Russian equivalents or explain the following phrases:
| - drug use | - drugs helpline |
| - hallucinogenic drugs | - confidentially |
| - fashionable | - drug abuse |
| - serious danger | - health authority |