STREET VOICE
SPOKEN BY THE YOUTH, FOR THE YOUTH
ABOUT THE YOUTH
THE VOICE OF THE FUTURE GENERATION
http://www.thesafehaven.org = SAFE HAVEN WEB PAGE
ISSUE 2 August 2, 2001
WHAT IS SAFE HAVEN |
ISSUE OF THE MONTH |
HAVE YOUR SAY |
HAVE YOUR SAY |
YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
TEST YOUR IQ |
HOROSCOPES |
POETRY |
WHAT IS SAFE HAVEN?
To start off with, they exist for us. The Youth. They are there
to help us with food if we don’t have any, housing, bedding.
You name it and there they’re to help. They also have recently introduced and are
having major successes with a new de - tox program.
They are a non-religious (Christian Based) organisation so along with all your already
existing issues, you won’t be hassled to transform into a born again Christian.
They have been around for 4 years now and are only starting to get somewhere with their
organisation. All the money that they have used so far has been the founder’s and
friends money. No funding has of yet come from the State Government or Federal Government
despite continued applications being submitted.
That just goes to show how much they really care about us the youth of Tasmania. Every
Friday and Saturday night they are set up opposite Birchalls car park in the Pilgrim hall
lane way. They occasionally have a movie night, always have music, table tennis, a fire
and chairs and they also supply free food and coffee, tea and Milo (when they have some)
for any youth who wants it. All of this is free entry and most of all they provide a
friendly welcoming environment. It gives you a chance to meet new people and make new
friends. They also have a van, which will give free transport for the youth that have no
way of getting home and those who have nowhere to stay for the night are taken to safe
houses or accommodation. The founder of the organisation is a guy called Dave Davis. He is
the one that has put all the effort into the Safe Haven organisation and the street voice
magazine and he is currently trying to start up a food bank where you will be able to get
some food for yourselves and not have to starve. This is an organisation that Launceston,
just can’t survive without. It is what Launceston and the youth of Tasmania needs.
They are here to help, provide support, counselling and a hell of a lot of trust and
understanding. They are here for the youth, for us, the next generation of Tasmania.
RAPE
WHAT IS IT?
Rape is when someone is forced to have a sexual experience with someone against his or her will. This also applies to married couples, relatives and friends. It is also classified as rape when you are agreeing to have foreplay with another person and decide that you don’t want to go all the way but they do anyway. The key word in this specific case is that you have to say NO. If the other person doesn’t hear you say no then there can be no legal case against that person if charges were to be made.
GIVING THE WRONG SIGNALS
Everybody would know that when they are
drunk or sober that it is easy to be a flirt.
You see somebody across the room and think that they are sexy, babe, average or just feel
some kind of attraction to them. You be brave and go up and start a conversation with them
and sparks may fly. You could then find that hands will start moving and that you may even
end up in a full French kiss. Anyway one thing may lead to another and you could get
yourself into a really awkward situation where they are doing something that you
don’t want them to do and not being able to get out of it.
One way to avoid this happening, is to keep in mind, especially if you are drunk or at a party, is to not give the wrong signals or detailed signals unless you really want to. It’s best not to play the innocent little girl or boy and flaunt yourself all over them. It’s fine if you are in a relationship and you and your partner have an understanding. But the best way to get to know someone is not by sleeping on the first date, but by taking the time to spend time with him or her.
You may think that it is fun to have a guy/girl ask you to go for a walk away from your friends. You may be thinking, yes he/she is going to kiss me or yeah here we go. But if you don’t know the person than it’s better off letting them kiss you in front of all your friends than giving them the opportunity to go further if you don't want to.
THE OUTCOME
You may think that being raped is no big deal. After all it’s just the old in and out isn’t it????? Wrong.
People that have been the victim of rape haven’t been able to leave the comfort of their own home. They just can’t stand having people being too close to them, touching them or even trying to have a conversation with them as they just try to avoid the issue. No one understands the outcome of rape, but as I have been close to a few friends that have had this happen to them, I cant begin to describe how terrible and emotionally shattering it can be. Not only have they just had their personal self been forced upon, but they also feel that they have become half the person that they were and that they don’t have any dignity left. Even though it is different for every person, these emotions seem to be most common among the victims.
So many people these days forget that their body is the most precious thing that they own. Cause with out your body you simply wouldn’t be alive. You are the only person with the right to touch your body. No one is allowed to even put their hand on your shoulder unless you give them permission. All you have to remember is to say NO don’t do that!
WHERE DO YOU GO?
Places such as 'The Safe Haven', 'The Corner', Laurel House or your local counsellor or school counsellor can assist you in what you can do if you are raped. They also are there to talk to, as it sometimes is easier to talk to someone that you don’t know than it is to talk to your best friend.