Petition Tag - volunteer

PLEASE - ONLY SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU LIVE IN NSW AUSTRALIA.

There is no law or regulation for volunteers in New South Wales to refer to for assistance when they find that they are not being treated fairly by the management of a charity or not-for-profit organisation, or if they are not able to convince management to review its staff management practices. Some organisations have appropriate grievance policies that provide for complaints to be dealt with by independent mediation and arbitration, but such policies are not compulsory

Many volunteers find that they are bullied and their rights not protected. They have no right to seek help from the Privacy Commissioner, the Ombudsman, or the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The Department of Fair Trading has jurisdiction over many charities under the Associations Act, but can only act if there is a breach of the Act. The Department has no power to intervene if there are breaches of the Constitution, Code of Conduct or grievance policies. Some charities take advantage of this lack of government power, knowing that the Government cannot intervene. This causes many volunteer workers to end up as involuntary unemployed.

Volunteer work is still work. Workers that receive wages have options when they are unfairly treated by bosses, but volunteer workers can't do anything about their employers. We call on government to protect all those dedicated volunteer workers who give their time, energy, and money in service to others.

Support this initiative - email this link to your friends
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/workers-rights-for-volunteers-in-nsw.html

PLEASE - ONLY SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU LIVE IN NSW AUSTRALIA.

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Volunteers are an integral part of any NGO or community organisation. They bridge the gap in skills, capacity, and resources by working tirelessly on projects. Organizations and society at large reap social benefits by using volunteers.

The Volunteer Web believes that:

- Volunteering has many social benefits that ensures the sustainability of many projects and organizations.

- Everyone should have the option of volunteering either directly or virtually through the internet.

- Volunteers should be encouraged to share their experiences.

- Volunteers should be recognized for the work they do.

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Katimavik gives Canadians between 17 and 21 years old the unique opportunity to take part in an intensive six-month volunteer service program. All Katimavik volunteers work for not-for-profit organizations that play an important role in the development of Canadian communities.

While on the program, volunteers live with 10 other youth in one or two different regions of the country and benefit from a stimulating learning process that focuses on developing competencies related to civic engagement, work experience, interpersonal relations, healthy lifestyle, cultural discovery, official languages and environmental stewardship.

Katimavik allows youth to develop their competencies, gain valuable work experience and discover new places while making a difference in communities across Canada and learning their second official language.

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Katimavik offre aux 17-21 ans la chance de participer à un programme intensif de service volontaire d’une durée de six mois. Les volontaires de Katimavik travaillent pour des organismes sans but lucratif qui jouent un rôle important dans le développement des communautés canadiennes.

Pendant le programme, les volontaites vivent avec 10 jeunes du même âge dans une ou deux régions du Canada, tout en bénéficiant d'un contexte d’apprentissage stimulant axé sur le développement de compétences liées à l'engagement citoyen, l’expérience de travail, les relations interpersonnelles, un mode de vie sain, la découverte culturelle, les langues officielles et la protection de l'environnement.

Cette expérience unique permet de développer des compétences, d'acquérir une expérience de travail pertinente, de perfectionner la langue seconde et de mieux connaître le pays, tout en faisant une différence dans les communautés d'un bout à l'autre du Canada.

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Too often people are wrongfully accused of crimes they never committed. Some police officers charge people with crimes for the mere reason to make sure they are punished for something.

If police work were to become volunteer work, the police force would have less "crooked cops" and more police officers looking only to do the right thing, and less police racial profiling.

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This petition has come about due to my involvement in volunteer work and my discovery that volunteer workers do not have the same rights as employed people.

I have contacted many groups, including the TUC, Citizens Advice and some independent solicitors and found that volunteer workers affectively have no way of defending themselves against being bullied of denied rights, for instance.

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There is a need to identify volunteers willing to help the NSS if they move their headquarters to Horse Cave, KY. Typical volunteer help entails: Loading and unloading vans, working on the Library, unpacking boxes, etc.

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The North Kelvin Meadow Campaign (www.northkelvinmeadow.com) is a voluntary community organisation in Glasgow. At the end of 2008, volunteers began to transform a derelict playing field into an inspiring green space, including a meadow, woodland, a community orchard and allotments.

Glasgow council wants to sell the land for flats, but local people feel strongly that it should remain a community space and do not want these flats on the land. Local authorities are required by law to provide allotment sites and Cosla, the umbrella body for Scotland's councils, has compiled a report which urges local authorities to acquire, manage and develop more land for allotments.

Currently the waiting list for allotments in the area is eight years. Please support us by signing the petition and writing to your MP, MSP and Glasgow Council about it! Thanks.

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These volunteers have rescued people stranded in the Victorian bush fires.

They are true heroes and deserve recognition for their efforts, the Government should award them with the Order of Australia medal, after all it is an honour reserved for the most worthiest of heroes who put themselves at risk in the line of duty.

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With recent positive talks within the Boys’ and Girls’ brigade and its volunteer forces, there is hope that this petition can be removed in a timely manner. Thanks to all for your help and dedication to this cause; we know that the organization as a hole is near and dear to so many of our hearts.

This is a reposting of an earlier petition. The first had been removed at the request of individuals closely associated with the subject.

In light of recent developments and the request of many signers the petition has been reinstated. Please take a look and sign up if you feel so inclined and have yet to do so.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

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General Electric is an outstanding company, and has been for over 125 years. Motivated and inspired by Thomas Edison, the company has been recently helping countries and people all across the world.

GE not only contributes to the medical field, the first company to ever be assigned to its 50,000th patient, but also helps developing countries and war veterans. GE values creativity and imaginative thinking trying to improve the world one step at a time. GE makes environmentally friendly products, which are also energy efficient.

By exploring alternative energy sources and reducing gas emission by 30% this company is making great strides. The expansive growth in other countries also contributes to opening new jobs and markets to people in need. GE follows the principles in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, meaning they believe in fair conduct of all workers and taking steps to make that happen by taking special precautions for its workers, making an environmentally safe and impact free work environment. GE is also the lead provider in advanced medical equipment, making them a necessity around the world.

GE, this year, has donated 2.1 million dollars to different organizations helping in Darfur. Overall, GE contributions to Africa exceed 20 million dollars. Each year, hundreds of employees from GE gather together to make communities better. These projects take place here in the U.S and over seas.

The employees reach over 1 million hours of volunteer work throughout the year, helping to once again better our communities. GE has started a Volunteers foundation, which works with local charity organizations and local communities. Recently GE has coordinated Paintfest, the largest volunteer effort ever underway.

By painting hospitals and clinics GE employees teach their customers to imagine. As well as numerous hours of volunteer work, GE also has a Disaster Relief Fund. GE has also been helping to “clean up” Asian countries. They have started projects to help clean up the rivers. GE also employees over 6,000 veterans providing for those who have served our country.

GE is very helpful to not only the United States, but countries all over the world. They provide, help, and give to those in need and have been for over 125 years. Not only does GE serve the medical and appliance industry, but they serve the people.

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HOST UK is having its core funding withdrawn and may have to close within a year. This will be devastating for the thousands of international students who apply to HOST for a weekend visit in a British home, and for the hundreds of volunteer host families who offer them hospitality.

Every year more than 300,000 International Students come to this country to study at our universities. Choosing to study outside one’s own country is not just about formal education: the students also hope to familiarise themselves with a different culture, by immersing themselves in it. Unfortunately, the high concentration of international students on their courses, and the lack of occasion to get to know people beyond the campus, mean that they often return home without gaining this valuable experience. Less than 3% ever experience family life in a British home.

HOST was founded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, The British Council and The Victoria League in 1987 with the aim of fostering international friendships and promoting cultural understanding between nations, by enabling students to meet residents of Britain in their own homes. We have developed a network of Volunteer Regional Organisers in order to link students with volunteer host families, who act as ambassadors for Britain by sharing their way of life for a weekend or at Christmas.

In the past 20 years, more than 35,000 international students have benefited from this scheme. The opportunity to spend a few days living as a member of a British family, joining in their activities and learning at first hand about our customs and beliefs, makes the students feel welcome in this country and has been proved to contribute to a successful outcome of their studies here. (UKCOSA Report ‘Broadening Our Horizons’ 2004). Indeed, the demand for HOST visits is greater than we can supply.

HOST is unique in enabling UK universities and colleges to offer extra value in a way unmatched by any other country, perhaps tipping the balance when it comes to choosing a country in which to study.

The benefits these visits bring, as students return to their own countries should not be underestimated. As the graduates progress into senior positions in government, industry and the professions, their happy memories of the time spent with a HOST family engender positive feelings towards the United Kingdom and all things British. It is worth noting, as the Prime Minister seeks to encourage links with China, that more than 38% of students applying for HOST visits are Chinese.

Until now HOST has received £140,000 per annum from the British Council – surely the best value public relations campaign the Government has ever had! This grant is being phased out due to the Government’s policy of not giving block grants to NGOs, and HOST now faces imminent demise.

Whilst HOST raises over 55% of its funding through its own efforts, the £140,000 provided the stability to pay staff salaries. We have already made our Chief Executive redundant in a recent cost-cutting exercise. We are doing all we can to raise the extra funding, but cannot afford professional fundraising help. We have also found that, because of our unique nature, we do not drop into any of the categories that grant makers will fund.

HOST looks to the government to consider whether it can afford to lose the value of HOST at so small a price.

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The Australian Government is forcing the unemployed and the elderly to join Volunteer Organizations and perform a minimum of 15 hours volunteer work a week.

Not only does the phrase "compulsory volunteer work" say it all, It is slave labour and should be abolished.

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We claim we want to increase positive contributions made by those in our world, but yet we don't protest when our media presents 99 percent of its broadcasts and papers filled with war, crime, and violence.

While it is true that these things are occurring and we need to know about them to encourage change toward peace, why can't we hold our media accountable for showing a more realistic view of us. I request you sign this petition to encourage all media to be required, through their license in journalism, to dedicate at least fifty percent of their contents to positive actions and events in the world. The reasons your support of this petition is crucial follow.

One. It has been shown that media heavily influences our behavior. If its contents continue to accentuate the negative, our young people will learn to value violence. However, if we encourage the media to dedicate at least half of its contents to positive events and actions, we will promote higher quality values of peace and kindness.

Two. It has been scientifically proven that optimism improves health. If we hear more positive news everyday, it will improve individual health, increase mood, and inspire us to act in kindness and peace. Thus, improving the health of our society by requiring media to report positive news daily.

Some other reasons include:

One. Showing positive role models.

Two. Increasing the number and willingness of volunteers.

Three. Maintaining and improving the life and services of charitable organizations who help improve quality of life for those who need assistance.

Four. Promoting peaceful conflict resolutions (right now all the media seem to be showing is crime and use of guns for this. We need to encourage the showing of positive conflict resolution through medium.)

Five. Increasing self-respect and respect for others.

In conclusion, I request that you sign this petition in support of requiring the media, through requirements of journalism licensing, to dedicate at least fifty percent of its coverage to positive news and events. In doing this, we will promote peace, values, respect, altruism, volunteerism, health, and a more prosperous world.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.

Thank you for your support to require the media to accentuate the positive for the improvement of our world.

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On the 31st March 2005-Seven of the International Volunteer Crew members of the Sea Shepherd flagship Farley Mowatt were assaulted by sealers from the sealing ship Brady Mariner.

Eighteen crew members from the Farley Mowatt had crossed a mile of ice to witness and photograph sealers from the Brady Mariner.Eight sealers armed with hakapiks approached and attacked the Sea Shepherd crew.

19 year old Lisa Moises from Germany was slapped in the face and punched in the stomach by one sealer, Another attacked photographer Ian Robichad with a hakapik, striking his camera and hitting him in the side of the head. Adrian Haley was struck in the face. Jonathon Batchlor was punched in the face. Jonny Vasic was hit in the side of the head with a club. Lisa Shalom Of Montreal was struck by a sealer as she took pictures of the assault on her crewmates. When another sealer lifted his hakapik to strike Jonny Vasik's camera, Dr Jerry Vlasak jumped in his way and took the blow across his face.

Their crime?

They were in the process of documenting evidence of a number of violations by sealers on the ice - including kicking seal pups in the face and skinning seals before testing to see if they were dead.

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A Community Member Petition.

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