Christmas is here, and all that it brings

Social IssuesCulture Dec 23, 2019 Tim Baker

You are probably sat reading this with a glass of bubbles in hand and loved ones dotted around busily opening presents or firing up the BBQ, the cat may have torn down the Christmas tree and batted the baubles across the living room floor during the night. Your family dog will surely be lying in wait underneath the dining room table, waiting for someone to miss their mouth and send food hurtling toward the floor for it to be devoured.

For some of you there may be empty seats around the table this year. I for one know how this can feel. For me, its the eighth Christmas without my father. The holiday has never been the same since. Loved ones who would normally be part of your Christmas card list can leave us at a moments notice, their warmth and banter will leave an empty hole in the festivities as you remember their warmth and spirit.

This Christmas, let us remember all the people that made our lives what they are today. Whether they are here or not. Let us remember and spare a thought for those that have lost their loved ones this year, this year will be their first Christmas without that special person.

Remember, and if you can, share your table with someone in need. Someone without family. Christmas can be a very lonely time of year for some people and you can change that by opening your hearts and homes to each other. This is a time of giving, a time of hope and goodwill.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

From all of us at Kiwis For Good.

Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Social Issues Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Dear young one. If you're reading this, it's because you're feeling overwhelmed right now. It might seem like there’s no way out of the pain you’re experiencing. First, I want you to know that you're not alone. Many young people face these feelings, and there is hope. This message is for you. It’s a reminder that your life is precious and worth fighting for. Read Lockdown Life 4: Approval, Acceptance and Affirmations PoliticsEnvironmentSocial IssuesCulture Lockdown Life 4: Approval, Acceptance and Affirmations We ended the last article with a brief description of disputation, accompanied by three interlocked disputation questions that can all be employed in cooperation with one another to unveil an alternate explanation for a troublesome thought or belief. We will return to disputation in a future article, but it would be most beneficial for us to continue to widen our understanding before deepening its focus on such specific practices. Read Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey Sheds Light on New Zealand’s Y-NEET Crisis PoliticsSocial IssuesCulture Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey Sheds Light on New Zealand’s Y-NEET Crisis A recent report from the Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey reveals concerning findings about the health and well-being of young New Zealanders not in education, employment, or training (Y-NEETs). The survey, which is part of the broader Youth2000 series, highlights the significant challenges these young people face, as well as their untapped potential. Read An Exposé: Study 329, Antidepressants, and New Zealand’s Youth Suicide Crisis Social IssuesTechnology An Exposé: Study 329, Antidepressants, and New Zealand’s Youth Suicide Crisis The alarming prevalence of antidepressant use among New Zealand’s youth demands urgent scrutiny. According to Ministry of Health data obtained by Kiwis For Good, in 2021, over 10,000 prescriptions for the antidepressant paroxetine were written for individuals under 30, including 1,330 for those under 19. These figures are particularly concerning given the dark history of paroxetine, a drug at the centre of one of the pharmaceutical industry’s most notorious scandals: Study 329. Read I was born in Christchurch New Zealand, into an upper class family Social Issues I was born in Christchurch New Zealand, into an upper class family I was born in Christchurch New Zealand, into an upper class family. I don't like spreading the family name around. So I'll just go by my alias, Andy. Read COVID-19: A Choice Between Panic or Patience. PoliticsEnvironmentSocial IssuesCulture COVID-19: A Choice Between Panic or Patience. The “Coronavirus” and “COVID-19” are the two phrases in everyone’s minds and on everyone’s lips at present. We have seen the mainstream media obfuscate the current situation by spewing frantic emotion rather than helpful information, and conflicting information on what your avergae Kiwi should do. Read
Help Us Help Others!

Your donations are incredibly important for us, and enable us to use our initiatives to help our fellow Kiwis.

Donate today
Join Our Newsletter

For the latest news and projects, keep up-to-date with our newsletter. We promise not to spam you; we get enough of that ourselves!