Latest news with #Children'sBillofRights
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Delta Park Grade 5 learner works hard for a cleaner environment
Delta Park Grade 5 learner Cole Murphy created a Save Our Planet poster and installed it around the school, in an effort to encourage the idea of a clean environment. Cole explained that the poster is about trying to alert people about the danger of littering. He explained that one of the reasons he started is because there are rabbits and birds that live around the school, and they might eat the litter and get sick and die. Seeing the litter issues at the school, Cole decided to form a litter pick-up group, who have already started to pick up litter around the school. 'Before I started my litter pick-up group, I selected a committee of people to lead. Also, I am there, to co-ordinate everything that happens.' Read more: The Rocking Future Career Expo inspires Delta Park High School He further stated that some people have been joining, but some people are not exactly responding as he would hope. 'There are still some learners that we need to target, to make sure that they don't become litter bugs. Right now, it's just me and a group of Grade 4s and 5s.' Cole further stated that he hopes to spread the initiative outside the school one day. 'Right now, my main focus is here, because I don't think I have enough supporters to start spreading out… Yet. My goal is a clean school, where no animal will die of litter eating, and maybe a clean neighbourhood.' The initiative was inspired by his love for animals and the Children's Bill of Rights, which states that children have a right to a clean environment. 'I'm trying to uphold that right, because I don't feel like it is being noticed. I love animals, but also there was this book that I looked at, about saving the planet, and I really liked the message it was sending. So, I wanted to continue to spread that message. 'We're in the fight against littering. I know it won't be easy; it will be very hard, especially convincing the kids. People have had this mindset for years, and every time a mindset gets changed, like in the crossing from stone age to iron age, it's pretty hard.' The young learner said he wishes to become president of South Africa one day, and start really fixing the problems. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erin's Angels re-introduces a bill to help protect children
PHOENIX, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, and the Phoenix non-profit Erin's Angels is re-introducing a bill in remembrance of Erin Maxwell. The 11-year-old was murdered by her step-brother in their Palermo home in 2008. Erin's Angels advisory committee is urging lawmakers to pass the Children's Bill of Rights this time around. NY State Senate Bill 2009-S1510, also known as Erin's Law, was first introduced by Senator DeFrancisco in 2009. The bill never passed and has since been renamed to the Children's Bill of Rights. 'Right now, the minimum standards for care for children in New York State is abysmally low,' said Sheila Dion, founder and director of Erin's Angels. The bill aims to raise those standards — ensuring that children have access to clean water, sufficient food, proper bedding, hygiene, and other basic necessities. 'If you look at the statistics in Oswego County, our abuse, neglect, and maltreatment rate is three times the state rate. I don't see that changing without the introduction or the passage of this bill,' said Jackie Flint, president of the board of directors for Erin's Angels. The bill would also strengthen penalties for crimes against children under 14, including heavier sentences for people like Erin Maxwell's step-brother, Alan Jones. Jones served nearly nine years in prison for killing Erin. He was released in 2018 and now walks free. 'Meanwhile she's not here anymore, and that's atrocious. Shame on us as a community,' said Dion. If passed, the bill would make the aggravated murder of a child a Class A-1 felony, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. 'Our advisory committee doesn't want life to go on anymore. We want to stop it right here and say, 'No, these minimum standards of care need to be increased. They need to be raised. We need to protect these kids with this law.' And so we're asking for support from the community to sign our petition,' said Dion. Dion said about 1,500 people have signed the petition so far. She's hoping to get 10,000 signatures by September. There are also many concerns if the bill doesn't pass. 'I think we're going to see a lot of the same outcomes. As you look, just since Erin Maxwell's death, we've had three more tragedies just in Oswego County alone,' said Flint. The petition can be found here. NewsChannel 9 reached out to Senator Chris Ryan's office for an update on the bill. We're still waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
