Issues news

Part of Yen’s tagline is ‘if you want abs like Calista Flockhart, don’t read our magazine,’ and now, whenever someone asks what Yen is, that is how I describe it. They get it then. So, in my ever present boredom during never-ending uni holidays, I was browsing through Facebook groups and came across this awesome group, that totally relates to that promise. It’s called Beauty vs. Industry and its basic premise is that beauty is about whatever you are, not what modern celeb culture dictates, nor what the latest magazine says. Members of the group do what I did in the picture above. Mine is pretty basic and needs a bit more added to it, but that’s simply what the group does. There are thousands of images, and I find them all so fascinating to see what people are saying about themselves, and emphasizing that they really don’t give a damn about the industry. They are all beautiful. A real pick me up.

I'm sure most of us have either held or been to a "yay my parents are in Europe, let's get trashed"  type of party. Yes, they have been wildly fun and all the more naughty, but hey, at least cop cars haven't been smashed as a result of our crazy antics! Above is ACA's story on the kid who was too 'scene' to put a shirt on or take off his 'famous' sunglasses on air. He was publicly attempting to apologise to 'who -really -knows -who'  for copping a $20 000 fine for acting like a total tool. Not only is this an absolute scream, it's actually really really embarrassing. So fella's if you want to plan a great open house party, humiliate yourself on national television and be grounded for the rest of your life, take advice from this kid; he is clearly the hottest thing around...... NOT.

Whenever the term peer-to-peer is mentioned we think of file sharing our music, movies and software online while occasionally the debate about the moral implications of the free online markets that have been created is raised again. While the debates about the legality and morality of sharing our entertainment raged on the team at Kiva.org realised that a P2P platform was the perfect way to channel loans from the rich to the poor across the globe without the overheads that leave those in need receiving a fraction of the original donation.
Benefactors are able to give loans to struggling businesses that in turn gradually repay their loan, a system that guarantees the working poor are able to gain economic independence. An independence that has enabled those such as Roselyne Namala Makendo (pictured) to expand her grocery store in Kenya to continue supporting her nine children and an invaluable commodity if the gap between the North and the South is ever to be bridged.

My Dad often sarcastically comments that I should join Greenpeace. I ain't no hippie, but I am a dog lover. While at Miranda Fair on NYE day I waltzed on into Pet's Paradise (ironic name I must say!). I see a sign in the window asking for good samaritans to baby-sit a puppy over the new year, while the 'paradise' is closed. So, of course after a whole lot of self persuasian (not) I adopted a little Boxer X for 2 days. My boyfriend, who let him bunk at his house (as my Dad is not open to adoptions, especially of the puppy type) named him Bobby Disco (seen in the picture). Bobby Disco was the best little four legged specimen to ever walk the face of this earth! Long story very short - we fell in love with him. We already have a dog each, so there was no way we could keep him. He had to go back. Taking him back to his 'paradise' was honestly heartbreaking. As lame as I must have looked I had tears in my eyes when I placed him back into his little display box. As predicted he started crying and that's the day I felt my heart break in two. After a few hours in recovery (my bed) I searched the net for ways in which we can help and rescue poor little pups in need. Monika's Doggie Rescue is like DOCS for dogs. So many dogs are left abandoned everyday and the pounds are bursting at the seams trying to house them, that most end up being put down. If your best bud is your dog and couldn't bare the thought of them in this horrible situation, click here to find out how you can get your doggie rescuing shoes on!

Even though I usually begin Christmas shopping long before Santas on boards start surfing around town, it never fails—every year I still find myself looking for that perfect present even as Carols by Candlelight is flickering on TV. Lucky for us last minute types (and animals) it’s now easier than ever to find cool, cruelty-free gifts for everyone on your list, at just about any place you go.

Hotter than Christmas dinner on Bondi Beach, most retail stores carry heaps of faux fur trim fashions, piles of pleather shoes, jackets, and accessories, and bunches of better-than-wool acrylic and cotton pullovers, socks and suits. So this year, give fur, leather, and wool the old heave ho, ho, ho and go faux instead. And remember—animal testing stinks, so steer clear of perfumes, cosmetics, and other gifts made from, or tested on our fellow creatures. That said, what are you waiting for? Get shopping!

An initiative that is sure to strike fear into the hearts of boyfriends around the world; Fanuary has been devised by NZ website myjobspace in an effort to raise money and awareness for cervical cancer. As you can see from the flyer, the premise of the fundraiser is fairly simple - but my,my,my: how the vagina does divide a nation. Fanuary’s original backer; the Cancer Foundation, recently pulled all support and association with the campaign (I can only guess it was around the time the term “Indonesian Rainforest Sloth" came up in the boardroom) and have instead joined many others in labelling Fanuary “pornographic”. Obviously it’s a fairly ambitious idea - even in today’s vajayjay friendly society of surgical “restoration” and undie-eschewing celebs – and general opinion amongst the NZ public seems to lay in either category of “ingenious” or “tasteless”. What, dear YEN readers, do you think?

An eight-year-old girl asked Santa to bring her happiness in a letter received by Chile's national postal service. The girl's wish came along with a description of her experience of being raped by her mother's boyfriend and her father.
Chilean police are now investigating and verifying the child's letter to charge the culprits involved.
The UN compiled a report last year called the Violence Against Children Study. It estimates that globally "150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence involving physical contact." The UN Study also revealed that between 14% and 56% of the sexual abuse of girls, and up to 25% of the sexual abuse of boys, was perpetrated by relatives or step-parents." It's shocking but these statistics are recognised as underestimations as many are silent victims who suffer alone. You can help the young and the defenceless in more ways than one so get in contact with organisations such as Child Wise and Stop Child Abuse to prevent more crimes against children and help victims of abuse.