If a picture is worth a thousand words then it should be extremely easy to come up with 300 words.
This is a mission in brevity.
Your task = Level 3 = Meeting the provincial standard = 300 words.
(Level 4 = Reaching 400 words and/or including more than 2 external references which support your description). That's right, I've only included level 3 and 4 - you'll note they are very similar to our regular evaluation scheme.
I'm assuming none of you are aiming for level 2?
*Remember to link your thoughts and opinions to a Global/Canadian society perspective (i.e. more than just your own personal bubble).
This is a sort of ping pong exercise. Rather than skim the weekly news I will provide you with the images (below). Make a comment which describes the issue(s) at hand AND include your opinion on the matter. Use of secondary and primary references is encouraged. When the second person decides to comment on the first users comment, the 2nd will reply to them and either expand, refutre, or bring new issues into the light.
Enjoy!
Picture #2 *("Gay" poster)
ReplyDeleteThe issues that are portrayed in this picture have to do with words which today’s kids use as slang when they are very derogatory and politically incorrect. Today when teens or just people in general use the word ‘gay’ they are most times describing something that they don’t like, agree with or, when making fun of something that to them is ‘gay.’ Why is that? It’s not like whatever it is they are referring to is actually homosexual is it? And why is it that it is used in a derogatory sense, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with being gay, bi, lesbian or whichever orientation you have decided for yourself. They key word there is yourself; it is up to you to decide where you stand, your choice to be who you want to be and be with who you want to be. For example, I’m not sure how many of you may know this but I’m bi, and it is very recent I came on to this because recently I had been question my sexuality and I realized I went with what I was told which was: you’re a boy, boys like girls that’s how it’s supposed to be. But then I thought… no, it’s not, it’s up to me to decide where I stand on this issue, and I can’t be swayed, influenced or bullied into anything else. I believe each individual should have that choice and it should be left for them to choose whichever they feel is comfortable for them. Gay rights (and all other sexual orientation rights) have become quite a big topic lately, as times change and the movement becomes bigger and more widespread drastic changes will happen, people of all orientation all over are standing up for their rights; such as gay marriage, aren’t we all just… human? If a man and woman who are as far as I’m concerned are people can marry, why can’t two guys or two girls? Times are changing; we’re learning to be more open and accepting, some examples of this such as Obama removing the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” last summer. He allowed openly gay/lesbian etc… to enlist in the army. [1] Furthermore, in New York City where two women who have been together for twenty three years were married just last summer as well: Phyllis Siegel, 77, and Connie Kopelov, 85, were married at a marriage bureau on Worth Street in Lower Manhattan at 9:02 a.m. Get this… the City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is openly gay, witnessed the ceremony. [2]
Sources:
1 - http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20082196-503544.html
2 -http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/first_same_sex_weddings_take_place_
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When I put this on the blog it removed all indents and spacing...
DeleteCan you - or the one who replies to your post - also speak to the second half of the image? (Retarded).
DeleteUsing the word "gay" is very common around the world today. This picture is really deep because it shows how people substitute a variety of different words into the word "gay" which we see and hear on a regular, everyday. Being gay is something that is common in today's society, and the word shouldn't be used an insult to potentially put down an individual, whether they are gay or not.
DeleteThe word "gay" is now the most frequently used term of abuse in schools, says a report. How did it get to be so prevalent and why do children use homophobic insults to get at each other (1)? The reason for that is because us people have grown up in a society that degrades gays and bisexuals, and it portrays them as being wrong and not normal. When a person calls you gay, depending on who you are and who has said it to you, it can be taken a number of ways. Most people that use the word as something supposed to be harmful or insulting don't mean for it to be literally gay, but something more like the words "stupid", or "dumb". Like I said earlier, they use this because gays or bisexuals are often looked down on. I think it is wrong and it shouldn't be used as an insult, and today we should be able to accept people for who they are no matter what.
Some people have mental retardation (intellectual disabilities). While mental retardation is not a bad word, when used to describe someone or something you think is bad or stupid it becomes another thoughtless hurtful word(2). The word "retarded" is another one that is used a lot in today's society, and personally I feel that it is even more wrong then using the word gay. I found it very interesting that when I was looking up the proper definition for the word "retard" and I saw different definitions from different dictionary's on websites. One of the definitions said "1. A person with a mental deficiency. 2. An offensive term used to refer to someone acting in an irritating or generally stupid way.(3)" As bad as number 2 sounds, it is the truth. People today use the word "retard" and "retarded" just like how they use the word "gay", as something to be harmful or insulting to someone or something. People who have mental or physical disabilities shouldn't be looked down, or thought differently of. People are using these words as slang, and it is becoming more and more popular considering at school I hear the words gay, and retarded the most for people insulting one another, which is completely wrong.
It is mostly children and teenagers using these words, I believe because they aren't educated about it enough to know or realize that both of these words are ones that should never be said for the reason that they say it. People should have respect for the people that are gay, bisexual, or mentally challenged. It is a sad thing to see, but if people, adults especially, explain the meanings of these words to individuals more then it would be something that isn't used as much in today's society.
(1)http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7289390.stm
(2)http://therword.org/
(3)http://m.urbandictionary.com/#define?term=retard
Gayness, I believe you forgot to address, is used as a slang term for a reason and I'd just like to point that out. Only 11 countries, to date, have legalized same-sex marriage. [1] And, might I point out, the superpower of the world is just now, still, converting to same-sex marriage. Two more states just converted last night, but it's still happening, and is by no means yet complete. [2] Lastly, I just want to say that the voters, for the first time ever in the USA, JUST approved same-sex marriage [3].
DeleteWe're going to look quickly at the connotations that these facts hold. It has been quite literally illegal to officially love someone of the same sex as you for history, and is just now changing. Most of the world still holds this belief. It has been INGRAINED into the human mind that gayness is negative, and I believe this spawned millenia ago, when it was necessary to populate as soon as possible. At that point, reproducing as the most important thing, and gayness was unthinkable. That transmuted, as time went on, to the new civilizations, and, now, is outdated. It's insane to think that that belief is sticking around, but it is.
I just wanted to make sure we understood just why the premise exists in the first place. But I agree with Benjii, in this day and age.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States
2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/07/gay-marriage-votes-us-election
3. http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/pol-same-sex-marriage/index.html
I feel as if people don’t see the word ‘retarded’ or ‘gay’ as a mean word yet it’s just as bad as any others if used in the wrong context. When I walk down the halls in school or even hanging out with friends these terms are used constantly without anyone thinking twice about it. I feel we use these terms as people used racist terms back when it was thought of as normal or ok. People use these terms because of the era we are living in I agree with Benji. I don’t think kids today have been educated on the proper use of the terms. Therefore trying to fir in or be cool they will use it has a degrading term. Like we saw with the racist terms back when they were thought of as okay and normal. As people became educated on the fact that this is not okay it slowly went away, and now those terms aren’t used has much today. If the same thing happens with these terms I believe that people will be aware of the proper use and is will slowly go away as well. All we need to do is educate.
DeletePicture # 4. (Meditation Photo)
ReplyDeleteOur world has become corrupt in the way that we no longer take any time at all for ourselves. Whether you are a mother, father, daughter or son there are always a lot of responsibilities upon everyone’s shoulders. For me personally, I don’t do nearly as much yoga as I would like. I constantly feel as if I am on the run with homework, family chores, and a job or with family and friends. According to a recent study women in their thirties only have thirty minutes for themselves in a day and women that are above the age of forty are able to have forty five minutes for themselves a day. (1) During this experiment it was found that women who don’t spend enough time to themselves will begin to feel isolated and exhausted.
In another study done in 2011, it was found that meditation could actually change the structure of the brain in a positive way. (2) In the January 30 2011 of ‘Psychiatry Research’ results were showing that people participating in and eight week meditation program showed that significant changes in brain regions which were associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress can be made. There are many studies that are being done now to prove that our increase in technology and daily stresses are having a major impact on our well-being. In my personal life, I have truly found that when I do yoga and begin to release those daily stresses, I begin to feel like a new person. This photo has a very important meaning when it says that if we think that we are too busy for taking even the twenty minutes a day to calm down and relax, then we really deserve and need to take an hour to ourselves.
Our life has become too much for a lot of us to handle especially at my age when the stresses of getting into University and doing well in school is coming upon us. The constant need to please everyone else is something that we ourselves need to reevaluate. Taking time for yourself will help you become a better person and in turn you will be able to give more out to the world. (3) The studies should be a lesson that the things you gain from taking time for yourself is a lot more valuable than the things you will delay maybe thirty more minutes.
Resources:
1. http://topnews.us/content/246674-working-women-not-getting-enough-time-themselves
2. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-benefits-of-meditation/
3. http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/apple/3427.asp
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt’s no surprise that in our world today there are inclining amounts of people with high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, depression, and a variety of other issues. We have become so obsessed with the need to go full throttle all the time. This causes us to become obsessive worriers about things that aren’t necessarily that important. Life is a delicate balance of values. We need to learn when to give our minds a rest and this is why meditation is so beneficial to people trying to achieve a homostasis, or inner balance. [1] Not only this but it channels enormous physiological, psychological, and spiritual benefits such as an enhancement in energy and strength, boosts self esteem, and more importantly helps us keep things in perspective.
DeleteMeditation helps to reduce stress by teaching us to switch off from the worries that can plague us through the day. Meditation is an opportunity to spend time by ourselves, without feeling at the beck and call of others. Spending 15 minutes to quiet the mind and focus on the present moment, makes us more relaxed and effective decision makers.
I’m sure many of us find ourselves become victims to our own negative thoughts. It is a difficult thing to remove all negativity and really focus on the positives. Some people are even of the opinion that it is impossible to control your thoughts. [2] However, the art of meditation teaches that, not only is it possible to control our thoughts, but, we can learn to stop them completely. Through meditation we can bring our unruly mind under control. This creates peace of mind and enables us to achieve what we want to. [3] Meditation shows us that happiness is not dependent on outer circumstances, but on our inner attitude.
Usually we look for meaning in life through external events and other people. Meditation, however, shows us that we can gain a greater understanding of life through knowing who we are. In meditation we gain a new perspective of life, uncoloured by our own egoistic perspective. Like Mimi said, applying to University is upon us. As senior students we feel the stress of disappointing parents and not making it where you want to be. This can all be avoidable if you take the 10, 20, 30 minutes you need to sit and release all this negativity. My mom is really big into yoga and she’s always reminding me to just sit and focus on controlling my breathing if nothing else. It really does make you feel better and lifts the heavy burden off your shoulders of whatever you may be carrying.
1. http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/
2. http://www.healthylifestyleplus.com/mind/the-benefits-of-meditation/
3. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/meditation-0505.html
Picture #7
ReplyDeleteTheres a lot of westerners who view the muslim society as something “wrong”. Many human rights activists have been fighting to help oppressed women. When you view a woman wearing a Burka, the first thing you think is that she must be sad, oppressed, and dislike what she is forced to wear. We, in North America view Burkas as a symbol of oppression, and a violation of women rights. Its is a large issue that seems to have consumed North American culture. We're always looking for something to do that makes us seem “good”. Are we really doing good though? Are we really helping people, or just forcing our own ideals on them?
It is clear that many of the women are forced behind the veil. In an article directed at members of the British Cabinet who claim the burka actually empowers women, a journalist wrote, “A number of them (Burka wearing women) have turned up at my door seeking refuge from their fathers, mothers, brothers and in-laws - men brainwashed by religious leaders who use physical and mental abuse to compel the girls to cover up. It started with the headscarf, then went to the full cloak and now it's the total veil.”(1) Many women feel depressed while wearing it, and wish they could be free.
Many women also view it as an essential part of their culture. In the same article that i used before the journalist touches on this point, "Of course, many veiled Muslim women argue that, far from being forced to wear burkas by ruthless husbands, they do so out of choice.”(1) This opposing viewpoint seems to be what the picture is pointing at. North Americans are trying to force North American ideals on others, and they feel as if they are doing “good”. For the women who are okay with wearing the Burka, we North Americans look like the ones that need help.
Instead of imparting our own ideals on these women, who do not want to wear the Burka, and are forced to do so, we should be helping empower women. By empowering women, i do not mean focusing on what their wearing, such as the Burka, but their education, and rights. We should not be enforcing our ideals on people and judging them by what they wear. It seems cliche to use the saying “don't judge a book by its cover” but we should be using that. We assume that a woman in the Burka is sad and oppressed, when she could easily be a well educated, humans rights activists.(2)
Another problem the picture touches on in our own society. We aren't perfect, but we seem to think we are. Womens rights still has a lot of work to do here at home, so why are we acting like we're the ideal society. Women here are extremely sexualized, and why would we think to share this with the rest of the world? We act like our own way of life is so much better, when really we have a lot of room for improvement.
(1)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1296132/The-burka-empowering-women-You-mad-minister.html#ixzz1JleRseDs%3Cbr%20/%3E
(2)http://health.adelaide.edu.au/gp/phcred/researchfellows/hijabresearch.pdf
(3)http://pol-check.blogspot.ca/2011/02/multiculturalism.html
Picture #1
ReplyDeleteAt this point in time, I am certain that all of us are well-aware of the pollution in our oceans; and as we should know, the majority of our Earth's surface is water--approximately 70% of the surface is water, and of that 70%, 96.5% of it is ocean water. [1] For those with a knowledge in chemistry, we know that water's chemical compound is H2O meaning that hydrogen and oxygen make water. Would it not make sense that we get most of our oxygen from water because most of our planet /is/ water? In fact, we do. It isn't the water itself, but rather the organisms (ie: algae) from the water that, through photosynthesis, give us almost 80% of our oxygen. [2] I believe the majority of the population is under the misconception that plants and trees are our main source of oxygen, and although they do indeed give us oxygen, aquatic organisms still rule out the amount of oxygen provided by land organisms.
None of us can deny the pollution in the oceans, but do we know where it comes from? Over 80% of water pollution comes from land activities. [3] Oil spills, fertilizers, garbage, sewage disposal, and toxic chemicals. But how do these pollutants make their way into the waters? In some cases (ie: oil spills) humans directly expose the water to the pollutant, but the majority of water pollution is indirect. For example, a farmer living near the coast sprays his crops with fertilizer and the next day it rains. The rain causes a runoff of the fertilizer and the contaminated rainwater eventually makes its way to the water. "The extra nutrients from the fertilizer cause eutrophication - flourishing of algal blooms that deplete the water's dissolved oxygen and suffocate other marine life. Eutrophication has created enormous dead zones in several parts of the world, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea." [3]
What many of us do not realize is that most of what we do not carefully and properly dispose of ends up in the sea; one of the main marine pollutants is plastic. The big issue with this is that most water animals confuse plastic waste as food. "High concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles. Plastic six-pack rings for drink bottles can also choke marine animals. This garbage can also come back to shore, where it pollutes beaches and other coastal habitats." [3]
(continued)
DeleteThere has been a rise in number of endangered and extinct species and human-caused pollution is certainly a main factor. [4] Habitats and ecosystems are destroyed because of pollution that humans create. And when one organism is removed from an ecosystem, the entire ecosystem falls. "Every link in a food web is connected to at least two others. The biomass of an ecosystem depends on how balanced and connected its food web is. When one link in the food web is threatened, some or all of the links are weakened or stressed. The ecosystem's biomass declines." [3]
I personally believe that this issue is something that is not directly brought to attention. In elementary school, teachers put a heavy emphasis that we should not litter, but we are never fully educated on the consequences of littering, and we certainly are not told that almost everything we improperly dispose of will end up in the ocean. Because our oceans are such a big part of our world, and also our main source of oxygen it is a no-brainer that we reduce and ultimately put an end to ocean pollution. Not only does accumulation of waste in the oceans affect the organisms living there, but it also affects us; as I have stated numerous times, the ocean is our main source of oxygen, so of course the oxygen we breathe will be tainted by the pollution of our waters. Despite several policies against ocean and water pollution [5] our waters continue to be used as a dumping place for waste. In order to sustain our Earth and rebuild a clean world, we need to tackle the source--our oceans.
1. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
2. http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/12/important-organism/
3. http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution/
4. http://www.epa.gov/ncer/biodiversity/pubs/ppg_vol29_239.pdf
5. http://www.epa.gov/international/water/marine/treaties.html
The oceans are enormous but they are not infinite. In the past the oceans were treated as a giant disposal area for all types of refuse with the belief that the enormous size of the oceans would be enough to dilute and render harmless any materials we put into them. Today, we are starting to realize that the ocean ecosystem as a whole is under tremendous stress from a variety of sources of pollution. By putting too much pollution into the oceans, humans are threatening to permanently alter the oceans and all life within them in ways we are only beginning to understand.
DeleteOne of the most common pollutants in our oceans is plastic. Plastic as we know it, really only came into mass production after the first world war and in the relatively short amount of time that it’s been in use, it has already spread to every corner of the globe. [1] Estimates show that marine litter is now 60–80% plastic, reaching 90–95% in some areas. All of it is harmful. Plastic bottle caps, drinking straws, string and sealing tabs are all swallowed by sea turtles along with plastic pens and beakers, which can break into small harmful pieces and have been found in large quantities, accumulated in the animals' stomachs. Plastic six-pack loops, that hold containers together, can appeal to young playful animals, such as seals and others. However, these games may result in the entrapment and strangulation of the animals.
As a result of the increased levels of C02 in the atmosphere our oceans are becoming more acidic. The ocean’s naturally absorb a certain amount of C02 but are now absorbing more as the levels present in the atmosphere increase. [2] This is resulting in a more acidic ocean which has the potential to alter marine ecosystems completely.
People once assumed that the ocean was so large that all pollutants would be diluted and dispersed to safe levels. [3] But in reality, they have not disappeared - and some toxic man-made chemicals have even become more concentrated as they have entered the food chain.
1) http://www.savemyoceans.com/plastics.php
2) http://www.examiner.com/article/lethal-carbon-dioxide-and-ocean-acidification-threaten-marine-life
3) http://www.livescience.com/1992-invisible-plastic-trash-poses-newfound-threat-sea-life.html
Picture #7: Cultural Differences and Judging Reformity
ReplyDeleteThis is my weekly post.Who would we be? Really. If there were no rules, no expectations. I’m not saying, “sure drink and drive when you’re four.” I mean emotional limitations. No past to live up to, no future forced to attain. We’re all striving for this delusional idea of perfectionism, by living through pessimism. Sometimes you have to wonder, what it is that makes us think the way we do. The obvious answer of course being influential factors found in society by whom you are constantly surrounded, being impressed by ideas that are not your own, but of others; others who have attained these ideas by “other others.” But who was it that first started these ideas, in both negative and positive ways. I believe it to be the strongest of us all, the most confident and secure people, people who dared to be different.
If you tell a pretty girl she’s pretty, she’ll often deny it or in some subtle way degrade herself. Why can’t you just say thank you? She’s either not pretty enough or thin enough, smart enough, or popular enough. But who’s to decide that? She is. The mind set of these kinds of people never works along the lines of who they truly want to be, it’s always a comparison against people they believe they should be. Being yourself? No way! That’s not enough; don’t you want to be perfect? Sure, but tell me, what is perfect?
The idea of perfection or even normal varies so drastically between countries, race, societies and religions; that being the larger spectrum of it all. It also can be strikingly different between high schools, groups of friends or family. What might be normal for an Amish Family would be in such contrast to the life of a multi-millionaire. In this case, what may be normal in an American family may differ from the beliefs of a Muslim family. I don’t believe there’s a normal, but there is most certainly a very obvious average that varies and changes based on where one lives and are brought up, religious factors, family influence, the list goes on. What we believe to be a society in which everyone is free, free to do as they please, say what they like, and look how they want to, is definitely not a society free of harsh judgement. It’s a society free of verbal confrontations with their judgements…at least for the most part.
In the picture depicted above, both women are severely judging one and other without knowing anything about the person whom they are viewing. The woman in the hijab (1) sees the woman in the bikini as starving for male attention, thinking that she is objectifying herself to men and perhaps even sees her as being promiscuous. The woman in the bikini looks at the woman in the hijab to be “covered up”, to be the property of her husband, confined to old ideas or even, due to racial stereotypes, as someone to be afraid of, perhaps as a terrorist. These judgments are what tear us apart as a human race; it creates space between countries and people as opposed to the unity that we all say that we try so diligently to achieve. Why would women fight so hard for equality if they were unwilling to treat other members of their same gender unequally? To me, that doesn’t make very much sense. A woman should still be treated just as that, a woman, a person who is strong and independent, someone’s sister or mother, a human being who brings life into this world and ultimately as a human being and a person.
This is not a Hijab, it is a Burqa. Two different things.
DeleteThe objective of both is to convey modesty, but yes you're right.
Delete(continued)
ReplyDeleteMaybe, if these two women sat down and spoke to one another, they would learn about why it is the other person dresses and acts the way they do. Perhaps, the woman in the bikini would understand that the hijab or a head cover engenders a certain spiritual state of receptivity and centeredness and that to her it represents honor and respect towards her being. Being proud of her religion, it also openly identifies her as being Muslim to the rest of the world. (2) When the woman in the hijab asks the woman in the bikini about her choice of attire, perhaps she would learn that the woman recently lost 80 pounds after being overweight and is just proud of her new body. Perhaps she lacked the confidence to wear such things before and is not seeking attention, but rather just gaining more confidence through her accomplishments.
This is what irks me about our society, we claim we’re open-minded, welcoming, we love everyone for who they are...no. We don’t. We love what we know, but in reality we’ll never know anything, as much as we’d like to think we do. The relevance of this being that by impressing so many expectations or standards of living because we are a Westernized society, or because we are Canadian, can in fact have negative repercussions even though they are set out with a positive intent. Sometimes, reformity in the forms of equality is most certainly something positive, but sometimes, not all individuals are on equal levels in every aspect. Whether it is for example through financial status, intelligence level, social standings, the list goes on. There is no real normal, no perfection, and no “right” way to live. There is you, and an ever-going battle between who you want to be, and who you’re supposed to be. We just have to fight it out, and pray the right side wins.
Sources:
(1)http://www.discoveringislam.org/hijab.htm
(2)http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/152/17_reasons_why_women_wear_headscarves
(3)http://books.google.ca/books/about/Multicultural_Jurisdictions.html?id=E87C6qTgHscC
This video was also very insightful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgK1-HkP3-U
This is my weekly post on the "Iceland Blackout" photo.
ReplyDeleteI will quickly explain, in more detail, the situation which has wracked Iceland for some 4 years now.
They have changed their country quite simply, and revolted against some very uncool behaviour by some bankers and private investors who got very rich.
There were a few banks in Iceland which became to get very rich very quickly with the economic fall of the world. How? Easily. They offered a new program called "Icesave" [1] in which they offered 6% interest and huge loans to people in Britain and Norway. They set up a very carefully crafted deception which let people believe that these "Icesave" bank loans had national protection against system collapses. They collected, in all, $10,000,000,000 from 300,00 British people (the population of Iceland) alone.
They didn't truly have this national protection, though, because that protection comes from the pool of money, which comes from the other banks in the industry. That fails, however, when every single bank in the system fails, as it did.
Now the people in Britain were left in the gutter, and they were losing their money, and the interest rates in the Iceland accounts were rising. The people, then, of Iceland, were supposed to pay more tax and such until the debt created by the bankers was paid off. The people didn't like that, so they revolted and prevented the President from signing that document.
"In this crisis an assembly is elected to rewrite a new Constitution which can include the lessons learned from this..." [2] The people put together a board of 25 citizens who would REWRITE THE CONSTITUTION of the country.
I think it's obvious why we haven't yet heard of this: it's for the same reason that the European countries didn't want their citizens hearing about the French revolution 200 years ago. The people of just-as-developed countries din't want their citizens having these thoughts, for risk of a revolution in their own country. That would be unthinkable. The people in America have heard nothing about this from the media, anywhere. Similarly, it has been monitored in Britain and Canada. The only way people hear about this is from blogs from the people in Iceland itself. [3]
---Referenced
1. http://www.financialpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=02d1dd96-0c30-43d3-a5b7-eb7bf7037fba
2. http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210260
3. http://inquiringminds.cc/from-my-canadian-friends-iceland-forces-debt-forgiveness-total-us-media-blackout
--- Read
4. http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=outside&m=1654131
5. http://www.liberationfrequency.info/2012/05/07/iceland-forces-debt-forgiveness-total-us-media-blackout/
6. http://www.liberationfrequency.info/2012/05/07/did-icelandic-households-receive-a-major-debt-forgiveness/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePicture #3: The Suppression of Creativity Through the Industrialization of the Modern Education System
ReplyDeleteCreativity can be defined as original ideas that have value. This is something young people are naturally born into, they begin producing things with the belief that making mistakes and doing things wrong is acceptable. (1) They often participate in activities that push their boundaries in a number of ways and challenge a number of things they find exciting and stimulating. Unfortunately, the institutionalized evolution of the education system has demonstrated suppression of activities promoting originality and taken on an ‘academic’ stand point in which results in ‘success.’ Those individuals with the ability to produce formal documents and regurgitate information about politics, math, arithmetic and other ‘academic’ subjects have the ability to pursue success in sciences, medicine, law and politics. Along with this success is achieved titles as prestigious as a lawyer, doctor or judge official. This often is associated with large salaries, gained power and respect along with other assets and benefits throughout the rest of their lives. Thus, the level of contribution to the government institutions that support this type of system increases as well, paying much larger taxes. These individuals are known to have a better lifestyle, they are stereotypically known to receive more respect and power with their devotion to this academic spectrum achieving success in the global world.
Those successful, highly paid individuals although do not categorize for the majority of the population that do not receive the same amount of success with the education system as those academically inclined. The education system suppresses creativity through diagnosing hyperactivity and fidgetiness with being symptoms of the now profoundly common condition known as ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In previous cases, young children that experience the symptoms of modernly diagnosed ADHD would evolve into famous dancers, singers, athletes and a series of other active, successful professions. Today, these children are penalized for their hyperactivity with a diagnosis of a condition that is followed by treatment and medications that promote calm, focused behaviour; just what education system participants require. Even then, as this ’challenged’ person goes on with their life they will experience an extensive amount of pressure. Expectations of our world often provide these individuals the overwhelming need to mould into the practises of the education system and gain the acceptance and success that the modern world wants. As a result, these unsuccessful, frustrated individuals rebel and fail at attending and succeeding in school. They become unsuccessful and often end up pursuing a much lower paying job.
Annually, 11 million prescriptions per year are issued to people all over the world, diagnosing them with the increasingly common condition known as ADHD. (2) This number is on the rise and so is the amount of money the government is receiving per year in tax income from highly paid people that participate in the academic education system. The practise of producing original ideas that have value is suppressed and as a result they experience a lower quality of life, but why? How does that make them any less than somebody who has the ability to regurgitate the knowledge that provides an individual on planet earth to be categorized as intelligent? The answer is, it doesn’t.
References:
(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eC5EspBVHA
(2) http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues148a.shtml
I also chose this photo.
DeleteI interpreted the meaning of this photo to be that the education system is putting limitations on students, thus limiting their success and creativity.
I am sure we all excel in different subjects. Some students are better at math, while others prefer the arts. Yet, we don’t separate children into their preferred area of learning. Instead we clump them all together by age and generalize their education. By generalizing education, we are lowering the quality of the education.
Whenever grades and school is brought up, you always hear somebody say “Einstein failed school, he got bad grades!” Why did he get bad grades if he was a genius? Because he was bored, he was not being challenged! (1) Students need to be stimulated and invigorated by their studies. If they are not challenged by their studies, they will not put forth a complete effort. (2)
One solution to motivating students to put effort and enthusiasm into their work is separate them not by age, but by subjects. This will give them opportunities and not set any limits on them. For example, if a school took all the students in drama, and separated them by dedication and skill instead of age, you would have more productive classes. Students surrounded by peers who are enthusiastic about the same subject are more likely to be motivated and succeed.
From personal experience, if I’m doing deskwork on a subject I am already fully versed in, I am more likely to doodle or daydream instead of completing the work. I feel constrained by this work, because if I don’t finish it, I will get a bad mark. But the work is so dull. My time would be better spent working on something challenging.
So, students are faced with a dilemma, either finish this menial work or choose a failing grade. Many choose the failing grade, despite being very intelligent. This is a big issue with a very simple solution.
1) http://voices.yahoo.com/einstein-myths-misconceptions-6992052.html?cat=4
2)http://www.livescience.com/1308-students-bored-school.html
Third last picture (GMOs)
ReplyDeleteThe topic of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have been quite controversial over advantages and disadvantages of GMOs in food production. As the picture shows above 50 countries ban or restrict GMOs while only USA and Canada don't even require labelling. This doesn't mean that these countries aren't aware of it. The problem is the fact that because they do not tell us that it is GM we can never be so sure what exactly is in the products that they modify.
To begin with, for those of you that do not know genetically modified organisms are organisms that have had altered by using genetic engineering. Usually GM is done to organisms to alter the look, give it desirable traits, making it prone to certain conditions... The possibilities are endless. (1)
There are advantages to GMOs as they have benefits such as drought tolerant, pest resistance, cold tolerance, nutrition, etc. (2) For example, in Africa the place is very drought prone, and in 2003/04 there was one of the worst droughts in history with South Africa being effected the hardest but thanks to GMOs the country was able to sustain themselves due to drought tolerant crops. But GMOs aren't always food related, another example is there are animals that are hypo-allergic now so humans that have animal related allergies have better interactions with them. (1)
There are disadvantages to GMOs as well though, especially GM foods. Some are health risks, and allergy triggers. There are problems as well involving environmental risks that GMOs seem to conjure, as well as many people have problems with the fact that GM foods can be unsafe. It also puts a monopoly on companies that do genetic engineering if all countries allow it, as everyone will depend on them if so.
In many countries, there are laws in place that bans GM, and/or restrict them. Many countries also have laws where companies must label GM products for the consumers knowledge. In New Zealand, no genetically modified foods are grown as of now because none of them have been approved for use by the food standards. (3)
In my opinion I believe that GMOs are okay as long as we in a global prospective don't go overboard with it. If it isn't broken, don't fix it! I understand why other countries would want to restrict or ban GMOs but I personally do not think it is bad. This is a controversial topic and I find it is because it is also one of those topics that is based on opinions and morals.
Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism
2. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_the_release_of_genetic_modified_organisms
Other Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_the_release_of_genetic_modified_organisms
The topic of GMO’s has been controversial for years. GMO’s; Genetically modified organisms, are created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. More than 60 percent of the products in most U.S. grocery stores are derived from some sort of genetically altered plant or animal. [1] Genetically modified organisms are in many foods which are bought from a grocery store. There is much controversy for, and against GMO’s.
DeleteGMO’s can be more nutritious, with genetically adding nutrients into already nutrient-rich foods. Big factors in how GMO’s can be useful, are nutrition, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. GMO’s are known to be very beneficial to health. Also, fewer pesticides are needed, less starvation in the world, and quality/taste increase. [2] Besides these few points, there are also many other benefits. Although there are a lot of advantages, there are also disadvantages.
Some GMO’s can be allergy triggers, health risks, and environmental issues. First-of-all, many genetically modified organisms do not have labeling (Like the U.S.A). If there are no labels, how can a person know what they are taking in? The genetically modified organism, in which they are consuming, may be modified with something they are allergic to. They would not have any way to find out. This triggers to health risks. Since it is illegal to test on humans, there may be negative effects to GMO’s, but we would not know it. A recent article published in Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats. This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes. Although we are not rats, biologically we are similar. [2]
Like the picture states, over 50 countries have either banned, or restricted GMO’s. In Japan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that health testing of GM foods is mandatory. [2] I think that is a good idea, and every country should have mandatory health testing. Many citizens are protesting to labeling on genetically modified organism products. I also think this should happen, so we are aware of what we are consuming. Many people have become concerned about these, but I think testing, and labeling could help relieve them.
Sources:
[1] http://www.livestrong.com/article/198076-what-are-the-disadvantages-of-a-gmo/
[2]http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
Others:
3. http://www.naturalnews.com/GMO.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGay/retarded photo
ReplyDelete(1) "You're so gay."
It's one of the first insults we learn to toss around on the playground.
How many times daily do we hear or say these words without thinking about the true meaning of these words. Personally I use these words with out even thing of the meaning and when discussions come up like these ones, I am very disappointed in myself because I say those words, but in the moment I don’t even realize what I’m saying. I believe even though these words are harmful towards others, their meanings used in a certain context mean different things. Like Benji said when somebody says “that’s so gay” or “that’s so retarded” it usually means that you disagree with it. However when used towards someone the meaning of these words changes, when somebody is called a fag or retarded that is unacceptable. I personally think that every one that uses these words when they do, do not have intentions of actually hurting someone intentionally. (2) “I want to take a moment to reflect on the effects that language has on us, to underscore the point that, despite our intentions, the prospect of freeing derogatory words from their context and/or connotations is not just problematic, but potentially dangerous.” Language does truly have a huge effect on us; it can be a positive and a negative effect. With the rate of suicide in teenage age group using words like this are completely unacceptable. LGBTQ kids are more than 4 times more likely to commit suicide. I believe these words are the same as calling girls sluts, whores or b*tches. Language has the biggest impact on society and I believe words should be chosen better or at least used in the proper context.
(1) http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ben-johnson/thats-so-gay_b_970283.html
(2) http://www.trevorspace.org/newsstory.cfm?id=13843&returnurl=news.cfm
ReplyDeleteThis is my weekly post
Personally I did not know anything about GMO’s till a presentation in this world issues class. I’m sure most people living in Canada or the United States don’t think twice about this issue. This is because Canada and the United States don’t have laws saying it’s mandatory to put labels on food containing GMO’s. Canada and the United States are the two of the only developed nations in the world without GMO labeling(1). It’s in 90% of our food today.(2) Many people have tried to make law forcing big companies to place labels on their food but when they have tried companies have shut the proposal down because they have the money to do so.
Every one today stresses eating healthy. Eat low-fat food yet the food that is low-fat or low in sodium or anything people see has “healthy” has been genetically modified. How do you think that cereal lost all its fat or sodium? That food lost it because scientist have taken DNA out of the grain. There is such a high demand for food with our population peaking that companies believe the only way to provide everyone with enough food is through the process of GMO’s.(1) To avoid lawsuits and loss of business they purposely do not label their food. (1) “This type of genetic alteration is not found in nature, and is experimental.”(1) We are their lab rats.
Even though this process of genetically modifying our food is helping to provide our population with food there are some downfalls. For example when the add DNA to a food say to make it ‘trans-fat’ this new gene is called a mutant gene. These mutant genes cling onto the genes of the food and after we eat them they could very well cling onto our DNA and this has not been tested.(3) Therefore we are the ones testing out their product. In the early 1990’s it was documented that in Ontario there were just over 2,000 people with allergies. This survey was done again in the early 2000’s with the amount of people having allergies grew to just below 10,000.(4) Is there any connection with the fact that the production of GMO’s started in 1992.(2) Another downfall to the use of GMO’s is that to make these types of foods they use massive amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.(3) These big companies don’t care that these chemicals are poisons and could harm your own health and people around you, they just care about making their money.(3)
When my mom goes shopping at the store I don’t normally go with her because it’s boring and I don’t like it. This made me stop and think most people in canada my mother included don’t know about GMO’s we have not been educated. With companies not labeling their product no one can tell the difference. They see low-fat and think they are being healthy. My mom does all the shopping and I asked her “what’s a GMO, what does it have to do with our food?” her response was “I don’t know I’ve never heard of it”. I also asked a friend of mien’s mom and she is a pediatrician “I don’t know, why should I know that?” This crisis of GMO’s and how they affecting us is horrible. I know that when my mom goes to the grocery store i’ll be going with her to try and make sure we cutt down on our GMO consumption.
1- http://kidsgrowingstrong.org/gmos
2- http://www.atasteoflight.com/your-right-to-know-an-update-on-gmo-labeling/
3- http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html
4- http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/beyond-the-plate/allergies/1/
Picture #3
ReplyDeleteThis picture could be seen as meaning many different things. I personally think it displays how society, and school more preciselyhave corrupted the childrens mind. Taken a mind capable of such large imagination, and cutting it down to be smaller and less creative. When you're young you learn things through your senses. You have so much room to create new things, like making up new games and coming up with new ideas. You see, school, it is almost necassary now adays because it prepares you to succeed in life by bringing you on your way to a career so we don't really have much of a choice whether or not we go. However; school doesn't make you creative. Creativity is orginality of thought. School makes you think what you are taught instead of having your own thought. So in reality when you get an A+ in a subject in school, you showing that you are very good at reproducing what other people have done. That you are less of a critical thinker, and more a parrot who simply absorbs whatever they are told. As children we have so much potential, but school makes us go through the process of molding our minds to the design of adults. It isn't the education it self that is corrupting, being introduced to knew knowledge is great. This being said however, the education system makes us think what they want us to think. Once you learn something you can't unlearn it. The education system you see prioritizes maths and english..it's rather obvious. Why not art and music? School makes us devalue the creative things. In the picture, you see the teacher decreasing the thought bubble size, in reality, school decreasing our abilities to think outside the box.
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110824143529AAJ0ebG
http://www.ascentofhumanity.com/chapter5-6.php
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Sorry I must have not noticed there was already a post on picture #3.
DeleteAmerica’s justification for incessant war by means of (relatively) trivial attacks on U.S. soil
ReplyDeleteAmerican has used the 9/11 attacks to justify launching a full-fledged attack on the Middle East for the past 11 years. Using the scapegoats Osama bin laden and Saddam Hussein, (both of whom are now confirmed dead, due to American military intervention) (1)(2) America has used its military prowess and advanced techniques of bullying and manipulation to infiltrate these countries to “fight the war on terror.” Isn’t it convenient that Iraq and Iran both have more than 20% of the world’s oil combined? Coincidentally “Exxon Explores 'Very Promising' Oil And Gas Fields In Afghanistan”(3) Isn’t that weird that America would conveniently have a reason to attack these vast reserves of oil in the middle east and commence this war on terror. Alan Greenspan himself (The former chairman of the American Federal Reserve) once he was safely out of office said this: "Everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil." He elaborated in an interview with The Washington Post 's Bob Woodward, "If Saddam Hussein had been head of Iraq and there was no oil under those sands, our response to him would not have been as strong as it was in the first Gulf War." (4) Now if you want to know what true terror is then take a look at these numbers, and you better hold on tight because THIS is what a war truly needs to be waged on. Since 2001, 116 000 civilians have been killed in Iran and Iraq, while just under 3000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that supposedly instigated this whole war to begin with! Who are the real terrorists here ? What other country goes wherever they want, whenever they want and sets up military bases just because they feel like it? Who else supplies many people with money (3billion dollars) weapons and military knowledge and expertise only to later wage war with them ( The C.I.A did all this and more effectively creating the biggest “terrorist” threat to America.) Why is American so fond of creating enormous problems worldwide with nonstop ripple effects around the world, created mostly by throwing money, military power and policing efforts at nonexistent problems while creating and empowering some of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world (the war on terror, the war on drugs, Al-Qaeda, The Jamaican Shower Posse, Los Zetas, MS-13 etc) In almost all gangs and criminal organizations in the world, their power can be either directly or indirectly be attributed to American drug laws and policies and their provision and production of arms.
(1)http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/12/death-osama-bin-laden-us
(2)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/29/AR2006122900142.html
(3)http://www.businessinsider.com/this-energy-company-hopes-to-find-oil-in-afghanistan-2012-9#ixzz2CdnSegla
(4) http://www.alternet.org/story/90509/the_iraq_war_was_about_oil,_all_along
(5) http://www.theinsider.org/news/article.asp?id=0228
picture #10
ReplyDeleteThis is my comment on Picture #10
ReplyDeleteThis conflict between Israelis and Palestinians seems never ending. One side is always prepared to attack and the other to counter attack. To decipher which is to blame is futile. The picture is an excellent portrayal of the very strong state of Israel playing the wounded victim. Israel is backed by the United States and throughout history and still even today, that is an asset. The picture demonstrates how Israel does not respond to attacks in a proportional manner. This type of retaliation goes against the laws of war. Both Israel and Palestine need to put their differences aside and try to reach an agreement for the betterment of all the citizens of Gaza.