Do you think a teacher/parent/guardian should be permitted within their freedom of expression to convey discriminatory thoughts to their child(ren) against a certain race, religion, belief, etc?
Teacher: No
Parents: Yes
I am not trying to seem like a crude person but if a family has certain beliefs it is well within their rights to say and think what they believe on those of others. It is the duty of a teacher to display all the various perspectives so that when the child comes of age (ie: an adult) they can begin to make their own decisions in terms of their beliefs. Generally, the families beliefs are passed on to the child and carried on but now a days we may begin to see a shift in that pattern. Since teachers are becoming increasingly more open about different events children are getting more of a broader picture and are able to make better, informed choices.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
World Issues
(1) Which presentation thus far (not your own) has impacted you the most? Why?
I believe that Robyn and Elida's presentations had the most impact on me because that issue is very sensitive for myself. I have very strong views on prostitution and sex slavery that when they presented the girls being affected it truly hit home. I know of people who have resorted to those means as an income and it isn't right that they should have to degrade themselves to that level. There should be other options for them and no one is doing enough to help. Since the presentation I have taken the initiative to learn more about human trafficking and how I may help those abroad.
(2) Why do you think the "Cover the Night" event was not as successful as initially expected?
At the time of the event I was in down town Toronto with the Rugby team and we did not see many people participating in the event. I think the lack of people added to the even being as unsuccessful as it was. As well, the idea of spreading the awareness of the issue wasn't executed in a way that would have any effect on people.
Personally, when it comes to issues which are on such a large scale, it isn't always necessary for citizens to get involved instead higher officials should make it there issue.
(3) Watch this [ http://www.ted.com/talks/garth_lenz_images_of_beauty_and_devastation.html ]TED talks video on the Alberta's tar sands. After watching, what is your impression of this project in terms of its impact on the environment?
I believe the project will have serious negative impacts for the environment. At the end of the day the actual extraction of the oil will be more damaging then actually using the oil produced. Everything, from the land to the air will be infected with powerful chemicals. This can cause a brutal environmental impacts that may never be reversed. However, the world does need oil because we are not supplying ourselves with enough eco-friendly energy substitutions.
Kony 2012
"Should HSC participate in Invisible Children's 'Paint the Night' initiative on April 20th to spread awareness about Kony 2012?"
I believe that awareness can be a good thing as well as a deterrent. Now a days we are becoming far more aware of so many issues that it is becoming increasingly harder for any one to prioritize what is important to them. As for the Kony 2012 issue, it is not necessary for us as citizens to come up with solutions to these problems since it is more of an issue of government. The US has taken proactive steps in order to rid the nation of the problem and for me that is sufficient.
I believe that awareness can be a good thing as well as a deterrent. Now a days we are becoming far more aware of so many issues that it is becoming increasingly harder for any one to prioritize what is important to them. As for the Kony 2012 issue, it is not necessary for us as citizens to come up with solutions to these problems since it is more of an issue of government. The US has taken proactive steps in order to rid the nation of the problem and for me that is sufficient.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Disease, is anybody listening?
What do people think when they are first asked a question such as "Why do diseases like HIV-AIDS seem to hit the world's poorest people?"
"lack of education, funding, and rights" - Rogers
"no independence, no freedom!" - Anonymous
"Environment; because of drought less access to money, less access to health care"- Peer
"Good Government should be able to finance minimal care!"- Peer
People are becoming increasingly enraged with the lack of basic human rights that each citizen of the global community should be given at birth and throughout life. It is not by choice that people are being born into areas where they are stripped of their last thing they can call their own: their humanity. When people are not provided with things such as education, clean drinking water and access to health care we will always see a rise in disease, such as HIV-AIDS. Through out history humanity has been faced with wide-spread epidemic as we see now but in the past together we have been able to overcome it. Now a days, the western world is comfortable with where we stand and do not feel it to be our issue to go in and eradicate disease in other areas such as the third world where disease hits the hardest.
"lack of education, funding, and rights" - Rogers
"no independence, no freedom!" - Anonymous
"Environment; because of drought less access to money, less access to health care"- Peer
"Good Government should be able to finance minimal care!"- Peer
People are becoming increasingly enraged with the lack of basic human rights that each citizen of the global community should be given at birth and throughout life. It is not by choice that people are being born into areas where they are stripped of their last thing they can call their own: their humanity. When people are not provided with things such as education, clean drinking water and access to health care we will always see a rise in disease, such as HIV-AIDS. Through out history humanity has been faced with wide-spread epidemic as we see now but in the past together we have been able to overcome it. Now a days, the western world is comfortable with where we stand and do not feel it to be our issue to go in and eradicate disease in other areas such as the third world where disease hits the hardest.
The Psychology of Violence
After watching "Invisible Children," what have you learned about the "psychology of violence"? What are the root causes of the abductions and youth violence in Uganda and the surrounding region? How has this affected the mental health of these children?
Since the inauguration of gun powder, modern warfare has since evolved in ways that have awed and shocked humanity. From medieval organized warfare, to all out warfare such as seen on the grounds of WWI humanity has been able to relentlessly kill each other with the use of weapons and arms. It wasn’t until WWII where the use of physiological warfare came into play. Increasing the violent noise of fighter jets, toxic gas and the size of bombs have all had their effects on the men fighting; but what really started to antagonize the people was the first deliberate attacks on the civilians. This is why Kpny's attacks on children and different groups in Uganda have left such deep trauma on the citizens. He goes into these villages with the objective targets of the weak and frail, the children. The reason I call children weak and frail is not completely due to their size, strength and agility but more so to their psychological standpoint. The mind of a young child is equivalent to a sponge in the way it absorbs information. At the same time children are also very impressionable and with the use of abuse and bribery can be made into what ever the informer may wish. This is why Kony has targeted this demographic of civilians. These children are being raised thinking that violence and warfare is normal and are exposed to events that no matter what age you are, no one should have to see.
Since the inauguration of gun powder, modern warfare has since evolved in ways that have awed and shocked humanity. From medieval organized warfare, to all out warfare such as seen on the grounds of WWI humanity has been able to relentlessly kill each other with the use of weapons and arms. It wasn’t until WWII where the use of physiological warfare came into play. Increasing the violent noise of fighter jets, toxic gas and the size of bombs have all had their effects on the men fighting; but what really started to antagonize the people was the first deliberate attacks on the civilians. This is why Kpny's attacks on children and different groups in Uganda have left such deep trauma on the citizens. He goes into these villages with the objective targets of the weak and frail, the children. The reason I call children weak and frail is not completely due to their size, strength and agility but more so to their psychological standpoint. The mind of a young child is equivalent to a sponge in the way it absorbs information. At the same time children are also very impressionable and with the use of abuse and bribery can be made into what ever the informer may wish. This is why Kony has targeted this demographic of civilians. These children are being raised thinking that violence and warfare is normal and are exposed to events that no matter what age you are, no one should have to see.
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