tiffany was here…

More children in school, fewer dying

Summary

Although its been 20 years, 1 billion children still do not have access to enough food, shelter, or clean water; not including the 200 million children who are malnourished. In the last 2 decades UNICEF has been working to instill child rights in every country in the world, and from this fewer children are dying and more are attending school. Despite the fact that the US and Somalia have not ratified the human rights treaty, the number of children who weren’t attending school decreased by 14 million. Even the number of deaths in children under 5 decreased by 28 percent. Nevertheless, children’s rights are still a problem, especially in continents, such as Africa and Asia. More than 9 out of 10 children who aren’t attending school, are malnourished, and die before the age of 5, live in these 2 continents. Most of the deaths are from preventable causes. According to statistics there are 150 million children from ages 5 to 14 who are engaged in child labor. And at almost an equivalent amount, 140 million children are underweight for their age. The UNICEF believes that despite all they have accomplished over the years, climate and population shifts as well as the global financial crisis could have “lifelong consequences that span generations, undermining efforts to advance children’s rights for the coming decades.”

Reflection

It really quite exciting and inspirational to hear about all of the positive changes in the world. I believe constantly we are always hearing of the negative aspects of the world, and never get a chance to hear about the thing people are doing and see how they are working. When I look at my life, its hard to imagine how children live without some of the things I think are needs. Its difficult to imagine, not having enough to eat, not going to school, working for hours, or even something like easy access to clean water. As I look around, now I can see how spoiled I am compared to other children in the world. We are always looking at celebrities and millions and calling them “rich”, but compared to these children and families, we are actually the ones who are rich. So out of all the good that’s coming because of this why hasn’t every country ratified this treaty?

Works Cited

Britton, Ian. School Slow Children Road Sign. Photograph. FreeFoto.com. FreeFoto.com, 26 Feb. 2005. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://www.freefoto.com/preview/41-15-62>.

“U.N.: More children in school, fewer dying – United Nations- msnbc.com.” Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- msnbc.com. MSNBC, 19 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34043912/ns/world_news-united_nations/>.

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Have you ever thought about how protected your computer is from outside intruders? Or maybe your one of the hundreds of thousands that are hacked and infected with viruses, worms, and trojan horses, that control your computer and steal your personal information. Surprisingly many people all over still are not aware of how criminals control their computer and obtain access to their private information, such as bank accounts, passwords, and so much more. If you didn’t know bots are the main way hackers are able to gain access to other people’s computer. Bot nets are networks of bots, which are devices that control and certain people access to computers. Depending on where the bot is located depends on how much the buyer pays for it. Like for example a bot from the US or Europe would cost a lot more than a bot from a less developed country. Once the buyer has gained control of the computers they sometimes use the computers to DDOS a website. DDOS stands for Distributed Denial of Services, when this happens the controller uses his computers to all go to the one website to overload there broadband ultimately causing the website to become really slow and impossible to access.

From this video I learned the importance of keeping my computer protected with firewalls, anti-virus software, and being smart about the websites I visit, the files I download, the links I click, and the emails I open. I have also become aware of the all the benefits a hacker can have by hacking into people’s computer, and how hacking, phishing, and buying bot nets has become a profession instead of just a hobby. There are people out there who hack into your computer not just because they can but because you have something they want.  Your personal information is their source of income. An important thing for you to remember is that keeping you computer protected is the first step to preventing yourself from being hacked.

To View the Bot Nets Video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/7932816.stm

Picture Credit:

http://www.secureworks.com/research/newsletter/2008/05/

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In our geography class we did a debate on whether or not we should drill for oil. We looked the pros and cons of oil as well as the different affects oil has on us, the environment, and the economy. We tried three different styles of debating: that included something similar to instant messaging, another one like commenting on blog post, and the traditional debating style. All three were very different and interesting to use, however some weren’t as effective as others. I think that it was exciting to use these different types of debating, even if it was just to learn how to use them. Unfortunately the first style we used to debate was extremely difficult to use. Because it was similar to a chat, the typing went to fast to read, so it was hard to make comments or arguments when the text was building up so fast. Within the first 5 minutes or so, it all dawned on us that this particular style was not going to work, so we decided to use the forums in Moodle. With this, people were able to make comments on a topic created by another person. As far as silent debates go this was the most successful for us. Our final debate was very similar to most traditional debates. Instead of debating with everyone, we had mini debates between about 5 or 6 people; of course there was an even amount of people from each side. This style made it possible to use body language, sarcasm, and facial expressions, when we maker our points. This was the other successful style of debate we had.

In our debate there were many different points made. However the basic sides were for drilling oil, and against drilling for oil. The line that split these two groups were very blurry though. From our debate I have formed my own personal opinion about this topic.

Despite all the affects drilling has on the world, I still believe we should continue drilling. However, we should try to reduce the amount of oil we consume and extract from the Earth. Although this point is debatable, I can say that oil will eventually run out, I don’t know when but I do know it will. In order to prepare for that we need to start now. In my opinion to just stop drilling for oil wouldn’t make any sense, our world already depends too much on oil as a main resource and source for energy. Even if it does cause negative affects on our world, it you really think about how many people die from being murdered or getting a disease, or how many tons of toxins driving a car or making paper drilling for oil sounds amateur to these things. The way I see it is that people will murder people off before drilling for oil kills 100,000 people.

Unfortunately oil doesn’t just affect humans, it also affects animals. But this fact doesn’t really change anything at all. Animals are normally affected the most when oil is spilled, but oil spills only happen once in a blue moon. Plus organizations and corporations are normally very dependable when it comes to cleaning up after a spill, or just in their everyday maintenance of the oil fields and drill sites. Animals probably become endangered, extinct, or threatened because of hunters, climate change, and humans destroying their habitats(which can also cause their prey to become difficult to catch).

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Recently in class we have been using the online movie making website Xtranormal. I think that this is a very useful program, but the voices of the cartoon people are a little monotone. However, the website is extremely easy to use, and its simple, so you can learn how to use it easily. You can alter the way the characters look, act, what they say, how they say it, and how the camera portrays them. The quote from the site really explains how easy this process is: “If you can type, you can make movies.” It just doesn’t get any simpler.

While we were creating our own Xtranormal videos (which I have posted below), I found it difficult to get the characters to pronounce some of the words correctly. Several times I had to change the spelling of the traditional word into something that would cause the characters to say it right. Other than that everything else was really easy. I really liked the fact that you could control some of their actions and expressions so that it would match what they were saying. I enjoyed playing around and trying out different combinations of actions and expressions. All in all Xtranormal was an fun learning experience.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ4f8A-VrwI[/youtube]

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This is Saba and Tiffany’s plan:

We want to have a Charity Concert/ Variety Show to donate money to the Social Assistance Program for Vietnam, also know as the SAP-VN. We chose to do this because we both wanted to help children who cannot afford to have basic surgeries done that could save their lives or help them live a better life. The money would be used for children who cannot afford surgeries such as orthopedics, cataract, cleft-palate/ lip, and other medical needs. Students from schools all around HCMC in middle or high school would perform, and also pay a fee for every person performing. The groups or singles would get a chance to win a prize for first, second and third place. Teachers from the different schools would judge the performers. But before the concert the performers would have to audition to make sure the quality of performance is high, or at least entertaining. However tickets would also be sold for about 150,000 dong for other people who wish to watch it. During the concert people who also get a chance to make other donations, we would also give a presentation explaining what the concert was for and what their money would be used to do. We would ask different companies to sell food, but also several large corporations to donate money or sponsor a child through us. We want to host it on Saturday the 23 of January 2010 from 6-8:30 pm in our school’s auditorium. We also thought we would ask if an SAP-VN representative would want to attend our event and maybe talk about the organization at our concert. At the end of the fundraiser we would divide the money up so that at least one child for each surgery gets sponsored. We would need volunteers, so we could provide CAP hours so that kids would want to help with this event.

To advertise our event we could post posters in all the schools and in public places, such as the supermarkets, coffee shops, and restaurants. We could have several representatives in the school to collect the money and give it to us. People could buy tickets in advance or at the door, it all depends on how many we sell in advance.

For more information about SAP-VN, visit their website at:

http://sap-vn.org/joomla/index.php

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In the UN’s environmental sustainability goal there are  several things they want to achieve, that aren’t  just about reducing the amount of carbon we emit into the air and conserving the resources we use. They also want to provide clean drinking water and basic sanitation to the parts and people of the world without it.

To solve the carbon emission problem is quite simple, all of us need to take part in not using items that emit lots of carbon. That means more walking and less car rides; more wind, thermal and solar power and less oil and coal. If everyone and every country reduces then the problem will reduce with it. Although the reducing part is somewhat easy, convincing political powers in certain countries could be very difficult. However I think that if the countries and their citizens were made aware of what will happen if we continue to release loads of carbon in air. If they understood the affects that carbon has on  the world and our environment, and how it would affect the lives of their children, grandchildren and so on, they might support the UN’s efforts. The same strategy could work with reducing the amount of forest and marine loss as well.

It has also come to the UN’s attention that every year the number of endangered species is increasing. To some extent I believe this is partially due the the earth’s changing temperatures, but most of this most likely due to humans destroying animals’ natural habitats as well as hunting and selling these animals illegally. Its hard to find a solution for this because its nearly impossible to control what goes on behind the scenes. But its possible that when forest and marine loss are lowered than the endangered species could start to become less endangered.

Of the 6.8 billion people in the world half of them live on less than $2.50 dollars a day. In fact this could be the reason so many of the world’s citizens do not have access to clean water and sanitation facilities. For us, drinking water and sanitation facilities are things we cannot imagine being difficult or impossible to afford or have. To invest in buying water is probably one of the cheapest needs we have. Unfortunately millions maybe even more do not and can’t afford to have this modern luxury. Recently we have learned that in some countries that owe money to the world bank, water is privatized making more expensive and sometimes unaffordable for citizens who could afford this when the government was in control of the water. Personally I think that the World Bank should have laws that prohibit them from doing things that affect the necessities needed by people. Of course they want their money but they should be able to get it another way without threatening peoples’ lives.

Although this is a problem, this isn’t the only reason certain people do not have water. In many circumstances, it is because water isn’t easily accessible, its not affordable and there’s not enough of it that people don’t have water. To solve this problem the UN and other large developed countries should make larger efforts to purchase water pumps, purifying systems, and other items needed to improve water sanitation and sources, for countries and people who cannot obtain clean water.

Ultimately the only way the world will ever reach these goals is if everyone and every country work to improve the environment and its sustainability.

Picture Credit

Hard on your bum. Soft on the Environment. 2009. Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo!, 11 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/31915875@N04/3811311966/>.

THE stare. 2006. Photograph. Fotopedia. Fotonauts, 19 Nov. 2006. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-470080663>.

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If the world continues to develop like this, how will end it up?

Many of us are unaware of how our daily activities and lifestyles can affect the world and it’s future. However recent studies can show exactly what will happen if our world continues to consume certain products for  development. Ultimately our resources will dwindle and eventually diminish. The graphic below shows the amount of time before resources such as gold, oil, petroleum, and other resources will become nonrenewable. It also gives other useful information, like how long it will take if the consumption rate slows down. (clicking it will take you to a the image URL, where you can view a larger version) Some of the resources needed for drugs and x-rays won’t be available to us, and so future health care and medicine could also be in jeopardy.

Unfortunately our resources aren’t  the only thing that will be affected; the poorest people in the world will get the brunt of the affects as well. If we continue to waste food and other luxuries not available to those in the world who cannot afford these things, the prices will continue to rise and become even more unaffordable for those making less than 1 dollar a day. However when everyday necessities become more expensive some of those who could afford them might not be able to, thus putting more and more people into poverty. Suddenly children, won’t be able to attend school because they are trying to help there parent make enough money to support the family. The future leaders of the world will be uneducated and poor, putting the rich in charge who may not care about the environment or impoverished people.

Picture Credit

2009. Photograph. Flowing Date- Strength in Numbers. Flowing Data, 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://flowingdata.com/2009/04/24/how-long-will-the-worlds-natural-resources-last/>.

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In this day and age almost all the photos we see have been altered to make the men and women who model look “perfect”. Although this makes flipping through magazines more enjoyable because the pictures are “prettier”, many adolescents strive to have a perfect body even though that may be impossible because all of the photos are not realistic. In the past years, recent studies have shown that:

“In 1970 the average age of a girl who started dieting was 14; by 1990 the average dieting age fell to 8″ (Wellness and Body Image – Stocking Statistics).

We may not know it but body image is becoming an issue even for kids younger than adolescents. It has gotten so bad that some teenage girls fear getting fat or gaining weight more than war, disease, and losing family members.

Because of these kids are confused about their body and how they should look, many choose alternative ways to shape and change the way they look, and sometimes their methods aren’t healthy. Almost 10% of women in the U.S. have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, (such as bulimia or anorexia) that’s almost 10 million women! Of those 10 million at least 50,000 will die because of it. Statistics also show that 80% of women dislike their bodies.

And it isn’t just women who aren’t pleased with there appearance. In a survey 4.7 percent of boys (out of 10,449 adolescents) admitted to taken diet supplements to build muscle and change shape, once or more a week.

“Men are just as dissatisfied as girls.” a psychologist who specializes in body image stated. (Popping Pills – LJWorld.com)

“Thompson explained perceptions of body image as a spectrum. At one end are adolescents obsessed with media portrayals of an ideal body who turn to supplements or eating disorders; at the other end are teenagers frustrated with an uphill battle against obesity who ignore all media messages, even those that encourage healthy behavior, and become more overweight.” (Popping Pills – LJWorld.com)

Because of photo-shopped and edited photographs many teenagers and adults strive for a fake perfection, even though most people are aware that the images are not completely real, body image has become a huge issue in our world today. Its simple to say, everyone should just be happy with the way they are, but its hard to believe that when we are constantly bombarded with perfect people and ads telling us how we should look. People need to realize what technology can do today and understand that what they are seeing isn’t real, so in actuality the model might even look the same as they do.

Works Cited

“Body Image and Self-Esteem.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/body_image.html>.

“Body Image Issues: The World’s Most Comprehensive Eating Disorder Referral and Information Website, bulimia, eating disorders, binge eating.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://www.edreferral.com/body_image.htm>.

“Extremely Perfect – 48 Hours – CBS News.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/28/48hours/main551362.shtml>.

“Popping pills / LJWorld.com.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/aug/16/study_teens_see/?living>.

“Wellness – Body Image – Shocking Statistics.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://www.colorado.edu/StudentGroups/wellness/NewSite/BdyImgShockingStats.html>.

“Young Adult Health – Health Topics – Body image.” 9 Oct 2009 <http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=240&np=298&id=2086>.

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