Haiti Mini Study

Part A
Haiti earthquake was a massive 4.5 earthquake which happened in 12 January, 2010. It's estimated that more than 230,000 people died, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 became homeless.They also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged. It's a very serious problem, because they lost buildings like home and school. They don't have any water supplys and food to support their family. Fortunately, more than 1,700 staffs helped the victims, The Dominican emergency team assisted more than 2,000 injured people, while the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) helped with the restoration of some telephone services. Many people around the world are trying to help these victims in Haiti. But it's certainly not enough, everyone should do something about these problem, without it, they won't be able to survive, because they lost almost their everything. Haiti, the poorest country in America won't be able to recover this situation fast, it will take time, but it would be at least possible if we all help them.


Part B: Ayiti-Cost of Life
In global issues class, we played a game called Ayiti-Cost of Life, which was about Haiti. When I first played this game, it was really hard for me because I had to think in long term to be successful in this game. If I would describe this game to a friend, I would tell them that it's a very educational game to learn about Haiti, because I learned that how Haiti is a very serious problem by playing this game. During this game, you have to choose one of three primary objective which were Money, Happiness and Education. I choose Education for my game, because I thought once you get educated, you get a better job so you can have more money which will make you happy. There were serveral decisions I had to make while playing this game, things like sending my children to primary school or local school. Primary school was much expensive than local school, but it gave much more education to my children. Also, there were different jobs that parents could work, one was harsh than other one but I could earn a lot of money. To achieve my object, which was education, I first started with local school and send parents to harsh jobs, once I got enough money, I sent the children to Primary school. I used this stratigies because first time I played the game, I started with Primary school, then the problem was that too much money was spended. Then after 1 year, I realized that the parents are crying every day, which shows that they are not happy with their jobs(too harsh?), so I stopped mom and sent her to home to rest, and I choose less harsh job for dad. Then money started to disappear, until I had no money to keep sending my children to school. I was really shocked how fast and easy my money disappear, soon I couldn't keep up with the game. After playing this game, I was amazed how different my life is compare to people in Haiti. I realized I am so lucky to go to international school with whatever I want,and I have all the three things! money, happiness and education. I think parents choose to devote so much effort sending their children to school and it's vital to a coutry's development to educate its people, especially women because because like I said before, by getting good education, you can have more money and be happy. Even though it's hard for LEDC to educate its people, because no one was educated in first place, I think if they reduce the cost of school, or even make it free, they could certainly make this issue better. Also, they should even make a law that people must be educated no matter what gender they are. For Millennium goals, they should all think about 8 things, because if they follow these 8 things, surviving in aids and their environment would be much easier.


Source: Picture of Haiti girls- http://christtherockglobal.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/haiti-girls2.jpg

Picture of the game: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_3142.html

Informations about Haiti earhquake: http://www.fotopedia.com/en/2010_Haiti_earthquake

Reflection on shark's fin action project

Reflection
Our global issues did an action project about shark's fin. We did several things to make people aware of this serious problem and learn more about sharks. First, We made shark's fin cookies with red dressing to make it look really gross to make people realize how cruel eating shark's fins is. We also sold red drink with jelly to give them the feeling of drinking shark's blood and disgust them. There were also games about sharks to entertain people and also teach them some facts about sharks. Also, we sold shark's fin neckglass to advertise. The tickets for movies were sold to show teach them facts about sharks, because many of them knows wrong facts about sharks, like sharks are human eaters.

I think we made a big difference, because I heard some people saying that they will never eat shark's fin soup again, which tells me that people started to get aware. If we get to do this again, I hope we make this action project bigger. I will make this project not only for 7th grade, but whole middle school, because during the project I realized that most of people who participated in this project were 7th graders or teachers. None of 6th graders and 8th graders came.

From doing this action project, I learned that action project takes time and patient to make it successful. Also action projects can be much more affective than normal projects. I also learned a lot of facts about sharks and shark's fin killing, it totally changed my mind about shark's fin soup. Before doing this project I use to enjoy eating, but now I'm totally disgusted, even feel guilty about myself eating shark's fin soup last time. I really hope there will be no more shark's fin soups made in future.



Link: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wghe_QJyzw/SxWy8K1a4jI/AAAAAAAACd8/yq_C2GOSidA/s400/stop+shark+finning+003.jpg

How would you feel if people are trying to kill you to make a soup out of your ears?

Sharks were the top preditors since many millions of years, but humans, our generations are killing about hundred million sharks a year. This is a very serious problem, shark's popualtions already decresed by 90% in last 20 years. Sharks are in control of other creatures populations in the ocean. If we kill too many sharks, there will be too much other creatures in the ocean, which will break the food web.

Even though few people already realized the problem, they didn't take actions. because shark's fin soup symbolizes wealth and respect, which is a very important to Asian(especially Chinese) cultures. Also, people think sharks as human eaters which I also thought was true, but I learned that sharks are not human eaters by watching the video called "Sharkwater" directed by Rob Stewer. The film inspired me very much because it taught me that facts and reasons why we should stop shark finning. I think people will defenetly think differently against shark's finning if they watch this film.

Before we learned about shark finning in our global issues, to be honest, I didn't really care about the issue. Since our family are asians, I often ate shark's fin soup whenever I went to Chinese Restoraunt and weddings. I was really shocked when I watched the movie, because it told me that shark's fin soup are just chicken soups and shark's fin doesn't even taste anything, they just feel like our ears.(which really disgusted me.) I also felt really sad when they showed us how people do there shark finning and long line fishing, it was such a cruel thing that no one should do. I decided to not eat Shark's fin soup ever, I would eat chicken soup instead. I also agreed at last when Rob Stewer said, "It's not only to save sharks, it's also to save us." What would our next generation think of us, if sharks go exinct? I don't even want to think about it. This issue must be stoped.

Our global issues class are planing do an action project about sharks.

(a) Education Pre Project
-Fundraising ( Shark t-shirts, bags?)
-Educating ourselves (doing some other research on shark fin soup)
-Promotion

(b) Awareness raising
-Assemblies
-Movie
(c) Action
-Games about sharks
-Movie ('Sharkwater')
-Simulation
-Petition
-Fin sales
-foods (that might disgust people about shark's fin food.)



Links:http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0807/080731_sharks/pic08.jpg
http://www.travel-images.com/hong-kong463.jpg

Malaysia Week

My site was Kuala Gandah. We did camp for 2 days and went to hotel for another 2 days. Camp was really dirty and uncomfortable. No shower, no clean toilets and sleeping in tent full of insects! After two days of camp, we went back to a city and stayed in a 3 star hotel. I was really glad because it had A/C, clean toilets everywhere and shower whenever I wanted. BUT! on the way to zoo near by the hotel, I saw a cat crushed by a car, died and a guy who looked really drunk with drug in his hand. Even though the hotel was way better than the camp. It was ironic. I wanted to go back to the camp very much when I stayed in hotel..

GI video reflection

GI youtube video Reflection

In our global issues class, we watched GI youtube video which was about human population. The person scaled the human population to a hundred, because in this generation, the population growth is too big for our brain to realize how many the actual number is. After watching, I realized how many percent of people are suffering from poverty, aids and others. It surprised me so much because it was way much more than I could ever thought of. I felt really lucky about myself. I also felt kind of guilty to myself, I really wanted to help others who are in poverty


Please check the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drSDhlnm0e0&feature=related

What means to live in poverty?

Se Jin Lee March 28 2010

What means to live in poverty?

Poverty is one of global issues in the world. There are 1.4 bilon people who lives in poverty in the world. Poverty is when you don't have enough money to get enough food, send children to school, have house, water and save money(basic needs).

Meaning of living in poverty is being the victim of world. Once you live in poverty for long time, you will get into poverty traps which makes you think that you will be in poverty forever. After getting into poverty traps, you will start to think in short term planning like bollowing money from people and sending children as slaves. And after all the situation won't get better, possibly it would get worse.

Living in poverty is a very serious problem, since the number is very big and it's very hard to fix. I could only think of three things that could possibily make this problem better. The country and government can provide jobs for the people in poverty, people who are not in poverty can donate money for food and cloth and people can make more groups like the world bank.

What are global issues?

To me, Global Issues are problems that all people in the world is facing right now. By solving this problems, the world will become much better place for everyone, but to solve this problems it takes time and many people's participation. It doesn't mean that it takes 1000 years to fix them. In my opinion, if we keep working on them, if many groups like world bank are created and if all people and kids around the world get education and learn about what global issues are. Global issues can all be fixed by few 10 years.

One of SRLs that fits to global issues is Live ethically, because

We are becoming more aware and being responsible about behavior and environment

The environment is not just plants or animals but also social environment as well and even the economy.

This wordle, I represented what I thought about Global Issues.

Third World Farmer reflection

The link for this game is www.3rdworldfarmer.com

In Global issues class, we played the game, called 'Third World Farmer'. This game is a simulation game which you play as a farmer with your family and try to make money and achieve better goals in future in game.

There are many ways of getting money in this game, but they're divided into 2 groups. There are short terms planning like having to sell your children. Short term planning might be affective and good at first, but it soon made whole family sick or in poverty. There are long terms planning like having to educate your children. Long term planning might cost more money than short term planning, but later on, you will soon get rich and be successful with the game. One of SLR's that best fits to this game is reason critically, because as mentioned in this paragraph, you have to do every plan thinking of future and if it's good.

After playing this game, I learned how diffult is to get out of poverty and how important long term planning is.

Global Issue

What is global issue?
- Global issues are problems that all the world is facing in these days, which needs to be fixed otherwise people will suffer.

Why should I care about it?
- Because Global issues are often very serious problems that if not everyone cares about it, it will never end. And everyone has responsiblity to take care of our generations.