EmilyJ

//**Hello! My name is Emily J. I am an energetic sixteen years old living in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. I attend the locale highschool in Woodstock - Woodstock Highschool. I am in grade eleven. I am the only child in my family currently attending Public School right now as my little brother Erik is Homeschooled. I enjoy reading, writing, listening to music, stamp collecting, and rock collecting. My favorite subject in school is History, and my most despised one is Mathmatics. I live outside of Woodstock, and have a goat, 22 chickens and 13 cats. I really enjoy spending time with my animals. I love to listen to music. I like a variety of different styles. My favorites include Jazz, Blues, and Salsa. I also enjoy cooking and baking. I love being inthe kitchen, getting my hands into a project. I really enjoy working with my hands to make something new, and love making scrapbooks. I also always enjoy a good book. My favorite's are non-fiction books on History, and mystery's. Another favorite pastime of mine is watching movies. I love anything from the 80's-90's, and really enjoy a good science fiction show (the cheesier the better !). I enjoy learning new languages. Although I can't speak fluently yet, I can speak a bit in Scottish-Gaelic, and a bit of German (I've never been able to master french though). I am also able to read (not speak) Greek and Latin. Another form of language I enjoy is Braille. My mother has been teaching me how to read it, and I love it! In school I am involved in the Math club, which is made up of all my friends, and ISCF (Iinter Scholastic Christian Fellowship). I really enjoy going to school, and having fun with my friends! Outside of school, I am involved in the SCA (The Society for Creative Anachronism) which is a medieval hobbyists group. We try to recreate different aspects of medievaI life whic interest us ie. dancing, blacksmithing, calligraphy, music, fighting, archery, cooking... I am also involved in Girl Guides of Canada, a group which focuses on challenging girls of all ages through programs and activities in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. really look forward to this course. I think it is a great idea, and that it will be challenging and fun. I really want to open my mind to new ideas, and hear what others from different places have to say. It will be interesting to see how similar or how different our opinions are.**//

Tuesday, February 13,2007 So we had a very cool speaker come and talk to us about the important topic of street children. She was very interesting, and impressed me with her vast knowledge of the injustices suffered by street children in Guatamala.We disscussed the injustices they face on the streets each day,as well as the injustice of having to live there. She talked to us on how the street children in Guatamala are persecuted by both civilians, who don't like the way street children affect buisness in tourist areas, and Police. This is appaling, as the United Nations laid down the rights of a child, and these people who should be enforcing the law are disregarding it, and going unpunished. She told us how many street children in Guatamala and other places as well were seen as sub-human, and abused by the adults around them. I was astonished at how mistreated this children are just because they live on the streets, some for reasons beyond their control. Many of the factors which push children out on to the streets stem from other forms of injustice, such as poverty, AIDS,and abuse. Many natural disasters and political or social unrest also contribute to homelessness occuring in children. Many of the children who turn to the streets come from impoverished families, and leave their homes in order to travel to more urbanized areas in search of work. Here thaey often face worse conditions than the ones they left. The injustice of poverty leads to more injustices to be faced by these children. It seems to be an endless circle of injustice, as when these children are older, they are still impoverished and bringing other children into poverty (if they live that long). Many of these children are unable to do anything about there circumstances, and fall into gangs, drug adictions, and prostitution. The situation these chilren are in is an important topic. We must find ways to help if the future of the kids is to be any better (or insured, as many will not live that long). It is easy for us here in North America to instantly feel pity or sadness and then just push these thoughts to the back of our head. If change is to happen it must happen now, not later, and we can not expect others to do the work. If we want this change we must all get involved. The question arises as to who's problem the street children are? Why should many of these innocent children be persecuted and punished because of a lack of a proper home, money, family, or education? Why should they be denied the basic human rights which were defined for children just because they live in a poverished country?It seemed surprising that even though childrens rights were laid down, the Guatamalen goverment is denying these rights because they are children so they are seen as unimportant and undesirable.I really enjoyed the speakers presentation, and it really opened my eyes to many of the injustices suffered by children my age and younger in other places.
 * Journal #1: Street Children in Guatamala

Journal #2: Rigoberta Menchu Tuesday February 13, 2007

Dear Rigoberta Menchu: I wish to congratuale you on your accomplishments in the fight against injustice for your people. You have overcome great adversity in your struggle, yet still persevered to end the injustice which is aimed at you and your people form those around you. You are seriously commited to the fight, starting form a young age. Yourself and your family persecuted and placed in great danger, it is amazing that you continued. Your family members, raped, tortured, or killed, you do the world a great justice in continuing your fight throughout the adversity which you face. In a world which thrives on acts of injustice against their fellow human beings, it is wonderfull to read about people who act for the betterment of others. Your struggle is an inspirment to others, to see what you have gone through, the death of both your parents and being forced into hiding, yet see that you continue to do the work you believe is important. It is absolutly unbelievable the things you have accomplished given how the odds were stacked against you. Your contrabutions in the advocation of Indian rights are great. You fully deserve the awards which were presented to you. Please continue in the fight against injustice, and your fight for equality and understanding of the ethinic and cultural differences between the people. Your story of overcoming adversity is a great inspiration. Thank you for your contributions.

Australia Journal Entry # 3 The Aboriginals of Australia were the first peoples to live in Australia. There are two indigenous peoples of Australia, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. The Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are both ethnically and culturaly distinct peoples. Historically and to this day, the Aboriginal people lived on Mainland Australia, Tasmania, and many of the offshore islands of the continent. The Aboriginals of Australia only make up a small percent of the population - 1%. Around 1788, the first European settelments in Australia began to develope, growing form penal colonies founded by Great Britain. The population of the Aboriginals of this time was about 300,000, but by the indroduction of foriegn diseases, both social and cultural disruptions,and the brutal mistreatment the white settlers inflicted upon the Aboriginals, the Aboriginal people faced a grave decline in population. By the 1920's the populatopon had declined to only 60,000. The Aboriginal people staid manly rural until the 1960's, but over the next two decades, they began to move to the more urbanized ares in greater numbers. They then faced discrimination, and mistreatment. In fact, because of their low social and political status, they were omitted from the national censuses. Yet the Aboriginal people fought back, by organizing themselves and demanding greater political rights for themselves. A referandum was passed, granting the goverment power to legislate for the Indiginous people, and include them in the national census counts. Each region of Australia is represented by its own Aboriginal land council. Traditional ways of life for the Aboriginals are still continued in the more remote regions of the country.The communities, spread out across Australia are united in the common goal to reassert their land rights. In terms of welfare, family income, unemployment, and average life expectancy, the Aboriginal population fares badley against the rest of the Australian population.

What I Learnes About Latvia Journal Entry # 4 Our class has found out that we are to be paired with a school in Latvia. After looking at some articles on Latvia, this is what I found: Latvia was under Russian control from 1721 until 1918. Though they were considered Russian citizens, they still retained their customs, language, and folklore. The revolution in Russia allowed them temporary freedom, as the Latvian Republic was proclaimed on November 18, 1918. Yet the Republic only lasted for twenty years. Occupied by Russian troops in 1939, it was annexed by Russia in 1940. This was never recognized by the US. In 1991, Latvia’s independence was re-established. Latvia declared its independence on Aug. 21, 1991. The US and many other European nations recognized their independence, announcing full diplomatic recognition for Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Latvia’s natural resources include peat, limestone, amber, dolomite, hydropower, wood, and arable land. After the country regained its independence, there was a shift to the service industry. This shift greatly benefited Latvia’s environment. Latvia’s main environmental concerns include improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, and reduction of air pollution, as well as hazardous waste management. There are three major religions in Latvia: Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, and Roman Catholic. The population of Latvia is 2,274,735. The age of Suffrage for Latvians is eighteen. The majority of the population is Latvia is Latvian, with a minority of Russian. The Latvian Republic had set up strict citizenship laws, which limited citizenship to those of ethnic Latvian heritage, and all who had lived in the region before Soviet Rule in 1940. This restricted the country’s Ethnic Russians to citizenship, denying about 452,000 of citizenship. This was overruled in 1998, when a referendum was passed which eased citizenship rules.

In comparison to Latvia, Canada is quite different: The country of Canada gained independence from Britain in 1867. It became a self governing country, yet still retained its ties to Britain. Development in economics and technology is around the same as the US, their neighboring country. Canada must face the separatists in francophone Quebec. Canada must also face the many challenges of maintaining its commitment to the betterment of the environment, while also continuing its development in energy resources. Canada’s economic growth has changed the economy from largely rural areas to one which is primarily industrial and urban. The majority of Canadians are of British Isles origin, those of French origin being the major minority. Those of Asian, African, or Arab decent make up only 6%. The major religions in Canada are Roman Catholic at 42.6% and Protestant at 23.3 %. Muslim makes up almost 2%. There are two languages in Canada – French and English. The majority of French speaking Canadians live in Quebec. There is only one bilingual province in Canada.

Riga Journal Entry # 5 have just finished reading the article on Riga. It was atrocious what happened to the Jewish population there. They were treated unjustly, and unfairly. The establishment of the ghetto imprisoned 30,000 Jews. Here they were in constant danger. This took away their freedom of movement, and their right to live where they wanted. They were forced into being prisoners unfairly and unjustly. Forcing the Jews of Riga to be concentrated into ghettos was unjust. On November 30 and December 8-9 26,000 Riga Jews were shot by the Germans in the Rumbula Forest, along the Riga-Dvinsk railway and the Riga-Salaspils road. A transport of 1,000 Jews from the German Reich also shared that fate. As well, in reprisal for partisan activities, the Germans than killed 100 people from the ghetto, and executed all the Jewish policemen on the suspicion of participating in resistance activities. The Germans also murdered thousands of Jews then held in Kaiserwald and its sub-camps in the summer of 1944. Those who were still alive were later deported to the concentration camp in Germany. This was a major injustice. They were not given the freedom to live freely, or even live. They were killed at the hands of the Germans unfairly and unjustly. Another great injustice done to the Jews of Riga was, they were forced in 1944, to reopen mass graves in Rumbula and burn the bodies. This act was, orchestrated by the Germans in an attempt to destroy evidence of mass murder. They were forced to labor against their will, in unsanitary conditions. The bodies were given no respect as well. This seems like unfair and unjust treatment towards other human beings.

I.General Bullying This situation seems so unjust. To be bullied for that long and not to have any body try to intervene! People should be able to feel safe and secure at school and in their workplaces. They shouldn’t have to fear those around them. It strikes close to home, and reminds me of situations which happened to me in grade school until I left the school in choice of home school. I was constantly bullied. One teacher even flat out denied that I was being bullied in her class, until, out of desperation my mother pulled me from the system. I know that bullying happens to millions of people, form general harassment to physical attacks. People are so ignorant when they turn a blind eye and begin pretending that it doesn’t exist around them. It often seems that if they were to admit to a problem in bullying, they think the whole world would come crashing down. They get defensive and begin to deny it. I don’t understand why people wouldn’t try to fix the problem. The first step would just be admitting that there is a problem! It absolutely infuriates me that people can be both so cruel for no apparent reason. I believe that all schools should really take an in depth look into bullying. No place is perfect, so saying that it doesn’t happen in a one place is outright lying. Things have to get a bit messy before they can get better. The problems of bullying need to be addressed not swept under the rug.

II. Homophobic Bullying Wow! This story was a real eye opener on the prejudices that Homosexuals face everyday. I can’t believe how people act to members of their own community because they choose a different lifestyle then them. All people should be respected for their opinions, beliefs, and decisions. Part of the problem seems to be ignorance. People need to learn about the differences of other. They should learn not to judge others because they are homosexual. No one has the right to judge someone because they have different lifestyles then what is considered “normal”, or to attack or demean them. How the school or community could allow this to happen confuses me. The community should really start working together to create tolerance and understanding. Even if someone doesn’t agree, does not mean that they have to persecute those they don’t agree with. Everyone should be respected regardless of their sexual orientation. I've found that many teachers will turn a blind eye to the problems of homophobic bullying, perferring not to have to confront the issue. They need to begin to realize that things can change, and that they can help change them. Everyone deserves the right to live with integrity and pride. We need to get people to understand that all people have a rigt to respect,and live and work peacefully in our schools, communities, and work places. We need to develope the skills to live with one another in peace, and interact with each other and the world with respect.

III. Religious Bullying This story didn’t really surprise me. It is saddening and shameful that our society has not yet learned to embrace all beliefs. No one should be persecuted or attacked because of their religious or spiritual beliefs. It is the differences in beliefs and opinions which makes life, life. The lack of knowledge people have is sometimes so staggering. Many just can’t seem to accept the difference sin a person which makes them, them. It is angering that the Muslim Community is being targeted because of actions not of their doing. All throughout the world they are being used as scapegoats. No one should be targeted for their religious convictions if they are not being unjust to others because of these beliefs. It is so infuriating that the intolerant beliefs of one generation are being passed to another, and that people can’t learn to accept and celebrate our cultural and religious differences. I think people should begin to learn about the differences of others and work together to gain a better understanding. Not persecute them or use them as scapegoats.

IV. Cyber Bullying This story strikes close to home. So many days now e-mail and the internet has lead to cyber bullying. This is infuriating because it means that not only do you have to face bullying outside of the home, but it also enters into the home. The place where you should felt he safest is invaded. The feeling someone gets when they read the cruel words on the computer in their home is indescribable. I remember getting hate-mail on the computer, and how hurt and violated I felt. The place where I felt the most secure was not the place I wanted to be reading these messages. I felt like they had broken in to my house. I no longer felt safe or comfortable at home, knowing that they could enter anytime they wanted via the internet. This issue is quickly growing out of control. It needs to be stopped NOW! People need to realize that Cyber bullying is just as bad, and in some cases worse than bullying in person. They need to know that there will be serious consequences for any forms of bullying. It just gets me so angry that people can’t seem to leave others ALONE! Kids start Cyber Bullying, thinking that it’s ok because it's not face to face. Some think that because its over the internet, it doesn’t mean anything or that its just a big joke. They need to learn that Cyber Bullying hurts just as much as public bullying.

VI. Bullying from the perpetrator’s point of view

This story is really expressive. I was surprised that someone who admitted to being a bully also admits to being ashamed for their actions. When you a re being bullied, you think of your bully as someone is not human. To later find out that many turned to bullying because they themselves were bullied, or because they felt inadequate is often surprising. When you’re bullied, it feels sometimes as thought he reason is because something is wrong with you, not the bully. It makes you ashamed to be yourself, You begin to think that the bully is the better one, more superior. It never crosses your mind that the reason they bully is because they themselves are scared. I feel sorry for those who bullied, because they will have to live the rest of their lives with the knowledge that they made someone else's hell, and may have caused serious emotional problems. I'm happy that some are coming out apologetic, but as a victem of bullying I feel as though they deserve to feel this way now. I've felt horrible about myself for years because of bullies, and though I know its wrong, I feel a sense of satisfaction that they're getting a taste of what I went through for years. It does really make you think about how human we all are. Bullies are just people who've had a hard time themselves, or feel inadequit. The way we deal with our problems are just different. There needs to be a way to confront the issue on bullying, starting at the root. Perhaps instead of dealing with the problem of the moment, we deal with the originating problem. If people feel happy and confident about themselves and their abilities they may not turn to bullying.

“Response to “Aggressive Youth Beat Somalis” This account of bullying really shocked me. It’s astonishing that even the police wouldn’t do anything! This type of bullying can escalate, and cause serious problems. It sounds like the police need to get their act together and nip this in the bud now before it grows out of control. People should be able to feel secure, and if something happens, should have the right to have the law come to their aid. For their complaint to be ignored, disbelieved, and brushed off, is unfair. This is a cycle of hate, and it needs to stop. If we a shuman beings are going to stop this cycle, we need to admit to the problems we have in our society, and deal with them, not brush them off or ignore them.

Gender Based Violence When I read this article I felt sick. I knew that this type of abuse was happening, but I never really thought about it, and this article really put it into perspective. This really affected my thoughts on the issue. As this problem is a serious concern in our culture and in other cultures around the world, it is best to have a full grasp on it. To read that 70-80 percent is often sexually abused is frightening, and to hear that nothing is being done – atrocious. I felt saddened that many of the women have not reported sexual abuse, and enraged at the men who mistreat them after they have admitted to being sexually abused. This is injustice. The government needs to be able to safeguard women’s rights, and design procedures in order to address their needs. I believe one of the best things we can do right now is to educate the people about what is happening in Africa and other parts of the world to women, as well as in Canada, because we all know that Canada is not innocent of this type of abuse. The governments should provide training and resources to the law (police, judicial officials…), in order for them to be able to deal with and handle the prosecution of those guilty of gender based violence, ensuring that they are held responsible for their crimes.

Zero Tolerance Policy Although bringing what looks like a gun to school was wrong, I believe that the three day suspension was enough! He wasn’t taking it to school to threaten or scare anyone, only for a class assignment. True he probably should have informed the teacher on what he was bringing, but he was only 10 years old! How many 10 year olds do you know that think reasonably all the time, especially when they’re excited about sharing something. True, if there is a zero tolerance policy, to let the kid off would set a bad example, but really isn’t a week of suspension enough? I’m pretty sure the kid has learned a lesson, and probably won’t be taking any gun like objects to school in the near future. Also, after thinking about it, did the parents know what their child was bringing to school? If they did, shouldn’t they have contacted the teacher to warn her or see if it was ok to bring it? If the parents knew, then it wasn’t as if the child was sneaking it out of the house or being deceitful.

Theater in Guatemala

After reading this article, I sensed how the people who live in Guatemala suffer from lives filled with despair. I read how their grim futures pushed many to drugs, and gangs, and felt sadness at their despair. Yet after reading, I also felt hope as I read about the theater, that tries to bring rival gangs together, as equals. I read on how these people are trying to change the lives of those who have made some bad decisions, instead of judging them. They confront the violence that runs rampant throughout the country, and take steps to fix it. These people involved in gangs and drugs were usually pushed their by the helplessness they felt in their lives. They are trying to help fix the problems, by bringing the gangs together to see how they are not that much different from each other and by trying to find the root of the problem, by addressing each individuals need. I feel sad that not all people are as accepting of this attempt to bring together those who have turned against each other. I think that this attempt will lead to something that will affect the entire country in a better way than the drug use, and violence in rival gangs is doing. I hope that people will soon accept this, and work together to make that country a better place. As well, I believe that something like this program would work very nicely in Canada, as we have many gangs in some of the bigger cities, and a rise in drug use by young people. I truly hope that this type of work with the young people will spread across the world, and that people will be fully accepting of this change, which will hopefully lead to a better world (Emily J).**


 * Summarization of Iraq 'facing grim future'**
 * Warnings are arising, that Iraq faces the possibility of collapse and fragmentation, due to the local Civil wars and insurgencies which are fought where the government is powerless. American and British strategies in Iraq have undergone severe criticism from Chatham House, a highly respected foreign policy institution, and are urged to undergo radical changes, in an attempt to rescue this situation.**
 * The briefing paper, Accepting Realities in Iraq, argues that instead of a single civil war in Iraq, there is instead several, involving organizations and communities in a power struggle. It is argued that, Iraq's neighbors have a greater capacity to affect the situation on the ground, and have reasons "for seeing the instability there continue, and each uses different methods to influence developments".**
 * The American Security surge has not overcome violence, but is instead moving it to different areas, and in order to deliver results, the American Commander in Iraq must ask for more time. This would present a dilemma for the Bush Administration, as the President has already set a date for withdrawal. Congressional opponents believe that it is the president alone who must be held responsible for the continuation of the ware in Iraq.**
 * The report urges that Moqtada Sadr, leader of the Mehdi army no longer be treated as an enemy, but as a political partner, and that there should be involvement of other countries in this region.**