Do something now...

http://streetkidnews.blogsome.com/category/1/asia-streetkid-news/vietnam-streetkid-news/
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=167169
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2783125.stm

Vietnam is a country that has grown enormously for the past 10 years. It has one of the lowest rates of unemployment and it is the largest producer of cashew nuts in the world. But Vietnam has serious problems. It is still a very poor country. It has undeveloped areas where people live in deep poverty (population living under $1 per day). This situation has created an important issue with children because most of them have to work to support their families. The lack of consciousness about the rights of children doesn’t help. Parents receive money from their children's income, when those children must be at school preparing for their life. There are a lot of Vietnamese children without legal papers. This means that they can’t get medical help and they are not able to work for government companies. The lack of birth certificates has create bigger problems such as illegal adoptions of Vietnamese babies and growing numbers of children that suffer sex abuse and are infected with HIV/AIDS.

The situation with Vietnamese children is very sad. Most of them are abused by their employers because of the legal situation. The income they receive is sent to their families. The government should be more aware and effective with plans that help Vietnamese children. A good way to start would be the parent’s education about the right of children. These children shouldn’t be the ones that bring economic support to their families. If the problem is poverty, the government should be able to provide stable economic support to the parent in order to stop the exploitation of these children.

Images taken from

http://www.xeni.net/images/boingboing/guatemala/sandia-vendors-med.jpg and http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/imgs/content/portrait-of-boy-Ca-Mau-Vietnam.jpg

To wear it, or not to wear it, that is the question.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=d30c80c6c361c41f64d8218e5b334646

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1645145,00.html
http://www.knbc.com/news/10754064/detail.html

The word Hijab “refers to women’s head and body covering, but in Islamic scholarship, hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy and morality” (Wikipedia.org). To wear something because of religion, fashion or taste should be one’s choice. But the problem begins when someone decide for you what should you wear or not. In some countries the hijab has been prohibited, leaving Muslim women without a part of their religion. The ironic thing is that while in some countries the hijab can be forbidden, in other countries women can walk almost naked. I truly believe that in either case is our decision what to wear or not.

Most Muslim women use the hijab because it represents modesty and encourages men to respect them by their personalities and not by the way they look. For most women the hijab doesn’t represent oppression. Oppression is to force someone to wear or not to wear something. When the word fashion appears in the scene almost every piece of clothe is acceptable to be shown. So, why Muslim women can’t walk in the streets with their hijab? If in fashion, Vera Wang can show her collection with no problem, Muslim women should be able to walk freely with their hijab. Actually, Muslims women have gone further. Two Muslim women created a burqini. It is a full coverage swimsuit that gives the opportunity to swim without drowning and at the same time it help Muslim women to protect their privacy. Everyone should be able to wear something, by conviction or not.

Pictures taken from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1645145,00.html and http://amatulwadood.hadithuna.com/files/2007/10/my-hijab_my-choice.jpg

What does this have to do with me?

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/112/geng

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/business/worldbusiness/22deal.

For the past few years, the winter has been colder and the summer, much warmer. Climate is going crazy. What does that have to do with us? Many people will say that it has anything to do with them, but the reality is that global warming concerns to all of us. Companies, schools, government and people should be worried about what is happening and what the earth is telling us with these dramatic changes.

Four of the most powerful men in the US gather to see what they can do about global warming. They are all concern about finding a bio fuel that is economically efficient for the market. But while powerful people research for more solutions, can we do something to help?. Of course we can! Spend less time in shower, turn the lights off if you are not using them and be more careful about the things you buy in the supermarket. "Going green" doesn't mean spend more money. There are some products that are more concern with the environment and you will pay the same amount of money that you pay for regular products. A healthier planet is our responsibility, so make a change here and there and you will be contributing to the earth's welfare.

Think you will able to do some more dramatic changes? See this video…

Images taken from http://www.teachervision.fen.com/images/home/blizzard.gif and http://www.raven1.net/hike12.jpg

Global warming...What do you think?

Here is an article that explains how 4 of the most powerful men in the US are doing something about the global warming and its effects.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/business/worldbusiness/22deal.html?_r=1&ref=environment&oref=slogin

The idea is to find one or two more articles with new information so you can support your point of view.
Here is the link to two more articles, in the first one you will find an introduction to global warming, in case that you are not familiar with the subject and in the second one you will find information about an initiative of tech companies.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html#

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/wireStory?id=3344227

Creating comics...

My new assignment was to create a comic... At first it was hard to come up with something but here is the final result...
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/comix.html?comix_id=20593333

If you want to see more comics here is one of the most funny and sarcastic comicist in Colombia, his name is Vladdo and the comics are in spanish but they are very good. http://www.aleida.com/

Even more!!

Hi, last class I create a web page. On my site you are going to find more information about my country, Colombia and much more!

http://sandraft.googlepages.com/sandraft

Violence is not the best way...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7308890.stm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080314/pl_afp/chinatibetreligionprotestsrightsus_080314135032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88236362

To make things clear for those who are not familiar (like me) with the conflict between China and Tibet here is a not so objective summary of what is happening in the Tibet Autonomous Region right now. It all started in 1951 when China and Tibet signed an agreement that claims that Tibet is part of China. But it goes further because China not only claimed Tibet as part of it, but also China's government has brutally suppressed the Tibetans for years. This suppression forced the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, to go into exile in India. For years Tibetans are forced to live by China´s rules and there are losing their culture. Hundreds of Tibetans have died through the years because of the conflicts.

Even though I find quite reasonable the motives of the unrest in Tibet, I don´t agree that the violence is the way of making justice. The only thing that this conflicts seems to achieve is hundreds of deaths, people hurt and physical damages. The only reality and the reason why everyone, not only Tibetans but also people from all over the world, needs to fight is for Tibetans freedom. Like the Dalai Lama said "We don´t want independence, we want autonomy". Tibetan has the right of practice their culture and decided for their selves what to believe and how to live. Like the White House said: "China must respect Tibetan culture".

Images taken from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88236362