Blog Post #8- A Spotlight On Poverty

 

One of the biggest issues in the world today is undoubtedly Poverty. Countries like Congo, Liberia, Madagascar and Haiti have the highest percentage of population living under $1.25 a day. This amount differs massively from Canada and the United States where the minimum wage per hour ranges from $5.50-$10.30 an hour. Canada and the United States are by doubt; wealthy Countries that can do many things to help the global poverty rate. The role of these two Countries are very straight forward: donate and educate.

Wealthier nations have to be educated on issues affecting the world such as poverty. Commercials have to be made, documentaries have to be widely shown, and brochures have to be handed out at local fundraising events. These actions aware society and are often “step one” in easing poverty.

Donating is Canada and the United States’ strongest active role in easing the suffering of the world's poorest people. By having charities such as: Help the Children and The Red Cross, money is given to poor Countries to buy food, fresh water and even a roof to live under. Money is key to ease suffering of the world’s poorest people.

Certain wealthy individuals have already stepped in to deal with poverty. Bill Gates and his wife Malinda have donated lots of money for certain charities and have even gone further and created their own charity called “The Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation”  to make sure people live equally. Other wealthy individuals, celebrities or not can always donate a significant of extra money that they don’t need to major “anti-poverty” charities. As well, individuals could create their own charity if they want to go above and beyond.  

In conclusion, residents in wealthy nations should stop and think one day and ask themselves “How can I save a life today” or “What can I do to make someone less fortunate live a better life”. These questions are crucial to begin to think about donating and being educated about poverty within the world we live in.

Blog Post #7- Israeli Settlement Building

 

Recently, Israel has made a very controversial decision to resume settlement building in the El Zone. Some agree with this decision and some disagree. Personally, I disagree with the decision to resume settlement building in the El Zone. Israel plans to build 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, many of them in the large West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. Long-term plans call for the eventual construction of 5,000 units in the area meaning that the decision would make peace negotiations more difficult which is frowned upon by certain diplomats and in my opinion is a big "NO". As well, the settlements are illegal and would slice the West Bank in two and cut it off from the proposed Palestinian capitol of East Jerusalem. Also, a home of a Palestinian family was torn down because it was blocking the construction of Israel building the settlement in the El Zone. All of this conflict is because of settlement building. In my opinion it is defiantly not worth all the hassle and controversy.

 

Blog Post #6- Connecticut School Shooting: A Lesson of Violence

December 14, 2012 was a very emotional day at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The major shooting that happened wasn't just a shock to the small town in Connecticut, but it caused a complete disturbance to the rest of the world when the news broke out about this very tragic event. 27 short lived students and teachers unfortunately lost their lives to the maniac shooter. However, the school shooting was a lesson about violence in our society, especially in the United States where carrying a gun and storing an armed weapon in a residents home is normal and even requested by the US state of security. In the United States, killing another person that is harming someone is a way to resolve the problem, which is absolutely absurd! This elementary shooting has opened the worlds eye, especially the United States at how having a gun at home can end in an awful way. In my opinion, this event should have caused the US government to tighten the gun laws to reduce the amount of violence.