This week I had a much better experience in class. I was able to follow along much better and understood more of the content. We discussed the 5 themes of geography, and learned some more of what is considered Human Geography. Our quiz on Friday was pretty hard, but I liked that it was writing, since I excell in that more then map quizzes. We also set up our edmodo accounts, which quickly turned into all of us treating it like Facebook and commenting who-knows-what. It's one social networking site that isn't blocked!
I enjoyed what we learned this week, as going over the maps showing peoples' opinions across the country really interests me. I hope we continue to do the same concepts in the weeks to follow.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Week 2 Articles && Vocab
Palestinians Submit UN Statehood Bid
By AMY TEIBEL and MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS September 23, 2011 (AP) This article was about how Palestine asked the UN to be recognized as an independent state. To do they, they have to make peace with Israel, which has been in debate for years. Palestine has great public approval, as a lot want to end the struggles they have had. Palestine’s leader Abbas hopes that this new plan and talks will end 18 years of nonsuccessful negotiation. Some international mediators are trying to find a way to get more independence for Palestine without them becoming a state, but approval for their plans is unlikely. The U.S. plans to veto this idea of statehood in the UN.
Slowdown, debt worries in China add to global anxiety
By Keith B. Richburg
This article was about how China’s economy is dropping slightly in growth, so they are stopping their stimulus plan. This hurts all countries, as many people, even Americans, counted on the demands in China to help their companies stay in business. There has been a lot of inflation in China, and investors fear that the economy in China may fall hard. People think that the Chinese economy isn’t built on a stable foundation, and if something’s demand falls the whole market will crumble. With no stimulus plan in sight, the world may be in trouble without China to help it.
U.S. Pushes Europe to Act With Force on Debt Crisis
By MARK LANDLER and BINYAMIN APPELBAUM
This article was about how President Barack Obama has been talking with the Chancellor of Germany and the President of France to persuade them to take greater action against the debt in Greece. The US believes that Europe should be doing more to stop the spread of Greece’s debt, and that they need a larger bailout fund. The European debt crisis is huge, and it could severely hurt America’s economy. The Chancellor realizes that it may take a great effort to get the Germans to spend millions of their dollars on bailing out Greece, however it may keep the debt from spreading and creating an even bigger crisis.
US using controversial money-transfer system to deliver aid in Somalia
By Associated Press
This article discussed how the USA is using unique ways to transfer food vouchers to poverty-stricken Somalia. Certain terrorist groups have been blocking international groups from giving food and money to the worst places in Somalia. The group al-Shabab has most of the control of the famine aid coming into the country and will often lock out help. The UN nations are trying to find a solution soon, as around 4 million people are in poverty in Somalia.
Graphic ads turn around Montana teen meth use
By Ben Tracy
I chose this article as my main one, because for me it was the most interesting and I learned the most from it. It began with talking about the major drug use in Montana in the early 2000s. The arrests of people for meth had gone up 90 percent, and the state was spending an estimate of $300 million a year to try and stop the terrible drug use. They had little success until they tried a different approach.
Montana produced and showed commercials directed at teens against meth starting in 2005. They were disturbing and showed what would happen to people who tried meth in very graphic videos. The ads were made by an organization called the Montana Meth Project. The ads have waves of advertisements against meth, the most recent showing how a meth addiction affects family and friends.
The results from these commercials were astonishing. Meth use by teens went down a great 63 percent since 2005. Montana is now ranked 39th in meth use among the states, instead of 5th. The ads have been broadcast to about eight other surrounding states. The results there were also great, with each state declining at least 50% in meth use.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Week 1 Learning Reflection
My learning reflection of this week was that I think our week was very scattered and we didn't really focus on one thing long enough. I like how we tend to talk about things happening in the world in the beginning of class, since it gives me a chance to share my opinion and learn about world events, but the rest of the days confused me as to what exactly we were supposed to be learning. I wasn't sure if the Kenya things were actually something we would go into, or if it was just for the intro. I'm hoping we'll focus on certain things next week so that I can get a better grasp of the content.
Week one Articles and summaries
Articles:
1.) Japan trying to repair ties with Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-trying-to-repair-ties-with-washington/2011/09/15/gIQA6afHXK_story.html
2.)
1.) Japan trying to repair ties with Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-trying-to-repair-ties-with-washington/2011/09/15/gIQA6afHXK_story.html
By: Chico Harlan
This article was about the ways the new leaders in Tokyo are trying to make changes to things such as exports in Japan, to make its relations with the US much better. However, making these changes may prove difficult, because leaders trying to enforce these new rules before have received little support from the public. The leader, Noda, will meet with President Obama to discuss more ways to strengthen the US-Japan relationship, which is vital to the Eastern regions.
9/11 Babies on Dads: 'I Never Met Him but I Know I Love Him’
Authors: Eric Noll, Marcia Biggs, Kristen Adams and Enjoli Francis
This article was about the children that were unborn when their fathers died during the attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11. They all talked about how they had memorabilia of their fathers, and the different parts of them that was like their father, which made them feel as though they had memories of them. All of the children were happy to meet one another, as it made them feel less alone.
3.)
Berlin Hopes Growing Tech Community Will Lift City’s Economy
By: Nicholas Kulish
This article was about how the government of Germany hopes that the country’s recent uprise in the use of technology will help the economy become better. As of now, the unemployment rate is very high and rates for rent are rising very quickly. People also hope that the government will take better control of the recent technology, as it is all from outside businesses.
4.)
Denmark to Be Led by Its First Female Premier as Leftists Win
By John F. Burns
This article was about the recent polls in Denmark which showed a great possibility of Helle Thorning-Schmidt becoming their first woman prime minister. Her promises which caused her great popularity included raising taxes on banks and the wealthy, and adding about 12 minutes to the average worker’s workday. Her victory is set by the dominance of her party that was elected into Parliament.
5.)
My Family’s Experiment in Extreme Schooling
By:
Clifford J. Levy
This article was my favorite to read because it involved kids trying to get adjusted into a school, which reminded me of my first weeks here at John Carroll. I learned that Russians are still quite against Americans and have not yet fully recovered from the fall of the Soviets. I found this article entertaining to read, even though at six pages, it was the longest one I read. I thought the author wrote things very well, and his words about the talks with the headmaster made me laugh. This article ties in with what we are learning about because it talks about people moving and adjusting to a new country, while keeping some of their American values and traditions alive. The kids telling their new friends at school in Russia about America showed a bit of Globalization.
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