My teacher surprised me. She gathered a senior meeting to tell us that due to a drought, my school (High Tech High International) was shutting off the water. She assured us that the school would soon import portable toilets—this was not reassuring. We were disappointed, but what could we do? I suppose the joke was on us. The school did not really shut the water off. My teacher was making the point that drought is very real to many people. The other half of the surprise was that the teachers had chartered a bus for that day that would take us to see a refugee exhibit put on by Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).
The conditions in refugee camps I learned are not pleasant—I could have guessed. The most shocking tidbit of information I learned at the pseudo refugee enclosure was about the mines. Throughout the hot countries (that is the African nations in conflict), militants set mines specifically designed not to kill, merely to maim. This way, three people (intended to be soldiers) are taken out of commission—the victim and the two others required to carry him. This disturbed me as much as the living conditions in the camps themselves.
In such circumstances, I am glad to have aid organizations providing care in refugee camps. They establish efficient systems for hygienic and medical aid, and do the best they possibly can with the materials and people they have. It is good that the care tents are spread out so that all refugees seeking assistance are not concentrated into one place. If at all realistic, I wonder if it would be possible to educate the inhabitants in how to care for each other as well as care for them. This would localize aid and make it more self sustaining.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
My (Technical) Party
According to an online quiz, my views are best represented by...
The Reform Party
Symbol
History
The Reform Party began in the 1992 Presidential Election when Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire of the oil industry decided to campaign for president. He hoped to give Americans a candidate alternative to the conventional Democratic and Republican picks—George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton. Although Clinton emerged as the victor, Perot claimed 19% of the popular vote. Inspired by this starting wave of support, Perot’s followers established the Reform Party. Perot’s 8.5% of the popular vote in the 1996 election solidified the Reform movement as a legitimate political party.
Platform
As the name suggests, the Reform movement calls for economic and governmental reform. The party as a whole is discontented with the low ethical standards that the White House and Congress have sunk to. It aims to bolster public demand for a transparent Washington. Its primary objectives are to reform the campaign/election process, revamp the tax system, revise health care, Social Security, trade, and immigration. This party is designed to cater to voters who do not fully identify with the two major parties and seek an alternative to political monopolies.
Party Nominee
Ross Perot
Convention Site
Austin, Texas
Speech
Over these past 8 years we have had a president who has not listened to the people. He sustains an endless war that he claims to be winning. We are losing money, and now the economy is going down the drain. If the government is going to work, it needs change. Not the change that Obama wants, not the Change that McCain wants, we need to change the fundamentals of the government. The first change that needs to be made is to the people in our government. Morals are something that is needed to be part of the government, and that is missing. We need to raise the ethical standards that we hold for our Congress and White House. We need to pay of the national debt, and to do that we must reform the tax system. Along with the revision of the tax system, we must revise Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid because not enough Americans have healthcare, and we must protect what is most dear to our country. With the increase on immigration, we must find a way to employ the new Americans, while keeping the jobs of other Americans. This country needs major reform. Our system is failing, and needs to be overhauled to adjust for the new age.
The Reform Party
Symbol
History
The Reform Party began in the 1992 Presidential Election when Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire of the oil industry decided to campaign for president. He hoped to give Americans a candidate alternative to the conventional Democratic and Republican picks—George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton. Although Clinton emerged as the victor, Perot claimed 19% of the popular vote. Inspired by this starting wave of support, Perot’s followers established the Reform Party. Perot’s 8.5% of the popular vote in the 1996 election solidified the Reform movement as a legitimate political party.
Platform
As the name suggests, the Reform movement calls for economic and governmental reform. The party as a whole is discontented with the low ethical standards that the White House and Congress have sunk to. It aims to bolster public demand for a transparent Washington. Its primary objectives are to reform the campaign/election process, revamp the tax system, revise health care, Social Security, trade, and immigration. This party is designed to cater to voters who do not fully identify with the two major parties and seek an alternative to political monopolies.
Party Nominee
Ross Perot
Convention Site
Austin, Texas
Speech
Over these past 8 years we have had a president who has not listened to the people. He sustains an endless war that he claims to be winning. We are losing money, and now the economy is going down the drain. If the government is going to work, it needs change. Not the change that Obama wants, not the Change that McCain wants, we need to change the fundamentals of the government. The first change that needs to be made is to the people in our government. Morals are something that is needed to be part of the government, and that is missing. We need to raise the ethical standards that we hold for our Congress and White House. We need to pay of the national debt, and to do that we must reform the tax system. Along with the revision of the tax system, we must revise Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid because not enough Americans have healthcare, and we must protect what is most dear to our country. With the increase on immigration, we must find a way to employ the new Americans, while keeping the jobs of other Americans. This country needs major reform. Our system is failing, and needs to be overhauled to adjust for the new age.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)