Current Events

'Post-Olympic Era' Off to a Rocky Start - CNN.com

China has recently finished their Olympic Games. But all this excitement, or as they call it, "post-Olympic euphoria", everyone is ignoring all the "economic worries and safety crises" [CNN.com]
People all around the world saw the Olympic Games as something that will effect the political and social change of China.
Many citizens of China sent in compliants to the government over the China's Human rights record and "treatment of minorities".
Even before then, however, reality showed itself with the collapse earlier this month at an illegal mine waste dump that killed at least 259 people and forced the resignation of a provincial governor.Now, the contaminated milk powder has killed the fourth baby, and more than 6,200 in critical condition, the government isn't paying enough attention to them and the only times we read about them are in international records. The rest of the world is worrying while China is still celebrated their success of the Olympic Games.

September 17, 2008 CNN.com

Reflections on Student Outcomes

Critical Thinker> I have been a critical thinker this week on our AfricaQuest project. In able the win the grant we have to sell our country. Basically, I'm focusing on Africa's economy. I think that our country and make a lot by its safaris and the gold mines and all the special geological places you can find there. Mostly building roads and tourist spots and information centers need to built up for tourist that want to see Africa's sights. Maybe we can have it that if you visit the safaris you can get a free trip to Cape Town and its beaches. Maybe get more tourist bonuses and by that, get more people to hire for jobs and money to pay them.

Active Learner> I am not just looking at the internet for my resources. The books that are in class has also proven useful. I found a small time-line on South Africa and during the 1940s - 1980s mostly about politics. Which can be applied to the node on Mind meister of history and political science.

Community Contributor> I seem to be the only one to go on the Del.icio.us website to share websites and I actually find that easier as my partner can also see the sites that I've been to and find useful. I also put links to my mind map to show where i found th information. Also when my peers have problems with anything and they ask me, I help them out to understand the meanings of different problems they face.

Effective Communicator> When my partner asks a question, I can effectively explain her the problem and give her little pushes towards the answer. Other-wise the only times we talk is when we find something useful and we tell each other but we just research on what we are focusing on but also go deeper into the subject.

Person of high character> I am responsible during class and I'm doing the work instead of messing around. I find that i'm actually sometimes not interested in the subject. I don't really like having things down on paper and would rather talk to the Gates foundations rather than having to send a letter to them. I think that person to person communication is the best but in this case, we aren't actually going to send an actual letter the Mr and Mrs Gates.

Animal Rights

What is a right?
- A right is something you come with. You're born into the world with the right to live. It isn't something that you can earn but it can be taken away. It depends on how a person or animal uses the rights can you take it away. If something has more rights than others, they must have the responsibility and also have more responsibilities than a person or animal that disobeys other's rights. So then do we lose our right for living if we take other's life, even if the other is less or more superior than us. Everybody has rights and they have the power or authority over whatever they have the right to. They have power of their lives and their actions. If someone is taking over their lives and what they do, its the same thing as taking this person's or animal's right to live on this planet. You take away another's right to live, you may take your right to live and the authority over your life by doing a wrong.


What animals would we use to dissect (Why?). Which animals don't we have the right to dissect (Why?)
- We don't have the right to dissect any animals. No matter what they are still equal to us. Sure we may have more developed brains, but they still have the right to live. Mosquitoes have the right to bite us and suck our blood because it's the way they can reproduce and LIVE. If we don't let them have the right to suck our blood, they would never live. But since we give them to suck our blood, they can suck all the blood they want and they are the ones taking our right to live. If animals did not have the rights to do anything, they would be all living under our command. We would be able to dissect all the frogs we want because frogs don't do anything to impact our lives on this earth. Sure they won't like it but we are giving ourself the right to take their lives. I think we should only get frogs that are almost dying anyway. We would just be putting them to rest and giving them peace, also giving us the real experience to see what is in a body and how it works. Leonardo di Vinci dissected humans but they were humans that let him dissect them. We can't just ask a frog whether they want to die or not because we don't communicate in the same language.
They have lives to live. True, they don't have Ivy league colleges and Disney World and cars and clothes. But a thing more important than that is lives. They live and they have still time to experience things. They aren't even harming us right now. Rats have their small little homes with other rats they live with. They have emotions just like humans but you won't be able to see it and if you kill a rat you make the other rats scared, angry, and sad because they just lost a family member and they're scared that they're next. They have the right to live peacefully.


We do not have the right to dissect (as a class) the endangered species or any animal for that matter. The one animal that I would fully support on not dissecting are primates. They are the most like humans and taking them away is like killing a fellow human being. They have the same right as we do to live. Taking it away would be the same as committing a homicide.

Every single animal has the same rights as humans. What if animals ruled the world and they took one of us to dissect for educational purposes. S**** educational purposes! most people would say. We want to live just as every thing else. So should they have the right to live? Let the animals go. Let them to be free to decide for themselves whether they want to live.
But if a frog came into a science room and lie down on the table spread-eagled pointing at a scapel, i would think it wants to die. Then the humans should just toss it back into the pond to knock some sense into it.

(i would rather discuss this in person if you guys have anything else to add. i suck at stuff through written or typed words)