Nanami94's Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblog#10 Human Rights
The United Nations is an international organization made up of “51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.” Founded in 1945 after the Second World War, the UN is best known for peacekeeping, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. They have done some significant job in the past but it seems like they are not putting enough effort on their actions these days. There are way too many problems around the world and we can not expect the organization to stop racism, genocide and everything that is happening, but they could pay more attention to the countries that need their help. In the movie, Hotel Rwanda, people from UN were there to help, but they did not stop the rebel at all. When they had chance to evacuate everyone they only saved the tourists and left Tutsi in the hotel for dead. Their only job is to save people and maintain the world peace but they are not doing what they can. It looks like the UN is pretty aware of the problems around the world but they refuse to acknowledge it. It is time for a wake up call for them and start taking action for what they say.
#11 Poverty
In recent years, homelessness has become a major issue in Canada. We see people living on the street on the daily bases. With government struggling to come to the best solution for this issue, the situation we have seems uncontrollable. How did this happen? What are the causes of this situation, and what can we do about it? While number of homeless people is still increasing and people are dying off on the streets, it seems like there is only so much we can do, but the key to the improvement of the problem is to never give up hope.Canada’s homeless population is approximately 30,000, while another 1.7 million struggle to afford a rent. There has been a difference in a makeup of homeless population. In 1950’s the average age of the homeless was around 50, but the recent study reveals that the average age has dropped to middle to low thirties. In terms of gender, number of women and children of homeless population have been increasing significantly. Since women and children at unsafe places are easy targets for physical and sexual violence, it explains why the violence towards homeless people has been increasing in recent years as well. The existence of poverty and homelessness in our country can not be blamed on the poor themselves. In Canada rich are getting richer, and poor are getting poorer. The price of living keeps on increasing, and number of low-income housing units decreasing. It is a harsh environment for the poor to survive. If we should each take a little bit of responsibility of causing the poverty in this country, as a whole we could really start on making changes for these people.
#7 Highway of Tears
Highway of Tears is a 500-mile stretch of highway that runs from Prince George to Prince Rupert. It was given the name Highway of Tears because since 1988, 32 women, all of Aboriginal descent, have gone missing. Recently the Highway of Tears case has been getting a bit more media coverage due to other similar cases; ex: Robert (Willie) Picton trial. It is depressing to know how these cases are treated. They are women who have families and friends. They may have been involved with sex-trade or drugs and alcohol but they are still human beings and they deserve justice. When has one story of death become more important than the death of another? These women’s lives should be respected, as anyone else’s life that has had it taken away from them should be. These women should be remembered, they should be respected and most of all they should be found.It may be subconscious to most and no matter how insistent we are about making everyone an equal in the definition of a human being, there are still those who really hold no interest to some and very little to others. Though I am grateful to hear that the Highway of Tears is receiving more publicity. I genuinely hope sometime soon, in the near future, this horrible person is caught and dealt with properly. I hope all the families that were victims to this horrible incident receive a fair treatment and respect.
#9 Gender
Society today sees different views on males and females, different traits, of what a male should act like and what a female should act like. We are brought up relatively the same, socialized in the same ways, and because of that we adopt that way of thinking, be it “appropriate” gender roles or even what genders we should be.If somebody’s sex does not match their gender, people comment, people talk, people make rude gestures and people are just overall mean. Even if the way you are does not match the stereotype of the gender, you should not be ashamed of it and be who you are. You have to do what is right for you.Be who you want to be, not who the media wants your to be.In this day and age, we’ve hit a point where everything has changed so much with the “normal” scheme of things that when we keep this socialized way of expectations, where does it leave the people who don’t fit into those expectations. Be it any type of situation, whether the person doesn’t keep with their assigned sex or whether they’ve been born with a case that doesn’t really define them as either, or both, they are left in a soceity that won’t ever really accept them because of the “normal” that has been revovling through everyone’s lives for many, many years. A cycle this immense, and the more immense it becomes, gets harder and harder to eliminate. As someone seen on the street and their gender is near impossible to identify, many feel the need to put a significant amount of effort into trying to figure it out. But why should it matter? Why must a person be identified as anything to be able to function in our communities? If we can’t be identified, are we nothing, unable to be a part of the most basic of activities because people can’t tell what we are? Before it’s thought about, it seems as the most innocent of actions, nothing meant by it but it’s really all expected. Socialization is what has created these expectations and it’s only when it’s really pondered over that one realizes how much we value, how much we put on to the identification of gender. But even without gender, we are all still human.
#8 Education System
As a citizen of Canada, we should all have equal rights to education. Canada has always been known as a country that is extremely diverse. Different cultures are celebrated and different life styles are lived. Canada is known as a country that provides equality to everyone and anyone in all aspects of life. All races are able to work. All races are able to own property. All races are allowed freedom of speech. All races are provided with equal and fair education. But that might not be always true.
Canada provides education for anyone who wants it. You can go to school and attend classes despite the colour of your skin or the sound of your voice and that’s a definite promise. Whether your learning outcomes or met or not can’t really be guaranteed.Certain people from certain cultures or religions tend to struggle immensely when it comes to meeting learning outcomes.
Looking at the Provincial statistics you see that gifted students have a 97% chance of graduating while Aboriginal students have only 58% chance of graduating. The numbers of Aboriginals eligible to graduate is incredibly low, and year-to-year it is slowly decreasing.Environment and financial situation play a huge part in how successful a student is, but this cannot always be supported. We cannot change their school life, home life, and community life.So is it that the French immersion students, gifted students, and all the rest of the students fault? Are these students being favoured over the Aboriginal students? Nobody seems to be really doing anything about it.
Canadian schools teach in ways that are convenient for people of the English language. They include activities and cultures commonly celebrated by people of English descent. Our education system may seem to provide equality in the sense that anyone can enter it and anyone can attended. However, our education system does not provide equality to all in the sense that our learning outcomes and the way we teach is not entirely helpful to people who don’t understand a lot of English. In my opinion our education system does not provide equality to all groups of citizens in Canada.
#6 Racism and Civil Rights
http://sc94.ameslab.gov/tour/alincoln.html
Abraham Lincoln has made a big impact on society views of blacks and slavery in the 20th century. Abraham Lincoln was elected as the sixteenth president on November 6, 1860 most of all the southerners who were mostly democrats were afraid that the republicans would take control. Lincoln was in his pro-union policy for four long years of the Civil War. He received many assassination threats from many people who were mostly coming from the southerners who pretty much hated everything that president lincoln stood for. On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation proclamation came into effect, this was president lincoln declaration of freedom for all slaves were confederacy was held and were there was no union control.
President Abraham Lincoln worked really hard to keep the country together and ended up ending slavery after the Civil War.
On november 1, 1863 gave a famous Address which then he dedicated the battlefield at Gettysburg to the union soldiers who had died there. In 1864 the south slowly were getting tiered of all things and with doing so lincoln was reelected.
April 4, 1864, Abraham lincoln and his family attended a play called”our american cousin” at the ford’s theater. during the performance, in a booth arrived at the theater entered the state box were only special people can sit from the rear, and shot the president in the back of his head. the president was soon carried across the street to the Peterson’s house where he passed away the next day at 7:22am .
President Abraham lincoln help to win freedom for blacks after winning the south in the civil war. His proclamation helped blacks gain their freedom after the united states of america regained control of confederacy.
Assignment #5. Children’s Rights
Adults often underestimate children. The children don’t get to receive what they deserve because of the judgement the world makes: that children are less responsible. No matter what the person’s age, ethnic, or gender is, we are all human beings and we should have the equal rights.We all make mistakes, and we learn to be responsible through the experience. Rather than prohibiting everything from the children from the start, we should give them a chance to learn about the life and how heavy it is to hold responsibility. The children’s right has always been violated globally in many ways, but it is time for us to help the children speak up. Letting the world hear how the childrens’ rights are abused could make more people eager to help improve the issue. There are also many organizations working on protection of the children such as UNICEF. Even though the truth is not always beautiful, we should never ignore the fact. Small things like donating money for the UNICEF and talking to children who seem to have problem could be a small step forward to the childrens’ bright future.
Assignment #4. Explore Human Rights Violations
The 10 year civil war in Nepal finally ended in 2006. Over 13,000 people were killed, and their human rights were harshly abused by government. These abuse included: widespread arrests without charge or trial, extrajudicial killings, abductions, disappearances, and widespread torture. Amnesty International is concerned that these oppression that occurred in the war still exist in Nepal today. Thousands of people still remain ‘disappeared,’ and there have been no prosecution for other crimes such as extrajudicial killings, torture, or abductions. Oppression and violence continues, especially in the Terai, with armed groups operating largely with impunity. Torture is used by the security forces, and excessive force has been used to break up pro-Tibet rallies. In addition, AI remains concerned about persistent abuses of economic, social, and cultural rights of women, and ethnic minorities. Severe poverty, food insecurity, and lack of medical services are ongoing issues.
Many ongoing issues in Nepal are abusing the citizen’s human rights. Hardships and Oppression are still present, and the government who is supposed to secure the citizens is violating them with the use of armed groups. I chose Nepal because I have actually been there when I was in 3rd grade, and I saw what their lifestyle is like with my own eyes. This experience is a huge reason why I am in the Social Justice class this semester. The scene of poverty such as little children following us everywhere to beg for money or to try sell something to us. There were people with grubby clothes on the street lying like they are dead, and there were people trying to steal something from us. As I got to know more about their issues through this assignment, it scared me how serious the problem is in the country. I think it will take some time for Nepal to improve their problems, as the government should be re-established and the constitution should be re written too. Even though we live in different countries, it does not mean that people in Nepal have different human rights from ours. They should be safe and protected by the UN human rights like we are.
#3 Homeless Law Issue
According to government documents from BC Civil Liberties Association, the proposed legislation would allow police to force a homeless person into a shelter. Politic group is worried that rather than actually helping homeless people, the legislation would endanger them by forcing them into hiding to avoid being arrested and sent to jail.Even during the coldest nights, some homeless people choose not to go to shelters. The shelters can be dirty and uncomfortable, and many with mental health issues don’t like the crowds. Others don’t like the rules at shelters, which often forbid intoxication, dogs, and shopping carts.
Tom Sandborn, who serves on the board of directors for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said that the legislation documents do not directly refer to the Olympics, but “clearly that’s the context almost every decision is being taken (under) right now. I think this is more about saving face for the government than saving lives on the street.”
Priviledged – Government: They are using their power to force homeless people into the the shelters. It is said that government decided to provide shelters at this time only to clear the street before the Vancouver will be filled with tourists during the Olympic games. B.C. Housing Minister, Rich Coleman defends that the move would only force people to the door of the shelter – not force them to stay. I think that no matter what the reason behind this new law is, homeless people should go into the shelters because a homeless woman did freeze to death in Vancouver last winter, and protecting their lives is more important than criticizing government’s real intention for this law. I just see this as a good opportunity to put the homeless people in safer place.
Oppressed – Homeless people : Even if the homeless people refuse to move into the shelter, police officers can force them to do so, and the homeless people state that this action is against the human rights. Some do prefer to stay in the street because it has always been the way they lived their lives. They also do not want to leave their pets and belongings as they are not allowed to bring them to the shelter with them. Forcing the homeless people into the shelters can make them move to more dangerous areas in order to not get caught by the police. The government had not done anything for them in the past, but as the Olympic is coming and Vancouver is getting more attention from the world, now the government suddenly decided to do something for them to make Vancouver look like a better place. So basically the government is doing this just to save their face, and not because of their sympathy for the poor.
Bias assignment
Rape, Brutality Ignored to Aid Congo Peace
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/23/koinange.rape.war/index.html
I was simply shocked and disgusted when I read this article. Last year there were more than 4,000 reported rape cases in Congo. The victims are brutally abused and sexually violated mostly by Congo’s own soldiers, and are deeply hurt internally and externally. “Some of them have knives and other sharp objects inserted in them after they’ve been raped, while others have pistols shoved into their vaginas and the triggers pulled back.” 28-year-old Henriette Nyota was gang raped as her husband and four children were forced to watch. The men in uniform then disemboweled her husband and continued raping her and her two oldest daughters, 10 and 8. The assault went on for three days.”I wish they’d killed me right there with my husband,” she said, “What use am I now? Why did those animals leave me to suffer like this?”
And surprisingly, it’s not just women who are being raped.Fifteen-year-old Olivier was having dinner with his family when the front door of their house was smashed in. Olivier’s father was the first to be killed followed by his mother, right in front of the children.They then raped Olivier’s three sisters, and when he tried to fight them they turned on him. One at a time, more than a dozen in all, he said.
It is absolutely shocking that these things still happen in the world that we live. The fact that the people who are responsible for these rapes are still yet to be arrested and are living normal lives that they do not deserve makes me furious. These rapes are done unseen and since women and children are considered lower than men in Africa they do not have place to go for a help. If it was not bad enough, the hospital is becoming full, and aid money for the abuse and sexual violence is running out. The victims do not deserve such cruelty at all, and they have human rights like we do. If they can not pretect themselves, it is us who can stand up and do something against such violence. With money from the charities, we could send more army that are reliable to guard and protect the victims. We also should build more health clinics and help center where women can report any sorts of violence they recieved. The punishment for those that are responsible should be very severe too, because if they did it once, they are likely to do it again in the future. More people should know what is happening around the world, and help make the problems better by start doing something like donating money. I believe that support like this is an very important start to make the world a better place.
