Class Summations

The three most important issues I've learnt about during the course are: the Arab Israeli conflict, the European debt crisis, and the controversies that take place over legalisation of things such as, marijuana and prostitution.

Throughout the course I was exposed to many international issues and updated on current events around the world. Being introduced to these news items, I learnt that the issues that interested me the most we're those concerning the law and human rights.

I believe that in the next 50 years the biggest issue that Canada will face, that the world will face, will be the environment. If we continue to use and abuse our resources we will have nothing to sustain ourselves with. It is our responsibility to try to slow down the effects humans have had on the planet, if not reverse them completely.

As I move into the next phase of my life I will try to do my part in helping the environment by living a more sustainable lifestyle. I will also keep updated on current events, as to not become ignorant to issues around the world.

Abortion

There is much controversy over when exactly human life begins; some argue that it starts at conception, while others believe it doesn't begin until the baby is born - this is the ethical dispute behind the legality of abortion.

There are a few different types of abortions, but the main one is called suction aspiration; this accounts for about 90% of all abortions. This form of abortion is generally used between six and 14 weeks of pregnancy; the procedure consists of inserting a hollow plastic tube into the uterus through the cervix, this tube is attached to a suction machine. The suction tears the fetus into small parts, which are sucked through the tube into a collection bottle. Now, I know what you're thinking, it all sounds pretty terrible - I cringed too. But as gruesome as it all sounds, it sure beats bringing an unwanted child into the world.

The majority of abortions are given to women in their late teens - early 20's. These women are ill prepared and unequipped to handle a child, many don't have the time, inclination, or financial capability to fully support said child. Personally, I'm pro choice - I believe it should be the woman's decision, it's her life, she should be able to live it as she sees fit. Bringing a child into the world under these circumstances would not positively affect the child - children of neglect often turn to drugs and alcohol, and eventually, a life of crime. Of course this is not the result of all children, but one has to question the quality of their lives.

However, few abortions due take place after the fetus is over 14 weeks, some even up to 8 months after conception - 8 months! This is where the line blurs for me. It is at this point that I believe the legal system should get involved. Abortion should not be legal after 14 weeks of fetal development, but if it takes place within the one - 14 week time period, what right does the law have to tell someone what they can and can't do with their life? 

Quote Analysis

“We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyones arguing over where they're going to sit.” - David Suzuki

This quote describes our environmental well-being and our attitudes towards it. The "giant car" is a metaphor for Earth, with the "brick wall" representing our eventual, inevitable demise. We take advantage of our planet and we will use and use and use it's resources until they're all used up, until we hit that brick wall. Suzuki is saying that we are headed for ruin, but the only thing people are concerned about is "where they're going to sit" - instead of having concern for the environment and how we could remedy the situation people are more concerned with how it will individually affect them, they are being selfish and miss the bigger picture.

In terms of where to sit, no one wants to be in the drivers seat, no one wants to take the blame for hitting the brick wall. What about the passenger seat? No, that's just as bad, no one wants a front row view of the end; plus aren't you just as culpable as the driver? I mean, the passenger is the universal navigator, they are the ones holding the map and telling the driver where to go. How about the back seat? But which side? It is proven that the middle-back seat is the safest, but would you really want to survive the "crash" after everything else is gone? I think it's best to just turn the car around... or is that not an option?

Legalising and Decriminalising Marijuana

The legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana has many negatives, as well as positives.

Negatives:

• The smoking of marijuana can lead to many health problems, such as:
• Impaired memory and inability to learn
• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Distorted perception
• Affects the brain and mental health
• Respiratory problems
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased likelihood of developing cancer of the head or neck
• Depression
• With the increased number of people exposing themselves to the health risks listed above, the amount tax payers will have to pay for health care will go up in order to accommodate the smokers
• Marijuana is often referred to as a "gate way drug" - the regular use of marijuana could lead to the use of harder drugs
• Could lead to more crimes committed by those under the influence of the drug

Positives:

• Marijuana isn't any more harmful than alcohol or tobacco (if used in moderation)
• Would reduce the gang related (street justice) crimes that occur in relation to the illegal trafficking of marijuana
• There are some medical benefits for those such as cancer patients
• If it was legal, it could be taxed; this could be used as an additional source of revenue 
• FDA could regulate the quality and safety of drugs
• Aside from recreational drug use, Cannabis has several industrial and commercial uses, as 25,000 products can be made from the plant

ISU Presentations

The presentation that impacted me the most would be the one regarding illegal human trafficking in Western society. This is not an issue I was aware of and the presentation really opened my eyes as to how dire the situation is. I like to consider myself well aware of world issues, I knew that trafficking is an issue in other under developed countries, but I was unaware how close to home the issue really hits. I feel that as a society we read about terrible things happening all over the world and we sympathise for those affected, but nothing can quite compare to the profound affect learning about something that directly impacts you can have. I am no longer ignorant to the fact that human trafficking takes place less than 20 minutes away from where I live. As a developed country, Canada is always looking to help out less fortunate countries, but how can we help others when we can't even help ourselves? As selfish as it might seem, I believe that it is a country's responsibility first and foremost to look after their own citizens - illegal human trafficking is a serious issue that can no longer be ignored.

Political Cartoon

This political cartoon demonstrates the power held by society in terms of Western politics. Although the politician is seen to have all the power, this image acts as a personified view of how skewed that perception may be. Basically the cartoon is stating that yes, politicians do hold the attention of many, but they are nothing without their followers. A politician's power comes from the common citizen who chooses to follow them and give them their power. At any moment the people could choose to abandon said politician causing them to fall, both figuratively and literally as seen in this cartoon. This cartoon calls into question who really holds all the power in a democratic society.

Cover the Night

I think that the "Cover the Night" event wasn't as successful as initially expected because the Kony 2012 video was released about a month prior to the event. When the video was first released there was a lot of hype and people were very interested in the campaign, however in the time that elapsed between the video release and the event the hype died down and most people forgot about the event. To ensure further success of the event it would have been beneficial to release the video slightly closer to the event date or make the event date earlier. Also, further publicity for the event would have helped the turn out - I wasn't even aware of this event; publicizing it more would've just reminded people.

The Effectiveness of Violence

Both acts of violence and non-violence work to solve issues. Violence is sometimes necessary when confronting irrational people who use violence themselves - these are people who are ignorant and unaffected by reason. In this case, violence is needed to get their attention; but when the goal is peace keeping this is not effective. Violence may get people to do what you want, but this oppresses those who you wish to make peace with. How can one achieve peace if they use methods that aren't peaceful in any way, shape, or form? I believe that in order to achieve peace, a balance of mutual respect and understanding is most effective. No one can actively force someone to be peaceful - this just doesn't make sense to me. The key to true resolve is communication, words as opposed to weapons will set you free.

Racism Blog

Of course parents should be permitted to express their beliefs to their own children, however everything is subject to reasonable limits. Although, it is their child and they should be allowed to raise that child whichever they want - it is their responsibility to help the child form their own opinions. Even if a parent chooses to home school their child, the child's learning should follow some sort of government approved curriculum, this would help eliminate any sort of bias. The purpose of learning is to aid children in growing into their own person, how can this be done if someone else's beliefs are forced upon them? Therefor, the only solution is to provide a neutral teaching base point that can be built off of by individuals.

AIDS and Disease

There are three main approaches that are currently used to prevent HIV infection:

• Sexual health education. Education is often targeted at children under 14 years as they are least likely to be infected with HIV. It can protect by promoting healthy lifestyles and avoidance of risky behaviours. Continued education of the 15-24 age group who are at higher risk and account for an estimated 60% of all new HIV infections, can also reduce infection rates.

• Condoms use. Condoms reduce the risk of HIV infection by 85-90% when used properly. Condom use is proven to be a highly effective way of tackling HIV in many developing countries where the vast majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted. But to be effective, condoms need to be accessible and affordable; their use is not always easy for women to negotiate and may not be culturally acceptable.

• Treatment to reduce HIV transmission. People with existing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at greater risk of acquiring HIV and of transmitting the virus to others. Early detection and treatment of STIs has been shown to be effective in reducing HIV rates. Also, pregnant women with HIV are at risk of passing the infection on to their baby. Mother to child transmission can be greatly reduced by treating the mother with anti-HIV drugs, through safer delivery practices, infant-feeding counselling and support.

Many poor countries are ignorant to infection and have not been educated on the issue. Also, they do not have access to resources to help in AIDS prevention, therefore they have no way of protecting themselves during intercourse - this leads to further transmission of the disease.

Breakdown of HIV/AIDS figures, 2002

Region	Number living with HIV/AIDS	Number newly infected with HIV (2002)	Main mode(s) transmission1
Sub Saharan Africa	28.4M	3,500,000	Hetero
N Africa & Middle East	0.55M	83,000	Hetero, IDU
S and SE Asia	6M	700,000	Hetero, IDU
E Asia & Pacific	1.2M	270,000	IDU, Hetero, MSM
Latin America	1.5M	150,000	MSM, IDU, Hetero
Caribbean	0.44M	60,000	Hetero, MSM
E Europe & Central Asia	1.2M	250,000	IDU
W Europe	0.57M	30,000	MSM, IDU
N America	0.98M	45,000	MSM, IDU, Hetero
Australia & New Zealand	0.015M	500	MSM
Total	42M	5,000,000

1 Hetero, heterosexual sex; IDU intravenous drug user; MSM men having sex with men.

Source: UN/WHO regional estimates, December 2002

Bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) deliver a range of education, prevention and treatment initiatives, but the epidemic continues to grow.

Take Action! - Ethical Decision-Making

Scenario 1. I would remind my crush that he has overcome too much to throw all his hard work away and that trading several months of staying sober for one joint isn't worth it. I would offer to support him in his efforts and help him threw his struggles. But if all else fails and he still feels the need to have a joint I would have to let him do whatever he believes is best for him, it's his life.

Scenario 2. If I was to ever pad my resume and happened to get the internship with false information, I would feel guilty about being dishonest. The right thing to do would be to admit your wrong-doing and give up the internship to someone more deserving.

Scenario 3. I would offer my support to my friend throughout this difficult time in their life, allowing them to share their feelings with me and dispensing words of comfort and optimism. I would let them know that suicide isn't the answer and things can only get better; if this doesn't work I would have to inform a guidance counselor for my friend's own safety.

Scenario 4. I would stay, I would be able to protest without breaking any laws. Two wrongs don't make a right and I could still be an effective protester without crossing any ethical boundaries.

Scenario 5. I would argue that there is a better way to gain information and remind my peer that everyone has guaranteed rights, and it is not our place to decide when "special circumstances" are necessary.

WIC Feedback

What Worked:

• Pre-organized groups made for an easy and non-confusing day



• Grade 12's marking grade 8 presentations - peer evaluations at a higher level (different view than the teachers)



• Frame the issue beforehand prepared us and gave some background on the issue

What didn't work:

• Discussion afterwards was allover the place - no set plan led to confusion



• Frame the issue wasn't marked - grading would've made it more meaningful to the grade 12's