What Modivates Me?

To be motivated, we first need to have something to apply that motivation to. For me that the ability to change the world. I know how that sounds but one person change the world, through person connection and inspiration. It’s difficult to inspire without the passion and the difference between me and all the other people who are trying to change the world is passion. When I care for something I will give it my all. What modivates me is the world. The nwews in the world, whats changing in the world and my abilty and my effect on this world. This is what keeps me going. Trying to achieve equality, happiness and frienship are the kind of things i think will change this world :)

Motivation
For us to be motivated, we first have to be aware of the issues around us. We need information on the issues before we can have an option on them and the drive to do something about it. It's very difficult to be inspired to do anything without passion being the driving force behind it, and knowledge is power and a voice is power. One of the fastest and easiest ways to spread the word and have a voice about an issue that you may want to be made known is through using Facebook and the internet. On Facebook there is an application "Causes' allows people to spread the word about any issue, this way it gets the cause out there and information on it. If one person was to invite one person and so on, the word is out there. If one person were to take this interest outside of Facebook and put it in to action, and actually DID something, it would inspire many others to take interest as well.

What's my personal take on social responsibility?
For me, my social responsibility is being productive, positive member of society and putting forth in action. This means helping out those who need it, at least in some way, and that way could include helping through spread of word. To contribute positivity to the world around us in whatever way we can manage. And that could be helping out friends when they need it, or actions on a much grander scale. My job here as a modivated youth, is to be involved and informed and do my best to enforce that to others around me, through leading by example. In a positive and

What motivates me to get involved, follow, or lead change?
My motivation is solely based on others around me. When something in the world is impacted negatively, I find it my job to change that. If I were to see someone hurt, either physical or emotional I feel it my need to do something. I want to do anything I can to make them feel at least a little bit better.

What issues are important to me?
The most important issue to me is equality. People are people, no matter the race, religious belief, sexuality and gender we are all people. If I hear any discriminating it upsets me, for people to pick out flaws or just make fun in general I find it irritating. When people are discriminate against other people it hurts. For example when people are sour against gays, it sucks because that’s something that they cant control, its something that is imprinted since birth, it’s like making fun of someone in wheelchair. Equality and for people to just care about each other is what I’m passionate about.

Peace Heros

I think the most inspirational peace hero is Rosa Parks because of her attitude and the way she talked, spoke out on how we were human beings and we should be treated as such, spoke about everyone being equals, and things like skin color didn’t matter Parks was arrested on December 1st, 1955 for refusing to stand up on the orders of the bus driver, after the white seats had been occupied in the front. Parks was not in the front of the bus as many people have written and spoken that she was. She took a seat that was just back of where the white people were sitting, in fact, the last seat. A man was next to the window, and I took an aisle seat and there were two women across. She went on undisturbed until about the second or third stop when some white people boarded the bus and left one man standing. And when the driver noticed him standing, he told her to stand up and let him have those seats. He referred to them as front seats. And when the other three people, after some hesitancy, stood up, he wanted to know if she was going to stand up, and she said no. The bus driver said that he would have her arrested, and she said he may do that and he did. She was arrested. Now how was that fair? That’s how it was in those times and Rosa Parks was the first one to stand up for that. Parks is the most inspirational peace hero to me because she lend following her heart and for what’s right. It takes a lot to stand up, and she did, suffering consequences but it impacted the world and made a change. This was one of the first steps in equality.
Another motivational peace hero is Marten Luther King Jr because of his amazing work in civil rights. He’s my number two because of all his motivational quotes and speeches. One of his well known quotes is “All I'm saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated, that somehow we're caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” This relates to people and people treating others good because in the end it comes back to you.
My next favorite inspirational peace hero is Nelson Mandela because of his quote “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Mandela was a firm believer in freedom and that’s inspiring. I feel that people should lead by example and that’s what he does and that’s leading by freedom and fighting for well deserved rights.

Article.

Take a look around at where you live. The wild like and the beauty, then imagine it whipped out. No animals, no water, no green, all whipped out and whipped out by chemical, nuclear and biological warfare. Millions of people are involved in armed conflict in the world, and many of these places that are affected are the places with higher populations, and the poorer nations. They are already suffering so much, and when they think it can’t get any worse it does. It’s not just affecting these people and these places now; the aftermath of war is a serious problem too. Some examples are the depleted uranium. After the Gulf War there grew concerns about the environmental damage from the uranium. The extremely dense metal has affected the heath of the soldiers and civilians in this area. It’s said that it increases the risk of kidney damage and lung cancer. Yes, people after the war are still suffering. Some effects of nuclear warfare and aftermath are the dumping of the radioactive contents into the rivers. This really is a shame because people use those rivers and the river water, and that water affects their health. The dumping of radioactive contents is being poured into the rivers which are where they get their water to cook and grow their food and these effects are increasing.
A Few examples of the other serious issues related to war are leaving long term effects are landmines. Landmines are still affecting people. Over 26000 people are injured and killed by landmines and an even greater number of domestic and wild animals are killed. Landmines are also the cause of deforestation and soil erosion in these areas. The soil equality is unusable, making it vulnerable to the water and wind erosion. It doesn’t just effect the area and the people when it first hits, I affects it long term leaving the soil damaged for growing and life. Now this is going on in the poorest places in the world, where they rely on their crops and their environment, that’s not fair.
Imagine this happening at happening at our home, we have a fighting chance. They don’t.
Aside from the problems with the environment after war, there are other serious issues affecting the people of the effected areas, such as rape and serious psychological problems. It truly is devastating because these kinds of effects can not be taken back.
There are stories such a girls as young as 8 years old being abducted from their house during these current wars. They are abducted and trained to fight or forced into domestic and sexual slavery. They are forced to obey all commands and participate in active raids, also beating and abducting other children. If these children refuse their commands they will be brutally beaten with the risk of being killed. Is it fair to take someone’s rights, as young as 8 years old away?
During these moments of war, young girls are used as sex slaves. If they survive during the time the soldiers and rebels are around, they usually go home pregnant and out casted from the communities. So many problems that they cannot control, and its quite sad and unfortunate.
The things that go on outside of the shooting and killing are so many problems that get over looked that awareness and aid should be sent too.

Letter.

May 13, 2010
The Right Honorable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A2

Dear Honorable Stephen Harper,
I have a question. How much money do you think goes to the Iraq war? I can tell you that it’s roughly 720 million dollars per day. 720 million that could be spent on things we desperately need. That 720 million would be able to provide 84 new elementary schools, 423,529 children with health care, or 12,478 elementary school teachers and we are spending this on the war that isn’t even or to be fighting. Since the beginning of the war, 800 million dollars has been spent. What do you think about that? The war was not ours to follow in. only 6 billion is spent on basic education across the world. 6 billion! Where as 780 billion is spent on military spending, 400 billion on narcotics drugs and 50 billion on cigarettes in Europe. Ironic how we spend more money on things that destroy us and the world than we spend on the worlds basic education. Even money is spent on ice-cream in Europe is more than what is spent on basic education.
I’m asking to pull out of the war. It’s not ours to be in, and its too much money and men to be wasting. Pull out of the war, the so called “peacekeeper” war that we entered, looking to help but caused more harm. This money could be spent on so many great things that are needed. Like education, teachers, healthcare, homeless, disabilities and actual peace missions that can help, like helping in Africa or the recent disaster in Haiti. This money has the potential to do so much good. 720 million a day is 262, 800 billion a year- this should be spent on something needed desperately to do some good.

Sincerely,
Megan Taylor
High School Student, Salmo BC

Saving Private Ryan

Summary of Movie:

Saving Private Ryan is a story told through the eyes of American soldiers. It takes place during D-Day in World War II. It tells the story of a group of soldiers with the mission to find Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) because he got a ticket home due to the loss of his brothers. After the group of eight losses two soldiers and began to break apart they find Private Ryan and is left with a decision. To wither head back home without Ryan or stay back with him at the bridge where help was needed. The captain and his crew of soldiers stayed back to fight against the Germans, although they were out numbered. All and all this story is a bout brotherhood and the effects of war. Saving Private Ryan received 5 Academy Awards, including Best Director for Steven Spielberg: Oscars for cinematography. Film Edit, Sound Editing, a Golden Globe for Best Picture and nominations at the British Academy Awards. This film was the top-grossing Motion Picture in 1998.

Construction:

I feel this movie was extremely well constructed. The actors chosen, the music chosen and the story line were all very well drawn out. Saving Private Ryan was extremely raw and action packed. The gore of this movie wasn’t too over the top, but still got the point across. The only down fall was some of the believability in war scenes. At the beginning of the movie, in the beach scene, there was a lot of small talking the trench while bodies were dropping and explosion going off. Its understandable because it is a movie and people don’t want to pay and see what would actually be going on in trenches and that’s quick gestures while trying to stay alive. Other than that this movie was well done. It brushed on things that was probably happening during combat, for example taking some situations more personally (Vin Diesel in the scene while he was trying to save a kid because it reminded him of his niece), after losing men beginning to question orders and really starting to do what it takes to win and survive.

Beliefs and Values:

The main point of view in Saving Private Ryan is the main character, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks). He’s the captain and he enforces and follows through with every mission and leads on as a mysterious man who they’ve all grown to love because of his sense of humor and smarts. Deeper in the head of Miller, he’s an English teacher who just wants to go home, back to his wife and hammock. Another character is James Ryan (Matt Damon). A man who just lost his brothers in combat and wants to stay and fight with what he calls, “the closest thing he has to brothers”. Other characters are the other soldiers. Some turn to religion (the sniper who prays every time he shots someone), another who cries because of the harsh reality to war (Corporal) but as different as they all are, they all just want to win the war.

Audience:

The audience for Saving Private Ryan could stretch from a number of groups of people. Any film lover from the ages 14 + could like this movie. It’s an Academy Award winner with a lot of buzz around it. But it could also be targeting young men. Not in a recruiting way, but maybe away to keep kids away from war because of the some of the serious scenes that are quite disturbing and a turn off from war. They are scenes of fellow soldiers and friends being set of fire, shot, blown up, dismembered, stabbed and being in such dangerous position that would be able to scare men. This movie could be taking and interpreted in many ways. It would shock and upset veterans from war, upset Germans with the stereotypes used.

Intent:

Saving Private Ryan was filmed in 1998 by Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Picture and Paramount Pictures. It was written by Robert Rodat and takes place in the year 1944 during WWII. I think the purpose of this movie is to tell a story contrary to what the back of the box reads “the film that inspired the world to remember.” This film is based on a true story and I believe its to capture the reality, cost and loss of war which I think it did just that.

Form:

The first scene of this movie shows an up close shot of the American flag waving in the wind. I believe this was a way to give you a quick glimpse of what is expected to come, an American tale which is how they ended the movie as well, with a waving flag. In battle scenes the shots were really up close and in there faces and action. And I think that’s to keep you into the movie. Saving Private Ryan also has some HUGE stars. For example, Vin Diesel, Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Dennis Ferina, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore and Jeremey Daves which I think it was meant to appeal to film buffs. (I know that’s why I watched it)

My Opinion:

My opinion of the overall movie is that it was great. Acting, script and the action of it was so raw and it definitely deserved the awards it got. But how it relates back to youth culture from a peace perspective, it was pretty bias. Yes it takes place during WWII and it is an American film, but it really only showed the violence and the American side of the war. I understand that it’s a movie about war, and how there is most likely no going to have any references back to peace, but that is not good for views who don’t know any better. It’s a good movie I think to scare people from the war because it didn’t show the stereotypical soldier, like sitting around drinking, or smoking and talking about sex like in the movie Jarhead. It showed many deaths, wounded and realness of the war.

Movie Trailer - - - > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68t6PhbYiSo
and i think its well done. Explains alot of whats expected from the movie, except all the violence.

Afghan.

1. What you know about the culture, people, and history of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan is an old country that has a severe history of wars and political turmoil due to its position in Asia. The Khyber Pass links Afghanistan directly to India as well as Russia. What I believe to have begun the problems in this country is when the Soviets invaded it in December of1979, in an attempt to prop up a pro-communist regime which led to the states getting involved. Afghanistan was always considered the underdogs. Being one of the world’s poorest countries with little resources and untapped mineral and petroleum stores they were often taken advantage of and still to this day are. The biggest crops are corn, barley, rice, wheat, fruits, vegetables, cotton, tobacco, madder, castor beans and sugar beans. Another big source of income comes from sheep farming and the Opium Poppy better known as Heroin. Afghanistan is on a long road to recovery, everything has been stripped to ruins; the economy, environment and the infrastructure are a mess.


2. What you know about military intervention as being the current alternative.

As for the military intervention going on in Afghanistan I think that it is a waste of time and men. Afghanistan is the country with the most refugees in the world. It has had 7 years of drought and 25 years of war, which is still going on to this day. In the beginning it was a noble mission but somewhere since then it has became useless and quite unhelpful. A quote from this war/mission was, “If I see someone moving around at night I’m just going to shoot them.” What kind of a peace mission is that? They went to hold and bring some sort of peace, instead of shoot at will. Another question is why is President Obama sending 17,000 troops overseas? The rural nature of Afghanistan is exactly why the US cannot defeat the Taliban. They only have enough forces to control certain urban areas. In order to beat them they would need hundreds of thousands more troops, more men more deaths. No one can know for sure but it seems that Obama thinks that since 20,000 extra troops could suppress violence in Iraq then 30,000 should do the same job in Afghanistan. Another thing that the military leaders should re-think is, are they actually wanted there? The people in Afghanistan are receiving cross messages, on one side this is considered a peace mission but on the other side more troops keep on getting brought in. We need to remind ourselves that we are sending hundreds of thousands of people into these countries who do not share the religion, who do not understand the culture, who do not have kinship relations with local people, and who do not even speak the language.

3. What you know about media influencing opinions about the Afghan war?

When it comes to the media and Afghanistan the report back is very limited, and it doesn’t ease or supply any information. Every once and a while you will hear updates or if there were any Canadian soldiers killed. People at home don’t get the whole story, they don’t even get half the story. It’s not reporters fault though, it’s the big networks that have the specific guidelines on what can be shown on television and unless people go out and looks for the truth they won’t find it. It never shows the good deeds done, or how we are improving. It shows the worst and that what are brains have been trained for to take in. The opinions caused by the media shown are that there’s nothing wrong, the military has everything covered, but is this the truth? Is that what we want to hear about?

4. What we need to consider for a successful, peaceful solution?

What the people at home need to consider for a peaceful solution in Afghanistan are that maybe, the people there don’t want their foreign help (which was a serious point from the beginning). What has sending thousands of soldiers overseas accomplished besides a high causality rate and more problems cause? Having all these soldiers come in and try to control them has just made them rebel even more than before. Yes, maybe there has been some improvement but how many lives have been ruined or worse ended to further this ‘peace’ mission? My opinion is to pull out and let them deal with there problems. It wasn’t our place to stick our heads is and it needs to resolve itself without the death rates. The things that upset me the most is the citizens killed and the afterbang of it all. It’s the children who are affected the most. If you think about it, it we would all feel a lot different about this situation if this was happening on your home ground.