how will you try to affect change in the world regarding these issues? (post #20)

If there was one central theme of this course it would be that knowledge and awareness goes a long way with helping others. If you can get others to care, then your cause has accomplished a crucial first step. The least that I can do is let others around me know about the "secret" things that we let happen in our world. Such as child slavery, forced sex trade, abusive labour, and corruptions within governments. Once attention has been drawn to a certain issue then progression can be made moving forwards. However, one day I hope to work harder at change than simply talking about it. Maybe I will advocate for a cause I'm really passionate about over the internet, because then my information on the issue can be easily accesible and shared. On a daily basis however, right now, just simply being kind and respectful can go a long way. We are all after all neighbors on this earth. And we need to look after one another as well as the planet that we live on.

Biggest threat facing Canada in the next 50 years (post #19)

Over the next 50 years, due to overpopulation and increase in demand, Canada will start to run out of its precious natural resources. This includes our forestation, water, and oil mostly. These natural resources are what keeps Canada alive as an internal nation and is a major factor in our exporting economy too. But because of the way Canadians and humans from third world nations in general live their lives, (as the resource wasters we are) Canadas natural resources will begin to dwindle. In order to cut back on this, humans need to find a way to live with a little less. We do not need half of the luxuries that we are so accustomed to in our daily lives. It's either we learn to live with less now, or we struggle greatly in our future with lack of resources. Like we talked about in class humans do not act unless there is a "gun to their head". In other words it is very hard for us to clean up our acts for the future because the consequences are not directly laid out infront of us.

 Once the worlds resources in general begin to dry up Canada may also become a target country by the "have not countries". Because we do have the second most plentiful water supply in the entire world. Despite the fact that it could be greatly used up by us. And it's never a good thing when we're targeted. 

What have you learned about yourself during this course?(post #18)

During the world issues course I learned about many conflicts and solutions that are going on in the world right now. I also learned some things about myself that I maybe had not realized before. I learned that i'm actually a really big softy and I seem to care a lot about the feelings and well being of people I have never met before, on the other side of the world. I can get slightly offended when people do not share my same concern and I never really noticed it this much before this class. Probably because prior to this class I was never really talking about world wide topics with my friends or peers. It's good to know that I care though because this can be channeled into something beneficial.

Three most important issues of the course (post #17)

To me, the three most important issues of the course are: the lack of fresh clean drinking water, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and anything that has to do with equality amongst humans.

The issue of fresh water made it into my top three because without water, nothing would be alive right now. No human, or life form in general can last very long without water. Water is the source of all life and is what keeps us all going. It's unfortunate that in so many places in the world fresh water is not yet readily available. This is weird because fresh water is our basic human right, and more than half the world is drinking dirty, unsafe water that may have taken hours or days to get their hands on in the first place. Without water over here in third world countries, we would be nowhere near as developed as we are now.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is also very important because it is a major war that is going on right now dring our lifetime, and will most likely continue on for a very long time. When land is promised to you by God, it becomes a very touchy subject. So touchy that it could fuel a war for decades. The Arab-Israeli conflict is also very important because it shows us the consequences of just what humans are capable of. Since this conflict would not be going on right now had Hitler not come to power and enslave so many Jewish people (who were later freed with no place to go, but back to the land God had promised them?). This conflict has been the cause of much loss, pain, and suffering within the middle east. And has been a major topic of discussion and dissection during this course.

During the world issues course there were many human equality concepts that we looked at. Such as racism, and society being uncomfortable with the woman of the house earning more than the man. Human equality is very important to me personally because I believe that a world that can accept each other can move forward and solve its problems together. Also, it's not as big a deal as other people may think (someone having a different gender, race, religion) if you really think about it we as humans are more similar than we are different.

ISU Reflection (post #16)

The most interesting thing that I did not know which I learned from one of my peers during the ISU presentations was that warfare is a business in its own. I could not believe that the US government sent out what is called mercenaries or sort of like a hired military. I can't get over the fact that this goes on in the world. For one thing, this is a business that takes in very much money each year. It is an economy of it's own! and it's an economy that sends out people to fight a war, kill, and die. For another thing, some people think that it's okay to use these foreign mercenaries to fight their countries battles. People are tricked into thinking that this is somehow better. No, it's really not considering these people are still dying they just are not necessarily american. Another problem I have with this is the fact that I thought the US spent like, billions and billions on their own militaries already. What about those troops that have been trained to serve to the standards os the USA. What's wrong with them? this is just a huge waste of money then if we're going to just "buy" other people to fight for us. I'm really glad that I have been informed of this because I admittedly don't know very much at all about how war works at all, and I really don't like what i know so far.

European Elections - Austerity Rejected! (post #15)

Austerity is a state of decreased spending, and increased taxes by a government in order to try and control the countries deficit. The problem with austerity is that it is a great way to kill the economic growth of a nation. The austerity measures in Europe seemed to do just that, and worse. The weaker economies of Europe were being sent into a death spiral of recession, unemployment, and continued strain on national finances. So clearly these measures were not working out very well for them. The question European nations must consider going forward is not what replaces austerity, but what new mix of policies is needed to encourage growth and get them out of this mess. The public was smart to vote that austerity measures stop, because they recognize the damage that it's causing. In order to solve the problem that is the major debt crisis in the European union there must be a happy marriage between certain austerity measures and certain social services and securities. This way weaker countries can continue to get back on their feet (in terms of the economy) with the help of the government. While the government is cautious in their spending and collecting to keep the debt under control.

Biodiversity (post #14)

We as humans share our planet and home with an estimated 100 million other unique species. The worlds biodiversity is what makes earth such a great place. All of these 100 million organisms work together in a perfect harmony and balance, sustaining themselves and each other. humans have lived as equals with all other species for a good amount of time. A good amount of time, until around the industrial revolution when we started to do some major damage to the balance of the earth. Since the revolution biodiversity as been on a rapid decline with thousands of species going extinct all the time. Some people see this as a "natural" process. Their argument is that the superior species is taking over, and we deserve to take over because we're "superior". I don't think the world could sustain only humans, it would be an awfully crowded and dirty place... If it ever came to the point where we were one of the only organisms left in the world. Organisms are dying out because of pollution, deforestation, humans taking over land. We can work to prevent this if we start to care for our earth. Biodiversity is important for the health of humans, tree's provide us with fresh air while cows give us food. And this is just a very very general statement of what the organisms of this earth offer for us. Not to mention making our world an aesthetically pleasing place to live in. We must protect our world for the next 150 years at all costs, because this is a very crucial time for development. We must learn how to pollute less, and conserve more.

Racism (post #12)

It is very important in our world today that we as humans try hard to promote acceptance and understanding throughout each and every race. Racism is a form of hate, and only creates a source of conflict between people. Race has been taken into consideration and acknowledge throughout society since society itself was created. Racism has often dictated how one's life will be lived to great extents. Where he would live, how people will treat him, how society will stereotype him, what he is expected to accomplish, and how he is expected to act. Racism can play a huge part in what we see and expect in ourselves and others. If you take a step back and think about it, this is completely crazy and unnecessary because as humans we are all one species and exactly the same under our skin colour. However people will continue to promote, and be effected by racism. I believe that no one is born the slightest bit racist. In my opinion there is nothing in a humans brain that tells us someone who looks different will cause trouble for us. Despite what researchers want to tell us. I do however, believe that racism has been embedded in all of us as a society from a young age even if it's very faint. We learn as we grow up through our family, friends, and the media to think that other people are so different from ourselves. Even if it is only to the slightest extent. It's too bad, because of racism the world as a global community is far weaker than it could be or could have been.