Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mixed Blessings

The video Mixed Blessings was a very different videos but it was still good. When I think about Ireland and what is made up of I see farms, open fields for miles, and the Catholic Church and religion. I would have thought that Ireland would be rapidly rise with more people and businesses, because in today world Ireland has definitely became like America were anything seemed possibly. When I think about what has happened to Ireland I feel kind of bad about it because I have heard it’s been a beautiful place to visit. Ireland is no longer traditional and old fashion they once were but know they have become a young thriving new country. The part in the video were the church was being sold was hard to watch because a church if a place of respect it should have never been sold to then be made into a restaurant. Even though some of the changes seem upsetting I still believe that the changes happening are very good for the country because they are become more industrialized. There were some very cool facts about how Ireland didn’t let people get divorced until 1995 and if women were married they couldn’t work I don’t if that fact is cool but I defiantly says how far behind Ireland is. Women who were married could only be housewives but now the women’s work forces have dramatically increased. The there is another problem with Ireland changes is that I hope they can keep their economy keeps growing and doesn’t take a turn for the worst like America dream has happened today…

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Thrid time Around

“Third time around” video really got me thinking about the war. I truly have mixed feeling on the subject in the first place and then watching this video makes me even angrier. The war in Iraq is good for America because it shows American that we can stand up for our right and our freedoms, but sometimes I believe that we entered into the war to early and over stayed our welcome. Americans shouldn’t be allowed to bully who ever they want. I finally turned 18 and am starting to pay a little more attention and try to understand what our nation is doing. But sometimes I still get very confused and don’t understand why we do the things we do. I also feel that the soldier’s don’t get enough recognition they put their lives on the line every day. The war is horrible because it takes the lives of American every day.
These men and women who fight our angles they do more work and have to stand in hot weather and walk through sand storms. They also have to be walking around watching their back everywhere they go. These men and women through so much with maybe watching there best friend die or even have to be away from their families for many months at a time this all affect a soldier. They video showed how a soldier lost his life overseas and how one had a baby right before he left and wondered if he would even know who he was by the time he got back or would he even get back. These thoughts that these men and women deal with hit very close to home. I know to very close friends who have been overseas for some time now and I do get to talk to them every once in a while but as much as I would like to. And it hurt not knowing if they will make it home. This video is hard to watch at some points because I to have those same thoughts. But I am glad for the soldier and hope them to all to come home safe and soon..

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Toxic Toys


Debby Rafiel tells us how having phthalates in children’s toys can in the long run affect the children. She tells us how almost every human has phthalates in their body, how a small amount could harm us, but most importantly it could really harm babies and young children. These children are in harm’s way because phthalates can damage the brains and bodies in young children in boys a study showed how mother with more phthalates had smaller genitals the phthalates affecting the hormones. Some don’t understand how kid or humans are getting phthalates in their bodies but even touching a toy that contain phthalates and touching it to your mouth you are digesting them. European countries have already banned phthalates. How come the United States is so far behind everyone else? In 2009 California is banning phthalates. They have finally started a chain were more and more states are thinking about following even someone one introduced it to congress for all the states to ban phthalates.In the video they choose 18 different children toys and 12 of them were made out of PBC with most of the time contains phthalates. After they were sent to be tested for phthalates 8 of the 12 were positive with having phthalates. These are every day toys that children play with and most parents don’t even know that this chemical exists. There is a way for all toys to never be made with PBC but it cost a little bit more this is why companies us PBC.
The video said that America hasn’t banned a chemical in 17 years. To me that means America doesn’t care about the future of this nation. They won’t take any action until the damage is already done because American don’t want to jump on the band wagon instead they feel that like anything should be done because they don’t know if there are going to be any side effects in the future.People don’t believe this is important because they grew up with phthalates in their toys when they were young and if it didn’t affect them when they were younger why would it start now?

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Christians United for Israel

For many years now there has been a disagreement involving Israelis and Palestinians about the land of Israel. In the video Christians United for Israel by Bill Moyers shows how the Palestinian President Abbas asked Israelis to leave the Israel territory because the Palestinian wanted East Jerusalem to become the capitol of the Palestinian state. But the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert only wanted peace and an end to terror, as Palestinians only want the land for themselves and won’t give up any part of Palestine land. John Hagee is one of the main leaders of Christians United for Israel, a group the was made to keep Israel the same. This group wants said that during the Holocaust Christians were silent and never spoke there mind or stood up for themselves. This group asks Christians to stand up for Israel and Israel’s rights. They believe, the time is now for all Christians to be heard. On July 17, 2007, 4,500 people from every state in the union and ten countries honored Israel. On this day Hagee asked those people who attended to pray for Jerusalem because in history when there is a war in Jerusalem, then the world was in war as well. But if there was peace in Jerusalem, then there was peace in Jerusalem. Christians United for Israel doesn’t want Israel to part with any land. But another problem the Christians United for Israel are face with is that they do not like the Iranian President Ahmadinejad as they believe that he is there biggest threat. Some Christians United for Israel feels that Ahmadinejad is the next Hitler and feel that the United States need to take action as soon as possible.

For me personally I feel that the United States should at this point stay out of the Israel problems because Israel trust us and we don't need to bombing anyone else at this point. The video we watched opened up a new piont of view about the bible and what it does to a person. I feel everything happens for a reason so why try to push to stop it. If God truly want the Jew to die so then the world can start over then God will find a way to get them there.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sick Around the World..


In the video “Sick Around the World” was a very interesting video it showed the difference between six very large country and how different there health care systems are. These countries were Britain, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland and all these countries had different health care systems in then the United States and more people even lived longer than average Americans.
In Britain the health care was a NHS health care plan the hospitals were owned by the government and the government got most of the money by their citizen’s income taxes. The citizens never paid for their medical bill but the only down fall was that the waiting list to get in the hospital was very long. Also the citizens sometimes had to go to certain doctors before they could see a specialist. In Japan again people only paid the minimum amount and the governed picked the amount they paid for their bill the wait list was very quite you could call in that day to get an appointment. Japan citizens could pick any doctor they wanted to. Also everyone had to pick a health care plan and even if they lost a job they didn’t lose their health care. If people can’t afford care then Japan pays for it themselves also the hospitals are private hospitals. The down fall is that the hospitals don’t make enough money and then many are going bankrupts. In Germany there health care plans are a lot like Japan Everyone gets health care and they don’t lose the care if they lose their jobs. Hospitals are private and many doctors complain because they don’t make enough money. They pay their health care by how much income they make so the rich pays for the poor. Germany’s waiting list is about the same as an American waiting list. Taiwan took ideas from all the countries that were in the video they picked what they wanted and then made a system out of it. Taiwan has the same problems as Japan not being able to pay for everything so the government takes loans from the banks. Finally in Switzerland their health care was almost the same as American today until they finally realize it was too much for the people to pay. Now they have cut the cost were no one ever goes bankrupt.
Watching this video I began to wonder how come the United States can’t take these steps into making a new and better health care. People everyday can’t afford the medicine so they have to pick between feeding there families or becoming healthy. Once I was done watching this video it upset me know that one day if I don’t have a job then I to could not afford health care and have to make a decision I don’t want to someday.

Tank Man


In the video “Tank Man” I was kind of shocked about how the soldier’s of China could come in and then kill the people that live in that city. They had their orders but those people are a part of the nation the soldier’s represent. But after the fighting was over one man stood out in the crowd he stood up to the army and gained the respected of his nation. Nobody wanted the soldier’s to come into their city and take it over they wanted to be free and run their own lives like everyone else but the government wouldn’t allow it. China was the reason for this man to step out in front of a line of tanks and then demand them to get out of his city. WE don’t here the man stated. After I watched the video I asked myself if I could ever be able to stand in front of someone or something and stand up for right exactly like the tank man did? I believe that one day everyone has their fight and will be able to stand up for what right to them. Then the movie talked about that three day war that took place in the town. This war killed many people and injured even more. As a human being I was just can’t understand how a country could fire on their own nation? Also it shocks me on how it been so many years and they still are not for sure the true identity of the “Tank Man” he is China’s hidden story that many people don’t even know it happened but to those people who do remember that man stands as a wonderful reminder that anyone can stand up for themselves they just have to be willing.


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

In the video Mind, Maps & Poverty Hans Rosling discusses how the world has taken drastic changes over time. By countries or women having many children or even countries who are health will grow better and faster then countries that are wealthier. An example he provided was when countries that living lobger have smaller families and countries that don’t live as long have larger families. He provides a graphs or data that proves his theories these graphs show how the countries change over time and then also break them down and shows the rate of their growth. Also he provides us with information that shows us that children’s survival rate is higher in countries that have money. Rosling also shows how incomes in all counties have become spread out then in the past. The compared china with the USA and showed how our income over whelmed china’s but as time passed china has almost became dead even with the USA . The graph shows that in the past, there was somewhat of a division between people in poverty, the average income, and the wealthy. He believes that countries that don't have money are going to have more problems than countries that have money but what the countries do with that money also makes a difference. He explained this by showing how different parts of Africa need way more help than other countries in Africa. This video shows the pure truth about the growth around the world. We need to help countries that have nothing then by helping Africa as a whole, because how can helping the rich people in Africa going to really make a difference. When we help those who really need our help that when we are going to make a difference.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Singularity


The video “The Singularity” is a very mind boggling video. The more I understood what Ray was talking about the more I became scared and intersected at the same time. I know that may seem weird but if you look at what Ray is saying is that one day well in 20 or more year’s time, knowledge, and technology are all going to combine. If they combine all hell will break loose, we will no longer be human we will basically computer people or minds that run on severs all day long. No feelings to care about not emotions only aloud to upload and download software programs to our server day after day. The cool thing about this is we can live forever and never have to worry about cancer and sickness that will someday kill us. We can live each day as if it’s an easy day no worries. I am not trying to be a wimp about the whole thing but thinking that this may happen in the near future scares the crap out of me. But on the other if we become servers then we will have no emotions and will living with emotions all my life I wouldn’t want to change now. I want to go through life knowing that I have accomplished something even if it means graduating college which is a big step to some people. But most importantly if I could never feel the love of another person or my family then to me that means there is no reason to live in the first. Even if most of your life it is only pain and suffering there is still the point in everyone’s life were they know they are loved. And that is the point I must feel. Life maybe pointless to some people but to me it is the chance to make a difference God gave me live and now he wants to see what I will do with it. But if I was a server I would have no challenges in my life only loneliness.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Wal-mart is it ever going to get better...

As I watched Wal-Mart the high cost of low prices it started out as a documentary it started out as a video on what Wal-Mart is all about by helping the nation and their employers. They started the video with two main ideas Wal-Mart tries upholding are getting their story out and to staying on course. But as the movie continued it started to really frustrate me. Hearing all the stories of people who have lost their jobs they built on their own, to the employees who are being paid unfair wedges. People all around the world are being ripped off by the biggest corporation still being able to bring in money during this economy. Wal-Mart can’t even provide a good health care but it can sure paid there ceo’s all the money they need to live a good life. From private jets, to house that most normally Americans could never afford, Wal-Mart’s mangers are living the good life as their employees get paid dirt. Some parents have to pick form being able to feed there families or to take their sick child people shouldn’t have to choose Wal-Mart should be able to provide for them the money they need to support all their needs. Wal-Mart wants their employers to have to pay for their need will the taxpayers money. They say if it out there then why don’t they use it. Wal-Mart has never cared about there employers only about the money it can put in their pockets. They lie about everything they do only until someone tries to sue them for money for not protecting the environment to they finally try and change what they’re doing. Wal-Mart wants there works to work more for less. Never paying their workers for overtime instead they change their hours to show they only work 40 hours a week. Wal-Mart isn’t making the world a better place instead it is hurting our lives from forcing people out of their jobs. Also any other thing that worries me is how can one place have so many crimes happen and then not change what they’re doing. I have always been a shopper at Wal-Mart but they more I hear about what they do to their employees and to our world it makes me sick I just would like one person to be able to stand up to Wal-Mart’s Ceo’s and show them what America is truly about.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Corporation






In The Corporation Pathology of Commerce the documentary is about the studies of causes and nature and effects of diseases that have been caused by corporations. Corporations are based on people or families working together for a common purpose. Many people associate corporations as being people greedy moral less people. They have come to this conclusion because of the path corporations have followed.



The corporation became in 1712 during the industrial age, and then became more powerful during the civil war. As the corporations have grown they have focus more on the profit then the environment or people. Many corporations also never face the problem at hand from other countries which could be why the problem is so bad once it reaches America. Corporations would only face the problem right away then the problem wouldn’t affect the population so bad. In case history corporations like Nike have employers of other countries making their product for less and once they become to needy they move on to someone else who will work for little to cost at all. Corporations are said to have moral responsibilities but how can a building or a corporation have responsibilities the corporations morals are ran by everyday people, people who have morals there people who are only looking for one thing the bottom line. People once believed that the land was once owned by God and only Gold, and the land owned the people not the people owning the land. But, now most people believe because of corporations everything at one point of time will be owned by someone. Marketing has become more manipulating for children it is about selling the product and making a profit for corporations. Corporations and marketing has started to manipulate consumers to buying more products from what they want and not what they need.
The corporation documentary is explaining the path that corporations have taking over the past year through their good and bad examples this documentary has shown the people what corporations have to deal with everyday. This documentary has walked us through all types of dirty deeds corporations do to just make a profit and how corporations have become so controlling. People have become afraid so afraid with how the corporations are going to affect the world to come. Many are wondering what path the corporations are going to take in the future because already government has lost control of some global corporations. Corporations have told the people that they are here only to look out for the people and their needs but how many times has a corporation truly cared about materials that are beginning put into the environment every day? Corporations must learn to figure these questions out because when people become unhappy with the products being made then the products won’t be bought and no profit would be made.



The Corporation Documentary is very upsetting to hear has a consumer. Listening to all the ways corporations try and wiggle their way into our lives first trying to get the children’s attention by using marketing and second stopping at no cost to get there products sold. As I Listen to the documentary I began to ask myself what time of heartless person could come up with all these cruel ways to make people buy their product. I have always been told that America is the most power and one of the best places to live, but as I watch this video I became disgusted with America we our bullies. Bullies to other countries and to other people that live in America and for only one purpose to sell something don’t get me wrong corporations are good for America by creating jobs and teaching citizens to work as one, but it also teaches them to have no morals. One day many people believe corporations are going to rule the world and at this rate I believe it could happen but only for the worse.