Making the Invisible, Visible: The first step

Making the Invisible, Visible: The first step

For this Humanities Human Rights project, our class has chosen to fight against the issue of Domestic Abuse, specifically in Malaysia. In the world today, there are 27 million slaves world wide, so obviously this is a pressing issue, this is why we thought it was so important to try and make a difference in Malaysia.

This project is important to the community and myself because majority of students and families at ISKL have maids, and some of these maids may have been abused in the past, or know someone who is being abused. This can help us because we know that we are helping someone who we care about which will make everyone more motivated to make the difference and to show his or her support.

While researching, I have come across a few surprising facts and pieces of information. I was very surprised as to how many modern-day slaves there are in the today worldwide. Another fact that made me realize how serious this problem is and how much we need to help was that there are more modern day slaves in the world today than every before, and slavery is not legal anywhere but it happens everywhere.

Learning about this issue makes me feel sad but also happy at the same time. It makes me sad to think about all the tragic events that have happened and all the things that are happening today. But it makes me feel good to know that I am really trying my best to make a difference. I like this project because we get to do things that really make a difference and can not only impact ourselves, (for example: our individual grades) but can also impact the rest of ISKL and Kuala Lumpur. 

Pursuit of Happiness

There are 7 billion people in the world. Yet most of us, don’t realize how precious your life is. We do the same thing everyday, yet never live your life to its fullest. You don’t need to go skydiving or bungee jumping, you just need to be happy. Throughout the world, too many people aren’t happy with their lives and themselves, if you don’t always feel like that, you might want to know why they feel this way, what the effect of it has on each other and how people can overcome it.

Many people do not understand what causes this lack of happiness, but there can be many reasons why this is occurring. Today, media is a huge role in society today. Because of that, the media is beginning to influence everyone. For example things like TV, magazines, and radio are some of the biggest influencers in media today. Cable TV rates have jumped by more than 90 percent since 1996 (http://www.commoncause.org)
Majority of the world watched TV for entertainment, but what we don’t realize is that everyday, the media literally tells us how to live our own lives, they tell us how to look, what to eat and what to say; and if we don’t fit these expectations, we immediately feel eccentric and like misfits. This is what causes us to feel unhappy with ourselves. Not only does the media influence you, but also people at home and at school, but only because they are bombarded with thoughts of the media everyday. “Being in media is terrifying right now. Whereas in the old days, you wrote something and then a fleet of people printed it and handed it to X hundred thousand people so they would read it, now, the fleet is gone. You are alone out there in the ocean and there’s not much that anyone can do for any given story to make sure that people read it. […] We do not control the distribution of our work. Period.” Although the media influences everyone, some maybe more influenced than others. But for example, when people feel different and ‘weird’ from other kids at school, this is also because of the media. Society today feels as though if someone or someone is different, they immediately are seen as ‘unusual, weird, and strange’. When someone is called this, the automatic reaction is to feel sad, therefore making him or her feel unsatisfactory to others. Just by walking down the street you are bombarded with media images trying to ‘teach’ you how to live, but you have to be careful and try not to listen to these images.


What people don’t realize are the effects of the lack of happiness. People do not realize how much it can affect your daily lives and everything we do. Even though everybody feels this way sometimes, when people start to feel different and sad, they begin to feel alone, and like they cannot talk to anyone. Evidence (quote or fact):
“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it's not because they enjoy solitude. It's because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.” ― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper
Right now, society has such high expectations, they believe everyone to always feel secure, and happy and beautiful, and many times this leads to disappointment. Not only because most of us cannot fit this criteria, but also society has set their expectations too high. Sometimes, people fail to meet the standards they’ve set for themselves and in ‘the worst case of this ‘lack of happiness’ is self harm and feeling suicidal.’ Mainly female teenagers all over the world are beginning to start things like self-harm, which is the worst way to deal with this kind of situation. Once people start using this cooping strategy, it can become not only unhealthy mentally, but also very life threatening.


Obviously, if you feel this tragic you’ll want to get better, two of the things that help with that is talking to someone and keeping up with social activities. When people do feel depressed, they don’t feel like there is a way out of ‘it’, and that you are never going to get better, but people just need to open their eyes to see the good that comes in life. “Listen to the people who love you. Believe that they are worth living for even when you don't believe it. Seek out the memories depression takes away and project them into the future. Be brave; be strong; take your pills. Exercise because it's good for you even if every step weighs a thousand pounds. Eat when food itself disgusts you. Reason with yourself when you have lost your reason.”
― Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression. If anyone ever feels depressed, what they need to do is just enjoy the simple things in life, and realize that a lot of people have it worse. For example, appreciate the people you have in your life, your family, friends, and people at school; and talk to them. When people tell you that you are good enough, believe them, and try to carry on. Furthermore, I feel that because the ‘standards’ are set so high, people are afraid to make mistakes while making decisions, so they choose not to make any. I am strong, because I know my weaknesses. I am beautiful, because I am aware of my flaws. I am fearless because I learn to recognize, illusion from real. I am wise, because I learn from my mistakes. I am a lover, because I have felt hate; and I can laugh, because I have known sadness.’ (http://spirituallythinking.blogspot.com). I think that this quote is one of my favorites because the writer knows that everyone has been through something. Yet no matter what, we can all get through it. The writer believes that because everybody makes mistakes, no one will ever be perfect. We all know that nobody is perfect, so why do we expect ourselves to be?


With people unhappy and depressed in the world, there are a lot of things that make them feel like that, the effects of feeling like that and how to overcome it. If you are one of those people, one of them who feels lost, unsatisfied with their lives, remember this: There's ways to get through anything and try your hardest to always find those ways.

Mayra's Story- Children's Peace Prize Awards

Alexandra Flynn

Humanities Period 1-8

17/Oct./2012

Mayra’s Story

About 25 percent of the poorest children do not attend school(pubmed.com). In Rio, many children in the favelas (of Rio de Janeiro) do not go to school, and thousands of homeless children lack any opportunity to better their lives(Brazilian Streer Children). Mayra, 15 year old girl who lived in Rio de Janeiro, was lucky enough to get an education until her school was closed down due to safety reasons. She grew up in one of the most violent favelas in Rio de Janeiro, and it was not possible for herself and the rest of the children in her favela to attend school. This is why Mayra decided to take a stand and defend her rights by marching against violence along with her friends and family. Because the conditions were so bad in Rio de Janeiro, Mayra gained the will power to fight against the violence and strive to help everyone stand up for their rights.

Because Mayra knows how important education is for her and others, she chose to defend her right to education. ‘When Mayra was only 11 years old her favela was closed off by so many checkpoints that schools and clinics had to be closed because doctors and teachers could not reach them.’ (kidsrights.org.) At such a young age, it is crucial to have education as this is when one is  learning how to live and make the right choices. Obviously because Mayra was not able to go to school safely, she did not want the rest of her favela to have the same disadvantage. With Mayra being so young, it took a lot of courage to stand up to the police and the government, nevertheless, not once did she back down. Mayra stoof up to the government by marching against violence along with her friends and family by her side in 2008. ‘This took great courage, as the march passed by many of these armed police patrols.’# When it was no longer safe to attend school, she immediately took charge.

Even at such a young age, one can tell that Mayra truly cares about the citizens of Rio de Janeiro by taking a stand. By the way her actions have affected the rest of her favela, it shows that she was not afraid to defend her right to education. ‘When Mayra was 15 years old, she mobilized hundreds of youths to participate in a community march against violence.’(http://www.kidsrights.org)  This shows that Mayra truly cares about education and the rest of her favela, as it would have been hard to stand up to adults or people who may feel they are superior to her because of her age.  Mayra knows because of her courage and bravery, it has given children and the rest of Rio de Janeiro hope for the future. She took the time to fight for her right to education. As a result, the police soon agreed to make things safer, rather than patrolling the school with guns in their hands.

Mayra continues to stand up for children’s educational rights, as she knows what it is like to live in brutal and violent conditions. By protesting against the government, Mayra has not only given the children but also the rest of Rio de Janeiro hope for a better future. In 2007, 4 million children of school age are not in school(Mayra’s Story). In some states in Rio de Janeiro, almost 80% of children do not attend school(Kidsrights.com). This is why it was crucial for someone like Mayra to come and defend the people of Rio de Janeiro.
 

1. http://www.kidsrights.org/InternationalChildrensPeacePrize/Winners.aspx
2. http://www.abctrust.org.uk/useful_docs/Jubilee_Action_EN.pdf

I Am From...

Clear Blue Oceans Sparkling in The Sun

I am from the clear blue oceans, sparkling in the sun.

 From the playgrounds, with ‘real’ grass, the kind that sticks to you when you run.

I am from the perfect weather, even on a

Cloudy day.

I am Hi5 and The Wiggles, Polly Pocket and Barbie Dolls.  I am vegemite sandwiches eaten every meal of the day.

I am my sister, my role model since forever; I am my brother, who makes me feel like I am the boss of everything. I am my parents, who will always be there for me.

Carefully put in the back of my draw, in an orderly sequence, is an album, full of evidence of all these unforgettable moments.

Was it Fair?

Was the Treaty of Versailles- fair or unfair? Justify.

I feel that it was quite fair, or at least as fair as anyone could make it. I think the Germans were to blame. When I say Germans, of course I do not mean the whole of Germany and every citizen, I mean the ones who started the war; the ones who needed to be blame for causing such a commotion.

Many Europeans believed in punishing the Germans and they were to blame, no one else. The 'Great War' went on for just over 4 years! The German society had a lot to pay and give back. In fact, they had to pay $33 billion dollars! Here are a few "rules" Germany had to go by:

80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.
81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.
87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.
119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas
countries.
159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not
to exceed 100,000 men.
181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers,
12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.
198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or
naval air forces.
231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all
the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.
233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population
and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at
$33 billion].
428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory
situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied
troops for fifteen years.
431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany
complies with the Treaty.

"Many Europeans were more interested in punishing the Germans than in preventing another world war. After all, the United States had been at war for just one year. Its European allies had been fighting for over four years. David Lloyd George of Britain demanded that Germany pay for the trouble it had caused; Vittorio Orlando of Italy insisted on a share of

Germany’s colonial empire. And France’s Georges Clemenceau required not only the return of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, but also assurances that his nation would be safe from future German aggression."

-Treaty of Versaille

Learning Profiles... Again.

1. I learn best when......

I am alone and I can concentrate well. I learn best through movement and by focusing on the whole picture. When I am relaxed, I may see, hear, and easily communicate details and sequences of information, both verbally and written.

2. I need to .....

Make more lists, learn to time manage, force myself to finish what I start, break large concepts into smaller ones to help process information and understand, I can use outlines, draw pictures, make maps to clarify relationships between pieces of information, and many other things.

3. The strategies that would help me in my learning....

• Sitting where I can process internally.
• Things like Lazy 8's and Thinking Caps Brain Gym will help.
• Activities like writing, drawing with non dominant hand, playing soccer, and doing martial arts will help a lot.

4. I would like my teachers to know this about me.....

I may not be looking directly at the teacher or speaker, but it does not mean I am not listening, and there are something I cannot help but do like clicking my pen, or swinging on my chair, but it is just the way that I learn.

Me in 3

I could choose any old thing in my room. As I look around there is a whole bunch of things that could describe who I am, but then I look over to my desk where piles of things lay and I know now, that these three things that I have chosen are not just any old items. They will tell you who I really am, on the inside and out. The number one item that I knew I had to choose was a calendar my best friend gave me before she left for Turkey at the end of last year. The next item does not mean too much to me, but I’m sure in a way it will uncover me and my story; my Thoroughly Modern Millie DVD. And ‘finally’ the last item I choose is my planners. These three items may seem like the normal things that anyone would have in there room, but this shows a lot of who I am, and here is why.

My first item is a calendar that my Best Friend gave to me before she had left for Turkey. This calendar was actually put together by her; she put pictures of us together in times from second grade and above. This means a lot to me because even though I can skype and chat to her, it will never be the same, but when I look at this, I remember all the good times we had and all the fun.

My second item is my planners. If you look at my desk or around my room, there are millions of them everywhere. That is because I always like to write things down and be very organized. For example if I do not write something down then I will forget it and never do it. But my planners always keep me very organized and on time for things, so they are very helpful.


Finally my third item is my Thoroughly Modern Millie DVD, this is the DVD of the school play I was cast in last year. I was very proud of myself when I got in, seeing that I wasn’t expecting it at all. I auditioned because I thought I would get a good acting experience out of it. Ever since second grade when I did participated in a drama activity, I have always wanted to be an actress. I swore that when I grew up I would become famous and be in the most well known films and plays. I’ve always loved being on stage and getting in the spotlight and all the attention.

So these items are just a few that explain who I am, and what life is to me. As I said these three items may not mean a lot to me, I hope they have described to you life in the eyes of Alexandra Flynn.