Making the Invisible Visible, The First Step to Recovery

Making the Invisible Visible 

Everyone in the world is entitled to human rights. Regardless or race, age and gender everyone deserves rights. Human trafficking is an issue in the world today that deprives some of their most basic human rights. This issue ruins peoples lives and forces them to live a life in fear and pain. "Slaves" is the term used to define people who are trafficked. I chose to vote for this issue because I feel as though it is a horrible problem in the world and definitely needs attention from those that can make a difference. Human trafficking also known as the slave trade occurs everywhere in the world whether it be a fully developed country or a third world country. 

This issue is important to me and my community because I believe that all should live a good life with equal rights. It's extremely unfair that some must live without many of the greater things in life. People affected by human trafficking get less food and sleep then they need to and are abused commonly. All the things "the trafficked" are entitled are restricted from them because selfish traffickers want to use them for the good of themselves. Human trafficking has the tendency to affect everyone and unluckily about 1 in 200 people are involved in it. Most cases of human trafficking involve people from less developed countries who don't have an education or any money. The traffickers take advantage of this and take control of their lives. Children are often trafficked because they don't have much power and they are easier to traffick, they can also be exploited in many more ways. Women are also trafficked commonly because of the same reasons. The truth of the matter is that anyone can be trafficked, you could be kidnapped and sold as a slave or maybe you could be tricked into it and fall into the trap of human trafficking.

During my research I have bumped into a number of facts that have shocked me beyond belief. The statistics for human trafficking are shocking. Almsot 30 million people in the world today are trafficked. Also the most common reason for trafficking is prostitution. I found this saddening since those that have been trafficked have no choice in what they do. A slave is sold for 90$, that is not only degrading for the slave but the fact that they get no salary completely shocks me. Slaves are abused physically and on a mental level. It is really bad that they have to be treated in such a manor and go through with being traded around and having to do free labor. They have no rights whatsoever and they have given up on their lives. Some slaves even attempt suicide because of the feeling they have about their lives. 

Overall I would say that this issue has deeply saddened me and the statistics have shocked me. It is a horrible issue and definitely needs to be ended by those with the authority to do so. The treatment of the trafficked is just horrible and to think of the way they live is just disgraceful. All humans are entitled to equal rights and the slaves don't have theirs. I hope in the future we can make an effort to work towards solving this problem and giving rights to those that deserve them. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Malaysia
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-human-trafficking
http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/modules/news/images/topics/5d489cfe-de59-756c.jpg

What's Worth Fighting for

In 2009 Malala Yousafzai started a blog talking about the issue she and her peers had recently faced. She lived in a town called Mingora and it had been taken over by the Taliban. They were in full control and there was nothing in their way to stop them from what they were about to do. The Taliban took away girls' rights to receive an education. This really limited their possibilities in life and was very unfair towards the girls. This is a huge issue in todays society and is seen in several places around the world that are governed by the Taliban. Without attention this issue will go unnoticed and nothing will be resolved. There are people out there who address the issue and try to give it the attention it needs. One of those people is Malala Yousafzai. She addressed the issue of not being allowed an education and this was and is an inequality she had to face and explained the lack of support her and her peers had to experience. Unfortunately she was shot in the head by the Taliban who didn't want her to speak out about this inequality. She is currently receiving hospitalized treatment. Her fight for educational rights is of great significance and her courage to step up against the Taliban is inspiring to many. Malala Yousafzai is a true hero and she continues to fight for girls' rights to receive an education in Pakistan and this is truly great. All around the world girls still suffer from their educational limitations but with the courage of those like Malala who despite the attacks and threats by Taliban a change can occur.

Around several parts of the world which the Taliban are in control over girls are denied a right to education. One of these places is Afganistan. In 2004 the first democratic election happened and a a man called Hamid Karzai was elected president. He gave back the rights the people wanted and deserved and for a time Afganistan was free of conflict. The American troops left Afganistan and the Taliban saw this as a perfect opportunity to strike. In 2006 the Taliban attacked the South of Afganistan and took control of a large portion of the country. Due to their beliefs they had a very different view of what a good community should look like. They banned girls from attending school and receiving an education. According to statistics in Afganistan boys receive around 11 years of education whilst girls get only 4. This is a shocking fact which the UNICEF refused to ignore. They set up tents around schools to help and support girls so they could receive the education they deserved. Afganistan is not the only place where educational rights of girls are denied. In Mingora (Pakistan) the Taliban also had full control. Loads of girls were prevented from receiving an education but there were people out there who has had enough of this unfair treatment. One of those people was Malala Yousafzai. She started of writing a blog pointing out the issues girls faced through not being permitted to attend school. This attracted the attention of the UN. She was a beacon of hope for girls out there who were in her position and she managed to raise lots of awareness about the subject. She still attended school with some other friends of hers as to boycott the law made by the Taliban. She began to make speeches about the issue and lots of positive action was made. Eventually she was found out by the Taliban and shot in the head by one of them. She has luckily survived and is recovering and since the shooting the Taliban have been driven out of Mingora. This issue is faced all around the world and because of people like Malala positive change will occur. 

The Taliban take their beliefs very seriously and don't accept that it's wrong to deny girls the rights to education. This really limits the girls possibilities in life. Without an education the girls wont be able to move on and get a good job or benefit from the same opportunities as boys. According to the UN declaration of the rights of the child, "the child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at least in the elementary stages. He shall be given an education which will promote his general culture and enable him, on a basis of equal opportunity, to develop his abilities, his individual judgement, and his sense of moral and social responsibility, and to become a useful member of society." This was one of the actions made by the UN in order to give all children the educational rights they deserve. Unfortunately the Taliban don't abide by this. Instead they completely neglect the statement and go against it. The Talibans interpretation of Islam is that girls should remain at home and not be educated while boys should be. The UN has tried to reason with the Taliban but it seems that they wont listen. The only way to help with the issue is to directly help the children affected. Many people are in support of the girls and luckily the issue is focused on by many who have the power to make a change. All around the world organizations like Unicef are getting involved and helping where help is needed. Due to 1 individuals courageous efforts the situation has been hear and acted towards by the US government. They have redeployed troops around the effected areas and the issue is slowly disappearing. All children deserve an education and thanks to a large amount of funding organizations as well as organizations, governments and even children the issue is being resolved. 

Malala Yousafzai courage and determination was what enabled her to rebel against the Taliban. Although she knew that what she was doing was wrong in the eyes of the Taliban Malala did what little she could to raise awareness of the subject and bring attention to it. Malala fought not only for educational rights but for safety from the Taliban. The Taliban can be seen as a very oppressive organization and when they were in control of Mingora they acted with a rather agressive attitude. This made children living there quite frightened and scared. The Taliban used the power they had to scare the people into following their rules. Malala refused to follow these rules. Due to her speeches others in her town started to do as she did and go against the Talibans rules. Malala fought for the freedom of her and other. My belief is that she fought for freedom against the Taliban. Her fight was of high value and because of her dissidence towards the tyrannous rule the Taliban had they started to realize how dangerous Malala was towards them. Malala was a sign for peace and the Taliban realized that with her around others would begin to flock towards her. On the 9th of October 2012 Malala was shot in an effort to stop the uprisings against the Taliban. Thankfully Malala survived but is now in the hospital receiving the treatment she needs. She fought for women's rights that the Taliban neglected and now others are continuing the fight for her. She has gained the attention of many big organizations who are offering their full help wherever it is needed. Malala's wish is to have back the rights that she once had and to be equal with the other gender. She believes that equality is key and because of the rights she is denied of Malala has started a campaign against the Taliban. The UN state that no matter what children deserve an education. It is of uttermost importance and it would be unfair to neglect children of these basic rights. Malala was successful in her campaign and because of her brave efforts more and more girls are receiving an education.

In 2009 Malala Yousafzai started a blog spreading awareness of the unfair laws passed of by the Taliban. She brought attention to the subject and over time a resistance started to rise. People living in Mingora started to go against the rules made by the Taliban and protest for the rights they deserved. As Malala continued to write blogs and the subject gained more and more attention until big organizations started to support Malala and her beliefs. She writes blogs and makes speeches because she wants basic rights and needs back for her and others who have been deprived of their rights. She has rightfully been awarded a number of awards for her felicitous actions involving the Taliban and has done a great thing.  Malala Yousafzai was the start to positive change for woman's rights and has brought hope to the hearts of many. She is a hero I know I will hope for her safe recovery. 

Helping the Refugees

Helping the Refugees

In the world today thousands of children suffer from the awful conditions within refugee camps. Their parents have either been killed or separated from them, and without help, there is no way of ever seeing their parents again. This is a huge issue occurring in many parts of Africa, which needs some attention from people who can help. In a refugee camp in Tanzania hundreds of kids are left in harsh conditions without any hope for the future. In the Nyarugusu refugee camp children are forced to live without their parents. Thousands of kids are living awful lives without much of a chance to change their fate. It is a huge concern that this problem has not been shown much attention. Thankfully, there is one individual who understands how awful the refugee camps are, and he refuses to let children suffer any longer. Baruani Ndume works towards helping the children who suffer from the conditions of the awful refugee camps. He works towards reuniting children with their families outside the camps so they can live better lives. Baruani gives special attention to the people that have lost their families to give them closure and let them know that others are there for them and people care. Baruani Ndume is a true hero who says enough is enough for the kids living in refugee camps, he has decided to fight for what’s right.

Baruani has experienced living in the awful refugee camps in Africa,  and due to this, he wants to help others who are going through the same thing he went through. He wants the children to understand that they are being heard and people do care. Baruani gives the children in the refugee camp an opportunity to share their experiences and stories in the hope that they may feel better if they share their problems. The video about Baruani states that he has started a radio show so the kids in the refugee camps can feel some closure and receive some positive attention. Baruani knows what its like in the refugee camps and he feels that its important to bring some attention to the issue. The conditions in the camp are just awful and all the kids living in them have had awful experiences such as their parents being killed or their family getting separated.  “Baruani has lived in the refugee camp in Tanzania for over nine years. He tries to convert this life experience into positive action, by actively helping fellow refugee children... For many children it is already a big help to talk to someone and to be able to share the problems they experience” (International peace prize winners). Baruani brings attention to the kids in the camp, so they can can feel contentment when sharing their stories. Baruani has not received a proper education, but he is so determined to help others that this doesn’t get in his way. He is a very caring and thoughtful individual and feels it necessary to help others. “Baruani works to help these children in a very special way. With only limited resources, he has succeeded in setting up a radio programme in which he talks about problems and challenges with his peer refugee children.” (Baruani Ndume). Baruani may not have many supplies, but he does his best to succeed in his goal of helping the refugee children. His radio show is very successful, and with his determination to reach his goal, he has been able to support the needs of many children in the refugee camps.

Baruani works towards reuniting families that were torn apart by violence and war, so they can live better lives away from the refugee camps. In his own way, Baruani works towards making a change for the lives of the kids that live in the refugee camps because like them, he has experienced being separated from his family and being dumped in the refugee camp. Baruani’s radio show has been a great success giving many children the opportunity to share their stories and thoughts. This kindness he was giving out was soon noticed by some people involved with the United Nations and he was nominated in the 2009 for the children's peace prize. “he received this prestigious prize for his efforts on behalf of children in the refugee camp in Tanzania... Furthermore, thanks to the programme’s wide appeal, he has helped to reunite many children with their parents and families after they were separated by the war.” (Baruani Ndume). Baruanis effort and commitment has paid off because he has succeeded in his goal and greatly improved the lives of many children in refugee camps. Baruani works very hard in order to give the children what they want and need. He has been very successful in doing so. Baruani’s radio show has gained popularity making people aware and solving the problems talked about in it. “He tries to reunite children and parents who have become separated while escaping from DR Congo. The programme has been highly successful and is now broadcast in DR Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. Thanks to this, many children have now been reunited with their families.” (Baruani Ndume, Baruani youtube). Baruanis radio show has gained enough publicity to bring attention to the subject of refugee camps and separation, so he has managed to bring awareness to this subject. He is broadcasting hope and joy to thousands of people and fixing their lives. He is a true hero and rightfully deserves the award he was given.

In a Tanzanian refugee camp, Baruani started a radio show in which continues to cover all the concerns and issues in the camp he lives in, in the hope that others may understand and help him in his goal of helping the children living in these places. He does this because he understands the conditions faced in the camps, and he feels that it’s necessary to bring attention to the concern. Thanks to Baruani, thousands of children living in the refugee camps are given opportunities to once again find their families and share their thoughts and feelings. He radiates hope and kindness for the children in refugee camps and rightfully deserved the children's peace prize for 2009. 

Memories

I’m from toys and games, which lasted me for hours on end. I’m from traffic and noise filling up the streets and alleys like thunder filling the sky.  I’m from green toy soldiers and sunny days, down at the beach having vanilla ice cream.

I’m from Thai food and Indie songs. I’m from tall buildings that mingled with the sky that made me wonder, “how does that work?” I’m from Batman’s cave and ironman’s suit and the tall green grass around the misty mountains.

I’m from England and China and tasty toffees, I’m from smileys and my old house, which was all dusty and empty. I’m from an organized room with stacks of books full of my interests and boring stories.

I am what I’m made of and memories like these mold me into the person I am today.
 – Jake Fuller

Toy soldiers

Standing up to oppression takes great individual courage.

Standing up to oppression takes great individual courage.


I chose the above statement because I believe that it does take true courage to stand up to an oppressing force. Throughout the medieval unit I have found that many individuals have found the courage within them to rise up and resist against an oppressing force for some sort of cause. in 1066 William invaded England even though the power that he seeked was oppressing him. It is not the best example but he did build up some courage to fight against the power oppressing him (being king Harold). In 1381 the Peasants protested against the king because of the new laws or rules introduced by him. The rule stating that peasants may not ask for higher wages upset them and when the poll tax came into being it really set of the peasants and then one man by the name of Thomas Baker stood up to the tax collectors. This act required a lot of courage and through doing it he had taken a big step against the king. This courageous act set off a spark and soon enough a large portion of the English peasants were marching to Smithfield to meet with the king and demand that the poll tax should be abolished. Causing treason was an enormous crime at that time and would not be rewarded kindly by the king. It took a lot of courage. Now in the modern day many people protest of things that they don't like. Over time protests still happen. If people feel an unease they may protest and it takes courage to protest. It takes courage to stand up to an oppressing force.

The feudal system in 100 words

Father Francois, you are my honored guest. Please allow me to explain the Feudal system to you before you ask any questions of me. I am but a simple farmer. The feudal system allows people to own property in exchange for services to a higher lord. For example, king William has a large amount of people whom he trusts and if they need anything such as land they provide their services to the lord. The person who requires help is called the vassal and the person who assists him is the lord. This system can continue through all the nobles.

The events of 1066

In 1066 Edward the confessor died. Before he departed he stated that after his death Harold Godwinson the earl of Essex would rule after him. He was a powerful noble who controlled the English army and was a clear choice for king. King Edward was also married to Harolds sister making them brother in laws. A council was held and the nobles decided to elect Harold as king of England. As well as Harolds many claims to the throne Harold was an English man making him native to England. He would be a clear choice for the king of England if he was the only English individual going for the throne out of Hardrada, William and himself. Although he swore an oath to William stating that he would not be king Harold definitely had the more important claims as well as support of English citizens. Overall I feel that Harold Godwinson was the rightful heir to the throne and deserved to be the king of England.