Making the Invisible, Visible: The first step...

An important issue in our modern day society is domestic workers, and how human rights affect them. Domestic workers in some cases are treated as modern day slaves which is unacceptable as they have equal rights as all other humans in the world. Currently, it is estimated there are 100 million slaves worldwide, and the numbers are growing. The average price for a slave today is 340 dollars, and the fact that humans are being sold as if they are possessions is a complete violation to their rights as domestic workers.


 It impacts everyone who is associated with, or has a domestic worker, because some are mistreated, underpaid, and even abused, and that is a complete violation to their rights as human beings. Some surprises I have encountered in researching about  domestic workers are that some workers are mistreated and they think it is ok, because they are not aware they have rights. Also the demand for domestic workers are rising in the world, so more illegal actions are taking place such as some being forced to work for free, and under atrocious conditions. The fact that shocked me the most was that some start working at the age of eight  as domestic workers unwillingly. 

Learning about this issue makes me feel sympathy for domestic workers, because they have families they are trying to provide for, and even though they aren't making a lot of money some are still content. Learning about this has also widened my understanding about how domestic workers are treated, and how their lives are in general. Also, learning about this issue really widened my eyes to the situation, gaining a deeper understanding of the lives of domestic workers.

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Racism in South Africa

42.9% of South Africans can be considered to be poor, with less than $2 a day to live on. The majority of these are black South Africans. The main reason as to why the majority are blacks is racial inequity. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”  - Nelson Mandela. Racism has gone on for centuries in South Africa and even though most people thinks it’s over, it’s not. The rights of millions of people are at stake, it’s worth fighting for because they have worked hard all of their lives and been through a lot of difficult times. Laws have been applied to help restore racial equity, but education is crucial to influence children to be open to all cultures, and unfortunately positive discrimination has taken it’s toll on the future generations of Afrikaners.




The South African government has applied laws in hopes to minimize racism. More rights like BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) which  gives Blacks economic privileges which haven’t been available to them before, should be brought up. “It seeks to ensure broader and meaningful participation in the economy by black people to achieve sustainable development and prosperity." — BEE Commission Report, pg. 2. This law gives the black economy gives blacks advantages, such as freedom in their career path which helps them create some stability financially. Others laws to support blacks have also been put in place since Nelson Mandela took charge for example affirmative action which opens Blacks in South Africa to more political freedom. Since Nelson Mandela’s rising point he has made his top priority to restore racial equity in South Africa. “Consider myself neither morally nor legally obliged to obey laws made by a Parliament in which I am not represented. That the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government, is a principle universally acknowledged as sacred throughout the civilized world.” -Nelson Mandela. In this quote Nelson Mandela reckons that if you are obligated to obey a law made by a Parliament  in which you are not represented, and the parliament  does not listen to what the people want, the government is uncivilized and should be looked upon disgracefully. The laws which the South African government has introduced has been a crucial part in how South Africa has developed racially. Even though laws play a big part in how South Africans act, a proper education of how people should act around others who are of a different race is vital for a minimal amount of negative racial discrimination for future generations.



Education affects how not only children but also how adults perceive other races for example, There are still racist groups which raise Afrikan teenagers through summer camps to live a racist lifestyle. The “Kommandokorp” group which raises children to only learn to live in peace with their own kind, and all other races are unacceptable. These groups have to be stopped because they are more or less brainwashing innocent teenagers to mistreat blacks simply for their race. Education of anti- racism is what could possibly keep South Africa safe from racist affiliated  civil wars in the future. The Bantu education act was founded in 1953, it’s main service was to enforce separating educational facilities racially. This act ensured that Afrikans would have a better education than the blacks, and negative racial discrimination couldn’t be debated back then because the government was run by Afrikans who were bias towards the blacks. The educational systems in South Africa have to change in order to reduce racism, groups which influence have to be stopped, and the South African government needs to make sure that the majority of unethical treatment towards blacks is stopped. Although racism towards blacks in South Africa is still strongly alive, their Government’s new laws has made it a lot harder for whites to find jobs today.




With the advantages for putting in place laws which empower blacks, although they have benefited the blacks these acts of positive discrimination have caused some whites to struggle economically.  Affirmative action and BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) are two out of several laws which have affected South Africa the most since they were applied. It has given blacks “employment preference” which means that companies opt for recruiting them instead of whites. From 1975 to 1990 the real wages of black manufacturing workers rose by 50%, that of whites by 1% due to positive discrimination through laws. Numerous complaints have been filed by Afrikans complaining that they can’t get jobs because of the laws which have been put in place by the South African Government. In the past Afrikans have been superior to blacks economically, but now in modern day the tables have turned which has caused Afrikans to struggle economically. BEE has given blacks a boost in rights, but unfortunately it has caused a decrease in employment rates for whites. “South Africa is all about the black people now; this government that's in power does not care about us white people. Every year our children graduate from universities but cannot find jobs” -Johan van Tonder, Building contractor. The blacks are delighted for being empowered economically, but since there are only a limited amount of jobs, some whites have been put in financial jeopardy because of the preference black South Africans. The South African Government has to balance the rights of their populations’ races. If the government  manages to find a sustainable method, racism will be reduced immensely because  feuds and jealousy due to different racial rights will be ruled out.



If more fair laws are put in place by the South African government to give more rights to blacks, but not affecting the whites, both races will exceed racially. Educational systems in South Africa have to teach children to understand racism is incorrect, and that all races are equal. Racist groups in South Africa have to be shut down too. The South African government has to find a way to balance the rights of their country’s races, in the past South Africa has been an anti- black country, but in modern day due to positive discrimination it’s pro- black which is unfair for the whites. If a fair racial balance of rights can be found by the South African Government, South Africa will be able to thrive as a united country. A darker woman who used to live in South Africa in the 1970’s had to go to the ninth floor in her office every day at work in order to simply go to the toilet. She became pregnant two years after she started and seven months into pregnancy she finally stood up for herself by going to the toilet on her floor. She was later reported by her co- workers, and confronted by her boss, and she said, “What kind of a society is this where someone cannot go to the bathroom on their floor because of  their skin color?” Her boss was startled by her bravery and couldn’t find any reason as to disagreeing with her, so her and her other darker co-workers could use the bathroom on their floor. The way that she stood up for herself was truly inspiring, even though she fought for such a small cause like rights to use a bathroom, if every black could stand up for their rights assertively like she did, blacks will be able to handle the social part of racism in South Africa, which will help the nation to be well on their way to ending racism.

A Boy Who Changed His Nation

Living in life threatening conditions, over a billion children are dying of hunger in the world today. In the Philippines over 1.5 million children are living in dumpsites, constantly struggling to survive. For children who live in junkyards in the Philippines letting mosquitos feast on your open cuts and puss is completely normal. Kesz Valdez is one such child who has experienced it all, having fled from his abusive father and having to live in a junkyard from the age of four. Since Kesz was rescued from a life on the streets, he has been giving back to other street children by teaching them about basic hygiene and giving them hope for a different life.

 
Instead of fleeing his past situations, Kesz has gone back to face his fears by helping others who live in junkyards, educating them about basic sanitation and hygiene.Most kids if put in Kesz’s shoes would choose not to look back and help others but live their own life and forget about their past. Today Kesz teaches, “the children to wash hands properly, brush teeth daily and bathe regularly. And I believe that some of these children will pay the act forward.” He lectures them about how to stay hygienic which is even more important for those children because they live impoverished conditions. The kids have to live in dirty conditions where bacteria breeds. If the kids don’t look after themselves they can catch diseases which can lead to severe illnesses or even death. He also hopes the kids will learn from him and share their knowledge with others and future generations. This would lead to less death and illness amongst the junkyard children. “My message to all children here and around the globe is; our health is our wealth.” -Kesz. No matter how disgusting or dangerous conditions some dumpsites in the Philippines are, if the street children need help, Kesz will be there. By teaching the kids about basic sanitation he wants them to survive and live a better life. In this case Kesz means their wealth is their well-being. By going back to face his fears, Kesz shows courage because he wants to improve the life of the  children of future generations.




Kesz gives street children a new hope, showing them that there are people out there who care about them and are trying to make a difference.  Most street children that live in junkyards and have no hope of a better life. The think that how they live now isn’t ever going to change. Spreading hope to street children is something Kesz has been doing for over five years. Astonishingly for Kesz’s seventh birthday instead of recieving presents he went out to junkyards and gave street children presents which gave them a sense of hope.  Traveling around the Philippines giving joy, basic education and hope is what Kesz Valdez has dedicated his life to doing. He helps street children acknowledge that there are people that care about them, and that there is still a lost hope for them out there. "The day I suffered the burns on my body was like my baptism of fire. It was so painful that night at the dumpsite, the hospital and the days that followed. I cried out of pain. On the other hand, that was also the day I was rescued." (Link) When Kesz was in his time of need an upstander rose to the occasion, Harnin Manalaysay who has been someone whom Kesz has looked up to as a father figure, and that was a big turning point in Kesz’s life. He wants the street children to never give up and to know that good things are to come no matter what.


Kesz is a boy who has had a first hand experience of living in junkyards. Knowing the dangers and health hazards that are lurking around; this has motivated him to help children who live like he used to. By educating street children about basic sanitation and hygiene, he has helped them to live a more sustainable and healthy life. His teachings will also affect future generations of children, helping them to live a more balanced and healthy life. Kesz is a boy of integrity, the way he opens his heart and spreads hope and education to everyone is truly inspiring, hopefully in the future more people will partake in his acts.

Football and Gummy Bears

I am from football

I
from toy trains and curious george.

                       I am from whole days of listening to Kiss.

                        from the big 99.

                       I From playing with toy drums for hours until they would eventually break.

I am the cold north and Formosa
the cold country side
as quiet as it can be.
I am from years of “Goal!!!!! Henrik Larsson”
from replays of Spiderman over and over again.

I am from daim chocolate, and swedish meatballs.
From hatching plans to steal gummy bears from the kitchen
I am from chugging down bags of m&ms.
I am from happiness
from “var alltid ärlig”.
I am from two opposites.
from two hardworking grandparents
one a train driver
one a carpenter.
I am from the beautiful game.

"Victory" Reflection

I understood "Victory" the best because I can understand what Sonia's message is because I was raised thinking, live everyday like it's your last. That itself is the reason why I can understand this poem so well. Every day I think of that quote. This poem is also really interesting especially with its message that, she wanted to stay in her dad's arms and nothing else in the whole world mattered to her, as if everything could just disapear and she would still be happy, as long as she was in her father's arms. That is why I chose "Victory" by Sonia Weitz as the best poem.

The Eternal Jew, David Pinsk, 1937 Analysis

This propaganda poster is based on the Jews and how they can be deceiving. It is entitled "The Eternal Jew". I think that the intended audience for this poster is the children in Germany also known as "the Hitler Youth" at that time, along with the voting public. This poster shows an ugly, snobby, rich Jew trying to bribe the Germans. It is supposed to show the German race how dangerous and rich. In my opinion it also looks like the Jew's are working with the communists. It is supposed to make the German people change their eye for Jews. The poster maker made it look like all Jews look like that, and all of them wanted the communists to win, but in fact some Jews were even Aryans. It also makes the Jews look like they are a snobby, threatening, and untrustable race that is incapable of running the country successfully with the majority of the population happy. It also gives off the illusion that the Jews worked together with the communists to rule out the Nazis. In my opinion this propaganda shows a very negative message as I have described.

Learning Profiles

Last week Mr. Whiting tested our class on what learning profile we were. Basically learning profiles are about how you learn best inside and outside of school. My learning profile was OO and judging by the information I got about OO as a learning profile, I think it fits me very well.

The learning profile OO is a gestalt profile, and the main functions are visual and kinesthetic communication. That is a reason why OO fits me as a learning profile because I work best through movement. I always have to click the pen clicker because I think much more clearly with it.

The profile also says sports like football really help me. I play football all the time so I can really relate to that. I also play sports such as tennis, squash, rugby, and badminton which I find helps to relief stress. Most sports help me with stress and anger.

A thing that really stood out to me in the profile was that it says my biggest challenge is to access pieces of information and be able to put them together in a linear and logical manner. I agree that that is a challenge for me, but I find my biggest challenge is to pay attention and stay on topic in class.

Most of the things on my profile I agree with, but there are a few things I don't, for example I don't find that my biggest challenge is to access information and put it in a logical manner. Overall I think that OO fits me really well for as a profile.