15. Does religion, or religious principles/ethics/morals, have any place in government? Should government create laws based on these norms?

Given that religion is based on no empirical data and is simply a series of outdated fables that dictate the lives of people, I believe that it has absolutely no place in government. I have no issue with individuals who base their moral and ethical views off of their faith (that is their personal freedom), however I would not like religious people to impose their views on my life. I simply cannot subscribe to live my life based off of an ancient text that speaks of fictional events in the less-literate parts of the middle-east, and I certainly do not want my government to base their laws on these principles. This is not to say that morality cannot exist without religion; I agree that murder, theft, etc. are wrong, however I would like to maintain my morality without a delusional divine intervention.
 

14- Food Dumping

Food dumping is essentially the disposal of unwanted organic matter (rotting food, expired food etc.) labelled as support for developing countries. The issue behind this type of "support" is that it further continues the cycle of poverty in the world's poorest nations. Ingestion of this food has been known to lead to health problems, which as a result contribute to the overall cycle of poverty. Additionally food dumping undercuts local farmers (people would rather eat the free food- even though it is worse, rather than pay for it- farmers are forced to close their business), which in turn will result in hindering economic progress in developing nations. Presenting a solution to this issue signals a complicated choice; food dumping temporarily solves the issue of chronic hunger, however will contribute to the cycle of poverty. Thus one possible solution could be to use the food waste to feed livestock, which would result in more capital economic growth (more local farmers) and could help sustain the continuous production of food (ex chickens- chickens are notorious for eating food waste, and can as a result produce healthy eggs.).

13- On the arrests of the Via rail terrorists- Canada

The arrest of these two individuals to me speaks to the very real presence of terrorism within Canada, and urges me to question Canada's changing reputation on the world stage. Additionally it serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of innocent individuals against the wrath of fundamentalist extremists. Although no attack had been carried out successfully, the shear arrest of these two individuals (through the media's publication) has introduced an unsettling feeling in society, one where individual's are increasingly frightened of a random attack. Additionally this event has contributed to the ignorant individual's depiction of the violent nature of Islamic religion. I say this in the sense that many people have the idea that Islam is responsible for these acts of violence, where in fact these events are the result of an incredibly small population of extremist individuals that interpret their religion in a certain way.

12. What long term impact will the terror attacks at the Boston Marathon have on western civilization?

The Boston Marathon bombings have not only devastated a world re-known event, but have also solidified the fear of terrorism in western civilization. Although this is a seemingly minor incident relative to other acts of terrorism across the globe, the media has successfully publicized this event on a large scale (in other words, the media has deemed it to be a top priority story simply because it occurred in the US). In terms of presenting possible long term impacts of this event, I believe it has successfully achieved the following; informed us of how vulnerable we are in public and that acts of terrorism are still achievable within North America. The former simply serves as a reminder, however the latter has successfully reintroduced the fear of terrorism in the United States, and reminds the public that domestic terrorism prominently exists as well. Additionally this event speaks to the power that media has over society (specifically its ability to emotionally change the state of the public).

11. US Drone Strikes: What's the big deal? Good idea or bad? Why?

                In my opinion the technological advancements in weaponry have exceeded the practicality of their use, with the prime example being nuclear weapons. Given that nuclear weapons have the capacity to destroy the entire earth (and are thus not favoured in warfare), I believe that the usage of drones from a military standpoint are much more practical and are a good idea for strategic attacks. This is not to say that I support war, however drones have the ability to exclude humans from being present when an attack is taking place (the concept of remote controlling a weapon from a distance alleviates and reduces the allied death toll). Additionally drones have the ability to attack precise targets, as opposed to simply devastating an entire city; as well as being able to strategically spy on a desired target. Thus I believe that these weapons are a good idea since they are practical and more sophisticated than standard warfare equipment.

10. 10. North Korea: What would you do if you were President Obama?

                Given that Obama’s role in the world stage is that of promoting peace and fairness for all, I would (if I were him) not initiate any form of strike against North Korea, unless the US or an allied nation were attacked first. Thus I believe that a diplomatic approach would be the best course of action in this situation, given that the side that initiates the first strike is almost always seen as the promoter of violence and war. Additionally North Korea has built a reputation of not following through with their threats against others, meaning that a military strike initiated by the US on the basis of fear could be seen as questionable. If the US were to attack North Korea, they would be seen (by the world stage) as a primitive nation that is eager to initiate violence, which in turn would be brought upon themselves with an almost definite retaliation strike from the angered North Koreans. Given this, the only definite way to maintain a positive image on the world stage and to reduce the amount of violence possible is to approach the situation diplomatically by resolving the issue with speech.

9. The Sexualization of Mainstream Society -- Is it a problem?

                Sexuality has always been a present asset in historical societies, however the world today has become so incredibly interconnected and over populated that the view of sex can be argued to have changed for the worse. I understand that the incredible popularity of pornography on the internet has changed many individuals’ views of women and sexuality in general, however I believe that this is simply a relative increase associated with an increasing population. Looking back to ancient civilizations, brothels and images of sex have been found in all areas and cultures of the world, yet they are not seen as concerning because civilizations were generally smaller. However our world today is so large that the continued interest in sexuality is seen as over expanded and distasteful. I believe it is simply our human nature that dictates this interest since often times we forget that we ourselves are mammals. With this being said, I do not think this is a problem that directly dangers individuals in today’s society and is thus not a pressing issue.

8. Poverty: What role should the wealthy nations of the world, like Canada and the United States, play in easing the suffering of the world's poorest people? What responsibility do the wealthiest people have in tackling global poverty?

Given that the difference between the world’s wealthiest and poorest people is so vast, I believe that developed nations have an obligation to aid populations that are predominantly living in poverty. That being said it is difficult to enforce a global aid movement without impinging on the desires of greedy people, which seems to be the only barrier in place to solving this issue. It should be noted additionally that an extremely large majority of the earth’s population lives and struggles through poverty, and it seems unfit that only a small privileged section of the population lives in comfort. I realize that my next statement will be seen as a political view, however I believe that a socially based government provides solutions to this issue. For example: the inclusion of an additional tax to individuals in developed nations that would be donated to developing nations could drastically improve the standard of living for people living in poverty. A simple tax of 1$ per day would yield 365$ per person/year, and given that the population of the US (example) is 313,914,040, that would yield 1.15x10^11$ per year that could be donated to solve this issue from the United States alone. A coalition of developed nations doing this simple action is a very practical solution to this issue, and I find it alarming that wealthy nations have still not realized this.  

7. Israeli Settlement Building - Do You Agree With Israel's Decision to Resume Settlement Building in the E1 Zone? Why?

I believe that both Israeli and Arab populations should coexist peacefully in Jerusalem, and that any attempt from either side to inhibit the others existence is not a wise decision. The expansions of Israeli settlements in the E1 zone geographically restrain any sort of Arab expansion in Jerusalem, and thus give the Arab population a motive for further conflict. Although this decision may aid Israel in achieving their goals, for the time being it simply creates further conflict (which the Israelis claim they long to finish). Thus in terms of resolving the Arab Israeli conflict, this is a step in the wrong direction, which is precisely why I disagree with this decision.

Blog post 6: Connecticut School Shooting - What Does This Event Teach Us About Violence in Society?

Violence (or more specifically gun related violence) is an increasingly concerning issue in American society. Historically, the US has always pushed for the independent possession of guns through organizations such as the NRA (National Rifle Association) and creating laws that dictate the right to bear arms. A majority of the American population relies on themselves for protection, as opposed to exploiting public services (ex. Police), thus it is not surprising that the amount of guns available is so incredibly high. In addition, American pop culture has introduced guns into the media as an appealing accommodation. Through popular films, music, magazines, and video games, guns have been integrated heavily into youth culture and subsequently have caused the statistics of gun related violence to increase. Thus it is not surprising that every year the United States has been in the spotlight for incidents such as the recent Connecticut shootings. This shooting has contributed to the consistent trend of violence in the United States, and proves that firearms and violence have successfully coalesced into American society .

5. World Issues Reflection - Review Your Role and Your Experiences at WIC 2012 (Note: if you did not attend, discuss how the conference represents a valuable opportunity for young people from around the region).

My role as a student leader during the HSC World Issues conference this year was a fantastic experience in the sense that I gained a new appreciation for educators, I became well informed on the US debt, and I was able to share my interest in global issues with students from younger grades. I very much enjoyed the initial assembly in the Artsplex, and found it both informative and inspirational. This assembly was an excellent motivational tool for many of the students in my group, and it set a great atmosphere for the day. One of my responsibilities during the day was that of conducting seminars on the US debt, which I believe I did well. Many of the younger students in my group quickly grasped the principles and concepts associated with this issue, and were quick to initiate discussion with their peers. In addition the water filtration simulation emerged as a great success as well. My group of students were engaged in the activity and understood its significance on a global level, thus accomplishing the primary objective of the day. Nonetheless, the HSC WIC 2012 was a fantastic experience that helped spread awareness of global issues, and hopefully inspired the younger students to be more active in voicing their opinions on current world issues.

4. Gapminder.org - Using Gapminder, identify an indicator of global concern and discuss why you feel it is globally important.

The data I examined using Gapminder was the relationship between literacy rates and average life expectancy. The trend displayed a linear increase, meaning the average life expectancy is higher in nations with higher literacy rates. This issue is of global concern because it stands at the forefront of the advancement of the human species, meaning the answer to the issue of life expectancy is related to literacy rates. A movement to improve literacy rates in developing countries such as Chad will help to solve the issue of low life expectancy and will aid in creating a middle class in less fortunate nations. An expansion of the international middle class will increase economic growth and social change, thus it is an issue of global concern currently as it inhibits this type of growth.

3. US Election - Who Would You Vote For, and Why?

Had I been born an American citizen, my vote for the current election would be given to Barack Obama. I say this primarily because I am a strong believer that social change is just as important as economic and international change in a nation. Obama appeals to the common middle class worker which the US is mainly composed of, as opposed to an individual from the private sector with no concept or experience in the “real” world. Thus I believe that Obama better represents the majority of the United States and is the more appropriate leader. In addition, Obama is a strong supporter of the expansion of personal freedom in the United States (which they claim to be their foundation). I say this in the sense that Obama supports the right to homosexual marriage, abortion, and the decriminalization of cannabis, all of which I too believe should be legal. Furthermore, Obama has successfully in his previous term secured the international opinion of the United States, which had been at a record low during George Bush’s terms. I would also like to note that I am an Atheist, and that I strongly believe that religion should be a personal matter and that it should not be incorporated into the political stage. A country whose laws are dictated by incredibly old and outdated fables should not have the potential to wage war or order the lives of millions of civilians. Thus I would vote for Obama (if I could) in this US election.

Blog Post 2: Death of the American Ambassador to Libya - Impact on the Arab Spring

                The death of Chris Stevens outlines the ferocity of the Arab Spring movement and gives the perception that an American presence in the Middle East is not wanted. An attack such as this additionally displays the misconceptions of the Arab Spring that arise through the media. Headlines on major news networks have capitalized on this event and have defined Libya as an unappreciative and violent nation that seems ignorant to international law. While claims like this can seem to fit in the media, it should be noted that only a select group of Libyan individuals committed this heinous atrocity and that not all of Libya agrees and is responsible. However, the misinformed Western and European public have on a wide scale been led to believe that this was a strictly Libyan attack due to the work of a small group of extremists who are not representative of the entire nation. Thus in essence this event impacts the Arab Spring movement in the sense that it has greatly changed the public perception of the Middle East.