What Is Worth Fighting For?

Over the past, many endangered animals have become extinct due to mankind's ignorance towards them. Many animals suffer from providing the humans products and needs such as deforestation for wood which could destroy various ecosystems which the animals rely on or poaching which kills off the population of animals for food, medicine or even as simple souvenirs. In 2010, the endangered population list has increased to 17,315 (which is including the vulnerable, the endangered and the critically endangered) out of 1,740,330 (Curiosity.com) which might only be a small percentage, but it it ever increasing. Many people are trying to conserve them instead by building animal sanctuaries and protesting against the poaching of the animals. Some examples are the long-beaked echidna, the dugong and the kiwi bird. These animals are worth conserving for the future.

Let's start with the kiwi bird. As a reliable website states, Kiwi birds are indigenous to New Zealand and are apparently quite strange. They have many features similar to a mammal including heavy bone marrow, cat like whiskers and hair like feathers, along with many other unusual birdlike features. Kiwis also have very small wings and one third of their body weight is from their heavy muscled legs thus causing an inability to fly.  Because of these features and also the fact that the kiwi bird is quite small, kiwis have lowered defenses causing to be easy prey for predators like dogs, stoats and feral cats. Besides that, the loss of habitat due to deforestation and destruction of native bushes around the country is also affecting it's survivability because not only is it threaten it's food source, but it means that the kiwi bird has less places to hide from it's predators. Currently, there are 5 different species of kiwi, two of which are vulnerable, one of which is endangered and one of which is critically endangered. However people at the Department of Conservation's 'overarching goal is to restore and, wherever possible, enhance the abundance, distribution and genetic diversity of all kiwi species.' (Department of Conservation). The few ways that the DOC will do to reach this goal are to control the predators within the kiwi's habitats, to continue to breed kiwi chicks in captivity and to preserve the land that they live in. These notions of the DOC reveal that the kiwi is worth conserving since they are a vital part to New Zealand's ecosystem. However, not only this bird is becoming endangered but another mammal is as well.

The long-beaked echidna is next on the list. The echidna, otherwise known as the spiny anteater, ia primitive mammal that lives in both Australia and New Guinea. The long-beaked echidna is a solitary animal that burrows underground. When attacked, it burrows down under to protect itself of it curls up into a ball and uses it's spines that cover the top of it's body as a method of defense against a predator. Including the sensitive nose it uses to find food, it's long sticky tongue to eat it's prey and it's 35-50 centimeter long claws, a long-beaked echidna's average weight is in between 2 to 7 kilograms (Australian Fauna). But similar to the kiwi bird, the echidna faces deforestation as it's reason for endangerment, however as the echidna isn't a vulnerable as the kiwi bird and is actually even more adaptable to changes in habitat, you might ask yourself how it could affect an animal like this. The deforestation of the echidna's habitat makes it easier for the ground to dry out causing the worms indigenous to New Guinea which are also the echidna's main food source, to disappear (Konika Minolta). This greatly affects the amount of food that can sustain the long-beaked echidna population to survive and even though you could plant more trees to replace the ones that were deforested, it could take years or even decades for the trees to grow back into a forest, forcing the echidna population into extinction. This could greatly change New Guinea's ecosystem. Sadly, not much is known about the rare and cryptic animal so nothing much can be done, but the Papua New Guinea Institute of Biological Research (PNG-IBR) 'has established a long-term long-beaked echidna conservation research programme for the eastern long-beaked echidna in the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area (CMWMA) in Papua New Guinea' (Edge of Existence). The time and effort shown by the PNG-IBR shows that the long-beaked echidna truly is worth fighting for and conserving as the rare animal might become an extinct one. But the long-beaked echidna and the kiwi bird are both land creatures. How about underwater? 

Finally, the dugong. The dugong lives in the water of Australia and East Africa.  The dugong, otherwise known as a 'sea cow' from it's diet of sea grasses, have a thick layer of fat which gives them a round body, small paddle-like flippers upper on it's body, a flat broad tail that resembles that of a whale and can reach a length of up to 3 meters and a weight of whopping 300 kilograms (Dugongs). Although it's appears to be smooth, a close up view shows us a rough surface covered in pits which from it grow short, thick hairs. Even though the dugong is slow moving and have almost no protection against predators, they are relatively large and only predators like saltwater crocodiles large sharks and killer whales pose as a threat to them. The real reason why the dugongs are becoming endangered is because of the destruction of the very food it eats from farm soil that has been washed into the sea and the cleaning out of sea beds that the dugongs graze on. Not only that, pollution and falling victim to accidentally swimming into large fishing nets also contribute to the fact that the dugong population is decreasing. During 1987, on the Great Barrier Reef, the population of dugongs was approximately 3,500 but in 1991, only 4 years later, it's population has decreased to approximately 1,700 dugongs. The CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) are working hard to help conserve this endangered sea cow and has nine objectives to try and help. A few of their objectives are to raise awareness to the endangered species, to reduce direct and indirect causes of death to the dugong and improve their understanding of the dugong trough research and monitoring (CMS). The CMS has spent a large amount of time trying to get different states and countries gathering signatures to show understanding for the dugong's conservation, showing that the dugong's protection is the utmost importance in order to save Australia's ecosystem.

The endangerment of animals will not only cause the shortage of a specie's population, resulting in the very extinction of the animal itself but the disruption of an entire ecosystem. This is because if prey for the predators die, the predator's food source will be cut off and they will die as well. This will also affect the prey of the endangered species because if the predator dies, the prey will suffer from over population. Both of these outcomes will almost always affect the human race, a shortage of food or an over population of pests. Thankfully multiple individuals and groups are working to protect the animals on the brink of extinction by building animal sanctuaries or taking care of the animal's environment. The echidna, dugong and kiwi bird were only 3 examples of the generosity of these groups and people. Hopefully, we can save them and all the other endangered animals that are close to extinction. Even though we humans are the main cause for the demise of each animal species, we are also working hard trying to conserve, nurture and save them from ourselves.

The Girl With The Disabled Limbs

Children with disabilities around the globe are considered to be strange, and they’re actions are limited. Many people with disabilities are more likely to experience unfair treatment from others. Some are discriminated and aren’t accepted by people due to a disability (Disability Facts). One disabled girl wants to bring a change to this cycle, and stand up for children with disabilities. Chaeli Mycroft, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, decided to raise money, inspire and give hope to the disabled children of Africa.

Chaeli’s optimism and hope for disabled people is what is driving her to helping others like her. Many people see Chaeli’s disability as problem or a limitation, but she herself sees it as many possibilities. Her happiness and hope, even with her limits, inspire many others. “Hope is what keeps us going. It’s what keeps us striving for the lives we deserve. I have hope for myself, but I also have hope for all other children with disabilities. We are all different and we all have the need to be accepted regardless of having a disability or not”. Her hope for children with disabilities is driving her to help others and give inspiration to people like herself. She believes that disabled people are still people and deserve the acceptance of others, no matter what race or religion they are. People with disabilities are still people, not aliens. The campaign gives the rights to disabilities and helps them to be accepted. “I see it as my gift that I can share to the rest of the world, that disabled people are still people who has the same needs and rights”. Chaeli believes that everyone is the same, whether disabled or not, people who have the same needs and rights. This belief gives her the goal of helping disabled children with equipment and physical therapy to defend their rights and acceptance.

Collecting money for her motorized wheelchair is what started the Chaeli Campaign. Her determination to buy the wheelchair  yielded many ideas to get the money. Chaeli, her sister, and a few other friends sold postcards, cookies, and handmade flower pots, and when she finally bought herself the wheelchair, she wanted to give the feeling of independence to other children as well. Chaeli’s simple acts has earned her enough money for a motorized wheelchair, granting her independence, so she doesn’t have to rely on people to push her around. After obtaining the wheelchair within several weeks, she finally feels the freedom of an independent person, through this she wants other people to feel independent and free themselves. Chaeli and her team of entrepreneurs shortly obtained their goal in a few weeks, in fact,  they even exceeded their goal. When they had more than enough money, Chaeli decided she would help other people with disabilities too. When they raised more than enough money for Chaeli’s wheelchair, she decided that she would help others using money she has collected, thus starting the Chaeli Campaign which collects money and helps many children annually.

Chaeli continues to help children with disabilities because her experience as a person who has a disability drives her to collect money for the cause; she is an inspiration to all and beacon of hope to many. The Chaeli Campaign helps over 3000 children annually with the help of Chaeli, winning herself the 2011 Children Peace Prize Award. Disabled people have a right to be treated fairly, to be accepted and although Cerebral Palsy curses Chaeli’s  life with the limitations of her arms and legs, she is going to be the one who brings change for children with disabilities everywhere.

Work Cited:

• http://childrenspeaceprize.org/childrens-peace-price/2011-chaeli-mycroft/
• http://www.kidsrights.org/InternationalChildrensPeacePrize/Winners.aspx
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24zQ13hQfKI&feature=youtu.be

Where The Wild Things Are From

I am from doodling and from forts made of blankets. I am from classical music, Mozart and Bach and from Pokemon, Mario, Kirby and all Nintendo games alike. I am from the humongous sandbox back in the day and from the dozens of toy cars. I am from the fire burning everything in its path, destruction tearing the house down.

I am from skittles and scooters, from Oreos, milkshakes, and most things sweet. I am from the rice piled in heaps and heaps served with soy sauce. I am from Avatar, Adventure Time and Spongebob, from wubwubwub & the movie Inception,  from a dream within a dream within a dream. I am from aspholongus, magentakeaf and a chest full of made up words.

I am from my parents, who are from my Ong and my Ba, whose noodles are made the best. From ‘calm down’ and ‘check your work’. I am from a line of short tempers and from parents who only want the best of me.

I am from glasses, worn by pretty much everyone in the house.

Upon my bookshelf is a photo album. 

Old black and white pictures, some just recently took.

A lot of familiar faces but some not. 

A treasure trove of memories--

Memories of me

Understanding

• Standing up to oppression takes great individual courage

I agreed with this one because to stand up and rebel, you need a lot of courage since you might be punished afterwards. During the middle ages Thomas Baker (a baker) stood up to the poll tax collectors even though he knew that he would be punished. Just because of this one little outburst, it sparked the whole peasant revolt against the poll tax. During the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler greatly disliked the Treaty of Versailles and wanted to abolish it, so he made the Nazi party. At first no one wanted to join it but as time went by, more and more people joined in against the Treaty. Even in present time, if someone didn't like how the government ruled the country they would stand up, rebel and maybe face a punishment. The bravery of that one person might spread around to people who also don't like how the government is ruling and would protest. In conclusion, it could only take the courage of 1 person to spark the courage for an entire village to stand up to oppression.    

The Feudal System

"Father Francois of Bologna, you are my honored guest please allow me to explain the feudal systems for you before you ask many questions of me. I am but a simple farmer. The feudal system is basically a system where the king gives his vassals land. A vassal is a servant who has sworn his loyalty to the king and in return he receives land. The vassal who receives land may choose to gives a way his land to other vassals therefore becoming a lord himself. However all the land still belongs to the original king.”   

Harold had the Best Claim

In the year 1066, King Edward (ruler of England) died. In that same year, 3 men had different claims to the throne. Now, I thought that Harold Godwinson the Earl of Wessex had the best claim to the throne, since King Edward himself chose Harold to rule after him. He was also the leader of the army and a powerful english noble and King Edward married to Harolds sister, another reason why he should be the new king. Not to mention he was English, the other 2 men who had claims to the throne were actually both foreigners and it would make sense if Harold ruled over England. The english nobles also agreed with the choice. Harold would make sure the nobles kept their positions of power. When King Edward died, the nobles came together and met at their council (called the Witan) and agreed that Harold should be king. However, things didn't just end there...

The Mysterious Major

Schmahling meant that by destroying the little boy's joy and confidence that he was destroying the boy's and the students liking of him. This meant that his students probably thought of him as a mean old teacher because he destroyed that one boy's joy. The Nazi's were like this because by crushing the German's free speech, they were destroying the German's liking of them, making them think that the Nazi's were kind of like dictators.

Sonia Wietz Poem

I chose the Black Messiah poem. I felt that the first 3 paragraphs expresses depression and shock, how the black G.I first saw the concentration camp and what was happening. The last 2 phrases symbolizes a small ray of hope through the darkness because it says 'to live, to hope, to smile... and yet we vow not ever to forget'. The Messiah (meaning savior), which was what the girl called the G.I in the beginning of the poem, is what I thought was a metaphor since she thought he would save them all from the camp and she made the connection. The part that really stood out for me was the phrase 'The shock, the horror on his face, he didn't weep, he didn't cry, But deep within his gentle eyes...a flood of devastating pain, his innocence forever slain.' because he was probably just an innocent soldier until he saw the horrible sight of what the Nazi's were doing at the concentration camps, the kids and adults there were starving to death and the shock of it all must have scarred him for life. If I were in his place, my reaction would have been more or less the same, probably even worse. As I think back, I don't really have anything to relate to this situation, I have not seen anything that has left me shocked and scarred me, or at least not anything I can remember. But for the phrase 'And on we went our separate ways, for many years without a trace' It reminded me of a good friend of mine I had when I was in 3rd grade who moved to Manila and up until now we've actually never conversed, which is exactly the same connection Sonia had with the American soldier.

Germany 1918-1933

The 2 conditions that made the Nazi's take power over Germany was because they took advantage of the people of Germany's suffering and the Reichstag Fire. The treaty of Versailles made it so that Germany had pay for all the reparations after World War 1, thus hyperinflation and economic crisis hits Germany. Because of hyperinflation (making it so that the country's currency is pretty much worthless) the Germans were desperate for their daily needs such as food, heat and a job. Many people, including Hitler, were against this and they thought it should be abolished. He took advantage of this by saying that if the Germans voted for the Nazis, they would abolish the Treaty, making them want to vote for Hitler even more. The Reichstag fire also contributed to the Nazi's gaining power because afterwards, Hitler blamed the Communist for the fire making the Germans think that the Communist were bad people, so that they wouldn't vote for them and instead vote for the Nazi's.

Laws in Nazi Germany

1. A Jew was not defined by their religion, they were defined as a jew if they had 3 or 4 grandparents who were Jewish, regardless of what the individual thought.

2. This means that the Jewish employees and manegers were kicked and were replaced by non-Jew Germans and had bargains made by the Nazi's.

3. The Jewish doctors weren't allowed to treat non-Jews and lawyers weren't allowed to practice law

4. They stamped a red J on it and gave the Jews middle names that sounded Jewish, like 'Israel' for males and 'Sara' for females to help the police to identify the Jews easily

5. This laws requires that a couple about to get married has to visit a public health authorities and get a fitness certificate to marry which were refused to those who were suffering illnesses and contagious diseases

Hitler's Taking Control

1. Civil rights are the rights that the civilians have in their country. 2 examples of civil rights are the right to vote and the freedom of speech, press and assembly

2. Because the people believed Hitler when he said that the building was set on fire by the communist so they thought it was only fair to abolish there freedom like reading their mail or listening in privat phone calls in case the communist were trying to communicate with each other.

The Treaty of Versailles

I thought that the Treaty of Versailles was mainly unfair to Germany, since what is they're invaded by another nation, I don't really think that they can defend themselves with only 100,000 soldiers 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats. I also thought it was kind of unfair the way the treaty made made it so that Germany's allies were also blamed for the damage, but Germany had to pay for all of the damage done to the civilians and property of the Allied Governments (33 billion dollars), even though they weren't the only ones causing the damage, the least the Allied Governments could have done was to equally distributed the fine to all of Germany's allies. In conclusion, I thought that the Treaty of Versailles was way too unfair on Germany, and maybe if it were a little bit less harsh, it might have even prevented the 2nd world war from ever happening.