Today in class... (December 15)

We all sat together, and had a class discussion on India. We basically covered India head to toe, from the 27-story house in Mumbai, to work wages in India. We all participated equally for the most part. :) Joe, Clark, Madi, and I finished our prezi yesterday, and are ready to present it.

December 13th!

(Sorry for the lateness)

Today in class... we worked on our projects on India. Joe, Madi, Clark, and I are working on a prezi, and covering the economy, dharavi, mumbia, colleges/education, and construction in India. 

December 9th, In class. (sorry for the lateness of this post)

In class we finished watch Slumdog Millionaire, and Jamal finished the game show, and walked away with 20 million rupees.  Him and Latika were re-united, and Salim (Jamal's brother) was killed.  He was shot by the host, while sitting in a bathtub full of money.

Revised Paper

Human Trafficking in India is a major problem. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children suffer from human trafficking each year. The sad thing, government officials lack the knowledge of this horrible act, and do not pursue punishment for the cruel men who force trafficking onto people. The government over time has started to lay down the law, and not make it acceptable for woman and children to be humanly trafficked. For example, in 1986 The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act or PITA, originally called the All India Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (SITA), was enacted so as to limit and eventually abolish prostitution in India by criminalizing various aspects of sex work. Included in those are punishments specifically designed for victims under the age of 18. Although, that does not stop these men from doing it. Every day, little girls and woman are being put out on the street, waiting to be picked up and taken as a prostitute.  Of the 2.8 million sex workers in India, approximately 36% of them enter the trade before the age of 18.

Billions of dollars are made each year in India as a result of human trafficking.  Since nearly 27% of India lives below the poverty line, families consider the sex trade as their only means of income since it's such a lucrative trade. For example, a couple sold their child in sex trafficking for a car. In a survey done by All Bengal Women's Union in 1988, 23 out of 160 sex workers claimed to have entered the trade willingly for money.  However, the remaining 137 women were introduced or forced into the sex trade.  

India is the world second largest country, with a population of 1,173,108,018 people.  The unemployment rate in 2009 was 10.7%.  India contains the largest concentration of poor people in the world.  Approximately 27% of India's population make a $1.25 or less each day. Clearly, $1.25 a day will not sustain a family; thus, parents may feel compelled to give their children, to what they think would be a better life.  However, they unknowingly sell their children into the sex trade.

Human trafficking, particularly, that of children, combined with a high rate of poverty and an overpopulated society, has, and will continue to wreak havoc on India. A cycle is created whereby the overpopulation creates a high rate of unemployment, which in turn creates and causes increased poverty, and victimizes the helpless and uneducated through the exploitation of the sex trade.  Greater awareness of this deplorable practice will bring more attention and hopefully, more relief for the children and people involved.

Homework for 12~2~10

1.) Compare the motion picture industry in India and the United States. 

Bollywood made a revenue of $1.75 Billion in 2006(estimated to rise to $3.4 Billion in 2010) which is only half the revenue of what one Hollywood studio, Walt Disney made in 2006 – and that is saying a lot. However, while Hollywood’s market inside the US has almost saturated, India’s 500 million population under the age of 20 will ensure that the market inside India will grow exponentially in the coming years.

Although Hollywood produces only a fraction of the number of films made all over the world, it garners a staggering 75% of total revenues. Also, 50% of its earnings(expected to grow to 80% in the next 20 years) come from the foreign market whereas for Bollywood it is 20%.

Hollywood has an overwhelming domination among the top grossers worldwide – almost all of the top 50 movies are made in Hollywood. It has virtually eclipsed all other film industries except Bollywood – for instance, the European film industry cut down to 1/10th of its size since 1910

2.) What are the names of the three main characters in Slumdog Millionaire?
 - Latika, Jamal, Salim


3.) What is a Chaiwallah?
A wallah is one who performs a specific task. A rickshaw wallah drives the rickshaw, a dhobi wallah washes clothes and chai wallahs, you guessed it, they make chai. Chai wallahs are everywhere in India. Everywhere. From busy urban street corners to hidden alleyways, at bus depots and railway platforms and walking through the train car, along riversides and on footpaths that lead to pilgrimage sites in the middle of nowhere — when you need a fresh cup of tea, the chai wallah is always near.
4.) 5 things about Tjamahal?  
- It was started in 1631, and construction was completed in 1653.
- It was built by Shah Jahan 
- The cost of construction was 32 crore rupees
- It is one of the seven wonders of the world
- There was approximately 20,000 workers. 

December 2nd!

Today in class we discussed the burning down of the mosque.  We watched a short video of the actually fire, and it burning down.  We then continued to watch Slumdog Millionaire.

Mumbai Riots - 4 Facts [Homework]

• The riots are between Muslims and Hindu. 
• It started in December of 1992 & the second one was in January of '93. 
• Approximately 900 people died in the first riot.
• About 575 Muslims and 275 Hindus and 2,000 people died in the riots.

December 1st!

Today in class we continued watching Slumdog Millionaire, and we went over the questions from the homework due last night.

Kaun Banega Crorepati

Kaun Banega Crorepati is an India reality/game show that gives a maximum price of 2 crore rupees. Rupees is an Indian type of money, and a crore is equal to approximately 10 million dollars or 100 lakhs. So, the final prize would be 20 million dollars.

Amitabh Bachchan is a very famous celebrity over in India. He was the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" (cont)

dharavi -  Part of Mumbai that's a Shantytown. 
5 Essential Facts about Mumbai:

• Mumbai was formally known as Bombay. 
• It is the 2nd most populous city in the world.
• It has a population of approximately 14 million. 
• It was built on a series of 7 islands, Bombay Island, Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman's Island.
• In 2009, Mumbai was named "Alpha World City".

A shanty town (also called a squatter settlement) is a slum settlement (sometimes illegal or unauthorized) of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal, and sheets of plastic. ...  Approximately 1 billion people live in Shanty Towns worldwide. 

Bollywood is the film industry of India. Equivalent to our Hollywood.

India

1. What is the current population of India?

The current population of India is 1,173,108,018 as of July, 2010. (via CIA Factbook)

What is the total fertility rate in India?

The total fertility rate (TFR) in India is 2.65 children born per woman. (2010 est.) The country comparison to the world is 81. (via CIA Factbook) 

What percentage of the Indian population lives below the poverty line?

Approximatively 25% of India lives below the poverty line. (via CIA Factbook)

Briefly describe two terrorist attacks inside India.

On February 13, Islamic terrorists bombed a restaurant in the northern city of Pune, killing 17 people. Indian authorities issued a national alert after 9 people were killed and at least 57 were wounded when a bomb exploded at a bakery in a neighborhood popular with foreign tourists in the western Indian City of Pune. (via CIA Factbook)

The Human Development Report of the United Nations ranks the countries of the world by poverty.  Where does India rank on this list?

India ranked 119th of the 169 countries. (via CIA Factbook)

Briefly describe the effects of the monsoons on India.

In less than 3 days, at least 120 people died. More than 4,000 animal carcasses were later hauled out the mud. 2 weeks after the floods, Surat's diamond-polishing factories were practically empty of workers who had fled fearing the disease. An industry group estimated the loss of about 60 million dollars.

What are some of the problems India has getting clean water to its people?

They have extremely polluted water with methane gas, they dump toxic waste into it, dead babies, and human waste flows into it from the city. 

What is the literacy rate in India?

The literary rate of India is 6.9% for men and 54.5% for women. 

What are the major religions in India?

The major religions for India are Hindu, which is 80.5% of people, Muslim which is 13.4%, Christianity which is 2.3%, Sikh which is 1.9%, other religions which is 1.8%, and unspecified religions is 0.1%. 

When did India achieve independence, and from what country?

India achieved Independence in 1947 from Great Britain.

Assignment for Me, Matt, and Joey.

TOPIC:

Coffee & Health. 

Research the effects of caffeine on the systems of the human body, then describe the health effects of coffee. How does coffee act as a stimulant? How does it act as a diuretic? Is decaffeinated coffee "healthier"? Why or why not?


CITE SOURCES

Coffee

• Coffee is the most heavily traded agricultural crop in the world 
• United States spends billion dollars on coffee each year on coffee.
• Hawaii is the only state in the USA that produces coffee. 

Terms:

Fair Trade Coffee- Fair trade coffee is coffee which is purchased directly from the growers for a higher price than standard coffee. Fair Trade coffee is one of many Fair Trade certified products available around the world. 

Globalization- growth to a global or worldwide scale; "the globalization of the communication industry"

Relationship Coffee- A business model featuring individual long-term relationships between roasters and growers, based on quality rather than on wholesale prices dictated by the commodity market. 
Certified Organic Coffee-Organic coffee is grown without any synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Organic farmers believe that using synthetic chemicals will disrupt the natural balance of their farm ecosystem and is healthier for their soil, their waters, their families and the end consumer.
Coffee- a tropical plant (Coffea) whose roasted and ground beans are used to make popular drinks that contain caffeine (unless decaffeinated).

What are the biggest coffee exporting countries?
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Ethiopia, India, Guatemala, Guinea
What is the number 1 coffee importing country? 
United States, Germany, Japan, Italy and other European countries.
How man coffee producers are there worldwide?
570,000 
How much cups of coffee is consumed daily?
Over 2.5 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. 
Is Coffee grown in the United States?
No, except in hawaii. 

Where the Lost Boys Walked. 1. Sudan 2. Ethiopia 3. Kenya

3 names: John Bul Dau (tall tall guy)

Panther (school in sudan)

Daniel. 

Dinka is a person apart of the tribe.

Today in class...

We finished the "God Grew tired of Us" and in the last few minutes of the clip, John Bul was reunited with his mother and sister, and after a few months, John made his own non-profit organization, to raise money for his fellow Lost Boys.
I think watching this movie really opened me up to a lot of things.  It really shows you what's out there, what we don't know, and what is affecting people just like us.
Surprisingly, this week, South Sudan is talking about making a new country. South Sudan itself would branch off of the rest of Sudan, and become its own country, with it's own flag, own government, and all.

I had to leave early for class today because of cross country championships, so i don't know what we did in the second half of class...

Today in class...

We discussed our homework in class, and then continued to watch "God Grew Tired of Us", and one of the Lost Boys went missing.  The group of Lost Boys who were situated with this boy, contacted the police, and the police found him. He was arrested for having a mental break down.
One of the boys, who is living in Pittsburgh, was contacted by his family.  Turns out, his mother, and his sisters and brothers are living in Uganda.  He was originally saving up to go to school,  but he put his schoolwork aside and started to saved up for his family, and friends in the refugee camp.
This letter he gets from his mom, is saying how his uncle, aunt, and cousins are all dead, but his mom and siblings are alive, but his sister is very very sick.
This just adds more stress on him.

The Civil War in Sudan

This on-going civil war has displaced more than 4 million southerners. The first bullet was fired in 1983, and from then, until now, 1.9 million Sudanese people have died.
It first started between the Northern and Southern Sudanese people, and still continues today.  It has been interpreted as a religious conflict coming from the differences between Muslims and Christians, or Arabs and Africans.
It is a great challenge to spread Christianity throughout Sudan, especially in the Southern part, and therefore, the war is still going on.  This war has been going on since 1955, making it possibly the longest civil war in history.  They have a second civil war, that was first started in 1983, but these 2 civil wars, were back to back, making it one.

Works Cited

1. Accounts, By All. "Sudan - Civil War and Genocide: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East :: Middle East Quarterly." Middle East Forum. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://www.meforum.org/22/sudan-civil-war-and-genocide>.

2.  "Sudan Civil War." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/sudan.htm>.

3. "Civil War in Sudan: The Impact of Ecological Degradation (M.Suliman)." African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/cvlw_env_sdn.html>.

Definitions

• in-migration: Migration to a place (especially migration to a certain country where you are not native to)
• out-migration: Migration from a place (especially migration from your native country)
• forced migration: Forced or compelled to move to a country in which you are not a native, or from a country in which you are a native. 
• net internal migration: Crossing into a country or state and staying there for a long time.
• movers from abroad: Moves from overseas. 
• internally displaced person (IDP): Forced to flee there home, but is in there country's border.

Lost Boys of Sudan - Movie Summary

In the 1980's, a civil war broke out in Sudan. Every boy in the country was ordered to be killed, cut, or abused, age was no exception.  Whether he was an infant, or a 40 year old man, he was to be killed.

Several ran away and escaped.  About 27,000 boys/man escaped and went on an adventure to find a place to live.  They walked from Bor, Sudan, to Panyidu, Ethiopia.  They were housed in a camp in Panyidu, until they were kicked out because of the government failing.  From Ethiopia, they walked to Kakuna, Kenya, where they were housed in a Refugee Camp. 

By now, they have walked over a 1000 miles. The boys stayed in the refugee camp for approx. 15 years, when eventually, the United States stepped in.  The agreed to fly over a few of the men, and give them housing/food throughout various places in the United States.
So far, we have mainly be watching about a few men living in Syracuse and Pittsburgh, and watching them learn how to adapt to the changes around them, 

Today in class...

We went over the test.
I got an 88 :)

Today in class...

We traced where we were from, and marked our ancestors, and grandparents original places all the way to where we are from.

Kelly Stifler

October 16, 2010

Human Geography

The day will come when my schooling will be done and I’ll no longer be able to be dependent on my parents.  I’ll have to make decisions about my future.  I’ll need to know where I’m going to live, and what I’m going to do.   While these decisions won’t come without much thought and inspiration, my life experiences thus far have led me to two vastly different destinations.

Every country describes itself in some way, shape or form.  One country that has touched my heart is Africa. I would be able to serve the less fortunate, by rebuilding houses, providing clean water, and getting medicine to cure diseases.  Africa itself is a beautiful place.  The wildlife is stunning, and the landscape is beautiful in some areas.  There are over 100,000 different types of animals housed in Africa, such as the giraffe, the elephant, the gazelle, the rhino, the lion, etc.  No other country in the world is known to house this many animals. 

There are many different forces pulling me to Africa.  Africa provides a sense of adventure.  I’d be stepping into the unknown. Adventure is something around which my life revolves around.  I love the sense of adrenaline and thrill running through my body. But more importantly, God has directed me. He has for a reason.  I would be able to serve God by reaching out to the less fortunate.  There are also, several things pushing me away from Africa.  Africa is infested with diseases and death.  Nearly 14 million children have lost one, or both parents due to HIV/AIDS.  I’d have difficulty living in Africa, not only because of the diseases, but because it is nearly 5,000 miles away from my family and friends, I would become homesick.

Leaving Harford County and moving to Africa would have its positive and negative effects.  The upside of moving away to Africa would be the opportunities it provides.  I would have the opportunity to explore the continent, and marvel at its wildlife.  I could make a difference in the community, and possibly save lives.    The downside to moving to Africa would be the fear of the unknown.  Africa is so different from Maryland, that I wouldn’t know what to expect.  I’d be stepping into a completely unknown territory.  When migrating from a wealthy country, to a third-world country, there will be several things needed to be left behind, such as personal items and family. 

The second destination I would like to move to is the old, familiar, Harford County.  I’d like to stay here because it’s my hometown.  I’m familiar with it.  The environment here is great, although completely different from Africa’s.  Harford County has more of a suburban surrounding.  There are several things pulling me to stay in Harford County.  One major reason I’d love to stay in Harford County is my family.  All my family and friends live here, and it’s great to have them at arm’s length.  Also, my home church is here.  My entire family attends my church, and the church body is great. 

There are a few upsides and downsides to staying here in Harford County.  It can be a very boring county.  There aren’t many attractions, or thrilling activities.  Living in the same place my entire life would mean not having a fresh start.  I could never start over, or start fresh.  My past would linger on to me, and everyone would know me as who I was.   Although, while there are downsides, there are still several upsides. My family is well known throughout Harford County, in a positive way.  This would provide me a chance to speak out, and be heard.  I could make differences around the community. 

Staying in Harford County, or moving to Africa both sound appealing to me.  My main goal when I move is to move to a place where I can make a difference and please God. 

                Each human being has ancestors.  They’re each derived from a certain place, whether it’s England, or Africa.  Most of us don’t care to look back into our history, to discover where we came from.  However, I did.

 I came from Ireland.  Nearly 150 years ago, my great-great grandmother, Esthma Otilla Fitzwater married Omer Wilson, and proceeded to move to the America’s.  They settled in West Virginia, and had six children, named Bergie Mae Wilson, Archibald Lee, Cloyd Leon, Mable Louise, Omer Baldwin, by whom they called Billy, and Joel James. The eldest, Bergie Mae Wilson married Charles Fredrick Cunningham, and gave birth to thirteen children, Charles Fredrick Cunningham Jr., Margaret, James Edward, Clyde, Robert Lee, Willa Mae, Paul Edward, Elizabeth Ann, William Joel, Patricia Louise, Mable Jane, Mary Virginia, John Colon, and Harold Joseph.  Clyde, the fourth baby born, died when he was 9 months old due to choking on an orange peel.  Each child lived to be at least thirty, and seven are still alive today, Paul, Elizabeth, Patricia, Mable, Mary, John, and Harold. 

Mary Virginia Lindeman is my grandmother.  She gave birth to two children, Dena Lindeman, and Donna Lindeman.  Donna Lindeman is my mother.  She married Thomas Stifler, and gave birth to my sister and me, Sara and Kelly Stifler. 

"HIV and AIDS in Africa." AIDS & HIV Information from the AIDS Charity AVERT. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm>.