Blog #3- Plan to save the world

My plan to save the world consists in getting Peace Corps and underdeveloped countries where Peace Corps already has a working platform, to work together to undertake a challenging yet simple project to plant soy bean gardens as an alternative source of food and income. “Growing soybeans has become increasingly popular with home gardeners. These warm weather plants are native to Africa, Asia, and Australia. They have gained popularity here due to their health benefits. They are high in fiber and protein, and area good source of calcium. They taste good, too. Home gardeners find it is easy to grow soybeans. They are grown just like any other bush bean, and produce high yields” (http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/soybean.htm). Soy beans can be eaten as nuts, milk, cheese, tofu, etc. They are not only nutritious, they are easy to grow in home gardens for individual consumption and can be a good product of commercialize in cooperatives, which Peace Corps volunteers are great at forming, as a source of income for poor families and whole villages.



This plan to save the world is intended for Peace Corps Leadership Team formed by its Director, Aaron S. Williams, Deputy Director, Carrie Hessler-Radelets, Inspector General, and Peace Corps three regional post managers. They in turn can give life to this plan by presenting it to United States Congress and Executive Branch since Peace Corps report to them. The other audience this plan is intended for is the Host Country Governments that allow Peace Corps to carry out their projects.


The reason why Peace Corps should follow this plan is because it fits with its founder’s, President John F. Kennedy, “idea to promote peace and friendship. Its mission has three simple goals: Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans” (http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.mission). Today many people around the world are portraying The US as an imperialist, capitalist enemy of the underdeveloped world. The United States can benefit by allowing people to actually experience that they do want to promote peace and friendship. This can be a great project to celebrate Peace Corps 50th anniversary in 2011. In addition, the US can benefit from this project since it would lessen the migration of thousand of people looking for a better way of life for themselves and their families.


Underdeveloped Host Country Governments can benefit since there is much hunger, poverty and violence plaguing their countries. People can not achieve a better way of life if their basic necessities are not met first. Migration also affects host countries. Loss of a strong workforce and broken families are among the few problems it causes. In addition, Human Trafficking has become a great business for those whose lack scruples and disregard human life for cash. Last week news shocked the world when 72 people were massacred in Mexico, many of which were Honduran.


Instead of punishing people for not planting soy beans, incentives should be offered. Initial bean seeds and fertilizers should be given to them free of charge, as part of the project. The governments should protect soy bean planters.


“Peace Corps Statistics


Current number of Volunteers and Trainees:


7,671


Current number of countries served:


77 countries


Volunteers by Work Area


Education: 35%


Health & HIV/AIDS: 22%


Business Development: 15%


Environment: 14%


Agriculture: 5%


Youth Development: 5%


Other: 4%


Where Volunteers Serve


Africa: 37%


Latin America: 24%


Eastern Europe/Central Asia: 20%


Asia: 7%


North Africa/Middle East: 4%


Pacific Islands: 4%


The Caribbean: 4%”


(http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.fastfacts)

“How to grow soybeans


Days to Maturity: Plants require about 85 days to harvest. Try succession planting for continuous harvest over several weeks.


Sowing Soybean Seeds: Plant outdoors after the last frost date for your area. Soil should be warm before planting. Sow Soybean seeds 2 inches apart, in rows 20" to 24" apart. If your garden space is limited, plant in double rows. Water well after planting and a second time two to four days later, only if there has been no rain. Side dress the rows with general purpose fertilizer during planting.


How to Grow Soybeans: Soybeans are easy to grow. They grow best in full sun and in warm weather. They prefer a rich soil, high in nitrogen. Soil should be kept moist for optimum growth.


Soybeans grow best in rich soil. Add manure and compost prior to planting. Fertilizer regularly during the growth period.


Harvest soybeans when the pods are full. Rinse the pods, and then boil them for twenty minutes. Allow to cool, and then squeeze the pods to remove the beans. Beans can be frozen or canned.


Did you know? Soybean plants are rich in nutrients. After the harvest, put plants in the compost pile; turn them into your soil.


Insects and Pests: Like other beans, soybeans are susceptible to a variety of insects, most notably beetles. They can be effectively treated with Sevin, Diazinon or a variety of other insecticides.


Rabbits eat the the tender new leaves. If there are rabbits in your area, a rabbit fence is not a nicety, it is a necessity. They will devastate a row of beans in a hurry, eating the tender new leaves. As new ones develop, they will come back for more.


Diseases of Soybeans: Bacterial and wilt diseases are common among the Bean family. This plant disease arrives with summer heat and humidity. This often occurs just before, or during, the ripening of the crop. Fungicides are recommended in areas of high heat and humidity.


Hardiness: Beans are not a hardy plant. They are susceptible to cold and frost. Hold off planting until a few days before all danger of frost is past. In the fall, cover the crop on nights when the temperature is expected to go below 40 degrees” (http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/soybean.htm).

Work Cited:
http://thewindbeneathmychickenwings.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/peacecorps.jpg
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/peace-corps/images/volunteers-1961.gif
http://www.collegenews.org/Images/peacecorps_logo.jpg
http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/soybean.htm
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about

Blog #2-Captivity Narative

People Holding me Captive (The Pirates)

http://www.boingboing.net/images/pirates.jpg

Prisoners: Me and Oscar
http://img257.imageshack.us/i/piratesofthecaribbean3pkm5.jpg/

I am narrating this story since I want to share with my readers how I ended up being kidnapped by a group of pirates, while I was vacationing with my family on a beautiful island called Katalina near South America, and how this experience changed my life. My family had saved for this trip for three years. Once we arrived, we were extremely exited to enjoy the water sports and the eco tours offered by our newly renovated hotel. Our cabana was decorated with exotic flowers and the décor matched its colors. My room was a beautiful cabana that had an amazing view to the ocean. We ate all what we could eat from the bountiful seafood buffet. After dinner our parents allowed my sister and I to go dancing at the hotel club where they were playing reggae music. I met a cute boy named Oscar, who seemed well mannered. After a while, Oscar asked me to accompany him for a night walk. I immediately agreed since it was hot inside the club. Since I was mesmerized by Oscar, I did not notice we were far away from everything and everybody. Suddenly, I saw a group of men walking towards us. I took Oscar’s hand and he grabbed me by my waist. I naively thought he was going to protect me, but I was so wrong. Oscar actually handed me over to the group of men. I began to scream and kick, but I can not remember what happened next. Later I found out that they had covered my mouth with some ether which made me pass out. When I woke up, my arms and legs where tied. I asked what their reason to hold me captive was, but they decided to cover my mouth with duck tape. I was left alone in a small room with only a tiny window. The swaying of the boat made me nauseous. I do not know how much time had passed, was in when suddenly a young man dressed as a pirate opened the door. I had never been so scared in my life. I quickly realized it was Oscar. “Was he a pirate? Was this a joke? What in the world was happening to me? He instructed me not to scream and in return he was going to take the duck tape from my mouth. I followed his instructions and did not talk unless I was spoken to. “You have something me and my friends want and you best give it back”. I sincerely did not know what he was talking about. I asked him permission to talk and he gave me the ok with a grunt. I tried to explain to him that I was a tourist who had just arrived on the island for a family vacation. To my surprise, Oscar gave me water. I felt better afterwards but still nauseous and very scared. “Please let me go. I have nothing that you can possibly have,” I said. Oscar became angry and yelled: “you are lying!” He explained that he was not a bad person that his parents had died when he was a boy and he was adopted by his uncle who had become a pirate and had dragged him into his line of work. If he did not get the precious gem back, he too was going to suffer the pirate’s fate, death by being thrown from the pirate’s boat. I was stunned to hear about a precious gem. How in the world was I or my family going to have it; we were not even rich. Oscar told me that in the cabana assigned to my family, they had hidden a gem when they had robbed a cruise ship where it was exhibited. The pirates went to Katalina Island to hide from international police. They pretended to be on vacation on the same hotel and cabana. When they heard the police was going to search the hotel, they hid the gem and fled. When Oscar left the room where I was held captive, I cried myself to sleep. It was an impossible situation. Not only was I in danger, but my family as well. I was miserable for the couple of days. I did not know how many days I was held captive; I just knew that it felt like forever. I was lucky I was nauseous since I did not feel hungry. I was only given water once a day and a piece of stale bread. They forced me to clean the main deck daily. This was the only time I felt fresh air and saw the sunlight. I quickly realized I had to become one of them. I had always liked to wear nice clothes and look nice; moreover, my nails and hair where always taken care of and now I found myself wearing grungy clothes and walking barefooted. This experience made me swallow my pride. I smelled horribly and worst of all, my hair was a mess. To be honest, I never took a real shower while on the boat. Little by little, Oscar came to the room where I was whenever he could. I began to realize that Oscar was not as bad as the rest of them; actually, he was a victim just as I was. Finally, one afternoon, Oscar said: “please forgive me”, “if we work together maybe we can both came out of this alive”. Oscar asked me to follow his lead and to trust him. Even though I was angry at him, I had no other choice but to trust him. Suddenly I hear him scream: “we’re finally going to be rich!” The meanest pirate, Oscar’s uncle, came storming into the room and demanded to know how. Oscar told him I had found the gem inside the cabana and had buried it in the sand. My heart raced since I had no idea what Oscar was talking about. A couple of seconds later, the boat changed course. Oscar snuck inside my room and told me his plan. As soon as we arrive at Katalina Island, Oscar and his uncle changed clothes. They looked well groomed and dressed. Oscar and his uncle went to the supposed place where the gem was hidden. They had to go inside the hotel grounds. Without a suspicion, Oscar’s uncle followed him into a trap. Oscar turned his uncle to the authorities. The police rescued me with Oscar’s help. The gem was given back to its rightful owner and we all got a hefty reward. My family was so grateful to Oscar that offered him to live with us. Oscar was actually a good man who was forced to do wrong. After Oscar graduated from college as a lawyer, he proposed. We are still married and have two small children. They love to hear the pirate story of how we got to know each other. This experienced touched me in such a way, I feel I am not only different, but a better person. I have to admit, I was a brat. I wanted things my way and I thought I was always right. I learned to be more humble and to be a better judge of character. Most importantly, I learned that even bad things do happen for a reason, and one just has to learn the lesson to make it worthwhile

The End

Blog #1

“Islamic Center Leader Says No Moving from Site near Ground Zero”




1. What is the current event that the article deals with?

This article deals with a controversy caused by The Islamic Center Leader and its Muslims wanting to build a mosque near "Ground Zero", the site where the Twin Towers stood before 9/11 terrorist attack. The Islamic Center Leader says Islam is a peaceful religion; moreover, that not all Muslims are extremists like those who participated in the terrorist attack. He also points out that they do not condone 9/11events and that have the right to their place of worship. Those who disagree argue that building a Mosque near Ground Zero is disrespectful to those who died in the terrorist attack and also to their families.

2. Who are the people involved?

The people who are involved are the Muslims who feel they are being mistreated by those who see and treat them as Islamic terrorist, family members of those who lost their lives in the attack who feel the memory of their loved ones is being trampled over, and many Americans that are against the building of the Mosque near Ground Zero.

3. Analyze the article: What are the problems with the article? Is there a bias from the person who wrote the article? What aspects of the event are left out of the article?

After analyzing the article, I realized the strong opinions and beliefs people have when religion, loss and grief, and the freedom Americans stand for are involved. Victim's families are insulted since they consider 9/11 terrorist attack as an Islamic attack. Others, especially those who are Muslims, argue that should have the right to build a Mosque were ever they want. Both sides have strong opinions about this matter since they both feel offended by the other side. This article is not biased since it portrays both sides of the argument. It is important to understand both sides of the story so that the reader can form an informed opinion. The problem with this article is that it leaves the reader with unanswered questions, like the reason behind building a Mosque so near Ground Zero; in other words, what is their real intention behind it. The reader should have more detailed information relating such delicate matter.


4. What is your opinion of the article? Which of the argument do you support? Explain your opinion using examples from the article.
My opinion regarding this article is that it is “out of place” to build a mosque so near "ground zero". I empathize with family members who lost their loved ones in such a horrific attack. They need and deserve a chance to heal and the Mosque will only encourage more resentment. To be honest, Ground Zero and its vicinities should be free from any religious or political connotations. It should be surrounded with reminders of peace and true freedom; it should be a place for reflection and healing rather of hatred and resentment. I feel that if the Islamic Leader and his Muslim followers want to show the American people and the world that their religion is a peaceful one, they should forget about building the Mosque. This way they will be looked upon as empathetic and maybe this action can help the family members and other Americans change their negative views of Muslims and Islam.



Work Cited of Article:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Politics/islamic-center-leader-mosque-stay-ground-calls-religious/story?id=11445718

http://thepeoplescube.com/images/events/2010.6.6.GroundZero_Mosque/No_Mosque_at_Ground_Zero_01.jpg