Challenging Homophobia in Schools

The Russians Are Coming

This channel 4 documentary follows Russian international property broker Dina Karpova, who is capitalising on Russia's love for all things English. Dina is an agent to the super-rich in Russia, who want their children to attend the top British schools and so high-tracking them into British high society. Dina says “our clients do want to go to top schools, they do want their kids to be with best British families and be friends with them. There is not one company in Russia that works with top schools or prepares children to go to top schools. The only choice is me.” There are, however, school agents in the Middle East and Asia doing all they can to get their students into schools in the UK. “Competition is fierce, there is no question about it. Now a lot of british schools cap the number of foreign students. You compete with a lot of asian kids who are breeded like racehorses to get into the system".

Dina found this niche in the market when her own son, Ivan, began boarding at Westminster, one of the best public schools in England. Ivan, who speaks with a British accent, boards at Westminster while Dina lives in Moscow. Ivan had a very cosmopolitan upbringing. She wanted to expose him to a lot of culture so he lived in Russia in his early years, then the US and now Britain.

Dina on the other hand had a very different upbringing to Ivan. She wasn’t allowed to speak to foreigners. Her parents were physicists working on top secret nuclear weapons for the government. She had a serious lack of freedom but had a high standard of living. She graduated as an aerospace engineer but the breakdown on communism in the 1990s brought down her privileged life as they were owed a years worth of salary by the government, they had sold everything and had no money. She moved to new York and became a successful businesswoman.

According to Dina “it is quite a trend now in Russia to send your children to England” and “our clients want to match the culture, they don’t want to be seen as Russians”. Charles, an educational consultant that works with Dina, said “traditionally a lot of the great schools have educated a lot of the ruling families so that culture is there and the new Russians are doing their very best to replicate the lifestyles of the tsarists elite and part of that is being educated in the west”. Dina's client in the documentary wants his 11 year old son and stepson to go to a British public school. Dina sends her clients children on a residential course that would introduce them to the English aristocracy and teach them how to blend in. First they learn how to play polo. Dina tells them that if they play polo they will become part of high society. Then they learn how to shoot and one of the teachers messed up the boys room and then instructed them how to clean it and keep it when they are staying at a persons house, like showing them how their bed should be made and what to do after having a bath. They also had intensive academic training to help with the entry exams for the schools. They are also taken with their parents to visit Stowe, one of the top public boarding schools. They are shown around the school by a student who also moved from Russia and soon fall in love with it. The boys and their parents then go on to visit many other schools. The boys receive a conditional offer from one of the public schools and so if they achieve the needed results in January, they will move from Russia to England to attend the school. Charles says “it never ceases to amaze me how brave they are, coming to a new country often speaking only a few words of the language and having to adapt”.

Looking into the future, Dina predicts “that Britain is going to play a huge part in Russian future and I think that is a fantastic thing because these kids will merge the cultures, they’re not going to fight”. Charles adds that “Britain is an extraordinary country in the way that we can integrate so many different people from ethnic backgrounds”.

Image is of Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

If you live in the UK, you can watch this documentary here

Greek Independence Day

After centuries of unsuccessful uprisings and failure of the Ottoman Empire to assimilate and convert the Greeks, The War of Independence began in 1821 rising up against 400 years of occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turks. The origin of the Turkish occupancy began in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople (currently referred to as Istanbul). During the dark years of the Ottoman occupation, thousands were killed and tortured for attending church or teaching their children culture, history and language. It was the Greek Orthodox Church that helped to retain their very identity by the institution of Crypha Scholia (Hidden Schools).

The celebration of Greek Independence Day on March 25th draws inspiration from one of the holiest days for Greek Orthodox Christians, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. This is the day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. Bishop Germanos of Patras seized the opportunity by raising the banner of revolution, in an act of defiance against the Turks and marked the beginning of the War of Independence. These freedom fighters, or klephts as they were called, of Greece sacrificed much for their country. Kolokotronis, Nikitara, Karaiskakis, Bouboulina, and Mpotsaris are some of the heroes of the revolution.

During this period there was a strong maritime tradition on the islands of the Aegean which, together with the emergence over the 18th century of an influential merchant class, generated the wealth necessary to found schools, libraries and pay for young Greeks to study at the universities of Western Europe. It was there that they came into contact with the radical ideas of the European Enlightenment, the French Revolution and romantic nationalism. Educated and influential members of the large Greek diaspora, such as Adamantios Korais and Anthimos Gazis, tried to transmit these ideas back to the Greeks, with the double aim of raising their educational level and simultaneously strengthening their national identity.

The struggle for independence was supported abroad by intellectuals of the day. In addition to the Secret Society of Friends (Filiki Etaeria) and the Sacred Band (Ieros Lohos) prominent world figures including Lord Byron of England, Daniel Webster and Dr. Samuel Gridly Howe of the United States raised the interest level among Europeans and Americans.

The Peloponnese (a region in southern Greece), with its long tradition of resistance to the Ottomans, was to become the heartland of the revolt. The crucial meeting was held at Vostitsa (modern Aigion), where chieftains and prelates from all over the Peloponnese assembled on 26 January. There, the klepht captains declared their readiness for the uprising, while most of the civil leaders presented themselves sceptical and demanded guarantees about a Russian intervention.

On 17 March, 1821, war was declared on the Turks by the Maniots in the town of Areopoli. An army of 2,000 Maniots advanced on the Messenian town of Kalamata, which fell to the Greeks on 23 March. On the same day, Andreas Londos, a Greek primate (bishop), rose up at Vostitsa. On March 28, the Messenian Senate, the first of the Greeks' local governing councils, held its first session in Kalamata. On 22 March, the revolutionaries declared the Revolution at the square of Agios Georgios in Patras, in the presence of archbishop Germanos. On the next day, the leaders of the Revolution in Achaia sent a document to the foreign consulates explaining the reasons of the Revolution. On 23 March, the Ottomans launched sporadic attacks towards the town while the revolutionaries drove them back to the fortress.

By the end of March, the Greeks effectively controlled the countryside, while the Turks were confined to the fortresses. Many armatoloi in Central Greece had joined the Filiki Eteria. When the revolution erupted they took up arms alongside the revolutionaries. The first region to revolt in Central Greece was Phocis on 24 March. In Boeotia, Livadeia was captured on 29 March, followed by Thebes two days later. The Ottoman garrison held out in the citadel of Salona, the regional capital, until April 10, when the Greeks took it. Cretan participation in the revolution was extensive, but it failed to achieve liberation from Turkish rule due to Egyptian intervention. The final major engagement of the war was the Battle of Petra, which occurred north of Attica. Greek forces under Demetrius Ypsilantis, for the first time trained to fight as a regular European army rather than as guerilla bands, advanced against Aslan Bey's forces and defeated them. The Turks would surrender all lands from Livadeia to the Spercheios River in exchange for safe passage out of Central Greece.

From November 15 to 20, 1821, a council was held in Salona (present-day Amfissa) in which the main local notables and military chiefs participated. Under the direction of Theodoros Negris, they set down a proto-constitution for the region, the "Legal Order of Eastern Continental Greece", and established a governing council. A month later, a national legislative assembly was formed at Epidaurus, consisted almost exclusively of Moreot notables. The Assembly composed the first Greek Constitution and appointed the members of an executive and a legislative body that were to govern the liberated territories.

On 21 December 1828 the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Russia, and France met in the island of Poros, and prepared a Protocol, which provided for the creation of an autonomous state ruled by a monarch. Under the pressure of Russia, the Porte finally agreed on the terms of the Treaty of London of 6 July 1827, and of the Protocol of 22 March 1829. Soon afterward, the United Kingdom and France conceived the idea of an independent Greek state, trying to limit the influence of Russia on the new state. Russia was not delighted by the idea, but could not reject it, and, consequently, the three powers finally agreed to create an independent Greek state under their joint protection, and concluded the Protocols of 3 February 1830.

The consequences of the Greek revolution were somewhat ambiguous in the immediate aftermath. An independent Greek state had been established, but with Britain, Russia and France claiming a major role in Greek politics, an imported Bavarian dynast as ruler, and a mercenary army. The population of the new state numbered 800,000, representing less than one-third of the 2.5 million Greek inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire. In the long-term historical perspective, this marked a seminal event in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. For the first time, a Christian subject people had achieved independence from the Ottoman rule and established a fully independent state, recognized by Europe. The Greek Revolt legitimized the concept of small ethnically-based nation-states and emboldened nationalist movements among other Christian subject peoples of the Ottoman Empire. The Serbs, Bulgars and Romanians would all subsequently fight for and win their independence, while the Armenians would fail as even in their traditional homeland they were outnumbered five-to-one by Muslims (Turks and Kurds).

The flag of Greece has not changed since the revolution. The white cross in the upper left hand corner covering one fourth of the flag signifies the important role of the Greek Orthodox Church in the formation of the Hellenic Nation. The blue and white alternating stripes represent the sea and the relentless waves of the Aegean. According to legend, the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite emerged from these waves. There are nine stripes representing each letter of the Greek word for freedom, Eleftheria.

Information from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence#Central_Greece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmud_II

http://www.helleniccomserve.com/greekindependence.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopoli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_(religion)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnese

Good Luck!

A huge good luck to all of the students in England doing A levels that receive their results today!

Democracy in action: Question Time

In the years since it was first broadcast on 25 September 1979, Question Time has become something of a national institution, offering British voters a unique opportunity to quiz top decision-makers on the events of the day.

The panels are drawn from significant figures in politics as well as industry, the media and entertainment.

But at the heart of Question Time is the audience - both in the studio and at home.

The programme is recorded in front of a live audience from around 2030 each Thursday.

The recording is done in a single take, precisely as if it were broadcast live. Some exchanges occasionally have to be edited out for legal or taste/decency reasons.

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/about_the_show/default.stm)

Question time is the public's opportunity to question politicians on their actions and their views on current issues within the UK. It is one of the few ways that the public can directly speak to politicians and is a very often effective debate. The clips below demonstrate some of the topics that have come up in question time. The first video is from arguably the most famous episode of Question Time, with BNP leader Nick Griffin. To read more about the BNP click here. The second video is talking about the recession and the banks bonuses. The third video is about the MPs expenses and second homes. The fourth video discusses Sarah Palin. The fifth video is about the torture of suspected terrorists.

Do you have question time in your country? Do you think it is an effective programme? Leave a comment and let us know!

Osama Bin Everywhere: The Many Faces of Everywhere

(Image from Osamaloves.com: Osama the schoolboy,5, from Morroco who loves his chick)

There are 1.4 billion Muslims in the world, but many people are only able to name one: Osama Bin laden. Creator of this documentary, British born Pakistani Muslim Farrah, set out to prove that not all muslims are terrorists with the help of her fellow muslim friend Masood. They travelled around the world for 50 days meeting people of different cultures with different problems and different passions but they all have one thing in common: they are all called Osama.

While the day that changed the USA was 9/11, the UK changed after the 7/7 bombings in 2005, where bombs exploded on 3 underground trains and a double decker bus. It was a day that rocked the UK and, in particular, London. Before we had been watching terror attacks on the news, now we were having attacks on us. It was one of the moments where you can remember where you were. Robyn, 18, was in the waiting room of the orthodontist and on the radio they were saying something has happened on the trains although it isn't clear yet they thought there had been some kind of major power cut and later found out the double decker bus had exploded outside her fathers office in Tavistock Square, London. Farrah took the bombings as a personal attack on her home and when she heard that the people who did it were the same ethnicity, religion and linguistic background as her, it was "a bitter pill to swallow". The suicide bombers were British Muslim men, three of Pakistani descent and one of Jamaican. Now she feels angry that extremists have stolen the limelight and has had enough of being pidgeon-holed into being extremist terrorists.

Her idea was to go around the world, meeting Osamas, finding out what they love and proving to the world that not all Muslims are terrorists. She began in the UK with Osama 37 from Worchester, UK who loves hip hop and Osama, 17, an A Level student from Warwick that loves innovative web design. She then posted these onto www.osamaloves.com where other people with the name Osama can post what they love.

The first country the pair travelled to was Nigeria, West Africa where 50% of the population are Muslim. They first try to meet an Imam called Osama but on the way, he becomes suspicious of their motives and decides to pull out. Slightly frustrated, they hit a local market and try to find someone and they meet a tailor called Osama who says that he thinks they are doing this programme to “enlighten America and perhaps the whole world the name Osama is just a name and doesn’t belong to a terrorist”. This Osama is 23 and loves footballer Ronaldo. They find another working right next door that loves tea. Word spreads and the osamas just keep coming. They find one that loves his chickens, a blacksmith that loves football team Man United, a goat herder that loves football team Arsenal, a tanner that loves football player Wayne Rooney and one that loves Nigeria. It soon becomes clear that the country is football mad, particularly for British football teams. She also meets a musician called Osama "bin Music", who made it his stage name after the famous bin laden. His favourite music is dancehall and he loves Beenieman. In the UK, Farrah says that many believe music and Islam don’t mix, but in Nigeria Osama says that there is no problem: "Islam allows singing, songs were sung in front of the prophet but he laid down rules that a woman is not supposed to reveal her body, a man is not to touch a woman while he is singing and the song should convey a message that will benefit the listener not something that would corrupt their minds or lead them astray". Going on from this, Farrah then goes to meet an Osama who was a judge responsible for shutting down the Nigerian film industry under Sharia law. He said that “the ban was correct because these kinds of films don’t teach anything. Drama should teach people something. Teach them what to do and what not to do. These thinsg are just a copy of what goes on in Europe. Theyre just dancing and singing and romance... These kinds of pleasures teach bad things... Those from the west taught us how to commit burglary and to break into a womans room and rape her. Thats how we learnt those things. ” Farrah says his judgements about western culture seem “a little farfetched” but back home in the UK many people share his views, with parents thinking their children are becoming “too westernised” and losing their traditional values. From Nigeria, they met 19 total Osamas.

They next went to Cairo, capital of Egypt. The country has a 75 million population and 90% of them are muslim. Osama is an Arabic name which, loosely translated, means young lion, and in these parts the name is as common as John or James is in the west. It is so common that to find an Osama, all they have to do is walk in the street and yell the name. Doing so, the first Osama they meet is 23, works downtown and loves his fiancée. Next they meet an Osama who is an air traffic controller that loves peace. He went to America before 9/11 and then after he changed his name to Sam. When people in the west hear his name is Osama and that he is an air traffic controller, they do not trust him because of his name. They meet more Osama’s that love the internet, their mum, Egypt, foreigners, laughing, their neighbours, investing, a girl (its a secret), Kebab, black Sabbath and a seven year old that loves bananas. Talking about her time in Egypt, Farrah says “I’ve not meant any extremists... not a single person who said it was right to blow up the twin twoers or bomb London". While there on a Saturday night, the whole of Cairo came to a halt, as a football match is on and the country is also football mad. The star player of one of the football teams is called Osama. Farrah meets him and asks him about being a role model and he says “its definitely a responsibility. Not only when im playing but everything outside football as well. The way I am wuith my friends when im on tv and when im playing. Im not doing this for myself its between me and God. God will reward me for that – this is what Islam is about.” He recorded a tape of the Qu’uran which was very successful and they gave the income to poor people. He loves scoring goals. One of Farrah's observations is was that in the west, it would be rare to find a football player that you could go to for religious guidance. The next Osama they met was Osama Mounir, who famously tackles the taboo subjects of sex and love on the radio. He loves love. When he first began his radio show, he couldn’t believe how many people were listening and became an overnight celebrity. He even has listeners calling from America and Europe. His voice is now the most recognisable in the Arab world, with deep gravly tones similar to Barry White. This Osama is actually a Christian. When asked what he would do if a girl called saying she was Muslim and wanted to have a relationship with a Christian, he said he would tell her not to do it because it would cause so many problems. In their community they have to have the blessing of the family and no one would bless the marriage. Farrah admitted she was disappointed by this advice after all the pressure she feels to marry a nice Muslim boy but would prefer to just let love choose. In Egypt they met 57 Osamas including ones that love the sahara, their girlfriend and horses.

The next country that Farrah and Masood were meant to go to was Pakistan, but they haven't yet given them filming permission so they cannot go there. Farrah said she is "actually embarrassed of the obstacles we've met... we're trying to do a good thing".

Instead, they next go to Indonesia in the far east. It is home to more muslims than anywhere else in the world: 200 million. The first Osama they meet is a little boy who was originally born in Leeds, England on the 11th September 2001: the day of the terrorist attacks. He loves riding his bicycle. Talking to his father, they are told that he was named Osama before any of this happened. He told the midwife he would name him Osama and she said “oh very good, that’s nice” but when he was going home, "she never smiled again". He was born hours before the first plane struck the towers. Osama's father says that he doesn't think Osama will have problems in the future: “it depends on Allah”. They next meet an Osama that owns over 400 goats and sells the milk all over the city. He loves martial arts. She also meets Osamas that love manga, an engineer that loves his days off and one that loves intelligent women. They meet 75 Osamas in total.

Next they go to Toronto, Canada. It has the highest number of Muslims of any north American city. They have had a lot of press interest for the documentary, with them getting onto national news almost as soon as they arrive. Very soon after being on the news, the Osamas get in touch. They first meet one that moved from Sudan to Canada. Osama says that Canada is very accepting and he thought that "there were would be more problems than there were". He loves acceptance. They also meet an Osama originally from Pakistan and he too feels very welcome in the country but for his parents it was difficult as every step he took towards the Canadian culture, they saw as a negative step: his hair style, his music, his clothes. His parents have a fear of him drifting from their culture to the western. He loves sandy beaches. Looking back at the website Osama loves, Farrah and Masood see there was an Osama, a writer from USA that loves global dialogue and say that he is the perfect example.

Farrah talks about the importance of getting permission to go to Pakistan because it is being associated with the training and recruiting of terrorists and “its name is becoming mud, and that hurts me”. They do manage to get the filming to go to Pakistan. They arrive on the eve of independance day, the biggest night of the year. They meet an Osama who was a newsreader from London at the time of the bombings and was on the way to work at the time and was evacuated from the station. When he found out British Pakistanis were responsible he didn’t want to believe it but also thought “oh crap, now its us who are going to suffer” because everybody is naturally going to think that everyone coming from Pakistan is coming with the notion of blowing London up. He says that “terrorism and Islam are 2 things completely apart”. They go to meet Masoods family in the town of Lahore and his cousin called Osama who was born 2 months after 9/11. Masood is worried his uncle named his cousin after Osama bin laden. When they ask him why he chose that name he says that “there was a guy at his school called Osama who was very intelligent” and says that he didn’t name his son after Osama bin Laden. He says “nowadays everywhere in Pakistan there are bombings. Everyone is frightened even in Lahore we are frightened. I work in the areas that bombs are going off. When my family hear of a bombing they are so worried... no one can stand their family being harmed”. Back at the hotel they are met with devasting news that a suicide bomb has rocked Lahore. Farrah says “it sickens me... the timing of it... the eve of independence day, the one day of the year the ordinary Pakistani can celebrate and be joyful and they do this at midnight”. In the first three months of 2008 over 600 civilians died in blasts around Pakistan. Masoods friend Jerad talks about how they are becoming an everyday occurrence “we are the ones who are paying in this world... it hurts us a lot when people are saying that we are terrorists. This is so painful, you have to fight tears when you hear it. We are victims not terrorists.” After talking to Jerad, Farrah says “there is no mistake who is taking the brunt of this war on terror”. Despite the earlier bombing, later that night everyone is out in the street celebrating independence day and Farrah says she is “so proud to be Punjabi and have a heritage in this region. The resilience is astonishing”. It reminds her of how Londoners picked themselves up after 7/7 and refused to let the bombers have their way.

When Farrah and Masood went back home, they invited Osamas from all over the UK to help them celebrate. They had ones that love reading, love, playing chess, football, a 57 year old entrepreneur that loves meatballs and a 13 year old that loves his name. Farrah says that she set out to prove that not all Muslims are the same but she wasn’t expecting just how different they all are: Nigerian Muslims are different from Egyptian Muslims and both are different from British Muslims. Nevertheless there was one thing that this journey had made Farrah sure of: “How can anyone look at those faces and think that those people are associated with terrorists and violence?”

If you live in the UK you can watch this documentary at:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/osama-bin-everywhere/4od

People all over the world can visit:

www.osamaloves.com

What do you think of peoples prejudice towards Muslims? Are you Muslim? Leave a comment and let us know!

Tower Block of Commons: Episode 4

In the final programme, the MPs try to complete the challenges they set themselves and looks at what they do after they have gone back to their regular lives.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton has set up a football tournament for the local youths against the police that he hopes to make a permanent event in the area, to give the youths something to do other than join gangs. Despite many young people from the area attending, only 2 police officers turn up. Extremely frustrated, Tim and the youths have the game without them. Before leaving, Tim bought his host Natina a toilet seat and attached it. Natina said "to me, he seemed like he was being himself" and Natina's mother said "if he was the MP for our constituency, I would vote for him".

Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten continues to get a date for when the tower blocks will be demolished. He manages to arrange a meeting with the head of housing from the council to discuss when the tower blocks could be demolished. Unfortunately, the council cannot afford to knock down the blocks because they have to pay £20 million to central government to pay off other council's debts. The council are organising a march to radically change the system and they invited the residents to join them. They also go to hand in their petition about the tower blocks to the local council. When Mark Oaten -prepares to leave, all of his hosts and the other residents on the tower blocks thank him for all that he had done that week. Mark became quite emotional, saying that "you spend a lot of time in this job being disliked as an MP" and it's nice hearing that you've helped them and how nice you are.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries spends her final night with a new host, 20 year old Jonathan: "I'm too big a fan of the conservatives. They think poor people are poor just because they are lazy. Jonathan lives with 4 other room mates in the 3 bedroom flat and they have no electricity. Using a network of extension wires, they get electricity from the plugs in the hallways outside: "we are currently stealing off the council". Jonathan was expelled from a prestigious local comprehensive 4 years ago, has no qualifications and is unemployed. He admits to Nadine that he is unable to hold down a job because of constant late mornings due to an addiction to weed. Nadine tries to get Jon clean and give his life a purpose. She asks him his ambitions and he tells her that he wants to be a liaison officer between youth and government, because he feels there's too big a gap at the moment. Nadine however questions him for aiming so low and asks why he has to be a middle man, why can't he become an actual councillor. Jon, believing you had to have a degree to go into politics, was surprised to hear from Nadine that you don't at all and that she herself doesn't have a degree. Nadine also talks to Jon about his view of the conservative party and their leader David Cameron. He talks about how David Cameron reminds him of the rich conservative students at his old comprehensive school that made his life "hell" and the characteristics like his "smirk" and the way he talked and moved. Jon became very emotional talking about how the kids had looked down on him and treated him horribly because he wasn't rich like them. When Nadine left, Jon said that "she has lit the way a little bit and I can now make out the next stepping stones".

Labour MP Austin Mitchell is trying to get a youth centre reopened. He got it onto the local news and radio. Lindsay said "he did pull some strings and did things we couldn't have done but he could of done more". Talking of leaving the tower blocks, Mitchell said "to tell you the truth I'd rather stay here and not go back to London. It's so removed from all the stupidities of politics".

On leaving the tower blocks, all of the politicians say that they will never take anything for granted again. Two weeks later, Tim Loughton invites ex gang member Jason from Youth Disciples to talk at a conservative conference about gang violence. Mark Oaten called Sloane to catch up on the action groups progress. He is anxious that they haven't met since he left and haven't got a date for a new meeting. Nadine takes Jon to visit the Houses of Parliament and gives him a surprise visit from David Cameron to show him that his impressions based on the kids he used to know aren't correct. When David asks Jon what he thinks about politics, he said "a bit of everything. I enjoy it, I despise it. I think its fun, I think its dangerous. There's just so many things wrapped up in it. But I think its so important because what comes from politics affects everything." Austin returned to his estate to find out that the youth centre is still closed and that they are waiting for funding bids to come back. Mitchell's wife said "it doesn't seem we've achieved anything".

Two months later, Mark goes back to the estate to meet Candy and finds out that Mark and Alan and Sloane have been moved into council houses while Candy's flat flooded again. The action plan has so come to a halt, having all been left to Candy. He manages to organise the residents Cathy and Candy to come along to their local councils rally to change the system at 10 Downing Street.

In January 2010, Oaten also spoke to government housing minister about the situation, who said that he will soon announce plans to dismantle the current system but no set date has been made. Oaten doesn't think that he has made a difference. Tim Loughton secured funding to ensure the youth can play regular football. The local police finally agreed to a game and the score was Tim's team 4 - 10 local police. Nadine has sent Jon to rehab for his weed addiction and he is considering becoming a local councillor. Austin Mitchell said "I was more of an observer and I should have done more with the agitating and campaigning...too late”.

Read about episode 1 here

Read about episode 2 here

Read about episode 3 here

Do you think the politicians have made a difference? Do you think that they learnt anything from the experience? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Tower Block of Commons: Episode 3

In this episode the MPs stay with people who need their help to discover how much power an MP really has.

Nadine Dorries is staying with 69 year old widow Ruth. When asked whether she likes her area, she says she used to but not any more. There used to be a British Legion across the road but "somehow the Somalians bought it and turned it into a mosque". Ruth is frustrated by them parking on double yellow lines and praying on the pavement, so people cannot use it and, as Nadine put it, "the laws that everyone else has to abide by are not being adhered to". Nadine puts on a headscarf and Muslim dress, then goes to speak to the Imam to talk about the problems with obstructing the footpath and parking on the double yellow lines. Despite the Imam defending that they are on their land, Dorries says "tensions begin when one particular group or another feel that they can behave differently or not adhere to the laws that other people have to adhere to." Clearly insulted, the Imam tells Dorries of all the work they have done for the community, such as clearing out the heroin needles and stopping the drug addicts from using the building. Later that night Dorries says "I do want to make people's lives better and when you come face to face with what you do... I've realised that quite often what politicians do is make people's lives worse". The next day Dorries finds out how resentful some of the residents are towards the new Mosque and comes up with the idea of having a barbecue to get the two communities to mix together and talk. Ruth however doesn't think she'll "get much support". Dorries then goes to speak to the Imam, who is very unhappy to see her saying he didn't want to see her again and "was very hurt" by her "tarnishing the building making it feel like we're some suicide bombers" and forgetting all that they have done for the community. Nadine tries goes to other members of the Mosque to get support and finds Anab, who insists that to be with the Somalian community that Nadine needs to get a Somalian outfit. Once wearing the full dress, Nadine says "it feels nothing like me, it feels like a different person". As the barbecue is about to begin, Nadine realises that at the moment only the Somalian community have come and is worried that no one from the estate will join them. She says that "It just dawned me... that I may have made things worse" as if only the Mosque community turns up, things may get worse. Fortunately, Ruth arrives and so do some more eventually and the 2 communities begin to talk. The Imam comes down to see what is happening and admits he is "a little bit impressed". As they talk they discuss the problems and begin to work on building relationships and a better merge of their two communities. Later on, Ruth tells Dorries that "its been lovely having you here, i've really enjoyed it and the things that you've done I think are magnificent".

Austin Mitchell is staying with Lindsey, a volunteer at the last youth centre on the estate called The Chill Out that is in danger of closing down from lack of funding. It provided a safe haven for young people on the estate and rans classes on everything from how to write a CV to putting on a condom under the influence of drink and drugs. Lindsey says that without the club there is a very bleak outlook for the kids and "to have a bleak outlook at 15 is just sad". Austin speaks to one of the youths, asking what it does for him and he said it "keeps us out of trouble, helps us look for a job and is everything we need really. Without this place we're nothing". When the youths ask Mitchell if he can help, he says "there's nothing I can do, it's not my constituency". Unhappy with this response, one of them replies "so just because it isn't your area you aren't going to do anything". Mitchell then goes on the defence saying "you can't turn to me, you've got to help yourselves". When Mitchell asked the youths what they would do went it closed down, they replied "go back to a life of crime". Everyone wants the club to stay open: the youths, the volunteers and the parents. One parent shows Mitchell a used heroin needle she picked up from outside and says "once my daughter came home with one of them in my mouth, she was in hospital every week for blood tests". When the Chill Out closes completely, Austin discusses what he can do with his wife saying "its a serious question, what does a politician do for people, what do government do for people. That's a real problem." The next day Austin tries making calls to reopen the youth club by publicising it and getting public opinion to pressure the council to give them funding. Austin also joins local young offenders on community service, picking up rubbish. He speaks to one of the offenders who is doing community payback for a crime he committed before joining the Chill Out centre and says that now it is closed, he has nowhere to go. If he had somewhere to go, he would be less likely to offend because he would have something to do. Mitchell said he "never realised it was so simple...thought it was giving playstations and such but actually it’s just a roof with a meeting place to sit and talk”. Mitchell's phonecalls and emails have paid off as news of The Chill Outs closure will be broadcast on local television. Mitchell admitted that “politics is a matter of priorities and unless a problem is... kicking you up the backside its gets postponed and gets ignored”.

Tim Loughton is staying with Adrian who hates the estate saying that there is no safety and he once had a knife put against him in the stairway when he was coming home and there are always people doing drugs. He keeps a large stick in every room for safety. Loughton tries to find out more about the gang violence in his area and finds an organisation called Families for Peace, dedicated to raising awareness of the effect gang violence has on families. Tim met Debbie, whose nephew Aaron was shot outside her house in 2005 and is now stuck reliving the memory. He also spoke to Aaron's father, who showed him the box with Aaron's ashes in it. When talking about the experience later "no one except a robot could have had that experience and not have been moved". Families for Peace put Tim in touch with Jason, an ex-gang member who served 2 years in prison for drug related offences and when he was released found many of his friends had been murdered. He now works for Young Disciples, an organisation that attempts to give youngsters an alternative to gang life. Tim wants to talk to someone of the youths themselves, but the difficulty is finding ones that are willing to be identified. They eventually manage to speak to one boy who keeps his hood up and face down the entire time so his face cannot be seen. Tim asks the youth to explain postcode wars to him. Postcode wars are when groups of people fight one another because of the different areas that they live in. Tim tried to get an explanation as to why this happens, but the youth couldn't give one, only able to say that "you've got to stay loyal" and “you’ve got to protect your turf”. The youth admits that he doesn't feel safe but says that "there's no point in living in fear all your life. You just get over it and do what you've got to do." When asked how to fix the problem, he replied "just give us something to do". After the interview, Tim said he had never before realised "the pointlessness of it all" and called it a "sobering" experience. It makes you "appreciate what you've got and what you've come from" and "you value life more when you speak to people who lost it and who wont have the chance to go back and regain it". The next day Tim goes to speak to more youths to try and find up what they would like to see happen. The suggestion of football arises and Loughton asks about setting up a football tournament between them and the police. Jason takes Tim to see the Young Disciples facilities and on talking to one youth, finds out that the organisation keeps him out of trouble and if it wasn't there, he would be back out on the streets. Later that night, Tim's host Adrian says that he thinks Tim's exploration of the gang culture has really "opened his eyes" and even "shocked him a little bit".

Mark Oaten is staying with civil partners Mark and Alan in their flood damaged flat. Mark Oaten's campaign from the first episode has continued and in fact grown as he has gotten all of his hosts, Cathy, Sloane and now Mark and Alan interested and involved. He puts up signs for a meeting for residents in the evening but then finds out that the council has come and taken them down. A furious Oaten said “it’s like they’re saying we don’t want you to talk together because when you talk together you might get dangerous”. He doesn't give up however, and puts his leaflets through peoples letterboxes instead. Nervous about whether anyone shows up to his meeting, Oaten is excited to find nearly 30 people have shown up and to hear that more people will be coming. Oaten is keen to hand over the campaign to the residents so they can do it when he has left. The meeting begins with the residents voicing their anger about the housing and then begin discussing how to get their voices heard. The meeting attracted the attention of a BNP local councillor who began to give a speech on the horrible mistakes of Labour and basically use their meeting as an opportunity to promote the BNP. He doesn't get to speak for long, however, as Sloane interrupts him saying that "we're trying to get everyone in a positive notion here and you're just negative, negative". The other residents then join in, with one saying she "refuses to listen to the BNP" and that this "is not a party political broadcast". The BNP councillor continues his anti-Labour rant and the residents begin yelling abuse at him, almost leading to a fight. However, he eventually leaves and they get things back into control and focus on becoming active. The next day while Sloane and fellow resident Candy are making posters, a number of police cars and vans pull up to the estate and go inside. They were called to the estate after a fight between 2 families became violent. The trouble was sparked after allegations that a child was hit. Oaten says he has "never seen anything like this before but it must be bread and butter to these guys". Standing with some children, he asks how often this happens, to be told "about 3 times a month" and then begins to comfort one little girl who was scared and began crying. Afterwards Oaten said "kids shouldn't have to see that". Later that night, Oaten says "I couldn't live here."

The last episode sees the MPs prepare to say goodbye. Find out tomorrow whether they have managed to really learn anything from their week in the tower blocks!

Click here to read about episode 1

Click here to read about episode 2

Click here to read about episode 4

Tower Block of Commons: Episode 1

In the UK, the television Channel 4 is well known for its documentaries that tackle controversial but fascinating subjects. One that aired its last episode yesterday was the Tower Block of Commons which took 4 politicians and sent them to live in the roughest areas for a week so they could really experience what life is like.

The first politician was Iain Duncan Smith, the former conservative leader who said that he liked "the idea of taking politicians out of their comfort zone and making them sweat a little bit. No one ot fall back on. It's good." He would be spending the next two days on the Carpenters estate in East London with 19 year old Charise, sleeping on her sofa.

The second was Tim Loughton, the Conservatives shadow children's minister. He was sent to Birmingham's gang divided Newtown Estate. He would be staying on the blow-up mattress in the living room of single mum Natina, her 6 month old baby and her mother. On hearing where he would be staying, Loughton said "Birmingham. It's got a lot of tower blocks. And no conservative MPs".

The third was Mark Oaten, a Liberal Democrat MP that was once hinted at becoming the next Lib Dem Leader, until a sex scandal of him having sex with a rent boy. He is married with 2 children. Mark Oaten stayed in a Dagenham towerblock which he said "feels like one of those old communist blocks" and after constantly having to enter codes to get into the building, he compared it to "prison... It's like Fort Notts".

The final MP was veteran Labour backbencher Austin Mitchell who stayed in Hull but would only agree to take part in the programme if he could have his wife with him, they could bring some of their possessions and they could have their own council flat. Their first two days were helped by Selina, 29 who, before their arrival, said "these politicians don't do nothing. They're making bloody good money just for arguing in a parliament. I could be an MP". On arriving in their new home, Mitchell's wife said it "looks a bit like a prison".

For the polticians, the first part of settling in to their new lives is to change their outfits. As Mark Oatens host Cathy put it, "if you wear a suit, you’d get egged around here. The kids would egg you because you stand out too much”. The politicians clearly felt very awkward in their new attire, swapping shirts and ties for Nike and tracksuits. The culture difference in fashion was immediately made clear when Tim was laughed at by his host Natina and her mother for how he did his laces.

The politicians also has a chance to talk to their hosts and get to know them a bit better. Iain Duncan Smith asked his host Charise what she knew about politics and what politicians do etc, and she replied that she had no clue what happened in the houses of Parliament, or what politicians do and she heard that they just "sit in a room and talk". When asked about this comment from her later, Smith conceded that "politics is many miles away from what goes on here". Tim Loughton went to explore the local area and began talking to a man outside the newsagents. The man began to get angry about the MP expenses scandal, saying that politicians "are legitimate crooks...why having any of them been prosecuted?” and saying that they are "on another level". Attracted by the argument were some local youths and when Loughton began to talk to them he found out that they didn't know the name of the MP for their area, and in fact one of the teenagers didn't think there was one for their area. Later on when speaking to his host Natina, the topic of parenthood came up as Natina is a single parent and part of Conservative policy is a strong bias toward married families and bias against divorce and single parents. Loughton said that his parents had divorced when he was 12 and he was split up from his brothers and sisters to live with each parent and when asked "but don't you think it was better for them to be apart" he replied that he didn't think that way when he was 12, at that time he would have done anything to have them back together. When asked by Loughton, Natina said that she wouldn't want her baby's father back in her life but in her daughter's life. Austin Mitchell's host Selina took him to "buy a newspaper" and in fact took him to a local NHS Methadone clinic. Selina is a recovering heroin addict and has to go to the clinic everyday to take her methadone. Heroin use is a large problem in these areas, with the ground littered in used needles. Mark Oaten was shown around his host Cathy's house and disguested by the mould growing on the walls and terrible living conditions. He immediately moved into action, going outside with Cathy to try and get people to sign a petition to get something done. He began talking to a couple where the women didn't vote because politicians "don't listen" and the man voted for the BNP after switching from Labour because they "actually give a voice to a white person". He assures Oaten that he isn't racist whatsoever, a quality often assumed of supporters of the BNP, saying that many of his best friends are "coloured" and that "we're all human".

What was instantly made clear from this episode is the lack of understanding on both sides: the public have little awareness of what politicians are doing and politicians have little awareness of what the public are going through. It is therefore a two sided problem that will require the efforts of both sides to be resolved.

What also struck me as interesting was that the Labour MP, the party of the working class people, was the least willing to compromise. He didn't want to change into the new clothes, he brought his wife, he got his own council flat, brought expensive artwork and such with him and one night he and his wife went to dinner with rich friends.

Towards the end of the episode, you find out that Iain Duncan Smith found out his wife had cancer and had to pull out of the show. Asked what he thinks of what is going to come, he said "the other MPs will have to accommodate a whole other set of horizons. They are used to being the centre of attention in Parliament...suddenly they will see that they are in an area where most of the people there think that people like them will have forgotten them."

Well, to find out how true Smith's predictions are, you will have to read tomorrow when I post about the second episode!

British Political Parties: The BNP

In Britain there are three main political parties: Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats. However there are also many small parties who try to gain support such as the Green Party, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the British National Party (BNP).

The BNP is a far-right political party. Until 2009, when it was challenged in the courts on grounds of racial discrimination, it restricted membership to people of "Caucasian origin". After a vote by members in a February 2010 extraordinary general meeting the party dropped this policy, with chairman Nick Griffin saying that the party will now "accept anyone as a member providing they agree with us that this country should remain fundamentally British".

The BNP seeks to restore the overwhelmingly white ethnicity of Britain that existed prior to 1948 through legal means, including "firm but voluntary incentives for immigrants and their descendants to return home", and the repeal of anti-discrimination legislation. It believes that there are significant differences between races.

The party has very little respect from other political parties and has never gained enough power to have an MP (member of Parliament). However in the 2006 English local elections the party doubled its number of seats in England. The BNP finished fifth in the 2008 London mayoral election with 5.2% of the popular vote and secured one of the London Assembly's 25 seats. They won their first county council seats in 2009 together with two seats in the European Parliament.

At its founding, the BNP was explicitly racist. In October 1990, the BNP was described by the European Parliament's committee on racism and xenophobia as an "openly Nazi party ... whose leadership have serious criminal convictions". When asked in 1993 if the BNP was racist, its deputy leader Richard Edmonds said, "We are 100 per cent racist, yes". Founder John Tyndall proclaimed that "Mein Kampf is my bible". When Nick Griffin became chairman in 1999, the party began to change its stance with regard to racial issues. Griffin claims to have repudiated racism, instead espousing what he calls "ethno-nationalism". He claims that his core ideology is "concern for the well-being of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish ethnic nations that compose the United Kingdom".

The BNP previously required that all members must be members of the "Indigenous Caucasian" racial group. The party does not regard non-white people as being British, even if they have been born in the UK and are naturalised British citizens. Instead, Griffin has stated that "non-Europeans who stay", while protected by British law, "will be regarded as permanent guests".

The BNP is opposed to mixed-race relationships on the stated ground that racial differences must be preserved; the party said that "when whites take partners from other ethnic groups, a white family line that stretches back into deep pre-history is destroyed." Nick Griffin stated: "...while the BNP is not racist, it must not become multi-racist either. Our fundamental determination to secure a future for white children is restated, and an area of uncertainty is addressed and a position which is both principled and politically realistic is firmly established. We don't hate anyone, especially the mixed race children who are the most tragic victims of enforced multi-racism, but that does not mean that we accept miscegenation as moral or normal. We do not and we never will".

In April 2006, Sky News confronted the party's national press officer, Phil Edwards (it has been claimed that this is a pseudonym for Stuart Russell) with a tape of a telephone conversation the previous year. On the tape, Russell could be heard to say that "the black kids are going to grow up dysfunctional, low IQ, low achievers that drain our welfare benefits and the prison system and probably go and mug you." He responded: "If I thought I was going to be recorded ... I would not have used such intemperate language, but let’s be honest about it, the facts are there".

The party states that "The BNP has moved on in recent years, casting off the leg-irons of conspiracy theories and the thinly veiled anti-semitism which has held this party back for two decades. The real enemies of the British people are home grown Anglo-Saxon Celtic liberal-leftists ... and the Crescent Horde—the endless wave of Islamics who are flocking to our shores to bring our island nations into the embrace of their barbaric desert religion".

Suggested policies to help police this "threat to all of us" include a Muslim no-fly policy, which would ban Muslims from flying in and out of the UK. The BNP erected a plaque in Oldham, Greater Manchester in memory of Gavin Hopley, a 19-year-old white man who was mugged and kicked to death by Asian Muslims in the street in Glodwick, in February 2002. The plaque was later removed by the local council.

The BNP states that homosexuality in private should be tolerated but believes that it "should not be promoted or encouraged". It opposed the introduction of civil partnerships and wishes to ban what it perceives as the promotion of homosexuality in schools and the media; and believes that homosexuality should be returned "to the closet".

BNP spokesman Phil Edwards stated that homosexuality "is unnatural" and "does not lead to procreation but does lead to moral turpitude and disease". Mark Collett, former chairman of the Young BNP and current Director of Publicity, described homosexuals as "AIDS Monkeys", "bum bandits" and "faggots" and said the idea of homosexuality was a "sickening thought".

The BNP was criticised over a list on their website titled "Liars, buggers and thieves" which grouped several gay politicians in with convicted murderers, rapists and paedophiles. The compiler of the list, BNP local councillor for Redbridge, Julian Leppert defended it and said that the reason why gay MPs were included was because "it fits in with the headline, the bugger part, I guess" and stated that the BNP are "a family party with family values".

Articles published in the Sunday Times and Daily Mail have alleged that Nick Griffin had a four year homosexual relationship with Martin Webster, although Griffin denies this. On his appearance on BBC One's Question Time on 22 October 2009, he stated in response to being asked about the death of Boyzone member Stephen Gateley, "I said that a lot of people find the sight of two grown men kissing in public really creepy. I understand that homosexuals don't understand that but that's how a lot of us feel, Christians feel that way, Muslims, all sorts of people."

According to their website, the BNP policy on immigration is to:

- Deport all the two million plus who are here illegally;

- Deport all those who commit crimes and whose original nationality was not British;

- Review all recent grants of residence or citizenship to ensure they are still appropriate;

- Offer generous grants to those of foreign descent resident here who wish to leave permanently;

- Stop all new immigration except for exceptional cases;

- Reject all asylum seekers who passed safe countries on their way to Britain.

They say that "India would not tolerate millions of non-Indians taking over that society. Pakistan would not tolerate millions of Hindus or Christians entering that country and changing it from a Muslim society into something else. Japan would not do it; China would not do it – so why should Britain?"

The BNP policy on education is:

- The restoration of discipline – including corporal punishment – uniforms, traditional teaching methods and stricter exams (e.g. ‘0′ levels);

- The reintroduction of grammar schools with entrance exams at 11 and 13;

- The reversal of the programme to close special needs schools which penalises the most vulnerable;

- The reintroduction of competitive sports and daily Christian assemblies;

- The teaching of old-fashioned literacy skills (as opposed to clearly failed “modern” teaching methods);

- The teaching of old-fashioned mathematics skills which have practical application to everyday life;

- The teaching of a full curriculum of British history. This will instil in our young people knowledge of and pride in the history, cultures and heritage of the native peoples of Britain, and not the cherry-picked politically correct drivel being fed to children today;

- The abolition of fees and the restoration of full grants to university students studying proper subjects (as opposed to fake “social sciences”);

- The improvement of school food as proper meals have been shown to be linked to behaviour and achievement;

- The ending of the scandalous and racist neglect that has left working class white boys at the bottom of the table for academic achievement;

- The introduction of tax breaks for home-schooling parents or direct subsidies as their fair share of the education budget;

- The introduction of a compulsory Community Award Scheme for all school-leavers to teach them work ethics and social and community values. This would consist of work caring for the elderly or handicapped people, or environmental or heritage restoration projects, or military training. These courses would be character-building and instil discipline, social and community values and work ethics in all young people. Service in this scheme would entitle each individual to get ’something back’ from the society to which they have learnt to contribute, such as free university education, a properly supported apprenticeship, or business training and start-up capital for would-be entrepreneurs.

The BNP foreign affairs policy is:

- Reach an accord with the Muslim world whereby they will agree to take back their excess population which is currently colonising this country, in exchange for an ironclad guarantee that Britain will never again interfere in the political affairs of the Middle East or try to dictate to any Arab or Muslim country as to what their internal government form should be; and

- Maintain an independent foreign policy of our own, and not a spineless subservience to the USA, the ‘international community’, or any other country.

- Resolutely oppose the single European currency;

- Support the overwhelming majority of the British people in their desire to keep the Pound and our traditional weights and measures.

The majority of the British public are highly against the BNP and the recent support they have received in British elections has been put down to the British populations frustration with the main political parties over immigration and the MP expenses scandal.

In 2002 the foundation Stop The BNP was created "to counter racism and fascism in elections and beyond". According to their website, "we want to make sure that people know the full story about who the BNP are and what they really stand for. The Stop the BNP website aims to do just that, serving the anti-fascist movement and providing up to date news, good practice and analysis."

(Information taken from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_National_Party, http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/, http://bnp.org.uk/)

Click here to watch the BNP Campaign video

Click here to watch a BNP propaganda video

Click here to watch a documentary about the BNP

What do you think about the BNP? Are there any political parties like this in your country? Comment and let us know!

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson

Question:

Describe an individual that you greatly admire. Discuss the qualities that make this person so exceptional.

The individual that I greatly admire is Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. Dr. Dyson encompasses many qualities that make him exceptional such as noticing social ills, vocabulary, and his conviction. It is very rare that a teen finds an exceptional role model that commands attention when he enters a room. It is this presence that attracts thousands of people to his lectures and oratorical interviews.

Dr. Dyson fights for equality. During his lectures sometimes he may talk about African-Americans and their roles of today’s society or the concept of segregation in today’s society. The overall message that is gathered is that we has human people should treat each other with respect. The messaged is portrayed through his actions and his eloquence as he speaks.

In his other lectures he may talk about hip hop and how its degrading today’s society. It is obvious to see that children today are turning to hip hop as an outlet for their pain and the ticket to their dream. Too many times do these children lose their sights reasonable attainable goals such as becoming doctors, lawyers, executives, financial advisors and etc. Hip hop is taking away young peoples potential for greatness since it only portrays young women as whores and young men as impudent womanizers. Dr. Dyson advocates for rappers and singers to promote a positive image so that young people could do great things. Dr. Dyson believes that if this type of social behavior persists that America will be on a downward spiral to oblivion.

Dr. Dyson is an eloquent speaker. Dr. Dyson speaks with poise, dignity, and conviction. When Dr. Dyson speaks it is very profound that you can’t help but notice he is a great representation of African-Americans. For example when Dr. Dyson speaks he speaks with conviction that connects with the audience. It is this connection that allows people to understand and assist in fighting for his cause. For example, Dr. Dyson says “It is very important for me to deliver my message to students and faculty at this great institution of American society because it is the ideas and thoughts of these young people that are going to shape society in the future.” I interpret this quote as Dr. Dyson stressing the importance of education and positive images. He is stressing the importance of young people learning since they are the future of America. America’s future should be bright and secure in oppose to dark and exposed.

Cortez A., U.S.

A Global Citizen

Cortez A., US

What do you think it means to be a global citizen? Be specific, and use imaginative examples or illustrations. Surprise us.

A global citizen encompasses a broad definition; it branches from ethical issues to international conflicts. Some believe that a global citizen is a person who is abreast of international news. Others believe that a global citizen as a moral obligation, which can create understanding between people of different groups. The aspect that I find intriguing and believe is a global citizen is being able to merge both definitions; in addition to taking action to change the world. It is through recognition and creating action that we are able to solve global issues. Merging the broadness of these two definitions form a more realistic perception of what a global citizen is. Being a global citizen is more than knowing statistics, it is more about trying to create change.

The recent tragedy that has befallen Haiti has brought a lot of collective action. Individuals from around the world, such as entertainers, athletes, political figures and the working class have come together to help the country of Haiti. They have come together to help a country that is truly in need. When looking at this information I consider these people as global neighbors more than a global citizen. A global citizen will be concerned with Haiti years from now. The concept of helping people does not stop after the media has stopped filming, the war against poverty, violence, disease, and economics still continues.

A global citizen is someone who works tirelessly to make international issues known. They promote international dialogue which can break down negative perceptions of different people and their country. A global citizen does not allow bias to consume his or her actions; he/she knows that as this happen someone is being hurt or misrepresented. A global citizen is concerned with every aspect of international equality from war, healthcare, to basic living necessities such as food and water. For example, statistics show, a total of 350,000 South Africans died from HIV/AIDS which is reported from UNAIDS. A global citizen would find ways to make this number known across the world via media, building coalitions, or organizing fund raising events. A global citizen would try to solve the problem by educating South Africans on the danger of unprotected sex and even implement programs to increase awareness. Doing this will help get to the root of the problem instead of idly sitting back and watching numbers increase.

A global citizen is not concerned with personal gain, but is instead concerned with the personal well-being of others. A global citizen knows that as he sits back lives can be possibly lost. A global citizens knows that he/she has unlimited potential to change the world and works tirelessly to do so. A global citizen knows that the end justifies the mean, and any help, aid, or support is welcomed. We must realize that we are an interconnected world that works hand and hand; it is bigger than the clothes on our backs and the business deals that are made internationally. A global citizen works tirelessly to fix issues that they see globally.

What do you think it means to be a global citizen? do you agree with Cortez? comment and let us know!

American Analysis on Class

Cortez A., US

I had to create my own class system based on what I see in America.

America is by far one of the most classified nations in the world. This nation has classes for different races and etc. America is also known as the melting pot for other nations. There is a classification system even based on how you dress. Class in America means everything to some people and nothing to others. The class system that you see on the cover page is based on an annual income. Race was not considered when making this class values set because economics affects all races. Everyone has the ability to become financially stable or financially unstable.

The Destitute Class has little to one-thousands dollars of annual income. The people of this class value the simplest things. These are the things that we take for granted. To be in a home of their own that has heat and running water would be only a dream. The people of this class interact with people of their class or people who may help them. The Homeless Class is not afraid to ask for what they need. Although people look down on them they still ask for change to get simple things such as sandwich. Society views this class with sympathy because they are lacking life’s necessities due to unfortunate circumstances. The people in this class may also turn to drinking because they have not attained the social status that they would have like.

The Makers Class has one thousand to forty-five thousand dollars of annual income. The people of this class value the concept of making it to high social status someday. Some of these people value education for their youth as a high priority. These people also value the concept of their children making it to achieve high class. The people are content with their children making it to the high class because the makers know they had something to do with it. The Makers associate with their class of people and occasionally associate with the High Class society. For those who don’t associate with other classes and persistently socialize with other classes lose out on opportunities to climb the economic ladder. These are the people who are content with living in an apartment, drink, fight and resort to other methods of attaining financial stability. They then blame everyone else because they do not feel secure and become dependant upon the government.

The Nuclear Family earn between forty-five thousand to two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars of annual income. These people feel that they have made a somewhat satisfied life. The Nuclear parents get up and go to work everyday. The mothers may pickup the children after soccer. The father is at the office sometimes late working so his family could feel good about their life. These people usually associate with all classes during special occasions. They feel that they have attained the American Dream anything above that is luxury. While people may think they are boring they are not. Some of these people are college graduates and members of fraternities and sororities still completing service projects. These people work hard to get the things they have.

The Buyers earn between two-hundred and fifty to three-hundred and fifty thousands dollars. The people of this class are secure with their possessions. They go out to clubs and have a social life. The Buyers social life is very important to the people of this class. They wear the designer clothes no matter how much it may cost. They are willing to go into debt or max their credit cards to have the latest fashions. These people visit the beach and gym frequently to stay in shape and meet new people. Despite of all of this they still get up and go to work with a high paying job.

The Spacers earn between three-hundred and fifty to five-hundred thousand dollars. The people of this class require a somewhat spacious environment. The Spacers value their environment. These are the people who work to keep their high property valued neighborhood clean. They value their cars and prestige that comes with being inside their class. The Spacers associate with all types of people. They keep their connections open since they may need to utilize them one day. They graduate at the top of their class and expect the same from their children. Society views them as financially stable people. A people who's worries are limited to where corporate stocks are going.

The Individuals earn one million to plus dollars of annual income. The Individuals are the ones who rank high in society. These are the CEO’s of fortune 500 companies; they started their company from an idea and watched it grow. These people are classified by their giving hearts by giving away money to organizations. These people wear comfortable clothing since they know they can buy whatever they would like to. Society views them as the leaders our economy and education is based on. These are the people who have very big houses, fancy cars, yachts, smartphones, large estates, and heirs. The Individuals have worked extremely hard to get what they have. They sometimes lack socially but compensate for it when they speak and talk about their accreditations.

As I come to a close I would like to say that these classes are based strictly on annual earnings. I am aware that people of different races can achieve any one of the financial statuses listed above. We are all trying to achieve is status to which we feel comfortable enough to say in our personal opinion that we have made it. All of these classes are starting to intertwine with each other to create mixed income neighborhoods which creates a better America.