Frances - My Blog

I just created a group on facebook dedicated to the MDG: Eradicate Poverty and Hunger. Hopefully this group will bring awareness to all my friends and their friend's friends. The more people who join and participate, the more people ecome aware that students like us CARE. Kevin emailed me a great idea we could do and hopefully get this group more active. I really hope i have the same energy and excitement i have now throughout the next months or so. The people who participate the more events we can arrange and upload pictures to show how involved and dedicated we are towards this topic. I dont know how Mr Toth and other teachers will be able to see the group since i cant add them on facebook. Thats probably the only drawback. Oh yeaa, I also had the idea of submitting an article on a teen newspaper I was reading when I got home. I guess i have a lot of typing to do which I better get started. I also should work on submitting my MDG proposal to Mr. Toth.

Creating the group was encouraged by fellow student and supportive best friend Daryl Jane.

Im at the library again working on the MDG project. After the long lecture from Mr. Toth I feel so pressured to do this project. I guess I would just have to try focusing on helping the poor than getting a good grade. Ill see where that takes me. Ive raised 75 dollars so far for my famine fundraiser, however, the money alone is not enough to create a long term change. Somehow, I need to get the message across that will bring change within the hearts of people. I need them to care. I just dont know how to do it yet. I have to see Ms Ponce which I havent had the time to do yet. I havent checked yet if she has responded my email. I have to start working on my email to ellen and the prime minister. Im also thinking of making tumblr about a page devoted to people in poverty. SIGH :(

Im currently just waiting for Ms. Ponce to reply to my email on information of the validity of World Vision and where my money for the fundraiser will be used on. I was also inspired by my friend Daryl Jane to send an email to Ellen DeGeneres about my concerns on the MDG and hopefully raise awareness in her talk show. I have also been inspired to collect unused clothes I can donate to the poor. I just need to see if there are any organizations that will collect them and donate them to the poor around the world. Also, as I got to Curch today I will try to raise money.

It's a Friday, so we are working on our MDG's in the library. I have decided to read the book World Issues: Poverty by Kaye Stearman. It is an easy to read book with vivid pictures and situations to help me visualize what it means to be poor. I'm pretty sure I can use this book since I took it from the library cart. If not I will use Stephen Lewis' book Race Against Time as my back up or a book to use along side with the one I am reading now. I have also found out that I can not be able to use my position in the youth to educate the little children there about poverty. Maybe I can ask the youth's help with assisstance in my fundraising. I have decided to try to raise 500 dollars to World Vision. I am currently doing the Famine Fundraiser as my first donation option. World Vision is a great organization that uses about 82 % of its profits to programs. It is also well respected and approved of by Ms. Ponce, an activist in this school or a saint by other people's standards. I am going to research more about World Vision. I'm also kind of glad to be sort of working on this alone. I know some people have decided to group up which is tempting however I can learn to be independent. This doesn't mean I won't seek the assisstance from others though.

As of now, we all know how valuable Alberta is becoming because of its tar sands which will possibly be the next generation to power our fuel eating economy. But why should it be valuable? Do we not have the technology to produce cleaner products?
The process to extract this oil is very costly and damaging. A great portion of Canada's forest will be destroyed and replaced with pipes and structures. Even with this economic boom, ironically Canadians aren't becoming rich off their soil. It is the companies and investors who benefit the most. Canada should not only address its people but the wildlife inhabiting Canadian soil, way before we immigrants decided to make a home out of this land.
With the ongoing climate change controversy, our Canadian government and its global clients should be wise enough to say "NO TO TAR SANDS!!".