Eating Disorders

by Angela

How many times today have you seen some type of advertisement for a wait loss method or for a diet plan, or even for some type of beauty cosmetic? The truth of the matter is that in America more than a tenth of all the advertisements that go on the radio or on television are either an advertisement for wait loss methods or for beauty cosmetics. Sounds normal doesn't it sure people are going to want to look good so generally the companies that make things to help them look good are going to advertise them the one thing that those companies don't realize and the one thing that even you might not have yet realized is that the main viewer of those t.v advertisements are non the less than children and teens.

Now I'm sure you might be saying now why is that such a big deal? Well because over the past years we have seen an increase in the cases of eating disorders among teens and children here in America.In fact in a resent study 1 out of every 2 teens out of a group of 100 students had some type of eating disorder.The most common types of eating disorders are Anorexia and Bolimia however other food-related disorders, like binge eating disorders, body image disorders, and food phobias, are showing up more frequently than they used to.As you might already know these are all psychological problems that come to such an extreme that they eventually begin affecting the person suffering from them physically.Now you might be saying that sounds bad but what does that have to do with television? As we all know as a child or even a young adult you will find some kind of icon or idol that will sort of be your inspiration or that will sort of guide you in what you want to be when you grow up.

Where are all these teens getting the idea that the only way to fit in is by being super skinny? That is where these illnesses come in and so does the media. Imagine you are a 12 or 13 year old girl and your favorite actress or singer is on television or on some other kind of advertisement saying how she did this crazy extreme diet to get skinny or she did that to achieve that very wanted super model look, Wouldn't you want to try that to? I'm not saying that it is that persons fault i am basically saying that at what cost are those people obtaining that "Super model look" now yes, we all want to look our best but I just strongly believe that by doing so those people are sending the wrong message across to the younger generations.Lets not forget that the younger generations are the worlds future and when that future is in a Hospital because they think that the only way to fit in in this superficial society is by having that "super model look" then we have a problem!

Now regardless of the whole being skinny at any cost thing, there is another main issue that America faces when it comes to the way people eat and their health, and that is Obesity.Did you know that obesity in adults has increased by 60% in the past 20 years while obesity in children has tripled in the past 30 years. Shocking isn't it? With these statistics and the ones from other eating disorders in America that makes up almost a third of the people living here. Actually 33% of adults in America are obese which brings us to the alarming issue of over 300,00 people that die each year do to obesity related illnesses such as heart failers and diabities. Surprising for one of the most richest and most progressive countries in the world.Well there really is no mystery there with the American life on the go, eating fast-food and microwave dinners, the health of the American people has suffered the consequences, consequences that even the earliest generations are starting to face.

This epidemic is yet reversible and that change could start with you and your family.Yes, that is true change can start with a walk at the park here and a healthy salad there.Healthy habits taught at a young age are what will make the difference for future generations, so lets start today.

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

When Home Isn't Home

As this picture indicates, domestic violence has been a part of America's history. People often don't take it seriously.

by Angela

Imagine living in the worst fear imaginable. Imagine not being able to go home to a loving caring family but to the worst of the abusers. Imagine seeing your mom or your younger sister get beat until they cant even move. Imagine not even being able to trust your own family with your safety because their the ones that put your life at risk. This sounds horrible doesn't it? Unfortunately this is the reality of hundreds of people all around the world. Domestic Violence is one of those issues that don't just affect one race they affect each and every one of them if you were to go India you would find at least one family that goes through this .The same would happen if you went to Vietnam, China, or Brazil. What a lot of these people don't realize is that they are not forced to go through this alone.

The real definition used to define what Domestic Violence is, is when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. This then leads to a set of events that further more leads to one of them being the victim and the other the aggressor unfortunately allot of the times they carry other family such as sisters brothers or their children into this problem with them. The saddest part is that allot of the time victims of Domestic Violence get accustomed to this way of living and it becomes an everyday thing.

Help

There are many reasons why domestic violence is such a common thing. For one people don't pay as much attention to this issue as they should either they don't pay enough attention or they don't speak up. That is the first mistake a person suffering from domestic violence can do, not speak up there are a lot of people that are willing to help them but they can't help if they don't know this is happening to them. Groups of people give these woman jobs and the skills necessary to go on on their own .Shelter is not a reason either because there are plenty of domestic violence centers that take these woman and their children in. People do all this because they understand how much emotional damage living in everyday violence can do to a child and even an adult.

Reasons for why Domestic Violence is something that affects us today

Domestic Violence is such a big issue because people are afraid to speak up, people always seem to have a reason for why why they keep that in the shadows, behind closed doors. For some woman it is that they not only get threatened with their life but with their children's life as well. In fact percent of woman that are being affected by Domestic Violence have children between the ages of a 0 months through 5 years of age. That in my opinion is what keeps allot of these woman from speaking up. They say to them selves how am I gonna raise a child on my own or my child has the right to grow up with his dad and well frankly that's true but I'll tell you what any child is gonna thank you more from giving him a peaceful happy home with only one of his parents that for giving him both of his parents but a violent childhood where he faced fear and neglect ion daily. Besides as I had already said if you think you can't make it alone you're wrong. There are allot of people that are willing to help woman that have suffered from Domestic Violence and all you have to do is ask for help.

What you should do if you know someone is going through this

If you know someone from your school or work or anyone else that is going through this help them out maybe you might not realize this but their not speaking up in an act of fear. Or if you don't want to get to much in their business then talk to them maybe that's all it takes to help that person out. Just by listening you could help them take all that stress and pain out of them that could make the biggest of the difference. So just listen to what people have to say.

Domestic Violence Helpers!

If you or anyone you know is suffering from Domestic Violence get help you can contact one of these people. They will care!

• AZ Victims Domestic violence shelter

• Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence 602-279-2900
  800-782-6400
  602-279-7270 (TTY)

• National 24 hr Domestic Violence Hot line 800-799-7233 or
  800-787-3224 (TDD)

• CONTACTS Shelter Line (Maricopa County Only) 602-263-8900 or
  800-799-7739

• Vermont Center for Crime Victims 1-800-228-7395

• Quigley House shelter

  24 hour hot line 904.284.0061; 800.339.5017

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25152449@N06/2458152521/

Could we have another world war?

Could another world war occur? Yes, because the war in Iraq and how every place wants to rule the world. and how we are fighting for the oil and the gas. Well there's a good chance that it can happen if the right events occur.

One of the main reasons for the first two world wars was the alliance system. Right now we are allies with other countries and if the try to start a war or some thing then since we are allies with them it will lead to a massive world war. One nation is going to ask us for help, because we are their allies. Then another nation will fight for their allies. For example, Iran is making a nuclear bomb then that can start another world war. If they attack Israel and we attack them, then the allies of Iran will attack us and it will snowball into a world war.

Well any thing can happen it all depends on what happens in the future. I hope it won't happen. If it does then it can be scary and sad because of the violence. All the stuff that we would have to go through again would be just like the last war, except more dangerous, because of the nuclear bombs.

sweet sixteen?

by Melissa

Is sixteen the right age to be driving? When you think about it there are a lot of things that aren't really I'm brought up to your attention. When you get the opportunity to get your license you jump at the chance. But if you knew everything that can go wrong you might want to rethink it.

If eighteen is the age of adulthood then shouldn't that be the age you get your drivers license? That is the age you leave your home and start your own life. It would feel more comforting to other drivers if you were a legal adult. If you had a few more years to mature you would understand all of the laws rather than just guess on what they mean. Many sixteen year olds don't take as much initiative to look through the entire handbook. The point is you would be much more prepared at the age of eighteen.

It is a lot of responsibility for such a young age. You need to remember to put gas in the car and change the oil. And those are things you have to do constantly. There is a lot of maintenance to it. Something unexpected could happen like the engine breaking and I'm almost positive most sixteen year olds can't fix that without being hurt. Further more, many teenagers can't handle that.

They aren't the safest drivers out there. A common craze that with teenagers is text messaging. It's an addictive activity. I myself am easily distracted by it and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Many people can't stop and don't think of the consequences, trying to text while driving could be the death of you or somebody else. It isn't illegal to do this while driving, probably because most adults have learned to multitask over the years and don't harm any one by doing this.

Many parents realize the things that can go wrong when their child is on the road. But unfortunately their children don't listen to them and do whatever they want most of the time. It is an age of rebellious phases that cause them to act without thinking. So in conclusion teen drivers aren't actually young adults there are too many things against them. The age is not a valid one and it should be pushed up to a more reasonable age.

why military action is necessary in Darfur

by Andrea's group

In the genocide many people were involved but the one who were most involved were the Muslim tribes.The Genocide killed about 400,000 people.2.5 million people lost their homes.Lots of things were going on at that time.Poverty and neglect ion.The people responsable for their killings were the Khantoum Gouvernent.It took place in the African union were they lived.Our question is why again its just like the holocaust.

This event relates to the Holocaust because a government was killing lots of innocent people who didn't do anything wrong to die like that. It also is kind of the same because they were getting killed because of their race. America is choosing to nothing because they don't want to go to war with them and they don't care about what is going on in other countries because they have their own problems. It's not different than the way we fought World War II while failing to liberate the death camps.

How could we stop the genocide in Darfur? We should send our troops to tribes and rescue them before they attack them. When the other side is using military force, a stronger military (ours) might be the only way to stop it. Then we could send medicine to the country in favor for them to deal more about the situation. We could send the people that were misplaced and send them back to their tribes. We could give them weapons in the tribes so that they could defend them self when they are under attack. America should try their best to stop the genocide in Darfur and using our military might be the only option we have.

save Darfur without violence

By Angela, Mackenzie, Sahian

The Genocide in Darfur is what has killed more than 400,000 people and has left over 2.5 million people without a home.It all initially began with two rebel groups who decided to launch an uprising against the government who then decided to respond to that with an scorch-earth campaign.The Scorch-earth campaign is when the government armed the bankrolling militias who later attacked the pour innocent civilians.The Genocide is taking place in Darfur which is in the region of Sudan is Africa which is one of the poorest part of Africa and on top of the enormous amount of poverty the people have to face they also have to face the horrible reality of the Genocide. Genocide is something that like the Holocaust many years ago needs to be stopped before it is to late!

This relates to the Holocaust all over again the holocaust is a genocide. Six million Jews died in the Holocaust because they were blamed for everything wrong. It was a clear example of scapegoating, as the Nazis blamed them for being inferior, dressinig wrong, killing Jesus, owning the banks and a host of other issues. Just because they were a different ethnic group, the Nazis attacked them. This going on in Darfur. It's a clear example of genocide repeating itself. They are killing because they look a certain way. I actually have no idea why we (America) are doing nothing.

It is obvious that the Genocide in Darfur needs to be stopped but the question is how. There are many ways that that could be done but all of them have some kind of violence involved and really I don't think that violence stops violence. For one the other nations that are around there that are seeing this going on should put a stop to it but then again wouldn't that just make an even bigger war. Then there's always the thing that the people living there could rebel against the government and help the poor people in the camps but then all that would do would be make the governments anger even bigger and more people would die. The best and easiest way for this to end is by the government liberating those people and forgetting about it but I don't think it will happen anytime soon.

On a more practical level, we can send supplies. We can raise awareness. We can raise money and send volunteers to change things. Perhaps another Gandhi will rise up and prove that there is a non-violent solution.

a letter to the president elect

Dear Barack Obama:

First and foremost, I attend Frank Borman Middle School. My name is Stephany Gonzalez and I've become extremely interested in the controversial topic of immigration. I have to admit that I am eager to inform you about self deportation. The "failure" of this event has intrigued opinions all around the country portraying to its happening. The point of view of everyone is is something of importance, but it has become a rare occasion once a teen speaks their mind, and this for one is on the behalf of every young adult interested in this issue. Any any informer I have provided a solution to this subject, in which I hope will become a reality.

Deportation has been present since 1882, a few years after the birth of this country, but now matters are getting more serious in result of the mistreatment of those who don't deserve that consequence or any, in most cases. Many don't realize but, millions of families have been separated in result of deportation, yet many don't feel anything at all when hearing this terrifying statement. What one thinks as a way to improve the daily basis of life, another sees as an absolute living nightmare. What if we were one more immigrant, unappreciated and discriminated against, the pain of losing every loved one would scar us for life in every sort of way? In the process of deportation thousands of undocumented workers are basically treated like wild animals, with no rights to protect them. Operation Scheduled Departure was the only way that many undocumented workers who have suffered throughout their arrival were given the chance to leave voluntarily and with dignity on their side. There are many requirements such as, having a clean criminal file. If our country definitely wishes to "disappear" our fellow undocumented workers the only dignant and efficient way is if the government/ICE would extent the terminated dates to more than a year and to other states.

Many are the arguments stating why it came to this decision of self deportation. The belief that economy is getting "lower" because of the high population in the United States. Citizens claiming,"job positions are stolen" in result of immigration. Last, but not least the high discrimination throughout the country that went to such an extreme point. In reality many of us are blind by what we choose not to gaze upon. Immigrants are supporting the gratefully. Many undocumented workers still follow the responsibility of paying taxes as anyone else and as many of us know those taxes go towards the government. In actuality job positions aren't stolen by immigrants, they're simply obtaining other opportunities granted by others, in which they can make a living out of. Self deportation is an evolved version of deportation. ICE is using this method to enforce immigration ordinances, but avoiding forcing others to migrate back to their native land. Moreover, self deportation has been caused by other smaller issues, which joined to form self deportation. Technically, self deportation has been an improvement because of the positive factors compared to deportation. In result of poor initiative it has unfortunately resulted in failure.

A fair law has been created by thought through plans, which is what this program lacked in several ways. As a result of the mishap there have been several complaints for and against this program. Statistics demonstrate that about six people have come forward as of August 13, 2008. When we see how long the duration of this program has been (August 5 - August 22) there;s no wonder why so few individuals have come forward at a late period. Many undocumented workers have other exceptions that consider much hesitation and the limit of time just isn't enough to think through. Those exceptions or unsure thoughts are caused by the lack of employment in their native country, leaving those who are important behind their lives, and the daily observing by unknown individuals. Such a hard decision should be given enough thought to become one-hundred percent certain of their actions, a year or so would be the precise period of time for a choice of this sort. Five states currently have had this program, but in order to become an efficient act there is a need for more states to withdraw this program. With more than 457,000 eligible undocumented workers for this program chances are every single one is scattered around this immense country. To create the perfect solution for this problem it's just a matter of looking at both sides, at the same time comprehending them, and realizing what makes obvious sense.

Thank you for all your time and consideration. I hope that reflect on my thoughts and try to improve the daily life of an undocumented worker. America is created by immigrants no human being should be deported from a country that also belongs to them. Justice is an element everyone deserves and no matters or any type of exceptions should be made, because of traditions and cultures. I hope that you realize how much of an important impact this will make on our society, you are the only hope the i-generation has for a better future.

Sincerely,

Stephany

a hidden cost to global warming

by Itzel

Global Warming is one of the world's most serious problems. Global Warming makes the world very tough to live in because it affects everyone. People and animals are affected greatly by Global Warming. Many people are trying to prevent more damages caused by Global Warming. Global Warming is pretty much like a pesky bug that needs to be squished before it squishes us. It's like a small infection that we have ignored and now we are wondering if it will ruin the entire body.

No good comes from Global Warming, because it damages our way of living. Global Warming damages our ecosystem. Ecosystems seem strong, but they are often fragile. When one species dies out, the result is a chain of reactions that can be devastating for all wildlife. Research shows that the warming of the earth makes it very difficult to grow crops, but also difficult for plants to grow in the wild. Global Warming is very important , if we don't take action the world may fall apart .

Animal-lovers find it sad to know that Global Warming is damaging animal environments. Global Warming is doing serious damage to many animals. One of the animals that really needs help because of Global Warming is the polar bear. Polar bears live in the Northern regions such as the Arctic, and rising temperatures are making the world warmer. It then melts many ice caps and prevents polar bears from hunting as much as they should be. Many die a slow, painful death of starvation.

The wildlife of the sea are struggling, too. Marine mammals need a correct temperature in order to make it. A slight rise in temperature can mean the destruction of a population. Fish that depend on corral reefs must now face the brutal reality of the ocean. How many species might have already died without our realizing it?

Are we safer?

Are we making America a better place to live in? Why or Why not? What could we do to make this nation safer?

Issues in the community

What is the biggest issue we face in our immediate community? Why don't more people do something about it?

freedom or safety

Which is more important: freedom or safety? This is an important question that we will deal with in-depth as we approach the topic of creating a nation. It is a tough one, because too much freedom will mean total anarchy, while too much safety means things are way too strict.

Will women ever have the same power as men?

Do you believe there is equality between men and women? Do you believe that a woman recieves the same opportunities as a man in our society? Will there ever be true equality between men and women?

Why are the people who start the wars never the same people who fight the wars?

A student last year asked me, "Why are the people who start the wars never the same people who fight the wars?" He wanted to know why Bush and the Congress didn't have to go out and fight in Iraq while his brother was on his third tour. It wasn't that this student hated the government or even the War in Iraq. He simply wanted to know why the people in charge don't have to be on the frontlines. What do you think?

Is your generation selfish?

In class, we read about a person who thought that your generation was selfish and disrespectful. He mentioned the people who laugh at disabilities, who pick on others, who cannot seem to understand that there are others around them. At the same time, our team last year logged in over two thousand community service hours. So, what do you think? Is your generation a selfish generation?

Where does racism come from? Will it always exist?

Tupac said, "Still I see no changes. All I see is racist faces. Displayed hate makes disgrace for races." Although I often disagree with Tupac, he had a point here. Racism is a powerful force in our daily lives often influencing us in ways we cannot predict. So where does that racism come from? Is Tupac right in saying, "Some things will never change?" Or will there someday be an end to racism?

Is it your responsibility to change the world?

Whose responsibility is it to change the world? Is it something left for adults? Is it something students can do? Or is it better to work on your own life and not try to change everything around you? If you do believe it is your responsibility to change the world, explain why it would be important to you. Describe some of the ways you, as a student, can change your world.

What is the biggest issue we face in our immediate community? Why don't more people do something about it?

give the press more access

Have you ever turned on the news and seen a baby being murdered? Ever found out that a bomb had been set off and you hadn't found out on the news last night? Which angers you more? Believing what the press says nowadays is a matter of trust, and that has slowly been taken away from. Even the media doesn't have the rights they had, they don't have the rights they're entitled to have. Some say that it's because war is too gory... I think otherwise. Sure war is horrible but, they had no trouble with it back then. I say the government doesn't want some things found out.

In the first amendment it is written that the press has the freedom to go wherever they want, even if it endangers their lives! They used to say it was their problem whether or not they risk their lives, as long as they knew what was going on. Today, the government is taking away people's rights... even those of the media. I don't know why they try to keep the truth from us. Some say it's for our own safety, others like myself think that the truth is the truth, and no one can take that away from us. We as citizens, we have the right to know what the people we put in office are doing for or against us.

In the middle of World War II the newspapers and the radio were filled with talk of and American bombs ripping apart the human structure. Nothing was hidden from us. It might have been a horrible thing for children to hear about but hey, the adults taking care of them should've implications of war and massacre. I doubt they know the words I've just written. Still, for the sake of the children, we do have to keep them ignorant to the struggles of life. It's not their fault the world in which they were born into is so messed up.

These days, almost nothing can be kept hidden. Sure they say that it's top secret and we'll never find out... Wrong! Someone always has a loose tongue and spills everything a good feeling, to know the truth. It turns bad when you learned it by force, knowing that they tried to keep you from information that was vitally important to you as a person and citizen. Right now, it seems like the government is trying to play hide-and-seek with us. Hiding the truth and waiting for us to find out. It's a cruel game in which it's crucial for us, the people, to win. No one likes being kept back from things they want... normal citizens are no exception. We feel and rage just like any other person. One that doesn't just isn't human. We need to know! We can't be held back of things that are sorely needed to help our families and friends. The media is a safe way of finding out what's happening in the world. But now, we can't trust even them. We think that all that sprouts forth from their mouths are lies, edited by the gov. to keep something secret. And oftentimes... it is.

All I'm trying to say that the press should have more freedom. If they're willing to risk their lives to keep us informed, so be it. It's only fair to them and us. We wanted to be a free country, and to tell the truth, I don't see much freedom anymore. It's sad to see so many wrong things happening in the war, than being ignorant to them. I don't know about you but I don't want to end up like the dummies that don't believe that the holocaust happened. I want the truth, and now!

unwarranted search and seizure

Unwarranted search and seizure can protect our nation but, it can also destroy it. It may help save a life or lives. It can help protect the people that have done no harm to the society. It can also help get a person that has done harm to society and is wanted for doing bad. With this people won't get away with something they might have in their car or on their body. Unwarranted search and seizure can bring down the frequency of crimes that happen around in the country. 

It can help save many people's lives. For example, if an officer stops a guy that looks suspicious and nervous, he may discover when he pulls over the guy that he was high. If the officer would have never done that, the guy could have imagined objects on the road that were not there and he could have crashed. He could have killed a child or an adult. That person could have done a hit and run.

There can also be bad things to this. An officer might think that someone is doing something bad because of their race or the color of their skin. In this case that officer would have contributed to racial profiling. Then people would rightly sue that officer or where they work. The officer might also pull over a person for being in the “wrong” neighborhood. That is also considered racial profiling. The people that are getting pulled over might judge that officer for his own race, and that is called being racist.

On the other hand, say an officer stopped a person at random and maybe he is wanted in another state or city. The police can then arrest him and send him to jail. They can also stop a person who is running from the law and that person can be caught in that process. For example, in "America's Most Wanted" cops who stop people for little mistakes like broken lights discover that some people get scared and stop and then leave because they are wanted people. If we do this, maybe a lot of wanted people can get caught for doing the wrong actions.

People can also think that this idea is really ignorant. If I got pulled over for no reason then I would be really mad. I probably needed to get to work and now I'm going to be late. People might also be pulled over at the airport and their flight is ready to go. First they have to be checked by that random police officer. They might not even make it to their flight.

In the passage of this law there is the concept of making unwarranted search and seizure legal. I lean towards this concept because many bad people can get caught. However, I feel it is also wrong because it is destroying our privacy. Our privacy is already being destroyed with the Patriot Act; now the government could use this new law as an opportunity to take over our privacy.There are many ups and downs with this idea. Ultimately it depends on the person’s perspective as to whether this law would be good for the country or not.

the AIDS epidemic

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected place out of the world by aids and HIV.About 22.5 million people in Africa had HIV at the end of 2007.There are four southern countries in Africa that have more than 20% of it's population that have aids.South Africa is experiencing on of the most severe HIV and aids epidemic in the world.At the end of 2005 there was about 5 and a half million people living with HIV.Almost 1,000 deaths occurred every day due to AIDS

It's not possible to cure aids or HIV so the people that have it will have to live with for the rest of their lives, but their lives will be cut shorter because of that disease that they have.It's possible to treat the symptoms but they'll still have to live with the disease until they die.Almost one in five adults are infected by that disease. The rate that the disease is spreading through out Africa is 100 hundred times bigger than the United States, still the sex activity is the same.

In some of the countries in Africa they expect the people living there to only live about forty years of age. More people in Africa are getting HIV/AIDS due to the shortage of nurses.So there would be less African Americans right now that wouldn't have that infection but they do ,and one of those reasons could be that they don't have a nurse to attend them and try to prevent them from ever getting the infection.

We need to do something to help them ,we have to remember that they are humans just like us. I'm sure that if the United States was going through an HIV/AIDS epidemic that other countries would see what they can do to help us, maybe not Africa because there is a lot of poverty over there,so they need to help themselves before they can help us.We should raise money to send over there so they can buy medications to help prevent the infection.Maybe the IMPACT money can go over to Africa next to help decrease the aids epidemic.