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December 17, 2016 - 01:45

                                                        IN COLE’S SHOES

“His good heart does not allow him to think constellationally. He does not connect the dots or see the patterns of power behind the isolated “disasters.” All he sees are hungry mouths, and he, in his own advocacy-by-journalism way is, putting food in those mouths as fast as he can. All he sees is need, and he sees no need to reason out the need for need.” (Cole 7) At first when I watched the Kony 2012 video, I supported Jason Russell’s non-profit organization, the Invisible Children. I mean, it would be so cruel not to agree with the fact that appropriate measures had to be taken to eradicate the atrocities caused by the warlord, Joseph Kony. Fitting myself in Cole’s shoes, would I give a donation in support of the suffering children? Yes, I would.

December 4, 2016 - 23:19

Two weeks ago, we had a very juicy discussion in class about whether we can stop the changes occurring to the planet’s climatic system or not. I was mesmerised by the views that were aired by my fellow colleagues. One against twelve (exclusive of our fabulous professor, of course) is what I would term the then position of the held discussion. Unfortunately, I was the crazy one-the misfit-the round peg in a square hole. I must say that, it was such a quirky feeling at first but it became interesting as the discussion unfolded. My other intellects talked of how we can change global warming and other climatic issues. However, my stand remains engraved in the fact that global warming is irreversible, and we can do nothing at all to change that. Basing my argument from the two weeks’ class, we discussed a scenario from the book, As the World Burns.’  I sided with the therapist’s opinion of the earth’s therapeutic goal; “For the patient to be at ease within the overall social structure and customs-not only to be free from pain but even to be…um…happy (P.46).”

November 19, 2016 - 01:31

“Every man for himself and God for us all.” This is my definition for the era we are living in. I welcome you to the 20th century where everyone wants to be competitive. Where nobody wants to be considered ‘less’ by the ever-judging society. Where everyone strives for the survival and benefit for his or her own good and doesn’t care about the external costs they impose on others. “Japanese genetic engineer Akari Ishikawa developed a form of lichenized fungus in which the photosynthetic partner consumed atmospheric CO2 much more efficiently than existing forms, and was able to grow in a wide diversity of environmental conditions… In public pronouncements, the Japanese government has maintained that Ishikawa acted alone, and cast her as a criminal renegade. Yet many Japanese citizens have seen her as a hero, who did what their government could not, or would not, do. Most Chinese scholars reject both positions, contending that the Japanese government, having struggled and failed to reduce Japan’s own carbon emissions, provided Ishikawa with the necessary resources and then turned a blind eye toward its dangerous and uncertain character” (P.32).

November 13, 2016 - 16:44

“It starts with the earth. How can it not? Imagine the planet like a split peach, whose pit forms the core, whose flesh its mantle and whose fuzzy skin its crust-no, that doesn’t do justice to the crust, which is, after all, where all life takes place” (p.1). All Over Creation by Ruth Ozeki is a novel that advocates for non-chemical agricultural methods. Besides the enormous family drama involved, it is also cornered at agribusiness and environmental activism. The seeds of resistance, an irrepressible eco-activist group, spawned protest In regards to genetically engineered foods. They stormed supermarkets and even went ahead to uproot the planted inorganic plants at Will’s farm. The novel contrasts anti-genetically engineered foods utopianism and pro-GMO utopianism which are both hinged in the western civilization. The collapse of Western Civilization is like All Over Creation. It addresses the grim issues of future change in the climate system, critiques neoclassical economics and externalities and forebodes the future demise of the western civilization.

November 5, 2016 - 00:17

Responsive parenting plays a major role in children’s development of cognitive and social skills. It shapes the growth and development of the child considering the various frameworks involved (social, cultural, educational) and not compromising any single one of them. Well, most of us can lose count of the number of times either your mother or father whipped you hard due to uncouthly behaviour. Looking closely in All Over Creation, responsive parenting was wanting in Lloyd Fuller’s household.

October 27, 2016 - 22:13

In Getting Mother’s Body by Suzan Lori-Parks, the relationship between Billy Beede and Willa Mae was dysfunctional. Billy Beede never wanted to be associated with her own mother. After they received a letter from Candy Napoleon about how she had sold some part of her land and that some developers were in the process of building a supermarket in the land where her mother’s grave lay, she threw all her cares into the wind. She said, “Willa Mae getting paved over don’t bother me none.” (44) She was not troubled by her mother’s death either. She told Snipes, “Willa Mae passed and it didn’t bother me none. I was glad to see her go.” (9) She called her by her name, Willa Mae, instead of mother. Albeit Billy Beede didn’t care about her mother, Willa Mae did care about her welfare. In the novel, Willa Mae posthumously chimed in and her songs mostly comprised of her advice to Billy. Well, she was a careless mother but she acknowledged the fact that her way of life wasn’t one that anyone would choose to emulate. She warned Billy from making the same mistakes she had. She sang, “Don’t do whatcha see me do.

Postings

Projects' Reflection
12/09/2016 - 23:53
Meeting elsewhere
11/14/2016 - 03:18
Response to IPCC
11/14/2016 - 02:59
All Over Creation
10/31/2016 - 23:17
Norris Square
10/26/2016 - 19:41
GETTING MOTHER'S BODY
10/17/2016 - 23:04
Project
10/03/2016 - 20:34
Problematic play
09/26/2016 - 17:42
Play
09/20/2016 - 01:22
Loner Chronicles
09/12/2016 - 01:18
BREAKING-FREE
09/01/2016 - 22:23

Reflections

December 17, 2016 - 01:09

Dear Anne,

Changing our environment, altering our identities! I was so excited when I was allocated this class for my Emily Balch seminar. I didn’t know what it entailed nor who my colleagues would be but still, I was so happy that my family members didn’t have peace that day because of me, who apparently was trying to explain to them so that we could share in the joy. Looking at things right now, I must say that deep down I am happy even more than I was back then. Happy because of this journey we partook together which I believe has been key to my final academic path in life and more so, because of the memories; good or bad that I will forever carry with me.