Short term peace goal

A zen proverb say "If a problem has a solution, worrying is pointless, in the end, the problem will be solved. If a problem has no solution, there is no reason to worry because it can not be solved." as a college student, I often find myself stressing over the smallest things. I worry about minut things that I really have no control over. If I remind myself daily not to worry about small problems, I will a have a better day and be more peaceful.

Long term peace goal

Throughout this course, I have come across Gandhi's 7 social sins. They include: Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without power, politics without principle, commerce without morality and worship without sacrifice. I think that if I apply these to my everyday life and keep them in mind, I will ultimately have a more peaceful life. I often take advantage of the things that I have, pleasure without conscience, and it isn't good for my inner peace.

Love knows no gender.

This video made me want to cry. Both because I was sad and also happy. My best friend in the entire world is homosexual and many members of my family are as well. I don't think that Michelle, my best friend, was ever really taunted at school, partially because our group of friends were very open minded. I loved how everyone in the video came together to stick it to the ignorant boys who were bullying the boys that were together. I am sure it took a lot of courage for the boy in green to go and stand up for the boy that was being humiliated. I admire people like that and try to be that way as well.

Peace Memo

To: English 1311

From: Amanda Ahumada

Date: January 11, 2011

Subject: The Coalition for Adolescent Girls

The Coalition for Adolescent Girls was created to help transform the social norm of poverty driven countries. The top 10 goals of this organization are: To give adolescent girls an officially recognized identification, collect data on adolescent girls and disaggregate it by age and gender to assess whether programs are reaching adolescent girls, increase funding for adolescent girls-and track what it achieves, expand opportunities for girls to attend secondary school, re-focus HIV/AIDS prevention strategies to focus on adolescent girls, re-orient health delivery systems to work for adolescent girls, economically empower adolescent girls by building and protecting their assets, make the law work for adolescent girls, equip adolescent girls to advocate for themselves and their communities, and mobilize communities, families, men and boys to support adolescent girls. Because everyone will be registered as newborns, they will have access to health services and education. The coalition provides government issued IDs for all boys and girls over the age of 10. This will help reduce underage marriage and reduce social and economic exploitation. By collecting data, the organization is able to increase accountability, share learning’s, target solutions, demonstrate success, and catalyze more sources. Increasing funds enables the coalition to assemble resources from foundations and corporations to meet the girls’ needs. Funding also provides schooling for all girls through lower secondary school. The girls are also educated about their rights as well as HIV/AIDS through prevention programs. Also, HIV resources are tracked to ensure that they are delivered and help to benefit the girls. The health delivery systems offer accessible, customized, confidential, and non judgmental services.  Another goal that the coalition is trying to reach is the protection of the girls’ assets.  What they are taught is being enhanced to build a marketable skill. To promote transitions to safe and productive livelihoods, the coalition is developing internships, apprenticeships and training opportunities. Hopefully with all of the education provided, the girls will be able to educate those around them, but also be leaders in their communities. They can help to enforce the laws and policies that improve and ensure their rights. This will help to advance the lives of their families but those of the community as well. The coalition was founded by the UN and the Nike foundation 6 years ago and since, has received support from over 30 leading international organizations. One can become involved and sign up for updates about the organization on the website. 

Three Cups ofTea

I think that what Greg Mortenson did for the people in is awesome. What made me the most happy was that he kept his word. By building the schools and educating women, he helped to stimulate their economy and gave everyone in the village hope for a better life. True success is done in small steps. At first I was a little bit disappointed that not all the women were able to further thier education but instead learn a vocational trade like how to sew, but then I realized that we have to learn how to walk before we can run. By teacher them how to sew, they are able to help support their family and stimulate the economy. Another thing that the community is being taught is personal hygiene. The CAI is also helping to provide clean drinking water. Dirty water is one of the main causes of death of a child. It makes you appreciate the fact that we can just go to the faucet and get water that won't kill us. It makes me feel bad for not wanting to wake up early for school. I should consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to further my education and I am blessed to be able to learn whY I need to so that I can do what makes me happy. Knowledge is power.

Beau Jo's

When I think of peace, I think of the gym. I go to the unimpeded memory of Estes park, Colorado, a picture in my mind I often retrieve while I am taking of my yoga classes. Our instructor tells us to clear our minds of clutter and visualize a peaceful place. I have never seen any place greener than Estes Park. So when I think of this peaceful place, I imagine it looking just like Estes Park. Everything there was calm, beautiful and the weather was so nice. It gave me a sort of inner peace just being there. The best way I can describe the feeling is the deep breath you take, the one that gets your breathing back to normal again you've run a few miles. You take a deep breath and you feel relieved. Now, I believe that we can all have this feeling if we just relaxed a little more often and were all a little more selfless. It is impossible to ever have world peace because selfishness is a trait we are born with. All arguments, fights, and wars have been caused because of selfish and egotistical reasons.