Seth Godin Wants You To Decide!

I liked what Seth was saying in his video, but it isn't something that I haven't heard before. If I understand him correctly, the Acumen fund is attempting to change the way that world approaches the poor and to start an economic system that includes growth on both ends, and not just siphoning money into the bottomless pit of a failing economy. This definitely seems to me to be an extremely good idea, because it is clear that our current version of helping the poor, while being well meaning, isn't really inspiring any long term change. Local sales and small investing is a really good idea, and I've actually been involved with some of the different projects that try to help do these things.

The first thing I became involved in was through the Vlogbrothers, a youtube channel that is committed to fighting worldsuck and increasing the nerdtasticness of the world. (That is almost a direct quote.) Every December, they have a thing called The Project For Awesome, which is basically where they try to get their entire internet community together and do some sort of charity work in a far away part of the world. A couple of websites tat really embody what Seth Godin was talking about are Kiva.org and Heifer.org. The first one is where you can invest a certain amount of money into a small business that then gives them about a year to get off the ground and pay back the loans that they received earlier. The second website is when you can donate a couple of animals or trees to a family and they are then obligated to share the offspring of those gifts with other members of their community, giving them a source of permanent income and a way of expanding their circle of influence. Kiva.org is a little more affordable for me because you only have to donate a portion of the loan cost, but I think both of them are good ideas and if we had more companies like that, we could probably be a lot farther along in solving our poverty problem.

Why Aren't They Doing That? Long Essay 1

So I haven’t yet accomplished this long essay because no matter how hard I thought, there just didn’t seem to be anything that I could think of that really made me want to ask, “ why aren’t they doing that?” However, after all of the time that I have spent watching a little too much television, the thing that came to me was the differences in the styles of commercials that they show. I noticed that there tended to be three different types of commercials, and only one of those types seemed at all useful to me. Therefore, I’m not really coming up with a new idea so much as wondering why the companies that use the other two types of commercials don’t switch the to the third type.

The first type that seemed really stupid and useless to me was the type where they basically just repeat the company’s name and phone number thirty gazillion times in a really loud creepy old guy voice. It didn’t matter if it was a soap or a car advertisement, the voice was super annoying and in my personal opinion, there didn’t seem to be any way that that sort of talk could convince anyone. I could just imagine multiple people being so upset that they turned off their tv’s or muted them for the few seconds that the commercials dragged on.

The other type of commercial annoyed me because it seemed to be trying too hard to be hip and cool. These commercials are the ones that just say a bunch of adjectives like, “ Sleek. Refined. Intense,” and then end with some picture but no real idea of what their product is. Some of them give you a website to visit, while others have a day that the “mystery” will be unveiled. Whatever ploy they use, I don’ t think it’s working. Nobody that I know sees a commercial like this and automatically thinks “wow, I’m so intrigued that I’m going to get off my couch, walk over to my computer, and spend time searching that website to figure out what that amazing product is.” To most, I think these are more a point of ridicule, and I really don’t think that these commercials help the company as much as they are paying to air them.

So, the only type of commercial that is left is actually a pretty broad genre. Some of these commercials are earnest, while others are centered on comedy. But the thing that all of these commercials have is emotional and personal appeal. Sometimes, watching these makes me want to go out and buy a cool perfume so that the paparazzi will love me. Others make me want to buy the amazing dinner that brings families together. Regardless of what they are about, these are the commercials that create our culture. Some commercials that are ten years old or more are still remembered today because of how they tugged at people’s heart strings. Why the companies with the first two types of commercials don’t use this one is of interest to me. I think it’s a mixture of what kind of advertising they can afford, coupled with the business savvy that the owners have. I mean, I can understand not being able to afford a Budweiser style commercial, but these commercials don’t seem to be helping much. Of course, many subscribe to the idea that there’s no such thing as bad advertisement, so I guess I can’t blame them for taking what they can get.

Why aren't they doing that Essay 2

There are these ads that come on TV late at night when I'm watching Cosby Show reruns that are definitely geared toward me - it's these two "best friends" that are raving about this little shop called "Plato's Closet" in South Bend. The idea behind why this store is so great is because you take your gently used clothes to the store in exchange for immediate cash and then can also buy great, slightly used clothes very inexpensively. The store is actually somewhere I'm planning on going tomorrow, but what really got to me about this ad is the stupidity of the girls in it - they actually have a few lines at the end where one girl says the shirt she's wearing was her friends before and the friend says the sweater she's wearing was once the girl's - implying they went to "Plato's Closet" in order to buy their "best friend's" stuff! How incredibly dumb! I mean if it were me and I was no longer going to wear something, instead of taking it to some thrift store for her to buy back, I'd just give it to her, and if I was selfish, just have her pay me a few dollars directly.

So when I next saw the ad the question of what is something we think could be improved or started was answered. I immediately thought why can't girls in Lamson set up a system where they don't have to go out and buy new or used clothes and such, they can just borrow from each other, or just buy directly from each other! We could have a website where you could place “ads” for what you were looking for, say a belt or a purple sweater, the size of the item you need, and when you would like to have it by, in case you needed it the next day the girl who has those things would get back to you promptly. Then those girls could respond to your ad with what they could supply you with and how long they would allow you to keep it. It seems almost perfect, but that’s in an ideal world.

But then I though about it a little more and the idea could fail in a lot of ways - I mean what if someone dirty borrows my clothes, or someone mistreats or breaks the clothes, or I borrow clothes from someone and I catch a rash or something - nasty!! We could require “customers” to wash the clothes before returning them, but how could we be completely sure that they did so, and what about in the case of garments that require dry cleaning. A small fee could be charged so that the facilitator of the program could hire people to be in charge of the proper washing and dry cleaning, but then many of the potential “customers” would find it wiser to invest in that item themselves instead of repeatedly renting it. Plus, with different people employed in the business, fees could begin to mount.

Then it seems that this idea would have to be based on the honor code – we trust that the supplier is providing clean clothes and is clearly stating any damages that the garment has previous to being “rented” (they could fill out and sign a form stating the above before each lending occasion, specifying a date for the item to be returned) and the customer is returning the clothes washed and with no damages, but not dry cleaned if that is what the garment requires (they too could fill out and sign a form that explains that they are returning the item by the date specified, washed and with no damages). Then in the case of a disagreement between the two, a third party who is voluntarily in charge, such as a Lamson employee, could review these forms and solve the problem. In the case that one does not meet the requirements, they would have to pay to replace the clothing or pay a fine for whatever condition they did not meet and either be put on public probation or expelled from the group.

You might say that this idea is a tad far-fetched, but with the heart to help of many of the Lamson women I think it could potentially be a success.

Media and Education Essay 1

When it comes to media and education there are obviously pros and cons to using it in the classroom. Media and technology, whether we think it is useful or not, is only going to become a more intimate part of our lives as time progresses. As can be seen in the trend of cell phones and computers – Ten years ago few people had cell phones, and at that they were all adults, while today it is unheard of to not own a cell phone and many children who have not yet entered high school are a part of that population; Same goes for computers which were as large as entire rooms and never thought to be something operated for personal use but now occupy every home and college student’s dorm room.

With the trend of owning these devices goes up so does our society’s use of them. It seems that we are growing a generation of children who cannot survive without instant answers from the internet, quick communication via texting or e-mailing, and entertainment from video games and television. As youth are increasingly exposed to media and their lives become saturated with it what are they missing out on? Are their childhoods ending sooner? If you ask me the answer is yes. Their over-exposure to media, constantly watching TV or playing video games detracts from their creativity and imagination. If they never go outside how can they learn things about nature on their own, if they never read a book will they be able to imagine as well? Called me old-fashioned, but many of the traditional teaching techniques and ways to learn are still beneficial.

I do believe that incorporating technology in the classroom is good to a certain extent, especially since children must be equipped with the skills to use it in order to survive in the job market and world at large. Without using it many teachers won’t be able to reach their students. However, with the proliferation of media and technology in all other aspects of life I think it wise to stick to many of those traditional teaching tools because they will be novel to such technology savy children – with those techniques the children will experience and be exposed to things that they haven’t been anywhere else.

With technology also comes higher expectations. Children are now leading busier lives than ever before, juggling so many activities and responsibilities. In order to get ahead a child must be in extracurricular activities, be a strong student, help the community, etc. and the age to begin this upward journey is getting lower and lower. With internet, e-mail, texting, and the works it is expected that we constantly communicate and be super productive. At what point do we take a break and turn it all off? When do we let children be children? Technology is taking precious time away from many of the other things we as people should be doing and there is no exception for children.

Technology can help us get a lot more done, and at a faster pace, but it can also distract us and actually numb us to thinking creatively and doing things differently. There are good things and bad things about it, as there are with most things in this world, but I feel educators need to not rely so heavily on it and make sure that their students have mastered the abilities that are becoming extinct instead. For the most part everyone is going to have some degree of knowledge about how to use technology and the media, but what they're probably not going to know how to do is write a poem, brainstorm their ideas, read the body language and social cues of others, etc. That is what is scary about integrating the media and technology into education as heavily as we are seeming to do.

Essay #2 - extention of service face to face

After looking over the books agiain for our paper, I was brought back to this question of direct service. Something that I strongly believe in is that we need to be there for one another and helping eachother, otherwise we won't survive. Especially as a christian I take it seriously when in the Bible God tells us to take care of our poor. Why should I have plenty and someone else be in want? I can share, help them have plenty and still have plenty myself. It also brings me back to the arguement of small government. I argued with my roommate so much during the elections about this. I voted republican because I believe in small government (mostly why I voted for them...not the sole reason), she thought I was crazy and tried over and over again to prove that I was making a bad decision. When I pointed out this concept from the Bible of us needing to take of the poor not the government, she whole heartedly agreed, but then said something that has bothered me ever since, she said that yes, it was true, but since we aren't doing it and won't do it, someone should, and it falls to the government. what? governemnt by default? No. It is our responsibility to take care of eachother, it is our rights as humans. Unfortunately we live in a time where no one wants to be responsible, in fact they want someone else to be responsible for them. This is why the earth is deteriorating right in front of us.

I suppose it still comes back to needing the experience and needing to be involved as a responsible human party. It is not someone elses responsibility, it is yours, it is mine - we need to do it.

(*Below is the origianal post that was extednted)


Is there a need to offer direct service (one-on-one) to the poor in the world?
This is the question posed to us and my answer is a very strong "Yes".

Reason #1 - out of sight out of mind syndrome.
If you haven't seen what you are trying to help, or writing off as a tax cut, then you are not really thinking about it. How much more powerful is it when something is experienced instead of donating. Even TV commercials for sponsoring the worlds starving children can not do justice to seeing, and touching and smelling what the commercial is actually talking about. I know that there is the the argument that it would cost less to just send the money down and create more jobs to have the workers there do the service projects, but then the experience is taken out of this part of life. Hiring locals is a good concept. On the mission trips I have been a part of we have often hired locals to help with the project and do specialized tasks as well as leaving money behind to continue the process. A plane ticket is expensive, but it always comes back to the needing of the experience. Being a part of something changes people, commercials don't - they have de-sensatized us.

Reason #2 - It will mean more to the poor
Seeing your face and interacting with you will mean more to someone who needs your help than receiving something in the mail with your name on it. It will have such a great impact on their lives to meet someone who cares - the letter in the mail doesn't due caring justice. It gives you an opportunity to build a relationship, to help more than just with money, but with time, advice and love. Your sphere of influence will be much larger if you go.

Reason #3 - Ignorance is not bliss - (related to #1)
I lived in small town pennsylvania where there were people who had never even left their county. They tend to be referred to as Hicks. They only know their lives and their neighbors and they only know one way of life. By traveling to other places - (including a new county where they might be a soup kitchen) - you learn about other cultures and ways of life. It greatly diversifies your life and enriches it. Americans in general have the reputation for being narrow minded in this area - we live as Americans, wherever we go. This is not what I would call a good reputation. Learning new things and new ways brings people closer together and will enrich globalization....which does not translate into everyone will become westernized. As we learn from our differences and enjoy them, it should result in less war and hostility and even help us come up with alternatives to bad lifestyles. We need to help each other, we can't do that from separate continents by checks in the mail.

Reason #4 - Why not you?
I saw one of the other posts that talked about the bystander effect - assuming that someone else will do what needs to be done. But, then it never gets done because we all think someone else will do it. But why not you? Why someone else? If we all get directly involved, if we all think the opposite, I need to do it cause no one else will, then maybe something would get done. The world needs to be changed, but to do that it needs people willing to participate. So why not you?

All of these reasons tend to find their way back to the world of experience. Experience for the giver the receiver. A concept of contact an relationships. These are basic human necessities, money is not - it is a necessity but other things are actually more important, even to poor people. This isn't to say that you need to go out on every mission you can or that you need to become a missionary, or even that these organizations don't need those lovely tax-deductable checks. But even just in the community, getting out and being involved in helping the poor, making friends and relationships - that is what makes a difference. You don't have to fly across the world to be involved directly - but you do have to be involved directly to make the difference the world needs.

Extended Blog 2

Back in high school, a couple of my friends and I used to visit a children’s home on Saturday afternoons. It was just a temporary home for kids who, for one reason or another, had to be separated from their parents/guardians. Some of those kids came from very poor homes or homes not conducive for young kids. When we visited the children’s home, we would play with the kids, sing worship songs, perform skits, and even tell them stories from the Bible. Sometimes, we’d play tag, kick a soccer ball around, color pictures, or just watch them as they showed us how to play a certain video game or two. In a way, we were there to just play and interact with them. Bring some joy into their lives and show them that someone cared.

Every time we would visit, the kids were so excited to see us that they’d be jumping all around, each trying to turn our attention towards them specifically. Sometimes, I’d even have two kids grab one of my hands and try to drag me towards the swings or slides. It was obvious that they were glad that we were there. Their eyes would sparkle and toothy grins spread across their faces. You could very clearly see the happiness on their faces when they saw us coming in through the door. The hardest part was when we would have to leave. They’d all be holding to our arms and legs, asking if we could just stay a bit longer. Some would even make us promise that we’d be back again to visit or else they’d never let go.

Because of the time I spent with those kids, I firmly believe that just giving monetary donations to those considered “poor” isn’t enough. No doubt, money would be helpful in providing for their basic necessities such as food, clothes, and shelter, but I believe that people should take a personal interest and get directly involved in helping the poor. For some, poor doesn’t just mean they are lacking in monetary funds. For some, poor means they’re lacking in happiness, compassion, and love. I know that those kids at the children’s home benefited more from our direct interaction with them than if we were to just donate money to the facility. What brought a smile to their face was the fact that we took time to just talk and spend time with them; that we cared about them. The direct contact we had with the kids made more of an impact on their lives (hopefully for the better) than any money we could have given to them.

If you really want to make an impact, a personal one, I believe getting involved is the key. While I believe that a personal interaction with the poor is greatly beneficial, I admit that obtaining enough funds is still important. Without the proper funding, the basic necessities to live on aren’t easily available. People need food, shelter, clothes, and other basic amenities; even the poor. In order to fill those needs, money needs to be available. For those who really can’t find the time to get actively involved, it becomes easier to just donate monetary gifts. I understand how time-consuming family, work, and/or school can be and I acknowledge that for some, monetary gifts is all that they can spare. What is most important is the intention behind the action. Don’t give money just because you feel obligated to, because other people are doing it, or because it will give you a tax deduction the next time tax time comes about. The giving should be because you actually care about those who will benefit from your generosity. For some, they just give money because it’s the easiest thing to do and they don’t have to “dirty their hands” in the process. They give and they feel as if they’ve fulfilled their philanthropic obligations. If that’s the case, what’s the point of giving in the first place? Would you still give even if you knew the target people weren’t getting the majority of the money being contributed? I believe it’s important to remember the people in need. I may come off as being an idealist, but what’s wrong with that? All I know is that while money is an important facet when helping out the poor, people need to remember that a little bit of personal interaction can go a long ways.

Extended Blog 2

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struck on the side of the head (essay #1) erin hannah

After living with a political science major and reading Common Wealth what I would do differently is our government. I am not sure how I could actually go about it, a government is a lot bigger than just one person, as it should be, but still needs to be more so. If I truely live in a democracy, difinition being government by the people, why do so many things happen that the poeple seem to be against. Because our government has too much power and the political game is what politicians are concerened about other than the best for our nation, and the world.

Most poeple don't even know what is going on in the world of policy making and legislation. Myself included in that most poeple. I am trying to be more aware of my government and their decisions so I can be educated and not surprised (although I am rarely surprised by the governement). This is the first step that I think needs to be changed. People need to be more educated and aware about their government, and in reality the worlds governments. If we think that what we do in the United States only effects us then we are mistaken. Also policies passed in other contries will effect the policies we pass and so forth. If we are to be a government run by the people, our people must be educated, this is not the job of the government to educate, nor is the job of the media, it is the job of the people. In our elementary schools and middle schools and highschools, we should be encouraging them to know what is going on, as well as they can and their age allows. I had one government class in highschool for five months, and it taught me the basics of how a government is run but nothing really of the current affairs.

Colleges and Universities should have more awareness on campus about the current affairs. As a student you should be old enough and responsible enough to do your own research and read the papers, but as a campus on the whole, it should be important. I don't really like politics at all, or really even want to know about it, but I need to know about it. I don't want to go to war or to cut down the rainforest, if I don't pay attention these and other things will go on without my knowledge and then when it is done I will care, but it is too late.

So many people don't even turn out to vote, let alone know who they are voting for. My roommate would have said I was one of them because I did not vote as she did, but I did my homework and voted accordingly. I suppose I would like to change the campaign as well. Why do we simply bash the other candidates and not focus on ourselves and our good qualities. I would much rather learn about what a candidate is good at rather than what skeletons are in their closets. The commercials used to simply bash the other party are worthless and make me loose respect for all parties. The debates where things are pointed out that I don't really need to know, because if I am paying attention and aware of my government, I will know basically when they are "stretching the truth" (they are politicians, they always are). But I want to hear what you, the candidate are going to do and what you want to see happen and what you think is best for the nation, not simply that you are a better choice than the other guy - I can make that dicision for myself.

So I am not sure if I was struck upside the head with this, or if it has just been a long enduring headache, but this is something I think we need ot change - we need to remember what our constitutions says and what this nation is founded on and remember that we came to the new world to excape oppressive governments. But we will have no excuse when it comes to that and we find that we the people are to blame because we didn't take the time to be aware.

Extended Blog 1

All through my elementary and high school years, I remember my family always being busy. My parents worked long hours and many times brought work home, my 3 siblings and I were involved in a myriad of activities ranging from school work, extra-curricular activities, participating in competitive team sports, music groups, holding leadership positions at school, and even volunteering in church-related programs. With all the responsibilities each member in the family had, it was always difficult for the whole family to spend much time together.

That’s why we usually designated Friday night dinners to a small group consisting of our family and 2 other families that we were extremely close to. It became pretty much a tradition throughout the years: our Friday night potlucks. No matter how busy our schedule was that week, we’d always have that specific meal where we’d be together. It was a time of happiness and companionship. Throughout the week, I would find myself looking forward to those dinners because I felt contentment and delight when we assembled together. Those meals sort of reminded me of how God set the seventh-day Sabbath as a specific time where we could rest from the hectic schedules of our week and just spend time with Him. Friday night dinners, just like the Sabbath, were set times in my mind where I could be assured that I’d have a great time and feel contentment, enjoyment, and overall peace. It was a time of fellowship.

Another meal I felt was quite spiritual was when my siblings and I decided to put together a special meal for our parents. Like I mentioned earlier, we’re quite the busy family and can’t always eat meals together. But one Sunday, we decided that we wanted to surprise our parents. So while they were busy running errands or playing tennis, we got the meal ready. My sister and I, being the two oldest prepared all the food. We prepared baked-salmon seasoned with Creole, an oriental soy-sauce mix, and topped with sautéed slices of ginger and green onions. We had also cooked a common Filipino noodle dish called pancit (very similar to lomein), baked vegetarian dinner roast, fried some egg rolls, and had two pieces of crispy cream-cheese wontons. To top it off, my sister and I also prepared a dessert dish called tuxedo brownies. The tuxedo brownies, while it doesn’t really “go” with the rest of the meal, had a rich layer of chocolate Hershey brownies, a thin layer of raspberry jelly resting between the brownies and layer of cream-cheese/white chocolate/whipped cream mixture, and topped with fresh raspberries.

While the meal was very delicious, the best part was my parent’s expression when they came back. They were really surprised and very grateful for all the work we did to put things together. For me, it was really great because we had the opportunity to sit together and eat as a family. While most families (I’m guessing) are used to eating meals together, my family doesn’t really do the traditional everyone eating at the table meals. We eat when our schedules allow, and most times our meal time schedules don’t really match up. That’s why that particular meal was so special to me: I had the opportunity to do something for my parents. The Bible says to honor our parents and through the preparation of the meal, I was honoring my parents for all they’ve done for me.

Meals can be a very spiritual experience if we just take a moment to be grateful. Many times, we take food for granted mainly because we [in America] are so used to having the benefit of having food at our disposal any time we want it. Because it is so easily accessible to us, we become immune to the great blessing food is. There are many people less fortunate than us who can’t afford such bountiful meals or even food to fill their stomachs. So many times, after big meals such as Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner, so much food is wasted and yet we don’t give it a second thought. If we just took the time to be thankful for the food God has blessed us with, then we would realize just how important the significance of food is.

Food provides the human body with the physical sustenance it needs to function properly. Without it, the human body would become weak and susceptible to sickness and disease. In the same way that food is our body’s energy provider and sustenance, God and His holy word acts as fuel for our spiritual lives. God has blessed us with so much spiritual sustenance, but many times we waste it take it for granted. As Christians, we’re so used to having access to His Word that we sometimes we forget how much of a blessing having that easy access is. But we should remember that just like humans can’t survive on large meals of food once a week, our spiritual lives can’t flourish on relying on one huge setting of spiritual fulfillment. It needs to be done on a consistent basis. Remember, little but frequent is better than lots at large increments.

EXTENDED BLOG POST #2

Going Green

The environment that we live in today is definitely not the best in human history. It would even be safe to say that it is one of the worst environments that we had to live in. Overpopulation may be one of the worst environmental problems that we are experiencing in our lives today. As a result of rapid population growth, there has been deforestation, air pollution, and the mismanagement of water and chemicals, among many other consequences. The exponential growth of the human population on the earth is stressing the global earth systems. It causes the mass extinction of some species because we are depleting the world’s forests, as well as other animal habitats. Air pollution causes the lowering of the pH of rainfall, making acid rain. Overusing, wasting, and contaminating our freshwater resources stress our worldwide water supplies. The poor use of pesticides, Persistent Organic Pollutants and fertilizers become threats to human health. There are just so many unfortunate consequences as a result of us not caring for our environment.

There have been many attempts in trying to revive everyone in caring for the environment, but most of the efforts have gone to waste. There may have been a spark in the beginning but as people start to go back to their old lifestyle, they lose interest in helping the environment and continue to about their self again. I have tried to come up with a few ideas that will take almost no effort that will have positive effects on our dying environment. One person will probably not make much of a difference, but together as a whole, I believe that it will make a tremendous difference in saving our environment.

The first thing would be to recycle. We throw away so much trash every single day, and we rarely ever think to recycle. Instead of buying disposable, we should choose reusable products. Whenever we can, we should recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, and other recyclable products. Most places have a recycling program, but maybe it is because it is not advertised well, but all of our trash still goes to the normal trashcan. It is not present in our mindset how much help recycling will have on our environment. By recycling just half of our household waste, we can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually!

Another thing that we can do is use less heat and air conditioning. We really use excess heat and air conditioning. If it is summer, the air conditioning is blasting from homes, stores, and public buildings. In the winter, the heat is on 24/7 for months. I have even experienced people that have the air conditioning on even when the window is open. I look at that, and I’m just like, “Really?” We fail to realize how much energy is used to use our heat and air conditioning. By setting the thermostat just a mere two degrees lower in the winter and two degrees higher in the summer saves about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year! We can do so little, yet save so much energy and have a positive impact on our environment.

Being the technologically advanced society that we have become, we rely and depend on things that are not absolutely necessary. One example is our means of transportation. We use our cars so many times during the day, and some people drive around just for fun, or to clear their head. However, if we drive less and drive smart, that means that we are using up fewer emissions. By not resorting to our cars all the time, we also get exercise. Walking and biking are great forms of exercise, and if you bring a friend it can be just as fun as driving around in a car. If walking or biking seems impossible, there is always the mass transit system or even carpooling. We also save money and gasoline, which is not all that bad, as the prices for gas is high anyways. Every gallon of gas that is saved not only helps us economically, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere! Of course, adjusting to this one will be harder than recycling or using less heat and air conditioning, but we need to realize how much it benefits our health physically.

There are many other things we can do. Simple things like turning off the water from our faucet while we brush our teeth, or turning of the light when we really do not need it really helps in saving our energy. After all, we do not even need it, yet we are just wasting again and again without even thinking about it. We really need to recognize that we are harming the Earth and do something about it. And although it is important to come up with ideas of how to go green, I think it is equally as important to follow through with our decisions. We can do this by actually doing everything we know we should be doing to help our environment, but another way we can follow through is by encouraging other to conserve. We need to share information about recycling and energy conservation with as many people as we can because there really are so many people out there that are not conserving because they don’t know that they are harming the environment. We can also reach others by encouraging public officials to establish programs that are good for the environment. Our ignorance is killing the environment, and I think we often fail to realize that this is our environment. We live on this Earth and ever so often take its natural resources for granted. We need to hurry and take action before it is too late. Once it is too late, we can never go back. Before that happens we need to set our minds and save our environment. After all, we are helping ourselves because we are the ones living on this Earth.

EXTENDED BLOG POST #1

Sunny Kim

Tatiana Kim

The Role of Media in Persuasion

In this advanced society, media has a tremendous role in influencing and persuading the people. The media is connected with almost every aspect of our lives, including television, radio, and advertisements. As a result, mass media has the capability of changing our worldview in just an instant. Opinions can change overnight and celebrities can become infamous with just one wave by the media. So great are its persuading powers that the actions of many people are under the influence of media. Although there are positive sides to such a great power, there are also some negative impacts that the media presents.

On the bright side, media enables the latest information to reach people in just a matter of minutes. Not only can people from across the world hear of it in such a short time, they can have a visual picture of what is happening attributable to the vision of media. The easy and fast availability of all sorts of information makes media one of the most reliable sources for forming pubic opinion. It also has the ability to bring fame to ordinary men, as they are given the chance and the power to reach out to the society as a whole. Media also bridges the gap between the political leaders and the masses by becoming the channel of communication. It keeps a check on the politicians and the leaders of the government. Through media, social causes have been promoted, such as health management, AID awareness, and literacy.

This has been a powerful source of awareness; however, there are negative sides to media as well. Although media presents information as fast as they can, it is often not objective at all. Media has the tendency to adversely affect the thinking process of individuals and instill negative thoughts in the society. I believe that media works in two ways. One, media portrays an ordinary thing so negatively that it may force people to think or act in the opposite way, and two, media portrays a crude thing in such an ordinary light that it makes people become numb to its vulgarity. For example, the media almost seems to glorify violence and graphic images to the point where it is normal to show it everywhere. I just find it so appalling to see children who are younger than me basking in the violence and vulgarity of television shows and movies. They keep their eyes glued to the television screen, and are able to watch everything without flinching because they have become so numb to it. Whenever I see any sort of vulgarity, I still cannot help but cringe. I cannot imagine what effects this childhood bringing might have on their character and thinking patterns.

I think that the media often goes out of its way in advertising certain issues. They have a certain expertise in being able to craftily package an unhealthy message in their presentation and make it accessible to the public. For example, there are countless movies that show people killing someone else and getting away with it, and not only that, but they also somehow become rich and famous. These movies give entertainment to the viewers. At the same time, it also encourages them live a life that is risky and adventurous. This way, I think that the media shines upon the bad aspects of people and encourages them to act in forbidden ways.

Although there are some things that I have not yet grown numb to, it would be impossible to say that media has not affected me in any way. I interact with media on a daily basis, whether it is with the Internet and the World Wide Web, or the music that I listen to. It has definitely had a part in shaping my thinking process, as I grew up with watching the television in my free time. I did not watch as much in relative to some of the other kids in this present day because my parents did not allow me, but nevertheless, I was still exposed to television media. Often, the older generations were taken aback by what my age group used to watch. I can’t imagine what they would think about the newer generation. Media and its contents are always changing and it seems to follow the trend of becoming more and more vulgar.

The media, which is often known as the fourth pillar of democracy, has an immense impact on our society. It is such a powerful too that it literally governs the direction of our society today. Not only does it provide the direction of our society, it also pushes society in that direction. Its power has the ability to form and alter opinions. Often, these formations and alterations can happen in just an instant, which makes media all that much more powerful. There are many of us who wake up to media, and fall asleep to media. Our society has become so dependent on media, that life without the media has simply become unimaginable. Although our experiences in life shape us as individuals, it would be safe to say that media has the most influence over our choices and decisions. The question we should ask ourselves is this: how much of your life are you willing to give to the media?

Essay 2

Several weeks ago during Chapel, there was a video they showed that inspired me reflect upon myself and my place in the world. The video started off with a guy standing next to a big brown box covered with labels such as War, Hunger, Poverty, Global Warming, and basically everything else that was wrong with the world. The guy, who is reading a book, does not seem to notice or care about the box and its contents. A girl comes along and sees the box, and seeing the guy she asks if it's his. The guy, as if seeing it for the first time answers, "No, it's not my problem," and goes back to reading his book. The girl says, "Well, it's not my problem either, but someone's gotta take care of it." The message that the video is trying to get across is clear.

We may think that since we have nothing to do with the world's problems, we don't have to care or do anything about it. No one is certainly forcing us to do anything. We already have plenty of our own problems to deal with. Even though we aren't directly affected by the world's problems, we all share the same planet, and one day we'll reach the point where we can't afford to stand on the sidelines anymore. We can't ignore the box forever. But the question is, who will stand up and claim the box?

Jesus set the ultimate example by shouldering all the sins of the world and dying for us on the cross. Not out of pity, not because he had any sort of obligation, but because he loved humans and genuinely wanted to save them. He was the one person who took up the box representing all the evil and suffering in this world. In Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, we are told to be good neighbors and treat others as you would have them treat you. We've all heard this golden rule before, but many of us don't really bother to put it into practice. I'm like the guy in the video. As a college student, there's always so much reading and studying to do that most of my attention is focused in that area. If I divided up my time as percentages, it would look something like this:

Time I spend doing and thinking about various things throughout the day (excluding sleep):
70-80% School
15% Eating
5% Thinking about God and the world

These are all approximate values, but it shows how little time I spend thinking about what I could be doing to contribute to the world. Most of the time, I only think about God in the morning and at night when I go to sleep when really, I should be thinking about him all the time. God should not be this separate thing from my life where I only come to him twice a day; instead, I should maintain a constant connection with him throughout the day. If I spend this little time with God, then the time I spend thinking about the world's problems is almost nonexistent. How sad. Life is so much more than school and eating. In fact, a lot of us spend half our lives in school, and the other half working, then retire and spend the rest of our days in leisure. Is this really all theres is to life? What if I devoted 10% of my time to God? 25%? 50%? 100%??? How would life be different? It would certainly make life more meaningful. I think that one of the consequences of having a relationship with God is to become more and more aware of the world around us.

As Christians and stewards of the earth, we have a responsibility to take care of it as best as we can. No matter how busy I become or the mountain load of work I have to do, I should always keep the bigger picture in mind, and set aside time to think of God and others. Even though the big, ugly box is not ours, someone has to take care of it. And that someone starts with me.

Longer Essay 2- Time and Giving

The question is: Should we personally interact with the poor and those in need? And the answer is yes. I am a Christian, which means I am a follower of Christ: therefore I should follow His lead. In the Bible Jesus spent time with those who needed it. He just didn't heal, but he taught and ate with those who were in need of Him. But don't take my word for it, in Matthew 9: 9-13 it speaks about how the Pharisees confronted Jesus about eating with sinners. In this text we see that Jesus did not keep His distance, in fact He said that it only made sense that He spend time and give of Himself to those who needed Him most. Therefore, as Christians I believe that we need to have a hands-on approach. Yes it is nice to share your resources with those who are less fortunate, but is that enough? I don't think it is.

1 John 4:12 says that God dwells in us if we love one another. How does a person know that you love them? I think one way a person can display the love of Christ is by giving. Not just giving money or material things, but time and a listening ear. The thing is, we have a responsibility to the poor. Not only do we have to take care of them financially, but we have to allow them to see Christ through us.
I believe that spending time with those in need can also lessen the rate of poverty. Last year I did a report on the high school dropout rate in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and I discovered that many students drop out because they are not motivated to succeed. This is mainly because they do not have positive examples of success. If people who are similar to them in ethnicity and circumstance, and who have succeeded spend intimate time with them, then maybe they may see that they have more options than becoming basketball players or rappers—which is really rare, and in turn become determined and pursue an education which will give them a stable job, as well as help them contribute to society. Once these values are instilled in one person, they usually teach these values to their children. That can end the cycle of poverty in that family. When I spoke to some of the high school students in the Benton Harbor area, they stated that their parents didn’t finish school and no one ever tells them that going to college is important. If one person that they can respect shares with them the importance of education it might make a difference. This is something that can’t be accomplished by donating money alone. People are needed to push these teens along.

I think that this does not just apply to poor. Christians need to be there for those who are struggling in every way: those with relationship problems, neglected or misled children, people who have broken hearts, or health issues, battered women and children and those struggling with addictions. I think as Christians we have a lot of resources and knowledge about almost every aspect of life that we need to share with those who are not as fortunate as us to gain access to these resources. God does not just call us to preach salvation; He calls us to cater to those who are hungry and imprisoned. That requires time.

"For everyone to whom much given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48 NKJV).

Longer essay 1

In the Bible, it records that food was the downfall of man.Because Adam ate a fruit, the human race has fallen into a sinful state. However, the Bible also states that Jesus is preparing a great feast for us when we all get to heaven. There is something spiritual about food. It caused us to sin and in the end it will be used to celebrate once we have all made it home. Jesus believed in good food, his first miracle as a man consisted of him turning water into the best wine that those at the wedding had ever tasted.

Food is probably one of the best things that God has given us. And within this gift holds the power to bind family and friends. Dinner was a time that my family would spend together eating, talking and growing closer as a family. I think that pleasuring your taste buds and satisfying your hunger puts a person in such a pleasant mood that all tension or strife is forgotten. I believe that food has the power to bring that spiritual aspect. The act of making food for someone is a reflection of love and care.Husbands cook for their wives, and vice versa, to demonstrate the love that they have for them. As a young girl I was taught that “a way to man’s heart is through his stomach.” I was told that preparing food for a man would cast a spell over him as his heart would be mine forever, well not exactly, but something like that.Food has spiritual implications of love and affection. I define the term spiritual as the intimacy and love between humans, found in many different relationships formed throughout one's life.

But the meal that trumps all other meals is Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving my dad's family gathers at one of their homes. They bring along their children and spouses and most importantly, the food. My dad has about 8 brothers and sisters who all have children, so the it can be a rather large group, especially when boyfriend, girlfriends, and church friends are invited. The aroma of the food fills the air as hugs and love are exchanged. We sit down at the table, the man of the house gives a little speech, everyone says what they’re thankful for, he prays a blessing over the meal and the family. Then, we eat. As we eat, we laugh and joke and talk.

The food is usually really good and consist of baked macaroni and cheese, turkey—of course, candy yams, chicken, cranberry sauce, veggie meat, salad, rice and peas and many other dishes. While we eat we talk amongst each other and connect as a family. Jokes are made, amazing facts are given, intimate details that were missed throughout the year are shared, and of course we discuss how good the food is. After the food is devoured, we clear off the table and the adults sit around and talk politics, the cousins go down stairs and talk and watch movies. After a half hour or so it is to time for dessert which usually consists of chocolate cake, apple, pumpkin pie, and sweet potato pie, along with ice cream and maybe cheese cake. This is undoubtedly the most wonderful time of the year. It is a time of love, fellowship, family and food.

Essay #2 Spiritual Food

In 2002 I visited Europe for the first time: 28 days in Austria and Germany. I fell in love with pastries that were perfectly squishy and not too sweet. A whole large pizza to myself, even if I could not finish my entire plate, could not be compared to Pizza Hut. Then there is the gelato at Zanoni & Zanoni right around the corner of St. Stephan’s Cathedral in downtown Vienna. And if you got off the underground a little bit later, there was fresh hummus and “Fladenbrot,” for which I have never heard a proper translation, but it is certainly some of the best Turkish bread and hummus that can be found at the market. Priceless. I believe it was my second trip to Vienna where I experienced Kaiserschmarrn for the first time. I was never a fan of pancakes until I tried the favorite of Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph I; Kaiserschmarrn is no more than scrambled pancakes with raisins and powdered sugar, topped with apple sauce or another fruit sauce. Apple studel is another typically Austrian or Bavarian treat that I am absolutely incapable of turning down. Austria and Germany have a culinary style all their own, but the Swiss also have a way of making my taste buds sing.

The Swiss know how to do anything and everything with potatoes. Hash browns, known as Rösti, potatoes baked with Swiss cheese and veggies in an individual “oven”, called Raclette. And fondue, more pastries, more cheese, and chocolate. The list just goes on and on. On all of my travels I allowed myself to find a pastry somewhere, but my loyalties always remained with Austria, Germany and Switzerland. However, there are a few wonderful things that these three countries do not have and that means a trip to Central America is necessary.

There is a fast food restaurant in Honduras called Coco Baleadas. They call themselves “The Mother of Baleadas” and claim that you have not been to Honduras if you have not been to their restaurant. Baleadas look similar to a burrito one would purchase at Taco Bell, so I thought they were perhaps exaggerating just a bit until I tried one myself. Then I knew…I had officially arrived in Honduras and they could not be compared to Taco Bell by any means. I also really enjoy pupusas, which are corn tortillas filled with cheese, served with spicy cabbage salad. There are other delicious foods like plantain prepared fried or cooked and banana bread from the Garifuna people that simply make my mouth water.

When I leave a country that I love, I not only take memories with me, but I take the food as well. I remember the blessings God has provided so that I could be a part of so many different cultures. I am reminded of the friends He has put in my path to encourage me on the Christian journey. I think of meal times in the cafeteria in Austria where we would sit around share our thoughts on theology and life. I remember the women who worked in the kitchen who knew how much I loved Kaiserschmarrn and apple strudel. I always went back for seconds, sometimes for thirds. I reminisce about the days on the patio in the warm Honduran sun with fried plantain, beans with cilantro and rice on my plate after a morning of hard work. I cannot forget the times when we went to the capitol and indulged ourselves with a trip to eat baleadas or pupusas. And we also supported the village economy by purchasing fruit popsicles from one of the church members for five cents a piece after unloading a truck full of bricks in the heat of the day. There are so many good memories - simple signs of the grace of God - and preparing those delights in my own tiny kitchen remind me of how thankful I should be for His faithfulness and love, knowing that He communicates His love to us in so many ways, just one of them being through food.

Long Blog Essay #2. "Acumen Fund"

In the acumen fund video, “Seth Godin Wants You to Decide,” there are key points that are brought up in how people should go about helping others in poor countries. The speaker Seth Godin, is talking to student leaders about becoming a future entrepreneur and what they could do with this skill. Godin then tells of the goals of the acumen fund. They are to raise money to patient capital, invest in entrepreneurs to make stuff to sell to the poor, and change the world. In expanding on these points Godin gives an example of a person that makes $2 a day and a person that is selling soap for that same price. When a transaction is made both parties win, and make a profit. The seller gets money so they could expand business while the buyer is cleaner hence healthier, so they can spend more time getting an education rather than being sick. I felt that this point was very interesting and it is a good way to think of helping people.
Godin made various points that I felt could really better the economy and provide opportunities for those in need. I feel that people starting up business in poor countries can help them as well as educate them in the long run boosting up the economy of the country your are helping. I also feel that people could really prosper from these adventures since they will be gaining experience in the business world enabling them to recieve jobs in the future.
Godin also brings up the point that the more people selling merchandise from door to door in Tanzania, the easier it would be to build up a culture of commerce that benefits people on both sides. These points are innovative, due to the fact that it brings people to view service in another way as well as open up the door for people to build up more business and expand in their areas of expertise rather than joining in on another company. It is also mentioned that acumen needs good competition so that more people can benefit from their mission. I would not have looked at that in this way, but it makes much sense. The more people competing to become entrepreneurs, sell their merchandise, and build up commerce in poor countries, the more these countries will learn to build up for themselves changing the world for the better.
I think that this organization can really assist people and provide them with opportunities in future organizations. I believe that this will assist the economy in increasing supply and demand as well as the output of several products. I think that there are many ways to boost up economies and this is a good way of doing so. I think this is an indirect way of helping people and it will cause them to prosper in the future. For those that are unsure as to whether to help or not and feel that that others should help themselves, they must also notice some points. If people are unable to help themselves due to a lack of resources such as technology, education, e.t.c. then there is a need of service, and to provide them with those resources that they may be able to learn how to prosper. Direct service should be offering those resources that the disadvantaged need, and then teaching them how to use those resources, so they can live on their own, and learn how to create a stable sustainable environment for themselves.

Long Blog Essay #1. "Google &Searching Google"

In class we were asked to search Google and find out what they are about. When I Google searched Goggle, I found that Google enables users to search the web, use net, and images. Features included page rank, caching, translation of results, and an option to find similar pages. There was also a link to show a stock quote for Google. The search also brought up links to the services that Google provides, such as Google reader, maps, videos, etc. It seems that Google has many services to offer and they try to accommodate everybody.
Their philosophy consists of ten things. To focus on the user and what else follows, focused on providing the best user experience possible, and focusing on serving the consumer. It's best to do one thing really, really well. Fast is better than slow. Democracy on the web works. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer. You can make money without doing evil. There's always more information out there. The need for information crosses all borders. You can be serious without a suit. Great just isn't good enough. Google tries to anticipate the needs of their not yet articulated global audience and introduce them with products and services that set new standards. An example of this was them launching Gmail, which had more space than any email service available. These are the type of changes they are interested in making and they want to achieve these goals.
I think that all these goals that Google has for their audience is very good. It seems to be things that would make searching on the web easier as well as introduce new technology to people. They want to be able to interact with their audience and they want to make sure that they are the best that they can be. This will help the company in the end since many people would feel like the company actually cares and wants to know them. With this promotion technique the company will prosper in the long run.
We were also asked to Google search what will happen with consuming habits in the next ten years. When I searched this I found an article, “In Ten Years Your Life Will Be Terrible,” by Mark R. Crovelli, that predicted that the American economy is deteriorating and will continue to do so as the years the pass. He also states in his article that the value of the dollar is going down and people will soon have to pay continuous increasing prices for the factors of production that go into one’s products. At the same time one will find it difficult to obtain credit to finance these increasing costs. So, I think it’s fair to say that consuming habits will soon decrease, since people won’t have enough to by the extra luxuries that they would normally buy in the future. People will probably buy less expensive goods as well as think more about the need for the product that they are purchasing.
I think that in the next ten years consuming habits would pretty much remain the same. Although the American economy would be deteriorating there will still be people that are very wealthy and will still consume as much as they can. For people that are less wealthy, consuming habits would probably decrease if they really care about what is happening. When you look at some people I find it interesting that they could be living in a trailer yet driving around in a hummer or a luxury car. It all depends on where their priorities lie.
I also think that even if the American economy was deteriorating outside help would be available. The government would have to receive money from other countries depending on if they are at peace with the country. I do think the economy can only deteriorate to a certain extent. The country is now in a recession and only some people have changed their consuming habits. At the same time if the economy was in that much trouble, the government should know ways to bring the economy back up. At that point we would have to depend on the government rectifying that situation and hope that they are well equipped to handle the situation.

Long Blog Op.1 No.2 "Service"

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, then keep the commandments."
He said to Him, "Which ones?"
Jesus said to him, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' "You shall honor your father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
The young man said to Him, "All these I have kept since my youth. What do I still lack?"
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-22

I have always found this part of Matthew extremely interesting. Here is this young guy blessed with a great bank account and he wants to get into heaven. But when all that he's told to do is give up the cash and nice things, (p.s. you'll be reimbursed when you pass through the Pearly Gates) and follow Jesus; he is disappointed and decides to keep him earthly goods. Now, I'm not about to blog a sermon, but I intend to elaborate on my thoughts about whether it's better to offer some money or your time helping those in need.

Jesus set the example during His time one earth, so I believe that it is better for people to physically take care of those who need to be cared for then to simply hand over a few dollars and call it a day. I do not see the point in harping about how the government in some countries is corrupt because let's face it the US isn't any more perfect than any other country. However, let's be fair to those who do not seem to have any time to actually go down to the trenches of life and fight a battle or two. Then offer your money, but do not separate yourself from Mr. Benjamin. Be involved in the organization that is receiving your money and follow where that dollar is going. Is it going to those in need, being used to gain more resources and money for the company, or is simply being used to support someone's next family vacation to Greece disguised under the pretty gift wrap of charity. We must be intelligent about these things; we can not just give money as a balm to soothe any guilty feelings. I don't believe I've ever heard someone say that they gave a couple hundred buck to Jerry Lewis' telethon and that they've never felt better. Usually they got off their chair warmer and did something. I know this because I have sat through numerous testimonies from Student Missionaries and I've never heard one complain that they did feel good about what they did...often times they wished they could have done more. Even my own experiences from being a missionary for a few months is something I'll always cherish, and, for a while, it calmed my urge to leave the country and do something for the Lord.

As I mentioned in my previous blog on this topic, service should be seen in the same manner that people should raise their children. BE THERE!!! Handing a 100 dollar bill to a child who just scraped their knee will not make them feel better or solve the problem (unless of course the band-aid looks like a 100 dollar bill). The same way awesome parents hold their child, clean the wound, and offer love and comfort is the same way we should help others in poor countries. Love and comfort the hurt and help solve their problem. That is why I like the Acumen Fund's intentions. Instead of just giving people soap or mosquito nets, build the needed factories in the area to provide jobs and resources for the people, and in turn improve the living standard, and empower the people. Money alone will not solve anything, but some action with a side of cash will make a huge difference...in fact, it will simply make a difference.

Long Blog #2: Made to Serve

Why help the poor when our government can help them for us? I mean, it's not our fault they're in their predicament, why should it be our responsibility to pull them out of it?

I guess this is a valid point. We're busy enough with out own responsibilities and problems and neither have the time nor the desire to go out of our way to serve someone face-to-face. As long as the poor are getting help, what does it matter if the help comes in a personal form or not?

I personally believe that nothing can substitute personal help--help in which you meet the person where he or she is at. It's beneficial both to the helper and the helped. In this type of service, the helper can find out exactly what a person needs and can make sure they get it. Government help, on the other hand, is very iffy. Are all the changes in taxes really helping those who need help, or are the rich just simply getting richer? If we're really concerned with the answer to this, why not figure it out on our own? We can never truly find out the answer to this until we meet the poor where they're at. Until we go to their environment, converse with them on how life is going for them and what they would like it to be, we really can't know if they're getting the help they need.

Not only is personal service more direct and effective, on an emotional level it lets the person know that someone cares enough to do something about it. Imagine that you needed help with and assignment. Everyone around you sees that you need help, but no one offers a hand. But, you see, the school you're attending has a system in which you can get help by simply putting your request in a box. Excited, you write down your request and slip it into this box, anxiously awaiting the help. The next day, much to your chagrin, you return to school to find the assignment that you needed help on, sitting neatly on your desk, properly completed with your name on the top. You didn't want manufactured help, you wanted someone to converse with you, to work with you on the assignment, helping you help yourself.

I think government help works in the same way. Instead of having someone coming to where they live, and having a personal interest in them, the poor are receiving food where they live, and having a personal interest in them, the poor are receiving food stamps. Instead of hearing a kind word from someone, they're getting lower taxes. Although this help is better than no help, I suggest that we meet people where they're at, instead of assuming the government will take care of everything, like it always does or is supposed to do.

That's why I like organizations such as the Acumen Fund and the Peace Corps. The Acumen Fund is a global fund that recognizes that the poor don't need charity, they need dignity. In order to empower the needy, Acumen makes long-term investments with businesses to create patient capital. According to the official Acumen Fund website, "Patient capital is understood as a debt or equity investment in an early-stage enterprise providing low-income consumers with access to healthcare, water, housing, alternative energy, or agricultural inputs." The Peace Corps is a volunteer organization through which volunteers get to make enormous differences in the lives of others. From integrating new teaching methods, and promoting awareness about certain health issues, to working with small farmers to increase their food production, the Peace Corps is also restoring dignity to the poor. Organizations such as these, meet a person's basic needs while empowering them to live better lives.

Instead of focusing solely on charities, we need to find other ways in which we can better people's lives for the long run. Donations will always run out, but life changes will never die, continuing to impact generations to come.