This past semester in social I have learned so much about the way the world works, and doesn't. The injustices, human trafficking, human rights, and trades, digging deeper into those subjects was very different from what I thought at first. The way that some of the countries responded to certain issues, was kind of crazy. Human rights, a few countries promoted fair human rights, while others insisted it was religion. Now that I am more aware of all these injustices all over the world, the way I respond will be much different. I will take the time to acctually think about where all these clothes are coming from, and what amount of work went into it. How great it is to know that there is fresh water at my disposal, and to use all I need. The freedom that Canada has, and the way our justice system works. All of it will come to mind now that I know. I, as a Canadian citizen, will respond to the best of my ability, whether it is Alberta Tar Sands or eating banana's, I can no longer respond the same way.

Correcting injustices, are things the world could do more with. People working for the rights of others, and many times succeeding. All these active students, citizens, consumers, and corporations, are getting the right idea about how to respond to all these unfair issues that are faced every day. When Buckminster Fuller said "Weather humanity is to continue and comprehensively prosper on Spaceship Earth depends entirely on the integrity of the human individuals and not on the political and economic systems."
What I think he's saying is, if we want to live on a prosperous planet, it is not up to the government and economics, it is up to us as citizens of this earth.
Also when Jeffery Sachs quoted "Social commitments are commitments of individuals. Great social forces...are the mere accumulation of individual actions." I completley agree with that. I think if only one person tries to do something, but no one else, nothing is going to happen. Yet if everyone wants to, the actions of individuals working together, will make a huge difference.

The video I wanted to post on here wouldn't work so go to youtube, and it's called Hidden Face of Globalization.

These days so many clothing stores are stocked by sweat shops. The clothing does not just come from China, Bangladesh, and India, but also Canada. Certain magazines in Canada have "wage slaves" who are basically unpaid workers. These people work longs hours with hardly any pay, if any.

Disney sweatshops in Bagladesh are huge. The workers are forced to work for at least 100 hours a week with a mandatory 19 hour night shift. They are paid 5 cents for every piece of clothing that they sew. The sewers make as little as 5.28 a week. These people aren't even alowed to talk or else they lose a days wages. These people are so badly treated and for what reason?

I think I as a Canadian citizen should make people aware that people are enslaved for our clothes. Also it makes a difference if people are willing to pay more for their clothes, instead of just buying cheap brands. I can buy the brands that I know are made by fair paid workers.

http://www.nlcnet.org/campaings/niagra/niagra-bangladesh.pdf

Many, many young girls are promised work in different countries, to escape the hardships of their own countries. When they get there, they are sold into prostitution. These young teens don't even have any health care in thier new country. Most of the girls in these situations have been treated and used so badly that they aren't even whole any more. It tears them apart so they can't trust anyone ever again. I think this is something that everyone should respond to and get involved in. There are so many ways to do that. There is a group called Hagar, and the people from the group are telling people about this awful crime that is committed every day. Letting people know that they can't just sit around like it's not happening. That is how I, and hopefully many others, am wanting to respond.

When I first started social, I thought I knew quite a lot about how the world worked. Boy was I wrong. When I read about racism, and when the South African government introduced apartheid, I was shocked. It was like it all just clicked. The world is really falling apart. People are so badly treated because of colour! Just reading about it in a book was sad enough. Then I went down to Mexico and witnessed it first hand. The poverty is unbelievable. As soon as we got across the US border, there was garbage everywhere. The houses were cement blocks, if even that nice. There were young mothers with two or three kids in the streets, all dirty and sad looking. I will never react the same way again, because I know too much to just let it go. I have learned so much, and I greatly appreciate what our country has done about some of the global problems. I hope that I will be able to do something more than just read, and acctually try.

Everyone has the right to a house, more than just a shack made of sheet metal. Fresh water to drink and clothes to wear. Every child has the right to be able to have fun instead of work so their family can survive. Girls should have the right to go to school and learn just like every boy their age. They shouldn't have to sell their body as a young teen to live. Nobody deserves to be treated like an animal. There is more than enough money on this earth for everyone to live equally. I think it only takes one person to make a difference. No government is needed to fight for what is right. I just need to keep telling myself that, because all people are connected and many are willing to do what is right, even if they must lose the little they have. There are so many things that can be done, that I can do. So many people are working to stop these horrible things that take place every day. Groups are speaking to the public, writing letters, going to the countries, and being missionaries. I can react and respond the same way that so many others do every day.