Social Voice

2010-04-19T14:25:00.002-07:00

Social Voice is an online social issues-oriented blog created by students in Mr. Spencer' class and students in IMPACT in Phoenix, Arizona. Our goal is to express our social voice through exploring issues, engaging in the community and expressing what we have learned to the world. Please join us in the dialogue! All items on this blog are created and developed by students.

a global warming story

2009-11-06T11:56:00.001-07:00

by Julieta Flores

The polar bears stood there, in the freezing North Pole, while they saw the huge ice glaciers fall from above.

"What's happening?" asked one of the daughters to her mom.

"Well, it seems the air is getting a bit warm. I'm not sure what is the problem," the mother polar bear explained.

Suddenly another humongous chunk of the glacier fell down.

"Ahhh!!!" cried the daughter. They were all frightened. The entire polar bear family ran away from the ice berg that nearly fell on them.

"Why is this happening?" the older daughter asked her dad.

"I am not sure, but I think it's this global warming thing we've been hearing about," explained the father.

"I am scared. What is global warming?" asked the younger daughter.

"It is when the air gets polluted and the particles create a process of global warming. I don't completely understand it. Then again, I am a polar bear and we don't have a lot of universities up here in the arctic. But the bottom line is that things are getting hotter."

"Is that why the ice is melting?" asked the younger daughter.

"I guess so. But it's nothing to worry about," answered the father. He knew he was lying. He knew he was afraid, too, but it felt out of his control. If they were going to die, he might as well shelter them with a lie than expose them to the harder element called truth.

After another year, it continued to get worse. Each season felt warmer. Each year the ice dissapated. The prey dissipated. More than half of their habitat became ocean. The father died first. They said it was more out of a loss of hope than anything else. The older sister was the next victim. This time it was starvation.

Ten years passed and most of the North pole was melted away. The earth had more water. Famine and disease spread as nations struggled to provide basic food. Some countries were flooded and others were dry.

Finally, the last polar bear remained. She was the youngest daughter, alone on a sheet of ice. She knew that without a mate, the race would soon disappear. She was very depressed, living a life of loneliness. The polar bear, older now, wiser than before, stared at place where the family had once stood. No glacier remained. Just an enormous, blue ocean.

"It's all gone. All of it," she said. She sighed and kept walking along the narrow strip of ice. It was difficult with such little space to walk and such little food remaining.

The sun baked down and polar bear died in isolation.

As for the people, they weren't much better. Some of them died in the floods. Some of them died from the pollution. Nations started wars over resources. Neighbors attacked one another. The oceans broke free, but there was precious little fresh water. Economies collapsed. The world was no longer fit for life.

And so we became the polar bear, sitting alone on a block of ice, awaiting our fate in a planet that could no longer support life.

photo credit - flickr creative commons

a letter to America

2009-11-05T05:42:00.001-07:00

Dear America,

I love your nation. I choose to use the term "your," because as much as I want it to be mine, it's not. You don't want me here. No, I guess you want me here. You just don't want my family. By a simple choice of location, I was born at a county hospital and gained access to all your privaledge. You accepted me as a stepchild and told me that if I can work hard enough I will be part of your family. I love it here, but sometimes I think you don't love me.

But what about the ones who made it happen for me? You call them criminals. What about the man who spends hours at work so that we can have food? You make jokes about him. What about the woman who saves every paycheck in hopes that my older brother will be able to pay for college? You tell her to learn better English.

A man on the radio blamed my family (and others like us) for the bad economy. Callers from all over Phoenix took time out of their day to tell stories of immigrants who used up the health care system. Apparently, our family is the root of all that is wrong in this state. "Ship them out," a man says. Are we cargo?

My mom never lied to you about your retirement. She never traded make-believe products to men in suits. Instead, she cleaned the hotels where the suits would have conferences. My dad doesn't own stock in any insurance companies. He doesn't jack up the price on your medication. He has never lied to anyone and said that the aspirin they are using costs ten dollars. He's been to the emergency room once, but only because he was cut real badly helping to grow the food that makes you healthy.

My parents never went on t.v. and said, "the fundamentals of this economy are sound." They never stood up and yelled at the president, telling him that he lies. They never called in a few big shot bankers and planned a bailout for billions.

My family came here, because they believe in hope and if you look back at American history, you'll see it's the immigrants who believed in hope that helped pull us out of recessions. My dad does not expect comfort. My mom does not take security for granted. My family knows what it means to work hard. So, America, it just might be possible that we are not the problem. We are the solution.

Sincerely,

a thirteen year old girl who chooses to stay anonymous

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/branditressler/989489697/

education

2009-11-04T20:06:00.004-07:00

is myspace too dangerous?

2009-11-03T18:44:00.041-07:00

Are we too wired?

by Dolores

Do you enjoy talking to friends you haven't talked to in a long time? Do you miss out on childhood friends you used to kick it with in the neighborhood? Do you sometimes wish you could meet new friends? If you're like many American youth, you have found that experience in Myspace.

Myspace is popular because you can talk to friends that you haven't talked to in a long time. You can talk about all the things you have done over the summer or talk about who you like or anything you want. You can meet new people an get to be their friend and over time you can tell them about the stuff you like to do. Myspace is fun, but is it dangerous?

The good things about Myspace is that you get to hear about some of the drama that goes around. For example, some drama is funny and some things are crazy and you feel like you are a part of it. No one likes to feel left out and Myspace helps keep you from being left out. But sometimes the drama starts fights. Someone can spread a nasty rumor and send it as a bulletin or post a mean comment and it spreads. Is it the fault of Myspace? Not at all. Kids would do that anyway. But Myspace makes it more public.

Another good thing about it is that you can put pictures on your profile page and show people your style. Personally, I like to put pictures of me and my friends. I like finding layouts and redesigning the theme. It's an area online where I can be creative. It's like getting to redecorate your room without having to pay money. But there is a danger here, too. Some kids make profiles public and attract the wrong people. Some kids post pictures that involve drinking or drugs and then they get caught.

Myspace is a new way that kids are interacting. It's defining our friendships. Some say that it's dangerous. Maybe it means we are talking less and playing less and facing a computer screen more often. Or maybe we're connected and social more often and spending less time just sitting in front of a t.v. set. Either way, sites like Myspace are here to stay and we need to think about what makes them safe and what makes them dangerous.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookhavenlab/3181807959/

the outside view - bullying

2009-11-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

We never got to finish this. We were going to start a podcast called "The Outside View." We're posting what we have, partially because we want people to see that sometimes projects don't get finished. Sometimes they are raw and unnerving - which is how this one was. Still, we think it's important.

You can find it at: http://www.archive.org/details/TheOutsideView-Bullyin

or listen below

photo credit - flickr creative commons

connected

2009-11-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

bees

2009-11-01T14:25:00.006-07:00

BEES

Humans live off making money

Bees have learned to make the honey

Humans panic with a stock market drop

Bees have learned when to say "stop"

Human businesses pollute the air

Bees now realize it's not fair

We realize how it all will end

When Mother Nature has no friend

Your Rights

2009-10-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Island of the Blue Dolphins

2009-10-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

by Julian

Well this story is about a girl named Karana she lives on a island. when the aleuts came they made a deal with her father. So the aleuts took over the island so the villegers left. Well Karana's brother Ramo forgot somthing on the island so he went back and to get it. So Karana goes looking for himand the ships left them. there alone on the island.

Karana and Ramo dont know theres a pack of wild dogs. So Ramo got attacked by the wild dog's. and dies thats low. Karana is alone on the island. She found a dog it was the leader of the pack. She keeps him and she called him Rantu. The aleuts are back and a girl comes named Tutuk they become best friends. She leaves. Rontu dies ad karana finds his puppy she keeps him.

swine flu hysteria

2009-10-28T09:06:00.030-07:00

by Juliana

Swine flu, also known as H1N1, is on the rise and quickly spreading. It's coming back and surely going to be with us for awhile. Doctors are getting sick ones from every walk of life, from young to old alike. Staff and health care workers are being vaccinated from the swine flu. I am very fortunate to not have gotten it and know of anyone who has it. But I know that it's spreading fast. It's a very frightening disease which can strike anybody at any age.

The swine flu has become a major epidemic in America. Not only in the U.S. but also throughout the world. Disease knows no national boundaries. Political and health care leaders are holding conferences trying to educate people as well as sharing information with health care professionals. The reason for this is to learn from each other and give the highest care for all patients. If we all take note of what is being said and learn from our health officials we should slow down the epidemic.

Doctors are putting young and pregnant women toward the beginning of the list. Then they are putting healthy ones lower on the list. That means healthy people are at a higher risk to die. To me, that suggests that there is a bias. When they are favoring the sick over the healthy, there could be unintended consequences. Yet, the greatest unintended consequence is fear.

We all play the character role in this situation. People are scared to be around people who are coughing. People are staying indoors. After awhile, it begins to look like the movie "Bubble Boy." People are blaming one another - especially Mexico (even though it's a global epidemic). Apparently the disease was spread from Mexico to the U.S. and so now people are finding ways to scapegoat Latinos.

In the long run, that might be the biggest danger. A few people may die, but the lasting consequences will be fear. The answer is simple. Stay clean if you want to keep away from the swine flu. Get check-ups from the doctors. Get vaccinated. Live a healthy lifestyle and if you get it, you'll probably be okay.

visual versus text

2009-10-28T06:43:00.005-07:00

What is the difference between information that someone sees in a visual (a picture, for example) versus text (a book, an article)? Which one is better? Which one is more accurate? Which one would you be more likely to believe?

photo credit

What I See

2009-10-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

National Off-Screen Week

2009-10-26T07:22:00.003-07:00

Your top eight aren't the people on your Myspace. They're the people who would carry your casket if you died. Also, it's impossible to have two thousand friends. A friend is someone who would drop what they're doing even on a school night and talk to you when life gets too crazy. The people on your flatscreen t.v. aren't real. I mean, it's just a bunch of actors playing dress up.

America forgets all of that. We spend so much time in front of a screen that we lose track of what's real and what's fake. After awhile, we become the actors playing dress up. I'm going to tell you about an idea to fix all of this. It's a week-long holiday called "screen-off."

Here's how it works. If it has a screen, you have to avoid it. So, you have to cook your food on a stove and not in front of a screen. You have to avoid computer screens, television screens and cell phone screens. You can listen to the radio, but not to your iPod. It has a screen. The only screen you can use is your porch screen and even that has to be open.

For a full week, we can play outside and have barbecues. We'll eat carne asada and there will be mariachi bands and other live music. Cable would be shut down completely so no one could even be tempted by it. When the week is over, the American people could go back to normal. But we might just view the screens differently.

What do you think? Would you celebrate that kind of holiday?

photo credit - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnaf/3498642138/

Recycling

2009-10-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things that we launched was a school-wide recycling program. A small band of teachers started participating and it grew into something larger. Over time, we hope to expand the recycling program in the following areas:

Getting teachers and students to reduce consumption. For example, it's great that we got so many bottles of water, but do we need that? Couldn't we use drink fountains or refillable bottles instead?
Getting recycle bins in each classroom. If you work for the City of Phoenix, please tell them to answer our phone calls.
More recycling in other areas. In other words, we want to have places for cans and other items as well.

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingdesmond/477389196/

a text-out world

2009-10-15T06:47:00.021-07:00

by Monica

Have you ever text messaged or talked before? If you haven't then you should, at least to see what all the buzz is about. It's fun to text and talk to your friends, family members, and other people you know. Texting is very popular, it's helpful and there's good thing about text messaging and talking.

Text messaging is so popular because you can talk and text message to your best friends, family members, mom, dad, etc. It's a constant way to feel connected in the lonely world that we inhabit. You can also talk to them. Another reason is that you need it for emergencies that way your safe and your out of danger and maybe someone is following you and you wanna call someone and tell them. This simple "need for texting" increases its popularity. The last reason why texting and talking is so popular is because its fun. You might have have fun games you can play. You can also have a picture phone and just take pictures of friends and maybe yourself.

Texting and talking can be good. Some reasons why it can be good is that your friend might know something you wanna find out about. Sometimes you might need information about something you need help on. Maybe you need information about a friend or somethings happening that you wanna know about. One last reason why it can be good is that you can get advice. Sometimes you need to tell a friend that your having a bad day. Your friend can give you advice on something your having a problem with.

Despite the need to text, there are some dangers. One reason why it might be bad is that someone can track you down. People that know how to do that can hurt you. Another way it can be bad is that you can get it taken away. Someone might just grab your phone and just take it. That can cause some problems and potentially identity theft. You can get it taken away by texting in class when your not suppose to. And one last reason why it can be bad is you can get in trouble. You can in trouble by getting caught texting in class. Your parents might take your phone away and that's not good. Texting while driving can be dangerous and cause accidents.

But the biggest danger is that people don't relate physically anymore. We spend all of our time texting that we don't talk. It's a subtle danger, but it's still dangerous. So, should we avoid it? It's not much of a choice. Texting is a part of our life. Should we think about how often we're texting? Yeah, that might be the answer.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ydhsu/3183824689/

which freedoms are the most important?

2009-10-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

Chipmunk Cholo: Bullying

2009-10-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

You can visit this podcast and download it at
http://www.archive.org/details/ChipmunkCholoBullying

Or listen below

Social Pulse: What is the purpose of education?

2009-10-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

J Flores
The reason that we get an education is because when you get an education,you can learn many new things. You can get education from schools by learning. Education helps us learns and teaches us many new things as we grow up. An education helps kids learn things to prepare for the world as they get older. Learning things from school helps us grow to be perfect adults in the future. So every kid deserves an education to learn important things and be prepared for the world when they get older. I think the most important reason for education is to help students learn and be prepared for there futures.Education is a very important thing for kids.

by Juliana
Why should you get a education?Is it important? Yes, it is important to get a education you should get a education because later in life it is eventually going to help you .With your job with your taxes and even to get around in life. The purpose of an education is not to be smart. Sometimes it is also used to be an assistant or a guide through life. We are lucky and should be grateful to go to school and learn new things everyday or review something that was forgotten.It is also good if you get through college with a degree that way you get a better pay,and also you are going to be able to have a little extra money. That you may buy even more things and splurge a little. It is great through college you only can have about one or two classes then the rest of your day you have to yourself. At least that is what I heard about college,and know I really want to go so I am saving up.Hope you get to make it to college if you don't get into college or don't try good luck surviving in the real world.

by M. Fimbres
The purpose of education is to teach us different skills we should learn at our age. Each day we qo to school we learn new thinqs and its meant to stay in our minds our whole life; thats when tests, assiqnments, assessments come in. They help us pour out everythinq we have learned so tutors could see what else they need to teach us.Our teachers educate us all the skills we will need for the rest of our lives. Even if we dont qet to use our skills, we will still have them there for whenever they come in handy.

by Gabriel
Education is very important to me and my family I'm not saying this because I'm Mexican. Education is really important because with out it you'll will be living in a cardboard box or in your mothers basement.Education will give you a great job.The purpose of education is that you can get a great job a good school to get a good life.

E Gomez
The purpose of an education is to learn. Education is important to everyone so that way as you get older you can go to college to learn how to do stuff. I am glad that I have an education because otherwise I would not know what I want to be when i grow up. An education is worth signing up for because we all need to learn how to do math or reading or any subject. Some people don't care for an education like other people do but that's just the way some people think. Also education will be hard but a lot of people have to deal with understanding that. The purpose of an education is to learn.And to know how to do stuff like mix chemicals and do multiplication,division,subtraction,and addition.You learn about the civil war,you learn your protagonist and antagonist,also your transitions.Education is very very important and we are lucky to have it,not many people in the world can go to school either because they cant afford it or they don't have the money to.School may be boring to some people and to others it may be fun because of the electives or after school activities.Education is good because when you come home your parents ask you "so what did you learn in school today" and you tell them "i learned how to mix chemicals or I learned how to multiply and divide integers" so that is why educations is important and at the end of the day you realize that you actually paid attention and learned.

D. Hernandez
You the students need education because this way takes you another level.Education helps students to learn new stuff that they never knew before.Education is important to students because the students need a better future for themselves.In education you can learn tons of stuff like,science,math,writing,reading,and more.The purpose of education is to learn and have fun in you life and have a better future.That's all I have to say.

the change of seasons

2009-10-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

by Alex

leaving the dream

2009-10-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

by Jovanna M

Our economy is not going so well right now. People are losing their jobs. Not only that, but they are also moving out of our country. That's just sad to see. It breaks people apart. Families are torn. Neighborhoods go empty. Communities die. That just isn't right.

The sad part of all of this is that people have lived here for three to six years are going back to their original country. After all they have been through and how hard they worked, they are coming to the conclusion that the American Dream won't happen for them. When you consider the risks they took to get here, it must be very bad if they feel the need to leave.

I can't blame them, though. Even I would be scared and want to go back. I feel really bad, because they had to learn a new culture and a new language. They spent years trying to adjust and now they're leaving this life behind.

So from all that is going on, you must feel pretty bad. It seems like there's a cycle. It gets good and then bad and then really bad. When it gets really bad, immigrants leave. So, I'm hoping that there is at least a fifty percent chance it will get better again. In fact, I really believe it will. I just hope it happens soon.

Halloween Tips!

2009-10-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

By Julian M

Halloween is one of mine favorite holidays. I love the feeling when you go Trick or Treating and eat all the candy. While other cultures use this as a religious holiday or a way to remember the dead, in America it celebrates all of our real values, like eating too much food and celebrating commercialism. Besides, it's a great way to get your scare on!

Here are some tips you should know about the Halloween. So get ready and get your reading glasses on to read great tips about this special holiday. Here are the tips.

The first tip costume. Always be sure you get the right costume that fits you. You want to make sure you have the best costume. If you want you can make the scariest costume or buy one. You should go to a store were they have many choices. Remember that costume wearing is a competition. Make sure you wear a reflection on your costume so when cars pass by they can see a reflection and nothing bad will happen to you.

Decorations is the next tip of Halloween. There are various ways of making your house the best house on your block. Here is a chance to display your personality through image and commercialism, so make sure it looks good. You can decorate your house with scarecrows or skeletons. It needs to be cute and scary at the same time. You can make your house the scariest house in the neighborhood maybe. It's fun to decorate on Halloween.

Candy is the next step. When you go Trick or Treating make sure you get good candy. You shouldn't eat your candy right when you get wait for your parents can check the candy before eating it. Its fun to give candy out, too. You can see most of your friends when you give out candy.

Remeber when its Halloween, you need to be safe. Wear your reflectors. Check your candy. Always make sure you are with an adult. Remember don't go to strangers houses and don't talk to strangers, unless your yelling "Trick or Treat" and demanding candy. Make sure you look both ways when you cross a street. Mark you calender for oct 31 for Halloween.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiovenni/1808485678/

mexico

2009-10-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

V-Day Cards

2009-10-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

It's a small step after all they have done for us. They fought for our country and we want to do something for them. So, we made Veterans Day cards. The cards help the veterans at the VA hospital. These cards will make the veterans very happy. Hopefully, they'll see the creativity we put into it and realize that we appreciate their service.

urban abstract

2009-10-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

by Jose