Ignorance is NOT Bliss

     OK, so I see that once again I forgot to do my OH happy day! Tuesday :( sorry friends, I might have to kick that to the curb until life calms down...so maybe by the time I'm a grandma? We'll see. 

     Now time for today's blog! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a person isn't educated on a topic and try's  to act like they are, and then tells the expert on the subject that they are wrong! What is so wrong with admitting that you haven't researched something enough to have an opinion on it? I'll tell you- NOTHING! 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing everything. 

With that being said, I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions on climate change after studying it this semester. I know that this is a subject that causes a lot of controversy, but it is important to me to try and find the truth within all the madness in this world. 

Climate Change: Finding the Truth

Kaiti A. Moss

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Climate change is such a sensitive subject because it affects each and every one of us. People are confused as to what to believe because they are constantly being fed contradicting information. The only way to know is to research the subject for one’s self and come to an answer. I am confident that by doing so, as I have, others will come to the same conclusion.

After careful study of the Earth’s climate I have come to the conclusion for myself that global warming is indeed occurring. In my paper I will touch base on what I have learned including, Earth’s climate, changes that are occurring now, what the future could hold and how to avoid it. I am no expert in this area, these aren’t my findings from experiments, but anyone can examine data and come to a conclusion. Mine is that global warming is occurring, what’s yours?

To know if the climate today is warming one needs comparable data from the Earth’s past climate. How would one find this data? First one would need to find a reliable source such as; an expert scientist who dedicates their studies to climate changes-not global warming.  One might ask, “What’s the difference?” A scientist who studies climate change will produce data that shows the Earth’s climate, where as a scientist who studies global warming has already confirmed in their own mindset that global warming is happening and the data would be more biased to that side.

The source I have relied upon is, Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They do not fund new scientific work instead they focus on uncertain research about climate change. They publish reports about every 5-years, but before these reports can become official they go through an approval process. The process includes a line-by-line approval by governmental representatives from across the world. IPCC was created by the United Nations to, “…provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.” (Organization, 2011)

The thought of climate change occurring has been around for almost 200-years. In 1837, Louis Agassiz of Switzerland noted that the mountains there had once been covered in large amounts of ice like Greenland or Antarctica; from his studies later his hypothesis of the ice age was accepted. Then came orbital theory of climate dates, the reasoning behind ice ages is the Earth’s orbit around the sun. Ice age history has been recorded in ice sheets and deep sea sediments. With our advanced technology we are now able to take core samples and examine them for further data of the Earth’s past climate. The chart below is from the IPCC, the first graph shows climate changes from the 1800’s and the second shows climate changes from 1,000-years ago.

As one can see from the first graph for the majority of time the climate has been is what is considered a cooling period. From the second graph one can see within the last 150-years the Earth’s temperature has sky-rocketed. If that’s not proof right there than I don’t know what is. 

Now, the real question is what caused the climate to rise like this? Gases building up in the atmosphere, but these gases are different than what we have seen in the past. There has been an abundance of these gases that are more commonly known as greenhouse gases which includes, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Greenhouse gases trap heat into the atmosphere. Without these gases the Earth surface average would be around 33c the problem is that there is too much.

When people hear the words “climate changes” or “global warming” we immediately think of the weather. I can’t remember how many times I have heard people say, “If the Earth is warming than why is the weather colder?” Drastic Change in global climate like we are experiencing has many different side effects. Mainly of which would be drastic weather changes that we are not use to nor prepared for. “…year 2020, up to 250 million people are projected to be suffering from increased water stress due to climate change.” (The Climate Crisis, pg. 180) Developing countries are considered at the biggest threat do to their extreme poverty, weak governments and a strong dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Developing countries are already suffering enough as is; “…3 billion people have less than 15% of the world’s wealth…” States, James Mayfield, co-founder of CHOICE humanitarian. What kind of impact would the extreme weather create for these striving countries?

With this data I have gathered that the Earth’s climate since the 1800s has experienced an increase due to increase of greenhouse gases. I have received my data from reliable scientists that dedicate their time and research to climate changes. I have looked over the data that they have created from evidence such as ice cores and coral reefs. While no one can predict the future, with the information that has been provided from comparing the past climate and present I do believe that this is not a natural Earth cycle and there have been human impact upon the Earth’s climate.

Bibliography

Archer, David, and Stefan Rahmstorf. The Climate Crisis: an Introductory Guide to Climate Change. New York: Cambridge UP, 2010. Print.

"Figures and Tables." IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_figures_and_tables.shtml>.

"Organization." IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.shtml>.

"...my lonely days are over...{because} you smile..."

     I have noticed a lot lately that people in general are only focused on their lives and the people who are prominent in them. I find this to lead to a very sad and lonely life because I have many acquaintances but very few people I can share my deepest thoughts or opinions with.      

    This semester I decided that rather than just focusing on the people in my life I tried my very best to do so with anyone I came in contact with. Friends. Family. Acquaintances. Even strangers. I know that I still need to practice with this, and haven't perfected the concept yet but I will continue to grow with it in my life. I know that this trait will not only benefit myself but others around me too.
I love it when a person says hello sincerely or asks if you need help, ect. So why can't I be that person? I lived in southern Virginia this summer and like they say, you just can't replace southern hospitality. It is wonderful! Everywhere you go, people are smiling and asking, 
"how are you?" and the best part is...
they actually mean it!
It just makes a person's day to feel safe, loved and welcomed.

So I want to challenge YOU to give this a try, start out small and work your way up.

Good luck!

 

Poverty

            Over one billion people in the world live in poverty, according to the World Bank to be considered living in poverty a person is living off of $1.25 or less every day.

What does itreally mean to live on $1.25 a day? Often, people living in poverty have more than one job consisting of day labor, small businesses and agriculture. These people spend 50-80% of their earnings on food. More than often indoor plumbing and electricity are unavailable and the families can rarely afford to have productive assets such as; sewing machines, bikes, tractors, ect.

The struggle in any rural area is to live. My question really is why are there rural areas still? The people who live in rural areas are by no means lazy. What they don’t have though, is an education. In India 95% of children go to school until 8^th grade, but 9^th through 12^th grade only 40% attend. So why it that between 8th and 9th grade so many children are dropping out from school? The problem is that the older and stronger children are needed at home to work and help the family. The families are losing sight of what the future for their children can be, they need motivation and the learning has to be productive. “…so it improves learning levels and cognitive skills. Also, India still faces challenges in providing quality Early Childhood Development programs for all children…”

Many of the families think of the situation like this:  if the families and children are living in poverty and are working at home so that their family can survive, why would they leave work for school? By working they can provide needs for the family right away. But down the road, the educated person will be able to obtain a better career and be able to provide more efficiently for the family. They are losing sight of the larger picture. School will give the children tools they need to obtain and or create a better job(s).

In developing countries where ancient traditions still thrive, the importance of an education is not a high priority. While the younger generation knows the importance of receiving an education they struggle with family and work so that they can go to school. Without a proper education one cannot succeed in life, but with one the possibilities are endless.

We have heard the quote, Today’s children are tomorrow’s future, over and over again and yet it still hasn’t really caught on. Currently 121 million children are not receiving any sort of education. These are real facts, and real people. Education is the key to freedom, having an education opens one’s mind to greater options in life. The educated person is able to participate in their country; politically, economically and socially.

Many people are tired of hearing these things especially if they have their minds set already thinking that there’s nothing they can do to help. We are all born with different talents that can be put to good use not only for the better of these developing countries but for the better of our world.

There is hope for those in developing countries. In 2000, 189 leaders of the world came together and created The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals are targeted towards reducing poverty throughout the world and hope to achieve these goals by 2015.

There are eight goals which are, eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality rates, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and to develop a global partnership for development. Usually when one thinks of reducing poverty you think of the necessities and might think that with these 8 goals we have bitten off more than one can chew. But in reality the goals all go together and affect one another.

The solution is obvious but difficult. Education is needed among all people but just like the situation they are struggling with today, how do they become educated while working and trying to survive at the same time? There has been so much support going towards education funds that it’s easy to forget what is important to the people. We need to first educate the parents of what is available to them and their families. Every year there are more jobs available and as more people become educated, soon one will need an education so that they can work! If the parents understood the potential an education carries I think that they would feel better about sending their children to school.

It is important that after the parents are taught about what could be available, that in every possible way we make it happen. Many people know of the value that an education holds but do not have access to it. It is also just as important to consistently remind them that with an education will come a better job and that there are new jobs available every day. When times get tough it is normal to lose sight of the big picture. It is easier to just quit trying and go for what is convenient. The problem is big because the people make it big. When doing what is right, by sending their children to school, there will only be positive outcomes and the country will only become that much closer to being a developed country.

The American Dream

          It was a fall after noon as I walked along the freshly cut grass towards the front porch.  The warm breeze whispered past me and through my long blonde hair. Seeing my reflection in the glass security door, I debated whether knocking or ringing the doorbell would be more appropriate. Taking a leap of faith I pressed the doorbell, praying that I would not disturb any naptime for the children.

A petite woman and a two year old boy wearing only his diaper answered the door, “Hi, come in, have a seat!” were the first words spoken by Aurea. Her warm invitation led me into the front room. I followed behind, waiting for her to sit first but, she insisted again, “Have a seat.” To the right of me was a large olive green couch. I sat down and could feel the couch swallow my body. Aurea sat down as we naturally angled our bodies toward each other; the curious little boy waddled in to the other room. We began to discuss why we were meeting and got to know each other a little bit better. The muffled voice of another woman, who was not speaking English, floated through the house. Five minutes hadn’t past by when the boy made his way back into the room.

His tummy and left side of his face were covered in white powder. He held a small white baby powder bottle in his right hand, shaking it up and down, pouring more powder into the other hand. Aurea giggled and held her hands out to her son, “Keenan, can you put some on mommy too?” Her shoulder length black hair fell forward as she leaned toward him. His mischievous grin led me to believe that this was his plan all along. He walked to the middle of the room and stopped. He then continued to pour more powder out and put it only the left side of his face.  It would then slide down onto his tummy and brown shag carpet. Keenan innocently looked at us as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Rising from her seat, Aurea excused herself to go clean him up.

I was sitting taking in my surroundings and pondering about the questions I was about to unleash on Aurea when she casually returned.  She looked at me as if to say, “This is my American dream. This is what I worked so hard for and this is what I love.” Aurea sat down and began to tell me the story of how she did it.

When she would remember something new, her eye brows pulled together as she thought of a way to describe what happened without being too insensitive. She had a protective guard, not because she didn’t want to share her story. She didn’t want anyone else to have to know of the things she went through.

Ever since Aurea could remember, she had always wanted to come to America. In school they were taught English. Her desire to perfect it was unfathomable. One problem she faced was that the English teachers barely knew what they were teaching. It didn’t stop her though, nothing could. Whenever she had the opportunity, she would watch American movies and practice saying the words after them. When she was 12 years old she kept a journal, written specifically in English, for her husband, because she knew she was going to marry an American. 

Now as she is looking back on her story, she can laugh about things that would bring a person to tears. She has reached her goal, but that doesn’t mean the journey is over. Her next goal is to get the rest of her family into America.

School days...

Have I mentioned how much I love school this semester?! Well, in-case I haven't I really do! Actually this is probably the first time in my entire life where I have enjoyed school! For my communication 111 writing class we have a big semester writing portfolio. We all had to choose a theme to write about and there are many different steps for completing our representative portfolio. My theme focus is on escaping poverty a.k.a. 'The American Dream'. My writing is all based off of one woman and her trials, fighting for a better life. I thought it'd be fun to share my work. If you don't really care then I suggest you skip the next few posts...

Mud and stick huts lined the neighborhood with rice fields everywhere in between. It was not uncommon for multiple families to share homes. Children who should be starting kindergarten are working with the rest of the family in the fields. Backs bent, and the sun blazing at least 100 degrees, but no one complains because this is how they lived. No, this is how they survived. 

This was everyday life for Aurea Bondoc, growing up in a small farming town near La Paz in the Philippines. No person should live like this, but there are one-billion people in the world who do. It is a vicious cycle, repeating generation after generation. The only hope people living in poverty have is that by sending their children to school, they will break the cycle. “My friends had to stop school so that they could work on the farm. Education there is not a priority, as soon as you turn five you have to help on the farm. And you see these little kids planting rice, under 100 degree sun, and they’re bent all day…” Aurea’s sentence trails off as she shakes her head in disgust. “School there isn’t free, it cost money. There aren’t any school buses; you have to get money for a tricycle (moped). People there don’t have money, school is a hassle.”

Aurea was lucky enough to have family that knew of her potential and how important it would be for her to receive her education. She grew up living with two other families, in her home there were eleven people total. Aurea’s parents could not work making matters more difficult. If they did not work then the family would not have money for food and especially not for school. In the Philippines family is a great priority. After you have taken care of yourself you take care of others in your family who need your help. Aurea’s aunt was the provider for all five members of Aurea’s family.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, it does. People in poverty desire so badly to escape it that more than often they turn to crimes such as drug dealing, kidnapping and selling of mainly women for prostitution and slavery, murder and theft. Hands-on experiences with these crimes only pushed Aurea harder to escaping her life of poverty. “What people call poverty over here [U.S.A.] is not even close. You don’t know what poverty is until you go to a third world country and see the real thing. It is heart breaking,” she said.

She was the top of her class and received many awards, which brought her closer to her dream of a college education in The United States of America. In 2005 Aurea was accepted into Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-H) and had received a full scholarship. She had finally made it out; one life-long goal had been completed with plenty more to go. In Hawaii she met her husband and they were married. They both wanted to continue their schooling in Hawaii but her husband wasn’t accepted into BYU-H. Luckily they were both able to transfer to Brigham Young University-Idaho and receive their degrees this past April, 2011.

In the mean-time before receiving their degrees they had three children. First their baby girl, Leia who is now 4 years-old, then came a strong boy, Keenan who is now 2 years-old and the newest addition to the family, another strong boy, Taivian who is 6 months-old.

Aurea Bondoc’s dedication and hard work is a testimony to those who, just like her, strive to escape poverty. The key is an education with supportive friends and family. With her dream goal accomplished it is her turn to help her family and younger siblings to achieve the same. 

Millennium Development Goals

Did you know that the number 1 billion is pretty popular? 

There are 1 billion people living in poverty.

We have cleaner toilet water than 1 billion people have to drink.

Did you know you can make a difference?

Hey friends! Who's heard of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? 

The MDGs are goals that 189 leaders of the world created to help reduce poverty. They hope to achieve these goals by 2015. Usually when one thinks of reducing poverty you think of the necessities and might think that with these 8 goals we have bitten off more than one can chew. But in all reality the goals all go together and affect one another. 

This is something that I feel very passionately about. You should too. Find out more here and find ways you CAN help. You CAN make a difference.

There are tons of organizations dedicating their work to poverty that need our help. Even the smallest things make a difference. Start somewhere, start now. 

Here are a couple that are FREE that I try to use at least once a day. 

The Hunger Site and Free Rice

What do you do to help?

I’m a big believer in: enjoying your job will make you more successful

It all started this past summer as I was working at Windy Acres Nursery Direct, Inc. This job was anything but glamorous and I had A LOT of time to think. While working this summer I was also taking a couple of online classes, one of which was, “The Developing World”. I don’t know about y’all but after learning about all of the poverty in the world, I just can’t forget about it and move on. That’s when the light bulb went off. I knew this is what the Lord needed me to do.

The whole morning until my lunch break I was itching to get to a pen and paper to write all of my ideas down and feel relieved from trying to remember everything. I was also itching to tell Clayton (my husband) to reassure me that I wasn’t crazy-which luckily he did!

So what was my big idea? I wouldn’t say it was really a big idea, more like I had finally found my passion. I knew I wanted to work with a company that supports developing countries and I couldn’t be more excited!

Now that I finally had that feeling of, “YES! This is what I want to do with my life!” I began to think of how I would get my dream job. Was my current degree, recreation management, going to take me there? After some though I came to the conclusion that the recreation program at Brigham Young University-Idaho mainly focuses on outdoor recreation and therapeutic recreation-not so much non-profits.

So what major could get me there? I remembered a few months earlier Clayton telling me that I should check out the communication department. When he said that I immediately put it aside thinking, “Why would I ever do that? I love my major, it’s so fun!” Remembering that got me thinking that maybe communications is where I should be. So I emailed professors asking their opinions and they were super excited and had tons of helpful information. And now I am here- a communication, public relations major- writing this blog to practice for my future career.

I could not be any happier with my career change. I absolutely love being a communication major!

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” –Mark Twain

In countries across the world how one introduces their self is dependent upon the culture they grew up in. One thing that is the same everywhere are surnames, better known in America as last names. The last name may come from the father’s side of the family, mothers or it may contain both. It may come before the last name and represent the family that person comes from, while many other people are falling into the new trend of creating their own new family name. One thing is for sure is the importance of a last name, whether it be traditional or a new way to identify ones (new) family that comes with marriage.

If you like it or not when you first meet a person, more than likely you’re going to learn not just their first name but also their last. After you hear their name you almost instantly forget it, I personally feel that wanting to remember and know a person’s name shows you genuinely care. I know it is difficult, many people struggle with remembering names but that doesn’t over rule the fact that it is important.

How will you remember their name? Learn something about that person. If you want to take it up a notch from just knowing a fact, try to find something you have in common with them.  This will make the person seem more real. The next time you see them you can relate to them better because your relationship is based off of more than just sitting in a class or meeting together.

All in all, today’s generation in fast paced and self-centered, but networking is the newest and most efficient way to land jobs and other favorable benefits. They're complete opposites, which will you let take over your body? Don’t let opportunities pass you by, instead look for them. Just take the chance to get to know someone new; what do you have to lose?

With that being said, let me introduce myself. My name is Kaiti Ann Moss; my maiden name is Hickman, both of which reign from England (although my husband insists we are German).  I am a communications student emphasis in public relations at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I’m just another girl in the world with big dreams. Stay tuned to learn more about me and what makes me tick.