pln12

For the last two Winter Olympics hosted in Canada, Canada hasn't won a single gold medal. But this year in Vancouver, the Canadian team won a record of 14 gold medals, 7 silvers, and 5 bronze according to CNN's article, "Canadians celebrate men's hockey win," found at http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/28/canada.hockey.reaction/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader . However, the most memorable gold medal won by the Canadians was in men's ice hockey where they played the U.S men in a hard hitting final match. It was a thrilling match and with the clock bleeding down and Canada up by one, the U.S made a goal to tie with 24 seconds left putting the match into overtime. In a trajic twist of fate, the U.S lost by one goal lighting the streets of Vancouver up with jubilant Canadians. Major intersections were closed due to the massive celebration, but the U.S played what is speculated to be on of the best games in history. They say to save the best for last and with this massive win to conclude the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada can be justly proud of a host Olympics with a total of 28 medals.

pln11

In the article "Indian troops in firefight with militants in Kashmir" found at
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/23/india.kashmir.firefight/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader, reported by CNN, the article described one of the many battles fought over a stretch of land called Kashmir on the border of India and Pakistan. Before India and Pakistan were two separate country's they were ruled by the British until a man by the name of Gandie led the rebellion and drove the British out, however afterwards Gandie was assassinated by Muslims which outraged the Indians after that Muslims and Indians had a civil war dividing the country into two separate country's. One problem though there was a piece of land called Kashmir which even today both country's are fighting over. Today one Indian officer and two soldiers were killed when three buildings full of rebels opened fire with automatic weapons. The three buildings were located in a town called Sopore a mountain town in Kashmir. This attack is yet another chapter in the battles over Kashmir.

poems

Bucher Knife

Once there was a butcher knife
Who dreamed of marrying the butcher’s wife
But one day when the butcher went away
And took his wife to Kay’s
The butcher bought a ring
Then proposed on his knee
But the butcher knife didn’t like the ring
And made the butcher scream.


Miles Wilson


It was an old model (A) motorcycle with two giant shining handle bars coming out like wing on a giant beast
The faded lather on the seat smelled of foreign places and untold stories.
Each scratch on the shiny black body of the beast had a history of its own
This bike had felt the world under its tires circling the globe in its thunders roar but now the beast lays dormant in a dark lonely garage only left to the memories.

pln11

The article from CNN, Rainforests turned into smoldering ruins, found at http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/06/indonesia.burning.raniforest/index.html?eref=rss_world+utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader, described how Sumatra's Kampar Peninsula rain forests in Indonesia are being chopped down at a rate of 50 football fields an hour - already 85% of Sumatra's rain forests are gone. Many environmental groups such as Greenpeace are very concerned. A major reason is that the Kampar Peninsula's peat soil holds more carbon than anywhere else in the world. If this whole peninsula were to be taken over by multibillion dollar paper, pulp and palm oil conglomerates, the carbon dioxide released through deforestation would be equivalent to 1.6 billion transatlantic flights. Not only is this a huge environmental issue, it is threatening the way of life of small villages. The people of the these villages live off and prosper from the bounty of the rain forest. They need the wood to build their fishing boats and houses. But the people in the villages are not united in their opinions about this conflict. Some villagers believe the big companies will bring jobs and needed development while others are skeptical. The Indonesian government does have laws governing deforestation but environmental groups claim that are not well-enforced. While people are trying to figure out what to do, the trees keep coming down. One villager said if the forests are not protected "we will fail to protect our future. It means we will fail to protect our Earth where we are living. It means disaster is coming to us."

pln10

The nuclear bomb has been the ultimate weapon of mass destruction since it was created in 1945. From the beginning of the nuclear age there has always been a threat of nuclear annihilation; during the cold war in 1965 this threat was even more likely than it is today. Is the capability of making a nuclear threat or detonating a nuclear bomb worth the risk of so many lives and the life of the planet? When a nuclear bomb is detonated, it causes mass collateral damage to the environment; it destroys all life including terrain, habitat, and of course, humans. So now it's the North Koreans who threaten the world with nuclear weapons. In the article, "North Korea 'not eager' to restart nuke talks," the North Koreans are described as very hesitant to let go of their nuclear power. Stubbornness like this will only spell disaster for society. If those who would threaten with nuclear weapons could only see that life is a miracle and that everyone is equal then there would be no need for nuclear bombs. The article, "North Korea 'not eager' to restart nuke talks," was found at http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/12/china.north.korea/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader and reported by CNN.

pln9

In the article, "Tigers on verge of extinction in the wild, World Wildlife Fund warns," found at
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/science/02/10/tigers.gone/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader, reported by CNN, the article described how the fate of the world's wild tigers is in our hands and that we are at the eve of their extinction. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said, "There is a real threat of losing this magnificent animal forever in our lifetime." Tigers are magnificent creatures and have been around as long as humans; we are foolish to think we are greater than all of gods creatures and can destroy them at will. WWF is doing all it can to stop the poaching, habitat loss, trafficking, and medicinal use of tigers - things that have brought them to this dire point in time. As one WWF expert put it, "Unless we really crack down on illegal trade and poachers, tigers in the wild have very little chance." It would be a true tragedy if wild tigers disappeared forever.

Pln8

In the article, "Defiant Iran Accelerates Nuclear Program," found at http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=9783242 reported by ABC, it described the efforts Iran is taking to gain nuclear supremacy. The U.S does not want another Cold War on its hands and neither does the rest of the world. Even Russia, which usually sides with the Iranians, says, "the new enrichment plans show the suspicions about Iran's intentions are well-founded."
Suspicions about the real reasons for Iran's increased nuclear activity are being pursued by the U.S and France who indicated that "Iran's action left no choice but to push harder for a fourth set of U.N. Security Council sanctions to punish it." Is Iran coming closer to nuclear supremacy and, if so, is the U.S in danger? Society should see right through the mask of Iran; this enriched uranium they are making will only be used for destruction and must be stopped!

pln7

In the article, "Oh No, Not More Snow! Washington, New York Brace for Big Winter Storm," found at http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/winter-snow-storm-hit-washington-new-york-philadelphia-travel-delays/story?id=9785985 reported by ABC News, it described the mayhem four feet of snow can cause on the eastern coast. In the "Big Apple," school has already been closed for tomorrow and is predicted to be canceled for at least the rest of the week. Meteorologists are baffled at what could cause such a freak snow storm. Brian Korty, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, said, "It's just what Mother Nature is doing this year." But people are asking themselves, when will this mini-ice age end? Is it just this year or is it related to global climate change? Perhaps we are getting a look at the chilly future of tomorrow.

CTW Latest 2/8/10

Miles Wilson
Smith 9
Language Arts
8 February 2010

Violence in Jerusalem


Monday is scorching with the heat of the bomb that erupted in central Jerusalem. Both Jews and Muslims wander the streets looking for loved ones, the pain is equal in everyone’s eyes. Most of these people look the same; it’s hard to fathom what divides them so greatly. It is second nature for humans to discriminate against others who are different; people feel safe with those who share similar beliefs. Since the beginning of time man has waged war over his larger purpose in this universe; this purpose is often channeled through religion. One of the greatest religious wars in history was The Crusades. The Crusades were fought over a stretch of land considered holy by three of the world’s biggest religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Still today thousands of lives are being unnecessarily lost over this stretch of land the size of Rhode Island. This divine argument, originally involving the local people, now encompasses many of the countries across the globe. Indeed many of the world’s current conflicts – from Iraq to Afghanistan - are seeded in the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. This ancient and bloody quarrel is like a fire that is fed continuously by the violent acts of both sides. This current violence is a disease that must be stopped before it coins the beginning of World War III. The world cannot ignore this fact and must unite to resolve it. Solutions are needed. The violence needs to stop in Jerusalem because past mistakes should not be repeated and the world’s nations are picking sides. Israel and Palestine should coexist peacefully.


While the world’s three major religions have shed blood for centuries over the holy land known as Jerusalem, the most modern chapter of bloodshed began after World War II. After the Holocaust in Europe which saw the death of six million Jews, Jewish leaders went to the United Nations (UN) to ask for a country where they could live and practice their religion in peace (Simmons). With the support of the UN, the country of Israel was established in 1948 as a Jewish state and included Jerusalem (Simmons). Conflict erupted almost immediately because the Palestinian Muslims were living on this land and considered it their home. Neighboring countries which were also Muslim joined with the Palestinians in what has now become a 50 year war, a modern Crusade (Simmons). The violence continues today.

The fight between the Palestinians and the Israelis is horrible enough; however, the world’s nations have been picking sides too. Every nation bears responsibility - especially the United States. “Israel-United States military relations have been extremely close” (“Israel”). Indeed, the United States (U.S.) has exploited this fight. In the recent Cold War with the Soviet Union, the U.S. championed Israel and the Soviet Union the Palestinians in order to gain advantage over one another. While the Cold War may be over, the U.S. continues to fuel passions in the Middle East conflict with its current War on Terror aimed at Muslim extremists. And Russia – as the former Soviet Union - is also still in the mix as reported by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) in 2005 regarding a statement by the Russian Foreign Minister. “Russia will support both politically and financially the actions of the Palestinian authorities to fight terrorism” ("Russia”). The terrorism referred to here is the violence being generated by opposing factions within Palestine itself. Of course, the Israelis and the Palestinians blame each other for each act of violence, claiming it as an act of retribution for the crimes of the other. With more nations picking sides, it makes the hope for peace less likely.

Perhaps the seeds of a solution are already taking root in the dreams of the younger generation of Israelis and Palestinians who have grown up in fear and have been worn down by this constant state of war. As described by Simmons, kids walking home from school are always looking for places to hide for when the bomb sirens go off. She even tells of a caterpillar structure at a children’s playground that serves as a bomb shelter. Sarah Brajtbord of the group, Students for a Free Palestine, summed it up this way, “You can get so wrapped up in politics … but if you break it down to bare-bones human rights, then it just makes the situation, for me, so much clearer and easier to understand. There’s so much wrong with politics on both sides … in the end, it’s about human life.” ("Israeli-Palestinian”).The solution to this conflict lies in creating one state where the Palestinian Muslims and the Israeli Jews recognize each other’s humanity and make peace in order to share the country and live under one government. This would give both people access to holy sites in the sacred city of Jerusalem and equal access to critical natural resources such as water. None other than the leader of Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, said, “If the present interdependence and the historical fact of Jewish-Palestinian coexistence guide their leaders, and if they can see beyond the horizon of the recent violence and thirst for revenge toward a long-term solution, then these two peoples will come to realize, I hope sooner rather than later, that living under one roof is the only option for a lasting peace” ("The New York”). Uniting the Jews of Israel and the Muslims of Palestine into one nation would mean peace through the entire Middle East.

Jerusalem’s violent past needs to not be repeated because now it is evolving to a global scale. Peaceful coexistence seems to be the only solution. The world’s citizens must remember this is not just Jerusalem’s problem, but the world’s problem. It might be human nature for people to discriminate against others who are different, but forgiveness is taught in the Bible, the Torah and the Koran. There is always hope.

CTW

Violence in Jerusalem
This Monday is scorching with the heat of the bomb that erupted in central Jerusalem. Both Jews and Muslims wander the streets looking for loved ones, the pain is equal in everyone’s eyes. Most of these people look the same; it’s hard to fathom what divides them so greatly. It is second nature for a human to discriminate against others who are different; society feels safe with those who share similar beliefs. Since the beginning of time man has waged war over their purpose in this universe; today this sole purpose is considered to be religion. One of the greatest religious wars was the Crusades. The Crusades were fought over a stretch of land considered holy by three of the world’s biggest religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Still today thousands of lives are being unnecessarily lost over a stretch of land the size of Rhode Island; this issue, originally a petty, divine argument between the local people now encompasses many of the countries overseas. Indeed many of the world’s current conflicts are seeded in the Israel -Palestinian conflict. The world cannot ignore this fact and must unite to resolve it. More and more countries are joining in the fight and soon this conflict will come to a head; society should learn from its violent past so that it can correct the chaos today. Solutions are needed. If Israel and Palestine could just share the country in peace, there would be no need for conflict. This violence is a disease that must be stopped before it coins the beginning of World War III.
For centuries, followers of these three religions have shed blood over the holy land known as Jerusalem; each religion claims this city as theirs and has been fighting for more than a millennium. Today there are modern crusades being waged between the Muslims of Palestine and the Jews of Israel. Palestinian Muslims are fighting to gain back their holy land and Jews are fighting to keep their holy land. Each side has a violent view of each other: “There is evil that can spread and threaten the security of the Jews” said the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyanu addressing the constant bloodshed, (“violence”). There has always been violence in Jerusalem, however, more radical threats have been made in the last ten years, such as a nuclear holocaust; “Some 500 pro-Islamic Turks held an anti-Israel protest in Istanbul on Monday over violence at a Jerusalem holy site claimed by both Arabs and Jews“ (“Hundreds Protest”). These reports are becoming more frequent with each passing year, when did this all start? In a January 10, presentation in Englewood, "Voices of Youth: Confronting Conflict and Building Community," Denver resident Kate Simmons stimulated the thinking of her audience with a report on her recent interfaith trip to Israel. After the Holocaust she explained, Jews went to the UN to ask for a country where they could live and practice their religion in peace (Simmons). With the support of the UN, the country of Israel was established in 1948 and included Jerusalem (Simmons). Conflict erupted because Palestinian Muslims live there and consider it their home and holy land (Simmons). There has been conflict since the dawn of days but recently since the establishment of Israel a huge war has erupted between the Muslims (Palestinians Muslims in neighboring states) and the Jews.
The people on both sides are living in constant fear. The Jews won and claimed more surrounding territory as a buffer, but they have been fighting and defending this territory ever since despite being afraid (Simmons). In recent times the Jews have built a separation wall to protect themselves from the Palestinians (Simmons). The wall between the two puts the West Bank on one side and Jerusalem on the other. On January 3, 2009, Palestinian fighters sent rockets into Jerusalem killing many people (Simmons). This was just one out of many battles fought in the last ten years. Kids walking home from school even are looking for places to hide for when the bomb sirens go off. A caterpillar structure at a children play ground serves as a bomb shelter for kids on the play ground when the rocket sirens go off. This is a very sad situation and a problem that gets worse with time. But, with every unique problem a unique answer arises. One can’t help but wonder how to make a difference, how to help. The best way to help is to let people know what’s going on in Jerusalem and that the Jews and the Muslims both feel the same when they lose a loved one to this senseless violence and that their biggest fear is not being heard.
Since this “Holy war” began, the world’s nations have been picking sides. Even our own U.S.A has been exploiting this war to settle an age old feud between the U.S and Russia. Society is fueling the violence giving people the power to kill more efficiently; “Israel-United States military relations have been extremely close” (“Israel”). The U.S is allies with Israel’s Jews and Russia sides with the Palestinian Muslims. Both countries are funding their money and resources into the Holy War hoping that in the end their feud will be solved. Newspaper headlines show the large countries taking sides "Russia is Helping Palestinians Fight Terrorism” ("Russia”), reports like this one are becoming more frequent. Each passing year, it’s uncertain who’s on whose side. When will all of this come to a head? Is there a solution?
There has been talk of either a two state solution or a one state solution. The one state solution would mean that the Muslims and the Jews would have to make peace in order to share the country and live under one government. This has sparked some great controversy and it doesn’t look as if either side will settle for peace, but this solution still lies open for debate. The more plausible solution would be the two state solution which would divide the country of Israel in two; the only problem with this is water. Israel has two sides the west bank and the eastern side of Jerusalem. One side has water and the other does not. The two state solution would not work because there would still be conflict over water and territory. What is the solution for now is that society can help by spreading the news. There is an old saying that two heads are better than one; the more people thinking of a solution the better. We as world citizens need to remember this is not just Jerusalem’s problem, but the world’s problem; it might be second nature for society to discriminate against others who are different, but it is instinct for society to forgive. There is always hope.

pln6

In the article "Pakistani Taliban Declines to Prove Leader Survived U.S. Drone Strike," found at http://abcnews.go.com/International/Afghanistan/taliban-declines-prove-leader-survived-drone-strike/story?id=9728333, by ABC News, it describes another tear that has fallen in the war in the Middle East. The other day U.S. drones (unmanned aircraft being remotely controlled) were suspected of killing Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, on a revenge mission. The drones were supposedly sent in to take revenge for a recent suicide bomber that the Taliban ordered which killed five CIA officers and two Defense Department contractors. If this is true, this is not the American way - to take such brutal revenge. This attack was considered the largest one since the drone program was started. A handful of drones launched a barrage of more than a dozen missiles into North Waziristan, and, according to a local resident, more than 12 people died. This tit-for-tat warfare is madness. If we take these deaths as acceptable losses then we are acceptably mad.

pln5

In the article, "India plans manned space mission in 2016," found at http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/29/india.manned.space.mission/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader composed at CNN, it describes India's plans for a great journey into space 300 km over the earth for one week. Reading this makes me take a better look at the rate our planet is progressing today. Before the 1930's, India was ruled by Great Britain and was considered a 3rd world country. Now it seems that India is making great strides to catch up with all the other modern world powers. This accomplishment will be one of man's great strides and is anticipated to be a memorable experience. However, this is not the only feat achieved by the nation of India in the last 100 years. In 2008 India launched an unmanned probe to the moon and in 1984 an Indian by the name of Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to explore space. The nation of India has made some very progressive leaps and bounds in the last century and is continually impressing the public today.