Q2 benchmark


 This is the link to my Q2 Benchmark for American Government. It covers all three branches of government and the different laws that relate to me within those branches. This is also an example of checks and balances.

This benchmark to start was a difficult one for me especially for certain topics. One being FASFA for alot of people that was a pro but for me it was a con which left it hard for me to find a pro to my executive branch. I did not like this project at all because it different really teach me anything. Although we learned about checks and balances I just think this benchmark wasn't that helpful to me.

Lobbying Post 5- Overview

 I've been working solo this project and trying to get in touch with Anthony Hardy Williams 8th District Representative,  and trying to get people aware of the situation.
 As you should know by now I want to get a group together to influence neighborhood cleanups, specifically urban neighborhoods.  I wanted to start a group within SLA that expanded to a much larger crown with the help of the senator, It was to be something bigger than your average optional Saturday block sweep. My main concern has been to have our urban streets clean like we have them clean in Downtown Philadelphia and Independence Hall. I haven't heard anything back from the senator but I also know these things take time and he is a very busy person.


For this blog post it is really just an update on the current status of things. Basically I am just waiting on a go from the Senator or at least some support on his part. It wouldn't be a problem to start straight out of school, i just want the support of the senator.



Blog Post 5- Global Water Issues: Water Wars

When thinking about the water issues you need to conceder four main things:


Water scarcity: I some parts of the world the hot climates are drying up water resources leaving 1.1 billion people without access to safe water. This leads to death and illness from drunken unsafe water, affects ford production, leads to hunger and increased global food prices. 


Water sanitation: Throughout poor countries access to clean water and basic sanitation is a major problem. 2.6 billion people are lacking adequate sanitation leading to 5 million deaths per day. 


Water access:Many people have to travel long distances to get the water they need because the other ways of getting water such as through ground water, a spring, or a river. 


Resource management: This is often a political issue, usually there are many groups trying to use the same water source and without political intervention these fights for water can become nasty


This is a link to "World Toilet Day 2009" 

http://waterwars.pulitzergateway.org/?p=7060

Nearly 2.6 million people world wide, 40% of the worlds population, lack access to basic sanitation. 

1.1 billion do not have access to clean water. 

1.8 million people mostly young children die each year form water relatable diseases. 

In sub-saharan Africa the lack of sanitary water is holding back economic growth.


On this site are some videos from the Representatives from Water for People, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Water Advocates. These people went to these places and saw first hand the depth of the crisis and came p with possible solutions. The above link will take you to their videos.


http://waterwars.pulitzergateway.org/

This is a good website to go and check out the Water Wars. On it you can take a test to see how many gallons of water you use and give your opinions and you can also see whats going on with the rest of the worlds water struggles and you can see what many people are doing to help the problem, you can also share your ideas on helping the water problem. 

FACED

Java Truck

An Olive (Aren't I creative?)

a tree

My Java Smiley

My Java Art

My gorgeous picture!

Car

My Sexy Drawing

Lobbying Post 4-5: Sex Ed 101

Post 4: Communicate with your representative
FOR THE BLOG POST -
Detail your plan for communicating and report in on the steps you conducted, reflect on the process, effectiveness, etc.

To communicate with my representative I think writing a letter is the best method, since this is a big problem I think it would best to start small. Meaning the first letter would be to the director of the Philadelphia School District Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, this letter would talk about the class and what will be taught, how sex ed can help young people and showing that without knowledge on the topic teens are more likely to act it risky behavior.

Post 5-
Dear Dr. Ackerman,
I am a student at Science Leadership Academy, as a young female I believe we should have a class that teaches sex education. We do take a health class but we didn’t spend much time on pregnancy, birth control, STDs and safe sex. In my opinion if there was a class that taught these things the teen pregnancy rate may go down along with the amount of young people with an STD. The class would be a year long course that would be set up in sections, section one would be on what sex is, the next section would be on the safe sex, the last two would be on pregnancy (life after the baby is born and school) and STDs.
After watching the show 16 and Pregnant I felt that schools should step up and educated the students on what their parents didn’t want to talk about. This is a class that students can pick to have, so if they don’t feel they need the education or their parents wish for them to learn it in the household they didn’t have to take it. Many of the actives would be project based and hands on. I truly hope that you read this and see that as a young female that I would us this class to my benfite.
Sincerely Camille Aliyha Morton

Final Blog Post!

​In my previous blog posts, I presented a plan for how I was going to attempt to save the Divine Lorraine and this is my last update. Since I last wrote, I got into contact with several organizations, half of whom had an interest in the salvation and restoration of the Divine Lorraine. However, they have found that the "private property" aspect has proven troublesome in terms of seeing substantial changes, for if the owners do not care not much can be done. Even so they recommended I continue my quest and try sending a letter to said owners in the hopes of convincing them to do something with the glorious structure. A recommendation I think has some merit.
3letters

In terms of a next step I believe the letter mentioned above ought to be written and a few more as well. If I am able to get in contact with the legislators discussed in previous posts and discuss viable options for the building's future. I know this was an idea posited in the past but I now know what needs to be discussed in these letters to legislators. I can ask specific questions and gain a better understanding of more Lorraine-relevant information. In terms of the letter to the owners, I may be able to propose a few new ideas with information gathered from the legislators. Surely if they knew of the benefit this building might bring to the community, the illustrious history of this glorious piece of architecture, and the tax breaks that might be given, they would be all the more willing to invest in the  Divine Lorraine. However, this is all conjecture. I do not know of the owner's awareness of the existing possibilities for the building but I shall write them a letter nonetheless.

img_divinelorraine

Hw

Nikhail's Canvas

Script

Lobbying: Sex Ed 101

sex_education_471705

Post 1&2 Study the Issues


What are you lobbying for, against or to change?I am lobbying to have sex education taught in public schools.

Elaborate on your motivation for investigating and influencing public policy?
Some Americans argue over whether sex ed is something that should be taught in schools. 7% of Americans believe that sex ed shouldn't be taught in school. They believe that "talking" about it would cause more teen pregnancy, but after viewing the hit MTV seris 16 and Pregnant many of the girls expressed wishing they would have waited and that they had been better educated on sex, protection and STDs.

Who are the main supporters of your lobbying idea? Most teenagers and some parents

Who are the main opponents of your lobbying idea? Some parents and teenagers

Is there any pending legislation dealing with your lobbying idea? Explain. If there is not, what would you like to see proposed. Elaborate.  I would like to making that sex ed is something that every high school student in America most take, I guess it would be best to start small for example in different cities have this something they make happened in their school district.  


Post 3: 1. What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year?
I think that it is a great year to try and help teenagers learn about safe sex and not just abstinence, the US government only promoted abstinence-only sex education since 1996 to the tune of $50 million each year. The sex ed classes that school do have just talk about NOT having sex and if you do use a condom. Very few of them talk about the high risk of pregnancy and STDs. This is something that needs to be changed, but many parents are against their children learning about sex in the classroom. If sex is taught in the classroom it would allow the student to be more comfortable talking to their parents about the topic.
2. Who is essential to the outcome?
I would say the school districts directors, but in order to get them on together parents have to come together.



sex_education_471705
sex_education_471705

Lobbying: Sex Ed 101

sex_education_471705

Post 1&2 Study the Issues


What are you lobbying for, against or to change?I am lobbying to have sex education taught in public schools.

Elaborate on your motivation for investigating and influencing public policy?
Some Americans argue over whether sex ed is something that should be taught in schools. 7% of Americans believe that sex ed shouldn't be taught in school. They believe that "talking" about it would cause more teen pregnancy, but after viewing the hit MTV seris 16 and Pregnant many of the girls expressed wishing they would have waited and that they had been better educated on sex, protection and STDs.

Who are the main supporters of your lobbying idea? Most teenagers and some parents

Who are the main opponents of your lobbying idea? Some parents and teenagers

Is there any pending legislation dealing with your lobbying idea? Explain. If there is not, what would you like to see proposed. Elaborate.  I would like to making that sex ed is something that every high school student in America most take, I guess it would be best to start small for example in different cities have this something they make happened in their school district.  


Post 3: 1. What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year?
I think that it is a great year to try and help teenagers learn about safe sex and not just abstinence, the US government only promoted abstinence-only sex education since 1996 to the tune of $50 million each year. The sex ed classes that school do have just talk about NOT having sex and if you do use a condom. Very few of them talk about the high risk of pregnancy and STDs. This is something that needs to be changed, but many parents are against their children learning about sex in the classroom. If sex is taught in the classroom it would allow the student to be more comfortable talking to their parents about the topic.
2. Who is essential to the outcome?
I would say the school districts directors, but in order to get them on together parents have to come together.



sex_education_471705
sex_education_471705