Globalization of Technology Hurts the World’s Population

Advanced Technology creates the digital divide between the rich and poor. Developing countries are introduced with advanced technologies, yet they don’t use it because they don’t have the literate skills. For example, according to The Economist, in India, the Knowledge Centre was set up by the local non-profit organization for the village. It contains computers, solar cells, and wireless internet. Thillan, a woman from the village, was asked about the centre.  She says, “I don’t know anything about that,” “It has no connection to my life. [I’m] just sitting here in [my] house trying to survive.” Also, the poor cannot afford technologies. For example, according to The Economist, a fisherman who is poor cannot afford technologies such as motorboats or navigation equipment. Without it, the fisherman cannot travel too far or determine the location. Globalization is suppose to benefit the world but only the rich benefits and gains from it. Advanced Technology leads to unemployment and that creates poverty. Millions of Americans have lost jobs due to imports or production shifts abroad. Globalization results in U.S. jobs being shipped overseas to low-wage factories with poor working conditions and abuses of workers’ rights. When technology is more dependable than workers, it will replace the workers. Basically, the rich are getting richer and leaving the poor poorer.  And advance technology can cause conflict in the world. For exmple, terrorists have access to sophisticated weapons enhancing their ability to inflict damage. Terrorists use the internet for communicating among themselves. And enemy nations can spread propaganda through the internet.

Barack Obama

President Elect Barack Obama is our future. There is going to be changes for our country. He is making history by being the first African American to become president. Before the election, I thought it was great that many young people were voting because it gives them a voice to be heard. Meaning, they get to vote for what they want best for their country. But throughout the election, I felt that a lot of young people don’t know what they’re voting for. I think that it’s a popularity vote. Some people vote for Obama because friends or their influences wants Obama to win without knowing what he’s going to do as president. I’m not saying that I don’t agree with Obama’s plans, but I think that because the majority of celebrities are voting for Obama, the fans that look up to them are voting for him because they want to be on the same side. Even for the children that want Obama to win, I doubt that they have any clue to what the issues Obama is for are about. But as I was saying how I’m not against him, but it’s good to know what he believes in for our country. For instance, on Proposition 8, he believes that marriage should be between and man and women. He isn’t in favor of gay marriage but when it comes to the constitutions, it shouldn’t stop an individual from loving their partner. Obama believes that America shouldn’t be about being unconstitutional. With his belief on same-sex marriage, I strongly agree with him.  

Experience at Alexandria's House

My overall experience at Alexandria’s House was not what I expected to be. When I was told that in Professor Sturgeon’s English 1A was required to do at least eight hours of service, I thought it would be fun and interesting. I volunteered at a hospital where I only did paper work, but doing my service activity at Alexandria’s House, I got to interact with people. I thought that I would gain something out of this service learning activity, but it didn’t make a difference when I worked there. When the class got to schedule on the days they planned on attending, I chose to volunteer on the 15^th, 22^nd, and 29^th of November. I wanted to complete my hours earlier, but there was too many people working on the ESL program. Throughout the months when it was close to November, I heard that few of the students showed up at Alexandria’s House. I was irritated because I could have been finished with my hours by then. I thought it wasn’t fair for the people who have to struggle on volunteering on the days that were left opened because they may have other important plans to do. Students weren’t showing up that the schedule didn’t matter anymore. For the students who need to finish their hours, they had to send the days that they were available. I emailed the same days I was scheduled before, but it was unavailable except the 29^th of November. I was frustrated because the people who didn’t show up at Alexandria’s House are volunteering last minute when they should have gone in the first place. I ended up scheduling myself on the 16^th and 23^rd of November. On the first day, I was nervous because I didn’t know where the house was and I didn’t know what to expect. When I arrived, no one showed up for the ESL tutoring. I waited most of the hours just incase if anyone showed up late, but Michelle let me go early because no one was going to come. I was disappointed because I wanted to contribute something to the people instead of getting the three hours for nothing. The second time I showed up, no one showed up again! I thought it was ridiculous that Michelle let me schedule on Sundays, but no one showed up when I came. I felt bad because I haven’t done anything at Alexandria’s House and it was close to the end of the fall semester. And the third visit, I thought no one was going to show up again because half an hour passed by and no one was there. Then finally, two Hispanic women showed up for the ESL program. I was planning to help them with the ESL tutoring, but the women only spoke Spanish. I felt useless because I didn’t how to speak in Spanish, so I couldn’t help them. I ended up taking care of the children instead. I thought that taking care of the children was going to be horrible but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The children were adorable and behaved well. All I did was watch over them to make sure they didn’t get hurt or misbehave. I enjoyed and finally got to help out at Alexandria. Overall, if the service learning activity’s schedule was more organized, I think I would of enjoyed helping more and wouldn’t have thought that the first two visits at Alexandria wasted my time. 

Semester at MSMC

The semester of Fall 08 is going well. I am taking fifthteen units, which are Anatomy and the lab with it, Freshman English, Fundamentals of Algebra, Pol 1, Soc 96, and Teas Prep. My professors for my classes teach well and are easy. I’ve been studying and focusing on school because I want to do well in my classes to get good grades this semester. I think the most challenging class I am taking is Anatomy because there is a lot of information to know. It gets overwhelming because the lectures go by quick without interpreting it into my head.  It gets very stressful when it comes to the exams. With the help of the lab, it helps me understand the information better. I have a good feeling that I will end up with a satisfying grade. Next to Anatomy, I think I have to work hard on Freshmen English because grades are based on the three writing assignments, the service learning activity, blogs, and attendance and participation. There is no final but I think I am doing well, as well. My Pol 1 is the most boring class that I am taking this semester. It all about politics and that subject isn’t what I am interested in. And the rest of my classes are easy. I’m determined to get into the nursing program with the grades I have so far. I know I can pass if I focus on studying for my classes rather than focusing on anything distracting. Becoming a nurse is what I know what I want to be in the future. It gets hard at times because all I do is study and sometimes I need a break from it. It’s hard to take a break from studying because sometimes I feel like I don’t know anything and that I’m behind schedule. And also, my mother makes life hard for me because she complains that I don’t study enough. But in reality, studying is my life. It is taking over my time. I know that in the nursing program, it gets worst than I how I am right now. And I am aware of what I’m getting myself into.

Alexandria's House

For the English 1A service learning activity, the class had to volunteer eight hours at Alexandria’s House. We can volunteer anytime throughout the fall semester, but I haven’t volunteered yet because I scheduled myself to help on Saturdays in November. I plan to volunteer in the ESL program. I don’t know what to expect when I help out at Alexandria’s House. When the class was told that we were required to do at least eight hours of service, I wasn’t too excited because I was thinking that I don’t have time because of my other classes and work. Then, we had to schedule ourselves on the days we like to work but there was certain amount of people that can work at a time. I think volunteering at Alexandria’s will be different from working at a hospital because when I volunteered last year at a hospital for my sociology class, I didn’t get to interact with anyone besides the workers in the department. All I did in the hospital was filed, stapled, and copied papers. When I get the chance to help in Alexandria, I think I will have a better experience volunteering because I like to feel like I actually helped someone that benefited from it. Instead of only dealing with papers that makes the doctors and nurses’ lives easier, Alexandria’s volunteer program will be interesting. Overall, I’m curious and kind of eager to see what will happen when my first day comes.