I had a human rights class on last Thirsday. I learned about "working children" and I was shocked to see the video. I saw the children under my age were forced to work hard. They were not allowed to go back their homes and most of them were working all day without being given an education at the school. I thought why they had to work so hard and recognized that were connected these global issues; poverty, kidnapping, right of childrens. Almost all of the family which the chileden from were poor and let them work hard for their family or even sell them to get money. I think they need financial support from the governments but I was disappointed to know that the governments connive at the fact. Also the owners of the factories employ the children but pays little money and some owners buy or kidnap the children. These pitiable childrens were forced to work at dangerous factories or enslaved or sold to people who have sexual habit against children. I was inflamed. What on earth are the governments in poor countries doing? What on earth are the rich countries' goverments doing? Are they absorbed by keeping their nuclear weapons? How egoistic they are! What can I do for the childrens? How can I help? I think I have to learn more about it and about the groups which support the children in poor countries. I'd like to study about it in Scott's class also. This is one of the problem which needs immediate action.

I bought a thin magazine last year.That was "THE BIG ISSUE"; the magazine which was sold by the homeless. I had heard about the magazine and been interested in it but I couldn't speak to the homeless when I saw him selling the magazine at the first time. I tried but I couldn't. Why? I think it was because "I hadn't communicated with them." I mean, I had prejudice against them unconsciously. I was ashamed myself when I noticed that. However I tried the other day and I bought the magazine from the homeless who I had tried to speak to last time. He said "Thank you." to me and I realized that how important for his life to sell "THE BIG ISSUE". I think "THE BIG ISSUE" is a revolutionary method of offering job to them and support them to live their own lives. Also this magazine erased the border between the homeless and I. Through this occurrence I feel one of the global issues, "homelessness", closer. Before I bought the magazine I knew that there were many homeless especially in big cities but I haven't thought about them deeply. I look at the problems which not only poor countries but also rich countries like Japan have now. I think I'll keep buying "THE BIG ISSUE" and learn more about global issues in Scott's class.
Lastly, if someone read this blog, I suggest you listen to the song "instead" written and sung by Stacie Orrico. The Lyrics is about homelessness and cultural understanding.

I think children in poor countries, refugees and war are the most important 3 global issues. It is because these three are all related to people's life directly. I mean "life" is live and die. In our daily life, it is rare to focus on these with many people, but during this class, we should know more real situation in the world and think & discuss these issues seriously. It is not special for us to live everyday and we don't worry about our lives in the future. We don't expect even we will die tomorrow. However, on the other hand, many people in the world are suffering from hunger and dying. Some are fighting in Iraq, and some are escaping from dangerous their country.

Hello.

This is my first blog.