Then and Now

One big part of my life is going to end soon. Right now I have so many expectations about my future and how can I make the world that I life a better place. I believe that I can accomplish many great things well my parents taught me that I need to fight to pursue my dreams. I have so many feelings going on right now and sometimes I am even nostalgic of the beautiful school, people, and teachers I am leaving behind. My grandmother once said that no matter how hard and painful life could be you always need to look to the positives. Adapting to a whole new lifestyle after I graduate is not going to be easy. I am 17 years old right now and I proudly admit that with all the things that I have learned at home and at Colegio Panamericano I will succeed in everything I propose.

                So many experiences that included good and bad moments make me the person I am right now. From the bad things I learned to be perseverant and to fight the odds. From the good things I learn how to be happy and grateful. But I personally need to admit that from the bad experiences are the ones that I’ve learned the most. I will never regret any experience I have lived well that experiences make me have my own character and personality. Every person that have shared with me this years have let their own mark on me no matter negative or positive.

                My family is my greatest inspiration; they have been my greatest support during all this years. All the things that they taught me during all my life make me the person I am right now. I’ve shared with them both good and bad moments. No matter the obstacle or adversity they are always going to help me chose the best path. For me, family means love, fraternity, friendship, company, support, comprehension, and many other positive things. My parents have taught me how to pursue my dreams and how to be successful without affecting anyone’s integrity. I also learned from them how to be a sharing and loving human being, to express myself, to be respectful and obedient, to stand out, and to be happy. My siblings teach me how to share, work in group, to be tolerant, and honest. I am so grateful with the family I have.

                During all this years at school my friends were a huge company and support. All the experiences that I have shared with them were so magnificent that there are no words to describe how happy I am for sharing this year with them. I wish them all happiness and I hope that they are all successful in all things they propose. With some of them I shared more experiences but all are equally important in making me the human being I am right now.

                In 1999 I started studying at Colegio Panamericano. I am so grateful with my parents of taking that decision. At school I have learned and live many things. I am so proud of graduating from the best school. Many years between then and now, many teachers, friends, dreams, and experiences.  My teachers have been my guide and my direction during this process. My preschool teachers teach me how to be happy and enjoy being with friends, my elementary teachers taught me discipline and responsibility. My high school teachers taught how to be independent and to fight for my dreams. Every teacher that I’ve had let their own mark in me and I feel so grateful for their help, knowledge, and comprehension.  

                I feel prepare right now to face a whole new reality. I am dreamer and I will always work to accomplish my goals and dreams. I am expecting to learn many new things and to live many new experiences during my time at college. This new process is not going to be easy and I know that I need to study hard to accomplish all things that I’ve proposed. I will remain true to myself and I would be perseverant to achieve my dreams.

Light Bulb Conspiracy

The Light Bulb Conspiracy consists on the theory of massive production. The video start criticizing the over production and how society after 1950 change socially and economically. The video is constantly giving various example of how this started. The title of the film is significant well is the perfect example of planned obsolescence.

The light bulbs use to have a large life span. The Light Bulb Cartel used planned obsolescence and shorten the light bulb use span. By this the company would get a bigger profit. Like the light bulb other products were made less useful, that would later lead to a greater profit for the company. The newer the better that was the motto for the new society.

Four Horsemen Post

The film the Four Horsemen predicts the fall of the American empire. It proves this in various ways. It starts by saying that every empire that had exist throughout history has rised and then fall. Economically the American empire is collapsing. The gap between rich and poor is everytime bigger. If the United States collapse as a result the whole world would be affected. The film aslo says that the United States is in the brink of disaster. What are the implications for you and your life if this come to pass? It would not affect me directly but if the United States fall then economically the world will suffer a brief collapase too. The ones directly affected by this would be the American government and its citizens. The film aslo shows that we live in a debt-based economy.

Food Inc & Economic Hit Man

Food Inc issue can be compare to similar issues we have seen in Social Studies class. The food insdustry can nearly control the whole economic system of a country. Multinational companies are trying to enter different developing countries an take over national food industries. By this the multinational comoanies would have a higher income. Higher income also means more power.

The Food Inc issue is similar to the one seen in the video of the economic hitmen. In the Economic Hit Man these people try to take over the political system of a developing country by using a huge amount of money.
These would also lead to an increase of political and economic power.

This issues lead to an abuse of power coming from a multinational company or even an industrialized country.

Russia kicked out of the G8

The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- President Barack Obama and other world leaders have decided to end Russia's role in the group of leading industrialized nations, the White House said Monday. The move to suspend Russia's membership in the G8 is the latest direct response from major countries allied against Russia's annexation of Crimea. "International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state's territory through coercion or force," the statement said. "To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine's constitution. "We also strongly condemn Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier in the day that being kicked out of G8 would be no big deal.

Inside Politics: Obama's emergency talks Russian standoff in 'eleventh hour' WH: Isolate Russia and support Ukraine "G8 is an informal organization that does not give out any membership cards and, by its definition, cannot remove anyone," he said during a news conference. " All the economic and financial questions are decided in G20, and G8 has the purpose of existence as the forum of dialogue between the leading Western countries and Russia." Lavrov added that Russia was "not attached to this format and we don't see a great misfortune if it will not gather. Maybe, for a year or two, it will be an experiment for us to see how we live without it."

Acosta, Jim, and Victoria Eastwood. "U.S., Other Powers Kick Russia out of G8." CNN. Cable News Network, 25 Mar. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

Personal Opinion: It was an accurate decision took by the members of the "G7". Russia taking over Crimea is violating all rights. The International System is not bieng respected by Russia. In my opinion something bad is near. Dialogue between Russia and Western Countries is not going to happen and relations are once again cold.

Pers

Economic Hit Man

Economic Hit man practices affected the world in a global scale. The United States National Security Agency was the in charge of financing economically this issue. Countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Iran, Panama, Ecuador, were affected by this issue. Economic Hit Men try to take over strategically important countries and then benefit the United States government. By this the United States could get political and economic power from these developing countries.

In countries like Panama and Ecuador the Economic Hit Man could not convince the head of state to surrender their power to the United States. Chacals (people who will assassinate the political leader) were going to do their work. In Venezuela the government prevents the economic hit men, a revolt was then organized to overthrow Chavez but it didn’t 

work.

Malaysia Flight 370

Each day there are new questions and theories surrounding the issue of the disappearing of Malaysia Flight 370.

¿Where could the plane be?

There are two possible theories

·         One stretches from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand.

·         The latest theory said that the aircraft crashed on southern India into waters outside the reach of radar.

¿Could the plane have landed somewhere?

U.S officials are considering that there is an open possibility that the plane could have landed at a remote, hidden airstrip

¿How likely is hijacking or terrorism?
It's highly suspicious that the plane seems to have turned around. Those suspicions are further fueled by the loss of communications with the plane, considering the aircraft had "redundant electrical systems" that would have had to be disabled. (CNN)

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/16/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-questions/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Race as a Social Reality

Race as modern idea: In ancient times people didn’t divide society in physical appearance instead they were divided because of their religion, class, language and status.

Race and freedom were born together: For example when the United States was founded, equality was a radical and new idea. At the same time the U.S economy largely depended on slaves and forced labor.

In our times race continues to be an important social idea that gives people different opportunities depending on their physical traits.

Society has created better opportunities and advantages for someone who is white.

We are on a society that is based on stereotypes and individual prejudice. By this I mean that physical traits are very important and that the racial aspect will decide someone’s status in society.

Race is neither a biological nor a genetically known term. Different studies have proved that two Japanese can be genetically different as Japanese and a Colombian. The genes that are uncharged of establishing skin color, hair form, and other physical traits are few.

.RACE. The Power of an Illusion. CALIFORNIA NEWSREEL. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. ‹http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm›.

Juan Camilo Gómez

Three Set Grand Slam Matches for Men

Recently I’ve heard about the idea of reducing men 3-5 sets Grand Slams matches to just 2-3 sets matches. It will be a hard decision to take well tradition will be lost but men could now have the opportunity to extend their years on the tour. In this entry I would like to see and explore the different pros and cons about this interesting issue.

Pros for shortening men Grand Slam matches: For a professional male tennis athlete is always a challenge playing a Grand Slam. The actual format for men is playing the best of 3-5 sets (Only in Grand Slams). This will ask the player for a better physical and mental strength. Men, Grand Slams matches, are constantly going above the 4 hours of play. After the match both players would be exhaust and will have a minimum time of 24 hours to recover and be ready for another lengthy match. Grand Slams matches are a huge physical challenge for every player and with time running, players are not going to have the fuel neither the energy to play at the same level for four hours. If matches are shortening men will have the opportunity of playing a lengthier carrier.

Cons for shortening men Grand Slam matches: The four biggest events on the tour are the Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US open). These are all played to the best of 3-5 sets. It is a huge challenge going into a Grand Slam. But after all tennis is a huge challenge and it is a sport that demands huge physical and mental strength. Grand Slams are the tournaments that only few can win. Why? Only the best players can win a Grand Slam well with 3-5 sets format there would not be fluke performances.

In my opinion Grand Slams must continue with the tradition of playing 3-5 set matches. Tennis is a sport that asks for hard work and sacrifice. Grand Slams are the ultimate challenge and only the best would have a chance of winning it.

Juan Camilo Gomez

09/03/2014

Venezuela's problems now taking international scale

Since early this year Venezuela’s government is struggling to take control. Thousands of people are taking over the streets and are demanding a change of office and the end to a period of economic, social, and political depression.

Now for Venezuela problems are even bigger, their internal conflict is expanding and other countries are getting involved. In this case I am talking specifically about Panama.

Panama is demanding Venezuela to pay a debt of more than $1bn. Venezuela’s government took and impressive and immediate decision. They cut political relations with Panama. The president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, has publically spoken about this. He thinks it is a coward decision coming from Venezuela which he describes as a country “rich in petroleum”.

Maduro also went firing back and said that Panama was conspiring with the United States to intervene in Venezuela’s internal affairs. He gave diplomats from Panama 48 hours to leave the country.

Reckless Maduro taking actions and sending Venezuela to a bigger abysm.

Juan Camilo Gómez

09/03/2014

Alice Su

Both Coming of Age in the Syrian Conflict and How Do You Rank Refugees are articles written by American journalist Alice Su.

In the first one she shares her personal experience about the Syrian conflict and cites different sources from whom she received information and personal stories. As a reader I was impressed with Su's article about the Syrian conflict. She show us the conflict in a different way, this by sharing experiences from Syrians who at the time were refugees at Jordan. This article help the readers see the Syrian conflict in a deeper way.

How Do You Rank Refugees? This is the second article I read. Alice Su now tries to inform us about the Sudanese conflict. The difference between both of this articles are that in this one she uses a more formal and informative style. She is giving a good background about the Sudanese conflict and have good evidence that supports her article.

Juan Camilo

My name is Juan Camilo Gomez. I am a senior at Colegio Panamericano. I enjoy playing tennis and I like to spend time with my family and friends. The main purpose of this blog is to write about political conflicts around the world. I will also write about sports (specially tennis). I am competing in the Colombian national tennis circuit.