China's Pollution

We all know China is one of the most industrialized and populated countries on Earth. As their production of goods and usage of oil increase, however, the more we question whether their manufacturing process is hurting or helping their country. The ability to manufacture goods is a great skill, nonetheless there is a down side to industrialization. Because China is an evolving country, it is more prone to use up its environmental resources as it gains its strength as a nation. In comparison, Britain was remembered to have caused a great deal of pollution during its Industrial Revolution, as well as India destroying its admirable landscape while emerging as a world power.
China is said to have one of the most severe water shortages in the world. A shocking 90% of its groundwater is contaminated, as well as 70% of China's rivers and lakes. Close to every day a considerable incident due to pollution happens. An estimated 75% of diseases in Chinese people comes from their pollution. People who live along the polluted rivers or, "cancer villages," as they are called, only live to about their prime, dying from terminal disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts the number of 100,000 pollution-related deaths every year. Although this mortality rate could be outstandingly lowered if China's government took authority, instead it lets companies get away with pollution and the government hastily masks the situation. The outragious number of 11.7 million pounds of organic pollutants is expelled in China's waters. Compare this number with the 3.4 million pounds in Japan and the 3.2 pounds in India. In 2005, China's major crisis with pollution caught international attention when a Chinese petro-chemical plant exploded 100 tons of the chemical Benzene into the Songhua River. This ordeal resulted in China's horrible ecological laws exposed to the whole world. Fortunately, the international community is pressing China to take responsibilty for their pollution. In addition to China authorizing the radical facts of its pollution to the public, the government there is also punishing any company that breaks an environmental law. The Vice Minister of China's Environmental Protection Department admits that the state of China's water is not only going to affect their nation, but the world as well. China's polluted water filled with garbage moves down their rivers to the sea where currents and the wind carry the polluted wastes to South Korea and Japan. Not only does China's pollution carry through water, but it also travels through the wind as well. The prominent Japanese ice trees (Juhyo) that promote tourism through Japan along with reinforcing their ecosystem are being put at risk from sulphur coming from Chinese factories. Many people in the U.S. are worried that China's pollution will become so extreme that it will begin to affect the people of the Pacific Ocean. Although other countries are promoting China to take charge of their water conditions, it is initially China's duty to keep their people, country and other neighboring nations safe. China needs to realize that its everyone's Earth and their nation is threatening other countries with their pollution habits. The trickle down effect of their contaminating ways will continue to destroy natural resources and habitats that other countries rely on unless they continue to reinforce and follow through with their new anti-pollution policies. Overall we are only given one Earth and it is every ones responsibility to take care of it.

A Conflict in Northern Ireland

Throughout history, since the 12th century when Anglo-Norman troops conquered Ireland, it has been torn apart by political and religious disagreements. England has ruled Ireland for most of its history, but in 1919, after the War of Independence, the country of Ireland was split into two sections. These two areas were the North, where the Protestants lived, and the South where the Catholics lived. Although the two regions were separated, they still disputed amongst each other for about fifty years and the conflict still continues. The conflict arose from the two different beliefs that the Protestants (Unionists) and the Catholics (Nationalists) could not agree on. The Protestants believed in keeping the union with Great Britain, whereas, the Catholics clung to their religion as a mark of political identity and wanted Ireland to maintain independence from Great Britain. The Catholics of Ireland were viewed as possible traders to Northern Ireland and therefore became majorly discriminated against. Protestants fixed elections to favor Protestants and made sure that the Catholics could not be voted in to Parliament. This act was called "Gerrymandering". Since the Protestants fixed the elections they were given all the political power and took control over Catholic areas. As a result Catholics lost many job oppurtunities to Protestants. Because the Catholics couldn't get jobs they were not able to send their children to the best schools. Catholic Children did not learn anything about their religion, Catholicism, instead they were taught about Protestant history. Catholics lived in the worst homes and many died of malnutrition. In the 1960's the Irish saw the Black Civil Rights Movement as well as the Student Rallies on Television, which helped inspire the Catholics to keep fighting for their rights. Though the disputes have calmed down there is still political division in Northern Ireland. The History of Blacks in America and the Civil Rights Movement can be compared to the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement. The African-Americans were discriminated against by the whites and segregated in America throughout history. Segregation between the blacks and whites was developed because there were no more slaves after the Civil War and the whites thought they were superior. Just like the Irish Catholics, the Blacks were not allowed into certain restaurants and were prohibited from sending their kids to certain schools. Some states, such as Mississippi, even banned blacks from buying or renting any property. African-Americans and Irish Catholics alike were denied the teaching of their culture and religion in the schools. In the history of both the African-Americans and Irish Catholics, the desire for their equality evolved into a Civil Rights Movement, both of which occurred in the 1960's. Common factors between the two Movements were marching through streets, student demonstrations and most importantly, violence. The Irish Catholics and African-Americans are two different cultures with a historical resemblance of being unfairly discriminated against in their own country. Both these groups endured a lack of voice in politics, poor education, and segregation. These two repressed cultures both endured a similiar Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's in order to achieve justice and dignity in their lives.

A League of Their Own

In 1942 many young men who played in minor league baseball teams were being drafted to war. For fear that Major League Baseball parks would collapse, Philip K. Wrigley advised the idea to have an all girls softball league. With the financial support of Wrigley and help from a group of Midwestern Businessmen they came up with the All-American Girls Softball League,a non-profit organization, that started in spring of 1943. During the first season of play the board of trustees changed the name to All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGBL) for a distinction between the Softball League and because the rules of play were that of Major League Baseball. Wrigley sent his scouts all over The United States and Canada to find feminine women who could play ball. Women around the world were ecstatic about the tryouts. In addition to being paid $55-150 a week, which is far more than the $40 they earned back home in the kitchen, they got to do what they loved. If the girls performed well enough at the tryouts they were selected to play on one of four teams. The teams were The Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles from Wisconsin, The Rockford Peaches from Illinois and The South Bend Blue Sox from Indiana. The public's first impression of the girls was crucial. The games were a form of entertainment and something for people to come home and relax to. Therefore, much thought went into not only making the uniforms, but also presenting the girls as All-American sweet hearts. Wrigley had the girls attending Charm School at night and assigned each team a chaperone to make sure they were in by curfew. Many had their doubts about the league and thought when the war was over, men would take over again. However, the women proved them wrong and eventually ended up with ten teams in the league. Even after the men came home, the girls endured grueling seasons with 6-7 games a week. This had no affect on the girls, however, since they were so passionate about the game. By the end of the second season the league was gaining enormous popularity. Photos of the girls and articles were displayed in magazines across the country. The articles often referred to the girls as "Babette Ruths" and the league as "Baseball-with a twist". At first fans would come to see the girls, but the players won them over with skilled baseball. Some argued that the women were just as good as the men. The girls received presents and numerous letters from fans saying how much they appreciated them and how they wanted their daughters to grow up to be just like them. Some fans even considered the women as part of the family and would invite them over for dinner. In 1948 the teams were at their peaks in attendance and held strong until the mid 1950's. All in all this is definately a unique aspect in baseball history that is demonstrated in the movie A League of their Own. This movie documents a time in American history when women proved themselves to be equal athletes to men. They provided our country with entertainment and gave the people a new view on women and sports. The popularity of this league contributed to the development of strong, athletic women proving themselves to our country. Without this league it is possible Women's Atheltics would have take much longer to get established. In the early season of 1944 it was apparent that major league baseball would not fall apart because of the war. Wrigley became bored witht the girl's league thinking it would be less interesting to people and would decrease in attendance at games. As a result he sold the league to Arthur Meyerhoff, his Chicago advertising executive. When Meyerhoff took charge the league's publicity and expansion was at it's highest. Meyerhoff defidentaly proved Wrigley wrong that the girls would not lose the public's interest just because the men were back from war.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932 and is known for his Fireside Chats. During the time of his Presidency, America was in the Great Depression. To relieve the people from the economic stresses, Rooselvelt came up with a program known as The New Deal. The New Deal put emphasis on three goals for America: relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform. To gain America's confidence back and gain support for the New Deal Programs, Roosevelt chose the most direct way to communicate with his people: Radio. In the 1930's practically every home had a radio in which families would gather around for a source of entertainment. Roosevelt started doing Fireside Chats in which he would address the public concerns in the most personal way he could, four times a year. His talks were said to be relaxing to the people and made it seem like he was talking to them personally. Additonally, these talks informed the people of the actions taken by the U.S. Government,as well as giving President Roosevelt a better relationship with his people. This is a video of one of his many Fireside chats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXY7TkrPPzI. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/17/obamas-fireside-chats-reg_n_175662.html. As well as informing the people of the decisions made by the government, the Fireside Chats also suggested ideas on how employers, workers and industries could help stabilize the economy. By President Roosevelt directly encouraging the people to help their society, it created a feeling of one large team working together to help the U.S. in a troubling time. In another matter the way a President delivers his message to the people is just as critical as his solutions. http://www.slate.com/id/2212898. Part of the reason Roosevelt was a much loved President (421) was because he was able to enlist the co-operation of the American people by developing a close relationship with them. He would start each of his 30 Fireside chats with "My friends..."and include the term "we" quite often so that would feel that they are part of the Government. When he gave his first Inaugural Address the country was in the middle of the Great Depression, people had lost their life savings, home and a way to eat. He was confident and brave when he stated his famous quote, "This great nation shall endure... We have nothing to fear but fear itself." http://www.presidentialexpert.com/leadership_franklin_d_roosevelt.html.

In comparison, the news today that addresses the Recession doesn't seem to make our society band together as a team. Rather than imploring the public to assist in issues, the news simply states the facts in a rather indifferent manner. Instead of banding together as a country, the people of the United States are pointing fingers at banks, C.E.O.s, Wall Street and both parties of our Government are blaming each other. Comparing Roosevelt's Fireside Chats with present day's numerous news channels, there can be found more significance to his chats considering the lack of communication in the 1930's. In today's news world the people are fed an abundance of useless information. News can be accessed by radio, t.v. and computer 24 hours a day. In the 1930's, however, Roosevelt's radio broadcasts were quite an event and listened to by the country at the same time, making it much more of an event. In addition, Fireside Chats were much more personal than any speech that Obama might be giving to the press. Roosevelt's Fireside Chats were so effective that Obama is said to be starting his own Fireside system.