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2002 World Citizen Essay Contest
Thank you to the over 250 students who submitted essays and the 80 judges who spent the time reading them all. A special congratulations to the following students, our top finalists in each category.
Children of the Streets The place Id like to visit is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The issue Id like to cover is helping "Children of the Street" and the person Id like to meet is Yvonne de Mello. Children of the Street are poor kids, some without parents, trying to survive on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. It all starts when their mother (usually thats the only parent) has gotten to the point where she cant manage to take care of her children and can barely afford to feed herself. Then she has to leave her kids on the street even if they are as young as three years old. That is when the kids are called "Children of the Street." From then on they have to learn how to feed themselves, find shelter, and a way to earn money. Some do this by selling candy, guarding cars, carrying groceries, shining shoes or performing stunts. Many beg, if that doesnt work they have to steal. But as these children get older they have to learn who to trust and who not to trust. For example policemen want children of the street out of their territory because they dont want them going around begging, asking for money or doing drugs. They will do anything to get rid of them. Including killing them. One the night in 1993 many policemen went out and shot seventy-two "Children of the Street." Eight died, the rest left running around and trying to save them selves. I would really like to go and help these poor children of the street because it makes me upset to hear about the awful things that happen to them. For example, some "Children of the Street" get hooked up on drugs and that kills them. Also some girls get raped and sexually abused, or forced into sexual acts, and physically abused by policemen and other people in the streets. It makes me feel so lucky to have what I have, eat what I eat, and live where I life. I wish those children could all have what I have. There is a wonderful woman who feels the same way I do, and has done something about it. Her name is Yvonne de Mello. She helps these children learn to read and write, and have good manners for the street. She has worked for the past 12 years trying to help "Children of the Street." This woman sees 250 kids and teenagers a day. Still now she finds two to three murdered children a week. Ever since Yvonne saw policemen trying to kill "Children of the Street," she knew she had fight for justice. For all she has done Yvonne has received many awards. Such as the first Brazilian Human Rights Award, she is one of U.N.E.S.C.Os nine Femme Lumiere of the century, and she is one of the forty-five women honored with in celebration of women's report from UNICEF and AIDS Education. If I went to Brazil I would write about the "Children of the Street." I would also love to interview Yvonne. Id do this because she knows so much about these kids. It would be great to talk to someone who wanted to achieve their goal, hasn't given up and, done a fantastic job. She could tell me everything. I would choose to go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a mission to interview Yvonne de Mello and help save the lives of poor ì Children of the Street. Sources back to top
I Said AIDS If I were a journalist, I would go to South Africa to do a report on AIDS. I would choose to do a report on AIDS because so many people are dying of the disease every day in South Africa. I also chose AIDS because my friends friend had AIDS and she died. I dont want this to happen to me or to anyone else. I think people around the world should raise money to help HIV/AIDS victims in South Africa. AIDS is a horrible disease to have. South Africa has the largest number of people living with AIDS of any country in Africa. About 4.2 million, according to the United Nations figures. It was recently estimated that 7 million persons in Africa could die of AIDS by the year 2010. Most of the people who are infected are young adults in their prime. Cane you believe that? Over 35 million men, women, and children have died from AIDS worldwide, and 15,000 more people are infected every day. In Kenya, people who are infected with AIDS are looked down upon, and their children are forgotten or discriminated against. I think that is just not right, and I also think that Kenya is failing to make a better community for itself. Many of the orphans whose parents died from AIDS are very poor and are forced to withdraw from school to go to work. They may have to take dangerous jobs to provide money for their families. By sending them money, we can help to keep these orphans in school and not out on the streets. I think that we should help HIV/AIDS victims. How, you might ask me? Why, that is easy! Put a box on your dinner table, and each night put some money into it. When it is full, send it off to an HIV/AIDS organization to help the victims and children of South Africa. You would be helping to save a life every time you send in a full box by helping the organization to buy medicine for HIV/AIDS victims. Help the HIV/AIDS foundations do their work in South Africa! Help South Africa to become a healthier and better place. I think the world should help to take better control of the HIV/AIDS problem. I think that we should take care of the people of South Africa. If your family collects money, it goes to save the lives of South Africans. So lets all do our part to make the world a better place! Bibliography
Child Labor in Africa If I was a Journalist on an international assignment the place I would like to go to is Eritrea. It is because I was once a little child in Africa. Many people are poor and when they are sick they dont have a doctor to check on them. A lot of people die in Eritrea. About 100 people die a day. The thing that Im talking about is child labor in Africa. Children as young as seven or eight are recruited or kidnapped to serve as soldiers in Military forces. Also some refugee children are often separated from their families, and they suffer from sexual abuse or domestic violence. This is really sad. A lot of people die because of this. For many students, life inside and outside of the classroom is tolerable because of the helping hands of peers and teachers. Children suffer from acts of discrimination, abuse, sexual violence, and harassment. Children are often abused and mistreated. Orphaned and abandoned children are housed in institutions where they suffer from cruelty. Also many die. Sometimes children as young as six-years old are forced to work under extremely difficult conditions. Also children around the world suffer abuse. Too many street children are killed or tortured by police. That is really sad and really serious. I think children have rights too. When I lived in Africa I saw a lot of people living in the street who didnt have a house. They ate from garbage and drank from the streams. Also many of them were sick and didnt have any money or nobody who can help them. I really want to help because this is really serious and sad. Also I was once a kid in Africa. Also I knew that the kids in Africa needed help. I also know you would have liked to go to Africa and help all those kids that are suffering! This is why I want to go to Africa. Bibliography back to top
The Inside Solution Have you
ever considered someone to be inferior to you just because they
appear different? It happened in Europe with the Nazis, who regarded
themselves superior to all other races. It also occurred in South
America with the peninsulares. They set up a social system that
placed those born in Spain or Portugal in the most powerful positions.
The peninsulares considered anyone else lower than them. It also
transpired in the United States with slavery. The abolishment of
slavery failed to change some peoples minds about others. Today
some people still view themselves better than others, and blacks
and whites continue to struggle with conflicts. This essay will
define the problem of prejudice, list several possible solutions,
and evaluate these solutions.
Separating the different ethnic
groups solves the problem temporarily, but undoubtedly creates an
even bigger one over time. Segregation prevents different nationalities
from learning about others, leading to more division and prejudice.
Segregation is a step backwards. Solution two, creating laws against
prejudice, helps to control peoples actions. But some people may
choose to disregard the law. Others may obey the law but still hold
hatred in their heart. Laws can control peoples actions superficially,
but they will find other ways to release their prejudice. A change
on the outside doesnt always change the inside, which leads to my
third solution.
Bibliography back to top
China vs. Taiwan World War I lasted from 1914 through 1919, and World War II lasted from 1939 through 1945. Did you ever think there would be a third World War? If the United States gets involved in the conflict between Taiwan and China, there is a possibility of this happening. China has been disputing Taiwans independence since the province broke free in 1949. The U.S. has been a staunch supporter of Taiwan, and current evidence suggests that Taiwan will eventually be successful in its quest for full independence. Technically, Taiwan is still a province of China, but the semi-autonomous province is continuing to press for complete independence from China. As a result, China is threatening to go to war with Taiwan. Taiwan is well off and would be valuable for China to own. China has been assuming that Taiwan is rightfully theirs because Taiwan is a province of China. Although Taiwan and China are neighbors, the Taiwan straight separates them (ìChiangî Online). Both countries have their reasons for believing that they are correct. Who is right? Taiwan came into existence in 1949 under the leadership of Chiang Kai-Shek. Chiang Kai-Shek was defeated by the communist regime in China and fled with his troops to the island of Taiwan (ìChiangî Online). It was on this island in the South China Sea the Chiang established his independent state. Some believe that Taiwan should join the United Nations. The majority of Taiwans population believes that they should continue to press for independence (ìDemocraticî Online). The people of Taiwan believe this because they believe their country does not have any obligation to China. The U.S. is supporting Taiwan and is putting effort into seeing that Taiwan remains independent. The U.S. may be a strong democratic country, but its fear of China has grown in recent year (Holt Online). After the Korean War started, the U.S. supported Taiwan from Chinese aggressions by sending aid to the wounded. Today the U.S. frequently sends air and naval forces to patrol the Taiwan Straight (ìChiangî Online). The U.S. also sell weapons to the Taiwanese to help them defend themselves. The U.S. has several options. Some people say that we should relate to China by looking at the situation from their perspective. Others suggest that we should offer a full partnership to China. Some say that we should not use bullying tactics on China (Holt Online). An example of the U.S.s strong-arm tactics is that the U.S. continues to send spy planes to patrol Chinas border, China is very unhappy about that. Chinas military today is not very modern, but Chinas strength is in its numbers. Chinas military capabilities have been growing compared to the U.S. since the 1970s. China is also having a rapid growth in its economy. Their strong economy combined with their large military means that they could pose a serious threat towards Taiwan and engage in a bloody war if provoked (Holt Online). On the other hand, Taiwan is also more powerful than they were in the 1950s. They are able to adequately defend themselves, even without U.S. assistance (Rubinstein Online). With both sides heavily armed, both sides would likely suffer a large number of casualties if they engaged in a war. A third World War is unlikely, but there is still possibility of a brutal conflict between China and Taiwan. The best hope for a peaceful resolution lies in Chinas slow march towards capitalism. I suggest that we do not interfere too much, or we could end up involved in a major war. Taiwan deserves to be independent because it has no commitment to China. Taiwan has a different president and their own government. Hopefully, a war between Taiwan and China will never occur, because there would be no winners.
No Progress for Peace On April 3, an 18-year-old Palestinian girl committed a suicide bombing at the entrance to a Jerusalem supermarket. Just days before Ayat Akhras blew himself up with deadly consequences. What type of a place is it, where people are ready to sacrifice themselves to kill others? If I were a Reporter on and International assignment, I would cover this topic. It seems that every week people continue to kill each other and just because of a difference. Throughout the centuries, the war over this territory seems to wage on and on. The two sides seem to making no progress for peace. I want to find out why. (Applebaum, p. #1) Throughout centuries the territory currently held by Israel, and Palestine has been warred over by countless other groups of people. The Crusades in the Middle Ages held some of the most gruesome battles between the Europeans and the Middle East. Now wars continue to wage on between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and they are also very gruesome. Now, instead people of fighting on strongholds, and using swords, and bows, they fight with bombs, and guns in the supermarket. Through all these differences, the effect is the still the same; many die. Countries around the world have given millions of dollars in aid to Palestine, but the aid always seems to turn up missing, and new guns or rockets, are mysteriously purchased by the Regime. On the other side, much U.S. aid to Israel is in the form of advanced weaponry, and with their superior weaponry they are able to build settlements in Palestine. The two sides do not build fences to consolidate their territory, as if they did not want to only have that much. As a consequence terrorist simply walk in at night to kill. Each side seems insistent in killing each other. Will this ever stop? (Kelly, p. #2 Gorenberg, p. 1) Every week in Israel and Palestine inhabitants decide to kill one-another as groups have been doing in that area throughout the ages. People in power abuse foreign aid, and continue to encourage the populace to be hostile with the other side. (Kelly p. 2) With such people in power, it seems that there is no progress for peace. People seem to continue to kill themselves, and I would really like to know why. If I were a reporter on an international assignment, I would cover this topic. Bibliography
Everyday when we turn on the news or open the newspapers we are bombarded with images of violence occurring in the Middle East. Though the riots between Hindus and Muslims in the State of Gujrat, in India, bear many similarities to that conflict, they are rarely mentioned. If I were a journalist on an international assignment, I would travel to Gujrat to cover those riots. As an Indian-American living in the United States this issue hits very close to home. With each murder, I think about my relatives in India, and how if they had been living in Gujrat, it could have been one of them. Therefore, I would like to cover this issue to give it more exposure in the media, so that Americans can see the extent of destruction that is being caused and realize that these are isolated acts of religious fanaticism. Finally, I would cover the riots because they represent the types of problems that would occur if the Indian government became non- secular. Most Americans citizens, including myself until a few days ago, have dismissed the riots as a minor flare-up occurring far away. However, these riots are anything but minor. Over 945 people are known to have been killed, and, if the missing are counted, that number becomes almost 2,000. That is almost half the number of people who were killed in the World Trade Center bombings on September 11, 2001. And much like in that bombing, it is the innocents, such as the poor and the children, who are suffering for the actions of the perpetrators. A woman in a refugee camp recalls that the ìsmall children who could not run fast enough were caught and burned alive.î More recently, a Hindu cart-puller was stabbed, burned and dumped in a well. And just yesterday a Muslim teacher was burned to death on his scooter. Hopefully, if Americans read my articles with these gruesome details, their negative opinion would pressure the Indian Government or even the U.S. government to take more action in this matter. However, while it is important for people to learn these details, they should also keep in mind that these acts are the work of religious extremists rather than mainstream Hindus or Muslims. The problem dates back to 1582 when a mosque was built in the town of Ayodhya, Gurjrat on the spot which Hindus claim is the birthplace of the god Lord Rama. In 1992, Hindu extremists destroyed the mosque, inciting riots that killed 2,000 people. Recently, in March of 2002, the World Hindu Council, an extremist organization, announced that it would build a temple on the site, causing hundreds of extremist to embark on a pilgrimage to Adodhya. Muslim mobs set fire to the train that was carrying some of these activists home. Fifty-five were killed, causing another round of violence between Hinduís and Muslims. Most Indians, both Hindu and Muslims appose the violence and some are even reaching out to help those belonging to the other group. For example when the apartment building of a retired Muslim judge was set on fire by a group of Hindu extremists, it was a Hindu friend of his that rescued him from the blaze. Part of the reason this violence has been allowed to go on for so long is that both the Central Government of India and the Government of Gujrat are ruled by the BJP, a Hindu Nationalist political party. For this and other reasons, the government will not support an extensive resolution in the Lower House of Parliament for government intervention in riots. In fact the Indian Home Minister L.K Advani is the man who ran the campaign to build a Hindu temple in Ayodha in the mid 1980ís and has even been blamed for initiated the 1992 riots. However, the problems lie with the police as well as with party officials. Police officers have generally remained passive during the riots, and a few cases have actually joined the rioters. A Muslim woman in a refugee camp in Gurjat says that when she turned to the police for help, ìthey told us to runî. Even when the police supposedly suppressing the violence, they seem to have created more. For example during the second month of the riots, fifty-three Muslims were killed by the police, compared with only seventeen Hindus. If the Indian Prime minister were to give in to the pressure from right-wing fundamentalists and run on a platform for Hindus, the predicament of Muslims living in India would only become worse. In summary, though as an Indian American I feel I have a personal connection to the riots that would not be my main purpose in covering this issue. In my opinion, the job of journalists is not to remain detached while reporting on an issue, but rather to use their power to help right wrongs and if possible save the lives of those involved. Too often, the only issues that get reasonable coverage in the press re those that directly involve or affect the United States. For example, the Middle East conflict gets coverage because the United States is supporting the Israelis in their conflict with the Palestinians, and the War on Terror is constantly in the news because it is the result of an act of terror against the United states on our home soil. These issues are by no means trivial, but United States citizens have a right to know what else is going on in the world. Secondly, I would write about Muslims coexisting with Hindus to demonstrate that both Islam and Hinduism are religions of peace.
Overcoming Epidemic As a journalist on an international assignment, my highest priority is to make a positive difference through what I write. There is little purpose in informing people about what is going on if it doesnít motivate any action. My first instinct is to uncover some new conflict or controversy in a far off nation. However, the sad truth is, people already know about numerous conflicts and controversies, but still nothing is done to rectify the problems. If people canít be moved into action by such articles, then perhaps a success story will do the trick. With this hope, I would like to cover the issue of AIDS in our neighboring country of Mexico. Since 1959, AIDS has been a huge problem that affects families, communities, and entire countries. Parents, die leaving millions of orphans, who never learn how to prevent contracting HIV. These children often grow up with the virus, and also die at an early age. The loss and incapacitation of so many citizens can have crippling effects on a nationís economy. This problem is most prevalent in Africa, but is a huge issue in other areas as well, particularly South American countries. Cultural barriers and economic limitations in the area make AIDS hard to prevent. However, Mexico has overcome these obstacles and successfully lowered the rate of infection in the country. The battle began in 1986, when the National Council for Prevention and Control of AIDS (CONASIDA) was established. If other Latin America nations see and hear about Mexicoís example, it could move them to take similar action. One cultural barrier that Mexico has had to overcome is the stigma against the use of condoms. As in the rest of Latin America, the predominant religion in Mexico is Catholicism, so birth control is looked down upon. Although condoms can save lives by protecting people from contracting HIV, governments are often reluctant to distribute them. In Mexico, however, CONASIDA managed to increase condom use by 30 percent in the year 2000. This action, along with other work by the group has caused the rate of infection to decrease or stabilize each year since 1996. I hope that by presenting this information, I can help persuade other countries to allow condoms to be distributed more freely. Another problem that many AIDS victims in Latin American countries face is inadequate heath care. Several of these countries have a three tier healthcare system. In this system, the richest people are able to pay for their own health care. The second tier is made up of employed individuals who receive complete healthcare services, although not up to the same standards. The third group of people receive only federally subsidized healthcare, which is quite limited. These people are often left undiagnosed and are also more likely to get HIV through blood transfusions. CONASIDA has worked to reduce such occurrences by bringing all services in the 32 states up to the same standards and transferring more responsibility to the federal government. They imposed certain compulsory practices for all and trained 1,115 HIV/AIDS specialists. The changes helped to reduce HIV transmission through blood transfusion to 0.1 percent and also decreased the number of children infected by HIV during pregnancy and delivery. Because the healthcare system in Mexico is similar to that of many nearby countries, those states would be likely to meet the same degree of success if they see and follow Mexicoís example. Probably the most effective action of CONASIDA was its educational program. Unfortunately, this was also an expensive endeavor. The mass-media education campaign included billboards, television, textbooks, and a toll free telephone service, which receives over 700,000 calls per year. Enhancing this program required a budget increase of 78 percent. This was difficult because Mexico, like many of its neighbors, was not in the financial position to fund these program. CONASIDA appealed to non-governmental organizations and other international funds, and received grants to pay for their educational programs. Education is key in protecting the future generations from AIDS, but can be difficult to execute when the country is not particularly rich. However, if other countries follow Mexicoís model, they can also receive money for their cause and help reduce the spread of HIV. AIDS is a problem in every country and every continent. Itís a problem that all countries must deal with. In my article, I plan to further research and explain Mexicoís efforts to protect its citizens from the virus that has taken so many lives already. Hopefully, this information will help other Latin American countries deal with the problem, so they too can overcome epidemic. Works Cited
The Relationship of Native to Settlers As a Caucasian American, I have learned from book s about what is was like to be a Native American as the Europeans colonized and the effects that have carried on until today, throughout my years of school, but I have never had any real life experience the relationship between two cultures of such disparity. This lack of knowledge about he interactions between Native Americans and those from European descent has led me to crave more information, but even more about the relationships of natives to colonials in other parts of the world. If I were a journalist, I would travel to Australia and investigate the history of conflicts and events involving both parties, and how past events have influenced life in Australia today. Australia is located southeast of Asia and is the only country that is also a continent. The Commonwealth of Australia is made of six states, which are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria and the two territories; Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The Aborigines, who were the first inhabitants of the continent, are believed to have arrived in Australia about 40,000 years ago. Australia remained virtually unknown to the rest of the world, until the 17th century when the British convicts made the first settlements in 1788 at Botany Bay. Although the Aborigines have lived in Australia longer than any other race, they only contribute to one percent of the population. Europeans make up 95 percent of the populace, and the remaining four percent came from Southwest Asia. With the Europeans to Australia also came a model of British government. Australia maintains a federal parliamentary democracy and is a self-governing state as well as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the founding member of the United Nations. The British sovereign is the head of state and is responsible for the Australian Parliament. Powers not allotted to the federal government is set aside for the individual states. The history of Australia is loosely linked to Europe, yet it is geographically a distant land. Before their introduction to Europe, the Aboriginal life revolved around hunting and gathering of food. They maintained an appreciation for their environment and kept deep connections with the natural world. Nature molded their entire culture from economy to religion, art, language and social organization. Along with the British settlers came the French, Spanish and Dutch. The British around 1771, led by James Cook, declared ownership of the entire western half of the continent, entirely upturning Aboriginal life. Some of the natives believed the whites were spirits of the dead, while others welcomed or greeted the British with hostility. The technology of guns gave the Europeans an advantage, and Aboriginal tribes surrounding settlements were often killed. Along with weapons, the settlers also brought diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, which devastated the tribes due to their lack of immunity. Throughout the years, fighting broke out on numerous occasions between the two cultures. Some Aborigines became successful by working the farms and ranches of the colonists, yet other were exploited as slaves. The whites often condemned the ceremonial gatherings and customs of the natives, suppressing their culture. During the gold rush of the 1850ís, many sacred sites and aboriginal villages were destroyed. I n 1938, an Aboriginal group gathered in Sydney, New South Wales and declared a day of mourning for the previous acts on their people by the settlers. After that, a movement of activism arose until finally, several decades later, the Commonwealth adopted policies concerning Aboriginal rights. Despite the small victory, in the 1950ís, a formal Aboriginal assimilation policy took native children away from their parents because they were deemed unworthy by the state due to poverty, unemployment, and requests for welfare. By 1972, Australiaís government began giving money and legal support for parents opposing the removal of their children. It wasnít until the 1980ís and 1990ís that the previously screwed Aboriginal land was deemed federal parks so that they could finally return to their culture. For nearly two centuries, the Aborigines were oppressed, but they are finally beginning gain back the rights to the continent that was originally theirs. I would want to study this relationship between the Aborigines and European settlers because it images many of the events that occurred during the colonization of the United States. The American Indians were exploited much like the Aborigines were and both culture were devastated by foreign disease, more powerful weapons, such as guns, and by loss of sacred land and their previous way of life. It interests me how similar situations can occur on opposite sides of the Earth. Going beyond the historical events, I would want to investigate the personal differences between modern day Aborigines and European Australians. I want to know how they treat the other as they pass by them on the street or how the white children at school treat their classmates of Aboriginal descent. Hundreds of years of fighting, oppression and history has pulled the two cultures apart, yet brought them together so that they now live in the same neighborhoods. Racial issues intrigue me, and I believe that Australia would be a great place to study them further and to share the stories with the rest of the world. Studying the correlation between Aborigines and European Australians would give me an insight into my own culture, an insight that I dream to have. It would open my mind and help me to think about how I treat those different races in my own country, and in turn allow me to write and share my experiences with others. I would also get a chance to expand the historical and factual knowledge of Australia to readers. The country down under is a mystery map to many citizens of the northern hemisphere, and this would be a phenomenal chance to share the culture, the history and the racial issues they share with the rest of the world. Bibliography |
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