As a representative of the Week 3 Group, I present to you our featured blog: change.org. This website was launched in February 2007 and today, it is more than just a blog. It has blogs related to many activist issues so you can pick which issue you would like to read about. It is also a free internet petition host site where users can take action on various issues. Used by thousands of activists around the world, change.org is one of the few major activist blogs supported by multinational organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International.
When on the website, feel free to comment on any entry on one of the numerous issues. That is the best part about the organization. You can choose which issue you want to participate in. Also, within each general cause such as environment or health, there are various issues that you can navigate to such as air pollution or cancer. The website uses rhetoric techniques and pushes for direct action as well.
Please enjoy this week's blog!
Rishab, Nia, Tim, and Tingting
On the change.org website, I read a very interesting article called "Victory! Los Angeles Bans New Fast Food Restaurants." It was under the Sustainable Food section as a food policy/health issue. I found it very interesting that the article had a totally positive outlook on banning new fast-food restaurants in South LA, but it did not mention any negative effects of the ban. It seems kind of controversial that legislation can control peoples' eating habits. A larger issue is if health/nutrition should be a personal choice or if it should be regulated by the government. Additionally, should new businesses be prohibited from coming to the city in a free-market economy? Although I think most people agree that obesity is a problem and that helathy food choices should be promoted, I'm not sure if everyone would agree that this is the best way to do so. This blog must feel that its readers value health and nutrition because it uses words like victory and courageous step to show support for the ban. There was an interesting comment to the article that a woman had posted that said, "Oink there be a lot of hungry hippos come lunch time." Although her comment was sarcastic and somewhat crude, she did have a point about the practicality of the issue. She is acknowledging that there could be a lot of negative feedback to the ban in LA. I personally value nutritious eating habits too, but I'm not sure that I agree with this legislation.
ReplyDeleteI read the blog "Why Won't the 2011 Super Bowl Committee Protect Kids from Rape?" by Amanda Kloer and I found the comments on the post interesting. Not many people agreed with what the writer had to say about the trafficking scandal. One commenter actually makes fun of a statement that the writer made about creating awareness of the problem to keep it from happening. Two other commentators completely disregarded the argument saying that the claims of human trafficking at the Super Bowl were false and posted links for other readers to view to reinforce their opinions. These comments show that the writer of the blog does not have great credibility with some readers and that the readers agree more with the comments of others than they do with the actual post by Kloer. The commentators use ethos by posting links to credible sources in order to prove their arguments. They hope that by showing how many sources agree with them it will make the blog post seem inferior and unreliable. Although I’m not sure if the comments make a strong enough argument to deter all readers, they definitely create a debate among the readers and commentators of the blog.
ReplyDelete@Kelsey: it is a really good comment and i agree that the writer should discuss more from the negative side of the ban on fast food restaurants in LA.
ReplyDelete@Heather: i like the posts that come up with different ideas. thank u for sharing that i found reading the commentators arguments is interesting!
ReplyDeleteI chose "Kids Protest Slave-Picked Produce at Stop & Shop" in the blog's Immigrant Rights section (http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/kids_protest_slave-picked_produce_at_stop_shop). While the reporting itself is fairly balanced in this article, and follows a logical argument, I find one thing curious. They never mention possible counter-arguments for the companies that have slave-labor in their supply chain. If you want people to form their own opinions then you shouldn't slant the original material. The rhetoric here is to steer the reader away from asking the question "why aren't they doing something already?" There has to be a reason, and it probably is not the 1 cent-per-pound extra cost. Of course at the same time, blogs should not be considered a perfectly accurate, unbiased, non-judgmental account. (That is the whole point of a blog anyway! Opinion!) What a conundrum this is...
ReplyDeleteI just read the blog entitled "11-Year-Old Girl's Death Spurs Call for CPR Training of NYPD". I found it very interesting and eye opening. This young girl died from an asthma attack because a police officer stopped her mother as she rushed her to the hospital. When the girls mother asked for help the officer simply said "I don't do CPR". Why didn't this officer "do CPR"? Why didn't the officer realise the severity of the situation? and Why didn't he report what happened to his superiors? The blogger states that lifeguards and flight attendants must be re certified in CPR yearly so how is it that police officers, whose role is to protect and serve, aren't up to date on CPR training? This baffles me!
ReplyDelete@Tyler White: i think blog is a place that people can feel free to express they own ideas, though they do need to think about the issues from different points of views and try not to be too biased.
ReplyDelete@Arielle: it was a tragedy that the girl died from asthma without any help from doctors and police, and the government do need to think about the reasons and retest the police's abilities. good questioning!
ReplyDeleteI read about the blog titled " Gay Student's Death in Minnesota Raises concern about Bullying ". As I'm doing homophobia as my topic for my primary resources, I found this blog is very interesting. Another student died cause of discrimination toward sexual orientation. Hence, surprisingly the school did not have anti-bullying policy. Well, as far as I'm concern, there many cases about gay and bisexual men suicides happening now. We need to put a stop on it. This death is preventable if we do not repeats our acts judging their gender and bullying them. I was astonished to see a well-known social network named "facebook" are helping out to prevent bullying among gay and bisexual men. Thus, the blogger stated that the school should implement effective solutions to solve bullying cases among the gay students. Every one deserves a chance to live, so we should stop disrespecting them and take them as your friend.
ReplyDeleteI recently finished a book that touched on the topic of human trafficking (specifically of children), in the mid 1800s. While I understood how easily that tragedy could have been accomplished back then, I had no idea that it was also a very prevalent problem today, even in our "perfect" United Sates. I read the article from change.org entitled "How to Save a Child From Trafficking for $100", and was amazed and incredibly saddened to hear the statistic that within 48 hours of running away from home, 1/3 of teens may begin a life in prostitution. The main point of this blog post was to try to get readers to sign a pledge to give one hundred dollars per year to this organization in order to save a child from slavery and prostitution. While many American families make around 200,000 dollars annually, it seems almost unethical not to offer up money to a cause such as this, especially if it means saving a child from a life of hopelessness, helplessness, and despair.
ReplyDelete(http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/facebook_comments_reveal_prejudices_on_homelessness)
ReplyDeleteThe article was about how discriminatory people of all race and social status are towards homeless people. The discriminants proclaimed that the homeless do not want to get a job and they quite frankly enjoy the life where weak hearted individuals give them money out of pity.
To think that one could make such lowly excuses to not help the needy is outrageous. I don't think these criticizers will understand the hardships of not having a place to call home until they actually experience it. While these people are on Facebook criticizing the homeless, those with no roof above their heads are begging for their next meal in this blistering cold weather. I understand that some have their reasons when they turn their head away when asked to donate money. Everyone has their personal problems they must take care of first. However, ridiculing them is one of the greater wrongs that exists in this twisted world.
Upon first looking at the Change.org blog I was impressed with the layout and opportunity that is presented to its viewers to cause change. On the left side of the home page there is a sidebar titled "Take Action" where one can join petitions that have already been started as well as watch the status of already signed petitions. This is a very effective way to use activism to create a real change and it shows that this site really cause change and do what it has been created to do. There is also a link on the top of the page where one can start their own petition if their cause has not already been addressed. This gives people the freedom to stand up for their own causes and make their own activist movement. This blog makes the viewer feel as though they can cause a change and it is because through this site they really can cause a change. Change.org takes activism from just reading a post to making ordinary people the activists.
ReplyDeleteI read a recently posted article which is related to OSU. The name of the article is “Ohio State University: Where Student Clubs Can Kick Gay People Out?” It reveals that 20 official student organizations at Ohio State University deny LGBT people to take part in their clubs, while still receiving money from student activity fees. I was really shocked when hearing the news. I cannot believe that this kind of discrimination could happen in my school. As we know part of our tuition actually acts as activity fee, $25 I think. And the fee is distributed among student organizations for activities. That means those homosexual students actually contribute to organizations that openly discriminate against them. That is so unfair! It is excusable that some student club, due to religious reason, have to set up certain policies claim that homosexual membership is not acceptable. If so, please do not receive any fund from the campus-wide activity fee, otherwise, abolish those discriminative rules. Fortunately, the University's Council on Student Affairs voted and pass a new policy that “if groups want to be officially recognized on campus and receive student activity funds, they have to adhere to a nondiscrimination policy inclusive of religion, sexual orientation, gender, race and more.”
ReplyDeleteI just read a blog about Ohio state. Its called "Ohio State:Where student clubs can kick gay people out?" It talks about some religioius groups on campus and other organizations have the right to discrimiate and kick out people who are not like them. For ex: a reliogious group can turn away an atheist. However, every student at this university pays dues and part of that money is dispersed throuhght all the clubs. So really, these students are paying to be discriminated. The student government is trying to change these rules and make it that every group has to be accepting. Student government dispalys this throughout the article. They use a refrence to a similar u.s supreme court case that if any organization wants to be official it has to accept everyone. osu is pushing to get this law passed here and make these clubs accepting to everyone. It also makes the reader think about the issue... in the article it says.. hat means that LGBT students and non-believing students at Ohio State University actually contribute to organizations that openly discriminate against them. Sound fair?"... This gets the reader to take a minute and think about the unfairness of this situation. The article does a good job of getting the point across why clubs cannot discriminate anymore
ReplyDelete@ Colleen & Susan: The article about Ohio State is interesting. I haven't really heard anything about it on campus, though. I think the activity fee is stupid anyway. Why don't we just pay to be in the clubs that we want to be in?
ReplyDeleteI read an article entitled "U.K. Gardener Fired Over Anti-Hunting Activism." Joe Hashman, a British gardener, was fired due to his activist protest of hunting. His employers were avid fox hunters and disapproved of Hashman's philosophies. It was only when Hashman started to integrate his protest with his work that he was laid off. I am a strong supporter of the freedom of expression and am angered by such an occurrence. The fact that someone else's views do not match yours does not give you the right to lay detriments upon his or her life. A person should be judged in a workplace solely upon his or her performance and capability. Personal issues and beliefs must be left at the curb.
ReplyDeleteI read the blog "Dear OSU, Please Don't Exclude Us. Love Your Gay and Non-Christian Students" this blog talks about how school-funded religious organizations can deny access to those who do not follow the clubs' specific beliefs. In other words, if you are not with them, you are against them. The Student Life organization is currently working on letting absolutely anyone join a desired club. This blog definitely caught me off guard, especially because I, like all of us, am an OSU student. I am a fairly good Catholic and even I believe that if someone is interested enough, whether they are not specifically Catholic or even if they are gay that they should have equal opportunity to join the religious group. It isn't like someone would join a group to cause trouble. If a person were to join a religiously affiliated group, it would be because they have an interest in that group and there is no reason they should be denied that privelige. Its time for these groups to start practicing what they preach to ALL people, and not just the people that fit the specific mold.
ReplyDeleteI read the article, "Dear OSU, Please Don't Exclude Us. Love, Your Gay and Non-Christian Students". I must say, I am very shocked to hear that MY school has religious groups who take part in such heinous and discriminating acts. It doesn't matter your race or sexual orientation to take part in the University's clubs because EVERY student pays the activity fee of $25, making all of us able to join whatever group we want. Even though I haven't heard much about this issue, I believe that there should be something done to those who are discriminating against beliefs or how someone chooses to live. That is a violation of a person's rights, also if someone wants to join a group and aren't able to because of this issue, they should NOT have to pay the activity fee and I would not contribute to these clubs with my fee if I knew this was happening. The activity fee should be an option for students for the obvious reason that discrimination is happening inside the campus. That's the only just way to handle the situation.
ReplyDeleteI read the article named "North Carolina Crime Labs Helped Jail Innocent People -- So Where's the Reform?". This article is main to let more people realize the wrong conviction from North Carolina Crime Lab and pay attention to the lab, which pushes the lab reform forward. From this,I realize that people should pay further attention on the agent like the lab. The kinds of agent is very important. It can change lots of thing due to little carelessness or misconduct, even one person's whole life. If we don't realize the problem, the victim will be in the prison for whole life. I am happy to see the justice come to him. According to the statistics, the lab did have big problem. Less than 20% of the files are clear. The other need in-depth reviews. How bad it is. They do need to change the culture. They do need a big reform. If they could not make that, we will lose justice. What a bad condition at that time. More people will lose justice from the lab.
ReplyDeleteI read "In Defense of Animals Ranks 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants." It talks about how elephants are mistreated in zoos. Elephants need a lot of space in it's environment to stay healthy but zoos are in no way big enough for these behemoths to live adequately. It actually costs more to keep one of these animals in a confined space than to let 50 of them run wild. Animal mistreatment is one of the most disgusted topics in the world. If people don't want humans to be treated like that, why should animals be?
ReplyDelete@YJ: Though homosexual is not allowed in the Holy Bible, i still think that gays and bisexuals need to be respected from human right's point of view.
ReplyDelete@Codie: Thank u for sharing the articles about children. i think the cause of this situation sometimes is not about money but something that inside a person's heart and mind.
@Kevin Kim: iv heard a story before, there was a extremely poor person,his income from working was almost the same as the money he received from gov if he didnt work and have no income. therefore he chose to stay at home and did nothing. i think sometimes some peopel have this kind of thinking because of their poor conscience. those people do need to reexamine their mind.
@tyler: im appreciated that u like the website. and i do think that this website somehow lead people to think about the social issues and their duties in the society :)
@Colleen Zhu: thank u for sharing. i didnt know this before reading ur comment!
@Susan Pollack: you are the second person mentioning this topic. i think the sexual discrimination may be a important issue in our school.
ReplyDelete@Kelsey Gerber: haha~im quite agree with you lol~
@Mike Daugirdas: it was stupid that the employers can not separate his employee's personal preference from his work, and i still think that animals should be protected!
@Mikep24: wow, another article about the homosexual issues in our school. do our school managers need to do something now?
@fisk.22: i guess this topic will soon be spreaded out!
@Chao: im shock by the data that less than 20% of the files are clear! this is really a serious question.
ReplyDelete@Ming: im quite agree with you, if people don't want them to be treated like that, why should animals be? and i think most of the zoos dont offer enough space for animals.
Thank you guys to all who have posted!
ReplyDeleteI read the article, "Target Plans to Sell Dirty Gold in Canada." I chose this because I was always interested in blood diamonds, however I did not know that children were being thrown in mines and forced to dig for gold. This article says that "child labor in the gold industry is a significant problem in 17 countries." It continues on saying that, "gold is the number one produced with child or forced labor in the world." Apparently Target is planning on opening new stores in Canada, which means they will be able to sell this child labored gold. It is interesting to think that such a big company might support this type of gold because many people may stop shopping there. But the other thing I noticed in the article is that it doesn't say Target is definitely going to sell this gold. It says that they are one of the only stores that have not signed on with the "No Dirty Gold." So they still have a chance to sign this campaign and the article is hoping their petition will help.
ReplyDeleteGood job to Tingting this week for commenting on everyone's entry!!
ReplyDeleteWe need to make sure to talk about the OSU article today in class...
ReplyDeleteI read one article titled "Connecticut Town Proposes 'Right to Farm' Law" and followed several links in it. It talks about the proposition of a law which enables the local farmers in a Connecticut town to run their personal farms without being interfered by their neighborhood because of the externalities. It looks more than welcome to me as a campaign against monopoly and in favor of reserving small businesses, but this "right to farm" ordinance doesn't solve the problem. Small businesses have a much lower efficiency than organized companies and foods they produce are not necessarily better. If the government cares about the farmers losing their jobs, what about citizens who live in the noise and smell, and consumers who purchase the product? I think further discussion on the advantages of protecting individual farms and solutions to the externalities is needed to truly recognize the rights and benefits of farmers.
ReplyDelete@Nick White: thank you! :)
ReplyDelete@Rosie Zimmer: It is not suprised to know that child labor still existing in the gold mining, those kind of thing happens in the dark in lots of countries. however, people still need to think about the reasons for those things to happen, and whether there are solutuions or not. And i am interested in the reason why a big company like Target does not sign on with the "No Dirty Gold".
@Meng: This topic makes to think about how can individual farms increase the efficiency out of the law because sometimes laws are only contributing in protecting the small farms but can not help them surviving in the market.