D.aporia

Warning of Elephant Ivory Trade

2009-06-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

What do you think when you see or own the elephant ivory trinkets? Do you wonder whether the elephant population is at risk by the ivory trade? Can you guess how many elephants will be killed for selling 44 tons of ivory? The editor of “The stampede to resume ivory trading” said, “The African elephants population plummeted by 60 percent between 1978 and 1987, thanks to our lust for ivory” (2007, para.5). After that, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) mandated the ban of selling the ivory, and successfully curbed trafficking for several years (United States Department of State, 2007). Therefore, CITES has decided to allow South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe to sell their ivory hoards to China and Japan, because elephant population in those countries are stable or growth rapidly (Taylor, 2008). In addition, the South African government plans to shoot some elephants because excess elephants numbers impact their life. As a result, that has caused disagreements. Some people think that it is an absolutely wrong decision, which will cause more poaching. The opponents think economic development is more important, and the elephant won’t face endangerment because its number increased.

Elephant ivory has attractive value for traders. The traders and the lovers of exotic trinkets are very happy that the CITES gave the permission for selling the ivory. However, it is also hazardous to give black markets the opportunity to do illegal activities, such as poaching and trafficking. With the economic development, elephant numbers increased with the enactment of the ban. Therefore, the evidence shows an abundance of horrible records about ivory smuggling when the trade has already been banned. Thereby, elephant ivory shouldn't be legalized, because it will encourage illegal hunting activities. Taylor said, "this situation is very clear; more ivory in the marketplace equals many more dead elephants and rangers". Selling ivory is not the only way to make the local economies prosper. Except for the relative enforcement and laws that should be stronger, there are more effective and profitable ways to protect endangered animals, such as tourism and sustainable exploitations.

Protection of endangered species is not a local problem; we should mobilize international action. Economic development is global; nature protection also requires global thinking. Working together is always the best way to collect ideas and solve the problems. All countries should pay more attention to current endangered species by measuring their own countries’ situations. Then, they need to find the solution for their local problem first and help other countries. The evidence shows that many countries have already taken action. There are almost 171 countries that joined into “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Conference of the Parties,” (United States Department of State, 2007), which is an international protocol. If every country can take action to concentrate on nature protection, solving the problem will not be very difficult.

Providing and enhancing the law and regulation documents is always an efficient way to limit the illegal trade; however, undergirding of people’s legal consciousness is the basic things that most countries should do. In the article "Why legal ivory trade is better for the elephants" the author said, “Conservation programs can limit such detrimental and off-the-books exploitation, but not very effectively (2008, para.6). People should be told strongly that their behavior is running against the law and has imperiled the balance of nature. Besides, these Asians and Africans mostly put their commercial interests first, and maybe most of them don’t know too much about the environmental problem. So they should be taught what has happened to nature and what the right way to take benefits from natural resource is. If people’s nature protection consciousness were changed, the environment problem and even the endangered species problem would have declined.

Proponents of the legal ivory trade explain that easing the market rules and making products from any protected species can potentially direct people to keep and protect that species with the purpose of economic worth. However, this is illogical. That will definitely encourage poaching and turn a green light on black markets. People with that thought are shameless, because I believe that they are more interested in the cause of financial benefits, especially in poor countries. According to Nielsen's article "Poachers target African elephant for ivory tusks", "You don't have to be a Ph. D to understand that there's a huge amount of money to be made in smuggling," Clark says, "it's a hot market and lots of people are getting into it (2009, para.11). People in poor countries have strong demands from their local resources. It is easier for people in poor countries to do illegal activities to get out of poverty (Why Legal Ivory Trade is better for the Elephant, 2008). In fact, the poor education in those countries is not good enough to build their consciousness of animal protection.

One group of people thinks that a trade ban is a good tool to gather public support and limit the illegal activities about an endangered species. However, the bans became loosened and defective, with the commercial interests developing. So the illegal black market is still thriving. The bans have many shortcomings. Illegal traders use this tool to raise the price to make a lot of money (Use them or lose them, 2007). That is why the ivory trade was still thriving during the ban’s existence. Therefore, we should tighten the policies to avoid the massive poaching from happening again.

Developing a foresighted economy is the best way to keep a sustainable environment. Elephant is not the only endangered species that we should be concerned about; a number of other animals, such as tiger, panda, rhinoceros, whale and so on, are also decreasing. Keeping the balance of nature is very important for the future of life on the earth. Whatever species is destroyed, it will impact the whole biosphere chain. In the case of Asia and Africa, it is gainful to sell the ivory by massacring elephants, but this kind of commercial interest is not lucrative. Pueschel, the manager of IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), maintains that tourism provides one of the biggest incomes in Africa and tourists are interested in seeing the wildlife (United States Department of State, 2007). For this reason, keeping people from poaching wildlife and promoting the improvement of tourism business is a clear and good solution. It is beneficial for the current economy and even for a future.

People claim that some species like elephants should be shot some for making value in the market to deal with excess elephant population. However, this is ridiculous. Humans shouldn’t make a decision so easily for specie’s fate. The elephants still need protection and they can be exploited for their value instead of being killed. We can make money from animals with sustainable ways. As mentioned above, the tourism business is the ideal way to keep a species from becoming endangered, and it has done well in some countries. The author of “Use them or lose them” said, “The gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda attract a lot of money from visitors. They are doing well, unlike their cousins over the border in Congo which do not earn their keep, and are prey to hunters who want to clear them out and take their land” (2008, para.8). Exploiting this kind of business is effective to keep the wildlife and protect the species, and is good to develop local economy.

Moreover, developing the artificial rearing business without killing is also a profitable way to protect animals. The animals can be brought up by artificially and can be develop the related businesses by exploiting values from them. Killing the individual creatures need not harm populations (Use them or lost them, 2008). For example, Australians have ranches to raise sheep, and then they export the sheep’s wool all over the world. With the quantity of elephants in South Africa, they can create a similar business with elephants like Australia did as a legal trade. To raise them more in manmade circumstance is going to create more value for them. After that, it is possible to cut the ivory and develop the economy legally. But before that, we have to protect the endangered animals well.

In conclusion, relaxing the ivory trade and turning beginning to develop the products in any protected resource, is not good for elephants. It will cause many unexpected problems, such as encouraging poaching. Human commercial interests shouldn't impact any species. All the countries need to be mobilized to protect endangered species. With the economy developing, we have to have foresight. A sustainable environment requires people’s efforts to take care of wildlife. Besides, people's demands cannot be reduced, but we can create values with effective ways to protect any species and satisfy what people want without harming them. All in all, human is the only specie require responsible for any kinds of disturbances of nature.

Reference:

Nielsen J. (2007, January 2). Poachers Target African Elephant for Ivory Tusks. NPR. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6677444

Taylor J. (2008, October 29). Warning over poachers as ivory is sold legally; UN allows China and Japan to buy 108 tons in African auctions. The Independent. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

The stampede to resume ivory trading. (2007, June 2). The Independent. Retrieved June 8, 2009 from LexisNexis database.

United States Department of State. (2007, May 31). Unite States, Canada and Africa; Alarming rise in elephant ivory trafficking. Africa News. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

Use them or lose them; Conservation. (2008, April 18). The Economist, Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

Why legal ivory trade id better for the elephants. (2008, August 12). Africa News. Retrieved June 8, 2009 from LexisNexis database.

Wikipedia

2009-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

How often do you use online resources for your research paper? Do you think Wikipedia is good for adding your information? What if the use of Wikipedia were banned? Wikipedia is a popular online encyclopedia and frequently used academic study, research, business, and other purposes. There is various information in the Wikipedia that was edited by lots of writers and it will help us to collect the information in a convenient and opened way. Especially it is very helpful for students' writing paper. However, Meredith Byers said, "Middlebury College, a prestigious liberal arts school in Vermont, recently announced that its history department had banned the citation of Wikipedia for history papers and exams" (2007, para.2). So, it is a matter of disputation whether students should be supported in the use us Wikipedia. Wikipedia likes an essence and rigorous information resource for students and other people. I believe that the advantages of using of Wikipedia surpass completely the disadvantages.

People claim that the contents of Wikipedia are not always the right information, because they are easy and free to be edited by anyone. However, most of data and facts are exact information, and nobody will change them except for editing as different ways. David Parry said, "This website has grown into an immensely useful resource for background information on a wide range of scientific subjects, and can serve as a quick reference for any number of scientific facts" (2008, para.8). The particular information, such as definitions and history background, are precise truth, which are determined by lots of senior scholars and peer reviewed after researching for a long time. They are not necessary to be added or altered by anyone. Moreover, I don't believe that some boring and bothersome people will interpolate the facts. In addition, when we work on our paper, Wikipedia helps us to improve effective on saving time.

Opponents of supporting its use the say that the contents of Wikipedia are not as authoritative as the materials in library, because this website has been given too much outside academic information. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make sense. Most writers and editors dare to post their articles and personal ideas depending on the academic knowledge they have acquired from school years. The knowledge from school absolutely must be authoritative. For this reason, it is farfetched and illogical to say that Wikipedia is not authoritative.

Academics who ban the students’ using Wikipedia state argue that this online encyclopedia is unsafe and uncertain; they are easy to be changed and removed without author’s permission. I agree that it is out of rule to change others’ articles. But Wikipedia has become a convenient and necessary tool to gather yet the newest information. Literacy in nowadays should be opened for everyone in order to get development and improvement. According David Parry’s article, “Wikipedia and the new curriculum,” “ Literacy in modern society means not only being able to read a variety of informational formats; it means being able to participate in their creation, with Wikipedia serving as the marquee example” (2008, para.9). From sharing and achieving, the writers and editors get benefits mostly.

In conclusion, Wikipedia is a perfect online encyclopedia for everybody. It is attractive by its freedom and openness. Wikipedia’s prevalence surpassed rapidly any other academic sources (Wolverton, 2007). For students, it is the ideal way to deal with their papers, and help extant their knowledge. It is beneficial and effective for students. So, the ban of students using the Wikipedia is absolutely wrong decision. They should be encouraged to use this website efficiently.

Reference:

Byers, M. (2007, March 8). Controversy over use of Wikipedia in academic papers arrives at Smith. Sophian. Smith College. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://tinyurl.com/2dyt65

Parry, D. (2008, February 11). Wikipedia and the new curriculum. Science progress. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/02/wikipedia-and-the-new-curriculum/

Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141

Sustainable Way to Protect Endangered Animals-S/R #2

2009-06-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

In this article, “Use them or lose them; Conservation,” the author states that trade bans are not the ideal solution for endangered species anymore; however, people are finding more effective and profitable way to protect endangered animals, like sustainable exploitation. In some part of South Africa, existence of too many elephants impacted people’s life. Currently, the government thought they should shoot some, but it does not have a good effect on saving endangered species. The trade bans have existed for almost 20 years, but it became defective with developing of the profit-making black market. In addition, trade is not the only important reasons that disrupt some species. For instance, land loss and ecosystem degradation are also serious influences on the wildlife. Thereby, we should find the foresighted and valuable ways for us. Tourism and sustainable exploitation are ideal way to protect endangered species and even take the benefits from it.

Recently, in some part of South Africa, the elephants were treated as pests. The government planned to reduce the quantity of elephants by shooting them. Certainly, it is not a good solution. Furthermore, the author mentions that the trade bans, as a tool to gather public support and limit the illegal activities about endangered species, have existed for almost two decades; however, the bans became loosened and defective, with the commercial interests developing. So, the illegal black-market is still thriving. Moreover, except for shortcoming ban, there are more reasons to disturb the wildlife, such as ecosystem degradation. In the case of South Africa, the government has to re-decide the more effective and long-term solutions. The author said tourism and sustainable exploitation are the ideal solutions at present. We can find more ways to create value with protection of animals to develop the sustainable environment.

Firstly, developing the tourism is the best way to keep the wildlife and even help the local economy prosper. The author said, “a better policy is to make wildlife more available to man.” We should keep natural environment and limit the animals activity’s area that under protected. By the way, government should put more finance and techniques to support running the work. On the other hand, people are willing to see wildlife in a nature way nowadays. In the case of South Africa, elephants are one of their major resources, they can use this advantage to work with creating the wildlife environment and attract tourists come to see them, instead of shooting them. Finally, they will not only earn money, but also protect elephants and other wildlife in a good way.

Secondly, the elephant population maybe really grew up quickly under effective protection. But other countries may not have elephants. Why don’t they sell the extra elephants to other countries? Then put them into their zoo or a wildlife zoo. To exchange the rare animals in a local area with other areas is also a good way. It is more attractive for visitors. For example, China doesn’t have too many elephants in zoos but people would like to see them. Also, pandas are our famous animal. So we can exchange these two animals with South Africa. Thereby, it potentially encourages people to visit and prosper the local business.

Developing the artificial rearing business without killing is also a profitable way to protect animals. The animals can be brought up by artificially and can be develop the related businesses by exploiting values from them. For example, Australians have ranches to raise sheep, and then they export the sheep’s wool all over the world. With the quantity of elephants in South Africa, they can create a similar business with elephants like Australia did as a legal trade. To raise them more in manmade circumstance is going to create more value for them. After that, it is possible to cut the ivory and develop the economy legally. But before that, we have to protect the endangered animals well.

All in all, even though the elephant population is increasing in South Africa, shooting is unacceptable. A sustainable environment requires people’s efforts to take care of wildlife, save them from extinction and even make them useful in a sustainable way. Besides, people’s demands cannot be reduced, but we can create values with right ways to satisfy what people want. If we can do both jobs well, we live longer.

Reference:

Use them or lose them; Conservation. (2008, April 18). The Economist, Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

Elephant is at risk

2009-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

In this article, “United States, Canada and Africa; alarming rise in elephant ivory trafficking,” the author states that illegal trading is still prevalent in some part of the world and that it endangers some species, for example, the elephant ivory is still sold in the black market; however, many departments and organizations are trying to change the bad situation and protect elephants from being poached and trafficked. Elephant tusks are mostly smuggled to Asia from Africa. Even though some countries like Namibia planned to sell a limited quantity for some areas, it is not a good idea to protect the elephant’s population. Then, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) strongly opposed any activities about elephant tusk trafficking, because it helped to grow the poaching and smuggling. Selling ivory is not the only way to earn money; we can find other ways such as developing tourism about wildlife.

Illegal contraband of elephant tusks is still circulated between Asia and Africa. Actually, this black market encourages smugglers to slaughter elephants, which sinks elephants quantity into crisis and affects the wildlife. Then, some nature conservation departments like CITES and USFWS had to take action to stop the illicit trade and protect the elephants population by strengthening the regulation and law. Besides, Asian and African prosper their businesses that depend on poaching and illegal selling of their own beneficial resource, elephants; however, it is not a long-term benefit. According to the article, money they lose in tourism is much greater than money they gain from ivory. In this case, wildlife tourism shows the foresight to develop the nation’s economy with a limited resource. By the way, relevant agencies should seek better solutions to keep endangered species from extinction and maintain the wildlife by international cooperation. Also, I believe improving people’s consciousness for nature protection is the basic and effective way to solve the problem.

Providing and enhancing the law and regulation documents is always an efficient way to limit the illegal trade; however, undergirding of people’s legal consciousness is the basic things that most countries should do. People should be told strongly that their behavior is running against the law and has imperiled the balance of nature. Besides, these Asians and Africans mostly put their commercial interests first, and maybe most of them don’t know too much about the environmental problem. So they should be taught what has happened to nature and what the right way to take benefits from natured resource is. If people’s nature protection consciousness was changed, the environment problem and the even endangered species problem would have declined.

Developing the foresighted economy is the best way to keep a sustainable environment. Elephant is not the only endangered species that we should be concerned about; the number of other animals, such as tiger, panda, rhinoceros, whale and so on, are also decreasing. Keeping the balance of nature is very important for the future of life on the earth. Whatever species is destroyed, it will impact the whole biosphere chain. In the case of Asia and Africa, it is gainful to sell the ivory by massacring elephants, but this kind of commercial interest is not lucrative. Pueschel, the manager of IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), maintains that tourism provide one of the biggest incomes in Africa and tourists are interested in seeing the wildlife. For this reason, keeping people from poaching wildlife and promoting the improvement of tourism business is a clear and good solution. It is beneficial for the current economy and even for a future.

Protection of endangered species is not a local problem; we should mobilize international action. Economic development is global; nature protection also require global thinking. Working together is always the best way to collect ideas and solve the problems. All countries should pay more attention to current endangered species by measuring their own countries’ situations. Then, they need to find the solution for their local problem first and help other countries. The evidence shows that many countries have already taken action. There are almost 171 countries that joined into “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Conference of the Parties,” which is an international protocol. If every country can take action to concentrate on nature protection, solving the problem will not be very difficult.

In conclusion, in the case of elephants, they are at risk because of commercial interests like trafficking of ivory; all the countries should be mobilized to protect endangered species. Any illicit trades that are harmful to nature must be banned as soon as possible. With the economy developing, we have to have foresight. It is important improve to the people’s consciousness of nature protection. All in all, we should be responsible for any kinds of disturbances of nature.

Reference:

United States Department of State. (2007, May 31). Unite States, Canada and Africa; Alarming rise in elephant ivory trafficking. Africa News. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

Elephant is at risk

2009-06-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

Providing and enhancing the law and regulation documents is always an efficient way to limit the illegal trade; however, undergirding of people’s legal consciousness is the basic things that most countries should do. People should be told strongly that their behavior is running against the law and has imperiled the balance of nature. Besides, these Asians and Africans mostly put their commercial interests first, and maybe most of them don’t know too much about the environmental problem. So they should be taught what has happened to nature and what the right way to take benefits from natured resource is. If people’s nature protection consciousness was changed, the environment problem and the even endangered species problem would have declined.

United States Department of State. (2007, May 31). Unite States, Canada and Africa; Alarming rise in elephant ivory trafficking. Africa News. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from LexisNexis database.

F/E #2---Life Changed in Small Town

2009-05-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

There is a big difference between the small town I am living in now and the big city I used to live in. In a big city, communication and transportation are very convenient. But it is pretty busy, noisy and crowded on the street every day. People who live in the city often have a higher economic level in my country. So, most people prefer to spend time outside instead of staying at home, because there is lots of attractive entertainment, especially the night life. Therefore, a small town-Carbondale, where I am living, is exact quietness anytime and anywhere. There are few people outside day and night that; only happened in the evening in my hometown; it made me feel unsafe and pressured when I just arrived here. However, the environment is good enough in the small town. The air is fresh, the sky is blue, and the animals are free here, that is the huge difference from the big city. Of course, my lifestyle has been changed in the small town. It would make me mad to stay at home all day in my hometown, but here, I have to learn to keep myself quiet at home every day. I used to spend time in a bar or a club with friends, but not here because it makes me feel unsafe at night. Also, this place doesn’t have various choices of food as the big city dose.

Earth's tears

2009-05-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

In Stephen Leahy’s article “Climate change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty.” He claims that our environment is getting worse that mostly is harmed by humans; however, humans are trying to solve the problem and they already find the ways. According to the research, scientists states that our living environment is mostly destructed by some damaging chemicals, such as CO2 and CFC, which can cause global warming and ozone hole. Also there are more people are suffering from skin cancer because ozone is only can stop the UV. However CO2 and CFC are produced from humans’ important demands like cars, air conditioners and refrigerants. It shows the commercial profit and movements play a role in adding environment problems. Therefore, some countries, departments and scientists have taken action. For instance, the US and Canada published “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” for prevention, and many scientists have succeeded in using other chemicals in place of CFCs and are able to find more solutions. In fact, the environment problem is decaling.

Our environment is getting worse, because the commercial interests always being the first because our daily demands. The climate became warming obviously in recent years. The great quantity of cooling systems and cars are used nowadays and we take many profits from it. However, we produced lots of damaging chemicals, which can destroy our environment. The climate became warmer and the huge ozone hole over Antarctica. Only in Unite State, over one million people got skin cancer and most of them will die (CITE). Someday, maybe the earth cannot afford us anymore, the. But it is not too late to find the solutions for keeping us living loner. We have already done it well and kept developing it. The author mentions many facts in his article that some countries have signed protocol for preventing the problems and the less damaging chemicals have been replaced the damaging chemicals successfully. But that is not enough, we should do more on it even though it will be hard.

The economy is worldwide, and communications technologies have connected people all over the world. The environment destruction is no longer a local problem, but it is global. For example, the oceans are connected in the whole earth. If there is one nation that makes the pollution to the ocean, it would affect other areas. In fact, the ocean seems like our huge dumping place, even though we cannot live without it. People create a quantity of garbage each day, then put if into the ocean. Until one day, the ocean couldn’t afford our trash anymore; it would be too late even though we take any action.

Prevention is now only the most effective remedy of dealing with serious environment problem. Unite States and Canada has signed an agreement of prevention, which is called “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.” This protocol supports to reduce the ozone depletion and carbon dioxide produced. Paul A. Newman said the ozone layer would have been destroyed by 2050 without this agreement (CITE). If the ozone hole is getting bigger, people couldn’t stay outside for a long time because of sunburn and it will lead more skin cancer. It is impossible to repair the problem completely, but we should develop well on preventive measures.

Use the ozone-friendly chemicals to replace the damaged chemicals is an effective method. The ozone-damaging chemicals, such as CFC, were often used for cooling system before and even now in some countries. However, scientists have already found new chemicals to take place of CFC, such as HCFC and HFC. The degree of the ozone hole has been declined. HFC couldn’t destroy the ozone layer, but it will cause the greenhouse gases, so it has been banned in some countries. For this reason, scientists are still trying to find more green chemicals to replace the destructive chemicals.

Planting trees is the best solution of preventive measure. The greenhouse gases are mostly influenced by CO2, most of which came out from cars and air conditioners. We cannot live without these tools. But the basic and useful thing we can do is planting more trees. As we know, the leaves not only absorb the CO2 and dust, release oxygen, but also change desertification sometimes. Besides, protecting the forests is also important except for trees planting.

Nature gave us a lot of resources and we took the most benefits from it, but we should look about what we gave back. We have to protect our living environment. Though the problem has already existed, preventing is better than taking no actions. Nowadays, more and more commercial departments advocated and crated a “green economy,” such as “ozone-friendly chemicals” and other green products. I believe that human beings can help sustains the earth for living longer with responsibility.

Reference:

Leahy, S. (2008, September.1). Climate Change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty. Inter Press Service. Retrieved May 19, 2009,

from http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=43888

2009-04-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

There are so many surprising or unbelieveble things have happend with me. Too many things happened which involve with me indicate that my life is not smooth and peace. I almost do anything running out my expected...I always think I have bad luck. Here is one thing, which just happened before I came to American, prove I am really out of luck. I studied English in order to get visa in Beijing where the city is 6-hour away from my hometown-Zhenzhou. So, when I fishished each term, I would go back my hometown. Coincidence was whenever the leaving form Beijing and Zhengzhou or the arriving to these two places, it would rain! Everytime! More unreasonable was sometimes raining without any signs and the weather is very shiny. I experienced long-term hard time for getting the visa. I failed three times. Actually, I don't have any religions. However, I complied with my fried's suggestion to go to the famous temple for praying the next time. Even though it was the first time to pray in temple, I went to there with pretty sincere in my heart. Therefore, it rained when I just arrieved there. So we had to buy a umbrella to keep praying. The consequence of the next day about going to visa was I exact failed. It is so despair. I decided to give up, and booked ticked to back my hometown. But I didn't tell my family and my friends because I almost crumbled and I want hidened myself. Still it rained with shiny weather when I took out my luggage from my apartment. I looked up the sun. She seemed to be laughing at me. I cried! After I arrieved my hometown almost ten miniuts later, it began to rain. I din't have any feeling already... Now, whenever I recall that period. I just laugh.

2009-04-19T21:54:00.000-07:00

As you see, this is the most weried food I ate before. It is a kind of cockroach but live in water. When I travelled with my parents to a city where is beside the sea. Of course, people usually eat various seafoods. Most of the them I cannot get close to see and even to eat. Once I ate in a restaurant, the waiter take the dishes on the table in front of us. Some of the seafoods are alive or raw. One of them is "water cockroach". Actualy, they are raw. I did not expect to eat it, but my father push me to try. After eating it, I ran in to restroom and throated out. Disgusting... However, like this kind of insects include high protein. They are called healthy food.

The most of Asia country such as Viet Nam, Thai, Burma and so on, they eat fried-spider, fried-centipede, fried -scorpion and wine-soaked scorpion or rat. It is sound treaten to me when I first heared these. I can image how the feeling is when put them in to mouth. I cannot afford it. I will never try them. But when I was child, I didn't afraid any insects. Sometimes my friends and I would like going to catch some insects and eat them! For instance, fried larvi-cicada is my favourite food and even now!

My life and Death

2009-04-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Life and Death cannot be cantroled by myself. If I will died today, there is only thing I want to be known is I was loved by my family and my friends. In my novel class, we are studying "Big Fish." I also wathed the movie. The main actor in the novel, Edward tell a lot of tall taile stories and jokes to make people happy. In his told story, he was a great man. He is not only charm with human but also charm with animal. In the truth, when he was ill because he is too old, and he has to waiting for death coming on the bed, he talked with his son-William. "How can be a great man..." William is asked by his father. He answered that, “ If a man is loved by his son, I will be called great man..." For my case, I wish I can be loved by my family at least, now matter what I was great or not. I spent my whole life with my "family"---the period of living with my parents and the periord of my children anmy husband living with me. If I was loved by them, I have nothing to regret even if I die. Morover, If I were rich enough, I wish I can use majotity of my properties to do a lot of charity. Thus, at least, I can feel fulfill that I use my limited ability to help most people who need help. About my legacy, I will not left all of them to my children because I already investted enough for them. Even though I love them, I want them use their own power to grow independently. Therefore, I wish my legacy can be donated to charity. Actully I do not want be wrote about some details of my life on my gravestone, only " my name " and someone else who love me.

View of Americans in China

2009-04-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

There are many stereotypes that Chinese people have about Americans. Some of them also are what I had before I came here. Most Chinese people think that black Americans are tall and good at basketball because there are so many black players in the NBA. Of course, this is not true and there are many black people who are horrible at basketball, isn't it? The stereotype of Chinese people view American people, generally is rich and free. Let me see, I don't know how to say, because the first impression of American people of mine is their lives are leisurely and colorful. They have their own car easily as Chinses people have their own bikes. There are many Chinese have "dream of American". They think that living in American will change one's life. (I mean life will get better). Also, Some people think American people they even have their own guns especially within people with black skin. Even now, I still afraid of touching with black Americans. In my childhood, when Chinese people began to watch foreign TV series and movies, people always wondered why foreign actors or actress looked so similar, and we used to mix who is who within the screen, even nowadays. I think all of these kind of stereotypes are affectted by American movies. Also I read an article on American people's relationship is very coldhearted seems like friend-benefit(of course I don't mean the slang). They become friends just because their benefit. But when I touched American people personally, I chaged my view. Because the U.S naton make up of many races. I can say it is a color nation. Some people say American black people are rude seldom education, coursing crime.....something like that, but not really like the people say.

Flag of China

2009-03-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

This is the Flag of the People's Republic of China which was adopted in Septemper, 1949 (the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China). Chinese flag has two basic color, red background and gold-yellow stars. In the uper left , there are five stars. The bigger one represents the leadership of the Communist of Party of China and it is arounded by four small stars that represent the chinese peopler or four occupations most esteemed by the Communist Party of China, which are farmers, workers, teachers, and soldiers. An interpretation under a more historical context is the four stars represent the traditional four categories of the people in the state, which are Workers (gong, 工), Farmers (nong, 农), Intellectual (shi, 士), and Businessmen (shang, 商) By the way, our flag is flew on Tian'anmen Square which is a historical place in Beijing, and our flag-raising ceremony is very solemn and awe-inspiring. It will be raised along with the sun-raising every morning at Tian' an Men Square.

This is Flag of Republic of China. There are A red field, with a blue canton containing a 12-ray white sun. This flag flew over Mainland China until 1949, and is presently flown in Taiwan, and other islands under then control of ROC. This flag is used from 1928. Unfortunately, there is still a current big problem between China and Taiwan.

hardsships trip for getting VISA

2009-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

First of all, I want to say, that was so stressed and unforgetble when I try get visa of Unite State. During that periord, I have ever been to American Embassy four times. Fortunately, I got visa at fourth! I was so exciting! Acctually, I prepared for the visa by half a year in Beijing, I studyed really hard I think. I admire the reason of failing at first time is my own personality that I am very easy to get nevous when being interviewed. But, for another reason, they want my detail document paper about my transfer credits letter. In fact, the SIUC has never send any letter to me about my transfer credit, I told them true. But they rejected me finally. Second time, I choosed a best day to be ambassy and prayed in temple the day before interview day. Unforrunally, I still failed, because the guys, who interviewed before me, wrangled with our officer and made him very angry so that affect on me. The officer seems to be annoyed to keep talking with next person. He refused me as a same question about my creidit. After I came out with crying, I found I lost my phone! My heart and mind like crashed accident. That is so terrible day!!! The third time, I was deceived by a personal visa agent. They made my appointment as a business affairs and didn't tell me. I was sure I did really good during interviewing. I just cofused the failed reason for a long time. I fall to the lowest ebb after that. I can not afford it and have hidden myself for several days until I found the reason that made me unable either to laugh or to cry. So, I explained to officer an fourth time hoestly, they consent me finally. In additon, I spent a lot money for interviewing, but it is worth for the results. Therefore, that was a pretty hardships period for me.

Untitle

2009-02-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

Before I came here, I always spend my Valentin's Day with my family even though I've already fall in love with a boy. Because my parents are conservative, so I can't let them know I was in loving with someone. Especially some sensitive festival like Valentine's Day, I have to stay at home to assume that I still was single. I was so helpless but I would keeping sending message with him secretly. For all of this reason, we had to spend our valentin day in advance. Nothing specific about gift, that is very commen such as couple rings, flowers or chocolate. Acctually, our love can be called pure love... Now, I am in USA as freedom and I disapointed my parent...I admire I am self-cotrolless girl, and afraid of lonliness especially after left with my familly... I was so lucky to meet him. I am enjoying our happiness because he came through into my life. We just spent a perfect Valentin's Day.

Chicese Culture

2009-02-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

In my coutry, China, we also have 56 nationalities as similar as Unite State has 56 states. In particular, our 56 nationalities have each own religion, accent, life style and some traditional culture. Our main nationality is called "Han". Han people of cause speak mandarin that even though there also has different accent, basicly we can understand the main meanin of each other. The second one is called "Hui" which their religion is Islam. The otheirs mainority nationality, most of them have their own traditional culture that it is mythic, special, unique and attractive. Therefore, China is suppost to be muticulture. If I was a tourist guide, the first place I recommend is our capital city, Beijin, which there is a represent of muticulture as the starting of traveling plan in China. Especially, the most traditional impression in Beijing is "Hu Tong" culture that it is a period that people' living style is peaceful and harmonious, and the people here is friendly, amity and hospitable. Here are some video and pictures to explain exactly:

this is about Beijing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOgDfyHNWk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em93JU63UlQ&feature=related

Miao ( for special, Miao people use the imprompu song to show their love, and they sing the song anywhere and anytime such as when they boating or climing on the mountain .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xce4-cSI15g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpFz1MFSjrc&feature=related

Here is a show for celabrate our "Chinese New Year"

this one is about our manority nationality that you can see their special dressing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z30P_RbPGN0

2009-02-08T18:40:00.001-08:00

The most influence person on my life

2009-01-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

The most influence person on my life certainly I should talk about my second parents. In China, if some one take care of very well or very like their friend's child, and want to do something for this child like their own child. This child will be consider to call them "second parents". That's also why I said they are my most of thankful person on my life. In the most bad period last year, I was suffering from heavy pressures of my terrible life. My second parents considered about me and knew about my situation at that time so they decided to convince my parent to let me go USA with his own child. Actually, I can say they changed my life. Both of them are kindness. They also are my parents 's business friends. They help my parents to deal a lot of trouble from company. In addition, they alway care about my health, studying and some details of my life as same as their own child. All in all, I extremely thank for they exist in my life.