Make a Difference!

Today is the day where bloggers from around the world unite to talk about one of the most important issues in the world: the environment. Each blogger may focus on different aspects on the environment as part of Blog Action Day. Talking about the environment may overwhelm many due to the largeness of our Earth. But it doesn't have to be. What you do locally, has an impact globally.

Here are some ways that you can help save the environment:

1. Recycle. Today you can recycle paper, boxes, bags, aluminium, plus many more things.

2. Turn off lights when rooms are not in use. That helps save electricity which helps save the environment.

3. Don't buy Styrofoam because that takes longer to dissolve in the earth.

4. Don't throw batteries away. There are proper ways to dispose batteries.

5. Carpool when you can.

A good article to check out is Ways You Can Help the Environment. Remember, each person can make a difference.

Some people still have a long way to go...

Overall, in my opinion, the U.S. has made big time progress for people with disabilities. The U.S. is not perfect yet. I mean there are faults and weaknesses that need to be fixed and strengthened. I have seen some people treat people with disabilities not with much respect.

We need to educate more people about people with disabilities. People with disabilities are human just like most of us. They have many talents, dreams, and skills to offer towards humanity. If you don't know much about disabilities, read. Talk to someone. Attend meetings and workshops.

Educate yourself. Then share what you learned with someone else. You will be glad you did.

Can an individual make a difference?

Today, a colleague of mine mentioned that she doesn't watch any serious movies at all, except "dumb comedies", you know movies that I call "stupid funny". I asked her why not. She told me there are too many problems in this world, and that "dumb comedies" are one way of forgetting the negatives of this world. Yeah, but is that being a responsible citizen? or is that that we as citizens no longer can make a difference? I am not sure.

All, I know is that if you take care of yourself, and you consciously make an effort to live for the "good", then shouldn't that make some sort of ripple effect of goodness? I mean if your yard looks clean and environment friendly, wouldn't your neighbors want to do the same thing with their yards? At least they tend to want to do the same.

Something, I realized...that an individual DOES make a difference, but sometimes it goes unacknowledged. How did I come to that conclusion? I had made a suggestion on a list serve that I get through email: to read Pedagogy of the Oppressed to understand oppression and conditioning's of oppression. One reader emailed me privately, and asked my opinion of Pedagogy of the Oppressed or Pedagogy of Hope, which one should she read?

I was kind of surprised. I thought my message would be lost in cyber space because you know how list serves work: you get many messages a day. I was wrong. So, I decided that I am going to take great care of my actions and thoughts because I may influence you or someone else.

Comments are welcomed.

Is pay everything?

I got this in an email. I thought I would post it here. If you are the author or you know who is the author of this forward, let me know , so I can put it here. It is nice and ideal, but is this realistic?


WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental...

You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each
and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write .

I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.


Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my
head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"