Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Content Page
I'm currently working on a content page for my immigration website. And I decided to write about human trafficking, I believe that more pressure needs to be put on the traffickers.
I read that after narcotics, human trafficking is the second most profitable illegal business. I find it absolutely disgusting that women and children are being forced into prostitution or manual work by another human being. It's sick what someone with a disposal income will spend their money on.
Even though human trafficking is rampant in Asian nations, I will mainly concentrate on trafficking around Latin American nations. I have been to El Salvador once, and to Mexico twice on service trips. Therefore, I want to learn more about North and Central American Hispanic countries.
I read that after narcotics, human trafficking is the second most profitable illegal business. I find it absolutely disgusting that women and children are being forced into prostitution or manual work by another human being. It's sick what someone with a disposal income will spend their money on.
Even though human trafficking is rampant in Asian nations, I will mainly concentrate on trafficking around Latin American nations. I have been to El Salvador once, and to Mexico twice on service trips. Therefore, I want to learn more about North and Central American Hispanic countries.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Back from El Salvador
I returned from El Salvador on Sunday around four in the morning, needless to say, it was a very long flight.
But the travel time was well worth it.
The issue of migration is present at all times in El Salvador; homeless children sleeping on sidewalks, people running around barefoot, contaminated water, unsanitary/miserable living conditions, trash everywhere, ridiculously high gas prices, overpriced or non-existent medicine, unemployment, malnourished children, lack of education or none at all, Israel who is in the first grade and cannot write his name, Glenda who is 15 and going to school for the first time, HIV and AIDS on the rise...the list just goes on and on.
It's no surprise that families wish to flee their homeland, their government is simply making it impossible for them to survive. Some say that the already minute middle class is progressively diminishing. But in my opinion there's no middle class; instead there's the rich, poor and poorer.
My springbreak was very depressing, it absolutely breaks me that people are helplessly living a life that's not even fit for an animal. I'm grateful that I was granted the opportunity to visit El Salvador, but I'm still shaken by my experience.
But the travel time was well worth it.
The issue of migration is present at all times in El Salvador; homeless children sleeping on sidewalks, people running around barefoot, contaminated water, unsanitary/miserable living conditions, trash everywhere, ridiculously high gas prices, overpriced or non-existent medicine, unemployment, malnourished children, lack of education or none at all, Israel who is in the first grade and cannot write his name, Glenda who is 15 and going to school for the first time, HIV and AIDS on the rise...the list just goes on and on.
It's no surprise that families wish to flee their homeland, their government is simply making it impossible for them to survive. Some say that the already minute middle class is progressively diminishing. But in my opinion there's no middle class; instead there's the rich, poor and poorer.
My springbreak was very depressing, it absolutely breaks me that people are helplessly living a life that's not even fit for an animal. I'm grateful that I was granted the opportunity to visit El Salvador, but I'm still shaken by my experience.
Friday, February 29, 2008
I'm going to El Salvador!
Tonight, well technically tomorrow, I'm going to El Salvador. I will be travelling with a fellow group of King's College Volunteers. And we will leave tonight at 1:30 am.
My trip will be very relevant to my site, because every year Salvadorans living in the United Stated send $2.5 billion back to their homeland. Many migrants are the sole providers of their families, therefore a steady flow of income is continuously shipped in from the States. And according to the Washington Post that's about 17% of the nation's national gross! Moreover, El Salvador is so heavily reliant on the US that the country even changed its currency to the dollar.
I look forward to meeting plenty of new people and learning more about the injustices in El Salvador, and what can be done to help the people. The thing about SERVE trips is, you see a lot of misery and at points it seems like the impoverished people have no hope. But, hope and education is what improves one's life, no matter how poor you are.
Will report back after my trip!
My trip will be very relevant to my site, because every year Salvadorans living in the United Stated send $2.5 billion back to their homeland. Many migrants are the sole providers of their families, therefore a steady flow of income is continuously shipped in from the States. And according to the Washington Post that's about 17% of the nation's national gross! Moreover, El Salvador is so heavily reliant on the US that the country even changed its currency to the dollar.
I look forward to meeting plenty of new people and learning more about the injustices in El Salvador, and what can be done to help the people. The thing about SERVE trips is, you see a lot of misery and at points it seems like the impoverished people have no hope. But, hope and education is what improves one's life, no matter how poor you are.
Will report back after my trip!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I'm still a little confused about what I want to do with my blog and website. The truth is that I'm a little scared of the internet and I feel a trapped by my topic, migration. Like I said last class, I want to have fun too and everyone else seems to enjoy their blogs. Well, other than Kyle he can't draw so he's a little worried about his comic site. But, at least he likes comics a lot and I can't say that I'm passionate about migration. I think it's very intersting, especially when Lisa Ling reports on it, but unfortunately I'm not like Lisa Ling and have trouble sticking to one topic.
I might have fun with migration, if I add a little twist to it. Maybe I could combine migration and SERVE trips. Overall, I'm terrible with computers and very indicisive. But most of all, I hate feeling trapped. I talked to Dr. Little and so far my interests are cats, designer jeans, serve trips, and history. Pretty much, I'm a total spacecadet and I probably need more hobbies.
As of now, I think I'm going to base my website on migration and SERVE trips. I might not be super excited about it, but I'm not passionate about much lately.
I might have fun with migration, if I add a little twist to it. Maybe I could combine migration and SERVE trips. Overall, I'm terrible with computers and very indicisive. But most of all, I hate feeling trapped. I talked to Dr. Little and so far my interests are cats, designer jeans, serve trips, and history. Pretty much, I'm a total spacecadet and I probably need more hobbies.
As of now, I think I'm going to base my website on migration and SERVE trips. I might not be super excited about it, but I'm not passionate about much lately.
Monday, February 4, 2008
WinterServe
This winter break, I was fortunate enough to participate in WinterSERVE Laredo, TX '08. Throughout the trip, the Sisters of Mercy immersed us and taught us about Laredo and Nuevo Laredo's rich culture. They emphasized on the fact that even though Laredo is in Texas and Nuevo Laredo is in Mexico, they're still regarded as one tight-knit community that is simply separated by a bridge.
Furthermore, they went out of their way to teach us about many of the issues sorrounding the border. They gave us detailed accounts of the troubles whom both documented and undocumented migrants face on a daily basis. The experience dispelled many of the immigration myths that mainstream American society assumes to be true.
Not only did the visit enhance my understanding on the issues that plague the border, but it also introduced me to the power of hope. The Sisters' dedication to their cause, helping those in need, was fueled by an overwhelming sense of hope. Each day, they donate all their time and energy to a depressed community who lacks ammeneties that many Americans take for granted, like water. Rather than giving up, the Sisters of Mercy have dedicated generation after generation to aid the poor and forgotten.
Furthermore, they went out of their way to teach us about many of the issues sorrounding the border. They gave us detailed accounts of the troubles whom both documented and undocumented migrants face on a daily basis. The experience dispelled many of the immigration myths that mainstream American society assumes to be true.
Not only did the visit enhance my understanding on the issues that plague the border, but it also introduced me to the power of hope. The Sisters' dedication to their cause, helping those in need, was fueled by an overwhelming sense of hope. Each day, they donate all their time and energy to a depressed community who lacks ammeneties that many Americans take for granted, like water. Rather than giving up, the Sisters of Mercy have dedicated generation after generation to aid the poor and forgotten.
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