Yemi's Blog!

In our Global Issues class we had been given the assignment of creating a sustainable city. Our city could be made out of whatever we want and could contain whatever we wanted as long as we remained within the boundaries given to us which was approximately the size of a large piece of cardboard paper. When creating my city I took into account some of the areas of inquiry that were often referred to throughout the year. Specifically Environment, Health, Poverty, Wealth and Power as I believe that a good sustainable city needed to have the positive concepts of the topics listed above

The city’s design base was circular so every thing could be near to each other and also made sure that everyone was surrounded by some sort of green or blue space. There were also farms on the outskirts of the city. My city also had two hospitals that were near residential and business areas so that if there were any incidents, there would be a quick response on both sides of the city.  These hospitals were on the east and west sides of time but still close enough to areas in the north and south. In the centre of the city is our city hall and then to the north and south of the hall are two schools. All the roofs in my city were solar panels and there were multiple windmills around the city also. In addition there were hydro dams used to create more energy.

When considering the speakers we have had during the year a certain concept was brought to light when talking about sustainability. Now to related my city to that topic was quite difficult but essentially for a whole city to be sustainable nobody can be poor, everyone must be healthy, everyone would be given the same opportunities, there can be no disputes in power, and obviously your city must run on a reusable energy that does not affect the environment. I planned my city with this thought process and it was difficult to visualize but for the end product I think I achieved a sustainable city. Now also in the year I read the book Brave New World and also studied the novel Animal Farm.  My city also addresses the main topic of Brave New World and also avoided the issue of animal farm. Brave New World created a perfect world but with lack of freedom while Animal Farm an imperfect world with freedom. My city’s concept is that “perfect” world with a reasonable amount of freedom as everyone in the city would be given the same opportunities.

In the link bellow is a video of an explanation of my city.

Utopian City Explanation

 

 

            This simulation was the most powerful way to educate those on the crisis for many of those around the world who are refugees. It was a very unique way to show people what actually happens to some refugees globally. It obviously wasn’t exactly like what would happen in Syria for example but the realism and individual profiles they gave everyone made a serious topic very fun and I believe left a greater impact on the youths in our school then a lecture in a class. It was great that a fellow student organized it and that we had such a good turn out. Unfortunately I had to leave after the walking portion of the simulation but after talking with various friends who fully participated they all enjoyed it and said that it was great and a learning experience. They had people dressed as bandits who would steal your water and food and there was also a land mine that explode that added to the experience and since everyone went along with the rules and stayed in character it just added to simulation as a whole. Near the end the police came because the simulation looked to realistic to the wildwood community and our teacher had to explain the situation which was interesting. I highly recommend that other schools use this method to educate their students on this matter and even if you’re not a student you attend one of these functions.

Dubai will be hosting the 2020 sustainability expo which is to be the largest to date. They believe sustainability is present the highest style of living with the lowest environmental footprint. Currently, they are  ranked 33rd overall on the Acadis sustainability rankings and also believe that a sustainably city is a place where people want to live, work, and visit. These are a few reasons why Dubai is sustainable

During the conversation or presentation with David Suzuki I was surprised to hear about his comment that “Environmentalism has failed”. Environmentalism and the research to help the earth was  Mr. Suzuki’s life work and he has just publicly announced that he has given up on it. That interested me greatly because for most individuals it can be very difficult to admit you have failed. After listening to him speak and to the answers he gave. I have determined that what he was talking about and researching had to do with media, environment, consumerism, Poverty, Wealth, Power, and Indigenous People. These are multiple topics and each and every one of them can be greatly expanded upon. To find out which ones he was talking about more specifically at different time intervals i signed up for his foundations weekly email blast and it gives me great insight on what they are focusing on. To gain more knowledge I’d have to read his book and others that would have to do with the environment and global warming and such things. Also, in correlation with our TAP project it gives me some ideas on how to spread knowledge and how if you get certain individuals to speak on and support your cause you can impact a vast group of people.

This Old Spice ad came out in around 2010 and It is a funny ad but the underlying ideology behind it is that if you use Old Spice you will become “manlier” and the “ideal” man for your woman but at the same time they are making fun of that “perfect” man. I find this commercial uses an interesting approach in the way that the man speaks, he tells the listening to look at there hand or up or down, which in your own home you would be holding or looking at nothing and then when he tells you to look back at him he has something very desirable and uses that to show how great Old Spice is.

At the Marsh I learned a lot about individuals who are passionate about what they do. They research and inform the public about an issue that we often push to the side for things that we consider bigger or more important. I found that their ideology is that they feel that humans pollute senselessly, and that we could easily fix our water quality issue. They want to start out small with informing students and then moving onto bigger more influential people. Ultimately its how we are connected to nature that decided how the world shapes since we make such a vast impact upon it. We drill holes, build structures, dump waste. and do many more things to the earth and that means we are directly connected to the earth and nature.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/in-conversation-with-matt-mcrae-291943901.html

Up above is the link of an interesting article in the Winnipeg Free Press about a monument in Downtown Winnipeg that commemorates those who fought in the Northwest Rebellion. Recently, Winnipeg was just voted to be the most racist city in North America. This monument is paying respect to the people who died fighting off Riel and the Metis in 1885. At that time we discriminated against those who were not white, and we can say that the cause of the Rebellion was racism. By making this monument more prominent by congratulating the people who fought in the Rebellion makes our city seem more racist because in modern-day Canada if not the world we frown upon the actions of those who discriminate against other races. The monument itself is fine but the actions of the people accosted with it would not be approved of in modern-day society because just like Matthew McRae said “the idea of being revolutionary isn’t quite so bad” nowadays. Therefore, I believe that we should have our condolences to the families of those who died fighting but with all due respect, we should not make the monument more prominent than it already is

Was the Quebec Act of 1774 Significant?

In 1774 the British government passed an act that made “more effectual Provisions for the Government of the Province of Quebec in North America”(Quebec Act 1774).  The provisions were the multiple freedoms or rights that the British parliament returned to the French population in North America.  Firstly, it returned to the French their form of civil law.  Secondly, it gave them the right to follow or practice their own religion.  Thirdly, it expanded Quebec’s land borders.  To determine whether something is significant or not one must consider if the event was notable, how lasting were the consequences, and has the event become symbolic to present day.

One of the provisions returned to the French was their form of civil law.  The definition of civil law is “the body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters” (Dictionary).  This provision allowed the French to deal with their own private matters without using the British system.  Meaning, the British would now not be able to impose their own laws and standards in Quebec giving the French more freedom and independance.  Another provision stated that the French would be allowed to practice their catholic religion.  Although this was beneficial for the French it also had a consequence.  That part of the act was a reason why the Thirteen Colonies placed the Quebec Act of 1774 under their Intolerable Acts.  This was because they “were fearful about the spread of Catholicism” (Kennedy Hickman).  This fear was widespread enough to be recognized by the majority of the Thirteen Colonies and ultimately contributed to the American Revolution in 1775.  In addition, to the right to religion, the Quebec Act also expanded Quebec’s borders giving them more land.  For instance, most of the Ohio County had been promised to several of the colonies through their charters and many of them had already laid claim to pieces of land.  As a result of the act, that land now became part of Quebec (Kennedy Hickman).  We can assume that this angered the Thirteen Colonies, by removing land that had been previously promised to them, it gave them another reason to place the Quebec Act under their Intolerable Acts.

These three provisions contributed to the making of Canada.  If the Quebec Act had not been created and the Thirteen Colonies had not disagreed with those provisions, would Canada still be what it is today?  Would there still have been the American Revolutionary War?  With the events above, Canada would be very different than it is now, if this act had not come to be.  Therefore, the Quebec Act of 1774 is significant.

Works Cited

 

Hickman, Kennedy. “What Were the Intolerable Acts?” About. About Education. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

<http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/p/jutland.htm>.

 

“The Quebec Act, 1774.” The Quebec Act, 1774. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/PreConfederation/qa_1774.html>.

 

“Civil Law.” Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.

<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civil law?s=t>

On September the 24th, my history class went on a field trip down main street and the forks to learn about continuity and change.

If we want to understand continuity and change we must ask these questions..

1. For each aspect of life how have things stayed/remained the same?
2. Were the continuities and changes positive or negative?
3. How rapid or slow were the changes?
4. Did any of the changes mark/represent turning points in history?

So for our trip we stopped by the remains of Upper Fort Gary.

As you can see there is not much left of the fort.  All that remain is a small part that I assume to be the entrance.  The fort has changed because people began taking materials from it to build their own houses.  Although I don’t think that had any substantial impact on current day Winnipeg.  And it also appeared that it was slow process, meaning that the materials were not essential because a part of the fort still remains even though it was built-in 1822.  Therefore, the erection of Upper Fort Gary was important in Canadian history because it was an important Hudson Bay Co. trading post which caused masses of people to arrive in the place we now refer to as downtown Winnipeg and stay there.  Meaning it was one of the causes for people to come and stay in this area.

We then went to the Union Station on Main Street to see how the railway had changed.

It was interesting to see the different groups of people who came in and left the railways.

And also how the railway its self had changed

As you can see these changes were quite rapid and these were all positive changes accustomed to our new lifestyle.  The people who came in via train are often just travelers who came for vacations or business when back then it was shipping army men or workers in masses.  Also, the railway back then was not for comfort but now you can see that it looks a lot nicer and the inside is more comfortable which are all positive changes but in my opinion did not mark large turning points for Canadian history.

We then went to The Forks a place of great importance since it was the intersection of the two rivers and that caused many of those who travelled by boat to stop and then go to the Hudson’s Bay trading post to buy materials. And we also stopped for lunch.

The Forks has changed into more of an attraction in Winnipeg even though it has some museums and things related to it prior to when the Europeans came. it now focuses more on bringing in more people to come skate on the rivers during winter or stop and buy mini donuts.  These changes seem to of happened quite quickly and I do not think that it marks a turning point in Canadian history but I do believe it marks a point were Winnipeg became a social hub of activity and started to become a place were those would come to visit.

That was the end of our field trip though we did stop at a few other places but these were the important ones and the ones that I believe if you want to make your own decision on Winnipeg continuity and change.