Tasks, page 251

1.
a) What do you think is the significance of the opening sentence of the story?
 I think that the significance of the opening sentence of the story "Sharing doesn't work" is:
The children are very quarrelsome and wild. There are more children than Carrie can handle, and she feels that she doesn't have control. She calls them "s shoal of piranhas" because they can't share and they fight all the time
b) Sum up in your own words the dilemma facing Carrie in her new life in India
Carries is working with orphans in India, and her new life is stressful. The children are full of energy and steals enery from her. At one point she doesn't know if she can take it any longer. She stands in the middle of a dilemma, should she do what she want and leave or should she do what is morally right do do and stay.
c) How does Carrie's approach to the children differ from Didi's? Why do you think this is?
Didi keeps things in order. She takes care of all the physical needs like feeding and bathing the children. She is there just fulfilling the first two steps on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs and safety. Carrie on the other hand, cares about the children in a completely different way. She plays with them and give them love.
d) What point of view is the story written from, and what effect does this have on our understanding of what goes on?
The story is written in the third persons view. This means that the author knows everything about the characters. We see the story from the outside. The point of view are altered occasionally, but in this case we mostly see it from Carrie's perspecive.
e) What do you think is the significance of the last sentence of the story?
The last sentence "She can feel his stiff body waiting for something more, more than touch, more than she can give, but she cannot move" creates an open ending. Just when Carrie is making her decision, in the end of the story, something comes up and it makes us want to read more. The little boy wants something Carrie knows she can't give him, and it is a very difficult situation for her. 
f) What do you see as being the theme of the text? 
I think that the theme of the text can be several things. Courage, love, charity and compassion. 

http://access-internationalvg2.cappelendamm.no/c952829/sammendrag/vis.html?tid=982038

3.
a) "The kids surge forward like a shoal of piranhas" The children are not used to share, because they have never had someone to learn them. Piranhas are known to be greedy and here the children are compared to piranhas. 
b) "...she's battered ny noise..." Describing it this way makes it more real for the reader. Carrie is surrounded by noise and you really feel like it when you reed that sentence. 
c) "...the edges of the maelstrom..." When something is really close to collapse. In this case, Carrie. 
d) "The children dissolve in a squirming puddle..." Refering to the children this way makes us think about them in a negative way.
e) "In this part of town, buildings are pressed thin by other buildings, rooms are compressed to corridors" The author used personification. This makes it easier for the reader to imagine the surroundings. And it gives a scary image. 
f) "Sharp voices ricochet off the walls" She is surrounded by constant, sharp and loud noise.

Human Rights

2a

One important global challenge is human rights violations. The pictures below illustrate the ideas behind some of the articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which are given in the captions.

Choose any three of the pictures. Write a text in which you reflect on the importance of the human rights issues raised by the pictures you have chosen and discuss what the message of each picture is and how effectively it conveys this message.

Human rights are fundamental rights of every human being, regardless of race, gender, religion or other status. It is about the right to have a life; security, freedom from torture, right to privacy, protection against discrimination, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, the right to work, health and welfare are just some of the rights. Different parts of the world have different views on human rights. This means that some have several human rights while others have few. In this text, I will talk about three different types of human rights. The right of conscience, religion and freedom of thought, the right of education and the right to protection from slavery and servitude.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This means you have the freedom to change religion or belief and be able to express your culture privately and in public.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0zfTNPoiRbBw1TeKMins-WN99BmdHMiy2ND7YDdI9TzeAhgTLDzY3MI40syRcsT92BkQFY9Ry6KW0YOrKGYZOIVAb1oJR5hSLcgHWyv71Fou0anNRUcGUlHOST9skbRGtmKZIlxvJDg/s1600/kbjkb.jpg

This picture shows a group of people from Hong Kong demonstrating to support Edward Snowden, and demanding the government to let him go. Edward Snowden released many classified documents to show the people, when he worked for the NSA. The people in the picture have posters with words they want to convey. This is an example of the right to say what you stand for. The picture conveys its message, but I think it would have gained a greater impression if one saw more face expressions on the demonstrators.  

Everyone have their own thoughts and beliefs, but in some parts of the world it is punishable to say your what you stand for. In Singapore and Ukraine it is actually illegal to hold protests and demonstrations! In 2005 two young men from Iran, were hanged because they were gay, each year many, especially women, are stoned to death and many others are killed because they say or do something that goes against their ruler. These are all extreme breaches on the human rights, but luckily, there are several organisations and individuals working to put an end to it.

Everyone has the right to education; yet, millions do not get the opportunity to educate themselves. This results in poverty for many and it has become one of the largest battles in the world, especially for girls and women.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vKOyI1koiOyobiUuylOwjmTgMY1-ODvrNuzUrVwEpI2o0avVnL1j1pIqRzL77IlZetq7OsMyREVq2e-MzZe_bWLs3yqDWJhlgE9aEY3EPEuN-M8rI7YLzotJjoW10hKmrpdliQzz2t0/s1600/kjljb.jpg

I will say that this image delivers its message. Children reading and writing are a normal sight for us, but for many the reality is that they do not have or get an education. Many can’t even read or write. The world would have been a better place if children got a stable education from early stages of their lifes. Like Malala said "the pen is mightier than the sword!" Large parts of the world are suffering from lack of education. The condition in Sub-Saharan Africa is critical, the numbers of children without education is higher than any other place.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude. This is also a human right, and one of the big problems around the world. Whether it is an individual being held captive and molested, or it is a group of people.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0tX-5IquWlPSOk_IsNIDrcVq7GVJ6FjLr92QBBHXHYAG6SPTiMhhNqpiz0p2nDV3VSC1yFXpw2TR5CxKHvT3isNvh58eJ0XRgaLqKYlSWhnMvrWfkS2B3Fk1YkcuK5qn7K7pnwdgAg8/s1600/vjvjhv.jpg

This picture brings out the seriousness of this human right. The dark colours create a feeling that gets the message of the picture to reach in. An example of a violation on this human right is the story of Nadia, a 22 year old woman from Iraq. She, with several others, was captured by IS soldiers. She was raped and molested several times a day. This is a serious breach of one of Nadia's rights, and she is definitely not the only one. 30 million people are living as forced laborers, forced prostitutes, child soldiers and child brides in forced marriages.

Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_rights&oldid=698457356

https://no.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Menneskerettigheter&oldid=15330561

http://www.vg.no/a/23604368

http://www.humanium.org/en/world/right-to-education/

http://www.dagbladet.no/magasinet/2006/06/20/469432.html

from http://snl.no/menneskerettigheter
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/10/17/this-map-shows-where-the-worlds-30-million-slaves-live-there-are-60000-in-the-u-s/

Environment and Natural Resource Security

The biggest challenge to Earth is to achieve inclusive economic growth while combating climate change and other natural resource challenges. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases, environmental degradation and natural resource depletion are some of the most significant risks to achieving sustainable growth. The level of gas emissions have increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has risen by a third. Humans release approximately 6 Gt of carbon to the atmosphere each year. Three of these are absorbed out of the atmosphere while three remains. The world needs action now! As Obama said, "We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it."

http://kcmenviro.co.za/services/

Last year, NRK launched a program called “Oppdrag Nansen” witch is translated to Mission Artic. The program was about four 12 and 13 years old who conducted an expedition in the Arctic. They met climatologists and made shocking discoveries. Their job was to spread the message about the consequences of the climate change we are creating. They even got to participate in the climate change conference in Paris along with some of the world’s powerful politicians. Their message got through and a climate deal was enacted.

The pollution is most prominent in big cities like Beijing, Moscow and Delhi. Other affected places are India, China, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia and the United States. The climate changes are noticeable worldwide. The poles, deserts, rainforests, oceans so on. Every day we extinct hundreds of species due to the timber logging in the rainforests. Humans leave footprints everywhere in the nature.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/04/asia/china-beijing-blue-sky-disappears-after-military-parade/

So what are possible solutions?

- More engagement and support to the UN and the French government at the climate conference in Paris

- Integrate the climate risks into the financial system

- Reduce methane and gas flaring, making carbon instruments, cleaner gas and other long-term solutions

- Creating a coalition of over 40 companies exploring ways to reduce emissions and improve resource/energy efficiency

- Make children and youth aware of the climate change

- Electric cars, biofuels and using public transport

Projects working for a better climate:

Global Water Initiative’s goal is to mobilize new collaboration to invest in innovative urban water and wastewater design in developing countries, especially fast-growing cities.

Circular Economy’s goal is to eliminate waste of plastic, reuse paper and build machines that secretes important and usable materials.

Tropical Forest Alliance 2020’s goal is to achieve zero net tropical deforestation by 2020 and reduce tropical deforestation that produces palm oil, paper and pulp, soy and beef. 

You can see my presentation here!

The Migrant

I could not remember anything about the voyage,

My country of origin, or if someone had paid for the passage:

Of such I had no recollection.

I was sure only that I had traveled;
Without doubt had been made welcome.

For a while I believed I was home,
Rooted and securely settled,
Until it was broken to me
That in fact I was merely in transit
Bound for some other destination,
Committed to continue elsewhere.

This slow realisation sharpened,
I formed plans to postpone my departure
Not observing my movement en route to the exit.

Eventually facing the inescapable
I began reading travel brochures,
(Gaudy, competitive, plentiful)
Spent time considering the onward journey,
Studied a new language,Stuffed my bosom with strange currency,
Nevertheless dreading the boarding announcements.

They watch me go through
The gate for Embarking Passengers Only,
Fearful and unutterably lonely,
Finger their own documents,
Shuffle forward in the queue.