Term 3 Week 2 (Blogging Assignment)

Water is the essence of life. Without it, life cannot be sustained. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, however only 3% of it constituents the life-giving resource that people need. This limited amount should be distributed out evenly so that the countries can sustain themselves, but this is hardly the case. Wealthy countries have the money and the resources to buy as much water as they want. On the other hand, poorer countries who do not have the money cannot afford water, thus leading to water-shortages. The presence of droughts in some of these areas aggravates the problem. This leads to the issue of whether water should be treated as a human right or a commodity.

Undoubtedly, water is necessary for all living things. It has been proven that the average human cannot survive without water for more than 3 days. Since water is so vital for human survival, shouldn’t every person get what they need? Water as a human right means that water can be distributed to anybody who requires it, regardless of wealth, social status and power. However, water as a commodity means that only those who can afford to purchase it at its market value can get it, while the rest are doomed to die of thirst. Unlike commodities like soft drinks that we consume for pleasure, water is the fuel that keeps us alive.

There is much debate on this issue. Many think that water should be a human right, because the millions of people who can’t afford it would die otherwise. Humans NEED water, without it life cannot be sustained. However, others argue that water should be a commodity, because they believe that such a precious resource should not be given freely, and only to those who have actually EARNED it. Personally, I feel that water should be a human right, but hey, I’m a kid. What do I know?

Term 3 Week 1 (Blogging Assignment)

Maids come to Singapore to earn more money to support their families back home, who are not as fortunate as us in terms of finance. Hence, they tend to work harder. For these maids, I think that a weekly day off is fair because they are working 7 days a week, everyday working from morning to night. Personally, my maid cooks most of my meals, does the laundry, and cleans the house. Because she has done so much, I think that she deserves the day off. However, other Singapore employers may think that their maid has done a sloppy job, and is not happy to give them a day off every week. I think that they would be dissatisfied if the weekly day off policy is legislated. Hence, this is a very debatable subject. On one side are those maids who earned their day off, and the other side is the maids who do a slipshod job and take the day off. Hence, I think that if the policy is to be implemented, employers should have a choice to appeal to the agency to take away this privilege if the maid seems like she does not deserve it. Another suggestion that I have is to change the policy to a day off every 2-4 weeks, depending on the employer. The employer has to give a day off at least once a month, and can choose to give more if the maid deserves it.

Sec 2 Home-Based Learning

1) In many war torn countries, children not only are deprived from education, many were also forced into armies to fight. These child soldiers are often treated as "pawns". Many countries use these children to fight because of their lower cost to maintain. Children will need less resources than a grown adult. However, children in our society would slowly be introduced to life and are protected by their families. Children of these ages would often be at home, safe and sound, rather than learning to fight in war. We should not take our safety for granted, since we are lucky enough not to be born in a war-torn country.

Steps in Analysis
	Point	Evidence	Elaboration
1.	Point of View narrator's PoV	Speaks from a third person's point of view. "Could we...."	By writing from a third person's PoV, he can understand the inner thoughts and feelings of the children and convey them in the poem.

2.	Situation and Setting Children enrolled in the army at such a tender age No chance at education for these children	"Chalk and blackboards will not be... From this life they cannot flee, and these children are not free"	Chalk and blackboards- objects used in classrooms. Shows that there is no education for these children. The children are also unable to escape from the war, which probably implies that they are forced to join the war.
3	Language/ Diction Rhyme	"light...fight" "flee...free" "chance...dance" "soul...hole" "flight...light"

4	Personal Response There is little future for these children	"chalk and blackboard will not be, to this door there is no key"	These children are forced into the army where many will die at war. Those who survive will still have no education, which does not allow them to reach their maximum capabilities. They are born into a living hell where they are trained to fight since young. From this I think we should not take our lives for granted because we have a chance to be somebody, instead of a mindless soldier fighting without a cause.

Term 2 Lesson 2: War - A personal Response

Another gunshot was heard. Another soldier fell.

The surroundings were a mess. Where houses stood previously, a pile of splintered wood and mutilated furniture was strewn all around. Amidst the chaos of war, crying was heard. The wailing of children who had just become orphans, families whose homes had been so mercilessly destroyed. That was what war does, destroyed families and ruin lives.

Soldiers continued their march amidst the wreckage. With guns in hand, they bravely march into battle, knowing that a single gunshot could end their life. Every second was like their last. They trudge on, with sheer determination to save their destroyed country.

Looking up, a dark cloud drifts across the sky. Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot reverberates through the air. Time seems to stop for the soldier who was targeted, as the bullet penetrates his vest and punctures a hole in his chest. Clutching his chest, the victim gags, blood flowing out of the wound. He collapses, and breaths his final breath.

Yet another life claimed by the cruel war.