Monday, September 15, 2008

Chinese Pollutions

China has a lot of big everythings. They have the biggest country, the biggest population, and probably the largest amount of pollution in the whole earth. Woon Long Min is a chinese environmental activist who worked in a city called 'Chonqing', a rapidly industrializing city. He was concerned because the water in Chonqing was being polluted from factories. He basically sets out and discovers many environmental problems and social problems within the city.

Films include not only entertainment movies but also include educational films called documentaries. Documentaries are non fiction videos that present facts and information about a particular topic. And this video about pollutions is an example of a documentary that demonstates the environmental and social issues regarding pollutions. As seen in this documentary about pollution, the factories has caused much damage to plants and local villagers near the factories. A Documentaries main purpose is to inform the viewers. In fact, some people learn better from watching a video than just reading an article about it. In addition, we are clearly able to see the visual references of the issue rather making imaginations from reading. so it could be as educational tool in schools.

They can be accessed from televisions in certain channels such as 'national geography' or 'animal planet'. Because many people own televisions, Documentaries are accessible and easy to find.

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8WInWv5eQ












causes diseases


fishes died

Friday, September 12, 2008

Jennifer Doh


http://video.energypolicytv.com/displaypage.php?vkey=581717e06eb187f10666&channel=Coal
The Energy Policy TV is an online video broadcasts from energy policy makers. The purpose of this website is to educate and inform the audience about energy and the envionment. EPTV also contends that EPTV is known as the only website that is added the events from those who are in role of policies in federal or even state governments. EPTV is basically an on-the-record site that uses the content to quote sources, evaluate policy statements and understand precisely what energy policy leaders are claiming. EPTV, website could influence for those who need to track, research, or involve Congressional activity. The author's purpose is to contribute to informed debate on energy and environmental policy. Thus, the entire EPTV website itself is free to all users and open debate and make it available to all who make report represent and influence energy and environmental policy.

I found a video that announces that there are some athletes who won't be able to participate in the marathon at the 2008 Olympic Games. Since China is known as polluted air area, Dr. Jamie Metzl from Executive VP informs that athletes were almost unlikely to join the games. Although Chineses have tried so hard working on the air quilty in Bei-jing, one of the marathoners was afraid to go to China. Thus, Gebrselassie, who suffered from exercise-related asthma, feared to go to Bei-jing, because the pollution in Bei-jing would affect his health. Consequentely, this video discusses and exposes how China's polluted environment is influential to others.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Educational Broadcastic System by Edward Kim



Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) is a pretty famous channel in South Korea. The main focus of this channel is to educate the audience in Korea not only with the basic knowledge such as English or Math, but also with the current environmental issues.
The main audience of this channel is usually the little kids. This channel focuses on educating the kids for them to be better prepared for the future. As result, the level of the difficulty or sophistication of the programs is very low. For instance, from the languages used to the body motions the actors make sometimes look foolish to the grown ups.
Despite of the low sophistication of the programs, the programs do convey their messages clearly to their young audiences. The programs show how to maintain healthy environment or how the pollution may affect us. Some of the programs that teach the audience about the current environmental issues are called “Environmental Warrior, Zentaforce” and “Prevent the Deserting.” Considering that the main audience of the channel is the little children, the titles are designed to convey their purposes directly to the audience.
When the kids that have watched the environmental programs on EBS grow up, they will probably be a little bit more educated than the others that have not. Realizing the importance of maintaining healthy environment, the kids will practice some efforts to help the environment.
URL:

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Yujun's Stereotype Reflection

What stereotypes do people have about you? What stereotypes do you have about other people? Are stereotypes beneficial or harmful? Why do you think this?"

Almost Everyone in TCIS knows that I am half Japanese and Korean. And everyone knows that Japanese had evaded South Korea in early 1900's. Anyway because of evasion, every Korean people hates Japanese in diplomatic ways and some hate Japanese as person itself. Some call Japanese “Jjokbali” which is a slang word. When some new people doesn't know that I am half Japanese, they treat me equally like other Koreans. However, when they know that I am Japanese, their impression of looking me is quite different, and because of these reasons I was very embarrassed that I am Japanese. But know, the world in multicultural era which discrimination of Japanese got less. However in Japan, when they know that I am half Korean, they don't treat same like Koreans. Ironically they have stereotype on country rather than people itself. Also, I get stereotypes by my face. Because stereotype is a self judgement by other peoples first impression, and stereotypes are to be broken as people know the other people by knowing them. Anyway, people think that I look like nerd and don't socialize with others like typical Asians in American people think of. However, I really enjoy socializing with others. And even I look like nerd, I hate math and science and have an average grade rather than A students. I don't really judge or make stereotype others, because I am hoping to socialize with that new person even though they don't look great. Stereotypes are harmful thing but, as people get to know person, thing, location or anything that they have in mind, stereotypes are to be broken. However, when people try to maintain their stereotypes about some other people, then the stereotypes are harmful.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

CNN by Jennifer Doh


Internet is one of the most effective media that provides a lot of information to research. Especially, CNN will be the one that is broadly well-known news website today. I found a report on CNN, “Asia pollution may boost U.S. temperatures” which is about air pollution in Asia may raise summer temperatures in the United States. A scientist from Pinceton, claimed that increasing pollutants or decreasing in Asia can affect America’s climate. This report concisely summarizes and informs readers how pollution will increase America’s temperature. For readers, who are concerned with pollutions or, who never had any idea of what has been going on in the United States’ temperature, will be aware of the problem through this report. The author of the purpose for this report, is to highlight that shorter-term pollutants may cause more localized warming than once thought. Basically, the author wants to know readers the pollution problem, since the website CNN, itself is known to inform any kinds of general news to readers. However, after reading the report, people will develop conscience for the environmental pollutions and take consideration to lessen those problems together. Therefore, CNN is one of effective and accessible websites that provides studying or learning about the problems of pollution through the internet.

Stereotypes ( Jennifer Doh)

"What stereotypes do people have about you? What stereotypes do you have about other people? Are stereotypes beneficial or harmful? Why do you think this?"

Stereotypes unfortunately determine people by just seeing only first impression or physical appearance. To me, many people have said that my first impression is mean and sharp, because I always put eye make-up and get dressed up, which appear my first impression scary or mean. My other stereotype would be my light skin. Since I have a light skin, people expect that I have health problem or I put too much powder on my face, which is truly not. However, as soon as they get to know me in person, they start understanding the way I am. They just think that I am a type of a person, who like getting dressed up and being myself. Therefore, it is important to face and get to know others personally first without having stereotypes or judges.
I don’t really take stereotypes personally, but it naturally happens to take it sometimes, when one person tells me about other person’s bad reputation. Even though, it is easy to believe one’s stereotypes without knowing in person, it is also wrong to listen to only one’s story. For other instance, Black people are known as they dance and sing well. But actually, there are some other black people who can not dance and sing. Asians are also known as nerds or smarter in general. These are definitely false stereotypes how people make these misunderstanding concepts. Accordingly, I think that stereotypes could be harmful sometimes, since they are known as exaggerated or preconceived ideas based on only physical appearance.

Stereotypes by Edward Kim


Usually stereotypes develop from the first impression or what people have seen me doing from time to time. Some of the stereotypes that I’ve heard from my friends were either I looked like a mean person or I was really good at science. I discovered that first stereotype developed mostly because of my first impression. Even before when we actually talked with each other, just looking at my behaviors or impressions, he though I was a mean person (even though I’m a really nice guy J). The second stereotype developed probably because I got good grades for both of my science classes. One time, during Chemistry class, I argued with a teacher that I deserved a point more for a certain question and got an A on the test. Because of the excitement, I automatically shouted at that spot, and everyone in the classroom found out that I got a high score on that test. Not that I got A’s for every test in my science classes, only one or few incidents were enough to establish stereotypes in people’s minds.
I tend not to develop any stereotypes towards other people, but sometimes I find myself labeling the others. For example, when I see or hear something about a person and my friends start making fun about it, I tend to do the same thing even though I never really knew that person. As result, next time I see or hear anything about that same person, I expect to find something funny. Also, even without any impacts from my friends, after observing a person for few days, I tend to judge his/her characteristics. For instance, if I find a person playing computer games all day long for few days, I label him as a lazy person. After all, stereotypes develop from what other people have said or what I have observed for few times.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Focus Earth by Edward Kim


Last week, I talked about Planet Green on the Discovery Channel. Planet Green is a set of programs that are related to the environments around the planet. It’s on TV not only in the United States, but also in some other countries including South Korea. On the Planet Green, a program called Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff specifically focuses on the environmental issues around the planet.
According to the introduction of the program, Focus Earth is a weekly eco-newscast on Planet Green. As a host of the program, Bob Woodruff covers various subjects from climate impact, environmental policy, political debate and world events.
As an example, on September 5 2008, the Focus Earth has searched environmentally friendly colleges around the United States. Bob Woodruff looked for the colleges that have eco-conscious buildings and clean energy choices. Also on August 23 this year, the Focus Earth has focused on the dangers faced by the marine organisms due to the carbon emission on wildlife. On that they, Bob Woodruff interviewed some specialists to discuss the definition and the impact of the carbon emission as well as the current state of the ocean around the world.
This program will not only inform the audience with current information on the environmental issues, but also make people feel conscious of the pollutions. Even though Bob Woodruff doesn’t directly commend to the audience what to do on TV, most of the audience will self-consciously realize what to do for the environment after watching the program. For instance, after watching the one about the dangers faced by the marine lives, the audience will do something to reduce the carbon emission. The audience of this program will mostly composed of the people who are at least interested a little bit on the environments. Hopefully, this program will persuade many more people to make them start in some movements to improve the current environmental state.

URL:http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/focus-earth/?page=1

Wikipedia by Jennifer Doh


Wikipedia is one of the most important online encyclopedias that has used by people broadly today. As I researched about pollution on wikipedia, the website shows up with definition and information of pollution directly. Wikipedia informs not only definition of pollution, but also pollution control devices, sources, causes, effects, regulation, history and any other detail small information. However, as wikipedia is an effective and well known free online encyclopedia, people who are interested about learning pollution, can easily utilize this website in order to get information.
I personally think that wikipedia is such a useful website, because it is easy to access and search through the internet. If you research on pollution, the page provides all kinds of details about pollution. The main purpose of the website or the author is to help or provide information of pollution to people. Therefore, wikipedia, itself is easy access for people who want to get information about pollution through the internet.

괴물/Monster by Young Kyu Kim

괴물 is another movie that portrays the consequences of pollution. The setting takes place in South Korea, near 한강 (Han-River). The movie starts out in black and white where scientists pouring dangerous chemicals into the sewers to get rid of them. In a river, a tadpole swimming around the lake suddenly starts shaking wildly and suddenly a pair of legs grows out. The black and white scene fades away as the mutated tadpole disappears. Eventually as the movie progresses, a huge, sticky, monstrous, long tailed, amphibious creature first shows itself as it crawls out of the river in front of families and shop owners. The creature goes frenzy and attacks the people. The main character’s daughter is kidnapped by this creature, and the father swears an oath to himself that he will rescue her. Many social and political chaos are also created because of an imaginary airborne virus that the monster left behind which does not exist.

This clearly demonstrates the consequences of water pollution. Although not as real as the movie, it does cause problems for the aquatic animals. Eventually, this alters the ecosystem including our economy. The fishes will be too polluted to eat and thus our seafood market will decrease, also leading a decrease in the economy. This water pollution is a reality today. There are many ways which our water is polluted. They range from throwing a can to dumping of factory wastes in rivers. We need to stop the pollutions to prevent future crisis just like how the people suffered in the '괴물'

Wikipedia (Jennifer Doh)

Wikipedia is one of the most important online encyclopedias that has used by people broadly today. As I researched about pollution on wikipedia, the website shows up with definition and information of pollution directly. Wikipedia informs not only definition of pollution, but also pollution control devices, sources, causes, effects, regulation, history and any other detail small information. However, as wikipedia is an effective and well known free online encyclopedia, people who are interested about learning pollution, can easily utilize this website in order to get information.
I personally think that wikipedia is such a useful website, because it is easy to access and search through the internet. If you research on pollution, the page provides all kinds of details about pollution. The main purpose of the website or the author is to help or provide information of pollution to people. Therefore, wikipedia, itself is easy access for people who want to get information about pollution through the internet.

Young Kyu's Stereotype response

In my school, I have a stereotype that everyone knows of. First one is my 'shortness'. This is definitely true because I am the second shortest in my grade. I get teased around for my height. Most frustating thing is whenever I play basketball, I always get blocked at least twice. Although there are some downsides
Another stereotype is 'basketball'. Somewhere around the campus, a person should be able to see me with a basketball in my hand. In addition, many people know that I didn't make the try outs for straight 2 years.
My last known stereotype is kindness. Many people tease me quite often because I never get them back while not being offended. Many feel comfortable around me because I don't do anything evil.

I also recognize different people with their stereotypes such as Chris Park. The first thing that I think of when I hear the name Chris is soccer. I always see him play soccer after dinner and he always refuses to buy me snacks because he is saving money for his soccer shoes. Midkiff dorm is another stereotype that I view of him. He always invites me to his room so I visit Midkiff dorm at least 4 times a week.

Stereotypes could be negative depending on the situation. For example, South Koreans might have negative stereotypes of Cuban peoples, For example, a mischievous person who always steals other peoples’ property can create a positive stereotype of himself by acting kind. So when a property goes missing, people would never be suspicious of that mischievous person because he has a positive stereotype.

Stereotypes are just a special signs that everyone recognizes when he or she hears that name. They play an important role when in determining someone’s identity. But they shouldn’t be the factor that determines whether he or she is a bad person or not. The only way to determine that is to actually go meet that person. Stereotypes are just a malleable image that doesn’t necessarily say everything about a person.

"7 Months of Miracle, Revived Sea" by Edward Kim


In December 7th 2007, a ship crashed out on the sea and released tons of oil on the west coast of South Korea. According to the experts, at least about 10 years was going to take for the environment to recover from the oil spill. However, after only 7 months being passed since the oil spill, the current state of Taeahn is getting much better. A program called “7 Months of Miracle, Revived Sea” on KBS has interviewed the people living on the Taeahn coast as well as examining the environmental issues around the coast.
As all know, oil is not a beneficial substance for most of the living organisms. Right after the oil spill, when the sea was covered black on the surface, most of the oceanic lives, including fishes, crabs, snails, etc., died out due to the suffocation. Birds were another victims of the oil spill because they suddenly lost food resources and lost ability to fly due to the oil stuck on their feathers and wings. According to this program, about 1 million 200 thousand of volunteers came every day to clean up the oil spill in order to revive the sea. Thanks to all of the volunteers, the environment was recovering from the oil spill. The oil on the surface was now totally gone and even some marine organisms were starting to emerge. Even though they are not big as they once have been, small crabs and snails were growing on the coast.
However, the volunteers still couldn’t get rid of the stereotypes established on people’s minds. According to the people living on Taeahn coast, the income has cut down to 1/10 compared to the last year. Even though summer is supposed to be their best time of the year, only their anxieties are growing larger.
The author’s intention of this program was probably to inform the audience about the current state of Taeahn Coast and the citizen’s feelings. Hopefully, more people would visit Taeahn Coast after watching this program. However, even though many people will watch the program since it's on KBS, which is one of the most famous and popular broadcasting stations in Korea, the impact of this program on people will be limited. The program may make the audience to sympathize the citizens on the Taeahn coast, but may not make them to visit the Taeahn coast. The program focused mostly on how the citizens are struggling from the oil spill, not on the scientific proofs of how much the coast has recovered. Assuming this focus of the program, the intention was to simply inform the audience and make them sympathize the citizens.

URL:http://www.kbs.co.kr/1tv/sisa/3days/vod/1540222_22093.html