Time to Nominate!

By now you have all become experts in the issues of your chosen country. Now it is time to learn about other countries around the world. 

1.) Read/Skim your classmates' blogs: You won't have time to read EVERY post from EVERY blog, but try to at least view and skim each blog. Pay the most attention to what Human Rights issues are going on, and what each classmates' proposal ideas are.

2.) Choose your Top 10 Proposals: Make another post/entry listing your Top 10 choices. Each proposal should be nominated based on urgency of the Human Rights Issue, and how in depth and realistic their proposal ideas are. Make sure you post the link to each blog you nominate and EXPLAIN WHY you nominated each blog. 

1.    Japanese Americans’ Rights - Irelis

2.    African American Civil Rights – Genderie, Willie

3.    Catholic Civil Rights – Kathy

4.    Veterans’ Rights – Randy, Christian

5.    Student Activism/ Rights to Protest -

6.    Women’s Rights – Paola, Mariah

7.    Gay Rights – Shae-Lynn, Itze

8.    Immigrants’ Rights – Juan, Tiffany

9.    Voting Rights – Jennyliam, Ashley

10.Workers’ Rights – Hiomark

11.Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Nestor, Nicolle

12.Latin Americans’ Rights -

13.Muslim Americans’ Rights – Edrick, Armando

14.Rights of the Elderly – Gabriela, Karlitza

15.Students of Public Universities’ Rights – Bianca, Kathy

16.Criminal Rights (Justice) – Carol, Ivania

17.Native Americans’ Rights - Carolina

18.Puerto Ricans’ Rights – Roxanne

19.Teenagers’ Rights – Jonathan, Christopher

Links to help you with your Civil Rights Project!

US Census Bureau - find tons of statistics about different groups in the US

List of all 27 US Amendments: Click here, here, and here

Disability Related Organizations - for those of you studying the rights of persons with disabilities

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire - Workers' Rights: this fire killed 140 people and publicized the terrible working conditions of workers in the early 1900's.

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/reform/civilrights.htm - Discusses the amendments that gave rights to African Americans, Wormen, Persons of Disabilities, and "rights of the accused," or criminals/prisoners.

Gilder Lehrman Institute - great resource for American History

What to do in an Earthquake: Duck, Cover, and Hold On

As a kid growing up in Japan, I was not taught to fear earthquakes. Maybe I was a naive kid (as is evident as of Friday's tragic disaster in Japan), but from the age of 5, I have been drilled on what to do if an earthquake hits. We would have monthly (at least) practice drills where we placed our seat cushions turned padded hats on our heads, ducked under our desks or tables, and held on. My Japanese kindergarten even had a slide from the 2nd floor veranda to the open playground area below. Although we experienced minor earthquakes frequently, we luckily never had to use these tactics in a serious situation.

Cushioned "hats" used during earthquakes in Japan

There have been smaller earthquakes in PR in the past few months and it seems that some people are starting to panic or worry. One thing the Japanese are known for is staying calm and immediately putting their emergency plans into place. We need to plan, prepare, and practice here in PR so we will be ready and able to stay calm if something were to happen in PR.

Before an earthquake
Designate a safe spot: Study your house, school classrooms, work places, etc. and find a sturdy desk or table that you will be able to quickly duck under. If there is none, experts advise to move away from windows and heavy ceiling fixtures and huddle agains an inside wall. When I was a kid we were told to stand under doorways but this is no longer advised. Of course it is safest to be outside and away from tall buildings, but this may not always be possible. If you cannot immediately get outside, don't try it. If you can, go for it.
Have an emergency kit: Gather supplies such as battery operated lights and radio, dry foods, water, first aid kit, and extra clothes. Keep this close to your designated safe spot.
Useful Links on Preparing for an earthquake:

• FEMA: What to do Before an Earthquake
• Red Cross: Preparedness Fast Facts

During an Earthquake
If you are outside: Get to an open area, away from tall buildings, trees, and other tall fixtures. Find something strongly rooted to the ground to hold onto. Don't try to run, you will likely lose your footing and possibly injure yourself.
If you are inside: Immediately cover your head and duck under your safe spot. HOLD ON. Stay there until the quake stops. Stay calm!!!
Useful Links on What to Do During an Earthquake:

• FEMA: What to do During an Earthquake
• MNN's "Do like the Japanese: Duck, Cover, and Prepare"

After an Earthquake
Prepare for aftershocks: Once the initial shaking stops, get outside to an open area if you are still inside. This will prepare you for the aftershocks. During the earthquake in Haiti, many people were saved from the aftershock effects because they had already moved outside and therefore were not crushed by falling buildings at this time.
If you live near a coast: Get to higher ground IMMEDIATELY. See the next section on Tsunami's.
Useful Links on What to Do After an Earthquake:

• FEMA: What to do After an Earthquake
• UPSeis: What should I do before, during and after an earthquake?

Tsumani Preparation
Get to higher land: If you have just experienced an earthquake and live near a coast, move to a higher altitude as soon as you can. Tsunami's can sometimes appear within minutes after an earthquake. DO NOT go near a beach, especially if the tide has receded so that much of the beach is uncovered. Unfortunately, many people did not know about this during the legendary SE Asia Tsunami in 2004. People ran down to see the uncovered sand only to be swept away by the wave.
Listen to the radio: It may be possible for experts to predict how much time before the tsunami wave will hit the shoreline. Do not count on this, though. The majority of lives lost in Friday's disaster in Japan was not due to the earthquake itself, but to those who could not escape the tsunami. Also, find out if there is an evacuation plan for your city (preferably before!) like this one in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Useful LInks on What to do Before, During, and After a Tsunami:

• FEMA: Before and During a Tsunami
• FEMA: After a Tsunami

First hand accounts of the earthquake in Japan:
"We're Being Shaken and Stirred in Japan"
Skype interview with a woman living in Camp Zama (where I used to live)
"A first-hand account of Japan's devastating earthquake"
*Please keep Japan and its people in your thoughts.

Are you smarter than a 2nd grader?

Remember how many of you were confused about how to create a blog, write posts, upload pictures, etc.? Maybe we should have just asked these second graders!


2nd Grade- About Blogging from langwitches on Vimeo.

Read the full blog post here.

11B Class Blog Web Addresses!

Tiffany: www.somethingbytiffany.blogspot.com

Karlitza: www.karlitza.blogspot.com

Paola: www.mylifeaspaola.blogspot.com

Carol: www.mostwonderfull.blogspot.com

Francisco: www.welcometothewillieshow.blogspot.com

Itze: www.technicolormotion.blogspot.com

Randy: www.randyeloko.blogspot.com

Christopher: www.chrishayluly.blogspot.com

Bianca: www.travelingwithbianca.blogspot.com

Nicolle: www.nicollemarie23.blogspot.com

Shae-Lynn: www.imaginationmakesitfun.blogspot.com

Ivania: www.icolon.blogspot.com

Roxanne: www.roxi-shore.blogspot.com

Gabriela S.: www.vabiilately.blogspot.com

Nestor: www.nestor40.blogspot.com

Irelis: www.darkhistoryandyou.blogspot.com

Jennyliam: www.jennyliam.blogspot.com

Genderie: www.gingersimmigration.blogspot.com

Katherine: www.kathyhistoryblog.blogspot.com

Mariah: www.mariahcarolina.blogspot.com

Carolina: www.immigrationspot.blogspot.com

Edrick: www.edrickimmigrationfacts.blogspot.com

Armando: www.mandy0711.blogspot.com

Hiomark: www.hiomark-taino.blogspot.com

Jonathan: www.superjonag.blogspot.com

Ashley: www.ashley-crystal.blogspot.com

Christian: www.chris2526.blogspot.com

Italian Immigration

Hello

My family before we  left Italy.

Minneapolis Metrodome Roof Collapses from Too Much Snow!!! You gotta see this!

I just got off the phone with my mom who told me they have almost 20 inches of snow...that's almost two feet! And that is actually a lot for Minnesota! Most people were stuck inside their houses for 2 days straight and temperatures are way below zero. Some still haven't been able to dig their cars out of the snow after they were buried underneath it!

But seriously, watch this video of the Minneapolis sports dome, which has a "bubble-like" structure for a roof...