TRAGEDIES LEFT AND RIGHT =(

I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks about all these catastrophes and tragedies occurring. Are they a sign of the world coming to a tragic end some time soon? As much as I would like to be up to date with all the news going on right now in the world, sometimes I just have to turn off my TV because it's too depressing! My heart goes out to all the countries going through some form of war or natural disaster such as Libya and Japan.

It will be a VERY long time before Japan can fully recover, and even then, I don't believe Japan will ever be the same again. The people are now dealing with produce detected to have radiation and contaminated water. Everyone is now buying bottled water because they fear for their families' health. According to http://www.cnn.com/, the government of Fukushima Prefecture have told its residents to not eat leafy vegetables. Fukushima is one of Japan's top producers of fruits, vegetables, and rice. So it's a big blow for the farmers there to not be able to sell their crops to other cities.However, other cities are just being careful with food that is being imported from that section of Japan because of the possible radiation that can be carried in the produce.My heart really just goes out for all the victims who are going through this situation. No matter what your personal religions are this is a time for all of us to pray for Japan.

Now for something more local, the 9 year old Christina-Taylor Greene who was one of the victims of the fatal Tucson,Arizone shooting, is being honored with a 9 feet and 11 inches tall steel angel. What's special about this steel angel? The steel used to make the angel is actual steel from the World Trade Center! "We just wanted to do something to kind of help them heal, let them know that we're going to try to support them through their grief," said Hennessey-Owen. Hennessey-Owen is the person who has personally created the angel sculptures for the three 9/11 crash sites. The angel sculpture being made for Christina will be placed at the James D. Kriegh Park in Oro Valley, Arizona, where little Christina played Little League baseball. I commend her family for being so strong through this whole ordeal.

BERKELEY COLLEGE NEWS!
SO EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK FOR THIS QUARTER! YES, IM EXCITED TOO BECAUSE WE GET OUR 1 WEEK OF VACATION =) HOWEVER, FINAL WEEK EQUALS FINAL EXAMS WHICH EQUALS STRESS! So calm down & breathe! All you have to do is study! That's it. On the day of your exam EAT BREAKFAST so your body will have energy to burn and be alert for your exams. Have something sweet with you like candy so your body can run on some sugar. I stress too and this advice I give you I also use! So GOOD LUCK!

8.9 EARTHQUAKE PLUS TSUNAMI HITS JAPAN!

I feel like lately it's just been one earthquake after another.Japan has been the latest victim to suffer from a record breaking 8.9 earthquake, the biggest to hit Japan in 140 years, followed by a tsunami with waves 30 feet high! The earthquake caused roads to shift, sidewalks to break, buildings to shake, and has shifted Japan 13 FEET CLOSER TO THE U.S.!The earthquake also caused for the earth's axis to be shifted 6.5 inches, shortening the day by 1.6 microseconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zfCBCq-8I&feature=player_detailpage

The tsunami that was caused because of this gigantic earthquake caused so much destruction.It took everything in its path, cars,boats, trucks, houses, roads, trees, and unfortunately, people. As of March 16, 2011, there is a total of 10,000 Japanese citizens missing, with the number increasing every day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THU3yPM7sWk&feature=player_detailpage
After watching videos and seeing pictures of when the tsunami hit and the aftermath it left behind, it just breaks my heart. It truly makes me sad just to think of the fear these people must have felt when they saw the big 30 feet waves coming at them. One day their lives were normal, the next they were left with nothing, no possessions, their homes are gone, they have loved ones missing....their lives will never be the same...Japan will never be the same.

If all this wasn't enough, now Japan is facing a possible nuclear catastrophe from the Fukushima facility. President Obama has pledged to help Japan in any way possible. The White House said in a statement," The president briefed Prime Minister Kan on the additional support being provided by the U.S., including specialized military assets with expertise in nuclear response and consequence management". I'm glad that the U.S. is lending a hand in this time of crisis. Obama couldn't have said it any better when he said, " "Even if those allies are themselves economically advanced and powerful, there are moments where they need our help, and we're bound together by a common humanity".

There are so many ways you can help Japan in this time of need. It doesn't have to be anything big because of every little help counts. You can go online to http://www.worldvision.org/ and donate as little as $5 or as much as you want. Also visit http://www.unicefusa.org/ and help a child that has been affected by the disaster in Japan. You can also raise money for the relief efforts taking place right now. Like I said,every little counts especially when it comes from our hearts.When tragedy struck us on 9/11, the world connected together, mourned with us, and embraced us with love. Now it's our turn to return the love and unite for the victims of this horrifying disaster.

 I hope the following pictures just bring compassion to your hearts like it did for mine.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST CYBER BULLYING!

Topic of this week: CYBER BULLYING. We all have heard nasty rumors of another person or have read things on Facebook about someone that weren't necessarily true. Cyber bullying is any form of harrassment  that can take place through e-mails, social networks, digital messages, and texts. Some common forms of cyber bullying include:

• Harrassment: repeatedly sending offensive or rude messages
• Denigration: distributing false information about a person that's derogatory and untrue in e-mails,texts,or on social networks
• Flaming: fighting online that includes vulgar language
• Impersonation: hacking into someone's e-mails or social network accounts for the purpose of distributing emberrassing information about them or others
• Outing and trickery: tricking someone into exposing personal secrets for the purpose of forwarding that information to others
• Cyber stalking: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety

The following are some interesting facts about cyber bullying that I found very interesting and I believe you, the readers, should know:

• Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying
• Four out of ten middle school students have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them
• About 75% have visited a Web site bashing another student
• Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once
• Cyber bullying has increased in recent years. In a national survey of 10-17 year olds, twice as many children indicated they had been victims and perpetrators

There have been countless of teens who have committed suicide because of cyber bullying.

• Long Island teen, Alexis Pilkington,who was 17 years of age at the time of her death, was pushed over the edge when she was cyber bullied on FormSpringMe.com. The tauntings still persisted even after her death.

•   Missouri teen, Megan Meir, was cyber bullied by her classmate's mother!

• Vermont teen, Ryan Halligan, took his life after a horrible rumor was spread across the internet about him

• Massachusetts teen, Phoebe Prince, 15 years old, was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on various social network. Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.She was pushed too far.

• Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, just 11 years old, hanged himself after enduring daily bullying of being gay. His mother pled with the school to intervene but no action was taken.

 THESE ARE JUST FEW OF THE FACES OF CYBER BULLYING. WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION IF WE SEE THE SIGNS OF CYBER BULLYING. SIGNS WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A CHILD ARE THE FOLLOWING:

appears sad, moody, or anxious
avoids school
withdraws from or shows a lack of interest in social activities
appears upset after using the computer or being online
• experiences a drop in grades or decline in academic performance

appears upset after viewing a text message on a cell phone

We can help stop bullying! These children didn't need to die. We have to realize that their is power in our words. Once they're spoken, they can't be taken back. So be careful with what you say about others. Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you can stoop down to a low level and spread false rumors about them. Help STOP CYBER BULLYING! There are still other children we can help before it's too late!

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH!

March is Women's History Month! It's time to celebrate who we are in this world. We have to learn how to love ourselves, take care of ourselves, be proud of who we are, and above all stand strong as independent women. We are mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, and friends. The following is a poem  by one of the best influential woman living in our age, Maya Angelou.

                                       
                               PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

 I hope all the ladies reading this poem can take pride from being a woman. We are intelligent,beautiful, compassionate, strong-willed, independent goddesses. As such, we should behave properly with manners, never behaving as someone who we're not. Never try to fit in because we are unique. Never try to be superficial because beauty comes from within. Never settle for less because we're worth more than all the diamonds in the world. SO LADIES, BE PROUD OF BEING BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!

The Newark campus has different  activities going on for the ladies on campus! So please attend!

I hope everyone is trying to do their best this quarter! I know it gets tough towards the end of the quarter and we all tend to slack but keep going cus there is just 3 MORE WEEKS LEFT! 

SO ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED ANY HELP FOR ANY CLASS! Be safe & take care!

                 TILL NEXT TIME,GUYS!