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Want to be a part of our community? - Comments (26) View Comments
Melanie Brubaker Mazur - 4/17/2009
Leadership development is a nebulous concept. You can’t buy it in a box. It isn’t something most people are innately born with.
It has to be developed.
Four years ago, I had the privilege of being selected as a member of the Leadership La Plata Class of 2004-2005. We had the best class ever!
(You’ll find that out as you meet other LLP graduates. Their class was always the best one over. But ours really was.)
LLP is a program of the Durango Chamber of Commerce to develop leadership skills in our community. I have to commend the organizers for not making it Leadership Durango — they truly have tried to make it a countywide effort.
In order for it to do that, however, we have to have people from our side of the county apply.
Our class had three Bayfield members and one from Ignacio, but more recent classes haven’t had as many members from our wonderful half of the county, and I’d like to see more Bayfield. Ignacio and Vallecito folks apply.
Classes are held one Friday a month for nine months in locations throughout the county. Classes, which usually have 16 to 18 people, study government, business, the arts, regional issues, education, and other topics of local interest. It’s a lot of hands-on learning — tours of businesses and schools, interviewing local business people or politicians, and listening about the issues that affect all of us.
I’m proud to say that our class (the best class ever!) had a great cross-section of people: Robin Duffy-Wirth of the Bayfield School Board; Joelle Riddle, who’s now on the county commission; Cecilia Robbins of the Pine River Community Learning Center, who’s now a trustee for the Town of Ignacio; David Burke of Stoneage Tools; and Tim Walsworth of the United Way of Southwest Colorado.
We had a lot of fun and became a tight-knit group. We still meet three or four times a year for lunch or a family event.
Other local folks who have been in LLP include Pam Patton, Ed and Jackie Morlong, Carol Blatnick, Joany Hanna, Kip Koso, and others. You can see a list of graduates at www.leadershiplaplata.org. There’s also an application form.
If you’d like to learn more, come to Steamworks in Bayfield this Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be alumni there and information about the program. If you’ve applied before and were not accepted, I’d like you to consider trying again. The selection committee always tries to get a cross-section of age, gender, geographical area, and professions, and some people I know who would make wonderful class members were not selected in particular years.
It is a time commitment, so don’t go into it expecting not to do any work. If you don’t attend the classes, you’re dropped out of the program.
Hope to see you Wednesday!
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Dear Editor,
Most of my classmates are writing about third world countries but I want to talk about our home. The United States of America. We have people living in tent cities. We have kids that have are starving just like the ones in Africa or Asia. They need our help too. We could donate more food to soup kitchens. Or maybe we could play instruments in groups or maybe we could sing. Then once we have enough money we could give the money to the people who are living in tent cities or we could by land so they don’t get kicked off the land they are staying on and so they don’t have to lose their second home. If you want to help look up an organization to help jump start their new lives. One organization is called the SHARE/WHEEL program. It opens tent cities for people who get kicked off the land they were living on. But they do it illegally just to help their own kind.
Sincerely,
Rickie Baker
Bayfield Middle School
Rickie Baker
Dear Editor,
Do you know how lucky we are here in the United States compared to other countries in the world? We are lucky. In our 7th grade class Mrs. Morningstar is showing us about 3rd world countries. This made me realize that not all these countries are okay and have money. I also realized that it made me mad. I am upset because it doesn’t seem like the USA is doing enough to help other countries in need. Each student in our class has a country they have chosen and I have chosen Tanzania. They have experienced rough times. The website www.InvisableChildren.com has shown me the sad parts of these countries. Tanzania has a very high rate of children being taken as child soldiers.
In Tanzania adults have a 6.2 chance of death of HIV/AIDS. Adults live to be about 47 years old, both male and female. The birth rate is 35.12 births/1,000 populations. Deaths rate is 12.92 deaths/ 1,000 populations. Tanzania’s population is 41,048,532 people. If you want to help this country contact me at my teachers e-mail at mmorningstarbayfield.k12.co.us any questions you may have also contact me at mmorningstarbayfield.k12.co.us please when you contact me and my teacher put your name and any questions or information you may want to know about Tanzania and my teacher can ask me and e-mail you back the information on your question. Thank you.
Yours truly,
Tori Gottfried
Tori LynnGottfried
Dear Editor,
In our country the economy was crashing down but we are rebuilding up, but there are more people in the world that don’t have what we have. Some people here don’t know it but there are countries out there that are called 3rd world countries that mean that they don’t have what they need or there are disasters happening everyday. Most of these countries do not have water services are contaminated by animals and diseases. They hardly have any food. In those countries about 10 or more people die or get diseases everyday. But there are many ways we can think of to help them. We can send food, clean bottles of water and medicine to them. There are many charities that have been helping them for a while now. For example, there is a charity that goes and gives them water and food security called World Vision. See there are a lot of people out there helping and we can be like them and help those innocent people that are randomly dying from diseases that are in there water and they don’t have enough food f or everyone. Even if it is just you, a group or even a class can still save peoples lives by sending and donating water bottles and food packages. If you help them they will thank you over a billion time for gibing them clean water and food. So please listen to me there are innocent people dying everyday and you can help.
Sincerely,
Sierra McCloskey
Sierra Rose McCloskey
Dear editor,
In my school we are learning about 3rd world countries, and the problems they have. One of the big problems is the water. In 3rd world countries if you wanted water you would have to walk maybe up to 20 miles to get just one bucket of water for washing your clothes, taking a bath, and drinking. That so not sanitary at all! People will wait in line at a well for hours and the water isn’t even clean. In America all we have to do is just go to a sink and turn the faucet. We have filters to make sure our water is clean. Americans take water for granted. Most teenagers will take a 20 minute shower. That is about 10 gallons of water. We have sprinkler systems and most go off every hour. A lot of people in 3rd world countries don’t take showers everyday and don’t have sprinkler systems. You could get very sick from water in 3rd world countries by diseases. Guinea worm disease is one where you drink contaminated water with fleas in it. You get worms in your body 3-5 feet long. Another is E Coli. You get this from contaminated water and raw milk. You can get very sick and symptoms are worse for children and older people. This water pollution needs to stop. Find out how at http://www.charitywater.org/ http://www.ob.org/ http://www.playpumps.org/site/c.hqLNIXOEKrF/b.2559311/k.7BCB/Playpumps_International_and_the_PlayPump_water_system_Kids_play_Water_Pumps.htm. We can all make a difference if we work together!
Sincerely,
Grace Harvey
Grace Harvey
Dear Editor, April 24, 2009
Are you aware that in most countries a lot of the water that is being used is full of disease and is dirty. There are a lot of things that we can do to help. Such as if we as a town or community could hold a fundraiser to give to a charity we could help so many kids all over the world who may never even get to have a clean drink of water or take a clean shower in their short lives. Most of the kids have to walk miles to get a drink of water to revive their hot bodies and dry throats. There are many organizations such as Charity Water© and also Play Pumps© They help dig wells and bring clean drinking water to the kids all over the world. They can not tell us but I can tell you today I am there voice to let you know they need help. We all have the ability to help suffering people all over the world who can’t have a clean glass of water. Please donate to a good cause help the people of the world. So we can have a better lifestyle as people.
Sincerely,
Brandon Freedman
Brandon Freedman
4/30/08
Dear Editor,
I would like to inform you about the issue of pollution. Pollution is a global issue. Pollution is a problem because pollution causes our air to be polluted. Plastic for example will never disintegrate. That means in the future our world will be filled with things that are plastic. We will run out of room and our world will slowly be filled with plastic if we don’t do something about it now. We should recycle. Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste we have and reuse it. Also, we can buy reusable water bottles and such. Using things that we can use over and over again reduces the amount of waste in our world today. Reducing the amount of waste is very important, because we need to take care of this beautiful world we live in. We can’t take it for granite any longer. We should take care of and respect the world it’s important. Do you want your backyard to be filled with plastic? Take care of the world you live in! Pollution is a bad thing so do your part in this world and keep it clean. Recycle all you can and buy things that you can reuse over and over. Small things really do help and we need to take action now before it is too late.
Sincerely,
Alyssa Moreno
Alyssa Moreno
Dear Editor,
We all know that there are tragic things that happen in the world. Wars, poverty, and more. But some don’t know what goes on in Africa. Africa has children being taken from their families and force into being soldiers. These kids are kidnapped in the middle of the night and their families are killed. Most of the kids that don’t want this to happen to them, try to escape, but it is very risky.
Some of the children that are in these armies are only 5 years and up. The children are given real guns and are forced to fight. If they refuse or try to escape, then they are tortured to death or killed. Some of kids that are there are forced to do this to the others that refuse, and if they were to refuse then they would be killed to. Once the children keep doing this over and over again, they get it in their heads that they need to do this.
So what can we do to help these kids out? We could sent troops over to rescue the children to get them out of this. Get them medical care that they need, and food to eat. They would help them from getting tortured and killed. Another way that we could help these children is, we could move them to different areas so that they won’t get kidnapped again. We could also find the men who do this to children so this will stop happening to children. Children will then feel safer sleeping and don’t have the fear of being kidnapped.
Sincerely,
Devin Dexter
Devin Dexter
Dear Editor,
The world goes through a lot of disasters such as shootings, terrorist attacks hurricanes and a lot of other things, but one major issue is pollution. If we don’t stop polluting the earth, then we will soon just be just a giant trash can floating in space. Right now there’s a hole in the world’s ozone layer. Every day right now as we speak it’s just getting worse. Even the little things like littering take a HUGE effect on that hole in the ozone layer. If we started recycling, or picking up trash we see on the ground that can help out a lot more than you think it might. An example of one thing that takes big effect on trash is the plastic. Plastic as we know doesn’t dissolve. If we don’t recycle or reuse it then the world will fill up with plastic and we won’t have any place to live. If we start recycling then we can reduce the use of plastic and that can help a lot. If you go online to www.globalgiving.com then you can find a way to help save the earth before it’s too late, and help clean it up. If we don’t start helping now then we will literally be living in our
Own trash.
Sincerely, Brittany Hunter
Brittany Hunter
Dear Editor,
Water is certainly one of the most valuable resources to the human race, but in places like Nepal, it is practically poisonous. We use it to drink, cook with, wash clothes, wash ourselves, clean, and even brush our teeth. However, in Nepal, there isn’t enough clean water to carry out these everyday tasks.
The truth is, Nepal has the poorest drinking water and sewage system in South Asia. Some of it trickles down from China. But much of this problem is caused by the fact that the Nepali people simply are uneducated on how to take care of water.
This has had devastating effects on this third world country. It causes diseases that can be deadly, along with ones that are just gross, like diarrhea and intestinal worms. Many Nepalese are sick and dying from things they can’t afford to treat and may not even know anything about. People in Nepal are at extremely high risk for diseases.
Because it is one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal cannot afford to fix this problem. It is estimated that to improve the water and sewage system, it would cost 2 billion US dollars.
The statistics don’t lie. Only 70 of the 28,563,377 population have access to clean, drinkable water. However, there are many people, such as poor farmers in the high mountains, who couldn’t be included in this count.
Since water is so important for the survival of humans, I think we should pay more attention to the problems in Nepal. A good organization is Nepal Water for Health at newah.org.np, so please take a few minutes to check it out.
Sincerely,
Margaret Grayson
Margaret Grayson
April 30, 2009
Dear Editor,
Kids all over the world are suffering from militias that are training them to be children soldiers. Children soldiers kill other kids and adults as well. Some kids even have to kill there own parents or both will be killed. After being brain washed at that degree it takes months to become a regular citizen. Even when they are cured they still have the memories of screams and explosions. To help you can go to this website http://www.helpchildsoldiers.com/. Donate, even visit the kids, or just take action. If you donate you money will go to a child’s health care or schooling.
Even when a kid escapes he still could be hunted down by name. No matter where you are in any third world country you are never safe as a kid. Kids between the ages 8-16 are main targets.
If you help these boys and girls they will one day get there old life back. If you do help you will have a memory of a kid that needed your help and you helped them. And if you donate at this website http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_38224.html the money you donate will go straight to therapy to help regain focus of the real world. And it will help pay for school and that will help there minds to become a smart adult. Over half of militias in Africa are child soldiers. They need your help.
Sincerely,
Alec Gailliot-Wood
Alec Gailliot-Wood
Dear Editor,
Poverty strikes nearly every country in the world and effects people around the globe. In many countries people live on close to a dollar a day, like the 39 of people living in Mozambique that do. 20 of people in this country don’t have jobs. In Mozambique 70 of the people live below the poverty line, yet they are always working for whatever they can. What makes Mozambique so poor is that not only do the people earn drastically less, but goods in that country cost somewhat the same as they do in other countries.
Because of poverty people cannot access medicine and die of sicknesses as simple as the flu. In Mozambique 13 of the people have HIV/Aids, 105 out of every 1,000 births die, and 60 of children die before they are 5 years old. Another major issue poverty has created is lack of education, Children often work rather than go to school, because they don’t have access to school and need the money, This is so common that Mozambique’s literacy rate is only 21.
Two organizations that give aid to Mozambique are Mobile Medicine Disaster Relief (http://www.mmdr.org), and Amazon-African Aid (www.amazonafrica.org). These organizations accept donations in money or goods, and all of the donations received go to help these non-profit organizations.
We truly don’t know just how expensive poverty is, or how much of the world it ruins. We are almost blind to the fact that there are people out there living, breathing, and dying in poverty. Nevertheless, we can help and do our part, and I truly hope that each of us will donate, volunteer, or help fight poverty in some way.
Sincerely,
Effie Nistler
Effie Nistler
Dear Editor,
The reason a lot of countries are third world is because of government corruption. Government corruption is where the government SAYS they want to “HELP” you, but in reality they don’t care about the people only themselves. One of the many government corruption issues is poverty-poverty is basically a lack of money. The reason poverty stalks the streets of third world countries is because the government isn’t doing anything to help, like create jobs.
Another issue of government corruption is the child soldier issue. Child soldiers are being used to go out to war to fight. They are losing their lives for the government who doesn’t even care about them. If they did care they would put a stop to it, instead they send out more. Another thing that has to do with poverty is crimes. People pick-pocket and do other crimes. Some organizations are trying organizations, but the poverty there will be there for a long time here are some organizations that are trying to help
http://chora.virtualave.net/relief-organizations.htm
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/amed/ethiopia/resources/ethiopia-organizations.html
http://www.exodusnews.com/worldnews/world026.htm
Sincerely,
Ryan j cousens
Ryan cousens
Dear editor,
Everyone needs water to survive, and people all over the world do not have access to it especially in Yemen where water is becoming very scarce. There are kids that will give up their share of water so that there little brother or sister can have some. In Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, the current demand for water is 3,200 million cubic meters. When only 2,500 million cubic meters is available, that is a 700 million cubic meter difference. This is a small example of what is happening in the country and all over the world. There are farmers who need to water their plants, and in order to do that they need water. It is the same all over the world, water is a basic necessity to survive. In Sannaa, eighty years from now only 80 million cubic meters of water will be available and with the growing population they really need to find a way to get more water. With the help of humanitarian aid, food and water is delivered to the people who need it the most along with other necessities for life. One great organization is the World Food Programme. You can visit their website for more info on how to help out. So many people are going without water every day when most people in America have more than enough. In Yemen and countries all over the world water is a scarcity when is so many other countries it is a luxury So I proposes that we try to help them get enough water to water there crops, take a bath, wash their dishes, cook with it and to satisfy their everyday thirst. Water is something that should never be hard to find and we can help make that true for so many people if we all come together.
Sincerely,
Carrie Yost
Carrie Yost
Dear editor, I am talking about third world countries. They are so sad but one that hurts me is child soldiers. Child soldiers are around the age 8-16. They are being taken from their homes and trained for one reason … to kill.
The corruption in these children’s minds is so messed up. They have watched fellow kids die and others including some of their parents. There are a few organizations to help get these kids out of these mind disturbing places. One of the organizations is:
http://www.child-soldiers.org/coalition/the-coalition
These kids are in dire need of help from us and others. These kids need help.
If they are lucky enough to be taken out they often have to go through extensive psychological rehabilitation. Then if they are lucky to escape or be taken out if their families are still alive they will not want to take them back in fear for their own lives. These kids have been through so much trail and grief, unfortunately many are unaware of the fact that they exist. Not many know that we can help support these organizations and help these kids get out and have a life of their own. They have seen many things that we cannot even think possible for people to be able to do. The leaders of these groups make them kill or be killed. I want to be able to help so badly I feel for these kids who are my age and murders they all had families and were ripped away from their lives. Now other children live in fear that they will be taken away, not able to live a life that is so precious to the world. Here is another site to help:
http://pawss.hampshire.edu/topics/childsoldiers/
We have the ability to help. So why don’t we?
Sincerely,
Sahara Christensen
Sahara Christensen
Dear Editor,
There are many countries that are third world. They are third world because of economy, government, or agriculture. One third world country is Uganda. The reasons why is because of a poor economy and a corrupted government. There are two main groups in Uganda the government which has a president named Yoweri Musaveni and the rebels which is lead by Joseph Kony. In the past 30 years the rebels have abducted 30,000 children. At night these children travel miles to the nearest large town to sleep in hopes of not getting kidnapped. In the past the president of Uganda supported the rebels but now he does not. Boys as young as 8 are kidnapped to become child soldiers. Girls as young as 8 are also kidnapped to become sex slaves to the older men in the army. Over 80 of the army is made up of child soldiers. Many of the kids that try to escape are tortured or executed on return. When the children are abducted they are sometimes told to watch their parents be killed by the kidnapper or sometimes the kidnapper cruelly makes the child kill their family. This is not a very recognized issue to the world. There are many things you can do as simple as buying a shirt. Thank you for your time and consideration Please donate to help this cause.
Sincerely,
Kyle McAfee
To buy a shirt, go to store.invisiblechildren.com/all
Kyle McAfee
Dear Editor,
In our English class we are studying third world countries. I wanted to write to you about just one of the many problems each of the third world countries have. I think one problem that anyone can help out with very easily is food and water shortages. This is one of the simplest problems, but it is also one of the most devastating. Many of the third world countries have food but can only have one meal or even no meals a day. Many conflicts occur everyday over food and water. Many people are also killed because of this. Most of the water they do have is contaminated and will lead to disease. The food shortages are often because of famines and droughts. Also the government may not be distributing the food fairly because of other conflicts like war. The food may be given to soldiers and small villages, towns, and homes will be forgotten because of their small size. Many people also lose jobs because they cannot make crops because of the contaminated water, making the country have even less food. When specific resources are down people will strip the country of its natural resources that they need for every day living. This will lead the country to even more problems because they have fewer resources and may need them to pick themselves up. This simple conflict of food and water shortages leads to many other devastating problems pushing the country farther into turmoil. There are simple ways you can help these countries to reconstruct themselves and ultimately end their problems. Thank you for your time and consideration. To learn how you can help, go to unicefusa.org or worldvision.org
Sincerely,
John Arnold
John Arnold
Dear Editor,
There are many problems in Haiti, a big one is water. In Haiti they do not have easy access to water. There is no running water in homes, so in order t get water they have to go to a river. If it is for drinking they get a container and carry it back to their house on their head. If they need to do household washing they wash it in the same river they get their drinking water from. Also, they use the same river that they get their drinking and washing water from, for bathing. Because of the bad sanitation problem that comes from using the same river for bathing, washing, and drinking they get sick very easily. One reason getting sick is such a big problem is they do not have good health care. Not having good health care also contributes to the low life expectancy. In Haiti people are only expected to live to be 54 years old. With better health care I’m confident that the life expectancy would be higher in Haiti. There are already some existing organizations to help Haiti and all their problems. One organization is “International Action”. What they are doing is trying to get clean water to the people in Haiti. They install chlorinators to clean the water and keep the people from getting water based diseases. You can help by donating or just supporting “International Action”.
Sincerely,
Sassie Parker
Sassie Parker
Dear editor,
My name is Trevon Funke, I’m a seventh grade student at Bayfield middle school and recently we’ve been studying third world countries . I’m here writing you about this letter to tell you about some of the problems they have. These third world countries are very poor, many are without food and without adequate shelter. Some walk miles just to get water that’s contaminated to share with their family. They get diseases as a cause of this and some even die. These people need help, luckily there are many nonprofit organizations that help the people in need all around the world .One for example, is Samaritans purse. This organization allows you to purchase or donate forty different gifts and sends them directly to people and villages in need. Just a few of the gifts of these gifts are gift of fresh water. You can also repair the fresh water well or dig a new hole. Yet another gift Samaritans purse has to after is a brood of chicks. The people that receive these gifts can raise these young chicks to lay eggs to provided nourishment for their family and still have some left to sell! Some families that get this gift increase their annual income by one hundred fifty percent! The villagers that receive these gifts share the offspring of these chickens with their neighbors so your gift grows as the flock grows. You can also donate money for supplies to give to children and adults a hot meal. By now I bet what your thinking is what am I doing about this, well what I’m doing I’m raising 8,000 dollars to dig a well for a country in need. What I am trying to get across here is that there are people in need and there is more than enough ways to help, so why not?
Trevon Funke
Trevon Funke
Starvation
Dear editor,
Starvation is one of the biggest global issues in our world. This is most common in third-world countries, especially in the continent of Africa, where 51 of households reported they were experiencing hunger. We can help these people in third-world countries through canned food drives. An organization for canned food donations that you con make a difference is “The Food Gatherers.” It’s a nonprofit organization.
People and especially children shouldn’t have to experience starving to death. Another fantastic organization is Helpuu.com. It’s a custom Google search, for when you make a search, it gives a free meal to people starving in Africa. Some causes for starvation is government corruption and poverty. When they have a bad government, it takes all the money away from the citizens, so they experience poverty. In addition, when people only make two dollars a day, they can’t buy food. Everyday, Americans throw away millions of pounds of leftover food that people in third-world countries would be really happy to have. When you donate canned food to the less fortunate, it will surely fill your heart with joy. It will also make you feel important and special. Just remember, every donation counts, big or small.
Sincerely,
Wyatt Thomas
Wyatt Dean Thomas
Dear Editor,
My class has been learning about third world countries for the past few weeks. One of the most horrible things that happen there is child soldiers. Kids fear everyday that they will get kidnapped and be forced to kill their parents. Kids who are being hunted to become these soldiers normally star in their villages in the day and at night time, they walk as much as fifty miles everyday just to know that they might have a chance to live. Another horrible way people die is because of disease. Disease such as elephantiasis, aids, and leopercy contribute to this. These diseases spread very easy. As in result, more and more people get them. Some children are born with these diseases and some adults end up developing them. Very many people have a disease but not everyone has one. In third world countries, there is barely enough water to drink. To get clean, good drinking water, people (normally girls) have to walk a couple miles to get to the nearest well. They fill up a bucket of water after taking several drinks of it. Then balance the now heavy bucket of water on their head and carry it back to their village.
There are many more sad stories about what happens to the people. Help them now by going to www.northamptonchron.co.uk . Take action now.
Sincerely,
Haley Clarke
Haley Clarke
Dear Editor,
I am Brianna Peterson, and I am attending Bayfield middle school. In our English class we are talking about third world countries and the country I was assigned to was no other than Uganda. There are many problems in Uganda, but one problem that has stood out to me is the children soldiers. Many children have to travel almost 5 miles at sunset to get to a shelter that eventually they have made for themselves. They have to travel everyday because they are afraid out of their mind of being kidnapped and their family being killed. There are rebels that brain-wash children (ages 9-14) my age to kill their friends and family. The rebels are people that kidnap children, kill their family and make them think that they are their only family left (At least some/ most of them). Most of them go to school and try to get an education but they aren’t able to because of the rebels raiding the schools all of the time. Since we (the United States of America) don’t have this problem as much I think we could help out even a little. I believe to help we can provide homes in the city for the children and family or have more security for the children and their family. I feel very bad for the children considering that they want an education and a warm bed to sleep in. I hope that you look into Uganda and the child solders. I hope that you see it the way I do.
Sincerely,
Brianna Nicole Peterson
Brianna peterson
Dear Editor,
In third world countries there are child soldiers. We have soldiers that give themselves to save others. The children are forced to give up their lives, and are sometimes even kidnapped. The children witness many murders’, sometimes their parents. That forces them to kill and makes them corrupts them . But some kids walk many miles to a city where they feel safe to sleep. If they didn’t then they would probably be kidnapped. The ages are up to16 and under.
I am asking you to donate shoes for the kids or money for shoes, so when they walk they won’t get bloody feet. It could make them happy to know that there are people out there that care about them. If you do then it would be good of you to help them. Every are kids being taken away, there’s also runaways. There are kids risking there lives to save their sisters or the people they love. I am asking you as a fellow American, please donate.
Sincerely,
Troy Allen Kisner
http://pakistan.wikia.com/wiki/Pakistan:How_Can_I_Help3F
Troy Allen Kisner
Dear Editor,
My name is Tristan Gonzales, I go to Bayfield Middle School and in my English class we are learning about third world countries, and I would like to enlighten you about third world countries. I have been researching a country called Rwanda, and I think you should know about it. One thing is that there has been a feud going on between two groups called the Hutu’s and the Tutsi’s. They pose a big problem to the government Rwanda has 90 Hutu’s, 9 Tutsi, and 1 Pygmies. Other problems are all the disease in Rwanda, there’s HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis A, Bacterial diarrhea, and the worst, malaria. Another problem is that a lot of the family’s are poverty. The families are farmers and they can only grow enough to feed there families. Away that you can help the people of Rwanda is to go to WorldVision.com and sponsor, or donate to the children of Rwanda. A great problem is that there are many refuges walking around Rwanda, because they have a Republic government. The problem is that the government is trying to control everything. In conclusion Rwanda has many problems that make them a third world so if you thought you knew what a third world country was, think again.
Sincerely,
Tristan Gonzales
Tristan Gonzales
Dear Editor,
There are many issues facing our world today, but one that is extremely prevalent is poverty and hunger in third-world countries, especially Nepal. One in three people are below the poverty line in Nepal and chances that you will get a decent job are slim. Nepal is one of the most disease-ridden countries in the world because of poor healthcare. Major diseases include: Hepatitis A, Bacterial Diarrhea, Typhoid Fever, Dengue Fever, and Malaria. Most residents in Nepal live in bamboo shacks, and those who don’t generally live in mansions. Even though the situation in Nepal is difficult and conflict-ridden, they have still managed to make great economic strides. For instance, organizations like the Nepal Children’s Organization help children in need with donations from people like you. If you want to help give hope to countries like Nepal that are on the brink of disaster, you can donate to a helpful organization. I sincerely hope that you’ll take this information into consideration, and help a country in need.
Sincerely,
Sean Zercher
Sean Zercher
Dear Editor,
I truly believe that we have a ridiculous problem in the world. Maybe not here in the United States but in many third world countries. These people suffer everyday and every hour from starvation. They are always hungry because the only meal they get a day is a small helping of rice and a piece of beef. Furthermore, people don’t realize but we have the best lives out of everyone in the world, but were still complaining. This problem is not a big thing to them because they are always smiling. Imagine their faces after a real meal. Tons of poor kids are ridiculously skinny and have many diseases from the food they eat. Plus these people are dieing because they don’t receive the nutrients they need for the day. I have been very heart broken ever since I saw pictures of the starving kids. Third world countries have been decreasing in population because of this unfortunate event. I want to help these children and I really hope you listen attentively to my thoughts. You can help these unfortunate people in third world countries by going to a website called Food for the Hungry at the website of: http://www.fh.org/. At this website you have the option to help pay for food for a kid. You will receive a picture of the kid as well. I believe if we all together we could help starvation throughout third world countries.
Sincerely,
Alex Vitagliano
Alex Vitagliano
Dear Editor,
I am a pupil at Bayfield Middle School. Our class has been examining third world countries in English. As I saw the videos and the picture clips, I couldn’t help but see how sad and helpless they were to live in those conditions. Then my teacher and the other volunteers told us how happy they were to just be alive. Of course, these people need help and everything, but it is amazing to think about it. I started to think about how selfish the people in the United States are. Americans, myself included, think about themselves and how their life is. They don’t think about the actions of the outside world.
I did not want be one of those uninformed people so I looked up organizations on the internet. There is this one where they bring food to third world countries daily. It is called the United Nations Food Program. They have been bringing food to these countries ever since the fatal attacks of another organization. Any little bit helps. If you think that all of the organizations that help have death defying occupations, that is not the case. Go online and find an organization that you can donate items to. Bread for the World is a great organization to help. Every little bit helps, and you can be that little bit.
Sincerely,
Katie King
Katie King
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