Arvonne Fraser's Presentation

On Thursday, we had heard about Arvonne Fraser talked about herself and the innovation of the woman right since 1993. First of all, i have to admit that , Fraser is a great lady or at least a great speaker, her story is full of humor but are never mean. She said what she think but in kindly way and that is the thing i was interested and admired about her. In the presentation, she mentioned about how difficult for the woman in 20th century. They didn't have chance to study enough, have to work hard and didn't protected by any rights. Since the innovation about feminist happened, there were a lot of organization operated and fought for the women rights. Espcially, some organization about education. According to what Fraser answered our group question, there are two focus type of education: one is educate women to get a better job and one is teach them about women rights. Fraser herself has contributed a lot for those events. She wrote a book called "She no lady" which is talked about polictics, family and international feminism. Moreover, she told us a lot information via her personal experiements. I remember the experiements about Japan is the most significant one. It's a shame,she couldnt do anything in Japan because of the langauge issue. Therefore, she implied how importang education is. In the end, i kind of admire her. Since she's really old now, her memories doesnt work as well as its used to. However she still came and show us an outstanding presentation. i feel really grateful

Women's development, education

Hi, this is Megumi. I listened to a presentation about women's development, feminism movement by Arvonne Fraser who was a representative of USA in the United Nation. She explained about the history about feminism movements and some important things to encourage women. She mentions three points which needed to women; education, employment, and participation in public life (affairs). Especially she emphasized how important education is. For example, education will bring a woman leader, which can change the women's life, less torelance of descremination, and so on.

She introduced one interesting experience of her when she was in Japan. She tried to look around a hotel, but she couldn't read or understand Japanese at all, so she was insecure and went back to the hotel. This expeience describe that illiteracy make you unempower, which made me think the importance of education.

To be born in Japan, I have never felt strong gender discrimination, but after I heard her presentation, I noticed that due to the people of our grand mother's generation, I don't have to feel discremination anymore. There is still discrimination or difference between male and female, we should know the fact and think about it.

Fraser's lecture

Arvone Fraser talked about the power of development for women from 1993. The United States was coordinate with other countries and organizations such as developed countries, developing countries, and NGOs elaborated women and girl children in three majorities—education, employment, and participation right. In the past, women didn’t have chances to study, work outside the house, or participate in the public or inside the house. The old custom believed women should have been only in the house; take care of children and the house. Women didn’t have the right of owning property. In Fraser’s opinion, education is the most importance factor, but it was hard project to get money support because education was difficult to show the success. Fraser also states that the movement of the International women in Development (WID) was successful after the conference of Convention Elimination and Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was held by the United Nation. World conference had three theme-- equality, development, and peace. The member of conference wanted to add another theme about children especially girl children. In the world conference paid attention on women. They would find women leader in each country to organize and help the United Nation on the projects. The results of this movement are: women have a right of vote, own property, work outside the house, and right of education.
I was interested the way Fraser lecture. She is a patient, active, and knowledgeable person. She spent a lot of time in her life for social activities. The topic of lecture was educated me about the history of women right. I have never known before women couldn’t own property. It was a difficult job to fight for women right to be equal men right. However, the United Nation could show that women although have to work inside the house, they could be success in their career outside the house too.

Advice on Giving to Charities

Hi, this is Megumi.
Today, I'm listening to "Advice on Giving to Charities".
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17588744

According Michelle Singletary, we should start to join charities which is close to us, what matters to us.
She recommended four websites, "The givespot, charity navigator, guidestar, BBB wise giving alliance", because those did good reserches and use the donated money wisely, and also they answer many questions which they received.
She suggested us that we should reserch the organization if they use our money wisely before joing it. Also she mentioned that the direct donation is the best way, and we shouldn't use third party because some of your money wouldn't be used for charity.

In fact, after Alyssa taught us about famine and kiva.org, I got more interests in charity. I would like to join some organization with Michelle's hints.

Bill Gates: Focusing On Philanthropy

Hi everyone, our topic today is about Bill Gates, one of the richest guy on the world. However, we are not going to talk about his company which is Microsoft or 5000 lab rooms, we will talk about his motivation about the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and how he's working on philanthropy. All of those issue are mentioned in his annual letter which is about what he's doing or will do since he left Microsoft. In the letter, he also mention about how would he spend his money for AIDS research to get a successful results. In the end , he doesn't seem very worry about Microsoft after the financial crisis, probably because he has some faiths with his companions.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99816984

2008's Big Buzzword in Giving:Micro

Today, I have listened to Lucy Bernholz, Philanthropy consultant, talks to Kai Ryssdal in the Article “2008’s big buzzword in giving: Micro”. It is about how to make donation flowing.

Lucy Bernholz points out that in 2008 the big buzzwords in giving is micro—take something small or a big idea and make it small such as micro-consignment, micro-giving, or micro-philanthropy. Micro-consignment program run by Living Good to help women in Uganda to become individual entrepreneur by selling goods door-to door such as bulbs, cook stoves, or health products. The second she points out that is mobile giving—make it easy to use. Using mobile giving is text the keyword to the SMS charity number to make donation. The last one is good gifting—making a gift to a favorite charity.

In my opinion, people will be encouraged to donate if it is easy and uncomplicated. The way of using cell phone by texting SMS to charity number is the easy way. I have seen people put the favorite charity sign in front of their name in MSN; MSN will give some money to that charity every time when they sign in. What do you think about the way that they try to make donation flowing.

You can listen from link below:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/12/09/pm_buzzwords_q/

Telling Children About Financial Problems.

Since now is the crisis time, many people who have children have lost their job. Not only they have to face the financial problem, but also they have some problems with their children. The question is should they tell their children about their financial problem or not? In this podcast you will hear some parents talk about their problem with the children. The interested thing in this podcast is the conversation ( kind of an interview) between Singletary and one woman with a very natural idea about telling her child about her financial problems. It's helpful because not only that woman got into that case but also a lot of people. So i hope this podcast will be handy for some of you.
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=100774287&m=100774266

Japan initiates new finance minister

Hi, this is Megumi.

This news made me so embarrased as a Japanese. Below video shows how awful our former finance minister was.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/02/17/japan_fm/

After the G7 conference in Roma, he talked in front of the cameras from all over the world. He usually speaks weird and looks sleepy, but no one could doubt but he was drunk or had problem in his brain or something. He drunk some gin and tonics on a plane, plus a little wine at lunch the next day, and then he slurs his way through a press conference with six other ministers. He excused that he took a cold medicine, who believes is!?!? Unfortunately, the news were watched by not only Japanese but all people abroad, he obviously let the reputation of Japanese down. I feel so sorry about it.

Stimulus bill

Hi everyone:

I am interested to know the benefit from stimulus bill. I have listened at link http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/03/06/mm_1st_homebuyer/

They were talking about tax credit for "First-time homebuyer" The first-time homebuyer will get an $8,000 benefit from tax credit this year without paying back . It is different from last year because tax payer got $7,500 and they have to pay back. In this link, they also talked about the qualification for tax payer who will get benefit from this plan. I think this is a good time for someone who wants to buy a house and get the benefit from first-time homebuyer tax credit. I am thinking about this benefit.

Teens, Television, and Depression

Hi, this is Megumi.

Today I would like to talk about the news about 'Teens, Television, and Depression'.
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-02-10-voa2.cfm

According the VOA news, the more teenagers watch television, the more likely they are to develop depression. Young people are asked how many hours they watch tv, and how often they play the com games. In seven years, more than seven percent of the young people got depression.
Doctor Primack says some activities, such as sport and socializing, might be able to prevent from depression. Also sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people by the VOA news.

I agree that even it is fun to watch movies or tv, I get frustrated to continue it for long time and want to go out and do something active. Probably to get exercise or breathe fresh air are good ways to refresh and be positive. Get wild and feel nature!

Dog Talk

Hi everyone:
I have just listened and read the transcript from http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2008-12-06-voa4.cfm
about the title "Dog Talk: Every Dog Has His Day". The main idea of story is comparison between dog and human.

Examples from the story are: [1]. to lead a dog's life means a person who has an unhappy existence. [2]. dog-eat-dog world means many people are competing for the same things. [3]. every dog has its day means every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life.

After I have listened to this story, I felt more positive about the word "dog". The word 'dog' is used in my country mostly in a negative way. Example, when anyone does something wrong that person is called a dog. When used in the positive sense, the word dog relates to being honest.

If you are interested to know more about the word "dog" in American culture, go to the link stated above.

What do you want to drink in cold weather?

Hi friends:
Do you have any things to drink for cold night? If you want something to drink, please go to this link.
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=100089836

This link will tell you how to make hot chocolate for cold night. It is not difficult to make it by yourself. I like to drink hot chocolate at night too. Don't keep up, lets make it.

My first posting!

Hey I'm Megumi.
This is the first posting on our blog 'The Wilder', haha.

Ok, I would like to put an address which I listened to just now.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99755918

This is about the Academy Awards, who hates movies?
It says 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' got the most — 13 in total. 'Slumdog Millionaire' had 10, while the lyrical biopic 'Milk' drew eight. The most surprising at this Oscar was the nomination tally for independent picture Frozen River. It took two nominations, for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.

Actually I went to see Benjamin Button, and it was pretty interesting. The story was good enough to get attention even nearly 3hours long, and the computer graphics was amazing. Apparently Bob, the guy on the potcast, didn't like the movie so much though.
Slumdog Millionair is about a boy from slum in Mumbai, who appeared on a game show and was changed his life, I don' t know the story much... But I'm sure to check it out!

My first post!!!!!!!!!

Hello Megumi,Vichada and my fans, this is my first post as a V.I.P member in The Wilder group. I found somethings really cool about grammar. The main ideas of this episode is about answering some question that came from the reader. It's interested because all of the questions for example "How should sur names be pluralized? Our name ends in ‘x.' However, people almost always greet our family by simply pronouncing our name, ‘Hey, Bruyninckx!' even though there are five of us." or "I have a concern with the use of the term 'antisocial.' Commonly people use it to mean someone who shies away from social contact. In medicine it refers to someone who doesn't adhere to the usual societal rules, like a habitual criminal. Is one meaning more proper?" are the same to mine( maybe it's also what you are questioning for) and the answer was pretty good. Here is the website: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977578875&grpId=3659174697246175&nav=Groupspace
Let's check it out,buddies