Friday, May 1, 2009
Letter to my senator
My name is Daniel Delgado and I am a senior at High Tech High International and our class is doing a project on a mismanaged resource of our choice. The resource that I decided to focus on is over fishing and by catch that is caused by fisheries. After doing the research I was alarmed at how fast our oceans where being emptied and how many fish were being caught and killed and thrown back in the ocean. I decided to write this letter to you because I feel that this is a problem that the United States could lead the way in more sustainable fishing. By catch is occurred when fisheries go fishing and they catch marine animals that are of no use in their nets for example sea turtles. In 2009 about 7.3 billion metric tons are tossed in the sea. Because of by catch the pacific leatherbacks its population has declined by 95 percent in just two decades. Pacific leatherbacks are a type of sea turtles. Besides leatherbacks the loggerheads also showed a 80 percent decline in population in the same year due to over fishing. Their have been several attempts to monitor by catch but many fishing companies don’t follow these procedures. For example it is a mandatory to have a supervisor on board to monitor and record by catch but of all the fisheries only 15 percent have a supervisor. Since it is hard to monitor these rules and regulations they go largely unnoticed. I believe that the problem with over fishing could be solved if the United States and the United Nations gave incentives to companies that lower their by catch and follow the rules and regulations and severely punish those who do not follow the basic rules and regulations. Another solution is to ensure that all fishing companies update to the latest technology. For example when fishing companies are using the net they should include a trap door so that the bigger fish and sea turtles are able to slip trough. Even though having the trap door wouldn’t complete solve the problem of over fishing it would help lower the number of marine animals being caught. What we need is for the United States to lead the way in aggressive change in the fishing companies are doing their business. I hope this letter encourages you and U.S government to pass some sort of legislature that would limit the amount of waste that was happening with by catch.
Letter to the press
Article To Press One
Blue Fin Tuna a main ingredient in sushi and other sea food dishes may not be on the menu anymore because of the amount Blue Fin Tuna that is pulled out of the sea each year. An organization called the I.C.C.A.T. published a report in 2008 that Blue Fin Tuna are being fished at a very young age before they are able to mature and mate with other Blue Fin Tuna. The report also stated that Blue Fin Tune once thought to be able to stand the impact of commercial fishing. They estimated that western Blue Fin Tuna population has dropped by 18 percent due to over fishing. Another impact on the Blue Fin Tuna is the amount that the Japanese fish from the oceans it was estimated in 2006 that Japanese where fishing up to 8 billion dollars in illegal caught Blue Fin Tuna and left the Blue Fin Tuna unavailable to rebuild their numbers. Japan uses about a quarter of the worlds Blue Fin Tuna. Because of the disregard for Blue Fin Tuna the price for the fish has gone up by 20 percent in the past year. Because of the lack Blue Fin Tuna in the ocean the average Japanese household consumption of Blue Fin Tuna dropped by 20 percent. To make matters worse the amount of consumption increased by western countries and China. In the United States the demand for Blue Fin Tuna has risen in the last year. Over the past year the amount has grown in 04 it was around 4 million tons and 07 it is 70 percent larger. In the West Atlantic the population of Blue Fin Tuna has its numbers have dropped by 90 percent. The future of Blue Fin Tuna is looking bleak with European Fishermen catching almost twice legal limit and the United States only reporting only quarter of what they actually catch. Scientists form the I.C.C.A.T. are reporting that to salvage the Blue Fin Tuna fishing companies should be catching half of the legal amount. It is clear that the Blue Fin Tuna are in dire need of a bailout of epic proportions if we wish to continue these majestic creatures of the sea. We need the Eastern and Western governments to put tougher restrictions on how much Blue Fin Tuna can be cached and place incentives on companies who provide accurate information on what their actual catch was and if they met the requirements on how much to catch. If we wish to continue to eat Blue Fin Tuna we not only to ask for government regulation but as the consumer we should stop consuming Blue Fin Tuna until their numbers raise to a healthy level.
Blue Fin Tuna a main ingredient in sushi and other sea food dishes may not be on the menu anymore because of the amount Blue Fin Tuna that is pulled out of the sea each year. An organization called the I.C.C.A.T. published a report in 2008 that Blue Fin Tuna are being fished at a very young age before they are able to mature and mate with other Blue Fin Tuna. The report also stated that Blue Fin Tune once thought to be able to stand the impact of commercial fishing. They estimated that western Blue Fin Tuna population has dropped by 18 percent due to over fishing. Another impact on the Blue Fin Tuna is the amount that the Japanese fish from the oceans it was estimated in 2006 that Japanese where fishing up to 8 billion dollars in illegal caught Blue Fin Tuna and left the Blue Fin Tuna unavailable to rebuild their numbers. Japan uses about a quarter of the worlds Blue Fin Tuna. Because of the disregard for Blue Fin Tuna the price for the fish has gone up by 20 percent in the past year. Because of the lack Blue Fin Tuna in the ocean the average Japanese household consumption of Blue Fin Tuna dropped by 20 percent. To make matters worse the amount of consumption increased by western countries and China. In the United States the demand for Blue Fin Tuna has risen in the last year. Over the past year the amount has grown in 04 it was around 4 million tons and 07 it is 70 percent larger. In the West Atlantic the population of Blue Fin Tuna has its numbers have dropped by 90 percent. The future of Blue Fin Tuna is looking bleak with European Fishermen catching almost twice legal limit and the United States only reporting only quarter of what they actually catch. Scientists form the I.C.C.A.T. are reporting that to salvage the Blue Fin Tuna fishing companies should be catching half of the legal amount. It is clear that the Blue Fin Tuna are in dire need of a bailout of epic proportions if we wish to continue these majestic creatures of the sea. We need the Eastern and Western governments to put tougher restrictions on how much Blue Fin Tuna can be cached and place incentives on companies who provide accurate information on what their actual catch was and if they met the requirements on how much to catch. If we wish to continue to eat Blue Fin Tuna we not only to ask for government regulation but as the consumer we should stop consuming Blue Fin Tuna until their numbers raise to a healthy level.
Drug Story
Memoir of a Heroin Addict
A hazy plume of smoke still hung throughout the room as I drifted back into my mind. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten and, as this fact crossed my mind, the thought of food made me want to vomit.
“Zack,” I uttered to the unconscious lump slouched on the couch next to me. He grunted and curled up tighter. Satisfied that he was still alive, I was overcome with an urgent thirst. I struggled to my feet and made my way to the kitchen across the room. I still had no idea where I was or how I had gotten there, but at the moment my only concern was to get some water.
In the kitchen, the sink seemed to be stopped up because it was full of rancid brown water. I managed to find a dirty glass in the dimming daylight but when I turned on the faucet, nothing came out. Undoubtedly, someone had failed to pay the water bill in this dive and now, here I was dying of thirst.
In utter desperation, I dipped the glass in the brown water and held it to my nose. There seemed to be no smell, though thinking about it now, there was probably a smell that pervaded the entire apartment. Left with no other choice, I held the dirty glass to my lips and tossed it back and forced down the brown sludge. My body reacted violently as I let go of the glass, letting it fall to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. I hunched over the sink heaving, the sight of the murky water only seemed to make my body reject it even more. However, there was nothing in my stomach but brown bile, left to drip into the water and slide down my cheek.
I sat on the floor next to the sink wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn’t know if they were from the vomiting or the fact that I had brought myself to such a place. I had grown up a happy kid who loved sports and had good parents. My older brother had gotten busted for pot a few times so when it happened to me, my parents’ were determined not to go through it again. They shipped me off to rehab the summer I turned fifteen and that’s where I met Zack. He was in for doing hard drugs and he looked like hell going through withdrawal but we hit it off and we made plans to get together on the outside when all of this was over. I met him at a party one night several months after rehab. He had a couple of girls with him and they seemed enthusiastic to meet me, which was something I was not used to.
“I got some smack,” he said, laying a needle on the table in front of us. “You’ve got to try it, man. It’s a rush.”
I was reluctant but did it anyway. The girls seemed into it and I didn’t want to ruin my chances with them. As it turned out, heroin was a rush – a glamorous thrill ride with a euphoric sense of power and sex with beautiful girls. The trouble was that it didn’t stay that way. I began meeting Zack after school to do heroin. I’d show up at home hours later, wired out of my brain. My parents caught on quickly, especially when the money began to disappear. They tried to get me back into rehab but I didn’t want to go through that again. After all, the first time had been the cause of all of this and that made it their fault.
Soon, I stopped going home altogether. When Zack got kicked out, we took our party downtown, staying in flophouses like this one whenever we could. Sitting there by the sink, I wondered if it was these memories that were causing the tears. No matter, I thought to myself. If I could just get a little higher, the situation would be perfect. At that, I struggled to my feet and walked over to the couch, where the needle sat on the floor. As I filled the needle with heroin and carefully placed it into my black and torn arms I began to feel slightly human. As I pushed the needle down I could feel the warmth of the drug enter my body it didn’t matter where I was or what was happening as long as I was being cuddle by lady heroin. I woke up on the floor next to a carpet that was soaked in vomit I wasn’t sure if it was mine or if it was one of the many tenants that lived in the house. I wasn’t able to recall the last 24 hours or even the week. I went to the bathroom to wake myself out my daze and find Zack to get some food. I looked at the dirty cracked mirror to see my sullen body and the odd red spots that were forming around my face I was falling apart. I found Zack were I had previously seen him and started to push and shove until his seeming lifeless body woke up.
“ Dude,” he said a little groggy as he tried to recognize who was staring down at him.
“It’s me Paul you sack of shit, get up were getting food.” I said as I pushed Zack up and near the direction of his torn red and black converse.
“Fuck, how long have I been out?” Said Zack as he struggled to get up and walk around.
“What time is it?” I asked as we walked towards the door and passed a women lying on the floor.
“I think it’s about 1:30” Said Zack as he looked at his watch and turned the knob on the door.
“In the Morning because there are two 1:30’s” I asked as the light from the outside burned the back of my eyes.
We didn’t say anything but we both knew we were heading towards a place on 493 and Ruth. I always wondered what people thought of us when they saw Zack and me walk down the street. I always thought we looked like characters from a Tim Burton movie like Nightmare before Christmas. We were frail and our clothes only hung on to our bodies our faces were pale and our eyes were sunken in. We looked like Jack Skellington.
“Hey have you seen the movie Two Days with Paul Rudd.” Said Zack as we turned the corner.
Before I could answer Zack butted in again “Sarah and I were discussing the ending of the movie.” Said Zack as we entered the old run down restaurant on 493 and Ruth and sat down.
Zack doesn’t know anyone named Sarah it’s just one his odd attempts to introduce a new topic of conversation.
“Well if you haven’t seen the movie let me fill you in on the details.” Said Zack as he stared at the menu and took sip of his complementary water.
I didn’t have the energy to tell Zack that I didn’t give a shit about Paul Rudd or his thoughts on his movie subject.
“The movie is about Paul Rudd playing a failed actor who isn’t getting any work and is life is fucked up. So he decides to audition for one last part and awhile he waits he films his last days before he commits suicide if he doesn’t get the part in the film.” Said Zack as he looked out the window looked at the people who were passing by.
The last thing I wanted to do today was listen to Zack rant about a topic I had no interest in, all I wanted to do was eat and go score some more heroin because we were running low.
“Why do eat here this place is disgusting. I would rather eat at Arby’s then here let’s go somewhere else.” Said Zack as he put the menu down and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Reds.
I called the waiter over and we began to order our food.
“I’ll have a cheese burger with a Dr. Pepper.” I said as a looked at Zack to make his decision.
“I’ll just have water with a side of lemons.” Said Zack as he light his cigarette and took a drag.
“So at the end of the movie I was telling you about Paul Rudd find himself in the hospital after someone stops his first suicide attempt. He wakes up and sneaks out of the hospital and walks to the beach and into the ocean and the movie ends,” said Zack as he watched the waiter put down our drinks.
“Did you see that? He only gave us water and he didn’t even mention anything about the fucking lemons.” Said Zack as he waved the waiter over once again and took a drag from his cigarette.
“I don’t mean to be a jerk but you forgot the lemons I ordered.” Said Zack as pointed at his water and put his cigarette out on the table ashtray.
“Back to what we were talking about a lot of critics think that at the end of Two Days during beach scene Paul Rudd actually commits suicide when walks into the water. A lot of critics say that the ocean symbolizes the world and how it was too big for Paul Rudd.” Said Zack as he placed the lemons into the water and took a sip.
“I respectfully disagree with the critics during the beach scene I think it’s a symbol of rebirth then death. I think the ocean symbolizes the world and how big and vast it is and how much Paul Rudd has to explore so when he goes into the ocean and the waves wash over him it’s like a rebirth.” Said Zack as he finished of the water and started to eat the lemons in the water.
“Wow man that’s deep man, but I don’t really give shit what I do care about is where can we get our next fix.” I said as I finished my meal and gestured for the check.
“The movie got me thinking about my life and shit. I remember when we were back in rehab when had do those seminars on why we did drugs.” Said Zack as pulled a crumpled five dollar bill and laid it on the table.
“Yeah I remember those crappy seminars why what’s it to you?” I said as I put a three one dollar bills on the table.
“Fuck it never mind. Am just thinking about why we do what we do.” Said Zack as we left the restaurant and headed back to the flop house.
“I know the answer cause it feels good and we like good now let’s get that next fix.” I said as we counted the remaining bills in our pocket.
A hazy plume of smoke still hung throughout the room as I drifted back into my mind. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten and, as this fact crossed my mind, the thought of food made me want to vomit.
“Zack,” I uttered to the unconscious lump slouched on the couch next to me. He grunted and curled up tighter. Satisfied that he was still alive, I was overcome with an urgent thirst. I struggled to my feet and made my way to the kitchen across the room. I still had no idea where I was or how I had gotten there, but at the moment my only concern was to get some water.
In the kitchen, the sink seemed to be stopped up because it was full of rancid brown water. I managed to find a dirty glass in the dimming daylight but when I turned on the faucet, nothing came out. Undoubtedly, someone had failed to pay the water bill in this dive and now, here I was dying of thirst.
In utter desperation, I dipped the glass in the brown water and held it to my nose. There seemed to be no smell, though thinking about it now, there was probably a smell that pervaded the entire apartment. Left with no other choice, I held the dirty glass to my lips and tossed it back and forced down the brown sludge. My body reacted violently as I let go of the glass, letting it fall to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. I hunched over the sink heaving, the sight of the murky water only seemed to make my body reject it even more. However, there was nothing in my stomach but brown bile, left to drip into the water and slide down my cheek.
I sat on the floor next to the sink wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn’t know if they were from the vomiting or the fact that I had brought myself to such a place. I had grown up a happy kid who loved sports and had good parents. My older brother had gotten busted for pot a few times so when it happened to me, my parents’ were determined not to go through it again. They shipped me off to rehab the summer I turned fifteen and that’s where I met Zack. He was in for doing hard drugs and he looked like hell going through withdrawal but we hit it off and we made plans to get together on the outside when all of this was over. I met him at a party one night several months after rehab. He had a couple of girls with him and they seemed enthusiastic to meet me, which was something I was not used to.
“I got some smack,” he said, laying a needle on the table in front of us. “You’ve got to try it, man. It’s a rush.”
I was reluctant but did it anyway. The girls seemed into it and I didn’t want to ruin my chances with them. As it turned out, heroin was a rush – a glamorous thrill ride with a euphoric sense of power and sex with beautiful girls. The trouble was that it didn’t stay that way. I began meeting Zack after school to do heroin. I’d show up at home hours later, wired out of my brain. My parents caught on quickly, especially when the money began to disappear. They tried to get me back into rehab but I didn’t want to go through that again. After all, the first time had been the cause of all of this and that made it their fault.
Soon, I stopped going home altogether. When Zack got kicked out, we took our party downtown, staying in flophouses like this one whenever we could. Sitting there by the sink, I wondered if it was these memories that were causing the tears. No matter, I thought to myself. If I could just get a little higher, the situation would be perfect. At that, I struggled to my feet and walked over to the couch, where the needle sat on the floor. As I filled the needle with heroin and carefully placed it into my black and torn arms I began to feel slightly human. As I pushed the needle down I could feel the warmth of the drug enter my body it didn’t matter where I was or what was happening as long as I was being cuddle by lady heroin. I woke up on the floor next to a carpet that was soaked in vomit I wasn’t sure if it was mine or if it was one of the many tenants that lived in the house. I wasn’t able to recall the last 24 hours or even the week. I went to the bathroom to wake myself out my daze and find Zack to get some food. I looked at the dirty cracked mirror to see my sullen body and the odd red spots that were forming around my face I was falling apart. I found Zack were I had previously seen him and started to push and shove until his seeming lifeless body woke up.
“ Dude,” he said a little groggy as he tried to recognize who was staring down at him.
“It’s me Paul you sack of shit, get up were getting food.” I said as I pushed Zack up and near the direction of his torn red and black converse.
“Fuck, how long have I been out?” Said Zack as he struggled to get up and walk around.
“What time is it?” I asked as we walked towards the door and passed a women lying on the floor.
“I think it’s about 1:30” Said Zack as he looked at his watch and turned the knob on the door.
“In the Morning because there are two 1:30’s” I asked as the light from the outside burned the back of my eyes.
We didn’t say anything but we both knew we were heading towards a place on 493 and Ruth. I always wondered what people thought of us when they saw Zack and me walk down the street. I always thought we looked like characters from a Tim Burton movie like Nightmare before Christmas. We were frail and our clothes only hung on to our bodies our faces were pale and our eyes were sunken in. We looked like Jack Skellington.
“Hey have you seen the movie Two Days with Paul Rudd.” Said Zack as we turned the corner.
Before I could answer Zack butted in again “Sarah and I were discussing the ending of the movie.” Said Zack as we entered the old run down restaurant on 493 and Ruth and sat down.
Zack doesn’t know anyone named Sarah it’s just one his odd attempts to introduce a new topic of conversation.
“Well if you haven’t seen the movie let me fill you in on the details.” Said Zack as he stared at the menu and took sip of his complementary water.
I didn’t have the energy to tell Zack that I didn’t give a shit about Paul Rudd or his thoughts on his movie subject.
“The movie is about Paul Rudd playing a failed actor who isn’t getting any work and is life is fucked up. So he decides to audition for one last part and awhile he waits he films his last days before he commits suicide if he doesn’t get the part in the film.” Said Zack as he looked out the window looked at the people who were passing by.
The last thing I wanted to do today was listen to Zack rant about a topic I had no interest in, all I wanted to do was eat and go score some more heroin because we were running low.
“Why do eat here this place is disgusting. I would rather eat at Arby’s then here let’s go somewhere else.” Said Zack as he put the menu down and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Reds.
I called the waiter over and we began to order our food.
“I’ll have a cheese burger with a Dr. Pepper.” I said as a looked at Zack to make his decision.
“I’ll just have water with a side of lemons.” Said Zack as he light his cigarette and took a drag.
“So at the end of the movie I was telling you about Paul Rudd find himself in the hospital after someone stops his first suicide attempt. He wakes up and sneaks out of the hospital and walks to the beach and into the ocean and the movie ends,” said Zack as he watched the waiter put down our drinks.
“Did you see that? He only gave us water and he didn’t even mention anything about the fucking lemons.” Said Zack as he waved the waiter over once again and took a drag from his cigarette.
“I don’t mean to be a jerk but you forgot the lemons I ordered.” Said Zack as pointed at his water and put his cigarette out on the table ashtray.
“Back to what we were talking about a lot of critics think that at the end of Two Days during beach scene Paul Rudd actually commits suicide when walks into the water. A lot of critics say that the ocean symbolizes the world and how it was too big for Paul Rudd.” Said Zack as he placed the lemons into the water and took a sip.
“I respectfully disagree with the critics during the beach scene I think it’s a symbol of rebirth then death. I think the ocean symbolizes the world and how big and vast it is and how much Paul Rudd has to explore so when he goes into the ocean and the waves wash over him it’s like a rebirth.” Said Zack as he finished of the water and started to eat the lemons in the water.
“Wow man that’s deep man, but I don’t really give shit what I do care about is where can we get our next fix.” I said as I finished my meal and gestured for the check.
“The movie got me thinking about my life and shit. I remember when we were back in rehab when had do those seminars on why we did drugs.” Said Zack as pulled a crumpled five dollar bill and laid it on the table.
“Yeah I remember those crappy seminars why what’s it to you?” I said as I put a three one dollar bills on the table.
“Fuck it never mind. Am just thinking about why we do what we do.” Said Zack as we left the restaurant and headed back to the flop house.
“I know the answer cause it feels good and we like good now let’s get that next fix.” I said as we counted the remaining bills in our pocket.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Government Day To Day
Everyday Americans see government affect their day to day lives. We see government in the minor issues like when we can drink and where we can drink. We also see government when we going driving the laws that we have to obey. Even the taxes we pay on products is a part of government. Government is a part of everyday life from when we wake up to what schools we attend.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Medical Marijuana
View on Medical Marijuana
- My groups view on medical marijuana is that it should be legalized in the United States. The benefits of marijuana outweigh the effects that are caused by the drug. Scientists agree that legally prescribed drugs are more harmful then marijuana. Even without the medical benefits making the drug legal would bring in billions of tax dollars plus it would eliminate the small drug dealers who are just selling marijuana. The drug has more benefits then it does side effects.
School Decision
-High Tech High International decision is to legalize marijuana.
Pros
- The benefits it provides to patients who are suffering form illness.
- Would bring in billions of dollars into the economy
Cons
-Causes lack of motivation
-Might cause young kids to do more drugs.
-
- My groups view on medical marijuana is that it should be legalized in the United States. The benefits of marijuana outweigh the effects that are caused by the drug. Scientists agree that legally prescribed drugs are more harmful then marijuana. Even without the medical benefits making the drug legal would bring in billions of tax dollars plus it would eliminate the small drug dealers who are just selling marijuana. The drug has more benefits then it does side effects.
School Decision
-High Tech High International decision is to legalize marijuana.
Pros
- The benefits it provides to patients who are suffering form illness.
- Would bring in billions of dollars into the economy
Cons
-Causes lack of motivation
-Might cause young kids to do more drugs.
-
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Green Party
1. History of the party
The history of the party was formed as an anti-party party system. Their goal wasn't in winning elections but instead putting on educational projects and non-partisan activism. It wasn't until 1991 when they decided to run for elections when they were taken over by new management.
2.Log
o
The history of the party was formed as an anti-party party system. Their goal wasn't in winning elections but instead putting on educational projects and non-partisan activism. It wasn't until 1991 when they decided to run for elections when they were taken over by new management.
2.Log
3. Famous Party Leader
A famous green party leader is Ralph Nader. Who ran for president in the 2000 election. When he ran for president in 1996 and received 2.7 percent of the vote. It changed the party.
4.Convention Location
The most recent one was in Chicago.
5. Ideologies
Grassroots democracy
Social justice and equal opportunity
Ecological wisdom
Non-violence
Decentralization
Community-based economics and economic justice
Feminism and gender equity
Respect for diversity
Personal and global responsibility
Future focus and sustainability
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)