WE SURVIVE THROUGH 2012

After my 18th birthday,I started to feel that time passed so fast that I could still remember clearly what I was doing a year ago! Different countries had different celebrations~~

Visitors gathered at Guatemala attending the "End World Party" where the Temple II (one of the most famous Maya's culture temple)was constructed; However, the world doesn't come to an end fortunately----the temple did!! Due to the damage of the visitors.

Mexican restaurants came up a special meal named "IN CASE" which include matches, chocolate, notebook and wine! In the end, the restaurants ended up earning tremendous profit because of this appealing and newfangled idea!

In Chile, 25% of workers in whole nation was seeking various excuses for not going to work and half of them confessed to their employers because they were superstitious. People revealed their preference to stay with their family on that day.

Actually I did nothing special on that day and barely felt differences around people here. I guess this is due to the culture difference and religion. However, it was still exciting to see how those central and southern Americans held their celebrations. I am glad we all survive through this~

IMUN in Taipei National University

Last weekend, I went to attend a mock MUN in Taipei National University.
However, there was only limited time for us to discuss about the topic B. (select by vote)

topic B is about the food crisis around the world. Before the conference, I found out that it was a really hard and deep issue because the global food trade system is unfair--- thus, the idea of "redistribution" has been brought out to solve the problem. Last Thursday, I attended a speech about world and Taiwan's food crisis and hoped that I could get some inspiration from it. However, after the famous professor delivered his speech, I raised my hand and asked him that how do he think about the idea of "redistribution", the only answer I got was "it is too ideal, not even realistic"......

Then I came up with a idea that why don't we start with the "food waste"?

http://www.ted.com/talks/tristram_stuart_the_global_food_waste_scandal.html

After I finished watching this inspiring video, I found out that I can combine this conception with the "food bank", which collect waste food but 100% edible from supermarkets or fast food restaurants.

I truly gained a lot by attending this event, we met several different respectable "rivals" and spurred up sparkles through fierce debate. It was a really tiring, stressful but meaningful activity that provided us with deeper views of some controversial issues.

How to write a position paper

The topic might be a bit serious, but it revealed my thought while I was staying up late writing about it. Because we are attending mock MUN at Taipei University next week and I represent for Singapore. First topic we are assign to discuss is about the food crisis among the world and the second is about the post-disaster reconstruction of the Fukushima tsunami took place in Japan in 2011.

Here's my opinion toward the first issue as disguising the delegate of Singapore:

Singapore, a country without nuclear power plant strongly support the idea of free nuclear zone since the radiation leaks still remain fatal and troublesome. To avoid the recurring of the disaster, we strongly urge whole nations to reevaluate the standard and technology toward the construction of nuclear power plant and put more effort in lowing the impact of radiation leaks.

    At the meanwhile, we also believe the post-disaster reconstruction should be systematically supervised since some of the refugees are still living in the high radiation areas. As a result, humanitarian aid is pressing and all organizations should make efforts to integrate resources for victims. Furthermore, the improvement of renewable energy is imperative and also inevitable. In order to reduce reliance on nuclear power, nations should endeavor to develop less harmful resources.

    We mourn for the victims of the catastrophe and seek supports among all delegates to rebuild a homeland together for the Japanese.

 DRAINED OF ENERGY, SERIOUSLY @@

TWO INTERESTING VIDEOS SHARING

Barack Obama turned out to be the winner in the campaign after an engrossing election on Nov.7, 2012. But I am not going to talk about politics of the US, for entertainment I would love to share a video I saw on YOUTUBE about those creative supporters who adapted the hottest song performed by a Korean guy. You must know who I am talking about even though I haven’t mentioned his name! That’s it, ”OBA GONGNAN STYPE(江南stype) ” has set the world on fire recently. Since the song has shot to fame, there were a lot of adaptations; however, “vote Obama style is my favorite”. You can check this out.J

The other video I want to recommend is about “card trick” performed by a magician called  Marco Tempest----a magician. This is the most amazing card trick that I have ever seen. Combining with technology, the performance reaches a more dazzling and incredible level.

Happy HALLOWEEN !!

    This Wednesday we had a little party to celebrate the Halloween, some of the club members dressed up like vampires, witches, pumpkin, Phantom and even Hitler!! I didn't wear costumes, because I totally forgot about it. Picture below is me with Phantom and a weird couple that came from western medieval century. Two of them taught us to the ballroom dance, the kind of dance nobles did to have fun at parties hundreds years ago.

   Honestly, in dark I didn't notice that this lady is a boy until they turned on the light." Things are always more perfect when you just can't see clearly!". This was the first thought pup out my mind XD
After dancing, we had some wine and desserts like cookies and pies. I felt a bit dizzy while I drank up a cup, and started to get sleepy-------until we carried on the next game---"The king game". It's based on the poker card you got, if you were the lucky guy who got a K, it means that you had the right to appoint tasks to whoever you wanted, of course, you could only assign the number that you had no idea who it was~and this is the most exciting part. Although, during the game I never got a K, I was really lucky that I didn't receive any punishment :) Because some of the loser had to tickle others feet with their hands >3<

Cleaning up oil spills with magnets?!

I attended a speech on Wednesday this week, so I was absent in my club course. However, I still saw an interesting news on Cnn which can share with you~~:)

resource:http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/21/tech/oil-spill-magnets/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7


As you can see, the topic is about oil spills from container ships or offshore platforms. Oil spilling has always been a troublesome problems to every countries, but now scientists have offered an "unexpected" solution, "Can magnets really clean up those oil spills?", this is also the same question sprang up my mind while I saw the title like you. And below is the reason why the "miracle" happens~


"On it's own, oil is not magnetic, but MIT researchers say that when mixed with water-repellent nanoparticles that contain iron, the oil can be magnetically separated from the water.
The nanoparticles can later be removed to enable the re-use of the oil."

Then, I started to marvel at this technology, if it can really popularize in the future, this will save us a lot of problems and efforts on restoring the area which is polluted.




You can check out this one, too. It is the robot that detect oil spills~
However, there are still drawbacks of this technology. Dr Susan Shaw claimed that "on a small scale maybe an excellent system but I don't think it will work at sea in such a challenging environment". 

Though it might faces several barriers in the future, I still hold bright faith toward it. 
"Technology indeed owes ecology an apology", and it's time for us to make up for our mistakes by developing the environmental-friendly high-tech!

First class experience~

    Youth Association of  International Conference (YAIC) is an international  club in which the member discuss about the hot issues that is happening on earth recently. It aims to train students' speaking skills and thinking ability by letting them play the roles of delegates in Model United Nations (MUN). I had attended the MUN once since I was in senior high school, so I got interested in this club when I first saw it on the club performing day. I registered immediately with my friend partly because I hope I can be more sensitive about the global issues by immersing myself in the world breaking news everyday and partly because, considering the club fee-they had discount (10% off) on that day!

    I have attended the club class once so far, unsurprisingly, there was a ice breaking time for everyone to make a brief introduction,  then we were divided into small groups based on the recognizing spots of photos from worldwide and they were broke into several pieces while we received as we entered the classroom. Soon, everyone teamed up and seated together with those new faces partners. Again we introduced ourselves and got prepared for the next section.

    Two groups were invited to the stage each time, and the host asked us questions about the geography. We had to respond immediately; otherwise, we loss the point even if we were right. This game was testing how fast was our reaction and our ability to face the "chaotic situation", because there were often noises while you were answering. (To be honest, I forgot most of them :P)

    Although that was an "torturing" game which killed most of my brain cells, I still had a good time. I believe there will be more exciting and fabulous courses in the future!