Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence

BBC:

When I was looking for a article to talk about I came across these ones. Gun violence in America. Gun violence has become a huge problem there and is one that can and needs to stop. All 3 of the articles were on the same subject, just different parts of the story and the action thats being put to use. The article from the BBC was about the shooting in america recently at a school, and what Obama is doing about it. Obama has decided to continue with his plans towards weapon ban and background checks in the U.S. This debate has been revived due to last months mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut. There, a gunman shot dead 27 people, including 20 children and his own mother.

This event was very traumatic and is one that shouldn't even be a problem, let alone exist! What I don't understand, is how someone can just go around and shoot people for no good reason! Anyway, back to the point. It is clear that Obama fells very strong about banning and stopping the gun violence, but the NRA (National Rifle Association) says they will fight any attempts to limit access to guns or ammunition. This is a possible threat as it is unpredictable what they might do in order to stop the laws from proceeding. After the Newtown shooting, the NRA proposed stationing armed guards in every school in America. The group says it has signed up more than 100,000 members since the massacre. This is the part im a bit confused on. Do they want to keep guns or stop them from harming any more people? I am on Obama's side because guns are nto suppose to be used in that type of way. I don't think that they should exist at all, other than MAYBE the police. But not everyone should be aloud a gun. I think that all of this is true and that non of this was exaggerated because this is a huge and serious problem and it should not be taken lightly. 

Irish Times:

President Obama is taking action towards stopping gun violence in the U.S. After the shooting that went down at Shandy Hook, Newtown, Connecticut; Obama has decided to move more quickly with the plans to stop gun violence.  Obama referred to the day of the shooting, as the worst day of his presidency. This article is similar to the one from the BBC, in the fact it talks about the shooting at Sandy Hook as well as the action Obama is taking. Something else to add: National Shooting Sports Foundation chief Steve Sanetti called weapons manufacturers, sellers and owners “misunderstood” in comments prepared for his speech on the state of the industry. I think that overall, that this should't even be a problem in the world. There should be no gun violence because it is no necessary.

Overall I am against gun violence and think that it should be illegal. I am soo happy that Obama decided to take a stand and try to end gun violence. Both of these articles gave good evidence and examples to support their ideas, but I proffer the one from the BBC a little more because they had different parts fo the story and I found it a little more enjoyable to read. 

Below is a video that I found ages and that has got me thinking for ages now. Once you have watched it, tell me what you think about this. 

If you want to help stop this, you can by signing a petition from the website for this organization:

http://www.demandaplan.org/

Websites:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0115/breaking70.html
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2013/01/president_obama_to_unveil_swee.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21032450

Christmas Holiday Round-up Day 20,21,22,23

Day 20, January 3rd 2013

Day 21, January 4th 2013

Day 22, January 5th 2013

Day 23, January 6th 2013

So I ran out of time to write and I'm sorry that this is late but here it is!

I made these Christmas Holiday Round-ups a a holiday project for myself because I stayed in Singapore.

Singing Inspiration

When I was in grade 4, I performed at the esplanade theater with Global Voice, the primary school choir. It was one of the best if not the best performances. I love singing and I loved singing in choir with Mrs. Hess, A former teacher at UWCSEA. Performing there was amazing and I got to perform there with my friends that were also in choir which made it even better. The crowd was full of people that were waiting to hear us sing. One of the songs we did that night was "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson. Myself and a couple of the other kids in choir had a small solo. We sang the first verse of the song. I was really nervous but I loved every single second of it. Ever since I joined choir in grade 4, I new that I wanted to sing. So from then I performed in assemblies a couple of times singing a Maori song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I loved it. Singing in front of people. Although I was a little bit nervous I knew this was something I really wanted to do. But for some reason around before grade 6 started when we moved from Ang Mo Kio campus to Tampines campus along with everyone else I didn't really want to perform in public outside of choir anymore. I don't really know why but I have been really shy about singing in front of people. In a way I hated it but I wanted to so badly. I guess I was scared of what people might think. I don't know, I never figured out why I'm scared but I know it's something that I want so who knows, maybe I will perform in public again soon. But even now I'm still shy about it. I don't have stage fright. I love acting on stage and performing just not singing for some weird reason. I do hope to get over that soon and even maybe perform? I don't know what the future holds.

Anyway, Mrs. Hess started working at the school when it first opened at Ang Mo Kio in 2008. I started at the school after the easter break that same school year. Before that I went to UWCSEA dover campus. I was in choir there but for some reason I didn't enjoy it as much as I did then and as much as I do now. Mrs. Hess got me back into singing and in grade 4 I joined choir. She is one of my inspirations for singing. From then on I have been in choir every single season since grade 4 and I have been singing since then. Show tought me a lot about myself and was always encouraging to do my best and to go for what I wanted. She helped me when I wanted to perform and when I was nervous before performing. She always looked out for me. So I spent time in the classroom and in choir with her learning more about singing and how to become a better performer. 3 years I spent with her, getting to know her and learning from her. I am so glad I met her. Sadly she left at the end of my grade 6 year, the first year UWCSEA tampines campus was opened. It was hard to say goodbye, but I knew it wouldn't be forever. Since then I have taken on vocal lessons with the wonderful Mrs. Stirrat who now does choir and I'm working on choir pieces, exam pieces, and a couple for fun with a friend of mine, Avni who also does vocal lessons. 

In a way, this is my story of the time I performed at the Esplanade theater and one of the amazing people that inspired and influenced my singing. I thank her for that and for everything she did for me. 

Word for the Future

My word for 2013 is passion. It is the one word that has been with me by my side in everything I do. There are different types of passion, but mine is the passion to do well in life, give back to the people that mean so much to me and that have made a huge impact on my life, and to do what I love. I only get involved in the things that I'm passionate about. 

The spider diagram above, the definiton there is not really the one I am talking about.

I'm passionate about helping the less fortunate and the service that I do. Without the passion that I have I wouldn't be able to go every year to stay and help in orphanages. The kids there inspire me to do my best and to love life. The kids mean so much to me. They have taught me soo much over the year and I have made deep connections that will stay with me for my entire life. Some of the kids there have been through so much that has made a huge impact on the rest of their life. But even after what they have been through, they are some of the most happiest and positive kids I have ever met in my life and that to me, is one of the best outlooks's and attitudes that someone can have on life. Seeing their faces and their expression when we arrive to come and see them, is what brings me back every single time and what makes me want to stay. Going and spending time with the kids and helping out in the orphanages is something that I have been doing since 4th grade and is something I am truly passionate about. 

Anything thing I'm passionate about is drama. I have been involved in drama since I was in grade 3 because it is something I truly enjoy. I feel so free when I am on stage, performing and entertaining people. I love the idea of pretending to be another character and to live another life for a little bit. And the best part about it is that I'm pretending to be someone else without  having to changing who I am as a person, I'm just acting. 

I believe that people should live with passion because with passion we can accomplish so much in life.  

Cloud 9

This is the video I made for the christmas holiday challenge! Hope you guys like it!

Christmas Holiday Round-Up, Day 18 & 19

Day 18, January 1st 2013

Yay! Happy New Year everyone! 2013 is finally here! Last time I stayed up until 1am and didn't ge tup in in the morning until 12:45. I love sleeping in during the holidays because during the school week that is not a possibility. So not much happened today. It was more of a stay at home type of day. So I didn't really do anything other than walk the dog and catch-up with some friends. My sister went out for a play-date I think. But thats pretty much it. Yes pretty boring day, but there is nothing else really to say. 

Hope you guys had a more interesting day than I did but there is nothing wrong with having a lazy day once in a while. 

Day 19, January 2nd 2013

So today was actually pretty exiting. I had a bit of a sleep in today, well until lunch actually, because I was still a bit tired from staying up on New Years. Anyway in the afternoon, My Dad, Hamish and I went mini golfing! I love mini golfing. It is a lot of fun and is soo much easier than bowling! The mini golfing place is called Lilli Put and is on the east coast at the big splash. 

Lil Put building at the big splash!

We played mini gold for about 45 minutes to 1 hour because there is only 18 holes and it doesn't take long to complete all the holes.

1st hole, Changi Airport

So all the holes are based on different landmarks in Singapore or things that make Singapore the country it is today. But to be honest, I didn't know quite a few of them.

2nd Hole, Singapore National Army

3rd Hole, Race Track (I don't know the name)

4th Holes, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay

 5th hole, MRT Station

6th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
7th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
8th hole: Shipping bay near Sentosa and Vivo city
9th hole: Snow city
10th hole: Singapore zoo I think
11th hole: Hauka Centre
12th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
13th hole: The Big Splash, where Lil Put is located
14th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
15th hole: Mount Faber near Vivo City
16th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
17th hole: I'm not quite sure what landmark this is
18th hole: The beautiful Sentosa

After we had finished on the last hole, we tallied up the point.
Sam = 110, Hamish = 136

I won! The aim is to get the lowest score. I was actually pretty happy with myself consider Hamish beat me at bowling not to long ago but bear in mind he had bumper lanes. Anyway after we had finished there we went for some lunch, chicken rice, dumplings and satay! Then it was home.

Driving home

Once we got home it was homework time for me! I spent ages on math, 2 hours actually  but it had to be done. Then I took a break, had some dinner and got back to work. That was math out of the way and now onto englsih! we had to write 2 sonnets about the history of sonnets and sonnets themselves. That took me another couple of hours. By then it was getting late and my parents had guest over. So I went down to have a chat and say hi. After that bed time!

Hope you guys have all had a great holiday so far and Happy New Year!

Christmas Holiday Round-Up, Day 16 & 17

Day 16, December 30th 2012

Today was a pretty lay backed day. I got up late around 11 and mostly did house work for the next couple of hours. Stuff like dishes, polishing, cleaning bathrooms and more. And around 4pm a friend came over for a sleepover.  We spent nearly the all of the rest of the day on laptops or watching a movie on laptops. Yes I know, slightly sad but oh well it was fun. Somewhere inbetween all of that we took my dog Whiskey out for a walk for about 30 min. At around 11pm we had to go to bed because the next day we were going bowling and to see The Hobbit in Gold Class! 

Day 17, December 31st 2012

I had a lot of fun today. There was movies, bowling, sleeping, and froyo! We had to get up a 

little bit earlier in order to go to the movies for 10:50am, but we had to go to the movies to redeem the vouchers because we couldn't book them online with the vouchers. So on the way to the MRT we called up Golden Village to block the seats so that our seats were guaranteed. But just as we were about to hop on the MRT, they said that there were no more seats available for that time, or the next time. So we had to walk home and book tickets for the latest time. 6pm. We had nothing to do for the entire day. So we went home for about half and hour and then went for lunch and bowling! For lunch Tessa and Hamish had Mac Donalds and my friend had a hot dog and I had a salad wrap. It was toasted and really good. Then, to buy bean bag filing and then to bowling! Ok, so I thought that I was pretty good at bowling and It turns out that my 4 year old brother is better than me. For the record he used the bumper lanes. We played 2 games and I came 4th in the 1st one and 3rd in the 2nd one. My friend came 1st in both, Hamish came 2nd in both, Tessa can 3rd in the first and 4th in the 2nd game. Ya. Im not the best bowler, but im not the worst! Its just I havent played in ages! 

1st Game

This is the score for the first game

2nd Game

This is the results for the second game













Ya. Im not the best bowler. Anyway, after bowling we went for froyo! I had strawberry with granola topping. Yummy!

It looks delightful

Yoguru!

Then it was home and getting ready to go to the Hobbit! My friend and I had to catch the train from kovan all the way to Vivo. 11 stops and 25 min on the train. It's all on one line so its not that bad if you have a seat and music to listen to. Once we got to vivo we got our tickets and headed for the Gold Class lounge where we had to hang out before going into the cinema. We had about 20 minutes so we ordered food for the movie and drinks. 

snacks

Inside gold class with a blanket

The movie was amazing! It was action packed and a great film to watch. This was actually my second time seeing it, as I had seen it earlier in the holidays with Denyvi and Aayushi. So after the movie we went home on the MRT, again, to get home and then my friend had to go home. Bye bye! and as for the rest of the night I stayed up until 2013 and went to be at 1am! 

HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!