Group+9

= = =O: Will, Jessie S, Cassie, Jessie SH, Kayla, Monica, Becca, Jake= =B: Alison, Sam, Davin, Kayla, Jenna=

Link 3 This story is deep how he is willing to give up his kidney for an old friend. The truth of the matter is that i dont think facebook will help people recive kidney's. They are lucky that they are compatable to be able to share a kidney. cassie 7/06/10

This is obviously a touching story, but should we be relying on a social networking site to save our lives? Or maybe it's the complete opposite and this is exactly what everyone should be doing. Maybe the hospitals should have a page on social networking sites like facebook that have all these calls for help listed. If they did, do you think miracles like this one would happen a lot more? Alison 5/06/10

I suppose this is a good idea. It's lucky that Eli Powell was friends with Paul Jones even though they haven't seen or spoken to each other for a long time. I think it's good that Eli Powell can sleep at night because he now knows that someone will be able to help him. For some reason, though, I think this is a bit odd. What could he have done if Facebook didn't exist? - Monica 6/06/10

Wow, this is a truly amazing story. The fact that he was actually lucky enough to find an exact match is almost a miracle. Usually not even mothers or fathers are the same match for their child, the greatest chance of a match is within a sibling. I don't think we should all hope to find a match over facebook if something goes wrong but this is really showing the good side of social networking. Like Monica said, what if facebook didn't exsist? He might never have found an exact match. - Jenna 6/06/10

This is a truly amazing story. Yes this miracle might never have happened if facebook didn't exsit but that doesn't mean that it's a bad thing that it did happen. Our means of life have been changed so much with Facebook, Twitter etc... and we can't do much to change it back. As these two men did we should just go with what technology we have and maybe we can get a miracle out of it. Technology has change our way of life forever, do you think that these types of donation pleas will become more regular? - Becca 6/06/10

I agree with Becca here. I think people should embrace technology in times of need, because you never know what could happen. It's not like Eli woke up and decided he would find a perfect match, but miracles do happen and I think it's important for people to find new means of reaching out to people and giving these miracles. Gifts like this are not often found, but looking on the bright side, maybe a social networking site like facebook is helping the world realise humanity and friendship. I'm definitely shocked, but glad that Eli came in contact with Paul after so many years, and found a perfect match to save his life. I could never imagine the relief it must have given the family. Alison 6/06/10

I agree completely with everyone's out looks on this story. Good things happen to good people in times of need. It was just by luck that he found this long lost friend over Facebook and happened to be a perfect match. We can't doubt that it's not a miracle, this doesn't happen everyday. - Jenna 6/06/10

We hear everyday about these amazing pieces of technology that save people's lives in the hospitals. It's amazing that things we use everyday such as Facebook can work wonders as well. People are using the things we use everyday as means to save peoples lives.I agree with Alison, the family of Eli must be so relieved and amazed at the means of which a donor was found! - Becca 7/06/10

Who would have ever thought that a social networking cite would be the thing that saved Elis’ life. I think that these kinds of donations will be more occurring especially how Facebook is growing to the size that it has. Eli was extremely lucky that his plea on Facebook was answered because there really isn’t much else that he could have done. Through this all Eli got reconnected with an old friend. Do you think that Eli and his old friend, Paul, will stay connected after the transplant is complete? Sam R. 07/06/10

As Alison said that maybe hospital should have a page on a site like Facebook to try and encourage more transplant donations. I think that if the hospitals had their own page it wouldn’t give the hospital more donations for transplants because not very many people in this world would want to give a kidney to a complete stranger. I also don’t think that people would even look at the page. It might seem a little depressing to read about all of these people that no matter how hard you wanted to you couldn’t help. If the hospitals had a page on Facebook for transplant donations would you even look at it? Sam R. 07/06/10

Link 2 - Watch the video ( if you are unable, read the article) and make your comments.

It seems that everyone has the same opinion on this current event. It is very much disturbing as I have said before. This should not be aloud, enough said. I mean, if this many people find something wrong with this, I don't really understand how this little boys parents would just let it happen. Something needs to be done. - Kayla

Exactly; disturbing and wrong. So when does this end? When does the goverment take a stand and say it is not right. When do child services come in and get the child help, because obviously not only is it affecting the development of the child's brain, but there's something wrong with the parents. I think they should take a closer look at what is really happening, tose parents are setting their child up for immediate failure from A to Z, formng mental handicaps, a different learning curve, the development of the frontal lobe. And on top of that, not only are you hurting your child but you are bringing yourself down as a parent in the eyes of the world, whether it's for the media attention, or just lack of knowledge, these parents and all the parents of other children, smoking or not, need to take responsability and do something about it. When is the law going to inforce the fact that a two year old can not be smoking? It's not like the child woke up one day whenthey were one and decided that they wanted to start smoking that day, so I'd like to know when are they going to stop the hurt. Whn are we, as an international comunity, going to come together to act on pressing issues such as this?- Alison 3/06/10

I strongly agree with Cassie as she said this video is disturbing. Honestly, what parents in their right mind would let their 2-year-old smoke? Regradless that the kid is addicted or not. The kid wants to freak out when he can't have a cigarette? So, take him to the hospital or get him some help. Don't just let your kid smoke, like its okay. What kind of message are these people sending to other children? And the fact that this kid is smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day is just ridiculious, its wrong and should not be allowed under any circumstance. Children smoking at this age, should be illegal. Some sort of legal action should be done to these people. 3/06/2010

I think this story, and also other cases like this, is an embarrassement for the family, and also for the country. Smoking is popular and accepted habit in many countries, for example France, but there is definitely a line that has been crossed where the use of the substance is no longer appropriate. It's also concerning when you find out the mother is not worried about her child smoking, just the cost it; basically like saying, 'Oh don't worry hunny, the kid will stop eventually, it's not like he's hardly old enough to walk or make his own descisions. We can just get him out of the habit like we did, or if it gets worse then 40 smokes a day we can just send him to rehad when he's fifteen'. Also, when the mother said she had smoked but quit "when" she had the baby, did neither of the parents think that it would have a rebound effect on their children? - Alison 3/06/10

This video is midley distrubing, like what kind of mother lets there 2 year old son smoke? The mother is like it is ok for him to smoke, were only makeing him quit because it cost's so much. Dont they think that they should make him quit because of his health. -cassie 2/06/10

I don't know how his mother could've just turned around one day and said "Oh no, my son's smoking". Usually mothers look at what their babies are doing. I can't believe Aldi's parents could let him smoke 40 cigarettes a day! Even if they get this kid off of cigarettes, he's probably going to start smoking again when he's a teenager or even a bit older. He's 2 years old and he's been smoking for months, which means his parents haven't tried that hard to get him to quit. He probably thinks that it's perfectly OK to smoke. Hopefully the people in Indonesia will be able to learn more about how bad cigarettes are and maybe the next time a woman is at the market with her baby she won't let anyone give it a cigarette. - Monica 1/06/10

Wow, what really gets me about this is the fact that they don't want Aldi to stop smoking for his health but because of the cost? If he's vomitig and throwing fits when he can't smoke there's obviously something else wrong with him and he needs to see a doctor. I agree with Monica, mothers watch what their babies do. It's a bigger problem then the "one day he was just holding a cigarette". Something tells me they're just doing this as attention from the media for their 15 minutes of fame. Jenna 1/06/10

I can’t believe that the mother is only trying to get him to stop because of how expensive it is. You think that the health of your child would be top priority with any mother. The worst part to this story is that most people in Indonesia think that it is absolutely ok for a kid of that age to be smoking. The officials in Indonesia also don’t seem extremely eager to do anything about the bad habit even though it goes against the national commission for child protection. The country says that it is still discussing joining an act that makes it so cigarettes have to have health warnings even though 168 nations have already signed on. What do you think Indonesia needs to do to get children to stop smoking? Sam R. 01/06/10

Smoking had become such a huge issue in the world. Ten years ago this story would have never happened. It's so crazy how Aldi's parents are evening letting him do this, never mind letting him smoke 40 cigarettes a day! I also agree with Monica, i can't believe that his mother would have just turned around one day and saw he was smoking. I believe that she is only saying that because of all the media attention he is getting and that it would be the right thing to say. She is clearly not doing good things for her soon considering that he smokes 40 cigarettes in a day and is twice the average weight as a normal boy his age. I think that both Aldi and his family should go in for treatment to see what is causing all of these problems with this little boy. Do you think that video's like this of children in the US and Canada? Becca 2/06/10

To respond to Becca's question I don't think we have this problem in the US and Canada for the simple reason that where Aldi is from smoking is a very important part of their culture. This poor boy is smoking probably 4 cigarettes an hour! I think the problem is a lot bigger than we're being told. Agreeing with Becca once again, the kid is twice the size of a normal kids his age. It seems like there almost has to be something else wrong other than just his addictive personality. Jenna 2/06/10  Personally I think there is something very wrong with this kid. Not just because he is 2 years old and smoking, but he weighs a ton! Yet his mother is just holding him and acting like it is the most natural thing in the word he's the way he is. If they were in Canada i would hope child services would step in, but they're not. On the other hand they are living in a completely different environment then us, and we should respect their culture. However when a child is starting to hurt himself just to get what he wants, then there is a problem. I think that Aldi should be taken away from his parents, what about you? Jessie S-h 2/06/2010

I think that if Aldi's parents can't do anything to help him somebody should step in. Hopefully professionals will be able to cure Aldi of his bad habit. I'll bet he doesn't even know it's bad for him. He just sees other people smoking so he thinks "I want to do that too!" because this is the mentality of most children. It's unfortunate that the adults around Aldi just laugh and encourage him when he smokes. What is even more unfortunate is the fact that his mother kept buying cigarettes for him. I understand that it's part of their culture but even one cigarette a day would be bad. He's two years old! He shouldn't even know what cigarettes are yet. - Monica 2/06/10

I agree with Monica. He shouldn't know what a cigarette is. Yes it is apart of their culture, but both of his parents quit so i thinks it is his turn. He should be a normal two year old, not one that smokes and is extremely over weight. He should be taken away from his parents unless they can seriously make changes to his life style now! I would hope that the child services in his country would act sooner rather then later because Aldi really needs help. Should his culture of his health be more important? - Becca 2/06/10

His culture should be respected, but his health is way more important. I just wonder if his parents really even care, because it said that the mother wanted him to quit because it was costing almost 4$ a day. Why would she even buy him the cigarettes in the first place!? The really sad part is, is that Aldi is not an isolated case. There are other kids in Indonesia in a similar situation. However, when Aldi is prone to throw such violent tantrums, what is a normal family to do? They don't have the same system as us, and the help he needs is ether not there, or costs to much. Also he is only two years old, he cannot understand what is happening or why he has to stop. To him it is just something fun to do. What needs to happen now? Jessie S-H 2/06/2010

p.s. I just wanted to add a quick "Why do we care what a 2 year old is doing half way across the world?" to the mix. still Jessie S-H

=Link 1 = Hilary Clinton has no proof to back up these accusations that the public is informed of. Yes it is very likely that the sinking of the ship was the fault of North Korea but there is not need to start pointing fingers in till some proof surfaces, and yes it is horrible how so many people died. At the present time there are so many more important things to focus on in the world such as the oil spill or other natural disasters. The US in my opinion should not be trying to start another war when it could be spending money on more important things. If the ship sinking is truly the fault of the North Korea, is it enough reason to start another war? - Becca 26/05/10

I agree that Hilary Clinton has no real proof to be blaming the North Koreans for the sinking of the ships. She should find out if her information is one hundered percent true before she goes and informs the public of it. Whereas there are still studies being done to find out the real story of the sinkings. Also, I agree that it is horrible that there were so many deaths present in all of this, but like Becca said there are many more disasters that may be more important to focus on rather then starting a feud over false accusations. No, the sinking of the ships is not reason enough to begin another war, because bad enough the world is already trying to make the peace of everything that has been happening already. Kayla 27/05/10

Hilary Clinton wouldn't go to the press about something like this is she didn't think there was enough evidence to back it up. Why would she risk her career like that? Sinking a war ship is very serious and it can't just be ignored. Also China is north Korea's ally. Of course they are trying to stall for time so they don't have to upset their emotional friends (North Korea). I agree with Becca and Kayla that there are more important things going on in the world, but a threat of war is pretty serious. North Korea doesn't want to be blamed for something that they, in my opinion, probably did. They'd be nuts to start a war over it. DO you think they'd go through with staring a war? - Jessie S-H 29/05/2010

I think that if North Korea really did sink the ship than they should own up to it even if it was an accident, chances are it wasn’t an accident. The USA should stay out of it because they don’t need to go and start another war without a real reason to do so. This is between North and South Korea and should stay between them. I’m sure that South Korea can deal with North Korea without the help of the USA. The USA could spend its time trying to clean up their oil spill and just maybe help the millions dying from hunger every day instead of trying to start a war with North Korea. Even if they were able to start another war the USA doesn’t have the money to go to the war without putting themselves another few trillion in debt. What do you think the USA should do? Sam R. 30/05/10

I only agree with some parties on this issue, considering there is no solid evidence that Koreans sunk the ships. It's sad that the accident caused so many deaths but I wouldn't expect any country put in Korea's position to go running up and take the blame. Although it would be great if whoever or whatever did do it owned up to it, but we know that just isn't the case. I do not think it is in reason to start a war over something with just accusations supporting it. We, as a world, already ave to start coming together to find solutions to larger problems we are facing. Why add on to the stress and panic of it until there is absolute proof that North Korea, if they did at all, sank the ships. Then take a closer look at the bigger picture. Alison 30/05/10

I also agee with Hilary Clinton that there really isnt enough proof against the North Korens for sinking the ship. Who ever did sink this ship should just own up to it because its less likely that we will have another war on our hands. There is also no point of pointing fingure at who sank the ship because that is not known for all they know it could of been everyone.I really feel that the USA really shoulding be in this because if they do go to war well everyone is in Iraq. Do you think that South Korea will go threw with there threats? Cassie 30/05/2010

I think that North Korea will follow through with their threats. I also believe that South Korea will not follow through with the promises they have made on how they will deal with the North Korean threats, if the North Koreans do follow through. How does Hilary Clinton know that the North Koreans sank the ship? It’s not like she is telling the press about the proof and the evidence they say they have. So what makes her think that people are going to believe her in what see says especially with the USA’s past history with conflicts surrounding war. Sam R. 30/05/10

Agreed for all we know a alien could of sunk the ship with the amount of proof they have. Hilary Clinton is just makeing the USA look bad well the war in Iraq is almost over so lets go spend more money and start another war. Is it really smart for the USA to even start another war with the cost and the fact that it is said that they have nucular wepons. I think that they should just let the north and south figure it out by them selfs. I dont think the fact that if a civil war is going to start that it should be decided by two forien countrys do you? Cassie 30/05/10

I agree with Cassie on some of the pointsshe made there. However, I don't think there is need for any war at all. I think first people should start to atleast attempt to ge into the area of the wrld they are accusing. Especially, like Cassie pointed out, if they do have weapons as everyones claims they do, maybe we should be more cautious as to who were pointing fingers at. No threats or war should be made on a no proof, finger pointing game. Hilary Clinton should pay more mind to what she's doing for her country instead of for others at the moment. Alison 30/05/10

I think that it is the international communities job to go and poke their noses in other countries' business if there is a possibility of war. If these countries do have the weapons that they claimed to have, then the international community needs to step in in order to prevent a war. I do agree with Alison though, there is not nearly enough proof for the international community to step in quite yet. Until more proof surfaces about who actually sent that missile, Hilary Clinton should focus on the problems in her own country. The US is having a major environmental crisis, that would be an ideal thing to focus on while waiting for more proof to surface. Becca 30/05/10

Again i say Clinton must have at least some evidence or she wouldn't have gone to the press. however i agree that the US should focus more on their own problems, i.e. the oil spill. but i don't like how everyone is blaming Hillary Clinton. It is her job to say what she is told to, and lets face it who else would have sank the ship? But that aside i don't think a war would be started over such a relatively small manner, North Korea;s just crazy(mostly kidding). also Cassie it wouldn't be a civil war. i think the matter will be resolved in a calm matter and every thing will be hunky-dory, at least with that problem. why did the ship get sunk? Jessie S-h 30/05/2010

I agree with Jessie by saying that I don't know that it's right for the US to get involved. Yes, it's OK if people want to help out around the world, because 46 people dying in a ship "accident" is huge and is something that should be avoided at all costs. I also don't know whether or not it was North Korea that sunk the ship but since it is North Korea that is being blamed, we can assume that it was their fault. Unless South Korea is just pinning it on them to make North Korea look guilty. We all know that North and South Korea aren't on the best of terms, but why do something so terrible? I don't think it would be settled so peacefully because it wasn't something minor. It was something that shouldn't happen. Why can't North and South Korea get along? - Monica 31/05/10