I guess you could say this AP is pretty smelly

For this last AP we dove deeper into decomposition. During this unit we went on multiple FEs. My favorite was, The Plant. We were able to explore throughout the building, and we were able to see the process of aquaponics which was very interesting to see. Another FE guest came in, Sharayu, who gave a presentation on Vermi-composting. Vermi-composting is very impactful on the environment, and you will see why throughout my presentation.  We learned about different fungi, and the beneficial effects that they have on the environment. Without decomposers we wouldn't have closed loop systems. Closed loop systems are used in multiple environmental friendly business that think of Earth's resources as a system that could be reused. They believe that waste can be recycled and transformed into something else for their company that benefits everyone. Less waste leads to more possibilities.

For my final AP, I was looking into how long it takes a disposable diaper to decompose. The information I got back was quite surprising. Working with the idea of a closed loop system, I decided to create an efficient diaper that would work with the closed loop system.  Continue reading to learn more about the effect disposable diapers have on the environment, and how we could change that.



To conclude, I believe that it's important to think about the overall life of things. We as a society should be thinking about where our trash goes after we have thrown it out. Our landfills are getting way to cluttered, and we tend to think that composting is a hassle. Composting, especially vermicomposting, is an efficient way to throw away biodegradable materials and the leftover soil can be used as nutrients for your garden. There are many ways to close the loop on products we use in our everday lives, start doing it!

#THEFORGOTTENWAR

This is my final AP for Global Peace. During this term, we discussed what it is to become an activist. We were assigned to focus on a certain conflict in the world. I decided to work with a war that not everyone is aware of, the Yemeni Civil War. I made a nonviolent public intervention by posting stickers around different street poles in Chicago to raise awareness. Read and watch my video to learn more about my public intervention.


Citations:
1. Patrick Cockburn @indyworld. “'The Yemen War Death Toll Is Five Times Higher than We Think – We Can't Shrug off Our Responsibilities Any Longer'.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 26 Oct. 2018, www.independent.co.uk/voices/yemen-war-death-toll-saudi-arabia-allies-how-many-killed-responsibility-a8603326.html.
2. “Yemen Crisis: Why Is There a War?” BBC News, BBC, 18 Dec. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423. 3. “Yemen Profile - Timeline.” BBC News, BBC, 5 Nov. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14704951.

The Voice for the Voiceless

This is my first AP in Global Peace which was my humanities class for this elective term at GCE. We looked into Gandhi's principles. The first Gandhian principle was Sarvodaya, the uplift of all. We looked into Swadeshi, which is looking particularly on local economy. Swaraj looked deep into self government. This means to work for yourself, and making your own decisions before making communal ones. Lastly, we looked into Satyagraha. This means finding the truth in something that already exists, or finding the truth in resistance. These principles are important in an activist. In order to create your own "perfect" world, you must be able to follow these principles according to Gandhi. To further our knowledge on Gandhi's principles, we were asked to choose an activist that has used at least one of these principles.

I chose Ahed Tamimi which is activating for her own country. Throughout my research paper you will see examples that makes this young woman an activist, and find out more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I learned that this young activist has become the inspiration to many different people who are going through similar crisis in the world. She is a brave figure to the 21st century. She is the change we as a society need to see in the world. She is an inspiration to not just journalists and other activists, but an inspiration to the youth. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a conflict that should not go unheard. We need to think about the world that we live in today, and be the next Ahed Tamimi of our own nation.

Diario de Madrid. Mauricio Valiente recibe a Ahed Tamimi. 28 Sept 2018

Swordfish 1.0 & The Underwater Office

In Unit 2 of my STEAM course, Biomimicry, the subject was based off animals. Throughout this course, we looked into different animal adaptations that influenced the design to solve real world problems. While looking into the adaptations, we also looked into different animal architects that create structures for themselves to help them in their habitats. For this AP, we were asked to choose two different animals, and create two structures for housing and transportation influenced by the animals you chose. I chose the Japanese Puffer Fish and the Swordfish, and you will see how I incorporated the two to create a unique design.


To conclude, I found that we as a society should be looking deeper into animal architecture, and what purposes they serve in the environment that they are found in. I found that there were multiple types of animal architecture which were used for mating. We should be thinking more about how we can incorporate these ideas into our everyday lives. Some of these ideas are already being used for housing and transportation. This AP allowed me to look into more of that in depth, and think about the way society is changing along with the direction in which we are going.

The Rose Bowl

For this class, Biomimicry, we looked into how humans have been influenced by nature in order to create designs.  We visited a company called Interface Flor and met with one of the workers, Mikhel Davis. He spoke about the company and how they use nature in order to create their carpeting design and different patterns found in nature. We also went to the Lincoln Park Conservatory where we observed plants. We chose a couple to look into closely. For this action project, we were asked to choose one plant in nature and create a design. I decided to look into the Rose of Jericho which is found in the Middle East. The design that I made also works with the Sustainable Development Goals created by the UN. Look at my slideshow in order to learn more about this plant and my design!


To conclude, this action project made me think more about how much nature has an impact on the designs we have made as humans. It made me think about how society should be influenced more by nature than the designs created by desire.  When we make designs, we should think about the people we are surrounded with day by day. We should make our designs based on world struggles. Zero Hunger should never be an issue. People like you should use engineering and the inspiration of other life forms to solve real-world problems. 

Monarch

Deportation is an issue that needs to get solved. Being a daughter of two immigrated parents is hard. To see my future, I sometimes feel hopeless. This presidential election has made me think more about the actions that even people around me are doing. Makes me also wonder how we could change the world together. There are many ways, but the best way is through poetry.

Migration.

Why do people migrate?

Why do monarchs migrate?

Why do refugees migrate?

Do people feel like monarchs as they fly across their borders?

Feeling free as a butterfly when they step into new territory.

Territory.

Something that is not yours.

Something that has been discovered.

Something that has been taken away from you where you no longer have freedom in the territory you thought you would live in.

Something where you think you are allowed to start new.

Your past

War torn

Oppressed

I knew you could fly

She came here illegally

Leaving her native land

Imagine leaving your own land and having to start new. My mother had to go through this at the age of four where she had no idea where she was going. She stayed with a family, her relatives that lived in California. She was without a mom and dad for about a month.

Everything had changed for little monarch

My little monarch don’t you cry

You will get to where you want to be if you try

Try.

Try by leaving your native land and start fresh

Start somewhere new

Lonely.

Family lost.

Nowhere to sleep

No time to weep

Your family is gone now

*boom

Family gone

*boom

Child lost

*boom

Scurry and run

But where

Where do I run to?

No one wants us

I wish I was a monarch where I communicate with my wings

Where I could be free

Where I could be accepted

Fly

Fly away from here

Run

Runaway

Next destination

Greece

Border patrol

Many Syrian refugees that fled during the times of war. They fled to the nearest destinations which was Greece, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon, etc. Due to the amount of migrants many had to go back to their war torn country, mothers with crying children, depressed mothers and fathers because their family is gone, etc. was becoming too hectic for these countries accepting migrants. 

Go back they say

Go back

Go back to your war torn country

Go back

Go back where you realize you have nothing left

Go back

Go back to scraps

Go back

Go back to dead bodies of your relatives

Go back to see children screaming out names

Hoping to find someone

Go back to see moms sobbing because they realized there was one more child left in that house

Go back

To hear the bombs where you know

You know

You know that their gone

Go back

Go back

2017

USA?

USA

Liberty and justice for all

Start somewhere new she said

Flee

It’s your time

Flee

Run

Dreamers

They call them dreamers

Why

DACA dreamers was assigned for young children who immigrated when they were young and are looking for the same fundamental rights as an american citizen. This was established in times that former President Barack Obama was president and now President Trump is looking to deport DACA recipients.

A person who is unpractical or idealistic

Can they not chase after their dreams?

Dreams to go somewhere new

Dream to experience new life

Do I deserve a new life

Do I deserve to leave my war torn country

Sometimes I wonder

Why do I ask myself

I’m a dreamer

They call us dreamers

Almost seems like the oppressed have dreams

“I had a dream”

Someone who was oppressed was hopeful enough to dream

I dream .

I think to myself.

Why dream if they don’t come true?

But

Why be pessimistic?

Why be a shark that sees blood and fights back?

Fight.

Fight for what’s right they say

Fight.

Seems violent

Speak.

Speak out.

Speak out.

Speak out.

---

We need to go.

Pack up she says.

Pack up.

Pack up her father says.

We must start fresh again.

My isn’t going anywhere.

My job makes me a man in this family.

Provider.

Provide.

Supply

Supply for my wife and daughter

Im 21

I could have earned an education.

But i’m just a provider.

Supply.

So they left

They left

But they did not just leave for a while

They left.

They ran

She ran with her little monarch.

He left.

He left alone.

He left and came back

They said go back

Go back.

Go back.

He was so close.

So close.

Those borders.

Why

Borders.

My life has been created into borders.