Parents should pick up their children at school because it is a great opportunity to talk about what have been happened during kid’s routine  and sensitive situation.

Sometimes parents don’t realize how is important to pick up their children at school instead of sending a driver or a maid to so. Actually, the moment that children have gotten back home with their parents, should be a great opportunity to them to talk about what have been happened during kid’s routine. For instance, Sarah Bell, 33, had picked James up since his first day at school. In fact, James, 10, Sarah’s son had been studied at a small school located in Campinas. However, Sarah had the chance to talk with the teachers at the end of the class to follow up what her son had been learning during the time he spent in class. Furthermore, Sarah had given the support all the time that James had test, trying to help him on the subjects when he needed to improve the knowledge. Due to this habit to pick her son up at school, Sarah believed that she had the chance to raise her son with more quality also she had a wish that James would be a self-confidence boy being sure that her dedication would be forever.

 Parents should pick up their children at school trying to solve, as fast as they could a sensitive situation. Last year, on May, 15th, 2008, Corinne Smith, 39, had picked her youngest son up at school at noon.Joe, 5; smart boy had studied at an excellent school acknowledged as one of the best in Brazil. When Joe had came into the car, Corinne had noticed his damaged face and immediately asked about what had happened to him trying to find the cause of his red cheeks. So that, Joe had told his mother that he was seated on the floor together with his classmates paying attention to the music class. By leaps and bounds Tyrone a classmate, who had a penchant for aggressive boy, had held Joe down struggling to hit his face without giving any chance to react. At the same moment all class started to scream loud also the incensed teacher had clutched Tyrone snatching him away of the classroom. According to this fact, Corinne had talked to the school’s coordinator, stating her position as a mother who believed that moral compass stemmed from the family and this aggressive boy Tyrone might have risen as peasants. Even the coordinator had tried to solve this sensitive situation together with Corinne; nothing would recover Joe’s pain. Children’s relationship boil down to respect.

 In conclusion, children feel care for when parents pick them up at school over and over again.

It is time to see bicycle as good vehicle to go to companies and offices by reason of it works as a good machine of releasing stress, does not issued pollutants in air and maintains people healthy and in shape.

Bike can be useful as a good way of releasing stress of human bodies. While people are riding bikes a toxin named “XYZ” is expelled a hundred times faster than when they are doing ordinary movements like walking around office, driving cars and jogging on weekends. This toxin accumulated in human bodies is the main cause of stress, according to Mr. Josefh Notdlof from Amsterdam University, who has run a survey with voluntaries for 2 years. Mr. Notdlof concluded that 80% of people who use their bike daily to work have one hundred less “XYZ”, in the end of the month, than those who use cars or any motorized vehicle. Hence, bicycle appears a good solution for those people who want to be free of stress, leaving nervous tension, anxiety and strain away of life.

Second, bikes are free of pollutants. This vehicle is an ecological way of transport as it does not issue any kind of gases into the air keeping the atmosphere fresh and dirty less. For instance, while cars release more than 3.000 pollutants and motorcycles more than 2.000, bikes do not issue any gas and so they do not harm the environment. In this view, some cities are changing their political transport system like Vancouver where is mandatory the use of bicycles at least twice a week. There, the rate of pollutants in the air has decreased in an order of 20% a year while in cities where this new political has not been instituted the pollutants have raised 10% a year. Therefore, bikes can contribute a lot to keep the air clean helping the environment and avoid the high rate of pollutants in the atmosphere.

Healthy and welfare are the consequences of using bicycles to go work. While people are riding bikes they are exercising their body and strengthen the muscles at no charge, bringing up tremendous benefits to their life. Researchers have already shown that a bike ride for one hour a day is enough of exercise that a common person needs. Joefree Smith is a good example of the benefits; in the past, she was considered a fat girl with her body weighted over than 100 kilos until she find out that she could go work riding her old bicycle. After only 3 months of riding toward work and home, she has already reached her target losing 20 kilos without any gym or private trainer, needing only a non-tech bike. So, using bikes as a transportation to work is a good way to be healthy, wellbeing and, consequently, in shape.

Many people say it is terrible to live in Brazil. They are completely right and deserve it. Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world. The unemployment rate is about 20%. The prisons have more prisoners they could support, which make them feel as an animal. Many children who graduate from school are not able at least to read; and not rarely they go to school starving. On the other hand, São Paulo has the biggest number of helicopters and armored cars in the world. Rich people get locked inside a bubble, with no contact to the real life. It is really difficult to have a good life with such contrasts and it will probably never change. However, Brazilians do deserve to live in a poor and violent country because most of us have lack of care for other citizens, lack of commitment to vote and lack of a culture of a developing country.

The first reason why Brazilians deserve to live in a poor and violent country is related to their lack of care for other citizens. Brazilian tends to think that they don`t have anything to do with other people`s problems, while they should note that those problems frequently have effects in our private life. Public issues must not be considered as an exclusively governmental task because every individual has their role in society, which is certainly more than live inside a bubble and just care for their family and friends. President Lula, for example, took ten days to visit the recent catastrophe in Santa Catarina. But he only reflects the major thought in our country. Therefore, it is time to note that problems will not be solved by itself and Brazilians should neither expect a government action nor think they don’t have anything to do with the public matters. Every single citizen is responsible for and contributes to keep the poverty and violence the way it is.

Secondly, Brazilians in general have no commitments and concern with vote and politics. Voting is an obligation in our country and Brazilian citizens really consider it is an obligation, instead of thinking it is an important right to develop the country. Politics is one subject which does not stir passions in Brazil. We prefer to talk about sports, tragedies in general (Brazilians really love this subject) and other people`s life.  A recent research showed that the expression “BBB8””, which means the eighth version of Big Brother Brazil, was the expression that most appeared in Google in November, even if we had municipal elections in Brazil and the USA election in this period. Most people certainly don’t have an idea who they voted four years ago and they probably can`t answer a simple question, such as “who is the treasury minister?” or “how many senators do we have in Brazil?”. As we have no commitment with politics and with whom we elect, Brazilians must pay the price for their omission.

The third reason why Brazilians deserves to live in a poor and violent country is our own historical condition. Brazil was “discovered” by the Portuguese and the country was used as a colony to explore and sell our natural resources, such as gold, pau-brasil and rare stones. It seems that this exploitation culture remains until now. For example, a homeless may ask you R$ 10.00 to park in a public place, or some import persons may use their fame or power to take advantages. No matter how much money and education we have, Brazilians have a tendency to take advantages of what they want to and don`t care for the country development. This is a cultural behavior and it looks like we are very far from changing it.

Vegetarianism strongly contributes to a better quality of life, because it avoids the animal suffering, negative environmental impacts and fat-related diseases.

The first reason why vegetarianism strongly contributes to a better quality of life is because it avoids the animal suffering. Animals in general are treated without any respect by the companies that aim only the profits. For instance, to produce the baby beef, Sadia put the calf inside a box, and the calf grows limited by the box dimensions in order to obtain soft meat. This confined growing causes terrible pain due to the fact that it cannot move. Hence, the absence of movement leads to painful illnesses such as arthrosis. Therefore, being vegetarian is a way to discourage this barbarism.

The second reason why vegetarianism contributes to a better quality of life is because it avoids negative environmental impacts. Food companies have been responsible for the increase in the deforested areas. For example, in 2007 Perdigão deforested 3.367,20 km² of the Amazon Forest to form pasture areas, the equivalent of 30% of the total deforested area, 15% higher than 2006, according to the site www.amazonia.org.br. As a result, be a vegetarian is a way to help the decrease in the deforestation levels.

The third reason why vegetarianism contributes to a better quality of life is because it avoids fat-related diseases. It has being proved by many studies that the main cause of heart attack is the meat consume. For instance, a recent research conducted by the University of Medicine of São Paulo together with the Heart Institute shows that abnormal high cholesterol levels which mean high concentration of LDL and low concentration of functional HDL are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease because it promotes arteriosclerosis, that leads to myocardial infarction. This research concludes that a change in diet is necessary so as to avoid the elevated cholesterol levels in the blood stream such as refrain from consuming meat because, as stated in the research, meat contains saturated fats that are significant contributors to elevate cholesterol levels. For this reason, vegetarianism is a practice that leads to a healthy life, as the chances of having a heart attack are reduced by not consuming meat.

Free downloading for personal use should not be considered illegal because people don’t use it to make money, many times is the only way to get some rare songs or movies, and also because is a publicity tool.

First, as long as the download is not made to reach profit, it shouldn’t be considered piracy.  Is not fair to earn money with another person’s work, and that´s why the download, followed by copying and selling, is clearly a kind of piracy. Nonetheless, if someone downloads a file just for entertaining, he is not stealing or getting advantage of someone else’s work – it´s just a copy for simple reproduction. A research run by Google shown that 68% of the downloads made during 2007 at mininova.com – the most famous sharing website – where used only for personal use, and 83% of these users condemn the commercialization of the files. The results confirm that download for personal use is made innocently and seen as a reproduction, shouldn’t be considered a crime.

The second reason is that the download is an easy way to get files that are not available at some countries. Globalization allows people to know about what’s new in the entertaining industry and even make available blockbuster movies and superstar albums, but is still hard to find for sale at a reasonable price some international productions that people know the existence but can´t get in contact with. For example, when I was in college I had to do a paper about the history of French movies, and it was really hard to find old French movies in DVD here in São Paulo, so I decided to download the most significant ones to analyze and could develop a solid paper. There are different reasons to download files and most of them, as illustrated in the example, aren’t disrespecting to the creators or the piece.

At last, downloads also benefit the artists who want their work to be recognized. Most of the money earned with the albums and music selling goes to the producers and distributors, and the artist gets money with concerts and another projects. Considering it, Internet and downloads are a powerful tool to divulge the artists work, especially from small bands and indie movies that have no money to spend with publicity, so they can conquest new fans that don’t pay for the files but are still profitable when go to concerts. The most recent case of success in Brazil involving the internet is Mallu Magalhães, a 16 years old singer who recorded 2 songs and inserted them on the Internet. After a few months all the indie community knew about her, and today she can be considered the revelation singer of 2008 without having a record company to invest on her work. Money is important, of course, but there are alternative ways to earn it and uploading songs or movies for download on the Internet can be considered an investment that will bring results in the future.

Why Lula’s Government has been very good for Brazil.

Lula’s government has been very solid nowadays because he as president of the country is using his political power for making an important social politic, for keep economy growing without inflation and for make Brazilian democracy stronger.

Lula’s social politics makes him a remarkable president.

The president is developing a social politics based on a program called bolsa família, which has been very important to improve families to get out of poverty and keep children on school. Beside this program there are another one focused on education, called pró-uni, that helps poor young people to have an opportunity to conclude college. Another important plan is called PAC, focused on infra-structure for the country such as new airports, highways and construction of popular houses.

For example, more than 16 million of families receive a financial help, specially in the most poor areas of the country, and this politic has been very important to make people chance their social status and became citizens with economic activity which has been improving the economy inside the country.

This politic is changing the face of the extreme poverty, making people have a better life and improving Brazilian middle class.

Lula’s economic politic makes economy growing without inflation.

The president adopted a line of conduction for the economy based on inflation control, facilities for credit, payment of the Brazilian bill, positive commercial balance and exportation of commodities. The combination of this politics has been changing the history of economy in the country.

 For instants, Brazilian economy has been growing constantly for more than 5 years, fact that has never happened in the last 35 years.

 The country is nowadays one of the most important players in the group of emergent economies in the world, called as Bricks, which includes Russia, India and China.

Lula’s government is making Brazilian democracy stronger.

The fact of a man without formal instruction, which comes from the most poor area of the country, from a poor family and that was an workman from a factory became the president of the country, is a very important example for the nation and shows the power of  democracy which  is the best politic system ever adopted in the world.

For instants, Brazil’s politic past is full of dictatorial and oppressive systems and Lula’s personal history shows that is possible to fight for ideas and politic point of view with harmony with different visions and perspectives.

Brazilian democracy has been stronger in the last 6 years than it was since the military dictatorial system fail in middle of 80´s.

It’s better to buy a travel on the internet because the ticket is going to be cheaper, you are going to receive an answer for your request faster and your credit card will be safer.

The first reason why buying a travel on the internet is better is because it will be cheaper. One way is cutting the travel agency. Many people don’t know that the commission of the agency corresponds of 10% of the ticket price. For example, if the customer bought a TAM flight for the itinerary SP/Salvador/SP by CVC on December 1, 2008, he would pay R$ 800,00 while if he bought the ticket on the same day, on the TAM website, he would pay only R$ 720,00. Due this, if you buy a ticket on the internet directly on the company website, cutting a middle man, you will save money.

The second reason why buying a travel on the internet is better is because you are going to receive an answer for your request faster. Because there are no middle men involved it’s possible to receive an answer faster and from different companies. For instance, last year when I decided to travel on Christmas to Buenos Aires I called to AGAXTUR and they said that I had to wait two days for an answer. So, I decided to look on the internet for the information about the price of Sofitel that is a hotel in Buenos Aires, and at the same moment I received an answer with price, photos, localization, category, and so forth.  Moreover, I could make a research changing the dates and I got a promotion such as pay just two nights and stay three, with a room upgrade and a bottle of wine. The agency called me only 2 days later with the price and, of course, without the promotion. So that, buying a travel on the internet is a good way to make a reservation faster looking photos and complete information about hotels. 

The third reason why buying a travel on the internet is better is because your credit card will be safer. Nowadays the technology is becoming more and more safer, and buying on the internet is considered much better because there are no workers between the customer and the purchase, only equipments. The tourism companies are using a high quality technology to maintain the customer data avoid strokes. A recent research about the topic that has been done by a Tourism Association of European Union has shown that 90% of tourism companies that offer services on the internet use a technology that has received the stamp of quality control by the Association and 85% of the customers that use the internet to buy a travel consider this kind of buy very security. Moreover, only 0,5% of these customers have suffered a stroke while 5% of people that make a purchase by an travel agency have had problems with the credit card number after the purchase as debits non recognized. Therefore, not only making a reservation on the internet is considered by usual customers much safer, but this kind of purchase is also growing day after day between people that has never used the internet to make a buy.

Paper #9 Live to work or work to live? 

November 19, 2008

What is the role of the parents in the growing of a child? In my opinion it is one of the most important roles, but is not only the role of the parents, in fact, for a good education the structure of a family as whole is important. What we learn inside home will help us all life, so it is necessary to receive a good instruction to face alone the problems later, reaching as a final aim the prosperity and success. For this reason, parents must teach children how to be independent, honest, worker, and so forth. It is simple, parents should teach the basic, the begginning, in order to leave their children in future, dealing by theirself. I am not talking about just giving money and support, it is much more important, i’m talking about education and principles in general.

On the other hand, while parents should give the necessary instruction to their children face the world, they can also give them assistence or just a present, without this kind of attitude is considered a wicked deed. Helping a sun is a kind of action totaly acceptable in Brazil, our culture just allowed it.

For instance, In Brazil it is normal to receive a car from parents as a present when a sun complete 18 years, it is not a shame. It is very simple, if the parents can give the car, if it is possible, what is the problem? I don’t see anyone, because it is clear that a boy can’t afford to buy a car by himself. Moreover and more important, if a sun really need a help, at any time of his life, parents must help him, if they can. I’m sure that it is correct,  because If the parents don’t help him who will help? I agree that giving a continue support to a sun that don’t work is wrong, but give just a help when it is necessary is totaly acceptable.

In accordance of these reasons, I really believe that the parents have a important role in the raising of child, teaching or helping them, when it is necessary, being essential a close participation by the parents.

We are raised with the cultural values of our family and until a certain time the world is shown to us through the eyes of our family. When we start having an active contact with a diversity of lifestyles, cultures and ways of thinking, we begin to develop our own values, our own way of thinking.  As a result, we start to confront our family values with our own values and there is a moment in that we discover the need to find our own place and live our own life. 

For instance, I am thirty three and when I was twenty nine I realized that the time to find my own place had come because I was feeling an urgent necessity to be alone. Unfortunately, I had not the money enough to buy myself a house or an apartment in addition to the fact that I have to financially help my parents.  Due to this impossibility I got a little depressed as I could not have my place and consequently my things, my time and my routine.

Fortunately, nowadays I am in a run to find my place because I will get married as soon as I buy it. In fact, I am very happy as I am about to conquer my independence.

Therefore, I believe that we need a family to help us to form our own values and lifestyle, but there is a time that we have to cut the umbilical cord and find our way by ourselves.