Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Climbing blog

The climbing unit we had this year was really fun. We enjoyed a lot and we accomplished a lot of things and we made a lot of goals that we had to work on. As far as I can see my writing log, I am proud of myself. I achieved a lot of things this year which I couldn't do last year. There were some things that I had to work on but as time went by, I completed them all. Some of the things I achieved this year included doing a wall F blindfolded. When I mastered this skill, I tried the chimney blindfolded. I went half way up and got sore limbs. Also another thing that I accomplished this unit included to do four players attached and three of them blindfolded.

There is always to work on even when you are the best. Some of the goals I had this year had to do with me trying to get up a wall blindfolded and i accomplished this one the third day of this unit. Another goal that I had this year was to try doing the overhang. On the last day of this climbing unit, I tried my luck on the climbing unit. I got to the point where we had to turn and hang but I failed and fell. This happened to me several times. On the last time I tried, I got to the same place and I was about to fall when my partner gave me encouragement and pulled me up the rest of the way.

As for the climbing and belaying part, I was really good at all times except for the part when I dropped a person while belaying. My hand slipped on the handle and I got a rope burn. Overall, I think I was very good in terms of climbing and assisting. Belaying was a little challenge but I got it down as we went through.

Even though I had some things that I did not accomplish, I am proud of what I did during this unit. I made some goals and I nearly accomplished all of them. Hence, I will make more goals next year so that I can be a better climber next year and improve my skills.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The non-violence fight...........





A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.

Mahatma Gandhi


There are many ups and downs in life. Some people are free and others are not. Some people have the rights to do some things and some people just do not. There are many people who are brave stand up for their rights and freedom - but some people just fall too short because of the lack of power they have or their race. Such was the story of India. India was under the British rule for nearly 200 years. India's interaction with the Britishers started from the late 16th century. On such a day was born this great man, Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for his rights and the freedom of his country.

The Britishers came to India to influence trade by the command of Queen Elizabeth 1 in the year of 1600. The British nationals came to India to trade spices in the South. When they came to India, they established the East India Company in Calcutta. After a little chit-chat with the Indian rulers, the Brits set up their factories all over Calcutta and India. Later, the Brits took advantage of internal conflicts and soon set-up colonies in India. By the year of 1856, most of India was under the rule of the Britishers.

In the year of 1914, the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India to fight for rights and freedom. He had been in politics for several years where he fought for human rights and freedom. Once in South Africa, he was thrown off a bus for not following orders. The rule was that whenever a 'white' man entered a bus, the 'black' man would have to give up his seat for the 'white' man to sit. This act offended Mahatma Gandhi a lot and he started to fight but without violence. Mahatma Gandhi started many movements in India to get the Britishers out of India. He had seen many coincidences of race and rights in South Africa, but none was as harsh as this.

One of the Acts he had started in India was the Non- Cooperation Movement. This movement was launched in the year of 1920. In this movement, the Indians were told not to cooperate with the Britishers. The Indian Citizens stopped following the orders that the British government were giving them. The started doing street demonstrations and protests. They agreed with nothing that the government told them to do. This movement turned out to be a great success as millions of people gathered from all around the country to protest.

Another act that Mahatma Gandhi had started was the Civil Disobedience Movement. This movement was put to place in the year of 1930. The main purpose of this movement was to completely disobey the orders of the British government. During this movement, it was decided that India would celebrate its Independence day on the 26th of January. On 26th January, 1930 meetings were held all over the country and the congress tricolor was hoisted. The government tried to repress its rules but failed and resorted to brutal firing. Thousands of people were killed and many were captured including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. This movement was revived again.


The last movement that Mahatma Gandhi started was the 'Quit India Movement'. This is known to be the mot important movement for the independence of India. This movement was launched in the year of 1942. The main purpose of this movement was to force the Britishers out of India. Another name of this act was 'mass civil disobedience movement'. The citizens called a 'do or die' call to force out the Britishers. This movement was followed by large-scale destruction and violence. However, all the leaders were arrested, the congress was banned and the army was brought out to suppress the movement.

India got its freedom after all the struggle in the year of 1947. Without Mahatma Gandhi and his followers, the independence of India might not have been possible. We should all thank our ancestors for the great work they have done for us. We should thank them for their courage and their bravery that they had to fight for the independence of India. Do you have your freedom? If you don't, go fight for it!
I found this source inspirational because we have a lot to learnt from it. We never think about how much freedom we have. We just live with what we have. But I believe that we should have the courage to go and fight for it. Mahatma Gandhi also fought for the same thing- FREEDOM!!


Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFaFXgnmF9c
http://www.india.gov.in/knowindia/culture_heritage.php?id=7
http://www.india.gov.in/knowindia/culture_heritage.php?id=6
http://www.india.gov.in/knowindia/culture_heritage.php?id=7
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#ixzz1kMrIByw7
http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/eme/18/FC123