We are from Greece and now that we finished our project we think that it is time to present ourselves! So let’s start… Just to get an idea.. Our main idea was “The world of tomorrow”, but we split it up in three different mini-projects. The first one is “Alternative Energy Sources”, which is something like a questionnaire about the alternative energy use. The second one is “The Environment”, which gives an idea about today’s situation and has some questions as well. Finally ,the last one is about human rights, in which there is information about human rights, our opinion on a few topics regarding the project and of course some questions again . We are… Meltem : the organizer Aggeliki : the email updater Niovi : the crafter Eva : the inspirational writer We would like to show you the work we have been doing the last few months. First of all we made a power point presentation about the renewable energy sources and their use nowadays and in the future. We have already sent it to you but you can have a look at it again The Sources! Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace conventional energy sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced sources. They are divided into 5 categories: •Solar energy (generation of electricity from sun) •Wind energy (generation of electricity from wind) •Geothermal energy (using hot water or steam from the Earth’s interior for heating buildings or electricity generation) •Biofuel and Ethanol (plant-derived substitutes of gasoline for powering vehicles) •Hydrogen (used as clean fuel for airplanes, spaceships, and vehicles) Our Questions: Do you think that people will finally get used to the idea of using alternative energy sources in order to stop polluting the environment? What is your opinion about alternative energy? Do you believe that it will be more expensive? Does your school support the use of any of this sources? If yes, which? And if not have you ever thought of suggesting it? Do you believe that the alternative energy sources will be able to save the world from all these environmental problems which exist in our planet? How do you think that the research and the use about these sources will develop in the world of tomorrow? Have you ever had a lesson in school about the way alternative energy sources are being used? Have you been informed about what they offer to our planet? You can watch some of those educational videos from National Geographic! http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environ ment/energy-environment/energy-conservation.html http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environ ment/energy-environment/great-energy-challenge.html http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environ ment/energy-environment/solar-power.html Renewable Energy Renewable Energy is The wave of the future And, if we don't start developing it We won't be able to survive For we have gotten soft To our easy life And, we won't know how to survive If we don't start changing Renewable energy is here to stay And we have to start replacing Our energy supply With this everlasting resourse by Jerry Abrahamson The second power point presentation we did was about the environment World Of Tomorrow Environment WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BASIC REASON FOR ALL THE ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEMS? The indifference of those one who have the power to change the facts. However, they choose to adopt a lackadaisical attitude and do nothing for their world and prefer to gratify their personal ambitions In the world of tomorrow We'll be covered with water 'Cause the earth will be crying. We'll do nothing to stop it. In the world of tomorrow, There'll be no smiles and laughter. Every person'll be crying 'Cause the end's getting closer WHO WOULD YOU BLAME? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ?(e.g. politicians, citizens, personal interests) We blame those who act illegally and those who only care about their personal needs and not the common good, those who harm earth, who show indifference to the dangers that our today’s world is in and those who constantly avoid the consequences and blame others for their mistakes. DO YOU SUPPORT ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE FOREVER UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES? (hello, our planet is dieing) We are totally against this antienvironmental situation as we strongly believe that in order to save ourselves we must save our planet first. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR TOMORROW? Nowadays we live in a world with little perspective. We only care about ourselves, neglecting our home, earth. Our actions have put our planet in a great danger and it is almost impossible to save not just earth but ourselves as well. But there will always be hope. The hope of something brighter. The dream of a world of tomorrow, in which we will respect our home and live happily ever after. We must fight for this world both as individuals and as a team. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we've said yesterday is gone! The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendour or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. This leaves only one day - today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad - it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Let us, therefore, live one day at a time! Author Unknown If you had to choose between monarchy of old ages with no environmental problems but without high technology and today’s world with the rapid development of technology but a planet which is gradually dieing , what would you choose? (please justify your answer) We would choose our democratic society with all its problems as we depend on our technology and its development. Our option is based on a basic justification: monarchy can destroy society because it does not offer the freedom of will and expression. Whereas, technology if it is used in an effective way it will not only help the healing of earth but humanity as well. In our opinion, if the youth is taught to respect the environment, our planet is actually going to heal from all its wounds. Preparing today's children for tomorrow's world, But any mistake you make today can easily affect the rest of your life! So be very wise and put on a positive character, For a pleasant personality is what we need out of you! ! (Author unknown) Thank you for spending your time watching our presentation. We hope you liked it. The following Power Point Presentation is regarding the human rights. We hope you’ll like it Human rights Human rights are rights and freedoms to which ALL humans are entitled. Proponents of the concept usually assert that everyone is endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human. Human rights are thus conceived in a universalist and egalitarian fashion. Such entitlements can exist as shared norms of actual human moralities, as justified moral norms or natural rights supported by strong reasons, or as legal rights either at a national level or within international law.However, there is no consensus as to the precise nature of what in particular should or should not be regarded as a human right in any of the preceding senses, and the abstract concept of human rights has been a subject of intense philosophical debate and criticism. Many of the basic ideas that animated the movement developed in the aftermath of the Second World War, culminating in its adoption by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. While the phrase "human rights" is relatively modern the intellectual foundations of the modern concept can be traced through the history of philosophy and the concepts of natural law rights and liberties as far back as the city states of Classical Greece and the development of Roman Law. The true forerunner of human rights discourse was the concept of natural rights which appeared as part of the medieval Natural law tradition, became prominent during the Enlightenment with such philosophers as John Locke, Francis Hutcheson, and Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, and featured prominently in the political discourse of the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Philosophy The philosophy of human rights attempts to examine the underlying basis of the concept of human rights and critically looks at its content and justification. Several theoretical approaches have been advanced to explain how and why human rights become part of social expectations. One of the oldest Western philosophies on human rights is that they are a product of a natural law, stemming from different philosophical or religious grounds. Other theories hold that human rights codify moral behavior which is a human social product developed by a process of biological and social evolution (associated with Hume). Human rights are also described as a sociological pattern of rule setting (as in the sociological theory of law and the work of Weber). These approaches include the notion that individuals in a society accept rules from legitimate authority in exchange for security and economic advantage (as in Rawls) – a social contract. The two theories that dominate contemporary human rights discussion are the interest theory and the will theory. Interest theory argues that the that the principal function of human rights is to protect and promote certain essential human interests, while will theory attempts to establish the validity of human rights based on the unique human capacity for freedom.The strong claims made by human rights to universality have led to persistent criticism. Philosophers who have criticized the concept of human rights include Jeremy Bentham, Edmund Burke, Friedrich Nietzsche and Karl Marx. A recent critique has been advanced by Charles Blattberg in his essay "The Ironic Tragedy of Human Rights." Blattberg argues that rights talk, being abstract, is counterproductive since it demotivates people from upholding the values that rights are meant to assert. “All human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and related. The international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis” In many countries ,nowadays, such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, human rights are constantly violated in many fields concerning social discrimination, sexism (men tend to be treated in a more advantageous way due to religious traditions ), child labor etc. However, apart from underdeveloped countries, other countries in Europe such as England, which are thought to be civilized, have difficulties in everyday life with social discrimination not only between the rich and the poor ones but also between students( bullying episodes dominate English High Schools) Writers : Meltem, Eva Are you in favor or against sexism? In our point of view, sexism is an act totally unacceptable, which only shows the short-sighted character of some nations. Women must be equal to men, because women are human beings and have the same rights with men, not only to mention the fact that equality can only offer a just and harmonious society. Writers : Meltem, Eva Are you aware of the rights that women are offered in Asia? As we do not live there, we can not provide you we the exact situation of the continent. As far as we are concerned, women face problems regarding their rights while men are thought to be superior to women. From our personal knowledge, due to their religious tradition sexism still exists in these countries. Writers : Meltem, Eva Are you aware of the rights that women are offered in Asia? As we do not live there, we can not provide you with the exact situation of the continent. As far as we are concerned, women face problems regarding their rights while men are thought to be superior to women. From our personal knowledge, due to their religious tradition sexism still exists in these countries. Writers : Meltem, Eva Bibliography www.wikipedia.com Thank you for spending some time looking our presentation. It was a wonderful experience for us, to communicate with different countries and get an idea about their culture and their people. We hope you liked our work .We wish you a nice summer. Enjoy your holidays