I believe that most of us are wishing for a better world and for less problems.If you have anything to add to my blog you are more than welcome to do so.Any ideas about how to stop the issues that I’m listing below are also more than welcome:)
Why would you represent some political issues through art?
1.Because it is easier to sent a message this way than having to say it out loud
2.Because it is much more interesting and appealing and people would actually pay attention
3.Because you can keep it anonymous if you want to
4.Because a photograph can be worth more than a thousand words
5.Because it gives you the courage to speak up.
I thought the video below was very interesting and i hope you like it too:)
Global issues :
Smoking:
Smoking Facts
Smoking in New Zealand
Approximately 597,000 smokers over the age of 15 smoke in New Zealand which is 23% of the population
Smoking is attributed to between 4,300-4,700 deaths each year within New Zealand
Some of the diseases and conditions attributed to smoking include;
- Cancer: Bladder, oesophageal, kidney, laryngeal, leukaemia, lung, oral, pancreatic
- Cardiovascular: Coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, aneurysm, stroke, Abdominal aortic
- Respiratory: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), pneumonia, asthma
- Reproductive: Infertility, foetal death, stillbirth, low birth weight
- Other: Cataracts, hip fracture, peptic ulcer
(By Richard Orjis. Photograph taken in the Starkwhite Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand)
Photograph taken by me
T-shirt against smoking
Prostitution:
Prostitution Facts
The average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years
Most of these 13 or 14 year old girls were recruited or coerced into prostitution
Estimates of the prevalence of incest among prostitutes range from 65% to 90%
About 80% of women in prostitution have been the victim of a rape
Prostitution is an act of violence against women which is intrinsically traumatizing
girls and women in prostitution have a mortality rate 40 times higher than the national average
In one study, 75% of women in escort prostitution had attempted suicide.
This photograph was taken by me on Karangahape Rd.
This photo is just from the net.It has an anonymous artist.
Poverty:
Poverty Facts
Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day
The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income
According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty
Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted
Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen!!!
Sometimes it is hard to believe that some of those photos were taken in the 21st century..
![hunger[1]](http://adelinaciulinaru.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/hunger1.jpg?w=390 "hunger[1]")
i wish this could be avoided..don’t you?..
It’s so hard to look at those poor children..
For some people it is easier to avoid a problem than try and solve it..
Alcohol:
What are the signs that someone is an alcoholic?
> They drinking alone or in secret.
> They don’t remember conversations or appointments.
> They make a habit of drinking at unusual times (early mornings) or at times they shouldn’t and they get annoyed or angry if this ritual is interrupted or questioned.
> They seem to be losing interest in activities and hobbies that they used to enjoy.
> Irritability as usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn’t available.
> Having hiding places for their alcohol in places at home, at work or in the car.
> Gulping drinks or ordering doubles, wanting more and more alcohol.
> Intentionally becoming intoxicated to feel good or to forget their problems.
> Having problems in their relationships with friends and family, problems at work or with finances or legal problems as a result of their drinking.
Drugs:
- Cocaine kills about 2,500
- Heroin kills about 2,000
- Aspirin kills about 2,000
- 1,360,000 Drug Prisoners in America
- Nearly 80% of all prisoners in America are for drug related offenses.
- Ten million people have been arrested for marijuana since 1965.
IS IT WORTH IT?
I’m sure you can see the difference..
Iraq War Facts
U.S. 2008 Monthly Spending in Iraq – $12 billion
U.S. Spending per Second – $5,000 in 2008 (per Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on May 5, 2008)
Cost of deploying one U.S. soldier for one year in Iraq – $390,000
Missing – $1 billion in tractor trailers, tank recovery vehicles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and other equipment and services provided to the Iraqi security forces
Non-U.S. Troop Casualties – Total 316, with 179 from the UK
US Troops Wounded – 31,529 through September 30, 2009, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries. (Total excludes psychological injuries.)
US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems – 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home
US Military Helicopters Downed in Iraq – 72 total, at least 36 by enemy fire
Does anyone think about those kids?
There are so many issues that the world is dealing with that is impossible to mention all of them..but would we be able to stop at least a few?.. what do you think?
