week 1

  
REMEMBER?!
Civics is the science of learning how to live together. It is the science of how our thinking, choices, and actions help or hurt our world.
     When people began to live in communities, the human race progressed more quickly. People’s ideas and skills helped those around them. . . .  


 But people’s ideas and actions also quickly began to hurt others. 




THAT’S WHERE YOU’RE NEEDED ...

When we began this project you said:

1) “What if there was a country that was willing to give a home to all the world’s refugees?  [We picked Canada because it has lots of land where no one is living and Canada is very open to people from all cultures.] 


2) “What if there were ways to help refugees feed themselves and build their own homes?”  [We found LOTS of great projects on the internet where this is being done: 
a) A group in England started free restaurants using unused [left over] food from grocery stores. When people eat at the restaurant, they “pay” not with money, but by helping the community in some way.  video link 
b) Another group builds homes in poor villages, gives people education and teaches them skills. In 3 years, there is no more poverty and they can support themselves!  video link
c) In Spain restaurants put their unused food in special refrigerators where anyone can come and take food for free.  page link
d) Some restaurants in New York charge people more money for their meal if they don’t eat everything! The extra money goes to food charities.


3) This year we are saying, “What if we designed a government, laws, an educational system and all the things needed to make a truly free, peaceful country? How would we do that?”


      Before you go farther, please watch this wonderful short video:

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT:
1) In the comments below, share 1 new idea you learned from this blog.

2) Then chose where you should begin your work this year!  Which of these things do you need to do first? By the end of the year we will do all these things. But where should we start? That is the BIG question.

• form a government
• write laws stating what people can and cannot do; what relationship people have to each other and their country
• design an educational system
• decide the official languages
• decide what religions will be allowed
• decide what work will be allowed
• create a health care system
• develop natural resources
• create rules for citizenship

  









7 comments:

  1. MeOctober 6, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    FROM ANDREI:
    I was working with a sweet group of people for 1 year already on this project, so I did not get any new ideas from this blog. (Mostly because it is just an introduction for us!) I like this project and I hope it comes to the head of our government departments and will mean something in real life!
    To answer the second question, the first thing which we need to start with (and I am completely confident about this) is developing natural resources because it is the main part of our new country's economics and the fundamental part of society and cooperation.
    P.S. I wish everyone Luck and the brightest ideas about our project because we are working as 1 team and it means that we cooperate as 1 little independent country!

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  2. UnknownOctober 6, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. MeOctober 9, 2015 at 10:12 AM

    FROM FROZAN—

    Dear friends what an honour to me that I am also an ICE Melter. I am really happy and thankful of God that I have the opportunity to be in this project and learn about you and your ideas. This project give us the chance to make our ideal country. At first everything is just a dream but one day it will come true. The start of everything is thinking and dreaming about it. People were dreaming to fly, to speak to each other from far away. And now we are able to do these things. I am sure one day we will have this ideal country in reality. So, we have to make the best country. Because, when this becomes true it should be the best too.
    As I have worked in this project before, I was familiar with all of the information in there. But, it was a good review for me. I remembered some of the things that I have forgotten. For instance, I have forgotten about the Spain restaurants that keeps food in the big refrigerators.
    With all respect I have to others ideas, but I think it would be better for our country to have laws for citizens, first. They all will be citizens of completely new country. So, first they have to know which things should they do and which things they shouldn't. I think when people just come together they need to know each other. I think if people learn the rules of citizenship then other steps, making an educational system, making government and...... won't be so difficult.
    For example: Think if you don't know how to play chess. You don't know the rules at all. But, the first thing your friend asks you is to bit the king. You won't be able to do that because you don't know the basic rules of the play!!! So, it is the same about going to a new country and meeting new people. I think having rules for citizenship should be first.
    Sincerely, Frozan

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  4. AnonymousOctober 10, 2015 at 1:48 PM

    It is a joy to join the civics class. The first two videos remind me what we have done last year. The new video is very interesting, and the main goal of the video is that people can change the world if they share their ideas with others. I think that the world really needs the social interaction, and people can understand each other and work well. These questions are really big issues, and I think we should form a government first, because making rules is an important thing in our country. The people who live in our land will know what things would be allowed, if they know the rules.

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  5. MeOctober 10, 2015 at 4:20 PM

    FROM AIDA —
    I am so glad to be an ICE Melter and thankful to Allah to be in this project and get to know about you and your awesome Ideas. It's my first year in this project and I have lots of goal. With our so small dreams, but with persistence, we can make a great country. I am sure that one day we will reach all of our goals and will have a real country.
    At first, if we want to make a country, we must form a government. A real government that should have laws for it's citizens. This government must have a Constitution. The Constitution of a country is the basic set of laws that explain how all the other laws and rules must be made and followed.
    Thank you, Aida

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  6. AnonymousOctober 11, 2015 at 6:30 AM

    Hello! It is a pleasure to be able to hear all of your ideas and share my ideas as well. I learned a lot from the first part of the article. For instance, I realized that we already have the resources to help others. The only thing we need now is the heart to help others. The videos also opened my eyes to numerous people helping behind the scenes for a better world. I didn't know about the projects done in some restaurants in Spain, England, and New York, but I knew of a similar case as (b). Educators Without Borders do a similar project called GAPA project, so I've heard of the idea before.

    In this class, I think we need to start by forming a government. Without a structured government, we don't know who will make the laws, who will enforce the laws, and don't know how other things will follow. The formation of a government may eliminate power disputes during the process of making laws.

    Thank you!

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  7. UnknownNovember 8, 2015 at 12:10 PM

    I have a quote from a famous American folk singer: "You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life, before you can stand still for anybody's sermon on how to behave." I believe that. And I believe that many of these refugees will be wary of "governments." How can we make these homeless people feel safe and free from hunger?

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