I recently took a poll in my school concerning the MDGs. Although I have not completed the poll yet I would like to share the beginnings of my findings with you. The survey has gone through two stages so far, for the first I asked students and teachers if they have heard of the UN MDGs are. Then I asked those that did if they could identify them. For this first part I surveyed 43 students and 9 teachers. Out of the 43 students surveyed 40 had never heard of them, and out of the 9 teachers 8 hadn't heard of the MDGs. Now the teacher that had heard of them could not identify them, as well two of the students who had heard of the MDGs, only one student out of the 43 were able to outline the goals. Then I decided to take my poll a step further and explain what the MDGs are to them, then asking if they believed that they can be accomplished by 2015. Out of the 25 students I surveyed for this part 17 said no, 5 said maybe, and 3 said yes, and out of the 7 teachers I surveyed 5 said no, 1 said maybe and 1 said yes. I then asked them if they were presented with an opportunity to help achieve these goals if they would. Out of the 25 students surveyed 18 said yes while 7 said maybe, and out of the 7 teachers I surveyed 6 said yes and 1 said maybe. Like I have said I have not finished the survey, but these are the results thus far.

I go to one of the top schools in my state, and it is also ranked high nationally. I find it said that not only did so many people not know about these goals, but in addition so many believed they wouldn’t be reached by 2015. On a good note, so many people said they would be willing to help if presented with an opportunity to do so. I have learned many things from this survey, but the two biggest things are that many people have no idea about the MDGs, and that there is a lot of wasted potential. If we got individual communities around the world informed, we could in fact get more support, more help to achieve these goals. If it was possible to educate the public in easy ways about these goals like send out pamphlets or flyers or TV. ads so that they could understand the MDGs then present them with easy ways they can help, there is a bigger chance we can achieve these goals.

In my community, this is exactly what I want to do: inform, inspire, and involve people in making the MDGs happen. I am currently trying to get a group of people together to start brainstorming ways in which we can educate people about the MDGs as easily and simply as possible, and then present them with ways they can help, and hold local events. The hardest part so far has been figuring out how people can help. Many people offer to donate money, but to what organization should we give that money? etc. I hope that others will take a step forward and try to involve their communities as well. I am open for any suggestions, and I would greatly appreciate them.

I am on a mission to help involve my community, and I believe as a people we should work together to involve everyone in accomplishing these goals that will greatly change the world.

Kevin

Communication is the key to our civilization, without communication we would never have been able to hunt, or even create cities and towns, or figure out math. All the things on this earth rely on communication, dogs communicate to each other which territory is theirs by peeing on a tree, and bark at each other as well. Our species has been blessed with advanced communication of speech, languages, writing etc. This has allowed us to go from simple cavemen to creating enormous cities. Communication is something that has been realized as plane in which countless possibilities are reached. In the Constitution of America freedom of speech and freedom of press one of the first liberties granted to its citizens, because the forefathers of America realized that communication is what fuels everything. Rumors, politics, wars, peace, negotiation all rely on communication, and without the ability to communicate freely many things would be corrupt.

In a society today where Internet, global communication, is available at our finger tips, is it used to our advantage? At an age of uncertainty with the world at an unstable stepping do we use communication to its fullest to help solve problems? The Media is an industry that relies solely on communication, but is the Media always giving out truthful, honest facts and opinions. Are the people who matter the most getting their opinions out? If people in France, Britain or America could read the opinions of people in Iraq, or surrounding counties would this war be going differently? If people could hear the opinions of the people being affected would it help solve problems? If the people with the problems do not communicate effectively to those who are working to fix it, can the problem ever be fixed effectively?

Yes I understand that we have blogs where people post their opinions, but how does one know that it is the truth, or how can one find the post or opinion of those affected quickly without searching through countless blogs to find the one they are looking for. We have great technology at our fingertips, we have a great potential to help each other with it, but have we reached it? If we organized blogs, and posts into a more organized way could people learn more from each other and read more about people’s opinions half way around the world? Could we even create a world-wide newspaper that expresses the view of people world-wide that has a site that would allow readers to even discuss their opinions of the news and others opinions? If the media were to evolve into something that is interactive so that the public has as much to say as the journalists and the companies would this world be in a better place? It is time that the media begins to change, into a interactive environment, with world-wide engagement. If this were to happen then I believe the world might be in a better place, because we would be communicating more effectively than ever. Communication is a blessing; we need to use it to its fullest potential!

I am someone who will continue to post blogs, everytime I see a new issue and have a strong opinion or feel that my voice should be heard I will post one. The most important thing I feel though is that not only are my opinions and blogs read but they are commented upon. I do not care if you disagree, or agree, I want to know what people think! Please comment and tell me you reaction when you read my work, because it can help me to learn new things, hear new opinions and meet new people!

Thank you,
KF