Education reforms: here, there and everywhere

Students in the streets of London

During this year, big changes in education have leveled Europe, and the students aren't happy whit that. In general (in the world, and of curse, Chile isn't the exception of that) this reforms trate to privatize the education. Now is the turn of England. Since two weeks ago, thousand of secundary and university students were on strike, but no in the university campus or in the schools: they taken the streets and, in London, start violence incidents against the police. They are about 20.000 people in the streets.

The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, wasn't happy about this situation and, at the Hugo Young annual lecture he sais: "These are the things that make me angry; these are the facts that would make me take to the streets; these are the injustices that our policy wiill remedy...". Moreover, he sais students should listen and look before they march and shout, because "education reform will encourage social mobility".

In the other hand, Aron Porter from the National Union of Students, says to BBC who Liberal Democrat (Clegg's party) aren't fulfill their promise about abolishing fees.

A police car today in London, Wednesday 24 November

At today, strike still continues in the streets of London, and you can follow the facts second by second here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout?intcmp=239. Now, if you want to know more about Nick Clegg declarations going to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/23/nick-clegg-education-reform-social-mobility.

Finally, in my opinion, I thing we can't see this event like a isolated fact. It's a global tendence and all the students in the world (and his families, specially poor or worker people) are victims of this "new wave" of privatization. During this year there were strikes in many countries of Europe and here in Latin American too: Who will win this time ? politicians and bussinessmans like always, or students and worker people ? Lets see...

Technology subjects: The internet revolution

The modern life have many characteristics, but at this time, one of them is, in my opinion, the most important: the technology is always in progress. Always. And this progress haven't scopes, because inside in all the parts of our lifes. Education it's no the exception. Fifteen years go, the school and university education in Chile was totally different, and principally for one think: the internet, a real revolution.

The internet revolutionized the concept of education. In all the subjects. For example, at this moment, I'm in my house, doing my english homework, by internet... the english subject isn't posible without internet. This subject and this moment (the blog) it's maybe the best example to show my ponit. But, really, in all my subjects is the same. At the moment, I can't study without internet in my home... but ¿Is this positive? I think internet it positive if you use all his resources. However, the problem is the same problem of the education: it's necesary to democratize the internet's acces. Moreover, the democratization of internet acces it's essential if Chile wants to improve his education.

So, about my subjects in the university, in all of them, the internet it's a pedagogical tool, and the most important is the e-mail. I revised my e-mail every day (sometimes two or three times... even more), because, every day I receipt, at the very least, ten e-mails about things of the university ! Of curse, those things aren't just academical things, but are all about the university in general, and talk about, for example, investigations (seminaries, proyects, etc.), academical calendar, political things (national or university), messages from teachers (for example, when I recibe e-mails from Julia saying: "Emilio, do your Blog's homework!")... everything!. Moreover, I do all my works and homeworks using internet. It's like a new encyclopedia.

In conclussion, the technology is very important in modern life and, in the modern education, internet it's like a big revolution. Now we can't live without internet. All in all, internet is -for me- a god tool for the education, but useless if we can't -like country, community, etc.- democratize it.

What to do & Where to go in Santiago!

Alameda Road in 1927

The first one I must say is: the present post it's the post 4. I'm very delayed whit my homeworks, I know.

Santiago it's a great city. Actually, all people says "I don't like Santiago..." or say "Sanatiasko" instead of Santaigo. And I think ¿Why? I suposse it's only a pose, because ¿Do you know many other cities? Please... Obiously, Santiago is not perfect but... come on! it's not so bad. Have good and bad points, like every one! like people... like you and me!

A place in Santiago that I like is the center of the city, specially the old center. I like, for example, Barrio Brasil, Estación Central, San Diego and Avenida Matta. In all those places, there are many hovels when you can listen to cueca. For example, in Avenida Matta con San Diego it's a place called "Club Deportivo y Social Comercio Atlético" or, In Barrio Brasil for example, there is the "Galpón Víctor Jara". Moreover, in that place you always can listen, dance and play cueca too. However, in the center of Santiago you can do many other things, not only listen to cueca. You can go to the cinema, for example. There are two good cinemas: The Alameda's Center of Art and The Normandie's Art Cinema

So, for me, if you want to know Santiago, know the center of the city. If you don't know the center, his people and his streets... you are not a real santiaguino.

Whell... Hi everybody...

So, you can see I'am very delayed whit my homeworks in englis III (my faovurite subject. I swear)

but... like the bible says "From the penitent is the kingdom of heaven". Whell, i don't belive in god or the bible, but it's a good sentence for moments like this...

So, about how green I am. I tjink I'm very green. I take care about these things. For example, I don't use the car or the public transport very much, because every day (not only when I come to the university) I use the bike. The bike is the best form to be green and healthy. And happy because: have you seen anything more stressful than the public transport ?

But the bike it's not the only thing. I'm "green" in general, for example I treat to don't use things like the television, ligths or computers unnecessarily. But whe, te common people, aren't tyhe problem: the real problem are the big transnational companies, they are not green and never think in the enviorement, because the money it's first.

In the present, the are too many green groups, like "greenpace". There are principally groups from the industrialized countries, formed whit people whit very god conscience, and comfort in his life... there are not many chinise, or indian green-people: they want more contamination and comfort and industry. All these things comming together. This is a fact.

What a fu´kljsdaj´g problem no ?

Good Films.

There are many films who I love. But there are only two who really "killed" me: The Fight Club, directed by David Fincher in 1999, and Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1979. The first, I saw alone in my sister's house, when I was sixteen and from the first moment I was shaking by the philosophy inside the history and characters of the film. The second film,Apocalypse Now, it's, in my humble opinion, one of the masterpieces in the history of cinema. I saw her when I was eighteen and I never forget the words of Francis Ford Coppola, who says 'This is not a film about the Vietnam War, this is Vietnam". There is a god resume of the film, but there is just a word that can resumes the film too: “The Horror”.

Anyway, it’s difficult to me say what is my favourite film. I love films! So I can’t say “this it’s my favourite” or “this it’s the best” because there are too many genius directors and films. For example: Modern Times, direct by Charles Chaplin, it’s wonderfull (I cried at the end) or Ivan The Terrible and Viva México! Of Sergéi Eisenstein, the most greatest russian director, and the American Western, like The Searchers, whit John Wayne and directed by John Ford. However, in Chile there are good films too. In fact, Chile was one of the first countries in the world who has a film’s industry in the XX century. Moreover, one of my favourites films in all the world it’s a chilean film. Directed by Miguel Littin: El Chacal de Nahueltoro. I like too Machuca, Caluga o menta and El peje-sapo, a films who talks about the lumpen in Chile.

All in all, I think one of the most important thigns in the cine is his vinculation whit social themes: it’s, in my opinión -or visión-, a “sociological art”, because in general, movies talk about characters in societis, his life, etc.

POST 2: Brazil.

Caetano Veloso. One of my favourite Brazilian artist.

I like travel, very, very much. But I don't have money or family in other countries, so, I tried to travel to nearby countries. I'm lucky, because at the moment, I knew all the places who I love in South America (because is music, literature, culture, etc.). This places are Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia. All of them, beautiful countries. Nevertheless, one country is still in 'my list': Brazil.

Why I want go to Brazil ? For the same reasons because I went to other places: tha pleasure of travel and new conversations; the music, the culture, the people.... I want to visit the land of Caetano Veloso, the bossa nova, and the Tropicalia movement!

Brazil have beautiful natural-places and also big and modern cities. Very rich and very poor people; a delicius culture and illiteracy in the amazonas. In my opinion, if you know Brazil, you know all latinoamerica and, maybe, all the world. This is the prncipal cause because I want to live in Brazil but, first, I must go only like a tourist. Maybe, when I complet my studies, I will to Brazil, to live there... working or studing. This is not important for me in this moment.

POST 1: Good and bad points.

Well, at first, I just want to say one think: in my opinion the present year, 2010, is a "cursed year", a terrible year for every one. At least in Chile. Or not ?... I want to know the person who is having a god year !! The 2010 begun like shit -if you forgiven me the expression- due the big earthquake: many people died or missing, or without house; many cities destroyed. Everyone in Chile whit "the nerves of point". Nothing god can born of this.

With regards to my personal life: a disaster. I don't want to give a rundown of that. In my opinion, all my problems are fault of this year. The worst year. The cursed year: 2010.

So, better talk about another thing. Something simple: the studies. Very god. I like my discipline a lot (I prefer this expression, instead of "race", because I don't compete with any one of my companions) and in the first semester I have very interesting subjects. On e of those: "Historia social de Chile" (Social History of Chile), whit Gabriel Salazar -National Price of History, 2006-, one of the most important and influence historian in Chile. It was a god experience.

In agreement with the cuestion "What was the most memorable moment?" I think the most memorable moment was the day who term the semester. For me, that meaned the end of a cycle, and a opportunity to make the things better.