Response to the Article "The Man who lived without Money"

Personal Response

Apart from the ironical fact that he used the internet to share this ideal, I think he has achieved a significant feat. He has definitely spread awareness of people that Life without Money, is indeed, possible. He has evidently broke the traditional ideal of "Money is Happiness and Success". I personally loved the statement where he says, "If we were to grow our food, we wouldn't waste a third of it as we do today. If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn't throw them out the moment we changed the interior Decor. If we had to clean our own drinking water, we probably wound't shit in it." It helps us visualize and to some degree, empathize his experience. It doesn't sound all that bad, in fact, pretty intriguing and inspiring. I tip my hat to this man.  

The People for and against the Internet (2 for each)

Famous People who are for the Internet

• Steve Jobs: "I am very excited to have internet in my den"
• Bill Gates: "The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow"

Famous People who are against the Internet

• J.K. Rowling: "The internet has been a boon and a curse for all the teenagers"
• Jon Stewart: "The Internet is just a world passing on notes in a classroom"

Egypt's Stance in Women's rights

Egypt's position in the field of women rights is in an all-time-low. (Last week reports; 'Egypt worst place for women')

• After the revolution, women's rights have plummeted and women have been treated, not only unequally but worse.
• When the Muslim Brotherhood took over they rejected the CEDAW agreement, arguing it is for the well-being of the Muslim community (Conservative, Extreme motive) 
• Mubarak (original dictator who was ousted as the result of the revolution), Mohammed Morsi (First democratically elected government who also was ousted) and the military (current authoritative government) did no better than the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Egypt is ranked one of the worst nations for women, 'officially'
• There has been no official records of the stance of women, except for online secondary sources.
• Women have no say in politics
• Women have no Freedom of speech
• Women are discriminated until they gain identity through marriage (still is discriminated though less)
• Nation (Muslim Brotherhood) argues that the reason for this is because it is to satisfy the religious and moral references.
• Muslim Brotherhood will not budge
• After their ousting and jail-time, women continue to fight for essential women rights and calls upon international attention and support.

QOL / SOL Thoughts; Response to the 2nd Essay

1.What was the topic of your essay?

GDP and Standard of living; Question: Is GDP an accurate way to measure the standard of living? And my Essay Response/Thesis: No, GDP is an ineffective tool to measure the Standard of living. 

2. How has your opinion changed through the research you did while writing your essay?

I had thought that GDP was a direct measure of the nation’s standard of living but through data and research I have found that GDP is only the measure of the standard of living and the measure itself is usually inaccurate.

3. What interesting facts did you find out during your research that you did not include in your essay (were not relevant to your topic?)

The ranking and difference of national GDP (as in Purchasing Power) compared that of GDP per capita is massive. For example India’s GDP (Purchasing Power) is 4.515 trillion which is 3^rd in the world but the GDP per capita is 3700$; 164^th in the world.

4. How do you think your quality of life and standard of living relate to others around the world (which country/demographic do you think your circumstances are on par with?)

I believe I am privileged to have a higher-than-average quality of life and standard of living to those compared to citizens that live in Egypt but on the other hand, lower quality of standard of living compared to citizens of Korea. 

Examples of Quality of Life vs Standards of living

5 Countries that either have a high quality of life and low standards of living or vice versa

Peoples republic of China: High standards of living with low quality of life

• Standards of Living 
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 12.61 trillion; 3rd in the world
• Industrial Production Growth Rate: 8.1%; 20th 
• Distribution of family income: 47.4; 29th 
• Quality of Life 
• Corrupt government 
• Restrictions including policies that ban certain practices
• One-Child Policy
• Censorship 
• Internet Ban
• Conservative

Libya: High standards of living (as comparatively) with low quality of life

• Standards of living
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 78.63 billion; 83rd in the world
• GDP (Real growth rate): 104.5%; 1st in the world 
• Exports: Mass Oil exports
• Quality of Life
• Lack of basic human rights
• Focusing on women
• No basic gender rights
• No education
• No freedom of speech 

 Qatar: High Standards of living with low quality of life 

• Standards of living
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 191 billion; 59th in the world
• GDP (Per Capita): 103,900; 1st in the world
• Gross national saving: 63% of GDP; 1st in the world
• Quality of Life
• Lack of basic human rights
• Also Focusing on women
• Right to education
• Right to Express

 South Africa: Low Standards of living with high quality of life

• Standards of Living
• GDP (purchasing power)592 billion; 26th in the world
• GDP (growth rate): 2.5%; 125th
• Gross national saving: 13.1%; 113th
• Quality of Life
• Has basic rights 
• Available to hospitals, education, political stands

Ukraine: Low Standards living with high quality of life

• Standards of living 
• GDP (real growth rate): 0.2%; 176th in the world
• GDP (Per capita): 7500; 140th
• Gross national savings: 9.9% of GDP; 126th
• Quality of life
• Has basic rights 
• Also Available to hospitals, education, political stands and including pensions for older citizens and insurance.

Standards of Living vs. Quality of life

Understanding the difference between Standards of Living vs. Quality of Life

Standards of Living: is generally referred "to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class, in a certain geographic area."  (Investopedia.com). This is the general perception of Standards of Living but it is NOT the same things as Quality of Life. Standard of Living also does not fluctuate solely on income (just because your income decreases it does not mean your standard of living has decreased). Basically, Standard of Living is recognized as more objectively rather than subjective.

Factors of Standards of Living include (Common Perception):
-Total Income
-Class
-Safety
-Education
-Environmental Quality

Quality of Life: The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines Quality of Life as the availability to particular fundamental rights and freedom in which most developed countries take for granted. Unlike Standards of living where it is objective, Quality of life is based subjectively because the 'quality' of life cannot be measured (Qualitative).

Factors of Quality of Life include:
-Equal Rights
-Freedom from discrimination
-Freedom of Thought
-Right to Education
-Right to human dignity

Foreign Policy Essay Personal Response

Personal response

What have I learned? There will always be two sides or more to a particular issue or crisis. Without negotiations (diplomacy) there will only be chaos.

How has what I have learned changed my opinion? I had always believed that within an issue there will always be a ‘right’ ethical side against a ‘realistic’ (often negative) side but that is not the case. Both sides are realistic and they both make decisions that are ‘ethical’ in their perspective. All opinions are considered and solutions are generated accordingly (Satisfy all/most sides).