Blogs

Book Review - Alexandria of Africa

Sun, 31 May 2009 13:33:00 -0400

By Brennan Wong

Alexandria of Africa is a fiction book with real people portraying the characters in this amazing turn of events. Eric Walters, the author, dedicates this book to all Free the Children staff who have worked tirelessly to help children through education.

This book, Alexandria of Africa, tells the story of Alexandria Hyatt, a 'rich and pampered' fifteen year old girl who is sent to a juvenile detention centre after being found guilty of shoplifting. Her lawyer pleads for another opportunity with the judge, she could either stay in the detention centre and sulk or she could take a trip with the organization Child Save and help the impoverished in Kenya. She took the second option. When she arrived at Nairobi Airport, she was greeted by Renee, her supervisor for her three week stay. Her first impression of the camp was that of a jail. However, as time progressed, she made friends, and recognized that the trip was not as bad as she thought. When she came back, her parents rewarded her with expensive, and fasionable items. However, she underwent a transformation on her trip and high end products no longer appealed to her. Instead, she made use of that money to build a hospital in Kenya.

This reminds me of the kids in places like Ecuador where they live in crowded conditions and can not recieve a quality education because of poverty. Many kids in developed countries are not aware of the challenges faced by kids in less developed countries. I think that there should be more organizations like Free The Children to help improve lives through education. Their example is a true role model for us.

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Brennan Wong is the founder of World News Corporation and now spearheads donation projects for Free The Children at his school.

Summer Camp - Take Action Academy

Sat, 30 May 2009 16:08:00 -0400

Hello World News Readers and Subscribers!

Above is the new ad for the Take Action Academy, which I have attended for the past two years. I hope you may consider to join the camp this year. Think more of we and less of me!

Meaning of Home 09 - The Home of a Poverty Stricken Child

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:46:00 -0500

By Auston Chhor

The home of a very poor child is often filled with dirt, disease, hunger and boredom. The house is coated in a thick layer of grime and full of insects flying and crawling like a busy street. The water is very dirty and the child must work with no pay and no school.

Being a kid in a poor area is very hard.

I wake up to the sound of the chirping crickets and my master yelling in my ear. I get up and wash my face in a dirty old bucket. I then go out to my work. I work in the hot patties of rice where there is a danger of disease, snapping turtles and worst of all, water snakes. I have no friends to play with and my day is nothing but planting and pulling. I trudge through the thick mud that goes up to my ankles. It is very hard work cutting but it is even harder with no food. I wear no shoes and also thin worn out shirt and pants. Once the harvest is over I still have to work in the rice processing plant where they package it.

After I plant about 20 rows of rice, my muscles are screaming for me to stop. We only have 2 breaks, one for lunch and one for sleep. When it is lunch, my master throws us some leftovers that the rich master said was spoiled. We drink from a contaminated tap and continue working. The worst part is when a snake attacks and the poison makes me very sick. Luckily, my brother is always there and gives me some of his food and takes care of me. The poison is not lethal but it hurts a lot. My master does not care if one of us gets sick. He usually just kicks us and tells us to get back to work.

I have no parents and I usually wonder who they are. My brother says they will be coming soon but they never do. When I go to sleep in my old little barn, the animals always make such a racket I sometimes don?t get sleep. My master left some thin porridge for my dinner and I hungrily devour it. I go to sleep and dream about having a real home and one day having fun.

The next day

Today I have received news that my parents are coming! My brother and I were so excited. We could finally live in a real home! I have waited so long for this day to come! When my parents come they are so happy to see us. They say they are sorry for leaving us there and say that they are very rich. We drive to my real home. It is nice and clean and has no trace of dirt. I have my own room and a nice soft bed. Our house is very big and can support lots of fun. I tell them about my time and the plantation and they fell sorry to the other kids and decide to donate money to them. We have lots of fun at our new house and we finally know the meaning of home.

Brennan's Letter and Essay To Stephane Dion

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:26:44 -0400

Dear Mr. Stephane Dion,

Please let me introduce myself. My name is Brennan Wong and I am 11 years old. I am a Grade 6 student at Crosby Heights Public School in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

I followed the recent election very closely and I am disappointed that your Green Shift plan was not better understood by the voters. My father asked me to write down my feelings in an essay about the election and the results. He helped edit and correct my grammar and spelling.

I would like to share this with you, and although you may not agree with everything I wrote, it is the way I truly feel.

This election has probably been stressful for you but I think you should stay in politics. You have the courage to deal with tough problems and also the honesty to ask ordinary people to make sacrifices.

My father told me that you helped Prime Minister Chr�tien keep our country together when Quebec tried to separate from Canada. He also told me about the Clarity Act, and how some people in your own province turned against you. I just want you to know that more people are proud of you for doing the right thing.

I have posted the essay (also attached) on a website called www.worldnewscorporation.com which I created last year to discuss the news with my friends at school and to support a charity called Free the Children.

Good luck in all your future endeavours! I hope you continue to serve our country.

Sincerely,

Brennan Wong

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Essay To Mr. Stephane Dion

If Stephane Dion ever wanted to become a successful politician, he would first have to know how to lie. Stephane probably lost this election because he always told the truth. All the other parties made lies about what they would do for you when you vote for them, which helped those parties increase the number of seats they got. Stephane cost the Liberal Party many seats because he failed to clearly explain the benefits of his Green Shift plan, and at the same time he was too truthful about its cost.

For example, on the issue of carbon tax, he said that there would be a $100 added to your taxes if you go over 1 kilogram of carbon emissions. With that on everyone?s mind, no person would vote for him. They would need that money to spend on something else. Also, he probably lost because Stephen Harper finally cracked the Liberal strongholds in Ontario. Alberta is always Conservative, which means that the Liberals have to fight harder in all the other provinces/territories.

I do feel that Stephane Dion is a weak leader because of the stubbornness in his character. It has been proven a number of times that a trustworthy leader will have a hard time becoming prime minister. Without the ability to tell the truth artfully, there was absolutely no way the Liberals could win. However, losing an election does not mean you are a bad person. Take Stephane as an example. He lost the election, but he isn?t the liar that most politicians are. He has been honest about his policies, which helps the voter understand the ?real issues?. He never says, ?Vote for me or you or your country will go down the drain?. He never treats the other leaders with disrespect. He does not want the Canadian Army to get bogged down in Afghanistan. He is probably the most trustworthy leader in the history of Canadian politics.

In sad conclusion, I think it is possible that the people did not elect Stephane Dion because of his honesty. Many voters who relied on misleading campaign ads to inform them about the issues were attracted to the Conservatives. Stephane Dion had the courage to propose a controversial energy policy to tackle the difficult issues of global warming, energy self-sufficiency and environmental protection. Unfortunately, he placed too much faith in the voters to rise above self-interest and consider the good of the country.

If Stephane Dion had been able to explain his policies clearly, he might have been able to change some minds. The carbon tax was an ambitious tax to change the energy consumption pattern to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. The Conservatives were right to challenge Dion?s policies, but they also disparaged his character and took cheap shots at him as the Liberal leader. That was an insult to any intelligent voter. Stephane Dion had a hard time explaining his policies in English which was not his native language. But he is a man of honesty, decency, integrity, foresight and courage. I think history will be much kinder to Stephane Dion.

WNC Question and Answers

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:16:20 -0400

Question: How will the inclusion of the Green Party in televised debates change the outcome of this election?

Answer: With the Green Party and Elizabeth May in full swing, there are votes that will be taken away from all parties since the Greens are getting much more mention in the news. Another important boost for the Greens is Blair Wilson switching to become the first Green Party MP last week. The Conservatives had a very big chance of beating Stephane Dion?s Green Shift because he was not able to explain it well. Now that Elizabeth is in the fight, Stephen Harper will have a harder time attacking those who support a carbon tax. However, it is most likely that the increased support for the Green Party will come from the Liberals and the NDP.

How I think the debate with Elizabeth May can change the outcome:

	Before	After	October 14^th
Conservative	38%	39%	37%
Liberal	25%	23%	23%
NDP	20%	18%	17%
Bloc	10%	9%	8%
Green	7%	10%	15%

Question courtesy of Mr. Andrews. Answer provided by Brennan Wong, who is the founder of World News Corporation and author of a new book called Politics: How it Changes Everything

Brennan's Air Pollution Solution

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:20:07 -0400

My Air Pollution Solution

I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose. Hmmm?it must be a poor reading on the Air Quality Index again! If it does not improve soon, I?ll have to wear an oxygen mask to school!

Many human activities (e.g. burning fossil fuels for energy) pollute the air and change the climate. Clean air is essential for our well-being. If we don?t fight air pollution, we will soon go the way of the dinosaur and become extinct.

You may think that there isn?t much you can do, but collectively we can make a huge difference. We could ask our friends to bike, walk, carpool, or take public transportation to get to school. At home, we must use electricity wisely by heating up food in a microwave instead of an oven, drying clothes outside on a sunny day, turning the heat down and putting on a sweater, taking a shower instead of a bath, turning off lights in empty rooms, and using energy-saving light bulbs. We could also choose pollution-free energy suppliers that use solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Skip the power tools and use air-friendly push mowers and hand clippers for yard care. Businesses should use technology that reduces waste gases. Industries that cannot help producing pollutants should move away from high-populated areas to improve public health. The government should enforce recycling and create an incentive program to buy recycled goods. Building bicycle paths would encourage the use of bikes instead of cars. Government should conserve more areas for planting trees to clean the air naturally.

It is possible for us to tackle this urgent global issue. Imagine what would happen if everyone used public transportation. What if everyone used electricity wisely? What if we recycled all our trash? The air would be cleaner and nicer to breathe. We must work together to live in a better environment. Everyone shares the planet. Everyone can help save it!

Shannon's Turning Point Essay - What's Wrong With This Picture?

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:10:42 -0400

Have you ever been so hungry that your growling stomach could be heard across the room? It happened to me once when I was giving a speech to the Kiwanis Club. It was embarrassing but a sandwich quickly fixed the problem. Well, let me be clear, I ate it after the speech, not during the speech.

But seriously, millions of children in the world suffer from hunger everyday. As we tackle our own problems with obesity and junk food, try to imagine an emaciated African child weighing no more than 30 pounds making her way across the bushland. She is starving and totally exhausted. Yet she keeps her tired body moving with a few tiny crawls at a time. As she desperately tries to reach a nearby refugee camp, a plump vulture sits silently, waiting for her to succumb to her weakened condition.

This image was captured by the camera of photojournalist Kevin Carter. He was credited for drawing world attention to the suffering of African children that momentarily shocked the conscience of the civilized world into action.

I have never been so stunned by one picture in my entire life. I challenge anyone to look at this image and come away unaffected. While we obsess ourselves with the latest electronic gadgets to amuse and entertain ourselves, other children like this little African girl struggle to stay alive, fighting the odds against famine, drought, and disease.

When I look at the photo of this little girl, I ask myself: Is there anything that I can do to help? Yes, there is. Even in very small ways, every one of us who wants to help fight the injustice can make an impact. Every episode of human anguish that explodes abruptly or unfolds quietly challenges us to answer its urgent call to action. How can we help? We can give donations, raise funds and increase public awareness of the situation.

In the past year I have been introduced to an organization called ?Free The Children?. The primary goals of the organization are to free children from poverty and exploitation and free young people from the notion that they are powerless to help out.

Recently, my brother and I decided to hold fundraising birthday parties. We asked our guests to make donations to Free the Children instead of bringing presents. We raised $2400. Last month, I held a popcorn sale and raised $500. Additionally, I donated cash awards of over $1,000 from various competitions that I attended. It feels good to be able to make a contribution towards relieving children?s misery in the third world. Seeing the little girl in the photograph has been the turning point in my life. Her plight makes me look past my own needs. Now I am convinced that even young people can help change the world for the better. Just remember this old Jewish proverb: ?If you save one life, it is as if you have saved the world.?

Toronto Star story on the Meaning Of Home

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:17:00 -0400

Boy honored for his story prompted by homelessness Habitat for Humanity the big winner overall

January 26, 2008

A foreign photographer snapping pictures of Toronto's homeless sparked 10-year-old Brennan Wong to pen his prize-winning story for the Genworth Financial Canada Student Writing Contest.

"I was a little sad because we are such a developed country and it is embarrassing that we have homeless people here and someone from another country was taking pictures of it," Brennan said in an interview.

The Grade 5 student at Richmond Hill's Crosby Heights Public School was first runner-up. Winner Sarah Murray is a Grade 4 student from Kingston.

Genworth will donate $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of York Region in Brennan's name.

He will also receive a gift certificate of $100 from Chapters-Indigo.

Brennan's story:

Isn't it funny we always want to go home when we are tired?

Why do we always support the home team?

Why does our computer always start at the home page?

What is this special feeling that we have for a place called home?

Home is where we find shelter, comfort, food and safety.

Home is where we begin our lives under the nurture of our family, and the guidance of our parents. The school and the playground may be exciting, but home is where we come to rest our tired bodies.

Going home sometimes means more than going back to your house; it means going back to where you belong, with your family.

What makes a home?

The windows are the eyes that scan the neighbourhood for dangers.

The furnace is the heart that pumps out the heat during our cold winters.

The attic is the brain that stores a lot of junk!

The kitchen is the stomach that never stops growling. However, it is the parents and the children that make the home complete.

The home is a very important part of everyone's life.

What about the homeless people?

Without a home, they have no shelter, comfort, food or safety.

What can we do to help the homeless? We can organize some fundraising campaigns or persuade the government to set aside some money for them.

Do you want to take some positive action with me?

My dream is a world where there are no homeless people.

First of all, people should have jobs. Second, they should make decent wages. Third, they should be able to afford their own home.

Everyone should remember what Dorothy said in the movie, Wizard of Oz: "There is no place like home."

Brennan's fundraising story on Free the Children website

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:52:00 -0400

My 10^thbirthday was my most important birthday so far. I raised $1100 for Free the Children in honour of all the invisible children around the world. I wish to thank all my friends and my parents for their support.

Celebrate for Change is a challenge and a fantastic learning opportunity. From the first day that I received my birthday kit from Free the Children, I could not contain my excitement. I was thrilled with all the amazing stationery ? a poster with stickers, boarding pass invitations and a thank you note to appreciate my guests. I was extremely impressed with the person who designed this kit. On each piece of stationery, we could see the five countries that Free the Children currently has projects in. These items are very cleverly designed and children find them appealing. I couldn?t wait to plan my birthday and share these with my friends.

I had two separate parties on Sep 30^th and Oct 7^th 2007, one for kids and the other one for friends of the family. I think the invisible children should be recognized by people of all ages. In each party, I did five awareness activities. First, I made a speech about what Celebrate for Change was all about. Second, prizes were given to guests who could say ?Happy Birthday? in different languages so we could be more aware of countries in the world. Third, we did a trivia about Free the Children so that people could get a better understanding about this organization. Fourth, a top prize was given to the guest who could solve my charade of ?We can all make a difference.? Last, a scavenger hunt for toys and snacks was held to make people appreciate their good fortune in Canada.

At the end of the parties, I looked forward to hear positive feedback from my guests. They all liked the idea and they wanted to hold fundraising parties too. These parties made me look past my own needs and helped me understand how young people could change the world for the better. Would you like to mark your next birthday with your very own Celebrate for Change campaign?