Dienstag, 22. November 2011

Occupy Wall Street


1) Thesis statement
Several banks as well as the world’s biggest bourse – the New York Stock Exchange – are situated in the Wall Street in Manhattan. Working efficiently, the brokers adjudicate on many financial transactions day by day. Millions of dollars are earned – and gambled away in the next second.
                In September 2011, protest activities against social injustices, corruption and avarice have started in Manhattan and many other cities follow this example.  A lot of people take part in the demonstrations and claim “We want to change something! We want to make the world a little better!”
But do they? Is this a powerful means of effecting change?
                This question has been discussed controversially and there are different perspectives on the question whether occupying a square can be considered as an effecting move.
                In my opinion, it is a good starting point to catch people’s attention and to point out social injustices as well as political wrongdoings.  Having read about the recent events in Arabian countries, I suppose that a large crowd of people has an enormous power that might be able to revolutionize any social or political system.
2) Brainstorming
What?     demonstration, protest activities
Who?      brokers, politicians, the rich and wealthy
               students, activists, disadvantaged people
How?      occupation of parks and squares
When?    September 2011 until now
Where?   in Manhattan, in big cities all around the world
Why?      movement against social injustices, corruption and avarice



Donnerstag, 10. November 2011

Facebook

The question whether Facebook's policy violates the users' privacy is controversially discussed in society.
On the one hand, the data could be used to increase security. On the other hand, many people feel that Facebook violates their privacy because it saves their data even if they try to delete it from the public website.
          One single click is enough to find numerous information or pictures about any person you are interested in. Therefore, the users should be very careful when uploading photos or entering information about their marital status.
         After having applied for a job, members of the personnel department can easily collect information about a user of Facebook and thus create an overall impression of the candidate. How could he ever justify his latest photos of the fantastic party and how could he explain why he was not able to go to work the day after it?
          Even if many people like to stay in touch with their friends via Facebook, I personally think that everyone should be highly concerned with the security of his own data because it could be easily misused.