Reflection Question 3

• What are the 3 most important issues that you've learned about during the course?

The 3 most important issues that I've learned about this year have been the ones that I had no previous knowledge about.  This is to say that, before I took this class, I had no clue these things were happening:

• Human trafficking in Canada
• FGM in Africa
• Coral Reefs

The reason I found Human Trafficking to be a serious issue is that i had no clue it was happening in canada.  With issues like this, one usually assumes they only take place in 3rd world or developing nations.  When the impact it has on Canada shows itself so plainly, its very enlightening and justifies the need to see this issue as very important.  The other part of this issue that mad eme think was the fact that penalties for human trafficking in Canada are so loose.  In order to set a positive example and be part of the solution rather than be part of the problem, Canada needs to clean up itself before it thinks about assisting other nations.

The reason I found FGM in Africa to be so important was because, again, I had no idea things like this were happening.  I really fully realized the differences between my culture and the culture of those in Africa: FGM would be a massive issue in Canada, but in Africa it is seen as part of their culture.  Nevertheless, it is cruel and unhealthy and ,even though it is not our place to assert our culture where it doesn't belong, I feel that FGM is violating basic human rights that should be granted everywhere, regardless of cultural restrictions.

Lastly, I found the depletion of the coral reef to be an important issue.  Although I was aware of this happening, I had no idea as to what scale.  Also, I did not know that the coral reef is such an important ecosystem.  I think the reason I did not know that much about it was because it doesn't immediately affect any environment around me, but once you realize that its like an underwater rainforest housing hundreds of different species, the need to perserve it shows itself as crucial.