TOMAS OPPUS CAMPUS San Isidro, Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte Contact No: 09486089319 Email: slsu_tomas_oppus@yahoo.com Website: www.southernleytestateu.edu.ph Excellence | Service | Leadership and Good Governance | Innovation | Social Responsibility | Integrity | Professionalism | Spirituality JOAN M. GOZO BSED-202 Social Studies URBAN GEOGRAPHY ARTICLES 1. COVID-19 & Global Pandemic Without a doubt, almost every sector of modern life has been affected by the global pandemic restrictions and the rules of social distancing. Even though several countries of the world seem to return to normal life, the matters of logistics and global trading are still uncertain. Reflection Our lives have been affected in so many ways during the pandemic. Following public policy toward mitigation of this dreaded illness has turned our lives upside down. We have been struggling to find ways to tolerate stay at home orders. To learn new routines within our social isolation and for many to incorporate the education of their children during the day while schools remain closed. And above all, our stress and anxieties are peaked by the fear of contracting coronavirus as we see each day the numbers of confirmed positive cases and deaths from COVID-19. 2. The Black Lives Matter Social Movement Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police brutality and racially motivated violence against black people. Reflection As we continue to cope with the challenges of a global pandemic, I turn my attention this week to another issue that has impacted people across the world that is the problem of racial inequality. We all have a part to play in making change happen and to stand alongside those who experience inequality. People around the world are openly discussing, some for the very first time, what racism looks like within their communities, workplaces, and day-to-day lives. 3. Green Energy Conversion The most common renewable energy sources are systems that create power from wind, sun, or water; digestive processes that change waste into biomass; and systems that recycle waste for fuel generation. Other renewable sources include geothermal, “run of the river streams,” and now, bacteria and algae. Reflection Energy conversion is extremely important in our society. Saving energy will lower the costs associated with fossil fuels. The mining of fossil fuels is very expensive. Because of this, consumers must pay more for goods and services. Using less energy would undoubtedly result in less fossil fuel being mined. Consumer expenses would be decreased as a result. Therefore, reducing energy use would boost the economy since customers would have more money to spend on goods and services. 4. The Challenges of Remote Education Most educational systems across the world have migrated to remote learning modality as a measure against the spread of the coronavirus. As we are making it through yet another year of distance learning with Skype and Zoom solutions for video conferences, the challenges of modern learning are evident. Reflection As Covid-19 climbs and virtual learning continues, I anticipate it will take some time for educators, staff, and students to have adequate quiet time to process everything we have gone through. However, many of us have also discovered fresh approaches to adaptability, connection, and engagement with the world around us that we would have previously avoided or skipped over. I aim to carry some of these adjustments or realizations into the upcoming academic year, in whatever form that may take. 5. Arctic Pole Environmental Situation Three main interrelated issues are affecting the Arctic environment: climate change, changes in biological diversity and the accumulation of toxic substances. The Arctic appears to be both a harbinger of environmental change and a key determinant of that change, particularly as it relates to climate. Reflection Sea ice loss, the distress of Arctic species, and the extinction of Indigenous cultures should act as a wake-up call. It is still possible to change the trend and slow the melting, but if nothing is done, the window of opportunity may close. Global temperature swings are becoming more dramatic as a result of changes in air circulation patterns brought on by the loss in sea ice. 6. Global Unemployment Peak Unemployment typically measures individuals in the labor force, those that are not working but are actively seeking work. Just because a country has a low unemployment rate, does not mean its citizens are necessarily well-off. Reflection Typically, income is lost when one is unemployed. This should be quite evident considering that a person who does not work will not be able to earn any money. This isn't a big deal when it comes to one person, but it can be a big deal when it comes to larger groups. People might be less willing and able to spend money on goods and services, and they might end up buying things they initially perceive as inferior. As a result, they might suffer from the negative consequences of income loss, such as debt, and collectively bigger issues, such as rising rates of poverty and lower standards of living because of lower purchasing power. 7. Supply Chain Diversification In Post COVID- 19 Society The worldwide supply chain continues to be affected by challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including delays and disruption. Research shows severe disruption through the pandemic is driving enterprises to make their supply chains more resilient, collaborative and networked. Reflection As the virus spread throughout the world, especially in the early days of its transmission, we saw ripple effects. An outbreak or transportation delay in one part of the world would have a devastating impact across the globe. There are so many aspects of our lives have been disrupted like the healthcare, employment, the economy, how we buy goods it’s all different. With changes in consumer behaviors and priorities, supply chains of all types have also been massively impacted. 8. Poverty Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Reflection A person who lives in poverty constantly struggles for food and survival. One person cannot do the analysis of poverty on their own. If the governments of these nations, which are home to many poor people, and members of society as a whole cooperate, I think poverty may be eradicated. A poor individual should have access to enough resources to be able to support themselves. Poverty can be readily eradicated if every citizen of the nation works and earns. 9. Gender Inequality Gender inequality is discrimination on the basis of sex or gender causing one sex or gender to be routinely privileged or prioritized over another. Gender discrimination means any exclusion or restriction made on the basis of gender that creates barriers for girls, boys, women and/or men in recognizing, enjoying or exercising their full and equal human rights. Reflection The biggest problem we’re facing is that a lot of people still see gender inequality as a women’s issue. However, by gender, we refer to all genders including male, female, transgender and others. When we empower all genders especially the marginalized ones, they can lead their lives freely. Moreover, gender inequality results in not letting people speak their minds. 10. Climate Change Climate is the average weather in a place over many years, change is a shift in those average conditions. The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas and coal for their homes, factories and transport. Reflection Currently, climate change is happening all over the world. Warm areas are getting colder, and cold areas are getting warmer. The weather across the world is changing. This points to the fact that climate change is real. The most important cause of climate change now is global warming. 11. Child Labor The number of children experiencing physical, emotional and sexual violence, both now and in the months and years to come is set to rise. As COVID-19 puts strain on family incomes, children are being forced to beg in the streets, or sent to work instead of going school just to help their families get by. Reflection Millions of children in the Philippines are forced to work at young ages. Child labor is one of the Philippines' most urgent problems and stems from a range of social factors. Unless something is done, the issue of child labor will continue to affect the lives of many families across the country. Families struggle to make ends meet and face hard decisions when it comes to sending their children to work. Without immediate action, the problem will continue to grow.
