Whittard's Topics

18. What have you learned about yourself during the course?

Throughout World Issues, I feel as though I've become a much more informed citizen.  I'd like to think that I've learned to create some insight for others on our most important issues; my actions in the WIC in January helped teach many grades 8, 11, and 12 students about the European debt crisis and specifically Greece and my ISP on the US debt crisis sparked a response from many of my classmates.  World Issues has definitely helped me become a better and more confident speaker whether it be through long presentations, from crafting clever questions, or from bringing my ideas to the class in our discussions every class.  

Though I've learned a lot about many specific issues, I would like to think that the thinking methods that I've learned are the most important lessons that I've learned.  Of course there are many issues that need addressing; however, World Issues has taught me that countless numbers of Issues are always coming up and it how we learn from them that we may one day be able to make change in future similar issues that will make the world the better place we dream of.  

In terms of the hard skills, the knowledge, I feel as though I've solidified my love for finance in this course.  Without all of the research, independent learning, and reports that I've done on Europe and the US this year, I wouldn't have known how truly interested in this subject I am. 

19. What is the biggest threat facing our Canada in the next 50 years?

Though most people would likely put global warming in this blog, I feel as though we're trying to stop it, everyone is aware of it, and we're all recycling, using less water, and saving energy to slow this issue.  Canada's one unusable farmland will become warm enough to use and water levels will not become a problem for the majority of the country.  Instead, I feel as though the tar sands are an issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. 

After the recent TED talk shown in class, knowing that the beautiful rural land in Alberta is being destroyed by companies who wish to violate the land there and extract this oil in a very unclean way is something that needs to be stopped or done in a much less destructive matter.  The issue of oil in today's society is huge; wars have been fought over oil in Iraq and Iran is trying to leverage the US with their supplies of this "black gold." Though oil is a huge factor in economics, we need to do something about the tar sands in Alberta.  Canada is known for it's beauty, it's natural parks, it's great north, it's friendliness, how does ripping out natural habitats and polluting a huge amount of water to extract oil add to our reputation?  If there's one thing we need to protect in Canada, it is our pride and ripping out the beauty in our country to export a commodity that our world should be trying to live without is, quite frankly, disgusting. Canada needs to see a change in government that only supports this extraction of oil is it is much more clean and less destructive to the beauty of our country. 

20. As you move into the next phase of your life, how will you try to affect change in the world regarding these issues?

Unfortunately, my desired career path is one where I won't be able to solve these problems as an individual.  I hope to "retire" from my job and become a key player in the Canadian central banks or even the finance minister (if I'm anywhere close to good enough) so that I can bring my knowledge to bettering the economy of either Canada or the US, but also the rest of the world.  As we become a more global community, I hope that actions in one country will more directly start to affect others and that countries are working together as opposed to against each other for economic growth. 

As I won't be able to take on a job in the government's finances or the central bank for probably another 30-45 years, my impact on the world will continue to be with the individual.  I hope to influence people to make smart financial decisions in bad financial times.  As it has been said in class many times, the world is moved by money, we can't address many issues abroad because we don't have enough money for ourselves; I hope to help individuals, companies, and one day countries to be able to hold balanced books and to see growth in their finances so that we truly have no excuse to not hold our hands, or our pockets, out to those who need help in the developing world.