The students of Astre 5 have been watching the presidential candidates tell the public what they think is important during Campaign 2000.  They have expressed opinions on many issues.  It won't be long before we will be allowed to vote.  Here is what we think is important and what we would do if we could make a difference in the world.  We hope the candidates listen to us, too.

Education is the future of the world for children.

   Stefanie
       If I could do something to make a difference in the world it would be to give each child in the world a good education.  I would build schools and hire teachers for children and adults to learn to read and write. I would donate notebooks, pencils, and workbooks.  These children would also have clean water to drink and healthy food to eat.  Having a good education means that there would not be people who are poor or dying of hunger.  When we have an education we get better jobs which means we can buy food, clothing and have shelter.  It would be one way to eliminate poverty in the world.  Children are the future of the world and if they don't have a good education,  more and more children will suffer and possibly die. Every child and adult should have an opportunity to be able to make a difference in his or her own life and education is an important way to achieve that goal.  That is what I would do to make a difference in the world.

Katie
    If I could do something to make a difference in the world, it would be to try
to get programs to really teach kids to have fun while learning.  An example would
be to create a Gameboy cartridge or Nintendo game that would include playing
and learning.  The reason that I would do this is because most kids are too
caught up in Pokemon, Mario, Bomberman or other cartoon figures to
focus on education.  That is how most people can grow up not knowing how to
read or to do any sort of math.  I think that it was more fun to learn before
all of the Gameboys and Pokemon came to America. Before these games became popular, I really liked learning because there weren't any other things to get in
my way.  Now kids just let learning seem like a chore to them and
just let the opportunity go by.  I think everyone can make learning easy and fun, by just
setting their own hearts to it.

  Philip

   If I could change the world, I would explore the universe in search of useful things that might help mankind. I would first approach this job by getting thebest education in science and physics so that I would understand how togo about it.  I would also be meeting other people who would be interestedin this field and I would put together a group of the best people.  We would travel to other parts of the universe to look for signs of life. We would pick up specimens (like plants, if we were lucky enough to find them) and study them for possible cures for diseases.  Wewould document everything that we do so that others could learn from it. I would travel around the world to teach what I learned from my explorations of the universe.  I would try to interest young people in space exploration as well.  I would hope that mankind would benefit from what I hadlearned in order to make the right choices on how to best use any new knowledge.

    Shalini

    If  I could do something to make a difference in the world it would be to set up
special free organizations and programs to help all children learn.  My organizations
would work to help children understand and master different subjects that are important
in everyday life.  The organizations would also donate money schools in order to provide a better education.  I would also like to lower class sizes.  I believe education plays an increasingly important role in the world economy today.  I think of the homeless and of those people who don't have a job.  If they and their children were able to benefit from an education, they might be able to earn a living with a good job, have a home and not go hungry.
    I think learning gives people a tool to help decide what they will do in the future.  It can help them to become the best that they can be.  Learning is not about being the best in everything, but in helping people to improve their lives.  I would want to create educational organizations that could help people achieve their goals and improve their lives.

The environment is a major concern.

Jennifer
    If I could make a difference in this world, it would be to save the rainforest. The rainforest is a fascinating place that has many plants and animals.  It may hold the key to life (a kind of "fountain of youth") with ways to cure diseases. I believe that there are many plants and herbs in the rainforest that contain chemicals which will ultimately cure AIDS, cancer and other diseases.  Scientist could discover new animals, even possibly finding some we believe are extinct.  Their genetic makeup could provide information on genetics that we don't even know about yet!  Studying these plants and animals may offer clues which would allow human beings to live healthy lives for many years.
    In order to find all of this, we must stop destroying the rainforest.  You don't need to clear away ten acres of land for just one home.  You don't need to cut down so many trees that kill animals and their habitats.  I would use my money, and host a fundraiser to protect the rainforest.  I would encourage people to go and study many of these fascinating species in the rainforest.  That is what I would do if I could make a difference in the world.

Alyssa
    If I could make a difference I would start an organization to clea up the Earth and invent a machine that would clean up dirty water for poor countries.  I would also develop a machine that could get rid of trash without polluting.  This would help the world because poor people would have clean water to drink and people would have clean air to breathe.  I would see to it that there would be more parks and trees so that the trees would use the carbon dioxide in the air and give off more oxygen.  This would benefit animals and fish because the water machine I invented would clean up the pollution.  Whale and dolphin populations would increase if the water was cleaner (and we didn't have ocean dumping of our waste). We could also eat more fish because it would be cleaner.
    My machines would be inexpensive so the government could afford to use it.  Clean water is important for animals and fish to survive.  My trash machine would be efficient so that it would not be necessary to have so many trash dumps.  We could have more habitats instead which would help protect our ecosystem.  I would work very hard to develop this technology.  It is so badly needed.

  Simi
    If I could do something to make a difference in the world, it would be to create a strong metal that would help prevent ships or tankers from making oil spills.  Oil spills are very dangerous because they poison the water that sea creatures live in, and the water becomes very toxic to humans.  Sea creatures can become very ill and can even kill other wildlife if they wash ashore and are eaten.
  The strong metal that I would create would be made of steel, titanium, and aluminum.  The metal would be pliable and yet be very strong.  It would be able to withstand the collision if a ship should strike the rocks.  This metal would act like a rubber band and stretch without breaking.  Oil would be stored in containers much further in from the wall of the ship.  If the wall of the ship was be punctured, the oil would not flow into the ocean.  The storage of oil in the ships made of this new wonder metal would ensure that oil spills could be prevented.

   Ryan

   If I could do something to make a difference in the world it would be to save the rainforests.  I would like to save them because they serve as a home to many creatures in the wild, many of whom are endangered.  Also,in the rainforest there are many trees that help produce oxygen for living organisms to survive.  I can begine to save the rainforests of the world by supporting agencies in my community and those worldwide which are set up to prevent the destruction of the environment.  I would also teach people in my community about the rainforests and what the consequences would be if we lost such a valuable part of our environment.  Many rainforests are being destroyed due to human activity, and it is our job as human beings to protect the earth and preserve its precious resources for future generations to enjoy.

     Ravi
    If I could make a difference I would make my neighborhood a cleaner and safer place by cleaning all of the ice and snow or any garbage on the sidewalk.  I would interest a small group of people in helping me clean the neighborhood to make it a safer place.  We would clean the sidewalks for free.  When the winter would end and all of the snow melted,  we would probably pull weeds in the spring and pant flowers in our back yards.  We would give flower seeds from flowers that bloomed to people to plant in their gardens.  We would keep doing this throught the summer (with a few breaks, of course).  In the fall we would get back on track and continue our efforts to keep the sidewalks clean (after we finished our homework).  We could rake the leaves so that the sidewalks would be clear and that would improve the appearance of the neighborhood.  That's how I would make a difference.

    Renesa
    If I could make a difference in the world, I would...  Actually, let me tell you a story.  One day I went to the partk on a Sunday afternoon.  I was bored and tired so I sat on the bench, and there was gum stuck to it.  So I went for a walk, and the park was dirty.  I thought it would be nice to have the park clean.  The parks in my neighborhood have dead plants, compacted soil, trees with dry trunks, trash and many more unpleasant things.  To make the world a better place, I would clean neighborhood parks.  Most  people won't see the difference, but to me it's important.  It may be a small thing to do, but it would make a difference to me and to the people in my community.

Loraine
    If I could help the world in any way, I would help clean the beaches.  I would start an organization that would travel to nearby beaches every weekend.  They would pick up every piece of garbage on the ground.  Garbage on the ground is dangerous because animals on the beach could get seriously hurt or killed by garbage.  They could choke or suffocate by eating some of the garbage.  We might even clear the dead jellyfish from the beaches for the young children.  After that, they could go swimming!  My group would be called "Loraine's World Savers!"  At the end of the year, we would have a big party.  In addition to cleaning the beaches, I would protest again animal fur coats, purses, lotions and experiments on animals for cosmetics.   I believe those things are unnecessary and uncalled for.  Animals get killed for the sake of looking pretty or being fashionable!  Humans need to be the solution to the problem, not the source of it.

Melissa
    If I could make a difference in the world it would be to help stop water pollution.  I would make sure that every person picks up his or her trash at the beaches or near oceans.  If they didn't keep the area clean then I would organize groups of people to go around to the beaches or areas near oceans to help pick up the trash.   I would also create a program for people to join that would work to save the oceans.  I would arrange for people to come to the beach according to a schedule to make sure that the beaches were clean.  This could become a business which would continue to find people who also want to save the environment.    I would keep track of the progress we were making through the use of computers so communities and government could know how well the project was doing.  We would keep gathering information so we would know if the oceans and the beaches continued to stay clean.  It is important to get the word out to people so they will be aware of the problem and hopefully they would want to help.  To do that I would make sure there were signs and posters telling the public and business community not to pollute the ocean and to  help save the oceans.  I would make sure I had a counter to recruit help to keep the project going.   Clean water and clean beaches are very important and trying to save them would improve the quality of our lives.  That's would I do if I could make a difference in the world.
 

  Julien
           If I could make a difference in the world it would be to convince people that our environment must be protected or the world will be here not for very long.  If we don't start cleaning up the environment now, the pollution will destroy our lives and the lives of the creatures who inhabit the Earth.  People shouldn't just toss their trash anywere.  They should dispose of garbage and waste in a way that prevents our planet from being polluted.
 The ozone layer around the earth is in need of protection.  To help our ozone layer, we need to stop using aerosol-spray bottles.  The materials used to create the aerosol is slowly but surely destroying the ozone layer which is why there is currently a hole it.  If the hole get too big, then pure sunlight will burn the forest and start huge forest fires.  It will also harm people by possibly causing skin cancer.  I would try to convince companies to seek new ways to properly dispose of their waste so they could not pollute our water and air.  There isn't any time to lose.  If the people of the earth start cleaning the world now, then we will be able to help Mother Earth (and those who inhabit it) survive.  The earth is our most prized possession and we depend on it to live. That is what I would do if I could make a difference in the world.

Daniel
       If I could do something to make a difference in the world, it would be to try
to convince people of the need to save the forests in the world.  The
forest is very important to our lives. The trees and plants take the carbon dioxide
(CO2) and gives us Oxygen (O2).   If there are not enough trees in the world,
people might die because of the lack of oxygen.  I also  want to help save trees
because trees are homes to many animals.  If there are not enough trees to support
the animals, some species could be endangered or become extinct.   Another way
people should save the forests is to recycle paper,  cardboard, and paper products.
 We have to think of ways to recycle paper because we now use so much of it with
computer printers.  We should plant more trees instead of cutting them down.
Recycling could help so that we would not need to cut as many trees for wood
products.   Trees are useful and important to preserve our environment, and they are beautiful.   Helping to convince people to preserve them is what I would to make a difference in the world.

Christopher

       If  I could make a difference in the world I would try to stop pollution.
Pollution causes mutations and kills animals and plants.  Pollution affects our natural resources, our trees, crops, air, and water, making for an unhealthy environment..  I would work to make cars that don't pollute the air with their exhaust.  All cars would have to be solar powered and I would support research to make this possible. I would also make sure that an accident like the Exxon oil spill in Alaska would never appen again by making stricter rules and regulations with harsher consequences for those whose tankers pollute while transporting oil.  I would pollution a crime punishable by a heavy fine.   The law would also have to be strictly enforced.
     Air pollution is another problem and I would support efforts to filter the pollution that comes from smoke given off by factories.  We breathe that air and it must be cleaned.
I would also put an end to landfills because they pollute neighborhoods.  I would support effots to find ways to make waste biodegradable.  If a material, such as styrofoam, was not recyclable, I would help to make it against the law to make and sell it.  That is what I would do to stop pollution if I could make a difference in the world.

  Souleyman
    If I could make a difference in the world it would be to SAVE THE RAINFOREST!
The destruction of the rainforests is a problem throughout the world.  We have to preserve plant life because of the fact that plants give off the oxygen we need to breathe.  Animal habitats are also endangered as the rainforest is destroyed.  There are many things we can learn from the rainforest, but only if we protect it.  We can start by learning why plant life is important to us.  We also need to develop an appreciation of the plants we have around us at home. That includes planting trees on the sidewalks where we live.  I  know that we can't do all that is needed to save the rainforest, but we can try by beginning at home through education and local efforts to protect the nature around us.  We can also support groups who work to protect the rainforests.  That is what I would do if I could make a difference in the world.

   Andrea
     If I could make a difference in the world I would stop all pollution and make sure that chemicals are handled with care and are not used for pollution.  If anyone uses chemicals that pollute or poison our other resources, they would risk being arrested and possibly go to jail.  I would make sure that lead was not used in ways that could cause lead poisoning.  I would try to have people research ways to make things biodegradable so that the resources could be recycled.   Mercury is another chemical that often pollutes and I would have a way to inspect the waste that factories produce to make sure mercury and other harmful materials were not used.  The chemicals we use as house cleaners also need to be examined because when we are done using them, they should be disposed of in a way that won't pollute.  We need to produce cleaning chemicals that are not hazardous and that could disintegrate in a way that would not be harmful so there would be no problems.  I would try to help achieve those goals if I could make a difference in the world.

The homeless need our help. We have to eliminate world poverty and hunger.

    Kemal
    If  I could do something to make a difference in the world it would be to help
poverty stricken nations to overcome poverty and hunger.  To accomplish these
goals I would recruit volunteers who would go to those nations and
educate the people.  I would hope to teach them constructive ways to make the best use of their land.  The volunteers in my organization would teach the people to farm and cultivate their land, to grow suitable necessary for the survival of a community.
    In some parts of the world there might not be enough water to cultivate the land.
The volunteers would then have to teach people the best way to irrigate the land so that they
could have enough water to cultivate their crops.   Once this goal was achieved and the needs of the community were met, all surplus food would then be exported to foreign markets in order to obtain money to maintain the community.
    I would work with the United Nations and see the help of large companies with funding to start up and sustain this project. I hope to achieve my goal of ending hunger and
poverty in parts of the world. Hopefully doing this might save the lives of many!

   Elizabeth
    If I could do somthing to make a difference in the world it would be to be a baker
or a chef in a soup kitchen in my spare time.  I love to bake and cook and I think some
poor or homeless people would enjoy a gourmet meal.  I might even make them feel
like a king or queen for the short time they visit the soup kitchen.  Since I want to be trained at the French Culinary Institute of New York, I feel I can make a difference in some lives.
If I had trouble buying the food needed for the meals I would ask the restaurant I
normally work in to donate food to the soup kitchen and I would look for sponsors.  If I could have some other chefs to help me I think we could make more and better meals for everyone.  I would also want to have a place where children could go and play.  If I could change the lives of just a few people I feel I would have made a difference in their lives and mine.

   Kimberly

           If I could do something to make a difference in the world it would be to help people who are homeless.  I would help them by making food for them.  I would do this because people who are homeless do not get enough to eat and if they do get food, it is not always nutritious and good tasting.   I would go to a shelter to see how many people there are.  I would ask my friends and family if they would help to buy supplies to make sandwiches.materials.  After that I would organize a way to transport all the food to the shelter. Or I might go to a soup kitchen  and donate thefood to them for the people who come.  I my idea worked then I wouldalso put it on the internet and I hope kids all around the world woulddo this.  If kids did this all around the world maybe we could makethe amount of people dying of starvation go down or at least we helpedsome people.

   Rebecca
            If I could do somthing to make a difference in the world it would be to start a
food and clothes pantry. This would be a place where people could trade things they did not need for items they did.  Food would also be available for those who needed it but could not afford to pay for it.  I would ask people to donate their time to help run the pantry.  Food staples such as bread and rice and soups would always be available.  We would ask for donations from people who could afford to give things to those in need.   This would help people who cannot afford to buy a lot of food or clothing for themselves and their families.  Those who could not afford to donate food or clothing would be asked to donate time to help run the pantry.  I would also look for a donation of space for the pantry. This could be in the basement of a building or space in a house.  Hopefully we would have enough volunteer, food and clothing to keep the pantry open every day, but I would make sure that we were open at least a few days a week for people in need.  That is what I would do if I could make a difference in the world.

   James
    When I am older and if I have made a lot of money, I would like to make a difference
in the world. The way in which I would accomplish this goal is the following. I
would give money, food, and clothes to the homeless, the needy, and to disabled
people.  I see people who are in a bad situation it upsets me.   I would help them
care for themselves so they would remain healthy. My dad's friend was in the Viet
Nam War.  When he returned he naver had a place to call home.  He eventually died at the age of forty nine because of his homelessness and his inability to care for himself.
    At this point in my life, I can make a difference in two very special people's lives:
my great grandmother, who is ninty-eight  years old and who had to be placed in a nursing
home; and my little cousin who has asthma.   I visit my great grandmother whenever possible.  This makes her happy. I would also like to take care of my little cousin who has asthma.  He loves it when I play with him.  That is how I would hope to make a difference in this world.

     Nishanthy

      If I could make a difference in the world I would try to help those people less fortunate than me.  I would try to raise money by selling goods that I made and then give the money to charity.  I would save the clothes that members of my family no longer needed and give them to people in need.  We need to remember how fortunate we are and that there are people who must have help.  I would organize fundraisers and would give all the money to help children's education and children's health.  I hope to become a doctor when I grow up because I love to help people.  That way I could help with my medical knowledge, and hopefully give more of the money I made to people in need of caring.  I would also give the money to the people I love.  That is what I hope to do to make a difference in the world.

Kavitha
    The world is not a perfect place to live in. In our society there are crimes, wars,
and pollution.  If I could make a difference in the world I would try to make the world
a safer place.  One of the thing I would do is make help pass laws for stricter licensing of guns.  People can buy guns too easily and there are many crimes committed using guns.  Gun control is something we cannot ignore if we are to make our communities safer.
      I would also work in the community to support homes and shelters for the homeless.  There are many homeless children and they need a place to live so that they can go to schools, get an education, and succeed in life.  If I could help by supporting the groups that help the homeless I believe the world would be a safer place and that would make a difference.

  Mariana

    I would hope to make a difference in the world by continuing to give clothes to the poor
(which I already do). I would also like to give money to the poor.  My mom has given money to people in need and has set an example for our family.   I want to work with people who need physical and psychological help.  I am hoping to become a doctor or a psychologist when I grow up so that I can achieve these goals.  It is important to help others solve their problems if we want to improve our communities.  I hope to learn how to help people help themselves.   I realize how important it is to help someone in need or to cure diseases and hope that I can make a difference in these areas.

Oriana
     If I could make a difference in the world, I would help the homeless and their children.  First, I would help the homelss parents by helping them to apply for jobs.  I would help them to keep a record of the days they worked and help them get to work.  I would try to find a job that would interest them and would have something to do with their experience.
I would make sure they did not pay rent until they had been working long enough to save some money.  Once the adults had jobs, I would try to help them save money for their children's education.  I would also help them to handle their money so that they would not go into debt for more than $50.  The homeless need encouragement and I am sure there are people willing to help.  With help and encouragement from others, if you think about it, the homeless might be able to work and help themselves and become productive members of the community.
 

Stop animal poaching and protect endangered species.

     Lian 

      If I could make a difference in the world, I would stop animal poaching!  I think that it is very cruel to be killing animals such as tigers and bears for carpets, or elephants for their ivory tusks, and minks and other furry animals to make coats.  Fashion is one major reason animal poaching continues.  There are people who are willing to buy these items and the people who kill these animals make money.  It is hard to stop people who know they will make all this money if they continue to kill the animals which often are almost extinct.     Saving endangered animals is important if we are to prevent the extinction of many species.  We could learn more about these animals and their behaviors, but only if we make an effort to save them.  The only way we will be able to do this is teach people why it is important to stop the poaching and make sale of these dead animals illegal.  I would work to make sure the laws would stop the poaching and punish the people who do it.  I believe that by doing this I could make a difference in our world.

Nicole
            If I could make a difference I would clean up the parks and forests in my
city, and plant trees to make the area more beautiful. I would do this by organizing a
group of volunteers to help.  Then we would work on one area at a time cleaning up
the trash and clearing spots to plant.  Then we would plant flowers and trees to make the place healthier and more beautiful.  We would also be careful to plant those plants that could live in this climate and plant them in a way that would allow them to grow without root systems getting tangled up. After we finished we would put up signs warning people of any hazards and ask people not to litter.  We would also ask people to stay on the trails to avoid walking on the plants.   If we don't take action to care for our forests and parks,
trees and plants will die.   Animals  won't have habitats to survive.
    Forests and parks are beautiful. What would we do
without them.  If I could make a difference, helping to plant and save trees and flowers are what I would do!

 Working towards peace is the way to end violence.

    Julia
    If I could make a difference in the  world it would be to have peace and harmony because there is too much violence in the world.  I think how to achieve peace and harmony must be taught  so that there would be less killing, less fighting, less violence.
    I think ways to work towards peace and harmony have to be considered so that we can avoid terrible tragedies such as the one that took place in Columbine High School in Colorado.  The people who were angry and depressed needed help so that the killings might have been prevented.  People  need to understand the meaning of being sweet and kind.  People who are unhappy and look to violence as a way to solve problems must be shown ways of getting help so that violence doesn't become a choice.
     People should be made aware of the kinds of violence that need prevention.  There is family violence, violence to property (against stores) which includes graffitti and vandalism (such as car damage).  People who do violent things not only affect their own lives but the lives of their families and friends.  Action to prevent these kinds of violence is so important that I would try to work with people to promote the peace and harmony we so badly need.  Now that is the difference I would try to make in the world.

    Jimmy
      If I could make a difference in the world I would make sure that every school has
special classes and more professional help for people that are angry or frustrated.  I would make these classes available because of recent shootings and threats in schools throughout the United States.  These classes would encourage children not to do harmful things.  They would also explain the consequences of violence in schools and teach children other ways to solve problems rather than to resort to violence.  These classes will also teach children about drugs and peer pressure and how to deal with rough situations.
      If this is was successful there might be less violence, bullies and drugs in school, and then children could get a better education.  Children might  be able to make more friends in school and have a happier and healthier life.  I would first begin with solving these problems in the United States, but I believe that there are children all over the world who share this problem.  To make a difference in the "world",  I would first travel around the United States looking for people willing to be guidance counselors or teachers in this category.  Next I would travel to different countries that would need this kind of help.  I would create centers that would help find other kids!

    Krystal
     If I could make a difference in the world it would be to try to stop child abuse.
Children have to be protected, and a child who is abused might become an abusive adult.
 I would pass stricter rules that cover child abuse and try to pass laws about parents who
go to jail for abuse.  I would organize homes or look for homes for the children who are victims of child abuse. Children are helpless and frightened when they are harmed and need help.   Another reason to help stop child abuse is that those children could become depressed for the rest of their lives.  I would also put more police on the street around the clock in the hopes that this would lower the chances of a child being abused.   This is an important problem to solve because abused children may grow up to be abusive parents.  Children have to be taught to know better than to use violence and they need someone to set an example.  I hope that more people become aware of how important this problem is to solve and I would want to make a difference in this world by tring to protect children.
 

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