Laura Johnson Blog Post 5

1) In the essay titled Flavio's Home, three journalists decided to venture to the poorest part of Brazil. While walking around the busy streets of Caracas, they encountered a little boy by the name of Flavio. Flavio looked to them like a boy who only had a shirt, skin and bones; immediatly the three journalists felt bad for him. They decided that they were going to get him some help by taking him to see a doctor, but before they could do this they went to see Flavio's family in there makeshift home.
After watching the de Silva family eat dinner the three journalists returned to their hotel outside of the slums. The next morning the journalists and Flavio went to the local doctor to examine Flavio's health. When they got there they had to wait almost two hours before he was even examined. Once he was in the doctors room, the doctor only spoke English so that only the journalists could understand what he was saying. The doctor told them that Flavio was terminally ill and that he had roughly a year, if that, to live. Once they left the doctors office, Flavio asked the journalists what the doctor said was wrong with him. They told Flavio that everything was going to be fine and that there was nothing seriously wrong with him. Though, Flavio knew the truth and only asked the men if they could make sure that his family was healthy and survived.
This essay made me more aware of all cases of poverty that the world is facing, not just in the United States. I admire the individuals who decided to go over to Brazil and try to help someone that they didn't know or have any relation towards them. If more people could act like this, their attitudes could become more compassionate towards the poor in other countries. Also, listening to the graphic detail and looking at the picture breaks my heart in the sence that there are children who look like that in the world when people waste so much food.

2) Two reasons why this is contreversial are because birth control has many physical and mental health risks. Women who take birth control have a higher risk of getting breast cancer and oral cancer. The government should not be allowed to bribe women into taking something that may hurt them in the long run. Another reason is that governments should not be able to bribe women because every women has the right to choose what type of contreceptive that they wish to use.

Photograph. Angels for Brazil. CharityAdvantage, 14 Apr. 2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .