Why people should help with humanitarian crises

 As humanity progresses and changes, the more we hear about other things that happen in the world that can surprise us more than ever. Thanks to interconnection through things such as the internet, generations are slowly becoming more exposed to and educated about different things that happen in the world. People can learn about what goes on in other countries and what they can do about it. However, a majority of people don't participate in humanitarian activities-and why is that? As more horrific events take place in today's society, this is why you and everyone should stop, take notice and take action.

This earth holds about 7.8 billion people-all in different countries, with different beliefs and hopes and dreams. 7.8 billion people who have the chance to change the world, but also have the opportunity to ruin it. And even though we all are very similar, we go through different things that many of us may not know. Things like the blacklivesmatter campaign, the Chinese concentration camps and many other stories that are yet to be told have always been hidden by the media-the one place where people can find information. We may have heard of them, but most of us never really think about how the people involved in them are humans, just like us. That we could have been in their position, or that they have thoughts and feelings of their own, each and ever person. That is why we need to take action-to let people have a chance to live normally. Other things like the Lebanon crisis and poverty in all sorts of countries are only covered briefly on the news if they are lucky-but all humanitarian crises need the attention they deserve to truly bring a stop to them.

If people took notice of what was happening and did their research and helped out, not only would the media start bringing more attention to such topics, but more successful organisations would start to help others and other people would definitely be more interested and information would reach more people-thanks to social media. Because of social media, people can find out about topics and humanitarian crises as they can accidentally stumble upon content-or things can be shared and promoted by others. Many activism campaigns and charities have started because people have spread messages about humanitarian crises, and if just more people brought their attention to such topics, people could receive enough help and support to stop whatever problem they have. This is why every person's support and help matters, as it all eventually builds up-even you.

To help support others, it doesn't take too much. Most of the work someone can do to help is free and doesn't require much work, and it could change someone's life. Signing petitions is a great way to help, as petitions can even be counted by the government and laws can even be changed, and it just takes two seconds to sign your name. Charities are a great way to help others, but if you don't have money on you, donating money for free exists-no matter how silly it sounds. Things such as streaming monetized videos that are said to donate to humanitarian crises on YouTube are a great help, and you can mute the video and help others without even trying. Things such as spreading awareness of problems on the internet is also a great way. Giving links to petitions, giving information about what is going on and talking about humanitarian crises can convince others to start helping as well. There is sure to be information you need on every social media app-you just need to search. Anyone is capable of changing a life, no matter how much they think they can't.

At the end of the day, just being an ally to other people is just human nature-it should be done without thinking. It doesn't matter if a lot of people already support something, or if it doesn't have a lot of attention brought to it. People should try to support and do as much as they can nonetheless. We all bleed the same, and we all have the same needs-so you should give your attention where it's worth, to give more hope towards a society where everyone is equal.

The Search

Evangeline swept up her things on the desk, giving the tattered tablecloth one final smack, as dust streamed through the air. Oliver gawkily pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, as he glanced in Sandy's direction. Sandy locked eyes with him, something hidden in her gaze. She paced forward and stiffly shoved the compasses and the pieces of paper in Evangeline's rucksack for her. Evangeline looked up at Sandy. 

"Come on, we should have gone ages ago." Sandy said sternly.

Evangeline sighed her auburn hair bouncing on her shoulders as she bobbed her head up and down. "Sorry guys," she mused, "I just want to get a lead on this case."

Oliver and Sandy looked back at each other, both feeling the same emotion for once for two people who were so wildly different. They peered back at their friend in worry, but they chose not to say anything. 

"Get home safe, okay? Don't let this dumb special assignment keep your head in the clouds." Oliver murmured, and the two friends slipped out of the shed door, gently shutting it with a resounding click.

Evangeline groaned in frustration. Pacing around the room, her thoughts swirling around in her head. We had something going on, I can feel it. Her eyes wandered over to the scruffy leather knapsack that had fallen. I swear we're so close to solving it. 

She pushed herself up out of her squatting position, and snatched up the knapsack, shaking the contents out as they clattered out. 

There was something they had missed. Evangeline, not noticing the lights dim in the room, rummaged through the items for the hundredth time that day.
The god that had given them such an 'important mission', and had begged the unusual group of friends to do it 'because they were special' had barely given them any clues or solutions. The few pieces of equipment he had given them too, no matter how magical, was second-hand and barely worked. Six months of trying to find this 'special orb' that would change the world had ended in finding barely anything-after all they were your average group of kids. Both Oliver and Sandy had clearly given up.

But why hadn't Evangeline?

She just had the feeling. Just a smallest thought that she might find it, and that it really was more significant than that god had revealed. If the equipment he had given them was magical, then really anything was possible, and Evangeline was sick of such a boring life, a life of being in the shadows.

She whipped her head around, her senses coming back as she faded back into reality. It was pitch black outside. How hadn't she noticed? A small huff of air left Evangeline's lips in exasperation, as she packed up her items once more. She'd be walking home in the dark now, how nice.

Her sneakers clattered against the floor as she fumbled with the knapsack in the crepuscular lighting. The floorboards creaked as she pulled herself up. She paused at the door, and felt around with her callused hands, trying to find the handle. Her fingers brushed against it, but she leaped back as a squeak left her lips. Her hand had been yanked back by an imaginary force.

"Don't bother, it's locked." A voice rumbled from the depths of the musty sports shed. Evangeline squinted, but she pivoted around to see the god behind her, eerily glowing like a lantern. 

"Stop calling me that, it's not that hard to remember the name Loki." he huffed, ignoring her shock at his ability to read her mind. He slipped off of the bench, and glanced casually at his nails. 

The air turned cold. Loki looked down at her frozen figure. 

"Oh yeah," Loki mused, grinning in a sinister manner. "I've been found out for tricking random groups of kids around the country and everything into finding that little orb thing." He flicked out a hand, and Evangeline gasped in horror to see her two best friends, unconscious in a small holographic blue flame, gaunt and pallid-faced. She looked back at Loki, rage and utter confusion burning in her chest and she opened her mouth, about to explode at him.

He carelessly silenced her with a wave of his hand. "And I'm getting rid of the evidence, so it was pretty time wasting to find out you've been cooped up in this rubbish dump of a shed all day-solving the clues, I presume?" 

Loki took a step forwards, the vision of Evangeline's friends vanishing from sight. "Your turn now, sweetie."

Evangeline's lip trembled, as she stumbled back. Her eyes widened as she straightened up, gaping at the sight over Loki's shoulder.

"Principal Smith?"

Loki's head swiveled around, but as he did, a clang echoed behind him. He swayed to the side, unsteady on his feet, before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed-revealing a quivering Evangeline with a dented shovel in her hands.

Evangeline, stepping disgustedly over the god, tried to brush herself off as her heart pounded in her chest, almost threatening to jump out. She grabbed her bag, ready to make a run for it, when something caught her eye.

A small, intricate object had fallen out of Loki's breast pocket and was glittering peculiarly in the moonlight as it lay next to him. A necklace.

The Plane

The shivering, gaunt boy scrambled up onto the deck as the cheers of the crowd intensified, a mass of hollering, sweaty adults. The boy turned over to look at the old man beside him.
"Go, Oliver," the man drawled, rubbing his weathered hands together greedily. "you know what the tradition is."
Oliver visibly gulped, the yelling of the adults ringing in his ears as they slammed against the frail deck, gawking at him with wide, hungry eyes. He shuffled towards the podium. The mayor looked down on him, a gleam in his eye. He snatched Oliver's lanky hand in his fleshy one and raised it over their heads, a sneer forming as he studied the crowd of adults.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our champion! When he returns from his flight, that is when you start bidding for him. Don't get too excited now!" He taunted, letting go of Oliver's sore wrist.
Oliver's eyes narrowed slightly, but his slight disgust vanished as he turned towards the hot air balloon towering behind him.
Oh it was grand, why wouldn't it be, considering it was prepared for such a special event? Subtle waves of lace were draped over the balloon brimming with hot air, as the pale pink silk that surrounded it swelled as it bobbed above the ground. Oliver gawked at it, but then flashes of his previous friends' faces appeared in his mind, prompting him of their murders, or their terrified faces as wealthy couples dragged them off. Anger bubbled in his stomach, as he spun back to the crowd, confidence building up in him. The scrawny old man raised a prickly eyebrow at this, then his chapped lips split into grin, revealing his crooked teeth to the back of the boy's head.

Oliver stumbled along the dilapidated hallway of the orphanage. The small muffled chattering of the fellow 'orphans' behind the thin walls were the only sound he could hear, apart from his small footsteps. Suddenly, the thundering of footsteps echoed behind him. Oliver whipped his head around questioningly, and his lips quirked up in a small grin as his friends bolted around the corner and towards him, shoving each other roughly out of the way.
"Oliver, man of the hour!" Charlie bellowed, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "Perhaps we should start respecting the chosen child?"
"Not a chance," the twins chorused as they hurried towards him. Something like deep sympathy glistened in Grace's eyes as her beaming face fell, and she turned and hugged Oliver's waist tightly. Even the normally rowdy Garrett's cheerful demeanor vanished as he stared at Oliver with pursed lips. Charlie's grip on Oliver's shoulder loosened as he observed the change in atmosphere.
"There's nothing we can do now, except joke about it before he goes." Charlie mused.
Grace sniffled as she let go, looking at Oliver sadly as Anna slowed down as she rushed towards them, looking at their concerned faces. Anna's face split into a grin, albeit a slightly sad one, as she hooked Oliver's arm with hers.
"Seems like it was only yesterday when I saw the skinny little toddler lining up for the porridge, and now he's already leaving me with these idiots." Her rough accent echoed as she pulled him along. Oliver chuckled, an image of a younger Anna with pigtails appearing in his mind, before sorrow replaced his happiness.
He faced the dirty, smudged faces of the only family he had over the years he had grown up.
Looking at each and every one of the faces that he might as well see for the last time, he smiled wistfully.
"I can't guarantee I'll be safe, but I really won't forget you guys. Really."
Grace burst into tears and fled to him, hugging him. Charlie didn't even make fun of her for once, miserably trudging up to them and gently bringing his gangly arms over the both of them in a group hug. Garrett didn't waste time in jogging up and squeezing his own arms around them, gripping Oliver's torn shirt tightly. Anna stared at the ground, shuffling her bare feet from side to side. Oliver poked his head up, raising an expectant eyebrow as he smiled warmly. Pretending to huff irritatedly, Anna walked over, but immediately broke out into a run as she buried her head in the middle.
Oliver stayed there in the embrace of his friends. He squeezed his eyes shut. Curse those greedy adults, tearing him and his family apart to make him try and compete just for the highest bidder to bring him off to make him a servant. He wasn't even an orphan.
Somewhere out there were his parents, who he had been stolen from by those money hungry people. Everything had ended up being just for money, with all those scared, hungry, lost children having to suffer the worst of it.
Oliver looked over the heads of his friends once more, determination glazing over his eyes.
He would avenge all the lost childhoods.

The Train Station

She darted past an officer, slipping past the pole behind him so silently that he would have never felt it. The girl slunk around a corner and, very carefully, tiptoed over the gate. She glanced back. She could no longer hear the yells and orders of the guards, nor see the peeping heads of the unfit, middle aged men over the crowd as they tried to scrutinize the faces of each and every person to check if it was her. The girl checked her ticket. What was her name again? 

Printed on the crinkled ticket in mahogany, type-written letters were three words: Aubrey La Fournier. 

The girl ogled at the ticket, her bony hands stretching the paper so far that it might as well have ripped. She didn't look cut out for it, didn't she? Such a fancy name for a commonplace, grubby urchin. The new Aubrey, I suppose we'll call her, reached down and smoothed out her torn frock in an attempt to make herself look presentable. Humming in satisfaction, she snootily held her head high as she marched barefooted further into the train station.

The old building really didn't look like the grand train station that it really was inside. Originally Aubrey had decided to escape from the horror that was considered by others as an 'orphanage'. Hell, she was deemed even unworthy of a name before she had escaped. The old building appeared as a refuge to Aubrey as she had walked through the empty streets languidly. She even peered into the windows to check, and all she saw were plain, bare concrete rooms that would have at least sheltered her decently for the night. So how had it completely changed before her eyes when she pried open the door?

The sight inside was staggering. Aubrey stumbled back, her eyes wide as she gawked around her. She was so stunned at the sight in front of her that she didn't notice a mysterious gust of wind gently nudge her forwards and a hidden force shut the door behind her with a small click. She blinked hard, trying to decipher whether what she was looking at was a figment of her imagination or not. Extravagant, lavish decorations encompassed the huge hall in bundles of velvet and gold leaf sculptures of angels, and aquamarine marble floors. But the most intriguing part of the station in the ornate archways, on either side of the majestic fountain resting in the middle of the station were vivid, wildly different trains speeding on either side. They appeared to move faster than light, but stopped equally as quick as soon as a passenger hurried towards it. So far, Aubrey had spotted a square train swathed in exotic fabric and jewelry, an oddly shaped train with a range of household objects scattered around the top, and a particularly large train entirely made out of crystal that sparkled underneath the blinding lights that shone from up above. And in this train station, were all sorts of people lumbering around. They were all oddly dressed. Some in togas and some in large top hats that obscured their faces, and many glided into each train with ease while others wandered around in confusion, or just simply doing their own thing-but it was deathly silent as none of them spoke a word. One thing that Aubrey could see on every person though, no matter how different they were, was a ticket in their hands, or in their breast pocket or peeking out of their sock on the rare occasion. That was when she saw some guards hurrying towards her, yelling for her to show her ticket. She squeaked and ducked her head, weaving through the crowds, no one even sparing a glance (it seems that they couldn't even see her at all) back at her. She tugged her frock up so as to not trip over it, panting as she nimbly sprinted away. As she darted away, she bumped harshly into a girl dressed in gaudy clothing. The girl couldn't seem to see Aubrey or hear her apology, but she glared sharply into the space behind her as she whipped her head around and tottered off. A ticket fluttered out of her pocket and fell to the ground. Aubrey, shrugged casually, snatched the ticket and then made a run for it.

And that brings us back to Aubrey's current situation, standing in the middle of the great train station with nothing but her ticket clutched in her grimy hands. The name of the girl who Aubrey was impersonating glittered brightly on the ticket, shimmering underneath the light. She peered at it in awe, holding it up close. She brushed her fingers over it. As soon as Aubrey's skin brushed over the smooth paper, she felt the light pulsate around her, as her vision blurred for a second. The crowd of people surrounding her dissipated into thin air when her vision cleared. There wasn't a single person in sight. The train station felt still, as Aubrey looked around her. She stumbled towards one of the archways to poke her head out to look for a train. All of a sudden, a train rumbled in a distance as it bolted towards her, the blazing lights paralyzing her for a short second, then stopped dead in front of her as it lurched slightly from the sudden movement. Aubrey had just enough time to yank her head back sharply, screaming in shock as she checked anxiously that her head was still attached to her neck. Panting with her hand resting on her chest to try and calm down her pounding heart, she looked up at the train which looked... quite normal? She peered at it curiously. Was this her train? What was it for anyway? The doors shuddered as they drew open, but unlike the other trains, She felt someone was in there already. The doors shut abruptly as the train picked up its pace and she had to scramble to hold onto a pole, a squeal escaping her lips. The lights flickered, then shut off before Aubrey had time to see who the person was. She squirmed in her seat, growing uncomfortable as her warm, clammy hands scrunched up the ticket in pain. 

Two gleaming eyes flashed in the darkness that consumed the carriage.

"Look who's been stealing," a low raspy voice chuckled.

Humanities at School

Humanities is a subject that probably isn't taught in other schools, and I had only recently heard of it when I moved to my new school. It's also a subject that probably hasn't been taught in the past and might have only been recently introduced to schools these days. However, it's an important subject that should probably have been introduced earlier to to students all around the world and has the potential to be life-changing.

When I was in grade 3 (the first time Humanities was introduced to me), Humanities sounded like a really difficult subject and sounded like university level material. At my old school, there had been no mention of such a subject and my friends from other schools never talked about anything of the sort when it came to such a subject. But as soon as we started learning, Humanities to me became a subject that just taught me about the other people in the world and didn't involve hard maths or difficult vocabulary. It was an eye-opener to me and my teachers went into depth (but not too deep for a third grader) about what other people in the world were like and how they lived their lives. Humanities wasn't like any other subjects, like English or Maths where we studied to gain knowledge to prepare for things such as future jobs, it felt like it was there to teach us about the people around us, to show us about ourselves as people. There are similar subjects such as law, politics, philosophy and history-but teaching things like those to someone who just came out of 2nd grade would be too confusing, and humanities was basically a subject that could sum all of that up-while being easy enough to understand.

The humans in this world are all different. Living in different conditions, being raised by different people and seeing different things give us all different perspectives on our own lives and how we see others. Humanities was a factual way learn about others in the world without added opinions to twist the way we learned about them. Asking people like parents or friends about others in the world would result in different opinions, and maybe sometimes even some misinformation due to the experiences they had and what they saw. If you asked someone the amount of Spanish people in their neighbourhood, there is a chance they might respond with how many Spanish people they'd seen in the neighbourhood they lived in- but there's a lot of flaws that come with their statement. You couldn't then be able to learn properly. When learning about Humanities with facts and detail going into peoples' lives, you can then make your own opinion based on what you learn. Things like this can really change humanity and change how people see others, and might even do more for how the humans interact with each other than something like Maths might do.

Humanities also is a subject that employs others in it. Maths is often used for percentages and populations, science can be used for how human beings have improved in science and what parts of the world have contributed more to science than others, and other things such as fine arts are all part of humanities-because they have all been created and developed by humans as time went on. It doesn't only teach you the facts, but it's also about people's personal lives and how they have grown and changed. Learning humanities makes you more understanding of the people around you, and you can also understand more about not only the people on this planet, but the planet itself and how we have affected it, therefore being more environmentally aware. Humanities might even make you a better person.

In conclusion, even though Humanities isn't a common subject in most schools, even though it should be because it would clearly benefit us all and teach us more about people in other countries. It has the potential to teach young children about people in other countries and how different they all are, which to me is a special thing because they'll retain that knowledge and it'll change the way they speak to and interact with others in the future. And for me, that's one of the most important things.

My identity

Since I was young, too young to even remember my life back then or merely speak, my parents brought me around the world and I lived in several countries, including Vietnam and Singapore. When they finally came to Australia, bought a decent home near the school I'd be going to, that was when I started learning how to read and write. And the more I grew up, I started learning more and more about my identity and began asking questions about all the places I had lived in. But what sort of identity do I have? Is it English, Vietnamese or Australian? The place I was born, the place my parents came from or the place I live in?

I was born in Norwich, England. I have no memories from the few years that I spent there, and ended up moving to other countries. However, when I returned after a few years of living in other countries, I immediately connected with the country as I travelled around it and hadn't ever found myself happier in any other country. The huge history behind the country (I'm a pretty big fan of history, specifically England and its kings and queens), the cultures and the personalities of the people I befriended when I went there captivated me, and I still long to go back one day. The country just seemed like the perfect place for me-the people were so nice, the weather was exactly the type of weather that I enjoyed (I've never minded rain, and I've always wanted to see snow once again), the country was filled with tourist sites and intriguing places filled with history and going to London especially was a wonderful experience, even if it was short-lived. So if I could say I came from a certain place, England would be my pick.

Vietnam was the place that both of my parents had come from. We returned there frequently, about every 1/2 years to visit my family, and I loved the country and its culture. Vietnam had always been a different experience compared to England or Australia, as the food was unique and tasted much better, sightseeing in Vietnam was always a joy and each place we travelled to was different from the other and offered some amazing sights. Another special thing about being in Vietnam was meeting the different people in my family, both from my mother's and my father's side, and seeing us all grow up and change. They reminded me of the life I would have been living if my parents had never moved to other countries. Of course it would be different. Of course my only identity would have been Vietnamese, and I'd probably never have the chance to go to other countries and experience different cultures and meet all sorts of people. And of course when people meet me, the first thing they typically think (apart from thinking that I'm Chinese) is that I am Vietnamese, not Australian or anything else. But I haven't gotten the chance to properly live in the country. To people in Vietnam, I'm more like a foreigner and Australian is more of my identity, since I can't fluently speak Vietnamese, eat Vietnamese food or the fact that I grew up in different conditions compared to them.

Australia was the place that I had the most memories from. I was taught in an environment that a majority of the other kids in Australia that I knew had the same experience. I had a lot of fun in a public school, and lived in a much better condition than other kids back in Vietnam. When I was in third grade, I chose to move to a private girls school that was much further away from my old school. When I moved, life was much different, even if it was in the same city. And even then, it was hard to choose where I belonged-with my old friends, or with my new friends?  I was different in both places now-my new private school, because I came when everyone had decided on their own friend groups already and life was different, or my old school, where I had left for another school and didn't have anything back then to keep in touch with my old friends. But in Australia, in general there were a lot of cultures and diversity, so I was never quite alone when it came to being Vietnamese, or living in other countries, or being someone who had lived in England for a little bit.

I think my identity consists of all the places I've been to-the places where I've made many friends and seen many beautiful sights. Of course to specific people from specific places, my identity is different and I'm a different person to each person I meet. But there's one thing, and that is even if I've lived in so many places, each place has made an impact on me and made me into the person I am today.

How COVID-19 has affected my life

The Corona virus has, in some way, affected everyone's lives and changed some for the worse. However, the measures the government has taken to save the lives of others could have prevented ruining some other peoples' lives before they even knew it. This is how my life has changed since the first day word got around on social media that there was a virus originating from China.

When I had first heard about the virus, nothing like this had ever occurred in my life until now, so I somewhat brushed it off. I lived in Australia, an island in the middle of the sea, and whenever I had heard about viruses the previous years leading up to that moment, those viruses typically remained in the countries they originated from. Of course I was concerned for the sick people who had caught the virus and hoped they would get better and it would all calm down in a few weeks or months. What could possibly happen to me, or the rest of the world?

I didn't keep in touch with the media too much, so I went on with my business at school, having fun with my friends and going to the park, or to the shops occasionally. A few weeks later, sitting at an art class and sketching out a toy, I overheard a conversation between my art teacher and one of my classmates. I tried to focus on my drawing, but phrases and words coming from their conversation reached my ears and my curiosity grew. Small phrases such as 'staying at home', 'school closes down' and 'corona virus' were repeated in their conversation and my classmates had long forgotten their art projects and were chattering to the teacher about their concerns. I silently paid attention to their conversation. This was so sudden. Had the virus from a few weeks ago become so serious that something like this had to happen? Would I really be getting a longer holiday? I focused on my drawing and ended up finishing, unlike my other classmates that began to converse about what they'd be doing if school closed early. And as I left the classroom, travelling down the stairs, the thought of what the virus had been doing to other people after all this time.

Slowly, I started hearing more and more about this virus the more time passed. It was inevitable to not hear about it. At school, many of my classmates began to disappear, one by one, until there were barely enough students to form a decent class. On the internet, it was all people could talk about and warnings began popping up everywhere. The news barely talked about anything but the virus, and who had died and who hadn't. All the shops that I had been going to before the pandemic all had closed down suddenly. I couldn't even go online without Corona virus warnings screaming in my ears in my music app (I'm listening to one right now as I write this). The cases grew and grew, while more people panicked and began to prepare for when the virus really hit. The more the virus spread, so did racism towards asians, which infuriated me because those attacking others weren't doing really anything to help and only further increased my concerns.

Once we were called in for an emergency assembly at my school (of course, every person sat a seat/

two seats apart), where my principal announced that we would be beginning online school a week before the holidays and a week after. I didn't think much of it, and my classmates began bringing all their folders home in their backpacks, looking like turtles with the heavy weight on their backs. Before I knew it, online school started, and while I managed with it decently it was still a super new experience. And according to the adults that I knew, it was likely I wouldn't be experiencing a situation like this for possibly the rest of my life.

Staying inside all the time started to get boring, and many of my friends agreed with me. I started doing things I thought I'd never be doing, like playing my favourite old video games (which had certainly changed since the last time I played them, which must have been years ago), or watching my old favourite shows (I'm rewatching Total Drama Island, and I recently watched a few episodes of Camp Lakebottom, which of course you might be aquainted with if you've read my blog). It gave me more time to do things, but the huge number of people internationally that had been negatively affected by the virus remained in my mind. Of course, a cure hadn't been found yet and I still had to be very careful when going outside for a walk, but I still was trying to make the most of it as much as possible.

Of course, the virus still exists as of right now and it is impossible to ignore the numbers of people being diagnosed with it/the amount of people that have died because of it, but keeping our heads up in this sort of situation really helps us have a more positive outlook on this situation. I really do think that all of us who have been keeping each other safe and even just washing our hands should get a pat on the back, because it all eventually adds up.