Rachel C’s Blog

Dear Rachel H.,

Kemal Ataturk became a military hero of the Dardanelles in 1915. In 1920 he was known as a triumphant commander who terminated the invaders of his country. After many dazzling victories, against the odds he led us into full independence. He ended the Ottoman dynasty. Then in 1923 Ataturk created the Republic of Turkey establishing a new government representative of the nation’s will. Kemal has been our president for awhile now and I would be fine with it staying that way. I’ve heard that your country is working on something very advanced called the computer that is supposed to be coming somewhere around 1936. It tells facts about anything you want to research and I’ve already heard of 2 great “sites” (that’s what the pages of info. are going to be called). One is http://www.ataturk.com/. the other great one tells all about Turkey, Istanbul, Kemal Ataturk and much more, its going to be called http://www.allaboutturkey.com/ Then go to the history button on the side. Somebody also told me a way to get additional info on Kemal besides from a textbook is to go to http://www.turkishnews.com/DiscoverTurkey/who/ataturk/.
To tell you more about Ataturk, he wanted to modernize Turkey so he made a law against fezzes, which are felt circular Muslim hats with no brim. This law upset Turks because with brimmed hats men cannot touch their head to the ground in prayer. One man even put bandages around his head to pretend he had a physical injury so he could still pray properly. I didn’t like that law personally, but I do like some other laws he made. For example women no longer have to hide their faces with veils. Also daughters can go to public schools and women have almost every right men do. He did more things than just make laws. He introduced the Roman alphabet to the Turkish language. Kemal also told all Turks to choose family names and he was given the name Ataturk which means father of the Turks. I am proud to say that about him because he recently claimed “I look to the world with an open heart full of pure feelings and friendship.”

Sincerely,

Rachel C

this picture of bleached coral is from http://www.newint.org/issue378/pics/water-2.jpg

Every Tuesday at my school I sit at my desk to read Time For Kids. As I was reading a report, called Coral Reef Rescue by Katheryn Scatterfield, my eyes got wider the farther down the page they got. It was trying to tell me that as water gets warmer corals are being bleached and dying. Also that in 25 years, 60% of the world’s coral reefs will be dead!Yeah right, whoever heard of bleach in the ocean? But that’s not what they meant and I started to realize that the more I read. I also was realizing that this was the truth!The coral is home to so many species of fish that it would wipe out a huge amount of aquatic wonders if the coral was to die. This water warming is caused by motor boats in the ocean but it is also caused by pollution, or more specifically Global Warming. So next time you need to go some where first think if it is worth killing millions of fish or you can find a way to get there not using gas or anything that will cause pollution. If you are taking a big trip where more than one person you know is going car pool. Please, try to think of the fish!

If I could go anywhere in the world I would want to go to poor regions in Africa to help the population gain health and knowledge. With a few other friends to help we could stay for about a year and teach kids how to read and write. I would know I made a difference.