By Anastasios Tzefrios

           A great deal is being written and said about peer pressure. It is generally agreed today that peer pressure as an empirical phenomenon has been observed repeatedly among young people and it can cause a multitude of problems. Whether it is positive peer pressure or negative peer pressure, it can affect the adolescent. It can be very strong for everybody because we all want approval and acceptance. As far as I am concerned, I would like to discover the consequences of peer pressure. However, solutions can be found, and if adolescents are given the right advice on handling it, they will feel more confident.

To begin with, a common danger is the stress that adolescents feel, when they are subjected to peer pressure. More specifically, the compromises they have to make in order to be accepted by a group of peers may contrast with their interests and desires and of course this is most stressful for any teenager. Furthermore, peer pressure may lead to adolescents’ risky behaviour and illegal acts such as shoplifting. What is more, peer pressure can even lead to drink, smoke, cheat on a test, lying, etc. On top of all that, peer pressure can influence performance at school. For instance, teenagers are less willing to study when their friends of their group do not consider studying important.

Nevertheless, there are ways to deal with the problem effectively. First and foremost, being able to stand up to peer pressure is important.

As far as I am concerned, teenagers should realise that they have the right to reject doing something if they do not feel comfortable with it. Last but not least, it is important to emphasize that it is better for adolescents to find some friends with common interest so as not to be subjected to peer pressure. Only when teenagers put the aforementioned solutions into practice, will they see positive results. Thus, all of these points given above prove that were we to make an essential change in our lifestyle, we could start by cutting down on this common phenomenon among teenagers these years because of the harmful consequences.

          To sum up, it is obvious that the problems resulting from peer pressure are serious but, fortunately, there are measures which can be taken to solve them and tackle the problem effectively.

By Helen Kaspiri & Joanna Zirou

In our modern era of the prevalence of broadminded believes and the respect to human rights, there are still obscure happenings that underestimate human worth. Such events are related to terrorism over mainly religious aspects. To my view, the solution of this problem and the effective protection of the targeted countries require the avid action of all the governments worldwide.

In a first place, it is vital that those who are in political power take firm measures for the prevention of a terrorist attack. What I mean is that people should be informed about the topic and be properly educated. Virtues, such as the freedom of choosing a religion, human rights and the mutual feelings of love and respect among people globally should be extensively emphasized. Those who have really the power to do so are families and the way they raise their children, schools and of course represents of religions. In this way, people all around the world will firm emotions of esteemation and democracy, principles that will prevent them from committing a terrorist attack.

Furthermore, there is no doubt that certain nations are more vulnerable to such events. In order to protect those countries, it is vital that governments enhance their police force. Strict security checks should be conducted by the police in crowded places that are common targets of terrorists. Moreover, police should carry out investigations in order to find out prospective terrorists and imprison them. Last but not least, it is urgent that constant interrogations take place in all the ports, airports and borders of the countries. As a result, the safety of those nations will be ensured.

To sum up, terrorism is a tragic criminal action and must be eliminated worldwide. There are measures that governments can take so as to offer a solution to the problem and provide citizens with safety and security. We don’t have to be the same or believe the same. We are equal after all.

Image Sources:

https://images.app.goo.gl/7sVxdSHmyWvEgmzeA
https://images.app.goo.gl/3FT8q1gZcFAydqa38

By Bousia Aggeliki, Belezou Chryssa & Moshou Ioanna

Across

2. Everyone is R……….. for their actions.

4. A synonym of the word “consideration”: T…………..

5. Primary school should be free, because we all have the right of free E…………….

7. We only have one and it doesn’t last forever: L……………

8. A person’s right to control access to his/hers personal information: P……………….

 Down

1. Through language we all have the opportunity to E………. ourselves.

3. They’re all Greeks, so they have the same N……………….

6. A programme that uses public funds to provide a degree of economic security is described as s……………… security

By Spiros Koutsogiannopoulos

Respect and Equality by all for all

Disabled people have rights and we should respect them!!

By Dimitris Bousias, Korina Papastathopoulou & Konstantinos Skoutas

Over the last 20 years or so, global poverty has been declining; however, some countries are still poor. There are many causes of poverty and they lead to negative consequences in our community. The government ought to help the poor people.

To begin with, according to experts, war is the most important cause of poverty. Many people live in war-zones and these zones are very poor. In particular, in Africa people have been for years in conflict and as a result, goods are insufficient and people live in poverty. Also, many countries have weak economy and the residents hardly make ends meet, because they cannot find a job. Another cause of poverty is overpopulation. In fact, there are many people who live in each country and they cannot find a job there; as a result, many people are unemployed and they live without the basic. That is, they lack money and food. Also, they have lack of healthy foods and that may lead to diseases. Moreover, many people do not know how to write and how to read and as a result, they have few chances to find a job. To be specific, in many countries where there is poverty, people do not have the chance to go to school or to do extra-curricular activities.

Furthermore, poverty has many more negative consequences. One important consequence is poor health. People do not afford to buy nutritious food and that leads to many diseases. In addition, people have lack of sanitation, because they are homeless. Still many residents live in the streets and these people need food and shelter. Hence, our community ought to help these people. Another consequence of war is that people resort to crime in order to survive, because the government does not help them. In addition, there is social instability that leads to discriminations between social classes.

In conclusion, poverty has negative effects all over the world. Our community must tackle these problems. I believe that poverty is a very important issue and all residents ought to help poor people. If we achieve this, our community will be better.

 By Maria Galanopoulou & Marielen Alexopoulou

The status of women in today’s society is considerably improved compared to previous years. However, discrimination continues to date, society continues to be demeaning towards women and there are still many obstacles to gender equality, despite the efforts being made.

In particular, women in many East European countries do not have the right to express their personal opinion and are under the control of their husbands. It is the duty of women to succumb to the desires of their spouses. Also, women in Saudi Arabia face problems taking part in sports. The first female gymnast participating in the London Olympics faced the racism of homogeneous groups and had to be accompanied by a «guard» man wearing appropriate clothing covering most of her body and hair.
Saudi Arabia is considered to have one of the most ruthless systems in the world, often limiting the role of women in society. Female residents are not able to leave the home, not even to visit the doctor without the escort of their husband or some other male family member. Moreover, women do not have the right to dress in a way that emphasizes their beauty or even wear makeup. The majority are forced to wear a long black garment called ‘’abaya or burqa’’ or cover their head and face with a headscarf. They are also forbidden to bathe in public places, such as swimming pools, or go to gyms.

 THE QURAN

Diminishing excerpts, degrading women, from the Quran which is the holy book of the Muslims.

Chapter Two ‘’The Cow’’
222. When asked about women’s menstruation, answer: <This is an obstacle. Do not come in contact with them during this time and do not mix with them until they become clean. Then come back to them, as God commandes you. The Lord loves the pure and those who repent. >
223. Your women are your field. So go to your field any way you like, but previously, do something about your soul. [...]

Chapter Four ‘’Women’’

3. If you are afraid that you will not behave honestly to orphaned girls, then take two, three or four wives of your choice. Still, if you are afraid that you do not treat them honestly, marry only one woman or any other captive who subdues the power of your hand. This behavior will lift you.

15. If one of your women commits adultery, call four witnesses, and if they affirm it, then keep her in the home until she dies or until God gives her a means of salvation.

34. Men are superior to women because of the uniqueness with which God lifted them above women [.......] Those whose disobedience you fear, scold, remove from your bed and beat them. But if they are obedient, be good to them. The Lord is high and mighty.

Chapter  ‘’The Bee’’
58. If the birth of a daughter is announced, the father immediately goes pale and is speechless due to sorrow.

 59. He hides from others because he is ashamed of the terrible announcement. Therefore, he either has to keep her and suffer the shame or bury her in the sand.

Chapter ‘’The Light’’
2. The adulter and the adulteress are punished with one hundred beatings. Do not be lenient in enforcing God’s Will if you believe in Him.

Sources:

• The Quran
• https://www.slideshare.net/efgaitan/ss-44248312
• http://emo.gr/2016/03/i-thesi-tis-gynaikas-sti-mesi-anatoli/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vym74jV2oA

 By Fay Tsami (A Class)

Feminism is a range of ideologies and political and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. A feminist advocates or supports the rights and equality of women.

When it comes to the historical flashback, the feminine movement is separated in three waves. The first feminist wave (18-20 centuries) is related to the organization and the assertion of basic human rights such as the right to vote, dignity, recognition of social role and social status, the right to manage their personal property and the emancipation from their fathers, spouses and men in general. The Second Wave (1960-1980) deals with issues such as social and biological separation and the elimination of inequalities between women and men who come from a defined biological background and can be eliminated with some social interventions. The third feminist wave (late 1980s to 2000) includes the conscious awakening of colorful women, critical theory, internationalism and the overthrow of perceived oppression by patriarchy.

As evidenced by the circumstances of the present season, the objectives of feminism have not been fully achieved, as in the 21st century there is still no gender equality. According to surveys in the workplace, women’s overall earnings continue to be lower and women are subject to anecdotal treatment. In accordance with their social life, the situation in different countries varies according to the religious beliefs and the legislation. In the countries of the western world the situation is better in contrast to the eastern countries where the differences and the inequalities are constantly inflaming.

Many times nowadays feminism is considered out of date because equality has already been enshrined and these issues have served older generations. However, the legislative guarantee of gender equality is not always guaranteed in practice. Consequently, the feminist movement has gathered great successes in the web, but the fight for the full realization of women’s rights is long gone. We must not rest because women are not facing problems like the 18th century (at least the majority) but are active in the fight to resolve all the problems, not just our own, and to fully guarantee equality.

Sources/Bibliography

• http://citymomenti.blogspot.gr/2015/08/feminismos-simera.html
• http://www.avgi.gr/article/10808/5399301/o-pheminismos-semera-e-giati-na-eimaste-pheministries
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism
• https://www.huffingtonpost.com/womens-rights-news/what-is-feminism_b_6985612.html
• https://www.quora.com/Feminism-What-is-the-ultimate-goal-of-the-feminist-movement
• https://www.slideshare.net/4lykeiotrip/ss-14934450

By Panagiotis Nikolakopoulos (A Class)

‘Slavery is to this day an industry that produces huge profits, but also countless wasted lives in the name of greediness for wealth.’

One hundred and fifty-two years ago, the Thirteenth Amendment was added in the American Constitution, formally abolishing serfdom and slavery. However, despite the fact that the majority of countries worldwide adopted laws that abolished slavery, servitude remains a phenomenon still existing today. But, not only are there slaves to this day, but also their number has been increased rapidly. In particular, today there are approximately forty-five million eight hundred thousand slaves all over the world.

Slavery has existed for thousands of years, but economic and social forces have enabled its alarming resurgence in the past few decades. According to research conducted by the United Nations, there are tens of millions of people trapped in various forms of slavery throughout the world today, generating $150 billion each year in illicit profits for traffickers. Particularly, about 50 percent toil in forced labor slavery in industries where manual labor is needed—such as farming, logging, mining, fishing, and brick making—and in service industries. Moreover, about 12.5 percent are trapped in forced prostitution sex slavery, and about 37.5 percent are trapped in early or forced marriages. Also, millions of people today work as bonded laborers. The cycle begins when they take extreme loans under the condition that they work off the debt. As far as child slavery is concerned, about 25 percent of today’s slaves are children.

As mentioned above, slavery is a problem which exists in every country, including ours, Greece, and nations of the European Union. However, because slavery is officially abolished everywhere, the practice is illegal, and thus little information about slaves are at our disposal, because slave traders are constantly moving to new places and because they manage to keep their identity secret. This applies to the purchasers too, which are for example factory owners, who manage to conceal the truth and their activities remain a guarded secret. Nevertheless, we know that slaves work long hours under terrible working conditions without being paid or with meager salaries. Furthermore, they are not given the opportunity to be involved in anything else besides their work, while their rights are being violated. For instance, children do not have access to education and the right to be educated.

Additionally, we have available information about the ways in which a slave is obtained. According to international organizations and witnesses, slaves can be obtained through trade, fraud, blackmail, abduction, coercion or even marriage. In many cases, husbands driven by greediness and other personal motives, exploit their wives or force them into prostitution.

Despite being illegal in every nation, slavery is still present. Slaves can be an attractive investment because the slave-owner only needs to pay for sustenance and supervision. Countries that lack education, economic freedom, the rule of law, and have poor societal structure can create an environment that fosters the acceptance and propagation of slavery. To be more specific, about 58 percent of slaves live in India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. 

To sum up, contemporary slavery is undoubtedly an appalling and terrible phenomenon. The main reason why slavery exists is our intertemporal need for inexpensive workforce and our constantly increasing avarice and desire for wealth.Slavery is to this day an industry that produces huge profits, but also countless wasted lives in the name of greediness for wealth. Modern slavery stems from our greed and prejudice, and undeniably from social inequalities. As a result, according to officials and according to research, nowadays there are globally more slaves than any other time in human history. Nevertheless, it is a problem which we need to solve immediately and which requires our activation in every level and our constant alertness.

 Sources

• https://www.freetheslaves.net/about-slavery/slavery-today/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_abolition_of_slavery_and_serfdom
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constit  ution
• https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%94%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1
• https://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/there-are-more-slaves-today-any-time-human-history
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_slavery

By Aggelopoulou Andriana, Giannikopoulou Myrto and  Kallitsi Georgia

Young people nowadays are in front of cosmopolitan changes that happen for the first time in World History. Over the past 100 years, such developments have taken place in the way of life, work and the structure of society that similar did not occur in all the previous years of life on earth.

Through this innovative way of thinking and acting of society, youngsters are looking for people who can follow and satisfy their demands. These patterns are otherwise subversive to society. So someone who follows this way of thinking and acting becomes unconventional, revolutionary and wants to change everything. In the impulse of their youth, they take on choices that are tested in time, successful, but in the context of change everything is considered to be out of date and wrong.

On the other hand, they are still impassive, they do not participate in the community, they do not care about the social whole, their education is limited and they are denounced by the older as semi-literate, and as it is said, being semi-literate is worse than illiterate.

The State must therefore ensure that education programmes interfere in social structures so that cells, such as family and school, acquire common accepted believes. These should be transferred to young people who in turn should accept them in order to balance and proceed with values ​​that are tested in time and serve first and foremost man.

By Andriana Aggelopoulou

Myrto Giannikopoulou

Georgia Kallitsi

(A’ class)

Young people of this age are in front of cosmopolitan changes that happen for the first time in World History. Over the past 100 years, such developments have taken place in the way of life, work and the structure of society that did not occur all the previous years of life on earth.

Through this innovative way of thinking and acting of society, young people are looking for people who can follow and satisfy their demands. These patterns are otherwise subversive to society. So someone who follows this way of thinking and acting becomes unconventional, revolutionary and wants to change everything. In the impulse of their youth, they take on choices that are tested in time, successful, but in the context of change everything is considered to be out of date and wrong.

On the other hand, they are still impassive, they do not participate in the community, they do not care about the social whole, their education is limited and they are denounced by the larger as semi-literate, and as it is said to be semi-literate is worse than illiterate.

The State must therefore ensure that education programs interfere with social structures so that cells, such as the family and the school, to acquire common accepted beliefs. These should be transferred to the young people who in turn should accept them in order to balance and proceed with values ​​that are tested in time and serve first and foremost man.