Discussion5 November 5th

Last discussion topic was that how to reduce the electric bill in PUK. The discussion members were Ms. Mariko, Keiko, Mr.Takashi and Shinohara.

First, Ms.Keiko who is a officer of General Administration Division in PUK explained that now, PUK pays a lot of money which is about 75 million yen for the year as electric bill so it is very expensive. Therefore, she suggested that we should reduce it by controlling the temprature of air conditioners. Her idea that we set air conditioners to 28 degrees in summer and to 18 degrees in winter.

However, Ms. Mariko who majors in English literature in PUK disagreed with Ms. Keiko's idea. The reason why she thought that in summer, 28 degrees must be hot and in winter, 18 degrees must be cold so it is bad for students to study in PUK.

Then, Mr.Takahashi who majors in combined management in PUK suggested that we set air conditioners to 26 degrees in summer and to 20 degrees in winter.

Ms. Keiko answered about Mr.Takahashi's idea that if we set 26 and 20 degrees each seasons, we have to reduce the electric bill by the other ways.
So, Mr. Shinohara who is a professor of environment department came up with a good idea. That is "solar panel". He thought if we have some ones, we could reduce the electric bill despite we set comfortable temperature. However, Ms. Keiko pointed that we need a lot of money to buy some solar panels so it is no meaning. Then, Mr. Shinohara explained about her opposing opinion that a solar panel can generate 1kilo watts so it is economical in the long run.
Mr. Shinohara's explanation was good so Ms. Keiko could agree with his idea.

From now, the chair asked Ms. Mariko that setting of comfortable temperature is good or not for the cost and environment. Of course, she answered it is not good but she said PUK should give us a good life for students to study comfortably. So, panelists and audience needed to find some solutions outside of solar panel.

Then, one student came up with a good idea. The idea is that we use an electric fan with air conditioners. The reason why the student thought the idea that if we use it, we could cycle the room's air! It was very good idea so we could say we found a good solution about the topic.
In fact, our consensus was using solar panel and electric fan.

After the discussion, I thought we should reconsider our discussion style. So, next discussion, I want to try to do discussion like group5's style!

Happy Halloween!!

On October 31Th, I had a Halloween party with my friends. The day, we made a jack-o-lantern! The left picture is before making it. The pumpkin was so big and nice orange color. And the right picture is finished the lantern. We made a scared face it!

First, we made a draft on the pumpkin.

Then, we decided the scared face and draw it.

Second, we cut off the top of the pumpkin. The part of jagged shape! The pumpkin was hard to cut so it was difficult for us.

Third, we removed pumpkin fibers. There were a lot of fibers in it so it was very hard work.

Last, we cut off the eyes, nose and mouth. It took an hour for us to complete the jack-o-lantern but we could make a very good it!It was my first time so I enjoyed making it very much.

In the party, I don't have any costumes so I wore a Minnie Mouse hairband which I bought in Disney Land. I had a very good party with my Friends! I hope that next year we have a Halloween party too.

Discussion4 Octorber 29th

Last Discussion topic was "Should all elementary school students have their own mobile phone, or not?" This discussion's guests were Ms. Miyagawa, Sakamoto, Tanaka and Sato.

First, the chair read a data that 30 children died last year so if they have their mobile phone, they would escape the accident. According to the data, in Japan, 70% children don't have their own mobile phone now. Therefore, the chair suggested that the government should give the mobile phones to all elementary school students.

Then, Ms. Sakamoto said that now her daughter doesn't have her own mobile phone but if the government give a phone, it would be a good idea for her daughter. However, she worried about the cost because it is very expensive. So, Ms. Tanaka who is a government officer said if the idea pass after the discussion, they would support the cost so home obligation fees will be only￥1,000 per month. This idea was so good for Ms. Sakamoto but she had another problem. It was that she worried about the trouble of mobile phone. The mobile phone has a lot of troubles now, so she couldn't agree with the idea completely. Then, Ms. Miyagawa who works for a mobile phone company suggested that they would set up the lowest limit system so the mobile phones are safety for children. Therefore, Ms. Sakamoto could solve her cares so agreed with the idea completely.

On the other hands, another guest had a problem. That was Ms. Sato because she is a single woman so she doesn't have her child. If the government support the cost of mobile phones for all elementary school students from income tax, the idea would not be good for her. However, Ms. Tanaka said to her that children would be responsible for the next generation so adult people should save them from a lot of dangerous things. Ms. Sato was convinced by Ms. Tanaka's persuasion so she agreed with the idea at last.

So, the discussion team's consensus that the government should give the mobile phones to all elementary school students. However, the mobile phone has restrictive functions that children could call and send mail to their parents, school and emergency systems. And the cost of mobile phone will be supported by the government from income tax so home obligation fees will be only ￥1,000 per month.

After the discussion, we talked about the problems. Then, one student asked that why 70% elementary school students even now don't have their own mobile phones? The student continued that maybe the 70% parents think their children need not to have their own mobile phones but you recommend mobile phone to them. So, the student didn't understand the reason. When I heard the question, that was exactly what I thought . However, the discussion team couldn't give the good solution to her so I couldn't satisfy the idea.

I think the topic was interesting but the team should have developed their idea deeply.

Frog and Toad are friends 3

~Summary~

One day, Toad and Frog went for a long walk. They walked across a large meadow, in the wood and along the river. After that they went back home to Toad's house.

Then, Toad found that he lost one of the buttons on his jacket. Therefore, Toad and Frog went back to all the places where they walked.

First, they walked back to the large meadow and began to look for Toad's button in the tall grass. Then, Frog found a black button. Unfortunately, it was not Toad's one because his button was white. So, Toad put the black button in his pocket.
After that, a sparrow flew down and he showed a button which the sparrow found to Toad. Unfortunately, it was not Toad's one because his button had four holes but that had only two holes. So, Toad put the button with two holes in his pocket.

Second, Toad and Frog went back to the woods and looked on the dark paths. Then, Frog found a small button. Unfortunately, it was not Toad's one because his button was big. So, Toad put the small button in his pocket.
After that, a raccoon came and showed a square button. Unfortunately, it was not Toad's one because his button was round. So, he Toad put the square button in his pocket.

Last, Toad and Frog went back to the river. They looked for the button in the mud. Then, Frog found a thin button. Unfortunately, it was not Toad's one because his button was thick. So, Toad put the thin button in his pocket.

At last, Toad was very angry and ran home and slammed the door. Then, he found a white, four-holes, big, round, thick button. It was his one! And he thought what a lot of trouble he has made for Frog. Therefore, he took all of the buttons out of his pocket and sewed them all over his jacket.

The next day, Toad gave his jacket to Frog. Frog felt so happy. Of course, Toad had sewed all buttons on very well so none of them fell off.

~My impression~
I think this story is very rhythmical so it is very interesting to read for readers.
It is very good point that Toad felt regretful for Frog and apologized to him.
The story has many good points in it!

An apple pie!

Last Sunday, I went to a cafe with my two friends.

The meeting time was 4 p.m. so we were little hungry. The cafe is famous for an apple pie so we ordered it each other. However, my apple pie had a little different point compared with my friends. It had a big ice cream on it! The price was a little expensive but I want to eat an apple pie with an ice cream so I ordered it.

The apple pie had some very good baked apples and apple jam between upper and under pies. It was so delicious! Of course, ice cream too.

After eating, we enjoyed talking about anything for a long time. The reason why we did that, the cafe has a relaxed atmosphere so we wanted to relax there.

So, I had a very good time there.

If you want to go the cafe, please tell me. I can teach you the place of the cafe.

Disccusion 3 Octobor 22th

Last week, we had third time discussion. The discussion's topic was "Should we pay for the ambulance, or not?" The team member were Ms.Yone, Shizuko, Kashiwagi, Dr.Shindou and the chair.

First, the chair suggested that the fare is 15,000yen. Then Dr.Shindou said that he agreed with the idea because if we pay for the ambulance, survice of ambulance would be better.
However, Ms.Yone said she disagreed with it because she often uses the ambulance. She has a regular health problem so if we have to pay for them, it is difficult for her. In additionally, Ms.Shizuko said that 15,000yen was too high so we should reduce the price. The reason why she said that she lives in a country side so it takes about a few hours to get to hospital from her country by car.
Therefore, if we have to pay for the ambulance, it is difficult for her too. So, the chair suggested that 10,000yen to the fare. Then, Ms.Kashiwagi agreed with it because she is a local government officer so the price was good for her.
However, Ms. Shizuko said 10,000yen was still expensive so we should reduce the price to 5,000yen. Expect for Ms.Yone, everyone agreed with Ms.Shizuko's idea but Ms.Yone has a lot of medical expense so she couldn't Ms. Shizuko's idea.
Then, Ms. Kashiwagi suggested that if people who use over 5 times in a year, we could reduce the price by 30%. The idea was so good for Ms.Yone so she agreed with it.
Therefore, the team's consensus that our fare is 5,000yen for the ambulance. However, people who use over 5 times in a year can reduce the price by 30%.

After the discussion, we talked about some problems and other ideas for the discussion.
Then, one of the students suggested a good idea. The idea was that the doctors can have a right to decide whether the patients should pay for the ambulance or not. Most audience agreed with the idea and of course me too.

I think if the team had deeper discussion, they could find better idea. However, this topic and discount system are very interesting idea. The discussion need to have a better society for us.

Discussion 2 October 15th

Last Thursday, we had second time discussion. The discussion team was my group.
Our discussion topic was about "No my own car day".

First, I explained the topic and a Korean example. The example that the Korean government held on "No my own car day" and got some effects. So, we proposed an idea that we try to have the campaign day all over the country once a week in Japan. This plan is that we can use all public transportation without charge on the campaign day. Our group discussed this idea and found our consensus.

First problem was about the point which is all over the country. Ms. Hirota said it is difficult for people so the government should start from all cities. Then, the government should extend to cuontries bit by bit. The reason why she proposed that she always goes to school by car because she lives in a country. So, we agreed to her idea.

Second problem was about the point which is a whole day and once a week. Mr. Shiraki said that all day and once a week is not good for people so the government should do it twice a month. His idea was good so we agreed with him.

Last problem was about the point which is twice a month. Ms. Yamada said that if we have the campaign day twice a month, it is not good for her businees. The reason why she thought, she is a public transportation worker. Therefore, Ms. Satou who is a city office worker said she could help them by gasoline tax. In additionally, Ms. Hirota gave a idea that people must pay only 100 yen for them. From these ideas, Ms. Yamada felt easy about the point of no charge.
However, Mr. Shiraki didn't satisfied because the idea doesn't think about businessmen like him. Therefore, we discuss and found an idea that if businessmen like Mr. Shiraki apply to the city office, they could use thier cars in spite of the campaign day.

Our discussion finished at this point so we asked audiences and requested some opinions. Then a few audiences gave us very good question. Unfortunately, the question was very difficult problem so our group couldn't solve it. Therefore, I thought that we should discuss too deep.

Discussion was so difficult because it was first time for me. However, I knew that we need to discuss about the topic in various aspects.