Pre-summit Reflection

[Eojin Lee]

Hello, my name is Eojin Lee, and I am a student at Tokyo International School. I am attending this event because I want to develop my skills of thinking and collaborating. I would like to accept this as a great learning opportunity of using Web 2.0 tools. My favourite technology is the software, Skype. It is useful in various ways, such as connecting with friends outside of my country, in which I can call, video chat, or message each other using this relatively safe tool.  
To me, ‘Flat classroom’ means a globally collaborative learning experience, with a wider audience for us to present our understandings to.I think that FCC is where we discuss about global issues and consider actions to best resolve the difficulties, such as donating for charity and creating awareness. This is a connection to the topic question of “How do we help each other?”, because not only depending on each other in the FCC as a collaboration project, we will also be taking actions to help people who are being affected by the issue. By collaborating with a diversity of people in different parts of the world, I think this will be a good chance to hear different points of views as well as learn to use new tools and strategies appropriately.
One global issue I would like the FCC participants will address in the summit, is the 3rd nuclear test that North Korea has carried out in 2013 under its new leader. According to the online reports on BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21665380), the U.S. along with China, who always seemed to be encouraging North Korea on its development of military forces, decided that they are planning to punish North Korea for its nuclear test. A fraction of the population complains that this is the start of an upcoming war, and some only says it’s just the usual “irresponsible” action of North Korea. Of course, there are some who agrees with North Korea’s ideas. However it is clear the situation is not successful. Therefore I’d like it if this topic was mentioned in the conference, as well as some possible scenarios that might follow or any solutions we would make as an individual if we were the leader of North Korea, U.S., and China.
Overall, I am looking forward to meeting students and teachers from schools inside and outside of Japan, as well as the workshops I will proceed with soon.

[Brandon Porterfield]

What is one thing that could be done to help resolve the potential upcoming war?  Or even the current one in the Middle east?