Should we make 24-hour child care center?

Moderator: Angelina
Panelists: Laura, Mac, Tama, Jack, Belle


Laura: agree
She and her husband sometimes work at night, so they can't take care of their children. And there are many family in the same situation.

Mac: agree
He is a pilot, so he works at night mainly. He worry about his children.

Tama: disagree
If a stranger appers, it is very dangerous and we need workers. Also, their grand parents can take care of them.

Jack: disagree
He has children but his parents take care of his children, so he doesn't need it. People should rely on their family.

Belle:disagree
She thinks to get permission from the government is difficult so we can't get support. So the care center's cost is very high.


Question
Tama: Why don't you hire a baby sitter?
Laura: I can't rely on them and the cost is higher than care canter.

Sophie: Is there age limit?
Jack: by 10 years old.

Conclusion
Citizens of Apollon make 24-hour child care center. Government should reconsider budget to give aim to them.


Final comment
I couldn't understand the 24-hour child care canter means a nursely school extended business hours. I think allmost all audience misunderstood this point. They shold have expained more clearly what is 24-hour child care center. But they finaly get conclusion! It was great.

We should prohibit students from working part-time jobs.

Moderator: Carol
Panelists: Finnian, Hanna, Kofy, Lucus, Allie

Now, there is no law or rule for students about part-time jobs so some students is working part-time jobs now. In this discussion, students means junior high school and high school students.

Finnian: agree
Students should concentrate studying and club activity. Also, some students work part-time jobs to hang out with their friends. It's not good.

Hanna: agree
She thinks the most important thing for students is studying and the parents should control their children's money.

Kofy: She is  a writer, so she wants students to read books more and more. Also she worries about losing their time to study by working part-time jobs.

Lusus: disagree
He doesn't go to school now and he is working as a comedian, because he doesn't have enough money. Students whose parents are not rich can't go to school without working part-time jobs.

Allie: disagree
Working outside is good for student because they can learn a lot of things, for example, they can make friends and help family's income, learn resposibility.

Conclusion
Students have to get parents' and school's permission to work part-time jobs. School can choose make part-time job club or provide students part-time jobs.

Final comment
We're so sorry for audience because our voice were really small!
Sometimes I couldn't understand panelists' opinions and summarize well. But all panelists said opinion a lot and audience really helped us so we could get conclusion. Also I could enjoy this discussion! Thank you. 

Can we submit a bid to host the Olympics?

Moderetor: Sala
Panelists: Emily, Isabela, Lucy, Sofy, Ashley


Emily:agree
Last time, We decided to associate with other countries so Olympic is big chance to advertise Apollon to the other country.


Isabela: agree
Many young people are interested in Olympic, so holding the Olympic make young people's spirits up.


Lucy: agree
Olympic is good for our economics. I'm sure the number of tourists will increase.


Sofy: disagree
We don't have enough money and places.


Ashley: disagree
I worry about money and places, too. Also we need stadiums and Olympic Village. It cost too much.






Emily: We don't need to worry about hotels. Apollon have a lot of them.
Sofy: How about stadium? We don't have them.
Isabela: Once we build stadiums, we can use them for many events, for example, concerts and festival and so on.


Robert: I'll show you the information; to hold Olympics, other countries needed 2,3 billion or 10,4 billion or 44 billion American dollars. I think the Olympic is mismatch to Apollon.


Rachel: I suggest marathon meeting in Sunflower festival.
Sala: I think it is good idea.


Conclusion:
We will hold marathon festival as one of the contents of Sunflower Festival on the last Saturday on July.


Comment
It was good they managed to come to their conclusion. In this discussion, all panelists spoke actively and they got their conclusion, so I think it was good discussion. But I think the Moderator Sala spoke her idea too much! This conclusion is just her best idea. But she tried to understand panelists' opinions hard and she could summarize. In addition, thanks to her there are no silence during discussion. I could learn the importance of moderator from this discussion.

Should we introduce sales tax system?

Moderator: Kate
Panelists: Rie, Rachel, Amy, Anna, Alex


Rie: disagree
He disagree with this topic in terms of three points below:
1. the gap between low income family and high income family
2. coorpration tax is better
3. income tax is better


Rachel: disagree
She thinks low income family can't pay more tax. She warrys about them.


Amy: disagree
She think if we introduce sales tax in Apollon, Apollon people don't want to go shopping and it'll influent Apollon's economy. Also, she is a doctor and she have to buy expensive medical instrument, so she doesn't want to pay more much money.


Anna: agree
We had decided to hold some events like Sunflower festivel so the government need more money, so sales tax is good idea to gather money easily.


Alex: agree
Her sons are student so she hope the government help parents with educational expenses.


Question
Moderator: Rie said it is difficult for low income family to pay sales tax, what do you think, Anna?
Anna: Using reduced tax rete is good idea, I think.
Rachel: But it is difficult for clarks to find someone who get low income. How do we know who is the people?
Anna: The government shold investigate Apollon people's income, and the government can give them some papers or cards which proof the right of getting reduced tax rate.


Amy: I don't want to pay tax more.
Anna: We decided to hold some events in Apollon so the governmen need more money than now.
Rachel: But now, our main industry is tourism, and if we introduce sales tax, some tourists don't buy many products and our tourism will not improve.
Anna: Then, we can make some duty free shops.
Rachel: It is good idea!


Isabera: What kind of tax do we pay now?
Moderator and panelists: Now, we pay some taxs except for sales tax and income tax, for example residence tax.


Conclusion
We will introduce sales tax or income tax or both of them.


Final comment
I think this discussion was very good! Because the moderator could summarize the panelists' opinions very well and the panelists could spoke many times. They couldn't decide which is better, sales tax or income tax, but if they talk about the topic next time too, I'm sure they can get the conclusion concretely. Anyway, the discussion was very active and I want to follow them.

Let's make point-system in Apollon.

Moderater: Belle

1. How we can collect points

Jack: Tour guide volunteer
Tama: Sunflower Festival's staff (it is held once a year so it's big point)
Mac: Buying food made in Apollon
Jack: Participating in photo contest of Sunflower Festival
Angelina: Recycling

2. Where can we use them

Jack: Public utility cost(train or bus fare, electricity charges, gus charges, water charges)
Mac: Shopping center
Angelina: food

Qustion
Robert: How the government get the money for points? It is our tax, so we have to pay more money for the point-system.
Jack: But we give points to the volunteers instead of money it's ok.

Ashley: How much the money equal 1 point?
Jack: 1 point equal 1 Apollon.

Conclusion
---

Final comment
I think they should explain about the point system more and more before discussion. Many audience couldn't understand clearly. But I felt they prepared a lot, so I expect their next discussion. And moderater, Belle, she tried to summarize all opinion and it was very good job!

We should make a national holiday, Sunflower Day.

Moderater: Lucus Arden
Panelists: Finnian Lee, Kofy Keita, Allie Collins, Hanna Marin, Carol Smith


Finnian: agree
If we make national holiday and hold Sunflower Festival, Apollon will develop. It is good for Apollon's economy.


Kofy: agree
We should be aware of Sunflower as our national flower more. Sunflower's day is useful for that.


Allie: agree
Last year, we decided to use sunflower to symbolize Apollon, and Sunflower festival is one of the method to develop Apollon. We should hold Sunflower festival on Sunflwer's day.


Carol(me): disagree
If we hold some events for national holiday, we need money and place and people who prepare the events. Also, school children can't go to school because of national holiday.


Hanna: disagree
Many young people don't think Sunflower is important as national flower, and sunflowers don't suit as national holiday.


Lucus:What do you want to do in Sunflower Day?
Finnian: I want to plant many sunflowers with Apollon's people, and watch them. Also, sell some products by sunflowers to tourists.
Kofy: I want to hold sunflower's photo contest.

Emily: I think we should set Sunflower Day on weekend(Satueday or Sunday), then school children can go to school.
Carol: It is good idea.

Carol: Now, we should think about what we do on Sunflwer Day.
Finnian: Iwant to hold photo contest and sunflower festival.
Carol: I think photo contest is good idea because we don't need much money or big place for it.

 

Conclusion
We make Sunflower's Day in last Saturday in July, and we hold Sunflower Festival.


Final comment
I think we should prepare for the discussion more. Also, I've forgot I'm 65 years old, it was my bad point. We got conclusion unnaturaly and we needed more time to discuss. But our discussion became better than our first discussion, I think.

Should we assciate with other country?

Moderater: Emily Thoma
Panelists:Lucy Walter, Ashley Turner, Sara Cooper, Sophie Dawson, Isabela Horan

Lucy:agree
She agreed with this topic because we can get many oppotunities to know other culture.

Ashley:agree
If we associate with other country, we can help each other in disaster. Or when another war happens, other country may help us.

Sara:agree
In Apollon's book store, there is no other country's books. She is photographer, so she wants to buy and sell photo collections.

Sophie:disagree
If we associate with other country, some problems may happen.

Isabela:diagree
If a war happen, we have to help the other country. Also, she worry about disappearing Apollon's own culture.

Question
Sara:We don't have to help other country in the war. We can only teade or do something like business.

Sophie to Sara:
You can associate with other country's company, it's ok.
But we don't have to associate as the country, Apollon.

Ashley:Associating with other country is good for tourism.
Sophie:To improve our tourism, we don't have to use associating. There are many methods for example, holding events.

Conclusion
We should try to associate to develop tourism and economism.

Final comment
I think they didn't discuss enough, but suddenly they got conclusion. It was little unnatural. But the moderater, Emily did great job! She tried not to make silence. Next time, if they prepare for the presentation more and more, it'll be better.

Should the elemrntary school students have their own cellphoness?

Moderater:Anna Janes
panelits:Amy Green, Alex Bell, Rie Chein, Kate Hail, Rachel Williams

Amy:agree
If children have their own cellphone, they can ask their help in emergency. But we should teach how to use cellphone correctly.

Alex:agree
Cellphone has GPS function and it is very useful. She has children and her children have their children.

Rie:disagree
Cellphone is not good for children's eyes. Also he think children should play outside without cellphone.

Kate:disagree
Children have a lot of things to do(study and sports and so on...). If children have cellphone, they should waste time by them.

Rachel:disagree
She worry about dangerous of Internet. Internet is too dangerous for children, so they shouldn't use them.

Alex:We are double-income family, so my children spend a lot of time without adults. If some disaster hapen, what should they do?
Rie:In emergency, it is difficult to use cellphone and people can help each other.

Sara:I think every family have different situations. It is natural that every family have different rules.

Sophie:Do you want to make a law? or rule?
Anna:We want to make a rule.

Conclusion
We should make a family rule depends on their family situations.

Final comment
I think it was strange that they tried to make a rule. They should understand their purpose or why they talk about their topic. But all panelists speak many times and the moderater was very good!

We need immigration law in Apollon.

Moderator: Tama Homer
Panelists: Laura Addy, Belle Waterfall, Jack Bauer, Mac Jason, Angelina Miller

Laura: disagree
If we accept immigration, the number of crime may increase so she worry about public safety.

Belle: disagree
To deside immigrater's political right or to prepare their work place is troublesome. In addition, we may lose our own culture.

Jack: disagree
She worry about the place to build houses for immgraters. We don't have large place so we need high building and the high buildings will disturb our beautiful scenely.

Mac: agree
He think Apollon don't have enough young people so we should accept many young immigrater. Also, we can learn a lot of things from immigraters.

Angelina: agree
Now, the number of young people is few, so we need more workers from foreign countries. We can improve our hospitality.

Audience's question:
Who permits the working visa?
 Jack: The government permits.

Conclusion:
Apollon is consist of different countries' people. So we don't need this discussion.

Final comment:
First, the discussion members should have checked Apollon's information. It is most important thing when we deside our discusion topic. But they prepared a lot for this discussion, so it was good!

"Should we develop our country side?"

Moderator: Hanna Marin
Panelists: Allie Collins, Lucus Arden, Finnian Lee, Carol Smith, Kofy Keita

Allie: agree
She suggested to build some botanical gardens in country side, and the botanical gardens will make Apollon more famous and keep our rare plants.

Lucus: agree
He thinks there are too many people in city side, so it is good idea that some people in city side move to country side. We should develop our country side to do that.

Finnian: agree
She thinks the country side is inconvenient for young people. We should improve our transportation system, and some people will move to the city side.

My opinin: disagree
When I was young Apollon had more nature. If we develop our country side, we'll lost our nature more and more. We must reserve our nature.

Kofy: disagree
She is a writer so she wants to work at silent place, so she is afraid the country side will become noisy because of the development. In addition she is also worry about the environmental pollution.


Hanna: How should we protect our nature?
Finnian: I suggest to make some buildings with plants, and we can develop our country side and protect the nature. Or we can use the vacant area to build some buildings without breaking the nature.

Hanna: How can we use the vacant area?
Lucus: We should invite some companies in country side, and some people in city side will move to the country side to work at the companies.
Kofy: If we use the vacant area, the environmental pollution will be problem. I don't agree with this idea.

Conclusion
We should develop our country side with some plans to protect nature.

Final comment
After the discussion, we had a lot of points we should reconsider. "Where is the country side?" was a big problem for us. Next time, we should prepare more and more, and we will have more good discussion.

"Should we use solar energy instead of nuclear energy?"

Moderator: Isabela Horan
Panelists: Lucy Walter, Ashley Turner, Sola Cooper, Sophie Dawson, Emily Thoma


Lucy: agree
Solar system can save electricity better than nuclear system.
Ashley: agree
Solar system is cheaper than nuclear system in long term, and good for environment.
Sala: agree
Nuclear is harmful and big problem may happen in the future.
Sophie: disagree
Solar system needs large space and it will kill some animals or plants. Then the number of tourists can reduce and we will get damage in nature and economic.
Enily: disagree
Solar system is unstable because it depends on weather. She is a singer so she need big energy for her concerts. We need a lot of money to make solar system.


Isabela "From your occupational point of view, what do you think?"
Sala: She is photographer, and she wants to reserve nature for her photographs. We should stop nuclear energy system and protect our nature.
Sophie: She is an entertainer, so she needs big energy like Emily. Solar energy won't be enough. In addition, Sala said if we introduce solar stem, we can reserve our nature, but she insisted if we build new solar system's building, absolutely the nature will be killed.


Emily "Who pay the cost for solar?"
Sala: Everyone. Everyone use energy so we should pay by tax or charity or something like that.


Audience question "Why are you discussing just only solar energy? There are many ways to get energy."
Group answer: They thought solar system is more popular than other ways. They will talk about other ways someday.


Consensus
Stay nuclear energy system and try to reduce the energy we use until we find better energy system.


I think this consensus is good idea. We need more discussion about other ways to get energy. The moderator was great because she often summarized the panelists' opinion, so we audience could understand their opinion easily. In addition, she arranged thinking time and it was very useful for not only the panelists but also audience to improve this discussion. I wanted the panelists to discuss more each other because they often talked just through the moderator. But I think it was good discussion and I enjoyed this topic.

Final Presentation

Yui
topic: Losing weight
content: I'm trying to lose weight now because I got 10 kilograms since last summer. Many people in the world experienced diet, but almost people don't succeed their diet. It is important to know right knowledge of diet. Our good health is most important.
strong point: There are good influences and bad influences, so we choose right way to lose weight.

Nozomi
topic: Housework
content: In the past, many Japanese thought housework was women's duty. Now, there are many men who think that. But she think housework is not only women's duty, because many women work outside, too.
strong point: Both husband and wife should  do housework. They have to cooperate together.

Aya
topic: Best memory
content: She went to U.K to study English last spring. She studied with Oxford university student, and she will meet U.K's friend this summer. She could learn not only English but also differences between Japan and U.K. It was her first time  to go abroad, so she felt nervous at first, but it became her best memory in life.
strong point: She got many friends and she could experienced many things.

Nanami
topic: Perfect romantic meeting
content: First, this is her ideal boy: He has handsome face(above the average), and he is taller than her, eloquent, and kind. In addition, it is most important that he can say "Thank you"and "I'm sorry". Then, there are two situations that she feels perfect romantic. One is at the reunion, the other is at ARASHI's event(ARASHI is her favorite idol group).
strong point: She wants to fall in love by her 20th birth bay.

Haruna
topic: Love of country
content: She went to Canada as school trip when she was a high school student. Then, she felt the difference of culture between Japan and Canada, and she came to want to go all over the world. I was surprised that many Canada's family have very big popcorn machine!
strong point: She think to expose Japanese culture is most important.

Ai
topic: International marriage
content: She showed us advantages and disadvantages of international marriage. Different culture become both advantage and disadvantage. We may confuse different culture and perhaps we can't
adapt ourselves to circumstances. On the other hand, we may enjoy two countries' events. In addition, if we get a child, he can become bilingual.
strong point: To understand each country is most important.

me as a child

Yui
topic: very shy girl
content: I was a very shy girl. I didn't like talking with my friends and I was afraid to be spoken to. In addition, I was very honest and I have never been late for classes while I was a child. But now, I really like talking with anyone. I'm sometimes late for classes.
strong point: Everyone can change. I like the past and now myself.

Manami
topic: spirited and sickly girl
content: She was born in Ueki and she grew up in Yamaga. When she was in elementary school, her classmates were all boy and she always played with boys. She was little sickly girl, so she often had a fever and she had entered hospital.
strong point: She talked about her childhood a lot. I can enjoy her presentation.

Nanami
topic: She had many experiences
content: She experienced piano, calligraphy, swimming, rhythmic sportive gymnastics, etc... She is very versatility! She said she don't remember her childhood a lot, but she remember that she went to a zoo with her family and she enjoyed touching small animals. She lives animals so much.
strong point: She showed us many pictures, they helped me understand her childhood.

Chihiro
topic: She was a shy girl.
content: She was born in Okinawa, and moved to Kagoshima. She spent her elementary school life in her grandmother's house in country. She liked play alone because her grandmother's house is far from her friend's house. Now, she can talk with her friends without hesitate.
strong point: She was always smile during her presentation, so I had a good impression.

Yoko
topic: good parents and many dreams
content: Her parents and relatives are little doting parents, so she could get whatever she wanted. But her rules at home were strict. She must go to bed so early and she couldn't watch TV she wanted to watch. She had many dreams; she longed for all heroine of TV dramas she watched.
strong point: She talked very clearly and it is very important in presentation I think.

Haruna
topic: active girl
content: She was born in Fukuoka. She was very active girl. She was like a leader and she enjoyed her elementary school life with many friends. She experienced English conversation class and calligraphy and rhythmic sportive gymnastics. She wanted to be a flight attendant, but now it isn't her dream.
strong point: She showed us her photos and I enjoyed her presentation.

Best friend

Yui
topic: About Sae
content: We met for the first time when we were high school students. We were manegers of high school baseball club. Now, she works as a policewoman in Kumamoto city. She is very busy, so we can't meet frequently.
strong point: She has very kind mind and she is a hard worker, so I respect her.

Aya
topic: About Eri and Haruna
content: Eri and Aya met for the first time when they were at junior high school. Eri always smile, so Aya likes her. Haruna and Aya met for the first time when they were at high school. Now, Haruna is   a student of this university, too. She belongs to the department of Administration and they sometimes meet in this school.
strong point: She had best friends each school.

Nozomi
topic: About Kasumi
content: They met for the first time when they were at junior high school, and they belonged to brass band club. They played same musical instrument and Kasumi is very hard worker. She think about her friends and family very much. Now, she worked at Ueki.
strong point: She respect Kasumi because Kasumi is always challenger.

Akari
topic: About Sakiko, Yuki, Mirei, Karen, Megumi, and Nagisa
content: They were classmates when they were first-year at high school. Sakiko is intelligent and Yuki is funny and powerful because she played Judo. Mirei is noisey but reliable, and Karen is also noisey and liittle fool. Megumi is little crazy and interesting, and Nagisa has a spiteful tongue and she is like reader. Their group name is Free Seven, because every member didn't have boyfriend at that time.
strong point: They get together regularly and get along well still now.

Marina
topic: About Karen
content: It past 10 years over since they met for the first time. They danced the hula together. She think Karen like older sister, and they meet three or four times a week still now. She often consult with her many things.
strong point: They meet very frequently, and they are like real sisters.

Self-improvement

Yui
topic: Improving communication skills
content: When I was child, I was very shy girl. I came over that and I'm not shy girl now. But It's not enough. I want to be more outgoing.
strong point: I want to talk with other generation people and foreigner more and more.

Taiga
topic: To be attractive
content: He took part in many events and volunteers. He learned a lot of things by his experiences.
strong point: It is important to get chances to meet many people.

Marina
topic: Think about things she need.
content: She showed us seven items that she need to improve or she should do.
strong point:

Nanami
topic: Get confidence
content: She can't have any confidence in herself. She think she should price herself.
strong point: I know she have many points which she should be proud. She have to be more positive.

Yoko
topic: To be an individualized person
content: She think individuality is important. She manage a website, and active for the website with her friends.
strong point: To show own opinion is important. She show her individuality in her website.

Kana
topic: Having confidence
content: She is a chairman of  a committee. The task is hard, but she try anything with confidence.
strong point: To try with confidence is important. She can learn a lot of things by her committee's experiences.

Oh! I made it!

 Hello! Welcome to my blog. I'm sorry Mr.Jeff. I can't change my name in Romaji...