Legal Abortion

By Emika Uetake

Legal abortions are the greatest cdause of Japanese death, but cancers are the biggest reason officially because fetuses don’t count as humans until they are born. I think everyone doesn’t want to see a list which was written, “Legan abortions is the biggest cause of Japanese deather,” and doesn’t want to acknowledge what a huge number of fetuses (about 300,000 fetuses) are kiilled before they are cared for by their mother and fathers every year. On one hand, many people think so and disapprove of legal abortions; on the other hand, many people don’t oppose it. I also don’t oppose legal abortions.

In the past, legal abortions were for women who were in their late thirties or in their forties. Although they wanted to bear and bring up their new families, they couldn’t help terminating their fetuses because they didn’t have enough money to bring up the children with other children. They had already had some sons and daughters. However, recently, a lot of teenagers terminate their pregnancies every year. Media sometimes take up about teenagers’ pregnancy like in a movie called Juno, and a Japanese TV drama series called The 14-Year-Old Mother.

Almost all of this kind of movie have happy endings. They get pregnant. Their parents are quite upset, but they acknowledge it finally. Their boyfriends try to get out of their responsibilities called “family,” but they come back to their girl friends and often say, “I love you,” or “Will you marry me?” However, in the real world, many girls have terminated their pregnancies with these kindnesses. The ways which the girls are walking and reach are often tragic. They go to hospitals by themselves or with their friends. Their parents are quite upset and some give some money and shut their door in their minds. Girls’ boyfriends get out of their responsibilities, and they never come back to the girls. Girls wait for the operations alone. After that, girls have nightmares all night about the day. This doesn’t mean all people who are around girls don’t accept them, and do these thing, but voices about legal abortions are still chilly and are noticed as a big serious problem.

I think of course legal abortion is bad and sad. No one wants to do it. However, although people especially teenages bear their babies with risks, it is sometimes wasting whole lives if they can live. Even if people decided to bear babies, mothers finally give up their abies because they give their babies to foster homes. This is a usual thing in Japan. There is a different example, too, and bringing up their children is usually so hard for girls who are in the age to want to go out and talk to friends. Some girls push their kids to thie parents, and they forget to have very many responsibilities and jobs. Moreover, poverty is still a reason that girls terminate their pregnancies. Money makes everything except nbature and humans. Legal abortions are a kind of tragedy, but sometimes work as a good solution. When women and people around them carry out abortions and wait for them, everyone can’t help thinking about their friends, families, and the fetuses. If women have legal abortions, they must live in a range their babies are supposed to live in. This is the only way they can bear children.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

By Mayu Matsubara

In my opinion, driving under the influence of alcohol is a bad thing. It involves several risks. For instance, if you drive a car after drinking alcohol, it brings about a collision. Unfortunately, it might kill a person. In Japan, if you drive a car after drinking alcohol, and policemen find it, they give you several punishments. First, you lose your licence. Second, you might be sent to jail. Finally, you have to pay a lot of money, so you must not drive a car under the influence of alcohol.

Visiting the Doig River First Nation

By Haruna Tonomura

I was a very good experience for me to go to the Doig River First Nation. I was surprised that there were a lot of children. I met students of the Upper Pine Elementary School. I was glad they remembered me.

The location was very good, and I enjoyed the beautiful natural view. At first, I didn’t want to see the moose’s skin because I thought it was revolting, but it was very soft and beautiful. I took a lot of pictures. The process of making a moose’s hide is very long. A woman said it would cost $700 to buy.

After studying how to make a moose’s hide, we ate bannock. It was the first time I had eaten it, and it was very good. I like to eat it with jam. When I was eating, a very cute dog came. The dog liked people. I stroked his stomach. There were three or four dogs. I took many pictures of them. Then I enjoyed First Nation’s traditional dances and songs. There are similar dances in Japan. Before I came to Canada, I went to an international exposition. I learned about First Nations cultures. I saw a lot of art objects and clothes. I’m interested in First Nations’ cultures, so I really enjoyed this valuable experience.

My Trip to Clearwater

By Arisa Shimamoto

I went to Clearwater from last Thursday to Monday. Clearwater is between Fort St. John and Vancouver. It takes 12 hours by car. I went there with my host father, hostmother, Mayu and Chi. Two sisters of my hostmother live there. So we stayed at her house for three days.

The first day, we left at 7 o’clock a.m. On the way, I saw a lot of things. I saw the Peace River for the first time. It was bigger than I though. I also saw many cows, wild deer, and so on. It was the longest drive I had ever been on, so I was a little tired, but Clearwater has a lot of nature. It was very comfortable for me, and my host mother’s two sisters resembled my host mother very much.

The second day, we were taken to see a river, sheep, and a waterfall. Of those, the vest view was the waterfall. It was very big. The water below froze. So it may be the most beautiful view I had ever seen. At night, one of the hostmother’s sisters sang some songs with playing a guitar. It was a very exciting day.

The third day, we had a great lunch because of Easter. My hostmother grilled the chicken whole. It was very delicious. In the afternoon, we watched some DVDs and took a walk. At night, we talked about Japan, and we taught a few Japanese words. Everyone laughed all the time.

The fourth day, in the morning, my hostmother and father hid the chocolate. We looked for that. My hostmother gave a hint, so I can find it very fast. That chocolate was big and in the shape of an elephant. It was very cute. I thought Easter is a delightful event.

The last day, we came back home. When we left, my hostmother’s sister cried. So I couldn’t help feeling like crying too.
In these five days, I took many pictures, about more than a hundred. I had a very good time and a lot of memories. I want to appreciate my hostfather and mother and sisters.