Investigation of truth

Our topic this week is investigation of the truth, so why have I asked you to watch videos about diet in order to begin to explore this topic?

The videos about the Diet for a New America series are an introduction to this topic, because they explain some of the consequences when individual’s interests and needs interfere with the welfare of nature, also it reveals the consequences behind the eating habits of many people. And this topic “Investigation of the truth”, is related with it; this unit explains that investigation of truth “is to guide an individual’s twofold purpose”, which is that individuals don´t have to worry only for their own interests but also for the society in a simultaneous way.

What relationships can you find between the videos and the reading?

The relationships between the videos and the reading are: firstly, the human nature has two aspects, the material and the spiritual , and according to the reading “although the material nature is indispensable for existence in this world, if it is allowed to dominate consciousness the consequences are injustice, cruelty and egotism”. In the videos it clearly shows the domination of the material over the spiritual and the consequences of it, for example: it says that Americans eating preference was the meat and because of that many farmers and entrepreneurs decide to increase the amount of meat in the market, by feeding the livestock with grains instead of grass which increase the amount of manure in many lands and the percentage of fat in the meat; this way of breeding and marketing of livestock, has several consequences for the environment and human health including: contamination of water and air, terrible diseases as cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. All of this are the consequences when the material aspect is considered as a priority for humans, as a result of that, it generates injustice and cruelty not only for the nature but also for all the people.

Other relationship is that, according to the reading, for the investigation of reality it is necessary that the vision of human existence, goes beyond the needs and requirements in the daily life; “often the accomplishment of lofty goals requires self-sacrifice, and this becomes possible when one comprehends the purpose of life on this earthly plane of existence”. This statement is showed in the videos, when it says that if people change their diet, be eating less meat and more fruits and vegetables, which means for many Americans a huge sacrifice, they would contribute to their own health and also with the environment, in other words, they would accomplish the twofold purpose


What do these relationships imply about our role as individuals in our society?

These relationships imply about our role as individuals in our society that each of us are responsible for what we choose in our lifes, but also we are responsible and we have to be conscious that every decision we make affects directly to our society and also nature. The relationships show the individual as the responsible for the welfare of the environment and society by its habits of consume. There isn´t more powerful that a human being acting with collective consciousness towards the welfare of life.

Society and the role of the individual

In my opinon, this class provides me some important knowledge in order to contribute in a better way to the society where I live. The importance and benefits of cooperation and also the difference between this term and competition are topics that have been very interesting for me during this class. Now, I am conscious that cooperation is the key for resolve problems and it also impels people to work together to reach their individuals and common goals. Cooperation is an important element to the discourse on social action, which is the best way to give meaning to the role of the individual.

Before I was in this class, my way of thinking was very different. I thought that the problems that are in the society like: poverty, corruption, etc., were situations or problems that only concern our Government. I realize that I was wrong. All of us are responsible for the goods and bad things that happen in the place we live. If we start to think in what is the best for the ones around us instead of thinking only yn our individual interests, we are going to have transformation in our lives, because it will permit to our society to reach a maturity stage.


I would like to know in this class about, that actions make a person be social responsible, what can I do to change selfish thoughts and make them realize the importance of social actions

Cooperativa Detodas

Interviewing two "socias" in the Cooperativa Detodas, was for me a new experience, because I´ve never been so closed with women that have a very difficult life but they are trying to be in a better situation. Unfortunately, we have to ask the questions in the Cooperativa because there wasn´t anybody to take us to the socia´s home, which I had liked more. Also I have to say that I´m so proud to have known these wonderful and hard-working women.

The first "socia" that I interviewed was Olga Angulo, she live in La Floresta. She told me that she knew the Cooperativa because a friend told her that this institution was qualifying the women, so she decided to be part of that; her motivation was to improve herself . She decided to start selling Yanbal´´s products, but now she is selling clothes. Also she told me that when she decided to be a socia she had the support of her family and she did´t have any problem with her decision; Olga has two 13 and 15-year-old children and in two years, she expect to be in a better economic situation and also have her clothes business more stable and much better. Finally she told me that the Cooperativa Detodas changed her life because it gave her an oportunity to growth as a woman and mother. Now she feels more secure about herself and she doesn´t have to depend on anybody.

The other socia was Isabel Quezada, she lived in Guasmo Sur and she knew the Cooperativa because of a neighbor. When Isabel decided to be a socia, she incursioned in trade and decoration, which are the two areas that she really like. Her business is about sell decoration products for home. Isabel told me that when she since she started her business she always had her family and husband support. Her goal in two years is to keep working and still be part of the Cooperativa, because she said that since she was a socia her life changed, Detodas gave her the education and tools for being a better and productive person.

Through this experience I have learned some things that are related to what I have read in the text book. For example: I notice that the people that are behind this institution ( teachers, directors, leaders of private institutions,etc.) are an excellent example of discourse. As the same as a discourse, they are part of a community that communicate share ideas and study a problem, in this case, they study the situation that live many women in our society and they make actions in order to solve this problem, they gave a credit and capacitation to women in order to improve themself.

Finally, other example related to the book and also was very interesting for me is about the practice of an essencial value: the solidarity. In the Cooperativa Detodas, women work together in order to help and support each other, this is related with the process of integration, which means "to unit" and "to fuse together"; the "socias" join together in order to improve their lifes and economic situation. The Cooperativa Detodas is a good example and a sign that our society is going, step by step, to a maturity stage, because they look for the interest and needs of people, in this case, women, instead of think about their own interests like other finantial institutions.