Eighth discussion

Topic: Shoud we introduce sales tax system?

moderator: Kate

[Disagree side]
Anna: We will hold sunflower festival to make Apollin famous. It means goverment will need a lot of money, so we should introuduce the system to gather money.

Alex: I have a son, and next year he will be an elementary school student. If we introduce the system, goverment will pay a part of the education money.


[Agree side]
Rie: I'm worried about  the gap between high income people and low income people. If we introduce sales tax sytem, people don't come to buy a lot of commodities.

Rachel: It is very hard for low income people to buy the commodities. Because of it, they are difficult to live in Apollon.

Amy: My job is a doctor, so if we introuduce sales tax system, it will cost much money to buy medical instruments.


[Question]
Lucus (audience): Please tell us what percent is the sales tax.
Alex: It is 3 percents.


[Conclusion]
We will introduce sales tax system but we couldn't decide which system we introuduce.


[My comment]
  I'm agree with the topic because we have to pay a lot of money in medical institutions if we don't introuduce the system. Although disagree side worried that low income people was hard to pay the sales tax, I think to pay a lot of money in medical institutions is much harder than to pay sales tax.
  I think moderator's Kate did a good job! She compactly summarized the panelists' opinions.

Seventh discussion

Topic: Let's make point-system in Apollon.

[About point system]
   If people do something good for Apollon , they can get points in your card and they can use points with the card. Money for the system is given by the goverment.
   They talked about two things. One is how can we collect points, and the other is where can we use them.

1. How can we collect them?

Jack: Tour guide volunteer.
Tama: I want to know the insight.
Jack: They have to attend the program. Tour company have to hold the program.

Tama: We will hold sunflower festival, but I'm worried that who will do the staff.  So, if people work as the staff, they can get points.
Mac: Sunflower festival is held once a year. So, the volunteer staff isn't a good chance to get points.
Tama: Even if sunflower festival is held once a year, people can get big points.

Mac: We give points to people who bought the foods made in Apollon.

Jack: Photo contest is held in sunflower festival. So, if people take part in the photo contest, they can get points.
Tama: Can everyone who took part in it get points?
Jack: Yes.

Angelina: I suggest recycle system. People who trashed garbage properly can get points.
Jack: We can't know the people who trashed garbage properly.
Angelina: People have point cards, so we can know it.

Carol (audience): I think to trash garbage properly is our duty. It is too easy.
Jack: I don't think so. If people can get a lot of points, they will be happy.

Sophie(audience): Why do you think photo contest is good for Apollon, Jack?
Jack: Because it is a new attempt.



2. Where can we use them?

Jack: Public utilities.
Belle(moderator): There are a lot of utilities, so please tell me the examples.
Jack: Train fare, bus fare, and so on.

Mack: We can use them in shopping center. 
Jack: This system is controled by the goverment, so your idea is difficult.
Mack: Only some stores which installed the system.

Angelina: People can use the points when they buy only foods.
Mac: Why do you think so?
Angelina: People can get points when they did something good for Apollon. So, I think it isn't good  to use for amusement.
Laura: I think it is good to use for amusement because more and more people will join the volunteer.

Belle: Point-system is controled by the goverment, so we have to narrow the places which can use points.
Tama: We decided people can't use points in clothes shops.

Lobert(audience): We have to pay tax, and money comes from our tax. It means we are goverment. So, I'm disagree with making point-system.
Jack: We can cut work cost by making point-system, so we don't have to worry about money.
Hanna: I think money problem can't be helped.


[Conclution?]
We want to make a point-system.


[My coment]
Today's moderator gave audience time of questions at the early stage. I think it was a good idea, but it was difficult for me to ask something because we weren't given enough information. Besides, today's group didn't separate into agree side and disagree side. Although point-system is a new attempt and an interesting idea, a lot of people didn't seem to be agree with it. I think money problem is the biggest problem and we should not ignore it. So, I think they should have disscused carefully whether we make a point-sytem or not.

Sixth discussion

Topic: We should make a national holiday, Sunflower Day.

moderator: Lucus

[Agree side]
Finnian (me): Sunflower is Apollon's symbolic flower. So, we should introuduce it to all over the world. I want to hold some events on the Sunflower Day. By holing events on the day, tourists will increase.

Kofy: These day, people tend to forget sunflower. But, it is our symbolic flower, so we should be aware of it.  By making Sunflower Day, I want people to know it.

Allie: I want to hold sunflower festival. If we make a national holiday, Apollon people's bond may be closer.


[Disagree side]
 Carol: To hold  a Sunflower festival, we need more money or place. And students can't go to school on the day by making it. Now, we have holidays, so we don't have to have a national holiday.

Hanna: Some young people don't know about Apollon's symbolic flower. And if we hold sunflower festival on the day, we can't gather a lot of people on the festival.  We should raise not sunflower but vegetables.


[Question]
Lucus: We decided to make a Sunflower Day. So, we will talk about what we do on the day.
Finnian: I want to hold sunflower festival and sell sunfolwer's seeds, sunflower cosmetics, and so on. So far, I didn't think  except sunflower festival.


[Conclution]
We make Sunflower Day and we hold sunflower festival on last Saturday in July.


[My comment]
We confused audience because we didn't decide what we mainly talk about. Today's topic was a little difficul for me because there weren't any records, so we should have discussed it enough. I regret not sticking my opinion for Carol because I didn't be convinced of her opinion. 

Fifth discussion

Topic: Do we associate with other country?

moderator: Emily

[Agree side]
Lucy: If we associate with other country, it will be good for Apollon's development. And it is good opportunity to know other culture.

Asley: If we associate with other country, we can introduce other technology. And if  a big disaster happen, we can help each other.

Sara: I am a photographer, so I want to take photos of other country. If we associate with other country, I can save a lot of collections and sell them.


[Disagree side]
Sophie: Now, we live without association. If we associate with other country, we may have some problems. I am an entertainer, so I can introduce Apollon to other country.

Isabela: I am worried about war. If we associate with other country, we have to help each other. I am a high school student, so I don't know about politics very much, but I don't want to help other country. And I am also worried about disappearance of our culture.


[Questions]
Lucus (audience):  What is the merits other country associates with Apollon?
Sara: Apollon has high technology,and the example is clones.
Lucus: Does it mean we teach clones's technology?
Asley: We shold not talk about clones to other country, but other coutry can be useful our high technology.

Emily: Next, we want to focus on business associattion.
Lusy: The tourism is unstable, and it will decrease in the furure. If we associate with other country, our work will be easy and wider.
Isabela: However, I think we can develop by ourselves.
Sophie: We can hold events. For, Apollon's day.
Asley: Associating with other country is a good opportunity to let a lot of people know about Apollon.


[Conclusion]
We should try to have association with other country.


[My comment]
First, I thought the meaning of association was a little wide and that it was difficult to understant the discussion. As our teacher said, the information was few and the group should have said it in detail previously. However, I also should have asked various things positively to them. So, I want to try it next time.

Forth discussion

Topic: Should the elementary school students have their own cellphones?

moderator:Anna

[Agree side]
Amy: When children go to school, they may be involved by some accidents. So,  their parents shold make children have cellpones in case of them.

Alex: I get married and have a son. However, I can't take care of him because both I and my hasband work. When he gets home, nobody is at home. Therefore, to make my son have cellpone relieve us. For example, GPS is very good function because I can know where he is.


[Disagree side]
Rie: To use too much a cellphone isn't good for their eyes. If children have it, they will spend much time using it. Because of it, they won't play outside and not to play outside is bad for their health.

Kate: Children have to learn a lot of things. It is more important to get along with friends than to use a cellpone. Therefore, using a cellphone is a waste of time for them. 

Rachel: There are a lot of dangerous websites. For example, the online  dating website, the Internet shopping, swinder, and so on.  So, it is dangerous to have children have cellpones.


[Discussion]
Alex: It is difficult to judge this topic, so we will change it. The new topic is "When they can use their cellphones?"
Rie: I think children should turn on power to the cellphone after school. It may protect them from some accidents.
Kate:I think so, too.
Racel: I'm agree with making a rule.
Amy: Children's situations are different, so we should decide family rules.


[Conclution]
 We should make family rules depending on their situation.


[My comment]
     I'm agree with their conclusion. If children use their cellpones wrongly, they will become dangerous things. However, if they use them correctly, they may protect themselves from some accidents. I think their parents are responsible for advising how to use a cellphone, so each family should make some rules.
     First, I didn't know what they are talking about because I couldn't understand what they want to deside finally. So, we should explain the topic's meaing in detail.

Third discussion

Topic: We need immigration laws in Apollon.

Moderator: Tama Homer

[Agree side]
Mac: According to  the graph, the number of young people is decreasing. So, the number of working people will decrease in the future. I think it is important to communicate with foreigners and introduce foreign cultures.

Angelina: Working population is decreasing. If foreign people immigrate in Apollon, we may be able to improve hospitality.

[Disagree side]
Laura: If immigrants increase, we have to employ a lot of foreign  people. Because of it,  Apollon citizen will lose a chance to work.

Belle: If we make immigration laws, we have to think about their political rights. And, I worry about losing our unique culture.

Jack: By accepting foreign peope, we are limited places we can live. And if a lot of tall building increase, they will soil the Apllon's view. I think immigrants will be homeless. Because of it, Apollon's peace will be threatened.

[Questions]
Mac: Why do you think crimes will increase if foreign people immigrate?
Jack: I think Apollon citizens and foreigner will be opposed.
Angelina: A lot of foreigners come here, so we must have had a lot of chances to speak to them.
Jack: There are a lot homeless in foreign countries, so I am worry about foreignr's employment. I think immigrants will be homeless because they have different ideas. So, it is difficult for us to work together with them.

[My comment]
I didn't know the immigration laws's meaning and it was difficult for me to understand the discussion.  I think a moderator needs to make sure at an early stage if audiences understand the discussion's topic and words' meaning. We had better make sure Apollon's background.

Second discussion

Topic: Should we develop our countryside?


Moderator: Hanna Marin


[Agree side]
Allie: We shold make a botanical garden. I am a actress, so I want to introduce it on TV.

Lucus: Our city's environment is very worth because most of Apollon's people live there. I think we  should  transfer people from the city to the country.

Finnian: There are a lot of vavant land in countryside, so as a gardener we should make Ibetter use of them and make sight-seeing area.


[Disagree side]
Carol: When I was a young, Apollon was full with nature. I am worry about losing it.

Kofy: I am a writer, so I can't concentrate on my writing if we develop our countryside. And I think it is important for the childeren to play in nature.


[Questions]
Hanna: How do you use vacant land?
Lucus: We should use it for inviting companies.
Kofy: If so,  I think the environmetal pollution will be worse and nature will be damaged.
Lucus: There are a lof of problems in the city. For example, a lack of day-care center, decreasing birth-rate, and so on. So, we should develop our countryside.
Finnian: It can't be helped a little of pollution in order to solve other problems.


[Conclusion]
We should develop our countryside taking care of nature.


[My comment]
I didn't check Apollon's background, so I couldn't answer where is the countryside. I am a gardener, but I couldn't say well what to do as a garder. Thanks to this discusssion, I knew I should gather more information.