Lishan Nan Caroll, Age 6, 1st Grade
Stanford
Nixon Elementary School
My mommy says Chinese names set expectations for life. My mommy’s name is 王立華(Lihua). It means Build up China. But I think she wants to climb trees instead.
My name is 麗珊 (Lishan). It means Beautiful Coral. I want to Be healthy and to be beautiful. Coral is Sharp! I must read Books and study.
My dog’s name is Sparky. Her Chinese name is 兔兔 (bunny). Could she be a bunny? No! But she can jump and sometimes she eats carrots.
My dad’s name is Glenn. His Chinese name is 野平. It means wild and calm. My did is not wild. But sometimes he Barks like a wild dog.
My mom’s dad’s name is 金堂 (gold house). I wonder if the gold house has windows? Because we can’t see inside him where the gold should Be.
My mom’s mom’s name is 龍珍 (Precious Dragon). She is not like a dragon but She is very Precious and Special.
What’s in a Chinese name? Where does it come from? Usually the parents. The Chinese name tells some expectations from the parents. The Child hears the name, learns the expectations, then decides to try to do them _____ or not! I think it is better to try but not always. Yes, you should listen to your Chinese name, to the ideas of your parents and ancestors, But you must also be true to your heart.
20100820
"Kami Ang Kabataan" (We Are The Youth)
Hogan High School's Filipino-American Class rehearse their rendition of a literary piece entitled "Kami ang Kabataan" (We Are The Youth) written by Christian Manansala. The poem is about love of country, diversity, and humanity.
20100819
To Fly Wingless
Fay Pon, 11th Grade
San Ramon
Dougherty Valley High School
By the age of six, I had moved a grand total of four times. And every time, Baba’s favorite gingko tree came along with us. No matter how many times its roots were pulled, torn, and cut from all the moving and replanting, the gingko tree never died.
Baba had brought its seeds from China to America when he was a child, and the tree has grown with him ever since.
“I replant my tree,” he explained, “because trees like this one will grow to be sturdy and it will live anywhere.”
Behind our new house was a small garden, and I would watch my father replant many, many gingko bilobas.
“Fay, when you grow up, you will be just like this tree. You will study hard and have a steady job and no matter where you go, you will survive and thrive well.”
I nodded obediently. I am a tree and I will grow up to be successful.
At the age of seven, I was going to be a wealthy business woman. It only takes four years of college, my mother would say to me, and it’ll keep you from ending up on the streets. It had been, indeed, a practical career choice. I again nodded obediently, not giving much thought for who I was going to be a decade from then.
However, as the year to choose colleges drew nearer, my outlook on my future began to change. I loved telling stories. I would tell them to the darkness of my bedroom when everyone slept and no one could hear, but it felt good because my voice echoed against the walls like a microphone. I would scribble them hastily on the margins of my homework planner. I would trace make-believe family trees and character-names with my finger. I was going to be a writer.
My Mama liked to tell stories too, but they all led back to the same moral lesson—
“And so, you have to study hard, and go to a good college, and be successful. You have to fulfill the expectations of your poor ancestors.”
Just like that, the phrase “good college” being the understatement of the century.
One day, when I was 12, I told my mother about my dreams.
She was in the kitchen preparing dim-sum whilst telling me about her life in China, a life of very little opportunity because of the death-strewn ravages of war, “You’re lucky, that Stanford is only an hour away.”
Mama gave me a gentle smile that flickered with hope. With dreams. With expectations.
I looked up at her, “But Mama, I want to publish a novel.”
“W-What?”
“A novel, Mama. You’re going to tell me more stories and I’m going to write it all down.I’m going to be a writer when I grow up,” I replied.
The smile on my mother’s face, however, slid off immediately.
“No Fay, most writers end up on the streets. You need a practical job. You will study hard and become an engineer like your father.”
At that, she pushed an Algebra book into my arms, “Go study.”
Oh well. Amongst the crowd, I guess I am just one person, like any other. Why should I dream any differently?
I was 14 when everything changed in our family. After my younger sister was diagnosed with Autism, I found interest in something other than writing. I soon began studying diseases and learning about the research involved in treating such maladies because, at the time, the doctor had told our family that there was no remedy for Autism. That made me sad, and no matter how much I wrote and wrote about despair and angst and forlorn little things, I could do nothing with words.
I wanted to help others, to take action in improving my sister’s condition and that of other patients as well. And so, in the waiting room that night at the hospital, I told my mother,
“I want to be a doctor, Mama.” I told her this, despite the fact that I still gripped my writing notebook in one hand and a fountain pen in the other.
She turned to me and smiled gently, taking my hand, “You know Fay, you are a strong girl. You should be what you want to be.”
And in that instant, my dreams came back.
I am almost 17 now, taking college courses as a high school student just like all the other Asian students in town.
But aside from the usual classes, I take Creative Writing classes. Despite the lack of encouragement, my dream in becoming an Asian American writer has not faltered.
I will double major, one in Medicine to pursue Autism research for my sister and one in Writing & Literature for myself, so I can fulfill both dreams, connect both ends of my family’s gossamer thread of hopes. And through time, I have grown to love both.
I have stories to tell about people like me, here in America, I say. My English teacher gives an encouraging smile.
I have the hands and the heart to help save lives, I say. At home, my family nods in approval. After all, studying medicine is a dream shared by us all.
My dad once told me that I was going to grow like a gingko tree one day, steady and wise. The tree can grow and grow and spread its roots, but it cannot walk away.
I am a bird. And the gingko tree is my home. A bird that can spread its wings even when the weather grows drafty, that can fly back and forth from dream to dream, from home to home.
A messenger bird, indeed.
It likes to tell stories, to sing its songs for the world to hear.
I can live two dreams now.
San Ramon
Dougherty Valley High School
By the age of six, I had moved a grand total of four times. And every time, Baba’s favorite gingko tree came along with us. No matter how many times its roots were pulled, torn, and cut from all the moving and replanting, the gingko tree never died.
Baba had brought its seeds from China to America when he was a child, and the tree has grown with him ever since.
“I replant my tree,” he explained, “because trees like this one will grow to be sturdy and it will live anywhere.”
Behind our new house was a small garden, and I would watch my father replant many, many gingko bilobas.
“Fay, when you grow up, you will be just like this tree. You will study hard and have a steady job and no matter where you go, you will survive and thrive well.”
I nodded obediently. I am a tree and I will grow up to be successful.
At the age of seven, I was going to be a wealthy business woman. It only takes four years of college, my mother would say to me, and it’ll keep you from ending up on the streets. It had been, indeed, a practical career choice. I again nodded obediently, not giving much thought for who I was going to be a decade from then.
However, as the year to choose colleges drew nearer, my outlook on my future began to change. I loved telling stories. I would tell them to the darkness of my bedroom when everyone slept and no one could hear, but it felt good because my voice echoed against the walls like a microphone. I would scribble them hastily on the margins of my homework planner. I would trace make-believe family trees and character-names with my finger. I was going to be a writer.
My Mama liked to tell stories too, but they all led back to the same moral lesson—
“And so, you have to study hard, and go to a good college, and be successful. You have to fulfill the expectations of your poor ancestors.”
Just like that, the phrase “good college” being the understatement of the century.
One day, when I was 12, I told my mother about my dreams.
She was in the kitchen preparing dim-sum whilst telling me about her life in China, a life of very little opportunity because of the death-strewn ravages of war, “You’re lucky, that Stanford is only an hour away.”
Mama gave me a gentle smile that flickered with hope. With dreams. With expectations.
I looked up at her, “But Mama, I want to publish a novel.”
“W-What?”
“A novel, Mama. You’re going to tell me more stories and I’m going to write it all down.I’m going to be a writer when I grow up,” I replied.
The smile on my mother’s face, however, slid off immediately.
“No Fay, most writers end up on the streets. You need a practical job. You will study hard and become an engineer like your father.”
At that, she pushed an Algebra book into my arms, “Go study.”
Oh well. Amongst the crowd, I guess I am just one person, like any other. Why should I dream any differently?
I was 14 when everything changed in our family. After my younger sister was diagnosed with Autism, I found interest in something other than writing. I soon began studying diseases and learning about the research involved in treating such maladies because, at the time, the doctor had told our family that there was no remedy for Autism. That made me sad, and no matter how much I wrote and wrote about despair and angst and forlorn little things, I could do nothing with words.
I wanted to help others, to take action in improving my sister’s condition and that of other patients as well. And so, in the waiting room that night at the hospital, I told my mother,
“I want to be a doctor, Mama.” I told her this, despite the fact that I still gripped my writing notebook in one hand and a fountain pen in the other.
She turned to me and smiled gently, taking my hand, “You know Fay, you are a strong girl. You should be what you want to be.”
And in that instant, my dreams came back.
I am almost 17 now, taking college courses as a high school student just like all the other Asian students in town.
But aside from the usual classes, I take Creative Writing classes. Despite the lack of encouragement, my dream in becoming an Asian American writer has not faltered.
I will double major, one in Medicine to pursue Autism research for my sister and one in Writing & Literature for myself, so I can fulfill both dreams, connect both ends of my family’s gossamer thread of hopes. And through time, I have grown to love both.
I have stories to tell about people like me, here in America, I say. My English teacher gives an encouraging smile.
I have the hands and the heart to help save lives, I say. At home, my family nods in approval. After all, studying medicine is a dream shared by us all.
My dad once told me that I was going to grow like a gingko tree one day, steady and wise. The tree can grow and grow and spread its roots, but it cannot walk away.
I am a bird. And the gingko tree is my home. A bird that can spread its wings even when the weather grows drafty, that can fly back and forth from dream to dream, from home to home.
A messenger bird, indeed.
It likes to tell stories, to sing its songs for the world to hear.
I can live two dreams now.
20100817
Beautiful Coral - My Chinese Name
Lishan Nan Caroll, Age 6, 1st Grade
Stanford
Nixon Elementary School
My mommy says Chinese names set expectations for life. My mommy’s name is 王立華(Lihua). It means Build up China. But I think she wants to climb trees instead.
My name is 麗珊 (Lishan). It means Beautiful Coral. I want to Be healthy and to be beautiful. Coral is Sharp! I must read Books and study.
My dog’s name is Sparky. Her Chinese name is 兔兔 (bunny). Could she be a bunny? No! But she can jump and sometimes she eats carrots.
My dad’s name is Glenn. His Chinese name is 野平. It means wild and calm. My did is not wild. But sometimes he Barks like a wild dog.
My mom’s dad’s name is 金堂 (gold house). I wonder if the gold house has windows? Because we can’t see inside him where the gold should Be.
My mom’s mom’s name is 龍珍 (Precious Dragon). She is not like a dragon but She is very Precious and Special.
What’s in a Chinese name? Where does it come from? Usually the parents. The Chinese name tells some expectations from the parents. The Child hears the name, learns the expectations, then decides to try to do them _____ or not! I think it is better to try but not always. Yes, you should listen to your Chinese name, to the ideas of your parents and ancestors, But you must also be true to your heart.
Stanford
Nixon Elementary School
My mommy says Chinese names set expectations for life. My mommy’s name is 王立華(Lihua). It means Build up China. But I think she wants to climb trees instead.
My name is 麗珊 (Lishan). It means Beautiful Coral. I want to Be healthy and to be beautiful. Coral is Sharp! I must read Books and study.
My dog’s name is Sparky. Her Chinese name is 兔兔 (bunny). Could she be a bunny? No! But she can jump and sometimes she eats carrots.
My dad’s name is Glenn. His Chinese name is 野平. It means wild and calm. My did is not wild. But sometimes he Barks like a wild dog.
My mom’s dad’s name is 金堂 (gold house). I wonder if the gold house has windows? Because we can’t see inside him where the gold should Be.
My mom’s mom’s name is 龍珍 (Precious Dragon). She is not like a dragon but She is very Precious and Special.
What’s in a Chinese name? Where does it come from? Usually the parents. The Chinese name tells some expectations from the parents. The Child hears the name, learns the expectations, then decides to try to do them _____ or not! I think it is better to try but not always. Yes, you should listen to your Chinese name, to the ideas of your parents and ancestors, But you must also be true to your heart.
20100512
My Faustian Pact
By Wilson Wu Fan Ai Tong School, 5A
"You've been tested positive.." Those words form the doctor weighed down like an anchor. MY heart sank, body iced and mind blanked in an instant. Now that I recall, the first image to enter my mind after regaining a semblance of composure was a dying AIDS1 victim, surrounded by his family members, in an advertisement from United Colours of Benetton. I'm now a carrier of the HIV2 virus.
About a year ago, I still had a future. Leading to its destruction, ironically, was an opportunity that my friends and I thought was golden. "Boys, we've got a gig!" exclaimed Steve. He was the lead vocalist of The Cream, a nascent band that featured his younger brother, Jacob, as the percussionist; Johnny, our childhood friend, as the bass guitarist; and me, the lead guitarist. Lady Luck must be smiling down, all of us thought, when Steve broke the news that we had been selected to perform at the annual Rock Festival.
The event was an unexpected success. We were buoyed by the cheers and applause from the electrified crowd. What surprised us even more were the flattering comments from Matthew, an influential composer in the region. "It was a fantastic performance. I didn't have the impression that you guys were a bunch of rookies," he remarked. Before parting, we were invited to a party at his house. Steve eagerly agreed on our behalf. "We need connections," he told us later.
An unmistakable air of hedonism permeated the sprawling apartment. The owner had no lack of any material comfort that I could think of. Every piece of furniture, decoration and entertainment device was synonymous with luxury. It seemed that we had entered a different world. Except for us, the guests at Matthew's party were all dressed in designer outfits. They were dancing to techno music while we stood at a corner sipping cocktails served by waiters who treated us condescendingly.
Jacob, feeling bored and uneasy, said, "There are only high society people here. This is not a place for us." Just when we were deliberating whether to leave, the host came up to us. "Hey, are you guys comfortable?" Matthew asked. "Let me be a gracious host," he continued without waiting for a reply. "You can ease yourselves into the party." Matthew then took Steve's hand, placed a packet of pink pills on his palm and closed the the fingers to make a fist before letting go. I saw a smirk on the composer's lips. His penetrating eyeballs gave each of us a glance. He walked away after pretending to pop something into his mouth. The gesture was easily understood.
"We are not going to touch that stuff!" Jacob protested as soon as the host was out of sight. I nodded in agreement. "Are you afraid of ending up like Kurt Cobain?" Steve snapped. "Don't forget the premature deaths of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison!" Jacob retorted, citing the names of iconic rock personalities who had their lives terminated by drugs. The two brothers were embroiled in a heated exchange of words until Johnny interrupted, "Jacob, I know that we should stay clean, but your brother is right. We need the performances, songs and tips that Matthew can offer to give us the success that our talents deserve." There was no denying that Matthew could propel our musical ambition. Steve coaxed. Johnny cajoled. By rejecting the drugs, they believed we would not get another opportunity to seek the help of Matthew. In the end, we made a dual pact. We agreed to rid our lives of drugs once we achieved our objectives and to prevent each other from getting into a vicious cycle of addiction.
It turned out to be a Faustian pact. Our acceptance of drugs from Matthew brought us into his circle of influence. He used his clout to help the band gain publicity though various platforms, and much sooner than expected, a proposal was tabled for us to cut our very first album. In the meantime, we ventured deeper and deeper into the wasteland of drugs. The dark side of Matthew was soon revealed to us. Behind his facade as a respected composer, he was the leader of a drug syndicate. We were among his clientele. The few attempts made to wean ourselves from drugs were blocked by withdrawal symptoms that brought absolute misery. It was too difficult to exchange glamour and rewards for suffering. In the spiraling freefall, we graduated from "Ecstasy" pills to a smorgasbord of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
A drug raid abruptly ended our life of decadence. Narcotics officers operating undercover arrested us in a discotheque. Memories of the incident are vague. I was high and dazed when the law caught up with me. It was in police custody that I realised the folly of my actions. However, I did not expect the consequences to be more severe that imprisonment and caning. Three days after a mandatory blood specimen test, I was told of my infection with the deadly HIV virus. It was tantamount to pronouncing the death sentence on me. The same fate fell on Steve. We must have been infected through needles used by other drug abusers.
Almost two months have since elapsed. During this period, I experienced the agony of freeing my body from narcotics dependence. Many times during the day, in a silent lucidity, I wished regretfully that time could be reversed. The nights were interspersed with intense moments of anguish. Thoughts of suicide crossed my mind. The haunting guilt and pain are difficult to exorcise.
Yet, I have derived from them the strength to live on. In the drug rehabilitation centre where I am now, many former addicts have shared their stories with me. All the accounts invariably end with a desire to make restitution to those who have been hurt. I cannot cause more sorrows to my parents. Rather than choosing a road to perdition, I have decided to complete my remaining journey with dignity. Obstacles will arise along the way, but I am prepared to face them. Indeed, the price for taking drugs is too high to pay and they must be shunned without hesitation.
1 AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
2 HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
"You've been tested positive.." Those words form the doctor weighed down like an anchor. MY heart sank, body iced and mind blanked in an instant. Now that I recall, the first image to enter my mind after regaining a semblance of composure was a dying AIDS1 victim, surrounded by his family members, in an advertisement from United Colours of Benetton. I'm now a carrier of the HIV2 virus.
About a year ago, I still had a future. Leading to its destruction, ironically, was an opportunity that my friends and I thought was golden. "Boys, we've got a gig!" exclaimed Steve. He was the lead vocalist of The Cream, a nascent band that featured his younger brother, Jacob, as the percussionist; Johnny, our childhood friend, as the bass guitarist; and me, the lead guitarist. Lady Luck must be smiling down, all of us thought, when Steve broke the news that we had been selected to perform at the annual Rock Festival.
The event was an unexpected success. We were buoyed by the cheers and applause from the electrified crowd. What surprised us even more were the flattering comments from Matthew, an influential composer in the region. "It was a fantastic performance. I didn't have the impression that you guys were a bunch of rookies," he remarked. Before parting, we were invited to a party at his house. Steve eagerly agreed on our behalf. "We need connections," he told us later.
An unmistakable air of hedonism permeated the sprawling apartment. The owner had no lack of any material comfort that I could think of. Every piece of furniture, decoration and entertainment device was synonymous with luxury. It seemed that we had entered a different world. Except for us, the guests at Matthew's party were all dressed in designer outfits. They were dancing to techno music while we stood at a corner sipping cocktails served by waiters who treated us condescendingly.
Jacob, feeling bored and uneasy, said, "There are only high society people here. This is not a place for us." Just when we were deliberating whether to leave, the host came up to us. "Hey, are you guys comfortable?" Matthew asked. "Let me be a gracious host," he continued without waiting for a reply. "You can ease yourselves into the party." Matthew then took Steve's hand, placed a packet of pink pills on his palm and closed the the fingers to make a fist before letting go. I saw a smirk on the composer's lips. His penetrating eyeballs gave each of us a glance. He walked away after pretending to pop something into his mouth. The gesture was easily understood.
"We are not going to touch that stuff!" Jacob protested as soon as the host was out of sight. I nodded in agreement. "Are you afraid of ending up like Kurt Cobain?" Steve snapped. "Don't forget the premature deaths of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison!" Jacob retorted, citing the names of iconic rock personalities who had their lives terminated by drugs. The two brothers were embroiled in a heated exchange of words until Johnny interrupted, "Jacob, I know that we should stay clean, but your brother is right. We need the performances, songs and tips that Matthew can offer to give us the success that our talents deserve." There was no denying that Matthew could propel our musical ambition. Steve coaxed. Johnny cajoled. By rejecting the drugs, they believed we would not get another opportunity to seek the help of Matthew. In the end, we made a dual pact. We agreed to rid our lives of drugs once we achieved our objectives and to prevent each other from getting into a vicious cycle of addiction.
It turned out to be a Faustian pact. Our acceptance of drugs from Matthew brought us into his circle of influence. He used his clout to help the band gain publicity though various platforms, and much sooner than expected, a proposal was tabled for us to cut our very first album. In the meantime, we ventured deeper and deeper into the wasteland of drugs. The dark side of Matthew was soon revealed to us. Behind his facade as a respected composer, he was the leader of a drug syndicate. We were among his clientele. The few attempts made to wean ourselves from drugs were blocked by withdrawal symptoms that brought absolute misery. It was too difficult to exchange glamour and rewards for suffering. In the spiraling freefall, we graduated from "Ecstasy" pills to a smorgasbord of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
A drug raid abruptly ended our life of decadence. Narcotics officers operating undercover arrested us in a discotheque. Memories of the incident are vague. I was high and dazed when the law caught up with me. It was in police custody that I realised the folly of my actions. However, I did not expect the consequences to be more severe that imprisonment and caning. Three days after a mandatory blood specimen test, I was told of my infection with the deadly HIV virus. It was tantamount to pronouncing the death sentence on me. The same fate fell on Steve. We must have been infected through needles used by other drug abusers.
Almost two months have since elapsed. During this period, I experienced the agony of freeing my body from narcotics dependence. Many times during the day, in a silent lucidity, I wished regretfully that time could be reversed. The nights were interspersed with intense moments of anguish. Thoughts of suicide crossed my mind. The haunting guilt and pain are difficult to exorcise.
Yet, I have derived from them the strength to live on. In the drug rehabilitation centre where I am now, many former addicts have shared their stories with me. All the accounts invariably end with a desire to make restitution to those who have been hurt. I cannot cause more sorrows to my parents. Rather than choosing a road to perdition, I have decided to complete my remaining journey with dignity. Obstacles will arise along the way, but I am prepared to face them. Indeed, the price for taking drugs is too high to pay and they must be shunned without hesitation.
1 AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
2 HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
20100511
Liviu Librescu
by Cassy Tischer, Skutt Catholic High School
9-10th Grade Category
Moral courage is a trait that is talked of frequently, but one becomes confused as to what a person with moral courage looks like, sounds like, or does. Moral courage requires and calls for all people to stand on the side of truth, even if they stand alone, and to speak up when they believe something is wrong. Each person who possesses moral courage has a story, but Liviu Librescu’s story touched a certain
place in my heart and stood out amidst all the rest. Librescu was among the few lucky people to actually survive the Holocaust, but he gave up his life willingly to protect his students and keep them alive. He stood up for what he knew was right and possessed courage in a situation where there was nothing but chaos.In the midst of World War II, Liviu Librescu was forced to witness his family being torn apart
(Moynihan). After being placed in several ghettos and moving around to a variety of places, his family was later reunited (Holland). Upon marrying and starting a family, Liviu immigrated to Israel in 1978 with his wife, who was also a Holocaust survivor (Moynihan). The family then moved to the U.S. where Librescu was a researcher and lecturer in engineering, along with having a degree in aeronautics
(Moynihan). Librescu became a professor at the college of Virginia Tech. After teaching there for years,the terrible day of April 16th, 2007 came along (Moynihan). A troubled young student attacked the school and started shooting innocent people. In the shooters’ two attacks, he made his way to Librescu’s room.Librescu directed his students to jump out of the window to safety while he barricaded the door with his body to prevent the shooter from getting inside (Holland). He saved many lives that day as he selflessly gave up his own. Liviu Librescu sacrificed his life in order to protect the students he taught. He did the only thing he knew how to do; it was a natural instinct. A young student by the name of Ms. Merrey said, “We had
heard the gunfire coming from the classroom behind us, and we just reacted to it and headed for the windows, Professor Librescu never made an attempt to leave. He’s a part of my life now and forever. I’m changed. I’m not the person I was before Monday.” (Moynihan) He not only affected the people whom he saved, but he also left a memorable mark upon anyone who knew him. Librescu was said to have been a brave man, and one who would never back down from helping those in need (Moynihan). He survived the Holocaust, and after, one would think that he would do anything to keep his life, but instead he saw the need to be the hero to those kids. He was not only doing what he thought was right, he was doing what he believed was his job. His heroic act brought hope to many people around the world. Liviu Lebrescu’s sacrifices not only affected the Virginia Tech population, but it also affected those outside of Virginia. His courage has influenced people today to take a stand and to speak up for what is right. His act was one out of a million, but has continued to help the people of today, and I am sure his story will go on for quite sometime. Many people could have died that day, but instead lives were saved because of his selflessness.
I have heard of many amazing people and people that are full of courage, but this story touched me deeply. It goes to show that no matter how persecuted someone has been, and how much they have been through, they can still find the power within themselves to save others. His story has inspired me to
“reap what I sow”, so to speak, and to treat others the way I want to be treated. When I first started to attend a Catholic school I was told that we would have to do a certain amount of service hours to graduate. My initial reaction was to groan and get them done as soon as possible. After doing my required hours, I came to like doing service. I was urged to step out of my comfort zone and work with those who
were less fortunate. I have taken these opportunities to enjoy helping people. Seeing the faces of the people I have worked with and seeing their response to my work and knowing that they are thankful, is one of the best feelings I have ever felt. Knowing that one man alone can save a whole classroom of students’ gives me hope that the things I am doing will in the end help those in need. I hope that one day I can also look back and say that I made a difference because I wanted to, not just because I was required to do so. Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
-Maya Angelou
Bibliography
Holland, G.K. The Star Walker of the Month. June 2007. http://www.thestarwalkers.com.
Moynihan, Colin. “Professor’s Violent Death Came Where He Sought Peace.” New York
Times. April 19, 2007.
9-10th Grade Category
Moral courage is a trait that is talked of frequently, but one becomes confused as to what a person with moral courage looks like, sounds like, or does. Moral courage requires and calls for all people to stand on the side of truth, even if they stand alone, and to speak up when they believe something is wrong. Each person who possesses moral courage has a story, but Liviu Librescu’s story touched a certain
place in my heart and stood out amidst all the rest. Librescu was among the few lucky people to actually survive the Holocaust, but he gave up his life willingly to protect his students and keep them alive. He stood up for what he knew was right and possessed courage in a situation where there was nothing but chaos.In the midst of World War II, Liviu Librescu was forced to witness his family being torn apart
(Moynihan). After being placed in several ghettos and moving around to a variety of places, his family was later reunited (Holland). Upon marrying and starting a family, Liviu immigrated to Israel in 1978 with his wife, who was also a Holocaust survivor (Moynihan). The family then moved to the U.S. where Librescu was a researcher and lecturer in engineering, along with having a degree in aeronautics
(Moynihan). Librescu became a professor at the college of Virginia Tech. After teaching there for years,the terrible day of April 16th, 2007 came along (Moynihan). A troubled young student attacked the school and started shooting innocent people. In the shooters’ two attacks, he made his way to Librescu’s room.Librescu directed his students to jump out of the window to safety while he barricaded the door with his body to prevent the shooter from getting inside (Holland). He saved many lives that day as he selflessly gave up his own. Liviu Librescu sacrificed his life in order to protect the students he taught. He did the only thing he knew how to do; it was a natural instinct. A young student by the name of Ms. Merrey said, “We had
heard the gunfire coming from the classroom behind us, and we just reacted to it and headed for the windows, Professor Librescu never made an attempt to leave. He’s a part of my life now and forever. I’m changed. I’m not the person I was before Monday.” (Moynihan) He not only affected the people whom he saved, but he also left a memorable mark upon anyone who knew him. Librescu was said to have been a brave man, and one who would never back down from helping those in need (Moynihan). He survived the Holocaust, and after, one would think that he would do anything to keep his life, but instead he saw the need to be the hero to those kids. He was not only doing what he thought was right, he was doing what he believed was his job. His heroic act brought hope to many people around the world. Liviu Lebrescu’s sacrifices not only affected the Virginia Tech population, but it also affected those outside of Virginia. His courage has influenced people today to take a stand and to speak up for what is right. His act was one out of a million, but has continued to help the people of today, and I am sure his story will go on for quite sometime. Many people could have died that day, but instead lives were saved because of his selflessness.
I have heard of many amazing people and people that are full of courage, but this story touched me deeply. It goes to show that no matter how persecuted someone has been, and how much they have been through, they can still find the power within themselves to save others. His story has inspired me to
“reap what I sow”, so to speak, and to treat others the way I want to be treated. When I first started to attend a Catholic school I was told that we would have to do a certain amount of service hours to graduate. My initial reaction was to groan and get them done as soon as possible. After doing my required hours, I came to like doing service. I was urged to step out of my comfort zone and work with those who
were less fortunate. I have taken these opportunities to enjoy helping people. Seeing the faces of the people I have worked with and seeing their response to my work and knowing that they are thankful, is one of the best feelings I have ever felt. Knowing that one man alone can save a whole classroom of students’ gives me hope that the things I am doing will in the end help those in need. I hope that one day I can also look back and say that I made a difference because I wanted to, not just because I was required to do so. Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
-Maya Angelou
Bibliography
Holland, G.K. The Star Walker of the Month. June 2007. http://www.thestarwalkers.com.
Moynihan, Colin. “Professor’s Violent Death Came Where He Sought Peace.” New York
Times. April 19, 2007.
20100510
Mother's Day
bY Rashmi Singh, 11-year-old, South Dartmouth.
Mother's Day to me is a day that I like to think purely about my mother. Whenever I think I get so "flooded" with what my mother has done for us . . .
Teaching my sister and me to read (my brother is just beginning). Washing the dishes. Doing the laundry. Dropping us to school. Taking me to my piano lessons. Taking my sister to ballet lessons. Dropping me to the Southworth Library most any time that is reasonable, and when I want to go. Attending concerts. I've listed only a few, but these tasks seem overwhelming to me! I'm just left in a daze.
My mother and I enjoy talking about so many issues . . . from "How was school?" to downright politics.
I wonder if God gave my mom two brains instead of one! I mean, my mom can dry the dishes while still paying attention to the news!
My mother is very special to me because she taught me all the virtues of being a good person. Sincerity, honesty, forgiveness, persistence, tolerance, and fairness. She taught me to be kind and caring. To work hard and do your duties, don't worry about the results. To be generous and giving. To be patient.
So whenever I see these things being done, I always remember my mother. She is my friend, my teacher, she is my Earth. She has resources . . . like this planet -- Earth.
But how to pay her back for all the things she has done for us? I don't know. She has done so much for us! But I will try to make all 365 days Mother's Day by helping her. What I really want to say to her is: "THANK YOU, MOM!"
-- RASHMI SINGH
Mother's Day to me is a day that I like to think purely about my mother. Whenever I think I get so "flooded" with what my mother has done for us . . .
Teaching my sister and me to read (my brother is just beginning). Washing the dishes. Doing the laundry. Dropping us to school. Taking me to my piano lessons. Taking my sister to ballet lessons. Dropping me to the Southworth Library most any time that is reasonable, and when I want to go. Attending concerts. I've listed only a few, but these tasks seem overwhelming to me! I'm just left in a daze.
My mother and I enjoy talking about so many issues . . . from "How was school?" to downright politics.
I wonder if God gave my mom two brains instead of one! I mean, my mom can dry the dishes while still paying attention to the news!
My mother is very special to me because she taught me all the virtues of being a good person. Sincerity, honesty, forgiveness, persistence, tolerance, and fairness. She taught me to be kind and caring. To work hard and do your duties, don't worry about the results. To be generous and giving. To be patient.
So whenever I see these things being done, I always remember my mother. She is my friend, my teacher, she is my Earth. She has resources . . . like this planet -- Earth.
But how to pay her back for all the things she has done for us? I don't know. She has done so much for us! But I will try to make all 365 days Mother's Day by helping her. What I really want to say to her is: "THANK YOU, MOM!"
-- RASHMI SINGH
20100506
Green Teens
Iris R. Nunez, age 16 – Easing the “Pain” of Pollution
Murry Bergtraum High School
Manhattan
“Planting trees is one of the most beneficial, wonderful and cost-effective ways to ease the pain of pollution, ozone depletion and urban blight. With these trees, we are cleaning our air, beautifying our environment, and reducing the pollution that is bad for our bodies.”
Daniell Martinez, age 16 – “It’s Up to Us, New York!”
High School for Health Profession and Human Services
Manhattan
“I will try my best to help Mayor Bloomberg implement his initiative to plant one million trees by 2017… If everyone in New York planted at least one tree, Mayor Bloomberg’s plan will be a success. It’s up to us New York!”
Nedine Dobson, age 17 – A “Melting Pot of Beautiful People” with Beautiful Trees
Clara Barton High School
Brooklyn
“Each school district should be responsible for involving each school in the district to embark on a go green project. The project will require groups of students to be responsible for the design of areas in their school district to plant trees… this initiative promises to make New York, with its melting pot of beautiful people, a garden of beautiful trees.”
Eric Murray Datcher, age 16
Bushwick High School for Social Justice
Brooklyn
“The key to the Mayor’s plan is involving the youth of New York City. There are young people throughout the city who are simply waiting for an opportunity to make a major change. The Million Trees project could be that change to unite the youth in a positive project… I believe I can use my strong voice to gather more students, young people, and community members to beautify more places throughout New York City.”
Oytun Tangul, age 18
New York University
Manhattan
“I believe that I, and any other teenager, can help Mayor Bloomberg to achieve his goal by volunteering to help plant trees. I can help serve my community and my future by doing this. This project can actually be fun. I will get to meet new friends. I can tell my current friends about it and we can all plan to help our society together. By volunteering to plant trees, not only will I be helping Mayor Bloomberg to put his initiative into effect, but I will also be helping myself by choosing to do something rewarding and supportive for my future and the future of my potential children.”
Jamel Irby-Shabazz, age 12
Park Place Middle School
Brooklyn
“Every month we will get teens to sign up as a special citizenship program with the NYC Parks Department to help plant trees. Teens will then make a difference in their community and experience something positive in their community. The teens will also be able to place their family name on the trees… I also believe that a million trees will equal a million healthy breaths. A million healthy breaths can help a brain learn and be more conscious about the environment in which we live.”
Murry Bergtraum High School
Manhattan
“Planting trees is one of the most beneficial, wonderful and cost-effective ways to ease the pain of pollution, ozone depletion and urban blight. With these trees, we are cleaning our air, beautifying our environment, and reducing the pollution that is bad for our bodies.”
Daniell Martinez, age 16 – “It’s Up to Us, New York!”
High School for Health Profession and Human Services
Manhattan
“I will try my best to help Mayor Bloomberg implement his initiative to plant one million trees by 2017… If everyone in New York planted at least one tree, Mayor Bloomberg’s plan will be a success. It’s up to us New York!”
Nedine Dobson, age 17 – A “Melting Pot of Beautiful People” with Beautiful Trees
Clara Barton High School
Brooklyn
“Each school district should be responsible for involving each school in the district to embark on a go green project. The project will require groups of students to be responsible for the design of areas in their school district to plant trees… this initiative promises to make New York, with its melting pot of beautiful people, a garden of beautiful trees.”
Eric Murray Datcher, age 16
Bushwick High School for Social Justice
Brooklyn
“The key to the Mayor’s plan is involving the youth of New York City. There are young people throughout the city who are simply waiting for an opportunity to make a major change. The Million Trees project could be that change to unite the youth in a positive project… I believe I can use my strong voice to gather more students, young people, and community members to beautify more places throughout New York City.”
Oytun Tangul, age 18
New York University
Manhattan
“I believe that I, and any other teenager, can help Mayor Bloomberg to achieve his goal by volunteering to help plant trees. I can help serve my community and my future by doing this. This project can actually be fun. I will get to meet new friends. I can tell my current friends about it and we can all plan to help our society together. By volunteering to plant trees, not only will I be helping Mayor Bloomberg to put his initiative into effect, but I will also be helping myself by choosing to do something rewarding and supportive for my future and the future of my potential children.”
Jamel Irby-Shabazz, age 12
Park Place Middle School
Brooklyn
“Every month we will get teens to sign up as a special citizenship program with the NYC Parks Department to help plant trees. Teens will then make a difference in their community and experience something positive in their community. The teens will also be able to place their family name on the trees… I also believe that a million trees will equal a million healthy breaths. A million healthy breaths can help a brain learn and be more conscious about the environment in which we live.”
20100501
Mamohatra
School: Davidson IB Middle School
City: Mamohatra
Team: Luke Frederick Churchill, Emily Annie Yue, Rebekah Ruth Swallow
Teacher: Jay Durant Hager
Engineer-Mentor: Dane Allen Horna, PE
Mamohatra
Mamohatra has combined futuristic technologies, green principles, and cultural diversity to create a thriving, sustainable metropolis on the island of Madagascar. Our citizens enjoy clean water, renewable energy, convenient and efficient public transportation, job opportunities, arts and entertainment, and beautiful parks and recreation.
Implementing environmentally friendly technologies, we have developed CARE (Community Adaptable Refugee Establishment), a system designed to combat the global problems of poverty and homelessness. CARE meets the needs of refugees and the homeless by providing secure temporary homes with flexible living spaces and convenient access to all city services, including educational programs and job training. The CARE system also provides electricity, clean water, public transportation, communications, and waste management. We apply the principles of green engineering, using industrial processes that are economically feasible and have a low carbon footprint. These processes make CARE a clean, green, transitional living facility.
The CARE system is targeted toward refugees, homeless, and poor (people who earn 50% or less of average income). The complex can house 10-15,000 people. The CARE system is designed to help its residents by providing public services geared toward the immediate needs of the residents, such as job training and language acquisition. The CARE system is set up to help residents make the transition from temporary accommodations to paid employment and permanent housing. Community colleges and small starter loans help encourage people to improve their lives. Nestled between the industrial, commercial, and agricultural districts, and near transportation hubs, CARE provides residents convenient access to our entire city, making it easier for them to find jobs suited to their skills and then to rent or purchase their own housing in other parts of the city.
CARE structures are adobe-like, multistory complexes, made of a compound called “agro-waste” and bio-based foam insulation, and built vertically to save land. Once a prototype, agro-waste has become a reality. It is made by mixing various agricultural wastes such as rice and cornhusks, and then adding beach sand to make a moldable paste. When it hardens, the paste creates a reusable compound similar to stucco in both color and texture. It is highly durable against violent weather and other types of damage. When agro-waste’s minimal insulation is coupled with bio-based foam insulation, it provides a shield against extreme temperatures and helps prevent the spread of disease. Agro-waste transforms agricultural waste into an environmentally sustainable building material that decreases the carbon footprint.
CARE units are assembled with a lightweight durable carbon fiber frame on which the agro-waste is attached. The frame has nanosensors that analyze the integrity of the agro-waste material for safety. The nanosensors replace the more expensive nanobots located in buildings in other parts of our city, thus providing a more economical maintenance system.
Inside the buildings, sliding “smart screens,” similar to those in Japan, allow each unit to be adapted to the needs of different size families, which might range from one to eight persons. Smart screens allow residents to change the layout of walls, as well as their color, style, and decorative themes. The screens also reflect light waves, creating an aesthetically pleasing glow.
Our building is not only durable, but also replaceable. When the structure is in need of replacement (approximately 100 years), the agro-waste is re-compounded with new agricultural waste to reform the structure onto the existing frame. Sensors built into the carbon fiber frame send waves throughout the entire structure assessing cracks, breaks, and other flaws in the structure. This system records the flaws and when the flaws become too large or hazardous, engineers come to fix them. Using this system, the structures may endure for centuries.
CARE incorporates numerous green technologies to maximize efficiency. Our engineers researched multiple technologies and decided on Earthship design. Earthship design is the process of designing a home using the most efficient materials and technologies. Our engineers matched CARE to some of the more effective processes used in Earthships: “green” roofs and walls, and passive cooling. With different plants growing on the structure itself, green roofs provide food, recreation, and climate control. Passive cooling is a biomimicry concept—a building technology that mimics processes found in nature. Passive cooling mimics a termite nest, which is built to take advantage of natural solar heating and cooling from breezes. Like a termite mound, our building uses an intricate network of walls and windows to funnel air throughout the structure. It collects cool air that moves down and hot air that moves up. This regulates the temperature by controlling the amount of hot and cool air that flows through the building.
Although CARE is a very efficiently engineered community, it is not without faults. Agro-waste does not produce much extra refuse, but to dispose of any waste we use plasma gasification, a trash-disposal system that uses high temperatures to turn waste into a gas that can be made into textiles. Our plasma gasification system takes away almost all of the negative impact that the CARE system has on the environment.
CARE not only provides for the needs of thousands of refugees, it also enriches the entire community of our city. The quality of life and accommodations provided by CARE increases both land value and the overall appeal of our city. CARE promotes international cooperation and allows for everyone to find a place in Mamohatra. It provides public services and jobs for citizens that have nowhere else to go and minimizes crime by keeping the homeless off the streets. CARE’s technologies and systems provide a model for buildings everywhere. Soon, the CARE system will extend across the globe, leading to a tomorrow where the word ‘homeless’ is obsolete.
City: Mamohatra
Team: Luke Frederick Churchill, Emily Annie Yue, Rebekah Ruth Swallow
Teacher: Jay Durant Hager
Engineer-Mentor: Dane Allen Horna, PE
Mamohatra
Mamohatra has combined futuristic technologies, green principles, and cultural diversity to create a thriving, sustainable metropolis on the island of Madagascar. Our citizens enjoy clean water, renewable energy, convenient and efficient public transportation, job opportunities, arts and entertainment, and beautiful parks and recreation.
Implementing environmentally friendly technologies, we have developed CARE (Community Adaptable Refugee Establishment), a system designed to combat the global problems of poverty and homelessness. CARE meets the needs of refugees and the homeless by providing secure temporary homes with flexible living spaces and convenient access to all city services, including educational programs and job training. The CARE system also provides electricity, clean water, public transportation, communications, and waste management. We apply the principles of green engineering, using industrial processes that are economically feasible and have a low carbon footprint. These processes make CARE a clean, green, transitional living facility.
The CARE system is targeted toward refugees, homeless, and poor (people who earn 50% or less of average income). The complex can house 10-15,000 people. The CARE system is designed to help its residents by providing public services geared toward the immediate needs of the residents, such as job training and language acquisition. The CARE system is set up to help residents make the transition from temporary accommodations to paid employment and permanent housing. Community colleges and small starter loans help encourage people to improve their lives. Nestled between the industrial, commercial, and agricultural districts, and near transportation hubs, CARE provides residents convenient access to our entire city, making it easier for them to find jobs suited to their skills and then to rent or purchase their own housing in other parts of the city.
CARE structures are adobe-like, multistory complexes, made of a compound called “agro-waste” and bio-based foam insulation, and built vertically to save land. Once a prototype, agro-waste has become a reality. It is made by mixing various agricultural wastes such as rice and cornhusks, and then adding beach sand to make a moldable paste. When it hardens, the paste creates a reusable compound similar to stucco in both color and texture. It is highly durable against violent weather and other types of damage. When agro-waste’s minimal insulation is coupled with bio-based foam insulation, it provides a shield against extreme temperatures and helps prevent the spread of disease. Agro-waste transforms agricultural waste into an environmentally sustainable building material that decreases the carbon footprint.
CARE units are assembled with a lightweight durable carbon fiber frame on which the agro-waste is attached. The frame has nanosensors that analyze the integrity of the agro-waste material for safety. The nanosensors replace the more expensive nanobots located in buildings in other parts of our city, thus providing a more economical maintenance system.
Inside the buildings, sliding “smart screens,” similar to those in Japan, allow each unit to be adapted to the needs of different size families, which might range from one to eight persons. Smart screens allow residents to change the layout of walls, as well as their color, style, and decorative themes. The screens also reflect light waves, creating an aesthetically pleasing glow.
Our building is not only durable, but also replaceable. When the structure is in need of replacement (approximately 100 years), the agro-waste is re-compounded with new agricultural waste to reform the structure onto the existing frame. Sensors built into the carbon fiber frame send waves throughout the entire structure assessing cracks, breaks, and other flaws in the structure. This system records the flaws and when the flaws become too large or hazardous, engineers come to fix them. Using this system, the structures may endure for centuries.
CARE incorporates numerous green technologies to maximize efficiency. Our engineers researched multiple technologies and decided on Earthship design. Earthship design is the process of designing a home using the most efficient materials and technologies. Our engineers matched CARE to some of the more effective processes used in Earthships: “green” roofs and walls, and passive cooling. With different plants growing on the structure itself, green roofs provide food, recreation, and climate control. Passive cooling is a biomimicry concept—a building technology that mimics processes found in nature. Passive cooling mimics a termite nest, which is built to take advantage of natural solar heating and cooling from breezes. Like a termite mound, our building uses an intricate network of walls and windows to funnel air throughout the structure. It collects cool air that moves down and hot air that moves up. This regulates the temperature by controlling the amount of hot and cool air that flows through the building.
Although CARE is a very efficiently engineered community, it is not without faults. Agro-waste does not produce much extra refuse, but to dispose of any waste we use plasma gasification, a trash-disposal system that uses high temperatures to turn waste into a gas that can be made into textiles. Our plasma gasification system takes away almost all of the negative impact that the CARE system has on the environment.
CARE not only provides for the needs of thousands of refugees, it also enriches the entire community of our city. The quality of life and accommodations provided by CARE increases both land value and the overall appeal of our city. CARE promotes international cooperation and allows for everyone to find a place in Mamohatra. It provides public services and jobs for citizens that have nowhere else to go and minimizes crime by keeping the homeless off the streets. CARE’s technologies and systems provide a model for buildings everywhere. Soon, the CARE system will extend across the globe, leading to a tomorrow where the word ‘homeless’ is obsolete.
20100428
Responding to Crimes against Humanity: Prevention, Deployment, and Localization
Sophia Sanchez
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinator: Megan McCorkle
“Never again” has long been the somber declaration of those victimized by crimes against humanity. It bears with it the hope that the international community can learn from past atrocities and, in the words of the United Nations Charter, “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”1 However, a lack of cohesive international action has meant that genocide, torture, and other such acts continue to occur. Based on lessons learned from case studies of Somalia and Rwanda, the international community should prevent escalation of conflict by addressing its socioeconomic root causes, maintain a long-term peacekeeping force that utilizes a multilateral approach, and establish a localized administration system bolstered by a structure of accountability.
The Somali conflict stemmed from decades of political and ethnic unrest, which was intensified by the regime of Siad Barre. The northern Issaq clan resented Siad Barre’s 1969 seizure of power, which established an ethnically Marehan government.2 In 1988, the Somali National Movement (SNM), a primarily northern endeavor, began an insurrection against the Barre regime.3 On January 27, 1991, Siad Barre fled the capital to escape the northern assault, causing a power struggle between the former United Somali Congress members.4
By the end of 1992, over 300,000 Somalis had died from the conflict.5 Human Rights Watch expressed its outrage at seeing Somali refugees “undergoing traumatic suffering with apparently no end in sight.”6 The United Nations later labeled the systematic rape, displacement, and torture by rival clans in Somalia as crimes against humanity as defined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.7
While rhetoric was in no short supply among global actors, the humanitarian response to the crisis proved inadequate. Relief efforts were complicated by the loss of 60 percent of Somalia’s infrastructure and insufficient peacekeeping forces.8 From October to December of 1992, the World Food Programme anticipated sending 100,000 metric tons of food to Somalia, but only distributed 18,900 metric tons.9 UNOSOM (United Nations Operations in Somalia) concentrated its forces in Mogadishu while leaving positions in smaller settlements unfilled, effectively cutting off assistance to certain regions of Somalia.10
As the atrocities mounted, international actors began to withdraw altogether from Somalia. On October 3 and 4, 1993, eighteen American soldiers were killed during the Battle of Mogadishu.11 Faction leader Mohammad Aideed used these deaths to increase foreign discontent with the Somali operations and rid the country of peacekeeping forces.12 By March 31, 1994, all United States forces had evacuated Somalia.13 Lacking support, UNOSOM disbanded one year later, and Somalia became the epitome of a failed state and a failed international intervention.14
The violence in Rwanda resulted from prolonged ethnic tension that erupted after the assassination of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana. After Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king in 1959, displaced Tutsis formed the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) in Uganda.15 The RPF invaded Rwanda in 1990, marking the beginning of the civil war.16 Radio stations broadcast propaganda, urging Hutus to “exterminate the Tutsi cockroaches.”17 On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, an act the Hutus blamed on the Tutsis, and three months of genocide began.18
From April 6 to July 4, 1994, approximately 800,000 Rwandans were systematically murdered.19 Two million Rwandans fled to neighboring countries, where many ended up in disease-ridden refugee camps.20 On May 17, 1994, a UN Security Council resolution stated that “acts of genocide may have been committed,” but refrained from definitively labeling the Rwandan conflict “genocide.”21 As Vince Kern, director for African affairs and head of the Rwanda Task Force at the Pentagon, explained, “Genocide finding could commit [governments] to actually ‘do something.’ ”22 The genocide ended on July 4, 1994, when the RPF captured the capital city of Kigali, but Rwanda was left in ruins.23
Despite the international community’s knowledge of these atrocities, its response to the conflict in Rwanda proved woefully insufficient. A CIA report issued 20 days before Habyarimana’s assassination stated that 300,000 to 500,000 people could be killed if hostilities intensified.24 Clearly, the international community knew of the danger, but lacked a plan of action. Matters worsened when Hutu extremists murdered ten Belgians on April 7, 1994, prompting an international outcry.25 The United States closed its embassy, while the United Nations withdrew all but 270 UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda) peacekeeping troops for the duration of the genocide.26
After the conflict ended, the international community implemented a tiered judicial system that worked toward lasting peace. An international tribunal presided over high-profile cases, while the localized Gacaca court system handled less serious offenders.27 The courts held trials in each village to not only prosecute defendants accused of genocide, but also to promote reconciliation through dialogue and community service.28 Such localized reintegration programs may be the key to quelling ethnic tension. For example, after the Gacaca system was implemented in Sovu, Rwanda, only 2 percent of residents agreed with the statement “I prefer to buy things from a shopkeeper of my own ethnicity.”29 The Gacaca approach was one of the successes of the Rwandan intervention, although much work remains to be done.
With the atrocities committed in Somalia and Rwanda in mind, international actors should subdue conflict by addressing socioeconomic root causes. On a financial level, the international community should work to stabilize depressed economies in at-risk nations. One way this might be achieved is through microfinancing, a small-scale investment program that effectively stimulated post-war Rwandan farming.30 The international community should also address social tensions by targeting hate radio, which was a large factor in escalating ethnic resentment in both Somalia and Rwanda.31 International law should permit the destruction of hate-radio transmitters when an agreed-upon code of conduct is broken.32 The global community must address economic and social root causes of conflict if it hopes to effectively prevent mass atrocities from occurring.
On the national level, governments such as the United States should establish an interagency Atrocities Prevention Committee (APC), as outlined by the Genocide Prevention Task Force.33 The APC should work with the United Nations, subregional organizations, NGOs, and individual nations to coordinate information concerning at-risk nations. The committee should establish a tiered warning system, based on factors such as institutional racism, history of conflict, media propaganda, and leadership instability. Reports such as the one that predicted 300,000 to 500,000 deaths in Rwanda should immediately trigger an ad hoc meeting at the presidential level to discuss policy options. With mass atrocities like the Rwandan genocide occurring in the time span of 100 days, it is imperative that international actors be prepared to take quick and decisive action to prevent their occurrence.
Should the conflict reach a point where preventive measures are no longer possible, international peacekeeping forces should commit themselves to rapid deployment and long-term stationing. The United Nations should plan for troop deployment in at-risk nations within 30 days of a Security Council resolution.34 In order to supply sufficient peacekeeping forces, international organizations should capitalize on subregional offers of assistance and support a civilian police force within war-torn countries. The key is to create a multilateral coalition that reflects global sentiments, not to establish western imperialism. These measures can work to drastically decrease response time and increase long-term peacekeeping capabilities by involving troops at the international, regional, and national levels.
Finally, the United Nations, United States, and other international actors should rely on a decentralized peacekeeping approach, rather than focusing on an urban headquarters. In order to increase dissemination of aid, staffing small towns should be a greater priority than establishing a headquarters in the capital.35 Global actors can garner local support by admitting regional leaders into intervention discussions. In northern Somalia, UNOSOM incorporated local elders into policy meetings, which increased clan willingness to cooperate with the United Nations in dismantling anarchistic factions.36 Placing a priority on local intervention personnel leads to better distribution of aid and more effective peace negotiations.
The judicial system for crimes against humanity should likewise be localized. The system should be modeled on the Rwandan Gacacas, assigning a court to each village. As more criminals are brought to justice, localized court systems demonstrate that war crimes will be punished. Dialogue between the accused and the victimized and a sentence involving community service should be key facets of the courts. A system of accountability similar to the one in Rwanda, in which 90 percent of the electorate voted for Gacaca judges, would ensure that local judges have the consent of the people and are not arbitrarily appointed.37 Moreover, the international community should establish sentencing guidelines, which would standardize punishments and guarantee a focus on reintegration, not retribution. By utilizing a localized judicial system, the international community can transition from a goal of short-term peace to long-term stability.
In the wake of the atrocities in Somalia and Rwanda, it is critical that the international community learn to better protect against crimes against humanity. By addressing the root causes of conflict, rapidly deploying a long-term peacekeeping force, and shifting to a localized administration approach, international actors can convert rhetoric into results. The process will not happen overnight, but by implementing these policies, the international community can begin to make “never again” a reality.
Notes
1. Goodrich, Leland Matthew, and Edvard Isak Hambro. Charter of the United Nations: Commentary and Documents. London: World Peace Foundation, 1949.
2. Sahnoun, Mohamed. Somalia: The Missed Opportunities. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1994.
3. Brown, Michael E., and Richard N. Rosecrance. The Cost of Conflict: Prevention and Cure in the Global Arena. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999.
4. Sahnoun. Somalia.
5. Bush, George. “Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia.” Lettter from President Bush to the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Washington, DC, December 10, 1992.
6. "Human Rights Watch World Report 1993—Somalia." Human Rights Watch. January 1, 1993. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/467fca601e.html
7. Rishmawi, Mona. "Situation of Human Rights in Somalia." UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva. April 22, 1999.
8. "Somalia—UNOSOM I." United Nations Operations in Somalia I . March 21, 1997. Accessed 23 January 2009. http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unosomi.htm
9. Sahnoun. Somalia.10. Ibid.
11. Smith, Michael. Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team. New York: St. Martin's, 2007.
12. Kaempf, Sebastian. “Somalia and General Aideed's Strategic Response to U.S. Intervention: Invoking America's Experiences in Lebanon and Vietnam.” Paper presented at the nnual meeting of the International Studies Association, Chicago, IL, 2007.
13. Copson, Raymond W. Africa's Wars and Prospects for Peace. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1994.
14. Peterson, Scott. Me against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda. New York: Routledge, 2000.
15. Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
16. Ibid.
17. Sutton, Barbara, Sandra Morgen, and Julie Novkov. Security Disarmed: Critical Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Militarization. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008.
18. Khan, Shaharyar M., and Mary Robinson. The Shallow Graves of Rwanda. New York: I. B. Tauris, 2000.
19. Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2002.
20. "Rwanda: Accountability for War Crimes and Genocide." Special Report, January 1995. United States Institute of Peace. Accessed January 20, 2009.
http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/early/rwanda1.html
21. "Timeline: 100 Days of Genocide." BBC News, April 6, 2004. AccessedJanuary 21, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm
22. Kern, Vince. Discussion paper. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East/Africa Region. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 18, 1998.
23. Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield,2007.
24. Ibid.
25. Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002.
26. Ibid.
27. Drumbl, Mark A. Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
28. Ibid.
29. Rettig, Max. "Gacaca: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Postconflict Rwanda?" African Studies Review 51 (2008): 25¬–50.
30. Wilson, Tamsin. "Microfinance during and after Armed Conflict: Lessons from Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Rwanda.” Concern Worldwide and the Springfield Centre for Business in Development. March 2002. AccessedJanuary 22 2009. http://www.microfinancegateway.org/files/14563_14563.pdf
31. Adelman, Howard, and Astri Suhrke. The Path of a Genocide: The Rwanda Crisis from Uganda to Zaire. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 2000.
32. As suggested in Allan Thompson and Kofi Annan. The Media and the Rwanda Genocide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2007.
33. Albright, Madeleine K., and William S. Cohen, co-chairs. Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers. Genocide Prevention Task Force. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, American Academy of Diplomacy, and United States Institute of Peace. 2008. Accessed January 21, 2009. http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
34. As suggested in Lakhdar Brahimi, chairman. Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. New York: United Nations, 2000.
35. Sahnoun. Somalia.
36. Ibid.
37. Brown, Jane. "Rwanda—Gacaca." Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins University. 2005. Accessed January 19, 2009.
http://www.jhuccp.org/africa/rwanda/gacaca.shtml
Bibliography
Print Sources
Adelman, Howard, and Astri Suhrke. The Path of a Genocide: The Rwanda Crisis from Uganda to Zaire. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2000.
Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002.
Brahimi, Lakhdar, chairman. Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. New York: United Nations, 2000.
Brown, Michael E., and Richard N. Rosecrance. The Cost of Conflict: Prevention and Cure in the Global Arena. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield , 1999.
Bush, George. “Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia.” Lettter from President Bush to the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Washington, DC, December 10, 1992.
Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
Copson, Raymond W. Africa's Wars and Prospects for Peace. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1994.
Drumbl, Mark A. Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Goodrich, Leland Matthew, and Edvard Isak Hambro. Charter of the United Nations: Commentary and Documents. London: World Peace Foundation, 1949.
Kaempf, Sebastian. “Somalia and General Aideed's Strategic Response to U.S. Intervention: Invoking Americas Experiences in Lebanon and Vietnam.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association. Chicago, IL, 2007.
Kern, Vince. Discussion paper. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East/Africa Region. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 18, 1998.
Khan, Shaharyar M., and Mary Robinson. The Shallow Graves of Rwanda. New York: I. B. Tauris, 2000.
Peterson, Scott. Me against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Rettig, Max. "Gacaca: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Postconflict Rwanda?" African Studies Review 51 (2008): 25–50.
Rishmawi, Mona. "Situation of Human Rights in Somalia." UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva. April 22, 1999.
Sahnoun, Mohamed. Somalia: The Missed Opportunities. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1994.
Smith, Michael. Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team. New York: St. Martin's, 2007.
Sutton, Barbara, Sandra Morgen, and Julie Novkov. Security Disarmed: Critical Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Militarization.
Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008.
Thompson, Allan, and Kofi Annan. The Media and the Rwanda Genocide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2007.
Internet Sources
Albright, Madeleine K., and William S. Cohen, co-chairs. Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers. Genocide Prevention Task Force. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, American Academy of Diplomacy, and United States Institute of Peace. 2008. Accessed January 21, 2009. http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
Brown, Jane. "Rwanda—Gacaca." Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins University. 2005. Accessed January 19, 2009. http://www.jhuccp.org/africa/rwanda/gacaca.shtml
"Human Rights Watch World Report 1993—Somalia." January 1, 1993. Human Rights Watch. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/467fca601e.html
"Rwanda: Accountability for War Crimes and Genocide." Special Report, January 1995. United States Institute of Peace. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/early/rwanda1.html
"Somalia—UNOSOM I." United Nations Operations in Somalia I. March 21, 1997. Accessed January 23, 2009. http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unosomi.htm
"Timeline: 100 Days of Genocide," BBC News, April 6, 2004. Accessed January 21, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm
Wilson, Tamsin. "Microfinance during and after Armed Conflict: Lessons from Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique and Rwanda.” Concern Worldwide and the Springfield Centre for Business in Development. March 2002. Accessed January 22, 2009. http://www.microfinancegateway.org/files/14563_14563.pdf
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinator: Megan McCorkle
“Never again” has long been the somber declaration of those victimized by crimes against humanity. It bears with it the hope that the international community can learn from past atrocities and, in the words of the United Nations Charter, “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”1 However, a lack of cohesive international action has meant that genocide, torture, and other such acts continue to occur. Based on lessons learned from case studies of Somalia and Rwanda, the international community should prevent escalation of conflict by addressing its socioeconomic root causes, maintain a long-term peacekeeping force that utilizes a multilateral approach, and establish a localized administration system bolstered by a structure of accountability.
The Somali conflict stemmed from decades of political and ethnic unrest, which was intensified by the regime of Siad Barre. The northern Issaq clan resented Siad Barre’s 1969 seizure of power, which established an ethnically Marehan government.2 In 1988, the Somali National Movement (SNM), a primarily northern endeavor, began an insurrection against the Barre regime.3 On January 27, 1991, Siad Barre fled the capital to escape the northern assault, causing a power struggle between the former United Somali Congress members.4
By the end of 1992, over 300,000 Somalis had died from the conflict.5 Human Rights Watch expressed its outrage at seeing Somali refugees “undergoing traumatic suffering with apparently no end in sight.”6 The United Nations later labeled the systematic rape, displacement, and torture by rival clans in Somalia as crimes against humanity as defined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.7
While rhetoric was in no short supply among global actors, the humanitarian response to the crisis proved inadequate. Relief efforts were complicated by the loss of 60 percent of Somalia’s infrastructure and insufficient peacekeeping forces.8 From October to December of 1992, the World Food Programme anticipated sending 100,000 metric tons of food to Somalia, but only distributed 18,900 metric tons.9 UNOSOM (United Nations Operations in Somalia) concentrated its forces in Mogadishu while leaving positions in smaller settlements unfilled, effectively cutting off assistance to certain regions of Somalia.10
As the atrocities mounted, international actors began to withdraw altogether from Somalia. On October 3 and 4, 1993, eighteen American soldiers were killed during the Battle of Mogadishu.11 Faction leader Mohammad Aideed used these deaths to increase foreign discontent with the Somali operations and rid the country of peacekeeping forces.12 By March 31, 1994, all United States forces had evacuated Somalia.13 Lacking support, UNOSOM disbanded one year later, and Somalia became the epitome of a failed state and a failed international intervention.14
The violence in Rwanda resulted from prolonged ethnic tension that erupted after the assassination of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana. After Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king in 1959, displaced Tutsis formed the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) in Uganda.15 The RPF invaded Rwanda in 1990, marking the beginning of the civil war.16 Radio stations broadcast propaganda, urging Hutus to “exterminate the Tutsi cockroaches.”17 On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, an act the Hutus blamed on the Tutsis, and three months of genocide began.18
From April 6 to July 4, 1994, approximately 800,000 Rwandans were systematically murdered.19 Two million Rwandans fled to neighboring countries, where many ended up in disease-ridden refugee camps.20 On May 17, 1994, a UN Security Council resolution stated that “acts of genocide may have been committed,” but refrained from definitively labeling the Rwandan conflict “genocide.”21 As Vince Kern, director for African affairs and head of the Rwanda Task Force at the Pentagon, explained, “Genocide finding could commit [governments] to actually ‘do something.’ ”22 The genocide ended on July 4, 1994, when the RPF captured the capital city of Kigali, but Rwanda was left in ruins.23
Despite the international community’s knowledge of these atrocities, its response to the conflict in Rwanda proved woefully insufficient. A CIA report issued 20 days before Habyarimana’s assassination stated that 300,000 to 500,000 people could be killed if hostilities intensified.24 Clearly, the international community knew of the danger, but lacked a plan of action. Matters worsened when Hutu extremists murdered ten Belgians on April 7, 1994, prompting an international outcry.25 The United States closed its embassy, while the United Nations withdrew all but 270 UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda) peacekeeping troops for the duration of the genocide.26
After the conflict ended, the international community implemented a tiered judicial system that worked toward lasting peace. An international tribunal presided over high-profile cases, while the localized Gacaca court system handled less serious offenders.27 The courts held trials in each village to not only prosecute defendants accused of genocide, but also to promote reconciliation through dialogue and community service.28 Such localized reintegration programs may be the key to quelling ethnic tension. For example, after the Gacaca system was implemented in Sovu, Rwanda, only 2 percent of residents agreed with the statement “I prefer to buy things from a shopkeeper of my own ethnicity.”29 The Gacaca approach was one of the successes of the Rwandan intervention, although much work remains to be done.
With the atrocities committed in Somalia and Rwanda in mind, international actors should subdue conflict by addressing socioeconomic root causes. On a financial level, the international community should work to stabilize depressed economies in at-risk nations. One way this might be achieved is through microfinancing, a small-scale investment program that effectively stimulated post-war Rwandan farming.30 The international community should also address social tensions by targeting hate radio, which was a large factor in escalating ethnic resentment in both Somalia and Rwanda.31 International law should permit the destruction of hate-radio transmitters when an agreed-upon code of conduct is broken.32 The global community must address economic and social root causes of conflict if it hopes to effectively prevent mass atrocities from occurring.
On the national level, governments such as the United States should establish an interagency Atrocities Prevention Committee (APC), as outlined by the Genocide Prevention Task Force.33 The APC should work with the United Nations, subregional organizations, NGOs, and individual nations to coordinate information concerning at-risk nations. The committee should establish a tiered warning system, based on factors such as institutional racism, history of conflict, media propaganda, and leadership instability. Reports such as the one that predicted 300,000 to 500,000 deaths in Rwanda should immediately trigger an ad hoc meeting at the presidential level to discuss policy options. With mass atrocities like the Rwandan genocide occurring in the time span of 100 days, it is imperative that international actors be prepared to take quick and decisive action to prevent their occurrence.
Should the conflict reach a point where preventive measures are no longer possible, international peacekeeping forces should commit themselves to rapid deployment and long-term stationing. The United Nations should plan for troop deployment in at-risk nations within 30 days of a Security Council resolution.34 In order to supply sufficient peacekeeping forces, international organizations should capitalize on subregional offers of assistance and support a civilian police force within war-torn countries. The key is to create a multilateral coalition that reflects global sentiments, not to establish western imperialism. These measures can work to drastically decrease response time and increase long-term peacekeeping capabilities by involving troops at the international, regional, and national levels.
Finally, the United Nations, United States, and other international actors should rely on a decentralized peacekeeping approach, rather than focusing on an urban headquarters. In order to increase dissemination of aid, staffing small towns should be a greater priority than establishing a headquarters in the capital.35 Global actors can garner local support by admitting regional leaders into intervention discussions. In northern Somalia, UNOSOM incorporated local elders into policy meetings, which increased clan willingness to cooperate with the United Nations in dismantling anarchistic factions.36 Placing a priority on local intervention personnel leads to better distribution of aid and more effective peace negotiations.
The judicial system for crimes against humanity should likewise be localized. The system should be modeled on the Rwandan Gacacas, assigning a court to each village. As more criminals are brought to justice, localized court systems demonstrate that war crimes will be punished. Dialogue between the accused and the victimized and a sentence involving community service should be key facets of the courts. A system of accountability similar to the one in Rwanda, in which 90 percent of the electorate voted for Gacaca judges, would ensure that local judges have the consent of the people and are not arbitrarily appointed.37 Moreover, the international community should establish sentencing guidelines, which would standardize punishments and guarantee a focus on reintegration, not retribution. By utilizing a localized judicial system, the international community can transition from a goal of short-term peace to long-term stability.
In the wake of the atrocities in Somalia and Rwanda, it is critical that the international community learn to better protect against crimes against humanity. By addressing the root causes of conflict, rapidly deploying a long-term peacekeeping force, and shifting to a localized administration approach, international actors can convert rhetoric into results. The process will not happen overnight, but by implementing these policies, the international community can begin to make “never again” a reality.
Notes
1. Goodrich, Leland Matthew, and Edvard Isak Hambro. Charter of the United Nations: Commentary and Documents. London: World Peace Foundation, 1949.
2. Sahnoun, Mohamed. Somalia: The Missed Opportunities. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1994.
3. Brown, Michael E., and Richard N. Rosecrance. The Cost of Conflict: Prevention and Cure in the Global Arena. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999.
4. Sahnoun. Somalia.
5. Bush, George. “Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia.” Lettter from President Bush to the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Washington, DC, December 10, 1992.
6. "Human Rights Watch World Report 1993—Somalia." Human Rights Watch. January 1, 1993. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/467fca601e.html
7. Rishmawi, Mona. "Situation of Human Rights in Somalia." UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva. April 22, 1999.
8. "Somalia—UNOSOM I." United Nations Operations in Somalia I . March 21, 1997. Accessed 23 January 2009. http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unosomi.htm
9. Sahnoun. Somalia.10. Ibid.
11. Smith, Michael. Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team. New York: St. Martin's, 2007.
12. Kaempf, Sebastian. “Somalia and General Aideed's Strategic Response to U.S. Intervention: Invoking America's Experiences in Lebanon and Vietnam.” Paper presented at the nnual meeting of the International Studies Association, Chicago, IL, 2007.
13. Copson, Raymond W. Africa's Wars and Prospects for Peace. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1994.
14. Peterson, Scott. Me against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda. New York: Routledge, 2000.
15. Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
16. Ibid.
17. Sutton, Barbara, Sandra Morgen, and Julie Novkov. Security Disarmed: Critical Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Militarization. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008.
18. Khan, Shaharyar M., and Mary Robinson. The Shallow Graves of Rwanda. New York: I. B. Tauris, 2000.
19. Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2002.
20. "Rwanda: Accountability for War Crimes and Genocide." Special Report, January 1995. United States Institute of Peace. Accessed January 20, 2009.
http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/early/rwanda1.html
21. "Timeline: 100 Days of Genocide." BBC News, April 6, 2004. AccessedJanuary 21, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm
22. Kern, Vince. Discussion paper. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East/Africa Region. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 18, 1998.
23. Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield,2007.
24. Ibid.
25. Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002.
26. Ibid.
27. Drumbl, Mark A. Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
28. Ibid.
29. Rettig, Max. "Gacaca: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Postconflict Rwanda?" African Studies Review 51 (2008): 25¬–50.
30. Wilson, Tamsin. "Microfinance during and after Armed Conflict: Lessons from Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Rwanda.” Concern Worldwide and the Springfield Centre for Business in Development. March 2002. AccessedJanuary 22 2009. http://www.microfinancegateway.org/files/14563_14563.pdf
31. Adelman, Howard, and Astri Suhrke. The Path of a Genocide: The Rwanda Crisis from Uganda to Zaire. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 2000.
32. As suggested in Allan Thompson and Kofi Annan. The Media and the Rwanda Genocide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2007.
33. Albright, Madeleine K., and William S. Cohen, co-chairs. Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers. Genocide Prevention Task Force. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, American Academy of Diplomacy, and United States Institute of Peace. 2008. Accessed January 21, 2009. http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
34. As suggested in Lakhdar Brahimi, chairman. Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. New York: United Nations, 2000.
35. Sahnoun. Somalia.
36. Ibid.
37. Brown, Jane. "Rwanda—Gacaca." Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins University. 2005. Accessed January 19, 2009.
http://www.jhuccp.org/africa/rwanda/gacaca.shtml
Bibliography
Print Sources
Adelman, Howard, and Astri Suhrke. The Path of a Genocide: The Rwanda Crisis from Uganda to Zaire. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2000.
Barnett, Michael. Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002.
Brahimi, Lakhdar, chairman. Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. New York: United Nations, 2000.
Brown, Michael E., and Richard N. Rosecrance. The Cost of Conflict: Prevention and Cure in the Global Arena. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield , 1999.
Bush, George. “Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia.” Lettter from President Bush to the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Washington, DC, December 10, 1992.
Cohen, Jared. One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
Copson, Raymond W. Africa's Wars and Prospects for Peace. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1994.
Drumbl, Mark A. Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Goodrich, Leland Matthew, and Edvard Isak Hambro. Charter of the United Nations: Commentary and Documents. London: World Peace Foundation, 1949.
Kaempf, Sebastian. “Somalia and General Aideed's Strategic Response to U.S. Intervention: Invoking Americas Experiences in Lebanon and Vietnam.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association. Chicago, IL, 2007.
Kern, Vince. Discussion paper. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East/Africa Region. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 18, 1998.
Khan, Shaharyar M., and Mary Robinson. The Shallow Graves of Rwanda. New York: I. B. Tauris, 2000.
Peterson, Scott. Me against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Rettig, Max. "Gacaca: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Postconflict Rwanda?" African Studies Review 51 (2008): 25–50.
Rishmawi, Mona. "Situation of Human Rights in Somalia." UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva. April 22, 1999.
Sahnoun, Mohamed. Somalia: The Missed Opportunities. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1994.
Smith, Michael. Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team. New York: St. Martin's, 2007.
Sutton, Barbara, Sandra Morgen, and Julie Novkov. Security Disarmed: Critical Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Militarization.
Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008.
Thompson, Allan, and Kofi Annan. The Media and the Rwanda Genocide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2007.
Internet Sources
Albright, Madeleine K., and William S. Cohen, co-chairs. Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers. Genocide Prevention Task Force. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, American Academy of Diplomacy, and United States Institute of Peace. 2008. Accessed January 21, 2009. http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
Brown, Jane. "Rwanda—Gacaca." Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins University. 2005. Accessed January 19, 2009. http://www.jhuccp.org/africa/rwanda/gacaca.shtml
"Human Rights Watch World Report 1993—Somalia." January 1, 1993. Human Rights Watch. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/467fca601e.html
"Rwanda: Accountability for War Crimes and Genocide." Special Report, January 1995. United States Institute of Peace. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/early/rwanda1.html
"Somalia—UNOSOM I." United Nations Operations in Somalia I. March 21, 1997. Accessed January 23, 2009. http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unosomi.htm
"Timeline: 100 Days of Genocide," BBC News, April 6, 2004. Accessed January 21, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm
Wilson, Tamsin. "Microfinance during and after Armed Conflict: Lessons from Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique and Rwanda.” Concern Worldwide and the Springfield Centre for Business in Development. March 2002. Accessed January 22, 2009. http://www.microfinancegateway.org/files/14563_14563.pdf
20100426
Being an American 2
Hannah Deindorfer, Great Lakes Region
Saranac High School, Saranac, MI; Teacher: Cynthia Sanford
No one expected that creating a country would be easy. From the Mayflower Compact, to the Declaration of Independence, to the Bill of Rights, America's Founders had to fight against every imaginable odd to create the country that I know and love today. Without the civic virtue of perseverance, America would be nothing more than a British colony. Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in a course of action, in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and discouragement. Americans have truly faced all of the above, but it is equally true that members of this nation have displayed, without falter, the perseverance necessary to overcome any
difficulty, all obstacles, and every discouragement imaginable. In December of 1776, Americans were in the midst of the Revolutionary War, and facing the largest obstacle
to the freedom and existence of this country that has ever existed. At first, patriot soldiers were buoyed with confidence, especially after the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the quick response of minutemen at Lexington and Concord. But when December came, it was a different story. Washington's troops were on the run, lacking
basic supplies, and the outlook for victory was bleak. In this dark time, no document embodied what it means to be an American more than Thomas Paine's The American Crisis. This pamphlet, written on a drum, declared to all that, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will...shrink from the service of the country, but he that stands now, deserves the loved and thanks of man and woman." General George Washington was so moved by Paine's patriotic rhetoric that he read The American Crisis to his troops just before their enlistments were up, and many were encouraged to persevere and eventually win the war for independence. The spirit of Thomas Paine's famous series of articles lived on through the end of the victorious Revolution to the 1800s. An African American woman named Harriet Tubman was faced with adversity from birth. Harriet was born a slave in 1820, and by the age of thirteen, she was used as a field hand by her cruel master. In 1849,Harriet resolved to run away. She left the plantation where she was raised and abused, and followed the North Star all the way to Philadelphia. What truly makes Harriet an American hero was that she persevered into slave country nineteen times. Harriet escorted over three hundred slaves to freedom, and as the most wellknown conductor of the Underground Railroad, she "never lost a passenger." By 1856, the price for the capture of Harriet Tubman was $40,000. On any of her dangerous journeys, she could have been easily caught or killed, but to Tubman, persevering to secure the freedom of others was worth more than her own life. Though I haven't found myself leading slaves to freedom, I have persevered through adversity in my own life. When I was thirteen years old, my father was diagnosed with a serious illness. This disease threatened to tear my family apart. For the next year, I faced the most difficult time of my life. As the oldest child, I had to set an example of courage for my younger siblings. Though I wanted to break down, I had to stay steady for them. In the midst of this personal crisis, I found my own strength and sense of perseverance. Today, my dad has his disorder under control and my family is closer than ever. I thank God every day for giving me the will to persevere. Thomas Paine said, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is darkness only that gives everything its value." The history of the United States has been built on fighting for what we hold dear. In the face of
darkness, persevering to reach our goals is the only thing that matters. To me, being an American means always striving for something better and never giving up. "Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm...will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine believed, like me, that nothing is
more important than aspiring to bring one's own ideals to realization. In a moment of adversity, it is easy to give up, but a true American has the strength to persevere.
Saranac High School, Saranac, MI; Teacher: Cynthia Sanford
No one expected that creating a country would be easy. From the Mayflower Compact, to the Declaration of Independence, to the Bill of Rights, America's Founders had to fight against every imaginable odd to create the country that I know and love today. Without the civic virtue of perseverance, America would be nothing more than a British colony. Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in a course of action, in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and discouragement. Americans have truly faced all of the above, but it is equally true that members of this nation have displayed, without falter, the perseverance necessary to overcome any
difficulty, all obstacles, and every discouragement imaginable. In December of 1776, Americans were in the midst of the Revolutionary War, and facing the largest obstacle
to the freedom and existence of this country that has ever existed. At first, patriot soldiers were buoyed with confidence, especially after the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the quick response of minutemen at Lexington and Concord. But when December came, it was a different story. Washington's troops were on the run, lacking
basic supplies, and the outlook for victory was bleak. In this dark time, no document embodied what it means to be an American more than Thomas Paine's The American Crisis. This pamphlet, written on a drum, declared to all that, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will...shrink from the service of the country, but he that stands now, deserves the loved and thanks of man and woman." General George Washington was so moved by Paine's patriotic rhetoric that he read The American Crisis to his troops just before their enlistments were up, and many were encouraged to persevere and eventually win the war for independence. The spirit of Thomas Paine's famous series of articles lived on through the end of the victorious Revolution to the 1800s. An African American woman named Harriet Tubman was faced with adversity from birth. Harriet was born a slave in 1820, and by the age of thirteen, she was used as a field hand by her cruel master. In 1849,Harriet resolved to run away. She left the plantation where she was raised and abused, and followed the North Star all the way to Philadelphia. What truly makes Harriet an American hero was that she persevered into slave country nineteen times. Harriet escorted over three hundred slaves to freedom, and as the most wellknown conductor of the Underground Railroad, she "never lost a passenger." By 1856, the price for the capture of Harriet Tubman was $40,000. On any of her dangerous journeys, she could have been easily caught or killed, but to Tubman, persevering to secure the freedom of others was worth more than her own life. Though I haven't found myself leading slaves to freedom, I have persevered through adversity in my own life. When I was thirteen years old, my father was diagnosed with a serious illness. This disease threatened to tear my family apart. For the next year, I faced the most difficult time of my life. As the oldest child, I had to set an example of courage for my younger siblings. Though I wanted to break down, I had to stay steady for them. In the midst of this personal crisis, I found my own strength and sense of perseverance. Today, my dad has his disorder under control and my family is closer than ever. I thank God every day for giving me the will to persevere. Thomas Paine said, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is darkness only that gives everything its value." The history of the United States has been built on fighting for what we hold dear. In the face of
darkness, persevering to reach our goals is the only thing that matters. To me, being an American means always striving for something better and never giving up. "Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm...will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine believed, like me, that nothing is
more important than aspiring to bring one's own ideals to realization. In a moment of adversity, it is easy to give up, but a true American has the strength to persevere.
20100425
Being an American
Lindsey Bergholz, Great Lakes Region
Hindsdale Central High School, Burr Ridge, IL; Teacher: Christian Korfist
When Thomas Paine published Common Sense in 1776, he seized the initiative to challenge British authority and rally Americans to pursue independence from Great Britain. Our 11th President, James Polk, demonstrated this essential American civic value when he enlarged this country by 800,000 square miles. When I set a goal for myself, to be a radio program manager for our high school, I followed those models and took actions to achieve my goals. Throughout American history, our leaders have demonstrated a core civic value: initiative. By displaying zealous ambition, our Founding Fathers bettered themselves and our country;nowhere in the world is this value as strongly evidenced as in America.On January 10th of 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet to encourage Americans to take action against Britain to secure our independence. Thomas Paine's writing was one of the catalysts moving the country to action. In the first three months of its publication, 120,000 copies were sold. Common Sense was recognized as important in its time, but also by others such as Andrew Jackson years later who stated, "Thomas Paine needs no monument made by hands; he has erected a monument in the hearts of all lovers of liberty." Paine wrote
that "time makes more converts than reason," understanding that many people need a lot of time to change their minds; but his urging relied on reason, common sense, and emotion to get people to take the initiative with him. He realized our battle for independence would have to start with individuals taking the initiative to
successfully accomplish the revolution. Less than six months after the publication of this effective document,Common Sense stood by our side as the gunshots began.
President James Polk offers another model of the American civic value, initiative. The "dark horse" of the 1844 election, President Polk overcame many adversities. His beginnings were filled with sickness and poverty. He was raised by an illiterate father, yet persuaded his dad to send him to school. Polk took steps to gain an education, believing in his own potential. Polk then went on to win the 1844 election. "Young Hickory" was elected on his campaign promise to further the nation's expansion. Relying on his political acumen, Polk took the initiative by keeping sustained pressure on Britain to make a treaty and cede the Oregon Territory to the United States. We came close to war, but President Polk utilized his strategic abilities perfectly. He set troops on the corners of the territory boundaries, making it clear to Britain that Polk would fight before letting Britain gain land. Each additional square mile Polk gained was due to his initiative; by
taking the steps necessary to ensure his success, our 11th President is remembered as a man of action and brilliance.I model my own behavior on people like Polk and Paine. My high school broadcasts many radio programs on a local station. Being a manager is a coveted spot. Managers are entrusted with responsibilities; it takes
dedication and initiative to be chosen. My goal freshman year was to achieve this unique position. Each year I signed up for radio and participated, practicing my impromptu with a coach. Each year I studied the field.Each year I built relationships with the people around me. I came in before and after school, working to better myself, improving my chances, gaining knowledge to help me in the future. I initiated a journey that taught me about myself. The journey rewarded me with the manager position, which I fulfill today with great pride and personal satisfaction. I did not wait around for things to happen: I took the initiative for which Americans are famous. Thomas Paine wrote: "I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense." Paine's initiative to write, to publish, and to speak aloud moved a population to action. When President Polk won the 1844 election he seized the initiative to follow through on his campaign promise to enlarge the country. He acted on this great civic value that inspires us to make things better – for our country and for ourselves. I imagined myself as a radio manager and then seized the day; I achieved my goal through the powerful civic value of initiative. Throughout American history, most major turning points that have led to positive changes have begun with one person taking the initiative, and so it will continue to be.
Hindsdale Central High School, Burr Ridge, IL; Teacher: Christian Korfist
When Thomas Paine published Common Sense in 1776, he seized the initiative to challenge British authority and rally Americans to pursue independence from Great Britain. Our 11th President, James Polk, demonstrated this essential American civic value when he enlarged this country by 800,000 square miles. When I set a goal for myself, to be a radio program manager for our high school, I followed those models and took actions to achieve my goals. Throughout American history, our leaders have demonstrated a core civic value: initiative. By displaying zealous ambition, our Founding Fathers bettered themselves and our country;nowhere in the world is this value as strongly evidenced as in America.On January 10th of 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet to encourage Americans to take action against Britain to secure our independence. Thomas Paine's writing was one of the catalysts moving the country to action. In the first three months of its publication, 120,000 copies were sold. Common Sense was recognized as important in its time, but also by others such as Andrew Jackson years later who stated, "Thomas Paine needs no monument made by hands; he has erected a monument in the hearts of all lovers of liberty." Paine wrote
that "time makes more converts than reason," understanding that many people need a lot of time to change their minds; but his urging relied on reason, common sense, and emotion to get people to take the initiative with him. He realized our battle for independence would have to start with individuals taking the initiative to
successfully accomplish the revolution. Less than six months after the publication of this effective document,Common Sense stood by our side as the gunshots began.
President James Polk offers another model of the American civic value, initiative. The "dark horse" of the 1844 election, President Polk overcame many adversities. His beginnings were filled with sickness and poverty. He was raised by an illiterate father, yet persuaded his dad to send him to school. Polk took steps to gain an education, believing in his own potential. Polk then went on to win the 1844 election. "Young Hickory" was elected on his campaign promise to further the nation's expansion. Relying on his political acumen, Polk took the initiative by keeping sustained pressure on Britain to make a treaty and cede the Oregon Territory to the United States. We came close to war, but President Polk utilized his strategic abilities perfectly. He set troops on the corners of the territory boundaries, making it clear to Britain that Polk would fight before letting Britain gain land. Each additional square mile Polk gained was due to his initiative; by
taking the steps necessary to ensure his success, our 11th President is remembered as a man of action and brilliance.I model my own behavior on people like Polk and Paine. My high school broadcasts many radio programs on a local station. Being a manager is a coveted spot. Managers are entrusted with responsibilities; it takes
dedication and initiative to be chosen. My goal freshman year was to achieve this unique position. Each year I signed up for radio and participated, practicing my impromptu with a coach. Each year I studied the field.Each year I built relationships with the people around me. I came in before and after school, working to better myself, improving my chances, gaining knowledge to help me in the future. I initiated a journey that taught me about myself. The journey rewarded me with the manager position, which I fulfill today with great pride and personal satisfaction. I did not wait around for things to happen: I took the initiative for which Americans are famous. Thomas Paine wrote: "I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense." Paine's initiative to write, to publish, and to speak aloud moved a population to action. When President Polk won the 1844 election he seized the initiative to follow through on his campaign promise to enlarge the country. He acted on this great civic value that inspires us to make things better – for our country and for ourselves. I imagined myself as a radio manager and then seized the day; I achieved my goal through the powerful civic value of initiative. Throughout American history, most major turning points that have led to positive changes have begun with one person taking the initiative, and so it will continue to be.
20100424
My Idea To Promote Reusable Energy
by Chelsie Kamauoha
The number of street lamps in Hawaii has struck me as a great problem concerning energy. There are numerous street lamps bordering Hawaii’s roads and the cost to provide the electricity for these lights is very expensive. I believe that by replacing the current street lights with solar powered LED lights will benefit Hawaii’s taxpayers and save electricity that is constantly being wasted.
The majority of all street lamps run on high powered light bulbs which are the cause of a huge amount of wasted energy. These light bulbs usually run on about 150 to 250 watts of electricity. Portland, Maine, paying an average of about $1.3 million on electricity needed to sustain street lamps alone, is an example of a city that wastes large amounts of money and electricity. There are huge amounts of money being spent, that is reality do not have to be. The reason why we still have these old fashioned light bulbs in our street lamps is because they are cheep to buy and install, however I have come to find that these light bulbs have turned out to be expensive to light and maintain.
My solution is to replace these expensive old fashioned lights with the combination of both solar panels and LED lights. The cost to maintain these lights and to actually light them will be a strikingly lesser cost then the traditional lights we use today. The positive aspect about his solutions in that the current light poles do not need to be removed; the LED lights and the solar panels can be mounted on. However, the street lamps will remain connected to an outside power supply incase enough solar energy is not given. The taxpayer’s money that is normally used to pay for electricity can be used for more important and necessary things. The money can be used for things such as paving roads, cleaning towns, or possibly reducing or ending furloughs.
The number of street lamps in Hawaii has struck me as a great problem concerning energy. There are numerous street lamps bordering Hawaii’s roads and the cost to provide the electricity for these lights is very expensive. I believe that by replacing the current street lights with solar powered LED lights will benefit Hawaii’s taxpayers and save electricity that is constantly being wasted.
The majority of all street lamps run on high powered light bulbs which are the cause of a huge amount of wasted energy. These light bulbs usually run on about 150 to 250 watts of electricity. Portland, Maine, paying an average of about $1.3 million on electricity needed to sustain street lamps alone, is an example of a city that wastes large amounts of money and electricity. There are huge amounts of money being spent, that is reality do not have to be. The reason why we still have these old fashioned light bulbs in our street lamps is because they are cheep to buy and install, however I have come to find that these light bulbs have turned out to be expensive to light and maintain.
My solution is to replace these expensive old fashioned lights with the combination of both solar panels and LED lights. The cost to maintain these lights and to actually light them will be a strikingly lesser cost then the traditional lights we use today. The positive aspect about his solutions in that the current light poles do not need to be removed; the LED lights and the solar panels can be mounted on. However, the street lamps will remain connected to an outside power supply incase enough solar energy is not given. The taxpayer’s money that is normally used to pay for electricity can be used for more important and necessary things. The money can be used for things such as paving roads, cleaning towns, or possibly reducing or ending furloughs.
20100423
A Child's Hope
By SAM GREYDANUS, 8th Grade
Across the world's many religions, we have entered a season of benevolent feeling and confidence in the human race. During this brumal time of year, religious hope lights our lives. Hope also illuminates our world in the midst of physical, economic, and environmental strife. Now is the time when we shed our customary pessimism and unite in anticipation for a better world. This is the season to hope for a planet free of starvation, oppression, and injustice. As we celebrate during this holiday season, we glimpse a positive future amidst the current turmoil.
This is also the time of year for service. Use your anticipation for a better world to make the one we already have into a more perfect place. Become a better citizen in your community, your country, and your world. Whether you give a donation to the Salvation Army bell-ringer or begin a crusade against carbon emissions, every contribution from every individual makes a difference. On each level there is much work to be done and on each level there is the capacity to accomplish that work. In each person there lies the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to make the world a better place. Every day, strive to give as well as take and to help as well as be helped. In this time of challenges, welcome your responsibility of stewardship as a privilege.
Finally, these months are a time of tranquility and goodwill. Accomplish your goals without violence and make your points without intimidation. Favor diplomacy over force and peace over war. Remember that those who seek to accomplish their goals through weapons, fear, and tyranny are the enemies of all of humanity while those who solve disputes through compromise and conversation are the cornerstone of a free and just society. This does not mean, however, that we will back away from any injustice standing in the way of progress toward freedom. This time is a season of opportunities. Respect the basic rights of your fellow citizens and join in the effort to improve the world.
Across the world's many religions, we have entered a season of benevolent feeling and confidence in the human race. During this brumal time of year, religious hope lights our lives. Hope also illuminates our world in the midst of physical, economic, and environmental strife. Now is the time when we shed our customary pessimism and unite in anticipation for a better world. This is the season to hope for a planet free of starvation, oppression, and injustice. As we celebrate during this holiday season, we glimpse a positive future amidst the current turmoil.
This is also the time of year for service. Use your anticipation for a better world to make the one we already have into a more perfect place. Become a better citizen in your community, your country, and your world. Whether you give a donation to the Salvation Army bell-ringer or begin a crusade against carbon emissions, every contribution from every individual makes a difference. On each level there is much work to be done and on each level there is the capacity to accomplish that work. In each person there lies the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to make the world a better place. Every day, strive to give as well as take and to help as well as be helped. In this time of challenges, welcome your responsibility of stewardship as a privilege.
Finally, these months are a time of tranquility and goodwill. Accomplish your goals without violence and make your points without intimidation. Favor diplomacy over force and peace over war. Remember that those who seek to accomplish their goals through weapons, fear, and tyranny are the enemies of all of humanity while those who solve disputes through compromise and conversation are the cornerstone of a free and just society. This does not mean, however, that we will back away from any injustice standing in the way of progress toward freedom. This time is a season of opportunities. Respect the basic rights of your fellow citizens and join in the effort to improve the world.
20100422
A Renewable Hawaii
by Kona Johnson, HI
America is increasingly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses and not the people. An unfair yet undisputed fact in American politics is that money equals power- and unfortunately the big corporations possess more money than anyone else within our nation. As a result, through millions of dollars in lobbying efforts and campaign finance we have seen much needed reforms blocked and big business supporting politicians continuously elected. Specifically and most devastatingly, we have seen little effort at an increase in the innovation of renewable energy sources and self-sustainability. Ralph Nader outlines our dilemma best asserting that, “The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”
With this in mind we have to look to local sources of renewable energy that can be implemented in order to increase the sustainability of our communities and neighborhoods. One such source of renewable energy that is perfect for Hawaii is wave power.
This untapped source of power is perfect for sustainability efforts in Hawaii because of a plethora of reasons. For one, in areas of high wave and wind activity (like Hawaii) these underwater turbines have proven to be extremely proficient at energy collection. As compared to solar energy, for example, wave power has proven to be more beneficial because it allows for an energy collection during the night and during times of rainy overcast weather (where solar panels don’t). Wave power potential also outweighs wind energy potential because water is 389 times denser than air allowing it to create the same amount of energy with a turbine one-third the size of the average wind turbine. Not only does this decrease in size drastically cut overall costs, but also because these turbines are underwater they receive zero threat from almost all natural disasters.
In north England, one of the few places that wave power is implemented currently; leading scientists estimate that waves alone could potentially power 15-20 percent of the whole UK. Wave technology goes further than simply showing potential though; recently a wave hub- a new device used to transfer wave electricity (much like an extension cable)- was installed along the coastline of Cornwall, England. This simple extension of the wave turbines is estimated to already provide full time electricity for more than 10,000 homes and as a result is also estimated to stop over 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the next 25 years.
Fortunately for Hawaii residents one of the few wave power bases in America is located right here on the east side of our island on Makapu peninsula. The base is actually an ideal model of how wave powered outlets should be expanded throughout Hawaii and also how these bases will work. According to Star Bulletin news, “the base is not only super efficient, but as a result it’s windward sides largest employer, where hundreds of civilians work in support of the bases mission to become self sustainable.” Currently one third of the bases power comes from solar and wave energy and according to leaders among the base, they soon hope to become totally self sufficient as well as become providers of energy around Hawaii. Focusing on expanding this marine base and creating wave-powered generators around the island simply makes sense. It’s not something drastically new and labor intensive such as creating plantations of sugar cane to convert to energy and fuel, plus it would be one of the most proficient methods to collect energy. Not only that but, as we can see through the base in Makapu, creating and expanding these wave centers will allow for employment of thousands of citizens- in turn boosting our economic output as well as the intellect and awareness of community members.
America is quickly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses; renewable energy and self-sustainability will bring it back to the people.
America is increasingly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses and not the people. An unfair yet undisputed fact in American politics is that money equals power- and unfortunately the big corporations possess more money than anyone else within our nation. As a result, through millions of dollars in lobbying efforts and campaign finance we have seen much needed reforms blocked and big business supporting politicians continuously elected. Specifically and most devastatingly, we have seen little effort at an increase in the innovation of renewable energy sources and self-sustainability. Ralph Nader outlines our dilemma best asserting that, “The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”
With this in mind we have to look to local sources of renewable energy that can be implemented in order to increase the sustainability of our communities and neighborhoods. One such source of renewable energy that is perfect for Hawaii is wave power.
This untapped source of power is perfect for sustainability efforts in Hawaii because of a plethora of reasons. For one, in areas of high wave and wind activity (like Hawaii) these underwater turbines have proven to be extremely proficient at energy collection. As compared to solar energy, for example, wave power has proven to be more beneficial because it allows for an energy collection during the night and during times of rainy overcast weather (where solar panels don’t). Wave power potential also outweighs wind energy potential because water is 389 times denser than air allowing it to create the same amount of energy with a turbine one-third the size of the average wind turbine. Not only does this decrease in size drastically cut overall costs, but also because these turbines are underwater they receive zero threat from almost all natural disasters.
In north England, one of the few places that wave power is implemented currently; leading scientists estimate that waves alone could potentially power 15-20 percent of the whole UK. Wave technology goes further than simply showing potential though; recently a wave hub- a new device used to transfer wave electricity (much like an extension cable)- was installed along the coastline of Cornwall, England. This simple extension of the wave turbines is estimated to already provide full time electricity for more than 10,000 homes and as a result is also estimated to stop over 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the next 25 years.
Fortunately for Hawaii residents one of the few wave power bases in America is located right here on the east side of our island on Makapu peninsula. The base is actually an ideal model of how wave powered outlets should be expanded throughout Hawaii and also how these bases will work. According to Star Bulletin news, “the base is not only super efficient, but as a result it’s windward sides largest employer, where hundreds of civilians work in support of the bases mission to become self sustainable.” Currently one third of the bases power comes from solar and wave energy and according to leaders among the base, they soon hope to become totally self sufficient as well as become providers of energy around Hawaii. Focusing on expanding this marine base and creating wave-powered generators around the island simply makes sense. It’s not something drastically new and labor intensive such as creating plantations of sugar cane to convert to energy and fuel, plus it would be one of the most proficient methods to collect energy. Not only that but, as we can see through the base in Makapu, creating and expanding these wave centers will allow for employment of thousands of citizens- in turn boosting our economic output as well as the intellect and awareness of community members.
America is quickly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses; renewable energy and self-sustainability will bring it back to the people.
20100419
Recycling = Love
by Ashleigh Dreyer
Michigan School for the Deaf
Flint, MI
To me, recycling equals love. Recycling involves sacrificing your time to care for the world that is covered with an absurd amount of garbage. Now, if you love the world, you should show kindness. If you have love for natural beauty and for our future generations, you should start saving the environment because it is our one and only world. Before you start, can you think about what really can convince every single person to recycle forever? There are countless ideas that make recycling easier, and an infinity of reasons to want a cleaner environment.
The very first idea is to make recycling a law. I would have to admit that I am not a very responsible person with recycling milk cartons, cereal boxes, and pop cans. I may forget or be lazy, but I still do want to recycle anyway. That is the point, because more than half of our recyclable trash is in landfills. These landfills are becoming hills that are high enough to ski down. So how can we stop with our lazy behavior of not recycling reusable items? In 1990, former governor Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin signed into law a mandatory recycling act which bans all recyclable materials, such as cardboard, aluminum, office paper, glass, etc., from all landfills in the state. If you throw these recyclable materials in your trash can, it will be tagged with a notice, it will not be picked up, and the owners of the house will be fined. Imagine having that law in all 50 states, and perhaps on every continent. It would definitely be an effective method of saving the environment, and provide fewer landfills to ski down.
The second idea is to buy organic products. One week I went to a friend's house whose parents are very eco-friendly. Their pantry was unbelievingly full of organic foods. I ate a bit of an organic snack bar; I actually felt good to have more fiber in my diet, and the wrapper itself felt different because it was made from recyclable paper. Anyhow, have you ever noticed that when you buy a bag of Doritos and you open it, it's only half full? That is a complete waste of material. Boyce Ayliffe, a researcher for the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), did his research on packaging material. IFOAM has its own principles to guide organic production and processing. The processors are required to avoid unnecessary packaging material and to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging whenever possible. Think about it; if you buy organic products with less packaging material, you will have less garbage in your wastebasket. Not only that, it also helps the environment and the organic food contains natural ingredients (which is healthier for your body). Nevertheless, if we want to live green, I think we all should buy organic products for this purpose.
The third idea is to shop at thrift stores. Growing up I never liked shopping at resale stores, but my mom always forced me. Then one day I bought an adorable strapless cotton-print shirt for only two bucks from a resale shop called Top Drawer. Everybody asked me, "Where did you get that shirt?" Since that experience, I have been stopping at thrift stores first before I go to retail stores. So instead of spending your money on an expensive item, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store? Thrift store shopping is just another way of recycling. If you buy used items, you will make a difference by keeping clothes out of landfills. When you are looking for an item, think green. Maybe you could find a plain T-shirt and add some cool fabric to it. It takes only a minute to be creative to save hundreds of years of decaying textiles in our landfills. Thrift store shopping can be simply a fun, green experience for everyone.
Not only are these three things what I am doing to help the environment, but if people will do these small things, then we can all jump on the wheel and make it a habit to recycle and reuse. Just like the Earth spins around unstoppable, so should our love for the environment. Recycling is a labor of love, and the amount of garbage that is created every day will never decrease if we don't have feelings for the environment. We only need to have a love for natural beauty and for our future generations.
Michigan School for the Deaf
Flint, MI
To me, recycling equals love. Recycling involves sacrificing your time to care for the world that is covered with an absurd amount of garbage. Now, if you love the world, you should show kindness. If you have love for natural beauty and for our future generations, you should start saving the environment because it is our one and only world. Before you start, can you think about what really can convince every single person to recycle forever? There are countless ideas that make recycling easier, and an infinity of reasons to want a cleaner environment.
The very first idea is to make recycling a law. I would have to admit that I am not a very responsible person with recycling milk cartons, cereal boxes, and pop cans. I may forget or be lazy, but I still do want to recycle anyway. That is the point, because more than half of our recyclable trash is in landfills. These landfills are becoming hills that are high enough to ski down. So how can we stop with our lazy behavior of not recycling reusable items? In 1990, former governor Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin signed into law a mandatory recycling act which bans all recyclable materials, such as cardboard, aluminum, office paper, glass, etc., from all landfills in the state. If you throw these recyclable materials in your trash can, it will be tagged with a notice, it will not be picked up, and the owners of the house will be fined. Imagine having that law in all 50 states, and perhaps on every continent. It would definitely be an effective method of saving the environment, and provide fewer landfills to ski down.
The second idea is to buy organic products. One week I went to a friend's house whose parents are very eco-friendly. Their pantry was unbelievingly full of organic foods. I ate a bit of an organic snack bar; I actually felt good to have more fiber in my diet, and the wrapper itself felt different because it was made from recyclable paper. Anyhow, have you ever noticed that when you buy a bag of Doritos and you open it, it's only half full? That is a complete waste of material. Boyce Ayliffe, a researcher for the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), did his research on packaging material. IFOAM has its own principles to guide organic production and processing. The processors are required to avoid unnecessary packaging material and to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging whenever possible. Think about it; if you buy organic products with less packaging material, you will have less garbage in your wastebasket. Not only that, it also helps the environment and the organic food contains natural ingredients (which is healthier for your body). Nevertheless, if we want to live green, I think we all should buy organic products for this purpose.
The third idea is to shop at thrift stores. Growing up I never liked shopping at resale stores, but my mom always forced me. Then one day I bought an adorable strapless cotton-print shirt for only two bucks from a resale shop called Top Drawer. Everybody asked me, "Where did you get that shirt?" Since that experience, I have been stopping at thrift stores first before I go to retail stores. So instead of spending your money on an expensive item, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store? Thrift store shopping is just another way of recycling. If you buy used items, you will make a difference by keeping clothes out of landfills. When you are looking for an item, think green. Maybe you could find a plain T-shirt and add some cool fabric to it. It takes only a minute to be creative to save hundreds of years of decaying textiles in our landfills. Thrift store shopping can be simply a fun, green experience for everyone.
Not only are these three things what I am doing to help the environment, but if people will do these small things, then we can all jump on the wheel and make it a habit to recycle and reuse. Just like the Earth spins around unstoppable, so should our love for the environment. Recycling is a labor of love, and the amount of garbage that is created every day will never decrease if we don't have feelings for the environment. We only need to have a love for natural beauty and for our future generations.
20100417
The Gentle Giant
By: Leyla Rashid Grade 6
Sport, that name brings back so many memories. He was one of my best friends. He played with me, protected me, and he cared about me. You would think such a big dog would be mean or something like that. But Sport was my gentle giant, He liked other dogs, he never bit anyone, he loved to meet new people and he never barked. I know what you are thinking, what a great dog.
Imagine this and you’ll know what the general idea or what he looked liked: He’s tall, brown with white markings. He’s got big ears, a wet nose, and a strong, long tail. You probably don’t know what kind of dog he is so I will tell you, he is and Ibezan(sic) Hound.
Sport and I did everything together. We especially liked to go on long walks and play fetch. We thought the fun would last forever.
But then, in the summer of 2001, tragedy struck. Sport was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his spine. His health was deteriorating right in front of my eyes. The veterinarians said there was no cure, but there was a treatment. We spent so much time and money on him. We wouldn’t let one of the best dogs in the world go without a fight.
He didn’t get better. The veterinarians suggested that we should take him to a special veterinary hospital in Purdue. On the way to the vet, I remembered all the good times we had together. I stroked his fur all the way there.
When we got to the hospital, they first checked him and ran some tests. But in the end, they said it would be best for Sport if they put him to sleep to end his pain. I stood in the room and held his paw while they put the needle in him until he stopped breathing.
But one thing I have learned from this experience, is that no matter what the dog’s condition is, you have to feed it, give it water, take it out on walks, play with it, and most importantly… LOVE IT! Yes, I still miss Sport, but I know he is in a better place now.
Sport, that name brings back so many memories. He was one of my best friends. He played with me, protected me, and he cared about me. You would think such a big dog would be mean or something like that. But Sport was my gentle giant, He liked other dogs, he never bit anyone, he loved to meet new people and he never barked. I know what you are thinking, what a great dog.
Imagine this and you’ll know what the general idea or what he looked liked: He’s tall, brown with white markings. He’s got big ears, a wet nose, and a strong, long tail. You probably don’t know what kind of dog he is so I will tell you, he is and Ibezan(sic) Hound.
Sport and I did everything together. We especially liked to go on long walks and play fetch. We thought the fun would last forever.
But then, in the summer of 2001, tragedy struck. Sport was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his spine. His health was deteriorating right in front of my eyes. The veterinarians said there was no cure, but there was a treatment. We spent so much time and money on him. We wouldn’t let one of the best dogs in the world go without a fight.
He didn’t get better. The veterinarians suggested that we should take him to a special veterinary hospital in Purdue. On the way to the vet, I remembered all the good times we had together. I stroked his fur all the way there.
When we got to the hospital, they first checked him and ran some tests. But in the end, they said it would be best for Sport if they put him to sleep to end his pain. I stood in the room and held his paw while they put the needle in him until he stopped breathing.
But one thing I have learned from this experience, is that no matter what the dog’s condition is, you have to feed it, give it water, take it out on walks, play with it, and most importantly… LOVE IT! Yes, I still miss Sport, but I know he is in a better place now.
20100413
My Dog Roger
By: Liam Perry 6th Grade
My dog Roger is a black, white and brown beagle-Australian shepherd mix. He is very loveable and is one of those dogs who will lie down on your feet, roll over, and squirm around until you give him a stomach rub. He may be lazy but he is also trained. He knows the commands sit, down, stay, heel, and come.
My favorite memory of Roger is when we got him. My mom had seen him at the farmers marked because the animal shelter takes them there to get exercise and meet possible adopters. She had absolutely fallen in love with him. When we went to the shelter we found out that he had just been taken to a foster home. The shelter people had to call the family and have them bring Roger back. Once they were back we got to take Roger home.
Another of my memories is getting Roger trained. We took him to 2 classes where he learned all of his commands. One of the tests for stay is the instructor would roll a ball past a line of dogs in stay. The first time all the dogs bolted and kept running into each other trying to get the ball. It was hilarious.
Roger is special to me because we had to get rid of my last dog and after that it was quiet and lonely. Now Roger is here everything is the way it should be and I have my friend back. Its nice to have a friend who is never busy, who can play with me.
I believe that caring for animals is important because they are living things and disserve the same care and respect as we do. Also because if we do not animals will be killed or will become strays and starve or be hit by cars.
My dog Roger is a black, white and brown beagle-Australian shepherd mix. He is very loveable and is one of those dogs who will lie down on your feet, roll over, and squirm around until you give him a stomach rub. He may be lazy but he is also trained. He knows the commands sit, down, stay, heel, and come.
My favorite memory of Roger is when we got him. My mom had seen him at the farmers marked because the animal shelter takes them there to get exercise and meet possible adopters. She had absolutely fallen in love with him. When we went to the shelter we found out that he had just been taken to a foster home. The shelter people had to call the family and have them bring Roger back. Once they were back we got to take Roger home.
Another of my memories is getting Roger trained. We took him to 2 classes where he learned all of his commands. One of the tests for stay is the instructor would roll a ball past a line of dogs in stay. The first time all the dogs bolted and kept running into each other trying to get the ball. It was hilarious.
Roger is special to me because we had to get rid of my last dog and after that it was quiet and lonely. Now Roger is here everything is the way it should be and I have my friend back. Its nice to have a friend who is never busy, who can play with me.
I believe that caring for animals is important because they are living things and disserve the same care and respect as we do. Also because if we do not animals will be killed or will become strays and starve or be hit by cars.
20100411
The Gentle Giant
By: Leyla Rashid Grade 6
Sport, that name brings back so many memories. He was one of my best friends. He played with me, protected me, and he cared about me. You would think such a big dog would be mean or something like that. But Sport was my gentle giant,
He liked other dogs, he never bit anyone, he loved to meet new people and he never barked. I know what you are thinking, what a great dog.
Imagine this and you’ll know what the general idea or what he looked liked: He’s tall, brown with white markings. He’s got big ears, a wet nose, and a strong, long tail. You probably don’t know what kind of dog he is so I will tell you, he is and Ibezan(sic) Hound.
Sport and I did everything together. We especially liked to go on long walks and play fetch. We thought the fun would last forever.
But then, in the summer of 2001, tragedy struck. Sport was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his spine. His health was deteriorating right in front of my eyes. The veterinarians said there was no cure, but there was a treatment. We spent so much time and money on him. We wouldn’t let one of the best dogs in the world go without a fight.
He didn’t get better. The veterinarians suggested that we should take him to a special veterinary hospital in Purdue. On the way to the vet, I remembered all the good times we had together. I stroked his fur all the way there.
When we got to the hospital, they first checked him and ran some tests. But in the end, they said it would be best for Sport if they put him to sleep to end his pain. I stood in the room and held his paw while they put the needle in him until he stopped breathing.
But one thing I have learned from this experience, is that no matter what the dog’s condition is, you have to feed it, give it water, take it out on walks, play with it, and most importantly… LOVE IT! Yes, I still miss Sport, but I know he is in a better place now.
Sport, that name brings back so many memories. He was one of my best friends. He played with me, protected me, and he cared about me. You would think such a big dog would be mean or something like that. But Sport was my gentle giant,
He liked other dogs, he never bit anyone, he loved to meet new people and he never barked. I know what you are thinking, what a great dog.
Imagine this and you’ll know what the general idea or what he looked liked: He’s tall, brown with white markings. He’s got big ears, a wet nose, and a strong, long tail. You probably don’t know what kind of dog he is so I will tell you, he is and Ibezan(sic) Hound.
Sport and I did everything together. We especially liked to go on long walks and play fetch. We thought the fun would last forever.
But then, in the summer of 2001, tragedy struck. Sport was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his spine. His health was deteriorating right in front of my eyes. The veterinarians said there was no cure, but there was a treatment. We spent so much time and money on him. We wouldn’t let one of the best dogs in the world go without a fight.
He didn’t get better. The veterinarians suggested that we should take him to a special veterinary hospital in Purdue. On the way to the vet, I remembered all the good times we had together. I stroked his fur all the way there.
When we got to the hospital, they first checked him and ran some tests. But in the end, they said it would be best for Sport if they put him to sleep to end his pain. I stood in the room and held his paw while they put the needle in him until he stopped breathing.
But one thing I have learned from this experience, is that no matter what the dog’s condition is, you have to feed it, give it water, take it out on walks, play with it, and most importantly… LOVE IT! Yes, I still miss Sport, but I know he is in a better place now.
20100410
"Daisy"
By: Hannah Small, 5th grade
My favorite pet would have to be my dog Daisy. When I got her I was 3 or 4. I don’t remember the day that well. But I do remember seeing her. A lady was letting puppies out of their cages to let me see them. I remember a poodle walking down the hallway. When I said no the lady took it back and let Daisy out. Daisy came running down the hall. Her floppy black ears bouncing up and down the whole way. I knew she was the one.
Daisy is black and white spotted with a big black spot on the middle of her back. She has big dark brown eyes.
As I grew I realized that dogs (and all animals) need a lot of caring. Just like we do. Even though animals aren’t us they don’t want to be stuck on a chain tied to a tree all their life. Think about them like you would think of family.
Animals also need you in their worst of times. I’ve experienced that. Daisy once had heartworms. She was very skinny. We had to give her one shot at the end of one month, and a month later she had to get another one. A month after that she had her blood tested and was free of heartworms.
When I turned 8 I realized how many cats and dogs were at the animal shelter. Lots of them were put to sleep. So for the birthday where I invite my friends, instead of presents I ask them to bring donations for the animal shelter. When we bring the donations to the animal shelter I go and say something to each one. I try to play with a lot of them.
Daisy is healthy and happy now, so am I.
My favorite pet would have to be my dog Daisy. When I got her I was 3 or 4. I don’t remember the day that well. But I do remember seeing her. A lady was letting puppies out of their cages to let me see them. I remember a poodle walking down the hallway. When I said no the lady took it back and let Daisy out. Daisy came running down the hall. Her floppy black ears bouncing up and down the whole way. I knew she was the one.
Daisy is black and white spotted with a big black spot on the middle of her back. She has big dark brown eyes.
As I grew I realized that dogs (and all animals) need a lot of caring. Just like we do. Even though animals aren’t us they don’t want to be stuck on a chain tied to a tree all their life. Think about them like you would think of family.
Animals also need you in their worst of times. I’ve experienced that. Daisy once had heartworms. She was very skinny. We had to give her one shot at the end of one month, and a month later she had to get another one. A month after that she had her blood tested and was free of heartworms.
When I turned 8 I realized how many cats and dogs were at the animal shelter. Lots of them were put to sleep. So for the birthday where I invite my friends, instead of presents I ask them to bring donations for the animal shelter. When we bring the donations to the animal shelter I go and say something to each one. I try to play with a lot of them.
Daisy is healthy and happy now, so am I.
20100409
My Dog Henry
By Isabelle Russell, Grade 4
I own a dog named Henry. He is a purebred beagle. I rescued him from the shelter 2 years ago. I feel sort of bad for him because I don’t think he got what he needed as a puppy. My guess is that he is gun-shy (because he is scared of loud noises), so hunters didn’t want him. He had been returned to the shelter five times already!
I have been very happy with Henry lately. I have been teaching him how to jump over poles on command. He has been doing very well. The highest he ever jumped was three feet in the air!. My mom said that was high enough. We don’t want him jumping over a fence.
Henry’s favorite thing to do is sleep in places he’s not suppose to, like the couch, my bed, Mom’s bed, and other comfortable surfaces. Henry’s pet peeve is closed bedroom doors.
I have always wanted to show dogs, and I hope I will be able to show Henry some day. I also love horses and have always wanted one. But if I had to give away Henry to get one, I wouldn’t want one. But if I could have Henry and a horse, I’d be the happiest girl on earth!
I own a dog named Henry. He is a purebred beagle. I rescued him from the shelter 2 years ago. I feel sort of bad for him because I don’t think he got what he needed as a puppy. My guess is that he is gun-shy (because he is scared of loud noises), so hunters didn’t want him. He had been returned to the shelter five times already!
I have been very happy with Henry lately. I have been teaching him how to jump over poles on command. He has been doing very well. The highest he ever jumped was three feet in the air!. My mom said that was high enough. We don’t want him jumping over a fence.
Henry’s favorite thing to do is sleep in places he’s not suppose to, like the couch, my bed, Mom’s bed, and other comfortable surfaces. Henry’s pet peeve is closed bedroom doors.
I have always wanted to show dogs, and I hope I will be able to show Henry some day. I also love horses and have always wanted one. But if I had to give away Henry to get one, I wouldn’t want one. But if I could have Henry and a horse, I’d be the happiest girl on earth!
20100408
What's Happening?
By Ellen, Waterloo
I feel small, weak. Once I was a majestic, strong oak, but now I feel my strength draining away, to where, I don't know. What's happening?
My brothers and sisters have disappeared over time. For some, it was inevitable. However, others I lost through the sharp blades of those who enter my home, destroy those I love. Sometimes they stay there, building them into a sturdy structure, and I weep. I weep far more, though, when my brothers and sisters, weakened by the fumes that enter the earth, are left to die on the ground until they rot away, wasted. What's happening?
The ones who enter this forest are loud; when I first heard them, they shook me to my core. I was frightened, but I believed they would tire of the woods eventually. Instead, they settle close to me; bright lights that outshine even the sun but produce no warmth are shining constantly. They spray strong chemicals that burn the ground I seek nourishment from. What's happening?
I can't help but feel angry. What right do they have, stealing what is mine? When I feel this fury, though, all I can do is remember the ones who care. The ones who create more of my kind, who seem curious about my aged wood. The small ones, who run around and around, making me dizzy. How can the cruel ones exist when so many are kind? What's happening?
As I rest, I wonder. I wonder why the rain burns now. I wonder what will happen to my kin around the world. I wonder if the other kind enter only my home, or others' too. I wonder if I too will be destroyed. Most of all, I wonder if this will ever change. What's happening?
At first, I didn't notice the changes. Now, they're all I think about. The way the weather became far more irregular over the years, how the small creatures I used to feed have gone. How my leaves have become just the slightest bit smaller. It terrifies me, not knowing what's happening, even while it makes me deteriorate in a million different ways. What's happening?
I still feel small, weak. Once I was a majestic, strong oak, but now I feel my strength draining away, to where, I don't know. Why, I don't know. Will no one save me? Am I truly alone? What's happening?
I feel small, weak. Once I was a majestic, strong oak, but now I feel my strength draining away, to where, I don't know. What's happening?
My brothers and sisters have disappeared over time. For some, it was inevitable. However, others I lost through the sharp blades of those who enter my home, destroy those I love. Sometimes they stay there, building them into a sturdy structure, and I weep. I weep far more, though, when my brothers and sisters, weakened by the fumes that enter the earth, are left to die on the ground until they rot away, wasted. What's happening?
The ones who enter this forest are loud; when I first heard them, they shook me to my core. I was frightened, but I believed they would tire of the woods eventually. Instead, they settle close to me; bright lights that outshine even the sun but produce no warmth are shining constantly. They spray strong chemicals that burn the ground I seek nourishment from. What's happening?
I can't help but feel angry. What right do they have, stealing what is mine? When I feel this fury, though, all I can do is remember the ones who care. The ones who create more of my kind, who seem curious about my aged wood. The small ones, who run around and around, making me dizzy. How can the cruel ones exist when so many are kind? What's happening?
As I rest, I wonder. I wonder why the rain burns now. I wonder what will happen to my kin around the world. I wonder if the other kind enter only my home, or others' too. I wonder if I too will be destroyed. Most of all, I wonder if this will ever change. What's happening?
At first, I didn't notice the changes. Now, they're all I think about. The way the weather became far more irregular over the years, how the small creatures I used to feed have gone. How my leaves have become just the slightest bit smaller. It terrifies me, not knowing what's happening, even while it makes me deteriorate in a million different ways. What's happening?
I still feel small, weak. Once I was a majestic, strong oak, but now I feel my strength draining away, to where, I don't know. Why, I don't know. Will no one save me? Am I truly alone? What's happening?
20100407
Animals are not toys
Mercedez Perucho, Grade School – San Francisco, CA
Animals are not like toys because they show affection and need as much love as you or anyone in your family and for all the ways these animals help us all they ever ask for is love care and a scratch behind the ear. The three other best choices you can make for them is spaying or neutering them, putting a collar with the animals information on it or a micro chip, and not de-clawing them. Those are all the small things you need to do to get a loving best friend who will always love you
Animals are not like toys because they show affection and need as much love as you or anyone in your family and for all the ways these animals help us all they ever ask for is love care and a scratch behind the ear. The three other best choices you can make for them is spaying or neutering them, putting a collar with the animals information on it or a micro chip, and not de-clawing them. Those are all the small things you need to do to get a loving best friend who will always love you
20100405
How do you know you're ready for a pet
by Tori Gambrel, 3rd Grade
Owning a pet requires responsibilities. You have to feed and water your pet daily. Another responsibility is to exercise your pet daily. One way you can exercise your
pet is by walking it and giving it toys. It is also important to have enough space for your pet to run around. You have to make sure your pet is secure. You must buy it a collar and a license. To walk your pet safely, you need to buy it a leash.You must have enough money to take your pet to the vet. Owning a pet can be very expensive! Your pet will also need to be groomed so that it does not get
tangles or fleas in its fur. Your pet will also need a clean place to sleep. Be prepared to clean up after your pet! It will need to be house trained if you are not home very much. It's a good idea to find out about a pet before you get it.
What happens if you buy a pet you're allergic to? So you need to know about what pets you are allergic to. It is also important to think about what you will need to do when you go on vacation. Are your neighbors going to take care of your pet? Are you going to drop it off with relatives? You have to be old enough to understand all of these responsibilities. If you do, then you are ready for a pet!
Owning a pet requires responsibilities. You have to feed and water your pet daily. Another responsibility is to exercise your pet daily. One way you can exercise your
pet is by walking it and giving it toys. It is also important to have enough space for your pet to run around. You have to make sure your pet is secure. You must buy it a collar and a license. To walk your pet safely, you need to buy it a leash.You must have enough money to take your pet to the vet. Owning a pet can be very expensive! Your pet will also need to be groomed so that it does not get
tangles or fleas in its fur. Your pet will also need a clean place to sleep. Be prepared to clean up after your pet! It will need to be house trained if you are not home very much. It's a good idea to find out about a pet before you get it.
What happens if you buy a pet you're allergic to? So you need to know about what pets you are allergic to. It is also important to think about what you will need to do when you go on vacation. Are your neighbors going to take care of your pet? Are you going to drop it off with relatives? You have to be old enough to understand all of these responsibilities. If you do, then you are ready for a pet!
20100404
Nature
Caroline Bollinger
McLean, Virginia
Prodigious trees, vast plains, colorful leaves, and cascading waterfalls — these are only a few of the wonders that exist in national parks. When I visit a park I enjoy the surprises that unfurl as I explore the hiking trails and the variety of wildlife. I love going to my local parks, which include Great Falls and Roosevelt Island. Ever since I was a toddler, hiking on the boardwalk at Roosevelt Island has been among my favorite things to do. I also enjoyed flying kites with my Grandpa on the National Mall. Even though he has passed on, he left with me his love for nature and our national parks.
Another big part of national parks is history. The national monuments and battlefields each tell a small story that together becomes a large textbook of history with all the places combined. Going to the parks is fun, educational for history novices, and a great adventure for history buffs. One great history location is Fords Theatre, the place of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. I have seen two presentations there, and both have been entertaining and information rich. I think protecting the national parks is extremely important.
I have an idea that I think will not only help national parks, but will also give young people a chance to help keep the parks in top shape. My idea is similar to the Peace Corps; it’s called Nature Corps. In this program, new college graduates would have a chance to volunteer a year of their time to working in the parks. The program would provide each individual with lodging and a basic salary. This money would be enough to cover the costs of essentials such as food and clothing. The participants would help spread awareness about the parks and educate citizens about the parks’ needs. They’d clean up the parks by doing indoor and outdoor custodial chores. The volunteers would also help with the upkeep of the park and learn a lot about ecology, history and other subjects. They would also get job experience. In addition, there could be a Junior Nature Corps too. This is where young kids and teens would have the opportunity to volunteer at national parks for community service experience and enjoyment. This segment would cost no funds, but could have the potential of being just as important as the regular Nature Corps. Through these programs, young Americans would be able to make a difference and develop a love for the parks to last throughout their lives.
Nature is restorative and peaceful, and the national parks make that available even for people living in urban areas. The parks help give everyone the chance to get a breath of fresh air and enjoy wildlife and plants. With the help of the Nature Corps, these parks would be preserved for many future generations to enjoy. So maybe someday another girl like me will have the chance to fly kites and hike in these beautiful parks, looking just like they did in my generation.
McLean, Virginia
Prodigious trees, vast plains, colorful leaves, and cascading waterfalls — these are only a few of the wonders that exist in national parks. When I visit a park I enjoy the surprises that unfurl as I explore the hiking trails and the variety of wildlife. I love going to my local parks, which include Great Falls and Roosevelt Island. Ever since I was a toddler, hiking on the boardwalk at Roosevelt Island has been among my favorite things to do. I also enjoyed flying kites with my Grandpa on the National Mall. Even though he has passed on, he left with me his love for nature and our national parks.
Another big part of national parks is history. The national monuments and battlefields each tell a small story that together becomes a large textbook of history with all the places combined. Going to the parks is fun, educational for history novices, and a great adventure for history buffs. One great history location is Fords Theatre, the place of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. I have seen two presentations there, and both have been entertaining and information rich. I think protecting the national parks is extremely important.
I have an idea that I think will not only help national parks, but will also give young people a chance to help keep the parks in top shape. My idea is similar to the Peace Corps; it’s called Nature Corps. In this program, new college graduates would have a chance to volunteer a year of their time to working in the parks. The program would provide each individual with lodging and a basic salary. This money would be enough to cover the costs of essentials such as food and clothing. The participants would help spread awareness about the parks and educate citizens about the parks’ needs. They’d clean up the parks by doing indoor and outdoor custodial chores. The volunteers would also help with the upkeep of the park and learn a lot about ecology, history and other subjects. They would also get job experience. In addition, there could be a Junior Nature Corps too. This is where young kids and teens would have the opportunity to volunteer at national parks for community service experience and enjoyment. This segment would cost no funds, but could have the potential of being just as important as the regular Nature Corps. Through these programs, young Americans would be able to make a difference and develop a love for the parks to last throughout their lives.
Nature is restorative and peaceful, and the national parks make that available even for people living in urban areas. The parks help give everyone the chance to get a breath of fresh air and enjoy wildlife and plants. With the help of the Nature Corps, these parks would be preserved for many future generations to enjoy. So maybe someday another girl like me will have the chance to fly kites and hike in these beautiful parks, looking just like they did in my generation.
20100403
National Parks
Jason Roy Maki
Marysville, WA
When I see or even think about a national park, it is like no other feeling I've ever had. A national park is like a special cabinet that contains memories that are filled with truly special natural treasures. When you see a picture of a national park on post card, on TV or in a movie, you will probably say, "Wow! That is beautiful!" But actually being at a national park and seeing it in person is even more wonderful and breathtaking. When you go to the zoo and see an animal up close it is very interesting. But imagine that same thrill in the wild – in an animal's habitat. Habitat is the natural place where an animal lives — like the forest, the meadows, the lakes and ponds, the rivers, mountains, valleys and the prairie.
I love Grand Teton National Park the best. When I visit, I always see elk, deer, black bear, grizzlies, moose, bison, wolves, bald eagles, and more. I've seen an eagle and an osprey fighting over a fish. I've seen a little baby moose with its mother at the edge of the Snake River. I've seen a pair of grizzly cubs wandering out in the middle of a green meadow with their mother close by. And I've even seen a rare black wolf running across a snow field. But not all things are exactly what I'd call peaceful. I've watched a huge bison lit up against the night sky when lightning struck the mountains. I went swimming with my cousins and came out of a beautiful lake covered in leeches! Ahhhhh! I was even surprised by a black bear ten feet away when I walked around a pickup truck! Even though I've had a few scary experiences, it should never stop you from visiting a national park.
National parks are fun places to learn about things that you could never experience anywhere else. That's why we have to take care of them. We have to follow all national park rules. They are more than just rules. They are choices we make to help our parks survive forever. Don't litter a park. Don't feed the animals because they forget how to feed naturally. Make sure campfires are dead out with water. Forest fires are caused every year by careless campers who do not put their fires out. I would like to propose a contest where school kids everywhere come up with a few things to protect and preserve our national parks. We could have a reading program where school kids read about a neat national park. Then they could maybe visit one for themselves some day. I know they will enjoy every moment. That I can promise.
We the people own the national parks. They are ours. That is why we need to protect our parks and preserve them forever.
Marysville, WA
When I see or even think about a national park, it is like no other feeling I've ever had. A national park is like a special cabinet that contains memories that are filled with truly special natural treasures. When you see a picture of a national park on post card, on TV or in a movie, you will probably say, "Wow! That is beautiful!" But actually being at a national park and seeing it in person is even more wonderful and breathtaking. When you go to the zoo and see an animal up close it is very interesting. But imagine that same thrill in the wild – in an animal's habitat. Habitat is the natural place where an animal lives — like the forest, the meadows, the lakes and ponds, the rivers, mountains, valleys and the prairie.
I love Grand Teton National Park the best. When I visit, I always see elk, deer, black bear, grizzlies, moose, bison, wolves, bald eagles, and more. I've seen an eagle and an osprey fighting over a fish. I've seen a little baby moose with its mother at the edge of the Snake River. I've seen a pair of grizzly cubs wandering out in the middle of a green meadow with their mother close by. And I've even seen a rare black wolf running across a snow field. But not all things are exactly what I'd call peaceful. I've watched a huge bison lit up against the night sky when lightning struck the mountains. I went swimming with my cousins and came out of a beautiful lake covered in leeches! Ahhhhh! I was even surprised by a black bear ten feet away when I walked around a pickup truck! Even though I've had a few scary experiences, it should never stop you from visiting a national park.
National parks are fun places to learn about things that you could never experience anywhere else. That's why we have to take care of them. We have to follow all national park rules. They are more than just rules. They are choices we make to help our parks survive forever. Don't litter a park. Don't feed the animals because they forget how to feed naturally. Make sure campfires are dead out with water. Forest fires are caused every year by careless campers who do not put their fires out. I would like to propose a contest where school kids everywhere come up with a few things to protect and preserve our national parks. We could have a reading program where school kids read about a neat national park. Then they could maybe visit one for themselves some day. I know they will enjoy every moment. That I can promise.
We the people own the national parks. They are ours. That is why we need to protect our parks and preserve them forever.
20100402
The Difference Engine
Mark Andy Ewing, Duke University
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91wnIQL5Ts
This idea matured over the last 6 months of observing the political and economic changes in the United States. It finally gelled when a colleague of mine who had been very critical of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the past told me that she had changed her opinion of them. When I asked what it was that influenced this change of mind, she told me that she had seen the DHS reality television show, and it humanized the employees of the DHS to such a degree that she couldn't think of them as "stupid" or "evil" anymore.
I realized that part of the power to do good in the world is simply the power to build consensus, and it is not enough to have consensus on just what SHOULD be done, but the consensus must include the HOW as well. I believe that this nonprofit, the Difference Engine, could be the most important solution to the "Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery" Challenge, because discovery needs funding, and success often begets success. I also believe that it is a viable organization in a budgetary and operational sense.
Bill Gates, Bono, and others have shown that those with money and influence have a great desire to do good in the world, but not only to do good, but to make sure their donations have the biggest impact possible. By focusing our organization on a few technologies that have already passed the bar of proof-of-concept, prototype and commercial/political viability, we are ensuring that our efforts to "get the word out" will be fruitful.
In terms of actually getting the word out, more and more media, such as the television shows "House" and "CSI" and the websites Slashdot and Lifehacker derive their value from being at the forefront of technology, and by picking the next "big" thing before everyone else does. In that sense, we won't be so much soliciting their charity in showcasing these technologies, we'll be providing them with a service that goes directly to their value as products.
Measuring "success" is a matter of tracking product sales and/or political polls, and since the marketing team will be targeting specific demographics, perhaps in specific areas, there's room to measure an increase in awareness or interest in reference to "control" groups.
There are two other teams in the engine not mentioned in the video. First, a small but strong administrative team is necessary to actually track success and chart our course. Second, a fundraising team will be generating financial support at all levels of private donation. It is important that the nonprofit not be a publicly funded entity, in order to maintain its credibility. In the same vein, after, the initial start-up period, funding should come from a variety of private sources, with no one source contributing more than, say, half of the total.
So many challenges that we face, from clean water to global warming to improved health care are immediate in their nature. Every day that a new solution is delayed in reaching those who need it is a day we cannot afford. I believe this organization, the Difference Engine, is a necessary part of our work in improving the human condition around the world.
About Mark: Mark is a 2nd year doctoral student at Duke University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mark prompted to enter the video/essay contest in part by conversations over the past year with his wife about making our respective fields "relevant". "In my case, it seems easy, that Electrical Engineering is driving most of the technology that we use, but even technology can take a while to reach daily use, and it's a shame that we lose so much time when good solutions are available," Mark writes. Long term, Mark hopes to be be self-employed, either with the Difference Engine or another project. In the short-term, he is looking for an industry position in the area.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91wnIQL5Ts
This idea matured over the last 6 months of observing the political and economic changes in the United States. It finally gelled when a colleague of mine who had been very critical of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the past told me that she had changed her opinion of them. When I asked what it was that influenced this change of mind, she told me that she had seen the DHS reality television show, and it humanized the employees of the DHS to such a degree that she couldn't think of them as "stupid" or "evil" anymore.
I realized that part of the power to do good in the world is simply the power to build consensus, and it is not enough to have consensus on just what SHOULD be done, but the consensus must include the HOW as well. I believe that this nonprofit, the Difference Engine, could be the most important solution to the "Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery" Challenge, because discovery needs funding, and success often begets success. I also believe that it is a viable organization in a budgetary and operational sense.
Bill Gates, Bono, and others have shown that those with money and influence have a great desire to do good in the world, but not only to do good, but to make sure their donations have the biggest impact possible. By focusing our organization on a few technologies that have already passed the bar of proof-of-concept, prototype and commercial/political viability, we are ensuring that our efforts to "get the word out" will be fruitful.
In terms of actually getting the word out, more and more media, such as the television shows "House" and "CSI" and the websites Slashdot and Lifehacker derive their value from being at the forefront of technology, and by picking the next "big" thing before everyone else does. In that sense, we won't be so much soliciting their charity in showcasing these technologies, we'll be providing them with a service that goes directly to their value as products.
Measuring "success" is a matter of tracking product sales and/or political polls, and since the marketing team will be targeting specific demographics, perhaps in specific areas, there's room to measure an increase in awareness or interest in reference to "control" groups.
There are two other teams in the engine not mentioned in the video. First, a small but strong administrative team is necessary to actually track success and chart our course. Second, a fundraising team will be generating financial support at all levels of private donation. It is important that the nonprofit not be a publicly funded entity, in order to maintain its credibility. In the same vein, after, the initial start-up period, funding should come from a variety of private sources, with no one source contributing more than, say, half of the total.
So many challenges that we face, from clean water to global warming to improved health care are immediate in their nature. Every day that a new solution is delayed in reaching those who need it is a day we cannot afford. I believe this organization, the Difference Engine, is a necessary part of our work in improving the human condition around the world.
About Mark: Mark is a 2nd year doctoral student at Duke University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mark prompted to enter the video/essay contest in part by conversations over the past year with his wife about making our respective fields "relevant". "In my case, it seems easy, that Electrical Engineering is driving most of the technology that we use, but even technology can take a while to reach daily use, and it's a shame that we lose so much time when good solutions are available," Mark writes. Long term, Mark hopes to be be self-employed, either with the Difference Engine or another project. In the short-term, he is looking for an industry position in the area.
20100331
Protect National Parks
Kelsey Fosstveit
Mountainville, NY
Twas the day to protect national parks, when all through the USA
Wildlife and natural wonders were stirring, inspiring places must stay
Teddy Roosevelt said the wilderness must be preserved with care
In hopes that treasures of landscapes would always be there
The rare beautiful animals were nestled in lakes, seashores, and caves
While wide open spaces certainly must be saved
And for millions of Americans it is the scene of a family vacation
Vital green space is worth preservation
When out in remote regions arose unspoiled land,
People sprang to natural amusement parks first hand
Away from intrusions of everyday life
Sunrises, whispering breezes and glorious mountains take away strife
The leisure activities improve moods and calm stress
Guided tours and walks in mid-day are best
When, wildlife codes should be obeyed
Flowers, bird's eggs, logs and bush rocks must stay where they stay
Leave your pets at home, so lively and quick
Following National Park's fire regulations aren't a trick
More rapid than ever rubbish must be put in a bin
National Parks are owned by all to win
Now Yellowstone! Now Yosemite! Now Bryce and Grand Canyon!
On Arches! On Acadia! On Everglades and Zion
To the top of the earth, the top of the sky
Preservation! Preservation! Preservation we cry!
National Parks Recreational Programs keep us physically fit
Biking, hiking, and swimming, don't let us sit
So plant native plants local to the land
Grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees reinvest with a hand
And then use public transportation while going to the park
The air pollution from cars and trucks will be put in the dark
As we reduce, reuse, recycle we turn the parks around
Critical wildlife habitat will abound
National parks and symbols don't belong to one
Protecting habitats permanently in national parks provides fun!
Mountainville, NY
Twas the day to protect national parks, when all through the USA
Wildlife and natural wonders were stirring, inspiring places must stay
Teddy Roosevelt said the wilderness must be preserved with care
In hopes that treasures of landscapes would always be there
The rare beautiful animals were nestled in lakes, seashores, and caves
While wide open spaces certainly must be saved
And for millions of Americans it is the scene of a family vacation
Vital green space is worth preservation
When out in remote regions arose unspoiled land,
People sprang to natural amusement parks first hand
Away from intrusions of everyday life
Sunrises, whispering breezes and glorious mountains take away strife
The leisure activities improve moods and calm stress
Guided tours and walks in mid-day are best
When, wildlife codes should be obeyed
Flowers, bird's eggs, logs and bush rocks must stay where they stay
Leave your pets at home, so lively and quick
Following National Park's fire regulations aren't a trick
More rapid than ever rubbish must be put in a bin
National Parks are owned by all to win
Now Yellowstone! Now Yosemite! Now Bryce and Grand Canyon!
On Arches! On Acadia! On Everglades and Zion
To the top of the earth, the top of the sky
Preservation! Preservation! Preservation we cry!
National Parks Recreational Programs keep us physically fit
Biking, hiking, and swimming, don't let us sit
So plant native plants local to the land
Grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees reinvest with a hand
And then use public transportation while going to the park
The air pollution from cars and trucks will be put in the dark
As we reduce, reuse, recycle we turn the parks around
Critical wildlife habitat will abound
National parks and symbols don't belong to one
Protecting habitats permanently in national parks provides fun!
20100329
National Parks Are for Everyone
Jonathan Petrosino
Albany, NY
National Parks are important to all people because they preserve the land where special things are. Because these special things are protected, people from all over the world can visit them every day. I have visited Estes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Great Sand Dune National Park in Colorado. I have also visited Arches National Park in Utah, and Acadia National Park in Maine. In these parks, I saw elk, big horn sheep, rock formations, ruins from Native American dwellings, and lots of mountains and rocky beaches. If these special places had not been saved for the public to enjoy, I would not have been able to enjoy them and learn from them. There are many things that people can do to help preserve our National Parks. One thing that we can do is volunteer. Volunteers can be useful in many ways and can be any age. Even a young child can help by picking up trash from the ground. Older people can work on trails, take care of plants, help repair buildings, and take visitors on tours. Another thing that people can do is contribute money. Money can be used for all different kinds of projects that one person can’t do alone. National Parks are an important part of our country. I think that the more people know about the cool things in our country, the more interested they will become in preserving them.
Albany, NY
National Parks are important to all people because they preserve the land where special things are. Because these special things are protected, people from all over the world can visit them every day. I have visited Estes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Great Sand Dune National Park in Colorado. I have also visited Arches National Park in Utah, and Acadia National Park in Maine. In these parks, I saw elk, big horn sheep, rock formations, ruins from Native American dwellings, and lots of mountains and rocky beaches. If these special places had not been saved for the public to enjoy, I would not have been able to enjoy them and learn from them. There are many things that people can do to help preserve our National Parks. One thing that we can do is volunteer. Volunteers can be useful in many ways and can be any age. Even a young child can help by picking up trash from the ground. Older people can work on trails, take care of plants, help repair buildings, and take visitors on tours. Another thing that people can do is contribute money. Money can be used for all different kinds of projects that one person can’t do alone. National Parks are an important part of our country. I think that the more people know about the cool things in our country, the more interested they will become in preserving them.
20100328
National Parks
Liz Austin
San Diego, CA
National Parks, I think, are one of the greatest things the world could do. National Parks are so important because some of them are like a key to the past. These parks allow us to see how people before us lived, how and what they ate, and where they lived. Give Fort Raleigh for example, I got to learn all about the Civil War. I got to learn about the people who lived during it and how they suffered. The Civil War was caused because people made mistakes and wrong decisions. Because of that the Civil War was started and many people got shot and killed. I got to learn about not making the same mistakes and now I can make a difference.
Lots of National Parks are also preserved for their natural beauty. Take the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon was nothing man could have ever made. It was preserved because of its beauty and fabulous views. Or Yellowstone National Park, same thing. All the parks preserved for their beauty may not be historic sites, but people visit them anyway. People a hundred years from now will want to visit all these national parks too. That’s why it’s important to preserve them.
To keep national parks alive and running, many people have to pitch in and help. It takes a lot of money to keep national parks nice enough for people to visit. I, or all of my friends and I could ho some sort of fundraiser to raise money. What if my class was split into groups and each group was given a national park to raise money for. If a goal was set for each group to raise $200 my class could raise a lot of money for the National Park Service. I think everyone would learn something from working together as a team to raise money. I’m sure we would learn about teamwork, and helping out something that could last for hundreds of years.
San Diego, CA
National Parks, I think, are one of the greatest things the world could do. National Parks are so important because some of them are like a key to the past. These parks allow us to see how people before us lived, how and what they ate, and where they lived. Give Fort Raleigh for example, I got to learn all about the Civil War. I got to learn about the people who lived during it and how they suffered. The Civil War was caused because people made mistakes and wrong decisions. Because of that the Civil War was started and many people got shot and killed. I got to learn about not making the same mistakes and now I can make a difference.
Lots of National Parks are also preserved for their natural beauty. Take the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon was nothing man could have ever made. It was preserved because of its beauty and fabulous views. Or Yellowstone National Park, same thing. All the parks preserved for their beauty may not be historic sites, but people visit them anyway. People a hundred years from now will want to visit all these national parks too. That’s why it’s important to preserve them.
To keep national parks alive and running, many people have to pitch in and help. It takes a lot of money to keep national parks nice enough for people to visit. I, or all of my friends and I could ho some sort of fundraiser to raise money. What if my class was split into groups and each group was given a national park to raise money for. If a goal was set for each group to raise $200 my class could raise a lot of money for the National Park Service. I think everyone would learn something from working together as a team to raise money. I’m sure we would learn about teamwork, and helping out something that could last for hundreds of years.
20100327
National Parks, the Icing on the Cake
Ramona Leanna Watson
Flint, MI
National Parks are important because they help us remember who we were, who we are, and who we will be. These beautiful places help us remember what we’ve already done, and what we need to accomplish to make life better for our future generations. These wonderful historic places help us to understand the diversity of our country and how it came to be. Based on popular sovereignty, we, the people, have the power of government. It is our duty to support important causes. Eight-five percent of people polled by a Harris Survey support the cause of protecting National Parks. What if there were no National Parks? A total of 273,488,751 people would have gone elsewhere taking their money with them. Another reason for supporting National Parks is that 20,000 professional employees would lose their jobs as well as 140,000 volunteers. This would hurt the economy greatly. Imagine if the Grand Canyon was filled in and President Ulysses S. Grant hadn’t signed an act that established Yellowstone as the first National Park. The wildlife found there would have been driven away or even become extinct due to the destruction of habitat. National Parks are like pages of a scrapbook that give us good and bad memories of our land, our culture, our diversity and our being. It is our job as a nation and as citizens to help protect these parks for future generations, so our children can look back at our Nation and say, “Wow!” To protect these places and fight for them so we can spread this knowledge to other citizens throughout our country. We can tell our parents to vote because we are the government! We can send letters to Congressmen and also to National Park Service officials. We can hang posters and fight to show our patriotic devotion to our country because without National Parks we don’t remember that we are a diverse nation. National Parks are the icing on the cake, the chocolate chips in the cookies, the pepperoni on the pizza. We must fight for what we are most truly devoted to and show what being a country truly is. National Parks are important and we must show that they are. We are a Nation and we must show it through our National Parks. Only then can we really know who we were, are, and will become.
Flint, MI
National Parks are important because they help us remember who we were, who we are, and who we will be. These beautiful places help us remember what we’ve already done, and what we need to accomplish to make life better for our future generations. These wonderful historic places help us to understand the diversity of our country and how it came to be. Based on popular sovereignty, we, the people, have the power of government. It is our duty to support important causes. Eight-five percent of people polled by a Harris Survey support the cause of protecting National Parks. What if there were no National Parks? A total of 273,488,751 people would have gone elsewhere taking their money with them. Another reason for supporting National Parks is that 20,000 professional employees would lose their jobs as well as 140,000 volunteers. This would hurt the economy greatly. Imagine if the Grand Canyon was filled in and President Ulysses S. Grant hadn’t signed an act that established Yellowstone as the first National Park. The wildlife found there would have been driven away or even become extinct due to the destruction of habitat. National Parks are like pages of a scrapbook that give us good and bad memories of our land, our culture, our diversity and our being. It is our job as a nation and as citizens to help protect these parks for future generations, so our children can look back at our Nation and say, “Wow!” To protect these places and fight for them so we can spread this knowledge to other citizens throughout our country. We can tell our parents to vote because we are the government! We can send letters to Congressmen and also to National Park Service officials. We can hang posters and fight to show our patriotic devotion to our country because without National Parks we don’t remember that we are a diverse nation. National Parks are the icing on the cake, the chocolate chips in the cookies, the pepperoni on the pizza. We must fight for what we are most truly devoted to and show what being a country truly is. National Parks are important and we must show that they are. We are a Nation and we must show it through our National Parks. Only then can we really know who we were, are, and will become.
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