While milk products may be delicious, reducing the dairy industry’s support is an important step to reduce pollution due to its amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Introduction
Our job as occupants of this earth is to reduce our footprint as much as we can. This planet is our home and we only have one Earth. It is no surprise that pollution is an issue with irreversible, devasting effects. There are many, many contributions to the pollution and it’s overwhelming to battle each enemy. The emissions of greenhouse gas contribute to pollution. This includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. Factories and vehicles produce these gases amongst many other things.
Greenhouse gases are harmful to us and our environment for a number of reasons. They contribute to air pollution and smog so in turn, they can cause respiratory issues. It affects climate change by trapping heat from the sun. This can lead to things such as extreme weather, throwing off the Earth’s natural balance. Therefore it’s vital for us to reduce our production of greenhouse gases. There are many options to do this but I will be focusing on the dairy industry. Taking a small step to switch to almond milk may save the Earth from experience the worst outcome of pollution. If everyone took a small step towards saving the Earth, that is a lot of greenhouse gas humanity would be eliminating.
This article gives a large overview of the dairy industry. Such as how most milk doesn’t come from a farm of grass-fed cows, but rather “massive megadairies housing thousands of cows in miserable conditions”. In these conditions, their manure is stored in huge pits where they could potentially contaminate nearby water.
There are solutions to fix the complex industry from the treatment of the cows and the environmental harm. Production could be at a lower density and away from water and local environments. Growth hormones should be eliminated from the cows’ diet as should the unhealthy production push, both are detrimental to the cows’ health. This gives a view on the efforts that can be taken to fix the dairy industry without destroying it. It offers food for thought on an alternate reality where industry and nature are in harmony.
This article discusses the effect of dairy cows in particular, not necessarily the dairy process. The manure of the cows is one of the largest sources of California’s methane emissions. This introduces the idea that milk production has a lot of layers. The demand for milk equates to the demand for cows. This directly translates to the breeding of cows and in turn, methane production as well.
College is one of the most challenging times for a teen or adult in their life. It is usually known as the phase of life where you study hard but party harder. This is also a time when students forget about taking care of their bodies. With students wanting to do a lot of things in a short span of time, theyâre paying less attention to what their bodies need, and this will only lead to a more stressful, less enjoyable college experience. For the first time, you’re constantly balancing school, sports, work, family obligations and social life with friends. You are finally living on your own and responsible for yourself and can now take charge of your life. You notice that college classes are much more difficult compared to high school classes, which lead to late night studies, adding more stress on your plate. It is very easy for college students to get overwhelmed and pick up unhealthy habits Establishing a health and wellness guide early to live by will help you tremendously through graduation and even afterwards. Nutrition, physical fitness, mental strength, stress relief and quality sleep are some important elements to focus on. Using a guide will offer a lifetime value of keeping your mind and body healthy.
Stick To a Solid Sleep Schedule
Getting enough sleep every night is a good way to keep your stress levels down and feel energized for each day of class. Make a sleep habit that you can stick to, even during the weekends. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says adults need at least 7 to 8 hours of continuous sleep per night. A good pillow, proper nutrition, and regular exercise help improve sleep, here are some tips:
A pillow that is too stiff or a mattress that is too soft may not seem like a big deal, but it can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. Here are some signs: 1. You wake up with aches and pains. 2. You’ve had better sleep other places. 3. Your mattress is more than 7 years old. 4. Your bed is too small or squeaks when you move
A quiet, comfortable bed enables sound sleep. Considering how important sleep is to overall energy levels, investing in a mattress you love is a smart idea.
2. Learn To Say No and Eat Regular Meals
College life usually means easy access to tasty foods, from the candy in the vending machines to the doughnuts in the bakery across the street. Learning when to say no is a good skill that will help you keep the extra pounds off. Avoid eating when youâre not actually hungry, and stick to light snacks when you need a little treat. Try to avoid eating too much late at night as well; this can cause heartburn and weight gain.
When youâre racing from one class to another with twenty different deadlines ahead of you, itâs easy to forget to eat a meal now and then, but if you start missing meals regularly, your body and your brain wonât be fueled for the challenges of college. Adjust your schedule so that you have enough time in the morning to get breakfast without feeling panicked about missing class. Start taking your lunch with you, or find a healthy place you can buy a lunch. Keeping a handful of healthy snacks in your backpack, such as peanuts or dried fruit, can help you get some nutrition when you unexpectedly are late for a meal.
3. Find an exercise activity you love
Regular exercise is a great way to burn off some stress, boost your fitness levels and lose some weight, but thereâs little point in picking an exercise that you hate. Not everyone loves running, and some people dislike the weight room. But that doesn’t mean you should completely neglect aerobic and anaerobic exercises. The key to creating a sustainable healthy habit is to choose something you enjoy. This can include:
Yoga with friends
Walking around campus
Joining a gym
Taking a sports class
Intramural sports
Clubs such as larping
There are also other ways to include some exercise in your day
Commute by walking or Biking
If you live close enough to school or work, ride your bike or walk. As you navigate your daily schedule, walk if you can. Exercise has mood-boosting benefits like the release of endorphins, which is a great way to begin your day.
Make study breaks exercise breaks
Taking breaks as you’re studying or doing school work actually helps you be more productive. A study by the Draugiem Group found the most productive people focus on their task for 52 minutes, then take a break for about 17 minutes. Use this type of guideline whenever you’re working on a project.
4. Stress Management
Chronic stress can lead to a whole host of negative effects, including illness, headaches, insomnia, and decreased productivity. Over the long term, stress can contribute to a number of health problems, including:
Stress may start in your head, but it quickly spills into your body. Just a few of the physical warning signs that you are stressed include:
Headache
Upset stomach
Rapid heartbeat
Loss of appetite or craving for certain foods
Mood swings
As you learn to be aware of what it feels like to be stressed, it will be easier for you to resolve in the future.
Practice stress-relieving techniques
Trying to power through stuff while in a state of stress will make you less productive. Not dealing with your stress will require more time to finish what you’re doing, and the results are more likely to have errors or not as high quality. Even taking a 5-minute break to alleviate stress is wise. This infographic from Purdue University Global has some great tips for dealing with stress, including:
Take a quick, brisk walk.
Do deep breathing exercises or close your eyes and meditate.
Talk with a friend.
Do an activity you enjoy.
Taking any of these actions gives your brain a break from whatever is stressing you out and recharges you. You can go back to what you were doing in a more relaxed state of mind
Talk it out
Expressing feelings of stress is an effective way to release them. Conversing with friends and family can be beneficial, but talking with a therapist can also help in the following ways:
You get to talk with an unbiased party.
A therapist has professional, research-based coping skills to recommend.
Therapy involves monitoring the progress for constant improvement.
5. No Procrastinating!!!
College students face tons of essays, coursework and science papers during their years of study. This is where procrastination finds and catches you. A big project approaches you and almost every student decides to start in the middle of a year in order to meet the deadline. Then you invent another strategy, to start two months before the deadline. But two months turn into one, which turns into several weeks. So one sunny morning you come out of the choas with two days until the deadline without a word written.
How to avoid this Procrastination Monster? Youâll need to get rid of all the unrelated temptations that prevent you from completing tasks. But letâs face the truth: students are not so responsible. It is impossible to kill procrastinations, all of us are exposed to it. But you can manage your work for the sake of your career. Consider your calendar, mind the whole process and donât let anything ruin your study goals.
Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, the growth of income inequality around the world and especially in the United States of America has boomed. The point of this article is to examine the relationship between the wealth bracket and the relative damage each group has got from the pandemic. During Covid-19 different ethnic groups were affected differently by the Pandemic and it exacerbated the income inequality of certain ethnic groups. The income inequality explosion is clearly seen in the technological sector of the United States. Where leading companies like Amazon could deliver things straight to your home. However, you would have to go out and go to the local convenience store which was not an option for those quarantined. This should matter to those affected by Covid-19 because it should show just how much more the top percent’s can operate during disasters (specifically Covid-19). It also shows how much they can profit under these disasters while lower-income groups of families cannot. It should also matter to them because it shows that meanwhile some of the largest unemployment records in history happened during the United States response to Covid-19 that the top percent are not affected by the rules most of us are.
How much the brackets have gained and lost during Covid-19.
The majority of billionaires have seen an increase in their income particularly: Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffet. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the most any of these billionaires’ income had increased was Elon Musk by a whopping 172 billion which is an increase of 599 percent. Meanwhile, the global labor loss for the average worker lost was 3.7 trillion dollars while the gain of billionaire’s growth was 3.9 trillion. This 7.6 trillion wealth gap was in part due to the bottom three brackets-lowest-income, second-lowest, and middle class-respectively losing 37-percent, 24-percent, and 18-percent of their jobs. Conversely, the top income bracket and second-highest income bracket only lost 8 percent of their jobs and 14 percent of their jobs respectively at the worst. A visualization of this can be seen on the left. During the Covid-19 crisis, people that passed away from Covid-19 mainly consisted of lower-income families, and among these one such family below talks about their loved one. The information listed above and more on the topic can be found at the link below.Â
Covid-19 and its effects on different Ethnic groups.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, many minorities were subjected to increased chances of becoming unemployed, and a higher hospitalization rate. Alaskan natives and American Indians were hospitalized at 3.5 times the rate of Caucasians. Latinos and African Americans were hospitalized 2.95 times the rate of Caucasians and 2.82 respectively from March 1, 2020 to April 10, 2021. This may be in part due to the fact that Latinos and African American workers hold a higher percentage in jobs that are considered essential jobs such as farming and factory work. It may also be due to a housing factor of a minorities sharing the largest percentages among those that live homeless shelters, and correctional facilities making crowding and the transmission of Covid-19 higher. Due to a higher obesity rate in New York city among African Americans and Latinos, as well as a higher rate of diabetes then Asians and Caucasians their overall mortality rates were higher. All of these factors add up to an increase job loss, death, and general struggle for Latino and African Americans that added to their income inequality. During April 2020 while the pandemic was on going African Americans lost 16.7 percent of their jobs, and Latinos lost 18.9 percent of their jobs. While Asian lost 14.7 percent of their jobs and Caucasians lost 14.5 percent of their jobs. Information about job loss can be found at the Inequality.org reference below and statistics on risk factors and unequal hospitalization of minorities can be found at the link of CDC in references below.
.
References
âCOVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.â Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
My purpose in choosing this topic is to explain the important points of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s unprecedented exit from the royal family. I think many people in the United States do not understand how the British monarchy works, and therefore do not see the significance in Harry and Meghan’s leaving. Part of the reason the situation is difficult to understand is the amount of information surrounding it. Because of that, part of my purpose in this project was to compile and streamline the important information into a chronological timeline. The information below begins with a brief introduction to Prince Harry, Meghan and the monarchy. It then transitions into why the couple has chosen to leave. The middle of the article discusses the two major effects of their decision: financial implications and their change in title. Lastly, I included information about the public reaction in the United Kingdom, and how the media has fueled a negative reaction. My goal is that in reading this, people who have minimal knowledge on Prince Harry and Meghanâs recent decision are able to understand the general information, and why it is such a big deal to the British monarchy, and to the citizens of the United Kingdom.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have decided to leave their Royal duties in England and pursue a new life in Los Angeles
On May 19, 2018 the world watched as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, married Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel. 599 days later on January 8, 2020, the couple took to Instagram to announce that they would be stepping down from their royal duties. The couple shared that they would be trading in the royal life for one of public and community service in Meghanâs hometown of Los Angeles, California. Thus ensued an unprecedented period of transition in which Meghan, Harry, and the rest of the family looked to determine what the step back would mean. The exit of the Sussexes is also an indication of how the long tradition of the British monarchy is being forced to evolve in modern times.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrate their wedding
The Choice to Step Back
When Harry and Meghan first announced they would be stepping away from their work as royals, the primary question was: “why?”. The couple has maintained that the reason for the step back is for them to focus on themselves, and their son, Archie. In the year since the announcement, Prince Harry has more than once discussed how the media in the UK has negatively affected both his physical and mental health. He has stated on several occasions that while he is grateful for his experiences as a member of the royal family, the choice to leave is a way for him to protect his wife and child from the negative experiences he has had.
Meghan has also revealed some of her experiences since she joined the family. Like Prince Harry, she stated that the British media has a tendency to be cruel, harsh, and unrelenting. She has also stated that being accepted into the royal family was not an easy transition, and that there are still member of the extended family who do not accept her.
While the couple have shared some of their negative experiences about the royal life, they have also stated many times that they have no ill will towards the royal family. They still respect and support the Queen, Prince Harry still maintains his relationship with his brother William, and both hope to maintain those relationships in the future.
Listen to Prince Harry’s full speech following the initial announcement that he and Meghan would be stepping back as working members of the royal family. The speech is important because Harry explains their reasons for the exit, while also assuring viewers that he is not leaving on bad terms, nor is he leaving completely.
Financial Implications
From the time they announced their step back, one of Meghan and Harry’s primary goals was to become financially independent. As working members of the royal family, their travel, housing, and many other expenses are paid for by taxpayers. Just before their announcement, the couple spent 2.4 million in taxpayer dollars to renovate frogmore cottage, the home they were given after their wedding. As a part of their step back, Harry and Meghan repaid that money, and used their own means to purchase a new home in Los Angeles. Additionally, Meghan and Harry will are now responsible for their own travel and living expenses.
This article from the BBC explains how Meghan and Harry support themselves now that they are no longer paid as working royals. It explains where the couple gets their money, and what they are doing to continue supporting themselves financially. This article demonstrates how the couple is honestly working to separate themselves from the family, even when it creates instability or uncertainty.
Change in Title
In February of 2021, over a year after the couple’s original announcement, Queen Elizabeth announced changes to the couple’s titles:
Harry and Meghan would no longer be addressed as “His royal highness” or “Her royal highness”
The couple would be allowed to keep their titles “The Duke of Sussex” and “The Duchess of Sussex”
Harry will still be addressed as “Prince”, as it is his birthright
Harry and Meghan will give up their royal patronages. Patronages are honorary sponsorships of charities, military organizations, and public service groups
Harry would be stripped of his honorary military appointments
The couple would not be allowed to use the term “Royal” in any business dealings, events, or other personal endeavors
In her announcement, the Queen stated that the titles removed from Harry and Meghan would be redistributed amongst active working members of the royal family.
The Buckingham Palace Statement is the official word on what will happen as a result of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step away from the royal family. It shows that the family, specifically the Queen, who is Harry’s grandmother, still accept the couple as a part of the family. However, the statement also shows that the Queen and her family have also chosen to preserve the tradition of the monarchy.
Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, with other members of the royal family at the 2018 Trooping the Colour celebration
Public Reaction in the UK
Much of the public reaction in England and the UK was fueled by the British media. Several newspapers and broadcasts scrutinized the couple for abandoning a long established royal tradition. Many blamed it on Meghan Markle, criticizing her for making Harry leave his family and his duties to move to the United States. Prince Harry has consistently defended his wife, insisting that the decision was mutual, and attempting to justify his reasons for leaving. Despite all of his attempts to make peace with the media and the public, Prince Harry’s public approval rating has dropped significantly over the past year.
Newspapers and magazines all across the United Kingdom have fed into a negative public reaction to Prince Harry and Meghan’s exit. The couple have consistently claimed harsh treatment from the media as a reason for their step back.
In Conclusion
After reading this article, my goal is that readers are able to understand Prince Harry and Meghan’s situation. This topic is important because while it does not directly affect the people of the United States, it does affect the political climate that our country participates in. Additionally, it is an indication that the world is changing in the modern age, and long traditions like the British monarchy are having to adapt to fit the times. After reading this, I hope readers understand that Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave the royal family is not out of dislike or for their own personal gain. The choice was made out of protection for themselves and their child, and the British press and the public have treated them quite harshly as a result.
In the United States, since the day the Coronavirus was announced as a pandemic, there have been many controversies on it’s seriousness. Some argue that it is equal to the yearly flu, and hardly a threat to mankind, while others argue that it needs to be stopped and can only be controlled by wearing masks and getting vaccinated.
Controversy arose when the U.S. government announced different protocols every week. At first, society was told that it was not air-borne and masks were not needed, but nearly a week later, they changed that and said masks were extremely necessary and started requiring them everywhere. Quarantine regulations have changed numerous times, confusing people on how long they need to quarantine, or when quarantining is necessary. Due to all the changing of protocols weekly, citizens started to get annoyed, wondering what was really the truth and what was not.
Although there are those who are handling the virus properly, they too are still hesitant of the one thing that could potentially be a promising solution to the pandemic: a vaccine. A recent survey conducted showed that 1 in 3 Americans say they won’t get the vaccine, creating discouraging news if the U.S. hopes to achieve immunity. This is not just an outcome from poor communication to the public from some of the highest levels of leadership, but also fear-factors from media, along with fear of long-term affects that have not been studied yet.
The Types of Vaccines:
Messenger (mRNA) Vaccine:
Uses genetically engineered mRNA to give your cells instructions on how to create a harmless piece of S protein that is on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. After you get vaccinated, your body starts to create antibodies. Examples of messenger vaccines are the Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine and the Moderna Vaccine.
Vector Vaccine:
Genetic material from the virus is inserted into a different kind of live virus that is weakened to serve as a deliverer. The virus gives your body instructions on how to create S proteins, and your body responds by creating antibodies and defensive white blood cells. Example of a vector vaccine is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Protein subunit Vaccine:
Include only the part of the virus that best stimulates your immune system. Your immune system recognizes the S proteins and creates antibodies and white blood cells. Novavax is currently working on creating a protein subunit vaccine.
Mishap with the Johnson + Johnson Vaccine
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has just recently been put on pause by the FDA and CDC due to rare blood clotting occurring in a small amount of people who have gotten the vaccine. Six women between the ages 18-48 were reported having blood clots, while health officials have since reported three more cases. Although this is occurring, medical officials say that the risk of getting blood clots from the actual disease is still higher than getting it from the vaccine, so people should not worry but be aware that it is a possibility to get blood clots from that vaccine. They are hoping to have the J&J vaccine off pause by the coming weekend, April 24th.
âGiven how rare the blood clotting event is, right now thought to be less than one in a million, individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be aware but recognize it is extremely unlikely they will be affected. In the first one to four days after vaccination, vaccinated persons should anticipate the known side effects from this vaccineâincluding the low-grade fever, chills, aches, mild headache, injection site soreness. These are expected and not the symptoms associated with these rare clotting events. Symptoms of concern occur anywhere from five days to three weeks after vaccination, and include severe headache with or without vomiting, any new neurologic or stroke-like symptoms, or other new symptoms including easy bruising, red dot-like rash, severe abdominal pain, and trouble breathing.â
Beth Kirkpatrick, MD Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
In the image to the left, I created a composite image to show what times are like during the pandemic. Using the famous American Gothic image, I placed masks on them and a syringe in the man’s hand, along with the words “Get your vaccine” at the bottom. Although I am undecided on whether I will receive my vaccine, this composite image shows how there is a mask protocol, and depicts the societal pressures of getting your covid-19 vaccine.
Video on Vaccine hesitancy produced by the TODAY show. Received a lot of good information on statistics about the hesitance to receive the vaccine in America.
If you are still hesitant about receiving your vaccine, just know that you are not alone. Many Americans are hesitant on receiving it, and although it is needed to build immunity for the virus, societal pressure to receive it should not be your deciding factor to get it. You decide if you are ready and when you are ready to get it. Below are some links to do extra research about the vaccines, and how skepticism plays a role in the process.
Maryville, Missouri, is a community deeply connected to its roots and to each other. The citizens are familiar with each other in a way few other cities are in the state. Using data from the city of Maryville’s website along with the 2010 census, the goal is to give those considering a move to Maryville some background on the community and the elements that make it special. Based on my time in Maryville, I’ve noticed the level of mutual agreement among natives on things like politics, education, and money.
Money has an impact on many areas of the community. This means it’s important for the community to understand what the financial fitness of the city is and how they can improve the health of their wallets. The college campus accounts for a great deal of the activity in Maryville, adding to the city’s selection of entertainment, news coverage, and jobs. One of the observations I made was the difference in the education level of citizens in comparison to their median income. My opinion is if more citizens took advantage of the convenience of a college in their hometown, their income would increase along with the number of life experiences they’ve had. If they don’t have an education or don’t wish to seek one, there are other tools on this website and in the city that citizens can utilize to secure their financial future.
The job market in Maryville, Missouri, often caters to the large college student population offering part-time retail or service work. There are however other opportunities for long-term careers for workers on a variety of education levels.
News and information for the city come from local television along with two leading newspapers. These publications highlight politics, local events and news, citizen features, economy, and sports.
Another key part of the city such as the housing market and K-12 education for families interested in the area. Maryville R-II school district is a well-established district with childcare options, Pre-Kindergarten classes, and assistance to get graduates into the career field of their choice or college.
Take a virtual tour of downtown Maryville!
Sources: The City of Maryville and CityTownInfo.org
The City of Maryville offers a variety of rewarding careers with great benefit packages to regular full-time employees. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, & life insurance, AFLAC, holiday pay, paid vacation/sick leave, retirement plan, deferred compensation plans, and flexible spending accounts. The employment center also offers events and in-person aid to build resumes and arrange interviews. This resource makes living in a smaller community a perk for additional one-on-one support.
Citizens can access a variety of calendars, businesses, and economic reports for the city. The Chamber of Commerce is located at 408 N Market Street and is open 8:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Maryville Chamber of Commerce
Kawasaki Dominates the Job Market in Maryville.
Everyone from college students to the oldest citizens can be a part of the Kawasaki Manufacturing Corporation. Whether you’re seeking a full-time career on the assembly line or a part-time job to pay your way through school, Kawasaki prides itself on having a diverse team with various goals and skills that can be improved upon and unutilized. Kawasaki often works directly with Northwest to prepare students for the professional world. Full-time employees have access to benefits and retirement as well.
From the campus of Northwest Missouri State University, this student-run newspaper reports on elections, local news, campus-life, and sports. The paper has its own opinion section and advertisements as well. This organization offers a wide array of coverage for the community and opportunities for media students. The publication has also won several College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press Awards.
The Maryville R-2 School Districts website explores what the district offers to K-12 students including curriculum, COVID-19 mitigation measures, and childcare. The last feature costs a flat rate of $75 per child for summertime care before and after summer school. This program is also offered during the school year. Other costs can be found on the site.
Tuition rates at Northwest Missouri State University for Missouri residents is currently $354.16 per credit hour. The acceptance rate is 73% based primarily on GPA and ACT score.
Buying a Home
The median home price in Maryville is currently $144,500. Home appreciation is up 3.5% in the last year. House prices range from less than $100,000 to $325,000. Many citizens attending Northwest Missouri State rent units.
This site takes an in-depth look at the housing market in Maryville, Missouri, while taking into sharing the city’s unemployment rate, climate, and the political patterns of citizens. This site seems extremely helpful and takes into account things many would overlook in a house hunt to a new, smaller community. You can filter searches by price range, location, and size.
The Northwest Missourian detailed a new gated-neighborhood coming to Maryville here.
The Estates of Maryville is a 24-home gated neighborhood planned to be built on the west-side of the city. The neighborhood will feature its own pool, clubhouse, indoor pickle ball court, and fitness center.
“The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. … an epic story that continues invisibly around you … in which you may only appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee, a blur of traffic on the highway, a lighted window at dusk…”
From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Sonder. Realize that everyone has a story. For some, that story is grappling extreme poverty.
We only think our lives are harder than everyone else’s because we only experience our own. I wish I knew your story. I wish I could know all of you who are reading this. But I can’t. So what can we be thankful for? I would say making the best of our role. And more importantly, how can we learn about the stories of those thousands of lives we would otherwise never know existed â by getting perspective.
Across the world, there is an estimated 356 million children living in extreme poverty. And while many acknowledge this as an issue, people could do so much more to help. First and foremost, we can’t believe it is ok to live extravagantly while others suffer. Justice is more than seeing a problem for what it is. It’s a sacrifice of privilege for those empty handed.
All of these statistics are concerning, but I would like to focus on children and the effects poverty have on them. The following are two articles on this matter.
This first article talks about the consequences of child poverty and the response of the organization. It comes from UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s fund. It talks about how children are more likely to live in poverty than adults, and that in the richest countries, one in seven children still live in poverty. It goes on to explain how their work influences policymakers and decisions that impact children in poverty.
This account of sobering statistics helps to provide a basis for people to push for change. The issue of curbing child poverty is a complex one, but the gathering and examining of these statistics is important to begin a cultural shift from privilege to sacrifice for the fellow man.
This second article from Reuters examines Argentina’s child poverty rate â which is rising â through a family in Buenos Aires. It follows a father who has struggled to make ends meet since losing a job amid coronavirus lockdowns in their area. It is predicted that 58.6% of children and adolescents in Argentina will be in poverty by the end of the year.
This article illustrates the impact poverty has on families. People who are poor don’t chose to live that way. The Chenarce family shows us this. Without a job, their father is heartbroken and trying to provide in any way he can. It’s not as if people struggling with poverty give up, because if they do, they are without the essentials: food, water, shelter, all while prices rise.
âIf I donât work, itâs all screwed up. Food is expensive. Hunger doesnât wait for you.â
Antonio Chenarce, a 49-year-old baker and father of three in Buenos Aires
I hope to help inspire in others to put aside privileges wherever possible. I also wish for us to wage war on poverty, not poor people. Policymakers have to realize their policies are affecting people first and foremost. But what can we do as individuals?
GIVE up a bad habit: donate money you can save from choosing not to live extravagantly.
SPREAD awareness: many do not know the severity of poverty, or the concept of privilege.
TALK to law makers about how they can help.
SHOP smart: some stores give back. Shopping local is a great way to help.
When COVID-19 first left its mark on the world in March of 2020, the majority of people in this country were sent into peril. The impact was almost instantaneously felt from New York to Los Angeles. Most governors were quick to lock their states down entirely or mandate mask wearing in public spaces. Schools and colleges swiftly switched to remote learning; as such, Zoom became a household name. “Six feet apart” became part of the fabric of the day-to-day culture; that is, if one even dared go to the store to procure goods they needed. Even so, those looking for non-perishable foods and paper products (and a ton of other things) turned up empty. Those who were fortunate enough to find said items bought case upon case – as much as their local retailer or warehouse store would let them get away with. Most people probably first thought their friends and neighbors were out of their minds; that it couldn’t possibly get any worse. Of course, as we reach 2021’s starting line, that has proven to be all but a dream. Numerous experts say we’re in for a very dark winter, perhaps the worst one of our lifetimes, at least from a public health standpoint. You would think with the increase in cases, hospitalizations, and yes, even deaths, that people would be more careful this time around.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
People are being infected and losing their lives faster than frontline workers can possibly keep up. Hospitals are overwhelmed. Nurses and doctors haven’t had a day off in months.
So why the hell aren’t we taking precautions more seriously now?
I’m serious…the lives of those you love and care for – and even your own – are on the line. It’s time to take this pandemic for what it is: a crisis that MUST be acted on by EVERYONE…and acted on NOW.
This composite image was initially designed prior to the 2020 general election. Deaths continue to mount as the U.S. government continues to stall on coronavirus aid and relief packages, leaving most of the burden on individual states.
How do those on the front lines feel about your carelessness?
Unfortunately, this doesn’t even BEGIN to describe some of the anxiety and heartbreak nurses and doctors are facing every hour of every day.
Sometimes, I think people just forget we’re human, too. We’re human just like everybody else.
This just goes to show you how low we’ve stooped as a country – not just my generation, but the human populace as a whole. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta EXPLICITLY said to forego gatherings for the Thanksgiving holiday, save for those in your immediate family unit. Then again, why the hell would people listen and be considerate of themselves and their family and friends? Of course they weren’t. And it showed. The TSA screened over 1.1 million passengers on Sunday, November 29th ALONE – the most since the pandemic started. Another problem: the incubation period of this virus being fourteen days. Because of this, people might not know they have it or were even exposed to it up until two full weeks after the fact. Of course, quarantining before and after travelling is an option (and probably the wise thing to do), but again, most folks don’t have time for that. Not to mention – the virus is rampant EVERYWHERE in this country. There’s no such thing as a hot spot anymore – hell, virtually every populated area is its own hot spot (of course, of varying severity, but usually with a positivity rate greater than 5%). Further proves my point people are inherently stupid…and the majority never grow out of it.
The winter ahead even the Abominable Snowman couldn’t possibly have foreseen
I penned this piece for the opinion section of the Northwest Missourian back in mid-November, the week before the Thanksgiving holiday. In short, 2020 as a whole has been a hell of a year, especially within the first six months – the pandemic starting, Australian wildfires, President Donald Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives, basketball great Kobe Bryant’s unexpected death – the list goes on. The last thing anyone needs is more stress and heartbreak right now. As the pandemic rages, I wanted to hammer it home again, especially now that the holiday season is here and people are going to be inclined to get together with one another, to put safety and practicality – RESPECT for one’s fellow man – above fun and games and stuffing your gut. Believe me, I hate being stuck inside, too – but if we don’t get our crap together and buckle down on controlling the spread, cabin fever will be with every single one of us before long.
It’s a thing and it’s not going away any time soon.
Corbin Smith
My composite image was a simple tribute to victims of police brutality and commentary that their lives were at the cost of the idolized police force.
Our current climate of injustice in unbearable
My topic is rather self-explanatory. This is about the mistreatment of people of color all across the country. Whether it’s in the way that people talk to each other or it’s as deeply rooted as systemic racism, this country does not prefer non-white citizens. Ever since the birth of America, racism has existed. From slavery to Jim Crow to unequal employment opportunities based on names, it’s prevalent in America. Relating to my composite image shown above, racism is shown through obvious police brutality cases. However, it expands much further than just the police attacking innocent black individuals. For example, Ahmaud Arbery was simply running through his neighborhood when he was gunned down by his neighbors who racially profiled him. This is an important topic to talk about because it is a danger to America. At the simplest level, all of those affected by racism in America are Americans. I believe that we should be doing everything we can to make lives for our fellow Americans better. This is an issue of human lives, something I believe each person, regardless of nationality, should deeply care about. A large problem surrounding this topic that can prove a solution to injustice in America is empathy. I think the willingness to listen and accept another person’s experience is something many people in America don’t quite understand. The absence of these abilities creates pockets of ignorance and in turn breeds more turmoil between white people and people of color. Personally, this is important to me because I face the fears of being deemed as less than because of the color of my skin. This is the reality I’m forced to live in.
What reality do you choose to live in?
The 50 mentioned aren’t even all of the ones we lost to racist acts of violence.
Are Job Candidates Still Being Penalized For Having âGhettoâ Names?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2020/02/20/are-job-candidates-still-being-penalized-for-having-ghetto-names/?sh=6b5c57ad50ed Summary: This is an interview with Demisha Jennings, the CEO of She Assists LLC, Certified Professional Resume Writer and a Black woman. She shares her experience with how it takes more effort for a job candidate to secure a job if their names are ‘ethnic-sounding’. For example, one client Jennings worked with said she wanted to list her middle name as her first name because she had a hard time getting callbacks because people tell her that her name sounds ghetto. I think this is an important article that proves that workplace racism exists before a person of color can enter the workplace. The fact that a name alone can take somebody out of job contention proves there’s racism everywhere.
Being Black In Maryville means never feeling safe
https://www.nwmissourinews.com/opinion/article_f0a92954-e58e-11ea-90ff-47c57728e1d6.html Summary: This is my own article about my experience as a black man in America, and specifically Maryville, Missouri. I talk about one of my many triggers and how just the color of my skin attracts glares or strange looks. When I describe my features, I emphasize them in order to show respect and admiration for characteristics of Black people. Some people might believe that I’m being arrogant, but that’s part of the reason I wrote it that way. If you take offense to my self-love, you’re part of the problem I’m talking about. Additionally, I speak highly of these features because these features are regularly deemed less desirable in society, so by accentuating them, I’m raising them to the level of every other standard of beauty. That’s my idea of equality.
America has become an extremely divided and hyperpartisan country.
Each political party has lost sight of America as a whole and instead has developed a sort of tunnel vision which has led them to overlook and neglect the beliefs and needs of others. Leading up to an extremely volatile election this November, Democrats and Republicans knew one thing for certain, and that was that the opposite party was evil, corrupt and wrong. Moderate candidates didnât stand a chance as each side became more radicalized every day.
The summer of 2020 was violent and impactful. Black Americans were murdered and brutalized by police, leading to a loud call for an end to police brutality. The Black Lives Matter movement was politicized and made out to be what some Republicans even call a terrorist group. They countered the cries of outraged and hurt Black people with a message of âBlue Lives Matter,â failing to listen when they said âWe already know.â
Republicans blame the media for creating hoaxes, making up statistics and doing things simply to make their president look bad. âFake newsâ is what it all is.But you canât fake the statistically higher number of deaths of Black Americans by police than any other race. You canât fake the tear gas cannisters thrown at protesters for months. And you canât fake the anguish that we all saw in the streets throughout the summer of 2020.
America is burning down and dying as we allow the veil that is politics to continue limiting human rights. Without reform of police, unbiased media and research and a president who actually cares for their people, America will never be great ever again.
My composite image showcasing the American political divide and what it is doing to our country.
An overview of acts of police brutality, outlining statistics on yearly deaths by police, specifically of Black Americans.
While Joe Biden’s win in the presidential election is a positive thing, as this article states, it is not time for “unguarded celebration.” Black Lives Matter activists are calling for many changes, and we have yet to see if Biden is going to support this movement in what it calls for. For instance, BLM activists are known for their platform of defunding the police, one demand in which Biden seems hesitant. This article highlights many areas of concern and simple uncertainty in terms of our new president. One thing that they can agree on is that voting Trump out of office was not only a good step for the Black Lives Matter movement, but a necessary one.
Regardless of who the president is, there is still a lot of progress waiting to be made in regards to the rights of Black Americans. This article details where the movement is headed following the protests and global outcry throughout the summer. Looking forward, the movement is looking for reparations for Black people everywhere impacted by slavery, police reform, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the workplace and for people to continue being allies to the Black community. All of these things are important in the bettering of our country and the equity of all Americans.
We've been defunding education, housing, and everything else our communities need for years.
