World Interest

"Buy Temu, Buy Trash" by Roman W. - 3/15/24

Temu sells cheap products that have been criticized for their low quality. According to CBS, “Temu spends millions on advertising instead of investing in better-quality items. While their low prices have been successful in attracting customers, some have complained about the poor quality of their products.“ Also, according to Time Magazine, “Temu has already been subject to more than 30 complaints to the Better Business Bureau, and has a BBB customer rating of less than 1.5 stars.“ The company has started to focus on improving the quality of its items, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough to regain the trust of its customers and compete with other brands in the market. So buyer beware if you choose to buy from Temu.

"Shark Finning" by Ava C. - 3/1/24

Shark finning is a cruel practice where sharks get their fins cut off by humans to make shark fin soup. After removing the fins, the sharks are tossed back into the ocean, unable to swim, and left to die from blood loss or becoming prey for other animals. Sharks are finned mainly in India, China, and Indonesia. Every day, sharks are getting their fins cut off for a meal and they are left for dead. Canada, America, and the U.K. have banned shark finning and the shark fin trade. The cost of shark fin soup can come up to 100 USD which is quite a lot for a bowl of soup. Almost 60% of sharks are threatened yearly by over-exploitation, death, and pain. 72 million sharks are annually killed only for shark fin soup. It might be a while until shark finning is banned everywhere, but let's hope the shark hunters will realize what they are doing is wrong and change their ways.

"Dallas Mall Shooting" by Izzy K. - 5/19/23

On May 8 in a suburb north of Dallas, Texas, families suffered loss, injuries, and heartbreak after a gunman opened fire at a busy mall. Officials say eight people were killed and seven severely wounded. Police arrived at the

scene and shot the gunman dead, who was later identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia. Survivors and witnesses told their stories to reporters and policemen. Later on, law enforcement investigated the motives of Garcia. Police are now reviewing social media to look into his beliefs that might help the investigation. Police found a social media page the gunman shared referring to posts about mass shootings and white supremacy. White supremacy is, according to the English dictionary, “the belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate society, typically to the exclusion or detriment of other racial and ethnic groups.” Another post shows a photo he posted of Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso. Witnesses also claim during the attack, the gunman wore a symbol that has been proven to be related to hate groups. Others claimed during the attack, the gunman wore the letters “RWDS”, which officials say stands for "Right Wing Death Squad". This term is said to be related to extremists and white supremacy groups. An extremist, according to the English dictionary “is a person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action. The nation’s heart goes out to all those affected by this tragic senseless event.

"Russia Bombing Ukraine" by Izik A. - 5/19/23

You may wonder what is going on in Russia and Ukraine these days. Some people think that Russia and Ukraine have stopped fighting each other. According to news reporters, they say Russia has bombed Ukraine again. If Ukraine sees Russian planes dropping bombs in the area, their jet called the F-16 is ordered to shoot down any Russian planes doing that activity. Russia has also been sending drones to Ukraine and shooting missiles into Ukrainian cities. On May 8th, Russia launched one of their biggest swarms of drones in months. According to The Guardian, “Kyiv’s mayor said Russia had fired 60 Iranian-made kamikaze drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at his city, all of which were shot down. Debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least 5 people”.  Hopefully, in the near future, Russia and Ukraine will stop attacking each other and help each other rebuild their countries and stop putting innocent lives in danger.

"TikTok Ban" by Mcaylynn G. - 5/4/23

Do you use TikTok? In the past few months the U.S. has been trying to ban TikTok. TikTok is a short film video hosting service. The reason for the government to even propose a bill to ban TikTok is because of the concern of user data being given to the Chinese government. It has also pointed out a law that lets the Chinese government demand private information secretly from Chinese companies. The U.S. are also concerned that the app will lead to misinformation being given to people using the app from the app's recommendation system. Even so, TikTok has firmly denied the claim and is currently trying to distance itself from ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok. Since November two dozen U.S. states have banned TikTok, including some colleges banning it from their wifi network. The Biden administration has proposed that the owner either sell the app or face a possible ban. If this bill is able to pass it is unclear how they will be able to remove the app from a privately owned company. Even so, if the ban does come through, the U.S. could ban TikTok from adding updates or advertisements to its system, in the end making it unfunctional. Then the App Store is allowed to remove any non-working apps from its store. It is also possible for those companies to remove an app installed on a phone. If users would like to protest the ban they could refuse to update their cell phones, if or when the bill may pass. To this day the TikTok trials are still ongoing. Throughout the trials, the users of the app have shown their adamant opinion of keeping TikTok within the U.S. and against the bill ever passing through Congress.

"The Dangers of the Willow Project" by Jeremias M. - 5/4/23

The Willow Project is a huge plan which could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil each day over a 30-year period. It affects us as humans and our atmosphere but it also affects animals and the biosphere. The reason the Willow Project is taking place is to decrease American dependence on foreign energy supplies.The project could destroy habitats for native species and alter the migration patterns of animals and harm essential wildlife habitats for polar bears, migratory birds, caribou, and other iconic species. If it produces as much oil over thirty years as determined, the consumption of that oil would release the equivalent of 277 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere in huge amounts when fossil fuels are burned. Global warming is caused by greenhouse gasses which traps heat in our atmosphere and there has already been a 1-degree Celsius, or 33-degree Fahrenheit rise in the average global temperature. The Willow Project going on will cause even more risks to the planet and the environment and essentially wildlife in Alaska. These animals may face extinction if this project continues. As you can now see from the information given that the Willow Project is not safe and should not be followed through with, not only for the animals and environment but humanity as a whole. The Willow Project can have a major effect on the globe and humans! It should be stopped and we should take a stand!

"Train Collision in Greece" by Izik A. - 4/4/23

A protest erupted in Greece following a deadly train collision, which claimed many lives injured. Protesters clashed with police in the Greek capital Athens after a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight train on Tuesday evening in Tempi, near the city of Larissa, leaving at least 57 people dead and 85 injured. The passenger train was on the same track as the freight train that was carrying heavy shipping containers, and due to this error, they crashed into each other. Protestors call for better regulation and updates to the rail system in Greece, citing that the lack of upgrades is partly to blame for this tragic train collision.  Three rail workers are also facing charges for their involvement. Hopefully, in the near future, fixes to the rail system will improve and protests will stop. 

"Yosemite Snow" by Mason S. - 4/4/23

Since February 23, 2023, Yosemite National Park has been closed due to a massive snowfall, which dropped 15 feet, in the north. The park was going to reopen on Monday, March 13th, but due to another snowstorm, it closed again. At least 13 people have lost their lives and people are still looking for their missing loved ones. Citizens near the park have gone multiple days at a time without food or water; as they can’t leave their homes or go to a grocery store. The water pipes are also frozen, causing them to have no access to water. Many people have collected firewood to stay warm during the snowstorm and to cook food. There may be more snowstorms heading their way, putting more lives at risk. Only time will tell if there will be more impacts on the people and animals in and around Yosemite National Park.

"Train Derails In Ohio" by Izzy K. - 3/10/23

On February 3rd a train filled with potentially toxic chemicals derailed in Ohio after an overheated wheel sparked. Chemicals leaked in the accident releasing them in East Palestine, Ohio. Keeve Nachman, a professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University, said, "There's no question that there are chemicals in the mix that have been associated with serious health effects, including cancer." Citizens living around East Palestine have reported headaches, watery eyes, and sore throats. The environment was affected when 3,500 fish died in the nearby rivers after the incident. Citizens gathered in town hall pushing for solutions. Teams gathered to clean up the derailment site and officials said a bigger effort will start to find any contamination that might have infected the soil and water.

"Saint Patrick History" by A.J. S. - 3/10/23

 St. Patrick’s Day is a major holiday but it does have history. St. Patrick had been a Patron Saint of Ireland who had died around the fifth century, a whopping 12 centuries ago. St. Patrick's Day actually started as a holiday on March 17, 1631, 392 years ago! St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfounland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat.  While people in the U.S. celebrate it as well.

"Chinese Spy Balloon" by Izik A. - 2/15/23

The Chinese spy balloon is a balloon used for surveillance on spying on the U.S. But also it had many people thinking that it was a threat to humanity which it was and wasn't even. The police and Army did not want the people to shoot down the balloon because there would be a risk of falling debris hurting a civilian. They waited until it was over the ocean to shoot it down with jets so there would be a smaller risk of someone getting killed or injured. It has been traveling the world for a couple of years and they say it was going around the world to collect information on the American Army Bases, what they are capable of, and what supplies they have. Over the past several years Chinese balloons have been spotted operating over Latin America, South America, Southwest Asia, East Asia, and Europe. The Army also says that they have shot the balloon down with a jet called the F-22. The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday the F-22 took down the balloon with a missile and they shot it down above the ocean.

"Turkey & Syria Earthquake" by Allan M. - 2/15/23

On February 6, 2023, a deadly earthquake hit the border of Syria and Turkey and left millions of dollars in damage. As of speaking, there are currently over 40,000 people found dead and over 80,000 are injured, Turkish President Erdogan said, "Buildings crumbled like they were paper because of old infrastructure that was not made to withstand the severity of shocks, despite the measures taken to make buildings earthquake proof." There are deficiencies in the design and construction of these buildings, and so many construction companies are held responsible are being arrested. Right now, there are workers looking for people stuck under the rubble, and they're finding more dead than alive. We hope that families are reunited with their friends and loved ones, and that they prevail in their hardest moment.

"Fireworks, Food, Family and Fun" by Jennifer L. - 12/16/22

Chinese New Year is a holiday celebrated from January to February by Asians all around the world. It is the most important holiday in China and is also celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia,  Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines, Chinese New Year is celebrated with tons of spectacular food such as egg rolls, longevity noodles, fried rice, steamed garlic fish, sticky rice, dumplings, and whole chicken. Fireworks and firecrackers are the most popular method of celebration. The color red is spread all around the celebration because red is a sign of good fortune and luck. Chinese New Year is a great time to reconnect with family and friends but most importantly eat!

"Climate Catastrophe" by Lilly Y. - 12/16/22

    Climate change is one of the world's biggest issues. Climate change is long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts are natural, but they shouldn’t be. Since the 1800s, human activity has been the main benefactor of climate change. Primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, (ex: coal, oil, and gas) which produces heat-trapping gases. It has gradually been getting worse as well.  All of these fossil fuels are causing global warming. (Another term for climate change) Hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions on land and underwater, polar ice caps melting, and so much more. Some hurricanes like hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. These hurricanes left a death toll of almost 3,000 people. All of these disasters affect everything and one. Animals are losing their habitats, people their homes, and people and animals have lost their lives to global warming. And we can do something about it, but if we wait till the last minute to try and fix this it will be too late. There are charities you can send money or resources to help fix these problems. It won’t get fixed quickly, but it can get fixed if we start now.

"Kids These Days are Always on Their Phones" by James F. - 12/2/23

These days, kids do nothing but text and play on their phones instead of playing outside with their friends. Before cell phones and social media was invented in around 1997, kids were almost always outside with their friends having fun and exploring. While these days kids are almost always on their phone and relying on social media to show them everything. In some ways, cell phones are useful because at any moment you can call your friends, family, or law enforcement for emergencies. There's also access to the news that shows politics, economics, and current world events including sports, Olympics, and important info like the polar ice caps melting. Kids and adults always being on their phones could lead to obesity, laziness, and mental health disorders like depression and constant anxiety. Most kids wake up in the morning and automatically check their social media platforms to see what has happened in their friends or celebrity's lives before they have even started their day, this leads to early morning stress. The morning is the platform of the rest of the day so starting it on a bad start will ruin the rest of the day. Cyberbullying or fake rumors are also an issue kids face when they're always on their phones because they don't know who's sending the comments and then go to school worried about why people are staring at them and how many people are talking about them behind their backs. The Internet has either hurt kids but also helped them and kids can't find a common ground. Although it might sound good to have phones to be able to text your friends,  it can affect kids in many bad ways and break friendships

"Hurricane Lisa Strikes" by Elodie B. 12/2/23

Hurricane Lisa made landfall in Belize late Wednesday and was categorized as a level 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds. It struck 10 miles southwest of Belize City and the city was flooded by the hurricane's ocean surge. Although it is a relatively small storm Lisa was strengthening as it came to shore. The ocean surge pushed water up 4 to 7 feet above normally dry land and engulfed multiple parts of Belize City; home to 57,000 people. It is said that much of Belize City is under water and light to moderate damage to houses and infrastructures were reported. Farther inland the storm made 4 to 8 inches of rain. Downpours continued Thursday in some areas and totals could reach 10 inches of excessive rainfall. Flooding does not just affect Belize it also affects neighboring Guatemala and parts of Mexico. Lisa was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday and isn't forecasted to gain any significant strength.

"Be Thankful" by Billy B. - 11/10/22

When you think of Thanksgiving you think of Turkeys right? And of course, you think of thanking whomever you want for what they have given you in life or how they have treated you in life. Most families have a family dish like a special mashed potato or a special type of way that you marinate your turkey or ham. Whether you make a big dinner with a lot of food or if you don't, you can still be thankful for what you have in life. You should take the day of Thanksgiving and just be thankful for the life that you have been given. Even if it isn't a lot of food for the food you get every night, the good people you have met in your life, or even the people who are not nice to you it is still a day for you to be thankful.

"National Aviation History Month" by Elodie B. - 11/10/22

Now that we are in November, it is officially Aviation History Month. We celebrate how we got to the age of aviation and the people who helped us get to that point. The history of aviation starts in 350 B.C when the Chinese began making kites out of bamboo frames, paper, and silk. This made people wonder if there was a way for them to fly as well. Afterward, several inventors conceptualized ways to fly but it was Leonardo da Vinci who designed parachutes and helicopters which our modern-day designs are based on. However, the design for the first glider was not made until 1799 by Sir George Cayley. Also, the very first sustained controlled flight took place in December of 1903 which was led by Orville and Wilbur Wright. There were also many people who excelled in the aviation industry like Amelia Earhart and flight war teams like the 99th pursuit squadron which later became known as the Tuskegee airmen. Hopefully, this gave you insight into the history of aviation.

"ADHD Awareness" by Janiah F.W.- 10/24/22

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,) is a hard neurological problem to deal with especially if you feel alone but do not have to. National ADHD awareness month takes place in October and every week there is a new area of ADHD to talk about. Such as ADHD treatment, ADHD family, ADHD adults, and ADHD Evaluation. 

"Breast Cancer Awareness" by Lilly Y.- 10/24/22

Breast Cancer can be deadly if not caught early enough. It’s hard when a family member is dealing with it, I know how hard it is. My Mom had breast cancer back in 2017 and it was hard for me not to know if she was going to live through it or not. I remember how overwhelming it all was and how unsettling it had been knowing that my mom was in pain and I couldn’t do anything to help her. When she was doing Chemo and started losing her hair I was so upset. My family reassured me, telling me she was going to be all right, but deep down I knew there was a possibility I could lose her. I remember asking her if she was going to die, and she said she wasn’t going to, but I still didn’t truly believe her. My mom is most literally my rock in life, keeping me grounded when I’m going through it. So again, I know how hard it is to have a family member having this disease. If you have a family member or even a friend that has breast cancer, I encourage you to still talk to someone. Your feelings are still valid, and you have the right to not be in pain and worry for your loved ones as well. I also encourage you to spread cancer awareness. Cancer awareness is the key to early detection and better health-seeking behavior. Not only that but it can show others who are struggling with cancer themselves or have a loved one struggling with it that they aren’t alone. No one should feel that they are alone and have to face their troubles by themselves. There are a lot of support groups - online and in person for this kind of thing. If you're dealing with cancer please go look at support groups if you feel alone or are having anxiety. And there are also free online therapy sources for people who have loved ones who have breast cancer.

"Ukraine Crisis" by Aubrey F. - 10/1/22

Recently, The Russia and Ukraine war hasn't been talked about much and I wonder why. The war has gotten worse over time and not many people mention it anymore and just skip past it, but this is a real problem and people are in danger. The war of Russia and Ukraine war actually started in 2014 but started escalating on February 24th of 2022. Russia started this war because they “Accused Ukraine of Russophobia, inciting tensions, and repressing Russian speakers in Ukraine. “ On The 24th, Russia decided that they were done messing around and started invading Ukraine. Russia started sending missiles and so far they have destroyed over 140,000 houses. Ukrainian people have to find a safe and reliable place to live, one place they go is “The towns in the Ukrainian Carpathian region, such as Kolomyya and Kosiv.” The war doesn't just affect Russia and Ukraine, it also affects the U.S. One way that the war affects us is with gas prices. Gas prices have gone up because there has been less capital to develop new oil resources. This basically means that we don't have a lot of gas so it's all up to supply and demand.

"Royal Family Tea," by Jennifer L. & James F. - 10/1/22

Queen Elizabeth || died on  September 8, 2022, at 96 years of age. Buckingham Palace did not specify how she died (as of September 16th) so it was thought that she died from natural causes due to her age. Two days prior to the Queen's death, Liz Truss reported that she had no apparent forms of Illness. Now that the Queen isn't in office anymore, her  oldest son (King Charles ||| ) is expected to become King of England in 2023.