If you didn’t already know, climate change means long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. This is fueled by the use of fossil fuels. Such as coal, oil, and gas which all turn into greenhouse gasses. These greenhouse gasses trap the sun's heat and raise temperatures, causing the climate crisis.Because our earth's natural temperature has gone past its stablest point, there have been major tsunamis, the polar ice caps are melting, and forest fires are coming more urgently by the day. Over the past 41 years climate change has increased rapidly. 

There is a Climate Spiral representing this on https://climate.nasa.gov 

The last four years are currently recorded as the hottest there have ever been. Global warming is real, it’s time to face that fact and take action. As adolescents (teenagers) we can do many things to help. Such as, joining climate organizations, reaching out to people of high power, or just picking up trash around the community. The little things matter. 

Kendal Holman, a student from crossroads middle school did an interview on how the fashion industry plays a large role in the effects of climate change. “85% of our clothes end up in landfills.” she says. I asked Kendal what the big problem about the fashion industry is. She said, “Trends. People buy trending clothes, and when the trend is over they no longer want the clothes anymore.” 

Lets face it, the world is ending and we have to stop it. “Many climate experts say that we only have 8 years left until we hit a tipping point from which there may be no return.” (Ark Valley Voice.)

We all know about Black History Month, but never think to dig any deeper. There are so many dominant black figures from the past that we rarely talk or know about. As we all know, Rosa Parks helped initiate the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. We also know about Martin Luther King Jr. and how he was sadly assassinated in 1968. Although these were amazing people, they were not the only ones who shook history. 

According to cnn.com, Sadie Tanner Mossel Alexander was the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D in economics in 1921. Three years later, she also became the first black woman in the state to practice law. While completing all of these assertive events, Sadie received backlash from the community, facing acts of racial prejudice. But, through it all she persevered and made her mark on history. 

Ella Baker risked her life to support activists in the deep south. Growing up, Ella Baker was inspired by her grandmother who shared her stories about slavery. Although she contributed to the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which was led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Today Ella is not widely known by people other than activists.. Ella once said, “we who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” She lived to be 83 years old, and sadly passed away in 1986. 

Jackie Robinson is a name that will forever be remembered. He was the man that broke the color barrier in baseball. According to baseballhall.org Jackie always stood up for equal rights even before his baseball days. Just like Rosa Parks, he refused to move to the back of a segregated bus. Jackie joined the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' top farm team, a few years after he began his baseball career, was promoted, and made his debut as Brooklyn's first baseman in 1947. Jackie Robinson died in 1972, knowing that he opened many opportunities for many people of color. 

  The port of Baltimore Maryland is one of the most used ports in the U.S. as over 10 ships leave it a day. Including cruise ships, Cargo container ships, and privately owned boats. On March 26, at 1:28 am a cargo ship that was starting its long and treacherous journey was turning out of the port. Then, they lost power. When this happened they quickly alerted local law enforcement and harbor police. Law enforcement took quick action shutting down the bridge. However, 6 Construction workers who were filling in potholes were left stranded.

When the ship regained power, the crew inside was able to regain visibility. They quickly realized that they were headed directly for the bridge. After a minute of trying to maneuver around the bridge, they lost power again. This time they did not regain power. At 1:28 am everyone’s efforts came to a fault when the local cargo ship crashed directly into one of the support beams on the bridge. This led to the bridge collapsing. This led to 6 construction workers named Jose Mynor Lopez, Carlos Hernandez, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, Miguel Luna, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, and Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes losing their lives. However, two civilians were rescued from the water. 1 was taken to Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where a quick recovery was made. The other survivor refused treatment and went home. These two survivors chose to have their identities remain anonymous. On April 11, 2024 cleanup of the bridge started with unloading the cargo ship. Efforts will continue to look for the remaining 3 bodies. Our hearts go out to the victims' families and friends and we hope to see the bridge restored to its fame. 

Sources:

• Le Monde/Baltimore Bridge Collapse 

• New York Times/Baltimore Bridge Collapse