Grisel Gonzalez
Staff Writer Black Consciousness Day, also known as Black Awareness Day, is celebrated on November 20th in Brazil. This day is used to spread awareness of the African-American community and the journey their ancestors made to Brazil. The date also serves as a social movement committed to acknowledging the value and importance of the Black people in the world by cherishing their existence and standing against racial discrimination. Black Awareness Day was established to honor the anniversary of the death of Brazil’s Black hero Zumbi dos Palmares. Zumbi was a Brazilian warrior and the greatest civil rights activist in their country. He fought courageously against slavery and colonialism and touched the souls and hearts of countless African-Americans. He was not born into slavery, however, but was born in a quilombo. Quilombos were communities in Brazil of people who had been enslaved and managed to escape. Zumbi fought for the protection of his people against those who enslaved them. The important date to commemorate Zumbi has been celebrated since the 1960s, but the holiday was made official by the Brazilian federal law in January 2003. Brazilian cities, such as Rio De Janeiro, Alagoas, Amazonas, Amapa, Mata Grosso do Sul, and Rio Grande do Sul, mainly celebrate this holiday. These places campaigned for a symbolic celebration for the end of the city’s continuous discrimination and inequity. Black Consciousness Day is a way to praise the valiant people who contributed to Brazilian culture and were wrongfully enslaved. Teaching Afro-American culture finally became a part of the official curriculum for schools in Brazil, which now includes activities and projects that celebrate the history of African-Americans. Brazil’s main goal is to make everyone aware of the importance with people who have different skin colors, and teaching schools about their history is just the beginning. Even though Brazil has yet to announce any further plans, they have made it known that they want to spread awareness about Black Americans around the world. This holiday holds great value to the Brazilans who wish to remember Zumbi and commend him for giving them a voice. Not only is Zumbi honored, but all the slaves who fought for their liberty are commemorated. Zumbi once stated, “Pela liberdade entrego a minha vida,” meaning “For freedom I give my life.”
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Gianmarco Quinzi
Staff Writer On October 14th in London, something unfortunate happened. In room 43 of London’s National Gallery, two young women opened cans of tomato soup and threw their contents onto Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting Sunflowers. The women donned shirts reading “Just Stop Oil,” the slogan of an activist group that has been staging nonviolent demonstrations across the United Kingdom to protest the production of fossil fuels. One of the activists, 21-year-old Phoebe Plummer, began to speak to the room and said “What is worth more—art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of the oil crisis.” The activists were arrested soon after. Fortunately, the painting was covered with glass so it was not damaged. Van Gogh painted seven versions of Sunflowers in total. Five of them are displayed in museums and galleries around the world. One of those, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, said it was keeping “a close eye on developments” that might affect its own security measures. In May, an activist at the Louvre in Paris tried to break the glass that was protecting one of the most famous paintings in the entire world, the Mona Lisa, before launching a cake in her face for alleged environmental reasons. The reason why the activists chose the famous painting is undetermined, but it is speculated that it was to draw more attention from the public. Luckily, the activist was not able to break the glass protecting the Mona Lisa. “Experts have predicted acts of so-called ‘climate sabotage’ will increase as extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires and storms proliferate and the urgency to act grows,” said by aljazeera.com. Many supporters believe the time to understand that vandalism is a real problem. Now is the time to do something to change this situation. “But many critics are questioning the effectiveness of an escalation strategy, saying destroying property undermines the climate movement’s credibility and alienates supporters,” said by aljazeera.com. One example that stands out in the activist field for the environment is Greta Thunberg, a pacifist activist that was recognized for her actions and her young age. Thunberg protested outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, when she was just 15. She held a sign saying "School Strike for Climate" to put pressure on the government to meet carbon emissions plans. By December of 2018, more than 20,000 students around the world follow her views. Talking about climate change can start a big controversy. Activists across the globe are trying to make people understand the danger the world is facing. Temperatures are higher and glaciers are melting. These things are important, but there are better ways to draw attention to this without making a mess around the world. The act in the London National Gallery drew many people's attention. The activist wanted to be seen and to appeal to governments for the good of our entire society. To make a positive difference, there are a lot of better ways that Activists can protest. Makenna Goertzen
Assistant Editor In 1995, President Bill Clinton proclaimed November to be National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month began as National adoption week in 1984 and is initiated by The Children’s Bureau -an adoption awareness organization. The campaign seeks to “increase awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S. foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth engagement” (ChildWelfare). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “nearly 424,000 children” living in the United States are currently in the foster care system, and “over 122,000” of them are eligible and waiting to be adopted. However, over 114,000 children and youth nationwide are at risk of aging out of the system without permanent family connections. This is why in recent years, the Children’s Bureau has focused its efforts on adoption for teens. Their reason is that “teens in foster care wait longer for permanency than younger children and are at higher risk for aging out.” The goal is to provide and secure lifelong connections for young adults who are currently being overlooked by potential adopters. Each year, a new adoption-related theme is picked and becomes the main focus of the Children’s Bureau outreach and awareness campaigns. 2022’s theme is “Small Steps Open Doors,” which represents the difficulties of finding permanency for young adults and how “small steps along the way can make all the difference.” The topic focuses on how to earn the trust of teenagers in the foster care system, help them become more engaged in their own permanency planning, and create an environment where they can be honest and ask questions by taking the time to listen and talk with them. They believe that youth should be involved in these decisions and should be involved in the decisions being made about their permanency planning. Their initiative is supported through a partnership with two other adoption awareness organizations; Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids. National Adoption Month aims to further educate communities and provide support for the youth currently facing hardships that being in the foster care system can produce, such as neglect, abuse, frequently moving from one family to another, loss of important relationships, and so much more. According to AdoptUsKids, People across the United States can help by mentoring a child in foster care, offering free photography and videographer services to adoption agencies, fundraising or donating supplies to foster care organizations or families, and much more. To learn more about National Adoption Month and how to help support this month's efforts, go to: childwelfare.gov acf.hhs.gov healthandwelfare.idaho.gov ccainstitute.org youth.gov adoptuskids.org/ Charly Dixon
Staff Writer El Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that has been around for 3,000 years. During this time, families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion. According to Mexican traditions, at midnight on October 31, the gates of heaven open and children's spirits can reunite with their families. On November 2, the same thing happens to adult spirits. The Day of the Dead originates in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and is celebrated in many Mexican regions. In order to help the dead get on their journey to Mictlán, a heaven-like final resting place, family members put food, water, and tools on their graves to help the dead on their difficult journey. They also put flowers and lit candles to illuminate the dead souls’ way back to their homes. The holiday is not commonly thought of as a Mexican version of Halloween, although the two holidays do share some traditions including costumes and parades. Popular costumes that are worn during el Día de los Muertos include women wearing traditional Mexican dresses, big feather hats, flower crowns, sugar skull paint, and anything colorful. Men wear guayaberas, which are traditional summer shirts, or they wear an elegant dark blazer. On the Day of the Dead, people believe the border between the spirit world and the real world is dissolved. During this period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance, and play music with their loved ones. The living family members treat the dead as an honored guest in their celebration. Surviving family members will leave all of the deceased family member’s favorite food and other offerings at the graveside or at the ofrendas built in their homes. An ofrenda can be decorated with candles, bright flowers like marigolds and red cockscomb, and heaps of fruit, bread, tamales, and more. The most prominent symbols that relate to the Day of the Dead are calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). During the Day of the Dead festival, most people wear skull masks and eat sugar candy molded into skull shapes. To wish someone a happy Day of the Dead in Spanish, say “Feliz Día de los Muertos!” Gianmarco Quinzi
Staff Writer On October 14, 2022, the cinematic world lost a big star. At age 72, Robbie Coltrane, known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise, died after battling health issues for some time. Rubeus Hagrid made his first appearance in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which was released in November 2001. The behemoth wizard was known for his kindness, advice, and ability to make everyone feel included. The entire Harry Potter cast had something to say about his passing. Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, wrote on Twitter, "Robbie. Bobser. He called me Space Boy. We shared a love of the final frontier. He didn't [care] and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one.” Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, wrote on her Instagram story, "Robbie was like the most fun uncle I've ever had but most of all he was deeply caring, and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult. His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant — he could fill ANY space with his brilliance." Ms. Watson shared these deep words as someone who experienced Robbie as not just a mentor,but also a friend. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling tweeted a photo of herself holding hands with Coltrane and wrote, "I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. He was an incredible talent, a complete one off, and I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him and laugh my head off with him. I send my love and deepest condolences to his family, above all his children." It's clear Robbie was kind to everyone. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe shared a heartfelt tribute to his late castmate. “Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid's hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up," Radcliffe said. "I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he's passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.” He could make anyone laugh to clear their minds of too much work. In one of his interviews, Coltrane said, “The legacy of the movie is that my children’s generation will show them to their children so you could be watching in 50 years time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will.” The world is so lucky to have a piece of Coltrane immortalized through his brilliant role as Hagrid. Grisel Gonzalez
Staff Writer Día de la Raza, meaning Day of the Race, honors the people and countries that were conquered by Spain and other European explorers. This holiday is a symbol of respect, honor, and inclusion of people all over the world. Día de la Raza is celebrated on October 12th and was first observed in 1928. This celebration helps everyone recognize the cultural fusion of Native American and Spanish heritage. This festivity’s traditions involve dances, parades, bullfights, parties, and a plethora of Hispanic food. In the early 1920’s, World War I helped Dia de la Raza come together. The war notably impacted Latin America’s view on its role in the world. Conflict strongly affected the way Latinos viewed the old continent and shaped the way the subcontinent viewed and characterized itself. Various disagreements were created in public opinion in Latin America about the war; thus, generating a disagreement between the sides. In the end, Hispanics decided to come together in 1913 to create Día de la Raza, which celebrates Columbus’ arrival in the Americas every October 12th and brings everyone together. Latin American food is one of the many things celebrated on Día de la Raza. Some special dishes prepared are tamales, which are cornmeal dough wrapped in corn husks or other vegetable leaves, and Trinidad pastille, which is a variation of meats cooked in a banana leaf. Many Mexican restaurants provide these meals on Día de la Raza, but Mexico is not the only country to hold festivities. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Uruguay, and Venezuela also celebrate Día de la Raza. Many people are enjoying the day with several activities out on the streets like breaking piñatas and playing games such as “Palin” which is played with curved sticks and a wooden ball. Larger communities throw big fiestas that include dancing, singing, and bullfights. People are also seen wearing colorful costumes that resemble the pre-Columbus age. These outfits appreciate Christopher Columbus discovering the New World, first encountering the Native Americans, and permanently altering the world. Día de la Raza makes a difference because it keeps past traditions alive and brings the community together by teaching others about the history behind the celebration. It is a great way to celebrate Hispanic heritage, share it with individuals from other cultures, and keep the ceremonies and traditions always growing. Brinli Merrill
Staff Writer Gas prices began to rise on June 14, 2022; although there are many reasons for this, the Russians invading Ukraine has been the biggest circumstance to affect this rise in prices. Gas prices usually increase over the summer, but this summer has been the more drastic uptick. During the height of the war, gas prices rose from two to three dollars per gallon to five to six dollars. Since some people have multiple kids in their families, it is harder for them to pay for gas and groceries. There are items that people like low-income consumers need to get even if they do not have enough money for them, especially with inflated prices. The people that do not have enough money and that have big families are the people that get affected the most by the high gas prices. Large families are the ones who are the most affected by the high gas prices because they have to provide for multiple people. The effect on society is becoming more prominent by causing more individuals to have bad health or other kinds of problems. According to NACS Consumer Fuels Surveys, “at least 70% of consumers say that gas prices affect their feelings about the economy.” The increase in oil prices lowers the rate of economic growth and increases inflation over a short period. According to The Federal Reserve Board, “If you have regular occasion to fill your car's tank with gas, you know that the price of gasoline has recently been both high and volatile,” which means that it is hard for people to get the gas they need when they do not have enough money for it. The money earned through gas sales goes directly toward several large-scale oil companies. The Ukraine war is what started the gas prices becoming higher. Americans used to have the gas that we use today transported from Russia to America. The Russian oil prices are increasing because of the lockdowns and the war in Ukraine. In conclusion, gas prices have affected a lot of people in the U.S. and low-income consumers because they do not have a lot of money to be spending on gas. Now that gas prices have been going down, it will benefit most American families and other families around the world. Roman Davis
Staff Writer The month of September is the keeper of many things; one of those being Suicide Prevention Month. It was first declared and created in 1999 by Surgeon General David Satcher who issued his Call to Action to Prevent Suicide; in 2008, the community suffering with these issues created National Suicide Prevention Month in hopes that it would help others in need and raise awareness. Since then, this month has been made a time to acknowledge those affected by suicidal thoughts, spread knowledge, and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to services that help prevent more deaths from happening. According to the CDC, more than 41,000 individuals commit suicide annually; it is labeled the tenth leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults. As years pass, these rates are steadily increasing. Health research also indiciates that people with substance use disorders are almost six times as likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lives compared to others who do not have these disorders. To help prevent this from happening, the community has a multitude of resources that are able to help year round and run fundraisers during this month to help others in need. Bonneville High School has its own resource called Hope Squad, run by students within the school itself. One of these resources that works year round is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and is dedicated to supporting others in the United States. Their website states, “Ultimately, NAMI wants any person experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors to have a number to call, a system to turn to, that would connect them to the treatment and support they need.” The Alliance has a multitude of resources to turn to such as phone lines, text lines and even a website. These resources are for anyone to use and share to others needing help; a small reminder that the community is not alone in its struggle and that NAMI is here to help. Some resources to go to are down below, please share them with others in need of aid.
Kimmie Barnes
Editor-In-Chief Spanning from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is in full effect. This is a month dedicated to highlighting and celebrating Hispanic history, culture, and achievements. While the starting and ending dates may seem a bit odd, Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 because it is independence day for several Hispanic and Latino countries. A few of those countries include Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. In addition, Chile and Mexico also celebrate their independence days during the duration of this month. Hispanic History Month initially started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968; however, in 1988, the week changed into a 30 day celebration. Hispanic Heritage Month has a changing theme each year. The theme for 2022 is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. This year focusing on intersectionality and honoring the strength in diversity. The theme was created by Ily Soares, the supervisory accountant at Farm Credit Administration. The point driven by Soares is one of representation. She believes when all voices are represented the outcome of crucial decisions is more inclusive and advocates for the needs of people who more often than not are underrepresented. In a quote from Soares she states, “We call on citizens of this nation from all walks of life to look around and welcome new voices to the table. This will help us build stronger communities and in turn, a stronger nation.” Being able to recognize the strengths of different types of people and weld them together is what this year’s theme is all about. As previously mentioned, several Hispanic and Latino countries observe their independence day during Hispanic Heritage Month, invoking much celebration in those countries and for others from said countries. The days are filled with festivals, parades, country-wide singing, dancing, good food, and oftentimes the history of their independence is recounted in schools. In Costa Rica and Guatemala, there is a torch running ceremony that takes place on the night of September 14. It is called Antorcha de la Independencia. During this ceremony a symbolic torch travels from Guatemala over the border into Costa Rica’s capital. The relay is to symbolize the news of freedom reaching Costa Rica in 1821, a month after Guatemalan independence, when it was a part of the Guatemalan kingdom. For more information about independence day in Hispanic and Latino countries check out: https://dmh.lacounty.gov/blog/2021/09/national-hispanic-heritage-month/ As one of the fastest growing minority communities in the United States, the culture cultivated by Hispanic people is something to be highlighted. There are numerous ways to support and appreciate that culture this month. This can be researching Hispanic artists, supporting small businesses run by Latinos, learning new food recipes, and gaining an education on the countless impacts that have been made by Hispanic and Latino people. It is crucial to recognize and appreciate the different perspectives and strengths that the Hispanic community brings to society. As the theme for this year’s Hispanic History Month brings to light, inclusivity creates a possibility for a stronger nation. Asher Montano
Staff Writer In the last several years, the American government has been making many decisions and changes to the way people live. For example, last month the Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan was instituted. This act means that some students with a household income less than $250,000 can apply to get $10,000 or more removed from their student loans. Households with an income of $125,000 or less can apply to get $25,000 removed. As good as this sounds for most students, these actions could have some downsides. These downsides may include situations such as taxpayers being irritated knowing that their money is going to pay for remaining loans instead of fixing roads, constructing bridges, and supporting the government. The government has to spend $1.6 trillion in order to forgive the debt of all of these students. $1 trillion of the money used to forgive is $10,000 per student with the right requirements. The other $600 million is used to add an extra $15,000 to those families who do not make more than $125,000 annually. With the amount of money the government is forgiving in addition to the amount of money people have been getting for food stamps and unemployment insurance, some say the money America has is getting stretched extremely thin. President Biden has made several immediate actions to take care of the problems in the United States. One of these that is stated by whitehouse.gov is the racial inequality in the country. For example, the actions that include discrimination, stereotypes, and fewer opportunities for people of a different skin color, still take place for people in America. The president wants to make more of an effort into promoting equity in the different races. He also aims for criminal justice, ending disparities in healthcare, and getting rid of poorer education country wide. The overall goal is to make sure that everyone across America has the same opportunities to be successful. As well as fixing the racial inequalities, Biden wants to fix the ever-changing climate. He wants to focus on every region to have safer disposal methods for trash and waste; furthermore, he is trying to have a clean energy source to further decrease wasteful products for the future. President Biden is aiming for net-zero emissions economy wide no later than 2050. Biden also wants to start fixing the economy; he wants to strengthen small businesses and increase the amount of jobs available. The pandemic caused a huge decrease in job availability, and many people were left unemployed. According to whitehouse.gov, Biden is very interested in fixing the many problems that COVID caused when it took the world by storm, and by doing that build the country bigger and better than it was before. |
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