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Irreversible damage?

Many people are aware of the global climate crisis threatening our biosphere. This isn’t new knowledge.

However, it has become apparent that those in power who can make a large effort to combat global warming are not doing all they can to help the Earth.

Too great a number of citizens are unconcerned about the effects global warming will have on us. They aren’t seeing it as a problem, and if they are, then it’s a distant one. But think of all the changes we’ve seen in the past year: cold snaps, heat waves, hurricanes, fires.

“Natural” disasters are becoming more and more common. The carbon footprint left by humanity is now almost irreversible.

Action is necessary.

If we continue on this path, then civilization as we know it will change for the worse. Maybe you’re old and you don’t need to worry about living in a world where the air is toxic and the sea is poison, but I do.

If I’m expected to live on this planet for the next 75 years, I want it to be a healthy, clean one. I want that Earth for my children, for my nieces and nephews and my grandchildren after them, and I want that for your children, too.

One person alone can’t change this, but a lot of people working together can.

There’s a sense of helplessness that comes with this issue, but you can help in small ways: recycle, reuse a water bottle, buy sustainable shopping bags.

There’s a thousand things you can do that so many “influencers” will tell you about, so seek out that information and use it. Most importantly, use your voice.

Spread this message, and don’t ignore the crisis that you can help avert. Please.

Sophia Whitesell

Honokaa

Screen-time blues

Have you ever walked into a public park and accidentally tripped in front of everyone? I have.

You might think I was embarrassed. I should’ve been, but no one around me noticed because they were on their phones.

Lucky me.

I continued to walk around the park until I found an empty bench. As I sat down, I observed my surroundings and saw some kids playing. Some were sleeping on their strollers, but most of them were on their phones.

The adults weren’t really focused on their kids because they were on their phones calling someone, taking cute pictures of their kids and posting it on social media or just busying themselves with their phones.

Something then came to mind: Technologies are definitely taking over our lives.

Technologies such as cellphones, tablets, computers and more are taking over our lives. There are kids who stay inside their homes doing nothing but staring at their phones. They don’t get anything done, and they are barely active.

Not only do these devices affect the lives of children, they are also taking over the lives of adults.

There are millions of people in this world losing jobs because of the invention of robots. Families are poor because they can’t find jobs, kids are failing school because they’re on their phones when they should be studying, and adults are distancing themselves from their families because they’re busy on their laptops, preparing themselves for their upcoming meeting at work.

Have you noticed the more advanced technologies became, the more addicted we are and the more we waste our time staring at the screen?

I suggest we should do something about that.

Natasha Lolin

Honokaa