Category Archives: International

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Text and photos by Roi J. Tamkin, Atlanta, Georgia

I visited the Cliffs of Moher on a recent trip to Ireland. Although the day was windy and chilly, I couldn’t help but marvel at the size of the steep, dark cliffs. I watched in awe as the wild waves of the Galway Bay crash into the tall, rocky walls.

This geological wonder is located in the southwest part of the Burren Region of County Clare. The cliffs stretch for nine miles. They stand 702 feet tall at O’Brien’s Tower and fall to over 200 feet at some points. The town of Doolin is nearby, and visitors can walk to town on a trail at the visitor’s center. You’re bound to see lots of sheep as you walk the trail.

The cliffs are the most visited tourist site in Ireland with 1.5 million tourists a year.

The cliffs were formed 326 million years ago from sediment deposited at the end of a river. Layer upon layer of sediments turned into Namurian shale and sandstone. Now these dark colored cliffs are subject to erosion due to wind and sea. Portions have crumbled into the water creating sea stacks.

The national landmark has been designated an Important Bird Area as those craggy cliffs are home to many species of birds including puffins and razorbills. When I visited, every bird looked like a gull to me. They flew from their homes burrowed into the rock face and headed out to see to find fish to eat.

A popular attraction is O’Brien’s Castle. Built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O’Brien, people climb the steps for spectacular views of the Aran Islands across the Bay. There is disagreement as to the purpose of the Castle, but it has been a tourist hit right from the beginning.

The best time to visit is early in the morning. The morning hours afford the best view of the islands and surrounding land. I arrived in the afternoon, and even though the sun was high in the sky, it was extremely cold and windy. I only had twenty minutes of clear views of the ocean and the bright green grass atop the cliffs. Before long, the fog rolled in, and I could not see anything more than a foot from my face. Walking along the tops of the cliffs became dangerous, and I had to keep my eyes glued to the person walking in front of me for safety. The fog came in so quickly and so thick that I decided it was time to visit the museum inside the visitor’s center.

There are many different one-of-a-kind geological structures on the island of Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher tell the story of the passage of time. It took millions of years to build up the cliffs, and now erosion is tearing them back down to sediment. A visit to the Cliffs will last in your memory: the contrast of colors between the murky walls and the emerald green grass; the woolly sheep grazing nearby; and the mystery of O’Brien’s Tower all add up to an amazing day by the sea.

Text and photographs by Roi J. Tamkin, a photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Art by Leicie Tonouchi, Age 14, Hawaii

Art by Leicie Tonouchi, Age 14, Hawaii

“Keila is too cool for school. I painted Keila in ink and gouache.”

“Cassie has positive vibes. I painted Cassie in ink and gouache.”

“This is my interpretation of the classical Okinawan story called “The Legend of the Shisa.” I drew this digitally using Procreate.”

The Legend of the Shisa

Retold by Leicie Tonouchi, Age 14, Hawaii.

A long time ago in Okinawa, Japan, the villagers were partying at the beach when out of nowhere they saw something big—a serpent from the sea!

The serpent began to terrorize the village. One of the villagers looked at the Shisa (Okinawan lion dog) statue and prayed for help and miraculously the Shisa statue became alive! The Shisa battled the serpent and chased it back into the ocean. The villagers cheered as their homes had been saved. When everyone was safe, the Shisa turned back into a statue again. This is why in every home in Okinawa, people have two Shisa statues in each household. A male Shisa with an open mouth to scare away the evil spirits and a female Shisa with a closed mouth to keep in the good energy.

HHR’s 2024 Essay, Art & Multimedia Contest Winners

Hindus for Human Rights and Skipping Stones announce the
2024 Essay, Art & Multimedia Contest Winners!

This year’s contest invited students in grades 6-12 to explore the inspiring traditions of peacemaking in South Asia and its diaspora. We asked young writers and artists to reflect on the question, “As a South Asian, what traditions of peacemaking do you find inspiring?”

Violence and conflict have long been a part of South Asian and South Asian diaspora history, literature, and storytelling, but so have different versions of peacemaking. The contest invited students to take inspiration from any South Asian history, literature, poetry, peace activists, or peace movements that focus on concepts or ways to address peace, justice, and democracy.

The contest received a diverse array of essays, artwork, and multimedia submissions showcasing a wide range of South Asian histories, movements, and traditions that advocate for harmony, justice, and democracy. These submissions were heartfelt, creative, and thought-provoking, demonstrating the power of young voices in envisioning a more peaceful world.

Our Hearty Congratulations to all the winners!

Essay Winners:
* 1st Place: “With Andal Comes Grace” by Lekha Kolli, grade 12, Virginia.
* 2nd Place: Anti-Sikh Riots and Ongoing Traditions of Peacemaking by Ira Tiwari, grade 11, Illinois.
* 3rd Place: “South Asian Peace Through the Millennia” by Jacob Sajan, grade 11, Arizona.

Art & Multimedia Winners:
* 1st Place: Narrated Bharatanatyam Performance by Deekshitha Jayaprakash, grade, 11 Minnesota. (Please click on the link to view the performance!)
* 2nd Place: Flowers of Peace Illustration by Aniya Taneja, grade 12, Massachusetts.
* 2nd Place: Bangladesh Protests by Eshita Lahiry, grade 11, Louisiana.
* 3rd Place: Drawing inspired by the 10,000 for World Peace Assembly by Diya Lane, grade 12, California.

Download the Winning Entries (This is a 5 MB file) by clicking here!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources for GAZA Issue

More About the Contributors

The following organizations and cultural projects are mentioned in this collection. We encourage you to check them out and offer support where your heart is inclined.

Meera Center for Skills Development in Cairo offers learning and enrichment activities for Gazan refugees.   From 2011-23, Wejdan Diab directed the award-winning Meera Kindergarten in Gaza City. She now offers a nurturing space in Cairo, where children can learn, play and heal from the trauma of the war. Donate here to support Meera Center.

Palestine Charity Team (PCT) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing humanitarian aid to families in Rafah, Gaza. PCT sponsored Sing to Live in Peace, a children’s music program, and the Gaza Heartbeat, a creative writing workshop for older youth. Currently, PCT is focusing on getting food aid into southern Gaza and setting up portable classrooms and activities for children. Donate to PCT. More original music by Bakr Khader is available on YouTube.

Sobhi Qouta, from Gaza City, is an art teacher for students of all ages. IDF airstrikes destroyed his studio and all its art, including the student paintings featured in this issue. To help Sobhi rebuild his studio, please contact Fred Rogers.

Abraham’s Land, a musical play, by guest editor Lauren Goldman Marshall, is set in Israel and Gaza during the First Intifada. A video of the 2021 professional production was shown by PCT in Gaza and is available on YouTube.

You can read the Special Issue on Palestine and Israel, published online by Skipping Stones.

Additional Resources

There is a wealth of charitable organizations serving Palestinians. Here are some of our favorite organizations you may not have heard of:

A Land for All envisions a binational solution (two states, one homeland) with Jewish majority and Palestinian majority regions, freedom of movement and right of return for all.

The Humanity Project:The Maal Foundation serves a wide variety of needs of Gazan refugees in Cairo, including financial support, medical care, psychological and educational support.

The Leonard Education Organization ( LE.O) supports under-resourced Palestinian students with higher educational opportunities. Donate to LE.O or to the special fund for Gazan medical students in Egypt, or the In the Wings scholarship for a student from Gaza to study in the arts.

Middle East Children’s Alliance protects the health, lives, and rights of kids in the Middle East.

Interlink Publishing offers a wide selection of books on Palestine.

International Board on Books for Young People – Palestine Section and Gaza Libraries project

Tomorrow’s Women empowers Palestinian and Israeli women to make peaceful change.

Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) – Palestine supports Palestinian-led, nonviolent, grassroots resistance against the Israeli occupation.

ANAR is an important project for traumatized children living in the West Bank. 

The Liberation Syllabus for Educators by the progressive Jewish organization If Not Now lists books, poetry, films, art, and music for students of all ages to engage with the reality of the occupation.

Standing Together is a progressive grassroots movement mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation for peace, equality and social justice.

A Mother’s Destiny

A Mother’s Destiny

By Anzhi “Angie” Feng, age 9, from Vancouver/Toronto, Canada.

On the day you were born
At that misty cold hour
I saw your pink little toes
And your skin as pale as flour

I cradled you in my arms
As I slowly weep
Your soft dark hair touched my arms
As you fell asleep

From that day on
I watched you grow
From six o’clock to nine
And as you drifted off in bed
I realized the destiny of mine

Years pass in the blink of an eye
You are now seven
Your thick black hair comes to your waist
Just wait till you’re eleven

I cry in bed every night
Each day as you get older
Soon for a present
Instead of a doll
You’ll want a computer

That day comes way too soon
Time to say goodbye
You’re going off into the world
To find your new life

As you drive off into the night
I know that I’ve done well
And all the time we’ve had together
Is just another story to tell

By Anzhi “Angie” Feng, age 9, from Vancouver/Toronto, Canada.

Sustainable Shorelines: Keeping our Beaches Clean

Sustainable Shorelines: Keeping our Beaches Clean

By Maya Govindaraj, age 17, from Texas, is currently studying in Chennai, India.

Plastic is Destroying our World!

Beaches are vital ecosystems that support diverse marine life. However, the beauty of beaches is increasingly threatened by pollution, littering, and unsustainable human activities. According to global health experts, “Ocean pollution is posing threats to human health that are great and growing. It is causing disease, disability, and premature death in countries around the world today.” My journey from the beaches of Galveston, Texas, to the shores of Chennai, India, brought me face to face with the complexities of beach cleanliness. By participating in a local beach cleanup event, I gained insight into the challenges facing beach conservation efforts. Galveston beach in Texas is known for its wide stretches of sand, warm water, and opportunities for activities like swimming, and sunbathing. Chennai, on the other hand, is a coastal city in India, situated along the Bay of Bengal with beaches stretching for several kilometers and known for its lively atmosphere, with vendors selling snacks and toys, and locals enjoying various activities like kite flying and cricket. While efforts are being made to maintain cleanliness along the Galveston beaches by local authorities; in Chennai, cleanliness efforts on beaches have faced challenges. Although local authorities and environmental groups are trying to address cleanliness issues it is difficult due to high population density, inadequate waste management, and limited public awareness and participation in conservation efforts.

Participating in a Beach Clean-up Event

By conducting an online survey among Chennai residents who frequent the beach, I was able to gather valuable insights regarding their attitudes and behaviors toward littering and beach cleanliness. Although the survey demographics skewed towards 68% female respondents, with the majority holding at least a high school or higher education degree, a unanimous consensus emerged among them. They emphasized the importance of maintaining beach cleanliness to protect marine life, reduce health risks, preserve the natural beauty of the shoreline, and promote tourism. They advocated for proper waste disposal in designated bins, the use of reusable items over disposables, educational projects to raise awareness, and active participation in organized beach clean-up efforts. According to respondents, the primary factors contributing to litter accumulation include irresponsible behavior, entrenched cultural attitudes towards littering, inadequate provision of waste bins, and insufficient efforts by authorities to address cleaning needs.

Beaches are valuable natural assets that deserve our protection and stewardship. By adopting responsible behavior, supporting local initiatives, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes we should all play a part in keeping beaches clean to ensure improved health and well-being and their preservation for future generations.

Footnotes:

  1. Texas Disposal Systems. “Ocean Pollution: Causes, Effects, Prevention | TDS.” Texas Disposal Systems, 2 Feb. 2024, www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention.
  2. Landrigan, P J, et al. “Human Health and Ocean Pollution.” Annals of Global Health, vol. 86, no. 1, 2020, p. 151, doi:10.5334/aogh.2831.
  3. “Beach Cleanups, MarineBio Conservation Society.” MarineBio Conservation Society, www.marinebio.org/conservation/ocean-dumping/beach-cleanups.

    Texas, the Lone Star State. By Maya Govindaraj, age 17.

    Editor’s Note: Please also read the article, My Indian Memories by Maya brother Arjun, also published today!

    About the Authors:
    Arjun and Maya are 17-year-old twins at the American International School in Chennai, India. As USTA-ranked tennis players, they love sports and have won medals in South Asian Interscholastic Association competitions. Both serve as Student Ambassadors, bridging cultural gaps through orientation and wellness programs. Passionate about community service, they have both worked with various organizations. They also have co-founded the non-profit Mission BE A Resource, securing grants to support disadvantaged children. Arjun is a tech enthusiast with a love for outdoor adventures, while Maya enjoys helping elementary school teachers and expressing her creativity through art.

My Indian Memories

My Indian Memories

By Arjun Govindaraj, age 17, from Texas, currently studying in India.

The first picture is of us celebrating Holi at school where we throw colors and water at each other and have fun. Holi is the Festival of Colors, a celebration that marks the arrival of spring. It is an occasion filled with laughter, music, and dance, where everyone, regardless of age, comes together to play with colors and enjoy festive food. Classmates and teachers share in the excitement, creating beautiful memories and promoting unity and love. Holi not only celebrates the beauty of diversity but also encourages forgiveness and the strengthening of bonds among people. We also celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil by dressing up in Indian clothes, sharing sweets, and participating in traditional games.

Second picture is of us visiting the Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its stunning white marble architecture, carvings, and beautiful gardens attracts millions of visitors each year, and symbolizes the cultural heritage of India. We also explored the monuments of Delhi, the bustling streets of Mumbai, and the tranquil foothills of Dehradun with its cascading waterfalls. Exploring the streets of Coimbatore, we were amazed by the warmth of its people and the aromas of its bustling markets, while the ancient wonders of Mahabalipuram reminded us of a bygone era of art and architecture. Through these diverse experiences, we have come to cherish our rich culture and landscapes that make our world a truly remarkable place.

The third picture is of my team visiting Kathmandu, Nepal, for the South Asian Interscholastic Association (SAISA) soccer tournament. It was an incredible experience representing AISC against 11 member schools. The atmosphere of Kathmandu, with its rich culture and breathtaking landscapes, added to the excitement of the tournament. Throughout the events, I not only had the opportunity to showcase my skills and win medals but also learned invaluable team-building skills and the importance of fair play. Each match brought us closer as teammates, creating lasting friendships and unforgettable memories that extended beyond the games. The spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship was truly inspiring, making this trip an enriching experience both on and off the field.

The fourth picture captures a heartfelt moment as we distribute school supplies and a meal to underprivileged children. Following the popular custom in India, they sit on the ground to share their meal, and their smiles of gratitude warmed our hearts as we handed out new backpacks filled with school supplies. In a country where overpopulation and poverty are pressing issues, we felt a profound sense of purpose in being able to contribute, even in a small way, to their education and well-being. This experience taught us invaluable lessons about empathy and compassion, reminding us of the importance of supporting one another and making a difference in the lives of those in need. Acts of service can build connections, bring hope, and inspire change.

The final picture is from our school trip, “Discover India,” which became one of the main highlights of my educational journey. These immersive week-long expeditions across India went beyond traditional classroom learning, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that allowed us to explore local cultures in depth. Each annual school excursion helped us develop essential teamwork and outdoor survival skills. From camping under starlit skies to navigating thrilling rafting/ surfing adventures, every journey nurtured resilience and adaptability while fostering a profound appreciation for the natural world. These unforgettable experiences shaped not just our knowledge but also our connections with one another and the environment.

Editor’s Note: Please also read Sustainable Shorelines by Arjun’s sister Maya, also published today!

About the Authors:
Arjun and Maya are 17-year-old twins at the American International School in Chennai, India. As USTA-ranked tennis players, they love sports and have won medals in South Asian Interscholastic Association competitions. Both serve as Student Ambassadors, bridging cultural gaps through orientation and wellness programs. Passionate about community service, they have both worked with various organizations. They also have co-founded the non-profit Mission BE A Resource, securing grants to support disadvantaged children. Arjun is a tech enthusiast with a love for outdoor adventures, while Maya enjoys helping elementary school teachers and expressing her creativity through art.

Memories of Dumplings

Memories of Dumplings

By Julia Qi, educator, Nevada.

I remember a time when steaming dishes of dumplings were laid out before me on the dining table. I was five years old, and a bowl of Chinese vinegar with two drops of sesame oil sat under my nose, eagerly awaiting the three hot dumplings that my grandma would soon drop in.

She’d always break the dumplings in half for me so my little fingers could navigate my chopsticks, and that day, I was the pride and joy of my family for devouring a total of nine dumplings.

That was the last time I remembered looking at a plate of dumplings without fear—at least until recently.

Somewhere along the way, food transformed into something I avoided. Any plate became a conversion of fat-protein-carbs in my eyes. The rich fat on decadent, red-braised pork belly remained untouched on my plate, and even my mom’s delicious stir-fried dishes were secretly rinsed off in the sink before I’d attempt to pick away at them. Passing by bakeries consumed me with conflict for the rest of the day because they looked so, so delicious. I wanted a taste so bad, but no, I couldn’t.

What my family saw as a “glow-up” before college was, in reality, my refusal to cook with salt or oil. I limited myself to raw foods for weeks and pretended I had simply outgrown my love for my childhood favorite foods. Steering clear of soup dumplings, BBQ skewers, and hearty pots of Chinese stew, I opted instead for bland salads and spinach smoothies.

The restriction ate away at me as I started college. I refused to eat before drinking water to “avoid” the calories. Despite the arrays of dishes in the dining halls, I spent 90% of my time at the salad bar, and the rest of the time lurking in the dessert section mustering the occasional courage to nibble a cookie. The additional walking in New York City resulted in me rapidly losing weight my first semester, which, as I anticipated, was celebrated not only by my peers, but also by my family.

My mother’s beauty was hard to miss. She’s a slender petite woman with voluminous curly hair, big bright eyes, and her classy fashion choices were always a topic of envy. She taught me the meaning of strength, independence, and courage as I saw her create the life she wanted for us in America. When she bought her first house in 2019 after 13 years of moving here, those walls represented something only immigrant parents can really understand. Her words were, “I just wanted to give you a home.” What she meant was, this is something that is finally ours. In a place where we had to start over, we had something that finally belonged to us.

My mom imparted many invaluable lessons growing up, but our culture also taught us that a woman’s beauty is paramount. Despite her exhaustion our first few years in the states from working consecutive night shifts and still managing to get up in time to wake me, cook breakfast, and take me to school, my mom maintained her elegant appearance. She always reminded me that as immigrants, we must pay extra attention to how we looked; we shouldn’t give anyone a reason to look down at us. My naturally tan complexion contradicted the porcelain-white Chinese beauty standard, and the fixation on my appearance naturally grew towards my weight as I got older. While genetically slender, my mom and her three sisters dreadfully feared weight gain. As I rounded out my teenage years, comments about my weight, what I was eating, and what I was wearing gradually took up a dangerous amount of space in my head.

Eating disorders are addictions. You’re stuck in a cycle, and even though you know it’s bad for you, you don’t know how to stop. Years of restriction led to an overwhelming preoccupation with food, which manifested in binging, then overcompensating by purging. The painful details of my four-year struggle with bulimia are oddly blurry, numbed by a filter of shame as I walked around hiding this part of me that I despised but couldn’t let go.

In a culture where famine was still a childhood memory for many, food was not meant to be wasted. Food was nourishment, and the idea of intentionally restricting or purging would have been absurd to those like my grandparents who grew up in the countryside and never had enough to eat for their four little girls. Northeastern Chinese stews were hearty, crafted to keep hunger at bay. Buns and baos were designed to fill you up for hours. My actions were completely at odds with what I was taught, which is likely why I wouldn’t touch my favorite foods for years, at least without bringing it back up.

This past March, I visited my family in China for the first time in six years. There was a stillness unlike earlier springs. The winter chill overstayed its welcome, seemingly in response to my grandpa’s passing just a few weeks prior.

My grandpa always requested peanuts with his dumplings, sometimes a Tsingtao beer, if my grandma allowed it. He liked sauerkraut or chive filling, since meat was hard on his dentures, which made clicking sounds when he chewed. This time around, we bought giant sauerkraut dumplings from the morning market made of purple forbidden rice. My grandma still broke them in half for me, except only one giant dumpling could fit in my bowl. This time, I couldn’t eat nine, but I ate until I was full, and over the memories of my grandpa’s clicking and the warmth of my belly filling up, I found solace.

—Julia Qi, received her undergraduate degree a few years ago, Nevada.

a castle of words

a castle of words

By Kevin Zhang, age 16, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China.

I shall gather your
words into a castle
of shards

and walk (barefoot
into it
like a king

into his final
breath) and
I shall blow life

into them and
watch as they
flutter between

me and you
like dancing
elephants

By Kevin Zhang, age 16, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China. Kevin is a junior at BASIS International School PLH. He is an Honorary Junior Fellow of the John Locke Institute and serves on the PLATO Student Advisory Council. Kevin enjoys boating, collecting rocks, and learning about other cultures.

The Song of Saccidānanda

The Song of Saccidānanda

By Kevin Zhang, age 16, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China.

I sing the song of forever.

I sing the gentle winds
as they brush against the cliff
of endless time.

I sing the tireless birds
as they crowd the windswept plain
of limitless space.

I sing the hushed darkness
as it dreams the Rudra Tandava*
of boundless life.

I sing myself,
I sing the song of Saccidānanda.**

Notes: * Rudra Tandav: A divine dance of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation, with vigorus, brisk movements.

** Saccidānanda: In Hindu philosophy, the direct experience and bliss of absolute, unchanging reality.

By Kevin Zhang, age 16, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China. Kevin is a junior at BASIS International School PLH. He is an Honorary Junior Fellow of the John Locke Institute and serves on the PLATO Student Advisory Council. Kevin enjoys boating, collecting rocks, and learning about other cultures.