Category Archives: Social issues

They Let Me Live in Sound

They Let Me Live in Sound

By Mahika Kapoor, age 14, Virginia.

I wrote this poem with a ten-minute timer to try to capture the frenzied mindset of the narrator in this poem. I wanted to see how fast I could capture the importance of the Holocaust, and how other people felt. I came up with this piece, “They Let me Live in Sound,” showing a child’s mind during the Holocaust, mostly based on the child Ellie Wiesel. Ellie Wiesel wrote the book “Night” to capture his dream of other people understanding the misery of the Holocaust. He will forever be remembered, and so will many other characters from the Holocaust period, such as Anne Frank. Anne had a dream to publish her diary she wrote during her two-year Holocaust hiding. These two historical figures both had dreams of people remembering the Holocaust, and for others to be able to vision how tragic their experience was through forms of writing.

The poem tries to capture how many people may have been feeling during the Holocaust in metaphorical ways.

—Mahika Kapoor, age 14.

 

I used to run away from the people and the sound
I used to seal my ears because my life was too loud 
Running away, sealing my ears, hiding from what’s monitoring me
But what if I let loose my hand cuffs and decided to be me?
What if I decided to be free?

They would shut my eyes belligerently, making sure my eyelids wouldn’t dare to let the light in by even a slit
It’s not worth it
It’s not worth it 
What would I do to be free?
What would I do to open the jar of experiences that are limiting myself to be me?
And then suddenly, I expose my ears
I expose my ears, submerge my feet in the bosom of the ground, and erase my tears
The world behind my eyes will vanish if I want the will to be free
But at least I will die knowing I can still be me

By Mahika Kapoor, Indian American, age 14, Virginia.

The Mangonomy

The Mangonomy: Celebrating the Mango Economy

By Satish Kumar, Editor Emeritus, Resurgence, U.K.

Satish Kumar, originally from India, is an author, editor, educator, and a world traveler. He lives in the United Kingdom. Photo by Daniel Elkan.

The economy of Nature is regenerative, resilient, abundant and cyclical. Nature produces no waste. In a forest there are no waste bins!

Take for example a mango tree and mango fruit. We invest one single seed in the soil, what I call the Earth Bank. Then there is slow but steady growth. That seed collaborates with the Sun, soil and rain, as well as pollinating bees and orchard keepers, and slowly it becomes a beautiful tree.

Within a few years that tree produces hundreds of magnificent mangoes, not just for one year, but year after year for forty to fifty years. What an amazing return! Each mango is delicious, nutritious, nourishing, fragrant, sweet, healthy, and beautiful to look at. The juicy and tasty flesh is packaged in a soft skin that can be composted to feed the soil. No waste, no pollution, and no plastic packaging. A mango tree gives oxygen in the daytime (which we humans need) and absorbs carbon dioxide for its own nourishment. What a great miracle!

The mango tree and the mango fruit are beautiful, useful, and durable. Artists take pleasure in painting them, photographers take photos, and poets are inspired to compose poems about them. 

Each mango has a seed within it. The one seed that we planted a few years ago has now multiplied into hundreds of seeds! Eventually from one original seed we can create a whole new orchard. No scarcity of seeds. No need to buy seeds. This is the ‘mangonomy’ of abundance.

The mango tree teaches us the importance of generosity and equality. A king or a beggar, a saint or a sinner, a priest or a prisoner, a human or an animal, a bird or a wasp—everyone is welcome to enjoy and to be fed by mangoes.

Never will a mango tree ask you, “Have you come with your credit card?” Everyone is welcome to have mangoes. No discrimination, no judgement, and no money is needed as far as the tree itself is concerned.

A mango tree needs no fossil fuels, no electricity, no wind turbines, no solar panels, and no batteries. It only takes passive solar energy, which is in constant supply. A mango orchard requires no factory floors, no concrete construction, and no infrastructure. Mango trees are self-sufficient, self-managed, and self-contained.

A mango tree gives more than mangoes. It provides branches for birds to nest in. It provides cool shade in hot summer for people and animals to rest, and firewood in a cold winter. At the end of its life mango wood is made into objects of daily use. A mango tree comes from the earth and returns to the earth. During its lifetime it benefits other species and does no harm to anyone.

This is a perfect economy. We humans need to be humble and learn from mango trees in particular, and Nature in general. I have chosen the mango tree to illustrate my point. But this is true of all the fruit trees and shrubs, grains and vegetables, herbs and flowers, and Nature in her entirety. 

Can any factory or industrial plant produce something as beautiful and beneficial, as good and harmless, as valuable and pleasing as a mango? Industrialists, business leaders and politicians talk about ‘the economy.’  But hardly anyone knows or understands the true meaning of economy. Economy is made of two Greek words: oikos and nomos. Oikos means ‘home,’ and nomos means ‘management.’ In the wisdom of Greek philosophers, the entire ecosystem is our home, and management of the ecosystem is the true economy.

But our modern economists, industrialists, businesspeople and politicians are not managing ecosystems. Instead, they are managing balance sheets, business plans, profitability, industrial production, and money supply. This is not the true economy. This is the ‘moneynomy:’  the management of money. They appear to treat ecosystems and Nature as a ‘commodity,’ a resource for financial gain, a means to the end of making money. Moneynomy is misnamed as economy, but, if the truth be told, moneynomy is anti-economy!

A PERFECT ECONOMY

Governments around the world agree on one thing:  economic growth! Whether a government is capitalist, socialist or communist, whether it is Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or atheist, they all have one common goal, and that is the goal of economic growth. All countries live under the dictatorship of the moneynomy. This is not true growth in terms of a true economy. The growth they seek is growth in moneynomy.

In Nature’s true economy or mangonomy there are two types of growth:  vertical growth and horizontal growth. In vertical growth there is an optimum limit. A mango tree on average will grow to become thirty to fifty feet tall and then stop growing. An animal will grow to a certain limited height and then stop growing. A human being will not generally grow much beyond six feet. This is sustainable vertical growth. Then there is horizontal growth. Here we have much more flexibility. Forests, farms, and mango groves are not so limited in horizontal growth. 

The mangonomy is decentralized and widely distributed. No concentration of millions of mangoes on one tree!

LONG-TERM WELLBEING

So-called economic growth is vertical. The rich get richer and richer. There is no limit. Financial wealth concentrates in fewer and fewer hands. Extremely rich individuals of this world pursue vertical growth. Corporations like Amazon, Google and Apple also have vertical growth. For them enough is never enough.

Five to ten countries out of approximately two hundred have much higher economic growth, even though within these rich countries large numbers of people have a very low income and a low standard of living. Many people live in slums, and many are begging in the streets of rich countries. Such economic growth or money growth is largely vertical, without any benefit to a large number of people, and in the long run economic growth of this type also creates growth in pollution, waste and carbon emissions, which are all harmful to planet Earth. 

If we want the long-term wellbeing of the human race and the health of our precious planet, we need to shift our obsession with money management and focus instead on the proper management of ecosystems. Money should be simply a means to an end, the end being both human and planetary wellbeing. That will be the true economy! And the economy needs to be circular—what comes from the Earth goes back to the Earth. Minimum waste, minimum pollution, and minimum carbon emissions.

We can all learn this from a mango tree. Long live the mangonomy!

By Satish Kumar, Editor Emeritus of Resurgence Magazine based in Devon, United Kingdom. Satish is the author of many books, including Soil, Soul, Society and Radical Love, available from www.resurgence.org/shop

Note: This article was first published in Resurgence & Ecologist Issue 349, March/April 2025. All rights to this article are reserved to The Resurgence Trust and author. To buy a copy of the magazine, read further articles or find out about the Trust, visit: www.resurgence.org

 

Why Permanent Standard Time Is the Best!

Why Permanent Standard Time Is the Best!

By George Nakajima, age 11, California.

Are you not tired of changing clocks twice a year? I believe we should adopt Permanent Standard Time for several compelling reasons: it aligns with our natural circadian rhythms, it is supported by scientific research on health, and it avoids the disruptions caused by Daylight Saving Time.

Los Angeles is located at about 34°N latitude. There are other countries on similar latitudes that do not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), such as Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. I chose to compare Tokyo (Japan) and Los Angeles as I have lived in both Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Right now, I live in Los Angeles, where we have DST. DST shifts the clock forward in spring and back in fall. This changes my body clock. In Tokyo, you do not need to change your clock, so you can live more naturally. But in Los Angeles, we need to adjust our clock twice a year—once in spring and once in fall. This is something we cannot easily get used to.

Only two U.S. states do not observe DST. They are Hawaii and Arizona. At first, I wasn’t sure if Utah and New Mexico used Daylight Saving Time. That’s because the Navajo Nation, which does use DST, covers parts of those states. I thought the rest of Utah and New Mexico might not follow DST. But after doing some research, I learned that both Utah and New Mexico do use DST, just like most other states. Several states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wyoming, are trying to adopt Permanent DST. However, I believe we should keep Permanent Standard Time instead.

First, Permanent Standard Time is better aligned with our internal body clocks. According to the article, “Permanent Standard Time Is the Way to Go.”

Dr. Beth Malow, director of the sleep division at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, explains: “Having light in the morning not only makes you feel more alert, but it also helps you go to bed at the right time at night.”

This highlights how waking up with natural light improves both our alertness during the day and our ability to sleep well at night.

Second, only a small portion of the world still follows Daylight Saving Time. Less than 40% of people worldwide observe Daylight Saving Time. Gabrielle Solis, a supporter of Permanent Standard Time, notes: “It first started as an effort to save energy, but research has found that the actual energy savings are minimal.”

This shows that the original purpose of Daylight Saving Time no longer applies effectively, making it less relevant in today’s society.

Many doctors believe that Permanent Standard Time is healthier. According to Gabrielle Solis, shifting clocks disrupt sleep and increase the risk of heart attacks and other health issues. By sticking to Standard Time year-round, we can create a healthier, more stable routine for everyone.

To conclude, sticking with Standard Time promotes a safe and healthy morning, aligns with our body clocks, and avoids the hottest part of the workday—something especially helpful for workers who dislike working in the heat. If you agree with my idea, please contact your local representative and support changing the law for good.

—George Nakajima, age 11, California. He will start middle school this fall.

The Harvesters & Escaping Hunger Pangs

The Harvesters & Escaping Hunger Pangs

By maggie d., poet and retired educator, Washington

1. The Harvesters

“Be at peace with your
Enemy” our ancestors
Preached
But what if they were
Police
The authorities who
Handcuffed and
Hunted you down like
An animal
That gave you no relief
When you sought to live
Freely in America
Continually we battled
Our poverty hunger strife
In our native land
At one time the fields
And orchards offered a
Way to excel
It was a place where hope
Dwelled
And Cesar Chavez’s Spirit
Existed

2. Escaping Hunger Pangs

Stealing food heals
My momentary hunger
Making me wonder
About the noises
In my stomach
They sound louder than
Thunder as they rumble
Inside
But I relentlessly search
For slumber and shade in
The city sun
Oblivious to places too
Obvious for rest
I recall how nice the
Beans and rice
Are when I realize I can
Get caught someday
Living life on the streets
I savor solutions to stay
Alive without needing to
Hide

—maggie d., African American poet and retired educator, Washington.

 

ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer’s World

Why School Breaks the ADHD Hunter’s Spirit

By Thom Hartmann, author, educator and commentator

The modern school system wasn’t built with the hunter in mind. But that doesn’t mean we have to keep using it.

Every September, countless ADHD kids return to school full of promise, only to feel like failures by October. It’s not because they’re lazy, stupid, or broken. It’s because the system was never designed for them in the first place.

We built our modern education system during the Industrial Revolution. Its purpose wasn’t to foster creativity or honor individual strengths—it was to create obedient factory workers and good soldiers. Schools emphasized conformity, repetition, and hierarchy. Sit still. Follow the rules. Memorize and repeat. Don’t ask too many questions.

For kids with ADHD—what I call Hunter brains in a Farmer’s world—this is a death sentence for the spirit.

The Classroom as a Factory

Think about it: A standard classroom requires kids to sit still for long periods, absorb abstract information, and stay quiet unless called on. That’s not how Hunters are wired. A Hunter scans their environment, reacts quickly to movement, explores, wanders. Their learning is active, kinetic, sensory.

Now imagine putting that child in a chair under fluorescent lights for six hours a day. Penalize them when their minds wander. Shame them for blurting out brilliant but untimely observations. Force them to repeat tasks that bore them to tears. That’s not education—that’s imprisonment.

The Myth of the Lazy Kid

One of the most insidious myths about ADHD kids is that they “just need to try harder.” But ADHD isn’t about willpower. It’s about neurological wiring. The hunter brain isn’t motivated by future rewards; it responds to immediate stimuli. It craves novelty, intensity, and challenge. Long-term projects, repetitive drills, or quiet reading time simply don’t register as important. It’s not a choice. It’s chemistry.

This leads to an avalanche of negative feedback: low grades, constant reprimands, damaged self-esteem. The message they internalize is clear: you’re not good enough. And so they begin to disengage, act out, or give up altogether.

Rebellion Is Not a Flaw

We treat rebelliousness in children as a character defect. But sometimes it’s wisdom. Hunter kids resist systems that don’t serve them. That resistance, if nurtured, becomes the same trait that leads adults to become inventors, artists, entrepreneurs, and change-makers.

But too often we crush it early. We reward conformity. We punish curiosity. We drug children into silence.

This isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a massive loss of potential. How many future Einsteins and Edisons have we labeled as disruptive? How many future innovators dropped out to escape systems that refused to see their genius?

Real Learning Happens in Motion

Look at how young children naturally learn: by touching, exploring, imitating, asking questions. That’s a Hunter’s learning style. The farther we move from that model, the more we lose those kids.

Project-based learning, outdoor education, apprenticeships—these approaches work brilliantly for ADHD brains. They restore meaning to the learning process. They offer feedback in real-time. They respect movement, engagement, and challenge.

Why do so many ADHD kids come alive in summer camp, theater, robotics, or sports? Because such environments match their wiring.

What Can We Do?

First, we stop blaming the child.

Then we fight to reform the system. Advocate for alternative learning models that honor multiple intelligences. Support teachers who think outside the box. Push back against standardized testing regimes that reduce learning to a number.

And at home, we tell our Hunter kids the truth: You’re not broken. You’re different. And in many ways, you’re better suited to thrive in a world that desperately needs new thinking.

The modern school system wasn’t built with the hunter in mind. But that doesn’t mean we have to keep using it.

Let’s rebuild it. Let’s build schools where Hunters can run. 

—Thom Hartmann, educator and commentator, is the author of a highly respected book, ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer’s World. Reprinted with permission from ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer’s World with Thom Hartmann. To receive new posts you can become a free or paid subscriber of this reader-supported publication.

Our Personal Food Choices Affect Our Community

Our Personal Food Choices Affect our Community

By Hope Bohanec, Oregon.

The current tumultuous political climate has left many in our community feeling powerless and vulnerable. Amidst immediate concerns like climate disasters, declining health and well-being, and rampant injustices, we are now confronted with the reality that relying on government or legislation to effect positive change in the near future is likely futile. However, there are choices we can make and daily actions we can take to alleviate suffering, support the planet, and nurture our bodies. Eugene has been a hub for community-led action and we have been at the forefront of embracing vegetarianism, veganism, and eco-conscious lifestyles. It’s vital that we collectively work to amplify this progress on a grassroots level to effect the necessary changes for our survival on planet Earth. Personal choices hold immense power, and one of the most significant choices we can make every day, that impacts numerous aspects of our lives, is the food we choose to buy, cook, share, and eat.

Many people agree that our food system is broken and that it harms workers, animals, and the environment. As more people wake up to animal exploitation, the epidemic of degenerative disease, the climate crisis, and other negative impacts of animal derived foods, veganism offers a solution. At its core, vegan living is an economic boycott of a cruel, unsustainable, and harmful industry. However, vegan philosophy transcends this to also encompass a social justice strategy for a just, global food system as well as a profound appeal for nonviolence and compassion for all animals with whom we share this planet. Vegan living helps to considerably reduce one’s climate footprint, promotes fairness for those lacking access to healthy foods, and can help us potentially avert the next pandemic—just by extending our compassion to all sentient beings. Veganism reminds us just how political food is.

The damage that is being done to our planet is an imminent threat to our collective survival. Scientific research overwhelmingly demonstrates that producing food from animals has a significantly greater environmental impact compared to producing food from plants with equivalent dietary value. These studies consistently show that, regardless of the production method or product label, plant-based foods repeatedly require less water, energy, and fossil fuels and generate substantially fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable calories of meat, dairy, and eggs. We are experiencing this damaging effect in Eastern Oregon with nitrate-laden drinking water caused primarily by animal agriculture. Eating plant-based is eating planet-based.

Experts agree that we need both systemic and individual behavior change to support a global transition to plant-based diets to mitigate climate disasters and alleviate numerous other impacts of animal agribusiness. While working to create systemic change is crucial—it’s incredibly challenging and agonizingly slow. Individual actions that support and demand these larger shifts can happen now, today, with your next meal.

Having been vegan for 35 years, I have witnessed the remarkable progress we’ve made in a relatively short period of time. In just a couple of decades, we have seen plant-based milks become common at coffee shops, most every restaurant menu offering vegan options, and countless cruelty-free products in grocery stores. This progress was made because of individuals standing up against injustice and making compassionate choices. Every day, I am inspired to reclaim our agency and harness the collective power of our plates, palates and pockets. Together, we can continue to dismantle oppressive dairy, poultry, and meat production and marketing systems of violence and alleviate immense suffering.

Plant-based is the global future of food, and it starts locally. About 1,500 people came together for the first ever Eugene VeganFest on Sunday, May the 4th. This celebration of compassionate community in Eugene, Oregon featured 45 vendor booths offering a wide variety of non-animal focused offerings like delicious plant-based foods, animal sanctuaries for rescued animals in need, and eco-forward products that help heal our planet. Fifteen speakers gave well-attended presentations on various topics revealing the ethical and environmental reasons to be vegan as well as focusing on the health and nutritional advantages of a plant-based diet. Everyone was welcome—veg-curious, pre-vegans, heck-no-I-could-never-be-vegans, and vegans alike! People came and learned how much power we have to help make our community a more sustainable, healthier, and kinder place for all.

Encouraged by the success of this event, we’re already preparing for the Second Annual Eugene VeganFest on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026.

About the Author:
Hope Bohanec is the organizer of the Eugene VeganFest (www.EugeneVeganFest.org) and the Executive Director of Compassionate Living. (www.compassionate-living.org)

Resources:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba7357

https://www.newsweek.com/even-one-persons-food-choices-effect-whole-planet-opinion-2030211

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/27/oregon-bill-would-ban-new-livestock-farms-in-states-most-polluted-areas/

American Born Taiwanese

American Born Taiwanese

By Alyssa Huang, age 15, freshman, California

I have two identities, as reflected in my name. My first name originates from the West and contains Greek, English, and Irish roots. It means “rational thinker” and “prospering flower.” By contrast, my last name comes from the Far East. It means “yellow” in Mandarin—an imperial color that symbolizes beauty and balance. When pronounced in Mandarin, my last name flows off the tongue, like a gentle breeze blowing over green meadows in warm sunlight. However, in America, its symbolism and beauty become completely lost. The Phonetic English pronunciation of my last name, “Hawaaaang”, steam rolls over its naturally melodious tone and sounds like a rusty bell, jarring and dissonant.

Crunch. Textured rocks smash across the Earth’s pavement. Every second graders’ hands enthusiastically create “skin colored paints” from chocolate brown and cream-colored rocks. All but mine. I squint and scrutinize the creek bed, searching desperately for tan-yellow rocks that match my skin color. None exist, so I settle on a cocoa-colored rock and forcefully grind it into paint to fulfill the mandatory assignment: a self portrait made using “rock paint.” Later that afternoon, classmates bustle around the classroom taping up their masterpieces. I find myself encircled by a perfectly-matching array of smiling, white-faced portraits. After struggling to find a space on the wall, I hide my solemn-faced, dark-skinned image in the corner. That summer, I avoid the sun, duck behind shadows, and slather on thick white sunscreen to protect my delicate, thin skin. But my complexion remains yellow and tanned. Nothing changes.

For two years, I coexist with my school classmates as a foreigner. When fourth grade finally ends, I feel relieved and ready for my anticipated summer vacation— visiting my grandparents in Washington DC. “Nai Nai!” I shout as I run into Grandma’s warm, outstretched arms. As she envelopes me in her unconditional love, a calm peace washes over my small frame. I tilt my head back to admire Nai Nai’s dark brown, almond-shaped eyes. They appear kind and gentle, strong and wise. I notice my own reflection in her eyes, sigh deeply, and entwine my fingers with Nai Nai’s, creating a seamless blend of golden-brown. Later that day, Nai Nai ushers me to visit her friends. “Let me introduce you to my Garden Group,” she says. We approach an elderly circle of Taiwanese ladies who peer at me curiously and ask, “Ni shi shei?” (Who are you?)  Nai Nai responds, “Wo de sun nu.” (My granddaughter). I survey the wise elders, who share my ancestry and heritage, and feel emboldened. Having spent the year learning Mandarin as my World Language, I prepare to show off. ”Knee howe, woe jiow Huwang Leeshawn,” I enunciate slowly, trying to capture the correct tones. The women’s happy, squinting eyes grow big and round. “Ta bu jiang guo yu?” (She doesn’t speak Mandarin?), Nai Nai rescues me and responds in fluent Mandarin, “Ta shi mei guo shen de.” (She is American-born). The women nod politely, but look away to conceal their disappointment. To them, I am an American foreigner. Not Taiwanese enough.

In the fall of sixth grade, Social Emotional Learning class begins to address the previously taboo topics of race and ethnicity. At my table, two Minority students describe hateful words and years of feeling like outcasts. I empathize with their pain and begin sharing my own story, but they cut me off. “You don’t know anything about racism!” they exclaim. A statement, not a question. “You’re Asian, so you’ve never experienced discrimination in your life!” My jaw drops, but no words emerge. I feel so paralyzed that I cannot muster a response. “Asian racism doesn’t exist,” they announce, then walk away, leaving me isolated yet again. Later that afternoon, I greet a new Asian classmate before entering my advisory. She complains about her “Asian Tiger Mother’s tough expectations.” “My mom can be tough, too,” I comment, trying to empathize. The Asian classmate suddenly steps away from me. “What do you mean? You’re not….” she hesitates before pursing her lips. “I’m not what?” I ask. “Well,” she stammers, “You’re not really…. Never mind, you don’t get it.” We stand side-by-side in awkward silence. My classmate never completes her sentence aloud, but her facial expression is clairvoyant, for I have encountered this scenario before. My classmate speaks Mandarin at home, whereas I speak English. In her eyes, I am a fake Asian, or a “Twinkie”—someone who is yellow (Asian) on the outside but intrinsically white (American) on the inside. I pull my hoodie over my head and walk towards the carpool circle.

Eighth grade ends, and summer finally arrives. For the first time since COVID, I attend summer camp—a week-long Taiwanese cultural camp called Taiwanese American Next Generation (TANG). While unpacking my clothes in my dormitory room, I hear a hollow knock at the wooden entryway. The door swings open, and my assigned roommate steps into our shared space. My eyes widen because it feels like I am staring at a mirror. Like me, she dons an NBA athletic T-shirt and Nike basketball sliders ; a crooked ponytail keeps her long, black hair away from her sun-tanned face. “I’m Audrey,” she announces, then offers me a fist pump. For the next half an hour, my New Jersey-born “ABC” roommate and I speak in excited tones, sharing stories about our families as we walk towards the camp’s opening ceremony. Once at the auditorium, a speaker begins addressing all two hundred campers in Mandarin. I glance sideways at Audrey and notice her head tilt in a confused manner. Creased lines appear on both our golden-skinned foreheads. “Do you understand this?” she giggles, “Because I don’t!”

Immediately, I smile. “Me neither,” I reply.

—Alyssa Huang, age 15, freshman, California. She adds: “My name is Alyssa… I am a Taiwanese-American.

“California is typically thought of as a melting pot of cultures, but I grew up in an overwhelming homogeneous Caucasian neighborhood. When asked about my nationality, well-meaning neighbors have shockingly confused Taiwan with Thailand, or insisted that Taiwan is the same thing as China (The People’s Republic of China). (But, it’s not). 

“As a child, I felt embarrassed about my ethnicity and dark colored skin. It was a huge relief to me when middle school arrived, and new Asian students enrolled in my sixth grade classroom. However, those new students were fluent in Mandarin, and I found myself being teased for choosing to take Mandarin as my “foreign language.” 

“The first time I ever felt truly accepted was at Taiwanese American Next Generation (TANG). TANG is a week-long, multi-generational, Taiwanese cultural camp that I attend with my brother, cousins, parents, and grandparents. We engage in fun Taiwanese games, listen to Taiwanese speakers like Arthur Chu (an eleven-time Jeopardy! winner), and learn about Taiwanese culture. At TANG, we share an appreciation for Taiwanese food and also a deep value of family, relationships, and community. TANG openly welcomes non-Taiwanese (my co-campers include Indian, Haitian, European, and Korean-Americans). I love that Taiwanese culture is warm, welcoming, and inclusive.

“Nowadays, I confidently bring Taiwanese pineapple cakes to social events and gladly compare cultures with my European, Latino, Indian, and Persian friends. I recognize that building an inclusive community requires honesty, insight, and sharing. It’s important for me to listen to my peers, but also contribute my part. I’m finally able to share about myself and my background—because I’m finally proud of my Taiwanese-American heritage.”

Knowledge is Power, Hope is Healing

Knowledge is Power, Hope is Healing:
Empowering Youth to Combat Suicide

The Create Resilience Youth Art Contest for Suicide Prevention is your chance to make a difference! You can submit your creative work—an essay, poem, song, story, or something else—focused on improving youth mental health. Send your entries by August 1st, 2025. Contest winners will be announced on September 10th, which is World Suicide Prevention Day. Cash prizes for the winners! Get creative and share your voice! For more information, click here. (PS: This contest is limited to Oregon youth aged 13 to 21 only). 

By participating, you can help stop the silence, shame, and stigma around mental health. Each one of us is born unique. We are one-of-a-kind and can never be replaced. Think of everyone as a seed—when given the right care and attention, we can grow into something amazing. The gift of life is the most precious gift of all. Yet, there are those who feel so incredibly alone, hurt, without hope, and in so much pain, that they don’t want to live anymore.

Tragically, suicide is a leading cause of death, both in the U.S. and around the world. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. And, in Oregon, it is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34. Having access to lethal means (like guns) greatly increases the risk of suicide. That’s why it’s important to always make sure guns are safely secured.

“Time and distance” help prevent suicide. When we are suicidal, we do not think rationally. Our thinking is all distorted. We forget the truth that there is hope and that the pain we feel will not last forever and we can and will feel better again. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Giving ourselves “time” means we do not react impulsively or make plans to end our life. Instead, we calm ourselves by doing “box breathing,” engaging in healthy distractions like listening to music, reading, making art, exercising, and more. We reach out for support by calling or texting 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number), contacting trustworthy adults or friends, and speaking with our therapist or doctor. We can visit a nearby walk-in crisis center or go to a hospital emergency room.

We need to create “distance” from weapons, dangerous medications, substance use, and alcohol. We also need “distance” from negative and distorted thoughts. That’s why reaching out for help is important. When we are in emotional distress, we may feel like we are a “burden” to others, but that is just not true! By sharing our thoughts and feelings with people who care, we gain the clarity we need to start addressing the actual problems.

Your being alive is not the problem! You very much deserve to be alive—and—to stay alive.

We can all help prevent suicide, and knowing the warning signs that put us at risk is essential. Some of the warning signs to look out for include mood changes such as sadness, depression, irritability, anger, social isolation, change in sleep and/or appetite, loss of interest in activities, lack of pleasure, and thoughts of dying.

Asking someone if they are having thoughts about ending their life or not wanting to wake up again is not going to increase their risk of suicide. In fact, asking directly can be the first step to saving their life. It’s also important to share our concerns with a trusted adult, who can help determine the best course of action.

Resources including the 988 Lifeline, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and National Alliance on Mental Illness provide valuable support and help. Please take the time to check them out! Your life and the life of your loved ones will thank you.

By Diane Kaufman, MD. Diane is a poet, artist, humanism-in-medicine awardee, retired child psychiatrist, and founder/director of the Hold On Campaign for Suicide Prevention that uses the power of art to educate, connect, express, and heal. She can be reached at diane@holdoncampaign.org.

Climate Concert

Climate Concert

By Elaine Elizabeth Jinto, age 14, Bengaluru, India.

we had had a scorching summer
and every AC in the house-
hold was on all the time
but it wasn’t hard for us
like it was for the farmers
who longed for rain, for crops
that he had sowed in summer.
at last it was, finally, June
and we gathered on the balcony
hoping to see nature’s finest performance
raindrop musicians, thunder-clapping audience
spotlighted by lightning, the aroma rising
from the loamy soil of Earth.

My little brother was most eager
to see rain falling, to do
what the rest of us have done
to race through the puddles, to
make paper boats and sail them
to run barefoot in the water, that
icy tingle shocking his little legs
to taste those cool, clean drops
and to drink steaming hot chai*
and to eat bhajia** at the end
but it did not rain, like
it was supposed to, and he
grew despondent, sad, waiting for rain
each day, his eyes searching for
those welcome clouds, to bring rain
to this parched, peppery, dry earth.

And finally, it did, though not
at the time dictated by nature
and we did not let him go out
he asked us why, and we
told him about climate change and
fossil fuel, pollution and everything else
that was happening these days to
Nature, and he grew angry, and
blamed the older generation, for
being greedy, plundering loot from nature
leave behind nothing for his generation
and asked us what stories he
would tell his grandchildren. Of technology?

*Chai is Indian spiced tea, made especially by boiling the tea leaves with milk, sugar, and cardamom, etc.
**bhajia is a type of fritter originating in the Indian subcontinent. It is made from spicy hot vegetables, commonly onion, and has several variants.
We often enjoy these during the monsoons.

By Elaine Elizabeth Jinto, age 14, grade 9, Bengaluru, India. She adds: “I am originally from the State of Kerala, but I was born and raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka. I can speak Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada, along with English. I started writing in 3rd grade, beginning with a poem about a playground. I serve as the Editor-in-chief of our school magazine. I understand the impact writing has when it comes to spreading the right messages.
“I love writing and reading about everyday things that I can relate to. I generally do not follow a strict form in my poems, because I get more room for creativity… Through my poems and prose, I like to give voices to those silent and mundane events that play a huge role in our everyday lives.”

Vaccinations and Our Disease of Doubt

Vaccinations and Our Disease of Doubt

By Adam Salgado, grade 10, Texas.

Since the first days of vaccination there has always been hesitancy in using such preventative measures, however now it has become a talking point for mainstream political candidates. Despite global successes and proven science, in recent decades anti-vaccination ideology has proliferated on a shocking scale. With multiple parties and religious groups attacking their use and credibility, we must ask ourselves how vaccines became such a widely debated issue, and as our government begins to take a hardened perspective on vaccination, we must prepare to curb this wave of medical misinformation.

History shows that it doesn’t take much to convince people that painful things are bad. Oftentimes an unrealistic fear of such things can be extremely harmful. We do not fear going to the gym, or exercising, but sometimes it feels daunting. The same is true for vaccines. However, with vaccines, it is much easier to employ the ever present doubt in the government. This doubt in the government, and medicine as a whole, was especially present in the late 1700s and the 1800s.

In Anti-vax: the history of a scientific problem by a psychology professor in Chile, Dr. Miguel Gallegos, et. al. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9383768/) the authors write that “It is important to note that the anti-vaccination movement dates back to 1796 when the English doctor Edward Jenner introduced the smallpox vaccine. This vaccine reduced the number of deaths caused by smallpox,… and in 1979 the disease was officially eradicated.” During the 18th century medicine was particularly primitive, with the only vaccine literally being the (inactive) virus it warded against, so, it is natural that some members of the public might have developed a sense of dread surrounding vaccines. These hesitations were merited, in a time where illness could end up in death. However, In the modern day and age, we get to look back on history, with clear evidence that vaccines did work and they still continue to work.

The vaccines available these days are far more effective, as well as harmless, but this does not alter the fact that vaccines are nonetheless a widely-disputed issue. Also in Anti-vax, the authors write, “Until now, it is well known that immunizations are the world’s safest method to prevent diseases. People against immunizations represent a relevant part of the global population and examining the negative attitudes towards vaccines should be included in the world’s scientific agenda.”

A percentage of the population has always doubted vaccines, but recently vaccine requirements have become a widespread political issue. These confounding attitudes towards scientifically proven medicine are often baffling, and they make it important to study, and hopefully curtail the misinformation that has bred distrust of vaccines. This issue exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic, when after the release of the vaccine, President Trump began staunchly opposing the vaccine mandates. However, this opposition extended far beyond the U.S. borders and was a global phenomenon.

An opposition to mandatory vaccination requirements is understandable. In order to prepare for future pandemics, we must first understand what causes people to resist vaccination. Without changes in public mindset, their widespread use would be much more difficult.

Our current administration’s attitude towards vaccinations is particularly frightening, and will create a real danger to public health. American politics have significant influence over this issue, and key players in the anti-vaccine movement such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. are shaping up to have more sway than ever on vaccinations. According to Truthout, Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as Surgeon General during Trump’s first administration, said “If RFK has a significant influence on the next administration, that could further erode people’s willingness to get up to date with recommended vaccines.”

The anti-vaccine attitude of the current administration will have a negative impact on public health as a whole. If people do not get vaccinated, it will not only be an issue for the ones not taking them, but also for anybody around them who may be immunocompromised, making this dangerous and all the more worrisome. Truthout also reported that “…the Trump-Kennedy alliance has alluded to taking certain vaccines off the market. Both have made claims that vaccines are linked to autism, despite the fact that this has been repeatedly debunked in scientific studies across several decades. Nevertheless, Trump didn’t rule out the possibility of banning some vaccines in an interview with NBC News.”

This skewed perspective towards vaccines has left many worried—and not without reason. While vaccines may not be universally accepted, the idea of banning them, or making them less available for those who need them, can be more than enough to cause unease about the future of medical care in America.

Controversial though they may be, vaccines are widely accepted for a reason. It is not the place of our leaders—whomever they may be—to argue against centuries of proven success. Vaccines are as beneficial to human beings as bathing, and while it may seem trivial to some, the decision to vaccinate can mean life or death to some, especially the week, the elderly and the immunocompromised. The only real cure for the disease of doubt is awareness. During the next four years this awareness will be more important than ever, as vaccines are battered from all sides with misinformation and distrust.

—Adam Salgado, grade 10, Texas.