activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
I Predicted the Florida School Shooting
The evening of Monday, February 12, I was sitting in my chemistry lab measuring iron content of a salt complex when the fire alarm sounded and the sprinklers went off. My brain kicked into overdrive as I desperately racked my brain to remember all that I’d ever been taught in school drills about how to get safely out of the building. But before I had managed to grab my coat and make my way out of the lab, I heard what I never wanted to hear so close to me, gunshots. Now in complete shock, myself and the rest of my lab period stuck ourselves into the tiny back room, shut the door, and turned off the lights, hoping that we would get out of this alive.
Claire TurvillPublished 6 years ago in The SwampLooking at You Florida
No words can explain my seething anger at this moment. I have lost all faith in the slimy snakes who drivel feces from their mouth while pretending to care about those in their state and communities. There were two bills, TWO BILLS that would have banned assault rifles in Florida.
James HowellPublished 6 years ago in The SwampNew Yorkers Against Gun Violence Holds Rally in Front of Republican Headquarters
17 people needlessly shot dead at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. It certainly feels the same. So does the immediate, angry response that implores change. But determined high school students standing and demanding a 360 seems different. “Shame on You,” sounds like a rallying cry that has legs and certainly felt that way when Erin Fuller took the mic in front of Republican Headquarters in White Plains. In front of about 250 people, she let it be known that letting the NRA walk all over her (or anyone else) is not an option anymore.
Rich MonettiPublished 6 years ago in The SwampHear the Echo
It happened again and we are not surprised. It is a strange time to be alive. We have access to so much information all the time; we are bombarded with it daily, if we allow ourselves to be. I find myself riding the waves through the stages of grief every time. Splash, I am angry. Splash, I am looking for someone to blame. Splash, I am numb. Splash, angry again. No, I did not know anyone that was killed in this shooting, but why does that matter? When tragedy strikes, I feel it as though it has happened to me. It is not hard to connect to the terror, the loss, and pain. Having profound empathy is my ever-present gift and curse.
Jennifer TranPublished 6 years ago in The SwampStill The Carnage Continues
History is ripe with incidents that reoccur most times through different scenarios but tragically so much of the outcomes remain the same. We are living in an age where we have yet to learn from our mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them in the future. It was in the Capone era in Chicago when the infamous St. Valentines Day massacre occurred. The movie of the same name tried to glamorize the horrific violence that took place that day. So much of Hollywood has succeeded in profiting from movies that showcase mayhem, death, and destruction. Still guided by profits and nothing more they continue to pump out those types of movies. Our society today seems we can't get enough of the shock and aw. It shows with the ticket sales that make millions for the movie studios.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 6 years ago in The SwampWhat We Know About Mass Shootings
It has been two days since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida that has left 17 dead. While we mourn and share the stories of those who have died, it's also important to look forward and ask: what can we do next time? Because we're at a point in history where when it comes to mass shootings, the question is not if, but when.
Kath ClarkePublished 6 years ago in The SwampShould We Boycott the NFL?
I have heard a lot of talk about boycotting the NFL on both sides. Some want to boycott because of the way the players protest, and some want to boycott because the NFL and the NFLPA has not properly addressed it. There are even talks about keeping teams in the locker room until after the national anthem is over next year, to avoid controversy.
James HowellPublished 6 years ago in The SwampIt's Ok to Be...
"I see no changes, all I see are racist faces, misplaced hate makes disgrace to races.”- Tupac Shakur There has been a rash of flyers popping up in North Carolina as well as other states. These flyers state that “It’s ok to be white.” These are being put up by hate groups such as the Loyal White Knights of NC, among other groups. I’m not saying it’s not ok to be white. I am saying that this is a slogan of oppression and fear mongering, and that is not ok.
James HowellPublished 6 years ago in The SwampNever Forget Where You Come From
There has been a trend lately among NFL players and others. I’m not talking about kneeling, I’m talking about making changes in their own community. It started with Colin Kaepernick, who has been raising money and handing out backpacks in lower income communities. It continues with Nick Foles, a Super Bowl winner and MVP who decided to be a pastor in schools in his own community. There is also Chris long who donated his entire years’ salary to Charlottesville after the horrible and tragic events that left one person dead and others severely wounded. This was his hometown, and he felt compelled to help it heal.
James HowellPublished 6 years ago in The SwampEndangered: Coral Reefs
Imagine scuba-diving in the shallow waters of the ocean and seeing the beautiful variation of colors on every single unique reef fish, giant clam, lobster, seahorse, and sea turtle swimming above the vibrant corals. Coral reefs are home to all of those amazing creatures and many more. They depend on the reefs for survival—without them, those species wouldn't exist.
Sam VillemairePublished 6 years ago in The SwampSingle Payer Health Care: How We Can Achieve It, a Call to Action
Republicans don’t want single-payer because they really would prefer we pay for everything, from healthcare, to education. Forget about conceding to party lines. Think about who needs health care and why they need it. The CDC figures that as of 2012, 117 million people have chronic illnesses. We Americans are not as healthy as we would like to imagine. Our entire system is in decay, with extreme bills making people unable to keep up their payments when treating a chronic health condition. This is frustrating to many of us average folk who see billionaires getting immense tax breaks. The money just piles on, since the majority of Americans are far from being the 1%.
Iria Vasquez-PaezPublished 6 years ago in The SwampWhat Does Our Future Hold?
Humanity is at its peak of development. We live in the age of advancement, whether it's space travel, cancer treatment, or virtual reality. With such an exponential growth of wealth and technologies, one must wonder, what does our future hold?
Patrick WilsonPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp