Earth Day 2013

April 22 marks the 33 Earth Day in the United States.  The idea for a day dedicated to the environment originated 7 years earlier by Senator Gaylord Nelson.  He was concerned over the lack to awareness and regulations of the pollutants being released into our world. 

Now more than 30 years later, Earth Day and its organizers have increased public awareness of pollutants, identified and promoted “green” acts, have leveraged our schools and communities to enhance the knowledge and dedication of our youth to the cause, and countless other accomplishments. 

The Earth Day website (http://act.earthday.org/) is tracking personal pledges to commit “green” acts.  The pledges include recycling grocery bags, unplugging appliances, recycle paper and plastic, and buying more local food.  While each of these acts may seem futile on their own, the impact of the collected group across the globe will have a significant impact on our environment, especially over an extended period of time.  To date the website has over 1 billion personal pledges.  

What do you think of Earth Day?  What are some additional ways we can support Earth Day at school and in our community?  What are things you do at home?  Are there any additional activities you would be willing to commit to at home to support “green” living?

The Boston Marathon

On Monday the city of Boston celebrated Patriot’s Day with its annual running of the Boston Marathon.  The Boston Marathon originated in 1897.  In that year they had somewhere around 15 participants.  Since then the number of participants has swelled each year.  It has become one of the largest marathons in the world and is one of the six World Marathons Majors.

Boston has always considered its place in history with pride and honor.  The first battles of the Revolutionary War took place in Lexington and Concord, miles from Boston.  In order to commemorate the enormity and symbolism of the birth of the United States and its independence and liberty, Boston has designated the third Monday in April as Patriot’s Day.  As part of the city’s celebration, the annual Boston Marathon is run on the same day. 

I imagine it was difficult for the first planners of the race to envision what the race was going to become.  With 15 participants in the first race, they would have had no idea the numbers would swell to over 20,000 annual runners.  In 1996, its centennial race, the Boston Marathon set the world record for participants with 38,768 entrants, 36,748 runners and 35,868 finishers.  In 2013, there were 23,336.  Those runners came from 92 different countries and every state in the Union.  In addition they represented 35 official charities and numerous causes, including Sandy Hook Elementary.  Not to mention the 500,000 spectators who come to celebrate human achievement by cheering on the runners.

We all know how the race ended in 2013.  3 dead and 175 injured.  Unfortunately, senseless violence has become a part of our lives.  Whether it is terrorist actions using explosives or mass shootings in schools or other public forums, we have lost our innocence.   

It would be easy for us to live in fear or paranoia and become untrusting of our society.  That is the evil trap we have to avoid.  I believe we have to focus on the selfless acts of heroism and the countless stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help each other get through these times.  We have to continue to find the good in our neighbors and try to inspire the world through our Christ-like behaviors.  It is not easy. 

Do you think there has been an increase in the amount of violence in our society?  What do you think is causing people to turn to violent acts?  What do you think we can do as a society to decrease acts of violence?  What can we do for Boston to help the city and its people recover?

Guns in the United States

Today the United States Senate passed a procedural bill that will allow the Senate to start the process to consider additional gun control laws.  While it is a long way from approving any measures, it was a great step towards passing laws expanding background checks on gun purchases.

The issue of gun control took on a national priority in wake to the tragedy in Connecticut in December.  Government representatives and citizens from regions across America were horrified by the crazed actions of a man with a gun and his assault on innocent school children.  As with any inexplicable situation, people look for answers and action. 

Amongst other checks, the law under consideration would require background checks to be conducted in private sales of weapons including the transfer of weapons between family members.  Current law only requires background checks to be completed when a gun is bought from a Federal Firearms Dealer, this does not include private transactions.  According to CNN 80-90% of criminals obtained their weapon from a family member, acquaintance or from a street transaction. 

While many are in favor of tighter gun control and additional background checks, there are also many concerned additional background checks may lead to requirements that are too expansive and infringe on our constitutional right to bear arms provided by the second amendment.  They are also not convinced additional background checks would have prevented the tragedy at Sandy Hook.  The National Rifle Association last week proposed options they believe would make our schools safer.  In addition to other security checks and education, they were proposing the arming and training of teachers and other school personnel. 

What are your thoughts about gun control in the United States?  Even though schools have proven to be some of the safest places for children, when something like Sandy Hook happens, we evaluate potential changes, such as arming teachers.  Of the two proposals presented, which do you think would be more effective in reducing gun violence?  

North Korea

The United States is taking recent threats by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea seriously.  The DPRK, or North Korea, has communicated it is a state of war with South Korea and the United States.  Kim Jong Un, the 30 year old leader of North Korea, is threatening to attack United States bases in Korea and in other places in the Pacific. 

Kim Jong Un is using the recent military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea as a catalyst to rally his nation behind the idea of being the victim of the aggressions of their neighbors and America.  The propaganda deployed by the North Korean government is shocking but effective with the people of North Korea.

The threats from North Korean’s head of state is nothing new.  Kim Jong Un’s father and grandfather have been saber rattling about the United States and South Korea since the armistice was reached in the 1953, ending the fighting of the Korean War.  While the threats are nothing new, the variables have changed.  Kim Jong Un is young and unpredictable.  His inexperience in world affairs concerns leaders in our state department and Pentagon.  In addition, North Korea, while still lacking the necessary technology to launch an attack on the United States, their nuclear and warfare technology is far more advanced than it was a year ago.

While the United States and South Korea are preparing for potential attacks, they are trying to figure out what North Korea wants and how they can put an end to the rhetoric.  The recent statements from Kim Jong Un can be for a number of reasons including:

1.        An attempt to coerce the South Koreans and the United States to provide additional aid the North Korea

2.       Demonstrating North Korea’s resentment and anger towards the United Nations about recent sanctions against North Korea due to their unauthorized nuclear weapon testing

3.       An attempt to distract the North Korean people from their current economic struggles and give them some national issue to rally behind

4.       A desire to show strength to his people and over compensate for his lack of age and experience

The most tragic part of the story is the plight of the people of North Korea.  Since the government controls access to information, the people do not understand the realities of the world outside of the DPRK.  They truly believe everything they hear from the government and the lies about the United States.  These are people who are starving.  They lack the basic needs of survival.  Instead of the government investing in their people, they continue to invest in warfare technology.   

What do you think about the threats from North Korea?  How should the United States respond?  How should the United States respond if North Korea attacks South Korea or a United States base in Asia?