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The earth will take a deep breath again
Isolation knocked at our doorsteps, silently letting the chaos take away our loved ones, in a cold whisper that we never heard Time seemed to reach a full stop, after an eternity of chasing after us We stalked those moments that had passed by our helpless eyes and my hungry mind fed on the fear- That now creeps in The fear that this remoteness may envelope me, in a dark blanket And dim our bright eyes of the earth’s beauty In the ethereal paintings made by the sky, and the moonlight illuminating the streets And not to forget, the desolate and ugly that hides in corners within a planet that...
Altruistic Service
I am a member of the "Tibi Rident Foundation" where we seek to train young people in the city of Pereira in an environment of altruistic service, carrying out training in five areas which are the fundamental pillars, which are "Family, Social, Spiritual, Personal and Educational". For society in recent years, indifference towards social or economic classes has increased exponentially, where the neglect of vulnerable communities has been the main reason for the lack of support for them, from the departmental to the national government. For this reason, young people from the city of Pereira...
It's Not Over
In the midst of this pandemic, there have been a few terms passed around the media. The terms "Rebuild" and "Reimagine" are the ideals of what we want to do while shaping the future we want to live once we get through these unprecedented times. In a world so afraid of change, we are being told that it will happen one way or another. The idea that we will not go back to the way things use to be, but to a new normal being sculpted along this journey has divided people based on their feelings and fears. We are taking notes in fields like education, government, and the sciences and learning in...
'B' for the Beauty of Being
Everyone and everything is absolutely beautiful. Sometimes you need a special situation to realize certain things. Staying at home gave me an opportunity to understand what I want and who I am. I started to notice the beauty of being and sharing. Being a human being and sharing knowledge and love. Being a tree and sharing air and fruits. Being an earthworm and sharing the care about the earth and etc. Give yourself some time to realize it. I did and it's a part of my daily routine. Be a friendly alien who didn't come to Earth to destroy everything.
Cambodia and the challenges for businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic
The Mask
Wearing a mask has become a sign of utmost empathy one can show to another We do not wear a mask to protect ourselves, but rather to protect others It is an implicit statement of love, not fear I wear my mask to prevent the spread of the virus that can make you sick Not because I think everyone around me has the virus and wants to infect me Not because I am afraid of the virus I wear my mask to comfort you, not to make you feel apprehensive I wear my mask as a solider in this war against a microscopic threat that spares nobody It is armor Six feet apart and a piece of fabric to cover our face...
The Environment: Post-Pandemic Possibilities
As we delve deeper into the ambush of COVID-19, the notion of the increase of environmental awareness has been put into question. From the pre-eminent headlines of the decline of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions in Northern Italy, drop of coal usage by 40% in China, the possibility of Germany achieving its climate goals to the calming sound of birdsong in areas where there were none, one thing is certain: nature is taking a breath of relief, enjoying a break from our environmental footprint. The global lockdown has certainly unmasked the reality of the environmental conditions and highlighted...
Sustainability: Looking Ahead
Singapore’s landscape is densely-populated, a concrete-jungle it can sometimes seem. As highlighted in Singapore’s NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions, intended to be presented at the COP meeting in 2020), it is important to consider urban planning for the future. I was first introduced to vertical farming for my exhibition in grade 4, when it was still a blossoming idea. Now, in cities around the world, planting trees in urban areas is seen as a way to still contribute to forestry while not losing out on property profit. In Milan, the hometown architect Stefano Boeri designed aesthetic...
A Meal Worth Sharing, But Prohibited | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Iftar + Ramadan | Nour At the beginning of Ramadan, Iftar starts at 6:43 PM and fasting starts nine hours later at 3:34 AM. Before we get ready to eat Iftar, some of us go to the market to prepare for the cooking. We cook the Iftar meal during the day to enjoy it in the evening once we have completed our fasting. This year celebrating Iftar is very different. These days, Iftar can be difficult because of COVID-19. We have to be safe to ensure that we do not spread the virus to our families because it is an extremely dangerous disease. Typically during Ramadan, you gather...
The Decision to Stay | Italians in Jordan
#COVID-Stories Selene + Mario | Students & Interns | Amman, Jordan What led you to move to Jordan from Italy? S: I moved to Jordan to improve my Arabic and when I saw there was an internship opportunity at the Arabic school, I decided to stay here long term. M: I had a similar experience - after my graduation I wanted to improve my Arabic abroad in an Arabic-speaking country. I have been wanting to study abroad since I started my university studies, and this year that dream came true. Why did you decide to stay in Jordan when borders were closing due to COVID-19? S: In Italy, the situation was...
Not Our Typical Fast | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Fasting + Ramadan | Khaled Ramadan is a time of special reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam, and the fast is one way Muslims come closer to Allah. Fasting as a spiritual act means that every Muslim should focus on getting closer to Allah, study and recite the Koran, and improve allegiance to Allah by giving to charity, practicing generosity in many ways, praying, and seeking forgiveness. On the other hand, fasting as a physical act means that Muslims...
Family at a Distance | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Family + Ramadan | Razan For Ramadan, we invite our family and friends for Iftar (evening meal to break the fast) and sit together to enjoy the precious moments of Ramadan. After Iftar and Isha prayer, families usually have entertainment and will eat Ramadan desserts called atayef. Families will smoke shisha together, watch TV, and meet up with friends. After our family gathering, we usually go downtown to eat kanafeh and drink jallab, a traditional Ramadan juice. COVID-19 is making Ramadan more difficult due to social distancing and is greatly affecting families this year...
Praying for the World | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Prayer + Ramadan | Aesa Ramadan is the only time of year in which we fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset, with prayer being a very important part of the process. We must pray five times per day, with the first prayer (Fajr) starting around 4:00 AM, just after our Suhoor meal. The second prayer (Dhuhr) begins around 1:15 PM, the third (Asr) around 5:00 PM, and the fourth prayer (Maghrib) around 8:00 PM. After Maghrib, we break our fast by eating Iftar. The fifth and final prayer of the day (Isha) begins after Iftar, which is around 9:30 PM. Ramadan is the only month in...
When Tourists Leave | Struggling Small Businesses
#COVID-Stories Ahmad | Business Owner | Amman, Jordan How have your language school and tourism company been affected by COVID-19? A: The tourism sector and international language schools are the two industries most impacted by COVID-19 in Jordan and around the world. There are no customers for businesses as a result of COVID-19. Back in March, a lot of customers and students began canceling their trips causing businesses to decline until there were absolutely no customers. Do you feel like the needs of your businesses are being addressed at this time? A: The government has been very...
Covid-19 A Student's Perspective
Let me set the scene for America about 3 months ago. Was our country not taking this situation seriously? The deciding government had not taken any actions yet and cases continued to rise. Fast forward to today? Well, we hear in the news that America has low testing kits, and other important supplies are in need for our health professionals. In California, where I stay, Beaches, State Parks, restaurants and all non-essential business are closed. Even sports are cancelled. We could have been more prepared for this situation considering the time we had. Now, COVID-19 has had a direct impact on...
“Our Leaders Have Failed Us at Every COP so We’re Building Our Own”: Youth Hold Virtual COP
Using art and writing to express ourselves.
Art is a wonderful way of expressing ourselves. Writing is another good way of expressing ourselves as well. Those two mediums of self-expression is what I use personally to help express not only myself, but my emotions and my thoughts, especially during this pandemic. Doing so is a healthy way of coping and expressing our emotions and feelings. We can draw friends hanging out and playing with each other, and write about how we miss playing with our friends. We can paint raining skies to show our sadness, and journal about why we are feeling. I personally like to write about how I am feeling...
Why Digital Striking Is Important
It has always been crucial to manifest in such a manner that we can generate an impact on those around us and our problems can be recognized. The impression that large social mobilizations generate is such that a large amount of attention is given to the problem that we want to be addressed. Our petitions begin to take space and our demands start to get heard, therefore creating the perfect situation for a positive outcome. The power that we hold in ourselves and in the decisions we take is most definitely enormous, as the various movements that have taken place through the years are perfect...
Why We Don't Vote
Ask me if I vote and I’ll tell you no. I’m told it’s important and necessary, yet I come from a city with strong views that appeal to mine anyways. Besides when I turned 18, I figured my vote wouldn’t even matter since the majority of the city/state see the world the way I see it. I’m a young person, I work, I pay bills, I go to school; I’m responsible. Yet aside from that, voting has always seemed pointless because there were many things that occurred in the time that I couldn’t vote (like Trump becoming president) that I did not approve of. Even now I do not feel like voting is the only or...