"I'm crazy about journalism, as I love being able to open people's eyes to unique events and powerful ideas in the world around them."
"Actions in Spotlight has encouraged me to learn more about why these inequalities exist and how society can resolve them through the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals."
"Actions encourages other young people to learn more and speak out for the causes they support; our voices will be heard."
"Actions in Spotlight has encouraged me to learn more about why these inequalities exist and how society can resolve them through the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals."
"Actions encourages other young people to learn more and speak out for the causes they support; our voices will be heard."
Nonfiction in response to Partnerships for the Goals
May 2019
When I was little, my teachers taught my peers and me skills like adding and subtracting, reading and writing. They also taught us other skills like sharing with each other, talking about our problems, and negotiating solutions. These are basic principles...
By Georgia Bernbaum
May 2019
Nonfiction in response to Partnerships for the Goals
To achieve all 16 goals, the United Nations put forth the 17th goal which encourages collaboration between public and private sector to achieve the goals.Schools, public or private, play an important role to help achieve this 17th goal. They should prepare the future...
By Grace Muresan
Nonfiction in response to Affordable and Clean Energy
July 2018
Providing Affordable and Clean Energy for All
By Amrita Bhasin
Image Credit: Colin Yuan
In a time where our society is progressing at such a fast rate, it is critical to consider the level of innovation in the rest of the world. Indeed, something as straightforward to you and me as flicking a light switch before bed is not as simple for others.
There are two separate problems at play here, and it is imperative that both are given consideration. First, there is the fact of making energy affordable for the average citizen. According to News United Nations, “one billion people still live without any access to any electricity at all – 500 million in Africa and more than 400 million in the Asia-Pacific region,” and “three billion still cook and heat their homes without the benefit of clean fuels and more efficient technologies” (News United Nations). Many don’t consider the details behind how electricity is obtained in America, but around one seventh of the world doesn’t have this luxury. And considering how important electricity is for everyday use, think of all the opportunities that could be opened for others in different parts of the world if they didn’t have to worry about how to heat their homes.
On the other hand, we also have to evaluate how to shift towards cleaner and healthier energy, if not for the benefit of the environment, then for us. Every year, levels of carbon dioxide reach an unprecedented high impacting all living creatures. Furthermore, it is important to note that “civilization is in no immediate danger of running out of energy or even just out of oil. But we are running out of environment—that is, out of the capacity of the environment to absorb energy’s impacts without risk of intolerable disruption” (Scientific American). In other words, society must find a way to provide affordable energy to all and do in a way that doesn’t negatively impact the environment any more than it already has.
Fortunately, new legislation is being proposed to prioritize clean and affordable energy. Maybe then, we can help the one billion people who don’t have the same luxuries as we.