The Green News“Aztec Goddess of Water” By Carmen Antaky, Grade 12, Skyline High School, Oakland, CA

An environmental online news magazine by & for youth2012 Anthology: Collection of Writings, Photography & Art

Welcometo the 7th edition of the Green News anthology

EarthTeam’s mission is to empower teens to become lifelong environmental stewards through experiential education, skills development, and the building of community connections.

The Green News includes a website full of student writings, art, photography, poetry and video, a monthly email newslet-ter sent to over 5,000 subscribers, and an Annual Visuals and Voics Contest made up of all submis-sions to the Green News. The mission of the Green News is to inspire other teens as well as the general public about the needs of

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Stipends are available say for students who bcome members of the Student Editorial Board (SEB). To be an SEB member you need to be a high school or

middle school student, submit nine months of the year, do one interview, do one Fact of the Month and make a comment to each of three new submittals.

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Eco-Stewards is an in-depth classroom and field trip program that provides hands on restoration ac-tivities at local watersheds. Students discover the con-nection between individual actions and the health of watersheds in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Waste Action Project teaches and inspires stu-dents to address the issue of waste on their school campuses and their com-munities by practicing the 4R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Re-cycle, Rot). Students assess existing waste and the recy-cling system by conducting a waste audit and running a peer education campaign.

Aqua Team is a steward-ship and leadership pro-gram for Richmond High School students featuring watershed education and restoration. Students meet weekly to learn about their local environment and par-ticipate in environmental restoration.

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The Green News Anthology: Index[ ]

The Best of Warming, Nicole Wong................................................1Tsunami, Sam Brunetta.....................................................................1Alpha and Omega, Julienne Fusello..................................................2Our Atmosphere, Julie Saechin........................................................2Human, Sophie Hecht........................................................................2Wind Power, Andrew Nielsen...........................................................2

Global Warming

Reusing & RecyclingUnspoker Truth, Stephanie Hang....................................................5Tree Leaves, Emmalyn Tringali........................................................5Azure Skies, Cameron White............................................................5Going Green, Tommy Yee................................................................6

NatureLost Nature, Jessica Hoffman...........................................................8Tiger, Shree Patel...............................................................................8After the Rains, Irene Tait...............................................................9The Gateway, Lilly Quint................................................................9Flower in the Rain, Lauren Fish...................................................10A Flower Story, Mia Stewart.........................................................10While You Have It, Kelsey Quan...................................................11John Muir, Natalie Chow................................................................11Neck of Grace, Francisco Rodrigues...............................................11Clouds Gather Over the Rockies, Adam O’Camb.....................12While You Have It, Kelsey Quan...................................................12Beautify, Mia Taapken....................................................................13Undefeated, Stephanie Hang..........................................................13Canopy Sky, Tyler Jolley..................................................................14

Vice Versa Global Warming, Michaela Shin..................................3Professional Profile: Debra Berliner, Ecology Center, Pallavi Sherikar..................................................................................3Who?, Payton Ellis............................................................................4Oil Refinery, Kelly Elmore................................................................4There Is Hope, Rosalie Herman......................................................4

Flower of the Earth, Lauren Kozicki............................................6Eco-Friendly Shopping, Gloria “Jack” Mejia-Cuellar..................7Playground, Tessa van Bergen..........................................................7

Favorite Tree, Krystal Ching..........................................................14We and the Earth, Shree Patel.......................................................15Ecological Footprint, Christine Fraher.........................................15Aztec Goddess of Water, Carmen Antaley.................................16A Better Solution, Anna Chen.....................................................16Sedum, Gaby Jizrawi......................................................................17Dragonfly, Alex Duryea................................................................17Underwater Families, Maily Ochoa..............................................18Sunrise, Michaela Shin...................................................................18Stranger in a Stranger Land, Kelsey Quan...................................19Birds With Berries, Julie Ko..........................................................19Butterfly Tree, Julie Olsen..............................................................19King of Frogs, Rebecca Vaughan..................................................19

ServiceAqua Team Conducts Sandy Beach Monitoring, Yesenia Chavez..............................................................................20Through the Atmosphere, Kristen Ridgers.................................20Action of the Month: Gardening, Kim Mejia-Cuellar...............21

Bugs, Ellen Fabini........................................................................21Media Academy Garden Goes Green, Jazmin Garcia..............22Professional Profile: Katharine M. Noonan, Stephanie Hang..23

FictionWhat Is Our Future? Riley Felt................................................24Waterfall in a Forest Creek, Jessica Roque.................................24

Caught in the Moment, Lilly Quint...........................................25Creating Solutions Mural, Creative Power Participants................25

1 | Global Warming

What if I warmed your heartSo that the iciness of livingcould melt apart.

Maybe some days I’m careless thoughAnd leave the light on all night,Ruin the wrong placesAnd make what’s farthest north and south go out of sight.Even Kilimanjaro doesn’t look much the same in height.

What if I warmed your life.It’s a give and take you know.Because while you seem to stay happy,The world loses its glow;The sun stays here too longand undoes all that the earth stows.

What if I warmed the world,only the kind that takes holdin friendshipsAnd walking hand in handMaking jokes that aren’t cold.

Then I wouldn’t have to see the waters get too highOr the snow leave too soonOr the earth become less wel-coming,No longer a boon.

What if we warmed and toasted

our spunkSo that we’d have fights in the oceanRather than be air conditioning punksAnd run in the rain when we’re hot,Leaving behind the shopping and pampering thatI’m not.

Then I’ll be okayKnowing that we’re in this for good measure;Let’s keep it all like thisso we won’t make worse the weather,And the only change will come fromthe temperaturein your heart.

The Best of Warming

By Nicole Wong, Grade 11St. Ignatius College Preparatory,

San Francisco, CA

Tsunami By Sam Brunetta, Grade 9, French American International School, San Francisco, CAOne must respect nature to obtain good results from it. We can prevent tsunamis by putting hydraulic, concrete enforced barriers that could pre-vent damage and perhaps save lives. A big part of being prepared for a tsunami is to inform people so they will have time to act. The government. It must provide the resources for people to survive and prepare.

Global Warming | 2

Our AtmosphereBy Julie Saechin, Grade 10,

Oakland High School, Oakland, CA

HumanBy Sophie Hecht, Grade 8,

Sequoia Middle School, Pleasant Hill, CA

Alpha and Omega By Julienne Fusello, Grade 11, International High School, San Francisco, CAThis is based on the recent event of 4000 blackbirds falling from the sky. It represents the negative and destructive human impact on ani-mals. I changed the natural V flying formation of birds to a fusion of the Alpha and Omega signs. These signs come from the phrase “I am the Alpha and the Omega, I am the first and the last”, from the Book of Revelation, echoing this apocalyptic scene. The man in the hazard-ous material suit represents humanity. The mask marks the separation between human and animal.

When people walk around, we don’t really think about the air that we breathe. If people stopped to think about how big of an impact we have on our world’s atmosphere, I think things would change. We would have a healthier environment. There are many man made chemi-cals that we put into the atmosphere. If we changed the things that we use on a daily basis, then this world would be even more beautiful. Be-hind all the chemicals is a beautiful sky that should be exposed.

Destructive, magnificentGrow, conquer, loveLife, death, earth, educationHurtful, kindYou & Me

Wind Power By Andrew Nielsen, Grade 11, Clayton Valley High School, Clayton Valley, CA

Vice Versa Global Warming By Michaela Shin, Grade 10, Novato High School, Novato, CAIt shows how the climates are changing. My painting is watercolor base outlined with color pencil. It shows how the climates are chang-ing. They are changing from dry to freezing or freezing to dry.

Professional Profile: Debra Berliner, Ecology Center

By Pallavi Sherikar, Grade 11, Irvington High

School, Fremont, CAWhat is your role at

the Berkeley Ecology Center?

Debra Berliner: I work as the Climate Action Coordinator. In that position, I coordinate, develop and lead train-ings and workshops all focused on engaging people in reducing their personal green house gas emissions, and motivat-ing political and social change.

How did you become involved in en-viron-mental work?

In grad school, I studied public health. Through my studies, I became increasingly aware that a healthy soci-ety depends on a healthy environment.

Following grad

school, I began working as a Program Associate at Community Toolbox for Children’s Environ-mental Health. I worked with communities and organizations across the country...to improve air quality, water quality, and food safety and acces-sibility.

What has been the most difficult part of your job?

The most difficult part, is that even though

climate change inevitably affects everyone, not everyone real-izes it. It may not affect a particular group of people today, but it will eventually. And communicating

the urgency of taking action on climate change in a way that mobilizes people but doesn’t para-lyze them with fear is always a challenge that I take very seriously.

Continued on next page.

3 | Global Warming

“A healthy society

depends on a healthy

environment.”-Debra Berliner

Ducks waddling in the dirty, black oil,Which leaked from down below.Deep, deep, in the water,Where the fishes,No longer float.I sit at the shore,I see the ducks waddling.I see the fishes,No longer breathing.Yet, there is only one question I have......Who caused this destruction?

Who?By Payton Ellis, Grade 7, Juaquin

Moraga Intermediate School, Moraga, CA

There Is Hope By Rosalie Herman, Grade 10, Bentley School, Lafayette, CAMade using graphite and pencil.

Oil Refinery By Kelly Elmore, Grade 12, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, San Francisco, CAThis piece was inspired by my concern with the effects of global warming on our environment. It is my hope that it encourages people to use clean energy sources as apposed to supporting the oil companies in their corporate greed.

Successfully reaching out to people who don’t realize why they should care about climate change, and finding that right message is always a work in progress.

Any advice for teens going into a “green field”, as they term it?

Don’t feel like you need to be-come an expert on everything out there. There are a lot of different issues that the sustainability world encompasses. Pick one or two and really dig in to those -- get your hands dirty! And reach out to and seek the mentorship of activists on that issue...You have more power than most adults.

Professional Profile continuedfrom page 3

Global Warming | 4

5 | Reusing & Recycling

We’ve become conditionedConditioned to purchase material goodsBeen told we need themAnd without them we would be incompleteIncomplete like a girl without her twin sister

So out of fear,We purchase things we don’t needThings of no use, things that are tossed in the long runBelieve me, it’s not completely our faultWhat the media shows us is so promisingAppealing to our emotionsBut something in our controlIs where to buy

If you are a shop-a-holic consider thisTurn to your local thrift storeWhich offers remarkable dealsBeneficial to ones walletAnd to the environment

Second hand clothing reduces human impact on the environmentLess manufactured goods are made, since the demand isn’t so greatTranslating to less gas emissions into the airAnd less material being used

Unspoken TruthBy Stephanie Hang, Grade 12,

Oakland High School, Oakland, CA

Tree Leaves By Emmalyn Tringali, Grade 12, Benicia High School, Benicia, CASome people see the world in black and white. Some see it in color. No matter which way you see it, you’ll still be looking at the same thing.

Azure Skies By Cameron White, Grade 10, Miramonte High School, Orinda, CAThis is Stinson Beach after a volcanic eruption in Hawaii caused the skies to turn a rich blue during sunset.

Together We CanRecycle, Reduce, ReuseSustain Mother Earth.

Recycle your goodsMake new things out of old stuff.Eliminate waste.

Reduce pollutionSpare the air; carpool with friends.Ride your bicycle.

Reuse what you canTurn your trash into treasures.Be creative, now!Beautiful planetKeep our lakes clean and pristine.Water is precious.

Wonderful worldRespect, Admire and SaveBe responsible.

Cleaning is “greening”Discard what is not needed.Declutter your life.

Going green is greatSummer, Fall, Winter and SpringDo your part today.

Keep the future brightCreate a green tomorrow.Together we can!

Going GreenBy Tommy Yee, Grade 6

Joaquin Moraga Middle School, Moraga, CA

Flower of the Earth By Lauren Kozicki, Grade 6, Joaquin Moraga Middle School (Moraga, CA)Reusing can create something beautiful, making the world a better place is just a couple steps away, we can use magazines, newspa-pers, cans, and bottles to make new creations everyday.

Reusing & Recycling | 6

7 | Reusing & Recycling

Are you looking for a way to spend your after the afternoon without having to spend tons of cash? The thrift store is a way!

Shopping eco-friendly may seem difficult but it can be as easy as going to a secondhand store.

Consumers often overlook the advantages of going to second-hand stores. These shops provide us with a unique opportunity to help the environment and give back to the community all at once.

Second-hand stores (often called thrift stores) allow us to recycle everything from clothing to appliances to books. Instead of throwing away clothes you’ve outgrown or furniture you don’t need, you can donate you old things to you local thrift store.

I enjoy going to the Salvation Army whenever given the chance.

You can find plenty of knick-knacks at second-hand stores, including old comic books, board games, jewelry and scarves.

You likely won’t find such a broad variety at any regular store. Aside from being a treasure chest for vintage, shopping at second-hand stores also keeps the cost

Eco-Friendly Shopping

By Gloria “Jack” Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 12, Media Academy,

Oakland, CA

Playground By Tessa van Bergen, Grade 12, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, San Francisco, CA

down. Used furniture or appli-ances are a bargain and clothing is almost never over ten dollars.

Many thrift stores are also community-based organizations, whose revenue is put towards dif-

ferent causes like helping veter-ans. The Community Thrift Store in the Mission District is a store in San Francisco that even lets you choose the charity you want to want your expenses donated to.

Nature | 8

Walking around Hillsborough, a summer’s day,the heat and dust in the air istoo much to bear.All around is wood,but not on the barks of trees, planks made forhouses. Builders hammer all around, and everywhere new houses are popping up.

The place gives you the chills,and you want to get out. The sun beats down onyour head as you ask where the trees went.Hills that had green trees, colorful flowers,the deer running around, playing on the grass.Although you never saw it with your own eyes,you can sense that it was there.Now no birds singas the builders keep on building.People claim space that isn’t theirs,and they don’t care if the owners are defenseless against them.In the more developed part of this small town,a lost fawn stands at the edge of a street,Looking for home.

Lost NatureBy Jessia Hoffman, Grade 12,

Aragon High School,San Mateo, CA

Tiger By Shree Patel , Grade 12, Doughery Valley High School, San Ramon, CAScratch Art; When making way for modern infrastructure, tigers and other species find their homes being destroyed and their lives being lost.

9 | Nature

Fuzz,light and fluffy,softly twists and turns in the light spring breeze.The chirp of hatchlings drift down from the treetopsaccompanied by the rustling of leaves.The sun at its peak in the sky signals noon time for the rest of

The GatewayBy Lilly Quint, Grade 11,Campolindo High School,

Moraga, CA

After the Rains By Irene Tait, Grade 11, El Cerrito High School, Kensington, CAThe acid rain doesn’t burn the flowers... Yet.

the worldbut here time does not apply.The seasons shift and change like everywhere else,but here is where life beginsand here is where life ends.Always peaceful, always here.Here no one grows old and no one stays young.Here is where the confused find themselvesand the lost are found.Here is where love unfolds as delicatelyand sweetly as the petals of a

rose.Here is the place sorrow is consoledand hate dismissed.Where the earth,animals,plants andother beings are equal.Here is a utopia for all that believe.And here is forgiveness for all whom wish it.For here time does not exist.Here is where acceptance lies.Here is the gateway.

Nature | 10

Day by day I sit and wait.People pass, seasons change, life goes on.My name is Rose; I am bright red with the most beautiful petals you’ve ever seen.I love the sun and rain; they are my friends.I love it when the rain falls on me; I feel refreshed

A Flower StoryBy Mia Stewart, Grade 10,

Oakland Military Institute, Oakland, CA

and alive.Then when the sun comes out, I get the greatest tan of my life.I like that I make people happy.Whether it’s having my petals picked, given to a girlfriend, getting put in peoples hair; I love seeing people with a smile.So day by day I wait.People pass, seasons change, life goes on and for-ever I’ll stay.

Flower in the Rain By Lauren Fish, Grade 6, Kent Middle School, Kentfield, CAWe seldom see the beauty of nature when it’s raining.

You can dance in the rainBut a drought may comeYou can shoot for the moonBut its light may fadeYou can bathe in the sunBut it may burn outYou can fly with the windBut the air may still

So dance in the rain while it poursShoot for the moon while it glowsBathe in the sun while it shinesAnd fly with the wind while it blows

Because when the drought comesThe light fadesThe sun burns outAnd the air stillsYou won’t be able toAnymore.

While You Have It

By Kelsey Quan, Grade 10,St. Ignatius College Prep

San Francisco, CA

Neck of Grace By Francisco Rodrigues, Grade 12, Richmond High School, Richmond, CA

John Muir is the “Father of the National Parks.” He advo-cated for the preservation of U.S. wilderness through his writings. and founded, one of the most important conservation organiza-tions, the Sierra Club.

John MuirBy Natalie Chow, Grade 10,

KIPP King Collegiate, San Lorenzo, CA

11 | Nature

Some days, I feel like you have defeated meI feel tired & weak, unable to function correctlybut these are just some days,this is not always the case

The sounds of nature take my breath-awaythe mooing of cowsthe buzzing of beesthe gushing of winds

While You Have ItBy Kelsey Quan, Grade 10,

St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco, CA

Clouds Gather Over the Rockies By Adam O’Camb, Grade 11, Miramonte, Orinda, CA

creates a grand symphonyThe sight of nature is eye-opening,a sunsetfills the sky with an array of colorsa creekmoves the water with an elegant grace

So allergies, on days like theseI do not feel defeated but undefeated

When it comes to nature,I’d rather suffer and see the beautythan to not suffer at all and miss out

Nature | 12

Some days, I feel like you have defeated meI feel tired & weak, unable to function correctlybut these are just some days,this is not always the case

The sounds of nature take my

UndefeatedBy Stephanie Hang, Grade 11,

Oakland High School, Oakland, CA

Beautify By Mia Taapken, Grade 10, Miramonte High School, Orinda, CAThe beauty of the enviorenment tells a story, each unique to the destination.

breath-awaythe mooing of cowsthe buzzing of beesthe gushing of windscreates a grand symphony

The sight of nature is eye-opening,a sunsetfills the sky with an array of colorsa creek

moves the water with an elegant grace

So allergies, on days like theseI do not feel defeatedbut undefeated

When it comes to nature,I’d rather suffer and see the beautythan to not suffer at all and miss out

13 | Nature

Nature | 14

Steadfast rootsUnlike our hearts, weakSo quickly you disappearedDraught down with enslaving machinesChildren and tyrants you sheltered all the sameBut now you flow up chimney tops

Favorite TreeBy Krystal Ching, Grade 11,

Alameda High School, Alameda, CA

Canopy Sky By Tyler Jolley, Grade 11, WCCHS, San Pablo, CA

Handing me the warmth that was once shadeYou’re under my penTolerating my rugged scrawlYour core cut square to place in a mezzanine

April’s the cruelest,Your void leaves the birds wonderingNo branches there to entice themNo rushing sound heard throughout fallAh, you were the perfect tree.

Sometimes I think about the Earth and the people living in it and I often find myself asking the question, “What is man’s true relationship with the Earth?” I have pondered on the answer to this question for a long time. As I continued to contemplate on our relationship with the Earth, I came to the realization that we as humans have misused the Earth.

I view our relationship with the Earth as unfortunate. The Earth has given us everything from food to shelter. It sustains our life. Yet humans have trampled on this Earth for years, depleting it’s natural beauties and replacing it with roads. We have taken the Earth for granted and have used it to fulfill our selfish desires. And by “we” I mean, humans in gen-eral. We have been and still are a factor that has led to countless issues on this Earth – from in-creased pollution to accumulated wastes that contaminate our envi-ronment. On top of that, we have diminished natural landscapes and have destroyed the homes of ani-mals. As more forests and natural habitats have been destroyed, the

We and the Earth

By Shree Patel, Grade 12,Dougherty Valley High School,

San Ramon, CA

Ecological Footprint

By Christine Fraher, Grade 10, St. Ignatius College Prep,

San Francisco, CA

On a hike up to Yosem-ite Falls in April, I noticed a bare footprint next to the snow. It was freezing in the rain and snow, yet someone was brave and daring enough to climb to the top with no shoes. This image inspires me when I begin to lose hope. If others can do what I thought was impossible, we can all do anything.

population of humans has in-creased. We have used power to practically take over nature and make the Earth subject to our whim. Our lives are a gift of nature. Why not give the Earth something in return? Instead we contribute to the rising carbon dioxide levels, the deaths of various species, and the depletion of natural resourc-es.

I’m not suggesting that all humans take advantage of nature. Several of us care for the Earth and try our best to sustain it. Yet history has proven that humans

have terrorized the Earth and have abused it in such a way that some aspects of nature cannot be revived again. It’s saddening

to me and I feel like we have done so much damage to the very thing that has given us life.

So why not improve our relationship with the Earth? Why not make a change? Thinking about how much we have done to the Earth has motivated me to do everything I can to help sustain the Earth and make it a better place. So let’s all work together and give back to the Earth.

“We have done so much damage to the very thing that has

given us life.”

15 | Nature

Many people think little of re-cycling because they think it’s not a big deal and it wouldn’t make a difference in a community. But the truth is, many people don’t know that recycling can help us all save so much energy and re-sources for our world.

Recycling can do wonders; it’s been proven since the govern-ment supported recycling. So, they are issuing more products

A Better Solution

By Anna Chen, Grade 10,Oakland High School, Oakland, CA

Aztec Goddess of Water By Carmen Antaky,

Grade 12, Skyline High School,

Oakland, CA

Ceramic sculpture of Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec goddess of running water.

for households that require less energy to be used.

Targeting households is a good idea but I think that targeting schools is even a better idea be-cause there are tons of reusable resources from paper to food just being thrown away in garbage cans. I have seen schools and stores that have sorted bins for compostables, recyclables, and trash. Schools should have these sorts of bins around the cam-

“Recycling can help us all save so much energy and resources for our world.”

pus. In my opinion, the school is throwing away a lot more stuff that can either be recycled or composted than normal house-holds. I’ve seen countless recy-

clables and foods wast-ed away into the garbage can. My school may

have an academy that encourages recycling and even helps recycle other classroom’s recycling bins. They’re a great help but we could do better. Having these bins would help produce less trash.

Nature | 16

Sedum By Gaby Jizrawi, Grade 12, Marin Catholic High School, Kentfield, CA

DragonflyBy Alex Duryea,

Grade 10, Campolindo High School,

Moraga, CA

They eat mosquitoes and other small animals, keeping them from “bugging” us.

17 | Nature

Underwater Families By Maily Ochoa, Grade 12, Pinole Valley High School, Pinole, CA

Sunrise By Michaela Shin, Grade 11, Novato High School, Novato, CAIf global warming increases, will we still have beautiful sunrises?

Nature | 18

19 | Nature

King of Frogs By Rebecca Vaughan, Grade 8, Joaquin Moraga Intermidiate, Moraga, CAA photo of the Red-eye Tree Frog in a Frog Reserve.

Stranger in a Stranger Land

By Kelsey Quan, Grade 11St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco, CA

I’m a stranger in a stranger landWonder what stranger things I’ll find

Well,The sky above meIs still blue with clouds.The ground still has ce-ment,And the air still smells the sameOn the other side of the world.

ButThe food’s a bit different.

The people have accentsThat I can’t really under-stand;They have some different wordsOn the other side of the world

I knowMy friends pass their days,My family too,Occasionally thinking of me.Strange to thinkStrangers don’t notice when I’m goneOn my side of the world

Bird With Berries By Julie Ko, Grade 11, Hercules High School, Hercules, CA

Butterfly Tree By Julie Olsen, Grade 9, St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco, CA

On May 14, 2011 Aqua Team went to Rodeo Beach to monitor mole crabs. We all got divided into groups of three and we used cores to get the mole crabs.

First, we measured a certain distance and put flags on the sand and then we used the core and inserted it into the sand to see how many mole crabs we get.

We had to measure

Aqua Team Conducts Sandy Beach MonitoringBy Yesenia Chavez,

Grade 12, Richmond High School, Richmond, CA

By Kristen Ridgers, Grade 12, California High School,

San Ramon, CAThe sunrays light up the beach as they peak through the clouds. The sunrays in this picture are a perfect example of how our green-houses gases are depleting ozone in the stratosphere, allowing more ultraviolet rays to reach earth and heat our land and water.

the carapace of the mole crab and determine whether it was a male or female. Usually if it measure less than 10

mm we could not deter-mine their gender.

To identify their gender, we had to pull back its telson and if

there were yellow eggs in there or if it had spiky things kind of like a toothbrush (pleopods), then it was a female and if it was smooth it was a male.

We had to record this in the paper and put how many female and male mole crabs were found at one distance and another.

Doing this was fun, we all had a great ex-perience determining the mole crabs’ gender. Aqua Team is the best!

Service | 20

Through the Atmosphere

Action of the Month: Gardening

By Kim Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 11, Media Academy, Oakland, CA

Earlier this year, I decided to start my own garden in my back-yard. I have been a part of the Media Academy garden club since August of 2010.

Before I joined the club, I never really thought about food and how it’s produced. Most Americans also don’t think about how food gets to their plate.

Being part of the garden club has taught me how to grow and care for food. It takes a lot of persistence and responsibility, but it definitely pays off.

Starting a garden is pretty easy. All you need is a clear patch of land, fertil-izer, seeds and a strong willingness to care for your garden (this includes watering every day).

It also helps to get the commu-nity and family involved in your project. For example, I used cre-ating a garden as an opportunity to teach my five year old brother about life science. I have made it

fun for him by letting him water the garden and decide what we are going to plant.

Even my dad who is not a na-ture person cares about the garden. He started grow-ing his own plant and really works to see it flourish. When you get

your community excited, gardens help build relationships because whoever is involved feels like they have invested in something that is “ours.”

In my garden, I have learned how to grow corn, kale, Lima

beans, sunflowers, carrots, broc-coli, peas, tomatoes and lettuce. There’s nothing better than harvesting your food and using it when you cook. It’s organic and healthy.

Urban gardening is sustainable. I use fertilizer and mulch in my garden. I never use chemicals or pesticides because I don’t believe harming the plants is worthwhile. There are other more eco-friendly ways of getting ride of pests that don’t involve poisoning the earth.

Having a garden does not only help you maintain a healthy lifestyle--it also beautifies your yard and brings your community together.

21 | Service

“Having a garden...beautifies your yard

and brings your community together.”

-Kim Mejia-Cuellar

Bugs By Ellen Fabini, Grade 10, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, CA

Media Academy’s garden club has started a compost bin to cre-ate fertilizer for organic plants by recycling dead leaves and greens.

A compost bin is a waste con-tainer filled with recyclable food scraps and dirt that will break down to create fertilizer.

By composting, students can recycle and reuse dead plants that would otherwise be useless. In about four weeks, the dead lit-ter decomposes and turns into dirt abundant in nutrients for the school’s organic plants.

The garden club then can use fertilizer that is not only natural, organic and full of nutrients, but that is also completely free.

A 36-pound bag of fertilizer can cost up to $12, according to Lowes.com.

Media Academy garden teacher Matthew Green says anyone can start a compost bin at home.

“I think people should com-post if they have a garden,” said Green. “It’s a good way of recy-cling waste.”

A variety of objects can be composted, including leaves, greens, food scraps, coffee

Media Academy Garden Goes

GreenBy Jazmin Garcia, Grade 11

Media Academy, Oakland, CA

grounds, bread crusts, fruits, chocolate cookies, snow, paper towels, and even pet hair.

There are also different meth-ods of compost.

One type of compost is called aerobic compost, which is basical-ly recyclable food and dirt. When composters use this method, they have to constantly mix the compost so that oxygen can help break it down.

Another way to compost is by creating a compost bin and add-ing worms to it.

Using worms can be a very ef-fective way of break down food and nutrients to create a rich fer-tilizer, according to Green. As the worms begin to eat and process

Media Academy junior Tony Mai composts to help the environment.

the waste, the compost begins to break down into fertilizer.

The Media Academy compost bin uses aerobic compost. Stu-dents combine brown leaves, dead greens, coffee grounds, water and oxygen. The food scraps are already beginning to break down into dirt.

“I like helping the environ-ment,” said junior Tony Mai, the garden club member in charge of the compost bin.

The garden club doesn’t use the compost bin just to save money: students get to learn and create compost.

“It’s more like a learning proj-ect to teach about compost,” said Green.

Service | 22

Katharine M. Noonan was exposed to nature at an early age. As a child, her parents allowed her to play outside and get dirty. Being in outdoors had fueled her interest in natural works. Mrs. Noonan got her B.A. from UC

Berkeley in Biology and Evolu-tion and a PhD in Biology from the University of Michigan. After receiving her PhD, Mrs. Noonan helped start up the Environmen-tal Science Academy at Oakland High School.

As an academy director, Mrs. Noonan helps students with classes and goes on fantastic trips to places like Catalina and Costa Rica. Throughout the school year, she organizes various field trips, including a trip to the EPA office so her students can learn another

Professional Profile:

Katharine M. Noonan

By Stephanie Hang, Grade 12Oakland High School, Oakland, CA

way besides just lectures. On the weekends, there are also optional field trips to parks and beaches where students participate in restoration proj-ects with vari-ous groups such as EarthTeam and the Friends of Sausal Creek. In addition, she also works ex-tremely hard to get her students into internships or special pro-grams during the summer, including the Summer Academic

Environmental Science Academy director Katharine M. Noonan arrives at the Summit of Lassen Peak.

Enrichment Program at Cal Maritime and in-ternships with the UC Lawrence Berkeley Labs. Mrs. Noonan fights hard to keep the academy running, despite state budget cuts.

She also teaches Biology, Environmental Studies I and AP Environmental Studies. She keeps coming back every year to teach, be around students and interact with the environment. She makes students more aware of the wider

ecosystem or biosphere they are a part of. She believes that nature is beautiful and entertaining and to be enjoyed, but it also needs to be preserved. She is proud of her students who have furthered their love for the environment by majoring/minoring in Environ-mental Sciences. She believes all she has done for the environment will improve the world for her grandchildren.

“Nature is beautiful and entertaining, but

it also needs to be preserved.”

-Katharine M. Noonan

23 | Service

What Is Our Future?By Riley Felt, Grade 6,

Joaquin Moraga Middle School, Moraga, CA

“Aspirara, come on! If you get the window seat then get in it!” Tomas yelled from the hump seat, “I’m swelter-ing!”

I couldn’t. So soon? How could they? This is my home. My heart. My soul. This isn’t an adven-ture, a “change in direc-tions” as Mama calls it.

This is disgracing our family. Leaving behind our ancestors. How could they? I pondered all the reasons to stay, but none of them were true. I could part with

the souls of loved ones I never met, of our hum-bled shack, our humid weather.

But the ocean. I couldn’t leave my vast sea of blue, coiling over itself. Its beauty; its grace, its emotion. I connected with it; Mama says I have since I was a little girl. Every time I fought or cried, she told me to go to the water. It’s true. I loved the wa-ter, it gave me a sense of calm nothing else could.

I filled with that recently common emo-tion, swirling up inside of me. It covered me with reds and blues and greens, despair, and an-ger, and grief, and want. Mama could still write to her friends. Papa still had his car. Tomas still had his coin collection. But why me? Why do I have to lose my ocean?

My skirt stirs in the breeze and a few raindrops spatter on my cheek. Raindrops? Why would there be any rain

in the heat of the sum-mer? I look north and see gray and storm.

But then I feel rain-drops on my head, coming from the south! I swivel my gaze and see a storm advancing from the south. What? Two storms coming from the south and the north?

“Aspirara, now. Get in the car,” Papa shouted

from the driver’s seat. It wasn’t just anger in his voice. It was frustra-tion, and worry..? Why did Papa need to leave so urgently? I decided to turn from the blue (and apparently gray) depths. I knew it would be my last time, but I didn’t look back.

Continued on page 25.

Waterfall in a Forest Creek By Jessica Roque, Grade 12, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, CA

Fiction | 24

Imagine a world that, well, isn’t OUR world. Imagine that the polar ice caps melted, flooding northern Europe, northern Canada, and other parts of the world. With global warming, this might be a reality for future generations.

My story takes place in this future, where a girl named Aspirara searches for the truth about why she moved from her secluded village in Mexico to the outlandish town of in the uninhabited forests of Canada, and what happened to her hometown.

What Is Our Future? continuedfrom page 24.

I would never leave if I had. “Coming, Papa. Tomas, be

patient!” I hurried to the car, but tripped slightly on something as I stepped away from the sand.

It was a white clamshell. I slipped it in my pocket and slid into the scorching leather seat.

“Papa, where are we going again?” Tomas inquired as Papa turned the ignition and Mama slipped off her sandals.

“Canada,” Papa chuckled.He pronounced it Caa-naa-da.“And what is our new towns’

name?” “Advena.” “Advena? But that is Italian!” I

protested. “I know. The founder of the

town is Italian. It means strang-

er,” Pa said.“What? Stranger? Why?” Mama

bombarded Papa. “Because all strangers are welcome,” I pon-dered the strange choice in name.

I would’ve named it Familia. Because all are welcome in a fam-

Creating Solutions Mural By Creative Power Participants, Juvenile Justice Center, San Leandro, CA This ten foot mural was created by 30 girls and boys working with Teaching Artist Lilli Lanier through Creative Power, the Alameda County Arts Commission’s Arts Education Program at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center, presented in partnership with the Alameda County Probation Department and the Alameda County Office of Education.

ily, I thought, Even if they don’t want to be.

I wondered where Advena was in Canada.

Probably somewhere strange.Read What Is Our Future? in its

entirety online at TheGreenNews.net

25 | Fiction

Caught in the MomentBy Lilly Quint, Grade 11, Campolindo High School, Moraga, CAI was walking at school and thought the sky looked beauti-ful so I took a picture. I caught more than the beauty of the sun and sky.