THE ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE: THE NEW TREND by Jegi Nero

Ever since the increased media attention in the US on June 30, 2014, the ALS ice bucket challenge has become the latest trend. The challenge involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and encouraging donations for research. It became the talk of the town.

Everyone talked about it especially in social networks which has increased curiosity among netizens. Its immediate attention has made everyone wanting to try the challenge themselves. Even the most popular celebrities  participated and donated.

The mechanics of  the challenge states that nominated participants are to be filmed while a bucket of ice water is poured on their heads, then they nominate others to do the same. This made the act a trending topic not only in the US but also in other countries. In short, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is spreading all over the world.

Many videos have been uploaded in Facebook, Youtube and the like in just a couple of months. The challenge also says that  nominated participants only has 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donations; but the participant who has done the challenge within 24 hours can still donate for the ALS. This is one reason why the association handling the Ice Bucket Challenge has never been this happy since they have received $100 million and counting.Most of the donations were received from celebrities.

And with that kind of amount, they could do researches and find a cure for the disease, sad to say. 

But here’s the catch, most people do the challenge without mentioning in the video that they should donate money to the association. They did it only for the sake of fun and trend. 

Those who did the challenge ignorantly, have taken away the purpose of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Cold water is poured onto someone's head because the numbness one feels when the water is poured is the same feeling the patients feel.

Sad to say people at times, forget purpose for fun and non-sense.

No one blames you if you're curious just make sure you carry out its purpose. Donate, do not only nominate.

- Photos from Google Images

OF TEENS AND DRUGS: A Photo Essay --- - Robin Marychelle Cabonita

                 Drugs and alcohol are polluting the minds of young people. Nowadays, drug and alcohol usage is very rampant. But the thing is, some people who are taking these aren’t even at legal age to use it. Yes, you got it right, the teenagers. The main reason why they take these is to look cool and be popular. But they became the noted rebels in society. You might’ve thought these teenagers were humanity’s future, right? You guessed wrong. Being a rebel has its own price.

                 Drugs and alcohol cause young people to be always absent in school, having low or declining grades and the most common, dropping out of school. Research says that drug and alcohol users show a low level of commitment to education.

Because of the frequent use, they only think about doping and drinking. They feel they’re at home with these substances. They are more comfortable with these than education.

All they care about is having fun. They are forgetting the important things in life suitable for their future. But as long as they’re having fun, they’ll keep neglecting education and have a high risk of failing in life if they won’t change for the better.

Users are at high risk than nonusers. Users are more prone to mental health problems. Let’s take for instance some of the famous child stars now turned into crack addicts. (Child stars whom you thought were great examples and models to follow.) But what has happened to them now? Either dead, in rehab or crazy.

Remember Amanda Bynes? That girl from a Nickelodeon show, “All That”? That girl who was talented and funny? Well she only set her dog on fire and went to a liquor store to set the fire off. Why would you set your dog on fire and go to a liquor store to set it off? That’s what drugs and alcohol do to you, honey. She went to rehab and showed signs of schizophrenia because of the over usage of these substances. Do you still want to mess with drugs and alcohol now, huh?

There had been many cases where teens do heinous crimes and even kill themselves. They do this because they think it’s fun and cool.

Sometimes, when a person is under the influence of these substances, he or she can’t control his or her body. These teenagers feel like they are in “Wonderland”. They hallucinate. And if you provoke them, they won’t hesitate to hurt you, even kill you.

Some drugs make them feel depressed  and so they  resort to killing themselves.  They didn’t kill themselves, the drug did. It’s like you’re physically present but mentally absent. Remember, you’re not yourself when you’re under the influence of these substances.

Instead of blaming others why your life is unfair , think further. You can always change yourself. Sometimes, you need to stop depending on others because it’s not all the time that they are right beside you. You don’t need them to change yourself because the only person who could decide that is YOU.

Think things through. There are many consequences for each action. Be responsible and think before you act. When times are low and you feel like giving up, don’t fall victim to drugs and alcohol. These problems are just obstacles for us to get stronger and wiser in life. Everything happens for a reason.

We teens especially have all these kind of mixed up problems and messed up society. You can always do other things rather than doing illegal stuff. You only live once. You can’t turn back time. Don’t waste your future for these substances.

You are your own man. Stand up for what you believe in. Don’t try to act cool because just only by being cool doesn’t get you nowhere. I still have hope for all the other teens out there. Come on, make your choice.

Photo credits: Google Images

Global Warming: A Photo Essay - Razi Navarro & Jared Cagas

Climate change, or more widely known as Global Warming. The Earth has increased 1°F over the past century. No one knows for sure what has caused this, but many of the world’s leading climate scientists suspect this is our doing.

Not so many people seem alarmed by this, but Global Warming can have horrible effects on the environment and therefore, the whole ecosystem. Others believe that mankind cannot affect its environment, but take into consideration our population, if we do stuff that hurt the environment, there is a big chance that the rest of the ten thousand people in your community do as well.

“Bah, who cares, let the scientists figure it out, they always do”, that’s what most people would think. But what each and every one of you do will count, think of it, you and a bunch of friends take public transport instead of using a car. Using a car would have taken half a litre of petrol. There are 7 of you in that jeepney, two are your friends. If each one of you had driven a car instead of riding the jeepney, the 7 of you would take up 3.5 litres of petrol while the jeepney took 2 litres of petrol. Imagine a lot of other people in the same situation, 7 people for each jeepney, multiply 3.5 and 2 by say, 5000 jeepneys. All of the people who used cars would have used up 17’500 litres, while all the people who rode the jeepney used up 10’000 litres. You would’ve saved up seven thousand five hundred litres of fuel and cut back a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.

If mankind doesn’t act to save the environment, we will have to adapt to very hot temperatures, and still rising.

Even if humans may survive, most of nature would already be dried up or dead.

I’m sure you’ve all seen Greenland before, it’s made of a lot of ice. Scientists estimate if all the ice on Greenland melts, sea levels would rise 7 metres. To put this into perspective, you’d think a six foot pool is deep, but six feet is just above 1 metre.

Now, compare Greenland with all the ice at the poles. If man ever gets so destructive that even a quarter of all the ice melts, we’re in for big trouble

It could be worse than what you see in this picture below.

We must do all we can to help the environment, simple things you do like turning off appliances when not in use could help the environment and lessen greenhouse emissions.

It’s either this…..

…. Or this

This photo was taken during the nine eleven attack. The second tower came down, the photographer that took this photo was killed in the incident.

Mankind has been irresponsible.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, March 23, 1989

It may take a while to clean up the mess we made. Most are irreversible.

Retreat of the Helheim Glacier, Greenland

                Do what you can, save what you can. Bit by bit.

What You Do Counts

“A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Forests are lungs of our land, giving fresh strength to the people”

-Theodore Roosevelt

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money”

-Cree Indian Proverb

“We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect”

-Aldo Leopold

“This is the first age that’s ever paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one” – Arthur C. Clarke

 Thanks to:

Razi Navarro

Jared Cagas

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