Myers Park Hoofprint

The Myers Park High School Newspaper

Madison Winn

Sustainable Summer Eating

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With hot weather right around the corner, looking forward to some fresh summer recipes and grilling out is a must. However, something to think about this summer is where exactly the ingredients used in the recipes are coming from. Recent studies show that processed food in the United States travels an average of 1,300 miles, with fresh produce traveling over 1,500 to reach the supermarket. Not only does this transportation release about 3.0 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (19% of total food system emissions), but this also causes many of the ‘fresh foods’ to be picked unripe, or be highly processed with preservatives and other additives to keep it fresh for transportation and in the supermarket. 

However, there is a solution to these problems: farmers markets. Farmers markets sell food that is locally grown or made, supporting small farmers and businesses within a community, keeping food fresher, and decreasing the amount of pollution created by the food industry. Along with that, farmers markets offer many more seasonal fruits and vegetables. Though it may be nice to have your favorite fruits and vegetables year round, seasonal food is fresher, tastier, and more nutritious. Along with that, buying seasonal food is another way to decrease the amount of distance traveled by your food pre-supermarket. Some of the best farmers markets around Charlotte include the South End Farmers Market, Kings Drive Farmers Market, and Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. Make sure to check when these markets are open and most popular!

Another question in terms of sustainable summer eating is what are the in-season fruits and vegetables that we should be looking for? Some of my favorite summer fruits and vegetables include chickpeas, corn, cucumbers, mangos, summer squash, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, and basil. Some of these are great to have on their own, such as some refreshing watermelon after a swim in the pool, a mango early in the morning, or some blueberries and raspberries as an afternoon snack. However, there are plenty of fun summer recipes to try with all of the new food as well. 

One of my favorite appetizers to make before some pasta is a Caprese salad. This includes two of the seasonal fruits and vegetables. All you need is some mozzarella, tomato, basil, salt and pepper, and it can be enjoyed with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. Along with that, a very popular healthy cuisine to enjoy is Mediterranean, which has been very popular in Charlotte with restaurants such as Cava and Yafo. It’s very easy to make homemade hummus with chickpeas, salt, olive oil, and any other seasonings you want to add to spice it up. Or, a cucumber tomato salad or tomato feta salads are some of my favorite refreshing lunches to have during the summer. You can also grill out during the summer, with some grilled corn or a margarita pizza with some fresh basil and tomatoes. 

Fresh desserts are also easy to make with summer fruits and vegetables. Everyone loves a sweet raspberry or mango sorbet, which you can make with just a couple ingredients and without an ice cream churner. Along with that, peach cobbler is always a delicious dessert, if you’re looking for something a little warmer. And, for a decadent dessert with coconut and mango, mango sticky rice is always a go-to for me. 

I hope that this article has made you think a little more about where your food is coming from and some more sustainable choices you can make in this upcoming season. Have a great summer, and try out some new shopping habits and new eating experiences!

Willow Project

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The current environmental news has been circling a single venture: The Willow Project. The area where this project is planned is estimated to hold up to 600 million barrels of oil, a project approved by Alaska’s congressional delegation and Alaskan natives who believe the drilling can create needed revenue and jobs for remote communities in Alaska. Oil is one of the most prized resources, with a high heat of combustion, with fracking and drilling being simple and profitable, and easily convertible to energy. Oil has been the source of several conflicts and environmental destruction all across the planet, and many problems have already been associated with the project. An estimated 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution a year will be released by this project, causing disapproval and dissent against Biden after his decision to approve the project. Oil fracking and drilling also present many other environmental problems, separate from the resources needed to extract the oil out of the ground and ocean and from the amounts of greenhouse gasses that will be emitted from the use of these fossil fuels on a regular basis. Oil fracking and drilling lead to oil spills throughout the oceans and land,  harming many species that are already endangered in the Alaskan tundras, especially considering climate change has already degraded many vital ecosystems in these areas, with this project only inflaming the problem. Along with that, oil fracking and drilling can disrupt migratory pathways and destroy natural habitats. More than one million letters have been written to the White House in protest, along with a petition that has gained millions of signatures, with the full force of environmental law groups, such as Earthjustice, rallying against the government in preparing cases against the project. 

Many have questioned Biden’s actions in approving this project, especially considering his promise during candidacy  that there would be “No more drilling on federal lands, period. Period, period, period,” while the Willow Project will be tapping into and exploiting the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. So, why did Biden approve The Willow Project? The Biden administration decided against fighting the company behind the Willow Project, ConocoPhillips. If the Biden administration refused the permit ConocoPhillips needed in order to drill, the lawsuit against the government would include compensation for investments and the profits of drilling: reaching numbers up to $5 billion. Along with that, with the restriction on Russian oil supplies after the Ukrainian invasion, gasoline prices have spiked worldwide. Therefore, pumping more oil is a solution to many of the problems plaguing Americans nationwide that are being forced to buy oil at higher prices. 

However, there are some wins for the environmental community following this decision. The original five drilling pads approved have been decreased to three drilling pads which will cause significantly less environmental harm than the previously planned numbers. This will cause the final project to cover 68,000 fewer acres than originally planned. Additionally, Biden intends to designate about 2.8 million acres in the Arctic Ocean as off-limits for future oil and gas leasing, and plans to block leases on about 13 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

This issue not only brings into question the future of our planet but also the reliability and effects of fossil fuels. Though Biden could not stop the Willow Project from going into motion, some efforts were made to protect the environment and  lower the amount of oil fracked. On the subject of dwindling fossil fuels, a higher reliance on renewable resources and non-exploitive energy is needed. If fracking and drilling for oil continue, there are about 50 years left until oil resources are drained. Therefore, though the Willow Project does cause job and economic increases for the people of Alaska now, the planet’s well-being and economy will eventually be compromised, and a switch to renewable energy is imperative to save our planet. 

The Dying Rainforests

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On December 21, 2022, a documentary called Wildcat was released This documentary discusses the rehabilitation and reintegration of two ocelots, medium sized spotted wild cats, into the Amazon rainforests of Peru. The documentary depicts many events: the healing of a tortured war hero, and the experiences and developments of Samantha Zwicker, one of the founders of the conservation organization, Hoja Nueva. Hoja Nueva helps carnivorous animals be reintroduced to the Amazonian wild. However, the documentary more importantly shows the effects of humanity on these forests. 

In Wildcat, the first ocelot, Khan, who was going to be reintroduced was killed by an illegal hunting technique in a protected area. Then, with the second ocelot, Keanu, volunteer Harry Turner encountered several problems not only with deforestation in privately owned areas, but also the effects of that deforestation on the ocelot’s and other Amazonian species habitats, endangering Keanu’s life. This then introduces many of the major problems that rainforests face today: deforestation, illegal hunting, and more. The effects of these actions are detrimental to the most complex and biodiverse habitats on Earth. 

The rainforests of the Earth are extremely important both environmentally and to humanity. Rainforests are home to 40,000 plant species, almost 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish, 427 species of mammals, and 2.5 million types of insects. Rainforests also increase the stabilization of the world’s climate, taking in carbon dioxide and maintaining the water cycle. There are three major rainforests in the world: the Amazon rainforest, the rainforests of the Congo, and the rainforests of Indonesia. Illegal logging and hunting have diminished these habitats drastically. The Amazon rainforest has been known as the ‘lungs of the world’, but according to a 2023 New York Times article, different results were shown. Caused by illegal burning and logging, the Amazon rainforest is now releasing more carbon dioxide from fires and decomposition of dead vegetation and animals that it is reducing. Indonesia also faces significant deforestation, with over 80% of its rainforests already cut down to provide spaces for palm oil trees. Along with extreme loss of vegetation, the effects of deforestation, and the destabilizing effects of those on both the atmosphere and water cycle, in the past 35 years, this habitat destruction has also led to the extinction of around 50,000 species in these areas.  If the rainforests are destroyed, biodiversity and food sources will be diminished, there will be degradation of soil, pollution of water sources and lands, frequent flooding in those areas, warmer temperatures, and long droughts.

What can be done to minimize these effects? In the Amazon rainforest, about 80% of the deforested areas have been covered by pastures, the majority of which for cattle. Cows take much more space and resources than most other animals, and also produce methane through their bodily functions, and greenhouse gas detrimental to the environment. Therefore, cutting down the amount of beef eaten by oneself and their family can minimize the demand for beef and livestock areas. Though much more difficult, cutting down on the amount of palm oil bought in products can also minimize the demand for palm tree plantations that have overtaken the Indonesian rainforests. Finally, donating or giving aid to many of the foundations and volunteer programs that help with the rehabilitation of rainforest wildlife protection is always positive. Of those, Hoja Nueva, as seen in Wildcat, makes its mission “the protection and fortification of Amazonian biodiversity in Madre de Dios, Peru through conserving intact ecosystems, confronting threats to wildlife, implementing biological research, and conducting environmental education.” Though the future looks dim concerning the health of rainforests, individuals can still save these areas and protect the Earth’s ecosystems. 

Westernized Holidays

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With winter rolling in, millions prepare for the holiday season. However, as these festivities begin, it is evident that not all holidays are treated the same. The United States was founded on religious freedom and equality for those religions, however, some religious holidays are given more attention and benefits than others. The issue is that non-Christan holidays are not being treated with equal respect or representation as Christian holidays. 

While many Christian holidays are recognized as public holidays, including Christmas, Easter, and Good Friday, many other non-Christian religious holidays are not. Christmas is given two weeks off for students, and companies are required to allow employees time off to celebrate. However, non-Christian holidays are not given these same benefits. For example, Eid is a very important Muslim holiday celebrated by about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. While America has a large Muslim population, about 4 million people, Muslim holidays are not given time off. Recently, Diwali, a festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, passed on a Monday. Even though Diwali is supposed to be a festival celebrated with one’s family, many of my personal friends had to go to school in order to not miss assignments or receive absences. Considering the melting pot that the US prides itself on being, certain religious holidays should not be nationally recognized over others. This disregard for other religious holidays should not be shown by the US government. These preferences can be harmful to non-Christians who are growing up in a country where their religious holidays are not represented to an equal extent, and could negatively impact children of non-Christian faiths. Instead of spending time with their families during the holidays, they are forced to go to school or work, as it is not seen as a public holiday. Recognizing certain holidays as public holidays and ignoring other holidays is disrespectful and ignorant of religious and cultural diversity within the United States. Schools and workplaces should not only recognize non-Christian holidays but accommodate vacation days for non-Christian staff and students. Students and employees should not feel pressure to choose between religion and possibly missing work or having repercussions. Wanting to simply celebrate one’s faith should not create disadvantages in any way.  

I asked some of my non-Christian peers about what their experience has been regarding choosing between religion and school. Vrinda Mahajan states “When I knew that I was essentially being punished for staying home, it made me feel like my religious obligations were less respected than my peers, who had a more ‘common’ religion.” Ummaya Babar continues those feelings of not being able to celebrate her religious holidays, saying “I didn’t feel like I belonged. With Christmas, everybody can relate to each other. With me, when I tell people I can’t go to school because of a religious holiday, I feel ostracized. For example, my cousin last year had an exam that she couldn’t reschedule, causing her to miss a religious holiday. This made her feel like her religion wasn’t important. Holidays are something to look forward to, but having to choose between celebrating these special events and going to school ruins those happy moments.” Coco Austin describes the struggles of school versus religion, saying “My parents did not let me take off school for Muslim holidays citing that God would rather I study. There is a disparity in our beliefs of what God would want for me. He would want me to eat food all day.”

What can be done to better these inequalities? Appreciation of unfamiliar religious holidays is a start to better the American people’s awareness and understanding of religious practices different from theirs. Being respectful of other people’s religious celebrations is very important in creating a better, more equal holiday season. Along with that, the United States government should not be able to choose which religious holidays should be celebrated nationally without giving those same benefits to other religious practices.

Asian Student Union

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Many new clubs and societies are making their debut on the Myers Park Campus for the 2022-23 school year.  Students Anna Yi, Vrinda Mahajan, Nikita Rawat, Julia Moy, and Shuyan Fang, made the Park their own by creating the Asian Student Union. . In an interview with copresident Nikita, she said, “In one of our classes last year, we were looking through an old yearbook and saw that there used to be an Asian Student Union. As Asian students we were curious as to why the club stopped. We found it ironic that many cultural clubs have been disbanded or have  gotten smaller when in fact, cultural diversity and awareness is being highlighted more than in the past 20-30 years.” Copresident Anna also discussed the underrepresentation of Asians at Myers Park.  As Myers Park students had done before, why not provide the opportunity for the Asian population here to build and strengthen a community with one another?

In terms of their plans and goals for the club, the board answered “Our plans for ASU are to hold meetings to provide a place for Asian students at Myers Park to meet people who are similar to them. This can help students feel comfortable in their racial identity, give them a space to discuss their experiences that others may be able to relate to, and  even  be a place to meet new friends!” The ASU also plans to  “unite through [our] different events …Asia is such a diverse region and we really want to bring everyone together through highlighting each and every culture.” Many first-generation students or simply students who feel culturally lost can come to ASU and be among their peers who share similar life experiences. Nikita said “Our main goal is to bring students together and celebrate the complete part of an Asian identity, giving no limitations to the member’s interests. It will be a place for students who are interested in all aspects of Asia, to talk to people with similar interests, whether it be politics, culture, or society.” 

ASU not only has big plans for the creation of a community, but also for uniting the Asian population at Myers Park. When asked about how leadership planned to do this, Nikita answered “We plan to unite the Asian population at Myers Park by highlighting cultures and races that might be overshadowed in a large student body…” Nikita also shared her excitement about their first meeting, saying that they were “… excited to see students who decided to join our club for the first time and meet new people. Leadership can introduce themselves and some members can share their race/culture if they feel comfortable. As a new club, we look forward to seeing what our members are interested in doing to keep the club engaging!” Anna also expressed her excitement for a planned culture night, saying “It’s not completely set in stone but we really want to give everyone a chance to show off where they’re from and what they’re proud of! I expect it’ll be so much fun and it’ll definitely have a lot of great food too!”
As all three of the presidents are seniors, Nikita, Anna, and Vrinda will be graduating from Myers Park this year, they hope that ASU will continue to grow and connect people past their high school years. When talking about this, the presidents said “We are going to do our absolute best to establish a solid leadership with underclassmen this year and create a strong enough foundation that allows the club to continue..” With ASU, the Asian population at Myers Park will have a chance to create a community with students similar to them, share and learn about different Asian cultures, and overall make friends and have fun! If anyone is interested in joining the club, the Asian Student Union meets on Tuesdays once a month.