New Start in our School, HAFS

           Since the founding of our school, we have been very enthusiastic in group activities. One of the oldest of these 200 groups are ?Hannamu?, which means one tree in Korean, and ?Polar Bear?. Both being environmental groups, we do various activities in order to alert the students of our school and other citizens of our country about the magnitude of our status quo. Environmental forum and a volunteering trip to Mongolia are the two main activities done by Hannamu, while the newspaper about eco-related topics and teaching kids at a nearby library about various environmental facts are the symbols for Polar Bear.

           Although we have not started any real activity, today, I went to our group Hannamu?s orientation for the freshmen who are interested in our group and the environment. And I also thought that I should provide a brief introduction to all my group-related activities that I am planning to process.

           Hannamu is a 6-year old group with its most famous activities being an English-based environmental forum sponsored by official organizations that we plan, participate, and organize personally. In this forum, many high-ranked professors come as judges and pick which project has followed the given rubric the best. Although I was not able to participate last year due to an event where I picked up litter underwater while scuba diving, this year, I am determined to enlighten the reputation even higher than it is currently. The eco-tour to Mongolia is also a unique and special green tour where we plant trees, saw off those that are harmful to the nearby ecosystem, kill off the causes of desertification (that our possible in our ability), and etc. Last year, we also made a side-trip to teach the Mongolian kids some simple facts about their habitat and how trees along with specific plants are good for them.

           Polar Bear is a year older than Hannamu, being 7-years old, constantly going to the local library for educational purposes and making an environmental based newspaper.

We taught the kids many elementary facts that they could act on instantly, helped them plant and grow their own lettuce (which they couldn?t eat because of the insectsL), and showed what we grew: lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, etc which were all donated to our cafeteria. The newspaper, unlike previous years, was only printed once last year because of some financial circumstances. However, usually it will be published more than twice with a variety of articles, all somehow related to environmental issues.

           I am so sorry I couldn?t present a more fruitful article, but as it is a new year in our school, there haven?t been much space and time to do anything apart from recruiting new members. Also, I hope everybody will see my next article which will present the consequences to the nature by war.

P.S This is a simple poem complaining about the modern problems (usually related with the nature) I hope everybody could leave a comment on how to improve it! J

The Pain of our Family

7am

A new day starts with the chirping of my pet parrot, LTE Optimus

Who is my only connection with my family elsewhere

Who is silenced with a touch

9am

The chemistry teacher acidizes my mind,

Pouring out oil-like facts,

Me absorbing the facts like an oil cleanup ship

Collecting them inside, unable to be used

1pm

My stomach is purring for the meat,

Then disgusted with the leftover

That will return to Gaia,

Only to find an unpleasant mother

2pm

I return to my robotic lectures

And think how I have been ignoring my ties with my family for days

5pm

I am walking back to my cement building,

Wandering in the ancient mother?s skin,

Wondering how much of her hair must have been cut

To build my home

7pm

I talk with my family through my pet

Not seeing its tiny waves that carries my voice

That carries my mother?s voice

That carries my father?s voice,

That carries my sister?s voice,

That carries bombs against insects.

11pm

The free imprisonment of studying is over

And I go the mini-mart full of food.

Full of trees obliterated into millions of sheets

Full of transparent harms

that take thousands of years to become a part of Earth

1am

Time to say good night to the stars that cannot be seen

To my family in our house

But it will never be a good night for the family

The family that was born before my family was born

Lying in bed

Asking for some medicine,

Who is silenced by their own children.