Wise Monkey News is here to provide young people an opportunity to discuss the issues that affect their lives. We hope that, through your participation, this website serves as a forum for the development, exchange, and expression of ideas that will prepare us to assume our positions as the leaders of tomorrow's world. Have something to say?
El Salvador: Liberating the poor, liberating ecology
by: Jessica M. Jenkins - printed on 01-23-2002
Raul's family has no rice this year. As peasants in the northern mountains of El Salvador they live off the land, so when the land suffers so do they. In good years, they can eat corn, beans, rice, and vegetables, and have just enough left over to sell in order to purchase tools, clothing, medicine. The problem is that the good years have been few and far between as of late. Within the past ten years, both drought and hurricanes have struck Central America with extreme agricultural instability, bad for any farmer but devastating for subsistence growers like Raul.
Bush & Blair: Future Nobel Laureates?
by: Casey O'Connor - printed on 03-27-2002
A little over a month ago a member of Norway?s parliament, Harald Tom Nesvik, nominated Mr. George W. Bush (our president) and Mr. Tony Blair (Britain?s Prime Minister) for the (rather) prestigious Noble Peace Prize.
"The background for my nomination is their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to use force to secure peace," said Nesvik.
Remembering time for Ramadan
by: Melody Sheybani - printed on 11-28-2001
Just a week ago, I was in one of my late afternoon classes when one of my class-mates made a comment about the accuracy and the completeness of my religion. This made me feel sad inside about the lack of knowledge we have here on our campus about other religions and the fact that we sometimes make comments and become judgmental toward things without knowing the actual reasons behind some rituals and practices.
When life on the streets meets the yellowbrick road
by: Erin Goodling - printed on 02-27-2002
What began as a mild interest in the homeless issues of Portland (thanks to my morning bike commute past Dignity Village, Portland's tent city), soon became a logistical understanding of homeless youth services in Portland (thanks to a term paper for Br. Stabrowski's Urban Politics class at the University of Portland). Shortly thereafter, I found out that my friend, Scott, works at Yellow Brick Road, the street outreach component of Willamette Bridge Youth Services.
Government denies Umatilla disaster
by: Isaac Vanderburg - printed on 04-10-2002
Suddenly, Tony Kimball was choking to death.
A split second earlier he had been seated on a toolbox, reaching for the instrument tray while his coworkers hammered, welded and grinded through steel, cement and iron. But all the while a silent predator was stalking and, when it attacked, it came from everywhere, hushing the construction sight in a moment and arresting Kimball's hand in mid-reach.
UP's Own African Giant
by: Teresa Abbene - printed on 01-31-2001
At first glance, he is an intimidating tower, hovering over you at an impressive 6 feet 8 inches. This looming impression is swiftly shattered by a disarming and warmhearted smile. His name is Ghislain-Giles Sema or “Sema” for short. Sema’s mild manner contradicts his imposing exterior, though he is no softy. He is presently a forward on the UP men’s basketball team and when asked a question, he is nothing but forthright and direct in his answers.