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?
Ancestral Voices: Rediscovering two cultures in ruins
by: Ben Muse - printed on 09-11-2002
In the thick, green jungle of the Peten region of northern Guatemala lies one of the great cities of the worldÂ’s memory; Tikal, once a bustling city with towering pyramids housing the bones of deified leaders and a burgeoning acropolis, sits half excavated form the decay of the jungle.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” an archaic notion
by: Emily Marie Dinges - printed on 03-28-2001
Discrimination. That’s an icky word. It is defined as “treatment based on class or category rather than individual merit.” Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the United States military is doing today: discriminating against gays and lesbians.
Before 1993, gays and lesbians were barred from serving in the military. President Clinton worked to change this and the compromise solution, “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was born.
World immigration standards need to change
by: Mono Vergara - printed on 03-27-2002
For a few minutes please forget about what we see in the media. Forget about that nonsense axis and all the other issues that "our leaders" tell us that they are important. Stop for a few minutes and look south, to the south of our world. Picture Africans swimming in the strait of Gibraltar, South Americans banging pots and pans, Cubans who die in the Caribbean every other day and lonely Mexican women running through the Arizona desert.
Deforestation, our two-faced friend
by: Nicole Ulacky - printed on 10-10-2001
The snowball of events that has caused our current planetary environmental condition was started long ago. It has been handed down, generation to generation, only to grow with each successive passing. We can thank our parents and grandparents, and grandparents’ grandparents, and all of those before them, for throwing us into a phase of environmental degradation that is nearly unfixable. To say the least, the environmental problem facing our generation is of enormous proportion.
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.
Do not be afraid of big birds
by: Isaac Vanderburg - printed on 10-24-2001
Those West African tropical storms sure make for great conversations.
Like this time, two years ago, on the way to Ghana (the first time mom had returned in 30 years), on a lurching Ghana Airways 747 with 16 people on board. The plane left from London at one in the morning, so before the storm hit there hadn’t been much talking going on, just sleeping sounds and the occasional hiss of a pop can or flight attendant’s beep.