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?

Coal plant threatens lives in Thailand

by: Meghan Molenda - printed on 04-10-2002

Progression and invention are two of those highly valued American ideas that permeate our culture, right up there with wealth and power. We are always looking for better ways of doing whatever it is that we are doing, and therefore we are suckers for anything new because "new and improved" signals progression, which is valued. With this in mind, it would seem that our old methods of doing things would become outdated and not even put into question, much less practice.

-> Read More |

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.

-> Read More |

Aisai bento

by: Yuri Nakamoto - printed on 04-11-2001

I’ve noticed that Americans misuse the Japanese word “bento”. My roommate thought bento was something over rice. You thought so, too? The Commons once served something called “bento chicken”! It actually looked like teriyaki chicken though. Bento is a boxed meal that some times it even includes dessert. Just like your lunch sack. But bento is not just leftovers. Maybe some of the items in your bento are leftovers, but bento is made for the purpose of taking your meal with you.

-> Read More |

Struggles in the European Union - Farms

by: Mono Vergara - printed on 02-20-2002

With the introduction of the euro in January of 2002, the European Union has been cast into the spotlight once again. Though the development and implementation of the euro was a big step towards the unification of Europe, the EU still struggles over questions of funding and policy, searching for consensus among its economically and culturally diverse members and prospective members.

The EU squabbles over funding for farmers

The main problem the prospective members are facing is coming from the farms.

-> Read More |

An American Dream from Thailand

by: Outhorn Keophelia - printed on 04-25-2001

In 1975, at the tail end of the Vietnam War, 35-year-old Sisouk Keophila, his wife Sengphet and their three-year-old and one-year-old daughters were struggling to break free from war-torn Laos. Searching for a way to escape from the communist-ruled country, the Keophilas finally found an opportunity to flee to America.

In 1978, Trinity United Methodist Church in Salem, Oregon sponsored the Keophila family to come to America.

-> Read More |

Confucius: A part of Chinese history

by: Meighan Doherty - printed on 10-10-2001

When one thinks of China, many negative images come to mind. Tiennaman Square, human rights violations, Tibet. However, I choose to focus on a positive person in Chinese history- Confucius. Confucius’ philosophy and wisdom greatly influenced ancient and modern China, helping many people learn about nature, the world around them, and their relationships with others. His teachings also helped the Chinese government to rule the country successfully.

-> Read More |