PAGE 11 With rising gas prices, is the Toyota Prius the answer?May 9, 2007 Volume 2, Issue 7

CurrentBear Creek

The earth

is th

e Lo

rd's

, and

everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Ps. 24:1

� April 9, 2007Current In thIs Issue

The Bear Creek SChool8905 208th Ave. NERedmond, WA 98053www.tbcs.org425.898.1720

MISSIONCurrent is the student voice of Bear Creek, providing a quality, thought-provoking, entertaining and responsible student news-magazine. With the exception of the opinion section, editorial con-tent is limited to work produced by Bear Creek students.

ADVERTISINGCurrent will only run advertising that supports the mission of The Bear Creek School. All adver-tisements are subject to final ap-proval by the journalism adviser. Current reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement for any reason at any time prior to publication. Current reserves the right to alter and amend those advertisements not accurately meeting the technical specifica-tions. All advertisers assume the responsibility of abiding by our Advertising Policy.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORCurrent welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be less than 500 words and include the author's name and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be printed. The editor reserves the right to edit for length and clarity. Submission does not guarantee publication.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCurrent welcomes submission of articles by TBCS students. Please contact the journalism adviser for specific requirements.

STAFF Nick ElliottKara HeiserLeigh Ann GreenfieldHeather HuntCindy KimGunny KimColin MaassTara SackmanJu Song

EDITORKelly Hughes

ADVISER Mrs. Sanger

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by electrical or mechanical means, without permission in writing by the journalism adviser.

CurrentBear Creek

Next Issue: May 4, 2007

I think that global

warming exists, but

the cause/effect

relationship between

humans and the

phenomena are

dubious at best.

Yes, there is global

warming because

the weather is

kind of weird: the

summer will be cold

while the winters

are warm.

Erica IhnGrade 9

Jake MatthewsGrade 9

&AQIf anyone has been watching the news

lately, they probably realize that the

environment is a pretty hot topic in the media. From the Oscars to the latest car commercials,

protecting the Earth seems to be on a lot of minds, and those minds are usually

quite opinionated. So we ask,

“Do you believe global warming exists?”

GOING GREENThis issue has caused some debate in the journalism classes. There are many viewpoints surrounding environmental issues, a "hot topic" in today's society. As always, our goal for the newspaper is not tell our readers what to think, but what to think about.

In planning, the Current staff recognizes that there is a great deal of information and even more opinion in the general press on environmental issues. The articles here reflect the interests of the Current staff.

Our purpose was not to judge or measure Christian stewardship by carbon footprints or success in recycling, but to show how some Christians approach these topics.

So, hopefully readers will think about these “green” issues, discussing and debating them with others here at Bear Creek, at home and in our community.

This paper was printed on 100% recycled paper, specially ordered for this issue. (Generally we print on paper that is only 35% post-consumer recycled paper.)

• The Cool Factor

Opinion/3

• Recycled Retail

In-Depth/4

• What, Where, How: the basics of recycling

In-Depth/5

• Carbon Credits

In-Depth/5

• Global Warming: heating up or cooling down?

Opinion/6

• Everyday Wear

In-Depth/8

• Clothing with a Conscience

In-Depth/8

• Reuse it or lose it

In-Depth/9

• Drink Responsibly

In-Depth/10

• Lights Out

In-Depth/10

• Plug in and save at the pump

In-Depth/11

• Turn trash into treasure

In-Depth/11

• Political Penguins

Opinion/1�

• SportsWire and IntheNews

Around School/13

3April 9, 2007Current

The Cool FactorOpInIOn

Yes, it is a serious

problem although

I am going to be

dead before it

causes problems. It

will be the problem

of my children.

I don't care,

because I'll be

dead before it

affects me.

Well, as of now,

yes, because

the ice caps are

melting. No, it's a scam.

Matt BrownGrade 12

Yeah, probably.

I think that it is

occurring, but I

don't think that it

is as big a deal

as we make it.

Rebekah HamiltonGrade 10

Julian CalcagnoGrade 11

Maryam NozariGrade 11

Jin IhnGrade 10

If it is true, we'll

have a lot of

water.

Jamie PerryGrade 12

by Heather HuntStaff Writer

Let’s admit it; the environment is in. It’s trendy. It’s urban. Green is the new black. Everyone wants to be cool, and right now that means keeping the earth cool. For anyone who lives under a Republican rock and has not noticed, it is time to wake up and smell the culture. Worrying about Mother Nature hasn’t been this popular since our parents were ten-year-olds wearing peasant blouses and (hopefully not) listening to the Bee Gees.

Like many societal infatuations, the green lean is perhaps most blatantly obvious within Hollywood. Bono is no longer the only celebrity with a cause; big names like the Dave Matthews Band, The Police, Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Bon Jovi will sing at various Live Earth concerts this July. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio proudly drive their Prius’s around LA. The foundation ClimateStar (who’s motto is “Global Warming isn’t Cool. Stopping It Is.”) is backed by the photogenic faces of Orlando Bloom and Mischa Barton.

Trends can be annoying (remember Furby’s?) or they can just be odd (like zoot suits). The point is, environmentalism is currently an undeniable trend. It may be as annoying as Al Gore, or as weird as clothing made of recycled plastic, but unlike Furby’s and zoot suits, environmentalism is serving a greater cause.

Aspects of the green movement are certainly frustrating, but this is a case of the sum being greater than its parts. Regardless of personal feelings

about Orlando Bloom, stewardship is a part of the Christian responsibility package. If “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” shouldn’t we be doing our absolute best to take care of it—not for Mischa Barton, or George Clooney, but for God?

The word “stewardship” is frequently thrown around in Christian circles, perhaps without completely contemplating its meaning. A steward is a person

who manages the property of someone else. If we are God’s stewards, we are managing His property. It is one thing to trash your own

property, but it’s completely different to trash someone else’s, especially someone who has asked you to manage and take

care of it. We are often given statistics about small choices

that can have large effects on the environment, but we choose to leave a light on because our individual choices seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. As

stewards, however, it is exactly these small decisions, or our apathetic lack of decisions, that will matter before God. Jesus

was all about individuals, which is why we will be held responsible for our individual habits and carbon footprints rather than the state of the earth as a whole. So, even if recycling a single Dr. Pepper can may not end global warming, it matters to God that his stewards are doing what He asked.

Environmentalism is an admirable trend to buy into, not because hemp is cute, or because Clooney was named “Sexiest Man Alive” two years in a row, but because it is, quite frankly, our duty. Next time you have the choice between throwing a magazine in the trash or walking downstairs and putting it in the recycling

bin, stop and make the choice not in the context changing the world, but in the context of stewardship.

How does "fad" environmentalism relate to Christian stewardship?

4 April 9, 2007Current

Recycled Retail: where does it go?

In-Depth

by Cindy KimStaff Writer 2,000,000,000

tons of plastic would be kept out of landfills if we recycled

every plastic bottle used

75,000trees are used to print a

Sunday edition of the New York Times

1,000,000gallons of water can be

polluted by just one gallon of oil

41pounds of junk mail is received annually by an average adult

From pencils to napkins, computers, shoes, bags, Ipod cases, benches, and sidewalks, a myriad of products surrounding us are made from recycled materials. Simply throwing away recyclables is not only detrimental to the environment, but also unproductive. Containers, batteries, and even comic books are reusable. Anyone can make a difference to the deteriorating condition of the earth through everyday choices.

Made from recycled plastic

Plastic bottles Flooring and window frames Video/cd cases Fencing and garden furniture Benches Bicycle racks Cameras Backpacks Shoes/Shoes

Made from recycled paper

Cereal boxes Wrapping paper Cardboard containers Insulation Trays and plates

Made from recycled steel

Cars Bicycles Nails Refrigerators Pipe Ship hulls

Ipod Cases are built from reclaimed 45 rpm records. Shown above: Star Wars Theme by Meca. (Digital Meets Analog)

Sidewalks made from rubber will soon be used in place of concrete in Philadelphia. “Rubber used in these sidewalks is very solid, harder than a running track, and made from recycled tires. It doesn’t crack, and lasts longer than concrete.” (LandscapeOnline.com)

Insulation made from blue jeansOver 20,000 pairs of jeans were converted into nearly 80,000 ft. of UltraTouch denim insulation and used in the rehabilitation of an historic 19th century building located in the Bronx, New York. (HomeAndYardHandbook.com)

Kitchen cabinet doors“Classed as a ‘hard & rigid’ plastic, the board material for [some] unit doors is made from factory reject and post consumer waste, yoghurt pots.” It takes 700 yogurt pots to make one door.(Milestone Eco Design)

Even Barbie Goes Green!Reported on CSNBC on April 20, even Barbie has gone eco-friendly! According to Robert Eckert, Mattel Chairman and CEO, the Company is extracting unnecessary twist ties out of the Barbie Boxes, using sky lights within the factories, and recycling most of the recyclable materials to preserve the environment.

5gallons of water is used per minute by a running faucet

2,500,000plastic bottles are used per

hour by Americans

Ear

th-F

riend

ly F

inds

5April 9, 2007CurrentIn-Depth

by Nick ElliottStaff Writer by Gunny Kim

Staff Writer

Carbon Credit is defined as:1. an action that helps reduce the atmospheric concentration of CO2, such as fossil-fuel conservation and planting trees; (Canadian Environmental literacy Project, www.celpa.ca)2. tradable credits issued according to the amount of absorption of carbon and then sold to emission sources to offset their emissions; (www.watercorporation.com.au) or3. what polluting companies might use to pay for the maintenance of forests. (ecological glossary on projects.powerhousemuseum.com)

Carbon dioxide emissions around the globe are causing the earth’s climate to change and warm which will have catastrophic effects if we do not act to reduce them. CO

2 emissions are about 40% higher than they were

before the Industrial Revolution and at their highest levels recorded history, according to carbonfund.org.

Carbonfund.org is a “nonprofit organization that educates the public about the dangers of climate change and makes it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact.” According to Carbonfund.org, a $99 donation eliminates 18 tons of CO

2, and

23 tons with the Working Assets directly through reforestation, supporting renewable energy, or supporting energy efficiency. For an example, “When you support energy efficiency, Carbonfund.org purchases and retires “carbon credits,” including Chicago Climate Exchange Carbon Financial Instruments (CFIs) or Environmental Resources Trust-certified White Tag™ energy efficiency credits.”

Some companies buy credits as part of good “corporate citizen” public relations campaign; many companies are genuinely concerned about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Also, buying credit is strictly a business investment in the event that carbon prices increase. For instance, if a company that produces carbon below the maximum, which is regulated by the law, the company can sell the left over credit to other companies, so that they can emit more carbon. Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydro fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. Greenhouse gases (GHG) absorb the infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere, generally producing an increase in average temperature of the earth.

There are several organizations that mediate the carbon credit trade. The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is a branch organization of

National Farmers Union. CCX is a self-regulatory, rule-based exchange designed and governed by CCX members. Members make a voluntary but legally binding commitment to reduce GHG emission. After harvest, CCX randomly selects a portion of the tracts for a spot check by an approved verifying firm who makes actual field visits. As the end of the year, the individual producer receives a share of the sale proceeds with a less than 10 percent administrative fee to NDFU, immediately after the credits are sold.

According to CCX, the current price for carbon is about four dollars per ton, although it varies every trading day.

Through another organization EBEX21 carbon credits are purchased in order to “offset carbon dioxide emission from activities that emit CO2 to the atmosphere.” EBEX21 carbon credits are sold on behalf of the landowners of the regeneration sites.

“Reduce what you can. Offset what you can’t.” says Carbonfund.org. If you want to estimate your carbon emission, you can visit Carbonfund.org and go to the “How it works” section.

carbon creditsput t ing green in t h e bank

Whether you know it or not, nearly everything you use on a daily basis can be recycled. Everything from paper, glass, and plastic, to motor oil and car batteries can be recycled- it is just a matter of where it must be taken.

Most garbage transfer stations are also places you can recycle odd items such as motor oil or car batteries. If you are not sure where to take other items, log on to http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wdidw/index.asp.

Most recycling bins, like the ones at our school, are for paper and cardboard only. There are also bins that are only for bottles and cans. Other bins, like the ones at many people’s homes, can be filled with paper, cardboard, plastic bottles glass bottles, and metal cans.

If you are not able to recycle plastic bottles at your house, school, or work, many retail stores accept empty bottles for recycling. The wire hangers you get at the dry cleaners can be recycled simply by returning them to the dry cleaners. Yard waste can be piled and made into a compost heap to use later as mulch when planting later. There are also places around the community that will accept rubber to recycle. Recycled rubber can be used to create bulletin boards floor tiles and even speed bumps. Your recycled paper is turned into newspapers, cereal boxes, and insulation. Recycled plastic is used to create things like tables benches, bike racks, carpeting, all the way to clothes. From recycled steel come, cars bikes, nails, and many major appliances.

AUTOSAs gas prices steadily rise, and threaten to break four dollars per gallon, many people are wondering what they can do to save even more gas. Here are five things that will help you in your quandary:

get regular tune-ups on your vehicleon sunny days, turn off the a/c and open a window or twocombine your errands, carpool whenever possibleon long road trips set the cruise control, it really does use less gasobey those pesky speed limits, (they are not only there to keep you safe, but driving slower uses less gas)

HOMEHere are a few easy tips to save, not only money, but energy at home:

Turn off appliances, lights computers, etc. when they aren’t being used.During the warm months, turn up your thermostat to about 78 degrees and higher when you’re not at home. Every degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees, you can save 3% of your current energy usage. Use energy efficient lighting like fluorescent light bulbs, they use about 75% less electricity than normal incandescent lights.

WORKAt work there are some more things you can do to save energy:

During the winter months turn the thermostat to 68 during business hours, and when closing, reduce the heat to 55. For every degree down, you save approximately 5% on heating costs. Turn off unused lights. Turn off all business appliances at the end of the day. Turn off outdoor or roadside signs in the early hours of the morning, because, face it there are not as many people out at one or two in the morning.

•••••

•

•

•

•

•

••••

What, Where, Howthe basics of recycling

6 April 9, 2007Current

by Kelly HughesEditor

OpInIOn

Both Mrs. Dunn (Upper School Biology) and Mrs. Wang (Middle School Earth Science) keep up on current science topics, including global warming.

Q How popular was the topic of global warming when you studied in college?

Mrs. Dunn: That was back in 1978, 1982? It was not on my radar. I think the concern back then was global cooling, and conservation of species interested me.

Mrs. Wang: It was just beginning; it was the popular topic—even then. It’s kind of an “old-hat” topic now. Now we have to wait for research to come in to gather more evidence.

Q How does global warming education today compare with the education you were taught?

Mrs. Dunn: My professors did not talk much about global warming then. I majored in microbiology.

Mrs. Wang: It’s just as bad. And by that, I mean it’s just as biased. Today, they do not know that much—only 40 years worth of research. Global warming is a topic that needs to be researched for a long period of time. Some scientists say that the temperature has gone up .25 degrees Celsius, while others say it has gone up by a half of a degree. The real question is: what are they measuring? Now more scientists are measuring the temperatures of the ocean—but where is it being measured? How deep? And what do the statistics mean?

QAs a biologist/earth science teacher, do you think global warming is a real phenomenon?

Mrs. Dunn: Let’s break down the question. I agree the earth’s surface temperatures have warmed in the past century about one degree Fahrenheit. However, earth’s atmospheric temperatures have not changed. I see a correlation between human activity, CO2 emissions and the increase in surface temperature. But in science, we always say that correlation does not necessarily equal causation. Atmospheric science is a very complex science—a very young science, and I think we need more data.

This is an excerpt from a Rhetoric speech on Global Warming given in April, 2007.

The burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming. Fossil fuels are gasoline and coal, which are used for powering vehicles and generating electricity. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide (CO

2) into

the atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas: it traps the Sun’s heat in our atmosphere.

The more CO2 we have in our atmosphere, the warmer it will get.Why is Global Warming a problem?The earth’s glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Our planet is getting

hotter. According to NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association, the hottest years worldwide since the 1890’s have been 2005, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Because of population growth and the need for more energy, CO2 emissions are projected to double by 2030 (Department of Education).

After melting, the fresh water pours into the oceans, increasing sea levels. Coastal lands such as New Orleans, New York, London, Amsterdam, and the country of Bangladesh are some areas susceptible to flooding. This addition of fresh water into the oceans also disrupts the ocean currents which rely on a precise salinity. The ocean currents contribute to the heat transportation from the tropics to the poles and have a great affect on weather patterns around the globe. In addition, ocean currents also play an important role in the global transfer of organisms, nutrients, potential pollutants, and sediments.

Global Warming causes spring to come earlier than normal because of warmer temperatures earlier in the year. Places such as the Pacific Northwest rely on a snow pack to store water for the dry summer season. If the snow pack melts in early spring, as opposed to mid-summer, there will simply be no water.

Animals and plants are affected by an “early spring” as well. An early spring could disrupt the food chain. For example, a bird has its young in the month of May, but cannot feed them because there are no caterpillars. The caterpillars, which normally hatch in May, are not around because they hatched earlier in the year sensing it was May when in reality it was March. This example demonstrates how the change in climate could drastically affect the stages of growth in all organisms; possibly resulting in extinction. Humans, who reign at the top of the food chain, would be ultimately affected.

by Alex AmelaContributing Writer

GLOBAL WARMING: HEATING UP OR COOLING DOWN?

What can you do to help slow down Global Warming?

• Reduce,reuse,andrecycle—ittakesenergytocreatenewplasticbags.• Usewaterefficiently—hotwatertakesagreatamountofenergy toproduce.• Growplants—allplantlifetakesinCO2asitgrows.• Driveefficiently—carpoolwithyourfriends,useahighmpgcar,avoidquickaccelerations.Also,therearealternativefuelsourcessuchasbiodieselandhybrids.

• Spreadtheword.

�April 9, 2007CurrentOpInIOn

This is a journalistic representation of the viewpoint in Brendan's Rhetoric speech last year.

Global warming is great for America. Think about it. Car manufacturers can make a killing off saving the environment, research keeps thousands of scientists [very] happily employed, the box office is stimulated by a host of mind numbing movies, and once again, hippies have an excuse to hate both our government and industry. But best of all, global warming gives us that nice, cozy feeling every time we plant a tree or install a fluorescent light bulb or ride Sound Transit.

Unfortunately, the bigger picture of global warming is not that pretty. Apparently, our reckless consumption is placing our grandchildren on the road to annihilation. Every time we take a breath or turn on our car we are emitting deadly carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. In fact, because of industrialization, we have created, for our progeny, such a polluted world that only a can of coke left overnight in a school bus could create a more carbon rich atmosphere. But what’s worse, the only way to stop this pending catastrophe is to greatly reduce global carbon emissions back to their 1990 levels, and soon! Luckily the majority of man-made green house gas (about 1.3% of greenhouse gas is our fault) comes from the developed world, countries wealthy enough

to curb emissions. Right? Luckily Africa, South America, and Asia and the 2 billion people currently living without electricity don’t bear the burden of destroying mankind on their impoverished shoulders. Seeing as western emissions alone (according to the Gore group) at their present rate would kill us all, it is fortunate the UN intervened before Africa tried to tap its vast oil and natural gas recourses. Luckily we don’t have to worry about all those poor people adding their share of pollution to our air; thank God for poverty!

But something doesn’t seem right. Perhaps it’s the 10.6 million children under 5 years old dying every year (State of the World’s Children, 2005, UNICEF) or

the three billion human beings living on worse than $2 a day or the fact that the somewhat high estimation of $327 billion for Europe and Japan’s Kyoto accords could easily pay for the modest estimation of $22 billion to provide every man, woman, and child in the world sufficient food and water. After all, recall that we owe these people for helping prevent global warming. Or perhaps we owe them an explanation for how a small activist movement from the ‘90s justified depriving them of the industry (and even electricity) they need to combat fatal poverty, (especially considering the lack of convincing evidence for global warming to begin with). But as long as the hype (and downright lies) of the global warming platform retain their control over the Westerner's worldview, that explanation will have to do. Poverty is killing 50,000 people every day, and look who’s looking out for number one. Because Americans would rather be “safe than sorry,” they would rather ignore half the world’s need for fossil fuel driven industry, than risk a renegade theory endangering their wellbeing. That explains why the G8 Summit traveled to Kenya last year to endorse a solar energy project (essentially the most expensive, inefficient form of energy known to man) rather than coming together to finance a realistic energy plan for Africa. Better safe than sorry right? Sorry! I think someone owes an apology to the more than 150 million children that have died due to Western permitted poverty (since the year of glorious emission rates that the global warming campaign still seeks to revisit). Come hell or high water for the undeveloped nations still standing in their way.

by Brendan SmithContributing Writer

You hear about it on the news, you see it in the movies—you even hear about it on the Weather Channel.

“Global warming” is now a pop-culture term. “You better recycle,” parents warn to their kids, “Do you want to

cause global warming?” Magazine covers feature apocalyptic pictures of glaciers cracking in half with morose

penguins looking at red sunsets in the horizon. Fictional movies such as Deep Impact and The Day After

Tomorrow center global warming as the cause of the disaster plots. Yet, while the American media concentrates

on the alarming effects of global warming, the question of its existence and its so-called future effects remains

a mystery. Here are some varied opinions among students and faculty members on the topic.

(Continued from page 6)

Mrs. Wang: I see evidence that humans have impacted CO2 levels in the atmosphere and other pollutants such as NO2, SO2, and others like methane. Some like methane are naturally produced just by people living, and some just by nature. There are so many variables. We have added to the pollutants that could have potentially added to the temperature of the globe, but it does not mean it can be receded. My big “but” is that in the past CO2 levels have gone up.

Q How well do you think the media portrays global warming as a whole?

Mrs. Dunn: I think the media likes excitement and tends to over emphasize the computer model predictions that give alarming scenarios for the future. One can carefully search articles and find substantive info, if one reads intelligently and skeptically.

Mrs. Wang: They are so one sided. They do not give all the evidence. For instance, there’s evidence that says CO2 is not the primary pollutant; some scientists think that the other pollutants are the cause of global warming such as SO2, NO2, etc. Those are the pollutants from us, and those have gone way down in the last forty years. We have the problem that has been in the past—we do not know whether we are in between the interglacial ice ages. The media does not report other modeling scenarios on how global warming could happen.

QDo you think the predictions of natural disasters and diseases due to global warming are accurate?

Mrs. Dunn: No, I think they’re inflated. What we don’t know is more than what we do know about the atmosphere.

Mrs. Wang: No. Last fall, with [Hurricane] Katrina they advertised all the global warming with gloom and doom with all the hurricanes, when in fact this year the hurricane levels were down. I think it plays into the media’s hands.

(Continued on page 9)

Americans would

rather be

"safe than sorry."

8 April 9, 2007Current

I was standing in the Workroom last week and Mrs. Sanger said to me, “Oh, Ms. Clauson, you might be interested in the next issue of the Current – we’re doing a ‘green’ issue.” Since I’m all about recycling, reusing and reducing waste, I got really excited and replied, “I’m very interested in that! And, it’s so funny that you mentioned this today because I’m wearing a skirt that is made partly from recycled pop bottles!!” She asked me to come do an impromptu presentation to her Journalism class about recycling and clothes made from “earth-friendly” products.

The skirt I was wearing that day is made from a material called polyethylene terephthalate (a.k.a. PET or PETE). It is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is one of the most important raw materials used in human-made fibers. The majority of the world’s PET production is for synthetic fibers, thus reducing the reliance on non-renewable and globally harmful resources. It may seem strange to wear clothes that are made from recycled plastic, but the final material feels like light denim. And, since U.S. citizens throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, I am more than happy to help reduce the waste.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed at the scope of our global environmental situation, and it can be discouraging to read the statistics and research that point to a world that is fading away. However, for me it is a call to stewardship and wanting to honor God by caring for this amazing world He has created. If we all take small steps to make changes that will have positive impacts on our earthly home, our combined small steps will quickly turn into giant steps. I am confident God will smile upon our efforts.

For more information about “clothing with a conscience,” take a look at the www.textureclothing.com.

In-Depth

by Georgina Wadhwani-NappContributing Writer

by Ms. Heather ClausonContributing Writer

Among other things, Alex Martin is a choreographer, dancer and artist from Seattle. She is also a designer who has taken fashion to a new level. She does not start trends, she simply recycles them. Two years ago, she started the

first of her Intentional Wardrobe Projects, called the Little Brown Dress Project.

On July 7, 2005, Martin first took on the challenge of wearing the same handmade brown dress every day for an

entire year. She says the project was her own “personal attempt to confront consumerism," a “one-woman show against fashion.” It was also a chance for her to prove herself to her family and friends who were “alarmed” at the thought of the project and even “concerned for her sanity.” The response from the community did not help either, she says, “It was super negative.”

Still, Martin went with her decision and wore the dress for 365 consecutive days, taking it off and washing it only at night. In the colder months, she wore the brown dress under and over layers of clothes that had been in her wardrobe before

the project began. Martin estimates that 90% of those items were from second-hand stores and had been “recycled” anyway. Except for an emergency trip to Goodwill for sweaters during the winter, in which she spent less than $20, Martin survived off of what she made and already had. Throughout the duration of the project, people’s thoughts towards the idea had changed dramatically.

Ending the project on July 7, 2006, Martin hosted an Un-DRESSing party and dance performance for her fans, after which she finally changed out of her dress, into another handmade outfit, marking the start of her current project, the Recycling Project. During this project, Martin will only wear items she made herself from old second-hand things. That includes shoes and handbags as well as clothes, even underwear. The Recycling Project will end July 7th of this year.

Now, Martin says it is a shock not having to reach for the brown dress every morning, to get changed. It is an even bigger shock not seeing the dress—it was stolen at the Un-DRESSing party shortly after she took it off.

POP FASHION Middle School Geography teacher Ms. Clauson models a skirt made from recycled pop bottles, one of the clothing items designed and created by one of her college friends' company, Texture Clothing.

local woman chooses brown dress for green success TBCS teacher models "walk the talk"

clothing with a conscienceeveryday wear

9April 9, 2007Current

orReUse it Lose it

In-Depth

by Ju Song and Colin MaassStaff Writers

When you turn on a television or read a magazine, there is a high chance that it will feature speculations about the imminent danger of mother earth. Ranging from a hot issue like global warming to a freezing issue like the second ice age, many people are getting interested in earth issues.

It is easy to concentrate on solving the current problems at hand. This is why many people do not care about the potential environmental crises. However, there is one fact they need to be concerned about: the fate of the near-depleted yet essential non-renewable resources.

A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-made, re-grown or regenerated on a scale comparative to its consumption. These include fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. It is almost impossible to live our daily lives without these resources in our current society. The higher demand, the faster depletion of the resources.

The estimated time of depletion for these resources ranges from as moderately long as 200 years (coal) to as extremely short as 40 years (petroleum). Demand increases with population growth, compounding the problem with a two percent increase in consumption rate each year. If no action is taken, the estimated time of depletion will get shorter and some of the resources will be eradicated in our generations’ lifespan.

Scientists are currently focusing on developing new types of natural energy that can replace fossil fuels. Wind power, hydro power, electric power and solar power are some of the candidates, although their use is limited at this time. Wind and hydro power can only be used in specific locations and solar power and electric power are not cost effective.

Until scientists can find ways to make the substitute energies mentioned above accessible, powerful and cheap, there are not many ways to delay the approaching energy crisis. However, as consumers, we could indirectly contribute in preserving the non-renewable resources by purchasing fuel-efficient products or by lessening the amount of fuel-consuming products when possible. (People can use public transportation instead of using cars in areas where the former is widely available).

The day after tomorrow will be bright if we care about our future along with the present. The most important matter is not how much you are contributing to the cause, it is whether you care about it or not. Remember, “One person makes all the difference!”

425.417.9829 http://www.handmaidengifts.NET

Kit #2 (ages 9-12) $20.00

SAME as Kit #1 plus the following:two-strand beaded bracelet materials (enough to make 8 bracelets)chain nosed pliers

Kit #1 (ages 6-8) $15.00

Beading Design Board and instructionsPersonalized jewelry kit containerbeaded bracelet materials (enough to make 9 bracelets)

Beaded Jewelry Making PartiesLearn to make your own beaded bracelet and

earrings!

Have a great time learning how to

make beaded jewelry and go home with

enough supplies to make more for friends and family.

Call now for more information and to book a date!

Kit #3 (ages 13 and up) $25.00

SAME as Kit #2 plus the following:earring materials (enough to make twelve pairs of earrings)side wire clippersround nosed pliers

A party they'll never forget and a new skill for life!

(Global warming, continued from page 7)

QWhat do you think needs to be done in order to stop the rise of temperatures? In your opinion, how much change is necessary?

Mrs. Dunn: As Christians, we are compelled to do our best to be good stewards of this planet God created. I try, and my family—we try to minimize our use of electricity—I don’t try to idle my car for more than 30 seconds, and we try to conserve our fossil fuels. But I wouldn’t support some of the government proposals such as in California with the carbon credits. I would suggest the minimization of air conditioners and clothes’ dryers. I have no idea how much change is necessary, and I don’t think anyone truly does because we truly do not understand earth’s buffering capacity. I think everyone should be responsible to tread lightly on the earth.

Mrs. Wang: Humans can impact the level of pollutants in the atmosphere. If global warming is due to CO2 and other pollutants, we can impact it. But, if it is in fact, the natural cycle, there is not much we can do. God gave us brains and we caused the pollution to increase via industries, cars, etc., but now our responsibility is to realize we have made a mistake. We have a responsibility to have stewardship. That’s why I am a science teacher—to teach that.

About a month ago, the United Nations issued a global warming report which several governments support. To read up on this report, go to the official site http://www.ipcc.ch/.

10 April 9, 2007Current

“It’s not fair!” is a common refrain among children. Children with frequently annoyed parents (like mine) may have heard the reply, “Life’s not fair.” I would like to suggest this is wrong, that while life is not fair, Christians are called to make it as fair as possible for others.

It should come as no surprise, then, that I promote Fair Trade coffee. Fair Trade coffee is a simple and inexpensive way to “act justly.” Replacing your daily portion of Starbucks, Tully’s, Seattle’s Best or grocery store ground coffee with Fair Trade coffee, is hardly a sacrifice, yet, it can drastically improve the life of another.

What exactly is Fair Trade? Fair Trade is a business model that allows the consumer to buy a product for a price that attempts to give economic stability through work to normally exploited laborers. Since we are ruled by the laws of capitalism and seek to get the best product for the cheapest price, it may seem inconceivable to pay more money, but for the intangible ethical supposition behind product.

Being a bit of a coffee-snob myself, I admit that I was hesitant to make the switch to Fair Trade. I assumed that ethical coffee, much like “ethical” books, movies or other forms of media, would be the watered-down counterpart of the so-called “unfair coffee” that I knew and loved. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. My first cup of Fair Trade coffee was freshly ground, dark roast Sumatra from Camano Island Coffee Roasters. It surpassed my expectations. This was no complimentary-hotel-packet-of-Folgers coffee. It tasted as good as, or better than, most brews at Starbucks.

Fair Trade companies do not rely solely on the altruism of the consumer. They create superior products that motivate a capitalist market. Instead of begging a donation, they offer a quality product with quality ethics.

Purchasing a product with a Fair Trade label means that (according to the Fair Trade Labelling Organization) workers were provided with “training opportunities, non-discriminatory employment practises, no child labour, no forced labour, access to collective bargaining processes and freedom of association of the workforce, condition of employment exceeding legal minimum requirements, adequate occupational safety and health conditions.” And all the consumer has to do is a buy a bag of coffee.

Fair Trade coffee is easy to find in the Seattle area. All PCC’s coffees are Fair Trade and Whole Foods sells some ethical coffees as well. Starbucks occasionally brews Café Estima which is a Fair Trade coffee.

Consider making the switch to Fair Trade coffee. Considering our average socioeconomic status, drinking Fair Trade coffee may be the easiest ethical decision we will ever be asked to make.

Sooner than you think, buying an incandescent light bulb could become an offense punishable by law. Concerns about excess greenhouse gas emissions in the air have sparked a frenzy of government action all over the globe.

Both Australia and Canada have plans in the works to ban these bulbs, which have remained the norm for more than a century.

The Australian government hopes to replace all incandescent bulbs by 2009, where under a proposal lead by Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the bulbs will no longer be available for purchase in the country. The goal is to decrease Australia’s emissions by four million tons in the two years following the ban.

Ontario is working to be the first Canadian province to follow suit and ban the sale of incandescent bulbs by 2012. “We’re demonstrating real action to reduce electricity consumption, save money for consumers, and most important, protect our environment,” said Energy Minister Dwight Duncan.

What will replace more than 87 million incandescent bulbs in Ontario?

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs as they are commonly referred to, are set to become the new face of energy efficiency. Environmentalists, retailers such as Wal-Mart, and the Environmental Protection Agency have heavily promoted these spiral bulbs that use about 25 percent of the energy that incandescent bulbs do. From 1980 to 2005, enough CFLs were sold in the United States to make up only five percent of the light bulb market.

More still, a California Assemblyman is trying to make history and ban incandescent bulbs in America, starting in his own state. Lloyd Levine introduced the “How Many Legislators Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb Act”, banning incandescent bulbs by 2012.

“Going green” is a choice, but it seems that the government has taken it upon itself to make that choice for the citizens. Politicians have become invasive, forcing their views on others about how to live everyday life. It is sincerely doubtful that any sane person who lives on earth wishes for its destruction or demise, but what happened to freedom— freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms, and freedom to use whatever lightbulb one chooses? The government has already wrestled control in some parts of the country over what kinds of food Americans can purchase and which oils they are prepared in. Officials are seeking to stop drivers from using cell phones while in the car, at the same time the automobile industry is dishing out new cars with built in GPS systems and televisions. And now the government is going to manage what type of light bulb Americans can use? After all, how much energy is too much? And who decides how much is too much?

by Heather HuntStaff Writer

by Kara HeiserStaff Writer

In-Depth

A. the production of two types of energy from one energy source, such as the capture of excess thermal energy created during electric energy production plus the electric energy itself.

B. the measure of the size of a natural area- land and water- a person or population impacts, especially through product manufacturing and waste absorption.

C. an economic movement that seeks to create sustainable development and better conditions for marginalized workers.

D. design that reduces the use of nonrenewable resources.

E. pejorative term referring to the marketing of the environmentally friendly aspects of an organization as a

promotional tactic, but not necessarily with regard to the overall environmental impact of a product or organization.

F. food and other products certified by the USDA and other organic certification programs to be made without the use of manufactured pesticides or chemicals.

G. energy from inexhaustible sources, such as fuel made with soy beans; solar, wind and water power. Also known as green energy.

H. investing in businesses with regard to your personal values and societal concerns.

I. using worms to break down decomposing materials (such as kitchen waste) in order to produce nutrient-rich soil.

GREENGlossaryHow "green" are you? Match these words with the correct definitions.

1. Organic2. Renewable Energy3. Cogeneration4. Vermicomposting5. Socially responsible investing6. Ecological Footprint7. Green Design8. Greenwash9. Fair Trade

Answers: 1F, 2G, 3A, 4I, 5H, 6B, 7D, 8E, 9C.

dRink Responsiblythe buzz about fair trade coffee

lights outfuture for incandescent bulbs dimming

11April 9, 2007Current

tuRn tRash into tReasuRe

reasons to recycle

plug in and save at the pump

So Frank, one of my dad’s buddies from work, drove this ancient Subaru for a really long time. The guys at the office would pitch him grief about his clunky old Subaru. Eventually, he decided to take the plunge and buy a new car, which he had been notoriously tightfisted about. My dad’s congratulations to him ceased when he heard what car Frank was buying.

A Prius.Why, you may ask, was this declaration of buying a Hybrid car enough

to arouse my dad’s ire?Perhaps more importantly, what in the screamin’ hey is a hybrid car

in the first place, and how are hybrids any different than regular cars or even those infamous gas-guzzling SUVs for that matter?

I’m glad you asked. The fundamental difference is simple: any vehicle is a hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. Hybrid cars run off a rechargeable battery and gasoline. Hybrid vehicles themselves date back as far as Greek warships. These were simply boats with both a sail for traveling with the wind, and oars for when there was either not enough wind for the sails or in such cases where a sail would be inefficient, such as when engaged in combat.

Incidentally, I had the opportunity to drive Frank’s Prius the other day, and I am forced to admit that it’s a smooth little ride.

First thing that’s cool about it is that you don’t need to use the keys. Well, you need to have the keys, but you don’t need to use them. When you have the keys in your pocket, the car senses the radio code from the keys and opens when you pull the door handle. And then, you don’t put the key in the ignition and turn it to get the car going; you simply press the “Power” button and the car comes to life, quiet as a whisper.

The car doesn’t have a normal dashboard. When the car is turned on, an LCD screen pops up, showing you a diagram of the car and where the energy is being distributed. The speed and other information are sort of buried below the windshield. The car has sensitive brakes, much more sensitive that those of my Volkswagen. They’re so sensitive that it feels a little herky-jerky at first, but that probably changes once you get used to it.

Frank says he’s been getting about 40 miles to the gallon, as opposed to my dad’s Volvo, which gets about 22. So hybrids are certainly more fuel-efficient than regular cars. This is because of the car’s two engines: an electric one as well as a small 4-cylinder gas engine, and because the electric engine is charged by friction from the brakes.

What the car has in terms of gas mileage, it lacks in horsepower, with only about 110, as opposed to my dad’s car, which has about 270.

At the end of the day, hybrids are a very efficient form of transportation, and I can totally see what makes the Prius the number-one selling model.

by Colin MaassStaff Writer

OpInIOn/In-Depth

• If we raise fuel efficiency standards in American cars by one mile per gallon, in one year, we would save twice the amount of oil that could be obtained from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

• Raising it by 2.7 mpg would save enough to eliminate all the oil imports from Iraq and Kuwait combined

• Raising it by 7.6 mpg would save enough to eliminate 100% of our gulf oil imports into this country (Source: Environmental Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr.)

by Leigh Ann GreenfieldStaff Writer

Bright blue recycling bins are a common sight in offices, in schools, and on curbsides in the Seattle area and across the country. While recycling is almost a unanimously approved way to save energy and the environment, not as may people agree on the effectiveness of current recycling projects.

To begin with, recycling is, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the reclaiming of what would normally be considered waste for reuse as raw materials or in other products. Aluminum cans are an example of a recyclable material. Currently, The Recycler’s Handbook says that Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet every three months. An actual number for this is provided by the EPA, which says that roughly 2.5 million tons of recyclable aluminum was thrown away in 2003 alone.

When you consider that the amount of energy saved in just one year by making cans out of recycled aluminum would be enough to light the city of Pittsburgh for six years (the Can Manufacturing Institute), it becomes apparent how much of a waste allowing recyclables into landfills really is. In fact, recycling goods is often, if not always, cheaper than using regular trash disposal methods. The EPA says, “A well-run curbside recycling program can cost anywhere from $50 to more than $150 per ton…trash collection and disposal programs, on the other hand, cost anywhere from $70 to more than $200 per ton. This demonstrates that, while there’s still room for improvements, recycling can be cost-effective.”

The good news is that Americans are becoming more conscious about recycling, and the national percentages of recycled goods are steadily rising. The EPA also says on its website, “While recycling has grown in general, recycling of a specific materials has grown even more drastically: 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of all major appliance are now recycled.” While certain groups contest these numbers as overly optimistic, there has been a national trend towards recycling awareness.

as gas prices climb, hybrid cars offer an economical solution

1� April 9, 2007Current OpInIOn

Bellevue2700 Northup Way

Bellevue, WA 98004(425) 827-4600

FActoriA4122 Factoria Blvd. Se #101

Bellevue, WA 98006(425) 747-7202

S

erv

ing th

e eastside Since 1967

PediatricAssociates, Inc., P.S.

www.MyPediatricAssociates.com

Our Newest LOcatiONredmONd ridge

22635 Ne market Place, #120 • redmond, wa 98053 • (425) 898-7408

toteM lAke13030 121st Way Ne #100

kirkland, WA 98034(425) 814-5170

SAMMAMiSH22603 Ne inglewood Hill

rd #100Sammamish, WA 98074

(425) 836-5407

reDMoND8301 161st Ave. Ne #202

redmond, WA 98052(425) 885-9292

PiNe lAke22717 Se 29th St.

Sammamish, WA 98075(425) 391-7337

Sexual content, violence, thematic elements. All qualify a movie to be PG-13, however, all these elements are also contained in the PG movie Happy Feet. Mocking environmentalists, Christian bashing, and inappropriate content are all presented in this “kid friendly” setting. Is this the kind of material that we should be exposing our children to?

Happy Feet is a children’s animated film about Mumble, a penguin who is born without a “heart song.” He dances instead of singing, and as a result, is shunned by his peers for being different.

But what appears on first glance to be an innocent children’s movie turns out to be an excuse to present subliminal messages to children.

In the first song of the movie, Mumble’s mother is walking through a group of male penguins and they shoot off sexual remarks at her as she passes, such as, “Let’s talk about eggs (sex) baby, let’s talk about you and me,” and “Gloria, I want to see more of ‘ya.” Gloria’s response is not much better, because she walks through the group singing, “I just need your body from dusk till dawn.”

The movie takes another turn for the worse as Mumble enters adulthood. The colony of penguins experience a shortage of fish, and Mumble’s “happy feet” are blamed. The elders claim that Mumble has angered the “Great Quin.” Mumble denies the responsibility, yet the Elders retort, “If thy kind of pagan display didn’t cause it, then what did?” Finally, the elders tell Mumble, “You must repent, or you must leave.” Using terminology such as ‘repent’ and ‘pagan’ clearly mocks Christianity. In the Old Testament, the disciples tell people to repent of their sins, and idol worshippers are referred to as pagans.

Another blatant jab at Christianity comes in the form of Lovelace, a member of the colony of penguins Mumble meets on his journey. Lovelace is the “all-knowing guru” who will answer one question of anyone who brings him a stone. Lovelace speaks in a loud, strong, sing-song voice, similar to that of Martin Luther King Jr., and many televangelists commonly seen on TV. The only reason Lovelace is revered so highly is because he has plastic rings (from pop cans) stuck around his neck, which he claims were bestowed upon him by the “mystic beings” and grant him wisdom.

Now, as funny as some televangelists may sound to us, it is important to stop and remember that they are preaching the gospel. This “guru” penguin is exposed as a fraud later on in the movie when Mumble reveals the fact that the rings around his neck got stuck there by accident. Also, this view of televangelist preachers is distorted even more with sexual references throughout. Lovelace commands the penguins to “go forth and multiply” and, shortly afterwards, he leaves (surrounded by female penguins) saying, “I will now retire to my couch of perpetual indulgence…ok ladies, who’s first?”

Mumble eventually winds up in a zoo. When he wakes up and wonders where he is, another penguin in the zoo tells him he is in “Penguin heaven.” When Mumble asks where heaven is, the penguin responds in a dazed voice that “it can be wherever you want it to be.” This so-called “Penguin heaven” turns out to be more like a hell for Mumble. Mumble becomes depressed and loses all desire to dance, let alone enjoy anything. The aliens (humans) gawk at him from behind a wall.

Even environmentalist were mocked. One of the main philosophies in the movie is that people are evil; they are killing the cute little penguins. Every sign of human civilization is shown as ominous and evil. It is devious how something as irresistible as starving penguins is used to teach children that people are evil. When humans are described, it is as “big ugly, featherless penguins.” When Mumble describes the humans, he even expresses horror.

One common theme that runs through this whole movie is that stereotypical groups are selected and satirized. Christians are displayed as narrow-minded and legalistic, while environmental messages are taken to extremes in their portrayal. Halfway through, the movie becomes unrealistic, and the subtle messages are no longer subtle, but are blatant extreme statements imposed on children.

The next generation needs to formulate their own opinions on “hot” topics such as Green Peace and Christianity. Their views do not need to be influenced by messages from dancing penguins.

Happy Feet is anything but a children’s movie, with its perverse view of Christianity and blatant sexual references. It is dangerous to fill the minds of children with this information. As young adults with more developed minds than the seven year olds this movie is directed at, we are able to see through the dancing penguins and realize the true meaning being conveyed. But, a seven year old can not necessarily make these distinctions. Children are impressionable and should not be exposed to this kind of material.

One thing is for sure: I do not know many parents would want their kids singing the words to these songs on a daily basis.

by Tara SackmanStaff Writer

Political Penguinsmasquerade as "Happy Feet"

13April 9, 2007Current

by Staff Writers

SPRING SPORTS HEAD TO POST-SEASON

The spring sports season at Bear Creek is nearing its end, with a lot of post-season play ahead.

The boys tennis team ended up with a record of 3-4 in league play with many close matches. They will play in a League tournament on Thursday, with sophomore Tim Hughes playing first singles, seniors Kyul Ko and Will Sanger playing first doubles.

The girls tennis team has had an interesting season, with seniors Katie Price and Kelly Hughes leading a young team. Six members will travel to the UW on May 18 to play against three other teams, with singles and doubles winners advancing to the Emerald City League tournament.

The golf teams finished off their regular season with five boys and four girls qualifying for districts. In League, senior Jeff Kettman was the boys medalist for individual scoring with sophomore Sydney Conway taking the medalist position for the girls. Districts will be held May 16 in Oak Harbor.

In track and field, sophomore Erik Richardson broke the league discus record of 123 feet. Freshman Jake Mathews soared nine feet in the pole vault at a recent practice, sparking new interest in this event. Junior Kimi Pohlman won the 100 yard dash at the King’s Invitational. The League meet will be held this Thursday at King’s High School in Seattle, with Tri-Districts on May 19 to determine who advances to State.

The baseball season ended this past Saturday with a record in league of 11-5, finishing third in league. Senior Graeme Erickson nearly broke the single season hit record for home runs, coming just three short. This year, a record six Bear Creek boys played baseball on a joint team with Overlake.

ArOunD schOOl

Redmond Family Dentistry

John Sackman, DDS • Sara Whittle, DDS

425.883.6874 phone 16260 NE 85th Street425.885.0145 fax redmondfamilydentistry.com Redmond, WA 98052

SportsWire

SPRING CONCERTThe Upper School choir and band gave their last concert of the year on May 4, both performing songs from their Disneyland trip. Despite battling a very sore back, Mrs. Loudenback persevered to direct the choir, including a rousing rendition of Lamentations of Jeremiah, followed by Alleluia and Esto Les Digo. Picking up the pace with a medley of music from The Little Mermaid, the choir concluded with the spiritual Let Everything the Hath Breath, featuring solos by senior Leigh Ann Greenfield and junior Jackson Brammer. The TBCS Girls Ensemble performed Gwenyth Walker’s I Thank You God. A slideshow assembled by senior Nick Elliott shared pictures from the choir’s recent trip to Disneyland. Senior Morgan Mankis sang a song she recently performed at the State Solo Contest held recently in Ellensburg. The band performed Variations on a Korean Folk Song and ended the concert with songs from The Chronicles of Narnia, featuring an English Horn solo by Collette Sackman. Mrs. Loudenback and Mr. Higbee honored the emotional graduating seniors with roses.

IntheNews Reaching OutFor the past two years, Caitlin Blanchard has volunteered with Open Door Young Life. a Christian outreach for young adults with disabilities. The club meets every Monday night, with fun games, interaction with young adults, and a message. One of the main goals is to share Christ's love and build relationships with the young adults. Throughout the year parties are held for the various holidays. This year there was a talent night for those who wanted to share their special talent. One of the biggest events of the year is the Bowl-a-thon, a fund raiser for scholarships for Young Life summer camp. This is a great community service opportunity, one that Caitlin highly recommends.

BOWLING FOR CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS Seniors Caitlin Blanchard and Jamie Perry join members of the Open Door Young Life group for Bowl-a-thon fund raiser held at Sun Villa Bowling on April 27.

14 April 9, 2007Current ArOunD schOOl

What's the

buzz?

Pitch in!by Leigh Ann Greenfield

Staff Writer

An observant student might have noticed early Wednesday morning that several

new bins were set up in the Commons and along the hallways in Middle and

Upper school. These bins are the beginning of a trial run for recycling cans and

bottles at Bear Creek. Currently, students at TBCS can recycle their paper in

classroom receptacles, but empty Gatorade bottles, water bottles, and pop cans

are placed in regular garbage cans, and eventually transported to landfills.

As of May 9, the Facilities staff at TBCS has given students the opportunity to

put their bottles to better use. They are interested to see that recycling becomes

a major part of Bear Creek waste disposal.

For students, this means taking three simple actions when disposing of trash.

Firstly, look for specially a marked recycling bin when tossing out a bottle or

can. Secondly, remove any bottle caps, since those are not recyclable. Thirdly,

pour out any liquid left inside before recycling the bottle or can!

These next couple weeks of school will set the tone for student involvement with

recycling at Bear Creek for next year. If students are willing to come alongside

by recycling bottles and cans, this could be the start of a great program.

Upcoming Calendar DatesMay 7-16 AP Tests

May 17-18 Senior Finals

May 18 Senior Project Kick-Off

May 19 Junior-Senior Prom

May 30 End-of-Year Athletic Celebration

June 3-5 Biology Trip (juniors)

June 8-9 Drama—The Man in the Iron Mask

June 11-13 Senior Project Presentations

June 14 Field Day

June 14 Senior Breakfast/Graduation Rehearsal

June 15 US Honors Assembly (10:30am)

Last day of School (early dismiss)

June 15 An Evening of Honors-Srs/Jrs (7pm)

June 16 Graduation for the Class of 2007