Featured Pet: Meet Summer

by Jules, 7th grade

Though it’s still winter, you can find a taste of summer at OC Animal Care with Summer, our delightful two-year-old Siberian Husky! Currently in a foster home, Summer loves spreading joy and meeting new people with her affectionate kisses. She is crate-trained, potty-trained, and knows how to “sit.” Summer enjoys playing fetch and tug, and she’ll happily use your couch as a jungle gym! Described as well-behaved and obedient, Summer’s enthusiastic personality makes her a great fit for a family with older children. Come meet her today! Could she be yours?

Schedule a visit with Summer (A1896374) by calling (714) 935-6848 or visit their website at ocpetinfo.org.

Health: California’s Extreme “Whiplash Weather”

by Declan, 9th grade

California has experienced extreme weather conditions from raging fires, high winds and droughts to immediately experiencing heavy rainstorms and floods, the cycle is otherwise known as “weather whiplash,” so that it is only fair to worry about the intense consequences of climate change as global warming increases.

The increase in natural disasters is linked to the increasing consumption of energy but more specifically the increase in the use of fossil fuels. With fossil fuels warming the planet, the intense climate swings will worsen in severity with the recent experience just being the start. CNN reports how the series of winter storms last year “doubled the average amount of vegetation for the region,” which fueled the many raging wildfires in January that terrorized cities like Los Angeles.

The frequency of wildfires is expected to increase in California because of the high amounts of grass and brush produced in the rainy seasons, which is then dried and flammable in hot summer months. This sequence paired with windstorms like the ones felt from Santa Ana reaching up to 100 mph, caused devastating destruction with firefighters unable to combat the flames.

“Whiplash Weather” became more acknowledged this year as Californian regions that fell victim to natural disasters question whether they should rebuild destroyed infrastructure. What we once ignored and now experience, now needs to be responded to by both officials and citizens.

Trending: Should Pennies Be Abolished?

by Alicia, 7th grade

The debate over whether pennies should be abolished has been going on since the 1980s. While some argue that these small coins have outlived their usefulness, others believe they still serve a purpose in everyday transactions. With the U.S. Mint continuing to produce millions of pennies annually, it’s worth examining the benefits and drawbacks of eliminating them from circulation.

One of the strongest arguments for abolishing pennies is their lack of practical value. Due to inflation, a penny today buys far less than it did in the past. People often leave pennies in tip jars, on the ground, or in containers at home, rarely using them for purchases. Additionally, the cost of producing pennies exceeds their actual worth. It costs the U.S. Mint more than one cent to manufacture each penny, leading to a financial loss for the government. If production stopped, millions of dollars could be saved each year and redirected toward more beneficial public services.

Another advantage of getting rid of pennies is the potential increase in efficiency. Transactions involving pennies can be time-consuming, whether at cash registers or during bank exchanges. Many stores have customers who fumble for exact change, slowing down lines and frustrating employees and shoppers. If pennies were eliminated, prices could be rounded to the nearest nickel, making transactions quicker and more straightforward. Some countries, such as Canada and Australia, have already phased out their lowest-value coins without significant negative consequences.

The opponents of abolishing pennies raise valid concerns. One major issue is that businesses might use the change as an excuse to round prices up rather than down, leading to higher costs for consumers. Even if rounding rules are established to balance increases and decreases, some worry that businesses will subtly shift prices in their favor, impacting low-income individuals who rely on exact cash payments. Furthermore, some people argue that pennies hold sentimental and historical value. Abraham Lincoln’s portrait of the penny has been a symbol of American history for over a century, and many believe that removing pennies would be an unnecessary loss of tradition.

Another potential downside is the impact on charitable donations. Many fundraising organizations rely on small change donations; without pennies, some charities could see a decline in contributions. While nickels, dimes, and quarters could still be donated, studies suggest that people are less likely to part with higher-value coins as freely as pennies.

Overall, the debate over abolishing pennies comes down to weighing efficiency and cost savings against traditional and economic concerns. While many argue that pennies are outdated and costly, others believe they still have a place in everyday life. Whether or not the U.S. government decides to eliminate pennies, it is clear that this small coin carries a much larger discussion.

National Observance: World Wildlife Day – March 3rd

by Mateo, 11th grade

In recent years, the issue of wildlife preservation has been placed in the backs of many peoples’ minds. For example, the Amazon Rainforest has lost nearly 55 million hectares of area to deforestation within the last couple of decades, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (made up of our trash) has grown to an estimated 620 thousand square miles, or about the size of Texas. Most people often see global crises like these as the roots of global warming and climate change; however, the majority of the public often overlooks the impacts these growing problems have on our planet’s wildlife. World Wildlife Day, recognized annually on March 3, seeks to remind people just how vital the creatures and plants we share the Earth with are to the preservation of our world’s vast ecosystems.

Like many other world observances, World Wildlife Day is the brainchild of the United Nations (UN). The particular date, set in December 2013 during the UN’s annual General Assembly, was selected in commemoration of a pivotal document signed 40 years prior that placed strict regulations on the trade of endangered wildlife. The UN’s primary goal with the event is to spread awareness throughout the world of the crucial roles that animals and plants alike play in providing humans with food, shelter, medicines and the like. Additionally, the UN aims to highlight the fact that the diverse environments and processes that make our planet beautiful and suitable for humans would likely not be possible without the aid of the wildlife around us.

This year, World Wildlife Day’s theme is “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”. As such, the UN is placing a special emphasis this year on how world powers and organizations can use their money more efficiently towards the development of wildlife conservation programs, with the hope of creating a future that is more sustainable for all organisms on Earth.

There are many ways you can get involved this year during World Wildlife Day. For one, you could go out and spend time enjoying the wildlife that offers us so many benefits. Feel free to grab some friends and visit a zoo, take a stroll through a park or garden (like the Fullerton Arboretum), or swim among the fishes in one of SoCal’s many beaches once it gets a bit warmer. Another potential option is to utilize social media to spread the word to others. Share a fun wildlife fact, post a picture of a unique animal or plant in your area, or do anything else that will convince your peers to join in on the action.

As much as people despise talking about it, the preservation of our Earth’s wildlife is in a critical state at the moment, and with an estimated 1 million more species projected to become endangered within the next year, the issue is continuing to trend downwards. World Wildlife Day works to give people a reason to care for the 80% of frog species and 75% of bird species that live in areas threatened by deforestation, as well as the thousands of fish species hurt by plastics and overfishing yearly. World Wildlife Day offers a way for people to get involved in the preservation of our Earth and the development of a stronger and more sustainable future for generations to come.