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Costco- Helping Our Little Helpers Words by Jenna Elsetouhy Photography by Anna Campbell What did you have for breakfast this morning? Lunch? Dinner? At least one of these meals probably contained a vegetable or fruit, right? It feels so good to eat food straight from the earth, knowing that you are getting your nutrients from the soil. But what you did not know is that bees pollinate nearly 90% of the plants we eat, and nature’s (essential) little helpers are slowly, but surely, on the road to extinction. Costco

recently

made

the

decision to become more earthfriendly, through something so small, but so significant. The 85-million-customer company released their new “Live Good Policy” to protect the lives of our favorite pollinators. Costco reminds its customers that they are aware of the decline in the bee population, and they are “committed to business practices that support the growth and sustainability of bees and other pollinators. The main point of this policy is to avoid non-essential chemical use in the plants they are selling, and to gradually discontinue the use of neonicotinoids on plants which

bees pollinate. Neonicotinoids, as defined by Beyond Pesticides, are a class of insecticides that share a common mode of action that affects the central nervous system, causing paralysis and death of the insects. These pesticides are one of the leading causes of the decline in the bee population, because they act so quickly in the killing of the pollinator. Not only has Costco taken action to end the use of these detrimental chemicals, but, in partnership with the Friends of the Earth campaign, Home Depot and Lowe’s have also decreased their use of

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pesticides containing neonicotinoids, to help in the revival of the bee population.

just being kind to one another. We can all make a difference, and we will.

All in all, this may seem like something tiny, but small steps like these lead to giant leaps. Bees, humans and all living creatures alike, must make an effort to help one another, whether that be through not using insect-killing pesticides, not eating animal products or

Sources: http://www.sunnyskyz.com/goo d-news/2059/Costco-JoinsHome-Depot-And-Lowe-s-InEliminating-Bee-KillingPesticides https://www.costco.com/wcssto

re/CostcoUSBCCatalogAssetSt ore/feature-pages/16w0604sustainability-bee-policy.pdf https://www.nrdc.org/sites/defa ult/files/bees.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co stco http://www.beyondpesticides.or g/programs/bee-protectivepollinators-andpesticides/chemicals-implicated

Editor’s Letter: Determination Determination when everything seems to be burning and screaming is a difficult undertaking. When you see the horrors unfolding around you it is hard to want to continue pursuing your life (because, what’s the point, right?) But this feeling of ‘lostness’ can evolve into a feeling of restlessness. When an individual lacks determination, but can still see the world around them, a certain type of anger and discomfort plants itself within their stomach. They want to do something, they know they need to do something, but alas, they do not. They lack determination as the cruelty (which is the thing the individual wants to change) is too overwhelming. But as time wears on, this feeling of restlessness reaches its height, the horrors of the world mountain on top of each other and it becomes too much for the individual to bear. So they act: despite having no determination. In a way, this newspaper was definitely a response to the layering of dust and weight. In the weeks before its invention, I would lay in bed looking at the

ceiling feeling as if everything seemed to be crushing me. The fact that Donald Trump (a racist, sexist, violent tyrant) had been elected was making my chest tighten into a thousand knots. The unfolding of wars across the world made me want to punch through a wall. The cruelty of humans that I was witnessing made me want to scream. But I didn’t do anything, for I lacked determination. But then the restlessness reached its peak, and I lurched out of bed, almost mechanically, and started writing emails. I spoke of an idea for a newspaper that had good news and hope and power; an idea I had just thought up minutes before. After sending a bounteous amount of emails, I peacefully went to sleep and woke up the next morning to receive emails from plenty of different writers and artists, who have made the Restless Times what it is now. This newspaper came from the overflowing of restlessness. The lack of determination that I had faced was a direct catalyst for change, as I ended up taking action against the violence of

the world. It did not matter that I still did not have much determination; the fact that I had started something meant that I had to continue my work. I had been tricked by my own restlessness into the creating and sustaining of something powerful. I hope you feel this overflowing of restlessness at one point in your life. It is certainly an uncomfortable thing to experience (particularly in the build-up to its peak) but the world needs more change. The world needs more revolutions for it to be bearable. More uprisings need to come in order to put out the violence and horror of this world. Do not be afraid of the lack of determination and supposed loss of hope when it comes. Just turn it into restlessness and use it to start your own change for the wider good of the world. Editor-in-Chief, Darcy Campbell You can find Darcy and follow her adventures on her instagram @darcyynic and her newspaper endeavors at @therestlesstimes.

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On Pointe: The Art of Hiplet Words by Miah Keleigh Photography from Hiplet Ballerinas’ social media. A Little Bit of History Hiplet officially started in the late 90’s, though it wasn’t called that back then. Instead, Hiplet was referred to as ‘Rap Ballet’, where dancers performed to rap music through moves such as The Running Man and others like it while dancing on pointe. Fast forward to 2005, where previous Artistic Director and current founder of the Chicago MultiCultural Dance Center, Homer Hans Bryant, started flirting with the idea of various hiphop movements which would later develop and officially become a trademark known as the Hiplet technique. But What Is It? A term first coined in 2009, Hiplet is a combination of traditional ballet and modern hip-hop. This unconventional dance style has gained popularity after a video was posted on Instagram featuring African-American girls aged 12 - 16 dancing in CMDC, the only dance studio in the world where dancers are learning Hiplet. Aside from the fact that ballet, traditionally a dance that is ethnographically eurocentric and hip-hop, a dance rooted from African culture, have fused together to form a mindblowing technique. Something Why Both Dance Styles? For starters, ballet is the absolute core of Hiplet. There are two important reasons behind this: The first is that dancers need to first be trained

in ballet in order to progress to Hiplet, which requires powerful technical skills to execute the correct movement for safe dancing. The second is that Homer Hans Bryant, founder of CMDC, wanted to illustrate to the world that dancers of colour can be just as powerful, elegant and successful at traditional ballet than their caucasian counterparts. Hip-hop then enters at a later stage. A way of self-expression and a culturally reflective art form, this fusion of dance utilizes hip-hop with much sharper angles, but also less restricted movements as dancers have a lot more fun.

Hiplet In Digital Media Hiplet has taken over social media. Not only does it grace Facebook timelines almost thrice a day in mediums that vary from status updates to short clips of the dancers performing and doing interviews on Good Morning America. The dance style has also trended on Twitter and gained thousands of reblogs and reposts on popular social media platforms such as Tumblr, while also maintaining its ever increasing popularity on the platform where it all began Instagram. Furthermore, Hiplet has also extended itself onto

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TED Talk, or TEDx, where dancers from CMDC gave an incredible performance in San Francisco. The art was defined as “a ballet group that fuses classical pointe technique with Hip-Hop and urban dance styles.” Other involvement in the media include being featured on Refinery29, where dancers did a fashion shoot and spoke about the dance movement while striking stunning poses on pointe. In the interview, the dancers were asked how on earth it was possible for two contrasting dance styles to work

together so well if one is restrictive and the other is all about letting go. 18-year-old Hiplet dancer Nia Lyons simply answered, “Ballet tends to be more traditional, more strict, and more demanding. And hiphop tends to be more of a social movement; it’s how you feel and how you interpret the move. Hiplet is the perfect world of both: You need to have the technique and discipline in order to get, and be able to move freely, on pointe, but not to the point where you can’t express yourself."

The Restless Times Our Website: www.therestlesstimes.com Our Instagram: @therestlesstimes Editor-in-Chief: @darcyynic Contact Us: therestlesstimesnewspaper@gm ail.com

New York: The First State to Offer Free Public Higher Education Words by Nicole Constante Photography by Matenia. Unlike in the creative industry, getting job opportunities these days is easier when you have a college degree. It’s become an integral part of success in the industries-especially in big cities. On Saturday, New York governor, Andrew Cuomo stated “Today, college is what high school was — it should always be an option even if you can’t afford it.” He officially passed the Excelsior Scholarship, a program he introduced in January, making the state the first to offer tuition-free college education. Residents whose families earn less than $100,000 per annum qualify for the scholarship. It will increase to $110,000 in

2018 and will reach up to $125,000 in 2 years’ time. Granted that you are studying full time in any of the state’s community colleges or public universities, your tuition fee will be covered by the government. The grantees of this scholarship will have to remain in the state for years equivalent to the time they received aid. Students from community college are expected to stay for two years after graduation while those in universities will have to stay for four years to continue to be an asset to the state. This program makes higher education accessible for middle class families. He added “Every child will have the opportunity that education provides.” For many, the hope to reach

their dreams and full potential is restored. With the leap New York is taking, the value of each individual and the power of knowledge is upheld. Opportunities are given equally to students and it is now in their hands on how to turn their dreams into reality, not in their pockets.

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Save the Sea Cows Words by Julia Jelinek

manatees’ recovery.

It is official: these cute, whiskered, sea cows (otherwise known as manatees) are off the endangered list! After many improvements towards their population and habitat conditions, they are now reclassified under “threatened”.

There are many organizations that work to save the manatees including “Save the Manatee” club, which is a non profit membership based organization. Their mission is to protect manatees' aquatic habitat for future generations by works such as creating public awareness, sponsoring research, and taking legal action. You can help by joining them, adopting a manatee or donating to the cause.

In 1972, manatees were added to the endangered list with only an estimated 1,267 existing in Florida. Now there are more than 6,300 in Florida—a 500% increase. This recovery is extremely encouraging to all conservation actions towards marine life. It’s important to recognize the progress, but to also keep the commitment to

With this advance in manatee life, there is still a lot of work to be done to keep them in their current position and get them

removed from the Endangered Species Act completely. Although they are off the endangered list, they are still threatened. A threatened species is defined as likely to become endangered. It is important to remember to demand that the government takes action in future efforts to save endangered species and marine life. Sources http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/3 1/us/florida-manateethreatened-species/ http://www.savethemanatee.org /default.html

Communication is Key Words by Maddie Bryann

understand one another better.

Communication makes the world go round. Where would society be if people did not voice their opinions? If people didn’t speak up when they had the solution? Everyone has a voice for a reason; it must be used.

The Katherine Hospital in the Northern Territory of Australia has been known as one of the worst hospitals of its country, but has made a remarkable recovery recently. One of its main emphases on the road to improvement, among many other factors, was communication. This hospital is known for Indigenous Health Care, but many of these patients would leave without telling their doctors. Doctors complained of too much work and not enough supervision, and everyone knew they needed help.

In healthcare, communication is key. It is so important for patients to communicate how they are feeling with their doctors and nurses to know what treatments are needed. It is also important for doctors to communicate with their patients about the treatments they will be receiving. This way, everyone understands what is going on and what needs to be done. Communication helps us

Around six years ago, new management and new doctors arrived, ready to make a difference. They really have made a change, improving

Indigenous Health Care in so many different ways. First, they have increased the use of interpreters, making certain that patients understand what is being said to them at all times. Improving communication will ensure the understanding and trust from patients. With interpreters, patients can have their treatments fully explained to them. In the past, patients did not have this opportunity. They were just expected to trust doctors without knowing what was going on at all. Trust was low because communication levels were low, but now this has changed. Patients will be informed, and able to make educated decisions about their own treatment.

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Another way the Katherine Hospital has improved is through the changing of their doctor’s attitudes. The doctors were having a really difficult time understanding why patients would want to take their own leave. They were all frustrated and did not understand why they would leave before treatment was complete. Now, the doctors have taken the time to observe their patients more and understand their actions. They really watch how they engage with their patients, and pay attention to detail. They want to give their patients the best treatment possible, and having a positive attitude is the best start. Creating care plans to help lower leave rates has also helped improve Aboriginal health care and the hospital’s performance. The doctors have weekly meetings to discuss

individual patients, and how to make sure they are comfortable and going to stay. This helps everyone understand what is going on, and how to help each patient and make sure they understand that their planned treatment is best. Also, the hospital has created more support for their staff. They have recognized that their jobs are not easy and want to help them in any way possible. This hospital is now very supportive of both its doctors and patients, which makes the workflow much easier and the bond between everyone much tighter. The Katherine Hospital has done some amazing things within the past few years, and has completely turned around their production and satisfaction levels. They have created a much more improved healthcare for Indigenous and Aboriginal people, and

continue to support them through all of their work. However, there are still some ways that they can improve. They have employed many new doctors, however they have not employed any Aboriginal or Indigenous doctors. This would help the patients trust and relate to the doctors much more, and even reduce the need for interpreters. In the end, communication and trust is what has made this hospital improve. Without either of these things, patient take own leave rates would still be high, and many Indigenous patients wouldn’t even bothering checking into the hospital. Communication is key, and we need to continue to use our voices and improve the world. The Katherine Hospital is only one example of what communication can do.

Making Easter Egg Hunts More Accessible Words by Jemimah Reeve Easter is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, even celebrated by those who don’t observe the religious meaning. For millions of children across the globe, and particularly in Western culture, this means Easter egg hunts. But what about those children who miss this? What about the children who can’t take part in this? Of course, it may seem like a small thing, but for disabled children, it’s yet another thing they can’t do, for reasons no one can control. But there are people who aren’t settling for this.

This Easter, in Arkansas, USA, two mothers of children with autism hosted a specialist Easter egg hunt for children with disabilities. They catered for those with disabilities of all kinds, from blindness, to severe sensory issues, to life-affecting allergies. A way of hunting eggs that involves magnets, for less-physically able children was used, a safe space for the overwhelmed was provided, and alternatives to the eggs themselves available for those who couldn’t eat them. For children in this area who would otherwise have missed out, a wonderful, inclusive way for them to join in was provided, and a wonderful day given to them.

For 11 years, David Hyche, an Alabama father, whose 12 year old daughter, Rachel, is blind, has been creating beeping Easter eggs, in an affordable way. These had been around for a while. But not at an affordable price. They enable blind children to hunt the eggs by listening for the pulsing, beeping sound they give off, and join in on all the fun. Since David began making these, the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, of which he is a member, has taken it on as a project, enlisting members across the country to create the eggs, to give as donations to local communities that are organising the events, to enable

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them to affordably make them more inclusive towards local blind children. This year, the organisation All In For Autism hosted its very own egg hunt at a park in Ohio. The hunt was broken down into levels, but not by age, but rather by capability. This way, the participants, however severe their disability, were able to join in, and enjoy the hunt. Sufferers of autism as old as 18

joined the fun, being able to celebrate just as other children have always been able to. The environment was sensory friendly - no loud music, and space for those who were overwhelmed to go. An Easter bunny, in the form of a teaching aide at a school for those with autism dressed in a costume was there, ensuring that those involved missed nothing from the experience that other children are provided with.

The efforts that are going into including children of all abilities in events such as this is heartwarming. No child should have to miss out, regardless of any disability they might have, and this Easter, hundreds of more children who otherwise might not have, were able to take part in the Easter festivities.

Slaughter of the Earth Words by Darcy Campbell Photography by Jessica Ciarczynski It was no secret during the presidential campaign that the current US administration was pro-coal and anti-environment, however, no one expected the worst. In Donald Trump’s most recent ignorant action, an executive order has been signed, reversing all of the climate change policies that Obama’s government introduced. The Clean Power Plan, which was implemented by President Barack Obama, focused on cutting down USA’s carbon emissions. This plan not only helped to decelerate climate change, but played a crucial role in the reaching of the US’s goals that they pledged in the Paris Summit in 2015. The cancelling of this Clean Power Plan has resulted in the introduction of the Energy Independence order. This executive order demands that all of Obama’s climate change initiatives are reversed and replaced by a plan that ignores the harmful effects of USA’s

carbon emissions. Trump stated at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, “I am taking historic steps to lift restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion, and to cancel jobkilling headquarters.” His attempt to ‘save jobs’ has selfishly replaced the necessary protection of the environment. Trump’s efforts only plan to benefit the coal industry, and environmental groups have been quick to criticise his government’s selfishness. The executive director of the United Nations Environment Program,

Erik Solheim, said, “This is not the time for any country to change course on the very serious and very real threat of climate change. The science tells us that we need to bolder, more ambitious commitments.” A very serious concern that has been raised is that this executive order will serve as a precedent to other influential nations such as China. If such an important nation can pull out of their Paris commitments, who says that China and Russia can’t as well? So what does it mean for the rest of our world, if Trump can

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so easily pull the plug on one of the world’ s most important climate policies? The climate is no longer in time with the beat of the Earth’s metronome. Storms, droughts, floods, tsunamis, and other natural disasters have been striking our world relentlessly, wreaking havoc across the jobs of many. This unpredictable change of climate is affecting farmers; their crops are being destroyed. The lifting of the regulations regarding carbon emissions means that this climate change will worsen, affecting the jobs of even more farmers. This chain reaction shows the stupidity of Trump’s executive order, as his attempt at ‘saving jobs’ is only going to disarm the

jobs of many more. But more important than jobs, is our Earth. It is slowly disintegrating in front of our eyes, and instead of putting in more effort to save it (as any leader should do), Trump is putting himself and powerful companies first. But we are not all Donald Trump. We have the power to not be selfish. We have the power to limit our carbon emissions and combat the impacts that Trump’s executive order will have. There is a sense of hope within all of this. Experts are saying that it will take years for all of the policies to be undone and the process itself will encounter

many judicial challenges. Trump has once again undoubtedly overestimated his power and abused the needs of our Earth. Change is inevitable, but as a society we must limit the acceleration of climate change. Sources: http://www.abc.net.au/news/20 17-03-29/trump-signsexecutive-order-sweepingaway-obama-climatepolicies/8395486 https://www.nytimes.com/2017 /03/28/climate/trumpexecutive-order-climatechange.html

Why War Isn’t The Answer Words by Jenna Elsetouhy As time has worn on, the phrase “fight to protect our country” has been used repetitively. Whether it is “one must fight for our country” or “one must respect the people who fight for our country,” it has always been a command and never an option. Children often grow up aspiring to fight for their country, and to stand with their flag in hand with pride. However, the question to ask is, “Can we really fight for peace?” With everything that is going on in the world today, it is hard to not think about the possibility of war. While war does seem to be every dictator’s way out, and Donald Trump’s favorite word, we must not forget that it is not just an event that takes place. War affects everyone and everything, and the lives it affects are not just faces, they are people. With names, with

families, with stories, with destinies they are hoping to fulfill. So what now? This is the dilemma between letting oppression happen and fighting oppression with oppression expecting peace. If there is one thing that all should know, it is that you cannot expect bad plus bad to equal good. A simple look at history will prove that nothing good has ever come from fighting fire with fire. A lot of people may think that they are immune to war, especially those who feel like the country they live in is benefiting from engaging in the conflict. The truth is that war is detrimental to everyone, whether they realize it or not. Where you live, where you work, where you sleep, there will always be people who are hurting from

the

actions

of

others.

‘War’ seems like this big word that is just thrown around and never really seen, especially in the era we live in today. Just because some might be safe in a first world country like America, does not mean other people around the world are. The overwhelming majority of people in other parts of the world are scared to close their eyes to sleep at night, fearing that if they are not completely aware of their dangerous surroundings at all times, they will not see the daylight. People's houses are being bombed, families are being taken away and lives are being completely destroyed, while some people are encouraging war, and still have the privilege of reading articles and being able to close their eyes without worry? People are taught from such a

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young age to fight for what they believe in, and while yes, they should make what they want a reality, fighting is not the answer. We can join our arms, stand on our legs, and use our voices to create change in this world. It is understood that the world is long past the boiling point of every minority's level of handling the horrors they face, and that not everyone can just "stand up" for what they

believe in after being forced to sit down so many times. After so long, it really is sickening that people still have to argue for rights they should be born with, but what is most effective in the long run is using your voice in a peaceful yet still earth shaking way, setting an example for what others must do. The point being, just because many are living in a time where worry about living in poverty

and losing their human rights does not exist, does not mean they should commit actions carelessly. There are consequences to every single thing one does, and the smallest etch can affect the big picture tremendously. Domino after domino will fall because of a first ripple, and the decision of whether this ripple makes the dominoes fall for good or for bad is in our hands.

The Education System Words by Abby Strangward The following is based on my knowledge of and experience with the American and Australian school systems . Education has always existed. Thousands of years ago, education was passing on the knowledge of survival to your offspring. They needed to know how to hunt, how to build shelter, how to defend themselves. Education was about learning how to survive as an individual. As humanity progressed, education evolved from an individual thing into a societyfocused thing. Education moved away from the family and was entrusted to ‘professionals’. We focused on building our children into people who could help our society. We cultivated a skilled workforce, helped them become critical thinkers, understand culture and history and compete in a global marketplace. I believe our world has shifted again. Currently, a large

portion of our population lives in wealth and comfort. (There is still a huge portion of people who do not, but that’s an entirely different conversation.) The first world is no longer as concerned with survival. With so many people in this situation, we need to expand the goals of education. To solve the problems we created as we evolved, we need new generations that are able to reach their potential, develop their individual talents and abilities, understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of all people, and feel they can create a meaningful life. The world needs people who can come alive, and attack problems with creative mindsets. Our education model is outdated. It is still a societyfocused system, based on the goals that worked for us decades ago. But that’s not what we need now! That’s not what our children need now! A big sign that our previous

education system is no longer working for us is the rates of mental illness in young people; rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers have increased by 70% in the past 25 years. Suicide is now the #1 cause of death for teenagers. Though this can also be attributed to the rise in social media (and cyber bullying), school is playing a part. Schools encourage students to remain similar in a world where they’re encouraged to explore themselves and be different. This double standard creates incredible pressure, stress and confusion. It causes depression and anxiety. As a student halfway through high school myself, I can personally attest to the negative toll it takes on students. We stress over tests and break out hearts over grades. We fill our heads with equations and our eyes with diagrams. The next morning we start again. Next week we forget it all. As a teenager striving to put myself out into the world, have a voice, be creative, and

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become the person our society says I should become – school pushes me in the opposite direction. It gives me no time to grow, explore myself and my personality. It fits us into molds and ranks us by a number. How is our society meant to grow if we continue to educate our children like this? You can’t pin a person’s self-worth on a standardized test score and then push them out into the world insisting they be an individual. We need creative minds to solve the problems of climate change, homelessness, starvation, clean water access, and everything else we face. To be creative, you need to make mistakes. And our school system is ill equipped to

nourish creativity. Does an education reform to this scale sound impossible? Too good to be true? Take Finland. Their education reform began some 40 years ago, and since then they’ve created a national school system that provides high results across all subjects, a 93% graduation rate, and a low mental illness rate. How? Through many, many changes. A private school system doesn’t exist. Children don’t attend school until they are 7. There’s close to an hour recess on average every day. Students don’t take standardized tests (except for one, when they’re 16). The homework load is lighter.

Students of different learning capabilities aren’t separated. There is a much higher teacher to student ratio. Teachers are given the same status as doctors and lawyers, and require a high degree of university education (most of which is subsidized). I could go on. But all of this has created a school system that equips students with the knowledge they need, while giving them the freedom to be young, to explore themselves, and become individuals. The education system is outdated. It’s not creating the generation of young people that our world so desperately needs. What

are

we

trying

to

The Importance of Our Oceans Words by Julia Jelinek Photography by Jessica Ciarczynski A vital aspect of earth’s existence is the ocean. Every breath you take and drop of water you consume is connected to the ocean. We need to start acknowledging that we belong to something

bigger than ourselves. Regardless of how far away you live from oceans they do affect your life. Becoming aware of the importance of oceans around the world and how to protect them is the start of bettering the future of planet earth. Many people fail to realize that

the largest life source in nature is the ocean. The ocean is the largest ecosystem on earth and is therefore the largest life supporter. A sixth of the world’s human population relies on the ocean as its main source of protein. The ocean alone produces more than half of the oxygen, which is more than all of the rainforests combined.

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There is no doubt that the oceans are the vitality of our planet. Despite their overwhelming importance, the ocean has finally reached its tipping point; corals are rapidly dying and the water is getting warmer. Since 1950 plankton has decreased 40%. Plankton is to water as plants are to land; they draw down surface carbon dioxide, support all of our fisheries, and produce oxygen. Everyday the ocean absorbs over 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which drastically increases the sea’s acidity—this process is called acidification. Acidification inhibits shell growth in marine animals and is a cause of many reproductive disorders in fish.

•

•

•

Ways to help: •

Use fewer plastic products. Plastic can become debris in the

•

ocean—this pollutes the water and many marine animals think it’s food so they often eat it. Help take care of the beach. With summer approaching, it’s important to use ocean friendly sunscreen, clean up after yourself, and travel the ocean responsibly. Purchase products that don’t exploit marine life. Avoid products such as coral accessories, shark products, and tortoiseshell jewelry. Don’t go to aquariums. Captivity is cruel. All life is life and no lives deserve to be locked in a cage for human enjoyment. Most importantly, educate yourself on

marine life. The more you learn about the earth, the more inclined you are to help. Watch documentaries such as Planet Earth, read articles and newspaper articles on what’s currently happening to our planet. Sources http://ocean.nationalgeographic. com/ocean/explore/pristineseas/critical-issues-oceanacidification/ http://news.nationalgeographic. com/2016/09/oceans-warmingglobal-environment-climate/

Learn More www.greenpeace.org www.oceanicsociety.org www.seashepherd.org

The Poetess Is Interviewed in this One Jessica: First, I want to start off with an introduction. What is it that you do? Amanda: Hello! My name is Amanda Lovelace and I’m a poet, or a poetess, which is a woman poet and the title I prefer. My debut poetry collection, the princess saves herself in this one, was published through Andrews McMeel Publishing this past Valentine’s Day (February 14th, 2017). Prior to this, it was selfpublished through the Createspace and Amazon selfpublishing platforms. J: Why did you choose to write poetry? How did you become interested in it?

A: As a child, I was (and still am) extremely shy and introverted and, as the result of abuse, the thought of expressing myself filled me with anxiety, so I was made to suffer in silence. However, I eventually made a childhood friend who enjoyed writing the occasional poem, and after seeing how beautiful and expressive her work was, I decided to try my hand in it. I found it to be very cathartic—a form of art therapy. Writing gave me exactly the emotional outlet I was hoping for, and it has stuck with me ever since. I have since joined the online poetry community, taken poetry courses, and teamed up with local spoken word poetry groups. My

passion for poetry has followed me for over half my life. Even now, it gives me a voice when I feel I have none. J: I understand that you initially self-published your book. Was it difficult to do? What are some of the challenges you were faced with? A: It wasn’t difficult whatsoever! Createspace and Amazon have made themselves very accessible to their selfpublished authors, and their customer service reps are always quick to answer any questions that may rise. When I was self-published, the only challenge I was faced with was

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that virtually all promotion was left up to me, so it became very stressful at times. There were a few weeks where I couldn’t write because I was so tangled up in the promoting aspect. Now that the princess saves herself in this one is in the hands of Andrews McMeel, they take care of all my promotion for me and I can focus more on the writing aspect of my job. Basically, I finally get to do what I love, which I imagine is every writer’s dream. J: Your poetry is fueled with feminism and self-love. What was the moment that inspired you to speak openly about feminism? A: I wasn’t always a feminist. (Are any of us born feminists?) Then I discovered Tumblr (an interactive blogging platform) when I was around seventeen years old. It was there that I discovered feminism and eventually intersectional feminism, a much more inclusive version of the ideology. While I won’t claim that feminism is a cure-all for women who have a difficult time achieving self-love, I will

say that it certainly helped me become more comfortable in my own skin. Learning that perfection is a social construct that almost no woman can achieve in her lifetime helped me come to terms with the things I thought were flaws, but were actually representative of the wild notion that I was a human being. I write openly about my feminist beliefs because I hope to encourage women to feel confident in their minds and bodies and to help end the daily ache we experience by being forced to live in a society where we are considered to be something closer to mythological creatures than living, breathing people. J: The main message of The Restless Times is to inspire creativity and allow young girls to have a voice. Besides poetry, how else do you express your creativity and use your voice? A: Poetry is my main source of creative outlet at the present, but I try to use my voice as much as I possibly can on social media, where I have a large platform. I try to raise awareness about important social issues in the news and speak out against harmful representation (e.g., racism and sexism) in books, among other things! J: Where did the inspiration for your first book come from? A: It’s a challenge for me to pinpoint one specific inspiration behind the princess saves herself in this one. In a way, everything I experienced in my life led up to it. As I say in one poem, I wanted desperately to unpack all of the pain I had gone through and make

someone finally hear my story, but I also wanted to do it in a way that was true to me. Going in, I was well aware of the fact that there were already plenty of poetry collections out there doing the same thing, so before I began writing, I had to ask myself, “What makes my story worth listening to? What sets it apart?” And it all came down to…my love for reading. No matter what hardships I’ve had to go through in life, books have always been there for me. Words have always been my coping mechanism and I’ve always found myself wishing I could be the badass heroine of my own story. So I melded my real life with my fictional life, and that’s how princess came to be. J: After reading your first book, I was extremely delighted to hear about book #2 coming soon. Can you spill any details about it? A: Thank you! That pleases me. I can tell you a little bit about book #2, which is titled the witch doesn’t burn in this one. While princess is my life story, witch is about the complications and beauties of womanhood…but with more fire. We haven’t pinned down an exact release date yet, but it will likely be released in early 2018. I’m just finishing up my first draft now. J: Do you write every day? How long do you spend writing? A: I do not write every day, not even when I’m actively working on a collection. I’m not someone who can force themselves to write and just hope I can magically grow flowers out of weeds. When I sit down to write, I already have

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several ideas jotted down to be fleshed out into full-length poems, and that is sometimes the culmination of two weeks’ worth of notes, whether they were taken on my phone or in the journal I carry around with me. My poems tend to read fast, but even the shortest pieces take time and planning! J: What are three things you would tell your younger self, whether it be about writing or

in general? A: This pain won’t last forever. You will be happy one day. Remember to keep coming back to the words.

about a great many things, including trauma, grief, police brutality, racism, and the Black Lives Matter movement—is a must-read for everyone. www.amandalovelace.com

J: And finally, what is one book you would recommend to the readers of this newspaper? A: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas—a YA fiction book

The Restless Times Book Club Here is a list of our favourite and recommended books this month! All of these are mentioned in the newspaper or personal favourites of the editor-in-chief (in other words, this is not a sponsored advertisement.) Buy these second-hand, download them on kindle, or borrow from the library to lower your impact on the Earth.

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Applying For My Future Words by Arianna P In Europe, the majority of high school students are currently applying to university and college courses. Young teenagers, soon-to-be adults, are visiting schools, writing application letters, and filling out tons of papers to apply to their dream universities. But, there's also some that have been postponing this decision, to feel less pressured and just less overwhelmed with everything. And now they have to choose, but they still have no idea what to do. I myself, have started to think about college applications way too late and that resulted in a big cloud of confusion and indecisiveness. And I found that quite a big number of high school students aren't sure about what path they want to pursue or which courses they'd like to take. Many aren't sure which university they want to apply to and the majority doesn't know what job they would like to apply for once they finish studying. Thinking about your future, even a year from now, makes

you feel a little (or very) scared inside. Although we all have dreams and ambitions and visions of how we'd like our future to be like, we don't know what it will actually bring us, what's really waiting for us. It all feels like a blank canvas, filled with unknowns we have yet to reveal. As young adults we have a lot of pressure on our shoulders to apply and study and eventually graduate and gain a degree and find a job. And it almost feels as if we're shaping our life once we apply to college, as we define the path we want to take and maybe even set the finish line. That is the reason why being indecisive and not knowing which program you'd like to choose and which university you'd like to attend makes the whole situation a hundred times more stressful. But, we do have to realize this application, the papers we fill up with information about us and our goals, achievements, grades, and much more, the letters we have to write and

final exams we have to pass, do not define our future. None of these things will ever define our future. Of course they will affect it, because the university we choose is going to be a part of our journey, but not all of it. On the other side we may be extremely sure about where we want to apply, but once we're actually there we won't like it at all. And that is okay too, because there is always a chance to switch schools or transfer or even take a gap year and re-apply for the next semester. There are always many more possibilities for us to re-shape our path if we end up not loving the place we are at. If you're applying this year, or next year, or if you're already applied - you have applied for your future, yes, you did, good news: nothing is set, nothing is defined, nothing is so settled that it cannot be changed, switched, or modified, nothing. So choose wisely, choose with your heart, and apply for your future, but don't stress too much!

The Essentiality of Literature We are told from a young age that reading opens us up to a new world. In all honestly, I am not usually the kind of person who can settle down into a good novel for hours on end.

so beneficial for every individual to find themselves a good book. Literature does not only open people up to the world, but is also opens them up to themselves. Reading puts the mind at ease, and helps to put things in perspective.

Recently however, I have gotten back into the groove of reading, and I have rediscovered why it

I have recently been reading many novels written by Latin American authors, and just

Words by Emma Rodgers

yesterday the band alt-J came out with a new song titled, 3WW. The music video for this song took place somewhere in Latin America, and by reading the novels written by Latina authors, I immediately felt connected to the music video more than I would have just three months ago. Reading makes the individual

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more connected to an everglobalizing world. You can tell so much about a person based on the novels they read, and you can figure out yourself based on what you read. Are you into adventure novels? Romance? Historical? The novels you find solace in can teach you about how you find your inner peace, and can show you what you are truly

Writing Prompt “What are ten things that you wish you could change about the world? What are some ways you can achieve them?” Answer this prompt with as much enthusiasm and honesty as you can. Be sure to share your answer on social media with the hashtag #restlessthoughts so that we can see your restlessness! Feel free to tag us in any of your artistic or literary work.

Music doesn’t discriminate, it has no gender, race, or religion. It is to be enjoyed by all who care to listen. Music is for every single person. The intent of music is to allow something inside of each individual to be changed. It allows an experience.

The Space Music Has Created The Restless Words and Photography by music. It gave us an Matenia atmosphere, a scene. A place Playlist where one with similar music For decades music has been a key aspect in the lives of humans. Whether it be for cultural, religious, social, or personal enjoyment, music has always been there. We live in an incredible time for the music industry. Music affects our lives on a daily basis. We listen to songs to relate to the emotions they bring, to listen to the sounds, to the raspy voices, and the memories behind them. The summer of 1969 started a movement. When Woodstock took place, the world of music shifted entirely. When the festival scene began it provided so much more than simply

tastes and interests could meet others like them. When the 80s and 90s club scene began, people sought safety in the fortresses of sound. In today’s world, many people from all over gather at music festivals, loving the music and loving each other. A space for gathering has been one of the most important evolutions of this industry. A space where everyone can feel at home; like they have a niche in the insane world around them. Somewhere to gather and be surrounded by the melodies, somewhere to feel at peace.

The Diary of Horace Wimp by ELO Suzanna by Leonard Cohen The Wine Song by The Cat Empire Dark Side by Tim Minchin Does Your Mother Know? by ABBA Dancing in the Street by David Bowie

Floating Away Words and Photography by Nicole Constante Every time you come crawling back to kiss the shore, Washed away is every bruise; every sore. As the horizon meets the fading light, I relish in the illicit promise of this sight. The endearing gradient of the sky Is reflected by an endless iridescence. I’ll stay and listen to your lullaby Giving in is a form of defense. Carrying my own weight I float away, I dive deep I’m the author of my unwavering fate The captain of this sailing ship.

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Words and Photography by Maddie Bryann This journal entry was written as a way to understand more about my everchanging self. I feel like a paradox at times, and I always feel different. I want to bridge the gap between who I am and who I want to be, and this page was a plea for myself to do something about it.

Weak Days Words by Miah Keleigh

Is it noted as important.

On Monday My family was arguing. We raised our voices so loud that the foundation underneath our house began to crack. That is when I realized what it meant to come from a broken home.

On Wednesday My mother asked me what I had learned in school. I replied, “not to show my shoulders.”

On Tuesday My class had a debate over the idea of white privilege and we concluded that white privilege is essentially just the fact that black people have been speaking about racism for years but only when a white person mentions it,

On Thursday He held a cigarette in one hand and my hand in the other, And I couldn’t help but wonder which flame would burn out faster. On Friday During my English class, we learned about metaphors and irony. That same afternoon, I saw a

homeless man sleeping outside of a bank. On Saturday I went to a party where a boy I know drank until he spoke in cursive and smoked until his eyes were lower than his selfesteem. I wonder when he’ll realize that his substances are just abusing him. On Sunday I went to church And the priest taught me that God gave us free will But if we do anything that He disagrees with It is called A sin.

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“It’s Cool To Not Care” Words and Photography by Abby Strangward

feminist who ruins all your jokes.

You know what I’m talking about. You’ve experienced it at some point in your life. Maybe every day. A pressure to care less. To laugh it off. To shrug and move on.

I think I’ve kind of come to terms with it. But I want to take a minute and look at the generation that tried to force me to shut up. There are so many amazing teenagers and young adults out there – putting themselves out into the world, starting brands and organizations, making art, speaking up, spreading selfesteem and body positivity, making platforms for themselves. And there’s more, millions more, quietly listening and agreeing.

Maybe it’s not obvious. Maybe it’s just a passing comment, a quick remark, an off-hand joke. Or maybe it’s completely obvious. Maybe it’s someone interrupting you in the middle of a sentence to say ‘this is why people find you so annoying’. Maybe it’s being called a feminist like it’s a bad word. Maybe it’s insults, hands shoved over your mouth, eye rolls and laughter. I’ve been through all of that and more. Honestly, I can’t say it hasn’t affected me. Of course it has. Of course it has. And for a while … I shut up. I bit my tongue and dismissed retorts that rose to my lips. I learned exactly how to react to sexism and racism – laugh and look away. I fit in. I breezed through days with a carelessness that left me feeling numb. Frustrated. Useless. Guilty. So one day – I stopped. I started challenging people again. Arguing. Speaking up. Standing up. Sharing my values. Trying to start conversations. Reciting statistics I’d learned by heart just to try and prove my point. I’ve pissed a lot of people off. I have a reputation for being stubborn and annoying. I’m probably referred to as that

It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. It makes me want to burst with happiness. But it’s a minority. I think we’re still a generation that largely buys into the idea that it’s cool to not care. Whether you’re 8 or 28 – take a moment. You’re not useless. You’re not powerless. You’re not too young. Your voice is independent and important. You have a huge impact with everything you do or say, whether you mean to or not. If you believe in something, talk about it. If you disagree, say something. If you know it’s wrong, don’t laugh along. Please. Care. Care about everything. Care enough to say something. For those who feel silenced and laughed at – it’ll take time, but you’ll find something inside yourself that gives you the courage to stand up again. Maybe it’s just an act of bravery – for me, it was starting

a blog and sharing bits of myself with the world. Find your bravery. Press through. Your opinions are worth something. Don’t buy into it. It’s not cool to not care. Do you know where that gets you? Meandering through life, passing up opportunities, and slipping through days. You don’t need to care about politics, social movements or climate change, but find your passion. Don’t be afraid to express it. Maybe it’s dogs. Maybe you just really love dogs. Maybe it’s sunsets, photography, cooking, veganism, football, shopping, boys, girls, hats – I don’t care. Tell me about dogs. Tell me how much you love hats. Tell me why. Tell the whole world why. Express yourself, put a bit of yourself into something else, and build dreams. The world needs people who love dogs. And hats. Put yourself out there. Be that person.

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In my opinion, in order for anyone to gain any value from this image, they must have some insight into the past of the photographer and how it connects to the piece. In this case, the photographer was Irish, and so for him the potato is symbolic of Ireland. The potato in the image may have some connection to the Great Famine, which would also add value to the piece.

Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to Words by Emma Rodgers Artwork by Kevin Abosch It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this is especially true when looking at art. If one were to look at the Mona Lisa and not know how famous it is, that person may not spend more than a few

seconds looking at it. Recently, a photo of a potato taken by an Irish photographer was sold for over $1million. When looking at this art piece, it is easy to question why something like this photo was worth so much.

Overall, I believe that this art piece has greater significance than it may originally seem. I think this idea is applicable to many areas of life, as many things in our lives take effort from the audience to see the beauty. If one was to gain anything from this art piece, it may be that one should seek out the context of art to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the piece.

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour Words by Jessica Ciarczynski Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour is everything right with the world. It is breathtaking and so beautiful. LaCour has a phenomenal writing style that will leave you wanting more. This LGBTQ+ novel documents the journey of young Emi, a passionate girl trying to make a name for herself in the film industry. She interns as a set designer with her best friend. They are left with her brother’s apartment when he goes out of town for a couple of months to shoot a movie. The catch- they need to do something worthwhile and meaningful with it. The adventure starts when they found a mystery

letter inside an envelope hidden in between records from a deceased celebrity whilst trying to look for furniture for the set they are working on. Determined to deliver it to the rightful owner, they make friends along the way and continue the pursuit for something “Epic.” This book will change your perspectives on what really happens behind-the-scenes of a film and will give you a greater appreciation for them. Not only that, the best thing about this novel is how it doesn’t focus on the fact that Emi is lesbian. She had already come out and is comfortable with her sexuality. It tells a tale about romance, and figuring out life as a

teenager, regardless of who you love. It also deals with toxic relationships and how difficult it is to leave one. The first few scenes depict Emi dealing with a breakup for the sixth time with the same person. LaCour pinpoints exactly how damaging these kind of relationships are, especially for young people. It depicts Emi’s strength to finally put a stop to it, and not allow her ex-girlfriend to call all the shots anymore. It also shows Emi’s determination to become someone important. She speaks up to her boss, and demands respect. Emi is the epitome of feminist characters,

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and deserves more recognition. Overall, this book is a great diverse read and is a great place to start if you are looking to branch out. It documents the journey of a young girl finding love and adventure, and will definitely stick with you for a long time.

Reduce Your Waste: • • • •

Take  utensils  with  you  in  a  little  box  so  that  when  you  eat   out  you  don’t  need  plastic  cutlery.   Don’t  buy  drinks  in  plastic  bottles.   Always  shop  from  second-­‐hand  stores  for  books  and   clothes.   Buy  a  stainless  steel  drink  bottle  that  can  be  reused.  

Gilmore Girls: A Review Words by Arianna P You’ve probably already heard about The Gilmore Girls, the TV show that made its comeback in 2016. It makes me feel old thinking it has been nearly a decade after the finale of the original series in 2007.

them. The relationship between the main characters, Lorelai and Rory, is something so special and beautiful. They have a bond that is very unique, making me realize that moms will always be our best friends and they are going to be by our side no matter what.

I used to watch the series every evening back in the old days, cuddled up on the sofa with my mother beside me. The family theme present in the story makes you want to spend more time with your loved ones and cherish every second of with

Throughout the seven seasons, we watched the two of them grow, meet new people, love, accomplish and even in grief. We were left wondering how their lives evolved from there. But fret not, it will not be the same for you because you have

a revival that will be giving you an insight into their future. There’s no more wondering how their lives continued.

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One Time, A Whale! Words by Darcy Campbell Photography by Aleyna One time, I was at the beach, and you will never believe what I did see! Everyone else doesn’t believe me; they shove sand in my mouth when I try to tell them that I saw a grand whale with a person riding him. I don’t blame you if you fail to believe me as well. I could not even believe my own ears when I heard the great mooning sound that a whale makes when it rises out of the water for some air.

I referred to the whale as a him before, but now that I think about it, I should probably refer to it as a girl. Her eyes were so large and I’m pretty sure her eyelashes were as long as a giraffe’s neck. The she-whale was so gorgeous that when she emerged from the water with the human standing on her back, I thought the sky might break at her beauty. But it did not; otherwise we humans would all be dead.

The person on his back was either a boy or a girl. I couldn’t see closely, but they definitely looked younger than 23 years old. Their hair flickered over their scalp and onto their back the way a volcano spews lava over its rocks. I can’t be sure, as I was very, very tired and probably delusional, but I think the person waved at me. They were perfectly balanced on the whale’s slippery beautiful back! They stood as surely as a flamingo stands, but they weren’t a flamingo because they were not pink (I am VERY sure about this.) It was wonderful to see, as I have truly never seen anything like it in my very short life.

Or maybe not! I do wonder what would happen if the sky were to break. Would sky be heavy? Would it crush me and my little hands? I suppose sometime I would not mind being crushed, as some people are VERY mean to me. They tell me to piss off when I show them the seashells I collected from the beach walks I go on every morning. But I do not know how to piss off. This is probably because I do not know what the verb piss means, but not because I’m stupid, because I’m not. I know lots of things like how many planets there are and how many bones are in our bodies. I’m really not stupid. Perhaps I should ask Monty what the definition of the word piss is.

I have only been alive for 12 years but after seeing that whale I feel much older, like I have been here on this Earth for seventy thousand years. When I told my classmates how I felt about my age they called me stupid. Maybe they’re right and I am not seventy thousand years old in this world but maybe on a planet like Jupiter I am! That would make a lot of sense.

Monty is my best friend, but my parents tell me that he is a counsellor. They say that they pay him to talk to me, but I like to think that Monty actually just loves me like a best friend does. I ask him all the questions about life that I need to know when he is not asking me questions. All of his questions are boring though, as they are all about me.

“How are you feeling Bryan?” “Do you feel angry when they say those things to you Bryan?” I would prefer to be asked hard scientific questions like the ones I ask him. I find hard scientific questions the most exciting. And I know that Monty loves them too, so that is why I asked him if a person could ride a whale. He said, ‘Sure Bryan,’ and looked a little tired because he gave a big huff. I think he might just be tired from having to think so hard about all the hard stuff I ask him. He isn’t smart like me, because I do not get tired when I am asked hard questions. He used to be smarter, because he would always enthusiastically answer all my questions with a big smile, but now he rarely answers them and instead huffs and puffs. But I still ask him them, just in case his old smart self re-appears. So I asked him another question about the whale. “Why do people ride whales then, Monty?” “I don’t know, Bryan!” I always know everything (except for what piss means), so sometimes I get a little bit angry that Monty doesn’t know everything too. But I want to be a scientist with all my knowledge and I bet all the great scientists have felt this angry way at some point or other. I imagine a grumpy little Einstein yelling at all of his assistants because they don’t and can’t know all the things

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that he does. I really want to be a scientist, because I’m so smart, but sometimes I wonder if I actually have a good chance of becoming one. After all, I do not look like a good scientist. My hair is brown, not white and grey like Einstein’s. I do not own any investigation glasses or coats like I bet Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie had! This often makes me really sad and is one of the reasons I sometimes wish they sky would fall on me. But the sky did not fall, even as the beauty of the she-whale and

the human rider surfaced above the ginormous sparkling waves! The human looked so happy. I actually think I could hear them singing, but they were very far away so I can’t be sure. And then the whale did a big flip in the air and they both disappeared into the deep ocean! I never saw the whale or the human again. I always try to tell people this magnificent story but they just laugh in my face. They tell me to piss off, and that I am just lying. But a great scientist never lies (any smart person would know that.)

Joining the Team? If you have any bubbling ideas or want to contribute to our newspaper, reach out to the editor-in-chief at: therestlesstimesnewspaper@ gmail.com