By now, we all know about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. 17 students and teachers are now dead, and many more are injured. I, for one, am tired of hearing about so many children that are dying, in addition to other mass shootings in our nation. However, for those like me, it is difficult to support the fight for gun control. As a kid, I cannot do much–one of the major things being voting. Another problem is that sometimes adults do not take children seriously. I find it hard to speak up and raise my voice. I know that this is true for many kids with strong opinions. It can be scary to fight the standard, especially when your elders belittle you or weaken your voice. I’ve compiled a list of things you, as a younger person, can do–not only for gun control, but for any political topic. 1. Social Media I know that many of the younger children may not have social media or even phones, but if you are a bit older, this can be really important. So many people are on social media, such as Instagram, Twitter, and others. If you really want to spread your opinions, social media can be a great place to start. Not only is there a lot of publicity, but you can keep as much of your identity as you want secret. People may take you more seriously, and might even listen to you. 2. Write to Politicians In our society, politicians have all the power. They write the laws and approve them. They are the ones that can make a difference. By writing to senators, congressmen, even the president, you can change a vote. By knowing what the people think–what the future people will think–politicians can work to fulfill the ideas so many citizens are behind. 3. Write to Magazines And/Or Newspapers Although most publications want more professional writing, there are plenty that do accept submissions from children. There are also many that will take letters to the editor. You can always find out how to submit letters on the magazine’s website. As for writing sources written by kids, you can find a list of good publications at this link: https://www.authorspublish.com/15-magazines-that-publish-writing-by-children-and-teens/ Some of them have age limits or writing guidelines, so make sure to read those before publishing anything. 4. Express Your Opinions Through Art Forms (Including Dance, Drama, and Singing) If you are not into writing, or you are into artistic expression, this can be a great way to show a story or point of view. Many artists create work that showcases the political environment of the world at present. For inspiration, look at pieces created by artists. This can include fine art, photography, and plays. 5. Talk About It Talking to people in power can be really useful. Even if it is just your parents or someone else in your family, discussing your opinions can make a difference. Giving older people new ideas can help them spread the word. They might also give you new ideas to think about, and therefore expand you political insight. In addition to talking to authority, you can also strike up a conversation with other kids. Children have more flexible minds, so they might be less stubborn and be willing to listen to you. Who knows, you might even have them question their ideas, and change for the better. I have an African proverb on the calendar in my room that says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito…” You are never too young to change the world. Remember to keep on fighting for what is right, and don’t ever back down from it.
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Saturday Newsletter: March 3, 2018
Forest Creature (detail) by Eva Stoitchkova, 11Ontario, Canada A note from William Rubel I am writing to you from Galilee, where I have just arrived for my adventure in neolithic bread-making. I’ll tell you more about that when I get back in a few weeks’ time! Meanwhile this is a very short letter, as I am on the road. Magnificent March issue! The most important news for this week is that the March issue is now online. It’s another fabulous selection by Editor Emma of wonderful work by our Stone Soup authors and artists. Thank you all of you who made this issue happen! I urge you all to go and take a look for yourselves, starting with a closer look at this magnificent, creative collage by Eva Stoitchkova that we are delighted to feature on our cover. Print copies are making a coming-back The next exciting piece of news is that we have worked out a way of printing one-off copies of our beautiful Stone Soup digital issues. The first of these–the February 2018 issue–has already arrived at the warehouse, and the others are coming very soon. You can view them, and place orders and pre-orders in our online store. Until Next Week William From Stone Soup July/August 2015 Different City, Same Stars By Abby K. Svetlik, 12 Illustrated by Audrey Zhang, 12 I jolt awake when I hear the stewardess’s too perky voice come over the plane’s intercom system. “We will be landing in New York in just about fifteen minutes. I hope you all have enjoyed your flight thus far…” I zone out when she starts to ramble on about the weather conditions and time in New York. My dad realizes I’m awake and turns to me. “Welcome home,” he says. I give him a lame smile in return and hope he accounts its lack of cheeriness for sleepiness. But on the inside, all of me is frowning. New York is not my home. It never really was and it never will be. Colorado is home. Colorado was where I could lie on the roof in a sleeping bag and stare at the stars for hours. Colorado was where I kept a collection of newspaper articles and random doodles in a loose floorboard in my room. Colorado was where I grew up, despite the fact that I was born here, and where anything that ever mattered happened to me. * * * The airport we touch down in is like any other. Filled with people, smelling like dry bagels and tasteless coffee, and crowded with suitcases rolling along always clean hallways. As we make our way through the airport, Dad proceeds to tell me of his childhood here, the things he did, and the neighborhood he grew up in. I keep a few steps ahead of him so that he can’t see the grimace that contorts my face. Dad is just beginning a speech that I’m sure will go on for at least ten more minutes about where we’re moving in, and I can’t stand it anymore… /more
Get Started With Birdwatching
Photo by Bettina Arrigoni via Creative Commons If you’re interested in birds or you read my last post, you might want to birdwatch. It’s pretty easy to get started, but here are a few tips if you get stuck: Just watch. There are birds everywhere. You just have to look outside. There will probably be some birds. If you want to know what kind of birds they are, you can just look it up on the computer or your phone. Some more advanced things to do are using a field guide and notebook. A field guide can be useful if you just want a physical book to read to identify birds instead of a website or app. A notebook can be fun if you want to write down the birds you see. Bird feeders, houses, and baths help you attract birds to your yard. Bird feeders are also fun because lots of birds can come to them, especially in winter when there is less food. Buy some wild bird food, and then make or buy a feeder, or just spread out the food on the ground and wait for the birds! Bird houses are cool and sometimes work. Make sure to get a good one. It’s really fun to see the parents going in and out of it, and you might even see the babies’ first flights! Bird baths are also nice because you can see the birds bathing and it’s really funny, but make sure you clean out the leaves every once in a while. Binoculars are nice to have and help you see close up. It helps for identifying birds in a flock at a feeder, or just birds that are far away. I hope this helps you get started. Good luck and happy birdwatching!
