Volume 3 Issue 1 April 20 2011 What All Should Know About the Japan Crisis By Ciara Jacques Everyone has heard a myriad of information surrounding the crisis in Japan, but it’s hard to get a straightforward idea of what exactly happened, and if it can be resolved. How much damage was there? The tragedy started when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the east coast of Honshu, Japan. The last time an earthquake of that magnitude occurred, it was in 2004 in Sumatra, Indonesia. This earthquake in Japan subsequently caused a tsunami, which damaged a 420-mile long stretch of coastal cities across the northeast coast of Honshu (that’s about the distance from Boston, MA to Baltimore, Maryland). Based on a fi eld survey from the country’s Port and Airport Reasearch Institute, it struck one coastal city at 77.4 feet high, and swept away the entire towns Tsunami Caused Unanticipated Damage in Japan of Kuji and Öfunato. www.boston.com The Japanese government has reported an estimated $310 billion The following tsunami destroyed the “operable fans and fi lters to control The opening allowed radioactive worth of damages, while Japan’s death back-up generators, so the nuclear this dangerous mixture,” he says, iodine-131 to spill out and toll now surpasses 12,000, and almost reactors lost all power. “most, if not all, of this dangerous contaminate much of the surrounding 15,500 people are missing. According to Lake Barrett, who led mix of hydrogen gas seeped into the area. the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor building…[and] mixed with Tokyo Electric Power Co. What happened to the investigation of this accident, the air in the upper large refueling fl oor (TEPCO), the owner of these power Fukushima nuclear reactors? cooling operations failed without area.” plants, has been spraying the reactors The massive earthquake that struck electric power, leading to a dangerous Something ignited this mixture, with water in attempt to cool them the vulnerable country shut down the buildup of hydrogen and steam inside and the explosion blasted away the down, but now faces the problem of nuclear power plants in Fukushima. the containment shells. Without the roofs and sides of the top section. where to put all of that radioactive cont. on page 3 Saying Goodbye to Mr. Furnari By Diana Hong and Ciara Jacques of loyalty to students but after a long for the environment? “I was always silence, the worst we could get out of interested in the environment.” He him was “my printer broke.” plans on working part-time at Mount Mr. Furnari recalls many proud Desert Island in Acadia National Park moments strolling down memory after he retires. He is excited to stay at lane. He is especially proud of how Acadia late into the fall, when he can he weaved his knowledge acquired hike among the beautiful foliage. as a biologist at Acadia National Park As brilliant as Mr. Furnari is, he into his biology and ecology classes. too feels that he has learned something All students have gained from Mr. from Pingree. “I was humbled by Furnari’s fi rst-hand experience of my students and their achievements the beauty of nature; he has stirred a and how committed they are to passion for the environment within learning—they went way beyond my students and has built the backbone of expectations,” he says. one of Pingree’s strongest clubs. He gives Pingree one last message: “I am so proud of the students, Team work. “So much is achievable as of how well they incorporated the a team,” he shares. “Ideas that spread sustainability unit into the freshman across many different disciplines biology classes. I was really impressed are much greater than those that just Apart from saving the world one Photo courtesy of Mr. Furnari at the dedication the Pingree students come out of one.” He also wishes plastic cup at a time, science teacher place,” he begins. This is something have put into making the curriculum that humor never comes out of the Mr. Michael Furnari spends his days he would know because he has been a reality… I think anyone coming to school’s mission statement. “Never balancing chemical equations and teaching here for 25 years… Hey Pingree will be really impressed.” Mr. take yourself too seriously and always lighting twenty-dollar bills on fi re. that’s a quarter of a century! There Furnari feels this program provides a have a good sense of humor,” says Mr. Maybe not so much the latter, but he must have been pitiful excuses model to other schools—he believes Furnari with a smile. has shared his passion for science with accumulating over all those years it will inspire others to take action for the Pingree community for quite some under the nose of Mr. Furnari, but Being Green as well. time. if there were any, he is hesitant to Everyone knows he loves the color “Pingree has always been a busy divulge. Perhaps it was his last stand green; but what fi rst sparked his love page 1 Pingree Clubs An Overview of the Day of Silence By Sam Garcia A newspaper by and for the students of Pingree School Editors Connie Troung Diana Hong Liza Stambaugh Ciara Jacques Editorial Advisor Staff Writers Judy Klein Sneha Prem Gabbi Geiger Sam Garcia Erin Thomassen Editorial Lunch at Pingree Lunch—a highly passionate topic of high school—is one of the many driving Pingree’s Gay-Straight Alliance Group forces of complaints on every campus. At Pingree, too, the subject seems to be Photo by Mrs. Taft alive and well. While many foods are delicious, students sometimes wonder What is the Day of Silence? commonplace in school. The Day of what happened to the amazing sandwiches we were all served when we came Silence is an example of students, from to Open House and Revisit Day. Sadly but apparently, these desirable delicacies The Day of Silence has become the middle school to college, working seem to stay hidden somewhere over the hills of Highland Street once students largest single student-led action towards together proactively to bring attention were enrolled. creating safer schools for all, regardless to the anti-LGBT name-calling, of sexual orientation, gender identity bullying and harassment experienced In addition, at times there seems to be rather narrow lunch options—a or gender expression. It has lead to by LGBT and straight students alike. choice between pasta with sauce and pasta with no sauce, for example. Pizza the organized efforts in over 8,000 and potato salads are certainly appetizing, but others such as cold rice with the middle schools, high schools, colleges consistency of uncooked grains or over-cooked and over-processed fi sh lack and universities across the country, appeal. including Pingree, which is having its fourth ever annual recognition of this Fresher veggies and fruits on the salad bar would be welcome additions. day. Fruits are nutritious and have naturally wonderful taste - they are loved by all (or most, at least). But better yet, a wider variety of color would be an attractive addition to the fruit family. The Commons’ bananas and apples are perfect, but How it came to be… the oranges seem to present an image very different from one’s Before Pingree life. How their peels manage to stay so thin and glued to the fruit seem to be a In 1996, the Day of Silence is born. wonder. Oranges are great - they would just be greater if they could be peeled Students organized the fi rst Day of more easily. Silence at the University of Virginia. With over 150 students participating, The Commons is not Legal Seafood but why are the Open House foods those involved felt it was a great so lovely and the everyday lunch foods not so much? While many meals are success. The day of silence received delicious, there are occasional visits from foods that lack the same appeal as, extensive local press coverage and a say, grilled cheese. Does the grass seem greener on the other side or is it that positive response from the UVA GSA’s Leaders, Bianca Capone the grass is greener on the other side? Small changes in Pingree’s food will community members, motivating and Sam Garcia more than suffi ce because, needless to say, most foods cooked by the staff are Maria Pulzetti to take the Day of Photo by Teah Hayward defi nitely delicious. Daily pasta is wonderful. Cereal, oatmeal, salad bar, hot Silence nationally. food - they’re all here; they just need a slight improvement in their variety and quality. What the day looks like… Why we are involved, number of On the bright note, one piece of great news is that the school is working on a students, strength of numbers and Last Friday, students who new traffi c plan for the Commons and better presentation of food at lunch. support etc… participated remained silent until the end of the academic day in a statement Chants for better lunches echo throughout America - and Pingree offerings The goal of the Day of Silence is against bullying. All participants had are surely at the more luxurious end of school foods. Yet, sometimes one can’t to raise awareness about the silence a T-shirt informing teachers of their help but daydream of a world where lunch every day was as lovely as grilled and isolation often felt by LGBT silence, and speaking cards to explain cheese. If prosperity and success comprise the American Dream, then happier students and to honor those who have their reasons.