FEBRUARY 15, 2023
12
FEATURE: WORLD
DESIGN BY INSEO KIM
Slippery slopes for European ski resorts
Nuclear Future Gilina Voon
Staff Writer
Kyan Wang Staff Writer
The power of the atom has been one of the most feared—and most revered phenomena—known to man. Since the discovery of nuclear fission, a method used to split a large atom that releases tremendous amounts of energy, the energy stored in an atom’s subatomic forces has been utilized for both weapons of destruction and lifegiving electric power. Even more powerful than fission, which nuclear power plants use, is nuclear fusion. The process involves the fusion of small atoms into larger atoms, and releases more than double the energy of a comparable nuclear fission reaction. The U.S. Department of Energy states that nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the Sun, is a clean power generation process that could provide much of the future’s energy needs. According to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, on Dec. 5, 2022, researchers at its National Ignition Facility achieved a breakthrough by creating nuclear ignition for the first time in a laboratory setting. The amount of energy used to initiate nuclear fusion was less than the total amount of energy created by the fusion, resulting in a positive output of 54%. The researchers achieved this by shining highpowered lasers into a pea-sized gold cylinder holding a frozen pellet of hydrogen isotopes, causing them to fuse into helium atoms. Nuclear fusion has long been sought after as the gold standard of power generation with its high potential for energy efficiency that only produces minute amounts of short-lasting radioactive waste. Although a long running joke among the nuclear fusion research community is that controlled nuclear fusion will always be 30 years away from realization, this joke has become increasingly outdated as nuclear fusion development accelerates. Fusion energy holds the potential to end non-renewable energy dependence, providing a virtually endless source of energy that does not contribute to climate change. Although nuclear power is still confronted with many critics, including those rightfully fearful of potential nuclear meltdowns—as seen in past incidents such as Chernobyl—safe maintenance of nuclear plants lowers the risk of failures. In fact, nonprofit organization Media Matters for America explains that the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on nuclear power plant radiation levels are so strict that the U.S. Capitol building itself exceeds them by several hundred times. Nuclear fusion energy will begin a new chapter in human progress, bringing an era of peace and prosperity as unlimited energy production becomes the next breakthrough for humanity.
Up on the mountains 11,000 feet high in Europe, skiers can see the outstretches of the glistening snowcapped Alps as they take in the breathtaking view and the crisp cold air that fills the landscape. That was until 2020, when many European ski resorts closed due to COVID-19; unfortunately, the pandemic would not be the only factor to hurt the ski industry. This winter’s rising temperatures gave a glimpse of what would come in the future with climate change. According to The Washington Post, the French ski resort in the Les Gets commune experienced highs of 59 degrees
KAYLA CHOI ART
Fahrenheit this winter, nearly 35 degrees higher than usual. Climate change has taken a toll on ski resorts, especially those at lower altitudes, as resorts situated below 1,700 meters rarely receive snow. As a result, many lowerelevated resorts closed down, winter competitions were canceled and tourism dropped. The closure of resorts hurts both the ski tourism business and Europe’s economy, as they transformed these once quiet towns into popular tourist destinations. The holiday season is especially important for ski towns, as wealthy tourists pour in to enjoy skiing, snow activities and winter sports competitions. Without snow, tourism will decline. Regardless, ski resorts have attempted to find different solutions to stay in business. Some resorts use snow cannons to create artificial snow, while others use helicopters to carry snow. National Geographic found that in 2019, Germany, Austria and Switzerland invested $1.5 billion in total in skiing infrastructure—mostly on snow cannons— to create man-made mountain slopes. However, this is not always feasible. Snow cannons require a temperature of around 25 degrees Fahrenheit to work, but many ski resorts face warmer weather.
Furthermore, snow cannons consume a lot of water, which drought-ridden countries such as France cannot afford to do. “Snow cannons and helicopters that transport snow are a waste of energy and contribute to the climate crisis. It is best to leave nature to heal on its own so that one day, it can naturally provide people with ski slopes again,” Junior Steven Rapp said. On the other hand, some residents of ski towns oppose ski resorts. They believe that the industry is hurting the beauty of the mountains and no longer creating the job opportunities that it had in the past. Many Europeans argue that other activities like mountain biking, hiking or simply enjoying the landscape are sufficient alternatives to skiing. Per The Washington Post, some climate change activists believe that governments have not been actively working to resolve ski resort challenges. However, in 2021, the Spanish government prohibited parts of a small resort near Madrid from operating, which activists celebrated. “Governments should restrict ski resorts more actively. Despite the lack of snow, many do not close in an attempt to stay in business. Slopes without enough snow can cause injuries and other problems,” Senior Aditya Mishra said. The future of ski resorts is unclear, with many businesses struggling to do anything to stay in business—despite troubles from factors outside of their control.
Grassroots organizations at the forefront of change
Ella Polak
Staff Writer
Born in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, Kennedy Odede never received formal primary school education and spent most of his childhood on the streets. Despite his circumstances, Odede attended Wesleyan University and, in 2004, was inspired to create a nonprofit that could help others experiencing urban poverty. By 2021, that nonprofit, called Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), had supported 2.4 million people across 17 slums in Kenya. In a country plagued by police brutality, political corruption and crime, many Kenyans struggle to escape poverty, especially the four million inhabitants of its slums. SHOFCO aims to provide critical social services such as schools and health clinics, water, sanitary public bathrooms, loans and youth training for competitive jobs. By filling in the gaps left by the government, SHOFCO has a crucial effect on the people it works with. One vital aspect of the nonprofit’s success has been commitment to its Kenyan roots and direct access. Rather than being a large corporation with faceless donors and foreign volunteers, SHOFCO was established directly from the Kibera slum, with a founder who has an acute understanding of how urban poverty restricts social mobility. By gaining people’s trust in its services and cooperating with local
leaders, the nonprofit has made an impact that even larger organizations have struggled to achieve. “Regional nonprofits have an advantage over larger nonprofits because they have a connection to the community and can focus on local issues, directing funds based on the community’s unique needs. Still, larger nonprofits may have more resources, broader reach, diverse sources of funding and professional staff, making them effective as well,” Sophomore Aileen Bump said. In The Guardian, Odede describes how he observed an outside aid group build a public bathroom in Kibera, only for a neighbor to claim the structure for himself once the organization left—thus creating no tangible impact. SHOFCO seeks to avoid similar situations by continually working with local communities. The nonprofit also empowers selfaction communities rather than accepting support from foreign groups rooted in historical Western imperialism; many non-governmental organizations that work in the Global South are funded by Western governments that directly oversee their policies. Other grassroots organizations around the world have had comparable success, including Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a Bangladeshi nonprofit that supports small South Asian farmers and advocates
for minorities. BRAC shares loans, provides education and
DANIEL CHOI ART organizes workshops for poor neighborhoods, along with aiding Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Just like SHOFCO, the organization’s success stems from its personal engagement and localized support. “As a project coordinator for Key Club who works with many local nonprofits in the Bay Area, I feel that their services are more directly felt within communities and thus more impactful. Large organizations such as the American Red Cross that have regional chapters instead of a single national program are also helpful,” Junior Mia Nguyen said. With billions of dollars in funding, the impact of large international organizations cannot be understated. However, SHOFCO’s locally receptive model is slowly gaining ground in developing countries. When communities struggle to sustain themselves, leaders like Odede are increasingly stepping up to make change, one small neighborhood at a time.
