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Week 15: Final Project- Corona Diaries

It is safe to say we are living in such strange and unpredicted times. Who would have ever thought we would be living through something like this? It is crazy from one day to the next we had to adjust to new routines not knowing what would happen next. I can’t even remember a time where the news didn’t mention COVID-19. It still seems surreal to me that we can’t just go to a grocery store without fearing we might contaminate or become infected, walk around without a mask on the block, or even giving a hug to a friend or family member that doesn’t live with you. I have done my best to stay home and avoid any unnecessary trips. However, I am looking at the bright side of this and hoping our normal lives can resume again at some degree. Here are some images and videos that I have come across, enjoyed, incorporated into my routines, and more. 

Zoom Class Calls

I would have never thought that the rest of the semester would switch completely online. Professors have really done their best during this situation on adapting to this new learning environment. What would education look like if we didn’t have technology during a pandemic? However, I would have never thought how difficult it would be to complete group projects, especially with members in different time zones. 

High School Support in Miami

Due to the fact that there will not be a normal graduation ceremony for them and every graduating class across the nation, schools in Miami have decided to honor their graduating students. Above shows a sign left in front of my cousin’s house from his high school, showing love and support to the senior class. While still practicing social distancing measures, faculty have even begun going to each students house with banners, honking, and handing them a small gift to congratulate them. No graduating class expected their graduation to be celebrated through Zoom. However, I find this measure to be uplifting and its something that the students are thankful for.

Spending Time Outside

During this quarantine, I have really made an effort to spend time outdoors. Its something I normally don’t do anymore when I visit Miami without being on a tight schedule. I have developed a strong appreciation for the Miami weather and being surrounded by its nature. Often times, I took it for granted because of how hot it can get especially in the summer.

In addition, I have also spent some times driving around parts of Miami on my free time. I do this whenever I begin to feel some level of cabin fever, being at home. What’s crazy to me is seeing the hotspots of Miami being completely deserted. It is something I would have never pictured. The picture above is one of the main central spots in Miami and it appears as if it is a ghost town. 

Keep Operations Open in Business

During this time I have been able to dedicate more time in my mother’s jewelry company. We have been supported by our clients and wholesale accounts during these times and have resumed operations from home- just my mother and I- in order to keep business flowing. It feels strange to not be working in our typical offices.

Supporting Local Small Businesses and their Marketing Tactics

Every once in a while, my family and I have chosen to continue supporting local restaurants due to the closures. Coyo Taco, a local Mexican restaurant, has made promotional efforts for people to stay at home with their infamous Take-Out Margherita Mixes. They have created engagement on social media from Miami natives praising their efforts on the importance of social distancing and still enjoying the restaurant’s classic.  

Workout Routines

As many know already, online workout programs have become the popular thing during this time. While being in New York, I did not have a set workout schedule like I do now. I think it is amazing that gyms and instructors have adapted to Zoom and Instagram Live Videos. People are now connected more than ever, and it is amazing that there are even bigger turnouts with people joining who had never done some of these workouts before. Above shows one of the companies I am a member of, Sweat440, and every day they provide a workout along with video links to follow free of charge. They have encouraged its members to make any sort of contribution to support their employees as studios remain closed which I find to be admiring. 

Rumble At Home Live Workouts

I often complete my favorite New York workout virtually now. Rumble Boxing has transitioned to both Zoom classes and Instagram Live Classes with their instructors.

Miami Appreciation

About two weeks ago, DJ David Guetta hosted a live concert in the heart of Miami for a fundraiser around COVID-19 relief. With 6.2 million people around the world joining in on Zoom, they were able to raise $400k. The money is going to be donated to multiple non-profit groups in Miami to aid in food security, medical supplies, and more. Despite the social distancing and stay-at-home orders, it was amazing to see Miami natives supporting and celebrating (respectfully from their balconies surrounding Guetta’s set despite these difficult times. 

Entertainment

I wanted to include this in my Corona Diaries in efforts to show how celebrities are adapting to these new standards of living. Jimmy Fallon, in particular, has highlighted a different charity each night to donate to and help those in need. It is crazy to see how he has to makeshift his sets now from his typical stage in New York. Rather than having guest appearances at the New York stage, he has now transitioned to video chats with many different celebrities and musicians to keep viewers entertained and bring laughter to their homes.

Tik Tok

Easily my biggest form of entertainment during this time. I never realize how much time passes while I watch videos on the platform. It is an endless loophole. Its allowed so many people to create a variety of content, from comedy, to cooking tutorials, beauty hacks, dances, and more.

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Week 14

Unesco estimates over 160 million girls worldwide are not educated due to refugee status, war relocation, poverty, and gender preference. What would the world look like if all girls were educated? What impact do you think educating girls will have on climate change?

“Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human” (Malala). Education determines all routs of life. If all girls were educated, the entire world would benefit whether socially, economically, or politically. Educating girls promotes activism, reduces risk, and allows for the development of life-skills to take out into the world and share. 

By educating girls on climate change, new solutions and perspectives would be developed and brought to the table. Educating would drive awareness to girls living in areas that suffer from climate change. Starting from the grassroots of the climate issues, and educating girls first handily would later transcend into a global conversation. They will be able to develop solutions to the changes they are facing in and expecting to face in the near future. 

I came across this infographic that highlights female education and climate change. 

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Week 13: Immigration Stories

My father’s side of the family is from Spain. However, my grandparents moved to Cuba and my father was born in Havana. My mother’s side is from Cuba. When Fidel Castro took over, both sides of my family were stripped of everything they owned and faced something they never thought would happen. They were part of the hundreds of thousands of Cubans that fled from this corrupt regime that took away basic human rights. My family had to seek a better life in America and made their way to Miami, Florida. They came with nothing to a country where a different language was spoken, and had to figure it out all by themselves. Florida was only 90 miles away from Cuba, and was seen as the hotspot for refugees to be welcomed. 

When arriving in Miami, they were already in a predominantly Hispanic community due to the mass migration. Many of my family members enrolled in the military and fought multiple wars for the United States. My father was able to put himself through undergraduate and law school after the military. Many of my family members found careers similar to the ones they had in Cuba, however, it was never the same. Relatives jumped from job-to-job trying to make a supportive income for my family. They all had to begin from the bottom and reestablish themselves in America. My family’s stories serve as a reminder to work hard to get anywhere in life, search for opportunity, and never give up.  The work ethic they embodied, and continue to embody today, shows the level of success I will always want to aspire. 

Even though the United States and Cuba have reached recent agreements, I still do not think it is morally right as a first-generation Cuban American to vacation there. It is seen as the hotspot for vacationers, and many people are unaware of what living in that regime is actually like. Knowing what the Castro family and the current political party have done not just to my family, but to the Cuban people as well, does not make me want to give money and support to a country that stripped them of everything they had ever worked for. I have yet to visit the island and do not think I ever will until change happens. 

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Week Twelve: Corona Spotlight on Celebrity Altruism

Rihanna is using her platform to combat COVID-19. Her foundation, The Clara Lionel Foundation, donated $5 million to Direct Relief, Feeding America, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and other non-profit. The money donated will support local food banks for high-risk communities, resources, testing and care in countries such as Haiti and Malawi, and more. In addition, she has donated a supply of personal protective equipment to the New York State. Through her efforts, she has received thanks from Governor Andrew Cuomo for aiding in protecting New York citizens. RIhanna has been an active member in the community and fighting this pandemic.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, this pandemic will affect us all. And for the world’s most vulnerable, the worst may be yet to come,” the group wrote in a statement. “Protecting our front line health workers and marginalized communities around the world requires getting ahead of it FAST. The time to act is now.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2020/03/21/rihannas-clara-lionel-foundation-donates-5-million-to-fight-covid-19/#336b8711f325

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rihanna-coronavirus-donation-new-york-974042/

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Week Eleven: CoronaVirus Memes and Comedy

Corona Virus Memes 

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Week 8- Book Review #2

      I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education by Malala Yousafzai

“Education is an education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.”

How does this book change or enhance the definition of "celebrityhood"?

A lot of times the term “celebrityhood” is misconceived. Many celebrities in the limelight don’t use their strong platform and influence to strive to make a positive impact on society. They are often considered celebrities based on the latest jobs and roles they obtain by gaining an audience. However, there’s Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education. She has created an international movement by using her platform on promoting the right to education. In fact, she is the young Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Malala’s book enhances the definition of celebrityhood by providing a personal glimpse of her life growing up in Pakistan, in which the Taliban had gained control of. She explains that the group implemented rules against girls receiving an education which lead her father and her to begin promoting education. She recounts her personal encounter of being shot by a member of the terrorist group as she is on the way home from school. However, that did not stop her from fighting for education.

With that being said, the term celebrityhood is enhanced. Malala began working to fight for education, which later gained recognition from people all over the world. Others were inspired by personal telling in the book and became aware of the social issues that exist in the world. Overall, even though this book is a personal telling of Malala, it displays how despite the drawbacks and consequences she encountered and how she continued to fight for what she believed in and aimed to make a positive change in society.

What contributions does this book make to social change? 

This book displays promoting education for girls. Her personal story on almost being shot called for a national campaign on children's education worldwide. In addition, this book displays her impact on her local community by Pakistan introducing a right to education bill. Education became a very important conversation worldwide.

In addition, this book displays the power of a woman. It shows that women can achieve anything even when limits are put in their way. The book calls for female empowerment and promoting it worldwide. It serves as a voice in the community. Movements have arisen in this age of the book calling for women's power and education. Malala serves as a prominent figure in the women’s movement and promoting the right to education.

What new concept did this book introduce to the world? 

This book highlights the power of education. Malala displays how powerful education is on one’s life and how it is a determining factor in all routes of life. This concept introduces how powerful one voice can be in a community. It also shows generations to speak for what they believe in.

In addition, this book introduces and the power of one’s voice no matter the age. Through her personal tellings, she shows how active she became from a young age and did not let it stop her from fighting for the right to education. Through her blog posts from a young age as told in the book, she gained recognition at a national level in a short course of time. Lastly, her fight for education did not end in her local area, the world watched her fight for education and was impacted by it to make sure education is a right to everyone.

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Week 7: Documentary City

The Great Hack by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer

What important social issue question does this documentary ask and what type of storytelling does it employ to answer it?

The Great Hack examines data company, Cambridge Analytica, and how the private company obtains data information from every person in this age of technology. The film displays various tactics that served as key players in the 2016 presidential election and the use of private information. It displays the complexity that information is now being received and transmitted. In addition, this film symbolizes the dark side of social media especially through the crisis with Facebook.

Storytelling is done through various instances that have occurred in recent years, whether it was through political campaigning, social media usage, and testimonies. These real scenarios created a conversation surrounding data privacy and the extents private businesses reach to target markets. It thoroughly displays Cambridge Analytica’s role in supplying personal information and misusage of it.

What new story is revealed in this film, and what revelations have emerged from it to impact popular discourse? 

“Data is the most valuable asset on earth” (Kaiser). The film depicts a new story of the lack of privacy we actually have as users of technology. In addition, it shows how important it is for society to know that the information they are putting out is being used as a way to target them to certain things, whether these advertisements from business points or political points. 

This topic has impacted popular discourse because it has made people lose trust in many famous companies that they frequently use. Businesses are being brought forward for exploiting this use of data. After watching this film, I became aware of how important my own personal data is and how it is used. I think this film shows that we do not really know what we are agreeing to when it comes to technology and the negative sides that come with it.  

How did this documentary expand the reputation of the subject, and how did it serve to further the spotlight on a key social change issue?

       This film has raised awareness for people to be aware of information they are putting on platforms. It has brought light to the fact that data is being sold in these private institutions to further various agendas, whether they are political or from a business standpoint. This became a conversation all throughout social media platforms in which have lost trust due to the mishandling of private information.

      Furthermore, the film served to further the spotlight the issue on privacy by displaying various events that have occurred in result of this technology implementation. As technology continues to advance and companies and society begin to rely on it, even more, this issue will only continue to grow in importance. These recent events have informed people about the importance of what we choose to put onto platforms and to be aware that our information is going to be shared in companies we provide it to. It has also brought many questions to lawmakers regarding how to prevent the mishandling of information for a private company’s gain.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/08/19/meet-the-journalist-who-inspired-the-great-hack-rs.cnn 

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Week 7: Documentary City

Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé

What important social issue question does this documentary ask and what type of storytelling does it employ to answer it?

            This documentary celebrates black culture by honoring African-American scholars that have shaped and impacted 20th century culture. Some of the scholars and activists included Nina Simone, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and more. In addition, she highlighted women's power through her astonishing performance. She was the first African-American to headline Coachella so her goal was to bring the culture to the stage.

            Throughout the film and performance, culture and education were represented through choreography, clothing, and acts. The clothing in her Coachella performance paid homage to black colleges and universities, as she was someone who had wished to attend college but instead began her career in Destiny’s Child. Her hardworking performance displayed a sense of unity for the crowd and viewers and to allow them to see what has inspired her to get to the level she has worked for. 

What new story is revealed in this film, and what revelations have emerged from it to impact popular discourse? (2 paragraphs)

           Even though the film depicts a performance, Beyonce and her team made sure to carry out an important message about education. She writes, “so I studied my history, I studied my past, and I put every mistake, all of my triumphs, my 22-year career into my two-hour Homecoming performance.” Knowing the impact she has on generations and how young people look up to her as a role model, she made sure to highlight every single person that helped her carry out this performance and acknowledged the fact that it was not a one-person job. I think this message is important because it shows unity and inspiring young creatives to never shut down doors.

           The film also brought light to the struggles and difficulties a creative and motivated person goes through to achieve their goals. Through her long hours of rehearsals, her busy schedule, being a mother, and experiencing issues throughout her recent pregnancy, it highlights that everyone (no matter who you are) goes through these struggles and they are human too. This established a strong and emotional connection to viewers as many were able to relate.

How did this documentary expand the reputation of the subject, and how did it serve to further the spotlight on a key social change issue?

            In Homecoming, the celebration of black culture and history was displayed to the audience. This celebration allowed the audience to be exposed to the roots that inspired the artist. It allowed viewers to celebrate their cultures and pay homage to their roots. This documentary expands the reputation of the celebration of culture by inspiring and informing the coming generations, which also includes her daughter Blue Ivy and twins.

             Lastly, the film displays a spotlight on social change issues as being one of the most influential creatives of this century. Someone that has reached this level in their careers, despite struggles and obstacles, is able to establish a deep connection to their roots and their followers. Ultimately, it educated viewers about African-American culture in a non-classroom setting. It also served as a reminder of female empowerment and focuses on how strong women are to face challenges throughout their lives and how they are able to overcome them through dedication.

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Week 6: March for Our Lives- Teen Leaders of Gun Control

1. Where do these youth leaders go from here?

      This generation shows how active they are as members of a society. With already starting a nationwide movement and leading a generation of awareness, these leaders will no doubt continue to shape the world. As years go on, I know they will continue to be active citizens in their communities and will work to make a positive difference. Some of these leaders will definitely be involved in politics and law. They all have bright futures ahead.

2. Is the reign of the NRA reaching its twilight moment?

    Because of all the recent events occurring and social media being a tool in spreading awareness about gun violence, I think that many people are beginning to turn away from it. Even though they have held a large following for a long time, they are under attack like never before. However, they are a player in gun legislation and with the youth having a different perspective on them, that soon can change.

3. Is the tide turning in on gun violence in the US?

     When it comes to gun violence in the US, I think that there has definitely been more of a conversation and awareness about implementing gun control laws. The nation is divided on this topic. With the rise of youth leaders and younger generations becoming more aware of events, reforms, and movements, they will be the ones to turn the tide in this nation. The conversations are being brought forward and social media has made a positive impact in educating the youth about this issue and making them brave to share their stories and fight for the future.

4. Have you become more active on gun violence issues since March For Our Lives?

      Since March For Our Lives, I have become more active on these issues and have been educated by those sharing their stories on the issues. I think it is important that this generation has used social media as a tool in bringing this conversation to the table. I have become more educated on laws and it has allowed me to participate in discussions around the topic and work to make a difference.

5. Have you registered to vote?

     Yes of course!

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Project Rundown Review

        Paul Hawken is an American businessman, author, environmentalist, and activist. Hawken dedicated his life to sustainability and the environment and redefined the existing relationship between the environment and business. His perspective on global warming and climate change is one of a kind. He states that society focuses too much on global warming issues, rather than the solutions to aid in protecting the environment. Mainstream news often makes it seem as if our acts to save the environment are out-of-reach for us on a more personal level. However, Hawken provides a number of solutions to solve problems at an individual level. This eventually leads to protecting and shaping the environment as it makes it in arms reach for any human being. It drives awareness. This level of accessibility helps promote even more long-term successes.

Drawdown provides a plan to reverse global warming with a list of solutions. Each solution is backed by history, the impact they have, how to adopt it, the costs and time it takes into it, and how to carry it out. Each solution is backed by environmentalists and scientists to be proven beneficial. Drawdown moved beyond its pages when Project Drawdown went into motion. The non-profit organization provides hand-on practices to citizens and communities around the world. Examples include working with companies to implement reusable resources like wind and solar-powered to reduce energy levels in different countries with high levels, electric vehicles to replace fossil fuels, and reducing food waste.

Room To Read is a non-profit organization that focuses on girls’ education and child literacy in Asia and Africa. About 85,000 girls have been enrolled in the program for access to education. The non-profit has reached 79% of program graduates to further enroll in education or apply for jobs. With this program, girls are given access to education and provide life skills for them to take with them afterward. 

Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, announced The Global Girls Alliance. This project works to empower females around the world with access to education. The initiative provides them with life-skills, tools to support their families, communities, and more. This project is effective because it is providing females with access to a classroom that later impacts a family, community, and country in the long-run. 

Attending an all-girls high school, I participated in various projects aiding in promoting female education. We often hosted book drives, supply drives, and more to send to schools in Latin America and Africa. We would host events and work with schools that did not have the same access to education to allow young female students to join us for the day and learn with us. We often worked with organizations to send supplies to girls in countries they did not have certain access to such as feminine hygiene products and dental products. At the top of my head, I do not remember the names of these organizations.

The Project Drawdown fellowship program unites researchers and environmentalists to reverse the effects of global warming. João Pedro Gouveia is an environmental engineer who focuses on sustainable energy systems, energy demand projections, smart meters, energy poverty, energy systems modeling, adaptation, and more. His work has led him to projects with 5 European-Union funded research projects and 9 nationally funded projects by the Portuguese public and private authorities to create more sustainable cities and reduce carbon footprints. I find his work to have a global impact due to the fact that he has already been acknowledged by Portugal, which has the opportunity to influence the European Union, and eventually the whole world. His projects align with reducing energy levels and creating renewable forms of energy use and tackle fuel poverty.

David Bornstein of The New York Times writes, “the lists were also mainly about what we ought to do, rather than about what people are doing, where we are seeing progress and how we might build on those opportunities. I wondered: How do we translate these imperatives into action for people in different fields and positions?” I found this quote to be compelling because I asked myself the same question when I first was introduced to Hawken’s solutions. For people outside those industries of the given lists, how can they take them and implement them into their own? For example, both the fashion industry and the entertainment industry can unveil various solutions to contribute to the reversing of global warming.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/opinion/a-smorgasbord-of-solutions-for-global-warming.html

I found many of the solutions in the book to be surprising. However, one that did not make the Top Twenty list was cleaning cookstoves. Prior to this, I never knew that the materials and technology maximize the lifetime of the stove and heat transfer by minimizing energy emissions. I think this is quite interesting to see because this new solution to clean cooking technologies is expected to reduce almost 16 gigatons of carbon emissions.

One of the solutions I will definitely try to implement after reading is eating more of a plant-rich diet. I find myself eating meat often, and there are times I feel horrible. I want to be more mindful of my meat consumption and focus on eating more plant-based. Another solution I will implement is reducing my use of cars and vehicles both in New York and Miami. In New York, it is much easier to walk to each destination. However, in Miami, I drive almost everywhere even if it's three blocks. So instead, I will give up using my car the short distance and walk.

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Week Four: Feb 12: #MeToo #TimesUp

1. Why do you think the #MeToo movement has been so effective? Why now?

One of the main reasons I think that the #MeToo movement has been so effective today is because of women, with a strong social media platform and online presence, sharing their personal stories and encounters with their followers. Social media became a safe platform for women to share their stories and help one another. The #MeToo movement allowed women to come together and bring light to the abuse and misconduct that has been occurring in various industries, workplaces, etc. I think without social media and celebrities using their platform to share and connect with their followers it would not have reached the level it has today.

2. What other impacts have you observed of the #MeToo movement? How has it affected you?

The movement has made this a public conversation and more stories have been shared of underage women being assaulted and raped. Many women are building the strength and power to come forward and take down the existing imbalances in the various industries and the general spectrum. It has not affected me, however, the movement has informed me about the change our generation needs to make and how strong women are for being able to come forward and share their experiences with the world.

3. What is the celebrity lens here? What did celebrities risk in joining #MeToo? What have they gained?

Celebrities were able to share their stories and connect with their followers around the world about the movement. They were able to promote a conversation about issues in the workplace, industries, and more. Their platforms allowed their followers to feel more comfortable in speaking out. As for risks, I think that many celebrities were scared to share their stories thinking it would impact their career and life negatively. However, that was not the case. I think by joining the movement celebrities were able to expose an issue that was never talked about comfortably. 

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Week Three: Feb 5: Solution Geeks and Visionary Tech

1. How do these stories help people locate not just hope but solutions?

These stories all show the importance of taking initiative. Each person took an initiative in protecting the environment and the problems that have affected such as plastic, trash, and so on. They are all innovators in their own way. Whether it is a small step or a big step in helping the environment, they have shown that they have taken that leap to do for good.

2. Which of these individuals had to overcome the most obstacles to realize their project?

Overall, I found many of them overcoming obstacles. However, if I had to pick one specific individual it would be Ann Makosinski. She invented a flashlight that would be completely powered by the heat of the human hand. For someone at her age, I think she is a bright innovator. She showed everyone despite her age and current education level, that she was capable of overcoming the unthinkable.

3. Which of these stories has the most resonance for you in terms of solution-making?

In terms of solution making, I would say Kelvin Doe’s story was most resonant for me. He used trash and parts found in bins to create batteries, generators, and transmitters. At such a young age, he made such a positive impact on his community in Sierra Leone.

4. Is there a key environmental problem are you inspired to solve? How would you execute it?

I am most inspired to solve pollution and waste caused by the fast-fashion industry. Hypothetically speaking, I would aim to work with the top fast fashion companies such as Zara, Pretty Little Thing, and more. I would like to execute plans as to how they could incorporate recyclable fabrics and sustainable production practices to reduce waste levels. Rather than just getting rid of clothes that do not sell to the market, it would be best to have those fabrics repurposed into other items that can be sold.  

5. How would you message a movement for your solution?

I think it would be best to message this movement by partnering up with the companies and using advertising as a key tool. This would ultimately raise awareness of consumer purchasing habits as well as cause other fashion companies to take the same action in reducing waste levels. 

6. Locate a similar example in Project Drawdown by Paul Hawken

Paul Hawken mentions material household recycling. I think this draws the most similarity to my solution. He mentions the concept of valorization, which is the process of diverting and recovering waste material after something is thrown away. Recycling rates vary widely across the globe. 

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Cruz Erdmann, teenage Eco-Hero, exploring and capturing the depths of our oceans

1. What solutions are they offering for global warming, plastic pollution or overall climate change issues?

 Cruz Erdmann developed a love for the ocean at an early age by spending time diving and exploring the waters of eastern Indonesia. Through his photography, he brings light to marine life. His photography is a representation of the beauty in our waters and reminds people how we should take care of our oceans to preserve these animals.

2. How did they organize their work? How have they been recognized?

His work is organized through photos and documentation of various diving experiences. Over the years, he has gone over 100 dives capturing various animals in action around him. 

He was named the 2019 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image, “Night Glow.”

3. How did they get the word out about their projects? What has been their impact so far?

He got his work out in the public eye by submitting in the 2019 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year. This award is organized by the Natural History Museum in Britain. It is said that it is seen as the most prestigious award in wildlife photography.

4. What obstacles did they overcome?

Erdmann faces obstacles in capturing the right images of marine life. With the right equipment, he is able to overcome the obstacle. He was able to capture the squid, as it is a master of camouflage and displayer of complex patterns. In addition, he overcame the obstacle of other competition from older experienced divers. It shows that anyone can be skilled at what they do with effort and practice, not just age. 

5. Imagine what they might be doing five years from now.

Five years from now, he could be teaming up with top environmental companies and companies such as National Geographic to explore waters. He could be documenting new species arising in marine life.

6. Why do you think young people are rising up and taking to the streets for #ClimateStrike #Fridays4Future and other protests?

I think that young people are rising up because of what they see in the media. They are not seeing any positive changes from current leaders and they are fed up. They aim to make a change in society and leave a lasting legacy. I think that social media has been a useful tool in this new wave because it has taught younger generations immensely about the environment. In some schools, younger people are not taught about the importance of our environment. This leads them to social media where they are actively on and seeing influential people aiming to make a change in the environment.

https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2020/sessions/hidden-worlds-in-our-ocean 

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My favorite celebrity is Colombian singer and fashion icon, J. Balvin. For those who don’t know who he is, he is the leading pioneer in making Latin music mainstream around the world. His music is heard everywhere around the world, from taxi rides, airports, clubs, and more. This past year he became the #1 listened to artist in the world. 

I have looked up to him for as long as I can remember because of his efforts to show the world Latin culture. As a Latina, I feel proud to have someone in our community showing love to our culture through both music and fashion. He has proven to establish a global presence in all markets. His music is evidence of the power that music has on people, regardless of culture, language, etc. 

Another reason why I look up to him is that he aims to stay as real as possible to the public. He is a mental health advocate and works closely with organizations. It is most evidently shown on his social media page which has almost 36 million followers. 

The last reason I look up to Balvin is because of his authenticity. He shows that there are no limits to pushing boundaries and regardless of where you come from, you can achieve what you set your mind to as long as you put in the work.

Balvin is making history.