Beware of Roses!

This was part of an article from Green at MSN.com. Basically the gist is: Some Ecuadorian and Colombian rose growers are using water and chemicals banned in the U.S.

The 200 million rose stems that arrive in the U.S. for Valentine's Day each year require tons of pesticides, and it’s estimated that some 20 percent of the chemicals used are illegal here. A 2007 study by the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) found that more than 66 percent of Ecuadorian and Colombian flower workers were plagued by work-related health problems -- including skin rashes, respiratory problems, and eye problems -- due to toxic pesticides and fungicides. ILRF also found that "flower workers experience higher-than-average rates of premature births, congenital malformations and miscarriages," and were subjected to 70- or 80-hour work weeks in high season.

And it gets even worse:

But the risks of pesticide use in floriculture are not confined to Latin America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S floriculture industry is one "of the heaviest users of pesticides in all of agriculture." Some of the highest-use pesticides in California’s floral industry, for example, include methyl bromide, a hazardous chemical that is also a top ozone-depleter; acephate, an organophosphate neurotoxin hazardous to humans and highly toxic to bees; and chlorothalonil, a "likely carcinogen." Methyl Bromide is being phased out elsewhere, but the floriculture industry has won repeated exemptions to the Montreal Protocol, the landmark treaty phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

We need to stop using these chemicals and make the world a better place to live! (Thanks to Mr. S. for talking to the class about this.)

David Archuleta's "Crush"

I love this song! It really fits me...plus, he's really cute! :)

The First Week (or Half-Week) of School!

I just can't believe that I am now in the oldest class of my school! The first day was a breeze, and so were the second and third. At MCCS, the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders go on Fall Kickoff, which lasts two days. We usually do a service project and a hike. This year we went to Millersvania State Park and the Mima Mounds. They were amazing. Everyone should know and go to the Mima Mounds. The start of homework and misery also started as school started. We had a science experiment, a history chapter to read, a vocabulary sheet to fill out, and a Bible passage to type out. Amazing, right? Well, I better go. Until next time, Kayla Dimalanta.

SCHOOL'S TOMORROW!

I can't believe that school is starting tomorrow! Instead of 21 people in my combined class of seven and eighth graders, we only have 14 this year! I guess attending a private school in a little town isn't a bad thing...well, I don't want to be late for the first year of eighth grade, so ta ta for now!

School is starting in two days!

I can't believe the summer is almost over. It went by WAY too fast. Since it will be two more days till I actually have something interesting to write here's a little something I wrote. It's not done yet, so if you have any ideas please comment! Thanks!

A Sweet and Sour Secret:
(We're Not Talking Chicken)

Chapter 1
Hi, my name is Kira Dennis. I am a typical teenager at Manhattan High School. I love to email my friends, IM, surf the web, you know, average stuff. But one thing about me is not average. I have magic powers! One day at school, as usual, I was listening attentively. I often write notes, and today was one of those days. (Sometimes while I am studying, my best friend, Mariah Summers, can’t even get my attention.) Anyway, while taking notes, I usually never get to listen. So, I silently wished that the sentences on the board would just get transferred to my notebook, and guess what happened? It happened! That was the first day of my magic. The event made me quite confused, yet very excited. Where did I get this gift? It has been a month since I discovered I had to power to make wishes come true.

Chapter 2
The next week felt like the peak of my life. My arch nemesis, Delanie Avila, started to get nice to my BFF and me. In the Café, her clique even saved Tina and me seats. (The Café was the sophomores’ name for the cafeteria.) Also, there was, believe it or not, a popularity list constructed by Delanie! Tina and I had also been in the last 50 in the past year. But now there was a change. We were moved to Top 50! Believe me, something was fishy. I had to admit that I thought it was too good to be true. I hadn’t even used my magic powers since the day I had discovered them!

Chapter 3
I soon figured out that the “Beauties”, as we called them, wanted Tina to be in their clique! They asked her and guess what she said? Yes! Can you believe it!? Delanie told her that they were going to ask me, but they didn’t. Tina and I got into a HUGE fight. We yelled. We screamed. We blamed each other. My world was turning upside down! Tina and I separated: Tina went shopping with the Beauties, and I was left without a friend. Could my life become any worst? Well, I guess so. The next, day while I was walking toward my locker, I saw that the popularity list was posted. I scanned the top 10, and jumped for joy. I saw that Tina Smith, my old best friend, was there. (I still wanted to be friends with Tina, but she had a different opinion.) I was still concerned about myself, and therefore scanned the list for my name. Again surprised, I sank to the cold floor. What had happened? Instead of my new place at Top 50, I found my name in the Last 25!

Chapter 4
But I had other problems. The annual Valentine’s Ball was coming up! What was I supposed to do? I didn’t even have an idea who I was going with! But I did have a dream. I wanted to go to the ball with Manhattan’s very own football superstar, Jesse Kendall. But everyone, well the girls any anyway, wanted to go with him to the ball. (The boys all wanted to be his friend.) I didn’t even have a chance. He does say “Hi!” to me sometimes, but he does that to everybody at the school. Maybe I would use my magic powers to make him like me.

Chapter 5
I am thinking very seriously of using my magic powers, once again. But would there be any limitations? I would have to think about it. Meanwhile, Delanie passed me in the hall. “Hi, loser! Guess who I going to the dance with?” was all I heard, though the hall was crowded. I had to say something. This is what I said: “Smelly Stephen?” Believe me, I was daydreaming. Jesse was all I was thinking about. “No, I am going with Jesse…” I left before she said those horrible words I never wanted to hear.

Chapter 6
I was thinking last night, and found a limitation. I thought, Wait he’s perfect. I have to use my magic. But I just couldn’t get the thought out of my head that, while I thought it was perfect, it would never be true love. So, some how or another, I had to not use my powers.

Chapter 7
I had thought a week ago my life was falling apart. But now I realize that I didn’t have it that bad. I now got grounded by my own parents (who used to love me, but now hate me). It was my all fault. Delaine and I passed in the hall and she said a really mean thing. I wanted her to stop teasing me, so I planned to pick up my backpack from my locker and run for it. As I swung my backpack, it hit Delanie and she started bawling. We were the only ones in the hall, but as soon as she started to tear up, the principal rounded the corner. Oh no, was my only thought. If I ran, I would be in even bigger trouble, and Delanie would probably tell Mr. Roberts that I did it on purpose. On the other hand, if I explained to him I was just leaving for the bus, he would certainly understand. So I stood my ground. Of course, that got in my trouble with my parents. I HATE HIGH SCHOOL!