The world is full of beautiful places where tourists flock to. Due to this exces- sive tourism in these locations, such as the Maldives, have been defaced with trash left behind.
According to Sophia Forbes of Yahoo Travel, seven billion people that produce 1.7 billion tons of trash each year inhabit Earth. These statistics are only going to go up as 100,000 people are born each day. By the year of 2025, the amount of waste produced annually will exceed 2.2 billion tons.
This alarming amount of trash is not always properly disposed, resulting in a build up of unwanted trash. Waste is starting to infiltrate glorious getaway spots and destroying their beauty.
According to Sophia Forbes of Yahoo Travel, “More than 750,000 people head to the Maldives every year bringing an influx in waste with them.”
Tourism is the main cause of the destruction of significant historical and beautiful destinations.
“Waste buildup around the world is disgusting and is a major cause for the destruction of major destination spots. Something needs to be done or the world will have no tourist spots left,” senior Aaron Gates said.
Beautiful places have been destroyed by trash build up. In 1992, the government allocated an island in the Maldives, Thilafushi.
According Sophia Forbes of Yahoo travel, Thilafushi was used from 1992-2011 as a dump for all of the countries waste. “The Rubbish Island” used to be a beautiful lagoon
with coral reefs and crystal clear waters. Now, it is a toxic dump containing more than 124 acres of trash trans- ported and burned daily.
“I think it’s horrible that a beautiful place like this island was used as a dump for so long. The island won’t recover from constant dumping and won’t return to it’s previous state of beauty,” freshman Lauren Vandenbush said.
The island became a major bio-hazard as toxic waste and smoke filled the air. Dumping on the island stopped in 2011 after ships began dumping waste into the ocean.
Thilafushi is just one example of how trash buildup across the world has ruined beautiful places. Surprisingly, Mount Everest has become a trash heap as well. Each year, roughly 300 people attempt to scale Mount Everest. Over the years climbers have left a trail of waste leading to the mountain being called, “the world’s highest junkyard.”
Climbers of Mount Everest have left behind equipment, tents, plastic bottles, clothes and a disgusting amount of human feces in base camps and climbing routes. The toxins on the mountain threaten the ecosystem and surrounding areas, which could spread disease to local communities living by the mountain.
Trash buildup across the world is a major problem and threatens the lives of many.
A breach in cyber security at the White House has led to potentially classified information being attained by foreign hackers.
According to Polly Mosendez, a writer for newsweek.com, Russian hackers were successful
in their attempts to break into White House computer systems where they gained access to supposedly secret information, such as real-time details of President Obama’s schedule. While this information may not be considered “classified,” the breach is a symbol of the capabilities foreign intelligence agencies have to reach government information.
U.S. intelligence agencies, the FBI and the Secret Service are all in the works of investigating the mis- hap in computer security at the White House.
Newsweek.com reports the contents of any other information received by the Russian hackers has yet to be announced, though it appears none should be considered classified but rather just “sensitive” information.
In 2014, Russian spies were successful in complete- ly hacking into the unclassified emails of the State Department, known as the “worst ever” attack on a U.S. federal agency, according to CNN reporter Evan Perez. These attacks are believed to correlate with the recent hacks on the White House as the Russian hackers are thought to have gained access to the White House computer information through the State Department.
Though no classified information was stolen, the United States is on high alert with all information and how it is distributed. Anything labeled as classified can only be passed on through one email address and one phone number. CNN also says all information is being treated as though it could compromise major White House networks.
President Obama has made strides to strengthen cy- ber security in recent months, including national data breach reporting, where companies are to inform their customers when their company has been intruded by Hackers. An extension towards the budget of cyber security is also planned to be extended.
No harm was done by the recent cyber attacks from Russia, but the hacks leave Americans questioning whether government officials are doing enough to protect vital information and keep it out of foreign intelligence hands.
The captains for the girls track team are sprinters, Sam Shaver and Tiffany Pryce, thrower Abbey Dunn and distance runner Caitlin Helfeldt.
The captains for the boys track team this year are sprinters, Ryan Bogucki, Schuyler Morris and Tj Lawson and distance runners Ian Mcvey and Alex Young.
“I think the boys are going to do great this year, and we have hurdlers who are going to do damage,” sopho- more Logan Morris said.
Last year’s boys track team went to NOC’s but did not win due of lack of points. The girls on the other hand won NOC’s.
The boys Nationals winners for 2014 were Tj LAwson, Nate Moore and Aaron Bogucki. The girls National win- ners were Kelsey Fobean, Emily Watts, Ashley Pryce, Jessie Stout, Sam Shaver, Tiffany Pryce and Kayla Thompson.
“Nationals were great even though I did not come in first, to be able to experience Nationals and represent my team was great,” Moore said.
“This year is going to be a great season. I have some very talented runners who are dedicated to their event,” coach Aaron Morris said.
Last year, the girls won NOC’s, but the boys lost due to lack of players.
“This year is my first year doing track but hopefully it goes well. The events I will be a part of are discus and shot-put,” junior Cynthia Johnson-Smith said.
Besides the freshmen, there are a lot of stars in the junior class like Jason Gobble, Damon Jones, Cynthia Johnson-Smith and senior Shelby Brown.
“I think the boys are going to do well this year because we have a lot of sprinters and great hurdles,” Morris said.
Last year, the boys only had four hurdlers, and this year they have eight.
“I think track is going to go well this year because of all the talent,” junior Ashley Tubergan said.
The girls are looking this year to finish out the last year of the conference with their last and sixth NOC title.
The boys are looking to win a title this year: they have not won NOC’s for three years and would like to win one since it is their last year in the North Eastern Ohio Conference.
This year will be the last year for Stow being a part of NOC. Next year they will join the Suburban League.
Boy’s Baseball is swinging right into their 2015 season. The Bull- dog’s have an entirely new coaching staff this year.
“Our new coach was a great choice; he really brings great ideas where we need it. The sky’s the limit,” senior Parker Henderson said.
Aaron Debord is the head Varsity coach. He is a 2005 graduate of Wo- odridge High School and a varsity letterman in baseball and cross country. He went to The University of Akron and majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Debord was previously the head varsity coach of Akron-Firestone High School.
The boys kicked off the season on Feb. 23 with tryout week and will continue practicing until their first home game against Field High School on March 19.
“I am looking forward to a great sea- son. I really think we are going to surprise some people this year. Our new coach has brought an intense, hard working attitude that everyone is accepting and buying into,” junior Owen Fankhauser said.
This season, the Bulldogs hope to start rebuilding the tradition of winning through their hard work and attention to small detail.
The Bulldogs have nine seniors this year. They are Parker Henderson, Gino DeMarino, Tyler Hallam, Randy Smith, Andrew Groves, Brian Soldierson, Jake Lapchynski, Justin George and Nathan Allen.
“We have a great group of kids that we expect to push each other on a daily basis,” coach Debord said.
Two members of the senior class will continue their baseball careers at the NCAA level. Gino DeMarino and Parker Henderson have already signed letters of intent to their universities.
DeMarino will be attending Cleary University in Howell, Michigan and Henderson will attend Baldwin-Wallace Col- lege in Berea, Ohio. Both seniors, who look to have a big season for the Bulldogs this spring, feel they will receive a great education and have an opportunity to compete for playing time this fall.
“Our number one goal this season is to win the NOC with it being our last year in it,” coach Debord said.
The Bulldog’s have a very tough schedule this season. They take on the defending D1 state champions, Jackson High School, on April 3, along with many other talented teams. In mid-April, the boys take on their rivals, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson.
“I am looking forward to playing our toughest rivals because I feel like we are going to give them a good game this year,” senior Tyler Hallam said.
As the boys continue to push each other, they grow and get better everyday.
“We are focused on working hard and playing to the best of our abilities. If on a day to day basis we can outwork our opponents and continue to believe in our process, then the wins will take care of themselves,” coach Debord said.
Debord is extremely excited for what this season will bring the team.
Coach Debord said, “The kids have shown an incredible willingness to learn and work hard. We can tell they want to get
better and are preparing to win like they never have before.”
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