Letter From the Editor

Words by Aaron Aguilar
Community Charter Early College High School

This issue has seen a wide variety of articles, concerning worldwide, regional and local issues. This time we did not have a particular focus, but preferred to have each writer and artist express and discuss what was striking to him or her personally. In this issue you will find articles concerning global warming, the conflict in Darfur, art or the lack thereof. We’re sure you will find something that will spark your interest! And for our Spanish readers, we have translated all articles to Spanish.

On another note, we would like to remind you that For the Record is open for thoughts, insights, and comments from you- the youth. We have a blog online at www.fortherecordnews.blogspot.com where you can post feedback for any of the articles in the newspaper. Be sure to take a look around!

We are making great progress and hope to continue to grow and have more volunteers. Our ultimate goal is to get all of us (the youth) involved in the community, and to have a space where we can speak up!

... click here to read the full article

Where Did the Art Go?

Words by Jose Hernandez
Discovery Prep

There has been a lack of contemporary art in the valley. The big question is where did it all go? Why hasn’t there been anyone trying to look for it, trying to expose it to their local communities? We can’t just depend on the very few coffee shops to supply us with art. We need people to be brave enough to express themselves, even if that gets them into trouble, which I’m not trying to promote. We need those hiding artists to shock, make us shed a tear or two, help us become confident and open our eyes to the cruel world.

We need to search for the arts in our communities because children are becoming ignorant to the issues that affect everyone on a daily basis. Children need to learn how to express themselves visually, through words, and with music. They need to educate themselves with the corny, but painfully true cliché that knowledge is power. We need to expose the truth on pollution caused by our neighborly corporate businesses, the failing educational system and a whole bunch of other issues. We need help now because the biggest form of exposure is though the arts. Even if it’s a simple stick figure drawing, graffiti art, an inspirational word or two, masterpieces — anything small or big to promote an idea.

Everyone should drip themselves into a bucket of paint, pick up a pencil or mellow away with a musical instrument and let your imagination become untamed. Break away from the conformity of everyday life. I say STICK IT TO THE MAN AND MAKE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

A few artists to consider for inspiration:

• Eugenia Leon - a powerful Spanish female singer
• Frida Kahlo - revolutionary Mexican artist and a famous feminist
• Luis Rodriguez – a local writer and activist who founded a nearby cultural center - Tia Chucha’s Cafe Cultural
• Los Hijos de la Tierra - a local band from Pacoima that uses indigenous instruments
• Favianna Rodriguez – a Xicana artist & participant of L.A. vs. War

Also, if you have idea on how to promote the arts to local communities or want your artwork exposed, contact the newspaper at: fortherecordnews.blogspot.com

... click here to read the full article

The Greatest Difference

Words by Aaron Aguilar
Community Charter Early College High School

We see it in newspaper headlines everyday. It is always on television programs, on the Internet, on bus advertisements - pretty much everywhere! While politicians may understate the problem, scientists worldwide are bellowing out that global warming is a very real, severe threat.

We all know what's responsible: CO2 emissions, car exhaust, and methane gas - essentially any gas that traps heat. We also know that, in part, human activity is to blame. We have heard this over and over. We have been told what can happen. Ice will continue to melt in the poles disrupting the distribution of heat around the globe. Sea levels could rise dramatically as a result of the melting ice, flooding coasts and even entire countries like the Netherlands. Species that normally live in colder climates and depend on ice for survival will continue to struggle against extinction. The possible implications of global warming seem endless; we've heard this countless times. Still, we cannot, will not, tire of hearing it until any real action is taken.

There is not much being done to slow down global warming. Gasoline prices are sky-high, yet there seems to be no possible or likely substitute for it any time soon. The U.S. hasn't done much to help the cause, and the current plans for most presidential candidates to significantly reduce CO2 emissions will not be carried out for decades.

Why wait for global warming to be a "runaway train" as predicted in the documentary "Six Degrees Could Change the World?" Maybe it is true that we truly can't do anything about the climate; maybe it is true that our attempts to cure the planet are futile. But it does not hurt to try. Of the many consequences of global warming looms the stark possibility of human extinction - why even allow such a remote possibility? Why stand aside and wait to see what happens? Is it fear of hurting the economy? Al Gore put it simply in "An Inconvenient Truth:" without a healthy Earth; there can be no economy.

Every small step counts. Here are a few things you can do to:

• Take your own bag/sack to carry your groceries
• Create your own recycle bins if your classroom doesn’t have any. After, take them take them to the nearest recycling center

To save on gas:

• Use your cruise control - this avoids constant accelerating and decelerating which uses up a lot more gas
• Fill up your tank in the morning - you get more for your money than when it’s hotter. Also, gasoline stations raise their prices in the afternoon around rush hour.

Hopefully this article will be of some help. A simple turned-off light switch can help. Recycling helps as well, as does better water-management, and voting for ecological-friendly legislation if and when we are of age. With these small steps lets push the larger entities to contribute. There are many things that we as teens can and should do, because the presumably little we can contribute can prove to be the greatest difference.

... click here to read the full article

Land of the Fur

Words by Karolyn Blancas
San Fernando High School

I am almost positive that you have not heard of a place called Land of the Fur. My history teacher once said, "If it's not written down on paper then it never existed." So here I am, writing it all down because it is time for people to know what is going on around the world. Land of the Fur goes by another name - Darfur. Darfur is in Sudan where there is a genocide going on. The war between non-Muslims and Muslims has been going on since 2003. The groups are the "Sudan Liberation Army" (SLA) and the "Justice and Equality Movement" (JEM). These groups began the war by attacking towns, government facilities and civilians in Darfur; resulting in the deaths of hundreds of policemen and civilians. 200,000-400,000 people are presumed dead, but there is no real evidence. The Sudanese government has been keeping secrets and making it hard to help.

This war is said to have nothing to do with religion, only ethnicity. The region is home to about 80 tribes. The ethnic groups are divided between nomadic and sedentary communities. People are not only dying because of the war, but also from starvation and drought. Meeting the food and health needs of hundreds of thousands of people is a challenge for the United Nations, its agencies and a dozen of international organizations that are present in Darfur.

There are ways that we people can help, people like me and you. We can continue to raise awareness and educate. Educate yourself and others so we can be the change in the world we want to see.

Related links:

www.savedarfur.org

... click here to read the full article

Pacoima Youth Fatally Shot

The Youth Speak Collective team is shocked and saddened by the recent tragedy of Alejandro Villa, a 14-year old boy who was fatally shot in Pacoima last Monday night. To honor Alejandro's life, we have chosen to speak out against the violence occurring in our community. As a community, we must take back the streets and make them safe again by providing youth with positive and safe programming that will enrich their lives.

We would like to dedicate this [post] to the memory and spirit of Alejandro Villa. Below are a few words from Alex's mother.

My son has already passed, but there are so many sons that can still be saved. Parents, please help your children out by supporting them fully. With the pain that I'm feeling, I wouldn't want any other families to feel the same way. Thank you for your support. -Marisol Ramos

Currently, friends and family are raising funds for the Villa Family.If you would like to donate please [call 818-834-5181.]

Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Villa family in this terrible tragedy. - Youth Speak! Team

... click here to read the full article

"Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success" travel award program

Southwest Airlines, in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), launched its annual educational travel award program today. Celebrating its fourth year, the "Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success" program provides roundtrip tickets to undergraduate and graduate students across the country with socio-economic need who travel away from home to pursue a higher education. Students can apply online at http://www.hacu.net/hacu/lanzate_EN.asp.

"Southwest Airlines is proud to support Hispanic youth achieving their dreams of a higher education," said Laura Nieto, Senior Manager of Southwest Airlines Corporate Community Affairs. "We are also happy to provide affordable air travel to families with students away from home. Southwest keeps family bonds strong while students receive a college education."

In this year's program, each student is eligible to receive between one and four roundtrip tickets for the student and/or parent to use when traveling to/from the university. National education advocates and community leaders will determine the winners based on specific criteria including academic standing, financial need, and a written essay. The complimentary airline ticket(s) can be used for travel to any of the 64 destinations that Southwest serves.

Experts on Hispanic college students believe attainment levels would improve if students were more willing to travel longer distances to colleges well suited to meet their needs according to a Pew Hispanic Center report. Because proximity to home continues to be a barrier to achieving educational goals for Latino students, Southwest Airlines and HACU are addressing Hispanic college student success while keeping them connected to family.

Travel award recipients will be notified the week of July 28, 2008. HACU, which has its national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, represents more than 450 colleges and universities, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students in the United States. HACU's international membership includes leading higher education institutions in Latin America and in Spain.

www.southwest.com

For additional information, contact:
Lorena Blanco
Executive Director of Development and Marketing
HACU
(210) 576-3224
Development@hacu.net

Click here for more information
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/lanzate_EN.asp

... click here to read the full article

Tagged as a Vandal

Words by Rafael Flores Jr.
San Fernando High School

As you walk around your neighborhood you see tagging on walls and pretty much anything you can find. Most adults view tagging as a disrespectful act by vandals who have nothing better to do. This negative stereotype has given a bad rap to graffiti artists and their chosen art form. This negative stereotype has also degraded the work of talented graffiti artists who dedicate time and hard work painting graf-murals in spaces where common people can see their artwork as they walk down the streets.

The problem is that people confuse all tagging on walls with graffiti art. Historically, gangs and tagging crews have used spray cans to mark their territory to make sure rival gangs/crews knew what area is theirs. This form of tagging is what usually scares people and makes them close-minded towards anything painted on walls, especially graf-murals. That's why this form of art is only seen as vandalism and destruction of private property.

In fact, people need to realize that there's a difference between taggers and graf-artists. Graf-artists are people who use aerosol spray cans to create artistic murals using styles, techniques, and symbols of hip hop culture. Since the beginning of hip hop in the 1970's, young artists from poor neighborhoods were painting graf-art on walls to make their community look better, such as in the movie Beatstreet.

The reality is that the creation of a graf-murals takes time, skill, and dedication. In no way should that be confused with taggers who just go around vandalizing other other peoples' property. Many people put down art on walls because it's not on a canvas or on display in some rich gallery. They don't take the time to just "sit down and realize" there's so much skill and artistic talent put into a graf-mural than just scribbling some letters on a wall. If you don't believe me, take a look yourself. Drive pass an area where gangs or crews tag their territory and pass by a yard where there's a lot of graf-art.

Let me offer a simple solution to the tagging "problem," schools need to start graf-art classes that teach young people who want to learn how to use spray cans to create hip hop art. Also, they need to provide legal walls so that artists can show us what they can really do without worrying about being arrested. This would cut down on the amount of tagging in the community because young people would have the opportunity to express themselves at schools or yards. Even taggers could benefit form the training offered by a graf-art class because they could learn to control their techniques and creativity and form a masterpiece with some culture behind it. Graf-artists are not vandals, but rather, misunderstood artists that just want to express their art for the world to see.

... click here to read the full article