Daily Tar Heel | Ahna Hendrix

Boycott of big oil hits small business

While driving down the road the other day, I passed a BP gas station. I pass them often, but this one was noticeable.

The gas pumps were tied down with bright yellow plastic strips, signs had been removed from the doors and darkness permeated the inside.

That’s when it hit me. In the wake of dark, gushing oil, dying animals and livelihoods destroyed: Are we supposed to buy oil from the company responsible for a travesty, or do we support our local businesses?

Such a moral question does not have a clear-cut answer.

I come from a family that has always owned their own businesses and sought to promote others, but seeing pictures of oil-drenched animals makes that choice especially difficult.

I decided to try to contact local owners to understand what they are dealing with in this situation.

Out of the 10 BP gas stations in Chapel Hill, two are shut down, and the others barely talked to me.

I was hung up on twice and another refused to give me the last name of the owner. A few said that they are not locally owned, but corporately owned. Only one was able to confirm that it was locally owned.

Most businesses signed contracts with BP stating they would only use BP gasoline for the duration of the contract.

My own searching through the Internet made the case even more interesting. Arguments for each side are strong. Many people argue BP will not be affected by a ban, while others disagree.

Some are wondering whether their gas dollars are going to aid the cleanup of the spill and whether or not that would be a good thing.

Under these circumstances, deciding can be difficult.

Not only was I baffled by the responses from these gas stations, but their anger made it even harder for me to stay objective. As I contemplated their rude responses, I realized their underlying issue could be fear. Fear of losing a business, fear of saying the wrong thing or fear of a journalist.

Across the country, celebrities of all forms are banding together in opposition of BP and in favor of a boycott. And on a more local level, a group recently protested in Durham.

But before we jump on the bandwagon and agree on our frustration with BP, let’s take a step back and ask ourselves who we are really hurting.

Let’s make sure we aren’t just finding a scapegoat to take out our anger on. Don’t just go along with what other people are doing or saying if you don’t know your facts.

As you read this column, oil continues to gush in the Gulf of Mexico. White beaches and colorful wildlife is being ruined.

But we are not any better than the problem or the company at fault if we don’t take the time to truly understand the impact.

Regardless of the stance you take, whether you drive by BP or stop and fill up, make sure you’ve sorted through the facts first

(This is an editorial for the Daily Tar Heel… http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2010/07/boycott_of_big_oil )

An educational priority: Orange County Schools should go year-round

In the midst of the country’s economic hardship, educational programs are on the chopping block, and teachers are receiving pink slips instead of paychecks.

Administrators decide which classes and programs should be included in curriculums, while students are suffering in bigger classrooms with less attention from teachers.

In light of these obstacles, Mike Kelley, chairman of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, is on a mission to persuade public schools to become year-round for the 2011-12 school year.

Year-round schooling is an excellent alternative for Orange County Schools.

Kelley has seen little improvement in the school system and believes this modification would greatly improve student testing scores and be a positive change for the community.

Year-round schooling might seem like a foreign concept, but it has gained momentum throughout the country in the past decade with more states adopting the program.

In 2007, more than two million students in elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. attended year-round schools.

The downside for Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools would be a return to zero-based budgeting, which doesn’t guarantee the same level of funding from year to year.

Although parents might be alarmed that the program could cut vacation time for students, there are a variety of year-round models.

The program is part of a list of priorities that will be discussed at the June 24 school board meeting. The list contains nine separate priorities that will be directed towards Superintendent Neil Pederson to review in the coming year.

While the pros and cons surrounding year-round schooling are intense and murky, what remains clear is that education should always be a top priority.

Teachers, parents and students alike should take the time to become well informed and attend the board meeting. It will be open to public input.

Education has somehow taken a backseat to more short-term economic issues, but it remains the most important investment in our nation’s future.

(An editorial written for the Daily Tar Heel (one I don’t agree with) http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/educational-priority-orange-county-schools-should-go-year-round )

Become Inspired With Your Own Life

These days it seems everywhere I look there is a new disaster.

Whether it’s the depressing pictures of the oil spill, new talk of more education cuts, the rage ensuing in Arizona or the never-ending war in the Middle East, we are inundated with intense realities.

In a world that is constantly at odds with itself, mother-nature, or the next-door neighbor, I think it is important to remain inspired in our own personal lives.

While this may sound silly, I truly believe it is anything but. In this day and age inspiration is not easy to come by.

As the environment around us seeks to tear us down, we should be reminded why it is that we continue on.

I have never been a person with a glorified hero.

As a child I wanted to grow up to be a famous singer.

I oozed respect for several artists, but even these intriguing figures were still human. I knew they were capable of falling short of the expectations I held, so I never put them on a pedestal.

Music always has and always will inspire me.

But as I’ve become a young adult, I’ve found that the people in my life are a true source of motivation for me.

My mother is a woman who masters everything she tries, and I have a father who will never give up.

My friends and peers are striving to be better individuals, and even I have learned to be inspired by my own strength at times.

I attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College before transferring to UNC-CH. The diverse age groups made it easy to become inspired with those around me.

When I was stressed or feeling overburdened I could easily look around at my classmates and know that one might have kids at home or another might have a business to manage, in addition to a college load.

Their lives kept my life in perspective.

When I arrived at UNC, I found myself surrounded by a different brand of stimulating individuals.

The students I share classes with have such big dreams and want great things in their lives.

The majority of them are swimming toward their goals and the others are steadily wading in, awaiting their turn.

All of these people will make a difference in the world. They want to see change and they are prepared to make the sacrifices to do so.

The deal is this: whether in school, working or just living life, there are a million reasons to be inspired in our everyday lives.

The world is tough, but it’s up to the individual to make the best of it.

While many people may say pursuing a career in journalism is not the best idea these days, I refuse to put myself inside any definitions or terms.

It is our own personal distinctions that will propel us to be successful.

We are meant to feel the life we live, not live the life we feel.

(Editorial for Daily Tar Heel http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/become-inspired-your-own-life)

New Laws Don’t Face The Real Problem

Tears fell down my face as I read that the Arizona law, SB 1070, had been signed into action by Gov. Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010.

Although this law has been passed, we cannot afford to forget about it.

SB 1070 makes it legal for Arizona law enforcement to ask anyone for their immigration papers. It also gives them power to detain someone suspected of residing in the United States illegally.

After the law was signed, the debate began. Everywhere I traveled I heard conversations about Arizona.

Many people do not understand what the law entails, only that Arizona passed legislation regarding undocumented immigrants.

What Americans don’t understand is that this law is not just about immigration. It is a mirror of the breakdown in our government toward American personal rights.

A process has begun in the opposite direction for human and civil rights. Law enforcement should not have the power to question or detain someone they see on the street based on stereotypes, looks or dress.

Can you tell the difference of someone who is here legally or illegally just by looking at them? Will their hair color, skin color or dress give them away?

One can only rationalize the kind of behavior that will flourish under these conditions.

The fundamental trust between law enforcement and community will be broken, and fear will pervade American streets.

In my opinion, equality is a myth, but I believe it is a dream we should always strive for. Our country has fought many bitter battles concerning the rights of minorities, and as we find ourselves in 2010, I can only ask why we are stepping backwards.

I strongly believe SB 1070 is a repercussion of the U.S. government refusing to deal with immigration. Laws have not been passed and guidelines certainly have not been respected.

Instead, the government has left the responsibility up to the individual states to care for their own, and Arizona feels overwhelmed.

While I can understand the circumstances for the law, I do not agree with it.

I lived in Asheville before I transferred to UNC.

Under the watch of George W. Bush, factory raids were conducted in Buncombe County. Parents, siblings and spouses were ferried off in buses and taken to the state capitol to be pushed through lines, fingerprinted and put in jail.

Relatives scrambled to gather money together to free their loved ones, while others realized this would be the last time they would see their family.

These actions are unwarranted and should not be allowed on American soil — we are better than that.

Our government needs to take action and put laws into place to protect our border-states and the rest of the United States, however we need to do it with respect and integrity.

As Americans it is our duty to wake up and participate in the changes occurring in our nation.

(An editorial column written for the Daily Tar Heel….I did not choose the title)

Help the hungry: Food donations low, but students can help

For most of us, at least one of the meals consumed within the past week has had leftovers on one edge of the plate. In America, it seems unimaginable that people are starving or in need of food, but it is a reality, and one that is hitting us on a local level.

Even with reports that the economy is beginning to rebound, the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service continues feeding hungry people every day. The numbers are growing, and food agencies across North Carolina are struggling to keep up with the demand.

It is time that we step up and help our neighbors.

The newest face of hunger is not just the homeless lining the street, but people with mortgages and families.

According to the Jordan Institute for Families at UNC, in February, 129,589 people in Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties benefitted from food assistance.

This figure is up 19.7 percent from last year, and was the biggest year-to-year rise since 2002.

With these astounding numbers in our own backyard, it is time we begin thinking about the food we consume and what we do with the food we discard.

So, at the beginning of the 2010 summer semester, a donation box will be located outside The Daily Tar Heel offices, making it very accessible for students to bring in dry food donations.

Judith Blau of the Human Rights Center in Carrboro and her sociology students agreed to partner with us and will be responsible for transportation of the donations to the council once a week. With about 30,000 students enrolled, UNC has an opportunity to make a serious difference in our community and lead by example for others in North Carolina.

Imagine the possibilities if every student donated one item per week. We could create incredible change in the UNC community.

For a list of items that can be donated or for more information, visit the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services’ Web site at www.ifcweb.org to find out how you can begin sharing.

We never know when we could end up on the other side of the fence.