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-- Holidays --
Harsha Mishra (India):
Various
colors, bright atmosphere, harmonious feelings, charming
greetings, delicious dishes and melodious songs are the few
things that are common in every festival that is celebrated
around the world.
Let it be Christmas from the West or Holi from the East. Both bring happiness,
joy and enthusiasm in the lives of people.
One such festival celebrated in India is Diwali, which is often called the
festival of lights.
Diwali, or Dipawali, as we call it, is celebrated according to the Indian
calendar and this year it fell on October 28.
Each year, it takes place in the months of October and November every year, but
the date varies according to the days of the months without a moon.
Diwali holds this
importance because it is celebrated on the day without a moon, or "amawasya," as
we call it.
Full Article
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When Hurricane Katrina smashed ashore in
2005, Louisiana teen Samantha Perez started writing about the
storm that washed away much of her old life. Her journal,
chronicled in the pages of The Tattoo, is all online at
Hurricane Journal.
Read it for an eye-opening and intensely personal look into the
eye of the worst storm in recent history. |
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--
Reporter's notebook --
Eugenia Durante (Italy):
It is incredible how bad situations can unify people.
I am a student in the fourth year of a classical Italian high school and I am
one of the students who are scared about the future. Italian
education Minister Mariastella Gelmini has proposed school reforms which have
been partly approved by the Italian parliament.
Above all, the reforms call for huge financial cuts for schools and universities
– we're talking almost $3 million euros – as well as changes in staffing and
other changes.
In Italian primary schools, classes are usually made up of 25 to 30 children and
are taught by two teachers. Gelmini's proposals would establish a single teacher in these primary level
classrooms instead of two, eliminating a lot of jobs for teachers. In addition, if adopted, the reforms would privatize some public universities.
The consequence of that would be a huge rise in university taxes.
Italian schools are already in a critical situation. Our schools and
universities aren't properly equipped, the government doesn't invest enough
funds on research and a lot of new graduates aren't finding jobs. We don't need cuts. We need investments. We want a school which guarantees
education.
Full Article
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--
Opinion --
Rebecca Baylis (Australia):
Never before have I watched an
acceptance speech which has moved me to tears. Never have I been
witness to a moment in history that has made me so happy that
I've cried for almost an hour. Never have I been so ecstatic to
see an individual succeed. Never have I watched hundreds of
thousands of people across the globe shout out in unity for the
dawn of a better day; a better world.
In his speech on Election Night, President-Elect Barack Obama told a mammoth
crowd in Grant Park, Chicago – as well as millions of people world-wide – that
the hope of a better day has been a long time in the making. He assured his
people that a government of the people, for the people, and by the people had
not vanished from the Earth.
With all due respect to Republican Sen. John McCain, who ran the race to the
White House as best as he could, it just so happens that he was beaten by the
best man for the job.
Full Article
Justin Skaradosky/ Youth Journalism
International
See The Tattoo's pre-election package of
stories here:
And watch for a special edition soon featuring the
reaction of more than two dozen teens from all over the world to
the election of President-elect Barack Obama.
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