12-year-old boy offers free tours of Hiroshima to keep its memory alive
December 14, 2017
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Washington Post
24 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Avoiding screens makes me truly creative
Ryan Zickgraf wrote about life 40 years after Neil Postman's 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' in his July 18 op-ed, 'The scroll never stops. Will we?' Post Opinions asked readers: How do you feel about your relationship to screens? These are some of their responses. I have abstained from most forms of screens. I have no social media accounts. For information about the state of the world, I rely on trusted old-fashioned newspapers and state-funded television. I use email where necessary and Google to find answers for things I need to find. I still write longhand letters. I am a realist painter, which is a job I came to after being an illustrator in the analog age. I sensed with the onset of digital technology in just about all aspects of daily life that under the glitz of all those new possibilities something fundamental was taken away: deep, personal involvement in what one was doing. When everyone uses similar software, the results run the danger of becoming interchangeable. Personalities die for the sake of quick, easy results. I saw that coming in the 1990s, and, instinctively, I wanted none of it. I live a mainly analog life because I realized that to make something truly creative, you have to do the hard yards and try things out in the real world. You need to take risks of failure without recourse to a reset button. Only then can one truly assess the value of decisions and research the given options in the light of the real risks and promises available. It keeps my skills honed and my assessment capabilities as good as they can be. Sticking to my old-fashioned ways of looking at the world helps me avoid, as much as I can, information overload. I get the information I need by using the available technology wisely. If I search the internet for some information, it is always on the basis of factual, matter-at-hand, topical interest. I don't see myself as king of my own bubble, but in service to the project I am engaged in — a painting, a renovation project, etc. I believe in the value of handicraft skills. I believe that nothing surpasses the joy of having completed something by your own skills and wits — occasional help from technology is permissible, but not as a first choice. Oliver Rennert, Cologne, Germany Story continues below advertisement Advertisement As a late adopter of first a cellphone (it flipped) and then a smartphone (that is smarter than me), I've always questioned what this technology is doing to us. I admit I've scrolled a trending feed on my cell only a few times; after all, with so much doom in the world, why scroll it? I'm also skeptical of the supposed benefits of social media; from my friends' experiences, I came to call it antisocial media. I've read tweets and posts cited in media stories, and it seems like all this tech just offers us a means to view the narcissistic, arrogant, ignorance of the loudest voices. There's no nuance, just a righteous, ill-informed, politicized certainty that's poisoned our national discourse. If this is progress, I can hardly wait for artificial intelligence, whose starry-eyed tech bro developers are promising us limitless benefits. Besides, if I spent any significant time on screens, I wouldn't be reading The Post — in print, thank you very much. Take it from my cold, dead, ink-stained hands. Jessica Xavier, Silver Spring I hate having to use my cellphone for everything: Having to scan QR codes to access a menu or open my phone to get grocery store discounts unnecessarily complicates daily tasks. Luckily, my father gave our TV away when I was in third grade because he did not want us to be influenced by advertising. Instead, we read books and played outdoors. It makes me crazy when people I am with keep checking their cellphones. They seem disengaged, distracted and not interested in being with others. Now with artificial intelligence, even searching the internet has become mundane. Mary Kent, Papaaloa, Hawaii I have been avoiding screens increasingly for about 15 months. I use no social media on my phone. I have not watched television since March 2024. My news consumption has been limited since February due to a difficult move to a new environment followed by eye surgery. I have also been focusing on personal human contact through phone calls, texts, occasional emails and face-to-face visits. I miss some news but was reading too much of it anyway. I am delighted to be without television. I am reading more books, going to the gym, going on walks and greeting other pedestrians in my neighborhood. It's a great neighborhood, and there are a lot of us. Peggy Naumann, Lake Oswego, Oregon Story continues below advertisement Advertisement I'm 70 years old. I'm fine with my old laptop, but when it finally dies, I'll be looking forward to a lot of long walks. When my carrier told me my flip phone wasn't going to handle 5G, I bought an Android because I have an adult child. It never leaves the house. We have painted ourselves into a corner with technology. Leo Muzzy, Eugene, Oregon I have been working to change my technology habits as I am overwhelmed with organizational emails, most of them asking for money. I have recently moved from a very rural setting to a retirement community filled with exercise classes, music of all kinds, theater, discussion and craft groups. It's a real community with little time for media. It's interesting how people here are giving up TV, computers and cellphones. Elizabeth A. Trought, Laconia, New Hampshire I find that deleting the Instagram and Facebook apps from my phone really keeps me off social media for the most part. I can still log in via a web browser, but it's much clunkier, so I log out more often. Scrolling endlessly on these platforms wears on my self identity, motivation and confidence and is just such a time suck. I would rather practice my instrument, listen to music or watch a movie than be bombarded with attention-seeking clickbait, self-promotion, product advertising or content generated by artificial intelligence. Part of why it's so hard to quit entirely is that I learn things from those quick social media videos. They make me feel like I'm being a little productive, but it's never just a small dose of content. Social media really sucks away your day, week, month, year, life. It was definitely a wake-up call reading the article about Neil Postman's book 'Amusing Ourselves to Death.' I have peers who never downloaded social media apps to begin with, but they lost touch with pop culture and I don't want to completely check out. It's a great way to let people know about my upcoming music performances, but, rather than constantly bombarding people, I prefer to drop in and out like a social media ninja. Caitlin Schneiderman, Centreville Story continues below advertisement Advertisement As a 78-year-old man, I really appreciated Ryan Zickgraf's op-ed regarding his hope for younger peoples' rejection of the overly entertained lives most of us lead these days. I grew up in a Democratic family, and our next-door neighbors were staunch Republicans. Both families got along very well, perhaps because politics seemed then, at this distance, so much less a matter of personal identification and implied self worth than politics seems now. At any rate, I suppose we will see how resilient reason, critical thinking, and thoughtfulness are in the long run. But for now, three cheers for the 'Luddites,' long may they wave. Jerald Angell, Springfield Like anything, the 'screen' is what one makes of it. I've found social media is a good way to network with like-minded people — and to discuss current events and political dysfunction in the United States. As for TV, I don't get sucked under by what semioticist Umberto Eco dubbed 'hyperreality.' After reading for a few hours, writing, examining and growing, I might relax by watching either a suspenseful foreign miniseries or comfort TV such as 'Star Trek: Voyager.' I think TV becomes dangerous if viewers are prone to believe they're watching reality. Gordon Hilgers, Dallas Story continues below advertisement Advertisement I see my devices as tools to give me the information I'm looking for. I read The Post in a digital subscription on my iPad, and typically use my computer only if necessary. My cellphone is a necessity and burden, just something else to carry around. If there were still public telephones, I would probably rely on those. I grew up in an age that didn't have a lot of devices and I marvel at the mindlessness to which some watch, scroll and stream information and entertainment. I abhor social media platforms that seem to encourage vulgarity and banality. I believe in individual thinking and critical consideration, as well as personal choice; not following the crowd. Marilyn Leggett, Niceville, Florida Mitch Daniels recently wrote about visiting an unearthed time capsule. Post Opinions wants to know: What would you add to a time capsule to represent America today?
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Maryland residents sue Perdue AgriBusiness over alleged PFAS contamination
Two Salisbury residents are suing Perdue AgriBusiness, alleging the Maryland agribusiness giant improperly discharged wastewater containing toxic chemicals onto land and into nearby streams. Filed in Maryland's federal district court, the lawsuit claims Perdue dumped wastewater containing PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, into the ground and waterways near its Salisbury facility. PFAS are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" because they can persist in the environment and human body for thousands of years. According to the complaint, Perdue treats wastewater on-site and disposes of it by spraying it on nearby fields, discharging it into Peggy Branch, a small stream originating at the facility, or storing it in an on-site lagoon. The plaintiffs allege that this practice has led to high concentrations of PFAS in the local groundwater. The lawsuit states that private wells near Peggy Branch contained PFOS, a type of PFAS, at levels exceeding 100 parts per trillion. The plaintiffs argue that Perdue's practices violate the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal law that regulates the management of hazardous waste. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) discovered elevated PFAS levels at the Salisbury site during statewide testing in 2023, according to the lawsuit. Despite this, the plaintiffs say Perdue did not notify nearby residents until nearly a year later, in the fall of 2024. "Even after Perdue's groundwater showed PFAS levels up to 343 times the drinking water standard and PFOS levels up to 20 times higher than the existing health advisory level in December 2023, Perdue waited almost a year before starting to advise neighboring homeowners," the complaint reads. But Perdue says that it took steps to remedy the high PFAS levels before the lawsuit was filed. In response, Perdue issued a statement denying wrongdoing and emphasizing its cooperation with state regulators. "Perdue AgriBusiness has worked closely and openly with the Maryland Department of the Environment—the only agency empowered to oversee remediation and assess impacts," the company said. "From the moment we received the 'responsible person' letter, we immediately began notifying residents about bottled water and testing—well before BMF filed suit on Oct. 11, 2024." Perdue said it had already taken significant steps by the time the lawsuit was filed, including testing well water for 673 properties, installing PFAS treatment systems at 90% of impacted sites, providing bottled water, removing potential PFAS sources from its Zion Church Road facility, and continuing outreach to unresponsive homeowners. The plaintiffs are asking the court to stop Perdue from continuing the alleged discharges and to require the company to pay for cleanup and preventative measures. They are also seeking civil penalties and reimbursement for legal fees, stating that Perdue's actions pose an ongoing risk to public health and the environment.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Online creators, led by MrBeast and Mark Rober, want to raise $40 million for clean water access
NEW YORK (AP) — Online creators from dozens of countries, led by MrBeast and popular science YouTuber Mark Rober, are launching a $40 million fundraiser to build water quality projects around the world. The monthlong crowdfunding campaign, touted as the biggest YouTube collaboration and called #TeamWater, promises to rally their combined 2 billion subscribers around combating unsafe water sources. Funds will primarily benefit WaterAid, an international nonprofit that builds community-tailored infrastructure ranging from solar-powered wells to rainwater harvesting systems. More than 2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water as of 2022, according to the United Nations. Organizers want to put a dent in that figure by providing sustainable access for 2 million people — and instilling new generations with a lifelong commitment to advocacy. Joining #TeamWater are smaller creators and some of the biggest names online such as streaming giant Kai Cenat, trendy YouTubers the Stokes Twins and sports entertainers Dude Perfect. Whether they are filming serious explainers or silly water-themed challenges, creators are encouraged to produce content that is authentic to their brand. Water access was identified as a solvable issue that could also unite their mass global following. But MrBeast CEO Jeff Housenbold acknowledged they are better awareness builders than infield executors So, they sought a partner with global reach, existing community partnerships and long-term change-making abilities. That led them to WaterAid. The organization first started talking with MrBeast's team two years ago, according to WaterAid America CEO Kelly Parsons. She said WaterAid typically engages communities for up to a year designing the proper solution. That work sometimes involves training local water technicians. 'It all begins and ends in the communities we work with and through them to ensure design that lasts,' Parsons said. 'It's about people more than about plumbing.' While WaterAid would did not provide a list of all the places where funds would go, countries include Colombia, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Malawi and Kenya. Charity partners GivePower and the Alok Foundation are also helping implementation in rural Kenya and Brazil, respectively. U.S.-based projects include an atmospheric water generator for an assisted living facility in Jackson, Mississippi, where the fragile water system nearly collapsed three years ago. The nonprofit DigDeep is helping fix crumbling infrastructure in the small town of Rhodell, West Virginia. Alex and Alan Stokes, whose 129 million subscribers make them one of YouTube's biggest channels, filmed in a Nepalese village where the campaign is building a 15,000-liter tank. The trip recalled their own upbringing in a Chinese town where their grandfather walked miles to fill 5-gallon water jugs. 'Being there in person was definitely one of those experiences that brought it all back for us,' Alex said. '(We) saw these kids there and it just reminded us a lot of our childhood as well.' The multi-platform drive follows the 2019 #TeamTrees and 2021 #TeamSeas campaigns, which reportedly drew more than $50 million altogether. That money helped plant millions of trees and remove millions of pounds of waste from bodies of water. Those humanitarian efforts, however, drew criticism that they promoted oversimplified solutions to complicated issues and applied Band-Aids instead of addressing the main drivers of forest loss or ocean pollution. 'Ideally, you would not use philanthropy simply to take away the symptoms of whatever is the problem," said Patricia Illingworth, a Northeastern University philosophy professor who writes about ethics in philanthropy. "But, rather, you would want to address the root cause.' Matt Fitzgerald, a digital campaign strategist who has organized the efforts, said the campaigns were never intended to be the 'end all be all." He hopes they serve as an entry point for deeper commitments. While the previous two campaigns were about 'a fist-bump, Mother Earth-style of environmentalism,' he said, this one seeks to center people while still 'keeping the planet top of mind.' 'No matter how big a mass internet mobilization moment might be, real progress on these issues demands people continuing to pay attention and continuing to stay involved,' Fitzgerald said. "To me, the way you do that, is you reach people's hearts before you try to convince them with their minds.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit James Pollard, The Associated Press
