New Jersey Capitol Forum

Class Statements 2009

 

School: Elizabeth High School-Upper Academy

Class: U.S. History II

Teacher: Carol Eisenberg

What specific international issues did your class discuss?

Are there issues that you agreed are important? If so, what are they?

All of the issues are important and relevant. Students were most concerned with immigration, terrorism, and nuclear weapons.

Did you agree that some issues are less important? If so, which ones?

No, all issues are important and interrelated. Attention needs to be given to the solution of all of the problems.

Class Statement: In today’s world no nation can exist isolated, nor can they impose their policies in a unilateral fashion upon the rest of the world. The United States must adopt policies which are a combination of helping others and ourselves. The current world-wide economic crisis illustrates the ramifications of globalization and the need for international cooperation. On a personal level many students are most concerned about immigration as it directly affects their lives and those of their families.

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School: Union Catholic Regional High School (Scotch Plains)

Class: Honors Current Events

Teacher: Mrs. Marla James

What specific international issues did your class discuss?

Are there issues that you agreed are important? If so, what are they?

Addressing all of the issues is crucial to the future of our world; however, the consensus of the class was that the environment is the most pressing issue.

Did you agree that some issues are less important? If so, which ones?

To say that any one of the issues is less important would be erroneous because of the interrelationship that exists between them. Each of these fundamental issues affects and is dependent upon the other.

Class Statement: Amidst the turmoil and disarray of the present day, one issue stands prevalent in the minds of the world’s populace. This salient issue that human existence depends upon is our environment. With an environment that cannot sustain life, the world as we know it will come to an end. In addition, the world’s economies all stand on an environmental foundation. Industry relies on resources. For far too long, those made short-sighted by greed have prioritized the environment below issues such as the economy. Now, our time is running out; our window to secure our ecological future is closing. If we do not put our environment first now, we will not be in existence to do so later. The environment is the cellar upon which the mansion of American capitalism is built; at present we are dismantling our cellar in order to expand our socioeconomic attic.

Unbridled industrial expansion is one of the leading factors contributing to the present unacceptable condition of our environment. We must remove the stigma that limiting industrial growth will cripple a nation’s economy. Immediate action is vital; that is not to say that drastic, rapid changes are inherent to our action. In the past century, great strides have been made in environmental consciousness. Now we must advance our policies into positive environmental action. Trying merely to maintain current conditions is insufficient to preserve the longevity of our global environment. In order to do this, we must specifically do three things. These, however, are not the only actions we must take, but in doing so we will be setting ourselves well on the right path.

First, we must accelerate and foster the development of renewable energies, among other scientific innovations. Secondly, we must take an active part in establishing a global consensus on environmental policy. If we are to change the earth, all of its peoples must be involved. Lastly, in addition to strengthening previous legislation, we must do more to repair the damage inflicted on our environment. These three parts – progress, agreement, and reparation – will cohesively revitalize our environment, and ensure a better future for all of us.

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School: Trenton Central High School – Chambers St. Campus

Class: U.S. History II classes

Advisor: Mr. Freimark

Class Statement: We think that in our Future 5 for America we must clearly deal with larger problems of the world. Immigration, global warming, nuclear proliferation, global trade and terrorism. If we think about it, America isn’t the only country in peril over these issues. In fact, some of these issues are fast reaching the level of pandemic. There must be a way to solve these problems and the way we think might work is regional government.

Our class would point to the recent G-20 summit conference where there was consensus achieved by many nations on financial issues, lending practices of banks and insurance companies i.e. AIG, along with spearheading some global warming initiatives. Even former foes, like the U.S.A. and Russian seemed intent on reducing the spread of nuclear weapons.

We would call for regional governments, like the G-20 and European Union, to resolve our global economic crisis. We would ask that the World Bank be empowered to lend money in the world where needed to spearhead economic recovery. Nations that contributed funds would be rewarded with credits or short moratoriums to wind down pollution in their countries and given some further markets for production.

These regional governments would make decisions based on the input of religious, scientific and diplomatic leaders. The political input would be less significant in this process.

Global warming is of great concern since many species are endangered, with rising sea levels and potential climate disasters lurking around every corner.

By convening these regional governments decisions could be made without red tape and politicking.

If all governments, world-wide could work together in regional organizations, we could solve these problems.

We, the U.S. History II classes and Mr. Freimark thank you for the opportunity to submit this Future 5 Statement for the 2009 Capitol Forum of New Jersey.

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