In many countries today, women have the same rights as men. They have the right to education, equal pay, and vote. Women and men worked for many years to get these rights.

However, in some countries, those basic rights for women are still not allowed. Young girls do not have the right to education, and even if they grow up, they won’t have the right to work.

We must continue to raise our voice until every woman has equal rights.

Being aware of the environment is one way to become involved in global issues.

There are a lot of environmental problems. For example, global warming, marine pollution, water waste, and cutting trees. Are these familiar to you?

Let’s think about the causes of these problems. CO2 is said to be one of the causes of global warming. When garbage and fuel are burned, CO2 is produced. So, what we can do in our daily lives is reduce waste and save electricity produced by fuel.

Talk with your friends about the environment.

In April, as the ice in the Bering Sea begins to melt, Eskimos go whale hunting.

On top of an iceberg, the hunters watch for whales. Although they are not always successful in whale hunting, if they are lucky, all the villagers come running to pull the whale onto the ice. An elder from the village offers a prayer after the whale has been set down on the ice. The villagers divide the meat among themselves and then throw the huge whale head bone back into the sea, saying, “Come back again next year!”

After living in Alaska for many years, I have come to think that there are two types of nature. They are nature nearby and distant wild nature.

Certainly, the loss of wildlife in distant nature may not affect our daily lives. But, just imagine nature and wild animals in distant nature. They are carrying on their lives out there at this very moment, as we do. That imagination will set you free and enrich your life. Don’t you think it is wonderful?

When I was a college student, I came across a picture that changed my life. It was a photograph of the small Alaskan village of Shishmaref. I got interested in going to this tiny village. Since I knew no one in the village, I wrote a letter to the mayor of Shishmaref and requested that he introduce me to a family that might allow me to stay. Six months later, I got a reply inviting me to come.

I visited Shishmaref in 1973 and stayed with an Eskimo family for the summer. I had new experiences every day. While living in Alaska, I learned that people still go about their daily lives despite being so remote. It’s the same as what we do in Japan.

I spent two years working for a photographer after graduating from college. In 1978, I visited Alaska again. I planned to stay for five years or so, but I ended up living there for 18 years! People think it’s always winter there, but there are clear seasonal changes. Alaska has wonderful nature, which is why I like it so much.

Fair trade is a system that helps farmers in developing countries by trading their products at fair prices.

In unfair trade, the buyers set the price, and the farmers do not get paid for the quality of their produce. Fair trade is important for farmers’ livelihoods because it can solve this problem.

By purchasing fair-trade coffee, tea, cacao, bananas, and clothing, we can help farmers.

Our lives are made so much richer and more convenient thanks to smartphones. But, using smartphones may be harmful not only to children but also to adults.

According to one study, the group that solved the math problems with their smartphones in front of them had the worst results. The group that solved the math problems with their smartphones left in another room had the best results. This shows how smartphones affect our ability to focus our attention.

We often use smartphones to access the Internet. It’s very useful but could make us mentally lazy. To make matters worse, the Internet sometimes spreads lies. We don’t know what to believe and what not to believe now. It is dangerous to believe everything we read or see online.

We should learn the ability to think independently. That skill can’t be taught to us by our smartphones. We should limit the use of smartphones until we have a better understanding of the effects of these new technologies. It might not be a bad idea to practice moderation in all things.