Responsibility and Complacency

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

You've been reading about Mother Teresa being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Did you know that just this month the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the 91st time in its history? This year's recipient is the Chinese political dissident Liu Xiaobo, honored for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." His wife describes her husband's work in this video at the New York Times.

Liu Xiaobo's activism dates back to the Tianamen Square Massacre of June 4, 1989. In early 1989 Chinese protestors, mainly university students and intellectuals, began to demonstrate publicly against some of the practices of the Chinese government. The protests took a devastating turn when, on June 4th, the state military entered Tianamen Square. Tanks and soldiers opened fire on unarmed protestors. The total number of casualties from that day is unknown, but estimates range from 400 to a couple thousand people killed. Liu Xiaobo, a popular university teacher, was involved in the protests of that day and while he survived the massacre, he has since been sentenced to four prison terms for his advocacy of democracy and criticisms of the Chinese government. Inside China, his name and work is censored. Even news of him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize has been blocked as much as possible by the Chinese government. International broadcasts have their screens blackened during any segments about Liu Xiaobo. It will be interesting to see what impact this recognition of Liu Xiaobo by the Nobel Prize Committee will have.

Check out other Nobel Prize recipients here. You will others recognized for their political contributions (Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, and others). You will also see contributions in expanding medical care (Doctors Without Borders), alleviating global poverty (Muhammad Yunus), and other contributions. Who do you think has made the most interesting impact?

Choosing a Major

When you get to college, one of the first questions you'll hear is "What is your major? What are you studying?" As you get prepared for college, or wherever Year 13will find you, it is important to be thinking about what interests you have and what paths may interest you. Think about what Daniel Pink says in this clip. Do you believe that it is important, like he says, to choose the paths you are passionate in? How can you find out what your own strengths and interests are?

The Ben Carson Story