Juneteenth is this Saturday, June 19! To learn more about this holiday, view the video above. And as of the writing of this post Congress is on it’s way to making it an official federal holiday. Read more below…
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a US holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.The legislation has gained momentum since the massive Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd last year and the Democrats’ takeover of the White House and Congress.
The measure needs to pass the House and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer tweeted that the chamber would vote Wednesday.
Last week it was Teacher Appreciation Week, and our students posted some photos on social media to say thank you to all their great teachers! A compilation video can be viewed above.
Earth Day is today! Above you can watch a brief video about the history and importance of Earth Day, while below you can read some helpful tips that will help you to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle:
6. Don’t buy fast fashion. Instead, buy quality clothing that will last. Even better, buy vintage or recycled clothing at consignment shops.
7. Wash your clothing in cold water. Doing two loads of laundry weekly in cold water instead of hot or warm water can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
8. Buy less stuff! Buy used or recycled items whenever possible and avoid buying items with a lot of packaging.
9. Bring your own reusable bag when you shop.
10. Buy a laptop instead of a desktop. Laptops require less energy to charge and operate than desktops.
11. If shopping for appliances, lighting, office equipment or electronics, look for Energy Star products, which are certified to be more energy efficient.
12. Support and buy from companies that are environmentally responsible and sustainable.
13. Do an energy audit of your home. This will show how you use or waste energy and help identify ways to be more energy efficient.
14. Buy LED lights. Though LEDs cost more, they use a quarter of the energy and last up to 25 times longer.
15. Turn lights off when you leave the room and unplug your electronic devices when they are not in use.
16. Turn your water heater down to 120˚F. This can save about 550 pounds of CO2 a year.
17. Take shorter showers and install a low-flow showerhead.
18. Use less air conditioning in the summer; instead opt for fans, which require less electricity.
19. Sign up to get your electricity from clean energy through your local utility or a certified renewable energy provider.
20. Drive less. Walk, take public transportation, carpool, rideshare or bike to your destination when possible.
21. Avoid flying if possible; on shorter trips, driving may produce fewer greenhouse gases.
22. Vote! Become politically active and let your representatives know you want them to take action about global warming and the environment.
The Lunar New Year, most commonly associated with the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, typically falls sometime between January 21 and February 20 annually. Lunar New Year 2021 is on February 12, and in terms of the Chinese zodiac animal, it’s the Year of the Ox.
The Lunar New Year isn’t only observed in China, it’s celebrated across several countries and other territories in Asia, including South Korea and Singapore. In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is known as Tết, and in Tibet it’s Losar. In the U.S., though, it’s most commonly associated with what’s often called Chinese New Year, the American version of China’s 15-day-long festivities.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Learn English with Martin Luther King, Jr. in his most famous speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28th, 1963. – Watch with big English subtitles.
We say “Happy Holidays” because in late December and early January there are several different holidays which occur, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Three Kings Day, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day. To learn more, watch the videos below:
