Sunday, April 18, 2010

Our View: Local Somali leaders make a difference

Thumbs up: To members of the Mankato Somali community and others for bringing an important Somalian dignitary to Mankato and raising the awareness of the importance of Somalia-U.S. relations.

Abukar A. Arman, Somalia’s special envoy to the United States, was in Mankato April 9 at the invitation of local Somalis. He was visiting the Twin Cities, which has the largest Somali population in the U.S., when he was convinced to visit Mankato’s growing Somali community.

The community hosted a dinner with Arman and he provided a short program on Somalia-U.S. relations afterward. Officials from the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University and Mankato schools were on hand.

The Somalia-U.S. relations are improving as is the political stability of the country itself. Some U.S. troops have died in Somalia as they were assisting with the peacekeeping effort in 1993.

Arman said he was also here to let Somalians living in America know that the situation in their homeland is becoming more stable.

It’s important the U.S. develop normal relations with Somalia. The country has the longest coastline of any East African nation and is situated just near Yemen and other hostile areas in the Middle East.

Bright idea to turn off lights

Thumbs up: To the University of Minnesota for exceeding its goal of reducing energy usage on campus. The U of M announced this week that it reached a 5 percent energy reduction three months early. The decrease in energy use is estimated to save about $2.25 million annually.

The cutback equals about 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

The university achieved this by making it a goal for the entire campus. About 20 technicians and engineers are involved in recommissioning buildings, which acts as a “tune up” to increase efficiency, according to The Minnesota Daily. All of the roughly 250 buildings on campus are examined over a four-year cycle under the program. Engineers also suggest smaller changes, such as tweaking light cycles or changing schedules to increase efficiency immediately.

Students are involved as well. A federation of groups called the “Power Police” deploy students into buildings to distribute power strips in an attempt to make computer use more efficient by providing an easy method of disconnecting them from the power supply.

Some of the savings come from simple steps, such as turning off lights in empty rooms or turning off computers overnight — measures that every institution, business and household can take to become more energy efficient.

In these tough times, it’s not just about conservation, it’s about saving money.

Home schooling hitting its stride

Thumbs up: To the home-schooling movement, breaking down barriers and finding a growing acceptance and appreciation.

For years people who home-schooled their children were sometimes seen as a bit odd, and the products of home schooling were judged as sheltered individuals lacking in normal socialization skills. In the Mankato area, especially, those stereotypes break down when we consider the story of Julie Hiniker, a mother who is home schooling seven children but who has also started a cooperative where parents meet to share lessons and send the students off on diverse classroom presentations. Another area family is organizing an online bulletin board.

Public schools do indeed offer an outstanding array of socialization options. But home-schoolers can find plenty to do these days — outside the home — just by meeting with other home-schoolers and becoming active with community events and organizations.

Same-sex medical rights

Thumbs up: To President Barack Obama for ordering that hospitals allow patients to say who has visitation rights and who can help make medical decisions, including gay and lesbian partners.

The order, which covers all hospitals receiving Medicare or Medicaid payments, puts the power of decision making where it should be — with the patient. The rules ensure someone designated by the patient has the same right that immediate family members now enjoy.

It’s an overdue decision that provides fairness to same-sex partners who can be assured they can share decision making at crucial times.

Source: MankatoFreePress

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