The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 23

February 23, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 4 Features Nobel Peace Prize nominations On Feb. 1, the deadline for submissions of nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize was reached. The winner is selected by a five- member group called the Norwegian Nobel Committee (NNC). While the NNC does not comment on who was nominated, some like to share their choices. The Nobel Peace Prize nominations have been kept secret for 50 years to avoid nominees campaigning, yet, according to Newsweek, there have been 22 nominees that were revealed by the NNC. Here are some of the nominees for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize: Stacey Abrams Abrams was nominated by a lawmaker fromNorwaynamedLarsHaltbrekken. Abrams, a Yale graduate, served as a Representative for the Democratic party in the state of Georgia. She has gained popularity for her work as a voting rights activist and through her organization, Fairfight, which promotes fair elections and educates voters on their voting rights. Greta Thunberg Thunberg is an environmentalist from Sweden known for directing her thoughts towards the leaders of the world about climate change. She advocates for immediate action on the issue, not just from world leaders, but everyday people. Thunberg was featured in 2020’s Nobel Prize shortlist and now finds How to unplug during a pandemic herself again on the final list. Alexei Navalny Navalny is a Russian activist who is the direct opposition to Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin. Navalny has ran for office and advocated for anti-corruption in Russia. In August 2020, Navalny had an attempt on his life with a military-level nerve agent. He recovered and returned to Russia in 2019 only to be detained and has been held since. The World Health Organization The World Health Organization, or the WHO, was front and center in the battle against COVID-19 in 2020. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, theWHO has been helping the world understand how the virus spreads and how to keep us safe. The World Health Organization aims to “promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.” Black Lives Matter Since its founding in 2013, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has become the biggest organization in the world against racism and police brutality. In 2020, BLM organized peaceful protests around the U.S. in response to the death of George Floyd, the Black man who was murdered by Minneapolis police. BLMwas nominated by a lawmaker in Norway named Petter Eide. He commented, “BLM forces countries to face up to racism.” BLM’s comment to the nomination was “We’re only getting started.” It has been almost a year since the world was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and at this point, we are all undoubtedly growing tired of it. There have been so many changes and one of them is that everything is now online. Our jobs, classes and hangouts are all over Zoom or FaceTime and it’s increasing everyone’s screen time. Too much screen time can affect a person’s sleep, increase anxiety and affect the brain. Although all this screen time isn’t necessarily our fault, sometimes, we have to step away. Thankfully, there are ways in which we can unplug and forget about technology just for a little while. Go outside One great way to unplug is to simply go outside. Going outside is a great way to unplug because not only does it get you away from your phone screen, but you can also get some vitamin D into your body. Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin and is mostly produced by the body when sunlight hits the skin. You can stay away from your phone by taking a walk around the block or simply sitting outside and soaking up the sun for a bit. Meditate Another way to unplug is to meditate. Meditating is the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. Meditating is known to reduce stress, control anxiety and benefit one’s overall emotional health. Some use meditation as a way of increasing their awareness of themselves and their surroundings. Others use it as a way of developing concentration. No matter what you want to use meditating for, it is a sure way to get you away from your phone for a while. Manage your time Now, unplugging from your technological devices doesn’t always have to mean something complex. Sometimes, it can be as simple as creating a schedule for yourself that will prevent you from going overboard on your screen time. We spend hours looking at a screen for school and work, and then, we transition to social media for hours on our phones or we become victim to binge-watching Netflix shows. Time management is necessary if the goal is to unplug. Set limits to how much you watch or how much you are susceptive to social media. Perhaps having plans after doing online school is the way to go. After finishing an online class, plan to do a workout or talk to your family and friends. Schedule time that is away from the screens. Overall, unplugging during a pandemic is not easy. At this point, everything we know is virtual and it’s difficult to pull away. However, steering away from the bright screens is beneficial and will be better for you in the long run. Highlights of the Biden Presidency In 2020, America elected Joe Biden as new leader of the free world. Inaugurated on Jan. 20, the 44th vice president has now become the 46th president, and he has wasted no time since then. Along with replacing the portrait of Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office with one of Benjamin Franklin and removing his predecessor’s Diet Coke button, Biden is working hard. Here are a few highlights of his presidency so far. Diverse Cabinet The Biden Administration has the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history. The Cabinet is 45% women and 55% non-white. Janet Yellen is the first woman ever to lead the Treasury department. Also, Biden’s Cabinet has 30% more government experience than his predecessors. Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay secretary, will be in charge of transportation. COVID-19 relief package In early February, the House of Representatives approved the budget for Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Not only will this package provide funding for a speedy vaccine rollout, but the promised $1,400 stimulus checks are included as well. Rejoining the Paris Agreement Back in mid-2017, believing that the U.S. would be at a disadvantage, Donald Trump withdrew U.S. participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Biden reprioritized climate change as one of his first executive orders as commander in chief and rejoined the agreement hours after being inaugurated. Keystone pipeline halted Another reversal of the Trump administration, Biden repealed the construction permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline that would’ve allowed carbon-heavy oil to be transported down to the Gulf. Immigration policies On Feb. 2, Biden signed three executive orders that would change the American immigration system. One of the orders seeks to create a force that will help to reunite children with their families after they were separated at the border and their parents deported. Abortion policy revoked Reversing another Trump era policy, Biden signed two executive orders that will expand access to reproductive healthcare and health insurance. Restoration of the Affordable Care Act While still in the midst of a global pandemic, access to affordable healthcare is at the top of the administration’s list. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Biden feels that he is merely restoring the policy back to the way it was before his predecessor. Reversal of Transgender Military Ban Less than a week after Biden’s inauguration, he reversed the ban on transgender people serving in the military. Biden seeks to enroll and re-enroll those who have been denied to serve their country regardless of gender identity. By: Blake Malick Contributing Writer By: Jaden Wilson Contributing Writer By: Siena Berardi Sports Editor PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY C.MCLAUGHLIN Going outside for a walk is a great way to unplug and decompress, especially with places like Johnathan Dickinson State Park near campus.