Winning essays and art from the 2023 United Nations Association contest for middle schoolers

Submitted by United Nations Association

Each year the local United Nations Association (UNA) sponsors an essay contest open to Alachua County middle school students. The topic “Global Health: Human, Animal, and Environment” was assigned for 2023. Students were free to address anything within this broad subject area, and human health, animal wellbeing, the environment, and their interconnectedness of all were addressed in the many entries.

Winners presented their work in person at the UNA Annual meeting and reception held at the Alachua County Headquarters Library in Gainesville. The first-place winner won a $300 award, while the second-place winner received $200. Each third-place winner was given $100.

First place: Hector Palce, Westwood Middle School

In the United States, more than 10% of high school students vape, and 5% of middle school students do it too. Vaping is the use of e-cigarettes and is more commonly used in public. It can be very addictive and hard to get off after your first and second smoke. The addiction of vaping can be due to a variety of flavors that can hook the user. The effects on the brain could be very detrimental for somebody who’s still growing their body.

In addition to that, vaping poses a serious threat to the development of brains to teenagers. The nicotine presented within the e-cigarette can have terrible effects on the functioning memory and attention spans of the said smoker. Research has shown that nicotine is addictive and can negatively affect and impact the development of the growing adolescent brain; that can cause learning deficits and worsen academic performance. The usage of e-cigarettes during this critical stage can affect future prospects of adolescents.  

Therefore, with the risk of addiction and social impact, teenagers are usually vulnerable to the addictive power of nicotine inside e-cigarettes, which can lead to long-term addiction and substance abuse problems. The allure of vaping can lead to putting more time into e-cigarettes instead of family time and school responsibilities. The pressure to fit in to act “cool” can be one of the causes to vape; adding the risk of nicotine addiction can cause future health problems. Widespread usage of e-cigarettes with teenagers only causes problems for their health and impacts their social life and their well-being. 

Furthermore, there are academic performance and public health concerns that vaping has been linked to underperformance in school; as frequent vapers pop up, now they may choose prioritizing vaping over getting to classes, coming into academic repercussions. The increasing relevance of teen vaping has raised the general public health concerns, with a bunch of adolescents using e-cigarettes facing hardships to stop vaping and focus on school and other responsibilities. The persuasiveness of the nature of vaping, including the fact it’s an impact on health, really shows the urgent need to address this issue comprehensively. 

In summary, vaping has terrible effects on teenagers, ranging from the impact on brain development and the risk of being addicted for academic performance and the general public’s health. It is Important to educate teens about the risk and dangers of vaping to implement measures to stop the use among young adolescents to guard their well-being and future prospects.

Second place: Evelyn (Evie) Collins, Westwood Middle School – Disappearing Oceanic Animals

Sea animals have been slowly disappearing over the last decade. Vaquitas, blue whales, coral, and sea otters are just a few. Poaching and climate change are huge factors in these slow extinctions, so we as humans need to come together to rebuild these species’ habitats and families to help create a better world for them and us.

Climate change is one of the biggest issues right now environmentally. Changes in temperature and weather cause species to change and adapt, which not all species can accomplish. In the article titled “Threatened and Endangered Species,” the author says, “More than 42,100 are threatened with extinction…” So over 40,000 species of our oceanic ecosystem are struggling to survive, and that number is not even one-third of those conflicted species. There are only 200 great hammerhead sharks in the world. In the entire world of more than 7 billion humans, there are less than 200 Great Hammerheads out there. Climate change needs to start being a big subject in day-to-day conversation.

Killing endangered animals for food and sport is growing at an alarming rate. This is called poaching, which kills thousands. In the article “The Massacre for the World’s Shark for Soup,” they say, “Approximately 73 to 100 million sharks are killed annually worldwide just for their fins.” Shark Fin Soup is a popular dish that is extremely wasteful and cruel to sharks around the world. Sharks are poached, then their fins are chopped and they get dropped back in the ocean for dead. Bycatch is a big factor as well. Bycatch is when large fishing nets catch unintended fish by accident and die in the process. The deaths of the animals soon will catch up and be big topics.

Pollution is clogging the fresh salty water of the ocean right now. Beluga Whales and Manatees are being affected by pollution in their waters, which affects their food. And it’s not just them, either. In the article, “Ocean Plastics Pollution,” they state, “…there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans…” Pollution is something that has been occurring for decades, but slowly it has been evolving into huge conflicts.

Having all these issues and conflicts arise slowly isn’t going to heal itself. For this to not get worse, we all need to not pollute, poach, and contribute to climate change in the years moving forward. Small changes in your life like polluting less waste can save lives.

Third place (tie): Julia Kauffman, Westwood Middle School – The Poaching Industry

In terms of global health, poaching has a great impact on many. The poaching industry is a multi-billion dollar market that supports illegal hunting and kills thousands of animals each year. In some countries, it also factors into medicine, not just the wildlife.

Across the world, people rely on medicine for healing illnesses and general health.

Using powdered rhinoceros ivory is a common rumor that’s said to heal those who have cancer. An article from wildaid.org says, “Although rhino horn has been banned for 25 years as a traditional medicine in China, consumption has surged recently there and in Vietnam, where it is promoted as a purported cancer cure…” Though it would be amazing to have a cure, this is definitely not the way to find one. Unfortunately, thousands of rhinos die each year due to poaching, and the superstitions are no help when it comes to saving these endangered creatures.

The main thing poaching affects is animal populations. Just a few animals whose numbers decreased unnaturally are elephants, rhinos, sharks, turtles, and many big cat families. Each decade that goes by, another species goes extinct. This doesn’t only kill animals, but it could eventually lead to the death of necessary plant life. From seasave.org, “Animal poaching endangers not only the population of targeted animals but also other animals in their ecosystem, as it often disrupts the essential balance of nature within a healthy biome.” If animals are driven to extinction, life cycles and food chains will be thrown off, and the planet will lose more and more life forms.

Poaching is a major cause of harm not only towards directly affected animals, but also the environment and people. The poaching industry will hopefully die down in time to save the rest of the life we have left.

Third place (tie): Luciana Nino Pena, Westwood Middle School

Global animal health is a cornerstone for ecological balance and biodiversity worldwide. The meticulous management of health in domestic and wild animals plays a pivotal role in sustaining the delicate balance of ecosystems. In the age of globalization, interconnectedness across nations emphasizes the critical need for robust strategies to address disease risks in international trade. Ensuring the health of animals transcends ecological concerns; it’s a fundamental and intricate element for global food safety.

In the convergence of animal health and human well-being, impacts resonate through global food systems. Effective disease control in farm animals is paramount for safe food production, underscoring the intrinsic link between animal health and broader global health. Preserving endangered species is critical, as threats like habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change highlight the urgency. Biodiversity preservation contributes to climate resilience, ensuring environmental stability.

Interconnectedness extends to global challenges, evident in disease outbreaks affecting animals and humans. A collaborative, integrated approach spanning borders and disciplines is essential. Shared responsibility for global animal health requires concerted efforts in research, surveillance, and effective interventions.

In essence, a united and comprehensive approach is indispensable for addressing the multifaceted challenges of global animal health. This approach extends beyond the ecological context, encompassing human health, sustainable food practices, and endangered species preservation. Recognizing these complex connections fosters a harmonious balance for the well-being of animals, humans, and the entire planet.

The delicate tapestry of life on Earth necessitates careful stewardship, and global animal health serves as a testament to our shared responsibility. Through concerted efforts, sustainability commitment, and global collaboration, we can ensure a future where animal health contributes to a resilient and thriving planet for generations to come. This shared commitment binds us in a global responsibility to nurture and protect the intricate web of life that sustains us all, fostering harmony and balance.

Art Competition First Place: Lily Rehm