Outside Iona
February 25, 2023
Throughout our hectic student lives, we should always remain aware of what is happening around us. In this column, I find some of the most significant things around us and provide you with a small blurb and nitty-gritty details. Here are some of the major events that have been taking place:
Jimmy Carter enters hospice care.
The longest living president, Jimmy Carter, 98, entered hospice care this past weekend. The 39th president decided to spend the rest of his remaining time at home with his family instead of receiving additional medical treatment. Notably, President Carter was missing from teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he taught since the 1980s. Though he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015, the illness did not stop him from teaching. Tributes to the president followed soon after the announcement with many celebrating Carter’s commitment to service. After losing reelection, Carter dedicated his life to public service. In 1982, he and his wife Rosalynn founded the nonprofit the Carter Center, which aims to advance democracy and prevent disease. The nonprofit also builds homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Information from CNN, NPR and AP News.
Turkey- Syria Earthquake: Death toll reaches more than 40,000.
An earthquake struck southern Turkey near the Syrian border on Monday just two weeks after another devastating earthquake. The previous earthquake was the worst in modern Turkish history, killing nearly 45,000 people in both countries. Only a handful of survivors were found in the rubble within a week after the accident. Local rescue workers rushed to help survivors with dozens of international teams, including the U.S. Air Force which delivered more than 5,700 tons of life-saving equipment and disaster aid. However, relief to Syria has not been able to get help as easily with heavy sanctions. It was reported that this week’s earthquake was felt in Egypt and Lebanon. Three deaths and 213injuries have been confirmed so far. Additionality, the earthquake was centered in the town of Define in Turkey’s Hatay province, which was one of the worst affected regions. Several buildings collapsed, trapping people inside.
Information from Reuters, PBS and NBC News.
President Biden visits Ukraine.
A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Biden visited the nation’s capital. The trip serves to reinforce the country’s support for Ukraine and was planned months in advance. The president took a considerable risk traveling to an attack war zone without significant U.S. military assets. Russia was informed of this visit. Biden stated that the U.S. will help Ukraine as long as we can. He announced a half billion dollars of additional assistance including the delivery of artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect civilians from aerial bombardments.
Information from the Atlantic, CNN and NPR.
Sources:
Jimmy Carter enters hospice care.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/19/us/jimmy-carter-church-sunday/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2023/02/19/1158251381/tributes-pour-in-jimmy-carter-hospice
Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Death Toll reaches more than 40,000 deaths.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/turkey-syria-earthquakes-death-toll-tops-35000-rcna70333 President Biden visits Ukraine.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/biden-ukraine/673135/ https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/20/politics/president-biden-kyiv-trip/index.html https://www.npr.org/2023/02/20/1141689717/ukraine-russia-biden-funding
