The White Falcon - 25.11.1994, Blaðsíða 5

Royal Marines in Icelandic 500
Group to attempt crossing
JBtand during winter
By J02 Kevin A. Mills
A group of Royal Marines will
attempt the first-ever ski crossing of
Iceland during the Icelandic 500 from
February to May next year to help
raise funds for spinal research.
Iceland has never been traversed dur-
ing the winter months.
The four-man team, led by Corp.
Sean Chappie, will ski 500 miles
across snow covered mountains and
open tundra while contending with
arctic conditions. Each Marine will
carry a load of 250 pounds. The
crossing will take approximately 60
days to complete.
“I am fortunate enough in being
able to help raise funds by combining
my plans for the Icelandic 500 with a
fund raising effort,” said Chappie. A
portion of the proceeds from the
crossing will be donated to the
International Spinal Research Trust,
an organization dedicated to ending
the permanence of paralysis.
Meetings have been held with
Icelandic rescue teams, local authori-
ties and members of the 56th Rescue
Squadron from the NATO Base to
discuss the route. The group will
leave Bjargtangar and will be resup-
plied at Bru and EgilsstaSir on their
way to finish the trek at Gerpir.
Icelandic 500
Mahan High School students
participate in mock election
By Trudy H. Pollard
A.T. Mahan High
School teacher
On Nov. 3, students at A.T.
Mahan High School were given a
chance to vote in a mock election.
The ballot was prepared by
Scholastic Publications for stu-
dents across the United States.
They voted on the same four issues
- healthcare reform, jobs and the
environment, the U.S. role in the
world and crime.
The students followed a voting
process similar to that required of
adult voters on Nov. 8. They had
to register the week prior to the
election. Forty-two percent of the
student body registered and 86
percent of those cast ballots.
On the question of which two
issues should the government give
the most attention, students select-
ed crime and violence in our
homes and streets (60 percent)
and improving the economy and
providing jobs in the U.S. (40 per-
cent).
More than half identified drugs
as the biggest cause of crime and
violence. To reduce them, stu-
dents selected education programs
and help in poverty stricken areas.
Fifty-one percent considered
health insurance and health care
as a right for everyone. Students
indicated if the U.S. decides to
have universal health insurance,
people who are poor and those
who are retired should be the last
to pay for it.
When asked to identify two situ-
ations in which the U.S. should use
military forces in foreign countries,
the top selections were, “when the
safety and security of the U.S. is
threatened,” and “when resources
we need, like oil, are threatened.”
The voters decided that each case
should be considered as it comes
up.
Forty-three percent voted for
special job-retraining programs if
jobs are lost because of laws and
regulations protecting the environ-
ment. The majority felt that it is
possible to both protect and clean
the environment as well as to have
good economic growth.
The results of the nationwide
student election were reported in
the media including CNN and
U.S.A. Cable Network. The exer-
cise helped students to become
aware of their rights and privileges
as American citizens.
November 25,1994
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