This month, we consider the peace, love, and joy honored during the world’s many December holiday celebrations. This issue also encourages us to take stock of where we are as human beings, physically, intellectually, and morally, and to take whatever steps are possible to rise to the next level.
Sometimes that’s going outside and getting some exercise. Brian Barbeito walks by a lake and considers the joy of simple living and natural beauty.
Aura Echeverri Uribe evokes the monumental destruction of an avalanche. Jack Galmitz speaks to how we manage and control wildness, in our neighborhoods and our bodies, and how it can reassert itself. Carrie Farrar speaks to the joy and wonder of visiting France to see the Mer de Glace glacier. Mahbub Alam speaks to a solid connection between humanity and nature, like a tree standing firm in the changing winds.
Tasneem Hossain draws on the owl as an extended metaphor for wisdom and protection. Roodly Laurore reflects on the tender and colorful beauty and diversity of nature in a piece which he intends to bring comfort in a violent and turbulent world. Maja Milojkovic encourages us to imagine a new world of gentleness and peace towards our earth and each other.
Elizabetta Bonaparte’s poetry takes a short, but strong and cogent, stand against war. Valentina Yordanova, in poetry translated by Yoana Konstantinova, laments the mindless destruction war brings to ordinary lives. Eva Petropoulou Lianou calls for genuine humanity in a world at war.
Samar Aldeek tenderly celebrates peace in her bilingual poetry. Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar draws on the style of courtly romance to honor the legacy of Mexican poet, peace activist, and literary cultural worker Dr. Jeannette Tiburcio. Fernando Jose Martinez Alderete joins in the tribute to Dr. Tiburcio and also speaks of the need for peace and mutual respect.
Paul Durand warns us of dangerous currents, both in the ocean and in American politics. Bill Tope’s poem criticizes human rights abuses committed in the name of immigration enforcement. Duane Herrmann speaks to the spiritual unity of all the world’s people under Ba’hai teachings and how that serves as an antidote to racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Travel gives us firsthand experience with different cultures and helps us understand each other. Türkan Ergör illustrates the dislocation of travel through clever and poetic alteration of word and line breaks. Lakshmi Kant Mukul captures the exhilaration and elevated beauty of plane flight. Abdumuminova Risolabonu Nizamovna discusses how travel helps people learn practical skills, including pragmatic communication in multiple languages.
Learning foreign languages, and mastering one’s native language, helps us understand each other, whether we travel in person or through imagination and books. Shakhnoza Pulatova Makhmudjanovna offers strategies for mastering the Arabic language. Muhammadjonova O’giloy Bunyodbekov qizi offers up suggestions for learning Turkish that would be helpful for any foreign language. Abduhalilova Sevdora Xayrulla qizi highlights grammar rules surrounding modal verbs in the Uzbek language. Allaberdiyeva Farangiz outlines ways for students learning English as a foreign language to gain writing proficiency.
Xudoyberdiyeva Jasmina analyzes the linguistic phenomenon of “chatspeak” and ‘text-speak” on the Uzbek language in a piece that’s more intrigued than negative. Dinora Sodiqova discusses the importance of professional communication for aspiring young Uzbek leaders.
People can also travel through time by reading older works and studying history. Petros Kyriakou Veloudas reflects on the joy and the weight of being part of a creative heritage, even when one does not know the names of each and every ancestor. Poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews poet Muhammad Shamsul Huq Babu about his literary legacy and dream of building a large book museum.
Dunia Pulungeanu highlights the lifetime intellectual and literary accomplishments of Dr. Edwin Antonio Gaona Salinas. Choriyeva Go’zal Gayratjon qizi explores the resurgence of academic and cultural interest in foundational works of Uzbek literature. Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso reflects on the historical significance of the Mud Battle, an early military defeat for Central Asian medieval historical figure Amir Temur.
Farzona Hoshimova celebrates the pride and beauty of the Uzbek culture. Matnazarova Munisa encourages young and old Uzbeks to remember and preserve their traditional culture. Bobonova Zulfiya sings of the pride, freedom, and beauty of her native Uzbekistan. David Woodward evokes a quest for truth through reading Krishnamurti, ultimately reconnecting himself with his family. Rahmonkulova Gulsevar Samidovna considers the cultural values implicit within Uzbek folk legends.
Muhammadjonova Ogiloy Bunyodbekovna reviews Abdulloh Abdulmutiy Huda Said Bahul’s book Qu’logim senda, qizim, which provides Islamic faith-based guidance for young girls, narrated by a loving father. Ruzimbayeva Quvonchoy also urges Uzbeks to hold onto their traditional values, including love, bravery, and respect for women.
Maja Milojkovic translates Eva Petropoulou Lianou’s tribute to hard-working women around the world from English into Serbian. Mashhura Ochilova highlights the historical respect for women in Uzbek culture and what modern Uzbek women have achieved. Jaloldinova Gulzirahon Otabek Kizi highlights women’s increasing participation in Uzbekistan’s public life.
Orifjonova Nozima Azizbek considers the prospects for preserving the Uzbek language in a time of economic and cultural globalization. Rahmonqulova Gulsevar Samid qizi analyzes the crucial father-son relationship at the heart of the Uzbek folk epic tale “Alpomish” and its centrality to Uzbek family-oriented culture. Rahimberdiyev Ozodbek outlines key elements of Uzbekistan’s heroic tales.
Dr. Jernail Singh describes how Dr. K.B. Razdan diagnoses some emotional and psychological ills of modern life in his book Gather Ye Rosebuds.Sean Meggeson’s visual poetry speaks to what we gain and lose as modern society progresses. J.K. Durick waxes poetic about times when it seemed that matters were more easily understood and categorized.
Abdulhafiz Iduoze’s epic poem, layered with traditional and modern references from Benin’s culture, serves as a ritual chant and prophetic warning about colonialism and corrupt power structures. It situates recent dynamics within epic time, reminding readers that current matters are not destined to last forever.
Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah affirms the reality of his personal experience amidst the complex claims of philosophical schools. Aisha Al-Maharabi speaks with the voice of one who asserts his claim to existence, writ large on the natural and human worlds. Strider Marcus Jones speaks to reclaiming and holding onto our interior life, emotions, and connection to nature in a world of mass media and technological disruption and deception.
Many other creators explore our internal lives, what we can learn from ourselves and each other and how we can grow as human beings. Allison Grayhurst speaks to her creative and personal journey: learning to function and create through loss, to integrate pain and struggle into her process. Alan Catlin’s fanciful “anxiety dreams” play with our modern insecurities about navigating daily life. Also experiencing anxiety, Mirta Liliana Ramirez’ poetic speaker takes a bit more time before she’s ready to venture out in the world.
Alimardonova Gulsevar Sirojiddinovna explores the balance between personal dreams and duty to society in Somerset Maugham and Abdulla Qodiriy’s writing.
Rus Khomutoff’s latest poetry collection Kaos Karma, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, flows through various words and ideas, pulling us along on the wings of a slow dream. Stykes Wildee’s latest poem seems at once dreamlike and ordinary and conversational, casual thoughts within the subconscious. Mesfakus Salahin’s poetry is ghostlike, contemplative, detached as he contemplates love and death. John Doyle’s poetry harks from a variety of inspirations: everything from insects to gas stations to trains and the countryside. Arjun Razdan’s quick fictional sketch compares young women he sees to elegant fine wine.
Abdulsamad Idris also explores tragedy and loss through a frank and visceral voice. Graciela Noemi Villaverde finds herself lashed by the storms of loneliness and sorrow. Hanaan Abdelkader Ashour approaches loss with tenderness, offering a kind and reverent note of remembrance for departed loved ones. Marianne Jo Alves Zullas speaks openly of her mourning for her departed mother, everywhere and nowhere at once. Mykyta Ryzhykh’s poem captures the emotional emptiness of a relationship where one person loves intensely, and the other remains distant, consumed by their own habits. Marjona Eshmatova outlines various types of family system dysfunction and how to address them psychologically. Taylor Dibbert points to the ways even well-meaning people can misunderstand each other. Dilobar Maxmarejabova warns us how a person’s heart can become colder and more jaded over time.
Mohamed Rahal speaks of striving for authenticity in one’s faith and in love. Narzulloyeva Munisa Bakhromovna encourages people not to compare themselves negatively with others’ projected lives on social media. Raximberdiyeva Moxinabonu outlines the pressing mental health concern of smartphone addiction and the need to balance our phones with the real world. Moldiyeva Bahodirovna speaks to the way digital technologies have permeated our lives and how to have the Metaverse complement, rather than replace, our world. Choriyeva Xurmo urges balance in the use of digital media in preschool education. Orozboyeva Shodiyeva highlights educational social media applications and encourages her peers to use those rather than focusing just on entertainment.
Priyanka Neogi playfully celebrates innocent, childlike love. Milana Momcilovic evokes an eternal, spiritual love. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta captures an elegant romantic kiss under moonlight. Vorhees describes erotic and tender love with gentle whimsy and echoes of history. Kemal Berk contributes a graceful love poem about the merging of egos and personalities within a relationship.
Ana Elisa Medina describes a love that encourages her to become a better person. Mohan Maharana celebrates the value of small acts of kindness. Abdusaidova Jasmina shares the importance of kindness through a children’s tale involving a mouse. Balachandra Nair highlights the value of virtue by presenting positive character traits as valuable jewels on display.
Sayani Mukherjee pleads for deep, enduring joy that can withstand the world’s problems.
One way many people find joy is through engaging in various forms of creativity and knowledge gathering. Farida Tijjani draws on a wide variety of technical and natural inspirations to explore gender, creativity, and society.
Various contributors speak of advances in different fields. Uzoqova Gulzoda encourages innovative approaches to elementary school education. Nazulloyeva Feruzabonu highlights the value of science and innovation in inspiring society as well as providing material advancements.
Abdujabborova Rayhona points out ways medical and psychological professionals can reduce unhealthy stresses for pregnant people. Durdona Sharifovna Roziboyeva highlights the success of a recent orthodontic treatment for upper airway issues.
Dinora Sodiqova outlines basic principles of modern consumer advertising. Mamarajabova Shahnoza discusses how digital technologies are transforming the field of accounting. Dianne Reeves Angel celebrates the physical and mental artistry of comedian and actor Buster Keaton.
Several pieces remind us that as we advance in our knowledge and our technical skills, we must bring our humanity along with us. Kandy Fontaine raises questions about ethics and oversight concerning how people are treated in American hospitals. Avazbekova Rayyonaxon reminds medical professionals to display professional behavior as well as knowledge.
Finally, Dr. Jernail S. Anand reminds us to occasionally step back from the clatter of daily human interaction to connect with the universe on a deeper level. We wish all of you inspiration and a chance to think, feel, and connect with the world beyond yourselves this holiday season.
Science and Innovation: The Impact on Education and Society
Annotation
This paper explores how science and innovation have transformed education and society in the modern world. It discusses the role of technology in enhancing learning, improving access to information, and shaping global communication. The study also highlights how scientific progress influences social development, human values, and the economy. The article concludes that science and innovation not only drive technological advancement but also play a key role in building knowledge-based societies and promoting sustainable growth.
Science and innovation have always been the foundation of human progress. From the invention of the wheel to the creation of artificial intelligence, every great leap in human history has been fueled by curiosity, creativity, and the desire to solve problems. In the 21st century, the relationship between science and education has become more intertwined than ever before. The modern education system depends on scientific discoveries and technological innovations to prepare students for a fast-changing world. This paper discusses the influence of science and innovation on education and society, focusing on how they shape the way people learn, communicate, and live.
Science and the Transformation of Education
Science has revolutionized the way education is delivered, experienced, and understood. Modern teaching methods are no longer limited to classrooms or textbooks. Instead, they are supported by digital technologies, interactive learning platforms, and online resources that make education more flexible and accessible. For instance, online education tools such as Coursera, Khan Academy, and Google Classroom have made it possible for students to learn from anywhere in the world. Scientific research in psychology and pedagogy has also improved our understanding of how people learn, leading to more effective teaching methods that support critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
Another major impact of science on education is the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs. These disciplines encourage students to apply scientific thinking to real-world problems, promoting innovation and problem-solving skills. In many countries, governments and institutions now emphasize STEM education as a foundation for future economic growth and technological leadership. Science also encourages evidence-based learning, where students are trained to question, experiment, and draw conclusions from data rather than rely on assumptions.
Innovation and Educational Technology
Innovation is the practical expression of scientific discovery. In education, innovation has led to the creation of digital tools that make learning more engaging and efficient. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and machine learning are now being integrated into classrooms to personalize education and support students with different learning styles. For example, AI-powered systems can analyze a student’s performance and adapt lessons to match their pace and abilities. Similarly, virtual reality allows students to explore complex scientific concepts or historical events through immersive simulations, making abstract knowledge tangible and exciting.
The COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrated the power of innovation in education. When schools closed, digital platforms became the primary medium of learning. Although this transition was challenging, it also showed how resilient and adaptable the education system can be when supported by technology. In the long term, these innovations will continue to shape hybrid learning models that combine traditional teaching with online flexibility, ensuring that education remains accessible in any situation.
Science, Innovation, and Society
Science and innovation do not only transform education—they reshape society as a whole. Scientific progress has improved healthcare, transportation, communication, and quality of life. Today’s society is driven by knowledge and information, and innovation serves as its main engine. The internet, smartphones, and renewable energy technologies have changed the way people work, interact, and think. As a result, societies have become more interconnected and globally aware.
However, scientific and technological progress also brings ethical and social challenges. Issues such as data privacy, automation, and environmental degradation have raised new questions about how innovation should be used responsibly. Education plays a key role in addressing these challenges by teaching people to think critically about the social impact of technology and to use science ethically. A well-educated society is better prepared to balance progress with morality, ensuring that innovation serves humanity rather than harms it.
The Role of Science and Innovation in Economic Development
Education, science, and innovation are the cornerstones of economic growth. Countries that invest in scientific research and technology tend to have stronger economies and higher living standards. For example, nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany have built their success on innovation-driven education systems. By supporting research institutions and encouraging creativity, they have turned knowledge into practical solutions and global competitiveness. In developing countries, promoting innovation in education can help reduce inequality and open new opportunities for youth.
Scientific innovation also creates new industries and jobs. Fields such as biotechnology, renewable energy, and information technology are expanding rapidly, demanding a workforce that is educated, adaptable, and innovative. Therefore, investing in science-based education is not only about knowledge—it is about securing a sustainable economic future.
The Social and Cultural Influence of Scientific Innovation
Beyond economics, science and innovation shape human values and social behavior. The spread of information through digital media has created a global culture of learning and collaboration. People from different backgrounds can now share knowledge instantly, promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. At the same time, this digital era has introduced challenges such as misinformation and overreliance on technology. To overcome these, education must focus on developing digital literacy and ethical awareness.
Innovation also supports social inclusion. Assistive technologies help people with disabilities access education and participate fully in society. Scientific innovations in medicine and engineering improve quality of life and extend human potential. Thus, the social impact of science and innovation goes far beyond laboratories—it reaches every aspect of human existence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, science and innovation have become inseparable elements of education and society. They drive progress, expand knowledge, and connect people across the globe. While they offer tremendous benefits, they also require responsibility, ethical awareness, and continued investment in education. The future depends on how wisely humanity uses science and innovation—not only to advance technology but also to promote equality, sustainability, and human well-being. Education is the key to ensuring that innovation serves society positively, guiding the next generation of thinkers, inventors, and leaders toward a brighter, more intelligent world.
References
UNESCO (2023). Science, Technology and Innovation in Education. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
OECD (2022). The Future of Education and Skills 2030. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
World Bank (2021). Innovation and Economic Development: The Role of Education. Washington, DC: World Bank Group.
Schwab, K. (2017). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. New York: Crown Business.
National Science Foundation (2020). Science and Engineering Indicators. Washington, DC: NSF.
Moths Attracted to the Light in Gas Station Bathrooms
Jesus Christ inspired me, stare dead-eyed, cool, un-broken,
at vermin scurrying away from Golgotha,
then days later he was back to say “so long for now, kiddo”
as if Elvis in ’68 had been beaten to the post,
Colonel Steve Austin half-frozen escaping that freezer in ’74
that stunk of death and twisted rural hobbies,
warm as Jesus when he reached flat and sun-shadowed ground
in an epiphany that the mountain wasn’t coming to me, nor those steel-wrought cheque books,
not even those blood-lipped assassins I’d been lying awake thinking of had a dirty weekend
to concoct some 1940s shakedown,
in that final quarter of that December ballgame
across a set of lips so frozen I’d been sworn to steel’s most coldest silence,
even within this scurrying swoosh of frost those who’d shown me how to dream
spoke gently – slow down, take it in, this is the eternal –
no moth who worshipped a gas-station bathroom light means me any harm,
I watch them fly away, sunshine is their religion. Maybe we can teach each other how to pray.
Connemara : 1986
County Galway, it’s raining,
and the music doesn’t ask me for my song,
aching slender sonnets
on its mossy alphabets,
roadside, roadless,
the broken heart of the used-up railway line
asking me to me make it a poet. I swear to Jesus I will;
the internal organs of Autumn
speak watery creoles of their missing bones
The Sun Doesn’t Need to Set, It Hardly Moved a Muscle All Day
Out at the sandbanks
water doesn’t learn which way goes east, which ways make men violent;
we’re sailors; dumb and laugh-bleached dirty-garments stretched to our skin’s best instincts of fighting, rich and poor, no money, cash strangled in a bag of cats
superseded by a crippling map;
Tuesday-town owns nowhere, the moon reverses to our oceans
to calm its smoke, not too late for prevent a fire, too late
to drown secrets – look at a diagram the seashells left in the sand –
no, no-one can;
the sand has drowned – the seashells
are a wino’s roller coaster
of broken teeth, tremendous and bitter
A Poem Written on August 1st, 2024
Without thinking, I knelt in the grass, like someone meaning to pray
Louise Glück
In a bedroom, strange, though not foreign,
houndstooth eyes
gamble money-cash
as a witness points at a frightened light.
I think I hated someone this morning.
There’s time to reach a 24 hour confession-box
as hour 25 is swallowed by a snake,
cold sand and diamond tanning itself on a cactus tree’s wild language.
Every strand of cotton hanging to everyone’s nail
comes from somewhere belongs somewhere, comes from somewhere belongs somewhere.
Heligoland’s dark and speaks of a winter’s stolen grace,
everything’s whittled down to a glass firmament on a simple rib.
The sea feels it, existing as glass and light
between its nude after dark dreams,
people descend upon it with their foam-lip animals
and their relics of express trains and their silly stomachs jangling in food.
To experience an unwitting baptism,
the police patrol the ancient sands, this cannot be Egypt, we have fled knowledge,
reason, early vestiges of pornography
or false gods levitating in flame.
Everything is simple and lost to math, china-plate toes an emperor of sand.
Light cascading until nothing, light cascading until nothing, light cascading until nothing.
Mothers are carrying young children in their arms –
looking for salvation at least for them to find.
A child is kneeling next to a woman’s corpse,
sobbing loudly – with tears cursing the war.
The mother is killed – with a torn chest and no pulse,
and he hopes she will see again – she is still alive.
They once walked the streets – holding hands.
And houses are collapsing. Wild fires are blazing.
Cities and villages disappear in a cloud of dust,
and once they were warm family homes.
Now they are collapsing with the bloody snow that has fallen.
People have long been hostile to each other –
their hearts – are mirror ice – from cold.
In their footsteps – death lurks at full speed.
From the war, their souls are drowning in deep sorrow.
Fathers have held their breath in trenches and unfurled flags.
Somewhere a machine gun bark is heard, mowing down the enemy.
War is ominous – it paints emptiness and blindness.
Black headscarves are worn by women – instead of flags.
The picture overflows with sadness – spreading sea,
from which tears roar with a powerful tidal wave.
There is no love between people, and they are brothers of the same
blood. The wind caresses the corpses of soldiers out of pity.
It collects scattered photographs of women and children –
turned into sad fallen leaves of men.
And the dust holds them in dirty red albums.
Graves sprout – like flaming crocuses,
over which a cloud of eternal sorrow and grief remains.
Weighed down on the ground – they are leaden soldiers,
forever marked with tears and flowing blood.
Hearts are orphaned. The world is left breathless.
And let there be no WAR – the black scarf!
History tells enough about it…
I want a united brotherhood to reign everywhere
and with love we sow the seeds of peace!
Let bullets never fly – instead of birds
and may the sky remain crystal clear forever!
PEACE is light – a white canvas and let us draw together
white doves in flight and create joy in the World!
Translated by Yoana Konstantinova
Peace
author: Valentina Yordanova – Accordia (Bulgaria)
The word PEACE – three letters only.
A holy word – of great love.
With a breath of sweetness and freedom –
it is happiness for people around the world.
Comparable to a mother’s, a loving word –
so gentle, warm and light-winged.
Carried in an echo – all over the world,
reaching far and wide.
May PEACE reign on earth forever!
May there be no wars – fear in tears!
Sad melodies – outpoured by weeping,
The earth soaked with pain and blood!
And may all nations be fraternal,
May their friendship – be the sun in tomorrow.
May white doves fly freely in the open air,
And may the expanse of heaven be as pure as dew.
The word PEACE encompasses the whole world –
from the blood of freedom the dawn was born,
to remain in the beautiful morning of the day.
Let us all together preserve peace!
May war be a ship that has sailed forever,
and may PEACE be a joyful tear in the world!
Translated by Yoana Konstantinova
My name is Valentina Yordanova, pseudonym – Accordia. Born I am in Mezdra, Bulgaria. By profession I am children teacher and psychologist. My poetry is sincere and deep expression of love, pain, dreams and personal experiences. Favorite theme of mine is love – tender, beautiful, sometimes painful. My style is figurative and lyrical – I paint with words emotional landscapes – this is my soul. Publications – in Bulgaria and abroad. I know children’s soul and write children’s poems.
