Assembly reader Andrea Cañizalez shares what articles she’s enjoyed reading recently and why you should read them too.

My name is Andrea Cañizalez, I’m Panamanian and I am 17 years old. In my spare time I love drawing portraits, painting landscapes, writing in my diary, reading books and doing art journals. I want to study biochemistry in university and I hope I can one day create a nonprofit organization to help children in need. I hope you enjoy what I am reading now.

“Cost of a single Bitcoin exceeds $50,000 for the first time”

By Matt Ott, 16 February 2021, AP News

Nowadays, Bitcoin is the subject of great debates. People aren’t sure whether this currency really exists, or if its value is going to increase or disappear in the years ahead. The truth is that Bitcoin’s value has increased little by little over time, making it an exclusive product and getting attention from all around the world. This article reports how the electric car company Tesla bought more than $1.5 billion in Bitcoin as part of a new investment strategy. Maybe this is the beginning of a great revolution in the economic world.

“As Lunar New Year approaches, many Asians worry about future journeys”

By Qin Xie, 11 February 2021, National Geographic

I am a Black girl and I have been a victim of racism many times, so I feel shocked that an entire group of people is afraid to travel the world and live freely because of discrimination. This article tells how racism against Asians has increased since COVID-19 began to spread all around the world and how this discrimination is also affecting tourism. We all need to do our part to stop this; I truly believe humans should hold each other even more in this rough time when absolutely everyone has been affected by COVID-19.

“'The clouds cleared': what terminal lucidity teaches us about life, death and dementia”

By Alex Godfrey, 23 February 2021, The Guardian

I found this article really interesting because I had not heard before of the possibility that a patient with dementia can go back to lucidity for a few days or hours. In my opinion, it's great that some scientists are getting involved in the investigation of this phenomenon so people who have family members who suffer from dementia, a very common condition that affects older people, can be aware and prepared if it happens to their loved one.

“In Pictures: Senegalese jockey dreams of international glory”

Photographs by Zohra Bensemra, 22 February 2021, Al Jazeera

This photo series motivates me so much since Fallou Diop is 17 years old, the same age as me. Fallou is a hardworking teenager giving his all to achieve his goal of becoming the best jockey in Senegal. I think his story gives a message of bravery because at a very young age he decided to focus on his dream, and his efforts are already yielding huge victories. I also think Diop is an example of humbleness because he is economically helping his family with the money he earns from his races.

“Coca-Cola company trials first paper bottle”

12 February 2021, BBC

Climate change is a reality that big companies can’t ignore anymore. One great step that Coca-Cola, along with other breweries and soft drink companies, are taking to tackle plastic pollution is creating bottles made of paper. This ecological innovation gives me so much hope that in the near future the whole world can become more sustainable and conscious about the climate crisis.

“Heavy clashes rage in central Yemen; dozens killed”

By Ahmed Al-Haj and Samy Magdy, 14 February 2021, ABC News

I think it is really important to be aware of what is happening right now in Yemen because even if the situation doesn’t affect us personally, thousands of innocent Yemenis are going through a hard time and we should be fighting hard for their well-being. This article explains how Yemen's war, which started seven years ago, has created the world's worst humanitarian disaster. I suggest people from other countries like me educate themselves and their friends about this issue and how we can help.