(Describer) On a dark blue background with light blue strobes, a ring of news images rotates around planet Earth.

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(Describer) Title: Teen Kids News. Created by Albert T. Primo.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Lylah, and this is "Teen Kids News." Here's our top story for the week.

(Describer) Curved images with the Teen Kids News logo form a turning cylinder. Title: Top Story.

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No item of clothing can send a message about a person better than a T-shirt. It comes in all colors and sizes, often emblazoned with words and images that hint at our personality or particular beliefs. T-shirts are big business. About two billion of them are sold each year. While that's great news for the fashion industry, as Alexandra tells us, it's terrible news for the environment. That's because of the process used in creating T-shirts. It uses water, a lot of water, and that's the inspiration behind an award-winning video produced by 16-year-old Joy Sun from Irvine, California. -[gentle music] -[typewriter clacking]

(Describer) Text: 2720.

(Joy) This is the number of liters of water required to make one T-shirt. Most of the world's T-shirts are made from cotton, which demands water and causes pollution through its production. Eight thousand synthetic chemicals and 20% of the world's water pollution are used and caused by textile production. Many countries are facing water stress since agricultural innovations, public health and economic development. This is why it is my dream to advocate for responsible consumption and production and to conserve natural resources like water. To save water, we can reduce the demand for more content. And this is my solution.

(Describer) Her shirt.

(Alexandra) Joy's solution earned her first place in the Teens Dream Video Challenge. It's an annual contest open to teens all around the world, and it's sponsored by the Global Co Lab Network. It's an organization that's encouraging teens to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, set by the United Nations. First of all, Joy, congrats on winning the challenge. Thank you so much. How did you get involved with Global Co Lab?

(Joy) I found the Global Co Lab through one of my close friends at last year's summer camp. She read the guidelines to me, and I thought this was going to be a perfect fit for me since I'm really passionate about climate activism. What gave you the idea to focus on T-shirts?

(Joy) I decided to do T-shirts because of my passion for designing T-shirts, and since in 2020 there was the wildfire in my neighborhood and that's when I realized the imminence of climate change. And I realized I could combine these two passions to create a T-shirt that is uniquely my own.

(Alexandra) Of the 17 goals identified by the UN, you focused on number 12, ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Why? Well, when I was reading an article in New York Times, I realized that one T-shirt uses 2,720 liters of water to make. And so I wanted to create a T-shirt that both is fashionable and sustainable in the long term because it can save cotton and water. Tell us about the company you started. So, the company I started is called Change Into Change, which really aligns with our product, the interchangeable T-shirt. Let's go back to your video where you show us what's unique about your T-shirts.

(Joy) I split a T-shirt into the shirt itself and the detachable, hand-drawn patches made with the organic cotton and lyocell, saving up to 91% of water compared to regular cotton. The manufacturing is GRS-certified, and I attach a button frame to the shirt so that each patch can be easily buttoned on and off. Thus, one shirt creates endless combinations of designs, saving tons of cotton and therefore water. Very clever! So, the idea as a person buys fewer shirts, but because of the ability to change the patterns, they have endless ways to make their shirts look different, right? That's right. Our slogan is: "One T-shirt, millions of designs," meaning as long as you have one T-shirt but a lot of these detachable patches, you can create so many different combinations

(Alexandra) Who makes the designs? So, it was mainly me for the first collection, called Saving Our Endangered Plants, but then I realized I wanted to get more and more artists to collab with me on this project. So, I reached out to some of my friends at school and I started a club that can gain more and more artists to draw designs. And so far, we have seven collections. And a lot of these collections actually were drawn by children on the autism spectrum disorder where they use their imagination to draw these new designs and creating new collections for our team. How are the sales going? And what do you do with the money? So, currently we mostly do in-person sales. I think so far in sales, we've sold about 250 interchangeable T-shirts, but this year we're trying to build our online store so we can have more sales. And basically what we do with our money is sometimes we take a portion of them and donate it to climate conservation and other organizations that support climate change. And most of our money is pretty much used to keep on building this company and making it more expandable. Makes sense. Besides winning $1,000, what are other benefits of working with Global Co Lab? Global Co Lab, I realized is this huge network that connects students who are passionate about climate change and just conservation in general from all over the world. I was able to connect with students from Virginia, Colorado, even Turkey. And I realized that it's not just me as an individual who's really a passionate about climate change, but teens all over the world. And Global Co Lab really just embodies the international aspect of the imminence of Climate change And their Teens Dream Video Challenge is open to all teens, 13 to 17 years old. Start by checking out the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and pick one that most interests you. For example, fighting poverty, working towards clean water, advocating for sustainable communities, or speaking out for peace and justice. And they basically just have to choose an SDG and create a two-minute video explaining their solution to solving one of the conflicts initiated in the SDG. You can learn more about the SDGs by going to the UN's website. Thanks for talking with us, Joy, and good luck with your new business. Thank you so much. Joy says her interchangeable T-shirt is more than just a clever fashion statement. She believes it's tailor made to help save resources and reduce pollution. For "Teen Kids News," I'm Alexandra. We've got lots more coming up, so stick around. And during this break, please take a sec to like, follow, and subscribe to our socials so you never miss out on "Teen Kids News." We'll be right back. Whether it comes from parents, teachers, friends, or even just from yourself, many of us live with lots of pressure. Sometimes pressure can be good, especially if it motivates us to try harder, but pressure can also have a negative effect, especially if it makes us so afraid of failing that we don't even want to try. This next story is about someone who credits failure for their success.

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(Describer) White letters on a black flip board spin into position. They read: If At First.

(Describer) You Don't Succeed.

(Describer) A black and white portrait of a well-dressed child.

(reporter) Even while still a child, his father dreamed his son would become an electrical engineer. But the son hated high school with its strict rules and emphasis on memorization. When he applied to technical college in Switzerland, he failed three out of four subjects, specifically, botany, zoology and languages. At least he passed math and physics. He spent the next year studying and then took the entrance exam again. This time he passed, but school was still a challenge. He struggled to get passable grades. After graduation, the best job he could get was as a civil servant working in the patent office. While there, he wrote a paper that changed the world of science. It was on the special theory of relativity. In it is the most famous formula in physics, E equals mc2 His name was Albert Einstein. He's considered one of the most brilliant minds in history. Without his discoveries, we'd know a lot less about space and time and things like black holes, and we may not have inventions like lasers and GPS, although it's probable that eventually someone would've come up with the underlying theories that make those technologies possible. Even Einstein knew how important it is to put setbacks into perspective. The man who would go on to win a Nobel Prize said, "Failure is success in progress." I've gotta remember that! With "If at First You Don't Succeed," I'm Emily for "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Brendan.

Most of us know that eating foods with whole grains is healthier, but they may not be as healthy as you think. Take bread, for instance. If the label says "Made with whole grains," it might be misleading. That's because it's unclear just how much whole grain is in the bread. So, you might be buying bread with only a tiny amount of whole grain. So, rather than a label that says, "Made with whole grains," look for labels that say, "100% whole grain." You can also check the ingredients. You want products where "whole grain" is listed first or second. And don't be misled by color. Just because of bread or pasta is brown, that doesn't mean it's whole grain. When it comes to eating healthy, remember: "No grain, no gain." I'm Brendan for "Teen Kids News."

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We have to take a quick break, but don't go away because "Teen Kids News " will be right back.

(Describer) Text: Coming Up. Remembering WWII.

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(Describer) A spinning logo. Title: Teen Kids News.

(Describer) Sebastian.

The National Mall in Washington DC is the site of memorials honoring some of the most important people and events in our nation's history. One of these memorials is dedicated to the millions of Americans who served in the world's biggest war.

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(Describer) Archival battle footage features explosions, tanks and sprinting soldiers.

World War II began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. But the United States didn't get involved until two years later when Japan's sneak attacked our Navy at Pearl Harbor. It took four long years before the Allies finally won.

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The National World War II Memorial is a tribute to the heroism of that time. It's located right at the heart of the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The World War II Memorial has many parts. At the center, there's a pool with a huge fountain. The architects wanted this to be a joyful symbol of the Allies' Victory. Around the pool are 56 pillars, they represent each of the U.S. states and territories that contributed towards the war effort. The giant arches represent the two main places the war was fought, known as the Atlantic Theater and the Pacific Theater. Then, there's the Freedom Wall of 4,000 stars. Each one of those gold stars represents 100 Americans killed in World War II. As President Ronald Reagan famously said, "Freedom must be fought for." The inspiring World War II Memorial pays much deserved tribute to those who did that fighting. I'm Sebastian for "Teen Kids News."

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Even if you're in a rush, speeding while driving is never a good idea. The National Road Safety Foundation wants to make sure you know that.

(Describer) A crowd scuttles.

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(narrator) We like things fast-- fast food, fast delivery, a fast start.

(Describer) Runners accelerate.

But sometimes "fast" has its problems.

(speaker) This is tasteless,

(speaker 2) It's broken.

(judge) False start, disqualified.

(narrator) None of these problems will change our lives, but driving too fast can. In fact, it can end our lives.

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Don't let speed steer you wrong. The NRSF produces lots of helpful videos. For info on driving safely, be sure to like, follow, and subscribe to the National Road Safety Foundation. We'll be right back with more "Teen Kids News."

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(Describer) Title: Teen Kids News.

(Describer) Tea streams into a bright red bowl with curly white designs. Chinese characters appear. Text: Tea on China.

(Describer) Mist shrouds a colorful walled city. Ava.

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(reporter) Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was a huge palace complex built in the early 15th century. Numbers have always held special significance for the Chinese. Some numbers are lucky, like two, eight and nine. Others, not so much. The unluckiest of all is the number four.

(Describer) A towering city skyline.

That's why, even today, many buildings in China don't have a fourth floor. As you can see, these elevator buttons go "1, 2, 3, 5," just like some buildings in America don't have a 13th floor. Speaking of numbers, here are a few statistics that are pretty interesting. It took one million workers to build the Forbidden City. It was the emperors Imperial Palace for more than 500 years. There are 980 buildings. According to legend, there are exactly 9,999 rooms, but most experts say that's not true. What is true is that this is considered the most valuable piece of real estate on the face of the earth, estimated to be worth $70 billion. It's visited by more than 50,000 visitors a day. That's almost how many people visit Disney World in a year. You enter the giant palace through the massive Meridian Gate. The Forbidden City is comprised of two main sections, the outer court and the inner court. The outer court was the Empire's political nerve center. This is where major governing decisions were made. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest surviving wooden structure in China. Royal ceremonies like coronations and weddings were held here. That's the Dragon Throne, the seat of power for 24 emperors. Located in the center of the Forbidden City is the Inner Court. This is where the emperor and his family lived. The last emperor was known as Puyi. He was just two years old when he was placed on the Dragon Throne in 1908. He wasn't emperor for long. After only four years, he was forced to abdicate.

(Describer) Intricate gold ceiling carvings.

Walking through the Forbidden City, you can't help but be in awe. The colorfully decorated buildings are breathtakingly beautiful.

(Describer) A wall of vivid dragons.

By the way, it's called the Forbidden City because for 500 years, commoners and foreigners were not allowed to enter under penalty of death. Today, fortunately, if you are dying to visit the Forbidden City, you don't have to die to do so. I'm Ava with the "Tea on China."

(Describer) A viewer email: I like Teen Kids News! Armand G., Riverview FL.

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Each week, "Teen Kids News" showcases a comment sent in by a viewer. So, don't be shy. Send us a short note about the show, then watch for your debut on National TV. Please include your first name and your town or city. And if you want, send a photo too. We'll be right back with more "Teen Kids News."

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(Describer) Title: Teen Kids News.

(Describer) Jackson.

Here's something most people, including their parents probably don't know. The word "spaghetti" is actually the plural form. So, if you are referring to just one single piece, you wouldn't call it spaghetti. Rather it's called spaghetto. How have I lived all these years without knowing that?

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Well, that wraps up our show for this week, but we'll be back with more "Teen Kids News" next week. See you then.

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(Describer) Producer: Marilou Yacoub. Director/Writer: Alan J. Weiss. Executive Producer: Alan J. Weiss.

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(Describer) Copyright Alan Weiss Productions, 2024.

(Describer) Contact: info@teenkidsnews.com

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