Articles by Steven Gilchrist

B eginning in 1845, a fungus spread across Ireland devastating numerous potato crops. The Irish referred to the famine as “An Gorta Mor” or “The Great Hunger.” Despite the significant losses of potatoes the British government (which ruled Ireland at the time) exported tons of grain from Ireland in order to pay absentee landlords their rents. While the British government was sending food elsewhere, poor Irish families suffered from starvation. One million people died of starvation and/or disease during the five years of the famine. About 500,000 Irish citizens were evicted from their homes for not paying their rent. As a result of the horrific living conditions between one million to 2 million Irish people immigrated to other parts of the world. Many immigrants landed in North America. Several of the immigrants died at sea because of the lackluster conditions on the ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Many of these immigrants settled in Boston, Massachusetts. During the five years of

F or the past three years I have donated blood with the American Red Cross at least once during each year. The last time that I donated blood was in November 2009. The donation process is relatively simple. Donors must be at least 16 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good overall health. Donating blood with the Red Cross is a way to give back to one’s community. Just one blood donation can save up to three people’s lives. The O-negative blood type is the universal donor, which means this blood type can be given to anyone. Only 7% of the U.S. population has type O-negative blood. Donating blood with the Red Cross is done only on a volunteer basis and donors are not paid. To sign up you can call the American Red Cross or schedule an appointment at http://www.redcrossblood.org/ . In 1940 the American Red Cross blood program was established under the direction of Dr. Charles Drew. Since its creation seventy years ago, the ARC blood program has grown and currently it stores