|
Did you know that the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) does not allow girls and boys to play on the same team? It is important that people know that both boys and girls can play soccer and other sports. However, it is not common for women and men to play on the same team because of physical differences. So, they play separately to ensure that it is fair for everyone. But, different sports do allow mixed gender teams. By Elsa  Photo by Lars Bo Nielsen on Unsplash The Football Association (FA) in England lets girls and boys under 18 play together. There are benefits to mixed gender teams like boys and girls will give each other the possibility to play very well by sharing their talents and skills. If there are mixed gender teams, it will give the audience the message that girls and boys can play equally well rather than the idea that only boys can play well. It's not just about physical strength. Sports such as ice skating, tennis, and fencing already have mixed teams. In the Paris Olympics 2024 mixed teams took part in archery, athletics, Judo, shooting, swimming, and triathlon events.  https://flic.kr/p/ekF2Rh Mixed gender sports teams help girls and boys play fairly with each other by making sure the teams have the same number of girls and boys. It would be interesting to see boys and girls working together. Have you ever noticed in schools at recess time the boys are always playing soccer but the girls are doing something else? Sometimes the boys don’t want the girls to play because they think they won’t be as good.  Photo by Alliance Football Club on Unsplash How would you promote mixed teams?
Girls can also play soccer but need the chance to practice. They can be as good at soccer as boys and everyone should stay kind and inclusive. Even if the professional teams are not doing yet, we can make a start.
2 Comments
“Diante do sofrimento e dos maus-tratos que a prática do hipismo provoca nos cavalos, não restam dúvidas de que esta atividade deveria ser proibida e de que medidas devem ser tomadas para garantir o bem-estar dos animais a longo prazo..." Por Danae e Inês  Photo by Gene Devine on Unsplash O hipismo, prática desportiva que envolve o adestramento de cavalos, bem como a habilidade de saltar e transpor obstáculos, ou simplesmente a ‘arte’ de montar a cavalo, pode ser categorizado como nada menos do que abuso de animais e tortura. Apesar de ser representada como sinónimo de luxo, calma, libertação humana e proximidade do homem com a natureza e os animais, a prática do Hipismo acaba por causar grande sofrimento ao animal, embora, talvez, não seja intencional. Um dos aspetos mais destacados e controversos dos desportos equestres está diretamente associado à saúde geral do animal. Apesar de serem animais grandes e robustos, o que nos leva a assumir que não sofrem ao serem montados, os cavalos são animais extremamente sensíveis e acabam por ter o seu estado físico afetado quando montados. Portanto, segundo o sítio de internet WIX “Após 12-15 minutos de montaria, a microcirculação da musculatura das costas do cavalo é comprometida; após 20 minutos, a região fica dormente e, a partir de 25 minutos, ocorrem isquemias e pequenas destruições de tecido muscular, resultando em dor.” Esta citação ilustra de forma clara e alarmante o sofrimento do cavalo, mesmo em períodos relativamente curtos de montaria. Tendo em consideração o exposto acima, com a continuação do ato de montar a cavalo por períodos longos, o animal acaba por desenvolver desconforto extremo, dor crónica e lesões permanentes. Não obstante, é essencial repensarmos as práticas envolvidas nos desportos equestres, que priorizam o entretenimento humano em detrimento do bem-estar animal.  Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash Embora alguns indivíduos possam argumentar que os cavalos gostam realmente de ser montados ou usados em seus respectivos desportos, vários estudos provam que a maioria dos cavalos domesticados levam vidas muito menos favorecidas em termos dos seus estados físico e psicológico, em comparação com outros cavalos que vivem na natureza, uma vez que, o próprio acto de cavalgar causa-lhes severo estresse psicológico. Na verdade, os únicos casos que fogem a esta regra permanecem apenas nos indivíduos extremamente ricos que dão aos seus cavalos os cuidados mais caros. Adicionalmente, em relação ao estado psicológico do animal, cabe referir que equipamentos como chicotes ou esporas são frequentemente utilizados para forçar a cooperação do animal contra a sua vontade ou limitações físicas, o que torna claro que o hipismo só serve para satisfazer os interesses humanos, frequentemente em detrimento do bem-estar físico e mental do cavalo. Assim, levantando questionamentos sobre a prática em si do hipismo, considerando as suas implicações éticas. Focando novamente no estado psicológico do cavalo, no processo de ser montado, devemos ser capazes de nos colocarmos na perspectiva do animal, pois um cavalo com espírito selvagem, majestoso e o mais importante, livre é forçado a ser confinado, onde a sua vontade é dominada pelos desígnios de uma pessoa sobre a do animal.  Photo by Eskil Helgesen on Unsplash Neste contexto de exploração animal, o cavalo é submetido a um nível indescritível de “estresse”, levando-nos a refletir na seguinte citação retirada do 'Equestrian Movement': “Cada vez que montamos, nosso cavalo está sendo exposto ao estresse físico do exercício, ao estresse mental de aprender, desempenhar e oferecer a resposta correta, e ao estresse emocional de "ser um bom cavalo" ou mostrar os comportamentos corretos que lhe proporcionam o que deseja, agradam ao cavaleiro e não resultam em dor ou sofrimento.
Sendo assim, podemos ver claramente como a pressão imposta ao cavalo não é apenas física, mas também mental e emocional, demonstrando o quanto montar o animal pode sobrecarregar a sua saúde mental. Ao ser forçado a seguir comandos humanos, o cavalo é privado de suas necessidades naturais, como interações com outros cavalos e a liberdade de movimento. Adicionalmente, ao invés de agir de acordo com seus próprios impulsos e desejos, o cavalo é moldado para responder de uma maneira que agrada simplesmente ao seu cavaleiro, muitas vezes às custas do seu bem-estar. Considerando o sofrimento e os maus-tratos provocados pelo hipismo, não restam dúvidas de que esta atividade deveria ser proibida. Medidas devem ser tomadas para garantir que os cavalos sejam libertos das torturas impostas pelos humanos ao longo da história. Assim, asseguramos que nunca mais justificamos o sofrimento de um animal sob a falsa premissa de um desporto. “...a socialização é muito mais do que um simples ato de interação social, é um processo fundamental para o desenvolvimento humano em todas as suas vertentes. Ao facilitar a integração em diferentes contextos, estimular a saúde mental e reforçar a autoestima, a socialização tem um impacto positivo na qualidade de vida.” Por Izefa  Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash Este artigo visa explorar o conceito de socialização e refletir sobre a sua importância no desenvolvimento psicológico, social e emocional do ser humano. Para tal, serão abordados os seguintes aspetos-chave:
Embora existam várias interpretações sobre a socialização e o seu impacto no quotidiano, a maioria das perspetivas convergem para a ideia de que este processo é essencial para a saúde individual e coletiva, contribuindo também para a ampliação da nossa perceção da realidade. Uma das teses mais aceites defende que a socialização começa logo após o nascimento, dado que as interações precoces são cruciais para o desenvolvimento físico, mental e emocional. Ao longo da infância, a socialização facilita a aquisição de competências sociais, a capacidade de trabalhar em equipa e a resolução construtiva de problemas, promovendo assim a confiança em nós próprios e nos outros.  Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash Há quem argumente que a socialização pode ter efeitos negativos, como a ansiedade social, os conflitos interpessoais, a pressão de grupo, o desgaste emocional, a distração em relação aos objetivos pessoais e até mesmo riscos para a saúde. Contudo, contrapunho esta visão ao afirmar que a socialização é uma necessidade humana fundamental. Para além de criar laços de amizade e promover o bem-estar emocional, a socialização é vital para o equilíbrio mental e para o fortalecimento da identidade individual. Ao interagir com pessoas de diferentes perfis, conseguimos compreender melhor as diversidades humanas, cultivando a empatia e a resiliência. Estudos demonstram que a falta de socialização pode afetar negativamente o funcionamento cerebral, sobretudo nos primeiros dez anos de vida, uma vez que a interação social é essencial para o desenvolvimento de processos cognitivos superiores, como a linguagem. A socialização é, portanto, crucial não só na infância, mas também na vida adulta e na terceira idade, ajudando a preservar a saúde mental e a prevenir o declínio cognitivo associado ao isolamento.  Photo by Priscilla Du Preez □□ on Unsplash Em suma, a socialização é muito mais do que um simples ato de interação social, é um processo fundamental para o desenvolvimento humano em todas as suas vertentes. Ao facilitar a integração em diferentes contextos, estimular a saúde mental e reforçar a autoestima, a socialização tem um impacto positivo na qualidade de vida.
Por isso, defendo que investir no desenvolvimento das nossas habilidades sociais é essencial para promover uma convivência saudável e enriquecedora. Recomendo, por isso, que todos busquem aprofundar as suas experiências de socialização. Caso ainda não tenha explorado completamente os seus benefícios, convido-o a viver essa experiência e a descobrir por si próprio as inúmeras vantagens que a socialização pode proporcionar. You’ve probably come across someone (or yourself) saying something like “I’m just a little “autistic”, “I’m so OCD”, or something along those lines as a joke despite being neurotypical. It seems harmless at first, but it can actually be detrimental to neurodiversity as a whole. By Beth  Here are some ways that saying these kinds of things can be harmful. 1. Self-Diagnosis Self-diagnosing is when someone diagnoses themselves with something like a neurodevelopmental disorder without a professional. Sometimes, those who self-diagnose are actually correct. But often they are completely wrong. For instance, ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is commonly self-diagnosed because people think it’s just getting distracted easily or not wanting to pay attention to anything. Therefore some people say “I have ADHD because I don’t like paying attention in math class.” 2. Stereotyping Saying things like this stereotypes neurodevelopmental disorders and is potentially insulting to people who struggle with them. For example, the stereotype that OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is just a “neat freak disorder” and individuals with it are very perfectionistic. This can also lead to an incorrect self-diagnosis. Same with the misconception that ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is only found in boys, all people with it have obsessive interests (known as “hyperfixations”), and people with ASD will be the next Einstein.  https://flic.kr/p/fmR8ZW 3. Ableism
Ableism is the discrimination against individuals with disabilities; both mental and physical. Sometimes, ableism is unintentional. People who say “Everyone’s a little autistic” as a joke may not realise this is offensive to autistic people because individuals with autism have very different struggles than allistic (non-autistic) individuals. In short, sayings like the ones stated above are harmful and offensive. So next time you hear someone say this, politely correct them! If you are genuinely questioning having a disability or disorder, do research and consult a professional. By Matilda The margay is a small wild cat that is awesome, cute, and talented. Some people describe margays like this: ocelots are mini jaguars and margays are mini ocelots. Margays are similar to ocelots, but margay’s eyes are bigger than an ocelot's. They look like “Puss and Boots” with adorable eyes and their small size.  https://flic.kr/p/W73uie The margay's eyes are built for night vision because they are nocturnal. That means that they stay awake in the dark and sleep when it is day time. They weigh up to 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds. Adaptations Margays are very interesting animals and they have lots of adaptations to help survive in their environment. Margays are very important because their ankles can move 180°. It helps because they can climb down and up trees better. They have long tails that help them balance on trees and hunt food. Margays can plan their next move very fast. That's what makes them a very fast thinker. They are smart and quick like monkeys. Unlike other predators that chase their prey, they sometimes wait until the animals come to them and then they attack and eat.  https://flic.kr/p/9Cp8fQ The margay is a trickster because it mimics the sounds of baby animals and the adult animals go and check what is happening because they get curious. The margay then pounces and eats them. The Margay is very sneaky and they're nocturnal, so they can see in the dark and they sleep during the day in the trees.
Its fur has a pattern that is brown, yellow, and tan. It looks like the jungle floor when the sun is shining on it. The margay has thick fur and nobody knows why It has thick fur. In Brazil, they call it “Gato Peludo,” and it means extra furry cat. The margay is an intelligent creature that is wonderful and can do things that other animals can’t do. For example, it can climb head first down trees and it can move its ankles 180°. They have interesting adaptations that help them survive in the treetops. How do doctors break bad news to patients without completely crushing their mental and physical well-being? By Connie  Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash People always go to the doctor with stomach aches, headaches, and the occasional cold, and I'm sure you have too, maybe even for something worse. But have you ever thought about what happens to those who don't just come in and leave with a simple prescription or advice from the doctor, but are then diagnosed with cancer, a heart problem, or any sort of serious diagnosis? Doctors not only have to carry the lives of people in their hands, but they have to carry their mental well-being as well, and know how to tell patients bad news in the best way possible to minimize stress and trauma. This human power of knowing what to say and how to say it is called soft skills. One definition of soft skills is the “personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people,” Sounds simple, but why is this more difficult for doctors? Well for instance, doctors need to earn the trust of strangers within days in order to successfully treat them and advise them. Without this trust, doctors can’t do their job and help people. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, evidence suggests that a doctor’s communication skills and the patient's capacity to go through with medical advice have a strong and profound relationship. These significant communication skills not only save emotional lives, but physical ones too.  Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash A 2021 editorial in the Journal of Patient Safety found that communication errors between doctors and patients were a crucial reason in 70% of unfortunate events in healthcare settings because of the lack of understanding about the diagnosis, which led to a wrong or unnecessary treatment plan that was miscommunicated to the patient. An article from The Guardian about Australian healthcare mentioned that “1000 patients die each year due to failure by surgeons,” where the errors made by surgeons were not made on the operating table, but rather when the doctors were communicating to the patients themselves (Gearing). In other words, the doctors offered extremely high-risk surgeries and filled the patients with hope while forgetting to be clear about the risks only to “pursue futile and unnecessary surgeries (Gearing).” The lives of patients are in the doctor’s hands, and as you can see, soft skills are essential in a doctor’s everyday life. But some doctors struggle to perform this crucial skill, while others make it seem like a big piece of cake. How? Margaret Rosenzweig, a professor at the Pittsburgh School of Nursing stated that the most effective tool to master these soft skills is the SPIKES technique, which stands for Setting up, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions with Empathy, and Summary or Strategy (Rosenzweig). This tool was designed by Walter Baile at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, along with his colleagues in Houston, Texas. In his article “Giving Bad News,” he mentioned how "in the practice of oncology, a number of clinical situations require bad news to be given to patients and families…SPIKES is best viewed as a flexible guideline to help physicians address individual patient and family needs in a patient-centered manner.” This is a very effective guide for doctors and medical students that typically lack good soft skills, and are wondering what comes into play when having difficult conversations. Elements such as setting up the conversation beforehand, and empathy are especially useful to prepare and to perform before/during these conversations.  Photo by christopher lemercier on Unsplash Dr. Ines de Augusto Claudino, a pediatrician for 15 years in Mozambique, Portugal, and Spain spoke to me about the importance of soft skills and suggested a few ways she goes about telling children and their families bad news. In an interview, she stated, “I think as doctors, we should know the person we have in front of us and not set up a hierarchical setting between us doctors and the patients.” She continued explaining that communication with the patient becomes much easier when there is trust between the two parties, especially with parents, because it's normal to be overprotective with a treatment. By knowing the patients, this “... extremely difficult and the least favorite part of my job” is facilitated for the doctors, the parents, and the patients, especially when things are said “...in a way where the family can understand and us doctors aren't speaking in medical jargon.” Dr. Ines also mentioned that booking follow-up appointments after breaking the news to families gives them time to process the news and understand better what to do next. She shared that “it is scientifically proven that when someone is told bad news, they tend only to hear the first part, and so they don't pay attention to the rest of the news. By giving them a few days to process, it allows them to get ready and focus on the next steps I give them.” Dr. Catarina, a gynecologist I interviewed in Portugal, mentioned that she briefly learned about soft skills at university, specifically about the importance of empathy and the doctor-patient relationship. She stated that it's vital to “...establish the doctor-patient relationship where there is respect, trust, and empathy because for the patient to trust us and our work, we must have empathy with the patient. I think that's what's most important,” which resonated since empathy is at the heart of soft skills. In a study done at Harvard University, it was found that “...trust has three core drivers: authenticity, logic, and empathy,” where it is believed that if a person feels like you care about them, then they'll trust you more, which essentially is the core of authentic communication.  Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash After an exclusive interview with breast cancer survivor, Juca Leál, we found that in the moment of her diagnosis, Leál “...felt like a block of ice…I was frozen,” and that even though she had asked for her doctor to be direct, it was still very hard to hear the news. She stated that, “...even though I had asked him to be direct, it wasn’t the news that I wanted to hear,” which is how every patient feels when bad news is broken to them. However, the way her doctor handled the situation helped her calmly navigate through this difficult time in the best way possible. All of these simple, but significant elements such as empathy, trust, remembering the doctor-patient relationship, booking follow-up appointments, and not speaking in medical jargon are all combined in the concept of soft skills. But, you’re probably asking yourselves if I'm not a doctor, how would this help me? Research conducted by the Carnegie Foundation, Harvard University and Stanford Research Center found that “85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills,” while people with more technical skills and knowledge (hard skills) only had a 15% rate of job success. Although doctors in particular need strong soft skills, they are crucial in any line of work since working with others is the norm for almost everyone. Why might high-calibre soft skills be especially important for doctors today in 2025, however? AI and robotics are slowly taking over all sorts of jobs around the world, so it's normal as a doctor to be wondering if robots will impact on their jobs one day because they’re smarter, they can access medical records faster, they can log symptoms faster, they can suggest treatments faster, and they can work for much longer periods of time than any human could. Built upon algorithms, they will not tire and can bring consistent precision to tasks.  Photo by Luis Melendez on Unsplash What are these technologies missing, though? Well, as much as AI may become a part of operating rooms and surgeries, its algorithms surely can never replace the hearts of human beings. Bertalan Mesko, a physician and professor at various medical universities such as Harvard and Stanford, explained in his article “5 Reasons Why Artificial Intelligence Won’t Replace Physicians,” that empathy cannot be replaced. He stated that “...at the core of compassion, there is the process of building trust: listening to the other person…expressing the feeling of understanding and responding in a manner that the other person knows they were understood,” which is exactly why doctors need to be with patients during these life altering moments.
In present day medicine, thousands of surgeries with surgical robots are carried out every day; however, they are all controlled by humans, and not by themselves, because the surgical and medical knowledge that human doctors possess is still extremely valuable. Perhaps more significantly, human doctors will always need to be with patients in human heart to heart moments, because at the end of the day, we will always need to fall back on a shoulder during hard times and our doctors will always be there in ways a robot could never replace. A world with AI should make us reflect on what we do well, and what technology might do better. It should inspire us to celebrate our uniquely human qualities that so many people work so hard to develop. Doctors as much as anyone need these skills and it might be time to start giving them a as much credit and praise for these soft skills as we do for their medical knowledge and surgical precision.
By Francisca
This semester the 7th graders are inquiring about colonization and decolonization in an I&S unit on Systems of Exchange, going all the way back to The Silk Road and all the way forward into our modern day systems like The Stock Exchange. In our exploration of European colonization, we tried to understand why countries decided to colonize different lands, considering things through the colonizer's eyes and perspectives. 
Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash
One of the activities was to reimagine modern day flags of former colonized countries. How would the colonizers have designed their flags then? How did they see these lands? In groups, we researched colonial motivations and thought about elements like national colours and emblems (for prestige and to spread their empires), as well as the natural resources that were usually part of the colonial story.
Here are our flag designs. We hope you enjoy them and that they provoke some thought on how our world has been shaped over the centuries. By Mr Antonio No sétimo ano, a segunda unidade curricular previa a abordagem do conto realista e popular, desafiando os alunos a desenvolverem a sua capacidade organizativa (Critério B) através da sistematização de conteúdos teóricos sobre o conto. Esta abordagem proporcionou, posteriormente, a leitura e análise (Critérios A e C) de narrativas curtas da literatura clássica portuguesa, como A Aia, de Eça de Queirós, e, numa fase seguinte, a análise de uma narrativa mais complexa, nomeadamente O Principezinho, de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.  https://flic.kr/p/74vYc3 Durante esta atividade, os alunos elaboraram análises escritas baseadas numa instrução indutiva, fundamentada numa abordagem baseada no texto. Assim, em vez de se disponibilizarem diversos modelos textuais de referência, foi atribuído um modelo de estruturação textual que permitiu aos alunos produzirem gradualmente os seus textos, seguindo a organização canónica: introdução, desenvolvimento e conclusão. Esta estruturação foi aplicada conforme se descreve a seguir:  Ademais, importa destacar a relevância de um ensino estrutural, estruturado e estruturante da escrita, que permite aos alunos percorrerem o processo de redação textual com menos barreiras e que considera a necessidade premente de os professores promoverem uma facilitação processual, implicando, não só a construção e negociação de significado, mas também uma aprendizagem e redação gradual, reduzindo a sobrecarga cognitiva ao longo desse processo. Assim, deste processo, foi possível ter a sugestão de textos muito interessantes por parte de alguns alunos do sétimo ano, conforme se pode verificar, ao clicar nas hiperligações que se seguem.
Cataleya - Análise de “O Principezinho” de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.pdf Francisca - Análise de “O Principezinho”.pdf Gabriela- Análise de “O Principezinho” de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.pdf Gonçalo - ANÁLISE DE O PRINCIPEZINHO”.pdf Leo - Análise do livro O Principezinho.pdf Maria - Análise do livro “O Principezinho” de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.pdf By Matilda Do you like gymnastics? If you do, read on to meet three famous and fantastic gymnasts: Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and Mary Lou Retton.  Ocoudis, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Simone Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio in the USA on March 14, 1997. She started gymnastics when she was 6 years old and has won 7 Olympic medals, 4 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. She has also won 30 World Championship Medals: twenty-three golds, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. Simone is a very talented gymnast who worked hard and followed what she wanted to do. What makes her unique is how she realized she needed a break during the Tokyo Olympics and then came back stronger. Gabby Douglas was the first black gymnast to win an Olympic All Around title in 2012. She was born on December 31, 1995 in Newport News, Virginia. Gabby learned how to do a cartwheel in a week after being shown by her big sister. She won 3 Olympic gold medals and 2 World Championship medals, 1 gold and 1 silver. People were proud of her because she was very good at being an inspirational gymnast.  Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 3.0 BR, via Wikimedia Commons Mary Lou Retton was born in Fairmount, West Virginia on January 24, 1968. She was included in the International Gymnastics Hall of fame in 1997. In her career, Mary Lou won 1 gold, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals in the 1984 Olympics. When she retired she had a park and a street named after her. She also worked in television and advertising. Mary Lou Retton was a hard worker and she felt grateful that she was a gymnast.  Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons These three famous gymnasts helped make gymnastics a more popular sport and inspired other young gymnasts to work hard for success.
By Molly Are you one of the 58% of student athletes at the American International School of Mozambique (AISM) that struggles with balancing academics, athletics and a good sleep schedule? If you are, then don’t worry, there are many others in the same boat as you who are still able to get above the average grades in school and perform well in athletics, while not meeting the suggested hours of sleep during a school week. But, there’s a hack to having everything and keeping balance in the life of a student athlete and it all comes down to one thing: the weekend.  Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash The Key to Success: Catching Some Z’s Countless student athletes struggle with maintaining a steady sleep schedule, as well as keeping up high levels of performance in their athletics and academics. The recommended amount of sleep per night on a school week for teenagers between the ages of 13-18 should be 8-10 hours. According to The Mayo Clinic “When you sleep, your brain processes all the information you've taken in during the day. It filters out and deletes some information, while storing other information in memory. That includes any new skills or concepts you may have learned that day from school or sports.” This is an important process as it allows us to reset our brains. “Sleep provides your body with the time and energy to repair the wear and tear that was caused after hours of sports training. Sleep will ultimately result in better understanding and memorization of concepts in class, and better performance in sport.” This is crucial for all student athletes, as it will allow them to regain their mental and physical strength that puts them in the best position to conquer the upcoming day. But How Do These Studies Compare to Our Very Own AISM Student Athletes? The National Library of Health and the American Academy of Sleep Science have conducted countless studies and experiments to do with the effects of sleep on the performance of athletes. One particular experiment done by the American Academy of Sleep Science was a study conducted, where high school and college athletes extended their sleep time to 10 hours per day for six to seven weeks to find out what effect it would have on their performance in the pool. “Their athletic performance was assessed after each regularly scheduled swim practice and the results found that the athletes swam a 15-meter sprint 0.51 seconds faster, reacted 0.15 seconds quicker off the blocks, improved turn time by 0.10 seconds and increased kick strokes by 5.0 kicks.”(Study). This study supported their claim that sleep really does improve reaction time when it comes to athletic performance.  Running on an Empty Tank: The Remarkable Performance of Sleep-Deprived Student Athletes The Sleep Foundation supports this claim, by stating that “Student athletes who regularly sleep less than eight hours a night are 1.7 times more likely to sustain an injury. Sleep-deprived athletes subjectively tire faster and find it more of an effort to complete tasks. Lack of sleep can also result in a decrease of focus and memory when it comes to academics and performance in class.” However, an additional study was conducted by the National Library of Medicine that stated that “Lack of sleep is common in long work hours, sustained military operations and in athletes competing in events after traveling or competing for several hours, and yet these people are able to perform just as well as they could have with their normal amounts of sleep.” This claim supports the recent research conducted at AISM about the effects of sleep on academic and athletic performance. The research found that most student athletes are only getting an average of 6.7 hours of sleep a night on school days and are training for their respective competitive sports for an average of 1.5-2.5 hours a day for between 4-6 times a week. These same students were able to achieve the average grade of a 6 on their report card; a 6 is regarded as an above average grade for most students. Despite this, more than half the student athletes who filled out my form stated that they do struggle with balancing academics and athletics on top of keeping up with a good sleep schedule. One survey respondent in particular stated that “yes, I'm always super tired after training so it's hard to be motivated to do my homework on time which leads to me going to sleep later.” Given that, how do they go about maintaining their performance in both athletics and academics, while getting almost 2 hours less than the recommended hours of sleep?  Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash The Ultimate Student Athlete Cocktail: A Splash of Weekend Maximization and a Dose of an Edge That Pushes Student Athletes Beyond Their Peers Further analysis into the data collected from the survey, revealed that student athletes are able to keep up with the demands of their respective sports and schoolwork owing to two main reasons. Firstly, student athletes maximize their time on the weekend catching up on sleep, sleeping for an average of 2 hours more than they usually would, as well as catching up on their studies and homework. Furthermore, the survey found that among student athletes between the ages of 13-18: 31.25% prioritize their sleep, 50% prioritize their work, and only 18.75% prioritize their social life during the weekend. This means that student athletes will voluntarily choose to prioritize their sleep and work over their social life, which leads me to the second factor involved with keeping the student athletes performing at their best. A certain amount of competition, drive and grit is built into an athlete when participating in a competitive sport. According to the data, these attributes fuel student athletes to perform at their best and let competition drive them to be the best they can be in and outside of their respective sports, thus performing better than their non-student athlete colleagues.  Photo by Victoire Joncheray on Unsplash While numerous studies confirm that increased sleep positively impacts academic and athletic performance, as well as being known as the time that our bodies repair themselves and rebuild our muscles so that we can perform and function better, student athletes within the AISM community have been able to challenge this narrative. Despite getting less sleep than the recommended amount during a school week, these students consistently maintain higher grades than their non-student athlete peers while committing to numerous hour-long training sessions. By slightly sacrificing their social life, student athletes are able to prioritize and maximize their sleep, work and training over the weekends to prepare themselves for the reduced sleep of the upcoming school week.
Additionally, the competitive environment in which they thrive helps them develop resilience, drive, and problem-solving skills, which they also apply to their academics. A combination of these factors allows student-athletes from AISM to thrive in and balance their busy lives, juggling the demands of their academic and athletic growth. We should truly commemorate these student athletes for each and every practice they show up to and sacrifice they must make in their lives. Our applause should celebrate not only their performance on the day, but also their unwavering dedication—the countless hours of hard work, pushing through exhaustion with bleary eyes, tired limbs, and weary minds. Works Cited: Mah, Cheri D., et al. “The Effects of Sleep Extension on the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players.” Sleep, vol. 34, no. 7, July 2011, pp. 943–950, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3119836/, https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.1132. McCann, Kathleen. “Ongoing Study Continues to Show That Extra Sleep Improves Athletic Performance.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers, 4 June 2008, aasm.org/ongoing-study-continues-to-show-that-extra-sleep-improves-athletic-performance/. Pacheco, Danielle, and Heather Wright. “How Much Sleep Do Student Athletes Need?” Sleep Foundation, 5 Feb. 2021, www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep/student-athletes-sleep-time. Rantala, Amy. “Sleep and Athletic Performance.” Mayo Clinic Health System, 18 Dec. 2023, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/sleep-and-athletic-performance. Schwartz, Jennifer, and Richard D. Simon. “Sleep Extension Improves Serving Accuracy: A Study with College Varsity Tennis Players.” Physiology & Behavior, vol. 151, Nov. 2015, pp. 541–544, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26325012/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.08.035. Ungaro, Corey T., and Peter John D. De Chavez. “Sleep Habits of High School Student-Athletes and Non-Athletes during a Semester.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 18, no. 9, 10 June 2022, https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.10076. Wang, Haonan, et al. “Associations of Training and Academic Stress with Sleep in Dual-Career Collegiate Badminton Athletes: A Preliminary Study.” Nature and Science of Sleep, vol. Volume 16, 1 Jan. 2024, pp. 43–52, https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s432475. By Cora “Hi, How are you?” “I’m good, thank you.” This is the default response for most of us – just another lie, another smile, another minute where we have to sometimes hide our true emotions. People have always told me to stay positive, especially in the last two years when I have been in pain from a medical thing. Social norms and expectations have made me feel like I always have to be positive and smile through the pain. I have seen first-hand how people feel like they have to be happy. “The conventional view of emotions as good or bad, or positive or negative, is rigid, and rigidity in the face of complexity is toxic,” says Susan David, a professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. What if, by trying so hard to reach for happiness, we become lost and actually unhappier?  Photo by Catalin Pop on Unsplash We often live for society’s perception of us, generally, instead of our own. Many of us sometimes feel crushed under the weight of the tyranny of happiness. We think we must fit the ideal. We have to understand that happiness is not all we should live for; we should let ourselves feel other absolutely human emotions, and feel wanted even when we are not feeling happy. We must let go of the expectation to always be happy and instead focus on what is really important to us and find meaning in life. A short school survey on our community found out a little more about what the people around me feel and their personal views on happiness. From this survey, I found that 25 out of the 32 respondents said that they did not feel completely happy with life. In response to the question “how happy are you from one to five,” most people fit into the range of three to four. One of the respondents wrote, “I feel like feeling low tends to be seen as something you should do by yourself, so people tend to withdraw when they feel like that.” Another participant shared, “I think we have fallen into this idea that if we are not happy, it is not okay. Why can't I just be in a bad mood, or irritated, or anything other than happy? It is actually overwhelming that I have to pretend to be happy all the time because it is expected of me.” These two replies seem to represent how common it is to feel like we have to hide some of the other emotions we feel if they do not bathe us in the light of happiness and joy.  How the Happiness Obsession Affects Our Mental Health Constantly chasing the idea of happiness can have detrimental effects on our mental health. Many people think that to have good mental health, you have to always be positive and happy, but in reality, that is impossible and not what it really means. One wider definition of good mental health is that you are able to cope with the stresses and twists and turns of life. The effects of always feeling like we have to feel happy are numerous, but some of the results can be anxiety, stress, self-criticism, and inadequacy. People see emotions most commonly as good and bad, and from a young age we are all taught the “right emotions,” the ones we should feel, so this leaves billions of people around the world feeling like they have to hide some of their true emotions, according to Susan David, a professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. It is interesting to see that the countries that rate the happiest on the World Happiness Report are also ranked among the top countries for suicide rates. This is because when people see other people having a good time or looking happy and they are struggling with anxiety, depression, any mental issue, or just feeling down, seeing people happy can intensify their emotions and can make them feel even more isolated and alone. This can make people feel like the only thing they can do is self-harm as a means of escape. Suicide rates have reached a 30-year high in America, and the World Happiness Report states that at any one second, over 220 million children and 1 billion adults suffer from anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders. Many people are afraid to ask for help and express themselves. The Happiness Paradox describes how pursuing happiness causes a decrease in well-being because it leads to fixating on a certain emotional state. Craving future happiness and suppressing emotions can also diminish our ability to recognize the good things going on in our lives now.  Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash How Social Media Affects Our Happiness Have you ever found yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media and you feeling a little bit down and envious? Why are you not on a vacation in Greece, at the perfect birthday party on a yacht, or not having the picture-perfect life you seem to see everyone else having? As a species, we inherently compare ourselves to other people and their experiences. We do this to determine our own self-worth and quality; scientists call this The Social Comparison Theory. We commonly compare others to ourselves, and we generally make unfavorable comparisons, which can make us feel worse about ourselves and our worth. Social media typically only shares the best parts of people’s lives; it presents a one-sided, carefully crafted version of reality and makes it look like facts. Social media can cause disrupted sleep, lower overall life satisfaction, and a lack of self-esteem. It can also cause loneliness and disinformation about what others are going through and their emotions, according to The International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. These platforms, which always generate new content that is personalized to keep a person glued to them, can trigger a neurocognitive reward system, which leads to people always scrolling and checking devices anticipating the newest headlines, messages, and content. Social media causes people to lose track of time and can distort people’s views on life, designed to manipulate people through algorithms that can lead us down “rabbit holes.” On average, a person spends roughly 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media every day, and 93% of all teenagers have social media platforms, according to Zomorodi, a Harvard Professor of Health and Wellbeing. Social media does have its advantages, but does it outweigh the negative effects on our emotions and outlook on the world? The Happiness Paradox shows how people tend to feel more depression and envy when seeing their friends, influencers, and even strangers always looking as if they are happier than us according to the Center for Clinical Psychology. Social media can cause reduced face-to-face interactions, less physical activity, depression, anxiety, high-stress levels, cyberbullying, and more social comparisons. We have to constantly try to remind ourselves that social media is not an accurate reflection of people’s day-to-day lives.  Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash The Different Happiness Levels, and Differences in it for Men and Women We are all taught different things in different ways, but as a species, most of us have one similar message ingrained in ourselves from a young age: the idea that to fit into society's mold you need to be happy. It is very interesting to see that women generally feel more joy from relationships and social bonds, but men generally tend to rank higher happiness levels on external looks and confidence levels. We have all felt this pressure. Society has fooled us into believing that everyone else around us is happy, so we have to be too. An interesting finding is that women are actually typically happier than men, according to the Pews Research Center’s investigation of over 38,000 interviews across 44 countries. This may be because girls are typically raised with the idea that they always have to be sweet, loving, joyful, smiling, and happy. But these messages can also lead to the reason why women have the highest levels of anxiety and mental health problems, according to the National Institute of Health. On the other hand, boys are often taught that they have to be strong and brave and that they should suppress “bad” emotions. They are also given the message that they should not ask for help and should instead go it alone. This may account for why only 8% of American men go to therapy and counseling whereas 27% of American women go to therapy. Even though it is more common for women to feel more anxiety, depression, and mental health problems, men commit suicide four times more often than women. Across the world, for all ethnicities and genders, joy is the most frequently experienced emotion according to the National Library of Medicine, but just because joy is a very common emotion does not mean that it is all we can or should feel. The second most common emotion is love, and then very closely followed by anxiety and stress. There are so many reasons for what we are feeling but there are three main factors that make up our happiness levels. The first factor is the very important role of our genetics. 50% of our happiness is decided by our genetic makeup. All our emotional baselines are different, so it is not fair to just tell someone how to feel when it is not always even entirely up to us what emotions we are feeling and when. The second factor is what we believe and tell ourselves about the emotional norms. Our emotional states might not always be entirely under our control but our outlooks on them do have a very strong effect. And the last main factor is how we compare ourselves to others. This can be crucial because we live in a world with almost nine billion people, we learn and grow from others so how we compare ourselves to the people around us can have a massive role on our emotions.
The obsession over feeling like we must feel perpetual happiness is just a mirage, and the consequences can have very dire effects on our health and well-being. We have to recognize that everyone is fighting invisible battles. We should start acknowledging that we can find happiness, but it is temporary, just like everything else. We can become happier if we lay waste to the idea of constant happiness and focus on what causes might be worthy of our attention and efforts. Finding meaningfulness is the more fulfilling path. We can let all our true colors through, and try to do our own small part to destigmatize expressing emotions other than happiness. We have to start feeling open or at least work towards asking for help when we need it. If we let go of this craving, we can let all emotions run their course in our lives and just float along the river of life, more content with ourselves and those around us. By Princess Standing on an international stage and waving your country’s flag might just be every athlete's dream. This dream isn’t limited to athletes alone; maybe most citizens have dreams of making their nation proud. Why then do we see athletes proudly waving other flags? Are they traitors or is their loyalty to another country justified? A plethora of African athletes chose to represent non-African countries across different sports in the 2020 Olympics; over 50 athletes of African descent represented other countries. Qatar's Aspire program has brought to light this increasing trend of athletes of African descent representing other nations. Even a survey at our school revealed that approximately 70% of African athletes would represent a non-African nation if given the opportunity. This raises several questions, such as why are they inclined to switch nationalities and how do they go about this? Quality Facilities Quality facilities and equipment affect performance and reduce the possibility of injury. The USA has world-class sporting facilities such as the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field and the USA Olympic Training Center, both consisting of facilities that help with advanced training. Unsurprisingly, the USA led the medal count with 126 medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Evidently, good facilities have a strong correlation with performance. Results like these may encourage athletes to represent other countries, specifically first-world countries that have the economic muscle to maintain facilities and better equipment. African athletes often choose to represent other countries for a variety of reasons, such as the economic state of their African nation, which often does not have the financial muscle to invest in training facilities, leading to outdated and poorly maintained facilities, some of which have not been approved by World Athletics. These facilities have even roused complaints from many athletes. Recently, several renowned Kenyan athletes vowed not to attend the Olympic trials if they were held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. Athletes therefore see moving abroad as an opportunity to improve their performance, as this is essential to the longevity of their career. For instance, Bernard Lagart, a Kenyan American middle distance runner, stated he “had no regrets” when he chose to represent America over Kenya. Lagart moved to America at the age of 18 for better opportunities and access to proper training facilities. Lanai Chissano, a Mozambican tennis player, emphasises the importance of good facilities and their direct effect on athletes from that country playing internationally when she states. “We don't see a lot of Mozambicans playing internationally because here in Mozambique our athletes who play for the national team or have played at an international level are very limited in terms of gyms and good facilities where they can play and improve in their sport." On the whole, good facilities and equipment affect performance and could be the difference between first and last place. Often, African athletes do not have access to said quality facilities hence, as we saw in the case of Bernard Lagart, causing them to switch allegiance to a team that can provide quality facilities.  Photo by Liam Charmer on Unsplash Financial Incentives A professional athlete is one who makes over 50% of their income from sports. Without this money, the talent athletes possess could go to waste as they find other ways of making money. As mentioned previously, African countries often do not have the financial muscle to invest in sports, resulting in relatively low pay for athletes. For example, Kazakhstan, whose team contains ex-Kenyan runners Norah Jeruto, Daisy Jepkemi, Shadrack Koech and Caroline Chepkoech, pays a $250,00 bonus for a gold medal, in comparison to the athletes’ former team, Kenya, which pays athletes an $8,000 bonus. Other non-African countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are pumping billions of dollars into sports, in turn creating a higher financial incentive to switch nationalities. Migration and Ties to a Non-African country Africans in general migrate out of Africa in search of a better life for their children. Many African athletes representing non-African countries were born there or have “thicker ties” to a non-African country. For example, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Greek-Nigerian basketball player, chose to represent the Greek national team despite the struggles and prejudice he and his family faced in Greece so that he could be an example to Greek youth living in lower-class families. Similarly, Bukayo Saka is a British Nigerian player who chose to represent England. In an interview, he stated that “it felt right to choose England” as he explained that although he was proud of his Nigerian heritage, he grew up in England and has never even stepped foot in Nigeria. Furthermore, political or social instability leads African athletes to migrate out of the continent and choose to represent other countries. Zola Budd was a South African middle distance runner who was advised to apply for British citizenship to participate in the Olympics due to the news of South Africa’s impending boycott because of apartheid. She then represented Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Budd’s case highlights the difficulties athletes face in times of political tension. Luol Deng is a South Sudanese British basketball player who fled the country and settled in the UK, where he proudly represented the European nation. The decision to switch nationalities is fueled by a combination of different factors that generally stem from push factors in African countries. Whether it’s athletes growing up in another country due to their parents searching for better opportunities, athletes like Zola Budd facing difficulties during boycotts, or refugees seeking asylum in a stable country, nationality changes in sports are far more complex than they seem and reflect the state of the athlete’s country of origin.  Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Naturalisation and Olympic Citizenship According to Rule 41 of the Olympic Charter, athletes with dual citizenship can represent their country of choice through naturalisation, having parents/grandparents who were citizens of said country, or by birth. Naturalisation is the process of making a person a citizen of a country they were not born in. Most countries have pathways to naturalise people who have realised achievements in sports, science, culture, etcetera; this can be done through “olympic citizenship” or sports migration, in which countries naturalise athletes to benefit the country, bringing sports tourism and increasing the profile of said country. Although this process is quick, in countries like Qatar athletes that receive citizenship through these means are often treated like second-class citizens; they do not have the right to healthcare, marriage, and other rights a Qatari passport holder has. Despite this, Qatar boasts a successful naturalisation program: the Aspire Academy for Middle Eastern and North African athletes, in which they naturalise the top 3 athletes, increasing their performance in several competitions. In fact, 10 out of the 26 players in Qatar's olympic at the last Olympics were naturalised citizens. Some argue that in this way local talent is being overshadowed by mercenaries (naturalised athletes), but in short, naturalisation provides a route for athletes to represent countries that have the financial resources to invest in the sports sector. Although controversial, naturalisation is seen as an essential and common strategy employed by many countries. National Pride Despite all of these factors, there is still a good number of incredibly talented athletes such as Mo Salah, Michael Oshimen, George Weah, e.t.c. who chose/choose to represent their African nationality. In a survey carried out at our school, 30% of African athletes, when asked if they would switch nationalities, said no. This poses a question: why would they still represent an African country? Coach Issufo Aniguia answered this eloquently when he stated, “I would never represent another country because nothing compares to the glory of winning for your homeland. It’s an act of perseverance and pride, honouring our ancestors and the people who fight daily to succeed. Winning for your motherland is a tribute to resilience, overcoming challenges. It is not just a win; it’s a symbol of the relentless spirit that defines our journey.” For these athletes, it’s not about personal success alone; no economic incentive could replace the honour of representing their country and standing as a symbol of hope for their fellow citizens. In conclusion, the choice to represent an African country despite struggles such as poor facilities and low salaries, is about bringing glory and honour to their country and inspiring generations to come.  Esthee2010, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Will future generations continue to choose national pride over profit? One can only hope that African countries will be able to invest, improve infrastructure, and give these athletes the backing they need to ensure that this will not be a choice future athletes are forced to make.
Works Cited Africa Cup of Nations Performance Stats, 2023-24 Season - ESPN (UK).” ESPN, 2023, www.espn.co.uk/football/stats/_/league/CAF.NATIONS/view/performance. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024. “ESSEC Sports Chair - Sport and National Eligibility Criteria in the Era of Globalization.” Sports-Chair.essec.edu, sports-chair.essec.edu/resources/research-reports/sport-and-national-eligibility-criteria-in-the-era-of-globalization. “Henley Global Mobility Report 2024 January.” Henley & Partners, 2023, www.henleyglobal.com/publications/global-mobility-report/2024-january/philippe-amarante. Martin K.N Siele. “Why More African Athletes Will Switch Countries | Semafor.” Semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2024, www.semafor.com/article/08/11/2024/why-more-african-athletes-will-switch-countries. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024 You probably love sodas. I also love them, but have you ever wondered where they come from, what they do to our health or why we keep drinking them centuries after they were invented? By Miguel  Photo by Jonny Caspari on Unsplash In 1767,Joseph Priestly invented soda. Priestly figured out how to infuse water with carbon dioxide, creating what we know now as “soda”. It began selling in pharmacies. In May, 1886 Coca-Cola was developed by a pharmacist called John Pemberton and was seen as a type of medicine, though now it is seen as an unhealthy drink. This drink or medicine was considered to be good as a hangover cure and way of getting rid of hiccups. Imagine a doctor telling you to drink soda today. Times have definitely changed! Why did sodas become so popular? The Temperance Movement of the United States and Great Britain is linked to the popularity of carbonated beverages. This movement, which began in the early 1800s, encouraged people to avoid drinking alcohol or only drink it in moderation. Many people started drinking sodas instead. When Prohibition started in the US, many bars were closed and so places with soda fountains were a kind of replacement during that period. This allowed them to become part of the American food and drink scene and if you go to fast food places even today, soda fountains are still there. The development of fast food also helped soda brands to become more well-known. Fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King created meals with sodas in a kind of win-win for both. The first fast food meal with soda in it was from a brand called Burger Chef. This meal included a burger, French fries, and a soda and was called the “Triple Threat”, costing only 45 cents. This was served in the 1950s and is still the norm today. Why are sodas so unhealthy? We all know that sodas have sugar in their recipes, but if people drink too many of them it can cause type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, kidney diseases, tooth decay and cavities, gout, and a type of arthritis. A can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar. So when you are drinking one of them you are basically eating a cake!. A can of Pepsi has 40 grams of sugar and a pack of Mentos has 2 grams of sugar, so when you drink a can of Pepsi you are technically eating 20 packs of Mentos. So do people keep drinking sodas and if so, why? According to a recent CNN article, soft drinks are still getting more and more popular., although sugar taxes in places like the US and UK are bad news for soda companies as they can cause sales to go down. If people continue to love their sodas, why is this? One reason is probably habit. We are used to drinking sodas at fast food places and it's part of the eating culture. The relationship between brands is really important also. For example, the partnership between Coca-Cola and McDonalds is one of the strongest in history, Marketing is also key to the success of soda brands. Pepsi and Micheal Jackson was one of the greatest marketing stories, and The Super Bowl and Beyonce have made sure that Pepsi's name is still out there in 2025. Also, lots of people just love the taste of these bubbly drinks and they get a dopamine hit too.  Photo by Mahdi Aminrad on Unsplash What's next for soda sales?
Soda brands keep increasing sales and some research shows that it can move from a $216 billion dollar business to a $266 billion dollar business by 2032. On the other hand, many people are eating healthier and this might mean less soda drinking in the future. Will the soda fountain continue to flow or will the bubbles fizzle out one day? It looks like the long story of soda will go on for a bit longer at least. You’ve probably seen a lot of those fat cat videos on social media. This may seem harmless and cute at first, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the screen. By Beth Primary School Journalist  https://flic.kr/p/bQ1bf Cats aren’t born obese or fat. That’s a fact. Most people view these cats as happy, supposedly because they are taken care of and fed and spoiled… none of these are good things though. This is abuse. The owners of these cats overfeed them and refuse to give them any form of exercise until they become obese: albeit being fed, these unfortunate animals are actually neglected. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 61% of domestic cats in the USA are obese or overweight, which is significantly more than half of millions of cats. Why do they do this? In a nutshell, social media attention. Content creators have found that videos of overfed cats get millions of views and likes. Look up “cute fat cat” on any social media platform. Many of these videos featuring mistreated animals get over 1M+ views and hundreds of thousands of likes and comments. People think it’s harmless fun, but as I stated before, it’s actually abusive. Liking and commenting is just promoting this behaviour and leading more people to think this is okay.  What’s being done about it?
Some organizations are working to help keep pets healthier, such as the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and World Pet Obesity Association. If you stumble across one of these problematic videos, report it, and if you know anyone in real life who is either overfeeding, underfeeding, or in general exploiting their cats on any platform, contact authorities and make sure this person either changes their ways or gives the animal away to a better home. If you can, donate to veterinarian organizations to support them in helping animals. How can I keep my cats at a healthy weight? To keep your beloved pets healthy and happy, feed them at the same time every 12 hours. I have two cats myself and what works for me is I feed them wet food at 7 AM and dry food at 7 PM. Remember to have variety in what your pet eats too. Don’t give them the same thing all the time, or they might get bored of it and stop eating and this can lead to unhealthiness in general. Also remember to buy them toys to keep them entertained and fit. Some cats, like mine, aren’t very fond of games that involve no human interaction; if this is the case, set aside some time of your day to play with them using strings or something hanging. Also buy a cat tree with toys on it to let them scratch and jump around without causing damage to the furniture. Remember to keep your animals, no matter whether they are cats, dogs, fish, birds, or anything else, happy and healthy. Let's stop this injustice. What do most people know about the Vikings, the Romans, the Celts etc? Mainly just some simple stereotypes. For an I&S project, we learned to debunk common myths to find out more about the complex reality of civilizations. By Siena and Mr Rui  Photo by David Köhler on Unsplash For a recent Grade 7 I&S project with Mr Rui, we were challenged to write a magazine article about a civilization of our choice, except with a twist. Be honest, what comes to mind first when you think about the Greeks? “Fancy royal blue clothing,”- Sofia. See? Exactly, well, why do we think of this first? Why are the Vikings seen as “uncivilized”, while the Romans are portrayed in a golden light? What leads to this? Veroniika, writing her article on Mesopotamia, said: “Your legacy is painted by whoever ends it or takes from it.”. Beautifully put, and it highlights the point perfectly that the way cultures are seen is often influenced by the narratives written about them by others. For example, during the Renaissance in Europe, Greek and Roman cultures were held up as the greatest, which has influenced the way they are seen even today. Our task on this project was to reveal other, less well-known aspects of different historical civilizations. For example, did you know that the Celts had a complex artistic mindset or that the Greek “democracy” was still very patriarchal? So what have we learned through this project? First of all, lots of fascinating details about each of the cultures. Antonia, for example, learned that ultimately "the Vikings didn’t succeed with their muscles, but with their minds.” Meanwhile, Sofia learned to look at modern day Iran in a different light once she had learned about Ancient Persia: “it’s the same place and rich culture; it’s just that people have different rules and rights these days.”  Photo by Ehsan Basiri on Unsplash But in way more than this, we’ve learned that every civilization is complex and has multiple layers to it. Trying to talk about a whole culture in a simple soundbite like “the Spartans were warriors” is not historically accurate and just reduces them to one thing. Every human civilization has had more positive and more negative aspects. Critical thinking means looking past simplified stories and reading more to learn about the details. Surely, this is a big part of being globally-minded and this kind of unit can help us not only see historical cultures in different ways, but also modern ones.
Check out some of our articles via these links: Celtic Glory The Cruel Cradle of Civilization: The Darker Side of Mesopotamia. Sparta: Where the Walls Were Men Uncovering the Greek Ruins Persia and Iran: Same Land, Different Civilization Roman Original or Greek Copy? In a world dominated by the biggest and best all the time, maybe we should take a moment to look under the microscope at the smaller creatures who go under the radar. By Axel  https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/29/science/tiny-frog-toad-brazil.html The Brazilian flea toad (Brachycephalus dacnis or B. dacnis) is now the world's smallest frog (even though the name suggests it's a toad), with an average size of 7.10 millimeters making it even smaller than the previous record holder the New Guinea Amau Frog. It is far smaller than a coin and two of them can fit side-by-side on a pinky nail. This frog was discovered in 2011 by a university researcher called Mirco Solé and his team in Bahia, Brazil, They compared the sizes of almost 50 frogs in the area and realised that this was the smallest on average. The B. dacnis lives in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and because it is so small has some different physical features than other frogs. For example, instead of four fingers on their hands, they only have two. And instead of five on their feet, they have three. However, its head works in the same way as a normal size frog's does. Fascinatingly, these frogs' life cycles don't include a tadpole stage. They hatch two eggs, which are basically miniature versions of the adults. Because they have high surface tension and low volume (which means they can’t store water as well as other frogs) the B.dacnis rely on the moisture of the leaf litter of the forest floor. But there are also advantages to their size. For example, living in thick leaf litter means they can hide from predators and find very small bits of food that other creatures might not be able to see. Bigger is not always better!  https://umsoplaneta.globo.com/biodiversidade/noticia/2024/10/26/sapinho-da-mata-atlantica-com-menos-de-7-milimetros-e-o-segundo-menor-vertebrado-ja-descrito-no-mundo.ghtml Since this species is newly discovered, they might not be endangered in any way, yet but that doesn't mean that we should not care about them and continue our research. Lots of species are critically endangered and we don't want the same thing happening to our little friends, especially with forests in Brazil experiencing a lot of deforestation in the past few years,
This frog is one of the examples of how even though we often look at the bigger, better, faster, richer things in life, we should be maybe focus more on the miniscule things. And we should make them bigger by appreciating and learning about them. The B. dacnis may be the record holder for now, but who knows what else we will discover in the next few years. As aventuras em Saint Lúcia: um relato de viagem durante a semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre31/10/2024 “(...) é gratificante que a escola ofereça esta oportunidade de sair e aprender coisas novas, além de desenvolver a nossa independência e a capacidade de enfrentar desafios sem a presença dos pais.” Por Gabriela  Photo by Gene Taylor on Unsplash A semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre do 7º ano, em 2024, teve melhorias em comparação com a do ano anterior, por diversas razões. A título de exemplo, a viagem foi muito mais agradável, o alojamento muito mais hospitaleiro e com bons serviços, o destino, no caso, Saint Lúcia, proporcionou grande diversão, tendo permitido a realização de muitas atividades entusiasmantes, sem deixar de citar a comida incomensuravelmente melhor do que a da experiência anterior. Os alunos do 7º ano da Escola Internacional Americana de Moçambique retornaram todos muito mais felizes do que no ano passado. Um destino, uma jornada, muita diversão! A viagem foi bastante divertida, uma vez que todo nós, do 7º ano, estivemos no mesmo autocarro, o que nos permitiu estar com os nossos amigos, tornando toda a experiência muito mais agradável, pois chegámos, ao mesmo tempo, ao destino. A travessia da fronteira foi muito mais célere em comparação com a do ano passado, no entanto, nem tudo foi perfeito. Por exemplo, o autocarro estava um pouco barulhento (com cânticos e gritarias) e cheio de gente, num cenário em algumas pessoas tentavam dormir, uma vez que tinham de acordar muito cedo na manhã seguinte. O momento mais marcante durante a viagem de autocarro foi provavelmente o lanche, pois estávamos com muita fome e ele era muito saboroso! A acomodação era agradável, pois ficámos em quartos em vez de tendas, o que foi ótimo. Creio que não houve nada de negativo, exceto o fato de só poderem ficar duas pessoas por quarto, num contexto em que a maioria dos grupos de amigos é composta por três pessoas, o que fez com que alguns não estivessem exatamente com os seus melhores amigos. As vantagens dos quartos incluíam o fato de podermos estar com partilhamos afinidades, conversar e relaxar um pouco após um dia longo. Uma surpresa para muitos foi a possibilidade de os macacos entrarem no quarto e roubarem os lanches, mas, felizmente, isso aconteceu apenas a uma pessoa.  Photo by Bernd □ Dittrich on Unsplash O destino da expedição não era mau, localizando-se numa boa zona próxima de uma pequena cidade. Talvez uma das coisas desagradáveis ou inesperadas tenha sido o mar, que estava muito agitado, permitindo-nos apenas molhar os joelhos, sendo que a maioria das pessoas permaneceu fora da água. Nenhum de nós esperava que a praia fosse tão diferente logo após a travessia da fronteira. Um episódio interessante que ocorreu ao chegarmos ao local no primeiro dia foi que tivemos de andar um pouco, e, enquanto caminhávamos, passámos por um lugar que não cheirava bem. Foi nesse momento que percebemos que era ali que íamos ficar, mas, afinal, era bastante agradável. Uma semana cheia de atividades divertidas Quanto às atividades, realizámos muitas, mas vou mencionar apenas quatro delas. O passeio de barco para observar hipopótamos, que fizemos logo após a chegada, mesmo antes de deixarmos a bagagem, foi excelente, tendo avistado muitos hipopótamos juntos e a descansar. Um momento divertido que ocorreu durante a observação de hipopótamos foi ter confundido uma pedra com este mamífero, tudo por entusiasmo. Algo novo que todos nós aprendemos foi, sem dúvida, sobre mais espécies de pássaros que nunca tínhamos visto. Após a visita aos hipopótamos, houve um almoço que maioria dos alunos não gostou, pois não era algo a que a maioria de nós estivesse habituado. Outra atividade que realizámos foram os safaris, onde visitámos duas reservas diferentes. Penso que a atividade favorita da maioria, além de observar muitos animais, foi ver leões e rinocerontes. Ficámos todos de boca aberta quando nos informaram que removiam os chifres dos rinocerontes para que os caçadores não os capturassem. Ademais, algo que todos odiámos foi acordar às 3 da manhã, uma vez que, em alguns dias, estava muito vento e frio, e a maioria das pessoas tinha muito frio.  Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash A terceira atividade foi a cultura Zulu, na qual tivemos a oportunidade de ver o interior de uma mini-aldeia dos Zulus e conhecer a sua cultura. Foi muito divertido e pudemos interagir com algumas pessoas Zulu. Estávamos todos cansados porque tínhamos de acordar muito cedo, por isso não conseguimos aproveitar da mesma maneira. Um facto curioso é que, lá, a regra é que os homens vão primeiro, ao contrário do que estamos habituados. Um momento muito divertido ocorreu quando todos nos juntámos para dançar com eles as suas danças tradicionais.
A quarta atividade foi o teste que realizámos para avaliar o quanto aprendemos e se estávamos a prestar atenção. Foi bom termos reforçado o que já sabíamos, uma vez que a maioria das pessoas esqueceu muitos detalhes. Após o teste, ao ser corrigido, conseguimos lembrar-nos de muitos mais pormenores. Nessa altura, já estávamos todos bastante frustrados, porque tínhamos fome e desejávamos comer, pois, por alguma razão, decidimos fazer o teste antes do jantar. Contudo, no geral, foi uma experiência muito divertida! A comida não era má, mas não tinha a qualidade de um chefe de excelência. No entanto, era bastante boa se compararmos com a comida que consumimos na semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre do ano passado. Uma coisa que incomodou muitas pessoas foi o fato de o sumo de laranja conter provavelmente mais água do que sumo. Considerações finais Em conclusão, divertimo-nos e aprendemos muitas coisas de forma equilibrada. Aproveitámos estar fora da escola sem deixar de aprender e de estar com os nossos amigos. Também é gratificante que a escola ofereça esta oportunidade de sair e aprender coisas novas, além de desenvolver a nossa independência e a capacidade de enfrentar desafios sem a presença dos pais. Hilux’s have been blown off buildings, left in the sea and set on fire and the engine still works. But Mr. Tony’s Hilux? It drove through a puddle, and that was the end of the road. Since then it hasn't been reliable. By Abi  In a baffling twist, Mr. Tony’s Hilux stands as the ultimate contradiction to the idea that a Toyota is indestructible, as seen in Top Gear (Season 3, Episode 5). While other Hilux trucks have survived apocalyptic-level abuse, his has broken down more times than you’d believe, causing a lot of mud, sweat and repairs. Yet despite this mechanical comedy of errors, Mr Tony has stayed faithful to the unfaithful, turning the truck into a running joke across the international community and a hi-end headache for Mr Tony’s whole family. The misadventures of the Pottymobile (as called by Mr Andrew Muyamwa) began in Lusaka, Zambia, where Mr. Tony proudly bought his “prized” Hilux. But as fate would have it, the cost of the car turned out to be at least three times its original price, thanks to an endless and ongoing parade of repairs. What is the root cause of many of these woes? A Zambian mechanic nicknamed Mr. Hilux (Ironic isn't it?). As Mr Tony started to get serious about off-road travelling he was advised he needed to attach a snorkel, essential for fording rivers and puddles (apparently). Unfortunately, during installation, Mr Hilux’s team drilled a hole in the bottom of the snorkel. What was supposed to keep water out of the engine now acted as a water funnel. Completely unaware of this catastrophic problem, Mr. Tony set out with his wife and two kids on an epic trip to the Busanga Plains, in the rainy season, no less. On the second day of the journey, just shy of the gates to Busanga Plains, the Pottymobile spluttered and gave up. Water had made its way into the engine, leaving the car dead on the spot. With no other option Mr Tony dumped the car, BUT continued the adventure (Crazy I know). They all jumped into a companion's car and drove through the gate, leaving the car behind. Looking back, he probably should have left it there. The string of breakdowns that followed this event has continued to diminish the car's functionality and trustworthiness.  A timeline of the Hilux's adventures: Zambia
Yeah, that’s a lot, isn’t it? But Mr. Tony has kept the Hilux for many reasons; one might be that his daughter (me) loves the car. It has led to countless memories. A car is just a car, or so people say. But not really. It becomes a house of memories, a vessel that carries you to life’s most significant moments. Mr Tony’s Hilux, as unreliable as it it is, has been with him through it all. Turning misfortune into adventure and breakdowns into stories worth telling. And even after everything, he has never given up on it. Because it isn't just a Hilux; it is a part of the family—a house of memories on wheels, carrying us through triumphs, disasters, and everything in between. The car may not run, but it’s been the source of a lifetime of unforgettable stories and conversation starters.  Mr Tony's current plan is to bring the car back to prime life. Refurbishing it with a new engine and giving it a deep clean. He also thinks that if you change what the car looks like, it won’t be the same car, so he’s painting it a different colour. After all, if it doesn’t look the same, maybe it won’t be the same cursed car…
What do you think Mr Tony should do with the car? At what stage would you replace it? “(...) os professores desejam que todos nós nos divirtamos enquanto aprendemos, e pretendem que tenhamos a oportunidade de aprender fora da sala de aula de formas significativas e impactantes.” Por Maria Os alunos da Escola Internacional Americana de Moçambique, do quarto ao décimo segundo ano, em todos os anos, participam com os seus colegas da Semana Sem Paredes, doravante SSP ou semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre. E, em todas as edições da SSP, nós ficamos em lugares diferentes. Por exemplo, quando eu estava no sexto ano, fui a Kosi Bay, na África do Sul, e este ano fui a Saint Lúcia. Isto acontece porque, em todas as SSPs que realizamos, os professores querem que aprendamos coisas diferentes com pessoas novas e que sejam culturalmente significativas. Mas o que é a SSP, quais são as razões para a sua realização e que atividades são desenvolvidas durante este evento? O que é a semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre? A SSP é um período em que os professores e os alunos saem das salas de aula para aprender sobre a vida, no geral, e aspectos culturais doutros lugares, ou mesmo para adquirir novos conhecimentos com profissionais das áreas correspondentes. Embora muitos possam pensar que a SSP seja como um período de férias desperdiçadas fora da escola, é importante referir que, em todas as SSPs sugeridas pela escola, haverá sempre atividades relacionadas com as aulas ou unidades curriculares vigentes na instituição. Neste contexto, salienta-se que a SSP não se destina apenas ao aprendizado, mas também ao lazer e, em todos os anos, os alunos de um ano inteiro juntam-se para conviver e conhecerem-se melhor, e, anualmente, muitos alunos fazem novas amizades.  Photo by Outward Bound Costa Rica on Unsplash Por que temos a semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre? Há muitas razões para a realização da SSP, e aqui estão alguns exemplos:
 Foto de Wade Lambert na Unsplash Que atividades temos/fazemos durante a semana de aprendizagem ao ar livre?
Durante a SSP, realizamos muitas atividades na natureza. Por exemplo: nadar com golfinhos, fazer safáris, participar em passeios noturnos, ver crocodilos que foram resgatados ou retirados dos seus habitats naturais, praticar mergulho livre, passeios na praia, canoagem, entre outros. E, muitas vezes, fazemos atividades mais divertidas, como ir à praia, nadar ou brincar, ter tempo livre para estar nos chalés ou, no acampamento, divertirmo-nos com os nossos amigos na piscina. A SSP oferece-nos muitas oportunidades para fazer coisas divertidas com os nossos amigos, como mostram estes exemplos de atividades. Conclusão A SSP não são férias escolares, mas uma semana passada com os amigos, colegas e professores para aprender coisas novas em lugar diferentes e para fazer atividades novas, divertidas e diferenciadas que nunca podíamos fazer na escola. Pour la première fois dans ma vie je quitte le Sénégal et avant de venir je ne m'adapte pas à l’idée de laisser mon pays et partir pour un autre, mais je me disais que découvrir est merveilleux et que je dois le faire pour moi. Par: Mary  Tout au début. à mon arrivée, j’ai vu des vendeuses près de de la route. Il y avait un peu de ressemblance avec le Senegal, mais c'était une expérience magnifique de découvrir de nouveaux pays. Cependant, il y a un problème avec la nourriture car elle est différente du Sénégal. Ma nourriture préférée au Mozambique est la shima parce que on la fabrique avec du maïs.  Ma nouvelle école
Mon école est une petite école avec quatre classes par jour. Au fait, c’est tres bien de voir que tout le monde est très proche et que tout le monde se connaît. En conlcusion, j'ai eu une bonne expérience et j'aime ce pays. Avocados on toast, avocado smoothies, guacamole. Social media is filled with influencers worshipping the avocado and its many health benefits; from weight loss to lower blood pressure to reducing depression, avocados are truly a superfood for the 21st century. Or are they? From perpetuating global conflicts, creating human rights violations and wreaking havoc in the environment, this is the story of how avocados are causing all manner of problems that often go under the radar. By Viktoriia  Photo by Art Rachen on Unsplash Often marketed as the cure for all maladies, avocados have gained the attention of many promoters of healthy eating and captured the world within many popular recipes, with consumption per capita tripling from around 1 kilogram annually in 2000 to over 3.5 kilograms per person within the US each year in 2021. Recently, avocados have taken social media by storm, including odes sung about their many health benefits and uses for dieting and improved health. According to Medical News Today, avocados can generate a variety of positive effects such as increased bone health, digestive health and even a reduction in the risk of cancer. This is all due to the content of the elements, beneficial fats and vitamins within the berry. A key element is said to be Omega-3, a beneficial fat which, according to Med Park Hospital, has a host of potential benefits from reducing the risk of dementia, asthma and migraines to preventing heart-related diseases. Perhaps even more surprisingly, according to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, avocados can help with that too due to the high content of monounsaturated fats which have been shown to aid with cancer treatment.  Photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash Social Implications Overall, because of their rising popularity on social media and within medical research, avocado sales have surged in a positive direction, creating various consequences. Around 88% of the US stock of avocados has come from Mexico . However, behind the bright spotlight of the avocado, the various issues surrounding the “Green Gold” have often been overlooked and swept aside. One of the regions cast in the shadow is the Michoacan region in Mexico. Located in the central part of Mexico, this region has all the markings of success for the growth of avocados: the climate, fertile soil and connections through the large ports within the area of Mexico. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Michoacan area is the largest producer of avocados worldwide, producing approximately 80% of the avocados consumed within the United States (Forbes). The success of the region within various agricultural endeavours is due to the extremely fertile, volcanic soil, natural irrigation systems, which, over the years, has attracted the attention of different drug cartels around the country. In 2011, the Knights Templar cartel, part of the Familia Michoacane, notorious for the distribution of various illegal substances, became particularly prominent within the region, pledging to improve the locals’ access to various facilities and to protect the farmers behind the avocado market. Simultaneously, the United States established task forces to limit the supply of illegal drugs into the country from the Michoacan region, reducing the profitability of the business for the Knights Templar cartel. This, unfortunately, led to more negative impacts than positive ones within the region as the drug cartels shifted more of their focus to the avocado industry within the local communities. The violence against the local community including the robbery of crops, illegal deforestation, and even killings have only escalated over the past decade and currently in Mexico as much as $60, a price for the preservation of the family’s crops and family, is taken from local producers by the criminal groups per acre of land, meaning that the profit of the local communities are significantly reduced. Moreover, if the due money is not paid over to the criminal groups, there are various consequences which directly violate basic human rights and are highly detrimental to local avocado production. The high levels of corruption in legal and legislative systems further worsens the situation as no action is carried out to prevent the criminal activity within the local communities. Recently, the avocado farmers of the Michoacan region have decided to combat the corruption and violence which surrounds the industry of the ‘blood avocado’. However, this has only generated further conflict, resulting in many incidents of violence and lack of safety within the affected regions of Mexico. The government of Mexico has also taken action to protect the rights of workers within the industry. However, it is indisputable that avocados are still a vast cause of social unrest within the country.  Photo by Anastasios Antoniadis on Unsplash Environmental Impacts Besides the social impacts of the avocado industry on human rights in regions such as Mexico, there is also the environmental side of the story which is greatly impacted by our food habits and the rising trend of the avocado. Implicated in drought, deforestation, carbon dioxide emissions and even reducing food security, avocados have extreme and highly damaging impacts on our planet that few people consider when consuming the fruit. As discussed previously, avocados are produced mainly within Latin America, particularly within countries such as Mexico, meaning that most of the avocado crop eaten across the world would need to travel extremely large distances to be sold at their final destination. These long trips, often carried out by sea, can emit extremely large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Furthermore, due to the fact that avocados have to be preserved across the voyages and require extremely specific conditions to improve and sustain their growth, vast quantities of energy are used to maintain the avocados, emitting around 846.36 g of carbon dioxide per 2 smaller avocados; a number which is extremely damaging to the overall environment (Sustainable Food Trust). We all know that there are certain fruits and vegetables which consume a lot of water, but nothing truly compares to the amount of water used by the avocado industry. Tomatoes use slightly over 6 litres of water per kilogram; however, avocados utilise 10 times as much, with a devastating amount of 70 litres of water per kilogram of avocados (Leaf Score). One of the locations where avocados have led to droughts is in Southern California, where, despite the desert-like climate, water has been transported to the region for the specific reasons of the growth of the avocado. Recently, however, the state has experienced some of the worst droughts in history, similar to the vast water shortages in communities in Chile where avocado production is particularly prominent. This has been linked to the production of the avocado industry as pressure has been placed on water-deprived communities, creating devastating impacts for the local populations. Other, less prominent impacts of the avocado farming in Mexico involve deforestation, where, according to various studies, up to 7 squared kilometres of forest are destroyed annually to account for the rising demand for land to develop the avocado industry. Furthermore, due to the fact that a single crop is being developed without the diversity and added security of key, different crops, the food security of the region is severely diminished. Besides this, the usage of pesticides can further pollute waterways and create emissions of greenhouse gases. Overall, the avocado industry has multiple far-reaching impacts which are extremely detrimental to the environment at large. However, the answer to the question: “should we stop eating avocados?” may not be as obvious as it seems. Despite the fact that there appears to be an extremely large amount of harm the avocado industry can cause within the environment and vulnerable communities, it is far from the only crop which is associated with these lesser-known implications. Beef production is associated with very high carbon emissions and rice and cotton use even larger quantities of water. Wheat can promote the development of monocultures, impairing food security, and coffee is associated with severe human rights violations. In addition, the already vulnerable communities plagued by gang activity rely on avocado farming to earn a living, and eradicating the avocado from our consumption would only weaken their precarious position. Therefore, the answer to this question remains open as we strive to balance the benefits and social and environmental implications of avocado farming. SHEIN a low priced but stylish fast fashion brand that moves from trend to trend in a blink of an eye, but it is having a big impact not only on people's style, but also on the environment and its own employees. By Aladza  Photo by freestocks on Unsplash What is Fast Fashion? The term fast fashion is brought up a lot when talking about fashion,sustainability and environmental consciousness. According to Earth.org, the term refers to 'cheaply produced and priced garments that copy the latest catwalk styles and get pumped quickly through stores in order to maximize on current trends’. In other words, the fast fashion industry involves rapid design, production and distribution and marketing of clothing. Who are Shein? SHEIN is a Chinese fashion company mostly known for its cheap clothing, meaning that if you’re on a budget you’re able to shop like a millionaire. SHEIN gives the opportunity for online content creators mostly on TikTok and sometimes YouTube to do mini hauls of SHEIN products so they can promote the brand. The company is also known for its cheap clothing that matches the “trend” that's popular at the moment. SHEIN has 65 million app users and approximately 74.7 million total users worldwide and is the most popular brand in the world. These are huge numbers, but what are the downsides of this popularity? Environmental Issues SHEIN causes major environmental issues such as water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive textile waste and production of tons of carbon dioxide every year, but the biggest environmental issue they cause is landfills. This happens when more developed countries take all of their unwanted clothes that people don't use anymore and send them to poor countries to be thrown away in landfills. The more often people change clothes, the more new and old clothes there are and the old ones often end up polluting the earth like this. SHEIN's clothing is often 100% polyester which is non recyclable and therefore very bad for the environment. According to the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the fast fashion industry is the second biggest polluter and water consumer and is responsible for about 10% of carbon emissions. Since SHEIN is the biggest fast fashion company, its success has negative climate effects that consumers need to think about.  Photo by Katie Rodriguez on Unsplash Worker Rights Issues
Besides environmental issues, SHEIN is also criticized for worker conditions. Child labour cases have been reported and a documentary by Channel 4 in the UK described how SHEIN workers often work 75 hour shifts with hardly any time off. In addition, the safety of working conditions, like having no emergency exits in factories, has been discussed. As Time magazine highlights, Shein's success "comes at a huge cost" to these people. SHEIN is only one of many fast fashion brands producing stacks of clothes and stacks of social problems. There are ways to prevent the continuation of the fast fashion industry, such as consumers learning about what is happening behind the scenes of the supply chain. As Lucy Siegle says, "fast fashion is not free. Someone, somewhere is paying the price.” The final question is will the fast fashion industry continue going even faster or will it finally slow down? Last week, as part of a Language and Literature project, Grade 6 students met Mr Dana Zimmerman, a two-time Paralympian. What insights did he give us into living with a disability and life more generally? By Logan and Mr Rui  Grade 6 students have been working on a project in Language and Literature class for the Paralympics. In this project we have made print ads to promote positive representations of athletes with disabilities.. Examples from my group for the print ad slogans are ‘Look at what I have’ and “See the good”. We wanted to get away from the focus on what people don't have and focus instead on what they do. We have also written poems from different perspectives describing the students' outlooks on disability. Thanks to Primary Librarian Ms Leah, we were very lucky to be able to set up a Google Meet call with former Paralympic 1500m runner Dana Zimmerman. Mr Dana won the silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games. After thinking about disability so much in class in the previous weeks, it was amazing to be able to speak to a real-life Paralympian. Mr Dana showed us his silver medal and we learned that each medal is customized for that Olympics, so his one has the Sydney Opera House on it. He also showed us pictures from his past, which illustrated his story from his school days to his early track experiences all the way to the Paralympics. But Mr,. Dana did not begin his talk with sports. He asked us questions such as "Do you have a favorite movie?" and "Do you have a favorite snack?" and then saying "Me too". The point he wanted to make straight away was that "my disability doesn't define me. It;'s only one part of me." This was an important message to frame our conversation and only after this did Mr Dana speak to us about his experiences with cerebral palsy - a neurological (brain) disorder that affects body movement and posture.. “I feel extremely lucky." This maybe wasn't a line we expected to hear from a person with a disability and it taught us an important lesson about being grateful and having a positive outlook on life. Mr Dana told us that when he was younger it was 50/50 whether he would even be able to hear or speak, so he feels very lucky to experience life in the way he does. He also took us back to when he first discovered his passion for track and how we should also try to find what we love doing and feel good at to help us find a positive way forward in life. As he said, “sometimes the biggest competitor is yourself”, not your rivals in a race.  It was a fascinating talk and we we should all also feel "extremely lucky" to have the opportunity to meet someone who has competed at the highest level and had to overcome many challenges along the way, like feeling left out or being bullied when he was younger due to his differences. So, from all of Mr Dana's wisdom, what did our students find most memorable? Amelie translated the idea that “disability is not the only part of me” into all of our lives, where one thing never defines you. We are many things and this is something to celebrate. It is so limiting to think that a whole human being can be reduced to one thing (and even worse when that thing is seen as a negative or a weakness). Zara stated how “it made me think about how lucky I am”, so she walked away from the experience counting her blessings, which maybe we can all do more often. Gideon, on the other hand, focussed more on how Mr Dana was "so open to us”, highlighting how real strength means not being ashamed of who we are.   Going forward, we shouldn’t forget about disability as an issue just because the Paralympic Games in Paris are over. Instead, we should celebrate the differences between us because in the end everyone is different and, like Mr Dana said, we need to find what makes us unique and own that.
This is celebrating humanity. When thinking about 3D food technology the idea seems fairly new, but since the early stages of the technology circa 2005, chefs and scientists have been trying to 3D print food, creating a new era of food production. Five star meals prepared as perfectly as the best chef in the world with the right ingredients, the exact dimensions and perfectly shaped dishes? Is this the future of food? By Veronika  Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash Practically from the very beginning, people who had access to a 3D printer started experimenting on which materials could be put into a 3D printer, eventually stumbling on chocolate and caramel from which food sculptures could be made. In fact, in 2017 Cadbury’s built the first 3D printer that was specialized in printing chocolate, although this was not necessarily a major breakthrough because chocolate and caramel were very similar to the original printing material and they were expected to function. However, other companies started doing the same with more challenging food. For example, in 2013 NASA started experimenting with more complicated foods, hoping to make pizza and other foods for astronauts in the ISS, which ended up successful a few years later. With this technology the astronauts received personal meals that could be printed on board the space station, which made for easy meals that could be stored for up to 6 times longer than normal pizzas. The astronauts could also customize their pizzas, altering the amounts of each ingredient. NASA and Cadburys were not the only ones who picked up on this technology. After a long pause in significant developments in this area, in 2023 researchers at Columbia University started developing a fabrication machine that could print food, even using lasers to bake or cook the food. Soon, the machine could print a wide variety of foods including: edible pastes, gels, powders, and liquid ingredients and they were able to produce many foods from cheesecakes to hamburgers. This meant that printers could independently create complete meals just as well as a human chef with larger varieties. In 2008, a bakery opened in which all of the food was made by 3D printing; a customer could order a dessert and pick its shape and flavor since the desserts were made almost completely without human interference. As the technology advanced, doctors started using 3D printed food to customize nutritional content for a specific patient, just as NASA had on the ISS. This provided for better and personalized diets that could measure calories, carbohydrates, sugars and others to millimeters causing the best possible diets to cure different diseases in different bodies. According to Allister Nelson, Scientific Web Writer for OLPA, “3D-food printing will still turn out processed foods, but perhaps the silver lining will be, for some people, better control and tailoring of nutrition, personalized nutrition.” However, not everything about this technology has been so promising: the costs are extraordinarily high and scientists believe that 3D printing food decreases the nutritional value of the food. Most importantly every print risks contamination of the printer due to the moisture inside. This can cause common food poisoning, making it unable to be certified as safe to eat. This may simply be resolved by automatically cleaning it after every use, however. This feels like only the beginning for 3D-printed food. Hod Lipson, Director of The Creative Machine Lab, highlights how “The replicator is all about reproducing things that already exist...the future is really about creating new foods and new ways to cook.” Now time will tell if this kind of food will really take off? We might have the technology ready, but are we ready on a cultural level? And what about individually...would you take the plunge with 3D-printed food? One man's actions and a generation has been tarnished. Many in society have stopped listening to Michael Jackson and stopped supporting Ariel Pink and many other solo artists, but is it ethical to stop listening to music created by one person when it affects the careers of three innocent bandmates and millions of fans influenced by the music? By Abi  "Morrissey" by Man Alive! is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Accused of being a racist, paedophile and having repugnant views on immigration, Morrissey was a prominent figure in the music industry as lead singer of the influential band The Smiths. Shooting to fame in the 80s, they influenced their fellow Manchester bands such as Oasis and The Stone Roses. Without the influence of the Smiths, the genre Indie Pop would not be as famous, nor would many other bands exist. For instance, Morrissey starred as a guest musician on the Oasis album Heathen Chemistry, released in 2002, which helped them with their ongoing popularity. Fans who once admired Morrissey for his introspective and melancholic lyrics that pressed on issues such as alienation, identity, and working-class life now struggle with the shift in his public persona. His transformation from a voice for the disenfranchised to someone viewed by many as xenophobic, along with much more, reflects a complex cultural dynamic. This is similar to the situation of other high-profile musicians in recent years, Morrissey's legendary status in the music world has been tarnished by his wider behaviour. Allegations against Morrissey are that he is racist, voices inflammatory statements on topics like immigration, nationalism, and race, is xenophobic and supports far-right politicians. The image that Morrissey is exhibiting is degrading The Smiths' fame, causing many people to stop listening to the entire band, therefore denouncing music made by Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). Many looked up to Morrissey, adopting his iconic style of vintage clothing and supporting him in his career. Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, also highlighted that “a recurrent theme in Morrissey’s lyrics is that you can kind of aspire to be more than this. You don’t have to be dragged down by your situation or circumstances.”. Additionally, he has been vocal in his support for the animal rights movement, being a vegetarian since the age of 11. Another example of Morrissey's more positive public image is that he once wore a fake hearing aid to demonstrate solidarity with a hearing-impaired fan who was embarrassed about wearing one. Add this to him promoting many small, upcoming artists over the years. This all inspires the question: how can someone so genuine do and say these despicable things?  "Steven Patrick Morrissey" by andres.moreno is licensed under CC BY 2.0 His vivid support of animal rights occasionally goes too far, telling a reporter from the Guardian that the way China is treating animals is horrific, claiming that “you can’t help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies”. He continues to speak boldly on animal welfare rights, comparing the treatment of animals to paedophilia, telling a fan page that he “see[s] no difference between eating animals and paedophilia. They are both rape, violence, murder," He has also become bold in his anti-immigration stance, in 2007 telling NME that England has been “thrown away” and complaining that in London’s Knightsbridge “you’ll hear every accent under the sun apart from the British accent”. Not only is this said in a racist tone, but also is clear hypocrisy as his parents are Irish immigrants and his fellow band members are second-generation Irish. This he faces in his lyrics in Irish Blood, English Heart singing “Irish Blood, English Heart, this I'm made of”. He creates a world where he’s “been dreaming of a time when/ The English are sick to death of labour and Tories/ And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell/ And denounce this royal line/ That still salute him and will salute him forever.” His racist statements have made the news for years, such as in 1986 when he said he “detests Stevie Wonder. I think Diana Ross is awful. I hate all those records in the Top 40 – Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston. I think they’re vile in the extreme...Obviously to get on Top Of The Pops these days, one has to be, by law, black,” Moreover, Morrissey's pro-Brexit stance also seems to be fuelled by anti-immigration beliefs. In defence of far right political leader Tommy Robinson, he says that “there is only one British political party that can safeguard our security. That party is For Britain.” In May on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Morrissey wore a jacket adorned with a For Britain pendant, a subtle accessory that brought an outcry from fans. He retorted that “Everyone ultimately prefers their own race…does this make everyone racist?” and “The modern Loony Left seem to forget that Hitler was left wing! But of course, we are all called racist now, and the word is actually meaningless.” One of his fans, Joshua Surtees, went as far as to write a letter to the singer, saying “When you sang “There’s a country, you don’t live there; but one day you would like to”, you were talking about a man dreaming of an “England for the English”. You’ve become that man”. These lyrics are from one of Morrissey’s solo songs, which he sang at a Finsbury Park Festival, clutching the Union Jack. Morrissey’s lyrics have continuously conveyed a complex persona but such extremes are difficult for one to explain. And, where these claims and accusations may be taken out of context, the way he negatively reacts these allegations contradicts any positive interpretations. Racism, prejudice, and support for right-wing politicians are all serious issues that are widely rejected in this generation. The hate for him comes from a new generation who finds these views abhorrent and does not listen to the band nor find the genre as influential as past ages did. But one does wonder if The Smiths are not popular because of Morrissey's actions or merely the consequence of time. Is it fair to tarnish them and their fans with Morrissey's behaviour? Is it possible to separate the art from the artist? Legacies are lost very easily in this current social media age and it is important to think about what is fair and reasonable towards these artists. So, in light of this, should we stop listening to Morrissey and other artists with such allegations against them? Whatever the answer is, this so-called "charming man" has painted a pretty vulgar picture and maybe he's not as charming anymore as when he sang that song for the first time. Works Cited D’Souza, Shaad. “A Light That Never Goes Out: Why the Smiths Are Eternally Influential.” The Guardian, 1 June 2023, www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/01/a-light-that-never-goes-out-why-the-smiths-are-eternally-influential. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024. Fletcher, Harry. “A Timeline of Morrissey’s Most Controversial Quotes.” Evening Standard, 11 June 2018, www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/morrissey-from-reggae-to-royalty-a-timeline-of-the-singers-most-controversial-opinions-a3857906.html. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024. Morrissey. “The Interview.” Morrissey Central, interview by Sam Esty Rayner, 24 June 2019, www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/234417-the-interview . Accessed 4 Sept. 2024. Power, Ed. “Why Morrissey’s Downfall Echoes the Messy Demise of the Smiths.” Independent, Mar. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/morrissey-the-smiths-break-up-johnny-marr-new-album-i-am-not-a-dog-on-a-chain-a9404371.html. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024. Surtees, Joshua. “As a Black Teenager, I Loved Morrissey. But Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now | Joshua Surtees.” The Guardian, 6 June 2019, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/06/black-teenager-morrissey-racism-support-bigots. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024. The Week Staff. “Morrissey’s Most Controversial Quotes.” Theweek, The Week, 17 Apr. 2018, theweek.com/92990/morrissey-interview-five-most-controversial-comments-by-the-smiths-singer. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024. |
Categories
All
Archives
January 2025
|
RSS Feed
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
