Majlis summer 2016

SUMMER ISSUE

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CONTENTS EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

ARTS & FEATURES SPORTS

Smart Phones and Child Labour Philanthropy at its finest Fracking The Brexit Irkaya Farm Lecture Night MUN Interview Nepal Trip ICT Trip to New York City Charities Quiz Night A Far Cry from Fair Verona Swim Gala Qatar International Day How to High School Digital Resources for Students Star Wars Review Album Review - Opus Album Review - Anti Short Stories Legends Lost Boys vs. Girls Rugby Australian Open Champions League

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EDITORIAL

MATTHEW RENNER

When the average person hears that phrase ‘conspiracy theory’, they enter lockdown. They dismiss the theories as absurd, insane. And of course, they’d be right. It’s been ‘proven’ time and time again that conspiracies are simply a figment of an old, paranoid crackpot’s overactive imagination. Asbestos is perfectly harmless (we know now that it isn’t). There were no bugs in Watergate (there were). Your mobile phones and emails are completely private (See: Edward Snowden). Notice a pattern here? Governments and big business are involved in far more shady business than people tend to realise, especially where their financial and political interests are concerned. And so, dear reader, I present to you: chemtrails.

Have you ever looked up into the sky, and seen what appears to be a very long, thin cloud trailing after an aeroplane? That is what is known as a “contrail”. Ostensibly these contain nothing more than harmless water vapour, frozen during the combustion of the plane’s fuel. ...Or so they say. A chemtrail, on the other hand, is a contrail which contains substances that the Powers That Be may not want us to find out about. After all, what is a more convenient way to disperse a chemical over a population than by plane, and then explain it away as a simple water vapour trail? There is none, and that’s what makes it so effective.

Now, what sets chemtrails apart from your run-of-the-mill ‘conspiracy’ is the vast array of evidence we have to support this as fact, not theory. Are you sceptical? Then step outside, and look skyward. Every time a plane flies overhead it will leave a contrail. This is normal. But notice that not every contrail will linger for the same length of time. Today you may see one contrail dissipate within an hour. And yet, mere days later, a contrail will remain for the rest of the day. There is no scientific explanation for this – why two contrails several days apart would last for different lengths of time – as atmospheric conditions are obviously constant. No, the only logical explanation is a change in the composition of the trails, marking them as chemtrails.

The question is “what do they attempt to achieve”? The obvious motive is to exert control over the populace.

The politicians and big businesses would like nothing more than to enslave the masses. How do they do this?

By making up big lies about ‘global warming’; telling us that our own selfishness is destroying the world and that, crucially, we are to do as they say, or suffer the consequences. What they don’t tell you is that these massive environmental changes are caused by chemtrails.

Many people will tell you this is nonsense. Many of them will be highly qualified scientists, attempting to dazzle you with their big words and vague comments. These people may argue that a chemtrail is really just a contrail, and that the height of the plane affects the shape and length of a contrail, and that they have fancy equipment that tells them that the composition of the trails are nothing abnormal. It all sounds very logical, until you realise that these people are just government shills. They’re in on the chemtrails, and are profiting very nicely from it. What other reason would they have to disprove our theory?

In the end, it’s all very easy for us to breathe in our toxic air, tell ourselves it’s perfectly safe, and then go to bed happily each night. Why believe the mountains of (obviously reliable) evidence that our air and atmosphere are being slowly destroyed by the Big Brothers of the world, when we can close our eyes and bleat like sheep along with the rest of the world? But is time, dear reader, for us to bleat louder. Time for us to bleat not what we are fed, but the truth! The sheep of the world have awoken, and we will not stay silent.

SMARTPHONES AND CHILD LABOUR

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hese days millions of people around the world own ‘smart devices’, but how many of us have actually wondered where all the gear inside them has come from? Most likely, none. Some of the materials that are in your smartphone have probably been dug up by children, as young as seven, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In fact, the success of tech companies such as Apple and Samsung may, surprisingly, be dependent on dangerous and unauthorized mining in the poverty stricken eastern Congo.

The DRC is the source of at least fifty percent of the cobalt in the world. Congo’s cobalt mining industry used to be driven by a formal and legal company before the 1990’s. However, with the fall of the Congolese economy, the mining industry also fell with miners only being allowed to look for cobalt in a restricted number of risky and inconvenient areas, using only very primitive methods. The number of authorised mining sites were also insufficient, and so many began to mine in unauthorised areas, with some miners even having to pay to dig in those areas.

In 2009, Congolese cobalt was officially noted to be a product of child labour.

It was estimated in 2014 that each day in the Congo more than forty thousand children set out to the mineral rich mines to dig up the earth in search of cobalt.

With ages as young as seven, the children work in these mines for up to twelve hours a day to earn merely one or two dollars to support their families. Photos and video evidence reveals that the conditions in which they work are very

hazardous and they are not even equipped with any protective gear. Completely unsheltered from the scorching sun, they spend the day gathering and washing rocks from muddy land and lakes, damaging their health in the procedure. Very often, these young miners are exposed to toxic dust that endangers them to developing severe lung diseases or, sometimes, death.

Due to the very poor conditions in mines, more than eighty deaths were recorded in 2015.

What keeps the miners doing the job, regardless of all the danger and hardship, is the poverty. And it is this poverty that a number of companies are potentially taking advantage of, by exploiting the miners to collect tonnes of cobalt ore, which is then sold to battery manufacturing companies across China and South Korea for a huge profit. These companies, unknowingly or knowingly, rely on child labour to obtain enough cobalt to satiate the demand for batteries from smartphone companies including Apple, Samsung, Sony, and Microsoft.

Sixteen smartphone companies in total have been listed as customers to battery manufacturers who are accused of having informal cobalt supplies. Most of the brands were totally unaware that their battery suppliers used child mined cobalt, while others, such as Apple, weren’t sure about the specific origin of the cobalt supply they used. Ignorance, however, is no excuse. Companies like these have a responsibility to make sure that their resources come from authorised mining sources and are not in any way supportive of human right’s abuses.

The mines which Apple and Samsung use are also reported to be sourcing conflict minerals. The mines are controlled by armed groups who intimidate and take control over civilians in Congo, forcing adults and children to mine for these minerals. Using fear to their advantage, they collect the money that comes from the trade of the so called ‘conflict minerals’ and use it to acquire weapons. With increasing numbers of weapons, the armed groups expand, their power rises, and more civilians are controlled. As long as the conflict minerals are being dug up, violence and terror will only grow.

Apple, however, did show support to the workers last year by pointing out to its battery suppliers that ‘every worker deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.’ They also declared that they “remain committed to driving economic development and creating opportunities to source conflict-free minerals from the DRC and adjoining countries.”

The DRCs government was asked to expand the number of regulated mining zones and to enforce safety guidelines to improve and protect the lives of the miners. After these investigations, many other global companies were encouraged to trace the origin of their resources in an attempt to uncover any human rights abuses and child labour that could be involved, in the hope of drastically improving the lives of the young Congolese children that should be in a school rather than in a mine.

By Deena Al-Dasooqi

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Philanthropy

at its Finest

To date, the human species has only succeeded in eradicating one disease entirely: scmallpox. But within the next few years, a parasite known as ‘the guinea worm’ may join the list, and it’s all thanks to former US President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Jimmy Carter.

Guinea worms (Lat: Dracunculus medinensis) once spread across Africa and the Middle East, but now are endemic to only a few nations, such as Chad and Ethiopia, in central and western Africa. They have been around since ancient times - in fact, they have even been found in the calcified remains of Egyptian mummies. This parasite lives within the human body, most commonly in the leg and foot, growing up to a metre in length, causing ulcers, swelling and pus filled blisters. The female breaks the skin when it reaches maturity and it is only when this occurs that a case can be confirmed. Those infected are often lame for weeks. In a mere thirty years however, the number of reported cases has gone from 3.5 million to a staggering 22 at the start of this year. And it has all been done without vaccines, without treatment, without drugs.

Jimmy Carter, through his foundation the Carter Center, has championed this crusade against the guinea worm.

Working in tandem with the UN, WHO and US Centers for Disease Control, they

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have invested in health education for regions stuck by periodic guinea worm outbreaks. The parasite is water borne, so the Center has provided filtration cloths for villagers and set up respected men as ‘water guards’ for their villages, protecting local streams and ponds known to be infected from being used by the people. The Center also tracks potential outbreaks rigorously, often thwarting them before they begin, and when the worm does appear men and women arrive in town to identify individual cases and contain them: the worm most often spreads as people try to relieve the pain by immersing their feet in water supplies, which only gives the larvae a new home.

We may all live to see the extinction of the guinea worm, but none deserves it more then the man responsible; Jimmy Carter himself. In August 2015, he announced to the press that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and that he hoped “the last guinea worm died before [he] did.” He may very well live to see it happen.

The case of the guinea worm doesn’t just reflect a monumental public health victory, but an example of both the need and effectiveness of philanthropy. We live in an era where charitable organisations like the Carter Center and the Gates Foundation pour millions of dollars of selfearned cash into humanitarian projects, and it can often feel difficult to see the effect they have. But the guinea worm shows us that huge leaps can be made in remarkably short timespans if the money and resources are managed effectively and efficiently. The impact of philanthropy in the case of the guinea is not just felt in the statistics, but in the smiles of the boys and girls who are now free to play and attend school.

By Hannah White

FRACKING - SALVATION OR MENACE? Fracking. In a society such as Qatar, reliant on oil, it’s undoubtedly a term that many of you will have heard before.

“Fracking” is a process of extracting crude oil by breaking rocks apart with high pressure liquid. What may be slightly more obscure is what it really is, and what it means to our lifestyles here in Qatar, which is something I intend to cover here, in a nutshell.

So, first off, what is fracking?

“Fracking” is shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, which is a method used to get at oil that is trapped in rock layers such as shale. High pressure water, mixed with sand and other chemicals, is injected into a seam or borehole in the rock, widening existing cracks and creating new ones, which allows the oil to be extracted more easily by letting the oil escape from its stony container. This allows stores of shale oil to be accessed, which would otherwise be entirely inaccessible to human society.

These shale oil deposits are mostly in the Americas and China, although large amounts have been found elsewhere.

However, in addition to the usual problems associated with oil consumption, fracking presents its own unique set of issues, which have led to a number of moratoriums and tentative bans across the world.

First are the more obvious

problems resulting from shattering layers of oilbearing rock. When the rock is fractured, the oil and fracking chemicals have the possibility of leaching out into the surrounding soil and water supplies, carrying with it carcinogens and the general nastiness of crude oil. This can heavily affect ecosystems and environments around them, the effects of which can be approximated by any number of the many oil spills the world has experienced, such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, this poses a threat to the local communities, who live, work and play relying on the water supplies that may now be contaminated. What is also noteworthy is the massive amount of water needed to supply the pressures required to crack rock; for a single well, upwards of 30,000,000 litres of water may be used. While this poses the issue as to how and where the water comes from, even introducing that much new water into a system risks waterlogging surrounding soil and can undermine nearby settlements.

Also, while unproven, there are also strong correlations between earthquake frequency and the location of wells utilising fracking. Make of that what you will.

Perhaps on a more personal level, the introduction of fracking has had an effect on Qatar’s economy, and the

world in general. One of the major issues the world is facing right now is a nose-dive in the price of crude oil, having dropped from around $140 to $35 per barrel over the last year. One of the main causes of that is the saturation of the market with cheap shale oil produced by the US in the MidWest. Essentially, due to the massive increase in the supply of oil, the prices competitively grew cheaper and cheaper, only exacerbated by the resumption of supply from Iraq, Libya and, soon, Iran. While there are any number of reasons why the USA would choose to do this now, what’s important is that the Pandora’s box has been opened, and the price of oil has been spiralling downwards, directly threatening nations who rely solely on oil as an export, such as Russia or even Qatar.

But what does this have to do with us? The answer lies in a general weakening in Qatar’s economy. Because oil is cheaper, Qatar is now less capable of maintaining the same level of growth it has experienced since its oil was first tapped into. Because of this, oil companies in Qatar will struggle to turn a profit, and a decrease in profits tends to be accompanied by a wave of lay-offs. Rather ironically, an increase in local petrol prices is on the cards, and can already be observed; petrol now costs about 30% more than what

it used to. The main reason for this is because of a loss of profits abroad, the government will be forced to jack up the price of oil here to compensate.

The secondary effect of this will likely be a general increase in the cost of living; because of the increase in petrol prices, transport costs will rise as well, forcing supermarkets and the commercial industry in general to increase the price of their own products to account for it. While this hasn’t really been observed as of yet, it’s likely to occur as a result of fracking, and so is something that needs to be watched out for.

The thing about fracking is that it is probably the single source of oil that would prevent us from running out in the near future. With other oil reserves slowly depleting and other, greener alternatives having yet to step up to the plate, it can be argued that fracking is worth the drawbacks. However, at what cost? These are not straightforward questions to answer, and are moral as well as practical. What is known is that fracking is something that has a direct effect on our lives, now, and that is something we will all have to be watching.

By Matthew Renner

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Britain and the EU: The Brexit On the 23rd June this year, the people of the United Kingdom will make a massive decision: whether they should remain a part of the European Union. But first, what actually is the European Union? Basically, it is an alliance of 28 countries that have become one single economy, rather than 28 individual smaller ones, with stronger political ties between member states.

The benefits of this political and economic union are far reaching. Firstly, it helps the businesses of countries grow as they can sell their products or services in 27 other countries without much constraint. It also helps a member by negotiating trade deals with other world countries on behalf of all its member states, and that’s good because it means that you have a higher spending power and are therefore more attractive to countries like China and America.

Think of it in terms of two men coming into a shop, but one of them is richly dressed so the salespeople gravitate towards him instead of the other. The same principle applies for countries; the larger and more powerful the economy, the more attractive the nation becomes to others. Another great thing about the EU is its policy of free movement. This essentially means that a citizen of any member state can travel or live in any of the other 27 countries in the EU without any restrictions, and this is something millions of UK citizens have done in the past. Finally, there is national security to consider as through our immensely close ties with other EU countries, the UK has increased co-operation on everything from arms smuggling to counter-terrorism operations.

There is no better example of this than Europol who are a taskforce of the best police officers from member countries who work together to face common security threats. The claim of stopping free movement for security reasons has been firmly swept to the side by the recent document signed by 12 senior military figures, saying we are safer in the EU to combat threats such as Russian aggression and ISIS.

But surely, since there is a referendum on membership, there are some negatives to the European Union? The problems of the EU are in some ways the same problems as the United Nations. Due to the fact that there are 28 governments, with 28 foreign policies, every decision takes a lot of time.

This has been highlighted in recent years by the ongoing migrant crisis: European leaders still fail to come up with a single policy, leading to countries like Hungary stopping migrants whilst countries like Germany are welcoming them. This leads to massive confusion and feelings of the European Union being non-democratic, as even if people of a country vote for a government who wants to allow every migrant the right to enter they may not get this, as the EU may not agree with such a policy. There is also the cost of membership to consider as the UK paid £13 billion in membership fees last year alone and only received £4.5 billion in investment back. Supporters of the Brexit argue these billions could be used in other areas rather than to finance the EU system. The massive amount of regulation placed on companies is another negative - even though the majority of British businesses will only work in Britain, they are still hindered by complicated EU rules. The final argument for leaving is that it would allow Britain to re-establish its individual relationships with countries that will be more important than Europe in years to come. Many feel that the Commonwealth nations, like India, are our natural international partners, but this is a big gamble to take and the most likely outcome is that we are left with little power on the world stage.

Many of the most pro-EU Brits will agree with the negatives of the Union, but instead of leaving they argue that we should be looking to reform this organisation from within to cut the red tape of regulation and make it a more democratic institution and this is, to all his credit, what the Prime Minister has tried to do in recent months. With the government, major business leaders, top bankers and top security chiefs all saying we are better served as an EU member, it appears that support is resounding and we can only hope that the people of Britain listen to the experts rather than to the scaremongering tactics of the likes of Nigel Farage.

By Ross O’Donnel

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Irkaya Farm Qatar’s Green and Pleasant Land

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ith shimmering green fields stretching off into the distance, pools of water glistening in the sunlight, and teaming with local and migratory wildlife, Irkaya farm provides an environment at odds with the public perception of Qatar. But it is here – you just have to know where to look.

Fifty kilometres west of Doha, somewhere past the water park, you will find Irkaya farm. The farm itself was established to provide cattle feed and consists of twenty square kilometres of verdant pastures irrigated by a centre pivot system; this is what gives the distinctive circular pattern to the crops when viewed from above (and making it visible on Google Earth).

However, unless you are an agricultural engineer, the main point of interest at Irkaya farm is not the centre pivot irrigation system, but rather the cornucopia of birds, mammals and insects that can be found there.

In fact, the farm claims to possess 238 species out of total of 315 species of birds, reptiles and mammals found in Qatar.

Within these, it reportedly provides shelter for nine different types of mammals, six types of reptiles and over 10 types of butterflies.

Irkaya Farm fields

And this is obvious from the moment you pass the farm’s gates.

Crested larks scatter as you head towards the fields, Pallid harriers swoop and lope with their distinctive long wing beats, bee-eaters watch from the top of telegraph poles, and every now and again, a hoopoe will pop its head out of the scrub to check what is going on.

A number of the birds are year-round residents at Irkaya, but even more are a result of Qatar’s location on the migratory route for those birds that winter further south. This means that of the birds sighted at Irkaya, 15 are on the global endangered list.

The birds of Irkaya have been photographed and recorded over many years. However, work has only just begun on studying the flora and other fauna of this unique area. There are also reptiles, arachnids including species of spiders and scorpions, and hundreds of insects that will surely be found here in the course of future research.

With environmental development as one of the four pillars of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the development of settings where wildlife can flourish is key. Hopefully, places like Irkaya can be the beginning of this.

Aerial view of Irkaya farm

By Roy Castle 9

The Secret’s Out The Further Reading ECA is something many of you may not have heard of. More obscure still was the Lecture Night that they held: open to all, but attended by few. However, it is these lucky few that came off the better for it, as each open mind that walked through the doors of the auditorium that night left a small degree wiser.

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he lectures were given on a wide variety of scientific and medical subjects, ranging from cutting edge innovations in solar panel technology and AIDS treatment, to informative presentations on Ebola and the life and works of Albert Einstein.

With a small, compact crowd, and the contrast between the bright hall and the dark, shadowed school grounds outside, the meeting had the feel of a meeting of a secret society. All present were party to something bigger, a collective amalgamation of the knowledge and research that these youths had worked tirelessly to collate and present.

Of course, this was no Illuminati, and perhaps this description may have been a tad melodramatic. However, what is important to note is that not a single person left that room feeling dissatisfied; in each presentation, there was something new for the spectator to learn, and showed a distinct devotion to the art of edification in the presenters. This idea of learning, not only within the confines of the school but in one’s own time and interests, demonstrates a perfect example of what may be taken to be ‘the Doha College ideal’.

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The structure of the Lecture Evening was as one might expect: an opening speech was given, in which a well-deserved pride was expressed in the students who were to stand before us that night. Then the first speaker would present and, upon the conclusion of their presentation, the next student would take the stage.

“Not a single person left that room feeling dissatisfied.”

The structure was nothing special; what was special, were the students themselves. Each speech, whether the topic was the NASA exploration of Mars, or the development of AIDS treatment, or even the otherwise dry topic of financial derivatives, was pulled off with aplomb, as each presenter knew their subject perfectly, speaking with incredible finesse and confidence, as only astronomical

amounts of effort and passion can grant.

Each speech was accompanied by a PowerPoint which, while at other times is a recipe for disaster, here was intricately woven into their presentations, forming a single, seamless whole that harmoniously complemented each aspect of their performances. However, the night was not only an ode to the dissemination of science and knowledge; the evening was broken in two by a splendid performance of “Por Una Cabeza”, played by Ralf Yap on the violin, and Kate Palfreeman-Watt on the piano.

Despite the relative weight of some of the subject matters, one would be hardpressed to locate one amongst the crowd who had not learned something new, or even had seen a common issue in a new light. Despite - or perhaps because of - a small turnout, the speakers gave it their all to prepare the evening, along the way learning and growing as people. Here’s to hoping for the future success and growth of the “secret society”: the Further Reading Group.

By Matthew Renner

MUN Interview M

ajlis reporter Abdulaziz Abdelrahman caught up with Ata Chowdhry and Nadia Bahemia to discuss their experiences within MUN, how they feel it has benefitted them, and why you should definitely consider being part of such a great extracurricular experience…

Can you describe your roles and responsibilities in your current position?

Ata: As Secretary General, my main role is to set up our annual DCMUN conference and hopefully take it to unprecedented success. I am also responsible for, alongside the rest of the executive team, ensuring that our weekly after school club runs smoothly.

Nadia: As president, my main role is to work alongside the executive team to set up our upcoming conferences. It’s not actually as exciting as it sounds; it’s essentially a lot of emails and maths! I would say my main responsibility is to make sure everything runs smoothly, to ensure an overall successful and enjoyable conference for all!

How did you feel in your first MUN conference?

Ata: I vividly remember walking into my committee nervous and extremely curious of what was to come. Seeing all the delegates with their speeches, and their suits and heels, frankly felt quite intimidating. Although I did not contribute much to my first debate, I felt like I had in some way taken a step towards achieving something by just being a part of it. My first conference was a great success and I remember feeling immensely proud of what my school had achieved.

Nadia: My palms were sweaty, knees weak and my arms were heavy. Yes, I did just quote Eminem and, quite frankly, his lyrics seem to summarise my first conference perfectly! I didn’t know what I was doing, or what I was supposed to do.

All I knew was that I was the delegate of Togo: a country that I had never heard of before, and that I was to debate carbon emissions. So, I sat in my seat for three

uneventful days. In short, my first conference was really bad. However, I persevered and signed up for the next upcoming conference - a decision that, to this day, I do not regret.

Is MUN for everybody or are specific skills needed to join?

Ata: Although many people believe that Ata Chowdhry MUN is only about debating and speaking, there is a lot more that goes on behind every year being more successful than the the scenes! Delegates can build on public previous. This year, we hope to continue speaking, reasoning, world issues and this and to make this conference the best even social skills, while members of the it has ever been, leaving all participants press can widen their abilities of writing with lasting memories and life changing and photography. experiences. We hope to expand our horizons and experiment with new ideas Nadia: MUN is one of the rare activities and, most importantly, have as much fun which has something to offer to everyone: as we can along the way! for the more outgoing students it offers an opportunity to sharpen their debating Nadia: One of our objectives is to open skills, for those who would rather remain up MUN to younger students, hence why in the background it allows them to we started a ‘middle school’ MUN club. showcase their organisational skills, and This is all part of a larger objective to try for the more artistic being part of the and expand the club. We believe that the press team might allow them to improve earlier you start, the better you will get! their specific skill set. All in all, MUN offers the opportunity for everyone to Why should people join MUN? shine.

Ata: Being a part of MUN has without How will MUN help you in the future? doubt moulded me into a better, more confident person. MUN does not only Ata: As a student who is passionate about educate you about global matters and pursuing a career in law, I believe MUN important events, but also allows you to has already put me on the right track. meet so many interesting people along It has made me more aware of what’s the way! MUN really is a lot of fun and happening in the world and this has given I’ve had some of the best experiences of me the ability to converse with people my life at MUN conferences. of different backgrounds on different topics. It has taught me to reason and Nadia: My only answer to that would be successfully put across my point as well as join MUN because you want to! Whether to always be organised and well prepared, you choose to join so it looks good on which will definitely be of great help in your college application, or due to your the future. interest in geopolitics, it doesn’t matter!

Once you understand it, MUN is possibly Nadia: I think the most important and the most thrilling activity there is, and valuable skill MUN has taught me is once you start, you may never be able to diplomacy. Conflicts are ever occurring; stop. whether between nations, or between

By Abdulaziz Abdelrahman people, being able to understand the problem and solve it through organized thinking and diplomacy is probably one of the greatest skills that could ever be learnt. A skill so great that even some world leaders haven’t acquired it yet!

Identify any objectives you would want to meet that can benefit DCMUN in the long run.

Ata: Over the years, I have witnessed DCMUN become bigger and better with Nadia Bahemia

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RACE TO LEECH MOUNTAIN

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hether you know it under the alias of Leech Paradise, Leech Hell or Leech Mountain, you are sure to shudder violently at the memory of your last day of trekking in the mountain ranges of Sri Lanka. It had been a tremendous journey so far – nineteen young and fit students had pushed their way through the first two days of mountainous walking whilst battling rain, blisters and wild boar alike.

Spirits were higher than expected as the restless youth rose early to watch the sun rise above the peaks of the mountains they had scaled on the way to the notorious Sky Camp. The excitement of finally being able to complete the hardest walk of their lives served as fuel for the dreary task of packing up tents and pulling those hazardous backpacks on for another seven hours. Despite a little emotional outburst of frustration (due to those damn bags) just as they set off, all the teams started the day hoping to just barrel through the last twelve kilometres to meet the sweet relief of the bus waiting at the bottom.

It started off gently enough. The winding jungle tracks brought them through lush canopies of dense jungle, across meandering streams of fresh, clear water and up close and personal with gorgeous, cascading waterfalls. As kids who came from a barren wasteland packed with sand, it was truly a surreal experience to be surrounded by such

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vibrant flora and it was agreed amongst the team that their souls had been refreshed by the trip.

Approximately half way through this last day, the group of sixth form girls arrived at the base of a massive valley of terraced rice paddies. The fields spanned many kilometres in every direction and, unfortunately for them, the only way for the trekkers to go was up. With aching muscles and bruised hips, they began the ascent, although without complaint as the surroundings were as breath-taking as the actual climbing. Despite a small hiccup with directions (that led the girls into the garden of a lovely elderly lady who offered them some tea), the students managed to navigate themselves through the fields of rice and reached a flat area of respite where they could gaze down at the levels they had just ascended.

After a quick recuperation period, it was time to continue their climb – the students were mistaken to believe the mountain was only as high as they could see from the bottom. But the notion of the end was lingering in their minds, so they picked up their feet. The sun was high on the clear sky at this point and was beating down mercilessly on their heads. Up they went through the thick vegetation, hoping for nothing else but reaching the top. It felt like heaven to the poor trekkers when they found a stony bridge that lead the way across a roaring river. Here, they

took a break as the time for lunch had arrived. It was at this point that the physical toll became noticeable on the faces of the girls. It was an exertion they had never quite experienced before and it took a large amount of mental strength to continue.

After their stomachs had been refilled and their sore backs sufficiently rested, they consulted the local guide who had been accompanying them. It was unclear from their map as to how long the next section was going to be, but their guide assured them it was only about 200m of steep uphill before it would level out and they could enjoy the last part of their journey going gently downhill. The end seemed tantalisingly close and within minutes the bags were back on and the final test began.

This was the beginning of what came to be known as Leech Mountain. It was as steep as the girls had feared and it was not long before their calves were burning and their lungs screaming. They were fighting their own limits at this point, both physically as well as mentally. Because, even though some were on the verge of collapse and some were running low on will power, they could not stop. Stopping meant that the horde of leeches lurking in the vegetation would swarm towards them.

Leeches are the stuff of nightmares.

They are no bigger than a paper clip, yet they pushed the mental strength of every participant in the entirety of Team 2 to their breaking points. It is difficult to describe exactly how they felt, but it was clear that the blood sucking demons made every participant feel violently uncomfortable.

Many, many tears were shed as they forced their bodies up the mountain. The only reason many of the students made it through Leech Hell that day was the fact that they had come so far. Some managed to discover, battle and overcome a completely new fear within just three days. But everyone that climbed on that day came away knowing they had more strength within them than they realised.

Everything else from that point is hazy – but we all made it. We made it to the sanctuary of the bus where we were free to curse and complain to our hearts desire. We made it through an ordeal we had never imagined we would face and had gained new knowledge into how much stronger we had become as people. However, it was on the beloved bus it was realised we had gained something else: on this one bus full of exhausted teenagers new friendships bloomed and old friendships strengthened. Together, we had all gone through one of the most distressing trials of our lives and together we had all defeated Leech Mountain. It is crazy how easy it is to give love to each other just moments after you were so close to breaking. In the end, we came out as winners on all accounts. We are stronger as individuals, yet we are bonded with new people who know exactly what we went through, and those bonds don’t come often. Those are the types of bonds you treasure for a lifetime.

By Christine Mathiesen

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NYC Trip drop our bags before heading out for dinner, followed by a nice and, much needed, relaxing sleep after that long 14-hour flight.

Our first day of adventure was full of sightseeing: we went all the way to the top of the Empire State Building which really amazed me, and also made me think about the time and effort that had been put into building such a structure; a trip to Central Park was a personal favourite of mine as I have always seen the park on TV and cinema screens, but never thought I would get to experience it in real life.

Whilst we were there, we did indulge in a number of snowball fights as, after all, we are students from Qatar…a country where it NEVER snows!

Throughout the week, we also went to a number of places using the subway and these included a visit to the Statue of Liberty and to Times Square - which was the best place for us to take photos in and to witness the amount of technology that is used to advertise companies. We also went on a NBC studio tour which was my second favourite place to visit as I actually had the chance to see the sets of my favourite TV shows that are aired on NBC.

Not only was this my first trip undertaken as a Doha College student, it was also my first ever school trip overseas, so I was excited to see what the ICT department had in store for us on their trip to the ‘big apple’. Despite the stressful 14-hour flights and the jet lag, I can honestly say that I enjoyed every part of the trip.

Although not actually a planned part of the trip itself, upon our arrival in New York I was overjoyed when I saw the traces of snow on the ground. It had been 10 years since I last saw snow! My enjoyment however did make people stare at me a little, but my joy overcame my embarrassment. Outside, we were greeted by our bus driver who took us to our hotel to

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As well as this, we went to an NBA game which I actually did enjoy, despite hating basketball games before. We also visited a number of museums showcasing different historical and technological artefacts; The Phantom of The Opera show which had a great story behind it even though I was not a big fan of the opera style; and, lastly, the 9/11 memorial which was a truly moving part of the trip as we got to see the names of the many people who lost their lives, whilst listening to a talk which involved a fireman who was brave enough to go back to the towers to help the many innocent civilians trapped inside.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first trip with Doha College and very much hope to go on more trips next year. Not only did I experience new places, I also met many new and wonderful people during this trip, and the experience has helped me to become more sociable, to deal with real life situations better and to cross off a couple of things from my ‘bucket list’.

By Abdulaziz Abdelrahman

a r o f All

e s u a c d o go

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he QJC Charities Committee are a group of DC Duke of Edinburgh Award students from Bronze through to Gold.

Their main project is building a primary school in Nepal. The committee are now two years into this five year project and have started work again after the tragic earthquake that struck Nepal back in April 2015.

On February 28th, they hosted a QJC Charities Committee Quiz at the Rugby Club to raise money for the cause. The night included: 7 rounds in the quiz, a curry dinner and a raffle with many exciting and generously donated prizes.

To prepare for the night, members of the committee

approached a range of companies in and around Doha asking for donations, raffle prizes and sponsorship. In the end, the sponsors and prizes were as follows: Gigi’s Restaurant Vouchers (1,000 QR), Nando’s Vouchers (500 QR), Applebee’s Vouchers (300 QR), two meals at the Four Season’s ‘Elements’ restaurant, two meals at the Intercontinental, Evolution Sports Fit Vouchers, a Samsung phone and an iPhone 6.

All in all, the night was a huge success: the turnout was brilliant with over 100 people attending the event and money raised was 11,500QR. Raffle ticket sales alone amounted to 5,700 QR. To our generous sponsors and to those who supported us in any way, many thanks to you all.

Watch out for the next fundraising event…

By Megan Yarnall 15

A Far Cry from Fair Verona second time the hall was packed, full to bursting with parents, students and members of staff.

“Excuse me?” I begin, “Have you seen - “ But the person I am trying to speak to darts past, a flurry of blue tafetta and sequins. “Do you know where -” I try to ask another passerby, but she too seems to have places to be, and bumps into me as she races by on rollerskates.

It is the chaos of the first dress rehersal.

The whole cast is in costume together for the first time, and many of them are clearly excited to be, but there is too much to do. There are props to be placed and cues to be called and lines that need to be learnt at the last minute. I clearly won’t get any backstage tours right now.

So I sit in one of the chairs high up, near the soundstage, and watch as the play comes slowly to its start. The stage is dark, and lit by purple and pink backlights.

Disco balls glitter in the gloom at the far back. The first set of actors are waiting in the wings, filling the air with half-hushed whispers. Someone is calling for silence.

The lights onstage flicker, facets of light in the deep shadows. *** This year the Drama department has decided to perform an adaptation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, penned by Mrs Jane Williams, head of the department. She tells me it’s the first time the play will be performed, and that’s it’s a different sort of Shakespeare than I might be used to. I don’t mind; in fact, I find it intriguing…

In the end, I had the pleasure of watching it in full twice: once in the audience on opening night, and again as a stagehand during the closing performance. That

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As the play begins, our narrator, Year 11’s Nick Belsten, lays the scene. He wears a pair of lederhosen and a shirt with a v-neck that I think is a little too deep for his comfort. Once he has set us on the planet that is to be our setting, there is a musical number: The Village People’s YMCA. The full cast comes out for this opening song, all decked in elaborate costumes from the last century.

Punks in ripped clothing, a squad of young Elvises complete with rhinestone capes, derbyskating waitresses and gangs of toughs and glitter mascara and wraparound shades and Stetson hats.

Quite the far cry from fair Verona this!

Despite the huge cast, the whole thing comes together very well, if not perfectly.

The writing is clever when it wants to be and funny when it has to be. The throwaways to consumerism and the media and religion don’t belong in this kind of wild, uproarous romp, but they do raise a laugh. The pacing too, is awry; the leads don’t even meet until halfway through and by trying to find parts for everyone who wanted one, the hands behind the magic have unintentionally

wound their story through some somewhat unnecessary fillers.

Nontheless, the production proves to be a huge success. Our titular Romeo (Archie Diack) and Julie (Elissa Healey) deliver solid performances, as do DJ Mercedes (Jalen Savariau), Fried (Chris Dlamini) and the leader of the Funky Chicks (Nasreen Hago). But it is Abdullah Abu-Wasel, the Majlis’ own Sports editor, who proves to be the crowd’s favourite. Draped in a blue gown, boasting a breathless falsetto, the curiously masculine Princess Pearl is greeted with laughter throughout the performance. Every exaggerated shake of the hips is met with peals of laughter.

Perhaps the only part more enjoyed was when Dr. Sommer was invited onstage to be part of a makeup competition; it was quite a novel experience, seeing the College Principal in eyeliner!

The ever present Jerry helms the lights and sound with a team of helpers, and their precision with the spotlights and soundscapes gives the whole thing a professional quality rare in a school performance. I adore the soundtrack: never before have I heard Beethoven sit side by side with the Sex Pistols, and never before would I have thought it

would work. My favourite little bit of cleverness was the filching of a haunting Casablanca tune (‘As Time Goes By’, for those wondering) for a scene that resembles the actual usage of the song in that movie.

It’s an outrageous, baroque piece of madness: all retro sci-fi and musical pastiche, more H.G.Wells than Shakespeare. The running gags and gimmicks are funny at first, but whilst they could quickly become stale, the audience doesn’t seem to mind much at all! The dance numbers are well coordinated and executed, and the action is fun to watch with the costumes being characters unto themselves.

By the end, when YMCA returns for the close, and the whole cast comes out to celebrate, the audience is caught up in it as well. The auditorium swells with the sound and movement of so many people, clapping and dancing and laughing. I watch this from the very back of the auditorium, and while it is a thrilling sight, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Perhaps it was the lack of any real action, or the overlong plot, or maybe it was because the ending didn’t offer anything new to the story.

Stories, however, are made of many parts, and performance only adds to them. Acting and sound and setting and character are all integral to the enjoyment of the audience. But in a more quintessential sense, art is good art when it does what it sets out to do. This year’s production of Romeo and Juliet did not set out to a be faithful adaptation performed in the West End or the Globe Theatre, but a Doha College production which aimed to allow every student wanting to, to be a part of it. To this end, it set out not only to entertain the audience, but the actors themselves who became living, breathing parts of a system that was designed for them to have fun and express themselves.

And in that regard, it can be said to have done nothing but succeed.

By Tahmeed Shafiq

I stand next to Mrs. Williams as I muse over this. She catches me watching the musical finale, the whole place alive with joyous energy, and remarks that this is why she does what she does: to bring people together and give them the chance to enjoy themselves, before making her way down to the stage to deliver a closing speech. *** If you argued that I was treating a mere school play with too much seriousness, I might be inclined to agree. But stories have a special place in my heart, and I like to see them done well.

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SWIMMING

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GALA

Winners: PHOENIX

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QATAR INTERNATIONAL DAY O n the 22nd of November, the Year 13 A-level Applied Business Class hosted a Qatar International Day event full of creative international themed activities for the Year 7 classes. The students chose Qatar, Japan, Italy, America, UK and Egypt as the key countries for their activities which included origami lessons, bubble football, t-shirt designing, a hilarious Photo Booth section and “mummy” wrapping competitions, as part of the cultural inspired activities. Other nations were included in activities such as the quiz, cupcake designing and scavenger hunt. Internationally themed food was also for sale in a huge Middle Eastern themed tent during both breaks.

All staff and students were allowed to come into school dressed in their national

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dress or colours of their home country for a QR10 fee, with all of the profits made on this day being sent to the charity ‘Hand in Hand Syria’. Throughout the day, many teachers were praised the hard work put in by the Applied Business students, and continued to compliment both the outcome and how excited the Year 7s were.

Doha College’s Principal, Dr. Steffen Sommer, said, “The aim of the event was to help both the Year 13 and our secondary students learn about new cultures, as well as to plan and deliver a complex corporate event.” He continued, “The experience of working with other organisations has been invaluable to this group of students, many of whom want to go into business for themselves in the future.”

As students, we were fortunate enough to have a number of highly co-operative sponsors whom Dr. Sommers also praised saying, “the local community had been extremely welcoming, generous and supportive of the students and their event concept. I would like to thank the Qatar business community and other major sponsors for their extraordinary support for our Qatar International Day.” There were a number of key sponsors whose support allowed the event to be financed and run including the ‘Mercure Hotel’: our Diamond sponsor who provided essential funding for the event.

The hotel’s general Manager, Thierry Szewc, said he was pleased that the hotel was able to support the school as a Diamond sponsor, stating: “As part of our corporate social responsibility, Mercure Hotel is pleased to be part of the Doha

hard to organise this amazing event. The Year 7 students had a super time learning all about cultures that exist in countries such as Qatar and Egypt through activities like Mummy Wrapping! I am very proud of the work they put in which made the event successful.”

One of the student hosts, Ellie SpencerHarty, from the Applied Business class commented, “Qatar international Day was a blast and we were able to carry it out smoothly and, almost, calmly!

Students throughout the day had commented on the amazing set we created which included hundreds of flags, huge cardboard cutouts of monumental statues and, of course, the Middle Eastern inspired tent. The students found it fantastic which was easy to tell by their huge smiles and excited chants.

Each activity was diverse and relevant to different countries throughout the world, which also taught the students some information about different nations.

Overall it was very successful and a great learning experience for both the students and us as a team.”

our differences to make this event a success that later on created a bond that would not be broken. Together we came up with this event knowing it would be a challenge, but we accepted it and, in the end, it brought us closer together.”

By Abdul Aziz Al Nasser

Our head Chairman, Abdul Aziz Al Nasser, commented, “As a group, we set aside

College Qatar International charity event”.

Our platinum sponsors ‘Aspire Katara Hospitality’ arranged to bring us 150 Red Velvet cupcakes, as well as delicious food such as Chapatis, Karak and Shawarmas from Kunafa and Shawarma Albinsana in Katara. Additionally, 100% of the takings from Chapati and Karak sales are being given to the ‘Hand in Hand Syria’ charity. Our gold sponsor, ‘Aspire Zone’, provided 150 t-shirts for students to use as souvenirs from the event, which they used to draw Qatar inspired themes on.

‘Q-Auto’and ‘Audi’ brought in two of their newest cars, plus organised merchandise give-aways for the winning students.

Applied Business Studies teacher, Mrs. Gammon, helped with the planning and facilitation of the entire event. Without her, the day would not have been as great as it was! Mrs. Gammon said, “The Year 13 Applied Business students worked so

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‘How To’ High School H

igh school is a tough place to figure out how to do things, like prep for a major exam or to just get into a good routine of studying. No one is ever fully prepared for exams and the stress of high school, whether it’s the workload, your bad organisational skills, or you just don’t know where to start. That is why this article may just save your life.

Tip #1: Be familiar with your subject specification. This is important because it is essentially the foundation of your studying process. You can study for History as in-depth as possible, but if it is not what your exam board requires you to study, you will not get any marks for it. Therefore, be very clear about what specification your subjects are. This also helps with note taking as it gives your notes a structure to follow.

Tip#2: Make a timetable for revising and stick to it. Plan your revision based on the similarity in skills set needed for those subjects. For example, study maths and physics on the same day.

However, beware that you do not overwork yourself by revising two subjects in one day (unless you are absolutely sure you are capable of doing so). You’ll set high expectations for yourself, but will only feel disappointed when you fail to complete your plans.

Another important tip would be to always take breaks when studying. (The 30/30 app helps you plan your different routines and gives you a visual timer so that you can time your work and time your break times to not get side tracked or off schedule).

You can try using the 20/5 system, where you study for 20 minutes and take a 5-minute rest.

Tip #3: Note taking is important. It might seem easier to not take extra notes and to simply go through lessons relying on textbooks or websites which summarise the topic, but writing down the knowledge that you’ve learnt helps you retain the information even better. Find out which learner you are on http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/ learning-styles-quiz.shtml. This website assesses your choices and decides whether you are an auditory, tactile or visual learner. If you’re an auditory learner, you might find it helpful to learn keywords or information when you make it into a song or having someone ask you questions which you will answer aloud.

If you’re a tactile learner, you’ll find learning is more helpful when you associate certain hand gestures with certain keywords or facts. If you’re a visual learner, you might like to use flashcards and mind maps.

Tip #4: Wider reading might seem tedious and a waste of time, but it will help your understanding of the topic and helps you relate your knowledge to outside contexts. A good piece of advice would be to sometimes read ahead of your class on your subject as you will be fully prepared for your next class. As you have already retained the basic knowledge and understanding, you can use the time in class to ask questions on certain aspects of the subject which you might be struggling with.

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Tip #5: If you don’t understand anything, ask your teachers. Do not be afraid of sounding dumb in front of your class or teachers because, at the end of the day, the only one who is at loss will be you. By asking your teachers questions, you not only help your understanding, but also show your enthusiasm for learning – which doesn’t hurt your effort grade. Just remember, ask questions if you do not understand. It is, after all, your education at stake, and not your teacher’s. If you’re unable to ask a teacher, there are always after school mentoring sessions which you can use to your full advantage. Asking isn’t limited to only teachers; you can also ask your peers or older students.

Another important note is that you will also need to listen to the advice your teacher gives. Whether it is feedback, negative criticism or general advice, it is very important to listen, note it down and carry it out. Your teachers know the subject best and they know what’s best for you specifically.

Tip #6: Studying by yourself is no fun, but neither is failing your classes by partying too much. Make a support network of people that study the same subjects as you do. This will help you form new friendships as well as get better grades. It’s even better if you can get a study group of different people with different skillsets so that there is always someone who can help you, and vice versa. If you can’t find the time to meet outside with your friends, a group Skype can also do the trick.

Tip #7: Your health is very important. Learning is stressful and takes up a lot of energy. That is why exercising is important to keep your blood flow regulating throughout your body and your brain. Being dehydrated causes many medical problems and weakens your immune system. As much as we want you to focus on your education and studies, you mustn’t forget about keeping yourself healthy and to not overwork yourself. Having a regular and early bedtime not only helps give you enough rest for you to start the next day fresh faced and awake to pay attention, but it allows your body to grow sufficiently.

By Sarah Wong

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A Student’s Guide To Digital Resources

By Sarah Wong

To prevent distractions: - Freedom app To time yourself: - 30/30 app Maths Help: - Mathwayz app - Algebra solver app - Math 42 app - Photomath app - My Script Calculator List: - Any.Do app - MinimaList app Memorise: - Quizlet app (flashcards) - Biscuit app (definition) - Flashcards (chegg) - GoConqr app

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Languages: - Memrise app - Duolingo - Brainscape app Note taking: - Penultimate app - Bamboo paper app - One note app - iBrainstorm app English: - Poems by heart - Scribd - GCSEpod - Openstudy app - InstaGrok Presentation: - Prezi lite editor

A Newer Hope “This will begin to make things right.” Uttered by the mysterious Lor San Tekka, this line underscores the Star Wars prequels and proudly boasts that the following film, the sequel, will bring balance to one of the biggest movie sagas of all time. It’s a bold move by director JJ Abrams (who had been threatened to be dubbed Jar Jar Abrams if he screwed up) but by the end of The Force Awakens, few can disagree that this is the Star Wars movie we have all been waiting for.

The Force Awakens needed to be many things in order to be good. It needed to set the standard for Star Wars as the saga moved forwards, and it had to satiate the need of the long term Star Wars fan, while keeping the franchise’s fire alight for those who grew up with the prequels. It also had to be the perfect introduction for youngsters who have yet to delve into Star Wars. Thankfully, Star Wars: The Force Awakens manages to be all these things, and more. It’s a rare beast of a movie that consistently feels like something you have seen before, but continues to offer up something new.

In the 30 years since Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker has disappeared, the Jedi have moved into myth, and the rebels and Galactic Empire have been rebranded as the Resistance and First Order respectively. With this change, a new set of characters are born. Rey, brilliantly played by Daisy Ridley, is a scavenger living under the shadow of the past. Her opening shots are perfect.

We watch as she toboggans down David Lean-like landscapes on the planet Jakku, scavenging through rusting debris to find spare parts to buy food, while living in the remnants of a derelict AT-AT.

Star Wars wouldn’t be complete without a suitable antagonist, and Adam Driver is superb as Kylo Ren. As with all Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens feels like we first meet Ren at a mid-point in his character arc. He’s a bad guy filled with anger who has a greater grasp of The Force than many we have seen, but he is conflicted. Still young, he has temper tantrums and his unhealthy obsession with Darth Vader means he wears a mask without reason. When we do ultimately see what he is capable of, this is not only another step toward darkness but a devastating disturbance in the Star Wars lore.

In addition there is Finn (John Boyega) and Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron. Both characters’ stories are intertwined as Finn abandons his post as a Storm Trooper due to the atrocities he witnesses, only to help Resistance pilot Dameron escape from the clutches of the First Order. And let’s not forget BB-8, a droid that’s loveable, not annoying. While BB-8 could have been a misstep, it’s an inspired piece of practical effects with a heart.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens would be a solid movie, if its focus was just these characters. Abrams and Star Wars script veteran Lawrence Kasdan have instantly created a new cast of cast-offs that belong in the Star Wars universe. But, this Star Wars movie was never just about introducing the new, but also celebrating the old. Each introduction of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia, R2-D2, C3P0 and eventually Luke works very well. There’s no stumbling here, but actors fitting back into roles that made them and obviously relishing the chance to play such iconic characters again.

Han and Chewie’s synergy remains perfect. Whilst here we get a much older Han Solo, what we see is not the half-hearted Harrison Ford seen in movies of late but the real deal. The humour that was sorely missing from the prequels is back with aplomb. The way Han interacts with the new cast is great, how he feels protective over Rey, and how he sees himself in Finn.

However, it’s with the Dark Side where the movie fails in part.

While Snoke is menacing, this CGI character feels really out of place in a world that, for the most part, seamlessly blends practical effects with CGI. Whilst the plot is reminiscent of A New Hope, it’s this familiar territory that anchors The Force Awakens in the saga. It pulls on every fan’s sense of nostalgia but there is enough original content to show that this isn’t just a movie made to leech money out of a brilliant franchise. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the movie the prequels should have been. It’s simple visually, and while the action is superb it’s not the entirety of the film, the characters are the main focal point. Star Wars was always about small exchanges in a big world. The Force Awakens has plenty of these, and because of this it’s definitely a part of the franchise we all know and love.

By Iain Mackenzie Cameron

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Album review: Opus, Eric Prydz

Image source: http://www.josepvinaixa.com/blog/eric-prydz-opus/

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his second studio album by Eric Prydz is an interesting one. Going into it, I would not have thought that I would enjoy an electronic album, but Opus has managed to keep me interested, despite its lack of lyrics that are so prevalent in other forms of music, especially my favourites: hip hop and rap.

Nonetheless, an album has been crafted here that is worth a listen although, for reasons I will get into, it may not be for everyone. One key problem that I do have with the album though is that the songs all have a very similar flow or feeling to them. Let’s take an example…

The album’s title track, Opus, starts off with a slow beat and, over the course of the first four or so minutes, the speed starts to increase, eventually reaching a full blown rave beat by the halfway point, which is at about the four minute mark.

Which brings me to my next point: these songs are not short! Most of the 19 songs on this two-hour long album are more than 6 minutes long, so aren’t what you would call ‘radio friendly’, which will inevitably turn some people off.

Moving onto another song, such as Generate, and you start to recognize a similar formula: the song starts off with a slow beat, which gets increasingly faster as you go on through the song. Now, if you don’t have a problem with music that sounds very similar and repetitive, and if you are a fan of electronic music, you will be able to appreciate what Eric Prydz has done here. The sounds that have been made are very appealing, and are reminiscent of 80’s party music.

However, if you are looking for something more varied or, like me, you begin to despair at the lack of lyrics, then Opus may not be for you. But for anyone who doesn’t mind the similarities between the songs, you will enjoy your time with this record.

By Haidar Ali

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Album Review ANTI – Rihanna

Finally!

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ollowing an agonisingly drawn-out marketing campaign, Rihanna unexpectedly released her long-awaited comeback album titled ANTI on the new music service she is a partner in: Tidal. It probably would have been released later, had it not been for the last-minute leak - but whoever did it, I applaud you. The self-proclaimed ‘bad girl’ tugs us forward in her most unpredictable, personal journey yet, and I mean it - I was surprised. Most of us were. The pop princess had a busy year.

For long-time RiRi fans, the resonant, brooding, minimalistic themes of the album were nothing but the exact opposite of what was expected. If you’re used to her less reflective upbeat material, you’ll find ANTI is a dramatic departure from her previous work, marking her first step towards developing artistic growth. She shifts from her throne of pop to experiment with the hazy and the intimate, the private and the covert. Dark, foggy, and thought-provoking, the eighth studio album bears resemblance to a trance you don’t want to snap out of, although if you’re the type who exclusively prefers the energetic jams then steer clear.

Prepare to leave behind all expectations you had for ANTI. Recently reported to be the most marketable celebrity alive, variety is what Rihanna’s all about. This has been the case from the very beginning for her, even in the Pon de Replay era. The eighth studio album incorporates elements of R&B, dancehall and a little soul with the help of artists including, but not limited to, Timbaland, DJ Mustard, Boi-1da and a rumoured collaboration with Yeezy. Whilst the abrupt switch to contemplative might put off some fans, the album can’t be criticised for being insincere.

Slick, minimalistic beats serve as a backdrop for her layered self-assessing musings - the album is centred around examining the self honestly and with a sense of curiousity, the way people often observe others. Despite everything, the delayed dates, cancelled collabs, and randomly released singles have paid off in an innovative finished product that is sure to intrigue all listeners, regardless of whether you personally like the album or not. Complex themes of self-growth, self-doubt, confidence and love are eagerly explored in her latest instalment, all with the same underlying assertive, oneof-a-kind presence we have all grown to love. Rihanna: you gotta give credit where it’s due.

By Mariam Orabi 27

When Life Gives You LEMONS

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umbling, twisting and thrashing, I nearly fell flat on my face as I wrestled with my bedspread, shocked that someone would call me at this hour, on a boiling summer day. BOOM, BOOM. Groaning, I tried to reach the dusty, filmy doorknob, now barely a shade of dirty gold. I could just see through the peephole: a dark figure with an unknown weapon wielded in hand. And he was coming, coming towards me, no, not just towards me, towards me, as he could see directly where I was, within the wooden mass that was my door. A scream was starting to build in my throat, and I tried to move away, to seek safety via the window, but my feet suddenly jolted up in the air, yanking my torso along with them...

All day I was thinking; thinking about that dream. What did it mean? What was going to happen? It’s winter now, snow is falling, and in my dream, it’s summer, boiling hot. It was the first Saturday, I think, in my entire life that I haven’t enjoyed.

Something supernatural tingled in the air…

Sunday was school again, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about that horrifying, chilling dream. That dream was the subject of my repeated nighttime outbursts, and Mum had to come and calm me down several times, while Rio, the family dog, howled and howled. Then in English with Mr. Maycombe, (possibly the most boring teacher known to mankind), Romana Truscore was giggling secretively, passing around The Sun Messenger newspaper issue of the day while Mr. Maycombe texted on his ancient Samsung cellphone, yawning extensively. Dawn Shacklebolt, my best friend, who turned out to be sitting right next to me on my left, handed me a copy. “Here Jo,” Dawn whispered furtively, glancing worriedly at Mr. Maycombe. SHE really didn’t want to drop her English grade: she was at the bottom of the class, and her mum threatened to pull her out of the junior girls’ basketball if her grades didn’t improve. “The Sun Messenger issue of today: pass it on after y’a’ve read it, ‘kay?”

My jaw dropped at the sight of the front cover…

Murderer Loose on Dhenhurst Avenue: Beware!

Dhenhurst Avenue was where my home was! Maybe that explained the dream, the man with the weapons. On the front page was a picture of a tall, stooped man with unkempt, tousled hair and a criminally insane smile. Yet, the face looked strangely familiar. I shut my eyes, not reading any more, and passed the issue on to Loony The Pencil Chewer, the boy who sits next to me on my right with bunny-rabbit front teeth and a ridiculous habit of chewing on pencils (and occasionally fingers). I sighed – when life gives you lemons, you just have to make lemonade!

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I came home from school with a nauseating sense of fear. There had been no snow today at all, and it was quite hot for winter: 25°C. Maybe, this was it. I was going to be living my nightmare, and get murdered. I bounded into my room, throwing my school backpack to the floor, waiting for the end. It felt as hot as that summer day dream, since my air conditioner wasn’t working.

I heard the very same BOOM, BOOM as I had in my nightmare. Nobody was in the house except me, and our door was never locked, since we used to think of Dhenhurst as a place with a low crime rate, so it would be easy for the alleged murderer to get in. Every moment of dread resounded in my mind as, in my mind’s eye, I saw the figure creeping towards my door, but this time I didn’t try to hide. Then a voice, deep and bold: “Let me in: I have something for you…” I whispered, my voice reduced to a little-girl squeak: “Never!” Then the door creaked open, and I knew I was done for… Oh why hadn’t I locked my room…?

I shut my eyes…

“Hey honey? I got lemonade for you! Come on, I know you loooove lemonade!” It was that same voice again, but more cheerful. “Hey hon? It’s Uncle Berry here!” Suddenly, I wanted to slap myself for thinking that the gleeful voice of Uncle Berry was that of a murderer.

Uncle Berry awaited my response, his kind, concerned face looking upon me. And I laughed.

But I didn’t notice what he was drawing up behind his back…

Slash. …the knife was at my throat, slitting beads of crimson blood. I could see the unkempt hair and insane smile in Uncle Berry’s face. A screamed gurgled in my throat.

by Mathula Muhundan

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Legends Lost David Bowie

English singer David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of his era, died on January 10th 2016, at the age of 69 after an 18 month battle with cancer. Reports say he passed “peacefully”, however, his legacy was anything but. In fact, it seems he left us in the same way that he lived – vividly and creatively - a work of art. Not only has he left an immense hole in our hearts, but he unselfishly left us with a gift of farewell: his final album, Blackstar, was released on his birthday – two days before his unfortunate death. The album was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the number one spot in a number of countries, becoming his first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States. Fans will forever remember his iconic style, which frequently stepped out of the binary terms of gender. This, together with his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, is one of the many reasons the world is now a little less colourful without Bowie.

Lemmy The Motörhead frontman and only constant member of the band, Lemmy (Ian Fraser Kilmister), died on December 28th, 2015 at the age of 70 after being diagnosed with cancer two days before his birthday. Lemmy became known for his fast bass guitar playing and gravelly voice, making him one of music’s most recognisable voices and faces. He formed the group back in 1975 and has since recorded 22 albums, including Ace of Spades. The band stated, “Our mighty, noble friend Lemmy has passed away after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there are no words.” The band urged their fans to celebrate Lemmy’s life by playing his music loud to “celebrate the life this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself.”

Alan Rickman January 14th, 2016: the day one of Britain’s beloved actors, Alan Rickman – famous for his roles in Harry Potter, Die Hard and Love Actually - died from cancer at the age of 69. Announcing his death on the day, a family statement said that “he was surrounded by family and friends.” Harry Potter fans seemed to be especially dismayed as the majority of them ‘grew up’ while watching him as the mysterious and menacing Professor Snape. Indeed, JK Rowling led the tributes, describing him as “a magnificent actor and a wonderful man”, adding, “there are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death,” on Twitter. Emma Thompson, who appeared alongside Rickman in productions including Love Actually, said he was, “the finest of actors and directors,” and, “the ultimate ally”.

I think Dumbledore would agree.

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By Kyran Harcombe

The Spirit of Competition

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s humans we seem to find a fundamental pleasure in the act of competition. Whether it’s the age old rivalry of ‘the Gunners versus the Spurs’ or the persistent battle between siblings, we see friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) competition throughout our every day. So, in the midst of the all-out brawl with the notorious A-levels, some of DC’s sixth formers took an afternoon out of their busy revision schedules to do battle on the rugby field. Teams of revision-hating students were eager to take to the pitch for an afternoon of touch rugby (not full contact unfortunately – we couldn’t risk getting injured so we’d have had even less of an excuse to sit at our desks and revise) in the hope that they could refresh themselves and drop the burden of exams for an hour of exercise.

To keep the stakes interesting, and the level of competition high, pride was put on the line as the teams were divided into ‘Boys vs Girls’. With the Boys still feeling the wound from their loss at the Girls vs Boys netball match played last year, they were eager to prove themselves through a sport that was a little more in their league. Not to insinuate that the

odds were stacked in the boy’s favour, but we did have to spend fifteen minutes before the game making sure we all actually knew the proper rules. The total hours of practice that the girls’ side had accumulated totaled just about half an hour! Needless to say, it was looking like an uphill battle for the girls, but that was all part of fun. As a final addition, as the preparation phase drew to a close, Mr Croker made sure to join in the girls’ team huddle with some final insider tips about his own home boys’ team (just to make sure it was an interesting game).

All decked out in their rugby apparel, the athletes took to the pitch ready and raring to go. But of course, the whole shebang must pause for a moment as the girls line up with their linked arms and twisty hips to pose for the all-important team photo. It would be a tragedy if it was forgotten and had to be taken afterwards, when sweat would actually be seen!

Nevertheless, the start whistle was finally blown, and the game began.

It soon became apparent, however, that the quality of play - from either side was not of a standard that would befit such young athletes. Whether all the

sitting inside had caused reaction times to decline, or the prospect of actually losing a game had caused some jittery nerves amongst the teams, it was difficult to say, but there were a number of ‘fumbles’ within the first five minutes.

The entertainment value though surely increased for the spectators, but the lack of skill also seemed to be infuriating Mr Croker, as he quickly called time just to bring the girls back in for another tactical ‘discussion’. Having drilled in some basic strategy, he restarted the game and it continued much as it had begun.

Mildly put, the girls got quite thoroughly thrashed but, admirably, they did score a couple of well-deserved tries.

Making your way inside along with the players after the final whistle had blown, you couldn’t help but notice the smiles plastered across the faces of all the players. It had been an afternoon filled with clumsiness and teasing that had brought a little bit of life back into the lethargic students and helped ease the days of work and revision, with a snippet of fun to maintain their competitive spirits.

By Christine Mathiesen 31

Australian Open T he Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually in Melbourne, Australia. With over seventy players competing, it’s a fantastic opportunity for the world’s best tennis to be played. Many of the big figures come to participate in such a fabulous event.

Every year the quality just gets better, and young players come in to show the world their unique excellence. Melbourne Open features athletes with the likes of; Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and many more.

First held in 1905, the tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year – the other three being the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. It features men’s and women’s singles; men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles. Fans from all over the world come to watch beautiful tennis being played. With high attendance, the tournament attracts players to play high level tennis to compete for the Grand Slam trophy.

This year, Stan Wawrinka was the defending champion in the men’s singles, but lost to four-time Australian Open

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champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Novak Djokovic won an Open Era record fifth men’s singles crown by defeating Andy Murray in the final, the third time they had met each other in the final, and he defeated the Scotsman 7-6 6-7 6-3 6-0.

Tennis is not an easy sport, getting the technique inch perfect takes time. The Australian Open shows us how hard it is, not only physically but also mentally: picking what shot to play, where to move, how much top spin to put. The longest Australian Open match was played between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes.

With temperatures reaching 45 degrees centigrade, Melbourne is the hottest season for tennis.

In the 2016 Australian Open, Djokovic claimed his 11th Grand Slam title of his career with his second straight-sets win in a major final. Andy Murray, the world No.2 and a five-time finalist in Melbourne, represents the leader in the chasing pack, but Novak proved himself faster, more accurate and, when it mattered, capable of holding his nerve under the harshest pressure.

By Usman Siddique

Did you know that...

• Extreme temperatures in Australia can also cause the tennis balls to shrink and expand. This makes the balls react differently, which can cause problems for players during a match.

• The tournament was first played in 1905 as the Australasian Championships and was renamed the Australian Open in 1969.

• The total prize for winning the Australian Open 2016 is $40,000,000(AUD) • The Australian Open was originally played on grass courts, but was later changed to hard courts.

• There are 300 ball boys/girls altogether helping throughout the event.

The UEFA

Champions League

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he UEFA Champions League, simply known as the Champions League, is a yearly European club football competition organised by UEFA and played by top division European clubs. It is one of the most competitive and exciting tournaments in the world, and the most prestigious club competition in European football. It’s played by the national league champion (and for some nations, one or more runners-up). The final of the 2012–13 tournament was the most watched UEFA Champions League final and was also the most watched sporting event worldwide in 2013, drawing 360 million TV viewers.

Introduced in 1992, the UEFA Champions League replaced the European Champion Clubs’ Cup/European Cup, which had run since 1955. UEFA made a lot of changes, first of all they changed the actual name of the competition, this time calling it the UEFA Champions League. Secondly, they added a group stage to the competition - before 1992, the competition was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champion club of each country. The group stage allows clubs of the top level league that finish runner-up to still play. However, most of Europe’s national leagues can still only enter their national league champion (like in Scotland). Europe’s strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams for the competition. A few clubs that finish next in line in each nation’s top level league would not qualify for the UEFA Champions League, however they would qualify for the next level: UEFA Europa League competition.

Every year, the UEFA Champions League begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round.

The 10 surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 22 other teams who would have qualified in advance. The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other twice. The eight group winners and eight runnersup proceed to the knockout zone that culminates with the final match in May. The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid is the most successful club in the competition’s history, having won the tournament ten times, including its first five seasons. Spanish clubs have gained the highest number of victories (15 wins), followed by England and Italy (12 wins each). The competition has been won by 22 different clubs, 12 of those have won more than once. Since the tournament changed its name and structure in 1992, surprisingly no club has managed consecutive wins.

The current champions are Barcelona, who secured their fifth title in the competition after defeating Juventus 3–1 in the 2015 Final. If Barcelona also win it this year (which they have a high chance of doing so), they will be the first club to win it twice consecutively.

By Abdullah Siddique 33

EDITORIAL

TAHMEED SHAFIQ

Dear Reader, Here, at the close, I greet you once again. I hope you have enjoyed our Spring issue, but now it is time for an ending – and you shall have it, but allow me to hold you here a moment, so that I might tell you a story.

This past year I have served as Editor-in-Chief for the Majlis, and it has been a thoroughly rewarding experience. We at the Majlis don’t claim to be running an award winning periodical, but it is a source of pride for us that our magazine is as fine as many that grace the shelves of newstands – if they even have those anymore.

In my time here at the Majlis I’ve seen some truly great work fill its pages. We have writers as young as 12 performing at a level well beyond what is expected of their age.

They express ideas on political issues and world events with great insight, and wrote poetry and prose with a voice that is astonishingly clear for those so young, and show us glimpses of the wider world beyond our school that awe and inspire. In the hands of the editing and design teams their work is polished and crafted into a magazine that looks as good as it reads. It is not much that we do here, but what we do we do to the best of our ability.

It has been an honour to work with the fine members of the Majlis team, and I hope that in the years to come many more find their way to us. This magazine was designed to be a platform for students, and I urge you all to take advantage of it.

To those of you yet to be within these pages, to those poets and writers and journalists and editors and designers and photographers as yet waiting in the wings, I bid you all come and join us. If your veins are full of ink and your soul belongs on the page, if you yearn to start a discussion about the issues facing our world, or if your mind’s eye is more camera lens then flesh and blood, then come along to a meeting one day – you never know what might happen.

Readers, colleagues and staff, adieu. And to those yet to come, the door is open. It is, after all, just for you.

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Excellence in Education and Innovation

At Northwestern University in Qatar, students earn a top-ranked US university degree in journalism or communication in the heart of the Middle East.

News, media and entertainment are transforming at a rapid pace in this region, and Doha, Qatar has emerged as a hub. NU-Q is a critical player in this transformation, educating the next generation of media professionals and providing thought leadership and research for an industry in transition.

NU-Q is part of the visionary Qatar Foundation and is located in Education City, Doha. Soon NU-Q will move into its new permanent home, a remarkable structure with production studios, a multi-media newsroom and cutting-edge media gallery.

Since it opened, NU-Q has become a distinctive school that builds on the legacy of Northwestern University while establishing its own voice. Few locations in the world today are more conducive to teaching excellence and innovative research, which come together at NU-Q to help shape the media industry in the midst of a historical transition.

www.qatar.northwestern.edu

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