Tuskan Times Volume 8 Issue 3

February 2020 Issue

International School of Florence

Volume 8, Issue 3

What’s in this issue?

THE NEXT STEP FOR BREXIT, 1 CYBER WARFARE, 2 PRAYING FOR RAIN, 4 A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE WILD FIRES, 5 PREPAREDNESS, NOT PANIC, 7 THE FALL OF THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER, 9 CRISPR: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?, 10 TRUMP’S PLAN: PEACE OR INSTABILITY, 12 THE HOLY CITY TURNS POLITICAL, 13 BLACK MAMBA LIVES ON, 14 WHEN LIES BECOME TRUTH, 16 THE RIGHT ON THE RISE, 18 TEEN DEPRESSION IN THE MODERN WORLD, 20 THE TWO POPES: THE TRANSITION FROM BENEDICT TO FRANCIS, 21 LITTLE WOMEN: ADVANCING CLASSICS ON THE BIG SCREEN, 23 THE TIKTOK TAKOVER, 25

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Niccolò Platt Co-Editor Giulia Oosterwijk Omid Sheikh Peter Wood Layout Editors Giulia Oosterwijk Jacqueline Obert

Artists Jacqueline Obert Dajanique Bonner Advisor John Pitonzo Front cover by Jacqueline Obert Back cover by Dajanique Bonner

THE NEXT STEP FOR BREXIT

By Stella Franceschi valid, will be ineffective, as the British government is not open to an extension to the transition period, and any requests to extend it will have to be made

by June. This means that if no trade deal has been agreed upon and ratified by the end of the year, the UK will face the prospect of tariffs on exports to and imports from the EU. The Prime Minister argued that the negotiation should be straightforward, as the UK is completely aligned Brexit was originally supposed to happen on 29 March 2019. Three and a half years after the referendum was held, and given the European Parliament green light, the UK formally withdrew from the EU on 31 January, as Boris Johnson’s

with EU rules. On the other hand, critics have pointed out that the UK wishes to have the freedom to diverge from EU rules, so it can make agreements with other countries, which would make negotiations more difficult.

Brexit deal has officially become law, receiving royal assent from the Queen and having cleared all its stages in parliament.

This has only marked the beginning of the next step in the Brexit process. The UK has entered a transition period until 31 December 2020, in which the UK's trade relationship with the EU will remain the same. In the meantime, the two sides will negotiate a free trade deal. During this period, the UK will effectively remain in the EU's customs

And it’s not just a trade deal that needs to be

union and single market, but will be outside its

sorted out. The UK must agree on how it is going

political institutions, and there will be no British

to cooperate with the EU on security and law

members in the European Parliament. This free

enforcement. The UK is set to leave the European

trade deal is vital, as the UK wants to retain as

Arrest Warrant scheme and will have to agree on a

much access as possible to the EU’s services and

replacement. Many other aspects of the UK's future

institutions.

relationship with the EU, such as data sharing and

The time available is short, because Britain

security, will need to be agreed on as well. Much is

wants to wrap things up by the end of the year.

at stake for Europe’s most senior democracy, and

However, this deadline is seen as breathtakingly

there is a lot of uncertainty regarding its future.

optimistic, and almost imposible by many experts, who believe that the UK will need more than 11 months to conclude the deal. Their opinion, while GLOBAL 1

CYBER WARFARE: 21ST CENTURY TERRORISM

By Jack Bach Cyberattacks on a government’s computer systems could even be used to assist conventional war efforts by preventing communication between government officials, enabling attackers to steal and release classified or personal information. DoS attacks, a growing concern in the tech world, can be expected to be leveraged for cyber warfare. Attackers are now The Digital Age has brought countless advantages

using denial of service methods to hit

to our society. However, because of the strong

governments with massive sustained bandwidth

influence technology and artificial intelligence,

attacks, while simultaneously infecting them

which now dominate our everyday lives, people can

with spyware and malware to destroy or collect

abuse the information we put online. With this, a

critical data. These kinds of attacks have the

new form of exploitation has been gaining traction in

ability to infuse misinformation into their target’s

the past years, and could put privacy in great danger:

networks in order to create outrages, scandals, or

Cyber Warfare.

chaos.

As a general term, Cyber Warfare refers to cyber attacks from one nation-state to another. It can also refer to particular terrorist or hacker groups. In all scenarios, these attacks are aimed at fulfilling particular motives. Cyber attacks can come in many forms, the most common of which are viruses, computer worms or malware that can take down water supplies, transportation systems, power grids, critical infrastructure and military systems; denialof-service (DoS) attacks, which occur when

In just 2019 alone, there were dozens of

attackers take action to prevent legitimate users from

alarming attacks aimed at stealing sensitive

accessing targeted devices, networks, or computer

information or collapsing the U.S government's

systems; the hacking or theft of critical data from

infrastructure. For instance, last May, a

institutions, governments, or businesses; and

Tennessee based contractor for the U.S Customs

ransomware that encrypts computer systems until

and Border Protection suffered a breach in which

victims pay ransom.

hackers were able to steal photos and license

These forms of attacks could be devastating to

plates of up to 100,000 people. In the same

countries when used on a large scale. For instance,

attack, detailed information of the contractor’s

attacks on nation’s utility systems could cause

surveillance hardware was also stolen. The

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hardware had been implemented at multiple U.S.

In May of 2018, Bezos received a video via

entry ports. Days later, the hackers had posted this

Whatsapp from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince,

information on the dark web. This information was

Mohammed bin Salman. While the video may

crucial for U.S. border control, yet, in the span of a

have only been 4.4 megabytes large, it installed a

few days, it was stolen and posted all over the

virus which managed to leak personal texts and

internet.

photos belonging to Bezos. If it can happen to a

In another instance targeted towards the corporate world, the American Medical Collection Agency was discovered to have been breached in March of 2019.

In this hack, 20 million patients’ first and last names, dates of birth, phone numbers, addresses, dates of medical services, health care providers, and data on balances due had been stolen.

Not even the most powerful and protected people are immune to these types of attacks. Last month it was released that Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, had unintentionally downloaded a form of malware onto his phone.

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man worth over 124 billion dollars, you can be sure it can happen to just about anyone.

These are only a few examples of the dozens of large-scale attacks cyber attacks that have taken place over the last two years. These attacks can happen to anyone; it doesn’t matter if you’re one of the wealthiest men in the world or a government company. Everyone is vulnerable.

Nowadays, our personal information is just another form of profit for hackers. Are you worried? I sure am.

PRAYING FOR RAIN

By Greta Fischer and the bushfires).

The bushfires are also connected to our school community. Many at ISF have shown concern for the bushfires. Many of our students are from Australia, as well as there being previous ISF students who are currently living in Australia, causing many students here wonder what they can do to help.

Australia is burning. The Amazon is burning.

Siberia is burning. The causes of the massive Australian and Siberian fires are environmental, whilst the Amazon fires are part of a government deforestation plan to raise more cattle. Although not at the same level as those of Australia, the Amazon, and Siberia, other countries such as Sweden, Portugal, California, Alaska, and even Italy have seen similar wildfires occur in 2019.

The Australian bushfires are the largest out of the fires and are causing the most damage. The fires started back in September, and only recently found relief in New South Wales when 20 of the 60 fires were extinguished by heavy rains. By now, 10 million hectares have burned, approximately 500 million animals have died and more than 20 people, and an estimate of 6500 buildings have been burned to the ground. The smoke from the fires reached New Zealand, which also explains the biggest reason why the spread has been so rapid and difficult to maintain: winds in Australia.

According to Australian Capital Territory, the winds had reached speeds of 250 km/h. Part of the concern has been the lack of response from the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, as concern about the high risk of bushfires was brought up to him back in April and May (Morrison is also of the belief that there is no correlation between higher emissions in Australian GLOBAL 4

What to do to combat the bushfires: If students want, they can donate to organizations and charities which are preventing bushfires from spreading, providing firefighters with resources, and rescuing animals. To lower the risk of fires starting elsewhere, a good way to prevent this is to lower the number of emissions released from travelling and transportation of goods. This means limiting air travel, utilizing public transport, cycling rather than using a car, purchasing more local products, and lowering meat consumption. All these methods help the environment and lower the risk of more wildfires across the world.

There is no need for students to completely change their lifestyle, however, small actions can be made in everyone’s life that not only benefit you, but also the planet. ISF, as a school, is trying to change with the help of the sustainability team which hopefully will impact some change in the school and eventually the earth we share.

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE WILD FIRES

By Avery Walsh Fernie How have the fires affected the everyday life of people?

My everyday life hasn’t been drastically affected by the fires. But some of the people who have been affected, life has gotten extremely difficult.

Some are out of a home and have been left with no clothes or everyday necessities.

Beyond the statistics of the recent global bushfires, it is vital to recognise those that have been impacted by the destruction and their own experiences when dealing with the possible changes in their daily lives. The following two interviews take on the perspective of two residents in Australia and California:

Interview with Olivia Baron Where do you live?

I live in Melbourne.

How close are the fires to you?

Seeing as I’m in Melbourne, it’s not too bad around here but it’s more affected in the countryside.

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Has the rain helped the fires die down at all recently?

The fires have calmed down a little bit, thanks to the rain. That being said, they are still extremely bad.

How much have the fires affected the quality of the air?

It has affected the air quality a lot. At one point, one of the suburbs of Melbourne was declared the worst air quality in the world, 4 times worse than India. When the fires had gotten really bad the air was very smoggy and it was hard to breathe. At one point, it had gotten so bad, that we were told that we couldn’t go outside for more than 20 minutes at a time because the air quality was so bad. Lots of people started walking around with face masks to protect themselves. But seeing as the fires have gotten better, so has the air quality.

Several of my neighbors were also packing their cars and evacuating too. At about 4:30 AM, we drove to my friend’s house in West Los Angeles. The next morning at about 1 PM, our house was no longer in the red zone so we went back home. We are extremely thankful that the fires never got to my house. That being said, my friend was also trying to evacuate with her children but was blocked by fires.

She had no way of getting out seeing as the fires were blocking all the roads. It was an extremely

Interview with Diana Cotter

frightening day.

Has the rain helped the fires die down at all recently?

They finally put the fire out and have thankfully had nothing more. But right now it is 82 degrees and we have not had rain in a very long time. That is bad, seeing as the heat could ignite a fire very quickly.

How much have the fires affected the quality of the air?

Where do you live?

Pacific Palisades, California.

The quality of the air after fires was fine. There was no ash, which is surprising because usually, I get a

How close are the fires to you?

They were about 2 miles away from my house. At one point, we were in the evacuation zone. The fires were just down the street from me.

yard full of it when there is a fire. When we evacuated, the smell of smoke was really strong.

How have the fires affected the everyday life of people?

The fires had become very stressful, seeing as we were so close to them.

One night, at 4am, the guest that was staying with me at the time, woke me up and said that we were in the red zone on the map of the fires. We got in the car with nothing except my dog and had no idea where to go.

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PREPAREDNESS, NOT PANIC

By Nelson Matos The turn of the new year has brought a

Taiwan, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, Singapore,

catastrophic viral outbreak to the city of Wuhan, the

the United States, Australia, as well as European

capital of the Hubei region of China. The virus has

countries such as France, Germany, Spain, the

killed over a thousand, and the number is only

United Kingdom, and Italy.

increasing. Covid-19 or the Coronavirus, as it is

The virus is suspected to have originated from

called for its crown shape, causes respiratory

an animal source, with the most plausible ground

malfunctions such as coughing, sore throats, and

zero being a fish market in Wuhan. The outbreak

headaches. When left untreated, the virus can cause

and the effects of the virus closely resemble the

further complications such as pneumonia, high fever,

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and

and death.

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) outbreaks, the former of which also took place in China from 2002 to 2003. To treat those infected, the Chinese government is implementing the construction of new hospitals to house the rising number of patients of this new virus. The amount of time expected for these emergency hospitals to finish is around 10 to 15 days.

The cause of alarm by the international community occurred after they discovered that the coronavirus can spread via human-to-human contact, through the simple act of breathing. The virus, outside of China, has been reported to have infected people in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam,

Thanks to warnings from the World Health

Taiwan, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the

Organization (WHO), and the dense population of

United States, Australia, as well as European

Wuhan, which is recorded to be 11 million people,

countries such as France, Germany, Spain, the

the Chinese authorities have limited travel into

United Kingdom, and Italy.

and out of the Hubei region. The city of Wuhan

The cause of alarm by the international

has undergone lockdown, with travel restrictions

community occurred after they discovered that the

imposed across multiple regions in China who

coronavirus can spread via human-to-human contact,

have confirmed cases of the coronavirus. These

through the simple act of breathing. The virus,

travel restrictions have been imposed on around

outside of China, has been reported to have infected

32 million people and face masks have been

people in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam,

advised for use in public spaces.

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The reported deaths have been concentrated

Many other illnesses, such as general influenza, are

mainly in the city of Wuhan, and no deaths have

rising as well and can prove harmful when left

been reported for those infected outside of China,

untreated. It is essential that regardless of the news

but coronavirus has recently been declared an

relating to the coronavirus, a negative attitude should

international emergency by the World Health

not be driven towards Chinese people in public or in

Organization. This means that the virus “carries

workspaces.

implications for public health beyond the affected

The virus has had obvious effects for citizens in

State’s national border,” because as explained by

China, especially during the season of Chinese New

WHO chief executive Tedros Gebreyesus, it

Year where vacation and family time were expected

“showed signs of human-to-human transmission.”

to take place. However, health risks on a global scale

While the presence of the coronavirus around the

remain low, as Gebreyesus emphasized the

world is threatening, it is important to maintain a

importance of “fighting the problem at the source”

healthy routine.

with the spread of the disease being slow-paced and minimal. As of now, the issue is not out of control in the rest of the world, so it is crucial to maintain an attitude of “international solidarity and preparedness, not panic,” to effectively combat the crisis.

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ISABEL DOS SANTOS: THE FALL OF THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER

By Coco Li Isabel dos Santos, Africa’s richest woman

Irregular Transfer

billionaire and daughter of the ex-President of

Luanda’s court has ordered to block dos Santos’

Angola, was charged with embezzling public funds

bank account and her oil company whilst the

as the head of Angola’s state-owned oil firm,

investigation is held for her 18-month occupancy,

Sonangol. The documents called “Luanda Leaks,”

alleged corruption of irregular transfer approved

contains 715,000 emails, charts, contracts, audits,

by the leaked documents wherein it exposes that

and accounts were leaked online, which explain the

Sonangol $58 million in payments, were made to a

tycoon woman’s empire is worth an estimated 2

company in Dubai directed by one of her business

billion dollars. Moreover, the documents convey

partners; they are seeking the $1 billion that dos

how certain institutions failed to undertake action

Santos and her collaborators are suspected to owe

against corrupt activities.

the state. The Portuguese bank, Euro Bic, declared the end of cooperation with Isabel Dos Santos.

Dramatically, Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, Isabel dos Santos’s bank investor who was responsible for Sonangol company over multimillion-dollar transfer to the company of Dubai, was found dead after the news broke.

Presidency More specifically on Isabel herself, she has been constantly depicted as a successful

On 22 January, the Attorney General Helder Pitta

businesswoman with no interest in politics. Only

Gros proclaimed, “Isabel dos Santos … is thus

on Portuguese TV did dos Santos say, “it’s

charged in the first instance with the crimes of

possible,” regarding whether or not she would run

money laundering, influence peddling … forgery of

for presidency in 2022.

Denial

documents, among other financial crimes.” Gros suspects that there would be in total 5 suspects, and

She denied every accusation upon her. "These

Santos is one of them, ultimately having to face

are false allegations, and this is part of an

justice. Isabel must return to Angola, facing political

orchestrated attack by the current government that

and public scrutiny. Her half-brother and suspect,

is completely politically motivated," she said.

José Filomeno dos Santos, is already on trial in

“The allegations which have been made against

Angola on charges of corruption. If Isabel dos

me over the last few days are extremely

Santos declines the trial procedure, prosecutors

misleading and untrue. We will seek to clarify our

would seek to use other legal instruments to secure

position in relation to the latest accusations.” She

her return to Angola: "At the moment, the concern is

states that her commercial transactions have

to notify and get them to voluntarily return to Angola

always operated within the law.

to face justice," Gros proclaims.

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CRISPR: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

By Bernardo Petochi and slow, but in a short time frame they improved exponentially.

So how does CRISPR work?

First, scientists identify a specific gene responsible for a characteristic. They create a piece of RNA which emulates a strand of the desired genes DNA sequence, and they insert the RNA and a protein called Cas9 The world is free of disease, ageing doesn’t exist and people design their children to their desired

into the target

DNA sequence.

The RNA binds to the DNA sequence while

characteristics. Sounds like an ideal world, doesn’t

also binding to the Cas9 which “cuts” the target

it? Perhaps it isn’t far off. Genes determine who we

DNA leaving the space to either introduce a

are - whether we have blue eyes or brown eyes,

variation or replace the selected gene entirely. The

whether we are a man or a woman, or whether we

cell-autonomously repairs it’s DNA sequence and

are born healthy or with a chronic disease.

the guide RNA and Cas9 are removed. If this was

Through gene editing one can disable malicious

a plant for instance, it would be crossed with the

genes, correct bad mutations and improve

original and the new DNA would be passed on.*

determined characteristics in plants, animals, and

Researchers have already made some

humans. It has been used in agriculture - the first

incredibly promising steps forward in medicine:

genetically engineered food to go on sale was in

“For the first time, scientists have used gene

1994 (a tomato which had a longer shelf life). It is

editing to successfully remove HIV from a living

also immensely useful in medicine; insulin for

organism, and they did this in three different

instance, can be made by using recombinant DNA

animal models. Using CRISPR, the team got rid of

technology. Recombinant DNA, a form of gene editing, is the use of DNA from two different species that are inserted into a host organism to produce new genetic combinations.

For now though, we are just scratching the surface. In the past decade, a monumental breakthrough was made in genetic engineering through a new gene-editing technique called CRISPR. The method is much faster and cheaper than previous ones. Most importantly though, it’s potential is unquantifiable - much like when the first computers were made; at first they were expensive

the virus DNA and cleared up both acute and latent infections.” (Dean, Signe) Scientists have also managed to slow down, and in some cases, even stop the growth of cancer cells in mice in lab experiments. There is progress to be made outside of the medical world as well. Genetically modified algae have been made that are able to yield twice as much material for biofuels compared to regular algae.

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CRISPR has the real potential, in the coming

like a vaccine. Eventually though, form will follow

decades, to eradicate diseases like HIV, cancer and

function and people may request a child with a

the thousands of genetic diseases that range from

higher IQ, or extraordinary athleticism. This not only

colour blindness to Huntington’s disease. These

would create an irreversible change to the human

optimistic predictions sound fantastic; after all, who

gene pool and an insurmountable barrier between

wouldn't want to end disease?

designer humans and “standard” humans but would

Unfortunately the future is not as utopian as it

result in a hyper-competitive world for the

may seem based on previous affirmations that

genetically enhanced, who will also be facing people

CRISPR can be used to design and create modified

who have been designed to simply succeed.

babies. There have already been some cases in which

The ethical questions that are raised alone should

human embryos have been modified; in March of

be reason enough to dedicate the utmost thought and

2017 a team led by Jianqiao Liu of Guangzhou

attention to the development of CRISPR modified

Medical University in China reported such an

people. It is impossible though to want to simply

advance in the journal Molecular Genetics and

stop it in its tracks; it is only picking up speed, and

Genomics.

the positive potential is too much to be ignored, so

Evidently, human genetic modification must be

all we can do is make sure that whoever is driving

strictly regulated by an international independent

this train is responsible, and has humanity’s long-

body with the power to enforce its legislation.

term wellbeing at heart.

Unfortunately, this is not a realistic hope. Despite the fact that most countries have placed boundaries on human gene editing, there have been a few cases of

* The section that explains how CRISPR works has

it being attempted, often successfully. Progress is

been simplified as to be more understandable, in

inevitable, but sometimes it is not desirable. It will

reality it is slightly different and clearly more

be gradual; at first it may be the option to eliminate

complicated.

the risk of developing a certain disease - very much

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TRUMP’S PLAN: PEACE OR INSTABILITY

By Stella Franceschi What if a plan that would change your whole life

The president vowed at the start of his

was made, and you had no opportunity to voice your

presidency that he would negotiate the biggest

opinion or input on it? How would you feel? A very

peace deal that anyone could imagine, and

similar matter is occurring right now in regards to

especially better than any deal made before. Three

Trump’s long-awaited plan to resolve the Israeli–

years later, experts say that the plan, developed

Palestinian conflict that has been going on since

under the supervision of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared

1948.

Kushner, falls short of that goal and is unlikely to ever become the basis for a peace agreement.

As expected, Palestine isn’t content with it, and has since rejected it. Palestinians have boycotted the Trump administration ever since, in 2017, it unilaterally moved its embassy to Jerusalem, and this case isn’t any different.

The Trump administration has also promised

On January 28th, Trump stood next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for the grand revelation, which since then has created a fair amount of controversy. Yet, from this noticeable event, Palestine - or any representation of the country - was absent. Just like in the settlement itself, the announcement strongly favors Israel and its priorities.

The plan, that apparently took Trump three years to create, has three main points: Firstly, it calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza; Secondly, it pushes for Jerusalem, including its Old City, to be the undivided capital of Israel; Lastly, the plan supports Israeli annexation of all settlements, as well as the Jordan Valley, creating a discontiguous Palestinian archipelago state, surrounded by a sea of Israeli territory. Even though Trump described the plan as a win-win situation, it is obvious that the only country between the two that gains from this proposal is Israel, even though the American administration has worked with European and Arab diplomats to craft it. (There were no Palestinians present).

economic aid, with a total of $28 billion over 10 years to support Palestine. However, the Palestinian administration won’t accept this plan, especially since it seems like a payoff. The name of the plan is ironic to say the least. It is referred to as a “peace plan” but what it most likely warrants is instability, not only in Israel and Palestine, but in most of the Middle East. The basis of peace is equality for all, but the plan definitely isn’t that, and more like the opposite, so it’s hard to see how Trump’s Middle Eastern plan could succeed.

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THE HOLY CITY TURNS POLITICAL

By Giulia Oosterwijk A place of worship has become one of the most heated arenas in history, with both religious and geopolitical battles being fought. Recently, President Donald Trump has released a new Middle East plan in hopes to bring peace back to the area. In itself, the mission aims to establish a Palestinian and Israeli state respectively. In the midst of his plans, there are numerous indications and assurances that Palestinian territory will be independent for Palestinian people.

Yet, one of the greatest conflicts within his proposal is that of Jerusalem: the city that is home to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Jerusalem, specifically the old city, is the region where three main religions find some of their holiest sites. For Muslims, the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque are crucial landmarks. For Jews, the Western Wall is one of the major locations of pilgrimage and prayer. For Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is considered to be the place where Jesus Christ was crucified. Within this seemingly small area, the role of divinity and history takes a toll on its existence. It’s considered to be one of the most sensitive locations in the world, particularly due to its cultural and religious ties to many people in the world, with two of the three religions, Judaism and Islam, fighting to maintain control over their heritage and spirituality.

T h e p l a n , o r c h e s t r a t e d b y t h e Tr u m p administration and Jared Kushner, advocates for Jerusalem as the “undivided” capital of Israel, ultimately challenging international rule and any chance of a Palestinian independent state. In itself, the plan indicates that Israel would have military control from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to Israel having permission to annex 30% of the West Bank as well as the Jewish settlements in the territory. Although there being assurance that there will be freedom of worship, many Palestinian leaders have condemned the plan as “punishing” the Palestinian people. Moreover, the peace plan allocates Kafr Aqab, Abu Dis, and parts of Shuafat (a Palestinian refugee camp) as the new capitol of Palestine. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has publicly disagreed with the resolution provided, placing it as an insult to Palestinian efforts.

What is still considered as the epicenter of humanity has been infiltrated by geopolitical struggles, with the Middle East peace plan catalysing the situation even more. Aside from the political aspect within the conflict, it has become a haunting reminder of how an entity that is meant to connect people has resulted in division.

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BLACK MAMBA LIVES ON

By Carlo Vitale “There aren’t enough words to describe our pain.”

These are the first words that Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant, released to the public.

As many of you know, the death of the Lakers Legend occurred on the morning of 26 January, when the helicopter that was carrying him, along with his daughter Gianna and two teammates, crashed into a fog covered hillside in Calabasas, California. There was not one survivor, and the disastrous ruins of the crash made it hard to identify even a single body.

As the world mourns the death of the basketball superstar, it is important to take a look at his past and relive the moments that made him into one of the greatest NBA players ever and wonderful man he was.

On August 23rd, 1978, Kobe Bean Bryant was born in the city of Philadelphia. He was the youngest of three children, and the son of the former NBA player Joe Bryant. At the age of three, he started to play basketball and coincidentally enough,

the Lakers were his favorite team. When Bryant was six, he, along with his family, moved to Rieti, Italy for his father to continue to play basketball at a professional level. The Bryants moved quite frequently during their time in Italy, living in cities such as Reggio Calabria, Reggio Emilia, and Pistoia. Kobe started to become accustomed to this new Italian lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian.

At the age of 13 he returned to the states and drew the attention of many scouts during his high school career. After graduating from high school with almost 3,000 points scored, he decided to do what only six NBA players have done in history:he entered the NBA draft straight out of high school at the young age of seventeen.

Conveniently enough, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to trade someone for their starting center and Kobe perfectly filled that role. At the time, Kobe was the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game.

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He continued to play on the Lakers for his entire professional basketball career, which lasted twenty years. Over his twenty year career

Dear Basketball, which won an Oscar in 2017.

Kobe was an inspiration for everyone. The

he led the

younger generations looked up to him, while the

Lakers to five NBA championships and brought

older generations respected him and enjoyed seeing

them to the finals seven times. He was awarded the

this young seventeen-year-old boy grow up into the

NBA Most Valuable Player twice, became a two-

idol that he became. His mindset of always striving

time top scorer, and was selected eighteen times

for victory and attacking each day with dedication

for the NBA All-Star team. He also holds various

and discipline - nicknamed the “Mamba Mentality” -

NBA records and even won gold at the 2008

inspired so many children and athletes all over the

Olympics.

world. Kobe’s passion to help others and his drive to

Not only was Kobe a fantastic athlete, he also

discover, were ultimately what made the world

had an important and impactful life outside of

excited for what he was going to do next.. He had

basketball. He was the father of four young girls,

such an amazing impact on all of us, that most of us

with his youngest daughter being born last June.

find ourselves moved to tears by this tragedy, even

He made music and donated all the profits to

though most of us were never lucky enough to meet

charity, and made an inspiring short animated film,

him in person. Live on Black Mamba.

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WHEN LIES BECOME TRUTH

By Thomas Accattatis We live in an age of great scientific and

Disinformation, as we know it today, is an art

technological progress, and the speed at which

form perfected by the KGB during the Cold War.

information travels has been increasing at the same

Unlike nuclear weapons, disinformation is a more

rapid pace. Nowadays we can communicate with our friends and relatives in a fraction of a second, and cable news and radio can feed information to people’s homes in real time. Not only has the speed of information increased, but now the information we’re fed by platforms like Instagram and Facebook comes in small, bite-sized pieces we can

subtle threat, but is arguably just as damaging. KGB agents would concoct a dangerous blend of fake news stories and disseminate them through seemingly unaffiliated newspapers and other media.

That’s how the conspiracy about the US having engineered HIV in a lab to target homosexual and black people was born. Soviet disinformation was so effective because it took advantage of a pre-existing

consume on the go. This revolution in the way we

divide in society, and pried it open, turning a

intake information has led to the onset of a grave

peaceful, trusting society into a dysfunctional,

threat to democracy: disinformation.

divided mess. This was during the Cold War. Today

Disinformation is the systematic deception of

a fake news story can spread to millions of people in

people through fake news stories or facts stripped

mere hours, like a virus, and just like a virus it

of their context, in order to skew public opinion.

spreads rapidly, infecting the minds of civilians alike and destroying its victim from the inside out.

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Truth is in constant battle with disinformation,

This can help impede the spread of fake news stories,

but lately the lies have been too many, and the

making them less damaging, but even this isn’t

truth is being drowned out by the incessant noise

enough. Where we need to look is social media.

of fake news stories getting constant attention

Social media has facilitated the spread of

from media outlets. What this means for society

disinformation greatly, and the CEOs of Silicon

is that we can no longer have well-informed

Valley aren’t doing enough at the moment to counter

debates about issues that actually matter. If we

the threat posed by social media bots and trolls. The

can’t agree on a basic set of facts, how can we

European Union is moving in the right direction in

reach a consensus on matters such as:

terms of legislation; they are implementing measures

immigration, abortion, same sex marriage,

to contain and destroy disinformation wherever it

income and gender inequality, and terrorism?

arises through an action plan against disinformation.

How can we function as a democracy if we have

Moreover, they are being stricter on social media

to keep arguing about the facts? How can we

platforms to cooperate whilst also promoting media

function as a democracy if our societies are

literacy and quality journalism.

divided and fragmented by disinformation?

Disinformation is debilitating for democracy; it is like a torrent of water that slowly erodes and fragments the moral foundation of society on which democracy stands on. Disinformation reduces the truth to a position, a stance, rather than what it really is-the truth.

So what can we do about it? The reason why disinformation is so powerful in the West is because of the belief that by trying to expose disinformation, we dignify it. We now know that is not the case, because the longer a fake news

There is a lot we can do as individuals and as a

story circulates and the more it is repeated, the

society to root out disinformation, and promote the

more real it becomes for the public. Even then,

truth. What is important is that we act now, because

exposing disinformation schemes isn’t a great

at the moment disinformation has got the upper hand.

tactic for changing public opinion and stopping

We need to adapt to this threat if we are to protect the

disinformation in the long run; we need

integrity of our democracy in the digital age. It was

something more powerful. An important tool is

once said that, a lie is halfway around the world

media literacy. People need to be educated on

before the truth can get its boots on. But now is the

how to spot a fake news story; promoting critical

time for the truth to get its boots on.

thinking on behalf of the public, and good journalism on behalf of the media, would help reduce the power of fake news.

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THE RIGHT ON THE RISE

By Thomas Accattatis Italy’s democracy is broken. Following the

the second highest in Europe. Also, it should be

dissolution of the Italian parliament, a wave of right-

trying to save its struggling public health system, one

wing, anti-establishment populism hit the ballot

that Italians have taken pride in for being one of the

boxes in the 2018 Italian general election. The initial

best in Europe. The functionality of the government

result was a hung parliament, but despite this, it was

is now at risk, and something must be done about it.

a clear sign of right-wing politics on the rise. Right-

The moment we refuse to protect our democratic

wing extremists like Matteo Salvini wasted no time

institutions, is the moment we fall into the hands of

in blaming migrants and the European Union for

autocracy.

Italy’ various economic and financial problems: a stagnant economy, high national debt, and high unemployment, despite offering no solutions.

Meanwhile, the Five Star Movement’s antiestablishment rhetoric appealed to a growing group of Italians who were losing trust in democratic institutions. The great interest generated by these parties contrasted sharply with the divided and damaged centre-left coalition, which went on to lose One of Salvini’s main strategies in gaining

a significant amount of seats.

The problem that resulted from this election was that none of these parties offered feasible solutions to Italy’s problems, and have so far managed to generate a governmental crisis. Growing partisan polarisation, especially on the right wing, has decreased cooperation between parties, while antiestablishment sentiment is paralysing the proper functioning of the Italian government. These phenomena are all precursors to the subversion of democracy. This is especially damaging considering that Italy needs to take urgent action to reduce its national debt, which is currently at 130% of its GDP,

support is fomenting hatred towards migrants, using them as scapegoats to Italy’s problems, whilst ignoring the true causes of them. This has gone on to create a culture of hate and violence within his party and among his supporters. In the past few years, Italy has seen a rise in xenophobia, islamophobia, racism, anti-semitism, and homophobia-all worryingly reminiscent of Italy’s fascist past. Not to mention that a recent Eurispes report found that 15.6% of Italians deny the occurence of the holocaust, compared to 2.7% in 2004. People should be alarmed by what is happening. Italy needs to begin seriously combating and evaluating the threat posed by hate, ignorance, and disinformation.

LOCAL 18

A good place to start would be rebuilding the

Stefano Bonaccini, the Democratic Party candidate.

currently neglected educational system, because

This effectively kept Emilia-Romagna to the left,

education has proven, time and again, to be one of

something that was undoubtedly made possible by

the most powerful antidotes against extremism. And

the help of the Sardines.

with this, the centre-left coalition needs to rebuild itself to become a party more in touch with the people, a party that works for the common social good.

In response to Italy’s changing political landscape, a movement from the left has grown, for the most part denouncing Salvini’s hate campaign against migrants and other minorities, as well as his antagonisation of the European Union. The movement, known as the Sardines, is trying to

But this isn’t just a question of partisanship. It’s a

reestablish trust in Italy’s democracy in hopes of

question of what’s right and what’s wrong.

rebuilding the currently damaged government. The

Remaining idle in the face of a government in crisis

Sardines movement has taken to the streets to unite

is wrong. Denying humanitarian aid to refugees

the left against the extremist right wing. They have

fleeing war zones is wrong. Remaining passive to

packed the squares in all of Italy’s major cities:

the increasing amount of hate, ignorance, violence,

Florence, Milan, Rome, and Bologna. Banners and

and intolerance in Italy is wrong. It is in the best

hymns of the Italian left wing fill the air at their

interest of every Italian citizen, regardless of

demonstrations, coupled with the blue and yellow of

political ideology, to protect the integrity of Italy’s

EU flags flying high over the crowd. The success of the movement was put to the test in the recent regional elections in Emilia-Romagna, the birthplace of the movement. The result was a victory for

democracy, protect the democratic norms of the game, and build a culture of tolerance and respect for others. We need to see each other as equal, whether man or woman, black or white, homosexual or heterosexual, rich or poor, old or young. We are all human, and we all have a right to thrive in this beautiful world of ours.

LOCAL 19

TEEN DEPRESSION IN THE MODERN WORLD

By Stella Franchesci Your teenage years are supposed to be a time of fun and maturity. A period of time, that in 50 years, when looking back, makes you smile. The memories that you make are supposed to be the ones that you tell your kids, when reminiscing about the good old days. Unfortunately, many people my age aren’t lucky enough to share that same experience. According to a recent study in 2017, one in every five girls have experienced depression. While these statistics might come as a shock to other generations, as a teenager myself, I am, sadly, not surprised. The current life of a high schooler is stressful and at times overwhelming; balancing out our social lives is already a full-time job. It almost seems like there isn’t enough time in the day to do everything. Not to mention the pressure and enormous workload that derives from school, we manage to get so focused on getting good grades for our future that we forget to live in the present. Recently a survey was conducted, asking teens in the US what pressures they face in their day-to-day lives, and 61% reported feeling academic pressure to get good grades. In my school, the first time they told us about the impact of good grades on our future was in eighth grade.

In that same assembly, they told us to start considering career paths and universities. I was thirteen. The nightmare of not getting into a good college, and as a result failing in life, was already tormenting me.

Social pressures are another cause for the increased depression rates. Fitting in has always been a problem, even for past generations, but for us, it is taken to another level. We have the almost cliche¨ struggle of belonging with a group of people, face to face, but it doesn’t end there. The world of social media makes the whole dilemma

inescapable. We have the almost cliche¨ struggle of belonging with a group of people, face to face, but it doesn’t end there. The world of social media makes the whole dilemma inescapable. Instagram recently added a new feature in which other people can’t see how many likes you get, as if it was miraculously going to solve all the issues. It just made the way of quantifying my importance change -- it was a way to avoid the problem. It isn't anymore about how many likes you get, but about how many comments. With the use of our phones, every moment of our lives is captured by a Snapchat video or a simple post. Our every move, our every mistake can be caught on camera, making us incapable of moving on. We have the pressure of never having an off day, just so we don't get a photograph taken of us that can be sent around to everyone we know.

Teen depression is increasingly making headlines as if it was breaking news. But in the world in which we live, and in the circumstances with which the teenagers of my generation are growing up, what is so shocking? (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/12/a-growingnumber-of-american-teenagers-particularly-girls-are-facingdepression/)

LOCAL 20

THE TWO POPES: IN TRANSITION FROM BENEDICT TO FRANCIS

By Peter Wood “The Two Popes” is a comedic drama based on the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and the then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known today as Pope Francis I. The two key actors in the movie are Anthony Hopkins as Benedict and Jonathan Pryce as Francis. The movie consists of over 2 hours of dialogue between the aforementioned characters, and although it may sound like a boring movie at first glance, it really does deserve a watch.

The movie delves deep into its characters, developing on the differences in each one’s personality and past experiences. We are especially given a lot of history on the current Pope, Francis, as we are shown the life he was forced to sacrifice in order to start his work as a man of God. The movie uses many flashbacks, taking us into the past of Pope Francis, showing us the mistakes he made and the many regrets he had (and presumably still has) while serving as a priest in Argentina during the “infamous decade,” through fairly violent and heartbreaking scenes.

views and, although some of his fellow cardinals believe him to be the perfect candidate for Pope, he doesn’t believe becoming Pope is the job for him.

When Benedict is inevitably elected, many things in the Church started to change, as policies start becoming exceedingly conservative and increasingly unpopular among the people. The start of the most important part of the movie begins as Francis travels to Italy to visit Pope Benedict, in order to convince him to let him retire as Cardinal because he doesn’t believe in the Church’s teachings any longer. At this point, the two men start to converse about many topics, one of them being Francis’ past in Argentina, leading to the reason why he believes he isn’t fit to be Pope.

As you might expect from this sole dialogue movie, the pace isn’t the fastest. In fact, there are certain scenes which seem to go on for a very long time, while adding little to the movie’s plot. However

The movie starts right after the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI as Pope. Immediately thereafter, the movie presents us with the two radically different personas of Benedict and Francis: Benedict is seen as much more conservative and very keen to become Pope, while Francis seems to be much more liberal in his

many of these prolonged scenes are necessary for the character development. For example, there’s a scene where Francis has a conversation with the Pope’s gardener about different spices and ingredients they use for cooking. While this may seem pointless, it is a great contrast to Pope Benedict, who tends to be more isolated and out of touch with the people. This scene, in the end, contributes to the resignation of

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Pope Benedict as he realises he’s not meant to be

getting to know them as the movie progresses.

Pope, and that his connection to God has faded. In

The overall tone of the movie is very dramatic

the same way, the coronation of the two Popes

most of the time, but luckily there are comedic and

further demonstrates their opposite characterization.

very wholesome scenes that greatly help lighten the

The two scenes have the same exact shots, but the

mood, especially after learning about Francis’ tragic

first one shows Benedict putting on regal papal

past. This I feel is also very much reinforced by the

attire, while the second one has Francis refuse to put

actors and their amazing performances, which help

on the same outfit, opting instead for more simple

us become more invested in the characters.

clothing. The scene says a lot about both characters, and their placement in the movie is phenomenal.

Despite being an atheist, I still loved this movie because even if it is about Catholicism, religion is not its main focus. In reality, the religion is simply a catalyst for Pope Francis to come to terms with who he is, in an attempt to improve the future as best he can.

If you have the time, this movie is certainly worth a watch. You can find it easily on Netflix, so make sure to check it out because this is definitely a 9/10.

The camera shots and cinematography are excellent and, along with the music choices, fit very well with the plot, and the emotions it tries to convey. The camera shots make you feel like you are actually there, listening to their conversations and

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LITTLE WOMEN: ADVANCING CLASSICS ON THE BIG SCREEN

By Giulia Oosterwijk At this point, it seems that there have been too

sisters’ neighbour and love interest of both Jo and

many “Little Women” movies screened. The story

Amy. Not completely surprised by the upcoming

has been overworked, exhausted to the point that

stars taking part in the movie, I was taken aback by

every rendition of Louisa May Alcott’s famed novel

Meryl Streep being cast as Aunt March. She seems

repeats a similar sequence of events: the same

like the perfect fit for the woman who parades

characters, the same plot turns, and the same ending.

around the March sisters for marriage, but I was

It seemed almost ridiculous to me when I was told

more surprised by the fact that she would want to

that Greta Gerwig’s efforts would add a new

play a character that has been seen time and time

dimension to the story, that Saoirse Ronan would

again on the big screen.

add a new dynamic to how Jo is understood, and that Amy March would not end up being one of the most hated characters in literature. Gerwig’s reiteration of this classic sets out to explore the message that Alcott strived to say and adapting it to the 21st century, leaving the audience with a more insightful impression of 19th century domestic life but also a deeper view of the role that women feel the need to take in society.

The Oscar winning cast is one of the more

The movie starts in the future, a surprise to many,

striking parts of the movie, with the actors ranging

as most are accustomed to a panning shot of a

from upcoming stars to those we’ve watched since

Massachusetts field, with Jo settling in a new job as

we were young. Saoirse Ronan, an Irish actress,

an author and running through New York in hopes

plays the character of Josephine “Jo” March. Ronan

to celebrate. It dawned on me that the movie would

is accompanied by Emma Watson, who plays Meg

be undertaking more than just the first installment of

March, a character who wants to seek out a

“Little Women,” but also snippets of the following

luxurious lifestyle in marriage. Unlike previous

novels. This concept is seen through the changes of

versions, Meg’s story does not end with her marriage

the coloring of the picture, with their childhood

but actually indicates how she is struggling

having a warm hue whilst that of the present is cold.

financially. Florence Pugh, a rising star, plays Amy

Gerwig and her cinematographer, Yorick Le Saux,

March. Amy is seen as the new hope of the family,

made a conscious effort to create a gap between the

bound to be an artist in Paris and marry into a rich

two times in the movie through both color and the

household. Eliza Scanlen, playing Beth March, and

use of the camera. The shots in the March sisters’

Laura Dern, who plays Marmee, become pivotal

childhood swiftly move between people and swirl

characters in the new movie. Timothée Chalamet

around the set, whilst those in the future are placed

takes on the beloved character of Laurie, the March

from a distance and stand still. The cinematography

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overall is one of the more defining factors of the movie, what sets it apart from the other countless movies and series. Although it’s not necessarily groundbreaking, it adds emphasis to the story and echoes the message accordingly.

As with the novel, the character of Jo is seen as the key protagonist of the story. As with every adaptation of the novel, the portrayal of Jo alters every time. How Jo is shown to the audience is a reflection of the time period, with each of them adapting to what was seen as the “rebellious” norm.

In previous versions, arguably, Jo seems to take on the role of an unladylike, reckless tomboy. Yet there is a slight difference in the 2019 portrayal, with Jo becoming more of a reflection of Alcott herself. Not only is she the one, at the end, publishing a novel about her family, but Gerwig managed to incorporate real events that Alcott underwent. Having to negotiate settlements with publishers, writing pages on pages of stories, and telling the audience that she truly did not want the character of “Jo” to marry at the end all come up in the movie. One of the most intriguing dimensions of Jo is that she has an internal hatred towards marriage. This is superficially acted upon in other movies, and is considered something almost ironic or even heroic, but this new movie shows how it is actually one of her deepest flaws.

This flaw that she aims to pride herself on, but ultimately leaves her feeling lonely and angry towards not only the world but also herself. It’s no surprise Saoirse Ronan is nominated for best actress in the Oscars; her acting encaptures what Alcott may have wanted Jo to be.

I would not be the only one when I say that Amy March is one of the most hated characters in not only “Little Women” but also within the literature sphere; she’s the exact opposite of Jo (the supposed hero of the story). She wants to marry rich, have children, be submissive, whilst only painting as a hobby - it seems almost ironic that the two characters would be related. But in defense of Amy, Gerwig finally does her justice and portrays her as a dynamic character that develops over time. She has an arc that may be difficult for many readers and viewers to understand, but it’s her immature and selfish nature that makes it all the more astounding when she goes on to recount the economic necessity and disadvantage that marriage entails, and proceeds to defy expectations (only slightly) at the end. It doesn’t necessarily mean that she will result in being the most loved character in literature, but it definitely proves to attenuate the loathing that many readers feel when her name is mentioned. Florence Pugh, the actress portraying Amy, has been nominated as best supporting actress at the Oscars.

With a movie that is nominated for best picture, best original music score, best costume design, best adapted screenplay, and many more, “Little Women” is waiting for critical acclaim. It’s a novel written in the 19th century, a movie filmed in 2019, and a message for the future.

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THE TIK TOK TAKEOVER

By Avery Walsh Fernie TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular apps on our phones. The new social media platform, that was formerly known as Musical.ly and was popular in 2015, was purchased by a Chinese company three years ago. It is used to create 15second long lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos. The company now has about 500 million users and a net worth of 75 billion dollars. People have found that once on TikTok, it’s very hard to stop. This is known as the “TikTok addiction.” As of July 2018, TikTok users spend an average of 52 minutes a day on the app. But why is it so addicting? TikTok has artificial intelligence that shows you more of the type of videos that you liked or saved, therefore you are presented with an endless stream of what you are interested in.

Many celebrities are also on TikTok, such as Loren Gray. Loren is the most followed person on TikTok with 38.3 million followers. She is also a very popular singer. Many users have found fame through the app. A perfect example of this is Charli D’Amelio, who in just a few months has gained over 20 million followers. She is mostly known for her dances and her original choreography. D’Amelio makes about $6,561 per post on TikTok. Chase Hudson, also known as Lil Huddy, has also become

very popular with 11.5 million followers on TikTok. Chase is known as the TikTok “E-Boy” and makes an estimated $523 per post. The Hype House is the house wherein TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube influencers came together to live in Los Angeles.

The members include 20 of the most famous TikTok users, including Chase Hudson (Lil Huddy), Charli D'Amelio, Addison Rae, Nick Austin, and Avani.

The stars also created a joint TikTok account that has over 7 million followers.

A more controversial aspect is the accusation that TikTok owners are working with the Chinese government. In September 2019, the US government started investigating TikTok after documents were released that showed that the company was instructing its moderators to censor videos that represented topics about the Communist Party of China. The company responded by saying: “Let us be very clear: TikTok does not remove content based on sensitivities related to China. We have never been asked by the Chinese government to remove any content and we would not do so if asked. Period.”

Right now, the US government has no proof that TikTok is working with the Chinese government.

That being said, they do plan on doing further investigations.

CULTURE 25