Refusion Magazine Aug 2020
Issue 3
L i v e s M a t t e r, C O V I D - 1 9 , U S U n i v e r s i t i e s t h a t a r e w a i v i n g t h e S AT, E n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m , Te s l a
Copyright Š 2019 by Cindy Hu. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Refusion Magazine Ltd or Cindy Hu. refusionmagazine@gmail.com cindyhu2013@gmail.com
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Refusion Magazine Ltd.
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S INTRODUCTION 4 About Us 5 Our Team 7 Sponsors FEATURE ARTICLE: RACISM 10 BLM VS. ALM by Sandra Chang 11 Covid-19 Reigniting Anti-Asian Racism by Hafsa Shafi SPECIAL: COVID-19 14 World Post-Covid-19 by Catherine Lim 15 Mental Health During the Pandemic by Sanjana Karthik 16 Optimism in Vaccine Development by Zifu Xu SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 18 Oil Spills and the Representation of Negligence by Sandra Chang 19 Electrification with Tesla by Raveena Duggal IDEAS 22 The Many Perspectives of Climate Change by Briana Lu LITERATURE AND POP-CULTURE 24 Chopin's Ballade in G minor in "The Pianist" by Cindy Hu EDUCATION 28 US Universities Not Requirering the SAT for Fall 2021 ARTS 32 Poetry Submissions 35 Short Story Submissions 37 Art Submissions
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Who are We? Founded in 2019, Refusion Magazine is a students led company that provides a common platform for people to lead and express through writing and design. United by a common vision of increased information and the values of identity and involvement, Refusion Magazine strives to give a platform to all people and organizations to express their ideas.
Our Goals The goal of Refusion Magazine is to connect the ideas of students across Canada and to foster an environment in which people could showcase their talents. We want to create content for youth curious about current events, science, literature, and the ideas of others; this overall makes our readers more informed, allowing them to make better decisions in their lives.  Through our articles and reviews, we also want to take a stand against climate injustice and human rights abuses.
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Our Management Team Cindy Hu
Catherine Lim
Editor in Chief Cindy has always been passionate about creating positive change. In 2018, Cindy's trip to Costa Rica made her realized the devastating effects of plastic. Being an avid speaker, she decided to write a speech voicing her concerns.  She presented this speech at TEDxBrighouse and was later invited to give the same speech at a water company called flowosophy.life. She has also been invited to give a lecture at the 100% Human conference in Israel in 2021. Production Manager Catherine is an avid reader who reads books of any genre. Her passion for reading has led her to write many literary analyses; Catherine's analysis of the book "No Friend But the Mountains" can be found in the literature section of this magazine. Aside from reading, Catherine also wants to make a positive impact on the community around her; she does this by volunteering at the local food bank every Thursday.
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Our Writers
Sanjana Karthik
In 2019, Sanjana began using poetry as a platform to voice her thoughts. She attends writing clubs around her community and has started writing and open mic events at her local recreation center. Despite this being her first year writing poetry, her work has already been published in Cedar books, WestWard Quarterly Family Magazine, and Poetry Institute of Canada.
Zifu Xu Zifu (Sophia) Xu is a student at Richmond Christian School. She is passionate about writing and social justice. She enjoys spending her free time reading and translating. Sophia is looking forward to sharing her thoughts with readers of Refusion Magazine.
Briana Lu Briana is a writer that works in various genres: journalism, fictional, short stories, essays, poetry, playwriting, comedy, screenwriting, and more. Brianna is also the founder and leader of the Southridge School's Writer's Club and a member of her school's coding team.
Raveena Duggal
Sandra Chang
Hafsa Shafi
Raveena Duggal is the author of an award-winning book called, “ Three Bunny Sisters ”. She wrote this book to inspire young children to participate in charity work. Before publishing “ Three Bunny Sisters ”, Raveena, along with her sisters, raised over tens of thousands of dollars that have been donated to various charities. Raveena has also won several awards like The Princess Diana Award, Mayor’s Honour Award and MP Award.
Sandra is constantly eager to learn new things. As a passionate junior debater, she strives to spread awareness through her writing. She is highly interested in topics to do with children and their mental health. Sandra believes that through her knowledge in filming and passion for writing, she can contribute her own personal skills to Refusion Magazine. Hafsa is an incoming senior at Port Credit Secondary School in Ontario, Canada. She is a part of the Science and Technology Program at her school and has a great interest in the fields of medicine, psychology, and sociology. She is also the executive of the Peer Buddies Club at her school.
Thank you to Ayah Hakim for providing to art for our cover
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Thank you to Tanya Sharma, Vishurdeey Sivakumar, Zifu Xu, Manjari Manickam, Sudiksha Sahu, Nirvana Naidoo, and diamondsartlife for submitting art, poetry, or short stories.
Our Sponsors
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Feature Article: Racism
Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter by Sandra Chang On May 25th, George Floyd was killed by a police officer. The officer held down George’s neck, making it nearly impossible for him to breath. After 8 minutes of begging the officer to stop, George passed away. George Floyd’s death sparked a cry for justice from the rest of society and shone light upon the racism issues that continue to perpetuate within society. The Black Lives Matter movement, or BLM for short, is a worldwide movement that protests against police brutality and racially motivated violence against African Americans. Although media portrayal of the BLM movement has now slowed, there is no doubt that a problem still exists to be addressed. Many people have their own opinions on BLM, which includes the discussion of All Lives Matter, or ALM. ALM supports the idea that all lives matter. Recently, there has been a lot of controversy regarding the difference between ALM and BLM. To be clear, ALM in itself is completely valid; however, it is being used in a way to invalidate BLM. A simple and popular analogy sums up the difference between both BLM and ALM. Let's say you have five children playing together. One child gets injured and needs a bandaid. Just because all lives matter does not mean that you are going to give a bandaid to each child. You are going to prioritize and aid the child that is hurt. That is exactly the purpose of BLM: to prioritize the race that has been repeatedly ostracized and mistreated. BLM does not invalidate struggles of other races; instead, it focuses on black lives and people of colour who are currently being oppressed. Please continue to address BLM and the ongoing problem of racism in society. Research, sign petitions, educate yourself and others, have serious conversations, and work towards changing habits that do not fall in line with BLM. Battling the justice system in the world is hard, but continuing to stand up for what you believe goes a long way. Go to blacklivesmatters.carrd.c for more information on how you can help.
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COVID-19 Reigniting Anti-Asian Racism by Hafsa Sha In light of recent events, many people have been experiencing feelings of anger, grief and fear as the Covid-19 pandemic continues its spread across the world. The accumulation of all of these negative feelings within people is compelling them to unleash them on whomever they can blame. Although the stress that results can be blamed on the uncertainty of the current situation, the discrimination that results cannot. The prejudicial thoughts that have been subconsciously ingrained into society perpetuating certain races as inferior, are now being verbally and physically expressed. One such incident reported in a BBC News article titled “Coronavirus: What attacks on Asians reveal about American identity”: Kimberly Ha, a 38 year old Chinese Canadian who has lived in New York for over 15 years, said as she walked her dog in New York, a stranger yelled “'I'm not scared of radioactive Chinese people' and started pointing at [her], shouting 'you people shouldn't be here, get out of this country, I'm not scared of this virus that you people brought over'”. In the weeks that followed, she also noticed that "about one in 10" people she encountered in public appeared angry when they saw her. "I've never felt that level of hostility before," she says. Kimberly is one of many East Asians that is currently being subject to individual racism and xenophobia due to something she cannot control.
Miseducation and misinformation that is being widely spread is associating the negative effects of the virus with the marginalized people of Chinese ethnicity. Such rumours include inaccurate beliefs that as Wuhan, China was the place of origin for Covid-19, all Chinese people must have the same genes and immune system putting them at a greater risk of contracting and spreading the virus, in spite of being thousands of miles away from China. Anyone who is not East Asian has the privilege of not being blamed for a pandemic they cannot control. If this pandemic originated in an area occupied by relatively white people, then white people would not have to struggle with reverse racism because dominant groups do not face systematic racial discrimination. In such a case the dominant group of white people would have social power over institutions and individuals, controlling the perpetuation of racial hierarchy, thus any prejudice against them could not result in large scale oppression. They would be immune to racism. These people may be unaware of this privilege because their ethnicity or background has never been publicly deemed inferior by the head of their country’s government. The same cannot be said for East Asians, as American President Trump continues to call this virus “ the Chinese virus”.
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Special: COVID-19
World Post-COVID-19 by Catherine Lim Changed by human error and newly gained knowledge, the world today is drastically different from the world a century ago. COVID-19, like many pandemics in the past, will inevitably change the way people approach hygiene, emergency protocols, and gatherings. The COVID-19 pandemic is already creating a shift in power on the world stage. Areas that are succeeding in flattening the curve, such as Canada and China, are now focusing on repairing the economy. With everything going on, many people are wondering what the world will look like after the pandemic. Firstly, when will the pandemic be over? COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization because of its high transmission rate and appearance in many areas. It is widely accepted that a lower infection rate or a vaccine breakthrough will indicate the end of the pandemic. COVID-19 will likely still be around even after the pandemic is declared over. As a result, people will inevitably need to begin to resume normal activities despite its presence. It is widely believed that COVID-19 originated from poor food management. As a result, many countries around the world are beginning to set more stringent food safety standards. More frequent inspections of kitchens are to be expected; this will help prevent restaurants from cutting corners and keep customers safe. There will likely be changes to the workplace as well. Hot-desking, the practice of having multiple workers share the same area, will likely be temporarily banned. Workplaces and educational facilities will also most likely begin requiring workers and students to regularly wash and sanitize their hands. One of the biggest issues right now is the limited
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authority politicians hold over people. Resistance against mandated masks, especially in the U.S., are rising alongside the infection rate. There are also people who are continuously protesting social distancing and self quarantine. The necessary steps needed to flatten the curve are being encumbered by the limited power that local authorities hold. Post-pandemic, it is inevitable that local authorities and citizens alike will fight to define the boundaries held by municipal governments. There will likely be debates on which decisions authorities are allowed to make without the approval of the people and whether or not politicians should be allowed to compromise the rights of the people in the name of public safety. Currently, it is impossible to make a fully accurate guess on what the future will hold. What is clear is that the decision made right now will have a significant impact on the way the world will be after the pandemic. It is important for everyone to follow guidelines to keep themselves and their neighbors safe.
Mental Health During the Pandemic by Sanjana Karthik Due to COVID-19, many people have reported depleted mental health. As a result of the sudden changes in lifestyle, people are feeling more stressed. According to the Conference Board of Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), COVID-19 continues to cause anxiety when it comes to employment status, income level, and the availability of coping strategies. Regardless of external circumstances, it is important to continue taking care of one's mental health and replenish one's mental health and body. In order to properly attend to one's mental needs, it is important to first understand the different ways that one's body may react to sudden changes. Some common feelings may include, but are not limited to: - a sense of being socially excluded or judged - concern about one's children's education and well-being - fear of getting sick with COVID-19 or of making others sick - worries about losing a job not not being able to attain needed finances - fear of being apart from loved ones due to isolation or physical distancing - helplessness, boredom, loneliness, and depression due to isolation or physical distancing Being mindful of the common symptoms above allows people to extend more attention and time towards taking care of themselves and those in the community. According to MHCC, a survey showed that those who engaged in at least one coping strategy had lower mental health concern scores. Some methods of coping may include,but are not limited to: - keeping a schedule - setting goals - maintaining relationships and connections through the use of technology - enjoy the great outdoors - meet friends or family in a safe socially distanced manner It is important to note that over using social media during the COVID-19 pandemic is not an effective method to keeping oneself healthy. One 2018 study found that “compulsive media use� triggered social media fatigue, ultimately leading to elevated anxiety and depression. There are also many resources available online: Virtual counseling services: https://cmha.bc.ca/covid-19/ Peer Support and Navigation: https://cmha.bc.ca/covid-19/ Living Life To The Fullest: https://livinglifetothefull.ca/ Psychological support: https://www.psychologists.bc.ca/covid-19-resources Coping with COVID(stress, anxiety, grief, etc.): https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19
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Optimism in COVID-19 Vaccination Developments by Zifu Xu Decades later, 2020 will be studied as an unprecedented time in human history. Rarely does a virus so forcefully halt daily lives, devastate the global economy, and steal the very life out of many. At this moment, everyone is hung up over two questions: when can we develop a vaccine that will put an end to this? And will this virus become any worse? Since the outbreak of the virus, countless elite researchers have been brought together hopeful of establishing a viable vaccine to COVID-19. According to experts, under the assumption that a vaccine’s development occurs smoothly from conception to public market, the current fasttracked COVID-19 vaccine development allows the possibility of a successful candidate to put into use within the 12-18 months. Several of the U.S. federal governmental departments have collaborated to form Operation Warp Speed (OWS); an organization that includes Health and Human Services and institutions in the private sector. The latest official announcements have confirmed that over the next three months, OWS has chosen to fund three vaccine candidates as they proceed to their Phase 3 vaccine trials: nRNA-1273 in July, AZD1222 in August, and BNT162 in September. nRNA-1273 is currently being developed by Moderna. nRNA-1273 is based on previous coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS. As of July, nRNA-1273 has completed its Phase 1 Trial, a clinical trial of 105 healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 70. The drug successfully produced neutralizing antibody titers in 8 participants. In 45 participants, the response varied depended on whether the participant received a 25 μg, 100 μg, or 250 μg dose level. When mRNA-1273 was tested in mice, it not only prevented viral replications in the lungs, but also produced neutralizing titers similar to that of participants who received 25 μg or 100 μg dose of the vaccine. After being reviewed by the FDA, Moderna’s new drug application was approved for Phase 2 of testing. The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, the
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team that developed the MERS vaccine, are collaborating to develop AZD1222. The initial trials with the vaccine have been successful: 6 monkeys displayed a significant reduction in the viral laod after receiving a dose. Mice and pigs also showed an immune response after taking a does of the vaccine. On May the 21st , the project received $1 billion of funding from Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the “development, production, and delivery of the vaccine”. Oxford researched announced on May 22nd that they are currently recruiting volunteers to receive a dose of the vaccine for the next phase. Finally, the BNT162 is the masterpiece of Pfizer and BioNTech’s combined efforts. This project contains four vaccines candidates:. two of them are nucleoside modified mRNA-based (modRNA), one is uridine containing mRNAbased (uRNA), and the last one is self-amplifying mRNA-based (saRNA). The Phase 1/2 Trial involved inviting 200 healthy participants between the age 18-55 to receive a vaccine dose of 10 μg, 30 μg, or 100 μg. Though immediate immunogenicity was seen in participants regardless of the dosage they received, adverse events were heightened at the 100 μg dose level. Researchers concluded that an ideal dose level of BNT162 may lie between 10 μg and 30 μg. On May 30 th , Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfrizer, said that the vaccine could be available in the fall of 2020. Given the global efforts in creating a vaccine for COVID-19, many are optimistic about achieving a breakthrough within the second half of the year. With the successful trials that has happened in many labs around the world, there does seem to be the possibility of introducing a vaccine to the market sooner than most expect.
Science and Tech
Oil Spills and there Representation of Negligence by Sandra Chang Almost the entire world uses oil on a daily basis. Whether for transportation, heating, electricity or more, oil is a substance that humans depend on. However, oil extraction and storage can have devastating consequences on the environment. On May 29th, diesel oil began leaking into Lake Pyasino in Russia, Norilsk. Pyasino Lake is home to large ecosystems of fish and plants; environmentalists predict that the environmental disaster will most likely render the lake devoid of fish. Workers are trying to prevent the oil from flowing down the Pyasino River, a river that leads to the Kara Sea. Investigators say that the leak was a result of melting permafrost that caused the collapse of a diesel fill storage tank. Most of Siberia’s ground is covered in permafrost and many storage systems for oil are commonly stored on permafrost. Russia has announced it plans to slowly implement a new way to store oil that lowers the risks of leaks that result from global warming. Most oil spills are fairly small, usually spilling less than one barrel of oil. However, as oil spills become more common, the environmental toll is bound to be significant. In the US, officials have counted up to 44 major oil spills over the. Creatures such as sea otters, seals, and even birds are greatly affected by oil. For example, birds can easily die from hypothermia due to the oil sticking onto their bodies. Environmental issues, including oil spills, signify ignorance apathy within society. It is important for people to continue educating themselves on societal issues and to make environmentally wise choices. Â
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Electrification with Tesla
by Raveena Duggal
A collection of interesting facts about TESLA, the world’s most valuable automaker by market value! Elon Musk did NOT start Tesla! Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla in 2003. They both ran Tesla until Elon Musk took over the company in 2008 until. Since then his company has skyrocketed: Elon Musk is worth 69.4 Billion dollars.
Tesla Cars can be Controlled like a Remote Control Car People can control their Tesla’s exact temperature from their phones using the Tesla app! They can set it to as hot or cold depending on the weather outside. You can also make the car honk its horn, reverse from the garage without a driver, and drive up to you from short distances all using the Tesla app.
Elon Musk is Creating a New Monster Machine: Cybertruck! The Cybertruck is completely made from stainless steel, the same material Space X uses to build their rockets! The Cybertruck’s exoskeleton is so strong that it can protect itself and its passengers from small bullets. The Cybertruck has a release date of late 2021.
Tesla Cars have a Biological Defense Mode! The Bioweapon Defense Mode uses a HEPA filter to remove pollutants within the car. These filters remove up to 99.97% of bacteria, viruses, mold, pollen, and air pollution (great for pandemics!).
Tesla is Developing Full Self Driving! Elon Musk is slowly developing automated driving. Just recently, Elon Musk released a new update that allows Tesla cars to recognize traffic lights and stop signs! Tesla has a billion mile advantage as its cars have been collecting data for years through its “neural net” to improve the AI behind full self driving.
Tesla has a Ludicrous Mode! Tesla is the only car company to have a ludicrous mode! This mode is only on the Tesla Model X and S. When set to ludicrous mode, the Tesla will be able to reach 60 mph in exactly 2.8 seconds!
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Literature and PopCulture
Chopin's Ballade in G minor in "The Pianist" by Cindy Hu
Movie Synopsis Wladislaw Szpilman, a brilliant Jewish pianist in Poland, was playing the piano on at a radio station when a Nazi artilliary falls on the building. Thus begins Szpilman’s struggle to continue living in Poland; he is eventually separated from his family and forced into hiding. At first, Szpilman refuses to give up his passion of piano playing and mimes playing on an upright piano that happens to be in his hiding space. Szpilman is eventually forced to relocate to the attic of an abandoned building. Later on, a starved and hollow Szpilman is discovered by a German officer, Hosenfeld, who asks Szpilman to play for him. After having not played the piano in years and been through humanity’s worst treatment, the decrepit Szpilman barely manages to play a Chopin ballade. Greatly impressed by Szpilman’s playing, Hosenfeld decides to sneak Szpilman food and keep him alive. After the war, Hosenfeld, now in a Russian prisoner of war camp, begs a passing Polish violinist to bring Szpilman to return his favor. The violinist does indeed bring Szpilman to the site of the Russian camp; however, the Russians have already departed. Unfortunately, Szpilman is unable to help Hosenfeld.
The Significance of Chopin's Ballade In "The Pianist, there is a scene in which Hosenfeld discovers Szpilman hiding in the abandoned building. Hosenfeld asks Szpilman what he is; Szilpman responds by saying, “I am...I was a pianist”. Szilpman’s comment shows the audiences exactly what the Nazi’s have taken from him: music. Despite Szpilman’s lack of confidence in his musical abilities after having not played for years, he understands that his life relies on him being able to perform for the German officer. Therefore, when the officer asks him to play something, Szilman plays a somber and brief rendition of Chopin’s Ballade in G Minor. Hosenfeld, moved by Szilman’s playing, decides to allow him to continue living in the attic and even sneaks him food. This scene is the embodiment of what “The Pianist” wants to convey: hope and humanity. By listening to the ballade, Hosenfeld realizes that Szpilman deserved none of what was done to him. Instruments are a common symbol for peace and joy. After witnessing and causing the death of so many innocent people, Hosenfeld listens intently to every note that Szilman plays, allowing him to regain a piece of humanity that he had lost in the horrors of war. Szpilman’s song reawakened Hosenfeld’s old self, the self that believed that war was corrupt and evil. As the pair further interact, the audience realizes that the Germans caught up in the war were not all monsters, but victims being forced to commit horrific atrocities.
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Ideas
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The Many Perspectives of Climate Change by Briana Lu Climate change. Two words that almost every single person around us will recognise. Some with fear, some with irritation, some with apathy. But whatever the reaction is, one thing’s for sure: It’s
approaches to climate change that different people hold. No, I’m not saying your neighbor, Michaele with an extra e’s “the Earth is racing towards the sun at a quicker speed each year that in 20 years we
not good.
will all burn and explode” theory is correct. I’m talking about five of the main, overarching, scientific approaches to climate change.
As a grade 9 student in high school, I’m surrounded by ‘activists’ and ‘protestors’ fighting for the betterment of humanity; a noble cause, there’s no doubt about it. The biggest battle? Climate change. Students who skip school to protest and show their support, their disapproval, and their outrage, a flurry of future leaders eager to be heard. But… is that it? Is that all there is to the issue of climate change? Protesting against the government? Fighting for more and better conservation? Speaking out to draw awareness onto the looming and dangerous troubles ahead? Unfortunately, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Now, I’m not speaking just to and for the teenagers of today. I’m speaking to everyone when I say: Do your research. You may already know where you stand, but I still urge you to please do your research. A majority of adults and students I have discussed climate change with are surprisingly uninformed, though they stand so strongly for a certain way or idea. There is no exception to the fact that those who are less than well-educated on a subject can be easily swayed to an incorrect side, or can be incorrectly swayed to the right side. This is a conundrum that only harms everyone involved. Popular does not necessarily mean right. Nor is it so when supported by a valid source with a lack of evidence. Do your own research first. There are many, many perspectives and their
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The first one is the most common as of today. That of conservation. The more alarming name being “apocalyptic environmentalism’, its basic ideas were set down by ornithologist and ecologist, William Vogt. In a book about two of the approaches to climate change, ‘The Wizard and the Prophet’ by Charles C. Mann, Mann describes Vogt’s mantra as being: “Cut back! Cut back!”, the immediate and serious need for conservation. This is the belief that we must cut down. That we must use less, in order to protect and prevent. It is the belief that the only way to solve pollution and climate change is to make less in the first place. The second approach is one entertained more by aspiring and working scientists, engineers, and many more in the invention sector. The approach of innovation. Its basic ideas set down and supported by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, agronomist, recipient of the Nobel Peace Award, and credited with saving over a billion people worldwide from starvation as the “father of the Green Revolution”. This approach is the belief that technology will be our savior. Our way out of the hole we have driven ourselves into. The belief that, as Donald Sadoway said in his Ted Talk, “The Missing Link to Renewable energy”, “We’re going to invent our way out.” Now, you may be shaking your head and claiming that you’ve already heard of these two perspectives and that you are well-versed in this subject with no
need for more research, and in the case that you are: That is exactly my point. These past two approaches are only excerpts from the “first perspective” prevention.
umbrella
of
climate
Climate adaption is the “second perspective”, and the third, less optimistic, approach. This is the idea that, instead of attempting to reverse or fight the effects of climate change, we must learn to live with them. Be it from new building codes and updated safety protocols to effective gas masks and fresh air and water storage, different adaptations to our changing environment is what many believe is our race’s only chance of survival. This perspective also goes hand in hand with the historical approach to climate change. The fourth approach, the historical approach to climate change is the focus of the bigger-picture, large scale look at ‘climate change’. It is the view that throughout the entire history of the earth, this is but one of the many many fluxes in the pattern of Earth’s ever-changing climate throughout time. And as a result, that humans do not have enough of a say in the matter to prevent the inevitable, and can either learn to adapt, or fail and reach a destined fate of extinction.
circumstances of overpopulation-- where the curve then proceeds to shoot downwards as the species begins to die off. This S-shaped growth curve pattern was founded and tested by many biologists in many different species, and is believed to be a constant in every single species, and will be the same for humans. This perspective is simply that humans will hit their growth barrier-- climate change, overpopulation, or/and many more-- and die off as a race. In this perspective, be it climate prevention or adaptation: Nothing matters as our attempts are only those of a feeble race destined to go into extinction.
The third perspective is also one that focuses on the fruitless human attempts to fight the inevitable, but in a different approach. This is the fifth approach, and one of a more biological viewpoint.
These are five of the main approaches to climate change present today in our societies, drawn from three main perspectives. They are all with varying and vastly different ideas and views.
The third perspective, and lesser known, is one of biological base and population pattern, orbiting around the theories and ideas of the S-shaped growth curve, otherwise known as the Sigmoid Curve.
Climate change isn’t an easy issue to solve, because it is also not an easy issue to start with. It is not a right or wrong, yes or no issue. It is extremely complex, everything tangled and connect in one big web. Because of this, we need everyone involved-which is all of us-- to be informed. We need to do our research.
The Sigmoid Curve is a graph of the population growth in different species through time, and resembles an S as the population grows in size before hitting a barrier-- a lack of more resources, perhaps a lack of breeding ground, or even
Research, think, act, reflect, repeat. This is how we can do our part in the issue and make sure that we do it well.
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Education
12 US Universities not Requiring the SAT for 2021 Admissions 1.
California Public Universities
UC's new testing policy calls for the SAT/ACT to be dropped trough 2024 as the university works to develop its own standardized testing system. The SAT/ACT will be eliminated in 2025 regardless of whether the new UC tests will be approved for use. Students wanting to apply to the UC schools still have the choice of submitting a SAT or ACT score.
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2.
Amherst College
As a result of COVID-19, Amherst college will suspend all SAT and ACT requirements for students applying for first year admissions. This test optional policy applies to both domestic and international applicants during the 2020 to 2021 admission cycle. Applicants may still choose to submit SAT or ACT score for consideration; however, they will not be considered as part of the evaluation of any applicant's academic record.
3.
American University
Prospective students to American University may choose to apply for early or regular decision without submitting standardized test scores. American University believed that performance inside the school classroom, essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities are good indicators of whether a student will be ready for university. Students may still choose to submit their standardized test scores if they feel that they are a good indicators of their academic abilities.
4.
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan does not require standardized test scores and says: "We believe that students should have the power to decide how best to present themselves to the admissions committee and whether —or not—their standardized test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential." The university allows students to completely suppress scores or only submit their highest critical reading, writing, and math scores from each test.
5.
University of Chicago
UChicago does not require students to share results of the SAT or ACT if you have been unable to test or prefer not to share their scores. This policy is open to all applicants.
9.
John Hopkins University
With testing availability and access severely limited this year due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins has adopted a one-year test-optional policy for students applying for entry in the fall of 2021.
6.
Hampshire College
10.
Tulane University
Currently, Hampshire College in Amherst, MA is the only Test Blind school in the US. They actually reject scores that are sent in and do not weigh them into their decision-making process.
Submitting test scores for the SAT or ACT will be optional for the admission process for students applying this fall for a spot in Tulane University’s 2021 entering class. This is a one-year policy change by Tulane in response to the multiple test cancellations that have occurred.
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Scripps College
Starting in fall 2021, Scripps is adopting a test-optional policy for all students. This means students are no longer required to submit the SAT or ACT. However, students who are home schooled are higher encouraged to submit standardized tests for review.
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8.
Cornell University
Students seeking to enroll at Cornell University beginning in August 2021 can submit their applications without including the results from ACT or SAT exams; this applied to both early decision and regular decision. results from the ACT or SAT might still be a meaningful differentiator in particular for students who live near or attend a school that will be offering testing or have not experienced a lost in income for one or more of their household providers.
The George Washington University
The George Washington University's (GW) testoptional policy went into effect on August 1, 2015. Students who are applying for first-year or transfer admission are not required to submit standardized test scores, except in select circumstances.
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New York University
New York University is test flexible; this means that students have the option to submit IB scores, AP scores, or SAT subject test scores instead of SAT/ACT test scores.
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ARTS Poetry Tanya Sharma, Zifu Xu, Vishurdey Sivakumar
Short Stories Nirvana Naidoo
Digital Art/ Painting/ Drawing Sudiksha Sahu, Manjari Manickam, Diamondsartlife, Sudiksh Sahu, Ayah Hakim
Swimming Pools by Tanya Sharma
Mama, can I help you into dress? Stitch together lies to keep you warm at night and drape you in swathes of vermilion – your favourite colour, the colour, of the blood that swirled inside your skull, of the fevered flush that would offset your honeysuckle face, lined with sweat, of red carpets you wish your daughters walked because you never could. Mama, can I cook to keep you fed? Creep into the kitchen to cradle you in my arms, footsteps light in the envelope of midnight dark, breathe in the salt of your unshed tears just as you breathe in our giddy laughter – preserved in monochromatic sepia in a drawer by your bedside, when you think no one is close enough to see you unravel like a spool of yarn you would use back when your hands trembled less and you could still knit us sweaters. Mama, can I visit you late at night? Stroke your hair when you fall asleep – not the plastic, the authentic, the hair you wear to bed, in my lap, skirts splayed, barefooted and raw-skinned, and listen to your body quake with laughter or tears, reminiscing over summer days that we let overripen in our hands, when your shoulders were strong enough to bear the weight of the world and your fingernails were tinted yellow from turmeric and fish oil and evenings spent toiling away in the kitchen. Mama, can I mend your broken smile? Splash water on your face from a swimming pool of hope – imaginary, but I don’t tell, and watch you wake up, fresh as a cherry blossom, the ones that were embellishments on our backyard trees, the ones you would sit underneath and tell me you felt calm, the ones with petals the exact shade of the pills that force you to feel calm, to feel steady enough to swallow more, your pills, keep on swallowing, downing them piece after piece with water from imaginary swimming pools.
Swimming Pools is about looking after a loved one with terminal illness.
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fever twenty-twenty by Zifu Xu
midnight, where the stars light up bright the quiet house pitter patter the rain drops on isolation, where correlation turns into causation the fearful spouse chitter chatter worried for the future the news, desperate to use the blues to get some views the anxious eyes flitter flicker watching numbers rise online, the classes assigned as the attention declined the annoyance cries skitter scatter when the teacher says bye the dread, as some fled while others lay dead the innocent mouse squeaker squacker scurried the empty streets ocean waves, where to be saved was to be in the grave the unwelcomed cruise pitter patter the rain drops on
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Seventeen and Counting by Vishurdeey Sivakumar
When the world unfolds in front of the eyes of the poor and privileged, Each being views a personalized and prejudiced societal image. The heart of man was never designed to divide but rather conquer, Which took its course, uncovering those who held the instincts of a monster. You claim we peacefully serve each other as a whole one, But your pigment permanently prohibits you from staring down the barrel of a gun. Jealousy arises in your spirit when we refuse to clean your floors, Yet the decisions forced upon us opened nothing but your business doors. I am the color of pure chocolate yet I am confirmed to be pathetic dirt. Enduring the pernicious treatment numbs the ability to feel hurt. With every physical standard they attempt to engrave within my perception, An internal rebellion resists the urge to be imprisoned by the deception. Continue to pretend our principles are far from necessary, As our painted brothers and sisters wrongfully crowd the country’s penitentiaries. The voice of the oppressed is the only thing we shall unsheathe, Until their virtuous voices cease to air out the words “I Can’t Breathe.”
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Different Perspective by Nirvana Naidoo The fireworks behind my eyelids do nothing to try and lull my senses to sleep. Its become harder, trying to fall asleep these days. There’s nothing holding me to stay awake and there’s no miniscule chance that I want to close my eyes again. Not ever. The nightmares have become a regular occurrence, I don’t know when it starts or even when it ends. It approaches me silently, crawling with the stealth of a predator… preying on my weakness. It’s vile, feral existence conjured by my mind sickens me to the point where this never-ending nightmare has me captured in it’s tight grip and is slowly clawing it’s way through my memories, awakening them to join the hunt and wreak havoc in my head. I know blaming myself for what happened will never help the situation, but I find it difficult to stare down life when I can’t even confidently look it in the eyes. True to my mother’s words I have kept my head high as I’m afraid that the slightest bow of my head will result in my façade slipping off and being trampled by the never ending sympathetic looks being thrown my way. Looks I will never catch as I know my capabilities lie elsewhere. Here I lay, remembering the days when my superficial worries consisted of keeping my overzealous mother away from my soccer games and trying to avoid my father’s death glares when he breathes down my neck about my weak grades. Weak. A word I hate more than the word ‘strong’. The similarity between the two is that they’re both states of being, enduring circumstances that make you appear either overrated or belittled. That’s not the attitude I want to have when living out my sad life. I would try to think up a more original synonym to describe my life at this point in time, but I feel like a zombie feeding off the energy of mortals who lead normal lives and whom I envy for the very ‘sad’ fact that they have mundane lives. Turning on my side, I can feel the light of the moon’s reflection, it’s a hard concept to understand but living in a world as dark as mine, you tend to feel things a whole lot clearer than before. For example, I can sense the monsters hiding under my bed, but I can reach them better through my mind where they have set up permanent residence and serve as a constant reminder that my life has changed. For the better or for the worse? I’ll leave that up to my doctors and therapist to mull over. The day my mirror reflection disappeared, and I ceased to exist was the day my face stopped experiencing the upward pull of my cheeks into a smile and when my eyes produced the liquid salt that I have established, I have a never-ending supply of. Scarring occurred on the inside more than it did on the outside, something that made healing extremely strenuous and difficult. It was the glass from the impact of the car they said. “It was too much of strain on the poor dear” was also a common excuse. An excuse that I grew to loathe as now not only do I have to experience being a stranger in my own body, but I have to visit the hospital and interact with strangers carrying needles on a daily basis. Their prodding fingers and soothing words did little
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to help me accommodate to this new lifestyle. My therapist seems to favour the idea of making me talk about the accident as it happened through my own eyes, that’s a real laugh. What she doesn’t know is that there is so much more than what meets the eye. Moving once again onto my back, I face the ceiling and wonder if acceptance would be my best chance at survival in a world that allows judgement to open up more doors for discrimination. They call it a bad dream, I call it reality. The wrath of truth is harsher than that of actuality. And I intend on making you see it from my perspective, the outlook where the only love I have is based intently on what I feel. I extend my hand towards my nightstand next to my bed, reaching for the security of my braille. Letting its smooth surface tell me that a chance at a normal life is possible. The love that I hold in my heart for what I have, is blind but so am I. I’ll bid you goodnight now.
"My work includes a third person narrative that revolves around a sensory nature of a blind girl and how she copes with falling asleep, her feelings towards her incapability of leading her old life and an overall sense of destitution in her world." - Nirvana Naidoo
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Digital Art/Painting/Drawing Fresh Air
by Ayah Hakim "Black people are crying out for their breath, for oxygen unpolluted by racism. This drawing symbolizes the day that everyone stands together against perpetuating racism, hatred, and bigotry and works towards returning to Black people the freedom to breathe this fresh air. "
Concealed Roots by Manjari Manickam
"The flowers’ roots are being blocked by the padlock; [it] means hiding your past or background. "
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Hope
by Sudiksha Sahu "[This artwork] is completely made of strokes. I used charcoal pencils to bolden the strokes and bring out the essence in the picture. it signifies hope and persistence even after continuous failures. "
Selcouth by Sudiksha Sahu "I connected the name to the bright green eyes. The unfamiliar, strange, unique yet mesmerizing eyes captivate the viewers. '
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The Future of Refusion Magazine Expansion Over the next year, Refusion Magazine will be expanding to accept worldwide submissions. We also want to distribute our content in educational institutes in other countries, such as China and the US. Refusion Films Recently, Refusion Films, the sister company to Refusion Magazine, has wrapped the production of a short documentary called "Scars in our Skin". "Scars in our Skin" has so far been accepted into two film festivals and is searchable on IMDB. Stay tuned by following our Instagram page @refusionmagazine @refusionfilms Email refusionmagazine@gmail.com for inquiries
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@refusionmagazine refusionmagazine@gmail.com