The Castle - Summer Edition 2022

T H E C A S T L E

S th e B SUMMER 2022

WELCOME BACK Welcome to the Summer edition of 'The Castle': RGS' student publication.

Dear Reigatians, Welcome to the Summer edition of RGS’ ‘The Castle’. This term, our team of talented writers have been busy both creating articles and preparing for exams. With topics ranging from genomic sequencing to the single-use plastic, these insightful pieces are sure to inspire.

For those of you making subject choices next year, the magazine offers a chance to discover new areas of interest and is a wonderful source for wider reading.

Congratulations to all our contributors this year, and well done to everyone on your exams!

If you’d like to submit an article for our next edition, contact Ms Harvey or come along to our lunchtime meetings on Monday in Room 4. Everyone is welcome!

Have a lovely summer, From the Sixth Form Editing Team - Sofia, Iris, Amelia, Demi, Kanika, Georgia & Cristiana.

CONTENTS

4

NATIONAL NEWS

17

SCHOOL NEWS

21

OPINION PIECES

32

POLITICS & GLOBAL NEWS

42

REVIEWS, ADVICE, TRIVIA & BAKING

What do you want to read?

If you want an entertaining, light read, check out our trivia, reviews, and baking section.

Are you interested in politics? Check out some of our more serious news articles that are guaranteed to make you think.

Are you someone who likes to engage in debate? Read some of the opinion pieces in this feature.

JUNE 2022 | VOLUME 3

THE QUEEN'S PLATINUM JUBILEE

BY AMELIE B & SOFIA M

2022 marks the 70th Queen Elizabeth Fact year since Elizabeth II`s File... ascension to the throne.

Elizabeth Alexandra May was born on the 21 April 1926 and

WRITTEN BY AMELIE B & SOFIA M

is the current reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth nations, with a total population of 129 million. Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch of

2022 marks the 70th year since Elizabeth II`s ascension to

the UK, having been on the throne for 70 years. She is also

the throne, which is her Platinum Jubilee. She originally

the oldest monarch and the longest-serving female head

ascended to the throne on 6 February 1952, but to

of state in history as of 9 September 2015. She ascended to

celebrate, the British Government have moved the

the throne on 6 February 1952 after her father, King

traditional end of May bank holiday to early June, allowing

George 6th died. She married Prince Phillip, the Duke of

for a four-day weekend from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5

Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. They moved into

June.

Buckingham Palace in 1952, which is the official home of the monarch. The Queen has four children with Prince

The United Kingdom indeed felt united, with millions

Phillip; Charles, Prince of Wales was born on 14 November

across

1948. Their second child is Anne, The Princess Royal who

the

nation

celebrating

and

displaying

appreciation for the Queen's service to our country.

their

was born on 15 August 1950.

They had 2 more sons; Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Essex, who were born on 19 February

1960

and

10

March

1964

respectively.

Unfortunately, Prince Phillip passed away in April 2021 aged 99 and the Queen herself tested positive for COVID in February 2022.

Jubilee Celebrations...

Celebrations that took place: As this was set to be one of the largest royal events ever hosted, Buckingham Palace released a schedule for the many events set to take place.

Thursday 2 June: The Queen`s Birthday Parade – with the RAF saluting the Queen from the skies.

Friday 3 June: Tolling of the Saint Paul`s Cathedral bells, followed by churches across Britain ringing their bells five minutes later. Around 200,000 guests attended the service.

Saturday 4 June: The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attending the Derby at Epsom Downs. `Platinum Party at the Palace` in the evening which was staged and broadcast by the BBC. Sunday 5 June: The Big Jubilee Lunch (or the Windsor Big Lunch) with members of the public encouraged to arrange street parties to celebrate. The final event of the weekend was the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

Whether you are a fan of the royal family or not, it was hard to ignore the Jubilee celebrations across the country. After years of COVID, it was great to see the British public in such high spirits again.

We hope you had a happy Platinum Jubilee!

Her Majesty The Queen has become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

THE CASTLE SUMMER EDITION

FEATURE BY LUKA U

How listening to music can benefit your mental health JUST LIKE OUR BODIES NEED FOOD AND ENERGY TO THRIVE IN THIS WORLD, MUSIC ACTS AS FOOD FOR THE SOUL REJUVENATING IT, AND FILLING IT WITH ENERGY AND VITALITY.

There

are

numerous

ways

in

which

music

can

influence

behaviour. Most surprisingly, music can even impact your

Music is ...

appetite! Research suggests that people who ate in low-lit restaurants with mellow music playing in the background ate 18% less food than someone in another restaurant. This

Most

people

entertaining

would and

can

agree help

that you

music to

keep

is

highly

calm

or

escape from the outside world, but I bet that you did not

know

that

music

can

be

of

benefit

to

your

suggests that lighting and music can help to create a more relaxed

setting,

restaurant

with

eating

the

slower

people and

eating

becoming

in

the

more

low-lit

aware

of

when they feel full.

wellbeing. You may have been listening to a highpaced rock song, feeling confident and enthusiastic, or you may have been at a tender live performance, being moved to tears: that is the power of music, it can impact emotions and even inspire action.

90% of the population regularly listens to music in the UK; the average person (2018-2022) spent 1 hour and 22 minutes listening to music a day. In 2021, a further 19.5m new music subscribers pushed the total number of subscribers to 487 million.

Music soothes the soul Music can also influence our sleep. People who listen to calming or classical music sleep better than people who do not. It can also be used as a type of therapy to help treat a variety of disorders, such as depression. Whilst music can have an impact on your mood, the type of music can also be important, for example, classical music and meditation are the most beneficial for mood-boosting, whereas heavy metal music is less effective. However, it is also proven that listening to upbeat music can help you feel more optimistic and can help create a positive mindset, while faster music can help you increase productivity and alertness.

THE CASTLE SUMMER EDITION

The benefits of singing If you have ever felt the overwhelming need to belt out your favourite song in the car (I can relate!), then you know how it feels when you sing: all the weight is lifted off your shoulders and the tension is decreased. Then, at the end of your favourite song, you light up with a huge smile and feel happier about yourself. When you feel happy about yourself, you are more likely to let go of stress, which helps you to deal with the more intense aspects of your life.

Overall, you can use music in many ways to help ease your daily life and lift any stress or tension. Use it when you are angry, when you are sad, when you are finding it hard to go to sleep or when you cannot seem to get anything right.

Music

may

sometimes

seem

like

just

following

a

trend, but it is proven to be so much more than that, with countless psychological benefits. So, if you love music, know that you might well be doing yourself lots of good by listening to it. But if music is not for you, that is perfectly fine too, there are other methods of relieving stress or feeling good about life - you just have to find the right thing for you.

If you have ever felt the overwhelming need to belt out your favourite song in the car (I can relate!), then you know how it feels when you sing.

News report by Anya P

Taking in Ukrainian Refugees June 2022

As living in Ukraine becomes more dangerous every day, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country and take refuge elsewhere.

Find out more...

Many countries have offered to take in refugees and millions of people across the world have donated lots of money towards charities in aid of Ukrainians. Poland has taken in the most refugees as it is a neighbouring country to Ukraine.

So far, the country has taken in several million people. Many choose to stay in Poland, while others

continue their journey to other European countries such as Romania, Hungary and Moldova.

The UK has granted over 80,000 visas to families fleeing the Ukraine crisis. Temporary residence permits in the European Union have been issued by France so that Ukrainian refugees can still have access to schools and work in the country.

With this permit, they can go to Austria, Belgium, Spain, Germany and many more.

Featured articles - National News Once the refugees are in a new country, they need somewhere to stay, and finding them housing arrangements can be particularly challenging as there are very few empty places to live. This means that residents of that country are given the choice of taking in a refugee family. Homes for Ukraine in the UK Government’s scheme is asking for its residents to offer space in their homes for those fleeing their country’s crisis. This opens the opportunity for individuals, charities, community groups, and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety. It will also allow those with no family ties in the UK to come to the country and rebuild their lives in an unfamiliar environment.

Talk about it! Discussing the war in Ukraine, rather than avoiding it, helps in terms of educated yourself, finding out about other peoples' opinions and therefore being more informed as to what you can do to help.

Final thoughts It has been decided that men between 18 and 60 must stay in Ukraine and fight. This means that fathers of families must stay back while their family leaves for safety. For young children, this would be quite difficult to accept that there is no guarantee of seeing their father again. Therefore, it is arguably the women and mothers who are bearing the full responsibility of the challenges of a move to freedom. It is an incredibly sad reality that many members of families escaping do not make it and the rest of their family are forced to go on without them.

Therefore, after everything a Ukrainian family has gone through, if we are able to help and 'do our bit', there are definitely steps we can take to support those who are far less fortunate than we are.

Three things you can do: If you know anyone who can host a Ukrainian refugee, they can register their interest here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homesfor-ukraine-scheme

The Disaster Emergency Committee [DEC] have launched a Ukraine humanitarian appeal where you can donate to support Ukrainian families.

June, 2022 Vol. 03

FAST FASHION & ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE WORLD Fast fashion is the term given to clothing that is quickly manufactured at a low cost, consisting of temporary trends to meet consumer demand. This relatively new phenomenon causes extensive damage to the planet and further embodies animal cruelty and worker exploitation.

Before the 1800s, fashion was slow.

One had to source their own materials like wool or leather, prepare them, weave them, and then make the clothes. The Industrial Revolution introduced new technology—like the sewing machine. Clothes became easier, quicker, and cheaper to make.

Dressmaking shops emerged to cater for the middle classes. By the 1960s and 70s, people were creating new trends, and clothing became a form of personal expression. In the late 1990s and 2000s, low-cost fashion reached a peak. Online shopping emerged, and fast-fashion retailers like H&M, Zara, and Topshop escalated in popularity.

These brands took the looks and design elements from the top fashion houses, making them accessible for nearly everyone around the world, and reproducing them quickly and cheaply.

However, there are clearly many awful consequences as a result of this.

The fashion industry has a dark side that we should all be aware of For starters, fast fashion is exceedingly damaging to our planet. The pressure to reduce costs and speed up production time means that environmental care is becoming more and more negligible within specific enterprises. According to the European Environment Agency, clothing use in Europe has on average the fourth-highest impact on the environment and climate. The global fashion industry is estimated to have produced around 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2018.

Feature by Cristiana H

FAST FASHION & ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE WORLD Its negative impact includes its use of cheap, toxic textile dyes—making the fashion industry one of the largest polluters of clean water globally, right up there with agriculture. Many organisations have been pressuring brands to remove dangerous chemicals from their supply chains; this has been largely achieved through detoxing fashion campaigns in order to decrease water pollution. I found it interesting to learn that when consumers throw their fast fashion garments in the washing machine microplastics degrade into the wastewater.

As the machine drains excess water, synthetic fibers travel into the environment and reach marine ecosystems, causing adverse effects when ingested by species.

As mentioned previously, animals are also impacted by fast fashion. The obvious consequence being through the production of garments made with animal skin/fur.

When animal products such as leather, fur, and even wool are used in fashion directly, animal welfare is put at risk. Numerous scandals even reveal that real fur, including cat and dog fur, is often being listed as faux fur to unknowing shoppers.

Fast fashion also impacts garment workers.

These workers labour in dangerous environments, for low wages, and without fundamental human rights. Fast fashion often means forced labour; children face dangerous conditions and excessive hours with mandatory overtime whilst still being terribly underpaid. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 170 million are engaged in child labour, with many making textiles and garments to satisfy the demand of consumers in Europe, the US, and beyond.

It is impractical to completely abandon fast fashion as it is almost inescapable. However, there are ways we can limit our intake of fast fashion.

1) You can recycle your clothes or buy and sell them online. It is estimated that less than 1% of all clothing worldwide is recycled!

2) Furthermore, you can decrease the visits to a fast fashion franchise – only go when you really need it.

3) And finally, do your research - is that faux fur actually faux? Will that fabric cause harm to the environment? If fast fashion cannot be stopped altogether, you can help do your part.

Feature by Cristiana H

NEWS ARTICLE

THE PAST AND FUTURE OF GENOMIC SEQUENCING. An article by Ruth C

At first glance, genomic sequencing may seem very futuristic, and like an abstract principle that will not have a significant impact on humanity.

The reality is that genomic sequencing will greatly benefit the future of medicine. It is used to allow scientists to study the (human) genome in-depth, which is currently resulting in research about cancer treatments and how genetic diseases form. However, to have an insight into the future of genomic sequencing, it is important to examine its past and discover the wonderful history of how it became a widely studied concept.

Genomic sequencing is defined as the laboratory method that is used to determine the entire genetic makeup of a specific organism or cell type. German botanist Hans Winkler coined the word ‘genome’ in 1920, combining the word ‘gene’ with the suffix ‘- ome’ meaning “complete set” to describe the full DNA sequence within each cell. Genomic sequencing is often used by scientists to diagnose and treat diseases, as well as to understand how these different diseases, most notably cancer, form. It was also used by countries including Australia during the pandemic to identify how the COVID-19 virus was mutating, and the origins of its second outbreak in 2020-21.

At first glance, genomic sequencing may seem very futuristic, and like an abstract principle that will not have a significant impact on humanity.

AN ARTICLE BY RUTH C

The first genome was sequenced in 1976 in Belgium and was the bacteriophage MS2. Since then (due to both the advances in technology and further understanding of the genome) organisms such as the Haemophilus influenza (the bacterium that causes meningitis), Drosophila Melanogaster (more commonly known as the fruit fly), and even the human genome have been sequenced.

Genomic sequencing is often used for purposes including the identification of new genes, and the determination of their location, function, and regulation. Scientists are aiming to obtain an entire panel of complete reference assemblies from a ‘collection of humanity.’ By aggregating genomic ‘profiles’ from a range of people across the population, humanity is able to gain a collection of invaluable reference sets, which are applicable to numerous topics such as research, clinical application, and even biomedical engineering.

Following the previous success that scientists had had in sequencing the genomes of a range of organisms - from bacteria to animals - Francis Collins began the Human Genome Project (HGP) with the aim of sequencing an entire human genome in October 1990. The project deciphered the human genome in three major ways: determining the sequence of all the bases in our genome’s DNA; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of our chromosomes, and producing linkage maps (which help scientists establish the links between genes). Additionally, HGP revealed that there are around 20,500 human genes. It gave the world a resource of detailed information about the structure, organisation, and function of the complete set of human genes.

In 2003, the HGP announced that they had fully sequenced the human genome; however, these claims were discovered to be false, and over 8% of human DNA was still missing from the sequenced genome. In 2018 the University of California founded an effort to complete the process. It was discovered that when the HGP had sequenced the genome, some of the most biologically important parts of the genome were missing from the original map, such as the centromeres (which are extremely important in the process of cell division). Furthermore, chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21 and 22 were completely missing.

Due to extensive advancements in technology that could handle these long and repetitive sequences, scientists finally filled the gaps in May 2021, and the first end-to-end genome was officially published in March 2022.

As well as discussing the benefits of genomic sequencing, it is equally as important to recognise the process in which the genome is sequenced. Currently, the most commonly used method is the Sanger sequencing method, the pioneer behind this method being Fred Sanger (who sequenced the first DNA – based genome).

The first end-to-end genome was officially published in March 2022.

AN ARTICLE BY RUTH C

The first step involves synthesising many DNA fragments that differ in length by one base pair and that are complementary to a DNA template strand (this process creates many fragments of DNA that differ by one nucleotide - the compound that forms the basic structural unit of DNA). The second step is to then separate these fragments out according to length using gel electrophoresis – each fragment has a fluorescent nucleotide on the end, and as the fragments passed through a detector, the order of the bases can be identified. Following this, a graph can then be created, which displays the order of the nucleotides, allowing scientists to accurately sequence the genome.

Whilst the past has ultimately seen many achievements in the field of genomic sequencing, the future holds many new possibilities. With the increasing power of longread DNA sequencing technology, geneticists are now positioned to explore a new era of genomics. Scientists are now focusing on untangling complex repetitive sequences across different populations and species, as for a long time these ‘repetitive sequences’ were deemed to be purposeless, as they did not actively code for proteins.

However, as society’s understanding of the genome has progressed, it has been discovered that these non-coding proteins are extremely valuable, and it would therefore be extremely useful to sequence them. Furthermore, a complete gap-free human genome would provide an invaluable resource for researchers to investigate the regions that shape genetic structure and variation, species evolution, and human health.

Genomic sequencing has advanced rapidly in the past few years, which is indicative of the rate at which it will continue to evolve.

Genomic sequencing has advanced rapidly in the past few years, which is indicative of the rate at which it will continue to evolve. Genomic sequencing is currently transitioning from research to clinical use and is suggested to have a significant impact in stratifying cancer, characterising genetic diseases, but also, on a smaller level, to suggest an individual’s response to a proposed treatment. As technology advances, it is harder to predict the extent of the advantages that it will offer, however (as I hope this article has shown) it is evident that genomic sequencing will have a great beneficial impact on humanity.

AN ARTICLE BY RUTH C

JUNE 2022

HIGH SPEED RAIL: NEED TO KNOW Article by Hugo J

WITH THE NEW HIGH SPEED 2 RAIL LINE COMING INTO OPERATION SOON, HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW. what is hs2?

HS2 (High Speed 2) is an upcoming rail line stretching from London to Birmingham and further north, passing through the Chilterns.

You may have already heard of HS1, the line between St. Pancras and France. High Speed 2 is one of the biggest rail projects in the UK now, with other contestants being Crossrail and East West Rail. Though there is already a line that goes from Euston to Birmingham, HS2 promises faster services, as tracks will be reserved for HS2 trains.

positives: The new HS2 line will provide super-fast services to the North, with a journey from London to Birmingham taking only 52 minutes. New trains will also be introduced through a project by Hitachi and Alstom, which will be able to reach speeds up to 225mph!

Another benefit of HS2 is architecture and reliability. New stations such as Birmingham Curzon Street, Old Oak Common, and a new Euston station will provide not only more space but also more facilities.

HS2 will provide more jobs through its building and management, and it is also an eco-friendlier option as it will be electric, therefore avoiding the nonexhaust emissions created by diesel trains. Its production will also decrease the need for lorries on the roads.

negatives: A problem with HS2 is that it will ‘cut through the countryside’ and impact the country’s green spaces. The Wildlife Trust said, "the deep cut HS2 will make across the landscape could stop nature's recovery in its tracks." Not only will it cut through the countryside, but it will also cut through people's houses, which could create many other problems and could generate a lot of complaints.

JUNIOR REIMUN CONFERENCE 2022

By Luka U

Issue No. 3 | June 2022

RGS School News On Saturday 7th May, the sixth Junior ReiMun conference took place at RGS. 30 delegates from schools across the SouthEast came together to represent different countries around the world and to debate topical issues. The conference was a huge success and enabled delegates to expand their MUN Skills and meet new people.

The morning kicked off with an opening ceremony and some speeches by the Secretaries-General. This was followed by a brief history of Model United Nations and workshops on how to write a good resolution and how to successfully chair a debate. Delegates were then split into different groups to represent a country. Five different committees hotly debated a different topic each, with one committee debating Funding for Environmentally Unfriendly Activities, and Global Poverty.

The rules of MUN stipulate that each delegate is allowed to give a speech in the debate, or if they wish they can give a ‘Point of Information’ to enquire further about the speech or to agree or disagree about a point. If desired, a delegate can propose to change the resolution by making a speech on why they think their changes should be considered which is then voted upon. Some friendly rivalry (cue booing and chanting) took place between each of the committees, with each believing that they were the overall best. Delegates even got to debate the question of ‘wheels vs doors’ which isn’t typical of a MUN debate but it made for quite an interesting discussion and one that was hard to conclude since history has shown both to be useful inventions!

As the conference came to an end, closing speeches were given, and certificates were handed out to the ‘most promising delegates’. After a long period of time during the pandemic of having to meet delegates from other schools virtually, it is great to be able to gather in person to practice skills and meet people from other schools with similar interests.

Key terms: MUN: Model United Nations.

Resolution: a piece of writing given to delegates so they know what to make their speeches about. It contains useful and complex information.

THE BEVIS HILLIER WRITING COMPETITION 2022

By Emmie S

Talented Writers The Bevis Hillier award celebrates the importance of creativity beyond the constraints of the curriculum and the wonderful writing talent that the 5th Form possesses.

The annual competition is judged by renowned English art historian, author, journalist and Old Reigatian, Bevis Hillier. Mr Hillier spent a generous amount of time providing annotation and feedback on the submitted pieces and particularly noted that the winner was telling of the story was “admirable”, with many of the short-listed pieces leaving him impressed with the talent of the writers.

Issue No. 3 | June 2022

The 2022 winner, Niamh D, wrote an incredibly poetic almost-love story caught in the shadow of the statue of Cupid and Psyche. She now takes her place amongst the more than a decade of incredible winning writers at RGS. The runners-up were Nihal S & Heulwyn K, with Highly Commended prizes going to Mollie F, Alex J, and Arun L. Having reviewed some of the outstanding entries, I was really inspired by this competition and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to ask Niamh some questions about her inspiration for the story.

On the following pages, find a write-up of my interview with the winner, as well as her featured piece, 'You Spell Hope with Love'.

AN INTERVIEW WITH NIAMH D

Q. Where did the story idea come from?

It started with a simile that I thought of when I was walking home from school, and I just wrote it on a word document and brainstormed a bunch of ideas. Then, I took the one that I liked the most, and that turned out to be the story.

Q. What does the secret woman mean to you?

I think to me she is a symbol of beauty and the things that we can find beautiful in the world because it is a very chaotic world that we live in these days as I think I described in the story. And to just take a moment and look at the beauty that is in the world around you is very important.

Emmie *

Q. Why doesn’t the main character have the courage to start a relationship with the secret woman?

I think that they are slightly apprehensive of breaking the bubble of surreal atmosphere that surrounds the woman and afraid of what might happen. I think they’re afraid of how they might interact and of how the situation might not be so idyllic anymore.

Q. What makes this stranger so different and special from the main character?

I think with the attitude of the narrator I wanted to give them a snarkiness and a wit that highlights the cynicism of the world we live in nowadays. I wanted people to be able to see themselves in that character and realize that having a pessimistic attitude is not always the best way forwards.

*I think that’s a really interesting perspective because I find the chaos of the world so overwhelming and there is beauty within that. We see with social media issues being exaggerated- there is beauty if you can take a moment and consider it.

Q, Who authors?

are

your

favourite

recent

Currently, I’m reading a book by Neil Gaiman.

He’s more of a younger children’s author. I think that I indulge in that sometimes as it’s a nice way to de-stress.

Q. Lastly, what do you think the benefits of creative writing are and what advice would you give to budding writers?

Q. Is reading a chore for you?

Absolutely not. I absolutely love reading. If I have time, which is scarce these days, I try to read every day. I really feel like doing reading, even in a non-academic sense is really relaxing and freeing.

Q. What’s one book that everyone has to read?

I’m sitting next to my bookshelf right now so let me just have a look. I recently read ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey,’ for the first time and I really liked it because it’s about the accessibility of art and I think that art is something that people should start to indulge in a little bit more.

Q. How did you start the story? With a character or a plot?

I set out with a simile and the idea of the woman in mind and I built the story around the tableau of her sitting framed amongst the people. I take art in school and I think in quite a visual way, I find it easy to build stories around pictures I have in my head.

"I find it easy to build stories around pictures I have in my head."

I really think that it’s a way to organise your thoughts about the world and get everything you feel about your life and your experiences out so in a way it’s kind of a mindful experience even if you’re not writing to make something beautiful. But then again, it is important if you are a writer, to try and bring a bit of beauty into the world. If you have that talent, then you should definitely put it out there. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

"If you have that talent, then you should definitely put it out there. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes."

You Spell Hope with Love- Niamh D Museum supervisor is a wonderful job for a taciturn teenager. In my little fold-away chair I could perch, vulture-like, looking singularly morose, until an ambitious aesthete breached the scuffed grey lines on the floor that cordoned off dreams, when I would squawk out the brusque command to ‘keep a foot away from the work at all times’. So I would spend my Saturdays, steeped in my own contrived melancholy, staring at the backs of peoples’ heads as they stared at art I knew they didn’t really understand. Not like I did, of course.

The memory of the day I saw her is still crisp, well preserved. I was late to my shift on the Rodin, and I shuffled in, black coffee in hand, trying not to attract the attention of the particularly crabby woman who oversaw the room next door. Sweeping through the throng I took my seat, which was squashed in, to rather comical effect I realise now, stiffly between two cabinets full of miniature nudes. I didn’t see her come in. I was too busy writhing in the chagrin brought on by hideous echoes of ‘row-din’ which resounded out of the drone every now and then. But I noticed how a silvery slither would dart between the cracks of bodies and disappear before I could catch it. The tilt and slope of a nose. The bridge of a long, tanned neck, crowned in choppy lengths, key-holed amongst the masses as she took a seat on the bench in front.

The chaos of midday ebbed into lazy afternoon, the light softened, and the stragglers drifted away like sand blown in a breeze. She and I were the only ones left, amidst the silent figures.

The only movement was the swirling of dust, illuminated by a warm pool of sunlight dribbling in through the window. Almost involuntarily, I stood. Wearing an expression of overt nonchalance to compensate for the eagerness of my strides, I moved around the perimeter of the bench.

Each footstep reverberated around the high ceilings, and I winced at the breaking of the silence. She did not move. Conscious of my gangliness, I slid on to the end of the bench and stole a glance at her. She was draped over it, silken dressed, like mist laid over a hill. Her gaze was keen and fixed securely on Cupid and Psyche, who lay, hooked in each other’s arms, melting into marbly white bliss before us. She was so still, her slender wrists posed elegantly, the contours of her sharp elbows had a gazelle-like grace, her golden bob haloed round a sepulchral face. In a slow articulation of the vertebrae of her neck, she turned to me, meeting my guilty eyes. We stared at each other; I rigid in my shame, she unwavering in her scrutiny.

She did not smile, only cocked her head, blinked, and bowed it away from me like a deer disturbed from its grazing.

I do not know how long we sat there, staring at Cupid and Psyche. It could have been hours, days. But I remember how at every shift I would find her sitting, engrossed, in Degas or Modigliani or Redon. And after the noise and flap of the day passed, I joined her to bask some time in her golden presence, simply sitting. We never spoke a word. We never touched. Each time I took my place, blood thundered dizzyingly up to my head as I deliberated breaking the silence. Would this be the time I spoke, should I ask her name, should I prostrate myself at her feet? But the time slipped out of my hands. One afternoon the room was cold, and she was gone. My job bittered as the evenings came sooner and at last, I gave up my watchful post, my hope of her return. I never saw her again. I sit, in front of Cupid and Psyche yet again as the Rodin exhibition makes its annual appearance, musing on what could have been.

A LETTER TO NADHIM ZAHAWI - EDUCATION SECRETARY A letter by Evie W

Dear Mr Zahawi, I am writing to you to convey my strong belief that much more needs to be done in schools across the UK in a bid to tackle the growing issue that is climate change. As a Year 7 pupil whose future is at risk, I write on behalf of other children my age who are deeply concerned about the climate crisis.

Therefore, I sincerely hope that this letter will convince you to make the much needed first steps in facilitating all schools to become greener.

I first wish to inform you that there are many reasons, which I am sure you are no doubt already aware of, for the climate crisis being as such a critical stage.

Burning fossil fuels and deforestation only begin to scratch the surface of the issue.

Issue No. 3 | June 2022

If we dig deeper into these world-wide issues, we find that they all start with the same human fault: we are careless with our natural resources, to a point where they are no longer sustainable.

Take deforestation, for example; the reasons we cut down trees are so that we can use the wood for paper, fires and construction, and the space they create once they are felled is used for agriculture, livestock grazing, or new housing for the growing population to inhabit. This sickens me to the core; it is selfish, thoughtless and entirely selfserving. Excessive paper use is an excellent example of schools wasting Planet Earth’s resources. I agree that paper is a fantastic means of recording work but not when it is misused. Trees are the lungs of our planet; they sustain human life. You have the power to protect them. Why not encourage schools to use less paper?

A letter to Mr Zahawi Why not help schools to introduce affordable technological alternatives to paper? One worksheet shared between a class online would save at least 30 sheets; multiply this by the many worksheets handed out during a typical school week and you could save entire forests.

I passionately hope that you can assist schools, and therefore surrounding communities, in making changes that create a greener environment in schools. Imagine if every school in the UK had access to free educational, environmental programmes, such as Eco-Schools. This would, without a doubt, encourage young people to engage with their environment by allowing them to actively protect it. I also suggest offering financial support to schools who need it because environmental adaptions, such as weathering buildings (so less heating is needed), composting food waste and supplying each classroom with LED lights (rather than energywasting light bulbs) needs funding and for many schools that funding is non-existent. Finally, I suggest considering the beneficial effect of solar panels in schools. I strongly believe that this would make a positive impact on the unsustainable energy a working school uses in a day.

Each year a small junior school uses 110, 00 kWh. That is equal to 47.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide which would need 56 acres of forest to absorb it in a year. However, the initial cost of installing solar panels is, for many schools, prohibitively expensive – for the same small junior school, the cost is in the region of £37 000. Although, you do earn this money back through lower energy bills, it can take up to 7 years. This is problematic with schools facing tight budgets. This makes me wonder, is there scope to offer schools more funding? If the Education System is a means of investing in the future of young people, is this entire system arguable futile if the future is one of extreme weather, limited natural resources and no planet to sustain life on?

To make changes as vital as these may seem daunting and costly, but every small step does count. A good example of a successfully sustainable school is Bowdoin College in the US. The school managed to reduce their carbon footprint by 29% - from 16,326 to 11, 620 metric tonnes - in 9 years! With that mind-set and determined approach the numbers can only continue to dramatically decrease. This was achieved by the entire school community making many little changes to their lifestyles in order to, together, make a greater change. Imagine if we made those changes possible in all UK schools; it would be sure to help our planet stay greener.

To establish these changes, I believe that the first steps in succeeding to develop greener schools across the country would be for you to visit schools to reflect and evaluate on the measures already in place and establish where they lack sustainable resources and where there is room for improvement. Then, on having done this, you could create a critical climate action plan to be shared with MPs and the Houses of Parliament.

I hope that this letter has convinced you to take further action, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Evie W Evie W Year 7 pupil of Reigate Grammar School.

News report by Tabitha B

WHY IS DRESSAGE SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC? June 2022

There has been much debate into whether dressage is cruel or not.

Find out more...

There have been many debates over whether dressage is cruel or not, if it should be an official sport, and whether it should be included in the Olympics. People have stated repeatedly it is a form of animal cruelty.

Dressage is a type of horse riding in which the horse is trained to

move fluidly in time, sometimes to music, with a rhythm, like they are dancing.

The technique appears in the Olympics alongside show jumping and cross-country.

The horse most often used in dressage, because of its grace and elegance, is the Dutch Warmblood.

It’s also the newest European Warmblood Breed- less than 70 years old. They live on average 24 to 29 years and are calm and athletic.

Dressage, if done well and with correct, gentle training, can be good for the horse and they may even enjoy it. However, sometimes the riders use a rein that is too tight and sometimes harsh, forceful training methods that can be cruel to the horse or pony.

Some other, harsher training methods include the horse being forced to pick up complex routines in a short time. However, more riders use slower but kinder methods to

Featured articles train their horses, which are gentler and prove more effective in the long term. Then there is the concept of spurs, metal tools attached to the riding boot heel, which must be used at a certain advanced stage in dressage. They are also used to encourage the horse to react faster and more precisely. However, spurs have been viewed

controversially.

In

2010,

MailOnline

reported that Prince Harry faced an animal

Fact file: The most famous British dressage riders are Charlotte Dejardin on her horse, Gio, and Carl Hester. These are just a few. The past Olympics dressage was won by Germany, with America second and Team GB third.

Charlotte Dejardin has won six Olympic medals so far.

She won gold in 2012 on her famous horse Valegro, making her the joint first most successful Olympian of Team GB, tied with Laura Kenney.

cruelty claim because he was photographed during a game of polo, riding a pony with what appeared to have wounds on its flanks from his spurs. Animal charities described the situation as “heartless.” In the horseback sport of polo, riders who use their spurs excessively face disciplinary action, whether that is a warning for a first offence or a fine of up to £50,000 for later offences.

However,

multiple

websites

have

stated that spurs ideally don’t hurt the horse, and that they are only cruel when used incorrectly. As with some methods in dressage, if performed harshly, the results can damage the horse.

Conclusions Therefore, dressage can be unkind to the pony, if not done with the correct experience and training, but otherwise it can be enjoyable for both the horse and rider.

Thank you for reading.

An RGS student, who has had experience of horse-riding, shares her thoughts:

“Dressage doesn’t actually hurt the horse if done correctly, as it is safe and you have to remember that the horse is very strong and pulling on the reins doesn’t hurt them either (unless you yanked them continuously.)”

ISSUE 3. JUNE 2022

NO, YOU CAN'T TOUCH MY HAIR! AN OPINION PIECE

By Georgia R Hair is something that is personal to many of us. Whether we have straight hair or curls, long hair or short, we use our hair to express ourselves and show the world who we are. Black people also use their hair to express themselves, often showing off intricate braids and beautiful afros, although hair has a lot more significance in African culture than a lot of people know about. Sometimes people are so interested in these hairstyles they may ask a Black person: “Can I touch your hair?”

While this question may seem harmless at first, it can be uncomfortable for Black people to receive a question like this. This article is here to explain to you the history of African hair and why hair is important to so many Black people.

Hair has been a vital part of the Black community since the early years of African civilisation. Hair was used to represent many aspects of a person’s life such as their social status, wealth, religion, and the tribe they were in. The people of the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria believed a person’s hair connected them to the divine, so they would braid their hair to send messages to the gods.

However, the Transatlantic slave trade was a serious threat to Black hair. An estimated 12 million African men, women and children were kidnapped and sold into slavery. One of the first things the slave traders did was shave the heads of the African people. This dehumanising act was especially painful due to the strong cultural and spiritual importance of hair to African people.

Not only did these people lose their hair, but they were not able to look after it either. These Black people were faced with a lack of resources to care for their hair; so, they had to result to using items like bacon grease and butter as conditioner and sheep fleece carding tools as combs. The conditions of a Black person’s hair also determined their working conditions as a slave.

In these devastating times, Black hair gained new importance with Black people using their braids to help slaves who were looking for freedom. They would cornrow their hair to map out escape routes, braiding patterns that resembled roads to travel or avoid. Small bits of gold and seeds would also be hidden in the braids to sustain them after escape.

Unfortunately, the negative connotations surrounding

During this movement, Black people wore their hair in a

Black hair consisted outside of slavery. The terms “good

natural afro, embracing their natural hair textures.

hair” and “bad hair” were coined in the 1770s. These

Because of this, the afro became a symbol of Black power.

terms defined the ideal type of hair a person could have: “good hair” was associated with Caucasian hair

Moving into the modern-day, we continue to see Black

textures while “bad hair” was associated with Black

people embrace their hair in many ways. More Black

hair textures. However, the Black Power Movement

people are featured in the media, showing their beautiful

sought to change this.

hairstyles, causing the perceptions of Black hair to

n the late 1960s, African Americans were unhappy

improve.

with the actions taken during the Civil Rights Movement and so created the Black Power Movement,

This article has briefly looked at some of the history

inspired by the teachings of Malcolm X.

behind Black hair and why it is important to so many

The movement encouraged Black people to reclaim

Black people. Not only is the history important, but in

their erased heritage and celebrate their identity. This

day-to-day life, hair can be a source of our identity,

movement also had a focus on the Black economy and

something that is very personal to us. Someone asking to

social and political power.

touch our hair can make us feel uncomfortable or pressured, feeling as if this person is invading our personal space.

Because of this, the afro became a symbol of Black power.

My hair is a part of me and shows the world who I am; it links me back to my heritage and reminds me of where I came from. So, no, you can’t touch my hair.

ISSUE 3. JUNE 2022

WHY WE SHOULD BAN SINGLE USE PLASTIC AN OPINION PIECE BY RIYA M

PLASTIC, PLASTIC, PLASTIC...

Plastic is everywhere; I bet if you look up from this magazine right now, in the room you are in, you will be able to see at least three different items made from plastic. Whether it be a plastic bottle, a plastic toy, or even a phone made up of microplastics – we have incorporated plastic into our lives in so many ways that it is now impossible for us to live without it!

Did you know that 71% of the earth is water and that oceans combined hold about 96.5% of all water on earth? However, the damage that we are unceasingly doing to our marine life and our Earth’s fragile ecosystem, from our plastic pollution, is at a rate that is becoming irreparable. We are currently living in a golden age where our actions over the next ten years will shape our Earth’s oceans for the next 10,000 years to come. So let us get this right because we only really have one more shot.

Americans use roughly 100 billion plastic bags per year and each plastic bag can take between 400 to 1000 years to decompose but even then, we will be left with harmful microplastics for many years after.

Our current reliance on plastic is having dire consequences on our environment…

AT THIS RATE THE DAMAGE IS BECOMING IRREPARABLE.

By 2050, there is predicted to be more plastic than fish in the ocean and if we continue this way, plastic most certainly has the potential to wipe out humanity.

However, many, if not most people do not realise how much plastic we really do manufacture and where plastic actually ends up. Humans have polluted 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic into the ocean - that is around 46,000 pieces of plastic every square mile! The brightly coloured pieces of plastic floating around in the ocean attract sea creatures and make them think that the plastic

is

food,

so

they

unknowingly

eat

it.

Unfortunately, the accumulation of plastic in the sea creature's body causes fatal blockages in the digestive system, meaning food can no longer digest completely or leave the creature’s body. This eventually leads to a slow and excruciatingly painful death.

However, it is not just sea creatures that have plastic inside of them. Recent studies have shown us that plastic was found in the human lungs. How? The fish that we eat also consume the plastics in the ocean, so we too are indirectly consuming plastic. Although, you may be a vegan or vegetarian and if so, you will be thinking, how does this affect me? Well, even when we eat food from our plastic tubs or containers, studies have found that certain chemicals in the plastic can leach out into the food and drinks we consume. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such

as metabolic

disorders,

obesity,

cancer,

neurodevelopment disorders, and countless other problems…

Science also shows that when drinking hot drinks from plastic cups you could be swallowing up to 1000 microplastics. Each microplastic is smaller than a few millimetres in size. However, over time the build-up of microplastics can cause cancers and many more serious health issues. So, as you can see, the plastic problem is no joke!

However, although the extent of the problem may seem unfixable, there are many straightforward ways in which we as the general public can do our part for the environment.

What can I do?

1) Carry a reusable bottle 2) Avoid wrapping food up in excess packaging (clingfilm/foil) 3) Get your milk delivered 4) Do not use disposable plastic cutlery 5) Avoid plastic bottles (there are 4000 used every second already) 6) Bring your own bags when you go shopping 7) Cut down the number of takeaways you have every week 8) Buy in bulk instead of items loose 9) Do not buy or consume chewing gum – it is made of plastic!

10) Buy food from local markets or low-waste shops I hope after reading this article you have realised how horrific plastic really is and that we need to all chip in to save our environment before it is too late…

ISSUE 3. JUNE 2022

IS THE WORLD GETTING BORING? AN OPINION PIECE

By Emmie S Let’s face it, there is a negative trope surrounding Gen-Zers that we are easily bored by almost everything. In the so-called ‘information age', there is a constant battle for people’s attention, which in turn decreases the attention span of the overall population. This proposes the dilemma of ‘how much is too much information?’ Additionally, despite the accessibility of information having so many benefits, it’s increasingly easier to burn out and to know when it is time to take a step back. And whilst it is easy to see why the depressingly short attention span of the world is a thing, once you probe deeper into the field of attention-span psychology, you can see how ever-present this dilemma of information and competition for attention is.

Firstly, how do we know that global attention span is decreasing?

Whilst there are many common warning signs, from the shortening of song, movie, and media length, to the way we consume social media (yes, TikTok feeds this issue too), there are many daily habits that decrease our attention span that we aren’t even aware of. We now have signs on our roads telling us not to text and drive, because our shorter attention spans are now a matter of public health and public safety. In order to measure the attention span of the population, Microsoft Corp. took 112 people and studied their brains using EEGs or electroencephalograms.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION?

An EEG measures the electrical activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex with small electrode pads which are attached to the patient’s head non-invasively. The EEG measures the activity of large groups of neurons rather

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY CREATE A TIRED GENERATION?

than individual neurons and what functions they carry out, specifically how fast the functions are carried out. An EEG produces a graph of waves of varying amplitude, wavelength and frequency and can be used to measure brain activity that occurs during an event or task carried out by the patient. However, there are limitations to EEGs, for example, an EEG cannot measure the inner structures of the cortex, it merely scratches the surface. In 2015, Microsoft Corp. concluded that the attention span of humans had dropped significantly from 12 seconds to 8 seconds, which is lower than the attention span of a goldfish.

Millennials are the Tired Generation. According to the General Social Survey, ‘young adults’ are twice as likely to experience constant exhaustion than they were 20 years ago. And whilst the stress and exhaustion faced by millennials is somewhat self-induced, one-third of the US population is sleep deprived. Sleep hygiene is also something to be considered. ‘More than 8 in 10 millennials say they sleep with a mobile phone glowing by the bed, reports a Pew Research study, and if the phone is not by the bed, we still use them before we fall asleep. Even though we are aware of the blue light that seeps into our brains, triggering the psychological response of alertness, the temptation of TikTok or the possibility of a Snap or message is too urgent to resist.

IS A DECREASED ATTENTION SPAN PROBLEMATIC? Well…yes and no. Attention span decreases due to a massive amount of information being thrown at us, and that is useful. The Information Age is useful and powerful. Scientists suggest that attention span decreasing is an adaptation of our brains to cope with the amount of information we are consuming. The more

information

you

consume

rapidly

and

consistently, the shorter your attention span will be.

And whilst there’s nothing inherently wrong with consuming large amounts of information that is beneficial, it can lead to significant amounts of burnout, or stress, and contributes to the rising ‘Age of Distraction’.

Moving past the physiological effects of technology, and the constant stream of technology still has psychological damage to evaluate. And whilst there are a plethora of other contributors to burnout and stress, namely, hustle culture, and money worries, technology is the easiest habit to kick on an individual basis.

WHAT IS DIGITAL BURNOUT AND HOW CAN YOU DEAL WITH IT? Digital burnout is a cumulation of anxiety, exhaustion, and apathy ignited by spending too much time on digital devices. Symptoms of digital burnout can include sleep issues, decreased energy, and physical effects like chest pains (usually anxiety-induced). Throughout lockdown, it was easy to get fed up and frustrated with online learning because of the endless hours of sitting down in front of a screen. It was easy to get distracted, or endlessly bored. This is a phenomenon known as digital overload. Causes of digital burnout are essentially the excessive use of online content or multitasking online

SO, HOW DO I TACKLE DIGITAL BURNOUT AND PREVENT IT?

applications across multiple devices. Digital overload shares strong ties with depression and anxiety, so the

This can seem obvious, however, setting screen time

dissertation that today’s youth are more depressed and

limits or at least on certain applications can be useful -

anxious because of social media definitely rings true.

remember that you don’t have to go completely cold turkey to have good screen hygiene. However, if an app is just too tempting, uninstall it. Turning off notifications can relieve some screen-induced anxiety, and delay instant gratification once you open a text message. If someone tries to call you and it’s dragging on a little bit, don’t be afraid to set boundaries over how long you talk for and give yourself some grace.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Conclusively, the digital era can be hard to navigate, but attention span reduction is an adaption to technology and habit. Increasing your attention span is possible by chewing gum, drinking water, setting screen time boundaries, and exercising.

NEWS ARTICLE

GENOCIDE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) An article by Demi M

*Warning: Mention of genocide, sexual assault, and violence Though it is the second-largest country in Africa, with an estimated population of 108 million, and is a member of the UN, the African Union and the Non-Alignment Movement (one of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc), not much is known of the atrocities committed against it in recent years. It historically has been one of the most impressive powers of its continent, being home to the Congo Empire which was founded in 1390 on the Congo River by Nimi a Lukeni. However, in the 16-17th Centuries, British, Dutch, Portuguese and French merchants began the exportation of slaves from the area. Things worsened by the 1870s, in which the colonisation of Congo had become a private venture of the Belgian King, Leopold II. The Belgian state annexed Congo in 1908, amid protests over killings and atrocities carried out on a mass scale by Leopold's agents. 15 million Congolese men, women and children are said to have been killed or worked to death during Leopold's control of the territory. Finally, The Congo became independent in 1960, with Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president. Yet, the peace did not last, with Lumumba being killed in ’61, reportedly with Belgian and US complicity.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is suffering a silent genocide, the bloodiness of which has not been seen since the Second World War. Some have come to call it the ‘African World War’.

AN ARTICLE BY DEMI M

What would come to follow would be a thirtyyear dictatorship under the Army chief Joseph Mobutu, who initially nationalised many foreignowned firms and forced European investors out of the country, which had been renamed Zaire.

After nationalisation failed, Mobutu defaulted on loans from Belgium, resulting in a cancellation of development programmes and increased deterioration of the economy. By ’97, Tutsi (an ethnic minority group within Rwanda, which had suffered a genocide from Rwandan forces, armed by Mobutu, during the 1994 Rwandan Civil War) and other anti-Mobutu rebels, aided principally by Rwanda, captured the capital, Kinshasa.

In 1997, Zaire was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo and Laurent-Desire Kabila was installed as president, but the war continued, with rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda rising against Kabila, taking control of much of the east of DR Congo. In 1999, a peace treaty was signed in Lusaka, yet a year later the UN Security Council authorised a 5,500-strong UN force to monitor the ceasefire which was not successful in preventing the fighting. A 2001 report by a US refugee agency stated that the war had killed 2.5 million people, directly or indirectly, since August 1998. Later, a UN panel stated that “the warring parties are deliberately prolonging the conflict to plunder gold, diamonds, timber and coltan, used in the making of mobile phones”.

The signing of peace treaties and the work of the Interim government to set up free elections

dominated the early 2000s, until 2008, in which rebel forces captured the major army base of Rumangabo and the Congolese government accused Rwanda of backing Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, which Rwanda denied. The conflict emerged once more and continues to this day.

The genocide against the Tutsi people of Rwanda is considered to be, “like flicking over the first domino” in the Genocide within the DRC, according to a Human Rights Activist interviewed by the BBC. The atrocities of the genocide include mass murders, abductions, child labour and the displacement of persons.

Rape has also been used as a form of control with the New York Times reporting in 2011 that a woman is raped every minute in the Congo. The conflict is estimated to be the cause of more than six million deaths, some of which have been indirect consequences of political instability, allowing deadly outbreaks of Ebola, malaria and malnutrition to claim more lives. Half of the estimated deaths are said to be of children under 5 years old. Because of widespread violence, more than three million people have been forced to leave their homes and many continue to go without humanitarian assistance.

In August of 2017, the UN reported that in the DRC’s Kasai province, an estimated 2,000 people have been murdered due to ethnicity-based violence and that several mass graves have since been discovered in the area.

AN ARTICLE BY DEMI M

Efforts to address DRC’s genocide, such as the 1999 United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) - which was created to protect civilians - took offensive action to strengthen the peacekeeping operation, defeating groups like the M23 rebels. However, the persecution of ethnic minorities continues without an end in sight. In 2017, the area of Ituri saw a Lendu militia attacking the Hema minority. A ceasefire and a delegation of exwarlords that President Félix Tshisekedi sent in 2020 to negotiate the demobilization of their fighters have had little effect. Within the conflict, citizens of the Tutsi minority are some of the most persecuted.

The question as to why the conflict has continued with such little improvement concerns the element Coltan (a rare metallic ore used for the production of electronic goods of mass consumption). The DRC has the largest Coltan deposits in the entire world, from which the element is taken to create mobile phones, computers, TV remotes, and even rocket ships – most things that run on technology require coltan to function. A probable and supported hypothesis is that powers, notably America, China and France are hiring the militaries of surrounding countries to invade areas with Coltan deposits after Congo’s announcement that foreign mining companies will no longer have mining rights in the DRC, resulting in the inhabitants’ deaths and assaults. Congolese influencers have raised the question: “Is the Genocide occurring because the DCR no longer wants to give the West its resources?”

As to the future of this conflict, Tshisekedi’s reign so far has seen political repression decline, and many detained political prisoners freed, which many see as a step in the right direction.

However, senior officers who have committed human rights abuses remain in power in Tshisekedi’s government, and in September of 2019 Tshisekedi declared that he had “no time to rummage into the past” and hold suspected perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses accountable. Organisations such as Genocide Watch have urged the UN and the DRC government to take forceful action to stop the persecution and extermination of the DRC’s minority groups, which they claim will require

disciplined, forceful action.

Environmental organisations have also expressed concerns, as the DRC is part of the 2nd largest rainforest in the world.

Neo-colonisation's effects are echoed around the world: in Ukraine, Palestine, Cyprus, Kashmir, Yemen, The Uighur population of China, indigenous peoples of the world and many more marginalised groups. The most powerful tool against such atrocities is to educate oneself, to learn and promote learning about them, and most of all, to stand up for the promotion of justice.

Below are charities to which you can donate: WWF (World WildLife Foundation): This charity works worldwide to protect the most endangered species. One of the most important places that they focus on is the Congo Basin.

Merlin: They describe themselves as a “Force for Health”, providing medical assistance and nutrition programs in the DRC since 1997. They reportedly aided between 50,000 to 100,000 civilians in vaccinations and medical assistance in 2012 when thousands were displaced in Goma due to ongoing fighting. Today the charity reportedly helps 900,000 all over North Kivu.

Warchild: This charity focuses on improving the lives of youths in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Uganda, and the UK. In the DRC they operate in the capital city, Kinshasa. Their main function in Kinshasa is patrolling the streets of Tshangu at night in an ambulance looking for displaced or injured youths. In the ambulance, they have a medical team ready for injuries and a social worker ready for conversation.

SUMMER 2022 • ISSUE 3

MARINE LE PEN VS EMMANUEL MACRON: L’ELECTION FRANCAISE 2022 AN ARTICLE BY AMELIA S

THE 24TH OF APRIL THIS YEAR SAW THE END TO A LONG ELECTION PROCESS IN FRANCE, THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD HAVE SEEN A COMPLETE SHIFT IN FRENCH POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, AND EVEN FRANCE’S POSITION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. Who are the candidates?

Emmanuel Macron (pictured above right): Macron was the previous, and with the results of the 2022 elections current, president of France. He won with 59% of the public vote. He is part of the party ‘La Republique En Marche!’ and is largely seen as a centrist

(a

person

who

holds

moderate

political

views-

neither

definitively left or right leaning) He has labelled himself a ‘centralist liberal’ since August 2015, and first assumed office in May 2017.

Marine Le Pen (pictured above left): Le

Pen

is

a

part

of

the

National

Assembly

of

France.

She

is

also

a

member of the ‘National Rally’ and was its president from 2011-2021.

She ran for President in 2012 and 2017 before her campaign in 2022.

Her father Jean-Marie Le Pen is well known for having been president of the National Front from 1972 to 2011 and having extreme far-right views,

and

Marine

Le

Pen

is

also

generally

considered

to

be

on

the

far-right side of politics, although she kept her 2022 campaign fairly neutral

to

appeal

to

a

wider

audience

and

more disadvantaged communities in France.

appealed

mainly

to

the

DID YOU KNOW THAT MACRON WON THE PUBLIC VOTE BY 59%?

Le

Pen’s

promise

extreme that

views

should

on

she

be

immigration elected

and

her

Regarding

the

issue

president,

she

given to French people in preparation for elections,

would call a referendum proposing drastic limits on

Marion

believes

immigration

enough

access

in

France,

made

her

unpopular

to

of

information

that to

French

through

and wanted a solution to the ‘immigration problem’.

sources

Her

policies

added that people in France received flyers by mail

included repealing laws to allow illegal immigrants

so that everyone had the information, but they did

to

not necessarily know what to do with it.

proposed

become

provided

changes

legal

to

to

immigration

residents,

immigrants

and

be

that

reduced

benefits

difference

(shown Us”

between

above)

while

La

is

clear;

Pen’s

the

this

information

trust

a

the

from.

She

remove

Results from the election

candidates'

posters

I also asked Miss Louet about her reactions to the

Macron

slogan

receive

always

in

to

incentives for new immigrants.

The

they

not

presented

and

biased

do

be

apps

of French voters who believed in French nationalism

people

can

given

online

and

it

are

some. However, she instead appealed to the group

way

but

resources

people

information

newspapers,

and

appeals

reads

“For

to

“All

all

of

French

election

and

how

other

people

in

France

may

be

feeling, and she confirmed that there was not any

people”.

surprise for most about the outcome of the election

Election procedure in France

as

From

to get so far in the election because of her focus

my

given

research,

far

more

information UK.

For

I

found

that

accessible

during

example,

election there

French

people

resources processes

are

apps

to

provide

than

such

are

in

as

the

‘Elyze’

La

Pen

people.

on

was

However,

poorer

power,

too she

people

as

well

far

thinks

in

as

right

the

the

standing

that

La

country

high

goal

abstention

Overall,

voters

down

among

younger

low

turnout

people.

The

and app

voter helps

find

it

to

the

on

expected;

help

a

Although

newer

generation

candidate

aligns

questioned

the

and

whether

seemingly

more

app

the

to

was

useful

voters

with

due

app

of

a

to

decide

which

views,

users

their

some

tool

technical

politically

bugs

biased

(in

favour of Macron).

I

recently

at

RGS,

spoke Miss

with

Louet,

French

to

learn

language more

assistant

about

people in France felt about the election.

how

last

two

prospect nation

that

of

and

although

Macron

and

candidates,

but

opportunities

managed

consumer

of

racism

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France possibly

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so

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a

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the best candidate for them by swiping left or right policies.

most

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fighting

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JUNE

2022

AN ARTICLE BY IRIS M

ISSUE

3

Political Participation

POLITICS. IT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE WORDS THAT IMMEDIATELY CAUSES PEOPLE TO SIGH IN BOREDOM AND TURN AWAY. When I was younger, I would confidently say that I “hated politics” and that it was “so boring”. I personally grew out of this mindset, and ended up doing A Level politics, but many young people still feel this way. As young people, we tend to associate politics with older, experienced adults who pass laws that we may not understand; it seems to exist in some parallel universe that is so far removed from our daily life.

However, the further you look, you begin to realise that there’s more to politics than that. It’s about society, and how we as people are able to live our lives. Politics affects us all, and every one of us can have an impact, no matter our age.

As Greta Thunberg said, “no-one is too small to make a difference”. Most people don’t realise the power they have as individuals, but political education is a great place to start. After all, knowledge is power, and politics is all about power.

It’s all very well to just tell people to go out and participate politically. But what does that actually involve? For many people, voting is the definition of participation. And don’t get me wrong, voting is extremely important. Voting gives you the opportunity to have a say in who you want governing the country. And while this may not seem as though it concerns you personally, it does. Especially as young people. Every day, Parliament makes decisions on issues that directly affect your future. Education, mental health services, employment. Who do you choose to make decisions on the things you care about? You may not know yet, and that’s okay. That’s where research can be useful; this way you can find out what really matters to you, and where you lie on the political spectrum. It’s especially important for young people to vote, to raise the turnout levels for 18-24-year-olds, so those in power know they have to listen to our generation more.

important for young people to vote, to raise the turnout levels for 18-24-year-olds, so those in power know they have to listen to our generation more.

So, is that all you need to do? Wait until you’re old enough to vote at elections? Of course, that’s a great start, but there is always more we can do to have an influence, whether or not we’re of voting age. Unfortunately, our electoral system of first-past-the-post delivers results that do not proportionally reflect the intentions of voters and exaggerate the success of the winning party. This is why our political system seems to centre around the main two political parties, often leading young voters to feel as though they have limited choice. The intricacies of our electoral system is not something that is directly taught to us in school, so educating yourself on how it works could be very helpful for you to understand how best to cast your vote.

Many voters live in safe seats, leading them to believe there is simply no point in voting. While this is not the case, and it is important for us all to vote to raise the turnout levels for young people, it is true that simply voting is not enough to have your voice heard. In fact, there are so many opportunities for us to be more effectively involved in politics.

For example, you could join a campaign for an issue you are specifically interested in, whether that is by going on a protest march or joining a pressure group. If you have a particular affiliation with a political party, becoming a member is a great way to represent the views of young people from within a political body.

Not only is this easy, it’s really cheap!

For young people, the Green party offers a membership of only £5 a year.

Maybe you would prefer to join in by social media, by posting something to raise awareness, or signing a petition.

Or, if you prefer a direct approach, you can write to your MP or a public figure to let your representative know what matters to you. All this might sound a bit daunting at first, and it might sound appealing to just hide under the covers as the world flies past you.

But think of this gradual engagement as a fire you want to build. You have to start small, with some sticks and kindling, and slowly feed it. Lighting the match might be as simple as downloading the BBC news app onto your phone and checking it on the bus every morning to see what’s going on in the world today. There are loads of great websites, Instagram accounts, YouTube channels and so much more out there for you to take advantage of.

Not only is it easy to participate, it’s interesting. You may find that you have a particular enthusiasm for a certain issue and getting involved can pave the way for so many opportunities, for example work experience and future employment. You’ll also find you understand a lot more of what’s going on in the world. One of the best things is meeting similar minded young people who care about the same things you do. A sense of community can help you feel less powerless, less silent in the face of global events. Everyone has a voice, and whatever your age, you have the right to speak out as loudly as anyone else. An active involvement in politics may well give you greater sense of control over your future, and it is up to you to reach out and take that control.

Want to find out more? Check out the following websites: https://youthpolitics.org.uk/ Visit the Youth Politics section of the BBC News website Check out the best books on Political Engagement For Teens by visiting fivebestbooks.com

Report by Demi M & Sofia L

Cyprus: An Island Divided June 2022

Amidst talks of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Kashmir, Syria, Yemen and many other areas, Greeks and Greek Cypriots return to the question at hand once again, that with which they have lived with since 1974 – When will Cyprus be free?

To understand a history as complicated as Cyprus’, one must start at the beginning. Information that is vital to the background of this conflict are the historic tensions between Greece and Turkey, two bordering countries in the Mediterranean who once had great empires and influence.

Greece gained its independence from The Ottoman Empire in its war of Independence in 1821, however Cyprus did not achieve freedom from the Ottomans until

1878. Greece’s conflict with Turkey remained as the government committed a genocide against Greeks living within Turkish-Greek borders, which then continued against Armenians and Kurds. Meanwhile, Cyprus was placed under the UK's administration based on the Cyprus Convention in 1878 and was formally annexed by the UK in 1914, meaning it did not witness freedom from colonial rule even after centuries of occupation from various empires.

Cyprus has a majority Greek

population, making up 77% of the population in 1960, whereas Turkish Cypriots were only 18%. Tensions existed between the two communities, as many Greek Cypriots favoured a policy of ‘Enosis’, meaning the union between Cyprus and Greece, the president of the Island was Archbishop Makarios III during the time around the occupation, and was a popular leader who supported Enosis. However, after suggesting to the UN the right of Cyprus’ selfdetermination (freedom/

Featured articles /independence from colonial rule – at the time British), Makarios III was abducted by special forces and exiled for a year in the Seychelles.

In 1958, when Makarios was ‘encouraged’ to sign the Zurich Agreement giving Cyprus independence, he also had to accept two British naval bases on the island as well as extended rights for Turkish Cypriots. separating areas in the North to only their community.

In 1967, a right-wing military dictatorship in Greece meant Cyprus no longer wanted Enosis, and in July 1974, after rising conflict between communities and increased attempts on the life of Makarios, Turkey invaded the island.

The Greek Cypriots who lived in the North were forced to leave behind their houses, property, clothes, and even pets to escape Turkish military forces. They did not know when they would return.

The displaced political refugees live on today, unable to return to their homes which are inhabited by Turkish-Cypriots. As of 2022, Northern Cyprus remains occupied by the Turkish Army, despite the constitution and presidency having been restored to the South. To the Turkish Government, the invasion is still known as a "peace operation", designed to protect the Turkish Cypriot community.

However, the whereabouts of the prisoners of war taken to and interred in Turkish prisons remain unknown. Despite the Committee on Missing Persons investigating the disappearances of over 1600 people, the Turkish government has refused to disclose their location and fate.

The border between the North and South is known as the ‘Green Line,’ marking Nicosia as the last divided capital in Europe. Visitors to either side must first show their passport – as if entering another country.

Although more than forty years have passed since the invasion, the border’s surrounding houses remain abandoned- faded relics of another era. Visiting the island today, it is difficult to forget the tragedy that occurred there, and the profound impact it has since had.

To understand why, it is important to understand Cyprus' history.

Conscription (first introduced in 1974) remains mandatory for men, who are required to do 14 months of military service and are called back a few days a year until the age of 55. This applies to both citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, and non-citizens with a parent of Greek-Cypriot descent. The fear of a future military threat is evident, and the 30,000 Turkish troops still present in the North have done little to quell this.

Recently, despite warnings from Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades that it was ‘a flagrant violation of international law’ the Northern beach in Varosha was opened for the first time since 1974. The Green Line passes right through the surrounding area, which has remained an abandoned ‘ghost-town’ for 46 years.

The U.N Security Council made clear in a 1984 resolution that any attempts to settle a part of Varosha would be considered inadmissible. Yet, in October 2020, people could be seen waving Turkish flags along the beach, and there was a visible police presence. The message was a clear one and set back any hopes of a resolution to the island’s conflict.

Unfortunately, this display is far from unique. Turkish overflights over Greek territory and drilling activities in Cypriot waters are common occurrences. In 2017, five Turkish fighter jets entered Cyprus airspace, patrolling 30 miles off the Southern coast before returning to Turkey. This provocative move served to escalate tensions, only adding to the climate of mistrust. More recently, warships from Ankara were deployed to frighten Cypriot vessels from drilling in their own waters. Perhaps most significantly, Turkish ships broke international law to drill in the Cypriot maritime zone.

Protestations were met with a chilling message to ‘remember 1974’.

Featured articles

Final thoughts:

i

So, what was Britain's role in the conflict?

Despite operating two military bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and having soldiers stationed there at the time, Britain failed to defend Cyprus in its hour of need. Yet in 1982, the British government sent their navy 4000 miles South to fight in the Falklands War. This refusal to act is perhaps unsurprising, given the long and often bloody history between the two countries. Prior to Cyprus’ independence in 1960, colonial Britain tortured, killed, and assaulted both suspected revolutionaries and ordinary citizens. Whilst accounts from British veterans who served in Cyprus contradicted the UK’s official version, and £1m in damages were paid to 33 Cypriots alleging torture, the government insisted this was not ‘any admission of liability.’ Therefore, whilst Turkey was successful in its invasion and illegal occupation of Cyprus, this was perhaps largely due to foreign powers refusing to act.

In its darkest hour, Cyprus was not protected.

In its darkest hour, Cyprus was not protected.

In conclusion, the Cyprus-Turkey conflict was born from a long history of empires and tensions, and shows no sign of being resolved. When, in his historic address to the US Congress in May, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of the Cyprus issue as ‘an open wound...causing pain to Hellenism for 48 years’ his anger and emotion mirrored that of the Cypriot people. However, when discussing these conflicts, its perhaps easy to conflate the actions and beliefs of a government with those of its citizens. It is important to remember all that we share. Despite governments, politicians, and wars, among Greek and Turkish Cypriots, there is more that unites us than divides us.

REVIEWS - SAM C

AN OVERLY BIG DEAL BUT A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT: A film review of Batman - a 2022 American superhero film based on the DC Comics' character Batman.

“…having watched it I can safely say this is one serious film…”

*spoilers alert!

2022's highly anticipated Batman reboot had a lot to live up to due to the extremely high acclaim of the Dark Knight trilogy. Having entered the cinema, I was surrounded by Batman advertising, including an advert for a drink specially made for him; however, what struck me most was the presence of many boards that reinforced it being a 15 certificate. How bad can it be, many people must have thought. Well, having watched it, I can safely say that this is one serious film; with its haunting yet stunning Gotham city, its earthy mix of hand-to-hand hell-zones and firearm frenzies, as well as a complex and scarred Bruce Wayne that refuses to resemble the archetypal superhero.

Robert Pattinson (from the Harry Potter franchise) delivers a strange and interesting performance as Batman (or should I say, The Batman, a name change which has been debated throughout various chat forums). Aggressive towards police and ruthless towards the unjust and his complex

motivations to save the city make him a star protagonist. Catwoman, played by Zoë Kravitz, offers a fine female sidekick to the tortured vigilante. Paul Dano, however, portrays the antagonist (The Riddler) in a way that is simply unrecognisable compared to Jim Carrey, who dances around hilariously in question mark pyjamas. Paul Dano's Riddler takes the innocent fun from Carrey's performance and turns him into a nightmarish and terrorist-like antagonist. When he is unmasked, his psychopathic nature is explained, and the villainous accountant explains that he was inspired by Batman and therefore started to threaten the unjust (another mental scar added to Batman's - sorry, 'The Batman's catalogue). The underdeveloped character of Penguin was sort of unnecessary in my opinion, although he does retain some mild comic relief, despite hardly letting us catch our breath.

REVIEWS - SAM C

The initial atmosphere says a lot about today's superhero films: whereas in the past they were primarily popcorn pleasures, in today's world the nerds reign supreme due to the serious and grand undertone that fictional heroes are embodying. With a red and grey colour scheme, red a reminder of bloodshed and violence and grey a reminder of the sadness and bitterness of the city's situation, the atmosphere is powerful and without a doubt impressive, but does a superhero film really need that?

In terms of action and superhero violence, this was much more predictable than the film's other fields. A steady stream of down-to-earth combat, featuring guns, fists, and even both at the same time, is spread across the film to create fairly good pacing. Riddler's rise to power is assisted by social media, which reminds me of the Qanon cult that Donald Trump initiated for his followers. The cesspool of the criminal underworld of Gotham city looms large throughout this film, yet The Riddler's cruelty throughout the film, including attaching a bomb to someone's neck and slamming their face against a car door, it is clear that DC's stereotypical images of his funniness have been completely tossed away.

As the story progresses, some of that initial flare in the atmosphere (that resembles a serious drama rather than a superhero adventure) is lost. Clichéd moments begin to occur, such as the romantic kiss between Batman and Catwoman (referred to as Selina in this film) as well as a strange self-rescue during the climatic

...As the story progresses, some of that initial flare in atmosphere is lost... brawny battle atop a tower and a guessable rescue by Selina Kyle. What makes this film so incredibly daring and bold an idea is the attempt to keep up both a sombre style and a gripping drama for nearly three hours. I was certainly gripped the whole way through, yet the grave and gothic tone does not keep its power for the full length of the film. In my view, this is a major flaw since a film should end on a high note rather than make us impatient for it to end.

Overall, director Matt Reeves has executed a highly absorbing, hair-raising, and hugely commendable film, yet its deeply pretentious nature, bouts of horrific violence that alienate younger filmgoers and a mightily monstrous runtime make it seem separate from the genre.

DC has certainly been known to be more serious than Marvel, but my-my, this is one grim movie.

Overall, The Batman is highly recommended and, despite its flaws, is essential viewing for all the family (oh wait, I meant teens and older: did I not mention how dark it was?) Jokes aside, the tougher filmgoers should definitely see this film, as not only is it a fantastic achievement by director Matt Reeves, but also due to its very defined and distinctive tone. It is an important moment both for superhero films and 2020s cinema as a whole.

REVIEWS - SAM C

NOT ONE-STAR WATERS BUT A CHEESY AND COLOURLESS QUEST: UNCHARTED (2022) Spider-Man: No Way Home: A Film Review by Sam C

*SPOILERS ALERT* During its first few days in the cinemas just before Valentine’s Day, it was clear to me that Uncharted was not the Valentine's treat people were looking for. Being battered and bruised with sub-50% reviews, I decided to walk in with fairly low

BEING

expectations. Having seen the film, I can safely say it adds nothing new to the

BATTERED AND

table, and its cheesy and low-level humour (along with questionable physics)

BRUISED WITH

eliminates any chance of the film being taken seriously. Nevertheless, Uncharted is a simple and somewhat satisfying adventure story, taking us on a sort-of actionpacked adventure that's adequate for all the family.

After a very short backstory, we are quickly thrown into the world of Uncharted and briskly introduced to the crafty young con man Nathan Drake, played by

SUB-50% REVIEWS, I DECIDED TO

Spider-Man star Tom Holland. Unlike Peter Parker, however, Nathan is an

WALK IN WITH

outspoken, streetwise, and mischievous protagonist. The treasure hunt begins

FAIRLY LOW

when he meets Victor "Sully" Sullivan, played by Mark Wahlberg, who does not retain the moustache, age, or butch voice that the videogame version appears to have. His half-mentor half rival-hunter attribute is surprising and unexpected.

EXPECTATIONS

MARCH 2022, ISSUE 2

suggesting each individual's lust for the treasure rather

Not giving in to the temptation of a kiss between

than it always being a clear team effort. The presence of

Nathan and Chloe, the film holds off from any romantic

troublesome treachery is continued when we meet

relationships, which is satisfying to see. Dialogue,

Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali) who, apart from speaking with

however, is not the film's strong suit, and the frequent

an unforgivably bad British or Australian accent (it's so

base-level bouts of humour, including the failure to

bad I can't even tell) offers an adequate untrustworthy

understand a Scotsman and one that's hard to explain

rival to "Nate" and "Sully", who even betrays them to

here but is basically about a big bad nun, feel like the

obtain the treasure for herself in an interesting plot

cheap comedies that were mass-produced in Ancient

twist that reminds us not to trust anyone. Even one of

Rome and remove all hope for the film to be taken

the two bad guys (played by Antonio Banderas)

seriously. However, these cheesy, half-witted jokes

(although everyone in this story is not wholly good) is

which are dropped in at every possible moment do help

betrayed by the other (Tati Gabrielle). As a speaker of

the film present itself as being entirely light-hearted,

Español, it was great to see Antonio Banderas speaking

which is probably the right thing to do with its

Spanish during the film, though his performance in my

videogame roots and simple sense of adventure.

opinion was un poco olvidable (a bit forgettable), but

However, Pirates of the Caribbean was based on an

not nearly as average as the rest of the supporting cast.

attraction at Walt Disney World, proving that

In short, the secondary performances are fairly run-of-

Uncharted's videogame origins are far from far-

the-mill, letting Tom Holland steal the show with ease.

fetched. A far more devastating aspect, however, is when Nathan, having done lots of clever navigating and

The action scenes seem very unbalanced in terms of

even planned a deception, gets his phone out to mark a

quality, with some being cheesy and deeply unsatisfying,

location, which makes the art of treasure hunting look

but others having a reasonable amount of memorability

more like some sort of pleasant pastime rather than a

to them. The fight on the plane is very engaging, and the

back-breaking burden. Casual transport such as the

fight on the ships is fairly good fun and fairly exciting.

motorboats they use adds to the fact that at the end of

Physicists, however, will find themselves shocked and

the day, these people are just explorers (perhaps for

appalled by such scenes: that tiny helicopter must be

the wrong reasons) who are simply looking for the

very worked-out to carry such a massive ship, in

great fortune that Nathan Drake's brother Sam strove

addition to a questionable climbing sequence that leads

to find one day.

to Chloe Frazer driving a car out of a plane. For what reason, you ask? Still not sure about that one. And if

To refer back to the original title, Uncharted's run-of-

scientists haven't already left the cinema, they will bear

the-mill nature certainly makes it rather colourless,

witness to an absurd falling sequence where Nathan

but its adequate story and satisfactory action scenes

appears to have more velocity than Chloe and a massive

forbid it from being in one-star waters. It certainly fails

container combined. I may be wrong about that, but it

to shiver my timbers with originality or suspense, but

does seem very unrealistic.

Ruben Fleischer will be very relieved that I will not make him walk the plank today. Please do remember to watch the mid-credit scene as well, which is inessential but includes the hilariously cheesy but rather important joke said by Nathan, indicating Wahlberg's character turning into the Sully that videogame fans will know him to be: "What is that thing on your face?" pointing at a moustache Sully has grown. In short, it is mediocre at best, but still worth watching either if you've played the games or just want to pass the time with a simple adventure movie (led by the amiable young superstar Tom Holland himself!).

Book Review by Kathryn C I READ

'Brock'

IT IS WRITTEN BY

Anthony McGowan

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT You must buy this book! This sensational novel is for teens, but could be considered a book for adults too. ‘Brock’ by Anthony McGowan, published by Barrington Stoke Teen, is a story showing the beautiful innocence of children and the troubles of family life. You can get this book for £7.99 (worth it for a wonderful tale!).

McGowan, a genius author, has written multiple award-winning books. He is a highly respected author who writes novels, non-fiction, and articles. ‘Brock’ is the first of a quartet and ‘Rook’, another in the quartet, was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. The last book in the series, ‘Lark’, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal.

At the start of ‘Brock’ we are told of the hardships faced by Kenny and Nicky, the two main characters, and the financial situation they are in. When they come across the village thugs, Nicky and Kenny find themselves stuck with a lost, vulnerable, baby badger.

Nicky, the main character of the story, has to parent his ‘simple’ brother while trying to support his drunk dad. An independent yet innocent child has to take on the job of a parent and the worries that go with it.

Nicky’s brother, the innocent Kenny, was starved of oxygen at birth and is, in Nicky’s words, ‘simple-minded’. He has a good heart and the bond between the two brothers is powerful and heartwarming.

Brock is a tremendous tale but not for the faint-hearted. There are gory sections so it might be a sensitive read for some people. Overall, though, it is a gripping pageturner and highly recommended.

7 COOL ANIMALS THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD OF 1. The Red-lipped Batfish

2. Pink Fairy Armadillo

Living up to 75 meters in depth in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands, the Red-Lipped Batfish is a bad swimmer, but it uses its leg-like fins to walk around as a bottom dweller. It lives and feeds on the sea floor, where it blends in really well, and an average one lives up to 12 years old

This rare, nocturnal armadillo is the smallest species of armadillo in the world. It has the nickname of the “Sand-Swimmer” because of its habit of burrowing in the soil. A baby Pink Fairy Armadillo is called a pup.

4. Ayes Ayes

Ayes-Ayes are a type of long-

3. The Vampire Deer!

The male Chinese Water Deer doesn’t grow antlers. Instead, it grows fang-like canines and many call it the vampire deer.

However, these deer aren’t dangerous, they just use their long teeth to root around for weeds and grass.

fingered lemur, with a specially built middle finger that acts as a fishing hook for grubs and caterpillars, and for tapping on wood to check if it is hollow. The massive ears are good at picking up any sign of movement which could be a possible meal.

5. The Blobfish

This weird-looking fish earned itself the title of “World’s Ugliest Animal” in 2013. They have no teeth and grow up to around 12 inches.

Around 420 exist globally, but it’s hard to really know. The most famous blobfish ever was Mr Blobby.

6. Irrawaddy Dolphin

With just 92 known individuals remaining worldwide, this species of dolphin is now classified as “Endangered” and could go extinct.

Irrawaddy Dolphins have a blunt, round face and a beak-like mouth, looking a little like belugas except with dorsal fins.

7. Curly horses This cool breed of horse has a famously curly mane and tail, with lots of little soft, tight curls making up the fur. They are quite rare but make good riding horses, and they are hypoallergenic, which is a bonus for people who are allergic to other horse breeds. They are hardy, safe horses with a friendly personality and their fur has a texture that is similar to a poodle’s. they are quite expensive because of their rarity and unique appearance.

How to...

How to make learning a language easier...

By Elliot D-G How hard is it to learn a language?

The hardest thing about learning a language is keeping consistency and embedding it into your daily/weekly routine. Once you set your expectations straight, learning a language is more time-consuming than hard. That is why consistency is likely the most difficult thing to achieve for most language students.

Another major obstacle is age, as when you start to grow up into a young adult, and soon, a fully-grown adult, you will have additional work and responsibilities. You will be studying for GCSES, A-Levels, and even Degrees! Not to mention that after a while, you might become bored of it, but that's why it is important to keep a day streak, so that you have motivation to carry on.

Finally, there is the interference with your primary language, and continuous brain development. As your brain grows and thrives, learning a language can be really difficult, as English will constantly be in your head! (If not English then maybe another language.) If, like me, you speak two languages, then this will be even harder, because you will have both languages flowing through your head.

Take risks!

One of the best things to do to progressively make learning a language easier is to take risks and speak the language whenever you can. This might include contacting people who speak the language in your area, so that then you might become friends with them, and communicate regularly with them in their language.

Explore!

Some other options could include finding a penpal from that country, reading children’s books in that language and even immersing yourself in the local culture! All you really need to do for that is to either go to your library or give it a muchlove Google search!

Stay positive!

It is vital to never lose the drive or spirit that leads you to this language. Remind yourself why you wanted to learn this language in the first place. It may have been for school, for communication, for extra skills or even just for fun, but never give up!

Learn to fail!

Finally, and most importantly, you should never worry about making mistakes, as they are the little obstacles in the way that might harm your spirit a little bit, but you must always learn from them along your journey to learn your language!

P u z z le s

SUMMER SUN, BAKING'S BEGUN! THE BROOKIES BLOOMING IN THIS ISSUE BRIGADEIROS WILL AND TRIED SWEETEN TESTED BY YOUR J HUGO HOLIDAYS AND IMPRESS FRIENDS.

YOU WILL NEED: 1 tablespoon butter.

14 oz sweetened condensed milk (395 g). ¼ cup cocoa powder (30 g).

1 cup sprinkles of your choice (I used multicolour flower-themed materials) (160 g), as needed.

INSTRUCTIONS: In a pot over low heat, melt the butter, condensed milk, and cocoa powder, stirring continuously until you can see the bottom of the pot for 2-3 seconds when dragging a spatula through.

Pour onto a greased plate, then chill for 1 hour.

Shape and roll the chilled mixture into balls.

Roll the balls in sprinkles.

Enjoy!

TREMENDOUS TRIFLE BROUGHT TO YOU WITH A TWIST

BY HUGO J

INSTRUCTIONS: YOUR INGREDIENTS:

Separate egg whites and yolks while eggs are cold. Place whites in a large bowl and yolks in a small bowl. Leave whites while you prepare other ingredients.

3 eggs 125g dark chocolate (bittersweet) 10g unsalted butter 125ml cream (full fat) 35g caster sugar (superfine white sugar) 2 bananas Whipped cream for decoration Chocolate sprinkles for decoration

Whisk egg yolks.

Place chocolate and butter in a bowl. Melt in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth. Set aside to cool – proceed with other steps.

Beat cream until stiff peaks form.

Whip egg whites. Add sugar. Beat whites until firm peaks form.

FOLDING: Fold egg yolks into cream using a rubber spatula – 8 folds max.

Streaks are ok.

Check chocolate temperature. Touch the chocolate. It should still be runny but only lukewarm. If too thick, microwave for 2 to 3 seconds until runny.

Pour chocolate into the cream yolk mixture. Fold through – 8 folds max. Streaks are ok.

Add 1/4 of beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Fold through until incorporated – “smear” the spatula across the surface to blend white lumps in – aim for 10 folds.

Pour chocolate mixture into egg whites. Fold through until incorporated and no more white lumps remain – aim for 12 folds max.

Divide mixture between 4 small glasses or pots, layering the chocolate mousse and banana. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours, preferably overnight.

To serve, add whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

You are done!

EYECATCHING ICE CREAM ROLLS YOU WILL NEED:

HOW TO MAKE: Whisk heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk,

1/8-inch-thick sheet pan

and salt together in a bowl.

2 cups heavy cream

Mix the crushed cookie pieces into the ice cream

1 14 oz can sweetened

base.

condensed milk

Pour the ice cream base onto a metal sheet pan or

1 tsp cocoa powder

rimmed baking sheet. The mixture should just cover

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

the bottom of the pan.

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Place the sheet, laying flat, into the freezer until the

8 Oreos, crushed

mixture is completely frozen.

Once frozen, remove the sheet pan from the freezer and place on a flat surface. The sheet should be horizontal, longer side facing toward you.

Using a metal spatula, work the edge under the ice cream, carefully pushing forward and rolling the ice cream into itself to form a roll.

Use tongs to transfer the rolled ice cream into a serving dish.

Repeat process for the remaining ice cream on the pan.

Sprinkle additional crushed cookies on top.

THANKS TO THE CASTLE TEAM! Thank you to the

following students for their work on this edition: Beth S - illustrator Amika S - illustrator Amelia S - editor & contributor Iris M - editor & contributor Sofia L - editor & contributor Kanika K - editor & contributor Demetra M - editor & contributor Georgia R - editor & contributor Cristiana H - editor & contributor Riya M - contributor Hugo J – contributor Ruth C – contributor Anya P - contributor Emmie S – contributor Luka U - contributor Sam C - contributor Elliot DG - contributor Amelie B - contributor Tabitha B - contributor Evie W- featured work Kathryn C - featured work Niamh D - featured work Photo credit - Canva.com

r o f t u O s ' School ! r e m m u S