On the off chance that anyone read the last issue, we would like to apologise for a mistake on the ‘Japanese Culture & Food’ page. If you would like to read the proper version, check out the MUN website as we sorted it to send to Ms Calvet.
Speaking of, anyone caught NOT wishing Ms Calvet a happy birthday will be named and shamed in the next issue.
- Elspeth Gardiner & Katja Windle
TUCK SHOP REVIEW
EG: We have a few questions. What’s the most popular item that you’re selling?
Mr D: Maltesers were the most popular answer, which is why they sold out on the day one.
EG: Day one? Wow…
Mr D: And that was ten boxes – gone. Then, the most popular was Tangfastic, they went yesterday. Now I’m trying to arrange a restock, but I don’t know how I’m going to do it because it’s only me at the moment.
EG: What’s the least popular item?
Mr D: This year, probably Diet Coke, to my surprise.
(Surprised noises from press)
EG: Really? Maybe I’ll come and support the Diet Cokes… Has it been a success this year?
Mr D: Yeah, it’s been great. I haven’t seen much of the conference because I’ve been stuck in here.
EG: That leads perfectly onto our next question – do they ever let you out?
Mr D: Yeah, I get to go and eat. And walk the dog.
EG: What made you decide to lower your prices this year?
Mr D: The prices are the same… Standard rate, everything is recommended retail price or cheaper. The ties have gone down though.
EG: Could you just not sell the ties?
Mr D: Mr Tanner needs me to get rid of the ties. Hence the price drop. I’m hoping we go for a 2 for 1 deal pretty soon.
EG: What’s your favourite item in the tuck shop?
Mr D: Basil.
EG: Good answer, good answer. Try and sell us an item. Really, really sell it – we’re not easily convincible.
Mr D: I’m going to try and convince you with our product tasting, as a lot of the international students have no idea what Wispa bites, chocolate buttons, and minstrels – minstrels have freaked out a lot of people – so we have a plate of things to try.
EG: Oh, bribery??
Mr D: Bribery and corruption, I believe, are the only way. I need to bribe the committee.
EG: And my final question – please can I buy the Diet Coke?
NATO & GTO
NATO was founded in 1949 in response to the geopolitical landscape following World War II. Its primary goal was to provide collective defence against the Soviet Union - and its allies – to promote stability in Europe. The founding members believed that an attack on one member would be an attack on all, which is enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO treaty. It was also a response to the growing threat of communism, as many European countries were vulnerable to Soviet influence and aggression. The U.S. saw NATO as a way of containing the spread of communism and to bolster Western European defence.
Relevance Today
Collective Defence: NATO continues to provide a framework for collective defence, which remains crucial in an era where security threats are increasingly complex and varied.
Adaptation to New Threats: Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has adapted to new security challenges, including terrorism, cyber threats, and hybrid warfare, showing its flexibility in addressing contemporary issues.
Crisis Management and Stability: NATO has engaged in numerous missions beyond Europe, including in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and more recently, in response to conflicts and crises that threaten global stability.
Deterrence: The alliance serves as a deterrent against potential aggressors, reinforcing the security of member states, particularly those in Eastern Europe who feel threatened by Russia.
Global Partnerships: NATO has developed partnerships with non-member countries, enhancing cooperation on security issues and expanding its influence and effectiveness in global security. How do non-member countries feel about NATO?
Countries outside NATO have mixed feelings about the organization, with 60% of non-member nations expressing concerns about its military dominance while others seek closer ties for security. In general, perceptions of NATO vary significantly by region and individual country. For instance, some countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, view NATO favorably as a counterbalance to Russian influence. Countries like Sweden and Finland recently joined due to security, especially in light of recent geopolitical tensions. On the other hand, many nations in the Global South are sceptical of NATO, often associating it with Western military interventionism and a perceived threat to their sovereignty. For example, in Latin America and parts of Africa, public opinion may be influenced by historical events where NATO’s actions are seen as detrimental to local interests. Additionally, countries like China and Russia are openly critical of NATO, viewing it as a military
alliance that exacerbates global tensions & conflicts. In contrast, some Middle Eastern countries have expressed interest in partnering with NATO for counter-terrorism efforts, indicating a more pragmatic approach.
Overall, while NATO is seen as a vital defence alliance by some, others see it with caution or outright opposition, leading to a complex landscape of opinions regarding its role and influence in global affairs. So, is the formation of a body such as the Global Treaty Organisation (GTO) a realistic possibility? As mentioned earlier, NATO has never professed to be a ‘Global’ organisation, but originated to help counter a perceived threat from the Soviet Bloc. In time, its role has evolved & widened, and it’s engaged in protecting its members’ interests across countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. It follows that countries in those regions might consider an alliance to stand up to what they might see as NATO interference in their regional affairs.
There seem to be two questions about whether something like the GTO might actually be formed: Could the GTO members agree on policy?
Would the disparate nature of the countries listed as potential members let them to form and maintain any kind of alliance? From outside, many of these countries are led by dictators who do not value democracy and shared values. Indeed, some of them try to stir up dissent in NATO member countries, and their actions tend to lack consistency. They often regard ‘The West’ as countries which challenge their power, but is that shared point of view enough to get them to work together?
How would the United Nations view the GTO?
As far as the UN is concerned, is the GTO something of a ‘red herring’? After all, the members of NATO and the majority of the prospective members of GTO are members of the United Nations, with the intended purpose of maintaining peace and security amongst its members.
Perhaps, the idea that these countries feel the need to form an organisation to ‘face up’ to NATO means that the UN needs to listen to them, and challenge some of the activities of NATO? It will be interesting to see how the MUN conference tries to unravel this problem. And, what about the countries in South America and Australasia? Just because they have historically been isolated from the tensions that interest NATO and GTO members and prospective members, what do they have to say about it? We’ll be especially interested in the views of those countries in today’s debates.
Mr Tanner has certainly thrown us a particularly bendy ‘curve ball’ this year. As someone once said, ‘watch this space!
Mr Whiteley teacher i/c Press
TALENT SHOW
Our press team was fortunate enough to witness last night’s spectacle of MUN’s Got Talent from prime seats up at the top (thanks, Media!) The night started off with the introduction of our four judges – Rohan, Toni, Johan, and Jasmine.
Our first contestant, Rosie from Sutton High sang a beautiful cover of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 that had us all clapping alone. She quickly set the mood for a positive night of talented entertainment, and the bar was already so high.
Next, it was upcoming girl-group The Drews who sang and played a harmonious version of Valerie, originally by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse. It’s safe to say they’ll be making it far. The competition was already tight, with such brilliant acts taking the stage.
Sutton High’s Chloe almost brought the audience to tears with her cover of Vienna, originally by Billy Joel. Her soothing voice paired with her fantastically played acoustic guitar had us all forgetting about our worries for a few minutes.
After a short ad-break, we returned to watch Gordon School’s Aaryan’s show-stopping rendition of Viva la Vida, turning the PAC into Wembley Stadium as people pulled out their flashlights. He certainly did his school proud and was a crowd favourite within seconds.
However, the audience shifted from wild raving to the edge of their seats as Eric from St Margaret’s entered the stage, preparing to break the MUN record for the quickest Rubik’s cube solve – currently held at 18 seconds. We were specially visited by Claudia from the Guinness World Records to judge. The air was thick with anticipation as Claudia revealed that Eric had solved it in… 13 seconds!
After that thrill, we were treated to a jaw-droppingly gorgeous cover of Billy Joel’s Piano Man, courtesy of Alexander College’s Ben and Zoe. Bens fantastic voice filled the PAC, accompanied by Zoes amazing piano skills. They may have been nervous, but their talent wowed the crowd.
Last but not least, we had a private concert by the Box Hill Band, getting to listen to their out-of-thisworld version of Bohemian Rhapsody. Guitar, drums, piano, and singing filled the room as they perfectly channelled Queen to bring us a brilliant final performance. We’ll certainly be seeing them playing in the O2 soon enough.
Alas, the night had to come to an end eventually. After a surprise performance from Lip-sync Battle winner Rayan, we all waited intensely to hear the final judgement. It seemed like an eternity before the winners were revealed to be….. Ben and Zoe! Congratulations you two, thus win was well deserved and earned by your brilliance. You can return back home as champions. Well done to all the other contestants as well.
HITACHI FIRST HIGH SCHOOL IN JAPAN
Club Activity
In our school, there are 31 club activities. Our school has traditional Japanese club activities such as Kyudo club (Japanese archery club), Kendo club, Shodo club (Japanese calligraphy club). Our Kyudo, Track and Field, Table Tennis, English Debate, Earth Science and Drama club participated in the National Championships.
School event
We have a lot of enjoyable school events. We cheer for our baseball team in summer. Our school has a cheering squad and cheerleaders. We sing fight songs loudly ,and everyone is very excited. Baseball members said that thanks to our support, they can do their best.
This is our school festival. Everyone can’t wait for this event! We prepare for this event very hard ,and get close to each other. We create shops, casinos, game corners and so forth. This year, the haunted house was selected as the best project. Super Science High School Project (SSH Project)
The SSH project at our school is part of a program designated by the Japanese government that enhances education in science, technology, and mathematics at selected high schools. This program provides an environment where students can develop an interest in the STEM fields and engage in exploratory learning and research activities. In our school, through this program, aims to cultivate future leaders in science and technology. Some specific initiatives include advanced science education, independent research projects and international exchange. Our school especially focuses on independent research projects. This picture is from this project. The research is about the relationship between wood and humidity.
IBARAKI IN JAPAN
Ibaraki is a prefecture where Hitachi First High is. Today, we would like to introduce the attractions of Ibaraki.
A Grand View - Kairakuen Garden
Kairakuen Garden is a park where you can enjoy beautiful flowers and trees. There are various plants such as plum trees, cherry blossoms and bamboo. Plum trees are a main part of Kairakuen Garden. It is lit up during plum season and many tourists come to Kairakuen to enjoy the beautiful scenery of plum trees.
In Ibaraki,there is a JAXA research center. It develops artificial satellites and rockets. JAXA is one of five research centers in Japan.
Hitachi city, in Ibaraki prefecture has a famous company in the world.Its name is Hitachi Ltd. Hitachi Ltd develops a variety of eclectic machines and provides technical support in mainly developing countries. For example, in Southeast Asia, they provided infrastructure such as control systems. In the United Kingdom, The high speed rail which they developed is running.
The Kingdom of Food
There are many farmers and fishers in Ibaraki.Ibaraki has many No.1 products of volume such as tomatoes, melons and sardines. This picture of melons is IBARAKING , the original melon brand. You can enjoy delicious food in Ibaraki!!
Hitachi Ltd
JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency)
DELEGATE REPORT
SPECPOL1
During the lobbying for specpol1,there were times when my proposed policies weren’t accepted, but I was able to successfully gather the signatures of 15 countries and submit it. Although there were moments during discussions when my English skills were lacking and certain parts were hard to follow, I managed to keep up with the flow of the conversation. Moving forward, I would like to make an effort to ask questions and give speeches whenever possible.
-Ms.Yuina Iikubo & Mr.Takumi Suto
SPECPOL2
We discussed Taiwan, free of the press and the countermeasure of terrorism in the committee of specpol2. During the committee, I was really impressed that other delegates spoke their resolution with an understanding not only of their own country but also of the situations in other countries. We could understand, but I regretted that I couldn’t ask any questions.
-Ms.Chiharu Ishida & Ms.Nanami Ochiai
DISEC1
We participated in DISEC1,a committee that discusses international peace. There were many words I don’t use in daily life, and the speed at which they spoke was like a cheetah, so it was really hard to keep up.However, even though I could clearly feel the delegates’ passion. I realized how indifferent and irresponsible I had been about global issues. I want to bring this passion back to Japan and, thinking of the delegates, make an effort to learn more about world affairs, even if just a little, in the morning or before bed.
-Ms.Suzuna Sugaya, Ms.Aisa Murayama
DISEC2
We discussed the solution for the problem about Yemen,state election interference,Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine.Around people’s positivity is so powerful,and we were overwhelmed. But,we could raise our hand and make a statement. We feel a sense of accomplishment about that.
-Ms.Otoka Seki & Ms.Yurika Akagi
SOCHUM2
We discussed universal healthcare. Even though we didn’t win, participating in the Model UN was an invaluable experience. I learned a lot about diplomacy, global issues, and how to communicate effectively in a formal setting. It was tough to accept the loss, but it also gave me a chance to reflect on where I can improve—both in terms of research and public speaking. I’ll take this as motivation to continue learning and developing my skills.
-Mr.Kei Enomoto & Ms.Riro Okada
PRESS REPORT
Our work is to write the delegate issue and interview MUN. The Japanese press team has 7 members!
Nanaka Omori
I wrote an article about the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. and Japanese culture. It is a good opportunity to know more about the Philippines and Japan. I am also glad to work with the RRS press team. I appreciate them for helping us a lot.
Hidehisa Ebihara
I wrote an article about the relationship between the Philippines and China. Through researching each view of the nation, I could find the issue that the nations have. If there was something I don’t understand, other members told the solution and helped me. I’m glad to have this job.
Ryo OtaniImage
I wrote an article about the relationship between the Philippines and China. The press team was very friendly. When I can’t understand English, they restated it for me. I am very happy and grateful.
Saki Yamaguchi
I wrote articles about Japanese politics, Japanese festivals and animation in issue 2. It is hard and difficult for me to do. However, the time to write articles is so fun! Also, the press members are all kind!! I like them very much!!!
I wrote an article about the Philippines and our school. To cooperate with the press team was so fun! We gave ties from Japan to the press team, and everyone seemed happy about that. It was a good time for me to write an article!
Yuzu Suzuki
I wrote articles about the Philippines culture and our school’s club activities in issue 2. I was glad to make the newspaper with all members of the press team. Our friendship between the press members deepened while eating sweets.I love the press team!!!!
Minori Nishimoto
I wrote the articles about the project that Japan is currently working on and introduced the Japanese culture.Learning Japan again became a good study for me. Thank you for the precious experience!
Marin Kuroiwa
CYBERBULLYING: A GROWING CONCERN
As technology advances and more people join the online community, a growing concern has emerged: cyberbullying. This form of harassment has become a serious issue, affecting many people, especially children and teenagers. It’s vital to understand the human impact of cyberbullying and take actionable steps to combat it.
The Statistics
- 1 in 5 teenagers experience cyberbullying
- 60% of teenagers have witnessed online harassment
- 40% of teenagers have experienced online harassment
- 1 in 10 teenagers have experienced severe online harassment
The Effects of Cyberbullying
Effects include Emotional distress, Isolation, Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal thoughts, Decreased self-esteem and Decreased academic performance
How to Stop Cyberbullying
To combat cyberbullying effectively, a proactive approach is crucial. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Block the Bully:Most social media platforms and messaging apps allow users to block harassers, cutting off their access.
2. Ignore the Bully:Bullies often seek attention. By ignoring them, you can diminish their power.
3. Report the Bully:Use platform tools to report harassment. Most social media sites have strict policies against bullying and will take action.
4. Get Parents Involved: Parents should engage in open conversations about online behaviour. Encourage children to communicate about any bullying incidents.
5. Take a Tech Break: Stepping away from screens can provide relief and help victims regain their emotional strength.
6. Report to Authorities: If the bullying escalates or poses a threat, do not hesitate to involve law enforcement.
- Monitor your child’s online activity
- Set clear rules and guidelines for online behaviour
- Encourage open communication about online experiences
- Educate yourself about cyberbullying and its effects
- Report any instances of cyberbullying to the authorities
What Schools Can Do
- Implement anti-bullying policies and programs
- Educate students about cyberbullying and its effects
- Provide resources and support for victims of cyberbullying
- Encourage a culture of kindness and respect online What You Can Do
- Educate yourself and others about cyberbullying
- Report any instances of cyberbullying to the authorities
- Support victims of cyberbullying
- Promote kindness and respect online
What Parents Can Do
OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
How many of you suffer from procrastination? I bet most of you do. Estimates indicate that 80 to 95 percent of students procrastinate, approximately 75 percent consider themselves procrastinators, and almost 50 percent procrastinate consistently and problematically.
For those of you that don’t know what Procrastination is, it is a habit of delaying or putting o tasks or decisions, often leading to feelings of guilt, stress, and lost productivity. It involves intentionally delaying a task despite knowing that it should be done, and instead, choosing to do something more enjoyable or less challenging, and then leaving the task for the last minute.
Not only students suffer of Procrastination, but Adults do also too. Procrastination is a big deal for a lot of adults around 20-25% of them suffer from it. It can really mess with their mental and physical health, and how much they get done. Some reasons people procrastinate are fear of failing, wanting everything to be perfect, not feeling motivated, getting distracted, and dealing with stuff like anxiety or depression. The effects can be rough, leading to bad health, less productivity, and more stress.
So now that we have cleared up the definition of Procrastination, you must be asking yourself how do I overcome it? Here are my top tips to stop procrastinating:
1. Start Small: Break big tasks into tiny steps. Just pick one small thing to do right now and get going!
2. Make a Plan: Write down deadlines for your tasks. It helps you know what to focus on.
3. Finish Things: If something’s almost done, push yourself to finish it.
4. Deal with Distractions: Change your environment to help you focus. For example, putting your phone away until you’re done.
5. Recognize Procrastination: Admit if you’re putting things off for no good reason, and try to deal with it asap.
6. Use These Strategies:
-Forgive Yourself: Let go of past procrastination and focus on your future.
-Commit to Tasks: Write down what you need to do and set a time for it.
-Reward Yourself: Treat yourself after finishing tough tasks.
-Get a Buddy: Ask a friend to check in on you.
-Tackle Hard Stuff First: Get the boring tasks done early.
EUTHANASIA - A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
Euthanasia and law
Euthanasia remains a prominent and poignant topic of discussion within the UK government as talks have recently reopened regarding laws on euthanasia and if it really is both morally and socially acceptable. Arguments for and against euthanasia can be split into 4 main categories; arguments based on human rights, practical arguments, philosophical arguments and arguments surrounding death itself.
Euthanasia – arguments for
For those who believe that individuals should have the right to die under circumstances of terminal illness, it can be argued that euthanasia offers an alternative to end suffering by adhering to an individual’s bodily autonomy and their explicit right to die under their own terms. People may also argue through a consequentialist perspective that it is possible to regulate euthanasia and that regardless of the law, it happens anyway and should therefore be legalised to minimise the subsequent ethical effects.
Euthanasia – arguments against
However, others may argue that the passing of euthanasia laws would diminish societal respect for the value and importance of human life and in turn lead to an overall decrease in the standard of care for terminally ill patients. As well as this, the legalisation of euthanasia may also undermine the efforts of doctors and nurses or may make terminally ill patients feel pressurised into assisted dying when it may not actually be what they want. Furthermore, voluntary euthanasia may inadvertently as the first step in the slippery slope towards involuntary euthanasia, where those who are seen to be socially undesirable can be killed without consequence.
Secular objections
Further arguments against euthanasia come from secular opponents, who argue that all human rights are limited by our societal and personal obligations. For example, the decision to die not only affects the individual but also the individuals family, friends and doctors on a broader spectrum, therefore calling for a balance of probable consequences through guilt, grief and anger against human rights.
- Elena Buckingham
Identity theft
What is identity theft?
Identity theft is a crime, of which involves using someone else’s personal information (e.g. financial information) to commit fraud or other illegal activities.
Why do people do identity theft?
There are many reasons that people commit identity theft, one of those being jealousy. During the younger years of secondary schools, some people are petty and will create fake accounts to impersonate their peers to make people not like them. This is a fairly common occurrence within recent years, especially considering how easy it is to create new accounts, screenshot images and repost them. In terms of identity theft, this example is just purely petty, personal and targeted, as well as being a form of bullying.
Some people who perform identity theft are trying to get your personal details to steal from you and commit fraud. This can be done in many ways: scam calls, false emails, fraudulent links. These identity thefts are not targeted or personal, but instead well thought-out tactics to trick people. These people will
What to do?
Nothing. The best thing anyone can do to these links and callers is nothing. Obviously, you should report them, but when they call you, hang up; when they send an email with a dodgy link, ignore it. Once you have ignored the scam call or email, call your bank, or go onto your bank’s website instead of using anything that they gave you, that way, your bank will be able to deal with it, and you won’t get your details stolen!
Physical identity theft
On a slightly different level, some people will go out of their way to look exactly like a certain celebrity to gain attention on social media, and trick people in the flesh that the imitated celebrity is actually there. Some key examples of this are:
- Taylor Swift
- Ariana Grande
- Ollie London’s attempt to look Korean
Taylor Swift and her look-alike
Ariana Grande and her look alike
Ollie London got plastic surgery to try and look Korean.
(This is Jeremy)
THE TRIALS OF JEREMY
After a well thought out process, we (the press team) came to the conclusion that an Oreo splitting competition and pigeon drawing contest would be best fit for this edition of ‘The Delegate’.
The idea of this competition was to split an Oreo, with all the cream on one side. The winner is to win any 2 items from the tuck shop. Although nobody got a 100% perfect split, we can use our qualitative investigation skills to conclude that the winner was: Sophia Whatley.
Oreo splitting competition
Pigeon drawing contest
For this mini challenge, we are asking people to do their best drawing of a pigeon in the space of 60 seconds. Similarly to the Oreo splitting competition, the prize is any 2-3 items from the tuck shop. The press team have banded together to decide on the winner:
Edward Wilson from Ireland
The criteria used to judge the pigeons presented to us were:
- Amount of spirit
- Humour
- Accuracy (how much it looks like a pigeon)
- How successfully it would survive in the wild
Edward’s pigeon won, as it represented what we (the press team) stand for. It had the RRS tie, the glasses from the second edition of ‘The Delegate’. We also believe that it would survive in the wild
In third place, we have Ella Redman, representing the Croydon Pigeons of Royal Russell.
EG: “Is it poo? Wait no it’s Ella’s”
Isaac if he won: “Thank you and I am not surprised”
Tom Davies did not appreciate the fraudulent behaviour of his father
In second place was, Panagiotis Spyroulias, with his wonderful sitting pigeon!
EG: “If you can get sturdy whilst drawing a pigeon you will automatically win”
*Proceeds to not dance*
GOOD NEWS!
The importance of spreading love
Love can be depicted in many ways, both internally and externally and can extend from ourselves to others. Some may even argue that love makes the world spin. But what does it really mean to be in love and how can we spread it? To love others, it is first important to love ourselves. This can be done simply by just looking in the mirror and giving ourselves the level of self-compassion and love that we so graciously deserve. We can also spread love by looking outwards and paying attention to the small details about each other that make us all wholly individual. This simple act can make someone feel as though they are a lit candle in a dark room. Finally, we can spread love by also practicing gratitude into our daily lives, focusing on the wider picture rather than fixating on the unimportant mundane elements of daily life. Whether it be platonic love, self love or true love, love is taught and should be spread to all!
Rewilder Derek Gow on turning his farm into an ark for lost species
Since falling in love with a Shetland ewe when he was a boy, Derek Gow has devoted his life to animals and biodiversity and being a farmer. His interest in ancient breeds and desire to save the numerous endangered species, some of which lived on his farm, led him to flip his Devon farm into a 300-arce rewilding haven for boar, lynx, wildcats, water voles, beavers and many more. Gow was credited for his work on the film Wilding. His wildlife sanctuary helped to bring the beaver back to the pioneering Knepp estate, along with other locations across the UK.
pharmacy
Feeling broken hearted? Experiencing grief, anxiety, or loneliness? How about visit Poetry Pharmacy’s new London Branch, where you will be offered word-based remedies helping to make you feel calm, comforted, and even offer inspiration. Whatever qualm you may have, the pharmacists in this quaint little bookshop are happy to find the perfect poem for you. Poetry has always been a powerful manipulator of emotions, and most education systems often force teenagers to be clinical about it pulling it apart and allowing the enjoyment to be sucked out of it. The people at Poetry Pharmacy are keen to bring back the art of simply reading and enjoying a poem that offers a deep connection to its reader.
