BSB
INSIDER
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Competition: If Walls Could Speak
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Concerts Technofeudalism Remembrance day Films & Games
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crossword answers: 1D McKenna 2D Abernathy 3D Nicholson 4D Antonelli 5D Poppy Flower 6A Rock Werchter 7D Rockstar 8A Walls 9D Portal 10D Gadot 11A Richard 12A Amazon
Table of Contents 1. Concerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Formula 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3. Videogames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4. New releases in Film . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5. Film Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 6. Technofeudalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 7. Poetry: If Walls Could Speak . . . . 14 8. Amnesty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 9. Poppies and Remembrance . . . . .19 10. Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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Why you should support local concerts... Local concerts, both in and outside of BSB are important to support, as they help to shape the community and bring people together, by uniting them through one common interest. Furthermore concerts are particularly significant in communities as they develop specific identities which are unique to each country or city and can be recognised for this unique identity. Also supporting your local music industries can create more oppertunities for cmaller upcoming artists, and opens wider more creative career paths for more people. The local music scene is also significant for creating scenes for younger people such as university students at KU Leuven as there are many concerts and events held there. It also helps to boost the local economies, as it also supports local businesses, such as bars and resteraunts which people may go to before or after the events. Finally it creates unique memorable experiences as well as opening wider social opportunities.
The BSB music scene Primary & Intermediate Christmas - Tuesday 8th December 2026 Les Misérables (musical) - 20th to 23rd January 2026 Music Festival - 17th, 18th and 19th March 2026
BSB music clubs
end of year Summer Concert, 11th June
Girl’s Choir - years 7-9 -Grande Salle, Monday lunchtimes Barbershop Chorus - years 7-9 - Music Tech Room B027, Monday lunchtimes intermediate band - level 1-3 ABRSM - Monday after school 16:00-17:00, Primary Music Room Concert band - level 3+ ABRSM - Monday after school 16:00-17:00, Rubens Hall Percussion ensemble - years 7-13 - ABRSM reading grade 3+ by audition - Tuesday lunchtimes, Rubens Hall Classical Guitar ensemble - years 7-13 - level 3+ ABRSM grade by audition - Tuesday lunchtimes, Lennon B028 Senior Choir - years 10-13 - Wednesday lunchtimes, Grande Salle (only terms 2+3) + Friday lunchtimes , Grande Salle Concert Strings - level 3+ ABRSM by audition - Thursday Lunchtimes, Rubens Hall Orchestra - level 5+ by audition - Thursdays after school 16:00-17:00, Rubens Hall Intermediate Strings - level 1-3 ABRSM by audition - Thursdays after school 16:00-16:45, Grande Salle Fluatissimo - year 7-13 - Friday lunchtimes, Lennon B028
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Why you should get into Over the past few years, Formula 1 has become an increasingly more popular motorsport, especially in Europe. It's a motorsport in which 22 drivers race in 23 different cities around the world. The 2026 teams include Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Ferrari, Racing Bulls, Alpine, Haas, Audi, Williams, Aston Martin and Cadillac. At the time of writing, fans are shocked by the results of the Italian, Kimi Antonelli, who is leading the championship by 81 points despite it only being his second season in Formula 1. Even if the Mercedes dominance was expected after upgrading their power unit as well as adding aerodynamic features, many anticipated that the senior driver, George Russell, would finally be in the championship battle, after constantly being put second to Hamilton before the 7 time world championship went to Ferrari. However, after Antonelli won his 8th Grand prix in Madrid, officially winning more grand prix than Russell has achieved in his whole Formula 1 career, fans are beginning to doubt his chances for winning. With this being said, it is not guaranteed that Antonelli will 100% win this championship, as seen from Max Verstappen’s comeback in the 2025 season. He was 104 points behind the leader Lando Norris at the start of summer break, and proceeded to win 6/10 of the final Grand Prix, placing on the podium for all 10 of them. Despite winning the final race in Abu Dhabi he was just 2 points short of being the world champion for the 5th time in a row. I hope after reading this, you will be intrigued by the many plot twists Formula 1 has, keeping you on edge with every race no matter how many points the leader is ahead by. Start watching now to find out how this season ends! Additionally, the international aspect of the sport allows fans around the world to interact with one another, meet new friends and form connections. I personally got into it 2 years ago after being introduced to it by a close friend who has been following the sport since she was young. At first, I didn’t see the appeal of watching cars drive around a track for 2 hours, however after getting to know the drivers through media days and conferences, it has gotten increasingly fun to watch after I decided on someone to support. I'm sure after understanding some of the technical parts of the sport, the teams, and drivers, you will be heavily entertained and anxiously waiting for the next weekend.
A few technical terms you should know! DNF - did not finish (when a driver crashes or has issues with the car, so they are not able to finish the race!) DNS - did not start (when a driver cannot start the race due to technical issues or a problem during the formation lap) DRS - drag reduction system (a mechanism that reduces air resistance that increases overtaking possibilities) Tires: soft: fastest compound but it deteriorates fastest too medium: balance between speed and durability hard: slowest compounds but most durable intermediate: used for light rain full wet: used for heavy rain
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There is at least 1 Grand Prix in every continent (apart from Africa), most of them being in Europe which explains the higher percentage popularity of the sport in Europe rather than in other places. Furthermore, the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive is the number one reason behind the immense increase in the sports popularity in 2021 (I encourage you to watch it if you want to know what happened in previous seasons in order to understand driver relationships, team morale etc). The bestattended race weekend was actually this year in Silverstone, reaching 564,000 attendees!
Meet the Top 10 Drivers of 2026! Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes Italian 8 Grand Prix wins 470 career points George Russell - Mercedes rookie season: 2025 British He actually skipped f3 because the 8 Grand Prix wins Mercedes team wanted to prepare 32 Podiums him faster for f1
Rookie season: 2019 His racing number, 63, was originally used by his brother in karting
Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari British 7x World Champion 106 Grand Prix wins Rookie season: 2007 Currently dating Kim Kardashian!
Lando Norris - McLaren British 1x World Champion 13 Grand Prix wins Rookie season: 2019 During the COVID-19 pandemic he and a few other drivers became a massive hit on Twitch, streaming video games
Charles Leclerc - Ferrari Monaco 9 Grand Prix wins 54 Podiums Rookie season: 2018 He has launched his own low calorie ice cream brand called “LE now”
Max Verstappen - Redbull Dutch 4x World Champion 71 Grand Prix wins Rookie season: 2015 He is known to travel with a complete PlayStation kit so he can play FIFA/ online sim-racing events even during Grand Prix weekends
Oscar Piastri - McLaren Australian 9 Grand Prix wims 28 Podiums Rookie season: 2023 A newly discovered species of wasp in Myanmar was named after him (Gwesped piastrii)
Isack Hadjar - Redbull French 3 Podiums Rookie season F1: 2025 first raced in Racing bulls He was first inspired to start racing after watching the animated movie “Cars”
Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls New Zealand Highest finish: 5th 109 career points rookie season f1: 2023 Similar to Hadjar, he loves the movie “Cars” and uses the number 30 because of Lightning McQueen
Pierre Gasly - Alpine French 1 Grand Prix wins 5 Podiums rookie season f1: 2017 Used to be very good in school, almost skipped a grade, but when he started karting he barely went to school..
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GAME ON! READY FOR YOUR NEXT GAMING ADVENTURE? LET’S DIVE IN! th
1. Portal 2 (19
Apr 2011):
“Oval blue here, oval orange there, unleash your imagination” The character is woken up by an AI in an abandoned laboratory, with its guiding, she gets the portal gun. By using the basic law of physics combining the ability of teleports, she can be on any platforms and transfer cubes to unlock the doors, eventually to escape from the lab. This is mainly a puzzle solving game, planning the route, being free to use utilities and get to the destination. The difficulty is at daring to think and observing the map in 360 degrees. However, the game is not motion-sickness friendly. Comparing to portal 1, portal 2 not only focus on its basic teleporting concepts, but also enriches its storylines, dialogues and sound effects. It also adds a duo co-op method for players to have fun with friends.
2. Ori and the Blind Forest (11
th
Mar 2015):
“Delve deep into the tale, be the destined hero to banish the darkness”. The players control the white glowing fellow---Ori---scrambles up, strikes the harmful creatures, swings in the jungle, aiming to take back the light core from the dark owl and save his tribe. The difficulty of the game can be adjusted by the players themselves. Players can save the game by using the storing energy wherever they need. Parkour might be the biggest issue; it is worth considering before playing The best clip of the game is “Escape from Ginso Tree”, I would say. The interactive music follows Ori’s each pumping and sprinting, with the chasing of the surging tide, depicting a scene of the epic escape and thrilling adventure. 5.
3. Red Dead Redemption 2 (5
th
Dec 2019):
“Transmigrate to the end of 19th century, measure the western America in a cowboy’s view” This is an open-world adventure. The player controls Arthur Morgan, who is a member of the gang, to experience the gradual vanishment of the free western life. He can either ride for justice or rob and pillage; at the twisting point of two eras, finding his own way to survive. Rockstar Games repaints the western in another dimension. It is particularly close to real life, in other words, the pace is slow. As a player, you need to spend a few hours to immerse yourself into that world, truly believing that you are the character there.
I like the sub-mission of being the best gunslinger the most. Arthur rides through the whole map, challenging the previous masters and collecting the revolvers from them. As weapons are demonstrated in the inventory, it is a huge achievement.
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4. New Releases: Bombanana! (2
Sep 2026):
“Sightless, soundless, speechless; how to face a ticking bomb?” This is a 3-player cooperative bomb disposal game. Three monkeys-one blind, one deaf, one mute-transmit information in their own ways and work together to defuse the bomb before explosion. The main difficulty is to find two patient friends to play together. Because of the disability, each player feels isolated; the misunderstanding also drives people manic. It is a great friendship challenge among three. friends The biggest joy of the game is the satisfaction from the cheers of disposal. I enjoy figuring out the order in a chaotic, disordered environment: my friends and I complained, we threw bananas to each other, but eventually, we succeeded!
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Film in 2026 The Reinvention of Horror
Disclaimer: Films may not be suitable for younger viewers! Always check ratings. What is horror? For some the first thing that comes to mind is gore, murder and a mysterious figure in a scary mask that's out to get a group of teenagers. However, over the past few decades horror has evolved from jump scare filled slashers into psychological thrillers. The films released this year are a great example of this transition. Two of the most remarkable horror films to have come out this year are the Backrooms and Obsession. The trend in horror has shifted from fear of a dangerous character to fear of the anticipation before a killing or gore. Whilst Obsession doesn't have an official 'villain', the internet has dubbed the main character, Bear as the movie's antagonist as he makes an irreversible wish for the woman he has an unrequited crush on to "love him more than anything else in the world." This causes Nikki to get into a relationship with Bear who she had no romantic interest towards prior to the wish. This "possessed Nikki" starts obsessively doing everything with Bear and eventually ends up killing two people out of jealousy. The movie subtly makes the audience fear the "possessed Nikki" as she gradually becomes more and more obsessed with Bear and neglects taking care of herself, spending all her time on Bear. By exploring a slow descent into insanity, Curry Barker offers a captivating movie and a new concept for horror films. Notably, both the Backrooms movie and Obsession were directed and produced by Gen-Z filmmakers which could suggest a new pattern we'll notice in years to come - younger generations will start to produce innovative movies. This can be exciting new for horror lovers but also for those of us who cover our eyes during most of the movies as it gives us all something to look forward to and highlights the creativity of younger generation.
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Obsession (2025) directed by Curry Barker The Backrooms (2026) directed by Kane Parsons BoSaS - Ballad of the songbirds and snakes (book released in 2020, movie released in 2023) SotR - Sunrise on the reaping (book released 2025, movie set to release 2026) Mise en scene - staging and setting
Sunrise on the Reaping The Hunger Games franchise is a staple in many households, including my own. From the original trilogy to the more recent prequel release, Suzanne Collins has millions of readers and movie lovers alike hooked on her dystopian fiction series. The Sunrise on the Reaping follows Haymitch's story and explores the capitol's atrocities that fans were quick to overlook in the BoSaS book due to Tom Blythe's presence. The star-studded cast includes Joseph Zada in the lead role, Mckenna Grace as Lenore Dove, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow and many, many other renowned actors. The SotR book was heart shattering and left me grieving the characters and their fates and leaves me with very high hopes about the movie adaptation. Another reason for the movie's high anticipation is the cast's social media presence, as well as surprisingly high quality fan-made edits of the original trilogy and of scenes from the movie's trailer. All these factors combined make for a very promising movie to compliment the series. So if you find yourself with nothing to do on the 20th of November, I suggest that you head over to your local movie theatre and check it out.
Gal Gadot threatens to release a new movie Whilst it's very easy to pile on to all the hate Gal Gadot has received over the years for her alleged sub-par acting abilities, I decided to give her newest movie The Runner an earnest chance to impress me. (Spoilers ahead!) The movie follows the story of Maia, a defense attorney, mother, and a runner, who finds herself forced to run across London after receiving a cryptic call from a man who claims to have kidnapped her son. Right off the bat I was left confused by the movie's mise en scene because of the rather fast paced camera panning. One moment we're looking into Maia's kitchen, the next we're shown the entrance to her son's school with zero context or transitioning in between. What follows is a rather confusing and monotonous conversation between Maia and the kidnapper who claims to have kidnapped her son moments after she took running from the school. One thing I will say about this movie is that it’s quick paced, but I'm not too sure I'd count that as a plus. I personally wouldnʼt recommend this movie but I think itʼs a good cure for your boredom.
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Film Reviews
Before reading, one should note that all film reviews are subjective and there is no definitive rating for any film, the list compiled is merely the chosen favourites of the writer.
Title: V for Vendetta (2005) Genre: Action, Dystopia IMDb: 8.1 Letterboxd: 3.9 Synopsis: A masked freedom fighter fights to overthrow a totalitarian British regime in a dytopian future, adapted from a graphic novel of the same name (also an excellent read). Idea: This movie questions the price of survival in a post nuclear future and the need for freedom.
Title: Zodiac (2007) Genre: Thriller, Crime IMDb: 7.7 Letterboxd: 4.0 Synopsis: Detectives hunt for an elusive serial killer that has evaded capture for decades, but the hunt comes at a cost. Idea: The movie reveals the personal cost and obsession of capturing a serial killer.
Title: The Shining (1980) Genre: Horror, Thriller IMDb: 8.4 Letterboxd: 4.2 Synopsis: A struggling writer slowly descends into insanity in a secluded holiday hotel. The winding corridors and repeating rooms will stay with you. Idea: The movie builds the horror gradually and is a benchmark of modern horror movies. 9.
Disclaimer: Films may not be suitable for younger viewers! Always check ratings.
Title: Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Genre: Adventure, Fantasy IMDb: 9.0 Letterboxd: 4.6 Synopsis: The final movie in the trilogy by Peter Jackson, where Aragorn finally accepts the throne. (A rare sequel that is better than the original) Idea: Does winning a battle truly mean you will get to enjoy it? Is the cost of victory worth the pain put in? Title: The Dark Knight (2000) Genre: Action IMDb: 9.1 Letterboxd: 4.5 Synopsis: The Batman tries to dismantle organised crime in Gotham with the help of Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent, while an anarchist runs amok in the city. (All three movies are pretty great, but this is the best one). Idea: Is one man enough to stop corruption in a city and what is the true cost of being a hero. Title: Gladiator Genre: Action, Drama IMDb: 8.5 Letterboxd: 4.2 Synopsis: A Roman generor seeks revenge against a corrupt emperor who killed his family (The sequel is not as good) Idea: Can the influence of one person bring down the might of the Roman Empire
Disclaimer: Films may not be suitable for younger viewers! Always check ratings.
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Technofeudalism What is Technofeudalism? I came across this term not too long ago, talking to my best friend and a mutual friend of ours. As always, the conversations flowed effortlessly; from school advice (and complaining about IB), to commenting recent news in politics and economics which had grabbed our attention. At some point, someone mentioned this term, which I had never heard before. I ended up hearing about it for a good 45 minutes, and after going down a veritable rabbit hole the same night, I decided that this is something that I want to raise awareness about to my peers. “Techno feudalism” is a modern term popularized by Yanis Varoufakis in his 2023 book “Techno feudalism: What Killed Capitalism”. It refers to a modern economic theory which attempts to grasp and classify the rapid changes seen in modern capital, trade and ownership. Observed through the sudden rise of online trade in the past two decades through private companies such as Amazon, techno feudalism is one of the frameworks through which we can understand how the fact that most, if not all of us own a smartphone, a laptop, and other screenbased devices changes the nature of modern capital. However, to be able to grasp this concept, we must first understand what the term literally refers to. “Techno”, of course, refers to contemporary technology such as the Internet and all the devices that we typically operate on. The “feudalism” part of the term, though, is probably the more interesting one. Historically, feudalism was a system in which land was the prima ry source of wealth and power. Lords controlled the land, while those who worked on it depended on them for their livelihoods. In his book, Varoufakis argues that something similar is emerging in our digital, modern world. However, this time around, physical land is being replaced by digital territory; online marketplaces, social media platforms, search engines, and the wider infrastructures connecting them.
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Look at Amazon as an example. In the past, businesses used to rely primarily on their advertisements and word of mouth to reach customers, so when a customer was attracted, they would call the store or physically go there and buy the product they are interested in. Today, however, many businesses rely on online transactions and interactions to reach customers. Access to these customers and online spaces usually means operating through platforms owned by enormous corporations, such as Amazon. These platforms establish their own rules, determine which products receive visibility and collect valuable information about consumer behavior. Businesses become dependent on the platforms through which they operate instead customer engagement, while the platform owners retain considerable control over the environment in which they compete. This is where technofeudalism differs from the traditional understanding of capitalism. In a capitalist economy, companies generate profit by producing and selling products or services in competitive markets. Varoufakis argues that the digital economy increasingly revolves around ownership of platforms that others must use to participate in the market. He describes these platforms as digital territory, with their owners effectively playing the part of digital feudal lords. In this way, companies can profit from controlling access to the spaces in which transactions take place instead of simply selling goods and services. Similar trends can be observed in social media. Apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become extremely important spaces for communication, entertainment, and even employment. Content creators depend on algorithms to reach audiences, while businesses rely on these platforms to advertise their products. And yet, the rules governing all of these interactions are determined by private companies. Algorithms change, creators lose visibility, access to certain audiences can simply disappear, and all those conditions are controlled by a private company. This becomes an alarming realization once we think about the amount of time we spend on our devices, consuming all this media. Have you ever searched a certain type of product on Google, like Adidas shoes for example, and suddenly your whole feed is full of Adidas shoes, people making videos about them, people wearing them, ads for Adidas shoes? Using your data, you are training these algorithms to feed you the products that are on your mind, influencing a large portion of the media you are exposed to in your day-to-day life. In doing so, they don't just reflect our interests; they can actively shape them, influencing what we consume, what we think about, and ultimately, how we spend our money.
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However, it is important to point out that this remains a fresh and contested theory. Critics argue that these developments do not represent the end of capitalism, but rather its evolution. Technology companies remain profitseeking businesses, compete with one another, and employ workers to make products. Furthermore, consumers are not totally powerless; they can sometimes switch platforms (even though it is very hard, since our digital environments are overwhelmed by algorithms), and governments can regulate corporate behavior. From this angle, the concetration of power in the technological sector is a problem within existing capitalism rather than evidence of an entirely new economic system. Nevertheless, whether or not we accept Varoufakis’ theory, the questions it raises are difficult to ignore and alarming at the least. How much control should private corporations have over the digital spaces in which millions work, communicate, and exchange information? Who benefits from the gigantic quantities of data generated by our everyday activities? What happens when participation in modern society requires access to platforms controlled by a handful of billionaire tech company owners? These questions are particularly important for our generation and our future. We are perhaps the first generation to have grown up with smartphones, social media and advanced online services, and so we treat them as ordinary features of everyday life. And yet, behind their convenience and the luxury they provide us with lies an economic system that might be working against our interests and that deserves closer examination. Technofeudalism may not provide the definitive anser to all the questions posed here, but it certainly offers a useful perspective through which to question the relationship between technology, ownership, and power. Finally, I leave you with perhaps the most important question here: Are we comfortable with the direction in which capitalism is heading? As technology becomes increasingly central to our lives in this ever-expanding cocoon of online luxuries, it is imperative for the safety of our futures to understand who controls technology, which may well be one of the most important economic and political challenges of our time.
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Poetry News If Walls Could Speak: 2026 COBIS Poetry Competition Every year the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) run a themed poetry competition in which students across the world are invited to participate. Each school can only enter one poem per age category, so here at BSB we run an internal competition first, to help us select our winners. Initially, the theme “If Walls Could Speak” could make you think of a book that carries that title, or maybe even Celine Dion’s song. However this year our students all decided to interpret the title in their own unique way.
The students shorlisted for this year’s poetry competition are: Elin Ulfsdottir 13M Agnes Fondell 12A Klara Navratilova 12A Juliette Van de Weyer 12A Edoardo Tommaso 9Ac Shayan Kittelberger 9Ac Pari Mistry 9Hf The runners-up are: Julia Veal 9Ac Livia Pavlic 12R
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AND THE WINNERS ARE... For 2026, the winners of the poetry competition are (drum roll, please) Damir Busevac in 13S for the KS4/5 category, and Maarten Van Bruggen in 9Hf for the KS3 category. Congratulations to these students, to our two runners-up, to the other short-listers, and to everyone who took the time to pen a poem. The quality was incredibly high this year!
If Walls Could Speak Maarten Van Bruggen 9Hf Most people believe that if walls could speak We’d tell stories of their beautiful ‘empathy’. Well now that one can actually talk, Allow me to debunk that theory. I am part of a house holding a family of 4 And these parents are so freaking lazy. The teenage kid can’t stop checking his phone And the toddler is all kinds of crazy. What’s worse than these weirdos are the guests Like the weirdo the teenage kid dated. Those little freaks’ friends have drawn on me SO MUCH I’m surprised the pencils aren’t confiscated. Now what do you think we walls think of people With their weird families and hideous guests? If you think humans are reasonable You’re completely wrong, they’re all little pests.
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If Walls Could Speak Damir Busevac 13S How would they sound? Desperate, colorless, Haunting the echoes of our voices, Wailing with each passing day, Or content in their everlasting, Peaceful slumber? If walls could speak, What would they tell us? “Strike me down, run Save me, paint me, punch a hole in me, jump over me!” Or would their voices, Ancient and wise, Stand tall in disapproval Of our many mistakes, Misuses? If you were a wall, Would you speak? Would you scream endlessly in terrible boredom as dirt covers your white paint? Would you succumb to your eternal meditation? Would you judge the world, dancing around you? Would you reflect, now motionless, on what you were too quick to notice? Would it hurt to be torn down, destroyed, punched, insulted, hated? Or would it make No difference at all? 16.
Amnesty International World AIDS Day takes place every year on December 1st to show support for people who live with HIV and AIDS, and remember the losses from these causes. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the final and most advanced stage of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) disease. HIV is a disease that attacks people’s immune system, making it harder for their body to fight infections and other diseases. World AIDS Day is significant because HIV/AIDS continues to affect millions of people around the world. It is also an opportunity to challenge the misconceptions surrounding HIV and to promote understanding, support, and awareness. Remembering those who have lost their lives also highlights the importance of continued efforts to prevent HIV transmission and ensure that people living with HIV can access the support and treatment they need. To raise awareness for World AIDS Day, we will be selling red ribbons and pin badges in the cafeteria during lunch time on Tuesday, 1st of December. The raised funds will be donated to research for curing AIDS. The red ribbon is an international symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness and support for people living with HIV. By wearing these ribbons and badges, members of our school community can show their support while helping to start conversations about HIV/AIDS and reduce the stigma surrounding it. Wear the red ribbon, show your support, and help raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.
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Owen Chow - At the age of 15, Owen joined his first pro-democracy march and has since then hoped to serve the underprivileged and build a fairer society. When in 2020, Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong, it became dangerous to speak up. Independent media was silenced, political opposition crushed and civil society organizations shut down. Nonetheless, Owen didn’t step down and still stood in the unofficial "primaries" that were aimed to select candidates for upcoming elections. He was only 23 when authorities accused him of conspiracy to commit subversion. Owen was arrested in 2021 and by 2024 sentenced to over 12 years in prison. By now, he has already spent at least three years in solitary confinement. He is one of many in Hong Kong: the city is gripped by fear and the right to speak up restricted. Call on Hong Kong authorities to immediately release Owen! Write to the chief executive of the Hong Kong special administrative region or show Owen Chow that you support him by sending him a message! On 6 October 2025, Humphrey Polepole was abducted from his home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by unidentified state security agents. His family arrived to a broken front door and a significant amount of blood, Humphrey nowhere in sight. They have been unable to reach him since. Humphrey is a former diplomat and government critic, appearing to be targeted because he of his outspokenness. He has criticized President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the ruling party for their restrictions on civic space, crackdowns on human rights, and attacks on political opposition members. In his free time, Humphrey supported vulnerable people, for example visiting orphanages and organizing seminars for the youth on political participation. His enforced disappearance is a crime under international law and just one example of the Tanzanian authorities’ use of authoritarian practices, employed to punish and silence voices of community members. Call on the Tanzanian authorities to immediately disclose Humphrey’s whereabouts! Write to the president of Tanzania and demand she orders the disclosure of Humphrey's fate or send Humphrey’s family messages of hope and support. 18.
POPPIES IN WORLD WAR ONE: A Symbol of Remembrance By Ray Meyer-Minnemann
What we associate with war is chaos, hopelessness, bleak nature and death. And while World War One was an extreme, violence-fuelled fight, there was hope. The red poppies that blossomed in the winter on the Western Front gave the soldiers a sense of hope, how such a beautiful flower can flourish through the destroyed terrain. Poppies started growing in around 1915, when the war was at its peak and the battles of the Western Front were at their most brutal. Through the bombs and fighting, the poppy seeds started germinating from the churned earth, growing everywhere that the light exposed them. Lieutenant Colonel and poet John McCrae used these red poppies for his poem ‘In Flanders Field’, in which he wrote about hope and soldiers pushing through the extreme, while the poppies blew around them.:
“In Flanders field the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below”
John McCrae (November 30, 1872 – January 28, 1918) was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier.
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This simple poem written in May 1915 became a voice for the remembrance of the soldiers and marked the first use of poppies connected to WW1. Many people have afterwards used the poppies to commemorate the fallen soldiers, and they are still a key symbol.
After the war, American activist Moina Michael began selling silk poppies to raise money for the disabled veterans that she taught at the University of Georgia. A French activist called Anna Guérin helped to bring the idea to Europe and on November 11th, 1921, the Royal British Legion launched their first poppy appeal, selling 9 million artificial flowers and raising £106,000 in the UK alone. In 1921, Ever since this time, poppies have been adopted by military organisations as a symbol for remembrance.
Colours and Meanings Poppies in all different colours are sold for charity, but what do their colours actually mean? Red: Red poppies are the classic ones that we all know, representing the deaths of the soldiers that bravely fought in the war White: White is a universal colour for peace without violence. Purple: This represents the animals that have been killed or become victims of war. Black: This commemorates the African and Caribbean war efforts that too often get overlooked.
Moina Michael ( August 15, 1869 – May 10, 1944) was an American professor and humanitarian.
Wearing Poppies Wearing poppies on Remembrance Day (11th November), whether real ones, crafted ones or directly brought from charities, is a form of respect to those that have lost their lives in tragic armed conflicts. Some people choose not to wear poppies, however. Some argue that they glorify military power, have nationalistic overtones, and can be used by politicians to justify or normalise conflict.
What do you think? Will you wear a poppy this Remembrance Day? 20..
Issue 28 Crossword ACROSS: 6. Belgian music festival 8. 'if ___ could speak" 11. "I'd like to be a professional surfer" 12. Jeff Bezos company DOWN: 1.____ Grace cast as Maysilee Donner 2. Haymitch _____ of the Hunger Games 3. Jack of the Shining 4. Kimi _____ of F1 5. Remembrance day symbol 7. Videogame company 9. Valve game 10. Gal of the runner Thank you to: Ali Clarke Ada JANKOVSKA Alicja PORCZYNSKA Amy RUPERTO Beatrice LAVENDER Damir BUSEVAC Tianan HE Youcheng Oscar CAO For working on this edition of the insider
Find answers next to the table of contents