Tuskan Times Volume 6 Issue 3

February 2018 Issue

Volume 6, Issue 3

What’s in this issue?

WINTER OLYMPICS, 1 BACK IN BLACK: THE FAR RIGHT RESURGENCE IN EUROPE, 3 TRUMP WATCH, 5 FURRY ATHLETES: MAN’S BEST FRIEND?, 8 THE URBAN RENAISSANCE, 10 A HOMEWORK CATASTROPHE, 12 A FEW SUGGESTIONS, 15 A NEW FRONTIER, 17 SCIENTISTS MONKEYING AROUND, FOR NOW… , 19 MORE CLIMATE CHANGE WOE, 21 TOP 10 2018 UPCOMING MOVIES, 23

STAFF

Editor-in-Chief

Artists

Nicholas Accattatis

Jacqueline Obert Eva Vaynshteyn

Co-Editors Isabella Lovalvo Joseph Donat Bolton

Layout Editors Jacqueline Obert Giulia Oosterwijk

Advisor John Pitonzo

Cover by Eva Vaynshteyn Back cover by Jacqueline Obert

WINTER OLYMPICS: WARMING RELATIONS IN KOREA?

By Zoe Genschel North Korean Cheerleaders in South Korea. Yes, you heard correctly: North and South Korea have restarted communication, concerning the Winter Olympics that South Korea will host from the 9th to the 25th February of this year. These talks, the first in two years, are especially surprising considering the rising tensions caused by North Korea's nuclear weapons program. As, theoretically, North and South Korea are still in a state of war, they were also highly pleasing to both sides as they appeared to somewhat reduce military tension and thusly the chance of a new conflict breaking out. However, it should be noted that tensions are still quite high and the rules for the North Korean delegation have been strictly planned.

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Many believe that this could be the turning point in breaking the ice between the two Koreas, yet some comments made during the eleven hour talk show the still tense military situation of both countries. For example, after the delegation from Seoul proposed talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean delegation from Pyongyang starkly commented that, “All our weapons including atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs and ballistic missiles are only aimed at the United States, not our brethren, nor China and Russia.” Interestingly, the talks did not only only consider military issues but also breached that of unifying separated families, a highly emotional topic.

While no clear decisions have yet been made on these subjects, it has been decided that North Korea will send a delegation of athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team, and journalists to the winter Games, which might march together in the opening ceremony with South Korea.

As the news broke, America did not fail to voice its opinion. While America’s president, Donald Trump, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have had a few rather unprofessional verbal exchanges, Trump has stated now that the renewed talks are “a good thing.” On the other hand, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, Katina Adams, stated that: "We are in close contact with the Republic of Korea about our unified response to North Korea, including the need to maintain pressure to achieve a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.”

When considering North and South Korea and their relations to America, it is also important to take into account that America has some 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. Therefore, their initial response has been fairly cold regarding the idea of inter-Korean meetings, as the fear of North Korea splitting the American - South Korean alliance is present, though the chance of the event’s occurrence remains highly unlikely.

So, what effect does this have on the general politics regarding North Korea or the whole of the Korean Peninsula? Well, primarily nothing. It is unclear whether the isolated event of the Winter Olympics will change anything, or whether once the games are over, tensions will resume. For all the interesting reasons above, however, it might be worth it to watch the Winter Olympics this year.

Even though they are sometimes pushed back when compared to the general Olympics, when, since 1936, has there been such political drama around sports?.

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BACK IN BLACK: THE FAR-RIGHT RESURGENCE IN EUROPE

By Joseph Donat Bolton Austria has been in this paper frequently over the past year or so. It started with the presidential election of 2016, which was contested between Alexander Van Der Bellen, the Green party’s candidate – a left-wing self-confessed Europhile – and Norbert Hofer, the FPÖ’s (Freedom Party) candidate – an extremely right-wing Eurosceptic who campaigned on an extremely anti-immigrant platform.

Now however, Austria has returned to the headlines for its legislative election. Held at the end of October, no party was able to get a majority as is almost always the case in Austria, leading to coalition governments being formed. The two biggest parties as usual were the SPÖ (Social Democratic Party) and ÖVP (People’s Party), winning 52 and 62 seats, respectively. However, the same FPÖ that Norbert Hofer came from made a meteoric rise to almost match the Social Democrats, winning 51 seats, being less than a percent from the SPÖ in terms of the popular vote.

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Prior to the election the SPÖ lifted a 30-year ban on forming coalition governments with farright parties in a bit to hopefully be able to form a coalition with the FPÖ. In the meantime, Sebastian Kurz, former ÖVP member of the coalition government, serving as Foreign Minister, was elected as leader of his party, at the young age of 30.

The negotiations for the coalition started when Sebastian Kurz was instructed by President Van der Bellen to start forming a new government immediately after the election, and direct negotiations with the FPÖ were opened a mere 4 days after this invitation. After almost a month of negotiations, the parties announced that they were ready to present their new government.

Key ministerial positions such as the minister for the interior and minister for infrastructure were given to FPÖ members, the latter going to Hofer, the same person that just a few months ago had just lost the presidency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was put under the control of a long-time ally of the FPÖ.

This new government is not the first time that the FPÖ has been in a position of power, as following the election in 1999 where the FPÖ actually beat the ÖVP (Both behind the SPÖ), but ended up forming a coalition with them in which the chancellorship was given to the conservatives. This government attracted widespread criticism from other European nations, and the European Union even implemented sanctions against Austria, only 4 years after its initial entry into the union.

This new government means that Sebastian Kurz is now officially the youngest world leader, being a mere 31 years old.

Austria is now the only country in Western Europe to have a far-right party in the government, but this could soon change with the centre-right coalition leading in Italy’s polls – a coalition that includes Matteo Salvini’s Lega, an anti-immigration party that has campaigned for Italy to leave the European Union.

The rising popularity of this right-wing coalition this close to the election brings with it many fears that it may legitimise the existence of far-right, borderline neo-fascist groups. The shooting in Macerata by a fascist sympathiser back in February is a manifestation of this.

The political instability in Germany, accompanied by increasing European fragmentation, are both causes and symptoms of a renewed right-wing force throughout the continent. It remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself like it did in the 1930s. If it does, we all know what happens next.

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TRUMP WATCH: FEBRUARY

By Isabella Lovalvo

Trump Says Jerusalem is “Off Negotiating Table” In early February, President Trump reaffirmed his decision to recognize Jerusalem, rather than Tel Aviv, as the capital of Israel, as well as his plans to move the U.S embassy to the holy city.

Speaking to newspaper Israel Hayom, the president clarified, “By taking Jerusalem off the table, I wanted to make it clear that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and as for specific boundaries, I would support what both sides agreed to.”

First declaring the move in early December, Trump has since faced criticism and protest worldwide, with the majority of UN member states voting in favor of a resolution calling the decision “null and void.”

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Much tension has sprung from the issue of what to do with the holy city, as it is host to many significant religious sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims; this continues to be one of the key issues in the Israeli-Palestine conflict today.

Additionally, Trump stressed the importance of a peace agreement between the two conflicting sides, urging both to make “hard compromises” if need be. In a rare move, however, he seemed to question not only Palestine, but Israel’s commitment to making peace. “Right now, I would say the Palestinians are not looking to make peace,” he stated, adding, “And I am not necessarily sure that Israel is looking to make peace.”

Trump Proposes U.S Military Parade

Trump Criticized for Parkland Shooting Tweet

In early February, reports surfaced that President Trump had pitched a proposal for a U.S military parade. The parade, which would theoretically take place in Washington D.C., would be the first of its kind since 1991 and would employ thousands of troops, as well as tanks, missiles, and other weapons.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the reports, stating that the president is “incredibly supportive of America’s greatest service members [and] has asked the Department of Defense to explore a situation at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”

Survivors of the Parkland, Florida shooting have not hesitated to condemn Trump after a controversial tweet made by the president on Saturday. In the tweet, Trump appeared to attack the FBI, stating, “Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign-there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!”

The proposal, however, has garnered concern from many who fear that in addition to reportedly costing between three and fifty million dollars, the parade could interrupt important military training schedules. To combat the cost, the Pentagon is also reportedly contemplating accepting private donations which would be used to fund parts of the parade, not, however, including military salaries nor the cost of transporting equipment. Regarding the latter concern, a defense official stated, “We don’t have troops and units sitting around waiting to do a parade.” Indeed, the parade would require thousands of troops to be transported to Washington D.C. days before its occurrence, postponing crucial days of training and disrupting other aspects of the military’s schedule.

The Pentagon has stayed fairly silent and has refrained from commenting on the possible options for the event, which is currently being planned by the army. However, officials have indicated that should the parade come to fruition, it may be held on 11 November, which is not only Veteran’s Day, but the one-hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I.

In a speech given on Saturday, 17 February, Trump attributed the tragedy to “the difficult issue of mental health in the U.S.” but disappointed some as he failed to mention what many see as the true cause behind mass shootings in the U.S.: the abundance of legal, easily accessible firearms. He also neglected to specify what his administration would do in terms of legislation concerning either issue, but stated, “No child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an American school. No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning,” finally urging all Americans to “come together as one nation” and “pray for healing and peace.”

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Trump Maintains Hard Stance on Immigration as Dreamer Deadline Nears Trump has refused to soften his stance on immigration as Senate Republicans and Democrats rush to negotiate a bipartisan agreement concerning the Dreamer crisis. In early February, the president made it clear that any solution must comprise the “four pillars” of his immigration reform plan, which aim to offer a path to full citizenship for 1.8 million DREAMers, secure the U.S. and Mexican border by means of a wall, end the visa lottery program in favor of a merit-based admission system, and end chain migration by “limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children.” Solutions that do not fulfill these requirements, he says, risk being vetoed.

Though Congress has until 5 March to reach a deal, many worry that the president’s comments are more harmful than helpful. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has accused Trump of “st[anding] in the way of a bipartisan solution to DACA from the beginning,” adding that the president is the “one person who seems most intent on not getting a deal.”

As the deadline grows closer, the fate of the DREAMers, however, remains to be seen.

Federal Court Rules Trump’s Travel Ban Unconstitutional Religious Discrimination The fourth U.S. circuit court of appeals in Richmond, Virginia, has ruled Trump’s travel ban, that restricts access into America by nationals of six predominantly Muslim countries unconstitutional, on the basis that it discriminates against people based on their religion and is “unconstitutionally tainted with animus toward Islam.” The 9-4 vote maintains a similar ruling by a federal judge in Maryland, who issued an injunction against the implementation of the ban against nationals from the six countries.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to once more hear the case in April and decide upon its constitutionality. Currently, the ban is in full effect and will remain so until the hearing.

The president has also endorsed a proposal by Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, asking “all senators, in both parties, to support the Grassley bill.” Although Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has supported the president’s reform plans, they have left Congress divided, as many feel that the deal should instead focus specifically on DREAMer citizenship and border security, fearing that broaching too many additional issues could reduce the chance of a successful agreement.

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FURRY ATHLETES: MAN’S BEST FRIEND?

By Anais Delagneau Sports have always been a popular conversation topic and hobby that are cherished worldwide. The Winter Olympics are no exception to this, as they have captured the attention of many international viewers this month, drawing their eyes to the athletes flitting back and forth on silver screens.

The spectators are, however, often blinded by the events that occur within stadiums and are unable to notice what happens when they have finished. The sports industry has always been a selective and demanding one, where many crack under pressure.

This has many serious repercussions that most people are unaware of, specifically when it comes to sporting events where animals are involved.

One would expect for these animals to be loved and cared for, as they are the competitors and thus the money-makers. This however, tends to be far from the truth. True, many animals used as everyday athletes are treated just as they should be, but as an animal's worth increases in the sports industry and the stakes rise, its quality of life often decreases significantly.

This is becoming more common knowledge, and revealing reports identify exactly which sporting industries exploit animals in such a manner. The most recent exposés are those on the treatments of sled-dogs in Canada and the United States and the truth behind "Horse Soring".

Dog-sled races are extremely profitable during the winter time, especially as the great Iditarod Race (1000 mile dog sled race) nears. Popular belief is that sled dogs are loved and treated like members of a family. The reality is quite the opposite. Sled dogs are unethically farmed in mass puppy mills where they are bred solely for the sledding business. These dogs, once bought, will be chained to posts every day for the rest of their lives in extreme temperature and miserable conditions. They will then be forced into extremely exhaustive training with little food to provide energy for this training as they are starved in order to reduce costs. Once the dogs have served their purpose, they are often killed, which at times is considered a part of the dog-sled racing event if done "execution-style."

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In this case, mass graves are dug for these dogs, as many are killed and disposed of at once. The dogs that never make it out of the puppy mill are considered excess and shot as well. No law in Canada or the United States protects these dogs from cruel or inhumane treatment. These are just the stone-cold facts; the details would astound and disgust.

Equestrianism is another sport that utilizes animals for its events. While the treatment of horses has improved over the years, there is still much to be done to improve their quality of life.

One current issue that has come to light on this topic is the abuse of gaited horses in order to teach them to perform a dressage technique called "the big lick." This practice, Soring, involves inflicting chemical or physical pain in the horse's hoof that will be amplified everytime the hoof hits the ground. As a result, the horse will lift his or her legs faster and higher. This has been illegal since 1970 but continues today. Many trainers avoid being caught during mandatory inspections by training the horse to have no reaction to pain. This, of course, is done by exposing the animal to constant pain until the desired result is obtained.

There are many more examples of animal abuse in sports. Some, such as dog fighting, are illegal within themselves. Other animals trained for wide audiences, such as those in circuses, are not protected from abuse by law. In fact, most animal abuse laws around the world are more directed towards pets than those used in athletics.

How do we combat this? There's not much we can do until governments and companies funding sporting events involving animals realise the inhumanity behind it. We can, however, boycott sporting events that involve animals, specifically those that are famous and well attended, as well as sign petitions directed towards ending certain sporting practices. More people are realising that furry athletes have just as much of a soul as the athletes representing the countries we are rooting for in South Korea today, but in order for real change, the majority of us have to be aware of the extent of the abuse that occurs within the animal sporting industry.

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THE URBAN RENAISSANCE

by Niccolò Platt Florence is often considered the “Cradle of the Renaissance”, and the home to great artists like Michelangelo and Donatello, but in recent years, another art form has been taking the city by storm, catching the eye of thousands of passers-by.

Street art is a type of visual art created in public locations, which uses public places such as sidewalks, bridges and buildings as canvasses. It is often confused with graffiti tagging, but there is a small difference between the two: intention. While graffiti is created as a mean of communication between artists and contains little meaning, street art aims to deliver a message to the public, often regarding modern society. Yet, not everyone acknowledges this distinction, and places them both under the category of criminal behavior.

Nevertheless, the number of posters and murals found in the city has been rapidly increasing, with urban illustrations discoverable at almost every street corner. It is no longer a viral trend, but a part of the city’s identity. While walking through the center, you’ve certainly encountered a stickman holding a balloon, Leonardo da Vinci wearing a scuba mask, or pac man eating its way through a street sign, and never thought about the faces behind the unusual artworks.

Several different artists are gaining recognition, such as Hopnn Yuri, an artist from the Marche region, who depicts red and white characters on bicycles, and Exit/Enter, the Florentine who is known for stick figures holding red balloons. At the same time, Street Levels Gallery in via Palazzuolo displays the work of many creators, exposing the work of many underground artists.

I was able to get in contact with two of the most prominent street artists in the city, Clet and Blub, who were available to talk, and answer a few questions. Despite the negative comments regarding their work, they nonetheless value critics’ point of view. When asked if they consider their art to be illegal, they had almost the same response, as they believe their work is “urban furniture”, and a way to better the city.

Even after becoming on of the most well known artists in Florence, Blub prefers not to reveal personal details. Although they almost exclusively work on a local scale, they have gained much attention since 2013, when they first started. Their central project is called “L’arte sa nuotare”, and portrays artistic icons from the Renaissance wearing scuba masks on a water-like background.

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The literal translation of the title is “Art knows how to swim”, and their posters can be found all around the city center.

They say they “started by chance” while on vacation in Spain, and their rise to fame was not intended. They were encouraged by a few close friends, and after seeing the incredible amount of positive feedback, continued showcasing their work on the streets. The artist views crisis as opportunity, as they tell me “in the Chinese language, the ideogram for the word crisis also represents the word opportunity.” They say they are aware of the risks they run by using public venues as canvasses, and try their best to be less invasive possible, so their artwork “is not frowned upon by the institutions.”

At the same time, Clet aims to question the authority represented by street signs, encouraging dialogue, and “offering an opportunity for citizens to reflect.” As opposed to Blub, Clet has suffered some consequences for his installations. His statue “L’Uomo Comune”, which represented “a man attempting a step into the void”, was not authorized and was taken down.

Despite the criticism and bad reputation, street art in Florence will continue to evolve, thanks to the efforts of people like Clet and Blub, who aim to make the city a more modern and global place.

Because of them, we are experiencing a new, innovative, and urban Renaissance, five hundred years after the events that made Florence what it is today.

Clet Abraham, on the other hand, who started transforming his ideas into reality in 2011, is an internationally active artist, as his work has been spotted in New York, Paris, and Osaka. He is mainly recognized for his modified street signs, which he alters using stickers, to create entertaining images and to speak his mind on modern society. He says it didn’t take long for him to be acknowledged, as people noticed the signs and spread the word via social media. The Frenchman believes traffic signs are the best way to get his message across, as “they contain few colors, and simple, effective shapes”, perfect for the concise concepts he tries to represent.

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A HOMEWORK CATASTROPHE By: Rita Byrne I spend hours on my homework, and wonder

I wanted to see if it was just me who was

what is the point of it. After years of being assigned

struggling with their homework load. I’ve

it, I don’t understand how it will ever help me after I

interviewed at least one student from sixth to

graduate high school, or university, and often makes

twelfth grade, to find out their opinions, and how

stressed or tired. I think most of my classmates

much homework they’re given. I found that most

spend hours on their homework (myself included)

of the students said homework should be spread

over the weekend, because we have to work on big

over the week. Some other students agreed that

assignments, and each teacher gives us something

homework is counterproductive if it’s too easy, so

for the weekend, which adds up to a lot work.

it doesn’t benefit them.

Research suggests that homework has benefited

Lucia Dalle Piagge (grade 12) said: I think if the

students in some ways, but can be

homework has nothing to with the IB, then people

counterproductive if it’s too much. Homework

don’t actually take seriously, but it’s something that

educators suggested the 10 minute rule: 10 minutes

will help you understand the course better then yes

is multiplied by the grade level, for example second

it’s useful.

graders spend 20 minutes on their homework, and third graders spend 30 minutes on it each night.

Do you think homework benefits students, if so

Harris Cooper, a psychology professor at Duke

what are the benefits?

University, conducted a meta analysis of studies

‘I think that the benefits are that usually you

about homework. He said, “ A good way to think

understand concepts, or many things, but in order

about homework is the way you think about

for you to actually understand them you have to

medications or dietary supplements. If you take too

practice. Sometimes homework makes you realize

little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much,

what you yourself didn’t understand, so you can

they can kill you. If you take the right amount,

ask the teacher the day after.’ - Luca Fagotti (grade

you’ll get better.” Teachers at I.S.F give homework

11)

to help students prepare for tests or to help them understand the lessons done in class, but is it too much?

Going into my first year of high school I was overwhelmed by the increase of homework I had to do, I felt like I would never get a break from it.

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What would you change about the education system in ISF regarding homework?

’56 percent of students considered homework a primary source of stress,’ according to

Alex Maino (grade 7) said: I would say to be more - yeah just to get it together, and plan out.

the survey data, and ‘33 percent put the pressure to get good grades in that category.’

So right now, this week I have homework due in on

Camilla Ruini from grade nine (I.S.F)

Tuesday, and barely anything else for any other day

brought up the Waldorf education system, based on

of the week. Most IB students that I interviewed

the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, when she

said they spend two to three hours on their

mentioned that her teacher in her previous school

homework each night, although some 10th graders

used his methods.

said they spend one to two hours on their

talking about how our mind is capable of a lot

homework each day. Jeanne Berthe said, ‘It’s

things. So we have the ability to do a lot of things

counterproductive if we’re not given enough

with our brains, so it’s useless to give homework to

independence. When we reach 12th grade we

children instead they should be practicing it and

should be able to choose what we think is useful as

studying it’. Waldorf education doesn’t focus on

homework.’ This is true, because homework was

tests, or memorization. Instead it uses engaging

designed to help students understand the

teaching, to help students fully understand the

curriculum. I realized after interviewing various

material, and prepare them for life outside school.

students from different grades that the time spent

They also teach the arts, and encourage students to

on homework depends on the individual. For a few

learn through ‘verbal communication.’ The aim is

seniors their homework load has been a lot, and

to provide children with skills needed for

Sophie Yap (grade 12) said ‘November for us was

‘changing society’. (Waldorf 100 - The film) If

a really hard time. There was a lot of homework,

Waldorf education methods were taught in classes,

and we had to keep up with IB deadlines.’

and less homework was given, I think students

Camilla said, ‘this man was

would see improvements in their academic growth, What are the effects of homework on students?

Denise Pope

and be more enthusiastic about their classes.

(a Stanford contributor)

and her colleagues researched the effects of homework on high school students in ‘upper middle classes in California’ who went to ten schools where there were high academic results. A survey was conducted interviewing 4,317 students.

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A solution for too much homework is for teachers

Giving homework just for the sake of giving

is to give us smaller amounts, but balanced with

homework is counterproductive, because it does it

other homework we have. If this were done for all

not benefit students learning, it just takes up their

grades, then we would all be less stressed.

time. Most students suggested having effective

A senior commented that ‘there can be interests

homework, that is balanced, and to spread the work

outside of school affecting our ability to deal with

out. Tips I received to improve this was to not post

homework.’ I agree with this statement, students

homework on Google classroom without telling the

have busy lives outside of school, and the more

students, not having multiple assignments due in one

homework they get, perhaps they will put less

day, and to use the calendar for homework. Using the

effort into it, because they have other matters to

homework calendar was especially emphasized by IB

tend to, such as family events or sports. Less

students, which could develop improvement in

homework would mean students would have more

school. If homework were balanced between

time to find new hobbies.

subjects, students would feel better about doing homework and less stressed.

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A FEW SUGGESTIONS By: Omer Pencabligil Dear Administration,

Apparently, swearing is a form of emotional relief, so in a sense it can help dull pain.

I would firstly like to apologize for my at times

If this is the reason students are swearing, it should

informal tone and “lack of vocabulary” as you so aptly

immediately be punished with a Saturday morning

put it in an announcement made last week. Secondly, I

detention because, as we all know, the best and

would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart

healthiest way to deal with pain, whether physical

for making students aware of the fact that they have a

or emotional, is to keep it to yourself and hope that

limited vocabulary and that they should

it just ceases to exist in the depths of your soul.

always

refrain from swearing. The exaggerated amount of

According to my research, swearing can

freedom the students of this school enjoy is absolutely

also show intimacy. A recent study suggests that

unacceptable and I can say that after almost two years

people who swear tend to be more trustworthy.

I have spent here there must be restrictions in some

This could seem like quite believable information

aspects, especially

since from what I’ve

speech. Where I

witnessed people

come

tend to swear around

from,

swearing

is

those they trust,

unheard of in

however, I would

schools; in fact, I

argue that this is

doubt children my

ridiculous and only

age are even

calls for more severe

familiar with some

consequences.

of the language I’ve heard around ISF. The whole

The final bit of research that helped

concept of swearing seems pointless to me since all it

drive me to write this letter was the claim that

does is offend others and demonstrate one’s

swearing helps emphasize concepts such as

inadequate vocabulary, so I decided to do some

happiness or humour. Can you believe it? Students

research and find out why people swear exactly in

have become so inept in the art of the English

order to persuade the administration into

language that they have to resort to swearing in

implementing harsh consequences for the commitment

order to express positive feelings. How

of such transgressions. Here are some things I found:

unacceptable is that?

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Dearest Administration, I believe I have made my

especially students who are going through the most

case and presented enough evidence to convince

stressful part of their adolescence. As an IB student

you into believing that a mere announcement will

I can confidently tell you that there are times

nowhere near rid our school of the epidemic of

where all I want to do is stop whatever I’m doing

swearing. How you are allowing this to take place

and swear at the top of my lungs, but of course I

at our school is still beyond me. I cannot seem to

don’t do that since I respect myself too much. I just

fathom why there is a part of the English language

let all the stress pile up, which is what I expect

which allows its speakers to mitigate pain, to

everyone else to do. Fortunately, it is impossible

demonstrate intimacy, and to express positive

for humans to explode from the build up of stress,

emotions in such an unorthodox manner! What’s

or so I’ve heard. If only there was some “fucking”

more outrageous is that you know about this and

way to let it all out in a polite manner.

have only made a simple announcement to try and combat it! Swearing should be abolished at all costs as it clearly has no benefits to students,

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A NEW FRONTIER By: Grace Ihle On Tuesday, 6 February 2018, history

SpaceX designed the Falcon 9, an even

was made with the launch of SpaceX’s most

more reliable reusable rocket that could carry

exciting project yet, the Falcon Heavy. At about

cargo, as well as the Dragon, another SpaceX

sixty-four metric tons, this beast of a rocket is

project, into space. The latter was the first private

actually much more efficient than any to come

spacecraft to be launched by a private company,

before. Falcon Heavy’s launch marks the

and though it was designed to carry people, so far

beginning of a long but *astronomical* feat for

it has only delivered cargo to the International

SpaceX and could potentially alter the course of

Space Station.

human existence.

It’s clear that the biggest feature of the

CEO and founder of SpaceX, Elon

Falcon 9 is its ability to be launched over and over

Musk, is quite well known for his ultra-

again. This fits in perfectly with SpaceX’s mission

visionary projections of the future and design.

to populate Mars, because they realized that the

He has built a revolutionary empire in

most cost and material-efficient way of making

electricity via Tesla and SolarCity, believing in

lots of trips into space is by being able to use the

the use and innovation of solar energy and its

same rocket over and over. The 9 accomplished the

ability to change the world for the better.

goal of reusability, but the company also wanted to

Furthermore, Musk projected a future in which

maximize the cargo potential, and to do this, they

humans would be able to inhabit other planets,

created the Falcon Heavy. The behemoth is formed

especially Mars, back in 2001, reasoning that

of three separate Falcon 9 core engines, the middle

the extinction of humans on Earth is inevitable,

one having a payload, or cargo, component that

and we’d best have a back up plan for when

can also carry the Dragon. The payload is actually

that happens.

the largest that’s been on a rocket since 1973, on

Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 in order

the Saturn V, increasing the amount of people the

to manifest this vision. His first project was the

company could send off to Mars at a given time.

Falcon 1, which was a partially-reusable rocket

The Heavy is also much more powerful than a

that took four attempts to succeed. When it did,

single Falcon 9 because it can use the power of

however, SpaceX became the first private

three. Each Part is comprised of 9 engines, making

company in the world to launch a rocket into

a grand total of 27 so called “Merlin engines” to

space. As if this wasn’t already a big deal,

launch the rocket.

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When this revolutionary rocket was launched on

drawn a warm reaction from the internet and from

the 6th, SpaceX streamed the event live, giving

fans of Musk himself. After the Roadster was

detailed explanations about the process. As soon as

released, the core began its descent into the

it reached outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, the

atmosphere again. The two side boosters landed

two side boosters of the rocket detached from the

first, each descending perfectly onto their landing

center one and began their descent into the

pads in Cape Canaveral. The core landed shortly

atmosphere. Afterwards, the last duty of the rocket

after, but its target was instead a landing dock

was to release the payload into space, where it will

situated in the ocean. Unfortunately, a technical

meet with Mars in orbit. However, as this was the

error caused the core to land several hundred feet

maiden flight of the rocket, no humans were sent

from the dock, and its speeding impact on the

on board. Instead, Musk sent a cherry red Tesla

water caused it to be damaged.

Roadster with a dummy in a SpaceX spacesuit in the passenger’s seat, affectionately named “Starman.” This cheeky and harmless act has

To learn more about the rocket’s maiden voyage, visit SpaceX’s YouTube video about the whole event.

CULTURE 18

SCIENTISTS MONKEYING AROUND, FOR NOW… By: Isabella Lovalvo Chinese scientists announced in late January that

so with primates. Previous attempts by scientists

they had succeeded in cloning two monkeys. The

often resulted in viable embryos, but these failed

first primates to have been successfully cloned, the

to develop into live, healthy specimens. Scientists

identical long-tailed macaques were named Zhong

at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of

Zhong and Hua Hua, Mandarin terms for the

Neuroscience in Shanghai say that they

Chinese nation and its people.

implemented several new techniques during the

The monkeys were cloned using the process

experiment that may account for their success.

of somatic cell nuclear transfer, the same method in

Compounds that promote cell growth but had not

which Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be

been previously tested in the cloning of primates

cloned over twenty years ago, was created. The

were employed, as was a new method of

highly complicated process involves transferring

microscopy that allowed scientists to better see

DNA from the nucleus of a somatic cell (that is, one

the cells as they carried out the procedure. The

not created in fertilization) of one animal into that of

process still, however, faces extremely low

a donor egg stripped of its own DNA. The egg is

success rates, as scientists were not able to use

then returned to an early embryonic stage, in order

adult macaque stem cells, instead finding success

for cell differentiation to take place, and implanted

only with cells from fetal tissues. Zhong Zhong

into a surrogate. Since creating Dolly, the procedure

and Hua Hua were also the only successful

has also been used to clone several other species,

results after embryos were implanted into sixty

however until now had never found success in doing

surrogates.

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The experiment has prompted excitement from

Crick Institute argue that the method Institute

researchers globally, who hope that the process,

argue that the method remains “a very inefficient

when combined with gene editing, could lead to a

and hazardous procedure” and “is not a stepping-

batch of genetically identical, nonhuman primates,

stone to establishing methods for obtaining live

ideal not only for research of disease mechanisms

born human clones.”

but screening of drugs and treatments eventually

Regardless, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua are,

destined for human use. Ethicists, however, are

according to researchers, currently being bottle fed

more concerned. In addition to questioning the

and are growing as expected.

ethics of using macaque monkeys for such research,

The creation and birth of more macaque clones is

they fear that the cloning procedure could easily be

also anticipated within the next few months.

applied to humans, paving the way for the first human clones. In response to the latter, scientists such as Prof. Robin Lovell-Badge of the Francis

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MORE CLIMATE CHANGE WOE By: Anais Delagneau Global warming and climate change have

the Arctic would not only release greenhouse

become an increasingly heated topic of discussion as

gases, but mercury as well. This mercury has

the years have progressed, and while not everyone

been building up within the permafrost over

believes it, it can be considered common knowledge

many years. Mercury is a natural element, as

that these phenomenons are man-made.

usually when plants decay, they release mercury

2016 is the hottest year on record, and the

in the atmosphere. In the Arctic, however, plants

twelve hottest years that we know of have been in

never fully decompose, as their roots freeze and

the past twenty years. In total, our Earth's

become buried under the icey soil we call

temperature has increased by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit,

permafrost. This suspends the mercury in these

with more that 50% of that increase being over the

roots, which would only be released if the ice

past thirty-five years. Why is this? Carbon dioxide

were to thaw. As this process is a biological

(CO2) is a major greenhouse gas, meaning it absorbs

normality, scientists have deduced that the

the reflected heat from the Earth's surface and later

mercury buildup in permafrost is quite massive.

releases it, warming the atmosphere instead of

In fact, they hypothesize that the amount of

letting this heat escape naturally into space. The

mercury in permafrost worldwide is

amount of CO2 we produce has steadily increased

approximately thirty-two million gallons, which

over the last fifty years, and present day carbon

is the equivalent to the amount of water used to

dioxide emission levels are 25% higher than those in

fill fifty olympic swimming pools.

1957.

Why should we care? If mercury were to The steady increase in our atmosphere's

be released, it would prove quite perilous to not

temperature has negative impacts on our

only the environment, but to the human race as

environment, one of the most notable being the

well. The mercury could be released in two

melting of the polar ice caps, which would result in

manners: into the ocean or into the atmosphere. If

the possible eradication of several species,

it were to be released into the ocean, it would

worldwide flooding, and the release of even more

gradually poison marine wildlife, which would

greenhouse gases that are trapped within these ice

not only corrupt the ocean’s ecosystems, but

caps. This is already quite terrifying as it is, and yet,

would poison the food we obtain from it. If the

scientists have found new reasoning behind why we

mercury were to be released into the atmosphere,

should be afraid of this phenomenon.

it would cause more global warming as well as

Recently, U.S government scientists have

rain-containing mercury, which would

discovered that the thawing of the permafrost in CULTURE 21

contaminate our wildlife in similar ways as it would

permafrost (which contains mercury) worldwide

if it were released into the ocean. Mercury, if

will have melted. This would mean anywhere from

introduced into one’s body either through

30 to 99% of 32 million gallons of mercury would

consumption of contaminated products or inhalation,

be released.

can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune

Should we be alarmed? Most definitely.

systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, and may

However, it is possible that we can try to slow or

be fatal. It is especially perilous for pregnant women

halt this thawing by reducing the amount of

to inhale or consume mercury as it could cause birth

emissions we are responsible for as a planet. This

defects as well as affect the cognitive thinking,

reduction would have to be immediate in order to

memory, attention, language, and fine motor and

attempt to guarantee the smallest amount of

visual spatial skills of a fetus.

released mercury as possible, which could prove

One must realize that in order for the ice to

problematic due to some of the countries and

thaw and therefore release mercury, temperatures

corporations that refuse to accept the issue as their

would have to continue to increase due to global

responsibility. One can only hope that this new and

warming. A study showed that with the current fossil

shocking revelation will solidify the need for our

fuel emissions that warm our atmosphere, it is

communities to become more environmentally

possible that in 2100 anywhere from 30-99% of the

friendly, and in turn, provide for a more safe and sustainable future.

CULTURE 22

TOP 10 2018 UPCOMING MOVIES By: Clarissa Fraschetti 10. Ant-Man and the Wasp

7. The Incredibles 2

July 6

June 15

As a sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man, Paul Rudd and the

It will be the sequel of the acclaimed Incredibles

remaining cast reprise their role again in this 20th

(2004) which will be set just after the events of

movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will be

the previous movie as they try to live a normal

set after the events of Captain America: Civil War,

life when a new villain will ruin their “normal”

where Ant-Man tries to balance his responsibilities

life.

of a father and of a superhero when a new threat

6. Black Panther

arrives.

February 16

9. Han Solo: A Star Wars Story

Following the events of Captain America: Civil

May 25

War, which brought the death of King T’Challa,

Similarly to Rogue One, Solo will be a standalone

Black Panther’s father, the young king is to

movie which will follow the adventures of the young

return to his home in Wakanda where his throne

versions of Star Wars iconic characters Han Solo and

is under threat.

Chewbacca in a space-western fusion. It will feature Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Paul Bettany and it will be directed by Ron Howard.

8. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms November 2 Starring Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and Keira Knightley, this is Disney’s Christmas movie for 2018, inspired by the famous The Nutcracker story.

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5. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

3. Mary Poppins Returns

16 November

December 25

The sequel of 2016 Fantastic Beasts and Where to

The sequel of the 1964 famous movie will follow

Find Them, will follow the famous Albus

the story of Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) visiting

Dumbledore and Newt Scamander (Eddie

the Banks children after they suffered a terrible

Redmayne), the previous movie’s main character, as

tragedy, 25 years after the events of the original.

they try to stop the evil wizard Grindelwald (Johnny 2. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Depp).

July 20 4. Mission: Impossible - Fallout

For the 10 years anniversary of the previous

July 27

movie, based on Broadway famous musical

The 6th installment of the action franchise will

Mamma Mia!, which features pop legends

reprise his recurring cast joined by Henry Cavill

ABBA’s songs. The blockbuster cast comes back

(Man of Steel), for a Mission which is still

for a “prequel-sequel” narrating to Sophie the

unknown.

story of Dona’s summer of love when pregnant with Sophie as Sophie is now pregnant herself.

The old cast will be joined by Lily James and others which will portray the younger version of Mamma Mia!’s characters.

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Honourable Mentions:

1. Avengers Infinity War May 4

A Wrinkle in Time (March 9), Deadpool 2 (May

The third Avengers movie and first part of

18), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (June 7), ,

Avengers Infinity War will sum up 10 years of

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (July 13),

the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and will

The Predator (August 3), Ocean’s 8 (October 25),

feature all the superheroes and most secondary

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (November 2), Ralph

characters of all the MCU movies, adding up to a

Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2 (November

total of 64 main characters, as the Avengers, the

21).

Guardians of the Galaxy and others battle against Thanos and the Infinity Stones. It will change forever the MCU as it will be closing movie for the first 10 year Marvel phase and open a new 10 year Marvel phase. It will probably be the end of many fan-favorite superheroes too.

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CULTURE 25