Student Voice | December 2020

Student Voice Christmas Edition

Student Voice Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas

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DECEMBER 2020

WELCOME! A read through the Oxford Languages’ ‘Words of an Unprecedented Year’ report is probably the easiest way to obtain a condensed description of 2020 so far; beginning with ‘Bushfire’ and ‘Impeachment’ in January and concluding with ‘Superspreader’ in October.

Needless to say, there has been no shortage of momentous events for the students of Hereford Sixth Form College to report on over the last few months.

This digital copy of the Student Voice covers a vast range of topics and we are extremely grateful to every student who has contributed their work.

We wish everybody a Magical Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From Felix Smithson (Student Rep), and with warm wishes from all of the editing team!

GET INVOLVED

CONTENTS ‘THE BLACK MOZART’ OR ‘THE WHITE CHEVALIER’?: THE WHITEWASHING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC’S HISTORY ALEX BRIAN

MENTAL HEALTH VS LOCKDOWN

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NEW LEAF

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REJECTED BY PRIVATE SCHOOL

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FILMS AND TV SHOWS I WATCHED DURING LOCKDOWN AND WHAT I LEARNT FROM THEM

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ELLIE BOUGOURD

FAITH COOKE

LUCY POPE

The Student Voice is run by students, for students.

TOBY BAILEY

If you are interested in contributing, please email Steph Spencer at ssp@hereford.ac.uk, or keep an eye on the bulletin for the next meeting.

CLIMATE-FUELLED FIRES AND CORRUPTION

All are welcome!

WANT MORE? If you’ve enjoyed this edition of the Student Voice, there’s even more to read online at www.hereford.ac.uk

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BROOKE SMITH

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, BUT WHERE ARE THE ACTORS?

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HATTIE STOREY

BRITAIN’S LEGAL VOTING AGE: IS IT SUITABLE?

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SMILE

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EVE PERKINS

JONI FOSTER

FAKE XANAX: THE ESCALATING CRISIS

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EMMA GOSS PAGE 2

DECEMBER 2020

‘THE BLACK MOZART’ OR ‘THE WHITE CHEVALIER’?

THE WHITEWASHING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC’S HISTORY ALEX BRIAN Ella Fitzgerald… BB King. That’s what Black History Month means to me.

When we look back over the last few centuries of music, an extraordinary and irreversible change can be seen taking place.

Through the slave trade, thousands of talented black musicians arrived in Europe from Africa - and with them came their culture. Complex rhythms, bluesy vocals and the unashamed expression of emotion are all characteristics we associate with nearly every form of popular music, all of which can be traced back to their African roots. Something often overlooked and underappreciated is the enormous impact black artists have had on the culture we enjoy today.

But at least we know who they are!

There is still one genre which makes popular music look like a utopia of racial equality: classical music. Ever since Tudor times, there have been black composers and performers who have successfully reached the highest peaks of society. Celebrated at the time, they are now absent from every educational syllabus and concert programme. From Henry VIII’s trumpeter John Blanke to the 19th century prodigies Avril and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, every ounce of creativity that black musicians poured into classical music has been forgotten.

Of all of these unnoticed creators, there is one who stands out as one of the most talented men of the 18th century – at least equal to Haydn and Mozart.

His name is J and this is his story: Born in 1745 during the height of the slave trade, Bologne was the son a wealthy slave owner and his wife’s sixteen-year-old Senegalese slave, Nanon. He was destined to be denied the same rights and privileges as other Frenchmen, having been born

Image credit: wikipedia.com

illegitimate and as a “mulatto”. Due to France’s “Code Noir”, he was unable to inherit his father’s title or marry anyone of higher social status. Unlike many in his situation, however, Joseph Bologne had the fortune of being born into a family who accepted him.

At the age of eight, his father paid for him to be enrolled at a prestigious boarding school in mainland France.

He also financed his training at Tessier de La Boëssière’s Académie royale polytechnique des armes et de l’équitation. Boëssière was well renowned as the best teacher of fencing and horsemanship in France and is even attributed with having invented the fencing mask. As it turns out, Bologne was equally gifted with the sword.

At 15, he was already beating world masters in the sport, such as the famed Alexandre Picard, who had previously mocked Bologne, describing him as “Boëssière’s mullato”. The match was

watched by a huge crowd, delighted to see a man of such racial prejudice beaten by a student of African heritage.

His fencing prowess led him to spar daily in the salles of Paris and even fight exhibition matches in front of the Prince of Wales. If this wasn’t impressive enough, he even fought a match whilst suffering from meningitis, during which his arms were described as moving “like lightning”.

It’s unbelievable that he is remembered foremost as one of the first black composers of “classical music” over his skating, boxing, hunting and horse-riding expertise. Bologne’s skill at both the violin and the harpsichord point towards extensive practice from a young age. By 1769, he was a member of Gossec’s Le Concert des Amateurs.

Four years later, he was the conductor; another three and he was performing two of his own violin concertos at the Concert Spirituel.

In eight years, he wrote three sets of

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six string quartets (some of the first in France), three piano and violin sonatas as well as one for clarinet and one for bassoon, twelve violin concertos, six violin duets, a sonata for harp, for flute and for cello and eight symphonieconcertantes, whilst keeping up his fencing career. For the rest of his life, he focused his attention on his love for the stage, writing six operas over the next twenty years.

Marie Antoinette was a huge fan of his work-most of the ladies admired him as he was a handsome and intelligent young man- “Performing with great precision and delicate nuances”.

Sadly, the Concert des Amateurs orchestra, of which he had become leader, was disbanded in 1781 due to lack of funding. As an early black mason, Bologne secured the help of Phillipe D’Orleans who grouped it with a mason Loge. Now named Le Concert Olympique, the orchestra were performing at huge venues such as the Palais Royale and the Salles des GardesSuisses. It was Bologne who conducted Haydn’s six Paris Symphonies and yet he has dissolved into the mists of time.

Image credit: wikipedia.com

Bologne was also a prominent rich aristocrat, who wasn’t even entirely abolitionist and a member of “La Société black. Despite constant petitioning and des amis de noirs”. He worked hard support from all of his soldiers, he was to get the Prince of Wales on his side never allowed back into the army. and delivered Saint-Georges BAME people make messages to drowned his sorrows in up only 1.6% of ... UK men like William music, creating a new orchestras Wilberforce, orchestra: Le Cercle de John Wilkes and Thomas Clarkson both l’Harmonie. “Towards the end of my times he went to London. Eventually, life, I was particularly devoted to my the slave traders became tired of his violin,” he said. “Never before did I play activism and sent five men armed it so well.” In 1799, he died poor, after with pistols to silence him. Bologne suffering from a bladder disease he was not easy to silence. After leaving repeatedly refused to acknowledge. his education, he had earned the title The man John Adams called “the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The five most accomplished man in Europe” is men were all lying unconscious on the now remembered only as Le Mozart floor.

Noir. Bologne represented everything His strength and strategy also came Mozart was not: handsome, successful, into use during the French Revolution. and powerful among the aristocrats.

Despite his aristocratic way of life, For this reason, some believe that his he chose to oppose the monarchy infamous villain in the magic flute, in the hopes it would lead to greater Monosantos, was actually inspired equality between races. Bologne had by the Chevalier. Furthermore, the experienced racial prejudice firstChevalier inspired Mozart to write hand. Once, he had been denied from symphonie concertantes and was the entering a hotel due to his skin colour basis of Mozart’s iconic style of violin and his mother hadn’t even written concerto. In that case, should Mozart be his real name into her will for fear of called the White Chevalier? tarnishing his reputation.

Today, it is still incredibly difficult In 1792, he led the first army of 1000 for black musicians to make it as both black people into battle. The “Légion performers and composers. According franche de cavalerie des Américains et to current statistics, BAME people du Midi” was soon renamed to “Légion make up only 1.6% of the membership Saint-Georges” after glorifying tales of of UK orchestras – a horrifyingly low his bravery and leadership. Regardless percentage. Last year’s proms featured of his status as a fearless colonel, he only one piece by a male black still faced criticism due to his friendship composer and one piece by a female with the aristocracy. It didn’t matter black composer. that he had halted “The Treason of Yet, people are striving for change.

Dumoriez”, stopping the general from Organisations such as the Chineke reinstating the monarchy. No-one cared Foundation hope to create equality by that his legion was underequipped and creating the world’s first truly diverse underfinanced. He dealt with a barrage orchestras. In regard to the Chevalier, of comments every day claiming Bologne’s story is set to be told as part he was riddled with debt and using of an upcoming film by Searchlight public money to repay it. In the end, Pictures. Furthermore, his work is he was falsely imprisoned for eighteen being shared with the next generation months over these allegations and through the BBC’s Ten Pieces project. was threatened repeatedly with the We can only hope that someday guillotine. Even when he was released classical music will be less – well – and returned to the Caribbean, he was on the wrong side of slave uprisings as a white.

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DECEMBER 2020

MENTAL HEALTH VS LOCKDOWN ELLIE BOUGOURD Confidence, self-image and selfesteem have always been something I have struggled with, even more so during lockdown. I also know that I’m not the only one who has had to fight harder than ever this year to maintain my mental and physical well-being throughout.

It is safe to say that everyone has been up against what seems to be an impossible year to keep your head above water as we were all up against some of the hardest challenges we will ever have to face. But this is how health and fitness can have a positive effect on your mental health and well-being.

If this article inspires just one person during this second phase of lockdown, I will feel like I have achieved my goal.

A little bit about me first; I’m an English Literature and BTEC Sport Student who has a great passion for my courses and hopes to pursue a career in sport (preferably a fitness ambassador/ influencer). I am a huge believer in staying fit and healthy and ultimately, when you look after your body, the mind follows. Exercise has always been a way for me to unwind from the everyday stress that surrounds me like exams, college and relationships as exercising has always been my priority above all else. After some research and a little bit of input from my own experiences, I would like to share with you why I think exercising should become a part of your routine, if it isn’t already.

depression, which seems perfect for positivity into our lives without adding us college students right? Most of any more pressure on ourselves, so be us have experienced the unwanted sure to pursue something you enjoy. symptoms of stress. A pounding heart, Running, flexibility training and body muscle cramps and weight training restlessness are all Confidence, self-image are all exercises we feelings that can can do during the and self-esteem have lead to more stress, lockdown period always been something I creating a vicious when there are no struggled with, even more gyms accessible. cycle between your so during lockdown. mind and body.

Remember exercise However, I can doesn’t have to be almost guarantee that by simply getting super intense; anything to get the heart yourself active at least 1-3 times a week, rate up will do the job. it will clear your mind and give you a Exercising gives me a real sense sense of clarity, making it easier for of accomplishment, making me feel you to direct your attention and focus stronger, both mentally and physically. on the everyday. I would recommend It gives me the confidence to tackle taking part in activities where you daily struggles head on instead of are able to track your progress. hiding away from them. Ultimately, This will give an increased sense of this has helped me to grow as a person accomplishment and you will be able and achieve personal goals that I never to watch yourself improve every week. thought were possible.

Of course, we are trying to implement

As most of us know, exercise has been shown to improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression.

If you didn’t already know, exercising our body releases chemicals called endorphins which give us feelings of positivity. It produces changes in parts of the brain which regulate stress and anxiety while relieving symptoms of PAGE 5

DECEMBER 2020

NEW LEAF FAITH COOKE A flurry of warmth; the leaves fall.

“There is no growth without decay” They whisper in their delicate call.

Without September, there is no May. How may the pure blossoms thrive, When they still carry heavy burdens, Forever draining that which is alive?

Banish suffering: an ethereal curtain.

Rough times, like the slice of a blade.

Bombardment of fear like a tidal wave.

Same dismal news, only a different day.

Flight stunted; caged, a perished slave.

Reflect like rays of sun on silver glass; Drown your terror in the autumn rain.

Breathe. Don’t run ahead too fast.

Take your time; wash pessimism away.

Now, right now, more than ever before, The leaves encourage a novel change.

If we resist, we will only desire it more.

A feeling which indeed is strange.

However, courage is a necessity for growth.

Refresh.

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DECEMBER 2020

REJECTED BY PRIVATE SCHOOL LUCY POPE

The argument about private school Vs state school has long existed.

Some argue that if you go to private school you have an automatic key to success, believing that if you’re paying for an education that it will, of course, be better for you.

However, some argue that if you have great success at state school then you are smarter as the education is ‘worse’. Having received both forms of education, I’ve formed a strong opinion as to why state school is more suited to me.

I attended a private boarding school from year 9 through to year 11. I was a “below average” student, as they like to put it, and was in bottom set in every subject. I managed to move up to 5th set from 6th set in English in year 10, which was the only success I had in my three years there. I was part of the equestrian team, but only so I could go home more to see my family and I thought it would reflect me in a better light towards my teachers (it didn’t). I felt huge amounts of pressure on my

shoulders to achieve good grades there, my time to was English as I loved it so then to go to University, then get a much, and it definitively shows in my grade. Admittedly private school did successful job and live a successful life, help me, and I did love my teachers. I but I really didn’t care that much. Year attended workshops to try and help 11 was probably the worst academic push my grades up, yet it simply didn’t year with the pressure growing larger work. I just wasn’t motivated. I always and larger. I failed my mocks and saw myself as ‘dumb’ and thought then the conversations started. My there’s no point trying if I’m still going housemistress used to pull me aside at to fail anyway. night and would say “with the grades you’re getting you won’t be attending When exams had finished, I wasn’t sixth form here”. I always assumed they very optimistic about my grades were empty threats to make me work at all. I thought, to save myself the harder but looking back, I realize how embarrassment, I’d better take naive I was to think that. My friends everything home with me in case they were incredibly smart and were on track didn’t have me back. I am extremely to achieve top grades. They worked grateful I did that. Results day came hard, leaving me feeling like the odd around and was an extremely stressful one out, unable to achieve the same day to say the least. To my surprise (and grades. Even on the tests I revised for, my parents’) they were awful. I’d only I still didn’t get the grades I needed obtained 5 GCSEs. to stay, so as the My mum received I decided I wanted to pressure and the the dreaded call prove them wrong nagging increased from the Head, as we progressed towards exam season saying “unfortunately we just don’t and I gave up. I started saying “what will think this is the right school for Lucy be will be” and “they won’t kick me out’. and she would struggle with A levels”, The only exam I remember devoting a response which I wasn’t expecting.

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After spending a couple hours of crying, I decided I wanted to prove them wrong.

So, I came to Sixth Form to do just that, choosing three ambitious A levels in Politics, English Literature and Sociology (I can’t forget the Maths GCSE I never quite achieved until last summer). It took me two weeks to drop Politics, choosing Law instead.

Only knowing a few people in the year above me, it allowed me to have fresh slate; nobody had an opinion on my intelligence. I quickly made friends who I am extremely close to. They made me realise how much I had hated private school. I no longer felt ‘dumb’ against everyone else, teachers didn’t have a go at me for not getting an A* on every piece of work I completed.

You could easily argue that Sixth form teachers treat you like adults, a concept completely alien to me. There was no competition as to how much money one had or who had the better summer holiday; everything felt calmer.

Once I realised that I had a chance of being somewhat successful, I decided that I wanted to go to University, something I never thought would come out of my mouth to be honest: I just didn’t thought I was smart enough. I have more faith in myself than I did two years ago. My work ethic has changed dramatically, I am keen to do well in my exams and my work.

Looking back, I’ve realised one of my biggest regrets is not working hard for my GCSEs. With the confidence I have now, I realise how well I could’ve done. However, if I had achieved good enough grades to get back into Private school, I think I would have either really struggled and therefore not applied to University or I would’ve dropped out.

I began suddenly to see a future for myself that I couldn’t have done a few

years ago.

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to attend private school and I did enjoy some moments at that school. Boarding life wasn’t too terrible, it just depended if you liked the girl you were sharing a room with.

Inevitably, at times, I didn’t, but you just had to suck it up and get on with it; my mum always said it was a great life skill to have to deal with people you don’t always get on with. I know so many people that have enjoyed it and still are enjoying it. The reality is, like all things, it doesn’t suit everyone and there is nothing wrong with that. Yet here at Sixth form, I have so many more options than I would at any private school. My A levels are completely different from what I originally chose there, for example. There was judgment surrounding subject choice at my private school with the most adventurous subjects on offer being Psychology or Drama.

I used to be so embarrassed by getting ‘kicked out’ of school, I told no one about it as a result. I just made up some lie to cover. It took me a while finally to tell the truth to the people I was still friends with who attended the school. I am now able to laugh about it and make jokes about it without getting upset. It truly was a blessing in disguise, and I couldn’t be happier where I am now; I no longer see education as a negative thing. I think the reason I enjoy sixth form and education now is simply because the pressure is off my shoulders. I can make mistakes without feeling like it’s the end of the world. All I can do now is get the best grades I can achieve at A levels and prove that I am able to do A levels, attend University and that I’m not “below average”.

Image credit: Sharon McCutcheon, unsplash.com

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DECEMBER 2020

FILMS AND TV SHOWS I WATCHED DURING LOCKDOWN AND WHAT I LEARNT FROM THEM TOBY BAILEY When it was announced that the UK was finally going into lockdown, I knew I would have a lot of time on my hands. Could I have maybe exercised more? Yes. Could I have possibly taken up a new hobby like painting or baking? Yes. But, do I regret watching almost every film and TV show Netflix can offer? (Obviously, I didn’t watch all of them) Absolutely not.

1. Prisoners (Netflix) Firstly, I watched Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Prisoners’. The thriller tells the story of two six-year-old girls who go missing and the parents’ and police’s response to the disappearance. Despite how dense it sounds upon its surface, Villeneuve crafts a heart-breaking, genuinely terrifying mystery that leaves you guessing throughout its two-anda-half-hour run time. I learnt mostly, the importance of family and the risks you would take to receive justice and to be able to hold closely the individuals you love.

Image credit: Erik McLean, unsplash.com

I knew ‘Waves’ would be something I would love also. And I was right. Not only is the film, at times, a complete sensory overload with crazy visuals and so much intense lighting it literally at one point feels like you’re being 2. Waves (Sky Cinema) blinded by them, but it has so much heart and beauty, exploring ideas of In between keeping up with my family, consequences, love, race, regret schoolwork and keeping a healthy and so much more. Towards its middle, mind, I fell into a slump of not something tragic happens, something consuming any film or television. So, that had been carefully brewing the one night, while scrolling through my whole film, which completely changes ‘Films to Watch’ list, I landed upon Trey the whole plot. We go from a film that Edwards Shults’ uses so much Frank ‘Waves’. Having ...family are so very, Ocean and Kendrick seen the trailer, vitally important and to Lamar music it feels which featured the like an hour-long hold your loved ones as song ‘Godspeed’ by music video (in the close as you can...

Frank Ocean, I knew best way possible) ‘Waves’ was going to a quiet, heart-breaking final act that to be a complete sensory experience. gently weaves itself through themes From its twirling visuals to its heavy use of (once again) family and love all until of neon lighting, the trailer displayed a the credits roll.

Even in its final shot, film that looked almost like a sequel to where a character rides her bike, there ‘Euphoria’, and having loved ‘Euphoria’,

is so much emotion and freedom in the simple act, that I was completely overwhelmed with tears. So, what did I learn? Well, if anything, I learnt that family are so very, vitally important and to hold your loved ones as close as you can, because you never know when your final moments together are.

3. The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) I think it’s safe to say summer was a bit of a… let down this year. Bored of the heat and bored of being in my house, I craved the feeling autumn brings. What screams autumn more than… more than… dead trees, I guess (?) Halloween. So, I put on a jumper, sat on my sofa (where I practically lived for 6 months) and watched all 10 episodes of Netflix’s ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (again). Only being 10 episodes, it’s digestible, despite its very, very heavy themes of grief, loss and death.

Opening with a terrifying sequence of

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haunted events, the show grips you able to add layers of important social right from the beginning. The house commentary as well as present itself almost becomes with an almost ...it’s more important than cinematic feel, a character of its own, tormenting all ever to immerse yourself looking at white of the siblings that in various forms of media. supremacy, race make up the cast. and policing in the The scares are genuinely terrifying, like US. It is extremely gripping and hugely nightmare level scary, and because of ambitious and makes for a captivating how carefully crafted the show is, you watch over its episodes, including an care about all the siblings. This is thanks excellently crafted sixth episode. I learnt to the focus us on them during their mostly, the importance of standing up individual episodes as the front section for what’s right. It is an essential watch of the show. I learnt, throughout the for our times. course of the season, about the impact 5. Call Me by Your Name that the past can have on the future, During lockdown, Netflix announced in terms of family. As the show travels the removal of the 2017 romance, through two timelines, you are able ‘Call Me by Your Name’, I knew I had to develop almost a bond with the characters as you understand what they to immerse myself one last time somewhere in Northern Italy, 1983. The have been through and how it shaped film is extremely intimate. It’s slow and them as humans. gentle and is able to capture an array 4. Watchmen TV series (Sky Atlantic) of emotions over is two-and-a-halfBased off the famous graphic hour runtime. With gorgeous, simplistic novel of the same name, Watchmen cinematography and a script that stays is a show that subverts expectations close to its source material, ‘Call Me by from beginning to end. Watchmen is Your Name’ is a stunning presentation

of love and loss and everything in between. If anything, ‘Call Me by Your Name’ broke my heart, taught me to live life with passion, and that people don’t always stay around, but it’s the memories that do.

Films and TV shows have subtle ways of presenting themes and ideas to us. They can transport you into their universes for just two hours and when those final credits roll, leave you feeling like you were there with those characters in those places. As cinemas reopen, and films are released, it’s more important than ever to immerse yourself in various forms of media.

Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller, Tenet, was a perfect example of escapism and a needed film that will hopefully inspire other studios to start releasing films again. Who’s to say what will happen next? But, in these trying times where you feel trapped, pop on a film and ease your mind, you’ll feel so much better if you do.

Image credit: Mikey Langford, unsplash.com

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DECEMBER 2020

CLIMATE-FUELLED FIRES AND CORRUPTION BROOKE SMITH climate change and underestimating its consequences, despite the evidence being apparent. The President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, is treating this crisis as a joke- quite literally. Footage from a meeting with the President and his ministers has shown these grown men laughing when asked about the Pantanal fires. As well as this blatant ignorance, Jair Bolsonaro has also attempted to blame the fires on the Indigenous people and Backwoodsmen who rely on the Amazon and Pantanal for survival, despite the evidence showing that this is not true.

Image credit: skeeze, pixabay.com

2020 has seen a mass of devastating wildfires all around the globe. From the Australian bushfires in January, to the Western States of America in August and everywhere in between.

One country that has particularly been affected, however, is Brazil.

In the first seven months of 2020 alone, more than 13,000sq km of the Amazon rainforest (of which 60% is found in Brazil) was burned due to the forests’ potential to become land for agriculture- natural woodland is desired by many farmers to be cleared for this purpose, causing forest fires.

These fires worsened as a result of the Amazon being exceptionally dry this year, a consequence of climate change warming the north Atlantic Ocean, meaning that there has been less rainfall.

This is more than eight times the size of London in rainforest that will never fully recover.

Brazil’s Pantanal Wetlands, the largest tropical wetland in the world, are also in flames. Well-known for its iconic wildlife,

the wetlands are home to around 463 bird species including the biggest species of parrot- the Hyacinth Macaw (these are the blue parrots from the ‘Rio’ films!) As well as birds, it is home to 269 fish species, 236 mammalian species and 141 reptile and amphibian species, including approximately 10 million caimans.

Furthermore, the President of one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world, Donald Trump, “doesn’t believe” in climate change.

It seems as though we are going backwards, as he also announced in 2017 that the U.S. will be withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep global temperatures from rising over 2°C from pre-industrial conditions. The U.S. withdrawing from this agreement means that we are one step further away from reaching this goal. It also means that there will be less funding for climate change research. The question is, how are we ever meant to stop climate change if not even world leaders will acknowledge it is an issue?

However, this biodiversity and these mesmerising creatures are under threat due to the Pantanal wildfires. Like the Amazon, the Pantanal fires were started I can only hope by humans and made that for our futures, ...more than eight times worse by climate for the future of our the size of London in change. There are no rainforest that will never children, and the exact figures for just future of generations how many animals fully recover to come that the have perished in world comes to realise the extent of the these fires, but there is thought to be a problem of climate change. Not only minimum of thousands including snakes, does it contribute to these horrific fires tapirs, jaguars and monkeys. that severely damage ecosystems and What seems to make this situation more heart-breaking is that people with positions of power who are able to put an end to this are actively denying

lead to the extinction of animals, but it contributes to a whole host of other problems too- and something needs to be done about it.

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ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, BUT WHERE ARE THE ACTORS? HATTIE STOREY In a society where academic subjects are becoming more popular, the theatrical arts are in decline. Creative subjects such as drama are becoming less popular as they are increasingly discouraged by schools.

At some point in our life, we have all attempted to act, sing or dance, whether in a school production or a performance youth group. However, as an examined subject, drama and performance arts are extremely overlooked. Creative studies are- and generally have been- considered as a basic and throwaway subject. As drama has developed along with the education system, the subject has become notably more difficult and awareness of the struggles of taking it as an academic subject has also decreased.

Secondary education no longer supports drama and other performance related subjects- only subject specific schools seem to support teenagers that are interested in pursuing the arts.

Subjects such as maths and science are compulsory and schools strongly encourage students to participate in other more “academic” subjects, leading to a drastic decline in the performance arts and more vocational subjects.

As an industry the performing arts is extremely competitive and at one point was extremely popular. However students in the current generation have been left uninformed about the different aspects of the industry, leading them to believe that acting is the key aspect of drama; most students are unaware of the design elements and roles in theatre. Both the drama industry and the subject itself include many different aspects aside from

acting, such as stage management, lighting and design as well as set painting, make up and SFX, costumes etc. Yet students are discouraged from pursuing drama as anything more than a hobby, resulting in fewer people taking up jobs in design roles in the industry.

In a survey from 2012, it was shown that fewer schools are offering drama as a subject: 55% of high schools and 96% of elementary schools in the US are no longer offering drama as an academic subject. In another recent survey involving 18,000 secondary school drama teachers, only 52% had specialist equipment and suitable rooms for the subject, which shows that fewer secondary schools are dedicating money to the success of students in drama during their exams. Maths and English have always been core subjects in the education system and, in 1989, Science became a compulsory subject for students to study up to the age of 16. Although subjects such as Science teach us to recognise how our world works, the knowledge gained from such subjects is not, in itself, enough to help us in our day to day life in the future. In contrast, students studying drama have been scientifically proven to gain in confidence and to acquire important life skills for the future.

Common skills in many industries include public speaking, presentation skills, attendance, commitment and punctuality, which are all important factors with rehearsals and other similar aspects of the subject. Drama also helps us to develop our personalities and identities in our own lives.

So why is there less funding for such a useful and educational subject?

Many employers and further education providers love creative studies on an

application due mainly to the factors mentioned above. However, fewer schools are encouraging creative subjects as it is not considered “academic” enough. In addition, Drama, in particular, is an extremely difficult and intense subject, which may explain some schools’ reluctance to promote it.

Despite the stigma created around it, it teaches us different elements of other subjects, elements from subjects such as Psychology and English to subjects such as History and artistic studies.

Similarly, the presence of drama on an application shows experience with public speaking, team-work and creativity amongst other things. These are valued skills for any applicant to have, so why is our modern day society discouraging such a useful and widely educational subject in the light of negative stigma?

Image credit: Julien Andrieux, unsplash.com

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DECEMBER 2020

BRITAIN’S LEGAL VOTING AGE: IS IT SUITABLE? EVE PERKINS With Britain’s current economic condition, do we need more opinions coming from adolescents with their limited view of politics?

In this article, we will discuss the positive and negative effects of today’s legal voting age and consider whether it should be amended to a suggested age of 16.

Why should the voting age remain at 18?

Today’s legal voting age is 18. This is the age where teenagers ‘officially’ become adults. Turning 18 allows teenagers to vote, serve on a jury and purchase alcohol amongst other important allowances. The age of voting was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1969, thanks to The Representation of The People Act; this act allowed more people to vote and let the government get a better understanding from a wider range of people.

Some would argue that 16-yearolds are not mature enough to make such an important decision as voting; they do not have the knowledge and understanding that adults have to decide who should run our country and what could affect our economy and way of life. If the voting age was to be reduced, this would mean that 16 would become the official age of adulthood. For this to make sense, other legal rights and responsibilities would also have to be extended to 16-yearolds such as driving, buying alcohol and even being tried as an adult in a court of law. If 16-year-olds are too young and immature to purchase and drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, how can one say that they are responsible enough to have a say in the future of the United Kingdom?

If an argument was made that Britain leaving the European Union -and thus

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directly affecting 16-year-olds- should be a reason for the legal voting age to be lowered, then this would be a flawed one. Leaving the European Union would affect everyone, so should all children be allowed to vote? Primary school children are affected by the government’s education policy, so should they too be given the right to vote?

If the legal voting age was reduced to 16, should the age of standing in an election also be lowered? Would you want a 16-year-old to be able to make decisions about war, the prison system and the day-to-day governing of our country? Even though it is very unlikely that an adolescent at aged 16 would be elected, we should not forget that Nadia Whittome is currently the youngest serving MP at the age of 24, making [1]£79,468 per year.

The Guardian states [2]‘She snorts at the argument that young people need more real-life experience before becoming MPs, pointing out that age is no guarantee of that: “Jacob Rees-Mogg is in his 50s and he’s never changed a

nappy.” ’ Furthermore, in the 2015 general election, the percentage of 18-24-yearolds that turned up to the polls was only [3]43%, demonstrating that young people are not showing enough interest in politics for an argument to be made in their defence.

Why should the voting age be lowered to 16?

At the age of 16 you can consent to sexual activity, get married and even join the armed forces, however you are not able to vote. This means that you are unable to decide what happens to the family that you are legally allowed to create. Considering that you can make these life changing decisions at the age of 16, should you not able to cast a vote and do the most important thing to shape your future?

The recent referendum for Britain to leave the European Union in 2016 left many 16 and 17-year-olds frustrated and wishing that they had more of a say into their future and what will happen

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to the country that they are citizens of. any say in what these laws are. Our These important decisions will affect legal system is telling young adults their whole future: that they are mature Maturity comes at all what jobs they’ll and responsible be able to get, how ages; not every 18 year to handle the much they’ll have to consequences of old is mature and pay for products and committing a crime, educted enough to cast yet they’re ignorant services, their wages, a well-reasoned vote.... and naïve when the list goes on. wanting to vote.

Maturity comes at all ages; not every 18-year-old is mature and educated Many young people are already enough to cast a well-reasoned vote, involved in politics, despite being yet they’re still allowed to. However, unable to vote. People under the age there are so many 16-year-olds who of 18 have formed political action hold this knowledge and are above campaigns and organized huge events the maturity of the typical 18-year-old; such as the 2019 climate strike. On surely you can’t believe that once a 15th March 2019 over 1.4 million [6] person reaches the age of 18, they’re pupils around the world, including suddenly mature enough to make a around 300,000 from the UK, walked decision that will affect the economy of out of school to strike against climate the United Kingdom. change; this resulted in a global week of much-needed action. Actions like this 16-and-17-year-olds are contributing made by 16-and-17-year-olds are surely to our society just as much as people enough proof that they are mature aged 18 and over. These young people and responsible enough to cast votes have many of the same responsibilities, regarding the future of our country. yet they’re denied the same rights.

Many people under the age of 18 have In today’s society the right to responsibilities beyond their years, such freedom of speech should lead to as being a caregiver, running their own young adults holding the right to vote; business or helping to pay the bills of 16-and-17-year-olds have the right their households. People under the to be heard and should have their age of 18 can be just as smart as those interests taken seriously. By alienating over the age. They have the ability to those under 18, society tells them that [4]win a Nobel Prize, reach the summit their political views are not relevant, of Mount Everest, become published this is especially concerning as there authors, or even, like myself, contribute are certain issues which impact young to life saving work with charities such as people more than anyone else, such as Cancer Research. environmental change and education policy. Lowering the legal voting age All people are expected to follow to 16 would also help to increase the the law, including those under the amount of young people who are age of 18. Approximately 28,400 [5] interested in politics as they could have young people (aged 10-17) were their own say. cautioned or convicted from April 2016 to March 2017 - this means that our To conclude, the debate as to society expects people under the age whether the legal voting age should of 18 to respect and know all of the be lowered to 16 will always be an consequences of laws without having ongoing one. As with every critical

political decision, there is a compelling argument from both sides. As well as in the UK, this debate has also constantly been brought up all around the world, for instance in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua the legal voting age has already been lowered to 16 and in the European Union one country, Austria, holds 16 as their legal voting age. However, in South Korea, Bahrain, Cameroon, Japan, Nauru and Taiwan the age is over 18, and in some cases even 20 [7].

Whether or not this decision is made in the United Kingdom in the near future, there will always be a debate about how ready 16-and-17-year-olds are to make crucial votes. Perhaps our elected government should allow these young people to cast a ballot in less important decisions first. All we know for sure is that if they are allowed to vote, young people will want even more say in how our nation is governed.

Sources: [1] https://www.theguardian.com/ lifeandstyle/2020/jan/20/nadia-whittomebritain-youngest-mp-working-class [2] https://www.theguardian.com/ lifeandstyle/2020/jan/20/nadia-whittomebritain-youngest-mp-working-class [3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ election-2017-39965925 [4] http://www.youthrights.org/issues/votingage/top-ten-reasons-to-lower-the-voting-age/ [5] https://assets.publishing.service.gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/676072/youth_justice_ statistics_2016-17.pdf [6] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_ strike_for_the_climate [7] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ datablog/2015/jun/18/votes-for-16--and-17year-olds-where-else-outside-scotland

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SMILE JONI FOSTER the unknown forgiveness it possesses.

I ignore.

It retreats.

Image credit: Joni Foster

It will come again. I am sure.

It asks permission to, I refuse, it persists. My mind cries out for help, but the words won’t come out. I am trapped. Trapped within this vesture of insecurity trying to break out but it keeps me entranced, waiting for the next opportunity to grasp hold of my conscience once more. I now know what the truth beholds. I think. It’s still a vague image tantalizing me at the back of my neck and up into my head causing to me to believe, feel, seesight, yes that’s it, the sight of it is what makes me feel the presence of it. If it is an ‘it’; the crooked, slim character I see through the edges of my eye every time I look forward. Directly, dead, straight forward. My hands start uncontrollably shaking as it approaches me, gliding effortlessly from one side to the other.

It tilts its bleeding, grinning smile tempting me to stare, to be entranced in its behaviour and looks. It’s behind me now, peering over my shoulder, studying my every move. Slowly staring into my mind, from my side it whispers my name, elegantly, softly, begging for

That is the deal we exchanged. I’ve come to realise it is part of me, the being which is there when I need a friend. It understands me. But more importantly it understands my needs and the patterns of my mind. It’s the version of Utopia my mind desires and thrives for but cannot reach. Others whom I’ve told about it turn away in disgust calling it possession, an attempt of evil redemption by an unwanted spirit controlled by demons. I don’t see that. It forces me not to see that- I can’t.

However revolting, however chilling the concept may be to others, currently it is the force pulling me together, keeping me human and stopping me from not conforming to the laid down rules of society. It is the figure guiding, keeping me whole.

Sometimes, just sometimes, when I’m all alone, mindless in peace and stillness, I dream of a day. A day where no dark thoughts overwhelm me, control me. Where my mind is pure and free from all evil. I dream of a heavenly purity which could envelop me in its loving embrace, but I am faced with torments of the dystopia of my mind.

It draws me in once more from that heavenly idea I desire. Then repeats, like an unchanging loop I am trapped within, no way to break out. Following round and around, spinning around my brain it goes, through the corners and edges of my mind. I dread to think what might happen if I let it.

Resistance. That’s the key to surviving the torment.

Trust. Whether broken or present, trust is the link to letting it draw you in further. That’s how the resistance becomes possible.

Appearing in my mind it is here now, controlling my thoughts. Believing they are my own I carry on mindlessly. I let it take me, have me, it is forcing its way through into my conscience. It has now gone too far, too deep into my mind for me to pull back. Once more it begs me to give in, once more unwillingly. I let it take me to the place I now long to engulf myself within.

The curtains move independently to the breeze of stillness as it shifts in my dreams. I sit there, watching myself shake, muttering amongst my tranced dreamlike thoughts. The shaking intensifies as it approaches me further.

Its long, thin fingers reaching out to grab me, encircle me. Dark, grey mists throng the room. Opening my eyes cautiously, it emerges beyond the mist with an air of euphoria, encompassing the pure atmosphere I had tried to maintain. I reach out to it to try and make out the outlines and features of its face more clearly. As I do so, it recoils in distress trying to hide its identity. I call out to it. Gradually, turning back I see it. Its face glowing within the grey mists enveloping it, contorting into positions which would tear muscles and rip joints. As its mouth stretches open a pool of rich deep blood starts pouring from the cavity. Eyes rolling backwards, the white sclera switches to a glistening black. Underneath the facial skin I see the large veins start to emerge from below the surface, carrying endless amounts of black, diseased blood which begins to escape through the crevices in the eye sockets.

I’m entranced, captured within the holy vision before me. No screaming, no terror. Pure silence. Frozen within my skin, I stare into its bleeding spaces of dark hope, content with the knowledge it has transferred to me; I am safe.

It will come again. I am sure.

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FAKE XANAX: THE ESCALATING CRISIS EVE PERKINS In the past two years UK Addiction Treatment Centres (UKAT) have seen a 200% rise in people being admitted to rehab solely for Xanax addiction.

More than half of those are under the age of 24, including reports of children as young as 11. With the increasing demand, drug dealers are turning to producing counterfeit versions of the tablets, to cash in on the sector in the market.

concentration of these drugs in the counterfeit pills.

A potential cause for the rising usage of Xanax in young people could be its increasing prevalence in popular culture. As a product used by big stars such as Tana Mongeau, Miley Cyrus and Lil Xan, the physical imagery of Xanax can be seen as a status label among young people on the internet, thereby increasing the normality of the drug Alprazolam, known more widely by in younger generations who look up its American brand name ‘Xanax’, is a to these performers. For example, its benzodiazepine medication used to image being increasingly used in the treat anxiety and panic disorders. It is mainstream media alongside images known to be over 10-20 times stronger of fame and wealth, causes viewers to than its more commonplace counterassociate Xanax with fame and higher part in the UK: diazepam. In prescribed social status. Its calming effect can also form, these kinds of anti-anxiety help with social anxiety, an increasing medications can be problem among difficult to get hold younger generations, Dubbed ‘the deadliest of, so many sufferers but is only a shortdrug in America’, its resort to dealers or term solution to a potency is over 100 times long-term problem; the internet to attain stronger than that of them. It is estimated one that needs more that approximately in-depth treatment. heroin.

90% of Xanax on It is important to remember that, as sale in the UK is counterfeit. These a controlled substance, Xanax should cheap fakes are typically created by the only be taken when prescribed by a dealers themselves or given to them by medical professional. Some tips to underground labs, where safety regulaminimise risks if you are taking it on tion is non-existent. prescription are: The dangers become apparent · Follow the instructions given by the during the mixing process of the medical professional and only take drug. Dealers will typically buy the the dose prescribed.

Alprazolam in its pure powder form · Drink plenty of water. from exporters in China, where it is simple and cheap to obtain. It is then · Take on a full stomach to slow the mixed with any number of substances, absorption into the bloodstream ranging from baking powder to deadly and allow your body to adjust to the fentanyl, to increase the ‘relaxing’ effect drug. of the drug. Dubbed ‘the deadliest drug · Don’t mix with other depressants in America’, its potency is over 100 times such as alcohol, as these can cause stronger than that of heroin. Since a extreme drowsiness and even death lot of the creation of these pills is done in serious cases. by trial and error, and supply chains can stretch through several people, it can be impossible to know exactly the

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