Living Zealously

Designed by: Pooja(1.8), Janelle Ang (2.6)
When someone mentions the words ‘Racial Harmony Day' , what is the first thing that comes to mind? Racial Harmony Day is a wonderful occasion to commemorate Singapore's remarkable success as a harmoniously diverse nation, where people of various races live and work together, fostering a deep sense of mutual respect and trust among all The event is a yearly racial effort to strengthen bonds among Singaporeans of different ethnic groups to come together and celebrate their differences But, what else is there to it?
Racial Harmony Day was first launched in 1977 by Singapore’s Ministry Of Education (MOE) to commemorate the communal riots of 1964. The riots happened on 21 July 1964, when Singapore was still merged with Malaysia This riot was caused by the murder of a Malay trishaw rider along Geylang Serai. This event triggered attempts of stabbings and severe violence among the citizens of different races It led to the death of 13 people, 106 were injured and 1439 were arrested. Many Singaporeans either lost or had to see their loved ones go through suffering from the injuries obtained from the riot, hence impacting not only the victims of the riot, but their friends and family as well.
Let’s see what Racial Harmony Day means to PL-lites. “It means people of different races getting together and being happy. It means a lot to me as I can share my culture with my friends who aren’t the same race as me,” said Gwen Too, a Secondary 2 student of class 2.4.
Schools organise a range of cross-cultural activities for students during Racial Harmony Day on 21 July every year On this special day, students are encouraged to wear ethnic costumes, such as the Cheongsam, Baju Kurung and the Saree. Students often look forward to taking photographs to mark the occasion with each other in these colourful outfits, which are a bright contrast to their usual school uniforms. During recess, canteen stall holders will prepare an array of delicious traditional delicacies, such as Satay and Nyonya Kueh. Teachers and students would beeline for the stalls, buzzing with excitement to try these delicacies
Furthermore, traditional games are played and at times, schools tend to spice this up by organising inter-class competitions. Favourites like Five Stones, Zero Points and Hopscotch are played, with everyone cheering and celebrating wins for each other. At times, schools also introduce some traditional activities to the students, such as designing Kolams and Maruthani and Henna hand painting, where students and teachers can learn about the traditional activities and culture of other races
Besides food tasting, games and the practice of donning ethnic costumes, a few key activities have been introduced to the Racial Harmony Day celebrations over the years. Since orange is the colour of racial harmony in Singapore, in 2001, the National Museum of Singapore introduced the act of wearing orange ribbons, which symbolises racial harmony and expresses disapproval towards racism among the diverse races Since 2008, OnePeople.sg has organised the Orange Ribbon Celebrations, a signature monthlong event held every July, to commemorate racial harmony on a national level.
Hence, it is no doubt that Racial Harmony day is a festive event where everyone is celebrated for their similarities and differences It indeed has a significant history, and remains as one of the key events of the year for all Singaporeans. Let's enjoy the occasion and continue hoping for the continuation of religious peace in Singapore
Anime, animated cartoons, or animation – you have probably seen at least one film which features these. Yet what exactly is ‘animation’? By definition, animation is a sequence of images that when pieced together show a fluid movement. However, that barely describes the heart and soul of animation. In this article, we will delve into the lesserknown history of animation and explore its origins, discovering how its industry flourished to become the widespread media form it is today.
Animation as we have come to know it first appeared in the early to mid-1800s. This came in the form of creations such as the Zoetrope - a cylinder with slits which produces a scene made up of sequenced images when it rotates quickly. Yet it was only in the 1920s when animation techniques were invented that the art form truly began to develop. During this era, the style of ‘rubber hose animation’ was widely used and could be seen featured in world-renowned characters such as the design of Mickey Mouse in the 1928 animation ‘Steamboat Willie’. This is the earliest form of an inkblot animation style, showcasing heavy use of black inks on white backgrounds and exaggerated facial expressions.
In 1930, animation now featured sounds and even colour in cartoons, giving birth to countless unforgettable classics such as Betty Boop, Tom & Jerry and even the first animated series Superman. The golden age of animation shows how the popularity of animation skyrocketed, with Walt Disney using more realistic animation styles compared to his earlier works utilising rubber-hose animation. One notable example of this would be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) which secured an Honorary Oscar! On the other hand, the American television era highlights how animation on television gained traction during the late 1950s, ending around the mid to late 1980s.
Up till this point, animation was done by meticulously drawing each frame by hand, referred to nowadays as 'traditional animation' or 'cel animation', the latter term was derived from the word ‘cellulose’, the thin sheet of plastic material post-1915 animators would draw on. Artists would draw different elements such as the background or characters on sheets of cel (or paper, before cel was invented), each drawing slightly different from the previous to give the illusion of movement Each frame was then photographed individually.
Although most frames were replicated wholesale two to three times to make motion smoother (animating ‘on twos’ or ‘on threes’ respectively), the number of frames still added up to a whole 24 frames per second. Imagine the sheer amount of effort it would take to animate an entire 2-hour long movie that way! The transparent nature of cels meant each element could be drawn separately and non-moving elements need not be replicated. However, animators were still very much restricted by whatever they could easily replicate thousands of times by hand.
Since the 1980s, animation has progressed by leaps and bounds. With the rise of the digital era, computers developed and CGI (ComputerGenerated Imagery) appeared. People now could animate paperless using graphics tablets, saving both time and money. Even more efficiently, animators could even make use of CGI to animate scenes. This gave rise to a surge of longer animated films as artists could create photo-realistic and high-quality animations without having to consistently replicate elements by hand, rendering the comparatively time-consuming and expensive method of cel animation obsolete. One such notable piece is Toy Story (1995), featuring digital animation and video effects that led the movie to receive four Oscar nominations! With modern-day conveniences, people worldwide can now create works of animation with the drag of the mouse and the click of a button. Animation is now a much more accessible medium of creative expression not just in filmmaking but also in other industries and in es to increase viewer retention and engagement.
From the zoetrope in the 1800s to CGI nearing the 21st century, animation has appeared in a range of forms, evolving with new insights gained and adapting to fit its consumers. However, the animation timeline does not end here. Animation is ever-changing. As popular styles and influences change and technology continues to develop, the use of animation will continue to ebb and flow. Yet with its creative prospects, its wide range of use, and its industry’s rapid advancement, there is no doubt that animation as a visual art medium will continue to thrive for years to come.
Disney has not failed to bring us yet another one of its amazing creations, The Little Mermaid (2023). The movie The Little Mermaid and its songs are said to be magnificent and magical. It stars Halle Bailey, an American singer-songwriter, who plays the role of Ariel, John Hauer-King, an actor, who plays the role of Prince Eric, as well as Melissa McCarthy, an American actress, who plays the role of the sea witch, Ursula. The movie is rated PG (Parental Guidance) due to a few scenes where characters are depicted in themes that may be scary for younger viewers, but other than that, it is suitable for all ages. This version is more expressive compared to the animated film and is more relatable. It also makes the content more suitable and well-liked by older people as the animated version is more for younger children.
The original The Little Mermaid movie was released on November 17th 1989, with the remake version being released on 25th May 2023. This film was adapted from a book originally from Denmark. This movie was the most anticipated one in Disney's live-action remakes, and had attracted much attention regarding its box office performance. The movie started off well generating about $163.5 million not too long after its release. Although it did not generate as much revenue as expected, the movie was a success and has since earned $542 million worldwide, becoming the fourth highest-grossing films in 2023 so far.
Ariel, a mermaid princess who longs to be human, makes a deal with the nefarious sea witch Ursula to trade her voice for legs in the animated film The Little Mermaid. In order to stay human, she must obtain a true love's kiss from Prince Eric within three days; else, she would turn into a mermaid and belong to Ursula. Ariel misses the deadline despite coming close and goes back to her mermaid form. Ariel is reverted to her human form and eventually marries Eric after they overcame Ursula with the help of her father Triton. The plot of both the original and the remake is the same. However, in the remake, Ariel forgets about her agreement with Ursula, including the deadline and the requirement to kiss Eric.
“The storyline of the movie was great and I love how they gave Eric more personality in this newest The Little Mermaid movie. Coupled with the songs written specially for the movie, the movie was spectacular,” shared a Secondary 2 PL-Lite, Charaine. Although this is Halle Bailey’s first lead role, a few leading newspapers in the United States, The Guardian being one of them, have praised her for her amazing acting skills. The Guardian has said that she was the best part of the show, and implied that if Halle Bailey was not the one acting in The Little Mermaid, the movie might not have done as well as it did.
This movie has left a deep impression on children around the world with its outstanding cast allowing viewers to watch and understand the movie from a different perspective. Children learn important lessons from The Little Mermaid like the consequences of impulsiveness and the power of love as they experience Ariel’s journey of self-discovery and longing as they watch the film. This movie definitely brought back childhood nostalgia for its audience. It is perfect for family nights and for those who enjoy adventurous movies!
BBC News (2023, May 22) The Little Mermaid: Film critics fall for Halle Bailey’s ‘charismatic’ Ariel BBC News https://www bbc com/news/entertainment-arts-65672642
The Numbers - Top-Grossing Movies of 2023 (n d ) The Numbers https://www the-numbers com/market/2023/top-grossing-movies he Little Mermaid (2023) - Financial Information (n d ) The Numbers https://www thenumbers com/movie/Little-Mermaid-The-(2023)#tab=summary
“The Little Mermaid 2023” box office performance: Revenue and analysis (n d ) https://economictimes indiatimes com/news/international/us/the-little-mermaid-2023-box-officeperformance-revenue-and-analysis/articleshow/100682269 cms
B (2023, June 26) ‘The Little Mermaid’ Budget Breakdown: How Successful Is the Live-Action Remake?
“The Little Mermaid” Live-Action Remake: Budget Breakdown https://collider com/the-little-mermaidbudgetbreakdown/#: :text=Thankfully%2C%20the%20film%20did%20break,how%20far%20it%20will%20go
Many people know of paintings such as the Mona Lisa and Starry Night, but when asked who was the genius behind them, more often than not you would be met with blank stares. The very person who had painted these works was Vincent Van Goh, an inspirational artist who created the above and many other famous paintings such as The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Irises.
He had also painted nearly 900 paintings within 10 years. Despite now being a very famous artist with paintings all around the world, throughout his entire life he had only sold one painting 4 months before his suicide, and that was The Red Vineyard that was bought by Anna Boch for 400 francs.
The man himself was actually colour-blind and had only started painting at the age of 27. He was born in 1853 and unfortunately suffered from anxiety, depression and eventually developed epilepsy.
These mental illnesses caused repeated seizures and attacks. Unfortunately, on 29 July 1890, he shot himself in the chest and died two days later with his brother, Theodorus Van Goh, at his bedside, who had always urged him to become an artist and had supported him emotionally and financially. Van Gogh was then buried at the Auverssur-Oise cemetery.
In the Van Gogh exhibition, you can find out all about his life in great detail and better appreciate his works. It is an immersive experience, making use of modern technology such as virtual reality software to make guests feel like they are almost living in the famed master’s paintings.
Want to know more about the person behind the art? In this exhi you can find out more about Van Gogh’s art and life, making use engaging storytelling and displays. What’s more, the spectacular audiovisual effects of the exhibit and the two-storied screen displa his most famous works come to life! This one hour event at Resorts World Sentosa has something for everyone - you can even try your hand in being an artist for a day and project your artwork for all to see!
In conclusion, Vincent Van Gogh was a talented artist who has created numerous masterpieces over his years. You can finally experience his captivating art now at the Van Gogh Exhibition, for the first time in Southeast Asia! The cutting-edge technology will bring you through a pleasant experience through time, letting you know more about the man behind the paintings. From the interesting displays, to the use of modern technology, there is so much to see and explore!
ou ask Singaporeans, the part of e they are proudest of is not the Marina Bay Sands, but its hawker hey are open-seated centralised h food stalls that sell affordable meant to be a community dining room any race to come together and chat. re these common hawkers such a gem s and tourists compared to our more agant tourist attractions?
Back in the past, immigrants sold food on the streets to passer-bys. These would be known as the first hawkers. Gradually, as the years went by, and Singapore became more modern, the government built our first hawker centre where many immigrants could sell their local cuisines in a more hygienic and efficient way. The rest, as they say, is history. Due to this policy, 50 years later, Singaporeans can still enjoy our favourite local delights!
lex, the ds.
Hawker culture in Singapore has had a profound impact on people's lives, touching various aspects of daily routines and overall well-being. With affordable and diverse food options available at hawker centres, individuals from all backgrounds can indulge in authentic local cuisine, improving food security and alleviating hunger. Beyond providing sustenance, hawker centres serve as social hubs, fostering community engagement and cultural exchange. By sharing tables and conversations, people forge new friendships and strengthen the social fabric of their communities.
Additionally, hawker culture plays a crucial role in preserving Singapore's culinary heritage, passing down traditional recipes and techniques through generations. The recognition of hawker culture as UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights its significance, promoting national pride and sustainability efforts. Overall, hawker culture's impact lies in its accessibility, social cohesion, preservation of traditions, and elevation of Singapore's cultural identity, enhancing the quality of life for all.
However, hawker culture is slowly but surely dying out. Other than some die-hard hawker fans, many people prefer to simply visit a restaurant. After all, restaurants are more likely to be cleaner as well as have better presentation of food - much better for the social-media savvy. Besides, nowadays, no one wants to work as a hawker anymore; why would they, when they could probably get a higher pay and better working king at a retail job? With the owners retiring and with no one left to take e and more hawker stalls are closing down.
ngapore has made mmunity, there are ure. The affor er centres hav ing a sense of g g tural heritage the nation. However, the challenges faced by the hawker industry raises questions about the longevity of this cultural tradition. It is crucial for Singaporeans to recognise the value of hawker culture, support the loca hawkers, and find innovative ways to preserve and promo this important aspect of Singapore’s identity. By doing we can ensure that future generations can continue to e the unique experience of hawker centres and the vibrant flavours they offer.
Citations: Norfaiz. (2022, October 3). Hawker Culture in Singapore. Hawker Culture in Singapore.https://www.nhb.gov.sg/what-we-do/ourwork/sector-development/unesco/hawker-culture-in-singapore
Image Sources: https://www.thebestsingapore.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Maxwell-Road-Food-Centre.jpg
https://vibrantdot.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Eating-through-history-The-origins-of-Singapore-Hawker.jpg.png
In conclusion,
Did you know that nearly 1 billion young adults are at risk of hearing loss?
Hearing loss happens when there is damage to any part of the ear. Listening to loud noises for a long period of time or a one-off incident, is especially damaging to the inner ear (cochlea). In this article, we will be touching on this topic and busting some myths regarding hearing loss.
Hearing loss occurs when we are affected by loud noises, ageing, disease and genes. It can be mild, moderate, moderately severe or severe in one or both ears. The World Health Organisation has estimated that the cost of improving hearing loss costs US$ 980 billion worldwide, not including the cost of hearing devices. .
There are 3 common types of hearing loss: Conductive hearing loss, which involves the outer or middle ear. This can be caused by the build-up of earwax and fluid, damage to the ear-drum, or a birth defect that prevents sound waves from entering your ear. Sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner ear, is caused by long exposure to loud noises, meningitis,or heredity. Mixed Hearing loss, which is a mix of the two above mentioned, can lead to more severe hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be caused by many reasons like damage to the inner ear, too much earwax, ear infections, unusual bone growth or tumours, ruptured (blown) eardrum, aging, loud noises or it could be heredity. Some symptoms of hearing loss are speech and sounds being muffled, having trouble understanding words and asking people to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly or the need to increase the volume of the television or radio and when there is ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Hearing loss continues to advance if it is not treated properly. After a long period of time of untreated regression to the ears, your hearing may be permanently damaged.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to hearing loss. Let’s debunk some of the most common myths about this issue:
As a matter of fact, teenagers and children are also at risk of having hearing loss. The Centre of Disease Control has shown that an estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years have suffered from hearing loss.This is caused by playing loud and damaging music on mobile devices and exposure to noisy entertainment like nightclubs and bars
Hearing loss is not unavoidable! Studies have shown that it can be controlled by reducing the volume of music and ensuring that it is at a safe level. Make sure that the noise level of music that you are listening to on your mobile devices does not exceed the recommended volume.
Hearing loss is often a gradual development that you may not notice at first. Even if there are symptoms, we would just convince ourselves that nothing is wrong and that “perhaps the speaker is just too soft.”
Hearing loss can actually lead to several other related issues. When one realises that he or she may be suffering from hearing loss, they might feel frustrated at first, for not being able to listen as effectively as others. One might feel like an outcast when wearing hearing-aids in school because one is embarrassed and afraid of being stereotyped. Families and friends will also have to adjust to the circumstances, having to be more patient, supportive and encouraging when he or she feels disappointed with themselves. Hearing loss also appears to be a risk factor for cognitive impairment, thus sometimes leading to short-term memory loss, which will result in a lower quality performance at your school or in work areas.
There are different types of hearing loss, from mild to completely deaf, thus not all people with hearing loss will communicate in the same way. The way people with hearing loss communicate depends on various factors such as the degree of hearing loss, whether one is wearing a hearing aid or cochlear implant, the age of the person suffering from hearing loss and the amount of rehabilitation received. Therefore, it is insensitive to assume the same for everyone with hearing loss.
If you cannot hear something on your devices clearly even with the volume at an all-time high, increasing the volume will not make a difference! In fact, it is also not a sustainable practice and may actually worsen hearing loss.
Credits:
Janice Schacter, December 24 2020, 17 Misconceptions About People with Hearing Loss https://hearinghealthfoundation org/blogs/17-misconceptions-people-with-hearing-loss Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research , March 30, 2023, hearing loss https://www mayoclinic org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072
Joy Victor, December 14 2022,Hearing loss statistics at a glance https://www healthyhearing com/report/52814-Hearing-loss-statistics-at-aglance#:~:text=Stats%20on%20hearing%20loss%20in%20children&text=15%25%20of%20scho ol%2Dage%20children,noise%2C%20according%20to%20the%20CDC
It is important to address the everyday struggles of those among us that we often overlook, hearing loss is just one of the few.
As secondary school students, many of us definitely have been stressed before, especially during examination season. In this article, you will learn more about what causes stress, ways you can relax and much more!
As students, there are several stressors that we encounter in our lives. Heavy workload and academic pressures such expectations can be significant stressors, and e fear of failure or not meeting goals can create f increase of stress and anxiety. Additionally, tim management challenges, including balancing m assignments, examinations, extra-curricular acti and personal commitments can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stressed Peer pressure and s challenges, such as maintaining friendships and navigating social dynamics can also be signific contributors to stress. Furthermore, the pressure excel in various aspects of life can create a con sense of competition and self-comparison. Exter factors such as family expectations can further a the stress experienced by students
Firstly, tiredness. This may seem insignificant, but stressing over something – be it over our friendships or school – can lead to lack of sleep due to tensing muscles. Secondly, being easily irritable and angry Being in a bad mood, snapping at everyone, is a common sign of stress because we would have a lot on our mind, and the lack of sleep definitely will make us more irritable. Thirdly, being uninterested in almost everything. Long-term stress can lead to losing motivation and interest. So, if we notice someone being unusually passive, we should reach out to them and help them overcome their stress.
Stress mainly affects our lives in four main components, your body, your thoughts, feelings and behaviour as you can have both physical symptoms and emotional symptoms under stress. Some emotional symptoms of stress are anxiety, restlessness and a weakened drive to socialise. Moreover, stress that is left unchecked can contribute to many physical symptoms, such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. It is important to acknowledge these effects and find healthy relaxation methods to cope with stress.
There are many ways to prevent stressors. Firstly, you must pinpoint the sources of stress in your life. Constantly ask yourself what contributes to your daily stress levels. Then, you can start finding ways to alleviate your stress, such as exercising and getting enough sleep. Exercising helps to relieve your pent-up energy and frustration, which involves a simple process that releases certain chemicals in the brain, also known as endorphins, which helps improve your mood. Having enough sleep is also vital to being stress-free as it gives your body time to repair from a full day’s worth of work. It is amazing how this natural process can help us in so many ways.
Firstly, deep breathing exercises can help. This involves taking deep, slow breaths, focusing on inhaling and exhaling. This helps to calm our nervous system and promotes relaxation. Secondly, engaging in hobbies that you enjoy like painting, reading or gardening can provide a sense of relaxation and mental rejuvenation. Lastly, listening to calming music can help create a more peaceful ambiance and induce relaxation.
Stress is never a good thing to have too much of. It is key to know when you are too stressed and find solutions to alleviate your stress. In this article, we touched on the topic of different stressors and relaxation methods to counter your stressors. So, think about it carefully, do you have any stressors that affect your day-to-day life? If so, try using the relaxation techniques mentioned above to help reduce your stress levels!
From this publish onwards, to prevent the core team from sending emails every time we want to recruit new members, we are launching a QR Code that will be on the second last page of every publish which leads you to a Google form so you can sign up for our wonderful PL Parcel team! Both designers and writer slots are open :)
We hope to recruit members who are punctual with deadlines and responsive! More importantly, they take pride in their work and put their best effort in them :)
If this sounds like you, and you have a love for designing/writing, do make sure to sign up!
We hope to see you soon as part of our team!! with love, core team <3
PL Parcel is a student-initiated project Our school's very own student publication!
We aim to cover a wide range of content and share timely topics with our readers. We also hope these publishes can spark PL-Lites to discover the joy and benefits of reading, as well as to keep up-to-date with global and school-related matters.
We'd like to thank everyone who put in the effort and contributed to this publish, and those who read our works!
Ms Reena Kaur, Ms Yan Xiuru
Editor and Asst. Editor
Elizabeth Ban (3.2) and Clara Holmberg (3.6)
Content Editors:
Felicia Low (3.1), Janelle Ang (2.1)
and Charaine Neo (2.2)
Design Editors:
Adele Wang (3.6) and Jean Wong (3.3)