HSSC Paradigm II

THE PARADIGM Humanities and Social Sciences Council

EDITION II

Coronavirus

JustiďŹ cation of Revolution

Greetings reader, You may recall that the last edition was prefaced with the declaration that the “humanities are dead�. Regardless, its essence flourishes - in perpetuity - when one continues to employ its methodologies, celebrating the clash of ideas in the pursuit of meaningful discourse and intellectual reflection.

PARADIGM II: MEET THE TEAM Editor-in-chief: Reese Wong Lead Editors: Michelle Jiang Zheng Yu Chow

Indeed, the HSSC was formed to strengthen the standing of the humanities and the social sciences at STC. To this end, Edition II of The Paradigm very much encapsulates our driving ethos: to provide a platform for student voice for representation and social engagement - all to cultivate independent passion in areas where platforms may not exist for high school students.

This edition features the work of a diverse range of contributors from across year groups, including guest contributions from South Island School. The ideas explored in The Paradigm maintain contemporary relevance, ranging from addressing the recent outbreak of the novel coronvirus to rampant misogyny in the Middle East.

I extend my immense gratitude to those who helped produce this publication, especially to the lead editors, Michelle and Zheng Yu. I also thank the contributors for their ever-insightful articles. I hope you enjoy this edition of The Paradigm!

May discourse flourish!

Reese Wong HSSC Chairperson

Contributors: Solomon Lam Belle Ho Jason Lo Yui Hang Cheng Evan Yang Sophia Zhang Vania Chow William Huang Rochelle Wong Jennessa Liu Gabbie Lui Elysia Tsang Aurora Cen Lara Griffiths Samson Chan Ronni Kwok (SIS) Chartlon Sullivan (SIS) Michelle Li (SIS) Layout and Typsetting: Reese Wong Photography and Art Contributions: Jaclyn Solomon Quinton Leung Marcus Leung

CONTENTS BIG IDEAS 35: THE JUSTIFICATION OF REVOLUTION

HSSC

01: HSSC ‘THE PARADIGM’ ONE 02: HSSC WEBSITE: COMING SOON PUBLIC HEALTH

06: HOW THE CORONA VIRUS

HAS AFFECTED EDUCATION IN HK

39: VOLUNTARY MASS EXTINCTION

11: CORONA VIRUS: THE SPREADING

OF SOCIAL PANIC BY THE MEDIA GENERAL SECTION

JUSTICE 53: THE GULABI GANG

13: THE DANGEROUS NOTION OF ‘BEAUTY’

15: CLIMATE CHANGE IS KILLING US 17: SHOULD LIVES REALLY BE DE-

54: MISOGYNY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

TERMINED BY OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM? EDITORIAL

28: SHOULD THE LAW REQUIRE

Contact 19wongr5@stconline.edu.hk

PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS?

29: THE RISE OF THE US DOLLAR

HSSC ‘THE PARADIGM’ ONE:

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HSSC WEBSITE: COMING SOON

WORD OF THE DAY WIDGET

WE RECEIVED OVER 200+ WORD SUGGESTIONS!

MARCUS LEUNG

PUBLIC

3The following articles are shared in partnership with the United Magazine (STC X SIS)

HEALTH

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THE IMPACT OF TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMATION FLOW ON COVID-19

By Ronni Kwok, South Island School The recent outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 has spurred global action and attention. Originating in Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million, lockdowns, quarantines and various anti-epidemic measures have been put into place since the late January through the country and now the globe, when the outbreak first emerged from the wet markets of the city. As of February 28th, more than 83,000 cases have been officially reported, with a death toll nearing 3,000 worldwide.

Prior to this, an ophthalmologist named Dr. Li Wenliang came across a startling discovery on 30th December of 2019. A new, deadly, strain of coronavirus, later revealed to be 80% similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which had claimed 774 lives during the outbreak, had begun spreading through the city and was in its initial stages of a mass pandemic. The information was originally shared privately among his friends and associates via WeChat.

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“7 confirmed cases of SARS were reported from Hunan Seafood Market,” said the message that began the exposure of the outbreak.

The patient’s examination report and CT scan image was sent, along with a desperate warning for families and friends to adopt hygiene-conscious practices. To his dismay, screenshots of the conversation found their way to a much, much wider audience-- a national one. His manager reprimanded him, and blamed him for his actions. On January 3rd, members of

law enforcement from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau interrogated the doctor, gave him a warning letter, and reprimanded him for “making false comments on the Internet.” An admonition letter he was forced to sign posed the following questions: “The [Wuhan] Public Security Bureau hopes you can cooperate with its work, obey the regulations of law enforcement, halt all forms of your illegal activity. Can you do the above?” and “We hope you can place yourself under severe self-reflection. We are warning you now: the Internet is not a land of lawlessness. If you remain stubbornly noncompliant and continue your illegal activity, you shall be punished by the law.

Do you understand?”

To which he scrawled with a black ballpoint pen and printed his fingerprint in blood red ink on top to officiate his identity, “I can” and “I understand.”

Subsequently, Li returned to work at the hospital and was infected with the coronavirus on the 7th of January. On the 31st of January, he published his letter admonition and experience in the police station on social media. This time, the reach was beyond national. His story had gone global.

On the 7th of February, Dr. Li Wenliang passed away at 2:58am.

On social media, an eruption of grief and outrage had overtaken forums, chats, and videos alike.

The hashtag “#we want freedom of speech” gained over 2 million views

before being forcibly removed by censors. The netizens’ rage was actively voiced with a sarcastically clever jab at the admonition letter Li was given and the institution that forced him to sign it. “I can’t” and “I don’t understand” (in response to the letter) could be seen on thousands of posts, be it written on a surgical mask or an A2-size poster. An nightly activity called “I blew a whistle for Wuhan tonight” was created, where participants would mourn him in the darkness of their homes and blow whistles by their windows simultaneously.

The government has offered no official apology for its mistakes, but instead seemingly empty condolences and tribute for his child and pregnant wife. Had he not been reprimanded by authorities, had they taken swift and proper actions to fight the outbreak in time, prior to its mass destruction, would the death toll be the number it currently is? Would people panic-buy shelves of disinfectant, masks, and cleaning supplies? Would the family and friends of frontline medical workers worry for their lives?

In the face of a government that holds stability, peace, and materialistic appearances or “face” at a far greater value than that of actively dealing with a problem, rather than suffocate and suppress it, one must ask themselves and their government: if a similar situation should arise, would the illusion of solidity remain of utmost importance? Or innocent peoples’ lives?

HOW THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK HAS AFFECTED EDUCATION IN HK

By Aurora Cen, Sha Tin College You’re probably reading this at home with nothing to do because of the coronavirus. Or, perhaps, you’re reading this article that was published some time ago, and coronavirus is no longer a problem for us. Well, how has coronavirus affected us; students?

First, to prevent more people from being infected, China and other countries in Asia have closed their airports; Cathay Pacific and China Airlines have already announced that they have suspended flights and closed airport lounges, and many other countries have banned flights flying from China, afraid that the virus will spread to their country. Due to this, the travel and food industries are struggling with money; without customers, many of them have been forced to shut down or fire employees as they were unable to pay them their wages, according to Fortune.com (February 19th, 2020). Most public places that were usually filled to the brim with people have also been desolated; including schools, as a result of closures.

the students will have nowhere to go. Kindergarten students are unable to attend school nor visit friends, and therefore many kindergartens have fired teachers out of desperation due to the fact that parents have refused to continue paying school fees, according to South China Morning Post (18th of February, 2020). Primary school students are a bit better off - they are still able to attend a few online classes and interact with friends and teachers online through their parent’s social media apps of websites and receive small amounts of homework daily to ensure their education during the virus outbreak.

Middle, high school and university students from international schools are able to take online classes and independently learn as they patiently wait for school to resume, catching up on homework and topics that they would have learnt in school in normal circumstances. Local school students, however, do not have online classes provided, therefore cutting down on the local school students’ education.

Though this is the best the education system can do right now, is it really effective? Many of my classmates from each and every year have complained about the abundance of homework we all receive; especially at this time of the year - GSCE’s, tests, revision topics...

Hong Kong did not have much time to recover from the protests before the virus epidemic struck, and during the most extreme times However, if schools are shut down, of the protests, school was also Due to the fact that a large amount of the population; students visit a school every day, going to school and interacting with many other students when a virus outbreak is ongoing would be an extremely dangerous thing to do. Currently, most of the schools in China and Hong Kong have been shut down to prevent further transmission of the virus.

also cancelled for most students and most of us were loaded with homework around the same amount students receive now during the coronavirus outbreak.

However, most students were able to cope with education and homework then, as all were safe and sound in their homes. However, as the coronavirus began to spread during Chinese New Year break, many students were unable to return to their homes and were therefore stranded in wherever they went for Chinese New Year, without a single one of their learning resources, unable to learn properly.

Our school, Sha Tin College, and the majority of international schools have decided to provide students with online lessons daily to compensate for our inability to go to school. However, although online lessons are compulsory, both students and teachers have their own complaints. All of my classmates in my year have at least complained about the current education system once in our group chat, or in an online class, saying they want to go back to school instead; most say that the homework is too heavy, the classes are stressful, there is no time to eat or take breaks, they don’t have the learning equipment required with them and therefore was left behind in classes, and so on. Teachers have complaints too. My mother who teaches at a different international school also teaches her students online, and she says that the majority of students either don’t show

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up or don’t speak at all in her lessons.

They also fail to finish their homework, and only a small selection of students answer questions and interact in class, finishing their homework and classwork on time. Both educators and students want normal classes to resume, and everyone would much rather prefer normal classes over online ones.

However, this is not possible for the time being, as resuming classes would spread the virus, even more, causing more people to be infected.

INTERESTING PASTTIMES

By Michelle Li, South Island School

We all have been under ‘house-arrest’ ever since the end of the Chinese New Year holiday back in January. In the past, we always craved more time at home; today, we long for time outside. To help you make the most of this time, here are the top 10 things you can do at home!

1. Learn a language Learning a language may be difficult at first, however, you have all the time you need to make this work at home!

There are endless sites and videos that you can get your hands on to learn the basics of a language. Moreover, our peers around us are from all over the world, you can always go and ask them if you have any questions about that language, or even practice with them!

2. Make a Vision Board/ Scrapbook This is an interesting alternative to organize your thoughts, ideas, and goals. By taking the time to lay out these things in the form of pictures, you’re allowing yourself to visualize your ideas. If you enjoy arts and crafts, designing a scrapbook would be right down your alley! Personally, I don’t have the patience to print out pictures and therefore I use Pinterest or Google Keep to do so. You are in total control of the design and content of the vision board!

3. Phone your friends I suppose all of us have been texting to chat with our friends, however, we should not ignore the importance of maintaining a face-to-face relationship with your friends who cannot go outside! Give your friends a phone call, or a video call and talk with them!

4. Netflix I understand not everyone has a Netflix account...but hear me out! If you’re feeling bored staying at home, I’ll definitely recommend watching a movie/ tv show. We all need some days lying comfortably in bed and just relax!

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To get you started, here are some shows on Netflix that are quite popular: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Friends Stranger Things ...and much more!

5. Practice an instrument Research shows that music can boost happiness and reduce anxiety. We all know that the busy and rigorous schedule during school days barely allows us to have time to spare. Whether it is going to your piano, guitar or drum (or any instrument you play really) and playing something classical or pop. If you’re sick and tired of going on the internet all day, immersing yourself in music would be a way to destress.

6. TikTok Before you go on and cringe at the app, maybe give it a chance, as many people found it interesting! This is a nice past time because not only there are some interesting and funny videos on the app, you also get to have fun with it by filming different videos. I recommend getting this app with your friends so that you can share funny videos or have a ‘duet’ with them… you’ll be surprised by how many people you know are on this app!

7. Simple workouts at home Exercising not necessarily have to happen at a gym or at a pool, there are various workouts that you can do with a yoga mat...or less. Simple movements such as jumping jacks or planks are more beneficial than you know! Simply type ‘At Home Workout’ on Google or Youtube and there are hundreds of workouts you can do! Just find one that suits you.

8. Go outside!

The air is certainly fresher in an open area. It is one of the few activities that don’t require a mask. It has elements of cardio and a hangout activity with your friends, moreover, the view up there is impeccable. There are trails all around Hong Kong, so just choose a route that you’d enjoy!

Secondly, some research shows that Vitamin D plays a role in fighting the Coronavirus. We all know that the sun is a source for Vitamin D. Although it is not proven that Vitamin D can kill the virus. Nonetheless, going out in the sun and having a good time at the beach with your friends is an interesting past time.

9. Reading If you’ve been putting off reading a book for your Extended Essay, or some book that you’ve been longing to read on your bookshelf, why not use this period of time to complete that book? It is a great past-time that allows you to have some screen-time off and can be very rewarding!

10. Cook We all love some good food. However, at this time, we cannot go out to enjoy food as much as we want to. So why not take a trip to the supermarket, or even use the ingredients available at home, and cook something for you and your family! If you’re living with your grandparents or have a helper at home, you can even ask them to teach you some of their recipes!

But remember, we all still have home-learning to do, so don’t get too caught up binge-watching television! Strive for a balance between school and past times and stay safe (and hygienic) wherever you go!

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THE CORONA VIRUS: THE SPREADING OF SOCIAL PANIC BY THE MEDIA

By Charlton Sullivan, South Island School

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ecently, regarding the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-2019 in Wuhan Province China, we can see that the numbers of infection grows rapidly day after day. The information can be instantly received by many individuals due to the increased accessibility of the Internet. However, social media has played a major role in fear mongering, serving as an echo chamber for exaggeration and misinformation. In fact, the fallout of the panic may actually be doing more damage than the virus itself.

“Fear spreads faster than infection” The spreading of fear in itself through the internet resembles closely to that of the spreading of a viral epidemic. As the Internet spreads information and news at an extremely rapid pace, we can all instantly gather the most updated pieces of news articles, footages, statistics, photos in less than a second. This is where the term “24/7 news” originates from. 24/7 news combined with the spreading of misinformation and misinterpretation however only worsened the current situation as they are spread in an extremely rapid pace. Once people receive the information, they tend to share them in social media platforms or forward them to large group chats, this creates a chain effect where more people will receive them and further sharing and forwarding them to a larger and bigger platform where more

people will receive them and further sharing and forwarding them to a larger and bigger platform where more people will receive the updates, resulting in the worsening of the seriousness of the situation in further raising fear.

Dr Lee Riley, professor of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California, pointed out that common-or-garden influenza was far more deadly. The spreading of fake news, misinformation plays a major role in further worsening this situation. A lot of news titles tend to be clickbait in order to attract media attention.

News articles tend to sensationalize death tolls while leaving out other critical information such as recovery rates. Despite the seriousness of COVID-19, due to its high transmission rate as well as a 2 week incubation period when there are no obvious symptoms.

It is also a newly discovered virus where there is currently no vaccine or cure to it. News sources can help raise awareness and address the issues of the epidemic, where people can be acknowledged and prevent the spreading of disease at such a rapid rate such as coming up with precautionary and preventive measures. The types of news that should be put in order for the public to be seen should be more balanced and well-rounded, news platforms should also report the recovery rates more often.

According to research, Chinese Centres of Disease Control looked at more than 44,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 81% develop mild symptoms and only 5% are in critical condition. As of Feb 22nd 9:25AM from SCMP, there are a total of 77,767 cases, 20,856 have been recovered and 2,360 deaths this if were to be put in comparison to Ebola which has ended, there are a total of 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths from 2014 to 8th May 2016 (information from Centres for disease control and prevention).

In addition, the second month of the Ebola outbreak on March 23, 2014, with 49 confirmed cases and 29 deaths, having a fatality rate of 60%. Despite COVID-2019 having a greater number of cases, there is only a fatality rate of 3% whereas the now ended Ebola has a fatality rate of 40% showing more severe symptoms.

Social media is infamously known for the spreading of hoaxes and the repackaging of old stories where people tend to mostly develop their fear from it. Not only that, criticisms of the Chinese people and xenophobic behavours are also developed by many people around the globe. Recently there was a viral video of a Chinese woman enjoying the “Bat Soup” and resulted in serious backlashes and criticism and putting the blame on people for spreading the virus, however the picture was actually taken in Palau, an archipelago in

GENERAL SECTION the western Pacific, in 2016 and it was not taken in Wuhan. Secondly regarding Corona being a “biological weapon” developed by China which was from The Washington Times was also later on debunked

by BBC as there was no evidence of the claim, however it was already too late as the articles have been widely shared and seen by over a million audience.

The role of social media and 24/7 news have had a detrimental impact regarding on worsening the situation of the already serious epidemic as xenophobia and Chinese racism and shortages in supplies such as rice, tissue paper and mask can be seen all around in major places such as Hong Kong, United States, Japan etc. Many people tend to “buy goods in bulk”, buying more than enough to supply themselves. Resulting in the rapid increase in price as there is a high demand but shortage in supply.

In conclusion, the corona virus should be seen as a serious threat as it has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the fact that it transmits rapidly at an extremely rapid pace. However the general public should be more careful and alert when receiving information from the internet as they are known for further amplifying the current serious situation and as it has such a huge impact on the general public due to misinformation, partial information, biases, fake news.

THE DANGERS OF FOLLOWING INTERNET TRENDS

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nternet trends seem harmless enough- attempting the ‘Renegade’ dance challenge on TikTok or posting a meme with the hashtag #Area51 won’t inflict injuries on anyone except maybe giving yourself a bruised ego if your dance moves aren’t up to par. With all these new trends and challenges popping up all over social media, you’re bound to get sucked into jumping the bandwagon and partaking in one yourself. However, whilst there are many trends going viral every day with millions of kids, teens, and adults participating in them, not all of them are harmless and not all of them are meant to be attempted.

videos show the two perpetrators and bystanders laughing at the victim.

Luckily, the challenge has widely been negatively received with many perpetrators being held accountable for their actions and TikTok taking down all videos under the challenge’s hashtag.

It seems a majority agree with me that the “challenge” is nothing more than an excuse for bullies to deliberately humiliate and cause serious harm to unsuspecting victims.

My question for you is: Are you willing to possibly ruin your own life or somebody else’s to gain a like and follow on a social media platform? If your answer is “yes”, you may now join the legions of social media users and “influencers” who take advantage of those most susceptible to these influences, knowing full well you intend for them to suffer humiliation, injury and pain.

If not, then join the growing ranks of those who reject this peer pressuring, and demand the perpetrators be held accountable for their wrongdoing.

You may remember the infamous ‘Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge’ that trended during mid-2015. In case you’ve forgotten how it works, the challenge involves taking a shot glass and placing your lips in it before sucking the air out of it to create friction. The desired result is to imitate Kylie’s full and “plump” lips, which appears to be what many deem attractive in today’s society. The trend was criticized by many as an unnatural and dangerous way to To conclude, not all internet trends are gain fuller lips, with doctors warning as innocent nor safe as they may seem about the health risks associated with the challenge, such as swelling, bruis- By Gabbie Liu ing and scarring.

Now it seems that amongst the endless TikTok and YouTube challenges that keep appearing, a new, possibly life-threatening challenge has risen.

The ‘Tripping Jump Challenge’, also known as the ‘Skull-Breaker Challenge’ has two participants tricking an unsuspecting person into jumping in the air between them and having their legs swept out from underneath themself.

Not only is the victim likely to injure their head and spine, but many vid-

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THE DANGEROUS NOTION OF ‘BEAUTY’ by Rochelle Wong We all want to be beautiful.

To be ‘attractive’ is to be deemed desirable and relevant in society, is it not?

Although beauty ideals regarding femininity seem to garner the most attention, issues of body image are not limited by gender. Nor are they limited by race or age - the perception of beauty varies greatly from a multitude of cultural and racial standpoints. All of us can be affected by our society’s beauty ideals.

In Europe, a tiny waistline has been the feature of desire for many women, and thus the corset was used to discipline the body into the perfect shape. In China, girls’ feet had to be bound to adhere to the ideal image of small feet, a practice which caused the bones in their feet to become deformed. And in cultures where women are valued for their fertility, a full-bodied stature with large hips and breasts would be considered the ideal body type, reflecting the societal roles women are expected to fulfill.

How well a woman follows these ideals can affect their social status, and not conforming to them would deem you, well, not beautiful.

Unworthy of attention, perhaps. Undesirable.

This constant emphasis on female beauty and what makes women beautiful is what constitutes the feminine beauty ideal; it asserts that attractiveness is a woman’s most important asset, and only by conforming to these socially constructed ideals can a woman can be considered beautiful.

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Needless to say, this concept is highly problematic - not only are these ideals unattainable for most of us, they are also severely

unhealthy to a woman’s view of the self.

The widespread objectification of the female body teaches young women that their appearance is the sole determinant of their value, and thus it becomes inextricably linked with their self-worth. This idealisation of physical beauty also diminishes female competency and reduces them into sexualised objects, especially for the male gaze.

One of the most powerful ways in which young women learn these beauty ideals is through mass media. Virtually all female models depicted in advertisements in a given culture are homogeneous in appearance, with every flaw or blemish carefully photoshopped away, leaving an image of the perfect woman. This then becomes the ideal every other woman will strive to become, with the false hope that they can one day achieve these impossible standards of flawless beauty.

Social media spaces such as Instagram are popular outlets for models and celebrities alike to show off their ravishing appearances. This places a huge focus on the importance of physical appearance, not just for celebrities, but also for ordinary people peer pressured into looking the part. Once again, digital manipulation comes into play, as users have the opportunity to edit their photos to the desired level of perfection, forcing themselves to adhere to the beauty ideal.

As a result, users are exposed to photo after photo of picture-perfect appearances, causing a further internalisation of the societal beauty ideal.

While it may seem a trivial matter, such internalisation of beauty standards can actually have significant negative impacts on the individual. By continually comparing themselves to those portrayed in the media,

women begin to damage their self-esteem by viewing themselves as inadequate, resulting in the emergence of other adverse psychological consequences including depression and eating disorders. In fact, as achieving the beauty ideal becomes a progressively widespread phenomenon, eating disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in young girls who have yet to fully make sense of their identity and place in society.

‘beauty’ itself - by seeing it as an indication of individuality and mundane imperfections rather than a matter of conventional aesthetics shared by everybody. We are all born unique - isn’t that what makes us beautiful?

Everyone should have a right to exist without having to alter who they are - we are perfect just so.

To deal with this body dissatisfaction, women are more than willing to invest their money and time into hiding their ‘flaws’, to the point where it becomes obsessive. You may be all-too-familiar with the countless influencer-proclaimed ‘miracle diets’ and weight loss pills, not to mention the assortment of ‘slimming’ garments and ‘anti-ageing’ creams to choose from. It is this obsession with beauty products that the cosmetics and beauty industries profit tremendously from, so it is no wonder that they continue to fuel our insecurities and self-loathing by endlessly degrading our ‘unsightly’ flaws. Flaws that make us human.

On a more positive note, however, modern society seems to be taking steady baby steps in changing their perceptions of beauty. The recent Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, for example, used women of a variety of ages, ethnicities and body types to advertise their products in an attempt to challenge society’s unrealistic representations of beauty. The issue of male body image is also beginning to share some of the spotlight, which is a huge step taken from the misconception that females are the only ones suffering from body shame.

While the media alone should not bear the full responsibility for beauty dysmorphia and eating disorders, its influence on perceptions of beauty is indeed indisputable, and we have to be aware of the harm it can cause on the self-esteem and mental health of young people. It’s actually quite scary how important beauty has become, and how we have begun to equate beauty to the pure essence of a person.

Perhaps the way out of this is to redefine

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CLIMATE CHANGE IS KILLING US

by Elysia Tsang

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he enemy is already at the gates, yet all anyone can talk about is economic growth. The wildfire in Australia, the flooding in Britain and Venice. People are suffering, we are at the beginning of our extinction, and sadly it is clear that the rise in global temperatures and sea levels have failed to generate any sense of urgency around climate change.

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There is already a dramatic shift in climate and it has already begun taking a toll on our planet. If you haven’t heard, at global levels, the target of 2050 will be 1.5C of warming or even higher. The destruction that this could bring is unpredictable and the stakes are high, but this guarantees annual heat waves and the disappearance of small islands and nations such as Maldives and Hawaii. Is this really a bet that humanity is willing to make?

You may be thinking that the disappearance of small islands are insignificant and does not concern you, but this is only one out of many devastating effects climate change will have on humanity and the planet Your own health and even life is at risk here.

The emissions that cause climate change include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen and of course other pollutants such as ozone.

In fact, they are actually the cause of seven million deaths each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 90% of people living in urban areas are breathing unsafe air with high pollution levels.

Children are the ones who are suffering the most as they are still developing making the the most vulnerable. There is an estimate of 600,000 deaths of children under the age of 5 due to pneumonia (due to the pollution

caused by climate change damaging the respiratory system). As for adults it could cause asthma, strokes, heart attacks. The list goes on forever. The effects on children and adults were just examples, climate change will affect everyone. It is a known fact that extreme high temperatures directly contribute to deaths due to respiratory disease, especially among elderly people. For example, during the heatwave of 2003 in Europe, over 70 000 deaths were recorded. According to the World Health Organisation, each of the last 3 decades have been much warmer than any decade since 1850. Imagine the human cost if the temperature rose even more.

It is no longer about how we should act, but how quickly we need to and we need to act now. Even the former secretary - general of UN Christiana Figueres states that this is the “decisive decade” to fix global warming.

There shouldn’t be a need to “raise awareness” when it is obvious that the world as we know it is dying. Climate change surrounds us. We need to cut down fossil fuel extraction.For example , according to te US EIA (energy information administration), over 20% of America’s emissions are due to the extraction of oil, natural gas and coal.

The government could easily tighten the leasing rules, this would already slow down climate changes. Perhaps this is something that the common people of the public can’t achieve but there is much more that each of us as residents on this planet can do. Recycling and driving more fuel-efficient cars are examples of important behavioral change that will help, yes I’m sure you have heard this about a gazillion times, but it is true, if everyone could just take the time and adapt to this environmental friendly lifestyle, there could still be hope.

It really wouldn’t take much effort, just throwing your rubbish into another bin, taking public transports more, bringing your own bag for shopping. This may seem insignificant or irrelevant to you, but please reconsider, your small effort and contribution could be the difference between our extinction and our salvage.

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SHOULD OUR LIVES REALLY BE DETERMINED BY OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM?

By Jennessa Liu

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have once heard someone say that school is like a prison. You get trapped for 8 hours a day, eat bad food and are forced to listen to uninteresting rabble delivered in monotonous drone.Take a moment and reflect on this. Perhaps now you realise how flawed our education system is.

I see education as a form of ‘natural selection’ in our society. In the natural world, those who are powerful thrive while those who are weaker are eliminated.In the latest iteration of social darwinism, “power equivocates with knowledge,” with “qualifications form the basis of strength and power”. People with higher qualifications gain respect and access to opportunities that are simply unavailable to those without. This is predicated on the belief that those with the most qualifications are the most able in society.

While this may be true for some cases, the generalization of this notion has reached such an extent that otherwise qualified people are denied opportunities, costing both them as well as society.

While some may argue that those who are able would naturally seek to acquire qualifications, I disagree that this is absolute. Some may simply lack the monetary ability to attend universities, whilst some are simply not ‘smart enough’ in the strict way that society wants

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us to be. Steve Jobs is a name that we are all familiar with; behind his tremendous success, a story lies beyond. To start with, it is important to note that Steve DID NOT enjoy school (just like you and me). He was that one ‘strange kid’ who liked innovating technology, he was never ‘smart’ enough to achieve top literature grades nor had the ability to become a doctor, or a lawyer. At the age of 18, despite being able to enter a college, he stormed out of his lecture one day and dropped out of college after the first semester. After hanging around campus for 18 months, feeling hollow and useless, he decided to work on what he was most enthusiastic about. However, his journey of self discovery was like a roller coaster. Without high qualifications, he knew he would not be able to get a high paid job. In other words, he has placed a bet to continue working on his dreams.

Eventually, he worked to become a successful man with his legacy still living on (on our hands). It is fair to say that although Steve could not achieve top grades nor high levels of qualification, he lived to become a legend who has changed humanity for good.

On the other hand, some students who come from wealthy backgrounds never work hard. They party day and night, and live an extravagant life for their age; even

their college allocations were bought by their parents with huge sums. In 2019, a scandal arose over a criminal conspiracy to influence undergraduate admissions decisions at several TOP American universities. This reflects the corrupted nature of our society and how affluent parents often abuse their monetary power in order to ‘purchase’ education degrees. In these cases, is the notion that those who are worthy will always get their qualifications as absolute as perhaps once thought?’

Our education system revolves solely around numbers: our grades.

These motionless numbers determine every single bit of our value and worth as an individual. They determine everything, from your personal image, to your status, to your life. Education is skewed to favour the ‘smart’ and the rich.

People who are ‘smart’ in that one very specific way dictated by the views of society; this ‘intelligence’ refers to only academic grades, with social skills, surviving skills, one’s morality, critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, all not taken into account (not even a single bit). And if you haven’t scored a 42 in IB, sorry, you are simply not ‘smart’ enough to take med.

“But don’t worry!”, they say, “there are always jobs which pay the minimum and require the longest working hours!”. Furthermore, our

education system is ‘rigged’ by people with wealthy backgrounds. Not only can they illegally purchase college admissions (as mentioned above), but their social networkings, college donations, money spent on tutors to improve their son’s or daughter’s grades, all put the less opulent in disadvantage and partiality.

I often find our society extremely bizzare, just because I do not get A**s, doesn’t mean I am mentally inferior and less deserving than people who get better grades than me! For all that I know, they may not even know how to order in a restaurant without their mums helping them. I am not saying that the education system is utterly trash and has no use whatsoever.

It does act as a way for students to generate knowledge and to build social relations. However, the fundamentally competitive nature of our society often labels people as ‘worthy’ or ‘not worthy’ based on their grades, and our current education system just encourages this idea.

I believe your biggest question would be: but what can we do about it? Unfortunately, any attempt to completely overthrow our education system and transform stereotypes would be impotent and impractical. However, I think that the most important thing for us to do, as the next generation of our community, is to reflect on the flaws of our education system and our society when it comes to educational stereotypes; and to remind ourselves that grades do not determine a person’s worth. The values we behold, perceptions we develop, and above all, our sensitivity towards others’ feelings, emotions, attitudes, beliefs all contribute towards enhancing self evaluation and wisdom.

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Sponsored by the Compass Group (Chartwells), Kelly Yang Project, CANA Elite Education, ITS Education Asia, iStudy, LRCA Reading Charity

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United Magazine (STC X SIS) Established in 2013, the United Magazine is Sha Tin College’s annual billingual magazine.

This year we partnered with South Island School, forming a team of 40+ members.

FREE copies to be delivered soon!

@united.magazine

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EDITO

ORIAL

LOOKING BACK ON THE 2010s: A DECADE OF DIGITALISATION AND ITS IMPACT

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t is difficult to believe that 10 years ago, Disney Channel had captured the hearts of young children, MySpace reigned supreme in the world of teens, and Blackberry phones were in the hands of every businessman. Now, as we are ushered into an unparalleled era of technology, we can look back at the milestones of the 2010s with a sense of clarity that comes with hindsight. The past decade of digitalisation has integrated itself into the very fabric of our society and the culture of the new generation.

To me, the 2010s brought about a new era of social change: the decade began with the Arab Spring, and the decade ended with protests in Hong Kong. In both these events, social media played a major role as a key tool for activists, empowering them by facilitating the quick spread of information. The digital decade gave minority groups an unprecedented voice: #blacklivesmatter, #pride and #metoo are all movements that stemmed from the media and spread like wildfire, shedding light on the parts of society that are often hidden in obscurity. No longer limited to just photo-sharing platforms, social media has transformed into a force to be reckoned with. Digitalisation has pushed our world towards inclusivity, encouraging our generation to be more open-minded towards different values and communities than the generations that came before us.

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However, the past decade has also given rise to new problems. Living in the post-Snowden era after 2013, digital data privacy has become a major concern; this was reinforced by the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica scandal in early 2018, which revealed that Cambridge Analytica had harvested the personal data of millions of people’s Facebook profiles without their consent and used it for political advertising purposes. This major political scandal allowed the public to fully comprehend the dangers of personal data leakage, precipitating tighter regulation of tech companies’ use of personal data. Furthermore, with easy access to information comes exploitation. An increasing number of people are growing susceptible to misinformation, or “fake news”, which can sway support for government institutions, terrorism, and bigotry, depending on how it is packaged. Hate speech, particularly neo-Nazism, has also made a comeback, especially utilising the loose monitoring of social media platforms to spread their ideology, wielding the media like a weapon. This has led to controversy and debate over the blurry grey area of social media responsibility and where to draw the line when it comes to freedom of expression versus hate speech.

In 2010 came the birth of an app that would later shake the world: Instagram. In the last decade, this omnipresent, ubiquitous media-sharing app has turned us all into amateur photographers - as a

into amateur photographers - as a Gen Z, I cannot remember a world where we didn’t take dozens of photos of our food before digging in, where we enjoyed the scenery in front of us instead of through the lens of our Instagram stories.

Instagram has also redefined fame and what it takes to be a celebrity - there is now a community of “influencers” with millions of followers hoping to go viral. Studies have shown that the pressure of these impossible standards on display on Instagram have begun to take a mental toll on young adults, nudging us to dive headfirst into a world of filters, angles and Photoshop. Cyberbullying and trolling - once unheard of - have now become painfully common due to the misuse of electronic devices, especially in schools. For better or worse, Instagram and its rivals have completely altered the way we experience and share our lives with the world, encouraging us to curate our social presence into the perfectly presented version of ourselves.

The 2010s have also had a profound impact on an entire generation of people: people who grew, who learnt, who thrived in the ten years. This generation, our generation, has been dubbed “Gen Z” an accurate depiction, albeit laden with negative connotations. Our “quirky” world, filled with social media, TikTok, and Netflix, is cultivating a culture of instant gratification: the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment. The algorithms on these apps are a new interface of social engagement, learning what we like to see and then serving video after video for us. Everything we do on our screens gives us instant feedback, and we are able to respond to texts, emails and tweets near real time. In this impatient new generation, efficiency is prioritised: instant information, instant response, and instant communication are breeding a new value system where everything is catered to be delivered at rapid-fire speed. We have become hardwired to want things, and to want them now. The popularity of streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix, and the invention of delivery services such as Deliveroo are all to accommodate and further foster our need for instant gratification. Gen Z-ers, armed with our hydro-flasks and smartphones, are beginning to shape consumer trends and development patterns, significantly altering the course of the global economy.

As we enter 2020, a chapter in history is closing. The new decade opens a window to endless possibilities and an era of transformation.

By Sophia Zhang

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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP & OTHER BUZZWORDS:

A CLARIFICATION AND WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN

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ow shall we usher in the new decade of 2020?

With a plane shot down over Iran, a long-overdue end to a divisive trade war, and an outbreak of a virus that has already imprisoned gleeful children indoors for months? The reality is depressing. Yet, all these events are part of two burgeoning and hopeful phenomena that many students in STC do not fully understand - “globalization” and the rising prevalence of becoming a “global citizen”. For example, what even is the difference between the two terms? Should you be a global citizen?

Globalization is the interconnection of humanity. Although it has been taking place for millenia, the rate of its occurrence has skyrocketed in recent decades.

Let’s examine it’s history briefly to gain a deeper appreciation.

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Three million years ago, deep in the haze of human prehistory, was a period of time anthropologists now call the Paleolithic era. Back then, human networks were tiny islands, pockets of familiarity dispersed throughout remorseless lands, with each numbering in the mere hundreds or thousands. Over the next millennia, these networks gradually grew due to exploration, population expansion, and an increase in better communication, and transportation methods.

This was the first leap in globalization.

“Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came; I saw; I conquered) is an emblematic quote of Julius Caesar epitomizing the Roman empire’s insatiable spirit of conquest. It was exactly empires of this kind that played the next major role in globalization. Although the act of conquering implies one culture supplanting another, the great

empires of Persia, China, and Rome further developed the extensive road, courier, and trade systems such as the Silk Road reaching other unconquered lands, facilitating the spread of religion, technology, and unfortunately, disease. Printing and gunpowder spread from East-Asia to Europe, but so did the Black Death. However, hitherto, the four great-continents of the world (Afro-Eurasia, Pacific, Americas, and Oceania) were still as if entirely different planets. The age of colonialism changed this with sailboats and smoking muskets. This age also saw industrial powerhouses increase imports of raw materials such as sugars and slaves and exports of products from new machinery to other countries, further enhancing the economic ties between countries.

Finally, nearly a century later, digital technology and various organizations further contributed to the most recent leap in globalization. TVs and news channels meant that a disaster hundreds of miles away could reach us in the blink of an eye, and governments are much easier held accountable for their actions. The United Nations was formed to prevent global conflicts from arising and intensifying; the WTO was created to resolve trade disputes. Soon after, containerization (shipping goods in a standardized system) meant the cost of transporting decreased and therefore stimulated economic connections even further. Around the same time, air travel became affordable and there were drastic increases in tourism. Fiber optic technology gave rise to the World Wide Web and social media allowed people from different backgrounds to share knowledge and experiences whenever and wherever they wished.

It was precisely from these cultural sharing and interactions that the notion of being a “global citizen” emerged. So, what is a “global citizen”?

Imagine a child the same age as you, in some Kenyan plain, under the blistering sun, with cracked lips and worn-out clothes, without proper shelter, but a miserable destiny ahead of him. Doesn’t this evoke a sense of commiseration? That’s what many people of the world felt when they saw such images, and this kind of feeling prompted them, as it should you, to realize that all humans deserve basic necessities of life.

From then on, they strove to make the world a fairer and more sustainable place. This is what it meant to be a ‘global citizen’ - to have an awareness that all we humans on this globe are connected, an empathy with those suffering injustice and cruelty around the world, and a realization of the responsibility to make a

difference for a better world. Global citizens recognize that everyone could be better off in the long run if we show care to each other - essentially the moral of A Christmas Carol on a global scale. Millions of people have joined in on being a global citizen ever since, but unfortunately, far from everyone.

Hong Kongers, in general, are renowned for their myopia. In fact, when surveyed about how much they understood any of the several recent influential international events in Asia, such as the buildup of nuclear weapons in Iran, the majority of local secondary school students could only answer a small fraction of the questions. 1 The same attitude would apply to many, if not most, students in Shatin College. Poor performance on occasional politics-related quizzes and unenthusiastic GTS classes together tell a sizable part of the story. Although certain clubs (MUN, Debate) do expose students to international events, only a small number of students actively participate and even those who do may not fully appreciate the significance of globalization, much less the power of becoming a global citizen.

There are several advantages to being a global citizen, not least of which is to develop qualities that would not only enrich our lives but also be of great use in the future. Part of being a global citizen involves having an acute sense of awareness of your place in the world and a deep feeling of connection with those around you. And this is inherently a profoundly fulfilling state of mind. In addition, through this feeling of connection, you become more curious and amazed about the world, and develop a sense of gratitude that would make you a more resilient person. It is also this gratitude that alleviates stress and anxiety. Another part of being a global citizen involves actively making the world a fairer and more sustainable place, not only fending off physical injustice but also ignorance. Thus we learn how to form critical judgments of the world and how to stand firmly for the under-privileged and wronged, improving our spirit of leadership. Finally, being a global citizen helps us develop loftier ambitions and smooth our journey in finding ourselves.

The exciting benefits of being a global citizen only truly shine under the light of globalization. Remember the first three examples at the very start of this article?

The plane that was shot down accidentally over Iran is a perfect example of political globalization - a lack of awareness of political tension between countries could easily endanger our lives. The trade war is an example of economic globalization. Being aware of it

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war is an example of economic globalization. Being aware of it and suggesting solutions can improve our livelihood. Moreover, being aware of global trends and situations in other countries can help uncover economic opportunities. For example, keeping a look out for the types of skills the world favors can help us to identify how to prepare ourselves academically. The recent Coronavirus reflects biological globalization.

With the increase of exchanges of people, diseases can easily spread from country to country. Being aware of this can help us take earlier precautions before a trip. Finally, due to social globalization, our future career will almost certainly involve working with people from other cultures, and developing a global citizen mindset now can significantly smooth our work experience.

Some good ways of becoming a global citizen involve joining local organizations. For example, my friend Patrick started one non-profit organization called the Youth Health Focus group and it is an excellent platform for you to begin your journey. In the Youth Health Focus group, you will have the chance to donate bone marrow to those direly in need, learn and teach methods of solar protection and participate in anti-bullying (Link to website: https://youthhealthfocus.org). Further, cultural immersion tours and volunteer programs are also great opportunities. In fact, there will be at least one such tour organized by the environmental council this year - a trip to the beaches of Philippine islands to maintain mangroves. Look out for the sign up form.

To conclude: if you share the realization that all people are equal and connected, as well as an understanding that we should shoulder the responsibility of making the world a safer and more equal place, then you have started your journey of becoming a global citizen!

By Evan Yang

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SHOULD THE LAW REQUIRE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?

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magine being forced to choose a restaurant when you have absolutely no preference; when you’re unfit to decide; or even when your other beliefs contradict with you having to make an opinion- it’s illogical, and quite a nuisance to say the least. Compulsory voting is the same thing: a grey-area infringement on basic rights, an impractical solution, and perhaps to some extent even undermines the legal system; this is case currently in 14 different countries worldwide, including Australia and Brazil. Why? To increase voter turnout.

Though compulsory voting has indeed tackled the issue of public disinterest and low turnout numbers, it has significant downfalls. It is commonly accepted that the inherent principles of the law are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting rights. Compulsory voting can be seen to adhere to these functions in that it establishes a standard for voter turnout in elections. However, it can also be seen as a violation of the latter objective through it’s arguable infringement upon freedom of speech.

In most Western nations, citizens have a positive and negative right to freedom of speech: meaning that they have both rights of expression and rights or inexpression. As voting constitutes an expression of opinion, the implementation of compulsory voting would lead to citizens being legally bound to express their opinions - hence violating these rights. Furthermore, another basic right that is afforded by individuals is their freedom to religion. Though the percentage of population by which this is applicable to is small, it nevertheless is still a contradiction. Some denominations, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians, have openly committed to maintaining political neutrality, and hence do not allow voting. With the implementation of this law, such individuals must contravene against their religion, consequently violating their freedom to faith.

Of course, citizens could submit blank votes or donkey (randomly selected) ballots. Currently, in the 10 countries where compulsory voting laws are enforced, 9 of them -with the exception of DPRK- allow the

the submitting of declined ballots. However, as these ballots are completely redundant, decreeing for such individuals to vote is a waste of resources. On the other hand, donkey votes perhaps pose even greater detriment. As the purpose of an election is to gain general consensus regarding the preferences of a population, random voting undermines this and leads to a misrepresentation of public interests. However, it must be acknowledged that optional voting too poses risks of such misrepresentation if the voter turnout is too low.

Finally, some individuals (such as the mentally ill) are simply incapable of voting and must be exempt from this law. To have them suffer consequences for a deed they cannot perform would be unfair. But, at the same time, to collate a list of individuals and their justification for not voting would be expensive, posing opportunity costs for revenue that could be better spent on merit activities such as education.

In conclusion, this law sacrifices many rights, such as the infringement of rights and impractical implementation, to engender only one true benefit of high voter turnout. Countries should not implement this unless out of desperate necessity to mitigate an extremely low voter turnout, and even if they do so, they must identify easy and low-cost methods for individuals to exempt. Instead, other methods designed to increase voter turnout such as increasing the accessibility of poll stations and simplifying the registration procedure should be implemented as unlike compulsory voting, they pose no alterations to the inherent values of voting.

By Vania Chow

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THE RISE OF THE US DOLLAR: FIND OUT HOW THE AMERICAN DOLLAR ACHIEVED ITS CHAMPION STATUS AND WHY WE USE IT

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n THE modern world, we see the US Dollar everywhere. It seems to be a “Wild Card” that works almost everywhere and reigned at a near undisputed status in the Financial World. Indeed, the Dollar is essential in Economies globally and has been so for quite a while. It became the dominant reserve currency, a centrepiece of all monetary operations and (more recently) a favourite weapon of President Trump.

This article will uncover the History behind this supposed superiority of the Dollar, and present some speculations on its increasingly uncertain future.

Pre-Dollar World

Until the Age of Exploration in the early 15th Century, the known world had no dominant reserve currency. Gold, being rare and in limited supply, was a commonly used backup. Further development of exchange rates to masses of gold created the “Gold Standard”, making gold a semi-universal currency. Unfortunately, this only worked in Europe, as the Chinese rejected foreign currency and held a

disproportional amount of gold in comparison. A traditional “Sinocentrism” developed from a large technological gap also discourages Chinese initiative for global trade.

This all changed when Spain and Portugal discovered and exploited the resource-rich Americas, which gave them an overwhelming share in many valuable commodities. All of a sudden, Europeans can trade equally with China, which (with huge benefit from enhanced maritime vessels) cumulated into the growing importance of trade and resources. Unfortunately, the easiest way to guarantee both is to occupy lands with raw resources or cheaply buy them from other countries.

Failed attempts to sustain a fair method in maintaining both flourishing trade and resource supply gave rise to an alternative: Imperialism. By directly invading and colonising resourceful lands or extracting unfair deals from weak nations, the parent nation could thrive and become a great power. One thing led to another, and by 1914 Imperialist powers (mostly European) projected their influence to the edges of the globe. The most powerful one, the British Empire, had

their Pound Sterling currency established as the glob- technological advantage. This move was integrated al reserve currency. under the anti-Communist Truman Doctrine and heavily involved CIA covert operations, sometimes Elevation to the Top Dog resorting to assassinations or invasions. Opposition The United States Industrialised around the same time from other nations, mostly nationalists or autarkic as Britain’s second Industrial Revolution, making it a moves, were frequently branded as leftist ideas and late bloomer amongst the ranks of Western nations. removed from power. Through those methods, the US However, its geographical distance from Eurasia gave Dollar reigned supreme amongst the supermajority of valuable time to develop without the fear of war, and non-communist nations. they did so in a secluded manner. This Isolationist style policy lasted until the Pearl Harbour attack in Is the Dollar going to be overtaken?

1941, which resulted in the full commitment of US Many have speculated a potential overtaking of the forces in World War 2.

Dollar by another currency, others stuck with the belief that the Dollar would stay around for at least a few During the 4 years of WW2, the United States had a more decades, but almost all can agree that the Dollar change of heart. An ever-growing Domestic manufac- system won’t hold forever. The Dollar system gave too turing sector convinced the contemporary Adminis- much power to the American dominated West, and tration that guaranteed exports are the path to sus- rising powers in the East provided a huge obstacle in taining this economic boom. Thus, the United States the Dollar reign’s continuation. This US constructed become engaged in the European dominated Imperi- system is inflexible to the changes of new technologies alist movement. and struggles to survive in a more volatile and globalised society.

Near the end of WW2, the United States emerged as the only great power with net economic growth. Its One relatively reliable method to observe the financial lucrative Armaments industry also provided the Trea- strengths of individual currencies is by looking at the sury with Gold, a replacement payment from other International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) estimation of Allies during wartime troubles. With such a solid gold allocated reserves. The small sets of data compose of foundation, then President Roosevelt called all Allied all currencies the IMF deems worthy of keeping sepanations to link their respective currencies to the US rate accounts (similar to if the teacher kept your GPA Dollar. This became known as the “Bretton Woods on the excelling students’ list), underlying powerful Agreement”. currencies used around the globe.

The Absolute Sovereign Over 7 decades have passed since the Bretton Woods Agreement solidified American Financial hegemony, yet it seems more fragile than ever. US dominance in all sectors are challenged in the changing world, and conditions are harder to preserve its central role on the global stage.

Previous potential opponents to the Dollar were suppressed and ultimately experienced an economic recession, crippling their challenge to the throne.

British and French empires crumbled in the waves of sored decolonisation, releasing handfuls of countries into the modern world. Both the former Soviet Union and Japan succumbed to external pressures, with one having a recession in 1990 and another collapsing in 1991.

Besides the US Dollar, there are 4 formidable currencies listed. Unfortunately, half of them look to a gloomy future. Both the Euro and the British Pound Sterling are raising the stakes by quarrelling in the issue of Brexit, severely hampering their respective credibility. Japanese Yen is on a rising trend, but the Tokyo Government is unwilling to lose its price advantage for currency internationalisation.

That leaves one last contestant; since its inclusion as a separate currency in 2016, the Renminbi percentage in allocated reserves steadily increased. It possesses relative stability and President Xi’s firm intention of internationalising the Renminbi. To many, China overtaking the United States’ GDP seems plausible in the next decade or two.

Though the Dollar hasn’t been “Trumped” yet, the Under the expansion of Free Trade, the United States end of its reign looms near. We can only hope that the was able to maximise its exports by forcibly open mar- change can happen without any dire consequences. kets all across the world and fully utilise its

By William Huang

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QUINTON LEUNG

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BIG ID 33

DEAS 34

THE JUSTIFICATION OF REVOLUTION

BY SOLOMON LAM

pg

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T

he world today is a much freer world than that of classical antiquity. While many states still reign with a heavy hand, previously thought unbreakable caste systems have been weakened in a way that would be unimaginable a millenia ago. Social mobility has increased, with the origin of ‘nouveau riche’ representing the first break by commoners into the ranks of nobility and aristocracy. Thus it may seem confusing that today, there are far more ‘freedom fighters’ or ‘revolutionaries’ than there were in classical antiquity.

While some of this can be attributed to an increased flow of information, improvement in transportation, the rise of strong and opposing ideologies as well as the increased availability of increasingly destructive weaponry, there is also undeniably a social cause for this. Is it because of a sense of arrogant entitlement from today’s generation, or is there true justification for the increase in revolutionary activity?

was out of necessity (a fear of anarchy) that humans gave power to the leader. He further proffered that the greatest human fear was death, and thus in anarchy not even the security of one’s own life was guaranteed.

The justification of the state in this case is that it is better than the alternative that is anarchy, naturally reverted in the absence of a state. Thus in truth the power of the ruler was not some mandate of heaven, but the prerogative of the people and an individual did not have the right to challenge the state.

However, this presents a question: when is revolution justified? His argument is based on two cruxes: that the state is able and willing to provide the security, and that security, aside from physiological needs, is the basest of needs and thus must be fulfilled before the needs of the higher tiers can be addressed. There have been more revolutions in the past forty years than from the beginning of history to the 1500s in spite of unprecedented prosperity and security. Thus In ‘Leviathan’, a 1651 book by English philosopher the age old adage that lifting people out of poverty Thomas Hobbes, he argues that the power of a ruler will solve most of society’s issues is irrevocably proven derives from the people, and that the basis of this can false. From the non-existence of democracy in 1900, be seen in a ‘social contract’. The origins of his argu- we see that there are more democratic countries than ment derive from an attempt to reconcile two seem- autocratic today. Thus it seems improved governance ingly contradictory principles: that the ruler should is not the solution either. What then, is the cause for be capable, but that even a poor ruler should not be such seemingly inconceivable urge for revolution? violently deposed. Hobbes was a staunch pacifist, having witnessed the horrors of the English Civil War Much of the western world today lives in post-scaras well as his father losing his post as vicar of Charl- city: an economic concept that has been overlooked ton after brawling with the local clergy. He argued despite its significance for society. While wealth inthat the cruelty of any ruler was justified as this was equality remains an issue, the fact remains that many the fault of humanity’s failure to govern themselves. people in first world countries are not in need of basic In what he termed the ‘state of nature’ (the modern necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare or transequivalent being anarchy) he presents a bleak picture port. Discussing the economics of a demand deficient of a war of “bellum omnium contra omnes”, meaning economy and how economic growth in the future will ‘war of all against all’. He argued without something be driven by advertising and credit is out of the scope that could sufficiently awe and frighten humans, there of this essay, but needless to say this has had a sigwould never be a force of absolute superiority and nificant impact on the accessibility of the higher tiers thus a perpetual cycle of struggle for resources would of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. So called ‘first world force all to live in a constant state of fear and violence. problems’ including the desire to belong and to have In Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ (1943), he proffers purpose are not in fact selfish desires of entitled inthat the physiological and safety needs are the two dividuals, but a natural drive for humans who have basest necessities for humans. Combined, this forms already fulfilled the lower tiers of needs. With this in the basic justification for any state: that in a state of mind, there is much confusion over the desire for revanarchy the acquisition and protection of basic neces- olution in many well developed countries, high profile sities such as food, water, shelter and mate would be examples being Quebec from Canada, Catalonia from difficult, while there would be little safety guaranteed. Spain, Brittany from France, Bavaria from Germany, Because the state, however cruel or unjust, was nec- Scotland from the UK and Hong Kong from China. essary to establish and enforce laws-only necessitat- While there are many background factors, a genered because of humanity’s failure to self-govern-meant alization can be made that these areas are generally that humanity had no one to blame but themselves for quite prosperous and developed, thus meaning that the suffering they endure under a poor leader, that it by the test established prior in this essay, the people

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should be content given they are in a far better position than they likely would have been under anarchy unless there is the belief that liberty is more important than physiological and security needs.

The justification for oppressive government was that security could not be attained in anarchy, with the higher levels of needs such as self-actualization and inclusiveness not being possible to achieve because humans would live in constant fear of death. It was thus put forth that a government which brought peace while failing in every regard was still preferable to anarchy as it was at least theoretically possible for a society to achieve the higher tiered needs. Yet what if fear was no longer the sole motivator of people? Modern philosophers postulate that there are individuals among us, many in fact, whose most base concern is not that of security, but that of liberty. In the state of nature, there are freedoms and liberties, even without order and peace.

But delving deeper, there needs to be a determinant for a ‘right to revolution’. Even if the modern reinterpretation of liberties as the basest human need rather than security is taken for axiomatic truth, the fact remains that if every individual is an individual judge on whether the government is acting legitimately (in protecting the freedoms and liberties of individuals) then there will be a perpetual cycle of revolution. What then, can be the criteria for justifying rebellion? There are many differing opinions on this, ranging from that there are none to such broad allowances that any revolution could be justified, but Pauline Maier proffers that, “Private individuals were forbidden to take force against their rulers...because of private injuries...not just a few individuals, but the ‘Body of the People’ had to feel concerned before the right of revolution was justified...indicating a broad consensus involving all ranks of society.” The basis of this argument is twofold: that the right of revolution is a collective right rather than an individual one; and that it is not human nature to fear death above all else, and that it is possible for humans to place honour, integrity and morals above self-preservation. Thus a government that protects security but not liberty could not be justified and life in the ‘state of nature’ would be preferable, thereby justifying revolution to remove the government.

Why has there been such a paradigm shift in the principles of society? This can be attributed to economic progression, in particular, improvements to communication and education. When westerners are unable to fathom why North Koreans do not

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topple a government that seems more interested in building weapons of mass destruction while they eat grass, they fail to take into account the situation of the North Koreans. While most would assume it is a culture of fear and the belief that a government that feeds them, however infrequently and little, is preferable to not being fed at all. Outsiders assumed that it was the fear of death above all else as well as the fundamental desire to fulfill basic physiological and security needs that causes the regime to continue. Yet North Korea’s situation is not so different from that of Iranian Student Protests of 1999, the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, and many demonstrators protested and revolted despite it not being a logical action for self-preservation. What is different between North Korea and the aforementioned examples is that of knowledge: North Korea may be the only country with an alleged 100% literacy rate, yet its people are deprived of knowledge many around the world today take for granted. The Arab Spring was made possible because of social media, where several activists galvanized the population, the Hungarian Uprising was possible because the people of Hungary remembered a better time before being invaded by the Soviets, the Yugoslavian breakup was possible because of the strong sense of identities of individual ethnicities. The North Koreans lack all of the three, and thus they lack the knowledge and insight to revolt on a meaningful scale;small rebellions are quickly put out brutally without much of the population being aware.

With this, the conclusion can be drawn that with increased awareness comes increased revolutionary activity. The trend of increasing revolutionary activity parallels the democratization of education, for this allowed for the enlightenment of the masses towards the possibility of revolution. Contrary to the subjugative constraints of such instruments of oppression as the ‘mandate of heaven’, the ‘divine right of kingship’, or the ‘Communist Manifesto’, all of which sought to keep the masses suppressed and unaware of not only their ability, but moral obligation to rebel against governments who lack the true justification to rule, revolution became commonplace as society realized the continued existence of these states were a barrier rather than the foundations towards progression up the hierarchy of needs Now an argument against this could be that of entitlement: many consider today’s generation the first that can look towards the future. The generation in the latter half of the 20th Century had to deal with the Cold War and the threat of a nuclear apocalypse; the

generation before that had to fight two World Wars to keep aggressive powers at bay. It is only with unprecedented wealth that today’s youth have the luxury in looking at problems without immediate effect: climate change threatening the sustainability of future generations, not that of the here and now, but that of the uncertain, uncharted and distant future. Thus proponents of this argument postulate that it is only with the cushion of luxury and the presumptuous privilege of taking today’s wealth for granted that enables for such ‘arrogance’ to revolt against the states, whose continued existence have granted security and stability.

But this argument’s foundation is tenuous at best: the Hatians fought against the French for fourteen bitter years to acquire independence, despite being ill equipped, they willingly joining together for a greater cause - the belief in liberty - because despite the relative security and peace provided by their French overlords, they were not granted, as later discovered, the true lowest level in the hierarchy of needs (aside from physiological) which was liberty rather than security; the Peasant Revolt in Flanders (1323-1328) was led by a mayor and major land owners, revolting because of their leader’s pro-French stance which oppressed the freedoms and cultures of the more pro-British Flanderians; Cola di Rienzo’s revolution to unite Italy was based on historical texts recounting the glory days of Rome and a rejection of the oppression that the warlords of Italy placed on their populations to fund their lavish lifestyles and personal conflicts. Throughout history many have revolted not because the states failed to provide security, not because the states failed to provide wealth, but because the state sought to actively repress their populations and deny them liberty.

With these examples the presumption that the greatest fear of all humans is death is also struck down, allowing for a rejection of Hobbes’ assertions in the Leviathan.

While there have been errors in historical works, there is equally much to be learnt from it. In Orwell’s 1984, Winston acknowledges that it is the proles that are the key to overthrowing INGSOC (the oppressive government in power over Oceania), for only they can give any revolt true justification. So long as the proles are content with their lives, however miserable, social consensus cannot be achieved and revolution could not be truly justified. It was not enough that Winston as an Outer Party Member was disillusioned, without the proles passing judgement that the government had failed to provide for their most basic needs, revolution could not be justified. The relationship between

the government and the people is quite ironic - the people are responsible for judging the government for its legitimacy in providing for the most basic needs, yet without the government’s education of the people the masses would fail to judge the government properly. Regimes that seek to justify their own existence, no matter how repressive, cruel or unjust, always fall back on the argument that security is the basest need on the Hierarchy of Needs, and so long as they keep indoctrinating their citizens into believing this revolution can not be achieved for the people would not revolt - or at least not with the correct justification. It is only with the awareness that the basest need is not that of security, but that of liberty, that humans are capable of acting against their own self-preservation instincts because of moral compulsions. In the past, only the privileged few with knowledge and power could lead revolutions, and scant few of these did so without personal agendas.

Thus it is the responsibility of the people, the prerogative of each and every member of society to act as judges towards their governments. Revolutions today are more commonplace not because of arrogance, ignorance or avarice, but because today’s generation are far more aware of what is right than past generations.

History, philosophy, sociology, all may be spun and woven with complex theories and bedazzling words to confuse and intimidate the masses into submission, but when one truly studies the past, they truly gain insight into what the old powers of a bygone era clinging onto the edge would try and bury - that revolution is the right and the responsibility of the people.

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VOLUNTARY MASS EXTINCTION

BY Y.H. CHENG

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I

t is easy to go beyond the parameters of permissible thought when we’re idle and placed under de facto house arrest. Going down an endless rabbit hole of Wikipedia articles whilst procrastinating, and being naturally enthused by marginalised ideas, I wasn’t surprised when I reached yet another questionable website titled ‘The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement’. Hopefully not another suicide cult, I read on...

Engels cites Hegel approvingly in his polemical work Anti-Dühring, that “freedom is the recognition of necessity”. Ecologist Garrett Hardin’s alternative interpretation of this well-known aphorism may be a bastardisation of historical materialism at first sight, but it still bears some remote semblance to its sociological sense; his seminal article The Tragedy of the Commons brought Neo-Malthusianism and the notion of unregulated over-exploitation back into the public spotlight.

First things first, a brief recap on the fundamentals of sociology. Malthus, as some of you readers might already know, considered it “an obvious truth....that population must always be kept down to the level of the means of subsistence”, and that whilst food growth would merely increase on an arithmetic scale, population growth would increase exponentially, leading to mass starvation and widespread poverty when the latter outpaces the former (Malthusian catastrophe). It is uncertain whether he ever considered drastic innovations in food production along the free-market principles of satiating increased demand, but I digress.

Moderate supporters of the late 18th-century British economist now advocate controlling population growth via contraceptive measures in fear of its environmental ramifications, since Malthusian catastrophe still happens in another sense if the environment is exploited to a point of no return, even if poverty is reduced by governmental institutions. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the public criticism he received from both ends of the spectrum, Hardin scorns the welfare state for tolerating excessive human reproduction in developed nations and consequently leading to resource depletion.

Dismissing the likes of morals and conscience in regulating the finite commons for fear of favoring the less altruistic members of society, he prefers a laissez-faire approach by which to contain population growth - i.e. sacrificing the children of less financially able parents in a world where surviving childhood is not guaran-

by the welfare state. This leads to a feedback system that automatically penalises overbreeding, whilst an individual child would be able to enjoy the fruits of quality living when resources are not spread amongst several children; in short, quality, not quantity.

Of course, this reminds us of historical eugenics movements (i.e. the Nazis’ Aktion T4 and the notorious Holocaust), wherein individuals mired in poverty and bearing hereditary traits deemed ‘undesirable’ were forcibly sterilised. Although Hardin proposes a process of natural regulation that is similarly observed in the animal world, there needs to be a more palatable alternative to the “callous exploitation and wholesale destruction of Earth’s ecology.” Enter the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Although it is easy to paint oneself as a martyr for the environment, a further read of their website overturned my initial suspicions.

Before we move on, how can we be certain that the global population will continue its unabating growth?

A simple answer is that we like to take advantage of our own fecundity, and by our animalistic drives, bear offspring. Malthus’ interesting response is “that the passion between the sexes is necessary and will remain nearly in its present state”. Of course, that was before widespread contraception, but we can remain assured that greenhouse emissions are rising at unprecedented rates (as the cliché goes), just as the global population rose from two billion in 1927 to seven billion and counting today. Regardless of whether innovations in agriculture (i.e. the Green Revolution of the 1960s) are a result of population growth or the other way round (which implies reasonably high mortality rates before the ‘revolution’), the consequences remain the same, and that is ecological destruction to some extent.

Yet simultaneously, we’re facing a projected trend of slowing population growth, and this is bound to happen if nations currently mired in poverty reach saturated levels of development - following a recognised trend in which developed nations past their prime have a population that reflects the moribund state of their state (i.e. Japan and Russia). Factor into consideration, then, the findings of two researchers at the Oregon State University who embarked on a journey to find the ‘carbon legacy’ of every individual. For every person a woman gives birth to, some of them take part in procreating, and thus appears an unspecified line of offspring. The original parent is responsible for

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a certain percentage of carbon emissions produced by their progeny; the sum of this is the aforementioned carbon legacy. Using UN population predictions and basing their findings in North America, they found that every person is responsible for nearly six times their own emissions of CO₂ if they decide to bear a child - and that’s not something to be proud of, to say the least.

Neither is the logic of aggressively minimising environmental degradation by abruptly reducing the population tenable: just like how we would not tolerate leaving infants to starve on their own, we wouldn’t praise Genghis Khan for being a great environmentalist by reducing global temperatures through slaughters and producing plenty of nutritious compost. Prioritising the fundamental rights of the human race to survive with dignity, this leads us to a more reasonable solution of simply not choosing to give birth at all. Even if the global population is already declining, there’s no harm in letting it decline at a faster rate, especially when there’s neither a guarantee that further agricultural innovations will come nor that we won’t continue our trail of destruction. As their detailed website states, this is what they call the “humanitarian alternative to human disasters” - voluntary abstention from procreation.

The Movement appears quite humanistic, disavowing the eugenics movement and state enforcement. Their argument against the feasibility of sustainable/ethical consumption is encapsulated in a single cartoon found on their website (see image), and the reader is free to have a look at their numerous other satirical works in their spare time.

Another common argument asserts that developing a more sustainable means of manufacturing would stave off the more deadly of ecological ramifications. Even when we assume this is feasible, the long-standing Jevons paradox says otherwise, where increased production efficiency and therefore reduced costs would simply lead to an even greater rate of consumption due to increased demand, in the case of price elastic goods. In other words, we consume even more in this vicious cycle of ever-increasing consumption, which always has its limits. A quote from Kenneth Boulding emblazons a subpage of their website: “Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world, is either a madman or an economist.”

Yet another subpage is titled ‘Cornucopian Delusions’, quite an apt description for the fearmongering about

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demographic disequilibria and an aging population. At the end of the day, we hark back to historical materialism: automation necessarily means reduced jobs, a smaller workforce, and concentrated ownership of the means of production. Accompanying this should be a smaller population that has more to enjoy from the fruits of their labour - of course we don’t want a world of meaningless labour and deliberately stunted productivity in the likes of 1984. Who knows, with reduced population growth, perhaps a stateless, classless world of material superabundance might come after all.

Admittedly, l was quite impressed by the amount of detail the website offered - especially its riveting and thought-provoking content that perfectly counterbalanced its atrocious web design.

As of now, there are four possible alternatives: will we reach an irreversible point of environmental disasters, allow the population to reduce unassisted in accordance with global trends, commit ourselves to abstaining from reproduction (as the VHEMT suggests), or will innovations be able to sustain continued population growth?

Their motto is “may we live long and die out”, and that might as well be our own. United in our efforts, our perennial rallying cry reverberates across the verdant distance: may we perish under the green banner of anti-natalism!

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JACLYN SOLOMON

HISTORICAL PARALLELS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

By Samson Chan and Lara Griffiths

J

anuary the 10th, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the day on which the post-war Treaty of Versailles came into effect. This treaty was ultimately the downfall of Weimar Germany: crippling the economy, irreparably damaging the social fabric of society and destroying any semblance of the oncemighty former Imperial Germany.

Economic stagnation and political strife led to a sense of desperation amongst the German people which fuelled the rise of extremism, paving the way for Hitler’s rise to power. This would consequently result in the fateful events of World War Two. The World Wars and their subsequent effects have long served as cautionary tales against the punitive treatment of enemies, but what they also evidence are the failures of 20th century international cooperation and foreign policy-making. Indeed, this was most notably seen with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement, which allowed Hitler to expand unchecked into Czechoslovakia and pursue an even more aggressive expansionist foreign policy.

The failure of international cooperation during the 1920s is further exemplified by the fundamental shortcomings of the League of Nations. A war-ravaged and economically-weakened Europe set up the League of Nations in the aftermath of the brutal chaos of the First World War. This was the first major global attempt to form an interna-

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global attempt to form an international alliance; the League quickly drew supporters from across the globe, attracted by its advocacy for world peace and international cooperation, and hopeful that the tragedy of World War One, ‘the war to end all wars’ would never be repeated. Yet despite this seemingly landmark accomplishment, the League of Nations was fundamentally flawed - its demise was inevitable from the beginning. The newfound ideology of pacifism and isolationism present within much of Western Europe and the US was in stark contrast to the militarisation and rearmament favoured by Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and Imperial Japan. The League could do nothing to stem the flow of fervent nationalism and increasing global militarism. Moreover, the growth of imperialism and aggressive expansionism, symbolised by the desire of the Axis powers to create a ‘New Order’ in Asia and Europe, posed a significant threat to the ideals of the League and the security of the Western powers. Unlike the modern day peacekeeping forces possessed by the United Nations, the League had no military forces of its own, and member nations were unwilling to use their own militaries to intervene in foreign conflicts; thus the League was largely unable to enforce its resolutions. Its only form of remedy was the imposition of economic sanctions and ‘moral’ embargoes on belligerent powers but even this system was often impractical given the unanimous vote

the unanimous vote threshold required for any decision to pass. As such, the League was, for the most part, purely symbolic and possessed very little genuine power.

The League’s ineptitude and corruption were demonstrated when, in 1931, Imperial Japan blew up a section of the Manchurian Railway at Mukden (in China) and established a ‘puppet state’ in the region - Manchukuo. This sparked intense animosity between China and Japan, plunging the League into a crisis of indecision and inaction, rendering it unable to formulate a strong response to such aggressive action. An investigation committee was ordered to publish a report, the Lytton Report, on their findings with regards to Japanese actions in Manchuria, which yielded no real consequences. The internal political conflict between member states of the League over whether or not Manchukuo should be recognised as a legitimate state highlighted their inability to decisively form a united front despite sharing common values. As a result of this crisis, Japan eventually withdrew from the League and continued to militarise its government, pursuing aggressive foreign policies. This became a key catalyst for the War in the Pacific (part of WW2). The League’s refusal to combat Japan’s hostility severely undermined its authority, perfectly illustrating to the world their incompetence and powerlessness. This emboldened Nazi Germany and fascist Italy to

pursue aggressive expansionism of their own. Germany left the League soon after in 1933, and when the League offered no real resistance to Italy’s subsequent invasion of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1935, they too withdrew from the League in 1937. The steady dissolution of international cooperation in the early 1930s led to deteriorating alliances in Western Europe and the Pacific. In the end, the attempts of the League to modernise and strengthen global international relations were finally destroyed by the brutal showdown of the Second World War. After their catastrophic failures, the League was unable to recover and it finally ceased operations in 1946, with the United Nations eventually replacing it as the international organisation for peacekeeping.

In the midst of the disarray of World War II, the Allied nations signed a document under the aegis of the United States, headed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The document became known as the ‘Declaration of United Nations’ and proclaimed the Allies’ desire to attempt once again the monumental task of fostering international peace and cooperation. Though this document initially only referred to the Allied nations who fought against the Axis powers, the sentiment was soon extended to encompass all nations across the globe. In 1944, the ‘Allied Big Four’- namely the USA, the UK, China and the Soviet Union- began negotiations in order to formulate the aims, structure and functioning of the United Nations, an international organisation now committed to upholding world peace and preventing a destructive global war of such a massive pro-

global war of such a massive proportion from ever occurring again.

The post-war international order that was developed by the United States involved the United Nations working in conjunction with the newly-formed Bretton Woods System. Named after the town in New Hampshire in which the Bretton Woods agreement was signed by the major Western powers, the Bretton Woods System aimed to establish the rules for financial and commercial relations between countries. This was exemplified by the creation of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, and the adoption of the US dollar currency as the international reserve currency.

Indeed, the United Nations has since blossomed into an increasingly prominent global organisation which has long been instrumental in shaping global politics.

The organisation offers a multifaceted approach to international relations, with numerous committees attempting to solve all manner of global issues ranging from gender equality, ethnic minority rights and LGBTQ+ rights to current sources of political tension between member nations, such as trade wars or border conflicts. Unlike the League, the United Nations demonstrates a genuine, proactive desire to promote global development, peace and stability- the organisation’s various sustainable development goals (SDGs) are clear evidence of this. This is also perfectly reflected by their support of development aid: financial aid provided to low income, developing nations by industrialised, high income nations in order to solve economic, social and political

problems. In many cases, the UN has played an active role in supporting the development of newly independent nations from colonies to their emergence as fully-fledged members of the international community. The UN currently has 193 member states, with only two non-member nations presently in existence. This is a stark contrast to the 63 members the League had in its peak, a testament to the United Nation’s unwavering dedication and determination to pursue genuine international cooperation and global development.

Whilst the role of international cooperation and foreign relations has seemingly progressed since the dark days of WW2, in recent years, the forces of populism and nativism have been ascendant once again in response to a backlash against the neoliberal system globalisation and international institutions that have characterised international relations since the post-war era.

Examples are countless, but the most notable and arguably significant case is the election of Donald Trump. Trump’s campaign ran on a fiercely nationalistic platform, proclaiming its desire to ‘drain the swamp’ and fight the so-called ‘establishment’ and ‘deep state’, both domestically in Washington and internationally. Trump’s campaign also railed against trade deals such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and the TPP (Trans-pacific Parnership) which he claims have destroyed the industrial Midwest. Hence, his foreign policy harks back to a pre-WWII isolationist doctrine of ‘America First’, criticising organisations like the UN and withdrawing from critical international agreements

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like the Paris Climate Accord. The historical parallels are crystal clear here - Trump’s administration is more concerned with political aggrandizement and ideological promotion than the welfare of their people and the establishment of long-term international stability.

In a speech delivered to the UN in September 2019, Trump himself stated: “The future does not belong to globalists; it belongs to patriots”, a chilling callback to the nationalist sentiments evinced by nations like Nazi Germany and facist Italy.

Since the inauguration of Trump, the world has experienced a noticeable decline in the level of international cooperation, particularly surrounding the extremely topical issue of climate change - an imminent and pervasive threat to humanity itself. Despite China and the United States being the two largest emitters (total emissions, not per capita) of greenhouse gases, their refusal to confront the realities of this global crisis is extremely alarming but also somewhat unsurprising, given the hyper-polarised and deadlocked nature of 21st century politics. The United Nations may be an organisation dedicated to solving global crises such as these, but it nevertheless appears ineffective at solving the ongoing environmental issues: seemingly shying away from pushing for tough international agreements and regulations. These actions may seem politically unfeasible, but they are tremendously necessary for the good of our society, the good of humanity and the good of our planet in the long-run.

The Kyoto Protocol of 1992 made some strides with regards to implementing carbon caps on industrialising nations, but these emissions

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restrictions were voluntary and non-legal, hence failed to enact any real change. Similarly, though and meaningful change. Similarly, though the 2015 COP21 Paris Accord was a pivotal moment for many environmental campaigners, the arbitrary nature of international borders and legislation made it almost impossible to enforce any real regulations on emissions. The Accord was then severely and irreversibly undermined by the withdrawal of the United States in June 2017 as a result of Trump’s election. Indeed, most of the current advances in environmental protection are coming from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Apple, Amazon and Microsoft who are pioneering innovative solutions, such as carbon trading (‘cap’ and ‘trade’ schemes) and carbon neutrality in an attempt to mitigate the potentially catastrophic and devastating effects of global warming. However, reliance on such organisations for environmental solutions is ill-advised; profit-motivated companies cannot form the basis of our efforts to combat climate change.

Moreover, most members of society are unaware of the fact that the potency of greenhouse gases mean that they can remain present in the atmosphere for up to one hundred years, thus rendering all efforts at mitigation futile. Some scientists estimate that the world has already experienced such a large temperature increase that adaptation, not mitigation, is now the only possible option. Change cannot come quickly enough. Across the world, desperate civilians are tirelessly marching and campaigning for awareness, but their pleas are falling on deaf ears. Change doesn’t happen at an individual level, it

happens at a governmental level.

Personal efforts to combat climate change are admirable, but the root cause of the issue must be targeted; giant polluters cannot continue unrestrained and unregulated. Widespread governmental and international action is needed to enact true reform and that will only happen through the active involvement of all citizens through civic and political movements.

In the immortalized words of Ban Ki Moon, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, ‘We are the first generation that can end poverty, the last that can end climate change.

Future generations will judge us harshly if we fail to uphold our moral and historical responsibilities’.

Humanity is at a vital crossroads, a point of crisis: international cooperation is needed now more than ever to address the challenges of our time.

Shockingly, many are failing to see the parallels between the downfall of the League and the isolationist ideologies of the 1920s, which led to the outbreak of World War II, and the refusal of modern day politicians to acknowledge the need for effective international cooperation.

If we do not learn from the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat it.

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QUINTON LEUNG

CHINESE HEGEMONY: EXCEPTIONALISM AND ‘SOFT POWER’ IN THE MING TREASURE VOYAGES By Reese Wong

T

he Ming Treasure Voyages were a series of seven far-reaching maritime expeditions, spanning from 1405 to 1433. Led by imperial eunuch and admiral Zheng He, the expeditionary voyages travelled to Southeast Asia, South Asia and - most eminently - as far as the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. Poised to circumnavigate the whole world, the voyages marked a period of Chinese exceptionalism.

A period in which China was the indisputable regional hegemon, advancing trade and diplomatic relations with the ‘Known World’.

Contemporaneously, a consensus is given such that the voyages’ main functions are seen to be overwhelmingly political, rather than ‘exploratory’; it allowed the Ming Empire to expand its - already preponderant - sphere of influence through amalgamations of soft and - less conceded - hard power approaches. Indeed, one may argue that the comparatively soft-power elements in China’s historical and contemporary rise to power marks the distinctive Chinese conceptualization of hegemony. This stands in contrast to the imperialistic approaches of the West - as encapsulated through the ‘discovery of the New World’ and the modern rise of ‘Pax Britannica’ and by transition in the 20th century, a ‘Pax Americana’.

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The pretensions and extent of soft power in the Ming Treasure Voyages will be scrutinised. The

The expansionist period and naval pre-eminence of the Ming Dynasty will also be contrasted with the ‘century of humiliation’, explicating how differentiated approaches to power manifests varying degrees of success in the East and the West - especially, the drawbacks of sinocentrism against the colonial and comparatively recent westphalian system.

A contemporary analysis will also be given through the retrospective lens of ‘China’s peaceful rise’ and the ‘China threat theory’, especially relevant considering modern China’s disruption of international polarity and increasingly expansionist foreign strategy. Unveiled in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, the Chinese-led BRI (Belt-road Initiative) seeks the revivification of the historical Maritime Silk Road and, by that token, what some contend to be the formation of a neo-tributary system - both of which were historically consolidated by the Ming Treasure Voyages. Some further contend the re-ascendency of a Pax Sinica (Chinese peace).

In light of the aforesaid, the Ming Empire, being a historical regional hegemon - one that basked in a period of - albeit declining ‘Chinese peace’, lends insight into modern-day China. Both the BRI and the historical tributary system share vast elements of similitude the revivification thereof, perhaps.

Both systems - with sinocentrism as a fundament - are shrouded by

a quid-pro-quo system that manifests expansion through soft power and a symbiotic relationship between countries. Alternatively, it can be seen as self-aggrandizement by means of diplomatic and economic manipulation (sharp power); a comparative analysis will be conducted in this regard.

On ‘Chinese Exceptionalism’ in the Ming Dynasty One must first examine the remarkability of the voyages, which stem not only from its far-reaching nature, but also with its unprecedented fleet consisting of 27000 men, carried in what is purported to be 317 ships - all of this in the first voyage. Most astoundingly, Zheng He’s own nine-masted flagship measured approximately 400 feet long- the likes of which were hitherto unseen, dwarfing European ships until the invasion fleets of WW1. Comparatively, Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria - a ship that does not sail until 80 years later - measured 85 feet. The gargantuan nature of the armada in both magnitude and size of the ships per se serves as one exemplification of the exceptionalism of the Ming Dynasty and functioned to ‘awe’ foreign states and potential enemies, bringing immeasurable prestige for the Ming Empire - especially as it traversed through the rims of the Indian Ocean. Indeed, the Ming Dynasty had been extending its naval influence for the past 300

years, having been the preeminent maritime power for centuries. The armada was equipped with the latest advancements in propulsion, navigation and naval architecture - amalgamations of Chinese inventions and technologies adapted from the Indian Ocean and the South China Seas.

To project the indomitable force of the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di commissioned the construction of the acclaimed Treasure Ships - ships that were larger than what was necessitated.

The concomitant goods of such ships included gifts of silk, tea and porcelain; such goods are the perfect manifestation of soft power, enticing foreign civilisations through advancement and resplendency.

The impetus of ever-increasing naval superiority stemmed from the need to control the Maritime Silk Road and to facilitate Sino-Arab and Asian trade relations by means of the tributary system, fulfilling increased demand for spices and herbs amongst other commodities. Moreover, It is believed that the Yongle Emperor used the voyages as a means to instantiate his right to the throne, the ‘Mandate of Heaven’ - legitimizing his usurpation of the throne from his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor.

Soft Power As noted, the tributary system was of great importance to the Ming Empire and specifically, the Yongle Emperor. As such, the voyages sought to revivify, consolidate and enforce the tributary system. To this end, Short-term success was

evident, greatly expanding tributary relations and thereby overall commercial circulation amongst tribute countries - permeated influence was achieved, albeit, not for long.

The sinocentric worldview of Imperial China saw that all rulers of the world pivoted around the Emperor of China - from whom they derive their authority. Under such a system, Imperial China exercised suzerainty over the tribute states.

Indeed, it was an inherently asymmetric power structure. However, one must recognize the nature of China’s soft power appeal. Evidenced by the luxuriousness of the treasure voyages, the tribute countries did have much to gain.

The tributary system greatly facilitated Northeast and Southeast Asia’s international trade network, allowing the affairs of the tribute country to be intertwined with the hegemonic Imperial China - who controlled official trade routes.

After the submission into a suzerain-vassal relationship, and thereafter, an official ‘investiture’ of the foreign ruler, deputations were allowed to traverse to China to pay tribute, and as a measure of quid pro quo, given return bestowals it was very much a symbiotic relationship, albeit an asymmetrical one. Moreover, east-west trade relations and cultural exchange were also facilitated, with cosmopolitan discourse conducted on both the ships and in the Ming Empire - a short path towards internationalism. Through such means, China’s position was indubitably raised.

The narrative, as established, maintains that the Ming Treasure Voy-

ages can be adduced to exemplify China’s history of ‘peaceful rise’, a paradigm of symbiotic cooperation, benevolence and coexistence of nations - or so it is claimed. Indeed, the Chinese ability to form diplomatic relationships without resorting to imperialism through ‘conquering’ and ‘subjugation’ as enacted by the West. July 11th, 2005 - now known as China’s Maritime Day - marked the 600th anniversary of the voyages but only as of recent has Zheng He’s legacy been venerated and applauded in acclamation, and conveniently so indeed. The voyages perfectly exemplify China’s soft power appeal as President Xi Jinping seeks Chinese rejuvenation and the ‘Chinese Dream’. However, such claims of soft power are very much suspect - and in contemporary China, the new BRI and expansionist policies shrouds itself under the same pretensions.

It is claimed that the soft power appeal of Chinese traditionalism and ‘higher culture’ remains the preeminent reason for voluntary tributary involvement. Indeed, claiming the voyages were acts of ‘cultural expansion’, not military coercion - the modern narrative of the BRI remains similar, characterized as mutually-benefiting economic expansion, rather than predatory schemes. This, however, remains a disingenuous characterization. Proclamations were sent to foreign kings to either “submit” to the Ming Empire or either risk potential overwhelming military force and “pacification” - a risk surely noted given the over-militarization of Zheng He’s fleets.

Moreover, tribute countries had to reaffirm the supremacy of the

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had to reaffirm the supremacy of the Chinese Empire which exemplifies the inherently asymmetrical, non-egalitarian power structure entailed in the system - bargaining power was constrained. It was a truly hierarchical system, projected from the tenets of Confucianism in regards to structures of ‘father and son’ and ‘filial respect’.

Zheng He was also known to “walk like a tiger” and certainly did not stray away from necessary violence. To exemplify, Zheng He waged a land war against the kingdom of Kotte on Ceylon Island (an area now modern day Sri Lanka) for disobeying Ming authority.

Moreover, he flouted his military force when local officials threatened his fleet in Arabia and East Africa. As noted in Zheng He’s inscription in Liujia Harbour (1431): “When we arrived at the foreign countries, barbarian kings who resisted transformation and were not respectful we captured alive”. Of course, many conflicts were preempted due to the overwhelming might of the armada - rulers were threatened into submission.

It is indubitable that China did have soft power appeal, yet Beijing’s current narrative overlooks the nature of Zheng He’s voyages and the preponderance of power asymmetry involved - a primary reason for involvement in the tributary system as otherwise, it would have been unlikely - under free choice - for countries to accept the sinocentric ideal of Chinese supremacy.

The Fall Subsequent Ming rulers - after the death of the Yongle Emperor - retrospectively deemed such voyages to be of prodigality and that they were cost-beneficially ineffica-

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With redirected aims, such as the then-ensuing land war between the Yongle Emperor and the Mongols a war wherein naval supremacy was largely redundant, the voyages were stopped. Interfactional disputes between pro-expansionist eunuchs and the parsimonious Confucians resulted in the eventual dwindling of the former and the ascendency of the latter - the notions of human welfare taking precedent over state profit and ‘expansion’ remained cardinal in Confucian philosophy and the voyages were infractions of thereof. This was substantiated by reference to admonitions stipulated in the Huang-Ming Zuxun, the dynastic foundations left by the Hongwu Emperor for his descendants. Therein, Hongwu asserted the need for ‘austerity’ in practical administration. Moreover he regretted the profligacy and “high and unnecessary expenses” incurred through the tribute system of his time. With lack of support from civil officials, treasure voyages ceased and further attempts at reinitiation were precluded, eventually leading to the confiscation of Zheng He’s records and the destruction of his treasure fleet.

By extension, shipyards were shut down and ordinances were placed delineating that no ships with over two masts were to be made.

Crafts knowledge eventually faded, plunging the naval pre-eminence of the hegemon into oblivion. Further ordinances precluded trade with ‘foreigners’ - a turn to isolationism, with the tributary system breaking down thereafter. Economist Angus Deaton postulates that such ordinances were a reaction from the higher elites fearing the spread of mercantilism and free trade, which threatened the centrality of China’s economic prowess. The “passive” grounds by which Chinese traditionalism stood prevailed, indeed,

stood prevailed, indeed, Confucianism prevailed. As a result, agrarianism was perpetuated, in lieu of innovation and trade - the drawbacks of such insularity remain evident, as will be explored.

What ensued after the dwindling of the voyages and its concomitant ‘philosophy’ was the perpetuation of mediocrity; with the Industrial Revolution in the West and the general advancement and innovation, China was very much left behind - an agrarian state amidst a world that waited no more. Poised to circumnavigate the globe before Columbus, what was meant to be a beginning was the end. Zheng He’s legacy remained in oblivion until recent decades, with his stories told as mere tales and limited first-hand accounts. Not only was Zheng He’s cadaver tossed overboard at sea, but along with him the potentiality of the Chinese hegemony - a truly scintillating alternative to consider.

As the Ming Empire regressed, the West flourished and great strides were taken in ‘Enlightenment’.

What was, indeed, Chinese exceptionalism in the period of the Ming Dynasty dissipated.

Such reluctance in modernization and industrialization can be adduced to explain the advent of the China’s ‘century of humiliation’, as commenced by defeat at the hands of Great Britain in the First Opium War (1839-1842) and perpetuated by defeat at the hands of the Japanese in numerous conflicts. Moreover, The Treaty of Nanjing (1842) ratified after the First Opium War. which brought China ignominiously to its knee with what China now calls the ‘unequal treaties’.

The Qing government - which remained fragmented - were forced from protectionism to free trade under Western principles. More-

over, they had to pay high reparations cede territory to foreign ‘spheres of influence’. Among the reasons for the perpetuation of such a period would be the naval inferiority of the Qing Empire, especially in contrast to the advancements of the West in maritime technology, armaments and military strategy - as cultivated by imperialism and its conflicts. The potentiality brought upon by the Ming Treasure Voyages were neglected and from what could have been China’s rise, marked China’s downfall.

Another element to consider is the faults of the sinocentric system, which maintained the centrality of Chinese culture and influence without the general need for sinofication and colonial settlements.

As the purported centre of the world, China - fundamentally saw no need for expansionism and the retracement of the voyages are but one example thereof. As noted, China was grounded in the pacifist principles of Confucianism. Moreover, they regarded themselves as self-sufficient and even for trade, the Empire allowed for a centralized bureaucratic system, without the need to ‘conquer’, failing to consolidate an intercontinental Empire. This is a key differentiating factor in comparing the Colonial West and Imperial China - an eminent factor in the Western victory against the Qing Empire in the Opium War. Contemporarily, however, such systems are but vestiges given the emergence of the new hegemonies by name of the United States and as of recent, China - they seek to consolidate a Pax Americana or bring an age of Pax Sinica, respectively.

Ascendency Indeed, learning from its century of humiliation, China rises from the fetters of agrarianism as a result of Mao Zedong (the formation of the PRC) and Deng Xiaoping, the latter of which brought trade liberalization (the laissez-faire system) and modern foreign policy, embracing the utility of Western systems whilst prizing the foundations of Chinese tradition and culture - a gradual, yet effective paradigm shift. With the modernization of China, the West faces a formidable opponent that continues to disrupt international polarity. Just last year, the Chinese navy has become one of the world’s largest, comprising of more warships and submarines than the naval might of the United States - we see now the resurgence of the strength of the Ming dynasty and its voyages. In fact, the ascendency of China has given rise to admonitions by the international community regarding a ‘China threat’, whilst alternatively, China itself maintains its position of ‘peaceful emergence’ In actuality, China’s rise marks an amalgamation of soft, sharp and hard power approaches - as with the voyages.

regions - and through maritime advancement. Indeed, the Ming Treasure voyages - under the narrative of peaceful expansion - legitimizes the development of maritime power, all for the benefit of the re-emerged leviathan by name of China.

We must look carefully upon the political discourse of modern china and its purported ‘peaceful rise’.

The pretences of soft power in both the Ming Voyages and its facilitated tributary system remain a disingenuous characterization. The international community must be weary in the face of the revitalized China, as its unfettered ascendence harkens to the glory of the Ming Empire and its voyages. The ‘Chinese Dream’ will be a dream no more. ‘Humiliation’ will be no more. A new hegemon emerges.

The world must act with prudence.

With Xi Jinping’s initiation of the BRI, many see elements reminiscent of the tributary system. Under the shrouds of multilateralism and interconnectivity lies a potentially exploitative attempt to re-establish the sinocentric world order a scheme inherently geopolitical.

As with the tributary system, what transpires is an asymmetrical power system. Some claim the initiative to be a form of debt-trapping; this is in tandem to further expansionist policies both continentally - throughout infrastructurally deprived regions - and through mar-

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JUST

TICE

GULABI GANG by Belle Ho

F

or the average indian woman who suffers from patriarchal norm, a crippled justice system, and a dictatorship of no alternatives, the gulabi gang is that glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.

In a country which appears in the news predominantly due to rapes, women have to wield the stick and take on real-life villains themselves. It makes for a rare and emotive story of female empowerment worth spreading.

Known for their stunning pink saris and refusal to shy away from physical confrontation, the Gulabi Gang has become one of the most recognizable movements against gender violence and inequality in India. Active primarily in rural villages in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the Gulabi Gang is a self-proclaimed “gang for justice”.

It does not liken itself to a gang in the traditional sense, and asserts its role as more of a team that fights for equality.

The group did not keep official numbers, but according to the Hindustan Times, in 2014 the group was active in two states - Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and claimed around 270,000 members.

The Gulabi Gang cannot and should not be reduced to a gang in the vernacular sense. It uses a variety of nonviolent, direct action tactics, including marches. Members help illiterate women and lower

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caste people submit applications for government aid and access both civic and literacy education However, their willingness to physically confront, beat, and publicly shame oppressors overshadows its nonviolent efforts and has become inextricably linked to the group’s public image. In many ways, this image has led to the global popularity that sets the Gulabi Gang apart from many other contemporary groups. This, along with a combination of forces that inform mediations of activist women, make them the subject of books, documentary films, and various international articles.

However, the Gulabi Gang’s use of violent resistance affects its local, national, and international legibility in a variety of ways. It affects local interactions and political dynamics as well as the broader vocabularies within which the group is understood. Similarly, the Gulabi Gang’s use of violence is not a simple matter of choosing one tactic over another, but is animated by how violence is used in the group’s rural communities to enforce and maintain gender and caste stratification.

Contextualized in a rich history of negotiating the social configuration of women in India, the Gulabi Gang sets a challenge against conventional distinctions between violence and progressive forms of resistance that are privileged in both popular discourses and academic theory. The Gulabi Gang’s

The Gulabi Gang’s use of violence reflects and disrupts systemic patterns of violence as oppressive tools, shedding light on the rhetorical dimensions of violence as well as the limitations of dogged adherence to violence’s rhetorical nature in the name of particular notions of progress.

To this end, one should approach the Gulabi Gang as a counterpublic that used violence to articulate its counter publicity both locally and globally. Here, counterpublicity is primarily defined as the ability to “make possible new forms of gendered or sexual citizenship— meaning active participation in collective world making through publics of sex and gender” and the ability to go public, extending influence with regard to such world making through texts and their circulation. Gender has been a particularly potent rhetorical marker in India’s history. Colonialism, ideas of community, and Indian identity have often been implicitly and explicitly defended and maintained through the articulation of gender against the backdrop of certain social and political practices.

Consequently, gender citizenship does not just give meaning to the gendered body, but has the ability to improve communities and even the nation-state in a variety of ways.

MISOGYNY IN THE MIDDLE EAST by Jason Lo There are many lists of ranking countries regarding gender equality. These lists use different measurement methods and take different factors into consideration - but all the lists have middle eastern countries at the very bottom.

also agreed. When asked for their opinion on the statement, “a man should have the final word about the decision in the home,” 90% of men and 58.5% of women agreed.

It was found that many men were supportive of domestic violence, women staying at home rather Two years ago the female Iranian than working, prioritizing boys in football player, Niloufar Ardalan, education and more. who was the captain of the national football team was not allowed to A major reason behind the rigid leave the country. Why? Because patriarchy within the Middle East her husband did not give consent. is due to deeply ingrained patriarIndeed,one of Iran’s laws prohibits chal beliefs rooted in their culture women from leaving the country and reinforced in their education. without their husband’s approval. On the other hand, it is importThe justification of this law rests ant to note that the blame should on the fact that the lawmakers and not be wholly directed towards the legal committees believe that the men who hold these patriarchal husband should have the power to values. It is essential that they are prohibit the wife from leaving the recognized as victims of the status country to prevent her from jeop- quo and products of prevalent soardizing the dignity of the family cietal beliefs. or the husband himself.

On this note, though the urgency Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the issue should be acknowlof the iceberg. UN figures suggest edged, a more gradual and underthat at least 37% of Arab wom- standing approach may prove to be en have been exposed to violence best in tackling the issue. Rapid, during their lifetime, and 14% large scale changes are less likely of Arab girls are married before to work as this may result in huge reaching 18. Though many justify instability and disagreement across their actions by quoting religion, communities. a large portion of the misogyny stems from culture and patriarchal However, patriarchy does not solemindsets within the communities. ly exist within the Middle East, and other regions also face a patriarIn 2017, the “International Men chal crisis. and Gender Equality Survey” was conducted in multiple Mid- Though the issue remains, graddle Eastern states. One of the key ual, small steps have been taken findings was that the majority of already. In 2017, Saudi Arabia’s men believed in patriarchy, and crown prince Mohammed Bin quite a large portion of the women Salman gave women the right to

to drive. Within two years, more than 70,000 successfully obtained a drivers’ license.

One of the lamentable hindrances of the people’s efforts to obtain gender equality would be that many women right’s activists have been detained. Those detained include activists such as Aziza al-Yousef and Hatoon al-Fassi from Saudi Arabia. ALQST, a human rights organization in Saudi Arabia, reported that “none of the women had access to a lawyer.”

In this perspective, perhaps the right direction would be to target the injustices within the legal system. Another important thing to do would be to make sure that future generations are educated to believe in gender equality so that the cycle of patriarchy is eventually broken.

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HSSC WORD OF THE DAY WORD OF THE DAY WORDS Verbatim - in

Fastidious -

exactly the same words as were used originally.

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy

Circumlocution - the use of many

Ignominious -

Meritorious -

Assuage - make

deserving or causwords where fewer ing public disgrace would do, espeor shame. cially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive. deserving reward or praise.

(an unpleasant feeling) less intense..

Obstreperous -

Suffuse - gradu-

noisy and difficult to control.

ally spread through or over.

Doggedly -

Despondency -

in a manner that low spirits from loss shows tenacity and of hope or courgrim persistence. age; dejection.

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