Week #21 Articles {May 3, '21}
- The Bulletin Buzz
- May 3, 2021
- 25 min read
Articles Written By Ananya Nayar and Misaki Tomiyama, Website edited by Misaki Tomiyama
Good morning, readers! Due to our end of year exams, we were unable to continue the Bulletin Buzz for a few weeks due to revision etc. However, we are back now and aspire to make your weekly digest better than ever! :)
This Week's Articles-
Body Positivity vs. Systemic Fatphobia
The US and Military Aid to Afghanistan
Mental Health Awareness Month, and Mental Health
Types of Energy and Our Planet
India’s Second Wave of Coronavirus: Opinion Piece!!
Interview: How would Covid impact the tourism & travel industry in India over the next few years
What is Foreign Aid and Food Assistance?
This Week’s Topic- Pros and Cons of Media & the Effect on Youth
This Week’s Topic- The Billionaire Morning Routine
This Week in History
This Day Signifies- World Laughter Day
Book and Movie Reviews
Body Positivity vs. Systemic Fatphobia
Article By Ananya Nayar
All bodies do not look the same. We all have different colours, marks, curves and everybody is different and beautiful. So why do we only consider skinny and tall as beautiful?
Body positivity was a movement that originated in the 1960s-70s, it’s aim was to change society’s perception that one type of body is beautiful, to make sure body-inclusivity and self-love will not fade and for people to be more accepting towards all body types.
Let’s start with fatphobia- systemic fatphobia is a deep-rooted idea that we’ve all had, the misconception is that larger or curvier bodies are unhealthy and perpetuates or wants people to believe that there is the correct size and weight for a person to be-and a person should be ideally thin. Thin privilege, fat-shaming and more exist solely due to the ingrained ideology that only one type of body is perfect. This misjudgement is wrong because it makes people feel oppressed or superior, and leads to many health issues such as eating disorders, orthorexia and excessive and dangerous amounts of exercising. None of us will look the same even if we ate the same and did the same exercises. That’s why body inclusivity and positivity is important. The approach realises that body size is unrelated to physical fitness, that practicing intuitive self-care is important (this means learning to satisfy our bodies needs after everything they do for us,) cultivate self-love, treat our bodies with respect and make sure we feed, move and rest our bodies.
Body inclusivity embraces all our different and unique body shapes and sizes. However, body inclusivity is constantly shut down by capitalism and the media. Many brands and modeling agencies feed off the idea that one-size-fits-all (which is obviously not true,) we see only one type of models on the catwalks and on social media we really only see the same type of body.
To make sure we embrace our different shapes, brands should have different audiences for products and become diverse in every aspect and create pieces suitable for every body. We also need to empower ourselves and our youngest generation on social media to make them understand and include all bodies in their definition of beauty instead of holding onto the false idea that large is ugly. We see so much of the same body type every day, so let’s look at people who embraced their bodies & did something against fatphobia.
1.Paloma Elsesser
The British plus has appreciated and included every body. She’s confident and beautiful and has appeared on the cover of vogue too!
2.Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is a popular 95kg model- and she’s healthy, self-reliant and gorgeous.
3.Precious Lee
Miss Lee is certainly precious! The African American runway model is a hit in the modelling industry and has modelled tons of our favourite brands like Versace.
4.Adam Lee
Adam Lee has opened up to many magazines about his experience in the modelling industry. He wants to explore the line between masculinity and femininity and open the runway to more diverse body types- not only curvy body types but skinny ones too.
5.Zach Miko
Zach should be a role model, for all of us, he’s embraced and loved every part of himself as it should be!
The Afghanistan War, and US Involvement
Article by Misaki Tomiyama
President Biden has recently declared that the U.S. will pull out troops from Afghanistan over the next few months. President Biden commented that “it’s time to end America’s longest war.” We know how the U.S. is going to pull out troops, but why is there a war in Afghanistan anyway, and why was the U.S. sending troops in the first place?
You’ve probably heard of the September 11 attacks. Also known as the 9 11 attacks, it was a coordinated attack on the 11th of September, 2001, where 19 terrorists who were a member of the Islamist network hijacked commercial aeroplanes and flew the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. This attack killed 3000 people, and Osama Bin Laden, who was the head of al-Qaeda, an Islamist terror group, was the person responsible, according to investigations.
A month after the attacks, the U.S. launched airstrikes against Afghanistan, after the Taliban who ran Afghanistan (and protected Osama Bin Laden) refused to allow the U.S. to hand Bin Laden in. More countries joined the war, and eventually, the Taliban were removed from power. They relocated to Southern Afghanistan and across the border to Pakistan. The number of US troops in Afghanistan grew as the country put more money into the fight. The number of troops has been shrinking since then, however, with only around 4000 last December.
A lot of costs is involved in this ongoing war, and according to the US Department of Defense, until 2019, the U.S. has spent $778bn on military expenditure, and an additional $44bn on reconstruction projects, and a total of $822bn. Many believe there were more costs involved in the war, and some even lost to waste and fraud, but exact statistics remain unclear.
Since 2001, more than 2300 US soldiers have lost their lives, and more than 20,660 injured. Around 45,000 Afghan security forces have been killed, and nearly 111,000 civilians have been killed or injured during the war.
In February 2021, Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban and has said all the American forces will be pulled out by May 1, 2021. President Biden however, said that the May deadline would be difficult to meet amid the covid situation, and has postponed the deadline to September 11, which is also the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US in 2001.
Mental Health Awareness Month, and About Mental Health
Article By Misaki Tomiyama
Well, did you know? At least 1 in 5 of the world's children and adolescents struggle with their mental health or have a mental disorder. And that is a lot of people.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and is extremely important at every stage of our life- from childhood to adulthood. Our mental health determines and affects how we feel, act and handle stress.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is celebrated to raise awareness about mental health and to talk about how trauma can impact the physical, emotional and mental well-being of people. It was first observed in May in 1949, and since then, is celebrated every May to spread awareness on mental health and wellness.
You might have heard of these mental disorders- depression and anxiety, but do you know what it is? They are common mental health disorders, and depression or depressive disorders, "are characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration." Around 300 million people struggle with depression globally. Anxiety disorders refer to “a group of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear, including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, OCD and PTSD. " More than 284 million people struggle with anxiety globally. These two are more prevalent than you may think, and some people you know might be struggling with them.
(Definitions by the World Health Organisation)
So, how do you know if you have these mental disorders, or are having some difficulty with your mental health? Well, there are a few symptoms or warning signs of mental illnesses you can watch for. These include-
Changes in sleep or appetite
Loss of interest in the things you usually enjoy
Withdrawal from friends and family
High and low extremes of emotions
Confused thoughts
Inability to cope with stress
Significant tiredness
Suicidal thinking
(From Mayo Clinic and WebMD, for more warning signs, visit webmd.com and mayoclinic.org)
We have to look out for our mental health and make sure we are in our best state of mind. One way to do so is to talk about how you feel. If you feel you are struggling with your emotions, thoughts, feelings etc, talk to your family, or friends about what you are feeling. Telling people about your feelings isn't a sign of weakness. Yes, it may not be so easy, but it can greatly help you deal with times you feel troubled. Also, doing some exercise is a great way to keep a positive mindset. At a glance, exercise may not seem to impact how you feel, but your physical health has a great correlation with your mental health, and it has been scientifically proven that exercise benefits your mental health. Finally, accept who you are. It is always important to keep in mind that you are amazing, and no one can be perfect. Make sure you frequently think, and remind yourself that you are amazing, and make sure you feel good about yourself.
(From The Mental Health Foundation, for more tips, visit mentalhealthfoundation.org.uk)
Coming back to Mental Health Awareness May, you can do a few things to celebrate this amazing month. Reach out to friends/ family- If you think any of your friends or family members seem to be struggling with their mental health, make sure you reach out to them, tell them you are concerned and willing to help. Let them know you are there for them. Also, if you feel you are struggling with your mental health, tell people how you feel. You're not alone. Next, spread awareness- It is important to let people know about the importance of mental health, so more people are aware of how to help. And finally, share your support on social media- You can use the hashtags #breakthestigma #MentalHealth2021 #InThisTogether to help spread awareness and celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
We are in this together!
Types of Energy and Our Planet
Article By Ananya Nayar
Our planet is overwhelmed with environmental issues like global warming, pollution and more. The earth is suffocated by mass amounts of greenhouse gases- primarily caused by infrastructure, transport and energy. We use energy in our day to day lives and we can’t imagine life without it because our developments have led us this far. Nowadays, we can make a room bright in an instant, or find the nearest restaurant so quickly- but have you ever thought about what’s in it for the planet? We consume and produce so much energy and electricity- but it all isn’t necessarily safe and good for our environment.
If we look at these pie charts comparing the primary sources of energy in 2013 and 2020 we can see that oil, coal and gas are the biggest producers of energy. However, they are fossil fuels that are made from organic matter that has been deep inside the earth for many hundreds or thousands of years. Fossil fuels produce energy when they are combusted- or consumed by fire/heat and in the process, they release nitrogen oxides, methane, carbon & carbon dioxide, particulate matter and many other greenhouse gases. These gases are detrimental to our environment and us as they produce acid rain which is harmful to our bodies and plants (and then need chemicals to neutralise soil which harms animals and pollutes water,) these gases also contribute to global warming the most.
Greenhouse gases destroy the ozone layer in our earth’s atmosphere which causes the planet’s cooling system to deplete- making our planet warmer. Meanwhile, the Greenhouse gases form a layer in the troposphere and retain the sun’s warmth within the layer instead of letting the heat that’s supposed to escape the layer left, and infrared energy gets absorbed by this atmosphere and the excess energy radiates to earth’s surface. Consequently, our earth is trapped in this bubble of harmful gases and heat, with not enough plants and nature left to remove those damaging substances. This is also known as the greenhouse effect.
The Earth’s temperature has collectively risen large amounts- which may not look that large in this chart but have a huge effect on the environment.
Global warming affects animals the most, in the North and South pole, most animals are finding it hard to find food or are dying due to a rise in water temperatures or too much water as ice and snowmelt. Some animals like polar bears face the brunt of the situation and end up swimming for long periods- more than they are accustomed to and adapted to before drowning because there isn’t any ice or snow on the land for them to reside on. Fish from all over the world consume acid rain or choke on plastics or end up swimming in dangerously warm waters and eventually perish.
As we talked about, energy from fossil fuels isn’t good for the planet. For example, when producing energy from coal, the coal is taken from the earth and transported to a power station. At the power station, the coal is put in a furnace and heats water in the boiler to produce steam. Next, the steam at a high kinetic pressure point turns a turbine which turns a generator to make electricity. The extraction and mining of fossil fuels cause visual pollution and destroys our natural land, waste ash and particulate matter always remains, there are always the same greenhouse gases produced, and water when put to cool in rivers can kill marine life.
So, many countries are starting to move towards using renewable energy- which is never used up. Renewable energy can be used again and again, and in comparison, it’s so much better for the planet. In the past decade or so, renewable energy plants and sources have come about- you may have heard of solar energy, water energy and wind energy which are the three most common forms of renewable energy.
Solar energy comes from the sun, so the energy from the sun (which is not going to be ever used up) is taken into solar panels which are large machines that face up to the sky. Solar panels are expensive but efficient and they produce energy fast.
Next, there is wind energy, where fan-like structures stand high and rotate per the wind's strength. The rotations produce energy by in turn spinning a generator that provides energy.
Water energy is probably the most efficient source, with water energy you will never have the fear that the sun will set or the win will die down and not produce enough energy. Water energy is created through dams in rivers which also turn a generator as per the constant force of the water. The dams also create reservoirs which are like still lakes that provide water for wildlife. There are more types of renewable energy like geothermal energy from heat in the earth, tidal energy from the tides near rivers & wave energy from wave forces in the ocean. What’s great about renewable energy is that people can always control the amount of energy produced, to ensure no wastage unlike with non-renewable sources of energy like coal or oil which will be used up.
So, you may ask ‘Why don’t people use renewable energy instead, since it’s so much better?’ Well, renewable energy plants are often expensive, although durable they are quite costly. Many countries also don’t have the capacity, requirements and space to set up hundreds of acres of solar panels. Some countries may not have a fast-flowing, clean river to plant a dam and generate electricity or they may not have such heavy wind in certain regions, or there may be a chance of landslides which could affect the wind plants.
More is being done to achieve sustainable energy everywhere and by 2024 there is a realistic goal set for the world’s energy to be 30% clean/renewable. By 2050, solar power may make up 80% of a country’s energy demand, also supported by battery and water storage solutions to lower energy system costs.
India’s Second Wave of Coronavirus: Opinion Piece!!
Article By Ananya Nayar
India is currently facing an intense flood of new cases- and has been since mid-February. So far, India has had 15 million coronavirus cases and 180,000 deaths with approximately 150,000 new Covid cases every day. This second mutation has brought panic and stress to everybody and scientists believe that this severe surge is racing through the 1.3 billion population faster than ever expected. Now, this dangerous mutant is overwhelming the hospitals, crematoriums and testing facilities.
It has been reported that Covid tests are extremely difficult to book and that they will take up to 3-4 days for results, considering how many people want to get tested- this makes more people vulnerable to fatality by Covid the virus as they wait without results and let the virus crawl in the body. People have been struggling to find oxygen tanks and even get a hospital bed for their loved ones, as hospitals are suddenly under pressure due to the thousands seeking bedrest daily. Officials are currently working on bringing more Covid facilities and increasing the strength of oxygen beds, and they are also ensuring that the information of the number of facilities is correct on the app ‘Aarogya Setu’ which battles the virus and alerts you of new cases and such. Although there is slow progress, it remains difficult to combat the growing infection rate especially in the capital, New Delhi.
Simultaneously, elections are happening and mass flouting of Corona regulations is occurring. Mass rallies particularly in North India aren’t helping the current virus situation. Hundreds gather to parade for the parties in the election and large crows show up to greet and listen to the words of the Prime Minister. On the 17th, Narender Modi publicly encouraged the large crowds that assembled in front of him and said that he is ‘elated’ to see the number of supporters.
Of course, this sparked media controversy and many thought it was ridiculous for him to greet and welcome thousands in front of him who refused to social distance or abide by wearing masks- they thought that the PM should be focusing on combating the infection rate. Many thought that it’s irresponsible to even hold the elections at this time considering the massive and deadly variant that has risen. On the other hand, some say that many other ministers are dealing with Covid and ensuring the night curfew that has been introduced in Delhi from 10 pm to 6 am and the lockdowns in many other states, they say that it’s important to carry on with the election no matter how dangerous the circumstances reach. On the 19th of April, Delhi imposed a second lockdown after recording 25,000 new cases in the previous 24 hours.
Another major factor for this sudden spike in cases is the Kumbh Mela. In Uttarakhand, thousands gather in the Ganges water to bathe and cleanse themselves in devotion to God. Last year, the festival was not allowed- seeing that there would be no social distancing. However, this year tens of thousands gathered from all over the country to replenish and celebrate. Although all the pilgrims must quarantine post-festival, the mass meeting brought or will bring so many more cases. If we remember last year, there was an Islamic festival where devotees walked across many states- the government and many blamed them for ‘bringing cases everywhere’ - this was in November. Now, 20,000+ gathered without restrictions or masks to bathe themselves with little or no intervention by the government or police. This is only one example of the deep-rooted Islamophobia that India has. The Kumbh Mela continuing is a controversial topic- many of the devotees have left everything to God and felt they were obliged to practise their religion despite the happenings of the virus. On the other hand, some thought of it as irresponsible since the supporters are the primary cause of Covid cases in Bengal and other areas of North India, and due to the surge schools and offices are unable to continue in person which is detrimental from a point of view seeing that they are the primary factors for development and income in families. In Delhi, where the variant is striking the hardest, there should ideally be a strict lockdown. Yes, the economic growth may decline to an extent but in the bigger picture there are twice and thrice as many cases as there were last year- and in March-May 2020 there was an extremely strict lockdown and fewer number fatalities.
Email us your opinions on the Covid-19 affairs in India and your thoughts on how it is being dealt with.
Also check out our two new information posts, resources & guides about India and Covid on our Instagram account @the_bulletin_buzz !! (-:
Interview: How would Covid impact the tourism & travel industry in India over the next few years.
Article By Ananya Nayar
Hello everybody! Today I’ll be interviewing my dad (Sameer Nayar) and asking him a few questions on how the tourism industry has been affected and what does the future look like for it post-covid. Sameer Nayar is currently in charge of strategic development at the Oberoi Group, a brand of hotels that are in India and many parts of the world. He looks at expanding the business and finding new places to build hotels.
Interview: Impact of Covid on the travel and tourism industry in India 1. What has been the impact of Covid over the past 12-13 months on your industry? Was the impact of the first wave similar to the current wave? The past year has been difficult for travellers all over the world. Given the lockdowns imposed and the spread of the virus, people have preferred to note venture out of their homes. As a result, several hotels were initially shut and thereafter when opened had to adapt to the new world order. The first wave of the virus was all about dealing with the unknowns of the infection (how it spreads, is it dangerous) and was in the backdrop of uncertainty about a vaccine. Dealing with the second wave is going to be more challenging despite knowing the virus better and the availability of the vaccine as the spread has been very fast and the medical infrastructure is not able to cope with the challenges. 2. What measures have you taken to assure the travellers to stay at your properties We have taken a number of steps to ensure safety for our guests and employees. There has been enhanced focus on sanitization, increased automation and digitization to minimize physical contact, ensuring appropriate distancing and phasing of guests to avoid overcrowding. The rooms are thoroughly sanitized with hospital-grade cleaning products and the door handles, elevator buttons are frequently wiped. We have altered our dining practices and present chinaware and cutlery only when the guest is ready to be served their meal. Self-service from the buffets has been discouraged and the attending staff serves the guest at all times.
3. Are people travelling more for work or holidays? In recent months, we have seen a significant increase in leisure travel to our properties. Guests have been booking hotels for weddings, private parties and holidays. The resort properties in the hills and cities had been busy in the last few months. Business travellers who would typically stay in large city hotels such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore have not yet picked up. As several businesses have moved to virtual meetings, business travel has had a noticeable decline. The Government interactions, Court hearings are mostly taking place virtually which has reduced the need for travel. 4. Are you seeing international travellers coming to India? International travel will take some time in our view to resuming. It's a function of both the other country and India being Covid free and travel restrictions lifted. As we have seen the UK, USA had second waves in Dec 2020 - Feb 2021 timeframe whilst India has had a second wave since March 2021. Whilst vaccination will help and we are seeing vaccine passports being implemented, we don’t believe travel to India which is going through a severe second wave will be immediate. 5. When do you expect normalcy in travel and tourism? We hope that the vaccinations are implemented across the country and age groups at the earliest. At the moment whilst there is no nationwide lockdown, there are state-wise and local lockdowns. Plus the general population is hesitant to step out. With vaccination, we hope that people will be more assured to step out. It may be another 12-18 months before normalcy as the year 2019 returns to the travel industry.
What is Foreign Aid and Food Assistance?
Article By Ananya Nayar
Aid is support and assistance to a cause to achieve something, the aid could be tangible or intangible. For example, aid could be provided in the forms of money, goods, supplies or allies.
One form of aid is humanitarian aid, which is assistance supplied to people who are suffering/ have suffered diseases, people with health issues, or refugees, homeless, people in rehab and more. Humanitarian aid supports life-saving efforts. It provides food, healthcare, education, gives shelter, money, water and jobs to those requiring it.
Another type of aid is military aid which supports and assists the defence system of a country or help an undeveloped or developing country in protecting their respective territory. It finances the purchase of weapons, tanks, material, service and training for the army in another country. For example, the US government has provided more than 97 billion USD to militaries globally since 1950, currently providing to 150 countries.
Shaded areas are more developed countries whereas lighter areas are less developed countries.
Developed, or richer countries with a higher Gross Domestic Product usually supply aid to less-developed or developing countries. Developing countries have much of their population living under the poverty line, limited access to food and water, have lower life expectancy rates, lower literacy rates and more. Developing countries require aid to protect their territory, provide for their population and manage to maintain trade and income. Countries that are provided aid need to develop rapidly and often require aid after a war, humanitarian crisis or natural disaster. Providing aid expands the world’s economy and develops the country further by making them more independent and helping them grow. Developing countries generally have poorer public facilities, infrastructure, employment and healthcare, providing aid can help improve the quality of life, increase employment in secondary and tertiary sectors, and provide food, water, education and shelter for everyone.
Some benefits to LDC countries would be that it improves general public and healthcare facilities, builds more infrastructure like roads, buildings etc which also helps bring more people to secondary, quaternary and tertiary industries, aid also helps finance projects and trade or imports, improves employment and changes the employment structure in a country. This brings a better quality of life to citizens and makes countries stronger and gives them a push to develop more, rather than the same circle where developing countries stay developing and developed countries stay developed.
There are many advantages of providing or taking aid, including that it helps development especially after a crisis, natural disaster, war etc. For example, after an earthquake or hurricane, many countries supply aid to the country impacted to help them recover and compensate. It rebuilds livelihoods or builds livelihoods by also providing housing, education, hope for a better life, food, water, sanitation, healthcare, meaning it improves the quality of life and health. Aid saves the lives of those requiring support, aids agriculture, changes the employment structure so there are more jobs in more industries and sectors, this provides an opportunity, aid also provides an opportunity for education as well as jobs. Foreign aid reduces the poverty impact and increases the per capita income, also providing income to a country which is usually used constructively in improving infrastructure etc.
Countries that provide aid are often viewed in a better light, showing other countries that they are empathetic and supportive, so they can have strong relationships, which plays a role in strengthening allies, bonds and trade. These also improve export and investment opportunities. It also strengthens national independence, helps the country remain secure and prevents corruption.
However, supplying and taking aid also has its disadvantages. Foreign aid is known to often not reach people who are in more desperate need of it, it usually mostly benefits those who already have high standards of living and are higher on the economic ladder, naturally those in power and richer. In many cases, the financial support only reaches corrupt leaders who, as said, misuse it. A study showed that large-scale operations benefit most, rather than small farmers and workers and underprivileged.
Aid is often misused and not used for the originally stated purpose which keeps countries in their current state. Many countries offering aid only offer it for global favouritism, to improve their relationships with other countries. Many countries surprisingly do not benefit from the aid given, in 1996, the United Nations stated that ‘43 out of the 70 poorest countries that were given aid are in a poorer condition than they were before.’
Another con is that foreign aid significantly increases dependency on another country to support them throughout their crises. In 2006, 16% of Ghana’s GDP was produced only due to the US giving them steady financial aid.
A well known international organisation that provides aid to countries globally is the United Nations, which provides aid to all developing countries. The UN is subdivided into separate organisations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP). everybody
It is a food assistance branch of the United Nations that has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. The branch functions in around 100 developing countries. Their goal is to supply nutrition and improve food security to those who often go hungry or do not have a steady source of food or healthy foods. They understand that climate change causes food shortages or alters nutrition supply, so the WFP works to research the impacts of climate change and keep food secure. They work to solve the SDG goal ‘Zero Hunger’ and eliminate starvation and try to fight chronic malnutrition, especially in children by 2030, in 10 short years.
This Week's Topic- Pros and Cons of Media & the Effect on Youth
Article By Ananya Nayar
Media is everywhere around us- we’re constantly on social media or networking sites/applications, you can’t tell me you don’t watch TV, Netflix or even read the news and magazines because those are all forms of media.
Firstly, let’s start with the positive side- most forms of media are a mode of entertainment for the public and it’s a great way to channel creative energy and express yourself in so many creative ways. The things you see online could also be a huge source of inspiration, I see artists all over the internet and I’m inspired by their ideas every day. We can also develop social skills through the networks we are in, and chat with people online. The media is also incredibly helpful in developing our social and political perspectives and it allows us to form opinions. The media we are on also plays a huge role in developing self-confidence and it empowers introverts to express themselves and share their ideas. Many platforms are great for showing ourselves and boosting creativity and all, however, there are also many negative and dangerous sides to the
media.
The internet says that teenagers have anger issues, and they keep having mood swings and that they are very irresponsible and they shouldn’t be trusted. What if that isn’t true, it could become an excuse for bad behaviour and causes teenagers to act out because apparently, it’s what they do. The media also makes our mental health worse- which is why in this pandemic our mental health has worsened as a whole because we are on the internet so so much. People who spent time on social media become victims of anxiety because it adversely affects the thought processes that we have and our moods. The internet also favours particular cultures, religions and races which is harmful because that blurs the line of equality and no discrimination. Media can also easily and quickly spread false information and news considering how fast people believe what they see on the internet and how much people are on their devices. Doom-scrolling is the act of spending unproportionate time on social media for nothing, instead, our psychological behaviour is affected by unproductivity and that also harms our mental health. The media, especially magazines and social media reinforces stereotypes or an ideal standard for something which is most often inaccurate. This is harmful because we need to be progressing not moving backwards. The internet is also fake, there’s photoshop, editing and more that the videos and photos we see undergo and that gives people fear of missing out or makes them do things that may harm their body- like eating less to fit in the ‘ideal beauty standard.’
It’s not exactly great to spend a lot of your time on your gadgets, although the pandemic has forced us to, it’s still important to do some non-screen related activities and take breaks.
This Week’s topic- The Billionaire Morning Routine
Article By Misaki Tomiyama
You’ve probably wondered why billionaires are billionaires, or why they are so successful. Most of them aren’t born successful, but they become successful., well most of these billionaires have something one common. Their morning routine.
You’ve also probably come across or heard of the term “The Billionaire Morning Routine” on YouTube, or Instagram. It is taking social media by storm, and it tells us what a morning of most successful people are like. This morning routine is essentially meant to drive a positive reaction in a way to help you build healthy habits, right from the beginning of your day. Here is a list of things that are included in a successful person’s morning routine-
Waking up early- Successful people such as Jack Dorsey- co-founder of Twitter and Michelle Obama, respectively wake up at 5:30 and 4:30. Waking up early allows one to manage time wisely. However, sleep should not be sacrificed to wake up early, so successful people also sleep early. This easy they are sharper in the morning and start to get in tasks before the rest of the world is asleep.
Making the bed- Many people tend to go back to bed and sleep a second time after they wake up since their sleepiness takes over, however, this can be prevented just by making the bed the second you wake up. This greatly helps as no one wants to ruin a clean bed they just made! Also, this makes you feel more confident since you have already accomplished one task.
A glass of water- Drinking a glass of water right after you wake up can rehydrate your body after the 6-8 hours of sleep where you didn’t drink anything. Drinking a glass of water can fuel your brain, and make you more alert.
A cold shower- A cold shower after you wake up, can activate your neurons and get boosted. It wakes you up and improves the circulation of blood flow. This way, you can have a fresh and healthy start to a morning. (This may not apply to everyone and might even be dangerous sometimes, and staying in a cold shower for too long can decrease your body temperature and even make you sick. It is also a bad idea to take a cold shower if one has any cardiac conditions, as the cold water can stress the adrenal system of your body.)
Light exercise- Many successful people like to engage their body in the morning, such as by going for a run or doing some yoga. Exercising in the morning can keep your stress levels down, and boost confidence levels. Meditation can also be a great way to start your day and relax your thoughts. But don’t exercise to an intense amount, and this might make you tired throughout the day!
Journaling and planning- Journaling is a great way to organise your thoughts, improves your mood and helps you with your emotional wellbeing. You don’t have to write a 3-page long diary entry every single day, a page, or a paragraph or even a few sentences will make a difference. Planning is a wonderful thing to do in the morning as it helps you have a plan you can stick to throughout the day. A great way to do this is by writing a To-Do list. This prevents you from procrastinating, as you can get things done, as it makes you want to check things off.
These were a few steps of the “billionaire morning routine.” Please keep in mind that following these steps does not guarantee you being a billionaire, but just a few things you can do to start and have a productive day. Also, if you want to get a clearer understanding and see more tips and results of the billionaire morning routine, you can go on youtube and search up “billionaire morning routine” and you will see a lot of YouTubers trying it out.
Credits
This Week in History
Article by Ananya Nayar
In 1954, precisely on the 26th of March, the Polio (poliomyelitis) trials began. Polio is a highly infectious disease that occurs mostly in children and can paralyse them. In the early 1920s or so the disease blew out of proportion and caused an epidemic. Children from all over the world (almost two million at first) began to undergo the standard field trials. On the 12th of April the following year, the vaccine was declared a safe immunisation and it became a procedural shot for all children.
On April 27, 4977 B.C., the universe was created, according to German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler, considered a founder of modern science. Kepler is best known for his theories explaining the motion of planets. Kepler followed and studied the works of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who had invented a telescope with which he discovered lunar mountains and craters, the largest four satellites of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, among other things.
On the 30th of April 1945, Adolf Hitler, the anti-semitic dictator of Germany from 1930-1945 committed s*cide in his bunker because he knew Germany was going to lose the war as he had felt for the previous two years.
The 1st of May remembers the day in 1931 when US President Hubert Hoover dedicated the Empire State Building in New York and pressed the button that turned on the skyscraper’s lights.
Did You Know? 2nd May is World Laughter Day!
Article by Misaki Tomiyama
World Laughter Day, celebrated every year on May 2nd, is an international day, created by Dr Madan Kataria- founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement, in 1998. This day aims to spread a positive mindset, and a positive manifestation for world peace, and bring about love and happiness through laughter. It is now celebrated in more than 70 countries and is especially important in a time like this, where we are all living in an unprecedented time. Laughter is good for your health, and you can celebrate this day by spreading jokes, and you can use the hashtag #WorldLaughterDay on social media. Talk to your family and friends, and have a good laugh!
Book and Movie Reviews
Book Review by Ananya Nayar, Movie Review by Misaki Tomiyama
Book- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: ⅘ stars
My friend recommended this book to me and at first I wasn’t sold by it. The first 60-80 pages were boring but as soon as I got through that the plot built up and it became good. I like the characters because they were fully developed and interesting, they also had a good backstory which is important. Each character is unique and they all have different goals and ideas which is fun. What I liked most was the sudden plot twists in every corner of the story, the suspense was too much. I recommend giving the fantasy novel a try.
Movie- A Quiet Place: ⅘ stars, Age Rating- 13+
A Quiet Place is a thrilling and scary horror movie, but very different from the horror movies you know. This movie revolves around a family which lives in a post-apocalyptic world. Unknown species of blind monsters live in this mysterious world that has an acute sense of hearing. The only way to survive in this world is to not make any sort of noise- if they hear you, you die. This is a great move to make you jump and give you the chills, and definitely, one that will keep you awake at night.
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