Week #31 Articles {July 26 '21}
- The Bulletin Buzz
- Jul 26, 2021
- 12 min read
Articles by Ananya Nayar and Misaki Tomiyama
Articles:
Kid's Articles:
Other Articles:
Are the Olympics Still Relevant? (Debate Perspective 1)
Article by Ananya Nayar
Disclaimer: This is an opinionated debate piece. The 2nd part of this debate 'Why the Olympics ARE Relevant today' will be posted in next week's articles.
The Olympics (or Games of the Olympiad) are a multi-sport, worldwide and prestigious event held every four years. The Games were first held in Athens in 1896 and this year they are being held in Tokyo, Japan and are held for a duration of 16 days after the opening ceremony.
The several days in which the Olympics are held have always been talked about as a way for the world to unite and come together to watch the sports, however, the Games have faced many ethical and political issues and that makes us question if the Olympics are still relevant today.
The first issue is the cost of building a new stadium and facilities every four years. According to officials, the budget for setting up the Olympics is $15.4 billion, but Japanese government auditors have said total spending tops $20 billion, almost three times the original forecast of around $7.4 billion when Tokyo put together its bid for the Olympics in 2013. At the end of the day it is always the taxpayers who are paying for the event, and this year over 80% of the hosting country’s population was against holding the Games.
Post-Olympics the stadiums are often abandoned and even graffitied, some are repurposed, which costs billions of dollars. Many are used as tourist attractions or turned into university stadiums, but ultimately, the one-time-use stadiums create a huge loss in revenue and are better left to collect dust. Take a look at a few photos of old Olympic stadiums that are now forgotten and no longer have a purpose.
We invest so much time and money into the two week event that we simultaneously lose out on long term benefits such as a better, assured healthcare system or clean roads.
Many people think that the Olympics should be hosted in the same few cities, simply to avoid land pollution, waste of money and space etc.
In continuation to the fact that lots of citizens are opposed, the residents are often burdened or displaced from their cities to make way for the Olympic games. For example, in 2008 Beijing hosted the games. To make way for the infrastructure, 1.5 million people (estimated number) were forcibly evicted from their homes with little compensation. They moved towards the outskirts of the city which was further from their jobs and families. In fact, most people said that the Olympics leave debt.
The environmental issues that are faced not only in the hosting city but worldwide are quite shocking. In the 2016 Rio games, there was a major health hazard as lots of the water became contaminated. Even in the winter games there is deforestation in order to build ski slopes etc along with deforestation in the summer games to make space. To fly all the athletes across the world also contributes to global warming. The United Nations Environment Programme also said that “building and managing a sport facility and operating an event uses energy and can contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, as well as to ozone-layer depletion, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution.”
The true excitement to represent your country has been lost. Now, it’s not about getting a gold medal and being proud- it’s about the millions of dollars that await the winners. This now overshadows the pride. Due to this there is always the incentive to cheat which brings us to the issue of doping scandals.
In competitive sports, doping is the use of banned athletic performance-enhancing drugs by athletic competitors. It is considered unethical and not allowed by most international sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee. Some substances may be insulin, diuretics, synthetic oxygen carriers, blood doping and more. Now, athletes have to go through several tests to prove that they aren’t on performance-enhancing steroids.
To conclude this side of the debate, the damage that the Olympics cause every four years is bigger and more worth attention than the Olympic games itself. An alternate idea or solution is required to prevent any more financial drain and environmental damage.
Which is more important? Public Safety or Citizen Privacy?
Article by Misaki Tomiyama
We all know that being safe is important, and governments work hard to maintain the safety of citizens, by catching criminals, preventings crimes, ensuring citizens are safe from the virus and so much more. However, a fairly new concept is beginning to alter the way citizens think, and it is citizen privacy. Is it acceptable if governments invade citizens’ privacy for the safety of them? Well, let’s explore the two sides of this topic.
Safety before privacy.
It is the role of the government to protect their citizens, so they have the right and responsibility to have personal information of citizens. Many believe that even if it involves invading privacy, it is morally correct if governments use them to protect citizens. It is a widely believed idea that the government should do anything to make sure their citizens are safe.
Another big idea is that if the governments do not invade the privacy of citizens, or have personal information of citizens, they will have no idea what citizens are up to. People might commit crimes, and the government will not know about such incidents, which will be dangerous for society. To control the public and make sure no one is doing any illegal activities, the government might have to invade citizens’ privacy.
Also, it can also be considered that allowing people to have their privacy can make them vulnerable to criminals. Governments, which have strong security, should have citizens’ private information and protect them, so criminals cannot have access to them, especially on the internet.
Privacy before safety.
An obvious reason some people think privacy is more important than safety is that it is a person’s right to have their own privacy. Many think it is morally incorrect to allow the government to invade their own privacy, as it is a fundamental right of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In some countries, citizens fear their government, and allowing them to invade their privacy might negatively impact the political authority of the government within the country. It is important for governments to be trusted by their citizens.
If citizens feel unsafe or vulnerable because the governments have their personal information, this might lead to uprisings and political unrest. Governments have the responsibility of respecting the voices of citizens.
Finally, allowing the government to have access to citizens' privacy, can actually be more dangerous than respecting their privacy. This is because all of the personal information of citizens will be in the hands of the government, but if a hacker or terrorist gets access to government documents, the lives of all citizens are in danger.
Photo via gmsa.com
Why Diversity is Important in Entertainment
Article by Ananya Nayar
The entertainment industry has a huge influence on society. Music, movies, TV shows, websites, magazines, plays, concerts etc fall into this industry. We all watch films, listen to music and so much more, right? It’s undeniable. Entertainment is an escape from the stress we face, our responsibilities and day to day life.
Since we are so entertained by the media we often see ourselves projected in characters and we sometimes see everything we aren’t or don’t have because what the entertainment industry usually produces is unrealistic scenarios. We begin to compare ourselves to the stereotypes or ideals depicted in media and form a negative body image or lower our self esteems.
As individuals continuously see films with false representation it can become injurious to their physical and mental health “when images and ideas presented at a young age take hold, and are reinforced over years of viewing, these images become reality and once these stereotypes and misconceptions become ingrained in the psyche of (American) children, they become self-perpetuating” (Horton, Price, and Brown).
The lack of diversity in entertainment is shocking- they feature little or no people of colour, independent women, LGBTQIA+ people, people of different backgrounds and classes, people with different features and body types and so much more.
Media representations describe how media portrays particular groups, communities, experiences, ideas, or topics from a particular ideological or value perspective.
Representation is important because people can relate to characters they find similarities with and help break stereotypes. It can make our world more progressive and open to new communities, genders and body types. Representation promotes inclusivity and tells us that everybody is different and unique. Most importantly diversity in media is required because it has the potential to drastically shape how society views minorities and how minorities view themselves.
The media usually depicts people with disabilities according to common stereotypes such as pity and heroism. The "supercrip" model, in which subjects are portrayed as heroically overcoming their afflictions, is also often used when reporting on people with disabilities.
Another common thing the media falsely depicts is the white saviour complex in volunteerism.
The white saviour complex refers to a white person doing charitable work or providing help to non-white people- for example sending food to poor and coloured children’s classrooms. This can be harmful because it falsely depicts that white people play the role of the hero.
The media has always grossly portrayed all types of minorities. Either their roles are non-existent or they play along to stereotypes. People feel validated and gain a sense of worth by seeing themselves reflected on screen. The integration of diverse filmmakers, directors, actors, and executives into the entertainment and media industries must increase. If we are to break the cycle of exclusion, white cis male normativity, no diversity and misrepresentation, then marginalised groups have to be given the voice to shape culture.
Kid's Corner:
Kid's Corner: Great Barrier Reef Regrowth
Article by Ananya Nayar
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It’s so large that it’s visible from the moon.
The Reef experienced bleaching events in 1980, 1982, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2016 and 2017. Some locations suffered severe damage, with up to 90% mortality. Global warming caused water temperatures to rise and human activity also damaged the coral- ultimately causing the reef to die.
Last year, it was declared that the coral has begun to recover since preventive measures were placed.
Coral reefs have a large role in our ecosystem. In fact, if they disappear forever then there could be a domino effect of destruction and marine species would sooner or later become extinct. Bleached coral will make coral-based tourism disappear as well which in turn leads to unemployment.
Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that the Great Barrier Reef was in fact showing signs of regrowth. A total of 127 reefs were surveyed, with 69 showing increases in hard coral cover.
A recent report published by The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) has shown that coral is starting to grow back in some areas of the reef despite being hit by mass coral-bleaching, cyclones and crown-of-thorns starfish.
To learn more about what's being done to save the reef you could visit (https://www.barrierreef.org/what-we-do/reef-recovery-2030)
Some Educational Anime Shows/Movies You Can Watch
By Misaki Tomiyama
Many people think of anime as a way to spend your free time, and some even think that anime can be a complete waste of time. Well, that is not entirely true, and there are some extremely educational anime shows out there that can teach you a lot, and make you smarter as well! Here are 5 anime shows/movies you can watch during the rest of your summer break, and help you become smarter, while having fun.
1. Cells At Work!
Available on Netflix
Cells at work, is an anime about cells in your body, and how they work to protect you. Throughout the episodes, you’ll come across different cells in your body, attacked by viruses, and so much more. It is pretty educational, and fun to watch.
2. Dr.STONE
Available on Netflix
Dr. STONE is an anime about Senku, a science genius who tries to rebuild society along with his best friend Taiju, after every human in the modern world mysteriously turns into stone. After Senku wakes up after thousands of years, he uses his scientific knowledge and makes concrete, gunpowder, automobiles and even a phone. It is an anime that combines actual science and excitement.
3. Death Note
Available on Netflix- for 12+
Death Note is not an educational anime series, but one that can teach you a lot about tactics and strategies, and will make you understand what kind of people society consists of. Death Note is about a high schooler, Yagami Light, who finds a Death Note- a notebook which allows him to kill anyone by writing their name and picturing their face. Light tries to make a world where three is no evil, but because of a mysterious detective ‘L’ his plan doesn’t go as planned. This anime can be pretty thrilling and scary, but it's one that can make you think a lot!
4. Detective Conan (Case Closed)
Available on Netflix- for 13+
This anime show is about a high schooler, Shinichi, who gets poisoned by a criminal group, and becomes a small child. As a junior high school student, he solves murder cases, and tries to track the man who has poisoned him. The tricks used for the murder cases in the series uses a lot of science, and makes you think critically. You can also acquire thinking skills by trying to decode the cryptography in the series.
5. A Silent Voice
Available on Netflix
A Silent Voice portrays the friendship of two high-school students, Shoyo Ishida, a quiet and introverted teenage boy and Shoko Nishimiya, a hearing-impaired girl, who cannot speak properly because of her hearing. Shoyo used to bully Nishimiya for her deafness. He tries to change and learns sign language. This movie depicts the subject of school bullying and suicide, and iwll give you an insight into how bullying is a very bad thing to do, while also learning some things about sign language. It is a heartwarming and lovely movie, and you will definitely cry when you watch this.
Other Articles:
Do You Know The 33 Olympic Sports?
By Misaki Tomiyama
The Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony took place on July 23, and the sport games have already begun. There are a total of 15,400 athletes, and a total of 33 sports. Do you Know all of them? Let’s go through them, and recap.
Athletics- Includes running, throwing and jumping.
Gymnastics- Includes Artistic, rhythmic and trampoline.
Aquatics- Includes swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming.
Badminton.
Baseball and Softball
Basketball- Includes basketball with 5 players, and also includes 3x3 basketball as a new sport.
Football (Soccer)
Golf
Handball
Hockey
Rugby
Table Tennis- Includes team competition and mix-gender doubles.
Tennis- Includes singles and doubles.
Volleyball- Includes court volleyball, and beach volleyball.
Boxing
Fencing
Judo
Karate- Includes Kata and Kumite. It is a new sport added to the olympic games this year.
Taekwondo
Wrestling
Archery
Canoe
Cycling- Includes track, road, mountain bike, BMX racing and BMX freestyle.
Equestrian- Includes jumping, dressage and eventing.
Modern pentathlon- Includes fencing, swimming, equestrian and laser run (shooting, running).
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Skateboard
Sports Climbing
Surfing
Triathlon- Includes swimming 1.5km, cycling 40 km and running 10km.
Weightlifting
Among these 33 sports, Karate, Skateboard, Sports Climbing and Surfing are new sports added to the Olympic games.
Book and Movie Reviews
By Ananya Nayar
Movie of the Week: East Side Sushi
East Side Sushi is a nice film to watch- the storyline, production, camera shots, characters and the whole essence of it is lovely.
In this, we follow Juana- a young lady with little money and a young daughter and father to take care of. They live in Mexico where Juana and her father sell fruit in the market each day.
One day, she is passing by a Japanese restaurant where she sees that they are in fact hiring. She takes the interview and gets a job cleaning dishes in the kitchen, however, she impresses the staff and begins to fill her large capacity for learning by making rice and cutting fish in the kitchen. Yet, she wants to be a sushi chef and she starts practising at home and becomes very good. Due to the fact that she is a latino and has coloured skin, she isn’t allowed to be a sushi chef because the restaurant ‘appreciates authenticity.’ She struggles to earn respect for a long time. Juana discovers a Sushi Championship and enters- hoping this will be her breakthrough, so now will she win and get to the position she’s worked so hard to find?
I liked how this film was diverse in characters and actors, and how the scenes were so well done. For example, the marketplace scene was vibrant and full of people. This movie also depicts bravery, determination, loyalty, respect and shows that everyone has a large capacity to learn. There are perfect cultural depictions as well- none of the characters fell into any stereotypes at all which is often hard to find in the media.
Rating out of 5 Stars- 5/5
Age Recommendation- 7+
Book of the Week: ‘The London Eye Mystery’ by Siobhan Dowd
The London Eye Mystery follows Kat & Ted- two siblings who are being visited by their cousin Salim who is a teenager around Kat’s age. The mystery actually begun in the middle of the book rather than the first few chapters since there was quite a bit of (useful) background information too. The siblings take Salim around London and let him go to the London eye- however, when Salim’s pod comes down he’s nowhere to be found. Fearing the worst, the police, Kat, Ted and their parents search for Salim.
The end of the book had an unexpected twist which was exciting but at the same time was disappointing because it was quite realistic (I personally prefer when books are less realistic.)
Age Recommendation- 10+
Rating out of 5 Stars- ⅗
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