Week #33 Articles {August 9 '21}
- The Bulletin Buzz
- Aug 9, 2021
- 10 min read
Articles by Ananya Nayar and Misaki Tomiyama.
Order of Articles-
Kid's Articles-
Other-
Greece Fires- What’s Happening?
Article By Misaki Tomiyama
TW- Mentions of Death and Injuries.
Fires sweep through Greece and Turkey, killing a few, and injuring many more. Firefighters have fought around 160 fires in Greece, while many are still blazing.
In Greece, a volunteer fighter was killed by a falling electric pole. Thousands of people have been requested to evacuate, among these people were residents and tourists of Evia island, an island in Greece.
Greece has been facing extreme weather and shifting winds this week, which aggravated the fires, and repeatedly changed its direction. The cause of the fires remain unknown, but three people have been arrested for suspicions for starting the blaze intentionally. (Read last week’s article to learn more about the causes of wildfires.)
Although most of the wildfires are human induced, high temperatures and climate change make forests more susceptible to wildfires. Temperatures rise as a result of climate change, which evaporates a lot of the moisture from the ground, and dries out the soil and vegetation. This makes forests and vegetation a lot more flammable.
Firefighters and planes are being sent from countries like France and the United States to help control the wildfires in Greece and Turkey. Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis points out that these fires show the “reality of climate change.”
5 Japanese Proverbs That Will Teach You A Valuable Lesson
Article By Misaki Tomiyama
You’ve probably heard of proverbs like- “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” or “It's better to be safe than sorry.” These are English proverbs, and they teach you some kind of lesson. However, have you ever heard of any Japanese proverbs? In this article, we will introduce five Japanese Proverbs that will make you think and will teach you an important lesson.
石橋を叩いて渡る- Ishibashi o tataite wataru
Knock on a stone bridge before passing it. Even if a stone bridge looks solid, it is always good to hit it and check if it is safe to cross. This means that you should always take precautions even if something seems safe.
清水の舞台から飛び降りる- Kiyomizu no butai kara tobioriru
Jumping from the Kiyomizu Stage. The Kiyomizu temple is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan and is famous for its wooden stage, which is 13 meters above the hillside below. The proverb suggests that jumping from the stage of the Kiyomizu temple is a huge decision, as it is extremely dangerous. However, sometimes it is worth the risk to do so, as it is said that you may not be injured when you jump off if your wish is granted, or you may die and become Buddhahood. This proverb means that sometimes, you should take a risk and plunge to make a big decision.
備えあれば憂いなし- Sonae areba urei nashi
Well prepared means no worries. This is a saying that if you are prepared in advance, you won’t have to worry about anything in case of an emergency. This means that it is always important to prepare regularly.
案ずるより産むが易し- Anzuru yori umuga yasushi
It is easier to do something than worry about it. Sometimes, we worry too much to make a decision, or do something. This proverb tells us that things can be surprisingly easy to do, when you do it, rather than worrying about it.
千里の道は一歩から- Senri no michi wa ippo kara
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This proverb explains that no matter how big a goal is, if you take small steps, you will eventually achieve your goal. It’s always important to remember that a long journey begins with a first step.
Top Athletes Dealing With Pressure
Article by Ananya Nayar
Professional athletes have always been admired for their talent, amazing performances and prizes. However, many surveys like an NCAA survey discovered that 30% of athletes reported feeling depressed over the course of a year. Competitive failure, injury recovery, body image, performance stress, training, media and so much more can lead to stress.
Female gymnasts are most likely to struggle with eating disorders. 48% of female collegiate athletes have reported symptoms of anxiety.
Injury, returning from injury, game day pressure, game day performance, opposition, scouting, competition for places, issues with form and so much more contribute to athlete distress.
“Imagine you had a bad day and then you had thousands of fans telling you you’re terrible…There is a massive stress in the game when you have to constantly be your best.” – said West Ham United footballer, Michail Antonio.
Now, let’s look at a few top athletes who have struggled and opened up about their mental health
On the 26th July (just two weeks ago) American Gymnast Simone Biles withdrew herself from her Olympic team final saying “after the performance I did, I just didn't want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now. "We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do. I don't trust myself as much any more. Maybe it's getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world. She continued to say “We're not just athletes. We're people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back."
Michael Phelps, a retired competitive swimmer, had won 28 Olympic medals. During an interview with CNN in 2018 he said that ‘after every Olympics I think I fell into a major state of depression.’ He has talked about using medication drugs and contemplating su*cide.
Aly Raisman, a retired American Gymnast and her teammates were victims of s*xual assault. It was revealed that the team doctor Larry Nassar abused hundreds of gymnasts by saying he was performing ‘treatments.’ He was sentenced to 175 years in prison. Raisman said “I’ve definitely had moments where I worried I’m always going to feel like this, but I’ve learned through therapy that I’m not going to feel like this forever. And so hopefully, the more I speak on it, the more people I can help. Even if I just help one person it was really worth it.” via People magazine
Olympic swimmer Allison Schmitt publicly talked about depression. She said she had contemplated su*cide, but a few months after that her teenage cousin died from su*cide. She revealed her illness and raised mental health awareness. Now, she speaks at schools and events to educate. In a 2017 interview with Women’s Health she said ‘Being vulnerable is not a weakness.’
We’ve all heard of Serena Williams- the tennis champion.
She lives a successful life, however, no matter how much you achieve you can still develop mental health issues. 10 years ago, she said she had been battling depression since winning Wimbledon just the year before mostly due to health issues and injuries.
These five, brave athletes are just a few of the survivors who battle mental health issues every day.
Wuhan Mass Covid Testing
Article by Ananya Nayar
On Monday, it was reported that 7 new cases of the Delta variant have been found in the Chinese city of Wuhan which is causing many to worry. Due to the rising concerns, they are to test the entire population of the city- which sums up to 11 million people.
The Delta variant, originating in India is highly transmissible- that’s why there was such a huge outbreak and disaster earlier this year in India.
Residents of Wuhan have been told not to panic, but as of now they are to remain at home and work from home. Rail connections, communication lines and a few highways have been temporarily suspended until they finish the mass testing and receive covid-negative lab results.
Right now, China is seeing one of its biggest outbreaks in months, with 300 new cases detected in just 10 days.
Kid's Articles-
Kid’s Corner: Corona Warriors Honoured with Barbie Dolls
Article by Ananya Nayar
As part of the brand Barbie’s #ThankYouHeroes campaign, Mattel decided to salute and appreciate the consistent and tireless efforts of doctors, nurses and
frontline workers who are working so much to keep us safe during the coronavirus pandemic. "Barbie recognises that all frontline workers have made tremendous sacrifices when confronting the pandemic and the challenges it heightened", said Lisa McKnight who is the Global Head at Barbie & Dolls.
The brand released a line of “One of a kind Barbie dolls” which included dolls replicating Professor Sarah Gilbert- who designed and led the development of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Oxford University, UK.
She said that she initially found the gesture ‘very strange’ but hoped it would inspire young girls to work in more STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math.)
“I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of girls into Stem careers and hope that children who see my Barbie will realise how vital careers in science are to help the world around us,” she said. “My wish is that my doll will show children careers they may not be aware of, like a vaccinologist.”
Professor Sarah Gilbert is only one of the six inspiring ‘role-model’ women who have had Barbie dolls created after them and their work.
Photo via bbc.com
US Healthcare workers Amy O’Sullivan and Dr. Audrey Cruz, Canadian campaigner and doctor Chika Stacy Oriiuwa, Brazilian biomedical researcher Dr. Jacqueline Goes de Jesus and Dr Kirby White who co-created reusable gowns for frontline workers are the 5 other heroes who have had Barbies designed in their respect.
Over the years, Mattel has previouslymade dolls to the likeness of stars including Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez and Cher, to celebrate milestones in their careers. In fact, just last month a Barbie doll modelled on tennis star Naomi Osaka sold out only hours after its launch.
Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo unveiled a Barbie doll in her image, she’s known for fighting racial inequality and championing women’s rights.
In 2019, Barbie was accused of having a “wokeover” after Mattel launched a new range of gender-inclusive dolls that are free of labels.
Barbies and Kens are becoming more inclusive by the minute- there are Barbie’s in wheelchairs, black Barbies with natural hair and Kens that have a more realistic body shape.
Other Articles-
This Week in History
By Ananya Nayar
Did you know that Hitler became the dictator of Germany on the 2nd of August 1934? Well, when the German President of the time Paul von Hinderburg died, Adolf Hitler became the Fuhrer, or dictator of Germany. He convinced Germany that they would reclaim what they lost in WW1.
On the 3rd of August 1492 Italian explorer Christopher Columbus set sail as the captain of the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina- which were the three ships that would set sail on the exploration. The boats journeyed out to possibly discover a western sea route to China, India and to get their hands on the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia. Many say Christopher Columbus discovered America and that is what has been taught to us but in reality, the American lands like the Bahamas were first inhabited by the Native Americans. Thanksgiving marks the day when the Native Americans sat down with the Europeans to celebrate the harvest.
On August 6th 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima by American bombers. America became the only country to use atomic bombs during the war of the mass fatalities, torture and pain caused by the bomb at the end of WW2. Japan surrendered just a few days later.
Approximately 80,000 people are killed as a direct result of the blast, and another 35,000 are injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout. The blast equivalent to the power of 15,000 tons of TNT reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed tens of thousands.
The first US satellite to ever take a photo of the earth from above was launched on August 7th 1959. The spacecraft Explorer 6, also commonly known as the ‘Paddlewheel’ was launched into orbit around earth. It had a photocell scanner that could take photos of the earth’s surface and cloud cover from a distance of 17,000 miles.
Did You Know? August 9 is International Day of the World's Indigenous People!
Article by Misaki Tomiyama
Celebrated every year on August 9, International Day of the World’s Indigenous people aims to spread awareness on world issues about indigenous people. This day also aims to celebrate all the actions and contributions people made to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people.
Around 5% of our population are indigenous people, and they fight every day for their survival, and for the protection of their cultural heritage. Many indigenous tribes and groups are not known, and there are about 5000 indigenous groups in the world.
It would be ideal if you can attend an indigenous community event near you, but because of the current circumstances, not many of us can do so. However, there are things you can do to promote the rights of indigenous people and spread awareness about this day. You can use the hashtag #InternationalDayOfTheWorldsIndigenousPeoples to promote the rights of indigenous people or to show your support. You can also learn about different indigenous peoples and their history! Here are a few reliable websites you can use for your learning- National Geographic, and the United Nations.
Book and Movie Reviews
Book of the Week: Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Reviewed by Ananya Nayar
I first read this book when I was around 10 but only reread it and understood it when I was 12. It’s safe to say I loved it- the characters, Melody, her thoughts, her perspective and everything.
I really enjoyed reading it and now I look and appreciate people like Melody and their experiences because of what society puts them through. It’s certainly teachable and I would recommend this to kids and adults alike. It’s raw and true- the storyline follows Melody who’s a young girl who cannot speak or walk, but what she does have is a photographic memory. Since she can’t do these things people think she’s stupid, can’t hear and they take pity on her. With the help of a machine she proves people wrong and shows that she is the same as them, and is human with the same thoughts and feelings. She does so well academically she excels- but it’s hard for her to prove to strangers that she is all that.
Age Recommendation- 9+
Rating out of Five Stars- 5/5
Movie of the Week: Sully
Reviewed by Misaki Tomiyama
Starring Tom Hanks, Sully is a movie based on a real-life event of the “2009’s Miracle on the Hudson.” Sully, a pilot, miraculously saves the life of 155 passengers and crew by landing the aircraft on the Hudson River after a bird strike destroys the aeroplane engines. To the world, he’s a hero, but doubts arise on whether he made the right decision to land on the Hudson, and whether he is an actual hero.
This movie is a movie that will teach you the importance of life and will allow you to explore the scary, yet extraordinary true story of a miracle aircraft landing. While exploring the doubts and traumas pilots face during investigations and emergency landings, this movie taught me the importance of our responsibility to defend the right actions. Watch the Trailer here!
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