Week #55 {August 29 '23}
- The Bulletin Buzz
- Aug 29, 2023
- 4 min read
Articles by Rain Jha & Misaki Tomiyama
Articles:
Concerns about Japan’s Nuclear Waste Water
Article by Misaki Tomiyama
In 2011, Japan saw one of the most catastrophic earthquakes ever recorded: the Tōhoku earthquake which resulted in more than 18,000 casualties. Its human and infrastructural damage was evident, but as another consequence of this natural disaster, new issues have resurfaced. The Fukushima nuclear plant, located in the Tōhoku region, was severely damaged in the earthquake, making it accumulate millions of tons of radioactive waste over the years. This led Japan to decide to slowly release this radioactive waste into the ocean for over 30 years, a decision made without the approval of the United Nations. Many countries around the world are raising concerns and critiquing the decisions, which could potentially cause harm to the marine ecosystem. Local communities are concerned too, fearing the radioactive waste will impact the marine animals in the oceans, potentially making them unsafe to consume.
Over the years, water has been pumped into the nuclear reactors’ fuel rods to cool them down, but this water, which contaminates in the process, has accumulated to a point where storing them in tanks is becoming more difficult by the minute. This storage system creates two main problems: (i) the limited number of tanks available to store this contaminated water, and (ii) the possibility of the collapse of the tanks in a potential natural disaster.
The water is passed through the ALPS or Advanced Liquid Processing System, which removes as many radioactive substances as possible, except for two substances, tritium and carbon 14. The Japanese government claims that their plan entails a careful procedure of the dilution of the water to levels that have no impact on the human body, but others claim that the waste can cause problems if consumed in large quantities. Some scientists claim, however, that the oceans and environment are already naturally radioactive, and discharging this water into the oceans will not have any negative repercussions.
Donald Trump Arrested
By Rain Jha
Former President Donald Trump was arrested and booked at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta on charges related to an alleged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. The arrest is a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the former president's actions following his loss to President Joe Biden in the elections.
Trump's arrest was the result of a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) indictment, which accused him and 18 co-defendants of conspiring to subvert the electoral process. The charges against Trump include racketeering, fraud, and false statements. This marks the fourth time Trump has been arrested this year, but it's the first instance where a mugshot was taken.
Upon arrival at the Fulton County jail, Trump was fingerprinted and photographed for a mugshot, which was later released to the public. This is the first time in history that a U.S. president's mugshot has been taken. Trump's legal team arranged for a $200,000 bond to secure his release.
Trump's arrest triggered a flurry of activity, including statements from both the former president and his legal team. Trump maintained his innocence, declaring that he had done "nothing wrong".
The arrest also had a significant impact on Trump's political activities. Shortly after being booked, Trump's campaign used his mugshot to raise funds for his 2024 presidential bid. Trump's digital fundraisers said the mugshot was "the single most powerful photo in the history of online fundraising."
The legal proceedings surrounding Trump's arrest are expected to continue for months. An arraignment date for Trump's 13 criminal counts has been set for the week of September 5th. It still needs to be seen how the legal cases against Trump and his co-defendants will unfold.
Oppenheimer Review
Article by Rain Jha
Christopher Nolan's latest movie, "Oppenheimer," has exceeded the high hopes of devoted fans. This cinematic piece masterfully blends history and cinematic techniques to engage viewers with his adaptation of Oppenheimer’s biography, ‘American Prometheus’.
The film itself is about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant physicist at the heart of the atomic bomb's development in the Second World War. Nolan explores Oppenheimer's intricate character in the three hours, revealing his moral struggles and inner conflict.
Nolan’s cinematographer, Hoyte van Hoytema, vividly transports the audience to the 1940s, capturing every detail with stunning visuals. Ludwig Goransson’s emotive score adds another layer of depth leaving a lasting impression.
Characters are brought to life by an exceptional cast. The lead role, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, embodies Oppenheimer's brilliance and pain. The supporting cast all play incredibly authentic characters, driving the emotional narrative.
The film is very committed to historical accuracy, following the real-life figures central to the Manhattan Project with utmost focus on reality as it happened, highlighting Nolan’s approach to the subject matter.
"Oppenheimer" stands as a cinematic masterpiece—a seamless fusion of sentiment and history. Christopher Nolan's brilliance as a director is apparent throughout as he showcases his finesse in storytelling, and the impact of the movie is not lost at all.
Kid’s article: Why is Sunscreen so important?
By Misaki Tomiyama
The sun is important for all living beings to survive, but can also pose a huge threat to our health if we don’t protect it well enough. The Sun’s UV (Ultraviolet) rays can be divided into UVA (Ultraviolet A), which causes sunburns, and UVB (Ultraviolet B) which causes the skin to age. And so, we use sunscreen to protect our skin and body from the sun’s dangers, as sunscreen provides a barrier for the skin from the UV rays.
The physical blockers in sunscreen create a barrier on our skin, making the sun’s light reflect off skin, instead of being absorbed.
The effectiveness of sunscreens is determined by SPF or Sun Protection Factor. You can see the SPF (for example SPF 30 or SPF 50) on the label of the sunscreen, and it tells us how much the sunscreen can protect us from the UV rays.
UV rays can potentially cause skin cancer, as they help facilitate the creation of mutations in our DNA- this can lead to our body’s cells, which are in charge of protecting us, failing to do so. UV rays can also make the skin age faster by making the skin more elastic. Daily usage of sunscreen can help protect us from these dangers.
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