AAAANNDD here are your December Warriors of the Month: Tiffany Tran, Darius Davidson and Max Miller in Grade Ten!

CONGRATS TIF, DARIUS AND MAX! HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL?

M: Surprised. I didn’t even know I was nominated – does that make me a bad person? Anyways, my ego is inflated enough as it is. This isn’t helping.

D: Surprised, like a little boy walking upon his parents putting presents in the tree
and eating the milk & cookies specially prepared for Santa. I’d like to give a special shout out to all the kitties in the world! Especially one kitty~ : )
T: Um kind of surprised?

LOL@ THE COOKIES THING!  MY DAD EATS THE COOKIES I LEAVE OUT FOR SANTA!

NEXT QUESTION: WHY DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU WERE NOMINATED?

M: I don’t know but let me tell you, it’s long overdue - hey, see?! It’s the ego!

 D: I think we we’re nominated because of Max. He’s got like secret connections in the underworld and he’s always making these shady deals with men in big, scruffy, black suits. Yoh, wait a minute! Why are you asking this question? You already told all of us why we were nominated! We were nominated because us three devoted students (With the exception of Tiffany because I like to exclude her for fun) had organized the canned food drive that was on Halloween.

 T: no idea?

HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE MIDDLE OF A TOOTSIE POP?

M: I did this once. Eight hundred something. Less if you’re Darius. That man has a lot of saliva. What, you want to know how I know that? No you don’t.

D: No, bad. Instead, how about how many licks does it NOT take to get to the middle of a tootsie pop? Obviously it’s four. I like the number four.. : o

T: I wouldn’t know cause I’m a CHOCOLATEFREEAK!

I L-O-V-E CHOCOLATE, IT’S NOT EVEN FUNNY.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS INVOLVED IN, IN SCHOOL? ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL?

T: I’m involved in action, WCP well that’s about it.

D: In school, I’m involved with the Reading Club at Norquay on Tuesdays, coaching kids with my fellow coaches in Fastbreak Basketball at Grenfell on Fridays, and the production of the school play. Outside of school, I go to work like what all the big boys and girls do. Most importantly though, I’m involved with my computer.
M: Peer ed, Fastbreak, WCP, and I have a radio show that had its first episode yesterday. Fun fact: I’m actually typing this before doing the show, so I have no idea if it’s going to bomb or not.

HOW MUCH WOOD WOULD A WOODCHUCK CHUCK IF A WOODCHUCK COULD CHUCK WOOD?
D: Whoa there, is this like, a trick question or something? Let’s not have it your way, what with all the woodchucks and such, but instead let’s have it my way! I would like to give a shout out to Aaron So. Just because.

M: You should really specify a period of time.

ANY HOBBIES?

M: Music is my passion. LCD Soundsystem is my favourite band of the moment, but my latest obsession is Hot Chip. You know what? Anything on the DFA label is great. Also, I enjoy alienating people through inside jokes. It makes me feel fuzzilicious. Haha, see? You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you? I do.

T: I like playing the piano and tutoring my cousins and eating chocolate!

D: Neopets. Yup… Other than that, I like to make videos of whatever and post them on Youtube. Hey hey guys, www.youtube.com/trennyboy  I think y’all should subscribe for good reason. : ) What I mainly do in my spare time though is chat online with people and hang out with special people. You all know who you are~ Especially you. : D

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE ADVERTISING SPACE TO YOU DARIUS?

OKAY, BEFORE YOUR GUYS’ TWO MINUTES OF FAME ARE UP, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. AND IT’S VERY, VERY SERIOUS:  YOU’RE IN AN AIRPLANE THAT’S ABOUT TO CRASH WITH MILEY CYRUS, NICK JONAS AND KATY PERRY. WHO WOULD YOU THROW OUT OF THE PLANE?

M: You’re not suggesting I save them? I’d be the one piloting the plane”

D: I would push myself out. There’s a limit to how much a person can endure.”

WELL! YOU GUYS BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK! IM BETTING THAT RIGHT ABOUT NOW A MILLION JONAS BROTHERS-CRAZED FANS ARE GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN WITH PITCHFORKS! HAVE FUN!

Editors Message

Goodbye November and hello December! The month we’ve all been waiting for because of WINTER BREAK! Those two long weeks mean sleeping in, spending quality time with friends and family, having snow ball fights, amazing dinners and of course NO SCHOOL! However, in all that fun don’t forget about the less fortunate who may have to spend their days and nights outside in the cold weather that is yet to get worse. So please donate that extra food and/or clothes that could help that somebody get through this difficult period. And remember; appreciate all that you have because many people around the world aren’t so lucky. From all of us from the Word Committee, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

On Behalf Of The Word Committee,

Gurjita Gadey

Reminder!

The cold weather has arrived and well more students are tempted to get rides to and from school. However, many parents have been seen idling! What is idling you ask, well it’s when you leave your engine running while you’re parked which produces excess carbon emission. We’ve all heard of Global Warming so do your part and educate your friends and family about idling because when you idle for more than 10 seconds it wastes more gas than restarting your car. We the Word challenge each and every one of you to be IDLE FREE!

Contest!

Can you finish the crossword puzzle? Well, if you do then write your name, grade, student number and email on that page and drop it off in the Word Box in the office or email us the answers at whs_word@yahoo.com and you will be entered in a draw. There will be two lucky winners who will win… well that’s a surprise! Good luck!

By Puneet Riar Gr. 12

At the end of World War Two, what remained of Nazi Germany was divided into four; each Allied powers claiming an area for its own. Britain, America and France took territories to the West and the Soviets took to the East. Berlin, the capital, was subdivided into four parts, even though it was deep in the Soviet territory. Because of Cold War tensions, the American, French and British territories became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the Soviet side became the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

West Germany became a capitalistic country with a market economy and a democratic government. The East created an authoritarian government with a Soviet-style economy. As the West’s economy and standard of life improved, many people, living in East Germany at the time, wanted to cross over. They feared that a Stalin-type ruling was going to take place and in 1950, 1951 and 1952, some 544,000 people fled. In the first six months of 1953, 226,000 fled to West Germany.

Up until 1952, crossing over to the other side was not a big problem, as there was no physical barrier blocking the two sides. In 1952, East German leaders met with Josef Stalin in Moscow. During the meeting, Stalin’s foreign minister proposed that a system of passes be created for visits for residents of West Berlin to East Berlin; this would hopefully stop the migration of residents to the West. Stalin agreed, and declared that a border should be put up between East and West Germany. The Inner German Border was then erected, but the border between the Western and Eastern sectors of Berlin remained open. Desperate GDR residents fled to the Western Berlin. The Soviets realized that this was not to their advantage, and so this wall was closed later on in 1952.

To further combat the issue of migration, East Germany introduced a new passport law on December 11, 1957. This cut down the number of people leaving East Germany but increased the number leaving through West Berlin. The Berlin sector border was essentially a “loophole” through which East Germans could still escape. By 1960, the massive emigration had left East Germany with a population where the working class accounted to 61%. Somewhere between $7B and $9B of manpower was lost because of engineers, teachers, lawyers, physicians and other skilled workers who had fled to the West. This lack of professionals is known as a “brain drain”.

August 1, 1961, was the date of the telephone call between Nikita Khrushchev and the GDR State Council chairman Walter Ulbricht, Khrushchev suggested erecting a wall. On August 12, 1961, at a government house garden party in East Berlin, Ulbricht complied and close down the border for the construction of the wall. This was the beginning of the Berlin Wall. At midnight on that day, the border was closed and the following morning German troops and workers put up barbed fence and ripped open the streets to make them impassable. The first concrete elements of the wall were put into place on August 15. Security was put in front of this construction in case any defectors tried to escape.

Now, it was especially difficult to travel or immigrate to West Germany. July 25, 1961 was the date that John F. Kennedy said in his speech that he could defend only West Berlin and Germany. Furthermore, the US government also said that they would not use force against the construction of the Wall. They also saw the wall as a way so that the Soviets would not take over the whole of Berlin. This could have also meant that there would have to be less military spending on Germany and that the money could remain in the National Treasury, set aside for different military spending.

As the construction wore on, it was widely accepted that the Wall was used so people would not flee over to the West side. As the years went on, the Wall was transformed, from a wire fence (1961), improved wire fence (1962-1965, concrete wall (1965-1975) finally becoming the Border Wall (1975-1989).

West Germans were authorized to enter East Germany, and not the other way around. Citizens from Western countries were also allowed to go into East Germany, as long as they had the proper visas. West Berliners were not allowed to visit the east side at all. The Wall had many border crossings, and according to nationality, there was a specific border crossing to go through. For example, Allied personnel and foreigners were to go to Checkpoint Charlie (crossing point between East and West Germany).

After the wall was built, there were still many attempts to cross over. There were successful attempts and failures. These people were killed by the shots fired by the guards (Grepos). Over 200 people were killed. Guards alike crossed over the Wall. People were desperate to escape, whether the method was running through tunnels and sewers, sliding along wires, or simply driving through the wall.

In June1987, President Ronald Reagan delivered his speech, and the famous line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” In the speech, Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to liberate the Soviet bloc areas.

Hungary removed its physical barrier with Austria on August 23, 1989, resulting in East Enders escaping to Austria. When defectors refused to return, East Germany allowed them to stay where they were. History repeated itself in Czechoslovakia. Residents of Eastern Germany were getting restless. Protesting voices chanted about leaving the East. The Exodus of people leaving East Germany found their way to Czechoslovakia. On November 9^th, 1989, the government, in order to ease complications, allowed their citizens to exit directly through the crossing points between East and West Germany. On the same day, they modified this stand to include private travel. Günter Schabowski made the news public in a conference, mistakenly declaring that it was effective immediately. Afterwards, tens of thousands of East Berliners massed the checkpoints in the Walls. Overwhelmed, the guards let them through without proper checks. The Easterners were welcomed by the Westerners. The Wall was down.

In the following weeks, people came to the wall with sledgehammers in order to chip off some of the Wall to keep as souvenirs, slowly destroying the Wall. The tearing down of the wall went on from June 13, 1990 to November 1991.

The Berlin Wall was the most hated symbol of the Cold War. It stood for division, oppression, suppression of humans, infamy, hatred and death. It showed how a simple barrier could tear apart a country, and its people. Could there be a justification for it? There was plenty of propaganda that went around supporting the Wall, claiming that it ensured peace and socialism and the authority of farmers and workers. The Eastern Government at the time said the Wall was to keep out aggression from the West. Myself, I think this conflict could have been avoided. I think that if the nations had intervened sooner, instead of trying to avoid the situation, something would have sparked. Instead accepting the Wall, the combined power of the nations could have formed a veto.

Ironically, the Berlin Wall offered a sort of security in the time of looseness of the Cold War. The Wall secured people on one side of it, and prevented them from being defectors; unlike in the Cold War where everything was chaos and nothing was definite. The fall of the Wall also provided a positive impact. Some say that it was a good thing because it showed the clear differences between a capitalistic and communist society and how one is better than the other. In my opinion, I think that the Wall was negative, because people don’t try to escape something that is positive.

By: Angela Ho & Nicole Yu

Imagine that you are an 11-year-old girl who is six months pregnant. You have no idea how babies are made, let alone what contraception is and how to use it.  You are not ready to be a mother, nor are you ready to leave your childhood behind so early. You will have to raise your child when you are still a child yourself…

Wait, what?

This is exactly what happened to 11-year-old Kordeza Zhelyazkova.

When Kordeza’s grandmother noticed that her granddaughter was putting on some weight, she also found out that her granddaughter was seeing a boy.  She immediately went out and purchased a pregnancy test. The result left the two stunned. “I just thought I’d been eating too many burgers,” said Kordeza, when she found out that she was about six months pregnant.

Kordeza met Jeliazko while being bullied by boys from her school – he fought off her tormentors. Jeliazko, 19-years-old at the time, fell in love with Kordeza. She asked him out on a date and they arranged to meet. At the time, he thought that Kordeza was 15-years-old. She never revealed her age; she didn’t want him to think she was too young for him. Two weeks after Kordeza’s 11^th birthday, she became pregnant, but wasn’t aware of her pregnancy until she was three short months away from giving birth.

On October 22^nd, 2009, Kordeza married Jeliazko and coincidentally gave birth while still dressed in her wedding gown. 20 minutes upon arriving at the local hospital, Kordeza gave birth to a healthy 5 ½ pound baby girl. The couple named her Violeta, after Jeliazko’s mother.

Kordeza currently lives in a one bedroom apartment with her baby and will receive £70 each month (about 123 Canadian dollars). She has decided to quit school to take care of her daughter. During an interview, she noted “I used to play with my toys but now [Violeta] is my new toy. I am a mother now, and Violeta is the child. I must grow up.” Jeliazko was faced with charges of having sex with a minor. If convicted, he will face up to 6 years in prison.

It might be hard for some to comprehend how on earth an 11-year-old became pregnant. In countries such as Canada or the United States, sexual education is taught in most schools. However, it’s important to remember that sexual education isn’t part of the curriculum everywhere in the world. In many third world countries, children do not attend school, therefore are unable to learn about the consequences of having unprotected sex. Contrastingly, developed countries are seeing a rise in teenage pregnancy, too. Kordeza lives in Sliven, Bulgaria, a nation where teenage pregnancy is a common occurrence. Kordeza’s grandmother noted, “It’s normal for our girls to have babies young. It’s our tradition.”  In other cultures, sex education may not be discussed as openly. If teenage pregnancies are normal in Bulgaria, shouldn’t these teenagers at least be educated, so they know what their choices are?

Teenage pregnancy can cause many problems for not only the teen, but also the people around them. For the mother, they could face several different issues. During the first few months of the pregnancy, most teenage mothers do not consult a doctor or go to a clinic. Without regular checkups, the mother would be unaware of any problems with fetal development. For the father, they could fall into a similar scenario like Jeliazko, where they could be sent to prison, if convicted. A problem for both the mother and father is financial instability. Medical bills, on top of the cost for baby supplies, can add up to an overwhelming number. In addition, since teenage pregnancy is usually unintentional it can alter plans for the teenager’s future. Instead of attending school, the teenager could become a stay-at-home mom or dad.

How can young parents understand the responsibilities of raising another human being? Are they even able to leave their childhood behind and become parents at such an early age? Don’t these teenagers deserve to know about the risks they face if they’re sexually active? There are teens that are educated, but most aren’t. Reasons could include that sexual education isn’t a part of a school’s curriculum or that schools aren’t even available to begin with. Perhaps some young parents are capable to adapt to their new life, developing and maturing, but some will continue to depend on others. Teenagers deserve to know about the choices they have. 

By: Kevin Liu, Grade 10

A boy in the hood,

Nothing he could understood.

He just hear the people scream,

Laughing, licking the ice cream

And he just stand aside,

Always something to hide.

Nothing comes out,

Cause every time he tries

He always cries.

The sight he sees, the things he sees.

He cannot describe,

It’s killing inside.

Every second, every moment,

The world is dying,

And we need people to be trying.

He’s hanging by the thread,

Wishing he could start all over again.

A new life.

By: Athina Pilarinos, Grade 11

Throughout the years, we have been targeted by large corporations in many different ways. One way that seems to affect and impact us greatly is the pursuit for healthy skin. For adults, corporations are telling them they need to look younger and push sales of anti-aging products. Corporations push zit zappers for teens, whom experience problems with acne and dry skin. How many of the products actually work? On average, a family of four spends about $12 000 on skin care products in one year! For starters, do we actually know what we’re rubbing onto our faces? Every skin care product that you put on your body is composed of many different chemicals. These chemicals, which are meant to clear up your acne, do their job for a short period of time. Afterward, the product ceases to be effective because your body becomes immune to the chemicals. In this case, skin care corporations recommend their other products that have a similar, if not equal, result. This process goes on forever, leaving the person always searching for a new product to help their skin, which is probably what those corporations want; more money!

Eventually, people have decided to go back to the basics by using skin care remedies with herbs, fruits, vegetables and etc. These solutions, also known as Homemade Skin Care Recipes, help clear up skin problems more effectively than rubbing unknown chemicals all over your face.

Homemade Skin Care Recipes and remedies are slowly becoming more and more popular. This is for one of two major reasons. First, they are inexpensive. Second, they work well for the majority of people. Also, homemade remedies have been around for centuries; they are made with ordinary ingredients and plants, and yield extraordinary results.

Dry skin is a problem for many girls that wear makeup. Makeup not only instigates breakouts, but it also creates problems with dry skin. An easy solution to this is to first hydrate your body – your skin will follow. Water and milk are excellent for preventing acne and dry skin, so just grab a glass of water or milk, and you’ll notice the difference. One of the simplest remedies turned out to be quite the savior for many people; all you need is milk and a cotton ball. Before you have a shower, wash your face with warm water, which will open your pores. Then, soak the cotton ball in some milk and spread it around your face, and then take a shower without washing it off. In the shower, the steam from the heat will open your pores even more and aids in letting the milk seep into your pores which cleans them out. At the end of your shower, you can wash the milk off your face. As a finishing touch, rinse your face with cold water. It is important that you use cold water because this acts as a toner. This form of toner closes your pores, furthermore preventing bacteria from getting in and causing acne or dry skin.

After years and years of trying different products, if you are beginning to realize that the product hasn’t worked up until now, chances are it never will. So try some natural skincare remedies that don’t involve the release of countless chemicals into your body; you’ll be surprised by its effectiveness! There are plenty of websites that you can look at online that offer many different homemade skincare remedies. Try it out!

By: Valerie Wong, Grade 11

Anyone who’s seen the newspaper headlines in the last few months knows that H1N1 pandemic is no joke; hence being classified as a pandemic by WHO (World Health Organization). There have been reported cases of patient mortality [not representing a large percentage of reported infections] – but aside from avoiding going out and large crowds [and civilization entirely] have we all thought about more modest, suitable methods of protecting ourselves that do not involve becoming a hermit?

You might ask yourself when the last time was that you saw your neighbour. Then you realize he’s locked himself in his house, turned off all the curtains and hiding under his bed. There’s hardly a day that you can take a stroll and not spot those conformity rectangular face masks, concealing the mouth and nose of its wearer from that ‘nasty, contaminated air’ that you’re breathing. It’s a ridiculous precaution – you’ll quickly learn in first aid – those paper-thin masks do not do much in filtering the air you breathe when wearing one. It’s a scam that allows companies to get away with the customer’s money, selling them something that doctors and nurses do not wear for the same reason. You’d think, with the more-or-less recent Avian Flu and SARS outbreaks in the past few years, citizens would be less likely to freak out, panic and take drastic measures and more likely to pick up that bottle of hand-sanitizer at their local grocery store and stop avoiding pork! Eating pork will not increase your chances of contracting H1N1! It’s important to figure out what is fact and fiction when it concerns your health and lifestyle.

Getting the flu during flu season is not something out of the ordinary. Everyone gets sick during the flu season months (usually ranging from November to April). Those of us, who are lucky enough to escape it, must be commended for paying attention in elementary school. Hygiene education began as early as then, when our teacher told us to cough into our sleeves, and not our hands. They gave firm orders to wash our hands often with soap and water – and not to eat anything off the ground. The advice, though you might’ve received it as a child, does not mean you can stop washing your hands and coughing into your sleeve once you’re 4 feet tall. The smallest modification of your lifestyle can make the biggest of changes.

The message of this article is to communicate to the readers [and those who are afraid] that we shouldn’t be hysterical with fear when we hear about more cases of H1N1 infecting people in our region of BC. We should handle all news regarding the H1N1 virus with calmness and level-headedness. Eat healthy, and get lots of sleep – good health warrants for a better immune system as well. Wash your hands with water and soap, especially after riding the sky train. If the train arrives and it’s packed full of commuters, if possible, try catching the next train or go at a later time. Remember that the simplest procedures you can take are also the most effective ones!

By Riya Talwar, Grade 9

In a perfect world where there is no war and no drama, everything is in peace. In actual reality, we live in a world where people make mistakes. Yet none of us can imagine what life is like for people living in war-torn countries.

I have no more tolerance for what’s going on. Too many people have died. Too many families have been left to suffer and too many kids have been deprived of proper education. Having just one of these problems is already too much.

We are spoiled. We walk a few steps to the kitchen to get a drink of water; while others walk several kilometres for contaminated water. We walk to the fridge and eat in gluttony; while others are dying from malnourishment.

I know the world needs improvement; don’t we all? So let go of all the small problems in your life; forgive and forget them. Think about the bigger picture.

By: Emily Chan, Grade 11

To Whom It May Concern,

 I’m writing this letter on behalf of environmentalists across the world. If you’re unaware, there will a world meeting taking place from December 11^th – December 18^th of this year. It’s taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is meant to create a replacement for the 2005 Kyoto Protocol.

This protocol was an international agreement to lower the amount of global production of greenhouse. In 2005, there were 187 states that agreed to follow a list of guidelines to reduce their carbon footprint. There were three mechanisms to the protocol.

The first was the Carbon Market. Its idea was to only allow each country to produce a certain amount of carbon. They were given “carbon credits,” which allowed each nation to produce a certain amount of greenhouse gasses. Otherwise, they would be destructing the environment because of these emissions. However, the wealthier countries were allowed to buy these carbon credits from the poorer countries, therefore enabling these richer countries to continue unreasonable carbon production.

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was the second mechanism to be deployed. It allowed countries pledged to Kyoto to implement projects to minimize the gas produced. Some alternative-energy initiatives include solar panels or energy-efficient boilers.

Finally, there was the Joint Implementation (JI). The concept is a bit more difficult, so keep up with me! Say there are two countries – use Canada and China as examples. Although this is similar to the Carbon Market, JI means that a country can take other countries’ carbon credits if they also provide financial aid. In this case, instead of just buying the credits, Canada would also be helping China with a greenhouse gas emission project.

               It’s truly upsetting that it was a failure. There, I said it.

 No one knows for sure why Kyoto failed. It could have been that they were trying to save the world with false solutions. Or maybe it was that the commitment just wasn’t there from the beginning. Some argue that it was because the country responsible for more than 25% of greenhouses gases worldwide refused to sign the protocol: the one and only United States of America. Canada alone was not able to meet our goal set in Kyoto. We ended up producing even more greenhouse gases than before.

Seeing how the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012, this was meant to be the last meeting for the governments to come up with a new climate agreement. The Copenhagen Protocol will be attended by more than 8000 people, which is part of the Conference of the Parties (COP). COP is a group of 192 nations who meet every year to discuss climate change. As each meeting gets the next number added onto COP, Kyoto was COP3, and now Copenhagen is COP15.

Now it’s our world leaders’ chance to think of solutions that will actually work. It’s time for them to step up to the plate; to listen to the citizens who are passionately fighting for the Earth. Our demands are not difficult to understand; however, the messages seem to have been lost in translation.

                Because, yet again, our world leaders seem to be failing us.

Recently released, decisions have been postponed. Instead of making a decision, while the fire is ignited and burning strong, they are taking the easy way out. Barack Obama, along with other world leaders, feels that there isn’t enough time to create an agreement to negotiate at the Copenhagen meetings. The climate bill was passed in June, but Democratic leaders in the Senate have admitted that the effort probably won’t happen until 2010. These world leaders feel like an important decision such as this should take a long time to decide on.

Connie Hedegaard, the president of the Copenhagen meeting, has a different opinion about this. “If the whole world comes to Copenhagen and leaves without making the needed political agreement, then I think it’s a failure that is not just about climate. Then it’s the whole global democratic system not being able to deliver results …it’s not an option.” (qtd. in “Failure in Copenhagen is not an option,” by Michael von Bülow, 2009)

Rest assured, the meeting is still taking place. However, an agreement will not be met. It was decided on November 15^th, 2009, that the Copenhagen conference will result in the discussion of the problems and possible solutions, but they will not decide on a new protocol to replace Kyoto until 2010 or even later. As a newly educated member of society, it is now your obligation to keep posted on this issue. It’s more than just a protocol – it’s a promise to give our children’s children a future to look forward to. More importantly, it’s a promise to give them a future at all.  

Sincerely Yours,

Emily Chan

Aries – It’s been raining a lot lately, but don’t despair! If you look hard enough, you’ll see the silver lining in even the darkest of clouds!

Taurus – Lucky You! This month, every test will seem easy, though that doesn’t mean you can give up on studying. So study hard! That way, when you get your cake, you can eat it too.

Gemini – Have you ever been afraid of something? This month your fears are going to end up in one of your dreams. Don’t be scared; stare your fear in the eyes and laugh in its face.

Cancer – This month, you will feel extremely generous to all your peers. Make sure to remember your own wants and needs before fully satisfying someone else’s!

Leo – You will feel horribly unlucky this December. It may seem that your life this month is a prime example of Murphy’s Law. Hold in your breath and get through this month positively!

Virgo – The end of the term has passed, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off! Keep up the ‘end of term’ pace or you’ll be sorry!

Libra – You will be seriously motivated to do everything that comes your way this month. Don’t overdo it though, or you’ll tire yourself out!

Scorpio – You might feel like a superhero this month, but don’t wear your spandex tights 24/7. Set aside some time for yourself. Don’t feel that you must solve EVERYBODY’s problems.

Sagittarius – This month, holiday shopping will seem like a breeze. You will stand in front of those crowds and charge right in. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for school hallways.

Capricorn – You will seem to have much more free time than usual. Use this time for resting and doing the things you love, before diving back into schoolwork.

Aquarius – This month, you’ll be busier than usual before the holidays. Just remember to take some time to breathe and look forward to the break. Don’t worry; you can do it!

Pisces – Bundle up nice and tight this winter or else you’ll regret it when you start to feel your nose running.



Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1. 84 % of all household _____ can be recycled.

3. Every ton of recycled _____ saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,100 kilowatts of electricity.

7. ___________ can reduce your trash and improve plant health and retain soil moisture.

8. 6.4 billion kilograms of trash is dumped into the ocean _____ year.

10. Americans use 2.5 million _______ bottles per hour.

DOWN

2. 1/3 of all water is used to flush the ______.

4. Reduce, reuse, ________

5. Recycling one aluminum ___ saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.

6. Only about 2.5% of the water on Earth is _____ water.

9. The top oil using country in the world is the ___

ACROSS

1. waste

3. paper

7. composting

8. every

10. plastic

DOWN

2. toilet

4. recycle

5. can

6. fresh

9. USA

By: Nicole Yu, Grade 9

Nowadays, the internet can be a scary place. It’s full of hackers, imposters and all sorts of suspicious activity. The key to staying safe on the internet is to make an excellent, secure password. How do you make a secure password? Follow these steps to find out.

 Step 1: Pick a random word, preferably in a different language.

                Example: pleut

Step 2: Scramble the letters so that they are unintelligible.

                Example: tlepu

Step 3: Capitalize some of the letters

                Example: TlePu

Step 4: Throw some numbers into the mix.

                Example: Tl1e9Pu8

Step 5: Finish with a couple of symbols.

                Example: Tl@1#e9&pu*8

 Of course, that would be very difficult to memorize, so write it down on a small piece of paper and hide it someplace you’ll remember. Take it out when you need to log in.  Don’t try to memorize the keys; try to memorize the keystrokes. When you’re confident that you’ve fully memorized this password, dispose of your hardcopy any way you wish. Make sure you don’t share it with anyone, because that’s one of the biggest mistakes people make concerning passwords.

Now that you’ve made a secure password, feel free to use the internet as you wish.  Have fun, everyone!

By: Puneet Riar, Grade 12

What’s another word for a politician? A liar? A saviour? Call them what you want, but the one thing that is for sure is they are supposed to represent the people. They are supposed to lead by example and practice what they preach. And underneath the suits and ties and promises, they really are just like us, common citizens. They don’t receive anything extra. Or do they?

On November 3^rd, federal New Democrat Leader Jack Layton refused the offer to get access to about 65 tickets for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games that were reserved for members of Parliament and senators. He said, “I think that members of Parliament shouldn’t be jumping in line in front of ordinary Canadians who would like to participate. We should get in line like anybody else.” The NDP said they were told that about 750 tickets would be available, about 350 for the Conservatives, 240 for the Liberals, and 90 for the Bloc Quebecois. The NDP would have been expected to have received 65 tickets.

Now, one reaction to this could be, “I wonder how many votes he’s going to get by saying that!” For a lot of politics-savvy people, this stance could be taken. Politicians do some crazy things for votes. Take for example, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. At a gala event in October, Harper got up on stage and sung The Beatles hit “With a Little Help from My Friends”. For our usually stiff leader, this little performance shocked the nation. Tons of Canadians stated “Little Stevie Blunder” took on that gig for votes. As many believe, politicians are just people who are out to get votes, get power and get anything else they can in the process and this “concert”, to many, was seen as an example of this selfishness. Others, who truly believe that politicians do take care of their citizens and don’t take anything extra, could take Jack Layton’s stance as “What a guy! He sure is doing the right thing!” As Layton stated himself, “I just think it’s the right thing to do. Our caucus discussed it (Wednesday) morning and it was unanimous and instant.”

The issue of politicians being handed reserved Olympic tickets could be called special treatment. While the rest of the country eagerly waits for the tickets, the political leaders get to jump the line. Whatever your stance is, the question becomes, should politicians receive special treatment? Our country is supposedly built upon a democracy and everyone is supposed to be treated equally, yet are some people “more equal than others”? It could be said that, many politicians receive exclusive treatment, especially when it comes to the law. There have been a massive amount of politicians who have the stain of scandals on their reputations, with fiascos like Premier Gordon Campbell’s DUI case, Brian Mulroney’s Airbus affair or even the war crimes that George Bush is accused of. Yet after maybe an investigation or two, the scandal is brushed aside and forgotten. If you as a civilian commit a crime, you do the time. Yet, do our politicians do the time?

More recently, what about politicians and their families obtaining swine flu shots before the rest of the country has? We all have the same vulnerability as our politicians to getting the flu, yet we take the shots after the political leaders do.

We can also take into account that when you are a politician, many things are paid for with the taxpayer’s money. When you are a citizen, well, you have to pay for your own things.

 With this, another factor arises. As representatives of a country, it seems required that politicians really should attend these kinds of events, especially if they are being hosted by the politicians’ country. Imagine having sports day at your school without your teachers being there! Then again, does it seem necessary for the politicians to be there? Some say that the Prime Minister should be there, but do you really need the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar present?

What about the government dipping their paws into the national treasury to buy things for themselves? Though this money is for government spending, it is not supposed to be for “government spending on itself”, but more like “government spending for national infrastructure”. The money of the treasury ultimately comes from the taxpayers and when politicians ride on the backs of the taxpayer’s, and when too much money is taken out, then there is a national debt. And who pays that national debt? The citizens. We clean up the mess that the politicians make. At any rate, is it fair for the political leaders to take our money and use it for their own wants? In my opinion, no.

By: Kaitlyn Fung, Grade 9  

Dedicated to Nickel; a toast to our thoughts.  

For me, the beginning of second term marks the end of those chaotic weeks of taking tests and completing projects. I can allow myself to relax for a while. Things will be easier for the next couple of weeks as I get back to my normal pace. This also allows me a bit of time to rest and prepare for the next term. Unfortunately, this is also the period of time when I start getting lazy. Several times in the past, my procrastination has cost me dearly, but I usually wake up and get to work in the nick of time.

I wonder why I become so lazy during these periods of time. Why do I work harder when the term is about to end versus the start of a term? I figure it’s because working extra hard toward the end will give a little boost to my percentage. It’s true: working hard does give you better results. Though if I’m concerned about getting a certain grade, why don’t I do my best regardless of where we stand in the term? In my case and perhaps in other’s as well, it’s a lack of motivation. Without the encroaching ‘last day to hand in work’, there seems to be no reason for the extra stress.

A while ago, during an interesting conversation with a friend, I suddenly brought up Stephen Hawking. Hawking is a genius, renowned for his theories in black holes, cosmology (study of the universe), and more. He is also virtually unable to move and speak. The scientist wasn’t always like that, but because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a disease that causes the nerves in the muscles to die), Hawking’s wheelchair became his legs and his voice can only be heard through a voice synthesizer. Nearly his entire body is paralyzed and he is just barely able to talk.  However, none of his physical ailments seem to be of any importance to Hawking as he continues to work just as hard. He does all this, despite the challenges he must face with the daily tasks of life. Simple communication might be impossible should his voice synthesizer ever develop even the simplest mechanical problem. Knowing this, here I am fussing over work at the metaphorical fork in the road; one being the path of diligence, the other being that of sluggishness.  

 In the end, I choose diligence. I have realized that there are others who cannot work as hard or as fast as I can. If they could, they would go well above and beyond what I have been achieving so far. This is my newly found motivation, not only for school work, but for everything else I do. I now appreciate what I have more, which is one of the important first steps in working to the best of my ability. Unfortunately for some people, their abilities become limited by twists of life. What about the rest of us who are lucky enough to be able to decide what to do with our ability? I myself only use scissors for arts and crafts, because the ‘scissors of laziness’ aren’t going to cut down on my maximum potential anymore. I’m not going to cut myself short, either.

By: Kimmy Basra & Gurjita Gadey, Grade 12

Describe your style.

My style is very casual, cool and comfortable.

Where do you buy your clothes?

I buy my clothes from Sears, Costco, The Bay, and Old Navy.

 What is the one thing that everyone should own?

Everybody should own a good T-shirt.

Does anyone influence your style?

No!

How do you make your hair so beautiful? What’s your secret?

I simply, wash and rinse once a day.

What teacher, besides Mr. Beetlestone and Ms. Singh, do you think has good style?

Mr. Ng has a very good style. It is very casual. He wears a lot of European T-shirts and soccer uniforms which are mostly Dutch soccer jerseys.

Hey warriors! Hope you had an awesome Halloween! Plus, I’d like to give a special shout out to those who participated in the Halloween can drive! Keep up the good work! Also, I hope you all ended October with a bam and are now ready to start the busy month of November. Anyways, this month’s issue consists of a wide variety of articles from fashion all the way to war so please have a read and I assure you that you’ll learn something new.  Also, don’t forget that you can visit us online at www.whsword.wordpress.com and leave comments on articles that appeal to you. In addition, if you have any ideas or criticism don’t be afraid to email us at whs_word@yahoo.com or write a comment to the editor on our website.

[On Behalf of the Word Committee,]

Gurjita Gadey

Where’s Waldo?

Can you spot Waldo with a poppy on your copy of the Windermere Word? Flip through the pages and take a good look because you might be one of the two lucky students to win a ticket to the upcoming school dance! If you are one of the lucky winners please come and claim your prize in room (castilho room #) after school on November 4^th.

Special Dates to Remember This Month

November 3^rd-6^th – Grad Photos

November 4^th – Take Our Kids to Work Day

November 11^th – Remembrance Day

November 13^th ­– Post-Secondary Day

November 20^th – End of Term One

November 20^th – Grad Transitions (written portion due)

November 25^th – School Dance

By: Valerie Wong, Grade 11

This column is a series of articles dedicated to the majority of us out there who aren’t of the voting age – never mind being in a position where we can actually shop until we drop!

Introduction: Who am I?

Hello there! My name is Valerie Wong and I’m currently in grade 11. I love fashion; clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it! I like to keep my style eclectic; I like the flowing hair and carefree/casual look – but I also like structure and clean lines. My shopping motto is: “Whatever looks good should make your wallet feel good, too.” Like a typical teenager, funds are often quite limited! We can’t go around just asking our parents to satisfy our every fashion whim, so I’ve developed my own fashion identity that definitely does not involve going out and buying everything at once.

Now, on to Business

How often have you seen something you wanted to buy, only to remember that you can’t afford it? It’s torture to tear yourself away from the shop windows that seem to call to you in tiny protesting voices… Well, you don’t need to feel that way anymore, thanks to five frugal fashion rules.

1. Buy your clothes on sale. You might be rolling your eyes at this: Why would I want to buy clothing that’s on sale because it’s going out of style? You’d be surprised at the things you can find in the sale section in a clothing store – a wardrobe staple never goes out of style.

2. Don’t follow trends. Though it might sound great to keep up with the constantly changing fashion world – chose the styles that suit your personal style and body-type! Though the 80’s are making a comeback, structured shoulders and bold flowered patterns aren’t for everyone! It’s also costly to always have to change your closet when the garments are no longer ‘in style’.

3. Try new things. Afraid to walk into that store because your friends have deemed it for old people and crazy cat ladies? Fear no more! There are some stores that are clearly geared for an older generation, but don’t let a stereotype stop you from being attracted to that nice SALE sign hanging in the shop window.

4. Don’t develop OSS. OSS is short for ‘one shopping stop’ syndrome. This is when you only shop at one place because you only like their style. OSS can become a problem especially if you’re just trying to buy one brand of clothing that everyone else has. This is a problem when your favourite store has a very limited sale rack, or never has sales at all! Broaden your shopping horizon – quite often, you’ll find the same things for less at places like Forever21 or Suzy Shier.

5. Splurge practically. Fictional fashionistas like Rebecca Bloomwood of the Shopaholic series had a really big problem. She bought everything she wanted! We can all relate to this at one time or another in our lives – when we’ve blown a fat wad of cash on something that we didn’t exactly need. To combat this problem, use your own judgment. Do you really need that item, or are do you just want ownership? Separate want from need – successfully separating liquid cash from debt!

Insider Shopping Tip:

- Forever21 has [very obviously] opened up its first store in mainland Vancouver – check it out when you’ve got the chance! 2 levels + appetizing prices = happy wallet, happy you.

- H&M is having its mid-season sale – it’s worth a peek if you’re very fashion forward. The current trends include furry vests - you will find no shortage of that in H&M! If the prices are unappealing to you now, wait until their even bigger sales in the summer!

- Army & Navy has no shortage of frugal finds and fantastic footwear. If you’re looking for a complete outfit, Army & Navy will definitely make that possible for under $100.

SOURCES:

http://www.readystudygoproject.net/IT/General/path5/foto/shopping_bags.jpg

http://specialoffers.starwoodhotels.com/uploadedFiles_Static/SOP/westin_tysons_corner/_Content/shopping.jpg

By: Puneet Riar, Grade 12

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

A lot of us think of Remembrance Day as a holiday; as a day off from school. This does not even come close to what the true meaning of Remembrance Day is. It is a day to look back, to give thanks to all the lives that died for us, who died for our country and for the freedom that we think is a given. When people think of Remembrance Day, they often think of the world-famous poem, “In Flanders Fields,”, but few know the actual, heart-wrenching feelings behind the simple poem that says so much.

On May 3^rd 1915, amidst the bombs and deaths, Canadian lieutenant colonel and physician John McCrae was prompted to write his famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.” The day before he wrote this famous poem, one of McCrae’s closest friends, Lt. Alexis Helmer, was killed while serving and was buried in a makeshift grave. At this time, poppies had begun to grow between the crosses, marking each one.  He wrote the poem but threw it away.  It was, fortunately, rescued by another office. Unable to save the lives of his friends, he instead gave soldiers a voice through his poem.

The poem is written with the hope of not forgetting. It tells the story of the larks continuing on, even though battles and deaths pursue below them. It reminds us that the dead were actual people and that just a while ago they had felt the wind brush against their skin. Not long ago, they watched the sun set and rise; they were living human beings. Now, their bodies have been absorbed by the Earth. This poem was to remind us that these fallen men were not just statistics in the newspapers, but were husbands, fathers and sons. Also reminding us that we must carry on, and that if we do not succeed, all those brave souls who died will have died for nothing.

Heritage; it’s often said that we, as Canada, don’t have one. As a nation, we’ve seen so many changes, and through Remembrance Day we can witness one of many. World War I changed this country forever in the way that it brought us a sense of unity; a sense that we belonged somewhere. The courageous soldiers fought and died for and on behalf of Canada, and for our independence. It seems to me that our soldier’s sacrifices are slowly being forgotten. We cannot afford to disrespect the soldiers in this way because frankly, we have not done well
by those who gave their youth for us.  Lest we forget.

SOURCES:

http://members.cox.net/neddysnook/france/etaples2.jpg

By: Emily Chan, Grade 11 & Puneet Riar, Grade 12

PRESENTING! Your November 2009 Warrior of the month: Chanel Ly!

Congratulations Chanel! You’re November’s Warrior of the Month! So, first of all, why do you think you were nominated?

C: I don’t know exactly… I didn’t even know I was nominated until I heard I won!

ARE YOU SERIOUS! It was, like, all over school! Haha! Jokes! Anyways, what kind of extracurricular stuff are you involved in?

C: Hmm… Currently, I am coordinating Windermere’s organic garden and I teach piano at elementary schools. I’m also this year’s community service liaison.

You have such an expensive name. How does it feel to be named after a high end fashion line?

C: It’s pretty handy to be named after the brand because my name would often be spelled wrong. All I have to do is refer to the brand.

I wish my name was Dolce and Gabbana Gucci Lacoste. Okay, random question. How many hats do you own?

C: I wear hats because they keep my ears from freezing off, so all I have are a couple of toques. I have one that my grandma knit that I secretly don’t like.

*GASP* don’t let your grandma see this. Tell me, how does it feel to be “Ms. Community Service Liaison?”

C: Pretty, pretty good, it’s definitely an honour, even if it can be stressful at times. I’m planning to start the Darfur Challenge at our school. The challenge is basically a competition among schools in Canada to raise the most funds for Darfur, where there is extreme violence among the people, especially children. This has resulted with 300,000 people killed and 3 million displaced. Please support our cause and check out whscommunity.weebly.com for updates! Oh and enter into the photo contest everyone!

So, you’re a big girl now in Grade 12. What are your plans after graduation?

C: I don’t have specific plans, but my plans are to study sustainable community development in university. After that, my future is undetermined. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a career that I’m passionate about doing and positively influencing others on the way. As they say, go with the flow!

The next David Suzuki anyone? Hee hee hee! I like to eat. If I came to your house and raided your fridge, what would I find in it?

C: You would be raiding my family fridge, which is filled with the usual family drinks and condiments, but with additional Chinese dinner leftovers and herbal stuff that looks like dried up hot dogs. If I had my own personal fridge, it would definitely contain cheese and dill pickles.

If you raided my fridge, it would have leftover curry in margarine containers. Hobbies? Interests?

C: I like to eat, sleep, volunteer, listen to music, plan events, and jelly fishing.

OH EM GEE! JELLYFISHING LIKE SPONGEBOB LIKES TO DO? LOL! Anyways, I’ll stop kidding around. I just have one more serious question. Be brutally honest, because it’s the real deal.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one’s around to hear it, DOES it make a sound?

C:  Of course it does. Well, if a glass bottle breaks at home and no one’s there to hear it, does it make a sound? The bears and rabbits would probably hear the tree fall anyway.

But, what about the… I mean YES! Exactly what I was thinking! Well Chanel, thanks for your time and congrats again!

White poppies first came out back on Armistice Day in 1933. At that time there was a lot of domestic and international tension. Plus, many were concerned that the countless lives that had been lost in the war to end all wars would now be followed by an even worse war. The white poppy was a symbol of this concern by mainly women who were mothers, sisters, widows and sweethearts of men killed in the First World War.

The white poppy has become a representation of our inability to resolve conflicts without turning to war. Many wars later and after the many lives taken for our so called freedom, the white poppy continues to remind us of the world’s failure to put a stop to war. While the red poppy raises money for the British Legion, the white poppy’s goal is to promote debate and gather support for resistance to war. It is a symbol of grief for EVERYONE harmed by war. However, more importantly it signifies a commitment to work for a world where conflicts are solved without violence and with justice.

Support both the red and white poppy campaigns and wear both close to your heart!

-Gurjita Gadey, Grade 12

SOURCES:

http://elizamagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/justinclayton_artwork.jpg

By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11

Our society exists in a world where money is everything. Business is everything – this is a world where presidents and CEO’s provide our country with the life we all enjoy. In other words, ours is a society where Friedman’s belief of the global free trade system has been entrenched into our minds; but it wasn’t easy. Although Milton Friedman won a Nobel Prize in economics, his capitalistic ideas weren’t an easy concept to pass, especially since he lived during a time of nationalization. Eventually, Friedman had his way, and his ideas evolved into our current free trade system, where almost everything is owned by a private company. This rise of capitalism is how Friedman created an economic miracle. Yet the majority of people didn’t know the terrible and shocking truth that was the result of Friedman’s ideas.

Milton was a man who believed that having restrictions on companies only slowed them down and didn’t bring out the full potential of the profits that could be made; he had to change how people thought. He did this by using what the CIA calls “cleaning the slate,” or in other words, emptying a person’s mind. As a result of ‘cleaning the slate’, Friedman could fill vulnerable minds with his ideas.

His idea came from a psychiatric practice called shock therapy, created by Dr. Ewen Cameron. In this form of therapy, patients were heavily tortured with drugs, electricity, and sensory deprivation. They were then forced to listen to a message over and over again in order to recreate their personality. Shock therapy was so effective because even the most resistant people would eventually give up, allowing for this mentally-incapacitating form of torture to take over their minds and break their defense. One story that I would like to share is the story of Gail Kastner, a woman in the United States, who was a part of an experiment to measure the effectiveness of shock therapy. The failure resulting is explained by Gail, who says: “The CIA tried to erase and remake me. But it didn’t work.” Unfortunately, Gail lost her “life,” all her memories, and her family disowned her. “[Dr. Cameron and the CIA] did this to me,” she stated in an interview with the author of Shock Doctrine. Another person who was a victim to torture was Juan Miranda, who suffered in Argentina. “They keep you in blindfolds and a hood with your hands and legs in chains, lying down on a foam mattress all day long, in the attic of the prison. Others have their senses starved.”  These were just some of the sad cases used to create a “blank slate,” yet rather than recreating personalities, shock therapy ruined their lives instead.

“For us, the fear and disorder offered real promise,” said Mike Battles, a thirty-four-year old ex-CIA operative. There are opportunities to implement plans that otherwise couldn’t have been implemented. This idea is called the Shock Doctrine, which is how Friedman’s ideas were constituted. Shock Doctrine entails that if one applies many shocks to a country, they will eventually be too exhausted to fight back.

A prime example of this is Pinochet in Chile, and Hurricane Katrina in New  Orleans. Pinochet, a military dictator who was friends with Friedman, led a coup against the president in 1973. During his reign, he deliberately put his country into a depression by privatizing everything. When things went from bad to worse, Friedman advised Pinochet to apply more shocks. Pinochet did, this resulted in a 17% increase in unemployment, a 45% fall of the population below the poverty line, and Chile became the 8^th most unequal country according to the UN. Yet Pinochet’s depression was noted by the New York Times (a private company) as “transforming a bankrupt economy into the most prosperous in Latin America,” although only 10% of Chile had their income increase by 85%.

In New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina became the opportunity that many were waiting for. Joseph Canizaro, a wealthy land developer, said, “We finally cleaned up public housing. We couldn’t do it, but God did. I think we have a clean sheet to start again and with that comes big opportunities.” On the other side where the grass is not as green, Jamar, who lives in a shelter now, comments, “I really don’t see it as cleaning up the city. What I see is that a lot of people got killed that shouldn’t have.” Others that were affected asked “What is wrong with these people? This isn’t an opportunity. It’s a goddamned tragedy. Are they blind?” A mother replied, “No, they’re not blind, they’re evil. They see just fine.” Not only was public housing wiped out, but the natural disaster also allowed for private schools to take over; a form of capitalism. Before Hurricane Katrina, there were 123 public schools. Afterwards, there were only 4, resulting in forty-seven hundred public school teachers to be fired.

In both of these examples, rebelling or fighting back would be extremely difficult. In Pinochet’s case, 3,200 disappeared or were executed, at least 80,000 imprisoned, and 200,000 fled the country. Fear was the main reason for not fighting back, although there were some that did. Rodolfo Walsh and Orlando Letelier both exposed the crimes of Friedman, the CIA, and the military dictators the result wasn’t pretty. Walsh was burned and dumped in a river, and Letelier was blown up by a planted bomb in his car. While in New Orleans, citizens lost everything, meaning they couldn’t fight a government that was their only savior. Ironically, this is how Friedman’s capitalistic system became known as a system that every society should try and emulate.

To put this all into perspective, our praised global free trade system isn’t all that great. People have been killed, depressions were implemented, and natural disasters became opportunities. We, the people, were part of this experiment and used by various corrupt organizations to make a profit. Quoting Robin Hood, “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” This remembrance day, don’t just pray for and remember the soldiers, remember to also pray for the millions of people who died because of one idea. Remember the thousands who’ve been tortured because they fought for our rights; lastly, remember their stories and how corporate privatization still hurts so many people today. “They’re not blind, they’re evil. They see just fine.”

By: Cassandra Ly, Grade 11

Do you have a pet at home? Dog? Cat? Bird? How about a ferret? Just a thought: How would you feel if your furry or feathery friend became an endangered species? Gradually disappearing? It’s reality and it’s the truth.  Our animals are slowly dying. Not just a couple hundred species, approximately more than 1000 have been placed under the Endangered Species Act, and the numbers are continuing to rise. The environmental, social, and trading impacts on our world are beyond what we as humans could have ever imagined. Evidently, it has caused our natural world to deteriorate at an appalling rate. I look at these images of animals and think to myself: What has our world become of?  The 10 animals listed below have been declared the most endangered species in our world, according to the World Wildlife Fund. We all are capable of preserving the lives of animals, no matter how big or small.

Porbeagle

Description: short, fleshy shark that can grow up to lengths of 4 metres long

Habitat: cold waters down to about 370 metres

Reason to endangerment:

• Greatly demanded internationally in the trading business due to its high-value in its meat and fins
• Has also been used as fertilizer

Spiny dogfish

Description: a lean, petite white-spotted shark; travels around in schools

Habitat: living in fresh, coastal waters

Reason to endangerment:

• Made into fish and chips in the UK
• Schillerlocken, a meat delicacy is consumed in Germany

Sawfish

Description: flat, saw-like snout fish; classified into seven different species

Habitat: lying flat and near the bottom of fresh and salt waters

Reason to endangerment:

• Traded to live in public aquariums
• Eaten for their fins and meat
• Snouts become souvenirs and ceremonial weapons

Tigers  

Description: black, striped cat-like creatures. Chinese wild tigers

Habitat: across Asia in India and China

Reason to endangerment:

• Face the risk of becoming extinct if tiger farms reopen the trade in tiger parts
• Fur, meat, and other parts used for medication

Asian rhinos

Description: large, horned, brown-greyish animals

Habitat: live by swampy areas, such as rivers

Reason to endangerment:

• Traditionally hunted down for their horn, used as a principal ingredient in medication
• Poaching and destroyed lowland habitats

Red and pink coral

Description: attractive and vibrant coral

Habitat: deep, rocky habitats

Reason to endangerment:

• Has been used for accessories (jewellery) and decorations
• Trawls and dredges have destroyed many, many colonies in the U.S.

European eel

Description: slender, dark marine animal

Habitat: marine or estuarine environments

Reason to endangerment:

• Overfishing and poaching (high value in adult meat)
• Rearing in aquaculture

Elephants

Description: grey, tusked, massive animals

Habitat: warm, grasslands; Africa and Asia

Reason to endangerment:

• Illegal trade in ivory (tusks) and poaching

Great apes

Description: black, furry/hairy, big animals

Habitat: in trees, forest dwellers

Reason to endangerment:

• Suffering from the illegal trade for pets
• Poaching for meat.
• Health disturbances, fragmentation, and destruction

 Bigleaf mahogany

Description: tall, large rainforest trees

Habitat: South and Central America

Reason to endangerment:

• Illegal logging and trading
• Massive exportation in Peru

INTERVIEW: Mr. Beetlestone

What would you say about your personal style?

I have 2 different styles. One is more professional, that I would wear to work. It consists of dress pants a button up shirt and nice shoes. The other is a more casual and laid back look that I would wear when I am not working.  I like to go for a more European look which includes skinny jeans, V-neck shirts, cardigans and more slim fitting clothing.

 What are you wearing right now?

My black diesel shirt, pants I bought from Zara and a great pair of shoes I purchased from Aldo. I think that you shouldn’t have to spend a lot for good clothing. I like to shop at stores that sell clothing at reasonable prices like Urban Outfitters. I believe people should try and be more creative with there wardrobe and that doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. Like this one jacket I bought from a thrift store was $10 and I love it. My friends are always asking where I got it from. But, the one thing I believe you shouldn’t cheap out on is jeans.

 Where do you get most of your fashion sense from?

Like most people I like to look through magazines and see what looks good. I also get a lot of my fashion sense from celebrities like Justin Timberlake and also David Beckham because he isn’t scared to try new things and take risks with his wardrobe. I think you should keep your eyes open but remember it depends on your body frame because certain things that look good on someone else may not look right on you. You need to find the right look that works with your assets. Something that doesn’t work for me is hats…

 You mentioned your wife worked at Aritzia. Does she have any input on your style?

Yes. My wife wants to be a personal dresser. She picks out almost everything I buy. I don’t ever go out without her opinion on what I am wearing. Actually, on my birthday she threw out half my wardrobe and bought me new clothes. I was shocked but I loved everything she bought me.

How important do you think it is to look good?

I think it is very important because when you look good it gives you confidence and also it makes you feel good. Plus, it shows people that you made an effort to look well. Also when you’re in a job interview and you come dressed well it shows the employer that you care about how you look and you are more respected. My wife encourages me to dress formal at work so I don’t start to think that I am one of the kids.

 What is the most expensive thing in your wardrobe?

My G-star raw jacket was about $300 and my Nudie jeans were also around $300.

 What is the ugliest thing you ever wore?

I used to have a really ugly haircut it was called an undercut and I put this stuff in my hair that made it go lighter when I  was in the sun and it was a hot day and my hair was orange. I looked like a Duracell battery when my hair started to grow back.

 What are some of your favorite stores?

Urban Outfitters, Boys Co., Zara, American Apparel, Banana Republic, Aldo (shoes), and of course the Thrift Stores

 What are your favorite colors to wear?

I prefer to wear black and white because it goes with everything. There more neutral colors and you can always accessorize them.

What do you think about the style of Windermere students?

I think the girls dress well but the boys tend to wear a lot of baggy clothing. I think the girls dress better than the boys. Overall Windermere students dress more casual I would have to say.

What do you think people should stay away from?

- Jeans and runners (but converse is good)

- A shirt under a button down shirt (people in England would laugh at you)

- You also have to make sure your pants are long enough

- Baggy clothes

What was your style like when you were younger?

Umm, I had to wear a uniform most of the time. It was ironic because the uniforms were there to make everyone look the same but that made us try harder to look different. Sometimes we would tuck in our ties so only the skinny end was showing. We would do anything to look different but in the end others would start copying you. 

 Who do you think is the most stylish teacher at Windermere?

That’s a tough one; I would have to say Ms. Singh.

SOURCES:

http://www.110livingston.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/urban-outfitters-shop.jpg

By: Riya Talwar, Grade 9

Money, cars, cell phones, iPods, televisions. I step outside and hear the cars honking and people swearing. I see the fierce competition of businesses, vying for sales. I walk to school and listen to the spare change clinking in my pocket. When I get to school and put everything in my locker, I notice that my mom has packed me a tuna sandwich with fresh slices of cheese and lettuce. Ugh, I hate tuna, I think as I walk over to the garbage can and throw it away. When the bell rings, I head off to class. The teacher distributes worksheets. A small paper cut is a cause for terror. Holding my wound, I get a band-aid from the first aid box. The day moves on and when the bell rings for dismissal, I take out my cell phone and turn up the jams. The screen lights up – I have just received a text message from an anonymous sender. It reads: I dream of what it’s like halfway around the world…

Poverty, Blisters, Lack Of Education, No Food, Contaminated Water. The sun is beating down on my face, sweat trickling down my cheeks. I woke up this morning with the intent of going down to the river to get water for my family. Today is my birthday; I’m six years old. I’ve been hungry all day, but right now, my family needs me. My bare feet are covered in blisters filled with dirt and pus. As I walk across the rocks and sand, I hold back the tears of pain, knowing my family is waiting for me back at home. They’re all that I have and all that I live for. My dream is to go to school with my friends, but we can’t afford it. I reach down with my water container and fill it to the brim with 20 litres.

As I carry it on my back, I am stunned by the heavy weight. The container filled, weighs almost as much as me. I carry the water container with a pole between my shoulder blades; it presses into my skin. Home is a wavy blur in the distance as the heat waves lift off of the stones and sand. Suddenly, I feel weightless; I’ve been knocked over. The military is here. Rising to my feet, my arm is bleeding fast. I’m dizzy and all I hear is silence. Instinct takes over, and I run over to the pile of rubble that was once my home. My eyes are full of tears. Burnt bodies lie on the ground; I recognize them as my mom, my dad, and my uncle.

They have been killed in the attack. Next to my dad is my sister, who is crying and telling him to wake up. “I want to hear my favourite story,” she cries. I am choked. This can’t be happening, I think. Feeling the ground move beneath my feet, I take my sister, and we run. For three days, we run far away from the place we once called home. We come to another village where my aunt lives. After I tell her what has happened, she sobs for days. The following days feel longer than ever.

To keep from thinking too hard, I visit my friend. Sometimes we play tag. He has water that he shares with me. My sister falls sick; she wasn’t getting enough to eat. She was weak and only four years old. She might not make it, my aunt has said. Eventually, it got so bad that she began coughing blood. She died on a Monday morning. In such a short time, I have lost everyone I love. I miss my mom’s hugs, my dad’s stories, my uncle’s humour, and my sister’s laugh. I want to die. I can’t handle this anymore.

When I close my eyes and go to bed, I hope for a better day.

“YOU OVER THERE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!”

“ C’MON, GIRL, SHOOT, SHOOT!”

The soldier looks at me and signals for another guard to fetch me. I tell my aunt I love her and after humming a short prayer, I run. The large guard catches me easily and takes me to the truck. I can hear my aunt screaming, “No, please, don’t take him!” But they don’t care; the heartless fiends shove me into the truck. We drive for hours, maybe days; I can’t breathe in the back of the truck. I can feel my lungs filling with dirt. Just when I thought I was taking my final breath, a soldier grabs and he pulls me out.

I am greeted by a man with strange yellow hair. Behind him is a plane – I’ve only seen pictures of planes before – he tells me to get in. I can’t read the words on the side of the plane and don’t know where we’re going. I get in anyways. I say my final prayers, and I cry with every step towards the plane. I am sent to the back. As the plane idles on the runway, I close my eyes and wonder where I’ll be tomorrow.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, I hear my alarm clock and I reach over to hit the snooze button. I can’t believe the dream I’ve just had. But I have the feeling that somewhere, halfway around the world, my strange dream is a reality for someone…