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…

Aries – You will find yourself slacking off a lot this month, both from school work and physical activity. Don’t procrastinate, and maybe start walking to school.

Taurus – Easily distracted? Perhaps instead of doing homework in front of the TV,; try doing it at the desk. You’ll be back on track in no time.

Gemini – Your weakest subject will seem like the easiest this month! You will be speeding through assignments, and doing way better than usual. However, your best subject will seem harder. Just keep trying and you will do fine.

Cancer – You might be a little more sensitive than usual. It could be because you keep thinking of all the men that gave their lives in war, or it might not be. Just keep thinking happy thoughts, and be optimistic!

Leo – All this luck in the past two months will slide down, down and further down. But don’t despair! Right after Friday the 13th this month, you’ll get right back up on your feet and keep going on with your life.

Virgo - Report cards are coming at the end of the month, so you’ll start to feel relieved. But don’t! You’ll get careless, so keep working super hard and you’ll love the results.

Libra – Did you have fun trick-or-treating? Get lots of candy? Well, watch out and don’t eat all of it at once, or you’ll be sorry.

Scorpio – You might find yourself stressing out a bit too much. Just calm down, take a deep breath and count to ten. Maybe take a sip of water/coffee/whatever you drink when doing homework, and keep working hard.

Sagittarius – This month, you’ll feel like spring cleaning early. When digging out all the cleaning supplies to scrub the windows and wipe the counters, better start with your room first.

Capricorn – You might be exceptionally clumsy this month, tripping, slipping and falling all over the place. Be careful and watch your step, or you might trigger a domino effect in the stairways.

Aquarius – Watch your health this month you’ll be more prone to illnesses than anyone else. Bundle up before going outside and take care of yourself, or you’ll end up spreading it to everyone else.

Pisces – Spend your money wisely this month. Splurge once, splurge twice, splurge too many times and your wallet will be aching with emptiness.

SOURCES:

http://www.timegenie.com/astrology/zodiac/zodiac_chart.png

By: Emily Chan, Grade 11

It’s a day of remembrance, a day for thought, and a day of memories. For some, the memories will be of a loved one, killed in war as a prisoner. For others, thoughts and prayers will be with the soldiers currently fighting in wars around the world. Remembrance Day is “a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War.” In other words, we are meant to remember the veterans and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We wear the red poppy to show our remembrance and support for the troops. The symbol of the poppy is to honour the poppies that bloomed among the worst battlefields of World War II; the red colour came from the bloodshed. The significance is also credited to the Canadian Lt. Colonel and physician John McCrae, and his poem, In Flanders’ Fields.

However, this day of remembrance has changed over the years. Although the First World War was supposed to be “the War to end all Wars,” this has, sadly, not been the case. While we appreciate the lives of the soldiers, we are still not able to stop society’s ridiculous obsession with war. We hold this day of remembrance, yet wars continue even as we speak. While some are holding their two minutes of silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, others have forgotten why we celebrate Remembrance Day. It’s not supposed to be about supporting the war. We are remembering the sacrifices, while supporting the troops. War itself is not glamorous. Soldiers do not return with happiness and strength. The young men and women going to help their country end up becoming witnesses to atrocities that they could never have imagined. We all want to end war; so why does the media feel the need to subtly promote the ‘glamorous war’ concept?

I know of someone very close to me, who had to suffer in World War Two. This is possibly why I feel so passionately about putting an end to war. Although the mainstream media favours the mentioning of the historical invasion of Pearl Harbour during World War II, few know about the Battle of Hong Kong. Long story short, Japan was attacking Hong Kong on December 8th, 1941. As Hong Kong was part of the Commonwealth (which means that they were under British control), Canada was volunteered to defend Hong Kong against the brutal attacks of Japan. Canada was outnumbered three to one, with only 1,975 troops. Canada was able to hold out for a mere 18 days, and ending the war with surrender on December 25th, 1941. This is known as “Black Christmas” in Hong Kong. 290 Canadians were killed, and 493 were wounded. This left the rest to be captured by the Japanese and forced to live under terrible conditions; including malnourishment, being exposed to disease contraction, and long working hours.

My grandfather, William Rodgers, was a prisoner of this battle, under the Winnipeg Grenadiers. He left his home to fight for his country, and was one of the soldiers who were imprisoned by the Japanese. His fight in the battle took four years, and he was left terribly traumatized. Seeing how he had contracted diseases from the war, my grandpa was immediately hospitalized, along with many of his comrades.

I feel the need to mention that, before writing this article, I was unknowing of this battle. And here we are, trying to remember the soldiers’ lives sacrificed for our freedom, yet we are unaware of our own CANADIAN soldiers who had fought for us. Instead of supporting the troops, we are glamorizing a horrific experience. In fact, I’d venture to say that many of us have lost the true meaning of Remembrance Day. And when we forget the true meaning of Remembrance Day, we forget the soldiers, too.

SOURCES:

www.wikipedia.org

http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/canadians_in_the_battle_of_hong_kong

 http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/remembranceday/gfx/titlephoto2.jpg

By: Jhona Binos, Grade 12

 If you were given time to prepare for an encroaching typhoon, what would you do first? Would you be grabbing your iPod, clothes, food, or important papers perhaps? That’s not the case with many citizens in the Philippines who went through a sudden flash flood that changed their lives forever. Even though the people were given a heads up of an approaching storm, they were overwhelmed of how quickly the water built up in a short amount of time.

The first typhoon that brought upon the most shock for everyone was Ketsana (known as Ondoy for locals). It hit the central Luzon area on September 29, washing away everything in its way. I recall a conversation I had with my cousin after the storm calmed down, she described the current of the water being so strong it cleared out everyone’s belongings out of their houses. Doors, kitchen appliances, furniture; everything was gone in a flash. During this typhoon, there were plenty stranded on high ground; others were stuck on the second level of their house. There were some unlucky people who were in danger of experiencing the storm first-hand. My grandmother, who is bedridden because of her illness, was of big concern for my relatives. They were thinking of how they would move her through the strong flow of the water. They ended up improvising a little boat for her to sit on by deflating a big yoga ball, and tying rope securely to the makeshift boat for them to hold on to her. I don’t know what that looked like, but I’m glad it carried my grandmother to safety. Sadly, the count of dead bodies and casualties is still rising.

Immediately there are fingers pointing at those who might have caused this drastic flood. One points to the government’s negligence for not releasing the water early enough from the dams, instead waiting until they were nearly full and then finally releasing it; adding more water than before to the flood. Another finger points at the people for not taking care of its environment, hence, the clogged up waterways from accumulated garbage.

Just a week after Ketsana, typhoon Parma (known as Pepeng for locals) came on October 3^rd for a second round of tragedy. This time it moved to the northern part of Luzon, where it caused many landslides because of the heavy rain fall. Five major water dams continued to release water as Parma brought more chaos. To think it’s finally over after Parma, another typhoon starts to close in on a place named Lupit. In Tagalog, Lupit means cruel, which makes sense after being on standby and having people worry when the typhoon will  strike; then it suddenly turns northward and lets the Philippines be.

Despite all the catastrophic events, these are times when people realize that material goods don’t matter. Without stuff to define who you are, there are no social classes and everyone has the same equal status. It doesn’t make a difference if you were rich or poor before because what really matters now is helping each other out. One thing is for sure, they’re all thinking the same thing, “I’m happy to be alive.”

SOURCES:

http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/images/118/Philippines_typhoon_432_20091002.jpg

By Puneet Riar Grade 12

Picture this: Dallas, Texas 1963. Thousands of people line the streets, some holding signs that read “Welcome Mr. President”. Little boys on daddy’s shoulders patiently waiting for the president’s blue convertible as it turns the corner and starts approaching. The adoring crowd jumps on its feet, waving, cheering. From the president, a smile and a wave back. Suddenly, some commotion; a glint in the distance – BANG, BANG, BANG. Silence, birds fly.  A body in the blue convertible slouches back; bloody and motionless. People run. Screams, confusion and chaos ensue as the blue car speeds away.

That is what happened in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas on November 22^nd 1963. On that fateful, sunny fall day, the 35^th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated (killed by a bullet to the right side of his head). Now you must be thinking, why? Who could have done this? Well, I have the answer(s) to that question.

The vice president of the United States at that time, Lyndon B. Johnson, feared that he was going to be dropped as V.P. So with the help of an accomplice, Edward Clark, he very carefully orchestrated the assassination. Wait; actually, it was the mobster Carlos Marcello, who previously had threatened the kill the president because Kennedy’s brother, Robert (U.S. Attorney General) was starting to become extremely tough on crime. No, it was the Russian KGB (Russian secret service) who was involved in gunning down Kennedy; even the FBI confirmed that! Hold on, it was definitely the Israeli government who killed Kennedy because they were upset over Kennedy opposing their pursuit for a secret nuclear program. Maybe not; it was surely the president of Cuba at that time, Fidel Castro, who put the hit on Kennedy because Kennedy had tried so many times to kill Castro.

Actually, I lied. I have no clue who killed Kennedy; and even to this day no one knows for sure. Even so, over the years, many conspiracy theories have surfaced, such as the ones mentioned above. When the Warren Commission (the official report to investigate who killed John Kennedy) was released on September 27^th 1964, it concluded that one man, Lee Harvey Oswald (former US marine), was the lone killer of Kennedy. The commission said that Oswald fired two bullets from the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository (including the shot to the right side of the head that killed Kennedy). When he was arrested on the day of the assassination, Lee Harvey denied shooting anyone and claimed he was a “scapegoat”. Before Oswald could testify, he was shot dead by Jack Ruby, a club owner and suspect in the Kennedy assassination.

Above all, one conspiracy theory, described in the 1991 film, “JFK” by Oliver Stone, has held firm. The “Grassy Knoll” theory states that Oswald did not act alone in the assassination and that there were even two or three more shooters. Some witnesses had said that they heard some shots coming from the grassy hill near where the president’s car was passing. As the car passed the hill (which was on the right side of the car), shots rang out, including the headshot that killed JFK. When the headshot was fired, a fist-sized hole exploded out from the right side of Mr. Kennedy’s head.

If you compare the Warren Commission’s theory and the “Grassy Knoll” theory, there is something wrong with the picture. When Kennedy was shot, the entry-wound was on the right side of his head. So, the shot must have come from the right side of the presidents’ car, which was the grassy knoll. Yet, the Warren Commission stated that the shots were fired by Oswald from Texas Book Depository, this depository being located behind the presidents’ car at the time of the shooting. It’s the little things like these that make the Warren Commission seem, well, not factual.

In 1969, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison brought Clay Shaw, who was suspected in conspiring to assassinate President Kennedy, to trial. It took the jury less than an hour to find Clay Shaw not guilty. So far, it was been the only trial brought forward for the assassination of the president.

History tends to repeat itself, over and over again and continues to influence the present. In 1968, five years after the assassination, John Kennedy’s brother Robert was campaigning for the presidency. After winning the California primary, he was also shot dead. If we let these kinds of events slip by us, they will keep happening and the people who execute them will keep getting away. If we cannot stand up, who will? It’s up to us.

SOURCES:

http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/54/22/jfk.0.0.0×0.300×379.jpeg

By: Christopher Ly, Matina Kamdar, and Thea Sample, Grade 9

Homelessness Action Week On Wednesday October 14, a group of Windermere students volunteered at Rosary Hall in downtown eastside during the Homelessness Action Week. The event lasted for one week. At the event, volunteers came to help the homeless. Many organizations and volunteers were needed every day of the week in order to make this event successful. Some of the things that were offered to the homeless were clothes, hygiene kits, haircuts, housing information, social services, a healthy lunch, and pet food. As for the volunteers, our job was to hand out hygiene kits and interview people about their everyday life experiences. The hygiene kits consisted of band-aids, a basic emergency kit, shampoo and conditioner, nail clippers, socks, gloves, a toothbrush, deodorant, and hand sanitizer.

We got there early at around 9:00 AM to help set up and get all of the kits ready for the people. All of the 400 kits we put together went to someone in need. Continuing with the day’s agenda, the interview included questions about how the event went for them. For example some question were: “Was the place easy to find?” or “Have you found anything useful to help you among the information booths?” Many people told us that they were very grateful for the help. It was a relief to hear that they appreciated what we were giving them.

With our experience, we came in not knowing what exactly to expect. Many stereotypes we’re running through our heads as we entered the hall. When people began to file in, we were a bit nervous, but we were eager to help the less fortunate. As a result, it totally blew our minds. The people sitting out in the streets are everyday people like us. We always walk pass them thinking that they ended up there for a reason, but once you get beyond the labels, they’re really nice people; all they want is for you to let them know that they are there. They are not invisible monsters, they are human like us. We may not change their lives drastically, but we can try and it all starts from just saying, “Hello!”

By Jenny Ho, Grade 11

 You know what really grinds my gears? The media’s extremely unhealthy image of an ideal person.

As you may have seen on some websites (namely Perez Hilton’s fashion blog), Ralph Lauren, a hard-hitting brand in the world of fashion has been under a lot of flame. It all started with the advertisement with the freakishly skinny model Filippa Hamilton. Turns out, it was simply an image of her that made her look extremely malnourished, thanks to Photoshop. I personally don’t understand how the editor can make such a big mishap. Obviously, something is very wrong when her head and shoulders are considerably bigger than the rest of her body. Sadly, she reminds me of one of those bobble head dolls that sit on the corner of my desk.

 When the blog about the Photoshop disaster was published, Ralph Lauren’s first intention wasto sue the writer for redistributing their image. However, they dropped the lawsuit and later released a statement of apology. If this was an honest mistake, then this would already be in the past. However, following came another distorted image of a model, Valentina Zelyaeva. She was seen in an ad in Sydney, Australia. Although her head and shoulders appear to be normal, it’s obvious that the rest of her body was butchered, Photoshop style. To top this all off, Hamilton has released a statement, announcing that she was discharged from the company for being “too fat.”

 In order to become successful in the fashion industry, one must be a certain height, dress size, and appearance. Models make many appearances worldwide in magazine spreads and various television campaigns.  We see them on TV everyday, whether it’d be for a perfume or clothing brand. Seeing them, it’s hard not to look at ourselves in the mirror, and think that we’re “too ugly” or that we “look too fat”. People will literally die to live up to the false standard of “healthy and pretty.” According to many statistics, North Americans have ridiculously high statistics for eating disorder issues due to industrialized nations.

 Why can’t we all accept the fact that everyone is different? Nobody is born the same, as we are all unique. (By no means am I saying that having extreme weight issues on either side of the spectrum is great; the key is balance). Recently released in an issue of Glamour magazine is an un-retouched photograph of an almost-nude, plus-sized model, Lizzie Miller. It also raised a lot of the attention from the media, as it is very rare to see a plus-sized model featured on the covers of big time magazines.

 Ultimately, we can’t put all the blame on fashion designers. Really, they are creating what we want to see. Kelly Cutrone, founder of People’s Revolution, says, “Society right now, at this point in time, has decided that a certain shape is beautiful. The fashion industry gives people what they want to see.” In order for the industry to change, society as a whole should tell them what is right. Stop worrying so much about whatever dress size you may be, and wear what you like and feel good in.

And that’s what really grinds my gears.

SOURCES:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/BeautySecrets/Story?id=8463526&page=3

http://cocoperez.com/2009-10-15-ralph-lauren-really-hates-fatties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/06/the-criticism-that-r.html

Finally the wait is over! We know that your anticipation for Amnesty International has been increasing every minute of every day. It’s a fun and intense approach to global human rights and a great experience. As we noted before every month we will focus on a different issue. This month’s human rights topic will be on the “Rwanda Genocide”. If you are even the least bit interested on the topic or even if you just want to know what it is, please join us for the FIRST meeting on Wednesday, Nov 4th. If for any reason you are not interested in this month’s topic then stay tuned for next month’s issue. Thank you for reading and hope to see YOU soon!

Sincerely, Nikki S. & Puneet R.

By: Lucas Chan & Kaitlyn Fung, Grade 9

Back in the medieval days males were considered more superior than females. Men were supposedly stronger, more intelligent, and were believed to be better than women in many ways. On the other hand, women were thought of being delicate and not made for physical labor, but rather for bearing children and taking care of the house. Today, we have more equality amongst females and males. For example, females are generally allowed to take on any job a male can. Even though there is much more equality between genders, there are still many people who believe that one’s gender determines his/her abilities, characteristics, and many other attributions. There are still many men and women out there that use stereotypes against one another. However, many of those stereotypes have been classified as being sexist and have been proved to be incorrect. People tend to assume that girls aren’t fit or strong, but are either smart or shallow. Girls are often said to be smarter than boys in the academic category, but when you actually look at some of the test results, the results of males and females are very similar. Acknowledging this, many people tend to think modern girls care more about their appearance than their grades, prompting such sayings as: ‘a pretty girl is a pretty dumb one’. If a girl cares about her appearance, does that necessarily mean that she can’t be smart because of that? Appearance and intelligence are very different and do not affect one another.

One of the most famous myths about males and females is the myth that girls are less athletic and are slower than males, which isn’t entirely true. For example, the fastest male in the world is Usain Bolt with 9.69 seconds in the 100m dash and Florence Griffith Joyner holds the title of the fastest woman with a recordbreaking10.62 seconds. Even though the fastest man is faster than the fastest woman, Florence Joyner’s record exceeds that of many other competitive runners. People also don’t seem to take into account the factor of testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that helps increase the growth of muscle and bone density and maturity. Males have between 40 to 60 times more testosterone than females. This is where people get the general impression that males are more athletic than women. Of course, there are traits that are exclusive to females. One being that girls do tend to be more flexible, which often gives them the noteworthy ability of being able to dance quite well, or pursue careers in the field of gymnastics.

Stereotypes for girls might be discriminating and arbitrary, but it’s no better for the boys. Traditionally, males aren’t supposed to cry, be sensitive, or care about their appearance. There is nothing wrong with being concerned about your appearance. Most people want to make sure they present themselves nicely in front of others. Where’s the shame in not wanting to look like a mess? As for males not being able to show their feelings or cry; it’s a ridiculous stereotype. Everyone has feelings, and it’s silly to think that males don’t have them. Assuming that males don’t have feelings is like assuming that he isn’t allowed to breathe. Are boys supposed to be rude and violent, too? This ties into the assumption that males can’t cry or be sensitive. Is it cool for males to wreck things and be in a rage all the time? There really isn’t anything ‘cool’ about being destructive and disrespectful. How many people would want to be around this kind of guy? Another common idea is that all males are lustful to the extreme, whether they show it or not, and that is all they think about. While there is no evidence proving whether these thoughts have ever entered a male’s head to such a degree, it is most certainly not the only thing that’s always on their mind. Like any other person, male or female, there are many other things to think about.

Some people like to think that males have to play a sport, or they are considered weak if they don’t. It’s great to get some exercise and have fun playing a sport on a team or with friends, but it’s wrong to believe that every single member of the male species has to take up a sport. They may not have enough time for it, or they might want to concentrate on things that interest them more or that they are better at. Music, art, and literature are some great examples of perfectly respectable activities that often males are scrutinized for. When was the last time you heard someone making fun of Johnny Depp for becoming an actor instead of a football player?

Despite all this argument against them, stereotypes do retain a small degree of truth, because it does happen that there are a lot of boys who take up smash things or girls who pay a lot of attention to their appearance, etc. However, what makes a stereotype a stereotype is when you take that one idea and assume that it is true for everyone else that even remotely fits into that category. It’s a mistake made too often, but it’s not hard to prevent. Just remember to get your facts straight, because everything is never as it seems.

SOURCES:

Capitalism: A Love Story (120 mins)

Directed & Produced by Michael Moore

Review by Jenn Lin, Alumni

8.5/10

 It strikes me as obvious that most teenagers will not choose to see this movie on a Friday night.  That much is incredibly evident when you realize that it is two hours long and that it does not have any vampires or Transformers in it.  And even though the title mentions the words, “love story,” it is more of a tragedy than anything.  Yet I feel compelled to write this review because what is said in this documentary affects us all. 

 Based on the title alone, I was expecting another film about consumerism and how it is ultimately destroying the environment – not unlike “The Story of Stuff” (YouTube it).  But after leaving the theatre I realized that I was wrong.  There was nothing really in the film about consumerism and nobody so much as mentioned “climate change.”  So many people often equate capitalism and consumerism as the same, but actually it is not as simple as that.  Capitalism is a system based on maximizing monetary profit in a “free-market economy”, whereas consumerism is a way of life that often involves purchasing goods and replacing/discarding them on a regular basis.  While capitalism and consumerism do encourage each other – generating the infamous “American Dream” – consumerism is not restricted to capitalistic societies alone. 

 That being said, Michael Moore was in no way trying to shine a positive light on capitalism.  Moore dissects it in a way that allows everyday viewers to get a better sense of the corrupt system that we live in – the same one that is destroying us as a civilization.  Though the movie is based primarily on the United States, Moore answers questions that could very well be applied to Canadians:

 - What do Catholic priests think about capitalism?

- Why are employees “worth more dead” to major corporations like Wal-mart and Citibank?

- Why are people getting kicked out their homes? (Apparently, there is one foreclosure on a home every 7.5 seconds in the US.)

- How are some people able to get extremely rich in a capitalistic society whereas some people are left behind?

- When factory workers are left with no other choice but to go on strike, how have US Presidents (i.e. Roosevelt and Obama.) responded to this situation historically?

- Why does Moore think America is similar to ancient Rome?

- How is it considered a “free-market” (a.k.a. “sink-or-swim”/”lassiez-faire”) economy when banks have been given a massive billion dollar bailout with taxpayers’ money?

- How is it that people still believe that capitalism is the “best” system (as said by former President G.W. Bush) when so many people living in poverty across the country are proof that that is not so?

 Overall, this documentary really highlights how capitalism is driving people to do things with a complete disregard for morals; the notion of competition and making as much profit as possible is doing more harm for people than good.  If that statement struck you as even slightly odd, you need to desperately see this movie.

Lastly, Moore’s unique style of filming and narrative was highly refreshing and emotionally moving in some parts.  And of course, it was funny in a way that Moore knows funny.  I have never seen any of Moore’s other documentaries, but I have been told that this one “really goes for the jugular” and does not “dance around and just make fun of” his topics like he has in the past.  It is, after all, a film that has a lot of educational content.  In short, I advise you to go out and see for yourself what you really know about capitalism – the system that Moore claims will lead to America’s downfall.

SOURCES: http://coto2.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/capitalism_a_love_story_logo.jpg

By: Jasmin Gadey, Grade 8

One month into the regular season, the Canucks have shown lots of inconsistency. Their current play has them wandering around the .500 mark. Plus, if you’ve been keeping up with the games, you’ve probably noticed that they have had an unpredictable pattern of wins and losses. In fact, they didn’t achieve their first win until their fourth game; beating the Montreal Canadiens with a 7-1 victory. Many think that the reason behind our recent mediocre play would be because of our team injuries. At the moment, six players complete the injury list; all of them critical to the success of the team. Some of the injured players include, Alexandre Bolduc, Jannik Hansen, Ryan Johnson, Daniel Sedin and the Canucks captain, Roberto Luongo. Although at first it seemed that with Daniel out, Henrik wouldn’t be able to contribute but Henrik has been doing surprisingly well without his brother.

Also, with Luongo out, the Canucks had to recall Cory Schnieder from their farm team in Manitoba to back up Andrew Raycroft. Although, the Canucks are missing some key players it still doesn’t give them a reason to lose…They are capable of a lot more! Let’s hope that we see some improvement in the games to come or else this is going to be a long year. Don’t lose hope though or jump on the bandwagon because winning and losing is always apart of the game. Believe in Blue!

SOURCES:

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Vancouver+Canucks+v+Toronto+Maple+Leafs+2YUquDNPSdKl.jpg

By Mitchell Agostinho and Puneet Riar, Grade 12

In 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Frédéric Passy and Jean Henry Dunant for making the world a better place. On October 9th, 2009 it was awarded to Barack Obama for doing nothing. Well,  it’s said that it was “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. There is little to no description, which leaves this pair of writers puzzled. Obama is the fourth president to win the award behind Wilson, Carter, and Roosevelt. Though Obama won the peace prize, we still think the shoe that Bush won was a more deserving prize. Many, many people have voiced their outrage for this victory while few have said it was well deserved. Needless to say this award came with some controversy. Let’s explore, shall we?

Now, the last thing Obama needs at this moment is a prize for a promise; and that is exactly how many people feel over this situation. It’s sort of like giving away an Oscar to an actor because he is going to give a great performance in the future or a Grammy to a singer who has yet to release an album. Among the “praise” for Obama, many felt it was ill deserved. Blogs, websites and social networking sites on the internet blasted the president, with comments like: “I really thought it was a news prank when I heard Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize,” “Was disappointed when it wasn’t,” and “Wait shouldn’t Bush have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize? I mean he did more by leaving than Obama did by coming in.”

Conversely, some are not so skeptical about the win. With respect to world leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented by saying, “his [Obama] call for a world free of nuclear weapons is a goal we should all try to make a reality in the coming years” Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi stated, “A President who wins the Noble Peace Prize will be an investment for the future”. In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was “very happy” for Obama and believes “such a prize augments his capacity and reputation around the world, and that will help us accomplish things for all of humanity.”

So, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize? We weren’t aware Oprah had a seat on the selection committee. Barack not only made friends with the ex-most powerful woman in the world but he has also made promises to the American people. Obama promised that he would put an end to the war, lower taxes, and fight for the average American. So far, he’s sent more troops to Afghanistan, maintained a tax for those who make less than $50,000 a year (including seniors) and allowed the revolving door for lobbyists and other profit mongers to keep on spinning. Mr. President, I salute you!

Now, now, it’s not fair that we’re just highlighting his bad moves. He’s tried his best to actually try and end the war by very nicely asking the war directors to end the war post-haste. He’s started to rebuild schools in New Orleans and he’s ordered Guantanamo Bay to shut down. Not fantastic, but not terrible either. I’ll file this under “OK.”

What happens when you freak out over Obama? You have a Barack attack. People around the world love the first black President and who can blame them? He represents the end of years of racial oppression and intolerant attitudes. Nice guy, but should we just be giving away big gold medals and million dollar prizes (which he said is going straight to charity). If he is deserving of this award, then he should prove himself first. Prove that he can be in the same category as Carter, Wilson, and Roosevelt. He said he was “deeply humbled” by the award, and his daughters said it was the dog’s birthday. Kind of puts things in perspective doesn’t it? Personally, I’m still waiting for what his next move will be; because after this win, the next plan better be a game changer. But hold the phone! Did anyone ask Kanye West about what he thought? “Sorry Mr. President, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish; but the Dalai Lama had one of the greatest Nobel Peace Prize victories of all time!”            

EXTRA:

Winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama joins the club of the many outstanding winners who previously received this prestigious award. In 1957, Canada’s very own Lester B. Pearson won the peace prize for, “being the former Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada; former President of the 7th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; for his role in trying to end the Suez Crisis (military attack on Egypt by Britain, France, and Israel in 1956) and to solve the Middle East question through the United Nations.”In 1964, the prize was awarded to Martin Luther King, Jr. for “campaigning for civil rights”. The next year, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was handed the reward for being “an international aid organization”. Proceeding UNICEF; for “protecting the human rights of prisoners of conscience”, Amnesty International was honoured with the award in 1977. 1989 was the 14th Dalai Lama’s turn, this time for, “his struggle for the liberation of Tibet [and] consistently opposing the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people”. Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, in 1991, won for “for her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples”. Former vice-president, Al Gore, won the prize in 2007, “for his efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change”.

SOURCES: http://www.chowrangi.com/us-president-barack-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-2009.html

Hey Warriors! You guys made it through the first month of school! I know right, it’s already OCTOBER; which of course means another issue of the Windermere WORD!  However, I know what you all must be thinking right now, why is the Word coming out in the morning instead of lunch? Well, we thought it was time for some change! Most newspaper’s get delivered in the morning and most people read the newspaper in the morning so, the committee and I thought that we’d go for a more “real” newspaper release. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy the articles in this month’s issue because your peers have worked really hard on writing those articles and the committee has worked just as hard to put it all together. In addition, if you have any feed back for us or would like to write for the Word, don’t hesitate to email us at whs_word@yahoo.com. New Writers are always welcome!

On the Behalf of the Committee,
Gurjita Gadey

TO WHOM  IT MAY CONCERN:
Hey, warriors! This month’s issue is packed with some excellent content, including an article about over-commercialized holidays, such as Halloween! Speaking of Halloween; what’s your costume going to be? Remember your manners when going trick-or-treating, and check the weather before you go out – October’s been a rainy month so far! Sit back and read about movie reviews, horoscopes, climate change and more! Also, find out who won this month’s Warrior of the Month. Enjoy October’s issue of the word – 2 issues down, only 8 more to go. For me, personally, I’m really excited to see the Word take off – as we are expanding our newspaper by distributing it to the elementary schools! This month’s issue is a mix of seasoned and new writers – wish them luck in issues to come! A big, huge, colossal thanks goes to the committee and everyone else who contributed to this month’s issue of the word! Keep it up!

Valerie Wong, Editor

To all aspiring writers out there, the Windermere Word is looking for fresh faces to write for the upcoming issues of the Word. Interested? Send an email to whs_word@yahoo.ca!

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

So Windermere voted, and your October Warrior’s of the Month are Kimmy Basra and Jason Dhatt in grade 12!

Here’s an exclusive interview I had with them.

CONGRATS! YOU GUYS ARE THE WARRIORS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER! ARE YOU GUYS WILLING TO DO A VICTORY DANCE?
K: Uhhh…. NO!
J: Yeah I’ll dance! I’m a dancing machine!

LOL! ANYWAYS, WHY DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU WERE NOMINATED?
J: I think for the recycling program I lead but I’m still kind of surprised and I have a feeling that this is some kind of set up.

CONSPIRACY! NO, I’M JUST KIDDING HAHAHA! HOW ABOUT YOU KIMMY?
K: I didn’t even know I was nominated…. I guess because people felt like it…

NEXT QUESTION. WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU GUYS INVOLVED IN WITHIN THE SCHOOL?
J: I lead the recycling program at our school and am on the senior boys’ soccer team. Out of school I volunteer at RCC and play ice hockey.
K: I’m a leader of the recycling program too.

ANY HOBBIES? INTERESTS?
K: Recycling… and watching 90210 and One Tree Hill and So You Think You Can Dance! I like to read too… OH! And I like to ride my bike sometimes.

YOU READ KIMMY? REALLY?? JOKES! HOW ABOUT YOU JASON?
J: I love sports, especially ice hockey and soccer, watching the Canucks and spending time with my friends.

OH EM GEE! I LIKE SOCCER AND HOCKEY TOO! SO, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER GRAD?
J: Post secondary, work, and partying 24/7 lol.
K: Oh goodness! I want to be an elementary school teacher.

NICE! OKAY, RANDOM QUESTION: WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? I LIKE PIZZA, BUT SOMETIMES I LIKE ICE CREAM…OR EVEN LIKE THOSE LITTLE… SORRY! I FORGOT THIS ISNT ABOUT ME. GO AHEAD J
K: OH! I know this one…BREAKFAST! I love breakfast. If I could eat breakfast all day I would. I would eat breakfast for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND midnight snack!
J: Pizza or Inderpaul’s famous butter chicken (inside joke) LOL!

HAHAHA! SO, LAST QUESTION AND THEN YOUR 15 MINTUES OF FEELING LIKE CELEBRITIES BEING INTERVIEWED ARE OVER! CANUCKS OR FLAMES?
K: CANUCKS
J: CANUCKS!!!

WELL, OBVIOUSLY! THANKS FOR DOING THE INTERVIEW KIMMY AND JASON, AND CONGRATS!

Aries     Cool your jets. Something in your near future is going to anger you somehow. Just look forward to the end of the month and relax!

Taurus You’re going to have a very lucky October this year. Be confident and you’ll be very successful this month.

 Gemini   Get some rest this month; September must have been tiring for you. Make sure to sleep induring I-Block, unless you have tutorials.

Cancer  Watch your step, and don’t trip on pumpkins. Especially watch out for Jack-o-lanterns that are frowning, they will spell trouble.

Leo  You are in good favour with the stars this month. Make sure that you pick up that coin, bill or million dollar cheque on the sidewalk.

Virgo You’ll catch yourself procrastinating this month. Pick up the pace or you will be left behind, and remember that procrastination is a nasty habit.

Libra  Stay away from sick people all month, even if they’re just sniffling or coughing. Keep yourself healthy, and if you’re sick yourself… good luck!

Scorpio  Ever think about the people less fortunate than us? Try and help them by donating to charity or volunteering. Karma will thank you with lots of good luck.

Sagittarius  Your Halloween costume will have the opposite effect of what you planned, so make sure you’re ready for the worst!

Capricorn You’ll feel a bit jumpy this month. Don’t worry; nobody’s going to sneak up on you… yet. Be cautious at the end of the month and you’ll survive for Halloween.

Aquarius  Step up and settle any disputes you have had in September. And when you’re finished, move on. Grudges will only hinder you in life, so drop them.

Pisces  You may not believe in ghosts now, but after what will happen in mid October, you may change your mind…

By: Cassandra Ly, Grade 11

When was the last time it was known to everyone that protesting, a simple display of civil disobedience, has transformed into something disastrous and even deadly? Recently, there have been many of these so-called “peaceful” protests occurring in China. This is in regard to many issues including employment, safety, and security demands in different aspects of the Chinese society. These dangerous protests have occurred in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang; starting off as a crowd of citizens demanding change to the public health system to having paramilitary policemen being brought in.

So, what is the reason for this hysteria? In early September, many incidents of syringe stabbings were reported in the city of Urumqi. Approximately 600 citizens became victims of these arbitrary stabbings, and fortunately only 100 cases “showed any sign of injury.” Innocent people have been targeted on crowded buses and other well-populated areas in the city. Due to the dangers of these “hypodermic syringe needles”, many parents have been very concerned about the safety of their children at school, especially since the H1N1 flu and many other diseases are infecting more and more people.

Appalled by their public health and safety system, Han Chinese began to protest on the 3rd of September. Wang Lequan, the regional party secretary, was pressured to resign from his position when he failed to provide a public safety system. What has become of our world to have such people in our society to be pulling off such dangerous and outrageous deeds? 10,000 citizens marched on the streets in demand of “better security”; however, 14 people were wounded and 5 lost their lives. The two-day protest was recognized as an illegal march and demonstrated disrespectful actions on the streets of Urumqi. Tear gas and other methods of dispersing crowds were used, along with blocking roads and other transportation routes around the city. Due to investigations, Chinese police have arrested approximately 15 people who were caught red-handed. The convicted were sentenced to prison for up to 15 years.

However, thinking about these dangerous occurrences, is it really due to just the poor safety conditions earlier this month? Some Han Chinese have still been shaken up and enraged by the earlier riots in July, involving the Muslim Uighurs, and are pleading for punishment to those who had started it. Xinjiang is Uighur’s main homeland and they despite the fact that millions of Han Chinese have migrated to the region, have no more tolerance. Uighurs attacked Han Chinese, resulting in a large-scale retaliation by the victims. 140 were killed along with 800 injured citizens were found in the city of Urumqi.

Now we ask: who were the ones that were really being violent? Reports stated that protestors, in general, carried knives, bricks, and batons around the city, destroying property and even smashing cars and buses. Is violence the only outcome to protests nowadays? No doubt that these they have truly become “bloody battles,” but they can be prevented and stopped completely. Violence never has and never will be the answer. Be aware of society’s public health and safety system. Question and support the non-violent concept of “civil disobedience”; if that’s taken away from us, what else can we do to voice what we really need? If not us,, than who else? It takes one determined individual to spread that idea, make it into something great, and provide chances for you and everyone else to stand up for what is right.

Sources:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/09/04/china-protests004.html
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/01/as-chinas-jobless-numbers-mount-protests-grow-bolder/
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/china/xinjiang-protests-2009/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8135203.stm
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/china/urumqi/