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APRIL 2021 EDITION WWW.TURTON.UK.COM 01204 333293 Turton High School Bromley Cross Road Bromley Cross Bolton BL7 9LT
Editor’s Note Finally, we are back in college! I am sure I speak on the behalf of many students when I say that the shift from Teams and Zoom to in-person contact has been such a relief. Of course, it is still not under ideal circumstances, but it is a start. I would like to begin by congratulating all Year 12 students for their efforts during Assessment Week, as well as my Year 13 peers who are also sitting assessments at the moment. It is definitely a difficult time for us all, but the hard work will be worth it in the end. As always, this edition has been extremely collaborative, and I would like to thank everyone who got involved! We have an impressive range of articles to read, from more light-hearted pieces to perhaps more politically motivated features… we have something for all occasions! If anyone would like to get involved in the next edition (whether that is writing an article or sending a suggestion for a topic), please feel free to contact me or James here: Raechel : 018389@turton.uk.com James : 018529@turton.uk.com
Manchester Marathon for Crohns and Colitis Last month, while my family and I were sitting eating lunch, my mum alluded to the idea of entering the Manchester Marathon, that is set to take place in October, and of me doing it with her. Of course, I dismissed the idea (I thought she was joking) until she sprung it on me a few days later that she had in fact entered with a couple of other people from our gym. So, in a spur of the moment decision (which I have since spent sleepless nights over), due to a mix of FOMO and increased hormone levels, I too entered, ordering a ‘training for the Manchester marathon’ T-shirt as I was so pleased with myself. I have since come to my senses and I am in a constant state of fear at the idea of running 26 miles. However, the idea of raising money for Crohn’s and Colitis is one that has provided some much- needed motivation. Since Cameron’s passing, my mum had been thinking about a way to raise money for his fund. Obviously, the 6 half marathons in 6 months she had done previously for another cause was insufficient, hence the marathon idea. While I did not know Cameron like her and my dad, I think the fund that his family has established (as well as their work to raise money and awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis) is absolutely inspirational and both my mother and I would like to do anything we can to assist their hard work. We, therefore, hope that people will help us support the cause and will donate to the Duxbury’s Just Giving page; hopefully, the idea of us being in pain for 5 hours will provide incentive as well as it being for an amazing cause. Training has been daunting, but we plan on slowly increasing our miles and hopefully we will manage to drag ourselves over the finish line when the time comes. I have said it before as a joke that I will end up being one of those people who has to roll over the finish line and then get driven away in an ambulance at the end, but this is now becoming an ever-present fear. But, in all seriousness, I am so thankful that my mum and I are doing this together. She is profoundly determined which definitely inspires me, however her unrelenting optimism does get annoying at times. This is especially the case when she tries to chat to me whilst we are mid-way up a fat hill. It has only been a couple of weeks and it is already an unspoken fact that she is not to talk to me when we are running up any sort of incline. I assume I will finish a good hour behind her in the real thing; she is just an absolute machine. There has definitely been benefits of training so far, such as the obvious one on mental health and well-being, but it has also allowed us to see the lovely parts of Bolton that we do not always get to see. By October, I assume most of the local community will probably have seen us out running. However, I would not recommend going to Entwistle reservoir on a Sunday morning if even the slightest bit of sun is out - it is an absolute nightmare. Do not even get me started on the dogs and little children running around everywhere. Also, one criticism I would make about the ‘training for the Manchester marathon’ merch, they have really got it wrong with the T-shirt, a vest would have been much more practical. I am not saying that everyone should make a spur of the moment decision like myself and enter the Manchester Marathon, however, since properly getting back into running, I really have felt the benefits both mentally and physically. So, if you ever need some ‘me time’, and since there is not much else to do at the minute, I would definitely recommend getting out for a run. Once you get over the idea that people are probably going to see you sweating profusely, red, and panting for breath, it is pretty enjoyable. Above all, however, I hope you will donate towards Crohn’s and Colitis, as this is what we are doing it all for! Link to the Duxbury’s JustGiving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/cameronduxbury/ Maya Bali, Y13
Grammys 2021: A summary of the night
This year's Grammys were eventful to say the least, with Beyonce and Taylor Swift both breaking
records, and show-stopping performances shocking the 8.8 million viewers.
The 63rd Grammy Awards were fruitful with splendour, fashion,
and brilliant versatility throughout the night. Opening with first
time nominee Harry Styles who performed ‘Watermelon Sugar’,
the night started on a definite high. Styles performed the upbeat
and totally unique song with a similarly unique and intriguing lime
green feather boa, an extravagant accessory to offset his
matching retro leather suit. In true ‘Harry’ style, he brought flair
and panache to his performance that did not disappoint.
Harry later went on to win a Grammy for Best Pop Performance
Song. Other notable winners consist of Megan Thee Stallion, who
became the first female rapper to win the Grammy for Best New
Artist since Lauren Hill in 1999.
Along with this incredible win, the 26-year-old rapper also had her first performance, showcasing
‘Savage’ and ‘WAP’, joined by Cardi B for the latter. The songs were embedded with flawless
choreography along with Megan’s awe-inspiring charisma onstage. A truly mesmerising watch.
Even bigger news of the night however
was Beyonce’s historic sweep of 4
Grammys, making her the first woman
ever to win a total of 28 Grammys and to
be nominated for 79. Almost unbelievably,
even Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy, won an
award for Best Music Video. She is the
second youngest person ever to win a
Grammy; Beyonce and her daughter are
undeniably a powerful pair in the world of
music.
Another notable record-breaking moment was Taylor Swift’s win of Album of the Year with ‘Folklore’.
She became the first ever woman to achieve this with prestigious accomplishment and joins the likes
of Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder as the only people to accomplish this.
The night was full of eventful moments and celebrity interactions, aspects which have been rare for
the past year. Yet, all in all, the Grammys this year were more so a joyous victory for women in music,
supporting each other and smashing records, a true show of solidarity much needed at his time.
Grace Lavin, Y13
An “authoritarian” Britain? The Coronavirus Act, introduced during last year’s lockdown, is due for its 6-month renewal. Yet, many are calling out its ‘disproportionate and excessive’ nature, with a Tory rebellion on the horizon in Westminster. The Act was first introduced to allow the government, and the police force, to enforce lockdown restrictions on the general public, requiring a top-up every 6 months. Understandably, these powers were in dire need to ensure stability and public order, but now, after a successful vaccination rollout and a clear decline in hospital admissions, are they still a necessity for the government? It is clear that this Act comes at a sensitive period this year, with many other issues causing public outrage, bound to contribute to the disapproval seen this week. However, Johnson not only faces an agitated general public, but now also a problem much closer to home. Tory MPs plan to stage a revolt in the Commons this Thursday, arguing the success of the vaccination programme and the decline in deaths mean that the powers are no longer needed. It is expected to be carried by votes from Labour, and other opposition parties, but a backbench rebellion would, nonetheless, be damaging for the Prime Minister’s authority. Those who will stand by the Act on Thursday argue that extending the Coronavirus Act will provide the legal framework for England’s lockdown roadmap to continue as planned which, in a best-case scenario, would see all restrictions on social distancing, lifted on the 21st of June 2021. The 6-month extension does not mean lockdown measures will be extended for 6 months, although they could be if it is deemed necessary. Yet, though Johnson and his cabinet seem to take a legal outlook on this issue, many find it morally unacceptable. Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, stated that the Prime Minister needed to clearly justify why he was seeking a 6-month extension to the Coronavirus Act, adding: “Of course, the plan out of these restrictions is a path to freedom, it’s just that unfortunately we believe, many of us believe, that it squanders the advantages of our great vaccination programme.” The uncertainty over why Johnson is pushing for the extension of these extraordinary powers, seems to be the basis for the outrage in parliament, and in the general public. Though there is no certainty on how big the rebellion will be on Thursday, or how the vote will pan out, it does possibly highlight serious flaws in the rights of British citizens, our democracy, and what some argue, a potential path towards an “authoritarian” Britain. Erin Gardiner, Y12
“Not all men” “Not all men” is a phrase I have been hearing a lot of lately. The well-known hashtag has been acknowledged as early as 2011 in an attempt to undermine countless issues, such as the oppression women face, as well as domestic abuse directed at women, and rape culture. It well-known due to the webtoon “Save me” (Written by Matt Lubchansky if anyone is interested), in an attempt to address the general contempt for men felt at the time, with the punch line being “I’m just sick of how men / May I play the Devil’s advocate?”. This satirical comic used the derailment tactic, attempting to redirect the ongoing discussions of ‘mansplaining’. The comic was retweeted and re-blogged thousands of times; John Scalzi, a science fiction writer known for involving himself in the feminist discussion, spoke about the “not all men” defence, he then posted the comic. On March 3rd this year, Sarah Everard was reported missing after walking home from her friend’s home near Clapham Common; a week later her body was found. Everard’s alleged killer, 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, was a serving police officer at the time who continued to work for days after a charge of indecent exposure had been placed against him. A huge part of the atrocity of this event is that she did everything women are so often told to do to avoid danger: she wore bright colours, she rang her boyfriend on her way home, she walked well-lit streets, and took a route that would take slightly longer as it was supposedly safer for her to walk that way at night alone. Her death stormed social media with countless women sharing their experiences of harassment and assault suffered at the hands of men. The movement “protect your daughter, educate your son” rose, acting as an agent for the “not all men” trend to crop up as a means for men to defend themselves, as well as “What about men’s mental health?”. While both of these statements are true, and completely valid, they are also very destructive in terms of the fact that they detract attention from highly important and relevant events; they are dangerous in that they mask and undermine these messages put out by women and prevent any kind of education or progress that needs to be made. Last week, thousands of people attended a perfectly peaceful vigil for Sarah Everard; however, the police interfered, and it became unnecessarily violent due to Covid measurements making public demonstrations ‘illegal’, despite as many precautions for Covid being taken as possible: notice how Patsy Stevenson (the woman on the right) was wearing a mask upon her arrest? This was the case for many other people who were violently prevented from taking part in the vigil. The response of the police has been largely criticised, and the event has made headlines, with Met officers being accused of oppressing the women at this vigil. Leah Riding, Y12
“Kill the Bill” - Priti Patel’s Personal Problem with Protests The right to protest is fundamental in any democracy. Nobody should be able to curb this power in the interest of silencing citizens. If a protest is peaceful, what is the harm in its execution? For those wondering what the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill entails, at its core, it aims to give the police powers to protect themselves and the public, which initially sounds like an essential ability to have. However, it goes without saying that this power can be easily abused. The police will be able to limit the start and finish times of protests as well as setting a maximum noise level which, if exceeded, can lead to police intervention. Even one-person protests are subject to heavy regulation, with the police being able to dictate the noise level, route, and extent of disruption. This seems a bit drastic, no? Of course, the police need certain powers as not all protests are peaceful. Those that include hate speech or violence should definitely be curtailed; however, it is entirely wrong to assume that all protests are this extreme. So, what is Priti Patel’s agenda with this bill? It seems a bit coincidental that a bill intending to protect police power and ensure public safety also gives Patel, the current home secretary, the ability to create laws without parliamentary approval that define ‘serious disruption’ to communities. It must be emphasised that Patel seems to have a personal vendetta with the right to protest, even having the audacity to declare the global Black Lives Matter protests as “dreadful.” After the announcement of this bill, a “kill the bill” protest took place in Bristol on the 21st of March. This protest became highly counterintuitive once it turned violent, when up to 500 demonstrators began to stone a police station, along with burning and damaging two police vehicles. At least 20 officers were injured in the demonstration. In this situation, the police should have absolutely had the power to curtail the violence, and this article does not seek to argue otherwise. Nonetheless, if we contrast this with the police’s reaction at the vigil for Sarah Everard, the abuse of police power is a very real prospect. According to the government, this landmark bill will not undermine freedom of expression, but perhaps this has been the intention all along. During the pandemic, the government had to impose temporary restrictions on demonstrations, but it has seemingly used the conditions created by the pandemic to permanently erode this civil liberty. It must also be highlighted that the bill includes the provision of a maximum 10-year jail sentence for protestors who criminally damage a statue, which is a stricter punishment than the 5 years that many men can theoretically receive for raping a woman. In short, this bill gives too much discretion to the police. There is no doubt that there are circumstances where police power is necessary, but this bill fundamentally threatens the right to protest. As UK citizens, we have a voice, and this should not be suppressed by any government. Raechel Duddle, Y13
Film and TV Reviews
Show Name = Wandavision
Where to Watch = Disney +
Synopsis = Living idealized suburban lives, super-powered beings Wanda and Vision begin
to suspect that everything is not as it seems.
Review = 563 days had passed since Spiderman Far From Home was released to cinemas.
Approximately 13512 long hours since Marvel had released a feature, and I will admit, I
believed the MCU was dead. I love Marvel, but Endgame felt quite literally like the
‘endgame’ to the franchise. I had no intention of buying Disney +, but numerous aspects
intrigued me, with the mystery and prospect of Wandavision being key.
This is a bold choice for the MCU and for the most part, they pull it off flawlessly. Each episode follows
Wanda and Vision living happily in a small, suburban town. Each episode mirrors a different decade of
sitcoms, ranging from the charming 1950s, all the way up to 2010’s sarcastic and realistic approach.
The style and attention to detail gone into each episode is fantastic and I can only tell you to watch it
to be able to fully appreciate it yourselves. Even when something strange begins to arise, the way it is
executed is tense, creepy, and disturbing.
Do I have a small crush on Elizabeth Olsen? Yes, but I believe that everyone does to be honest. She
shines in this role along with Paul Bettany who turns in a brilliant performance. Both, however, are
outshone by Katheryn Hahn who plays the archetypal nosy neighbour and steals every scene she is in.
In fact, I cannot find a character I did not actually enjoy, which is rare for me and my reviews, so I am
moving swiftly on.
To completely avoid spoilers, I will not say anything about the plot, as it is best experienced when
watching it yourself. I will say however that despite the engaging story, the show does suffer a slightly
anti-climactic third act which I wished they could have expanded on, but for the meantime, it will do,
as Marvel has more shows coming in later months which I am beginning to have some excitement
towards. I have been proven wrong, there is still life in Marvel yet.
Verdict = A
Film Name = Flora and Ulysses
Where to Watch = Disney +
Synopsis = Flora, a 10-year-old girl with a vivid imagination, rescues a squirrel and
names him Ulysses. She soon discovers that Ulysses is blessed with superpowers
which help them embark on various adventures.
Review = It is becoming clear that I have been in lockdown too long. I found myself
looking for any valid reason to buy Disney +. So, I looked at every show they had to
offer including all features from Disney, Marvel, and even National Geographic (you
know something is wrong when you think “hmm, Car SOS might be interesting…”).
However, despite the slow release of the latest Marvel triumph, Wandavision, I
found myself most excited for a film about a red squirrel who gets superpowers and
basically does rock all with them. What a time to be alive.
Ok, I will be honest; the film is not great. The toning is a little complicated and jumbled, as the movie
struggles to work with both an adorable, supercharged squirrel and a central plotline of a looming
divorce that tears a family apart. Yes, this film is for children, and yes, I understand that a 17-year-old who is struggling with his A-levels in a broken country is not the target audience of this film. As the film goes on, the squirrel becomes a talking point, rather than an onscreen relevance as it is mentioned rather than shown. Also, I think everyone in development forgot about the powers this squirrel has as the film went on since they are used less - I needed more squirrel. Could this be a metaphor for family? Maybe. Am I running on an unstable mixture of no sleep, coffee, and an overbearing sense of dread? Yes. As a reader, you can probably tell that the lack of squirrel in this film’s finale disappointed me. But in my defence, this squirrel is cute. The animation is brilliant and allows so much emotion to be illustrated. Most of the other characters are captivating as well, primarily Ben Schwartz as ‘George,’ as I know he is a good comedic actor, but his character shows real depth at times. Overall, this film is for children and I am looking far too deeply into a film where a squirrel can fly and type poetry. However, if you are looking for some mindless fun and just want to shut off to something, then you could give this one a watch. Verdict = B- Show Name = The Queen’s Gambit Where to Watch = Netflix Synopsis = The Queen's Gambit follows the life of an orphan chess prodigy, Elizabeth Harmon, during her quest to become the world's greatest chess player whilst struggling with emotional trauma as well as drug and alcohol dependency. Review = This is a show about chess. Do not worry, I do not blame you for immediately wanting to never watch this show, I did not either. But I, like yourselves, am a fool, as I could have slept through the biggest masterpiece show 2020 had to offer. Yes, this story centres around a girl who has a passion for chess and delves into a world of chess, but it consistently proves itself to be so much more. If I am being completely honest, whenever a chess board or chess talk was mentioned on screen, my brain would sometimes shut off. But that is the point! I entered this show knowing little about chess and I have left it with 4 things. A love for this show, a crush on Anna Taylor-Joy, the experience of Mr Johnson claiming to be a chess master (which probably is not true), and less knowledge about chess. Anna Taylor-Joy is perfect for this role. She has automatic power every time she is on screen and all of her emotions are clearly displayed. Her struggle in life and her growth throughout the series is portrayed brilliantly, and no other actress could have done it as well as Taylor-Joy did. Additionally, her outfits, the setting, and the music that follow her is flawless and each aspect tells a different story about her life that can be experienced through multiple viewing of the show. Also, Thomas Brodie- Sangster is in this series. He wears a hat, gives chess lingo, and made a nation, including myself, fall in love with him. To try and summarise this show would be an injustice and its excellence sounds great on paper but is so much better when experienced yourself. Every character, every episode, every outfit, every piece of music is outstanding and highlights the best of what Netflix, and media during 2020, had to offer. Verdict = A+ Charlie Wright, Y13
‘The Power of the Tongue’
For those who know the Bible or have read the
Bible, the phrase the “power of the tongue”, is
mentioned several times. This phrase means that
there is power in what you say and whatever you
claim to be yours. The Bible goes further by stating
that whatever you say, will be what you will see or
experience.
As a result of living in a Christian household, I have
been constantly reminded that there is power in
whatever I say and I should always say something positive, even if I am in a negative situation. Anytime
I go to the kitchen and I find that there is no milk or any other material in the house, I am forbidden
from saying “there is no more milk”, instead I need to say, “there is more milk we need to buy more”.
Likewise, if someone is ill or sick, I am not allowed to say, “oh, that person is sick”, instead I say, “in
Jesus’ name that person is not sick”. My mother has always engrained this message of the power of
the tongue through the Bible and she has always encouraged me to say positive things and never look
on the negative side of things; I truly appreciate this, and I always thank her for her gems and
outpouring of wisdom.
Although, some of you might have different notions on the power of the tongue and on the
importance of the things that you say. Nowadays with the element of #cancelculture and the
importance of political correctness, I feel like we can all see the importance of the power of the tongue
in our lives.
In this modern and developed society filled with division, I feel it is important to focus and be mindful
of what we say. Our words carry value and meaning. Our words can deeply impact and affect
someone’s day. Our words can turn into hate crime.
So far, I have mentioned the negative impact the power of the tongue can have, but what about the
positive?
In the emergence of social consciousness, we as a society are starting to speak up and we are starting
to stand up for what is right in the midst of adversity. In the wake of the death of George Floyd,
Breonna Taylor, and Sarah Everard, we are using our voices as a tool for change, and we have become
a mouthpiece for those who are unable to use their voice. When someone speaks, we should not be
fast to judge or to deem their arguments inadequate, we should correct them with love and become
the best listeners.
As I write this article, I reflect upon the moments I have used the power of the tongue, such as during
my EPQ presentation and when I host the Zoom “Teenz Church” for my local church, both of which I
found pleasurable. When it comes to hosting the “Teenz Church” Zoom call, I always ponder upon the
power that my words carry, as well as thinking of the fact that I am the only one with the camera on
and I am staring at 60 different black screens. When I speak, I always make sure that my words do not
only carry meaning but also carry value and are able to impact the listener.
To conclude, there is power of the tongue and we need to constantly remind ourselves of that. It is
not enough for us to keep reposting socio-political posts, but we should stand up and elevate ourselves
and use our most powerful weapon: the power of the tongue. In this article, I hope I have been able
to encourage those who have been quiet for a long time to speak out to stand out.
Comfort Adeoje Sulaiman, Y13Is Biden the saviour that America thinks it needs? The answer. A resounding no. Well, that may be slightly dramatic. I will get this out of the way now. Biden’s America hit their 100-day goal for vaccinations in half of that time. That is seriously impressive. A win for federalism. However… The devastating impact of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has left the US in a state of public health and political turmoil. Joe Biden, the not-so-quite new kid on the political block made some big promises during his election campaign: the promise of 18 million jobs, a $15 minimum wage, ‘racial equity’ and the reversal of Trumpian policies. Oh, how glorious is partisan democracy! Within Biden’s first few days in office, he embarked on an executive-action spree. CNN reports that the former Senator signed 30 executive orders in his first three days as president, a substantial number of which being reversals of the previous president, whom the Democratic elite and the US media hated with a passion, perhaps due to his outlining of their blatant hypocrisy. Biden once promised to not use executive orders due to it being a trait of dictators? Seem fishy to you? Yet, the hypocrisy is not the worst thing. Whilst I may have little respect for Biden, one thing I was interested in was his proposals for a $15 minimum wage. That failed in the Senate, which if you have even an inkling of an economic bone in your body, you will realise how many jobs that congressional disapproval has saved. Then there is Biden’s lambasting of Texas Governor Greg Abbot, remarking how his relaxing of COVID restrictions was “Neanderthal thinking”. That does not sound like the unity the Democrats promised during the 2020 election cycle. I can barely put into words the anger I feel when I see people crying about freedom. Yet Biden has the audacity to claim that possessing basic human rights and being allowed to go to the pub is somehow not normal. This man is deluded. Perhaps the greatest mistake so far is Biden making the decision to cancel the Keystone Oil pipeline. Western countries are in no doubt on a path to green energy. If you cannot see that using domestic oil is better than importing it from foreign countries, then you might as well stop reading now. Green energy is not a revolution, but rather a gradual process. The Keystone Pipeline would have helped the transition period. But Sleepy Joe was too bothered with replacing the bust of Churchill in the Oval Office than with the creation of 11,000 jobs and the beginning of eco-friendly energy. The last thing I want to point out is Biden’s press conferences. Now, clearly, Biden is not my cup of tea, but I do sometimes feel for the man. The guy is 78 and it shows. He often does not speak coherently and now the White House Press Office gives him lists of ‘favourable’ journalists to pick from. It is safe to say Fox comes last. And whilst many people took pleasure in seeing President Biden fall, I could not help but feel for the man. I hate his politics. I also hate to see elderly people injure themselves. For his first few months, in my opinion, it is clear Biden is not the man for the job. That is not to say Kamala Harris, his Vice President, is fit for the presidency. Biden is merely a puppet being used by the Democratic elite to exercise their political agenda and, especially with COVID, control the masses through arbitrary restrictions. Marco Melia, Y13
What has happened to centrist politics? What has happened to centrist politics? What has happened to moderation? Nowadays, the political spectrum seems to be comprised of those on the left [the new or alt left] and those on the right [the alt right] and then those of us who fall into neither category who are condemned by both for not voicing an extreme position or for not voicing any opinion at all. The expansion of social media in recent years has only accentuated this divide between alt right and alt left. Instagram and Twitter have now become debate centres for vocal minorities to express views that mainstream politics does not even consider, and rightly so. 2020 was a year of social turmoil, calling into question issues that had been ignored by those not on either side of the extreme. The Black Lives Matter movement, sparked by the death of George Floyd, ignited division between right and left wing supporters, creating an issue that should have united the globe, into an issue that was inherently political. It became an issue between the racist alt right or the socially conservative under the banner campaign “all lives matter” against the new society-obsessed alt left. Much has been the same with the most recent and ongoing feminist movement sparked by the disappearance and death of Sarah Everard. It has become far more a case of ‘not all men’ against all others rather than a social movement that if united, could make real change. The argument has turned its focus to sound bites such as the frankly ridiculous proposal of a 6PM curfew for all men by Green Party Baroness Jenny Jones and the equally ridiculous notion that women should change their actions to prevent sexual harassment. It is this politicisation of the issue that will hinder the possibility for change and prevent any possibility of complete united ground on the subject. US politics is even worse in this regard. This pretence of the alt right is simply a reformed version of the separatist views of the KKK and has risen to prominence in the last 10-15 years in response to the ridiculous rise in cancel culture and under the leadership of figures such as Richard B Spencer. It was at an alt right rally in Charlottesville in 2017 that 32 year old Heather Heyer was killed by a neo-Nazi who drove through counter protesters. These ideals are far more mainstream in America than in the UK hence the widespread [perhaps unwarranted] fear that Trump’s election would effectively place white supremacy at the forefront of American politics. This decline in centrism and consensus on basic issues will, in my opinion, see regression rather than progress. The notion of cancel culture and the idea that someone has to censor what they say in order to prevent offending someone is the same intolerance they oppose so strongly when it is employed by the right. The toxicity of both sides and this decline in consensus is what will hinder society’s change. Jack Beck, Y13
Reading Recommendations
Whilst scrolling and watching TV is enjoyable, and often well-needed, it is important to try and do
something that does not involve a screen for at least a little bit each day. Even though ‘reading for
fun’ might sound a bit cringey, there are honestly some really great reads out there that give a good
break from schoolwork and screens. This could mean trying reading non-fiction, fiction, magazines,
comics, poetry, newspapers, or anything else that seems interesting. I have asked around for some
recommendations for those looking to give something a go.
Alice- Christina Henry
Alice is the most amazing book I have ever read: it is a horror with a dark
ending, part of a trilogy.
Teen Breathe- magazine with multiple authors
This magazine focuses on mindfulness and well-
being, aimed at a teenage audience. It provides
tips, exercises, recipes, and ideas alongside
beautiful illustrations.
The Chaos Walking series-
Patrick Ness
Todd Hewitt lives on a newly colonised planet where
men can literally hear each other’s thoughts. He has
been told that all the women died from disease, but
there is more to it than meets the eye. Features a talking
dog and epic fight scenes.
Notes on a Nervous Planet- Matt Haig
Author of Reasons to Stay Alive and The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
recognises the ever-increasing stress and anxiety on this nervous planet
and takes a look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st
century.
Lottie Keighley, Y12Vaccine Passports With 2020 presenting a range of unexpected problems, an overwhelming sense of fear and trepidation has filled the nation. For many, this anxiety stems from the possible reopening of businesses and the potential return to normality (understandably, due to many failed attempts seen in the aftermath of two previous lockdowns and the disastrous tiered system). In response, Boris Johnson has proposed plans for ‘Covid-status certification’ in order to allow the public to return to venues, theatres, and sporting events and in the hopes of preventing another wave of the virus. The plan is being trialled on 9 events across the UK, including the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on April 18th between Leicester City and Southampton where 4,000 fans will be allowed to watch from the stadium itself. Despite Johnson implementing the scheme in the hopes of reducing transmission, many fear that this use of ‘Covid-passports’ for large events could lead to a new norm where the public are required to show evidence when doing menial tasks, restricting public freedom; this fear is heightened due to the government indicating that a passport may be required after the 21st of June in order to enter nightclubs, pubs, and restaurants. However, Johnson initiated the trial with the aim of protecting the vulnerable and reducing infection rate, an idea backed by many scientist and business groups including the CBI, who stressed that it must happen in an inclusive and consensual way, a step which may alter Johnson’s plans due to public disapproval of the scheme. The general public are not the only ones who are apprehensive about the potential necessity of Covid certification. Serious opposition has also sprouted from these plans with over 70 MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremey Corbyn and several peers from the House of Lords, signing a petition against the introduction of vaccine passports in England. Many find the plans preposterous and unpatriotic, a view shared by the Church who fear a ‘surveillance state’, in which people lack real liberties. These ideas are shared in the US, where it was stated that the government would not support a “system that requires Americans to carry a credential”, despite the country reporting almost 31 million positive cases. The possible introduction of Covid passports brings a realm of possibilities, with the potential hope of having a ‘normal’ summer, but what would this new normal entail? Many people across the country are counting down the days till they are allowed to travel abroad for holidays; this prospect seems to be getting closer when European officials revealed their plans to introduce an EU-wide 'Green Digital Certificate', allowing those who have had the vaccine or tested negative to freely travel within the region. Could this also mean that music festivals and concerts will require a passport to be shown, potentially hindering the lives of young people, who are likely to be the last vaccinated? Let us not overstate the influence these passports will have on our lives. Johnson has repeatedly ensured that his road map plan to recovery will remain in place despite the trial. Does this mean that we will never return to ‘normal’? With new variants from across the world being discovered at a rapid rate, could Covid-19 become as normalised as the flu? What does this mean for our generation - the generation whose lives have changed the most? Ashani Patel, Y12
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