ONEVOICE
The December Issue
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
CONTENTS
P4. Wacky Christmas Traditions by Antonia Syn
P5. The Not-So-Secret Origins of Santa Claus by Russell Yap
P7. Christmas Life Hacks by Maida Mahidi
P9. A Yuletide Poem by Dhruti Bhatta
P10. Christmas Toy-land by Gerard Wirawan
P11. The Roots of the Holiday by Khoo Teng Jui
P12. Things to do at Christmas by Sara-Grace Lien
P14. China and Taiwan by George Garrity
P15. Violence Against Women by Natalie Chow
P17. Movie Recommendations by Gianna Siddiqui
P18.Why do we need Fitness? by Tan Shi Hui
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From the editor
This issue of One Voice marks the end of our publication for the year. We as editors are beyond
proud of the development and growth of our writers, they have approached writing with diligence
and confidence, and it has been remarkable to see their writing skills improve over such a short
period of time! We are proud to of published and delivered 5 issues of One Voice to you this year.
Publishing more frequently was one of our main goals at the beginning of the year, and it is so
great that we have accomplished this. In 2016, One Voice hopes to expand it’s subscriber base (200
and counting!), and to broaden the topics that we cover in the publication. If you wish to point
anyone towards our way, the link to subscribe is : http://bit.ly/18sbGUb .
As always, we thank you for your dedication as readers.
Regards,
Theo Chen
Tessa Rodrigues
Natalie Wong
Vivek Palaniappan
Gianna Siddiqui
Daniella Andriesz
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
Wacky Christmas Traditions!
Antonia Syn
Ah yes, the silly season is upon us. It’s that time of year when neighbours put up their
kooky Christmas decorations and leave the lights flashing through the calm nights of
November. It’s that time of year when a chosen villager parades through the streets,
bearing the skull of a mare on the end of a stick. It’s (nearly) that special time of year
when you leave your shoes outside at night and hope Santa doesn’t fill them with sticks.
Wait, WHAT?
There are some very odd Christmas traditions around the globe, like the ones above from
Wales and Germany, respectively. So while you may think it’s bizarre that your Uncle
Theodore always does a Santa impression, those family traditions pale in comparison to
the seriously freaky stuff on this list, painstakingly compiled by yours truly, Antonia Syn.
1. Austrian children live in fear of Krampus – a Christmas devil who is said to beat
naughty children with branches. The history of the Krampus figure has stretched back to
pre-Christian traditions. There are several different theories as to the origin of the
Krampus, and it is popularly believed to be the Horned God of the Witches.
2. Catalonians include the figure of the Caganer in their nativity scenes – a small figure of
a defecating man. The name “El Caganer” literally means “the crapper”. The exact origin
of the Caganer is unknown but the tradition has existed since at least the 1700s.
Catalonians also have the Tio de Nadal, otherwise known as the “pooping log”. Decorated
with a face and blanket, on Christmas Eve the log is placed halfway into a fire and beaten
with sticks.
3. Advertising can be incredibly powerful. Thanks to a campaign in 1974, many Japanese
families eat at KFC on Christmas Eve. A group of foreigners could not find turkey on
Christmas day and opted for fried chicken instead. The company saw this as a prime
commercial opportunity and launched its first Christmas meal that year. The catchphrase
“Christmas=Kentucky” is now paired with plenty of TV commercials. Though, if you ever
find yourself in Japan and not in the mood for chicken, Wendy’s Japan offers a $20 foie
gras and truffle burger.
4. From December 16-24, there is a unique tradition that takes place in Caracas,
Venezuela. The city streets of Caracas are closed off before 8am to motor traffic, to allow
everyone to skate to mass and be there on time. Apparently it all started in the 1980s
when a pastor’s family skated to mass one day, and soon, everyone followed and it
became a Christmas tradition.
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5. In the Czech Republic, unmarried women stand by a door and throw a shoe over their
shoulder – if the toe is pointing towards the door when it lands, they will get married within
the next year.
6. The Yule Cat is said to stalk the Icelandic hills. Those who don’t receive new clothes
before Christmas Eve are said to be devoured by this mythical beast. The origins of the
Yule Cat are shrouded in mystery, though it bears some resemblance to mythical animal
beings that appear during Advent in Iceland’s neighbouring countries.
7. Since 1966, authorities in Gavle have installed a straw Swedish Yule Goat. However,
almost every other year, vandals have succeeded in burning it down. Because the fire
station is close to the location of the goat, most of the time the fire can be extinguished
before the wooden skeleton is severely damaged. From the 80s and onwards, English
bookmakers have been taking bets on the goat’s survival, and there is camera
surveillance to monitor the goat 24/7. Brinn Bockjavel!
8. Guatemalans sweep out their houses before Christmas. Each neighbourhood will then
create a large pile of dirt, before placing an effigy of the devil on top, and burning it. The
fires are normally gigantic and is where the idea of murdering people by placing them
within the effigy became a hit for the movie industry.
9. In Slovakia, the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of loksa pudding (a
traditional Christmas dish made out of bread, poppy seed filling and water) and throws it
at the ceiling – the more that sticks, the better the crops.
10. Canada Post recognizes the address Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H0H0. Any
letters received bearing this address are both opened and replied to. This has been tried
before and it works, so if you’ve got nothing better to do this Christmas, try it out and see
what Father Christmas truly thinks of you.
Should you be feeling bored of the usual celebrations at Christmas this year, go ahead
and try one of these!
The Not-So-Secret Origin of Santa Claus
Russell Yap
When we think of Christmas, we will most likely think of presents. And when we think
of presents, we will probably think of Santa Claus, a jolly white-bearded old man
flying around in a sleigh pulled by physics-defying reindeer with a physics-defying
magic sack at a physics-defying speed.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
By now, you probably know or have guessed that he isn’t real. But he wasn’t always a
mystical magic man living in the North Pole. Like all legends, Santa Claus’s roots were
in a real person. This person was Saint Nicholas, Christian Bishop of Ancient Greece.
Raised in a devout Christian family, Nicholas and his parents lived a life of luxury until
they passed away in an epidemic.
Nicholas took one of Jesus’s sayings, Sell what you own and give it all to the poor, to
heart and sold his entire inheritance and spent it on the poor, the old, and the sick. He
travelled all over, helping people, until he returned to his hometown of Myra, where he
was soon made Bishop.
Nicholas garnered fame all over the Western world. Even while he was alive, there
were legends and folktales about him. Famous examples include a story where a poor
father is forced to sell his three daughters to slavers, only for them to be saved by a
quick-thinking Nicholas, who threw spheres of gold down their chimney and into their
stockings, which had been left to dry, at night, so that their father would not return them
out of humiliation at living off Nicholas’s charity. This story is probably what led to Santa
Claus’s association with chimneys.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands, people had created a mythical man based off Nicholas
called Sinterklaas, who was much closer to his modern title than Saint Nicholas. He
had helpers called the Zwarte Piet who were short men in page uniforms with faces
covered in soot. Unsurprisingly, this was originally racist, but was changed to be more
politically correct. Later on, his myth became merged with that of Odin, a Nordic God
who served as the patron of Yuletide and rode an eight-legged horse. Once again,
there was a clear connection between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus.
Even today, Dutch children eagerly await the boat of Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piet
on the 11th of November. Following his first arrival, many other local intocht van
Sinterklaas (Arrival of Sinterklaas) are celebrated in towns across the Netherlands. If
there’s a dock in that town, Sinterklaas might arrive by steamboat. In inland towns, he
arrives on a horse or a train.
Later on in New York City, American scholar and poet Clement Clarke Moore combined
these characters and made them into Santa Claus. He gave him his eight flying
reindeer and his big fat belly. Later on, political artist Thomas Nast gave him iconic redand-white fur coat and bottomless toy sack. He gradually became taller and grander
before finally becoming the Santa Claus that we know today.
The fame of Santa Claus did not go unnoticed in the rest of the world. Countries like
the Philippines and Afghanistan carried on their own forms of Christmas, usually
adopted from the Western celebration. For example, the Philippines celebrates
Christmas and Santa Claus, passed down from the time of their Western colonisation.
These countries mostly do not have their own Christmas gift-giver, but have copied the
Western ideas of Santa Claus and his elves.
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Christmas Life Hacks
Maida Mahidi
Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. It is the time when all of your family get
together to celebrate the birth of Jesus and you have nice big family dinners and
exchange presents. Everything is decorated in lights and ornaments and it just feels
magical. But behind all of this beauty and glamour, it is extremely hectic. Meals are
prepared for a whole bunch of people and everybody buys so many presents, just
make sure that it all runs smoothly. I personally do not celebrate Christmas but most of
my friends do and I know majority of the readers do too. From what everyone has told
me, it can be pretty stressful and not always smooth-sailing. Hence, in this article I will
be informing the readers of some life-hacks that I find are quite unique and not
everyone thinks of, but at the same time they are very useful.
I am personally a very big fan of saving money and I think that this life-hack is very
useful in that sense. It is to use plastic cups to store your ornaments and then put
them into boxes. This way it can prevent them from getting tangled up and easier to
keep track of them. You can also take a step further and label the boxes with the types
of ornaments that are in them so they are all organized and in one place. By doing this
you can also save up money because you are reusing your old ones and do not have
to keep buying new ones.
I personally really dislike it when things get tangled especially chords or wires and this
life-hack has solved that problem and it is to wrap your Christmas lights around
hangers. This way your Christmas lights don’t get tangled and you don’t have to spend
hours trying to detangle them and you don’t have to worry about accidentally tripping
on them and breaking them.
If you are thinking of treating a friend or a family member with cookies or macaroons,
you can use aluminium foil containers to package them. All you have to do is just to
decorate them. This way you don’t have to worry about going out and buy them and
you can add your own personal touch to them.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
I love to decorate my room or house according to the seasons or celebrations and
when I found this one, I got very excited. It is to reuse your leftover Halloween
pumpkins and turn them into snowmen.
All you need are three pumpkins, each of different sizes, white paint and some
decorations for your snowman. You just paint your pumpkins white, stack them on top
of each other from largest to smallest and decorate them however you would like.
Christmas decorations like these can easily cost up to $30 and you can save a lot of
money by doing this and it is also a fun activity to do to get you into the Christmas
spirit.
For those who are not so keen on spending money on gift wraps. Use potato chip
bags instead. Just make sure to clean them before you decide to wrap gifts in them.
Flip it inside out so that it makes for a shiny, cool gift wrap and you can just add a cute
bow. Not only does this make a great cheap way to wrap gifts, it also is an excellent
environmental friendly way to celebrate Christmas! If you’d like to keep using the
paper wrapping, be sure to recycle it!
For those who are planning to travel during Christmas, book your flights either before
the first week of November or between the 4th and 10th of December. According to
Travelocity, this is when the prices are at their lowest. I would suggest booking before
November because December might be risky as most flights
My family is big on big celebrations irregardless is we celebrate it or not and this lifehack is extremely helpful, especially for my mom. If you are planning on having a
Christmas party of gathering, make it a potluck. This way you do not have to worry
about cooking for tons of people. You will have a wider variety of food and there might
be leftovers for you too.
This next life hack is pretty obvious but it is to buy your Christmas presents before
December. This way you have more time in case you forget to buy a present for
someone and you don’t have to fret about waiting in enormous lines or the things on
their wish lists being out of stock. If you’re too late, then don’t worry! Try online for
some last minute sales.
Speaking of lists, I am an extremely forgetful person so I like to write everything down
that I need to buy or get down on a list so it is easy to keep track of everything and put
it somewhere that I will be able to see often so you don’t forget about it like my
So these are the nine life hacks that I have come up with. I hope you find these helpful
and I wish you all good luck with the tips! I hope that they have helped you with your
Christmas planning!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
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A Yuletide Poem
Dhruti Bhatta
Candles shed their glorious light,
And angels top the Christmas tree,
Carols ringing in the distance,
And lots of presents for you and me!
Rows of red stockings
That adorn the mantelpiece,
Stuffed with gifts from beloved Santa,
And countless types of sweets!
The Christ child roams the colourful streets,
Adorned in a shiny white robe,
He follows the path of the golden stars,
And fills our hearts with hope.
A day to rejoice our friendships,
And embrace the ones we love,
Wish them all a Merry Christmas,
And pray to God above.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
Christmas Toy-Land
Gerard Wirawan
Singapore's biggest Yuletide fair, Christmas Wonderland, returns to Gardens by the Bay. Look
out for an enchanting Christmas Toy-land Floral Display, a European-style Festive Market and
dazzling Luminaire lights sculptures. At the same time, be sure to check out the Future of Us, an
exhibition showcasing Singapore's future to come. Visitors with "The Future of Us" tickets are
entitled to 40% off Gardens by the Bay Conservatory tickets.
Toys reign supreme in the brand-new "Christmas Toyland" floral display (21 November to 5
January 2016). Venture into the North Pole and explore a magical wonderland where toy
soldiers march alongside roaming reindeers, and teddy bears man a sleigh station - all amidst
yuletide floral favourites like the poinsettia, Christmas rose, winter heather and holly! Towering
over the enchanting floral display is the centrepiece of Christmas Toyland – an 11-metre-tall
Christmas Pyramid decked with toys. This multi-tiered traditional German wooden carousel will
transform into a ‘live’ stage, hosting a series of festive performances for the very first time in the
Flower Field.
The carnival this year is double the size compared to last year, with the entire area spanning
35,000 square metres from the entrance at the Golden Gardens, past the Super Tree Grove and
into The Meadows.Visitors can look forward to many attractions such as the tallest slide in
Singapore, as well as the indoor snow blizzards! Skating on ice, making snow angels at the
playground and strolling through a European style festive market. Visitors will be able to
experience the thrill of winter his festive season without having to leave the tropics! The event is
back this year and is opening on the 28th of November, opened for a month. Last year it drew
more than 900,000 visitors! Visitors can expect an array of attractions, including the brand new Fairgrounds at The Meadow,
where they can zip down the Tallest slide in Singapore with a height of 14 metres, or take a spin on the swinging chairs that offer a 360degree panoramic view of the Gardens.
Christmas wonderland will also see returning attractions such as the festive Market at the super
tree grove. The 21-metre spalliera inside the market is the tallest light sculpture on the festival
grounds. Inside, visitors would be able to experience snow blizzards at the least three times a
day. They will also be treated to festive themed choir and theatrical performances.
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There would be 56 of these handmade Italian sculptures made from white wood, almost
twice the number of last year’s 30. The size of the event space has also doubled to
35,000 sq. m, extending beyond the Super Tree Grove to the Meadow and the Flower
Dome.
Don’t miss the spectacular Spiegel tent, a travelling ‘mirror tent’ from the Netherlands, will
make its first appearance in Asia under the Super Trees at Gardens by the Bay. Originally
built in the late 19th and 20th century, only a handful remain in existence. Made of 1,000
pieces of wood, canvas, brocade, exquisite mirrors and stained glass, visitors will get a
chance to dine within this enchanting tent for a unique gastronomic experience. Get into
the festive spirit and indulge in traditional Christmas fare served up by Kitchen
Language’s Group Executive Chef Martin Woo.
There will be Game stalls, a vintage carousel, parades and opera performances.
Admission to the venue itself is free and entrance fees for the rides and attractions range
from $4 to $14. "There was such a high level of excitement for what you could visually
see last year, so we needed to up the gambit for what you could also do," said Ms Sarah
Martin, the director of co-organiser, Blue Sky Events.
The Roots of the Holiday
Khoo Teng Jui
It’s almost that time of the year again. The time when stockings are hung, trees are put
up, and shopping malls are packed with harried last-minute shoppers. Yes, that’s right
Christmas is coming! One of the most Popular holidays in the whole world, Christmas is
celebrated by billions of people around the world every year. Frequently called “the
season of giving”, the Christmas period is known for gift giving, music carolling, reunions
and, of course, last-minute shopping. But for a holiday that is so popular, surprisingly few
people know much or are even concerned about the origins of Christmas. Where does
Christmas come from? What is it about? These are questions you rarely hear on
Christmas. So what is it really about? Read on and you’ll find out.
Christmas is officially a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, hence
the name Christ-mas. This festival is celebrated around the world and many non-Christian
people celebrate Christmas. In fact, Christmas day is a public holiday in most countries in
the world. The funny thing is, no one actually knows when Jesus Christ was born. It might
have been on December 25th or it might be a completely different day. No one knows for
sure, but they had to pick some day to celebrate.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
In the 4th century Christians had placed Christmas on December 25th. It is unclear if
there was any specific reason for choosing this date. There are several possibilities
though. For one, early Christians believed that Jesus Christ was conceived on March 25th
The date December 25th might have been chosen because it is 9 months after March
25th Another possibility is that the day was chosen to correspond to other religious
festivals at the time. This would have made it easier for non-Christians to accept the
Christian festival and it might explain why so many non-Christians celebrate Christmas
today.
Another important thing to note is that Christmas was not always about giving gifts and
making merry. In fact Christmas was not very popular in some countries in the 17th and
18th centuries. One of these countries was England. After winning the English Civil war
the Puritans of New England banned Christmas celebration in England and it’s colonies in
1647. The ban was lifted in 1660 when the Puritans lost power, but Christmas was not
frequently celebrated for years afterwards. It was only through the hard work of 19th
century writers like Charles Dickens, who depicted Christmas as a season of generosity,
goodwill and family values, that Christmas became the way it is today. Thanks guys!
But it doesn’t matter exactly how Christmas originated, or why you celebrate it. As with all
holidays, it’s an excuse to kick back and have some fun, sing songs, give gifts and show
your friends and family you care about them. So when Christmas comes around this year,
be ready with your gifts and carols, and get ready to turn on that Christmas cheer!
Things to do at Christmas!
Sara-Grace Lien
Christmas. It’s a season full of joy, hope, food, family and especially presents. Most of us
are excited to celebrate Christmas as it is the most exciting season of the year. The
celebration of Christmas starts several weeks before Christmas Day, in fact for the
Christmas lights and decorations have already been on display for a few weeks! You can
start by shopping while strolling along Orchard Road to enjoy the christmas lightings. You
will be entertained by as you walk on the streets and MRT tunnels from Orchard Road to
the Marina Bay. So, let me share with you a few exciting things you can do during the
Christmas season in Singapore.
Every evening in December, the Christmas design at Tanglin Mall comes to life with fake
snow, which is actually just soap bubbles. It is a big hit with the young kids, and it is pretty
fun for adults too.
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It occurs from 7.30pm – 8pm every day.Every year, my family would would bring me to
Tanglin Mall and play in the soap bubbles with my younger cousin. It was the highlight of
our year!
You can also take a stroll down Orchard Road and admire the Christmas lights that they
put up every night. They are one of the most magnificent light displays you will see. If you
want to see more beautiful light displays, you can take a visit to the beautiful Christmas
lights at Marina Bay. It is a beautiful sight and there are lots of flashing lights connecting
the towers and bay. On weekends on the hour from 8pm to 11pm, there will be a musical
3-D “dancing water fountain” display on the bay water, accompanied by thematic music. It
is a both a breathtaking and soothing experience. This is highly recommended and a
“must see”.
Another event is the Garden Rhapsody Christmas Edition where you can soak in the
beautiful experience of lights dancing in the daily shows! In the evenings, the Supertrees
at Gardens by the Bay come to life in a spectacular light and sound show. Soak in the
beautiful experience of lights dancing. From 20 Nov 2015 from 7.45pm to 8.45pm, be
entertained by familiar Christmas tunes as “the towering vertical gardens come to life
every evening in a specially choreographed 12-minute music and light show.” Surrounding
the Supertree Grove are Christmas stalls where you can find an array of food delights to
fill your stomach.
Christmas lunch buffets are served at most hotels around the Island. Some popular ones
can be found at Goodwood Park Hotel, Raffles Hotel but these can be costly. For a less
costly alternative, try Brizo Restaurant at Park Hotel Clarke Quay where you will enjoy the
magical spread of delectable yuletide gastronomy which is inspired by fairytales, the
festive spread includes whole roasted suckling pig, seafood paella & seafood skewers,
cream of Australia pumpkin and Christmas rainbow cake & desserts. Female diners can
also participate in ‘A Chance to be Cinderella’ contest.
If you have not done your Christmas shopping, you can go back to Orchard Road to shop
at Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Paragon etc. They sell great Christmas gifts and
interesting Christmas ornaments. You can even see some stunning Christmas trees,
festive decorations, carollers, fake snow and Reindeer. Not to mention extended shopping
hours and Christmas sales offering with truly massive discounts. There is a wide variety of
branded luxury products at Paragon if you are into brands and fashion. If you like cheap
bargains on youthful trendy clothes, try Far East Shopping Centre and the Bugis market.
On Christmas Eve, churches are opened for Christmas Masses and Services. If you
would like to attend some of these spiritual events, you can refer to the websites of the
various church organisations.
Here are some of the wide variety of fun activities you can do during the Christmas
season in Singapore. May you experience a magical Christmas holiday in our beautiful
country.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
China and Taiwan
George Garrity
China and Taiwan have always been at odds. How could they not be? Ever since the
Communists won the Chinese civil war in 1949 and forced the ruling Kuomintang party to
Taiwan, relations have been extremely frosty. China believes that Taiwan is not an
independent state, and is under their control. However, Taiwan is openly defiant to its much
larger, communist, cousin, seen through the country’s official name (The Republic of China,
as opposed to the mainland’s People’s Republic of China), and in their systems. Taiwan has
a centre-right government, elected into power, ranking high in freedom of the press,
economic freedom, healthcare & public education, whereas the PRC is a single party
communist state, with heavy restrictions on the media & public freedom of speech, especially
on criticism against the government. However, diplomatic tensions saw a breakthrough this
week as both leaders met for the first time since the end of the civil war in 1950. So what
does this mean for the region?
This sort of diplomatic talks between the two countries is not new, but rather a product of
talks to restore communications, commerce, and transportation between the two countries. In
the 1980s & 90s, both countries experienced massive economic booms, with massive
advancements in technology & industrialisation. Furthermore, in recent years, China has
switched to a more capitalist based economic system based on Singapore’s economic model,
under the guidance of its leader from 1978-1992, Deng Xiaoping. With now similar economic
models, one might think that China & Taiwan would have more in common. Unfortunately,
their ideologies still differed greatly from each other, and work between the two nations would
not be seen for decades to come.
In recent years, the politics surrounding the two countries when it comes to foreign nations is
the same. China rules China, and Taiwan is part of China. Unofficially, there are many
economic connections between big superpowers, and Taiwan is represented unofficially in a
lot of countries, despite not having an embassy in them. However, when it comes to the UN,
Taiwan is not so lucky. Only 27 countries recognise it as the only legal China, and because of
the PRC’s permanent place on the UN Security Council & international pressure, Taiwan
does not hold a seat in the UN, despite meeting all the requirements of an independent state.
Can we see any diplomatic activity like this in the future? It’s hard to say at this point.
Tensions seem to be thawing, however slow the pace is. People on both sides of the Strait
are extremely weary, with many protesting the meetings happening in the first place. While a
deal between the countries would be strong, it is unlikely that one will be reached, at least in
the foreseeable future. China is branching out to the west more in terms of making new
economic deals to strengthen themselves, and only 21 countries in the UN officially recognise
Taiwan as a sovereign state. These talks seem to be symbolic for the time being, but in a
region constantly changing, who knows what the future can hold, and what unexpected ties it
could bring. No one can ever truly know.
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Violence against Women
Natalie Chow
On the 7th of November, 2015, more than 20,000 people marched on the streets of the
capital of Spain, Madrid to condemn violence against women. This rally has probably
been the most attended rally in Spain regarding this. The rally, which was organised by
feminist groups, was attended by representatives of all the main political parties. Many of
the participants were the majority of women, many of them were past victims of physical
or sexual abuse.
Some activists were dressed in black and lay on the ground with their bodies outlined with
chalk. This was done so to commemorate the hundreds of women who were murdered
over the years in what they would describe to be “sexist terrorism”. The activists have
spoken out, saying that the laws against domestic abuse should be extended to include all
violence against women. Other groups like trade unions and non-governmental
organisations from across Spain also joined the event.
A survey conducted in 2014 by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
estimated that about a third of all women in the EU have experienced physical or sexual
violence since the age of 15 – which corresponds to about 62 million people, according to
the survey. This is said to be the biggest survey conducted on the subject, and is based
on interviews with 42,000 women. The report calls to EU countries to treat domestic
violence as a public, not a private issue and says laws and policies relating to sexual
harassment should be reviewed carefully.
The survey asked women about their experiences of physical, sexual and psychological
violence, at home and in the workplace, as well as stalking, sexual harassment and
violence in childhood. It found that "one in 10 women has experienced some form of
sexual violence since the age of 15, and one in 20 has been raped”.
The survey noted that 22% had suffered from physical or sexual violence by a partner, but
that 67% did not report the most serious incidents of domestic violence to the police.
Furthermore there was a link between heavy alcohol use and domestic violence.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
About 18% of women said they had been the victims of stalking since the age of 15, and
55% said they had been sexually harassed, often in the workplace, the survey found.
It noted that young women as a group "are particularly vulnerable to victimisation”.
However, statistics and surveys suggest the problem is less prevalent in Spain than other
European countries. European countries like Denmark (52%), Finland (47%) and Sweden
(46%) are reported to be the countries with the highest number of incidences of physical
and sexual violence, despite the fact they are commended for gender equality.
Violence against women is high in the public's conscience in Spain, and the rally has
succeeded in reasserting and reinforcing this issue on the political agenda - only six
weeks before an unpredictable general election. This issue, however, is not one that is
extremely problematic in the Europe and is one that is worldwide and has been since
gender discrimination.
This issue is certainly one that cannot be solved overnight and will require perseverance
and the patience of our current generations and maybe even more to come. The sad
reality is that our society is still largely angled towards men, and in many cultures women
are still seen as inferior, to which we can only hope for swift change. Gender equality is
something that has been implemented since women were given the right to vote in
elections. Women may still be continued to pay less than men in various places. This
issue can only be solved if the mindset for our society be changed to think considerately
towards the women.
However, this is a worldwide issue and does not solely happen in Europe. No place is
safe from such issues - even places like Singapore, which is assumed by many to be a
safe place. The correct term should be - Singapore is a safer place than most. Have you
considered that even domestic helpers are women too - and they have human rights too?
Problems like domestic helper’s being abused and women in a family being abused exist
too.
There are indeed valiant ordinary people who have stood out in Singapore to reinforce the
believes in women's rights and equality. One organisation in Singapore, also known as
AWARE by many and officially known as Association of Women for Action and Research
believe in a society where there is gender equality and hope to remove the many
problems and issues we face as a world of the 21st generation. AWARE provides support
services, education and training for everyone living in Singapore.
In my opinion, laws to protect rights against women should reinforced and maybe even
increased but we should not only rely on that. Many Singaporeans take the safety given to
them for granted and by informing the great public such a thing is happening everywhere
and anywhere at anytime may help some people to actually show some consideration
towards women - who may even face more social injustice than you think.
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Movie Recommendations
Gianna Siddiqui
That time of year has come again for us all,where we get to finally retract ourselves away from
the overloaded work piles and draining hours of school. Finally the long awaited five weeks of
total bliss are upon us, in which many of us I’m sure will either be travelling with our families,
hanging out with friends, Christmas shopping, TV-show binging – well, these are just some
amongst the unseeded amount of possibilities out there.
I personally love spending my free days watching movies and reading books – creating
that serendipitous yet adventurous atmosphere for myself (and one’s self) is good for
one’s health and gives some time to not think about the stress of school – something
which we all fall victim to I’m sure of, at least once a month.
To set you off in the holiday mood (sorry for doing this rather early teachers), one of the
movies that I would recommend giving a go for is Mockingjay Part 2, the final installment
of the Hunger Games trilogy. The Hunger Games, film and novel wise, have garnered
massive success over the last few years and it is a shame to see one of our favorite
series ending – I know I was pretty much gutted knowing that there would be no more
Harry Potter movies to look forward to anymore. Mockingjay however, was very well put
together and was a very satisfying end to this series. The movie is full of action and is not
your typical Hunger Games movie; sure, the love triangle stands to remain as one of the
movie’s sub-plots but it also provided the viewers a light-hearted outtake on a rather dark
film. This movie veered towards what was more like a teenage Game of Thrones – in
retrospect the themes explored in the film and the general tone of it set up a very dark,
nevertheless thrilling film, which really explored and nailed down some of the things the
books had missed. It is very different from what readers may have been expecting, but
captured something that had not anticipated before and turned out to be my favorite
Hunger Games film. Definitely worth a visit to the cinema – and if its something you don’t
think you’ll enjoy, it’s always worth looking at it from an alternative point of view.
If you’re looking for something entertaining and pleasurable, another movie that one
might have missed out on is The Man from U.N.C.L.E., an action comedy spy film
starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. The movie contains elements of Kingsman,
James Bond and (some might think this weird) but Iron Man to it and was one I
thoroughly enjoyed watching. The movie itself has no direct and substantial plot, but the
characters are such that we can’t help but watch, and to a further extent, even admire
them, as a result of their outstanding normality. It’s no blockbuster but is definitely
something to watch if you’re in that kind of mood.
However, we must also not forget the importance of losing ourselves to the alluring oasis
of “the holidays” – we tend to focus so much on the relaxing part that the probability of us
forgetting ourselves is actually quite high. Let the winter break be a time for indulgence
as well –read a book, do some volunteer work, get in line with what is happening in the
world and see how we can help, become more involved in the community – whatever it
is, with school at the back of our minds, it’s our opportunity to immerse ourselves in this
world that we breathe in; devoting even one day to a meaningful and beneficial cause
reaps lasting benefits; a great Christmas break is what really makes the end of our year a
special one – so make the most of this opportunity, even if it is one of many.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
Why do we need Fitness?
Tan Shi Hui
“Protein Powder!” “Too much calories!” “Carbohydrates are bad for you!”
In the 21st century that we live in today, information is just at our fingertips. This has led to
a plethora of misinformation, especially in youths today, on how and why to keep fit, as
well as what is considered aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The Internet has brought us
many blessings but in my opinion, the curse that it has brought is the ease at which
fitness models and celebrities’ photos can be accessed. As a result, society’s standard of
beauty have gradually changed and there is a pressure to look like these models or
celebrities now.
Today, I am here to expose many beliefs and define, in my opinion what is considered fit
and how exactly to achieve that, with just a little perspiration but a lot of discipline. I will
convince you to keep fit and trace 4 steps to becoming fit.
Some of you might have been hounded with many pleas and appeals from relatives,
parents or even friends to start exercising but all of their words have fallen on deaf ears.
You don’t care about your fitness and think that it will never affect you. Think again
because lack of exercise together with a poor diet will doom your body. I can quote fancy
data that substantiate my statement but I will not. Instead, I will list out simple everyday
tasks that you would struggle to do if you are not fit. 1) Climbing the stairs. 2) Playing any
sport (and I mean any sport) 3) Running to catch the last bus to take you to school (too
bad you are late!) 4) Play with your friends during Physical Education because everyone
passed their fitness test and you have to redo it. 5) Study effectively.
Exercising releases endorphins which in turn interact with the receptors in your brain.
Benefits include: Inducing positivity in your life, which can help can your outlook on life.
Studying after exercising will also boost your studies and attention span because you will
become more energised. Exercising also helps to reduce stress, increase bond strength
and strengthens your heart. And the best part is that all these benefits come with just 30
minutes of exercising daily.
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So how to become fit you ask? Firstly, a normal human being, without steroids or an
extreme diet will never achieve a body like fitness model Jeff Seid, or Victoria Secret
Angel Candice Swanepoel. Many magazines or websites will promise you with a specific
exercise or supplement that you will be able to achieve such a body. These are lies and
magazines are just trying to sell more copies of their magazines. In fact, magazines get
paid a lot to advertise health products.
Thus, the first step to become fit is having realistic dreams and setting an achievable goal. In the
long run, this will definitely benefit you as if you set goals that are way out of reach, even with
110% effort, you will just end up disappointed when you do not achieve those goals, and this
may curb your enthusiasm to work out any further. I have trained with many people in the gym
and most of them start off full of enthusiasm and motivation because they think they are going to
achieve their dream physique within a year, and many of them end up gutted and I never see
them in the gym again. Keeping fit will be a lifetime commitment and there is no easy way
around it.
Secondly, determine your specific desired end result. This includes losing fat or putting on
muscle or simply improving your overall fitness so that you can pass a fitness test. Goals must
be specific so that you would be able to gauge your own progress and see if the training program
is working for you.
Thirdly, take proactive steps to achieving your goal. An ounce of discipline is worth more than a
tonne of motivation. Becoming fit will not be achieved overnight, a lot of dedication must be put in
in order to achieve your fitness goals. This will include lots of discipline and simply getting down
to put in the work instead of always aspiring to improve your fitness.
Lastly, there will definitely be setbacks when improving your fitness. This may include injuries or
falling short of targets or simply losing the motivation to workout. I recommend writing on a list
why you want to workout and improve your fitness in the first place before you even start. If you
do want to give up, look at that list and look at yourself and ask yourself, “Have I achieved what I
set out to accomplish?” Hopefully that will help you gain some extra motivation and continue
working out.
Now I will move on to busting some common myths about fitness and going to the gym. In my
opinion, protein powder is not such a mystifying and magical potion that will help your muscles
grow to gargantuan sizes or will it cause your muscles to be saggy should you stop working out
for an extended period of time, because of an exam, for example. Protein Powder is simply just a
supplement, like Vitamin C tablets. They should never replace meals and should just supplement
your meals. I recommend only taking them on days that you work out and only if your workout is
very intensive and the goal of the individual is to put on muscle. If you are simply looking to
increase your stamina or lose fat, protein powder will not help at all.
Another popular activity for people who go to the gym is carefully monitoring what the eat.
Counting calories is good but tedious and I do not practice it myself, for I believe that it is too
much of a hassle to count calories. However, counting calories will be very essential for those
trying to lose fat, as there must be a calorie deficit in order to lose fat. This means that the
amount of calories that you eat should be less than what your body is burning in other to burn
fat.
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ONEVOICEMAGAZINE December
Finally, I believe that everything should be eaten in moderation and carbohydrates are not bad for
you. In fact, it is essential for your body to function. What will not be beneficial is gorging ourselves
with empty carbohydrates. such as foods that are high in sugar and provide zero or very little
nutritional value. Some of which include sweets, ice creams and chocolates. This are all pleasures
in life that we should enjoy, but at the bare minimum and definitely not every day.
Keeping fit is all about consistency and as long as you press on, you will be fit in no time. To keep
fit, I recommend a mix of aerobic exercises like running and swimming and weight lifting. Weight
training on the other hand will help to improve the strength of muscles which in turn help you
perform everyday task with ease like carrying groceries You may not lose weight but realise that
you have a thinner waist. Of course a detailed plan should be. However, with some discernment, a
plan on the internet can easily be sourced and used, especially for weight training. Try out plans
for 6 months to a year and switch plans if they are not working for you. However, if you are putting
in the work, getting ample sleep, eating right and keeping a positive mindset, keeping fit will be a
walk in the park.
Remember, sweat is just fat crying, keep the course and you will meet your goals eventually.
Thank you for reading!
We hope you enjoyed reading the final issue of the year. Looking ahead, we hope to bring
new writers and perspectives to our readers in 2016. Want to be in the next OneVoice issue?
With the vibrant & diverse community of SJI International, the OneVoice editors are
looking to continue student submissions for the next issue. Please feel free to send us your
submissions be it artwork, photography, articles or creative writing to
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