OneVoice
June 2014
Sports Superstars: !
Check out the
outstanding
achievements of Mekal
& Ayako!
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
CONTENTS
!
4
5
8
10
11 12
15 16
17 20
22
The Middle Kingdom
A Passion for Football
The ‘Blade Runner’ Cut Down
The Crimean Crisis
The Water in Our Food
The Best Websites on the Internet
Top 10 Old Movies to Watch
Kindness in donating blood
Dead Language
Book Review: Boy Nobody
Is Self Expression Overrated?
Green Corner: Going Vegetarian?
An Interview with Mr. Gary Crumbie
Sports Superstars: Mekal & Ayako
2
ONEVOICE
EDITORIAL TEAM
ONE VOICE
Chee Claire
Chen Theo
Cheung Natalie
Chng Andy
Chow Yeriell
Garrity James
Ho Jaslynn
Hoong Ruru
Hui Matthew
Jasmi Nur Eva
Kam Ethan
Kulkarni Apurva
MEMBERS
Lam Zhi Zhong
Li Jo Ann
Lim Alexandra
Long Ze Peng
Moreno Sergio
Ong Claudine
Panos Alexia
Purjari Soham
Remsudeen Risma
Samarasekera Dinithi
Sekhon Simren
Shahabuddin Ammar
3
Singh Pushpin
Singh Gunin
Soh Amy
Soh Jareb
Soh Matthew
Sulllivan Alex
Tan Matthew
Tan Katherine
Tyebally Azhar
Vincent Natasha
Wong Natalie
Yeo Kimberly
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
The Middle Kingdom
Hoong Juan Ru
The Middle Kingdom has, for the last few
decades, dominated the center of many
budding and puzzled minds, enshrouded in an
amalgamation of mystery, awe, and fear.
Fledging teenagers (like myself) struggle to
comprehend and keep up with the workings of
the economic giant, for it has certainly fulfilled
(or is fast fulfilling) the prophecy of its name.
With a World Bank report suggesting that it
may surpass the United States this year as the
world’s largest economy, China has truly been
thrust (rather unwillingly) into the limelight.
way, has become the leading issuer of IPOs in
terms of total value, overtaking the U.S in
recent years), but also in the U.S and all over
the world.
!
2) China is not only China. China is
the world.
!
Go anywhere in the world and you’ll
find that the Chinese people have established
themselves there. Clearly, the Chinese populate
most of Asia (especially in a place like
Singapore, where over 70% are ethnically
Chinese). Not only that, but hundreds of
thousands of Chinese workers (not only bluecollar workers, but university graduates with
illustrious degrees from the world’s top
universities) now sweep through the streets of
San Francisco, the oil wells of Africa, and the
iron mines of Latin America. The Great
Chinese Migration, which started out as an
outpouring of rural Chinese into Chinese cities,
has now spilled over to the rest of the world –
this is, truly, the epitome of globalization.
3) China is not too big to fail.
!
Misconceptions about China abound.
Many experts have spent years researching the
behemoth, and yet can hardly begin to
comprehend the vast workings and cogwheels
that chug and splutter to run the country.
Articles speaking of China’s GDP (and other
honestly completely bamboozling variables of
Chinese macroeconomics) proliferate rapidly
with China’s rise. If so, what new light could I
shed on such a topic? I cannot pretend to know
much about China (even having spent the first
12 years of my life in Shanghai), but all I can
do is attempt to translate the information I’ve
read, and convey the complexity of the Middle
Kingdom through the lens of a 17-year-old.
!
!
But then again, with all the praise over
the astounding achievements of the Middle
Kingdom, skepticism over China’s ability to
keep up with this booming trend has dampened
the country’s spectacular rise. Just a month ago,
China witnessed an unprecedented event – its
first domestic corporate bond default (which, in
plain words, is a bad thing). Shanghai Chaori
Solar Energy, Shanzi Haixin Iron and Steel
group Co., Ltd., both defaulted on bank loans.
1) China is rising. Undoubtedly.
!
It doesn’t take an economist to tell you
that. GDP and economic development aside,
the evidence is right in front of our eyes. Back
in the financial crisis of 2008, I came back to
Singapore for the summer holidays and
returned to Shanghai a month later only to find
a spanking new hospital right outside my house.
Whilst the West was (and arguably still is)
suffering the consequences of the 2008 crisis,
China was forging ahead, making astonishing
(albeit frightening) economic and social
progress.
!
We have to understand that the
Chinese government has long funded key
economic enterprises through policy banks such
as China Exim and China Development Bank.
Practically unlimited funds offered by these
banks have long supported high rates of
investment, but they may be reaching their
limit. Rather akin to us as sheltered children –
just as we have lived off the pocket money
offered to us by our parents, Chinese
companies have been living on the funds
offered by Chinese banks. As we reach
adulthood and the flow of pocket money stops,
the same thing is happening to Chinese
companies. These banks have been fuelled by
the vast pool of Chinese savers (Chinese people
save over 40% of their earnings, the highest
!
Forget Facebook, Amazon, and Ebay.
These American companies are constantly on
the forefront of our minds (abashedly I while
away quite a lot of my time on these sites!), but
their Chinese counterparts will soon overcast
them. Chinese tech giant Alibaba already
produces more sales and net income than
Amazon and EBay combined (and yet many
Americans have yet to hear of Alibaba). Waves
of Chinese companies like Alibaba are going
public, not only within China (which, by the
4
rate of savings in the world), who
have been losing money on their deposits, as
interest rates are often lower than the rate of
inflation. Now with Chinese industries like
steel suffering from overcapacity, and with
borrowers (Chinese enterprises) unable to
pay (or borrow to pay) their interest, the
Chinese boom may have reached its brink.
!
The world is anxious about China.
We are anxious about China. The world is
much too interconnected for us to be
ignorant of and disinterested in its
circumstances. What I have outlined in the
last 700 words or so is barely the tip of the
iceberg.
!
For after all, even this keyboard I’m
furiously typing away on is Made in China.
!
(References and further reading:
China’s Silent Army, by Jan Pablo Cardenal
and Heriberto Araújo; and China’s Ticking
Debt Bomb, Online: Knowledge@Wharton)
A passion for Football
Theo Chen
Football has been a passion for these two
boys since a young age. Kieran Rajaram
and Goh JY (both from Grade 8) love
football. They have been active members
of the school’s U14 competitive football
team, and have been playing in matches
and representing the school since the
beginning of Grade 7. Today we sat
down with them to learn what their
motivation is and what fuels their
passion for the sport.
him. Seeing professional footballers and
my brother playing the sport inspired me
to be like them.
What inspired you to start playing
football?
JY: Playing football has made me much
more capable of working with large
groups of people and a much more
responsible person.
!
!
Kieran: From a young age, I knew that I
had to become a professional footballer,
I watched and played football all the
time. From academies to just kickarounds I loved it all.
!
JY: When I was 5 or so, my brother
would often play football in our garden
at home. I always saw him doing very
complex and skilful moves, which made
me interested in football. I also watched
many football matches on television with
!
How do you think sport has
changed you as a person?
!
Kieran: Sport has taught me that it’s not
all about winning, and that if we tried
our best, then we should be proud of our
effort.
!
!
What makes you strive to be your
best when you are playing football?
!
Kieran: I try my best in football as I
know that if I don't, I will not feel
satisfied with myself after the game. I try
my best so I don't have any regrets about
not putting the maximum effort into the
game.
!
5
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
JY: I just want to do my best and win
something for my school.
!
What fuels you to continue playing
football?
!
Kieran: I continue playing football as I
absolutely love it.
!
JY: I love football. I don't really need
something to keep myself playing the
sport.
The ‘Blade Runner’ Cut Down
Pushpin Singh
Once the epitome of perseverance and determination, Oscar Pistorius’ life has taken a
tumultuous downfall ever since the ill-fated Valentine’s Day shooting of then girlfriend, Reeva
Steenkamp, in 2013.
!
Oscar Pistorius was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22nd November 1986, a time where
efforts were being made to bring reforms to end apartheid. He was born without fibulas (bone
located on the lateral side of the shin) in both legs and had to get both his legs amputated
halfway between his knees and ankles when he was 11 months old. Despite his disability, he
grew up as an avid sports player, participating in many different sports before settling on
running in 2003 after a serious knee injury. Within a year, he took part in in the 2004 Summer
Paralympics, clocking a world record time of 21.97s in the 200m event. Since then, he has
taken part in numerous athletics competitions throughout the world, achieving numerous
accolades and setting new records. He competed internationally against able-bodied athletes at
the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Golden Gala in 2007 and became
the first amputee to ever compete in the Summer Olympics by participating in the 2012 edition
in London.
!
However, his legacy, his glory all came crashing down on 14th February 2013, after he allegedly
shot Dutch model Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria. As per the comments of Pistorius
himself, he had not known that Steenkamp was inside the bathroom at the point of time and
had assumed that she was still in bed. When he heard the sliding window open inside the
bathroom, he assumed that there was an intruder and shot at the door 4 times. It turns out it
was Steenkamp inside and she was shot to death by Pistorius.
!
As of 11th April 2014, Oscar Pistorius’ trial is already underway. However, the truth behind
that fateful morning has not been entirely revealed as there were no eyewitnesses and the
prosecution is only getting help from circumstantial evidence available at the crime scene.
Forensic analysts have already found flaws inside Pistorius’ account of the incident; the fact of
whether Pistorius was on his prosthetic limbs when the incident took place being one of them.
Pistorius claims that he was wearing them but the prosecution, based on forensic analysis, states
otherwise. All these flaws bring in more suspicion on Pistorius than ever before and only serve
6
to bring down his reputation even further.
Despite the visible anguish seen on Pistorius’ face and his bouts of vomiting during the trial,
it still remains the fact that he killed Reeva Steenkamp. He may not have had any intention
to do so but he still did and he himself accepts it. He may escape any punishment from law
for claiming that what he did was in the act of self-defense, but this incident will not escape
the eyes of the people and will not change their impression of the ‘real’ Oscar Pistorius that
has emerged in front of them. One who has embraced the violent gun culture spreading
throughout the world and has caused pain for others through it.
!
This was not Pistorius’ only incident involving misuse of guns: it was uncovered that he had
‘accidentally’ fired a gun in a restaurant but had asked a close associate present to take the
blame to prevent himself from getting defamed. Pistorius might not have hurt someone then
but he did so this time and has suffered the consequences of escaping punishment then.
!
Like Lance Armstrong, Pistorius has seen his legacy spiral down to the floor. An inspiration
to many, he has lifted the barriers for people with disabilities to compete with the majority
able-bodied population and has garnered respect from the able bodied and people with
disabilities alike for being able to cope with the difficulties of performing at such a level. His
famous quote: “You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities
you have", has served as motivation for millions of athletes working to get on the global
stage and people with disabilities fighting against their struggles to fit into society. However,
all this has taken a step back and Pistorius will now be remembered for years to come for his
act of violence rather than his celebrated career, a villain before a hero.
!
7
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
!
The Crimean Crisis
Gunin Singh
Since the beginning of the year, Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict regarding the
Crimean peninsula. The dispute has escalated to such a scale that the international
community has begun to intervene to bring an end to the conflict. In a span of a few
months, Crimea has been denied sovereignty and been claimed by Russia. The interesting
thing about Crimea is that the Crimean peninsula is not directly connected to mainland
Russia. It is connected to Ukraine, which in turn is connected to Russia. This crisis began
with a revolution in Ukraine, which initially had no correlation to the sovereignty of
Crimea.
!
In early November of 2013, Ukraine was on the verge of an economic collapse. There were
only 2 solutions; either to sign a long-term deal with the European Union (EU) to further
improve trade and integration or to take a $15 billion loan from Russia and join the
Eurasian Union along with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Ukraine’s prime minister, Viktor
Yanukovych chose the latter: to receive the loan from Russia and additionally, receive oil at a
third of its normal price. Yanukovych has a history with Vladimir Putin; moreover he was
ousted from office in 2004 on charges of corruption. Ukrainians felt that Yanukovych, given
his history with corruption and Vladimir Putin, has forced them into an allegiance with
Russia, causing widespread riots and protests in Ukraine. Yanukovych tried to silence and
gain control over the protestors, but in response more protestors joined the coup. During the
protests in Kiev, over a 100 Ukrainians were allegedly killed by snipers on Yanukovych’s
orders. Unable to control the chaos, Yanukovych fled to Russia and left Ukraine leaderless.
The opposition formed a coalition government in Ukraine and marked 25th May as election
day in order to select a new government and point Ukraine in a new direction, free of a
defiantly corrupt government. However, in the dying days of the protests, days after
Yanukovych fled the country, Vladimir Putin ordered military drills to be carried out at the
Russian-Ukraine border and the Black Sea. Russia’s Black Sea fleet has basing rights in
Crimea. While the military exercises were taking place, armed men in unmarked uniforms
stormed Crimea and took over major government buildings. Some identified themselves as
Russian but most identified themselves as part of the local defense division. In the midst of
the chaos, Crimea, being more sovereign than Ukraine, elected its own local government
and the members that were voted in were pro-Russian figures. Directly after the elections, a
referendum was held to decide Crimea’s sovereignty. Crimea had 2 choices; they either
joined Russia or strengthened its independence. While this referendum was taking place,
Russia deployed its military close to the border of Ukraine and also trapped many of
Ukraine’s ships in order to prevent them from interfering in the referendum. The outcome
of this referendum was that close to 97% of the population of Crimea wanted to join
Russia. This was only natural as Crimea consists of mainly Russians and those that were in
favour of pro-Russian beliefs. Days after the referendum, Putin signed a treaty which
officially annexed Crimea and stated that this was a victory, “without a single shot fired and
no human casualties.” However on that very day a Ukrainian soldier died but the
circumstances of his death are still unknown. Putin also authorized the military to use
weapons for self-defense in Crimea.
!
Dominance and control over Crimea has been one of Russia’s long term desires. Crimea’s
sovereignty has a relatively turbulent history of changing sides from as far back as the 9th
century where it was being contested between the Byzantines, the Kievan Rus’ and the
Khazaks. In the 14th century, Crimea was controlled by the Ottoman Empire,
8
!
Since Russia’s move to stealthily take over Crimea came to light, the international
community has cried out foul with regards to human rights and Crimea being forced to join
Russia. The US and the EU have ordered economic sanctions on Russia, its allies and its
businesses around the world. The EU has blacklisted 33 Russians and Ukrainians, while the
US has ordered sanctions on a bank and 31 people, including powerful businessmen such as
Gennady Timchenko of the Gunvor oil group. The G8 and EU have also suspended Russia
from participating in any of their conferences. These sanctions will not only affect Russia
but also the international economy and as tensions build up, conflict at a major scale is just
a spark away.
!
On 14 April, 2 Russian Su-24 fighter jets flew over a US destroyer executing low altitude
maneuvers, barely 150 meters above sea level and 900 meters away from the ship. Despite
many attempts to warn the fighter jets off, the pilots continued to taunt the destroyer but the
jets were not armed with any aerial weapons and they were said to be carrying out routine
patrols. This incident happened in international waters in the Black Sea. This may have
been Russia’s response to NATO’s systematic build-up of naval forces in the region. It might
be a sign from Russia to NATO forces that they are getting too close and that there are too
many Western powers in the region, an area which is supposed to be dominated by the
Russian Black Fleet.
!
The amount tension is building up day by day in a region that is hotly contested and
conflict at an international scale could be triggered from just a small mistake.
9
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
where it was a major contributor to the export of approximately 2 million slaves from
Russia and Ukraine. It was then conquered by the Russian empire in 1783 and took part in
the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856. However during the Russian Civil War in 1921,
Crimea became part of the Soviet Union. After the Union’s collapse Crimea was handed
over to Ukraine. Since then Russia has tried to get Crimea back but failed. Crimea is not
just land; it is a piece of history that defines both Russia and Ukraine in many ways. Giving
that history up to the other counterpart would be more than a loss of land but a loss of
heritage, culture and respect. The history of Russian-Ukrainian ties is complex and dates
far back to when the Russian Empire came to power. This idea of Crimea being a sovereign
state strikes many Russians as odd and this really tells us how strongly Russians feel about
Crimea.
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER February
The Water in our Food
Jareb Soh
Ain’t it just the best thing in the
world to wake up on Saturday morning,
grab a bowl of cereal and some milk, a
fruit or two maybe, and start the day nice
and fresh? Or if mornings aren’t your
thing, maybe a plate of spaghetti with salad
on the side. It doesn’t matter what you’re
eating, so long as it keeps you happy and
satisfied! BUT, before you run off to grab a
bag of chips, has it ever crossed your mind
as to what it takes for your food to get to
your table? Or, more precisely, have you
ever thought about how much it takes to
grow every part of your meal?
day!
Your average water bottle –
Ironic isn’t it? Your average 1.5L
water bottle requires around 7L of
water to make the plastic bottle. Just
think about that the next time you
decide to buy a giant bottle of coke.
Seems like a waste to throw it... no?
Watermelon – You thought the
tomato was bad? Wait till you hear
about this one. To grow a pound of
watermelon, about 378L of water is
used! 378 litres! That’s 100 gallons.
Enough said.
We are living in a world that will
soon experience a water crisis, one that is
already impacting many regions in our
globe today. However as students living in a
developed nation, such a thing never
crosses our mind. In the fast paced society
that we live in today, we don’t stop to
ponder, let alone care. Everything’s grab
and go. Now this is a chance to slow
ourselves down, and have a closer look at
the things we eat, the water in our food:
Rice – Ah sweet rice. How we see
you in abundance. Where would we
be without you? But to grow a
pound of this Asian staple,
approximately 130L of water is
needed.
!
There you have it. Four items, but
that should be more than enough to have
you think about the food that goes into
your mouth. So the next time you eat, do
think twice.
Tomatoes – Bright red balls of
goodness that are used in numerous
dishes, be it in a burger or a bowl
of soup. But did you know, that to
grow a pound (roughly 450g) worth
of tomatoes, nearly 11L of water is
needed? That’s more than 3x the
recommended amount we
humans should drink each
!
10
by Theo Chen
We all use the Internet on a daily basis,
whether it be to check our social media,
watch a video on YouTube or even to
research information for homework. That
being said, the Internet is a wonderful
place with many hidden gems. The
following websites are the perfect places in
which to relax, waste time, or even to find
that one word you can never ever
remember while writing your English essay.
!
Is it impossible to concentrate on
homework without checking your
social media constantly? This app
allows you to add websites to a
“blacklist” and activate a timer,
where all the websites in your
“blacklist” are not possible to
access. Even when you delete the
app or restart your computer, it will
continue to function so just be
careful not to accidentally set it for
too long.
1) safeweb.norton.com
This website is perfect for when you are
surfing the web, and come across
something that looks really interesting,
but is still slightly shady. Safeweb
enables you to enter the website’s url
and check it’s safety status so as to not
corrupt your computer with viruses.
!
!
6) postlimit.com
If you’re a tumblr user, then this
website is the most handy for you.
We are all familiar with the dread
and anxiety caused by the fatal
words of: ‘post limit’ which occurs
when you can no longer reblog
posts onto your blogs. Well, this
handy little website will easily solve
your problem! It calculates how
many posts you have left till post
limit and how many hours till the
post limit reset.
2) themasterpost.tumblr.com
Have you ever wondered where to
watch movies or tv shows? This
blog provides gigantic
“master posts” which contain
multiple links to be able to watch
all your favorite shows and films
right on your computer screens!
!
7) sleepyti.me
If you have trouble getting a solid 7
hours of sleep, then this website
can help you! It functions as a sleep
calculator, and it can tell you when
to wake up or go to sleep and even
the best time to set your alarm if
you need to get up in the middle of
the night!
!
!
3) justdelete.me
This site is excellent for erasing
your presence on the web. It
provides thorough information on
how to deactivate / erase / delete
your information from a multitude
of websites.
!
4) www.listentoyoutube.com
If you’ve ever wanted to listen to
the audio of a YouTube video, but
can’t seem to be able to find it on
iTunes or the Android Store or
Google Play, then listentoyoutube
will help you do exactly what you
want to achieve. In 3 simple steps
you can be listening to whatever
Youtube video you want to.
!
8) chir.ag/projects/tip-of-mytongue
This is the best tool ever! Ever had
a word that you really need to
remember but you just can’t seem
to form it? Well with the help of
this website you’ll be able to enter
in important details, and voila! You
have your word!
!
9) thequietplaceproject.com
This website is for taking a small
break in the whirlwind of life. It’s a
5) selfcontrolapp.com
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ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
The best websites on the internet
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
!
you just need a warm smile to know
someone cares.
me to go to my quiet place, a place
with no distractions. It cleans my
mind and sorts out my mind, and is
really effective. The best part? It
takes only two minutes.
!
!
!
!
!
!
10) thenicestplaceontheinter.net
They say to save the best for last, and
in my opinion this is what this
website is: the best. If you have ever
needed a hug, a smile or something
just to cheer you up, then this site
truly is monumental in doing that for
you. There are lots of different clips
from all over the world of people
hugging you, and is perfect for when
Enjoy exploring the
internet!!
Top 10 Old Movies to Watch
Soham Pujari
Since the Easter holidays were considered “The Sequel Weeks” by some people, we
decided to revisit a few “old” movies that are a “must watch”, but brace yourself for
poor CGI.
12
No. 10: No. 8: Jaws (1975)
Jurassic Park (1993)
This film is probably the reason why most
people today have a fear of sharks.
This is a sci-fi adventure thriller directed
by the legendary Spielberg. It extensively
used state-of-the-art science fiction effects
for which the film won 3 Academy
Awards. 2 sequels have been made and
another one is scheduled for release in
2015 (Jurassic World). When released,
this film became the highest grossing film
of the time surpassing E.T. Just last year a
3-D remake of this movie was made. But
the original version has its own unique
experience.
Although Spielberg had directed movies
before this, Jaws was his first big success
that brought him into limelight. This
movie became the highest grossing film of
the time, a record which was broken by
Star Wars.
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Roy Scheider,
Richard Dreyfuss
STARRING: Sam Neill, Laura
D e r n , Je f f G o l d b l u m , R i c h a r d
Attenborough
Robert Shaw,
Awards: 3 Academy Awards
No. 7: Where Eagles Dare (1968)
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
Old? Yes. Boring? Not at all.
Awards: 3 Academy Awards
The film is set during WWII, when a
British plane is shot down and crashes
into Nazi territory. The Germans capture
the only survivor, an American General,
and take him to the nearest Schutzstaffel
headquarters.
No.9: The Gods Must Be Crazy
(1980)
This 34-year-old South African film is a
light hearted comedy.
The story is about a Sho in the Kalahari
desert encountering technology for the
first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle.
He takes it back to his people, and they
use it for many tasks. The people start to
fight over it, so he decides to return it to
the God--where he thinks it came from.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to a school
teacher assigned to a small village, a
despotic revolutionary, and a clumsy
biologist.
STARRING: Richard Burton, Clint
Eastwood, Mary Ure
DIRECTOR: Brian G. Hutton
No. 6: The Bridge on the River Kwai
(1957)
DIRECTOR: Jamie Uys
A film about the British PoWs who were
forced to build a bridge on the river, you
guessed it, Kwai. This film is widely
considered to be one of the greatest films
of all time, and is set on a true story of
the Burma Railway from 1942 to 1943.
Though set in Burma, it was mostly
filmed in Sri Lanka.
!
!
STARRING: Nǃxau ǂToma, Marius
Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo
13
ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
!
No. 3: Gandhi (1982)
DIRECTORS: David Lean
The biography about the one of the
greatest leaders in human history, it
dramatizes the life of Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi.
STARRING: William Holden, Sir
Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins
Awards: 7 Academy Awards
STARRING: Ben Kingsley, John
Gielgud, Candice Bergen
No. 5: Back to the Future (1985)
This cult movie became so famous
that 2 sequels were made by the year
1990.
DIRECTOR: Richard Attenborough
Awards: 8 Academy Awards, including
Best Director, Picture and Actor
The story revolves around Marty
McFly, a typical 80’s teenager. But
when he is sent 30 years back in time
by a plutonium-powered DeLorean,
he must make his teenage parents fall
in love after interfering and making his
mother fall in love with himself,
something that can lead to devastating
consequences, including erasing Marty
McFly.
No. 2: The Lion King (1994)
This Disney animated movie is very
famous and definitely a must-see.
It is a musical adventure film that has
led to 2 sequels and a spin-off
animation series Timon & Pumba. It
is the highest grossing hand drawn
film of all times.
Its Broadway
adaptation debuted in 1997 and is still
running making it the fourth longest
running show and highest grossing
Broadway production ever.
S TA R R I N G : M i c h a e l J. Fo x ,
Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson,
Crispin Glover
Awards: 1 Academy Award
DIRECTORs: Roger Allers, Rob
Minkoff
No. 4: E.T. (1982)
This famous movie is perfect for
watching after a long week at school.
S TA R R I N G : M a t t h e w
Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl
Jones
It ranks as the greatest sci-fi movie
ever made, as per one of the major
surveys. Directed by the legendary
Spielberg, it became the highest
grossing film of the time surpassing
even Star Wars.
Awards: 2 Academy Awards
No. 1: Star Wars (1977)
Behold the number one! This movie
needs no introduction and is a cult in
itself.
STARRING: Henry Thomas, Drew
Barrymore, Peter Coyote
Written and directed by George
Lucas, this film went on to win six
Academy Awards. This film is often
listed as the best film of all time and
became the highest grossing film of
the time, later to be surpassed by E.T.
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
Awards: 4 Academy Awards
!
14
This film is a first
in the Star wars
series which has so
far produced seven
movies.
Apart from the plot
that was based in a
galaxy far far away,
the film introduced
characters such as
Luke Skywalker,
Darth Vader, ObiWa n Ke n o b i ,
C-3PO, R2-D2,
Princess Leia.
These characters
are so enduring,
one can watch this
film any number of
times.
Directed by:
George Lucas
S t a r r i n g : M a rk
Hamill, Carrie
Fisher, Harrison
Ford (Han Solo),
Sir Alec Guinness
(Obi-Wan Kenobi)
Awards:
6
Academy Awards
“Donating blood is an act of human kindness”: only if they let you.
Alexia Panos
On Tuesday the 15th of April we went off as
a group of about 20 students to the Health
Sciences Authority (HSA) to give our blood
to those in need... it may sound heroic at
first but don’t be misled. First of all, we had
to pass a variety of tests, which I highly
recommend you get ready for. Some of us
definitely were not sufficiently prepared.
!
Not only do they ask you about a hundred
questions to confirm that you are not a
victim of AIDS, syphilis, hepatitis or
malaria (or cancers, or dengue fever or
operations…you get the idea) but once you
have passed this questionnaire, you will be
weighed, your pulse, blood pressure and
body temperature measured and if, and
ONLY if you pass these tests, will you be
able to proceed to potentially save
someone’s life!
!
with cancer, no operations performed and
had been barely in contact with any possible
contamination. But that didn’t seem to be
enough as I ended up being refused for
donation because my green card was
expiring in three months. Imagine the
feeling of complete disappointment…I had
been led into thinking that for once I was
going to be a hero and yet here I was! I had
gone from a ‘hero’ to a ‘zero’ in half a
fraction of a second. I was not the only one
rejected: one friend was refused because she
was underweight, another because of the
wrong type of ID card and finally because
of medication some of them took... so it just
goes to show that the selection process is
very tough.
!
So my best advice to you is to fully revise for
your (medical) tests and get a perfect score
on the first round. Good luck!
For my part, I seemed to have healthy blood
to donate: no AIDS, no syphilis, no hepatitis
and no malaria. I had never been afflicted
15
Dead Language
Jaslynn Ho
A dead language is a language that is no longer spoken and is eventually forgotten.
!
Dead languages, however, have a significant importance in our history. For example, Egyptian
hieroglyphics could be considered a dead language as it is not currently spoken nor used by
anyone, and the hieroglyphics that we have reveal parts of history not recorded anywhere else.
However, although scientists have recently deciphered the hieroglyphic alphabet, the
pronunciation of language itself has not been officially determined, therefore could we actually say
that it is a language that has been revived?
!
Another language that has gone extinct with an air of mystery is the Susquehannock language. It
has been extinct for around 250 years and was spoken by Native American Susquehannocks. Little
is known about this language because the Susquehannocks were massacred by a mob of colonists
in 1763. Although some of their descendants managed to escape to other tribes, the language has
apparently died out.
!
However, I would say that the most interesting dead language is definitely the Byblos syllabary, also
known as the Pseudo-hieroglyphic script, Proto-Byblian, Proto-Byblic, or Byblic, the language of
ancient Byblos. What makes this language so intriguing is the fact that it has only 10 inscriptions
and being closely related to Egyptian hieroglyphics, it has not yet been fully deciphered. Moreover,
it could contain history closely relating to the Egyptians and the secrets surrounding them.
Book Review: Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
Matthew Soh
Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in
school, the one only a few notice and
nobody thinks much about. He shows up
in a new high school in a new town under
a new name, makes a few friends, and
doesn't stay long. Make friends, gain trust,
use it against people. Just long enough for
someone in his new friend's family to die
of "natural causes." Mission
accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears,
moving on to the next target.
However, when he is assigned to the
mayor of New York City, things change.
The daughter is different from anyone he
has encountered before; the mayor to
him, is very alike his father, and when
memories and questions surface, his
directors at The Program are watching.
Because somewhere deep inside, Boy
Nobody is somebody: the kid he once
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was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants to get
out, and who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission. The entire
story is told from a first-person perspective, via the protagonist, Boy Nobody. Boy Nobody has a selfcontained plot and is the first book in the Boy Nobody series.
My Personal Opinion: I visited the library just looking for books to improve my English. However, I
stumbled upon…“Boy Nobody”. I then searched on my phone and read the comments about it and
found out that this book, according to people, is really interesting. “Might as well borrow it!” I thought
to myself. I then borrowed it with quite high expectations. After I had read it, I was simply amazed.
Every day I would take a lot of time off to read a few chapters. The book is simply very intriguing and
interesting. I would have definitely finished it in one sitting if I had the time. However, even though this
book is a Young Adult one, the violence and action are way outside the usual parameters of the genre.
Plus, it was very descriptive. Secondly, I was certainly wowed by the main plot and its main character.
Let me explain why: Despite being a young teenager, the Program has taught Boy Nobody well. He
knows how to efficiently solve certain problems and he does it fast. He puts a lot of in-depth thought
into his decisions and is very talented in martial arts. All in all, I can assure that “Boy Nobody” is a
thriller gem. Allen Zadoff has given us a series that promises a lot and I will be sure to read all the rest
of the books to see how he fulfils the promises laced within this book. “Boy Nobody” is a precious book I
will forever treasure, plain and simple. DO NOT MISS IT!
!
“Boy Nobody”
by
Allen Zadoff
Is Self Expression overrated?
Kimberly Yeo
In modern society, self expression is something encouraged if not expected from everybody.
The phrase ‘BE YOURSELF’ is passed along so frequently, it’s turned into the ultimate
cliché. This saying is either embraced or despised by people. Nevertheless, in a world that
pushes forward in celebration of new inventions or unique ideas, everyone is pressured to
express himself or herself. We can express ourselves through fashion, through actions, or even
by how different our Facebook page is from the next person but the question now is, is it all
just turning mainstream?
Taking this question into the context of our school, we can’t discern much difference
from students simply by appearance alone. Many schools like ours have strict uniform
policies, which when enforced could include the possibility of carrying a similar facade of one
another. However, outside of this, we are all desperate to show our own personality through
fashion. Whether somebody’s clothes reflect an interest in high fashion, or shows that
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ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
high fashion, or shows that somebody simply doesn’t care what they wear, we’re careful to
make sure we are represented as something that is definitely uniquely ‘us’. However, walking
downtown there’s a probability you may see the same Forever 21 shirt worn three times.
Everything that we have to describe ourselves is simply becoming part of the crowd.
The music we listen to, the TV shows we watch, and even the companies we buy products
from are all the same. Now the only way to define ourselves seems to be with the people we
associate ourselves with. However, the only way to start associating ourselves is through
having common interests or traits, hence us all forming a personality that is likely to be
widely accepted. Companies use this to their advantage, making sure their products cater to
the personality that people want to adopt. We could be affected in ways that we don’t even
realise. TV shows such as Sherlock and Doctor Who which probably seemed unique and
quirky and the perfect way to not only entertain yourself but describe your personality, are
now completely mainstream. The world sculpts you into who you are. It is unlikely that any
one person’s personality is not extremely similar to another.
So why do we try? We’re each the protagonist of our own lives, of course we want
something to distinguish us from the minor characters. However, a word of advice: live your
life, do what makes you happy, but be content with your own personality. If we all try to
keep ourselves ‘special’, we’ll most probably still be following the crowd, or living a rather
lonely existence. We are still trapped inside the mental situation that has been shaped from
the world, but we can accept that and move on. Contentment sometimes seems to be the
only thing that we can gain anymore.
Green Corner:
Going Vegetarian?
By Simren Sekhon Atac
Is it really worth changing your diet around for the sake of the environment? Is it truly worth
giving up our favourite foods for the slight chance of the survival of the next generation of
mankind? When we look at it from that perspective, some may think it selfish to not be willing
to give up your juicy steak or even a classic cheeseburger in exchange for the health of the
planet. In all honesty, I think it is time we put this down to the test. Is going vegetarian just a
new fad at trying our luck with saving the environment or could going vegetarian truly save
our lives?
!
Experts say livestock farming has detrimental effects on the health of the environment. A new
report from Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) says livestock
production is one of the major causes of the world's most pressing environmental problems,
including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Using a methodology that considers the entire commodity chain, it estimates that livestock is
responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, a bigger share than that of transport.
This is just the beginning of the plethora of effects livestock farming has on Mother Nature.
!
The livestock sector is by far the single largest anthropogenic user of land. Grazing occupies
26 percent of the Earth's terrestrial surface, while feed crop production requires about a third
of all arable land. About 70 percent of all grazing land in dry areas is considered degraded,
mostly because of overgrazing, compaction and erosion attributable to livestock activity. Not
18
only has consistent livestock farming resulted in the loss of fertile land but has
extensively resulted in air pollution and increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, eating away at the ozone layer.
!
Livestock production also impacts heavily on the world's water supply, accounting for
more than 8 percent of global human water use, mainly for the irrigation of feed
crops. While global figures are unavailable, it is estimated that in the USA livestock and
feed crop agriculture are responsible for 37 percent of pesticide use, 50 percent of
antibiotic use, and a third of the nitrogen and phosphorus loads in freshwater
resources. The pollution produced by this sector also contributes significantly to acid
rain and acidification of ecosystems. In addition, the sheer quantity of animals being
raised for human consumption also poses a threat of the Earth's biodiversity.
Therefore, in the bigger picture, going vegetarian could significantly aid the health of
the environment. Not only would you reduce your carbon footprint, you would help in
the global effort to save land and water. There is no doubt that your effort in saving the
planet provides you with innumerable options outside of going vegetarian, but still,
remember to try and consider going vegetarian. Maybe a start could be going
vegetarian for two days in a week. Who knows? You could survive eating no meat and
that would certainly help sustain life on the planet.
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ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
An Interview with Mr. Gary Crumbie
Jo-Ann Li
What do you think of Singapore so far? is it better than the UK?
!
I have been in the country since 2nd January and I absolutely love my new home.
I love the fact the country is clean and people seem to be extremely respectful to
the environment in which they live and towards fellow citizens. It is a place where
I feel safe, both during the day and of an evening/night time. I love the physical
location of Singapore which will allow me to explore places in the region that I
have not yet been to. I also love the climate.
In terms of is it better than the UK? I would say yes - due to the reasons that I
have outlined above. How are the students in SJII different to your students in the UK?
!
Young people are young people and there are many similarities between students
here and to those at my previous school. The key differences overall would be
I get the feeling that education is valued by students here and they work harder
and are more committed to their studies. There tends to be less social issues here
compared to my previous school in the UK. !
What do you like to do in your free time?
!
I enjoy socialising with friends, travelling and visiting new places,
experiencing new cultures and foods. I also enjoy watching movies, listening to
music and reading. !
What kind of student were you in high school and what were your favourite
subjects?
!
I was fairly hard working as a student. I do not think I appreciated school as much
as I could have done - it is certainly something you look back on and realise later
in life. I worked hard but I was known as being cheeky at times to members of
staff. My favourite subjects at school were Geography and PE.
20
What were your aspirations when you were in high
school?
!
I was never really sure what I wanted to do when I was
growing up. But towards the end of high school I knew
I wanted to work with young people and have some
link to Geography.
!
What countries have you travelled to?
!
What is your main goal in life?
!
I have visited: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada,
Iceland, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa,
China, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, Spain,
Greece, France, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands,
Germany.
!
My main goal in life....to live a long happy life full of new experiences with as many
countries visited as possible. I would one day like to set up and run an NGO and work in
Africa - providing care and education to young people. !
What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
!
Mint chocolate chip
Have you tried durians?
NO and never will
What do you think of the local cuisine in Singapore?
I have really enjoyed the cuisine here in Singapore, I love the range of foods that are on
offer. I much prefer eating at the local hawkers place than any other location.
!
So there you have it! Now you know a little bit more about a new friendly face around the school!
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ONEVOICENEWSPAPER June
Sports Superstars: Mekal Helou
Sergio Moreno
Mekal has been in our school for six years, he joined the elementary school in Grade 5
and has represented us in swimming and football. I had the opportunity of asking him a
few questions, where I found out more about him and the love for his sport:
!
1) How long have you been swimming?
I learned to swim when I was five, which is pretty late considering there are many
professionals who started at a much younger age. This was mainly because, believe it or
not, I used to be scared of the water when I was little. I started swimming competitively
when I was seven due to the encouragement I received from my coach.
!
2) Who inspired you to start swimming?
I always watched Olympic swimming on TV and thought it was cool and made me want
to start swimming. !
3) What has been your most recent success in swimming?
Breaking the 25 second barrier in this years Senior National Age group (SNAG) and
swimming 24.73s in the 50m freestyle. This was very special for me because I managed
to qualify for the SEA age group competition, which is essentially the same as the South
East Asian games but for athletes under 18 years old.
!
4) Are you looking forward to any important competitions?
I’m looking forward to swimming in SEA age, which as I mentioned before, I have
qualified for. I also wish to participate in SEA champs however I will have to work hard
in order to qualify during the national inter-school competition. However I will only get
to swim in the SEA age if I get my Singaporean passport in time.
!
5) What is the most important lesson swimming has taught you over the years?
It has taught me that hard work pays off and how setting goals and knowing what you
want to achieve can keep you determined to train hard even when you don't want to.
One thing I also learnt from training is that it's better to train smart than train hard,
something which may sound obvious, but many people don’t realize.
!
6) How do you apply the lessons that you have learnt from your sport to life?
Swimming has taught me the importance of time management because I have always
had to plan when I had to do homework, in order to keep up in school. It has also
taught me to not give up when doing anything and that working hard is the only way to
achieve your goals.
!
!
22
Sports Superstars: Ayako Nonaka
Sergio Moreno
1) How long have you been doing gymnastics/ice skating?
I’ve been ice-skating for eight years.
!
2) Who inspired you to start ice-skating?
A Russian Salt Lake Olympics’ (2002) Gold Medalist
named Alexei Yagudin has continually inspired me
throughout my skating journey. Most skaters are often
categorized as either a technical skater or choreographically
skater but he is splendid in both aspects. I have always loved
his dynamic jumps, presentation skills and the way he
always puts 120% effort in his program. He got injured
several times and faced many slumps but he never gave up
and always came back on ice. His mental strength is
unbelievable. !
3) What has been you most recent success in ice skating?
I've won the bronze medal in the Singapore Nationals that was held on the 12th of April
this year.
!
4) Are you looking forward to any important competitions?
Yes! But now I just finished a competition so I want to rest for a while. Now I'm more
willing to attend ice shows if possible because I love performing so much.
!
5) What is the most important lesson ice skating has taught you over the years?
Skating is not all about jumping and spinning. It also includes difficult choreography,
presentation and skating skills. My coach once told me before a competition, "Don’t stress
yourself out from whether you can land jumps or not. Focus on doing a performance that
you think that the audience, even the judges would really be entertained watching.
Admire the music and just enjoy." It is a wonderful thing to achieve medals and all but the
most important thing is to always ENJOY yourself when skating.
!
6) How do you apply the lessons that you have learnt from your sport to life?
I've been injured a lot over my skating life. I've been injured for the past 2 years and just
came back to the ice in January. After coming back, I didn't have any program made for
the nationals and I lost all my techniques due to the long gap. I kind of gave up on
competing for the Singapore Nationals coming up in April but due to the support and
encouragement from my family and friends I decided to compete. I went to Jakarta to
make my program with my coach in just 3 days. I had a very short practice period
(around a month) to prepare for it. I worked really hard to give my utmost best during my
performance. My hard work really paid off, I got a bronze medal and most importantly I
enjoyed and appreciated skating while performing.
From this experience, and previous experiences, I have learnt to put my utmost effort in
anything I do and to never to give up because I know that there are always great things
waiting ahead.
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St. Joseph's Institution
International
490 Thomson Road
Singapore 298191
Telephone: (+65) 6353 9383
Fax: (+65) 6354 3103