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Justin’s Rise to Power: Why Sex Appeal is Detracting From Canadian Politics

Elene Otte
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Does it even make sense to vote again this year? The Progressive Conservative party wins regardless. Maybe we’ll have a minority government? Typical, deficit isn’t even being mentioned…oh wait? Justin Trudeau wants to run a 10 billion dollar deficit in the first year?! Is he insane? That’s crazy. No way. Poll favour is going up for liberal? Maybe we’ll have a minority government…I guess we’re voting again next year. Election results are out…it’s the Pro-Liberals? That took an unexpected turn.

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It certainly surprised me when the election results came out in a majority government win for the Liberal Party of Canada in the October election. The Progressive Conservative Party had been in power for nearly a decade before federally, and provincially in Alberta, more than 40 years. That is long before I was born, and it had become almost expected to see anything other than a Conservative government. Many Conservative party members had done little campaigning in Alberta, thinking their success in the Alberta ridings were guaranteed. And well…for the most part, they were. But when the election results came through with the Liberal party in power under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, and not only with a minority but with a majority government, things really were about to change.

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And the media gobbled it up, not surprisingly. What was surprising was the photos I found, shirtless boxing pictures making the news headlines and “Canada’s Sexy Prime Minister” was being talked about world-wide. Some saw this a good thing, the new face of Canadian politics taking a step in the right direction of ‘youth’ and ‘change’. I personally was bothered by the portrayal, always seeing political figures as role models and people to look up to, not objectified or idolized.

Justin’s first couple of weeks in power has already been starkly different to Stephen Harper’s terms. After the defeat, there were petitions in Alberta to name the landfills after Stephen Harper although Alberta remained quite conservative in the polls. Also, Justin’s media portrayal is a lot more personal and I would argue too personal. Using his first name seems natural and normal but if a person spoke about Steve or Stephen’s policies, I would not understand who they were referring to.

Initially the pictures of Justin on social media were seen as positive, many people were eager and excited to see what would come of this man with big shoes to fill. Even my friends initially spoke positively of the media focus on his boxing rather than his policies and platform promises. However, not only does it increase the future voter apathy and turn politics into a popularity contest but it makes it more difficult for Trudeau to bridge the gap between public face and public policy.

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Justin Trudeau has spoken to the media regarding charges he has filed for sexual harassment but it seems to have escalated beyond the point of dealing with the issue on a one by one basis. Which brings up the question of why those pictures were not removed upon running for Prime Minister and why do these measures seem necessary? Why is this the public response?

Recently when Trudeau has been attending international conferences, instead of the focus being on his policy and forward thinking, it is related to his hair and “screaming fans”  lining up for the perfect selfie-op. Never before have we seen this type of reaction towards diplomatic representatives, possibly with the exception of totalitarian regimes in which the leaders were literally gods. This portrayal of politics has made it a joke and only serves to increase the already high voter apathy which is the biggest drawback in liberal democracies.

We can only wait to see how Trudeau and the liberal party deal with fulfilling their campaign promises, but it’s about time we saw some real change on the international scale in dealing with the many international crises we’re currently facing. This is the wrong reaction to politics.

Because, after all, it’s 2015.

 

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Fitness Inspiration Ft. YMCA

Malika Daya
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Stress seems to be a common and a reoccurring theme throughout high school, be it a bio final or filling out university applications, it is always lurking over our shoulders. Although stress can be healthy, it has the ability to seriously take a toll on our physical and mental health if we do not deal with it accordingly.

As an athlete, I’ve always valued the miracle of exercise. Whether it was skating laps around the rink or cardio training at the YMCA with my team, fitness always clears my mind and allows me to think without a cloud of stress before me. It is like exercise has the magical ability to completely deplete any form of anxiety within my heart and awaken a sense of self love. I know this sounds cheesy but in reality, if you are any type of athlete- be it a dancer, a hockey player, a yogi- you’ll know how the experience develops you and changes you as an individual.

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Regardless of if you are an athlete or not, physical activity is undoubtedly important for your physical health and mental health, for it improves and betters both of them significantly. And to give the opportunity to further better your life, the YMCA is introducing a new Young Adult Membership designed to provide more opportunities for youth in Calgary.

I recommend you take a look and see if any of these opportunities designed for you, fit you! I believe this is a great start to a healthy life. As we a struggle to enjoy the life been given, with change as our only constant, creating a healthy life style is the start to a beautiful journey of self-improvement.

The YMCA also has a contest going on called, 25 Gifts in 25 Days, to celebrate the launch of the new membership from November 21st to December 15th. The prizes are all geared towards helping you better your life-style and love your life. Some of the prizes include a full year membership to the YMCA, a 6 month membership, 60 minute massages, Fitbit Flex, 3 private squash sessions, etc.

So what are you waiting for? Go on ahead and join in on all the fun, and kick off those New Year’s Resolutions a month earlier- there is no harm in learning to be happy right?

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Snapchat is the new Facebook

Michael Xie
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Just this week, I read an article which stated that Snapchat was slowly overtaking Facebook as the most popular social media app and service available. For those of you who don’t know, Snapchat is an app which allows users to send disappearing messages and pictures to any of their contacts in the app.

On the other hand, Facebook is pretty much the benchmark for any social startup to strive towards. Snapchat is worth a measly 10 billion dollars compared to Facebook’s 245 million. Yet, in terms of active users, Snapchat has around 200 million, while Facebook boasts 350 million. So how exactly is a company consisting of 50 employees working out of a single office building managing to gain ground on the largest provider of social networking in the world? Well, Snapchat seems to understand today’s population very well, and has done everything right to attract more users.

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The thing that sets Snapchat apart from a service like Facebook or Twitter is the fact that conversation is held through photos and now, even videos. The reason Snapchat is gaining more and more popularity is because it actually facilitates face to face communication; something which, while we may not be aware of it, our generation of screen-addicted teenagers actually need. The ability to quickly send a picture from anytime, anywhere to any of your friends is huge. Snapchat took Facebook’s friends feature, Twitter’s constant status updates and Instagram’s unending stream of pictures and turned them
into one streamlined app. There is almost no way Snapchat would not be a smash success.

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But, interestingly enough, while vanilla Snapchat was successful, Snapchat’s popularity absolutely exploded after the introduction of Snapchat stories in 2013. These stories are really where Snapchat made itself distinct from other social media like Facebook. The first difference is in the fact that Snapchat stories feel a lot more like television then social media. They stay up for 24 hours at a time, t
hen disappear forever. So, if you miss your chance, you might never be able to see that hilarious story one of your friends posted. The second difference is the fact that you have to keep your finger on the screen in order to continue to view the story. This means the idle, mindless browsing that happens in places like Twitter and Facebook cannot happen with Snapchat.  Snapchat forces you to pay attention to what you’re actually looking at. And the third difference is in the fact that messages and photos disappear as well. This prompts users to reply quickly and as soon as possible, otherwise, as most Snapchat users have experienced, their messages may disappear and lead to the string of the conversation being completely lost. This makes it extremely hard to leave a Snapchat conversation alone.

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The last thing which Snapchat has done is the Discover feature. This is one of my favorite features available through any social media. This form of news on social media is short, sweet, and effective. You click into the news source you want, scroll through small screen caps or short videos, decide on one you like, and swipe down. That will bring you to the actual article itself. With only so many slots for each source to post news, they have already done most of the work for you, picking out the most major news events and articles of the day. All you have to do is decide which one you want to read the most. But, not only does Discover allow you to read news, it provides livefeeds from events across the world provided by the people who are there. From football games to
city tours to the blizzard in New York, there are feeds from every corner of the globe provided by Snapchat users themselves. The mostly amateur videography provided has a certain charm. It makes you feel as if you really are at the event with thousands of other people.

Snapchat was originally brushed off as another niche, gimmick app. They definitely are not anymore. Try these numbers on for size. The season finale for The Walking Dead, quite possibly the most popular show on TV right now, attracted 14.8 million people. Snapchat’s Discover feed for New York’s Snowcopalypse, when NYC was hit by huge blizzards, attracted nearly 24.8 million people. Snapchat was able to attract more than double the audience of The Walking Dead to literally watch snow fall (sure, there were hedgehogs, but still). No matter how hard they try, other social media giants cannot ignore Snapchat any longer. Facebook had better watch its back because Snapchat and its 200 million users are coming for them.

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When it’s time to let go of a friend

~ Chu ☆ ~
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Friends. They make the world go round. They can turn a frown into a laugh with just a word. The can transform a terrible day into the greatest one ever with an old joke. They pick you up when you’re down, and lift your spirits.

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But what if they don’t do that? What if instead of lifting you up and supporting you, you feel like they drag you down, and turn crappy days into worse ones?

Simply put, you have to let go of them.

I know it’s hard to accept, but sometimes, you have to cut out those toxic friends in order to be happy.

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For example, I have this “friend”. She’s a pretty cool person, we have a lot of similar interests, but there’s something that’s kind of been bothering me about her lately.

This friend, she’s the type that teases you. And yes, I understand that this is normal, but sometimes, her fun teasing goes a little too far, because the words she uses, are the same words that I heard from the bullies, the same words that were meant to tear me down.

And when your “friend” starts making fun of you, in front of your classmates, teachers, and people who really didn’t need to hear about how “pathetic” I am, you start to wonder if this friend is worth having around.

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Of course, this doesn’t call for immediate elimination of this friend. Communication is the key in all relationships, so talk to him/her  first. Tell the friend that her behavior upsets you, and ask her to stop. This could all be a mistake, and maybe they didn’t realize the consequences of their words.

And if that has no effect, you should probably sever ties. This doesn’t necessarily mean a confrontation. Try to slowly distance yourself from that friend and hang out with other people more. Because if they were bringing you down, they’re not worth it.

And you deserve better.

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Feature image source: http://laslatinitas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/friend-fight.jpg

Life Ain’t a Nair Commercial

Emily Donville
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Body-Hair

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There’s nothing worse than seeing someone obsess over their insecurities, as I too have been in that position. A girl who I called a “friend” commented on my arms one day in 5th grade, stating how I should wear long sleeve shirts more often, and it bothered me. I knew what she said was rude, and that I am the own governor of my own body, meaning I choose what I’d like to wear, but the words buried themselves in my skin like daggers. I listened, choosing to wear sweaters most of the time but I’d always give her the odd glance, hoping she’d recognize that I knew what she had said and that I was offended, hoping deep down that she’d feel bad for what she said, but that never happened. Nevertheless, I’ll admit my self-esteem got better eventually, but that journey in itself was no walk in the park.

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In recent years, young girls have had enough grief over body hair, especially after the Nash Grier incident where he claimed that having hairy arms is a turn off. This action alone was enough to seriously damage the self-esteem of thousands of young girls. It’s degrading to hear that you’re not attractive for having hairy arms, and I didn’t let that bother me, but I can’t say that thousands of girls across the world did the same thing.

Junior High was when I really discovered myself and recognized my worth. So many people will say that Junior High was an awful time in their life that they’d never relive in a million years, but those were the years where I was really allowed to heal some of the wounds I’d earned during elementary. I’d begun to really invest myself in the whole feminist movement, and it felt good to learn that there were people around the world who live, breathed and slept body positivity. All I’d known to that point was primarily negativity, and it sucked.

This time in my life was when I started to really get into Marina & the Diamonds. Something that sticks with me to this day is her May 2013 tweet (Beware! She uses some colorful language!). Whenever my self-esteem falters, I think about those words and adopt a careless attitude regarding the opinions of others, because there’s no other opinion that matters except mine when it comes to my body. I think that factor was key to embracing all the insecurities I loved to hate, and I recommend to anyone struggling with being happy with your body, tell yourself this in the mirror: I am strong. I am beautiful. I am enough.

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The road to body positivity does not end with these three sentences, but it’s definitely a start. I’ve had quite a while to reflect on the influence of others, and the extent of their influence starts with you. You get to choose what you agree with or disagree with. You can choose which individuals you’d like to surround yourself with. You can choose whether or not to shave your body hair or not. And that’s it: It’s your choice. I don’t think it really fazed me that I had the ability to choose until Junior High. The pressure to be a hairless naked mole rat imposed on me by my peers was overwhelming and I felt I needed to fit the mold, but now the truth is clear to me. My body = my choice. If I wanna shave my legs, then heck yeah I can do it. If I wanna shave my arms, then power to me. If I wanna dye my body hair, than that’s cool. Do I have to do this? Not at all.

I’m sick of body hair being a synonym for gross, because that’s not true at all. In a perfect world, people everywhere would be able to live freely with or without body hair and not have to suffer ridicule for their choices, but sadly we’re not there yet. Until then, I won’t stop to encourage my friends to embrace their choices because there is nobody who should ever make you feel less than attractive for sporting your body hair proudly. Your body is your canvas and you’re entitled to expressing yourself however you want, so next time someone doesn’t approve of your body hair, just tell them “life ain’t a Nair commercial”.

 

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The Peacekeeper’s Gate: The Protection and Prevention of Access to Peace

Elene Otte
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Peace is defined as “the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.” [Source Dictionary.com]

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But is peace normal? Or is it merely and ideal we are destined to strive for but never accomplish? The term utopia was first used in the 14th century in Sir Thomas More’s book Utopia which was the name of an imaginary island where perfection of society had been achieved. Since then, similar themes are prevalent in fiction and non-fiction alike: from pursuing the happily ever after in relationships and family, to unifying Germany to achieve a pure and strong race, this idea of perfection has plagued humanity to search more and to become better.

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But is this obsession with perfection and peace sustainable and really what is best for ALL people? In classical capitalist system, profit was what motivated people to create better and cheaper products to increase consumption. More profit meant lower wages however, and it was a time of massive wealth disparity and abuse of the working class. Even earlier than that, wages were able to be kept even lower through the slave trade. Slaves worked for free and served long hours to benefit their owners. While this seems barbaric in today’s terms, the economic benefit of people that will work for free is undeniable.

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But let’s go back to peace for a second. Does peace consist of freedom for all (at least theoretically) as seen during the Industrial Revolution? Or does peace consist of safety, the ability to rely on government to provide and protect from the injustices seen in the past? Peaceful countries historically, built walls around themselves in the form of strict immigration policies and strong armies or even physical walls (see the Great Wall of China).

Today in the face of recent terrorist attacks, we see these walls are flawed and have been breached with catastrophic consequences. In response, we see an unwavering surge of support for the victims of attacks around the world. I initially saw this unanimous movement as a good thing (although fighting fire with fire is not something I support) but then a singular post on my Facebook feed showed up asking why we’re only praying for Paris, why is the media attention going to this “white country” and not Beirut or Lebanon or the countless other countries affected by the bombings from both sides? Why are we choosing to ignore this killing? Why is this toddler special? What about the 142 Kenyan students that were shot down in a school last week? What about them?

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I was horrified at this response and for days on end, I felt my Facebook account was a battle ground between those trying to care and those who just saw that no matter how much we cared, we’d never care enough. I kept scrolling past horrific images and videos until I came to a petition. A petition to stop all immigration to Canada. To me, that was the saddest thing of everything I had seen. To think that us, a humanitarian country by proclamation and reputation with the ability to give, rather we were directing resources to shut people out. I feel as though because we can do more, we have a duty to. Despite economic dips and low employment, we have a duty to help those fleeing from civil and international violence. Not just because we have signed numerous treaties and agreements to do so, but because we are people.

We sign documents and agreements during peace times (eg. UNDHR 1946) to work towards a sustainable future, but the moment security becomes remotely threatened, those we swore to protect are left on the outside of our gates. Blocked out of our flawed, but still better, land. Barred access to basic human needs because we are afraid. Here’s the thing though, everyone is afraid. Everyone is afraid.

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It can be said that we don’t have the resources and funds to allocate to refugees, but the fact is with the precarious slope we stand upon, we could be at war anytime. Belgium has already closed their borders under threat and China has declared war on ISIS. If France invokes Article Five, all NATO countries will also go to war. This Article was not even invoked during the Cold War.

Let’s rather focus on making the refugee system better than dismiss it for its short-comings.

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To Uber or…

Mayor's Youth Council
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http://www.hmsinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/25958_11_06_uber_story_south58f.jpg
courtesy of www.uber.com

On October 15, 2015, Uber arrived in Calgary. With its arrival came the usual debate that cities like Toronto and Vancouver have been experiencing over the past few months.

 

In cities across North America, Uber has received very mixed reviews. Although the ride-sharing platform now provides over one million rides every month for its users around the world, it has experienced resistance from various governments. Many regulators and public officials are worried that Uber’s unregulated nature will lead to a decrease in public safety. Taxi drivers are worried that their jobs will be encroached upon by untrained individuals; taxi companies are worried that their customer base will greatly diminish. In fact, in Toronto, taxi drivers are suing Uber for $300 million because it is creating an “illegal marketplace” in Toronto.

 

This past Friday, a Court of Queen’s Bench judge granted the city’s application for a temporary injunction, forcing Uber to suspend services in Calgary. With a company whose valuation recently broke the $50 billion mark, making it worth about as much as Ford or Costco, city officials across the country will have to continue thinking of ways to safely implement new services Uber in their cities.

 

With famous philanthropists like Brett Wilson and Michele Romanow urging the city to adopt the ride-sharing platform, is it time we supported Uber, a company co-founded by Calgarian Garrett Camp? Or are there other issues that we have to consider first?

Mayor Nenshi urges Calgary to whole-heartedly welcome Syrian Refugees

Mayor's Youth Council
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As of now, the Syrian Refugee crisis has been the largest humanitarian crisis of all time. Leaving 7.6 million Syrians displaced from their homes, as the flee from violence and terror. In the wake of the horrible terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Nigeria in the past week; more attention has been raised for the increasingly serious refugee crisis in the Middle East.imgres  imgres-1

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In the midst of this tragic week, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has called for Calgarians to welcome Syrian Refugees with ‘open arms’ and not to let the recent attacks in France and Lebanon, deter the admission of these refugees.

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The City of Calgary is also due to release a city-wide resettlement plan sometime in the next week. Here is the Mayor speaking on this issue. I fully agree with the Mayor, and believe that Calgary has the generosity, and welcomeness, to meet its goal of resettling 2,300 Syrian Refugees.

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This of course is part of Canada’s federal goal to welcome 25,000 newcomers by January. If you are looking to get involved or support Refugees; here are a few resources for you:

http://www.calgary.ca/General/Pages/Syria.aspx?redirect=/syria

https://www.ccisab.ca/donate 

http://www.salvationarmy.ca/2015/09/09/the-salvation-army-across-europe-assists-refugees/

http://centrefornewcomers.ca/support-us/volunteer

And Calgary,

Lets do our best to welcome those in need into our wonderful city!

 

Image Sources:

http://geographyeducation.org/articles/teaching-about-syrian-refugees/

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/like-spitting-on-a-fire-calgarians-call-on-federal-government-to-help-more-syrian-refugees

http://www.jeanjullien.com/

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Partners for Mental Health Presents: TWLOHA Screening & Panel!

Kandace Peroramas
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Mental health awareness is something I have been passionate about for almost 4 years. It started when I saw close friends suffer from depression and anxiety, and I felt helpless since I did not know how to rightfully approach their situation. It’s so easy to feel like your words of comfort and support are ineffective, especially when the healing process isn’t out there for everyone to physically see. But what I’ve learned since then is not to stigmatize mental health and cower from those who suffer from one. Life is challenging enough when at a constant war with yourself; having peers distance themselves rather than getting you back on your feet is another war that does not have to be fought.

Particularly living in a society where:

10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness

3.2 million 12-19 year olds in Canada are at risk for developing depression

and

4000 people in Canada, ages 15-24 years old, die prematurely each year by suicide

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there is no excuse or time to deny those affected by a mental illness. In these past years alone, we have heard, seen, and read so many stories of lives ending too quickly because the shame put on those suffering was bigger than the desire to accept and support them. The stigma truly lies in not seeing right away the call to help, and we know better than anyone else what remaining passive can do.

Partners for Mental Health (PFMH) is a charity dedicated to increasing mental health services, awareness, and acceptance in Canada. Through their youth program, Right By You, they strive to:

Increase awareness and attention toward youth mental health

Create greater understanding, acceptance and support for young people living with a mental health problem or illness

and

Increase access to, and funding for, youth mental health services, treatment and support

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In major cities across Canada, there are committees that create traction towards the goals and services set out out by PFMH; I am incredibly lucky to be part of the Calgary Chapter. Since September, we have worked hard to put together our main fundraising event for the year. This Saturday, November 28th, we will be hosting Right By You at the Movies – a screening of To Write Love on Her Arms, plus a panel of guests after the movie!

Some of you are already aware of the non-profit organization, To Write Love on Her Arms, so this movie is a remarkable extension of the work TWLOHA has invested into hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide. Also remember that only through this and similar Right By You events will you be able to watch this movie since PFMH was given permission to screen this in Canada!

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Event details

When: Saturday, November 28th – 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Where: Plaza Theatre – 1133 Kensington Road NW, T2N 3P4

Why: to increase awareness of youth mental health through a touching movie of self-recovery and panel of esteemed guests!

Cost: $10 for students, $25 for adults – tickets here

As to who will be at the event or on the panel, PFMH Volunteer Services Director, PJ Vankoughnett-Olson, will be the emcee, a front-line worker speaking about mental health, and parents of youth affected by mental health.

Lastly, who could forget about the youth? We are grateful to have our very own YAA blogger, Julia Caddy, as a panelist for this event! Member of Bishop Carroll’s Mental Wellness Committee and attendee of the 2016 Jack Summit, Julia will be speaking and answering questions about her experience with mental illness. Her accomplishments are a true testament of the barriers broken when mental illness is no longer one of them.

If you are interested in attending, get your tickets here! Also check out our Facebook event page for updates and other information. Join Julia, myself, and other YAA bloggers in an entertaining and informative afternoon that will bring us one step closer to ending the stigma around mental health. We all have weaknesses, so what is most important is acknowledging and building on them to become stronger people.

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

A Guide to Shopping Sweatshop-Free

Caitlin Yardley
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In our current society almost everything we wear, read, and use on a daily basis has been made somewhere overseas. This is especially the case for clothing, with an estimated 97% of all clothes being made abroad. When looking at a tag, it is difficult to find an item that does not say made in China, made in Vietnam, or made in Bangladesh. The great thing for companies is that having their products made in a country like Bangladesh greatly reduces the cost of production.This reduction of production costs also makes products much cheaper for the consumer. Within recent decades the demand for fresh product has been increasing rapidly, along for the want for lower prices. This is especially seen when it comes to our clothes. The want for the most recent clothing styles has created a new term ‘fast fashion’, where companies compete to have the freshest product while maintaining a low cost. Sales such as Black Friday, and the recent Cyber Monday are huge ways for companies to supply this much cheaper product to the general population and it is now even emerging in countries outside of America such as Canada. Though these inexpensive products seem great they are coming at a greater cost.

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Earlier in the year  Andrew Morgan released his eye-opening documentary “The True Cost”, which exposed the consequences of the western world’s consumerism, and want for a lower price. Andrew was inspired to make the documentary after the 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza, a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The collapse was named the deadliest garment factory accident ever, and claimed the lives of over 1000 workers. The documentary exposed the horrors which occur inside the sweatshops, and the violation of garment workers rights; 85% of them being women and children, many working without rights or a minimum wage. Rana Plaza is not the only place where workers are subjected to unsafe working conditions, sweatshops are still being run by many huge corporations around the world who are responsible for making our clothes.

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If you are someone who is interested in having a sweatshop-free wardrobe, here are some tips to help you do so:

     1. Do your research

In order to be sweatshop free, it is important to research where your clothing is coming from. A good way to do this is to go to the websites of your favorite clothing companies to see if they have any information about where their clothing is being made, and if they adhere to any human rights acts such as the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act(2010). Another way to see if the clothing brands you like use sweatshops is by contacting them directly by phone or through email.

Some great brands that are sweatshop free are:

Patagonia, American Apparel, The North Face, People Tree, Tree of Life, Rapuanui, Monsoon 

      2. Buy products that are made in Canada

One way to guarantee your clothing is made in an ethical way is to purchase products that have been made in Canada. This way there is little to no worry about how the workers have been treated, and unlike in countries such as India and Bangladesh, there is a clear minimum wage in place. Though some believe that purchasing inside of Canada takes away from the workers overseas, it has been stated by many factory workers abroad that they do not want people wearing clothing made with their blood.

Some companies which are Canadian made/ sell Canadian made products are: Roots, Tristan, Judith and Charles, Mutton Head, Norwegian Wood      

      3. Purchase second hand

Purchasing second hand clothing is a great way to shop ethically while saving money. Buying items that are sweatshop-free while trying to save on budget can be a challenge, but buying clothing at secondhand stores is a great way to reduce this cost. You may have to do some digging, but places such as Value Village, and Goodwill have some unique pieces, and amazing hidden treasures.

      4. Shop less

An estimated 15% of discarded textiles are recycled while the rest are placed in landfills, accounting for a huge amount of landfill waste. Not only that but this is also a large cause for the maltreatment for garment factory workers because of the constant demand for clothing. It is common for a worker to be working up to 14 hours a day, in order to meet clients demands. Cutting down on the amount of clothing you purchase is a great way to cut back on the environmental, and the ethical impacts of fast fashion.

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Ultimately, the goal is not to stop companies from having factories overseas. Instead it is about making companies create a safer working environment for their employees abroad, along with at least a living wage and appropriate working hours. Collectively we have the power to change the negative impacts of fast fashion and how companies treat their workers. You vote with your dollar, and by not purchasing sweatshop made products, it sends a message to corporations, encouraging them to change their current practices. It is important to think consciously about who made your clothing and where it came from, because no good deal is worth sacrificing the well being of another person. 

 

Thoughts We All Have At School Dances

Talia Santarossa
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In spite of the recent crises around the world over the last week, life has continued. For many, it has been a time of reflection and gaining insight into the issues faced by our world, which is something that each and every one of us should take the time to be part of. However, we will more than likely still go on with our days as we would normally. For me, that meant attending a school dance, which for me feels a bit odd to say the least. Love them or hate them, dances are a part of school culture. Whether you’re out on the dance floor or standing in the corner laughing with your friends, there are more than a few thoughts that will likely cross your mind.

 

“Why aren’t they playing any of the songs I requested? I mean really, my taste in music is flawless.” 

I mean c’mon guys. IS THIS NOT THE BEST OR WHAT?

“I can barely hear myself think, never mind the person next to me who is clearly trying to tell me something. Maybe lip reading would be a valuable skill to learn.”

can't hear

“My feet are killing me, but I don’t want to take off my shoes because, eww, nasty gym floor.”

shoes

“I’ll probably have no voice for a week, but singing yelling this loud was so worth it.”

singing cat

” Where’s the food? Why is there not more food?”

nutella

“I hope that whatever I’m doing here passes as ‘dancing.'”

napoleon dynamite

“Whose idea was it to have a dance on a school night? You expect me to show up tomorrow? That’s cute.”

sleeping

“Wait, it’s over?”

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Dealing With Criticism (Meet my Ugly Friend: Egotism)

Emily Donville
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I’ll be honest: I’m really jealous of people who can take constructive criticism easily. I struggle with the thought of being less than great, which is hard considering the school system is built on the idea that you will gradually improve and get better with every word you hear, say and write. It’s a hard concept to wrap around regarding the fact that even now, I am not at my best. I blame my weakness to criticism in part to my ego, which is most prominent when it comes to the things I do best at: writing and band.

Over the years, I’ve grown comfortable with the idea that I do exceptionally well regarding these categories. I’ve earned a lot of praise, feeding my ego further, and while it’s given me the self confidence I need, it’s helped my ego become an ugly monster that won’t settle for anything less than satisfactory. In the past, I think it’s given off the wrong impression of me. I used to be kind of shy, and if you add in my slight ego, I could be perceived as a snob which didn’t do me any good (and I promise as much as it may seem like at times, I am not a snob!).

don__t_feed_the_ego_by_fradga-d4rgoc1

[source]

For a while now, whenever I receive constructive criticism it’s been pretty hard. This seems crazy from a girl who writes (and risks being critiqued for grammar) and plays in a band (who constantly receives feedback on everything from articulation to quality of sound). You may as well say I asked for it, because I suppose I did but in truth, this forces me to face my mistakes; to correct myself and take that critique like a champ.

Whenever I used to consider the criticism I received, my throat would close up and I’d feel uneasy, which is a bit dramatic but nonetheless true. I’d feel like all my confidence was washed away like chalk on the sidewalk after a rainstorm. Criticism would leave me feeling more unfulfilled than anything, and soon I grew tired of the same shakiness and empty feeling in my stomach. I forced myself to accept that a) I had a bit of an ego b) that ego was affecting me in more bad ways than good and c) I wasn’t the only one with one. Realizing I wasn’t alone with my ego and uncontrollable distaste for criticism was a turning point, and I’m happy to be feeling better when it comes to constructive criticism but I know others continually struggle with it, which is why I have some tips for kicking that ego monster in the knees and coming to grips with your evaluations.

 

Take a Moment for Yourself

This moment can be anything for you. A moment to reflect, a moment to relax or even a moment to think of what this piece of advice means to you. Is it worth something getting upset over? Is it something that’s key to the success of whatever you’re working towards? It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and lose yourself over something small, so next time before you overthink it, be sure to have a moment to yourself and relax, breathe, and carry on.

[source]

Examine the Feedback

Remember that there is certain feedback you should follow and some that isn’t required to incorporate. While I highly recommend doing what your teachers tell you to do, sometimes the advice given just doesn’t seem to fit what you’re working towards, and if you really don’t think you’re seeing eye to eye with those giving you criticism, talk about it and find some common ground, although it is important to remember that 9 times out of 10, they just want to see you succeed so don’t crush them by throwing their ideas out the window! Communication is key!

Say Thank You

It’s always considerate to thank those who are critiquing you. They took the time to see over your work, so it’s only nice to thank them in return. Show how much you care that they took the time to do this for you with a simple gesture of gratitude.

drawing_board

[source]

Go Back to the Drawing Board

Often times the 1st draft isn’t the best, so don’t be discouraged if you find you have some things to correct. Throughout life, there are so many examples of trial and error and this is one of them. Go back to work knowing that this product will be even bigger and better than the last, and that it only goes up from there.

School is pretty stressful and dealing with criticism can be tough for some people, even when it seems like a walk in the park to others. Remember that you’re doing your best and that everything you create is a masterpiece. Never feel less than adequate, because anything less is a bold lie and always remember that you’re mental health comes first before anything else.

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One Month on the Paleo Diet: Why I spent 30 days Eating Whole Foods

Maddison Zapach
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Some of you may associate the Paleo diet with impressive chunks of meat  and… well, more chunks of meat. But the idea behind eating “as our ancestors did” isn’t to become carnivorous, but rather to fill ourselves with vitamin and nutrient rich-foods, mostly vegetables, and eliminate the “empty calories” and inflammatory compounds that are in foods like processed sugar/ any form of sweetener, dairy, legumes, grains, and alcohol.

I have been having stomach issues for years. So when I came across a month-long eating plan called the Whole30 that combined the ancient paleo diet with a modern-day knowledge of science and our bodies, I decided to give it a shot. The result? After 30 days of eating nothing but healthy fats, root vegetables like sweet potato and beets, salads, eggs, fruit, and meat proteins, I feel great! I have noticed that my skin is smoother, I have more muscle tone, I have more energy, and I am far less likely to crave sweets.

My favourite part about the paleo diet is that it’s so simple; I find it far easier to cook meals when you don’t have to worry about a grain like rice or pasta. Here are some of the meals I came up with during my time on the diet! IMG_3196

Chocolate pancakes:

(Just as a disclaimer, this is a meal they say explicitly NOT to have on Whole30, only because it is made to resemble a “cheat” food. However, I have just enough rebellion in me to allow me a great deal of satisfaction from thwarting this arbitrary rule, and thus I put this recipe to good use during my time on the eating plan.)

Ingredients:

1 banana

2 eggs

cocoa powder

(optional) raspberries

Mash the banana in a small bowl, and add the eggs. Mix thoroughly, and add the cocoa powder and raspberries. Cook in a pan on medium heat, using coconut oil. Yield: 3 awesome pancakes. 

IMG_3868

Sweet potato hash browns

(Can you tell I like breakfast?) Note: the picture above is actually of some sweet potato sliders I made that are equally delicious! The recipe below is for breakfast hash browns.

Ingredients:

1 sweet potato

2 eggs

cinnamon

salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350. Peel the sweet potato and chop it into small cubes. Using avocado oil, cook the sweet potato on medium high in a pan until slightly browned, about 5 minutes, adding cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Then, transfer to a pan and cook in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Place the sweet potato cubes back in the pan and add your eggs, making sure to coat all of the sweet potato. After the eggs have cooked, remove from heat. 

 

But even if you don’t want to commit to a whole month, just try one of the Whole30 healthy recipes once in a while!

For more great tips and recipes, visit the Whole30 website, whole30.com! 

#PrayforParis and the Politics of Slacktivism

Katja
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altmhashtag-activism1

I’m going to be brutally honest here: I haven’t changed my Facebook profile picture to “support France and the people of Paris” and I have no intentions of doing so. 

Instead, when I logged into Facebook on Saturday night after a few days of being away and I was met with a newsfeed of 90% red, white, and blue-filtered profile pictures, I was left feeling vaguely uncomfortable. At the time I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why it didn’t sit well with me, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’m uncertain whether Facebook is making it easier for users to show support or simply stunting a complex conversation around terrorism. I understand that the tricolour filters are meant to be touching gesture of unity, but surely there are more meaningful ways of showing solidarity.

Social media is a powerful medium that has become a crucial grounds for social change— consider how #BlackLivesMatter compares to the civil rights movement of

Protesters take to the streets to bring attention to the push for justice in the Trayvon Martin case as they take over Rodeo Drive on July 17, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jose Lopez)
Protesters take to the streets to bring attention to the push for justice in the Trayvon Martin case as they take over Rodeo Drive on July 17, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jose Lopez)

the 1960s. There are countless advantages to using the Internet as a platform to raise awareness; its outreach and efficiency are unrivalled by anything that was around half a century ago. But what about as a place for mourning? For a response to tragedy? I can’t help but feel like the mess of hashtags and images and filters is largely well-intentioned but ultimately pretty superficial.

Unlike #BlackLivesMatter or #Kony2012, however, #PrayforParis isn’t gearing towards a specific call to action. Just as with Facebook’s rainbow profile picture filters earlier this year in support of marriage equality in the US, it’s a gesture meant to spread support and unity. Despite this, it’s still textbook “slacktivism”. Simply pressing a button to put a filter on your profile picture is an action (or more accurately, an inaction) that flattens a profound and complex issue to the likes of a meme.

I want to make it explicitly clear that my goal here is not to undermine the tragedy of the recent attacks in Paris. I’m not doubting that a single person who changed their profile picture, too, was shocked and horrified by the events this past weekend, and so it’s likely there wasn’t much hesitation when they logged into Facebook and were presented with such an easy and seemingly empathic response. My issue with this reaction, however, is that it culminates in a display of self-indulgent slacktivism. It’s all too easy to feel bad, press a button to apply a filter, and convert empathy to a sort of smarmery without giving a second thought to the real-world context of the issue. Why is our response to 130 deaths in Paris an international flurry of hashtags and filters, and over 40 equally tragic and violent deaths in Beirut on the same day essentially disregard?

Maybe that’s something we should take a minute to think about.

Sources for feature image and banner image 

Exams are So Important that Flights were Delayed

Katie Kim
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While the news nowadays in the world consists of terrible things, such as the Paris attacks. However, to the students in Korea, there is nothing more stressful than college entrance exams. In the Republic of Korea, these standardized college exam (College Scholastic Aptitude Test) is taken extremely seriously. On the day of the English listening portion of the exam all flights to Incheon International Airport were delayed for 20 minutes so as not to disturb the exam takers.

delayed flights

Planes circled around Korea for 20 minutes when the exam was going on, as shown in this picture from flightradar24.com

delayed flights 2
The flights were only able to land when the ban was lifted at 1:40 pm that day. As soon as the flights were allowed to land, over 100 planes converged at Incheon International Airport, as you can see in this picture from flightradar24.com

 

In a highly competitive society, as that of the Republic of Korea, it is understandable that the primary and secondary education system focuses entirely on attending the three top universities in Korea, also called SKY (for Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University). The CSAT determines who goes to which university. However, this focus on the final test does not contribute to the overall learning of the students. In schools, the students are being taught to memorize concepts rather than understanding and therefore, the CSAT merely tests how well students have memorized their subjects. Schools in Korea extend to the evening and Saturdays. In the end, those who are accepted into SKY are those who scored full points on their CSAT. This really does not show universities how capable these students are. In fact, in a recent study, English majors at Oxford University in the UK were asked to take the CSAT. Their scores were much lower than a typical Korean student. Verbally, they stated that the exam was extremely difficult as well.

 

Two things arise from this. First of all, is the Korean curriculum that hard? Secondly, are Korean students really understanding what they are being tested on? If the answer to these questions were, respectively, yes and no, then is it worth the sacrifice of delayed flights to create the optimal exam condition? Should institutions, such as the airport, be investing their time and efforts to support students to take CSAT?

 

 

n.p. “An Exam So Stressful that Even Planes Are Banned to Avoid Noise.” abc News. 13 November 2015. Web. 15 November 2015.

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