We all know the story: Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, the Witch and so on. Perhaps the original Wizard of Oz comes to mind – 1939, Judy Garland as Dorothy, etcetera. And yet, this film that is iconic and creative at surface level has, in fact, multiple sinister layers…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think we can safely say that TikTok has spread like wildfire across the globe in the recent years. The Western version became an overnight sensation, merging with Musical.ly (nostalgic yet?) in 2018 and blowing up during the multiple lockdowns that followed to the point of surpassing Instagram in the number of downloads for two consecutive years. However, is the app simply harmless video-based social media, or is it an attention-seeking machine, designed to control the culture and trends of the younger generations?
Of course, it’s to be expected that the school has changed since 1880, but what if I tell you that these were changes that occurred in the last twenty-five years? Talking with a WHS alumna and the current Director of Keir Starmer’s external relations Vidhya Alakeson at the MUN conference on Saturday, she remarked “how familiar WHS felt, yet still immensely different”. She said she could never even have imagined fitting in more facilities in the school, let alone the huge renovation project we’re undergoing now. Admiring the pride flags in the senior hall, Vidhya commented on how “Pride was barely even mentioned” during her time twenty-eight years ago.
We have found ways to edit genetic material, cloned sheep, and mapped the entirety of the human genome. But there is one single anomaly completely unphased by the billions of dollars invested in decades of research and still upholds its position as one of the leading causes of death around the globe. What is it about this fascinating phenomenon that makes it so hard to eradicate cancer?
Oklahoma passed an abortion ban punishing people with up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000. Rapists in Oklahoma face up to five years in prison. In Tennessee, a bill was introduced allowing a rapist’s family or friends to sue a victim of rape if they get an abortion. In Texas, abortions are now illegal once a foetal heartbeat can be detected. Most women are not aware that they are pregnant at this point. Carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term means families are 4x more likely to fall under the federal poverty line and 6x more likely to rely on public assistance.
These are some of the alarming facts that are behind the often more abstract debate about the rights and wrongs of abortion, which has been ignited in the USA by the draft decision of the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark case Wade vs Roe. This article attempts to outline some of the underlying elements of this highly emotive debate.
