THE FERNEY FOCUS

A newspaper for students, by the students. This newspaper will be used to give a voice to students, to allow them to express themselves on various themes. If you would like to contribute please go to the back cover for any contact information.

Donald Trump and Brexit will be part of the political themes of the week, but on page 12 you can discover our first edition of the evolution of aircraft, more of which will be coming soon.

On the 19th of October 2016, thirty students of the Lyce International de Ferney Voltaire and twenty-five students of Trinity College based in Uganda were able to meet through an audio-visual skype conference. This led to an exchange between students, allowing us to understand their views on the future of their country and other subjects. To continue reading go to page 9.

Table of contents

World and politics

The first crack in globalisations glass roof - Brexit

Its time Trump

UNITAR Conference

History

Evolution of Aircrafts

Lifestyle and Health

Veganism

Pills that kill

Sports

Football, more than a sport

Arts

Things Fall Apart: book review of a post-colonial classic

School subjects

Introduction to engineering

The First Crack in Globalisations Glass Roof

The Ferney Focus N1 January 20171

We have done it without having to fight, we have done it without a bullet being fired. Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent nation. Those were the words of UKIP leader Nigel Farage mere hours after the historic victory of the Leave campaign and just over a week since Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death. As half the country looked on in disbelief, the other celebrated Britains decision to exit the European Union and retake control of its borders. The political establishment was rocked to its core, not used to being so strongly challenged by the population. The media and the rumour mill went into meltdown announcing the imminent collapse of the British economy, a petition for a second referendum, the possibility of another Scottish independence referendum and David Camerons humiliating resignation after his own people rejected him until, finally, everyone settled back into their daily routines. But the recent High Court ruling stating that Brexit will require a vote from Parliament has revived the discussion about the outcome of the vote leading many to ask themselves once more how a campaign that the media has branded as racist, xenophobic and bigoted found such huge support from the British population?

Though the decision to leave the European Union touched upon numerous economic, political and social policies, one issue was given the spotlight: immigration and border control. The Remain campaign pointed out the discriminatory and hate-filled rhetoric of the Leave campaign, accusing it of creating division and inciting violence. Farages infamous poster depicting a flow of refugees entering Turkey with the caption Breaking Point. The EU has failed us quickly drew criticism from both Remain and Leave campaigners. The European Union is a unique trade bloc in the sense that not only does it encourage free movement of capital but it also promotes the free movement of people. Ironically, after the confirmation of a British exit from the European Union, many politicians wanted to retain the United Kingdoms place in the single market and merely stop people from entering the country. Brexit was viewed as a major step backwards in an increasingly globalised and inter-connected world; a reaffirmation of the strength of borders when global trade and development are slowly washing them away. Many of the voters who wanted to leave the European Union were not only voting against a political establishment that did not recognise them but also a unified world which had somehow left them behind.

For students in the English National Programme, the benefits of a globalised world are obvious. Our friends come from all over the world, and many of our parents work in international companies or organisations. We learn to open our minds to global issues and see them from an international perspective whereas many Brexit voters adopt a much more local viewpoint. In South Wales for example, in towns such as Ebbw Vale or Merthyr Tydfil where unemployment is high, the carcasses of closed steel factories, coalmines and ironworks serve as a reminder of a more prosperous time. For families living in such areas, globalisation has stolen their livelihoods. As they lose their jobs and their towns slowly sink into dereliction the same factories are resurrected elsewhere overseas, in China, Indonesia or Malaysia. A chance to change the political establishment is seen as a chance to change their current situation and reject the status quo. Not only did the politicians underestimate the power of their disillusionment but so did the Remain voters. The shock of Brexit and the growing calls from the Remain side for a second referendum clearly underlined the feeling that for them the vote had been in the bag.

This referendum was heavily influenced by social and online media which most of us use as a means of staying informed. However, these sites are heavily personalised: the more you use the site the better it knows you. They tailor the information on your news feed to your political opinions and your personal interests. This meant that rumours and misinformation spread far more easily. The divisions in the United Kingdom were everywhere, between the cities and the poorer rural areas, the high-income households and the lower income ones, the university graduates and those without qualifications Brexit highlighted all the cracks in our society.

Since Brexit may now have been eclipsed by the election of Donald Trump, and the Americans have again gone one step further than their British counterparts, it may be that we wont hear about it again until Article 50 is eventually triggered. However, it is important to note that Brexit was the first tremor of the political earthquake culminating in an US election whose aftershocks resounded across the world. Brexit and the Trump victory send a message to those Western democracies whose politicians have disregarded the people who placed their trust in them. Secretary General Kofi Annan gave a speech at Yale University in 2002 where he said: We need to rethink what belonging means, and what community means, in order to be able to embrace the fate of distant peoples, and realize that globalisations glass house must be open to all if it is to remain secure. Never has his vision of an inclusive globalisation been more relevant than today and to achieve it we need to open our minds to ideas and opinions that challenge our own. In the aftermath of Brexit, the worlds political landscape has changed. The existing model of globalisation is being challenged and if extremism is not to triumph the mainstream political parties need to offer a viable alternative.

Fflur Jones

Trump: to lead or not to lead

Its time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me. These were the words of the president elect Donald trump just a few short hours after his victory, winning with the most controversial campaign in modern history. Across the United States and the entire globe millions were left flabbergasted watching perhaps the impossible unroll before their eyes. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump went head to head in the most talked about election in modern history. This election has sent shockwaves around the world and is at the heart of a division within the United States involving petitions and rallies denying Trump as their President. Indeed, this election is to have repercussions not only within the US, but across the globe, affecting millions. Donald Trump, the new president elect, has defied the polls, politicians and even American citizens, leading many to wonder how a campaign branded as racist, sexist and xenophobic found such a huge support not only within the US population but the world?

The race for the Whitehouse began in early February with the primary elections in every state as well as in overseas territory. These elections determined who was to be the official presidential candidates, in this case Hillary Clinton, the previous secretary of state and Donald Trump, a self-made business man. Over the course of the following months both candidates collected delegates, party members with the power to vote for the candidate at the party conventions held in July. Indeed, by July Clinton and Trump were the clear winners but also and clearly the two most unpopular candidates in modern American history.

From the outset Trumps campaign became notorious for its controversy. Indeed, his candidacy has rarely gone a few weeks without sparking some uproar. After his description of Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals, waging a war of words with a Judge, a Miss Universe, a Fox News anchor and the Muslim family of a fallen soldier, many questioned his legitimacy. Indeed, the question bouncing between the walls of social media was who could possibly vote for someone proclaiming that they will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me (Trump), believe me (Trump) and Ill (Trump) build them very inexpensively. I (Trump) will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I (Trump) will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my (Trump) words. This makes the list for one of Trumps most outrageous quotes. We have to ask, what made Trump and his controversial campaign so popular?

Trump is straight talking and unapologetic. It would appear that he embodies what you see is what you get. Combine that supreme confidence with simple yet intuitive answers that seem to resonate with voters on a deep level, answers why he is so popular. Indeed, Trump policies go as follows: if you dont like immigration then build a wall, if you support police officers then impose the death penalty on their killers These solutions are short, simple and to the point. Voters relate to Trump on a deep level and respond to his authority, dynamism and force. Furthermore, he is a Washington outsider, an anti-politician, perhaps rendering him more relatable to the average American. One doesnt always have to agree with Trump polices, but his straight talking, forward and relatable approach to politics could be seen as the reason as to why Trump became so popular, defied every poll and became the president elect.

For the students of the English National Programmme this news came as a huge shock. Indeed, many teens and young adults watched along with the world on the morning of the 9th of November in disbelief. Indeed, ENP students have the benefit of being exposed to globalisation and a multi-cultural environment on an international level, understanding the global repercussions of such an election. However, those voting in the US, voted based on a much more local scale. States such as Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky and many more are just a few prime examples of those who voted for Donald Trump. With unemployment rates rising and the majority of the US population closed to this concept of a globalised world. Many citizens have only known the US and many do not even own a passport. The latter conveys to what extent the mentality of the US voting population is perhaps worlds apart from that of the international mentality shared by ENP students. Not only did politicians underestimate Donald Trump, so did the whole world. The shock of Trump as president elect and the continuous protests highlight the feeling that Hillary Clinton had the election in the bag.

Since Brexit, many people across the world have learned to not trust the polls. Indeed, the remain campaign believed for certain that UK citizens would never vote to leave the EU, yet the impossible unrolled right before British onlookers. Brexit marked the first tremor, the first crack and Trump the first earthquake in todays precarious modern world. We can only ask: What happens next?.

Rebecca Slade

The UNITAR Conference explained

On the 19th of October 2016, thirty students of the Lyce International de Ferney Voltaire and twenty-five students of Trinity College based in Uganda were able to meet through an audio-visual skype conference.

This discussion, organised by UNITAR, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, had the objective of creating an interaction between students from both schools in order to understand the global effects of climate change. To do so, students from both schools worked on ways to present their point of view on climate change and how it affects their lives.

First, we had introductory speeches from both Mr Alan Ackroyd and Mr Emmanuel Zziwa to present our schools and explain what was the true nature of our dialogue. We also had the honour of having an opening discourse from a UNITAR director, Mr Angus Mackay.

The dialogue started with the presentation of the Ferney students. Three students of Premire presented a short cartoon film called Draw my Life, an artistic presentation in which a character named Camille explained the impact that climate change had on her everyday life but also in general, how she as individual acted against climate change.

Later on, pupils presented how things changed during a ten-year period. Gianluca took the simple example of his grandmothers apple tree: since the provision of water isnt consistent anymore, the tree doesnt produce any more fruits.

The Ugandans then asked several questions:

Can you share with us what you are willing to do as youth to combat climate change?

The responses were multiple. We explained that we were recycling and that our government was investing in renewable energies to use a minimum of oil and gaz. Other students then explained their personal initiative of becoming vegetarians (no consumption of animal meat) or even vegans (no consumption of any product derived from animals; meat but also cheese, eggs, milk). They argued that animal production was massively energy-consuming, and therefore reducing our consumption would spare the earths resources as well as cut down the amount of methane rejected in the atmosphere two very helpful actions on a global scale.

The Ugandan students had another point of view on this question. Whereas we, Europeans, are trying to reduce our consumption, we should actually concentrate on creating more eco-friendly things. For them, we shouldnt concentrate on restraining ourselves forever but also try and build more ecological projects. For example, the Ugandans didnt really underline the diminution of their oil consumption but instead they proposed to plant more trees.

Whereas it made sense to us to reduce our meat consumption as we see every day industrialised meat piled in the supermarkets shelves, it seemed madness for the Ugandans to whom the local livestock is an important part of their nutrition.

For the Ugandans, tree-planting appeared as the effective solution as their rainforest is threatened by the rapid industrialisation and the droughts caused by climate change, whereas it made less sense to us who live in a country where the forest is abundant and healthy.

This reversed reflection was really interesting, as we understood that solutions we come up with vary depending on our way of living and how climate change affects us.

The Ugandans then exposed their points of view on the question and gave us an account of the difficulties that climate change brings in their country. For example, they explained that growing certain crops was now impossible due to the lack of rainwater. This causes dramatic problems especially on the price of grain and vegetables that arent affordable for a modest family.

Another student called Lise explained that another consequence was on a sanitary level. The lack of clean water in the rural South of Uganda means certain people drink dirty water. This causes severe diseases such as cholera and gastric infections. Cleaning up this water and providing a clean one is a priority for the government as it threatens several thousands of citizens.

After that exchange, we asked a few questions to the Ugandans and in particular this one:

How do you imagine your country in 100 years?

The answers were very heterogenous. Some had very negative projections: Uganda transformed by the repeated droughts into a desert, no vegetation, no humans, unliveable. Others were very sunny and positive: several answered, with a lot of confidence, when I finish and come to power and I know I will come to power I will put the right ecological policies in place. They blamed the government for corruption and not focusing enough on the environmental issues. They also hoped that their country will be reforested.

But as ideas cohered by imagining Uganda in 100 years, the excitement led to the overall conviction in their countrys capacity to combat these issues linked to global warming they, the next generation, guarantee that they will do everything possible to make it happen.

As the conference drew to an end, we tried to express what it had brought us and realised that our brainstorming had led us to swap tips: one French student declared that, inspired by what one of the Ugandan students had suggested, she would plant a tree at her 18th birthday too. But the most precious insight this meeting gave us was that on the other side of the globe, teenagers were bravely facing far worse difficulties than us; they are the true victims of the climate change that we, the industrialised, western nations, are causing. Talking together (although physically so far away from each other!) brought to light the different negative impacts of climate change, but the smiles and energy we exchanged also motivated us to apply every day the solutions we came up with together.

Manon Tremelot and Vincent Clavery

Evolution of Aircrafts (1900-1945)

Not long after the Wright brothers invented a motorised and controllable airplane (in 1903 to be precise), World War One broke out. This brought about evolution in military machinery with famous weaponry such as the dreadnoughts but also mustard gas for example. However, this also pushed the boundaries of military engagement as the conflict was pushed into a new setting, the sky. In those days, planes were very light, with a maximum speed of approximately 140m/h or 240km/h. This was the maximum speed recorded by the Sopwith Dragon, the fastest plane of World War One. The usual aircraft had two wings, hence the name bi-plane. However, the famous Baron von Richthofen (The Red Baron) used to pilot a Fokker Dr. 1, which was a tri-plane.

This last picture is a modern reconstitution of a WW1 dogfight. The plane with the target on the wings (plane at the front) is a Sopwith Camel from the RAF. The plane at the back is the famous Fokker Dr.1 with the identical red camouflage as Manfred von Richthofen.

In World War 1, airplanes did not have a windshield. Therefore, the pilots were exposed to loud engine noises, oily air, and wore asbestos masks to prevent phosphorus tracers from burning their skin.

Although most countries were in a very high debt after World War 1, there still has been a decent evolution in the aerodynamics of airplanes after the Great War. Airplanes started to be adaptable to different environments, and started to be more aerodynamic.

In the 1930s Lockheed developed the Electra, which, although it was a civilian plane, showed the great technological advances in between WW1 and WW2. The Russian Tupolev Ant-20 also demonstrated the great advances, through its sheer size although the plane had only been built for propaganda purposes. In 1938 the British developed the Sunderland, demonstrating what they are capable of as this amphibian bomber is capable of lifting 27 tonnes off water.

As World War Two arrived, aviation was pushed to its limits with innovators on both sides - such as Blohm, Voss, Dornier on one and Lockheed, Boeing, Avro on the other - pushing themselves even greater into competition of making the best aircraft.

Many great bombers emerged from this competition such as the American B-51 and the Dornier 217 but one that stands out, both personally and in general, is the Lancaster. This British bomber was mostly used during night-time raids although also adapted for special raids such as that in the Ruhr known as Operation Chastise.

In this raid, the RAF set out to lower Germanys weapon production. They did this by destroying a dam, using a cylindrical depth charge, known as the bouncing bomb. Bouncing, because it was supposed to jump over the torpedo nets.

Yet the most popular warplanes are the fighters and they also considerably evolved over time. The greatest aviation rivalry of World War Two is no doubt the British Spitfire against the German Bf-109. These two clashed greatly during the Battle of Britain. Although, at one point in the battle of Britain, the ratio was 1 British plane for 2 German planes, it is argued that the Spitfire was superior to the German plane due to the fuel restriction of the Bf-109s.

Some other honourable mentions for World War 2 aircrafts are the American Corsair, P-51 D Mustangs, the Japanese A6M series. The Russians had the Yak series. The Axis powers also had V1 and V2 rockets, although they werent airplanes they took represented a great step towards rocket science. In WW2, Gliders were also used a lot, such as the Hamilcar glider, which was used to carry tanks.

There has been an incontestable evolution in aviation between the 1900s and 1945 as they have been made adaptable to almost anything. However, at the end of the Second World War, rocket science was beginning to be developed by German scientists. This would intrigue the USA and the USSR who would recruit them, each trying to get hold of the most scientists possible. These individuals, as will be explored in the next edition, are at the base of the incredible leap forwards of aeronautics during the Cold War.

Alec Dixon

Veganism: food for thought

We all know this one radical vegan/vegetarian that walks around preaching what is right and what is wrong and what should be eaten and what should not. Some of you may even be slightly scared of them (trust me, I am too). Or some of you may have heard of the Instagram vegans, a rare tribe inhabiting LA and Australia, taking part in strange rituals in which acai bowls and green smoothies and avocados are consumed excessively.

Neither of these are what veganism is truly about. On the one hand, such behaviors are helpful; regardless of their intent, they do promote veganism whether it be a form of activism or a hip and trendy lifestyle. But let's get back to our roots. Let's talk about veganism and what it really is.

If you've ever been too lazy to research the topic of veganism, this article will contain all the necessary information you need to know.

The first element you need to keep in mind is that veganism is not only a diet, but a lifestyle. A beautiful philosophy, that even before I went vegan, inspired me. A philosophy based around compassion, respect and equality for all living creatures.

There is so much more to veganism than not eating animal products. By becoming vegan, you participate in the protection and preservation of the environment and reduce your carbon footprint, (if you're not wearing leather on your feet - haha) as well as water waste. By ending the torture animals have to endure for the production of eggs, dairy products, meat and fish, you are effectively contributing to the overall abolition of exploitation. We live in a system based on capitalism, one that, some say, thrives on exploitation and systematically reproduces inequality. By not consuming meat, you are going against the system. You are actively going against the mindless consumerism that many of us take part in. You, and you alone, are making a change.

Imagine an oversized cutesie dog. Cute, right? Emotional attachments to animals are part of our nature. So why don't all animals deserve the right to life? Why are some allowed to sleep in our beds whilst others end up on our plate? And for those who believe animals don't have consciousness: if it has eyes, a mouth, and can breathe, then this creature is placed on the same level as humans. A question I commonly ask meat eaters is: When you look at a calf, pig or chicken do you instantly see a burger, bacon or nuggets? If not, how are you then able to purchase and then eat something you saw alive moments before.

There are also many health benefits that accompany a vegan lifestyle such as a boost in energy, healthier looking skin and eating a guilty-free diet, rich in calcium, protein and iron. As a bonus, you have a lesser chance of developing cardiovascular diseases and contracting certain forms of cancer. It's not only about improving your health but also the situation of fellow humans. In the US 70% of cereal production is used to feed livestock, of which a large quantity is wasted and not consumed, a quantity of cereal that could be used to feed starving populations and nourish them.

If you're a person who needs numbers and facts to convince you, here are some that will hopefully help:

60% of the world's agricultural land is used for beef production, and this undoubtedly plays an important factor in deforestation. In fact, animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of the amazon destruction. Another important aspect to know about this industry, its over use of water. To produce one hamburger, you need 3000 liters of water which is the equivalent to showering for 2 months. If this number doesn't shock you how about the fact that 110 animals and insect species are lost every day from rainforest destruction, or 51% of greenhouse gas emissions is due to livestock and their byproducts and yet only 13% of greenhouse gas emissions is due to transports, (cars, trains, airplanes, boats, trucks).

You need to look at veganism as a motive for changing the world. A person who follows a vegan lifestyle produces 50% less Co2, uses 1/11th less oil, 1/13th less water and 1/18th less land. Of course, these numbers don't seem significant but as the saying goes every little helps.

If you want to continue learning about this subject here are a few documentaries you should watch:

-Cowspiracy

-Earthlings

-101 reasons to go vegan

-Super size me

Hannah Ackroyd

Pills that kill the truth about prescription drugs

Over the last fifty years, the world has entered a new era of drugs. We no longer picture the dreamy-eyed hippie wearing obnoxiously colourful, flower-printed clothes, complete with a bandana and sunglasses, smoking a joint. Instead, we see the heroin addict who conceals their needle-mark riddled body and appalling thinness with dark hoodie and baggy jeans, yellow skin marked with sores, sunken cheeks, a dangerous, hunted look in their eyes. When we hear the word drug, we think of Walter White in his meth lab or Leonardo DiCaprio as the wolf of Wall Street. We think of all the typical drugs we see in newspaper headlines or awareness campaigns, usually heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), crack cocaine (crack) or MDMA (ecstasy), maybe which a nave, unsuspecting, adventurous teenager consumed in vast quantities at a club and consequently died of. Although this tragic scenario is not uncommon, the reality is somewhat different.

Substance abuse has become such a real problem nowadays that it has been called an epidemic. It affects people from all over the world, including some as young as eight years old and is at the root of many social issues such as increased levels of crime and violence, unemployment (often leading to poverty and sometimes homelessness), domestic abuse and prostitution, to name a few. A combination of scientific discoveries, a growing availability and an ever-increasing demand for drugs has claimed more lives than ever before in recent years, with 47055 drug overdose deaths in the United States alone in 2014, according to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention).

So where do prescription drugs come in?

Prescription drugs, as you may know, are pharmaceutical drugs that legally require medical prescriptions to be dispensed to users (as opposed to over-the-counter drugs) and are the third most commonly abused category of drugs, behind alcohol and marijuana and ahead of heroin, cocaine and meth. They can be used to treat ailments ranging from chronic cancer pain to mental illnesses and disorders to post-surgery pain, arthritis and migraines. The most commonly abused prescription drugs include pain relievers or painkillers (blocking the perception of pain), tranquilizers or sedatives (slowing normal brain function to produce a calming effect, often prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders) and stimulants (increasing alertness, energy and attention). Symptoms of painkiller abuse include depression, shortness of breath, disorientation and a rapid decrease in blood pressure, tranquilizer abuse is marked by drowsiness, confusion, involuntary gestures, poor judgment and decision-making as well as difficulty with memory and stimulant abuse leads to agitation, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, a high body temperature, feelings of hostility and paranoia, insomnia, seizures and cardiovascular failure among others.

But are prescription drugs really addictive? Absolutely. Both street drugs and prescription drugs stimulate the portion of the brain associated with pleasure by affecting neurotransmitters in the body, producing a high and a sensation of euphoria. The body adapts to the presence of the prescribed substance and when a patient develops a tolerance for the level of medication they have been prescribed, they no longer have the same level of relief and as a result take more medication than prescribed to get a higher level of relief, thus developing an addiction. Many prescription painkillers and heroin have similar chemical properties and physiological impacts on users, which is what makes them targets for abuse. A user having developed a physical and psychological dependence on these drugs will experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop using the drugs (most commonly sweating, cold flashes, involuntary leg movements, sharp bone and muscle pain, restlessness, vomiting and possibly cardiac arrest or seizures).

And how is it that so many people can access these drugs, despite needing a prescription and medical supervision? Patients or users who have developed a dependence on these drugs have a number of ways of acquiring them, most commonly by frequently requesting refills from doctors (by exaggerating or lying about their pain), losing prescriptions, stealing prescriptions or medications from family, friends or co-workers, forging prescriptions, visiting multiple doctors for similar conditions or simply buying them from friends and dealers on the black market. They are, in fact, a lot more easily obtainable than people think.

Why do people use or abuse prescription drugs for non-medical purposes? For the same reasons, weve all heard about street drug abuse: to experiment, to rebel and be cool or feel socially accepted (peer pressure), to relax or relieve tension, to get high and feel good. However, what makes prescription pills so attractive is the fact that people believe that they are being legal or safe by using them. The common misconception is that if a drug has been prescribed by a doctor or another medical professional, it must be safe to use. In fact, among teenagers, prescription drugs are the most commonly used drugs next to marijuana, and almost half of the teens abusing prescription drugs take painkillers. The main reason for this is that about 50% of teens believe taking prescription drugs is safer than illegal drugs. This is absolutely false, as it has been proven that prescription drugs such as Oxycodone, Tramadol and Zyprexa are just as dangerous and addictive as street drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Many prescriptions made by medical professionals are inappropriate in the sense that they are unnecessary or dangerous. Often, drugs are prescribed because they are known to be effective for some ailments but the patients personal needs and the effects of the drugs are not always taken into account.

The prescription drug Fentanyl for example, is one of the strongest painkillers on the market, typically used to treat patients with severe pain (usually cancer pain, but is often wrongly prescribed by medical staff for conditions involving chronic pain). Its excellent for treating pain, but has a huge abuse potential and is highly addictive: a Fentanyl high is very similar to that of heroin, producing a sense of euphoria and relaxation and since many people dont believe that it harbours significant abuse potential, it has a higher likelihood for accidental or intentional abuse. Fentanyl is also the drug that killed Prince in April, barely a week after he was treated for a Percocet (another painkiller) overdose.

What most people dont realise is that abuse of prescription medications can actually open the door to heroin or other hard drug use, mainly because street drugs are cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription drugs.

Percentage of the total heroin-dependent sample that used heroin or a prescription opioid as their first opioid of abuse in the USA. Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2014.

So, what can be done?

In order to prevent more tragedies from happening, more awareness should be raised about the growing issue of prescription drugs as too few people know or understand the role that they are playing in todays drug epidemic. Patients use of prescription medication must be more strictly monitored by doctors or other health professionals, who must consider the legitimate medical needs of the patients and be more responsible and cautious when prescribing medications; pharmacists must also be wary of prescription falsification or alteration. A lack of education and awareness about appropriate opioid prescribing practices may contribute to abuse - pain management training should therefore be improved in order to ensure safer prescribing practices for patients with specific needs. More attention must be drawn to the risks of prescription drug abuse and its disastrous effects, as well as expanding the knowledge of the dangers of prescription drug abuse to medication-assisted treatment and other drug monitoring programmes. Working with the state, law enforcement, public health agencies and medical examiners would help improve the detection of illegal opioid use and prevent a potential epidemic. Until then, the advice I can give you would simply be: dont do drugs. Any drugs. It simply isnt worth it.

Ananya Cumming-Bruce

Football, a sport or a way of life?

For many years football, has been a huge part of many peoples lives; but why can we truly describe this physical activity as the beautiful game? Football affects the player physically and mentally as does any sport, but what makes this sport so different? First of all football is the worlds most played and watched game (followed by basketball) with over 4billion people that watch football around the world. Football is also classed as being the highest paying sports competition in the world with over $1.5Billion awarded as prize money or bonuses every year. To add to that two of the most highly paid sportsmen in the world (Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi) who are paid over $300 000 a week are footballers. The amount of countries that have at least one professional football team is 50 which bests any other sport. Enough with the facts I am not writing this to tell you how amazing football is and how influential it is I am writing this to show you how football affects peoples lives.

I myself have played football for about a decade and I am now a certified and registered football coach for one of my local teams (Prvessin U9) and I have noticed that my opinion of football has changed over the years. When I first arrived in this country in 2005 I saw football as a way to be with friends (which in later years I considered as my extended family) during weekends. I think that football has a positive effect on the human mind even though it can create a certain amount of stress, over a long period of time football will become a part of your life. As a young child, all of this physical exercise is needed because of how hyperactive we were (or still are for some) but not only it gives them opportunity to go crazy a couple of times a week. Every person who has never played or enjoyed football may not understand this but the thrill of the beautiful game is only matched in other sports such as rugby or cricket. Despite the physical exercise that we have to provide for this sport the end result is more than satisfying. This sport should not be seen as a way to show how athletic we are but it should be about bringing people close together and about making new friends.

The advantages of playing football after me is that you feel implicated in what you do and you get to see your end result, that end result is due to practice and effort. Of cause this end result cannot be produced by one single person but by a group of people; by a TEAM. This idea of teamwork is seen everywhere not just in football, we can see it in sports such as rugby or handball but we can also see it in everyday activities such as school projects and even in the army, navy and air force. This concept of teamwork leads to my second point that I mentioned earlier the idea of bonding and of meeting new people. Football is one of many activities that brings people together, these activities I think make humanity more human, because whilst we play these sports or take part in group activities we forget about our everyday problems and we focus on the ball we focus on participating and giving it our all. The last advantage that we can see I think is the fact of participating in something. There have been films made based or not on true events that football and other similar sports make people stop worrying about their differences and (as I said before) get on with the sport. Of course, all of my points correspond not only to football but to other sports as well, as long as there is a team that means that there is a common objective so each person in that team can move forward through lifes struggles and he or she knows that their team is there to back them up.

One of the recent downfalls of football which has only been seen for a couple of decades is the fame. This is a problem in my eyes and I know that many people share my point of view because quite a number of pros seem to be playing for the money and not for the game which is slowly destroying the beautiful game. Most players dont need any more money but they still complain if their salary goes down by a couple of hundred pounds a month which is only a small percentage of their initial salary. It is said that if Wayne Rooney stopped working for the rest of his life and using only the money he has now he could live his entire life at least three times over. Why do they get paid this much? Well it is quite simple, football is the most played sport in the world and is the most advertised so the clubs can afford to pay their players stupid amounts of money. But what happened to the good old days, in the days before Sir Bobby Charlton when footballers were only part timers and the rest of the time they worked in the mines and earned what some people may call a well-earned wage. As I said the players nowadays dont have the same devotion to football. It is no longer a job where you played for the beauty of the sport and where you played by the rules. Even the referees have started taking bribes so how are the rules still respected? How can the rules still be respected if the people paid to enforce those rules are not respecting them in the first place?

What I am trying to tell you is that football is not what it used to be, when you look at young players nowadays who have just learned how to work are faking fouls and only care about scoring, even if they are goalies or defenders, so that they can celebrate by doing a weird dance or sliding across the grass towards the crowds. Of course, I have to agree that those celebrations are fun and the thrill of scoring is stupendous, but we should not just live for those moments; we should enjoy the whole package not just what we find inside. It should not all be about winning or losing but the fact that we are taking part in something that is great.

To add to that ex-football players such as Pele or David Beckham are trying to change peoples lives who live in unfavoured areas, and that is what football should be about, changing peoples lives for the best I myself have to agree that my footballing years were brilliant and a great experience and I hope that I can inspire people to at least try it out and hopefully enjoy it.

So, this article was not written to make you love football and become addicted to it or to make you hate it because of what footballers have become, but it was written to show you how football has changed and to ask of you something that is very dear to me. Please, if you play football or want to play football, if it is in a club or on a field with your friends, please I beg of you play football for the beauty of the game and bring football back to its former glory.

Thank you.

Joshua Cullen-Bannister

Books and ideas

The start of post-colonial consciousness: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This novel is regarded as the original African novel in English. Published in 1958 by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe it fits into the genre of colonisation, giving the reader huge insight into what local tribes truly felt as the colonising nation stole their lands. No amount of history will grant you such a perspective as Achebe does through this book, immersing us into colonial Africa and the consequences of the British presence in the continent.

Through the character of Okonkwo, a strong respected tribesman, Achebe allows us to portray ourselves as this character, to adopt his values and respect him. This connection between reader and character is essential as it will give the novel its dramatic edge. Furthermore, it also suggests the ways in which colonisation truly tore up the tapestry of cultural diversity and beliefs of the African continent.

In an interview, Achebe said that the popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be explained simply, because my people are seeing themselves virtually for the first time in the story. The story of our position in the world had been told by others. But somehow that story was not anything like the way it seemed to us from where we stood. So, this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as autonomous individuals, rather than half-people.

What Achebe didnt say though was that not only Africans view themselves in this story but so does everyone else as the relationship between us and Okonkwo leads us to admire him and the African society through the various folk tales and the observations on nature, religion and other such subjects. Moreover, Achebe wrote I did not see myself as an African in those books, I took sides with the white men against the savages. Therefore, showing how he went to the point where he rejected his own culture and heritage to transmit his story in the most realistic way possible.

This unique novel is eye opening in terms of colonial history and will make everyone feel emotional and reflect upon colonisation. Additionally, all these ideas are contained in just a few 100 pages and it is available for a mere 50 cents on Amazon or you can borrow it for free at the English Library.

Jan Sieber

Introduction to Engineering

According to Google, engineering is a branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures.

However, to some people, engineering is all about complicated maths and formulas. However, that is not completely the case. Yes, it is mathematically difficult, but what one can do with engineering definitely makes it worthwhile. To some extent, engineering can be considered very close to art.

What can you do with engineering?

Engineering is a subject which is so broad there are a multitude of things you can do with it. There are all sorts of engineering fields nowadays: aeronautical, automotive, motorsport and mechanical to name a few.

These areas of engineering are unfortunately often linked to a boys subject, although women are just as capable in the subject. The ratio male to female in the USA was of 1 female for every 3 males (statistics from 2004, Wikipedia). However, there may be levels of engineering which are less known, and can interest women more. According to some statistics, Civil engineering attracts the eye of most female engineers.

Moreover, these are some other types of engineering that are maybe less common, but are just as interesting.

Textile engineering: textile engineering is the study of fabric for clothes. The goal is basically to improve durability, stress and strain resistance and comfort.

Chemical engineering: Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that applies physical sciences (physics and chemistry), life sciences (microbiology and biochemistry) as well as applied mathematics and economics to produce, transform, transport, and properly use chemicals, materials and energy. An example would be researching biofuels to make cars more eco- friendly.

Live sound engineering: This type of engineering is very special. Sound engineers are people who know how to regulate the noise in a music concert or any event using surround sound speakers.

What if you don't know what field of engineering you want to study in?

It is often the case that engineers apply for an undergraduate mechanical engineering courses at university, mainly because the undergraduates do not always have an idea in which engineering field to study. Mechanical engineering covers a very broad spectrum in engineering, that is where students usually earn a taste for the specific field of engineering they want to study. Once they know what they want to do, they continue their postgraduate study in the specific engineering subject.

However, if you have a passion for something special, that one thing that makes your heart race, whether it is airplanes (aeronautical engineering), cars (automobile or motorsport engineering), then there is a strong possibility that that subject is the one for you. No matter how hard it can be, go for it.

Alec Dixon

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