The VM News
WORLD & LOCAL NEWS
CONFIRMED INFORMATION ABOUT ENIGMATIC WAVES THAT CAUSES AURORAS
We all know what northern and southern lights are. Those dazzling and overall multicolored shows in the sky— Or if we want to get into the scientific terms, aurora borealis (referring to northern lights) and aurora australis (acknowledging southern lights). Both insanely mesmerizing natural phenomenons, which typically project white, blue, green, yellow or even red lighting above us. Not only do they deliver a fascinating show, but the science behind them is fascinating as well. What is truly captivating about them is the science they hold when speaking on how they’re formed. If we take a look out to the ionosphere, we would be able to witness atoms of oxygen and nitrogen (from the Earth’s atmosphere) colliding with ions coming from solar winds. The energy created, is discharged during these collisions, producing the glowing halo, we know as auroras.
It is true that there’s further complex knowledge that we’re yet to have about auroras. However, by refreshing our minds with what these phenomenons are, we’ll be able to get a better understanding of current statements made by physicists. Separately from what stated before, some interesting information about the breathtaking auroras was recently released. According to “Science Alert”, a website which is updated frequently with new information, “For the first time, scientists have demonstrated and confirmed the mechanism whereby particle accelerations occur— by replicating its process in a laboratory.” Getting more into detail about recreating the process in a laboratory, a 20-meter-long chamber was used by scientists to recreate Earth’s magnetic field also using magnetic coils on UCLA’s LPD. Inside this chamber, they developed a plasma similar to the ones that exist in space, near the Earth. Repeating the words of physicist Craig Kletzing of University of Iowa, “The idea of waves energizing the electrons which create the aurora, goes back more than four decades, but this was the first time we’ve been able to confirm certainly that it works.”
Emphasizing the last sentence, we can get two visible conclusions. The first and most obvious one, science never stops evolving. It continuously grows and overall we discover more information which helps us answer all those possible questions and hypotheses we previously had. The second one is: day by day we’re always progressing— And, even though this progress isn’t always linear or happening in the short term but the long one, the results at the end are worth it. As a visible and clear example, we have the recreating process of how waves energize electrons, creating the aurora we see. It was a concept before, but it wasn’t confirmed until 40 years later. Despite it being assured in the long term, physicists proved their previous hypothesis. Making it, as said, all worth it.
Andrea Nuñez 23'
UYGHUR DEPORTATION AND CONCENTRATION CAMPS
A concentration camp by definition is: “A place where large numbers of people (such as prisoners of war, political prisoners, refugees, or members of an ethnic or religious minority) are detained or confined under armed guard”. Many affirm the days of their existence ended in the last World War, but there are more than a million Uyghur Muslims in China who prove otherwise. According to the government, this is to avoid terrorist attacks and suppress unpatriotic behavior. Some of the punishments are sterilization, political indoctrination, forced birth control, and even forced labor. Many important countries around the world have defined this as ethnic cleansing or genocide, finding ways to stop this once and for all. Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary, mentioned in an interview, “It's clear there are gross egregious human rights abuses going on. This is why the UN in Geneva, raised 27 partners (it’s the first time this has been done), to point out China's point China’s government for its human rights abuses in the Uyghurs. We´ve been working on this with our international partners, and it is deeply troubling.”
But, who are they? The Uyghurs or Uighurs are a Muslim ethnic group, originating from central and eastern Asia. They have lived in Xinjiang, located in northwest China for centuries, recognized as one of the 55 minority groups of the country. They are also found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. Their language is closely related to Uzbek and Islam is an important part of their identity, a majority of them being Sunni Muslims. Their prosecution started in 2014.
Their prosecution started in 2014. At first, it was religious, cultural, and economic restrictions and controls. The concentration camps were established in 2015, named “re-education camps”, with the purpose of changing the political thinking, identities, and religious beliefs of detainees. Their focus was to ensure adherence to the Chinese Communist Party Ideology. For many years, different organizations have demanded China to close the camps, but it still hasn't happened yet it hasn't happened. In 2019, a New York Times article with the information provided from Chinese activists said that the government was using technology from US companies to collect DNA, to track down Uyghurs who were resisting “re-education”. In 2020, president Donald Trump signeds the “UyghurUighur Human Rights Policy Act”, which permits sanctions against government officials responsible for the camps. In the same year, German scholar Adrian Zenz released a report exposing the abortions, contraceptive devices, and sterilization women from this ethnic group are forced to go through.
This is something Rozinsa Mamattohti has been going through, finding out that the government was keeping her family in these camps. Exiled Uyghur activists haved leaked government documents, showing other detained people cases, being sent to “re-education camps” for wearing a veil or having a long beard, among other reasons. Her sister Patem´s crime was a “violation of the family policy”, meaning she had four kids, exceeding instead of the maximum of three Xinjiang´s law permits. The official record was a 137-page PDFpdf file, and it appears to have information on 331 detained citizens, all of whom lived in a small town called Moyu, from their ID numbers to their religious activity described by neighbors. According to CNN, “ About 114 of the detainees in the leaked records were sent to the camps for having too many children, 25 for having a passport without having traveled internationally, and 13 for having “strong religious traditions'' in their family. Some were detained simply for reading or owning “illegal books'' or having a family member who used to be in jail.”
But China isn't the only unsafe place for them anymore. Ammanisa Abdulla and her husband, Ahmad Talip, Uyghurs living in the Arab Emirates, got their lives changed forever after Ahmad was asked to report atto a police station. He dropped off his wife at a friend's house promising to pick her up later, but he never came. Ammanisa went to the police station the next day, after praying and crying all night, only to see her 5 year old son pointing at his father in jail. For thirteen days she begged for him to be released, because he hadn't committed any crime. In her last visit, he told her China had reached them: "It's not safe here. You must take our boy and [go] to Turkey. If our new baby is a girl, please name her Amina. If he's a boy, name him Abdullah." A week later, Talip was sent to Abu Dhabi, getting deported to China five days after that. Their daughter, Amina, was born in Turkey and has never met her father. This is one testimony of the thousands of separated families at China’´s request in countries such as Egypt, the Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Not only this, but disappearances have been increasing nonstop for the past years, worrying the Muslim group.
Ethnic cleansing has existed since even before the World War, and it definitely has not stopped when it ended. A common action the government responsible for this issue takes is hiding it from the rest of the world, even when the evidence is plenty. ISo it is always important to see all the facts directly from the affected group instead of high-ranking officials. This issue has caused outrage all over the world, different important politicians finding ways to put a stop to it all, because human rights violations still happen in 2021, even if some refuse to see it.
Nicole Dammert 22'
FEATURES
INSIDE: WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Look, I’m not here to answer the question on the title and tell you what happiness should be like for everyone since each person’s happiness comes from different places. However, what I’m here to do is draw the similarities I found between a Netflix “comedy” special and people’s mental health, as someone who knows a lot and struggles with it on a daily basis. So, let’s get on with it.
What’s Inside, and what does it have to do with mental health? Inside is a newly released Netflix special written, directed, and performed by none other than, American comedian, Bo Burnham. It deals with themes like depression, classism, privilege, the internet, and, as the title suggests, staying inside. What’s important to me about this is that it was all shot in one room, and as it progresses, you can see Bo’s sanity and mental health slowly decline.
Before I get on with my “If you related to the new Bo Burnham special… I’ve got news for you” kind of jokes, let’s talk about mental health. So, what exactly is it? Mental health is the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of oneself. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Now that we’re through with that… If you relate to the new Bo Burnham special, I’ve got news for you, buddy: you may be mentally ill. After all, Bo Burnham is a comedian who relies on self-deprecation and parody. Anyways, back to the topic on hand.
We’ve been inside during this past year or so, isolating ourselves from the outside world. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we’ve had our mental health decline a bit. It can be due to the very real trauma this virus and quarantine have left on us or other reasons. We’re going mad while stuck in a room, doing anything to try and get out of it, feeling trapped… but still not wanting to leave or just not being able to. It’s frustrating, to put it some way.
We can clearly see that on Inside, on several instances. At one point, Bo feels alone and dreams about going outside, but doesn’t do so because being inside is better than trying to make yourself feel better or putting yourself in situations you know you won’t be able to handle. Then he sings about how bad he feels three or four times, which honestly is a big fat mood.
SBut sometimes, we try to escape reality by going online. We disconnect ourselves from the real world and enter the endless rabbit hole that is the internet. There’s a little bit of everything all of the time. Everything and anything all of the time. There are mountains of content you can consume, all at the same time, to prevent yourself from even forming a single thought. You overstimulate yourself to ignore and push further down your feelings, and let me tell you that I know, from personal experience, that it’s not good for you. Please don’t do that. Constant overstimulation leads to health issues, like chronic migraines and such.
Other times you may also find yourself starting something in hopes of busying yourself enough that you forget about the outside world for a while, but when it’s coming to an end, you decide to not to stop working on it because after it’s done… What are you left with? Yourself? An overwhelming feeling of emptiness? The knowledge that everything comes to an end and you can't stop it? And, well, that’s exactly what Bo Burnham did with Inside; he decided not to end it and kept going… and it’s what I also usually do, but that’s not the point.
I know that things may seem bad now, but try to find happiness wherever and whenever you can, just like Bo tried to with comedy during this entire special. Look for what makes you happy. Happiness may come in many different ways, such as a color or a silly little show. To me, happiness is art, the Saw movie saga, and a YouTube series called Marble Hornets. To you, it might be anything at all. Find what happiness means to you and hold on tight to it.
As a plus, my favorite songs off of this special are “Welcome to the Internet” and “Goodbye” (I know, I know, somewhat predictable and pretty basic, considering they’re almost everyone’s favorite songs). It’s just that they’re both so exciting and meaningful. “Welcome to the Internet” is about, as the title suggests, the internet, the mountains of content you can find on it - good or bad -, and how different it is now from what it used to be way back when it was created, and there was nothing more than blogs and a chat-room or two. Meanwhile, “Goodbye” is a slow, sad song that also contains reprises of other songs like “Hands Up,” “Welcome to the Internet,” “Comedy,” and “Stuck in a Room.” It’s the perfect way to end the special as if it was all wrapped up with a nice bow on top. Sure, it’s not the final song, because we have “Any Day Now” playing in the background while the credits roll, but technically, “Goodbye” is the ending song.
WSo well, to end this, before I keep rambling on about a Netflix special probably not many people have watched, I should say that no matter what you’re going through, if you have mental health issues, you should most definitely seek professional help. Oh yeah, and watch Bo Burnham’s other specials and shows, such as “Make Happy” and “What”; the first one is also on Netflix and the latter on Bo’s YouTube channel.
Nicole Miranda 23'
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH ANIME
Shonen, mangaka, tsundere, yandere: these are words you probably haven’t heard, and you will never use in your life, except if you are an otaku. Even though I am sure you are aware of what an otaku means, I will explain it to those who do not know, uncultured readers: To put it simply, it refers to people who unconditionally love anime and manga. Here, in the following article, I will give you some reasons to free your inner otaku, hoping that at least one of you will join this wonderful world!
1- Anime has no age
Since remote times, people have mistakenly believed that anime is for kids only. Although some anime shows or movies appeal to children, there are also those that are aimed at adults, dealing with topics such as violence, mental health, death, or even children who are meant to be cattle in a demon world.
2- Anime can teach you many things about Japan
If I could describe Japanese culture in one word, it would be breathtaking, mixing modern and traditional aspects. I can assure you that you will be amazed by all that you can learn through anime. For example, it teaches you about important festivals, historical places, typical food, slangs, among others. Besides, who does not like to say “arigato gozaimasu” once in a while? (I dearly hope you do, for this to be relatable).
3- Anime has a powerful global community
Every country has its little anime dash. And even though my sister would say, “so there’s bad taste everywhere,” I consider that the otaku community has a strong bond and encourages many shy or outcast people to be more social and feel related. And lucky for you, it is possible to find mutuals on any social media.
4- Anime has something specifically for you
You have probably heard about Naruto, Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. But, could you name any other anime? If you do not like this type of shows, it may be because you have not found something suitable for your interests yet. There are thousands of shows that will satisfy your tastes; you just need to find them. You can watch romance, action, tragedy, comedy, or drama on Funimation, Hulu, Crunchyroll Otakustv, Kissanime, among others.
5- There are many worth-watching shows
If the reasons I just told you are enough to convince you, then I should start with some recommendations.: My Hero Academia, SK8 the Infinity, Haikyuu, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Demon Slayer, or Attack on Titan are definitely astounding shows! Just google these names, watch an entire episode… and voilà, you will become addicted to them!
Taking everything into consideration, there are various reasons why you should watch anime, or at least consider watching it. Even if you think it is not for you, you will be surprised by how entertaining and relatable it is! So give it a try, enjoy, and maybe you can thank me later.
Brunella Meini 22'
SHADOW AND BONE: A LOVED BOOK SERIES AND TV SHOW
The Young Adult Fantasy category, or better known as Y.A, has been increasing in popularity over the years, creating fan groups of thousands of books worldwide. In 2012, the first book in an entire saga that impressed young readers was published, with more than two million sold copies. This whole universe is called Grishaverse, and now it has its own Netflix TV show! The question is: what is unique about these books?
You must read seven books to understand this huge story by Leigh Bardugo: one trilogy and two biologies. Readers recommend beginning with the trilogy: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. The reason is that it gives us entrance to the universe. It is about an orphan, Alina Starkov, who discovers that she has a unique power: she is able to destroy the Shadow Fold, which is a strip of darkness that divides her nation, scaring thousands of habitants. The Darkling, leader of the Grisha (humans who manipulate matter), persuades her to complete her destiny and to face up to this danger, but it’s nothing to what she imagines.
After finishing, it is time to read the first two books: Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. They are based in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a famous criminal, has to perform an almost impossible mission, but he cannot do it alone. Therefore, he hires a crew of outcasts that are willing to do it.
Last, but not least, we have the last two volumes, King of Skars and Rule of Wolves. Nikolai Lantsov has to travel to Ravka to make some agreements. HoweverBut, he has some unforgettable dark secrets and wounds.
Now, let's dive a little bit into each book series. The Shadow and Bone trilogy has its pros and cons. On one hand, the narrative and topics are engaging. On the other hand, numerous clichés contributed to a dull environment, such as the Chosen One trope that may annoy the reader. There is also romance, but I find them to be quite plain, uninteresting, and unimportant. If we talk about the two most important characters, the protagonist is not perfect, and she is relatable. In my opinion, The Darkling is the most interesting character: he is enigmatic, making the reader desire to learn more about him.
Compared to the first three books, the Six of Crows books capture the reader from the start thanks to their excellent writing style and word building. Bardugo's prose is outstanding and, thanks to this, multiple quotes have been found. The books have big unexpected twists that do not allow you to put the book down. Each character grows emotionally and wins your heart by knowing their backstory. This group seems like a family, though they have different DNA. The dynamics between them are an absolute delight. Unlike the trilogy, the romances are so much invested. Another point in its favor is the diversity of the characters. Each one has problems and traumas, and we see little by little how they recover. The subject of mental health is handled in the best possible way.
In the latest two books, Bardugo continues to grow as an author: relationships are dynamic, conversations are funny and brilliant. Unfortunately, they do not outperform the previous two books. If we make a comparison between the first and the second, Rule of Wolves is much better.
Even though they have advantages and disadvantages, Netflix announced in 2019 the production of a TV show created and written by Eric Hesserer, based on Bardugo’s books. The show was named after the first book: Shadow and Bone. For its creation, the first trilogy and the Six of Crows books would be united. The script team, according to Heisserer, would make “the characters in Six of Crows fit with the story of Shadow and Bone. It's really smart how they have included them because nothing has changed in history, even adding them.” Finally, on April 23, 2021, Shadow and Bone was published. The adaptation was acclaimed by the public, as the platform assured that 55 million households saw it. Likewise, Netflix confirmed the second season on its social networks on June 7.
If you are interested in a fantasy series, the Netflix adaptation is what you are looking for. It features a lot of action, magic, and fabulous costumes that intrigue the viewer. Likewise, I like how they adapted each chapter so that you need to continue with the next one every time you finish one. Naturally, by doing this, they capture the attention of the one who sees the TV show. Nevertheless, there are always some details to improve. For example, it feels like you are watching two shows simultaneously, causing the audience to be confused on certain occasions because, as I previously stated, it mixes five5 books. In addition, there are some changes in the characters, such as the nationality of the protagonist. However, there is still a lot to explore, and it definitely has potential.
The author's writing is engaging, allowing the reader to have a fluent reading. Leigh Bardugo has built such a unique universe that only a few paragraphs are too short to explain. It is astonishing how kingdoms and peoples are divided. The characters are well-developed and complex. The TV show and books are not perfect, but they are worthy of your time. These seven books deserve all the attention they have received through the years.
Arianna García 22'
HOW TO AVOID HAVING MENTAL BREAKDOWNS ON A DAILY BASIS WITH ROMINA NORIEGA
As a person who has spent 2020 and most of the current year, lamenting herself and her questionable past decisions as well as crying her eyes out for the dumbest reasons, against all common sense, I consider myself someone who can give the best advice to overcome unfortunate times. It is important to add that I once had an hour-long nervous breakdown because I lost my retainer in the trash bin, so you can trust me on this ;) .
As a stressed-out 10th grade student, I can assure you that if you are young, you are lucky. Growing up sucks, but it is also unavoidable. You have to choose which career you are going to study, apply to universities, be bombarded with homework and exams. All these while maintaining a decent GPA and survive a global pandemic. However, don't let this type of circumstances drag you down, and focus on others you enjoy. Also, try to do new activities that you probably never would have tried before. It is best to start something that might benefit you in the future. For example, I started learning German to escape from Latin America (Bitte, adopt me Deutschland, you are my only hope).
Another thing you can try is exercise (I know, I didn' not like it at first either). I used to think that people that legitimately enjoyed working out were psychopaths, until my mom forced me to move my body away from my bed and hired a personal trainer. Before that, the only real exercise I did was Chloe Ting’s 2- week shreds once every six months, and I absolutely hated it. No hate to Chloe, she seems like a nice person, but I have never understood what’s so enjoyable about laying down on a yoga mat and try to achieve (unsuccessfully) a flat stomach on your own. So I really didn’t have much expectations for personal training and, even though I’m extremely lazy, it is actually fun, motivating and I get to leave my house at least twice a week. I am able to see the half-dead and overgrown grass in the local park. I guess it depends on the trainer, but talking to mine is somehow like a free therapy session.
This next tip is pretty much self- explanatory: avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances that create stress on your body. Some people can’t be productive without a cup of coffee in the morning, but high levels of caffeine increase anxiety and nervousness. That’s not all;, it also decreases the production of the feel-good chemical serotonin in the body. I'm not being sponsored by CEDRO is not sponsoring me to provide this information, but if you don’t want to believe me, once in a legendary 1987 McDonald’s PSA, the wise Michael Jordan said, “Don't do drugs, if you’re doing it, stop it. Get some help.”.
Believe it or not, anxiety, stress, and depression are serious issues, considering that the rates of these conditions have augmented in teenagers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Going to therapy doesn't mean you are odd or insane., i In fact, most people talk to professionals. AlthoughEven though sometimes I like to keep my problems and insecurities to myself (that’s my trick to look put-together on the outside), I’ve got to admit that I am a human being too and not even close to being perfect., so That is why it's essential to know that it is not good to carry big burdens on our own, and, (as cliché as it sounds,) it is okay to ask for help.
If none of the above work, there is a shortcut that is meant to be used as a last resort only… that being eating, drinking, and showering with “Agua de Azahar”. Studying while drinking this powerful elixir and listening to relaxing Lo-fi beats equals guaranteed tranquility. It is not recommended if you are seven years old and pregnant, though, so be careful, and please do not sue me, I am not a doctor. Also, bear in mind your happiness and mental health. I recommend that your happiness and peace of mind don’t depend on something like that, and just use this miraculous technique in case of an emergency.
In conclusion, even though I am an experienced person in the field, I can only give advice based on what has worked for me. It is, so it's normal if other stuff works better for you. Still, I hope that my guidance and counseling might be helpful. Finally, remember that it’s perfectly okay to not be okay all the time and that all of us have bad days or go through rough patches from time to time, so best of luck!
Romina Noriega 22'
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