February 18, 2012
ECA – Art Club
February 6, 2012
POVs – Trends in Royal West
by Leela Shamash
It is probably impossible to walk ten metres down the halls of Royal West without seeing thousands of Jansport backpacks and Canada Goose coats. You might look at all of those nice backpacks and wish that you had one, since the colours are so pretty. You might see the coats and think that they look so nice and so cozy, wishing that you had one. The kids wearing the coats and bags feel so cool because they have the things that everyone has and that everyone else wants.
Would they be just as cool if everybody thought about where these things came from, though? Would they feel just as great as they flaunt their coats and backpacks on their way to school if they knew what kind of industries they were supporting?
Jansport backpacks are all made in overseas sweatshops, so by buying them, kids are supporting child labour. That little tidbit of information makes the pretty rainbow of Jansports you see everyday much less pretty, doesn’t it?
Canada Goose coats are made using real coyote fur. The company says that they use real fur because their jackets are worn in the coldest places on Earth, and that it prevents skin from freezing. Although it does get very cold in Montreal, it is not by any means one of the coldest places on earth. Here, you’ll be fine if you wear a scarf. You don’t need a coyote.
The fashionable coats are also made with real down. Nowadays, the majority of the down used by humans is plucked off of live birds.
By buying Canada Goose coats, or by wanting a Canada Goose coat, kids are supporting the mass-slaughter of coyotes for their fur, and cruelty to Geese for their feathers.
So please, do the world a favour. Don’t hate that girl whose locker is near yours because her coat and knapsack make her so much cooler than you. Hate that girl whose locker is near yours because wearing items that are the product of child labour and animal cruelty give her pride.
So do we pursue trends too much to think of the impacts of our actions? Or is using a live bird’s down no different than raising it for its meat and it would be hypocritical to object? Whatever your opinion is, you have to admit that we all have the same backpacks. My absolutely flawless scientific estimate would would put Jansport bags at roughly 99.2% of all backpacks in RWA. But as always, share your thoughts by commenting below.
January 20, 2012
Friday Randomness – Riddle
What am I?
- a riddle by Leela Shamash
You’ll say you hate me, for I do seem kind of cruel;
I kill the individuality between the walls of your school.
I’m the colour of a rainy day, and
“Why do you make me hide my legs?” older girls to me all say.
I am always just beyond the door
You pass to refuel after period four.
I make your mother call you cute,
I promote your school as you commute.
You may complain and you may whine,
But deep down, to me you’re grateful
And that’s fine.
Answer (highlight to read): The Uniform
January 19, 2012
School Update – Social Justice Club
Social Justice Club News
Note: Royal West has a Social Justice Club, and in their own words, “Social Justice Club is a progressive forum for learning about and acting on social issues, particularly those affecting the most vunerable and disadvantaged groups and communities of our world. We encourage awareness and actions that will lead to a more just world.”
Every year, they raise thousands of dollars for charities and non-profits around the globe and they campaign for equal rights and social awareness. I can genuinely say that they are a great group of people, despite the scandalous prices they charge for samosas during fundraising sales.
Meetings are Tuesdays at lunch in room 215, and see Ms.Cukier, the teacher in charge, for any more information.
Every day approximately 70% of adult Quebecers drink coffee. Only a small percentage of coffee-drinkers (11% in 2003) were aware that fair trade coffee existed and an even fewer percentage drank it. Believe it or not, there are many other fair trade products on the market. Fair trade is more important than one might think as a fair trade market has many benefits. [...]
(read more about fair trade at the Social Justice Club blog)
Whether the child is being used to clean the house, partake in unsafe jobs for money, or even be sent to war we all know that child exploitation is wrong. Yet why does it still exist? “The world is corrupt,” and we bluntly say this statement along with a shrug of our shoulders. There are bad people in the world and that is something we can’t stop from happening but the least we can do is clean up the mess they made. But then again we live in a society that has sheltered the minds of its citizens with false security. The only way we can make a difference is by facing the facts. Child exploitation does not only exist in third world countries. It exists where ever a child is being harmed or used for someone else’s benefit or will. [...]
(read more about child exploitation at the Social Justice Club blog)
We, here at RWA, also have someone to remember: Iva.
Six years ago, on October 14 2005, the recent graduate from our school, was tragically murdered by her father who shot and killed her mother and sister as well before killing himself. This left no one in her immediate family to remember her and shook the Royal West community. [...]
(read more at the Social Justice Club blog)
November 22, 2011
School Update – New Cafeteria Rule
The prefects are introducing a new system for people to store their bags during recess. The new way is that when the bell rings, just head straight to the cafeteria, and leave your backpack on one of the tables by the garbage cans.
November 16, 2011
Photos – Slammin’ 60s Dance
On November 4, the Student Life Association held the first dance of this school year. The theme was Slamming 60s, and students were encouraged to dress up in 1960s hippie costumes to participate in a no doubt 100% historically accurate night of glowstick-filled revelry.
