Editor’s Note Contents School Life 3 Current Affairs 10 The Long Reads 12 Science and Technology 18 Environment To say that this has been an interesting year for us at the 22 Runnymede Times would be an understatement. Even before the outbreak of Covid19, our team was busy sifting through the steady (and often overwhelming) stream of constant The Story Behind the Picture news, ranging from politics to scientific advancements, pop 26 culture and all the events taking place at school. During quarantine, our enthusiastic team continued working with impressive diligence, adapting to our new digital routine Art & Culture 28 and overcoming all technological adversaries, now armed with new, relevant stories. It was also so wonderful to see how dedicated everyone was to environmental issues, and Photography how many articles were written about the climate crisis, and 31 all the creative alternatives and tips suggested. I would like say a huge thank you to Ms Clague for making the Runnymede Times a possibility, as well as a massive Reviews congratulations for the new edition to the family. I would also 32 like to thank Ms Howarth for all the help putting together the physical edition of the newspaper and Angelica O, for all the professional and hard work put in as co-editor. Last but in no way least, I would like thank all the incredible writers and illustrators, from Year 7 all the way to Year 13, for all the consistent creativity, enthusiasm and high quality brought to every Runnymede Times meeting and piece of work produced. Being the editor during my last year at Runnymede has been a wonderful opportunity— and one that will be very much missed. I wish everyone in Runnymede the best of luck next year. You can read our weekly publications for The Runnymede Times at www.runnymede-times.com Sofia C, Year 12 2 School Life School Life: Experiencing Berlin Every year, Year 11 students travel to Berlin to see first hand the state Germany found itself in before, during and after the Second World War as a way of educating and enhancing the learning experience for the IGCSE course that delves into that period of history. It was an intense and fascinating couple of days in which we visited Berlin’s parliament, ‘The Reichstag’, the Olympic stadium, various museums that provide detailed and interesting information, and many more. These historic sites and museums all show what Germany was like during the Nazi regime, and how it recovered its democracy as well as rightfully marking the massacres that occurred during that time, by creating several monuments, such as ‘The Holocaust Memorial.’ One of the most vital visits during our stay was the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum, which in the past had been one of the many concentration camps created by the Nazis, where thousands of people (such as Jews, homosexuals, people of other races and political beliefs) were imprisoned and murdered. That visit was the most shocking and eye-opening for students to witness, because we got so see first hand the horrors that were committed in the past. One of the most impressive things about the trip was learning about how Germany managed to reconstruct itself to tell its story and the truth, and how respectfully and solemnly this was done, making sure to give access to as much information as possible, and displaying it in an honourable way. Everywhere we went, something was learnt, and it didn’t matter how tired the students were; the trip was so interesting, we wanted to take in as much information as possible before going back home. I think Berlin is a trip that all the students who were lucky enough to experience will never forget. Maya M, Year 7 3 School Life School Life: November: The Moustache is King Some or most of us have heard of the term history of cancer. Since 2004, this charity “Movember” but what does this term really has run Movember events to raise awareness mean? Movember fuses the word moustache and funds for men’s health issues, such and the month November to represent as prostate cancer and depression, in the annual event of growing moustaches Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, events during said month to raise awareness about were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, testicular cancer and men’s suicide (men are the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, statistically four times more likely to commit Taiwan and the United States. suicide than women). While you won’t usually see students or The Movember Foundation runs this teachers with moustaches all year round, month-long charity event with the goal two singular individuals: Mirko M and of changing “the face of men’s health” Mr Holtham, have been spotted sporting by encouraging men to adopt healthier moustaches for the past few weeks. We have lifestyles and become aware of any family therefore decided to interview them: ̶ Is this your first time growing a moustache for Movember? ̶ Mirko: It’s not the first time I’ve grown a moustache. When I was in a British boarding school, there was a big thing where teachers and students shared some laughs growing moustaches, however, I wasn’t very successful considering I was younger. Now I would like to think that I am. ̶ Mr Holtham: No, it is the second time. ̶ If not, when did you first do it? ̶ Mirko: the first time I did it was 5 years ago at my boarding school in England. ̶ Mr Holtham: I did it once about four to five years ago. ̶ How did you come to learn about Movember? ̶ Mirko: I came to know about Movember because in my British rugby team, my coach grew a moustache and we kept on laughing about how ridiculous it looked. One day he explained the meaning of it and I found it to be a wonderful way of spreading awareness. ̶ Mr Holtham: I like rugby an awful lot so I watch a lot of rugby and in the teams it’s been very popular to grow moustaches as a way of calling attention. I don’t know if it’s because of the Australians or as you say the Kiwis, but it has become very popular. The popularity has also grown in the UK because of the rugby players’ involvement in it. 4 School Life ̶ Why did you decide to grow a moustache now? ̶ Mirko: From the moment my rugby coach explained the meaning of Movember, I decided to grow a moustache every year, which I have done. It’s a beautiful way to spread awareness about male specific illnesses. If you’re not donating money or getting involved in your community, I think that it’s a nice way to educate and inform. ̶ Mr Holtham: I don’t know if it was the Rugby World Cup; when I saw all the rugby players with moustaches it reminded me of when I had done it four or five years ago, when Movember had been reasonably successful, but there wasn’t a lot of interest in the school. I watched the World Cup and I thought I’d do it again, and then it came to half-term where I didn’t shave and I thought: oh, I’ll just leave it on. ̶ Will you do it again next year? ̶ Mirko: I will do it again next year because I also think it’s fun as well as necessary. ̶ Mr Holtham: I hope so, yes. Especially because I think this year it has been far more successful. I’ve been very impressed by Mirko, I think that its a really good thing that he’s done it. I’ve explained this all to my students and I even know that Elena R has been interested by it. I think that it is something that we should be talking about. ̶ What does Movember mean to you? ̶ Mirko: Movember to me means being conscious about acting well as a man as well as thinking about others. I think we have to sympathise with families who have lost their fathers, brothers or sons to prostate cancer or suicide, because it is something that we have to realise exists. These illnesses are as powerful as this form of awareness is. It is good to know that lots of people want to battle these illnesses by supporting their communities. ̶ Mr Holtham: It means just drawing attention to male health issues which men are not always good at dealing with. Whether it is mental health, prostate cancer or testicular cancer, these are all things it represents and I think it is just getting people to think a little bit about that. Federica D, Year 12 Illustration by Federica D 5 School Life School Life: Anti-Bullying week and Odd Socks Day at Runnymede What is bullying? Bullying is a very serious matter because outside the classroom in the form of cyberbullying. This in it can happen to anyone. It is very important to help many ways can be even more detrimental than physical prevent bullying because it affects lots of young people bullying, as the anonymity provided by the internet makes in serious ways, especially their mental health, and the it easier for people to say things they may not dare to say effects of bullying can stay with a person for the rest of to someone face to face. their life.