2011-11 Beaconette

MartingroveBEACONETTE

November 24, 2011

Volume I

2

Spot the Difference!STA

FF

Staff AdvisorsMr. Kay

Mrs. ParsonsonMr. Sommerfelt

Management Editors

Sharleen FisherMichelle Han

Editor of LayoutDrini Cami

Editors of CopySharleen FisherMichelle Han

PhotographyGeneral Council

Head of ProductionEmily Pollock

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After sitting down with Brendan de Caires, of PEN Canada, following MCI’s Day of the Dead event, the predicament in Mexico and deadly threats faced by Mexican journalists became all too clear.

According to Mr. de Caires, the Mexican government is attempting to mask its political problems to its citizens and to the world. Journalists who want to speak the truth are regularly attacked and even murdered because some powerful individuals do not want to have their misdeeds exposed. Therefore, the depth of Mexico’s censorship dilemma is frightening. A combination of drug wars, politics and fear make for a deadly combination and only a few who are willing to speak out.

In 2006, Mexico had a newly elected democratic government, but being a democratic state requires accountability to the citizenry and a free press,

without limitations or consequences. There have even been accusations that the Mexican government has been complicit in the deaths of some journalists to gain authority through fear.

When a journalist is executed, the society at large is silenced. The power of journalism is to speak the truth, no matter how ugly. The Mexican authorities have been accused of allowing criminals to act with impunity. As Canadians, we need to educate ourselves on this situation, because something has to change. Without journalism, one can never understand society. Journalism is what keeps citizens alert to their surroundings; censorship in any form means that society loses its voice.

Brendan de Caires was here to raise awareness and consciousness at our school. It is now time for us to act; the risk of not doing so is far too great.

A Silent Society Gina Kwon

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So You Think You Know Your Teachers?

Michelle h., Sarah M., Mia M.

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BEACON HAS TUMBLR NOW!check us out @

MCIBeacon.tumblr.com

and find us @www.martingrovebeacon.com

Across5 Was athlete of the year6 Always rocking a pair of shades8 1 + 2 = me9 Diet Coke10 First car was a blue Austin mini

cooper12 “No, I’m not a student teacher”14 Soul patch from Saskatchewan16 Doesn’t have a spare, but you’ll

see him in the halls17 A diet rich of awesome20 Gets the basketball girls Russian

on court22 Passion for fashion23 Knows how to speak Chinese24 Calls his kids hooligans

Down1 She doesn’t string around2 ZAP!3 Swaziland4 Super nice and super bald7 Doesn’t want to be Mrs. Smith8 “And that’s why we study civics”11 “If I had to die, I’d die one stage”13 Tallest of them all15 Mrs. Wren16 May seem Italian at first17 The aliens are attacking!18 Likes scaring kids with metre sticks19 Square the first, square the last21 Go make art!25 Ho! Ho! Ho!

AnswersAcross: 5-Parker; 6-Hinkson; 8-Diclemente; 9-Marjorarm; 10-Parsonson; 12-Diprima; 14-Sommerfelt; 16-Strand; 17-Harthill; 20-Rakosy; 22-Cheung; 23-Davies; 24-Wodchis;Down: 1-McAskill; 2-Zappitelli; 3-Kay; 4-Boreanaz; 7-Kite; 8-Donnatelli; 11-Farrow; 13-Shaun; 15-Ferland; 16-Stoica; 17-Huggins; 18-Hall; 19-Kariko; 21-Yarmol; 25-Ho

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7

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If you were discouraged by your past unsuccessful attempts, try one more time; things are looking uphill for you. This is the time to push yourself to

the limit and test your abilities. You will get a lot accomplished in the next few weeks. As well, you will receive an unexpected visitor soon. Keep one eye open, even in your sleep. You might catch pink flamingos dancing to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Aries

This month, you need to be wary of anything that may involve a sticky substance. That peanut butter sandwich you have for

lunch? Re-think it. Have a poster due, one that you planned on sticking some pretty pictures on with a bit of glue? Make someone else do it. Avoid these substances at all costs, or you may find yourself in a sticky situation, which won’t end well for you.

Taurus

Someone might be holding a grudge against you, although you may not notice due to lack of sleep from all the home-

work you’ve been getting. Your good luck sound is Mr.Nigro singing “O, Can-ada” so you may want to try to convince him to belt out a few notes if you want to pass that next unit test. You need to stop playing whack a mole. It’s an unhealthy obsession and the stars recommend you try quilting instead.

Gemini

There is a rather bad week coming for you. The cafete-ria will commit a felony and forget to check the expiry date

on their chocolate milk. You will forget to notice, even after being warned. It’s not going to be pretty. Also, a female student, in her rush to get things done, will come across you accidentally and use your back as a writing surface. Stay strong as her pen is stabbing your back, because if you live through this bad week and keep your hopes high, the week after will seem like a breeze.

Virgo

Always look over your shoulder when you’re walking alone. This time of the year has often been dangerous for Pisces - stalkers

of all shape and size are abundant. You also need to watch your step constantly because there will be many unpleasant things in store for you. Avoid middle aged, bald and bearded men today at all costs. They will turn your smile upside-down.

Pisces

You’ve been feeling rather lonely lately; you wonder if you’ll ever find somebody who’ll appreciate you for who you re-

ally are. In these times of inner turmoil, you need to muster up your cour-age and tell that special someone how you feel instead of whispering their name into your pillow. When in doubt, clear your head by drinking some coke and consult a meditating golden monkey to receive the best possible advice.

LibraHOROSCOPES

9Sharleen F., Amanda M., Katie C., Raman D., Jessica K.

ScorpioDomestic animals will find you repulsive this month, es-pecially cats and rabbits, regardless of whether they belong to you or someone else. Your unlucky number is 7—honestly, it’s an ugly, unbalanced number, so you’re not missing out on anything. If you re-ally must consume any type of caffeinated beverage this month, then fine. Just know that Neptune will never be in your favour ever again. No baking this month. The position of Mars indicates an increased chance of burnt fingertips.

Consider using toothpaste and a brush for cleaner teeth—in the past, you may have thought that this idea was too out of the box, but it’s time to reconsider. You may find that soy sauce beckons you more than usual this month, but you really need to get back to the books. If someone catches your eye from across the room and you both feel a metaphorical electrical current run through your systems, it was purely coincidental, and does not at all suggest that this is the start of something magical.

Cancer

Aquarius This month, you’ll be luckier than a leprechaun with a pot of gold! Do you want to do something crazy? Don’t worry about it! Always wanted to try extreme sports? Or how about that Skydiving 101 course that you’ve always wanted to try, but have been worried about ending up as flat as a pancake? JUST DO IT! You’ve got nothing to lose; the stars are in your favour.

SagittariusYou have been wearing too much perfume and peo-ple have been wrinkling their noses lately, so keep that in mind next time you press on the spray nozzle. As for your romantic life—get ready for a surprise! This week will be full of complicated love triangles and quad-rilaterals. Listen to your heart and don’t make a decision until you are absolutely certain, because if you don’t, regret will cling to you like too much noxious perfume.

LeoYour sassy personality is going to mellow out in the following weeks. Holiday cheer will fill your heart and soon you’ll find yourself singing Christmas jin-gles in the halls. Try to channel that energy into miming. The sun is going to rise tomor-row, which means that you should hop to school while juggling some pineapples. The stars recommend that you just admit your closeted fetish for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Life has been stressful for you. You should take a break and try some new things. Have a day to relax and in-dulge yourself with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, take a nap, and fist pump to that catchy “Jersey Shore” song you secretly love. The Rings of Saturn think that you should pursue a future career in beat boxing so you had better start getting lessons from Mr. Stoica.

Capricorn

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Have you ever been silenced in your life? No, not the type of silence when your teacher sends you to the office for talking in class or your best friend tells you to shut up. We’re talking about the type of silence where you are threatened with death. Why? Because you try to speak the truth, because you try to tell people what you really think. People you know have been shot, stabbed, or abducted because they expressed their opinion, and everyday you wake up in fear thinking you’re next.

Welcome to the world of journalism in Mexico, a world where simply stating your mind is a crime. Thirty-five journalists have been killed and eight have disappeared since 2006.

On November 1st, MCI hosted a Day of the Dead ceremony, paying tribute to those who were killed practicing a basic human right in Mexico. Day of the Dead is an event organized by PEN Canada based on the actual Mexican holiday, a festive celebration to commemorate the dead. We were very fortunate to have Brendan de Caires, a guest speaker representing PEN Canada, and Ayub Nuri, a journalist from Iraq.

After the ceremony, we interviewed Mr. de Caries and Mr. Nuri, quickly learning that nothing is as simple as it seems. The situation in Mexico is extremely dangerous, according to Mr. de Caries. “The death of a journalist in Mexico is investigated at the state level. If the government is corrupt and benefits from, or possibly even organized, your death, the investigation is obviously going

to go nowhere. In fact, Article 19, a human rights group, found that two out of three death threats are sent by the government.”

Mr. de Caries expressed his frustration towards the oppression journalists are suffering. “Mexico calls itself a democracy, but the only way it can truly continue to do that is by protecting its journalists!” He added, “It’s not just Mexico; this problem is common in many parts of the world. We have 145 offices worldwide in 108 countries.”

Now, into the story enters Ayub Nuri, who tells us about his first-hand experiences of the dangers of journalism.

Ayub Nuri was reporting mainly on the war in Iraq, a country where circumstances for journalists are similar to those in Mexico. He lived through the horrors of journalism in a land where expression is never free. It’s a completely different experience to hear someone tell you their story and see the suffering in their eyes than to watch it on television. “People I used to know, my close friends and fellow journalists have been killed or gone missing all of a sudden, and I never heard from them. I also received numerous threats.”

Mr. Nuri says this all with nonchalance, which perhaps makes it even more frightening.

When asked about the reasons behind his immigration to Canada, he blew it off with a joke and a smile. It really makes you wonder just how much it takes out of a life to write the truth and know it could be your last article. In a way, it is the supreme battle of wills and it is our duty to remember their courage to speak out.

To Speak Out Katie C.Isaac T.

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DIANA PHAM

Studying Is Easy;Doing Well On Tests Is A Lot Harder.

Joanna Liu