Page 6 - HGS Suburb News 142 - Spring 2020

Youth

Corona: Some light to brighten its darkness

with our siblings, but who doesn’t love a good bicker with
their brother or sister? (We certainly do!) On a more serious
note, not being weighed down by a pile of work on our desks
has given us the invaluable opportunity to strengthen our

family ties.
As young people, self-isolation is allowing us to flourish.
Creatively, we have been able to explore our hobbies and
interests in depth now that we are not bound to the restraints Eating Green
of school. We have used this time to practice the saxophone,
write a novel, learn new languages such as Korean, draw in Quarantine
portraits and participate in fun dance workouts. On top of Help the planet without leaving your home

Support for the NHS all this, our self-care routines have improved. We’ve been Even though we are stuck at home at the moment, it’s
able to catch up on much needed sleep, take daily baths
Coronavirus. COVID-19. We know that you’re probably tired with colourful bath bombs, bake cookies and brownies, and important to remember the power that we have to affect
of the same old topic, again and again, and initially, we too spend precious time away from our phones. the world around us. Although many of our regular habits
approached the coronavirus with a negative outlook. For us, And so can you! You can use this time to discover new are currently impossible, we can still have a massive impact
year 11 students, our GCSEs had been cancelled and the passions and spend time doing things you normally wouldn’t on the environment through what we eat. Here’s a list of a
summer ahead of us seemed bleak. Receiving news and – like reading a good book! few easy things to focus on in your diet that mean you can
notifications constantly made us feel as if we were trapped Another positive is how social distancing and self- help the planet from the comfort of your own home.
in a black bubble of anxiety and panic. However, fear not! isolating has benefited the environment. Due to the decrease 1) Personally, as a vegan, I feel passionately that a plant-
Not everything about the coronavirus is dark and dismal. In in the number of cars on streets and planes in the sky, fewer based diet is the single best way to reduce our carbon
the last few weeks, we have come to see not only the kind greenhouse gases are being emitted into the atmosphere footprints and help the planet. If everyone cut out meat
and generous actions from people to their local communities, and the lack of smog has meant that, the other day, we even just for one meal a week, that would have a huge
but also, as individuals, we’ve been able to use the time on caught a glimpse of the stars! On the cusp of spring, it is global impact. Meat-Free Monday is an easy way to start
our hands to expand our minds and practice self-care in its fantastic to see wildlife thriving, with less litter blanketing sources in your diet. Subject to any allergies you may have,
incorporating more plant-based foods and protein
So to conclude, while the coronavirus is not to be taken
finest form. the roads. chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes; nuts; tofu, seitan
To start off with, the coronavirus has brought the
charitable side out of everyone. We have seen this through lightly, it’s possible to see a sunnier aspect to these difficult are good meat substitutes. An Oxford University study
our own eyes - whether that be through society’s appreciation days. Remember to stay safe, wash your hands thoroughly, recently concluded that a vegan diet is the ‘single biggest
shown for key workers such as the NHS, people’s willingness and surprise those around you with good deeds and smiles way’ to reduce our environmental impact on the earth
to protect the older generation and the vulnerable, or to brighten their day, even in what seems to be the darkest and is increasingly easy in this day and age. So, with all
everyone doing their part by self-isolating in an act of of times. ALLIE & KAYA this extra time on your hands why not try making a new
consideration for those around them. To us, the telling vegan recipe?
moment of this was on March 26, when thousands of people Time to enjoy a good read 2) Eat locally sourced foods. Apples flown in from the
took to the streets to clap for the heroic actions of the front USA, asparagus from Peru, and grapes from Chile. Many
line saviours of the NHS. Companies have also been showing foods in the supermarket have travelled further than some
gratitude to key workers with Uber vowing to cover 100,000 of us will in our lives! Just as humans flying internationally is
free meals and 200,000 free rides for NHS staff, showing the ‘air miles’ are a major contributor to the climate crisis.
costly to the environment, food has the same impact. These
country uniting as one to fight the virus. Instead, prioritise goods from the UK where possible –
Yet positive change is also visible within family dynamics.
Have you noticed an increase in the number of shared family carrots, cucumbers, beetroot, potatoes and more can all
meals? Have you also found yourself having more grow here in the spring. Animal produce can also be
conversations with your siblings about the latest video bought from local farms and this way local businesses
games or the new Billie Eilish song? It’s most likely that you can be supported.
have - for self-isolating has given us more downtime to 3) Eat seasonally. Just as air travel is powered by green-
cherish with the people who truly matter: our family. Granted, Lockdown dancing house gases, out-of-season foods require greenhouses
one can say that this time allows us to have more arguments too. To grow ‘summer foods’ in the UK outside of
summertime, massive amounts of heat energy is needed
(and in real greenhouses!). Just because we can eat like it
With all of this newly found free time, this could be your
is always summer doesn’t necessarily mean that we
opportunity to rekindle your love for exercise. Not only is
should. Try researching what produce is ‘in season’ in the
exercise good for our bodies, but our minds too, it releases
UK and aim to mainly include these in your meals.
endorphins and can make us happier overall. The
4) Next, pay attention to the packaging of the food you
government has permitted one outdoor form of exercise
buy. Lots of the fresh produce we buy has unnecessary
a day, however, keeping fit doesn’t necessarily mean
amounts of plastic involved. Instead of buying chopped
going out for a run. There are many activities you can do
veg in a bag, use the extra time we have to chop it up at
indoors, such as yoga, Zumba or even boxing! Collectively,
home! Opt for unpackaged foods where possible, and of
one of our favourite forms of indoor exercise is dancing.
course, bring your reusable shopping bags with you
There are many ways you can get into dancing, there
when you go to the supermarket.
are many dance workout videos on YouTube aimed at
5) And finally, I want to defend an old friend that has
beginners, you could also video call a friend and dance
earned a bad reputation among environmentalists. Palm
with them, but you could also just put some music on and
oil. Found in most packaged foods, palm oil has lately
dance by yourself. To help with the latter option we have
been discussed as having a terrible effect on the rainforest
created a playlist filled with some of our favourite songs to
work out to.
and its wildlife. However, while it is undeniable that the
palm oil industry can be damaging to biodiversity and
contribute to deforestation, this is only part of the story:
truth be told, companies choose it for a reason. Palm oil is
efficient to grow (it only uses a quarter of the land needed
To access this playlist, all you need to do is download
for other comparative oils, and doesn’t require many
the Spotify app (but do ask your parents first). Then open
pesticides or fertilisers), it’s cheap and it has a long shelf
up the search bar and click on the camera icon on the
life. With the growing trend of people boycotting products
right-hand side. It will then let you scan the code shown
containing palm oil, companies may be forced to use oils
above. If you don’t have a Spotify account or prefer not to
Biggest isn’t always best have chosen then here’s the list: that are actually more damaging for the environment. I
download Spotify but want to check out the songs we
urge you not to avoid palm oil entirely, but to opt for
We are a small school that has been around since 1884, teaching Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall • Queen - products that use RSPO palm oil (certified to prove it is
a large family of outstanding girls aged 4 to 16, all in a big house. Under Pressure • Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out • Of responsibly farmed) and to campaign for sustainable
We keep our classes small and make sure every girl gets a Monsters And Men - Little Talks • The Lumineers - Ophelia • palm oil.
level of attention impossible in a larger school, enabling her Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine • Emma In this unprecedented time, it’s important to remember
to achieve excellent GCSE results before going on to some that we are not powerless – we can impact on the world
of London’s top Sixth Forms. Stevens- Riptide • Alistair Griffin - You only live once • Panic! around us profoundly even while locked up indoors. If
This is the last call for applications to the Junior School for At the Disco - High Hope • Coldplay - Viva la Vida • Foster
September 2020 admission, with one Bursary place unclaimed. the people - pumped up kicks • Michael Jackson - Beat it • everyone uses the current lock down to implement a few
more sustainable habits into their diets, we can come out
Taio Cruz - Dynamite • The Beatles - Twist and Shout • The
To apply please complete the registration form on our website to register the end of this pandemic better prepared to help our
your interest or email: enquiry@st-margarets.co.uk for more information. Kooks - She moves in her own way • Elton John - Crocodile
rock • Bring me the horizon - Follow you. Enjoy! planet. There is still time to mitigate the climate crisis. And
MADHU you can do it from home!
ROSA
6 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS