How To Eat A Human

by Chua Zi, Form 5 Science 1, Class of 2014

“Soylent Green is people!”

In the 1973 cult sci-fi film, Soylent Green, the world is steeped in overpopulation, poverty, social inequality, pollution, an overheated climate and depleted sources — pretty typical conditions in a 21st century dystopian world. The subsistence of most of the population relies on a foodstuff advertised as a type of algae, but as police detective Robert Thorn screams, it’s actually processed corpses.

That scene encapsulates what a majority of the civilized world thinks of the consumption of humans by humans — it’s horrific. As Youtuber Michael Stevens a.k.a. Vsauce says in his video What Does Human Taste Like?, cannibalism is not only unpleasant on a visceral level, it also sees humans as slabs of meat to be put on plates. People react the same way when humans are treated akin to pigs to the slaughter as they do when exposed to animal abuse videos.

To the exasperation of the public, criminal cannibalism often debilitates the justice system. Those who participate in the act are usually charged with related crimes like murder, desecration of a grave, or necrophilia. In 1981, Issei Sagawa cannibalized a fellow student in France but he currently lives unconfined in Japan. The French had declared him insane and refused to submit the court documents to Japan to charge him for murder. In another famous case in Germany, the victim gave consent in a response to an online forum created by the killer, Armin Miewes which said: “looking for a well-built 18 to 30-year-old to be slaughtered and then consumed.” Meiwes was given a life sentence.

However, socially permissible behaviour, like beauty, is often objective to a culture. Anthropologist Beth Conklin wrote in her book, Consuming Grief: Compassionate Cannibalism in an Amazonian Society, "Cannibalism is a difficult topic for an anthropologist to write about, for it pushes the limits of cultural relativism, challenging one to define what is or is not beyond the pale of acceptable human behavior." Conklin had observed the Wari tribe of the Amazon rainforest, who consumed deceased tribe members to absorb the spirit of the dead. They considered it to be one of the most respectful ways to treat a deceased member.

Not all are as righteous. Interrogations of persecuted criminal cannibals reveal that cannibalism is sometimes a result of curiosity. What does human meat taste like? What type of human meat is the best meat? How nutritional is it in comparison to chicken, beef, or pork?

In an interview from the jail cell of Armin Miewes, he said, "the flesh tastes like pork, a little bit more bitter, stronger. It tastes quite good.” Issei Sagawa, the Japanese celebrity cannibal, would love to dine on a Japanese woman. "I think either sukiyaki or shabu shabu is the best way to go in order to really savor the natural flavor of the meat."

Based on numbers published in his book, Prime Mover: A Natural History of Muscle, Steven Vogel, a biologist at Duke University theorizes that one human body can provide approximately 45 pounds of edible material, supplying 60,000-70,000 kilocalories worth of nutritional energy. We need 2,000-3,000 kilocalories per day, so said cannibal could sustain for 200 days on a diet consisting solely of that one person’s meat.

So in the offhand chance that the future brings famine due to a new strain of virus, or a prolonged drought and we are subjected to Soylent Green levels of food scarcity, is cannibalism an option?

According to World Health Organization statistics, approximately 55 million people died worldwide in 2011, with the number showing a decreasing trend since 1990. Considering the fact that a cannibalistic diet demands at least one human a year — given other types of food like vegetables and grain are still available and other animal meats are substituted for human meat — that’s barely enough to feed 1% of the current population.

Our last resort would be to go for senior citizens. The United Nations estimates that by the year 2050, the estimated global population of people 60 and up will be around 2 billion. Not to mention we’ll be able to plug the hundred billion dollar drain on the worldwide economy caused by the cost of taking care of senior patients, social protection plans, etc. People 50 and over also control 77% of all financial assets in the United States, a fraction of them billionaires, CEOs, heirs, the like, so a purge of the members of this top 1 percent would rid our newly dystopian world of its model oppressors. 

Alas, 2 billion is still only a fifth of the estimated human population of 2050, so not a viable option either. Social inequality prevails, and you shall never be what you eat.

“A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chi-an-ti.” - Dr. Hannibal Lecter

For more information on how to cook a human, click here.

Clean Eats: Because Abs Are Made In The Kitchen

by Anishaa Jeyakumar and NurHabibah Ishak, Junior 2 Cempaka, Class of 2014

For all the newbies out there, the answer is no. Clean-eating is not a form of torture. Think of it instead as a complimentary factor; working towards your health goals while still eating well.

Photo Credit : Anishaa Jeyakumar

The idea behind clean-eating is not always about losing weight. It is about achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle by excising chemicals and eliminating as much processed food from your diet as possible.

There are 5 parts to the basic method of clean eating. Here are the tips for a much smoother transition from those naughty eating habits :

1. Go brown or go home: This means depending on brown rice and other whole grains as opposed to the Asian favourites. White rice is refined and so, does not retain its nutritional value. It is stripped of almost half of its essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, zinc and magnesium.

2. Plenty of greens and lean meat, but don't forget to fatty up: Think about the whole variety for this choice. You and I both know it is huge. Eating clean does not mean starving yourself, so you should never feel hungry or deprived. You will know you’re doing it correctly when you’re satisfied. Consume nature. The more unprocessed, the better. Constantly try to incorporate greens into your meal. Fun fact: darker vegetables are usually more rich in nutrients. Moving on, fat is good; The right kind of fat, we mean. Eat food which contains more unsaturated fat as opposed to saturated fat. For example in olive oil, coconut oil and foods such as avocados, salmon and nuts (almonds, especially).

Photo Credit : Anishaa Jeyakumar

3. Snack often: There is a misconception that eating less will help you lose weight. In fact, it slows 
 your metabolism so when you do eat something your body immediately stores it as fat. Snacking 
 will do the reverse, but only if you snack right. Try carrots with avocado dip as opposed to potato 
chips, fruit juice instead of Starbucks, etcetera.

Photo Credit : Anishaa Jeyakumar

4. The Occasional Treat: Who says you can’t enjoy the little things in life anymore? The clean 
 eating lifestyle isn’t a penitentiary. Every once in a while, go have a slice of red velvet cake, a
 box of pizza or whatever you desire. Keep in mind, a treat does not mean a week of binge eating. 
Some reserve a day in a week, and some prefer a devil’s meal once a month.

5. Stock a clean eating pantry: Ahh, our favourite part. Why? Simply because of the joy we get from grocery shopping. Stocking up on lots of healthy ingredients is the first step to preparing a good meal. Add plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as lean meats such as chicken breast and fish to your fridge. If you’re going to get frozen fruits and vegetables because they’ll last longer, don’t forget to read the label! Some frozen produce have added sugar. This tip is ideal for your newfound habit because preparation is key. Get label savvy and read the ingredients! Clean foods contain just a few a small list of ingredients. Any product with a long ingredient list is human-made and not considered clean.

Food is the golden ticket to health. You know what they say; you are what you eat. Sure, you could exercise from dawn to dusk but if your post-workout meal is a Big Mac, what’s the point? In conclusion, the whole process of clean eating may feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you have a lot of changes to make. Our advice is to take baby steps. Make little changes every day and don’t beat yourself up if you make mistakes. We all do. Just realize that it’s what you do the majority of them time that counts.

The Dark Secrets of the Meat Industry

by Akhilan Manivannan, Junior 1 Higgs, Class of 2015

We all love eating meat don’t we? Approximately 90% of the worlds population currently consume meat, be it chicken, pork, beef or so on. Today’s lifestyle is so hectic that the thought of considering where our meat comes from and the treatment of the animals we consume often escapes us. Most simply don’t care as long as our bellies are full and our taste buds are satisfied. 

What truly goes on in these slaughterhouses needs to be brought to light, and this exactly was done in the video released by PETA, 'If Slaughterhouses Had Glass Walls', narrated by the great Paul Mccartney. I advise every single person to watch this, particularly people who eat meat in every meal of the day. However, the contents of the video are shocking and viewer discretion should be observed. 

While the video is a couple of years old, it still has not found the worldwide attention it demands. 'If Slaughterhouses Had Glass Walls' shows us what happens inside most slaughterhouses around the world through the eyes of hidden cameras. The gross truth that members of our own human race could commit such revolting acts is utterly disgraceful to say the least. But when people do come to terms with what is happening, they generally do one of two things: complain about the industry, or stick it in the back of their minds and move on in their ignorance. What society needs to realise, is that they are the ones fuelling this incredible demand for meat.

The world population growth rate has been accelerating in the past few years, and this has caused the consumption of meat to shoot up as well. With such a high demand for meat, producers cannot slaughter the animals the old fashioned way, which is considerably more humane, but instead consent to faster, more efficient and feasible methods which include technology and some incredibly brutal consequences.

Due to the high demand, more and more animals need to be mass-bred. To conserve resources they are simply locked up in cages where all they can do is breathe, eat and drink until they are inevitably butchered.

When did it become okay to breed millions of animals just to have them massacred for our consumption? Wouldn’t this be considered 'playing god' since we are in fact altering these animals natural purpose for our benefits? How can this be condoned by any religious believer since approximately 84% of the world population follows a religious faith?

As much as we attempt to lie to ourselves, this problem will only worsen unless action is taken. Consumers need to understand that meat does not need to be consumed as much as it is right now. Yes we need protein, but a diet of meat in excess has been proven to result in high cholesterol and heart diseases. There are healthier options available in vegetables and perhaps vegetarianism needs to be more seriously considered worldwide. I urge readers to consider vegetarianism, opt for organic meat or even simply cut down on meat and meat products, for we are humans not barbarians and what we are doing at the moment is inhumane.

Happy Earth Day!

With so many other annual Earth-saving related events such as Earth Hour, we tend to neglect an important day: Earth Day. Earth Day is an international event and movement, implemented to protect our planet and creating a sustainable future. As part of Earth Day, A Billion Acts of Green, a campaign launched by the Earth Day Network in 2010, citizens of the Earth are able to pledge for any acts of Green ranging from "Eat Less Meat" to "Reduce Energy Consumption". These pledges were created to help save the environment and to protect our home. To find out more about A Billion Acts of Green, visit: http://www.earthday.org/takeaction/

Submitted by Lim Jade, Class of 2014, Junior 2 Cempaka

Submitted by Choo Li Ling, Class of 2015, Junior 1 Venter

Queen Sirikit Cup

Golf, for the most part, has historically been considered a men’s sport. In the ASEAN region, this is especially true with barely an opportunity for women to break into this exclusive men’s club. With this in mind, the Queen Sirikit cup — officially known as the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship — was founded.

At the time, no international ladies’ event existed in the region. Knowing that there were many female golfers with great potential but insufficient resources, one of the founders of the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association, Rae-Vadee T. Suwan came up with the idea to launch a national team championship to give these women a chance to further their game. They would be able to compete at higher levels and accomplish more for themselves and their countries.

Hence, the first Queen Sirikit Cup was approved and held in Bangkok, Thailand with 9 countries taking part. Today, 13 countries take part in this tournament — Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. 

The 36th Queen Sirikit Cup Championship was hosted by Malaysia in April at the Saujana Golf & Country Club. It was the 3rd time the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association had hosted the event since 1985.

It is a great honour to say that Cempaka Schools was asked to coordinate the opening and closing ceremony of this international event and that I was to be a part of it. Alongside Nadia Marissa, Auriel Yeap, Chua Zi, Samantha Lee, Anishaa Jeyakumar, Mithali Mittra, Edryna Zarif and Jia Xin, we were asked to perform a cultural dance piece for the opening ceremony. Choreographed by our dance teacher, Gloria Patie, it incorporated traditional Malay and Indian elements, while accompanied by Chinese drum players and percussionists.

One of the highlights of our performance for me was having to dance in the rain. Remember that one scene in Step Up 3 where Moose was dancing in the battle against the Chinese crew and the water was splashing everywhere and you thought it was the coolest thing ever? (you probably still do, because I know I do). That was how I felt. Despite having to face the fear of slipping and falling while dancing on top of the Chinese drums, it was our best performance of the choreography and one of my favourite dance experiences.

Students from all 3 campuses were also picked to sing the national anthems of all the countries. Kudos to all the performers for being able to learn a national anthem in a different language. I think we can all agree, the theme song ‘Women’s Spirit’ as sung by Savira Putri, Ashlyn Chin and Adeira Ariez was by far the most catchy song we have heard in a while.

Calypso Jam. If you do not know what that is, youtube it. Now after listening to it, picture Mr Gerald grooving to it while playing the violin. Best image ever. All performers should learn to perform like him. The amount of passion he has for the instrument is astounding. Next up was a percussion item. Percussioning is a skill I will never be able to master.

I had so much fun performing and I am glad I agreed to take part in this. On the bus ride back, all I could think about was the nostalgia I was going to get from this. Enjoy the short clip below taken during one of our rehearsals! 

PC: Sharizah Shihab, Class of 2014

Happy Easter Day!

No, Easter Bunnies don't lay eggs just like their normal bunny cousins. Much less colourful, patterned eggs like the commercialised ones we see often today. So where did these eggs originate from? 

Well, the Easter Bunny is actually a rabbit spirit. Called the Easter Hare a long time ago, it was known as a symbol of fertility due to a hare's frequent births. The Romans believe that all life comes from an egg, whereas Christians consider eggs to be the seed of life, thus symbolic to the the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Anyhow, regardless of how you spend your Easter holidays, make the best out of your extra-long weekend! Wishing all of you a Happy Easter from all of us here at YJC. 

Submitted by Sarah Crompton, Junior 2 Cempaka, Class of 2014

Submitted by Ashley Yap, Junior 2 Cempaka, Class of 2014

Passengers On South Korean Ferry Told To Stay Put

by Chua Zi, Form 5 Science 1, Class of 2014

Credit: Reuters

"Mom, I'm sending you this now because I'm afraid I might not be able to say it later. I love you."

On Wednesday, a ferry carrying more than 400 passengers sank off South Korea’s southern coast. This young man was on it.

Rescue workers were dispatched on Thursday, rushing to save the hundreds still trapped inside the sunken ferry. Of those on board, most were second year high school students and teachers from Seoul embarking on a four-day field trip to Jeju — a popular resort island destination. 179 were rescued, while nearly 300 people remain missing. So far, 14 have been found dead. 

The ferry was three hours to the island when it sent a distress signal at 8.58 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Several survivors claimed to have heard a loud noise before the ship started tilting.

The CNN reports that the ferry, named Sewol took two hours to capsize and sink completely, leaving ample time for the passengers to jump off. However, they received a puzzling announcement instructing them to remain in their seats. Help was supposed to arrive in 10 minutes. As the ship sank, they faced a terrifying dilemma: to jump into the 10 degree Celsius water, or to obey the crew’s orders. “We were wearing life jackets, we had time,” said a survivor, who criticized the evacuation effort.

Credit: Reuters

According to one survivor, those who moved were the ones who survived. Some made their way to the top of the ferry and were rescued while helicopter crews spotted those on the deck. Fishing boats and other vessels frantically rushed to the capsizing ship and pulled out others still in the water. The reason the ship sank, and so rapidly, has not been established.

Sailors, marines, private divers, police officers, helicopter crews and passing fishermen are all participating in the rescue effort. But considering the frigid waters, poor visibility and the deteriorating state of the ferry, the operation is further complicated and the death toll is expected to rise. The government of President Park Geun-hye is being tested by this incident, which has already been called one of the worst peacetime disasters of South Korea. “We must not give up,” she said on Wednesday.

“I am really sorry and deeply ashamed,” said the captain of the ferry on a South Korean television network.