Have you ever heard of the Pol Pot Genocide in Cambodia?   If you're like most people globally, the answer may be no. The genocide, also labelled a ‘democide’* by RJ Rummel, who coined the term, occurred at the foot end of the Second Indochina War from 1954-1975, a major conflict across Vietnam, Laos,  and Cambodia. I would also like to note, out of respect, that this has also been named the Vietnam War, or, to Vietnamese, the America War.  In this article, to remain as nationally neutral as possible, I will personally refer to it as the Second Indochina War.    The Pol Pot genocide was the strategic mass-murder of approximately...

Iconic Author's Note: Welcome back to Disney vs Studio Ghibli, the series where I have been comparing animated films and somehow managed to make them about my own life. Fittingly, this is the final instalment, which feels appropriate considering I graduate from high school next week. For the past few weeks, I've been asking which studio understands love better, growing up better, and now, finally, I think I've found the question underneath all of them: who actually knows how to end a story? Because next week, I'm supposed to be ending one of the biggest chapters of my life, and I'm beginning to realise that I have absolutely no idea what an ending...

R U OK? Day is more than just a date on the school calendar. According to the R U OK? Website: It is Australia’s National Day of Action, dedicated to encouraging individuals to check in with those close to them and start meaningful conversations about life’s ups and downs. The goal is to prevent suicide by fostering a culture where it feels comfortable to reach out and offer help when someone is facing adversity.  This message is crucial in today’s society, as mental health and well-being have emerged as the most critical issues facing teenagers in Australia. Recent data show that 49% of young Australians report experiencing extreme...

“Hey, Granny! I’m home!” Clara stepped in through the door and tossed her bag onto the floor. Her voice echoed through the walls and was met with silence. “Granny?” Clara called out in a frightened voice. Clara slowly made her way towards her grandmother’s room, carefully taking her steps as though the world would crack under the pressure of her foot. When she made it to the bedroom door, she found it ajar. Clara raised a shaking hand and pushed the door open. Lying on the floor in the middle of the room, on a blood-stained carpet, was her grandmother, with a knife sticking out of her back. Clara’s breath caught in her throat....

On Thursday, 3 September, the Branwhite Centre and The Shed were completely and utterly transformed. For one evening, the usual classrooms and corridors were totally decked out. Desks and worksheets gave way to paintings, furniture, prototypes, experiments, data and designs. Everywhere you looked was evidence of an idea that had been started months earlier, and, in some cases, an idea that had probably changed several times since. This was APEX 2026: the culminating point of the HSC Major Works. For the Year 12 students exhibiting, however, APEX was about much more than putting a finished project on display. It was the moment when months...