Year: 2174

by Faith Daramola

Ikara’s vibrant green eyes surveyed the barren landscape from her nook on the cliff. The harsh winds swept her hair onto her face, and the sand blew in her eyes, but Ikara didn’t mind. This was her favourite place, a secret she kept to herself. Somewhere she could go when the noise of the bustling city became too much. She reached up, almost wishing she could take off the ugly, plastic mask covering her face, and breathe.

Remember Winston

by Student ID 20

“SPLASH”, the sound of water echo’s, bouncing off the walls of the giant cavern. The sun shines into its mouth and creates an ethereal glow emanating from the ice. The serene sight is ruptured by the sound of the laughter of pups playing in its perfectly clear water.

Whispering Trees

by Student ID 24

In a deep, mystical forest, secluded by two surrounding mountains, Amrita lived with her kind grandmother. It was commonly said the various rivers found all over the mountain were able to heal people. Unfortunately, the rivers were incredibly difficult to find.

Short Story

by To Be Confirmed

Emerging from the shelter's refuge, Sarah braced herself for the searing touch of the sun's rays. Yet, nothing could prepare her for the sight that greeted her.

Short Story

by Ava Z

The girl had never been fond of the taste of fish and its variations. In fact, she despised it, as she had with her mother.. To her six-year-old brain, her mother was the bane of her existence. She had the tendency to shout, accompanied with a twinkle of annoyance in her eyes at all times. Not only had her mother repeatedly scolded her when she found her daughter scarfing down food from her pantry, she was furious when the girl refused to touch the oozing salmon she had spent hours preparing.

Nanook

by Yutong Guo

My legs are sore, eyes hurt, belly rumbles. My arms are crossed under my head as I try to position the rest of my body on this board. I raise my head and look up at the blazing light.

How human psychology stifles the race to solve climate change: An article that delves into the mind’s shortcomings in problem solving

by Ryan Cui

Converging at crossroads with science, politics, and human nature itself presents one of the most daunting challenges in the 21st century: climate change. The alarming rate that pollution has entered our world has affected everything across the globe, from the way microorganisms function to the vast expanses of ecosystems that humans depend on. In recent years, the changing climate has heightened the severity and frequency of natural disasters, which the World Economic Forum believes “may lead to $12.5 trillion in economic losses and over two billion healthy life years lost by 2050.” The problem has been defined, researched, and understood for decades, yet humanity's approach to fixing this problem continues to be lacklustre. Despite the overwhelming evidence that our climate is headed for catastrophe, a study conducted by the Pew Research Centre found that 62% of American adults either consider climate change a minor problem or dismiss it entirely. The root of this failure to address the climate crisis lies within our own human psychology and the way our climate conundrum is framed.

Flowers of the Arctic

by Ronan Zhong

Today was that day. Cassie’s beautiful white roses would bloom today. How did she know that? Because the roses bloomed on April 13th every single year. The rose blossoms were the only natural occurrence that Cassie could control in her life. They were her anchor. The anchor that kept her grounded in a sea of chaos.

Nature’s Guardian

by Zoe To

My family has owned this nuclear energy company for many years. I let my employees dump all of the radioactive waste in the lake since it was much cheaper than burying it deep underground. Recently, I had heard many rumours that there were strange creatures made out of radiation wandering about. I must investigate the situation at the lake. I decided to carry a gun with me in case of an emergency.

Short Story

by Ava Zeng

A lone plastic thank-you take-out bag floated melancholically above the surface of a previously unphased sea. It still held the remains of days-old spring rolls, paired with an odious spoilage of sweet and sour sauce. The bright yellow smiley face plastered on the bag began to turn into that of a frown, with the corners of its mouth slowly disintegrating.

Perspectives

by Cathy Li

Gentle laps of the ocean brush my feet
The water lurches forward and retreats back
It’s a gift
A privilege– to experience, such a vast,
Mysterious
Being, breathing– in and out, in and out,
I’m jealous of it
An eternal blue flame, fiery and free
The susurration of water colliding with each other, whoosh whoosh whoosh
It’s whispering something to me,
Pleading for help, desperate…
“Amy, get in the car! We’re going home!” my mother calls out to me,
And my thoughts are disrupted,
I look back at the water one more time before walking to my car.

Children Playing

by Sophia Lyu

August 2052
My grandfather had told me about how this day would come.
He told me about the disappointment and the regret I would feel. He told me about how the birds would eventually stop singing and the leaves would forever stop rustling. He reminded me often of the abrupt ending of the rushing water under the bridges and the howling winds outside my window. He warned me to listen to the cows that groaned and the dogs that barked. He advised me to be careful of my corporate choices and to appreciate my surroundings.

Hunted: The war raging in our backyards that we keep ignoring

by Vanessa Huang

Deep in the New Zealand bush, a seven hundred year-old battle is being fought. Beneath a canopy of sun-dipped leaves and rustling branches, invasive species are dishing out a massacre to our endemic wildlife.