Wednesday, 19 October, 2022
Sports stars take a stand; BTS Army: literally; TikTok scores an F; and new rules for chocolate lovers.
LINKS
Sportspeople taking a stand
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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For the most part, our sports stars make headlines for the goals they score or wickets they take.
But this week there have been two examples of sports stars using their profile and platform to make some pretty pointed statements about their personal beliefs too.
It all started last weekend when the Diamonds – Australia’s national netball team – refused to wear uniforms bearing the logo of a mining company – one of the team’s new sponsors.
According to reports, some members of the team disagreed with the way the mining company had conducted itself when dealing with Indigenous land owners in Western Australia, where it operates.
And then yesterday came the news that Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins was among high-profile players to raise objections to an energy company sponsoring the national team .. where the parent company of that energy outfit had been identified as a major emitter of carbon emissions – a key cause of climate change.
It’s not new for sports people to use their high profile to bring attention to issues they are passionate about.
One of the most high-profile recent examples was the number of sports people in the US – and around the world – who took personal stands in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Similarly, soccer players from teams all over the world have taken part in campaigns to fight racism. And closer to home, AFL and Sydney Swans great Adam Goodes took his own very personal stand against racism.
I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode to examples in history of sports people taking a stand. It’s interesting to reflect on.
Cummins the cricketer said yesterday he believed sport can be a force for positive social change.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops and today we’ve landed in England where a new survey reveals many of us have been doing chocolate wrong.
Personally, I don’t believe there;s any wrong way of eating chocolate … but a well-known food scientist in the UK yesterday came out to say that chocolate shoudn’t go in the fridge before its eaten (easy for her to say, she clearly doesn’t live in Brisbane), that you should never chomp on blocks of chocolate – but rather let it melt in your mouth (who’s got the patience for that?) – and you should never eat more than six bits in one sitting. As if!
The food scientist also recommended eating chocolate before 11am – which i am fine with – because the cacao and sugar give you a lift, but not in the evening – which i am not fine with, because watching TV and chomping on chocolate are two of life’s great pleasures.
In my humble opinion ..
POP CULTURE CORNER
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The Korean army just enlisted some seriously cool dance moves following the news yesterday that the boys from everyone’s favourite K-Pop band, BTS, are joining the army.
In South Korea – where the BTS boys come from – all young men aged 18-28 have to do a year in the army. It’s called compulsory military service – and it happens in lots of countries. Not in Australia – but in countries like Brazil, Israel, Sweden and Turkey.
The BTS Army – which is the name that BTS fans give to themselves, as opposed to an actual army named after a Kpop boy band – yesterday set the internet alight – gnashing their teeth and wailing that their favourite pop stars will be doing army drills instead of dance moves for the next 12 months or so.
But don’t despair – the lads have promised to make a comeback in 2025.
In other BTS news – their chart-topping song ‘Butter’ joined Spotify’s billion club – having been streamed more than a billion times. That’s a lot of butter – whichever way you spread it. (DAD JOKE ALARM) … oops,. There goes the dad joke alarm. I’ll get my coat …
NEWSHOUNDS
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It’s a Wednesday – and that means it’s time to check in with Squiz E the Newshound to see what misinformation, fake news and online trickery he’s sniffed out on social media and the internet this week … and today his nose is twitching as the United States gears up for mid-term elections.
Why? Because the world’s biggest social media sites – including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – have all been warned to pick up their game and police their platforms for misinformation as the all important elections roll around. Why? Because in recent elections, misinformation and disinformation have been allowed to spread unchecked on social media sites. Misinformation is information that is not true and shared by people who don’t Stop Think and Check. Disinformation is stuff that’s not true but is shared by people to cause harm or damage – or in this case, influence the outcome of an election. It’s nasty stuff. And according to a report card compiled by a panel of social media experts – each of the major platforms needs to do better. Based on their performance at the last election, Twitter scored a B, Facebook and YouTube scored a C – and TikTok got an F for presenting information that was truthful.
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And while we’re on the subject of Newshounds .. don’t forget the countdown is on for the launch our very own media literacy program for primary school kids – called, you guessed it, Newshounds. Join Squiz E as he takes kids on journey of discovery – teaching them to recognise misinformation and ultimately become critical consumers of media.
The program will be live in the coming days – and free to all classrooms across Australia and New Zealand (CHEER) – If you’re keen to learn more or be among the first to sign up, register your interest at squizkids.com.au/newshounds. There’s a link to it in today’s episode notes.
THE SQUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- According to an English food scientist, where should we not store chocolate?
- Name one of the two sports in which Aussie athletes have this week taken a stand?
- What’s the name of the BTS song that’s just registered one billion streams?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s October 19 … today is National Ride to Work day … it’ll be a short ride for me, as i work from home .. hmmm.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today… Aakash from Forest Lake, Kritya and Isla from Sydney, Jago from Camberwell and Sadie from Forde.
Belated birthday shout outs go to Claudia from Darlington, Ava from Woolwich, Miranda, Harriet, Liam, Henry, Sienna and Hemi – all from Junee.
Classroom shouts go to…the year 6 class in F2 at Hammond Park Primary School with Miss Walsh, class 6N and Mrs Nicholls at Scots All Saints College in Bathurst, class 4M at Wollondilly Public School with Miss Morgan and Mrs Venter, class 4RB and Mrs Barker at Morningside State School. And happy birthday to Mrs Sang at the International Christian School in Hong Kong from all of her students in class 5C!
A special shoutout goes to …Mr Page and grade 6 at Mark Oliphant College in Adelaide who have recently subscribed to Squiz Kids for Schools on our Term 4 special promo. Welcome aboard!
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Fridge
- Netball and Cricket
- Butter