The Piercing Truth issue #2
Winter/Spring ‘08
Written by young people for young people.
Welcome to the second edition of the Piercing Truth!
Editorial
For our Winter/Spring edition you’ll find some brilliant writing on binge drinking, exam pressures, the new L and P plate laws, as well as reviews on the fantastic Spudfest, Impetus Awards and our very own launch. You can also email us with any comments, or save some paper and trees by joining our email distribution so you never miss out on a copy of Piercing Truth.
We have enjoyed the great feedback from the last issue and have incorporated a few suggestions. But if you’d like to contribute articles and photos we’d love that even more – see page 7 for the ‘how to’ on that.
But to get to the point, this issue is an exploration of our little chip maker, Mr Potato. As food prices soar worldwide, global attention is turning to the age-old crop that could help ease the strain of food price inflation. We dedicate this issue to the humble spud.
2008 sees us in the United Nations International Year of the Potato. The potato is an integral part of the global food system and a major solution to world hunger. The United Nations understands that spuds not only taste great and can be cooked a thousand different ways they also are “a highly recommended food security crop that can help low-income farmers and vulnerable consumers ride out current turmoil in world food supply and demand.”
As well as being the world’s number one non-grain food commodity, the potato also seems to be the world’s number one junk food in many people’s eyes. Not a day goes by where there isn’t an article condemning Mr Potato as an oily, greasy, fat filled obesity contributor. But is this the same hearty vegetable that could save millions of people from starving? Start reading and decide for yourself! We also asked readers what their favourite way of eating potaoes is (and what they do for fun), and you can read their thoughts in the corners of most pages!
As with every edition there are many to thank – Belmont Secondary College, Bellerine Secondary College, Corio Bay College, Gordon TAFE, Rob at the Potato Shed, Youth Development Team at CoGG and Adcell Media.
The Editorial Committee would particularly like to thank Councillor Jan Farrell for all her support.
The Piercing Truth Team would also like to thank the Geelong Advertiser for making us welcome during the Hot Shots session with Paul Nolan, Chief of Staff.
Anyone else we forgot, we humbly apologise!
Happy Reading from The Editorial Committee
Editorial Committee Kim Sinnott, Van Nguyen, Helen Grogan, Sue and Mardi
Photography Helen Grogan, Van Nguyen, Monica, Greg, Sue, Mardi, Rob
Proof Reading Helen Grogan
Writers Kim Sinnott, Van Nguyen, Helen Grogan, Suade DeCoito, Tom Bensted, Emma Cabel, Kayla Tanis, Ellie Gardner, Ash Andrews
Models for Photography Kim and Van
Photostyling Raigan and Helen
Comic Danielle Anaru
Design/Art Adcell Media
Production Services Adcell Media
Privacy Notice if you choose to enter or partake in any competitions, surveys, or offers in this featured issue of Piercing Truth, then you are required to provide some personal details about yourself to us. In case you do, they will not be used or given to third parties, unless contacting you in regard to said promotions.
“So the choice is up to you Australia. A Day in the Life of a Potato Do you really want fries with that?”
THE GOOD
Potatoes –The food of the future
Written by Tom Bensted
The potato is a vegetable that grows to 100cm tall and produces a tuber called a potato, it is so rich in starch that it ranks as the world’s fourth most important food crop. Everyone loves a good potato which is why on average Australians eat 26kg of potatoes per person every year.
This year (2008) is the international year of the potato. It will raise awareness of the importance of the potato. Being a nutritious crop that could cheaply feed an increasingly hungry world, it is the food of the future.
The potato is a stable food in diet, not only of our society but of the world’s population. In 2007 alone, production reached a record 320 million tones of potatoes. A lot of which were in developing countries where potato consumption is expanding rapidly.
Potatoes are very good for you too! Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, making them a good source of energy. They also have a very high protein content; bigger than any root or tuber. They are also rich in Vitamin C. In fact, a single medium sized potato contains about half your RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake) of vitamin C. Plus one fifth of your RDI in potassium.
This is why we need public awareness of the connection between poverty, malnutrition and the possible contribution of the potato to end world hunger. You can help too, because the loss of natural resources and other problems in our environment have caused problems in productivity and farming of potatoes. Simply by recycling and saving water. Every time you do these things you’ll know you are helping the food of the future - potatoes.
THE BAD
Do you want fries with that?
Written by Emma Cabel
Saying would you like fries with that, is pretty much saying would you like extra fat with that. The nutrition crisis within America and Australia is really getting out of control. The fast food market is taking over home cooked meals and fresh fruit and vegetables, by making fast food restaurants cheap and easy to access.
It is estimated that there is at least 10 different fast food restaurants in each city/town, more in Capital Cities. Professor Andrew Sinclair, President of Nutrition Society of Australia says “Kids aren’t eating enough of fresh fruit and vegetables, but they are eating plenty of fast food”.
What is happening to the world we live in? All over the media there are advertisements about getting outside and doing 30 minutes of exercise per day, and eating 5 pieces of fruit and 7 vegetables every day. If you take close notice of the advertisements for large fast food retailers etc, there are twice as many advertisements for them than eating healthy! Who allows this? This is how things have gotten out of control. Can you imagine if every person in the world ate fast food every single day for breakfast, lunch and tea? The inside of our bodies would be almost as bad as toxic waste, and we would get sick more often. The choice is up to you Australia.
DRINKING & YOUTH BINGE DRINKING
Written by Kim Sinnott
Everyone at some point has experienced or at least knows of alcohol, the cheap depressant drug usually available at parties, functions, celebrations or even just in that small bar fridge in the kitchen of your own house.
But what is binge drinking?
Binge drinking is where people drink dangerously large amounts of alcohol in one heavy session. However for youths, binge drinking also usually involves the aim of ‘getting drunk’ and often takes places in groups. The most common situation of youth binge drinking is at parties, at the end of the school year and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Binge drinking over the last few years has increased with the activity widely being called an ‘epidemic’.
Why do people binge?
There can be a number of simple, pointless reasons including:
· Drinking excessively to keep up with the group
· Peer pressure [feeling as though you have to]
· As a way to escape from reality
· Pressure to succeed [at school, work etc]
The consequences:
· Alcohol poisoning which can be lethal
· Becoming involved in risky behaviours such unsafe or unwanted sex, physical abuse (fighting), reckless driving etc
Naturally alcohol addiction is possible where drinkers have a ‘compulsive need’ to feel the ‘high’ from alcohol.
What not to look forward to:
Common after-effects that will make you think twice about binge drinking include:
· Hangovers
· Headaches
· Nausea
· Shakiness
· Vomiting
All these after effects are minimal although others can be very harmful. However, would you want to wake up with all of this?
Yes making sure you only have a standard drink can be annoying, but staying within recommended limits can help ensure that binge drinking doesn’t in regret.
Recommended limits for ALL (by The Australian Medical Association)
On June 15th, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) released new guidelines defining binge drinking as four standard drinks a night for ALL.
The AMA released a statement which included this “Frontal lobe development and the refinement of pathways and connections continue until age 16, and a high rate of energy is used as the brain matures until age 20. Damage from alcohol at this time can be long-term and irreversible. In addition, short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults. Adolescents need only to drink half as much to suffer the same negative effects.”
How you can control what you drink:
There are a number of things you can do to keep your drinking under control, including the following:
· Set limits for yourself and stick to them
· Start with a non-alcoholic drink
· Drink slowly. Take sips not gulps
· Eat before or while you are drinking, avoid salty snacks, they make you thirsty.
· Have one drink at a time, so you can keep track
· Avoid sculling competitions, and drinking games
· Be assertive - don’t be pressured into drinking more than you want or intend to.
For local places to contact for help or more information see page – Phone numbers you might need!
2009 - The year of the gravy chip?
Written by Grace Gowers
Let us forgive them for working on commercial radio (at its finest) but you have to give it to them, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee are two awfully amusing people. For those who are not aware, Hamish and Andy have shows in Melbourne (101.9 Fox FM), Sydney, Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Geelong residents can tune in to their show from 4-6pm on weekdays.
Inspired by singer Craig David’s song, Hamish and Andy asked their audience “What’s your flavour?” Gravy was decided by the votes of 20,000 listeners and after an “intense gravy flavour tasting session” Mick Lee’s (Andy’s Dad), roast beef gravy took out the prize. Smiths chips originally manufactured & released 495 packets of the “People’s Chip” on the 30th of May. After they were highly sought after, it is reported that Smiths released a second round of chips. Fifteen, the restaurant owned by Jamie Oliver and Tobie Puttock has put their spin on a dish of their own; blending the gravy chip into a stuffing for a roast chicken dish.
All this business about the mighty gravy chip got me thinking. As I took a casual stroll in my local supermarket, aisle 3, my eyes were set ablaze with the choices. Sitting there innocently, waiting to be picked were good ol’ Smith’s Original, Salt and Vinegar, Cheese and Onion and Chicken chips. They had been doing fine since the 1920’s until along comes Light and Tangy and Red Rock Deli to dig their grave. They refuse to lie down! My legs almost tired at walking the length of the chip aisle. To name a few: Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream and its variables, Sour Cream and Onion, Barbeque, Chilli, Tangy Herb and Spice. The list just goes on and on.
Ladies and Gents we now have gourmet flavours on offer such as Dijon Mustard and Honey, Tzatziki, Honey Soy Chicken, Lime and Black Pepper, and Cheesy Potato Bake.
And variations, the crinkle chip, Burger Rings, Twisties, Corn chips or Pringles! Which of course have their own respective varieties!
Not only do we have a ridiculous number of flavours and not to mention the brand names, we are now privy to alternatives like the Vege chip and their 5 different flavours. Surely this is getting out of hand! Some claim technology is leading the way in this country, some say money. I say potato chips! I could spend hours deciding, with or without my indecisive nature, I could never choose a favourite. What is yours?
Email your favourite flavour to
A Story about a Potato
Written by Suade DeCoito
One day, in land of Vegetables, there was a little village called Spuddville. It used to be a peaceful village….until...the Carrots showed their true colors (orange). They attacked Broccoli Bay, by sneaking into Brussel Joush Island, and grabbing baby brussels at the villages, because the carrots thought they were the dominant veggie nation. The fools they were. They did not realize that the Potatoes were ready for a challenge. The Potatoes (or Spuds, as they call themselves) were waiting for this kind of moment. Little did the Carrots from Carrot Cove know, that if they stepped foot into Spuddville, they would be blown up. All the veggie nations were destroyed. Except for one… Spuddville. The Carrots were on a hunt. The Spuds were waiting for the Carrots to come into their territory and blow them up with all the vegetable remains from all the other wars with the Carrots. The Carrots were marching down the huge street, looking at all the shattered remains what they had done. Mr. Carrothead, the Carrot president, was starting to feel a little bit sorry that he had created all this mess. He stopped the war, with a peace note to the Spud President, Spuds Mc Spuddster (by the way, all of these names are the real names; it’s just a coincidence, that they are the same names of what they are). Mr. McSpuddster didn’t care; he still wants to make some Carrot stew. AND MAKE THE NATION PROUD!!!!