Written on the flanks of Mount Asama

by the journalists of UWC ISAK Japan

No. 001 Thursday, September 30, 2021

Global vaccination policy falters

Australian, Dutch protests reveal
public resistance to forced shots
BY SIMON XIAO
Tensions over Australia’s handling
of the COVID-19 crisis developed
into a week of unrest for the state
of Victoria last week.
Thousands of construction
workers gathered each day in
central Melbourne to protest the
Victorian government’s require-
ment of vaccines for members of
the construction industry.
On September 16th, the Vic-
torian government said all con-
struction workers must provide
evidence of either evidence they
have received at least their first
dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,
and Energy Union.
Protests began on September
20, where hundreds of construc-
tion workers wearing fluorescent
work uniforms gathered outside
a union headquarters in central
Melbourne. Anger was directed
at CFMEU state secretary John
Setka, who backtracked on his
anti-vaccine mandate stance.
Australians have undergone one
of the world’s harshest lockdown
regimes. People were prevented
from leaving and entering the
country except with special per-
mission. They were also unable
to drive between states.
The Australian prime minister,

Australia’s protests were fueled by

a far-right sentiment
Trade union leader John Setka
proof of vaccine appointment to
receive a first dose by October 2
or a medical exemption from an
authorised medical practitioner in
order to work. This mandate is set
to be in effect from Sept. 23.
The construction industry has
been linked to multiple COVID-
19 outbreaks in Victoria.
The mandate soured already
deteriorating relations between
construction workers, the Victori-
an government, and the Construc-
tion, Forestry, Maritime, Mining
Scott Morrison, has said he will
relax restrictions when 80 percent
of the population is double-vac-
cinated. That target has not been
reached by many countries.
Public opinion is hardly behind
the protesters. Many Australians
feel the deprivations they have
endured are not worth risking
now. Construction workers march in the city of Melbourne this week.  GETTY, THE AUSTRALIAN
Union leader Setka also alleged
that the protests were led by a have made over past two years. to march against the introduction have to scratch your head and ask
far-right sentiment, at odds with Meanwhile, protesters gathered of a vaccine passport, The Guard- yourself: is this the direction we
the national push that Australians in The Netherlands last weekend ian newspaper reported. want to go?” she said.
The Dutch government made A counterpoint to the so-called

Bhutan among nations that made most progress

proof of a COVID-19 vaccine “Corona Pass” is the lifting of
mandatory for entry into bars, most distancing regulations.
theaters and other venues. Around 72 percent of residents
Bhutan’s fight against its second wave of One government minister have received at least one vac-
COVID-19 has been one of COVID infections publicly questioned the minister. cine dose.
the most successful, writes and new variants Deputy economic affairs minister Face masks must be worn on
Pema Lhundrup. The World were being uncov- Mona Keijzer was sacked. public transport but students and
Health Organisation said ered. The office of the Dutch prime teachers do not in school.
this in a recent report. But this did not minister said Keijzer was fired That is little comfort to hotels,
When the first case was stop Bhutan, which because her comments criticised restaurateurs and bar owners,
recorded in March 2020 the asked for interna- a national policy of “importance many of whom say they will defy
government was quick to tional aid and placed and weight”. the vaccine certificate require-
act. It placed the patient in a few orders of its Keijzer elaborated on her stance ment.
and all close contacts in own. These policies in an interview with newspaper An association of hospitality
isolation and the three obtained enough De Telegraaf: “If we end up in organisations said the certificate
dzongkhags the patient vaccines to fully a society where we have to be is not only impossible to enforce,
had reportedly traveled to were put in self-iso- vaccinate 97% of the adult population, aged afraid of each other unless we it will inflict further damage on
lation in the people’s homes. 18 or over. can show proof, then you really the sector.
Since then there have been 2,599 covid cases, Today, 75% of the total population has been
most of which were detected in government vaccinated and has been able to successfully
quarantine facilities from Bhutanese citizens contain the pandemic.
returning home. The three recorded deaths were Despite its demographic advantage, Bhu-
all due to underlying medical conditions. tan’s quick response and resilience can surely
When the vaccines started rolling out in March be counted as a victory.
of the current year 64% of the adult popula- Those responsible are the administrations
tion was vaccinated in the first 16 days alone. led by his majesty the 5th King, Prime Minister
However this was at the same time India, the Lodray Tshering, a former physician, and the
donor for the first round of vaccines, was facing cooperation of the people of Bhutan.
Confused and excluded, online
students voice frustration
as Japan’s visa denial continues
BY EMILĖ BROŽAITYTĖ
I ran a survey to reflect online
students’ challenging situations,
daily struggles, and what keeps
them going. I want to share some
of the key findings.
Out of all the online students, a
fourth of them are not able to join
live lessons as the time zones the
students are in the range from 14
hours behind to three hours ahead
of Japan.
More than half of the students
that are not able to attend all les-
sons live mention that they don’t
always understand what is going
on in the lessons or what they are
to do.
A common struggle is not feel-
ing engaged in ISAK clubs and
activities enough.
“I’m in a club which is com-
pletely online, and its honestly
great. There is another club,
however, in which off-campus Students share an evening picnic at the campus of UWC ISAK Japan.   UWC ISAK JAPAN
students haven’t been involved
at all.”
As some people appreciate the
effort there is to involve them, day, I didn’t feel that I was a
others often feel like an audience
rather than participants.
“If the majority of students are
already on campus, us who are
online most of the time (are) just
being a spectator and not really
involved.”
They state that some activities wrote.
are still more catered towards the
on-campus students.
“I know they don’t mean it, but decreased motivation, sleep
it makes us feel a bit lonely,” one deprivation, increased irritation that the school is trying to make lenges to be heard.
No immediate fix, head of school replies
BY SATOE TOHI
AND ALANA ZHOU
Dozens of UWC ISAK Japan stu-
dents denied visas are still await-
ing news on when their in-person
education will begin.
The 57 Grade 10 and Grade 11
students are in countries including
Turkey and Uganda, where they
must follow live video classes
through the night.
Some report difficulties con-
centrating, as well as confusion
over the locations of recordings
and class materials.
Japan’s government has stated
no reason for the visa freeze.
But UWC ISAK Japan Head
of School Roderick Jemison said
the nation’s high vaccination rate
may allow the government to take
risks that it has avoided until now.
He expressed admiration for
students who are finding these
weeks an ordeal.
“I don’t know any master plan
that’s going to fix this,” he said.
student commented. and procrastination. conditions suitable for students.
Another added: “On UWC They also described the ordeal What keeps them going is grate-
of having to balance two lives fulness, friends, knowing they are
in this together, hope of getting
“On UWC day, I didn’t feel on campus soon, and wanting to
that I was a UWC student” succeed.
“They are trying, but it’s not
Survey comment like they can turn a terrible situ-
ation into a wonderful one.”
UWC student,” one student but not being fully involved in The hard work of the adminis-
any of them, diet changes, fear tration, teachers, and on-campus
Three in four online students of missing out, and wishing to be students that go the extra mile
relate to these statements: more involved in the school’s life. is much appreciated, however,
Several students acknowledged online students wish their chal-
media of campus activities.
“Remote learning is not what
they signed up for and not what
we want,” Jemison said.
He added, online teaching is
difficult to do well, but the school
is aware of concerns among stu-
dents overseas.
Jemison said faculty staff meet
weekly to talk about concerns
regarding the quality of lessons
delivered to online students.
“I did receive several emails
from students asking the kinds of
questions you’re asking, and also
requesting updates on recordings
and different things like that,”
he said.
Head of School Roderick Jemison FACEBOOK “We meet, as faculty and staff,
we talk about this issue and con-
“I’d like them to know that we much of the social interaction that cern, and we’re trying to make
really admire and appreciate their is the hallmark of a residential adjustments.
commitment to the school. We school. Some report difficulty “One of the things I really have
know this isn’t easy, but their following lessons that appear to emphasised to some of the new
grit and resilience is what we all prioritise students in the room and students is to really better com-
stand for.” not those on the screen. municate some of the challenges
The students report a range Others say they feel left out they’re having, because we don’t
of frustrations. They are denied when seeing photos on social know all of them.”
We suffered,
too. Here’s
our advice.
We can’t wait to meet them,
writes Marian Mahasantipiya.
The classrooms and houses
are incomplete without the
new characters and person-
alities.
However, we’ve been
through this before.
Many students had the
same fate of two to three
months of online school in
2020.
We empathize with the
emotions that the online
students are going through
right now.
Natasha Ng said the feel-
ings of exclusion, confusion
and the lack of attention were
very much apparent last year
as well.
Sometimes, teachers
would forget about us on
Zoom and leave us hanging
and feeling excluded.
There was a lot of mis-
communication that left the
online people confused, said
Natasha.
As I was also an online
student last year, I can truly
relate to this statement as
being online restricted my
participation in a lot of the
activities and bonding that
were happening during class
and all I could do was just
watch from my laptop.
Natasha advises people
to reach out to friends and
classmates through social
media, as it is an outlet for
bonding and connection.
Getting to know the com-
munity online can be as
meaningful as the interac-
tions you have in person.
From personal experience,
the time spent online is noth-
ing comparable to what you
will receive when you arrive.
On the bright side, enjoy
the abundance of sleep or
personal time that comes
with online learning, as that
will disappear on campus.
So as your visas are pend-
ing, build up the anticipation,
because before you know
it, you will already be on
campus with us.
We can’t wait to see you
guys. Within a week or two
you won’t remember this
ordeal.