The power of plants

MYP Research and
Service Journal
November 2023
THE
POWER
OF
PLANTS
This magazine was created with
support from Qatar Museums, and
the Global Social Leaders.

The Desert rose
The National Museum of Qatar was designed by Jean
Nouvel to represent a desert rose.
In the middle of a desert, another desert rose leaves bright
splashes of colour to celebrate the power of Nature to burst
forth in even the harshest conditions.
In heat and humidity that approaches 50C, our desert roses
bloom defiantly. Our frankincense has doubled in size. Our
Sidra trees have poked us full of holes because they grew
taller than their support poles.
And we are ready to collapse after just 5 minutes of
standing outside.
Plants are truly powerful. They feed us. They give us shade.
We wear cotton and linen. We drink tea and coffee. We
breathe their oxygen. We treat our illnesses with their leaves
and seeds. We brush our teeth with miswak .
But a treasure is worthless if you cannot open it. We
thank Qatar Museums for giving us access to the
treasure of knowledge. A treasure we get to share!

These are the gifts we get
from
Plants
Oxygen
Clothing
Building
materials
Paper
Medicine
Cosmetics
BUT LET’S NOT
FORGET THAT
WE NEED TO
GIVE
SOMETHING
BACK TOO.

After Cop21
Thanks to a brilliant initiative from Mr Peter Milne from
Target4Green Education and Mr Chris Bailey from The
International School of London, our students were able to
attend a symposium on climate change.
Not only did we get to hear from other young people and
climate experts, we also got to share about how we were
using our MYP IDUs and Culture Studies classes to fight
climate change.
As you can see, many schools were very interested in
starting their own gardens and we are looking forward
to supporting wherever we can.
Our students were asked to reflect deeply on how our
every day actions threaten the wellbeing of Qatar. Our
host nation is highly threatened by climate change but
the average person wastes 250kg of food! Reducing
food waste can reduce climate change by 20%.
Let’s see if our young leaders can effectively introduce
composting into our school lunch routines.

Grade 9 GSL Hummingbird Haven creates action plans for developing our green learning areas
Meanwhile, the grade 9s were actively planning how we
could expand the green learning spaces in our school.
The little biodiversity garden has now expanded to a plant
hospital and an outdoor green classroom where classes
can collaborate and learn together. It also allows us to
collaborate more closely with our youngest and most
enthusiastic gardeners.
That’s right - let’s welcome Pre K.

Pre-K Power
Are your geraniums sun burned? Have spider mites
attacked your lemon trees? Maybe your spider plants
need repotting…
Pre-K is here to help!
Even though the Global Social Leaders only starts at 11
years old, the judges were so impressed by how skilfully
Theo and Poppy worked in the garden that they awarded
them with their own GSL certificates
Over 10500 young people from 100 countries are involved
in GSL and these children are officially the youngest
leaders to receive a certificate.
This month, Theo and the falcon class will be creating
bird houses, worm farms and planting tasty vegetables
with their own compost. The grade 7 culture studies
students are ready to support with guidance from our
fantastic cleaning staff.

The power to unite
When our garden was attacked by a vicious combination
of hail, high winds and spider mites, our grade 6 and 7
students rushed into action and not a single plant was
lost.
Students from every religion, ethnicity and gender worked
side by side to protect our precious plants and we did not
use any poisons.
Students also saved the pre K garden and the plants
grown by the cleaning staff and this shows us that the
planet belongs to everyone.
At SISQ, we are inspired, fulfilled and prepared to be
Global citizens. It therefore brings me great pleasure
to introduce the research component of this journal
where our young people advocate for how we can use
gardening to make a difference.
World hunger is an enormous issue and many of our
articles focus on food security and the relationship
between plants and conflict.

The importance of
South Sudan by Sammy.
On the 15th of April, 2023, the third week of Ramadan, (which is
the religious month for Muslims) the Rapid Support Forces, led by
Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, (also known as Hemedti) began
attacks on the Sudanese Armed Forces. Fighting began in the
Darfur region of Sudan at 7:00 am, and Hemedti's forces seemed
to be winning. However, a soldier in the Janjaweed confirmed that
they were indeed being attacked by the RSF, and the message
arrived to the seat of the President of Sudan, Abdel Fattah Burhan,
the leader of the SAF. This forced Hemedti to begin the next
phase of his plan early, and at 7 hours and 43 minutes, fighting
between the RSF and the SAF began at the Khartoum
International Airport, at Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
But why does this matter? At the time of writing, around 80%
of the hospitals in Sudan are destroyed, and only 7% are fully
functioning. Because of this, the overall situation of living in
Sudan has decreased to much lower than it initially was.
Looting is constant, and the entire country is feeling the
backlash. The greater Khartoum area is being hit the worst,
with 96% of the area's hospitals destroyed, and only 1% fully
operational. A civilian who used to live near a hospital and
escaped to Egypt said this:

"Only [2] days after the fighting began, the hospital was
destroyed. As I watched, explosions lit up in the
hospital. The building caught on fire, and several
doctors and nurses ran from the flames. Before long,
several rockets hit the side of the hospital and sent
shudders through the entire building. I couldn't do
anything as the building collapsed. The RSF labeled the
destruction [of the hospital] as collateral damage."
Many people have risked taking the chance of death to
search through destroyed hospitals like this to find much
needed remedies for diseases or other important healing
items. This looting often leads to fistfights and general
aggression. Due to this, it has become harder than ever to
heal sicknesses and deal with broken bones. The UN has
done nothing to stop this, and the only help they offered
was small aid-packs containing bandages, alcohol(for
sterilizing), food, and other small objects. However, the
food often required heating like tinned goods. This is no
use to the people as they have lost electricity and it is
dangerous to even step outside, and a fire inside a house is
a recipe for disaster. Most of the aid-packs do not contain
important healing objects like splints, slings, and other
things you would need to heal a friend in wartime.
Refugee Crisis
In the neighboring countries, such as Egypt, Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Libya, Central African Republic, there is a huge
wave of refugees. The WHO has stated:
"This is a crisis that could not have happened in a worse
time. The time of hunger in Chad has come, and there are
even more mouths to feed than before. Chad and Egypt
have the most refugees, and the former is a bad place to be
at this time of the year. Crops burn, and people suffer. The
crisis has to be stopped at all costs. We have made a
$445,000,000 plan to evacuate as many refugees from
Chad and Sudan as possible."
This plan is going to include housing in Europe and Asia,
evacuations from major refugee points in Egypt and Chad,
and temporary refugee camps in Saudi Arabia and other
countries. Sudan already hosts 1,400,000 refugees. Also,
3,700,000 people are already homeless However, the UN's
main objective is to get diplomats and other expats in
Sudan (who have somewhere else to go to) away. The
Sudanese who have nowhere else to go to are still
suffering in Sudan with no running water, no electricity, and
minimal food.

The UN has sent about 73 aid-convoys to Khartoum and
another 33 aid-convoys to the Darfur region. However,
these aid-convoys often have the supplies like food, water,
bandages and sterilizers, house med-kits and AEDs, and
other objects that they would send to a place that was
suffering of an absence of hospitals, but nothing that
would help during a war. The Sudanese that suffer so
much are not even getting the proper treatments! What's
more, an absence of security has left much of these
convoys raided before reaching the intended targets, and
the UN still hasn't raised security. The UN chief said in an
interview
"Sudan is in a terrible state. The Sudanese suffer daily. The
people of Sudan are continually forced to leave their
homes and the country they grow up in to avoid the death
that hangs over their heads. Many are injured, and many
die. The Sudanese have been forced to take barbaric
practices of thievery and murder to survive. The UN will do
all it can to make sure that the civilians of Sudan survive."
The best thing they could do would be to send a
peacekeeper operation to Sudan, which they haven't even
considered, or raise security on the UN aid-convoys.

The focus of the world is elsewhere
When I started this project of seeing if the UN was actually
doing enough, I came up with the idea of testing the
media.Most people get their information from the media,
and children are no different. I came up with a survey to
compare the war in Ukraine to the war in Sudan. The UN
has a major part in the media, so I decided to ask my class
mates about the war in Sudan and the war in Ukraine.
As you can see, more than double the people that know
about the war in Sudan know about the war in Ukraine. The
same goes for the people that know why the war started.
I am a citizen and a native of Sudan, and the war started
a week before I was supposed to go there for Eid
vacation. My grandfather was one of the first spinal
surgeons in Sudan. I am a whole-hearted Sudanese
(except for the American side of my family) and it holds
a special place in my heart. So, when the war started, I
was completely shocked. I needed someone to talk to,
and my classmates supplied that someone. So, the
entire supply of knowledge that the class has of the war
is mostly coming from me. So I decided to do another
survey with the same questions. I asked 100 people. Sadly, I
got the same results.

Working on our garden - plants have power to unite different nations
Hopefully, after reading this article, more of us will be
able to support young people like Sammy.
His research highlights how important it is to make
sure that all stories get told because all citizens of all
countries matter.
This is why November is Hidden Histories month at
SISQ.
This is the time for students to celebrate and promote
issues relating to their own cultures that might have
been silenced by more dominant narratives.

“United Nations in Sudan.” The United Nations in Sudan, 2023, sudan.un.org/en. Accessed 27 Aug. 2023.
Zeinab Mohammed Salih, and Ruth Michaelson. “Khartoum Hospitals Being Hit as Sudan Fighting Intensifies.” The Guardian, The
Guardian, 2 May 2023, www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/02/khartoum-hospitals-being-hit-as-sudan-fighting-intensifies.
Accessed 10 Sept. 2023.
Al Arabiya English. “Air Raids Kill at Least 40 in Sudan’s Khartoum: Group.” Al Arabiya English, Al Arabiya English, 10 Sept. 2023,
english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/09/10/At-least-40-killed-in-airstrike-on-southern-Khartoum-market-Localvolunteers.
Accessed 10 Sept. 2023.
‌
Jazeera, Al. “Sudan’s Army Chief Al-Burhan Meets Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim in Diplomatic Push.” Aljazeera.com, Al Jazeera, 7 Sept.
2023, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/7/sudans-army-chief-meets-qatars-sheikh-tamim-in-diplomatic-push. Accessed 10 Sept.
2023.

Aquaponics
Economics by Raed
Every year, nearly 800 billion fish die. This is a problem
because humans need fish for several reasons. What if I
told you aquaponics, a method of farming that will improve
plants growth and at the same time we will save the fish. It's
a win-win scenario!
Aquaponics is a method of farming that just needs water,
plants and fish.In aquaponics we use something called the
nitrogen cycle. First the fish will naturally dispose their
food which makes the water dirty . This leads to ammonia
which is very poisonous to the fish then the nitrosomonas
turn it into nitrite which is even more poisonous than
ammonia, but thankfully the nitrobacter turns the nitrite
into nitrate.Nitrate is a natural chemical that the plants love,
meaning that they will suck it up like a vacuum and with
that the fish tank will be clean from all of the nasty
chemicals without us doing anything, meaning that it is
sustainable and will work without us touching it.

Mercury
Every farmer should switch to aquaponics because it uses
90% less water than regular farming which is very useful for
the future.Another benefit of using aquaponics is that the fish
will have zero mercury, which is a chemical that is poisonous
to fish that comes from human activity. Mercury is poisoning
the small fish in the ocean, those small fish get eaten by
bigger fish which are further eaten by even bigger fish etc
which makes more mercury in the body of bigger fish.
Doctors don't recommend eating shark or swordfish
when you are pregnant because there is a very high
chance of mercury being inside of them. This is bad
because there is a high probability that your kids will
have birth defects.
Aquaponics in Qatar
In Qatar aquaponics is big because Qatar is a peninsula
meaning that we are mostly surrounded by water .We could
use this water to our advantage.Using the water in the sea we
could use the water for aquaponics just by filtering it.In Qatar
we have a company called agrico, agrico uses aquaponics to
grow their fresh organic vegetables, they have been
approved by USDA that they are healthy and organic.If you
want to make a functional aquaponic farm in qatar it would
cost around 250,000$ to 350,000$ equivalent to
910,210QAR to 1,274,350QAR. The economics of
aquaponics have been going up as these products are very
cheap as aquaponics is the easiest and cheapest farming
method.If you are at the store and happen to pass by any
fruits or vegetables that are grown by aquaponics I suggest
that you should buy their cheap organic products.
In addition, aquaponics saves 80% of water which is
crucial in desert farms.
Hunger
Hunger is one of the world development goals for 2030, and
right now we are halfway to our goal which is not good at all.I
think aquaponics is the answer to this. Aquaponics is a
perfect solution for hunger in the world because it is cheap
and really sustainable.
Bibliography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhcAOE2JOVs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEal63zv-2
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soilfertilizers/how-fish-waste-helpsplants.htm#:~:text=Well%2C%20one%20of%20the%20most,
NPK%20nutrients%20but%20also%20micronutrients.

The power of aruyveda -
Mohammed Amaan
Hi there, curious people! Today, we go on an very exciting
journey into the world of South Asian medicines. Did you
know that less than 99% of people know the basics of
ayurveda? Brace yourself to explore traditional healing
systems that have been healing people and their minds for
centuries. From Ayurveda to Siddha medicine and the
medicine of Unani, we'll uncover the secrets from all of the
South Asian medicines and their effects on human health
and well-being. And we grow them at school.
Let's go back to 2nd Century BC and travel back to the
origins of South Asian medicines. Our first stop is
Ayurveda, the ancient science of life that comes from the
mystical land of India. Plants and aromatic herbs, and a
holistic approach to health that considers not only the
physical body but also the mind and spirit. Ayurveda's
timeless principles guide us towards optimal health
through herbal remedies, dietary wisdom, yoga, and
meditation. It's a holistic symphony for the senses

Moving further south, we encounter Siddha medicine,
The Siddhars come from ancient Tamil in India, and these
mystical healers believed in achieving balance and
harmony within the body. Their medicines consisted of a
blend of herbs, minerals, and even animal products! But
that's not all—Siddha medicine also recognized the
importance of the spirits in the healing process. It's
medicine for the soul and from the god Lord Shiva.
What is siddha medicine and what does it do?
Siddha medicine is a traditional system of medicine that
originated in Tamil Nadu, India. It is believed to have
evolved around 2,500 years ago and is based on the
principles of Ayurveda and Tamil literature. Siddha
medicine keeps the balance between the body, mind, and
spirit for health. It is a combination of herbs, minerals, to
treat various issues. The Siddha system of medicine is
recognized by the Government of India and has been
incorporated into the National Health Policy
(Shankar and Patwardhan)
Next on our adventure is Unani medicine, which originated
in ancient Greece but found its true origin in the country of
India. This system of medicine combined Greek, Persian,
and Indian medicines to create a holistic approach to
healthcare. Unani medicine seeks the delicate balance of
bodily humors by employing herbal remedies, dietary
adjustments, and lifestyle modifications. It's like a
multicultural feast for your well-being.
Now that we've gone back to ancient times, let's dive into
the core principles that make South Asian medicines so
healing. One of their central medicines is their belief in the
relationship between mind, body, and spirit. These systems
go beyond surface-level treatments and aim to go to the
root causes of illness. It's like treating your whole body but
focusing on one part.
Fast forward to the present day, where South Asian
medicines have entered modern healthcare. Ayurvedic
medicines have been combined with medicine to make
Siddha therapies, and Unani medicines join forces with
Western medical approaches. It's like taking all the
medicines and making one!
Like any great adventure, the path of South Asian medicine
is not without its challenges. People argue that these
systems lack robust scientific evidence and more proof.
There are lots of questioning about the quality control of
herbal medicines

For testing, I made this amazing ayurvedic remedy lotion
that consists of aloe vera gel, neem leaves, and coconut
oil. Seriously, that's all you need! And if you want to make
it smell better, you can add some rose water. It does
wonders for your body.
I used neem from school and aloes from home.
You can just apply it to your skin or rashes, and it will sooth
your skin. I have already tested this, and it is amazing.
RECIPE:
One cut of aloe vera gel , (1 leaf)
4 leaves of neem,
One spoon of coconut oil
BLEND IT!
Please ask Miss Claire for permission to harvest aloes
and neem. You can also add sidr.

Bibliography:
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthsite.com%2Fayurveda%2F&psig=AOvVaw3xgUBsWk_ijGv9NG-
IwZHv&ust=1685335278639000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCLiz0qmZl_8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Jaiswal, Yogini, and Leonard L Williams. A Glimpse of Ayurveda – the Forgotten History and Principles of Indian Traditional Medicine.
Vol. 7, no. 1, 1 Jan. 2017, pp. 50–53, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198827/
#:~:text=Ayurveda%20has%20an%20age%20old,of%20logic%20named%20as%20Nyaya., https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.jtcme.2016.02.002. Accessed 27 May 2023.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Siddhar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 May 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhar. Accessed 27
May 2023.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Unani Medicine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 May 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unani_medicine.
Accessed 27 May 2023.
(“Ayurveda Pictures - Google Search”)https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ayurvedamagazine.org%2Fayurveda%2Farticledetail%2F397%2FMeet-to-finalise-global-
benchmark-documents-on-Ayurveda-begins&psig=AOvVaw3xgUBsWk_ijGv9NG-
IwZHv&ust=1685335278639000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCLiz0qmZl_8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI
“Siddhars God - Google Search.” Google.com, 2019, www.google.com/search?q=Siddhars+god&client=operagx&hs=UKr&sxsrf=APwXEdcytmxPdDod3rHVj8pHKeM6NWH13g%3A1685167769200&ei=mZ5xZNDvC7eTxc8PoK6tgAE&ved=0a
hUKEwiQoJSS65T_AhW3SfEDHSBXCxAQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=Siddhars+god&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQAzIFCCEQoAE
yBQghEKABMgUIIRCgATIFCCEQoAE6BAgAEEc6CAgAEIoFEJECOgUIABCABDoECAAQHjoGCAAQHhAPOgYIABAWEB46CAgAE
BYQHhAKOggIABAWEB4QD0oECEEYAFDVBFisCWC8DGgAcAJ4AIAB9QGIAZcHkgEDMi00mAEAoAEBwAEByAEI&sclient=gwswiz-serp.
Accessed 27 May 2023.
‌

Coming soon…
SISQ
SAVES
SEA
TURTLES
Discover how grade 6 students
are saving marine life with their
IDUs
Introducing Handhu, our very own Olive Ridley Turtle. Handhu has just been
released from ICU but we need your help to protect marine life in Qatar and
abroad. Inspired! Fulfilled!prepared!