Boundless Edition 4 by Arkbound

£1.99

Issue 4 | Winter Special 2016

BOUNDLESS Bristol and beyond

Cover Bristol’s Dark Shadow Transport: the future Climate change update The Gallery: Art and creative writing

Creativity

Journalism

Community

Future

A Note From the editor

n this SPECIAL EDITION of Boundless we look back to the past, and ahead to the future. We re-examine the central part that slavery played in shaping

Bristol, finding that modern counterparts of this evil trade still exist. From a collection of creative work by local people who have triumphed over disadvantage and marginalisation, we then look at one of the key modern problems faced by the city – transportation – and expore what may be the best solution to rising congestion problems. Interspersed amongst this coverage is our regular spotlight on community organisations, climate change update, fantastic photography, (in)famous 'Soapbox', reviews, puzzles and competitions. Plus a little extra dose of controversy and innovation! It is important for us to know what you think, so please send in your comments and feedback. If you would like to contribute to the next edition, the copy deadline is 15th February 2017. It is important for all us to remember what happened before, for we can all learn from the past.

Our vision

e want to help create a more open and accountable society, where people are not afraid to speak out; where injustice,

corruption and oppression is thrown to light. At the same time, we aim to give a voice to marginalised groups, allowing alternative perspectives and fresh insights to be shared. Much of our art and creative writing is contributed by people suffering some kind of exclusion. We actively give organisations that seek to improve their local communities a platform. Boundless has a focus on the future, believing in the empowerment of young peope, whilst advocating sustainable living. Your feedback and contributions as a reader are welcomed. There are opportunities to get involved with our work, to become part of a growing social enterprise initiative, and, unlike other outlets that proclaim similar aims, we promose to always respond and to actively make a difference. This magazine has been distributed by foot and bike to venues across Bristol, as well as approved vendors, and posted to subscribers. We welcome new distributors, so please get in touch if you are interested.

Boundless Fourth edition (special), published by Arkbound Editors Sam Wainwright, Martin Whittlemore, Steve Mcnought Front cover image Christopher Parsons; volunteer for The Glacier Trust Designer Christina Freeth Arkbound Backfields House Upper York Street Bristol, BS2 8QJ www.arkbound.com Follow us @arkbounduk

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We want to help create a more open and accountable society, where people are not afraid to speak out; where injustice, corruption and oppression is thrown to light. At the same time, we aim to give a voice to marginalised groups, allowing alternative perspectives and fresh insights to be shared. Much of our art and creative writing is contributed by people suffering some kind of exclusion. We actively give organisations that seek to improve their local communities a platform. Boundless has a focus on the future, believing in the empowerment of young peope, whilst advocating sustainable living. Your feedback and contributions as a reader are welcomed. There are opportunities to get involved with our work, to become part of a growing social enterprise initiative, and, unlike other outlets that proclaim similar aims, we promose to always respond and to actively make a difference. This magazine has been distributed by foot and bike to venues across Bristol, as well as approved vendors, and posted to subscribers. We welcome new distributors, so please get in touch if you are interested.

Contents

Plus..

Slavery Page 4

Community Spotlight 09 | ‘See it from Her’ 24 | Tiger 29 | Tax Evasion

Lifestyle

TRansport Page 16

26 | Views from Afar 32 | Recipes ‘Loki Cakes’ 33 | The Strawberry Thief cafe review

Soapbox

28 | State of the City 30 | Brexit

Gallery Page 10

At the back 34 | Your Letters 35 | Bookreviews 37 | Competitions 38 | Puzzles

Climate page 22

FEature

Bristol’s Dark Shadow By Martin Whittlemore, Lawrence Hoo and Steve Mcnought Edward Colston’s statue Victorian era

erhaps it is inevitable for all places of human habitation to have a dark side, whether in the tucked-away corners of a wretched history or the squalid contours of geography. For Bristol, amidst its festivals, ‘green’ awards and progressive reputation, a persistent shadow stalks. It is one that many try to ignore, downplay or dismiss as something distant, remote, and no longer relevant. Nevertheless, despite decades of change, it still haunts the city. It is the shadow of slavery.

An evil trade The roots of slavery, like most evils, lie in the pursuit of gain without conscience. From 16981807 it is estimated that over 2,000 Bristol ships set sail for slaving purposes. They forcibly captured and imprisoned half a million native Africans, sending them across the Atlantic to work on plantations owned or protected by the British Empire. 25% of captured slaves perished during the trans-Atlantic voyage. For those who managed to survive, a life that was without human rights, freedom, and treatment fit for human beings awaited them and their descendants. There were hundreds of uprisings throughout this time, most ruthlessly quelled and erased from history. Slavery was a lucrative business – paving the fortune of slavers and their families. The

wealth that poured into Bristol saw the development of many of the iconic buildings and areas we know today. Queen’ s Square, for example, was built on slave money. Families involved in the slave trade owned many of Clifton’ s grand homes. In the inner city, from Colston Hall (named after a rich slaver) to Corn Street, the tentacles of slavery can be found... if one is inclined to notice them. The Slave Trade underpinned the city’ s economy – without it Bristol would not be the city it is today. At its height, Bristol slave trips numbered 20 a year – with many of the early voyages being financed by multiple investors (including ‘ common people’ ). Whilst few slaves ended up in Bristol itself, the ships played a pivotal role in the so-called ‘

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Triangle Trade’ between Britain, Africa and the Caribbean (see diagram below). Members of The Society of Merchant Venturers, a group that still exists today, dominated trade and local politics. Their power reached right into the heart of government - with many of their members serving as Mayors, aldermen and Sheriffs. One merchant, Thomas Daniel, was so feared and powerful that he was referred to as the ‘King of Bristol.’

~ Slavery ~

Colourless boundaries Despite Bristol’s slave trade being centred on the forced

Queen Square ‘Through persecution, beatings, fear and death People were enslaved, till their last breath People were taken from all over the great continent, never to return And over time, many would forget everything they did ever learn Imagine, not being allowed, to speak in your natural tongue Imagine, not being allowed, to educate your young’ From ‘An Illegal Trade’, poem by Lawrence Hoo, ‘Hoostory’

transportation of Black Africans, there were other groups who were also targeted. These included the tens of thousands of Irish slaves that traders sent to the New World during the 17th and 18th centuries. In this period the wealthy used their dominion over the poorer classes in order to exploit them for financial gain, often regardless of their colour. This is a structural pattern that many would argue remains an essential feature in our society today.

Abolition Towards the end of the 18th century, voices of opposition to slavery in Bristol grew. In 1788, following a visit from leading abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, the city became the first outside of London to set up an anti-slavery committee. Bristol writer Hannah More was one of the most vociferous campaigners, denouncing those involved with The Slave Trade as ‘white savages ruled by lust of gold or lust of conquest.’ While the anger and persistence of campaigners played a huge part in the eventual abolition of slavery, the criminalisation of this evil trade was also induced by its dwindling profits. The costs of slavery were beginning to outweigh its gains and many traders saw commercial sense in abolition. Britain became one of

Queen Square Bristol 1827, T. L. Rowbotham

the first European countries to outlaw the slave trade in 1807, and officially abolished slavery in 1833. So what happened after slavery was abolished? Did the ancestors of slaves who were cruelly up- rooted from their homelands and enslaved receive any recompense? No, they received no money to help them resettle. In fact, many slaves were forced to provide 45 hours of free labour to their ‘masters’ for 4 years after their ‘liberation.’ Meanwhile,

the slavers themselves were the ones who received compensation for their “lost income”. After reaping the rewards of slaving, these men were then handsomely paid off by the Government. In 1833, this peaked at £20m – equivalent to £16 billion today. In Bristol alone, slavers were handed out the equivalent of £71 million after slavery was abolished – an amount that allowed them to invest in other ventures, exploitative or otherwise.

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~ Slavery ~

Aftermath The story of Bristol’s involvement in slavery is one in which the victims had no deliverance and the villains no justice. The legacy of slavery continues, whether we acknowledge it or not. Many African people cannot trace their history because they have lost their original family name as a result of the slave trade. Long after slavery was abolished, into the 1960s and beyond, black people have continued to be subject to racial discrimination, encountering prejudice in all facets of everyday life, from the job and housing market to education. The famous Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, for example, was a reaction against Bristol Omnibus Company’s refusal to employ black

bus drivers. In the 21st century, it is no coincidence that the city’s poorest wards have the highest numbers of people from African descent. Current inequalities have inextricable connections to slavery. Even modern Council investment is shaped by this side to Bristol’s past, with over £4m being handed out to city centre venues like Colston Hall, St George’s and Watershed whilst poorer areas suffer the brunt of cuts. According to The Bristolian, £1.6m alone has gone ‘straight into the pockets of consultants’ simply to make plans to refurbish Colston Hall (part of a pledge that will eventually total £10m). A spokesman for the Hall has noted that this investment

Edward Colston’s statue will help fund music education and employment projects, as well as looking at an alternative name to ‘Colston.’ However, questions need to be asked about the lack of Advertisment

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~ Slavery ~ counterpart investments in the city’s poorest areas, in communities most adversely affected by the slave trade. No matter how much progress we make and however many years pass by, this city will always have a moral debt to pay to those it enslaved and those whose heritage and culture has been afflicted by slavery. It is a debt that a millennia of good deeds cannot erase, but one that should always be in the forefront of our collective conscience. It serves to remind us of the depths to which humanity can plummet. We should take note of the exploitation, inequality and cruelty imbedded in the history of Bristol. George Santayana’s warning that ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’ holds particular resonance in this city. Look hard enough and

the roots of slavery have not been completely removed. We must ensure that such evil will not rise again; that the ultra-powerful and wealthy, who are increasingly difficult to hold to account, cannot exploit the poor and vulnerable with impunity. In ending this article, we would like to devote a piece of writing in memory of the slaves who suffered

and made Bristol so wealthy. It is a famous poem by Maya Angelou, who herself suffered racial discrimination. It is a poem that shows how light can triumph over darkness, how love can overcome hate, and how the human spirit can win out over adversity. Please reflect on this, pausing for a moment to think how you can perhaps make a positive difference today.

Still I Rise You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise

I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

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~ Slavery ~

In Numbers

john wesley

“No circumstances can make it necessary for a man to burst in sunder all the ties of humanity. It can never be necessary for a rational being to sink himself below a brute.” “Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason. It is our part, by religion and reason joined, to counteract them all we can.”

Kafala and Fifa:

Sweatshop Labor and your clothes

hilst we would like to regard slavery as a blotch in human history, the sad reality is it has continued for millennia – right to the present day. As of writing, in Qatar, there is a legal ‘kafala’ system that sees migrant workers paying fees to work in a country, work extralong hours in terrible conditions, then often having their wages withheld. Such a system does not exist without Western involvement: the football association FIFA is one company that benefits. In South East Asia, a similar phenomenon can be found: thousands of labourers on minimal

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or even non-existent wages working in inhuman conditions to produce products for many of the UK’s top stores. If slavery is to be defined as the exploitation of one person for another’s profit, whose freedom is curtailed for that purpose, then we don’t need to look very far to find it. The question needs to be asked: how long are we going to tolerate slavery to exist? Because, like those Bristolians who invested in African slave voyages decades ago, and who manufactured the chains that would encircle human flesh, many of us also have a hand in supporting modern day slavery.

Community Spotlight

Modern Day Slavery

See It From Her Project By Bryony Ball ur city was built on slavery, but despite being abolished in 1833 it still exists across the UK. It happens in car washes, homes, nail bars, take-aways, warehouses, brothels, retail stores, factories and many other places that you might not expect. Almost 21 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour – 11.4 million women and girls, and 9.5 million men and boys. Of those exploited, 4.5 million are victims of forced sexual exploitation. In the UK, during 2015 there were 3,266 people identified as potential victims of trafficking - a 40% increase on 2014 figures. There is no typical victim of slavery: they can be men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities and nationalities. However, itǯs normally more prevalent among the most vulnerable or within minority or socially excluded groups. There are increasing victims of trafficking and modern day slavery being discovered each year in the UK, but the voices of survivors are often unheard. This is why the Bristol-based organization ‘See It From Her’(SIFH) wanted to do a project with survivors,

focusing on empowering women from marginalized backgrounds and those who are least heard. Women are still defined by a culture created predominantly by men: regularly misrepresented and objectified in the media, pressured to fit into narrow and stereotypical representations of being female, which leads to discrimination and disempowerment. SIFH believesevery woman and girl has the right to represent themselves as they would like to be seen, being in control of their own image. Working alongside the charity ‘Unseen’, the project by SIFH has supported women survivors to take ownership and control of the space around them through photography. To see some of the other images that were created, and to find out more, visit www.seeitfromher.com

By a Nigerian Survivour

By an Albanian Survivour Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 9

The Gallery

Vanndoo Media

obot high fiving a fish. Bird

on a Llama. Tessellated dogs. All this and more in the wondrous and unpredictable Vanndoo universe. From unique hand-drawn patterns, Alice Duthie creates a beautiful visual sense of story that full of life and adventure, perfect to be falling asleep in your own World. Based in Devon, Vanndoo are starting out on their own adventure by running a Kickstarter Campaign to bring that dream to your homes. As well as duvet covers, the Vanndoo universe expands to a beautiful, wide range of black and white, and coloured prints. To join in on their adventure, take a look at their Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/ projects/398041857/vanndoo-theadventurous-duvet or in hope to follow their adventure and seek some lovely duvets, take a look at their website www.vanndoo.com

â&#x20AC;?

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~ Art ~

Creative Writing e received lots of entries for the Annual 2016 Competition, nearly all of which were under the short story

category. Winners are as follows:

st Prize (£100): The Rescue By Joao Rousa (next page).

2 3

nd Prize (£50): Carriage 12 By Laura Cao (right).

rd Prize (£25): By Anita Russell Visit the Arkbound website to see Anitas story. Runner ups (£5) : Ian Tew Alexandra Crawshaw and Veronica Bright. If you would like to enter the 2017 Competition, please turn to page 37.

Carriage 12 By Laura Cao

he train was already packed when I boarded. Hot and sweaty bodies were at every corner of Carriage 12 – the air inside was

damp and humid even though almost all the windows were open. Still, it was better than the 33-degree scorching heat outside. Who knew the weather in July could be this oven-like, especially as its England? I hurried forward, phone and ticket in one hand and a small travelling bag in the other. Thank goodness I had a sitting ticket! I would never be able to last standing for the whole journey home, which was five long and tiring hours. Pushing past a crowd of chatting ladies, I found my seat,

stuffed my bag into the overhead storage unit and plonked down on the soft fabric, giving a contented sigh. I was absolutely exhausted, having just taken a two-hour bus ride to the station and been in line for the train for what seemed like hours. Turning on my phone, I texted my best friend. “On the train! So tired, can’t wait to get home x” I watched the other passengers as we all waited for the train to leave the platform. Beside me was a burly man, most likely in his mid-forties, tucking into a huge chicken salad sandwich dripping with ketchup and Read the rest here www.arkbound: www.arkbound. com/competitions/ Advertisment

l nuaon! n a our petiti t u o ck com Che riting w Created the ‘Zooker’ literary award. Winner of Go Green Sustainability award 2016.

Voted ‘4*’ for customer service, with top reviews. Great links to regional and national press.

Publishing a successful book is not e a s y, b u t w i t h A r k b o u n d yo u w i l l re c e i ve a l l t h e s u p p o r t yo u n e e d to m a ke i t a s u c c e s s . Fro m c o m p re h e n s i ve p ro o f re a d i n g a n d rev i e w s to n a t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d e f fe c t i ve p ro m o t i o n , w e w i l l e n s u re yo u r b o o k g e t s n o t i c e d f a s t .

www.arkbound.com

A: Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol, BS2 8QJ E: editorial@arkbound.com

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Poetry Don’t Miss it!

till I Rise is a fantastic piece of poetry on page 7. We popped

it there as we would like to devote a the piece of writing in memory of the slaves who suffered and made Bristol so wealthy. Also check out page 5 to read: ‘An Illegal Trade’ by Lawrence Hoo.

Tree Paper Boat By Waltraud Popischil

What the night Can’t hide anymore... Is keeping me awake. No escape than to feel it... Only sensing and following the flow of tears, Like in a sinking paper boat, Might get me there. But what are the endless oceans, Compared to the first tear drop They all came from?

~ Creative Writing ~

The Rescue By Joao Rousa eal times are the kindest

from a simpler race – no, a stronger

clocks. They divide the day, help keep us focused. We are fed two times a day and each one of us can’t wait to get our plate, even though the taste of the food leaves much to be desired. How I long for a thick juicy steak! Anyway, let me introduce myself. I’m Benny, as the name and picture on my ‘room’ door states. Of course, it’s really just an extra-big cage. I’ve been here 2 years now and I’m not sure when I’m getting out. Right opposite used to be my pal’s room – he got out yesterday, lucky geezer. Now a new one’s in there, pining away. His cheap coat looks like it’s been through plenty of homeless nights. When exercise time comes he’s going to wish he died younger than he is now. Just

and more noble tribe. Some of the ones here bear their features: a proud brow, piercing brown eyes, strong legs, chest and shoulders. They walk more slowly, pacing their rooms night and day, perhaps dreaming the same dreams. Running... A bell sounds. Here it is: exercise time. The new one looks up. I don’t bother smiling. One by one, the doors open. The guard on duty today never says anything but bad words. He’s the sort that finds power and strength only in attacking those who can’t fight back – and if they do… well, let’s just say things can get a lot worse. Out into the sun, across the pavement, onto the grass – a rush

look at those eyes! We’ve all been through pain, both outside and in here: betrayed, made to fight for our lives, chased down like monsters, kicked down and called names until nothing seems to matter. Sleep away your days, I try to tell him. Because in here sleep is the only escape. When I dream I am always running – from what, I can never remember. There are trees and fields, mountains and rivers. I can taste the air, so fresh and cool, carrying with it the many scents of life. They say we are descended

and swirl of bodies and faces. The fence keeps us from going very far. I look around and see the familiar gangs getting together, playing their dim-witted games. My spot, as always, remains unoccupied. It’s in the shade, out of the way. This is where I sit and watch and wait. The newcomer zooms out, his head low. One look at the main gang seals his fate. They close in, faces fixed in the same twisted snarls. I blink and he’s down. Read the rest here www.arkbound: com/competitions/

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Art

Victoria Clothier

ictoria Clothier is working

her painting magic. Near her art shop in St Nicholas Market, Bristol; Victoria began painting a portrait of her local Big Issue seller. This spiralled into a project painting a series of images on the focus of homelessness. Most paintings are done by watercolour. To see other paintings, take a look at Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other work www.vicbricart.co.uk or visit her stall to see a full range of work. Advertisment

Justcanno ased in Clifton, Justcanno is there to help transform you space to itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full potenital for the

benefit of the local community. Justcanno shares a wide range of fine art pieces, from photography to paintings to ceramics to glass, they have it all. For more information about Justcanno, check out their website: www.justnanco.co.uk

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Your

Daniel Le Mesurier

Art e love seeing your

artwork here! Keeping sending them in, or take a look the competitions on page 37 and submit your work! There are cash prizes to be won! < Daniel Le Mesurier Roads to nowhere roads to everwhere

Business since Dresden

Joshua Roberts Managing Brexit

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Snippet

Further State Scrutiny of Private Data Britain now has most extreme domestic spying powers in the democratic world t may come as no surprise to some that the so-called Snoopers Charter, advocated by then Home Secretary Theresa May from 2012, is reborn. The new legislation has been criticised by human rights groups

and the joint committees tasked with reviewing it. This will grant authorities new powers to collect and store everyones internet browsing history and allow state powers to hack into computers and smartphones.

The Government argues that these powers are needed to investigate serious crime and prevent acts of terrorism. However, one only has to look at history to see what happens when a state is given these sort of powers over its citizens. With few realistic safeguards and no written constitution to hold it in check, the potential for abuse is significant.

Riddlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Riddle

The Riddler has found a potion to look younger again, and here is his latest riddle: What grows when it eats, but dies when it drinks? See Page 38 for the answer! Advertisments

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FEature

A Road to Nowhere By Hannah Turner and Luke Alker hat fragments communities, damages the environment and is the single biggest cause of injuries & deaths every year? It is also the most prolific commodity advertised, through a diverse range of media, and widely considered a symbol of social status. Once an aberration that was predicted as a fad, this thing – the automobile – now underpins the structure of every city and town. In the UK, the automobile industry accounts for 8% of the economy and there are almost 3 times as many goods transported on our roads than that of shipping and rail combined. In 2015, a staggering 2.6

million new cars were rolled out onto Britain’s streets. With 31 million people driving or owning a car (as of 2015), it is perhaps not surprising to find that reform and criticism of this form of transportation has been kept to the bare minimum or simply ignored. We just can’t stop loving our cars. Yet, in Bristol, the consequences of car ownership on a limited road network has seen prolific congestion, increasing levels of accidents, and pollution levels that breach legal environmental standards. Higher carbon emissions from transport is also one of the reasons the UK looks set to fall (significantly) short of its target to reduce emissions by 80%

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before 2050. That is the minimum reduction that climate scientists say is needed to avoid global warming above 2 degrees centigrade (anything above that is thought to lead to ‘significant, irreversible’ changes of the kind you see in disaster movies!). Looking at it in a different way, a car driven from John O’Groats to Land’s End burns the same amount of Oxygen as a human being breaths in an average lifetime. Bear in mind that the journey is approximately 840 miles, around 1/10th of what the average person drives per year. Some argue that the solution to traffic is in building more and better roads. Not according to the UK charity ‘Campaign

~ Transportation ~ for Better Transport’, which cites research showing how road building only leads to more car usage. Such ‘induced traffic’ has been known by transport professionals since 1925, with a series of studies across the country demonstrating how new and enlarged roads provide a temporary solution (at best). Despite this, investment in transport infrastructure

It is no coincidence that some of the most deprived and excluded areas of Bristol are also where transport infrastructure is poorly implemented, with little regard to severance – just think of the M32 (adjacent to St Pauls and Easton) and St Philip’s Causeway (next to Lawrence Hill). Moreover, the ‘crossability’ of even some inner city roads is minimal, with pedestrians

continues to be dominated by building and enlarging roads. Less apparent is the wider social and environmental impacts of sprawling road networks. Putting aside the noise and pollution, which can often be significant, roads also fragment environmental habitats as well as communities. A research paper in the journal Transport Reviews (July 2015) has examined how road planners consistently overlook the problems surrounding such divisions, otherwise known as ‘severance’. The classic example is where a large

waiting inordinate lengths of time (at one inner city crossing, we recorded the wait time as 136 seconds, with some people being observed to become noticeably more frustrated and stressed as traffic passed in front of them). Anything else with such a long list of substantial negative impacts would be outlawed or, at the least, mandated to have a hazard label or health warning. A comparison could be drawn with cigarettes and tobacco, which must now carry prominent warnings on each packet. Cars

road divides a formerly cohesive neighbourhood, hindering people on one side of the road from accessing a library or other community service on the other. The sudden spike in traffic within such areas has been found to negatively impact public health, sense of community and social inclusivity. The researchers go on to observe how “barriers to mobility affect people’s wellbeing, due to detours, delays, effort required to use bridges and underpasses, perceived danger, exposure to noise and air pollution, visual intrusion, and loss of sense of place.”

are certainly a lot more damaging than cigarettes, especially when considering the risks posed to others and the environment, but instead of reminding people of these risks they are made to look nice and idolised in the media. Moreover, the independence and convenience that cars give to people is heightened by a transportation network that places car use more as a necessity than just an option. A new level of thinking is needed, especially in cities. More than ever, we need to consider alternative and radical transportation options.

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~ Transportation ~ SCARY STATISTICS There are nearly

2,000

fatalities caused by car accidents per year in the UK

There are over serious

20,000 injuries

sustained in road accidents in

the UK. On top of that,

Other transportation modes an overview Rail: Overground, rail networks can link places in a quicker and more environmentally friendly than roads. But they take up land and are expensive to build and run – underground rail even more so. Trams: Trams once existed in Bristol and many people want them back. They are often a core part of Continental cities and are still found in the North of the UK. One of the greatest benefits of trams is a greater efficiency and lower environmental impact than buses. The drawback to trams in cities like Bristol is the infrastructural development they require at ground level. They can also be quite costly. Bikes: How could we dare to forget the ubiquitous bicycle? With zero carbon emissions, little infrastructural costs and health benefits for users, bikes are often touted as the best transport solution. But they are not for everyone and, in Bristol, bike use is deterred by a fragmented cycle network and bad traffic.

tens of thousands of UK deaths

Buses: Traditionally the most common mass transit option in cities, buses are relatively cheap to run but do not completely solve congestion issues.

each year are attributable to

air pollution

Bristol Buses The average car produces

4.75 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year

95%

of diesel vehicles on the road are currently

breaking air pollution limits Congestion has risen 14% in 5 years and average UK journeys took 29% longer in 2015 than they would in free-flowing conditions

n the last edition of Boundless a reader asked us to look into the state of Bristol’s buses, with reference made to pollution, high fares and unreliability. We contacted First Bus about these issues. A spokesman responded that First Bus (Bristol) has the highest concentration of ‘Euro VI’ engine buses in the UK, which produce much lower levels of Nitrogen Oxide (a harmful gas linked to heart attacks, cancer and asthma) than older engines. Reference was made to high levels of investment in new low carbon buses since 2012 (around £300m), together with the purchase of 355 vehicles fitted with Euro IV engines in 2015.

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Third-party data was also provided to show that bus fares in Bristol are comparable with other UK cities. A 20p increase to single journeys, which came into effect on 30th October 2016, “can easily be beaten by smartphone users installing the First Bus mTicket app and users of a Touch smart card”, the spokesman added. However, it should be noted that, on a European level, the costs of travelling by public transport in the UK is very high. Travelling an equivalent distance in other European cities is, on average, 3-4 times cheaper, according to data from Transport Focus.

Scam Spotlight

n every edition of Boundless

will try to help you avoid getting caught out by a scam, rogue trader, or otherwise losing your money through corporate malfeasance. In this issue we look at something truly different.

The cleverest con-trick in history

his particularly scam is the

of thin air). Yes, it’s money we are

most prevalent in the world, which few people even know about. Yet most partake in it every single day! Chances are, you have the best scam in the world already in your pocket. It is a bit of paper, with the words ‘I promise to pay the bearer...’ elaborately written across its surface. In real terms these promisory notes are essentially worthless – as are those digits on your account balance (99% of which is created by banks from interchangeable loans out

talking about! And the fact that most people across the world have all been fooled into never seeing money as a scam is exactly what makes it the cleverest con-trick in history. We keep chasing it, almost to any ends, whilst destroying the world’s real wealth so that an elite minority can live as kings. Such is the money scam’s power that those who don’t follow through with it are either dead, dying...or never have the sorrow of reading this. Advertisment

ORIGIN3

STUDIO

Chartered Architects Practice 8-10 Whiteladies Road Bristol BS8 1PD 0117 329 3970 www.origin3studio.co.uk

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 19

FEature

Cable Cars:

The Transportation Solution?

Cable Car in Medelin able cars may conjure up images of alpine ski resorts, with skiers being lifted into the snowy heights on aerial conveyor belts. But, in cities across the world, cable cars are also being used for mass transportation. In Medelin, Colombia, 4000 people per hour are carried across the city by cable cars, spanning a network that is over 18 miles long. Cruising above the streets, the Medelin MetroCable boasts an impeccable safety record, with levels of reliability that leave the likes of First Bus in the dark ages. Unplanned, it has also resulted in an improved economy and vibrant cultural emergence in areas of Medelin that were previously fraught with crime and poverty. The first cable car was built

20 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

in 1873, in San Francisco. Since that time, cities across the world have liberated themselves from the flat thinking of roads. From Rio de Janeiro to Grenoble, cable cars are springing up in modern urban centres. Fast, efficient, environmentally friendly and surprisingly cheap, they could well be regarded as a transportation miracle. They can turn a journey of hours into minutes, flying above traffic and buildings to link different parts of a city. Some even utilise renewable technology like solar panels, making them the most ecological urban transit systems on the planet. Encouraging people to use public transit systems is not a problem with cable cars. Would you rather fly above the city and reach

~ Transportation ~ your destination quickly and safely, or sit in a long line of polluting traffic? Cable cars can link with existing transportation modes or fill a gap in the network; they can cross natural

underpasses in the Bear Pit. Moreover, it is actually the case that cable cars have the best safety record than any other transportation system. In Bristol, like most growing

obstacles easily, linking densely populated areas, as well as reduce congestion on existing routes. So what are the negatives? One concern is that cable cars might have a negative impact on an area’s heritage, breaking up the skyline with ‘ugly pylons’. Another is that they ‘infringe upon privacy’ and are ‘unsafe’. Yet the same concerns evaporate when cable cars are actually built: critics swiftly realise that the benefits far, far outweigh any negatives. In Medelin, for example, residents have actually used pylons as art pieces – in the same way Bristolians have used the

cities, we are seeing problems confounded by an archaic transport infrastructure and a poor bus network. Laying down more roads is not a solution (as explored earlier) and other options like clean air and congestion zones can only go so far. Building a cable car system in Bristol would be cheaper than any road network, and also a great deal faster! Yet, despite the almost never-ending list of benefits, only a few cities in the UK have made steps towards implementing this new layer of transportation - London’s Emirates Air Line and Cardiff’s planned one-mile cable car being two examples.

Medelin Metrocable

It is not for a lack of money that a cable car system on the scale of Medelin has not yet been implemented (£7.2 billion has been ear-marked for improving transport infrastructure in the South West), but more a lack of creative and logical thinking. Old systems are hard to replace for the precise reason that we have used them for so long. The question is how big do the problems surrounding roads and cars need to be before we take a new direction?

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 21

FEature

Climate Change: “Fact or Fiction”? By Sam Wainwright

Ama Dablam from Tholka t’s headlines like these that make scientists wince, but for many, the effects of climate change don’t seem particularly evident.Even our PM, Theresa May, was touted as a climate change sceptic when, shortly after coming into office, she shut down the department for climate change. It didn’t help that Mrs May also appointed Andrea Leadsom as Environment secretary, whose first question to officials when she became Energy Minister was “Is climate change real?” I think that question is one which a lot of people would consider worth answering: and the answer is yes. There is overwhelming evidence that it is

happening, that it’s our doing, and that it’s going to be a problem. The barrier to making amends to climate change is not due to lack of scientific consensus – but because of politics. Late in 2015, Barrack Obama agreed, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, that their two countries – the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases – would ratify the Paris Agreement. The US-China deal came after weeks of intense negotiations, which had to transcend many other political barriers. “Despite our differences on other issues, we hope that our willingness to work together on this issue will inspire greater

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Jamie Forsyth of The Glacier Trust ambition and greater action around the world,” said Mr Obama. Now the election of Donald Trump throws this into grave doubt (see adjacent). Here in Bristol, it’s hard to recognise that climate could have an impact. Elsewhere, it is more noticeable. In Nepal, for example, vulnerable communities living in mountainous regions are having to make adaptations. I caught up

~ Climate Change ~

COP22 Climate Change Update etween 7 - 18th November, world leaders met in Marrakech for the 22nd climate change talks, following the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that began in 1994. It was a progression of the Paris Agreement, reached at the previous ‘COP21’ in 2015, which set out the framework for climate change action and an overall agreement to prevent a global temperature rise above 2 degrees. In Marrakech, leaders approved a 5-year ‘loss and damage’ workplan that will address the slower impacts of climate change, such as those surrounding migration. Moreover, 47 of the world’s poorest countries pledged to generate all of their energy from renewable sources ‘as soon as possible’ and to prepare long-term strategies. Whilst it is yet to be determined exactly what each country has to do from the Paris Agreement – let alone how they can be held accountable for it – the Marrakech talks built upon the commitments made in 2016, whilst leaving a lot of loose ends. There is no doubt, however, that a long shadow looms over these talks. As an avowed ‘climate change sceptic’, Donald Trump has said that he will take the US

B with Jamie Forsyth of The Glacier Trust, who explained this. “We are definitely seeing the effects of climate change,” says Jamie. “Temperatures are rising and the rainy monsoon season is shortening and becoming more intense. To compound this, rising temperatures mean that crop pests are moving upslope and affecting what food is being produced.” The Glacier Trust helps these vulnerable mountain communities by raising funds to implement projects like irrigation systems with water storage ponds, but not all communities are able to deal with climate change simply by adapting. Some of the strongest voices during the Paris climate talks were from leaders of Pacific islands that will soon disappear. The president of Kiribati stated that the Paris agreement would not save islands such as his (which has an average elevation of 2 meters above sea level). Climate change will be harshest on the poorest, but on the present trajectory it will eventually affect all of us, and humanity as a whole, for decades to come.

out of the Paris Agreement, as well as dismantling Barrack Obama’s environmental legacy. This would, in many ways, be much worse than the non-ratification of the Kyoto Protocol under President George W Bush, who at least stated that he took climate change ‘very seriously’. Trump’s position is very different, and his presidential victory threatens to seriously undermine efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, with North America being the second biggest CO2 emitter (and the largest if measured by per capita). It is thus for good reason that activists and scientists alike have heralded Trump’s White House tenure to be ‘a disaster for the planet’… though it will ultimately

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 23

Community Spotlight Sponsored

Eyes on the TIGER Review by Alex Greenwood

One Bristol-based cooperative is challenging gender inequality and sexism amongst young people he era of Page 3 newspaper models may be coming to an end, but gender inequality and sexism is still a major problem for young people in the UK. This is an issue that, for many, is ‘invisible’ and easy to forget, but it plays a fundamental part in shaping young lives. A 2015 Girl Guiding UK survey found that 81% of girls aged 11-21 said they had experienced some form of sexism, and a similar proportion thought they were judged more for their looks than their ability. It is not just girls who are experiencing gender divisions: exclusions among boys are 3 times higher than for girls and exclusions overall are on the increase in Bristol. Gender inequality is shown to negatively impact educational

attainment and emotional wellbeing, but unfortunately the problem is persistently side-lined. One report, The Everyday Sexism Project, discovered that 92% of under-18s thought that school sex and relationship education did not deal with issues around sexism, such as consent or assault. The government still resists making Personal, social, health and

economic education (‘PSHE’) part of the national curriculum, which is why extra-curricular organisations can be so important. Teaching Individuals Gender Equality & Respect (‘TIGER’) are one such organisation. TIGER was founded in 2012 and aims to help young people challenge sexism and gender inequality in society. It works predominantly with schools and youth groups, running interactive, inclusive, inspiring and fun workshops with young people, as well as teaching staff and university students. TIGER seeks to get issues related to gender talked about from an early age - challenging potentially damaging stereotypes,

24 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

attitudes and behaviours when they are first being formed. This in turn can raise educational attainment and aspiration. With 2017 round the corner, it is surely time that young people should not need to fight against gender inequality and sexism. For many this is a barrier to their potential, an obstacle to their future dreams, and all of society (not least popular culture and media) has a responsibility to tackle it. To find out more about TIGER, visit www.tigerbristol.co.uk

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Lifestyle

Views from Afar The beauty of Iceland By Christina Freeth

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n this edition of Boundless, we take you on a Nordic adventure to Iceland! Christina is a travel and social documentary photographer who is living and working in Bristol. Christina's work shares experimentation with narrative and cinematography with in documentary photography, she strives to create work that shares a poetic feel. Christina recently travelled through the picturesque landscape of Iceland with her partner Laurie in search of adventure and to see the wonders of what Iceland has to offer. www.christinafreeth.com Instagram: christinafreeth

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 27

State of the City:

Investing in a Time of Cuts

n his first annual ‘State of the City’ address Mayor Marvin Rees outlined his vision of a more connected and equal city, whilst acknowledging the ‘inescapable reality that demand for our services is growing while at the same time our resources are diminishing’. A whopping £92 million in cuts to the Council’s budget will be made by 2022, in what the Mayor has called a necessity imposed by ‘the false economy of austerity’. Bristol may have much to boast about, but it is also a place where 25% of children live in poverty and increasing numbers of people on a normal working wage cannot find somewhere affordable to live. Amidst such a climate of cuts, how is it possible to invest into the city and combat inequality? The Mayor mentioned how a ‘strategic partnership’ with a Community Interest Company, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital (‘BBRC’),

can provide a route of investment in a time of austerity. In an interview with Boundless, Chief Executive of BBRC Ed Rowberry confirmed that BBRC is able to invest into community projects (the South Bristol Sports Centre being one recent example), with a focus on building more sustainable homes and stronger communities. Drawing

a community asset going, there are examples of private developers grabbing once cherished community venues for profit. In contrast, BBRC’s model is presented as one of working with local people, as an independent and not-for-profit entity, for the benefit of Bristol. “We are also open to listening and learning, engaging with

upon funding from a range of sources, including Big Society Capital (a pool of about £400m from dormant bank accounts), BBRC aims to work with the Council to create a situation where people are properly housed in a low carbon city with good levels of employment. The challenges facing communities in the current economic climate include what Mr Rowberry referred to as ‘sources of external investment with large funds who can impose unwanted solutions and outbid local groups’. Certainly, for every investment that might keep

the community – so if anyone has any ideas we would like to hear them,” Mr Rowberry added. Echoing such a sentiment, the Mayor has invited people to comment on the Council’s Corporate Strategy, which contains the proposed steps on how savings can be made and what can be invested in. Details of the Strategy can be found here: www.bristol.gov.uk/ council-spendingperformance/ corporatestrategy-20172022-consultation

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Our comments: Page 34

Tax Evasion International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reveals just how extensively tax reduction schemes are used by the rich and powerful.

Image: Shutterstock

t seems that once you achieve a certain level of wealth, paying tax is no longer a problem. Through clever accounting systems, it is possible to reduce all corporate and personal taxation to a negligible level. One of the most popular

run from the Bahamas, allowing wealthy families to avoid paying tax in the UK). Tax avoidance and evasion is a major issue, but one that has always been hard to tackle due to the power and wealth of those who benefit from

mechanisms of doing this is through setting up offshore companies in so-called ‘tax havens’ like Panama and the Bahamas. In April 2016, an unprecedented data leak from an employee of Panana-based bank Mossack Fonseca provided evidence that would rouse public anger at tax inequality. It was enough for Iceland’s PM to stand down and for David Cameron’s tax affairs to be placed under scrutiny (his father’s company, Blairmore Holdings Inc, was incorporated in Panama and

it – none more so when this includes politicians and media owners. The former have the power to change policy, whilst the latter can shape or redirect public opinion (and some of the largest media owners have managed to pay little or no UK tax). Now a cache of 1.3 million files from the Bahama’s corporate registry has created the largest public ---‘This article is continued at www. arkbound.com/ articles/#tab-id-1 Advertisment

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Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 29

Soapbox

Boundless is politically neutral but believes that a vibrant democracy requires active political participation. We invite contributions from political parties on a rotation basis. If a party does not respond we move onto the next in order. The next edition will give space to the Liberal Democrats to write about a chosen issue – if you have any requests or comments please email: boundless@arkbound.com

Brexit

Brexit STATISTICS

By Helen Godwin

Bristol

‘Let the people decide.’ - Pericles of Athens

he impact of the Brexit vote in

June will be felt for years to come, and as I write we are still at the very beginning of our path to leaving the European Union. The reaction to the vote has shaken the government, the economy and our society. Here in Bristol almost 62% voted to remain, a strikingly different outcome to the national result, and the Mayor has taken immediate steps to ensure that Bristol continues to have a role in Europe and that the impact of Brexit is as positive as it can be for the City. Mayor Rees was the first City

Leader to travel to Brussels in the aftermath of the vote, and has also set up a Brexit Response Group which has already published a document setting out immediate actions and plans. The Group is asking the government for clarification around funding, residency rights, law and immigration and also lobbying for continued access to the single market, immigration arrangements that reflect key skill shortages, and for business interests to be reflected during negotiations. As a net contributor to the UK economy,

30 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

39%

61% Remain

48%

Britian

Leave

52%

England

53%

47% Scotland

38%

62% wales

53%

48% n. Ireland

56%

44%

Bristol feels it should have a voice in these discussions and that an outcome that protects as many workers and jobs as possible has to

must fill the gap and support vital development needs, green energy projects and social programmes in the city post-Brexit.

be fundamental in all the decisions that will be made. Brexit will fundamentally change government funding, and we need to ensure that Bristol sees a positive outcome from these changes. Bristol has benefitted from around ÂŁ50 million of European Union funding during the past decade, via specific projects and our universities; government

But most importantly there is a need to support all Bristolians during this uncertain period of change. As has been reported across the country, we have seen an increase in hate crime since Brexit, with many groups being affected. A particularly horrific attack on a young boy in Fishponds shocked the city, causing us all to reflect on the wider impact of Brexit on society. As Mayor Rees stated on the day after the vote, Bristol is

city of sanctuary and will continue to be so. It is a city that has always been diverse and open and it will continue to be so, post Brexit. To contact Helen: cllr.helen. goodwin@bristol.gov.uk. To find out more about Labour visit: www.laboursouthwest.org.uk. Advertisment

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 31

Lifestyle

~ Recipes ~

‘Loki Cakes’

A bit of Christmas Mischief in the Kitchen

“N

Recipe by Dan The PanGuivini who is Head Chef at the award-winning Pop-Eye Pi Deli, currently in Easton.

ever trust a thin chef”. It makes sense. Chefs should sample their food as they cook, and if the food is any good… well, there’s a whole lot of sampling! So when people say I am thin “for a chef” I take it as part of the job – not because I am thin (I’m bloody fat) but because I

Ingredients Serves 6

healthy humans

• 75g butter • 75g brown sugar • 80g self-raising flour • 2 herbal tea bags (according to your preference)

• 3 pinches of nutmeg (or cinnamon)

• Bit of [green]* • 2 eggs • 3 bananas • 100g dried cranberries (or raisins) • Honey

cook food that makes people happy. Ever since I became a chef at 17 I have seen all sorts of kitchen antics, but most have some kind of connection with cakes, casseroles and curries. This particular recipe below has, in my experience, been a prime example of that. I call it

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C, placing in baking tray (line with baking paper). 2. In a bowl dump in the sugar and butter after measuring. Mix. Throw in the flour and eggs and whisk (use water if mixture is too heavy). 3. Dollop the mix evenly onto the baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. 4. Whilst the mix is baking, mush up the three bananas into a smooth paste. Crack open the tea bags and dump the contents onto the mushed bananas. Get in them cranberries, [green]* and nutmeg whilst you’re at it. 5. Take out the cake mix from the oven and spread the banana paste evenly over the top. Place back in oven for a further 5-8 minutes or

‘Loki cakes’ after the Norse god of mischief. If you have a lot left after sampling then you’ve done something wrong (or you’re just seriously stuffed, or on some kind of military diet regime, or something). As I always say: bake away, you loons, and have some fun while you’re at it! Advertisment

until golden. 6. Divide cake as equally as your appetite allows and serve with a drizzle of honey.

32 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

* ‘Green’ – we are unable to list this ingredient for legal reasons

~ Review ~

The Strawberry Thief Independent bar in Bristols heart estled at the bottom of historic Broad Street, a short distance from the last remaining part of the city wall, is a bar that you cannot forget. It faces the old Edward Everard print works, built in the 19th century, and is adjacent to the Palestinian Museum. Almost like a Parisian café, the Strawberry Thief bar boasts chandeliers and an intricately decorated William Morris wallpaper from where its namesake derives. But this is not an exclusive bar for tourists, coffee connoisseurs and theatre goers. Under the new ownership of Mike Harris, the Strawberry Thief seeks to embrace a model of sustainability and inclusivity that is so hard to find elsewhere in central Bristol.

Since becoming the bar’s “Chief Thief”, Mike has managed to move towards a 100% renewable energy tariff, significantly reduced waste, and expanded a range of ethical

produce. It is as much about being a responsible custodian as providing great food and drink for everyone to enjoy, Mike says. Looking at the bar’s expansive range of Belgian beers, some of which you would not find outside of London, this is an aspect to the Strawberry Thief that customers might not know. What people will notice upon arrival, aside from the atmosphere and décor, is the way they will be served from the tables rather than having to order at the bar. Mike explains that the staff can provide advice on the selection of beverages available, as well as offering draught beer tasters. It is a method that initially comes across as strange, but a quick glance at the contented tables around shows that it is working. “People comment on the fact they can sit back and relax, although a few times we almost have to wrestle a few back to the table rather than serve at the bar,” Mike laughs.

From early November, Mike has teamed up with the Chocolate Bear kitchen to bring healthy, non-gluten and non-dairy food to the reach of his customers, paired with beers and wines. The introduction of more food has not eroded the bar’s beer-sampling atmosphere, but rather enhanced it. Moreover, by opening the doors to regular groups, such as ‘Novel Nights’, there is an active cultural vibe that connects people to different elements of Bristol. Most impressive, however, is the way Mike has managed to bring his background in environmental sciences and sustainability to make the bar a place that doesn’t indirectly damage the planet by trading – something that even Bristolians can forget about! With no mainstream advertising and just off the city centre thoroughfares, the Strawberry Thief is surely a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 33

“““

“““ At The Back

Just wanting to say that I found your magazine really interesting. I particularly liked the coverage on executive inequality. The only thing you should have covered was how the council has paid off their old CEO with a £200k bonus then goes on to pay a new CEO £1000 a day, after talking about cutting 1000 jobs! (Dan Tilter)

Readers Letters

Ghosts? Really? There was me thinking you were into ‘real’ journalism. Please don’t waste coverage and paper on such nonsense – there’s much more important things to look at, surely? (Igen Egbakile)

What a nice surprise to glance through your pages and see a recipe for one of the best cakes I have ever tried in my life. Since making the [cake] I have made it a weekly appearance for our family – many thanks to the lovely lady who passed this recipe on. (Joanne Cleavefield)

Our Comments; A moral and democratic crisis ome readers may be wondering why, given that Bristol voted for Labour in the last General Election and that most of the Council belong to parties that oppose austerity, we are having to make drastic cuts? According to Mayor Rees, “we have to balance our budget or we get taken over and the budget is balanced for us.” Such is the limits of local democracy, it seems. As austerity continues, unabated for 8 years, one of the greatest asset transfers in UK history is taking place. It is seeing public assets being sold off to companies and developers, and core services outsourced to private contractors. Many of these were built and paid for by our ancestors and previous generations of Bristolians - no doubt thinking that their hard work and taxes would secure them for posterity. It is a moral question, therefore, whether it is anyone’s right to sell them off against the wishes of local people – who predominantly

voted against the current Government. When these assets and services are lost, people no longer have a strong voice (or any at all) in how they are run. The poorest and most vulnerable have suffered worse from cuts, according to research by the London School of Economics. Damning findings from the Economic and Social Research Council have backed this up, noting that poverty in Britain is worse now than thirty years ago – and rising. A housing crisis continues to push people out onto the streets, into overcrowded prisons, or into the hands of unscrupulous companies who are starting to take over what remains of ‘the state’. Perhaps it is no surprise, therefore, that the United Nations are investigating how austerity is affecting British citizen’s rights under a subsidiary Covenant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

34 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

***

eanwhile, in the US, we witness the inauguration of arguably the most radical right-wing President since Ronald Reagan. The hard progress won by Obama on environmental issues seems set to be undermined as the rest of the world can only watch. Here in the UK, a Government determined to push ahead with leaving the European Union – ‘to respect the electorate’ – could see similar initiatives swept aside, as well as key civil rights. Most Bristolians chose to remain in the EU, and many of those who voted to leave were misled by inaccurate coverage made by unaccountable tabloid media. More than ever, our future – as well as the planet’s – is on a stormy road. Yet we have much to be optimistic about, not least in a city of creativity, social enterprise and diversity. Things may well seem darker, but this can also allow what light remains to shine all the brighter….

Book Reviews aydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Realm packs enough spaceships, gadgets, interdimensional quests, rogue government agents and inter-specific pleasantries to sate any Sci-Fi enthusiast. Whether weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck in the wrong reality or awaiting alien invasion, the ride is seldom short of puzzles to solve and breath to catch.The book Realm twists, turns,

explodes and catapults us off into space, doing more than enough to keep its pages freshly turned. (Review by Martin Whittlemore)

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Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 35

~ At The Back ~ eaturing song writers, rap singers and poets from across the UK, this collection has been heralded as the UK’s Streetwise

Bible. In the words of esteemed poet Khadijah Ibrahiim: “this newly published book rings out verses that shine in the hearts and mind of each writer who are shaping and reshaping time and place.” Lyrically Justified is a testimony to the power of young artistic talent, who have risen up from disadvantaged backgrounds to challenge stereotypes.

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How to buy these books he above books are available to purchase from all good book retailers, and can also be bought from: www.arkbound.com/featured-books We accept reviews from any book, not just those published by Arkbound, so if you have any please send them in to editorial@ arkbound.com

Put a P oet in Your S tockin g! POETRY TRADING CARDS

Traverse are beautifully designed poetry cards to collect and swap with other poetry lovers. They come in little packages (as all good things do) of 3 supercollectable cards from a series of 21. We’ve brought together brand new poems from contemporary poets including BBC Radio’s Ian McMillan, Mimi Khalvati and Pascale Petit, and hidden gems from some of our literary giants such as Shakespeare, Blake, Keats, Edna St Vincent Millay and Aphra Behn.

Collect all 21 cards! • Fun way to read serious poetry • A great introduction to poetry both classic and contemporary • A new way to build a poetry collection • Learn info, factoids and trivia about each poet

Ask your local bookshop to order them in or buy directly from Stonewood Press at www.stonewoodpress.co.uk

The perfect gift for poetry lovers and collectors!

36 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

At The Back

Competitions s 2016 submissions was fantastic, we are eager to get the 2017 categories out and see what exciting talent awaiting to be discovered. There are cash prizes up for grabs, so get your pens, paintbrushes and your creative minds at the ready!

Submissions

All submissions were sent to competitions@arkbound.com or by post to Competitions, Arkbound, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol BS2 8WF. Each submission should have been accompanied by an entry fee, unless sponsored.

Prizes

For each category the prizes are as follows: st Prize – £100, with a feature in Boundless magazine

1 2

nd Prize – £50, with a feature on the website and possibly Boundless (space permitting)

rd Prize – £25

Category; Short Story Theme: Time Details: Time is the measure of change; a seemingly inescapable facet of

existence. But what if there was more to time than we can see? Does it hold deeper meanings? Your short story can reflect upon the nature of time from the perspective of a central character, which could also be biographical, or it may go into the realm of science fiction. Whatever you decide, the word count is 1000.

Prizes: 1st: £150 | 2nd: £60 | 3rd: £30 | Three runners up: £10 each. (Each winner also receives an embossed certificate.)

Submission: Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of £3. (We

Each category will also have 3 runner-up places, each of which will receive £5.

are able to sponsor people who are in financial hardship or suffering other disadvantage.) You may send your entry by post (address on page __) or by email to competitions@arkbound.com. We accept payments by cheque, Paypal or BACS (please visit arkbound.com/competitions for details).

Unique to the ‘Best Short Story’ category, we will also be offering first and second prize winners the opportunity to be published in an anthology.

Deadline: 1st October 2017. Entries will thereafter be judged by a panel of 3

independent judges, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1st December 2017. Prizes will be given or sent out on the same day.

Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 37

Weather

At The Back

Puzzles

Weather Crossword

Fill in the correct answers, one letter per square, both across and down, from the given clues. Across

Down

4. Most common type of storm

1. Water that is found underground

7. The process of water changing into an invisible gas called water vapor

2. Large, powerful storm that occurs over large bodies of water

9. The state of the air at a certain time and place

3. The weather of a place over a long time

10. The process of water vapor turning into water droplets

5. Amount of water vapor in the air

11. Spinning cloud with a funnel shape

6. Scientists who study weather 8. Water overflow that is caused by a large amount of

Riddlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Answer

The Answer to this riddle; what grows when it eats, but dies when it drinks? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fire 38 | Boundless Magazine | www.arkbound.com

Puzzle background by Freepix

Bristol & Bath Regional Capital catalyses regional change through civic-led, commercially-focused and innovative investment. Find out more at www.bab-rc.uk Boundless@arkbound.com| Boundless Magazine | 39

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