debate Issue 6| May 2019 | Earth
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Contents
Questioning The Houseplant Trend :: Page 28
Giving the Mooncup A Go Page 12
Have You Bin Recycling? Page 14
Flat Earth Theory Page 18
Secrets of Being Well Page 24
C OV E R I L L U S T R AT I O N BY L E O WA LTO N
EDITOR Ben Webber ben.webber@aut.ac.nz DESIGNER Ramina Rai rrai@aut.ac.nz ADVERTISING Jesse Jones jesse.jones@aut.ac.nz
CONTRIBUTORS Leo Walton, Dan Brunskill, Samirah Ali, Ruth Stowers, Jessy Thurston, Sophia Romanos, Zoe Holland, Dayna Patel, Sam Deakin, Tegwyn McCormack, Britt Little, Jasmin Bull, Ruamano Te Koi, Ben Mollison & Melissa Koh.
PRINTER Nicholson Print Solutions DISCLAIMER
Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.
Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).
This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA.
PUBLISHED BY
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Editor's Letter The waste in my rubbish bin at home is probably festering as I sit down to write this. I really should be composting more things (between you and me I never compost anything). This issue is the ‘Earth Issue’ of Debate and it’s got me thinking a lot about the planet and how I live. I’ve been trying to produce a lot less rubbish but at the same time my kitten’s main priority seems to be to produce as much waste and general mess as possible. Often I’m grappling him in one hand (said hand being bitten and scratched) and trying to google whether you can recycle something random like bubble wrap at the same time. This issue has a real mix of stuff about the Earth. Some of our contributors focused on some small steps to be more sustainable
and even how self-healing can positively impact our futures. I want to stress, however, that taking steps to inform ourselves is one of the strongest moves we can make above all else. Some informative docos recommended to me by Britt Little from AUT Future Proofers include ‘Cowspiracy’, ‘Before the Flood’ and ‘Knock Down the House’. Over on page 10, Ruth Stowers tried going zero waste for a week and the results weren’t too shabby. It seems like focusing harder on the packaging that food comes in can make a massive difference to your footprint. This leads me to our giveaway section where we have a sustainability pack that includes a GoodFor voucher. At GoodFor you can bring your own jars etc and walk out free from the nasty plastics that so often come along with grocery shopping. Mooncups, sometimes met with shock or horror, are another pretty cool way to live more sustainably. Jessy Thurston unpacks all of this on page 12 and will get you up to
speed on whether a mooncup is something that might suit your lifestyle. And, it couldn’t be the ‘Earth Issue’ without touching on random flat Earth theories. Sam Deakin explains a little about how this is VERY MUCH NOT A THING on page 14. On page 18 you’ll find a guide from Sophia Romanos as to what you can and can’t recycle. The main take-away is that you shouldn’t put weird dangerous things in your recycling bin. Some people have even tried to recycle nappies! I screamed when I heard this. Anyway, I’m heading home to start a compost pile (maybe). I’ve long feared the rodents that could come along with it but it’s time to be brave. I already have a possum problem so the more the merrier, I guess? I’m begging my cat to back me up on this and protect me. Talk soon, Ben
Can't get enough of Debate? Check out our website, like or follow us on social media, or email the editor to get involved. www.debatemag.com
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What's on
Snort at the Basement Theatre
Paintvine
Ladies Box Fit classes
Where: Basement Theatre When: Fri 7 June - Fri 23 August What: A bunch of Kiwi comedians come
Where: Check the website for different
Where: Above the Balmoral Bowling Club,
together to perform some improv comedy gold. Acts include: Rose Matafeo, Guy Montgomery, Joseph Moore, Nic Sampson, Eli Matthewson, Alice Snedden, Donna Brookbanks, Eddy Dever, Chris Parker, Laura Daniel and Hamish Parkinson with the occasional special guest from NZ and abroad. You’re also invited to stick around after the show to have a drink with the cast at the weekly afterparty! How much: $12 with student ID
locations across the city. When: Every Tuesday What: No previous painting experience necessary! Get your friends together and let the creative juices flow. Paintvine hosts fun and social painting classes. All materials are provided and you’ll be taken through step-by-step instructions on how to create your own masterpiece - and take it home along with a small hangover. How much: Tickets are $45 and include one complimentary alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink and a slice of Sal’s pizza.
14 Mont Le Grand Road. When: Tue 28 May - Thurs 20 June What: Get some fitness into your week and meet some new people while doing it. An awesome way to really get that aerobic exercise going and get the blood pumping. Not bad for the old hand-eye coordination either. This club has Tuesday and Thursday sessions to get your sweat on in the CBD. How much: Free
Auckland Doc Edge Festival
Chromacon 2019
Mandela My Life
Where: Q Theatre, Ellen Melville Centre
Where: Aotea Centre When: Sat 1 June - Sun 2 June What: The indie arts festival celebrates
Where: Eden Park, 20 Bellwood Avenue. When: On now - Sun 4 August What: This exhibition explores the public
and Auckland Art Gallery. When: Thurs 30 May - Sun 9 June What: With 74 international documentary films to catch, there is something for everyone with the Doc Edge Festival. Highlights include award winners Of Fathers and Sons, The Other Side of Everything and The Long Season, as well as the World Premiere of the Italian documentary Postcards from India—A Busker’s Adventure. How much: $15 with student ID or $12 on a weekday before 5pm.
all New Zealanders with the best homegrown and original illustrators, comic artists, designers, animators and game developers. You will also be able to meet with the creators, purchase self-published work and one-off originals as well as enjoy live events such as painting demos and discussion panels. How much: Free
and private life of Nelson Mandela a century on from his birth. A selection of rare personal artefacts, film footage and documents, combined with newly created audio-visual pieces offer an insight into the world that shaped the life of one of the world’s most influential men. Many of the objects will be on display outside of South Africa for the first time. How much: $22.50 with student ID
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news
ST PAUL St Gallery Hits the Brakes By Dan Brunskill
AUT’s ST PAUL St Gallery has chosen to slow its exhibition programming in an attempt to prevent burnout and better syncronise with the university semesters. The gallery will only curate two exhibitions this year, down from eight last year. Gallery Director and Curator, Charlotte Huddleston, who has worked in art galleries since 2001, says this decision was a deliberate response to witnessing burnout in the art scene. She says it is easy to overwork on exciting projects and when working on a tight budget curators often end up doing extra labour.
Front: Yonel Watene, permanent sculpture, the Detroit series third and final instalment (in order: D is 4 Detroit, 8 Mile and Zug Island and Fighting Island), 2015–18. Back: Ruth Ige, Parallel worlds and the mundane, 2019. In Two Oceans at Once, St Paul St Gallery, AUT, February 15 - May 17. Photo: Sam Hartnett.
From left: Ruth Ige, Parallel worlds and the mundane: The Seer, 2019; Jane Chang Mi, Te Tiriti o Atātika, 2015–ongoing; Yonel Watene, Untitled Margo Glantz Painting (2wizards, redeye, starz, bluey), 2018–19; Rozana Lee, Adzan 2018. In Two Oceans at Once, ST PAUL St Gallery, AUT, February 15 – May 17. Photo: Sam Hartnett.
“I might be here on a weekend painting the walls because we can’t afford someone else to do it. That gets a bit ridiculous after a few times.
was to take exhibitions ‘deeper and not broader’, including giving artists in each show the ability to have more time in the gallery.
This process will likely involve choosing a new name for the gallery which is more reflective of its historical context and newly-set kaupapa.
“Everyone is busy, no one has enough money, but we are all still doing the same thing.”
Kahurangiariki Smith, a gallery technician at ST PAUL St, says longer shows give viewers more opportunity to engage and find new meanings in the work.
As ST PAUL St is run by AUT, the two-exhibition structure comes with the added benefit of syncronising with the university semesters. This gives Huddleston and the gallery an opportunity to have better connection to AUT’s art and design students.
While trying to prevent overworking was the primary reason for the decision to slow programming, Huddleston sees it as an opportunity to take a fresh approach to curation. “I’ve been exhibition making for a long time, so it became about refreshing things. We’ve got a space, we’ve got time, how can we do something a bit more interesting?” Huddleston’s answer to this question
“Having more time allows you to dip in and out of the gallery like you would with a book. The interpretations or the experience of a work change over that time. With a longer exposure to pieces you can process it and let it brew.” The current work on display in the gallery is called Two Oceans at Once, which the gallery website describes as a process of “coming into relationship with our context.”
Huddleston says the two-semester structure of the curated program was also designed to try to foster more direct connections with teaching and learning. “Because if we are changing things over a little slower then perhaps it is easier to get staff to bring their classes and work more in-depth with students and staff.”
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news
UN Secretary-General to AUT students:
“Be as noisy as possible” on climate change
By Dan Brunskill
One student from the floor made the comment:
The United Nations Secretary-General is encouraging young people to pressure older generations to act on climate change.
“Our species is dying out..and by the time our generation is in power, it will be too late to do anything about it.”
Speaking to students at AUT on Monday May 13, UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres said his generation was not capable of tackling climate change.
Guterres responded by suggesting youth do not need to be in power to get results and should pressure their parents and governments into action.
“We are not winning the battle against climate change…my generation is not showing the capacity.”
“I’m not waiting for you to be in power. I’m waiting for you to be as noisy as possible!
The international community’s most coordinated effort on climate was the 2015 Paris Agreement, but Guterres said these goals were not even close to being met.
“It is clear that my generation is having immense difficulty accepting responsibility. The youth are my hope.”
“Paris fixed a goal, but the commitments made at Paris were not enough to meet that goal and we are not even fulfilling those commitments.” According to Guterres, the commitments made would still allow warming to rise by 3 degrees Celsius, double the agreed goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, Guterres’ appeal for youth to fight climate change, which he described as the defining issue of our time, was met with scepticism from some in the room.
The Secretary-General made two policy recommendations for reducing climate emissions: to tax carbon instead of income and to ensure the government is not subsidising fossil fuel industries. AUTSA President Dharyin Colbert told Debate that Guterres starting his Pacific tour at AUT meant a lot to young people. “The focus on youth leadership is something we don’t hear often enough,” he said. “Just the fact that he understands the importance of climate change is incredible.”
From the AUT Muslim Students Association Assalamualikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu Ramadhan Kareem everyone! Ramadan is one of the most important times on the Islamic calendar, a time of spiritual reflection, fasting and care for those less fortunate. The Iftar meal, which breaks the fast at the end of each day is a special time for people to come together to share food and conversation. This Ramadhan, the Muslim Students Association hosted an Iftar Night in the Hikuwai Plaza. The event signified togetherness and celebrated diversity and strengthened relationships with our brothers and sisters. Everyone came dressed in traditional outfits to break their fasts followed by dinner under the stars. The ambience of the night became even more beautiful with the presence of our special guests Sonny Bill Williams and Sheikh Shakir. A true motivation and inspiration.
Also being Wellbeing Week, this event was a mind refresher and helped to show our association’s support for our students and to make sure everyone was coping okay with life, especially after the tough phase everyone’s been through in recent months. Ramadhan is a time when we focus on the well-being of ourselves. It’s a time when we focus on the positive aspects and let go of the negatives. It’s a time to physically and mentally detox ourselves and let go of all the stress and tension because our health is a blessing we all have. With the semester almost coming to an end, we would like to shout-out to everyone for being an awesome support system for our team. Special thanks to AUTSA who were our main support system in organising all our events. Thank you everyone. Samirah Ali AUT MSA
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Zero Waste Wannabe for a Week By Ruth Stowers I’ve been interested in the zero waste movement for a while now and whilst I’ve tried to implement habits to become more mindful of my waste, this theme gave me the perfect push to try it out for a week. Over the week I decided to do a mix of collecting any waste I created as well as making little changes along the way to reduce waste. I learned that it really comes down to preparation and organisation; taking that little bit of extra time to consider an alternative to what would usually produce waste. Having to question our subconscious habits especially when it comes down to such innate human things like eating, drinking and socialising is a challenge, but one I encourage everyone to try.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Te Aro Ture had a meetup with Krispy Kreme donuts (which I sadly could not eat) but I decided to take some home and use the plastic bag they’d come in. Unfortunately, not one of the ten people (who were a mix of friends and friendly-looking strangers) who I asked wanted a squished donut in a suspiciously large plastic bag. This was the first addition to my waste pile.
I was a bit sniffly and realised that one of my biggest wastes is tissues. I didn’t have anything handkerchief-like so I started using a towel. I used my hand for sushi too and got my period so it was the perfect time to use a menstrual cup which I got for free! Actually way simpler than pads etc!
Started the day off strong by bringing my fruit around in a sistema container. This turned out to be more trouble than it was worth as it was bulky and I was left with a lot of fruit skins and no lid. Took these home to compost. I had some awesome free bread from the AUTSA lounge and used my hand as a plate. I then ordered pizza which came in cardboard boxes with foil. Do recyclable things count?
I went out to dinner and in order to avoid having drinks that would come with a straw I drank a lot of water which made me wonder about the zero-waste alternatives for toilet paper? Also, the toilets had little towels instead of paper towels. Great for my challenge.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
I had leftovers from Monday which in a way meant I was avoiding extra waste. I also had a few baby packets of chips from work which had been damaged. I justified this as they would have been chucked out anyway (and I was very hungry).
AUT South Campus does cheap meals so I got kumara, potatoes and peas on the normal ceramic plate which you get when you eat in. It was very delicious, and I swear my meals got tastier the less waste I produced. I had a mentoring event for which the catering we ordered came in big cardboard boxes with cling wrap over the top. This added to my rubbish pile. There was an excess of food so I gave some out to students and my family and friends to avoid wasting it.
I made tacos with a friend. The supermarket was probably the hardest situation I had been in zero waste wise as almost everything came in a packet and it was usually plastic. I opted for the veggies sans packaging, a jar, tin and just had a rice packet and plant with plastic. I also said no to the receipt. My friend made super cool tote bags which we used for carrying all the supplies in too! I had a 21st at Bar101 so I bought pres in a reusable drink bottle although not sure this was necessary, plus I lost the drink bottle shortly after arriving.
Feeling like a super organised, green, zero waste machine, I took my leftover taco beans in a container with a drink bottle for lunch out with a friend. I tend to have a bad habit of eating random leftovers from other tables at cafes, but thought it was justified due to my zero wasting on this particular day. I had a few chips from the neighbouring table’s leftovers before just bringing the whole plate over. About five minutes later, a man sitting behind me brought over his plate with leftover chips and asked if I wanted it. His wife followed. Slightly embarrassed but very grateful, I accepted and, in true zero waste fashion, took home the food I didn’t finish.
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Giving the Mooncup a Go By Jessy Thurston
Mooncups. Scary looking, silicone and people everywhere seem to be gobsmacked about putting something so large up their fanny. If you’re way behind established society and can’t handle period talk, I’d skip this one while we’re ahead.
“I would like to try them but I’m afraid because as a new tampon user the size of the cup and keeping it clean is SCARY!!” - Tinay
Along with its size, many other aspects of the cup freak people the fuck out. I asked a few students why they were hesitant to use a mooncup over other sanitary products:
“If I’m in a public bathroom I don’t want to tip a cup of my blood into the toilet and then sit there for ten minutes cleaning off my vagina mug before putting it back in, ya know?” - Madi
“It’s expensive and hard to find. If you could just go into a store and just buy one it would be better. If it was free then yeah!” - Kylie
“That’s a no from me. I thought about it for a minute. Don’t you have to tip it out and look at the blood?” - Candice
“The suction. Bruh.” -Brittany
I decided to take it upon myself this year to give these not-so-terrible contraptions a try and report back for all of you people who’ve been so quick to turn away the idea. Let me start right off the bat with saying that unfortunately, y’all are severely uneducated on the benefits that mooncups provide. I found out that AUTSA’s very own Foodie Godmother offers free mooncups for students, courtesy of Mycup.co.nz. This company donates one mooncup for every one that AUTSA buys, so you should definitely go and grab one for yourself to try out. Other popular brands of mooncups include Oi4me, Nappy Needz, and Environmenstruals. I must admit it was a bit of a fiddle
to fold the cup and get it in at first, but I followed an online tutorial and squeezing the silicone into a ‘C’ fold makes for easy application. It lasted eight hours, no problem at all (this is recommended). When it came time to tip it, all I had to do was pinch the bottom to remove the suction and whip that baby out. I was surprised at how little blood was in the cup. Over 12 hours I would have usually changed a tampon 4-5 times over a day and let me tell ya, that made me think I had a heavy flow! Once I tipped it down the toilet, gave it a quick wipe, and reinserted it I was out. At home, you can place the cup in a bowl of boiling water for five minutes to
sterilise it and voila, you’re good to go. And the money saved? Honestly, you only need one mooncup and if you can get your hands on a free one from Foodie Godmother; imagine the extra dollars you’ll have to spend on cup noodles each month. Pun intended. The average woman uses around 9,600 tampons in their life. With a mooncup the amount of waste you produce is SIGNIFICANTLY lessened. Think about the Earth guys and think about making your own life a whole heckload easier, cheaper, and no stress about choosing the white pants on your flow!
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So, you think the earth is round? Well… you’re not wrong. By Sam Deakin | Illustration by Dayna Patel The Earth is not flat. It’s round. I’m sorry flat earthers but someone had to say it. It’s not even a controversial opinion. It’s literally a fact. Yet somehow the flat earth theory has arguably become the most successful conspiracy theory worldwide - maybe second after illuminati. But, for how popular this theory has become and how ridiculous I hope we all believe it to be, have any of us ever actually looked into the flat earth theory? Probably not, and with good reason - that reason being that the Earth is round. But, just in case you’ve got bored with your life and decided atheism isn’t an edgy enough personality trait, I’ve outlined the best of the best flat Earth theories so you can decide for yourself if the Earth is flat (again, it isn’t). Starting things off slowly, flat Earth theory basically argues that the Earth is a flat disc with the arctic circle in the centre and Antarctica - a 50 foot Game of Thronesstyle ice wall - around the rim. Ignoring, of course, all the satellite images of a round earth which are ‘photoshopped’. So, why we can’t we go see the wall for itself? Well, good thing all the nations came together in 1961 to sign the Antarctic Treaty which is actually a cover-up for the real treaty outlining that government officials would patrol the edge of the wall
to prevent anyone from discovering the truth for themselves.
"In true flat-earther fashion, I’m not going to offer any scientific counter-arguments to debunk anything a flatearther could say because, honestly, who wants to repeat year eight science." And what could that truth be? Perhaps being one step away from falling off the Earth and into space? Another theory argues that continents exist outside of the Antarctic wall which are home to the elite and powerful and they want to keep us peasants away (maybe the Flat Earth Society is just illuminati’s cover). No wonder anti-climate change propaganda has increased in circulation; God forbid the ice wall melts and those elite people have to share their wealth with the rest of the world. This is all speculation of course. Let’s get back to scientific facts. Like the fact that there’s actually an impenetrable, domelike barrier encasing the Earth, sun, moon
and stars which keeps the atmosphere intact. A barrier astronauts have, of course, never passed. If that wasn’t enough, gravity also doesn’t exist. We all manage to stay grounded because the Earth, rather than rotating, is actually accelerating upwards at a rate of 9.8metres per second squared. What? The sun and moon are spheres that rotate and act as spotlights, illuminating different areas of the Earth across 24-hours which explains day and night. Okay, but if the sun and moon can be spheres, why not Earth? The Flat Earth Society even states that all other planets are spheres too. Doesn’t seem fair. This also doesn’t explain how lunar eclipses can occur. It’s obviously an invisible ‘anti-moon’ that obscures the moon during the eclipse. Of course! How could I not have figured that out myself. As for whatever lies underneath the Earth, that is still unknown as no-one has ever made it past the government officials guarding the wall. But, most flat-earthers agree it’s probably ‘rocks’. In true flat-earther fashion, I’m not going to offer any scientific counter-arguments to debunk anything a flat-earther could say because, honestly, who wants to repeat year eight science. And anyway, is science really a convincing argument when compared with the fact that the Earth ‘looks flat and feels flat’? Either it's round or NASA is the ultimate cult. You be the judge.
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Best of the Worst: Kombucha Debate’s Zoe Holland investigates.
For this issue I decided I was going to find my inner hippie and dive into the kombucha trend. I’m not gonna lie, this shit is expensive and I wasn’t convinced it was going to make me feel better on the inside, but it was a nice thought.
Wonder Drink
Lo Bros
Amplify
Good Buzz
Wonder Drink Asian pear and ginger kombucha is bloody delicious. I’d come to expect that vinegar taste when drinking kombucha, but this was just so freakin’ awesome. It was full of pear and ginger flavour and I fell in love. They had some really interesting other flavours as well so I will definitely be going back to try them as it’s my new favourite drink.
As it’s feijoa season I thought I’d give this one a go but don’t bother! I LOVE feijoas and feijoa season is my favourite time of the year but the Lo Bros feijoa flavoured kombucha was a let down. It had the tiniest taste of feijoa and was like drinking vinegar.
I liked this one because it had cute little doodles on the bottle and the most adorable packaging. I can’t complain with the flavour. I got raspberry and lemon and it tasted exactly like that, raspberry and lemon!
Cost: $3.50 for 330ml
I always see this brand in the supermarkets and I assume it’s quite popular because a lot of people buy it. It may be popular but it’s not good. It could have been the ginger and lemon flavour I picked but there wasn’t anything special about Amplify and you couldn’t really taste the flavour like the others I tried.
Stars: 1/5
Cost: $3.00 for 250ml
Cost: $3.00 for 250ml Stars: 5/5
Stars: 1/5
Cost: $4.00 for 328ml Stars: 4/5
Goodbye HOP Card Hi, My name’s Sophia, I’m 20-years-old and I can’t ride a bike. I don’t know if my Mum wanted me to be a failure, but she never took my trainer wheels off and I’ve been using only my legs for exercise ever since. Everything was fine until Onzos came out and the, “Let’s just bike there,” suggestions started from my friends. I’d have to politely decline. Auckland traffic stinks. The council however, does give a rats ass because they’re seriously going ham on advertising to make Auckland more of a biking metropolis - probably so they save a dollar on all those double-decker glorious monstrosities. Nevertheless, I thought it was time to learn to ride, Earth issue and all. Why bus to uni when you can ride a bike? Well I can’t ride a bike, and that’s the fucking problem. Starting in Mission Bay, I took to the pedals. In theory, this was a great idea: learn some new life skills, reduce my carbon footprint and get some exercise in. Apparently balance doesn’t come naturally with age.
Problem 1: The seat doesn’t go low enough. If you are a short meercat of a human like me you will understand the uncomfort of a seat that jams into your bum bone.
Problem 2: Turns out I tend to favour my left side. I lean, and lean and lean, and then I’m on the ground. Trying this repeatedly brings me back to Problem 1. Pain is progress. Kind of.
Problem 3: People still stare and laugh at you in 2019. Judgement is cruel.
Problem 4: My hair doesn’t flow out behind me and there’s no straw basket with flowers at the front. Movies are bullshit. Instead I look like a drunk tween looking to trash the Onzo name.
Problem 5: I rode a total of 500m in about 20 minutes. I asked my friend to pick me up and drive me to class...sorry planet. All-in-all it wasn’t a success. It was pretty shit actually. I would say it won’t happen again but I paid the $10 deposit for the app and topped up $5 on top of that. Give me time for my bum to feel less sore and I might be back for round two.
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Have You Bin Recycling? By Sophia Romanos | Illustration by Ramina Rai
Recycling is cool now. People actually roast each other for putting their shit in the wrong bins - I know this because I do the roasting. Mostly along the lines of, “NO, NOT STYROFOAM ARE YOU STUPID?!” or, “WASH YOUR CAN BEFORE YOU RECYCLE IT.” But less aggressive.
if it has a number 1 or 2 inside the little recycling symbol, but I’m not entirely sure that’s still relevant. I usually go with my common sense on what goes where which still probably makes the recycling bin-sorter-guys curse my house number.
The Auckland Council website is like the student lounge - something I’ve never actually used but probably should. There’s a whole bunch of information on there about waste and recycling that I assumed was this thing no one talked about because it was somehow obvious.
On the other side of the page I’ve compiled a nice wee list of what you can and can’t recycle (just another reason to be passive aggressive to your flatmates). Please note that nappies and batteries cannot be recycled...clearly someone out there has done it for the council to feel the need to mention it. Monsters.
Sometimes I turn a container over to see
Beyond the humble pizza box, there is so
much you can recycle, people just need to make the effort. Brace yourselves for this, but sometimes the whole Uber Eats bag and contents can’t go in the recycling bin. I know, crazy talk. So, keep a keen eye out when it comes to your waste and pay attention to where you should be aiming with a three-pointer shot from the couch.
Cut out the next page. If you snap a photo of it pinned up on your fridge and send it to @debatemag on Instagram you might just go in the draw for a damn sweet prize.
Hot tips: Rinse all containers. Leave lids on all bottles and containers. Containers should be no larger than 4 litres. 19
Doomsday By Tegwyn McCormack
that stands out.
Twenty twelve; one hell of a ride. We were all dancing to ‘Gangnam Style’, mourning the first ‘Jelena’ split, and watching viral videos of Toddlers in Tiara’s star Honey Boo Boo. Oh - and it was the year the world was supposed to end.
Today we’re confronted with another “worlds gonna end” catastrophe, and despite 8-year-old me being proven wrong about 2012, I must say I can’t have learnt a thing. We are evidently being faced with a real and approaching climate apocalypse which some say is just another theory, but I’m a believer. I also now think much further ahead than simply hoarding non-perishable food items. I’m talking immediate change in my actions as an individual and advocate for change. In 2012 it didn’t seem like much could be done. But today, we can actually prevent the ‘end of the world’ for future generations. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you will have heard all the chatter in the media about ice caps melting, animal extinction, the ocean swallowing up islands, that big rubbish mass in the middle of the Pacific twice the size of Texas- that sort of thing. Not to bum you out if you haven’t..
I distinctly remember finding out about the impending doomsday in 2009 from my very concerned friend. Seeing him freak out just made me freak me out more, it’s big news for a wide-eyed 8-year-old. It occurred to me that I’d better start thinking about how I would survive the end of the world in three years - maybe I should start stashing cans and the likes? Of course, the next day it was old news. But outside of my little bubble, it was a crazy big deal at the time. Everyone knew about it and it was such a widespread theory that a whole damn film was made around it. We’ve always had scientists, philosophers, and preachers predicting that the world would just implode at a specific time and it would be the end of humankind as we know it, some predictions dating back incredibly far. Nevertheless, that 2012 debacle is one
Agree with global warming or not, there is no doubt that we’ve caused a lot of damage to the Earth. Almost every issue that we see with our very eyes is a product of ourselves. That trash island didn’t pop up out of nowhere and any unresearched individual would be able to guess that it probably isn’t ideal. But what can you do realistically? I, for one, know I can’t just cool the ice caps or lift the island of
Kiribati. However, doing a few easy things as a collective can create huge change. For example, going to climate change protests or contributing to social media campaigns can get the attention of governments who decide on the laws and legislations. Getting the attention of corporate organisations and encouraging them to carry out business more ethically and sustainably can help too. When you’re out shopping instead of taking plastic bags, bring your own reusable bag (you can get super rad ones from Cotton On for $2!). What about a trendy travel mug too? Did you know you can get a 10% discount at campus cafes with a reusable coffee mug? Saving the environment could be money in your pocket once it’s paid off the mug (check out Eco Chic for good quality reusable coffee cups made from bamboo!). Doing these small things reduces the waste you're producing and adding to the world, and not only are you being environmentally sustainable but you’re also being wallet sustainable. It’s a small price to pay for looking after our environment. So don’t just lie back and take defeat. Put that saved money towards your R&V tickets, or less of a priority to some, this week's rent. Not towards your hoard of canned beans. We all want to be around to see the blockbuster.
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giveaways
Student life can be tough, which is why we search the city for the snazziest stuff to give away. Like the look of something? Head to our Facebook page (/ autsadebate) and fill out the survey pinned to the top of our timeline titled ‘Giveaways - Issue 6’
Houseplants
Pizza!
The team at Debate got our hands on a couple of baby Monstera plants that you could have gracing your window. The plant’s distinctive split leaves has led to it being featured in tons of design and art mediums of late. It’s hands down the plant of the moment. Read the instructions at the left-hand side of the page to find out how to enter.
New York is just a trip to Sal's away! With 100% authentic ingredients and original recipes, Sal’s (@salspizzanz) is proud to serve you New Zealand's ONLY authentic NY Pizza! Sal’s has five pizzas to give away to our lucky Debate readers. Read the instructions on the left hand side of the page to find out how to enter.
Shout A Mate
Brew-tiful Coffee
BurgerFuel fuels the human engine and when you’re a student that engine’s often running pretty hot. Shout your mate a free burger with one of these vouchers. Debate has 5 vouchers to give away! Read the instructions on the left hand side of the page to find out how to enter.
Karajoz organic coffee is the pick-meup you need to drag yourself to that 8am lecture. It’s also Fairtrade and non-polluting. Debate has a few bags of Karajoz plunger to give away. Read the instructions on the left hand side of the page to find out how to enter.
Sustainability Pack A plastic free shopping experience is something to be proud of in this day and age. Debate has a sustainability pack consisting of two reusable bags and a $50 GoodFor voucher. GoodFor is the place to get all your pantry essentials in an environmentally friendly way. Read the instructions at the left-hand side of the page to find out how to enter.
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The Untold Secrets of Being Well Controversial opinion: The climate sky is not falling; our lives can be magical and there is always hope. By Britt Little.
As a Netflix doco addict, I have many questions about why the world is slow to adapt to the looming challenges of the 21st century. Leonardo’s films are calling for it, Aunty Helen and Jacinda say it can be done, so why on earth are we still stuck with the same issues we’ve had since the 90’s? From inequality to climate change and now mental health challenges… It’s a little unnerving for a millennial who is into long-term earth living. What if we’re the generation who will create a more beautiful world? This is the question that lead me to Piki Diamond’s office, a researcher on the Māori worldview here at AUT with the answers I’d been looking for. What Piki shared with me wasn’t to vote with your dollar, one small action makes a big difference, or that tech will save us all. Her story was one of wellbeing, inner reflection, and a story that starts with each of us. 6 ways of transforming our world that can start with you. Healing ourselves comes from facing our pain: From a Māori perspective, healing comes from within. We draw
on reflection, we go into the pain, the dark spaces and see if we can link it to our past, our whakapapa. We ask ourselves what this pain wants us to feel and why. We unlock that, let it go and let ourselves heal. Let’s not talk sustainability of systems, let’s talk re-imagining happiness: We are trying to sustain systems that don’t work — a world we’re not proud of. Each time we take a moment and reflect on what makes us well, we get a step closer to healing ourselves and the world. Is it in a flash car? How others perceive us? Or feeling close to others? What does this tell us about happiness? Happiness is our connection to nature: Māori concepts honour the inter-connection of the natural world (Papatūānuku) and our wellbeing with words. The land (whenua) is our placenta, our lifesource, our mother. How are we honouring our earth as our mother? How are those actions impacting your wellness? If you have more moments like this, you might find you naturally want to protect her. We need to reconnect to gratitude and service: Manaaki is to honour your role as a host and guest through care and kindness and empowerment. It can be how universities host students to be well and thrive, or
how we as humans are guests on the Earth and can give back to her for all she does for us. Leadership is empowerment: Mana-centered leadership is not holding onto power like so many do in the Western way, instead it is understanding that this energy of prestige is an infinite energy to be passed on to empower others. What would our governments look like if this model was used? Our businesses? Our education systems? How can you empower others you know and pass on mana? We need to move from protection to healing: Kaitiakitanga is to be toa (warriors) Earth’s guardian, to understand that now, our mother needs healing, not just protecting. Are we addressing the root causes of climate change, inequality, mental health challenges or just the symptoms? Our governments, universities, and businesses will only embrace bold solutions if each person uses their voice to demand it. *The definitions given in this article may vary across tribes in NZ *Get in touch with britt.little.nz@ gmail.com to join the Future Proofer AUT Community who are creating projects to create a more beautiful world.
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Love coffee, love the Earth By Jasmin Bull
Confession: I used to be that girl who posted Instagram pics of the red Christmas Starbucks cup. In fact, I used to go to Starbucks for the sole purpose of getting a photo with that cup. It was a thing. Since then, I've learned that disposable coffee cups are a serious problem. Although some disposable cups are recyclable, most end up in landfill. Damn my seemingly innocent Starbucks cup. I’ve now changed my ways, and I’m sure you can too. Here’s how to be aesthetic and drink coffee all while loving the Earth at the same time.
Keep Cup
Ah, the notorious Keep Cup. With 34 different colours including Punk Pink and Han Solo, you can make the cup your own: sweet violet lid, white plug and cork band, there’s something for everybody. Talk about environmentally friendly - the cork edition is not only aesthetically pleasing but can be composted. Cost: Varying prices ($12-$38) | Availability: Online and in selected NZ stores.Total: 5/5
JOCO Cup
Made from glass and silicone, the JOCO cup is entirely plastic free. It comes in 5 different sizes, 19 different colours and an artist series featuring unique designs. The tilted lid makes drinking easy, and the cup is dishwasher safe. JOCO has partnered with ‘Take 3 For The Sea’ to create limited edition designs which help to spread awareness about plastic in our oceans. Cost: Mid-range ($25.50-$34) | Availability: Limited NZ stores and online. | Total: 5/5
SoL Cup
Described as a “sleek and sexy design”, the SoL cup is simple, elegant, and comes in 3 different sizes. The cup itself is beautifully hand-blown, made from glass and silicone and is plastic free. Available in 13 different colours and dishwasher safe. I purchased this cup, and I love it. It’s a little more expensive than the other options, but buy one and, like me, become a #Solmate. Cost: A tad costly ($28-$35) | Availability: Online only | Total: 4/5
Ideal Cup
New Zealand owned and made, buy the Ideal Cup and you’re supporting local business. Comes in one size only (12 oz), in 13 colours and a variety of Kiwiana designs. Grab one of these for yourself or as a gift and support our national reusable cup brand. Cost: Affordable! All cups $17 Availability: Online and in many NZ outlets, including AUT. Total: 3.5/5
All of these options are better than a one-use cup that isn’t recyclable. Coffee outlets like the The Gateau House and even Starbucks will also reward you. So, save money, look cool, and love the Earth.
Mōteatea te ao, Mōteatea te pō Whenua By Ruamano Te Koi Toitū te whenua The land remains Ka reia ko Nuku Nuku clothes the land Ūkaipō o te whenua, Ūkaipō o te tangata Mother of the land, mother of the people Tukuna ki te waiora, tukuna ki te wai tukukiri Return to the water to replenish, to restore Kia mākona a roto, he awa nā te atua rawa To quench the thirst within, the divine river Whakapapa atu rā, whakapapa atu rā Geneology follows He iti nā Tamanui As Tamanui peaks Rēwenatia katoatia ki runga He peaks higher and higher He mea kaui te whenua, ngā awa, ngā maunga whakahī Everything connects, the land, the rivers, the mountains Rā runga te toi, ko te paki o Hewa Above the mountains crown, there is Hewa who represents a fine day Rā raro te reo whakahei o Nuku Below is Nuku’s voice Te Ūkaipō o te whenua, te Ūkaipō o te tangata She is the mother of the land, she is the mother of the people
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Questioning the House Plant Trend By Sophia Romanos | Illustration by Leo Walton
I hereby dub 2019 as the year of people claiming shit. The clip trend? 90’s Hilary Duff. Riding scooters? Claimed by children since forever. House plants? They’re...plants... how is this current? Worse, a meme. I’m not disputing that plants are great, they are great. Don’t want a dog because it’s too much maintenance? Get a cat. Don’t want a cat because they’re scratchy, lazy and annoying/your landlord says no? Get a plant. You can look after it and even take bets on how quickly it will die!
"" Having plants in your work or living space has been proven to reduce stress. Especially the process of repotting your disgustingly cute bowl of dirt and seeing it thrive, it’s all very rewarding.
Having plants in your work or living space has been proven to reduce stress. Especially the process of repotting your disgustingly cute bowl of dirt and seeing it thrive, it’s all very rewarding. It’s also been proven that humans have an innate desire to be connected to nature ‘biophilia’. So, this could be the root of the trend but they also just look so...aesthetic (I use Pinterest, I’m allowed to use the “A” word).
Decorating a room is HARD. Watching The Block NZ you’re thinking, “Oh yeah, oh yeah I could do tha- NO not that mustard couch with the mauve rug, Ben!” But when you’re faced with an empty space, you realise half your mismatched possessions need to be sent back to mum and you own no decorations except Christmas baubles. I present to you, the houseplant trend: -Need to make your clutter look intentional and alty? Add plants for that cool, bohemian look. -Need to look after something to feel responsible and adult-y? Plants. -Need somewhere to put your pet worm? In your plant! -Need some more oxygen in your room? Plants x10.
Negatives? - They’re selfish. - You have to actually PAY your water bill, because they need to be watered.
Pro’s? - Too many. In no way is this article sponsored by Palmers, Kings Plant Barn or The Warehouse-back-room-where-all-theplants-are-kept, but those are the best places to grab a leafy boy, or twelve. Succumb to the peer pressure; follow the trend.
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Designer by Aldous Harding In the same way she skirts the certainty of genre clarification, Aldous Harding’s poetic expression remains highly interpretable as she keeps her cards close to her chest.
By Ben Mollison On her third album, ‘Designer’, Aldous Harding continues along the songwriting path set with her 2017 offering ‘Party’. Produced, as with ‘Party’, by John Parish - a previous collaborator with the likes of PJ Harvey and Tracey Chapman ‘Designer’ follows a similar musical and thematic route to Harding’s previous release. ‘Designer’ follows Marlon Williams’ break-up album ‘Make Way For Love’ released last year all about his prior relationship with Harding. Williams’ explicit discussion of the resulting anguish and heartbreak led to a personal and deeply honest release. If ‘Designer’ serves to respond in some way, Harding does well to blur direct references. In the album’s first single, ‘The Barrel’, Harding explores a collapsing relationship. Her voice with its distinct articulation lulls as she sings, “the wave of love is a transient hurt.” Profound observations like this are scattered amidst specific
memories or visualisations and abstract reflections. For instance, she admits to her lack of excitement at her ex-lover’s use of ostentatiousness to charm, with the words, “I know you have the dove, I’m not getting wet.” Harding continues with this style on her second single ‘Fixture Picture’. Enlightening insight - “you can’t be pure and in love” - is paired with symbolic visual - “one day we’ll share a glass together and ride the dunes.” The effect is a collage of imagery, patched together in a way that obscures the comfort of clear-cut interpretation. Stylistically, the album achieves instrumental and lyrical cohesion, but Harding’s ‘collage’ exists within the entirety of the album. Her scenes skip through locations, inward reflections and relationships while alluding to themes of heartbreak, spirituality (or lack thereof - see ‘Heaven is Empty’), the pressures of intimacy, and inadequacy among others.
The musical style of ‘Designer’ maintains a centre around nylonstringed guitars and gentle keys with full band arrangements, unlike on ‘Party’, being a prominent feature. The result of such instrumentation, sparse on cuts like ‘Heaven is Empty’ and ‘Pilot’, more full on tracks like ‘Designer’ or ‘Zoo Eyes’, is a spotlight being trained on Harding’s lyrics which sit above the restrained musical backing. Aldous Harding’s poetic concealment, while at times infuriatingly indistinct, allows the listener to revel in her intense, sometimes beautiful, sometimes haunting imagery. While her poetic intent may not be immediately apparent, the enablement of her language is to allow the listener to derive their own meaning. So, while audiences and critics' opinions may be polarised by her unique interpretation of the folk genre, her poetry stands powerful and isolating, encouraging listeners to independently take what they will and interpret as they want. “Four out of five stars”
“Stylistically, the album achieves instrumental and lyrical cohesion, but Harding’s ‘collage’ exists within the entirety of the album.”
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recipe
Lime, Coriander and Chilli Jam When earth bestows upon us a bounty of limes, preserve and enjoy them all year round! Here’s a versatile Lime, Coriander and Chilli Jam recipe that you can enjoy with toast, as a dessert topping, or even as a condiment in stir-fries. A big thank you to Skills Update’s Horticulture School for sharing their organic production of limes!
Ingredients •
500g lime (~10 large limes)
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150ml water
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2 large chillis, sliced thinly
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400g white sugar
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100g brown sugar
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30g coriander, chopped finely
Method 1) Sterilise jars by washing in hot soapy water and rinse. Place jar (without lid) in a 90°C oven for 10 minutes. Soak lid in boiling water for 10 minutes and allow it to dry. 2) Peel limes, remove the white pith, thinly slice the peel, and roughly chop the flesh. 3) In a pot, add sliced lime peel, flesh, and sliced chilli with 150ml of water. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and gently simmer for about 20 minutes until the peel is tender.
Stir frequently to prevent the bottom from burning. Do not add sugar until peel is tender. Adding sugar in the early stage will prevent peel from softening. 4) When peel is tender, add white and brown sugar, and stir until completely dissolved. Bring the heat up and boil rapidly for about 15 minutes. 5) Add chopped coriander before turning off the heat. 6) Pour into sterilised jars.
Earth-friendly stir-fry
Check out this bonus earth-friendly recipe that will nourish both vegans and non-vegans.
Ingredients
Method:
•
Cooking oil
1) In a deep pan, add cooking oil (just enough to cover the base of your pan). Pan fry tofu.
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1 block of tofu, cut into smaller rectangular pieces (~250300g)
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Half an onion, roughly chopped
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3 garlic cloves, chopped finely
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5 mushrooms, sliced (I am using Meadow Mushrooms’ fresh shiitake mushroom)
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A handful of cashew nuts
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3 tablespoons soy sauce
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3 tablespoons of Lime, Coriander, and Chilli Jam
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Salad greens of your choice
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2 portions of soba noodles, cooked according to package instructions.
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Sesame seeds
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Lime wedge
Remove from pan when edges are slightly browned. 2) In the same pan, with remaining oil, add chopped onion and garlic. Stir-fry over medium heat for a minute or two. 3) Add sliced mushroom and cashew nuts, and stir-fry for another minute. 4) Add soy sauce and Lime, Coriander, and Chilli Jam. Stir-fry for another minute. 5) Add pre-fried tofu and toss it around before turning off the heat. 6) Serve with salad greens and soba noodles, and garnish with sesame seeds and a lime wedge.
Melissa Koh is a third year BA student double majoring in Culinary Arts and English & New Media. Follow her dining and cooking adventures on Instagram: @melicacy.
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WORDFIND
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Want to see your work in Debate? We're forever on the lookout for writers, illustrators and creatives to contribute to the mag. Want to see your work in print? Email us at debate@aut.ac.nz. Too easy!