EXCLUSIVE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN THE WORLD?
As one of the most talked about people in the world, Julian Assange is also considered one of the most controversial KJETIL LIER SVENDSEN
Harriet Rose-Gale
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
Dubbed the most dangerous human being on the planet, Julian Assange looked around the room with a
KONY 2012worthy cause or clever video?
Page 16
detached aristocratic air and said: “The Pentagon publically declared in a 40 minute press conference that we must destroy everything we had ever published in relation to the United States government.” Julian Assange, founder and editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, the figure the world’s greatest
superpower labelled a cyberterrorist, took a sip from a glass of red wine and proudly added: “That is a hostile threat by the Pentagon on the world’s stage towards a publishing organisation. That is a threat that we stared down, we published all that information, did so successfully and it went on to have a
Poole Lighthouse will leave you wide-eyed
Page 29
tremendous and important impact.” Assange’s whistleblowing organisation is responsible for disclosing classified diplomatic cables and secret documents, which consistently humiliate and infuriate governments worldwide, whilst exposing corruption and wrongdoing Turn to page 3
Exclusive interview with Steve Claridge
Page 16
Occupy
Bournemouth Charlotte Foot
“We’re not finished, not by any stretch of the imagination” – that’s the message from Occupy Bournemouth protesters who have set up camp at Bournemouth University. Demonstrators arrived around 11am on Friday morning and have erected tents close to the university’s pedestrian entrance by Boundary roundabout. One member of Occupy Bournemouth, who is camping at the university, said the amount of protesters could increase to 60 or 70 if they remain at the site. They hope their presence will lead to a meeting with the university’s Chancellor, Lord Nicholas Phillips, who is also the President of the UK Supreme Court. It follows a decision by the High Court in January to deny Occupy London protesters permission to appeal their eviction from outside St Paul’s Cathedral. Occupy Bournemouth member Gary Sherborne, who lives in Boscombe, said: “We chose the university site specifically to attract the attention of Lord Nicholas Phillips. “Our intention is to camp until we have the opportunity to speak to him. “We’ve got some questions that hopefully we might be able to ask him.” Turn to page 4
2 news
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
University gym to get a facelift Jonny Byrne
SPORTS EDITOR
THURSDAY MARCH 15, 2012
News
Occupy takes over Bournemouth
4
Opinion
Bring BNP out of the Shadows
20
Features
Making the perfect vodka drink
23
Sport
The Rock talks to Nathan Robertson
32
Tweet beat
“
Guessing the Kony 2012 people didn't envisage their campaign becoming irritating @charltonbrooker
”
jdennirocks@gmail.com
Bournemouth Rock
@BournemouthRock
Bournemouth University is set to spend over £1million renovating its gym facilities. SportBU is set for a massive refurbishment at the start of April, to improve the quality of service for students and members of the public. After receiving feedback from gym users it was decided that more studio space was needed, as well as improvements to gym’s equipment and aesthetics. As of April 2, until September 2012, contractors will build a new ground floor studio, which will cover the current climbing area. As a result the climbing wall will be donated to Swanage Outdoor Activity Centre and climbing classes will be carried out at Porchester School. Barry Squires, head of SportBU, told The Rock: “This is the biggest investment at SportBU in the eight years I’ve worked here. The new gym experience will be on par with
Bournemouth University’s current gym facilities to get a boost SOPHIE OUTEN
that of a private leisure club.” The gym’s opening hours will also be extended to 6.30am – 10.30pm, Monday-Thursday, with slightly shorter hours Friday to Sunday. The sports hall will have a new floor installed, made from state of the art rubber flooring and may be branded with BU’s logo, alongside a new score box for Varsity games. The first floor gym will be doubled
in size and modernised with brand new gym equipment and flat screen televisions. The current gym equipment will be donated to Poole NHS. The modernisation of SportBU’s facilities may even include a new swipe-card system that may incorporate the university’s student cards to allow access to the gym, in the hope to cut down on queues.
It is also the intention of the university to increase the number of public members using the brand new facilities, which is reflected in the price of a year’s membership. An all inclusive sports pass, which includes a gym and fitness pass, as well as sport team registration fees, will cost £175 for students and £250 for members of the public not studying at Bournemouth University. A refund system has been put in place for current gym members that have paid for a year’s membership, as they will be unable to use the gym as of the end of March. If claimed before March 31 students will receive a £33 refund. However, SportBU have said that if gym members choose not to claim a refund, they may have £44 off next year’s membership, but will still have to state this before the deadline at the end of the month. SportBU say they do not currently know how much the project will cost but expect the figure to be in the £1million region. The university has intentions for more construction to the sports hall once the first phase is completed in September.
Student wins £15K Mini without realising Harriet Rose-Gale
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR A student, who hasn’t yet passed her driving test, has won a brand new Mini worth £15,000 in a competition she didn’t realise she had even entered. Bournemouth University student Sophie Ashwood won the vehicle after purchasing speakers from website ebuyer.com. She explained: “All you had to do was buy a product from Logitech. I didn’t even know there was a competition and it was my first time buying from the website.” Following the prize draw, which ran from October to December last year, the 20-year-old was informed that she had won the car a few days before Christmas.
I wasn’t even “ aware there was a competition, let alone that I had entered ” Currently in her third year, BA Communication and Media student Sophie admitted: “To begin with I thought it was just a marketing call to find out what I thought about the website and the speakers. Then I was told I’d won a One D, I had no idea what they were on about.” She said: “In that moment I was just confused and in shock. It was just so surreal. My first thought was that it was just a scam as I wasn’t even aware there was a competition,
let alone that I had entered.” Following her initial disbelief, the reality sunk in. Sophie said: “After I got off the phone I told my dad and my brother, but I wasn’t excited. I didn’t know how to feel because I didn’t believe it. My brother was more excited than I was and he kept telling everyone about it.” Both Sophie’s boyfriend and brother were jealous of her good luck. She said: “My boyfriend had always wanted a Mini, and because I’d won one and can’t drive, he just couldn’t believe it, him and my brother kept going on about how I’d only used the website once and the speakers I’d bought were the same ones my boyfriend had bought a month earlier!” She added: “I only told my close friends, most of them were thinking it may be a scam, like me, because who wins a car? Over Christmas I didn’t really take it in because I was still thinking in the back of my mind that it wasn’t real.” Sophie’s housemates and friends at university had the same reaction, she said: “They were surprised, envious and then happy for me. But mostly they were just jealous. After I told them about it, I never really mentioned it again as I didn’t want to boast about winning the car.” After Christmas Sophie arranged to pick up her prize, she said: “The Mini’s black, its eco friendly so I don’t pay road tax or congestion charge, which is amazing. It is fantastic, probably one of the best to have as a first car because it’s not going to break down after a few months, as well as free road tax I have five years free servicing.”
At the moment, the car is on the drive at Sophie’s home in Bromley. She said: “It’s being driven by my family so it doesn’t just sit there unused.” She added: “My dad used to have a Mini back in the day, so he thinks the car is great. He uses it and says it drives really well. It takes a while
to get used to as it’s different to most manual cars, but it’s a fantastic stylish car. I can’t wait to actually start driving in it.” Sophie admitted: “I haven’t learnt to drive yet, I’ll be starting to drive this summer. My brother is having driving lessons at the moment, so he’ll also be sharing my car.”
Sophie won the Mini after making a purchase online SOPHIE OUTEN
Thursday 15 March
news 3
| The Rock
Hate figure or hero? EXCLUSIVE
Harriet Rose-Gale
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Continued from page one: on a global scale, making him an enemy in their eyes. The 40-year-old Australian has attracted international attention in equal measures of condemnation and hero worship. Supporters believe he seeks to reveal the truth and improve transparency. Critics, on the other hand, suggest he endangers lives by publishing a wealth of confidential information. He’s been referred to as a publisher, journalist, internet entrepreneur, computer programmer, hacker and political activist. But which does Assange consider himself? “Who I am is not important, what I do is important,” he insists in an exclusive interview with The Bournemouth Rock, perhaps unable or at least unwilling to define ‘Julian Assange’ – the enigmatic figure who continues to intrigue the world. Assange turns the subject away from himself and onto WikiLeaks, something he’s become accustomed to doing, adding: “The best way to say what something is, is to describe what it does, and what we do is uncover the secrets of the world, what’s been oppressed from the public, and publish [it], and in doing so we populate our historical record with information that we can use to create a better civilisation.” He casually shrugs off his cyberterrorist tag: “It’s what people say when they’re trying to change the subject.” His responses appear almost automatic, as if reading off an imaginary script. Softly spoken and in a volume so quiet he is barely audible over the background noise, he adds: “The subject is over 100,000 deaths perpetrated by the United States government in Iraq and Afghanistan. We reveal in our published material, not simply an aggregate figure, but each individual death, and circumstance of that death, and the classified reports document that.” Assange pauses before answering, uncertain whether it’s to formulate his response or delay interrogation, he somehow conjures sense of awkwardness which forces the interviewer to feel almost compelled to fill the silence. He added: “Naturally when people cannot compete on the facts they resort to personal attacks, in this case the absurd correlation between terrorism, the deliberate killing of innocent people, with publishing. There is no official
Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, sips red wine as he talks in an exclusive Rock interview HARRIET ROSE-GALE claim anywhere in the world that any WikiLeaks publication, since our beginning five years ago, has resulted in the death of even a single person and yet the material that we have exposed shows the deaths of hundreds of thousands.”
best way to say “ The what something is,
is to describe what it does and what we do is uncover the secrets of the world
”
The infamous character has become the media circus’ main attraction, and having been thrust into the public spotlight, he has gradually become more tolerant of the questioning. Yet it is widely known he has a tendency to storm off during interviews, if probed about his personal life, particularly the damaging rape allegations that
tarnish his name. Warned beforehand that questions about the sexual offences he is currently facing are off-limits, Assange also deliberately steers clear of blurting any personal details which may offer an insight into his controversial life. As he becomes increasingly difficult to figure out, he adds: “Publication needs no justification; rather the sense of the publication needs to be justified. The essence of civilisation is the freedom of communication between people.” He has defied legal and political attacks and considers WikiLeaks greatest achievement the successful publication of the Iraq and Afghanistan War Logs and Cablegate. Assange believes his tiny organisation had taken on the world’s greatest superpower and refused to surrender. He said it had shown defiance when faced with, what he referred to as, threats made by the United
States government. Assange claimed that it insisted, “we must destroy everything we had ever published in relation to the United States government, everything we were doing to publish in relation to the United States government and cease all dealings with US whistleblowers or else we would be compelled to do so.”
The material that we “ have exposed shows the deaths of hundreds of thousands ” The illusive WikiLeaks front man insists, “the future is much the same as the past,” for the not-for-profit organisation, “being the vanguard of the First Amendment, the vanguard of the right to publish, the right to communicate, and to do so securely, to populate the historic record with information about how civilisation
really works and to protect that record from threats, and by doing so reveal injustice to create justice.” Those who have collaborated with him and who are associated with WikiLeaks confirm: “He is a very, very busy person and quite difficult to pin down, it is even difficult to have a telephone conversation with the man.” Supposedly evil and hated with a passion by many, Assange seems somewhat reserved, giving a guarded interview in which, yet again, he refuses to reveal any intimate details about himself. When asked if he has any regrets or would have handled anything differently, Assange said: “Of course, all people who are still able to learn and see their experiences understand there are ways of improving things and doing things better.” Yet Assange is quick to add: “There are no particular regrets,” – at least, that is, none he is willing to reveal. Assange on Belarus, turn to page 9
4 news
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Occupy comes to university Editorial Team Editor in Chief Julia Denni Chief Executive Sam Watt News Editor Sam Thomson Deputy NE Harriet Rose-Gale Assistant NE Drew Sleep Assistant NE Tazz Gault Opinion Editor Oliver Hill Features Editor Vikki Hutton Assistant FE George Underwood Sports Editor Jonny Byrne Assistant SE Andy Mitchell Chief S Reporter Tom Bennett Chief Sub Maisie Buchan Assistant Chief Sub Will Richards Picture Editor Sophie Outen Head of Design N Lee Giles Head of Design O Charlotte Blake Head of Design F Carrie Mok Head of Design S Rachel Currie Brand Designer Tom Allison Letters to the editor must be signed (including the course of Bournemouth University students, the working title and school for staff members, company name, or home address for individuals outside BU). Prior to the publication, letters will be verified for authencity by the editor. Anonymous letters will not be published. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters in regard to libel law, length, taste, grammar and punctuation.
Letters to the editor: jdennirocks@gmail.com
Advertising:
bournemouthrockads@gmail.com
Charlotte Foot
Continued from page one: Sherborne, a protestor at Bournemouth University told The Rock: “In London it seemed that property laws superseded all human rights laws and we want to construct a question around that.” The section of land at the university’s Talbot Campus is the fifth site in Bournemouth the Occupy protesters have occupied. The protesters have also set up marquees and tents in the grounds of a 25-bedroom mansion located in East Cliff. Previously, members of Occupy Bournemouth camped outside the town hall for over a week last October. In December last year, demonstrators from the Occupy Boscombe campaign set up camp in former vegetarian restaurant The Wessex Tales. Protesters from the movement have also recently taken up residence inside Boscombe Centre for Community Arts, which Bournemouth Borough Council hopes to demolish in favour of developing affordable family housing. A member of Occupy Bournemouth, known as Levi, said: “We’re not here to cause any arguments or disruptions. “We just want to make people aware of what the Occupy movement is, as a lot of students don’t understand.” Levi was a member of Occupy
London and camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral from October 15 until the protesters lost their High Court bid against the City of London Corporation and were removed at midnight on February 28. He added: “I’m not doing this for me. I’m not going to benefit from this but maybe my children will and maybe your children will. “Things have got to change – we can’t continue like this. “Hopefully we’ll get through to the nation and let them know we’re not going away.” Occupy is an international anti-capitalist movement that is campaigning for a more equal economic and political system in society. Other Occupy camps have been set up in numerous cities and towns across Britain, including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield. Mr Sherborne, who joined other demonstrators outside Bournemouth Town Hall last October, said: “I think the Occupy movement worldwide is gaining a lot of attention and the issues that we’re trying to raise awareness about are current and crucial. “I’m really concerned that if we lose the momentum after St Paul’s, all of the effort so far will be wasted.” President of Bournemouth University Students’ Union, Toby Horner, feels it’s important that students do not feel intimidated, concerned or unsafe while on campus. “At the moment we’re happy
Guy Fawkes Masks have become syonymous with Occupy JOE KENT as long as students aren’t being approached or their personal space isn’t being invaded.” A spokesperson for Bournemouth University said: “This protest is not connected with Bournemouth University. “We have asked the demonstrators to leave the university grounds. If they do not respond to this request, we will have to take legal action.
“Our primary concern is the wellbeing and safety of our staff and students.” Mr Sherborne added: “The principle of occupying land is that we’re always going to be considered as trespassers. “Maybe the Occupy movement will use this as an opportunity to take the issues to court and see if we can argue our case there.”
New initiatives to beat sex crime Anushka Naidoo Reports have shown a reduction of sex attacks in Bournemouth over the past year. ‘Operation Protect,’ an awareness campaign set up last summer, has regular contact with Bournemouth University through Safer Neighbourhood teams, and work around the Bournemouth area. The statistics for sex attacks for the county of Dorset have dropped over the past year, possibly influenced by the campaign. Bournemouth town centre has previously been described as a prime area for sex attacks, which are often assumed to be a result of alcohol abuse or spiked drinks. Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Steve Thorpe said: “Statistically we looked at 1,000 cases of sexual attacks and incidences involving potential
drink spiking, and in only a small number of incidents did this turn out to be the case. Most of the time, the problem is alcohol related. “Our message is two pronged: drink responsibly and think about
how you are getting home – whether you are consuming alcohol or not.” The Police also hold regular meetings with local communities, which any resident of Bournemouth can access to get hold of their nearest
Dorset Police’s Operation Protect helps people home safely JOE KENT
team on the Dorset Police website. A Sexual Assault Referral Centre will be opening in Bournemouth, which employs the help of organisations like ‘Harmoni for Health’ who are also trained to deal with the emotional and physical impacts of sex crimes. The police will be working alongside this centre should a victim wish to come forward and report a crime to them. Sian Jenkins, Community Safety Manager for Bournemouth District Council, insisted that providing support for victims of sexual attacks in the Bournemouth community is of paramount importance. “We provide funding for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors who are trained to deal with the emotional impact that victims of sex crimes may suffer,” said Jenkins. The centre opened on Thursday March 8 and is situated in Madeira Road in Bournemouth Town. You can find more information about the centre by visiting the Dorset Police website: www.dpa.police.uk.
news 5
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Planned Nautilus leisure complex comes under fire
Drew Sleep
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR A new leisure complex is to be built despite opposition from the Green Party. The ‘Nautilus’ building will be situated on land directly next to the Pavilion Theatre on Westover Road. The project is being built by The Osborne Group and will provide Bournemouth with a “brand new destination of restaurants and retail outlets with sea views” according to their website. The Green Party Stepped into the debate after Bournemouth Borough Council granted planning permission deeming the plan was not described clearly enough. Sandra Hale, Vice Chair of the Green Party said, “We are concerned that The Osborne Group has not thought through this properly. “This will not be good for the local businesses; they will ultimately be driven out by larger developments like these.” “We have been in contact with the government to review this decision. We are also urging the council to stop the development while the government look into the matter.” Trevor Osborne, Chairman of The Osborne Group defended the building by saying “I do not know why the Green Party are objecting to it now the planning has gone through. “The council likes it, the public like it – everyone likes it” Councillor David Kelsey, Chair of the Planning Board said: “The Trevor Osborne Property Group development at the Pavilion was subject to the council’s normal planning process in which residents, buildings and groups were given ample opportunity to make representation.” Media Officer for the Green Party, Ryan Cleminson said: “I do understand where the council are coming from on this matter. We did not make any objection in the planning process because plans were not described clearly enough so we did not know enough about it to act accordingly.” “The wooded area where the structure is to be built is listed ground under the National Heritage Register. I am aware Mr Osborne wishes to incorporate gardens into the plans for the building, but there is already natural trees and other vegetation there in the first place.”
An artists impression showing the location of the complex situated on Westover Road next to the Pavilion
A council report by Planning Officer Stephen Clark said: “The proposed scheme is considered a high quality replacement that draws reference to local native tree species as well as heathland and wildflower species.” It concludes that The Osborne Group has “submitted a comprehensive replacement for the site to mitigate the loss of existing planting on the land.” It is also alleged that a sealedoff World War 2 bunker lies underground the area where the
Nautilus is to be built. Meanwhile, the Waterfront IMAX building situated on Bournemouth’s promenade still remains vacant. The building was voted the most hated building in Great Britain according to a poll by The Guardian newspaper. Cleminson said: “the Nautilus building will turn out to be another IMAX building and Bournemouth does not need another eyesore like that.” Bournemouth Borough Council is seeking to improve the building, yet
BOURNEMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL
no work has commenced. Councillor John Beesley said on the council’s website that, “We are not prepared to compromise on the future on the Waterfront site. We know how much people dislike the current building. “They want better views and expect good quality development which enhances their own town centre and seafront.” Osborne told The Rock that “Nautilus will not be another IMAX disaster.” He went on to explain: “I personally hate the IMAX building
and hope that the council will eventually knock it down one day. “We already have an Odeon cinema signed up to set up shop in the complex. In addition to this we have a number of restaurants ready to move in, both chains and local eateries so the business is there.” The Bournemouth Borough Council is still “seeking to bring forward improvements at the Waterfront site.” It was announced more than a year ago that the building’s height was to be lowered, but the work on this is yet to begin.
6 Belarus Special Report
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Human rights abuses in the heart of Europe
Harriet Rose-Gale
Few UK citizens know where Belarus is and what is happening in the country. For the past 18 years it has been operating under the political dictatorship of President Alexander Lukashenko. Since 1994, when he was legitimately elected, Lukashenko has ruled with an iron fist, modelling his authoritarian leadership style on that of Hitler, hence he is often referred to as ‘Europe’s Last Dictator’. The former Soviet republic is widely seen as out of line with international law and operates a regime considered to violate human rights. In January 2011 Lukashenko was inaugurated as President of Belarus for a fourth term. The announcement followed a presidential election held
in December 2010, described as ‘seriously flawed’ by European security organisation, the OSCE. In fact, the landlocked country has not held a poll deemed as fair by international observers since the start of Lukashenko’s presidency. The people of Belarus took to the streets, staging a protest in the capital of Minsk, over the suspected vote rigging, during which Lukashenko proceeded to launch a violent crackdown. Security forces were unleashed onto thousands of demonstrators, truncheons at the ready, simply because campaigners chose to stand up for democracy and freedom of speech. Hundreds of protesters, including seven presidential candidates, were attacked and brutally detained. What’s worse is two of these Presidential rivals are still behind bars, being severely mistreated and even tortured. The OSCE disapproved not only of the vote counting but also the violent backlash against opposition figures.
The Belarusian government did not welcome the criticism and shut down the OSCE’s Minsk office. In response to the harshest crackdown of Lukashenko’s term, social networking websites were used to promote a non-violent form of protest, encouraging individuals to clap their hands in unison instead of shouting slogans or thrusting signs into the air. Despite the organisers suggesting the authorities would have no reason to step in, many participants were arrested on charges of ‘hooliganism’. Born in 1954, sports enthusiast Lukashenko promotes himself as a ‘man of the people.’ He has a particular interest in ice hockey. The International Ice Hockey Federation is reconsidering allowing Belarus to host the 2014 World Hockey Championship due to the human rights protests.
Ethan Daish, 22
Fran Tremeer, 19
Oli Mitchell, 20
I don’t really know about Belarus, and I had no idea it was so close to us. It is definitely important that people should know, especially with the whole Kony fad going on at the moment.
I know nothing about Belarus, and if I’m honest, I don’t really care, although I know I probably should. If awareness were to be raised, I would definitely care more.
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
I have no idea about Belarus. I think it’s incredibly wrong that social media is restricted; the internet is there for freedom. Residents with issues seem to have no way of getting out of it, so how is that fair?
Do you know where Belarus is? Just two hours away from Britain, in the heart of Europe, lays Belarus – but could you identify it? Not many people in the UK are aware of where Belarus is and what is currently happening in the Eastern European country. Bordered by Russia, Ukraine,
Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, The Rock asked the people of Bournemouth to locate Belarus on a map of the world. You may not be surprised to learn that most people could not pinpoint the country. The Belarus Special Report aims to raise awareness of the current situation and encourage action.
Alexander Lukashenko: mark my words Every dictator in history has had a personality which has set them apart from the rest. Stalin was inherently paranoid about everything and everyone, Hitler was an unbelievable public speaker and had a love for
the arts, and Chairman Mao was addicted to sleeping pills and never brushed his teeth. Alexander Lukashenko is no different, and has said some outrageous things in his time. Here are some of them:
mass media are weapons of mass “ The destruction today, the most powerful. ” view this is a not a democracy, “ Inbutmya zoo. ” “It’s better to be a dictator than be gay. ”
“
Unless they pay we shall not defend Europe from these flows of migrants.
“
During the years of my presidency I lived a tough and difficult life ... I tried to be honest and fair, helped the talented and those in need.
”
” There is no confrontation in our country,
“ neither racial nor religious. There are no
wars on our land... Name another post-Soviet state which can boast the same values
”
Belarus Special Report 7
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Captured, detained and tortured: a prisoner’s first-hand insight Harriet Rose-Gale
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Brutally arrested, imprisoned for months and tortured - life as a political prisoner in Belarus is far from fair. The root of the problem is ‘Europe’s Last Dictator’ President Lukashenko, who launched a violent crackdown, bringing criminal charges against those who question his leadership, including campaigners, opposition candidates, and journalists. Finally released after nine grueling months, unable to
secure a job and provide for his family, Dmitry’s world has been turned upside down. The 30-yearold former political prisoner shares his personal experiences concering the situation in Belarus. He said: “Now in Belarus, the atmosphere is of despair and decay. The people are very aggressive and hate each other. I am sure that without the help of the international community, Belarusians themselves cannot cope with it.” Dmitry was among the thousands of campaigners who suspected flawed election results and questioned Lukashenko’s fourth consecutive term in office. He told The Rock: “In my opinion, Lukashenko is a bloody dictator,
who has long appointed himself president.” Unable to talk over the phone for fear it may be tapped, with social networking sites closely monitored and secret service agents crawling the country, Dmitry must communicate cautiously. He is careful not to reveal too many details for fear of the repercussions. Having experienced the brutality, he is not willing to be subjected to it again. Anyone who dares fight for democracy and freedom of speech in Belarus is attacked and seized by Lukashenko’s army. Truncheons in the air, riot police violently arrested around 700 protesters who risked standing up for their rights during a protest staged in the capital of Minsk
following the predictable outcome of the presidential election in December 2010. Before prison, Dmitry worked at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, as a driver and security supervisor, now he is unemployed and struggling to survive. Almost two years ago he was detained, he explained: “I was arrested on December 23 by KGB officers, part of the state security, on a tip of my former colleague at the embassy, for taking part in a rally against the rigged presidential election.” Dmitry said: “I still can’t find a job because no one wants to hire a person with a criminal record, and even more so for a political cause, for fear of trouble with the KGB and other state agencies.” Dmitry added: “The situation in Belarus is catastrophic with the huge public debt, inflation and crazy unemployment, and violation of all human rights and basic freedoms.” After the trial and sentencing Dmitry was moved from prison to
prison. He said: “For all the time of my confinement as a political prisoner, I was subjected to psychological pressure and physical torture. Several times I was beaten in prison by the KGB.” Released in a ‘gesture of good will’, Dmitry said he was “relieved” to leave prison. He added: “I spent nine long months in prison and was released on September 14, 2011 from the colony of intensive regime. It all happened after serious pressure and threats from the administration and staff of the KGB.” Unlike many in a similar position, Dmitry is able to live with his family in Belarus, yet he insists it’s not the happy ending he had hoped for. “My arrest and subsequent events have a very bad impact on my family. All my relatives have seriously lost a lot of health during it all.” Dmitry believes the future is precarious and said: “I do not see any decent Democratic candidate for president. The opposition camp in Belarus is cleansed incessantly by state special services.”
during the Tunisian crisis. The idea that anyone can post anything in real time and millions of people will read it is exciting and brilliant, but also potentially terrible. As much as the idea of real-time information coming straight from the centre of a crisis seems perfect, there are a lot of issues regarding the quality and truth of the information. This was shown in Tunisia, where a military coup was reported via Twitter before any event actually took place. It’s 2011 in Belarus capital Minsk, the country known as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’. One of the regular ‘clapping’ protests is taking place in the square. Many citizens are beaten up and imprisoned for up to 15 days simply for peacefully clapping along. It shows just how far Lukashenko will go to protect the reputation of his regime. Shaun Walker, a Western Journalist, attended the rally, and started tweeting what he was seeing; detailing the way plain clothed Government thugs attacked many of the protestors. So when a ‘Shaun Walker’ proclaimed on Twitter how admirable the Government and police had behaved, something was not right. As it happens the Belarusian Government had found out that Walker was at the rally, and set up a fake account in his name, spewing out tweets minute by minute, with lines including:
“Everyone should go home, most of the coordinators have been arrested” and “Rights activists say that the Police have acted impeccably”. It is hard to believe this horrific display can still happen in the year of 2011. Lukashenko and his puppets have monitored the web so drastically that every Internet café in the country has to report when a website registered abroad has been visited. The idea that another, better world exists outside the confines of the dictatorship of Belarus must never be revealed to its citizens. The Belarusian administration realise quite how big an effect Twitter and social media has on modern day crises. Had you heard about the situation in Belarus before? It is nowhere near as familiar to the average man on the street, as the Facebook-organised rallies in Egypt and Tunisia, and that’s exactly the way Lukashenko wants it. The idea in our Western world that in an election eight of the ten opposition candidates would be arrested as part of a rigged farce, and that if you visited Amazon or eBay you could receive a fine of up to £100 is completely alien, but it is continues to happen in Belarus. Such restrictions on the internet mean an extremely limited number of people worldwide know of the atrocities which are happening at this very minute. It has to stop.
The social network spy
Will Richards
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR It’s happened before. Internet regulation and monitoring have become hallmarks of authoritarian states, and Lukashenko isn’t about to let it slide in Belarus. You’ve probably heard about the late Kim Jong Il only releasing World Cup football scores to the world media if North Korea won their match, and if you browse Google China for “Tiananmen Square”, pretty pictures and scenery come up, with not a sign of any recognition of the brutal massacre administered to protestors in 1989. Social networks have been integral to various crises around the world since the breakthrough of Twitter as a vital political tool. The speed at which Twitter allows breaking news regarding revolution to spread is frightening, and can lead to a lot of ambiguity. Hashtags become the centre of the news feed for the whole world’s information on a crisis. These include “#electby” in Belarus, and “#sidibouzid”, used
Thursday 15 March
Belarus Special Report 9
| The Rock
Assange calls for release of political prisoners in Belarus Harriet Rose-Gale
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR WikiLeaks front man Julian Assange says the world needs to take more notice of what is happening in Belarus. He was speaking at the premier of ‘Europe’s Last Dictator’, a documentary by Mathew Charles who is a lecturer in Television Journalism at Bournemouth University. Towering above the room wearing a black blazer and jeans with the top buttons of his white shirt undone, Assange’s magnetic pull draws all towards him. He hopes the documentary will be “provocative” and said: “The political situation in Belarus needs to be shown to be serious and Western governments, especially in Europe, need to be provoked into action in relation to that and the Belarusian government itself needs to treat these people better.” He added: “I do not have a broader position on Belarus but I do know some of the Belarusian people personally and in relation to them I am confident that they should not be imprisoned.” Assange was invited to the Free
Assange hosts Q&A at the Old Vic Tunnels, London KJETIL LIER SVENDSEN Belarus Now event to host a public discussion about the state of affairs in Belarus, following the screening of the documentary. Free Belarus Now, a nongovernmental organisation, aims to quash the current dictatorship thriving in the heart of Europe, which has seen hundreds of Belarusian people beaten and put behind bars, simply for standing up for freedom of speech. There also allegations of state sponsored kidnap, murder and torture.
Mathew was dubious about Assange’s involvement and said: “He’s quite a controversial figure, some people believe what he’s done is wrong, some believe not what he’s done is wrong but that he’s just a dodgy character and obviously there’s a lot of anti-Assange and anti-WikiLeaks press in the UK. The danger is that we get caught up in that row between WikiLeaks and other organisations but I believe that what we’re doing is the right thing.” Prior to the screening, Mathew
admitted he was nervous about Assange’s association with the project: “It wasn’t my decision to associate him with the film.” Yet despite his initial apprehension Mathew said: “I believe that what WikiLeaks has done has been an amazing thing actually and regardless of that I know why I’ve made the film and I’m proud of what the film stands for. Any publicity is good publicity – hopefully.” Following a flawed election in December 2010, protests erupted in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The country’s authoritarian President, Alexander Lukashenko, responded with a violent crackdown. Protesters were arrested and beaten, including seven opposition presidential candidates.
political situation “ The in Belarus needs to be shown to be serious ” ‘Europe’s Last Dictator’, illustrates the human rights abuses which occurred following Lukashenko’s brutal show of force. The documentary aims to raise awareness of the issue, but controversy has arisen over the WikiLeaks chief’s
involvement in the project. Some British journalists allege a WikiLeaks employee handed over leaked US diplomatic cables to the Belarusian regime, but WikiLeaks denies this and nobody has ever provided proof. Irina Bogdanova, sister of imprisoned Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov and Co-Founder of Free Belarus Now is grateful for Assange’s involvement in the project. She said: “I asked political activists in Belarus and nobody minded, everybody welcomed him in. So that’s what’s important, what journalists in the West are saying actually is much less important to me than what people in Belarus are saying.” Assange casually sits with his legs crossed, the electronic tag around his leg not visible, leading the discussion at the end of the showing. The question and answer session is cut short, as he apologises for his sudden mandatory disappearance, jokingly adding, “we’ve got our own problems” as he physically sprints out of the room, the whole audience is left with only the sound of his footsteps clattering down the metal staircase as he darts to catch the 8.30pm tube – being home by 10pm is a condition of his house arrest.
Russia, Belarus and the West: triumph and turmoil
Amy Dyduch
Vladimir Putin’s grip over Russia is not as tight as he might hope after demonstrators gathered in Moscow last week demanding the President’s resignation amid global claims of vote rigging. Putin is set to stay as President for the next six years, following his triumph at the election on March 4, but after 20,000 protesters flocked to the Russian capital, speculation has been cast over whether the win was fair. Outrage at Putin’s re-election remains high, as the vote has been marred by fraud and a lack of competition. Dr Andrew Wilson, author of Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship, said: “He won the vote largely because he fixed a cast list, any significant opponents weren’t allowed to stand. So he has won but he hasn’t necessarily made himself stronger.” The undemocratic nature of the Russian election mirrors
that of its neighbouring country Belarus, whose President Alexander Lukashenko has led the nation for eighteen years despite suspicions of electoral foul play. Putin’s motives may draw parallels with those of the Belarusian President, but the relationship between the two leaders is unstable, “Putin and Lukashenko don’t get on at all, but that doesn’t get in the way of business too much,” said Dr Wilson. Business between the countries is focussed on exports of gas and oil, as a key pipeline from Russia to Europe runs through Belarus. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 gave independence to Belarus but Lukashenko’s opposition to private investment meant the economy deteriorated resulting in a bail out from Russia in November last year. Dr Wilson said: “Russia provided several billion in subsidies to keep the Belarusian economy going but the price is quite tough. Russia wants control over several strategic industries and has Lukashenko where it wants him.” With Belarus dependent on Russia,
attempts to receive backing from other countries failed and sparked a bad relationship with the West. Dr Wilson said it is remarkable Lukashenko is still standing: “He doesn’t deserve to survive but he is a great survivor.” This success is not welcomed by his former KGB colleague Putin. “He resents the fact that this sort of oik from the provinces sometimes outmanoeuvres him,” said Dr Wilson. The imprisonment of hundreds of campaigners by the KGB, following Lukashenko’s rigged election victory in December 2010, sparked outrage in the West. The basic human rights issue of Lukashenko’s actions means he is unable to build bridges with the West, Dr Wilson said: “the route to reform is clear – let the prisoners out. He is extremely unlikely to do so but if he did the West would respond.” The West has withdrawn its foreign representatives in Belarus in an attempt to steer Lukashenko in a different direction. Yet the move may not alter the current situation, “the West really wants to be able to get a handle on Lukashenko - it’s an open
question whether pulling all our ambassadors out helps or hinders that,” said Dr Wilson. Relations between the West and Russia have been tricky for nearly a decade and matters have been worsened by Russia’s abysmal human rights record, including the 2006 polonium assassination of Alexander Litvinenko. Russia is Britain’s third biggest trading partner but the energy
superpower has its own economic problems, which could prove detrimental for Putin. “It’s likely to be a rougher ride than it was in his first term,” said Dr Wilson. With Putin facing a nationwide backlash, the situation in Belarus remaining volatile and the UK reluctant to intervene, it is doubtful that circumstances are likely to improve in the near future.
Belarus
Russia
Population: 9.6 million Capital: Minsk Main language: Russian, Belarusian Main religion: Christianity Currency: Belarusian Ruble Leader: Alexander Lukashenko (President) Leadership style: Authoritarian
Population: 142.8 million Capital: Moscow Main language: Russian Main religions: Christianity, Islam Currency: Russian Ruble Leader: Vladimir Putin (President), Dmitry Medvedev (Prime Minister) Leadership style: Democratic-ish!
10 news
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Facebook: seven days to hide your past Tazz Gault
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR The new Facebook Timeline can provide access to old information for bosses and employers to see. Timeline was first released on December 15 last year and, up until now, has been optional. With the new layout for the social networking site to be made mandatory in the next few weeks, Facebook users have 7 days to filter their past and clean up their page, once they accept timeline, or it stays. CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg claims that Timeline will allow you to “tell the whole story of your life on a single page,” but, when switching to the new profile layout, there is a risk that everything automatically becomes public. A primary school teacher from North Yorkshire discovered this. “I liked a page that linked with alcohol and a night out, and in spite of my privacy settings being locked down, it still showed on my public page. “I was asked to remove the offending item in case any parents of children I teach saw it. Had I realised it was in the public domain, I wouldn’t have clicked it in the first place.” Some have lost their jobs through what they have posted on Facebook, and with the new cover photo addition being permanently
public, users are warned to choose their pictures carefully. Natasha Oliver-Smith, 18 from Swanley, lost her job through one of her recent statuses. “I wrote that I was getting my hair done that day when I had called in sick, and then proceeded to call my boss stuck up, just not in such a polite way. I was called into the office the next day and shown screen shots of what I’d said. They then fired me. “I’d recommend no one does what I did, and with Timeline, it makes it even easier to get caught out.” Rachel Davies, 19 from Salisbury also lost her job through her status. “I forgot I actually had my boss as a friend, so he saw that I’d pulled a sickie. Although there’s nothing dodgy on my profile, the Timeline upgrade worries me that employers will be able to have an insight into my past.” Cases like these seem to happen more often, with employers using networking sites to discover more than what it says on your CV. “Facebook can enhance your personal branding,” said Sue Latham, a careers advisor at Bournemouth University. “However, it tends to be used mostly for people’s personal activities so can easily turn from your Facebook profile, to your ‘Disgrace Book profile.” LinkedIn and Twitter have been suggested to be better to project a more professional image as they can be geared around networking and work related communication.
The new Facebook timeline profile update allows people to access into a user’s Facebook history DYLAN TWENEY
Access to our social networking habits is now much easier to come by. Xobni, a freely available software, can sit alongside someone’s email inbox and identify what social media
it is attached to. With a simple click, more information can be accessed unless your privacy settings are in place for each social media outlet it is attached to. “My advice would be to keep Fa-
cebook private and secure,” Sue said. “Check all entries, including photos related to you and detag or delete where necessary. Use LinkedIn or other more professional outlets to help enhance your profile.”
Bournemouth students make a stand: KONY 2012 Jennie Slevin
A video documenting the on-going fight against the human rights crimes Ugandan guerrilla leader Joseph Kony, has been an instant viral success. The documentary, created by action group Invisible Children, is calling for the public to make Kony famous. “Not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set
a precedent for international justice,” says filmmaker Jason Russell. Invisible Children’s aim is to draw attention to this international issue, which started in Uganda and is now spreading. Kony is the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a guerrilla group whose rebellion began in 1986. The LRA campaigns violently with the intention of creating a new government based on the Ten Commandments and are believed to be responsible for the abduction of an estimated 66,000 children.
The campaign obtained many supporters after going viral KONY 2012
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the LRA was labelled as a terrorist group and Kony has since been placed on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) list of indicted criminals, with a warrant for his arrest and four other members of the group. Kony’s crimes against humanity include abduction, murder, rape and sexual enslavement. In 2006, ICC Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, revealed that: “Kony was abducting girls to offer them as rewards to his commanders.” The sudden escalation in awareness, which the viral documentary has encouraged, has seen students in Bournemouth make a stand against Kony and his crimes against humanity. Niki Mahon, a Computer Animation Arts student, has set up an event on Facebook to encourage other students to show the world who Kony is, and the issues that surround him. The event coincides with a number of others, which are being held in towns and cities world-wide called ‘Cover The Night’. “I felt I had to set up the event because I’d seen that the main ‘Cover the Night’ was in Trafalgar Square
London, however as much as I’d like to attend, I live in Bournemouth,” says the 19-year-old student. “I hope to gain a huge community of students and locals to cover Bournemouth town in stickers and posters, so the next morning it is impossible to not see Kony’s name. We want this to be on the news and to be seen by all people who have the authority to do something about his arrest.” Within only a few hours of setting up the event, over 300 people had shown an interest, proving that social media can be used to make a change. Many people, however, are not so taken by the film or the charity. Visible Children, a blog on tumblr. com has argued several points, not against the cause itself, but against the charity. The blog takes issue with the fact that Invisible Children call themselves a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation when their online financial statements show that only 32% of their expenses go towards ‘direct services’. Other bloggers have been slating the charity for not telling the whole story, and that Invisible Children are supportive of the Ugandan Army,
which the Tumblr blog suggests is “riddled with accusations of rape and looting”. Invisible Children harnessed the idea of social media providing a platform for change and, in less than 24 hours, had developed a great understanding of an international issue, which has been more or less ignored for 26 years. In the documentary Jason says that there are more people on Facebook now than there were people on the earth 200 years ago, and that’s what this project is relying on. The campaign has also targeted Twitter, using 20 big-name celebrities, or ‘culture makers’, to share the information. Niki acknowledges that social media platforms will play a huge part in the success of capturing Kony. “The world seems a whole lot smaller now and we have the power to be heard. Huge celebrities with millions of followers, such as Rihanna and Justin Bieber, have tweeted ‘#KONY2012 Spread the word!!!…’ If everyone is in on it then we will find Kony and save lives and the children of Uganda will no longer be invisible.” To view the video: www.kony2012.
news 11
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Can Putin come back from a dodgy election? Sam Thomson NEWS EDITOR
Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi go skiing. It’s not the set-up to a joke but actually what happened last Thursday. Russia’s “tough-guy” President elect is back, and though he may not be as entertaining a figure as the former Italian Prime Minister, he is no less charismatic. Why then, even after 13 years of dominating Russian politics, substantial public support and positive opinion poll results, would Putin need the election to be rigged? According to the pro-democratic Activist group The League of Voters, there is no good reason. They claim that Putin received 53% of the legitimate vote, 10% less than the official result - but still enough to win the election. Even before the voting had begun, political pundits were betting heavily on a victory for Putin. Now, Putin faces widespread
anger from citizens and new ammunition for his opponents. It could look like a political gambit gone wrong, but there is more to the importance of election rigging than just a victory. Dr Roman Gerodimos, Senior Lecturer of Global Current Affairs at Bournemouth University explains: “Putin probably isn’t as popular as people think, or as opinion polls might suggest. I think the rigging is more about ensuring that the outcome is undeniable, it can’t be challenged, that it’s symbolic. It’s to ensure that there is a message there.” Clear messages are exactly what Putin is about, one of his key strengths as a political leader, and possibly the key to his most recent electoral success. Over the years, Putin has developed a distinct public image, so distinct that his various hobbies have become world famous. Dr Gerodimos says Putin’s understanding of how to use the media has been key in ensuring his political longevity. “Whatever you may think of Putin, he is an extremely media savvy politician. He’s built this dynamic, almost
superhuman image of himself. He goes fly-fishing and horse riding and hunting and a lot of people love that. He’s a very reassuring, dynamic figure.” True to form, when Putin stepped down from the Presidency in 2008, he never really left power. He swapped roles with his Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, but Putin’s popularity, power and influence endured. Despite attempts by Medvedev to assert himself as leader, ordinary Russians still believed Putin was really in charge. So, what changes can we actually expect to see Putin make? Probably not all that many. Putin’s political style isn’t much different from his hard man image. The most urgent challenge for Putin will be to consolidate his victory. Though he may have held onto power for 13 years, Putin has not been able to stop changes in Russian society. Growing political consciousness, growing middle classes and growing hopes for democratic change look threatening to a President whose leadership style is becoming increasingly unpopular.
Exclusive illustration for The Rock
Is Putin’s tough-guy approach the wrong one?
SAM MATTACOTT
Plans for 250 wind turbines to be built off the Bournemouth coast Shanae Staple
Offshore Wind Farms are becoming commonplace MARTIN PETTTITT
An offshore wind farm holding up to 250 wind turbines could be built off the Bournemouth and Poole coast. Members of Bournemouth Council fear that the wind farm will cause tourism levels to plummet, resulting in the loss of up to 500 jobs. The turbines will tower at approximately 205 metres high and will be built about ten miles out from Bournemouth pier. Tony El-Hayek, a Bournemouth resident, says that the wind farm will not stop him enjoying his view of the bay from his favourite spot in the town. “If it’s going to be ten miles away at sea I don’t think it would bother me at all.” Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association says that the wind farm will dominate up to 25% of the view of the bay, and that the turbines will appear higher than the Isle of Wight. Great Yarmouth became home to
one of the UK’s first offshore wind farms in 2005. Alan Carr, Tourism Manager at Great Yarmouth Council, said that the Scroby Sands Wind Farm, which contains approximately 35 wind turbines, has had positive effects in terms of tourism. He said: “People come to have a look at them and boat trips are operated locally for tourists to go out and see them.” The Scroby Sands visitor centre attracts over 35,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy interactive activities and displays. Mr Carr said that the number of visitors to the centre has “doubled in size over recent years” and that the attraction has expanded to schools. Children can learn about renewable energy through the use of the centre’s interactive educational models and can also study the turbines through telescopes. The turbines were featured in Great Yarmouth’s television advertisements and they also stand as a part of the Great Yarmouth logo. Mr Carr said that the Council have no plans for more turbines. He believes that adding to the amount
there already is would cause the turbines to “dominate the skyline rather than feature in it”. If given the go-ahead, the Bournemouth wind farm project will commence in the year 2019. The project will be commissioned by leading energy company, Eneco. Although they will be far out at sea, the turbines will be visible from hotels on the East and West cliffs. Richard John, a holiday maker in Bournemouth who owns four apartments at the Carlton Hotel, said that the wind farm will discourage him from visiting the town in future. “I’ve been coming here for 35 years, and I wouldn’t like to see 250 of these windmills spoiling my view. I would have to sell them and go elsewhere.” The final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey. If the project is approved, the wind farm would be among some of the biggest offshore wind farms in the world and the third biggest in the UK. The biggest, at Walney, has over 360 turbines.
Thursday 15 March
news 13
| The Rock
Work to transform town centre gains momentum Josh Saunders CHIEF REPORTER
Plans for new residential and student accommodation are set to kick off the regeneration of Bournemouth town centre. Leyton Mount is the first approved plan for the Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) with an arrangement for 62 apartments and 605sq meters of space for a café or restaurant. This comes along with the Madeira Lane site that will provide Arts University College Bournemouth students with additional halls of residence. Duncan Johnston of The Bournemouth Redevelopment Company valued the importance of students to creating a thriving community. He said: “The university and their students contribute around £200million pounds a year to the local economy and their success is recognized internationally.” Development manager of the project, Toby Marden said: “There will be around 378 bedrooms targeting first-years so they have a better experience when starting at the Arts University.” A new car park is being incorporated into the scheme, to replace the current 400 capacity facility which will be lost from Leyton Mount. AUCB students Rachel and Charlotte were delighted to hear about the new development. Rachel said: “I would have preferred to go into halls for a year as you get to meet a lot more people. Then you can make an informed decision on who you want to live
with, rather than moving in with random strangers and just hoping for the best.” Currently there are only 100 places at halls of residence for AUCB’s 1,000 first year students, often meaning that priority is giving to international students and those with disabilities. The BDC is funding the proposed joint ventures between Bournemouth Council and Morgan Sindall Investments Ltd (MSIL) as part of the bigger picture for Bournemouth 2026. Partner MSIL were chosen based upon previous experience, offering project development and funding solutions. Bournemouth Council owns an additional 14 sites set for rejuvenation based on ‘unused, sterile car parks’. But business is set to hold off until more confidence in the economy is established, said Nigel Hedges from the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce.He said: “These sites are sitting sterile and vacant just waiting for the recession to end, for £400million worth of development.” Bournemouth’s Waterfront building is also a potential target for the grand rebranding of the borough. There have been several potential plans including butterfly farms, shopping centres and a waterpark. Hedges believes that the problem lies with the architecture of the building, as it is not built for any other purpose than to be an IMAX cinema. The question, Hedges says, is “can you get the business in?” He suggested replacing the building with a cultural Tate Modern art gallery, believing it would get national, if not international, fame overnight. “If you put something inside of it I don’t think people will care what it looks like outside.” Other developers have taken over
sites around the town. Westover Road has been outlined for a potential cinema complex by another developer whilst the Winter Gardens is being pursued by other developers, with hopes for a cinema and leisure facilities and Winterbourne Hotel has been identified as the location for a hotel training school. No immediate plans have been revealed for the sites at Berry Court, Durley Road, St Stephen’s Road, The Town Hall Annexe and West Hill Road but all have been outlined as
significantly important to the redevelopment of Bournemouth Town Centre. Toby Marden, of The Bournemouth Development Company, said: “We’re taking a holistic look at the town to ensure any development regenerates in the right way.” “We’re confident the improvements will make a very positive difference, increasing the number of people living and working here and visiting, generating trade for local businesses and creating attractive
and vibrant spaces for people to enjoy.” These developments will tie into the Bournemouth 2026 vision to attract more custom to the area by providing new family attractions, homes, shops and business units, as well as making public spaces more appealing. Other areas in need of improvement include Boscombe and West Howe.
Karen Pritchard
Leke Unuigbe
Alice Han
Charnah Bradley
Katherine Drewett
Sales advisor Alice Han, 23, from Poole, wants more policing over Bournemouth nightlife: “There are some people who cause trouble in clubs and that does bring the area down a bit. More policing is needed. Some areas just look a bit grotty too.”
Graphic design student, Charnah Bradley, 20, from Winton thought a verdant appearance would make the area more appealing: “The Bournemouth gardens are quite nice, but it’s a built up area and I do feel there’s a lack of greenery in the area.”
Apprentice hairdresser Katherine Drewett, 16, from Verwood said: “Bournemouth is good for shopping and stuff but I’d like there to be more things to do for young people like a swimming pool. At the moment there’s only shops in the town center.”
Retired Karen Pritchard from Talbot Woods, thinks: “The roads and pavements need to be fixed, the potholes are particularly dangerous. Also, the IMAX needs to be taken down so it no longer obstructs the beautiful sea view.”
Manager Leke Unuigbe, 36, thinks after hours transport would reduce drunken antics: “If they had late night bus services throughout the night like in London, with one bus running from one until 6am on each route, it could reduce some antisocial behaviour.”
Artist impression of how the development, including student accomodation and a restauraunt, will look BDC
www.bournemouth2026.org.uk
14 news
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Bryant picked as president Oscar Tollast Louise Bryant has been announced as Bournemouth University’s next Student Union president. The highest ever number of candidates took part in a recordbreaking election that saw a 2,655 voter turnout. Bryant, who competed against six other candidates, aims to improve the presence of SUBU both on and off campus. Meanwhile, Murray Simpson will work alongside Bryant after being elected vice-president of education. Simpson plans to come up with new interactive ways to increase student involvement, building on his previous campaign experience. “It’s going to be out there and it’s going to be something that the students are going to be able to actively get involved in.” The organiser of BUnique week expects the new sabbatical team to hit the ground running, building upon their previous experience of working within SUBU. “It’s going to be one of those teams where we know the Student Union, we know each other, and we know how we work, which means we have a head start on it.” Ruby Limbrick is the new vice president for campaigns and has been involved with the Students’ Union since starting University. “When the result was announced on Friday night it was like a dream come true; I
was ecstatic!” Having assisted organising successful events such as LEGGIT and LOST, Limbrick is looking forward to talking to students. “I think it’s important SUBU is more visible to students, so I want to have a more regular presence around campus.” Simpson and Limbrick both currently work on the Executive Committee, being responsible for Activities and Accommodation and Transport respectively. Katie Jackson has been elected VP of Lansdowne campus. “My policy has always been to make BU, be you. I want the student body to tell me what is important to them so I can start as I mean to go on, dealing with issues that really matter to the students.” Jackson was thankful for voters’ understanding and their continued support, and explained her reasons for running. “I wanted to run for this position as I want to continue the great work that Philli (Hodgson) has done this year.” 2012 will see the first intake of students paying increased tuition fees. Current president Toby Horner identified it as one of the challenges the new sabbatical team will have to face. Horner said: “There’s potential for all of the incoming fresher students to have such high expectations of what they’re going to be receiving.” Reminiscing on his own time as president, Horner said: “I’ve got so much out of it and it has been a life-changing experience.”
SUBU President elect, Louise Bryant will begin her full time role after a transition period in June SUBU
New placement hopes for undergrads Jasmine Cainey
MyCareerHub is accessible online, and has recieved over 10,000 hits since its launch TAZZ GAULT
Bournemouth University plans to offer placements on all undergraduate programmes. There are a number of programmes where at present placements are not offered. As part of the University’s ‘visions and values,’ the placement and careers team are working hard to offer every student the opportunity to experience some sort of workbased learning. Placements will be offered in short and long term formats, or consultancy projects, to give students every opportunity to work in their chosen industry. “Statistics say that at least 25% of students return to their placement employers on completion of their degree,” said Andy Smith, Placement and careers Manager at Bournemouth University. Prospects for work experience will be embedded within the
curriculum.“What we need to do is build links with new employers to capitalise on the really strong relationships we already have to ensure everyone has a placement opportunity,” emphasised Andy. With 22,000 students on campus, the careers and placement web service, MyCareerHub, has had over 10,000 hits since December 2011. “This is happening across many of the country’s institutions, not just at BU,” said Andy. He also puts the increase of activity down to students being more pro-active. “My advice to all students is to look ahead, especially if you’re in your first year. “Take the steps to make yourself stand out and get out there, looking for all and any extracurricular stuff you can do. Build a client base as it is what you need to get you into a professional environment.” Planning has already started and the process has begun with the restructuring of the placements and careers service to ensure the facility matches what students require.
Thursday 15 March
news 15
| The Rock
Music fan wins dream design job Tazz Gault
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Arts student Milan Abad with the original artwork TAZZ GAULT
A student from The Arts University College, Bournemouth has designed the cover for The Ting Tings new album, Sounds from Nowheresville. Milan Abad, 22, originally from Leeds, entered a competition to win tickets and the chance to meet the band by sending in artwork, but had no idea of where it would end up. “I was so bogged down with work that I forgot to include my name and email address on the drawing I originally sent in, so just disregarded the competition,” said Milan, now in his 3rd year studying Illustration. “It wasn’t until I saw it up on Facebook with lots of likes and a request for who made it that I realised it had actually sent.”
Milan later received a phone call from the band which in turn led to conversations with Sony Music Entertainment, The Ting Tings record label, to discuss buying the rights to the image. The CD cover sees band members Jules de Martino and Katie White drawn in skeleton form, demonstrating Milan’s interest in human anatomy. His illustration was initially the other way around, but he had to change it in keeping with the band’s brand image; Jules is always on the left on their album covers. “I had to spend hours on Photoshop editing the image as I hadn’t drawn Jules’ other arm. That was probably the hardest part.” Milan has previously done work for fussmag.com and hopes to save up whilst studying in Bournemouth for a future move to London.
“I do a lot of hours,” he said. “There have been times where I haven’t slept; recently it’s been thirteen-hour days. I once had a month where I just didn’t sleep and lived off Red Bull.” Milan wasn’t always sure what he wanted to study. It took until the end of his Foundation Year to realise Illustration was for him, and since then he has focussed on building his portfolio and gaining contacts. “In terms of talent, you have to have a lot of drive and motivation, but talent is objective. At the moment, I hate my work, and I know I have to step back now and again to let the feeling pass.” With the CD now available to purchase, Milan says he cannot wait to receive his copy. Meanwhile, The Ting Tings are about to tour America, after their album reached Number 23 in the album charts.
Students shoot feature-length film Tayla Woodard
Talented students at Bournemouth University are using their spare time to produce SOAP, an indie feature film being written, directed and produced by just 15 students on a tiny budget. SOAP is a dark comedy following the life of John, a drug user in his late twenties with no prospects. John’s day to day life is made up of smoking cannabis and living in his own squalor, until one day he snaps and decides to turn his life around. The film tracks John’s rocky return to normality as he goes through a series of
embarrassing encounters. Peter Fellows, writer and producer believes that the film is comparable to ‘Factotum’ and ‘Withnail and I’, and said: “It really has that downtrodden British feel to it.” The crew is made of 10 dedicated students plus five others who step in on shoot days. The team are using their weekends and spare time to continue producing SOAP and have shot 40 minutes of the film so far, which set to be released in December 2012. The money for SOAP has largely relied on crowd funding and personal investment so far. Fellows comments: “We are looking for more funding so that it can be as good as it possibly can be.” Filming is taking place in
Bournemouth and surrounding areas, including Boscombe which has proved useful for filming “interesting characters”. Fellows adds, “Local businesses have been really helpful” by allowing the crew to film in their establishments. The third-year students studying varying degrees from Forensics to TV production make up a talented crew of producers, film crew, directors, editors and many more who have crucial behind-the-scenes roles. Fellows is grateful to have a very proficient crew on board. “It’s great that so many people are involved who are competent at what they do, that is what makes it possible.” Check out the trailer by searching ‘SOAP trailer’ on Facebook.
A scene from the low-budget production created by students SOAP
NUS cracking down on hidden course costs Script fest at University Nearly one third of Bournemouth University students are facing expensive hidden fees within their course, an internal survey has shown. The survey found that, out of the 2000 Bournemouth University students asked, 30% have had to pay extra for essentials on their course that they didn’t know about before. The results come as the National Union of Students launch a campaign for universities across the country to be ‘more transparent’ about the additional costs students face before enrolment. The ‘Hidden Costs’ campaign comes as figures show that 31% of students’ unions reported that their universities
provided no support for additional costs. The movement forms part of the NUS’s ‘Come Clean’ campaign, which hopes to ensure rights and protections for students. Liam Burns NUS President, said: “Whether lab coats, field trips, printing or materials, students across the country are facing significant hidden costs attached to their studies. He said: “It cannot be fair that academic success is dictated by how much disposable cash you have.” The extra costs have forced many students to take on part-time jobs alongside full-time degrees in a bid to cover academic costs. Bournemouth University student Oscar Tollast has to complete six weeks of industry work experience,
as part of his Multimedia Journalism degree. “I think providing expenses for transport would be a nice compromise. “I feel most sorry for those who don’t have a media outlet near them, who are forced to travel considerable distances.” Kate Jones, Vice President of Education at SUBU, is urging students affected by hidden costs to attend a talk with the University on 12 March. She said: “In support of students the University are planning to be more transparent about fees. “If there are to be more additional costs they will inform students at the outset, before they have even applied to the university.”
Bournemouth University is inviting students to attend this year’s Southern script writing festival on March 16-17. Hosted at the newly built Kimmeridge house the event boasts: “A grand menagerie of informative learning and debate concerning all things scriptwriterly”. Follow on from last year’s success the festival, organised and led by students at BU who are studying a mix of MA screenwriting, MA writing for the media or BA script writing. The festival provides scriptwriters with a largely committed occasion which is aimed at enhancing their skills and abilities, informing of current trends in screenwriting education and to encourage a relationship between those on the
intertwining courses. The weekend will features debates taking place across the two days. Professionals from all over the world of writing, directing and producing come and lend their pearls of wisdom to those still finding their way. There will also be a selection of seminars and workshops, which will focus on different strands of Scriptwriting and education, Industry information and Scriptwriting and practice. Emily Smith, a scriptwriting student from Bournemouth University says: “I’m looking forward to the guest speakers. This event gives you the chance to meet new people, it’s great for networking and making a name for myself.”
16 opinion
OPINION
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Editorial
Julia Denni
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Who are the bad guys? Adults teach us in childhood to fear bad guys – “Be careful of strangers”, “you must hold my hand” and “let me know where you are at all times”. We are taught to hate bad guys too. Witches, vampires, ogres, Voldemort from Harry Potter, Scar from The Lion King – the list goes on. As we grow up, real-life folk devils are deceptively easy to spot. They include Osama Bin Laden, Colonel Gadaffi, Robert Mugabe, Saddam Hussein, plus the new bad boys Kim Jong-un and Bashar alAssad in Syria.
Abortion
An age old debate taken to new extremities
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I actually get fundraising emails from the BNP. I kid you not.
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@Thereal Nihal
opinionsdeskrocks@gmail.com
torturer, but dictatorships corrupt millions of ordinary citizens too, not to mention the way in which Hitler came to power. Ordinary people are forced to compromise and dilute their ethical principles to survive. As the population of Homs show, it’s suicide to speak out against a brutal regime. It’s a bad idea to wait for the West to take action – even against a murderous bad guy like Assad. Another example of confusion in separating good from bad is in the case of the Kony 2012 video. The film catalogued mass killings and child abduction in Uganda and central Africa, and has had more than 75 million views on YouTube. My friends have questioned the motives of Kony 2012’s filmmakers, and are furious that the people behind the video have made money out of misery. Does this make the people behind the camera the bad guys? How about Julian Assange, the
man behind Wikileaks. Is he a bad guy? Assange says his organisation is being persecuted because the United States is responsible for the deaths of 100,000 people in Iraq and Afganistan. Confusing, isn’t it? Yet I’m not able to look at Assange the same way ever since he faced allegations over alleged sex crimes in Sweden. Meanwhile, in 2014 the United States and Britain will pull out of Afghanistan after sacrificing hundreds of troops in the war against the Taliban. Yet most commentators believe the Taliban will take power as soon as the last soldier leaves. So when they take control will that give them the chance to be rehabilitated as good guys? It is hard to know who the bad guys are in the world, especially if you are an ethical purist. Deciding between good and evil is more difficult than our parents suggested. When you walk around Boscombe you might feel you are far away from the concerns of Belarus but one aspect of human beings is that they care about human beings – wherever they are. Just as people in the regime can help the bad guy by suffering in silence, we in the West can give it legitimacy by doing nothing.
where a man doesn’t have to starve for a week to afford a bottle of wine, and where students can order their first pint of the day as early as 10am. Smell that, kids? That’s freedom. Alas, there are dark plans afoot, plans to take this most basic of freedoms from our hands. I speak, of course, of David Cameron announcing his support for stricter measures against binge drinking, the most prominent of which is establishing a minimum price on alcohol. When I first heard of this I was frustrated, afraid that the tipsy Britain I love would turn into the fascist state I had escaped. Alcohol is getting unfairly blamed for harm and destruction caused by some people, and yet steps are taken to bleed everyone’s wallets, or at least that’s the idea of it. I would like to argue that this price wouldn’t change anyone’s alcohol habits whatsoever. Why? Because the suggested price is no more than 50p per unit of alcohol. This means that a six-pack of Budweiser and a bottle of Jägermeister can’t be discounted to less than £4.95 and £12.25 respectively. If this is a deal breaker for you, I suggest that you take a good, long look at your economy. Personally, if I ever came across a flask of Jäger for no more than a tenner, I’m inclined
to think I would neglect that month’s food budget and just stack up. And therein lies the problem. Yes, setting a lower limit for how much booze can be discounted is a good idea, if one seeks to lower the amount that is consumed, even if I do happen to disagree with the mentality. Setting the limit at a mere 50p will effectively change nothing. The only result that will come out of such a change in the law would be that Mr. Cameron could truthfully say that he has acted against the problem that is alcohol abuse, and at the same
time avoid uproar over audacious inflation. To be honest, I would expect nothing less of an Englishman. I imagine he loves his lager just as much as the next guy and I do respect that. However, blaming an inanimate liquid for societal damage, and wanting to enforce ineffective measures against it just for the sake of enforcing – that I cannot approve of. Until there are proper measures on the way, please don’t stir me up with petty things like this. It’s ruining my drinking time.
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Deciding between good and evil is more difficult than our parents suggested
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Alcohol price changed from nothing to nothing Robin Gustafsson
Tweet beat
I was asked an odd question this week: “Why should people in Boscombe care about a dictator in Belarus?” Possibly for the same reason we should care about innocent people being blown to bits by high explosive shells in Homs. The reason is, the world is a smaller place these days. Since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there has been a lot more freedom, not just throughout Germany but in the rest of the world as well. When you walk about Boscombe’s Sovereign Centre, or shop in Sainsbury’s, you’re more likely to bump into someone from part of a former Iron Curtain dictatorship. But that’s where the bad guys come in. If the people of Boscombe don’t care about Belarus, then there is going to be trouble. The problem is that bad guys always need help to stay in power. Some helpers are obvious – the army, the secret police, and the odd
COLUMNIST
Before I start this week’s rant, I must make one thing clear. Alcohol in this country is cheap – really cheap. It is also easily accessible, in contrast with what I’m normally used to. You see, in Sweden, the state has monopoly on alcohol, and so there exists only one chain of off-licence stores. These stores are nothing like your British, conveniently placed, 24-hour off-licences. In Sweden you can consider yourself fortunate if you manage to find even two such stores in the same town. And even if you did, you would have to abide by the standard closing times of 6pm on weekdays, and 2pm on Saturdays. Want to buy booze on a Sunday? Tough luck. By this point I hope it’s fairly clear that I think Sweden is the Nazi Germany of alcohol. So I fled to Britain, where democracy still rules,
The Government plans for a lower price limit on alcohol
FAJARDO
opinion 17
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Medical scholars wrong on after-birth abortion Emma Ullah COLUMNIST
We are living in a monstrous world, sucked into the fantasy of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein whereby human life can be easily created and destroyed. The Journal of Medical Ethics has put forward the acceptance of killing newborn babies on the premise that “’new-borns’ do not have the same moral status as actual persons”. The paper, which is called ‘After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?’ argues that if abortion is legal, then killing innocent babies should be too. Abortion is one thing but murder is another. These academics are placing our society on a slippery slope. Infanticide, which is practiced in the Netherlands for purposes of euthanasia, illustrates that our society has forgotten the basic concept of life. We have allowed ourselves to become consumed with choice and perfection, and soon a Nazi world
will prevail whereby everyone is “chosen”. Some women are shamed with infertility, yet these medics immorally suggest that it is acceptable to slaughter little babies because they are not “an actual person”. This is wrong. Once something breathes for itself, that something becomes a someone. The shocking proposal states that infanticide should be permissible on the same grounds as abortion, but in England, Scotland and Wales abortion is only deemed available in pregnancies of less than 24 weeks. So it seems that trusted experts have been spiralling out of control, making connections that do not make sense. However, I don’t disagree with abortion. When I log into Facebook I’m faced with endless accounts of pregnant teenagers. Girls that I used to know posing in the mirror to show off their baby bump. These babies shouldn’t be brought into the world, raised on measly benefit money by single mums. If you can’t supply the goods for a baby, then why have one at all. That’s not all. Sex-selective
abortions have driven our culture to the pinnacle of selfishness and perfection, not to mention incriminating the law. The moral standings of Britons have been called into question, where a baby boy can be killed simply because the parents wanted a girl. I admit at the age of five I was brought to tears when told my baby brother was on his way, but even as a little girl, I would never have wished him dead just so I could satisfy my need for a sister. Science has excelled so far, offering treatment for cancer and being able to save lives that would have been put to sleep 100 years ago. Why are we now using it to destroy people? We already live in a world where we can restructure our noses, enlarge breasts and change pretty much everything and anything that makes us unique. If infanticide and sex-selection were to be made legal, our society would consist of human Barbie dolls. Not one of us would be here by chance. It would be like living in a world controlled by scientific puppeteers.
Journal of Medical Ethics wants after-birth abortion accepted
KAI
The time of the Voters have right to moan month taboo Oliver Hill
Hollie Mellia COLUMNIST
Time of the month, Tom, Aunt Flow, The painters are in, ‘Mr Blobby’… just a few of examples of the weird and wonderful ways in which we describe our periods. But why is it that we prefer to guise our periods with such comical nicknames? It is quite simply because menstruation is still generally regarded as unmentionable in today’s conformist society, a taboo subject that should be kept hushed by all means possible. So distasteful, even offensive, that throughout history the discussion of menstruation has often been considered something to be avoided at all costs. Menstrual blood, for example, has long been regarded as having magical, pollutant or destructive properties. Native American Culture considered women who were on their periods to be unsafe and would force them out of the village to sit alone. We could blame our schools and
the lack of education on periods for maintaining menstrual myths and taboos that still persist in today’s society, admittedly in a somewhat less extreme form. The myth that inserting a tampon for the first time will take away your virginity, for example, still prevails, despite being quite clearly ludicrous. Or the question, “What’s the matter; time of the month?” - a phrase doomed to fill us with dread and anticipation. The shame and embarrassment surrounding our perception of periods has culminated in the development of a complex code of female behaviour. It’s a kind of ‘menstrual etiquette’ intended to spare others, i.e. men, from the idea that women have periods, let alone, heaven forbid, that a woman is having her period right now. This helps to explain why, as feminist Germaine Greer pointed out in the 70s, a woman in a restaurant will take her entire handbag with her to the toilet, instead of simply carrying a tampon in her hand. Why else have we spent years and years of our lives tucking tampons up the sleeves of our jumpers?
OPINIONS EDITOR
Bournemouth University’s Student Union (SUBU) has just held its elections where the students, were able to vote for a new Student President and so on. Hopefully everyone that used their vote tried to choose the best person for the job, as I did. Okay let’s get straight down to it. I know there’s a good proportion of readers who won’t have exercised their democratic right to vote and I’ve got an issue with such individuals. If you are reading this and are looking all sheepish because you couldn’t be bothered to place your vote, then I think you are a massive fool. You are a fool who has now forfeited your right to grumble about absolutely anything and everything to do with university for the next twelve months. Whether you like it or not your life is engulfed in politics and as adults we are blessed with the right to have our say because it impacts upon our daily lives. Booze is a prime example. The majority of students like a drink but, as Robin Gustafsson explains
in his column, David Cameron wishes to implement a plan to set a lower price limit on alcohol sold in shops. If that news makes you want to screw this newspaper up and stamp your feet on the ground like a spoilt brat, then you are perfectly entitled to do so – if you voted in the last general election that is. I have an A Level in Politics so I understand that the term democracy originates from the Greek for ‘people power’. As a voter you ‘have the power’, and not using it is like being given the keys to a luxury penthouse in a swanky part of London, and then deciding that
you’d rather live under a hedge in Boscombe. To me it makes no sense. I understand that some of you might argue that there’s no point to it all and that backing the Liberal Democrats in the 2010 election turned out to be the same as handing your vote to the Tories. Well, I’m afraid that’s just politics for you. None of the SUBU candidates that I voted for won but that’s OK because now I have the right to shout and stomp as much as I want about the ludicrously long queue at the student union shop. This makes me extremely happy because I’m a miserable sod.
SUBU had a record breaking turnout of 2655 votes this year SUBU
opinion 19
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Vs Kony: The new George Clooney Ross Took
Drew Hollinshead
KONY 2012 is a project fronted and founded by the Invisible Children program, to bring down war criminal Joseph Kony, current leader of rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The project is now nine years old and it’s astounding that it might, this year, not get enough coverage to help capture him. It’s claimed that Kony is responsible for the kidnap, disfiguring, rape and murder of around 30,000 African children over the last 26 years. The ‘Kony 2012’ video, features Jacob a man raised into the terror, and went viral acquiring in excess of fifty-five million views in less than four days. It is a shining example of how we can start to topple, even if it is just one, of Africa’s corrupt rebel leaders. Though indirectly, it’s still undeniably a colossal opportunity, if only realistically the tip of the iceberg. It could be just the incentive the World needs to stop the suffering. Invisible Children state that “the campaign aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.” Fortunately, with this campaign, we’ve been given that chance. So, if we all get involved in the Cover the Night events, that are spanning the World on the night of April 20, we could truly force the issue. If you spread the word, print a poster or just turn up for the cause we could make him famous and ultimately make a difference. Thousands more young people could fall to the same fate so many already have, let’s try to help the children affected regain their lives.
My stand on the whole ‘KONY 2012’ hype is that it’s an ingenious and selfish way of making money through the misfortunes of others, thanks to social networking. However, people are so naive that they believe everything that a propaganda video tells them. There are so many reasons to support the video but even more not too. Kony is clearly a very bad man, but this has been going on for ages and we didn’t care then, so why should we care now? Joseph Kony is bad, no one can deny that, but is he the worst there really is, how can he be top of the list when there are people that have committed so many worse atrocities? For me there are quite a few reasons not to follow the crowd on this one. The non-profit’s financial statements show that only 32% of the $8.6million it spent last year went to direct services such as wages for employees. Meanwhile Foreign Affairs magazine has accused the organization of “manipulating facts for strategic purposes.” Charity Navigator has given Invisible Children a two-star rating in accountability out of a possible four So why is the US considering sending more troops in to Uganda even though the crazed Kony hasn’t been there for quite some time. Well it all comes down to one thing. Oil. Uganda’s oil industry is booming but needs investments in order to build the infrastructure necessary for it to succeed. That’s where the USA comes in. So I urge the people of Bournemouth not to listen to twisted exaggerated nonsense and to stand on their own feet and have an opinion. Kony 2012 is a flawed, corrupt and nonsensical campaign that is sure to fail. The only question is, how?
COLUMNIST
COLUMNIST
Exclusive illustration for The Rock The International Criminal Court’s most wanted - the Ugandan war lord Joseph Kony. SAM MATTACOTT
Tragic hero left to cope with no help Chloe Bradley COLUMNIST
I was sad to hear in this week’s paper that a hero, whose enthusiasm and infectious humour overcame the torment and ordeal of his job, had in fact not been dealing with it as well as portrayed. Tragically PC David Rathband, was found hanged on Wednesday Feburary 27 at his home. The nation was heartbroken to find him describing that he woke up every morning, at the precise time he was shot in the face by the crazed and out of control Raoul
Moat. The blind policeman described being haunted by the face of Raoul Moat, “I have no recollection of how my wife or children look whatsoever and that’s what hurts the most.” However my concern here lies with the lack of support available for Mr Rathband, and that he found it necessary to take his own life. Surely there should have been more help for him in the earlier stages of his ordeal? David’s family have said that they will “never forgive” Raoul Moat’s disgusting actions, but surely there should have been stress placed on helping him in the aftermath? Prime Minister David Cameron led tributes and said: “He did an enormous amount for charities and
for other injured police officers.” But all that comes to my mind is why he had to personally raise money and awareness. Why isn’t the support already there for these heroes who contribute so much to making our society better, and are then let down by the system of which they are trying to protect. PC Rathband told BBC Radio 4’s In Touch programme that he felt “neglected”. He said: “Very early on there was no involvement from social services. I waited 10 months for them to speak to me.” Our country is persistently let down by its social services. In the case of Baby P, two social workers
are said to have committed a “serious error of judgement” during an incident that saw him “disappear” for 12 days. He was neglected by social services, and was left to die from injuries at the hands of his mother’s boyfriend. Billions of pounds a year are put into social services, as a taxpayer, I cannot help but wonder where our money is going. The sheer lack of support available in this country is sickening and something needs to be done. More people will find themselves lost in this sad situation, as David Rathband did, where they see no light at the end of the tunnel and can’t bear to carry on anymore.
20 opinion
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
BNP shouldn’t be denied platform Aaron Golightly COLUMNIST
The National Union of Students (NUS) has a ‘no-platform’ policy. This isn’t a fashion statement about shoes, but rather a union policy in respect of the British National Party and its members. In the past the NUS has picketed appearances by Nick Griffin and the alleged Holocaust denier, David Irving. I cannot understand why it is assumed that if we do not hear from certain sections of society that they will just disappear. This ‘no-platform’ policy that the NUS has is both anti-democratic and counter productive. It is furthermore an insult to fellow members of the NUS to insist that we are perhaps too stupid, or too impressionable, to be permitted the opportunity to reach our own conclusions on these issues after hearing both sides of the debate. Freedom of speech should
always be defended. More so if what you are about to say will expose you as a racist or an idiot. I will not be denied the right to have somebody expose him or herself as being the cretinous imbecile that they are. The hierarchy of the student union should not deny this right to you either. Yet they do so in the name of opposing fascism. Presumably not the fascism that dictates whose opinions we should be permitted to hear. The idea that we should not be allowed to hear the BNP’s views is frankly patronising to everyone. What allows the NUS to deny us the right to hear the bile of the BNP and to make our own judgements accordingly. In 2009 when Griffin represented the party on the BBC panel show ‘Question Time’ there were protests outside the Television Centre. Protests from people who wanted not only to deny Griffin of a platform, but also deny you and I the chance to have this odious little creep exposed for what he really was, and in front of the biggest audience to date. How dare they assume such
power? How dare they assume such responsibility? As far as I am aware, there has never been a national poll of students to determine whether or not the union should not extend the courtesy of freedom of expression to the BNP. There hasn’t been a collective surrender of will. No protectionism sought by students who would be tremendously offended, and irreparably damaged psychologically, if they held an opinion that they would surely hold in contempt. By refusing the BNP a platform you are denying their opponents the biggest weapon that they have. This is, that what the BNP say is often lamentable, inaccurate and repugnant. They must not be allowed to hide behind the cloak of repression. How is opposition to be formed against something we’re not allowed to hear? Do not grant them the blessing of anonymity that their disgusting brand of politics thrives under. You may not agree with what they have to say, but it is for this reason you should defend to the death their right to be heard saying it.
The term disabled does not mean to disregard Charlotte Gay COLUMNIST
A few days ago, I was out filming for a private side project involving people with learning disabilities. This occasion was a case study on Elaine. She has quite an extreme form of autism, which means she finds it difficult to express herself to others, especially those who do not know her very well. Although Elaine is now 47, she has the mental age of a seven-year-old. She has spent most of her life in institutions, where she was labelled as ‘challenging’, resulting in her being categorised as difficult to work with. We spent a couple of hours with Elaine in a café in Winton, trying to capture her colourful personality on camera and prove that she now has a much better quality of life outside the institutions she grew up in. I found Elaine to be almost no trouble to work with. As an interviewer it was sometimes difficult for me to communicate in an easy to understand way, but this is to be expected for someone who has a young mental age. Nevertheless, she was good as gold for the majority of our visit, this was until she was told we all
had to go. Elaine wanted to stay and was putting up a wall of defiance not to leave. Unsure what would be the best way to help persuade her to leave; we did our best to encourage her. At this point someone in the café loudly decides to voice their opinion on the situation, declaring offensive comments about us all pandering to her attention-seeking ways, and that we were being patronising in our
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There are so many different cases of bullying and even people being roped into committing crimes
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way of communicating. Unsurprisingly Elaine was upset and we were back to square one. This got me thinking about how some people are still closed minded, and unhelpful towards people with learning difficulties. There are so many different cases of bullying and even people being roped into
committing crimes because members of society trick those with learning difficulties. The charity Mencap works specifically for those with learning disabilities, and has highlighted that as many as nine out of ten people with a learning disability have been victims of hate crimes and bullying. This is a staggering figure and one I find hard to comprehend considering how we are supposed to be part of a well-educated nation. A prominent example would be the murder of Steven Hoskin from St Austell, Cornwall, in 2006, who was effectively tortured by members of the community; tricked into admitting he was a paedophile before falling off the top of a viaduct. Obviously this is an extreme example but it proves how unaccepting people are of those who are different to the majority of us. I am particularly annoyed at how unexpected and unprovoked this verbal attack on Elaine was. It’s understandable most of us are not used to changing how we communicate, but people seem to think that it is acceptable to retaliate to those with mental health problems. If people cannot even be in the same environment as someone with learning difficulties, then how are we ever going to progress forward and create change.
Exclusive illustration for The Rock An artist’s impression of BNP leader Nick Griffin
GEORGE TULLY
All women are feminists Chloe Cook COLUMNIST
To be a feminist you only have to believe one thing, that men and women should be equal. To most people this is not a notion that will spark the second Russian revolution or cause the Berlin Wall to crumble again, it’s just accepted. For some reason labelling yourself a feminist seems to be as divisive as calling yourself a neo-nazi or a Jedward fan. You are met with confused faces and a chorus of “but why?” and “you don’t look like one”. The most common misconception is that we hate men, well we don’t. Heck, the best men are feminists. A feminist can be a woman, a man, rich, poor, gay, straight, bi, trans, young, old, southern, northern, black, white, Asian, Chinese, Icelandic, Scottish, Chilean, Jedi, usually human and sometimes even fictional. Just think Buffy, Lisa Simpson and Hermione Granger. They can shave their legs and they can not shave their legs. They can wear make-up and not wear makeup. There is no set criteria for being a “women’s libber”. Within any movement there are lots of different strands – with each grassroots group and each individual member thinking different things. There are feminists who protest outside strip clubs, like the London group Object, and there are some who pole dance to keep fit. There are feminists who hate pornography and some, like Erika Lust, that make it. We’re all working
towards the same goal even if the ways are different. Feminism will accept everyone because women’s issues affect everyone – not just women. I mean without feminism exactly where would we be? Probably on the kitchen floor cleaning up little Jonny’s mashed banana for the third time that day while Dad is stuck in a job he hates just to pay the bills. We definitely wouldn’t be at University debating whether we were feminists or not – whether or not us women wanted to fight for our rights as human beings. There needs to be more fighting. We have not achieved equality and the big shots in business, government and the media go to great lengths to make us think we have. Last Thursday was International Women’s Day which brought to light the stark inequality towards females. Women in the UK still earn 21% less than men on average. One in four women in Great Britain will suffer abuse at the hands of a current or former partner. Worldwide 140 million women are living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. Every year 100,000 women are raped in the UK and the rape conviction rate is still only 6.5%. This is not OK. The more women shy away from the feminist label the more women of the world suffer. Women’s rights will only exist in ‘get back to the kitchen’ jokes until we reclaim the word feminism. The solution is simple. You don’t need to preach or make a fuss. You don’t even need to join a feminist group. When someone asks if you’re a feminist you just need to say ‘yes’.
features 21
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
FEATURES
The evils of skin envy The Asian quest for a fairer face and the Western want of a Hollywood tan might just be the beauty world’s biggest hypocrisy. But that’s not the ugliest truth behind a woman’s war paint
Asian and Western women could be putting their health in serious danger by pursuing the skin tone that the other rejects
Anushka Naidoo
St Patrick
Are the Irish the proudest of the Isles?
22 Street art The creative freedom of graffiti
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vhuttonrocks@gmail.com
Although some aspects of Indian culture have become more westernised, there is one age-old tradition that will not fade – fair is beautiful. For centuries, Indian women have crooned over newborn baby girls declaring that they are, “so fair and lovely”. I have not been subjected to this by the women in my family, but then I have been brought up in the West. This notion that fair is beautiful arguably has its roots from the less educated Indian classes, and was established over the period when the British settled there. If your daughter was fair she was more likely to marry an Englishman who could promise wealth. Though the British left long ago, the ideology remains. In Asian culture skin whitening treatments were initially used to remove scars, which have always been more visible on darker skin. However, like with plastic surgery, these treatments have become used for more superficial reasons, with the industry now worth at least $466million and growing at a rate of 25% a year in India alone. But what people appear to be ignoring are the potentially
dangerous consequences. Laser treatment has unpredictable outcomes for the user. Chemicals in skin whitening creams, such as mercury and hydroquinone, have been proven to cause cancer if used in high quantities. Cryosurgery, where the skin is frozen using liquid nitrogen to allow the pigment to rise and be peeled off, is an extreme choice. More commonly used to treat tumours, it is a costly option and the darker your skin is, the less likely it is to work. So why is there such a demand for these treatments in the modern age? How is such a narrow minded attitude still allowed to flourish? Priyanka Patel, a fellow Asian friend of mine, said: “The media has to share some blame. In India the stereotype of fair being beautiful is portrayed through Bollywood films and Indian soaps. This in turn influences young girls to think that fair is beautiful.” One could argue that Priyanka and I have a more western view of traditional Indian ideals now. Maybe we too would believe that fair is more beautiful if we were constantly subjected to Bollywood films and home grown Indian culture. One thing is for sure though, we are both happy in our own skin – surely that’s how it should be whatever your colour.
Vikki Hutton
FEATURES EDITOR The truth about fake tan is that I don’t know any girl my own age who doesn’t use it. Even I have converted now and at what cost? Fifteen pounds a bottle, indeterminable side-effects to my health and a sizeable dose of hypocrisy. There are two evils at work where self-tanning is concerned; the first is ignorance, the second, lust. The latter almost certainly has to be attributed to the media and its constant messages about what makes us beautiful. In an age that idealises the famous, the golden glow is a simple, shallow symbolism of life on the Hollywood hills. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that? Well, Nicola Roberts of Girls Aloud for one, along with other proud and pale, famous faces. Alternative role-models are out there, but it seems they are overshadowed by the glow of others. How else can we explain that the self-tan market in Britain alone is worth a reported £100million? In a survey by Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart, 30% of first-time sun bed users aged 18-24 said they were hoping to improve their appearance. More than a quarter admitted
SOPHIE OUTEN
they were not concerned by health warnings, which include your risk of developing skin cancer doubling from one use per month. In actual fact, sun beds have now been re-categorised by experts, joining tobacco and asbestos as one of the highest cancer-causing risks. That’s why I thought I was being safe buying my tan in a bottle. The irony is the risks are written in plain English under ‘ingredients.’ Most proved harmless, but one has made me think twice about tanning: Tetrasodium EDTA, quoted by organic beauty blogger Stephanie Greenwood as one ingredient to certainly avoid. “It breaks down the skin’s protective barrier, going right into your blood stream” she says. I don’t like the sound of that. Nor did I like the look of the results when I typed my chosen tanning brand into EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which placed every one of its products in the moderate or high risk categories, next to warnings I’d never heard of before but which have terrified me ever since, like “neurotoxicity” and “endocrine disruption”. I can no longer justify the pursuit of a skin-tone that is not my own. When everything is said and done, a tan will inevitably fade. After this, I couldn’t look myself in the mirror knowing that the self-inflicted
22 features
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
The irresistable Irish charm Sally Rose McCormack
St Patrick’s Day is a worldwide event, held in high regard and celebrated both in its original Irish streets and by adoptive expats the world over. Thousands see it as a chance to fulfill the Irish stereotype and drink till they drop, Irish or not. The day originally celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and marks the lift of the Lenten ban on drinking, which answers the age-old question of why people get so plastered on what is essentially still a holy feast day. St Patrick, was actually born in England, but was kidnapped at the age of 16 by Irish raiders. His background is seen by many as a reason for him not to be classed as Ireland’s patron saint, but St Patrick did return to Ireland in a bid to deliver Christianity to the then Pagan communities. In fact it was St Paddy himself who first used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the Irish, which is now a symbol that goes hand in hand with Irish folklore. Indeed, that little leaf and the leprechaun mascot are now recognised the world over
as representations of the Irish heritage and charm. The day is celebrated as far and wide as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and America, but not everybody is joining in for the honest pride and the patriotism. So can St Patrick’s Day truly claim to represent the British Isle’s most patriotic nation, or is it more a case of others cashing in on the leprechaun’s proudest pot of gold?
Local pub to raise pot of gold on St Patrick’s Day for charity This year, O’Neills Bournemouth will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day for the whole week in a bid to raise £100,000 for charity. Today will mark the third day of the music marathon fundraiser, with over 30 acoustic acts performing. On Friday night there will be a countdown party, with bands, traditional Irish dancers and a dedicated Guinness bar for the garden. O’Neills say they expect to sell around 3000 pints of Guinness throughout the week. Staff will also be donating their hard-earned tips and there will be a suggested £1 donation on the door, all in aid of the charities Cash for Kids and The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Ireland’s magical mascot will be out in full force to mark St. Patrick’s Day REDWOOD
Who is the most patriotic of us all? Scotland
Ireland
Wales
Vikki Hutton
Gemma Mullin
Sally Rose McCormack
Nicholas Williams
I can’t remember any parties celebrating St George’s day. When I think of patriotism in England, I think of the fleeting weeks during the Football World Cup in which nearly every car on the road is dressed up and paraded about in red and white flags. Is that really how we can best match the Irish, with their magical mascot and drink-tilyou-drop celebration? I’m not sure the English and our stiff upper lips can compete. But then I’m reminded of a monologue penned by the great British writing talent, Richard Curtis, for the English actor, Hugh Grant, in the typical Brit-flick, Love Actually: “We may be a small country, but we’re a great one too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, The Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter, David Beckham’s right foot... David Beckham’s left foot come to that...” And so it goes on.Now I know St George has been slightly overlooked there, and that we can’t technically claim Sean Connery as our own (although James Bond is another matter), but the others represent just a few of the reasons why England deserves a bit more of a party in its honour - at least once a year. So with that said, what’ll it be? Pimms, anyone?
There’s no doubt about it; Scotland by far the most patriotic country in the United Kingdom – I’ve witnessed it first hand! As the first English person born in a long line of Scots, I’ve always identified myself as being Scottish, despite having been born in Devon and living there my whole life. When people ask me I tell them, ‘I’m Scottish, I just have an English accent’. I’ll even go as far as drinking Irn-Bru and eating square sausage even though I don’t like them, just to prove how ‘Scottish’ I am. It’s not that I hate England, even though most Scottish people I know do, it’s a sense of pride and belonging. We have good reason to be so patriotic. Some of the things we use everyday were invented by the Scots, including the telephone, television, bicycle, refrigerators – even the toilet flush! As a nation we’re more iconic – you can identify a man in a jimmy hat and a kilt as being Scottish quicker than an English man. Scots know how to party, St David’s Day is just an excuse for a knees up – “here’s tae us!”
Patriotism is built into one’s DNA; a desire to fight for your country, to cheer for your team, to party in honor of your culture. As the daughter of a stereotypical Dubliner, it’s hard to escape the embraces of the emerald isle. I come from one of the most patriotic backgrounds there is; that’s a fact. I attended an Irish Catholic school, where everyone’s last name was preceded by the obligatory O’ or Mc prefix. The fact that my teachers spoke Gaelic and would condemn anyone with an England flag (though most were born here themselves), just proves how the pride has passed down through generations. But come March 17, everyone wants a claim to the Irish throne, and who can blame them? St Patrick’s Day is probably the most widely celebrated Saint’s day of them all. You don’t even have to be Irish to celebrate with us; we are a very accepting breed. After all, how many men have you seen dressed up like a dragon, or a leek? Roughly none at all. On the other hand, painting yourself a shade of green and drunkenly claiming that you are a leprechaun is almost a common rule on March 17.
St. David’s Day seems to fall short in an attempt to create Welsh patriotism. Perhaps it’s the cosmopolitan city of Cardiff, where I’m from, that limits the Welsh national pride to the rugby pitch. It seems that to be deemed Welsh is to either be branded with the likes of ‘Oh Wos Occurin?’ or proven through a fast-developing rugby side. The accent tends to lend itself to stereotypes of simple minded, sheep-loving folks from little mining towns, so that the rest of the world imagines us as men coming home covered headto-toe in coal dust – that’s if they don’t already see us as fun-loving ‘Gavin and Stacey’ types. As much as I resent that, and although I may sound like the most English Welshman you’ll ever meet, when granted a few pints of Brains, the Welsh Dragon inside me begins to roar. To be a Welsh man living on English soil really adds greater significance to the recent result at Twickenham. Nevertheless, I’ve never thought of attending Saint David’s Day celebrations in the capital and somehow, I don’t think I’m the only one for whom this culture of pride looms over a rugby ball rather than our very own patron saint.
England
FEATURES EDITOR
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The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Vodka Classified
It’s fast becoming one of the world’s most popular drinks, and now, it’s easier than ever to put your own spin on classic vodka through the art of mixology The role of a lifetime
The Rock’s resident sexpert says: adopt an alter ego
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reparation is key if you want a memorable experience for both you and your partner. Decide what role you want to take on and then discuss the mood you want to set. If you don’t want to take things too seriously, I suggest a comedy. For special occasions such as Christmas, men can whip out their reindeer Speedos with a red nose to direct the way, or play it safe with the Borat banana hammock. She’ll laugh at first but the end Saucy Sex Fact reaction will be ‘Very niiice’. Other genres Cold feet could be to include tragedies, blame for lack of orgasm. period dramas, or the A UK study found 80% ever-favourite crime of couples wearing socks and captive. Do use during intercourse were able to reach orgasm, props such as candles compared to the 50% to set the scene and sockless that were not. scarves can help you There’s more to the world of vodka than just a straight drink, with dozens of ingredients to choose from KAREN PROUT take on a leading an unknown love for the white spirit This vodka provides a sticky but Fat washing is a role. It’s reported in Joe Prout once again which lead me to find rich texture with a luscious essence technique derived from the Men’s Health out what has been going on recently of orange peel and subtle sweetness. the streets of Paris and involves magazine that 76% of the women in the world of vodka. The San I’ve seen it in a few bars and know cooking off a pack of bacon, infusing they surveyed were pro role-play, Francisco World Spirits Competition for sure that most specialist stockists the fat produced into the vodka for especially if they’re in a position I think I can safely say I have a 2010 embraced a magnificent have it in, retailing around £30-£35. a couple of days, before freezing the of authority. Sex therapist Gloria captive audience with this article. upheaval of a newfound British This is the average price now for mix to enable the fat to be scooped Brame and author of ‘Come I am not writing to preach or potato vodka, which wiped the the common premium brands like off the surface and filtered. The Hither’ says: “Make sure she’s promote, but to tempt your taste floor with pretty much everything Belvedere, Grey Goose and Chopin, result is a deep smoky bacon flavour not just hearing ‘do me the way I buds and change the way you else currently in production. Chase but for folk like us, there are cheaper within the clarity of the filtered want to be done’”. Women become perceive what you drink and why. vodka derived from the popular and more exceptionally flavoured vodka, perfect for light mixing stimulated by taking on a role For me, this came through getting crisp brand Tyrell’s when the vodkas out there.There are said to with Dr.Pepper or in a cocktail. that turn their partner on too. Dr to know what flavour families founder William Chase sold the be over 200 flavours on the market Macerating your ideas is easy and Brame suggests that the most liked I liked, why I liked them, and company for £30million in 2002. right now, but there are tried and can be done with the cheapest of scenarios include teacher/student getting the best for my money in Chase built the £3million distillery tested ways of producing your own. own brand vodkas, and if you have and nurse/patient. Playing with any establishment. in Herefordshire and has produced Skittle vodka is a favourite of my a water filter, this can help to purify power can leave your partner Eleven days of mixology in some of the finest batches in the housemates and there are many bars these brands a little more. YouTube begging for an encore, but be London, eight months of wine world to date. Now, however, he has now offering their own creations, is great for methods, but your taste careful not to repeat the same sex training, numerous free tastings ventured into gin and a cider apple from the sweet and savoury to the preferences are the key to your show too often. Regular west-end and competitions, and six years fermented vodka branded as ‘Naked sick and twisted. My homemade creation. If you’re really keen, buy performances can lead you further behind 3ft of mahogany hasn’t Chase’, but it is his latest flavour that Scotch Bonnet chilli vodka has seen a mini pot still online and create away from Southern success. done me too bad. It is inspiring is getting everyone talking – their off the heaviest of egos, but my flavoured vodka like a true master Don’t overdo the outfit - less is others, however, that gets me morning inspired Chase Marmalade. distiller. You won’t be disappointed. more. You need to take off to turn latest experiment was even better. going, and now I would like to on. It’s more about the attitude broaden your minds on a modern than the look. You can experiment day goldmine: vodka. with make-up backstage, but Worldwide consumption is remember in reality there are no still on the increase and has been intervals, so during sex smudges growing faster than any other are inevitable. If you can’t afford Moscow Mule Bloody Mary Cosmopolitan spirit category for a while now. It to spend on an outfit, try DIY Made from the ginger beer famed in A punter’s memories of a Chicago has destroyed the reign of Scotch costumes. Eventually they all A difficult one to trace, but was the late 40s and mixed with Smirnoff club and a girl named Mary inspired in UK sales growth and is also end up on the floor anyway. If made broadly aware through the to sell to the masses. this drink, created in New York. dominating in the Far East. Tequila you’re nervous about playing glamorous Sex and the City girls. has been on a quiet surge, with a convincing character or just more emphasis on sipping brands 50ml Vodka 50ml Vodka, 200ml Tomato Juice 25ml Citrus Vodka worried you won’t be asked to like Corello’s Reposado, a personal 12.5ml Lime Juice 10ml Lemon Juice 25ml Cointreau come back for a sequel, then start favourite, and Patron’s range 12.5ml Sugar Syrup 8-12 Drops of Tabasco 10ml Lime Juice off slow or just say no. Turning for the American market. This Dash of Angostura Bitters 6-8 Grinds of Black Pepper 25ml Cranberry Juice down a role doesn’t mean you is nothing compared to vodka. 2 Grinds of Salt can’t always entertain in other I myself am going through a bit Shake and Strain into a glass areas. Some people may cringe at of a vodka phase at the moment. brimmed with ice Quick Shake and Strain Shake and Fine Strain into a chilled the idea of role-play but to each his The end of summer 2011 saw my Top Up with ginger beer Garnish with a little more pepper, a Martini Glass own – the show will always go on rum comedown begin, sparking Garnish with a lime wedge celery stick and coriander Garnish with a Flambé orange peel regardless of the critics.
Top 3 Classics at Home 1
2
3
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The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Playing by new rules
iTunes and Netflix are at the forefront of both the music and film industries thanks to one click downloads and the high price of physical copies, but has gaming done enough to follow suit? Charlotte Willis The news that video game high street retailer GAME isn’t stocking most of the anticipated upcoming releases from EA Games makes most wonder if the age of physical copies is ending. It wouldn’t be the first time the question has been asked in the entertainment industry. Over the past couple of years, more and more CDs have been ripped from the shelves, and the future of music retailers, such as the likes of HMV, has been gloomy at best thanks to the popularity of online downloads. GAME has seen its share price drop a staggering 90% over the past twelve months. Also, with the recent release of the new handheld Playstation Vita, and it being almost a year since the release of the Nintendo 3DS, it is clear that sales are slipping for a handheld game, which now have an average retail price of £35. Meanwhile, sales are rapidly rising for mobile games, normally available at around 99p from the iTunes or Android app markets. Games have been rapidly following in the footsteps of other entertainment mediums through the use of Steam, online program
allows you to buy digital copies of games to play on PC. They are usually available for purchase at a lower cost than a physical copy, giving users the ability to download games straight from their console, and to partake in cloud gaming (gaming on demand - think Netflix for video games) as well as mobile gaming. All of these formats have consumers looking to the future due to them being cheaper, faster and space-saving alternatives to their physical copy counterparts. Also, in terms of space-saving, those of you with a Playstation Vita or a 3DS, how many of you actually play your console on the move? Unless you’re an avid gamer, it wouldn’t be the first thing you’d remember to take out the door with you. It wouldn’t normally be the case that you would actually have space in your pocket or bag for that sort of console, but smartphones are pocket-sized and remain almost attached to most people. This means smartphone companies such as Apple and Android have tapped into the same ‘casual’ gamer market that the DS and Vita did. What’s more, they have done so whilst saving physical space and at a significantly lower cost. This allows games such as Temple Run, Angry Birds and even Minecraft to be played on the move. Obviously
The face of the gaming industry could be set to change again in light of technological advances physical copies wouldn’t disappear overnight as there still remains a significant demand for discs. The amount of people buying physical copies of games from cheaper online retailers such as Play.com and Amazon is still high, and some would even argue that it’s much
better to have a physical form of the game. This could be down to a want to display or show off your game collection, or it could be explained by the fear of possibly losing any downloadable content. Currently, the 3DS is slashing its price after disappointing sales and
OXIQ
the Vita’s sales figures are already lowering. GAME stores across the country are starting to close and concentrate more on their download service. It seems maybe the video games industry should be jumping faster onto the online bandwagon in fear of what the future holds.
Here come the girls, competing for laughs George Trout owns up to his misconceptions of female comedians, but will others follow or will it forever be seen as a man’s world?
Comedienne Gina Yashere fronts a new wave of talent
PJB
In the ongoing battle for equality, women are matching men more and more across the board. Whether that be in seeking the highest ranking jobs, being the most successful TV personality or even being the number one soldier in the army’s squadron. But far from the desert plains of Afghanistan, however, there is a different kind of warzone women are fighting in, the dangerous world of comedy. In all honesty, I used to be amongst the sceptics who thought women comedians would never be as good as men. Lately, however, a number of comediennes have been emerging to change my mind – Miranda Hart, Sarah Millican and Gina Yashere to name a few. I’ve even been warming to the old girls of comedy too; from Jo Brand to Sandi Toksvig and of course the great Victoria Wood. But it’s the new female stars that are really having an effect – so could this mark a new era of comedy? Female comedians
are everywhere now. You can’t watch a single panel show these days without seeing a female comedian making satirical wisecracks over topical issues, even if she is still largely outnumbered by the boys. Female comedians are increasingly racking up the tour dates to match the lads. Sarah Millican in particular has seriously boomed over the past year, becoming a real personality in comedy and taking on a whopping 60 tour dates. Miranda Hart, who finished the second season of her hit sitcom last year, won the British comedy Award’s ‘Queen of comedy’ in 2010 and best TV comedy actress 2011. Does that mean there was a King of Comedy this year? No – that honour went to Sarah Millican. For a while now, women have begun to take the reigns and show men that they’re just as good at getting the laughs. With hundreds of comedians getting their big breaks every year,
it’s refreshing to see more than just a concentration of testosterone making it to the main stage.
The twittersphere’s opinion on female comedians @dhollinshead - They’re never going to be as good as men @OrbimusPrime - I’ve not yet seen a female stand-up who doesn’t bleat about men and/or women’s problems @tashasalmon- I love Sarah Millican! British female comics are paving the way forward but US female comics seem to adhere to sexist stereotypes... @lusealu- Think female comedians are coming more into the spotlight now than previously. My favourite would be Miranda Hart
26 features
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Photo of the fortnight Charlea-Ann Rice has produced the photo of the fortnight. The way the gazelle is staring into the viewer’s eyes is haunting and leaves an impression. When you look closely at its mouth you can see a hint of a smile that makes the animal look both cheeky and endearing, giving a human aspect to what would otherwise be a foreign character.
By having the gazelle focused but the landscape blurry we see the wonderful contrast of static nature and vibrant life. The striped horns are beautiful to see and their texture is unusual and interesting to people who are not used to seeing these majestic creatures.
features 27
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Safe House FI
LM
EV
IE W
SETH LAKEMAN
JEN SPRINGALL
R
JEN SPRINGALL
Molly Tappin
Hitting Bournemouth shores this month is folk singer-songwriter Seth Lakeman. Charlotte Gay talks to the Mercury award nominee about his new found freedom from record-label giants Hats off to Seth for one of the most unusual ways to record music. For most, a studio would be the best set up, but for this self-confessed eccentric the idea of recording in the depths of a disused mine – 500 metres
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beneath ground level – was a more favourable option. “We were doing it because it was something quite unique and left field, but it was pretty spooky; there’s no doubt about that,” he says. With the coal mine documentary footage uploaded to the site and, after working with axes and anvils, sighs of relief from the risk assessment team, the new album Tales from the Barrel House makes for a vibrant listen. Left with an uncut sound, the album you hear today is very raw. With the majority recorded in Morwellham Key’s Barrel house it was singlehandedly written, performed, produced and mixed by Seth. The multi-instrumentalist chose this album to showcase the work of skilled labourers. “The songs are pretty much stories about professions and people who work with their hands and I felt that I wanted to record it in a location that suited those stories and subjects. “I’ve always been fascinated by the way people work and the way they dedicate themselves and how sometimes that has been lost.
Virgin Records would not have released this album. They didn’t understand me
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Seth’s album ‘Kitty Jay’ was Mercury Award-nominated TIM YOUNG
“With the way technology is moving on, people are more impatient and moving quickly through life, forgetting the past. I think it is important to reflect and the past is almost as important as the present.” Yet for Seth this sound would not be possible with ex music record company Virgin. “I know that Virgin Records would not have released this record, they wouldn’t have liked it. It was a massive team which didn’t understand what I was doing, so it was nice to get out from that. It definitely wasn’t for me.” Breaking away from the mainstream seems to be doing no harm for Seth with opportunities such as performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra ahead. “The last people who did that were Elbow. It’s going to be quite exciting. I don’t think I would have a prospect like that if there wasn’t so much light and attention on what this genre is achieving.” Promising the audience at The Old Firestation some epic bow shredding, ticket holders should prepare for a memorable performance full of life. “We play a kind of high energy acoustic folk music. It should suit the venue quite well and as we don’t play in Bournemouth very often, it’s a good chance for us to get there.” Seth Lakeman is performing at The Old Firestation on 20th March.
Bruce Springsteen/Wrecking Ball Will Richards
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR When an artist gets to 62 years of age, and they are on their 17th album, the idea of exciting, fresh new material which people will like seems alien. I mean, would you go to a Paul McCartney gig and hope to see a hit off his new record instead of ‘Band On The Run’? Bruce Springsteen seems remarkably to have done the job, though, on his new record ‘Wrecking Ball’. When single ‘We Take Care Of Our Own’ was released a month before this album,
a lot of unassuming youngsters were turned on to Springsteen, when they have dismissed him as an ‘old hat’ up until now. His last album, 2009’s ‘Working on a Dream’, seemed to be the ‘play it safe’ record that everyone expected, bringing with it a world tour where its songs played a very small part in the set. Already ‘Wrecking Ball’ doesn’t seem to have fallen at this hurdle. It’s being treated, rightly so, as a great mainstream rock album in its own right, not just the new album from that ‘Born In The USA’ guy. ‘Jack of All Trades’ seems much more rooted in today than Bruce’s recent efforts, and although its style is old fashioned, it is much more
MANUGT500 relevant than anything on ‘Working On A Dream’. The album is hardly politically
subtle, though, and ‘Death To My Hometown’ just seems like The Boss is trying too hard to transmit his views, sacrificing creativity and subtlety in the process. ‘Wrecking Ball’ is undoubtedly more than just solidifying Bruce’s legendary ‘dad rock’ status, and will gain him a lot of younger fans. He would have sold out stadiums and headlined festivals worldwide with or without this triumph of a new record, but now some of the biggest cheers might be reserved for ‘Wrecking Ball’ tracks as well as ‘Thunder Road’. He’s certainly still The Boss, and this new record cements, and even furthers this.
CHRIS JACKSON Rogue CIA agent, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), is forced to turn himself in to the US embassy in order to escape assassins. He is transferred to a safe house, overseen by rookie Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds, pictured above). When mercenaries compromise the house only the two protagonists are left alive. Weston is left with little option but for him and his ‘house guest’ to go on the run. Weston vows to bring Frost in, however Frost’s alternative and twisted motives impel him to catechize his loyalties. An engrossing cast, quality technical action, a cat-and-mouse chase for survival and a picturesque yet gritty setting. On watching the trailer one would assume that these are the ingredients that the film holds. In contrast Safe House is a mile away from the Hollywood action thriller spectacle that is suggested. It is merely just one long chase scene interspersed with some stilted dialogue. This form of implausible action picture works well when the audience are not given the opportunity to pause for breath, as the storyline is constantly contorted. However director Daniel Espinosa’s inability to do this allows for prediction, and thus creates an overall transparent plot. Safe House joins the long array of thrill seeking films that have constantly showered our screens in recent years, without bringing any new dimension to the genre. However, it does have some redeeming factors; Oliver Wood’s cinematography provides Bourneesque pursuit scenes that deserve approbation whilst Washington and Reynolds produce anchored performances, although neither actor was really stretched by the role. In all the pair’s charisma is just a substitute for any real sense of intrigue, but they do help to make the film a watchable yet predictable espionage movie.
28 features
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
The urban masterpiece
The graffiti artist is undefeatable – when old walls are washed, new work appears. But as we are faced with the decline of the art gallery, is it time to embrace the freedom to decorate our own world? Grace Williams
W
alking around the streets of London, I, like many others, have become oblivious to the vast numbers of walls made over by spray cans. Millions of commuters make the same train journeys back and forth, five days a week, passing by this ever-changing vista. In today’s society, it is becoming merely a matter of opinion as to where the blurry line is drawn between art and graffiti. Is it a piece of work worthy of being exhibited in an expensive gallery, or a creation washed off neighbourhood walls as a form of community service? The boundaries are uncertain. Nowadays, we can walk past a piece of graffiti on a fence or shop shutters without even a turn of the head, but this could be because we’re not looking for it. It may just be social conditioning that tells us that graffiti is vandalism of property. Graffiti, especially tagging, is associated with rundown areas and estates, stemming from its origins in New York; a culturally diverse city not too dissimilar to London. Tagging was an early form of social and cultural networking for an underprivileged youth culture, from the need to have a voice. It became a way for individuals to create an identity and stand out within the community by means of social experimentation. Perhaps if you saw the same image in a gallery you would have an entirely different perception
of it; this is how I feel the definition of ‘art’ has changed. In today’s world, art is said to have become commercialised. By graffiti artists expressing themselves in the streets, anyone can unwittingly view their artwork without the necessity of visiting a gallery. When a piece of work hangs on the wall of a gallery, it represents the establishment it lies within, and the same ideal goes for the outdoor space that graffiti is exposed within. Art is about context; its setting is a major part of what adds value and meaning to the work. French street artist Blek Le Rat expressed his views by saying: “Art is not about making money or selling brands but it is about purity of thought and imagery. It should make people think about what is going on in their lives, in their community, in their world. And the ultimate reaction to art is that it makes people want to upset the status quo and make a change.” Could he be right? This artistic elitism could be the basis for graffiti being considered destructive rather than creative. Society tells us that graffiti is considered as something that defaces our neighbourhoods, and ruins something that was originally pleasant. If we replaced the term ‘graffiti’ with ‘Street Art’, the work would have a whole new meaning. Street art is seen to embrace the world around us; it turns something dull and boring into a positive piece of work that is consequently pleasing and often thought-provoking. I embarked on a trip to London to try to understand Street Art. Halfway through my journey, I found myself in a tunnel on Leake Street, Waterloo designated for legal graffiti. I later found out that this was originally the idea of prominent
The decorative work of the graffiti artist is often considered a sight for sore eyes street artist Banksy, created with 29 other street artists in May 2008 as a huge exhibition aiming to “transform a dark forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art”. The popularity of Bansky’s work and that of many other street artists like Blek le Rat derives from making big, political, and sometimes controversial statements in the public arena. Their work is normally easily recognisable through the formats they use. Bold stencils still require enough skill and craft to be seen as art but do not require much time to transfer to a wall once created; ideal for anonymity. Their work would not be the same without the wit, humour and fun in their ideas, along with its involvement with their community using social commentary. Banksy has legitimised the genre and produced a new generation of young imitators. It is a good way for young, non-established artists to be able to display their work and do what they enjoy for the purity of the art and not for the hype and
money. This shows that art can have a social purpose and even turn an unused area into something inspiring. Although the tunnel was originally created for street art, it has developed into more of a designated graffiti area. Not everything involves skill, craft or relaying a message - some are just bright colours or tags. Since then, it has constantly allowed anyone to exhibit their mark on the walls and feel a part of the community. I later travelled to Brick Lane, an area now well known for its culture and art but also its cultural diversity. Once, the area around Liverpool Street station was associated with slums, Jack the Ripper and more recently Bangladeshi immigration. Now it has distinct connotations as a hipster hangover and artistic enterprise. It is still rundown, but it is the mix of rich and poor and the cultural mix of Bangladesh and East Enders that is creating the new fusion. The work I found was inspirational, and you don’t even
GRACE WILLIAMS
know who’s created half of it; the place is beautiful in its own way and helped me to understand why Banksy truly believes that “a wall has always been the best place to publish your work”. The context is what creates the individuality and value; the roughness of the canvas makes the work go part and parcel with the cutting edge location. Has the time come for society to accept street art? Culture is moving on to this new wave of ‘feel good’ art using social satire. Although art has always had a subversive voice, it is no longer just for the artistic elite, it is for everyone. Street art embraces the universality of expressing oneself and having a voice amongst society. Each era has brought about a new movement in art, and perhaps now is the time for street art to be accepted into the establishment. Walls can now be considered as a huge blank canvas where people can temporarily design their own world and paint their existence. The 21st century movement of street art.
Left to right: Varied graffiti in Southbank, a graffiti-inspired twist on an Andy Warhol classic on Leake Street, Leake Street’s free canvas for budding artists GRACE WILLIAMS
features 29
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
The allure of the glowing Lighthouse
Clockwise from top left; the Lighthouse from outside; the bar area; striking artwork lines the building’s walls; a piece from a recent puppetry exhibition; concert hall; an acoustic hut built by Arts University College Bournemouth students; a photo from a recent display about the Beatles’ time in the area
Sent on a mission to uncover the area’s hidden gems, Tal Dakel is enticed by the glow of the Lighthouse in Poole – an Aladdin’s cave for the arts Q & As with film directors, live ballet performances such as Swan Lake, an intimate gig with Oasis or maybe even the Chuckle Brothers, a gallery exhibition of the Beatles in Bournemouth and the acoustical dimensions of a grandiose arena created in a tiny wooden hut: these are all within a thirty second walk from each other inside the hub that is the Lighthouse – Poole’s centre for the Arts. Built in 1978 and opened by the Queen, Lighthouse pulls back fond memories to many around the area. Paul Tucker, communications officer at Lighthouse remembers Oasis’ cosy performance in 2004 as: “a cherished and proud memory
even to those who weren’t there”. The world-renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is also based at the Lighthouse and has frequently rehearsed and performed at the Seldown Lane, Poole venue since its opening in ’78. In many ways, this charity-funded venue is like an Aladdin’s cave for the arts, just waiting to be discovered. So what makes the art centre so special? As Paul puts it, “it’s not just a theatre”. Lighthouse looks to promote and develop our creative community, with schools, dancers and musicians invited to hire out the studios and stages to perform. The venue often plays host to the work of resident artists such as
Hazel Evans and has showcased local talents including those of AUCB students. Then there’s the independent cinema. Having teamed up with Picture House, the leading independent cinema operator in the UK, the cinema screen hosts arthouse, foreign language films and documentaries as well as a variety of worthy blockbusters. Alongside this, Lighthouse’s cinema screen embraces live transmissions from the New York Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House and the National Theatre providing a unique viewing experience, especially to newcomers of the genre.
Quality discounts are in place for those aged 16 – 26, known as ‘live 4 five’ – a scheme that means the purchase of tickets to most productions are only a fiver. With savings like that, you’re getting more than your money’s worth on a venture to the Lighthouse. From French contemporary dance performances to a Puppet maker’s festival, the Italian film club and sets from the comedy greats – if you aren’t already, it is worth being part of the Lighthouse movement.
sport 31
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
SPORT
Winning on the waves Tom Bennett
CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER The Dorset coastline is home to a haven for surfers and is helping to carve a future UK champion. Gordon Fontaine is the current, and previously three-times, BUCS surf champion. The twenty-twoyear-old also has a UK Pro Tour ratings runner-up medal to his name, and is looking to take the top spot this summer. This will help him reach his ultimate goal of becoming a full-time professional surfer, but he realises the difficulties involved. He told The Rock: “It’s really hard to make it as a pro surfer. It requires you to market yourself and work with your own brand.”
Olympics
The French surfer studies Marketing at Bournemouth University and believes that his degree course is helping towards achieving his goal. He explained: “I thought studying marketing was a good choice to try and make my goal happen, but it turns out I’m pretty interested in marketing anyway. In the future if I didn’t make it as a pro-surfer I’d want to go into marketing for some extreme sports brand or something.” Fontaine has competed on the world stage and his proudest moment came in 2009 when he won a World Qualifying Series title in Portugal. The competition works on a series of star ratings. I was only ranked a one star but it was still my proudest achievement to date.” Fontaine currently competes in the European ASP Tour, and the
UK Pro Tour, but faces financial challenges on the world stage. “I missed a couple of events last year, which affected my world ranking place because they count for your best eight events and I think I only did four. I don’t think I’ll be able to do eight. I can only compete at the ones in Europe at the moment because I don’t have the budget to travel all round the world.” However, Fontaine is optimistic about his chances within the European events and improving his world ranking position. “I think there’s about five in Europe this year so I’ll hopefully do well in them to climb up the rankings.” The Billabong-sponsored surfer started at the age of nine in his hometown of Brittany, France. He has previously studied in Australia where he found one of his favourite surfing spots on the Gold Coast. His enthusiasm for the waves has never died and he told The Rock what he loves most about his
Meet the GB badminton team
26
F1 preview A look ahead to this weekend
29
Gordon Fontaine rides the barrell of a wave and is looking to improve on his world ranking FONTAINE
We’re stuck in the past Where does it stop?
Tweet beat
“
England deserved their win. Bring on next week @briano driscoll
beloved pastime. “Maybe it’s the feeling you get when you get out in the water. When you can go in the water you forget about everything else, it’s just bliss. You can just do what you want, it’s fun and you’re not thinking about anything else. It’s such a relief.” It’s not just the main action that Fontaine enjoys though, the whole surfing lifestyle is something that he craves. “When you paddle in after a surf you feel healthy, alive and refreshed. It‘s the whole feeling of just being in the water, doing what you love.” Fontaine had to choose between Bournemouth and Exeter when making his University choices but chose the Dorset coast thanks to the Boscombe surf reef, but even he agrees it has been an unfortunate failure. “It has never been working very well, there’s much better surf by the pier anyway.” Councillor Ben Grower recently criticised the reef and the council’s plans for fixing it. He said the reef is now “dead and buried”. Despite the failure of Dorset’s brightest hope for attracting world-class surfers, Kimmeridge Bay, south of Wareham, is one of Fontaine’s favourite spots in the area. “It picks up much more waves there. The problem is the wind. You need a really light wind but we don’t really get that here.” Gordon Fontaine will continue to surf and progress towards his dream of becoming a professional surfer but he knows he has a long way to go. Let’s hope the future Bournemouth University graduate will be a famous member of alumni in the coming years.
”
jonnybyrnerocks@gmail.com
Jonny Byrne
SPORTS EDITOR We live in a digital age but football seems to be stuck in the past. Each year the Premier League spends hundreds of millions of pounds on players alone, yet when it comes to improving the technological side of our beautiful game, we’re old fashioned and stubborn. I understand that fans like talking about human errors in the game and that using robot linesmen (as I imagine there will be) will take away from the simplicity of football, but unfortunately neither of these
reasons are actually valid. Firstly everyone becomes a progoal line technology enthusiast once they have had a clear goal wrongly disallowed, only opposing fans like talking about human error, and I think we can all agree that no one likes opposing fans. Secondly, almost every other Andy Mitchell aspect of our game is digitalised ASS’T SPORTS EDITOR and improved by technology. Underground heating means pitches don’t freeze so we don’t have to postpone games or graze anyone’s Right, time to break with tradition, knees, cameras track player apparently. The big debate of movements and record the weekend involved the statistics so we can QPR goal that wasn’t sound interesting as Clint Hill’s header to our mates down crossed the line but the pub and fancy assistant referee Bob graphics amuse Pollock dropped a us throughout the right clanger, and tweet us at season. What’s the didn’t spot it. @BournemouthRock harm in making We need goal-line sure that legitimate technology they say, with your views goals count? we’re years behind other Absolutely nothing. sports they say. We’ve heard
Who do you agree with?
it all before. The fact remains that the unbelievable error and the debate whether the goal would have changed the game are as much a part of the beautiful game as what happens on the pitch. Surely if we need a video playback for that, we should pull other obvious goal scoring opportunities up on the telly too? Peter Odemwingie should have been awarded a penalty against Man United at 1-0 down, a decision that could have equally changed that game. Where does it stop if we do bring technology in? Do we really want to stifle the frenetic pace of the game? There are reasons why football is by far and away the most popular sport in the world, and that’s because we leave it simple and allow for human error. Stop crying about bad decisions – just play well enough for them not to matter!
32 sport
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Road to London 2012: meet the team GB badminton hopefuls The British Badminton scene has been a little in the shadows since the Silver medal success of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms in Athens in 2004, but in the lead up to the Olympics, can he recreate that success with new partner Jenny Wallwork? Craig Rodhouse takes a look at this year’s promising players.
MAYERES
The Rules
Badminton at London 2012 will follow the same basic format applied at most major Badminton tournaments. Each match will be played over the best of three games, with the first player/pair to reach 21 points by two clear points taking the game. If the score happens to reach 29-29, the winner of the next point takes the game. However, for the first time this year, Olympic badminton will include a combination of group play and knockout stages. Players will have to compete in a group stage first before progressing into the knockout stages of the tournament; previous Olympics have only included the knockout stages. There are five separate events within Badminton, with players either competing within the men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles or mixed doubles.
Nathan Robertson Nathan Robertson has revealed that he expects “great success” from Team GB in the summer, despite being unsure of whether he will be competing in the games himself. Nottingham-born Robertson needs no introduction to British sports fans after his silver medal success at Athens in 2004, along with previous partner Gail Emms. However, with the May BWF World Rankings around the corner, which determine whether players reach the Olympics or not, Robertson revealed that he may struggle to reach London 2012. “Right now I’d say we only have a 25% chance of making the games as the other British mixed doubles pair are above us,” Robertson said.
“There are four tournaments left though and our form is now good so we are still hopeful.” Robertson also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but after only reaching the quarter finals his partner Emms decided to retire from the sport, leaving Robertson to consider his options. “Switching partners after the 2008 games was very difficult. With Gail [Emms] we were constantly in the top five in the world and competed for medals and titles at every competition we entered.” “Starting a new partnership with Jenny Wallwork was a different test for myself as it was a development partnership with the aim of making it world class, which we achieved.” Robertson and Wallwork enjoyed Silver-medal success at the 2010
Commonwealth Games, and Robertson revealed that he expects strong performances from Team GB in the summer, even if he fails to qualify. “The GB squad will certainly be capable of having great success this summer. We showed at the All England that the team is capable of beating the best players in the world. Home crowd advantage will also be a huge advantage.” “Rajiv Ouseph is out top singles star and capable of upsetting the very best on his day. Also, whichever mixed pair qualifies has a big chance of causing an upset and writing amongst the medals.” Should Robertson qualify, London 2012 is seen by many as his final chance in his career to add more medals to his collection. British
Did you know? Badminton fans will be hoping to see him do so in the summer.
Did you know?
Denmark is the most successful European country, with 4 Olympic medals
The best shuttlecocks are said to be made from the feathers of the left wing of a goose
World Records
The fastest smash in history was recorded as 421km/h by Malaysian Tan Boon Heong
sport 33
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Chris Adcock Twenty-three-year-old Chris Adcock is vying to compete in his first Olympics after making his England debut at the Thomas Cup in 2008. Adcock, along with partner Imogen Bankier, are currently Team GB’s highest ranked mixed doubles pair and are well on track to make London 2012, with the pair presently 17th in the world (as of March 8). Adcock also represents England in men’s doubles with fellow Brit Andy Ellis, but with the pair 26th in the BWF Rankings at the moment, qualification into this summer’s games looks unlikely. Nottingham-born Adcock gave up a promising footballing career to pursue his Badminton dream; playing for Leicester City and Nottingham Forest as a youngster before deciding to divert his focus towards the racket sport. The decision looks set to pay dividends for Adcock. After winning the European Championships in the men’s
doubles in 2007, Adcock went on to win Bronze in the team event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. However, Adcock and Bankier truely proved their medalwinning credentials at last year’s badminton world championships. The pair beat second seeds Tantowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir en route to the final at Wembley Arena, but had to settle for a Silver medal after being beaten by first seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in the final. However, Adcock and Bankier only managed to reach the quarter finals of last week’s All England Championships, with the pair dumped out by Malaysian double Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh. It was worse news for Adcock in the men’s doubles, as he and Ellis could only make it to the second round at the tournament in Birmingham. Adcock will be hoping he can resurrect his form and add further to his ever-increasing medal collection at London in the summer.
Jenny Wallwork Jenny Wallwork was born in Bolton and will be hoping to represent Team GB in the summer at both mixed doubles and women’s doubles level. Bolton-born Wallwork currently competes with Nathan Robertson in mixed doubles, with whom she is currently 19th in the world, and with Gabby White in women’s doubles. The pair are presently 38th in the BWF world rankings. The 25-year-old first represented England when she was just 12 years old and received her first major successes in 2010, obtaining the
Silver medal in the Commonwealth games with Robertson and winning the English National for both mixed and women’s doubles. Since then, Wallwork has gone on to retain the English National champion title for three consecutive years at women’s doubles with White, and also managed to regain the title for mixed doubles in 2011. 2012 has also proved to be successful for the 25-year-old, with Wallwork crowned Swedish International winner. However, she only managed to reach the quarter finals at the recent
Rajiv Ouseph London-born Rajiv Ouseph provides Britain’s greatest hope of a medal position at London 2012 in the men’s singles. 25-year-old Ouseph is currently number one in the national rankings and 26th in the present world rankings, well ahead of any other fellow Brits, putting him in pole position for London 2012 qualification. Ouseph, who claims that he would have been a Journalist if he had not made it in Badminton, achieved his first major successes in the sport in 2006, winning the European Bronze medal, whilst also making it to the quarter finals in the Chinese Taipei Open in the same year. Ouseph’s next major success was in the 2008 English National Championships and he now holds the record for most consecutive victories in the tournament after regaining the title in 2009, 2010,
World Records The record for the most participants in a badminton rally currently stands at 96
2011 and 2012. The 25-year-old also gained the Badminton Europe Circuit champion crown in 2008 after winning the Scottish, Irish, Canadian and Volant d’Or tournaments in the year. Ouseph has since won Bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was also the surprise winner of the Yonex US Open in the same year. Ouseph was the winner of the Irish and Scottish International in 2011, but has yet to win a tournament in 2012. He was knocked out of the All England Championships in the second round to Daren Liew; a tournament that proved to be relatively unsuccessful for the sport’s British contingent. Like Wallwork, Ouseph will be hoping he will be able to make it to his first Olympic games of his career this summer in London.
Medal Records
China has won the most medals, with a total of 30, including 11 Gold
172 400km/h 1992
Number of competitors in the Olympic badminton squad
The speed a shuttlecock can travel at during a game
All England Championships with Robertson after being defeated by Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir in Birmingham. She was also knocked out in the first round of the women’s doubles at the tournament with White, as the pair were defeated by Chinese pair Xiaoli Wang and Yang Yu. Wallwork will be hoping she can resurrect her form at both levels by the time this summer’s games come around. If she manages this she will most likely represent Great Britain at the Olympics for the first time in her career in 2012.
When badminton made its debut as an Olympic sport
6th
Team GB’s current rank in the Olympic badminton medal table
£230
The top price for one ticket to an Olympic badminton event
34 sport
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Bournemouth Varsity at
Easy as one, two, three Jonny Byrne
SPORTS EDITOR
Bournemouth complete their season in style ZDRAVKOV DIMITROV
Bournemouth Men’s basketball team finished their season with a mammoth 123-43 win over Gloucester. The Gloucestershire side, who sit bottom of the BUCS Western 1A division without a win all season, arrived without a coach and only a six-man squad. The team were in high spirits leading up to the match and there was an air of confidence in the university sports hall. BU started the game sharply, opening up a 17-point gap in the first five minutes. Adam Stakvilevicius and Evaldas Motieka terrorised the Gloucester defence using their towering height advantage to waltz through a particularly short opposition. By the end of an easy first quarter Bournemouth led the match 33-6. The second quarter continued in the same manner, with Bournemouth dominating the court in both offence and defence. Pete Leonard was on form from the three-point line throughout the match, sinking five from seven attempts. Gloucester were unable to complete passes and had trouble running offensive plays due to Bournemouth‘s pace and aggressive
attacks. By half time a demoralised Gloucester trailed by 55 points and the game was already out of reach for the struggling side. The pace of the game continued in the third quarter, but Gloucester managed to show more of a presence spearheaded by their talented captain. They showed well-worked offensive plays in the final quarter, but only because Bournemouth had taken their foot off the gas. The win was a necessity for team captain Nick Oldfield, Pete Leonard and Nathan Chilton, as they played their last ever game for BU. Oldfield, who led his team boldly through the entire season said: “With only me, Pete and Nathan graduating this year, hopefully the lads who will be here next season can build on this season’s improvement to be fighting with the best of them. “I have enjoyed everything about playing Uni basketball and representing Bournemouth University around the country. “Being part of such a good squad of guys over the years, both on and off the court, has been one of the best experiences I could have hoped for at Uni and I’ll miss BU men’s basketball hugely.” The win was Bournemouth’s most convincing of a rollercoaster season which could still end in relegation. Oldfield added: “It was a tough
start to the season but the team has improved hugely to what is arguably now the strongest in the league.” Bournemouth sit third from bottom at the end of the season, but should league winners Bath fail to win their promotion play-off, Bournemouth will find themselves relegated along with Gloucester and Plymouth Marjons. Bournemouth’s second-string basketball team also managed a 6556 away win over Winchester. They currently sit in third in the Western 3A division, and would need league leaders Bristol to lose their last game and win their last two games by large margins for a promotion shot.
MATCH STATS BU v Gloucester
Fouls
Score
3
33
1 5 1
Score
Fouls
1st 1/4
6
3
68
Half time
13
2
92
3rd 1/4
22
0
123
Full time
43
1
Star player Nick Oldfield Match Rating
Record wins for Bournemouth tennis Dan Welling Both men’s tennis teams destroyed their opponents and reached record wins on Wednesday. For the second string side, their victory over Southampton Solent meant they reached the final of the Western Conference Cup, whilst the first team kept their chances of winning the Southern Premiership alive with a victory over Oxford. In the cup match, events nearly boiled over as Dean Cronk served a controversial underarm serve, without telling his partner Dan West. Their opponents, Sam Allum and Roman Bech were not impressed and the teams had a heated disagreement before things calmed down. They eventually won their match 6-1 6-4. Kevin ‘Dutchy’ Willemse was captaining the side after a spell in the first team, but still found
it hard going with partner Marcus Karim. Nonetheless, he triumphed in the doubles to give Bournemouth a two-nil lead going into the singles. Ironically, the captain found his singles match against the Solent’s number one Lee Nicholson the hardest. After comfortably taking the first set and following up with an early break in the second, he lost his serve after some poor unforced errors. However, he responded with some hard forehands, forcing Nicholson on the back foot in the seventh game of the set, who subsequently netted a volley under the pressure. This handed Willemse the break which he held to take the match. There were no such problems on any of the other courts as Bournemouth sealed easy victories in the other three matches to take the tie and advance to the final, where they will play either Swansea or UWIC on March 21. Earlier on, the return of talismanic captain Rich Irwin, and the experienced Josh Whiteman, saw
the first team crush an unmotivated Oxford side 6-1 6-1. Piers Herfet Jones, who had not been in great form since February, got back to his winning ways against Napat Tharisin and prevailed 6-2 6-3. In fact, in the twelve sets played in the singles, the Bournemouth players only conceded nine games; such was their dominance. Irwin even earned a double bagel against his opponent Alfie Burgess. To win the title they need to win their next away match against London Metropolitan and hope Bath slip up against Exeter. Although it’s now out of their hands, Bournemouth can take much encouragement from the fact Exeter drew them earlier in the season, which The Rock documented. The women’s side were looking to make it ten wins out of ten, but the match was rained off due to showers earlier in the morning. They still finished top of the league and face a playoff with Portsmouth to see who is promoted to the Southern Premier.
Results 1st
Rich Irwin & Josh Whiteman vs. Alfie Burgess & Dave Malcom
6-1 6-1
1st
Elliot Mould & Chris Maguire vs. Napat Tharisin & Alex McWilliam
7-5 2-6 10-8
2nd
Kevin Willemse & Marcus Karim vs. Lee Nicholson & Carl Kenwood
6-4 6-4
2nd
Dean Cronk & Dan West vs. Sam Allum & Roman Bech
6-2 6-4
1st 1st 1st
Irwin vs. Burgess Mould vs. Malcom Herfet Jones vs. Tharisin
6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3
1st
6-1 6-0
2nd
Whiteman vs. McWilliam Willemse vs. Nicholson
2nd
Karim vs. Bech
6-2 6-1
2nd
West vs. Allum
6-3 6-3
2nd
Cronk vs. Kenwood
6-1 6-1
6-3 6-4
sport 35
The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Cup loss for BU’s Varsity results rugby women... Jasper Taylor The semi-final of the BUCS Rugby Union Western Conference Cup saw Bournemouth’s women’s squad lose 10-36 to the unbeaten Southampton Women’s first team. Holly Wilson was the difference between the two sides, as she brushed aside tackles and used her pace on the wing to score four tries. Bournemouth could not have got off to a worst start when, with only a minute on the clock, Southampton crossed the try-line and successfully converted to make the score 7-0. This seemed to kick BU into action though and they started to build some pressure of their own, culminating in a try just nine minutes later when Lara Odoffin finished off a neat move. A minute later, smiles turned back to furrowed brows as Wilson
bombed down the wing to score the first of her tries and make the score 5-12. Wilson’s pace was matched only by Bournemouth’s Odoffin, who got her second try of the day 20 minutes in, when she ran 70 yards to bring the score to within two points. It was a case of anything you can do, I can do better, Wilson replicated Odoffin’s run and then picked the ball up from the restart and ran straight through the Bournemouth defence again, to make it 10-24 at half time. The second half was a lot tighter but with Wilson scoring her fourth try and then assisting another, Southampton ran away with a 10-36 victory. Bournemouth coach Ella Hope said of the lose, “Southampton have been the strongest team in our league this year so we always knew it was going to be a big one and it didn’t go our way today.” Southampton will meet UW Newport in the final later this month.
Women’s Netball (League) Bournemouth 1st 27 - 30 Southampton 1st Women’s Basketball (Cup) Bath 1st 45 - 56 Bournemouth 1st Men’s Basketball (League) Bournemouth 1st 123 - 43 Gloucestershire 1st Women’s Football (League) Bournemouth 1st 1 - 3 Bristol 1st Men’s Football (League) Bournemouth 1st 2 - 3 UWE (Hartpury) 1st Men’s Rugby Union (League) Bath 3rd 35 - 5 Bournemouth 2nd Women’s Badminton (League) Bristol 1st 8 - 0 Bournemouth 1st Women’s Rugby Union (Cup) Bournemouth 1st 10 - 36 Southampton 1st Men’s Rugby Union (Cup) Bournemouth 1st 13 - 47 Exeter 5th Women’s Tennis (League) Bournemouth 1st 12 - 0 Southampton 1st
...and our men are out as well Tom Bennett
Bournemouth failed to capitalise on a strong first half ANDY RYAN
Bournemouth 1st’s heroic first half performance against Exeter 5th’s was undone by a second-half onslaught from the visitors in their bid to reach the BUCS Western Conference Cup Final. Exeter maintained their 100% record in all competitions this season with the 47-13 victory, however they went into half time trailing to the home side. Bournemouth worked tirelessly throughout the first half to go into the break 13-12 ahead. They failed to find another point in the second period as Exeter’s superior fitness levels became evident, and so they ran away with the game. Bournemouth fly-half Jack Metters got the home side off to the perfect start within five minutes as he converted a penalty. Five minutes later Nick Taylor made a superb weaving run through the Exeter back row to extend Bournemouth’s lead. Metters scored the conversion to send Bournemouth further ahead. Exeter halved the deficit midway through the first half when they scored a try through a quick brake down the left flank, however, they could not capitalise on the conversion. Bournemouth instantly replied
when Metters grabbed his second penalty of the game. Just before half-time Exeter scored another try and this time the conversion was to close the gap on the leaders before the interval. Bournemouth looked confident going into the break, but were unable to carry this mentality into the second half. They fell behind early on and despite some good pressure, in particular another dazzling run from Taylor, they could not add to their tally. Exeter’s constant pressure eventually proved worthy as they dominated the last twenty minutes, and accumulated a number of tries which frustrated the home side as their only hope at silverware this season vanished. Despite the defeat, coach Neil Bibby congratulated the boys on their first half display, but admitted the better side won in the end. He told The Rock: “Technically they were a lot stronger than us. They tore us apart in the scrimmaging.” Bournemouth will be looking to take confidence from an inspiring opening period to the game. Bibby said: “To turn around against that side leading at half time is a real credit to our guys. If we can take that [performance] and bottle that for 80 minutes there will be a lot of teams that we will turn over, and it’s gonna be very, very difficult to beat us.”
A Realist’s Perspective
Dan Welling
Drop the pressure Euro 2012 could easily have been a throwaway tournament for many England fans. After the team’s dismal showing in South Africa, the nation no longer completely believed that the Three Lions would bring home victory. Expectations were at an all time low. Personally, I believe this was a good thing. I’m a big believer in not expecting miracles and if England are to win in Poland & Ukraine, a miracle is exactly what is needed. But now there are two shining lights on the horizon. One is Harry Redknapp, the so-called saviour of English football. The media, practically handpicking him as the next England manager have created a frenzy amongst England fans. They now truly believe that this man is the only one capable of bringing some sort of respect back to the English game. The second is the dramatic emergence of Alex OxladeChamberlain. Not since Michael Owen, in 1998, has a player impressed so many fans in such a short space of time. Since making his debut at the end of January, ‘The Ox’ has been nothing short of sensational. Now there is a clamour to start him ahead of the more experienced Walcott on the right wing. Of course, we know what will happen if these two don’t match their ridiculously high expectations. Redknapp will be called out on his tactics, before being derided and written off before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Chamberlain will be hated for not delivering when it mattered most and consigned to the ‘much touted but couldn’t deliver’ club. For these reasons it might actually be better for neither to go to Poland & Ukraine. If most fans already believe England can’t win this tournament, why create unnecessary baggage? If England are knocked out in the groups stages we can blame a ‘stop gap’ manager like Stuart Pearce and bring in Redknapp afresh for 2014. Likewise, The Ox will have a good break during the Euros, come out all guns blazing and would surely become a regular first team player for both the Gunners and England. And if you fancy taking them both to 2012 to see what happens, take a look at what happened this summer to the seriously overplayed Jack Wilshere and then perhaps reconsider.
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Devil’s Advocate
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Could you be the fittest person on the planet?
Jasper Taylor
AVBeen ‘n’ gone Abramovich has faced quite a lot of stick for the recent sacking of André Villas-Boas and I don’t really understand why. Many people have complained about how much of a waste of money the whole debacle is. What a strange concept it is to moan about billionaires ‘wasting’ their own money when most of the people moaning are those who have called for AVB’s head. It’s a bit like Abramovich coming into your home and slating your light bulbs for not being efficient enough, and then berating you for the price you pay to get rid of them. Okay, it may be ‘statistically’ the most expensive managerial mistake in football history but, if we contextualise the situation, we can see that AVB wasn’t actually that expensive at all. The Chelsea owner had to fork out an initial £13million to Porto to grab AVB and then, eight months later, £11million to boot him out of the Bridge. Adding his 90 grand-a-week wages, or as the Russian calls it, ‘loose change’, we get a total of £27million. It seems a lot, doesn’t it? But this is Abramovich we’re dealing with here, one of the richest men in the world. How long will it take him to recover from this? He’ll have generated what AVB cost him by... March 29, 2012 – 25 days after the sacking. And let’s not pretend that AVB was this managerial god with a great record at the Blues. AVB has the worst win percentage for a Chelsea manager since Glenn Hoddle during the 90s. In his 40 games in charge, he only managed 19 wins. In fact, if you need any more evidence that Abramovich has done the right thing, his replacement Roberto Di Matteo had the same win percentage – 48% - when he was at West Brom. So who knows how good the Italian could be if he’s appointed as the eighth full-time manager under Abramovich’s reign. The early signs look positive with the appointment of Eddie Newton. I can only assume this is because of Newton’s past of coaching a primary school team, which should make him adept at dealing with Chelsea’s spoilt stars. Speaking of which, at least everyone has forgotten how expensive Fernando Torres was…
2011 CrossFit Games at the Home Depot Center, Los Angeles, California, attracted crowds of athletes and spectators CROSSFIT GAMES competition to a whole new level by filling a gap that had long been empty in the fitness industry. The EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 2012 Reebok commercial slogan “the sport of fitness has arrived” If you want to know who will win describes the impact of CrossFit all the greatest competition ever, forget over the planet. In five years the about the Olympics and consider sport has grown dramatically, and the CrossFit Games. While 10,500 now has more than 3,000 affiliate athletes will head to London this gyms in the world. summer, 55,000 men and women Thanks to Reebok, the cash prize have already started in the CrossFit for the Games has increased from Games. The organizers believe that $25,000 in 2010 to a total purse of it might surpass the Olympics with $1million for 2011, with $250,000 a $1million prize fund, and the going to the top male and female drive to find the fittest human being athlete. alive. On top of this, almost all the Each year, every event and stage equipment to take part can be found of competition has unique workouts in your local gym. and all contestants compete on Since it started on a ranch in an equal level in the same Open, northern California in 2007, the Regional and Games workouts. CrossFit Games became “one of the The strength of CrossFit is the fastest growing sports in America” unknown; anyone can compete in according to Forbes, and is slowly the Open and athletes have to be spreading to the rest of the world. prepared for any type of workout As of last year, ESPN now combining strength, endurance, covers both the Open and Games speed, balance, accuracy, agility, competitions with three hour live power, stamina, coordination, shows running on Friday, Saturday, determination and raw work and Sunday nights. capacity. Reebok, the main sponsor of Competitors have to expect the CrossFit, which is part of the Adidas unexpected: in 2008, the hill broke empire, has helped to take the the contestants, in 2009 it was spike drive and in 2010 the obstacle course cost Rich Froning, 2011 Fittest man WEEK 1: Complete as many reps as possible in 7 on Earth, his leading minutes of: Burpees position. Last year a lot WEEK 2: Proceed through the sequence below of the contestants fell at completing as many reps as possible in 10 minutes the first hurdle with the of: ocean swim including the Men: 75 pound Snatch, 30 reps 135 pound Snatch, 30 favourite Mikko Salo, and reps 165 pound Snatch, 30 reps 210 pound Snatch, as this was followed by the many reps as possible killer cage, which together Women: 45 pound Snatch, 30 reps made up the ‘ultimate 75 pound Snatch, 30 reps 100 pound Snatch, 30 reps challenges’. 120 pound Snatch, as many reps as possible Every week, for a WEEK 3: Complete as many rounds and reps as period of five weeks, possible in 18 minutes of: a workout is posted Men: 15 Box jumps, 24” box 115 pound Push press, and the athletes have 5 12 reps 9 Toes-to-bar days to complete it and Women: 15 Box jumps, 20” box 75 pound Push press, validate their scores 12 reps 9 Toes-to-bar online in real time.
Julia Denni
THE OPEN
The 60 fittest athletes and 30 fittest teams from each region will make their way through the 17 Regionals and have a chance to qualify for the 2012 Reebok Crossfit Games, held July 13-15 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Los Angeles, California. For Masters athletes aged 55 and over, the top 20 athletes in each age division in the Open will qualify directly to the Games. If you’re superstitious, look away now. The first day of competing is Friday the 13th. The three first CrossFit Open workouts of the competition haven’t disappointed. Week 1 challenged athletes on a cardio-vascularly demanding exercise, week 2 tested the strength of competitors with heavy lifting and week 3 mixed both of the precedent weeks: body weight, weight and agility. Week 4’s workout will be
announced on Wednesday 5pm Pacific Time. Last year Rich Froning, 24, from the United States, and Annie Thorisdottir, 22, from Iceland, won the challenge and became the Fittest on earth™. After 3 workouts, they are both leading the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games Open. A total of 10 athletes are competing in the Open from CrossFit Bournemouth. Martyn Lever, head coach and owner of the gym, and another female athlete, Claire Crawley, are both within the top 60 men and women in the competition so far but he is optimistic for the future: “we are a fairly new gym and are building some very strong athletes, the aim is to have more athletes in top 60 next year.”
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The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Steve Claridge:
Three decades in football
With an incredible 28-year career under his belt and more to come, Chief Sports Reporter Tom Bennett talks to Steve Claridge to get his perspective on this remarkable achievement The last time Steve Claridge appeared in an AFC Bournemouth shirt was six years ago. After a career spanning over 23 years and 18 clubs, you’d think it would have been one of his last stops. Think again. Six years later and Claridge has totalled over 1,000 first team games throughout his career and
the grand milestone came on his last game for the Cherries, at the formerly-named Dean Court against Port Vale. Hampshire-based side Gosport Borough is now home to the former Premier League striker whose enthusiasm for the beautiful game has never ceased. Playing at all levels of English football, including the top flight,
makes no difference to the 45-yearold who still runs around with his characteristically rolled-down socks, throwing himself into every challenge, calculating every pass and lining-up every shot as if he was in his prime once again. “I give my all in every single game I play. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing in front of fifty at Aldershot or thousands at United. If that matters then you’re in the wrong game.” The striker, who has scored 53 goals in 166 appearances on the Dorset coast with Bournemouth and Weymouth, modestly told The Rock how goals don’t matter and that’s the way it’s always been. “The goals are a bonus but I really just want to help my team succeed, that’s been my philosophy throughout my career.” Claridge has been labelled one of football’s ultimate journeymen and has experienced some incomparable moments throughout his career. Arguably his finest moment came in front of over 73,000 at Wembley as he grabbed the goal that sent Leicester City into the Premier League. A sweetly struck right-footed volley past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Nigel Martyn in the 1996 Play-off Final really put his name down in football folklore. “That moment was surreal. For a few seconds everything stood still. It took an eternity to reach the net. I can still see it travelling now. As a finale to the season after 48 games, it made it so special.” The veteran striker hasn’t always had it his own way and began his career with some torrid times. “I was released from Portsmouth at 17-years-old and ended up breaking my ankle a year later playing for Hampshire. At the time I couldn’t really do anything.” Considering his unfortunate time as a teenager, Steve never lost the determination and always knew he could make it as a professional footballer. “I knew I had the ability and strength of character, it was just putting them together. I was never academic so football was
really all I had, sometimes bad stuff happens but you can never give up believing.” Steve is currently balancing his newly revived football career with his commitments as a football pundit for the BBC, and appreciates how lucky he is. “I’ve got my dream job. I chose Gosport because of the location and the people there. It is very convenient for work and as of yet I’ve experienced no problems with balancing the two. “It’s all about knowing how to
It doesn’t matter if “ you’re playing in front
of fifty at Aldershot or thousands at United. If that matters then you’re in the wrong game
”
take care of yourself. Eating the right things, getting good sleep and exercise, it all counts. I know that one piece of salmon is completely different to another. I do know how to look after myself.” Steve has played at 21 different club sides including Leicester City, Birmingham City and Portsmouth. He has also managed at Portsmouth, Millwall and Weymouth and would love a chance to get back into the management side of things. “It’s all about the opportunities that come along. There’s nothing I can do, I can just hope for a bit of luck or a lucky break somewhere.” So, one would love to pose the obvious question, where does it end for Steve Claridge? As optimistic as always, he says: “It ends whenever it ends. As long as I want to play then I will. I will never give up as long as I am enjoying myself and helping other people.” And what is it that’s kept the fire burning in the heart of football’s ultimate journeyman? “Someone once told me – never underestimate the power of your own ability, and I’ve never looked back from that statement.”
F1 car design changes 2012 Liam Wood The 2012 Formula One season will begin with minimal changes in comparison to previous years. Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, the FIA announced several rule changes which may still enhance some action on track.
The stepped nose
The new ‘stepped nose’ which features on all of the 2012 cars, except the McLaren, presents a bizarre change to the front end of the car. The new ‘step’ design is down to a safety decision by the FIA to lower the nose of all cars. The change was suggested
to prevent accidents like Mark Webber’s in Valencia last year, when his car became fully airborne as a result of a front end collision. McLaren have adopted a different method to meet the FIA’s regulations designing a much lower chassis than the rest of the field. Only in Melbourne, will we see whether they have chosen the right strategy by avoiding the popular step design. It is suspected that for 2013 the entire grid will shed the questionablelooking front end as further development and regulation changes are set to happen.
Banning of blown diffusers
The controversial ‘blown diffuser’ is effectively outlawed for 2012, as the FIA make further regulations to exhaust systems and engine mapping. The position of exhaust
tailpipes is now to be strictly regulated, making sure exhaust gases are not used to improve the aerodynamics of the car. More stringent regulations are also in place regarding engine or throttle mapping, preventing drivers from exploiting gases to gain extra down-force at the rear of the car. This system was pivotal in Red Bull’s domination in 2011 with their competitors playing catch up since day one.
Mid season testing
A testing period during the season presents a small yet significant change for the F1 calendar. The return of in-season testing sees the 12 teams head to Mugello, Italy, for three days during May. In-season testing was banned in 2009 in an attempt to make the sport more
competitive for smaller teams who were struggling to finance the tests. Ferrari own the Mugello circuit, and are willing to help host the test so it will be more affordable for some of the teams with lower budgets.
Tyre changes
Pirelli have made the dryweather tyres a softer compound for 2012, effectively reducing the gap in performance between the four types. The Italian company are aiming to improve overtaking and make race strategies much less predictable than last season. Some of the tyres’ markings are also set to change. Intermediates will be green whilst the wet weather compound is to be blue. The dry-weather tyres will remain the same colour as in 2011 but with more distinguished markings.
Road to the fight of the century Jordan Key Even if you don’t follow the unpredictable world of boxing, you are still likely to have heard of Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. They both stake a claim to becoming pound for pound king and have been rumoured to fight on several occasions yet that has never come to fruition, due to whatever reason. For the last three years one has called the other out, most recently Floyd used twitter to berate the ‘Pacman’ and challenge him to the showdown of the century. Unfortunately nothing came of the tweet and what many see as a 50/50 duel hasn’t come around, nor will it for some time. Instead both fighters have decided to take on different opponents. Mayweather is taking on Puerto Rican hero Miguel Cotto, a veteran with a decent track record, but considered by many as coming to the end of his career. Cotto recently avenged a controversial defeat to Mexican nemesis Antonio Margarito, who he felt had cheated by loading his gloves in their prior matchup. This miniature revival for Cotto looks like good news, as in recent fights he has looked somewhat jaded. Pacquiao‘s blazing hand speed was too much for Cotto and I fear Floyds ultra slick vicious counter punching will bowl over the Puerto Rican without too much trouble - 42 have tried to beat Mayweather, 42 have failed. Pacquiao faces a much sterner test in Timothy Bradley, a 28-0-0 world champion. Bradley has been criticised in the past for apparently ducking a fight with our very own Amir Khan. A date may have been set before Khan’s deserved defeat to Peterson, but this has been put on ice due to the rematch. Bradley presents a big test for the Pacman to overcome, who looked shaky against his old adversary Juan Manuel Márquez. Bradley is tuned up and an all round well polished fighter, maybe suffering from a lack of power but has showed heart and enough determination to grind out wins. I see the Pacquiao - Bradley fight being a lot more completive, but none the less I would still back Pacquiao to win a tight 12 round decision. The Mayweather - Cotto fight brings a much bigger fan base to the table, Cotto being the third biggest pay per view seller currently, which at least means a big payday for him. I predict a ten round stoppage for Floyd. Although Pacquiao and Mayweather still haven’t agreed on a fight it is commendable to take on such high calibre opposition in the mean time, with an up and coming superstar and an established legend.
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Thursday 15 March | The Rock
The wait for new F1 season is over
Will Wales win the Six Nations?
Six Formula One world champions will line up on the grid in the coming season, the most ever to do so. Red Bull’s dominance appears to be diminishing, new regulations are set to bring their competitors to the front of the grid providing what promises to be one of the best motor racing seasons of all time Liam Wood Six former Formula One world champions will line up on the grid in the coming season, the most ever to do so in the sport’s history. Red Bull’s dominance compared to the rest of the field appears to be diminishing, with new regulations that are set to bring their competitors to the front of the grid providing what promises to be one of the best motor racing seasons of all time.
Scuderia Toro Rosso
With an all new driver line up and an impressive show during pre-season testing, Toro Rosso are set to be fighting for points on a regular basis in the coming season. The Italian team have only ever achieved one race win courtesy of no other than Sebastien Vettel in 2008, however it seems very unlikely that they will reach the top step of the podium with Ricciardo and F1 debutant Jean-Eric Vergne.
Marussia F1
The Russian based team have only just confirmed that they will be racing in Melbourne after pulling out of testing in Barcelona. Marussia were forced to abandon the final pre-season test after they failed an FIA crash test. Their lack of pre-season testing may hurt the team during the early races, meaning they are likely to fall victim to the likes of HRT and Caterham, who they are set to battle throughout 2012.
Red Bull Racing
After a dominant year in 2011, Red Bull are set for another strong year in 2012. The general consensus is that the field will be closer than the previous two seasons and that Red Bull will have to work much harder throughout the year to retain both world championships. Veteran driver Mark Webber is set to fight for his drive this season after failing to
match Sebastien Vettel last season. Vettel is set for his biggest test yet in Formula One as five world champions seek to knock him from the top spot.
McLaren
The British team have taken a big stride toward matching Red Bull and both drivers are confident that they will be fighting at the front in 2012. Jenson Button achieved second place in the drivers’ championship last season with a fantastic end to the year and teammate Lewis Hamilton is looking to bounce back from a dismal 2011. A British world champion may be on the cards. McLaren are running a lower chassis than the rest of the field meaning they are not running the ‘ugly’ step nose cone that their rivals are. Only in Melbourne will it become apparent whether their design is the right way forward.
Lotus Renault
Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen and GP2 champion Roman Grosjean make up an impressive driver line-up for Lotus Renault. The new E20 received mixed reviews during testing after topping several timesheets and also pulling out of the first test at Barcelona altogether because of chassis issues. Lotus’ form in testing suggest that they may have the pace to fight at the front but only in Melbourne will we see where they compare to the usual front runners.
Mercedes
A promising preseason for Mercedes has led many critics to believe 2012 will be the best year since the team formed in 2010. So far the talented driver line-up of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, and former GP2 champion Nico Rosberg, are yet to give Mercedes it’s debut race win. The Mercedes W03 with it’s stepped nose and much longer wheelbase looked quick during testing, and may well provide that elusive race win. Schumacher is yet to commit his future to Mercedes post 2012 and with McLaren knocking on the
door for Nico Rosberg in the past, a major change in the driver line-up could be on the cards in the coming season.
Ferrari
A problematic preseason for Ferrari suggests that the famous Italian team will struggle during the early part of the season. There are a few new updates set for Melbourne which attempt to improve on the lacklustre shown by the F2012. The last minute updates may not be a good thing for the team, as it will mean them playing catch up once the season is underway. Ferrari had a disappointing 2011 only winning one race all year with Fernando Alonso at Silverstone. Felipe Massa is fighting for his drive in 2012, after Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemelo said the Brazilian needs to prove himself to keep his seat. The Tifosi, along with Di Montezemolo, will demand success from the entire team this season after not claiming the biggest prize in motorsport for five years.
Sahara Force India
Nico Hulkenberg replaces Adrian Sutil as Paul di Resta’s teammate for 2012. The German achieved pole position at Brazil in 2010 for Williams, but lost his seat for the following season. Paul di Resta showed a lot of promise during his debut season coming sixth in Singapore and seventh in Hungary. Promising form during the preseason with Hulkenberg quickest on the second day at Barcelona imply that Force India will be scoring points on a regular basis, however fighting at the front may still be a way off for the Silverstone based team.
Sauber
Team Principal Peter Sauber has high hopes for the coming season in the tems 20th season in Formula One. He wants drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez to score points regularly to “significantly improve” their position in the constructor’s championship. A very ambitious target which may be achievable
BRIAN SNELSON
Jasper Taylor
considering that 2012 is expected to be one of the closest seasons yet. However with Toro Rosso, Force India, Lotus Renault and Mercedes all appearing to up their game, regular points will be hard to come by.
Williams
2011 was a year to forget for Williams in their worst ever season. The departure of Engineering Director Patrick Head and Technical Director Sam Michael, suggested that the coming season would not be much better for the British team. However, 2012 could provide a much-needed revitalisation for the historic team with Renault as their new engine supplier, increased profits at the team and a new driver. Bruno Senna replaces fellow countryman Rubens Barrichello at the team, he is the nephew of the legendary Ayrton Senna who raced also raced for Williams.
Caterham
The newly named Caterham team have kept Heikki Kovailainen on as their number one driver, but have replaced Jarno Truilli with former Renault driver Vitaly Petrov. Team Principal Tony Fernandes is hoping Caterham will break into the midfield in 2012. This seems an unlikely target considering the team is yet to score a point and that the rest of the midfield has seemingly taken a step toward the front of the field.
HRT
Hispania were the last team to show their 2012 car due to a problem filled preseason. The team missed all three days of pre-season testing and have only used the car during a filming day. Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan make up their driver line-up but as the team often switched drivers in the past, they are unlikely to both compete in every race of 2012. A shaky start to 2012 means that they are unlikely to escape the back of the pack in the coming season.
Wales are on course to land their third Six Nations crown and complete a Grand Slam along the way. The Welsh narrowly beat Ireland on the opening weekend and have since carved their way to three comfortable victories over Scotland, England and Italy. The most crucial of these coming at Twickenham, as a late try from Scott Williams and a last minute try disallowed for England, saw Wales hand interim England coach Stuart Lancaster his first defeat. That defeat is what currently separates Wales and England in first and second place respectively. The English have won their three other games by very narrow margins, highlighted by the fact they have a points difference of just +6, compared to Wales and Ireland who are both in the +40s. England will be happy though that they have managed to see off France, Italy and Scotland despite not having the stability of a full-time coach. However, with their gutsy displays this tournament, it looks like Lancaster could land the role permanently. Two teams who will not be happy with their tournament are Scotland and Italy, with four defeats each. Italy are rooted to the bottom of the table thanks to their points difference, with the damage inflicted mainly by Ireland in a 42-10 thrashing. Scotland have offered good resistance to their opposition but currently lack the class and guile that could see them start to turn respectable performances in to wins against the bigger sides. Ireland and France continue to cause problems but effectively ended each other’s title hopes with a 17 all draw at the Stade de France. Other than this, both teams have only lost once and the free-scoring Ireland will feel particularly aggrieved that they are out of the title race after being 17-6 up at half-time before Les Bleus made up the 11 point difference in the second half. In truth though, the title is all but decided as we head in to the last weekend of Six Nations action. Italy v Scotland will be a great clash to see who can avoid the Wooden Spoon, with Italy having picked up this unwanted award for the last four years. If England are to have any chance of toppling the Welsh off top spot they have to beat Ireland at Twickenham and hope the French can do them a favour and beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Even if this does happen, Wales have a 38 points difference advantage, which makes it extremely unlikely that England will regain the Six Nations trophy.
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The Rock | Thursday 15 March
Steve Cook: “We have Close up with: been really poor lately” Ash Hover
After only picking up a single point from a possible 18, AFC Bournemouth’s play-off hopes seem to have gone from sweet to sour. The cherries now sit twelfth in the Npower League One table and are only 10 points off the relegation places. Lee Bradbury’s side haven’t hit the back of the net in four successive games, but with a number of players coming back from injury, and having played 3
of the top 5 in their last few games, things could be looking up. Defender Steve Cook, who returned to the side in the narrow defeat to league leaders Charlton, admitted it had been hard to watch his side falter from the sidelines. “It was very frustrating and we have been really poor lately,” he said. “At Rochdale, I don’t think we deserved to win to be fair, and obviously the penalty was extremely frustrating to give away. We haven’t been taking our chances.” Bradbury described the opening fifteen minutes of last weekends loss to Sheffield Wednesday as “boys against men” and defender Simon Francis admitted that if the cherries had put a good run together then
Cook believes Bournemouth can and must play better football AFCB
New central role for McDermott Donal McDermott is enjoying more freedom on the pitch for the Cherries since he has moved to a central position behind the strikers. The former Manchester City man had been playing as a winger in Lee Bradbury’s side but agrees with the manager’s decision to reshuffle. “I think that just behind the strikers is a good position for me. Whenever I have played on the wing I’ve looked to come inside so I think it makes more sense. It allows me to be free and get on the ball and create some opportunities.” He first adopted this new role in the loss to Charlton but the Irishman praised the change of formation. “I know we lost the game but if we do play like that again in the same formation and play as well, I think we’ll win more than we lose.”
they could still be in the race for the play-offs, but realistically, they’re now “looking to pick up enough points to stay in the league so they can start positively next season”. Although ‘Cooky’ didn’t like to think negatively, he also admitted the main priority is to pick up enough points to avoid relegation. “Our main aim is just to win as many games as we can. I don’t know how many points you need to be safe, maybe 47 to 50, but obviously we’re not thinking about that. It’d be nice to get past that mark though so we could relax a little and maybe play with a bit more freedom.” The Reds have now conceded four goals in three games from set pieces, something that manager Lee Bradbury must’ve been trying to stop when signing towering centreback Miles Addison, on loan from Derby County. Cook admitted he doesn’t see Addison’s presence as competition though. “Obviously Miles is a good player and he’d be a great for any championship side. For me, I wouldn’t really see it as competition, but the fact that he’s here just makes you train a bit harder. I don’t know, he can play in midfield as well, so I think that when Adam Barrett’s back maybe he’ll get his spot back and Miles will push up to midfield.“ But for now, Cook and his side turn their attention to Saturday’s home game with Carlisle, and the defender shouldn’t have any problems focusing on the game.
The South wins big at awards Craig Rodhouse The Football League held its annual Football League Awards ceremony on Monday, an evening which was dominated by clubs in the south. Southampton striker Rickie Lambert – who is currently the Championship’s runaway top scorer – grabbed the night’s most elusive award of Championship Player of the Year. Lambert has struck an incredible 82 goals since joining the Saints from Bristol Rovers in 2009, and the 30-year-old’s goals have helped fire Southampton to the top of the Championship. Cash-strapped Portsmouth were finally given some cause for celebration as they were awarded
the Community Club of the Year award, on Monday evening. Portsmouth’s 10 point deduction for entering administration has seen Pompey drop to bottom of the Championship, with serious question marks continuing to be raised over the club’s long-term financial stability. Brighton manager Gus Poyet completed the hat-trick of awards for the Football League’s south coast contingent as he was awarded the Football Management Outstanding Managerial Achievement. Poyet guided Brighton to the League One title last term, and has since guided the Seagulls into the play-off places in the Championship. In other awards categories on the night, Huddersfield hotshot Jordan Rhodes took home League One Player of the Year award, whilst Swindon’s Matt Ritchie was given League Two’s respective award.
Marc Pugh
The Bournemouth Rock talks exclusively to Cherries winger about his favourite goal and the Costa Crew
Pugh has been with the Cherries since June 2010 AFCBOURNEMOUTH
Name: Marc Pugh Age: 24 Position: Winger Been at club since: 2010 Favourite goal: Tranmere. I took a really nice touch and then hit a lovely shot, which hit the crossbar and went in.
Favourite moment: I’ve had so many good memories since I’ve been here. Playing in the playoffs last season was special though.
Best mate at the club: We’ve got the Costa Crew which is me, Wes Fogden and Shaun MacDonald. We all go to Costa
Coffee most days after training and they’re all top lads.
Least like to sit next to on the coach: I get on well with everyone here, but Warren Cummings has got some disgusting banter. You’ve got to love him for it though.
Describe yourself in three words:
Hardworking, ambitious and passionate.
Favourite thing about playing for Bournemouth: Getting to play in front of thousands of brilliant supporters every week and hopefully impressing them along the way.
40 sport
Thursday 15 March | The Rock
Beautiful game at an ugly price
I don’t believe it! Anger Manager
We’ve heard of people breaking their electronic’s through clumsiness and lack of care, but Cherries defender Steve Cook has admitted destroying his computer in a moment of rage. Cook said: “I recently broke my laptop playing football manager but it should hopefully be back soon. I was at Sutton United, but I’ve just taken the Barcelona job and I lost to Grenada and hit the screen, so it’s out of action at the moment.”
Turn to p39 for an exclusive with Cook
Pugh makes his return
Will England fans cough up for overpriced Euro 2012 tickets or will the Three Lions be playing in front of empty seats this summer? SPORT AD
Ash Hover
With concerns over the preposterous prices that Ukrainian hotels are charging, it is feared that England are well short from selling their 7,500 ticket allocation for their opening fixture with France. With England traditionally being one of the best supported teams abroad, it would be absurd to sell less tickets than quite a few league one teams get through their gates each week. Thousands of seats remain bottom-less for the opening Group D game, to be played in Donetsk’s 50,000 seater Donbass Arena. But despite wanting to make the
long trip to cheer on the three lions, many fans are questioning whether it would be worth it. With Bournemouth’s Seward Stadium reaching attendance rates close to the 7,000 mark on a weekly basis, it is clear the English are still passionate about live football, which will make the empty rows in the Summer all the more embarrassing. After our awkward World Cup exit two years ago, many once ‘die-hard’ fans have turned their backs on the national side, and with a number of big names dealing with ongoing personal issues, is there enough hope and prosper to warrant paying £1,000 a night to stay in a decent hotel in Donetsk. Fans would have to fork out £500 to stay in a hostel on match night, and it would cost £240 to get one-star accommodation over 30 miles from the venue. Something seemingly senseless when you can get your head down in a Bournemouth Travelodge from £27 per night. A room at the Ibis hotel in Kiev would usually cost £49, but is now being advertised for £550
when England are in town. For the mathematicians, that’s more than ten times the normal price. Prices for flights aren’t too pricey, but there doesn’t seem to be enough ‘mid-priced’ hotels, and this risks empty stadiums for all three of our group matches. But will these sky-high prices ward off the ‘hooliganism’? Or will they just fuel the problem even more. Fans are now likely to turn on these over-priced hotels and local businesses. Has this all just proven that UEFA don’t care about football fans at all? They would much rather line their own pockets than satisfy the ‘needs’ of many football fans. It’s looking more and more likely that I’ll be watching the Euro’s from a Bournemouth pub. Especially when I can get a burger & chips for £3.50, compared to the €7 that many foreign pubs are now charging for a pint. And on top of that, at a steep £45 a pop for an official Euro’s home shirt, I think I’ll be watching from the comfort of my 2002 World Cup strip, with Becks printed on the back. Unbelievable.
Cherries set for Carlisle challenge
The Cherries will look to end a run of five straight defeats, as they face Carlisle at the Seward Stadium this Saturday. Bournemouth haven’t won a game since February 7 and have slipped to 12th in the table after their 3-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday. Carlisle currently sit in seventh position but have two games in hand on Notts County in sixth, meaning a win over Bournemouth could see them move up into a play-off position. Greg Abbott’s team have won their last two games, but have conceded in every match since Valentine’s Day. Luckily for them though, the Cherries are in poor scoring form, having not scored in over 400 minutes of football. The return of Marc Pugh, their top scorer, could be crucial to end Bournemouth’s goal drought and help them climb the table after a recent poor run.
AFC Bournemouth winger Marc Pugh looks set for a timely return to action this weekend, ahead of the visit of Carlisle United. The 24-year-old has sat out of the Cherries’ past three games with an ankle injury, but revealed he plans to make his return to the first team against the Cumbrians this Saturday. “I’ve been training really well over the past week and I’ve started kicking the ball again now, so hopefully I will be back in time for the Carlisle game,” Pugh said. “It’s been really frustrating having to watch from the sidelines and not being able to do anything about the team’s results. “I’ve got to send a special mention out to [Stephen] Purches though, as he can’t even watch from the stands at the moment. I’ve only had a two week injury and so in that regard I’m pretty lucky.” However, with Wes Fogden’s return to action adding further to Lee Bradbury’s options on the wings, Pugh admits it may be tough to break back into the Cherries’ starting eleven. “I’m not expecting to walk back into the team by any means. “We’ve got a lot of competition out wide now and it’s going to be tough to get back into the squad.”
Turn to p39 for a close up with Marc