Cobalt Issue 16 - Thinking Inside The Box

FEATURING Baking Soc Lemon Girl 21/03/2020

Issue 16 8th may 2020

THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

President’s Letter It is with great pride that I present to you Issue 16: Thinking Inside The Box. This issue was conceived and arranged remotely, with the team being all over the world due to the current COVID-19 crisis. It has been a strange time for us here, we have had the highs of welcoming your new Exec team, and the lows of not being able to say goodbye to our outgoing exec. Cobalt has become a part of me, something I have turned to in dif icult times, and something I have laboured over and proudly paraded to friends, family, and unsuspecting Warwick students on the Piazza. It saddens me deeply to have to say goodbye to this wonderful community, and the fantastic exec that I have had the pleasure of working with. But it gives me great pleasure to know that the new Exec team are all excited, talented people, ready to take Cobalt to new heights. With that, I am proud to welcome Bethany Lee, our new President of Cobalt Magazine!

Hello everyone! I’m super excited to be introducing myself in my irst ever president’s letter! It is with a very warm and grateful heart that we say goodbye to the exec that have come before us, we hope to do them proud and carry forward all the knowledge they have passed down. This is the irst issue for the new exec and I couldn’t think of a better, and more uniting, theme to start us off. With all the changes and challenges currently happening in life, we turn to creativity and expression to carry us through. It has been a pleasure reading all the amazing contributions to this issue and we hope it brings you comfort and enjoyment wherever you are during this isolated time. Stay safe and stay positive! x whe

Contents ‫( ٹئاروزآ‬Azurite) S. Iqraa Bukhari

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Featured Exec: Baking Do Warwick Baking Society

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Taking Care of Your Mental Health in Quarantine Shriya Ganesh

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Thinking Inside the Box Alessia Vitalone

18 20

21/03/2020 Sara Donat Cattin Sa

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Karabasan & Scar Haaris Malik

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Le Sit Let’s Nana Yaa Adu

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fever dream Emily Maclennan

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Lemon Girl Francesca Johnson

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The Caretaker Review Peter Shum

The Joy of Comfort Culture in Lockdown Times Noah Keate

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Baggage Claim, Power & Her Mother’s Designer Bag S. Iqraa Iq Bukhari

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12

Thinking About the Environment Bethany Lee

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Kity & Applause Alba Alonso Palombi

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Exec Messages Cobalt Exec

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Connection; Established Emilly Taylor

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The Box Millie Jackson ‫( ٹئاروزآ‬Azurite) S. Iqraa Iq Bukhari

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The Sun Will Shine On Us Again Thaïs Fitzgerald Fi

‫نامسآ‬

‫‪By Iqraa Bukhari‬‬

‫نىٹلال‬

‫‪3‬‬

‫ىكڑهك‬

T A K I N G

C A R E I

O F N

Y O Q

U

A

SHRIYA GANESH TREASURER

S

taying home all day isn’t easy but it is very much a necessity at the moment. With the world being hit by a pandemic, hospitals over lowing with victims of the virus, economies crashing beyond repair, and unemployment rates soaring through the roof – all in a matter of four months – 2020 is unquestionably going to be one of the toughest years for us to get through. However, taking into account all the disarray our world has been thrown in, staying at home for the sake of everybody’s health and safety is quite a small price to pay. It is absolutely devastating to see that not everybody has that luxury and we truly are fortunate enough to have the privilege of just living within the four walls of our homes with basic necessities provided to us.

Nonetheless, continuously staying in the same environment for days on end does take its toll on you.

Couple that with all the stress, uncertainty, and negativity that this situation brings about and you have a recipe for an absolute mental breakdown.

Thus, while it is important to look after your physical health, it is just as necessary to take care of your mental health. Here He are some simple things you can do on a daily basis to just stay sane!

Alternatively, YouTube serves as an incredible tool with numerous guided meditation videos to tackle insomnia, anxiety, uncertainty, etc!

Podcasts: Podcasts are actually a great way to pass time while also learning more about a topic. Mental health podcasts, in particular, provide a range of opinions and solutions to various mental health issues in quite a casual, conversational format.

They’re usually conducted in an interview style and are quite chill to listen to. Most of the time, it’s just the host and a guest talking about a particular personal struggle, which really gives you sense of belonging and relatability.

My personal recommendations: • On Purpose with Jay Shetty • I Weigh with Jameela Jamil They’re both free to access and available on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Keeping in Touch: Social distancing should not have to stop you from talking to the people you care about!

I know, it’s a busy period for us students, but just talking to somebody for 20 minutes a day can make all the difference. It helps uplift your mood, vent frustration, have a good laugh, and just overall provides a sense of belonging and support that seems to be lacking in this period of isolation.

Meditation: For those of you who are unfamiliar, the concept of meditation is a lot simpler than you’d think. It doesn’t always involve sitting cross legged on a yoga mat with your eyes closed as though you’re about to attain Nirvana.

Believe me.

Meditation primarily primari consists of a lot of introspection, but it also seeks to relax the mind and body. You can meditate from absolutely anywhere – your bed, the kitchen, the couch, your garden – anything! The beauty of meditation lies in the fact that you can tailor it to suit your needs and do whatever makes you feel at peace.

Exercise: I know, exercise requires getting out of bed, which does not sound tasteful at all. You can’t even play the “you paid for the membership” card to guilt yourself into going to the gym anymore, which makes lying in bed all day sound all the more inviting.

Working out, however, releases chemicals like dopamine and serotonin in our body, which play a vital role in determining your mood.

You don’t even have to exert your body much for that to happen!

Just doing 10 minutes of high intensity cardio or walking up and down the stairs a few times can do the trick!

Just 10-15 minutes of physical activity a day can ensure you stay refreshed and somewhat happy throughout the day.

For newcomers, guided meditation is a good starting point. It gives you an idea of what meditating is like, which could be anything from just taking deep breaths for one minute to contemplating more abstract issues in your life.

Some good guided meditation mobile apps (free (f to download): • Headspace • Calm • Aura

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H E A L T H

21/03/2020 Sara Donat Cattin my hands are dry because I wash them too much it is the headache that tells me to rush and wash the fear away as the warm water reminds of the tears I shed for my far away mother of the warmth of embrace that a friend gives it is my cracking skin that reminds that we try to be clean but we always hurt one another as if the palms of our hands weren’t all the same cause when we touch it numbs the pain even if me caressing you makes me feel the different lines, the different name my broken nails are the broken heart of whose home is far as they th dig for quietness in this deep, deep dark

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EMILY MACLENNAN SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Morning. Hornets at your window,

ricocheting

off the glass.

Outside,

the dogs swarm &

down,

peel yourself back

up again:

there’s work to

be done.

What do you

attack one another, but never look toward

understand of numbers & of pain? Wait to be shown

the ringleader, rin the one

something beautiful.

It feels

stood at their heads.

Blind faith. yourself

Flatten

you’re afraid. & deep down

sel ish to watch the news

the sides of your bed, ind

you

from the comfort of your

everything you thought you

home, doesn’t it? Deep down: ever lost: dust that forests your eyes in sleep, family photos, hope, the stitches that held you together.

fever dream 7

A Review of

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By Peter Shum

Play: The Caretaker Author: Harold Pinter Location: The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa. Performance Date: Saturday, 29 February2020.

Soon after bringing the homeless Davies back to his flat, Aston asks him where he was born. “What do you mean?” replies Davies.

Assuming this is played for a laugh, it is one of several humorous moments littering the opening scenes of Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker that will normally raise a giggle or two from all but the most sullen of audiences. Likewise, the funny bone is tickled when Davies confesses matter-of-factly that he left his wife after a week of marriage; when Mick starts rambling about the buses sta caught by someone’s mother; when Aston asks Davies if he managed to “get down to Wembley” (and back) in an implausibly short period of time; or when Mick claims to be doing some spring cleaning in the dark with a vacuum cleaner plugged into the light socket. It adds up to a string of gags that serves to reassure what will often be a somewhat non-plussed audience that, whatever else might be in store for them, at least a bit of comedy will be in the mix. All the same, sam even an abundance of mirth should not blind us to the fact that comedies still need to stack up aesthetically. A good play might be about a dog’s breakfast (or for that matter, an attic full of junk) but if it is to remain a good play, it cannot be allowed all to collapse into its own subject matter. Perhaps most obviously, one feels entitled to enquire as to the significance of the bucket and the leaking ceiling. Is this a pointless question? And what about Mick? What exactly is he up to, as he swings pendulously between chumminess and menace? Does Davies’ battered personality become any clearer as the play proceeds?

And why in the world cannot Mick and Aston communicate properly?

Director Gordon Vallins, one of the founders of the influential Theatre In Education(TIE) movement, demonstrates with this production that The Caretakeris a play that rewards investigation into such questions.

Of the three characters, perhaps Mick is the most difficult to understand. He torments Davies by coaxing him into a false sense of security before pulling the rug from under him. At first one wonders if Mick plans to conspire with Davies to displace Aston from the flat.

But it soon becomes clear that Mick is merely putting Davies to the test. When it emerges that Davies is prepared to betray Aston, Mick turns on Davies.

Thus, contrary to initial appearances, Mick turns out to be trying to protect his brother through a covert experiment on Davies. Tom O’Connor (Mick) does well to show that Mick is a “caretaker” in a very peculiar way, taking care of his brother by exposing Davies’ untrustworthiness. Perhaps he could have been played even more schizophrenically to show more contrast between bet his sinister and playful, creative sides. Davies takes exception to his being treated like a “wild animal” during his many years of vagrancy, but he is closer to a beast than he would be prepared to admit.

The brutality of life on the streets has made him aggressive and liable to get into fights. In his tenacity to fight for his own survival, he is prepared at the drop of a hat to play one brother against the other. His “becoming animal” metamorphosis may be conducive to his survival on the streets, but it also degrades his propensity to form prudent alliances. Tim Willis (Davies) conveys how paranoia has made Davies his own worst enemy, closing off his own chances of re-entering civilised society. But I found myself wondering on occasions if he was too cuddly. Doesn’t he need to be a bit nastier?

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If the play offers a faint light at the end of the tunnel (or daylight through the hole in the roof), it is a flicker of brotherly love between Mick and Aston. They smile at each other in the closing scene, as if something important has been discovered. One may surmise that disc there is now a tacit agreement between them: that henceforth Aston should fend for himself.

Mick’s task as caretaker of his brother is complete: he has exposed Davies’ treachery toward Aston. Rod Wilkinson (Aston) succeeds in drawing out a certain transition in the development of the kindly Aston, who extended the hand of friendship to Davies in the first place, but has learned an important lesson for himself –that he lives in a brutal world where it is not always prudent to show unconditional hospitality. By the close of the play, he is ready, or more ready than he was, to be the caretaker not only of the flat, but of himself. I would, however, like to have seen greater abnormality evinced in his abno psychology. As for the leaking ceiling, it functions inter alia as a metaphor for dysfunction in the interior lives of the characters, or for the brokenness of their relationships. Whatever it symbolises, it also served to occasion symbolise one of the louder laughs of the Saturday night performance. “What do you do when the bucket is full?” asks Davies. After a pause, a solemn Aston replies “Empty it.” The burst of hilarity this elicited from the audience was second only to a beautifully understated put-down directed at Davies: “I don’t think we’re hitting it off.” Well said, Aston, well said.

P

B A

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W

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C L A I M

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H E R M O T H E R S D E S I G N E R H A N D B A G

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By Iqraa Bukhari

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EMILLY TAYLOR OUTGOING PRESIDENT

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BY THAÏS FITZGERALD EDITOR

Being stuck at home can be a tough time, but making do and baking can be a fun way of spending your time.

Warwick Baking Society share some of their fun recipes to bake this spring!

Easter Cupcakes Ingredients: 110g softened butter 110g golden caster sugar 2 large eggs ½ tsp vanilla extract 110g self-raising lour For the icing: 150g softened butter 300g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 tbsp milk Yellow food colouring Mini eggs

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and ill a 12-cupcake tray with cases.

Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and luffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising lour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases.

Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each Ba cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the buttercream: Whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.

Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.

Add 2-3 drops of yellow food colouring for the ‘nest’ and then the mini eggs on the top.

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FEATURED EXEC

Jar Cake Ingredients: For The Cake: 150g Butter (Unsalted) 150g Caster Sugar 150g Self-raising lour 3 Eggs 1 tsp of Baking Powder 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract White Chocolate For the Buttercream: 80g Butter (Unsalted) 100g Icing Sugar 1 tsp of Bubblegum syrup Blue food colouring Method: First make the cake. Preheat the oven to 190ºc/170ºc fan/Gas 5. Grease and line 2 square 20cm/8 inch tins.

In a bowl, combine the butter and sugar until creamy. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla extract and once combined, the baking powder and lour. Pour this into the cake tin and bake for 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

When the cake ca is cooked allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.

While the cake is cooling, melt the white chocolate until smooth.

To make the buttercream, whisk the softened butter until super soft then add the icing sugar, bubblegum syrup and 2-3 drops of blue food colouring until you get your desired colour.

Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.

When you are ready to make the cupcake jars. Cut circles from your cooled cakes with a cutter and then divide into quarters. If you don’t have a cutter break apart into small chunks instead, both will easily it through the neck of the jar to be reassembled within.

Make a layer of buttercream and white chocolate and then top with the sponge Repeat until the jar is full!

17 Disclaimer: Main image is not of actual recipe. We have limited access to photography due to COVID-19

“

THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

A non-exhaustive list of things to do, things to remember and things to learn during these days.

”

ByAlessia Vitalone

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This is an unprecedented time, a once in a 100-year pandemic.

Don't stay in your pyjamas, get up and get dressed because we have to start the day somehow.

Donate everything you can give, money to hospitals that are in difficulty or simply time - even if it's a phone call - to the people you love.

Select the information with reasoning and critical sense without panicking and without taking any kind of unverified news for granted.

You don't need to.

Wash your hands a lot during the day and for more than 60 seconds. Time to sing "Happy birthday" twice, you know. Also put some moisturizer on them.

Breathe deeply and think about something that makes you feel good.

For example, I usually think about the sea and the wind that enters inside the car from the open windows, with the blaring music.

I also create a nice “social dis-dancing” playlist on Spotify for the month of April and I always update it https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44pQwUt BesVm0J316SddqG?si=FsCzo8DLR3WV4 bjaFyZzdQ Sort things in the closets, in the drawers, among the photos and in your lives too.

Watch some tutorial on how to cut your flatmate’s hair and do it!

(I didn't at all - I just watched the “Roman Holiday” promo of Audrey Hepburn where she is cutting her hair - sorry Noemi I know you are reading this. I promise I’ll do my best tonight xx) Start a lockdown diary, where you can write the good things that happen in your day.

Count your blessings.

You could feel like you are missing something or someone, you maybe need something or someone and you are afraid of the situation. You feel the ground collapsing under your feet.

We all feel emotions that we are no longer used to feel in our hectic lives, since we are anaesthetized by talking too much, having too much, having too much to do and too much to desire.

Trust in tomorrow and most importantly in the neighbour, in that close person that at the moment we keep at a safe distance (a meter or so) but that tomorrow we will come back to want next to us.

No one saves themselves alone. Now more than ever.

It time for us to be level-headed, open-hearted It’s and focused on what we need to do right now and what we want to do in our life once we will be going outside again.

Social distancing doesn’t mean that we emotionally disconnect.

Get bored a bit, as it happened to us when we were children a few decades ago and as we no longer know how to do it. ….

Write your essays and read some books, because we can’t stop - we stay at home, between the sofa and the fridge - but we don't stop.

then at the end of April there is also going to be an asteroid, did you know that?

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KARABASAN (MARE) Gripped tightly to the Plunging cast iron dome; The bell rung by Azrael Brings me closer Home.

With each poem written And dispelled to the shelf.

I discover the value Of my eroding Self.

What is precious was now Gone. The livèd struggle With forlorn Hope demands Yet another rebuttal.

Do I have one...

Photo by gypsyugal from Pexels

SCAR The remanents of trauma.

Humble evidence of the blood Soaked battles against demons Warred in a life lived former.

I am proud to be. lonely.

Enveloped in a cosmos of care.

Perpetual love radiates from kind Hearts of family and friends; to Jump, I wouldn't dare I am grateful to be. lonely.

The winter's getting hot.

The world sees warmth showered On the mountain beach wanderers As God spoils His lot.

I see myself to be. lonely.

Haaris Malik

L ET ’S SI T N a n a Ya a A d u I n st a g ra m: @ ny. ogl e

Let’s sit with what we’ve heard - how do you feel sitting in the silence?

The absolute silence which sits with you.

Which elevates the seat upon which your thoughts undergo continuous trans iguration, embodied by voice, sound which exists within A plane only on you have access to through a window, Through a wall Your ear permanently glued to this wall which you clearly see through But sight within this plane takes a different shape So you see But as a matter of fact you’re blind But you see so clearly Oh so clearly But you are blind Blind So let’s sit Let’s sit with what we’ve heard

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The Joy of Comfort Culture in Lockdown Times 24

Noah Keate

I think each of us are finding a method for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. If we are lucky enough not have been infected or know anyone who has been, much of the day is spent at home. It is all about coming into contact with as few individuals as possible. Apart from food shopping, delivering items to the vulnerable, working or a form of exercise, individuals are otherwise inside, trying to pass the time without worrying.

This is easier said than done. With rolling news channels and social media focusing only on the virus, it can feel impossible to escape any coronavirus related stories.

The government’s daily press conferences, which I don’t watch, make people feel they have a duty to keep up with the latest information. We have sadly become used to the death toll increasing, with tragic individual deaths turning into statistics which don’t receive the attention they deserve.

How can we escape from this cycle? The lockdown is sadly not going to end any time soon. Individuals are having to get used to spending their days inside. While some students will have plenty of exams to revise for and essays to complete, individuals will have more opportunities to pass the time. People may wish to use this productively by taking up a hobby: jogging, sewing, writing, painting. There are many things we’d like to do which a long day at work would prevent. Now is the time.

I have found an effective way of putting these awful times to the back of one’s mind - for I think it is impossible to ever fully forget what is happening - is by embracing culture. While news websites are inundated with reports across the globe, culture pages have never been fuller of how to spend time in lockdown with the best films, TV and theatre. As I have written before, there is so much that can be watched from one’s one sofa.

Most of my culture has not come from any online recommendations but the excessive DVD collection in our living room. Thanks to my family sorting out the films into their respective categories (12s, 15s, comedies, film collections), we have a clearer idea of both the films we possess and those we haven’t watched. Film evenings have often been a rarity, so it has been lovely to have the time to appreciate the collections on our shelves.

There have been such a range. My family, perhaps unlike every other household, doesn’t have Netflix, but there are numerous cinematic experiences to keep us entertained. I especially enjoyed watching ‘Kes’, an iconic Ken Loach film from 1969 exploring the relationship between nature, humankind and class.

Other great experiences include watching Richard Curtis’ classic ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, a truly Curtis brilliant romantic comedy looking at love and truth. I’ve also engaged with more profound films like ‘Beautiful Boy’, a 2018 film directed by Felix van Groeningen analysing the damage caused by drug use. All of the films are different, but that is the truly brilliant thing about cinema.

It is a cliché to say the UK is obsessed with box sets.

Perhaps, apart from a devotion to the NHS, it is the one entity that brings the nation together effectively. I have certainly experienced this with my TV habits.

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Instead of appreciating one episode per week, I havebeen driven to watch multiple editions in the same day. This was notably the case during my second term at university by watching both series of the BBC’s ‘Bodies’ in quick succession.

Similarly, I watched all nine series of Channel 4’s ‘Peep Show’ starring Robert Webb and David Mitchell in far too short a period of time. The comedy was excellent, wry and witty. Now, I’m onto the BBC’s ‘Spooks’ exploring the world of spies. I’ve already finished two series!

Radio and podcasts should always connect with a listener; they are built around intimacy. Most of the time we listen to radio only by ourselves. This inevitably means a connection with a presenter. I love both live radio and the power of pre-recorded podcasts. For radio, a range of stations can suite my interests. Radio 4 has the most enlightening discussion programs like ‘The Media Show’ Show and ‘Start the Week.’ Alongside this, I’ve recently got back into ‘The Archers’, the station’s flagship drama broadcast since 1951. Currently, the episodes haven’t caught up to the coronavirus pandemic, so it makes for perfect listening.

Podcasts are also a clever way to pass the time.

Though some have inevitably paused because of isolation measures, many podcasts were always recorded remotely. There has therefore been very little difference in what is produced. While everyone will always have their own tastes, I’ve enjoyed Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith’s ‘For the Many’ podcast, a weekly look at the political news.

Many I’ve found it an essential way to escape from the coronavirus stories and appreciate some light relief.

Unfortunately, theatres look set to close for the foreseeable future. As examples of mass gatherings, they were simply non-essential in the fight against coronavirus. Thank goodness then, for National Theatre Live. With plenty of recorded performances from the last decade, audiences have enjoyed free live streams every Thursday evening. From the comedy of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ starring James Corden to the profound ‘Jane Eyre’, the performances have involved a range of stars, inspiring people within theatre to appreciate the beauty of the artistic world.

Overcoming this pandemic will not be easy. The future of the whole world after any lockdown is uncertain. Life is unlikely to go back, if ever, to how it was before. But that is where culture can be felt. The best culture is truly universal. Books that have always gripped us, plays that have always been evocative, films that have entertained us always remain. While the present situation moves on, there is something of great comfort about knowing culture will always exist.

However tricky and concerning the situation, the opportunity always exists for cultural exploration.

THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT In the midst of all the negative effects this pandemic has had on human health, social interactions and economic stability, a glimmer of positivity can be found in the temporary benefits to the environment.

Our isolation and lockdowns have seemingly enabled the environment to prosper; however, the global focus on social recovery threatens to ensure these positive impacts will not be long-term.

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Bringing attention to these environmental improvements could encourage people to live more environmentally conscious after lockdown. Do we need mass flights/transport to business conferences after discovering the powers of Zoom? Can we continue to limit our food waste as we have during the food shortages of this pandemic? Will our one daily outdoor venture for exercise encourage better relationships between people and nature?

Whether the short-term environmental benefits are continued or erased when life returns to normalcy is greatly dependent on the level of change in public attitudes.

REDUCED EMISSION With the closure of schools, shops and factories, commercial energy use and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased drastically. Improvements in air quality have been detected, particularly in China with carbon dioxide emissions falling by around 25%. Nitrogen Dioxide emissions have also fallen: NASA NAS stated this is the first year such a drop in nitrogen dioxide emissions has been observed across multiple countries.

Pollution levels have been reduced by almost 50% in New York alone.

FLIGHTS

NATURE

Flights have been cancelled globally, including 15.650 on the 24th of March alone. Transport makes up 23% of the world’s global carbon emissions thus with this widespread cancellation, carbon emissions have dropped substantially.

Heart-warming impacts on nature have been spotted as animals embrace the mostly human-free Spring. Photos of the Odisha coast in India covered in endangered sea turtles who, undisturbed by human activities, had come ashore to lay hundreds of eggs were shared on social media. Photos of Venice canals went viral as locals noted the clearest blue waters they’d ever seen with the removal of tourists and motorboats reducing pollution

ONLY SHORT TERM?

WILL CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORTS BE SET BACK?

These environmental changes appear temporary with the risk that after the pandemic, production will pick up quickly and aggressively to make up for lost output. Waste has also increased, and will continue to increase, as face masks and single-use items are thrown away to prevent the spread of disease.

In the grand scheme of things, climate change is no longer a top priority as government attention turns almost wholly to the virus. It will reportedly be a minimum of 6 weeks before a United Nations climate meeting in held in person and many have warned that efforts to tackle environmental issues could be set back by years in dealing with the outbreak.

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By Bethany Lee President

EMILLY TAYLOR OUTGOING PRESIDENT

“Cobalt has been a huge part of my life for the last three years, and I am so sad to have to say goodbye. It has been a pleasure to have been involved for so long, and I’m so grateful to the wonderful exec I have worked with who have all become great friends, and I hope the new exec will have as positive of an experience as I had!”

EMILY MACLENNAN RE-ELECTED SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

“I’ve loved having the privilege of working with such an amazing time who are all so passionate about Cobalt and its success. I’m so excited to continue with the new, equally as incredible exec, and to see what new opportunities we can bring to the magazine!”

SHRIYA GANESH RE-ELECTED TREASURER

“Working with Cobalt over the past year has been extremely rewarding. In addition to putting my inancial skills to use, I was able to tap into my more creative side with each issue we put out. At the same time, it was incredibly fun! From representing Cobalt at socs fair to casual dinners with my amazing exec, I enjoyed every single aspect of working with the society and look forward to creating new memories and experiences with the team this year!”

GENEVIEVE GUILLE OUTGOING EDITOR/SECRETARY

“I’ve loved working with Cobalt and seeing all the amazing creative work Warwick students have up their sleeves! It’s been great being able to read and admire every submission as it comes through. I will thoroughly miss being part of Cobalt and will de initely be keeping up with future issues and seeing what the amazing new exec get up to!”

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BETHANY LEE PRESIDENT

“I cannot wait to start working with the lovely team we have onboard for Cobalt going forward. I’m excited to continue celebrating the creativity and passions of our contributors and ensure our magazine continues to thrive as it has under the previous exec!”

MILLIE JACKSON SECRETARY

“Having been behind the scenes of Cobalt last year and seeing the commitment of the old Exec, I’m really delighted to be able to take on a role with the magazine this year. I hope that we can bring something new to Cobalt and I’m looking forward to seeing the great creative work of our contributors.”

THAÏS FITZGERALD EDITOR

“I’m thrilled to spend another year with the amazing Cobalt exec! I’ve absolutely loved every issue this year and cannot wait to see what will come.

Cobalt is such a wonderful magazine, and I'm so grateful to be part of this fantastic society. I'm looking forward to putting more of my editing skills to use and reading loads of lovely submissions!”

MINA MITCHELL-HARDY PRODUCTION MANAGER

“I’ve known I wanted to join Cobalt since socs fair and I’m so happy I did, I’ve already met some great people and I’m so excited to carry on the legacy of this great magazine while bringing it into a new era.”

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BY MILLIE JACKSON SECRETARY

THE BOX If this is the box that I have been built into, Then I want to make sure I am not reduced to these walls.

If there is no door, Then I will ind another way to enter the world outside.

If what is in here is everything I’ve got, Then I will be sure to make the most of it.

If I am not near friends, Then I will ind a way to make them hear me.

If I know someone is suffering in their own box, I will throw whatever I can spare to them and pray it helps.

If this box must become my everything, Then I will maximise what that everything can be.

If everyone is stuck in their own little box, Then it is up to us to build the bridges between them.

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‫ىڈنڈگپ‬

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Photo Creditations All photograph is CC0 licensed unless otherwise stated Cover art: cottonbro (pexels.com) Page 5: Ricardo Velarde (@Rickvel unsplash.com) Page 6: Photogra ierende (@fotographierende unsplash.com) Page 7: Eyes, Arthur Savary (@arthursavary unsplash.com) Page 8 Gus Macdonald The Loft Theatre (Publishing House) Page 10 Luizclas (pexels.com) Page 12 Benjamin Daniel (pexels.com) Page 13: cottonbro (pexels.com) Page 16: Melissa Walker Horn (@sugarcoatit unsplash.com) Page 17: Bernard Hermant (@bernardhermant unsplash.com) Page 18: (Provided by Author) Seth Langer: https://dionisopunk.com/2020/03/21/until-real-life-doesnt-feel-like-a-movie/ https://dionisopunk.com/2020/03/21/untilMatt Shirley: https://twitter.com/mattsurely?lang=en Page 20: Gypsyugal (pexels.com) Page 21 Icon0.com (pexels .com) Page 22: uncoveredlens (pexels.com) Page 23: Alexander Krivitskiy (@krivitskiy unsplash.com) Page 24 Engin Akyurt (pexels.com) Page 26 TravelingTart (pexels.com) Page 28: Youssef Naddam (@youssefnaddam unsplash.com) Page 30 bady qb (@bady unsplash.com)