Est. 1992 The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | Striving For Truth | Issue 378 | 3 November 2020
PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ELECTION SPECIAL SPECIAL
3rd November 2020
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Editorial
It's okay to not be okay
A unique issue for a unique m o m e n t in history William Warnes Deputy Editor
Sam Hewitson Editor-in-Chief
Here we go again, the new issue of Concrete is here! This one is a big one (I swear I say that every time) but we are, completely by accident, publishing on the day of the Presidential Election! We are super excited to be able to bring you some awesome American politics content in this one-off special issue, documenting this day and covering all the issues and questions people may have going into the final day of the Biden vs Trump battle. Dolly (Comment Editor), Marco (Global Editor), Will (Deputy Editor) and myself have organised some amazing pieces and spreads for you to sink your teeth into, so have a read! Apart from this, not a lot has been going on in my life. I was really hoping to have some exciting life updates in time for this issue but alas, the pandemic has led to a lot of sleeping, working and procrastination, which I am sure
is not all that interesting to those reading this with no clue who I am. Truth be told, the past few weeks have been quite draining. The Masters has intensified quite a bit, obviously Coronavirus numbers have escalated which has been on all of our minds, and I am admittedly feeling a little homesick. You’d think, going into my fourth year of university and having flown the nest, I’d be used to being away by now. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. I moved back home for the great lockdown of 2020, as I am coining it, and this is the first time living at home since I first left as a baby fresher. Having then spent a total of six months there (six months longer than I think any of us foresaw), coming back was weird, and now it’s all catching up. What is the point in this ramble? Well, I remember feeling homesick in first year and not thinking it was normal. Everyone else was seemingly unfazed by this change and I was silently suffering, but
especially now when there is so much uncertainty in the world, it is more normal than ever. Homesickness is completely understandable and chances are, those around you are feeling the same or will do soon. The middle of the semester is normally a bit of a slumpy period where the initial excitement of moving has gone and Christmas is still a little out of reach, so trust me when I say you are not alone. Aside from the Presidential Election content, there is a lot to look out for in this issue. Will Warnes has covered the ongoing situation in Nigeria which is an important read, Venue is looking as strong as ever with a wide range of reviews, rambles and great reads, and Jake Walker-Charles conducted an interview with Leah McFall, a finalist from The Voice, which is also super exciting and worth the read. That’s about it for this issue! I really hope you enjoy reading this issue, we are super proud of it. Stay safe everyone, and the mask always goes over the nose!
Here are some films I like Matt Branston Deputy Editor
Realistically, no one is reading this. So I can say whatever I want. But on the off-chance one person is, hello. I hope you're doing well. Well done for being the kind of wonderful person who would read my editorial. You're an absolute geezer. Here are a list of films I would recommend watching:
The Truman Show, City Slickers, Blindspotting, Mean Streets, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Roma, Isle of Dogs, Boy, Bill, Die Hard, Slumdog Millionaire, Spotlight, The Departed, Children of Men, Grosse Pointe Blank, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Casablanca, Apocalypse Now, The Darjeeling Limited, Rush, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Social Network, Inside Llewyn Davis, Parasite, First Man, BlacKkKlansman, Miracle, The
Nice Guys, Good Time, My Cousin Vinny, Top Five, Next Goal Wins, What We Do in the Shadows, Waves, Good Night and Good Luck, Midsommar, Don't Take Me Home, Paddington, Paddington 2, Nightcrawler, The Lighthouse, Vertigo, About Time, When Harry Met Sally, Blindspotting, High Fidelity, Paterson, 50/50, Popstar, Chef, The Fugitive, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Four Lions, Attack the Block, Senna & Thunder Road.
As you can see, this is a special issue for everyone at Concrete and Venue. The US election will be taking place as you read this and the result will affect us all. We’ve all been working hard in Concrete to put together this unique and one-off issue. If you forward to pages 8,9,10, and 11 you will find a range of content covering the election. From discussing how the result will affect the climate to how other countries view the vote, there are a variety of pieces covering a range of perspectives. As always, there is a fantastic selection of pieces throughout Concrete and Venue this issue. I myself covered the #endSARS movement taking place in Nigeria. It’s a moving story but worth a read – I encourage you to check it out. On a personal note, it’s been a particularly busy couple of weeks. With the uncertainty surrounding a potential lockdown, it was crucial we get this issue of Concrete perfect. I know the entirety of our team has worked tirelessly to ensure this issue is the best it can possibly be. After all, this could be our last of the calendar year Finally, I hope everyone reading this is staying safe and well. The coming weeks will hold some of the most important decisions and events for many years. Not only are we struck by a global pandemic, but the entire international political landscape will be changed. We don’t know what the future holds, though I’m sure by the time you’re reading this things will be slightly clearer. It’s been a stressful one for our entire team but we can all be proud of our efforts. It’s a unique issue for a unique moment in history.
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The University of East Anglia’s Official Student Newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 3rd November 2020 Issue 378 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk
Editor-in-Chief Sam Hewitson concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editors Matt Branston & William Warnes concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk Online Editors James Gell & Henry Webb concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News Samuel Woolford Senior Reporter: Jamie Hose concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Global Marco Rizzo Senior Writer: Henry Webb concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Samuel Gordon-Webb Senior Writer: Freyja Elwood concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment Dolly Carter concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Science Olivia Johnson concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel & Lifestyle Erica Thajeb concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Sport Luke Saward Senior Writer: Callum McWilliams concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy-Editors Sophie Rose-Land & Alex Viney concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Social Media Lauren Bramwell & Eleanor Holmes Lead Photographer Harry Chapman
ConcreteUEA Front page & Editorial photos: All sourced at Wikimedia Commons
Editorial Enquiries, Complaints & Corrections concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
No part of this newspaper may be reproduced by any means without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief, Sam Hewitson Published by the Union of UEA Students on behalf of Concrete. Concrete is a UUEAS society, but retains editorial independence as regards to any content. Opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers, not of Concrete or its editorial team.
News
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Coronavirus in Norfolk: An update on the situation in the region
Photo: Pixabay
Bea Montgomery-Christy News Reporter
With the country now in the second wave with hospitals preparing for a spike in admissions and case numbers, Norfolk and Norwich rates of Covid-19 infections are also repeating the patterns of spring. Under the tier system, Norfolk is comfortably within Tier 1 but cases are rising and the county as a whole has seen a doubling in coronavirus infections over the past month. Like everywhere else there is a wide variation with some obvious hotspots. Great Yarmouth has seen the highest infection rate with 123 cases per 100,000 while
north Norfolk has the lowest cases numbers in the county at 33 per 100,000 according to public health England. While Great Yarmouth’s infection rate is almost 50% lower than the national average of 207.5 per 100,000, it is still of concern for local leaders and locals are being urged to keep to social distancing guidelines and the Rule of 6 in an effort to halt the rise. It is the highest rate of cases seen in Norfolk since the pandemic began.The most recently available statistics, From the week leading up to 23 October, now clearly reflect the effect of the start of the university term and rates in Norwich itself show hotspots associated with UEA. There is good
“Norfolk and Norwich
rates of Covid-19 infections are also repeating the patterns of spring.” news for the City where cases have fallen to 106 cases per 100,000 in the week up to 23 October. According to the Public Health England’s map of infections, the University and the Avenues area had the highest rate, at 33 cases in the week beginning 16 October.
With neighbouring Earlham, Eaton and the city centre, all areas where students and university staff are a factor, also showing significant levels of infection. As of 25 October, UEA confirmed that 59 students and one member of staff tested positive within the last seven days. Students can, perhaps, consider that this week they are not the focus of Covid-relatated news in the county. On Monday, the Norfolk County Council announced that 144 workers at Cranswick Country Food, a poultry processing plant on the outskirts of Watton, tested positive for COVID-19. This latest outbreak at a food processing factory was described as a “cause for concern”
by Norfolk County Council. All 1,000 people working at Cranswick will now be tested. As we now get used to living under the tier system, accept that the anticipated second wave has arrived and factors contributing to the spread of infection are better known, Norfolk’s size, relative lack of significant densely populated urban centres can give some suggestion that it could remain in tier 1 for this autumn and winter. But we can’t afford to be complacent as the figures we are seeing this week were similar to ones seen in late summer in cities and regions that are now living under the strictest tier 3 regulations.
West Norwich Helping Hands help organise food packages for those in need Patrycja Poplawska News Reporter West Norwich Helping Hands was co-founded in March 2020 by Eddi Gell, a now Masters Student at UEA. The group worked hard to deliver food parcels throughout the lockdown period, helping over 200 families weekly as well as dropping off prescriptions, walking dogs and helping with other essential services
within NR4, NR5 and NR6. Thanks to the No Longer Strangers project, which WNHH is working on in hopes of building bridges between communities in Norwich, the services provided have been personalised for the comfort and ease of those from BAME and immigrant backgrounds; individuals can fill out forms in their native language and parcels are delivered by volunteers who speak the language where possible. The group has a strong student
presence amongst its volunteers; two out of three Directors are current UEA students and at least 60% of the volunteer base are students or graduates. In addition, the UEA Polish Society are official partners of the No Longer Strangers project, and several cultural societies have helped the NLS team: HinduSoc have helped with providing information and photos about Navratri for an upcoming short video, while Taiwanese Society and
Malaysian Society did the same for the Mid Autumn Festival. Patrick Mouncer is currently a second year Law student and has volunteered for the organisation since June as a driver, after ‘friends from the UEA brought [to his] attention that people needed help’. He says about the experience: ‘It was a few hours a week of my time, but when I saw the smiling faces of families receiving much-needed prescriptions or food, I knew it was more than worthwhile.
Their gratitude was heartwarming. What impressed me most were the tireless efforts of the WNHH team who worked very long hours and whose only concern was those they wished to help. A truly wonderful and rewarding experience.’ If you would like to join the WNHH team and would like more information with regards to the issues discussed in this article www. wnhh.org.uk
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3rd November 2020
News Inquest into death of Averil Hart finds extensive failures in national support structures for those with eating disorders
Major RAF exercise takes place in East Anglia region Jamie Hose
Senior News Reporter
A large host of military planes took to the skies over Norwich on the 23rd of October as part of an essential training exercise. The operation, called Exercise Crimson Warrior, included F-35 Lightning jets from the 617 Squadron at RAF Marham, Typhoon fighters fromRAF Lakenheath, a group of F15s from Lakenheath belonging to the US Air Force, the United States Marine Corps VMFA-211 Squadron which arrived at the beginning of September, and a Voyager flying tanker.
“high end training against realistic threats”
Photo: Pixabay
Jamie Hose
Senior News Reporter
A Huntingdon inquest into the death of 19-year old Averil Hart has described extensive failures in the national support services for sufferers of anorexia. Miss Hart, from Newton in Suffolk, died in December 2012 whilst studying creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) on the 7th December after being found collapsed in her bedroom. She was transferred to Addenbrookeís Hospital in Cambridge and died on the 15th. Addenbrookeís had previously been treating Miss Hart for her eating disorder for a period of 10 months, discharging her in August
just before she began her first semester at UEA. An inquest into the case was launched in March, following a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) which stated Miss Hart had been failed by ìevery NHS organisation that should have cared for her.î On the 20th October Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Local Medical Committee, told the inquest: ìThe national picture is one of a failure to have a sustainable, safe, evidencebased, adequately-commissioned position for patients to ensure longterm positive outcomes. Those diagnosed with severe and long-lasting anorexia have a mortality rate of 12.8% per year, the inquest found, compared to 2% amongst suspected cancer referrals.
Assistant coroner at the inquest, Sean Horstead, spoke of a lack of formal care and medical monitoring of patients with eating disorders in Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The issue of medical monitoring has been an issue since before Miss Hartís death in 2012, the inquest heard, and duties often fall to GPs. Cambridgeshire GPs have previously dismissed a proposal to assume monitoring responsibilities due to concerns including surgery capacity. A new pilot scheme proposes low to moderate risk patients being monitored by specially-trained health care assistants, with those in the high risk category being monitored by the eating disorder service. Earlier in October Dr James Stewart, author of an expert report,
said that delays in consultations with dieticians and psychologists, the lack of keeping an official food log, and the failure to use a nasogastric tube to feed Miss Hart on her admission all contributed to her death. The inquiry into Miss Hartís death is one of five looking into how health services handle eating disorders. The inquests for Emma Brown (27), Amanda Bowles (45), Madeleine Wallace (18) and Maria Jakes (24) have already taken place. coronavirus as an excuse to cut down on waiting lists following a devastating review. The NSFT denied this claim. Dr Dan Dalton, chief medical officer, said: ìThis clearly was something where we got it wrong. Iím absolutely confident it was done for the right reasons.
Commander Mark Sparrow of the 617 Squadron said, “The last few months have seen a period of intensive training for the squadron, having conducted group exercises and Exercise Joint Warrior from HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside our United States Marine Corps and NATO colleagues. “We are looking forward to putting the skills and qualifications that we have gained to the test in Exercise Crimson Warrior to show that we are ready to deploy on next year.” Earlier this year another air force gave exercise gave rise to conjecture on social media when Norwich residents heard plane overhead in the mid-afternoon on the 28th of August. The RAF soon confirmed that the plane was a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III that had left from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at around 3pm. Witnesses saw it pass over Dereham and circling around Norwich. This latest exercise has been described as “high end training against realistic threats and scenarios,” and will involve increased flights in the Norfolk region for two weeks.
UEA wins green flag award for fourth consecutive year running Alice Pritchard News Reporter
The UEA’s campus has won a Green Flag Award for the quality of its outdoor spaces, making this the fourth consecutive year that the university has achieved the prize. The Green Flag Award,
launched in 1996, is internationally recognised and aims to ensure that everyone can have access to high quality green spaces. It also seeks to acknowledge the managers, staff and volunteers who maintain them. With government covid restrictions limiting indoor social interaction, many students believe that having well kept outdoor areas available to them at university is particularly important this year.
First year student, Becky, told Concrete “It’s been so helpful to have green outdoor spaces easily accessible to me for exercise, and for being able to meet up with people that I otherwise might not have been able to meet.” In addition to enabling students to socialise during the pandemic, outdoor areas are also important for students’ mental health. English literature student,
Immy, said “I think having high quality outdoor spaces is important, not just for meeting friends but also for people’s wellbeing.” The 360 a cres of accessible land on campus include woodland, meadows and marshland, with wildlife trails open to the public running through these areas. There are over 5,000 different species of plants and animals to be found on campus (108 of which are
rare or endangered). Tom Everett, Landscape Manager in the Estates team, told the UEA “We know how much green spaces matter to our students, staff and visitors and how - particularly during these challenging times access to quality, open spaces is key for all of us.” The UEA is one of 23 UK universities to win the Green Flag Award this year.
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Norfolk MPs among those voting to bring an end to free school meals for children Norwich-based shopping centre Intu Chapelfield r e n a m e d 'Chantry Place' Sam Hewitson Editor-in-Chief
Photo: geograph
Photo: Pixhere
Freyja Elwood News Reporter
On the 21st October 2020, the government voted against a motion delivered by the Opposition, to extend the “Free School Meal” programme into the Christmas Holidays 2020/21 and Easter Holidays 2021. The vote has sparked a national campaign by charities and businesses to provide food for children who would qualify for free school meals. When the country was forced into lockdown back in March it became apparent that wages, hours and livelihoods would be plunged into uncertainty. It was with this in mind that Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford penned an open letter to
MPs saying; “Political affiliations aside, can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry?” The letter outlined the situation faced by the 1.3 million UK children registered for the Free School Meals scheme, and contained Rashford’s own experiences of growing up in food poverty. This prompted the government to respond by passing the “COVID Summer Food Fund”. The fund gave those eligible vouchers of £90 for the six weeks of the summer holidays to spend on food. However, no plan to continue the fund after the end of the summer holidays was established. The Labour party proposed the movement to extend the scheme into the holidays of the next academic year and was voted down by 60 votes. Boris Johnson told the BBC on
Monday that councils had been provided with an additional funding with £63 million pounds split between local authorities through the new “Local Welfare Assistance Fund”. However, this has been criticised by many local councils as they were told by the government in June that they had 12 weeks to allocate the funds, meaning the money was expected to go until the end of September. However, Boris Johnson also reinstated the fact that Universal Credit has been increased by £20 a week, and this has been ongoing since April. Out of Norfolk’s 9 MPs, only one – Clive Lewis MP, the Labour MP that presides over the consistency that the University of East Anglia is situated, voted in favour of the movement to extend the scheme. According to the Charity
“Norfolk Foundation” 29,300 children in Norfolk live in poverty. In 2018, 10 of their food banks in Norwich gave out 9,322 food parcels, 1/3 of these going to children under the age of 16. Another charity “Imagine Norfolk together” said through its research it had found 1/5 parents miss meals in order for their children to eat. Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman said that there were “real issues with finding the right long-term policy” in order to tackle food poverty, adding that we also needed a more “integrated” approach to the issue. Likewise, Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland, said that he did not believe in turning educational establishments into “branches of the welfare state” and that the government had made a better solution by adding £20 a week to Universal credit.
Norwich city centre’s Intu Chapelfield is now named Chantry Place, following a large rebrand in October. The centre has been called Intu Chapelfield since its opening in 2005, but Intu’s recent fall into administration amid the COVID-19 pandemic has forced all former Intu centres to adapt. The name derives from the heritage of the site, dating back to the 1200s when the site was a secular college and chapel, known as a chantry. Chantry Place’s new name and brand also comes with a new website, changes to their social media platforms, as well as a brandnew logo, staff uniform and signage for the centre. As the home to almost 100 retailers and attracting an annual footfall of 15 million people, shopping and retail in Norwich are defined by the centre, housing huge brands such as Apple, H&M, House of Fraser and a multitude of dining options. Chapelfield Plain has also been renamed under the rebrand, as it is now known as Chantry Square. Paul McCarthy, the centre manager of Chantry Place highlights the lack of change for shoppers by stating that “the change in name is another important chapter in our story. While the new branding cements our incredible retail, restaurant and leisure offering, our aim to deliver the best shopping and dining experience possible, support our retailers and celebrate and support our local community remains our top priority. While there’s no immediate change for shoppers, we’re sure that everyone will soon get used to calling us ‘Chantry Place’” The change comes at a crucial time for the retail industry as shoppers prepare for the festive rush, so the footfall in the newly rebranded hub of Norwich shopping is set to increase over the coming weeks.
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Global
3rd November 2020
A struggle against brutality: Nigeria’s #EndSars movement
Source: Wikipedia Commons
William Warnes Deputy Editor
Protests have gripped the streets of Nigeria as thousands demand an end to police brutality. Unrest began as a defiant movement against the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit renowned for carrying out frequent human rights abuses. However, the movement, which has gripped people nationwide and across the globe, has become something far greater - it is now representative of a voice demanding total change and reform. Unrest against the notorious police unit has been present in Nigeria for many years, with protests erupting across the West African country since their formation in 1992. SARS has frequently faced accusations of human rights violations. It is believed the unit has carried out extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, discriminatory profiling, and extortion. Amnesty International
has documented 82 cases of police brutality in Nigeria since 2017, with reports of brutal torture methods also released. This October marked the banding together of Nigeria’s youth in the fight against such brutality. Protests this year erupted after reports of unlawful shootings were
“...Nigerian struggle against police brutality and terrible governance” shared across Twitter. The #EndSars movement began trending on the social media platform and outrage quickly swept throughout the international community. Protests against the police unit are not a recent phenomenon, but this time the campaign has gone global.
On October 11th, Nigeria’s inspector general of police announced the disbandment of SARS, with a new unit, SWAT, replacing it. With the news came anxiety and discontent and #EndSwat immediately began trending on Twitter. Though the news of the unit’s termination was met with jubilation by some, many fear it lives on under a new title. After all, this is not the first time an announcement has been made claiming the dissolution of SARS. Young Nigerians and global supporters will continue to take to the streets until all demands calling for an end to police brutality are met. The movement has now become something greater. With the supposed end to SARS, the Nigerian youth now focus their efforts on ridding the oil-rich country of police brutality and crooked leadership once and for all. Motolani Alake, a journalist for Nigeria’s Pulse newspaper, said the protests have become an “EndSARS
battle cry… a tone of rebellion, a note of valid belligerency and a chant of unification in the Nigerian struggle against police brutality and terrible governance”. As demonstrations continue across the country, more and more evidence has emerged of violence against protesters. Footage has been leaked of live ammunition and water hoses being used to disperse crowds, while a number of demonstrators have been killed in violent clashes with government forces.
“Footage has been leaked of live ammunition and water hoses being used...” With the prominence of social media, the campaign has now gone global. Shocking footage of police
brutality has haunted and left a scar on those who witness it. Outrage is no longer contained to Nigeria and those taking a stand to rid the West African country of injustice are spread throughout the international community. Numerous celebrities, including footballers and musicians, have taken to Twitter to voice their anger. The footage that has dominated social media over the last month has meant the eyes of the world are now focussed on Nigeria. The movement has become a symbol for wider change and the Nigerian youth believe now is the time for a new generation to lead their country into a brighter dawn. The end of SARS is suspicious to many, and its successor, SWAT, carries fears of a continuation of violence under a new name. However, one thing is certain: Nigeria has hope for a brighter future. Will it be fulfilled as an opportunity for radical change? Or will it be a simple return to that of which has scarred the people of Nigeria for too long?
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China and Russia to join UN Human Rights Council Tensions are on the rise Freyja Elwood Global Writer
China and Russia have both been re-elected for another three-year term to the UN Human Rights council. China ran against five other nominations in the Asia-Pacific region and whilst votes for the country were significantly down from the previous election in 2016, Beijing maintained its seat. Russia ran unopposed for the seat in the Eastern European region. In the past three years we have seen dramatic breaches of the UN Human Rights declaration from both countries. The decision has been controversial for several reasons. In
the case of China, the CCP’s drastic internment and treatment of the Uighur Muslims, a minority ethnic group who are from the northwestern region of China, is now being taken to the International Criminal Court on charges of “Crimes against humanity” and “Genocide”. To examine is also China’s involvement in the passing of the highly controversial Hong Kong Extradition Bill that sparked several weeks of intense protesting in the country. In regards to Russia the controversy has many reasons; the poisoning of opposition leader Alexi Navalny, the imprisonment, torturing and killing of the LGBTQ+ community in Chechnya, the persecution and forced submission
Beheading in France distresses European nation Jim Gell
Global Writer
47-year-old French history and geography teacher, Samuel Paty, was beheaded in public on the 16th October in the Paris suburb of Éragny by 18-year-old Chechen refugee Abdullakh Anzorov, after showing students a picture of the Prophet Muhammed 10 days before to teach the class about freedom of expression. Anzorov was subsequently shot dead by French police. The lesson sparked controversy leading up to the murder, with one pupil’s father lobbying for Paty’s dismissal and speaking out in a video on Facebook. He has been accused of orchestrating a campaign of hate towards Paty which the prosecutor said had a “direct causal link” to his murder. The father exchanged several text messages with the killer prior to the attack. Anzorov allegedly paid two boys, aged 14 and 15, around €300 to identify the teacher, and waited for Paty outside the school for almost two hours. Three friends assisted in acquiring the weapon and driving Anzorov to the school. All six have been charged with complicity in a terrorist murder. T h o u s a n d s gathered in and around the Place de la République in Paris on the 18th, to celebrate free speech. Students and members of the public have held
memorials outside the Bois d’Aulne school where Paty taught. President Macron released a statement, saying Paty “was killed because the Islamists want our future. They know that with quiet heroes like him, they will never have it” and that France “will not give up caricatures, drawings, even if others back down.” He presented the teacher’s family with the nation’s highest honour, the Légion d’honneur. In response, Macron has outlawed Hamas-inspired Islamist group ‘the Sheikh Yassin Collective,’ French Police have launched a series of raids on Islamist networks with 40 homes targeted and 51 organisations, including charities and NGOs, will be inspected by government officials and closed down if they were found to be promoting hatred. The Grand Mosque of Pantin has been temporarily closed after s h a r i n g a video criticizing Paty.
Source: Wikipedia Commons
of the country’s 170,000 Jehovah’s witnesses under the guise that Putin has said “they cannot be called Christian”, to name a few. The international responses to reinstatement of China and Russian’s seats have been mixed. Lisa Nandy, the UK shadow foreign secretary, called on Dominic Raab to publicly confirm the UK had no intention of voting for China, however he refused to do so due to the practice of anonymity. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said the re-election of the countries further supported the US’s decision to withdraw from the council on the grounds of the “election” process.
Thailand protests: PM seeks resolution as emergency measure are rolled back Aislinn Wright Global Writer
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has lifted emergency measures imposed last month in a bid to end months of ongoing prodemocracy protests across Thailand. The Prime Minister, who came to power during the 2014 coup, said in an address that he was working to de-escalate the protests. A government statement was issued on Thursday confirming the lifting of emergency measures. Chan-ocha said the country ‘must now step back from the edges of the slippery slope that can easily slide to chaos.’ An emergency session will be held next week in parliament. As the Prime Minister was speaking, tens of thousands of protestors marched on Government House, where protest leaders rejected the Prime Minister’s offer and responded with calls for his resignation within three days. One protest leader, Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, known as Mind, said ‘our fight isn’t over as long as he doesn’t resign. If within three days he doesn’t resign, he will face the people again.’ Hours later she was arrested. The Emergency measures, which included a ban on gatherings of more than four people in the capital city of Bangkok, were issued in a bid to stop pro-democracy protests that have occurred across Thailand for the last three months. Protestors are demanding a curb on the royal family’s wealth and power and the creation of a new constitution, believing the current one unfairly skewed the 2019 election in Chan-ocha’s favour. Tensions continued to rapidly escalate with police firing water cannons on protestors, many of whom were students. Despite government efforts, the protests are continuing to grow with protesters risking long jail sentences and, in extreme cases, a possible death sentence. According to Thai human rights lawyers, at least 80 have been arrested so far.
between Taiwan and China Melody Chan Global Writer
Source: Wikipedia Commons
Taiwan’s national day has created further tension with China following a recent diplomatic conflict in Fiji. The events unraveled when Taiwan’s trade office in Fiji held approximately 100 distinguished guests in the Grand Pacific Hotel in the Fijian capital, Suva. A fight broke off when Chinese officials were accused by Taiwan’s foreign ministry of taking pictures and retaining information from the guests. Joanne Ou, spokeswoman for Taiwan’s foreign ministry, condemned this illegal and inappropriate act by stating they are firmly against “the actions by the Chinese embassy in Fiji staff for seriously violating the rule of law and civilised code of conduct”. Officials from both sides were injured from the fight, to this date Fiji has not responded to this incident. However, China responded that those Chinese diplomats were only carrying out their “official duties”, and condemned Taiwanese officials in return for acting “provocatively”. When did the China-Taiwan divide become so apparent? What are the dynamics behind the conflict in Fiji? China-Taiwan relations improved in the 1980s but progress has slowed down in recent years. The Chinese government perceives Taiwan as a breakaway province, and not a sovereign state as they claim to be. The “One Country, Two systems” policy directed to Taiwan back in the day, proposed to give them autonomy if only they accept Chinese reunification, but Taipei refused the offer. Democratic figures such as Chen Shui-bian and Tsai Ing-wen were elected as Taiwan presidents, with both leaning towards maintaining independence from China. These events from the recent decade led to China-Taiwan tensions growing
colder and drawing international responses from the US especially following Hong Kong’s National Security Law introduced on the 30th of June this year, China becomes more assertive and takes on their next target - Taiwan. Beijing’s goal of ‘reunifying’ with Taiwan is meant to strengthen national control. Many questioned the autonomy in the change of policy - just like how Hong Kong worries about their freedom of expression after the National Security Law was passed. Although China and Taiwan have been divided since the civil war in the 1940s, China has stated they would reclaim Taiwan’s territory even by force if necessary. Ho-fung Hung states that China’s invasion of Taiwan would not be imminent, yet “Beijing is ready to defy international outcry,’ he said. ‘It will be a kind of a warning to Taiwan” instead. However, Taiwan’s foreign minister warns China to “back off” and military assets become a needed emergency to protect Taiwan’s national security. As an ally to Taiwan, the US decided to support Taiwan’s military and proposed to offer them arm sales worth over £1.4bn. The US security advisor, Robert O’Brien, believes Taiwan needs to “fortify itself” in response to the coming threats from China. International response from the US in Taiwan further deteriorated relations between China and the US - especially since in recent years the power issues in South China Sea have not yet been resolved, and rather increasingly severe and hostile. China strongly criticised the meetings held between Washington politicians and Taiwan, as a deterrent to “not to send any wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ elements to avoid severe damage to China-US relations”. Source: Wikipedia Commons
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US ELECTION
How will change if Matthew Musindi Global Writer
Over the past four years, the Trump administration has taken on a more isolationist approach towards foreign relations aimed at putting ‘America First.’ Biden, on the other hand, is seeking to reverse some of Trump’s changes and is seeking more international cooperation. In one of his town hall meetings, Biden said: “America first has made America alone”. The US-Chinese relations have come under the spotlight increasing over recent years due to the rise of China’s economic power. Consequently, the upcoming US election could be pivotal in giving the rest of the world an idea as to how America plans to combat this. Biden has admitted that China’s rise is a serious concern and is aware that it may move ahead of the US in new technologies. He wants to build a united front alongside the US allies to confront China’s abusive powers and their human rights violations, notably Biden was highly critical of the treatment of Uighur Muslims. Biden has stated that he believes that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is a threat to Western Democracy, and is wary of their interference in the US electoral process. Not only that but, he recognises that the Kremlin
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US foreign policy Biden is elected?
has the potential to break up America’s security and alliances. Consequently, Biden has reiterated his desire to maintain NATO’s military capabilities and wants all member states to recommit to their responsibilities as a part of the intergovernmental alliance. He believes that if NATO is strong and unified then they will be able to contain Russia. Biden recently stated that he strongly opposes any Brexit outcome which poses a threat to the Good
“Biden said: ‘America first has made America alone’” Friday Agreement. He has strong Irish ancestral roots and wants to avoid any more conflict in Ireland. Even if they manage to overcome it, a US-UK trade deal may be quite difficult to achieve. Paris, Berlin and Brussels are partners in tackling climate change and combating the rise of China, so the fact that Britain is compromising their relationship with EU states over Brexit does not sit well with Biden. One of the Biden administration’s
key policies in their manifesto is to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords as early as possible. In recent years we have seen the Democrats have been big on pushing the climate crisis higher on the political agenda, with the Green New Deal being at the focal point. However, at the first Presidential debate, Biden came out opposing the Green New Deal, and instead put forward a $2 trillion climate plan which has been described as “less far-reaching and aggressive”. Under this new plan, Biden has set the target to achieve a clean energy economy with net-zero emissions by 2050. The Iran nuclear deal was negotiated by the Obama-Biden administration before Trump put it to one side which allowed Iran to restart their nuclear program. Biden has confirmed that he intends to re-enter the agreement, so long as Tehran returns to compliance. Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice appears to be the frontrunner for the role of Secretary of State. She was one of the contenders to be Biden’s
vice-president and has already worked alongside the Democratic nominee in the White House under the Obama administration. Biden has a very close working relationship with Rice who is already a well-respected diplomat. This could be vital for Biden as he seeks to repair relations with the US
allies. Senator Chris Coons is another name which has tout for the secretary of state position. The moderate currently holds Biden’s old seat in the Senate and has spoken out about China’s growing influence and containing Iran’s nuclear threat.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons Photo: Wikipedia Commons
How will US foreign policy be affected by a second Trump term? Alec Bertina Global Writer
The Trump 2020 campaign makes seemingly contradictory foreign policy statements. It promises that under a second term of a Trump presidency, Trump will “Stop endless wars and bring our troops back” while also insisting that he will “Maintain and expand America’s unrivalled military strength”. This may be because of Trump’s desire to appeal to both those who are against military intervention and those who want the US to maintain its military dominance on the international stage. President Trump is also sticking to his stance on getting NATO allies to increase their defense contributions to the military alliance, or in his campaign’s words getting “allies to pay their fair share”. This is done to reduce US spending on the security of
European allies against Russia and making European nations contribute way more on this front. A second term Trump administration will likely continue in its attempt to facilitate peace deals similar to the one ratified in September b e t w e e n Israel, UAE and Bahrain. The goal of such peace deals would be to provide Israel more regional partners in the Middle East. It would also aid Trump’s wider foreign policy goal of creating strong resistance to Iranian influence in the Middle East. This would follow the same Trump administration sentiment
that led to the US assasination of powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January. US Africa Command assisted
adminstration. A desire to sustain efforts like that are evident in the campaign promise to “Wipe out global terrorists w h o threaten to harm Americans”, Trump’s move in withdrawing troops from Northern Syria in 2019, leaving the Kurds to be attacked by Turkey, despite the Kurdish SDF playing a major role in defeating ISIS, contradicts Photo: Pixabay this though. Furthermore, Trump’s pledge to c o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m remove US troops from Afghanistan operations in Libya conducted by adds to confusion. Trump’s desire the Government of National Accord for the US to continue challenging against ISIL under the Trump China is undeterred.
Trump maintained his harsh rhetoric on China during the presidential debates, repeatedly
“The campaign makes seemingly contradictory foreign policy statements” calling Covid19 the “China Virus”. His administration also engaged in a trade war with China. It has also attempted to challenge Chinese influence by selling arms to Taiwan, as well as engaging in Maritime operations with it’s ASEAN partners in the South China Sea. This stance against China is unlikely to stop given the large amount of approval it has from the US public and military.
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FBI warns of Iranian and Russian interference Sam Hewitson Editor-in-Chief
The FBI have addressed concerns and stated that Iran and Russia have got a hold of voters’ data ahead of the US Presidential Election in a one-off rare press conference on Wednesday 21st October. Iran has obtained voter information off the back of the first early ballots in certain states, and have been emailing voters with threatening messages. These messages display a clear threat from the sender that they will “come after” those that do not vote
for Trump over the coming days. The emails have come from a far-right group in Iran linked to Donald Trump, the Proud Boys, who have specifically targeted registered Democratic voters casting early ballots in battleground states such as Florida and Pennsylvania amongst others, as reported by Sky News. The senders of these messages have supposedly acquired email addresses from state voter registration lists, which is available upon request in some states, but this data also comes with details of home addresses, phone numbers and details of the voter’s affiliation
to political parties.
“They (the sender) will ‘come after’ those that do not vote for Trump over the coming days” Director of the FBI, Chris Wray, highlighted there will be costs imposed by the US onto any country
who is found to have interfered with American democratic processes, and John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence also emphasises that this is not the first time Iranian emails have got in the way of American politics. The BBC, in their report on the issue drew attention to the fact that this one-off conference from Ratcliffe demonstrates the government’s concerns regarding foreign influence in the upcoming election. It is not the first time the US Presidential Election has been interfered with, as the 2016 Election was the subject of Russian
interference, when Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency tried to influence election infrastructure to sway the election result in Trump’s favour. There is also continued uncertainty about Russia’s potential role in altering voting tallies to create a desired final result. Russia has also obtained voter information for this election, but separately to Iran and has not done anything with this information. There is no record of any Iranian breach of US networks and both Russia and Iran have heavily denied the accusations.
Photo: Unsplash
How do other countries see the American elections? Photo: Unsplash
Emily Kelly Global Writer
There are few national elections whose results will have as serious international ramifications, both politically and publicly, as the USA. As Americans head to the ballot box, political actors from around the globe are watching eagerly to determine how the stage is set for the next four years. Relations between the USA and China have reached a low point under the Trump administration: the Coronavirus crisis has provided specific evidence of this, with the President’s consistent references to ‘the Chinese virus’, alongside an ever-escalating trade war between the two nations.
“Relations between the USA and China have reached a low point” Whilst the Chinese government has not officially declared a stance on the election, it is believed that
they find Trump too unpredictable, and would therefore support a Biden victory, despite his criticisms of the nation’s treatment of the Uighur population.
“Trump’s divisive nature is a common thread within discussions” The vast majority of Mexican commentators would prefer a Biden victory. Much of the Trump presidency has been spent attacking Mexican ‘immigrants’ and ‘criminals’ in the press, the promise to ‘build a wall’ to reduce migration between the two countries and damaging policies of separating children from their parents. A Biden win this November would see a reversal of these, alongside additional spending to improve existing border security provision. It may lead to a continuation of the DACA programme, two-thirds of the beneficiaries of which are from Mexico. President Trump has attempted to axe the programme
numerous times, so it is likely that the citizens would support Biden. However, Trump has been warmly received by the Mexican President, Obrador, during his time in office, following the signing of the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, an updated version of NAFTA, so it may be that politicians are more open to him winning a second term in office. Naturally, Trump’s divisive nature is a common thread within discussions of this election. In Somalia, the USA is seen as an ally, with America r e c e n t l y providing support in the fight against militant groups and reopening their embassy in Mogadishu within the last year, indicating a strengthening bond between the two nations. H o w e v e r, Trump himself has come under fire due
to comments made about Somalia in a bid to attack a Democratic opponent, Representative Ilhan Omar. With Biden’s promise to end the Travel Ban, which restricts freedom of movement into the USA from a number of majority-Muslim countries, it may be that he poses the better option for Somalian people. The vast majority of the British public dislike Trump, with less than 20% indicating that they trust him to do the right thing. However, as Brexit looms and the
government seeks as many independent trade deals as possible, the ‘special relationship’ is arguably more important than ever, something which may not come as naturally from Joe Biden. As a strong supporter of the EU, and especially Ireland, it appears as though Biden may be more critical of the current government’s approach to leaving the EU, making Trump the preferred candidate. Photo: Unsplash
US ELECTION
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Voter Bases: Neoliberals vs. Neo-Nazis Layssa Castleton Comment Writer
America’s 2020 presidential race is arguably one of the most crucial and
divisive political clashes in US history. And, between the performatively progressive neoliberalism of Joe Biden and the crypto-fascist politics of Donald Trump, many voters feel voiceless and unrepresented by the two parties meant to empower them. While Trump focuses on securing the support of his increasingly radicalised base, Biden overextends himself by attempting to appease both progressives and moderates. Joe Biden, selflabelled as “the
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Democratic Party right now”, perfectly represents the difference in the US political spectrum versus that of the UK. Considered a leftof-centre progressive in America, his voting record aligns more with policy regarded by the UK as centre-right, with a past stained with war and crime bills which hit the BAME community hardest. With Kamala Harris as his potential V i c e President, Biden’s
administration will struggle to pick alike. Without explicitly denying up the votes of the left, who depend COVID’s existence, he remains on him to voice their concerns. vague enough to garner the votes Considering Harris’ past defence of those who do, delegitimising of incarcerating thousands of the fatal threat it poses every black people on drug offences and time he speaks about it. His her refusal to prosecute violent “superspreader” rallies cluster officers, the Democrats must work thousands of mask-less people hard to regain the trust of minority together, including in retirement communities. communities where many people Biden’s current anti-racist vulnerable to the virus reside. rhetoric is non-specific almost Trump also caters to white to the point of redundancy. In evangelicals with his rightfully the first presidential debate controversial pro-life stance he took a lukewarm stance and constant push for Bible regarding the police force, briefly literacy being taught in schools condemning them to appeal to – a favourable tactic in the 2016 the youth’s increasingly anti- election, where more than threepolice outlook: simultaneously, he quarters of white evangelicals lent “totally opposed” defunding the him their votes. He has accumulated police, attempting to appease the a dangerously radical far-right neoliberal long-time supporters support system. During the first of Democratic moderates. Biden presidential debate, when asked treads carefully as to not lose the to condemn white supremacists, centrist vote to the unequivocally he told the violent alt-right group police-supporting Republicans. the Proud Boys to “stand back and However, with moderately stand by”. Racists, fascists, and progressive stances on issues such neo-Nazis have evidently found a as pollution and healthcare, Biden home within the Trump campaign. cannot be entirely discredited. He These candidates are not has still succeeded in capturing confidence-inspiring to many some left-wing votes. voters. Their vote lies with whoever While Biden strives to gain they deem the “lesser of two evils”. votes across the political spectrum, It’s becoming clearer with Trump has his sights set on a every election that A m e r i c a ’ s violent fascist demographic. two-party state is f l a w - r i d d l e d Anti-intellectual and disparaging and inadequate in p e r f o r m i n g science, he engages with COVID its core role to meet the needs of Photos: Wikimedia Commons deniers and white supremacists all citizens.
The Next US President Will Determine the Future of the Climate Henry Webb Comment Writer
In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s difficult to imagine how we could face any greater challenge than this. The truth is COVID-19 is just the start of a decade which will be defined by a complete shift in society as we know it. This will either mean a green transition to a sustainable economy, or the collapse of the climate rendering most of the planet unliveable. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say this election result will determine which of these paths we take as a species. The USA contributes around 14% of global carbon emissions, despite being home to just over 4% of the world’s population, and is by far the largest historical contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Considering this, along with their incredible political influence, they really should be world leaders in our decarbonisation efforts. I don’t need to tell you this isn’t the case. The country appears to lack any form of leadership, let alone a government with the political will needed to make this happen.
Let’s take a look at President Trump’s (that doesn’t get any easier to write) first term. As of May 2020, Donald Trump’s administration has rolled back 64 environmental
“The USA contributes around 14% of global carbon emissions” regulations, with a further 34 in progress. These include: rolling back Obama’s clean power plan, weakening fuel economy standards for road vehicles, and relaxing rules on gas flaring (the controversial practice of burning waste gases from oil drilling). These decisions have already and will continue to have an impact on global emissions into the future. Every new car made under weaker regulations will be adding to this crisis for years to come. At a time when governments should be funding the decommissioning of fossil fuel infrastructure, it is unthinkably
irresponsible to open more land neutral, negative) in the next ten for exploitation. Yet this is just what years. Biden’s previous support the US, among others, have been of fossil fuel infrastructure and doing. his refusal to condemn fracking So, this is the trajectory under also give reason to be sceptical of Trump. Could a Biden presidency his commitment. He is, however, save us? No. Of course not. But, moving in the right the change in direction from the direction. current administration might just And honestly, be enough to fuel a revolution this is the best we which has long been building. could have Biden’s climate plan is a $1.7 trillion hoped for. dollar commitment over the next ten T h i s years to begin the long and difficult w a r journey to a zero carbon USA, by w a s 2050. His manifesto commits to “Stand up to the abuse of power by polluters who disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income communities”. It acknowledges “the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for never meeting the climate challenges g o i n g we face”. to be won This is all great. But make through a ballot no mistake: this is not the box. Stopping this Green New Deal – it’s not crisis is going to take nearly enough. 1.5°C of grassroots campaigning warming, a critical point on a scale never before seen. for climate breakdown, In every country. The difference could be here as soon as between a Biden presidency and 2030, maybe sooner. Big a Trump one is an administration polluters like the US need is Commons susceptible to this Photo:which Wikimedia to go carbon negative ( n o t campaigning, versus one with
complete disregard for human life. The future of our planet hinges on this election. And that’s no overstatement.
Comment It’s not who wins, it’s who loses that counts 11
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A testimony, I suppose, to the power of his character and Comment Writer the fire of his rhetoric. Since his inauguration Trump has attempted (and failed) to build a wall across He did it. the US-Mexico border, banned Cries of a joyful revolution transgender people from serving against the suits of Washington D. in the military, signed a new C., or abject horror at the state of $738 billion dollar defence bill, American democracy? Depends on establishing the comically named who you ask. ‘Space Force’, and signed the November 8th, 2016. He did it. First Step Act of 2018, providing And the reality is what unfolded meaningful criminal justice reform that faithful night could repeat itself in a number of years. Trump’s this November 3rd and in spite of Record: erratic, at best. what the polls might otherwise say; The most significant legacy of we know how much we can trust the Trump presidency however, them now…He did it, again. certainly without intention, has Cast an eye back and its been the vocalisation of a feeling difficult, almost of dissatisfaction across the impossible, to United States with its central find another democratic institutions: the individual Electoral College and now who has the Supreme Court. It’s singlea compelling narrative. handedly Since his populist victory, defined defeating then Democratic t h e nominee Hilary Clinton previous in spite of popular vote, f o u r studies have consistently years as found US citizens have much as grown less and less President confident in the legitimacy D o n a l d of Electoral votes and in the Trump. branches of government which seek to serve its citizens, and whilst Trump is the most obvious target for blame, like a buffalo stomping a c r o s s the Great Plains, he alone is not solely t o Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Tristan Pollitt
blame. His victory merely brought the feeling to a crescendo. Shift sights just a little to the left and the origins of such disillusionment can be found with the shortcomings of the previous administration and the attitude and actions of the opposing party throughout the previous four years. HOPE – that was the word running with Obama throughout his presidency, but when the eight years were over much of the socalled Rust Belt were left, as they are often, in the dust. After Trump took office, the Democratic party’s obsession with the ultimately fruitless impeachment trial did nothing but further dig the cracks between those Washington suits and the below-the-line average Americans. The question arises then: what are the possible solutions to this crisis? One particularly radical author of The Atlantic Sentinel has argued for the abolition of the electoral college, the Republican and Democratic parties, and for new states to be added to the Union. Is this likely? At the moment, no. In a piece published last month by our very own Concrete, another author suggested a far simpler solution: Biden wins, America saved. Simple? Not so I’m afraid. Is Biden better than Trump? Probably. Is Biden the caretaker to restore faith in American democracy, akin to a Gerald Ford post Richard Nixon? Maybe. Are Trump and Biden both racists? “You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me… then you ain’t black. You get shot walking to the store. They have
no education, they have no jobs. I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty. Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids. Oh, look at my AfricanAmerican over here. Look at him.” Absolutely. Why? Can you tell the difference? Now – this is not to suggest there aren’t substantive differences between the candidates, either in terms of policy or presidential style. There are. What it does suggest, however, is a victory from either candidate is less of a definitive solution to this crisis of American democracy then we are so often lead to believe. The only viable, realistic solution is for the other side to lose, and lose well. I mean this statement less in terms of raw votes and
remarks claiming he will refuse to vacate power if the election doesn’t go in his favour, and of course Biden’s insistence on packing the Supreme Court in his favour if he wins the election. Both speak to the partisan climate of the US at the moment and both point equally to a willingness of either side to disregard the previous two-hundred and forty-four years of gentlemanly agreements upon which democracy is founded. Outside of the candidates, conspiracy theories about rigging the election or the viability of postal ballots has led to a situation where, at least in theory, one candidate could win on November 3rd but, as votes are counted, the other could take the lead a few nights later. My fear is without some return to normality or change in approach from either candidate American democracy will be rotted away by the very people who wish to uphold it. The short fear is more protests. The long-term fear is blood.
more in relation to style and character. We all know Photo: Wikimedia of Trump’s Commons concerning
Trump and Biden: before the ballot Jim Gell
Comment Writer
For those who don’t follow US politics, Joe Biden may not have been well known prior to becoming Vice President under Obama, or Donald Trump prior to promising to be the greatest president ever. At the age of 30, Biden became the sixth youngest senator in US history. Conversely, if he becomes president, he will become the oldest ever serving president. Trump was the first billionaire to ever become a US president, making him the richest president in American history. Both candidates break records.
But what were they like before they became presidential candidates? Born in Pennsylvania, Biden spent the first few years of his life living with his maternal grandparents. Scranton, where he grew up, fell into economic decline and his father was unable to find steady work, but maintained a middle-class lifestyle by being a successful used car salesman after moving to Delaware. While in school, he was classified as unavailable for military service due to asthma. Trump was also classified as unavailable for military service. Unlike Biden, however, he obtained four student draft deferments while at College despite being deemed medically fit
for military service and classified eligible to serve. His father made his fortune with his company “E. Trump & Son”, which built and sold tens of thousands of houses and apartments, giving Trump the privilege to grow up in the upper-middle class Jamaica Estates neighbourhood in Queens, New York City. Trump continued this business empire with a few sketchy projects along the way. In 2004, he co-founded ‘Trump University’, a business school running real estate training courses. Despite the courses costing from $1,500 to $35,000, the ‘students’ did not receive any accredited qualifications. Using the word ‘university’ in the name was a violation of state law
and Trump paid a total of $25 million to settle three cases for defrauding and lying to customers. While Biden has a relatively clean background, there have been allegations made against him. In March 2020, Tara Reade claimed Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 in a Capitol Hill office building when she was working there as a staff assistant in his Senate Office. Seven other women have accused Biden of touching them inappropriately or invading their personal space in ways which made them feel uncomfortable, but that his behaviour did not amount to sexual harassment or assault. When Trump was asked why he does not use these allegations to criticize Biden, he says: “I don’t
know anything about it […] You know, it could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations. I’ve been falsely charged numerous times”. In this vein, let’s look at Trump’s record. From bragging about his pickup technique “grab them by the p*ssy” to his ex-wife claiming he “raped” her, Trump has an extensive background of disgusting behaviour towards women, with a full 26 incidents of “unwanted sexual contact” and 43 instances of inappropriate behaviour. Regardless of who becomes the next president, both candidates have disreputable pasts. But in comparison to one another, I think it’s quite clear that Trump’s history of fraudulence and misogynism far outweighs Biden’s.
Interview
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‘The Voice’ star Leah McFall speaks unreleased album, leaving the label, You’ll likely recognise the name Leah McFall as being a finalist on “The Voice UK” 2013. Her powerhouse performances have now gained over 60 million views on YouTube. Joining Team will.i.am, she quickly became the star of the season. During her time on the show, three of her cover performances even charted on the UK top 100 including, perhaps most notably, her rendition of “I Will Survive” which became her first UK top 10 hit peaking at number eight. After the show, she was signed by Capitol Records and, alongside her mentor will.i.am, quickly started work on her debut album. In July 2014, she released her major label debut single “Home” which became her fourth UK top 100 chart entry. After this stellar run, however, fans are left with an unusually long silence. Her debut album “Weird to Wonderful” is quietly shelved, and Leah is dropped by the label. I caught up with Leah, via Zoom, to talk about her music career after “The Voice”, how she dealt with her experiences in the music industry, life as a now independent artist, and the philosophies and home truths she’s picked up along the way.
So, despite the success of “Home”, the video for which has amassed over two million views on YouTube, your debut album “Weird to Wonderful” was eventually shelved by the label. How did you navigate dealing with the politics of the music industry, and how did you stay buoyant in that situation? “I don’t really think I got the chance to navigate it to be honest. I think it kind of just happened all around us. After ‘Home’ had been released, I literally got word that day that
my album was being shelved. To be honest with you a lot of artists experience it, the majority of artists experience it, it is a common thing in many ways. “But it just is devastating because it’s obviously your own art sitting there in someone else’s harddrive, and you can’t release it. That is really hard. But the other side of it is that you didn’t pay to make it so that’s why you don’t own it, you know what I mean? “I definitely found it devastating. I always say I grieved that album more than I grieved any exboyfriend. I used to carry it around in my pocket in a little tiny iPod and just sit and listen to it all the time, like on the tube, just because I knew I was the only person that it was ever going to get heard by. “I’d already been told the album was being shelved, but I wasn’t actually being told that I was being released from my contract. What that meant was I had a few years where I couldn’t write; I couldn’t make music. That was the hardest thing.”
“I always say I grieved that album more than I grieved any exboyfriend” What would you say with the most valuable thing you learned from that experience? “I think to be honest it was just the creative side. I remember being in the studio with Will [will.i.am] and I would write songs by doing what you call ‘mumbles’ so literally I would have written the song where you’re just humming and singing the syllables and the words are absolute gibberish. “ S i a came in, t h i s
was before she released her solo stuff, and she played me her first take of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ and it was literally just her singing mumbles, and the majority of the syllables she used became lyrics. “She said to make sure whenever you’re listening to a
“Someone really high up in the industry had said ‘just tell her to get a normal job” track, and you’re about to write, that you record initially because your initial melodies are sometimes the absolute right ones. So I think it was probably the creative side of being signed. When you’re signed you get in rooms that you probably wouldn’t have been able to get into yourself.”
In recent years, the double standards between the treatment of male and female artists has been becoming increasingly clear. You of course were a signed female solo artist. Is this something you’d be willing to comment on? “Oh, I’ll definitely talk about that. That’s exactly true. I had guy friends in the industry, and if they said ‘no’ to some things and ‘yes’ to other things, they were very much treated as artistic. “Whereas a girl is immediately framed as a diva and hard to work with if she does the same. If she says ‘no I want it that way’, then she’s seen as a diva which I massively disagree with. It was actually when I was on tour with Jessie J that she told me to be aware of that, because that is what happens. “For me, there were certain lyrics I didn’t want to sing. There were certain things I didn’t want to wear. I would see emails that I was blind copied into, where I was very much described as ‘hard to work with’ or whatever. “If a male had said
what I said, they would’ve just said ‘Oh, he knows what he wants, he’s artistic’. I witnessed that. That did happen with my guy friends in the industry. The only other person that was signed to the same label as me at the time was Sam Smith. He wasn’t as big at that time. They were very encouraging of him.”
In 2016, your follow-up single “Wolf Den” was released independently. You’ve said previously that this song is about your experience in the music industry. Talk to me about the origins of the song and the meaning behind it. “‘Wolf Den’ was the first song that I wrote when I was free. For me that song is a complete prayer. It broke my heart writing that song. I’d actually been to a song writing conference with this m a s s i v e w o r s h i p leader called Matt Redman. “He gave me the best piece of advice that I’d ever been given about songwriting, he said: ‘you need to write what your heart needs to hear because only then will you truly be able to speak to other people’s hearts’. ‘Wolf Den’ was the first song that I wrote where I was like, right, what do I need
to hear? “That was: keep going. They’ve all told you t o
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to Jake Walker-Charles about her and her new track ‘Faithful One’ give up. I’d been blind copied into an email where someone really high u p
in the industry had said ‘just tell her to get a normal job’ and I just couldn’t believe that that would even be said from the same people saying how good I was a few months ago. So I just wrote ‘I’ll keep singing sweet faith, even when the wolves say go home’. “‘Wolf Den’ was just me and Pete Boxta [a songwriter and producer]. I was working with him long before I got signed and then I was back in that same room. Despite the fact that we haven’t seen each other in a few years he was like ‘Listen, I’m still well up for producing this record, even though I know you don’t have a penny’. And I literally didn’t have a penny.”
Your sound as an independent artist (on songs like “Happy Human” and “White X”) has been described as “electro alt RnB”. Your major-label debut song “Home” of course was more popbased. Was there a sense of musically coming into y o u r s e l f more as an independent artist? “Yeah d e f i n i t e l y. The songs that I wrote for the album with [will.i.am] that didn’t get released had that more RnB sensibility. My own music was quite jazzy and RnB. I
didn’t ever really feel that comfortable singing pop. I always did love RnB. That’s the music that I would listen to. “I think that when it came to
“I think I was literally like, I’m free. Now let’s make music” being independent, there was just so much freedom to kind of explore that again. Pete Boxta’s really good at experimenting with beats, and it was just very experimental and stuff that was very different. It was mainly just because there wasn’t anyone saying ‘Oh, but that won’t be played on the radio’. There was a freedom in the fact that there wasn’t ever any push behind us to ever make Radio 1 anyway. We just wanted to put something out there that no matter what we were so proud of. I think I was literally just like, I’m free. Now let’s make music.”
Rejection is something that most students have to learn to cope with. Be that whilst in the education system or later as they enter the job market. After parting ways with the label, you went on to release the EP “Ink” independently in 2017 and supported this with a successful UK headline tour. The EP itself went on to chart within the top 20 on iTunes. For you, what was the key to staying resilient and ultimately getting to a place that made the creation of “Ink” possible? “I think you just have to literally not be afraid of failure anymore. In those years where I couldn’t sing I think I actually just started to hate it. Then I needed to remember that singing was literally my favourite toy from when I was a little kid. There was that real just love of it before it ever became a dream to be able to make a living out of it. “So I think I
just needed to get back into a place where I just loved it, and wasn’t putting these goals on it like it needs to be playlisted here, it needs to make me this amount of money. “If I took all of that away and was just like, you know, I just love making this music. I love being able to release something that someone in Ireland would message me, someone in Brazil would message me, someone in Chile would message me, and be like: ‘I was really struggling today and this song helped me’, to me that meant a lot. It helped me to keep going. “I think it’s also as well that everyone would say rejection isn’t personal, it’s always personal. It’s always personal. It is a personal thing so it’s okay to feel rubbish about it and grieve a little about it. “But I would just say, definitely just get back up and say – well, they’re not the people that I have to try and please with this. Take the pressure off yourself in that respect. They didn’t get it, that’s okay. They’re not the ones that this next record is for.”
Two weeks ago, you released
“You just have to literally not be afraid of failure anymore” the worship track “Faithful One”. What was the motivation behind the decision to bring worship music to the front and center of your work?
about ‘celebrity’, to be honest with you there’s a whole layer to that I didn’t really like. “Whenever I was in L.A., I very much felt like it was just me and God. My faith deepened a lot whenever I was there, and there was that real reliance there because I had just spent a lot of time just with Him. “Whenever there were these arguments, you know, in the industry over me or over my voice. I think I realised that’s not what I believe. I do believe that God gave me my voice. And actually that it wasn’t for anyone else to argue for ownership of. God had given it to me. “‘Faithful One’ is a cover of a worship song. It’s a song that I’ve sung in absolutely horrendous grief, that I sung when I was extremely lonely in L.A., that I sung when I got signed, that I sung when I became an independent artist on my own with no money, and a song that I found myself singing again over this whole lockdown.”
And finally what’s next for Leah McFall? “I’m in the middle of making my new project, and yes it is very faith based. It’s absolutely beautiful. Every single project I’ve done I’ve taken that advice of ‘what does my heart need to hear? Because only then will I be able to truthfully minister unto other people’s hearts’. This next project is what I need to hear, and hopefully that’ll be the same as what other people need to hear, and it’ll connect to them in that same way as well. It will definitely be out in the new year.”
“Basically, there will always be this underlying theme for me because I grew up knowing God. In L.A., it was probably the loneliest I have ever been in my entire life. I don’t really care
Photo: James Bannister
Features
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3rd November 2020
Moorish Falafel Bar owner, Sammia King: “at this point, it’s all about survival”
Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Pixabay
Sam Gordon Webb Features Editor
Moorish Falafel Bar epitomises a craze. Vegan, yes. Affordable, yes. And moreish, yes. But this place means serious business too. In February, owner Sammia King converted her vegetarian hotspot into a fully vegan establishment. “To be able to say to the world that we’re 100% vegan is way more valuable than keeping two items on the menu that are not vegan.” So trend followers, right? “I didn’t start Moorish because veganism was trendy, I just saw a gap in the market for vegetarian cuisine in Norwich. There was only one other place you could go if you were vegetarian, so I decided to create my own vegetarian place.” Her decision helped to kickstart the city’s growing vegetarian dining scene. In 2019, Norwich was named Britain’s most vegetarian and vegan-friendly city according to research by catering equipment retailer Nisbets. She acknowledges “veganism is now a humongous movement, so it was easy to make the transition”. But the local trendsetters were born at 17 Lower Goat Lane. “I’ve noticed how many other places pop up around Norwich since we
started. Clearly there is room for us all because of the number of people turning to Veganism.” And besides falafel, Moorish now serves meat alternative burgers and fries. “We get meat eaters ordering the Beyond Meat Burger, the mock chicken or pulled pork made with jackfruit. It’s great for people just wanting to reduce their meat intake.” What’s more, Mrs King caters to every budget. “We do two meal deals at the moment. One is a falafel wrap or salad bowl with a homemade drink for £6, or any vegan burger with any drink and fries for £9. We also do a similar burger deal on Saturday night for £7.50.” Located in close proximity to NUA, students are obsessed with Moorish. But times are different now. “Student footfall has dropped since lockdown. At this point, it’s all about survival. Unlike before, everything is totally unpredictable because I don’t even know if we’ll be able to serve customers next week. It feels awful”. Once more, attracting first year students at a time of increased safety consciousness has never been harder. Luckily for them, Mrs King plans to extend deliveries to campus. “This is something we really want to do, and we hope to
increase the number of student friendly meal deals. Everything is a work in progress.” Moorish have adapted to the uncertainty of our times by choosing the unconventional route. “We’ve been on Deliveroo for years but it’s always been something I’ve hated. They don’t support small businesses. I really hope people realise that their money is not going to help business, it’s purely going to Deliveroo. Not even the riders get much, so it’s a horrible situation for everyone.” Her sentiments are shared by many of the company’s couriers, who recently claimed their average fee rate has dropped from £4.25 to a minimum of £3.15 per order. Couriers have been hailed as ‘unsung heroes’ of the pandemic, but increasing numbers of ‘gig’ workers - driven by restrictions to in person dining - makes the task of bringing services to account much trickier. The alternative for Moorish has been the development of its very own mobile app, allowing customers to order food for collection or delivery. Calling upon riders of the Norwich Urban Collective - a local courier service set up during lockdown by ex Deliveroo riders - the group claims to provide an alternative to “main delivery platforms” likely
to “gouge 30% from restaurants” whilst “paying riders peanuts.” In her words, the Moorish app is “cleaner, more transparent, and profitable.” She openly justifies, “during lockdown, for me it was a lifeline to be able to earn money by having our own delivery service. I need to pay my own bills.” Unlike before, “the £5 you pay for delivery goes straight to the rider, no ifs and no buts”. After five months, the company has already delivered over 5000 orders to households across the city. “People in Norwich want to support locals, we’re very lucky,” she continues with hearty gratitude, “they like the fact they know who owns the cafe, or the person who owns it works there and tells people about their business on Instagram. It means a lot to them.” But as for the government despite recently adjusting the Job Support Scheme to support staff and employers hit hardest by restrictive measures - Mrs King feels especially let down. And she’s not alone. With tax rises widely expected to counter the UK’s rising debt and deficit level, a recent survey by the financial management app Tommy Tax revealed 55% believed that they would struggle to survive with
the extra costs, whilst one third of people are set to miss out entirely after failing to meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. “We’ve had no support from the council. I spend my night trawling the internet trying to get some kind of information for business owners about what we’re supposed to be doing. It’s very difficult.” She sighs resoundingly, “ I’m sure they’re [the government] very busy, but we’re all trying to be safe. No one has come round to ask if we need any support. We’ve all had to improvise, make it up and watch the news 24.7. It’s really exhausting.” Data collected by the Local Data Company and PWC recently revealed 68% of store closures since January are independent shops. Despite hardships endured, 85% of new openings are locally based according to figures obtained by the Eastern Daily Press. Moorish have so far survived in choppy waters, whilst the determined figurehead behind the business’s success also happens to be the torchbearer of a shift in focus from big to small. “I hope they [Norwich Urban Collective] continue to grow and set an example to other cities to do the same”. Mrs King’s overarching tone conveys confidence and gusto: “We can get through this together.”
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3rd November 2020
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Gen Z: The Lost Generation Dana Collins Features Writer
With the sudden ubiquity of the phrases “low” and “high risk”, it’s easy to regard Gen Z - those born after the year 1995 - as a generation almost entirely unhindered by Covid-19. But whilst most of our generation are less at risk of being gravely affected by the virus itself, such a narrow focus ignores the significant indirect risks posed by the Coronavirus. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned we could become a ‘lost generation’ due to the ineptitude of our government’s pandemic policies. Unemployment is on the rise, a national rate of 4.5%. 60% of this drop is accounted for by 16-24 year olds. at an alarming unemployment rate of 13.4%. According to the Resolution Foundation Report, over half of people under the age of 25 have been made redundant or furloughed. At a point in time when transferable skills are in desperate demand, few are in the workplace to actually learn them. Such missed opportunities weaken the portfolios of young job applicants, leading to further difficulty getting employed once the pandemic is over. For a generation
already dealing with the threat of an oversubscribed job market, it seems like we’ve been condemned to even more uncertainty. In October, over 300 MPs voted not to extend free school meals over the school holidays. Many saw this as being a cruel decision at the best of times, so now many fear that Boris Johnson and his Conservative colleagues have handed a death sentence to children living below the poverty line. The Trussell Trust, a NGO with over 1,000 food bank centres across the country, reports it has distributed up to 146% more food parcels for children this year than it did in 2019. The warning issued by Sage is about much more than the impact of the furlough scheme on older members of Gen Z; the youngest and most vulnerable individuals in our country have been left underfed due to Covid-19 and our government’s lacklustre support. Many suggest our generation has been psychologically impacted by the government’s response to the pandemic. Stress has not only increased as a result of the issues already mentioned, but also by Gavin Williamson’s apparent u-turns related to GCSE and A-Level results. Year 13s living in poor areas were disproportionately impacted
by the ‘fair’ system of rewarding grades - a system which our Education Secretary was previously warned about and eventually had to change after nearly two in five A-Level results were downgraded by Ofqual’s algorithm. It isn’t hard to comprehend how the shambles of results day mentally impacted our students, especially since many lost university places as a direct consequence. On the surface, the ominous language used by Sage sounds too hyperbolic to be true. After all, young people are lauded for their ability to adapt to challenging environments. But statistics and personal experiences suggest a certain degree of credibility: this pandemic has devastated many lives, but have government failures bequeathed the label of ‘lost’ upon us?
Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Changing my degree out of boredom Laurence Scott Features Writer
Pretty much everything in my life changed within the space of a few hours. And why? I’ve switched courses at UEA - from BA Politics and International Relations to BSc Psychology - 1st year on both courses. Roughly 280 people switched courses this academic year and last academic year. This is the story of why I decided to switch courses, the emotional and practical steps I took in deciding which course to choose, and the story of how this transition has felt ever since. Spoiler alert: I regret nothing. Let me rewind back to January of this year. Yes, there really was a time before Covid took over the world. I took an intercalation for a wide range of reasons, meaning you’re a student but not a student: you can’t access teaching or accommodation, but you can access the library as well as access to support services. At the time, it felt like a lot of uncertainty, but it was the right decision for me. Earlier this year, I became determined to return to the course as a first year. Fast forward to this new academic year and I’m
excited to be back at university. However, I wasn’t enjoying my course because of the essential readings being similar to last year; in simple terms, I needed a new challenge, something different to spark my curiosity. The process of choosing a new course was complicated, challenging and time consuming. Browsing UEA’s website through the A-Z of courses, I made a shortlist: BA Management and Marketing, BA Liberal Arts, BSc Computing science, BA Law and BSc Psychology. Management and marketing was full, and I didn’t want to intercalate so I eliminated BA Liberal Arts as it only starts in September. Whilst BA law appeals to some, I hesitated at the prospect of
choosing a degree that failed to satisfy my personal interests. My proficiency in maths is rather shallow thus computing science lacked the same appeal of BSc Psychology. The emotional rollercoaster of making the decision impacted almost every area of my life: nothing was right until this was sorted. I was relieved to find my course
transfer was later approved, and started almost immediately. As of writing this, I’ve been on my course 11 days. It feels like a first day at school so I’m trying not to be too judgemental about the
course as these are still early days. Having made the decision, I feel more motivated and optimistic about my academic future. I’ve still got plenty more catching up to do as a latecomer to the course, but I’m excited by this baptism by fire. Defining ‘university’ is my challenge to you. After all, what’s the point of going if it doesn’t encourage you to try something new?
Photo: Geograph/N. Chadwick
Comment
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3rd November 2020
CyberFirst. Everything else last. James Gell
Comment Writer
In a time when thousands of jobs are being lost in the culture sector, with more than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector being furloughed since the pandemic began, we have this. An advert, which has since been taken down, posted on techskills training website QA for the “Rethink. Reskill. Reboot” c a m p a i g n s h o w i n g a dancer alongside the caption: “Fatima’s next job could be in cyber. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Expecting adults who have invested hours and hours of hard, focused labour every day, not to mention enormous amounts of money for expensive ballet lessons to wake up one morning, stick their pointe shoes on eBay, discard their former careers and dreams to work in a job they’ve never had the desire to do before, is more than unreasonable – it’s disgusting. But this is not what the CyberFirst scheme is asking anyone to do.
While the advert itself is, as Cultural Secretary Oliver Dowden put it, “crass”, it’s also worth mentioning it’s one of many similar adverts which target jobs in other sectors, such as bakers, pilots, factory workers, and other non-tech jobs. The series of CyberFirst adverts were not directed
specifically at the arts, despite the viral outrage focusing solely on the one which targeted the arts. My issue, then, is not with the “Fatima” advert. It’s not with the scheme either – in fact, I think it’s a breath of fresh air to see the government finally funding
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
schemes which supplement public education. My issue is with how t h e adverts miscommunicate what the scheme is. Directed towards younger people aged 12-19 who often have not yet decided what they plan to spend the rest of their lives doing, it gives them the opportunity to gain skills in tech for free, with bursaries which help particularly disadvantaged students get a degree. What the advert doesn’t mention is CyberFirst also hosts femaleonly competitions designed to encourage more girls to start careers in tech and close the massive gender gap in tech industries. Even for children who don’t want to go into tech industries, the CyberFirst scheme is still useful. Technology is an integral part of all industries – arts included. Wah-wah pedals and amp distortions have revolutionised electric string instruments, music production software has explored avenues into new genres, animations have given stage designers more tools with which to be creative, and helped
fashion brands reduce waste and be more sustainable by handling data in more efficient ways. The list of benefits technology has had and will have on the arts is inexhaustible, and budding artists learning the basics of I.T. will only enhance their talents. I don’t know many people who would argue the government shouldn’t fund educational initiatives. So, if the scheme itself is a leap in the right direction, how did QA’s marketing team get it so wrong? Somehow, the marketing team translated the simple
mayor fought so hard for the city to remain in tier two is Manchester is
The increase in cases which occurred over the summer months could be linked to the diminished restrictions in May. Burnham himself described the actions as “London-centric”, because much of the Midlands and North had yet to see the decreases in deaths and cases experienced within the capital. The response to Covid-19 has illuminated a new NorthS o u t h divide, w i t h
message of “Cyber First” into “Everything Else Last”. They could have appealed to getting more female representation into the tech industry, or more children from disadvantaged backgrounds, or children who want to try a tech course to test if they have a passion for it. But no, they chose to use the advert to deter young people from going into other industries instead. Even the words themselves make no sense: why would they say “next” job, when CyberFirst is aimed at schoolchildren? Why would it ask them to “retrain”, as if they already have careers? Needless to say, QA’s marketing team could use some retraining and reskilling before they get the boot.
Photo: Picpedia
Manchester: representing the North-South power struggle Imogen Ince Comment Writer
The government has a track record of mistreating Manchester, from Margaret Thatcher’s conscious policy to destroy the city’s heavy industries, to the limited assistance the city received in 2010 when the Multiple Deprivation Index announced it had the fourth most deprived local council in the country, the government has always played a role in how the city functions. The city’s elected officials and Johnson’s government have come to blows over something as devastating and divisive as COVID-19, which comes as no surprise. Earlier this month the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, and the government challenged each other when the Prime Minister refused Burnham’s request for £90 million in the event of a Tier 3 lockdown, stating it would be “unfair” to fund the city more than other North West regions. Burnham’s request garnered a number of responses, including criticism for his attempt to fend
off a complete lockdown within the region, and his response to Johnson’s lowballing. The aforementioned £90 million, which was entirely costed by city officials, was denied and instead a suggested £60 million budget was offered by the government. The same government who forked out £10 billion for a widely unpopular Covid-19 test and trace programme. Burnham has lowered the request to £65 million, stating it’s the “bare minimum” required for the region to survive tighter restrictions, but a £5 million difference is more representative of the power struggle between the
“Representative of the power struggle between the two sides” two sides. The idea that the Covid-19 cases within these areas can be dealt with without proper financing is political. The reason the Mancunian
“Manchester is a city which works through human interaction” a city which works through human interaction. The Office for National Statistics found “jobs based in workplaces in London and the South East are much more likely to be possible to do from home compared with the rest of the UK”. Burnham maintains the difficult job of balancing people’s health and livelihoods. The government’s duty of care towards Manchester, the Midlands, and the North has been shirked massively. Since the beginning of the nationwide lockdown, the government has been focused on London and the South, demonstrated when Britain slowly relaxed the regulations while cases were still rising within cities like Newcastle.
Andy Burnham desperately attempting to negotiate with a government which has been incredibly clumsy and made stupid mistakes which has not only cost the country, but also cost lives.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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3rd November 2020
concrete-online.co.uk/category/comment/ | @ConcreteUEA
JK Rowling is not a “private citizen” in the public arena Dan Siddorn Comment Writer
On October 1st, the president of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment Inc., David Haddad, held a company Q&A with his employees to address some of their recent concerns. Unsurprisingly, given Warner Bros own and oversee the global Harry Potter franchise, which includes the upcoming video game, Hogwarts Legacy, a particularly controversial topic reared its ugly head: that of
“A particularly controversial topic reared its ugly head” Hogwarts’ creator JK Rowling and her recent foray into ‘gender critical’ rhetoric on social media. Haddad’s comments on the matter, published on Twitter thanks to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, vaguely detailed how although he “may not agree with her”, she’s a “private citizen” and as such “entitled to express her personal opinion on social media”. While Haddad’s statement is the sort of hazy, non-committal response designed to give the illusion of both disavowing and supporting
“It is fundamentally wrong” Rowling, so as not to alienate any of their potential customers, it is fundamentally wrong. He is correct, Rowling is a private citizen, however, given her mammoth power, status, influence and wealth, this coveted private citizenry ceases to be once she steps into the public arena. You see, Rowling is entitled to hold whatever sincere yet misguided beliefs she wishes. She can tell her friends all about how trans men are nothing more than autistic girls seeking a way out of a deeply misogynistic culture. She can head down the pub to inform her neighbours in the same breath she wants to provide safety for trans people, but not at the expense of ‘natal girls and women’. She can privately lament phrases such as ‘people who menstruate’ which seek to integrate
trans men and certain non-binary individuals into the commercial conversation they fundamentally belong to already. These are all private beliefs she can and should be entitled to think, hold, and express. When these beliefs are to be challenged is the moment she steps atop her very tall platform and bellows into the global megaphone. On her Twitter platform, Rowling addresses some 14 million individual accounts (although one has to question what percentage of this number constitutes bots, trolls, spam, and dead accounts) which is no modest number. From her gilded,
Photo: Needpix
blue-checked parapet, the author proselytizes to a global public larger in population than the citizenry of Rwanda, Greece, Portugal, Cuba, Belgium, Israel. Is Carrie Lam not held accountable when she speaks to Hong Kong’s 7.5 million-strong populace? Are we not allowed to maintain a critical ear when Jacinda Ardern communicates with New Zealand’s 5 million residents? Should we not challenge Luis Lacalle Pou’s comments to
power dynamics and she forfeits the ‘private citizen’ defence. She speaks to 14 million, but 14 million do not speak back. It is a hierarchy of communication: she is at the top, while the masses sit and listen. But they needn’t sit and listen obediently. In a global marketplace of ideas, it is our right and responsibility to challenge and push back against unscientific ideas grounded in fear and misunderstanding. Surely no one wishes to strip Rowling of her personal beliefs and the harassment and abuse she has received is deplorable, but these mustn’t be reasons to close down
“A personal belief is a personal belief, until it meets power and influence”
Uruguay’s 3.5 million people? Once JK Rowling enters the discourse, by virtue of social media platforms, there are immediately unequal
honest and thoughtful critiques of her ideological proclamations. Acknowledging her publicly expressed beliefs not only are harmful and isolating to an already marginalized community, but they legitimize more extremist lines of thought and action is not tantamount to abuse. A personal belief is a personal belief, until it meets power and influence, then it becomes dangerous.
Different policy, same frustrating story Ross Gower Comment Writer
The EU has the capability of being a truly progressive institution yet despite this, frequently bows to the interests of big corporations and free market economics. The recent proposals for reform to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are yet another good example of this happening. In the context of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s state of the union address where she called for a European green deal, the EU are currently close to achieving a series of reforms to the CAP with the aim of making farming in Europe more environmentally friendly. The European Parliament has adopted some of the key proposed reforms which include a larger
allocation of funds being made for environmental measures and biodiversity beneficial landscapes, as well as the adoption of direct payments for eco-schemes. This does indeed sound impressive on the surface, but how progressive and monumental of a change really is this?
“How progressive and monumental of a change really is this?” Looking at various reforms and changes needed for a truly green and fair Europe, it becomes clear how little is really being changed here.
Firstly, the EU rejected proposals to cut subsidies to environmentally damaging factory farming, as well as measures to protect grasslands. Secondly, the reforms don’t change the controversial distribution of CAP subsidies where a large amount of money goes to Europe’s biggest farm landowners, encouraging farmers to over-expand and over-produce. On top of this, reforms the EU have agreed to are riddled with flaws, with Greenpeace EU’s agricultural policy director, Marco Contiero, criticising the eco-schemes reform for being poorly enforced on member states. The director of Birdlife, Ariel Brunner, hit the nail on the head in his recent interview when he said this was just the EU labelling ‘sustainability’ next to every policy. This won’t stop those who make vast amounts of money from
destroying the planet. All of this represents my frustrations with what appears to be an ongoing trend with the EU: the ability to create progressive change on a continental level, but
“An insistence on sticking with the interests of corporations” an insistence on sticking with the interests of corporations. The policy could have been used to protect human and labour rights across Europe. Instead, it was used to enforce investor freedoms and market discipline on the state
and labour. The single market could have been used to truly hold corporations to account, but the benefits it gives corporations and the profits they make from it far outweigh the cost of fines. This leaves international investors in no doubt as to who benefits the most from single market rules. Now the EU has the opportunity to truly reform the CAP for a green Europe, yet they refuse to cut subsidies for factory farming and get rid of the regressive distribution of funds. When thinking what the future of the EU may be, I think of the speech given by German MEP Martin Schirdewan on the UK’s last day in the EU Parliament. He emphasised if the EU does not change its political cause, and continues to prioritize corporate interests over its own citizens, then the UK will not be the last member state to leave.
Science
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3rd November 2020
Has the coronavirus lockdown led to a green recovery? Troy Fielder Science Writer
As the first wave of coronavirus broke on our shores in early March, we sensed that we might be in this for the long run and, 8 months later, we are still trying to contend
“the future of our ecomony is looking increasingly dim” with the new reality that COVID is shaping. As the virus rapidly spread through our towns and cities, it quickly diminished the health of the country – taking with it a sense of security and reducing certainty in the future. This dissolution of certainty and security, alongside the far-reaching halt in production and activity that lockdown has entailed, has meant that the future of our economy is looking increasingly
dim. On top of this, we have had to contend with the creeping threat of climate change – a threat predicated on, and multiplied through, systemic injustices. In order to combat these resonant threats, calls have been made to find solutions that not only create long-term, highskilled jobs but that also ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy. In the Green Recovery, such solutions might just be found. Retrospectively assessing the costs and benefits of different recovery approaches following the 2008 financial crisis, research by the University of Oxford has shown that investments in ‘green’ projects can deliver higher returns than more carbon-intensive projects.
The concept of the Green Recovery would, in theory at least, not only centre economic
stimulus but also bring about widespread decarbonisation, in line with net zero ambitions. The combination of these approaches is hoped to regrow the economy, and also begin to address some of the larger issues that climate change represents – before they become entrenched. So, not only would investment in green projects
“a just transition to a low-carbon economy’”
Photo:Wikimedia Commons
How does chemist Tu S a v i n g Youyou inspire you? C o l o m b i a’s biodiversity Olivia Johnson Science Editor
Photo:Wikimedia Commons
Erica Thajeb Science Writer
Tu Youyou will not only be remembered by history as the first Chinese woman to have been awarded the Nobel prize, but also for her discovery of artemisinin, a malaria-fighting drug that has prevented the death of millions. Her success was not an easy feat, but it has inspired many scientists and put the significance of traditional Chinese medicine in the global spotlight. What really fascinates me is that Tu has made such an incredible impact without having a PhD, medical degree, or training abroad. Tu was inspired to pursue medicine after her brush with a
“8 in 10 people would support a ‘green recovery’”
serious infectious disease when she contracted and recovered from tuberculosis at 16. She and her government unit team pored over Chinese medical texts from ancient dynasties before extracting the worldchanging compound from sweet wormwood, a substance used to treat malaria in China in 400 AD. It had been years of hard work and sacrificing precious time with her young children. After testing it on herself in 1971, the first 21 patients using artemisinin all recovered from malaria. Her findings were published in English in 1979 and recommended universally by WHO in 2001. Tu describes it as “a gift from traditional Chinese medicine to the world.”
GROW-Colombia is a project I only learnt about in the last few weeks. It is a collaboration between the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE) and the Earlham Institute, on the Norwich Research Park, along with other partners. GROW-Colombia was set up in the aim of preserving and managing the vast biodiversity found in Colombia. The project was founded in March 2017 and set out a list of objectives for four years time. The biodiversity of Colombia is not only important from a scientific standpoint and the country’s natural heritage but also for human welfare, economic development and social equality. The programme aims to increase the research capacity in Colombia and to raise the general awareness of the importance of biodiversity – something which is often overlooked by those that are accustomed to living there. The project’s long-term aims are to induce economic and social growth through the promotion of biodiversity conservation. This is definitely a project I shall be following and I’m keen to see what comes after the four year mark has passed.
trigger sorely needed economic regrowth, but it could also deliver environmentally friendly outcomes. The public appetite for such approaches has recently been confirmed: reports from the UK climate assembly, a group of 108 members that have been selected as representatives of the UK population, have shown that 8 in 10 people would support a ‘green recovery’. This green inclination will be in no small part due to the reconnection with nature that many have reported to feel over lockdown. And this reconnection isn’t surprising, there have been reports worldwide of animals returning to cities – in particular, lots of people began to notice the melodic return of birdsong to their urban lives. Many were hopeful that this reconnection to nature might spur a green shift in business practices, However, despite lockdown-induced emission reductions, a recent study by UEA Professor Corinne Le Quéré has shown that there has been a rapid post-lockdown rebound in emissions. Businesses and industry seem to be returning once again to their destructive practices, the sound of birdsong left ringing in the public’s ears.
What’s up and what’s not? Meg Watts Science Writer
Things are looking up for biodiversity on UEA campus. Students from the UEA Conservation and Wildlife Society (CAWS) and Sustainability Society have joined forces with SU Environment officer Eva Korcynzki and the UEA Landscape Management Team to begin rewilding UEA. The project was conceived by Sustainability Society President Meg Watts and CAWS president Lucie Johnson; however, it fits perfectly with the Landscape team’s existing aims. Watts and Johnson are hoping to create a bee corridor across UEA campus by planting small patches of native wildflower meadow, as well as providing winter pollination opportunities and habitats by creating and installing insect hotels.
It’s all going downhill for the Arctic Circle. Scientists state that the region is on track for an ice-free summer by 2050. “It’s a matter of when, not if,” says Walt Meier, senior research scientist at the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. Siberia’s Laptev sea, which functions as the Arctic’s most important sea ice nursery, has always frozen over by late October. However, due to an unprecedented heat wave across Siberia this year (and the intrusion of warmer Atlantic currents), the Laptev Sea is looking concerningly empty. This spells disaster for the Arctic region: smaller ice sheets mean smaller hunting grounds for endangered Polar Bears, increased global warming as the white area that reflects the sun’s heat back into space is reduced and an increase in oceanic turbulence. This draws yet more warmer water up from the depths, contributing further to reduced ice sheets in a positive feedback loop.
Photo: Pikrepo
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Changing the world: the 2020 Nobel prize winners for science occurrences of post-transfusion hepatitis and greatly improving
Rosina Poller Science Writer
Drs Harvey Alter, Micheal Houghton and Charles Rice, jointly received the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for discoveries leading to the identification of Hepatitis C. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, mainly caused by a viral infection which has two main types. The first can be transmitted through contaminated food and the second through bodily fluids including blood transfusions. The second type can become chronic, in some cases causing cirrhosis and liver cancer. Alter studied post-bloodtransfusion hepatitis, observing that a large portion of these cases were not caused by known viruses. Therefore, identifying another possible viral cause of hepatitis. Houghton used the blood of an infected chimpanzee to isolate the genome of hepatitis C. Rice used an RNA variant of hepatitis C to prove this virus alone causes hepatitis. These collective discoveries have massively contributed to the development of blood tests for Hepatitis C, significantly reduced
red telescopes. Both groups found that the stars were orbiting around an extremely massive, invisible object. Analysis of the data collected showed that the
mass of this object must be around 4 million times that of our Sun, whilst taking up a region smaller than our solar system - the only known explanation for this would be the
“turning black holes from sci-fi to sci-fact”
global health. The Physics Nobel Prize was awarded to Sir Roger Penrose, Professor Reinhard Genzel and Professor Andrea Ghez for turning black holes from sci-fi into sci-fact. Notably, Ghez made history as the first female astrophysicist to win a Nobel Prize. Penrose used Einstein’s theory of general relativity, a mathematical description of gravity, to make a robust prediction that black holes were inevitable. Genzel and Ghez each led a team of astronomers in observing the orbits of the brightest stars around the centre of our galaxy, using infra-
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
presence of a supermassive black hole. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. This method can be used as ‘genetic scissors’ allowing researchers to precisely alter the DNA of living organisms, by removing, adding or altering sections of DNA. Charpentier studied the immune system of a common bacterium, Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes an array of human diseases. During this, she discovered the CRISPR/Cas9 system which the bacteria use to induce nicks in the DNA of a pathogen to defend the cell. By collaborating with Doudna, they were able to recreate these ‘genetic scissors’ in vitro and reprogram this system to be able to cut any DNA molecule and thus edit the genome of an organism in a short space of time. Their discovery has allowed for the development of genetically modified crops with better yields and are being used in clinical trials of cancer therapies.
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Travel & Lifestyle
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To document or not to document? in us documenting moments we wish to never forget is that we are actually rewriting over the memory by doing so. We expect the camera to remember things for us, so we don’t have to continue to process the object or engage with it. But isn’t travelling all about engagement? To embrace a new location, to discover and indulge into a foreign culture, to see and fully take in unique views whose beauty could never truly be given justice through a photograph, but only experienced through the eyes of the beholder.
Dhananja Kulatilake Travel Writer
“Pics or it didn’t happen”, goes the notorious saying I feel like I have heard too many times. A phrase that I believe completely ruins certain aspects of travel. Picture your favourite moment on your last vacation. The image of mine very much lives in my head as opposed to a photo on my phone. In today’s society, it’s extremely easy to get caught up in going to the most “instagrammable” locations and snapping aesthetically pleasing photos. A real-life example of this is the ‘#poppynightmare’ used by city locals to describe the neglect inflicted on the super bloom poppies that flourished on the hills of Walker Canyon, in Lake Elsinore. Social media influencers flocked just to get snaps of themselves covered in flowers and consequently many poppies were crushed. Whilst a photo can document a scene, whether it be a picture of the sunset or a snapshot of you and your friends, it cannot document the genuine feeling and beauty to
Photo: LibreShot
its fullest extent, and in this case has even ruined it. It’s safe to say that the essence of living in the moment and taking in the beauty of the location undeniably beats any piece of photograph. My most precious memories from holidays are moments of laughter and pure happiness that I have shared with my loved ones, and those memories are unforgettable.
Psychologist Linda Henkel conducted a study with 28 university students where they were asked to observe 15 objects and photograph 15 others in a museum. Having been tested the next day, they were less able to remember details of objects they had photographed than those which they had observed. She found that taking photos seemingly led to an “impairment effect”. The irony
"living in the moment... beats any piece of photograph" And so, to reflect on the saying that if you didn’t take pictures, you never really went there, I would say this is the expression that feeds the majority of us in today’s social media-swept generation.
Have you ever gone on a trip without posting anything on Instagram? I certainly haven't. We continuously post our travels for everyone to see and honestly, it is not surprising nowadays. Articles have suggested the ‘FOMO’ culture, the Fear of Missing Out, is to blame for. Individuals may feel anxiety from being “excluded” from the activities of their friends or associates through their social media platforms, and therefore post their photos like a spectacle for followers to witness. I’m not saying whenever you document a photo on holiday, this is the case. But are you truthfully relishing your surroundings, or are you simply keeping up with online appearances? I can safely say that the true joy of travelling comes from the memories that you create. And these memories will last in your mind with so much meaning. But, do you or do you not document these? My word of advice would be, document the special, and beautiful moments and save them. But don’t let these be mindless photos that you’ve taken to post, let them serve as a reminder of your unmatched, unique memories.
Koh Samui, an exquisite hidden gem of Thailand Phoebe Lucas Travel Writer
For many, an immediate association with Thailand is the bustling city of Bangkok, where waking up with tattoos on your face and missing fingers is the norm (demonstrated especially well by the 2011 comedy, The Hangover Part 2). However, there’s a small island called Koh Samui about 750km south of Bangkok, with just over 67,000 residents. Considering Norwich populates around 142,00 people, to say this island is small would be exactly right. Despite its size, Koh Samui is no stranger to tourists during
“it's quite remarkable how quiet and tranquil it is” the summer season, yet it’s quite remarkable how quiet and tranquil it is if you’re in the right place. In 2016, I stayed in a modern, James bond-esque villa, located about 20 meters from the sea (a very handy feature as temperatures average around 30 degrees C). Inevitably, swimming took up a lot of my time, as well as walking up and down the beach trying to forget about the
scorching sand between my toes. On the days that showed some mercy in terms of the heat, we ventured into the busier areas of the island where beach bars, market stalls, and street food were swarmed with people. I can’t help but mention my £5 Ray Bans (200 Thai Baht), purchased from a very convincing ‘designer’ sunglasses stall. Ignoring the fact that they broke not long after, and that fixing them with superglue became a repeated habit throughout that summer. After buying my new ‘designer’ sunglasses, a pancake stall caught my attention. The classic lemon and sugar crepe had tasted especially good sitting under shelter, watching the sudden torrential rain pour and rush down the street. Eventually, the rain cleared and a lady sat at a table making jewellery lured me over. After choosing your band colour and charm, she would measure it up to match your wrist and have it ready in no more than 5 minutes. Strangely, the stall next to this was selling fried crickets and cockroaches, something I walked past swiftly. Instead of bugs, the more traditional Thai food was unforgettable. Small restaurants, shacks and bars were dotted up and down the coast line, giving plenty of choice each evening. The quaint and basic features of these establishments led to us naming one of our favourites, the ‘spicy soup shack’. This particular place did an amazing pad thai wrapped in a layer of egg as well
as adhering to its ‘spicy soup shack’ title, as the tom yum soup
showed no remorse to mild spice. Then about a 15 minutes’
walk in the other direction along the shore, a restaurant called The Som was always thriving with hungry customers. However, this one was less
"small restaurants, shacks and bars were dotted up and down the coast line"
Photo: Phoebe Lucas
like a shack and actually built of brick. Nevertheless, tables and chairs still spewed out onto the beach almost touching the ocean. The Som's massaman curry was the best dish I had in Thailand, so flavoursome and rich in Thai spices. Ordered with our choice of rice, the owner explained how to pour the rice into the bowl of curry instead of our western way of having rice as the base. Try it, it will change your life! As we were diving into our food, a golden Labrador took its turn sitting by each table and gazing up at the dining customers. When we finished our meal we started walking back to the villa, little did we know that our fourlegged friend followed us back. Seeing as it was the time of day when the rain was relentless, the lab, who we named Wilson, lay on the kitchen floor until the skies dried up and he casually wandered back to the restaurant - not a bad life really.
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Here's where I want to travel next... Nerisse Appleby Travel Writer
As someone who loves travelling, I have found myself with quite the bucket list of places that I’d like to visit someday. Even those of you who aren’t avid travellers probably have some dream locations jotted down somewhere or discussed in a group chat. Here are just a couple of mine: I actually had one of my dream locations ticked off for September 2020, but as you can guess, coronavirus got in the way. It was
a trip to Disneyworld, Florida. My two friends and I had been planning it for years, it was going to be a dream holiday. It will be a dream holiday (eventually!) I’m a huge Disney fan, so where else would I want to visit but the happiest place on Earth? With Mickey Mouse waffles, amazing rides and magical parades and fireworks, I simply can’t wait to finally get my chance. Also on my bucket list is to visit Pompeii, Italy, a city frozen in time. It might be the closest you’ll get to time travel. It’s preserved almost as it was on that fateful day in 79AD. Pompeii remains a true example of
what Roman life was like almost 2,000 years ago, so if you’re a history lover like me, this is the place to be. To wrap it all up, who doesn’t want to see the Northern Lights? This incredible phenomenon has been the source of legend, myth and creativity for generations. So, be it from Norway, Iceland or Greenland, this is something that will remain a dream of mine, and one day, I hope to embrace that coloured night sky. With so many locations full of art, history, culture and entertainment, I’m sure my bucket list will continue to grow. Hopefully, soon, I can begin to tick some of them off.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
What's on my travel bucket list? Erica Thajeb Travel Editor
There’s something about exploring new places and adventures that have always appealed to me. The thrill of being on the road and arriving in a foreign place is addicting, if I must say. Like most people, I have a mental list of dream destinations that
I must visit one day. But I also find it fun to have unique experiences in my bucket list to check off! Japan is a country teeming with unique culture, beautiful temples, sakura trees and home of the majestic Mount Fuji. But something I’ve always dreamed of was exploring its delectable cuisine. Sushi and sashimi are some of my favorite foods, so what could
be better than going where they originated? I also wonder what melt-in-the-mouth wagyu tastes like. Living in Indonesia, Japan is actually not that far for me. In fact, we had planned a trip there for this December, but had to cancel due to the pandemic. What a shame, indeed. Another thing I’d love is to run a marathon in a foreign country. It doesn’t have to be one of the World
Marathon Majors like Boston or Berlin, although belting one of those would be cool. Of course, I still have an incredibly long way to go in terms of my physical ability, especially as I’ve only begun to pick up running again. Recently, I watched a vlog of a girl horse trekking alone in Mongolia and realized how amazing it would be to explore
the country’s natural beauty on horseback. Mongols are some of the world’s best riders and considering my sort-of childhood equestrian dream - it couldn’t be more perfect! I could honestly go on and on, but these are top on my list. At the end of the day, I believe that the world is simply too remarkable for us not to go and see as much as we can of it. So, what’s on your bucket list?
Photo: LibreShot
Wear a mask, it’s not much to ask! Always wear your mask inside university buildings, except in your flat
HANDS FACE SPACE download the NHS app at www.covid19.nhs.uk Photo: Phoebe Lucas
Sport
3rd November 2020
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The media should do more to protect the mental health of the stars upon whose lives their jobs depend has suffered with abuse at the hands of the media is Andrew Flintoff, who revealed that he developed bulimia – an eating disorder – on the back of a series of criticism he faced whilst playing cricket at the highest level. In a recent documentary about his battle with bulimia, Andrew, known more commonly as Freddie, revealed that being labelled by the media as a ‘fat cricketer’ had such a damaging impact on his mental health that it triggered him to develop the eating disorder, which he feels contributed to his career ending prematurely. We, the general public, can unintentionally be insensitive to professional athletes, as we idolise them to the extent that we see them as almost inhuman and subsequently, immune to the insults us mere mortals would be affected by.
Drew Murphy Sport Writer
Professional sportspeople’s elite ability is such that they operate within the top 1% globally of their respective disciplines. However, despite this jawdropping talent, for many years the media have targeted them with news stories whenever their form drops. These publications can be seriously damaging to an individual’s mental health, causing even the most dedicated sportsperson to feel overwhelmed with negativity and doubt over their abilities. This will in turn affect their confidence in other walks of life, potentially leading to the development of life-altering mental illnesses. A recent example that has come to light of someone who
However, when an athlete experiences a slump in their performance and the media jumps on top of them, criticising their game and sometimes questioning their attitude to the sport, perhaps the media should take into greater consideration the personal issues that the athlete may be going through at that particular moment in their life, that might have caused them to not perform to their top of their ability. The media should face greater scrutiny over the release of these publications, for this criticism can be very damaging, as Flintoff’s ordeal only serves to show. In a modern era enlightened about the seriousness of mental health issues, we should no longer be the cause of athletes feeling consumed by negativity and doubt. Rather, we should take greater care with what we put out there and consider who it may impact and how.
The End of the Beginning for Women’s Sport?
Chris Price Sport Writer
Have you ever thought that 13 year-olds ought not compete in the 100m? Or that 17 year-olds ought not do the javelin? Very strange people aside, the answer is no. It would be ridiculous; they’re physically able, it’s safe, it’s fun. Why limit their options? Similarly, why shouldn’t women be allowed to take part in all
professional sports. Anybody? No? Despite this, as recently as the 2016 Rio Olympics there were 161 events in which men could compete but only 136 for women. In an important moment for women’s sport, at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games this barrier will be broken down, with 136 medals available to women and 134 to men. Whilst there are still very important issues around women and sport, the importance of this
victory must be stated. Imagine you are a 10 year-old boy, fascinated by the Olympic canoeing (one of the men-only events at Rio 2016); after the Games, you find out where you can canoe in the local area and you go and do it. Now consider a girl in that scenario. Will she be as fascinated if she sees that women aren’t being allowed to compete? Probably not. Evidence of this is the surge in popularity in women’s boxing since it was introduced at
the 2012 London Olympics. Sport is played in some form or another across the entire world. Partly for enjoyment, partly due to its importance towards both physical and mental health. It seems strange that in 2020 we are still only just reaching this equality of opportunity in such an important part of our culture as a species. However, seemingly we are there. Enjoy it.
Is Gunnersaurus now extinct? Luke Saward Sport Editor
By now, it is well established that the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent banning of fans from football stadiums has hit clubs hard. Many have had to make redundancies as a result, with Arsenal being one of these clubs, letting 55 staff members go in August as part of wider cost-cutting measures. However, their recent actions have surprised many, releasing someone who fans had considered surely exempt from this financial fallout. Their iconic mascot. Gunnersaurus. Jerry Quy, the man who donned the green dinosaur suit at Arsenal home games ever since 1993, was sacked. This is a man that legends of the club have grown up with and long-time supporters have come to adore. Allegedly, Quy’s loyalty to Arsenal was such that he skipped his own brother’s wedding to attend a home fixture. Mesut Özil, who himself is also currently being ostracised by the club, has offered to pay Quy’s salary from his £350,000 a week wages, whilst he remains an Arsenal player. This is a shocking development for a team who has handed out large sums of money in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract renewal and the signing of Willian, to name just 2 examples. Such is it that Arsenal has become the butt of many jokes on social media, including Sevilla, who tweeted that they had made a late deadline day swoop for Gunnersaurus. Whilst many believe that the loved mascot will return once fans do, this is certainly a low point for a club long considered to be one of the biggest teams in English football.
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Why so-called ‘Project Big Picture’ was really a narrow-minded power grab Sam Randall Sport Writer
Earlier this month, Premier League teams unveiled ‘Project Big Picture’ – a £250 million bailout proposal for Championship clubs that redistributed TV revenue, 25% of which would go to the EFL. In return, Manchester United and Liverpool, who headed the proposal, requested that the Premier League’s 9 longest-serving teams should acquire greater voting power. This would have meant that, in order to change, allow or block future rule alterations only 6 of the 9 selected Premier League clubs would have had to vote in favour of these measures, with the other 11 teams exerting a much-reduced influence. Project Big Picture felt very much like an opportunistic power grab. By increasing their broadcasting rights over their own games and their voting power, the big clubs would have total control over smaller teams, able to suffocate them at any moment with their funding. Fewer games and competitions
would limit the chance for fans to see world class stars play a game against their local club. It would also significantly decrease the likelihood of huge cup upsets, which have prolonged the now largely false sentimental idea in the English football pyramid that anyone can beat anyone. The Premier League hasn’t always been the best league in the world, but has prided itself and branded itself with being the most competitive league in the world. 10 years ago, this might have been true but in the past decade the ‘big 6’ have exerted a stranglehold over the top positions in the league, with the financial chasm between them and the teams below evergrowing. Many in the media seemed shocked by the new proposal. But what did we honestly expect? Sheikh Mansour didn’t buy Manchester City because of his love for Shaun Goater and the historic FA Cup victory of 1956. Roman Abramovic didn’t buy Chelsea Football Club as a little passion project on the side, aiming to bring hope and joy to West
London. These are opportunistic billionaires whose goal is, and will always be, profit. The media’s surprise is in itself surprising. The Premier League should not even be responsible for supporting EFL clubs. However, because of the Government’s refusal to support one of the most important industries in the UK and the lack of a plan from the FA, we have reached
a point whereby, to date, the only solution offered has been that of self-centred billionaires. However, despite the recent rejection of the proposal, future negotiations seem likely to be tense. Lately, any interactions between the Premier League and the EFL have come with the overhanging threat that if the top sides are denied their way they could go off and form a ‘super
league’ with other European giants. Project Big Picture has exposed the conflict between business and sentiment that has become part and parcel of English football. In the end, some version of this proposal is inevitable. Its aim is to formalise a structure that already exists, a transition from de facto to de jure that football is very reluctant to accept.
Will Lewis Hamilton’s legacy be tarnished without that famous red stamp of approval?
Sebastian Lajos Sport Writer
Numbers do sometimes speak louder than names: 260 starts in Formula One, with over 90 victories, 150+ podiums and counting; all powered by Mercedes. That is a brief, but compelling resumé of one man: Lewis Hamilton. I was sceptical of anyone ever closing in on all those Schumacher records, yet Lewis has already overwritten several of those and having recently surpassed the German legend’s record 91 wins, he
is tantalisingly close to equalling his 7 drivers’ titles, and deservingly so. Some have argued over the years that a spell with Ferrari would be the jewel in Lewis’ sporting crown. In hindsight, many of these claims were merely the product of paddock gossip, with such an agreement yet to be close to coming to fruition. If such a contract were ever to be signed, Hamilton would become the tenth Englishman to drive in Maranello, adding to the 155 starts and 13 race wins brought in by the likes of Mike Hawthorn, John
Surtees or Nigel Mansell. To question Hamilton’s professional worth without the Ferrari experience is cynical, unjust and frankly pointless, in my opinion. I remember being dazzled by his raw speed and assertive driving that yielded 2 victories and 4 pole positions, in an arguably mediocre McLaren, back in 2009. In his youth, he was extremely inconsistent, regularly producing race-ending errors, alongside his moments of brilliance. His battles with teammate and childhood rival Nico Rosberg between 2014 and 2016 reaffirmed
his speed, consistency and fighting spirit. As I see it, the 2016 title loss to Rosberg pushed Hamilton to dig even deeper, re-evaluating his approach. His subsequent battles with Sebastian Vettel only showed him to be ever-more consistent and resilient. A victory or drivers’ title success in F1 is of equal value, regardless of the team or context. It has taken me years to comprehend but I genuinely believe Hamilton is on a par with true greats like Michael Schumacher or his idol, Ayrton Senna.
He is instinctive, clever and much more of a team player than he is often given credit for, as his returning of 3rd place to Valtteri Bottas in the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix attests to. Finally, it has to be said, Hamilton will also be remembered for his various endeavours outside of the cockpit. As I see it, his fights for diversity and climate change, in addition to his general enterprising character, make him an outstanding figure that will go down forever in the history of the sport, regardless of the teams featured on his resumé.
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Sport
Man v Fat: Smashing goals on the pitch and on the scales
Photos: Man v Fat
Callum McWilliams Senior Sport Writer
I recently found out about a football league called Man v Fat. It’s a weight loss initiative that encourages its members to propel their numbers down on the weight chart by increasing their tallies up on the scoresheet. Lockdown meant that they had to close their doors but now they’re back up and running in Norwich. I caught up with the regional manager for the South East, Dan Church, to find out more.
To fill in the readers who may never have heard about Man v Fat football, could you explain what it is? Yeah of course, Man v Fat football is a 14-week paid weight loss programme affiliated by the FA. It’s open to men with a body mass index of 27.5 or more that want to lose some weight while kicking a ball around. The lads will come in at the start of the week and complete a food diary, then see the lead coach
in the evening to get advice on what they’re doing wrong (or right) exercise-wise. If the week hasn’t gone so well, obviously we’ll give them some constructive feedback on how that’s gone and how to improve next time round. From there, we go and play the football. What’s really unique about this league is that you could win 3-0 on the pitch, but end up losing 5-3 if the other teams had a great week on the scales.
I really wanted to find out more about this. So, you get goals for finding the back of the net, but also for losing weight? Absolutely. We give points for weight loss every week, it could be a 5% loss, 10%, even a ‘hat-trick’ which is three consecutive weight losses. We also have a few punishments as well. Like if someone goes over their starting weight, they’ll score an ‘own-goal’ for their team and they get deducted a point. Not really a horrible punishment but something that can just give
anyone a bit of extra encouragement to lose that weight.
I was looking online at some of the results and seeing some unbelievable goal differences, so that clears a few things up! Actually that does remind me, I have to give a shout out to a few of the team names in the Norwich league – especially Cake Taxi, Wider Bremen and Big’un Athletic. Yeah the names are always a really big thing for the guys and they are always a lot of fun.
I know a lot of people, definitely including myself, had been piling on more pounds over the lockdown period. Has that been clear for you since coming back? Oh yeah definitely. As everyone keeps saying it was an unprecedented time, I think in our Norwich league we collectively put on around 100 kilos over that period. So for me it’s just about encouraging the guys to say yes, we’ve been in a pandemic and yes we’ve all put on weight because
we’ve not been as active, but it’s not worth kicking yourself about it. We even took away the own goals because we’re trying to encourage a healthy weight loss environment, and get people to think a bit more long-term about losing weight after we all had this blip.
Something we’ve experienced together, so the way to get through it is together as well? Exactly that, the comradery and positivity of the whole group can help at the best of times so it’s been really amazing to keep that going since coming back.
Movember is now here, has the league being back been a boost for mental health of the players? Definitely. For me and for a lot of the guys it’s about so much more than just football. Obviously you get the physical support but the mental health support is there as well. It’s all about healthy behavioural changes. All of our members have access to ‘SilverCloud’ – an online digital,
mental and behavioural health platform. Photo: Just being able UEA to getHockey out and exercise with likeminded people can do such great things.
Is there anything you’d want to say to someone reading this thinking that it sounds right for them? You can really get involved at any point. Obviously the season has already started but we do accept newbies throughout. The Norwich league is 7v7 with squads of eleven so if there’s a space that becomes free, we can easily just start you right off. Even if you really hate football you can still join as a non-playing member and get all the other benefits without having to kick a ball. If we could get more staff, students, or even lecturers on board that would be really great! Dan and I were talking for a lot longer than I can spell out on here, but if you head over to the Man v Fat website there’s lots of different ways to get involved, and even more world class team names!