Concrete - Issue 236 - 01/12/2009

The Christmas Special RESULTS OF THE CONCRETE DRUGS SURVEY RESULTS ON PAGE 14

ISSUE 236

TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Food festively helps you stuff a bird.

Lifestyle provides low cost present ideas.

Opinions questions the inclusivity of Christmas.

Features examines the make or break state of the high street.

www.concrete-online.co.uk

UEA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

FREE

STOLEN DATA PROVOKES GLOBAL ATTENTION UEA to launch an independent inquiry into the theft and implications of stolen climate data.

Theft provokes fierce debate on credibility of world renowned research of Climatic Research Unit.

David Churchill UEA is to launch an independent review into the

CONTINUES ON PAGE 3

UEA STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST A QUARTER OF WOMEN EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. TURN TO PAGE 4 FOR FULL ARTICLE

UNION REFERENDUM FAILS TO REACH MINIMUM QUORATE VOTES Gareth Coventry These which took place on the 24th

The

‘You

proposals

included

Daily Mail

Count was the proposal to stock

2 NEWS

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

DELAYS IN LOANS INCREASE EMERGENCY PAYMENTS

contents

UEA sees an increased demand for emergency payments: Only 20% of applicants for Disabled Student allowance cleared. within the SLC. More than 12,000 disabled students have

Nick Church

our students are made to

NEWS

1-6

TURF

8

OPINIONS

10 - 11

FEATURES

12 - 14

EDITORIAL

15

Linda Shepherd, who gave

loans to arrive. On average,

Ms. Shepherd also alluded to ensure that this does not

INTERNATIONAL

16

TRAVEL

17

FOOD

18 - 19

FOCSOC

20

LIFESTYLE

21

SPORT

22 - 24

emerged that bosses at the were paid £2m in bonuses and expenses.

Natasha

Barnes, pressure on the government

bonuses whilst students are

BURKINO FASO IN COPENHAGEN

Greg Mann

students are struggling to

SCHOOL OF DEVELOPMENT AWARDED QUEEN’S PRIZE Andrea Stromskag

Nick Church

pleased and sees it as a

A UEA student is to join the

is awarded

Burkino Faso at the United Copenhagen next month.

Melissa Ilboudo,

helpers.

the

involved

in

over

100

Queen’s

Ougadougou.

He invited Ms. Ilboudo to out a strong message about

a that we do and the issues we

will join Burkino Faso’s President, Prime Minister and environmental minister th -18th

through

environmental

th

November

this

higher

term. It is also under threat

the European Union.

Aid’s partners, who supported Ms. Ilboudo’s appeal, she met Bobodo Blaise Sawadogo,

Laura Smith

Wave’.

to demonstrate outstanding

NEWS 3

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

CRU DATA SCANDAL “SHOULD VIDEO REFEREEING BE CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE INTRODUCED IN FOOTBALL?”asks Grace Simpson

Advocates

have

also

the university has dealt with

rules state that what is decided referees could act as a deterrent can not only change the course that they will get away with it and an extra linesman should university issued no statement

consistently it would certainly cut out all

and

harshly

for coming out and saying that they could understand why

CLIMATE OF UNCERTAINTY

Nick Church examines the back-history to the current climate debate and the various calls for a rigorous independent inquiry.

Some would say they saw it coming; what the now infamous emails reveal is the evidence Email Two [possibly referring to Steve CRU work] of these agreements were lost as well as the

Email Three Can you delete any emails [some say these

Concrete “there is a lot of noise at the moment

you may have Can you also email Gene and get him to do the

over a month ago most of the issues now under THE EMAILS

Email Four [referring to a paper prepared by “MM”, possibly Steve McIntyre and Ross McKitrick]

Email One

4 NEWS CARNAGE URINATOR

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

THE GREEN FUTURE OF NORWICH SOUTH and that their concerns aren’t overlooked”. On the issue of

Chris King voice at Westminster” as well Party

Adrian

Ramsay

has

City Hall.”

Since

Adrian

on

environmental

and

“As a Green MP I would resist University ward to the Green Party’s electoral chances,

Ramsay

to do community service.

with students on a wide of Green Party Councillors has increased each year. The Green

Daily Mail

in the City Council early will result.”

Ramsay, who will remain a City Councillor, is set to go on the City Council. Ramsay is community service.

and former Home Secretary

District Judge Anthony Browne said, “I have never seen anyone more contrite

MP. said “the reason I’m standing

one who regrets more the hurt and distress he has caused. take all this drink, or forced it

“But all this is set against a said, of a culture of drinking far too much. In my view done to change this culture.” student said he had no

Party is doing so well!” adding; “we have a strong chance to

and if we win in next year and make other likely gains we will Green Council in the country”.

the Green Party’s chances, Ramsay said “as a former UEA student, I think it’s vital that

CONCRETE DRUGS SURVEY SHOWS DECLINE IN DRUGS USE AT UEA Heather Crowley Around 80% of students at UEA have taken illegal drugs and 63% of those have done so whilst at UEA, according to Concrete’s 2009 drugs survey.

The survey, which was last conducted in 2005, asked over a hundred students a range legal drugs, including alcohol.

70% of students agree to some extent that a drinking culture that encourages students to drink too much exists at UEA

survey’s results, UEA has seen in this year’s survey, nearly

have also seen a decline in use amongst students. However,

Only 27% of students would

Annie Grant from the Dean of Students said, “I am...very

at around 10%, have remained consistent. drugs whilst in a seminar, 35% have had sex whilst on drugs and nearly 20% have recorded

residences. I would encourage all students not to risk selling drugs.” and over a quarter of students

LATTITUDE GLOBAL VOLUNTEERING

the chagrin of seminar leaders.

Concerning alcohol, over are

looking

for

nearly 20% who took the survey have sold drugs and

Student Alcohol Policy.

graduate

UEA STUDENTS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

in China.

For over

Nick Church

fact that one in four women

Students across UEA showed

during their life.

women, 35

Wednesday

environmental,

existent, so what exactly will a men’s society do?”

To suggest that men need

25th standards of what it means to

violence

against

Americas and Oceania.

events

discussed.

“The issue [of violence against

ludicrous, when everywhere

women. in four shows.

organised

women. the recent trend of some male

years, The day calls for the

caring,

not alone.”

Kate Hinksman, a second

These are

across

Women, the day has also they are mothers, friends and sisters.

to the current masculinity.”

state

of

against the recent advances

to ensure men take more as “ludicrous” according to the the level of violence against

not equal.”

6 NEWS MEANING OF LIFE

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

EXECUTIVE CONFIDENCE QUESTIONED INTERNATIONAL INCOME THREATENED

Gordon Malloy

Davina Kesby

£100 RESEARCH PRIZE

Colleges are challenging government plans to

HE PANEL DEBATE

UEA BAR REVENUES CIRCUMVENT NATIONAL TREND Nick Church

UEA CHRISTMAS CONCERT

UNION BAR STEADY

NORFOLK NURSING AWARD Nursing

Times

NEWS 7

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

CAMBRIDGE TOWN TAKEOVER Heather Crowley

MEDIA DIGEST: ARE WE IN DENIAL? David Churchill shares his opinions on the proliferation of climate change denial.

Global Warming and Other Bollocks

8 TURF

concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Copenhagen critical for developing countries climate change reside in the developing world, yet the 50 least developed countries emit less then 1% of pollutants, as recorded in the Human Impact Report by the Global Humanitarian Forum.

As governments in the West donate aid targeted at helping developing countries, the emissions their industries the issues they are supposed to be tackling. Although these emissions drive economic growth, they are forcing millions into poverty. Higher temperatures in Peru have lead

envoy, has been arguing in the media that developed countries

Turf advent calendar

allowances for developing countries. He has been reported as saying “developed countries should also earnestly ask themselves: ‘In solving this problem that I have created, am I keeping my promises and honouring my commitments?’”

Developing countries are calling to keep the framework of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which doesn’t require any binding commitments from developing countries but will ensure that

Climate change causes erosion of coast lines, rivers to dry and loss of species: biodiversity lost forever.

For many of the developing countries of the world beauty is a commodity they have to

owner and his workers who rely on the income it generates, or a family of subsistence farmers living hand-to-mouth where they have of survival. Stronger

Coach tickets available from UEA box office £12.

10th Human rights day

Reuse old cds to make environmentally friendly tree decorations

this

December

that they are willing to agree to emissions cuts. Nevertheless, they will be seeking a level of commitment from developing countries such as China and

Climate Change, has argued that the summit needs to focus on four main issues: how much the industrialized countries are willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases; how much major developing countries such as China and India are willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions;

climate change; and how this money will be managed.

Thomas Hague

Be sure to check www.recyclenow.com to find out where you can recycle all your cards

Try wrapping your presents in recycled paper, or be creative and see what you can re-use yourself.

1st December: UEA Climate teach-in Teach-In timetable Information

university’ for a day, organising a campaigners encouraged students and lecturers to do ‘teach-ins’ on the current threat of runaway global warming.

is

developing countries.

Yu Quingtai, China’s top climate

6th - 18th Copenhagen Summit

country to reject Kyoto in 1997; however, Barack Obama’s

developing countries to engage in reducing their emissions summit

See www.ueastudent.com/ teachin

5th ‘The Wave’

greenhouse gas emissions.

seen throughout the world, but nowhere as badly as the places

1st UEA Teach-in

10.00-16.00 Green biotechnology, a poster display Dr Margaret Wexler. Atrium, BIO. 12.00-13.00 Never Waste a Good Crisis: Health and Wellbeing in a Low Carbon Society.

15:05-16:00 13.00-14.00 Developing community responses to climate change and peak oil.

laincy.

15.00-16.30 Increasing Happiness, Decreasing Consump-

to help Norwich become more resilient in the face of peak oil, climate change and an ongoing

12.00-14.00 Climate informaClimate Change; Amnesty ‘Shell is hell’; Sustainable

happiness and wellbeing, and will include exercises and -

Leejiah Dorward and student me home for Christmas” Student car share scheme; News -

14.00 - 15.00 Climate change and energy security - the hard choices.

terms.

working on energy and carbon

House.

14.00 -15.00 What might climate change mean for a village in Africa?

Dr Marisa Goulden (ODG)

16.00 -17.00 Women, men and climate change: why climate change is a gender issue. ate researcher on gender and

15.00-16.00

18.00: Film: Eleventh Hour

Picture by Dan Blumgart

aspects of climate change: 13.00-13.10:

developing countries, and what we can do about it by carbon

fast-track to understanding a complex but important issue

Chaplaincy Christmas carol service will include the theme of environment/ climate amongst its choice of hymns, prayers and speeches.

respond.

13.00-14.00

produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, on the state of the natural environment.

www.ueastudent.com/teachin Trevor Philips

-

10 COMMENT AND OPINION

concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

The Chilcot Inquiry: Iraq uncovered?

There have been many reports on the Iraq war already, so why is the Chilcot inquiry any different? Gareth Coventry looks at the inquiry which began hearing evidence last Tuesday and examines whether it can be truly effective and comprehensive.

The Chilcot Inquiry formally began

this is the fourth inquiry into the Iraq

“The previous inquiries into Iraq have been dismissed as being a whitewash, so what will prevent Chilcot from meeting a similar fate?�

Blair is just a war criminal are likely to see Tony Blair on trial for war crimes

Debate: Is Christmas a time for everyone?

For James Dixon

Fact box According to the can put unnecessary strain upon people which is the polar opposite of what

Against the focus on the family is so strong

TUC, one million people work on Christmas day.

In 1647, the English

Last Christmas

parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal. family

unity

surely

cannot

be

The ban was lifted when the Puritans

might also make such people feel subnormal for not joining in the

lost power in 1660.

About 35 million to take a share in the Christmas spirit

lost its way in a snowstorm of

Christmas trees are produced each year to cope with holiday demand.

Christmas is seen as an occasion on

concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

COMMENT AND OPINION 11

Say NO to Nuclear The ‘Jedward’ phenomenon Jack Brinded

George Hamilton-Jones

contaminate, the Scots know only too

The “Jedward” phenomenon has eluded few in recent weeks. Even the Prime Minister has been quoted on the subject. John and Edward

so plans for any plants in Scotland, which already has two sites, are

X Factor Whatever their shelf life, they

the Dounreay and Chapelcross sites to nuclear power as he prepared to

been at the centre of the annual “is the X Factor karaoke?” debate and

if a Grimes twin victory would have yes, it is. the shark in Happy Days. They have, the fact that there are many sources

and Top of the Pops? There are as many reasons to love as to loathe.

to win it, the X Factor would be forever tainted by mediocrity and My Fair Lady

much could be made from the that will not only mass produce toxins and contaminants, but create fewer performers. However, The X Factor is we (the voters) have any chance to be rid of the farce of a cabinet who currently reside at Westminster.

Not that it would make a blind bit

(another year, another album to promote) and call it karaoke, the only act to make a full crossover to the world of mainstream commercial pop, in my opinion, is Girls Aloud.

Gordon and his miserable men, since

Jedward at UEA Summer bash” (339 members on the 27th November) has

Secretary, said that “every one of the measures contained in this statement

any worse than the succession of

co. seem to have worked despite the tunelessness, despite the consistent

X Factor and its spawn

is that we like to watch the stories unfold, the media like to tell the stories and some of us are even believers.

are currently noted as available, and

IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR OPINION THAT YOU WANT TO GET OFF Now, these people will undoubtedly tell us nuclear power

how many Chernobyls has renewable

alone. How about in future, rather

YOUR CHEST ON ANY ISSUE, THEN THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. PLEASE

forces, we instead seek to harness them?

CONTACT CONCRETE.OPINION@UEA.AC.UK AND WE’LL GET YOUR VOICE HEARD!

12 FEATURES

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Defining the Decade As we march ever onwards towards the new year (less than 5 weeks now, cripes!), it’s time to reflect on an undeniably tumultuous ten years. In the last of Features’ Noughties series, Duncan Vicat-Brown analyses the five events that defined the past decade.

September 11th, 2001

Conflict in the Middle East been engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan for amusing trend of moving into smaller countries and pushing people around, back out is going to be one hell of a

aside from exposing America’s inability to learn from prior mistakes, lies in the

Climate in the Spotlight

The Rise of the Internet

In 2006, David Guggenheim directed An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about former US Vice President Al Gore’s campaign and legendary accompanying sideshow, which carried a simple yet terrifying message; we are destroying the planet we call home, we are doing it far

The internet is hardly a new toy, but than a reference tool. Certain major sites, including Amazon, Yahoo and eBay, were already established by the turn of the century, and commanded a large number of hits. But compared to

future thanks to technology going portable. Although mobile phones were already around by the turn of the century, they didn’t become the

worse every day. Sure, this was hardly

Take Google: it went online in 1998 as a privately held company, and by 2004, was worth 23 billion dollars.

Today, it’s worth over 153 billion, and is one of the most powerful companies in the world.

now everyone has one. First they got smaller, then they got colour screens, then cameras, then video cameras, mp3 players, touch screens... now, thanks to Apple’s iPhone, you can

campaign was its urgency. Before, the seemed distant, like something for future

We all know what happened, but let’s But Mr Gore was not the only one context. In September 2001, America was not only riding on the crest of a wave, but also at an uneasy crossroads.

is the emergence of the internet as a regarding the environment. The Kyoto social networking! Even though the

century developing from a large but insular world power into one of the on earth, the United States enjoyed a period of unprecedented economic growth under Clinton’s Democrat government following the end of the Cold War. As far as the average American was concerned, America was untouchable. And, of course, there was a new government in the White House.

American passenger planes, which take out two of America’s most prominent landmarks and damage The Pentagon,

nomads the US used to fund. David and Goliath don’t even come close. As far as single days in American history go, only Pearl Harbour can be said to have had a comparable impact.

Well, it was the catalyst that set Bush’s to engagement in Afghanistan and, eventually, Iraq. Fundamentalist Islam was suddenly thrust into the public sphere and perceived as an everyday threat. Further incidents followed, such

greenhouse gasses that were released in the early 90s. However, by 2005 original decision to engage. No other

since slipped into redundancy, its successors have literally consumed lives. MySpace has evolved into a onestop shop for up and coming music,

is shrouded in so much mystery and

all fundamentally distrust people who

that Saddam Hussein was developing

But that’s not all; online banking, online shopping, online gambling, online stocks, online games (vast

probably never know, and the suspicious fate of Dr. David Kelly should probably encourage us to stop asking.

The reasons for engagement are vague and widely contested. A

A wonderful excuse to take control

many assumed the worst, tarring Bush’s government and, by extension, ours, with the ‘Evil Capitalist’ brush.

Our government’s involvement is another sore point. Although presumably intended to promote Blair’s government as crusaders for humanitarian causes, up instead made them look like Bush’s

books... you can put online in front it became clear that climate change wasn’t being taken as seriously as was hoped, so the treaty was enforced in February of that year.

You can see the impact of increased interest in environmental concerns all around you. Walk down any high street and you’ll see adverts encouraging you to cut down your emissions, or

literature, as well as in journalism. If the

Drugs Survey Results The Concrete Drugs Survey has

from the largest demographic of people we’ve ever had.

88% of the respondents were undergraduates aged 17-22,

in 2005, the Survey has been resurrected and updated to include legals highs and drugs that have experienced a sharp surge in popularity in recent years like ketamine and MDMA. But now the results are in and they are here for your perusal!

The Survey went online

illegal drugs ranged from 11-21 years old but 63% had tried or

that Concrete received results

to look forward to in the new year, we’ll need you again!

by environmental issues, hence the

Illegal Drugs

emblem. And, lest we forget, this is the decade which coined the muchbeleaguered phrase ‘carbon footprint’.

The internet has got plenty more tricks for the future, too. Watch this space and you will see it transform

email hacking scandal has not only put

evidence behind climate change into

television with online soaps.

Oh, and now there’s loads more porn.

10.4% 70.8%

Yes No

N/A

18.9%

Legal Highs Have you ever taken a legal

Have you ever taken any

(tapes and CDs are hardly the most

Is the policing of drugs on

Have you ever had your drink

Yes No

49.5% 10.7%

Yes No

Unsure

39.8%

Yes No

49% 46%

N/A

8%

80.4%

Have you had medical problems as a result of drug Yes No

9.4% 72.6%

N/A

17.9%

These included: Paranoia.

Depression.

Do you consider legal highs to be less physically dangerous Yes No

22% 63%

N/A

15%

8.5% 91.5%

memory.

Indirect factor in a heart

If you’ve taken legal drugs,

No

19.6%

If you have taken drugs,

4.9% 59.1%

Yes

12.5%

No

88.6%

Do you enjoy taking Yes No

61.2% 38.8%

Halls Union Bar

41.7% 7.8%

Party Other

28.2% 21.4%

N/A

40.8%

Friends Home Dealers Colleagues Other

69.3% 4% 34.7% 4% 5%

N/A

25.7%

Yes No

18.8% 81.2%

Yes

37.4%

No

8.4%

Yes 36.8% No 63.2% If yes, can you write what the Tea bagged to the max.

One friend had an out of body experience and saw herself waving at her from across the room.

We learned French and will never forget. sixteenth of cannabis and

Do you think more should be Worse 20.2% About the same 20.2%

Yes No

29% 51%

Can’t comment

Don’t care

23%

57.3%

None 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-9 10+

3% 6.1% 13.1% 17.2% 12.1% 48.5%

Do you think that taking drugs is socially accepted among

Do you think there is a

Yes 17.2% No 6.1% In most social groups 43.4% In a minority of social groups 37.4%

that encourages students to

How many of your friends

Alcohol How many units of alcohol do you drink on average per

Reasons

Yes, I suppose so 37.4% Maybe 17.2%

None A few Most All Unsure

6.9% 70.3% 18.8% 3% 1%

Do you think the drinking age Do you think the media

N/A

17.8% Daily 9.1% More than once a week 59.6% Weekly 26.3% Monthly 2% Never 3%

Has anything bad happened

of most words and chances are it exists somewhere. It’s also a far more powerful tool now; can you imagine

Yes No

Had sex 36.8% Been to a seminar 21.7% Operated heavy machinery 4.7% Driven a car 15.1%

studying at UEA.

Drugs on Campus

Portable technology has enabled digital entertainment to rule supreme, meaning that the music labels,

Would you say that you’ve ever been addicted to any

and 38% female. The age at

Yes

designer Jonathan Ive has produced for Apple, namely the iPod, iPhone, Macbook and iMac, has massively

blackouts because of drug

Tick any of the following that you have done whilst using a

so it’s ready for when you get home.

Seriously, Google it.

While we’re on the subject of Apple... if one gadget dominated the decade, it was the ultra portable, ultra stylish iPod. Mp3 players removed the

please!

This has inevitably lead to an

Medical Problems

Thank you to everyone who went online for a couple of minutes and took part.

With the Concrete website also undergoing a makeover,

The Effects of Drugs

rhetoric has been changed irrevocably, and the impact can also be felt in public has been split into two camps: those who support engagement, and those who oppose. There is no-one on the fence, and the debate rages on.

Portable Technology

FEATURES 13

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

the size of his head in like under 5 seconds. No joke.

Me and two of my other friends took some legal highs, purple ohms and had really bad trips, horrible

Friend lost his clothes and found the street outside

Bad trip - Thinking they might have died Freaked out, man.

She threw stones at her best friend because she thought her friend was a pigeon.

Someone threw up on my head while I was throwing up in a toilet.

Yes No

6.1% 93.3%

Yes No

16.2% 71.7%

Would you have come to UEA

N/A

12.1%

Yes No

Do you think that, on the

Why do you think people take drugs?

27.3% 72.7%

drugs are presented as ‘cooler’ than those who Yes No

20.2% 75.8%

N/A

4%

Have you ever bought or been

Yes No

24.8% 75.2%

14 FEATURES

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Consumer Crisis Have your say in the

Concrete Sexiest Lecturer Poll Concrete needs you to log on to nominate the three most attractive (or generally nice) lecturers from your school.

Head over to our new website today:

www.ueastudent.com/ sexiestlecturer Do you know this girl?

Concrete Apology

50% of the High Street’s profits are made over the festive period. This means that it’s make-or-break time for many of our much-loved brand names. David Biggins explores the natural selection theory of consumerism.

LETTERS AND EDITORIAL 15

concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

EDITORIAL

RETRACTION

EDITOR

The UFO is a convenience store not a supermarket.

“Where to grab your groceries” - Concrete 17.11.09

concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Hannah Livingston

DEPUTY EDITOR concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Alice Violett

TRAVEL EDITOR concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Rachel Conquer

Writers

CHIEF COPY EDITOR concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Denise Bartlett

Proofreaders Katy Quigley, Alice Brunt, Atephanie Artley, Mia Wecker, Ayesa Bailey

NEWS EDITOR concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Nicolas Church

Reporters David Churchill, Gareth Coventry, Andrea Stromskag, Grace Simpson, Chris King, Heather Crowley, Davina Kesby, Gordon Malloy

Poppy Jones, Sarah Morgan, Ruth Gaukrodger

FOOD EDITOR concrete.food09@gmail.com Edward Leftwich

Writers Danie Hadley, Grace Simpson and the Concrete Cocktail Collective (CCC)

FOCSOC EDITOR concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Alice Violett

Writers Sian Hamer, Martin Lippiatt

TURF EDITOR concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk Rebecca Wiles

Writers Thomas Hague, Trevor Philips

LIFESTYLE EDITOR concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Samantha Lewis

Writers Isabel Skrine, Vicki Wheatland, Jessica L. Ball

OPINIONS EDITOR concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk Davina Kesby

Writers Gareth Coventry, James Dixon, Alice Violett, Jack Brinded, George Hamilton-Jones

FEATURES EDITOR concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Melissa York

Writers Duncan Vicat-Brown, David Biggins

SPORT EDITOR concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Danny Collins

Writers Ian Hobbs, Trevor Aslan, Tilly Burrows, Henry Croft, Georgina Wade, Lois Nethersell, Kirsty Maclean

NON-EDITORIAL CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Mann

INTERNATIONAL EDITORS

Photographers Laura Smith

CARTOONISTS

concrete.international@uea.ac.uk Qingning Wang & Filipa Mendes

Hector Lowe and Dan Blumgart

Writers

DISTRIBUTION

Georgina Duncan, Julia Sherman, Nisha Murthi

Martin Lippiatt

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT? There are many ways to get in contact: - Come to the Concrete office upstairs in Union House.

- Email a section you’re interested in writing for.

- Email Hannah at concrete. editor@uea.ac.uk.

CONCRETE PO BOX 410, NORWICH, NORFOLK, NR4 7TJ 01603 593466

Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2009 Concrete. ISSN 1351-2773 Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Hannah Livingston. Letters must include contact details, but we will consider anonymous publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity as necessary.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor.

Use of the name The Event is by arrangement with the copyright holders, Planet Zog Ltd. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor, Hannah Livingston.

Printed by Archant.

16 INTERNATIONAL

concrete.international@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Round the World at Christmas Santa in the Southern Hemisphere Georgina Duncan Bucko & Champs’ “Aussie Jingle Bells”

The festival before Christmas

My Christmas Wish

Julia Sherman

Nisha Murthi

The Norwich Ice Sculpture Trail Sunday 20 December, 9.30am to 5pm

TRAVEL 17

concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

The Atlas Mountains Poppy Jones reflects on her time spent in the little village of Asni, located in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, which she visited last summer.

The Atlas Mountains of Morocco are as yet little exploited by the tourist industry, and this greatly adds to the excitement of visiting and exploring them. Last summer I spent a week in the village of Asni, located in the Atlas Mountains, as part of my school’s community service programme. The village and its small community offered the chance to escape from everyday life, and it was fascinating to immerse ourselves in a culture so different to our own. After a ferry ride to Tangiers and then a ten hour coach journey through Morocco during the heat of the day, we finally reached our destination – only to find that our first challenge was to climb to the top of the hill in the dark, carrying our luggage!

The point of our trip was to experience another culture and learn to understand a way of life so different to our own. One barrier which became apparent very quickly was language. The people generally spoke little English, and we also soon discovered that French is only learnt as a second language in Morocco, where most people speak Arabic.

Nevertheless, somehow we managed to communicate, and interacted through gestures, smiles, songs and games.

We stayed in a building recently constructed in the village, which consisted of just a few rooms, and we greatly appreciated the fact that they had thought to install a toilet

Majorcan Summer Sarah Morgan

for us – we had been expecting the traditional hole in the ground!

Moroccan cuisine is definitely worth exploring, and with our meals being prepared for us daily by the local women, we tried a variety of new and different dishes. Perhaps the most famous Moroccan dish is the ‘tagine’, a slow-cooked stew cooked in a distinctive pot, which consists of a variety of different

“We delighted in activities that elsewhere may have been outside Health and Safety regulations.” fruits and vegetables combined with either lamb or chicken. Also not to be missed on a visit to Morocco is the mint tea, which is delicious. Tea was served in both the mornings and the evenings, and we would eagerly await the sight of the ornate silver teapot heading towards us.

Travelling to Asni or to the Atlas Mountains is a trip which requires a different approach from the kind of sight-seeing weekend spent in somewhere like Paris or Rome. We went with only a vague itinerary, and just ideas of how we might spend the time. We enjoyed each day as it came, and just being in a new place provided a variety of ways to spend our days.

We helped the community, taking part in the farming activities of planting, watering and digging.

We also levelled an area so that the children could have somewhere to play games like football. We played with the children and exchanged songs, games and gifts.

We also delighted in activities that elsewhere may have been outside the Health and Safety regulations – a highlight was travelling to a nearby lake to swim; we all stood in the back of an open truck as we hurtled round the winding mountain roads. Another morning was spent in the local market, which had stalls selling everything from clothes and jewellery to live rabbits and donkeys, furniture and haircuts. We decided not to follow the man who passed by with a half-butchered cow’s carcass across his back – no doubt heading for the meat market.

Another day was spent trekking in the surrounding area, which boasted some spectacular views. Despite being so close to the Sahara Desert, Asni is located next to a river, which gives rise to a lush, green valley in the midst of the dark red hills.

The people of Asni were just as curious about us as we were about them, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know one another. Every day ended with traditional Moroccan music and lessons in dancing to it, standing in one huge circle and slowly shuffling round whilst clapping and singing choruses.

As the week came to an end we were all very sorry to leave, and I think we all returned home altered in some way by our experiences and by what we had seen. As we parted with the little community, we were left deeply affected by the realisation that whatever our culture, language and customs, as human beings, we have more similarities than differences.

Last July my friends and I ventured out to the island of Majorca in search of sun, sand and cocktails, and it didn’t disappoint.

The white, sandy beach of Puerto Alcudia stretches out for miles and the sea is a brilliant mix of turquoise blues. Framed by

the second night which we loyally

needed shade, as a beach lover I was suitably impressed. We spent most days at the beach, hiring out pedalos and surf boards, exploring the side streets on the outskirts of the town, and browsing the market of fresh fruit, brightly coloured fabrics and leather satchels.

We tended to stay away from any English-looking bars, preferring to discover where the locals went.

Most nights we drank during happy hour at the cocktail bar Venue 21 in the centre of the town, or a place called Goodfellas. Both, despite

we did venture out to Magaluf a

with Spanish locals. We discovered a gorgeously retro karaoke bar on

the music was an expert blend of modern genres and the drinks were cheap.

being to a adult show called Pirates, which undoubtedly was one of the best parts of a brilliant holiday.

There wasn’t an awful lot of plot, but

sangria were free.

The holiday was a wonderful, drunken blur of sangria and cocktails, sandy feet, salty bronzed skin and many laughs. If you’re looking for a relaxed, fun, and very of England shirts, this place comes highly recommended.

Berliner Kunst Ruth Gaukrodger Berlin is a city weighed down by its own history. The Second World War annihilated the German capital and a

layout, with archaic buildings and monuments peppered throughout. modern layout of Berlin is the wide pavements; it’s a small thing, but not feeling choked with the swarms of people in any capital city is a rare treat, and makes for a much more relaxing holiday.

The best examples of both contemporary and classic architecture are found by the river Spree, with the Paul-Löbe and Marie-Elisabeth Lüders government buildings being two of the most striking pieces of modern design there is to see. More centrally, the Sony Centre at Potsdamer Platz is a the No-Man’s-Land that was created

- and destroyed - with the Berlin wall. the city; big, colourful blocks with the

found near the O2 centre of Berlin. untouched by tourism. There are a few shops selling cheap t-shirts and souvenirs, but largely the place and small jewellery shops. On Wednesdays food markets pop up markets occur throughout the year, rusty trinkets and old, discoloured papers. The fact that the city manages to retain a real sense of character, and not be drowned out by other invading cultures or tourism, makes which is why Berlin feels like the bestkept secret of Europe.

18 FOOD

concrete.food09@gmail.com TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

How to Stuff a Bird this Christmas

Here at Concrete Food we have had a thought: why do people eat turkey at Christmas? Chicken is tastier, cheaper and easier to cook. How many people do you know with a pan big enough to make turkey stock? So forget tradition, find yourself a huge great big free-range chicken, stuff with this Christmas stuffing and tuck in.

Method

Ingredients

1. Preheat your oven to 190°C/Gas 5.

2. Put your breadcrumbs into a large bowl. Finely chop the onion, garlic and parsley and add to the breadcrumbs with all the other ingredients. Season this with salt and pepper and then get your hands in there to mix it all together.

3. Make sure the cavity is clear then thoroughly rinse the chicken inside and outside and pat dry with kitchen

1 garlic clove 200g sausagemeat chopped 50g chopped walnuts 1 tsp curry powder 1 egg

Maris Piper or King Edward are the best roasters. Peeled and part

white. Take out the chicken and garlic and put in a warm place. Turn the oven up to 200°c/Gas 6 and crisp up the potatoes

people to help themselves to. Put it all on a plate and serve with some tasty veg and gravy. Magical.

Say goodbye to Ben & Jerry’s Method

able to make that deadline.

allowing it to overhang at the top.

Empty the ice cream into a bowl and

insanely delicious. The most ridiculously easy desert to make, an ice cream cake

Crunchies and your Chocolate Chips and such like to the bowl, then mix.

Ingredients

pieces

sauce, these can be shop bought and warmed up at home.

mixture as a cake, take an old ice

those two guys....

into crumbs

sprinkle the remaining bourbon biscuits on top. Serve with warmed

your choice, however we suggest chocolate chips, peanuts, melted chocolate, or high street

FOOD 19

concrete.food09@gmail.com TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Your UEA Kitchen

Christmas Cocktail Make time for tea!

The Pink Snowglobe

Danie Hadley

Concrete Cocktail Team

“The grill.

Surprisingly, some tasty meals can be produced from this piece of viciouslooking kitchen apparatus”

Grace Simpson

20 FOCSOC

concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Deviant Society get ready to rock Concrete: Pick up your pen and get involved!

Sian Hamer

UEA Revelation Rock Gospel Choir hit all the right notes

Merry Christmas from FocSoc!

LIFESTYLE 21

concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Credit Crunch Christmas

Confessions of a UEA student Isabel Skrine raves about jam making and cake baking We all expect certain things when we

X Factor

Oh UEA is wonderful...

Jessica. L Ball reflects on her first semester at the rabbit-ridden, filthy-kitchened UEA campus.

22 SPORT

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

Canary Corner

UEA Triathlon impress at BUCS Trevor Aslan

Ian Hobbs Another busy fortnight for Norwich City began with a thrilling clash against Southampton at St. Mary’s.

Just four years previously this had been a Premier League match and the quality of the two teams suggested that they are both eager to climb back up the football league ladder.

Adam Lallana gave the Saints an Hoolahan equalised early in the

Middlesbrough reported to be interested in the highly-rated winger.

4-1 victory for the Canaries.

Norwich City have brought in two loan signings to bolster the

academic year.

Members new and old had an early start with a four hour journey Duathlon’ at Castle Combe Race Circuit.

The race consisted of a two-mile run around the perimeter of the race

especially the severe headwind at the

and a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep on the journey

proved their ability with respectable member.

mile track and another two-mile run needed cover at right-back and the signing of Antony McNamee from Swindon should inject some pace into the side.

event and apprehensions about

penalty.

A cracking strike from David Connolly restored Southampton’s advantage but the Canaries dug

about our pace over the distances soon set in.

Hughes scored an equaliser from

Women’s Volleyball qualify for student finals

Norwich’s next challenge came in the form of a home game against Gus Poyet’s inconsistent Brighton side at Carrow Road.

City captain Grant Holt opened the scoring with an exquisite

Tilly Burrows

Hoolahan made it 2-0.

Hoolahan has been one of a number of players who have been on great form in recent games and manager Paul Lambert will do well to hold onto him during

soon blown away for everyone by the

City’s next match came in the form of a second round FA Cup match away to Carlisle. The Canaries fell behind early on and despite a

part. The clubs next event will be the City of Norwich Half Marathon on the The fastest female was Rachel

The Student Cup is the main event in the girls’ volleyball

ending City’s seven game unbeaten

BUCS Results - Wednesday 25th November

pressure on the club to qualify for the event at their home venue.

The day started with a match to be the team’s biggest rivals; they

Basketball UEA Panthers - 77 Cambridge Men’s 1st - 62 UEA Women’s Panthers - 40

UEA Women’s 1st - 10 Leicester Women’s 1st - 0

Netball UEA Women’s 1st - 32 Birmingham Women’s 3rd - 33

them 2-0.

Next came a match against

UEA Men’s 1st - 2 Loughborough Men’s 4th - 1

UEA Women’s 2nd - 34

pressure and again were defeated 2-0.

Oxford 2nds were no match for

UEA Men’s 2nd - 4

Rugby

The Oxford team seemed like a nice team but just weren’t up to the

Football

UEA Men’s 1st - 11 Oxford Brookes Men’s 2nd - 29 UEA Women’s 1st - 6 Warwick Women’s 1st - 0

all played well individually and even 2-0.

UEA Men’s 2nd - 28

The Student Cup Finals will on Saturday and Sunday 13th

Finally came a match against

Hockey UEA Men’s 1st - 2 Lincoln Men’s 1st - 5

UEA Women’s 1st - 15 Oxford Brookes Women’s 1st - 29

atmosphere.

SPORT 23

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

The trials and tribulations of a long-distance runner history teacher, hardly a specimen

this incident provided me with the by an overweight Simon Schama was

race in Year 5 and throwing up all banana had provided an added obstacle to an already gruelling

given was a banana, which provided

ambulance seemed an appropriate

having already entered a marathon and with an even more demanding, Michael Johnson might have once

Button engineers switch to ensure British super team Georgina Wade

well, you might think; Mercedes have increased their F1 monopoly and are set to make millions, while

McLaren F1 are poised to replace Heikki Kovalainen with the newly crowned world champion Jenson Sadly, the reality is that Brawn

the McLaren F1 team - but never is that we have operated within our

“Lewis Hamilton has and always will be a McLaren man...”

Hamilton has been and always will be a McLaren man, despite denials that the team and the car are tailored

married couple, all is set to change

calibre to be a true world champion,

the other drivers in the team – a

natural ability to be world class, and Jenson needs to pull up his socks, have a shave and get ready,

recently announced that they will world that he has the substance and

witnessed such raw talent, and

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk

FORMULA 1

Georgina Wade examines the creation of a British superteam at Mclaren for the forthcoming season

TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009

VOLLEYBALL

Concrete reports on the progression of women’s Volleyball team to the Student Cup Finals

TRIATHLON

An impressive debut for UEA Triathlon in the opening round of the BUCS competition

RUNNING

Henry Croft charts the process of preparing for the Milton Keynes half-marathon

Women’s football put six past woeful Warwick

Lacrosse record impressive win

Lois Nethersell

Kirsty Maclean

This season UEA Women’s Football has been a near-unstoppable force in the Midlands 2B league. The team currently sit joint top with rivals, Leicester and, with a string

Having not had the most promising start to the season, training before Wednesday’s game was intense; full of blood, sweat and tears. the nerves were combated by the

Most recently, on Wednesday 25th November, the girls put six

what we hoped would be a successful game. Playing the team who are currently second in the league, however, caused a slight air of anxiety amongst the team.

Once the whistle blew, it could be seen immediately that the extra

foot straight away. Christy Haynes

secured a UEA lead and caused concern amongst the opponents.

Shuaibu’s second goal required

ball into the open goal.

In the second half Haynes doubled her total with a surging run from

girls throughout. loss to Leicester in the league the team have consistent form both at Colney and on the road. With an

rewards.

New coach Dan Cooper has been invaluable and much praise should

league and cup games this season, and only six conceded, the girls can be proud of their strong defence and

persistence at training sessions.

semester has been successful there

fast pace but by the third quarter UEA

the league,” commented the captain.

goals.

an early ball from the wing, placing it

passing to dominate possession. The team were, as always, marshalled well by captain Bernie McSharry

thumping of Cambridge at Colney on 21st October.

to win the league.

“I am proud of the girls this year as every match they have come out

they have already put ten goals past earlier in the season.

The crunch game in the league comes in the last game of the season when Leicester travel to Colney on 3rd March in what is bound to be a closely

game only got faster and sharper as UEA dominated. The whistle blew to

Kirsty Maclean, Lena Schulze and Elaine Rogers were amongst the scorers.

decide who will be promoted.

UEA sports roundup

alongside Leicester.

Danny Collins approaching,

Concrete

For BUCS results turn to page 22

season.

The women’s Panthers team lie examines

Hockey The UEA men’s 1st XI lie second in

win a game.

Basketball The UEA Panthers are currently Midlands 1A division with two wins from six. However, an encouraging victory over Cambridge 1st gives cause

Football The men’s 1st XI lie third in the Midlands 2B league on seven points, one point behind second-placed Cambridge. out of their six games thus far, and sit at top of the league on 15 points

The women’s 1st XI, who have prevailed in only one match so far league. However, they recorded an on Wednesday.

Rugby The men’s 1st XV have won two of

their six encounters and are placed sixth in Midlands 2A. Having only lost once this season, the women’s 1st XV are joint top of the Midlands 2A division alongside Oxford

Tennis The men’s 1st share the lead of the Midlands 2A with Cambridge and Oxford. one win from their four matches, lie 5th in Midlands 2A .

and successful example of women’s lacrosse. The UEA team, compiled aggressive and determined defence, and a goalie with spectacular saves, all contributed to a promising win.