Concrete - Issue 298

Issue

13.05.14

298

Concrete online Scan for all the latest news, sports & society blogs!

UEA to raise fees for rented campus accommodation • Average rise of £156 a year • Student union not consulted

concrete-online.co.uk @Concrete_UEA ConcreteNewspaper

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The underlying dangers of nationalism

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Eurovision: beers, beards and bodices

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Getting a degree versus getting experience

Elliot Folan News editor Concrete can today report that the University of East Anglia plans to increase the rent students pay for campus accommodation, despite objections raised by the Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) and concerns expressed about an alleged lack of consultation.

The fee rise will see rents go up by an average of around £16 per month, or £156 a year – an average increase of 4.2% on 2013-14. Students in en suite accomodation such as Britten House, Colman House, Constable Terrace, Kett House, Nelson Court and Paston House face the biggest rise at £340 per year (a 7.5% increase on 2013-14). Students in Mary Chapman Court will not face the fee rise, with rents remaining the same as in 2013-14. See the table on this page for full breakdown by residence.

Although the university argues that the rent increase is needed for “essential maintenance, refurbishment and utilities costs” student union officers have opposed the increase, pointing out that that the expected £1m profit raised from the increase will go into “general university funds” and not specifically into any accommodation investment. Union officers argue that the fee rise comes at a time when student support grants are being cut, and say that “there is Continued on pg 3

Flickr: brownwindsor

UEA accomodation fees 2014 – 2015 Accomodation

Yearly cost 2014-15

Fee rise (£)

Change (%)

En-suite campus

£4,878

£340

+8%

Two bedroom studio

£4,280

£205

+5%

University Village

£4,179

£122

+3%

Norfolk/Suffolk, single

£3,830

£184

+5%

Standard campus

£3,040

£117

+4%

Mary Chapman Court

£2,923

£0

-

Norfolk/Suffolk, double

£2,620

£125

+5%

Marking boycott cancelled as university staff accept 2% pay rise Dan Falvey News editor The University and College Union (UCU) has announced its decision not to boycott marking student exam papers after its members took a vote on new pay deals being offered by employers.

The UCU originally decided to call a marking boycott from 28th April after universities chose to offer their staff just a 1% increase in their pay for next year. It was

feared that a boycott would lead to a delay in students graduating from university.

However, after a 2% pay increase for next year was offered by universities the UCU postponed the boycott until the 6th of May to allow its members to vote on the offer.

Almost 84% of the union’s members took part in the vote and only 16% voted to reject the new pay increase. Speaking on the issue, UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt said: “UCU members have made it overwhelmingly clear that they wish to accept the 2% pay offer and call off the

proposed marking boycott.

“We shall be informing universities of their decision and that the marking boycott is off. My thanks go to UCU members for their support in this dispute”.

The 1% pay increase given to university staff for the current year has been the cause of much anger among university staff with several strikes being held by higher education union members since last October. The 2% increase, which universities said was their “full and final” offer, followed a fierce standoff

between the employers and their staff, with universities threatening a 100% pay reduction to all employees who took part in the boycott.

Following the UCU’s choice to call off the protest, Professor Neil Ward, Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UEA spoke of his delight that the dispute had been resolved: “We have assured finalyear students that graduation will proceed as usual and are pleased that this situation has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone involved”.

Editorial

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Editor-in-Chief | Geri Scott concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Peter Sheehan concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk

editor’s column THE

T Geri Scott

“I’m aiming to make Concrete as inclusive as possible”

here has been a really exciting buzz in the Concrete office over the last week as new section editors have come in to learn the ropes and pull together their pages for this issue. I think 2014/15 is going to be a brilliant year for Concrete, as well at UEA:TV and Livewire 1350. Soon enough development will be underway on the new student media hub, which Concrete will benefit from greatly with long-overdue new computers and updated, industry leading software for laying up the newspaper.

I’ve got to say thank you to Sid and the outgoing team for making everything go so smoothly and calming our panics when we haven’t known what to do You’ve all set a high bar for us to live up to this year – we’ll try to do you proud!

As for next year, I’m aiming to make Concrete as inclusive as possible for anybody who wants to get involved. That

Managing Editor | Ella Gilbert concrete.managingeditor@uea.ac.uk

means I want your ideas, articles and even complaints so we can keep on making our student newspaper better and better.

After all, we are here to be your voice.

In this issue we’ve got a bumper feature on my guilty pleasure, Eurovision, and slightly more serious news on the rising prices of UEA accommodation, as well as plenty of other high-quality work.

In Venue there is a brilliant review of Bad Neighbours which I have been itching to see (there are reasons besides a topless Zac Efron, honest!) and fashion have some gorgeous looks to take you in to summer.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue. We’re going to keep running online over the summer so keep checking your emails for content calls! Finally, well done to all the new section editors who have worked so hard over the last week to get the issue looking up to scratch: I’m proud already.

Online Editor | Emily Fedorowycz concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News | Elliot Folan & Dan Falvey concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment | Joe Jameson concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Global | Oliver Hughes concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features | Courtney Pochin concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Sci&Env | Jacob Beebe concrete.scienv@uea.ac.uk Travel | Jodie Snow concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle | Rebecca Bemment concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk

Just because the academic year is over it doesn’t mean Concrete is shutting down.

We are carrying on over on our brand new website and we want skilled writers and photographers to be involved. Pick the sections you are interested in from the sidebar, drop the editor an email and you’ll be away! We look forward to seeing what you have to offer.

Sport | James Newbold & Kat Lucas concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk Cheif Copy Editors | Helena Bradbury & Frances McKeown concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Chief Photographers | Will Cockram & Jacob Roberts-Kendell concrete.photography@uea.ac.uk

Hatchet job

Distribution Manager | Amit Puntambekar concrete.distribution@uea.ac.uk

Tweet of the week

@_BenJB “@Concrete_UEA Excellent new logo. Perched like a fedora on the socially awkward. #jaunty”

Contact Us Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593 466 www.concrete-online.co.uk www.concblog.wordpress.com Editorial inquiries / complaints concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk Got a story? concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

Concrete welcomes all letters and emails, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Letters should be addressed to the editor-in-chief, and include contact details. All emails should be sent to concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk. We will consider anonymous publication, and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous article submissions are permitted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the editor, Geraldine Scott. Published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2014 Concrete BMc ISSN 1351-2773

News

3 Voting opens for democracy committee and officer posts Elliot Folan News editor

Flickr: David Terrar

Accomodation fees raised for 2014-15 Continued from page 1 material risk that the university will distort pricing across Norwich, increase student financial problems and destroy Norwich’s reputation as a cheap student city”.

Rosie Rawle, Communications Officer at UUEAS, said: “With £9,000 tuition fees, cuts to maintenance grants and possibly to disability allowances, pulling more money out of students’ pockets is unacceptable and clearly contradicts the university’s aim of widening access”.

A UEA spokesperson told Concrete:

“The University of East Anglia has a varied portfolio of residential accommodation and rents which compare very favourably against other similar universities. The rationale for the range of rent increases was shared with Union of UEA students in the usual way”.

Concrete can also report that the university did not consult the student union about the rent increases, but instead chose to announce their decision to student representatives at a confidential meeting. One union officer told Concrete that the rent increase figures provided at

this confidential meeting by the university were “incomplete” and that the university failed to provide the students’ union with any detailed figures before publishing them on the UEA website.

UUEAS is an independent and democratically run charity that represents students within the University of East Anglia, campaigns on behalf of students and provides services such as the Shop and the Hive. The rent increases announced by UEA will apply to students living in rented accommodation as of September 2014.

Part-time study entrants in England plummet Lara-Jayne Ellice News reporter The UK has seen a huge drop in part-time study, with England holding the lowest numbers.

This is believed to have been as a cause of damaging policies put into place in England, but not elsewhere in the UK. England saw a 42% fall in part-time entrants between 2008 and 2012. Northern Ireland however saw a 16% increase, due to no changes being made to part-time funding arrangements and re-skilling workers being made a government priority.

A report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England shows that there has also been a 23% decline in parttime study in Scotland, and 12% in Wales.

The study, titled Pressure from all sides: Economic and Policy Influences on Part-Time Higher Education shows that the decline has occurred regardless of England’s recovery from the recession and an increase in eligibility for part-time study.

David Latchman, master of Birkbeck, University of London, a key centre for part-

Flickr: Sakeeb Sabakka time study, has stressed the importance of part-time higher education for economic growth and for students who have been outside formal education for long periods of time.

Latchman indicated that the Welsh government has reserved more part-time funding to keep tuition fees down, in order to avoid the fall seen in England.

He said: “That seems to be working well in Wales and we urge the English government to do the same”.

The study shows that the fall in part-

time learning between 2011-12 has a “strong correlation” to unemployment in England and economic weakness, as studying has become less affordable.

This is apparent in the North-East, with 8% unemployment, which saw a 50% fall in part-time entrants.

The report also looks at how part-time student numbers have changed in other countries since the economic crash. The drop in part-time study was much greater inPoland and China, though, learning increased in Canada, the US and Germany.

The Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) is holding elections for a new democracyrelated committee and for two part-time union officer positions.

Voting opens on 14th May for four places on the Democratic Procedures Committee (DPC) and for the positions of Ethnic Minorities Officer and International Students’ Officer. Students can vote in the Hive at any time between 11:00 and 16:00, or online at vote.ueastudent.com.

The Democratic Procedures Committee is a new committee, established to support the Campaigns & Democracy Officer in championing and extending democracy in the UUEAS. The Ethnic Minorities Officer and International Students Officer are tasked with representing and supporting ethnic minorities and international students at UEA. Consequently, the student union has asked that only those who identify as an ethnic minority vote in the Ethnic Minorities Officer election, and that only international students vote in the International Students Officer election.

All students can vote in the Democratic Procdures Committee election.

As of Friday 9th May, the candidates for the Democratic Procedures Committee are James Arnold, Rivka Benjamin, David Hall, Gilbert Macnoughton, Elliot Wengler, Josh Wilson, Dan Wrigglesworth and Samuel Lane. The only candidate for Ethnic Minorities Officer is Freddie Redfern, and the candidates for International Students Officer are Nicole Fong, Styliani Glakousaki and Alessandra Mariani. Students can also vote to ‘Reopen nominations’ (RON) for any of the positions.

Elections are being held for the Ethnic Minorities Officer and International Students Officer because no candidates stood for these positions when the main elections were held in April 2014.

News 4 Students grill candidates at EU election hustings Amy Rust News reporter On Thursday 1st May, local and European candidates came together from across the political spectrum, competing for the student vote here at UEA. Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) Communication Officer, Rosie Rawle, and PSI lecturer Dr Vassiliki Koutrakou were set with the task of hosting the debate and administrating fairness between the speakers.

Things began with the local hustings for elections to Norwich City Council.

Question topics included economic growth, those who are disadvantaged in society and biphobia. First to speak was Conservative candidate Michael Gillespie, standing in Thorpe Hamlet ward. He argued for reducing business rates to help create graduate jobs. Next up was Karen Michael, representative of Left Unity. Criticising the other parties on stage, her opening statement highlighted the failures of the mainstream parties and detailed how Left Unity would work to prevent the ongoing cuts to public services. Next was Roger Ryan, a Labour candidate in University Ward. He used his opening statement to highlight the Labour-led council’s building of 250 new council houses in Norwich and argued for the need to secure more jobs for the

Wikimedia: JLogan city. Next up was the UKIP representative, David Thornton, who argued for the redevelopment of Norwich infrastructure.

Following on, Green candidate Ash Haynes, who has been a Councillor in Town Close ward for over three years, called for more environmentally friendly technology to be introduced to Norwich.

The final speaker was Liberal Democrat James Wright, a councillor in Eaton ward, who talked about the Lib Dems’ record on the council. The highlight of the local candidate debate began with a question on gay marriage from a bisexual student, directed at UKIP asking “Why do you hate me, and people like me?” The UKIP

candidate opposed gay marriage, while all others spoke in favour.

Next, the candidates standing for the European Parliament took to the stage.

Students felt it was important to find out where current and potential Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) stood on Europe. Conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden called for a referendum on the EU, and argued for the interests of Britain to be heard in Brussels. Labour MEP Richard Howitt called for the European Union to be taken seriously and for Britain to work with it to tackle big global issues. Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff repeated his party’s message of “in-Europe”, highlighting the

need for European security and solidarity.

Green MEP candidate Rupert Read pledged to tackle rising energy costs and to lead the way on renewable energy. Mike Hughes, representing UKIP, opened with the failure of the other political parties to deal with the increasing demands of the European Union. Topics of the night included open border immigration, a proposal all of the candidates were against, and feminism. Rupert Read and Richard Howitt were unsure on whether men can identify as feminists, but said they supported feminists as allies. Geoffrey Van Orden stated that he believes in equal opportunity but would go no further than that, David Hughes claimed that UKIP had more female candidates running in the East of England than any other party and Andrew Duff talked about his record on human rights legislation.

Elections for the European Parliament, and for Norwich City Council, will take place on 22nd May. Eastern England is represented by three Conservative MEPs, two UKIP MEPs, one Lib Dem MEP and one Labour MEP. Norwich City Council is run by Labour, who hold 21 seats on the council. The Green Party holds 15 seats and the Liberal Democrats hold three.

Elections to the European Parliament are held under a form of proportional representation which enables smaller parties to win seats.

University to install WiFi in halls Increase in UK students considering studying abroad Elliot Folan News editor

Dan Falvey News editor A study conducted by the British Council has discovered that the number of UK students considering studying abroad is rising rapidly. After 2,500 students were surveyed, the poll found that 37% of all participants would take up a degree abroad, a 17% increase on the findings of a similar report last year.

According to those who answered, the rise in tuition fees was the main reason that they were considering studying for a degree abroad. When asked if the increase in university tuition fees in England had affected, and over half of participants (57%) said yes, a 30% increase in comparison to last year’s survey. In 2010, the coalition government took the decision to increase tuition fees from £3,290 to £9,000 per year, with the change coming into effect in 2012.

Dr Jo Beall, the British Council’s director of education and society, has spoken of their delight in the increase: “It is essential for the UK’s global

competitiveness that our next generation gain more international skills and understanding, so it’s very encouraging to see that more UK students are considering studying abroad.

‘The internationalisation of the UK’s education sector cannot be a one-way process. More of our young people need to be prepared to travel if we’re to catch up with countries like France and Germany”.

Earlier this year, universities minister David Willets indicated his wish for more UK students to study abroad insisting that an increase in students studying abroad would benefit the labour market: “In a globalised world, [it is] foolish to be parochial about higher education – to desperately cling on to every clever student as proof of our excellence”.

However, the increase in course fees is not the only reason more people are travelling abroad to study. The survey also found that the opportunity to travel overseas, have a “unique adventure”, improves job prospects and the chance to increase language skills were also reasons young people would consider studying outside of the UK.

UEA will be installing WiFi in UEA accommodation, it has announced.

Funding has been awarded for the installation of 1,000 wireless network access points across university residences, meaning that students living in campus accommodation will be able to use the internet in kitchens and halls, not just bedrooms. The 8MB WiFi provision will use the university’s “Eduroam” network which is available to all registered UEA students and staff.

Work began on installation in April, and should be completed by 5th September 2014. The university has told students that they will not be disturbed by the work, but a number of residents have already complained about noise and disturbances.

One second year student told Concrete: “They started work at 9am, and we kept on getting woken up by them drilling and hammering. It went on and off all day. I needed to work in my room to do exam revision because the library and cafes were full. They said it would be minimum disruption, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Why do it during exam time when

Flickr: Nick Perla students are trying to revise? Can’t they do it in the summer or any other time?”

Lack of WiFi in UEA halls has often been a complaint of students, with many expressing frustration at having to use Ethernet cables instead. The existing Ethernet cables will continue to function alongside the new WiFi. Further information can be found at www.uea.ac.uk/is/news/wirelessnetwork-residences. If students are inconvenienced by the work, they can contact the accommodation office at accom@uea.ac.uk.

Comment Subway in a pickle over new menu

Wikipedia: Terence Ong by an individual who follows Islam and one hasn’t.

Despite this, many have taken to starting campaigns to boycott Subway over perceived animal rights violations, blaming Islam for cruelty to animals which quite frankly does not exist in this instance. The option of Halal meat has been introduced solely to cater for

a varying population and instigated for purely financial reasons.

So whilst you may be unable to get a Chicken and Bacon Ranch Melt from a Halal Subway, no extra pain or suffering has been inflicted upon the rest of the animals used to fill their sandwiches and there’s still 1,238 Subways that can still provide your bacon fix!

The underlying dangers of nationalism

Wikipedia: Vaughan Leiberum Sophie Brinkley Concrete columnist It’s certainly interesting to take a look at how arbitrary national identity is, and how divisively it can be used politically.

One may regard oneself as proud to be a human and global citizen – but not proud to be British. We can appreciate that the latter may be considered controversial,

Royal romance Eve Lacroix Concrete columnist

Sheldon Vestey Concrete columnist Since 2007, 185 Subway franchises out of a total 1,423 have started serving Halal meat, meaning that ham and bacon are replaced with turkey ham and rashers in participating restaurants and the meat is slaughtered in line with Islamic law.

These new Halal stores came about during Subway’s fivefold expansion since 2004 and were determined by the individual franchisee based on the local area to cater to changing demographics.

Recent media hype has depicted Subway and, more recently, Pizza Express as being party to inferred animal cruelty via the slaughtering methods used in the preparation of their meat. However when asked for comment, Subway stressed that all meat served in its sandwiches would come from animals that have been stunned first, a practice that is exactly the same for meat not declared Halal. In effect this means that the sole difference between Subway’s Halal meat and its standard sandwich filler is that one has been blessed beforehand and slaughtered

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and on the surface sounds full of negative sentiment.

It must be argued however, that this is only because of the rhetoric surrounding national identity. It is precisely what needs to be addressed and deconstructed, in order for the power of hate-mongering and scapegoating political parties like UKIP to wane.

Simply because someone does not identify as patriotic, this does not make

them some kind of Western apologist or an individual whose opinion can easily be discredited. It also does not mean they cannot enjoy the culture, history and customs of this country.

Do not suffer sacred cows. We must challenge stereotypes and concepts that inhibit progress. The problem with national identity is that no one has the monopoly on its definition. It is vulnerable and powerfully used by dangerous parties to aid insidious political agendas.

The concept of patriotism has too much nationalist baggage. It forces us to adopt a world view that is divisive, rigid and segregationist. It precipitates that awful “them” and “us” culture, and ultimately it feeds anti-immigrant feeling.

It is almost clichéd now I suppose to speak of how we all come from immigrants, and how white people really aren’t all that white if we look at their heritage closely – consequently making the claim to superiority redundant. It’s hackneyed, but it is a step in the right direction. A step beyond that would be to say, even if someone is as white and “British” as they say – that holds no bearing on their value in society, and it certainly doesn’t make them more entitled to a better life.

We are all opportunists, and if you had the chance to improve the living standards of your family – perhaps even to save them from the depths of material poverty – would you not?

Just as magazines were brewing up engagement rumours following Prince Harry and his two-year girlfriend Cressida Bonas’s first official appearance as a couple, their split has been announced.

Certain gossip circles claim Kate Middleton played a role in their separation.

You see, Cressida has a half-sister named Isabella Calthorpe who once had a fling with Prince William when the two were on a break. Of course, this ignores the fact that Isabella is now married, but we can see how the reminder of his past relationship could be awkward.

Some news outlets, such as the Telegraph, report that the “laid back Miss Bonas had always found it difficult to cope with the attention of being a princess-inwaiting”. Of course, the irony is notable.

The Telegraph goes on to write: “They had found it impossible to conduct a relationship in the ‘full glare’ of the international media” and yet there they are reporting it.

Although the reliability of the sources and the assumptions remains questionable, this coverage is food for thought. We have been constantly bombarded with updates on Kate Middleton’s wardrobe during the Duke

“Kate knew what she was getting herself into” and Duchess of Cambridge’s royal tour.

Snaps of them walking by Uluru remind us of the same photos taken some 20 years back of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

The traditional aspects feel like heart-felt memory, but are the young royals under pressure to fit an archaic model that no longer works?

By marrying William, Kate had to resign herself to giving up a first world woman’s 21st-century agency, giving up the independence of free speech and a professional life by becoming a cultural symbol. Kate knew what she was getting herself into, whereas William and Harry were born into that lifestyle and had no choice.

Perhaps Cressida is not as ready to do the same. Having a bit of blue blood in her, maybe she wouldn’t feel the need to prove herself in the same way as Kate did. But, if she became a princess, she would have to give up her dream of acting on stage.

With the press’s strange obsession with treating the royaly and their love interests as celebrities, she would have to swap her casual scrunchies for a more respectable Middleton-style blowout.

Is it really fair for the paparazzi to follow their every move despite their royal status? Or has the media coverage overstepped a right to privacy?

6 Comment Royal Mail sell off: a back-ally deal gone wrong?

Emily Fedororowycz Online editor Channel Four’s The Now Show summed this up to a T with an allegorical story of a frog and a scorpion. In their story, both the characters needed to cross a lake, and the scorpion, given that he couldn’t swim, asked the frog to carry him across.

The frog was hesitant at first, being afraid that the scorpion might sting him, but the scorpion was very persuasive and convinced the frog he would do no such thing. If he stung the frog then they would both drown, and what would be the sense in that? So off they went.

Mid-way across the lake, the scorpion stung the frog. The frog exclaimed, “Why the heck did you do that? Now we’re both going to perish!” and the scorpion replied, “You knew I was a scorpion when you met me. Stinging is what I do”. And down they went to the watery depths.

Whilst being a terrifically tragic and seemingly pointless story, it does indeed put into perspective the reality of the Royal Mail parallel. The naïve frog, Vince Cable, not only took advice on what price to set for the shares from some of the very people he was selling to (for instance,

Lazard) but then sold millions worth of stock to hedge fund investors on the pinky-swear promise that they wouldn’t sell them on for a high profit.

Given that buying low and selling high is what hedge fund managers do for a living, it is unsurprising that within a day the £3.30 shares shot up to £4.89, and within a few weeks stood nearly 90% higher than the original set price. In other words, the government (and the taxpayer) got stung. However, unlike the first story, only Cable will drown as the scorpions run off with their millions of pounds in profit.

So what’s the moral of the story? Life is not a fairy tale. Don’t think that hedge funders aren’t going to do their job because “It would be nice if they didn’t, pretty please”. Perhaps having some sort of legally binding document to ensure the safety of taxpayers’ money would be a start, or finding some way to peg prices for a certain length of time to protect the selling of government shares. But in all honesty, it’s down to the government to have some sense. They have control of whom they sell to; they should be better informed, by more objective parties; and, most of all, they shouldn’t give scorpions the chance to sting them in the first place.

Fotopedia: Alex Folkes

The future for freedom of speech in Erdogan’s Turkey Dian Atamyanov Concrete columnist

Wikipedia: Randam

Once upon a time, Turkey was the beacon of hope for the Islamic states.

It was characterised by a democratic, progressive nation that embraced secularism while never once foresaking its ethnic roots. All of these ideals were instilled by Turkey’s “founding father”, Kemal Ataturk, an intellectual forged in the tradition of the Enlightenment, who established what is arguably the first Middle Eastern republic. Today, over 100 years later, what remains of that beacon is a flickering, dim light that is in danger of being put off indefinitely by the hands of backward-thinking men. All of this ruin began first by the suppression of free speech.

According to Freedom House, a media development non-profit organization, in 2013 less than 15% of the world’s population had the luxury of enjoying a free press, which is the lowest percentage recorded since the mid-90s. Turkey’s press is among those considered “not free”, which puts it in the same category as states like North Korea and Eritrea, places that would make George Orwell’s 1984 look like a mildly gloomy fairy tale.

Although the trouble here is not so much the numbers as the regions themselves –

a former local leader in human rights is now regressing into third world status.

What’s ironic is that, on the record, well over half of the African countries are counted as being significantly more open than almost all of Asia.

Turkey is currently seeing its journalists imprisoned and its media outlets bought off by government-tied goons, something unthinkable just a mere decade ago.

However, the prime minister Recep Erdogan doesn’t mean to stop there.

His recent attempts to block access to Twitter and YouTube are just one of many skirmishes on the integrity of free speech.

“If you think this is happening far away from home, think again” The far reach of the law stretches out across all spectrums of expression: writers, editors, poets, bloggers and many more face harsh prosecution under draconian dissent and defamation laws. Oh, and if you think all of this is happening far away from home, think again. Jabs at human rights are constantly being made even in bastions of freedom such as the UK: not long ago the Archbishop of Canterbury demanded stricter blasphemy laws while condemning Danish cartoonists for the horrid crime of speaking their mind through a handful of drawings.

Global

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The darker side of the World Cup Marta Catalano Global writer Every big event hides its dark corners behind great fanfares, adverts, pictures and shiny buildings. Those lurking behind the advertising and the promises of this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil are even darker than they seem.

According to a recent report by the Inter Press Service, the 12 football stadiums needed for the FIFA World Cup in June have not been completed yet.

This means that demands upon workers have become stricter, with working days longer (up to 18 hours) and no guarantees of good working conditions for the staff involved. Nine workers have already died on worksites, but the urgency of getting everything done before the big day has made the Labour Ministry push the workers to carry on.

One cannot help but share the feeling that the foundations of these new structures are concrete, corruption, and inequality. Recently in the Guardian, Simon Jenkins pointed out that this is costing Brazil $4bn (£2.4bn) on stadiums alone for 64 football matches – amounting to $62m per match – plus some $7bn for associated infrastructure.

These are enormous costs, especially for a country that needs money to solve other, perhaps far more important, issues.

Citizens complain about public services, healthcare and education and thus demand more public investmentsto get better public services. Giving priority to the football does not solve the country’s problems and certainly does not leave citizens happy. Last year in June, for example, urban riots started against the World Cup’s excessive expenditures,

Flickr: Carlos Ortega because while urban bus fares were going up, millions of reais (Brazilian currency) were dissolving into building contracts, amidst accusations of corruption.

And then there is the issue of favelas.

In 2008, the state governor Sergio Cabral instituted a favela “pacification” programem to try to eliminate, or at least diminish, criminality in the poorest and most dangerous areas of the city before the media could arrive en masse. The main goal was to drive gangs away from the favelas and “clean” the area by liberating a fifth of the city’s inhabitants and creating new resources and services for the

areas. Riots have been happening since then. Recently riots have only increased because the heavy tactics used by police have stirred up citizens’ anger. Shooting drug dealers and getting involved in gun battles is not solving the problem: it’s just making it worse. Members of the Popular Committee for the World Cup and Olympics state that more than 700,000 people are being taken away from their homes to get the city ready for the games. In Beijing, nearly 1.5m people were cleared for the Olympics in 2008.

Rio is not that close yet, but numbers are rising fast.

What we’ll see on TV will probably be shiny beaches, beautiful women, and happy people. But we cannot allow ourselves to forget or gloss over the price that has been paid for the shiny stadiums the matches will be played in. And let’s not forget as well that the FIFA World Cup is not the only event that Rio will be hosting. Work for the Olympics has already started with many problems in a city that is beautifully complex but vexed by economic and social issues. These need to be addressed on time, before those dark corners become supermassive black holes.

Why has the West not intervened in Ukraine?

Oliver Hughes Global editor You know the story. Aggro between two nations gets a little bit out of hand, the US spearheads a UN/NATO “peacekeeping” force to diffuse all the tension and make everything OK again. It has happened time after time since WWII. Yet in Ukraine, things are different. The Russian Federation has officially annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and pro-Russian separatist movements are fighting for further parts of the country to join Russia. It is, to all intents and purposes (many suspect that these pro-Russian militia are actually Russian troops), a Russian military operation aimed at seizing territory from

Ukraine. Yet aside from half-hearted threats of an embargo and not allowing Russia into the G8 summit, little has been done.

It is not like the West is necessarily afraid of Russia. In 2008, the US and its cronies were more than prepared to intervene in Georgia when Russian troops fought over the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are still considered Georgian territory under Russian military occupation. It took delicate negotiation from then EU president Nicolas Sarkozy to alleviate the anger. Yet there are no such movements for Ukraine.

Russia accounts for 25% of global natural gas production. Its major buyers are the EU, and its major supply routes are through Ukraine and Belarus. Russia

has already threatened to cut off natural gas to the EU if sanctions continue – and this is why the West is scared of further intervention. Germany, as Europe’s strongest country, has 65% of its energy supplied by Russia (a lasting effect of the Ostpolitik of the 1970s). Italy and France, two more of Europe’s biggest players, Turkey and Hungary are among the other largest importers of Russian gas. Were the power to be cut off, Europe would find itself struggling to keep the lights on.

Alternatives do exist, of course.

Iran and the US have both offered to open up pipelines to Europe. But the construction of these would cost billions of euros, as would a commitment to renewable sources – and this is money European nations do not have right

now. And regardless of how energy could be supplied, it would not change the fact Russia is well underway with its annexation of Ukraine. Europe would have to rely on US military intervention.

That is currently not a possibility, with Obama’s popularity under threat and the continuing nuclear deterrent – though any possibility of global thermonuclear war seems miniscule now.

The leverage Russia holds over Europe is one the Soviet Union lacked. Putin is more than aware that the ball is well and truly in his court. Were he to extend his reach to other former Soviet territories, without a new energy source, Europe could do little but sit and watch. It is time to think about Ukraine’s sovereignty – and about threats to other nations too.

10

Science&Environment

Antibiotics: are they a luxury of the past?

Jacob Beebe Science & Environment editor Many of us have grown up in a world in which antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections with minimal questions asked. You go to the doctors with a bit of a tickle in your throat and are immediately greeted by a strange bottle of off-banana tasting cure-all.

Well, it would seem that these days are numbered. The issue of antibiotic resistance that has been lurking in the shadows may have somewhat crept up on us. The World Health Organisation (WHO) now warns it has become a global threat.

The principle of antibiotic resistance is that over time, due to unnecessary prescriptions and patients not finishing their courses because they ‘feel better’, bacteria become less responsive to the drugs. This arises as a result of a ‘survival of the fittest’ situation in which bacteria that are not eliminated by the course of antibiotics survive to reproduce - all progeny conferring the same resistance.

A report from the WHO stated that this is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue across the entire globe and there are likely to be “devastating” effects unless urgent measures are put in place. It was reported that a number of commonly occurring and treatable diseases are becoming increasingly less manageable. For instance, E. coli urinary tract infection antibiotics are now ineffective in over 50% of cases. It is more than likely that without a long term contingency plan, there will be more and more cases of fatalities as a

Wikipedia result of previously treatable infections and simple surgical procedures.

It appears that no significant long term plan yet exists to prevent ourselves from falling back into the dark ages. There is always the option to pour more money into new antibiotics that are effective. However, this may only be efficacious in the short term and it is more than likely that before long we would be in the same position again. Also, the development of new drugs takes a significant amount of time: it can take over 15 years for a drug to pass human clinical trials

and be ready for use. It seems that a creative alternative is required in order to tackle the issue. One that can only be achieved through increased funding into research to better understand how the resistance occurs. International cooperation is also a key factor as some countries allow over-the-counter receipt of antibiotics whereas others require a prescription from a medical professional. International cooperation would help to ensure that there is collaboration between the scientific community, and that the issue does not worsen whilst researchers try to find

UK floods linked to climate change Jacob Beebe Science & Environment editor When struck with freak weather or natural disasters, it is easy to simply attribute them to “bloody British weather”. After the January floods, a number of key questions were raised about the future.

Are we now experiencing the effects of global warming? Some may assume this to be the case, however, there is always caution associated with these statements and scientists are usually unwilling to give a definitive answer until significant evidence arises. It is difficult to know as, under normal circumstances, we are unsure what would have happened in a world without fossil fuel contributions to the climate. Well now we can: research shows that the January flooding is linked to climate change.

A team at the University of Oxford ran an “attribution experiment”. They were able to use models to compare current rainfall and predicted rainfall of a world without the climate effect of fossil fuels.

The experiments ran 12,842 simulations and deduced that there was a significant difference between the two instances.

With the wettest weather since records began in January, can we expect more of the same in the future?

The evidence suggests the impact is small, but it does not prevent it from being significant. In terms of probability, climate change is the equivalent to a genetic predisposition to disease when considering unpredictable weather conditions. We are increasing the likelihood and are at a disadvantage from the off as a result, which is potentially an issue we need to minimise to help manage future disastrous weather.

the holy grail of modern medicine.

What the future will bring for us in terms of antibiotic treatments is hard to say. Hopefully the WHO report will act to stimulate some governmental appreciation for the gravity of the situation we are teetering on the edge of. For now, it is down to researchers to help preserve this golden age of antibiotics, and down to the Government to further educate the public on the concept of antibiotic resistance as well as how to better prevent infection in the first place through improved hygiene awareness.

What’s new in Science?

Researchers have developed a material that can regenerate itself! An end to cracked phone screens?

Scientists have discovered a long nosed cousin of the T-Rex, nicknamed the Pinocchio Rex! Researchers discovered a protein that could prevent flu pandemics.

Flickr: dachalan

Stem cell therapy has been used to regenerate heart muscle in primates post heart attack.

Fotopedia: Mirari Erdoiza

12

Travel

The bucket list Annabel Harper Travel writer In the news this week has been Stephen’s story, which tracks a remarkable young cancer patient who refuses to have his life defined by his illness. Since starting a 46-item long bucket list online, he has raised millions for cancer charities nationwide. His list included some of the usual suspects on a travel bucket list, such as a visit to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Without further adieu here are our own top five places to tick off the bucket list.

The Taj Mahal As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a frequent addition to any bucket list. Its white marble exterior provides a beautiful contrast to the exotic and bright colours India is renowned for. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the most important piece of architecture both globally and within Islamic culture.

Behind its beautiful aesthetics lies a deep cultural history. Built by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is steeped in history. The Taj Mahal was a symbol of the adoration the emperor felt for his wife, a symbol which has now transcended to a global

admiration of this beloved building, situated in Agra in the north of India.

Organised and guided tours are available in order to fully appreciate the beautiful architectural and cultural experience that is created by a visit to the Taj Mahal.

“[The Taj Mahal’s] white marble exterior provides a beautiful contrast to the exotic and bright colours India is renowned for”

The Northern Lights Many countries in the Northern Hemisphere host the opportunity to view the transcendent Northern Lights display. If you are running low on money, places as close as Scotland offer the chance to see the lights. Finnish Lapland is considered to be one of the most beautiful locations to experience the lights. Throughout the Finnish winter, between November all the way to April, the lights are visible. The further away from any built-up areas you can get, the more beautiful and brighter the Lights will be. Needless to say, you’ll need to wrap up warm for this experience which usually takes place between 17:00 and 02:00!

Pulling a pint of Guinness in Dublin A visit to the heart of Ireland to taste the infamous Irish beverage Guinness is a must for every bucket list. Dublin’s Guinness Store House offers to teach visitors how to pour your own pint of Guinness, and drinking it overlooking Dublin in the Gravity Bar is truly an amazing experience. You are taken on a tour of how to make Guinness from its raw ingredients to the final product, whilst being taught how to truly appreciate the richness of its flavour in tasting sessions. Other attractions in Dublin include visiting Trinity College or the Dublin Writer’s Museum, but the first thing to do when in Dublin is to taste the Irish culture by having a taste of true Guinness.

The Great Wall of China If you happen to find yourself in Beijing, a visit to the Great Wall of China is a must. Whether it’s the popular stretch at Badaling or the breathtaking scenic views in Mutianyu, this is a must see attraction. Its history runs as long as the wall itself, originally designed to defend against intruders.

The Great Barrier Reef Travelling half way across the world to the Great Barrier Reef offers the chance to experience an entire other world underwater. Scuba diving in Australia is unlike anywhere else, with some of the most beautiful and clear waters suited to both first timers and experienced scuba

Airunp divers. There is 2,300km of marine life stretched across the reef to explore, while its ever changing landscape ensures that there will always be plenty to see and explore here.

With technology widening the parameters of where travellers can go to, this list only touches the surface of what could be on a bucket list. Definitely the first thing to check off is to write a bucket list. It helps to order and organise your dreams to ensure they become a reality.

North Korea: travelling the road less travelled Madeline Rutherfoord Travel writer Vice is an international magazine and Youtube channel that creates travel documentaries. Their 2008 documentary follows Vice’s founder Shane Smith as he travels around North Korea.

Vice’s documentary on a ‘holiday’ to North Korea is the epitome of a holiday to the unknown. To anyone unsure what this would entail, a North Korean ‘holiday’ is an experience where the tourist is guided through staged experiences with waitresses, barmen and karaoke hostesses all trained to create an illusion of fun and freedom. While it feels easy to call these people actors who are pretending to relay a truthful and spontaneous North Korean experience, the word actor implies that they are in on the act, while in truth they are victims of the propaganda that creates their entire nation.

The audience to this documentary sees what any trip to the totalitarian military dictatorship is like, as the narrator and

Kok Leng Yeo cameraman are given their staged tour, and film it illegally. What is interesting about this documentary is how ignorant the production team are. While most travel documentaries have a team behind it who, through research and personal experience, are well-informed about the destination, this one differs in that the crew and narrator know just as much about the political workings and general life in North Korea as the audience and

even world leaders do. The documentary offers a unique experience where all information and all experiences given by the tour guides is constructed and fake, meaning all ‘real’ information given by the narrator is mere speculation. It is a documentary that informs not by relaying facts but by purely filming an experience and giving it to the audience to, much like on a real holiday, make up their own minds about the place.

So why are people so drawn to going down the road less travelled? While many will think that North Korea holds the title of being the least visited in the world, it is actually only sixteenth from bottom. The attraction of visiting such a place must lie in the human desire to know the unknowable. North Korea is a political mystery and the most opaque nation on Earth so it’s natural for people to feel that they need to understand how it works as well as marvel at the sheer alien nature of a world so different from their own.

However, the question remains: can anything good come out of visiting such a place? While travelling traditionally broadens the mind, such a trip as this, where no real truthful information about

life there can be gleaned and the only available information is propaganda ,arguably does the opposite. However, as seen in the documentary, visiting a place so unknown and different has the ability to change your life and perspective. While you may not leave the country feeling as if you understand it, you will inevitably leave it knowing at least one objective truth: that one can never understand it.

Visiting such a place, or at least watching a documentary about visiting it, is almost the only way of comprehending the existence of such a regime in the 21st century.

Michael Day

Lifestyle

13

How to do festivals in 2014 Mimi Okorie Lifestyle writer As the current academic year comes to a close, the summer holidays are slowly becoming the sole topic of conversation.

In order to procrastinate and avoid the extremely depressing subject of pending examinations, everyone is deciding what deserves their precious time when freedom comes their way. Regardless of whether they are deciding to book a cheeky trip to Magaluf or deciding what weekend would be perfect for that much needed flat reunion, everyone has summer on the brain. One of the major choices made during this time of year revolves around the topic of festivals.

What festival has the best line up? Is it best to stay in the UK or go abroad? With a whole load of festivals taking place annually, there are a vast amount of options and it is crucial to decide which festival is right for you and your bank account.

The UK always has an amazing range of festivals catering to all different music tastes. With options like Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, T in the Park and Wireless, it is obvious why people struggle each year when deciding which festival is best for

them. As appealing as these festivals are, they are not always kind to our wallets. When the funds are not on your side, it is often best to find alternative ways to enjoy these festivals. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at a festival which provides the enjoyment of the festival for no cost at all!

Although there is no guarantee that you will be chosen to volunteer, the more festivals

“One thing that people tend to forget is that there are festivals around the UK that are absolutely free!” you apply to, the more chance you will have of being chosen. Check out the Jolly Green Sherpas’ website for more information on how to get involved.

Festivals abroad tend to be cheaper than those within the UK. An example of this is the Benicassim Festival that takes place every year in Spain, providing eight days of camping and four days of sensational music for just £150. This is far cheaper than a weekend ticket at festivals like Reading and Glastonbury. Also, it’s important not to forget travel costs – it’s easy to get cheap flights to countries like Spain with the help of websites such as lastminute.com.

Flickr: Helen Cassidy One thing that people tend to forget is that there are festivals around the UK that are absolutely free! The Roundhouse in Camden, London, hosts an event every summer called The Camden Beach. With live music, food and cocktails on offer, it’s the perfect place for all those people who can’t afford to go to a major festival. Similarly,

there is no harm in applying to win tickets for festivals such as the iTunes Festival.

Who knows, by downloading the iTunes Festival app on a whim and crossing your fingers, you might be given the opportunity to watch the amazing Justin Timberlake or Pharrell Williams do their thing on stage for free!

Getting a degree versus getting experience all about juggling your time between the academic and the social, but with the different societies and clubs available at UEA, you can most definitely mix the two

Holly Wade Lifestyle writer We’re all at university to get one thing: a degree. But when you’re looking for graduate jobs, how useful will your degree actually be? And do employers value work experience more or less that they do your degree?

It all depends on the type of experience you’re getting and the type of degree you’re studying. Employers are always going to be looking for people with experience but this shouldn’t be at the expense of your degree. Work experience is like an added bonus for employers and just because you haven’t necessarily had any, it doesn’t mean that an employer will think any less of you.

For most of Concrete’s writers, a job in journalism is the main aim and writing, proofing or editing Concrete can look great on your CV. Taking the journalism module at UEA may also look great but it doesn’t guarantee you a job in the future.

Extra-curricular activities are a great way of showing employers your experience, and they are just as valuable as ones in the workplace; it also means you don’t have to take time away from your studies on that week-long internship. If you can find work experience then that’s great, but do try to make it coincide with your holidays;

“It really is different for everyone but remember every little thing will help.”

Simon Fraser University this shouldn’t be too tricky seeing as us students do get a lot of time off. Likewise, always apply for as much as you can. Lots of people will be vying for similar jobs and you are bound to get knock-backs along the way. Applying is an experience in itself and will help you deal with later situations

when looking for a job.

Of course your degree is important too. Employers are looking for candidates who can prove that they are dedicated and committed, and what better way to show this than by the fact that you have stuck at a course for three years. University is

without detracting from the time you need for your studies. Being part of at least one society gives you a little extra to add to the CV and it doesn’t have to be a chore to partake in.

There is no clear-cut way to say whether your degree or experience is more valuable and it definitely isn’t black and white. Dependent on the job you are looking for and the subject you study, either could be more beneficial and only you can really decide. Working hard at your degree and adding at least one extracurricular activity to your repertoire won’t hurt though.

The more you do the better for your future, but don’t feel pressured into having to do huge amounts at the expense of your degree or your life. Try getting in touch with people who do a similar job to what you’d like and see what kinds of things they did. It really is different for everyone but remember every little thing will help.

Sport

15

Norwich City: where did it all go wrong?

Flickr: Stuart MacFarlane Kat Lucas Sports editor Norwich’s relegation has been sealed after Sunderland completed their great escape from the drop zone.

Summed up by record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel, whose solo goal on the opening day at Everton has been a poor return for their £8.5m investment, a season which promised much after an eleventh place finish last year has failed to

deliver.

With their atrocious run-in, featuring Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City and only a slender gap over the teams behind, the Canaries’ fate was something of a formality, and regretfully, an outcome to their season that was all too deserved. Neil Adams’ side were reliant on Sunderland not picking up any points in their home games against West Brom and Swansea City to have any chance of survival, but the Black Cats’ 2-0 win against the Albion on

Tuesday condemned Norwich to a return to the Championship after three years in the Premier League.

City knew that nothing less than a win would be enough against a strong Chelsea side, but a gallant display in the 0-0 draw at the Bridge was not enough. That, sadly, has been the story of their season. The Yellows have been undeniably superb at rising to some of the big occasions, beating Tottenham 1-0 and securing goalless draws with Man City and Chelsea. But too often, there has

not been enough cohesion in the squad, and more painfully for the Carrow Road faithful, there has not been enough fight.

Chelsea boss José Mourinho spoke of his bewilderment after the Stamford Bridge game at Norwich’s defensive tactics considering their lowly position.

It may not have been a parked bus, but it came close.

Both former manager Chris Hughton and his replacement Adams – a former youth team coach with no top flight experience whatsoever – have seemed afraid to take risks, and their negative tactics, combined with week in, week out displays of lethargy and poor defending, has proved their downfall.

Their gusty 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, while not yielding any points, was a demonstration of the football Norwich are capable of playing when they are filled with belief, but all too often this was found lacking, despite the obvious talents of Leroy Fer, the sparkling wing play of Nathan Redmond and the dynamism of Jonny Howson in midfield.

The blame must not only be apportioned to the players, as it seems to be a mentality that permeates around the club. Like their manager, the board were too hesitant to make the big decisions, with Hughton’s firing in April coming far too late to have any impact. City may have some harsh lessons to learn from Sunderland in that respect, the North East club’s miracle escape coming after ditching the divisive Paolo di Canio and appointing Gus Poyet in October.

Those misgivings mean the Yellows have joined a sorry Fulham – who changed their manager twice – and Cardiff, whose relegation was confirmed with two games to go.

UEA Men’s cricket abandoned due to bad weather Glenn Wheeler Sports reporter The UEA Cricket First XI was left frustrated on Wednesday as a late deterioration of the weather resulted in their fixture against the University of Bedfordshire being abandoned. When the rain set in, UEA were 78-4, but the heavy shower meant that play could not be resumed at Colney Lane, leaving the hosts a disappointing 54 runs short of their target.

After losing the toss, UEA were asked to field first, but they made the perfect start as Elliot Whiting (2-21) struck with the fourth ball of the match, largely thanks to a low, diving catch by Nick Emery at square-leg, who himself went on to take 2-13. Whiting claimed one

more scalp during his six over spell, and his replacement from the Pavilion End, Ash Layer (3-11), was soon amongst the wickets as well. At one stage, however, Bedfordshire did threaten to make a recovery, as their remaining opening batsman struck two sixes and one four off a single Glenn Wheeler over. The first-year claimed his revenge, though, as he bowled Phillips through the gate on 32. Following the dismissal, the visitors struggled to maintain a substantial runrate and under relentless pressure, allowed UEA to take wickets at regular intervals, with Emery and Karsh Patel (224) claiming two each. The home side may feel they let Bedfordshire’s last-wicket off the hook somewhat, as they went on to score another ten runs, but Layer eventually brought the innings to an end,

returning to claim his third wicket of the day.

With UEA requiring 132 runs to achieve victory, openers Wheeler and Gabriel Inch strode to the wicket with the task of providing the hosts with a solid start. The early signs were promising as Inch showed discipline when facing Bedfordshire’s quick opening-bowler, Gordon Harris (2-24), but in the third over of the innings, he gloved a catch to slip on one as he failed to avoid a short delivery that was greatly aided by the Colney pitch.

Inch’s departure brought John Ewart (23*) to the crease and he and Wheeler took the score past 25 before the latter was clean bowled as a result of playing down the wrong line. Harry Williams contributed a further eight runs before he had his middle-stump up-rooted,

and Patel soon followed him back to the Pavilion after being given out leg before wicket for a duck. Ewart was not fazed by the loss of three partners though and as he continued to look comfortable, he was joined by Ben Tosland (8*) and the hosts were soon placed in an extremely strong position as the total moved onto 78.

Unfortunately, the rain then commenced and the umpires decided that conditions were not safe enough for play to resume, leading to the fixture being abandoned.

Even though UEA were unable to claim the victory that they deserved, the team remains in an extremely strong position in the BUCS Cricket Midlands 2A League. Next week will be crucial in their fight for promotion, as they travel to Nottingham on Wednesday and Leicester the following Sunday.

16 SPORT concrete-online.co.uk @Concretesport ConcreteSportUEA

Editor’s column KAT LUCAS

Wikimedia

Concrete picks England’s 23-man squad James Newbold Sports editor Selecting the England squad is a somewhat thankless task. Concrete went to press ahead of the team’s selection on 12th May, but Sport takes a pre-emptive shot at guessing the names of the men who get to don the England shirt come the summer.

Barring disaster, the likes of captain Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Joe Hart, having bounced back from being dropped over Christmas to re-establish himself as England’s number-one goalkeeper, can say with certainty that they will be on the plane. Despite being ruled out since February due to injury, Everton’s Phil Jagielka should be added to that list, and will return to partner Chelsea’s Gary Cahill at centre back, while Glen Johnson has established himself as Hodgson’s preferred choice at right back.

The rest are not quite so straightforward, and have been the domain of much debate in the buildup to the tournament. In goal, the race to be Hart’s deputy looks most likely to be won by West Brom’s Ben Foster, although Celtic stopper Fraser Forster and Norwich’s own John Ruddy, each with one cap, will also be hanging on the end of the phone. Jon Flanagan could be the main beneficiary of an injury to Kyle Walker to fill in at right back. The Scouser’s breakthrough into Liverpool’s

first team, out of position at left back, has been one of the year’s feel good stories and his inclusion in the England squad would be a clear sign of just how far the 21-year-old has come this season, although his lack of experience could have counted against him.

Much the same could be said of Southampton’s Luke Shaw, whose position at left back had looked relatively secure until Ashley Cole’s re-emergence in recent weeks. 18 year old Shaw has been linked with all the big clubs after an impressive season on the south coast, capped with his inclusion in the PFA Team of the Season, although 33 year old Cole’s 107 caps could tip the balance in his favour. Hodgson may have decided to take both.

At centre back, Phil Jones’ versatility could also gert him to Brazil despite a poor season for his club, while Chris Smalling’s towering presence at the back could well see his inclusion too, although Roy Keane could be made to mince his words if Curtis Davies’ standout season at Hull has been rewarded.

After a breakthrough season in the engine room alongside Gerrard that has thrust Liverpool into the title race, Jordan Henderson is another likely name on Hodgson’s list. The former England U-21 captain could even start the first match against Uruguay, although much hinges on whether Arsenal’s creative influence Jack Wilshere can return to fitness in time.

Hodgson’s attempts to strike a balance between attack and defence

could have played into the hands of Manchester City utility man James Milner, who is well-liked by the manager for his unpretentious work ethic. However, the prodigious talent of Everton’s Ross Barkley, whose array of spectacular goals could be just what England need coming from the bench, with Chelsea veteran Frank Lampard and Hull’s talisman Tom Huddlestone are outside bets.

On the wings, accommodating both Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling is a problem most managers would envy, with the former’s groin injury unlikely to affect the final decision. Adam Lallana is another from the Southampton contingent to make the PFA Team of the Year who might count himself unlucky to miss out.

On the goal front, along with Rooney, England’s hopes will likely rest on the shoulders of 23-goal Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, with United’s Danny Welbeck providing able support from the bench. Rather than the lofty heights of Andy Carroll, Hodgson may have made the astute addition of the Premier League’s most in-form striker and April’s player of the month Connor Wickham, whose vital goals against Manchester City, Chelsea and Cardiff have helped keep Sunderland in the top flight. And yet, Rickie Lambert has not missed one of his 34 spot kicks since moving to Southampton in 2009, a record which would come in handy should England find themselves facing the dreaded penalty shootout.

As the curtain closes on another enthralling Premier League season, all eyes are focused on the array of events the summer has to offer.

Last week, FA Chairman Greg Dyke announced plans for Premier League “B” teams to play in the lower leagues to help young English players, perhaps getting the excuses in early before Roy Hodgson’s side jet off to Brazil for the World Cup. For almost the first time in living memory, England does not expect, after being drawn in a group of death with Italy, Costa Rica and Uruguay.

British pride will also be at stake on the courts at Wimbledon as Andy Murray seeks to defend his crown. The world of tennis has been rocked by the untimely passing of former British women’s number one Elena Baltacha, so another Murray victory would be greatly received by home fans.

Elsewhere, England’s cricket team will start life under Peter Moores for the second time with a series against Sri Lanka. The first test against the T20 world champions takes place on the 12th June, with Lord’s looking on to see how the Three Lions fare without the retired Graeme Swann and exiled Kevin Pietersen. After a winter of discontent, there is certainly a sense of a new era pervading around the England camp.

Golf fans will have one eye on the US Open, while the motorsport triple crown, the Indianapolis 500, Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hours will keep race fans occupied.

It has also been a great week of progress for women in sport as French club Clermont Foot appointed Helena Costa as the first female coach in a European league. That comes after Pippa Mann announced a deal to compete at Indy for Dale Coyne Racing to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Once the dust settles from the World Cup, the summer will end in dramatic fashion in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It’s already shaping up to be another great summer of sport.