Forge Press #157 by Forge Press

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Forge Press ISSUE 157 | MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2021

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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Sheffield UCU Staff due to strike before Christmas Harry Harrison

Members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) at the University of Sheffield will strike in December over pensions, pay and working conditions. Staff will walk out between 1 and 3 December after Sheffield staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in two ballots earlier in the month. Dr Sam Marsh, VicePresident of the Sheffield UCU and National Negotiator for the UCU on USS pensions, said: “It's hard to overexaggerate how bad things have got. “Pay is down in real terms by 15-20% over that time, pensions for our retirements have been cut by even more.” Dr Marsh also said there were “huge pay gaps” based on gender and ethnicity at universities across the country. Further to the national issues, the Sheffield UCU sees an additional problem with the decision to close the University of Sheffield

Archeology Department earlier in the year. Dr Marsh said: “The decision… was one that went against the wishes of many staff and students at the University and doesn't appear to make financial sense, but was pushed through regardless.” The University said the closure of the archaeology department was due to declining interest to study within the department at an undergraduate level, but “It believes archaeology teaching and research can thrive at Sheffield through focusing on key areas of excellence, and teaching and research at postgraduate level.” The UCU has said the three days were the start of “sustained disruption” if its demands were not met and it will “escalate it’s disputes next term”. UCU members have gone on strike every year since 2018 over pay and conditions. There was a 14-day strike in 2020 over pension cuts. Continues on page 4 >>>

Student's Union to launch 2 week programme against gendered-violence Jade Bullen Sheffield Students Union has announced a 2 week programme which will run alongside the 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence campaign. To begin the campaign, the SU will be taking part in the Reclaim the Night March, which will be taking place on Saturday 27th, beginning at 6pm at Sheffield Cathedral.

A rally will then take place at 7pm at the Students’ Union. The Students Union said: “We are taking these 16 days to gather, learn and demand change.” 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a campaign that was created by the United Nations to challenge violence against women and girls. It runs every year around November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence

against Women, to December 10th, which is Human rights day. The Students’ Union said: “These events are not isolated, but are a part of a pattern of gendered violence which we urgently need to end.” UN Women revealed this year that 97% of women aged between 18-24 have been sexually harassed. All students are welcome to join any of the events.

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Letter from the Editor FORGE PRESS EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief Harry Harrison

Deputy Editor Kate Procter

Deputy Editor John Gilding Managing Editor Michael Scarborough Head of Design George Tuli Head of Photography Flo Kilby Website Manager Vacant Head of Socials and Advertising Charlotte Crompton Inclusions & Welfare Officer Molly Powell Events Coordinator Jiaxu Luo Secretary Charlotte Langford Head of News Indie Labbe-Jones News Editor Joey Grindrod News Editor Laycie Beck News Editor Kane O’Regan Features Editor Gina Marie Kalsi Features Editor Wiktoria Wrzyszcz Opinion Editor Pia Cooper Opinion Editor Leticia Chen Science & Tech Editor Louise Elliott Science & Tech Editor Tevy Kuch Lifestyle Editor Claire Gelhaus Lifestyle Editor Ella Brooker Break Editor Aidan Smith Break Editor Chloe Louise O’Connor Arts & Theatre Editor Jade Burnett Arts & Theatre Editor Maddy Burgess Music Editor Callum Martin Music Editor Rory O’Shea Screen Editor Miette D’Souza Screen Editor Chloe Aslett Games Editor Reiss Mason Games Editor Tom Butt Head of Sport Jemma Snowdon Sport Editor Rahul Warrier Sport Editor Miriam Kuepper Multimedia Editor Jinqian Li Multimedia Editor Larissa Hurt Multimedia Editor Tong Liu News Reporter Charlotte Stokes News Reporter Stephanie Lam News Reporter Nathan Barcio News Reporter Connor Ost News Reporter Jade Bullen Deputy Head of Socials and Advertising Joel Hooke Social Media Assistant Ellie Storey Social Media Assistant Amy Mullen-Brown

“Merry Christmas everyone”

erry Christmas everyone. I hope you’re all ready to crack out the advent calendars and have managed to make some sort of inroad into your Christmas shopping. This is the last issue of Forge Press before the break and I’m hoping you’ll once again enjoy our content and use it to take a moment to separate yourself from the exams and essay deadlines. This month, we welcome back four pages some students may recognise, but haven’t featured so far this year. Now 36 paper pages of the good stuff. Firstly, I’d like to welcome back the popular Break section. After our AGM at the end of the last academic year, we had no break editors and only in our EGM after freshers week did we fill those positions. Aidan and Chloe opted to skip the last issue in October in order to become more comfortable with the work and I think it was a great choice. They’ve joined us with their regular two pages, filled with content you’ll be able to smile at.

student societies you may not have considered. This issue, we spoke to the Irish Dance Society, who are having a fantastic year. Go and check them out. I’d also like to welcome Michael Scarborough, a member of SU staff who will take up the role of Managing Editor with Forge Press. Michael will be helping us ensure our content is tip-top and legal. Don’t worry though, we’ll still be scrutinizing and holding your elected representatives and Student’s Union to account. Like you, we will be taking a break over the holidays too. You’ll likely notice a reduced amount of content heading out, but we’ll still be here to bring you any important information about your University, Student’s Union and the student city you know and love. If you’re heading home this Christmas, I wish you safe travels, and if you’re staying in the Steel City, I hope you enjoy all the sights on offer during this beautiful season. To everyone, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We’ll see you in February.

Secondly, What’s On has return to give you an insight into the lovely Christmassy events that are upcoming. Finally, for the first time since the 2019/20 academic year, Society Spotlight has returned to give you an insight into some of our

Harry Harrison Editor-in-Chief

Monday 29 November 2021

NEWS Society calls on Hallam to recind motion deemed antisemetic

The big picture

Page 4 ▶

NEWS Hundreds of people march across City Centre in climate change protest

Head of Photography, Flo Kilby, on the recent COP26 protest in Sheffield, outside City Hall.

was honestly really pleasantly surprised at the COP26 protest. Despite the march being a demonstration of visible frustration, Sheffield managed to turn it into a day of entertainment, almost a Sheffield celebration day if you will. From a samba band jolting down the Moor to a banjo revolutionary socialist chiming his catchy COP26 tune on the steps of Sheffield City Hall, it was as if to say ‘Look at this community we’ll lose after the world burns

Page 7 ▶

OPINION

down!’ The atmosphere didn’t feel angry but passionate. These attendees were here for personal reasons just as much as political. One lady I spoke to felt she needed to ‘make up for lost time’ because she hadn’t given a consideration to the environment for years. She and many others wanted to do something that they thought was right and that spirit spread though Sheffield like wildfire.

Is our Student’s Union doing enough to combat the spiking crisis? Page 12 ▶

FEATURES The immediate outcomes of COP26 are not enough Page 10 ▶

SCIENCE & TECH Robot Dolphins offer hope of cruelty free theme park Page 15 ▶

ARTS & THEATRE The Climate protests outside of City Hall, Photo: Flo Kilby

NEW Rising Poetry section - poem by Ruby Watson Page 24 ▶

MUSIC Live Review: DMA’s at the O2 Academy Page 26 ▶

Forge Press

News

Sheffield Staff due to strike before Christmas: Dates confirmed for industrial action Harry Harrison >>> Continued from front Dr Marsh said: “More disruption is the last thing that any of us want - students and staff alike - but having spent the pandemic working harder than ever only to be met with more pay and pension cuts and a lack of any commitments on working conditions and pay gaps, we can't carry on any longer without a change.” The Union is demanding pension cuts be revoked and improved pay offers be put forward by employers. Further to the three-day strike, University of Sheffield

staff voted to take action short of strikes. Starting on 1 December, staff will work strictly to their contracts and refuse any additional duties. Acknowledging the strikes in a recent SU Highlights email to students, Sheffield SU President, Evie Croxford, said in a statement: “Our Officer team represents a range of views on the strikes, and we each respect each other's individual opinion while we work together to represent every student here at Sheffield and find a resolution. “Whatever position you take on the strikes, our SU is here to support you.” The statement urged

“

More disruption is the last thing any of us want - students and staff alike theUCU and Universities to come together to negotiate and avert any disruption for students. Universities UK said they will “ensure students can continue to learn”. The University and Colleges Employers Association called the strikes an “unrealistic attempt” to bring universities back to the negotiating table on pay.

Society calls on Sheffield Hallam to rescind a motion deemed antisemitic Laycie Beck The Sheffield Jewish Society, made up of students from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, has responded to a recent motion which they consider to be antisemitic. Sheffield Hallam University University and College Union passed a motion sharing their “dismay” over the sacking of Professor David Miller, who lost his role at The University of Bristol following

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Sheffield Hallam University UCU has passed a motion stating that accusations of antisemitism... were 'malicious and unfounded'

accusations of antisemitic comments. The motion was passed by the SHU UCU on Wednesday 17 November and expresses “solidarity and concern to David Miller.” The motion was passed by the UCU branch with 18 votes for, 16 against and 11 abstentions. It stated that “The University of Bristol has abrogated its responsibility to defend academic freedom in the face of external political pressure.” Sheffield Jewish Society is a student society that promotes Jewish life at both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. In a public response, the society said: “Sheffield Hallam University UCU has passed a motion stating that accusations of antisemitism against former Bristol academic David Miller, were not simply mistaken, but were ‘malicious and unfounded’. “JSocs are peer-led

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The branch absolutely refutes any accusations of antisemitism and asserts its commitment to oppose all forms of racism student societies which exist to enhance Jewish students’ experience at university, support their religious, cultural and social needs, and advocate for Jewish student issues.” When approached for comment, Sheffield Hallam UCU said: “The branch absolutely refutes any accusation of antisemitism and asserts its commitment to oppose all forms of racism, including antisemitism.” The Sheffield Jewish Society is calling on SHU

UCU to rescind its motion. The Sheffield Hallam University Branch of UCU has further stated: “The motion passed by our branch expresses support for Miller, who has been wrongly accused of antisemitism, as affirmed by an independent legal investigator, and who has been sacked for expressing his views on Zionism and Israel. “The motion further defends the principle of academic freedom of expression and debate that Universities and their academic staff are dutybound to uphold. “It would not be democratic to ‘rescind’ the motion since it has been passed following democratic processes and after fair and balanced debate among members of the branch.” The society’s response also stated: “We do not expect allegations of antisemitism to be uncritically accepted. “We do expect that when allegations of antisemitism are made, they are taken

seriously and assumed to be in good faith. “When claims of antisemitism are dismissed as being ‘malicious and unfounded’, and assumed to be dishonest tools to silence criticism of Israel, Jewish students are not being safeguarded from antisemitism, but rather antisemitism is safeguarded and nurtured.”

“

The motion passed by our branch expresses support for Miller, who has been wrongly accused of antisemitism, as affirmed by an independent legal investigator, and who has been sacked for expressing his views

Monday 29 November 2021

News

Sheffield anti-spiking campaign achieves aims just 5 weeks after launching Indie Labbe-Jones Claim Back West Street (CBWT), a safer-streets campaign founded by the Steel City Courier, has achieved all three of their aims only five weeks after the campaign was launched. The campaign was launched on the 15th October and pledged to meet these aims over an eight week period, however these have been achieved in just five. The campaign began in response to a surge in alleged spikings at nightclubs in Sheffield, including The

Foundry at the University of Sheffield’s Students Union. In response to these events at the Foundry, a spokesperson for the university said that: “We take any reports of drink spiking very seriously and work closely with our Students’ Union and South Yorkshire Police to ensure that students feel safe and supported to enjoy nights out in Sheffield. We would urge any student who has experienced an incident of drink spiking to report it to South Yorkshire Police, and to contact our support services so they can receive the help and support they

need.” Just five weeks in, their three main aims have been achieved. These aims are: to have safe spaces on west street, to push for all West Street bars to introduce anti-spiking measures and to bring street volunteers to Sheffield. Wiktoria Wrzyszcz, one of the faces behind the campaign, said:“Achieving our aims in just 5 weeks isn’t something that we expected at the start. It’s a really positive outcome because it shows that there are people and organisations who heard us and want to change something in the city.”

University of Sheffield placed among top 100 in the world for Arts and Humanities Indie Labbe-Jones The University of Sheffield has ranked among the top 100 in the world for Arts and Humanities, a report published on 3rd November finds. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject has placed Sheffield among the world’s best Universities for teaching and research in the faculty of Arts and Humanities. THE is the predominant higher education news outlet in the UK, it’s university rankings are well established and cover all subjects. According to the 2022 THE statistics, The University of Sheffield has been ranked joint 67th with the University of Birmingham, out of 600 of the world’s leading institutions. The Vice-President for Arts and Humanities at Sheffield, Susan Fitzmaurice said “I

am very pleased and proud that the arts and humanities have maintained our global standing at a time of rapid change and considerable challenge throughout society.” Arts and Humanities covers subjects as diverse as Japanese and Music and focuses on the core elements of what makes us human through the examination

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According to the 2022 THE statistics, The University of Sheffield has been ranked joint 67th with the University of Birmingham, out of 600 of the world's leading institutions

of languages, histories and cultures. Sheffield’s faculty of Arts and Humanities is renowned for both its teaching and research, attracting students from all over the world. Fitzmaurice went on to say that “as we look for a way out of the pandemic, the arts and humanities are more important than ever.” “We can’t address the challenges and divisions we are facing without people educated in the arts and humanities sharing their critical reflection, analytical skills, knowledge and understanding.” The University of Sheffield has placed in the top 100 multiple times before, maintaining its position from last year's rankings.

Over this short period of time, CBWT has gained backing from the University of Sheffield Femsoc, City Ward Councillors, South Yorkshire police, Sheffield Night In, Street Pastors and a handful of other West Street bars including Molly Malones. Miss Wrzyszcz added that “it was really important that we got backing from major pubs and bars. We managed to organise an online meeting with representatives of all of these groups, who want to cooperate with each other to start important changes.” Miss Wrzyszcz said

CBWT has been working closely with these bars and organisations in order ensure the safety of individuals during nights out, this includes “a volunteer group who would help people that are vulnerable or have been spiked” and also “posters created to raise awareness.” Despite having achieved their aims, the campaign is still fighting for safer streets in Sheffield, specifically West Street. Miss Wrzyszcz said that “as a group of students we are really proud of what we’ve achieved.

Emergency demonstration at Sheffield Town Hall spreads awareness of Cuban crisis. Charlotte Stokes Over Remembrance weekend, 10th and 11th of Nov, Sheffield Labour Left were participating in a mass demonstration to raise awareness for the economic hardships Cuba and other socialists states face. The group stood in solidarity with flags and leaflets telling passers-by in the City centre that they believe the current issues are “legitimate complaints” as a result of America’s neglect. The chairman of the Sheffield Cuba Solidarity campaign, Tim Plant, said: “These issues have been present since Fidel Castro's revolution in the 1950s, but have been undermined and silenced more since Trump's presidential reign, followed by Biden.” Earlier this year, as the vaccine rolled out, the US blockaded routes within Cuba, preventing basic essentials such as medical

care and even extra vaccinations into the country to hinder their health care standards. Although Mr Plant’s wife, Suzie, said: “Cuba had to make their own vaccine as a result of the blockade, they have a good healthcare system, regardless of the disadvantages the US forces on them.” The economic crisis in Cuba meant that people could not continue to lockdown. With no aid from their neighbouring country, the Abdala vaccine was created in Cuba as a means of saving themselves. The group intend to re-ignite #SOSCuba and spread awareness of the consequences of US sanctions. The group has a public Facebook page named ‘Sheffield CSE’ and a website with more details on planned protests and their core purpose.

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News

South Yorkshire arts and culture amongst the worst hit by Covid, report finds Joey Grindrod A report from the University of Sheffield has found that the arts, culture and heritage sector has been one of the industries worst affected by Covid, with South Yorkshire’s arts and culture sector in particular one of the worst hit in the country. Nationally, the industry suffered a steep decline in output over the course of the pandemic. 55% of workers in the sector were furloughed, making it the second worst affected industry, after hospitality. Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City and Culture and Chair in Early Film and Popular Entertainment at the University of Sheffield, said that the report demonstrates

the “catastrophic effect [of the pandemic] on the finances of people who work in the sector, as well as businesses and venues”. South Yorkshire’s arts and culture in particular have been amongst the most affected in the UK. This is thought to be because the region has an exceptionally high share of jobs in the sectors affected. South Yorkshire’s arts, culture and heritage industry reported an estimated 22% output loss over the course of the pandemic – 5% higher than the national average. As well as the economic impact of the pandemic, the report also investigated the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of those who work in the industry. Over three

quarters of South Yorkshirebased freelancers in arts and culture reported a decrease in mental wellbeing since the start of lockdown. Event crew, lighting and sound engineers were the most likely to say that their mental health was “much worse” than at the start of the pandemic. The report also finds that younger, male respondents reported the greatest levels of distress over the past 18 months of the pandemic. Kate Brindley, Arts, Culture and Heritage Project Director at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said that the report provides “crucial, regional-specific evidence needed to understand the full effect that the pandemic has had on our creative and cultural

businesses, organisations, and individuals”.

Image credit: PEXELS

‘The North has been Betrayed’: Disappointment over downgraded rail plans Kane O'Regan Rail bosses have warned of decades of disruption for passengers after plans for the Manchester to Leeds leg of HS2 were scrapped. The original route intended to connect London with the city centres of Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. However, recent changes have seen the eastern leg to Leeds scrapped, whilst plans for the Northern Powerhouse Rail have also been downgraded. Senior Conservative MPs, regional leaders and industry figures have accused ministers of betraying the north with a delayed and downgraded £96bn rail plan however ministers remain insistent that the HS2 will still provide faster journeys up to 10 years earlier than planned. The Vice Chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Lord O’Neill claims the new Integrated

Rail Plan, which proposes to run the HS2 on existing upgraded routes, has disappointed “virtually everybody.” Rail bosses warn axing HS2 lines for upgrades would result in decades of disruption for passengers, while engineers claim it is impossible to deliver more capacity and faster journeys without segregating highspeed trains on independent lines. As recently as last month, Boris Johnson used his party conference speech to pledge that the government would build NPR, a commitment he made on becoming prime minister in 2019. Lord O’Neill expressed his discontent with the plan, stating that “I’m yet to find a single technical expert that believes it’s deliverable” when asked whether the promised halving of some journey times was a win. Lord O’Neill’s criticism responds to the PM’s 2019 claims that he was "a huge

Image credit: JESHOOT, PEXELS

fan" of Northern Powerhouse Rail, adding: "I think we should definitely be doing it." The Conservative Party's manifesto published later that year said: "We will build Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester and then focus on Liverpool, Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle." About the HS2 , the document stated that: "HS2 is a great ambition, but will now cost at least £81bn and will not reach Leeds or Manchester until as late as 2040.

In February 2020, the PM said HS2 would be going ahead in full - including the eastern leg, and on 4 November of the same year, said: "I can certainly confirm that we are going ahead with Northern Powerhouse Rail." Mr Johnson once more reiterated in February 2021 that: "I can certainly confirm that we are going to develop the eastern leg as well as the whole of HS2." Transport secretary Grant Shapps remains firm, claiming promises the government made to the North on rail are "absolutely

being fulfilled" despite the proposed downgrades. He assures that the government's new £96bn proposal for the North and the Midlands will deliver "faster" train journeys both earlier and cheaper than the original HS2 plans would have done. Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "The North of England has been betrayed., elsewhere, antiHS2 groups welcomed the package, and environmental activists vowed to redouble protests against HS2.

Monday 29 November 2021

News

Hundreds of people march across Sheffield city centre in climate change protest Nelson Walker Hundreds of people have marched across Sheffield city centre demanding climate justice and for governments and leaders around the globe to take the action that is needed to reverse the climate crisis. Sheffielders walked down from Devonshire Green across the city centre at 1pm on Saturday 6th November, culminating in a large gathering of people outside Sheffield City Hall where speeches and live performances took place. From the steps of City Hall, Lucinda Wakefield, one of the event’s organisers from the Sheffield COP26 Coalition, said: “It is all of us together and that is what has been so fantastic up and down the country. “The world is at a tipping point. It is clear that time is running out. The clock is ticking. We have a planet to save and a world to win, and this is where it continues.” The protest in Sheffield is one of over 300 protests that took place globally on the ‘Day of Action’ while the COP26 climate summit took place in Glasgow, where world leaders and negotiators have assembled to try and work out how

best to tackle the climate emergency. Paul Thornely, 49, Assistant Head Teacher at Newfield secondary school, who came to the protest with his wife and three children, said: “I went into teaching because I want to get a better future for children. We run an Ecocommittee at school and we have had a full run-up to COP on climate justice.” Environmental campaign groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Youth Strike 4 Climate and Friends of the Earth were joined by Sheffield Trades Union Council, Stand Up to Racism and the Chile Solidarity Group, among many more, campaigning on a range of issues. Duncan Friend, 52, member of Friends of the Earth and who has been on a 10-year personal mission to reduce his annual carbon footprint to under two tons, said: “We are in a climate emergency and if we don’t do something in the next ten years, we are going to face run-away global warming.” A number of students turned out for the protest, with University of Sheffield students meeting outside the Students’ Union concourse before heading to Devonshire Green to join

the wider Sheffield Climate Justice Protest. Amelia Smith, a final year Medical student at the University of Sheffield, said: “As healthcare professionals, it is our duty to protect those who are most vulnerable. We need to hold those responsible to account and fight for climate justice. “We need to take action now. It feels like our last chance to make any change at all and I don’t trust the decision makers at COP26 to act fast enough and quickly enough.” The Extinction Rebellion group organised a samba band, with performances made outside The Moor shopping centre and the Arundel Gate Interchange as the protest progressed across the city centre. When the rally reached the heart of the city centre, hundreds gathered together as a number of speakers, including Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley, Louise Haigh, delivered speeches on the steps of Sheffield City Hall. There were also musical performances from the Sheffield Voices for Action Mums’ Choir and calls for significantly greater action to be taken on the climate emergency.

Image credit: Nelson Walker

The University of Sheffield renews its responsible investment commitment on new climate declaration Stephanie Lam The University of Sheffield renewed its commitment to helping the environment by becoming a founding signatory of a climate change declaration Launched by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), a nationwide student-led environmental sustainability charity, the COP 26 declaration outlines expectations for companies to manage their investments in an eco-friendly way.

Sheffield announced its participation in the declaration on November 11, joining several other universities who have pledged to uphold the declaration, including the University of Sussex, Lancaster University, and the University of Bristol. Named after this year’s United Nations Climate Change Summit, which took place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, the COP 26 declaration states that asset managers should adopt an investment

strategy to achieve net zero emissions by at least 2050, should vote in favour of all future climate resolutions, and regularly disclose all investment holdings and voting records. Sheffield's endowment investment policy states, that the university’s investments have no shares held in companies involved in oil and gas production, the manufacture or sale of tobacco production or nonpharmaceutical products that have been tested on animals for non-medical

purposes. Jo Jones, Chief Financial Officer at Sheffield said: “We understand the damage the fossil fuel industry continues to do to our planet and we are committed to investing our funds in a socially responsible way.” The university has already taken steps towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, such as only using renewable electricity on campus and creating a target of being net carbon neutral by 2038. Anesu Matanda Mambingo, Welfare and Sustainability

Officer at Sheffield's Students' Union, said: "It’s encouraging to be working with a University who are willing to listen and take the lead in responsible finance which helps to protect our future.” “I look forward to us remaining ambitious and intentional in our work to further develop an endowment policy which has the biggest possible positive impact on people and planet."

Forge Press

Monday 29 November 2021

Features

Meet the man who has completed a 10-year mission to get his annual carbon footprint to under two tons

Feature by Nelson Walker

t was June this year when Duncan logged onto his computer, searched up an online carbon footprint calculator and began frantically filling in all of the required sections about his lifestyle. Curious to know where he now stood with regards to his carbon footprint, he awaited the final result. And then came the epiphany. In just a second, Duncan grasped that a long-standing life ambition had been fulfilled. In that moment, he realised he now had an annual carbon footprint under two tons and in doing so, completed a 10-year personal mission. He was elated. And rightly so. All the changes to his lifestyle in pursuit of greater sustainability had paid off. It was quite an understated way to mark such a monumental moment. The motivation for reaching such a milestone had in fact emanated years ago for Duncan Friend, the 52-year-old part-time carer and volunteer at the Sheffield branch of the Friends of the Earth environmental group. He did an Earth Sciences degree during his studies at university and that really opened his eyes to the science behind climate change and the most pressing environmental issues confronting humanity. There has been much noise surrounding the reasonable amount of carbon each individual should be allowed to produce as part of their

Image taken by Lindy Stone.

lifestyles in order to be sustainable. Duncan says: “if every person on the planet was to produce under two tons of carbon a year in their lifestyles, we would stave off climate change.” However, he adds that the average person in the UK produces 13 tons a year, and across the Atlantic, the average American citizen produces 13. This figure subsequently became an aspiration for Duncan to reach and the motivation was born. He has spent the last ten years working towards this but the reality is he has been inspired to conserve and protect the natural world for far longer. Born in a rural area of Wiltshire, as a young boy he was allowed to run out of the cul-de-sac where his family lived and play with his friends in a nearby field. He was seven when his family moved to Surrey for his Dad’s new job and he used to love spending time in nature – it is after all, he tells me, the English county with most trees. Growing up, his Grandma Caroline would buy him books about birds and Duncan and his sister Fiona would spend a lot of time enjoying the wildlife and natural spaces in Devon where his Mum’s side of the family was from when they visited. Money was tight and the family thus maintained a make-do and mend attitude. His clothes as a child were often knitted by his Grandma and holes in clothes were quickly sewn up when

Image taken by Lindy Stone.

they surfaced. He often went camping as a child and he believes his upbringing brought him resilience and instilled in him a strong appreciation for the natural world. This all contributed to his motivation, and his mission got out of the starting blocks in 2011 when he bought a house in the Gleadless area of Sheffield. The property already had double-glazing and was well-insulated, but he set about applying foam to all of the windows and doors to prevent draughts and improve heat retention in the home. He was opportunistic when he needed to be too. Flyers through the door advertising improved loft insulation and cavity wall insulation were key in creating a home which maximises energy efficiency. He added aluminium foil to the back of radiators to radiate heat back into the home rather than it be absorbed by the walls. All of this was done relatively cheaply and provided the base he needed to expand his mission. To reach his goal, significant changes still needed to be made. His next step was to save up enough money to buy solar panels and by 2014 he had sixteen of these generating substantial electricity on his roof. His approach was less about haste and more about doing things practically as and when he had the money and capability to do so. He said: “It was a gradual

process, slow really. I had a wish-list but not a 10-year plan.” He made the switch to an electric car in 2019 when he purchased a Nissan Leaf and this year, he has been able to overhaul his heating system. He replaced his old gas boiler with an air-source heat pump stationed outside his home which generates 100% renewable energy thanks to the Renewable Heat Incentive government scheme. He has transformed his lifestyle and in January made the decision to adopt an exclusively plant-based diet. As a result of making this change, he feels healthier, happier and has lost around a stone in weight. He said: “I feel more alert. It is also a lot cheaper eating a plant-based diet; not eating meat and fish means I am saving lots of money.” The changes have come in progressive stages and he is convinced that everyone can do the same by taking the same incremental approach. He expands: “I talk about the changes I have made quite a lot. I would say do it in whichever order that fits your own life. Do not be overwhelmed by it and do not do it all at once. Changes need to be made over the next ten years. It is vital to keep global temperature rise to 1.5C.” His mission has brought fulfilment and great pride. One particularly heart-warming moment

came when he stopped at a charging point in Birmingham on a journey from Sheffield to Cheltenham recently to visit his parents. He noticed a message had been left on his windscreen from a 13-year-old girl called Charlotte with asthma who thanked him for driving an electric car and not exacerbating her condition. It reinforced to him he was on the right track and that there is still so much for him to do. Duncan said: “It was a proud moment. It made it personal and made me realise I am doing the right thing.” He now has grand ambitions to get a battery to store additional electricity generated from his solar panels and upgrade to triple-glazed windows. He is optimistic about the future and can see motivation and urgency among people now which was not present in his early environmental campaigning days. Duncan also has a final message for people today about bolstering environmental protection and sustainability. He said: “There are reasons for hope but we need to work far, far harder. Without action, it will keep to nothing. We need to keep the pressure on and not take our eye off the ball, and keep going. Look at where you use fossil fuels in your life and cut them out completely. If we can cut fossil fuel use out of our lives, we are on to a winner.”

Forge Press

Features

Feature by Josh Thory-Rao

“The immediate outcomes of COP-26 are not enough.” - students speak up about the climate summit

arlier this month saw the much-anticipated COP-26 Climate Summit, hosted by the UK government in Glasgow. Its outcomes have been viewed in varying ways by scientists, politicians and students Whilst surely no environmentalists believe we are on track as it stands, some are encouraged by small progress and the opportunities next year to build on what we have done. Others are not so hopeful. Abhijeet, a master’s student in International Relations at the University of Sheffield said:,“ I see the conference as a failure due to the lack of decisive action in ruling out fossil fuels., Anesu Matanda-Mambingo, the university of Sheffield’s Welfare & Sustainability Officer, said:

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Many world leaders omitted the impact the climate crisis is having on more vulnerable countries

“the immediate outcomes of COP-26 are not enough”. There is an inevitable pessimism perhaps with those who want decisive action; it is all very well and good saying that we can build upon this next year, but based on the building done this year hopes are not high. There was shock during the COP conference as Climate Action Tracker released a report estimating, under current commitments, that we were looking at rises of around 2.4 degrees Celsius. It is evident then that these commitments are not enough; yet this was expected, and it is not as bad as it sounds. The yearly nature of the COP conferences (2022 will be in Egypt) means that it will not be long before countries meet again and discuss new, hopefully bolder, commitments, commitments which can help to bring countries’ actions in line with the 1.5 degrees Celsius target we have. Nonetheless, it will take many more steps to reach our destination. What has actually been agreed? 110 leaders committed to ‘ending and reversing’ deforestation by 2030, including a £1.1bn fund to

protect the world’s second largest tropical rainforest, in the Congo Basin. This is really important given the roll that rainforests and forests play in regulating Co2 levels; the Amazon is often referred to as the ‘lungs of the earth’. But even though Brazil is a signatory on this agreement, it may well just be a case of greenwashing, for as Greenpeace Brazil’s Carolina Pasquali says,A similar story is evident in the coal agreement; at the last minute, the wording was watered down from a ‘phasing out’

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The immediate outcomes of COP-26 are not enough.

to a ‘phasing down’ of coal. It is good that we are even talking about moving away from coal, though, we seem to have grasped the issue but not the urgency of it. The Executive director of

Greenpeace said: “COP26 was bad for fossil fuels, but not bad enough”. Abhijeet, mentioned earlier, cites this watered-down wording of the coal agreement as an example of what he sees as a lack of decisive action. Whilst the issue of mitigation is essential, we cannot discuss the climate crisis without talking of adaption, particularly in the global south. Representatives from developing countries were already angry going into the conference over the still yet to appear $100 Billion annual climate finance, pledged in 2009, between 2020-25. Developed nations hope to reach this by 2023, with the 2022 prediction falling short by $4 billion and the sums for this and recent years some ways off. On top of a lack of funds, the lack of finance being doe adaptation for these developing nations as opposed to mitigation is frustrating; the proposed doubling of finance for adaption still doesn’t get near the 50:50 split that some were hoping for between adaptation and mitigation finance. Anesu, added: “many world leaders omitted the impact the climate crisis is

having on more vulnerable countries.”The appreciation among the young of social and global justice certainly exposes for us this issue and its lack of priority in the global debate on Climate Change. Mal Chadwick has written for Greenpeace that ‘It’ll be up to citizens, campaigners and forward-thinking politicians to make sure governments set more ambitious goals and stick to them’. One of the main things we can do as citizens or activists is to keep the pressure on the government to set in motion the commitments they have made at COP, and to ensure that come next year, those commitments are built upon. Anesu’s comments builds on this; She said: “Together activists, students, researchers, teachers, policymakers, and filmmakers, from across the globe must continue to come together to demand just, fair and nature-based change. People can continue with the momentum gained at COP26 to push governments to be more ambitious with their commitments in the future. The next few months will be a real test of COP26’s impact.” This message further highlights the role that we have all got to play in campaigning and pushing the Gouvernement to live up to the commitments it needs to if we are to match our targets. This messaging coming out of our Students Union should really serve as an inspiration for the students of our University. COP-26 has undoubtedly delivered less decisive and concrete action than many would have liked, though it has kept the issue of Climate Change at the forefront of political discussion, and if we can keep it there for the next year then perhaps current commitments can be built upon at COP-27. Credit: Markus Spiske, Unsplash

Monday 29 November 2021

Features

Feature by Lia Freeman

Re-United at Christmas

eeing the preparations for the Christmas market, trees in storefront windows, and festive lights being hung in Sheffield city centre elicits excitement for some students who celebrate Christmas. Perhaps it is extra

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Festive lights being hung in Sheffield City Centre elicits excitement for some students excitement, considering many Christmas celebrations last year were nothing like usual. Initial plans to relax Covid regulations over the holiday season were changed as cases spiked. In Tier 4 areas such as London and other places in south-east England, residents were only allowed to celebrate Christmas with the people in their own

households and support bubbles. Travel to other regions was prohibited, which prevented families and friends from seeing each other for normal Christmas festivities. Lower tiers allowed up to three different households to convene on Christmas Day. Even with some ability to meet up, following traditions such as going out or to the pub were impossible. Not every student had a much different Christmas experience. Biology student Violet Salway only goes to see extended family every four years because they live far away from her, so a toneddown Christmas felt normal. Similarly, Themis Pierson, who went home to France for the holiday, says things were typical because her family does not have huge celebrations. France had some restrictions too, and Pierson says her mother did not go to the big supermarket they normally do for Christmas dinner shopping because of Covid testing requirements. For material engineering student Ed Page, lives in Switzerland but has family in England. Seeing them any-

time during the pandemic was difficult, let alone Christmas. He said: “I’m excited to see my cousins again and uncles I haven’t seen in a couple years because of Covid.” And to celebrate this year, his family will resume their “yearly Christmas walks and have a Christmas dinner.” He says he does not remember much of Christmas last year because it was so quiet, which seems to be a similar experience for many students at Sheffield. In other countries, Covid posed much less of a risk, and the people living there were afforded the normalcy that many others dreamed of. Alexander Alexiev of Bulgaria said: “everything was the same” for his Christmas. He still got to partake in his

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This year may feel special just in and of itself, just by the nature of having ‘normal’ back

favorite activity, clubbing, and to make this year extra special? He hopes to go to “more clubs.” It seems that West Street didn’t satisfy his hunger, and so Alexiev will be continuing his festivities back home in Bulgaria over the break. None of the subjects interviewed seemed bothered with making up for last year in lockdown, or efforting to make this Christmas more special. England has been free of Covid restrictions since July 19th of this year. Many of us remember the anticipation building up to the date when clubs re-opened, and the rush to book tickets to events, or even reserve tables inside at restaurants. There were waiting lists, queues, and crowds. Immediately post-lockdown, people seemed to “make up” for lost time by going out much more than usual. Why is there less anticipation for Christmas? Perhaps it is because with four months of post-lockdown partying, people are already burnt out, and things are already back to normal. For others, it may just be that Christmas is not that special

to them in the first place. During lockdown, it was a common theme to recognize how much we take for granted in daily life. The ability to see loved ones was taken away, and many of us could not participate in activities that bring us joy. For those who were prevented from seeing family or whose Christmas traditions were disrupted, this year may feel special in and of itself, just by the nature of having ‘normal’ back. Everyone’s personal experiences with holidays are different. The holiday season is also not a happy time for everyone. Life has already felt back to normal for a while, and so it is possible that Christmas will slip by without any extra bells or whistles. I know I am already taking the ability to be with others for granted. Perhaps the most important thing is just to remember where we have been and recognize the goodness in being able to see those special to us, whether it be during a holiday dinner or not.

Credit: Caleb Fisher, Unsplash

Forge Press

Opinion

Is our Students’ Union doing enough to combat the spiking crisis?

Ella Gilbert n recent months, there has been a dramatic increase in spiking cases across the country and Sheffield has been no exception. Spiking has been on the rise in Sheffield since bars and clubs were able to reopen at full capacity back in July, but has escalated significantly since students returned, Unsurprisingly, this has led to calls for Sheffield Students’ Union to address and tackle these issues. In response to boycotts and protests, the SU released an update of what they’re doing to combat the spiking crisis. bBut is it enough? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will likely have had your social media feed bombarded with horror stories of spiking incidents and various infographics on ‘What you can do to stay safe in clubs’. There’s been uproar and people sharing story after story because we just don’t know what to do. No matter how many sparkly infographics you read on Instagram, it really comes down to really bad luck who’s affected and it’s nobody’s

fault. Students are scared. Clubbing and drinking culture is a huge part of student life but now people are petrified and feel unsafe, even in their own Student’s Union. We’re made to feel helpless, is there anything we can do to make our nights out feel safer again? There have been various petitions circulating: calling for extra security measures like searches on the door to nightclubs, or to raise these issues to Parliament. A nationwide club boycott was organised for Wednesday 27 October 2021, called “Girls Night In”. All of these actions are attempts to catch the attention of nightclubs and using our power as a consumer, our money, to show what’s important to us. Sheffield Students’ Union cancelled Roar on the 27 October, in solidarity with Girls Night In, promising to use the time to reflect upon the alleged incidents in recent weeks and to plan a strategy to tackle the issue. Standing in solidarity with the Girls Night In boycott was essential for the Foundry to win any trust back from their students. The SU are competing with every other

club in Sheffield, all of whom can quickly make back their losses from one night boycott, so they needed to be clear on their stance regarding the incidents immediately. A few days later, an action plan was released, emphasising the Student’s Union’s zero-tolerance policy towards spiking and reinforcing safety as a top priority. This includes a series of both preventative measures, such as drinks covers and trained security/ sniffer dogs, as well as measures put in place to assist with incidents, on the night and later. There are many CCTV cameras around the venue to try and deter attackers as well as identify them after the event to pass on their details to the police. Reassurance was provided to students through measures such as the Time Out Zone/Quiet Room and reemphasis of the Safe Taxi Scheme, measures which previously existed but weren’t necessarily made clear they were available. Perhaps the most important thing in this action plan is reemphasising their support for those affected,

summarised into a single line: “If you report spiking you will be believed and supported”. These events are incredibly traumatic and many people fear reporting such incidents in case they are blamed or there’s nothing that can be done. However, while the SU may do all they can to try and minimise spiking incidents and identify alleged perpetrators, the action plan brushes over their limited power. Furthermore, the majority of these measures were already in place prior to the current spiking crisis. They’ve taken steps by recognising that there is a problem and highlighting important tools students can use but is this enough? Unfortunately, the difficulties with dealing with spiking cases is that they’re hard to catch and even harder to deal with as an institution. Drink spiking is a criminal offence so is primarily dealt with by the police. Institutions like clubs and bars are crucial in passing on information to the police or providing evidence but aside from that all they can do is give a lifetime ban to

the offender and support victims. As upsetting and frustrating as it is for members of the public and club owners, there’s little that can be done. Providing support for people in clubs and any victims is of the utmostupmost importance, encouraging drink covers and safe spaces, alongside attempts to deter potential offenders. Drinking spiking is a problem that unfortunately extends far beyond the Student’s Union. It’s a society-wide problem that can’t just be fixed by the SU alone. So no, the SU’s action plan probably isn’t enough to tackle the spiking problems but they are doing all they can do at the moment. They’re making changes and showing solidarity for their students in this scary time. Spiking and attitudes surrounding drinking as a whole need to be addressed as a society. Action and support from nightlife venues is a necessary step in the right direction and we can only hope the rest of society will soon follow suit. Image credit: Forge Press

Monday 29 Novemeber 2021

Opinion

COP26 – Was Glasgow a success for our future generations?

Charles E Vickers t may be hard to judge a two-week conference with decade-long ambitions so soon, but with a lot of the big decisions being made, many world leaders have gone home to deal with the domestic issues they are faced with. Some, including our own Prime Minister, will fly back on private jets – laughing in the face of the positive headlines they’ve generated. With this being the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP), many might wonder how successful we can hope the Glasgow conference will be. In 1994, the first UN convention on climate change was signed and the 2015 Paris edition is seen as a watershed moment. Yet little has changed in daily life, especially since 2015 and it is hard not to approach the

Glasgow version with a heavy dose of scepticism. Take for example the food eaten in the Glasgow conference centre. For each meal on the menu there was a carbon dioxide rating detailing how much of the greenhouse gas was needed to produce the meal. On the face of it, this is a great concept and if it became a widely available resource, as many expect environmental labelling to, then we would all benefit. But with many of the options available being ‘high-carbon’ foods, some would question whether a conference on climate change should feature these foods or be better serving a low-carbon, plant-based menu where possible. Despite this, there have been victories to celebrate. Countries, crucially including Brazil and Indonesia, have signed a pledge to reverse deforestation by 2030 with

almost £14bn being made available. Planting trees is a complex process for reducing the effects of climate change, but it does offer some promise that regions like the Amazon will be better protected. Another big 2030 headline agreement was the goal of cutting methane levelsby 30 per cent. However, some important countries including Russia have not yet signed up despite having a heavy methane footprint. Hope remains that they will sign up over the coming years, but it does feel like an opportunity missed to have everyone playing by the same rules. A different set of 40 countries have agreed, by 2040, to gradually phase out the use of coal. More importantly, as money makes the world go round, many banks have agreed to stop financing the mining of more

coal. Once again there are some big countries missing from the list, including some of the world’s biggest polluters such as the U.S. Since the 2015 Paris Agreement Trump infamously left, Biden has opted to re-join while other leaders have barely acknowledged the agreement before Covid-19 shifted the global conversation. More single-use plastics and next-day deliveries have only added to the climate crisis, with scientists now saying that global carbon dioxide levels are back at their prepandemic levels, showing it gave us little respite. With other competing priorities and a lack of an emotional sell, the climate crisis can often drift to the backs of our minds. With such a big conference, it is inevitable that we are all talking about it and pushing our government to do more.

When our politicians are competing for our votes again come 2024, how many of our questions will relate to the climate and whether COP26 was a success? Or will it return to questions of economics and health; of trade and immigration; of education and investment? There have been positive promises and agreements and it is now hoped that global temperature rise will be limited to less than 1.8C by 2100, down from previous estimates . But this is COP26 and change is still painfully slow, prompting Greta Thunberg to remind us that “the world is literally burning, on fire, and while the people living on the front lines are still bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.”

Image credit: COP26 via Flickr

Forge Press

Science & Tech

Was COP26 Another ‘Cop Out’ for Young People and Poorer Nations?

Nelson Walker

Hundreds of people protest outside Arundel Gate Interchange in Sheffield on the ‘Global Day of Action’ Credit: Nelson Walker

s COP26 reached its protracted, dramatic end with negotiations going into stoppage-time like a football team scrambling for a last-minute winner, the overwhelming sense felt was one of bitterness and a missed opportunity. The Glasgow climate summit was billed as a defining moment for humanity in combating the climate crisis in this ‘critical decade’. Then, how,can what has unfolded from COP26 come close to matching the urgency and speed of action that is desperately required? The pressure seemed to get to Alok Sharma, the COP26 president, in the end. After hours of wrangling and negotiating with delegates, he apologised for how the last-minute Glasgow Climate Pact unfolded. China and India, two of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and their last-minute assertion for the wording in the agreement for coal to be ‘phased down’ rather than ‘phased out’, was a devastating pill to swallow. Coal is responsible for 40% of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Phasing out our dependency on it is fundamental in forging the greener, healthier and more

sustainable future we all need. Of course, the two countries will argue western nations have exploited coal for immense financial gain for far longer, but our world will deeply struggle to mitigate global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels if we do not scale down our consumption of it rapidly. The world is already experiencing seismic loss and damage as a result of climate change. Last summer, Canada and the United States endured large swathes of searing heat and temperature records were shattered in numerous cities, while the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey experienced hellish wildfires. Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium bore the brunt of frightening floods. Twelve people lost their lives as underground railway tunnels were inundated in Zhengzhou, China. The devastation is growing alarmingly quickly. We are already 1.1C above preindustrial levels, so it’s disgraceful to know that even if all pledges at COP26 are fulfilled, the global temperature is still predicted to rise to 1.8C (with many scientists saying we are on a trajectory to 2.4C). This crosses the 1.5C threshold stipulated at the heart of the Paris agreement and

would not protect us against the very worst impacts of climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, meaning greater temperature rise would result in even more rainfall that raises flood risks. It also increases evaporation, leading to more intense droughts. Try telling that to fishermen in low-lying coastal Bangladesh or communities right across the Sahelian region of sub-Saharan Africa where desertification is already entailing significant crop failure. Many poorer and island nations including the Marshall Islands expressed how profoundly disappointed they were with the final deal of COP26. They are in line to experience the worst repercussions of climate change and yet they have done the least to contribute to this escalating crisis. Young people are right to feel aggrieved. This is their future. This is the world they are inheriting and it is in disarray. Thousands of people across the globe protested and took part in immense demonstrations on November 6 on the ‘Global Day of Action’ demanding climate justice and for world leaders and corporations to take the transformative and radical action needed to reverse this crisis.

What they want is action. Large stretches of the Amazon rainforest, have now been studied to emit more CO2 than they absorb. So how can people accept that over 100 countries have agreed to end and reverse deforestation by 2030? We simply cannot allow nine more years of ecosystem destruction before we put the brakes on. Trees are vital carbon sinks, they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and produce the oxygen we need to respire and live. Nine more years of deforestation will only release more CO2 into the atmosphere and reduce our capacity to take in what we have already released. The technological carbon capture solutions which so many world leaders bank on as our route out of this emergency are simply not ready yet to extract the CO2 from the atmosphere that we need to. COP26 will be greeted positively in some quarters. A level of progress has been made. However, it is a rough slap in the face and brutal kick in the teeth for all young people and poorer nations on the frontline of this escalating emergency. Action and not words are now needed. That will ultimately determine whether COP26 was another cop out or not.

Babe, r u ok? You’ve barely looked at your Covid memes

Hannah EV Mawdsley

recent study has shown that while the world was stressing over toilet roll, changing up their daily walking route for a bit of excitement and panicmaking a Zoom pub quiz round last minute, one thing was keeping spirits high: memes. Scientists at Penn State have shown that “memeviewing” led to positive emotions and higher levels of reported humour during a pretty bleak time. Defined as “an image, video or piece of text typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users”, the origin of the meme is actually rooted in science. It stems from the combination of the Greek word ‘mimeme’ - something imitated - with the English word ‘gene’ by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins back in 1976 to convey the idea of cultural transmission. Since then, ‘meme’ has come to represent the latest trends in humour. The last two years have had their fair share of stress; with (at times) shockingly high daily death and infection rates, the loneliness of isolation and getting used to a new way of living. And in this time of loneliness, the world was having the same collective experience, allowing for COVID-19 related memes to circulate and make many feel less alone. In fact, while memes in general showed a positive response in mood overall, COVID-19 related memes also helped to alleviate COVID-19 stress and anxiety in many. From being “like a whippet” when breaking the one hour exercise curfew to calling for “another lockdown” in true Gemma Collins style. Now that working from home is over, memes have brought comfort and joy to many in an otherwise taxing time.

Wednesday 2 September 2020

Science & Tech

AI Robot Dogs could be used to explore Mars

Sebastiano Zuddas new advanced robot technology could be a potential breakthrough in assisting Mars exploration and space discovery. Boston Dynamics are among the only companies in the world to release a robot with complex machine learning programs. Their dog robot, Spot, can be bought in three editions. The ‘automate’ edition can be manually controlled via a smartphone while the ‘explore’ enables 360 degree analysis of the peripheral surrounding environment. A customizable edition

programmed with pre-built solutions from networks and software development kit (SDK) is available “to create custom controls, program autonomous missions, and integrate sensor inputs into data analysis tools”. Currently, they are deployed in construction sites and factories to monitor hard to reach areas, and are being used for local transportation of light goods. The company is collaborating with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to test out how three Spot robots could collectively explore a cave and search for life on Mars. The first explores the cave,

A Robot Dolphin in action. Credit: Edge Innovation

D Jason Rose

id you ever go to SeaWorld as a child? If so, I’d be willing to guess that you feel a little uneasy about it looking back now. The UK has not held dolphins in captivity since 1993, and the remaining parks around the world are being pressured to stop by various conservation groups. Despite these criticisms, millions of people visit theme parks every year with the misguided hope of having a ‘close experience’ with a dolphin, making the financial incentive large enough to slow the rate of change to a less than ideal pace. However, a new mechanical marvel may be able to please both executives and ecologists: the robotic dolphin. The ‘cruelty-free’ alternative to live dolphins was created when New

and lays down transceivers mixed reception - both so that communications are fascinating and terrifying maintained with the ground viewers. Back in 2018, a pair station. When the first of Spot robots were involved robot detects an interesting in a performance where the feature, the images are sent pair worked together to open back. The second robot is a door automatically with no deployed with a robot arm human input. and extra sensing Spot has since been used in and sampling several other videos released equipment. by Boston Dynamics, two The third of the most robot collects impressive the samples being ‘Do you and sends love me’ and ‘Spot’s them back on it’. Some to the ground viewers noted station. how the robot Spot’s bore a strong announcement resemblance NeBula SPOT robot. to the robot has Credit: JPL.nasa.gov dog in a Black accumulated a

Robot Dolphins offer hope for cruelty-free theme parks

Zealand researchers partnered with Hollywood animatronics experts with years of experience designing robotic versions of real – and sometimes quite surreal – creatures. Unlike the mechanical Great White used in Jaws, these ‘dolphins’ are almost indistinguishable from the real thing; and cost a whopping £19 million each High cost is the first factor that could limit the success of this technology, since companies such as SeaWorld will need to take in a lot of revenue to recoup their initial investments. There is also the possibility that maintenance and replacement will generate further costs in the future, although the cost of this compared to veterinary bills that parks currently pay is unclear. However, as charities such as WWF and Whale & Dolphin Conservation tirelessly campaign for cetaceans to be ‘safe and free’, there will hopefully

come a time in the near future when keeping animals in captivity for our entertainment is not an option. Even if keeping live dolphins is off the table, investors would also need to consider whether tourists would pay to visit mechanical substitutes for animals in captivity. Whilst ‘dinosaur parks’ are often a hit with young children, less morally conscious consumers are likely to argue that they would prefer to see the real thing. Moreover, many people visit places like SeaWorld out of a love for animals and a desire to feel a connection with them. Since these robots will likely not be sentient for a very long time, can they provide this level of immersion for tourists? Many people, including myself, would argue that such ‘up close and personal’ encounters with captive animals belong in a bygone age.

Mirror episode, where it used its range of sensors to hunt down and kill the protagonist. People were initially sceptical, in part due to the high price point of £60,000 but also the commercial viability of this technology – could this robot dog actually be realistically administered in complex real world settings? The answer seems to be ‘Yes’, albeit in cases of inspecting hazardous places. We are only at the beginning of integrating robots into the way we live where there are likely uses that will arise in the future that we cannot even speculate about today.

No more hogging organs!

Thanucha Sooriapatham urgeons in the US have recently had their first breakthrough surgery by transplanting a pig’s kidney into a human body. Xenotransplantation is the method of transplanting tissues or organs between different species. The use of xenotransplantation could be vital for solving long waiting lists, as well as increasing the turnaround time at which a patient is offered the transplant surgery. Surgeons at New York University Langone Health Medical Centre operated for two hours to transplant the kidney of a genetically modified pig into a person. The surgery was conducted on a brain-dead person who was on artificial life support and was not able to regain consciousness. Led by Dr Robert Montgomery, gene editing therapy was performed on the pig prior to the surgery to remove particular sugar molecules in order to reduce the risk of rejection when inside the patient. The surgery was followed by a 54-hour monitoring period where levels of excretion

fraction were continuously measured in the patient. The kidneys were seen to be functioning normally within the body, with zero signs of rejection, possibly due to the addition of the genetically modified gene. Although the study has not yet been peer reviewed, there is still hope that xenotransplantation could be the solution to saving the lives of patients who desperately require a kidney transplant. In July of this year, it was found that 7000 people in the UK were waiting for organ transplants, with the majority waiting for a kidney. Furthermore, 474 patients had died from waiting for an organ, the highest it has ever been and possibly caused by the pandemic. Xenotransplantation could be the future of surgery, with organ transplants leading to a better quality of life and sometimes increasing life expectancies by 20 to 25 years. However, both religious and moral ethical issues must be raised before the surgery is commercially available, such as the prohibition of pigs in Islam as well as the consideration of animal rights and welfare.

Wednesday 2 September 2020

Science & Tech

Giant sea-scorpions: Ancient superpredators

Ana Marta Tremoceiro

hree Chinese fossils have led to the discovery of a new species of ancient seascorpions. The extinct dog-sized arthropods, the Terropterus xiushanensis, ruled the oceans and were top predators of their time. Sea-scorpions date back to the Silurian, mid-Palaeozoic, around 440 million years ago. This period starts after the Ordovician-Silurian extinction, the first of the five great mass extinctions in the history of earth. A glaciation event followed by global warming caused ocean temperatures and sealevel to oscillate, altering and reducing marine habitats. This led to the loss of 86% of animal species. In the early Silurian, life was still limited to the oceans. The global warming trends and rising seas submerged land, creating extensive continental shelves. The warmth and abundance of light in these environments provided an ideal habitat for many animals and supported diversification.

Long, lamprey-like fish swam through vast reefs of corals and sponges. The sea floor was covered in ancient shelled creatures, sea snails, and crinoids - flowerlike animals with feathery petals. And at the very top of this underwater food chain, were sea-scorpions, or Eurypterids, which fed on most other animals, including smaller individuals of their own species. Sea-scorpions were named due to their general resemblance to modern scorpions. However they are not directly linked. Both groups belong to the arthropods, along with spiders, insects, and crustaceans. But the closest living relatives of the extinct sea-scorpions are actually horseshoe crabs. One remarkable subdivision of Eurypterids are Mixopterids. These are perhaps the most scorpionlike, with tails tapering into sharp stings and long front limbs. Until now, the knowledge of this group was limited to four species, with the last one being described 80 years ago. Previous Mixopterids were found in Estonia, Norway, Scotland, and New

Hot under the collar?

Sophie Teall explains how global temperature rise is linked to increased violence and poor mental health

esearch has found that temperature increases during heatwaves correlate to increased levels of violence, more suicide attempts and disturbed sleep - a worrying trend with serious impacts on how global warming will affect our mental wellbeing. The physical dangers of heatwaves are well documented. The current estimate of 296,000 deaths related to heat occurring during the past two decades is only set to rise as global temperature increases, and they show

little sign of plateauing. As climate change is set to have increasingly devastating effects on the global ecosystem, research suggests that physical side effects won’t be the only health issues we will have to contend with. As temperatures rise globally, prevalence of mental health and mood disorders is predicted to rise, along with increases in violent and suicidal behaviour. An active area of research, the predicted impact of climate change on mental health is primarily grounded in analysis of previous trends in elevated

York, which would all have been part of the northern silurian continent of Laurasia. The Terropterus xiushanensis fossils were found in southern China, which belonged to the southern continent, Gondwana. The discovery widens the known distribution of the Mixopterid family. T. xiushanensis differs from other Mixopterids in the size and number of its spines, and in details of the overall shape of its appendages. This variation is important as it could reflect diverse modes of life and prey capture methods. Much is still unknown about the Eurypterids, which stay in history as the largest invertebrates to ever inhabit earth. But we can look forward to what future discoveries will reveal about these long-lost rulers of the seas.

A reconstruction of the ‘Terropterus xiushanensis’ sea scorpion. Credit: Yang Dinghua

temperatures and the correlating mental health of the area. Between 1993 and 2003 in England and Wales, with every 1°C rise in temperature above 18°C there was an increased risk of suicide of 3.8% throughout the population. Between 1996 and 2013 the same rise in temperature resulted in a 1.7% increase in the rate of violent crime in Finland. Some scientists estimate that rising temperatures due to climate change could result in an additional 1.2 million assaults between 2010 and 2099 in the United States. So why do elevated temperatures affect us so severely? Scientists have suggested that disruption to sleep and decreased levels of serotonin could be

Paralysed mice can walk again

ew research published by North-western University has demonstrated their medicines are capable of healing the damaged spinal cords of mice through the injection of a gel. This gel contains the components necessary to aid the reattachment of severed neurons in the spinal cord. The gel also emits signals quintessential to assist nerve regeneration and was found to reduce scar tissue – which normally acts as a physical barrier to impede nerve regeneration. It also led to angiogenesis, the synthesis of new blood vessels, ensuring new neuronal connections were richly perfused with blood and nutrients to sustain their continued survival. The mice were first assigned scores based on their ankle movement, body stability, and paw placement. They were then treated with the gel for four weeks before their scores were once again assessed. The researchers found that mice treated

with the gel had significant increases in all of the aforementioned measures of mobility and were capable of walking again, whereas mice treated with the placebo had no change in any of the measured motor abilities. The aim of this research, according to lead senior researcher Samuel Stupp, was to find a therapy that could be applied to treat patients suffering from paralysis sustained from either a major trauma or a degenerative neurological disease. Stupp stated that this method of regeneration was much safer than other methods previously researched such as the delivery of modified proteins or genetic engineering, in addition to being a lot more reliable. However, it is worth noting that despite these promising results this has only been trialled in a mice model, and although Stupp is confident that these results will, in time, be translated into a human model, modern science is not there quite yet. It is, however, a promising step forward in the field of regenerative medicine.

triggering mental health and mood disorders. Heatwaves are associated with sleep deprivation, which is in turn associated with impulsivity, irritability, and violence. As heatwaves become more common, hotter, and longer, the issue will become compounded. A predicted two thirds of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, who will be more affected by rising temperatures as urban areas heat up faster and remain hotter overnight. Suggested solutions, such as increased ventilation, may not be enough to negate the negative effects of higher temperatures on mental health. Alongside the health impacts of increasing global temperatures, the changing climate will put pressure on

our ecosystem, with demand for food and water increasing as supply issues become more prevalent. Beyond the direct individual impact that climate change could have on incidences of violence, the sixth edition of Global Strategic Trends lists environmental stress as a rising trend that requires action due to the potential for rising demands to lead to disputes and conflict. Ultimately, with the potential for more frequent mental health issues, higher likelihood for violent incidents and even global conflict over finite supplies we cannot afford to assume we will adjust to the consequences of climate change and must continue to demand change from our government.

Tyler Mcminn

Monday 29 November 2021

Soc Spotlight

SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT:

Meet the... Irish Dance Society Harry Harrison An age-old, beloved tradition across the Irish Sea, the elegance and click-click-click of Irish Dancing has found another home at the University of Sheffield. The aptly-named, Irish Dance Society is doing great things this year with a boom in society membership postpandemic and numerous big plans for the months ahead. We spoke to members of their 2021/22 committee team about the society, their upcoming Christmas Showcase and the athletic art-form so many love. This December, the society is throwing a festive showcase to cap off the semester. They’ve been working hard in their numerous weekly sessions to prepare for the performance on 17 December. Society President, Cara Murphy, said: “We are still a couple weeks out but it already looks amazing. “It’s our first big performance since before covid, so I think we are

just really excited to get back to being on stage.” The showcase will be much more than just individual performances by society members as the performance will tell a well-known Christmas story and will also feature a raff le, the proceeds of which will go to the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice - the society’s charity of the year. Society Dance Coordinator, Alana Hodgson, said: “The first half [of the performance] will be showing off more of the individual steps and stuff we’ve been working on throughout the year and the second is a story of the nativity.”

Like their society, participants in the showcase are not limited to experienced dancers. Cara said: “We were really conscious that we wanted to make the show as inclusive as possible for all our dancers in the society.” Some of the dances within the performance will be limited to single ability levels, split, like their classes, into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Tiegan Richards, the society Publicity Officer and Social Secretary, said: [The society] is for anyone, from complete beginners to people who have done it for years.”

It is an extremely sociable society. Ceili dances are especially popular within the society due to their friendly nature. Ceilis are a common feature at Give it a Go’s hosted by the society, the next of which will be during ‘refreshers week’ after the winter break. They are performed by groups of either four or eight and involve a lot of switching partners. “My Granny and Grandad met at a Ceili,” Cara said, “[They] are very sociable and all about having fun.” During exam and essay season, the society is proving really important for it’s social side. Tiegan said: “It’s a bit of a break away from uni work, so you go to class to get to forget about the essays for a couple of hours and talk to people.” This year, the society is sponsored by Molly Malones, on West Street, and members are sometimes offered a free baby Guinness when they visit the tavern on society nights out. The shared attitude within the society is that it is never too late to start dancing. Tiegan said she is often asked if you can be too old to join the society, but this year has seen some mature members take part in classes, most being beginners. Cara said: “It’s a really

inclusive society and we have complete beginners up to people who have danced their whole lives and I love that it is not judgy and everyone is there to have fun.” The committee this year have felt it is really important not to completely segregate their members due to ability and so host a mixed ability class every Thursday. Alana is really proud of how they work together. “Our more advanced society members help out with the beginner classes and it’s nice so we get together despite dancing at different levels.” she said. There is clear optimism for the future within the society, not only because of the approaching showcase, but also because of their projects and plans post-Christmas. Cara said: “The rest of the year looks really exciting. We have a couple more socials before Xmas, hopefully a competition hosted here in Sheffield and maybe even a trip to Dublin in the spring semester.” The society is open to Uni of and Hallam students, as well as non-students at their classes. “It is literally never too late to start,” Cara said, “Just give it a go if you think you might enjoy it.”

Forge Press

Lifestyle

Avoid the freezing club queues and indulge in these cozy and festive nights in Hannah Scott If you’re the only f lat/ housemate who has stayed in one night you could bake some Christmas treats alone whilst indulging in some muchneeded me-time.

Br itish Summer Time has ended , tins of Quality Street line super market shelves and if you exhale hard enough you can see your breath in the air— winter has ar r ived and Chr istmas is approaching. Q ueuing in sub-zero temperatures out sid e Cod e becomes increa singly less appealing a n d t h e w a r m t h a n d c o m f o r t o f a n i g h t- i n beckon s. Here are six idea s for festive, f un and cosy evenings-in with f r iend s which will conf ir m you made the r ight choice in not ventur ing out. Decorating your flat/ house for Christmas A perfect way to celebrate the start of many festive evenings-in is to decorate your home for Christmas with your f lat/housemates. There are plenty of options of where you can get your decorations from: you could either use any spare ones you have from your family homes, or all pitch in and buy some from a shop that sells them at a low price such as Home Bargains/B&M/Argos. You could even make paper chains to hang up. Whilst you are decorating, you could share a few Christmas snacks such as Pringles, Quality Street or Celebrations as well as playing your favourite festive music! Christmas Karaoke If you’ve still got the songs from when you were decorating whirling round your head, you and your friends can try singing them during some Christmas karaoke. There are many Christmas singalong videos available on YouTube, ranging from older classics such as ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ to festive pop songs such as Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’. If you want to turn it into more of a game, you could all take turns to

Christmas Drinks Now that you’ve tried your hand at lots of festive food, you and those you live with could try whizzing up some holiday-inspired drinks. You could make Eggnog, mulled wine, a Christmas punch or invent something of your own. Recipes for Christmas drinks are widely available online, and they also often instruct on how to make a non-alcoholic equivalent if this is something you would prefer. However, if you fancy a completely different type of drink you can concoct your own festive hot chocolate— you could experiment with cinnamon, ginger or even rum when making your usual recipe.

‘perform’ and then score each other’s musical talent out of ten. Flat/house ‘Come Dine with Me’ We’ve all seen the long-running Channel 4 show, but why not recreate it with your f lat/ housemates? Over the course of several evenings (either once per week or a few consecutive nights) take turns to cook for the people you live with. If you want to replicate the show exactly, feel free to prepare the full three courses, but for a cheaper alternative you could cook just the main course. In addition to the food, you can enhance the evening with an ‘entertainment’ aspect— you could all watch a film, play a board game or play a drinking game. If you want to make it particularly festive, you could set a rule where either everyone’s food or ‘entertainment’ has to have some kind of Christmassy element. At the end of each night, you can rate each others’ hospitality out of 10 and on the final evening the highest-scoring person can be awarded a small, Christmas-themed prize. Christmas Baking If you wish to further practise these culinary skills, you may want to try an evening of group Christmas baking. You

Christmas Quiz Night Everyone loves a quiz and it’s easy to add a seasonal twist. You can find Christmas quizzes online, buy a cheap festive quiz board game/book from somewhere such as the Works or even create your own. If you don’t live with many people you can answer the questions individually, but if you live in a larger household you could split into teams and work together.

could all try baking something relatively simple such as mince pies or Christmas-themed cookies. Alternatively, you could aim for something

slightly more ambitious such as a yule log, a gingerbread house or Lebkuchen. You could also enjoy this evening-in by yourself!

Credit: ann-dabney on Flickr. No changes made. https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nd/2.0/ M I S C H E L L E on Flickr. No changes made. https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/2.0/

Monday 29 November 2021

Lifestyle

Hygge & happiness: How the Danish concept of hygge can make all the difference to your well-being

Mary Crawshaw ygge (pronounced Hoo-Gah), was a runner up in the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016. The Danish word refers to a sense of comfort and cosiness, a key concept to embrace in the search for well-being and happiness. In the third episode of her 2020 BBC sounds podcast: Sandi Toksvig’s Hygge, Toksvig said: “if you’ve ever enjoyed reading a book indoors… on a rainy Sunday morning, chances are… you’ve experienced Hygge.”

How do we unlock this supposed secret to happiness and well-being, which Hygge points us to? The urge to Hygge has created online sensations of Pinterest aesthetics and the frantic marketing of cosy socks and jumpers, all designed to make us feel happy and fulfilled. It doesn’t seem possible however, that reaching this fulfilment will come purely from purchases or adding filters to photographs. Hygge focuses on the feeling which we create when we prioritise our comfort, alongside the people and things that we

care and Hygge can give you the space to feel comforted, with the potential for happiness. After all, comfort isn’t the same as happiness, and attempting to force that feeling can lead you even further away from it. Part of the appeal of Hygge isn’t just what you’re doing, it’s what you’re moving away from. You’re wrapping up warmly in a blanket, because outside it’s cold; you’re reading books and knitting blankets, because you’re switching off from work and stress, and you’re putting down your phone and chatting with your

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Credit: Mary Crawshaw

Little aspects of hygge can come with you everywhere, and be built into and around your routine.

A conscious decision to indulge in hot drinks and delicious desserts, reaching for the comfort of loved ones, cosy entertainment and warmth, it doesn’t take long for the appeal of Hygge to sink in. Considering the freezing cold temperatures and long dark nights common to the climate, especially in Autumn and Winter months, it’s unsurprising that the concept is so integral to Danish and Scandinavian culture. Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge, told Vice Magazine in 2017 that Hygge is part of Denmark’s national DNA. It hardly seems to be a coincidence that the country consistently ranks highly in the UN World Happiness Report.

love. It names a kind of happiness you’re most likely already familiar with, and with a little focus, you can experience more. Incorporating Hygge into your life doesn’t have to involve the glossy-magazineideal of closing the door on a freezing cold night, lighting a log fire and curling up in a blanket on an armchair, in your perfect thatched cottage. It is about your wellbeing and little bits of self-

loved ones, because you don’t always have enough time to do that amongst the business of everyday life. At best, you’ll prioritise a whole weekend, day or evening for Hygge, but it’s okay that that’s not possible all the time. Little aspects of Hygge can come with you everywhere, and be built into and around your routine. Possibly most importantly for your well-being, start by learning to switch off

from the outside world. This can often feel quite strange when it’s advised, patronising even, when sometimes problems and stress can be so consuming that the obvious advice that you’d be better off ignoring it all and doing something you enjoy can be wholly infuriating. But switching off isn’t about ignoring your problems, it’s about being better at dealing with them. Something as simple as a few

moments of mindfulness, whether through meditation, exercise, or a walk on your break, give you the space to rest your mind and this will help you to cope and deal with the challenges you’re confronting. So give yourself time without your devices and the internet, where you’re away from the news, your emails and social media, for however long you’re able. Schedule it in even, remember that it’s as important as being productive and problemsolving. Alongside mindfulness, indulge in the enjoyment of whatever comes to mind when you think of happiness, whether that be people, reading, delicious food and drink or just generally pausing, until you find Hygge. Go back to the roots of the things you find cosy and comforting, and allow your mind to focus on it fully, without the distractions of the things you find stressful. Hygge is unique to you, embracing it is allowing yourself to care for your well-being, which gives you the space to be happy.

Forge Press

Lifestyle

“My portions are bigger, I have more energy and am more confident now than I ever have been” I was tucking into my ice cream the other night after spaghetti and meatballs that I had made for dinner, when I realised that this was my fourth meal that day. Then I realised something else - I had no guilt about this fact whatsoever. This may sound insignificant to some people, but this time two years ago, I could not imagine eating so many meals in a day without thinking about what exercise to do the next day to burn off the most calories. How did I escape this cycle of binging and restricting, guilt and “fear foods”? My portions are bigger, I have more energy and am more confident now than I ever have been. Although there are many things which factor into me living a more balanced and healthier life, a concept which has helped myself and so many others is the idea of “reverse dieting”. So what is reverse dieting? It is the process of

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Use food to nourish the body, but also the soul gradually increasing your calorie intake overtime to increase your metabolism and minimise weight gain in the process.For example, if someone has been eating a certain number of calories consistently for a long period of time, they would increase their daily intake by 100 to 200 calories every week which would give their body time to adjust to the change in energy level it has been given and increase their metabolic rate. This is reverse dieting. Reverse dieting is most

popular amongst the bodybuilding community, to increase energy and minimise fat gain after severely cutting their calories. However, it has become more popular with the general health and fitness community as a good technique to help people recover from years of bad eating habits and crash dieting. It is a method of recovering from undereating which

with eating, is able to intuitively eat. Known as the “non-diet” diet, intuitive eating is the idea of listening to your own body and feeling it’s hunger cues (which many lose over time from yo-yo dieting). There are no restricted food

is rampant throughout our society and media makes it nearly impossible to escape from the unhealthy ideas of food restriction and feeling the need to lose weight at one point or another. This messaging is everywhere; from your

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Weight Loss doesn’t equal health or beauty We are constantly told skinny = pretty, smaller = better. But for so many, this is not the case. Weight Loss is only one small way for a group of people to become healthier and this should not be the general rule. Without the media and the subliminal messaging, people’s ideas of beauty differ significantly. All food is good in moderation Once again, a lie told by diet culture is that certain foods (or even food groups like carbs) are bad for you. This is not true at all. Some foods have more nutritional value than others, but most dieticians will agree that all food is able to be consumed in a healthy way. A McDonald’s meal on the occasion does not make you unhealthy. Use food to nourish the body but also the soul.

Intutitve eating is the idea of listening to your own body and feeling its hunger cues”

most often ruins people’s metabolisms, as their bodies are not getting enough energy from food. Overtime, your body recognises this depletion in calories and begins trying to conserve this energy. This leads to our bodies slowing down functions such as our metabolic rate and other “non-essential” systems. It is normal for women to lose their menstrual cycle in these conditions. While I personally did not track my calories to strategically reverse diet, through my journey lifting weights at the gym (I began to take this seriously about six months ago) and becoming less restricted in my portion sizes, I now consume significantly more food whilst my body’s healthy set weight and size. The main goal of reverse dieting is to eventually reach a place where someone, particularly if they struggle

remember when trying to create a healthier relationship with food:

Photo courtesy of Imogen Bowlt groups, no undereating, no skipping meals. It is simply the process of understanding how to eat for your body to function in its optimum condition. The concept was developed in the 90s by two dietitians who discovered that the “non-diet” approach achieved the best results with their patients struggling with obesity. Intuitive eating is a simple concept, but in reality, the toxicity of diet culture which

parents to your friends, to TV shows. The frustration now is even greater than before, because in addition to weight loss constantly being praised, there are certain body types now that you must fit into to achieve our impossible beauty standards. And unfortunately, the narrative always seems to come back around to the foods we eat and our exercise. Here are a few things to

Your bad body image is a result of your mind, not your diet. So often, my bad body image days are more to do with my mood and perception of myself that day, rather than what I really look like. More than this, The kind of food that you eat does not equate to your negative feelings towards your self image. Bad body image or feeling “unhealthy” comes from a multitude of factors such as sleep cycle, physical activity, the state of our mental health and more. For more on Imogen’s experience with intuitive eating and obtaining ‘food freedom’, check out her IGTV video here: https://youtu.be/MIKhBN3_

Monday 29 Novemeber 2021

Looking Ahead

Our cultural calendar highlights

Theatre

Comedy

Television

Album

Death of England: Face to Face

Alicia Keys

Don't Look Up

11 December – 15 January

10 December

Avaliable to Watch

10 December

A glorious romantic comedy musical, about two collegues at odds on the shop floor but, unbeknownst to them, secretly in love with each other. She Loves Me will warm even the chilliest of winter evenings. On at the Crucible Theatre.

Comedian Katherine Ryan returns with her new show Missus. Having previously denounced partnership, Katherine has since married her first love, accidentally, and shares her hilarious new perspective. On at 8pm at Sheffield City Hall. Tickets £30.65 & £26.45.

This amalgamation of two National Theatre monologues makes for an unflinching, highly impressive examination of race, identity and toxic masculinity. Avaliable to watch via Now TV.

As is the modern way, Keys announced her new album via a TikTok video revealing that the new record will feature two sides, Side A being labelled ‘original’, and Side B ‘unlocked’ which will be entirely produced by Kendrick Lamar.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth. In selected cinemas from 10 December, and on Netflix from 24 December.

She Loves Me

Katherine Ryan

Film

Film Single All The Way 2 December

Television

The Beatles: Get Back

Film

The Hand of God

First episode released on 25 November

15 December

Three-part documentary series directed by Peter Jackson whose previous World War I documentary, ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’, was an acclaimed success. This series takes you back in time to the band’s intimate recording sessions making their' 1970 album Let It Be, which had the working title of Get Back. Streaming now on Disney+.

In 1980s Naples, a young man experiences heartbreak and liberation after he's inadvertently saved from a freak accident by soccer legend Diego Maradona. Already winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Vencie International Film Festival, this Italian drama is tipped to be an Oscar success. On Netflix.

Comedy

Mo Gilligan : There's Mo to Life 11 December

Desperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pose as his boyfriend on a trip home for the holidays.Single All The Way follows that tried and tested romantic comedy formula. On Netflix.

Mo brings his earnest and highenergy comedy to Sheffield for his tour of There's Mo to Life. His feelgood observations have gained him a huge following for his largest tour to date. On at 8pm at Sheffield City Hall. Tickets £21.80.

Classical Film

West Side Story

Ansel Elgort stars alongside Rachel Zegler in her feature film debut in this Spielberg adaptation of the classic 1950s Broadway musical.

10 December This highly anticipated film adaptation of the 1950 musical by Steven Spielberg makes a series of firsts (and seconds). The beloved Broadway show about rival street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, has already been made into a movie that won 10 Academy Awards in 1962, including Best Picture.

Spielberg’s take on the Romeo and Juliet-inspired story will be the acclaimed director’s first musical, featuring hand-picked newcomer Rachel Zegler to play lead love interest Maria opposite Ansel Elgort as Tony.

Sheffield University Symphony Orchestra 5 December A new concert from SUSO with their new conductor, Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey, an award winning conductor and composer who specialises in exploring social and environmental issues. The varied programme will include Dvorak, and Florence Price’s rhythmic Symphony No.1 in E Minor. On at Firth Court at 7.30pm. £11.50 Full / £9 Concessions / £6 Student and Under 30.

Forge Press

Break

Merry moments of the month

Yorkshire County cricketer Azeem Rafiq has spoken out against racial abuse within the club. An internal inquiry dismissed racial slur as “friendly banter”. The chairman, high-profile and integral board members and many sponsors have now alienated the club after hearing the dissatisfying response with no one being held accountable. Has this set a precedent for the response towards racism within sports clubs?

Elon Musk took to twitter to offer up his shares in Tesla in the United Nations. This is in aid of ending world hunger. The selling of his shares will provide £4.4 million, the only condition is the U.N. must show proof of how this money will ‘solve world hunger’. This came as a response to U.N. director, David Beasley when he challenged Elon on twitter after becoming the world’s richest person.

COP26- The world is at least going to talk about the actions we should be taking to save our future. The leaders of the world have finally decided to come together in hope to pledge targets that will secure a future for our grandchildren. Tragets include ending deforestation and phase out public finance for coal fired power. These targets are in aid to securing ‘global net zero’ by midcentury and keeping 1.5 degrees within our grasp. @Wikimedia Commons Duncan.Hull

£200,000 has been awarded to businesses in Hillsborough, Firth Park, Walkley and Broomhill. Each of them will use the money to transform the scenery and attract more visitors. This includes art trails, new seating areas and markets. £50,000 has also been awarded to Station Road Chapeltown Business to attract shoppers and renovate the area by installing Christmas lights and host a celebratory event. Visit the ‘Welcome to Sheffield’ website to find out what events will be taking place this

@Wikimedia Commons MTaylor848

.Christmas is finally here! The Christmas Markets have finally opened, and we are ready to jingle. Get those embarrassing jumpers out; the eggnog is calling. On the 15th November many independent companies set up their Christmas hut on Fargate, Pinstone Street and around the peace gardens to spread cheer and joy to all those ready to get into the festive spirt. These include the Yorkshire Candle company and Bedazzled Cupcakes. If you feel a little adventurous there is even a wheel allowing thrill seekers to get a birds-eyeview of the beloved city.

Christmas Spirit Has Never Arrived This Early

Aidan Smith t’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’, and it’s only November. Perhaps there’s a heightened need for some ‘Sparkle And Shine’, some ‘Mistletoe And Wine’, and a well-earned rest after the talk of lockdowns and vaccines and all the rest this calendar year. For many, it will feel as though ‘Last Christmas’ is ‘2000 Miles’ behind us now. Restrictions resumed on boxing day last year, then the nation enjoyed sports galore in the summer with the Euros and Olympics taking centre stage. And all the while our old buddy Covid was eating away at

our energy and motivation. Well, ‘Maybe This Christmas’ certain rules can afford to be bent. It seems more people are ready to ‘Step Into Christmas’ than ever before. Throughout the past two years, the NHS and other UK public services have finally been lauded to the extent they deserve. Still they continue to sacrifice. Some won’t be able to celebrate the holiday to the degree they may wish, as these services don’t pause for Christmas. To quote Jona Lewie, you can’t ‘Stop The Cavalry’, even at ‘The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’. And it’s important to consider those less fortunate while you’re doing the ‘Christmas

Christmas in Sheffield is a time for song references Wrapping’, ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’, or even when you’re ‘Driving Home For Christmas’. It may be that you ‘Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’, but someone will always be ‘Lonely This Christmas’. It’s the most important time to look out for your neighbour.

‘That’s What Christmas Means To Me.’ Already, girls and boys around the world are waiting for the ‘Saviour’s Day’ in anticipation. They’ll be counting down the sleeps until ‘Santa’s Coming For Us’... well, if you truly ‘Believe’ in the man himself. I think ‘I Believe In Father

@Wikimedia Commons Donald Judge

Christmas’. Perhaps that’s ‘The Secret Of Christmas’ – the key to having a ‘Wonderful Christmastime’. It may be early in reality, but it feels overdue. ‘Happy Xmas’, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’. ‘Feliz Navidad’.

Monday 29 November

Break

Oh Boris, we feel so sorry for your hardship

1. Downing Street 2. Fireworks 3. Climate 4. Boris Johnson 5. Sparklers 6. Lights

7. Christmas 8. Elon Musk 9. Tesla 10. Halloween 11. Bonfire 12. Merry

Fun Fact of the month

luxurious villas. So Boris, maybe you will forgive us if we aren’t all reaching for the kleenex right now as we work out the additional energy bills and the ways we can get to work with no fuel. But do let us know when you finally become financially stable, I’m sure it's a real hardship.

he song “Jingle Bells” has been performed in space. Two astronauts, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, gave a rendition using a harmonica and

sleigh bells. Aboard the Gemini 6, nine days prior to Christmas day in 1965, the astronauts pranked Mission Control – claiming there was an unidentified flying object in the earth’s atmosphere. A light-hearted festive joke was only appropriate. Though, they’ll have had to time their big song reveal perfectly to avoid severe miscommunication between themselves and Mission Control.

@Wikimedia Commons Harrison Shmitt

worth even less than what it was pre-pandemic times. Doesn’t everyone enjoy the luxury of having the Goldsmiths as close family friends? The PM is just obviously really struggling financially that a free break to a £25,000 villa was the only way to help his austerity. It’s interesting to wonder what all those single mothers who survive off £296.35 a week say to their nanny at their

@Wikimedia Commons

fter nearly two years of financial burdens, restricted lifestyles, and career collapses, the world is devastated by the consequences of the coronavirus. This critical turning point in history has ruined lives and spread a state of depression across not only the UK but the whole world. But surely everybody sympathises with the Prime Minister’s struggles; the world is recovering, of course it is extremely hard for him to afford his necessities such as a nanny or even a holiday. The hospitality industry alone has suffered. Over a year later, consumer spending is less than 70% of pre-pandemic levels. Payrolled employees are still way off by a few 100,000 when compared to January 2019. On top of this, job vacancies are at a high of 110,000. I wonder how those business owners are coping without their ‘free’ holidays to Spain funded by friends in industry, during a time when the public aren’t spending money. But I wonder why this is? I’m sure all those families the Prime Minister took

£20 a week off can afford to spend money on fancy meals out and glamourous lunches; it’s only £20, right? Try funding a nanny on a salary of £81,932 for being an MP while also being entitled to an extra £79,469 for being the PM. Oh how all those children who relied on a footballer to not starve throughout the pandemic will pity you. When NHS nurses had to turn to food banks but were ‘supported’ because the PM stood at the door of his £5.3 million property at No.10 to clap their efforts but refused to offer a pay rise. When a pay rise was eventually given, they were offered a ‘3% increase’ which brings an average salary of a nurse to a loss of £200 when taking inflation into account. But poor Boris complains how his deprived salary of £81,000 just isn’t enough money to fund a nanny. Surely a luxury that all nurses enjoy while they keep the NHS afloat, withstanding 12+ hour shifts just to have their annual salary become

Answers in next month's edition

Chloe Louise O'Connor

On this day...

n 1963, the chart-topping single “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles was released in the United Kingdom. The song was the Beatles’ first using four layers of multitrack recording (MTR). They used it to record the individual parts of the song and then layer them on top of one another for the final product. This

took 17 takes to get right.I Want to Hold Your Hand” was an immediate success. The Beatles became the first band to knock their own song off the top of the charts, as after two weeks it overtook “She Loves You” and stayed in the number one position for five weeks until January 1964.

Forge Press

Arts & Theatre

Review

SUTCO returns with a bang: Punk Rock Andreea Popa This month saw the big finale of SUTCo’s production of ‘Punk Rock’ with a big bang. Punk Rock, a play originally published in 2009 by Simon Stephens, was brought to Sheffield by The University of Sheffield’s Theatre Company. This edgy and acute production followed the story of seven highachieving teenagers at a fee-paying grammar school as they stay in the Upper School library to hide away from their mock A-level exams. The play covered a lot of serious topics, with it’s central plotline containing mentions of death, mental health and violence; with themes of homophobia, selfharm, suicide, and strong language. And that’s not even the end of it. With such dark themes to cover within the confines of that little hidden away library where the teenagers

are hiding, one would think this complex production would be difficult to portray. However, the actors did a brilliant job conveying every emotion. Sitting in the theatre, mere steps away from the actors, everything about the setting painfully drew me in. From the actor’s facial expressions and their perfectly delivered lines, to the dance breaks and smoke machines, this play dragged me through an obstacle course of emotions at every turn. William (Tobias Kunz) begins this play by showing the new student, Lily (Kirsty Lucas), around the library. He’s shy and awkward, something that follows him through the rest of the play. As the play progresses, we see Lily has fallen for someone else, Nicholas (Sam Wilkinson), which upsets William. At the same time, Bennett (Tom Pridgeon) bullies everyone while his girlfriend Cissy (Nina Bradley) watches. He picks

on Tanya (Zoe Pymont) and Chadwick (Ella Murton) the most, slamming his palms on the tables, verbally abusing them loudly, and even forcing them to do things against their will. As the exam pressure builds, anxiety flares up into more aggression, revealing a raw undercurrent of panic and hostility, ending the play with William at a therapy facility with Dr Harvey (Bekah Patterson). William, who shot three characters in the previous scene, envisions Nicholas sitting in front of him and finally realizes the pain he’s caused. The actors did a fantastic job of presenting their character’s weaknesses and strengths, and showing how even though they were all in the wrong at times, they also had great redeemable reasons and qualities.

Rising Poetry Roll up! Roll up! Roll up to see the amazing shrinking girl! My trembling body welcomed you Unaware you were concealing a syringe of poison It was a safe haven for you to nest in When everyone else outside scolded you A once vast landscape was I With rolling hills where others have curves Sparkling blue oceans for eyes My chuckle akin to an earthquake You shrunk me down to where you stood Flushed cheeks now ghostly pale With bluish purplish bruises Surrounding the injection site Now all of those oceans spill Out from my soul’s windows Until their curtains close at night This has happened too many times before

By Ruby Watson

Monday 29 November 2021

Arts & Theatre

Fresh books

Beautiful World, Where Are You Sally Rooney Dubbed as Rooney’s best work yet, this new storyline follow a group of young adults trying to navigate life.

Will Will Smith and Mark Manson A memoir tracing the incredible career of one of the biggest music and film stars of all time.

Theroux The Keyhole: Diaries of a grounded documentary maker Louis Theroux Swapping journalism for the confines of his home, Theroux lets us into hs family life.

Opinion

The rise of social media poetry and what it means Sromona Bhaumik Poetry as a medium of self-expression has always interested me. The way this form of literature is presented has been changing for a long period of time. We have known traditional poets like T.S Eliot, Charles Bukowski, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and many more, but, in today’s generation poetry has taken a new shape in a new outlet which has given our generation of people a newfound mode of self-expression with a bonus of more freedom of expression. Poetry is considered a form of art. It reaches the understanding of a multitude of people and connects to them. However, when we think about poetry as a means of making ends meet, it isn’t an ideal career. This is where modern and the socalled ‘social media’ poetry comes into the picture. With the release of ‘Milk and Honey’ in 2014, Rapi Kaur changed the face of poetry for our generation. Her collection of poems reached millions of people and her writing rose to popularity in no time. For me, this format of poetry is enthralling. As people, we were so used to the traditional form of poetry that when poets like Kaur started grabbing our attention by combining poetry and aesthetic social media posts, it started engaging us. The world of ‘Insta-poets’ opened to the audience and gave people an opportunity to start thinking about writing poetry as a means to building a career. I think of poetry as a shared culture. Poetry is not something that can ever have an expiration date. It brings together similar thought processes and shared experiences within

the bonus of internet culture that is acting as a catalyst into making this a safe space for poets to share their work. There might be a chunk of the population that may think that this generation of Instagram poets is ruining traditional forms of poetry, I may ask how so? The only thing it is doing is providing the creators an opportunity to get their creative juices flowing, make posts, be colourful with their thoughts and bring forward their originality. Creators like R.M Drake and Atticus who started sharing their short forms of poetry and blended them with inspirational social media posts, attract audiences because of their multi-dimensional format of presenting their work. This does not adulterate the traditional form of poetry. It is simply different. It is an example of how forms of art need to keep up with the fast-paced changes over time. When the question arises as to whether poetry on social media can ever be compared to pieces of traditional poetry, the answer is why do two forms of poetry on two different platforms need to be compared in the first place. Online poetry is becoming popular because now the creators can break out of the conventional patterns of writing poetry. They do not have to be worried about their work being rejected by publishers and struggle with it because now they are in control. There are no boundaries to what art can be and there should not be. Art should be perceived as something that is timeless and that is what poetry is. Whether the poetry is written on social media or a piece of paper, creativity is creativity and art is art and that is how it always should be.

Letter to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchins Released 20 years ago last month, this book crams in surprising reference to literary and public figures for such a concise and readable book. Whether or not you see Hitchens still as having been an ‘oppositionist’, Letters is certainly an interesting discussion of why you would want to engage in radicalism and contrarianism, to question prevailing opinion and to think for yourself. What’s so strong about the book is the reference to stand-out figures in recent history; Hitchens’ own wealth of knowledge and depth of reading here serves the book well. A discussion of the importance of argument and discussion nods to figures like George Orwell, John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx. Alternatively, I was introduced to some of Hitchens’ own heroes whose exploits I was unfamiliar with; Emile Zola’s exploits in defence of the falsely accused Alfred Dreyfus in 1890’s France. Zola’s standing up for truth and justice against establishment is exactly what Hitchens aimed to elevate. If you want to experience some wit and an introduction to great thinkers and intellectuals, read this book.

By Josh-Thory Rao

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller This book broke me. I’m not usually in the habit of recommending books that left me devastated, but, in my humble opinion, this book deserves every ounce of praise it receives. Recently made popular again due to Tiktok, Miller’s debut novel is a captivating rewrite of The Iliad told from the perspective of Patroclus. Bursting at the seams with emotion, it explores the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, and the backstories given to both the Trojan war&#39;s famed hero and forgotten hero make complete sense. This book had me hooked, lined, and sinkered - I just could not put it down. I did my undergraduate degree in English Literature so am quite accustomed to blitzing through books, but boy the speed with which I got through this was something to behold. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, but I think even if mythology is all Greek to you (haha get it) this book is so beautiful and a worthwhile read.

The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers This is the first instalment in the Wayfarers series, and even though I haven’t read a series properly since about 2014, I had seen the hype surrounding this book and knew I had to give it a try. With spot-on character development, I adored each member of The Wayfarer in their own way, and even though most of the characters were from various different galaxies and of an abundance of different species - you could relate to their flaws and insecurities in a very human way. This novel felt like a warm embrace after you’ve just finished crying; the very epitome of feelgood. The warning that I would give with this book, however, is that it does take a while to get into, but I managed to persevere and was rewarded with an addition to the ever-growing pile of my favourite books, and a story so fantastical and heart-warming it would not leave my head.

By Anastasia A Christodoulou

Forge Press

Music

Live Review: Easy Life at The Foundry

Callum Martin

Alice Fletcher

n traditional indie-gig style, The Foundry was flooded with an ocean (view) of bucket hats, baggy jeans and oversized t-shirts last Friday as the infectious, breezy spirit of Easy Life took to the Sheffield Student Union stage. Armed with a brass trio to accompany the musical talent of the Leicester-based five piece, the ninety-minute set transcended that of a gig, becoming more of a fullblown production - and a masterclass to any aspiring artist in how to put on a good show. The sold-out Sheffield date made up the first leg of the indie band’s 28 date UK and Europe Life’s a Beach tour, following the release of the album of the same name earlier this year, which reached number two in the UK Album Chart. First to meet the fastfilling crowd, however, was support act Berwyn, providing a confusing mass of indecipherable rap lyrics and juxtaposing choruses set to lolled guitar rhythms - all whilst drinking a cup of tea. Despite this, the anticipation of what was to come provided Berwyn with the crowd’s unbroken attention and an air full of hands to accompany his softer, more personal song ‘To Be Loved’, played on the piano by the rapper himself. Providing a sense of intimacy with both the stage and the stranger-behindyou’s breath on your neck, the somewhat small floor of The Foundry was the perfect breeding ground for that familiar packed-out pregig anticipation shared by all. It was only when, after a short interlude of excited chatter and failed chants, the band entered the stage (accompanied by a pre-flight safety announcement) the crowd burst into chaotic life.

Live Review: DMA's at the O2 Academy

Murray Matravers enjoyed the view as he took in the Foundry crowd

Opening their twentyfive-strong setlist with fan favourite ‘pockets’, Easy Life quickly reminded the wordperfect crowd why they are fans of their distinctive, kaleidoscopic sound. With little talking in between, the band powered out as many of their mellow melodic jams and catchy lyrics as humanly possible. Effortlessly interchanging between their lesser-known earlier releases of ‘houseplants’ and ‘dead celebrities’ and their more recent creations of ‘have a great day’ and ‘lifeboat’, Easy Life truly provided a performance for fans. Yet, even for those who may have come along not knowing much more than a few from the latest album, the layers of velvety synth hooks, funky guitar solos and headnodding drumbeats make it near-impossible to not instinctively bop along. ‘peanut butter’ soundtracked a wall of people sat high on shoulders bouncing along whilst the additional trombone, saxophone and trumpet provided a lustrous background to the nonchalant vocals of frontman Murray Matravers. In true Easy Life fashion, each song featuring the brass band felt seemingly effortless, despite being meticulously constructed with flawless instrumentation.

Yet, as polished as their sound was, what would an Easy Life gig be without a little raucous engagement with the crowd? After filling in Arlo Park’s verses of ‘sangria’, we were treated to a restart of ‘skeletons’, as Matravers encouraged more mosh pits and energy. Not knowing what he was letting himself in for, he then had his Nike stolen - one that made up his “only pair of tour shoes” - as he dived into the crowd. Labelling the Sheffield crowd and its many mosh pits as a “rowdy bunch”, the band concluded their set with ‘ocean view’, much to the delight of the crowd. Chants of “easy, easy” and of course - “Yorkshire” filled the room as the band were begged to return onstage for their encore, consisting of ‘nightmares’ and an epic finale of ‘music to walk home to’ perfectly adapted for each instrumentalist to showcase their talent, whilst being deservedly introduced by Murray to screams and applause. Having stopped at nothing to keep the party going with their confidence and charm, Easy Life delivered a gig perfectly fitting to what makes the band so loveable chilled vibes with the energy of a rock concert. Image credit: Ingrid Edvardsen

kay, this one was always going to be a rager. When Australian rockers DMA’s are in town, it’s always going down. A fact best exemplified at this gig by the fight that broke out just before the band came on. When indie music’s on the cards, the tempers can fly. And with the ShowSec army rushing through the crowd to throw out the brawlers, the lights dropped down, pints went flying, and a pulsing green light emanated from the stage. Stepping out the baying crowd and the pulsating noise of opening track “Never Before”, DMA’s were as immaculately indie styled as ever. Acoustic guitarist Johnny Took wore a baggy, cross-covered shirt to compliment his bleach blonde mullet whilst guitarist Matt Mason rocked a baseball cap and overshirt combo fit for any indiehead. But it was frontman Tommy O’Dell’s LiamGallagher-esque anorak and jeans outfit, complete with a tambourine stick for full Oasis vibes, that took the audience by storm as he struck into the opening lyrics of their set. Now DMA’s are an interesting band. Their fanbase goes across the age range of all indie lovers, with the crowd a mix of balding men and bucket-hat-clad teens. This probably led to the strange energy in the room. With the flexing, moving mass of people, there was never really enough space and movement for the mosh pits that the Dirty MA’s are known for, largely due to the older shift in the crowd, especially in the earlier part of the set. Some of the jangly tunes like “The Glow'' and “Dawning”, fell flat

because of this, and would be more suited to the open fields of a summer indie fest than the indoors of an O2 Academy. Despite a slightly underwhelming mid-section of the concert, complete with some slightly too long guitar solos, the show did conclude in glorious style, with “Tape Deck Sick” signalling the start of the bangers. With this also came the eventual appearance of the pits and sweatiness everyone was waiting for. With the heightened energy from the crowd, the DMA’s got into their stride, with Johnny Took and Matt Mason leading the crowd through the bigger, and frankly better, tunes in their catalogue. From “Hello Girlfriend” to “Delete”, each song further electrifying the crowd into a maddening frenzy. The chaos kept up through to the final song, “Play It Out”, before DMA’s stepped off the stage to give the crowd a breather. Stepping back out to rapturous noise, each member of the band drank in the sound before heading into a manic encore of “Appointment”, “Lay Down”, and ever-rowdy “Feels Like 37”, climaxing with smoke bombs and more moshing, adding to an exhaustingly mad but thrilling evening. All in all, it was a madness of an evening. The crowd’s energy was unrivalled, even when the music was relatively lacking, and is a testament to the DMA’s faithful. It was an enjoyable event, but I can imagine that it would be nothing on seeing DMA’s at a festival. Image credit: Callum Wilson

Monday 29 November 2021

Music

Fresh tracks

Oh My God Adele Because hate or love it, the woman takes over the world when she makes new music.

The Magic Bus James Speaking of James, the Mancunians are back with more new music ahead of returning to the festival circuit next year.

In Bloom (Live in Melbourne) Nirvana Not really fresh, but fuck it. 30 years on, one of the most influential bands ever still sound incredible. RIP Kurt.

Tramlines 2022: a masterclass in musical mediocrity?

Charlie Sweeney , like many, was anxiously refreshing the Tramlines twitter page on the 10th November, desperate to see the line-up for the 2022 festival. Could they somehow manage the seemingly impossible task of topping acts like The Kooks, Blossoms and Royal Blood welcoming in the first festival of the post-covid era last summer? Could they top the magnificent range of performances, from Sundara’s electric set at t’Other Stage, to Dizzee Rascal (and a special appearance by Tramlines Security) performing Bassline Junkie? Who could compete with Mike Skinner popping champagne and toasting to the new postpandemic freedom? The short answer? No one. Or, at least, that is apparently what the organisers of the Tramlines festival decided when they booked this year’s performers. My mind was taken with two big questions when I finally saw the line-up. ‘is this a joke?’, ‘no, really, is this a joke?’. I mean, come on. For Friday we have gone from Mike Skinner to Sam Fender? Sam Fender, a performer so bland that ‘vanilla indie’ genuinely might be an exaggeration of his talents. How on earth is he headlining over James? Tim Booth could spend 3 minutes and 42 seconds screaming sweet nothings into a feedback-ridden microphone, and I would still regard it as a far more interesting piece of music than anything found on Seventeen Going Under. The only thing that album is

going under is the radar of any self-respecting music lover. The only interesting piece of commentary it has is to highlight the irony of the (supposedly) left-wing singer’s recent support for an ultra-conservative regime’s takeover of his football club. I also have to reluctantly mention the band-fromLeicester-shaped-elephant in the room. Kasabian are probably the best verbalisation of the “separate the art from the artist” argument. Justifiably without their lead singer, the band seem to be half-heartedly trundling on, performing their tainted songs to crowds who aren’t quite sure what to make of a group who clearly should have thrown in the towel quite some time ago. The choice of the first two headliners demonstrates all that is wrong with Tramlines, not just this year, but in general. Tramlines used to be free, it used to be a venuebased festival centred around Sheffield itself. The festival was intrinsically tied to the cultural identity of Sheffield and its music scene. It encouraged venues to open their doors, it encouraged and supported local bands, and most importantly it encouraged the natives

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Who could compete with Mike Skinner popping champagne and toasting to the new post-pandemic freedom? The short answer? No one. of the city to experience the new and interesting acts sprouting up in their backyard. It was grounded in the spirit of Sheffield, an ode to the musical culture of the city which produced bands like the Human League, Pulp and Arctic Monkeys. These days, you’re paying £70 to go see primarily wellestablished and somewhat naff, non-Yorkshire bands play in a park well outside the city centre. The only community spirit you feel is the absolute contempt everyone has for themselves for willingly handing over £7 for a lukewarm, dented can

of Red Stripe which they’ll probably drop, half-finished, in a mosh-pit. Is this upcoming Tramlines a total disaster? Certainly not. In fact, there are some absolute gems there. Madness will forever be a classic hit, and the Everly Pregnant Brothers will always provide great entertainment. There are some great Sheffield acts on there, such as Self Esteem and Sheafs, and even some great bands from Yorkshire as a whole, like Working Men’s Club. However, the undeniable truth about this line-up, and, in my opinion, it’s biggest crime, is that it is just so ‘meh’. Even if you have to accept that Sam Fender is a quite good performer (if you like that sort of thing)- the issue is Tramlines could be so much more. Will you have an alright time at Tramlines next summer? Probably. So far, all the acts are, at the very least, harmless. And when you’re there with your mates getting hammered

on ridiculously priced alcohol and dancing without embarrassment, the world will seem like a slightly better place, and I doubt you’ll be thinking of an article in Forge from a few months ago. But when it comes to music, I think there is something deeply depressing about just being alright. It seems Tramlines is doing everything in its power to avoid having anything to do with the Sheffield music scene. Clearly, cash reigns supreme over culture. My suggestion? Don’t bother with Tramlines. Go to the Fringe events instead. See a small band like Femur or Dead Slow Hoot at the Washington. Get drunk and listen to the DJ at the Devonshire Green Chippy. Tramlines isn’t bad, it’s just boring, and if you want boring, you may as well head to a festival with better headliners than Sam-bloodyFender. Image credit: Tramlines 2021/Fanatic

Forge Press

Music

“Get ready to turn your volume down!” Pale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie warns fans to prepare for their third album

Madeleine Lake ale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie has opened up about their new upcoming album, one that has some “ ‘classic Pale Waves moves in it”.’ Despite a global pandemic, nothing has stopped this band from producing exceptional music; their third album will be nothing short of this. Lead singer and guitarist Baron-Gracie dives into the new album. Following the hit album Who Am I? Pale Waves decided to begin work on their third album, which is yet to be titled. Fans of ‘You Don’t Own Me’ will be excited to hear that “in comparison to the last two records, it’s a lot harder hitting and heavier.” In contrast to their heavier hits, there is another side to Pale Waves where there are grungy love songs such as ‘She’s my religion’. Not only was this not a regular love song, but it depicts a real relationship rather than a romanticised one. What makes this track so special is that Baron-Gracie features her girlfriend, Kelsi in the music video. Heather further opened up about her love life. Kelsi is a big part of her creative and writing process. For fans wondering if Kelsi will make

another appearance: “There wasn’t going to be anyone else there that I wanted to do that with. I didn’t wanna create an intimate relationship with someone that wasn’t there or a complete stranger. I’m not

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There is an instant connection there and I've really missed that connection an actress and I didn’t even want to try and do that... I felt like there was not a lot of

representation out there of same sex couples, especially two women. There is a lot of gay men representation out there, but not a lot for women I feel, so I kind of knew it would really mean a lot to people if we did that so she let me convince her.” Pale Waves are notorious for always being on the road touring. Alongside reading, yoga and watching movies, fans may find it a surprise that Heather loves time to herself. “I very much like my time alone, everyone always says that about me. If anything I'll either choose to be with Kelsi or choose to be alone. I don’t mind being alone, I quite enjoy it. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent years being around people constantly being on

“

It was scary, it was Glastonbury so I couldn't stop tour and I love those people, but I very much do and I feel like when I was growing up, I spent a lot of time alone” This upcoming record is exciting for many reasons,

fans can expect songs about sexuality and identity that represent their fans. The band has a bulk of songs already with plenty more to come. “There is an instant connection there and I've really missed that connection.” Heather misses connecting with fans and being able to be in a room where everyone has the same reason for being there, to enjoy the Pale Waves community. Heather also further shares some tour stories from her time on the road: “One time we were playing New Orleans in America, we always had this dramatic walk-on music to get the crowd hyped which goes on for minutes. It hits the climax, everyone cheers and we go into our first song, which at the time was “Television Romance”, and I look around at my band and I’m like “Why can’t I hear anything? I can’t hear myself.” The band begins to freak out and it got to the point where I had to shout” “Stop! Stop! Stop the show!” “I dropped my guitar and ran off stage.” It was later found out that the sound technician put his microphone on the sound desk which feedback and cut

the signal from Heather’s ears so she could hear nothing. The band had another mishap during their first performance at Glastonbury which resulted in a mixup with packs, meaning Heather and guitarist Hugo could hear each other’s mixes and not their own. “It was scary, it was Glastonbury so I couldn’t stop.” “Our first performance at Glastonbury which was a massive deal, I walked on and since me and Hugo had the the same initials, our tour manager at the time mistakenly gave me Hugo’s pack and everyone’s mix was so different and so unique and I got on and was like why is Hugo’s guitar the loudest thing possible and why can I not hear my vocals at all?” They pulled through the opening under immense pressure and nerves, which is a huge accomplishment. When asked what the band can tell fans about the album, Heather replied: “I would say turn you volume down slightly because it’s so fucking loud!” Fans can expect harder hitting and heavier songs than ever before. The band knew it was time for album three when they realised they would be travelling a lot next year and they prefer to not write albums on tour. Heather finds it difficult to write on tour and doesn’t see the appeal in it, instead she prefers to write in an environment with the band and Kelsi. Currently, she is enjoying her time in LA where she will continue to write and work with the band. One thing fans can be sure of, is that this band is beautiful, bold and led by a talented artist. The band expect to potentially drop a new song on their tour, performing in Sheffield February 23rd 2022. All image credits: Ian Cheek/ Pale Waves

Monday 29th November 2021

Screen

The Life and Death of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Maddie Farnhill

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Elizabethtown

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Garden State

Addressing the trope: 500 Days of Summer

he comes in a variety of colours. Whether she’s an angsty shock of pink hair or Natalie Portman wearing a rucksack, we all know the manic pixie dream girl as a fixture of the 2000-2010’s indie rom-com. And yet a recent shift in film has seemingly marked the end of the trope, with filmmakers throwing out the MPDG in favour of more rounded female characters. Has this marked the death of the manic pixie dream girl? And did she need killing off in the first place? The term was coined in 2007 by Nathan Rabin in his article called ‘The Bataan Death March of Whimsy Case File #1: Elizabethtown”. It was created to describe the unreasonably quirky love interest to the gawky male protagonists that dominated contemporary romantic comedies, classic examples including Sam in Garden State, Claire in Elizabethtown, and Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. “You don’t understand,” our screenwriter cries through the screen at every opportunity, “she’s different from all the other girls! Yes, she’s still white, skinny, button nosed and never past the age of 25, but she has definable character traits.” Like plaits and seismic commitment issues, apparently. The trope is problematic for several reasons. Why these male protagonists are so drawn to what is essentially a child-woman is beyond me. Aside from the MPDG’s zaniness and exhausting zest for life, her most defining trait is her immaturity. Fortunately for our stunted male hero, our MPDG stays young, fun and free forever, never challenging him in any serious way or expecting anything in return. What he needed all along was – no, not therapy – but a flighty ball of fun with no depth of character, who can teach him to love life, give his ego a little boost and then

disappear forever. Obviously, in order for this trope to work the MDPG has to be just that – a dream girl who exists only in the imagination “A welcome antithesis” - Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne of her writers. Because if we’re going to proved wildly popular, talk about MPDGs, we need along with more sensitive to talk about the men who character portrayals from write them. MPDGs are directors Greta Gerwig (Little not, and never have been, a Women, Ladybird) and Debra reflection of real women at Granik (Winter’s Bone, Leave the time they were written, No Trace). Even Bond girls but of male writer directors are having a better time in appealing to their audience recent years. of brooding men in want of But a special mention goes some validation. out to the infamous ‘Cool So, where is she now? Girl’ monologue from Gillian Thankfully, once the Flynn’s Gone Girl, which archetype had been coined, effectively rips the MPDG a filmmakers were eager to new one: “You are not dating drop it. By 2012 we were a woman,” Amy sneers. “You seeing a more complex are dating a woman who has iteration in Tiffany from watched too many movies Silver Linings Playbook with written by socially awkward more inner life than all of her men who’d like to believe that predecessors put together, this kind of woman exists and thus avoiding tipping into might kiss them.” Amy Dunne, MPDG territory. But even as ludicrous as she is, was a earlier came 2009’s 500 welcome antithesis. Days of Summer, an often As always, however, it’s unjustly criticised example about what sells. If quirky of the trope which actually girl-women are what attempts to challenge it – sold twenty years ago, it’s and back in 2004, Eternal certainly not what sells now. Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Not with the emergence of recognized the archetype deriding terms like “pick-me”, with Clementine’s rousing and mockery of women both speech: “Too many guys real and fictional who define think I’m a concept, or I themselves by not behaving complete them, or I’m gonna “like other girls”. This specific make them alive.” Apparently, brand of misogyny seems MPDG was on her way out to be getting it’s reckoning, even before the 2010’s. thanks to an increasingly Since then, there has media-critical, young been an onslaught of audience which filmmakers more progressive female have to appeal to now. characters in film. Heroines, It is probably for this like Katniss Everdeen, Rey reason alone that we’ve seen and Black Widow, have the MPDG vanish off our screens. One may worry that she has evolved into something more insidious, or given way to another Fortunately for our problematic archetype altogether - almost certainly, stunted male hero, we will see remnants of her our MPDG stays in the odd poorly written young, fun and love interest. But the height of this trope has safely free forever, never passed. The manic pixie challenging him in dream girl has, quite fittingly, sprinkled her magic and any serious way or flitted away.

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expecting anything in return.

All image credits: The MovieDB

Forge Press

Screen Screen

Should safety on film sets be taken more seriously?

Nadia Lincoln

Picture credits: TheMovieDB and Unsplash

lec Baldwin and other film producers on Rust are facing multiple lawsuits after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set, in Santa Fe County, last month, as reported by i News. The 63-year-old actor was sued for negligence by the head electrician, Serge Svetnoy, as well as script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell who were both present at the accident. The parties have claimed they have suffered emotional distress following the shooting. The Daily Mail reported, Mitchell was the first to call the emergency services and Svetnoy allegedly held Hutchins, his close friend, as she died. According to a court document, Baldwin was handed the pistol by assistant director Dave Halls, who called out “cold gun” meaning that it was safe. Halls later admitted that he hadn’t properly checked all the rounds. Baldwin, who was the lead actor as well as a producer on Rust, then rehearsed a scene where he drew the gun from his holster and pointed it towards the camera. A live round was fired which struck Hutchins, 42, in the chest and wounded director Joel Souza. It is alleged that Baldwin was not required to pull the trigger for the scene. He said, in a video message, that the shooting was a “one-in-atrillion event” and that they “were a very well-oiled crew”. Armourer, Hannah Guiterrez-Reed, 24, and Halls are among others on set who are facing lawsuits. There were allegedly many other safety failures on set, including keeping live ammunition with dummy rounds, leaving guns and ammo unattended and allowing the weapons to be attended by crew-members other than the armourer and prop master. The production’s weapons and some 500 rounds of ammunition were seized by police when they arrived on

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Even one death from prop guns is too many, and the fact that it has happened multiple times suggests that action needs to be taken to protect actors and crew members. the scene. Investigations into the shooting are ongoing and no criminal charges have been announced yet, CNN reports. There were also claims as reported by ABC News that there had been previous safety issues, including two accidental weapon discharges and one accidental [sound effects] explosive that had gone off. These allegations were made by Lane Luper, formerly first camera assistant on the film before he joined half a dozen other members who walked off set to protest poor working conditions. Rust producers deny these claims. Since the tragic incident, the BBC has reported growing calls for a ban on live firearms on film sets, with a petition harnessing over 115,000 signatures. Dave Cortese, a California State Senator, has also proposed a bill that would ban live ammunition and firearms from movie sets in California. This isn’t the first time that fatal shootings have taken place on film sets. In 1993, actor Brandon Lee was shot whilst filming The Crow. Previous negligent use of a prop gun had resulted in a bullet being lodged in the chamber. During a scene that required Lee to be shot at, a blank round propelled the bullet forward with almost the same force as live ammunition. He was rushed to surgery but died because of his injuries. In 1984, on the set of TV series Cover Up, Jon-Erik Hexum was also killed in a gun accident. The actor picked up one of the prop guns and aimed it at his head

as a joke, pulling the trigger. Though it had been loaded with a blank round, it still contained gunpowder and Hexum was later declared braindead. Even one death from prop guns is too many, and the fact that it has happened multiple times suggests that action needs to be taken to protect actors and crew members. There are no definitive set of regulations on the use of firearms across the film industry, and right now, it’s up to them to create and follow their own rules. The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee has a list of guidelines for handling prop guns and firearms. This includes never pointing a gun at anyone, always acting as if the gun is loaded, providing firearms safetymeetings, and utilising protective shields and hearing protection. When there is no law to follow these regulations, and no regulatory body to enforce them, how useful can they really be in practice? It is understandable that some industry members may be against the total banning of guns on set, feeling that it enhances the story and makes the action more realistic. Rather than simulating a gunshot afterwards with editing software, the actors can see the muzzle flash, hear the round firing, and feel the recoil from the shot. Perhaps an organisation needs to be set up to enforce safety requirements and ensure that firearms, should they not be banned, are handled properly. They could impose fines or filming bans if the production is found to be unsafe, thus encouraging sets to follow vital safety rules. Actors and staff on film sets are entitled to protection and should feel safe at work. There are safety procedures in place for a reason, and more needs to be done to ensure that they’re being followed, to stop any more lives from being lost so needlessly.

Monday 29th November 2021

Film Review

Spencer

Kate Blowers

pencer, Pablo Larrain’s latest work, and Jackie, his 2016 Jackie Kennedy biopic, come together to create a sort of diptych. Both films feature frightened, traumatised women who exist within a powerful

Screen institution, and both films are sensitively observed, ravishing to look at, and subtly performed. But for me, Jackie has the edge. Set over the three day period from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day in 1991, Spencer oscillates between genuinely unsettling and frustratingly over-egged; Steven Knight’s script is the worst culprit when it comes to the latter. A motif about pheasants (“beautiful, but not very bright,”), for example, is taken too far – we know that Diana feels like prey, there is no need

for the script to signpost this quite so conspicuously. More effective is a late night excursion to Diana’s boarded up childhood home, complete with a spectral visitation from Anne Boleyn. Whatever you may think of Spencer’s more audacious conceits, it’s never boring, and it’s anchored by a startling performance from Kristen Stewart. She’s mannered, certainly, but this is hardly a criticism when one is playing Diana. Stewart nails that voice with its specific timbre and intonation, and has mastered Diana’s trademark: the shy head tilt and smirk, but it’s important to stress that this is not – nor is it aspiring to be – an entirely faithful imitation of the people’s princess. There are recognisable Diana-isms, but Stewart dials up the intensity to match the film around her, vamping like a pro in a series of stunning (if very early 90s) gowns and skirt suits. She’s ably supported by a rotating roster of British heavyweights who each do sterling work. Timothy Spall is menacing – though

world ‘Mr Booth’ (Ryan Reynolds) and the man with many layers ‘John Hartley’ (Dwayne Johnson). All of whom, for one reason or another end up on the same road to collect all three of Cleopatra’s eggs, aiming to bag a huge amount of money. The relationship between these three characters is fascinating, and is probably the best part about the film. The trio shine,

unsurprisingly, and their antics and constant games of one-upmanship are entertaining and comedic. The plot revolves around this, unfortunately leading to it lacking in other areas.The major talking points of this film should be the beautifully crafted twists infused throughout, yet when they arrive, you are left feeling indifferent. You just accept it and move on, which is what stops this film from standing out. A big issue with this film is, it felt somewhat like a teenage boy having an identity crisis. It was neither a comedy nor an action film, and never fully committed to combining the two. The opening sequence is the only part that truly shows its character and makes it clear what direction the film was going for, and the structure falls apart from there. Each scene felt like a different genre. If producers had stayed committed to one genre or the other, this could

Credit: TheMovieDB

Netflix Review

Red Notice

Connor Bragger or a film containing three of the hottest stars in the Hollywood industry, Red Notice truly fails to put the world on notice. Is this a bad film? Not at all. However, when Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot team up you would expect gold standard entertainment. Yet what we got was a film that felt very vanilla. Ironically, for a film full of twists, turns and surprises, it fails to achieve the wow factor that filmmakers were searching for. This Netflix Original follows three central characters: the best art thief in the world known as ‘The Bishop’ (Gal Gadot), the best con-man in the

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The film tacitly suggests that one of the most tragic aspects of Diana’s story is that she was unable to recognise her own beauty. we suspect he possesses hidden depths – as a former army general who keeps a close eye on the troubled princess. His insistence that Diana partake in the “fun,” tradition of weighing oneself on Christmas Eve and seeing how much weight you can gain by Boxing Day is the first of many triggers which lead her to relapsing into bulimia. Sean Harris shines as kind chef Darren, whose primary aspiration when it comes to his cooking is to “make our princess want something.” It’s a tender, gentle performance. The film’s depiction of Diana’s battle with eating disorders manages to

have been unforgettable. Red Notice 2 has been hinted at heavily both in and outside of the film. The likelihood of me watching this would be quite high, sinceI didn’t actively dislike the film-The sequel could easily be a success and make me eat my words- but it needs to look itself in the mirror and decide what genre it wants to be. he onscreen relationships of

be both sensitive and unflinching, but Diana herself is never allowed to be anything less than ravishingly beautiful, even at her lowest – this is perhaps my biggest bone of contention with the film. Diana’s beauty is foregrounded in several conversations – her dresser, Maggie (Sally Hawkins, who manages to spin gold out of this paper thin character), posits that it is her most powerful weapon. The film seems to be tacitly suggesting – or at least it seems that way to me – that one of the most tragic aspects of Diana’s story is that she was unable to recognise her own beauty. Frankly, I felt this was somewhat insulting. Spencer is by turns infuriating and spellbinding, held together by an incredible score from Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood and a star turn by Kristen Stewart. Though some of its bolder, more overtly theatrical mechanisms fall flat, this “fable from a true tragedy,” is never dull.

strong characters needs to be utilized to build the foundations of a compelling story, rather than relying on the fame and fortune of the actors involved. Unfortunately, in its current form, Red Notice is just pinned to a notice board watching the world pass it by.

Picture Credits: TheMovieDB

Forge Press

Games

You should play...

Super Auto Pets

Written by Reiss Mason cross history many a bloody war have been waged in many a grassy field, though none were more gory than the War of the Super Auto Pets. Steam describes this game as a “chill auto battler”, but chill it is not. No my friends, after a couple hours playtime you will be a sweating, blubbering mess as you fret over every last decision and your friends mock you over the phone for having put your Flamingo at the back of your roster when it would obviously be far more effective exactly fourth from front and equipped with Melon Armour. I know. Right now I sound like a lunatic, but spend just 10 minutes in this simpleto-learn-hard-to-master tactical fighter and you, too, will be a champion of Super Auto Pets lingo. Let me start from the top: in Super Auto Pets you build up a roster of animals with which to battle another player’s roster. Each animal has its own ability which activates when a certain criteria is met, for example, whenever a peacock gets injured but doesn’t die its attack value increases by two. This can result in some devasting combos and unique synergies, all of which are fun to discover. Between battles you are given 10 coins and can shop for new animals and buffs from a randomised

selection, but you can only ever buy about three things at a time so every choice matters. This is where the tactical element of gameplay rears its ugly head, as you can tap into your inner gambler and ‘hold’ items between battles to ensure they’re still there later when you actually need them, but this could bar you from getting a stronger animal later which unlock every few battles. There are two modes: Arena (billy-no-mates mode) where you play against randoms online and thus battle a selection of ever-changing rosters, or Versus (“oo fwiends” mode) where you play against a single opponent and a single roster which gets more powerful every round. I find Versus mode more enjoyable as you can actively counter your friends’ team to really piss them off. You can even set up games with more than two players, allowing for true chaos when you have to counter on three different fronts, introducing a hidden Stress Mode where you can never fully control the battlefield and your initial victories slowly slip away into the endless void of humiliation where the cutesy lil’ animal game bested you. This game is brilliantly simple, and it’s free! There’s no reason you shouldn’t give it a go, especially if you’re a broke student waiting around for Santa to deliver the goods this year.

The Twitter gimmick accounts for gamers Written by Reiss Mason

Can You Pet the Dog? @CanYouPetTheDog veryone needs a fluffy companion at some point in their life, and as a student it can be harder to get your hands on those squishy little balls of love. This account seeks to teach you about all the good bois in video games towards whom you can show your affection.`

Is Something Behind the Waterfall? @VGWaterfalls ecrets! I love them, you love them, your partner hates them; every video game waterfall holds a secret. In fact, I’m certain that waterfalls have no purpose other than to house secrets in the most predictable way possible.

S W What IGN Thinks is Worse than Fortnite @IGNWorseThan e’ve all seen an IGN score and thought, “Where did you pull that wad of tripe you call an opinion from?” Well, someone out there is compiling every game that’s worse than Fortnite which, in IGN’s 2018 review, scored a generous 9.6 out of 10! Apparently, Fortnite is better than Bloodborne (9.1/10), Minecraft (9/10), and the second coming of Christ (5/10).

Does This Game Have a Crab in It? @isthereacrab

here is not a crab in this article.

The Hard Drive @HardDriveMag ometimes low effort shitposts and funny catalogues just don’t scratch that itch, sometimes what you really need is pretentious, witty humour that makes you feel like a smart-arse for understanding it. If that’s you, then look no further than the most ethical video game news for gamers by gamers about gamers who hate gaming.

Low Poly Animals @lowpolyanimals nfortunately in video games, not all animals are created equal, with some suffering a blockier fate than others. This catalogue of pointy creatures can sometimes yield quite cute critters, and other times a lack of detail pushes a model over the edge from hilarious to horrifying.

Shitty Gamer Takes @GamerTakes h, gamers. Well known for being some of the most woke and accepting people in the world. The two best places to find such socially aware people are of course Twitter and CoD lobbies, where cultured and outspoken youths use their creative vocabulary to offer forward-thinking takes on many social issues which desperately warrant their attention… A warning: following this account may result in a severe loss of faith in gamer-kind.

No Context Xbox Live Messages @nocontextmsgs elcome to the past, it’s 2006 and you just got an XBOX 360 for your 5th birthday. Your mum also got you an XBOX Live membership because all your friends wanted to play CoD (it’s just a video game, it can’t be that bad). The next day she pokes her head into your room to see you desperately typing the most hideous, racially insensitive, Geneva convention breaking message imaginable from the comfort of your unmade bed. This is a collection of those messages.

Images: Twitter - Each Image belongs to the account owner Super Auto Pets - Team Wood Games

Monday 29 Novemeber 2021

Games

Fresh games

Halo Infinite (Beta) Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC Jump in to Master Chief’s grand return to the spotlight and celebrate Halo’s 20th anniversary.

Forza Horizon 5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC Transport yourself to Mexico, in Playground games’ latest killer entry which Metacritic calls a must-play.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy: AntiConsumer: No Effort Wank Edition Don’t buy this game. Fuck this game. Fuck Rockstar. Let’s start voting with our wallets.

Ditch the Switch price hitch: Switch Online price increase highlights its shortcomings

love my Nintendo Switch, but its online services are lacking. Why is it that Nintendo are frequently behind-thecurve when it comes to its competition? You could argue it’s down to the uniqueness of Nintendo – a company that does what it wants, regardless of what consumers generally want (the Wii U comes to mind). The company has also bucked the trend in other ways by avoiding an inhouse first-person shooter series like its competition (Sony with Killzone, and Microsoft with Halo). Whichever way you look at it, Nintendo very much do their own thing. Recent price changes to

structure introduced. Nintendo have announced that if we want the additional Nintendo 64 collection of games, Sega Mega Drive games, and an Animal Crossing DLC - whether you play it or not - we’re going to have to part ways with even more of our gold coins, from £17.99 a year to £34.99. The offering itself is not bad, it’s the pricing that underwhelms. Additionally, Nintendo being Nintendo, we cannot say for sure whether more games will be added regularly, nor whether further DLCs will be offered (not everyone finds the game where you are in debt to Tom Nook, digitally or metaphorically, an enjoyable experience). It is easy to harken back to the first year of Switch

Nintendo Switch Online have sparked debate around what Nintendo offers to consumers, and whether it is enough for the egregious pricing

Online, which was free, and the days of PlayStation Network (PSN), which was also free. Both services have changed since then, yet Sony balanced its PSN

Written by Tom Butt

price introductions with multiple new features and monthly game downloads for every subscriber. Nintendo seems to only be interested in poor emulation of much older games, specifically the SNES, NES and now the N64 and SEGA Mega Drive. These ports have received criticism in two forms: 1. They are too old, often already released in numerous forms on previous consoles which the price increase fails to reflect 2. The emulation can be worse than the original release. Recent concerns around the new N64 ports added into the online service specifically Zelda: Ocarina of Time – have emerged, where the input lag and textures are enough to make anyone wish they hadn’t bothered revisiting this classic. The removal of fog for more draw distance, in a game that doesn’t need extra draw distance, is odd, but symptomatic of recent remasters, such as Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy: Definitive Edition. This is all besides the fact Super Mario 64 has received a place in this anticipated list of ports; a game which was, until recently, available as part of the Super Mario 3D All Stars collection, which has now been removed from the store in Nintendo fashion.

So what should Nintendo do? They could alleviate some of the concerns through proper emulation, similar to Xbox’s industryleading backwards compatibility- often improving games over their originals through Auto-HDR, FPS Boost and upscaled resolutions. They should implement a fully functioning party chat system. This one is even more important for consumers to feel as if they are paying for a service that is comparable to the competitors - it is far too annoying to have to make sure everyone is using an app or different

enjoy a good collectible hunt occasionally? This could improve the replayability of many games and engage friends even more when comparing these ‘badges’. Finally, Nintendo should regularly update their online service to include games from the more recent systems (within the subscription price), such as the GameCube or Wii. At this point, even chucking in some Wii U games would help to tremendously improve the perception of their online selection. If Nintendo implements these features, tweaks the online service some more,

service (such as Discord) to communicate through voice chat on the Switch. An in-house party system from the friends list is the way forward to ensure that people can talk and play different games, or can easily be invited to each other’s game quickly, and whilst Discord is good, having it separate to the Switch is not ideal when using headphones or on the go. Nintendo could also implement an ‘achievement’, ‘trophy’, or ‘badge’ system, to add what is sorely missed from and available on other platforms – who doesn’t

and adds value with more recent ports, then there is no reason Nintendo Switch Online can’t be heralded in the same way the competition is. Nintendo is unique, loved by many, and exciting… if only their online service was up to scratch there would be no room for debate around the confusing, thin, and disappointing offering currently available to Switch-lovers. Top (in order): Halo - 343 Industries; Forza Horizon 5 Playground Games; GTA: The Trilogy: Definitive Edition Rockstar Nintendo Switch Online

Forge Press

Sport

Sport Thoughts:

A year to remember for Is there too much pressure for Sheffield’s Joe Root

footballers to hide their sexuality?

Henry Clark

ew sportspeople can lay claim to having had a prolonged period of utter dominance in their discipline in a manner even remotely comparable to Joe Root’s performances in 2021. Despite his side suffering a Test defeat, with at best, another drawn competition to follow when the India series is finally wrapped up next summer, for the first time since 2012, it was a home season for the ages for England’s leader. The series against New Zealand propelled him into second on the list of all-time English run-scorers with 661 at a world-class average of 66.1 These scores, full of the ‘daddy’ hundreds which Root has faced previous criticism for failing to convert scores of 50-plus to, haven’t just come against any opposition either. In fact, they have been scored against the fearsome bowling attacks of the two World Test Championship finalists. From Boult and Southee to Bumrah and Siraj, the Yorkshireman has seen off the very best this summer in testing conditions conducive to his pacer counterparts. Six centuries home and abroad during 2021 also saw him equal Denis Compton and Michael Vaughan for the most by an Englishman in a single calendar year. It is not just the sheer weight of runs that caught the eye this summer but the manner of his accumulation at the crease. Take his knock in the third Test against the Indians at his home ground, Headingley. It was a showreel of innings for Root; the dainty dab down to third man which continues to prove so profitable, his back-foot domination of

controversy of UEFA disallowing an application to In an emotional video light up the Allianz Arena posted to Adelaide United’s in rainbow colours during Twitter account, footballer, a match against Hungary in Josh Cavallo, recently came the 2021 tournament. out as gay, becoming the UEFA cited that it was a only current male profespolitically and religiously sional footballer to do so. neutral organisation in its In an environment which reasoning for the decision has long been hostile to Football governing bodLGBT+ players, the 21 year- ies’s continued tolerance of old’s bravery has offered a nations with anti-LGTBQ+ agendas allows for a homophobic environment in world football. Hosting consecutive World I am Josh CavalCup’s in Russia and Qalo, I am a footballer, tar has only deepened the and I am proud to be culture in which gay and bisexual athletes are expectgay.” ed to keep quiet regarding their sexuality. small ray of hope for the In Cavallo’s announced that future of those players still he was... pressured into hiding their sexuality. His admission that he worried he would never be able ...tired, trying to to do what he loves and be perform at the best gay is not surprising. Male professional football of your ability and is a hyper-masculinised, live this double life. chauvinistic environment where on field homophoBut despite this culture of bic abuse continues to exist hostility, he stressed in his from both players and fans. video that the response he Fan chants, which often received upon coming out cross the line to homopho- as gay to his teammates and bia create a culture that coaches has been immense, means being openly gay and he felt that he had is a daunting challenge for earned more respect from many players. people. Hungarian fans are current- If individuals can stand up ly under investigation for to a culture that forces playdisplaying a homophobic ers to hide their true selves, banner during their Euro then perhaps football can 2020 match against Portu- move towards equality and gal. respect rather than intolerThis incident preceded the ance and aggression.

Katya Witney

spin, in particular, which seems to pause time and his trademark front-foot domination through the ‘V’. The great English Test batsmen of the modern era all possess at least one quality which simply a mention of their name brings to mind. Think Sir Alistair Cook’s cut shot and immense concentration, Kevin Pietersen’s ability to take the game to the opposition or even Sir Geoffrey Boycott’s resolute defence. These are true, generational greats of English cricket.

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Root displayed all of these qualities in one all-encompassing package. Root and his team, who have arrived in Australia ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, face a considerable battle to wrestle the urn back home with them. Whilst the current Australia side is far from comparable to the generational teams of yesteryear, winning

the Ashes on foreign soil is a once-in-a-career achievement - at best - for most players. Will England’s misfiring and ultimately unreliable batting lineup be able to withstand the likes of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood? Can England’s undoubtedly high-class but ageing bowling group offer enough variety on pitches thatwhich don’t suit their game?. Even with the huge boost of Ben Stokes’ return, some of the most ardent England fans may struggle to find a positive answer to those questions. But England’s skipper can enter the series knowing he is on the back of the form of his life. For a few years, some have said Root had slightly dropped off the trail-blazing pace set by Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Babar Azam and Kane Williamson as the best batsmen in world cricket. There is no doubt now though that Root is once again one of the ‘big boys’, turning the ‘fab four’ into the ‘famous five’.

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Monday 29 November 2021

Sport

Report: Sheffield 2s defeat Sheffield 3s 4-1 in high-scoring game

Bruno Brown Sheffield 2s responded from last week’s defeat by comprehensively beating Sheffield 3s 4-1 at the Norton. Sheffield 2s opened the scoring through top scorer Kieran Aubrey, who blasted a left footed strike into the underside of the cross bar after Tom Horton-Bell picked him out with a cut back. The 3s responded quickly, however. They found themselves through on goal after a good move through midfield, and winger Finn McDermott found the bottom corner, hitting it past Louis Day’s out-stretched arm. The 2s restored the lead shortly after. Capitalising on a poor goal kick, Tom Horton-Bell managed to intercept, evade the desperate challenge of the 3s centre back, and finish well with his left foot past goalkeeper Joe Mangan. On the half-hour mark, the 2s extended their lead through a fine free kick from Horton-Bell. The 3s showed signs of promise, but the second half was controlled by the 2s who really took the game by the scruff of the neck, limiting the opposition’s chances. The fourth goal came

in the closing minutes, as Kieran Aubrey pressed with intensity, pressuring the 3s goalkeeper into a ghastly mistake, winning possession in their own six yard box and scoring in the open net to put the game beyond any doubt, and seal an important win for the 2s. The win made it three wins from four league games in the BUCS league for the 2s. Tom Horton Bell was unequivocally voted man of the match for his two goals and an assist, in what was a fine performance in the number ten role. On 1st of December, Sheffield 2s will face an away game against league leaders, Leeds University Men’s 3s. Table of Results: • Leeds Men’s 3: P4, 10 pts • Sheffield Men’s 2: P4, 9 pts • Leeds Beckett Men’s 4: P4, 7 pts • Huddersfield Men’s 1: P3,, 3 pts • Leeds Men’s 4: P3, 3 pts • Sheffield Men’s 3: P4,, 0 pts

Report: Windass completes stirring Wednesday comeback vs MK Dons Charlie Haffenden Super substitute Josh Windass returned from injury to assist a goal and score a stoppage time winner, rounding off a second- half turnaround for Darren Moore’s side against MK Dons on Tuesday evening. The Owls soared to fifth place in League One with a 2-1 victory, reacting well to come back after a goal of the season contender, which gave The Dons the lead just after half- time. There was nothing to separate the two teams at the break, but it was a highly entertaining 0-0 at that stage, as both enjoyed good spells of possession and some decent chances. Defender Chey Dunkley was Wednesday’s main threat, always lurking and winning headers on almost every set piece. It was him who nearly broke the deadlock before half time, but his header was blocked just a yard or so away from goal. Scott Twine had arguably the best of the opportunities in the early stages, as he ran through on goal for the visitors, but his effort was fired well over the bar. He

more than made up for it, as he struck gold straight after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, the travelling Dons supporters Wwere treated to an absolute rocket – a potential goal of the season. Scott Twine fired in a wonder strike from around 25 yards to hand the away side the lead. At this stage, you couldn’t help but feel this might not be Wednesday’s day, but momentum soon switched in their favour after the goal as Darren Moore’s men were fired up. Thereafter the hosts dominated proceedings, and complacency soon set in for MK Dons. At the hour mark, central defender Warren O’Hora collided with goalkeeper, Andrew Fisher, and Jack Hunt was given a golden opportunity as he latched onto the loose ball which had cannoned off the pair. He can through for an open goal, but he hesitated, and a tight angle formed, causing his effort to rebound off the post. The away team were given a real wake-up call, but to no avail, as Wednesday continued to pile on the pressure.

And then – finally – the breakthrough. In the 83rd minute, the Owls gained an equaliser through Lee Gregory as he floated a header across into the goal. It came from their 14th, yes fourteenth, corner of the game – a great relief to the Hillsborough faithful. But their charge didn’t stop there. Cross after cross came in, and with Dons legs tiring all the more, a winner was inevitable. Josh Windass, who had taken the corner which led to Gregory’s goal, sent Owls fans into raptures in added time as he latched onto a Theo Corbeanu cross, firing low and hard into the bottom corner. Celebrations continued well beyond the final whistle as fans knew the victory, which could well be seasondefining, meant Wednesday had leapfrogged MK Dons and moved into 5th place. They’re now unbeaten at home in the last seven games in all competitions. They’ll look to continue this purple patch against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Forge Press

Sport

Azeem Rafiq’s testimony highlights the backwardsness of English Cricket Katya Witney

nglish cricket has been plunged into a racism scandal over the last few weeks as allegations of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club have been exposed. On Tuesday 16 November, Azeem Rafiq gave evidence to the DCMS Parliamentary Select Committee on the alleged racism he experienced while playing for Yorkshire and gave his thoughts on how to tackle institutional racism in English cricket. Rafiq, who made his last appearance for Yorkshire in 2018, has been putting forward his allegations of institutional racism at the club since September 2020. He stated that his experience of racism at the club left him “on the brink of suicide”. His testimony was harrowing and he did not hold back his anger while expressing on the racism, discrimination and bullying.

He alleges that he was, at one point, held down and force-fed red wine in the dressing room, despite his Muslim faith. He singled out many players and influential cricketing figures in his testimony and Gary Balance, Alex Hales and, current England captain Joe Root came under particular scrutiny. Former England player and Yorkshire Captain, Gary Balance, was accused of fostering racism in the dressing room during

“

His testimony was harrowing and he did not hold back his anger while expressing on the racism, discrimination and bullying

his time as captain and repeatedly using racist slurs towards Rafiq and others. It was also said that Balance consistently referred to players of colour as “Kevin” rather than using their names in both the Yorkshire and England dressing rooms, leading to England player Alex Hales calling his black dog Kevin. Gary Balance was suspended from Yorkshire before Rafiq’s testimony despite the club dismissing the allegations against him as “friendly banter” and insisting that although they admit Rafiq was a victim of racial harassment, no individual would face disciplinary action. Since then, head coach and former captain of the club, Andrew Gale, has also been suspended. Rafiq also said that he was “hurt” by England test captain and Yorkshire teammate Joe Root’s statement that he could not recall witnessing any incidents of racism at the club despite at one point living with Balance. However, Rafiq reiterated

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It was also said that Balance consistently referred to players of colour as ‘Kevin’ rather than using their names that the batsman was “a good man” and had never engaged in the racist behaviour his Yorkshire teammates had. Michael Vaughan admitted before Rafiq’s testimony that he was facing allegations from the spinner that he made racist comments to Rafiq and three other players of Asian descent. Vaughan’s denial of that allegation has been widely ridiculed over the past few weeks after it was corroborated by two other eyewitnesses, one of them, current England leg spinner Adil Rashid. The lack of recollection from both Root and Vaughan indicates the wider problem English cricket is facing.

It seems as if racism and toxic dressing room environments are so normalised across the game that when they are called out, participants find it difficult to recognise their own behaviour when they are called out. Incidents of homophobia and misogyny in cricket dressing rooms and in the governance of cricket were also alluded to in Rafiq’s testimony. In the week following his testimony, antisemitic texts Rafiq sent ten years ago also emerged, showing just how far-reaching cricket’s discrimination problem is. It is clear that the ECB must take decisive action to ensure dressing room culture is properly managed and that institutional racism and other forms of discrimination are stamped out from the village cricket greens to the ECB board room. Only then will Azeem Rafiq’s battle to have his voice heard be vindicated, and in his words: “Our kids will have a game and society that respects everyone.”