Gair Rhydd 1184- October 17th, 2022

gair rhydd

Inside: Gair Rhydd turns 50 (Page 3)

Gair Rhydd at the BAFTA Cymru Awards

George Symonds Head of News

On Sunday the 9th of October, Gair Rhydd had the pleasure of reporting at the BAFTA Cymru Awards. Beth Williams (Edi tor-in Chief) and I were representing Gair Rhydd along the red carpet and within the Winner’s Room allowing us to have the privilege to chat and quiz some of Wales’s most loved.

We were most fortunate enough to be placed alongside the official red carpet photo area giving the op portunity to catch the ‘best of Welsh talent’ (BAFTA Cymru) at their best.

Being able to interview many of the award nominees we were Producer Annabel Jones was pre sented the Siân Phillips Award by Shane Allen. One of BAFTAs high est accolades, this prestigious award is presented to a Welsh individual who has made significant contribu tions in either major feature films or network television programmes. Jones was half of the original pro duction team of the hit television show-Black Mirror- and stunned in a ‘‘dalek-inspired’’ dress (Jones’ own words). J

ones emphasised the importance of coming together and celebrating within the Welsh community. She added that she was most looking for ward to seeing the ‘In my Skin’ team as well as one of her ‘hero’s’ Euros Lyn- the director of Dream Horse. Jones teased Gair Rhydd by exclaim ing that there are “many great things on the horizon”.

‘In my Skin’ won three awards throughout the night- for best tel evision drama, best writer, and best director in fiction. Luckily, we were able to grab a post-winning chat with writer Kayleigh Llewellyn who based the story on her life. Exclaiming how important it was to tell her life story”by exploring in nature how I felt very deep shame as a teenager about being from the background I was from and my mum suffering from bi polar disorder. By telling the story it essentially feels like throwing off the shame. This is me; this is all I’ve ever been, here it is. So, it has been huge,

my own personal therapy translated into film.”. Looking to Llewellyn’s fu ture works, she is currently adapting the novel ‘Big Swiss’ as a television series for HBO starring Jodie Comer.

Up for eight nominations, ‘Dream Horse’ was a topic among many of the attendee’s lips. Luckily for Gair Rhydd, we were able to catch actor Owen Teale after he had just won best actor for his portrayal as Brian.

“I can only say that I’m more blown away than I was expecting, I think it has to do with being in my home land. Being here tonight combines this point in my career with being a child in Wales. Sometimes I can’t work out how I got from there to here and there is very much a bit of the boy from North Cornelly that's here tonight. So, I’m very nervous actually, it’s quite an extraordinary experience.”. He followed this by illu minating us that the reason he took on the character in ‘Dream Horse’ was to pay tribute to his Welsh up bringing and do honour to a trueWelsh role.

One of the hosts of the night was singer and presenter Myleene Klass. Klass detailed how “hugely excited” she was to see some of the icons “from the world of film, entertain ment and incredible artists.”. In one of her own designs with a partner ship with NEXT, Klass wore a shim mering, gold embellished gown“I feel incredibly proud that I can wear one of my own designs on the red carpet”. Concluding our conver sation, rumours surrounding Klass’ re-entering into the ‘I’m a Celebrity’ jungle remained, unfortunately, as rumours- “I can neither confirm nor deny, I am the embodiment of im partiality” she said with an affirma tive smirk.

Comedienne Kiri PitchardMclean dazzled in a “Shirley-Bassey homage” bejewelled poncho. Joking ly she laughed about how she didn’t realise how many of her friends would be in attendance- “that’s the great thing about Wales, I’m going to be related to someone here or they’re going to be one of my friends”.

To read George's full article on BAFTA Cymru,

Women’s Rugby World Cup: a gamechanging tournament?

Eloise Martin Sport Editor

The Rugby World Cup takes place in New Zea land this Autumn after being postponed a year due to the covid-19 pandemic. The reigning champions will host the tourna ment that kicks off on Saturday 8th October and features twelve teams including Wales, England

and Scotland. The final will take place at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 12th November.

The teams are split into three ‘pools’ for the group stages with the first game being South Africa vs France. Wales’ first game was against Scotland on Sunday 9th October at 5:45 am UK time.

England are undoubtedly the favourites to win with a current winning streak of 25 games.

The development of Welsh journalism post-deolution

The team boasts some of the most talented rugby players in the world including the World Rugby’s Player of the Year Zoe Aldcroft. The last team to beat them was France who they will play in their group stages, this is set to be an exciting match!

To read Eloise's full article on the Women's Rugby World Cup, turn to page 23

The Anniversery Effect

Nansi Eccott Pennaeth Taf-od

R oedd yr iaith Gymraeg mewn se fyllfa dra gwahanol 50 mlynedd yn ôl ym mlwyddyn dyfodiad Gair Rhydd. Yn ôl cyfrifiad 1971, roedd 20.8% o boblogaeth Cymru’n medru’r Gymraeg a chyfatebodd i 542,425 o unigolion. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, Sir Feirionnydd oedd â’r canran uchaf o siaradwyr Cym raeg, 73.5% o boblogaeth y sir.

I ddarllen erthygl Nansi ar ddat blygiad yr iaith Gymraeg, trowch i dudalen 11

Nadila Hussein Contributor Shaniece O'Keeffe Advice Editor

TIn 1999, Wales underwent one of its most significant changes yet, devolution. In the decades since, the Assembly became the Senedd, gained legislative and fiscal powers, con trols over twenty policy areas and much more.

This progress has had a significant impact on not only legislation but also Welsh society and culture, including Welsh news coverage.

To read Nadila's article on the chang es to Welsh news consumtion, turn to

The ‘Anniversary Effect' can have a disruptive impact on many people at different points in their lives.

The way people experience this can be through a range of memo ries, thoughts or feelings that can appear around a certain period in someone’s life, which reminds them of a past traumatic event they have experienced.

To read Shaniece's article on dealing with a difficult anniversery, turn to

Yr iaith Gymraeg dros y hanner-canrif diwethaf

Another home-nation win? Source: Phil Roeder (via Flickr)

Gair Rhydd 2022/23

Coordinator

Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief

Beth Alaw Williams

Deputy Editors

Jasmine Edge

Jasmine Jones

Katherine Seymour

Nansi Eccott News

George Symonds

Shivika Singh Lowri Powell

Luis Atkinson

Beca Dalis Williams Features

Jasmine Edge Ruhaab Khalid

Grace Robson Taf-od

Nansi Eccott

Lowri Davies

Anest Williams

Efa Ceiri

Megan Haf Davies

Millie Stacey Politics

Katherine Seymour Francesca Ionescu

Jade Heath Comment

Clelia Frondaroli

Evan Johnson-Charteris

Frances Marsh Advice Megan Shinner

Lucy Matthews

Shaniece O’Keefe Review

Alice Moore Billy Edwards Haris Hussnain Science and Technology

Edward Sutton

Aditi Kallanagoudar Girish Sport

Jasmine Jones Ryan Harris-Jewell

Eloise Martin Social Media Editors

Emily Smith

Jack Darlington Haris Hussnain Copy Editors

Alanya Smith

Alys Mai Walters

Charlotte Grant Claudia Titcombe

Efa Prydderch

Elliw Williams

Lois Campbell Lily Barry Maisie Granger

Katie Bowen Scarlett Carpenter

Write to the editor

gairrhyddeic@gmail.com

A note from the Editor Nodyn gan y Golygydd

50 years more? 50 mlynedd arall?

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest pos sible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email gairrhyddeic@gmail.com.

You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints.

Opinions expressed in editorials and opin ion pieces are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance.

Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

Beth Williams Editor-in-Chief

On October 3rd, 1972, the first issue of Gair Rhydd was published, making Cardiff University’s newspaper the same landmark age as the scientific pocket calculator and the Egg McMuffin. Certainly, a lot has changed for the paper in its 50-year history.

50 years ago, the founding edi torial team wrote their articles on typewriters, stuck them down on layout boards and hand delivered the precious cargo to the printers.

Today, Gair Rhydd can be written, edited, printed and even read with out the incredible inconvenience of having to step outside.

There’s no doubt that technology has revolutionised print journal ism. Yet while tech makes the pro duction process easier, could it also be the cause of print journalism’s downfall?

Since entering the digital age, consumption habits have changed drastically. The public no longer have to wait for the evening news broadcast or the next day’s paper to know what’s going on in the world, with digital sources now being the most popular and convenient way of accessing news. Half of people now get their news from social media,

a term and medium that was nonexistent in 1972. This is only one of the reasons behind the steady de cline of newspaper circulation, with national newspaper sales falling by two-thirds in the last twenty years.

But, will there ever be a day where print journalism ceases to exist?

While we cannot predict the fu ture, Gair Rhydd, and print jour nalism, can still offer what is un achievable to digital mediums. For many, their early morning walk to the corner shop (or the SU in Gair Rhydd’s case) is a pilgrimage. It’s an excuse to discuss the day’s burning topics with others who have made the same journey and for contribu tors, the unbeatable feeling of see ing your name in print.

Gair Rhydd is much more than a newspaper, it’s a community. Our paper is kept running by passion ate students, volunteering along side time-consuming degrees. It has been, and continues to be, an invaluable tool for students that would certainly feel a void without it.

Since 1972, it has been a form of self-expression and the builder of friendships and confidence. So, a very happy birthday to us and here’s to fifty more years.

Beth Williams Prif Olygydd

Ar Hydref 3ydd, 1972, ca fodd y rhifyn gyntaf o Gair Rhydd ei gyhoeddi, yn gwneud papur newydd Prifysgol Caerdydd yr un oed a’r cyfrifiannell gwyddonol poced ac yr Egg Mc Muffin. Yn sicr, mae yna lawer wedi newid i’r papur yn ei 50 mlynedd.

50 mlynedd yn ôl, ysgrifennodd y tîm golygyddol gyntaf eu her thyglau ar deipiaduron, eu gludo nhw ar ddarnau o gerdyn cyn danfon y cynnwys gwerthfawr gyda llaw i’r argraffwyr. Heddiw, all Gair Rhydd gael ei ysgrifennu, golygu, brintio a hyd yn oed ei ddarllen heb yr ang hyfleustra o orfod camu tu-allan. Nid oes amheuaeth fod technoleg wedi chwyldroi newyddiaduraeth print. Er bod technoleg yn hwyluso’r broses cynhyrchu, gallai hefyd fod y rheswm am ddirywiad y diwydiant?

Ers cyrhaeddiad yr oes ddigidol, mae arferion derbyn newyddion wedi newid yn sylweddol. Nid yw’r cyhoedd yn gorfod disgwyl am y darllediad newyddion gyda’r nos neu’r papur bore drannoeth i wybod beth sydd yn mynd ymlaen yn y byd. Nawr, ffynonellau digidol yw’r ffordd fwyaf poblogaidd a rhwydd i ddod o hyd i newyddion. Mae dros hanner o’r boblogaeth yn cael eu newyddion o gyfryngau cymdeithasol, term a

Mae hyn ond yn un rheswm fod cylchrediad papurau newydd yn parhau i ddisgyn, gyda gwerthiant papurau newydd gwladol yn disgyn o ddau-dreuan yn y 20 mlynedd di wethaf. Ond, fydd yno byth ddydd le mae newyddiaduraeth print yn diflannu’n gyfan gwbl?

Er ni allwn ragdybio’r dyfodol, gall Gair Rhydd a newyddiaduraeth print dal gynnig be allai ffynonellau digidol ddim. I sawl, mae’r daith cynner i’r siop gornel (neu’r Undeb Myfyrwyr yn achos Gair Rhydd) yn bererindod. Mae’n esgus i drafod pynciau llosg y dydd gydag eraill sydd wedi gwneud yr un trip ac i gyfranwyr, cynigiai’r cyfle arbennig i weld eich enw mewn print.

Mae Gair Rhydd yn llawer mwy na phapur newydd, mae’n gy muned. Mae’r papur yn cael ei gyn nal gan fyfyrwyr brwdfrydig, sydd yn gwirfoddoli tra’n brysur yn cw blhau eu hastudiaethau. Ers 1972, mae’r papur wedi bod yn ffordd o hunan-fynegiant ac yr adeiladwr o hyder a chyfeillgarwch ymysg ei gyfranwyr. Mae wedi bod, ac yn parhau i fod, yn ddull gwerthfawr i fyfyrwyr fuasai’n teimlo ei golled. Felly, pen-blwydd hapus iawn i ni ac ymlaen i’r 50 mlynedd nesaf.

ffynhonnell oedd ddim yn bodoli yn 1972.

Happy Birthday: Gair Rhydd turned 50 on October 3rd. Source: Joey Gannon (Wikimedia Commons)

Pen-blwydd Hapus: Wnaeth Gair Rhydd droi’n 50 ar Hydref 3ydd. Llun gan: Joey Gannon (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gair Rhydd turns 50 Gair Rhydd yn troi’n 50

To celebrate Gair Rhydd’s milestone birthday, editors and contibutors from the past 50 years remenice and share their memories of working on Gair Rhydd.

Geoffrey Gadd (BSc 1978, PhD 1978),

Founding Editor-In-Chief 1972-1973

I remember including my car toons among the usual articles about the perceived mismanage ment of the University (cuts, prop erty deals, rent increases, etc.), drug information, book and band re views, and having to go to Swansea University to lay out the paper in the old-fashioned way for printing. I cannot recall why my involvement ended but I am very pleased that Gair Rhydd is still active after 50 years at a time when the “free word” is more important than ever.

Maria Mellor (BA 2017, MA 20200

Editor-in-Chief 2016-17

I was part of the Gair Rhydd team for all three of my undergrad years, and the people I met there are still some of my best friends today. That office was like my second home and I’m so proud of the work we achieved, especially the 2017 gen eral election special.

To the current and future teams: be brave. Be radical. Make bold strides and trust your gut along the way. The creativity you get to ex press here will teach you more than any qualification or job. Above all, make sure you proofread!

Mandy Bradshaw (BA 1984)

First Female Sabatical Editor 1984-85

A standout moment from the Gair Rhydd newsroom that sticks with me was an eleventh-hour deci sion to pull the front page and start afresh. With our deadline looming, the team responded with vigour and determination. The adrena line-fuelled moment felt like brief insight into a national newsroom’s fast-paced editorial decisions.

David Else (BA 1982)

Editor-in-Chief 1982-83

Rebecca Brenda Klug (BA 1975)

Editor-in-chief 1973-74

Long before the days of desktop computers and auto word counts, my enduring memory is of sitting up all night with the layout sheets on my bedroom floor, laboriously counting the words of each article, munching my way through a box of dry sugar puffs to keep me awake to get the job done!

(Note – the Editor’s position was not sabbatical in those days!)

Christine Evans-Pughe (BSc 1986)

Contributor 1983-86

hours but it was lots of fun and an excellent foundation for a career in journalism. Congratualtions on 50 years- here’s to 50 more.

Georgina Cannon (BA 2001)

Contributor 1999-2000

In 1999 and maybe 2000 I think, I wrote the crossword! I really en joyed sitting in the cafe in the his tory building and in the Taf secretly listening to people discussing it and working out the answers.

I didn’t like the fact that it was due on a Thursday tho as I was in variably hung over after Wednesday nights at the union with the rest of the ladies rugby team.

Lucy Cambridge (BSc 1995) Photographer

Before internet or mobile phones, Gair Rhydd was the only way to find out what was going on. Copies were snatched as I put piles in halls and faculties, and advertisers’ copies needed hiding. I remember editing the 200 th issue, selling £8,000 in ads to cover a budget shortfall, long hours, good friends, and the buzz of a great story.

Joe Atkinson (BA 2016),

Editor-in-Chief 2015-16

Anyone who’s worked on Gair Rhydd knows that it quickly be comes a labour of love. My strong est memories aren’t of the stories covered or column inches filled, but the times working through the night with the team to meet another deadline, or the thrill of seeing your name in print.

Jessica Warren (BSc 2019),

Editor-in-Chief 2018-19

I was Gair Rhydd editor 1982-83. Back then, we typed (using a real typewriter) our articles onto sheets of paper and stuck them down on layout boards. If there was an error, we had to cut and paste – literally –using scissors and glue. We finished compiling on a Sunday evening, as the boards were due at the printers first thing every Monday, so I car ried them back to my flat in Coburn St to keep overnight, sometimes stopping at the Woodville or New Ely (now the Vulcan Lounge) for a drink on the way home. Of course, I ensured the boards never got lost or damaged, as there were certainly no back-up files in that pre-computer age.

Ben Bryant (BA 2008)

Editor-in-Chief 2008-09

I am full of joy and wonder that Gair Rhydd continues to persuade students to work to a far more de manding schedule than their actual degrees. The heart palpitations I developed after a year of all- night ers fuelled by Domino’s pizza and Monster energy drinks eventually subsided in my mid-20s, but the traumatic memories of desperately fixing the baseline grid while the printers warn that we’re going to miss our print slot will never truly disappear.

David Maher Roberts (BScEcon 1991)

I have so many GR memories, it is hard to just pick out just one, but the one that always springs to mind is going to London to attend The Guardian Student Media Awards in 1992. We had won the year before (for the first time ever under Colin Eshelly-Brazier’s editorship) and we were shortlisted gain (under Sian Hoskins’ editorship). I was there with some of my closest and dear est GR friends and when we were announced as winners, we made more noise than ever before - no decorum whatsoever. We had bro ken the stranglehold that Oxford’s student paper had on the awards by winning two years in a row. I was so proud of the whole team. So proud.

John Hartley (PhD 1977)

Co-founder 1972

I co-founded (and named) Gair Rhydd with Dave Aldridge. I was a PhD student in the English Dept. I’d previously edited the much older student paper Broadsheet. Current ly I’m professor of digital media and culture at the University of Sydney.

I drew cartoons and wrote re views etc between 1983 and 1986. We typed the copy using golf ball typewriters (anyone remember those? ). And used a hot wax (from a roller?) to attach the articles to pages to make camera ready copy. I wonder if I spent more time doing Gair Rhydd than my physics degree. I went on to be a science writer/ journalist. And still am. Have con tributed to the Guardian and Econ omist science pages over the years as well as less prestigious bread and butter work.

Joe McLaren

In the Summer of 1999 I was visiting my older brother James McLaren in Cardiff. He and a few others were hurriedly putting to gether the Freshers’ issue of GR, and they must have been pretty desper ate for help because somehow I was given a page of jokes to write, and I was asked to review the top sin gles of the summer-despite having no journalism/comedy/reviewing experience whatsoever. I remem ber we all went to the Union roof to watch the eclipse. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. James went on to a career in journalism, thanks to his happy years working on Gair Rhy dd, and he stayed in Cardiff, the city he loved until his death in 2012. It was a very happy time for him, and that summer trip is a great memory.

Lisa Pritchard (BA 1995, PGDip 1997)

It was an incredible honour to edit Gair Rhydd; there were long

I enjoyed doing photography for Gair Rhydd from 1992-1995., I re member being asked to get a dif ferent angle on exam desks once - spent an hour on my backside crawling under desks in an exam hall. Also seemed to do a lot around Cardiff Bay (pre-barragedays.) I didn’t know until today that Gair Rhydd was the same age as me!

Mike Morran (BA 1987)

Editor-in-Chief 1987-88

Editing Gair Rhydd was an exci ing, creative, sometimes exhaust ing, but immensely rewarding experience. It was a personal ad venture that marked my transition from being a student to becoming a journalist. The editorship was my introduction to the worlds of team building, media law, print contract management, advertising sales, ac counts and distribution (the weekly tour of the halls of residence in an increasingly battered Ford Transit with bundles of a new issue was an invaluable chance to meet our read ers).

I was privileged to be supported by a team of imaginative and talented reporters, photogra phers and section editors. Many went gone on to have media careers and friendships forged on press days in Park Place have lasted a lifetime.

Happy anniversary Gair Rhydd!

Gair Rhydd at the BAFTA Cymru Awards

George Symonds Head of News

On Sunday the 9th of October, Gair Rhydd had the pleasure of reporting at the BAFTA Cymru Awards. Beth Williams (Editorin Chief) and I were representing Gair Rhydd along the red carpet and within the Winner’s Room, al lowing us to have the privilege to chat and quiz some of Wales’s most loved stars.

We were fortunate enough to be placed alongside the official red carpet photo area giving, the opportunity to catch the ‘best of Welsh talent’ (BAFTA Cymru) and being able to interview many of the award nominees,

Producer Annabel Jones was presented the Siân Phillips Award by Shane Allen. One of BAFTAs highest accolades, this prestigious award is presented to a Welsh in dividual who has made significant contributions in either major fea

ture films or network television programmes. Jones was half of the original production team of the hit television show ‘Black Mirror’ and stunned in a ‘‘dalek-inspired’’ dress (Jones’ own words). Jones empha sised the importance of coming together and celebrating within the Welsh community. She added that she was most looking forward to seeing the ‘In my Skin’ team as well as one of her ‘heroes’ Euros Lynthe director of Dream Horse. Jones teased Gair Rhydd by exclaiming that there are “many great things on the horizon”.

‘In my Skin’ won three awards throughout the night- for best tel evision drama, best writer, and best director in fiction. Luckily, we were able to grab a post-win chat with writer Kayleigh Llewellyn, who based the story on her life.

Exclaiming how important it was to tell her life story-”by ex ploring in nature how I felt very deep shame as a teenager about being from the background I was from and my mum suffering from bipolar disorder. By telling the story it essentially feels like throw ing off the shame. This is me; this is all I’ve ever been, here it is. So, it has been huge, my own personal therapy translated into film.”. Look ing to Llewellyn’s future works,

she is currently adapting the novel ‘Big Swiss’ as a television series for HBO starring Jodie Comer.

Up for eight nominations, ‘Dream Horse’ was a topic on many of the attendee’s lips. We were able to catch actor Owen Teale after he had just won best actor for his por trayal as Brian. “I can only say that I’m more blown away than I was expecting, I think it has to do with being in my homeland. Being here tonight combines this point in my career with being a child in Wales. Sometimes I can’t work out how I got from there to here and there is very much a bit of the boy from North Cornelly that’s here tonight. So, I’m very nervous actually, it’s quite an extraordinary experience.”.

He followed this by illuminating to us that the reason he took on the character in ‘Dream Horse’ was to pay tribute to his Welsh upbring ing and do honour to a true-Welsh role.

One of the hosts of the night was singer and presenter Myleene Klass. Klass detailed how “hugely excited” she was to see some of the icons “from the world of film, en tertainment and incredible artists.”. In one of her own designs with a partnership with NEXT, Klass wore a shimmering, gold embellished gown- “I feel incredibly proud that

I can wear one of my own designs on the red carpet”. Concluding our conversation, rumours surround ing Klass’ re-entering into the ‘I’m a Celebrity’ jungle remained, unfortunately, as rumours- “I can neither confirm nor deny, I am the embodiment of impartiality” she said with an affirmative smirk.

Comedienne Kiri PitchardMclean dazzled in a “Shirley-Bas sey homage” bejewelled poncho. Jokingly she laughed about how she didn’t realise how many of her friends would be in attendance“that’s the great thing about Wales, I’m going to be related to someone here or they’re going to be one of my friends”.

Continuing, Pritchard-Mclean explained the importance of speak ing and practising the Welsh lan guage. “Welsh people are so po lite that when I need to click and change between languages, I have to beg to practise with them. But everyone’s been so supportive and a really lovely experience. I’ve re ceived nothing but love from the Welsh-speaking community”.

Up-and-coming, Welsh singer MACY discussed how excited she was to have performed at the awards, then continued to give ad vice for new performers trying to

Up for eight nominations, ‘Dream Horse’ was a topic on many of the attendee’s lips. ”

get into the music industry.

“If you have a dream, follow it. I’m having the best time right now and I was really young when I started off and my hard work is all paying off now”.

Gair Rhydd was fortunate enough to have a longer interview with MACY which will be published in the next edition.

Other highlights included con versations with Rupaul’s Drag Race finalist Tayce, Rings of Power ac tor Morfydd Clark, Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden and It’s a Sin actor Callum Scott Howells.

“I can neither confirm nor deny, I am the embodiment of impartiality” ”

George Symonds writes about the events and winners of the BAFTA Cymru awards at St David’s Hall in Cardiff

:Amy Dowden, Morfydd Clark and and Myleene Klass all attended the ceremony on October 9th. (Source: Beth Williams)

Producer Annabel Jones was presented the Siân Phillips Awards

Myleene Klass on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ rumors ”

A Guide to Activism in Cardiff FEATURES

Grace Robson looks at local activism groups making a difference in Cardiff and beyond.

Grace Robson Features Editor

Activism in its simplest form can be defined as fighting for what you believe in and standing up against injustice. I believe that activism has always played an in tegral part in the fight for societal, po litical, economical and judicial equal ity. Thanks to the work of activists and activist organisations throughout history, the world has arguably made a significant degree of progress towards the right direction. However, there is still work to be done. There is still a significant amount of progress to be made, the fight is not yet over. I was moved to write this article after at tending a protest for the unjustly death of Masha Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who was unlawfully murdered by police in Iran. It is my intention to shine a light on activism in Cardiff be cause in my opinion, activism can save lives.

I spoke to some activists working within Cardiff to get their opinion on why activism is so important and why they view themselves as activists. I spoke to Adam Johannes from Cardiff People’s Assembly about what activism means to him. He responded that ‘to be

an activist is to choose to be a certain kind of human being. It’s a calling, not a career. A vocation, not a profession. It is leading a moral life that is not selfcentred or all about self-promotion or self-gain, but a life directed towards others. It means doing your bit before the worm gets you, to leave this world a little better than you found it’.

I also spoke to a representative of Cardiff University’s branch of STAR (Student action for refugees) about what activism means to them.

They stated: ‘Activism is an effort to address injustice and make change about it. It is the act of challenging those who are in a position to make a change. Activism can educate people about a topic that they may have not known about otherwise. Activism is using your voice to speak for some one who cannot speak for themselves’. When asked why they themselves are an activist they responded that they believe in equity. They believe that ‘ac tivism has the power to make change, it is empowering both for those taking part in it and for those who it is intend ing to help’.

Lastly, I spoke to Emily Carr, Cardiff University’s current women’s officer and former vice president of the Car diff University feminist society. Emily has previously been a member of ‘rent

Cardiff's People Assembly

Cardiff People’s Assembly is self-described as a citywide movement for economic justice and a coali tion of people who wish to end the cost of living crisis. The organisation was formed in 2015 and led a successful campaign to stop city library closures. Since then, the movement has campaigned for many more causes and has stopped huge cuts to Cardiff’s arts and culture budget, saved a local A&E department and won a pledge to give free school meals to all children un der 11 in Wales. They have also organised trade union strikes for wages and in support of low-income families and the homeless. To quote the organisation itself, ‘we want to build a movement to end poverty – led by pov erty’. They hold regular open meetings, protests, film nights, gigs and discussions in which anyone can join.

You can find them on Instagram @car diffpeoplesassembly or alternatively email them at cardiffpeoplesassembly@gmail.com

strike’ which helps to cut rent prices and resulted in a multi-million-pound pay-out from the government to aid students. She is now currently working with Cardiff University’s student union to help support and amplify the voices of marginalised students. When asked what activism means to her, she stated that ‘activism can mean so many things to so many people. It’s based off experi ences, beliefs and identity’. Emily stated that to her ‘activism is very holistic, it is

about doing the right thing and stick ing up for the middleman. It’s about wanting and doing better not just for yourself but for other people and other communities. It’s for everyone’.

The power of activism can be im mense, it has the power to create real change for so many people. This is why it is vital to be as involved with activ ism as you possibly can, even when an issue doesn’t directly impact you.

Ruhaab Khalid Grace Robson gairrhyddfeatures@gmail.com

A

n independent Cardiff based Black Lives Matter organization.

Self-described as an ‘independent grass roots group’ using their ‘collective voice to stand against the oppression and exploitation of black lives’.

You can find them on Instagram @blmcardiff

ACardiff based branch of the organisation Sis ters Uncut who are a self-described ‘feminist group taking direct action for domestic vio lence services’. Sisters Uncut Cardiff describe their or ganisation as a group ‘fighting for the safety of all wom en, non-binary, agender and gender variant people’.

You can find them on Instagram @sisters.uncut.cardiff

Cardiff STAR (student action for refugees) is a soci ety at Cardiff University and is part of a national charity called STAR. They run weekly conversa tion classes for refugees and asylum seekers to help them practice their English conversational skills. Vari ous events and fundraisers have been hosted in which they fundraise for a number of charities and for their conversation classes. They also campaign and hold panel events for a variety of causes such as climate migration, the mental health of refugees and for LGBTQ+ refugees.

You can join their society by purchasing a mem bership from the Cardiff student union’s website.

You can find them on Instagram @cardiffstar

Trans Aid Cymru is an organisation work ing to support Transgender, Intersex and non-binary members of the public. They are a self-described ‘mutual aid network for Trans, Intersex and Non-binary people across Wales’.

You can find them on Instagram @transaid cymru or email them at enquiries@transaid.cymru

A‘Community police monitoring group fighting back against po lice brutality, misconduct and abuses of power in Cardiff and beyond’. You can find them on Instagram @y_pantherod

Image: John Englart (via Flickr)

Shivika Singh

New BAME curriculum introduced in Welsh schools

Lowri Powell explains the changes to the curriculum at all primary schools.

Lowri Powell News Editor

Wales is the first nation in the UK to introduce a new BAME curriculum across all primary schools and some second ary schools. New resources, training and guidance are available to support schools this new term.

The new curriculum will help young people understand and respect their own and each other’s cultures and traditions. It has the hope of in spiring young people to become more informed citizens of Wales and the world.

A Welsh Government spokesper son told ITV Wales “In order to pro gress as a society our education sys tem must broaden our understanding and knowledge of the many cultures which have built out past and present.

The Welsh Government is commit ted to creating an anti-racist Wales, which calls for zero tolerance of rac ism in all its guises”.

What will the new curriculum in volve?

The histories of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities will be included in all aspects of learn ing rather than focusing on a certain event. It will be included across the academic year rather than as a sepa rate subject.

Schools will be able to explore a range of topics like diversity and race in literature, history and society, as well as figures in literature, history, sport, science, technology and maths.

A Welsh Government spokesper son gave ITV Wales examples of what the new curriculum might look like “Teachers will be able to design les sons around topics of their choosing. For example, pupils might learn about

Betty Campbell MBE, an inspiring activist, and Wales’ first black head teacher, and Abdulrahim Abby Fa rah from Barry, the Deputy Secretary General for the United Nations who played an important role in the talks to free Nelson Mandela.”

A statue to honour the first black head teacher in Wales, Betty Camp bell, has been revealed in Cardiff

In November 2020, an interim re port published by a group of experts said the current curriculum focused “too much on slavery”. The report also found there was also a lack of bilingual resources to teach ‘BAME’ themes and contributions to Welsh school children. The report argued that focusing on the historical nega tive events could lead to children in those communities portraying themselves in a negative light. The report and other campaigns received 34,000 signatures.

Schools will be able to explore a range of topics like diversity and race in literature, history and society”

Angel Ezeadum, former Welsh Youth Parliament member and cam paigner, expressed her hopes that the new curriculum will build a more tol erant society that celebrates identities and differences.

She told ITV Wales: “The younger generation will be our future leaders, front line workers and the lifeline of society thus it is so important to instil an inclusive mindset into them from an early onset.

The new curriculum will help young people under stand and respect their own and each other’s cultures and traditions."

What is Wales doing to combat climate change?

George Symonds Head of News

Aftera recent law proposal to ban all plastic cutlery, plates, and cotton buds in Wales it quickly became apparent that there were a lack of laws regarding Wales’s attempt at combating climate change. So far both England and Scotland already have reg ulations in place prohibiting the mak ing of many single-use plastic products; so why doesn’t Wales?

Climate Change Minister Julie James said Wales must “avoid leaving a toxic legacy” to future generations in a recent parliament debate. In response to this Wales has now proposed a law forbid ding the “supply or offer to supply of littered and unnecessary disposable single-use plastics” (Julie James). After this proposal there is a lengthy period of ‘scrutiny’ before the government can make it an official law.

Delving deeper into the proposal BBC journalists dictated in a recent

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To celebrate International Day of the Girl, a welsh teenager spent the day as Wales’ first minister on Octo ber

article that the following are to be banned: cutlery, plates, and stirrers, drinking straws (with an exemption for medical or care needs), cotton buds with plastic stems, balloon sticks, poly styrene takeaway containers, cups and lids, thin plastic single-use carrier bags. If anyone was found to be supplying these products would receive a hefty fine in return.

Aside from this proposal of banning single-use plastics, Wales is often at the forefront of tackling climate change. A quick glance at the Natural Resource Wales website will allow readers to un derstand, in depth, how carbon emis sions are being reduced. One method interestingly is entitled ‘the Carbon Sink’ where high-emission areas such as Cardiff, Port Talbot and Swansea are

having vast areas of forest and wood land planted around them, essentially to suck in the co2 (like a sink) and counteract by emitting o2.

Unlike the rest of the United King dom, Wales has an emphasis on using natural materials within its building of infrastructure. Wood and stone are prioritised over unnaturally occurring metals and plastics as construction ma terials due to the process of excavation having less ‘embedded greenhouse gas emissions’ (Natural Resources Wales).

The main aim of Welsh ministers regarding climate change is to be net zero with its carbon emissions by 2050. This date was pushed back from the government’s initial aims to be car bon neutral by 2030, the reasoning for this is due to “the public sector being uniquely placed.” (gov.wales). The re port continues to explain that there are more greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought. Perhaps now after the extensive research taking place in Wales that the 2050 date is more real istic.

Welsh Government announces free Welsh lessons

Lois Campbell Copy Editor

The Welsh Government has recently announced a scheme to offer Welsh les sons to all people aged 19 to 25 in Wales. They’ll be able to enrol with the National Centre for Learning Welsh and register without a fee.

The announcement was made fol lowing Plaid Cymru’s commitment as part of the Co-Operation Agreement with Welsh Labour. The Co-Opera tion Agreement was announced at the beginning of December 2021 with hopes of creating ‘a new democracy with an instruction to work differ ently – inclusively and co-operatively.’

As part of the announcement, they’ve also offered free Welsh les sons to all teachers, head teachers and teaching assistants with hopes of strengthening the teaching of Welsh in the new curriculum. They’ve cre ated an online portal where teaching staff can find a course that’s suitable for them and their timetables. They offer virtual classes, face-to-face les sons and the offer to self-study.

Offering free Welsh lessons is a big step in the right direction to help Wales reach the goal of creating 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. Jere my Miles, the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language stated that ‘Welsh belongs to us all’ and that it’s ‘important we increase the opportu nities to learn our language so more

people can use Welsh in their daily lives.’

Speaking to Deio Owen, the Welsh Language Officer at Cardiff Univer sity’s Student’s Union, he exclaimed that it was ‘‘very exciting’’ that young people now have access to free Welsh lessons and that it ‘’follows a recent surge in demand for Welsh lessons for adults’’. He also mentioned that it now ‘’enables people from all corners of Wales to access the language and it introduces it to new audiences.’’

Cefin Campbell, the Designated Member for Plaid Cymru in the CoOperation Agreement, mentioned in a statement released by the Welsh Government that ‘everyone in Wales should have the opportunity to learn Welsh and experience the cultural

“ A new democracy with an instruction to work dif ferently – inclusively and co-operatively.’’ Co-Operation Agreement with Welsh Labour.

and social benefits it brings.’ The rollout of these new Welsh lessons will hopefully encourage new people to take the opportunity to learn Welsh and help Wales reach their goal of 1 million Welsh speakers by the year 2050.

If you’re between the ages of 18 and 25 (or if you work in the teaching sector) and would like to get started on your journey of learning Welsh, you can visit learnwelsh.cymru for more information.

Luis Atkinson

George Symonds

Beca Dallis

Plastic Waste: It has become apparent that there are a lack of laws regarding Wales’s attempt at combating climate change. Source: GRID-Arendal via Flickr

Value of the pound: How it will affect you.

With the pound’s value stooping to lows, Luis Atkinson discusses trickle-down economics.

Luis Atkinson News Editor

Last week, the pound stooped to record low values against the US dollar, after Chancel lor Kwasi Kwarteng announced tax cuts which were seen as changes as sisting the trickle-down economics process.

With Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine forcing global food and energy prices to rise, the competi tion of matching rising inflation to ensure citizens survive rising prices was never going to be easy. Yet, the fall in the value of the pound in creases the value of goods and ser vices the UK imports from overseas. The falling value increases financial inequality between the rich and the poor, but how does trickle-down economics have an impact on eco nomic growth?

As described by EconomicsOn line.co.uk, Trickle-down economics is a process which, in theory, is de signed so money from the wealthy “trickle down to everyone else in the economy.” The theory assumes that savers, investors, and company owners are the driving force behind

economic growth, therefore expand ing businesses from tax cuts. To give an example, owners will employ a workforce and invest in everyday operations; banks will have more funding to increase lending, and therefore investors will buy more stocks and companies. In the long term, this money will trickle down to working-class communities, who will expand demand and economic growth further by spending their wages on goods and services.

Trickle-down economic theory states that targeted tax cuts are more effective than general tax cuts, such as all taxes being cut across the board. But how does trickle-down economics theory relate to the cur rent UK financial crisis?

Admittedly, at the time of publi cation today, the government made a U-turn on its plan to cut the top 45% rate of income tax, national in surance and stamp duty – worth £45 billion.

Yet, as of Thursday 6th October, the government has not announced any formal replacement plans to kickstart the economy again. But the Chancellor announced in the minibudget that these taxes were being

cut so the rich had more money to spend – which, in turn, would have kick-started the process. However, trickle-down economics has largely never worked – or at least, has not provided any positive impact on economic growth in many countries whose government has tried to initi ate it. That is because the wealthy al ready have enough money to spend on their goods, services, businesses and so forth and they gain enough in return.

However, with more money go ing to higher earners, this means less money going to lower earners.

As a result of the mini-budget, in vestors were panicked by the news, mainly due to cuts to be paid for by increased government borrowing, which in turn would increase the government’s domestic and interna tional debt. More money for house holds to spend would drive inflation higher in the short term.

With regards to the short-term effects on students: many super markets have introduced schemes allowing their customers to budget their shops more effectively. For example, Asda has a student-andparent saver card scheme, where

“Fall in the value of the pound increases the value of goods and services the UK imports from overseas.”

students and parents could save money on their Asda account cards and use the money to budget their shop more effectively.

Iceland has introduced a new ‘Value Essentials’ budget range, which includes everyday items such as milk, bread and fruit as well as meal staples. They have also promised to keep more than 60 essential items at £1 until the end of the year, alongside an interestfree loan scheme to help to help families pay for groceries over the school holidays. Iceland Food Club will enable customers on lower incomes to apply for a pre-loaded card with a value of £25-£75 on it, with repayments set at £10 a week. Iceland has also introduced new energy-saving cooking guidance on packaging in a partnership with energy company Utilita.

Housing market hit by new mortgage scheme.

Angus Tiffin Contributor

The week following UK Chan cellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget saw thousands of mortgage-seekers unable to respond to rising interest rates, as deals were withdrawn in re cord numbers. Over the past 10 months, the Bank of England has been sharply increasing the base rate, taking it from 0.25% to 2.25%. This is the rate at which commer

Over the past 10 months, the Bank of England has been sharply increasing the base rate, taking it from 0.25% to 2.25%.”

cial banks can borrow money and, as such, has a direct effect on the interest that they charge consumers on short-term loans.

An increase in the base rate im pacts variable rate mortgages: if the money that a bank borrows be comes more expensive, so will the money they lend. Usually, consum ers have the option to hedge against short-term fluctuations by taking out a fixed mortgage, locking their interest payments at a constant rate for a set period. The problem is that the interest charged on fixed rate mortgages is significantly in fluenced by the market for govern ment bonds—known, in the UK, as the Gilt market. This is because fixed rate mortgages and Gilts are both safe assets that are held for a set amount of time, and so they

compete for a similar pool of inves tors. If the return on holding Gilts rises, mortgages become less at tractive. If the two rates don’t keep pace, investment in one asset will outstrip the other.

A commitment to debt-fueled tax cuts, coupled with the absence of an Office for Budget Responsibility forecast, led the markets to demand higher yields on what they now per ceived as riskier government bonds. Following the Chancellor’s speech, the interest rate on the 10-year Gilt jumped from 3.5% to 4.5%, leading to the biggest overnight drop in mortgage offers on record.

The good news is that lenders are returning to the market, the bad is that they’re now quoting interest rates of almost 6%—double what they were last December. Eventual

The good news is that lenders are returning to the market, the bad is that they’re now quoting interest rates of almost 6%”

ly, this rise should be offset by lower house prices. For now, however,

people that are currently holding a mortgage are going to end up pay ing more interest on an asset with crumbling value.

The problem is that the interest charged on fixed rate mortgages is significantly influenced by the market for government bonds”

How Cardiff dealt with the death of the Queen

Katie Jones Contributor

After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II was suc ceeded by her son Charles on September 8th. There is no deny ing the complicated history between the monarchy and the Welsh people, whether it be drunken jeers over na tional anthems at rugby matches or political calls for Welsh independ ence from an English rule. But now, as the only monarch most of Wales has ever known is laid to rest, we ask the question how did Cardiff deal with the death of the Queen?

Ben Summer detailed his expe rience of watching the September 19th funeral in the Owain Glyndwr. The irony of the situation was not lost on him. Watching the former Prince of Wales attend his mother’s funeral in a pub named after the last native-born Prince of Wales, a sup posed ‘rebel’ against English monar

chy, serves as a reminder that Wales cannot forget its complex and brutal relationship with English sovereign ty. Despite the symbolic presence of Wales’s most famous defender of in dependent rule, Summer described the pub as “deadly, unnaturally, silent” as the Queen’s coffin trav elled through the streets of London, watched by over 28 million UK view ers. So, has Wales’s contempt for the monarchy lessened in the wake of this historical event?

The First Minister for Wales, Mark Drakeford expressed the “great sadness that people in Wales” feel at the death of Queen Elizabeth, and in line with most of the UK, many chain supermarkets and restaurants were closed out of respect. Mourners gathered leading up to the funeral to pay their respects and offer words of comfort to King Charles on his visit to Cardiff on September 16th, dur ing which he gave a bilingual speech at the Senedd as a mark of respect for Welsh culture. Although reporter

John Jones described the crowds as “united in a shared passion”, a silent demonstration took place at Cardiff Castle during the King’s visit in pro test of Prince William inheriting the controversial Prince of Wales title, which many Welsh people see as a symbol of control.

The consensus seems to be that whilst Wales respects and acknowl edges the Queen as a long-serving leader of the Britain we know today,

it is keen to establish a new relation ship with the monarchy now this era has ended. As Britain mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth, the inter twined future of Wales and the mon archy is waiting to be shaped into something new; a relationship built on equality rather than polarisation.

Welsh Government to fund childcare

Beca Dalis Williams News Editor

Parents and the children of Wales will benefit of a fund ing of nearly £100 million for childcare.

This investment will ensure child care provision and specifically offer ing support in part-time places that are for free, also, another aspect the funding will strengthen is the Welsh language provision and availability.

There will be £3.8 million ringfenced invested to this plan which has been organised by the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Welsh Government will also benefit from this as it will complement the nation’s goal of reaching 1 million Welsh speakers and Welsh users by 2050.

By supporting the new generation and by getting the funding to present the Welsh language at an early stage of a child’s life it will be an integral part of their upbringing. Heledd Fy chan MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesper son for children and young people has stated that ‘in the face of costof-living crisis, this will provide a lifeline for many families’.

The funding has been compiled to expand and develop the part-time Flying Start childcare, which sup ports the parents or guardians of children ages two and three in disad vantaged areas of Wales by provid ing free part-time childcare.

In the initial £100 million invest ment, £26 million will be available for this programme. The money has been allocated to different phases and terms, meaning £11.6 million will be for 2023-24 and £14.3 million for 2024-25 which will support many children in their early years. In the first phase which was in September 2022, the Governmnet announced 2,500 spaces for children across the country. In the second phase which will be April 2023 this will also allow 3,000 spaces for families with two year-olds to be eligible for 12.5 hours of child-care during the school cal endar and they will be contacted with by local authorities.

In the first phase which was in September, the Government an nounced 2,500 spaces for children across the country. Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services noted the importance of support for young children and the funding will ensure ‘that every child has the best start in life and enjoys learning, expands their knowledge and fulfils their potential’.

A part of the funding will be spent on different areas that need improving and if people are in need of support in their local community they can apply through their local

This investment will ensure childcare provision ,specifically offering sup port in part-time places that are for free.”

Buckingham Palace: The Queen’s coffin travelled through the streets of London, watched by over 28 million. Source: Wally Gobetz via Flickr

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POLITICS

PM travels to Prague to meet European leaders

Katherine Seymour Head of Politics

OnThursday (6th October), Liz Truss headed to Prague for the first meeting of the European political community. French President Emanuel Macron proposed the idea as a forum for countries both within and outside of the EU for po litical cooperation on issues facing the European continent.

So far, the agenda has included the Northern Ireland protocol following Brexit - and saw Volodymyr Zelensky address the meeting over video link to reinforce and frame the ideas that the war can be seen as an attack on Europe and its values. There are also meetings planned for cooperation be tween individual countries as well as collective meetings of the more than 40 European countries involved.

Following accusations that the group was simply a subsection of the EU, Liz Truss has defended her ac tion in joining the meeting. In an article in The Times. She said: “To day’s meeting is not an EU construct or an EU alternative. I am very clear about that. It brings together govern ments from across Europe, around a third of whom are outside the EU. A post-Brexit Britain, as an independ ent country outside the EU, should be involved in discussions that affect the entire continent and all of us here at home. We are taking part as an inde pendent sovereign nation, and we will act as one”.

She additionally stated: “It is right that we find common cause with our European friends and allies”, and made clear ahead of the meeting that it was “not an EU construct or an EU alter native”. Later, she informed broad

casters the meeting was “not about moving closer to Europe” but “about working with Europe on issues that we both face”.

Many have described the war in Ukraine as ‘the biggest crisis fac ing the European continent since the Second World War’. As a result, many politicians believe that it is right for the continent to cooperate fully once again. It is important to recognise that the EU began as a coal and steel community which aimed for peace between Germany and France in par ticular - and the notion that coopera tion is an integral part of peace does not come as a surprise.

In a similar vein, there is a global economic crisis - put down to the war in Ukraine by many as Russia turned off gas supplies to much of Europe.

Many have called for cooperation in securing alternative energy sources to

Nicola Sturgeon faces backlash

Francesca Ionoescu Politics Editor

Ina recent BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, ‘I detest the Tories and everything they stand for’. Kuenssberg asked the politi cian who would she rather have as prime minister, which Sturgeon re-phrased as whether she’d prefer a Labour govern ment or a Conservative one.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan caster, Nadhim Zahawi claims his belief that ‘that language is really dangerous’, while other Scottish Conservatives have

called the choice of words ‘irresponsible’. Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scot tish Conservatives, called the statement a ‘rhetoric-raising strategy’ which adds to the criticism that Sturgeon’s choice of the word ‘detest’ could be divisive, and work against her goal to have another Scottish independence vote.

Sturgeon dodged the question of whether Liz Truss is a ‘friend or a foe’ by saying she ‘would like to be a friend on the basis of the areas where [they] can work together constructively’. The First Minister has mentioned her work along side previous Tory PMs, despite them be ing political opponents, and showed an

interest in continuing this collaboration. In the same interview, she mentioned how she will keep pushing for another Scottish Independence vote, despite Liz Truss strongly ruling it out. Sturgeon has made a comment in the past about Truss’ lack of contact, as the PM has yet to have had a phone call with the first minister, a month after being sworn in. The two leaders seem to have a strained relation ship, as Sturgeon referred to the lack of contact as ‘absurd’ and ‘unprecedented’, while Truss has called the Scottish politi cian an ‘attention seeker’ during the Tory leadership contest.

At the SNP’s annual conference in Ab

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POLITICS

The Neath MP and former shadow Welsh Secretary has been suspended pending an investigation.

- Government accused of scapegoating Bank of England

Ministers have been telling the press that market turmoil is down to the Bank of England

Landlords in England will be banned from evicting tenants without giving a reason, Prime Minister Liz Truss has confirmed.

politics@gairrhydd.com

ensure what is known as ‘energy secu rity’.

Liz Truss met with the French President Emmanuel Macron. Friend or foe, she was undecided before. Now, she has clarified her position, establishing Macron as a friend, and Putin as the foe. Following the meet ing, Truss and Macron issued a joint statement on their support for coop eration, particularly on energy and pledged “full support” for the Sizewell C plant which will be constructed by the French company EDF. The agree ment was a part of the European com mitment to end reliance on Russian energy.

There are still questions over the ef fectiveness of the community as it is unstaffed and there are no official of fices. However, leaders insist that the common goals of Europe are what is most important.

erdeen, Sturgeon has stated that she did not find Mr Zahawi’s criticism fair, as she was only referring to Conservative party ‘values and policies’ that ‘have devastated communities’.

While Sturgeon has received some support from Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who agreed that he ‘had no stomach for the Tories whatsoever’, he did not comment on the specific use of the word ‘detest’. The BBC interview also saw Sturgeon’s criticism of the Labour party as needing to be more ‘radical’. In her eyes, Labour is a ‘pale imitation’ and being better than the Conservatives is a very low bar to cross.

Protests erupt in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini

Thomas Mahoney Contributor

Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died at the hands of the Iranian police in the cap ital city of Tehran on 16 th September 2022.

News of her death, which the Ira nian police insisted was caused by a heart attack, reached the Iranian pub lic, who were not convinced of the statement. In contrast to the police, eyewitnesses and women detained with Amini revealed that she was se verely beaten after initially being ar rested for not wearing a hijab. Since then, mass protests have erupted in around 150 cities across the Persian state, where clashes with police and civil unrest have been widespread.

President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed sorrow forAmini’s death, proclaiming meanwhile that riots and “chaos” will not be accepted. At the time of writ ing, state media outlets have reported over 40 deaths and 1200 arrests since

Mass protests have erupted in around 150 cities ... where clashes with police and civil unrest have been wide spread. ”

September 16th, though human rights groups have claimed that security forces have taken far more lives.

Observers of the situation are noting parallels between these dem onstrations and those following the ground-breaking Iranian Revolution of 1979, where civilians took to the streets in opposition to new laws on women’s dress. These laws seemingly reflected the remarkable shift in how then supreme leader Khomeini’s Per sian society would function in com

parison to the previous Shah regime. Particularly women in Iran have seen an archaic regression of their rights since the 1979 toppling of the Shah.

For the current Khamenei regime, the tumult comes at an especially undesirable moment. They currently face serious global economic uncer tainty, a tit-for-tat exchange of cyberattacks with Israel, and heightened tension with the West surrounding the nation’s alleged nuclear weap onry projects. These recent events

Eyewitnesses and women detained with Amini revealed that she was severely beaten after initially being arrested for not wearing a hijab. ”

pose serious questions for the regime pertaining to whether it’sautocratic ‘stamping boot’ of governance is sus tainable in 21st century Iran.

From a democratic point of view, government officials’ consideration of the needs of the people should reap rewards for both parties. Despite Khamenei’s ambivalent perspective on women’s rights, noticeable reform could reintroduce some stability to the Islamic Republic.

A problem from Tehran’s already sizeable list would subside, while women’s living standards and free dom would likely improve. However, governmental obstinacy is a frustrat ing barrier to such collaboration, cou pled with the regime’s tendency to suppress demonstrations with more violent means.

Observers of the situation are noting parallels between these demonstrations and those following the Iranian Revolution of 1979,

- Labour MP Christina Rees suspended from the party

Francesca Ionoescu

Jade Heath

Katherine Seymour

People across the world have taken part in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini

International protests: Protests have erupted across the world following the death of Mahsa Amini Source: Taymaz Valley (via Wikimedia Commons)

Survey shows liberal shifts in attitudes

Annabelle Martin discusses the UK’s changing viewpoints on social and political issues.

Annabelle Martin Contributor

Annual survey shows massive shifts in attitudes in the last decade.

A majority of the public agree with so-called liberal positions on is sues such as racial equality, immigra tion and sexual identity, according to the latest annual poll of British social attitudes, in the latest sign that once marginal liberal views are increas ingly mainstream.

‘Woke’ issues have previously been used by predominantly Con servative politicians and the media to fuel ‘culture wars’, whipping up antipathy towards a supposed politi cally correct cultural elite. This sur vey has shown the balance of public opinion in Britain has shifted in fa vour of more inclusive attitudes over the past 20 years.

Culture war rows have become in creasingly prominent in recent years, ranging from disagreements over

Britain’s colonial legacy to racial, sexual and gender equality issues, which “have gone too far”, with ‘antiwoke’ critics specifically targeting liberal institutions such as the BBC, universities, and national charities.

There has been a rapid and sig nificant shift in attitudes in Britain over recent decades. “As a country we are as liberal as we have been at any point since this survey started in 1983,” said the political scientist Sir John Curtice, a senior fellow at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), which carried out the sur vey.

The other key findings indicate public support for increased taxa tion and public spending, including on social security benefits, remained strong as Britain prepares to endure a punishing cost of living crisis. Sup port for redistributing income from the rich to the less well-off was at its highest level for nearly 30 years.

The public’s healthy appetite for state intervention, a legacy perhaps of the perceived success of Covid

support measures, may suggest they will support new prime minister Liz Truss’s £150bn cost of living support package. However, her support for tax cuts and disdain for fiscal poli cies of redistribution may be more jarring.

“Our survey suggests the public faces the cost of living crisis with as much appetite for increased govern ment spending as it had during the pandemic. Despite the marked in crease in public expenditure during the pandemic, support for increased taxation and spending is relatively high, even among Conservative sup porters”, said Gillian Prior, NatCen’s chief executive.

The survey also revealed the strik ing degree to which socially lib eral views were far more prevalent in London. A third of Londoners (34%) are socially liberal, compared with just 19% of those in urban ar eas outside the capital. Sarah Butt, a research director at NatCen, said: “London looks very different from the rest of the country.”

Worries over the climate crisis are also increasing, with 40% saying they were “very concerned”, almost double the proportion in 2010. More than half (57%) said they were willing to pay to protect the environment ei ther through higher prices, taxes or a cut in living standards. While 60% blame human activity for climate change, 6% denied there had been any decline in the environment.

The other key findings indicate public support for increased taxation and pub lic spending”

The survey can be brought togeth er with recent opinion polls which show a huge Labour lead to show that the public has more taste for liberal policies and with Liz Truss moving the Conservative party to the right, it is clear that the country wants to move away from these policies.

Children at risk by online safety bill delay say campaigners

Jade Heath Politics Editor

Giorgia Meloni’s far-right agenda elected in Italy

Genevieve Gunn Contributor

G

iorgia Meloni, leader of one of Europe’s most prominent far-right parties, has se cured the position of Prime Minister in Italy’s snap election on the 25th of September, making her the coun try’s first female PM and the seventh leader in the last decade. The Broth ers of Italy party has experienced a sudden growth in support, follow ing the resignation of temporary PM Mario Draghi and his coalition party earlier this year. They saw an increase of 21.59% in voter share, from 4.40% in the 2018 election to 25.99% today.

Meloni’s victory comes as no sur prise and has been predicted by many news outlets, with Bloomberg de scribing her as the “favourite to win” in the days before the election took place. While there is a complex issue as to why the party has flourished in the polls, it reflects a rise in the power in right wing politics across Europe.

Ian

Russell, father of Molly Rus sell, has argued that delays in implementing the online safety bill will cause harm to young people. In November 2017, 14 year old Molly Russell took her own life after viewing extensive amounts of negative con tent on social media - content largely related to depression, suicide and selfharm. Last month, an inquest into her death confirmed this as the senior cor oner ruled that the teenager had “died from an act of self-harm while suffer ing from depression and the negative effects of online content”. Certainly, a landmark conclusion.

Over 2,000 posts liked, shared and saved by Molly on Instagram (the so cial media platform which she appar ently frequented the most) were relat ed to topics of suicide and depression. During the hearing for Molly’s death, a consultant child psychiatrist stated that he struggled to sleep for weeks after reviewing the content. In addi tion, the algorithm is designed in such a way that when you engage with one of these images, related content will appear on your timeline. Pinterest, for example, sent emails for content rec ommendations to the teenager, such as “10 depression pins you may like”.

Ian Russell has since been com mitted to preventing this outcome for other teenagers - however, delays in implementing the online safety bill

have made this difficult. A large part of the bill is introducing a ‘duty of care’ for tech companies to provide a safe environment for their users, as well as protecting adults and children alike from ‘legal but harmful’ content. How ever, in July the bill’s implementation was paused in order to make revisions in the name of free speech protection. Researchers have also claimed that the use of scanning software to find illegal content within encrypted messages should not be allowed. Ross Anderson and Sam Gilbert have produced a pol icy paper wherein they argue that this usage of artificial intelligence will flag up too many false alarms and prove “unworkable”. This paper was also pre sented at a Conservative Party Confer ence - these are perhaps what is ren

dering the bill’s implementation a lengthier process.

Nevertheless, researchers still argue that the bill’s child pro tection elements are vital. In a phone call with Russell, cultural sec retary Michelle Donelan has pledged to resume the bill’s progress before Christmas. This was perhaps in re sponse to his statement: “If we wait around and chase perfection, we’re en dangering young people in particular, who are exposed to harmful content”. It can be argued that since the bill en compasses such a large scope of online issues, from child sexual abuse images to terrorist material, it is predictable that a range of legislative concerns may arise. Unfortunately, this is to the det riment of parents such as Ian Russell.

Truss and Kwarteng defend the ‘controversial’ mini-budget

Adam Dunstan Contributor

It’s been five weeks since Liz Truss was appointed Prime Minister on 6th September 2022. YouGov found that Truss had a -59 net favourability rating, which is the percentage of people who have a positive opinion of Truss minus the percentage of people who have a negative opinion on her. Just 14% of the public have a favourable opinion of her.

On 23rd September, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a series of economic policies which proved con troversial for many in “The Growth Plan 2022”, including the abolition of the 45% highest rate of income tax and the reversal of Boris Johnson’s April 2022 rise in National Insurance. Kwarteng also announced he would scrap the cap on bankers’ bonuses.

The government received swathes

of criticism following the announce ment, including from the Internation al Monetary Fund (an organisation of 190 countries that work together to maintain global financial stability) who believed the fiscal plan would “likely increase inequality”. Voters also disagreed with the economic plans, with 72% of Britons and 69% of Conservative voters believing that abolishing the top rate of income tax is the wrong priority to be pursuing.

The “mini budget” also sent the markets spiralling, due to Truss and Kwarteng giving little detail into how these tax cuts would be funded and the lack of an OBR statement on the changes. By 29th September, 40% of UK mortgage deals had been with drawn and the typical interest rate on a two-year mortgage rose above 6% for the first time since 2008. This means that a family with a £200,000 mortgage would have to pay an extra £8,000 a year in repayments.

Despite this turmoil, Kwarteng

stands by his economic plan telling the BBC’s Laura Kuenssburg that he’s focussed on “tax cuts across the board”.

Kwarteng believes that “high taxes reduce Britain’s competitiveness” and that not cracking on with his plan would be a “gamble”. However, many families are facing difficult decisions in the weeks and months ahead and see Kwarteng’s mini budget as un fair. A mother of two from Somerset told me that because of the economic statement, Nationwide had increased her mortgage interest rate from 2.2% to 6%. She added that this increase in expenses could lead to “being in a po sition where my daughter would have to dropout of university or commute”.

Continuing to decrease taxes could also damage the Conservatives’ politi cal position. Currently they are 30% behind Labour in the polls, which is 20% higher than at the beginning of July when Boris Johnson announced his intention to resign as Prime Min

The “mini budget” also sent the markets spiralling,...giv ing little detail into how these tax cuts would be funded”

ister. Fearing defeat at the next elec tion may be why Truss U-turned on the abolition of the 45% tax rate, saying that “we get it, and we have listened”. Many, including Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries have ques tioned Truss’ mandate to move away from the 2019 manifesto, something which many have argued was clear by the look on the PM’s and MPs faces as Keir Starmer asked in Prime Min ister’s Questions “who voted for this?”.

The question which many have asked is how does she move forward from this? Moving away from mani festo promises in 2019 is not seen as a good move if the Conservatives are to restore a lead in the polls.

The party might not have achieved the same results without the support of other right-wing parties, which is why they formed a coalition with Matteo Salvini’s League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. This strate gic decision ensured their success in the polls and subsequent win.

Although all three parties are con sidered right-wing, Brothers of Italy is often cited as being the country’s furthest right leading party since the end of Benito Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship. The Guardian have de scribed the party’s history as being ‘fascist adjacent’, including its crea tion by former members of the Na tional Fascist Party and the logo of the flame which is derived directly from the now-dissolved National Al liance.

The Brothers of Italy party has experienced a sudden growth in support, following the resignation of temporary Prime Minister Mario Draghi”

Meloni and the Brothers of Italy party embody nationalistic views, having previously stated that they haven’t defended their national in terests enough within the EU and portraying an ‘Italy first’ mentality. This is also demonstrated in their at titudes towards immigration policies as Meloni has promised a clampdown on migrant boats coming from North Africa to Italy. According to The Washington Post there is a chance that we could see harsher restrictions being introduced, as Matteo Salvini wants to be reinstated as the govern ment’s interior minister, a position he previously held under the last government. Meloni is also very de fensive of ‘natural families’ and took a stance against ‘LGBT lobbying’ dur ing a speech for the right-wing Span ish party Vox.

With the volatile nature of their government and the reactionary poli cies supported by the new PM, the future outlook of the Italian political sphere is very unclear.

Oes gan y cyhoedd ddigon o ddealltwriaeth o faterion Cymreig?

Mae Cymru yn wynebu math

o baradocs. Mae’r broses ddatganoli yn parhau’n gy flym ac er bod gobaith ar fin cael pw erau bellach i’r Senedd a Llywodra eth Cymru, mae sylw i faterion sy’n ymwneud â Chymru mewn perygl o leihau’n sylweddol. Tra ar yr wyneb gall ymddangos fel pe bai dinasyddi on yng

Mae’r defnydd o bapurau newydd yng Nghymru wedi lleihau o 42% i 33% yn 2020. Mae llai na 5% o bobl Cym ru yn darllen papurau

Nghymru yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n dda, gyda gwelliannau cynyddol mewn cysylltedd yn dod i’r rhan fw yaf o Gymru a thoreth o sianeli tel edu a chyfryngau cymdeithasol, mae’r gwir du ôl i’r ymddangosiad hwn o’r cyfryngau yn gymhleth.

Felly, pwy sy’n gyfrifol i hysbysu trigolion yng Nghymru am faterion Cymreig?

I nifer teledu sydd a’r prif gyfri foldeb am rannu gwybodaeth o fate rion Cymreig. Teledu yw un o brif ffynonellau gwybodaeth ar gyfer dwy ran o dair o boblogaeth Cymru. Mae dinasyddion Cymru yn aml yn cael ei gwthio i wylio rhaglenni Prydeinig sydd yn anaml yn sôn am Gymru na Senedd Cymru.Gwelir gynnydd mewn gwariant o 16% ar deledu Cymreig gyda’r BBC yn cyfrannu

£27.3 miliwn ychwangegol yn 2018.

Mae gan y Radio hefyd gyfrifoldeb am gynyddu dealltwiraeth trigolion Cymru am faterion yng Nghymru.

Mae gwrandawyr yng Nghymru yn gwrando ar y radio am gyfartaledd o 22.4 awr yr wythnos. Er hyn, prin yw unrhyw un o’r rhaglenni maen nhw’n eu clywed yn cael eu cynhyrchu yng Nghymru, nac yn canolbwyntio ar faterion Cymreig.

Un o brif swyddogaethau papur newydd yw i hysbysu darllenwyr trwy gasglu gwybodaeth am ddiwgwyddia dau sy’n digwydd yn eu cymunedau, y wlad neu’r byd ehangach. Er hyn, mae’r defnydd o bapurau newydd yng Nghymru wedi lleihau o 42% i 33% yn 2020. Mae llai na 5% o bobl Cymru yn darllen papurau newyddion Cymru, yn wahanol i’r mwyafrif o genedla

ethau, nid yw Cymru erioed mewn gwirionedd wedi cael papur dyddiol cenedlaethol felly yn hytrach yn darl len papurau Prydeinig sydd yn aml yn anwybyddu newyddion a gweleidyd diaeth Cymru.

Mae Cymru yn dioddef problem unigryw o ddiffyg gwybodaeth, yn hytrach na cham wybodaeth. Mae angen i Gymry archwilio ffurfiau cy fryngau amgen i greu sffêr gyhoeddus Gymreig i fod yn ymwybodol o bŵer sydd gan Gymru yn y Senedd.

Mae gwrandawyr yng Nghymru yn gwrando ar y radio am gyfartaledd o 22.4 awr yr wythnos.”

10,000 yn gorymdeithio dros annibyniaeth

Gorymdeithiodd

miloedd o bobl

dros annibyniaeth yn y brifd dinas ar ddydd Sadwrn y 1af o Hydref. Cynhaliwyd yr orymdaith gan fudiad ‘Yes Cymru’, sydd yn ymgyrchu’n benodol dros Gymru rydd ac annibynol o reolaeth San Steffan.

Roedd bron i 10,000 o bobl wedi ymg ynnull i orymdeithio yng Nghaerdydd yn ôl y trefnwyr. Dyma’r ail orymdaith a gynhaliwyd gan ‘Yes Cymru’ yn 2022, gyda’r gyntaf wedi ei chynnal yn Wrec sam ym mis Gorffennaf.

Yn ôl rhai oedd yn rhan o’r orymdaith, roedd yn “ddiwrnod llwyddiannus.”

Un a oedd yn y digwyddiad oedd Dafydd Hughes, sydd yn fyfyriwr yn y brifddinas. Dywedodd Dafydd ei fod yn “teimlo ei fod yn bwysig bod yr ifanc wedi ymuno â’r rali gan mai ein dyfodol ni sydd yn cael ei effeithio yn y pen draw.

“Roedd yn agoriad llygaid gweld cy maint wedi troi fyny i gefnogi’r symu diad ac rwyf yn edrych ymlaen at weld y symudiad yn datblygu a newid dyfodol ni’r Cymry.”

Un arall oedd wedi mwynhau’r dig wyddiad oedd Elan Gwilym, myfyriwr arall o’r Brifysgol, a oedd yn credu bod “gorymdaith yn y brifddinas yn arwyd docaol ac yn cyfleu neges i weddill Cymru.

“Roedd yn fraint cael bod yn rhan o’r orymdaith ac i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r symudiad. Rwyf wedi bod yn gefnogol o’r symudiad ers sawl blwyddyn bel lach ac yn credu y mwyaf o bobl sydd yn ymuno â digwyddiadau fel hyn, y mw yaf o obaith sydd i ddyfodol annibynnol Cymru.”

Gwelwyd sawl wyneb cyfarwydd yn mynegi eu cefnogaeth yn ystod yr orymdaith, megis y cyn Aelod Seneddol yr Arglwydd Dafydd Wigley, yr ac

tor Julian Lewis Jones a Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol cyntaf ‘Yes Cymru’, Gwern Gwynfil. Ymunodd Dafydd Iwan ar y llwyfan wedi’r rali i ganu ei gân enwog, ‘Yma o Hyd’, a gyrhaeddod brig siartiau iTunes ym Mhrydain yn ddiweddar.

Roedd cyn-aelod y Senedd, Leanne Wood, hefyd i’w gweld yn ymgyrchu ymhlith y miloedd yn y rali, yn ogystal ag Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.

Mae canlyniadau pôl piniwn diwed dar yn ystod haf 2022 gan YouGov ar ran ITV yn awgrymu mai 25% o bobl Cym ru sydd yn gefnogol o annibyniaeth.

Mae’r Ceidwadwyr yn chwyrn yn erbyn annibyniaeth i Gymru, gydag arweinydd y blaid, Andrew RT Davies yn ei disgrifio fel syniad “niweidiol a di groeso nad yw’n cael ei drafod tu hwnt i’r swigen wleidyddol arferol.

“Mae wedi cael ei wrthod dro ar ôl tro yn y blychau pleidleisio yng Nghymru.”

yn cael ei wario ar Gwpan y Byd gan Lywodraeth Cymru

Bydd y 5ed o Fehefin yn ddiwrnod hanesyddol ym myd pêl droed Cymru wrth i dîm y dynion herio’r Wcráin yn eu gêm ragbrofol Cwpan y Byd yn y brifddinas yn stadiwm dinas Caerdydd. Daeth y gêm hanesyddol i

ben gyda sgôr o un i ddim wedi i Bale sgorio o fewn y 34ain munud cyntaf. Cipi odd y digwyddiad hanesy ddol sylw’r cyfryngau gyda gwefannau cymdeithasol ledled Prydain yn adrodd hanes y fuddugoliaeth.

Gyda Chymru wedi cym hwyso ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd am y tro cyntaf ers 1985,

bydd bron i £2 filiwn yn cael ei wario gan Lywodraeth Cymru i hybu cyfranogiad Cymru yn Qatar. Mae’r ar ian hwn yn cael ei roi tuag at gyfres o brosiectau sy’n cefnogi treftadaeth, y celfy ddydau a diwylliant, gyda’r gobaith o sicrhau cefnoga eth barhaus i bêl droed Cymreig. Mae’r prosiectau hyn yn cael eu cynnal le dled y byd gyda chanran o’r arian yn cael ei roi i sefy dlu Amgueddfa Bêl-droed newydd yn Wrecsam, a chanran yn mynd i gynnal gŵyl i ddathlu creadigrwydd a diwylliant Cymreig yng ngogledd America a fydd yn cael ei gynnal ar drothwy gêm Cymru a’r Unol Da leithiau.

Mae’r prosiectau eraill a fydd yn derbyn cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn

cynnwys prosiect i hybu defnydd y Gymraeg gyda sesiynau canu cymunedol yn cael eu cynnal ledled Cymru a menter ‘Ysbrydoli Cenhedlaeth’ sy’n darparu ystod ddwyieithog o ddigwyddiadau ar gyfer cly biau ieuenctid y wlad.

Mae Cymru wedi’i gosod yng ngrŵp B ochr yn ochr ag Unol Daleithiau Ameri ca, Iran a Lloegr a bydd eu taith yng Nghwpan y Byd yn dechrau ar yr 21ain o Dachwedd yn Qatar gyda’u gêm gyntaf yn erbyn Unol Daleithiau America.

Gan fod hwn yn ddig wyddiad mor bwysig i Gym ru, mae rheolwr Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn dweud ei fod yn “brwydro” i gael gymaint o gefnogwyr Cym reig â phosib yng Nghwpan y Byd eleni. Er hyn, dywed

Noel Mooney, prif weithred wr cymdeithas bêl-droed Cymru, mai dim ond 5% o docynnau y byddai Cymde ithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn cael eu dyrannu i bob gêm gan FIFA. Mae hynny’n gol ygu mai oddeutu 2,000 o gefnogwyr Cymru yn unig fydd yn cael tocynnau i stadiwm Ahmad Bin Ali ger Doha i wylio tim Rob Page er bod gan y stadiwm gapa sati o 40,000.

Gyda Chymru wedi cymhwyso ar gyfer Cw pan y Byd am y tro cyntaf ers 1985, bydd bron i £2 filiwn yn cael ei wario gan Lywodraeth Cymru.”

Efa Ceiri digwyddiadau gorymdaith annibyniaeth Caerdydd

Efa

Golygydd

Lowri Davies Golygydd Taf-od

Millie Stacey Golygydd Taf-od

Megan Haf Davies

Millie Stacey

Gorymdaith annibyniaeth Caerdydd. Tarddiad: Elan Gwilym

Yr iaith Gymraeg dros yr hanner canrif ddiwethaf

Nansi Eccott Pennaeth Taf-od

R

oedd yr iaith Gymraeg mewn se fyllfa dra gwahanol 50 mlynedd yn ôl ym mlwyddyn dyfodiad Gair Rhydd.

Y 1970au

Yn ôl cyfrifiad 1971, roedd 20.8% o boblogaeth Cymru’n medru’r Gymraeg a chyfatebodd i 542,425 o unigolion. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, Sir Feirionnydd oedd â’r canran uchaf o siaradwyr Cym raeg, 73.5% o boblogaeth y sir. Er ein bod yn parhau i aros am ganlyniadau cyfri fiad 2021, gallwn gymharu canlyniadau cyfrifiad 2011 a ddatgelodd bod 19% o’r boblogaeth yn medru’r Gymraeg. Serch y gostyngiad canrannol, gwelwyd cyn nydd yn y nifer gyda 562,016 o unigo lion yn datgan eu bod yn gallu siarad yr iaith. Yn ôl canlyniadau 2011, Gwynedd oedd y cartref i’r canran uchaf o siarad wyr Cymraeg gyda 65.4% o boblogaeth y Sir yn siaradwyr Cymraeg. Gwelwyd yng nghanlyniadau arolwg blynyddol o’r bologaeth 2021 bod 829,200 o unigolion yn nodi eu bod yn gallu siarad Cymraeg. 1972 oedd blwyddyn cyhoeddi man iffesto Cymdeithas yr iaith Gymraeg

dyma ddogfen hanesyddol yn nodi deng mlynedd o ymgyrchu’r mudiad a gos od yr iaith Gymraeg ar ei thraed trwy gyhoeddi’r ‘y math o gamau pendant y mae’n rhaid inni [poblogaeth Cymru] eu cymryd os ydym am achub ein hiaith a’n cenedl rhag diflannu’n llwyr. Ysgrifen nwyd y maniffesto gan Cynog Davies er mwyn ‘osgoi arwynebedd gwag Cym reigrwydd heb yr iaith’ wedi ymdeimlad cryf ymysg siaradwyr Cymraeg eu bod yn profi ‘argyfwng eithaf’ ynghylch dy fodol yr iaith.

Y 1980au

Wedi blynyddoedd o ymgyrchu brwd, protestio ac aberth gan unigolion megis Gwynfor Evans, lansiwyd Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C) yn Nhachwedd 1982. Tan 2010, roedd y sianel yn dan gos rhaglenni Saesneg yn ogystal â rhai Cymraeg ond mae’r sianel yn parhau hyd heddiw fel cartref i deledu cyfrwng Cymraeg y Deyrnas Unedig. Fe wyliodd 13.5 miliwn o bobl dros hyd a lled y DU S4C, ar ryw adeg rhwng 2020 -2021.

Y 1990au

Ym 1993 pasiwyd Deddf yr Iaith Gymraeg gan Senedd San Steffan, a rhoddwyd, am y tro cyntaf, statws cyfartal i’r Gymraeg a’r Saesneg yn y

sector gyhoeddus. Gwelwyd gwrth wynebiad i’r Ddeddf gan nad oedd yn gorfodi gweithrediad dwyieithog na chwaith yn diogelu hawliau unigolion i gyfathrebu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. O dan y Ddeddf hon, sefydlwyd Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg gyda’r nod o ‘weithredu’r Ddeddf a hybu defnydd trigolion Cymru o’r Gymraeg. Gwnaed hyn drwy ariannu prosiectau a mentrau megis Mentrau Iaith Cymru a sefydlwyd yng Nghwm Gwendraeth ym 1991.

Ym 1997 pasiwyd refferendwm yng Nghymru o blaid sefydlu Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i’r wlad ym Mae Caerdy dd. Sefydliad a oedd bellach yn gyfrifol o gyflwyno is-ddeddfwriaeth a pholisi dros 18 maes penodol gan gynnwys yr iaith Gymraeg.

2000-heddiw

Yn 2010 cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru Strategaeth Addysg Cyfrwng Cymraeg er mwyn gwella darpariaeth addysg Gymraeg ledled y wlad. Yn 2014 roedd 23 o ysgolion uwchradd cyfrwng Cymraeg yng Nghymru ond erbyn hed diw mae dros 50 o ysgolion uwchradd a bron i 450 o ysgolion cynradd cyfrwng Cymraeg dros Gymru gyfan.

Mae’r Gymraeg bellach yn iaith

swyddogol yng Nghymru gyda Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011 yn sicrhau dar pariaeth wrth sicrhau safonau ymddygi ad ynghylch yr iaith. Diddymwyd Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg gan y ddeddfwriaeth hon gan greu rôl Comisiynydd y Gym raeg yn ei le. Yn ôl eu gwefan, ‘prif nod statudol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yw hybu a hwyluso defnyddio’r Gymraeg’ a’u gweledigaeth ‘yw Cymru lle gall pobl ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg yn eu bywydau bob dydd.’ Mae Safonau’r Gymraeg yn sicrhau’r hawl i Weinidogion bennu rhe olau ar sefydliadau er mwyn atgyfnerthu triniaeth gyfartal y Gymraeg. Erbyn heddiw, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn prysur weithio ar eu stratega eth o sicrhau miliwn o siaradwyr Cym raeg erbyn 2050. Eu cam diweddaraf at gyrraedd y nod hwn yw cyflwyno gwersi Cymraeg am ddim i holl drigo lion y wlad rhwng 18 a 25 a staff ad dysgu gyda’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Gwelwn felly cryn gynnydd yn statws, defnydd, darpariaeth, gwleidyddiaeth a deddfwriaeth y Gymraeg. Cawn mawr obeithio parhad a nerth i’r Gymraeg dros yr hanner canrif nesaf a thu hwnt.

Pryd o Daf-od Tomos Evans

Barn Y Bobl-A oes dyfodol i newyddion print neu ydy apiau a’r wê yn bygwth ein papurau

Gwion Ifan Blwyddyn 3 Cymraeg ac Newyddiaduraeth

Wrth

ddathlu hanner canml wyddiant Gair Rhydd eleni, siaradwn â Tomos Evans, cyn Prif Olygydd y papur wrth iddo fyfyrio ar ei gyfnod gyda Gair Rhydd. Mae Tomos bellach yn Uwch Newyddiadurwr Digidol i S4C ac yn diolch i Brifysgol Caerdydd a Gair Rhydd am y cyfleoedd di-ri a chynigi wyd iddo tra’n fyfyriwr yn y brifddi nas.

Mae’n anodd credu bod Gair Rhy dd yn dathlu ei ben-blwydd yn 50 oed. Dwi’n cofio fel ddoe, a minnau’n las fyfyriwr, dathliadau’r 45.

Rhoddodd Gair Rhydd imi rai o fy hoff atgofion yn y brifysgol, a chy fleoedd di-ri i ddatblygu fel person ac fel newyddiadurwr. Gan ddechrau fel cyfrannydd ac yna Golygydd Taf-od, treuliais flwyddyn fel Prif Olygydd Gair Rhydd a ddarparodd sgiliau all weddol am farn olygyddol sydd wedi bod o fudd imi wrth gamu i’r gweithle.

Un o’r uchafbwyntiau oedd gweithio ar gynnwys Etholiad Cyf fredinol 2019 yn y Swyddfa Cyfryngau Myfyrwyr. Does dim llawer o brofia

dau mwy cyffrous na gweithio ar no son etholiad wrth i’r canlyniadau gael eu cyhoeddi ar draws Cymru a thu hwnt. Roedd tipyn o gyd-weithio gy dag Xpress Radio a CUTV i sicrhau’r arlwy gorau posib ar amryw o blatf formau.

Ond roedd fy nghyfnod fel Golygy dd hefyd yn un heriol wrth i bandemig Covid-19 drawsnewid ein ffordd o fyw dros nos. Roedd holl weithgared dau wyneb yn wyneb y brifysgol wedi

dod i stop, ac felly hefyd Gair Rhydd. Drwy benderfyniad ein tîm o olygy ddion, fe aethom ati i gynhyrchu rhi fyn ola’r flwyddyn o adref (gydag am bell i gwis Zoom wrth gwrs).

Mae hyn yn ei hun yn dangos gy maint o gariad sydd gan bobl tuag at Gair Rhydd. Mae’n fwy na rhywbeth i lenwi bwlch yn yr amserlen. Mae’n llafur cariad o le.

Dyna sydd mor braf i’w weld yw datblygiad y Gymraeg yn Gair Rhydd

Trafod gyda’r Taf-od Betsan Elias

Beth wyt ti’n astudio ac i le wyt ti’n dod?

Astudio Pharmacy a dod o Gaerfyrddin

Vodka neu Gin? Gin

Beth yw dy farn amhoblo gaidd?

Tiwna yw’r pizza topping gore

Oes gen ti unrhyw arferion drwg?

Cwympo i gysgu unrhyw le

Hoff albwm?

Music of Spheres - Coldplay

Beth wyt ti’n edrych ymlaen at wneud eleni?

Trip i Gaeredin

Hoff jôc?

Be ti’n galw plismon o Lanb eris? Copa’r Wyddfa lol

Sut wyt ti’n gwella hangover?

Llefen drwy’r dydd

Beth oedd y ffilm ddiwethaf i ti wylio?

Dim syniad, fi’n cysgu drwy bob ffilm fi’n trial gwylio!!

gyda Taf-od wedi parhau i dyfu yn ys tod y blynyddoedd diwethaf ac wrth i fwy o gynnwys Cymraeg gael ei gyn hyrchu ar gyfer Clebar, Xpress Radio a CUTV. Mae’r Gymraeg yn fyw yng Nghyfryngau Myfyrwyr Caerdydd, ac mae hi’n ffynnu.

Erbyn hyn, dwi’n gweithio i wasan aeth Newyddion S4C gan gynhyrchu cynnwys ar gyfer yr ap a’r wefan. Heb os, bydden i ddim wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwn yn fy ngyrfa heb fod wedi gallu manteisio ar y cyfleoedd amry wiol ges i drwy weithio ar Gair Rhydd, o sicrhau’r dudalen flaen Gymraeg gyntaf erioed i greu adran newydd o fewn Taf-od, sef Pryd o Dafod.

Mae gen i ffrindiau oes o’m ham ser yn gweithio ar Gair Rhydd a gwn am nifer sydd wedi mynd ymlaen i weithio i bapurau newyddion a chy fryngau cenedlaethol yn ogystal â nifer o bapurau lleol gwych. Mae ein diolch i Gair Rhydd yn enfawr am roi’r cyfle cyntaf yna i ni gymryd cam i gyfeiriad gyrfa mewn newyddiaduraeth. Hir oes wrth iddo roi’r un cyfleoedd i’r cenedlaethau i ddod.

Celwydd bysai dweud bod y trad dodiad o dderbyn ein newyddion trwy gyfrwng newyddion print wedi gostwng dros y blynyddoedd diweddar, ac yn bersonol, mae’r rheswm dros hyn yn un hawdd iawn i ddatrys. Sawl gwaith ydych chi wedi derbyn nodyn trwy eich ffon am newyddion yn torri? Digon o weithiau i sylwi eich bod yn gwy bod am ddarn o newyddion cyn ei fod wedi cael ei gyhoeddi yn y papurau’r bore trannoeth. Mae’r cy fryngau cymdeithasol yn fath o arf digidol sy’n caniatau y bobl sy’n ei ddefnyddio i rannu cynnwys gyda’r cyhoedd mewn modd gyflym iawn. Felly nid yn unig trwy apiau megis CymruFyw a’r Guardian etc. Y mae rhywun yn medru derbyn newyddi on bellach ond trwy gyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mae swyddogaeth newyddiadurwyr erbyn heddiw wedi newid yn llwyr gan fod y cy fryngau wedi trawsnewid stafel loedd newyddion a chyflymu’r broses o gasglu gwybodaeth. Mae hyn oll, heb os, wedi bygwth dy fodol newyddion print, ond naïf bysai dweud ei bod wedi canu ar newyddion print, yn fy marn i.

Ffion Hodder

Blwyddyn 1 Cymraeg

Hoff gân carioci?

Don’t stop believin’

Pwy yw dy seleb crush?

Tom Holland a Jacob Elordi

Pwy fydd yn trafod gyda’r

Taf-od wythnos nesaf?

Gruffudd ab Ieuan

Mae’r ddadl yn parhau ynghylch a yw oes y newyddion print wedi mynd heibio? Er bod cylchrediad papurau newydd mewn print wedi gostwng dros y blynyddoedd di wethaf mae defnydd ar lein wedi sa ethu fyny. Yn ôl y Press Gazette mae cyfanswm newyddiadurwyr sy’n gweithio ar bapurau newydd lleol yng Nghymru wedi haneru o leiaf ers 2005 ac mae llawer o gwmnïau wedi mynd allan o fusnes oherwydd hyn. Ond, er hyn, mae’r mwyafrif ohonom yn cytuno fod mwy o ddib ynadwyedd ynghlwm tudalennau’r papur print. Geiriau coll ac unig sydd ar lein ac mae’n debygol fod yr erthyglau wedi halogi â newyddion ffug. Rhywbeth cyfarwydd i ni yw’r papur newydd. Rydym yn ei ddarllen yn y gwely, mae’n cadw cwmni i ni ar ein siwrne bws, mae e yno i ni allu dibynnu arno. Bechod fydd colli ein hen gyfaill.

Tomos yn cyfweld â Mark Drakeford, yn ystod ei gy fnod fel Golygydd Taf-od. Tarddiad: Tomos Evans

Datblygiad newyddiaduraeth fenywaidd dros y 50 mlynedd diwethaf

Megan Haf Davies Golygydd Taf-od

Dros y 50 mlynedd diwethaf, ry dym wedi gweld datblygiad syl weddol o fewn newyddiaduraeth. Mewn byd lle mae’r cyfryngau yn tyfu’n gyflymach nag erioed, gwelwn lawer fwy o newyddiadurwyr benywaidd heddiw o gymharu ag y 70au. Wrth amrywio o’n papurau newyddion i’n sgriniau, does dim amheuaeth fod mwy o le a chy fleoedd i fenywod gyfrannu at y maes yn ein byd cyfoes.

Ydy newyddiaduraeth wedi datbl ygu?

Mewn cyfnod o newidiadau cymde ithasol; yn nodedig y 70au, mae’n bosib y trodd y menywod at newyddiaduraeth fel ffordd o hawlio llais a barn mewn byd o leisiau dynion. Ond, ni olygai hynny ei fod yn llwybr hawdd iddynt ddilyn. Wynebwyd heriau patriarchaidd yn y gymdeithas megis rhywiaeth a hiliaeth, felly gallwn ddychmygu yr oedd yn an odd cystadlu yn erbyn y dynion am le o

Mae dros hanner o’r newyddia durwyr yn y Deyrnas Unedig bellach yn fenywaidd”

fewn maes mor ddylanwadol i’r cyhoedd.

Erbyn heddiw, ceir llawer mwy o sôn am newyddiadurwyr benywaidd, gan gynnwys o fewn y meysydd radio, tel edu, cylchgronau a newyddion. A oes mwy o newyddiadurwyr benywaidd yn ein byd modern?

Mae dros hanner o’r newyddiadurwyr yn y Deyrnas Unedig bellach yn feny waidd, sydd yn gwneud i ni gwestiynu pam y cynyddwyd?

Rhesymau dros y newid

Yn gyntaf, rheswm amlwg dros hyn fydd y cynnydd o fewn defnydd y cy fryngau. Wrth i ni edrych ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol fel Snapchat, Instagram a TikTok, prin yw’r bobl ifanc sydd heb eu lawr lwytho. Mae’r cyfryngau wedi dod yn rhan annatod ohonom, gyda phobl yn eu defnyddio o ddydd i ddydd ac felly nid yw’n syndod fod awydd gyda phobl i ddilyn y llwybr fel gyrfa. Nid yn unig y cyfryngau cymdeithasol sydd yn cael effaith, ond hefyd radio a theledu. Mae’n haws heddiw nag erioed o’r blaen i gael gafael ar newyddion yn gyflym, ceir ys tod eang o wybodaeth ar raddfa ni allwn wedi rhagweld 50 mlynedd yn ôl. Efal lai bod y ffaith fod newyddiaduraeth yn rhan gyson a bwysig y gymdeithas fodern yn annog pobl i gyfrannu at y maes, heb iddyn nhw hyd yn oed sylweddoli?

I ychwanegu at hyn, rheswm arall dros y tyfiant mewn newyddiaduraeth gan fenywod yw bod mynediad at addysg,

bellach yn fwy cynhwysol a chyfartal. Y nod i lawer yn y diwrnod presennol yw ceisio creu cymdeithas sydd yn cynnig cyfleoedd cyfartal i bawb heb ystyried eu rhyw ond, roedd safbwyntiau cym deithasol yn wahanol 50 mlynedd yn ôl. Roedd hi’n anoddach cael mynediad at addysg safonol nid yn unig oherwydd heriau rhaniadau rhywedd, ond hefyd oherwydd tlodi a heriau ariannol.

Heddiw, rydym yn ffodus o gael benthyciadau ar gyfer ein ffioedd dysgu a heb amheuaeth, cyfrannodd hyn at y cynnydd o fenywod yn mynychu’r Bri fysgol ac o ganlyniad yn cyfrannu at y maes newyddiadurol.

Stereoteipiau a herio confensiynau

Ceir stereoteipiau yn amlwg gyda me nywod, yn enwedig ym maes newyddia duraeth, er enghraifft yn newyddiadura eth chwaraeon.

Yng nghyfweliad gydag Elin Fflur ar ei phodlediad ‘Sgwrs dan y Lloer’, dy wed Sarra Elgan, darlledwraig Rygbi ei bod hi wedi cael ei galw’n “rhy blonde” a “rhy ifanc” i allu cyfrannu’n wybodus at y maes. Dengys hyn yr heriau trafod wyd uchod a wynebwyd gan fenywod, sydd yn parhau i ddigwydd heddiw. Ychwanegodd Sarra, “Mae’n caledu ti ac yn gwneud ti’n fwy penderfynol i brofi pobl yn anghywir ac felly fi’n ddiolchgar achos hynny wnaeth roi’r awch i fi eisiau gweithio ym myd chwaraeon”.

Dyma’r stereoteipiau a welwyd 50

Adolygiad: Dal y Mellt

Ceir stereoteipiau yn amlwg gyda menywod, yn enwedig ym maes newyddiaduraeth, er enghraifft yn newyddiaduraeth chwaraeon .”

Anest Williams Golygydd Taf-od

Ganol mis Medi cafodd rhai o griw Taf-od y cyfle i fynychu noson gyhoeddi drama newydd S4C, Dal y Mellt, yn yr Everyman, Bae Caerdydd. Ar ôl gwylio’r bennod gyntaf y noson honno, does dim modd cerd ded trwy’r ddinas bellach heb ddychm ygu Carbo, un o’r prif gymeriadau, yn crwydro’n wyliadwrus trwy’r strydoedd gydag aelodau o’r ‘anhysbys’ yn dilyn pob un o’i olion traed.

Fe fydd gwylwyr ffyddlon s4c yn hen

Mae gallu Mark Lewis Jones a Graham Land i ymgorffori gangsters Cymraeg yn drawi adol.”

gyfarwydd â’r cyfresi tywyll, dirgel rheini sy’n diddanu nosweithiau Sul yr Hydref: Y Gwyll; Craith; Un Bore Mercher. Mae llwyddiant cyfresi trosedd s4c yn ddi-baid. Ond, cyfres dra wahanol fydd yn llenwi’n sgrin ni’r Hydref hwn, gyda’r sianel yn croesawu drama heist newydd, Dal y Mellt. Yn drwch o gymeriadau ag acenion Cymraeg amrywiol, fe â’r gyfres â ni ar fordaith o un pen o Gymru i’r llall a thu hwnt: i Gaerdydd, Gwynedd, Soho ac i ddociau Dulyn.

Mae gallu Mark Lewis Jones a Graham Land i ymgorffori gangsters Cymraeg yn drawiadol. Mae dygnwch arwynebol Leswold Moore yn gwrthgyferbynnu’n berffaith gyda’i ffraethineb a’i ymlyniad dros-ben-llestri at ei fam, tra bod caledi Mici yn gwrthdaro gyda’i stad feddyliol fregus wrth iddo frwydro â PTSD. Perl yw mam Leswold yn y gyfres, wedi’i phortreadu gan Siw Hughes (neu Kath o Pobol y Cwm), gyda’i dawn i blethu

hiwmor cynnil a chraff i mewn i’r stori. Mae perfformiad unigol Siw Hughes yn gwneud y ddrama werth ei gweld. Tuedda’r penodau cyntaf i fod ychydig yn niwlog, a’r gwyliwr felly’n ei chael hi’n anodd dilyn y gyfres ar adegau gan mai ond briwsion a rydd y ddrama ynglŷn â bwriadau’r cymeriadau a sut maent yn cysylltu gyda’i gilydd.

Gellir dadlau, beth bynnag, mai’r dirgelwch hwn sy’n ychwanegu at gyffro’r ddrama. Mae’r dirgelwch yma’n parhau tan y diweddglo, gyda’r teimlad bod yna bresenoldeb arall yn bodoli yn gwylio’r holl gymeriadau. Dyma awgrymodd Huw Chiswell, cyfarwyddwr y ddrama, yn y noson gyhoeddi.

Mae’r gyfres hon yn chwa o awyr iach i S4C, ac fe ddylai’r sianel ymdrechu i gyflwyno mwy o raglenni ffres, modern, doniol fel y gyfres hon i sgriniau’r genedl. Mae dawn y cynhyrchiad yn ymestyn o’r actorion sy’n portreadu cymeriadau

mlynedd yn ôl hefyd, yn y 70au. Ond, yn ffodus iawn mae’r eithafoedd o’r stere oteipiau wedi lleihau erbyn hyn, yn dilyn y newid cymdeithasol gwelwn o fewn rhywedd a hawliau cyfartal.

Y ffordd i sicrhau fod menywod yn cadw eu lle o fewn newyddiaduraeth, yn enwedig o fewn y maes chwaraeon, yw wrth herio’r confensiynau.

Y ffordd i sicrhau fod menywod yn cadw eu lle o fewn newyddiaduraeth, yn enwedig o fewn y maes chwaraeon, yw wrth herio’r confensiynau. ”

Mae dawn y cynhyrchiad yn ymestyn o’r actorion sy’n portreadu cymeriadau cymhleth, cynhyrchu arloesol, y gerddoriaeth fywiog a’r sgript grefftus”

cymhleth, i’r cynhyrchu arloesol, y gerd doriaeth fywiog a’r sgript grefftus wedi’i haddasu o lyfr Iwan Roberts. Carreg filltir i’r byd teledu Cymraeg, o bosib?

Mae’r gyfres hon yn chwa o awyr iach i S4C, ac fe ddylai’r sianel ymdrechu i gyflwyno mwy o raglenni ffres, mod ern, doniol fel y gyfres hon .”

Megan Davies sydd yn edrych yn ôl ar brofiadau menywod o fewn newyddiaduraeth dros yr hanner canrif ddiwethaf

(Tarddiad: Anest Williams)

history month.

SCIENCE

MIT’s innovative passive cooling system

Aditi Kallanagoudar Girish Science and Tech Editor

With the overall rise of world wide temperatures brought about by global warming, the usage of air conditioners is projected to increase significantly. These power hungry systems will not only put a mas sive strain on existing power grids but are also not accessible in regions with little to no reliable electric power.

An innovative system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol ogy (MIT) aims to combat this problem by using passive cooling to support the conventional air conditioners in build ings.

The system presents itself as a triple layered slim package that resembles a solar panel and can provide up to about 9.3 degrees Celsius of cooling from the ambient temperature. The system uses a top layer of Aerogel, middle layer of Hydrogel and a reflective surface at the bottom to combine radiative cooling, evaporative cooling and thermal insula tion all in one architecture.

“By combining those features in a synergistic way, we are now able to achieve high cooling performance, even in high-humidity areas where previous technology generally cannot perform well.” says Zhengmao Lu, one of the de velopers on the project.

The most helpful aspect of the sys tem is that it does not rely on power, just needing a small amount of water to function. Maintenance of the sys tem is minimal, and all that’s required is the addition of water for evaporation. Moreover, the water consumption is so low that this would only need to be done approximately once every four days in the hottest, driest areas, and only once a month in wetter areas.

This enables the system to preserve food crops as it is enough to permit safe food storage under very humid condi tions for almost 40 percent longer. Un der dryer conditions, it can even go as far as tripling the safe storage

NASA DART mission turns science fiction into fact

Edward Sutton talks about the predicted success of NASA’s ambitious DART mission.

Edward Sutton Science and Tech Editor

NASA’s Dart Mission on the 26th of September, did something only thought of in the realms of science fiction. That was the Hollywood-esque idea to move an asteroid off its path by col liding it with a special type of space craft.

This is the first time that NASA has dedicated a mission to planetary defence. Thankfully, the preliminary data from DART looks hopeful in that it has achieved its goal.

Minds might wander to the block buster scripts of 1998 where films like Armageddon and Deep Impact were based around the idea of sav ing Earth from an asteroid. Although these fictions dramatized the events, an element of truth remains. Al though the chances are slim, there are real risks that asteroids or com

This is the first time that NASA has dedicated a mis sion to planetary defence.”

Defence from Space?: Perlliminary data for the mission looks hopeful Source: Steve Jurvetson (via Flickr)

ets could reach the planet and have devastating consequences.

DART, which stands for Double Action Redirection Test, launched last November aiming for an aster oid 7 million miles away. This par ticular piece of space rock called Dimorphos wasn’t a threat to Earth, but NASA wanted to prove now that

they could pull off this kind of feat before it was too late. “For the first time, humanity has demonstrated the ability to autonomously target and alter the orbit of a celestial ob ject.” That was Ralph Semmel, direc tor of the lab that ran this mission for NASA in a news conference. Amazingly, you can actually watch

the moment the spacecraft impacts into the rock, providing a rare in sight into the depths of space.

Many telescopes are being point ed at Dimorphos to study the impact of the DART mission, including the James Webb telescope and the Hub ble telescope. Hopefully with all this data, scientists will be able analyse the impact that DART had on the overall path of the rock. It can some times be hard for governments to put money and resources into this type of project, but there are signs that governments are more willing now to put money into protecting us from the mysteries of space.

A brand-new US funded Tele scope in Chile is designed to scan the skies for any possible problem aster oids. Let’s all hope that if the time comes, this new wave of funding for space projects will prove beneficial.

DART launched last No vember aiming for an asteroid 7 million miles away.”

TikTok becoming Gen Z’s most-used search engine

Alice Fox discusses how Tiktok is being used as much more than a social media site

Alice Fox Contributor

Needto find a cafe or learn how to write a CV? Want to know how to get a boy to like you?

These days, TikTok has become the ul timate place to seek out this informa tion. The app itself involves creating, sharing, and watching short interac tive videos covering various topics

Arguably, generation Z are choosing quick, interactive modes of news and content”

from politics to gardening to tarot readings. The resources are vast and right your fingertips, feeding genera tion Z’s constant need to be up to date and on trend.

Considering the generation of visual learners and their shorter attention spans, the likes of Google are signifi cantly falling behind in meeting more modern ways of communication. As TikTok is now considered the most popular search engine for generation Z, the usage of Google is gradually de creasing.

Despite this, TikTok is at the fore front of a toxic generation, the spread ing of unreliable information, addic tive algorithms, and an overload of information. The dreaded FYP (for

you page) is TikTok’s main feature for discovering content, which mixed with the algorithm means you are bom barded with personalised videos and information without even touching the search bar. Although TikTok prides itself in positive videos including chal lenges, tutorials and dances, the vid eos can also include an overwhelming amount of sensitive content. This can negatively distort perceptions of top ics such as body confidence and eating disorders, to heartbreak and grief. For avid TikTok users, this means poten tially becoming trapped in the spiral ling cycles of the algorithm, finding content which is more disturbing than helpful.

The algorithm has other potential

downfalls. TikTok’s algorithm is de signed to provide you with content you have previously shown interest in. The issue here, is that some users are there fore only shown content they ‘believe’ in - leading to a lack of counter-per spectives being provided by the app.

The FYP provides limited information and an unrealistic, simplistic world. There is a fine line between real life and a reality created through the app, the boundaries of which are becoming extremely blurry.

Arguably, generation Z are choos ing quick, interactive modes of news and content which provide a sense of community and creativity. The current generation seem to crave this over the stability and reliability of Google, but

Neptune’s rings shine bright in new Webb images

Matt Jordan Contributor

Newphotos from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) show not just Neptune, but also its thin rings and light dust bands.

Along with the planet and its rings, seven of its fourteen moons Triton, Galatea, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Lar issa and Proteus are also captured as bright dots in the image, with the largest moon Triton being the very bright ob ject in the top-left of the image.

Since its launch last Christmas, fol lowed by a six month calibration and testing process that ended this summer, Webb has wasted no time in delivering jaw-dropping visuals and data. After an initial burst of iconic images like the tel escope’s first Deep Field (taken of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723), and new takes of previous Hubble targets like the Carina Nebula and the Southern Ring planetary nebula, Webb has continued to work.

Despite only being released on the 21 September 2022, the image of Neptune’s system was actually taken by Webb in late July, at around the same time as the photos of Jupiter which were released this August.

A similar near-infrared image of Ju piter, its auroras, rings and moons re leased by Webb’s team in August. (Cred it: NASA).

Neptune has only been visited once, by Voyager 2 during its flyby in 1989,

and at 4.5 billion km from the Sun it is so far away that clear images are difficult to take. Webb’s photo joins recent ob servations by Hubble and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in 2018 and 2021 used for continuing studies of the planet but is the first since Voyager to present a clear view of Neptune’s rings.

“It has been three decades since we last saw these faint, dusty rings, and this is the first time we’ve seen them in the infrared,” said Heidi Hammel, an expert on the outer ice giants Uranus and Nep tune who has been working on Webb since 2002.

Hammel also shared her immediate reaction on Twitter:

“Not gonna lie. I ugy-cried when I saw THE FIRST JWST NEPTUNE IMAGES! “O M G - LOOK AT THE RINGS” I was yelling, making my kids, my mom, even my cats look. More than 20 years in the making, and JWST de livered.”

Aditi Kallanagoudar Girish

Edward Sutton

New Images: Neptune’s rings captured by the new James Webb Space tel escope. Source: Nasa (via Flickr)

LISTINGS FOR ALL UPCOMING SHOWS IN Y PLAS & GREAT HALL

October/Hydref

Digga D

17/10/2022

SOLD OUT / WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN

Aitch 19/10/2022

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Skid Row 21/10/2022 £27.50 (+SBF)

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Rina Sawayama 24/10/2022 £25.00 (+SBF)

November/Tachwedd

Clearwater Creedence

04/11/2022 £25.00 (+SBF)

Jamie Webster 04/11/2022 £22.50 (+SBF)

Sigrid 05/11/2022

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Future Island 11/11/2022 £27.50 (+SBF)

Hugh Cornwell 11/11/2022 £27.50 (+SBF)

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JamieT 21/11/2022

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Blossoms 26/11/2022

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The Hu 02/12/2022 £22.50 (+SBF)

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February/Chwewwfror

Mogwai 16/02/2023 £32.50 (+SBF)

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Loyle Carner 11/03/2023

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Punk Rock Factory 25/03/2023 £16.50 (+SBF)

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Sam Ryder 01/04/2023 £22.50

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May/Mai

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Jamie T

Sea Girls

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COMMENT

Netflix’s Problem With Wasted Potential

Streaming giant Netflix is noto riously secretive about pretty much everything. Whilst recent ly they have started to be a little more transparent about the viewing figures of their most popular shows, there are still many shows and movies on the service with no information available to the public about how well they’re really doing. This secrecy underpins many peoples frustration with the ser vice, as it can seem like shows are can celled with little explanation as to why.

Seemingly popular shows are fre quently cancelled almost immediately, with barely enough time for them to succeed. Alternatively, viewers are faced with months of silence and then a quiet cancellation, in some cases with the cast having to take it upon themselves to break the news. Either way it creates frustration amongst people paying for the service to watch their favourite series. This was the case with the Kenny Ortega hit ‘Julie and the Phantoms’, a show which de spite huge fan support was left with no update for months. Whilst after the long period of no news the cancella tion seemed inevitable, it still came as a shock for many fans. The show not only had the weight of the highly celebrated Kenny Ortega behind it, its engagement online was large and predominantly positive. Some have speculated on the data which drives Netflix’s cancellation decisions, sug gesting that the viewership in the first few days of a show’s premiere is vital. This suggests that if a show is not an

Amongst the shows cancelled, many are those praised for their high levels of minority representa tion and handling of hard-hitting topics.”

instant hit, even if it later takes off, it has little hope of renewal.

Amongst the shows cancelled, many are those praised for their high levels of minority representation and handling of hard-hitting topics. Whilst these might not be global hits like Bridgerton or Stranger Things, it can be argued that there’s a lot of value in the smaller, yet extremely passion ate fanbases shows like these attract. Sense8 was a sci-fi drama from the directors of the matrix, with a strong focus on the stories of queer charac ters and people of colour. The can cellation makes sense when seen as a financial decision, it reportedly cost the service $9 million an episode, but caused a huge outcry from fans. This campaign attracted so much attention that despite Netflix chief Reed Hast ings claiming the show had no hope of a return, a finale episode was eventu ally released and dedicated to the fans. This is not an isolated occurrence,

cancelled shows regularly become part of online campaigns that in many cases gain an unignorable amount of traction.

Viewers are also quick to point out the inequalities between shows which are renewed and those that aren’t. Teen love story ‘Heartstopper’, which features a queer love story between two young boys was a massive hit and was quickly renewed for two more seasons, yet ‘First Kill’ a story sur rounding two lesbian characters was cancelled within two months of its premiere. Both shows amassed large viewing figures and made their way into the Netflix top 10, so why was only one of them renewed? Of course it’s impossible to be certain, but it can be speculated that a wholesome gay male romance was more pallatable to a wider heterosexual audience than ‘First Kill’s’ sexier approach and sap phic protagonists. This was particu larly frustrating, as ‘First Kill’ was a

unique series for the streaming service and certainly one that had the po tential for a loyal fanbase had it been given the time to develop.

It would be impossible for Netflix to renew every series, however they are quickly gaining a reputation for their exhaustive list of cancellations. This is not a good look for a service which relies on people becoming invested in their shows, after all, nobody wants to watch a series that was never com pleted, or start one that may never be continued. In a time when Netflix is facing a significant drop in subscrib ers, I would argue that continuing this approach is beginning to damage peoples perceptions of the service as a whole.

Seemingly popular shows are frequently cancelled almost immediately, with barely enough time for them to succeed.”

Evan Johnson-Charteris Comment Editor

any way caused our digital identities to become more intertwined with our reallife identities?

As

we finally enter the first aca demic year that is truly post coronavirus restrictions, we are beginning to return back to “normal” life. However, what the concept of “nor mal” even means anymore is ultimately a million-dollar question; not even the government seem to know!

Regardless of this question of ‘normal’, it is clear that the pandemic years affect ed each and every one of us differently for better and for worse. On a personal level, I feel a disconnection to the person I was before the pandemic, it is fair to say it significantly altered my life course and the relationship I have with myself and the people around me. This may or may not be the same for you, reader, but either way the change to life’s continu ity that covid caused is what we will be discussing today. How exactly have our sense of selves changed both online and offline now and as we begin to come out of the pandemic? And how has this in

During the pandemic, we were forced to congregate online for the vast major ity of work and activity related events that could no longer be in person. Consequently, this saw a sudden and rapid increase in the time we spend on social media. Platforms such as TikTok began receiving millions upon mil lions of downloads partly thanks to the lockdowns that impacted in person so cial interaction: we congregated online when our in-person contact had been lost. The repercussions of this are huge, as we began to increasingly live our lives through the lens of social media, we lost these vital in person experiences and social interactions. Moreover, as the social media filter continues to reach a point of distortion that “anti-social me dia” platforms such as BeReal are more mainstream (a platform in which you’re required to take a photo of what you’re doing at the exact time the universal notification comes through), our aware ness surrounding the lack of realness

we have experienced within the last few years is evident.

So, what do these effects mean for our identities? It is hard to know exactly, as social media carries a wealth of ben efits as well as negative attributes. How ever, the overall overwhelming adverse

effect on heavy users’ mental health is a clear concern. Just a few months ago, Facebook (or should I say Meta) faced backlash when it was revealed by the University of Houston that heavy use of its services can be linked to a noticeable increase in depressive symptoms. This

subsequently shows evidence that our own interconnectedness with our digital selves can be heavily detrimental for our mental health.

Overall, the pandemic has clearly led to a growth in the introspection and concern we take when using social me dia. Combined with our increased expo sure to the online world, I believe most of us have experienced a shift in identity since 2019. For those who are younger, like children and students, I believe this shift has had the biggest effect, as not only are their brains very malleable but they are the people who are engaging in the Wild West of digital spaces.

However, what do you think? Has your self-identity changed or become more digitalised since the pandemic? Let us know!

Heavy use of Facebook can be linked to a notice able increase in depression symptoms”

Frances Marsh Comment Editor

Source: Ghaith baazaoui (Via Wikimedia Commons)

Clelia Frondaroli

Evan Johnson-Charteris

Frances Marsh

Frances Marsh writes about the premature cancellation of Netflix shows

Death by diamonds: how the engagement ring industry is destroying lives in West Africa.

Clelia Frondaroli Head of Comment

Twenty years on from Sierra Leone’s brutal and devastat ing civil war, the diamond industry maintains that reforms such as the Kimberley Process have ensured similar conflicts over dia monds have not been repeated. Yet, these ‘blood’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds as they are known continue to circu late the global market, endangering numerous lives and destroying many others.

Africa is home to 65% of the world’s rough diamond industry, with the majority of mineral-rich rocks located across Central and West Africa. Although the industry employs around 2 million people within these regions alone, it has also acted as the catalyst to severe civil conflicts where governments and militia groups alike have attempted to fight for control over the lucra tive diamond reserves. Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war in 1991 was a direct example of this where the Rebel United Front (RUF) seized control over the mines and used profits from smuggled diamonds to fund arms and military supplies. The resulting

Africa is home to 65% of the world’s rough diamond industry”

consequences of this war, with over 75,000 casualties and numerous acts of brutality committed against its citizens, led to the creation of the Kimberley Process in 2000. The im plementation of diamond ‘passports’ certifying every rough diamond, was one of the main policies to arise from this and was designed to ensure that every diamond had a conflict-free origin.

However, the Kimberley Process contains numerous flaws that have left it vulnerable to being breached regularly. Under the Kimberly pro cess, conflict diamonds are under stood to be precious stones that are used to fund rebel organisations.

However, this one definition has

failed to take into account a wider scope for conflict, meaning that when governments themselves are involved in committing crimes to obtain diamonds, those diamonds could still be classed as conflict-free. This can be seen in Angola, where government soldiers have been reg ularly killing and maiming miners yet, under the current definition, the Kimberley process has been unable to warrant this as grounds to class them as blood diamonds. Further more, the Kimberley Process does not take into account child labour and human rights abuses. Over one million diamond miners in Sierra Leone earn less than one dollar a day and in Angola, 46% of miners are

Over one million diamond miners in Sierra Leone earn less than one dollar a day and in Angola, 46% of miners are between the ages of 5-16”

between the ages of 5-16, where they are subjected to long work ing hours with little to no safety measures in place. Despite the Kimberley Process claiming that 99% of their diamonds are con flict-free (which itself holds false implications), there is no guaran tee that those same diamonds are ethically and sustainably sourced.

The Kimberley Process has also overlooked the mass environ mental degradation that has taken place as a result of diamond mining. Open pit mining requires the com plete removal of topsoil, leading to soil erosion, deforestation and the contamination of natural bodies of water. Although several companies maintain that mining diamonds is sustainable, it is no different to other forms of mining, all of which are det rimental to the planet.

It is true to say that the diamond industry has come a long way in terms of attempting to end the ex portation of conflict diamonds how ever, the past two decades have come to show that the ethical and envi ronmental implications of diamond mining have not gone away.

The development of Welsh journalism post-

Nadila Hussein Contributor

In1999, Wales underwent one of its most significant changes yet, devo lution. In the decades since, the As sembly became the Senedd, gained leg islative and fiscal powers, controls over twenty policy areas and much more. This progress has had a significant im pact on not only legislation but also Welsh society and culture, including Welsh news coverage.

Previously, much of the coverage around Wales either showed the nation in poor light or were human interest stories, not the serious political coverage you’d expect. For example, Shambo the TB infected cow from Carmarthenshire, which received more news coverage from the BBC than the 2007 National Assembly elections during the same period. Highlighting the severe lack of Welsh news coverage, especially political coverage, going beyond pre-devolution.

This isn’t to say that Welsh matters were entirely ignored. BBC Cymru was established in 1964 and S4C in 1892 highlighting that there was at least some effort from the BBC to ensure coverage of Welsh issues. But a BBC review even admitted that stories of devolved nations

were often either related to crime, disas ters, or sport, and were more likely to be covered if they were human interest sto ries than politics or social policy.

Coverage has however changed in recent years, with BBC Cymru describ ing their 2016 Welsh Assembly Elec tion programming as their “most com prehensive coverage ever”, including live leaders’ debates and ask the leader programmes, an election tour and com prehensive results night coverage. This is further developing in 2021 to include

manifesto guides and BBC Bitesize edu cation programmes on devolution and political literacy.

It’s clear that the Welsh general public is better informed than before. For one, most actually know who their First Min ister is, a luxury I’m not sure Mark Drak eford’s predecessors had. But even then, that’s not particularly due to improv ing coverage from the media on Welsh politics, but rather a consequence of the pandemic and health being devolved. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, would we be

Performative Journalism

Does the media only re port on important issues around anniversaries?

Rubie Barker Contributor

The function of the news is to keep us informed and up to date with the world around us, and it is no secret that the media can be selective about what it reports on. Whether it be the Black Lives Matter network, the #MeToo movement or issues around climate change, essential issues aren’t consistently reported on as they should be.

In August of 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, and with extensive media coverage from newspapers to TV reports, it was hard to miss what was happening. The BBC News Channels were constantly following the evacuation, as people rushed to get out before 31st August. A documentary film, Escape from Kabul Airport, was released in September 2021 telling of the “largest airlift in modern US history, marking the end of America’s longest war’. Yet, as the war came to an end, so did the coverage.

In the year that has passed, after the withdrawal of NATO troops, including US and UK forces, coverage has diminished. British Media coverage in August and September focused on the approaching Taliban threat and the mass airlift and evacuation of British nationals and troops, but since allied forces were withdrawn, coverage of the events in Afghanistan has largely failed to make headlines.

Shambo the TB infected cow from Carmarthenshire... received more news coverage from the BBC than the 2007 National Assembly elections”

able to say the same?

Outside of elections and extraordinary situations, coverage of policy is weak and the items produced aren’t being con sumed by most of the public. Moreover, even if there is progress, it’s only insular. Welsh issues and news are only broad casted within Wales creating a betterinformed Welsh public but leaving the rest of the union ignorant whilst those in Wales are continuously pushed news about everywhere else (England).

I’m not sure if the answer is as sim ple as improvements from the BBC and other news providers. Maybe we need to move away from London based news media, maybe what we’re lacking is Welsh news sources, from the grassroots with Welsh issues and politics at heart. I don’t know. But I do feel that we need

On August 15th of this year, the Guardian published an article titled ‘Taliban rule in Afghanistan, one year on: ‘Women don’t want to stay here’-photo essay’. The article looked at how life has been under Taliban control in the country and the effects on its population, reporting on an issue which has somewhat been neglected by the media since the invasion.

The lack of coverage is an example of ‘Performative Journalism’- the idea that media and journalists, instead of being informative, are only engaging with issues when an anniversary occurs, failing to recognise the influence that the media have in their coverage of certain topics or lack thereof. When you carry on looking at the Guardian’s coverage of the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, their coverage seems to focus on events involving US and British nationals- their most recent article covering a prisoner swap with the Taliban.

In the age of information and an ever-growing international world, access to knowledge and information on world events should be at our fingertips. But when it comes to the exposure of events and issues we are still at the mercy of the media, as they drive and continue to influence the social and political conversations that are occurring.

Mining diamonds has had a detrimental effect on the planet (Source: Kim Alaniz, Via Flickr)

ADVICE

How to overcome the imposter in your brain

Lucy Matthews Advice Editor

The voice inside your head can wreak havoc over your life. Seriously. Every move you make can be overlooked and ruined by the obnoxiously loud and entirely negative narrative that our brains can instil onto us. This is the imposter in our brains and every human on earth, alive or dead has been plagued by such a mind villain throughout their life. There will be individuals who have control over their imposters, shielding them selves from its negative outlook with confidence and a positive mental at titude. Others will succumb to work ing themselves to the extreme in an attempt to dispel any room for nega tive thoughts to seep through the cracks of their brains. Imposter syn drome has the ability to cast a grey cloud over our sunniest days.

Defined by Verywell Mind as the ‘experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be’, imposter syndrome is not classed as a mental illness and therefore cannot be diagnosed as such. To add to this, it comes with no distinguishable mould. Even the most competent and talented will feel the pressure to work themselves to oblivion, driven by the fear that

Events and insecurities will give the imposter fuel to feast on. "

their peers will out them as a fraud and push for perfection in every corner of life and academia. Corre lations between anxiety, depression and imposter syndrome have been thoroughly explored by psycholo gists, and it is highly likely that those who struggle with such will also deal with traits of IS.

Shaniece O'Keefe gairrhyddadvice@gmail.com

Events and insecurities will give the imposter fuel to feast on. This makes them stronger and more powerful when it comes to making you feel unworthy or undeserving of being in certain places and gain

ing certain roles throughout your life. Described as an overall feeling of thinking you have ‘fooled others into believing you are someone you aren’t’; being left to question your overall identity on a daily basis is an exhausting process. Striving for perfection is attainable when you are also allowing room for mistakes along the way. An imposter syn drome brain does not recognise this and can make even the smallest tasks detestable and draining.

It comes as no surprise that those

Anniversary of a breakup: What did you learn?

Alisha Ratcliffe Contributor

At the age of 16/17, I was suppos edly in love with my first proper boy friend. Towards the end of Septem ber 2020, my nearly 1-year strong relationship had ended, and I was devastated.

As I was the one to be broken up with, I remember immediately breaking down in sobs and begging him not to leave me. Now that I look back on it, I can’t help but laugh be cause it wasn’t the guy that broke up with me, he had to get his mum to do it!

At the time, this breakup shook me to the core, and I initially blamed myself, constantly questioning; was I not good enough? Not pretty enough? Did I not make him happy?

But as the sadness faded away, I turned towards anger and completely blamed him for all the issues within our relationship that ultimately lead to him (or rather his mum) ending it. I can certainly tell you that I have learned a great many lessons.

Firstly, it was not right of me to blame my ex. Now that I have no

At the time, this breakup shook me to the core, and I initially blamed myself, con stantly questioning; was I not good enough?! "

emotions towards him or that rela tionship, I can see how it was equally both of our faults. I have learnt that I was poor at discussing how I felt with him, as I thought this would lead to us breaking-up. I understand now that effectively communicating, instead of just getting in a mood, is vital to a healthy relationship and to a healthy mind. I have also realised that in a relationship, not one person

is good and the other evil, both part ners have equal faults.

Around the 2nd anniversary of this breakup, I took a moment to

I can’t help but laugh be cause it wasn’t the guy that broke up with me, he had to get his mum to do it! "

reflect on my life and how much it has changed since then. I now live nearly 4 hours from home, attend university, changed my appearance, feel more confident and emotionally stable, understand my feelings better and overall was just happier.

It is interesting to me to reflect on how the ending of that relationship has led me to be so happy in my cur rent relationship. I learnt that I didn’t

Are you really undeserv ing of that top job despite getting it in the first place or is the narrative inside your head just making you feel this way?"

who suffer on a major scale with imposter syndrome often feel over worked or constantly not enough.

If you are overworking yourself to the extreme and relaying a narra tive that you do not belong over and over again you may never attempt to confront these feelings head first. Acknowledging that you have these obtrusive thoughts is the first step in taking control of your brain. Use actual facts to dissolve the unhelpful untruths of your imposter brain.

Are you really undeserving of that top job despite getting it in the first place or is the narrative inside your head just making you feel this way? Ensure that you are feeding your brain with reminders of all the achievements and personal success es you have accomplished in your life, to prevent yourself from a full negative takeover and to keep your mind and well-being in balance.

There will be individuals who have control over their imposters, shielding them selves from its negative outlook with confidence and a positive mental attitude. "

The stats alone demonstrate that there are so many people out there experiencing what you are going through."

have to jump into a relationship with anyone just because it was there and I had convinced myself that’s all that’s available to me, I learnt to wait until it felt right, and it does. I now have better conflict resolu tion, instead of jumping to conclu sions, seeing red immediately or not wanting to understand the other persons point of view, I know un derstand how essential it is to calmly discuss issues with your partner. If I didn’t go through that breakup, then I would not have the fear of going through it again and I would not be so determined to work through is sues.

It is important to understand that while breakups hurt in the moment and you may feel like you will never go on, you will! Im positive that bet ter things are on the horizon and les sons you will benefit from learning.

I understand now that effectively communicating, instead of just getting in a mood, is vital to a healthy relationship"

Lucy Matthews shares her advice on dealing with your inner-critic.

Alisha Radcliffe shares her experience with an anniversary of a break-up

'Imposter Syndrome': "experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be" Source: MismibaTinasheMadando (via Wikimedia Commons)

Heartbreak:" It is important to understand that while breakups hurt in the moment and you may feel like you will never go on, you will" Source: Usbkabel (via Wikimedia Commons)

Megan Shinner

Lucy Matthews

Musings with Megan Advice Column

Megan Shinner Head of Advice

The Expectations of University Life

Disclaimer – this advice is written by a student. This is not professional advice*

“What if Uni isn’t everything I thought it would be? Everyone tells me it's an amazing experience, but also how lonely it can be at times. I’m worried my experience will be different to everyone else.”

University is a huge step and a milestone that many of us look forward to in our early teenage years. First of all, con gratulations on applying, getting the grades, and being accepted. That’s a huge deal in itself. The concept of Uni can be very daunting. While it appears to be an easy way out from constant parental supervision and an escape from some adult responsibility, it’s a huge step up in academic standards, financial responsibility, and offers an incredible amount of independence. I can understand the fear of heading into the unknown, or in this case, a predetermined experience or standard of university life that you may feel you must live up to.

Here me out – the harsh truth is that University will never be what you think it will be. There are good things that people will make sure to mention, like getting to live with your best friends in your own house, hav ing a student loan, and finally working towards your dream career. There are the bad things people won’t tell you like how lonely it can be in the first few weeks, struggling with a budget, and trying to find your bearings in a completely new city. This is not to scare you, because there are also amazing things that no one could pos sibly prepare you for. For example, the

4am chats you have with the people you never thought you’d have things in common with, the spontaneous mid night walks with the flat above you, finding the perfect running route by your student house, finally existing in an environment where you can redis cover yourself or taking a volunteering opportunity that changes the course of your future. In fact, one of the best things about Uni is that you seriously don’t know what will happen and who you will meet along the way. Friends you meet in your first year who you think will be with you for life may stop speaking to you, and it could leave you heartbroken, but you may find a new sense of independence and the best group of people to share your time within the give-it-a-go society session you happened to be available for. No one can prepare you for University because it’s the little things that you don’t realise at the time that make the experience whole. It truly is a unique experience for everyone.

Additionally, it’s a big myth that university is exciting all the time and that you’ll constantly have company. No one prepares you for epically fail ing your first attempt at a fancy pasta bake and having to eat it alone in your room with some Netflix, or those times after a tough lecture where all you want to do is go home and cud dle with your dog. The loneliness is real, and it’s often because you find yourself with too much time on your hands. Just like anything else in life – University is what you make it. It’s not just about the degree, and it’s defi nitely not just about the social life. The majority of my university experience has come from the societies I’ve taken

part in and the places I’ve worked and volunteered at, along with the amaz ing people I’ve met through these op portunities. I’m just getting a degree as an expensive bonus! If you come just to study or just to party, you’ll feel stressed from either burning out from or neglecting your work. You have to find a balance between work and play. You’re ultimately here to extend your education, but you must remember to look after yourself and live your life at the same time! Don’t panic if you feel lonely in the first few weeks – it’s a universal freshers experience. Just be cause you missed out on the upstairs flat’s pre-drinks, it doesn’t mean you’ve been rejected out of their friend group for life. As the days go on, you’ll feel more comfortable and will develop the confidence to put yourself out there. University is never short of opportu nities, and it’s a place where you have the chance to do something about this loneliness. It’s always the activi ties that you least expect that may take your interest and the people you never thought you would talk to who end up becoming your friends. Combating loneliness can be done by taking every opportunity and never knocking down something until you try it.

Lastly, don’t be worried that your experience will be different from eve ryone else’s because it inevitably will be. This is never a bad thing. You may be expecting the typical clubbing 5 nights a week, takeaways every day, sleeping through 9am seminars, and making friends left right and centre in the student’s union. This is probably a preconceived view of university life that has been given to you through watching older siblings or cousins

move away or peers on social media. However, I can bet that if you asked the majority of university students to day whether the experience they are having is the one they thought they were signing up for, most of them would probably laugh and tell you “absolutely not!”. I know I definitely wouldn’t have seen myself where I am today. I’ve changed career areas more times than I can count, picked and loved modules that fifteen-year-old me would have found boring, and have volunteered with organizations I could only have dreamed of. University has had its lows, but it’s also reached highs that I never could have imagined. It’s everything I expected, everything I didn’t expect, and so much more!

The bottom line is, no one else is going to live at this very moment with you in the same flat, in the same bed, with the same group of flatmates, lec ture rooms or professors, daily com mutes, or favourite spot in the library. So how on earth can your university experience possibly be the same as an yone else’s? It can’t! Don’t set yourself up with a criterion before you start, because it’s always the things that you never saw coming that really make the Uni experience yours. My best piece of advice would be to drop this criterion and enter with an open mind. Take every opportunity that comes your way and just say “hi” to the person sit ting next to you in your lecture. I met one of my best friends that way!

Your top priority is your happiness, and you will find things that make you happy that don't match the experiences of those around you. University is the next chapter of YOUR life. It’s not about anyone else.

The Anniversary Effect

Shaniece O'Keeffe Advice Editor

The ‘Anniversary Effect' can have a disruptive impact on many people at different points in their lives.

The way people experience this can be through a range of memo ries, thoughts or feelings that can appear around a certain period in someone’s life, which reminds them of a past traumatic event they have experienced. Flashbacks, fear, and frustration can be some of the emo tions which are experienced during the memory of that certain date or time of year.

An example of the anniversary ef fect could be a death, break-up or parents’ divorce, but whatever may be causing this period of anxiety there are ways to help ease this feel ing of dread.

One helpful and positive way which could help you ease some of the anxiety you feel during the run up to that time of year, is to share your worries with someone else. Talking with a friend or family mem ber who knows your situation can be reassuring in the run up to this spe cific date.Discussing what emotions you feel and behaviours you see in yourself can be great when talking to someone rather than keeping it in. It can offer a new perspective and hopefully both of you can recognise there are certain points or during that date where you may need dis traction and company.This can be great for taking your mind off the one thing causing your anxieties and at a time of pain you may begin to feel relief.

Another way you can approach this difficult time is by commemo rating the date. Healing can often take time and although there are emotions of dread and fear when leading up to the anniversary, why not replace the date with a ritual or celebration? If the date is the an niversary of the death of someone close to you, then going and doing something you would have done together with a friend or on your own could be a great way to remem ber your special person, that is also personal to your relationship with them.

Another way to take hold of the anxiety is to look at the progress you have made from then to now. It could be 1 year or 50 years but looking at how far you have come is a great way to take control of your feelings. It is also a great way to know you are valid in how you feel and process things.

Being aware of your feelings and being prepared is a great way to con trol the surge of emotions about to come.

These dates can creep up on you which can feel like an attack on your mental health,but facing the dates head on leading up to your anni versary can lessen the blow of these emotions.

Healing can often take time and although there are emotions of dread and fear when leading up to the anniversary, why not replace the date with a ritual or celebration?"

Source: Jeremey Segrott (via Flickr)

REVIEW

Better Call Saul: “An exceptional character piece”

Theo Tadros Contributor

Despite failing to win a sin gle Emmy against 46 nom inations; Better Call Saul has reached its finale in spectacular fashion, defying even the extraor dinarily high expectations set by its predecessor Breaking Bad. The current ‘golden age’ of television has produced some of the best tel evision ever made, and Better Call Saul certainly doesn’t fail to live up to the expectations of this period.

Billy Edwards Haris Hussnain gairrhyddreview@gmail.com

The series follows the character of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), the sleazy and corrupt lawyer used by the chemistry-teacher turned drug dealer Walter White (Bryan Cranston), in Breaking Bad. Set before the time of Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman was called Jimmy McGill, and throughout the series we get to see Jimmy’s moral de cline as he eventually becomes Saul Goodman.

A low-level criminal defence lawyer, Jimmy is working out the back of a nail salon in the early sea sons, struggling to make ends meet whilst also trying to make a name in the New Mexico legal ring.

We see the turmoil Jimmy faces against his brother Chuck (Michael Kean), a formidable legal mind and

A low-level criminal de fence lawyer, Jimmy is work ing out the back of a nail sa lon in the early seasons, ”

partner at a prestigious law firm. We see the struggle Jimmy faces as he tries to gain the respect of his brother, who also suffers from a seemingly made-up health condi tion.

Jonathon Banks plays Mike Ehr mantraut, a former police officer from Philadelphia who now works at a car park ticket stand, he even tually finds himself navigating the criminal underworld and becom ing a fixer for a major drugs king pin. Fuelled by a need to financially support his widowed daughter and his granddaughter, we too see his

moral decline throughout the se ries as he is forced to undergo more heinous tasks in the pursuit of fi nancial security for his family.

An exceptional character piece, Better Call Saul slowly unravels over the course of its six series, giv ing greater depth of understand ing to many of the previously met characters in Breaking Bad, as well as providing phenomenal new plot lines to previously unseen charac ters such as Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) and Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton).

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Alice Moore Head of Review

For this issue of Gair Rhydd, I was interested to watch the new Netflix series based on serial killer Jeffery Dahmer. I have always been a fan of true crime, and I felt like this series would be inter esting to review. However, before I begin sharing my thoughts, I feel that it is essential to note the sever ity of this show’s content. Jeffery Dahmer himself was a disgusting criminal who committed heinous atrocities, and it is critical to keep in mind that the events of the series are real. This review does not in tend to make light of that fact, nor to offend any victims. Any praise for this series is purely based on

cinematography and performance, rather than the nature of Dahmer’s crimes.

The series starts where Dahmer’s story ends. We see him lure Tracy Edwards, an African-American man, back to his flat under the premise of sex after a night out. Once Tracy realises that Dahmer’s intentions are less than good, we see him desperately try everything he can to escape. Eventually, he manages to flee the apartment and contact the police, where the depth of Dahmer’s sadistic history is un covered and his police questioning begins.

Unlike fictional dramas, produc ers Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan took into account that most view ers already know Dahmer’s infa mous fate and therefore chose to

expose his capture right from the beginning. This once again pushes that this series is not a work of mys tery, but a true story.

When he begins his story, we see Dahmer’s childhood in a broken home. His mother, a depressed hy pochondriac, divorces his neverpresent father, and Dahmer’s aban donment issues greatly impact his socialisation as he begins school. From age fourteen, he became de pendent on alcohol as a result.

As he grew older, Dahmer mani fested an interest in dead animals.

What started as an anatomical in trigue, turned into sadistic experi ments involving acid, which greatly foreshadows the misfortunes of his victims. Dahmer’s homosexual ity is also addressed, causing great displeasure to his Christian family and ostracising him further from 1970s society. Actor Evan Peters, who plays the role of Dahmer, does an excellent job of striking the right balance between innocent social awkwardness and psychotic tendencies. We understand how his peers viewed him as weird and discomforting, but never as a mur derer.

As the series progresses, Dahmer commits his first murder of hitch hiker Steven Hicks and begins his taste for murder. I do not wish to analyse this in-depth as this would be insensitive to his victims, and I will warn that these are portrayed quite graphically. We see Dahmer develop a pattern and a victim ar chetype of homosexual black men, who were massively overlooked by police. Personally, I had to skip

a few of these sections due to my own discomfort, so viewer discre tion is advised from Episode 4 on ward. By the final episode, this all circles back to the events of the be ginning of the series.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is an informative series, but is not for the faint of heart. Media surrounding serial killers appear very controversial, as seen before with the Netflix documentary The Ted Bundy Tapes in 2019. It is im portant to note that many of the relatives of Dahmer’s victims dis approve of the series, shunning it for being “retraumatizing over and over again” and believing it unfair

One of the standout performances of the series comes courtesy of Rhea Seehorn ”

The series has arguably evolved over the years into something more profound, better written and better produced than its predecessor.

One of the standout performanc es of the series comes courtesy of Rhea Seehorn, who plays Kim Wex ler, a promising lawyer and Jimmy’s main love interest throughout the programme. It’s very rare to see such a stellar performance of a strong female character, without having to give the character overly masculine qualities. Seehorn and Odenkirk gave convincing and emotionally wrenching depth to the relationship, and had some of the on-screen chemistry ever seen in television.

The engaging series has the po tential to go down as one of the greatest TV series ever made, sur passing its predecessor and pos sibly even other iconic series like The Wire and The Sopranos; but we should come back to it in about 20 years to find out.

The engaging series has the potential to go down as one of the greatest TV series ever made ”

to monetize the actions of a mur derer. I agree, but was unaware of this reaction until after I had watched the series. In all, I believe the acting and cinematography were well-produced, and the series was effectively structured, but I would not watch it again due to its overly graphic nature and distress ing themes.

I believe the acting and cinematography were wellproduced, and the series was effectively structured.”

Theo Tardos reflects on the series as it comes to its conclusion

“Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story is an informative series but not for the faint-hearted”

Alice Moore

“An exceptional character piece, Better Call Saul slowly unravels over the course of its six series ”: Source: Mohamed Hassan (via Stockvault.net)

“I enjoyed this structure for the first episode, using Dahmer’s question ing to naturally introduce the recount of his life story”. Credit: Ghaith baazaoui(via Wikimedia Commons)

Moonage Daydream: “A cinematic David Bowie experience”

Billy Edwards shares his thoughts on the David Bowie documentary

Billy Edwrads Review Editor

As a big Bowie fan, I had high hopes for Moonage Daydream, a documentar/ art-piece directed by Brett Morgan. This isn’t a simple picture-show of music videos and talking heads: it’s a constant ca cophony of sight, colour, and sound. A dra matic representation of his influences, his work, and his inspirations, punctuated only by his voice: all Bowie, all the time. It quickly became clear this was about far more than his music. Morgan was clearly not afraid to face David’s views on art, life, and philosophy, with his painting a key feature as much as his music. The abstract art approach – throwing classic cinema and bombastic colour explo sions together to peer into David’s psychemay leave casual viewers cold. For fans, it’ll be akin to literal heaven.

The film is also interspersed with concert footage, some extremely rare: The well-doc umented footage from Ziggy’s Last Show at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973 was saved

from being over-familiar by the never-seenbefore rousing take on Jean Genie featuring guitar hero Jeff Beck. Though the film suf fered at points with low-quality footage lifted from TV broadcasts, it made the pristine mo ments very special. One Ziggy moment took my breath away – a low-angle shot that felt like you were front-row. It made perfect sense why Morgan had relied so much on frantic teenage audiences – in that very moment Bowie was an alien, with unknowable sensual power. So much of the film works on just how picturesque he looked; all through his years he was a simply irresistible presence.

The music selection was full of surprises. It was very welcome how Morgan had delved into deeper cuts to tell the story. It goes to show how incredible David’s life was that, de spite its two-and-a-half runtime, you couldn’t fit everything in. One of my favourite mo ments was where Future Legend transitioned into Cracked Actor and not Diamond Dogs as it did on the original record: it perfectly suited the chaos and disorder Bowie was attracted to, and the guitar crunch was so exhilarating. The editing is excellently scattershot. Like his career, it often races past at many beats

She Hulk: Attorney at Law

a minute, and then settles on a slow, mindful shot. The shaky, anxious piano on the end of Aladdin Sane was also perfectly set to quotes of David losing faith in fame, and the sweet, sensitive first piano keys of Word on A Wing sounded so right at a pivotal moment in his relationships. Do not wait until this film is on DVD or streaming sites – go and see it in the cinema! When so many films these days ap

pear to have been produced with a wandering eye on Netflix, Moonage Daydream is out rightly cinematic. The wide shot of hundreds of smiling Bowie fans descending Earls Court, set to his most optimistic song, “Heroes”, is one that will stay with you. In their faces, you can see everything he meant to his fans. How lucky they all were to see him! And how lucky we are to have had him.

Timothy Brett and Haris Hussnain have their say on the latest Marvel Studios series on Disney+. Timothy Brett Contributor

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law follows the tumultuous double-life of singletonlawyer Jennifer Walters, as she involun tarily navigates her new-found responsibili ties as a green, gamma-mutated superhero.

Those anticipating a direct genderswapped reimagining of Banner’s Hulk, and subsequent tonal attributes, will be disori entated when discovering what is perhaps its antithesis: a light-hearted, courtroom comedy-drama peppered with underwhelm ing, sporadic combat sequences. The CGI for She-Hulk herself is undoubtedly one of the show’s worst offenders though, with Walters’ uncanny valley alter ego glaringly unconvinc ing and far more evocative of that of a Sims 4 customisable character. This may be, how ever, less a case of artistic lethargy and more so a direct aftershock of those recent Marvel VFX worker exploitation allegations.

The redeeming qualities of She-Hulk lie within its idiosyncratic distinction to any live-action product before it. Whether it be the charming fourth-wall disruptions, scat tered with tongue-in-cheek digs at viewers, or unapologetic social commentary on being

a 21st-century woman – one gloriously-pro vocative scene pertaining to female emotional self-control springs to mind, – it is undeniable that the show’s self-contained, palette-cleans er episodes have a clear vision of what they want to be. Maslany is sure to become a hit with her masterful, comic-meet-nuance in terpretations of Walters and She-Hulk, which is, unfortunately, more than can be said for Jamil’s amusing, but forgettable, rendition of supervillain-influencer, Titania. Nikki, Pug, and Amelia are a refreshing side ensemble, and the insertions of Wong, Daredevil, Hulk, Abomination, and Megan Thee Stallion (yes, really) – while propagating the exhausted cameo-of-the-week serial format – function well and unlock a casket of uncharted oppor tunities for other obscure fan-favourites to (re-)enter the MCU in some capacity via the Superhuman Law Division in future.

Despite the relentless delight She-Hulk promises, I suspect the programme will with er against the steadfast successes of more re markable Disney+ series’ like Loki, Wandavi sion, and Ms. Marvel.

Haris Hussnain Review Editor

I’m really impressed with the development of the main character, and her storyline so far. The series is based on the She Hulk comics, and has a lot of similarities. However, a few things are adapted and we learn more about Jen in the series than we do in the com ics.

In the comics, Jen is always in her ‘She Hulk form’, so the series portraying her in her human form builds more on Jen as a person. This leaves fans, like me, wondering who her evil counterpart will be. It can be assumed that She Hulk’s antagonist will differ signifi cantly from the comic books. Jen is similar to the Hulk. However, unlike Banner, she only has one personality and is able to control her transformations.

Throughout the series, Jen wants nothing more than to do her job as a lawyer. However, she is often left with no choice than to use her ‘She Hulk form’. I personally love the celebrity cameos and appearances of other characters, such as Wong. The law firm for super heroes is really interesting. The difference between the comics makes it even more interesting, since It’s hard to predict what will happen

after the series, and if She Hulk will make a cameo appearance in another Marvel movie or series.

If there is one downfall it is episode 6. This episode doesn’t follow the plot much, and just shows Jen going to a wedding as ‘She Hulk’. The episode does show us a lot about Jen’s behaviour and struggles with people, but it builds too much on Jen as a person and not She Hulk. This makes the episode feel like more of a soap opera.

Overall, I do love the series and hope that She Hulk makes some more appearances, ex cited for the development of an antagonist.

“The redeeming qualities of She-Hulk lie within its idiosyncratic distinc tion to any live-action product before it” Credit: Wikimedia

Credit: Steven Miller (via Flickr)

Source: Hunter Desportes (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wales relegated from Nations League

The final match before Qatar proved tough competition for underwhelming Wales

Jasmine Jones Head of Sport

Asecond half goal from Swiderski was enough to make Poland victors in the thrilling match at Cardiff City Sta dium last weekend.

Cardiff City Stadium was electric on Sunday 25th September as Wales hosted Poland in their final game on the road to Qatar. Stakes were high for both competitors, with the los ers facing relegation from the top tier of the Nations League. More than 31,000 eager fans ascended on the ground in the early evening for what would be a tense and passion ate night of football.

Wales announced a strong attack ing line-up for the fixture, with Ga reth Bale starting after having not played a full 90 minutes of football for club or country in over a year.

The first half was a gritty battle between both teams who were eager to take a quick lead. Poland played

Manager Rob Page described the night as “dis appointing” but ultimately “not the end of the world”

a more controlled game, frustrat ing the hosts, while Wales’ attack was strong but lacked the finesse in the final third. Much of the game continued with Wales on the back foot, unsuccessful in converting the rare chances they created. Dan James and Brennan Johnson created moments of magic with a series of swift counter attacks early in the game but the visitors’ sturdy de fence rocked the confidence of the young team as the game progressed. Former Arsenal keeper Szczesny had little to worry about, unlike his counterpart Hennessey who was kept busy throughout.

Wales showed promise in the opening half but lacked the same in tensity after the break. Just 12 min utes after half time, Poland secured the only goal of the game courtesy of Charlotte FC striker Karol Swid erski, who tapped in a swinging ball through Hennessey’s legs after a sensational back flick from global superstar teammate Lewandowski. This was Swiderski’s eighth inter national goal and first since scoring the winning goal also in the reverse fixture against Wales back in June.

Arguably the chance of the game for Wales was by none other than their main man Gareth Bale in stop page time, heading the ball onto the crossbar. Too little, too late however

as the final whistle blew just mo ments after, leaving the crowd frus trated with the outcome.

Manager Rob Page described the night as “disappointing” but ulti mately “not the end of the world” as he redirected focus on the upcom ing World Cup. Losing 5 out of 6 of their Nations League fixtures gives the team much food for thought about their focus and confidence, with Page suggesting they “haven’t been ruthless enough” in compari son to other teams in the competi tion.

All attention now falls to Novem ber when Wales will be playing in their first World cup in 64 years. Now well on the road to Qatar, ques tions are still being asked about the strength and skill of this Wales team after a series of underwhelming per formances in the Nations League.

All attention now falls to November when Wales will be playing in their first World cup in 64 years.”

Women’s Rugby World Cup: a game-changing tournament?

Eloise Martin Sport Editor

The Rugby World Cup takes place in New Zea land this Autumn after being postponed a year due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The reigning champions will host the tournament that kicks off on Saturday 8th October and features twelve teams includ ing Wales, England and Scotland. The final will take place at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 12th November.

England are undoubt edly the favourites to win with a current winning streak of 25 games”.

The teams are split into three ‘pools’ for the group stages with the first game being South Africa vs France. Wales’ first game was against Scotland on Sunday 9th October at 5:45 am UK time.

England are undoubtedly the favourites to win with a current winning streak of 25 games.

The team boasts some of the most talented rugby players in the world including the World Rugby’s Player of the Year Zoe Aldcroft. The last team to beat them was France who they will play in their group stages, this is set to be an exciting match!

Wales on the other hand are likely to face more challenges during their World Cup

campaign, Ioan Cunningham’s side faced England in a pre-tour nament test match and suffered a heavy defeat of 73-7. They beat Scotland in their first match 20-17 and this was a cru cial win for Wales in their hopes of making it out of the group stage.

They beat Scotland in their first match 20-17 and this was a crucial win for Wales in their hopes of making it out of the group stage.

Scotland’s World Cup cam paign also relied heavily on this opening game which ended in de feat and is likely to prevent them from progressing to the quarterfinals. Wales won their last meet ing as well and both teams have improved since then with the in troduction of full-time contracts for all players.

12 Welsh players took up fulltime contracts at the start of the year with the other 17 being of fered full-time contracts until the end of the year in July in prepa ration for the tournament. While this is positive for women’s rugby

SPORT

If Wales is to progress and be a real competitor on the world stage, play ers will need to be offered full-time contracts”

in Wales, come December these contracts will be terminated, un like England which has players on full-time contracts all year round. If Wales is to progress and be a real competitor on the world stage, players will need to be of fered full-time contracts all year round instead of having to jug gle full-time jobs on top of their playing careers.

This tournament is set to be huge for not only women’s rugby but women in sports everywhere. With the platform the Lionesses’ summer success brought for fe male sport, another British win will be vital in inspiring the na tion! It is a shame most of the games will be broadcast in the middle of the night but highlights will be shown on the BBC the day after.

In all, it is set to be a gamechanging tournament that will leave another legacy for future generations.

Another home win will be vital in inspiring the nation!”

ELSEWHERE

IN SPORT

-Emma Raducanu parts ways with Coach Dmitry Tursunov, leaving her searching for her fifth coach in 15 months

The 19-year-old British number one is currently recovering from a wrist injury but hopes to play in the Billie Jean King Cup Final in November

- Iker Casillas apologies to LGBTQ community after “I hope I’ll be respected: I’m gay,” Twitter post

The ex- Real Madrid Goalkeeper claims he was hacked follow ing widespread criticism of his

Source: Steve (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ryan Harris-Jewell

Eloise Martin

Jasmine Jones

Source: Jon Candy (via Flickr)

Reffing hell: Spanish referee strikes come to an end

Ryan Harris - Jewell recalls the historic female referee deal in Spain

Ryan Harris-Jewell Sport Editor

Deal struck between Women’s top flight and officials brings an end to protests over equal pay.

Female referee’s in Spain will now be given professional status following a deal struck with Liga Femenina, the highest tier of wom en’s football in Spain.

Referees will now see a pay increase along side an improvement in work conditions. With the deal being described as “historic” by the Spanish football federation, who an nounced the agreement on Wednesday.

The deal brings to an end a weeklong strike that saw the opening round of the 2022/2023 league season cancelled due to the lack of available match officials. Delaying the de buts of England Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Kiera Walsh who both signed for Barcelona over the summer.

The league was due to kick off on Satur day, marking the first professional season of top-flight women’s football in Spain af ter years of campaigning from players over equal treatment to their male counterparts.

Female referee’s in Spain will now be given professional status follow ing a deal struck with Liga Femenina, the highest tier of women’s football in Spain”.

However, referees and assistants an nounced on Thursday that they would not be attending their fixtures due to disputes over poor pay and working conditions, after claiming that they had been left behind.

Blaming the league for failing to address their concerns, the officials stated that they would not be officiating any games under the “present working and economic conditions”.

“The referees want to provide the best possible service to football and that neces sarily means having minimum working con ditions comparable to those of the referee ing establishment of the men’s professional competition,”

“We want to get back on the field, but un der the appropriate conditions”.

Following days of deliberation between the league, officials, and the Spanish FA, a deal was struck bringing an end to the strike.

Under the new deal referees will now be earning 1,666 Euros per game, in compari son to the 320 euros they received before. Whilst assistants will now earn 1066 Euros, compared to a previous sum of 160 Euros.

Despite the increase in pay, the agreed wage is lower than what was originally re quested from the officials and the Spanish FA according to Liga Femenina.

The referees had originally wanted to re ceive similar pay to their male counterparts in the second tier of men’s football, LaLiga Smartbank.

However, the league claims that they were unable to meet this demand due to the se vere financial implications it would have presented.

A league spokesperson stated that “For the Liga Femenina and its clubs that would have meant €5m spent on refereeing per season, that is 70% of our income generated from TV rights”.

“Faced with this position that is far re moved not only from the reality of women’s football but also from the socioeconomic context that the country is going through, the Liga Femenina has always been firm in its defence of a project that is sustain able over time and that, above all, respects the work and effort of so many people who

fought for this project.”

The league will now begin on the 17th of September, with current champions Bar celona beginning their title defence against Granadilla Tenerife. Whilst potential chal lengers Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will face Valencia and Sevilla.

Referees and assistants an nounced on Thursday that they would not be attending their fixtures due to disputes over poor pay and working conditions”.

Tennis Legends Williams and Federer announce their retirement

Fans left shocked as sporting superstars quit the sport within weeks of each other

Olivia Dolman Contributor

Whether you’re a ten nis enthusiast or not, it would have been impossible to not hear of sporting legends Serena Wil liams and Rodger Federer’s re tirements from the game this summer. Two of the most successful tennis players of our generation, it feels somewhat predestined they chose to de part from professional tennis in the same time span. Over the course of their legendary, al most rival-free careers, they won a combined 43 Grand Slam Single Titles- Williams with a record of 23, Federer reaching 20. Whilst doing so, they captured the hearts of sports fans on a global scale. After Ser ena cited family reasons for her retirement, and Federer referring to ongoing injuries, those captured hearts undoubtedly felt a sudden loss in saying goodbye to two of the greatest tennis phenomenon’s of the 21st century. The news sent ripples across the tennis world, with

Two of the most suc cessful tennis players of our generation, it feels somewhat predestined they chose to depart from profes sional tennis in the same time span”.

fans, players, sporting legends and Grand Slam Tournaments such as Wimbledon offering heartwarming tributes to their champions on Twitter.

Many sports fans are asking the question- how will this void be filled? For Federer, his retirement marks the official end of the greatest three, con sisting of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, arguably the greatest era of men’s tennis. With a valuable toolbox of shots, from his signature one-hand ed backhand to all-round effort less execution on the court, he

Source: mirsasha (via Flickr)

Many sports fans are asking the question- how will this void be filled?

elevated the sport to unim aginable heights, serving as an idol, inspiration and chal lenge for many current players. Like wise, Serena bought precision, power and dominance to wom en’s tennis on levels it has never been done before, making her quite literally unbeatable for the

duration of her career.

Yet, the unrivalled legacies they leave behind is worth so much more than their titles.

Together, they have used their statuses and platforms to give back to societies in immeasurable ways. For Sere na, she has contributed to chal lenging racism narratives in sports, demonstrating that black women can excel. She has never allowed racism, sexism or body-shaming to distract her from her targets, instead, she has stood up for herself, and made history by inspiring more African-Americans and young girls to play tennis. Off

For Serena, she has contributed to challeng ing racism narratives in sports, demonstrating that black women can excel”.

thecourts, Federer has spent much of his fortune helping others in need, predominantly through the medium of the Rodger Federer Foundation. Since its launch in 2003, nearly 2 million children in Southern Africa and Switzerland have benefited from the foundation’s programmes, with $70.5 mil lion spent on assisting NGOs, schools and teachers to reduce children’s poverty. Whilst best known for their exception al tennis talent, both Serena Williams and Rodger Federer are significantly positive exam ples of celebrity humanitarianism. In the con text of their legacies on and off the court, it leaves the void question a difficult one to an swer- since it may just be a while before we see a pair like this ascend side by side again.

Whilst best known for their exceptional tennis talent, both Serena Williams and Rodger Federer are significantly positive examples of celebrity

Source: El Loko (via Wiki Media)