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CARDIFF'S STUDENT WEEKLY
freeword - EST. 1972
ISSUE 924 MAY 17 2010
Features
Sit back and relax about exams with this double-page guide to dealing with stress >> pages 14-15
PHOTO: MORGAN APPLEGARTH
Politics
Costs of living Jamie Thunder News Editor Students in halls of residence paid over £45,000 to Cardiff University in ‘additional charges’ between September 2008 and January 2010, gair rhydd can reveal. Figures released by the University show that, last year, it collected a total of £30,704 in payments other than residential fees, car parking charges, or charges for evening meal options. In the first three months of this academic year, a further £16,591 was collected. Almost half of the money – nearly £21,000 – was paid by students in
Talybont South. In 2008/9 the figure was over £13,000 - an average of more than £10 per resident. The University could not break the ammount down into particular charges, but they include things such as costs for replacement keys, damage to University property, and charges for bin bags not being put out. For most charges only the individual responsible has to pay, but for some the amount is paid for by all members of the flat. Damage to or tampering with any fire equipment, propping open fire doors, and removal of bin bags cost each resident individually. Any tampering with fire equipment in an eight-person flat in Talybont South would incur a total fine of £400,
but a four-person flat would only pay £200. The amount would be the same per resident in either flat. A University spokesperson said that the charges were "set at appropriate levels to cover the cost of extra work incurred and of any property that may need to be replaced" and that the money goes into the Residences budget to cover these costs. However, they were unable to give the cost of rectifying issues that incurred charges over the period. Ed Dolding, Cardiff Students’ Union Welfare, Campaigns and Communication Officer, said that the charges "should never be used as a profit-gathering mechanism". He added: "It's a difficult one to
judge because, ideally, the charge should be only high enough to cover the actual cost of repairing any damage an individual has caused. "On the other hand one may argue that a higher fee is justifiable to act as a deterrent against reckless behaviour which would be to the detriment of other residents." The £45,000 figure refers to money collected between September 2008 and January 2010, but could include debts from previous years which were paid during that period. In December, gair rhydd revealed that residence fees in some halls had increased by up to 40% since 2005. Approximately 5,000 students live in University residences.
We've got a coalition but how does it work? And what does it mean for British politics? >> page 10
Sport
Preview of Saturday's Champions' League Final between Inter Milan and Munich >> page 26
02 NEWS
gr gr
EDITOR Emma Jones DEPUTY EDITOR Simon Lucey CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan SUB EDITOR Sarah Powell NEWS Ceri Isfryn Gareth Ludkin Emma McFarnon Jamie Thunder FEATURES Daniella Graham Robin Morgan OPINION Alex Evans POLITICS Damian Fantato ELECTIONS SPECIAL Paul Stollery Damian Fantato COLUMNISTS Tim Hart Oli Franklin LISTINGS Sarah Powell TAF-OD Nia Gwawr Williams Branwen Mathias Cadi Mai SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT Amy Hall Priya Raj JOBS & MONEY Katie Greenway SPORT Jon Evans James Hinks Adam Horne Lucy Morgan Robbie Wells CONTRIBUTORS Morgan Applegarth Alex Bywaterr Tomos Clarke Lauren Cowie David Eastwood Nia Gwawr Yaz Langley Pippa Lewis Gweirydd loan Hannah Pendleton Benjamin Price Iestyn Scourfield Hanisha Sethi Lucy Trevallion Alex Winter Jack Parker
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gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Student talent praised at student media awards Morgan Applegarth Reporter Cardiff University students celebrated another successful year for student media last week at the 13th Annual Student Media Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel. The Awards, hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James, honoured an array of talent and praised students for their voluntary work across all departments of Student Media; gair rhydd, Quench, Xpress, CUTV and the Film Society. “It has been another exceptional year,” hailed Head of Student Media, Emma Jones, in her pre-awards notes. “The dedication shown by everybody has once again been outstanding,” she continued. A total of 33 awards were given out at the glamorous event, with all entries judged by experts in their respective fields in order to determine the winners of the highly acclaimed awards. In addition, some of those lucky enough to win were also offered placement opportunities at top-end organisations, including BBC Wales and GQ Magazine. One of the biggest accolades of the night, Best Section of gair rhydd, went to Features editors Daniella Graham and Robin Morgan, who were praised for identifying with student readers through their stories. News Editor, Ceri Isfryn, went
away with Best News Writer, with Media Wales' Martin Shipton commending her original research and exposing of truths to the readers. Best Mainstream Show for Xpress was awarded to Katrina Owen and Ash Percival for ‘The Kat & Ash Show’. Their show was applauded for its great energy, preparation and strong rapport among the presenters. Other big awards on the night included Best Programme, which went to CUTVs coverage of Swn Festival 2009, while Quench’s Best Illustrator went to Sam Smith – whose haul of awards totalled three on the night. Closing the ceremony, Emma Jones reflected: “It sounds cliché but I really have had the best year.”
AWARDS: A few snapshots from this year's event
No 24-hour library provisions planned Gareth Ludkin News Editor Following gair rhydd’s front-page story, 'Fully booked', negotiations with Cardiff University have failed to result in any emergency 24hr computer or library facilities being made available during the exam period. The Julian Hodge building, which has seen problems with crowding and lack of space over the busy exam period, will remain the only 24-hour computer facility for the remainder of this year. Replacing the Main Building’s 24hr computer room facilities, the Julian Hodge building provides 50 more computers than last year, and further seating and wireless provisions for students in the café area, improving provisions from last year. Opening hours at the Bute, Aberconway, Arts and Social Studies and Trevithick libraries have been extended. The Trevithik building also provides an IT room with 24-hour open-
ing. The University have defended the improvements made to library and 24hr computer facilities. Information Services applied for additional funding to extend libraryopening hours, which were recently implemented to help students through the exam period. A review of the success and usage of extended library hours will be taken into consideration along with evidence, which Michaela Neild, Academic and University Affairs Officer, is collecting for the Students' Union, to make a case for extending opening hours further from September. Students have questioned why the Main Building could not also be opened 24-hours in order to help ease the pressure on the Julian Hodge building during the exam period. However, staffing remains the biggest issue. Michaela stated: “The security staffing which was used in the Main Building has now been relocated to patrol the Julian Hodge Study Centre, so I understand that there is no likelihood of the Main Building being reopened overnight.
“The security staff do go into the IT room regularly in the Julian Hodge building and there is constant monitoring by CCTV cameras to ensure personal safety and to check ID badges.” Practical difficulties in opening libraries for extended hours, such as location, safety and staffing, have restricted extended opening hours. A spokesperson for the University said: “As you can appreciate, we are reluctant to allow the libraries to open without staff present since we want to
avoid damage to or loss of irreplaceable books. “Given the time it takes to recruit and train new security and library staff to work overnight, we are unable to provide more hours during the exam period this year.” Michaela has been negotiating with the University for improvements to be made next year, which next year’s Academic and University Affairs Officer, Sarah Ingram, will be involved with.
No libraries are currently open 24 hours
NEWS 1 EDITORIAL & OPINION 8 POLITICS 10 FEATURES 13 COLUMNIST 17 LETTERS 19 TAF-OD 20 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 21 LISTINGS 23 XPRESS 24 FIVE MINUTE FUN 25 SPORT 26
NEWS 03
gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Student volunteers awarded Lauren Cowie Reporter The first ever award ceremony for Cardiff’s student police volunteers was held last week. Guests included the head of South Wales Police, Chief Superintendent Josh Jones and representatives from the Home Office and NUS. Ed Dolding, Welfare Campaigns and Communication Officer and Steph Samuel, the police officer in charge of the initiative, were among those to present speeches. Around 50 students are involved in the initiative, which provides high visibility patrols around the Cathays and Roath areas. The aim of the project is to act as a deterrent to opportunist criminals, provide door-to-door crime prevention advice and listen to the concerns of residents.
VOLUNTEERING SUCCESS: Students with their certificates
The first of its kind in the country, the programme has been a resounding success in recent years. This year it has been recognized as a national example of best practice. Indeed it seems that alongside their professional colleagues, student police volunteers are substantially helping to bring down crime. Reported burglaries in the period SeptemberNovember 2009 were down 60% on the previous year. This is the eighth consecutive year to see such a fall. Volunteers can also be found assisting at events such as Varsity and with Cardiff Council refuge campaigns. If you want to get involved then student police volunteering is already starting to recruit for the next academic year. For more details, pop into the SVC office on the third floor of the students union or check out the website www. svcardiff.org.
Hair today, gone tomorrow Pippa Lewis Reporter
A HAIRY DEPARTURE: Kieran with the mop
POLITICAL
gair rhydd CARDIFF'S STUDENT WEEKLY
freeword - EST. 1972
gair rhydd presents the first ever edition of...
Creativity
ISSUE 910 NOVEMBER 23 2009
reveal all...
Newton Faulkner, Frank Turner, living rough, and couchsurfing in the USA PHOTO: KATHARINA JOITE
Plus
...showcasing the very best of Cardiff Students' creative writing, artwork and photography
Creativity
No expense spared
gair rhydd exposes questionable claims on Union expenses made by the 2008/9 Sabbatical Officers
Ceri Isfryn News Editor
gair rhydd has obtained the expenses lists of the 2008/9 Sabbatical team, and can reveal that several dubious claims were made during their Sabbatical period. The claims filed under ‘food and drink’ or ‘refreshments’ by the team over the year came to a total of £7,507. Nearly a quarter of the food and drinks total - £1,665.60 - was spent during a four-day training course in Tenby for
DUCKING AROUND: Not this year!
the outgoing and incoming sabbatical officers. One meal during the Tenby stay came to a total of £653.00, including alcoholic drinks. The meal was held at the Baytree Restaurant, where the cheapest main meal is £15. The officers and Union officials trained and stayed in the four-star Heywood Mount Hotel and Spa, at a total cost of £3,012.55. Rich Pearce, the Union’s Finance and Commercial Officer, said about the claims: “At the end of our tenure and at the beginning of that of our
PREDICTIONS
2009 Morgan Applegarth Reporter
In this week's issue... ...
Photos
successors, we have several days of training in Tenby as a celebration of our year and to welcome the new team in a way we feel is appropriate for the magnitude of responsibility we are handing over.” The ‘food and drink’ sum also includes a £919 bar bill incurred during the March elections. Campaigners and their teams were provided with drinks towards the end of the week, and also enjoyed a free bar during the delay in announcing results, which occurred due to technical difficulties. “We were given enough free drink
to get us all pretty drunk,” said one campaigner, who wished to remain anonymous. When asked what he thought about it the expense coming from Sabbatical Officers’ budget, the candidate replied, “I didn’t realise it did, and the total cost is pretty high. But I think we deserved some recognition of the work we did, and I suppose the drinks were the best way of doing that.” This was a sentiment echoed by the President at the time, Andy ButtonStephens, when asked about the claim in question. >> continued on page 2
Features This week's housing special exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly of Cardiff student letting agencies >>pages 12-16
Sport Sport interview Cardiff undergraduate Nathan Cleverly about his life as a British and Commonwealth boxing champion >>page 31
Leon Charles exhibition
Low-carbon ambition
Sabbatical officers reduce expenses FREE
The last Student Council meeting of the academic year takes place this Tuesday at 6.30pm. The Student Council, which acts as the Governing body of Cardiff University’s Students' Union, will meet with David Grant, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, and Jonathan Osmond, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, to discuss the interests of Cardiff University’s student body. Surprisingly this will be the first student council meeting that the ViceChancellor will attend and so it is the perfect opportunity for students to voice any concerns. Ed Dolding, the Welfare, Campaigns and Communications Officer, stressed that it is important for students to go as it is a chance for them to look at Union policies and propose new and innovative ideas for the future of Cardiff’s Students' Union.
An exhibition portraying the Butetown community is taking place at Cardiff Old Library on Trinity Street. The creator of Tiger Bay Renaissance is writer, film-maker and musician Leon Charles, who grew up in Butetown. Inspired by the recent Cardiff Bay regeneration programme. Leon aims to highlight the significance of communities and interdependence during renovation and how these can be affected by redevelopment schemes. He explained that: "A country is a vast collection of communities. I would go as far to say that the decline of Butetown is mirroring the decline of the communities of Britain." This non-profit exhibition is open now and lasts until June 6.
Kieran McCann said: "When I saw what Matter of Trust was doing I had to get involved. This oil spill is a shocking example of how a corporation is damaging the earth and our natural environment; there is no Planet B. "Not only will the hair be put to good use but I also hope that any donations people make will help the WWF with their work to protect endangered wildlife and environments. I have already been approached by a few hairdressers interested in signing up." As gair rhydd went to print, Kieran had been in contact with Michael Johnson of Johnson's Barbers on Cathays Terrace, who has offered students the opportunity to have their heads shaved to join in the campaign at a date to be agreed. Please contact Kieran directly or check out his blog at http://cardiffdigs. blogspot.com/ if you are interested in joining in the campaign. Any students wishing to donate can do so on http://www.justgiving.com/ hairappeal.
Kieran McCann, Students Liaison Officer for Cardiff, UWIC and Glamorgan universities, is shaving off his hair as part of the 'Hair Today Gone Tomorrow' hair appeal on Thursday May 20. Aiming to raise the profile of Matter of Trust and to raise money in aid of WWF, Kieran is donating his hair to help fight the oil slick that is threatening the Gulf of Mexico. The hair, which has been collected from the Bauhaus Hair Salon in Cardiff, will go to Matter of Trust, a charity which links up recycled goods with the causes that need them. It is currently coordinating a collection of hair, fur and tights, which are needed to make booms and mats to remove the oil leaking from the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Hair and fur are used because they absorb up to six times their weight in oil helping to mop up the rapidly growing leak.
VC comes to Student Council
Members of the Sabbatical team have significantly cut back their expenses claims, which are down 56% from last year. A saving of £9,932 is expected to be made, according to the Union’s Finance and Commercial Officer, Rich Pearce. The expected saving has surpassed original predictions of 45%. Despite there being two extra Officers this year, Sabbatical and Executive team claims total £7,750, down from £17,682 lasy year. By reducing the amount of training
undertaken by Sabbatical Officers, as well as applying strict guidelines regarding transport and refreshment claims, the average cost of an Officer has been cut to £25,200. Described as a "huge saving" by Rich, the average cost is down £32,200 during the 08/09 year. "It is important to stress that we couldn’t have made the cuts if it wasn’t for the full commitment from all eight members of the Sabbatical team," Rich told gair rhydd. A new expenses policy had originally been planned in July last year; however, it was only passed in October following the first Student Council meeting of the year.
A Professor from the Welsh School of Architecture will reveal how Welsh industry can benefit from Wales’ ambitions to move to a low-carbon energy economy. Professor Peter Pearson, Director of Wales’ Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI), based in the Welsh School of Architecture, will be using a business networking event to unveil his ideas. Professor Pearson, a leading thinker in the field of sustainable energy, will be speaking at the latest Innovation Network event. The Innovation Network aims to develop a strong network for business in the regional knowledge-economy. The event forms part of Wales Sustainability Week, supported by the University, which seeks to encourage individuals, communities, and organisations from all sectors to take action to make Wales more sustainable.
04 NEWS
gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Med school pulls out all the Anti-racism march stops for Africa fundraiser to be held in Cardiff Ceri Isfryn News Editor Professors and students from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine will next month be attempting to run, cycle and swim 6,282 miles in aid of charity – the same distance as travelling from Cardiff to Liberia and back. The event will take place between
June 5-11 all over the Heath campus, and organiser Professor Judith Hall hopes that the students of Cardiff will lead the event. "We really hope that young people will take the lead in this fundraiser, as they are the people that can help with tomorrow’s problems in Africa," she explained. The Cardiff Medics Rugby team will be led by Welsh rugby star Jamie
LENDING A HAND: The fundraiser will help mothers in Africa
Roberts in an hour of sponsored excersise on June 7. On the same day, the Dean of Medicine, Professor Paul Morgan, will be taking part in a 5k run, while on June 8 the Healthcare Integration Officer, Jack Navein, will be participating in the annual raft race. Jack said of the event: “We have students, University staff, NHS staff and members of the public all taking part in this event. Rarely do we hold an event that all groups can participate in, to get to know one another and help create a community atmosphere that will hopefully spill back into the classroom and wards.” It is hoped that the event will raise a pound for every mile completed, with the total to be shared between Mothers of Africa and the Noah’s Ark Appeal. Mothers of Africa was set up by Cardiff University and the NHS Department of Anaesthetics in South Wales. Any students wishing to take part in the fundraiser should email GoAfrica@cardiff.ac.uk
Pippa Lewis Reporter A group of Cardiff residents have organised a march to counter a protest planned by the Welsh Defence League. Describing themselves as “a group dedicated to protect the interests of the Welsh people”, the Welsh Defence League aim to organise “peaceful… mass protests when and where needed to protect our people from abuse and having the piss taken out of them”. However, WalesOnline reported that at a similar protest “against Islamic extremism” in Swansea last October, onlookers were confronted with scenes of “jeering men giving Nazi
salutes.” On its Facebook page, Cardiff Communities Against Racism says that it aims to promote unity in Cardiff in the face of job losses and cutbacks in schools, hospitals and universities, whilst promoting the message that “racism has no place in Cardiff.” It adds that it wants to challenge “racist thugs who want to use the anger that many people feel about the recession to build support for their racist ideas.” They go on to claim “our fight for real jobs on decent rates of pay and adequate housing will be weakened if we allow bigots like these to divide us.” The march is planned for June 5.
NEWS 05
gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Students outraged JOMEC students unhappy at 'underhand' with module cancellation Russell Group Benjamin Price Reporter Students delivered a letter of protest to the Russell Group offices last week, after they failed to publish evidence that was submitted to the official fees review. Students from some of the UK’s leading universities expressed their anger at the Russell Group, which is also a representative of Cardiff University. The Russell Group has denied that they concealed information from students. Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang, Education and Welfare Officer at London School of Economics, and Chair of the Aldwych Group, which represents students at Russell Group Universities, said: "We find it disingenuous and underhand that the UK’s elite universities have refused several freedom of information requests asking for its
submissions to be published." The tuition fees review, chaired by Lord Browne, is considering whether the fees and interest rates for student loans should be increased. "The outcome of the Browne Review may represent the most significant change to higher education funding in decades, and students deserve to know what is being said by an organisation representing our universities," said Mr. Akpan-Inwang. The Russell Group has stated that the submission to the fees review was always part of a wider report on student funding, which will be published in the next few weeks. Cardiff University Academic Affairs Officer, Michaela Neild said: "It is completely unacceptable that a document that so directly impacts on our students is being hidden. Responding to the Russell Group is what the Aldwych Group is meant to do. It is a right we demand, that the Russell Group show this document."
Cardiff academics are rewarded for their neuroscience research
FELLOWSHIP SUCCESS: Nick Craddock and Alun Davies which reflects the work of my whole Martha Partridge research group." Reporter Professor Craddock, of the School of Biosciences, investigates the genetics of mood and psychotic disorders Two Cardiff University academics and hopes his research will improve have been elected Fellows of the treatment of bipolar disorders. He said: Academy of Medical Sciences, "Election of psychiatrists as Fellows one of the leading honours in med- of the Academy of Medical Sciences is important because it helps increase ical science. Professor Alun Davies and Profes- the profile of research into, and reduce sor Nick Craddock were among 40 stigma against, mental illness." Dr. David Grant, the Vice-Chancelother leading doctors and medical researchers from around the UK to be lor of Cardiff University, said: "The fact that Cardiff has received two elected Fellows this year. Professor Davies, of the School of Fellowships this year, for academics Medicine, was elected for his work who are both working on different asfocusing on the developing nervous pects of neuroscience research, undersystem, the results of which may im- lines the University’s world-leading prove treatment for a variety of ill- strength in this field." There will be a ceremony on June nesses and disorders in the future. He said: "I was delighted to be elected to 22, at which both professors will be the Academy of Medical Sciences, formally admitted to the Academy.
Hannah Pendleton Reporter
Many students in the school of JOMEC are feeling discontented by the unexpected cancellation of a second year module, due to the lecturer’s ill health. Students studying 'Cinema and Place' have had the final four out of nine scheduled lectures cancelled, and their essay mark is now being taken as their overall grade for the module. Students would usually have written two assignments, and many are upset because they have already started writing their second essay. Last week, four JOMEC students and two head professors met to discuss the problem. Katy Roberts, Jenny
Pearce, Carys Cross and Cerys Bowen met with two lecturers, John Jewell and Justin Lewis. The first issue on the agenda was the cancellation of the module. The lecturers were understanding, and provided positive alternatives for those who were unhappy. They admitted that it was not an ideal situation, and said that they had tried to come up with plans to create as little disadvantage to their students as possible. They had considered allowing students to take up an additional module in the third year and discarding the weakest mark. They had also suggested that students submit the second essay that was eventually cancelled. The students and lecturers also discussed the cancellation of a third year
module, which had proved unpopular, as only four students signed up to it. No alternative option was offered when the cancellation announcement was made. Students also raised concerns about the poor communication between the school and its students, including the lack of information about the cancelled lectures and module choices. They also complained about the level of feedback given to students on their essays, and the anonymity of the ‘blind marking’ format. The lecturers took note of all the issues raised, and vowed to contact the members of JOMEC concerned promptly. None of the students’ tuition fees will be reimbursed, but other solutions are being made available.
06 NEWS
gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Fast food Heavy load fragrance You'll never guess what...
Big basmatis
Firefighters in Leeds had to wreck the home of a 40-stone woman last week in order to get her out for emergency treatment. A gang of 20 firemen fought through Joanna Ettienne’s home in an attempt to remove her, as her size meant that she wasn’t able to fit through doorways. Firemen had to call demolition experts to move her through the living room and bedroom walls. The 45-year-old mother of three, who hadn’t left her home for more than three years, called 999 after getting stuck in her commode.
Gospel thieving
Two gospel singers in Alaska are facing multiple charges, after they stole $100,000 worth of musical equipment after playing uplifting music for several Georgia churches. Washington County Sheriff, Thomas H. Smith, said the two 28-yearold men were arrested after stealing speakers, microphones and other musical equipment.
Smokin' baby
A woman in East Tennessee has been charged with forcing her 5-year-old son to smoke a cigarette. A Carter County deputy told the Johnson City Press that a 24-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday night on charges of child abuse, neglect, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. A jail officer said the woman was being held on a $12,500 bond.
BURGER: Now available in candle form
HOME GROWN: Rice-growing bra
Emma McFarnon News Editor
Emma McFarnon News Editor
A fast-food chain in Ohio is selling burger-scented candles to raise money for charity. The White Castle fast-food chain, based in Columbus, Ohio, is selling the candles for $10, with all proceeds going to New York-based charity Autism Speaks. The candles, which resemble a packaged burger, are infused with
a 'steam grilled on a bed of onions' scent, created by Nest Fragrances. They have been released to mark 'National Hamburger Month', a month dedicated to the celebration of hamburgers, invented by the company. 'When I think of truly superior aromas, I think of the aroma of a freshly grilled White Castle hamburger - life just doesn't get better than that,' said Laura Slatkin, founder of Nest Fragrances. 'We have captured that exact essence in our White Castle candle.'
The lingerie maker, Triumph, has launched a bra in which women can grow rice. Triumph International Japan, a division of the large German lingerie company, launches a themed bra every year. Their previous garments have included a bra with a sushi set, and another that comes with solar panels. The company said it came up with the 'rice bra' because of the growing
popularity of farming among Japanese city dwellers. The bra, made of recyclable plastic, can be tied together to create pots that also double as cups. They are filled with soil and rice seedlings that are watered through a hose, which also doubles as a belt that goes around the wearer's waist. Gardening gloves also come with the bra. "The bra fits much better than it looks. Wearing it puts me in such a fun mood," said lingerie model, Reiko Aoyama.
Feeling sluggish Emma McFarnon News Editor An Australian man is in a critical condition after eating a slug for a dare. The 21-year-old from Sydney contracted rat lungworm disease, a rare form of meningitis. Health officials have since warned of the dangers of eating raw gastropods, slugs and snails, which carry the parasitic worm. The disease causes the brain and spinal cord to swell and can be fatal. However, Dr Jeremy McAnulty from New South Wales Health, said most people recover from the illness because the body's immune system can get rid of it. It cannot be transferred from per-
son to person. The larvae of the parasite is only found in rodents' faeces, which many snails and slugs eat and then become infected. Dr McAnulty advised anyone planning to eat the slippery creatures to wash them thoroughly first. Doctors said the man told them he had swallowed two slugs from a Sydney garden after a dare, and had then fallen ill. One relative, who asked not to be named, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the man had spent some time in intensive care. "It's a real warning for people not to eat a slug." Symptoms of the disease include headaches, a stiff neck, tingling or pain in the skin, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
CRITICAL: Man ill after eating slug SUMO: Unusual theft
LETTERS 19
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
the Comments from the week’s news, opinion, features and sport at www.gairrhydd.com National Heroin Service
Looking at you “reassured reader”.
Reassured Reader
Elizabeth Blockley
Glad people have commented on this. This article was written with zero insight and Elizabeth has probably scribbled it together while clutching a picture of David Cameron. I don’t know where the neo-tory ‘this country has gone to the dogs’ attitude has come from and why so many people confuse their ignorance for ‘being on the side of common sense’. Read a book, stop being defensive for being privileged – accept it and deal with it, and have some fucking compassion!
It’s an opinion article, you are supposed to take a stance. I don’t have a lack of empathy for drug users, I understand that many have had very difficult lives and were vulnerable to problems such as drug addiction. Personally though, I don’t think that because of that we should undermine this country’s laws and the values on which they are founded. If you don’t agree with my opinion that is absolutely fine and I always appreciate comments on the articles I write, but ‘Reassured Reader’, please don’t undermine my intelligence. I study English Literature and Philosophy and have therefore read quite a lot of books. Due to philosophical ethics, several with regards to this subject. Oh, and I do bloody love David Cameron.
Lianne Wilson James Cookson: Can you write an article on this instead, please? I’ve got a funny feeling it would be a much more sensible one than this piece of narrow-minded nonsense. Thank you for writing something so well thought-out. You deserve a cookie. Tom Clarke Whilst I dont agree with Liz’s opinion in this case, she has an opinion and has expressed it in a well written and eloquent article. If you think you can do better by all means come to the gair rhydd contributors meeting (or email the section) and ask to write an article of your own rather than accusing those who decide to contribute, on a contravertial subject, of ignorance because you dont agree with the points she’s making or her opinion.
Elizabeth Also, I did not create the headline for this article for which I am being lambasted and therefore did not write the words ‘simply ridiculous’. I was honest about my initial reaction, read many articles on the subject and concluded that I still felt discomfort with this proposition. I’m not saying that I am definitely right, merely expressing my opinion. If it wasn’t an OPINION ARTICLE I would have written something more balanced and objective, but that’s not the point and it wouldn’t have received this many fun critiques either!
A Concerned Individual You have a stressy facebook status – I have too much time on my hands. A Concerned Individual Oh and I agree with her. Cookson says “you seem to have a notion that dependent heroin users have a choice of whether they take the drug.” They do. They don’t have to take it in the first place. Yes people make mistakes and the NHS has to pay for it (think extreme sports etc), but what these people undertook in was illegal. Someone who knows what they are on about Dear James Cookson: thankyou for a well written, well researched and well argued response to this article – unlike the uninformed ramblings so often spouted by people such as Lianne Wilson on these forums. This is an area particularly close to my heart, as my brother is an ex-heroin addict and ex-alcoholic, who has done stints at a number of Britains most famous and expensive rehabilitation facilities. And I, like Liz, remain on the fence. The scheme in Switzerland has been effective – but they are dealing with a much smaller and less diverse population than in Britain. Liz’s argument about the comparitive cost to the NHS as opposed to much needed cancer drunks is so important. My grandmother is currently in hospital suffering from cancer, something she can do nothing about. On the other hand, my brother
forum
made a conscious choice about whether to start taking heroin – just as he did with other class A drugs in the past. He made a choice. Whilst the scheme might be effective in bringing down numbers, we must also analyse the number of drug users who simply will not give up. The simple fact is that addicts like my brother can stop at any time if they have the willpower to – people with almost all other illnesses cannot. This, ultimately, is what he did. And he deserves the utmost respect for it. He also went through a hugely painful and difficult process (with all of our support and help) of cold turkey that has since given him the mental strength to resist slipping back into the habit. My fear is simple: that not only is this costing the NHS money needed elsewhere (particularly in the face of future spending cuts) but it could be sending the wrong message to drug users everywhere. Yes we will support them fight their addiction, and rightly so. However, the thought of me handing a gram to my brother so that he can have a short fix whilst watching my grandma die is one that I’m not prepared to entertain.
Students join marijuana march Common Sense Police The decision by the people of this country concerning legalization of the marijuana medicinal plant that has been used by humans for thousands of years is based in choosing between two opinions. The first one, articulated by the
“father” of marijuana prohibition in the 1930-s and the second one by Dr Greenspoon, one of the leading contemporary experts in this country. These are the the direct quotes from the prohibitionist Harry Anslinger pushing the “Marijuana Tax Act” of 1937: “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.” ”...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.” “Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.” “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” “Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing” “You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.” “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.” And this is what Dr. Greenspoon said in 2006 about Cannabis Sativa medicinal Plant: “Cannabis will one day be seen as a wonder drug, as was penicillin in the 1940s. Like penicillin, herbal marijuana is remarkably nontoxic, has a wide range of therapeutic applications and would be quite inexpensive if it were legal”. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2006 ” These are two opinions the citizens around the country will be asked to compare and to choose from. I do not believe that the choice is exceedingly difficult one. What I believe is that the fear-tactics must be rejected once and for all, and at least medical marijuana should be legalized in all 50 States ASAP.
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08 OPINION
gairrhydd | OPINION@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
A black day for nature The devastation of the BP oil spill will keep happening if we keep drilling Greg Rees Opinion Writer
The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, withdrew his support for plans to bring offshore oil drilling to the coast of his state last week following the disastrous ongoing spill from the British Petroleum (BP) deep water rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Plans were to explore the Californian coastline off Santa Barbara for oil reserves – the first such project there for over forty years – but Schwarzenegger has vetoed them in order to protect the state from the risk of spills like the one currently ravaging the Louisiana wetlands. As recently as the end of April, Schwarzenegger had still supported the project, which would have provided great benefits for his state’s economy: potentially in
excess of $1.8bn over a 14-year period. Yet, the images of environmental devastation in the Gulf States, and concerns about people’s livelihoods in the event of similar disasters, have pushed the Governor into changing his standpoint on the issue.
BP has rightly accepted responsibility for the oil and the clean up This has provoked some argument about the future energy requirements for a country not exactly noted for its use of sustainable energy. Many people are arguing that the spill, though disastrous, should not cause panic and deter future investment in American oil projects, as the nation’s demand is
greater now than ever before. Those with environmental concerns, however, are welcoming Schwarzenegger’s refreshingly environmentally-friendly stance. Meanwhile, President Obama visited the oil-affected area to witness the colossal efforts to reduce the damage, during which he demanded that BP pay for its part in the tragedy. BP has since rightly accepted responsibility for the oil itself and for the clean up – declaring their intent to foot the bill, which is already predicted to be in the hundreds of millions. The company should also reimburse those affected by the spills; the number of people affected along the gulf coastline, particularly fishermen, is likely to be huge, and the economic impact stark. The coastline of Louisiana has already been hit by the spillage, and ecosystems in nearby states such as
Alabama are likely to be drastically affected. Thousands of birds could be injured and killed, and local economies are set to suffer. Louisiana’s thriving tourism industry now faces devastation due to the oil, after only recently recovering from the terrible effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The area has only just recovered from the affects of Hurricane Katrina Reports suggest that further oil drilling will be vetoed until the cleanup operation is completed. President Obama recently permitted, for the first time in decades, new offshore oil drilling around Alaska, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico – but it seems apparent that no new operations will be given permission until the BP spill
is resolved and properly investigated. Whether or not America will eventually go ahead with further oil exploration is unclear. Given energy and financial concerns, it is likely. The spill too will eventually be resolved, though it could take some time: a spill off Mexico in 1979, though notably much larger, reportedly took nearly ten months to be properly dealt with. Given the devastating nature of the current spill, Governor Schwarzenegger’s stance is the most sensible one to undertake at the present time. There are of course many unresolved American issues in terms of fuel and energy production, and the country is still lagging behind in terms of resolving energy production, particularly in green fuels. However, the devastation caused by spills is irreconcilable. The simple fact is, the more offshore drilling there is, the more likely it is that this travesty will happen again.
OPINION 09
gairrhydd | OPINION@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
The big fat problem
Not calling fat children 'obese' is failing to address the problem Yaz Langley Opinion Writer You can call fat an ‘unhealthy weight’, but I'm afraid that won't make fat people any skinnier. Liverpool Council have recently come up with an 'innovative' idea to stop children from getting de-motivated – to ban the word 'obese' from all schools across the city, insisting that the phrase 'unhealthy weight' is one that is more apt for the classroom. I don't want to seem like I am critisising overweight children; in my opinion, a child's health is the responsibility of the parent. One reason behind the change that it may de-motivate the children, but surely being labelled with a phrase that is deemed offensive is, in fact, one way to give them the motivation to do something about it. Children, nowadays, are never going to be scared of something simply termed 'unhealthy', but something socially unpopular that will make them the subject of bullies is surely the only way to make them change their lifestyle. Maybe it’s best to be cruel to be kind. Yet, the term 'obese' shouldn’t really be any more offensive than ‘unhealthy weight’, since they are both clinical terms. This shows this to be just another example of political correctness gone too far. At the end of the day, it’s not the word 'obese' that’s offensive, it’s what people associate and do with it; therefore, this will inevita-
bly happen to any term used to replace it. Eventually there will be nothing we can say that won’t cause upset. One issue that doesn't seem to have been taken into consideration is that it was 9-11 year olds who voted in this change. The fact that children are more likely to relate the word to how it is portrayed in the media, rather than a medical term, is one that is worrying, and this is, perhaps, the more pressing issue. Those who voted agreed that the term can be hurtful and bullying. However, it’s those who bully and use the word offensively that are the problem, not the word itself – and unfortunately they will always find ways to bully. Although this particular word does carry a stigma, as Tam Fry, chairman of an obesity prevention charity, says: "Sometimes schoolchildren have to be taught the realities of life." Another issue with ‘unhealthy weight’ is that it doesn’t apprehend those who are unhealthily underweight. Instead, if this proposal goes ahead, youngsters will grow up thinking that it is only an unhealthy if you're overweight, overlooking disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. With a society already exposed to too many size zeros and airbrushing, this is the last thing pubescent teenagers need. Overall, the phrase that we use to describe this problem is not what should be questioned; it is the problem itself that needs to be addressed. Calling it something else will never make it go away.
A Dyer joke, Danny
The recent gaffe in Zoo magazine wasn't a 'production error' Yaz Langley Opinion Writer If we’ve learnt anything from Gordon Brown’s ‘bigot’ gaffe, it’s that those in the public eye need to be wary of what they say, and who to. Renowned hardman (read: chav) Danny Dyer, however, decided to take it a step further. In his weekly column in Zoo magazine, he advised a jilted reader: “cut your ex’s face, then nobody will want her.” First we were told it was a production error, yet I think even Zoo knew this excuse wouldn’t satisfy for long - unless someone literally leant on the keyboard before it was then missed by several editors and publishers. This ‘advice’ had to have been said somewhere along the line. We were then informed that, actually, Dyer had simply been ‘misquoted’, until Zoo decided to burn their bridges and stop protecting him all together. Their only mistake, they insisted, was allowing it
to be published. And what a mistake that was. Yet I’m reluctant to believe that an ‘error’ such as this could’ve not only happened in the first place, but been missed on several occasions. For me, it can’t help but run parallel to the Ugly Betty episode which sees a magazine deliberately publish an issue of ‘bad taste’ in order to gain publicity. I’m not, by any means, accusing Zoo of doing this exactly (though if that was their intention, then it did technically work). No, I’m guessing that, instead, they did indeed see it, but thought of it as nothing more than a bit of dark humour without foreseeing the consequences. However big a part they played in this cock up, though, Zoo have, in my eyes, redeemed themselves by publicly condemning violence against women, donating money towards the cause and – in an action even I was slightly surprised at – firing Mr Dyer. It seems to me that women are much more aware of domestic violence than
men simply because it often features in women's magazines and, while men can still be victims, women fall prey to it more and are, thus, targeted by charities and helplines. Therefore, it’s good to finally see a man’s mag stressing how serious and terrible the issue is. Since prevention is always better than cure, it’s about time the problem was directed at the (more likely) offenders, rather than just the victims.
It seems to me women are more aware of domestic violence than men The thing is, I’m all for a bit of black humour and can’t stand it when people get uptight about ‘offensive’ jokes, but unfortunately in this situation, the butt of his ‘joke’ (or irony, or whatever was its intention) is something of a devastating reality to many. Making something like this acceptable to joke about kind of makes
it acceptable to act upon and, unfortunately, while I know 99% of people would never dream of hurting someone, it only takes the village idiot to read too much into ‘banter’ like this and, before you know it, we've got another victim on our hands. When it comes down to it, it doesn’t actually matter how it happened or who’s to blame, at the end of the day it’s out there, and the issue of domestic violence is, once again, thrust into the media spotlight. And while Danny Dyer may be out of a job, and the magazine slightly out of pocket, this, on the whole, is actually a positive thing. Obviously, in cases of violence against women, there is always a victim. An example is the fairly recent case of Rihanna and Chris Brown; although it highlighted a serious issue, Rihanna was left hurt and humiliated for all the world to see. This time, luckily, this important matter has made the headlines and raised awareness without anyone being harmed in the process.
freewords EDITORIAL
Est. 1972
The results really are in!
So, this time last week I wrote that I would wait until this week to write about the outcome of the election since, at the time, we were living with a hung parliament. Now, as I’m sure you all know, Gordon Brown has resigned as Prime Minister, David Cameron has moved into Downing Street, and Nick Clegg has jumped into bed with him to become Deputy Prime Minister. I don’t know about you, but I was actually very sad to hear Gordon Brown’s resignation speech on Tuesday night. I think he has had a hard time as Prime Minister. He has come under criticism, but as he said in his speech, no one other than those who have served as Prime Minister will understand the pressures and responsibilities of the job. I did vote Labour this time around and now I can’t help but feel that it didn’t really count. An optimistic part of me thinks, however, that this outcome might eventually be good for Labour. I reckon the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition will last for a year, at most, before the people want another change. In a subsequent General Election, more people will vote Labour (because of their dissatisfaction with the Libservative government and because, by then, they will have a new leader – fingers crossed for David Miliband). But that’s just wishful thinking. So Cameron’s settling into Number 10 with Clegg as his new best friend. I can’t wait to see how this coalition – the first in Britain since WW2 – actually pans out. I'm surprised to say that I'm actually finding this Cameron-Clegg partnership quite endearing. They're like two public school boys joking and having banter - it makes great watching. Changing the subject, you may have remembered me mentioning last week about the Cardiff Student Media Awards, which took place on Saturday May 8. Well, it turned out to be a bloody brilliant night. Greg James did a fantastic job as host and was received well but the rowdy student crowd who were well inebriated with free wine. Sitting next to Greg and his dad at dinner was a surreal experience too, but a very interesting one. Greg mentioned on his radio show on Monday that he had had a great time – giving personal shout outs to Ash Percival and Sam Smith for cleaning up in the awards stakes. Congratulations to all other winners and nominees. These awards are judged by industry professionals so it is a great achievement to even be shortlisted. The perfect end to the night came in the form of MC Hammer’s ‘U Can’t Touch This’ video by Jody Tozer, which featured all members of student media. The standing ovation seemed to suggest that it went down well. To see us imitating the 80s rap star, check out the video at: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=QAsanqUJI2I.
10 POLITICS
gairrhydd | POLITICS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
A Conservative revolution
This world, Tom Rouse examines the agreement between the this week Tories and the Lib Dems. What does it all mean?
F
or the first time since 1945, the United Kingdom has a formal coalition government, but what concessions did the Liberal Democrats manage to extract? William Hague suggested that the Lib-Con deal was essentially the bulk of the Conservative manifesto with the best bits of the Liberal Democrat one - and to me this appears a reasonable assessment. Both parties have had to swallow their pride regarding certain aspects of the deal, but there is also a large amount for Liberals and Conservatives alike to be pleased with. It is, perhaps, party supporters more than the politicians themselves who will be aghast at what is contained in the document. Conservative supporters will be outraged at the abandonment of plans to raise the inheritance tax threshold, while Liberal Democrats will be similarly infuriated by the commitment to renewing our nuclear capacity. Crucially, over certain sticking points, such as marriage tax breaks and nuclear power, the Liberal Demo-
crats have agreed to abstain from voting. This allows the Conservatives to follow through on manifesto pledges, but also allows the Lib Dems to show their opposition in a way that does not harm the long-term prospects of the coalition. It's a canny move. The most important proposals undoubtedly come from the Lib Dems. The phased-in increase of the tax threshold to £10,000 is a huge deal to millions of people; most part-time workers - and a lot of full-time ones will no longer be paying income tax. The Conservative talk of big society has almost disappeared. It seems almost like Nick Clegg was handed a blank sheet of paper and told to list his demands. Obviously, there are some issues still to be resolved, particularly the thorny matter of tuition fees, but as the minority partner, I think the Liberals may have to lump it. Considering the Lib Dems have the most to be happy about from this deal, they'll probably learn to live with the disappointment. The major disappointment for nonConservative/Labour supporters - and
a justified one - will be the referendum Liberal Democrat due to their policies on electoral reform only offering the and how many voted for them purely alternative vote. It is far from being as an anti-Tory vote, as anyone who proportional representation (PR), but voted for their policies will, like me, it does have an inherent bias against have found a lot to like in the coalition the Conservative party. Surprisingly, deal. Obviously those on the extremes David Cameron has also agreed to a of both parties are going to be disapcomprehensive House of Lords re- pointed, but overall the deal seems form, with the members to be elected like a good one for both based on a PR system. I'm fairly cer- parties and, tain that this will have caused some more imsenior Conservatives to have a heart portantly, attack. The debate is going to be in- for the country. tense. The consensus at the moment seems to be that Nick Clegg is a traitor. This has perhaps been the most surprising thing about the whole deal. Clegg's statement right at the start of the campaign made it clear that he believed the party with the largest number of votes and seats would have the first right to form a government. He followed through on what he promised and those who accuse him of betraying his party should probably bear this in mind. To be honest, I'm beginning to DAVID CAMERON: Man with a plan? wonder how many people voted
Up in smoke
T
he three alleged organisers of the Moscow metro bombings have been killed after resisting arrest. Russian officials claim that the bombers had been identified, but refused to say when or where they were shot. Russian leaders had previously claimed that the perpetrators of the bombings would be "destroyed". The bombings, which took place on March 29, targeted two of Moscow's commuter trains. A Chechen militant leader has claimed responsibility. Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, said he sees his capture as a "matter of honour".
Home truths
Gordon Brown has the blues T
As Gordon Brown quits the top job, James Dunn has a look back at his whirlwind career in politics
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ew commentators would have predicted such an eventful end to the premiership of the longest serving - and most successful - Chancellor in modern history. Having become the resident hatechild of the media in the past three years, the global recession has overshadowed what is undoubtedly something rare in modern politics: a politi-
GORDON BROWN: Now what?
cal juggernaut and unmatched mind. Before being elected to Parliament for Dunfermline East in 1983, Brown was already actively involved in politics. After working as a lecturer in politics for both the Open University and the Glasgow College of Technology, he ultimately worked as a current affairs editor at Scottish Television. These roles combined made him one of the stand-out figures of the Scottish
political scene. It was from this modest background that Brown became a founder figure of New Labour, alongside Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell and Tony Blair. Under the guidance of Neil Kinnock, Brown began a truly meteoric rise through the Labour ranks. Two years after being elected, the son of the minister for the Scottish Church became the Opposition Spokesman for Trade and Industry. He also served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. By the time he became Shadow Chancellor in 1992, Brown was already a wellrounded political figure with a keen economic mind. It was at this stage in his career that the more ambitious Brown began to emerge; a man who trusted only a few close colleagues and who was prone to explosive temper tantrums. With the sudden and unexpected death of Labour leader John Smith in 1994, the media went wild attempting to pit Blair and Brown – two of Labour’s great talents – against each other. Brown eventually agreed to not challenge Blair for the party leadership, a fact that commentators have been interpreting pejoratively ever since. In 1997, the Labour party swept to power with a phenomenal 418 seats. Brown inherited the job that he had spent almost 14 years in training for:
Chancellor of the Exchequer. Immediately he began a revolutionary reform of fiscal policy in Britain – some of which has arguably contributed to the severity of Britain’s current recession. Within months, the control of the setting of interest rates was given exclusively to the Bank of England. Simultaneously, he distributed responsibility of banking supervision to the Financial Services Authority. Between 1997 and 2007, this action resulted in a prosperous Britain. Brown was a continuous hit at the Labour party conferences. Never gifted with the rhetoric skills of Tony Blair, Brown was popular solely for his desire for social reform and his ability to keep public spending to an absolute minimum. But this division of banking responsibility would come back to haunt him later. While his initiatives to decentralise British politics were popular, the Northern Rock meltdown in August 2007 resulted in the first British run on a bank in 150 years. The rest, as they say, is history. But the point still remains: no global leader has put more effort or individual, successful, initiatives into place to stave off the meltdown. Brown is, and always has been, a phenomenal political force who simply cannot be compared to his more charismatic, but less brilliant, rivals.
he US administration has warned against the "inflammatory" actions of the Israeli government as it continues to demolish homes in East Jerusalem. Earlier this week, an Israeli official claimed that the demolision of illegally built Arab homes could continue, which would not help the recently started talks between Israel and Palestine. The talks are indirect, but the US State Department hope this will soon change. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1981, but the Palestinians want it as part of a future state. Palestinians can only build in densely populated areas and most of the homes are illegal.
Poppy power
A
serious disease has hit opium poppies in Afghanistan, reducing this year's opium production to a quarter of last year's. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime claims that prices could rise by around 50% this year. This would have a huge impact on the revenue of insurgent groups such as the Taliban, who have large stockpiles of opium. Afghanistan produces 92% of the world's opium and the disease - a fungus - has affected the heartland of opium production, which is also the heartland of the insurgency.
POLITICS 11
gairrhydd | POLITICS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Haven't you heard? Greece is the word
Oliver Smith has a look into the recent €750 billion Greek bailout, and what it means for the future of the European Union
T
he EU has thrown Greece a 750 billion euro lifeline, and the message is clear: “hold on tight, we’ll get you out of there!” But is this really the right message to send to the rest of Europe? I’m not going to get into the complex financial issues surrounding how Greece got themselves into this mess; it suffices to say that they borrowed a lot of money, bought a new house and a shiny car, and then realised they couldn’t afford to pay the bank back. Instead, I will look at how this affair has shown the future direction of the European Union and set a new precedent for EU economic policy. A national bailout to rescue some national banks is one thing, an understandable move made by many countries (although not without its critics). But now the EU is doing the same, but on a much larger scale, bailing out an entire country’s financial system. Don’t be mistaken; nothing quite like this has ever been done before. This turn of events offers two revelations about the state of the EU. Firstly, that the Eurozone has become much greater than the sum of its parts. It has become acutely apparent that these 16 countries will not only
share success, but will also suffer each other’s financial difficulties as if they were their own. The European Central Bank along with the European Commission are now acting like the EU Treasury of the Eurozone, going far further than any treaty ever allowed. Many pundits claimed that only a “United States of Europe” would be able so save Greece and, subsequently, the euro. It appears that this is what has happened.
Many pundits claimed only a 'United States of Europe' could save Greece Secondly, because of the decision to bailout Greece, the Eurozone has seemingly abandoned the principles of the ‘free market’ on which it was based. Make no mistake, the choice for Europe was to either bailout Greece or scrap the single currency (a political non-option). Previously, if a country managed to bankrupt itself in the way that Greece has, the market would enact its punishment, and other high-deficit nations (Ireland, Spain
Cameron's coalition The Key Policies An emergency budget will be held within 50 days of the Queen's Speech and a Departmental Spending Review in the autumn. There will be accelerated action to tackle the deficit, with £6 billion of spending cuts this year. A new Ministerial Committee will look at structural banking reform. Class sizes will be reduced for children from poorer backgrounds, and independent schools within the state sector ("free schools") will be established. There will be a referendum on the use of the Alternative Vote system in General Elections, as well as fixed-term parliaments of five years. The votes of 55% of MPs will be required to bring down a government in a vote of confidence. There will be a register for lobbyists and the public will have the right to recall a corrupt MP. A "War Cabinet" will be established to oversee the war in Afghanistan, as well as a National Security Council to manage security threats. Trident nuclear deterrent renewal will go ahead. No new powers will be ceded to the European Union without a referendum and the UK will not join the euro within the lifetime of this Parliament. A Great Repeal Bill will come into effect, which will include scrapping ID Cards and the National Identity register. There will be a cap on immigration. A high speed rail network and new nuclear power plants will be built, but no new runways will be.
and Italy, to name a few) would take drastic action to reign in their expenditure. In the way that the EU has rescued Greece, they have both failed to protect the principles of the Eurozone and, ultimately, set themselves up for future bailouts. Now, rather than engaging in the required austerity measures needed (cuts to public expenditure, cutting the budget deficit), those with deficits will be able to ignore the problem, safe in the knowledge that the EU is there to bail them out if they need it. So these are the two revelations that we can take from the last week of events: the Eurozone has now gone far beyond a mere economic union, both in principle and in practice, and that this probably won’t be the last time a country in financial dire straits is going to be bailed out by EU money. The underlying problem within the EU at the moment is that the principles that underline the Eurozone are contradictory. On one hand, there is the ideal of an elite Europe of strong, stable economies sharing a single currency to enable better trading opportunities between competitive markets. And on the other hand, there is the notion of a catch-all Europe: one in which everyone is welcome, even
those who are not economically up to the challenge. Greece, for all its attributes, fits into the latter of the two groups, and therein lies the real issue about the future of Europe. Can the European
Central Bank bail out more Eurozone countries at the taxpayers expense? The answer is probably yes. Will the European Central Bank have to bail out more Eurozone countries? Again, the answer seems to be yes.
750 BILLION EUROS: Doesn't really look like this
Teachers learn their lesson
Yaz Langley tells teachers that they've let the class down with their boycott
A
s was suggested when I took this story, I do not hate children. I am all for kids being kids. You’re only young once and all that rubbish. But less than a week of tests hardly negates a child’s youth. It’s just 45 minutes of questioning, and substituting it with a ‘creative writing’ lesson is hardly sticking two fingers up in protest. This is why the teachers that have decided to boycott SATS exams are in the wrong. Firstly, teachers seem to have forgotten that SATS are there for a reason; the main one being a form of measuring and forming league tables, which boycotting teachers have brandished humiliating by ‘naming and shaming’- well, if their teaching was up to scratch in the first place they would have nothing to be ashamed of. These league tables then help parents know which schools in the neighbourhood are better, while letting teachers know which subject areas need improving. One excuse headteacher, Nigel Utton, offered was that ‘[the teachers] already assess pupils’ah well, I suppose the government can just leave you to it then. Does Mr Utton not acknowledge that, not only will his teachers be a little subjective and possibly biased, but without league tables, they’re unable to com-
pare, thus not getting a complete picture of their status among others. Not only do the league tables help parents and teachers, and ultimately the government, but the individual results help secondary schools to find each child’s appropriate academic level; parents see how their children are progressing and, most importantly, it helps the ones who seem to have been forgotten in this chaos - the children themselves.
No one seems to have asked the children what they want Among all this bickering and, quite honestly, childish behaviour, no one seems to have thought to ask the children what they actually think of it all. Well, in my opinion, I don’t think they could care less. As I seem to remember, Year 6 SATS were not traumatic for me. We weren’t told to revise, and the only difference to a normal school day were the separated desks. If I remember correctly, one test even set out to measure our handwriting. But despite not being sat next to my best friend, these tests truly were a benefit. The other main thing these
teachers are moaning about is that it forces teachers to ‘teach to test’ while pupils become ‘machines and units of productivity’; yet what these teachers don’t tend to realise, in their own sheltered bubble, is that in the big bad world of education, that is exactly what we are. Starting young is the easiest way to get used to something. Unbeknown to them, these cute, harmless tests will do nothing more than prepare them for what’s to comeYear 7 CATS, Year 9 SATS, mock exams, GCSEs, AS Levels, A Levels and several years of degree exams, as you all know too well. It may not be the best way to monitor our intelligence, but it’s the way it’s done and there’s nothing we can do about it. Except apparently boycott them. Do these teachers really think this is a good example to set? Hey kids, if there’s something in life you don’t like just refuse to do it! And sit back and watch as you get a big fat zero in your exams, and then get fired from every job you don’t like. In the end, it all comes down to the fact that the teachers are behaving more immaturely than the children. Who died and gave these teachers the right to decide if children should take certain tests or not? That stuff's kind of the government’s job. If we still have one.
22 LETTERS
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MARCH 01 2010
FEATURES 13
gairrhydd | FEATURES@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
I'll be watching you...
Facebook stalking is just a bit of harmless fun, isn't it? What if it is used for alterior motives? Features investigates the issue... Lucy Trevallion Features Writer Facebook currently has an estimated 80 million users worldwide, with The Guardian suggesting two million new users join each week. But what started in 2004 as 'The Facebook' (taking its name from the staff and students profiles handed out to Harvard Freshers) has proved to be a social icon and stalkers' best friend. Mark Zuckerberg was just 23 and a psychology student at Harvard when he gave birth to Facebook. Zuckerberg was no technology virgin, having already created student social-networking websites like Coursematch, allowing users to view others taking their degree, or Facemash, to rate peoples' attractiveness. It became Facebook.com in August 2005 after the address was purchased for $200,000. US high schools could sign up from September 2005, then it began to spread worldwide, reaching UK universities the following month. Originally, to register, you needed an ac.uk or .edu email address, but in September 2006, the network was extended beyond educational institutions to anyone with a registered email address, meaning we were faced with the strange dilemma of accepting our parents’ Facebook friend request. But the fact that anyone can get a Facebook account has recently been shown to have much darker consequences. Last October, 17-year-old British student Ashleigh Hall told her mum she was going to a friend’s house, but instead arranged to meet a teenage boy she had been messaging on Facebook. She didn't return the next morning. The teenage boy turned out to be 32-year-old serial sex offender, Peter Chapman, who raped and murdered Hall and dumped her body in a ditch. Chapman eventually confessed to the crimes and was jailed for life last month.
Facebook, like any technology, is the enabler of behaviour, not the creator Now Facebook is being pressured to install a panic button. "The panic button really isn't a panic button at all," says Parry Aftab, the New York-based head of the website www.wiredsafety. org, and a lawyer specialising in internet privacy and security law. "It's not a cyber 911, it is a link to internet safety materials when things go wrong. It's not a report to police, it just instructs you to call the police
if you suspect a crime has been committed." Aftab also doubts that a panic button would increase abuse reporting because, many times, youngsters don't realise they're in danger when they're involved in risky online situations. "These kids go willingly to a meeting where they don't know the person. It's fun and thrills. They say, 'Sure other people get hurt, but not me.' They just think they're the exception." The communication between Hall and Chapman was voluntary – she added him as a friend and chose to communicate with him on an ongoing basis, then she decided to meet with him, and she decided to not tell anyone, implying she knew what she was doing was 'wrong' but decided to go ahead anyway. Obviously, she trusted this paedophile, so if she was happy to meet him, she was not in a state of panic and would not have pressed the button, even if it were plastered on every page. However, many prominent voices, including the Liberal Democrats’ Chris Huhne, and child protection and online safety groups, still think the button is the solution. The button is merely a short-term solution to mask a bigger issue here. The actual solution would be to tackle naivety by teaching kids about online safety so they are aware of the warning signs. You need to be able to see the warning signs to press the button, but you don't learn about them until after you've pressed it and have been redirected to information pages. You don’t know when to press it until you get educated, but you don’t get educated until after you've pressed it. I see a vital flaw in this plan. Facebook is acting as the government’s shield for the lack of education about internet safety. Even worse, the government is using Facebook to cover up bad policing on past offenders. The government allowed Chapman to roam free when he had previously raped two women at knife point. Surely this pinpoints an issue in our prison system that a Facebook design update won't cure. Some people disagree. On Facebook, mother of three Susan Warrilow posted: “Keep the kids safe. Shouldn't take that much. Come on Facebook." Yes, come on Facebook. It is your job to protect the children, not the parents, whose responsibility it is to bring them up properly. While you're there, can you sort out world hunger, and teach my children about sex? Facebook, like any technology, is the enabler of behaviour, not the creator of behaviour. Similar threats exist in the real world, yet the locations in which they take place do not get blamed. In the month of her murder, Hall
had been attracted by a photo of a young, bare-chested man that Chapman – calling himself Peter Cartwright – had posted on a fake profile. At the moment, my housemates and I are in the middle of 'prank wars'. To get revenge on a flatmate, we took his prized childhood teddy hostage, and created his own Facebook account to reveal a trail of clues to the teddy’s whereabouts.
It is incredibly easy to set up a fake account, fake photo and fake identity This shows two things: firstly, students will do anything to avoid revision, and secondly, it is incredibly quick and easy to set up a fake account, fake photo and fake identity. I'm not the only Cardiff student with multi profiles. In a recent survey, 31% of Cardiff University students said at least one friend of theirs has a fake profile on Facebook, while 81% said it is easy to create a fake profile. Luckily, the worst consequence of my fake account is the occasional email addressed to Ted Bear, but fake accounts can be used for much worse than a silly prank. The director of Child Exploitation and Online Protection, Jim Gamble, announced that the agency had received 252 complaints about Facebook during the first three months of this year - with 40% of them about the potential "grooming" of children.
While some are creating fake profiles, others are creating profiles that are too truthful. While it is inevitable that the embarrassing video of your drunken friend in a trolley will end up on Facebook, as will the photos of your recent sunshine holiday, the results can be disturbing. Unless you adjust your security settings to limit who can see your profile, almost anyone can see your status updates, photo uploads, photo tags, photo comments, wall posts, friend additions, group memberships, attended events, mutual friends, as well as that photo of you in Malta in a bikini. In the words of Barack Obama, “don't put silly stuff on Facebook." This has proved particularly difficult for one American teen, tearing apart his family. Last month, an Arkansas 16-year-old sued his mother for hacking into his Facebook account and posting slanderous remarks after he left his Facebook account open on her computer. Before this issue, Denise New and her son reputedly had a “great” relationship, and his mother believes she is fully within her legal rights as a parent to check her son's online behaviour. Last year, a Jetstar flight attendant was fired for using a boarding pass to get the name of a 15-year-old, before attempting to add her on Facebook, and harassing her for her phone number and address. Luckily, unlike Ashleigh Hall, the girl was wise enough to reject his request and tell someone. Protect yourself and your dignity with the five simple steps in the column on the right.
1. Use friend lists, e.g. friends, family and professional. You can then set up different privacy settings for each, to avoid your boss seeing you with a misplaced gherkin on rugby initiation. 2. Visit your search privacy settings page and remove yourself from the search list by selecting 'only friends'. When Aunty searches for you, she'll never know you're on it. 3. Your information can currently be accessed via Google. Visit the 'search engine settings page' and uncheck the 'Create a public search listing' box. 4. Avoid being tagged in the nasty gherkin photo in the first place. Go to the profile privacy page, then 'photos tagged of you', select customise, then 'only me'. Now you can OK any tag before it goes live. 5. Avoid having the fact that your relationship is overdue (due to that nasty gherkin action) being announced on Facebook. Go on the News Feed and Wall privacy page and uncheck the 'remove relationship' box.
MUM: Likes your status update
14 FEATURES
gairrhydd | FEATURES@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Exams: surviving
Revision? We at gair rhydd laugh in the face of revision. But, anx stress and ace those exams. NOTE: Features accepts no responsi
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Ta ke a b re a k a ly, do some work, revise Don't overdo it. Obvious ther and all that jazz, but bit, get your thoughts toge rary 24/7 without food or lib e th in e at rn be hi n't do g like a geriatric. Take in ok lo up d en u yo so er wat me fresh air in those so t ge d an t ou ill ch k, a brea lungs of yours. to relax? Go for lunch Stuck for ideas on how a cheeky iPlayer break. ve ha or ds en fri ur yo ith w t of your day has been os m n he w at th ow kn Just ck ld probably go ba ou sh u yo , an lc Vu e Th at spent to the library...
gairrhydd | FEATURES@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
FEATURES 15
g the nightmare
xious to offer help, we've provided some valuable tips to eliminate ibility for potential failure of exams, essays, or life in general
E a c h to t h eir o w n e: you've done your We all know what it's lik pleased with yourself, ly et cr se e u'r yo n, sio vi re boffin comes along tle lit l tfu as bo e m so en th and they "can't remember wanting to chat because anything." te every single lecThey then proceed to reci u had never even ture, discussing issues yo lly making you feel thought about and genera completely inadequate. and politely tell Don't pay attention! Smile them to sod off.
S n e a ky Pe a k anda - no one minds a Don't believe the propag e of an exam, here and sneaky text in the middl there. n on the back of your te rit w s te no w fe a nd A hand never hurt anyone. ve been brainwashed For too long now we ha peak at the exam paper into thinking that a sneaky tears. Those who dare opposite you will end in re. my friends, those who da atures if you find (NOTE: Don't blame Fe e University...) yourself kicked out of th
D itc h t h e tim et a ble
the super-organised are Revision timetables for r most of us, lots of com all well and good, but fo ated timetables, mapping plicated, colour co-ordin y day (including coffee er ev of nd co se y er ev t ou procrastination than of rm fo a e or m e ar ), breaks anything else. ns of procrastination, Obviously we are big fa t to do something, then but if you actually wan d timetable that provides xe la re e or m a try s ap rh pe more of a guideline...
24 h o u rs of f u n y? Starting revision at Exam at 9am on Monda ore. Julian Hodge library 10pm Sunday? Fret no m ring all the previous tips is open 24 hours so, igno t over doing it', we ad'no ng ni er nc co ce vi ad d an Julian Hodge and over to n w do on t ge to u yo vise ent. do it to your heart's cont t only. Go on. It'll hurt, Over do it, for one nigh ce you walk out of that but it'll be worth it on scent of a summer bare th l el sm d an ll ha am ex ction. Crack open the re di ur yo in g tin af w e bequ e coffee, throw out th n w do rp slu s, er ht highlig looked at it anyway, did the timetable (you never . you?) and cram cram cram
22 LETTERS
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MARCH 01 2010
COLUMNIST 17
gairrhydd | OPINION@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Are we really being ConDemned?
CAMERLEGG: Bet Nick can't believe his luck
I
’m writing this just a few hours after David Cameron confirmed we are now living in a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Who knows what will happen in the next week or so? Okay, probably not that much in terms of policy and action, but this certainly is a defining moment in British political history. Something has to be. Let’s face it: the political landscape of this country has been pretty drab and routine for decades. This election, though, has reignited an excitement and passion that many of us never knew existed. Who would have thought this time last year - hell who would have thought this time two weeks ago - that Nick Clegg would be Deputy Prime Minister? Then, of course, there’s Vince Cable, good old Uncle Vinny, in the Cabinet, looking after the banks and business. The economy might be alright now after all. There will also be genuine thought and debate given to a new electoral system, which is much needed, but would not have been comprehensible
before the election. This forced partnership between the Tories and Lib Dems has changed British politics forever, whether it succeeds or not. Cameron looked at the composition of the House of Commons and, rather than looking at it as a challenge, he saw an opportunity. To offer a coalition on such broad terms is a massive gamble and it will either make or break him. I also do not understand the argument that both parties have sold themselves out to get their greedy hands on power. The simple fact of the matter is that a Conservative minority government would not have worked, a LabLib coalition would not have worked and a rainbow coalition would not have worked. I am often derided for my sporting analogies, but I find it easier to look at it like this. When a football team get a player sent off and are reduced to ten men, people always say the team will soldier on and work as a stronger unit to beat the 11 opposing men. However, the statistics show that the teams are invariably losing when the
red card is shown and are then comprehensively hammered. A minority government would not be good for the country. The only solution, which has any chance of being effective and successful, is what we have now. There was raw political calculation in this, of course, but also consideration of the national interest. A minority government would not survive for long. It would need — or be forced — to fight an early election, making it impossible to begin the difficult work that the next administration needs to undertake. It is, in many ways, as if we’ve gone back nearly 90 years to the midwar period. In 1923, Stanley Baldwin fought an election he expected to win but it resulted in no party being able to govern on its own. Baldwin seized an opportunity to reshape politics and encourage the rise of Labour at the expense of the Liberals. Sound familiar? If the Tories had won a small majority, then in five years time they could well have been defeated by an alliance of Labour and Liberal Demo-
crats. That is effectively what happened in 1997 and gave Blair his landslide victory. The actions of Cameron and Clegg, though, have changed this, as well as changing politics. The antiConservative majority is no longer. Cameron now also has the potential to lift himself and the party above normal partisan politics. He can become a national leader and make his party seem relevant to all, capable of listening and of compromise. It is now possible for the party to attempt to rebrand itself and to move away from the labels and perceptions that people have of them. What concerns me, and what should concern all students with this coalition, is the fact that tuition fees appear to have been part of the compromise. The Conservatives have been in favour of increasing tuition fees, whereas the Liberal Democrats would rather see them abolished. However, the new Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has come out and said that the Lib Dems could be allowed to abstain from any vote on tuition fees in parliament.
Fees might have no upper limit, with university Vice Chancellors being allowed to charge what they like. The Lib Dems vowed to abolish this if they came into power but, in this coalition, it appears to have been lost in the flurry of compromises. Perhaps some of the Tories old traits will never go. Hopefully, people such as Aaron Porter, the new NUS President, will apply pressure and the student voice will be heard. It will be interesting to see how many more compromises will be made in this strange new world. Will this huge gamble that has given Cameron the keys to No. 10 succeed? Could this ultimately split his party? Might the Lib Dems prove to be a nuisance rather than a partner? This could be the start of a glorious chapter in Britain’s history. Alternatively, the pact could ConDem us all. The only thing that we can say with certainty is that nobody knows what will happen. We are all together in this new dawn of politics.
22 LETTERS
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MARCH 01 2010
LETTERS 19
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
the Comments from the week’s news, opinion, features and sport at www.gairrhydd.com National Heroin Service
Looking at you “reassured reader”.
Reassured Reader
Elizabeth Blockley
Glad people have commented on this. This article was written with zero insight and Elizabeth has probably scribbled it together while clutching a picture of David Cameron. I don’t know where the neo-tory ‘this country has gone to the dogs’ attitude has come from and why so many people confuse their ignorance for ‘being on the side of common sense’. Read a book, stop being defensive for being privileged – accept it and deal with it, and have some fucking compassion!
It’s an opinion article, you are supposed to take a stance. I don’t have a lack of empathy for drug users, I understand that many have had very difficult lives and were vulnerable to problems such as drug addiction. Personally though, I don’t think that because of that we should undermine this country’s laws and the values on which they are founded. If you don’t agree with my opinion that is absolutely fine and I always appreciate comments on the articles I write, but ‘Reassured Reader’, please don’t undermine my intelligence. I study English Literature and Philosophy and have therefore read quite a lot of books. Due to philosophical ethics, several with regards to this subject. Oh, and I do bloody love David Cameron.
Lianne Wilson James Cookson: Can you write an article on this instead, please? I’ve got a funny feeling it would be a much more sensible one than this piece of narrow-minded nonsense. Thank you for writing something so well thought-out. You deserve a cookie. Tom Clarke Whilst I dont agree with Liz’s opinion in this case, she has an opinion and has expressed it in a well written and eloquent article. If you think you can do better by all means come to the gair rhydd contributors meeting (or email the section) and ask to write an article of your own rather than accusing those who decide to contribute, on a contravertial subject, of ignorance because you dont agree with the points she’s making or her opinion.
Elizabeth Also, I did not create the headline for this article for which I am being lambasted and therefore did not write the words ‘simply ridiculous’. I was honest about my initial reaction, read many articles on the subject and concluded that I still felt discomfort with this proposition. I’m not saying that I am definitely right, merely expressing my opinion. If it wasn’t an OPINION ARTICLE I would have written something more balanced and objective, but that’s not the point and it wouldn’t have received this many fun critiques either!
A Concerned Individual You have a stressy facebook status – I have too much time on my hands. A Concerned Individual Oh and I agree with her. Cookson says “you seem to have a notion that dependent heroin users have a choice of whether they take the drug.” They do. They don’t have to take it in the first place. Yes people make mistakes and the NHS has to pay for it (think extreme sports etc), but what these people undertook in was illegal. Someone who knows what they are on about Dear James Cookson: thankyou for a well written, well researched and well argued response to this article – unlike the uninformed ramblings so often spouted by people such as Lianne Wilson on these forums. This is an area particularly close to my heart, as my brother is an ex-heroin addict and ex-alcoholic, who has done stints at a number of Britains most famous and expensive rehabilitation facilities. And I, like Liz, remain on the fence. The scheme in Switzerland has been effective – but they are dealing with a much smaller and less diverse population than in Britain. Liz’s argument about the comparitive cost to the NHS as opposed to much needed cancer drunks is so important. My grandmother is currently in hospital suffering from cancer, something she can do nothing about. On the other hand, my brother
forum
made a conscious choice about whether to start taking heroin – just as he did with other class A drugs in the past. He made a choice. Whilst the scheme might be effective in bringing down numbers, we must also analyse the number of drug users who simply will not give up. The simple fact is that addicts like my brother can stop at any time if they have the willpower to – people with almost all other illnesses cannot. This, ultimately, is what he did. And he deserves the utmost respect for it. He also went through a hugely painful and difficult process (with all of our support and help) of cold turkey that has since given him the mental strength to resist slipping back into the habit. My fear is simple: that not only is this costing the NHS money needed elsewhere (particularly in the face of future spending cuts) but it could be sending the wrong message to drug users everywhere. Yes we will support them fight their addiction, and rightly so. However, the thought of me handing a gram to my brother so that he can have a short fix whilst watching my grandma die is one that I’m not prepared to entertain.
Students join marijuana march Common Sense Police The decision by the people of this country concerning legalization of the marijuana medicinal plant that has been used by humans for thousands of years is based in choosing between two opinions. The first one, articulated by the
“father” of marijuana prohibition in the 1930-s and the second one by Dr Greenspoon, one of the leading contemporary experts in this country. These are the the direct quotes from the prohibitionist Harry Anslinger pushing the “Marijuana Tax Act” of 1937: “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.” ”...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.” “Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.” “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” “Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing” “You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.” “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.” And this is what Dr. Greenspoon said in 2006 about Cannabis Sativa medicinal Plant: “Cannabis will one day be seen as a wonder drug, as was penicillin in the 1940s. Like penicillin, herbal marijuana is remarkably nontoxic, has a wide range of therapeutic applications and would be quite inexpensive if it were legal”. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2006 ” These are two opinions the citizens around the country will be asked to compare and to choose from. I do not believe that the choice is exceedingly difficult one. What I believe is that the fear-tactics must be rejected once and for all, and at least medical marijuana should be legalized in all 50 States ASAP.
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20 TAF-OD
gairrhydd | TAFOD@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Canlyniad i Gymru? Nia Gwawr
Taf-od Editor Ddydd Iau y chweched o Fai ca-
fodd Cymru ei dychryn gan rai o ganlyniadau'r etholiad cyffredinol. Gyda’r Torïaid yn ennill y ganran fwyaf o bleidleisiau ar draws Prydain, efallai bod y cyn-
nydd a wnaethpwyd yng Nghymru i’w ddisgwyl. Ond mewn gwlad lle mae’r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn erbyn delweddau’r Torïaid, a ddylai’r tir glas fod wedi aros yr ochr arall y
ffin? Collodd y blaid Lafur gwpwl o’i seddi a diweddu gyda 26 sedd, y Ceidwadwyr yn cynyddu i 8 sedd, a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol a Phlaid Cymru yn diweddu gyda 3 yr un. Daeth y syndod mwyaf i Plaid pan ddaliodd y blaid Lafur ei gafael ar Ynys Môn a Llanelli, a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn cadw Ceredigion gyda nifer helaeth o bleidleisiau. Ond ydy hyn yn ganlyniad siomedig i Gymru, ynteu a fyddai’n effeithio ar y rheolaeth o Gymru o gwbl. Efallai bod hyn yn arwydd o genhedlaeth newydd, cenhedlaeth lle gall y blaid Gymreig uno gydag unrhyw un o’r pleidiau eraill i greu Cymru newydd. Yn dilyn o’r syniad hwn, un o’r canlyniadau mwyaf a fyddai’n dod o’r Ceidwadwyr yn rheoli’r wlad fyddai toriadau yn y sector gyhoeddus. Mae’r sector gyhoeddus yn rhan fawr o Gymru, llawer mwy nag ydyw’n rhan o Loegr, ac felly byddai’r toriadau hyn yn golygu problemau mwy yng Nghymru. Mae hefyd rhyw feirniadaeth negyddol tuag at y Torïaid yn gwreiddio o ddegawdau yn ôl yng Nghymru. I’r nifer o bobl sy’n byw yng Nghymru ers yr wythdegau, cofiant y cyfnod lle ymosododd Margaret Thatcher ar yr undebau a’r syniad o gymuned, y syniad hwn sy’n wraidd cryf iawn i’r Cymry. Ac felly, mae’n syndod fod gymaint o bobl yng Nghymru wedi pleidleisio o blaid y Torïaid, efallai mai mewnfudwyr neu newid mewn barn yw achos hyn. Wedi dweud hyn nid oes canlyniad pendant eto gan na lwyddodd un o’r pleidiau gael mwyafrif yn yr etholiad. Gyda’r blaid Lafur wedi cael ychydig mwy o seddi na ddisgwyliwyd, a’r Torïaid wedi cael ychydig llai, mae’r p er bellach yn nwylo Nick Clegg a’r pleidiau lleiafrifol (neu’r “others” fel ceir eu galw). Clywsom yr wythnos ddiwethaf am drafodaethau Ieuan Wyn Jones gyda’r blaid las, ddaeth yn syndod mawr i nifer o gefnogwyr
Plaid Cymru gan fod y blaid gymaint yn erbyn David Cameron a’i griw. Yn ddiweddarach dywedodd yr SNP yn yr Alban, cymdogion Celtaidd Plaid, na fyddant ar unrhyw gyfrif yn ffurfio gyda’r Torïaid. Ond dywed Ieuan Wyn Jones, arweinydd Plaid Cymru, mai trafod gyda David Cameron er mwyn ceisio cael cynnig mwy teg i Gymru yr oedd. Efallai bod hyn yn dacteg gyfrwys, neu efallai ei fod yn mynd yn erbyn crediniaeth y Cymry. Yn amlwg mae Plaid Cymru yn fwy cryf yn rhai rhannau o Gymru nag eraill, a gall neb wadu'r effaith mae gan Plaid Cymru yng Nghynulliad Cymru. Ond mae’r pwer sydd gan y blaid yn Llundain yn gwbwl gwahanol i’r un sydd ganddynt yng Nghaerdydd. Efallai mai dyma sy’n annog y Cymry i bleidleisio dros y pleidiau mwy dylanwadol. Yn amlwg nid yw hi ddim mor syml â hyn. Fel un sydd wedi’i magu mewn ardal wedi ei drechu gan Blaid Cymru, efallai ei fod yn hawdd i mi dybio rhesymeg y bobl o ardaloedd fwy Llafuraidd neu Dorïaidd heb lawer o sail. Ond o drafod gyda phobl o ardaloedd felly, ni welant lawer o obaith i Blaid Cymru ennill yn eu hardaloedd hwy, ac felly ni ystyriant bleidleisio drostynt. Clywais fyfyriwr ar y stryd ychydig ddiwrnodau cyn yr etholiad yn dweud “Beth yw’r pwynt pleidleisio dros blaid sydd gydag ond 3 sedd yn y llywodraeth, dydy’r dair sedd honno ddim mynd i wneud gwahaniaeth”. Fodd bynnag, i Blaid Cymru gynyddu mewn p er mae angen i’r Cymry fagu mwy o obaith. Mae angen egluro i’r rhai ansicr fod gobaith ym mhob ardal o Gymru, hyd yn oed os oes ond un neu ddau yn ymgyrchu dros y blaid, mae’n bosib gwneud gwahaniaeth. A dim hyd ddaw'r gwahaniaeth hwn y caiff y Cynulliad fwy o bwerau a bydd Cymru yn gallu sefyll ar ei thraed yn gyfan gwbl. *Gwybodaeth yn gywir o’r amser aeth i brint.
Parhau y mae’r ymgyrch Gweirydd Ioan
Taf-od Writer
Wedi cyfarfod llwyddianus yn yr undeb â llond ystafell yn bresennol mis dwethaf gan gynnwys llywydd presennol a newydd yr undeb, cafodd yr ymgyrch dros Undeb Gymraeg i Gaerdydd hwb aruthrol. Po fwyaf o sylw y ca’r ymgyrch hwn y mwyaf y sylwir dyn wir angen cynrychiolaeth Cymreig ar ein hundeb. Ond, fel y disgwylir âg ymgyrch o’r math hwn, dyfal donc a dyr y garreg. Felly dros y flwyddyn a ganlyn fe fydd dau brif nod i’w cyflawni. Y cyntaf a’r pwysicaf fydd sefydlu swyd-
dog sabothol fyddai’n graig o fewn yr undeb ac y cynrychioli ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion a godi’r ymysg myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd. Eleni mae’r swyddogion Sabothol i gyd yn dod o ben arall y ffin, sy’n sefyllfa anffafriol tu hwnt i rywun â mater sydd yn gysylltiedig â’r Cymry’n unig. Gyda Swyddog Sabathol llawn amser mi fydd cornel y Cymry yn cael ei gynrychioli ymhob agwedd o fywyd yr Undeb gan godi materion na fyddai’n cael unrhyw sylw fel arall. Ail nod bydd sicrhau gwasanaeth cyfieithu cymwys o fewn y brifysgol. Ar hyn o bryd contractwyr allanol sydd yn cyfieithu gwaith disgyblion o’r Gymraeg i’r Saesneg a mewn mwy nag un
achos cyfieithad ailradd anfoddhaol yw‘r cyfieithiadau hynny. Mae gan y Brifysgol ddyletswydd swyddogol i sicrhau gwasanaeth gyfieithu safonol i’w myfyrwyr. Gwarthus yw gorfod gofidio na allai cyfieithad a gyfieithur gan system y brifysgol fod o’r safon priodol pan fo gradd unigolyn yn afantol. Gobeithio wir y gallwn ni â’r ddau nod yma gamu’n agosach tuag at Undeb sydd yn cydnabod ei bod hi’n un o brifysgolion penna’r Cymry a’r Brifysgol â’r nifer mwyaf o Gymry Cymreig yng Nghymru, gan dderbyn y cyfrifoldeb sy‘n ddisgwyliedig ohoni. Mae’n hen bryd iddi.
gairrhydd | SCIENCE@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 21
An unprecedented disaster The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has triggered a massive environmental disaster and a big headache for BP Transocean, with analysts estimating that the Louisiana fishing industry could sustain $2.5 billion in losses, while Florida could lose $3 billion in tourism income. On May 7, BP lowered a 70-ton containment dome over the first of three leaks to counteract the spillage. The aim of this procedure is to channel oil up to the ship on the surface, reducing the oil leakage by around 85%.
Hanisha Sethi Science Writer On April 20, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killed 11 workers. The explosion has since caused thousands of tons of oil to pour into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging the sensitive shorelines of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. With the first news of the incident, people thought that there was a chance this oil spill could be tamed. However, two weeks on, and this uncontrollable surge of oil has moved to a more serious level, carrying with it disastrous ecological and economical consequences. Despite early hopes to minimise the oil spill, the rig's fractured drilling pipe has been leaking 210,000 gallons of crude oil daily, creating an oil slick covering more than 3,860 square miles. By April 30, officials had received reports of oil reaching the southern shores of Louisiana, engulfing the Chandeleur islands.
210,000 gallons of crude oil has been leaking daily Louisiana’s Breton National Wildlife Refuge was forced to close after emulsified oil reached the shoreline,
The Louisiana wetlands hold a fishing industry worth billions of dollars where many oiled birds are currently being rescued. Another 24 national wildlife refuges nearby could potentially be damaged by the crude from the spill. President Obama flew to Louisiana shortly after the incident. Speaking from the town of Venice, he stated that this was a "potentially unprecedented" disaster, jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of Americans. British Petroleum Agency’s (BP) chief executive, Tony Hayward, who owns the oil rig operated by the Swiss drilling company, Transocean, has stated that BP have accepted responsibility in legitimate claims for dam-
ages, and are taking action to stop the leak. There is public fear from the residents of the Gulf Coast awaiting the news on the damage to local industries. Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, said: "We need to take every measure to protect our coastlines, our wildlife, and our people." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have expanded the closure of commercial and recreational fishing until May 17. The Louisiana wetlands hold a fishing industry worth billions of dollars and lawsuits have already been filed by seafood companies against BP and
However, this technique holds great risks as it has never been tried in water of such depth - 5,000 ft below the ocean’s surface. The BP Chief Executive officer also stated that the cost has lead to $8 billion, and the company’s stock price has fallen by 12%. It may be too early to tell, but there have been warnings that this incident could eclipse the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster as the worst in US history. This oil spill makes new explorations in Burginia seem unlikely. Planned lease sales originally favoured by politicians in expanding oil and gas exploration have been suspended until this catastrophe has cleared.
Success is in the melons With exams upon us and stress levels at their highest, Science has some tips to help you relax Tomos Clarke Science Writer Here, we bring you a couple of tips on how to use exercise, and melons, to get through exam stress. 1. Exercise in the smart way. Links between levels of exercise and our mental wellbeing have long been known and understood by scientists. Gym monkeys and treadmill terriers tend, on average, to be mentally fitter and happier than their slothful, couch potato peers. But a new study published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal suggests that many people are not getting the full psychological benefits possible from their exercise. The analysis looked at evidence from 1,250 people in ten separate studies and found that cycling or running in a green space brought about fast improvements in self-esteem and
mood. The study showed that young people showed the greatest improvement when outdoors. Looking at a wide range of individuals from a variety of ages and backgrounds, the researchers showed that the young and mentally ill were the main beneficiaries.
Many people are not getting the full psychological benefit from their exercise A number of activities were looked at including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming, in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail. The largest effect was apparent after only five minutes. Longer periods did show improvements, but the effect was reduced in comparison.
An even larger effect was shown when exercise took place near water, such as by riverbanks and sea shores. 2. Eat melons Study leader Jules Pretty, a researcher at the University of Essex, said those who were generally inactive, stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from "green exercise". "Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health." A delicious way to combat stress is to eat melons. French scientists published in Nutrition journal that high levels of an enzyme called superoxide dismutase makes melons the perfect stress-relieving treat. The enzyme is thought to boost the body’s natural antioxidants, which help prevent tissue damage from highly reactive “oxidative stress” that
releases free radicals (highly reactive atoms) into the body. A group of 35 volunteers took capsules containing the melon extract, as did a control group who took a sugar pill placebo. Both groups showed signs of improvement, but after seven days, levels of stress in the placebo group began to rise once more, while the melon extract group remained, on average, more relaxed. Lead researcher Marie-Anne Milesi, from the commercial health products company Seppic, said: "Several studies have shown that there is a link between psychological stress and intracellular oxidative stress. It will be interesting to confirm these effects and better understand the action of antioxidants on stress in further studies with a larger number of volunteers and a longer duration." So forget Park Place, Vitality or Dave’s Gym and get running down to Riverside or Roath Park Lake - and take a cantaloupe with you!
News in brief Mt. Fuji set to blow Takayuki Kaneko, a geologist from the University of Tokyo, has warned that an eruption of Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic volcano could be imminent. A study of the rocks ejected from the volcano since 781AD concluded that the levels of Silica in the magma have increased, which is generally linked to more violent eruptions. Basalt and large amounts of Aluminium Oxide were also discovered, which can cause eruptions when reacting with Silica. Small earthquakes beneath Fuji at the start of the decade suggest movement inside the basaltic magma chamber, causing the leading geologist to warn of a possible eruption in the very near future. Blood AIDS immunity HIV is the UK’s fastest growing serious health condition, but the good news is that an American research team have made a discovery that could help create a future vaccine. At the end of the 20th century, a group of people were discovered to have natural immunity to the virus, developing AIDS slowly or not at all. This is due to a rare gene belonging to one in every two hundred of those infected. Recent research concluded that the gene helps the body to develop more T cells - a type of infection-fighting white blood cell. However, the researchers warn that a vaccine is at least a decade away. Carbon conundrum solved Carbon is a fundamental element of life, but there has always been a mystery as to where Earth’s supply comes from. We orbit too close to the sun for it to condense from the solar system’s natural cloud. The answer may be found in flakes of carbon-rich dust found in the ice of Antarctica. A high deuterium concentration suggests that they formed on the outer reaches of the early solar system. The dust, which is between 48% and 85% carbon, is likely to have journeyed to Earth on comets and asteroids. Bugs end wasted waste Sewage treatment is a surprising waste of our energy resources. The micro-organisms, which purify our water, produce liquid waste, which contains ammonium and other chemicals too harmful to be released into rivers. The process of removal is not only lengthy, but uses an excess amount of energy due to bacteria requiring oxygen to respire. To tackle this, a new technique is being introduced at Deft University, where ammonium munching bacteria turn the unwanted product into nitrogen gas, without the need for oxygen. This not only saves energy, but the by-product, methane, can be harnessed to produce power, allowing the sewage plant to sustain itself.
22 LETTERS
gairrhydd | LETTERS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MARCH 01 2010
LISTINGS 23
gairrhydd | LISTINGS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Monday 17th May
FUN FACT TREE, Solus, FREE Fun Factory is still producing cheap entertainment for those too stingy to splurge their student loans. Free entry and super cheap drinks are a perfect way to enjoy yourself while keeping an eye on the purse-strings. Dubstep, DnB, Electro... it's got everything. Don't even question it, just go for it. LATE NIGHT LIVE, Ten Feet Tall, FREE, 9pm Every week, 10 Feet Tall selects the finest in local, new and up-and-coming bands to perform in the Rock Room, with 50s and 60s garage rock in the bar. CAI PRESENTS: DOUBLE DAGGER, FRIENDSHIP & SATURDAY'S KIDS, CAI, FREE, 8pm Using deceptively simple instrumentation (bass, drums, vocals), Baltimore trio Double Dagger make a cacophonous wall of sound that has been occasionally described as ‘very loud’ or ‘angry’ pop. More than worthy support, comes from Cardiff's very own, Saturday's Kids.
Friday
21st May BOOMBOX, Solus, £3.50 Get your weekend off to a good start, with cheap drinks and lots of good music. You can't help but have a good night at the Union, with 99p drinks, and the high probability of bumping into everyone you know. Do it, boom your box. INME, Barfly, £10, 7.30pm In their 13 years of existence, INME have constantly evolved to become the four man machine they are today. Their passionate and innovative attitude towards creating music has led to the creation of their proudest opus, “Herald Moth”. FRIDAY NIGHT: PANGAEA, DROKKR,CENTRAL SPILLZ, MONKY, ADAM CORNER, CAI, £2 before 11pm Pangaea is at the forefront of the post-dubstep, future-garage sound that is currently the biggest and most exciting development in dance music. He jams alongside one of Cardiff’s own - top representative, Monky, as well as Ireland's Drokkr and Bristol’s liveliest party-crew, Central Spillz, who will no doubt be dropping some of their new tracks.
Tuesday 18th May
FLUX=RAD, CAI, FREE, 8pm Kentucky crooners Wax Fang drag their postATP beaten souls to FLUX=RAD with a heart of spaced guitar and throat of country passion. Support comes from the excellent Hunters. Go! JUST DANCE, Clwb, £3, 10pm Cardiff's hottest music venue just got a little hotter. JUST DANCE! returns every Tuesday night at Clwb Ifor Bach with one simple mission...to get you dancing all night long. A mixture of modern day pop, rock and R&B, thrown together with some cracking blasts from the past. No gimmicks, no false promises...just cheap entry, cheap drinks prices and great GREAT tunes. NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION, Barfly, £5, 7pm The band have been described as prog-pop and electro-rock, but really they just make music. The music has soaring harmonies and loud guitars and dreamy synths and heavy drums and strange effects and unexpected changes-of-mind.
Saturday 22nd May
COME PLAY, Solus, £3.50 A safe bet for a Saturday night. If none of the other events do it for you, head to the Union for guaranteed good music and cheap drinks. Not the most imaginative of nights out, but you'll be sure to have a good time. And who said that being able to predict the playlist down to the very last minute was a bad thing? SATURDAY NIGHT: SOUND OF RUM, CAI, £2 before 11pm Tipped by Rob Da Bank as 'ones to watch', Kate Tempest and the London based three-piece have been instantly embraced by the festival fraternity for their captivating fusion of ad-lib rhyming, tight jazz drumming and looped-up guitar and bass. We very much look forward to them bringing their infectious flavour to this Saturday night. MR POTTER / DIRTY POP / VINYL VENDETTAS, Clwb, £5, 10pm Saturday night at Clwb is probably the longest running DJ night in Cardiff and it just keeps on getting better. Offering three floors of the best tracks from a variety of genres, Clwb has picked the best DJs currently gracing the decks in Cardiff and put them all on the same night.
Wednesday 19th May
THE LASH, Solus, £3.50 The Lash promises 'all the best in chart and cheese', which doesn't really sound all that tempting, to be honest. But, if you're a sporting LAD then it's most definitely the place to be. LISTEN UP, Clwb, £3 Listen Up has become an institution within an institution. Everybody loves Clwb. Everybody loves Listen Up. Playing a mix of motown, funk, indie and pop amoung three floors of cheap bars and trendy kids, this is the place to be every Wednesday.
Thursday 20th May
C,Y.N.T, COOKIE MONSTA!, Clwb, £4, 10pm Continuing their run of hookups with the Circus Records crew, C.Y.N.T welcome one of the most requested dubstep producers of the moment, Cookie Monsta! This guy produces some of the most grimy, dirty, and totally epic sounds out there and it's time to witness him take to the C-Y-N-T decks for his Cardiff debut.
BOGOF Orange Wednesdays There's so much good stuff on this week. There's the apparently hilarious Hot Tub Time Machine, Robn Hood, and Iron Man II. Take a friend and have a chilled night out away from exam stress.
BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART / LOVE HATE HERO / THE FIRST / THE MORNING AFTER, Clwb, £8.50, 7pm Blessed by a Broken Heart (BBABH) are a Christian metalcore band, originally from Montreal, Canada, who formed in 2003. You may know of their first release, All Is Fair In Love and War, which came out on Blood & Ink Records in 2004.
NO SWEAT PRESENTS: CHEVIOT HILL BAREFOOT DANCE OF THE SEA, SI BURNS, CAI, FREE, 8pm Cheviot Hill are a six-piece soul, folk and funk force to be reckoned with! With beautiful harmonies and mesmerising musicianship, their varied sets captivate audiences from start to finish. Support from the stunning Barefoot Dance of the Sea and Ukelele player, Si Burns.
THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND, Barfly, £6, 7.30pm With their multitudinous influences, blending funk, soul, reggae, dance, hip-hop and Brazilian beat, as well as rock, disco and electro, they sound more than a little eclectic. 'If Santana married a android, their brood of robo-babies would probably sound a lot like The Phenomenal Handclap Band', apparently.
Sunday 23rd May
GO TO THE PARK Take advantage of this recent fine weather and talk a stroll in Bute, a stride in the Bay, or just sit in your garden. Unless, of course, you should be revising... or writing an essay. In which case, get back to it. You should be ashamed. HAVE A SUNDAY ROAST The Taf do a wicked, and cheap Sunday roast as do the CAI. Have a lie in, and then get some classic comfort food to help beat Saturday night's hangover, the end of weekend blues, or general essay/exam hell. Keep going. I'm sending you virtual hugs as you read. DIRTBOX: A FEAST OF COMEDY, CAI, £3, 8pm Happy slapping your frontal lobes and squirting originality into your medulla oblongata from a hose pipe of absurdity, Dirtbox pulls inspiration sketches, music, gameshows, film, stand-up, heated debate and corny adverts. Quickly becoming Cardiff's cherished comedy secret.
Venues Students’ Union, Park Place, 02920 387421 www.cardiffstudents.com ◆ IV Lounge, Neuadd Meirionydd, Heath Park 02920 744948 ◆ Clwb Ifor Bach 11 Womanby Street 02920 232199 www.clwb.net ◆ Barfly, Kingsway, Tickets: 08709070999 www.barflyclub.com/cardiff ◆ Metros, Bakers Row 02920 399939 www.clubmetropolitan. com ◆ CAI, Park Place 02920 412190 ◆ Buffalo Bar, 11 Windsor Place www.myspace.com/ wearebuffalobar ◆ Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton 02920 304400 www.chapter.org ◆ Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay 0870 0402000 www.wmc.org. uk ◆ The New Theatre, Park Place 02920 878889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk ◆ The Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Road 02920 646900 www. shermantheatre.co.uk ◆ Cardiff International Arena, Mary Ann Street 02920 224488 ◆
24 XPRESS RADIO
Alicia Thomas Xpress Radio Station Manager As some of you will be aware by now, last Saturday saw members of Cardiff Student Media out in their finest at the 13th Annual Student Media Awards. Hosted by the king of student radio, Greg James, Xpress members were looking to impress, and impress they did! Not only did our very own Ash Percival and photographer Sam Smith get a mention on Greg’s show on Radio 1, Greg also asked for audio taken on the night to be sent in. That’s right – actual Xpress Radio audio made it to Radio 1! With several media professionals at the
gairrhydd | XPRESSRADIO.CO.UK MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Designed for Cardiff, Defined by you! Xpress recognised by industry professionals at the 13th Annual Cardiff Student Media Awards... Xpress members to make some vital radio contacts. It was also a chance for the judges to scout new talent from Xpress. Chris North from Wise Buddah Talent commented on the entries for Best Newcomer, stating: “Xpress Radio has some fantastic new presenters and certainly some to look out for”. It is clear that, if you are interested in entering the radio industry when you graduate, then student radio is a great stepping stone. This year, we received amazing comments from the judges highlighting the array of talent on Xpress. Paddy O’Connell, from BBC Radio 4, said of the speech entries: “You all have a kind of in-house style that is warm, creative and inviting. Many people on national radio don't perform as naturally and as easily as most of your
XPRESS SUCCESS: Katrina Owen and Ash Percival receive one of their awards - which included Best Mainstream Show and Best Interview - as host Greg James looks on. entries”. awards, the night was a brilliant chance forEd Griffi TOP RIGHT: Xpress members Adrian Naik, ths and Ash Thomas get papped.
Bethan Elfyn from BBC Wales said of the specialist shows: “I loved listening to all the shows, there's talented, passionate, excited and lovely voices on the showreels. Keep at it, and remember, your efforts are always worth it.” The man of the night was Ash Percival, who received four awards, including Most Dedicated Xpress Member. All his efforts as programme controller and as a dedicated presenter on Xpress clearly paid off. Ash has been an asset to Xpress this year and it was apparent on the night that everybody thought he deserved the awards. Although it seems the true star of the night was actually Alan Milward (that’s Greg James’ dad to you and me). Starting off as a quiet man in the corner, by the end of the night, there was an actual queue to speak to him. Whoever said taking your parents to an award night would cramp your style? The night was amazing and a big thank-you to Head of Student Media, Emma Jones, for organising it. Here is to another great year for www.xpressradio.co.uk and for student media as a whole. And the winners are… Best Mainstream Show Judged by Rob Watson, Deputy Programme Controller, Galaxy Radio The Kat and Ash Show Best Specialist Show Judged by Bethan Elfyn, BBC Introducing in Wales Presenter Escape from the Pigeon Hole – Gareth Ludkin and Jonny Falkus Best Speech Show Judged by Paddy O’Connell, BBC Radio 4 Presenter The Rewrite
Best Presenter Judged by Vicki Blight, Radio Presenter Ash Percival Best News Reader Judged by Emma Gilliam, ex BBC Journalist Kirsty Allen Best Producer Judged by Chris Sawyer, BBC Radio 1 Producer Sean Thorne Best Interview Judged by Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1 Presenter Kat and Ash - King Louis Collective Best Newcomer Judged by Chris North, Head of Talent, Wise Buddah Kate Samways Most Dedicated Xpress Member Ash Percival Finally, I just want to say a quick thank-you to all those involved this year. Xpress has gone from strength to strength and next year looks set to be even bigger and better.
LISTEN ONLINE: www.xpressradio.co.uk ✉ studio @ xpressradio.co.uk ☎ 077 222 63 888
FIVE MINUTE FUN 25
gairrhydd | FMF@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
HARD
EASY
crossword.
Across
Down
8. Beasts of burden (4) 9. Ominously prophetic (10) 10. Azotic (6) 11. Thick dark syrup (8) 12. French Sudan (4) 13. Western (10) 17. Male monarch (4) 18. Heart artery (5) 19. Prefix meaning "After" or "Beyond" (4) 20. Provoke the hostility of (10) 22. Pouch (4) 23. Not nighttime (8) 27. Not complicated (6) 28. A language of India (10) 29. Stiff hair (4)
1. A coming to an end (10) 2. Infallible (8) 3. Devotee (10) 4. Strait-laced (4) 5. Cain's brother (4) 6. Invented the lightbulb (6) 7. ___ meridiem (4) 14. Welsh dog (5) 15. Franchise (10) 16. Put into words (10) 19. Jumble (8) 21. Make a disguised reference to (6) 24. Similar (4) 25. Spew forth (4) 26. Snare (4)
26 SPORT - WARM UP Previews in David Eastwood previews the biggest match in
gairrhydd | SPORT@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
brief
European club football...The Champions League Final
Alex Bywater Sports Writer
T
Blackpool v Cardiff City After a thrilling penalty shoot out win over Leicester City on Wednesday evening, Cardiff are just one game away from the riches and glamour of the Premier League. In what will be Cardiff's biggest game for more than 50 years, the Bluebirds take on Blackpool in the Play-Off Final at Wembley on May 22. In a game that is reportedly worth £90 million, Cardiff will be looking to their attacking players to take them to the promised land. Peter Whittingham is the top scorer in the Championship with 22 goals and is ably supported by strikers Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd. Cardiff also possess the necessary 'big game' experience having reached the FA Cup Final in 2008. Cardiff have been close to promotion in recent years though their oppenents Blackpool are surprising finalists in the show piece Championship event. Blackpool, under the guidance of Ian Holloway, have soared up the table and just pipped Cardiff's great rivals Swansea to the final play off place. In what will be an undoubtedly tense match, I expect Cardiff to progress by a narrow margin and at last bring top level football to the Welsh capital.
Alex Winter Sports Writer
Cardiff Blues v Toulon Amlin Cup Final
Cardiff Blues will again have to defy the odds on Sunday to win their first piece of European silverware. Having defeated Guinness Premiership side Wasps away from home in the semi-final, they face an even sterner test in the final against French opposition in their own back yard. The Stade Velodrome in Marseille is a traditional heartland of French rugby and Cardiff will need to overcome Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon to lift the trophy. Wilkinson has 64 points in the competition for Toulon, who only missed out on top spot in France's Top 14 on points-difference. After missing out on the Magners League play-offs by just one point and losing to Gloucester in the semi-final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, the Amlin Challenge Cup represents the Blues' only chance of success this season. The Blues qualified for the Challenge Cup by virtue of finishing second in their Heineken Cup pool. They comfortably defeated Newcastle 5520 in the quarter-final before an 1815 success against Wasps at Adams Park.
his was not the final we expected or many wanted. The 2010 Champions League final, at the Bernabeu, was set up for a classic encounter. Some eyed up an all English affair as Chelsea or Arsenal could have negotiated their way through their side of the draw to face Manchester United. Others dreamed of an ‘El Clasico’ final, drooling over the prospect of Real Madrid taking on Barcelona at their own ground. This, though, was never likely as the latest generation of Galacticos whimpered out of the competition with defeat to Lyon in the Round of 16. Barcelona were supposed to be ‘blessed’ with regaining the title at their fiercest rivals' ground. They were of course denied the opportunity to do so in the semi-final. Inter gave a bludgeoning display of defending that only former Nerazzurri hard man, Giuseppe Bergomi, would appreciate. In doing so they retained footballs great contradiction where ‘big’ clubs give defensive master classes while Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce are seen to ruin the beautiful game.
Both teams could be on the cusp of a remarkable treble What we are left with is a final that pits low-scoring Inter against a Bayern team who came second in their group and who won two out of three knockout rounds on the bitterly unsatisfying away goals rule. Such negativity seems a little harsh considering that both teams could be on the cusp of a remarkable treble. Inter Milan have already won the Coppa Italia and only require a point away to already relegated Siena to win their fifth straight Scudetto. Meanwhile Bayern could complete their domestic double on Saturday with a win over Werder Bremen in their cup final. Bayern’s path to the final saw them bailed out twice by Arjen Robben. His late goals against Fiorentina, in the round of 16, and Manchester United, in the quarter-final, ensured their progression to the semi-final against
Defensive quality vs attacking flair Lyon. The current Lyon side, despite reaching their first Champions League semi-final, are a ghostly impersonation of their former self. They were a team who had previously won seven consecutive league titles between 2002 and 2008. However, former players of the year, Essien, Juninho, Malouda and Benzema, have all departed leaving a shell of team. The emergence of Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, is the one bright light in an otherwise mediocre side. Bayern’s victory was sealed with a hat-trick from Ivica Olic as they won 3-0 in the second leg. This completed a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win. Bayern’s presence in the final has been sullied somewhat by their audacious appeal to the Court for Arbitration in Sport. They will find out on May 18 if they have been successful in rescinding Franck Ribery’s red card, and subsequent three-match ban. Ribery was sent off in the first leg of the semi-final for a fairly brutal tackle on Lyon forward Lisandro. Last year Dani Alves, Eric Abidal and Darren Fletcher all missed the final through
suspension when they were told that appeals were only allowed through ‘mistaken identity.’ Similarly this season Thiago Motto sits out the final for Inter after he received a red card for brushing Sergi Busquet’s neck, in the second leg of the Inter v Barca semifinal. Unfortunately Motto decided to confront the play- acting Busquets after this perceived in-justice rendering any appeal pointless. Missing out on the final would complete a wretched season for Ribery who started with tendonitis in his left knee and finishes it accused of sleeping with an underaged prostitute.
Mourinho's team go into the game as favourites With one half of Robbery almost certainly missing out Bayern will rely on the rejuvenated Robben to form a three-pronged attack with the ever dependable Olic and Thomas Muller. 20year-old Muller must be considered a
real threat, having forced his way into the side this season at the expense of German international Miroslav Klose. Inter Milan meanwhile are guided by Wesley Sneijder, who pulls the strings in midfield. Sneijder, like Robben, endured a torrid time at Real Madrid and will hope to show the Bernabeu crowd a display that shows off his undoubted ability. Up-front Eto’o and Milito will continue to cause problems to Bayern’s defence. Mourinho’s team go into the game as favourites for this underwhelming final. I predict that 'the special one' will end up disappointed, however, as a turgid game ends in 1-1 draw leaving the Germans to clinch it on penalties. Italian wonder-brat Balotelli misses the deciding penalty with a pathetic chip, similar to Yann Kermorgan’s woeful effort against Cardiff City in the play-off semi-final. This leaves the jubilant Bayern crowd to sing ‘Who needs Mourinho we’ve got Louis Van Gaal,’ obviously inspired by Scunthorpe United’s novel ditty.
Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan: Editors' Predictions Adam Horne: After beating Manchester United with ease in the quarter-final and winning their league, Bayern have shown themselves to be a top team this year. Even though Inter Milan are favourites, Bayern will still go in with high hopes, especially with the tricks of Robben on the wing and the prolific finishing of their striker Olic. It will be a close match as both teams will be desperate to win the biggest trophy in European football. I predict an edgy game where Bayern come out on top with a 2-1 victory.
James Hinks: I hate Inter Milan, with their desperately slow football, diving, simulating and general cheating behaviour. However, it works, well; it got them this far anyway. I predict an anti-climax to this years Champions League, with Mourinho's Inter Milan slogging out a 1 - 0 win. Hopefully, Bayern Munich will score early and force Inter Milan to change their style but it looks like Mourinho's ego is going to take another boost. Maybe this time he will celebrate his win instead of taking his medal off like a c**t.
Jon Evans: Not many people would have bet on these two teams making it to the final, but as they've shown throughout the season, they can raise their game when it matters. Inter are the favourites, and with Jose at the helm I can't see them throwing this one away. It's likely that Ribery will be missing which could prove to be costly, meaning that Bayern will look to their influential Dutchman Robben for inspiration. Inter are a solid unit with quality all over the park, I fancy them to take it 2-1.
Lucy Morgan: Inter Milan are arguably the best defenders in European football and with Jose Mourinho at the helm, I'm predicting them to come away with the trophy. Mourinho won the Champions league with Porto in 2004, came close with Chelsea and is hungry to win again to prove his success at Porto was no fluke. Even though they have star players such as Zanetti, Eto'o and Cambiasso, Inter are all about the team and they have a really strong unit. Having already won the Coppa Italia Inter are looking strong contenders for the trophy.
THE WORD ON - SPORT 27
gairrhydd | SPORT@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY MAY 17 2010
Alex Bywater gives The Word On... a cashfilled 2009/10 season, and Chelsea's title win
There is little doubt that Chelsea deserved to win the title, even if it was only by a single point. Although no team could claim to have been consistent, Chelsea came closest to it by losing just six games. In previous seasons, a statistic of this kind would have undoubtedly ruled Chelsea out of the chance of winning the title. This shows the strength, or lack of it, in the Premier League this season. As pundits have pointed out, the relative strength of the domestic leagues can be measured by their success in Europe. For the first time in five years, there will be no English representation in the final of the Champions League. This suggests, arguably rightly, that the standard of play in the Premiership has not been up to that of previous years. However, this should not play down Chelsea’s achievement by any means.
MICHAEL MACINTYRE: Big fan
Twists and turns from the 2009/10 season
1.
In what was one of the closest Barclays Premier League title races in history, Chelsea claimed their first League title under Carlo Ancelotti by thrashing Wigan Athletic 8-0 on the final day of the season. In a season preceded by the death of footballing legend Sir Bobby Robson, the 2009/10 campaign saw administration, multi-million pound transfers and the closest ever race for Champions League places. Although the dominance of the traditional ‘top four’ was broken, the title still went to Stamford Bridge, securing Chelsea’s first title triumph since the glorious era under Jose Mourinho.
There will be no English representation in the Champions League final
Top Five
Chelsea didn't drop a single point against any of their 'top four' rivals this season - surely a marker of why they deserved to win. Their biggest points came at Old Trafford, beating United 2-1. Controversial goal as Drogba was offisde, but that's life!
2.
CROWD SURFING: Ever seen a cup crowd surf? You have now Indeed, they may still win the elusive double if they can beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final. Before this season, although a tremendously successful side, Chelsea had never been seen as a purist’s team; one that could dismantle sides at will with open, attacking football. This has all changed under Ancelotti, somewhat ironically given his background in the defensively minded Italian game. With a goal difference of +71, led by Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, Chelsea’s attack has certainly taken on a new edge this season. Having scored seven against Aston Villa and Stoke, and eight against Wigan, there can be no doubt that Ancelotti and assistant, Ray Wilkins, have transformed the side. Frank Lampard has had another tremendously consistent season, having, again, scored more than twenty goals in the League. Arguably, though, the player who has made the difference to Chelsea this season has been French winger, Florent Malouda. Ineffective at Stamford Bridge until this year, Malouda has been like a new signing, offering pace, creativity and vibrancy down the left side. As a result, Ancelotti has been able to banish the memories of Jose Mourinho, and will be looking to emulate the enigmatic Portuguese by claiming a hat trick of titles. Although Chelsea deserved to win the League, the real story of the season has been the finish for the European places. Money-bags Manchester City
looked like the most likely candidates to topple the usual Premier League hegemons, as they blew everyone else out of the transfer market.
FERGIE: Jealous of Carlo's smile New signings such as Carlos Tevez, Emanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry were expected to deliver the success that the new owners craved. It is clear that the top four clubs went backwards, and the huge forward strides made by clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and of course Manchester City clearly exacerbated this trend. Of course, one of the most significant names missing from this list is Liverpool. Having challenged for the title last year, hopes were high for this campaign. The outcome of this season, with a seventh place finish and a group stage exit from the Champions League, leaves question marks hanging over Manager Rafael Benitez’s future. After a shocking start, Mersey-
side rivals Everton had a tremendous end to the season, finishing only two points behind their close neighbours. In the end, Tottenham Hotspur reaped the huge financial rewards of Champions League qualification after Peter Crouch’s winner toppled Manchester City at Eastlands in a game which was said to be worth up to £50 million. At the wrong end of the table, Portsmouth, Hull City and Burnley were relegated; the former-most doomed from early on after being deducted nine points for going into administration. The economic turmoil and ownership chaos on the south coast will be the enduring image and legacy of the season just gone.
Peter Crouch scored a £50 million goal against Manchester City So then, what can we learn from the 2009/10 season? That money does not buy success? Or that money is the cause of most of the problems? Arguably, the lesson we can learn is that 2010 could set a precedent for future seasons to come. The top four all need to strengthen their squads, and with the improvement of other teams, we could see future seasons like the one just gone, with multiple teams challenging for the title in 2011.
There were doubts over Manchester United's title hopes after a shock loss to Minnows Burnley early season. After losing 1-0, they were always playing catch up. A win could have seen the title elsewhere.
3.
Peter Crouch scored a goal that was rumoured to be worth around £50 million for Spurs against Manchester City. This ensured them fourth spot, and broke City's dream of playing in the Champions League.
4.
Arsenal were looking like they had a good chance of challenging for the title towards the end of the season, but their hopes were hit hard after a 2-1 loss to neighbours, Tottenham.
5. At the other end of the table, Portsmouth were already struggling with league form, but money woes led to a dive into administration, and a points deduction that made them destined to face relegation.
Sport gairrhydd
INSIDE: The Word On...Champions Chelsea and a Premiership Round Up, plus Preview of the UEFA Champions League Final
Cardiff bowled over Iestyn Scourfield Sports Writer Cardiff 2nds were well on their way to proving why ‘catches win matches’, before a collapse in the batting order led them to defeat in their opening game of the BUCS season against Aberystwyth. A perfect day provided excellent cricketing conditions, and the Cardiff players were all on a high and raring to go after defeating the first team during the previous week in a warm up match. However proceedings were delayed due to confusion over when the rearranged game was due to start. This meant that wickets were pitched at 1.40pm and not 12.30pm, reducing the game from 50 to 40 overs. Cardiff Skipper Toby De Mellow,
won the toss by default and chose to put Aberystwyth in to bat on what was an ‘unpredictable’ wicket at Llanrumney.
The Cardiff players were all on a high and raring to go Aberystwyth got off to a good start but opening bowler Matthew Biggs made the first breakthrough with skipper De Mellow taking a good catch at mid-off. The Aberystwyth batsmen built a strong partnership for the second wicket reaching 130-1 and looking to push the run rate. Spin bowlers Chris Plowman and Tom Nevin stepped up to make use of a pitch which awarded very
little to the pace bowlers. Plowman, giving the ball good flight, managed to get the much needed breakthrough. Nevin was turning the ball square, using a skiddy action to exploit good areas on the wicket. Such turn resulted in wicket keeper Tim Rowse taking a nasty blow to the eye which prompted scenes similar to BBC’s Casualty erupting on the pitch. Alex Senn stepped in to keep wicket for the duration of Rowse’s treatment off the field and took full advantage with a lightening quick stumping to continue the Cardiff onslaught. Nevin went on to take four wickets for 25 runs, while captain De Mellow took three wickets for 6 runs with his ‘Alan Mullally’ style left arm bowling. Plowman provided two key wickets which brought the Aberystw-
yth innings to an end at 165 all out. Taking nine wickets and conceding a mere 35 runs was not only attributable to good bowling, but also to some fantastic catches made by the Cardiff fielders (eight catches in total)!
Cardiff seemed confident of being able to reach the total set by the visitors At the halfway mark, Cardiff seemed confident to be able to reach the total set by the visitors. However cricket is a funny old game, however this confidence was short-lived. Facing decent Aberystwyth open-
ing bowlers, Cardiff’s top order collapsed catastrophically! With the ball swinging like a 60s disco, ‘Team KLAW’ found it difficult to settle at the crease. (‘Team KLAW’ as all top four Cardiff Batsmen are members of the KLAW IMG football side) – Nevin, Rowson, Jones and Senn. Providing a miserable 13 runs between them, Cardiff were already staring down the barrel and were in deep trouble at 27-5. Toby De Mellow, Warwick Symcox and Chris Plowman seemed to be settling the ship with scores of 13, 16 and 16 respectively, but the pressure was telling and the pitch wasn’t helping. Wickets fell and the innings came to an end, with Cardiff bowled out for 87. Up next for Cardiff 2nd XI is a long trip to Aberystwyth to play their 2nd XI.
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