gair rhydd
gair rhydd | free word Cardiff’s student weekly newspaper Papur wythnosol myfyrwyr Caerdydd Issue 1107 | Rhifyn 1107 27th November 2017 | 27ain o Dachwedd 2017
Cardiff Uni’s student paper | est . 1972
Agendas Gather Momentum AGM sees living wage denied and roles changed
Voluntourism: more harm than good?
p.8 Conservatives reveal autumn budget p.12
No Hair? Don’t care! Dealing with hair loss p.23 George Watkins
T
he Annual General Meeting of the Students’ Union saw a sharp divide between those engaged, and those who may feel disenfranchised, as motions split the room. The most controversial motions included debates on whether to raise the wage of staff in the Union to £8.75, and whether to change the VP Welfare role to VP Welfare and Campaigns; and the VP Societies position to VP Activities, which would encompass both societies and volunteering. Hundreds of students flooded the Great Hall, as the five motions saw heated debatefrom across the hall. One student described how “engaged” she felt about the event, having expected that she would struggle to concentrate. This seemed to be quite the opposite for the vast majority of voters. The meeting began with a discussion of the
Annual Report from 2016-17, the Financial Report from 2016-17, and the minutes from the previous AGM. As the floor opened for members of the audience to question the trustees (involving the sabbatical officers and two student trustees), a wide range of questions were raised. Attracting the most attention was whether the SU should charge £1 for VKs, the most popular drink sold at club nights and in The Taf. A roar of approval arose, along with much laughter, but the economic reality was swiftly brought into focus by Hollie Cooke, the SU President. The first motion, concerning the representation of Muslim students in the Union, particularly around religious practices clashing with timetables, initially went unopposed. However, two students joined the debate, one concerned that Jewish customs should also be included, and another, a Hindu student, explaining how she simply worked it into her timetable. Ultimately the motion passed convincingly. The second mo-
tion was much more contested, addressing the issue of whether to raise the wage of Student Union staff to the National Living Wage, currently sitting at £8.75. Labour Students took to the stage to defend the motion, and suggested that feeling poor after a night out of drinking VKs was perhaps equivalent to feeling dismay at exploiting underpaid Union workers. Despite this, the initial air seemed to suggest warmth to the motion, until Geoff Jukes took to the stage. A current Masters student, and an employeee of the Union venues team, he passionately defended the current wage as easily adequate on top of his Postgraduate student loan, a position which was met with loud cries of agreement. The mood changed swiftly, and the motion failed. Fadhila Al Dhahouri, the VP Education, motioned next, asking for student representation on the University Executive Board (UEB). There was no oppositon, and the motion passed by a visible landslide. It was much the same story for Jake
Smith, VP Postgraduate’s motion to introduce “Real financial support for postgraduate students in need”, which passed by another landslide. The final motion surrounding the change of the VP Welfare and VP Societies roles to cover Campign Officers and Volunteering/ Activities under their respective remits raised concerns from two key players in the room: student media and sport, including the AU President Tom Kelly. Student Media had engaged with the motion, with many concerned that it could be encompassed into the Activities bracket, with the potential for abuse of power by a future sabbatical officer. Concerns stemmed from the previous VP Media and Marketing position, which was scrapped in a storm of turmoil and criticism a few years previously.Tom Kelly was concerned that the new Societies position would remove the necessity for an AU President, and requested an amendment for the role to be VP Socieites and Volunteering.
Continued inside
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EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor-in-Chief Liam Ketcher Deputy Editors Gareth Axenderrie Tanya Harrington News George Watkins Emma Videan Rimante Bivainyte Comment George Cook Jessica Warren Silvia Martelli
the free word Islamophobia awareness month comes to an end
Society needs to be more considerate
Unsafe Space Harry Heath Politics Gareth Axenderrie Tanya Harrington Conor Holohan Hannah Woodward Science Louange Lubangu Stephanie Ma Advice Alice Dent Sarah Harris Campus Life Laura Price Taf-od Elen Davies Osian Wyn Morgan Aled Huw Russell Sport Rich Jones Mark Wyatt Molly Ambler Rhys Thomas Digital Media Editors Alice Dent Reece Chambers Cartoonist Louis Mertens Copy Editors Lydia Caunce Eva Kwatek Alys Hewitt Aditi Gupta Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com
At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. Sometimes, because of deadline pressures, we may make some mistakes. If you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com. You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints Opinions expressed in editorials are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.
Liam Ketcher
T
his month was Islamophobia Awareness Month, and as we come to the end of November I thought that this was a good opportunity to look at how Islam is represented within the University, the Students’ Union and Cardiff itself. Islamophobia has an effect on all parts of a Muslim’s life. According to the Guardian, less than 20% of Muslim adults are in full-time employment and only 6% of Muslims are in higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations. Both these figures and the effects of Islam-
ophobia are related, and there needs to be a way to stop these stereotypes. As Cardiff is a diverse city with people from all different backgrounds, religions, languages, ethnicities and so much more, it’s a hard thing to make sure that everybody feels represented and included within society. You’d like to think that all are treated equally, but according to some, there are a few things that can be done better in order to support the needs of those within the Islamic community at the University. In last weeks AGM, the very first motion raised on the night was, ‘Muslim students to be better facilitated by the Students’ Union’. The AGM
notes revealed that Cardiff University’s Muslim students are not being well facilitated and that current praying facilities, such as the multi-faith room in the Students’ Union, are in need of a renovation. Feedback from around 50 people showed that there is also a need for ablution facilities around campus in order to make it easier for those who need and want to follow their religion, so they can carry out their practises that they need to. The motion presented was challenged by two other speakers, who both spoke well, providing the same well prepared argument. Personally, this showed me how nearly impossible it would be for the university and
the Students’ Union to accommodate all faiths within the student body. Due to our multi-faith society, it is hard to make sure that everyone feels represented and is treated equally. With 30,000 students here at Cardiff, with all worshipping different faiths and religions, this proves impossible to provide the same outcome for all. We live in a country with many religions, and we all have the rights to put it to practise, and this should not infringe so heavily on others. This is not to say that such sacrifices as important as education should be made. There is no easy answer, but there should be a considerable balance for all beliefs.
GOLYGYDDOL
T h e 57,000,000
N e w s Number of people who had data stolen when Uber was hacked last year.
£7.83
i n
The amount the minimum wage will rise to from its current level of £7.50.
3
N u m b e r s
53,000
A picturesque Swiss village is offering to pay people £53,000 to go and live there.
102
Age of Holocaust survivor who was lucky enough to meet a nephew he didn’t know existed.
What’s On? cAMPUS Global Opportunities Fair Y Plas 29th November 1-5pm
Go along and check out the international placements, Erasmus schemes and summer volunteering opportunities.
Andy Fairweather Low New Theatre
Last week, there was the Story event in Cardiff. Throughout the week, the Christian Union helped organise a number of events. These included free lunches and hearing stories about the impact of faith on people’s lives. Evening talks also took place, where there were more in depth discussions about the Christian faith.
2nd December 7:30pm
Wales
Cardiff born guitarist and vocalist who worked with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Bob Dylan and Elton John.
A seal has been given the nickname Edmund after being rescued from a cliff near Bull Bay, Amlwch in Gwynedd. Edmund the seal pup, who climbed 60 feet up the cliff, was given his new title by RSPCA rescuers. He has been named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who climbed Mount Everest.
Mastodon The Great Hall
2nd December 7-11pm
American heavy metal rock band. From Atlanta, Georgia, the band were formed in 2000 and are supported by Red Fang and Russian Circles.
Cardiff University Men’s Rugby 1st Team vs University of BathLlanrumney 3G, Mendip Road 29th November 5pm
Get behind Cardiff Men’s Rugby team as they face Bath University’s second team as they hope to go top of the table.
Santa and Elf Dash! Cardiff Bay 3rd December 12-2pm
The Cardiff Bay Santa and Elf Dash is back once again bringing the festive cheer. Thousands of Santas and Elves will descend on the Bay.
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe: Together Again Motorpoint Arena 30th November 7pm
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe will be performing in Cardiff as part of some exclusive shows across the country.
UK Punchy Pig! A woman was punched by another mum whilst they were in a line to see Peppa Pig at Hamleys. There were 800,000 people in the crowd where the woman in her 50s was knocked unconcious. Despite the event being intended for children, it appears some middle-aged people can’t wait to see the pink pig either!
World Trump has pardoned the first turkey of Thanksgiving. Dubbed ‘Drumstick’, Trump said that the turkey had a ‘very, very bright future ahead of him’. However, the move proved rather comical for those on Twitter. Many have likened Drumstick to the President himself. We will soon see which one gets stuffed!
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NEWS
news
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AGM: What happened?
George Watkins
Continued from front page This was voted in by slightly more than chose to reject it, with many more abstaining. With the amendment passed, the motion also followed suit, with only a small minority of the audience, including figures from Student Media, opting to vote against.
With the motions over, murmuring ensued, as Aditi Gupta, in charge of proceedings, announced the opening of nominations for the elections for the Sabbatical and Campaign Officers roles for the next academic year. Noted by our reporters situated around the room, many of the figures in the first four rows were heavily engaged with Union activities already, whether Venues
staff, part of the Student Advice team, officers, or simply involved generally. Socities and sports clubs were required to have three members in attendance to avoid being reprimanded., and the majority of these tended to sit further back. Often there was a split between the students applauding an opinion or motion by literally the front and the back, which was seen throught the evening, throughout
variosu motions. What the AGM agenda will mean for the rest of this academic year, and for years to come is uncertain, but clearly student engagement is still low. Out of 32,000 students, between 500-600 in attendance is a minimal figure, and for adequate representation, more work is needed to ensure that student politics begins to be taken more seriously.
On Campus
Cardiff University ranked ‘red’ for free speech
Rimante Bivainyte
T
he Free Speech University Rankings, launched by online magazine Spiked, has given Cardiff University and Cardiff University Students’ Union a “red ranking” and called it a “hostile environment for free speech”. The statement revealed that the university “restricts offensive speech and operates an outright ban on homophobic speech”, pointing this to the opposition in 2015 to the feminist Germaine Greer delivering a lecture. In online platforms, students created a petition against this lecture due to the consideration of Greer’s opinion towards transgender people. Greer, at that time, was working on her book on women in power and the history of feminism, and was therefore planning to deliver the speech called “Women and Power: The Lessons of the 20th Century”, which was not expected to touch topics concerned with transgender issues. Hence, the petition was neglected and Greer gave her speech. According to The Independent, there were at least five police officers and at
least 10 university security staff checking tickets and monitoring a crowd of about 25 demonstrators. Moreover, the “red ranking” includes that the university ‘bans sexist speech, tabloid newspapers and, in 2015, banned the comedian Dapper Laughs.’ Three years ago, more than 700 students signed a petition demanding that Dapper Laughs’s tour should not be held at the university’s Students’ Union. David Daniel O’Reilly, better known as Dapper Laughs, is a British stand up comedian who was criticised for being “sexist and inappropriate”. Eventually, the performer was banned after students complained about his show that “trivialised rape, unprotected sex and dehumanising of women.” A final year student at the time said that it was not appropriate to bring “this kind” of gig to the academic venue, where it would have gone “against our policies”. Furthermore, three years ago the university banned newspapers The Sun and The Daily Star from the Union’s branch of WHSmith. Nevertheless, the deputy editor of Spiked Tom Slater
Pictured: Main Building. Credit: Jessica Warren.
defended the “red ranking” by saying: “One of Cardiff’s policies operates an outright ban on homophobic propaganda in the forms of written materials, graffiti, songs or speeches. Now, I’m sure no-one in this room would think
that that kind of viewpoint is acceptable – they would want to challenge it”. The Vice Chancellor Colin Riordan has also defended the institution against the claims of the university being a “hostile environment for free speech”.
NEWYDDION In The City
Cardiff faces crisis in student housing amidst waning demand
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In The City Vice-Chancellor speaks out about sexuality
Cardiff University
S George Watkins
Pictured: The planned Bridge Streetsite (Source: Watkin Jones Group)
C
ardiff is facing a crisis as continued investments by private companies into the student housing market fail to attract adequate attention from students, leaving to empty buildings. Two developments have applied for their halls to be allowed to let to nonstudents. One of which, Livin Cardiff, on City Road, is applying for a temporary shift until September 2018, having not received enough students willing to take the rooms. Management agency CRM, who manage the property, said in papers being sent to Cardiff council that they have found letting to students to be “very competitive and therefore challenging”. They also said: “In an era of shortages of accommodation, we feel an obligation to our clients to advise them to seek alternative occupiers wherever possible, and that we investigate every opportunity to ensure no room remains unlet and opportunities for homes are made available to the non-
student market”. While there seems to be a waning demand for bespoke student living, many more buildings have been planned for the coming years, right in the heart of the city. Currently, blocks of student flats do not classify as housing, and are therefore cheaper to build, and there is much less of a requirement for adequate light and space, as well as being cheaper in terms of construction contributions to councils.
Two developments have applied for their halls to be allowed to let to nonstudents. The second complex applying for a change in usage was the Eclipse accommodation in Adamsdown. Cardiff University said in a statement that the average rent per week in the city (including bills) for a student is £87.82. This pales in comparison to Eclipse,
which costs £137 per week, with prices peaking at £287 per week for the most expensive double occupancy in a one-bed apartment. Despite this, huge construction projects are planned for the very near future, including one set to be Wales’ tallest building. The structure will sit in Custom House Street/ Bute Street (behind John Lewis), and could contain over 400 student flats. Cardiff Council approved measures last year to limit the number of houses in multiple occupations (often student houses) in Cathays and Roath, to “retain balanced communities and secure a high standard of development”, a move which appears to contradict the scale of developments of student accommodation in the heart of the city centre. If a precedent has been set by demand for student flats already, then it is unclear the benefits that these new structures will bring to the commissioning companies and to the City. itself.
tating that it was important for him to “speak out,” President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University Colin Riordan explained to staff members that he is bisexual in a monthly email. Having missed the university’s Bi-Visibility Day in September, he felt encouraged to express himself. “I wanted to show it was a good thing to help stop making bisexual people invisible”, he told BBC Wales. He said that he never “deliberately kept it a secret” as he had never seen a need to speak out about it . He also mentioned the university’s LGBT network - Enfys, with which he was invited to connect. However, the professor read an article regarding LGBT experiences where he was described as its ‘straight friend’, and responded: “I felt fraudulent and uncomfortable that people presumed I was straight. Speaking out allowed me to correct the false impression”. The professor noted that speaking out about his sexual orientation has been difficult. the decision made him feel stressed and uneasy. He said, ”although this is not a big thing for me, I knew it would be seen as a big thing by others”. However, the response to this email was greatly positive - fellow staff members emailed him to show appreciation of his courage, as well as to inform him of how his words helped them to face some of their own issues. He wanted to express his relief, adding: “Already I feel more myself and that a weight has been lifted. I am now being truly honest with those around me, and there is a certain freedom in that.” It can be said with great certainty that the Vice-Chancellor has helped greatly to combat stigma.
National
Welsh universities see sharp drop in Asian student numbers £487m Spent by international students in 2015-16
which is equivalent to
3.7%
of all Welsh exports for the year
U
niversities in Wales saw a 59% drop in the number of South Asian students in 2015-16, compared to the two years previously, according to a new report from Universities Wales. A decline was seen across the rest of the UK, with 22% fewer students choosing to study in Britain, but the figure for Wales was nearly three times as high. Despite this, Cardiff University boasts a proud international student population, seeing a rise of 14.5% since 201314, according to a university spokesperson. Reasons that have been suggested for the decline have included more stringent visa and immigration controls, as
well as the potentail impact of Brexit on the higher education sector as a whole. In 2015-16 there were 22,190 international students in Wales, reflecting 17% of the total student population across the country. The report also highlightedthe benefits of foreign students for the Welsh economy. Such students and their visitors spent £487 million in 2015-16, equivalent to 3.7% of all Welsh exports, and greater that the complete 2016 spend by tourists and visitors. The study itself was undertaken in autumn of 2017, at the same time that the Home Office introduced increasingly tight measures on imigration. The
report suggests that this played a key part in affecting the figures for non-EU students in particular. EU students, reflected 25% of the total international student figure, compared to 75% from outside, arriving from 140 countries. Chinese students still remain the largest single country for international students, with 4810 across Wales, compared to 1780 for India, 1340 for Bangladesh and 1235 for Nigeria, the top four countries in terms of numbers. China was also noted as “a key international market for Wales”, with their figure rising by 90 students since the previous set of data was released for 2013-14.
NEWS
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In The City
£500,000 to make Cardiff a ‘cycling city’ The investment sees safety as a priority
In The City
Council creates large energy savings
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Ilona Cabral Pictured: The aim was to make Cardiff safer for cyclists Source: davidbaxendale. com (Via Flickr)
C
ardiff council has said that it wants the capital to become “a world class cycling city”. It aims to fulfil this goal by feeding £500,000 for 5 years into boosting cycling activities and coaching. The project, supported by British cycling and HSBC, is being implemented in 9 other cities and aims to: increase the number of people cycling to over 100,000; double the percentage of journeys taken by bicycle from 9.2% to 18.4%; host a city ride for 8,000 cyclists on 13th May
2017, where the City Centre will be closed for a ‘car-free’ day; to encourage more than 50% of journeys to take place on bikes, on foot or by public transport by 2026. However, with the volume of traffic on Wales’ road at an all-time, it is clear why 57% of residents are dissuaded from cycling more. People are calling for more road safety measures; almost 80% of Cardiff residents believe that segregated cycle lanes will make cycling safer and a report by Sustrans Cymru has
shown that protective barriers would encourage more cyclists. If this project hopes to succeed, the £2,500k needs to be used effectively to support cycling and coaching, but also to improve cycle safety.
50%
The scheme is keen to see over 50% of journeys taken by bike, foot or public transport by 2026
ardiff City Council is taking a major step towards becoming a smart city and reducing its carbon footprint by installing more than 14,000 connected LED streetlights. This system will reduce electricity for lighting by 60%, saving more than £750,000 per year while supporting safety measures and the security of citizens. The project was put forward following public consultation and will offers digital infrastructure for future smart city services. The company that will be installing this lighting system is Philips Lighting, who has announced that Cardiff will be its 1000 th project. The network of streetlights, that are controlled remotely can be dimmed or brightened at any given moment, including on the request brighter lighting outside the homes of those with visual or hearing impairments. Cardiff joins the systems of that in Amsterdam, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles. Chris Jones, Lead Electrical Officer at Cardiff Council, said, “We looked at a broad range of factors when selecting our new lighting system. Our top priorities were to ensure maximum benefit for our citizens and capitalize on potential cost and energy savings.” The installation of over 14,000 LED lights has nearly been completed, and everything was chosen based on public onsultation due to the impact that street lighting has on the 360,000 Cardiff residents and 20 million yearly visitors.
In the City
17-year-old arrested over Bieber terror plot An ISIS-style terror attack foiled at Justin Bieber concert
Maisie Williams
Pictured: The event wasn’t overshadowed by the event (Source: Principality Stadium)
A
17-year-old schoolboy was recently arrested after there were concerns he was planning to carry out an ISIS-style terror attack at the Justin Bieber concert at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium. Police and prosecutors are looking into the planned attack after the boy (who cannot be publicly named for legal reasons) posted a ‘martyrdom letter’ declaring his allegiance to ISIS’s cause. Through hours of analysing the boy’s internet searches and online posts, police strongly believe that he was radicalised online, and that the upcoming Bieber concert was to be the target of the attack. Police also found a hand-written suicide note, confirmed by fingerprint testing, in the boy’s bedroom when they arrested him at home in rural South Wales on June 30th, the day of Bieber’s Cardiff show. The note in question read “I am a soldier of the Islamic State. I have attacked Cardiff today because your government keeps on bombing targets in Syria and Iraq. There will be more attacks in the future”. Weapons such as a kitchen knife and a hammer were also found in the boy’s schoolbag on the night of the arrest. It is
also to be believed that the boy, who is from a White British background, may have also been inspired by the terror attack that occurred at the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena,which had then taken place a month prior to his arrest. The boy’s social media usage was also apoint of concern. His Instagram account password was said to be ‘TruckAttack’, with one post on the site reading “Cardiff, are you ready for our terror”, as well as an image of Cardiff Castle, suggesting he was hinting at busy areas within the city that could be a target. Information found on theteenager’s computer showed a poster relating to the
Weapons such as a kitchen knife and a hammer were also found in the boy’s schoolbag on the night of the arrest upcoming concert, along with evidence that he’d searched for security and gate entrances at the Principality Stadium. Other searches heavily suggest that he was intend-
ing to drive a vehicle into crowds as they left the concert, emulating many recent ISIS attacks that have occurred across the UK and Western Europe. Prosecutor Matthew Brook explains that these online searches happened that just two days before the
concert and made jurors aware that the boy’s note included claims such as running down “nonbelievers”with a car, and fatally stabbing individuals who “oppose Allah”. The trial is currently ongoing, with more information to come.
STUDENT FAMILY DAY For students with children. saturday 2nd December, Y Plas, 2nd floor, Students’ Union 14.30-17.00.
There will be lots of fun games and activities to keep your young ones entertained. It will also be a great opportunity for you to meet other parents and make some new friends.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT CARDIFFSTUDENTS.COM
8 COMMENT
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Volunteering: Do developing nations benefit that much?
T
his summer, I was part of a group of eight students from Cardiff University to volunteer in southern India with The Safe Foundation. Over a month-long period, we learnt about the value of charity work and the reception to volunteers Initially, the eight of us arrived at Heathrow airport with rose-tinted glasses and the idea that we would be dramatically changing the lives of hundreds of people. It was a good thing we packed our regular sunglasses too, as the reality was slightly different. The eight of us taught hundreds of children, from all different types of schools. Some were private schools with more funding, others were incredibly small tribal schools with only sixty children enrolled. Therefore, it would be overly critical to say that we did not make a positive difference during our time in India. However, we were increasingly made aware that the work we were doing was a small part of a much bigger picture. In short, a bigger picture aimed at improving living conditions whilst ensuring the correct management of the environment. This point was drilled into us by our host, who at one point even stated the work we were doing was ‘not that important’. Perhaps a language barrier, or perhaps true, but it was clear our work was one aspect of many larger changes happening in the local area. The scale of the operation was something to marvel at, rather than feel disheartened by. Whilst in India, doubts crept into our minds as to how effective our teaching was, and whether the values we were teaching were all that valuable. It became evident that some of our lessons were not always translated accurately. Our translator would stress the importance of going to university, so that you could get a better job and become richer. We weren’t trying to teach about greed,
1.
Thailand
45%
57%
Infographic: Top volunteer destinations from 2014. Source: Go Overseas
Philippines
India
Top 3 countries for volunteering abroad but somehow that occurred. From a leftist student perspective, we were concerned about damaging these tribal cultures, and by damaging, we mean promoting the western capitalist lifestyle we have all become accustomed to. On the other hand, it is important to note there is a difference between capitalism and consumerism. We can hate the capitalist machine, but it surrounds the world and is mostly inescapable, unless you’re in North Korea. Here we experienced the realisation that you can make a positive change whilst still operating within a capitalist system. See, we weren’t teaching greed and hedonism, we were teaching about the effective management of the environment, correct nutrition to increase life expectancy, and global education. These were ideas that could improve the quality of life for many people. Yet there was a very important issue brought to our attention whilst in India. Many local leaders spoke to us, and ex-
Pictured: Volunteers in Tamil Nadu, India for a local school. Source: Jessica Warren
Of volunteers go with religious organisations.
3.
2.
The amount of further education students that volunteer.
26%
pressed how the local community is at constant battle with the government, particularly at a state level with the forestry department, over the land rights of the tribal communities. Many government groups, as well as international charities, have tried to remove locals from the land on which they have built their homes and lives. It was explained that the government, teamed up with conservationists, are trying to remove people from the land, in order to make way for an “elephant corridor”. This idea was viewed as unreasonable by the local community, who live in harmony with the elephants, and know that the elephants will happily move around small local settlements without being put in danger. Arguably, it is the government causing the most man/animal conflict in the area, as opposed to the locals. Locals also stressed that larger charities have very little experience of the ground-level needs of local communities, as they have not experienced the issues themselves. The large quantities of administration often inhibit their ability to improve lives of the local community in the best way, illustrating that a topdown approach from bigger charities is not always as effective. The Safe Foundation is a relatively small charity based in Wales, and stresses the importance of sustainable charity work, that meets the needs of the local communities they engage with. This form of charity work was praised the most by locals, as it promotes an understanding of the issues faced by the community, and how to best solve them. During our month in the local Of volunteers engage in manual labour.
1.6m
area, we were able to experience daily life in a way that perhaps larger charities cannot, therefore making more positive impacts in the area. This was an insight we never could have gained had we spent our summer in the UK: by using our evenings to talk with members of the local community, we learnt about the depth of the issues at hand. The involvement and discussion we were allowed with various local leaders meant that this project engaged with issues as opposed to brushing over the root causes. Unfortunately, there are many volunteer opportunities advertised online across Africa and Asia, a vast proportion of which that do not engage with the local communities in ways to help in the most effective manner. Arguably, not all volunteering projects are as beneficial as each other, or both the hosts and volunteers. Upon our departure, it was clear we were left with some resounding ideas about the benefits of charity work in ‘developing countries’, with large international charities not always having the greatest positive impact on small communities. From the perspective of a Human Geographer, I felt that teaching about environmental sustainability and improving health would improve the quality of life of hundreds of people, and not brush over the real issues facing the community. So, yes there is a value in charity work in ‘developing countries’, as long as it is well thought out, and based within a sustainable model aimed at helping the local community experience long-term benefits. People volunteer internatioanlly every year.
84%
‘‘
We were increasingly made aware that the work we were doing was a small part of a much bigger picture.
‘‘
Jessica Warren
Voluntourism is becoming increasingly widespread doing more harm than good
Of people volunteer to alieviate poverty.
SYLWADAU
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Has Trump changed the Republican Party? Cariad Ingles
‘‘
As Trump’s presidency is so unusual to precidenies of the past, the media has exaggertaed its distance from ordianry conservative positions
D
uring the US election campaign of 2016, observers right across the political spectrum often repeated the same thing: Donald Trump’s candidacy was a direct challenge to the Republican Party’s ideological orthodoxy. In fact, he was even described as an ‘insurgent populist’, who was running on a policy platform that “cuts across party lines, and is anathema to movement conservatives”. It is clear that Trump’s very own brand of politics, even prior to winning the presidency, was viewed upon as less than compatible with Conservative principles and true Republican heritage. As Trump’s presidency is so unusual to presidencies of the past, the media has exaggerated its distance from ordinary Conservative positions. Like Republican candidates before him, he primarily relies on symbolic rhetoric rather than actual policy specifics. His campaign, and now his presidency, is built upon accusing the Democrats of being weak - weak on national security, weak on immigration, weak in general - in addition to frequently accusing the mainstream news media of bias against him. It’s fairly common knowledge now that Trump’s signature issue is immigration, and yet, on this he even stands further to the right than other
Republicans. His nativist rhetoric and denouncing of international institutions re-engaged the American right’s affinity for nationalist traditions, and ever so comfortably aligned the Republicans with a global trend among far-right parties. It would not be crazy to call Trump a ‘Rogue Republican’, more of an independent president than a party leader, putting considerable distance between himself and the Republicans in Congress - most notably evident in his public interactions with leaders such as Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. He has blamed them for legislative failures like the Obamacare repeal, and for having to sign in tougher law sanctions on Russia backed by the GOP. These words and actions are increasingly frustrating to fellow Republicans, and making the daunting prospect of the 2018 midterm elections even more worrying. Part of this is his encouragement of primary challenger to Arizona’s Republican senator Jeff Flake, not to mention his praise for North Dakota’s Democratic senator, Heidi Heitkamp - a ‘good woman’, according to Trump - high praise indeed. Trump’s occasional failure to remember which side he’s on is doing nothing to improve the image of what already appears to be a Republican Party at odds.
Pictured: Trump and the Republican Party. Source: Matt Johnson (Via Flickr)
In terms of bread and butter, conventionally Republican positions, particularly free trade and entitlements, the Trump presidency has deviated again from these long-held views. However, it could be argued that so too did previous Conservative populists, such as Pat Buchanan. It could be further argued that perhaps Trump isn’t changing the Republican Party, and that he’s taking it back into firmly Conservative - even far-right - territory. Republican voters have very much cherry-picked from the Trump agen-
da, concentrating solely on the parts that they like (military spending increases, deterrence abroad, tax and regulatory reform), and they choose to ignore the inherent contradictions between Trump’s ideology and the ideology of the party they have aligned themselves with. It may well be contentious to say, but I’ll say it: Trump’s ability to notice that the Republican Party is malleable enough for him to mould as he sees fit, with the knowledge that his voters will blindly follow, is something to begrudgingly commend him for.
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Adoption rates are decreasing
Why should we care and what can be done about it? Martha Hughes
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The lengthy process and extensive paperwork does put off more candidates for adoption than it should
A
doption can be a sensitive topic for some; but it’s one that is in desperate need of discussion with adoption rates falling over the past few years. In the UK, there has been a 12% drop in the number of adoptions from 20152016, a disappointing decrease for the Government which had been promising to speed up the adoption process in hopes of encouraging more people to consider the option. Any compassionate human being can understand the importance of a stable and loving home being provided for a vulnerable child to grow up in. Adoption is an extremely significant subject in my household as my mum was adopted as a baby. She was given a comfortable, safe home to grow up in with opportunities and encouragement to pursue education. Without my grandparents choosing to adopt my mother, I may not be enjoying the same luxuries of family, safety, love, and education, and for this I feel extremely grateful and lucky. This is probably why I feel that the drop in adoption rates is something which should not pass by unnoticed. Provided with a loving family, an adopted child (such as my mother) could grow up with the potential to become a valued, contributing member of society.
When times are hard financially, we can tend to slip into the attitude of ‘we can’t afford to help others’. This is something that we are all guilty of, but it is a dangerous precedent to set when it comes to opening our homes, and lives, to children in need. There is no simple solution for this, but it may be beneficial to consider that keeping just one child in care costs from £100,000 to £200,000 of taxpayers’ money each year. Bearing in mind that this is quite a substantial cost, it begs the question, would this money not be better used towards incentivising and supporting those considering adoption? This brings us to the issue of paperwork. Understandably, there is a need for strict adoption rules and regulations to protect children, but it does appear that the lengthy process and extensive paperwork does put off more candidates for adoption than it should. More guidance should be provided to those going through the process, with easy-toaccess support on hand for potential questions regarding paperwork (perhaps a 24/7 government-funded support line for during and after the whole procedure). This would alleviate some of the pressure on candidates, potentially putting fewer people off the idea of adoption.
Another issue that I find problematic is that while single women may consider adoption as an option for potential parenthood, single men often feel that this is not an option for them due to fear of judgement or lack of skill-set. Introducing an incentive to change this may be tricky as this would also require a shift in attitude in society to men being fully accepted as competent primary, or sole, caregivers. Removing this stigma could be extremely beneficial for children waiting to find a permanent home. If
there could be more media exposure of successful adoption stories involving single men, this could work towards that goal. Adoption isn’t a suitable option for everyone, but it is an issue that affects us all as a society. It is quite often easy to forget that there are so many children waiting to find a home, but if we can simply re-ignite the discussion and movement surrounding adoption, maybe our attitudes can change and funding can smooth out the process for both children and parents alike.
Pictured: The fall in adoption rates should concern us. Source: mulan (Via Flickr)
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10 COMMENT
ISIS continue to use the vast expanse of the internet Pictured: Social Media. Source: makeawebsitehub (Via Flickr).
George Cook
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It appears their territorial stronghold is not the desert landscapes of Northern Africa, but the vast expanse of the internet and social media.
T
he destruction that ISIS have caused in Syria and Iraq is going to prove hard to repair. From the saddening sight of the ancient city of Palmyra being destroyed to the vast number of towns and cities reduced to rubble, the grip of control that the terrorist organisation had over their territory was strong. However, in recent months, huge swathes of land have been reclaimed from the hands of ISIS. This has protected the lives of the countless innocent civilians, many of whom have had to endure much of their lives immersed in an almost never-ending war. Whilst the lives of the inhabitants of territories reclaimed from ISIS should not be undermined, the prevalence of ISIS online and on social media is now far more extensive than it ever was before. Therefore, defeating ISIS in their strongholds is now less significant for the security of the world. Yet, its utmost importance for those on the ground is often hard to comprehend as most of us are fortunate enough to have not witnessed such horrors.
As recent as a few days ago did we see Iraqi forces reclaim the last major stronghold of ISIS. This was heralded as a major success around the world, not only in terms of decreasing the territory they control, but also to minimise their global ‘appeal’. Shocking discoveries were made about the full exertions of their power and the murderous manner within which they governed. Mass graves were uncovered containing as much as 400 bodies. Murdered for their refusal to comply with the strict law that ISIS enforced, inhabitants of these territories were exposed to the frightening brutality of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation. Thankfully, those who remain are now free from ISIS’ reign of terror. However, given the death and destruction they have caused, it may be a little too late. Assessing this situation globally is of vital importance. ISIS have carried out terrorist attacks in every region of the world. This signifies their ability to engage in a conflict way beyond the boundaries of the territories that they
control. Much of this is abetted by the prevalence and accessibility of the internet and social media. ISIS now have a large number of accounts dedicated to purporting their message of hatred and terror. Alongside this, they even have their own media agency called Amaq, where they lay claim to the atrocities they have ‘successfully completed’. As a result of this extensive media presence, sympathetic individuals endorse and take notice of ISIS’ message to ‘massacre the disbelievers’. Through this media presence, more and more people are listening to what ISIS have to say. And sadly, it appears that more and more are using this message to carry out terrorist attacks in its name. With dreams of reaching ‘paradise’, they commit suicide attacks targeting innocent citizens of often western nations such as the attack in Manchester. As such, in modern times it is not in the ISIS territories of Iraq and Syria where people are inspired to commit terrorist attacks. It is the internet where the brainwashing recruitment begins and ends when the heart
and soul is extracted from an individual, so they are emotionally numb to the tragedy they are about to cause. We must not forget the treachery and torment ISIS produce in the territories they possess. However, it appears their new territorial stronghold is not the desert landscapes of Northern Africa, but the vast expanse of the internet and social media.
Pictured: Map of ISIS’ territory. Source: Institute for the Study of War. Credit: George Cook
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In the City
Cardiff back in the hat to bid for Euro 2020
C
ardiff ’s Principality Stadium, which missed out on staging matches at the 2020 European Championships, have been offered another chance to bid for the event. Traditionally the competition has been held in one country every four years, most recently in France in 2016. However, in order to inject some much-needed enthusiasm into the contest, UEFA have spread the 2020 edition across 13 different hostcities. Currently Hampden Park (Scotland), Wembley Stadium (England) and the Aviva Stadium (Republic or Ireland) have all been given matches to host, with Wembley in line to host both semi-finals and the final. Cardiff recently confirmed that councillors have approved the bid which would potentially see the Principality host three group stage matches. The opportunity for this new fasttrack bid has arisen due to UEFA’s fresh concerns over the completion of the 60,000 Eurostadium which is yet to be built in Brussels. Currently the Principality, Wembley and Stockholm are in contention
for the matches and a decision is likely to be made on 7 December by the Uefa Executive Committee. It’s believed that the successful 2017 Champions League Final, hosted in Cardiff, will provide UEFA with the assurances that the Principality Stadium is a suitable venue for the European Championships. The FA Wales are said to be ‘delighted’ with the opportunity to put in another bid. If successful then the latest estimates suggest the matches will provide a £110m boost to the city through travel, tourism, sponsorship and the match-day experience. Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas was upbeat about the proposal: “The world knows Cardiff can put on a show. Hosting the Champions League in May proved that beyond any doubt.” His feelings were matched by councillor Peter Bradbury: “For most people this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the Euro Championships near their home”. The spectacle would certainly be welcome in the Welsh capital, espe-
Pictured: Champions League final. Source: FA Wales
cially after their maiden entry into the competition in 2016 saw them reach the semi-finals to the bewilderment of the nation. It may also provide a welcome boost in morale for the tournament, albeit only if Wales qualify for it. After failing to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there will be even more pressure on the team to rectify their shortcomings and qual-
ify for the event. With Wales currently without a manager, following the resignation of Chris Coleman, it will be down to the new man/woman to ensure Wales are represented at a tournament that they could be hosting. Should the bid be successful, then it’ll be another fantastic opportunity for Cardiff to add to their list of impressive events hosted in the capital.
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It’ll be another fantastic opportunity for Cardiff to add to their list of impressive events hosted in the capital
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Mark Wyatt
SYLWADAU
Silvia Martelli
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It seems that Black Friday has the magical power of making us want things even more than usual, and then translates this into ‘needing’ unnecessary things.
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Black Friday: A festival of consumerism
lack Friday. Almost as black as my housemate’s mood last week, when she had to cope with numerous shifts at an overcrowded St David’s, Cardiff main shopping mall. No wonder why for centuries the adjective ‘black’ was applied to days upon which calamities occurred - the first time ever being on Friday 24 September 1869, a day of major financial panic - before it started meaning the 24 hours of hectic consumerism. In 1951, and again in 1952, the term referred to workers’ practice of calling in sick the day after Thanksgiving in order to have a long weekend. It is only in the 1960s that it was used by Philadelphia police as as we nowadays mean it, alluding to the huge shopping crowds. Every year, thousands of people queue for hours in front of shops to get their hands on the best deals, sometimes even spending the previous night in sleeping bags to ensure
the ‘privilege’ of walking in first. As the day goes, the difference between ‘need’ and ‘want’ blur away, check-out lines get longer and longer, customers tend to grow angrier and staff increasingly frustrated. By midday, it should be no surprise that aggressivity, impoliteness and pure greed appear to be a social norm - all of a sudden, it is like a rugby match inside a store, but with no rules, or at least no rules that customers seem inclined to follow. A couple of years ago, I witnessed an elderly lady having a sweater brutally ripped away from her hands by another customer, a bunch of women shouting at someone for skipping the line and, to conclude, a staff member in the middle of a mental breakdown in a chaotic shop. It seems that Black Friday has the magical power of making us want things even more than usual, and then translates this into ‘needing’ unnecessary things - a feeling always followed by the certainty that get-
2016 UK Black Friday
- £1.23bn spent online that day - 12.2% increase on online spending compaired to 2015 Black Friday - £6.45bn spent over the Black Friday peak period (Monday 21-Monday 28) Source: IMRG, 2016
Pictured: Queues and excitement on Black Friday. Source: Powhusku (via Flickr)
ting them (no less than on sale) will inevitably make us happy. It is also very interesting to notice that what was an American tradition has now become a global festival of consumerism. However, this is probably unsurprising if we consider that the whole modern economy is based on shopping as a pleasure in itself, on a thriving market of frivolities, on ‘the more we have, the more we want’ ethos. no better chance to satisfy such desires than on a sales’ day! Although I am clearly not a big fan of Black Friday, I am aware of some of its positives: eventually, it does keep the economy going, and if you genuinely need something, why not purchasing it for cheaper? I was genuinely shocked when my boyfriend, the living epitome of anti-consumerism and anti-materialism - “allergic to
spending money in shops” in his own words - suggested to go into town last Friday... but then I realised he had been needing a coat for ages, and that was the perfect chance to save some pounds without having to freeze until the January sales. On the whole, regardless of people’s motifs to go shopping on Black Friday, it should always be remembered that while they are trying to get their deals in, so are many others, and staff members are simply earning their living - if this consumerist nature of ours cannot be dropped, the least we can do is act kindly and respect each other.their deals in, so are many others, and staff members are simply earning their living - if this consumerist nature of ours cannot be dropped, the least we can do is act kindly and respect each other.
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The Millennials’ dilemma: having your daily latte or saving for a house?
Lewis Payne
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With house prices reaching heights higher than a new luxury block of London flats, it is no wonder that many would opt for a latte over even attempting to save up.
M
illennials have, yet again, made headlines across the country after being accused of overspending on exorbitant luxuries such as… sandwiches. An estate agent claimed that, if we just stopped buying sandwiches, it would be possible to get onto that much desired property ladder that we are always moaning about. Naturally, the Daily Mail and co jumped upon this opportunity to highlight how younger people are to blame for their financial struggles and could be much better off if we simply chose to save up instead. Supposedly, if we cut down on small luxuries, it would be possible to save up a deposit in London within ‘just’ five years.
It is easy to see why many millennials would be cynical about their prospects of ever buying a house, instead focusing on shortterm goods such as coffees and avocado toast. With much less money to save in wages compared to older generations, and
house prices reaching heights higher than a new luxury block of London flats, it is no wonder that many would opt for a latte over even attempting to save up. House prices have risen much faster than wages, and with interest rates so low it means there is little chance for people to save quickly enough to get on the housing ladder. Instead, the ‘bank of mum and dad’ is a necessary resource for many to be able to get a deposit on a property, with many people without such a luxury facing exorbitant rents being paid to private landlords instead. The current government has been of no help in trying to alleviate this issue for young people. A key policy has been the ‘help to buy’ scheme, which allows first time buyers to receive an interest-free loan from the government which will pay for 20% of your new-build property. The idea was to stimulate companies to build more houses, as newbuilds would then seem more appealing to first time buyers than other types of housing. However, this has not stimulated building at all, and instead has helped to inflate house prices further as there has not been a greater supply of housing being added, but it has created a greater
demand. One report by Morgan Stanley noted that since the scheme began, house prices of newbuilds have risen by 15% and that help to buy has helped housebuilder profits triple - meaning they are making even more money for even less work. This scheme has costed 10bn so far since 2013 with another 10bn being promised to be made available this year, going directly into the hands of those who are building houses rather than helping potential first time homeowners to save money. With all this considered, it is easy
to see why many millennials would be cynical about their prospects of ever buying a house, instead focusing on short-term goods such as coffees and avocado toast. If politicians and critics of young people want to see change, perhaps they should look further into why people are opting not to bother trying to save for a house. They may find that the issue is not irrational spending habits, but that people know their prospects of saving for a house are so low that it would be irrational to try.
Pictured: An estate agent suggested millennials should stop buying sandwiches and save for a mortgage. Source: John Meadows (via Flickr)
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column
UNSAFE SPACE
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@harryheath__ | #UnsafeSpace gairrhydd.com/category/column
Jesus, John Lewis and Atheism: A Very Postmodern Christmas
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Jesus realised his passion lied in political activism. He had his own ideology, and founded his own party - there were twelve of them.
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As December fast approaches, we the grateful volunteers are to once more turn our nation into a totalitarian, one-party state. We shall fill our households and neighbourhoods with propaganda, our towns and shopping centres with mass-produced imagery of our rulers. Radio and television broadcasts shall come in the form of the same, repeated music and films; the crowds shall sing the same songs and the school children shall act out the same tales. Then together, we the masses shall celebrate the birthday of the great leader. Yes, I am talking about Christmas, of course. It is about time that we all join the party. The scenes are all too familiar: the annual rearrangement of the agreed formulas that make up the adverts dominating our screens. Invariably it is covers of classic British artists such as the Beatles, the Smiths, Elton John and Oasis to name a few, married with a two-minute film that delivers festive warmth to our homes - driven by the backing of millions of pounds worth in targeted, prime-time ad-breaks during I’m a Celeb. There is no escaping from the fact that this time of the year represents the height of modern capitalism. However reluctantly, we embrace this fact, as Tim Minchin so wonderfully puts it in White Wine in the Sun:
“And yes, I have all of the usual objections To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion To the westernisation of a dead Palestinian Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer But I still really like it” We may sigh at the ever-earlier promotion of Christmas. We may scoff at the chaotic footage of Americanisms such as Black Friday. We do however understand that our continued enjoyment of a festival comes from giving gifts to loved ones; we accept that fits hand in glove with the rising profits of John Lewis and Apple. There is little appetite for an alternative, socialist, anti-materialist, Christmas utopia that we would replace it with, and we know it. To paraphrase the title of an essay of George Orwell’s, ‘socialists don’t believe in fun’. Besides the undefeatable force of capitalist hegemony, another evident trend of Christmas in the modern age is that there seems to be very little Christ. As an atheist myself, I do not understand the non-believer’s Christmas celebrations as being a hijacking of the Christian religion. Britain, like many other western nations, has undergone a process of secularisation and selected the elements of religion that it likes. This process has improved our
country, allowing us to acknowledge the positive contributions that religion has made to our culture and disassociate ourselves from its default, reactionary tendencies. It is a shame when certain outbursts of individuals or vocal minorities within religions make the headlines, such as one furious Christian who expressed that Starbucks ‘removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus’ in a viral video; likewise, the campaign of rage against Greggs for a harmless publicity photo that placed a sausage roll in a manger. These nonsensical attacks undermine the religious traditions of goodwill that are so central to the festival. Celebration is not owned by religion; the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends has become the modern meaning of Christmas for millions and the church should be proud of this legacy. I subscribe to the ‘very atheist Christmas’ as described by Richard Dawkins; that Christmas is about the collective enjoyment of music, the social gatherings to eat, the creation of memories with friends and family, and the opportunity to remember those who are no longer with us. I would also argue that, to quote Orwell once more, Christmas ‘probably started because there had to be an occasional outburst of overeating and drinking to make a break in the un-
bearable winter.’ So, while a secular celebration of an ancient religion does not render us opportunistic hypocrites at all, perhaps we owe it to our culture to remember the life of Jesus Christ at this time of the year. It is in our interests that we do not forget the true origins of the religion that formed the most widely celebrated festival in the western world, so here goes. It was in December, circa 6 BC that Jesus, the son of the omnipotent dictator was born in Bethlehem, Palestine. After a grounded upbringing and early career as a carpenter, Jesus realised his passion lied in political activism. He had his own ideology, and founded his own party - there were twelve of them. While they were a considerable force on the campaign trail, a bitter internal war between the party’s rival factions created an existential crisis an threatened to destroy it. Jesus was plotted against, and then stabbed in the back, by Judas, who didn’t have faith in Jesus as the party leader and had a different vision for how to achieve social justice. This destructive in-fighting saw Judas condemned to the political wilderness; the wielder of the dagger, unable to wear the crown. While Jesus received much credit from within the party, he was forced to sacrifice himself to save the doctrine. It all ended in tears, these affairs usually do.
Pictured: St Mary Street, Cardiff Source: Jon Candy (via Flickr)
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There is no escaping from the fact that this time of the year represents the height of modern capitalism.
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Harry Heath
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14
POLITICS
politics
#GRPolitics politics@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/poltics
WALES
Did the First Minister break the Ministerial Code and mislead the Assembly?
Conor Holohan
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In FMQs this month, the First Minister gave a response that was in conflict with his response in 2014
I
n November 2014, Darren Millar AM of the Welsh Conservatives asked Carwyn Jones if the First Minister had received any complaints regarding bullying by special advisers. At the time, the First Minister told the Assembly that no allegations of bullying had been made. However, this month in First Minister’s Questions, when Andrew RT Davies asked if the First Minister had dealt with the allegations Mr Millar had eluded to in 2014, Jones gave a response that was in conflict with his response in 2014. The First Minister told the leader of the Welsh Conservatives that ‘any issues that were brought to my attention at the time were dealt with’. This response from Mr Jones would suggest that he did indeed recieve complaints of bullying back in 2014, despite telling the Assembly otherwise. Following this contradictory utterance, RT Davies called upon the First Minister to set up an independent in-
vestigation of the matter, similar to the one set up by Alex Salmond in 2012. The subject of bullying in the Welsh Government has come to the forefront again this year following the death of former Cabinet Secretary Carl Sargeant. Mr Jones has come under criticism from across the political spectrum for his handling of the sitation surrounding Carl Sargeant. The leader of UKIP in Wales, Neil Hamilton, called upon the First Minister to resign. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn was ambiguous as to whether he thought the First Minister should stay on. As the story snowballed, ex-Minister Leighton Andrews and former government advisor Steve Jones went to the press saying that the last Welsh Government had a ‘toxic’ atmosphere, characterised by bullying. The First Minister has this week, in line with the suggestions made by Andrew RT Davies, subjected himself to an independent investigation of the
matter and has established an independent body tasked with the job of policing the Ministerial Code. Next week, Jones will face a vote in the Chamber on whether he should be forced to sit before a committee of AMs and answer questions surrounding the
matter. According to the BBC, Welsh Government sources are hoping that the actions taken this week to investigate the matters will persuade Assembly Members not to vote in favour of questioning the First Minister in this way.
Pictured: What did Carwyn Jones know and when? Source: Scottish Government (Via Flickr)
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U.K.
Hammond reveals autumn budget amid growing pressure Jack Hudson
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The idea of balancing the books seems to have been quietly abandoned, and the Tories now simply seek to stay afloat through the Brexit process.
H
ammond had to walk a tough political and economic tightrope in this Autumn Budget. Brexit loomed large over this budget as it does every day at Westminster, putting Hammond under pressure to provide money to deal with Brexit issues and to save money that may be needed to deal with its repercussions. On top of this Hammond’s more moderate stance on Brexit issues has led to resentment from Brexiteer colleagues, who could very easily mobilise against him if he were to slip up. Economically, the problem of productivity is becoming a more and more serious issue that needed to be addressed. Despite the lack of leeway Hammond had, he also needed to respond to mounting pressure since the election for increased public spending. On top of this, the budget came with the news that expectations for economic growth have been lowered. Ultimately, Hammond simply could not afford to make a mistake, as he had on tax for the self-employed in the spring budget, that would have added to this government’s string of disasters. A boring budget would
perhaps be a goal to aim for. This political drama may seem far removed from the everyday, but nonetheless the budget does impact the lives of ordinary people. Major announcements included some extra funds for the NHS in England, new money for dealing with the Grenfell tower tragedy and £3 billion for Brexit preparation. While none of these policies, are likely to cause young voters to flock to the Tories in droves, they will have real everyday effects. In politics, this budget is symbolic of the momentous changes that have taken place in the last few years. The idea of balancing the books seems to have been quietly abandoned, and the Tories now simply seek to stay afloat through the Brexit process. However, this has not meant the pressure from the Labour party for increased public spending has reduced. In fact, it has increased as shown by Jeremy Corbyn’s aggressive and at times emotional response in his statement after the budget. Hammond may have weathered the storm this week, but the political waves that threatened to sink him have not been calmed.
Pictured: Hammond and his red budget briefcase. Source: UK Treasury (via Twitter)
What the budget means for students
Abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers of homes under £300,000. More money invested into the technological fund, aiming to advance things such as 5G.
A new £1.7 billion cities fund, from which cities such as Cardiff could apply for funding. £1.2 billion extra funding for the Welsh government, and growth deals for north and mid Wales. The Severn Bridge toll will be abolished, making journeys back to Uni cheaper for students from the South of England.
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GWLEIDYDDIAETH
Gerry Adams to stand down in 2018 G erry Adams is to stand down as President of Sinn Fein in 2018, bringing to an end a prolonged period of political history in Northern Ireland. After the death of Ian Paisley in 2014 and Martin McGuinness earlier this year, Adams was the last remaining stalwart of traditional Irish politics that included much of The
Troubles. Adams, who had been in charge for 34 years, was a controversial figure who managed to rejuvenate himself from leading much of the violence of The Troubles to negotiating a landmark peace deal in the form of the Good Friday Agreement. Through his abstentions from Parliament in Westminster when he was an MP, he main-
Pictured: Gerry Adams Source: Sinn Fein (Via Flickr)
tained his status as a pivotal figure in the Republican movement. And now that Adams has announced his resignation, big questions remain over who will succeed him as President in the very near future. During his tenure, Adams transformed Sinn Fein into a party who were extremely popular on both sides of the border being the third largest in the Republic and second largest in Northern Ireland. In his Belfast West constituency, the almost cult status of Adams was demonstrated where he secured over 70% of the vote. This was in stark contrast to the situation in many areas, where Sinn Fein sometimes struggled to poll above 2%. As such, his personality is one that has become strongly engrained into the party and it will prove extremely difficult to fill void that his resignation has produced. Never far from controversy, Gerry Adams was questioned by police as recently as 2014 in relation to the murder of Jean McConville by the IRA. At their most dangerous and prevalent, the Irish Republican Army were responsible for a number of terrorist attacks across the UK from the murder of Lord Mountbatten to the Birmingham pub bombings. For many, it is often hard to comprehend how volatile and toxic the situation was surrounding Irish politics, given the two decades of relative peace we have been fortunate enough to witness in Northern Ireland. Despite
never being charged with McConville’s murder due to insufficient evidence, the scope of information that he knew about IRA terrorist activities is often highly disputed. Whilst his violent past should not be ignored, Adams’ influence was crucial in the decision of the IRA to pursue political activities in a more democratic fashion. At no other time was this co-operation and peaceful nature more evident than in the presiding years that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. Alongside Paisley and McGuinness, who were nicknamed the ‘Chuckle Brothers’, Gerry Adams successfully negotiated a peace deal with the Labour government under Tony Blair. After spending years in the political wilderness marred by his terrorist links and divisive politics, the revolution in Adams’ approach to politics eventually concluded with him meeting the Queen in 2012. The recent unpredictability for the Government in Northern Ireland due to its collapse makes for a future that looks full of uncertainty. Sinn Fein too are facing an uncertain future, with very few stand out candidates for the Presidency. Gerry Adams’ strong and passionate character needs to be reflected in the new leader so that Sinn Fein can continue their manifestation as a prominent force in Irish politics on both sides of the border.
To coup or not to coup
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Never far from controversy, Adams was questioned by police as recently as 2014
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George Cook
15 U.K.
WORLD
Mugabe finally resigns ushering in new Zimbabwean dawn Luca Peluzzi
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The day after Parliament started impeachment’s proceedings Mugabe stepped out voluntarily
A
fter a military takeover, nearly a week of negotiations, and the launch of impeachment proceedings on 21 of November Robert Mugabe has finally resigned as Zimbabwe’s president after 37 years. Mugabe was in office since 1980, when the country gained independence from Great Britain. Mugabe's sudden downfall does not take origins from a popular revolt but lies in disputes on who will succeed him. In fact, at the beginning of this month Mugabe sacked his Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of plotting to take power and forcing him to flee to South Africa. The President took this action to clear the way to the First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed him at the head of Zimbabwe. It was the Mnangagwa's sacking that triggered the political crisis which caused the military to step in. One week before Mugabe’s resignation Zimbabwe's Major General SB Moyo made a speech on national television, after the military displaced armoured vehicles in Harare (Zimbabwe capital) and blocked off access to government offices, saying the President and his family were safe but detained at their home while the military was “target-
ing criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country”. Actually, it was the beginning of the coup. The day after Parliament started impeachment’s proceedings Mugabe stepped out voluntarily, as a letter read out by the speaker of Parliament stated: “I, Robert Gabriel Mugabe… hereby formally tender my resignation…with immediate effect…my decision to resign is voluntary. It arises
from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire to ensure a smooth and nonviolent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability.” After the national television broadcasted the news, deputies who had started discussions to impeach Mugabe broke out into loud cheers in parliament, while the streets of Harare became soon packed of people celebrating Mugabe’s resignation with large crowds cheering, dancing
and waving national flags. Zimbabwe’s population saw the abrupt political change as a hope for an improvement in the country’s devastated economic and social situation. Zimbabwe is well known for high inflation, poverty and repression of minorities. Particularly famous is the period of hyperinflation between 2007 and 2009, when the country's currency was spiraling out of control and when Zimbabweans would need billions of Zimbabwean dollars to buy a single loaf of bread. Nearly four decades of Mugabe’s dominion, through a heavy mix of repression of his opponents and rewards for his allies, made Zimbabwe stagnating in its high corruption and widespread poverty, with people that are now on average 15% poorer now than they were in 1980. It remains unclear who will be able to assure stability in the long term. The previously sacked Mr. Mnangagwa will become now interim president until next general election in March. He is not an outsider, as he has been a long-serving minister and Mugabe’s henchman in the 1980s, when he was instrumental in an ethnical cleansing that led to the death of at least 10,000 civilians.
Pictured: Mugabe tearing Zimbabwe Source: a-birdie (Via Flickr)
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16
POLITICS
The revelations of the Paradise Papers Trump’s cabinet, The Royals and Apple have all been accused of keeping their millions from the tax man
Mohammed Albader
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Some of the leaked files are reported to have been originated from Apple By which specializes in operating offshore accounts.
F
ollowing the Panama Papers, which clearly detailed all illicit financial activities operated throughout the world by wealthy individuals and public officials, another set of documents have recently surfaced. The Paradise Papers disclosed 13.4 million files of previously concealed financial operations, which accused major companies and global figures of illegally conserving their wealth, as well as maximizing their profit. Some of the leaked files are reported to have been originated from AppleBy, which specializes in operating offshore accounts. The leak disclosed the names of massive corporations and public figures who were involved in this scheme. Although some of the corporations aimed to have their wealth reserved, there is room to suggest that others were practicing tax avoidance, for example The Royal Family, Trump’s cabinet members, Twitter, Facebook, Apple, Lord Ashcroft and Glencore. The Paradise Papers have disclosed the Queen’s million pound investment funds from her private estate, managed by The Duchy of Lancaster, in Cayman Islands as a part of an unknown offshore portfolio.
The Paradise Leak has disclosed the Queen’s million pound investment funds from her private estate. Although these investment funds are still in the possession of The Duchy, which substantially funded multiple businesses such as BrightHouse, a retailer that has exploited
the poor and those diagnosed with mental illnesses, it has been claimed it had no recollection of this 12-year investment. In addition to this leak, The Duchy of Lancaster, via using its offshore private equity funds, managed to preserve assets of British investors from getting taxed in the US. Nonetheless, British investors can be taxed in the UK if they supply investment funds in the US. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s cabinet members have been named in the leaks regarding tax evasion. Gary Cohn, Trump’s economic chief adviser, was revealed to have been a president or vice-president of 22 subsidiaries in Bermuda for Goldman Sachs.
Donald Trump’s cabinet members have been named in the leaks regarding tax evasion. Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, was also revealed to have been governing an offshore subsidiary of a multibillion-dollar firm, ExxonMobil, which is known to have been involved in a heated case with Yemen. A report published a year ago by the campaign group Citizens for Tax Justice accused ExxonMobil of using a Tax Haven, as the company had approximately 35 subsidiaries in Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and The Bahamas, holding about $51bn offshore while Tillerson was its CEO. Leaked documents also reveal that two Russian associates of Vladimir Putin funded a considerable amount of money in Twitter and Facebook, which lead to the belief of US politics being manipulated through social media (especially) during the recent presidential campaign. These
investments were made by Yuri Milner, alongside with Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov. “I’m not involved in any political activity. I’m not funding any political activity,” said Milner. Additionally, VTB, a Russian statecontrolled bank, has backed Twitter’s investments made by Milner - as a result of this, they are now under US Sanctions. Apple has also been named in the leaks. Documents reveal that the tech company had dormant subsidiaries in Ireland, which is not subjected to most EU legislation, thus a popular tax haven. Following criticism in 2014 on how Apple had run their businesses in Ireland, the funds had been skillfully relocated to Jersey. Back then, the government of Ireland proclaimed that companies, like Apple, located within Irish jurisdiction could avoid paying taxes had they shown their capability of managing and controlling their businesses in a different country, where they would be held liable for tax.
Apple had dormant subsidiaries in Ireland, now relocated to Jersey. Apple had disputed the statement regarding their tax avoidance, claiming that they had paid $35bn in corporate tax based on their income over the previous three years. Additionally, they claimed that they had paid billions of dollars in property, payroll and sales tax as well as VAT. According to the leak, Lord Ashcroft, one of the largest contributors to the Conservative Party, has been involved in a prior unknown trust aimed at preserving his wealth which was located abroad.
The trustee was known of by the offshore firm Appleby, which terminated its relationship with Lord Ashcroft in 2016 due to “inadequate supervision of both transactions and distributions”. They also said that, following an investigation, “there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients,’” adding that they are “a law firm which advises clients on legitimate and lawful ways to conduct their business. We do not tolerate illegal behaviour.” A disclosed financial record stated that his trust value was reported to be an estimate of £341m in 2006.
Lord Ashcroft has been involved in a prior unknown trust aimed at preserving his wealth which was located abroad.
The findings from the Paradise Papers only serve as testament to the increasing levels of wealth disparity in modern society. It also raises questions as to where the Royal Family invests public money. Even though the Queen doesn’t personally manage the fund, it seems as though there is still a moral obligation to have knowledge and oversight of her investments. As well as this, there is the issue of loopholes which allow tax avoidance and evasion to go unchecked. It is imperative that our governments ensure that bodies which profit from our business also contribute to fund public services. Ultimately, in spite of their vast wealth, the elite in society should be subject to the same rules and regulations as the rest of us.
Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II. Source: Michael Garnett (Via Flickr)
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FREE KITTEN FOR EVERY FRESHER? CAN’T SEE THAT HAPPENING... A FREE CUPPA DURING EXAMS? LET’S MAKE THAT A THING... STUDENT SENATE
Next meeting: Tuesday 5th December visit cardiffstudents.com/studentsenate
18
SCIENCE
science
#GRScience science@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/science
RESEARCH
As the climate warms, the glacier bed melts
Pictured: Icebergs sourced via Pixabay by 12019
T
The Pine Island Glacier (PIG) is a mass of ice in West Antarctica. This ice sheet -as large as two thirds the size of UK - has attracted scrutiny because it contributes to a 10th of the rise of global sea levels. Coming into contact with warmer waters, the glaciers are progressively and irreversibly melting from beneath, which is a cause of great concern for environmentalists. The PIG has been reportedly shrinking since the 1940s, retreating more than 30 km only in the last 25 years. Satellite imagery has allowed scientists to understand the glacier is suffering major changes, but more factors needed to be taken into consideration to understand the scale
and pace of the change. One of these factors is the ground or bed on which the glacier is sitting. “The research begins the process of measuring those bed properties in a much more correct and robust way”, the lead author says in a BBC report. The results surprised the scientists themselves: “We’ve imagined the shape of the bed at a smaller scale than ever before and the message is really quite profound for the ice flow and potentially for the retreat of the glacier”. The diversity in the subglacial landscape represents a new variable which could be essential in projecting accurate levels of global sea level rise from the ice sheet loss. The team
scanned 1,500 square km, which accounts for 15/% of the PIG. According to the authors, this study constitutes the “largest and most spatially detailed observational data”. However, observational data from beneath the Antarctic ice streams continue to lack in the academia. The remoteness and low temperatures of the place make it one of the most hostile environments, and indeed quite challenging for scientists. But human resilience and ingenuity continue to defy this natural austerity. The next project under the programme iStar will look at neighbouring Twaites Glacier, which is also a major contributor to rising sea levels.
Your science questions answered...
Stephanie Ma & Louange Lubangu
Why does water feel wet?
Let’s say you dip your finger in some water and lift it out again, the wet feeling is due to the water on your finger evaporates quickly and as a result, you feel cold. If we were to compare this effect to say oil, we would find that it would not work the same because oil does not evaporate as rapidly as water does.
What would happen if everyone on earth jumped at the same time?
Thankfully nothing! Even though there are approximately 7 billion humans on earth, all of our weights combined could not even compare to the weight of the earth, so nothing would happen, absolutely nothing.
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This ice sheet - as large as two thirds the size of UK ...contributes to a 10th of the rise of global sea levels.
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Lorena Stancu
he bed of Pine Island Glacier (PIG) in West Antarctica was discovered to have an unexpectedly diverse relief, which could slow down ice retreat in the face of global warming. The frozen continent may look smooth on the surface, but underneath the blocks of ice, there is a diverse landscape of hills and mountains reaching up to 400 metres. Using radar technology and 3D imagery models, a team of British scientists led by Dr Rob Bingham from Edinburgh University could see what lies under the ice: “In one place at the bed of Pine Island, the ice mounts a cliff that’s almost vertical”, he told the BBC.
GWYDDONIAETH
19
NEWS
Vaping might not be as harmless as it seems Study reveals its links to increased heart disease risk
Pictured: Vaping sourced via Pixabay by Stock Snaps
I
n today’s society, it is near impossible to be unaware of the ill-effect smoking has on the human body. Yet, because e-cigarettes have only been available for roughly 15 years, there hasn’t been a demonstration of information regarding any long-term risks. That said, statistics from short-term analysis already point to the risks that vaping poses to the lungs and DNA. A study carried out on mice by Mark Olfert, a physiologist at West Virginia University shows that even the briefest exposure to e-cigarette vapours can damage blood vessels. Olfert and his team placed mice into a chamber which was filled with e-cigarette vapour for four hours on a daily basis and this was continued this for eight months. This level of exposure provided to the mice was no higher than the average person who vapes experiences,
Olfert reports. With mice living between two and three years, this means that the eight months of e-cigarette exposure was equal to twenty years of vaping by a human. The effects seen in the mice after this time period could straightforwardly be described as prominent, and moreover, concerning. A simple five minutes of vaping damaged their blood vessels, and it is precisely these types of injury which are likely to intensify the risk of developing heart disease. Heart disease is, globally, the largest killer of older adults and made up for 32.1% of all deaths in 2015. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the blood vessels, which are responsible for feeding cells in all of the body’s tissue. Olfert and his team of researchers measured the stiffness of a primary artery which runs from the
heart into the lower chest. The experiment revealed that the mice exposed to the e-cigarette vapours had arteries that were 2.5 times stiffer than what’s considered normal and healthy, and stiff blood vessels are another symptom that has direct links to life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease. When the muscles in the walls of an artery are stimulated, they contract, which provisionally lessens the size of the tube’s centre, which raises an individual’s blood pressure. With these dangerous symptoms considered, it’s imperative that blood vessels don’t remain contracted in this way for an extended period of time. Olfert is quick to point out that ‘mice are different from people’. Although there are many variances in the composition in the bodies of each, there is evidence that smoking has similar effects in mice and people and
that is the main reason why Olfert and his team expect their data on the vaping rodents to possibly predict the impacts the habit also has on the human heart. While it would be agreeable to have data from actual humans available for comparison, by the very nature of smoking and how the extent of its effects will not be visible instantly, it could take up to between 20 or 30 more years before any figures would be available regarding the long-term effects of vaping. With the most realistic re-creation of olden Egypt ever made in the virtual world, Maxime Durand, historian on the Assassin’s Creed franchise says, “We were betting on the fact that these secret locwations inside of the Great Pyramid would probably be discovered in the near future, so we wanted to allow players the chance to visit them in advance.”
Tweet us, email us, or message us with your questions. Can the ocean freeze?
Considerating the vast size of the ocean, this may not seem quite possible but yes - ocean water freezes just like fresh water, only at lower temperatures. Whilst fresh water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, sea water generally freezes at around 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit, due to its salt component.
How much does the earth weigh? Is this a trick question? Well in all seriousness, the Earth has a mass of 5.972 × 10^24 kg. This can be used to theoretically work out what its weight might be if it wasn’t floating in space. The nearest calculation takes it to 5.972 sextillion metric tons. Yet with the added weight of space debris, it can gain about 40,000 metric tons each year.
What leads to the formation of a rainbow?
Basically, rainbows are formed by suspended water droplets in the atmosphere after a rainstorm has passed. Since these droplets have different densities than their surrounding air, they would act as tiny prisms that bend the striking sunlight so as to break it up into its component wavelengths. After the light is reflected back at us, a coloured arc with bands of colours in the spectrum is thus formed, creating a spectacular rainbow that we all know and love.
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Heart disease is, globally, the largest killer of older adults and made up for 32.1% of all deaths in 2015.
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Rachael Hutchings
SCIENCE
20
NEWS
Scientists performed first ever gene editing treatment on human patient A giant leap forward in the fledging field of gene therapy
Stephanie Ma
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It’s kind of humbling” to be the first to test this. I’m willing to take that risk. Hopefully, it will help me and other people.
S
cientists for the first time have performed gene editing inside a human body, in a daring effort to permanently tackle an incurable disease by artificially rewriting a patient’s DNA. The experiment was administered last Monday in California on 44-yearold Brian Madeux, who has been diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome – a rare genetic condition caused by a deficient enzyme that prevents the breakdown of long sugary molecules called mucopolysaccharides. With the imminent result being an accumulation of molecules inside the body, patients of the metabolic disease could eventually face the threats of heart problems and breathing trouble, as well as brain and organ damage if the problem is left unaddressed. “It’s kind of humbling” to be the first to test this, said the Arizona Native to Time Magazine. “I’m willing to take that risk. Hopefully, it will help me and other people.” With the utilization of a gene-editing tool called Zinc Finger Nucleases, Madeux has been intravenously injected with billions of copies of a corrective gene as well as a genetic tool in a three-part therapy that includes
a new gene and two zinc finger proteins. In each part, DNA instructions are inserted into a virus that has been previously modified to facilitate their transformation into cells. Under this process, these cells will travel to the liver, where they employ DNA instructions to produce zinc fingers and prepare the corrective gene. The zinc fingers would then cut the DNA in a precise spot, allowing the new gene to slip in and finally directing it to create the enzyme patients ridden with Hunter Syndrome lacks. “We cut your DNA, open it up, insert a gene, stitch it back up. Invisible mending,” said Dr Sandy Macrae, president of Sangamo Therapeutics, the California company testing the therapy for two metabolic diseases and haemophilia. “It becomes part of your DNA and is there for the rest of your life.” However, this may also indicate that there is no possible way of erasing any error genetic tinkering might bring about. Suggestions concerning the effectiveness of the technique will be available in 4 weeks while test results will be released within three months. If deemed successful, the groundbreaking technology would make a giant
leap forward in the fledging front of gene therapy. Dr David R. Liu, from Harvard University, said the trial signified a revolutionary era in a recent interview with The Telegraph. “The Hunter syndrome trial, led by a pioneering company, is another reminder that we have entered an era of genome editing,” he said. “I’m hopeful that the approach might provide both therapeutic benefits for the patient, as well as valuable insights that inform the development of future editing therapeutics.” But Dr Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Francis Crick Institute, said getting the treatment to work on more complex conditions would be a challenge. For the time being, gene editing therapy can merely be used to treat a handful of diseases. Whilst some test results indicate that the effectiveness of the therapy could not be maintained in the longterm, others suggest that an uncontrolled insertion of a new gene in the body might have unforeseen effects on other genes and potentially lead to new problems such as cancer. “When you stick a chunk of DNA in randomly, sometimes it works well, sometimes it does nothing and
sometimes it causes harm,” said Hank Greely, a Stanford University bioethicist. “The advantage with gene editing is you can put the gene in where you want it.” “You’re really toying with Mother Nature” and the risks can’t be fully known, but the studies should move forward because these are incurable diseases, said Dr Eric Topol an independent expert from the Scripps Translational Science Institute located in San Diego. “Protections are in place to help ensure safety, and animal tests were very encouraging”, commented Dr Howard Kaufman, a Boston scientist working on the National Institutes of Health panel that approved the studies. “Gene tinkering’s promise is too great to be disregarded,” he said, “So far there’s been no evidence that this is going to be dangerous. Now is not the time to get scared.” Despite the myriad of safety concerns and risks raised across the gene modification field, Madeaux remains positive about his treatment. “I’m nervous and excited,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life: something that can potentially cure me.”
Pictured: (Top left) Experiment sourced via Pixabay by DarkoStojanovic (Right on P.18) Infographic by Louange Lubangu
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GWYDDONIAETH
21
ADVICE
22
advice
#GRAdvice advice@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/advice
The truth about dealing with a chronic illness at university Sarah Harris
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It’s true when people say that making significant lifestyle changes can help
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iving with a chronic illness can be isolating and difficult when you’re a University Student. It’s very rare to meet people who are in the same boat as you and most people crave for nothing more than to just have someone who understands what they’re going through. When I was diagnosed with my chronic illness, Endometriosis, I had no idea what a huge impact it would have on my life. I spend most of my time planning my life around my doctors’ appointments and waiting to get letters from the hospital about my next surgery. On top of that, I struggle to walk to my local Tesco’s on most days, let alone make it to a full day of lectures due to crippling pain. Without the help of online support groups and an amazing bunch of friends (and of course my mum and dad), I don’t think I would be able to cope with the mental and physical impact my illness has had on my life.Of course, we could consider ourselves lucky and be thankful that we live in an age with such advanced healthcare opportunities, but it still doesn’t make what we’re going through easy. How-
ever, it’s important to make sure you don’t let your illness take over your life. University is a once-in-a-life time experience for most people and it’s essential to make sure that you spend your time at University having fun (and studying hard, of course). It’s always better to make sure you speak to the University about your condition. It can sometimes be awkward and tricky to navigate around,
I don’t think I would be able to cope with the mental and physical impact my illness has had on my life but your Personal Tutor will make sure you get the support you need and help you figure out how to make sure you perform to the best of your academic capability.If you can’t make it to your lectures or seminars, make sure you email your professors beforehand. They won’t be annoyed at the fact that you’re missing several lectures in a row but will instead help in any way
they can, like recording lectures for you. I was scheduled to have a pretty major operation in the middle of the academic year and emailing my lecturers about it beforehand meant that I had time to sit with each of them to discuss what work I was going to miss and what readings it was important for me to go through whilst I recovered. It’s also useful to tell your housemates and friends what you’re going through. My illness meant that I wasn’t able to go out as much and my friends understood that instead of thinking I was just being antisocial. Instead we found fun stuff to do like film nights, which allowed me to stay home and rest if I was in pain, whilst still spending time with them. Another plus side was that I always had someone around to fetch me a hot water bottle or painkillers when I wasn’t up to it. Even if you don’t meet anyone at University who suffers from the same chronic illness as you, there’s bound to be an online support group specific to your region and wider ones featuring people from all over the world. Although I had no friends at Univer-
sity or back home who were going through the same thing, I was able to meet people from Cardiff and my hometown on Facebook and it was really reassuring to speak to people who knew how it felt. You’ve also probably heard this by numerous doctors, but it’s true when people say that making significant lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms of your illness. Just small changes such as cutting out greasy or dairy food from my diet made a huge impact on my pain. Sadly, it did mean having to sit out of pizza night but it was worth it to have a pain free day.It’s not only difficult but also really lonely when you’re suffering from a chronic illness. University is supposed to be the most enjoyable experience of your life, but unfortunately for most sufferers of chronic illnesses, the quality of life can seriously decrease. However, there are small things you can do to make the process a little more bearable. If you are struggling hugely however, make sure you speak to both your GP and the University. Your health is a lot more important than your education!
Pictured: Endometriosis Awareness Source: Ben W (via Flickr)
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CYNGOR
23
Handling personal issues at University Maxwell Modell
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It is key to get the right amount of sleep, and students notoriously don’t
W
e all been there, we’ve all had those days when everything is going wrong or you’re just not functioning as you should. These days are hard wherever you are. However, being at university adds an extra layer of complication to this. Not only are you likely alienated from your support network, but university also offers other perils which can blow these issues out of proportion, be that essay deadlines or the black pit of despair and isolation otherwise known as the student bedroom. When at university you are given a new sense of independence and responsibility and this new responsibility includes your own new territory: your student room. This is your own space and somewhere your flatmates are likely to leave you alone. However, this may be a blessing in disguise, because whenever things are going wrong it is tempting just to haul up in your room and wallow in self pity. At home it is likely noticed when you are holed up in your room and you’re dragged back to really. While this may seem cruel at the time in the long run it’s these social interactions which will get you out of your despair. At university this is unlikely to happen, even if you have really caring
housemates. Busy schedules mean if they don’t see you for a few days this isn’t necessarily anything radically out of the ordinary. So, how do you deal with this? It’s going to be hard, but you either have force yourself to get out and to interact or let someone know how you’re feeling and ask them to come check in on you. While this may seem daunting, particularly when you are starting out and don’t know anyone, remember that everyone else is in the same position. Cultivating relationships with others is key to successfully dealing with personal problems at Uni, as your network of friends can be a vital support network, so don’t be afraid to open up to. Of course, sometimes you need to be alone and your student bedroom does facilitate this. In this situation you need an action plan on how you’re going to get through this as opposed to just letting your feelings simmer. For me this normally consists of watching a film which I have seen before and enjoyed. This is because it allows you to relax and reduce your stress levels. Once you have finished you should be in a better frame of mind and be able to assess the situation from a new perspective. While this doesn’t always
Pictured: Sad girl Source: Flachovatereza (Pixabay)
work, it is a positive step and having a plan of action before entering your down time is key to ensuring you don’t end up letting the problems mount and isolating yourself. For dealing with all kinds of problems it is key to get the right amount of sleep and students notoriously don’t. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours, in order to achieve the correct balance of non-REM (deep) and REM (dream) sleep. Non-REM takes place in the early part of the night, therefore it is key not to go to bed too late otherwise even if you get 7-9 hours of sleep you may miss out on this vital
stage where the brain is rehabilitated. Also, for both physical and mental health, regular sleeping patterns are vital, so it may be worth skipping that big night out and getting a good night’s sleep if you are struggling with your personal life, because a lack of sleep is just going to leave you lethargic and without the mental functions to process the problems you are going through. If these self-coping mechanisms don’t work, and these personal problems persist then seek help from within the university. The support is there.
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No hair? Don’t care!
How to cope with premature hair loss Gareth Axenderrie
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I would now argue that I have more confidence than I have ever had
H
ey, can I ask you a question? How are you so bald? That question came in a lecture during the second week of freshers last year. I must admit, I was a little taken aback. I didn’t really know how to answer. I’m bald because my hair doesn’t grow anymore, not on all my head anyway. It’s not something that dawns on me too often, not often enough to pluck up an answer out of thin air anyway. Coincidently, the person who asked the question has become a very close friend of mine. I now realise that as I sat there with the lights of the lecture theatre shining off my hairless bonce, a bald person in a lecture theatre stands out amongst the freshest fades and weaves of fresher hipsterdom. I’m a mature student, but I started losing my hair when I was a teenager. That’s pretty early for a guy, even if the rest of his family are as bald as a bunch of coots. It’s not an issue for me now, I don’t realise I don’t have hair anymore. I did once have luscious blonde curly locks, but I would now argue that I have more confidence than I have ever had, and the savings I make on shampoo and conditioner go straight into the beer fund! That said, I had a genuine battle
with myself when I first started to notice that hairline receding. School is always a place where peers can be judgemental, and ‘banter’ can often be hurtful. It’s also a place where you naturally compare yourself to your mates. Many of mine loved to surf, and their hair was stereotypically long and curly with sun-bleached tips. When you realise you’re developing the ‘M-head’, that your scalp is starting to show through your thinning hair, or your crown starts to become more and more sparse, it’s extremely self-esteem sapping. You become extremely self-conscious, constantly checking what your hair looks like in mirrors, and it can become all encompassing. Pattern male baldness is a natural, hereditary condition however, and for countless men it’s simply inevitable. So, should we worry about it? Should we try to fight it? Or should we just take the plunge, shave it off, and embrace it? Of course, that is totally up to you. You may be completely comfortable rocking the combover, or not really give a damn, but if hair loss is worrying you, I’d argue you’d be happier embracing it. This sentiment also appears to be shared by a sizeable portion of stu-
dents. In a survey conducted by Gair Rhydd, 75% of respondents said they would consider dating a bald guy in university, with over 80% saying they would be unperturbed if their future partner didn’t have hair. Furthermore, 87% of students surveyed said they preferred a bald head to somebody ‘fighting baldness’. When listing traits they prioritise in men, respondents ranked hair style a low ninth out of ten choices, with only a like for dogs and cats ranking lower. It appears that people care far more about personality, sense of humour and emotional availability than how many active
follicles there are on your head. So, you see, losing your hair may feel like the end of the world to you, but to others, it’s something so minor it hardly registers on their radars. If you’re worrying about it, my advice would be stop. Head to your nearest barbers, ask them for a haircut that suits your hair type. Or, even better, grab a razor and shave it off. Accepting what you consider a weakness can often be the most empowering act of all. Plus, you’ll save a fortune on haircuts and shampoo, and you may even make new friends who just want to get to know ‘that bald guy’.
Pictured: Patrick Stewart Source: Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
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24
ADVICE
Badvice: How to write an essay in less than 12 hours
Sarah Harris
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I shouldn’t be telling you this, but being a last minute person isn’t entirely the worst thing
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hen I told my housemate what I was writing about for this week’s Badvice, she said she felt no one was better suited to write this article than me. This article is due in a little under 12 hours and in 7 hours I have to be up and at the Student Media office for a radio show, so it’s fair to say that I’m a very last-minute person. Although you probably won’t admit it, if you’re reading this article, it means you’re very likely a last-minute person too. We could blame the fact that we have about a dozen deadlines all at once but surely the fact that we’re painfully aware of the looming pile of work on our desks should make us more motivated to get some work done? Or not. It’s always admirable to see first years in the library a week after fresher’s. Especially when you know they probably won’t be going back till it’s time to start working on their dissertation in final year. I shouldn’t be telling you this but being a last-minute person isn’t entirely the worst thing. Personally, I find it much easier working under pressure as it means I haven’t got the luxury of accidently binge watching an entire series of Friends. Adrenaline starts to kick in after 3 hours or so and to be honest, you don’t really have a choice but to get it done. If
you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be too exhausted by the end to even proof read it and will hand it in regardless of the fact that you know you’re barely going to scrape a pass. Of course, you’re going to need a few aids to help you go through it. And before I carry on, let me just say that there’s absolutely no way you will get this done while intoxicated so make sure you turn down all shots offered to you whilst trying to bang out 3000 odd words in a limited time.You’re going to need a lot of caffeine and sugar to get
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Fundamentally, as with most break downs of relationship, this issue all comes down to adequate communication
U
nfortunately, feelings of exclusion don’t always leave us as we grow up. Back in the days of primary school, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see groups of children purposely leaving someone out of their games in the playground, or openly labelling one group their ‘best friends’ with little thought for any other, side-lined individuals. Just this week I watched a Facebook clip from Channel 4’s The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds, where one child told another that she didn’t want to be her friend, and that she was not invited to play with her on the slide. My heart broke! Even into Secondary School, the themes of segregation and favouritism between friends were rife. Does anyone remember the politics of choosing your Bebo top row friends? You would argue with Rebecca at school, only to sign onto your family’s desktop computer later and find that you had been relegated from 4th to 15th place. Brutal. I should hope that as we are now older and wiser, we have learnt to understand and communicate problems with our friends directly, with a calm and measured approach. However, I understand that this is not always feasible.
which is open 24/7 and full of students who are in a similar position to you. I like to put on a bunch of crappy Adam Sandler movies on in the background to keep me awake and add a bit of light-heartedness to the tension. He also happens to make me feel a lot better about myself every time I have a scheduled breakdown. So, you see, it’s okay that you left your work till the last minute, because quite frankly, everyone does at some point. But will you learn from your mistake? Probably not.
Pictured: Last minute essay Source: Mike Mantin (via Flickr)
Ask Alice: Alice Dent
through those gruelling hours so make sure you head down to Lidl and stock up every kind of chocolate you can find. Don’t overdo it though or you’ll probably end up running down Salisbury Road half naked. If you find it easier to work around people then persuade your housemates to pull an all-nighter with you. If you try to lure them in with snacks, they’ll probably accept because at the end of the day, we’re all just hungry students, right? If they don’t oblige, then head to the Arts and Social Sciences Library
“My ex-flatmate moved into a house this year with some coursemates. She’s now closer to them and I feel left out. What can I do?”
I have a number of tips for you to assess your own situation, and hopefully try and work towards the revival of the friendship with your former flatmate. Hopefully, you’ll be sipping VK’s at the Lash and making a guest appearance on abdul_ffb’s Instagram in no time. Firstly, realise this may not be a purposeful exclusion, but simply a badly executed adjustment to the new stage in your friendship. As you’re no longer living together anymore, there are obvious shifts that have to be made. Instead of rolling out of bed in your pyjamas and popping to see each other in your bedrooms next door, you’re now having to actually arrange to meet up (albeit probably two streets away in Cathays). It’s quite probable that your ex-flatmate has just got caught up in the whirlwind of university life, and doesn’t mean to make you feel this way. Fundamentally, as with most breakdowns of relationship, this issue all comes down to adequate communication. The truth is that your friend may simply be unaware that you are feeling this way. Remember that friendship is a two-way stream, so assess whether you have been reaching out to her enough,
and if not, arrange to meet up and chat about your issues. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic encounter, simply a “I miss you! Shall we do something soon?” text may be more than enough. Multiple friendship groups are difficult to balance in any stage of life, so giving her a heads up may be the answer that you’re looking for. Of course, we must consider the likelihood that once you make your feelings clear, you will continue to feel excluded. This is the worst-case scenario, and hopefully won’t happen! However, if it does, recognise your worth and try and find people that will appreciate you. As I mentioned in Issue 1105, there are people out there that will love you for who you are; I urge you to never settle for sub-par relationships. Find your own tribe who will never think of it as a chore to spend time with you. Finally, a side note: if
you happen to be reading this and realise that you can identify yourself with this person’s ex-flatmate, you are not alone and definitely not a bad person! In the process of writing this, I actually messaged one of my best friends when it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen in over three weeks. It happens to the best of us, and with adult life comes responsibility. I understand that there’s so much pressure to up-keep constant contact with those closest to you, but checking in on your friends once in a while is definitely important. You never know who might need it the most.
Pictured: Alice Dent, giving you the advice you need (Photographer Charlie Knights)
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Housing T ips: Don’t Rush!
brought to you by your Students’ Union.
Don’t rush. A housemate is for a year, not just for freshers’ week.
There are plenty of student houses in Cardiff and most contracts are for a year. Take time to shop around and decide where you want to live and who you want to live with. F ind out how much you will need to pay upfront.
Letting agencies and landlords may charge administration fees when you have chosen a house. These are usually non-refundable and the amounts vary. Beware of promises.
If the landlord or letting agency make promises (e.g new furniture, redecoration), make sure this is written into the tenancy contract. But beware... if this promise isn’t met it doesn’t mean you can automatically get out of the contract. Tenancy Documents are legal contracts.
Read through the contract carefully and seek advice from Student Advice before you sign. After signing, you can’t just change your mind. When you sign as a group, you all become legally responsible for paying the rent and keeping to the contract. If you have signed a contract and are worried, visit Student Advice. Check that your deposit is protected.
Your landlord or letting agency must protect your deposit within 30 days of receiving it and tell the tenants which protection scheme is being used (including any reference numbers). If you don’t receive this information within 30 days, contact Student Advice. Get In Touch 3rd Floor, Students’ Union, Park Place and the IV Lounge, Heath Park Student Advice Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr NO AGENCY FEES
CAMPUS LIFE
campus life
Jessica Warren & George Cook
Pictured: #ThisCardiff GirlCan Source: Cardiff Student’s Union
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hroughout last week there were a number of events recognising the contribution of female students to sport at Cardiff University. These included most skips in 30 seconds, free fitness classes for females at studio 49, and mini golf. The week then ended with a boxercise class, Body FITT and pump class. It certainly was a week to get you fit and active! Whilst advocating for women in sport, you could also win a number of prizes. This campaign stems from the
wider movement to bring female sports(wo)manship into social discussions, named ‘This Girl Can’, developed by Sport England and funded by the National Lottery. The campaign kicked off in response to 75% of women surveyed stating they “want to be more active”. This mostly stemmed from the feeling of being judged by others for being the “wrong size”, or not fit, or skilled enough. Therefore, it is important that Cardiff engage with this wider campaign. This comes after wider efforts to
#GRCampusLife campuslife@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/campuslife
give women in sport greater representation, addressing the gap between male and female sporting competitions. On a national scale this has been demonstrated by increasing coverage across networks such as the BBC of female sport. It is important that female students at Cardiff University are supported in their sporting ventures, and as such, this campaign is key in boosting student morale in the sporting environment. This follows similar endeavours
by the Student Union to tackle gender related issues, including the addition of free tampons in the SU, and a campaign started for students ‘Periods in Poverty’, which collects sanitary product donations and distributes them to the homeless in Cardiff. It is now advocated for by the Students’ Union, where they have placed donation stations outside the ASSL, and the Main Building. Clearly, Cardiff Student Union are committed to ensuring females feel valued in sport!
What are the Sabbs Saying?
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Cardiff Students’ Union is committed to ensuring females feel valued in sport
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This week Campus Life caught up with Kirsty Hepburn to find out what’s ‘Heppin’in’ on The Heath Campus this week...
With Kirsty Hepburn VP Heath Park
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oll up roll up – Heath Park is rolling out the events … Student Family Day When? Saturday 2nd December 14.30-17.00 Where? Y Plas, Cardiff Students Union, Park Place
Anyone who is a student at Cardiff University, who has children themselves, come down to the Students Union on Saturday for a completely FREE - I repeat FREE - afternoon of entertainment for ALL the family (kids and partners can come too)! The idea is for you to be able to meet other student parents; to be able to ask us any questions you may have about student life and most importantly, to have fun! Search for the event on Facebook or the Students Union website for more details!
Medics Varsity = Bristol Vs Cardiff (P.s the event is NOT just for Medics!!) When? Saturday 9th December 10.00-18.00 Where? Sporting events are taking place between Talybont and Llanrumney playing fields. This is year number 4 of the annual event and we want TEAM CARDIFF to dominate!! Tickets for the event are now on sale via the cardiffstudents.com website – hurry to grab one with a Juice ticket package! This will be a great day out and as Team Cardiff we always want to be the
loudest and the best with all the support we can!! So go on … tell your house mates, tell your friends and family, to get their cheering voices ready for one of the biggest sporting events this year! On a different note … For anyone that doesn’t consider themselves too cool or too mature for an advent calendar – FRIDAY IS THE 1st DECEMBER - that means CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!! WOO (Don’t hate me for occasionally being a big kid when it comes to Christmas – it does mean the holidays!) Heath Park Love.
BYWYD CAMPWS
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This week we caught up with a member of Cardiff University’s Asian Society to see what they’re all about...
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ardiff Asian Society (ASoc) is a cultural society where Asians all over the world who study at CU can come together and meet up on our annual events. The society has been running for many years and is popular for getting to know other Asians in Cardiff. Our biggest event is Diwali & Eid ball where everyone dresses up in traditional clothing and watch performances such as dancing and singing and eat lots of Asian food. It is a time to embrace the Asian cultural and remember our roots. ASoc invites other dance societies such as Bollywood Dance Soc and Bhangra
to perform on the night. You might think ASoc is only for Asians but ASoc welcomes everyone with an interest to learn about Asian culture. Another huge event in ASoc’s calender is Elements which is an annual show which includes acting and dances from all over Asia! The storyline is related to Asian lifestyles and their traditions. Last year the storyline was about a young boy who wanted to be an indian dancer which he was very good at. But had to move to America and got involved in street dancing which he wasn’t so good at. Eventually he stuck to his
Mum’s wishes and persuaded a career in Indian dancing. Generally performers always enjoy taking part and usually always want to take part every year because of how fun it is! Rehearsals are a laugh and stressful at the same time but in the end the commitment is worth it. Elements has a huge turnout every year and even parents are welcome to watch! Not only this, everyone also looks forward to the Elements After Party where the hard work and appreciation of the directors, actors, dancers and singers are celebrated! ASoc’s next biggest event is a collaboration with Bristol’s ASoc where
we will be joining them in Bristol for a joint bar crawl. For the first time this year, Southampton’s ASoc are also coming which makes it the biggest ASoc bar crawl to date. Tickets sold out within 2 days and we’re all really excited to show Bristol and Soton how ASoc party in the ‘diff! For more information about Cardiff ASoc, you can like our page on FB which goes by the name: Asian Soc - Cardiff Uni. Here, you can see more pics of what ASoc is all about and much more. ASoc is a society where you’ll be able to express Asian culture as well as making friends for life!
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Asoc welcomes everyone with an interest to learn about Asian culture
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Deepali Poojara
Go Global: supporting Cardiff’s international community
Pictured: Multiple Flags Source: Saku Takakusaki (Via Flikr)
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ith over 7,000 international students from more than 100 countries, Cardiff University undeniably boasts a significantly large multicultural body. If you have ever wanted to understand more about different cultures, wanted to start to learn a new language or considered going to study abroad for a while, Global week is a great way to learn more. From the 27th November to the 1st December, Cardiff will be celebrating all things international and there really is no better way to celebrate our international students, staff and alumni than through Cardiff’s very own ‘Global week’. Global week is a fantastic opportu-
nity for all students and staff to take part in daily events that showcase the diversity of our international community. Whether this is sampling traditional food and drink from a variety of different countries at the global village on Wednesday 29th November, or attending lectures from former Welsh rugby player Richard Parks, the week is jam packed full of opportunities to both inspire and educate. If this isn’t really to your taste, then the global village also provides advice to students who are considering an internship, semester or year abroad as part of their degree. Whether this is an internship with Think Pacific! in Fiji or a study year abroad at the Uni-
versity of San Francisco in California, the university offers a wide variety of international placements to suit your needs. The launch event takes place on the evening of Monday 27th November which will give you an opportunity to sample some Welsh delicacies as well as many other foods and wines from around the world. The main event of the week is undeniably the global village. Hosting over ten international societies, the village is a great way for you to learn about and appreciate the cultures of thousands of international students who study at Cardiff. Furthermore, all students who attend the Global Vil-
lage or Global Opportunities fair, who have their student ID card scanned on entry, will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win 2 tickets to the Autumn Internationals, Wales v South Africa rugby match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on the 2nd December. For more information about Global Week, search on your intranet for ‘Global Week’ or pop into the student’s union to find out more about what is being planned for each day. If you are on campus throughout the week, why not share what you think makes us at Cardiff an international community on #Weareinternational.
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Cardiff University undeniably boasts a significantly large multicultural body
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George Caulton
Your housing guide.
Your guide to housing in your second year and beyond. Visit www.endsleigh.co.uk/housing Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited (Company No. 856706), is all authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked by visiting their website at https://register.fca.org.uk. All are registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE. 267x338Housing_Guide_Ad_V2.indd 1
22/11/2017 09:28:11
T ips Tai: Peidiwch â Rhuthro! gan eich Undeb y Myfyrwyr Peidiwch â rhuthro. Mae cydletywr yn para blwyddyn, nid Wythnos y Glas yn unig.
Mae yna ddigon o dai myfyrwyr yng Nghaerdydd ac mae’r rhan fwyaf o gontractau ar gyfer blwyddyn. Cymerwch eich amser i benderfynu ble hoffech fyw a gyda phwy. Darganfyddwch faint y byddwch angen ei dalu o flaen llaw.
Gall asiantaethau gosod a landlordiaid godi ffioedd gweinyddol wedi i chi ddewis t . Mae’r rhain fel arfer yn ffioedd na fydd yn cael eu had-dalu a gall symiau amrywio. Byddwch yn wyliadwrus o addewidion.
Os yw’r landlord neu’r asiantaeth gosod tai yn gwneud addewidion (ee Celfi newydd, ailaddurno) gwnewch yn si r bod hyn yn cael ei ysgrifennu yn y contract tenantiaeth. Ond byddwch yn ofalus... os nad yw’r addewid yn cael ei fodloni, nid yw’n golygu y gallwch dynnu allan o’r contract yn awtomatig. Mae dogfennau tenantiaeth yn ddogfennau cyfreithiol.
Darllenwch drwy’r contract yn ofalus a gofynnwch am gymorth o’n tîm Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr cyn llofnodi unrhyw gontract. Wedi i chi arwyddo, ni allwch newid eich meddwl. Os ydych yn llofnodi fel gr p, rydych i gyd yn gyfrifol yn gyfreithiol i dalu’r rhent a chadw at y cytundeb. Os ydych eisoes wedi llofnodi contract ac yn poeni, dewch i ymweld â Chyngor i Fyfyrwyr. Diogelwch eich blaendal.
Mae’n rhaid i’ch landlord neu asiantaeth osod ddiogelu eich blaendal o fewn 30 diwrnod o’i dderbyn a rhoi gwybod i’r tenantiaid pa gynllun amddiffyn y maent yn ei ddefnyddio (gan gynnwys unrhyw rifau cyfeirio). Os nad ydych yn derbyn y wybodaeth yma o fewn 30 diwrnod, cysylltwch â Chyngor i Fyfyrwyr. Cysylltwch â ni 3ydd Llawr, Undeb y Myfyrwyr, Plas y Parc a Lolfa IV ym Mharc y Mynydd Bychan Student Advice Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr DIM FFIOEDD ASIANTAETH
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ENNILLWYR NEWYDDIADURAETH IAITH GYMRAEG GORAU YNG NGHYMRU 2017
taf-od
@cmccaerdydd | #GRTafod tafod@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/tafod
Myfyrwraig o Gaerdydd yn cipio Cadair C.FF.I Cymru Yn y llun: Llywela Edwards. ennillydd Cadair C.FF.I. Cymru, Tarddiad: Iolo Penri)
Cyfrinach Cyffro’r newyddion yn corddi’n bleserus, gwen a deigryn yn uno, wrth i lawenydd lifo drwy eu gwythiennau. Y ddau wrth eu boddau, yn dyheu, yn ysu am yr esgor. Misoedd hir o’u blaen, misoedd o ddisgwyl yn eiddgar, misoedd o ffwdanu a pharatoi, rhestr ar ôl rhestr. Y cwpwl perffaith yn awyddus i groesawu’r trysor bach i’r byd. Darlun y sgan yn dynodi’r dyddiad, naw mis union i’r noson… O feddwi’n wyllt tan yr oriau man, sêr y nos yn dawnsio, a hithau’n cael ei hudo gan ei gyfaredd. Dau gorff yn cyffwrdd, cnawd wrth gnawd. Chwant heb y rhamant.
Llywela Edwards, myfyrwraig ail flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, sy’n dweud wrth y Taf-od sut brofiad oedd ennill y gadair. Llywela Edwards
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Dyma sy’n grêt am y Ffermwyr Ifanc, mae’n ffordd wych o fagu hyder a sgiliau mewn meysydd gwahanol
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oedd ennill y gadair yn Eisteddfod Clybiau Ffermwyr Ifanc Cymru yn brofiad wirioneddol anhygoel, ac roedd yn fraint cael eistedd ar y gadair hyfryd yn cynrychioli fy nghlwb, Uwchaled, a ffederasiwn Clwyd. Cefais yr alwad ar y dydd Iau cyn yr Eisteddfod, a doeddwn i ddim yn medru credu beth oeddwn yn ei glywed. Ro’n i wedi cyffroi yn lân, a methu aros i ddweud wrth fy nheulu (dim ond mam a dad wrth gwrs!) Roedd yn anodd iawn peidio dweud wrth fy ffrindiau a fy Nain a Thaid, ond dyna yw’r traddodiad, sef i’w gadw yn gyfrinach. Ar ddydd yr Eisteddfod serch hynny, roeddwn yn rhoi winc fechan os oedd rhywun yn sôn am y cadeirio, er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr nad oeddent yn methu’r seremoni! Pan ddaeth yr eiliad dyngedfennol i godi o flaen y gynulleidfa, roedd fy nghoesau yn wan, ac roedd fy nghalon yn carlamu, ond pan sefais ar fy nhraed, roedd yn deimlad mor wefreiddiol, a hefyd yn rhyddhad mawr nad oedd rhaid cadw’r gyfrinach mwyach! I fod yn onest, ni allaf nodi yn union beth oedd fy ysbrydoliaeth i ysgrifennu’r gerdd hon. Y rheswm y tu ôl i gystadlu oedd, fel y ddwy flynedd flaenorol, er mwyn cael pwyntiau i’r clwb yn yr Eisteddfod, a hefyd er mwyn rhoi cynnig arni, mentro i ysgrifennu cerdd a gweld lle buasai hyn yn fy arwain. Dyma sy’n grêt am y Ffermwyr Ifanc, mae’n
ffordd wych o fagu hyder a sgiliau mewn meysydd gwahanol, ac yn fy achos i, mae wedi bod yn llwyfan imi ddechrau ysgrifennu cerddi. Mae’r ffaith fy mod wedi cystadlu ar y gerdd dwywaith o’r blaen yn profi hyn, oherwydd bob blwyddyn ‘dwi wedi bod yn gwella, ac yn dysgu o’r beirniadaethau, ac arweiniodd hyn at gerdd a oedd yn deilwng i’r gadair. Roedd ennill y gadair ym mharth Eryri yn deimlad arbennig oherwydd mai dyma ble mae un ochor o fy nheulu yn byw, yn ardaloedd Llanrwst ac Ysbyty Ifan. Hefyd, dyma ble mynychais yr ysgol uwchradd, sef Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy. Pwynt arall werth i’w nodi yw bod Gethin Pyrs, gwneuthurwr y gadair hyfryd hefyd yn dod o Ysbyty Ifan, ac roedd y cysylltiad hwn yn gwneud yr Eisteddfod hyd yn oed yn fwy arbennig imi. Hoffwn hefyd longyfarch Naomi, enillydd y Goron, a nodi fy mod yn ei hadnabod yn barod, a hynny yn rhyfedd iawn drwy gystadlaethau siarad cyhoeddus y mudiad Ffermwyr Ifanc! Hoffwn estyn diolch i fudiad y Ffermwyr Ifanc hefyd am fod yn rhan mawr o fy mywyd hyd-yn-hyn, a hefyd dymunaf i annog unrhyw un sydd ddim yn aelod i ymaelodi â’r clwb lleol, oherwydd mae’n ffordd berffaith i fagu sgiliau gwahanol a gwneud ffrindiau newydd. Pwy a ŵyr, efallai mai chi fydd yn eistedd ar y gadair y flwyddyn nesa’.
Yr euogrwydd yn cnoi tu mewn, yn tyfu a thyfu, fel petai’n magu dau. Y babi, a’r euogrwydd, law yn llaw. Eisiau sgrechian y gwir, a’i boeri allan, cyn iddo ei gwenwyno a’i gyrru’n wallgo’. Pob cic fel cosb, yn ei hatgoffa o’i gweithred anfaddeuol. Casáu y celwydd. Difaru’r difrod. Dyheu am droi nôl. Artaith genedigaeth. ‘Mae ganddo lygaid ei dad.’ Yr eironi yn brifo, wrth iddi hithau gytuno. Dyma gychwyn ei thaith ar y llethr llithrig, taith oes llawn twyll a brad. Petaen nhw ond yn gwybod… Mae hi yn gwybod, gwybod y gwir. Ei mab sydd yn graith na wnaiff wywo, ei gariad fydd yn gysur, ond edau ei linach yn gyfrinach am byth.
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Rhyng-Gol 2017 - Y profiad o’r llwyfan Yn y llun: Yr Eira ar lwyfan Y Ddawns Rhyng-Golegol 2017 yn Undeb Myfyrwyr Aberystwyth (Tarddiad: Anna Wyn)
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ra bod golygyddion y Taf-Od; fi, Osian ac Elen yn mwynhau’r ysbleddach ar benwythnos Y Ddawns Ryng-Gol 2017, roedd tri myfyriwr arall o Brifysgol Caerdydd wrthi’n brysur yn perfformio gyda’u bandiau. Yn perfformio yn Aberystwyth roedd myfyrwraig flwyddyn gyntaf, Leusa Rhys fel rhan o’r deuawd Serol Serol tra roedd myfyriwr ail flwyddyn Ifan Prys a myfyriwr flwyddyn gyntaf Alun Roberts yn rhan o’r Cledrau. Dyma eu meddyliau am y penwythnos: Ifan Prys – Y Cledrau Fel myfyriwr, mae’r ddawns Ryng-Gol yn Aber heb os yn un o uchafbwyntiau’r flwyddyn. Nid yn unig y mae’n gyfle i fyfyrwyr Cymru a thu hwnt gael dod at ei gilydd am benwythnos gwyllt o yfed a malu awyr o gwmpas tafarndai’r dref, y mae hefyd yn gyfle i fwynhau’r gorau o’r Sîn Gerddoriaeth yng Nghymru.
Ac yn wir, yn dilyn noson o ddiwylliant pur yn profi awyrgylch drydanol rhai o glybiau nos amlycaf y wlad, roeddwn yn ddigon ffodus ar y nos Sadwrn i fod yn rhan o arlwy gerddorol y ddawns ei hun, lle roeddwn yn perfformio fel aelod o fand Y Cledrau. Roeddwn felly yn edrych ymlaen at gael profi’r ddawns o ongl wahanol, yn ogystal â chael dychwelyd i’r Undeb i rannu llwyfan gyda rhai o’n artistiaid amlycaf - Serol Serol, Mosco, The Barry Horns, Y Reu ac Yr Eira. Fel perfformiwr, fy uchafbwynt personol i oedd gweld y gynulleidfa’n mwynhau ein cerddoriaeth, gyda rhai hyd yn oed yn canu ymlaen i’n caneuon newydd! Fe roedd hi hefyd yn braf cael croesawu’r mynach ei hun, Rhys Ifor - i’r llwyfan i berfformio ei ddetholiad amryddawn o ddawnsio gwerin cyfoes. Penwythnos a hanner a dweud y lleiaf, er bod fy mhen glin yn brifo a fy ngwyneb yn edrych fel
pitsa! Diolch Aberystwyth! Alun Roberts – Y Cledrau Un o uchafbwyntiau’r flwyddyn i mi, wastad fydd y ddawns RyngGol. Cael gweld ffrindiau da o adra, downsio ‘tha ffwlbart ac anghofio am deadlines am benwythnos. Mi wnes i fwynhau ymlwybro o gwmpas tafarndai diddiwedd Aber, yn hel hanesion am be oedd hwn a’r llall di bod yn ei wneud ers cychwyn y tymor. Ond mae ‘na fwy i’r dre hon na pubs ac ambell i siop kebab. Cawsom gyfle i fynd am dro at y castell hynafol, gweld y poppies a cherdded hyd y prom hefyd. Yr hufen ar y gacen oedd cael chwarae yn y gig ar y nos Sadwrn fel aelod o’r band Y Cledrau. Teimlad twym galon oedd gweld llond lle o bobl o undebau myfyrwyr Cymraeg gwahanol yn bobio fyny ac i lawr i’n caneuon newydd, ac ambell un yn canu ymlaen yn ogystal. Braint oedd cael rhannu’r llwyfan
gyda twr o fandiau gwych, o blegyd Serol Serol, Mosco, Barry Horns, Reu a’r Eira. Roedd hi’n fwy o fraint byth cael ymuno â hogiau’r Reu ar lwyfan i chwarae’r Doritos fel cyfeiliant iddynt. Mae’n rhaid dweud ei bod hi wedi bod yn benwythnos i’w gofio, er nad ydwyf yn cofio llawer ohono fy hun. Leusa Rhys – Serol Serol Y Ddawns Ryng-Gol oedd ein ail gig ni fel band, ac ar y cyfan yr oedd yn brofiad da iawn. Nathon ni ga’l ymateb da gan y gynulleidfa, ac ymateb da i’n caneuon newydd ni. Roedd y gig yn adlewyrchiad da o fywyd Rhyng-Golegol, yn enwedig gan mai dyma oedd y flwyddyn gyntaf i fi fod yn Rhyng-Gol, ‘odd ‘na awyrgylch dda yn Aber, a gatho ni noson dda iawn! Roedd o’n grêt ag yn fraint i gael perfformio yn yr un gig a bandiau mor brofiadol! Diolch am y gwahoddiad!
Dysgu Cymraeg gyda Taf-od | Learn Welsh with Taf-od Concert | Cyngerdd Cehr-ngerth
Music | Cerddoriaeth Cehr-ohr-eaith
Rhyng-Golegol | Inter-College
Audience | Cynulleidfa
Rherng gohl-egg-ohl
Kern-ee-lleyd-va
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Roeddwn yn edrych ymlaen at gael profi’r ddawns o ongl wahanol, yn ogystal â chael dychwelyd i’r Undeb i rannu llwyfan gyda rhai o’n artistiaid amlycaf
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Aled Huw Russell
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Tristwch i Gymru wrth i Chris Coleman ffarwelio Yn y llun: Chris Colemaen, cynreolwr Cymru (Tarddiad: jon Candy)
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ae statws Chris Coleman fel hyfforddwr gorau yn hanes Cymru wedi’i sefydlu’n ddiymwad. Yn wir, mi fydd haf bythgofiadwy 2016 yn cael ei gofio fel un o brif uchafbwyntiau yn hanes pêl-droed ein gwlad yn ogystal â gyrfa’r Cymro fel hyfforddwr. Mae’r pum mlynedd ddiwethaf yn gyfwerth a chyfnod o dwf a ffyniant parhaus a’r sail ymdrechion a chyraeddiadau’r tîm cenedlaethol, ond yn dorcalonnus, nad oeddem yn medru gwireddu ein breuddwyd o gael cyrraedd Cwpan y byd. Er gwaethaf y tristwch a’r emosiwn a ddaeth yn sgîl y golled yn erbyn Iwerddon, roedd ffyddiogrwydd a brwdfrydedd cefnogwyr Cymru yn deimladwy gydag ymddangosiad nifer o sêr ifanc y garfan. Heb os, mae modd priodoli esgyniad chwaraewyr megis Ben Woodburn, Ethan Ampadu a David Brooks fel
y rheswm mae gymaint o Gymry yn arddangos ffydd am ddyfodol ein tîm, tîm yr oeddwn yn gobeithio i weld yn llewyrchu o dan arweiniad Chris Coleman. Nid oedd ansicrwydd sefyllfa gytundebol Chris Coleman yn gyfrinach, serch hynny, nid oedd y consensws ymysg cefnogwyr Cymru yn rhagdybio y byddai Coleman yn ymadael chwaith. Yn bersonol, roedd y newyddion o ymadawiad Coleman yn sioc aruthrol, yn enwedig i Sunderland – tîm sydd wedi’i lygru gydag ansicrwydd helaeth a gwenwyndra ar waelod y Bencampwriaeth. Ar sail llwyddiannau digynsail cyn hyfforddwr Fulham, roeddwn yn disgwyl i weld Coleman yn aros yn amyneddgar ac yn dewis i fanteisio ar glwb sy’n meddu a’r fwy o sefydlogrwydd na Sunderland. Wrth ystyried sefyllfa gyfredol Abertawe, mae statws Paul Clement fel hyfforddwr yr Elyrch yn fregus iawn,
mi fyddai hyfforddi Abertawe yn freuddwyd i Coleman a chyfle a fyddai o bosib wedi ymgodi petai cyn hyfforddwr Cymru wedi aros yn amyneddgar. Gan anwybyddu’r siomedigaeth sydd wedi deillio o ymadawiad Coleman, mae rhaid dymuno pob lwc iddo yn ei her anferthol gyda Sunderland. Dyma’r dyn oedd yn gyfrifol am gytgordio’r haf gorau ym mywydau cefnogwyr Cymru, roedd yr angerdd, y cyffro a’r gorfoledd a ddeilliodd o Bencampwriaeth Ewro 2016 yn amhrisiadwy. Am weddill ein hoes, fe fyddwn yn ddyledus i Coleman am gael ffurfio’r atgofion euraidd hynny. Nawr, mae’r cyfle yn trosglwyddo i hyfforddwr arall i gael tywys ein gwlad ar y trywydd i lwyddiant. Hanfodol ydyw i sicrhau ein bod yn rhoi digonedd o amser i’r hyfforddwr newydd i ymgartrefi ac i gyfarwyddo ei hun gyda gofynion pêl-droed rhyngwladol. Roedd
y chwe mis agoriadol o yrfa Coleman fel hyfforddwr Cymru yn rhai heriol iawn, gyda’r golled gywilyddus 6-1 yn erbyn Serbia yn ddigon i ysgogi Coleman i ddiwygio’r arddull roedd Cymru yn chwarae, gan ddechrau gweithredu ei syniadau gwreiddiol yn hytrach na chynnal y strwythur a oedd wedi’i sefydlu gan Gary Speed. Yn amlwg, profa’r penderfyniad ffrwyth sy’n ddangosydd cryf o bwysigrwydd amynedd wrth ddelio gyda hyfforddwr newydd. Wrth i’r sïon ddechrau gylchdroi am olynydd Coleman, yr hyn sydd ar ôl i’w ddweud yw diolch. Diolch o galon am ei ymdrechion a’r tîm hyfforddi am gydlynu cyfnod o lwyddiant digymar yn hanes ein gwlad. Diolch o galon am y gynrychiolaeth a’r sylw a rhoddwyd i’r iaith Gymraeg yng nghanol esgyniad y tîm cenedlaethol. Diolch o galon am gymell bob un ohonom i freuddwydio. Diolch Chris!
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Mae’r pum mlynedd ddiwethaf yn gyfwerth a chyfnod o dwf a ffyniant parhaus
Yn Trafod yr wythnos hon... Elen Jones 1.) Pwy wyt ti, ym mha flwyddyn prifysgol a beth wyt ti’n astudio?
nid i weld fi, i helpu eu hunain i ddrôr danteithion melys.
Elen Jones, blwyddyn gyntaf yn astudio Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth
6) Beth yw dy hoff ddiod?
2) Pam dewis Prifysgol Caerdydd i astudio? Wel, bydden i’n gweud mai dod yma i fwynhau ym mwrlwm y ddinas oeddwn i, ond y gwirionedd yw dwi wedi dilyn olion traed fy chwaer gan fod bywyd yn anodd iddi hebdda’i !! 3) Fel Glas-fyfyriwr, ble yw dy hoff le yng Nghaerdydd hyd yn hyn? Fy ystafell wely, gan mai dyma HQ flat H6. 4) Beth wyt ti’n hoffi gwneud yn dy amser hamdden? Siarad wast. 5) Wrth fyw yn Senghennydd, beth yw arferion drwg gweddill y fflat? Ymweliadau dyddiol i HQ H6, ond
Dwi’n dilyn motto Mam – Dŵr, gwîn neu goffi 7) Pwy fyddet yn gwahodd i dy bryd fwyd delfrydol? Pob Kardashian i weld pwy sy’n feichiog, hyd yn oed Rob. 8) Petaet ti’n ennill y loteri, beth fyddai’r peth cyntaf i ti brynu?
11) Pa ddigwyddiad gododd y fwyaf o embaras arnat ti erioed? Ma’ rhywbeth yn digwydd yn ddyddiol. 12) Pwy oeddet ti’n ei ffansio pan oeddet ti’n iau? Unrhyw chwaraewr rygbi Cymru, heb wir newid hyd at heddiw 13) Hoff ddilledyn? Jîns du a thop neis - ond mae’n ffwdan dod o hyd i dop neis bob nosweth allan 14) Person trefnus neu funud olaf?
Trwyn newydd.
Munud olaf.
9) Beth sydd yn mynd dan dy groen di?
15) Petaet ti ar ynys ac yn cael mynd a thri pheth yn unig, beth fydden nhw?
Gwythiennau. 10) Beth hoffet ti wneud ar ôl graddio? Unrhyw beth a fydd yn talu am ddyledion bywyd stiwdent Prifysgol.
Siocled, gwîn a ffrindiau. 16) Beth yw dy hoff lyfr? Pob un o’r llyfrau ‘Bridget Jones’, mae’r tebygrwydd rhyngom ni yn mynd yn bellach na’r cyfenw.
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Llion Carbis
17) Beth yw’r noson orau i ti ei chael erioed? Crôl Calan Gaea’r Gym Gym – Lowri a fi’n dychwelyd yn ôl gyda llu o bobl a dihuno gweddill y flat gan gadw sŵn tan oriau mân y bore – pawb wedi maddau’r sefyllfa bellach. Wedi dweud hyn mae diferion pomigranet o hyd yn stercian o amgylch y gegin, mae’n well peidio gofyn cwestiynau. 18.) Beth yw dy hoff gân a pham? ‘Dal i Gredu’ mae’n cael ei chwarae oleiaf unwaith y dydd. 19.) Ar dy ddiwrnod olaf ar y blaned, beth fyddet ti’n ei wneud? Dathlu, bywyd glas myfyriwr yn galed, cofiwch. 20) Pwy fydd yn trafod gyda’r Taf-od Wythnos nesaf? Math Owen
colofn
MWYDRON MORGAN
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@osianwynmorgan | #MwydronMorgan gairrhydd.com/category/colofncymraeg
Ti yw’r unig wlad i mi
Myfyrdodau olaf ar fy nghyfnod o brofiad gwaith yn y Wladfa Yn y lluniau Baneri yr Ariannin a Chymru ym Mhorth Madryn (Tarddiad: Osian Morgan)
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Mae’r Gymraeg yn rhan hollbresennol o ddyfodol Patagonia, ac rwy’n ffyddiog iawn y bydd y Gymraeg yn parhau i gael ei siarad yno mewn canrif a hanner arall.
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ros yr wythnosau diwethaf rwyf wedi bod yn ysgrifennu am un o brofiadau gorau fy mywyd, sef y profiad o ymweld â’r Wladfa am fis o brofiad gwaith. Bydd unrhyw un ohonoch sydd wedi bod yn darllen fy ngholofn, bellach yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi gwirioni â’r lle. Mae Patagonia yn lle gwbl unigryw ac anhygoel, ac yn sicr yn rhywle y byddwn yn argymell i unrhyw Gymro neu Gymraes ymweld â. Un o’r pethau mwyaf anhygoel am y lle, yw’r pobl yno. Roedd pob un person y ces i’r anrhydedd o gwrdd â hwy yn hynod o garedig a diddorol, ac roedd hi’n fraint cael clywed eu hanesion a’u straeon difyr. Mae eu diddordeb a’u balchder dros eu gwreiddiau Cymraeg yn wirioneddol ysbrydoledig, yn enwedig wrth feddwl fod bellach canrif a hanner wedi heibio ers i’r Cymry cyntaf hwylio draw ar y Mimosa. I ychwanegu at hyn, maent ymysg y pobl fwyaf croesawgar yr wyf wedi cwrdd ag yn fy myw, gyda phawb yn hynod awyddus i sicrhau ein bod yn ymgartrefu yno, ac yn gwneud y mwyaf o’n profiad yn y darn bach hwnnw o Gymru 7000 o filltiroedd o Gymru fach. Ond, wrth gwrs, y peth mwyaf anhygoel am y gymuned yno, ydi’r
ffaith eu bod yn parhau i siarad Cymraeg yno. Mae’n anghredadwy, bron, fod iaith sydd bellach yn lleiafrif yn ei gwlad ei hunan, yn parhau i fod yn rhan annatod o gymuned ar ben draw’r byd, dros gant a phump deg o flynyddoedd ar ôl i’r Cymry ymsefydlu yno. I ddweud y gwir, mae agwedd iach y trigolion yno tuag at yr iaith a’r diwylliant, boed yn siaradwyr Cymraeg neu beidio, yn fwy na digon i godi cywilydd arnom ni yng Nghymru, lle rydym yn parhau i orfod cyfiawnhau ein hawl i fodoli ar adegau, a lle mae llawer iawn o’r Cymry wedi cefnu yn llwyr ar eu hiaith frodorol. A dyw’r sefyllfa yna ddim yn ymddangos fel petai am wanychu yn y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod. Yn wir, os unrhyw beth, synnwn i ddim petai’r Gymraeg yn mynd o nerth i nerth yno. Ymddengys fod yr Archentwyr yn fwyfwy awyddus i ganfod eu gwreiddiau, ac mae’r trigolion yno sydd â gwaed Cymraeg yn rhedeg drwy eu gwythiennau, ynghyd â’r rhai sydd heb yr unrhyw gysylltiad genetig a diwylliannol i Gymru o gwbl, yn awyddus iawn i ddathlu a chofio’r hanes difyr sydd ynghlwm â’r lle. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae dwy ysgol Gymraeg newydd wedi eu
sefydlu yn y Wladfa, ac mae’r nifer o ddisgyblion ynddynt yn cynyddu bob blwyddyn. Yn fy marn i, nid yw’r Gymraeg yn rhan o’r gorffennol yn y Wladfa yn unig, yn atgoffyn o dreftadaeth y Cymry a adeiladodd y lle. Mae’r Gymraeg yn rhan hollbresennol o ddyfodol Patagonia, ac rwy’n ffyddiog iawn y bydd y Gymraeg yn parhau i gael ei siarad yno mewn canrif a hanner arall. Fodd bynnag, roedd un cwestiwn ar flaen fy meddwl drwy gydol fy nghyfnod yno, sef beth fyddai Micheal D Jones, a’i gyd-ymsefydlwyr yn meddwl o’r Wladfa heddiw? A chafodd eu delfryd o sefydlu Gwladfa Gymreig ei gwireddu? Wel, yr ateb yn syml, ydi na. Er ei fod yn wirioneddol anhygoel fod y Gymraeg a’i diwylliant cyn gryfed yno heddiw, mewn gwirionedd, nid talaith Gymreig ydyw. Archentwyr, nid Cymry, yw’r bobl. Y Sbaeneg, nid y Gymraeg, yw iaith weinyddol y gymdeithas. Er bod y diwylliant a’r iaith yn parhau i fod yn bresennol yn y gymdeithas, mewn gwirionedd, ni wireddwyd delfryd Micheal D Jones o greu ‘Cymru fach’ ar ochr arall y byd. A does dim byd o’i le hefo hynny o gwbl! Does dim byd o’i le gyda’r ffaith mai Archentwyr yw trigolion y Wladfa, ac mai’r Sbaeneg yw eu hi-
aith – mae hynny’n hollol naturiol a rhagweladwy. Mae’r ffaith eu bod yn parhau i ymfalchïo a chofio eu treftadaeth yn ffaith anhygoel yn ei hun, ac rwy’n siŵr y byddai Micheal D Jones, er gwaetha’r gwahaniaethau rhwng y Wladfa heddiw a’i wladfa ddelfrydol, yn hynod o falch o ymdrechion yr Archentwyr i gadw’r iaith a’r diwylliant yn fyw. Fodd bynnag, drwy weld, gyda’m llygaid fy hun, nad ‘Cymru fach’ yw Patagonia (er gwaethaf ei thebygolrwyddau helaeth â Chymru), agorwyd fy llygaid i un ffaith frawychus iawn: Cymru yw’r unig wlad i ni. Y darn bach mynyddig hwn o dir, yw’r unig dir y cawn erioed, a mewn gwirionedd, nid oes modd inni bacio’n bagiau a chwilio am ddarn arall o dir os yw ein hiaith, ein diwylliant, a’n rheolaeth dros ein tir, yn parhau i fod o dan fygythiad. Mae fy ymweliad â’r Wladfa wedi dangos imi fod rhaid inni barhau i amddiffyn a dathlu ein hiaith a’n diwylliant yn yr un ffordd ag y mae’r Archentwyr yn amddiffyn a dathlu ei gwreiddiau Cymraeg hwy. Roeddwn wrth fy modd gyda’r Wladfa, ac roeddwn wedi disgyn mewn cariad â’r lle, ond mewn gwirionedd, roeddwn yn caru Patagonia oherwydd rwyf yn caru Cymru - hi yw’r unig wlad i ni.
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Mae rhaid inni barhau i amddiffyn a dathlu ein hiaith a’n diwylliant yn yr un ffordd ag y mae’r Archentwyr yn amddiffyn a dathlu ei gwreiddiau Cymraeg hwy
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Osian Morgan
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CHWARAEON
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The Ashes: Gair Rhydd Sport preview the big Test series
Rhys Thomas
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The Ashes truly is cricket’s finest contest, one that draws envy from heavyweights of the game such as India and Pakistan
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t is one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar and a historic event between two sporting superpowers. The first time England and Australia faced off was during the 1882-83 season, and on that occasion England came out on top. Since that first test series there have been sixty-nine series played with thirty-two wins apiece and five draws – a remarkable level of competitiveness for well over a century which is part of the allure and romance of this cricketing battle. There have been many standout series’ down the decades which have seared themselves into popular memory. The ‘Bodyline’ Series of 1932/33 where a new, aggressive bowling technique perfected by Nottinghamshire miner Harold Larwood caused a diplomatic incident and ‘Botham’s Ashes’ in 1981 where the former captain put in a remarkable display with bat and ball with figures totalling 399 runs, 34 wickets and 12 catches. Most recently there was the 2005 series where England took back the urn for the first time since 1986/87, with Aussie legends like Shane Warne taking a beating against upstarts like Kevin Pietersen and the incomparable Andrew Flintoff. The Ashes truly is cricket’s finest contest, one that draws envy from heavyweights of the game such as India and Pakistan. This series will also be notable for at least one reason - the second test at Adelaide in early December will be the first day-night Ashes test in history, featuring a pink rather than traditional red
ball. The Adelaide Oval also hosted the first ever day-night test in November last year with the Aussies beating New Zealand by three wickets. The tour started in early November with England playing their first match against a Western Australia Cricket Association team. The two-day fixture in Perth ended in a draw, with Mark Stoneman and James Vince top scoring for the visitors with eighty-five and eighty-two respectively. This pair have performed well in the warm-up matches, and will have a crucial role to play in the batting order just after the openers. Two four-day fixtures followed against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide and Townsville, with England triumphing in the first and drawing the latter. Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes impressed in both matches with figures of 4-17 in the second innings in Adelaide and 6-54 in Townsville, staking a late claim for a place in the test team. There has been a long build-up to this tour, and much has happened off the field. The arrest of Ben Stokes in late September due to suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol early in the morning after a match against the West Indies was a hammer blow to the England team. The New Zealand-born all-rounder was in fine form before the incident and seen as a talismanic figure who could lead England to Ashes glory. At the time of writing it is not known what action the police take after collecting evidence, but either way the England management are not currently planning on hav-
ing him for any part of the test series. The absence of Stokes will clearly hurt England and galvanise Australia, but they do have strength in the middle order of the batting order with the likes of Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali and Johnny Bairstow of Yorkshire who may well find themselves tasked with stemming the Aussie tide. Down under, the Australians didn’t waste much time in publicly sounding off about their English opponents and much has been made of the media battle and potential sledging that may well occur on the field. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been one of the more vocal, saying that he wants to get Joe Root dropped and that the England side who got thrashed 5-0 in 2013/14 were “scared”, even claiming that wicketkeeper Matt Prior wanted to fly home before the third test. Whilst this is hardly the first time that an Australian has been unnecessarily churlish, Lyon’s comments com-
bined with those from teammates and some in the media like former batsman Matthew Hayden have contributed to a negative atmosphere ahead of the tour. To their credit, the England players have not responded in kind and have stated their intent to just get on with playing cricket. Australia start the series as favourites and their pace attack which features Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc has a good chance of knocking the stuffing out of the England batting line-up. The pitches in Australia are generally harder and faster than their equivalents in the United Kingdom, and nervous batsmen are particularly liable to edge balls which will carry behind to the wicketkeeper. The Aussie quicks will be keen to take scalps at the top of the England order including skipper Joe Root. Whilst this isn’t the finest Australia team to play in an Ashes series, they clearly have reasons to be confident. However, there are also reasons for the visitors to be optimistic too. Whilst it is true that the Aussies have a few pace bowlers that could be lethal on home turf, England have arguably the finest swing bowler around in Jimmy Anderson who will enjoy the day-night test at Adelaide whilst Root and Cook are experienced and more than a match for their Antipodean counterparts David Warner and Steve Smith. Regardless of the respective qualities of either team, it will be an intense mental and physical battle in the hunt for victory and a chance for these players to write their names in the annals of Cricketing history.
Pictured: Australia bat against England in the third test of the 2013 Ashes at Old Trafford. (via Marc on Flickr) Inset: A replica of the original Ashes urn (via Daniel Greef on Flickr)
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36 SPORT
BUCS Highlights
CUFC 2nds knocked out of Cup at Winchester
Rich Jones
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ardiff University FC 2nds are out of the BUCS Western Conference Cup after a 3-2 defeat away at Winchester last Wednesday. Charlie Thompson scored and was later sent off as they were sent crashing out and missed out on a quarter-final place. They beat Bristol 4ths 3-0 at Llanrumney earlier this month to reach the last 16 but their journey in the competition has now come to an end. Chris Hollands scored Cardiff ’s second goal whilst Chris Wilcox was named Man of the Match, but it was not enough to give them victory in a tight clash. Meanwhile, the Freshers are in the hat for the quarter-finals of the BUCS Western Conference Plate after edging a 2-1 win over Aberystwyth at Llanrumney. An own goal proved decisive after Stephen Thompson had opened the scoring for the home side, whilst Harry Whittaker was Man of the Match. League action will resume for CUFC next week, with the 2nd team heading to Bath. There are no more fixtures for the 1st team until after Christmas, denying them the chance to continue their resurgence after two straight wins.
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ardiff University RFC got their season back on track with a 36-29 win over Exeter 2nds last Wednesday. Alun Wyn Davies’ side suffered their first defeat of the campaign, going down 28-7 against Bristol in their top of the table clash the previous week. But they bounced back in perfect fashion with a bonus point victory to move back within a point of Bristol in the standings. They ran in five tries and slotted over three penalties with a free-flowing attacking performance from which they will no doubt take plenty of positives. There was also success for the 2nd XI in the only other game of the day as they edged out Cardiff Met 3rds 26-17 in their local derby. The win means they are just one point behind top of the table Cardiff Met in a congested Western 1A Division after four fixtures. The two sides are due to do battle again in the return fixture at Llanrumney this Wednesday, whilst the 1st XI will host Bath. Meanwhile, there is a Cardiff University clash between the 3rd XI and Medics on Wednesday as they both battle for the top spot in the Western 4A.
Cardiff University Men’s Hockey earn first win over Exeter Rich Jones
Pictured: TOP: CUFC in action against Cardiff Met earlir this season (via Colin Ewart) RIGHT: Sophie Lankford prepares for the individual pursuit in Manchester (via CURCT Twitter) Cardiff Uni Hockey take on Swansea at Welsh Varsity 2017 (via Huw Evans Photography).
CURFC get back to winning ways
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ardiff University Men’s Hockey earned their first win of the campaign with a 3-0 triumph over Exeter at Talybont. It has been a tough start to the season for the 1st team, who had suffered three straight defeats and remained pointless since their draw against Bath in the opening game of the season. But they put in a convincing home display to see off mid-table Exeter and give their confidence a major boost. The 3rd team were unfortunately on the wrong end of the same scoreline in their away game at Exeter, as were the 4th team against Bristol. The Women’s 1st team also suffered frustration with a 2-0 defeat at Bath which leaves them fourth in the BUCS South A table after three straight defeats. They will face basement club at home next week, whilst the Men’s 1st team also take on the side propping up their division, winless Canterbury CC. A win could see the Men leapfrog Exeter to move out of the bottom two, whilst the Women will be hoping to close the gap on third placed Oxford by taking full advantage of a game in hand. The women’s 2nd team also face a huge bottom of the table clash with Bristol as both teams fight to climb the standings and avoid the drop. The Men’s 2nd team also head to Bristol as they return to action after a week without a fixture aiming to put together a run of form after a mixed season to date.
Silver for women’s track cycling team
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ardiff University Women’s Cycling team finished second in the BUCS Track Championships in Manchester last weekend. A strong team performance saw them claim a silver medal ahead of Bristol as Birmingham comfortably took gold. Sophie Lankford was the star performer for Cardiff, winning the minor final to earn bronze in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit before falling just short of a medal with fourth place in the women’s 500m TT and finishing fourth in the women’s points race. Jennifer Holden brought home a silver medal in the women’s elimination race, whilst Cardiff finished sixth in the women’s team pursuit and were second behind Southampton in the women’s team sprint. There was also representation from the men at the event, with Josh Burns just missing out on a medal in the men’s elimination race and a number of other riders competing.
CHWARAEON
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Interview: Welsh Snowboarding starlet ready to make the jump to Olympic-level Mark Wyatt speaks to Winter Olympic hopeful Maisie Potter as the countdown to PyeongChang 2018 continues
Mark Wyatt
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Being an Olympic year, it’s vital to be healthy this season and not risk anything. Maisie Potter
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n only her second season at the top tier of snowboarding Maisie Potter, 20, is inches away from earning herself a spot in the Team GB group that will be racing at the Winter Olympic Games in 2018. Maisie’s journey to this point has seen her travel around the world and relentlessly test her ability, affording her the best possible chance of making the jump to Olympic-standard racing in the future. The snowboarder from Snowdonia has spent much of her childhood honing her skills and now has her chance to impress at the Olympic qualifiers in December. Her specific discipline is boardercross, an event that has featured at the last three Winter Olympic Games but has never produced a medal for Team GB. “Snowboardcross is a mix of all the snowboard disciplines with a combination of racing and jumps,” Potter said. “Some of the key skills required are: fast reaction time, good board control and being able to maintain and generate speed. “It’s an exciting race head to head with 6 riders over a specifically built course from big jumps to banked turns. The first to cross the line wins. I love it - you get a massive adrenaline rush! “I’ve been lucky this year as I’ve had a lot of time on snow already. I feel much more prepared going into the winter.” In a sport like snowboarding it is important for athletes to test themselves on snow as much as possible – which requires an awful lot of travelling. Maisie has recently returned from training across the world and has picked up some memorable moments already. She commented: “My winter finished at the end of April and I was back on snow in June on the French glacier (Les 2 Alpes). Since then, I have been on snow every month. “I went to Chile and Argentina for three weeks to train and compete in two World Cups. It was really excit-
ing going to the southern hemisphere (and a bit surreal landing in a snowstorm in my flip flops in mid-august!). “We trained on a volcano in Chile, which was pretty epic. It was a very focused environment with other professional teams based there too. The World Cups were in Patagonia, which is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go and it didn’t disappoint!” One thing that has helped set Maisie apart from her competition is her training when she was growing up. Maisie benefitted hugely from racing on the infamous French circuit from a young age. “Racing when I was 11-15 on the French circuit I think has really helped me have a good base and “understand” racing. “The French team is one of the strongest teams on tour. Having a similar snowboarding background to some of the French riders is valuable and gives me confidence.” But when she wasn’t on the continent, Maisie made the most of her surroundings as a youngster to best replicate the conditions she faces when she’s on the snow. “Coming from North Wales I have so many outdoor sports on my doorstep, which is great… Sports such as skating and surfing keep my training varied, which is key. “However, being Olympic year it’s vital to be healthy this season and not risk anything. After this season, I would like to spend a bit more time doing other hobbies, if I can!” It’s motivation like this that keeps Maisie at the top of her game and talking to her it’s sometimes hard to remember that she is still only 20 years old. Her composure and dedication to succeed is something that sets her apart from many and she heaps praise on those that have inspired her to do well. “I have met a number of inspiring athletes and I’m sure I’ve taken little things from each one. My team mates Zoe Gillings (snowboardcross) and Emily Sarsfield (skicross) especially. “On tour, the girls I aspire to are
Eva Samkova who won gold at the age of 20 at the last Olympics, she’s a machine and the one to beat. Also, Faye Gulini, who is one of the top US girls and an all-round talented rider.” With time ticking down everquicker before the Olympic qualifiers, Maisie is quietly confident of making the cut to race in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Her races over the last 12 months have been against some of the best snowboarders in the world and positive results have helped Maisie keep the required motivation to qualify. “After my result at the Olympic qualifier in Argentina (21st and just behind my team-mate and 3x Olympian Zoe) it has given me confidence going into the next Olympic qualification races in December. “It will not be easy but it’s completely within my ability as I have already secured one result (14th) at World Champs back in March.” Looking to the future of GB snowboarding it’s vital that the sport continues to receive the vital funding that it requires. The current state of UK Sport has seen funding cut from Olympic
sports at regularly intervals recently – despite hitting their medal target in Rio, GB Badminton had their funding scrapped earlier this year. Snowsports are expensive to take part in and getting the next generation interested in the sport and supporting them in their junior years proves to be very costly. Luckily for Maisie she has received a grant from the British Ski and Snowboarding foundation which has helped her tenfold. “Receiving this grant from the federation is really helpful as being a self funded winter athlete is tough. “Along with the support from Snowsport Wales, this reward has really given me extra motivation knowing that that my federation are behind me and believe in my ability. “As well as bringing in a new head coach, I have already had very valuable training leading up to the upcoming races.” The future looks very bright for the young Welsh athlete indeed, Gair Rhydd Sport will be following Maisie’s journey closely and wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career.
Pictured: Maisie Potter in action this season. (via Maisie Potter )
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Roberts: “The FAW will have a contingency plan in place” Daniel Heard speaks to ex-Wales captain Iwan Roberts and looks to the future of Welsh football
Daniel Heard
“Don’t be afraid to dream…” October 10th, 2015. Wales had just lost their penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier, their first defeat of the campaign. Despite this, results elsewhere meant that the Dragons were going to their first tournament in over sixty years. Stood in the centre of the pitch, as his players were mobbed by the small, loyal travelling support, was Chris Coleman. He was calm and composed. The man who had taken the job in such difficult circumstances, who’d been beaten and derided in his first few games in charge, who’d had to deal with injuries and criticism and a whole lot more besides, was now a winner. Defeated on the night, but a winner nonetheless. November 19th, 2017. That same calm, composed man steps out in a tracksuit emblazoned with a new crest. Not of Wales, but Sunderland AFC. Chris Coleman is appointed manager of the Black Cats on a two-and-a-half-year deal, days after resigning from his post with the national team. The previous week, talks over a new contract to keep him at the helm for another campaign, at the least, had broken down.
So, why did he decide to walk away? I spoke to former Wales captain Iwan Roberts, who played with Coleman internationally, before the latter’s career was cut short by injury. The routine and familiarity of the domestic game, he feels, is what swung it. “I can understand Chris wanting a club job after nearly six years in charge of Wales, as he’s no doubt missed the day-to-day running of a football club. I must admit, I was slightly surprised he chose Sunderland though, as in my opinion, they are a club in free fall. I’ve no doubt that if he’d have maybe waited a few weeks, I do think he could have had a better club come in for him.” It is the Football Association of Wales though who must now find a successor. This is where it gets interesting, as the bookmakers’ current favourite is Ryan Giggs. The former Manchester United legend, one of the finest players to grace the top flight, has been linked before. His lack of experience though may count against him. At the other end of the spectrum, Tony Pulis is another option. Vastly experienced, his style or tactics may not be best suited
to the way the squad were set up under Coleman, and was recently sacked by West Brom. A real shot in the dark though, is Carl Robinson, head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. An ex-Wales international, his Premier League career saw him turn out for Wolves and, ironically, Sunderland, before a move Stateside. A young, albeit unproven manager over here, he did work under one of the saviours of modern Welsh football in Osian Roberts when taking his coaching badges. Perhaps the most eye-catching name linked though is Thierry Henry. Yes, that Thierry Henry (va-va-voom). Currently assistant manager to Roberto Martinez at Belgium, he, like Robinson, completed his coaching badges with the FAW. Iwan Roberts though, had another name to add to the mix. “Personally, I would try and tempt Jürgen Klinsmann to become our next manager. Here, you have a vastly experienced coach at both club and international level, and he’s still only fifty-three.
Pictured: A variety of the best moments from Chris Coleman’s reign. (via FAW)
Keiran ManettaJones Cardiff Blues Columnist
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s the first game back in the Pro14 has already drawn fans back to the league, I thought I would take the time to review the state of the Cardiff Blues in the Anglo Welsh Cup. A lot has changed since Cardiff Blues’ triumphant 50-12 win against Gloucester in the final of the 2008-09 Cup to the recent 57-0 defeat against Newcastle in round 1. Debate surrounds the AW Cup and how the welsh regions have a lacklustre approach to the competition in recent years. I for one would disagree with this view, I would say rather it is more difficult in Wales to field high calibre teams during
international periods due to the loss of players. The Blues in all honesty haven’t lost many players with only five being called up for international duty, but the ones who were called up were clearly players who would be a huge loss to the club. As much as we would prefer our top players to go and play for their countries, it really affects the welsh regions more so than the English premiership teams who have the strength in depth to cope with some players being unavailable. When the Anglo Welsh Cup roles around we definitely take the opportunity to field a more inexperienced team
to give young players some game time and to give others a well-deserved rest before the Pro14 gets back underway. The international window now falls over the competition which really allows English premiership teams to have the edge. The fact that we basically field an academy team in every match suggests that the welsh regions aren’t aiming for any silverware anymore, it’s all about development. The introduction of a new system to replace ‘Gatland’s Law’ as had many players outside of Wales rethink their careers. Many players will be caught in this law when their contracts expire
I’m not one of these who believes the next manager has to be Welsh. What we have to do though is to make sure we get the best candidate for the job.” Interestingly, when asked about Robinson, a former teammate at Norwich, he was equally as forward in his answer. “If he wasn’t Welsh, I don’t think he’d be considered. His side finished third from bottom in a weak American league last season, and though he’s doing better this year, there are better candidates out there. Even if you have an FAW-trained coach, that shouldn’t limit who you can appoint as manager” “I do think the FAW like the thought of Giggs taking over, and having worked with one of the best managers ever in Sir Alex Ferguson, I guess he wouldn’t be a bad choice. He would win the respect of the players as soon as he walked through the door.” As well as this, he lamented the fact Coleman had departed, but looked to the future. “The FAW will have a contingency plan in place, and they will know who they want as the next Welsh manager already, no doubt. It is sad that they couldn’t come to an agreement with Chris about a new contract, but that’s football.” Personally? I’d definitely look at both Osian Roberts and Under-21’s boss Rob Page, who has overseen the continued development of the likes of Ben Woodburn, Ethan Amapdu and David Brooks. My choice though? The one and only Craig Bellamy. Yes, he divided opinion massively as a player, shooting his mouth off almost as often as he shot for goal. But, since hanging up his boots three years ago, has matured drastically. Now a development coach at boyhood club Cardiff, he has displayed a remarkable turnaround in attitude and character. His mentor and friend, the late, great Gary Speed, would be proud. With the likes of Osh and Page behind him, and the backing of the senior members of the squad, and the FAW for that matter, there is potentially no limit to what he could achieve. As his potential predecessor once said, “don’t be afraid to dream…” outside of the four regions. Therefore, players are planning on making their return to welsh clubs in the next few seasons. Cardiff Blues have already lost the race to resign Leigh Halfpenny, and have now pulled out of discussions to sign flanker Ross Moriarty from Gloucester. However, the welsh star winger George North has decided to return to welsh rugby, signing a National Dual contract. With the lack of significant signings for the Blues since Willis Halaholo, the capital region is the first to publicly announce their interest in the 25-year-old in an attempt to revitalise the Cardiff Arms Park attendance.
CHWARAEON
Diolch, Chris!
Chris Coleman in numbers
Rich Jones looks back at the legacy left by Coleman in Welsh football reached eighth in the FIFA World Rankings, sealed their spot at Euro 2016 and were heading to their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. At that point Coleman had already etched his name as one of Wales’ greatest ever football managers. But what followed in the summer of 2016 ensured he will now forever be etched in Welsh folklore, a figure who oversaw one of the greatest months this nation has seen. When he departed from his role as Wales manager to join Sunderland last week, the reaction from Welsh fans was one of sorrow and sadness. Thousands upon thousands of Welshmen and women made their way across the Channel to France last summer and enjoyed the time of their lives. Just being there was enough, but the success Coleman oversaw left a legacy which will never be surpassed. Never has football generated such pride in Wales and never has it incited such passion and spirit amongst a nation of rugby lovers. Whoever takes over as manager, they are already taking over a side in excellent shape despite the recent World Cup qualification disappointment. A young side who hold a special connection with their supporters has talented teenagers Ben Wood-
burn and Ethan Ampadu waiting in the wings as the next big things in Welsh football. Yet Coleman’s legacy runs beyond the side the next manager will inherit. The journey he has taken the Welsh people on over the last five years has forever changed the way the sport will be viewed in this country. In 10 or even 20 years’ time when the next generation of Welsh players burst onto the scene, we shall be able to point to 2016 as the defining moment when many were inspired to take up the beautiful game.
As Wales manager, Chris Coleman has connected with a nation in a way nobody could have imagined, brought joy to thousands in a manner which they never believed possible and inspired a generation of youngsters in a way which will be visible for generations. From all at Gair Rhydd Sport and indeed all Welsh football fans, Diolch Chris!
Goals Against
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56
50
38
Goals For
53
First Game: Mexico 2-0 Wales 27th May 2012
Last Game: Wales 1-1 Panama 14th Nov 2017
Most Memorable Game: Wales 3-1 Belgium 1st July 2016
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NEXT MANAGER ODDS: (As of 24/11) Craig Bellamy 1/3 Tony Pulis 5/2
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Just want to say good luck for your furture and a big thank you for the last few years @GarethBale11 / Twitter Michael Ash Cardiff City Columnist
Played W 19 D 13 L 18 Win %
Thank you for everyhting Gaffer. A unique man. @ChrisGunter16 / Twitter
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ith a managerial record which was sketchy at best, there were plenty of doubters when Chris Coleman was named Wales manager in January 2012. There had been significant strides taken by a young side before the tragic death of Gary Speed just two months earlier. Welsh football was still in mourning, as was Coleman himself, and after a dismal start it appeared we were heading back to obscurity. At their lowest point, after five straight defeats to start Coleman’s reign, Wales slipped to 117th in the FIFA World Rankings. They were drawn into the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers from pot 6 alongside the likes of Liechtenstein, Andorra and San Marino. But on October 12, 2012, late magic from Gareth Bale saw Wales snatch a 2-1 over old rivals Scotland and kick-start the Chris Coleman era. It was without doubt a turning point, and in hindsight a fitting one at that; Gareth Bale magic leading a dogged Welsh side who simply never knew when to give up. Fast forward three years, Wa l e s
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he international break couldn’t have come at a better time for Neil Warnock and his squad. After a disappointing 2-1 loss to bitter rivals Bristol City, it has provided the team with a bit of breathing space that they so desperately needed. It’s the time of year when players and managers first begin to fatigue; the intensity of the Championship play-off push and the concentration required to maintain the necessary performance levels is draining, and evidently reached peaked for the Bluebirds if recent results are anything to go by. While many teams may feel international breaks interrupt their momen-
Ryan Giggs 15/1 Carl Robinson 20/1 tum, it’s clear to see that the break was a welcome relief for Warnock and gave Cardiff time to consolidate and reflect on their season so far. Whatever they were formulating over the fortnight-long pause of club football seems to be working – the team looked nicely refreshed and fighting fit as they took to the field and comfortably beat a Brentford side boasting the season’s longest unbeaten run 2-0. Fans may have looked at the break with a worried gaze, but Warnock capitalised on the short respite, using it as an opportunity to strengthen the side with the shortterm addition of Venezuelan defender Rolf Feltscher, allowing the squad to accommo-
date and gel with the ex-Getafe centre half in a pressure-free environment. Last Tuesday’s late victory at Barnsley cements just how good the break has been for the mentality of the squad. We saw a strong side play at Oakwell, where they faced resistance from a confident Barnsley team unbeaten in four matches. Summer-signing Callum Paterson proved to be the difference, as Warnock coached an energised Cardiff team through a physically and mentally demanding tie. Cardiff ’s run-in looks incredible attractive with Norwich, Reading and Hull mak-
ing up some of the Bluebirds next fixtures; three matches where a strong mentality and energised players should see victories for the club to boost their confidence during what is often the most difficult period of the season. With second place back under their control, the team will be looking to put pressure on dominating league-leaders Wolves as they head into the Christmas fixtures with clear heads and a determined attitude. Will the Bluebirds be able to maintain this renewed vigour and elevate their game to the next level? They surely will need to if they want to stand any chance of reclaiming top spot.
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@gairrhyddsport | #GRSport sport@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/sport
Coleman departs from Wales role Mark Wyatt
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ast week Welsh football fans heard the news that they had been dreading. Chris Coleman, the man who has been at the helm for the most successful period of Welsh football, had resigned and taken a job with Sunderland AFC. The decision came after lengthy (and very public) contract disputes between Coleman
and FA Wales. It’s understood that after his last match against Panama (a disappointing 1-1 draw in Cardiff ) Coleman revealed he had been offered a job at club level, which he had been openly looking for for a long time. Ultimately the decision came down to money, of which the FAW couldn’t come up with enough. Sunderland offered Coleman a pay package of £1m a year, an amount that the five-man ex-
Ashes Preview: A look ahead to the Test Series Down Under P35>>
ecutive panel tasked with keeping him couldn’t match. In the back of his mind Coleman must have thought he had gone as far as he could with Wales though, reaching the semi-finals of Wales’ maiden European Championships in 2016 would be a tall order to replicate. Once it was finalised that Wales would not be playing at the World Cup in Russia there were widespread campaigns from fans and public comments from players urging Cole-
man to stay in his position. But alas the allure of club football and a return to day-to-day management proved too much and he departed for the North-East last week, leaving a giant hole to fill at the helm of Welsh football.
Special Feature on Coleman’s departure on p38-39.
Interview: Gair Rhydd speak to Winter Olympic hopeful Maisie Potter P37>>