Issue 1159 - Monday 9 November by Cardiff Student Media

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rhifyn 1159 issue 1159

9 Tachwedd 2020 9 November 2020

gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972

Inside: NASA telescope finds water on the Moon's Sunlit Surface (page 20)

Cardiff teacher suspended after working with positive COVID-19 test Tirion Davies

Editor-in-Chief

supply teacher from Cardiff has been suspended after it was found she had continued to teach, despite recently having received a positive COVID-19 test. The teacher, who worked at Kitchener Primary School in Canton, taught five weekly classes, meaning that all 150 children she had taught are now having to self-isolate for the mandatory 14-day period. Kitchener Primary School Headteacher Reena Patel reported the news to parents and children in a video message, in which she detailed that the 150 students who had come into contact with the teacher would now need to isolate. As reported by the BBC, Headteacher Patel was unaware that the teacher had been tested, nor that she had received a positive test, stating she was devastated she had only just found out. Ms Patel told the BBC, “I am disappointed, I am angry, I am just absolutely devastated as to why people would not do the right thing. Your children are my priority and they always will be”. Cardiff Council noted the individual had been suspended while an investigation into their conduct is carried out. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that the supply teacher, who worked in the school in the lead up to the half-term break, had tested positive a week earlier. They did not note their positive results to other members of staff and continued to work throughout the school without undergoing the recommended 14day isolation period. Although the school has not named the supply teacher, a Cardiff Council spokesperson told the BBC, “We have been assured by the agency which manages the supply teacher’s contract, that the individual has been suspended while an investigation is carried out. “The council will review the situation once their investigation has

concluded and the results have been shared with us”. This new report comes as more and more schools across Cardiff report positive cases of COVID-19, including Fairwater primary school. Fairwater primary school announced this week that the school, which holds around 225 pupils, will stay closed for a week, after “a large number of positive tests from staff ”. It was reported by BBC Wales that more than 400 pupils across the Welsh capital are isolating, along with 167 students at Bishop of Llandaff High School, after four students tested positive. Another 30 pupils at St Paul’s Church in Wales Primary School in Grangetown, and 30 pupils and a member of staff at Stacey Primary School in Roath are also isolating after positive tests. Although half-term recently occurred in Wales, students across Wales will need to return with the knowledge there is a likelihood they will need to isolate if a positive case is found within their area. Children at Fairwater primary school were told just days before the end of the half-term break about the positive tests, and that they would need to isolate ahead of returning to school. Headteacher of Fairwater primary school, Tracy Manley, posted a letter to the school’s website, informing parents, teachers and staff members of the closure noting, “I regret to inform you that the school will be unable to open on Monday. “The governors and myself have made this decision due to the large number of positive tests from staff. Guidance [from Cardiff Council] has asked that staff isolate for 14 days after receiving a positive test or being in contact.” Though Headteacher Manley noted the decision would be “difficult for many of our families”, she added “I’m sure you will agree that the safety of staff and pupils has to be paramount”. The debate continues as to whether schoolchildren should be returning to schools as the number of positive cases to grow.

Joe Biden: Complications and controversy delayed the election, with Saturday announcing the President Elect would be Joe Biden. Source: Michael Stokes (via. Wikimedia Commons)

Joe Biden named US President-Elect Hallum Cowell Head of Politics

Tom Kingsbury Politics Editor

fter days of uncertainty, controvery, and ballot counting across the United States, it has been announced Joe Biden has won the US

Presidential Election to become the US President-Elect. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, has become the first Black and Asian-American woman to become the Vice-President-elect. Following a turmultuous four days of controversy, it was reported that Biden had won the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the Presidency. With a call to recount votes in many states, a premature announcement of victory,

and a close count, the 2020 US Presidential Election was one for the history books. Gair Rhydd Politics takes a look at the US Elections, the reaction from both candidates, and why the election was too close to call for days. Turn to page 11 to read more about the long-awaited results from the 2020 American Presidential Elections. 11

Rise and fall of the Effaith coronafeirws New COVID-19 ar yr amgylchedd rules for Nov. 9 Zoom platform Izzy Morgan

Comment Editor

oom has changed the the technological game for millions since the beginning of the pandemic, but we need to ask whether it is safe for use? There have been questions recently as to whether Zoom needs to improve the security of its video calling services, as numerous incidents of 'Zoom bombing' have occurred, causing many to feel uncomfortable with the lack of security found on some calls. To read more about the rise and fall of the global video calling platform Zoom during this pandemic, turn to page 15. 15

Catrin Lewis

Golygydd Taf-od

rs dechrau'r cyfnod pandemig coronafeirws, mae'r Gweinidog Addysg Lesley Griffiths wedi son bod y feirws wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar yr amgylchedd. Mae data gan y Carbon Brief yn awgrymu bydd allyriadau eleni wedi gostwng rhwng 4-8% o gymharu â llynedd. Yn ogystal dengys y data bod y galw am drydan wedi gostwng o 20% yn rhyngwladol ers blwyddyn ddiwethaf, yn sylweddol ers dechrau'r cyfnod clo ym mis Mawrth. I ddarllen am effaith coronafeirws am yr amgylchedd, a dyfodol yr amgylchedd, trowch i dudalen 6 adran Taf-od. 6

Dominic Williams News Editor

s Wales comes to the end of the two week 'fire-break' lockdown period, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced the new rules which will be in place. While some of the new rules put in place will be similar to those Cardiff faced while under a local lockdown just two weeks ago, some of the rules we previously saw will be eased slightly. To read about the changes in COVID-19 rules across Wales, including the stop on travel bans and a change in bubbling up with other households, turn to page 3. 3

EDITORIAL

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com. Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

THE TEAM Coordinator

Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief Tirion Davies

Deputy Editors

Hallum Cowell Holly Giles Molly Govus

Head of Digital Media Tom Leaman

Head of Design

Lottie Draycott

Video Editors

Sophia Grace Scarlett Griffith Ellis Lloyd-Jones Daniel O’Callaghan

Graphics Editor

Ellie Hutchings

Copy Editors

Megan Newberry Amy Saunders Elle Speer

IN THIS ISSUE

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Was the recent national lockdown taken seriously?

s Wales goes into its second week of a ‘fire-break’ national lockdown, and as it’s announced England will follow into its own lockdown, it somewhat feels as though we’ve lost the grip we once had on overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. The easing of lockdown over the summer meant the easing of worry for many, as it appeared the UK would soon return to normality. For many returning to university, September 2020 wasn’t anticipated. There was almost a sense of naivety in March; we thought our university experience would be restored by the time we returned. Clearly, it’s not worked out the way many of us anticipated. Although this second lockdown doesn’t feel as severe as the first, it’s hard to believe that an event like this could happen. I suppose that’s the joke, isn’t it? We all said we wanted to emulate the 20s, we just didn’t realise it meant the 1720s plague-era and the 1920s Spanish Flu. There have been 1.2 million deaths globally from COVID-19 since the first outbreak in Wuhan in December 2019. Everyone’s heard the stories of 40odd people found gathered in a house party and the group of friends in the South Wales Valleys who spread the virus from pub to pub. Kim Kardashian West took to social

media this week to note that she and her family had gone on holiday to a private island. Though there aren’t as many travel restrictions in the US ( though the United States have recently surpassed 9.2million positive cases), it seems odd to be celebrating wealth and freedom when the world is struggling. We’re a world away from how we were in March, with the constant fear of being next to another person on the street, and the thought of someone coughing on you felt like a violation. Now, there are hundreds of people every day on social media posting about their lives out of isolation, despite the flashing lockdown signs on the television behind them. Many of us will survive this period easily and may contract COVID-19 with no symptoms and no worries. But it doesn’t mean that will be the same for everyone. Most of us haven’t seen our grandparents for months. Though it’s incredibly hard to only see their faces through a screen, or to only be able to wave at our best friends from a car window parked metres away, it’s to keep them safe. Everyone has the right to lead a happy life, but it’s important to remember that our actions can have consequences. Two weeks of a lockdown doesn’t seem as bad as another year of having to stay away from our family and friends.

A oedd y cyfnod clo diweddaraf yn ddigon ddifrifol?

NEWS

Drug buprenorphine used to help addicts recover (p.3)

TAF-OD

Cynnydd yn defnydd next bikes are draws Caerdydd (t.7)

POLITICS

New rules announced for postlockdown Wales (p.10)

COMMENT

The rise and fall of Zoom during a pandemic (p.15)

ADVICE

How to enjoy reading during the winter months (p.16)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Banks are indirectly effecting the world’s ecosystem (p.19)

@CAERDYDD

Caerdydd and Me: being a fresher in Cardiff (p.22)

SPORT

The legacy of Alun Wyn Jones, (p.24)

Ail cyfnod clo Cymru: Roedd cyfnod clo cyntaf yng Nghymru yn Fawrth wedi’i ystyried gan nifer yn fwy ddifrifol na’r un yr oeddem newydd wynebu. Tarddiad: Tirion Davies

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Wales’ second lockdown: The first lockdown Wales faced in March seems as though it was taken far more seriously than the lockdown we recently faced. Credit: Tirion Davies

rth i Cymru yn dychwelyd i ail gyfnod clo, a bod Lloegr i’w ddilyn yn fuan, mae’n teimlo bron fel ein bod wedi colli’r gafael yr oedd gennym ni ar waredu ar COVID-19 yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Roedd llacio’r rheolau cyfnod clo dros yr haf wedi helpu i leihau’r pryder i nifer, gan yr oedd yn ymddangos yr oedd y posibilrwydd bod Prydain yn mynd i ddychwelyd i’r hen arfer. I’r rhai a wnaeth ddychwelyd i’r brifysgol, nid oedd Medi fel yr oeddynt yn gobeithio. Ym mis Mawrth, roedd bron elfen o ddiniweidrwydd; yr oeddem yn feddwl bydd y profiad prifysgol yn troi i’r hen arferion erbyn inni ddychwelyd. Er nad yw’r cyfnod clo yma’n teimlo mor ddifrifol â’r llall, mae dal i fod yn anodd credu bod hyn wedi digwydd. Efallai mai dyna yw’r jôc? Fe wnaethon ni sôn ein bod ni eisiau profi’r 20au, ond wnaethon ni ddim sylweddoli mai efallai byddai hynny’r 1720au gyda’r Pla Du. Mae pawb wedi clywed sôn am y 40 person yn un tŷ, a’r grŵp o ffrindiau yn Gymoedd De Cymru, a wnaeth lledaenu’r feirws tra oedden nhw’n mynd i’r derby. Kim Kardashian West a wnaeth dangos ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ei bod hi a’i theulu wedi mynd ar wyliau i ynys fach breifat. Er nad

oes cymaint o gyfyngiadau teithio yn yr Unol Daleithiau, (mae’r Unol Daleithiau newydd gyrraedd ffigwr o 9.2miliwn o brofion positif ), mae’n anodd credu gall pobl ddangos eu rhyddid a’u harian tra bod gweddill y byd yn ddioddef. Mae’n fyd a hanner o newid ers mis Mawrth, lle oedd pawb yn poeni am gerdded yn rhy agos i eraill, a lle oedd rhywun yn peswch yn teimlo fel ymosodiad personol. Erbyn hyn, mae miloedd o bobl ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol yn dangos eu bywydau tu fas i ynysiad, er yr arwyddion mawr coch sy’n fflachio tu ôl iddynt ar y newyddion. Bydd nifer ohonom yn cyrraedd pen draw’r cyfnod yma heb ryw lawer o straen, heb symptomau a heb bryderon. Ond, nid yw hyn yn meddwl yr un peth i bawb. Er bod hynny’n swnio’n annheg – mae nifer ohonom heb weld aelodau ein teuluoedd am bron i flwyddyn. Er bod hi’n anodd ond gweld wynebau dros sgrin ffôn, neu trwy ffenest y car, metrau i ffwrdd o’i gilydd, mae yna i sicrhau bod pawb yn parhau’n ddiogel. Mae gan bawb yr hawl i ddilyn bywyd hapus, ond mae’n rhaid bod yn ymwybodol bod ein penderfyniadau ni yn gallu effeithio’n fawr ar bobl eraill. Nid yw dwy wythnos ychwanegol o gyfnod clo yn teimlo mor wael â blwyddyn arall o beidio gweld ein teuluoedd.

NODYN GAN Y GOLYGYDD

New COVID-19 rules in place Nov. 9

As the firebreak lockdown comes to an end, new rules go into effect

hygiene, and other Covid safety measured are followed. Drakeford has urged the public to follow the rules in order to keep our families safe. ‘’Govern-

Dominic Williams News Editor

s the two-week fire breaker approaches its deadline, the Welsh government have announced the new rules for the 9th November. First Minister Mark Drakeford made the announcement on Monday, November 2. In this press conference, the First Minister announced people will be able to form household bubbles again and meet in pubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants once the fire breaker ends. These rules are running for two weeks, with a review being made to see if further changes are needed. These new rules will come into force on Monday, November 9 and there will be no travel restrictions within Wales for residents. Furthermore, two households will be able to join together to form a bubble. Only people in these extended households can meet inside their homes. There will be new arrangements to meet indoors in other

News Editor

OVID-19 cases have been increasing in England, causing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make the decision to head into a month-long lockdown in England. The lockdown is set to span from November 5 and lasting until December 5. Johnson had previously hoped local lockdowns would suffice in lowering cases but with new scientific advisory measures call for a national approach. The national lockdown comes weeks after scientific advisers suggested to undergo ‘firebreak’ lockdowns spanning the half term break to prevent further spreading, as well as minimising the loss of education for pupils. Under new lockdown measures, it will resort to the rules of the March lockdown in England. However, this time schools, uni-

New guidance: As the lockdown comes to a close, new COVID-19 regulations will go into effect. Source: Cwmcafit (via Wikimedia Commons) settings, such as pubs, bars, ca- Places of worship can resume fes, and restaurants. Further dis- services and council services will cussions are set to take place on resume. In relation to organised Monday on how these will work. activity, up to 15 people can take Furthermore, people should part in an indoor activity, and up avoid non-essential travel and to 30 in outdoor activity, providwork from home where possible. ing all social distancing, hand

ment rules and regulations are here to help. But the real strength we have is in the choices we make and actions we take together.’’ “One of the most common misconceptions about this virus is that we catch it from people we don’t know. But we are more likely to catch it from – and pass it on to – the people we are in closest contact with every day.”

versities and construction sites can remain open, with social distancing being enforced throughout. Bars and restaurants can still provide takeaway services. All other nonessential shops and services must close for the lockdown period, much like in March. Many other daily activities are to be halted, exercise and essential shopping are on a list of essential activities. Protection for protesters has also been removed from the list, aggravating many activists. The removal of the exemption would make it hard to form a protest. Wales is exempt from the lockdown rules and the new Johnsonenforced lockdown due to Wales already having gone through with the firebreaker. Wales is set to come out of the lockdown on November 9. The lockdown news came after the announcement that the UK has hit one million confirmed positive

England enters lockdown: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a month-long lockdown. Source: Number 10 (via Flickr) coronavirus cases. The month- as the Dragon’s Heart Hospital, long lockdown is said to be uti- previously on the grounds of the lised to slow the rate of infection Principality Stadium, has been deto ease the pressure on the NHS. commissioned. Many hospitals have now reached All establishments in Wales will full capacity of their intensive care be permitted to reopen, from bars beds, this is the case in Belfast. to gyms to cafes. Further changes The Nightingale Hospital in Man- show that up to 15 people will be chester is also being utilised to able to meet indoors and 30 peohouse further intensive care cases. ple for outdoor organised events. Wales is currently erecting a Travel over the Welsh border will 400-bed facility for coronavirus be permitted despite the lockpatients on the grounds of Uni- down, due to work being classified versity Hospital of Wales. This is as essential.

Anti-racism initiative launched in Cardiff schools Dominic Williams News Editor

uring, Black History Month Cardiff Lord Mayor Daniel De’Ath launched an anti-racism initiative in schools across South Wales. The initiative was launched in October by ‘’It’s Mandatory’ at

YOUR NEWS DESK

Government rules and regulations are here to help. But the real strength we have is in the choices we make and actions we take together.

England enters month-long lockdown Luthien Evans

NEWS

Mount Stuart Primary school in Butetown. Mount Stuart Primary school was also the school that Wales’ first black headteacher, Betty Campbell MBE, worked. This initiative hopes to train black and other ethnic minorities with skills to achieve more senior roles in education and other business sectors.

It’s Mandatory: Mount Stuart Primary School has pioneered the initiative to promote BAME equality. Source: M J Richardson (via Geograph)

The initiative which is under the ‘’Campbell network,’’ hopes to increase the representation of more inspiring black teachers across South Wales. In 2011 areas with the highest proportions of minority ethnic groups were shown in Cardiff to be at 15.2 percent. This percentage has increased since 2011, for example, schools in Butetown and Grangetown which have a large amount of BAME pupils and such a tiny of amount of BAME teachers is something that the initiative hopes to change. Furthermore, a report of the BAME COVID-19 Socioeconomic subgroup, shown some of the equalities that BAME groups have faced in education since COVID-19. For example, Black pupils have lower attainment than white British pupils during early years’ education. This attainment gap narrows at GCSE level with, for the latest period (2017-

2019), 57.7% of black pupils achieving the Level 2 Inclusive threshold16 compared to 56.5% of white British pupils.’’ Also, for other BAME groups, this gap is not narrowing; only 11.1% of Gypsy/Gypsy Roma pupils will meet this threshold. While there has been an overall increase in participation in higher education, white British students in Wales have an attainment lead of 8.5 percentage points over BAME students. The founders of it’s mandatory, admit there is a lot of work to be done and hope to improve social challenges faced by young BAME people. A survey released in May by Show Racism The Red Card, involving 1,058 teachers and teaching assistants in Wales, has revealed that 68% of them have witnessed misconceptions and stereotypes from students relating to skin colour, nationality, and religious beliefs.

Zoe Kramer

Luthien Evans

Sam Portillo

Dominic Williams news@gairrhydd.com Following on from this the organisation has provided Race advocate for youths (RAYS) training via Zoom to help them identify and support children who may be facing racism. In the second stage of training, RAYS are looking at being equipped with DBS checks to allow work with children and their families. Along with schemes such as the Campbell network, a new taskforce made up of 14 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic experts will explore how to tackle race inequality in Cardiff following the Black Lives Matter protests in July. This taskforce aims to examine Issues in the BAME communities and how to offer support from aspects such as the workforce, increasing the diversity of councillors and council staff; and work with the Welsh Government’s audit of statues, street and building names of links with the slave trade.

NEWS

Poverty rising in Wales, study finds Sam Portillo News Editor

UK charity that focuses on helping people in poverty has warned that more people in Wales risk losing their jobs and being unable to afford living costs due to the economic fallout of coronavirus. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation claim that 700,000 people in Wales are currently living in poverty owing to a combination of low-paying jobs, unaffordable housing and a lack of childcare. Almost a quarter of the population was under the poverty line before the coronavirus crisis even began. 78% of low-paid workers in sectors such as food, beverage and accommodation have been furloughed, suggesting their jobs are at risk of being cut. In an effort to relieve living costs for new parents the Welsh Government has made 30 hours of childcare free for those work at least 16 hours a week on the minimum wage. The report criticised the government though for allowing rent increases to outpace the rate of inflation, an unavoidable living cost that can make a large dent into the finances of people grappling with poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has pleaded with the Welsh Government to focus their economic strategy on protecting and creating jobs in the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus recession, including mid-Wales and the Valleys.

Illegal raves broken up

Francesca Ionescu Contributor

ith England facing a national lockdown from Thursday, authorities have become worried about breaches of the current rules. The live entertainment industry has been hit hard by coronavirus restrictions, and clubs and concerts have been closed for over half a year. This did not stop partygoers, who organized themselves into illegal gatherings of up to 1000 in East London. The Met police had to break up 11 unlicensed gatherings on Saturday,. Organisers can be fined up to £10,000. In Bristol about 500 people gathered for an illegal Halloween gathering, and some became aggressive when the crowd was dispersed, throwing bottles at the officers and lighting spray cans. Greater Manchester Police broke up a party in Wigan of around 300 people, when the owner of the land called to complain about the loud music played on their farm. The people breaching the rules fled across trainlines, which was advised against for their own safety. Policemen have stated that seven of their vehicles had their tyres slashed when the party was broken. ‘My colleagues have been doing their best to police restrictions which have changed on a regular basis and have often been confusing.’ Says the head of the Police Federation, John Apter. The police still have normal everyday duties too, meaning they are oversolicited and over-worked. There is still hope the second lockdown will be taken seriously, but the people are tired and confused, and that reflects badly on public servants.

Heroin addicts offered new treatment with Buvidal Zoe Kramer

Head of News

he drug Buvidal will be rolled out in Cardiff in order to help heroin addicts recover. By receiving a monthly injection of buprenorphine, those suffering from opioid dependence will find the effects of heroin are blocked. Buvidal is an alternative to methadone, which is legalised heroin and must be taken daily. Buvidal offers users more time between doses, and as a result, more freedom in terms of employment and other aspects of life. According to Jan Melichar, lead consultant for opioid addiction at the Community Addiction Unit in Cardiff, “Buvidal is the best drug I have seen in 25 years. It’s a bridge to recovery. If I gave you a month’s worth of heroin or methadone, you would die. But Buvidal is nice and slow. It just comes out smoothly. You feel fabulous. “You’re not waking up each morning thinking how to get to the dealer or to the pharmacy. It has been a revelation to people. “You see people who have spent the last three years in prison, or in

and out of hospital, and now they have tidied themselves up, back in contact with families, trying to move on with their lives, back to work. They see it as something that really works.” Methadone has also been implicated in 47% of drug fatalities in 2018, while Buvidal is still relatively new. Addiction can be treated one of two ways, either through maintenance therapy, wherein the user switches to a heroin substitute and remains on a stable dose, or through detox, wherein the user switches to a heroin substitute and gradually withdraws from the substance. Trial patients have successfully been detoxed from Buvidal. Buvidal has been rolled out primarily by the Kaleidoscope Project, a charity based in Cardiff. Kaleidoscope Project chief executive Martin Blakebrough said, “It is still a relatively new drug, it has been used very sparsely in some parts of England. So they are looking to us to see how it works. “We carefully picked people for the pilot who we felt would benefit, so the response has been positive, we just need to make sure people are still accessing other

Buvidal: The drug, which will be rolled out in Cardiff, may offer heroin addicts another solution. Source: Tmeers91 (via Wikimedia Commons) therapies as it is only a medical fix and doesn’t deal with other underlying issues someone might have. “There are two groups in particular we are using it with - the first is people who are on relatively low doses, but who still have to go to the pharmacy regularly and take their medicine under supervision. The second is people who have more chaotic lifestyles, they can’t keep appointments, so we are keeping them stable by giving them a monthly dose.” The Kaleidoscope Project has stated that Buvidal is most effec-

tive with “People on a lower dose of medication who are stable and doing well, but still feel restricted by their treatment in their daily life ie. visiting bases, collecting medication from the pharmacy, and storing meds.” as well as “People with a more chaotic lifestyle who find it challenging to make routine appointments, and have struggled to achieve treatment stability.” Patients go through a “mild withdrawal” for the first day of treatment, after not using heroin for 12-16 hours, but by the second day typically report feeling well.

Tutoring offered to disadvantaged students Luthien Evans News Editor

he National Tutoring Programme is being rolled out for disadvantaged students across England. This is said to have been introduced as government evidence shows that the poorest pupils have suffered the most from school closures and missed time. This programme is funded by a sum of the government’s coronavirus catch up pack but was initially conceived by five separate charities. Bookings are available for pupils aged between five and 16, with thousands expected to sign up. Schools have to apply on behalf of the pupils, with instruc-

tions to prioritise disadvantaged children. However, reports state that the scope of the programme is smaller than anticipated, as it shows a cap of 250,000 pupils. The programme is being made available for schools at a subsidised price, meaning schools may only have to pay £50 for a block session for 15 students. The programme is set to have face-to-face and online learning options, making it easier for schools to adopt. It is being said that the 15,000 tutors available will vary from post-graduate students to volunteers to trained teachers. This has caused controversy however, as members of the education unions state that the tuition should be provided by qualified teachers only. Geoff Barton, General

Catch up tuition: Around 250,000 disadvantaged students will now be offered tutoring. Source: nikolayhg (via Pixabay) Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders has explained that the funding could have been ‘used to support

schools in delivering this through their teaching staff who already know their pupils’ opposing the idea of external agencies.

Amazon Rainforest sees an increase in fires Sam Portillo News Editor

ccording to the Institute of Space Research, a Brazilian government agency, there have been over 93,000 fires in the Amazon rainforest since the start of the calendar year. It marks an increase of 25% from the same period last year, giving fuel to concerns that Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s management of the rainforest has accelerated the destruction of the biologically diverse and oxygenrich environment. Science manager of the World Wildlife Federation’s Brazil unit, Mariana Napolitano, has warned that the higher frequency of fires comes as a by-product of deforestation. “With the rate of deforestation increasing in recent years, the government has ignored the warnings of researchers: deforestation and forest fires go together.” The research also reveals that the number of Amazon forest fires

Dire straits: Facing fires and rampant deforestation, the future of the Amazon rainforest is uncertain. Source: Jlwad (via Wikimedia Commons) in October this year is more than method – first felling trees, then double that in the same month incinerating them – to quickly last year. Larger than India in land and efficiently clear the space area, the rainforest occupies a wet which can be used to grow profand temperate part of the world, itable plants and other commodiperfect for growing commodities ties. such as bananas, coffee beans and Environmental activists claim palm oil. that Bolsonaro has facilitated the Private enterprise, sometimes deforestation process by making it owned by international corpora- easier for businesses to operate in tions, use the “slash-and-burn” the area. In July, his government

imposed a four-month ban on the “burn” aspect of clearing land: it seems the people and businesses targeted by the restrictions have simply waited until the ban subsides, with a spike in forest fires in recent months. Around 60 percent of the Amazon Basin exists inside the borders of Brazil, giving Bolsonaro a unique level of control over the rainforest. He has repeated that his intentions are to lift the region out of poverty by opening it to business. Environmental activists however argue that the region has been opened too far, with insufficient regulation to prevent illegal loggers, ranching and farming. A disproportionately high number of fires however have occurred outside Brazil, in neighbouring countries Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. The international community can continue to advocate better protection of the rainforest, but ultimately, it is these countries that must find a balance between environmental stewardship and economic opportunity.

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Rhyddhawyd ffilm Borat 2 ym mis Hydref, ac yn sicr mae’r ffilm wedi dal sylw llawer o bobl. Diddanwyd y byd pan ryddhawyd Borat am y tro cyntaf yn 2006, gyda llawer yn ei weld yn ddoniol, ond hefyd yn ddadleuol. Nid yw’n wahanol tro yma, ond beth mae myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerydd yn meddwl? Dyma farn Alaw, Sara a Bethan

Alaw Mair

Myfyrwraig yr ail flwyddyn, Cymraeg a’r Gweithle Proffesiynol Y peth olaf oedd y byd angen yn 2020 oedd ffilm Borat arall. Roedd y ffilm gynta’ yn ddigon anodd i wylio, ac mae ffilm arall ar sail gwleidyddiaeth America yn llawer gwaeth. Nid oeddwn yn disgwyl llawer yn y ffilm, ond mi roedd hi’n boenus i wylio. Nid yw’r ffilm yn ddoniol, mae’r ‘actio’ yn warthus ac yn gwneud i mi crinjio wrth ei gwylio. Wrth gwrs mae’r ffilm yn ddadleuol, dyna chi’n ei disgwyl gyda chymeriadau Sasha Baron Cohen, ond mae dweud bod ei gymeriadau yn ddoniol yn anghywir, dydyn nhw ddim.

Sara James

Myfyrwraig y drydedd flwydydn, Cymraeg ac Addysg Jagshemash! Os nad ydych chi wedi gweld y ffilm eto, mae’n siŵr eich bod yn ymwybodol cymaint o gyhoeddusrwydd mae ‘Borat 2’ wedi ei dderbyn. Does dim dwywaith bod y ffilm yn ‘cringy’, doniol, ond yn y bôn, yn wleidyddol tu hwnt wrth i Borat ddatgelu rhagfarnau Americanwyr. Roedd darganfod mwy am Sasha Baron Cohen, ei gefndir, a’i fwriad tu ôl ei gymeriad ecsentrig yn agoriad llygaid. Mae’n ddealladwy pam fod nifer yn credu bod y ffilm yn rhy ddadleuol, ac wrth gwrs, mae hiwmor pawb yn wahanol, ond mae’n bwysig i wylio’r ffilm gyda meddwl agored.

Bethan Biston

Myfyrwraig yr ail flwyddyn, Nyrsio Mewn blwyddyn sydd wedi bod llawn newyddion gwael, mae rhyddhau Borat 2 wedi bod yn olau ar flwyddyn hynod o dywyll. Heb amau, mae cynnwys y ffilm yma y un sydd ddim addas i bobl sydd yn hawdd eu digio, ond rhaid datgelu ei bod yn ddoniol. Mae’r ffaith bod Sasha Baron Cohen yn mynd i’r eithaf er mwyn datgelu credoau hiliol a rhagfarnllyd yn glyfar iawn, ac yn dangos eithafiaeth hiliol sydd yn bresennol yn nifer o gymdeithasau America. Mae yna bwrpas dwfn i weithredoedd Cohen yn y ffilm.

Pêl-droed: Rob Page yn cymryd rheolaeth gemau cystadleuol Cymru (tudalen 9)

NEWYDDION

Cyfnod clo Lloegr y amherthnasol i Gymru

Ni fydd cyfnod clo Lloegr yn effeithio ar y cyfnod clo yng Nghymru Alaw Fflur Jones Golygydd Taf-od

r gwaethaf datganiad diweddar Prif Weinidog y DU, Boris Johnson am gyfnod clo newydd, esboniodd Mark Drakeford, Prif Weinidog Cymru fod y newidiadau gan Boris Johnson ond ‘yn berthnasol i Loegr.’ Yn dilyn penderfyniad Boris Johnson, mae Lloegr dan gyfyngiadau clo ers dydd Iau, Tachwedd 5, a hynny am gyfnod o bedair wythnos. Ond, nid yw’r newidiadau yma yn golygu bod Cymru yn wynebu cyfnod clo estynedig. Cadarnhaodd Mark Drakeford mewn neges drydar brynhawn ddydd Sadwrn, Hydref 31: “Bydd y cyfnod atal byr yng Nghymru yn dod i ben ddydd Llun, Tachwedd 9. Bydd ein cabinet yn cyfarfod fory i drafod unrhyw broblemau posib ar y ffin ar gyfer Cymru yng ngoleuni unrhyw gyhoeddiad gan Rif 10.” Beth fydd yn digwydd ar ddiwedd y clo byr yng Nghyrmu? Bydd y cyfnod clo byr yn dod i ben ddydd Llun, Tachwedd 9. Cadarnhaodd Mark Drakeford na fydd cyfyngiadau lleol yn dychwelyd wedi’r cyfnod clo byr. Bydd Cymru gyfan yn dilyn yr un set o reolau. Mae’r rheolau newydd, a fydd yn dechrau ar Tachwedd 9 yn cynnwys y canlynol: • Bydd angen i bawb gadw pellter

cymdeithasol o ddau fetr a gwisgo masg wyneb mewn mannau cyhoeddus caeedig, gan gynnwys ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a thacsis, yn parhau • Bydd y gofyniad i weithio o gartref pan fo’n bosibl yn parhau • Dylai pobl ond cwrdd â’r rhai sy’n rhan o’u ‘swigen’ yn eu cartref eu hunain a dim ond dwy aelwyd fydd yn gallu ffurfio ‘swigen’. Os bydd un person o’r naill aelwyd neu’r llall yn datblygu symptomau, dylai pawb hunanynysu ar unwaith. • Caiff hyd at 15 o bobl gymryd rhan mewn gweithgaredd dan do wedi’i drefnu a hyd at 30 mewn gweithgaredd awyr agored wedi’i drefnu, cyn belled â’u bod yn dilyn yr holl fesurau o ran cadw pellter cymdeithasol, hylendid dwylo a mesurau diogelu eraill • Bydd pob safle, a wnaeth gau yn ystod y cyfnod atal byr, yn gallu ailagor. Ond mae yna gyfyngiadau llymach ar y sector lletygarwch. • Fel rhan o’n hymdrech i leihau ein risgiau cymaint â phosibl, dylai pobl osgoi teithio os nad yw’n hanfodol. Ni fydd cyfyngiadau cyfreithiol ar deithio o fewn Cymru ar gyfer preswylwyr, ond dylai teithio rhyngwladol fod ar gyfer rhesymau hanfodol yn unig. Yn dilyn cyhoeddiad Boris Johnson am gyfnod clo i Loegr, poenodd Mark Drakeford am ail-agor drysau’r sector lletygarwch yng Nghymru. Pe bai tafarndai ar gau ar hyd y ffin yn Lloegr

Ailagor: Tarddiad: International Press Telecommnications Council. “mae’n siŵr y bydd risg y bydd pobl yn ceisio torri’r gyfraith” meddai Drakeford. Cyhoeddwyd y bydd cwmnïau lletygarwch yn cael ail-agor eu drysau unwaith eto ond mi fydd cyfyngiad o 4 unigolyn ar bob bwrdd i aelodau o aelwydydd ar wahân, os ydynt yn ymbellhau’n gymdeithasol. Anogir i bobl ymweld â bwytai, bariau a thafarndai mewn grwpiau lleiaf posib. Ac fe fydd y rheol am atal gwerthiant ar alcohol wedi 22:00 hefyd yn parhau mewn grym o ddydd Llun nesaf ym-

laen am y tro. Am y tro, erfynia Mark Drakeford a Llywodraeth Cymru ar bawb i barhau i gydymffurfio gyda’r rheolau presennol. Er bod y cyfnod clo byr yn dod i ben, mae’n angenrheidiol i’r Cymry fod yn synhwyrol. Rhybuddiodd Mark Drakeford mewn cynhadledd i’r wasg ddydd Llun, “Pan fo’r cyfnod clo yn dod i ben dydw i ddim eisiau i hynny fod yn arwydd i bobl y gall eu hymdrechion ddod i ben.”

Effaith coronafeirws a’r argyfwng newid hinsawdd Catrin Lewis

Golygydd Taf-od

id oes amheuaeth bod y pandemig wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar y ffordd mae pobl yn byw eu bywydau o ddydd i ddydd. Er bod y cyfyngiadau a rheolau sydd yn eu lle wedi cael effaith negyddol ar sawl agwedd o fywydau’r cyhoedd, nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn ddrwg i gyd. Un fantais annisgwyl sydd wedi dod o’r pandemig yw’r effaith mae wedi ei gael ar newid hinsawdd. Mae data gan y Carbon Brief yn awgrymu bydd allyriadau eleni wedi gostwng rhwng 4-8% o gymharu â llynedd. Yn ogystal dengys y data bod y galw

am drydan wedi gostwng o 20% yn rhyngwladol ers blwyddyn ddiwethaf. Un o’r prif ffactorau o’r coronafeirws sydd wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol ar newid hinsawdd, yw’r ffaith bod mwy o bobl nag erioed yn gweithio o adref. Ers cychwyn y cyfnod clo gwreiddiol mae’r llywodraeth wedi annog pobl i weithio o adref ble bynnag bosib ac i fynd i’r gweithle pan fo’n angenrheidiol yn unig. Mae’r un neges yn parhau i sefyll ac mewn cynhadledd ddydd Mawrth, dywedodd Mark Drakeford ei fod yn gofyn i bobl barhau i weithio o adref pan fo’n bosib. Dywedodd Lesley Griffiths, Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig, wrth raglen Politics Wales bod gweithio o adref yn un ffordd i

Argyfwng: Cyfyngiadau’r coronafeirws wedi rhoi’r cyfle prin i ddod i’r afael â’r argyfwng newid hinsawdd. Tarddiad: Robert S. Donovan (trwy Stanford News).

leihau llygredd yng Nghymru. Dywedodd hi “Yn sicr rydw i wedi clywed llawer o bobl - nid yn unig o fewn y llywodraeth neu o fewn y Senedd - yn dweud nad ydyn ni eisiau mynd yn ôl i sut yr oedden ni o’r blaen, rydym am i bethau fod yn wahanol” ac felly mae hi’n gweld hyn nawr fel y cyfle aur i wneud newidiadau a fydd o bosib yn atal yr argyfwng hinsawdd rhag gwaethygu. Yn ogystal, nododd fod y ffyrdd wedi bod yn dawelach yn ystod y pandemig a bod hynny mewn tro wedi arwain at lai o lygredd. Yn ystod y rhaglen, gofynnodd i bobl ailystyried y ffyrdd maent yn teithio a’u ffordd i weithio ac i ystyried yr effaith maent yn eu cael ar yr amgylchedd. “Rwy’n credu bod cyfleoedd i bobl edrych ar y ffordd maen nhw’n teithio i’r gwaith, y ffordd maen nhw’n gweithio. Rwy’n credu bod busnesau yn sicr yn edrych ar hynny hefyd.” Gofynnodd i Lywodraeth Cymru barhau i ffocysu ar yr heriau hinsawdd sy’n ei hwynebu er gwaethaf y pandemig ac i beidio â cholli gafael ar y materion hyn. Atgyfnerthodd Dr Rebecca Heaton yr un pwynt a dywedodd er ei bod hi’n deall rhesymau’r llywodraeth tu ôl ffocysu ar y pandemig dros y misoedd diwethaf bod angen hefyd talu sylw i’r argyfwng newid hinsawdd. Dywedodd: “Rwy’n credu ei bod hi’n bwysig iawn edrych ar sut y gall mynd i’r

afael â newid yn yr hinsawdd hefyd fynd i’r afael ag adferiad Covid.” Aeth hefyd yn ei blaen i sôn am y pwysigrwydd o greu swyddi gwyrdd er mwyn dod i’r afael â’r argyfwng newid hinsawdd: “Felly pan rydyn ni’n edrych ar ble mae angen i ni greu swyddi, dewch i ni eu creu yn yr economi werdd gyda seilwaith gwyrdd.” A dywedodd y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd bod modd creu swyddi gwyrdd er mwyn delio â’r allyriadau llygredd ac effaith economaidd y pandemig ar yr un pryd. A fyddwn yn gweld ffordd newydd o fyw wedi diflaniad COVID-19? Mae llawer o bobl wedi addasu i fywyd o dan y cyfyngiadau newydd, ac mae’r blaned yn elwa o’r holl newidiadau a welwyd. Yr unig beth sydd yn poeni llawer, yw’r ffaith nad yw’r argyfwng hinsawdd ar dop rhestr y llywodraeth. Felly, er yr holl sgil effeithiau negyddol mae’r pandemig wedi eu cael mewn gwahanol feysydd, nid yw’r effaith ar yr hinsawdd wedi bod mor negyddol. Mae wedi rhoi cyfle gwerthfawr i leihau allyriadau ac i ddod i’r afael â’r argyfwng cyn bydd pethau’n rhy hwyr. Fodd bynnag, er bod y data’n dangos bod y pandemig wedi cael rhywfaint o effaith gadarnhaol wrth leihau allyriadau, mae’n rhaid i’r llywodraeth roi mwy o ffocws ar yr amgylchedd er mwyn i bethau barhau i wella.

TAF-OD

Pryd o Daf-od: Tomos Land Myfyriwr yn ei flwyddyn gyntaf, Tomos Land, sy’n trafod Pryd o Daf-od yr wythnos hon. Mae Tomos yn preswylio yn Senghenydd eleni, ac wedi cymryd y misoedd cyntaf hyn - wedi iddo symud i’r ddinas - i ddod o hyd i’r llwybrau gorau i’w rhedeg. Felly, dyma Tomos yn ein hannog i wneud yn fawr o’r cyfleoedd i redeg gydag ychydig o gyngor hefyd.

arferol. Yn ogystal â hyn, os dyw cael y cymhelliant i fynd allan ddim yn dod yn hawdd, mae cael ffrind i gadw cwmni i chi a mynd trwy’r anghysur cychwynnol yn help mawr. Mae trefnu i redeg efo ffrind hefyd yn gwneud i chi fod yn fwy atebol, a llai tebygol i newid eich meddwl am fynd allan. Nesaf, ni fuaswn wedi dod i adnabod y ddinas mor gyflym os buaswn i heb dreulio’r mwyafrif o fy amser i dros y mis cyntaf yn y brifysgol yn rhedeg. Mae rhedeg, yn enwedig i lasfyfyrwyr yn gyfle da i ddarganfod lleoedd newydd yn y ddinas, ac yn ffordd dda i ffeindio llwybrau byrrach yn ôl adref o dre ar ôl noson allan. Mae Caerdydd efo gymaint i’w gynnig i redwyr, a rhwng y parciau mae ‘na ddigon o fannau gwyrdd i osgoi’r palmant am fwyafrif eich rhediad. Un o’r rhesymau pwysicaf i redeg, enwedig yn ystod y cyfnod ansicr yma, ydi oherwydd bod bron i ddim byd gael effaith mor bositif ar eich iechyd meddyliol a ffisegol nag ymarfer corff, a gyda’r cyfyngiadau presennol rhedeg yw un o’r opsiynau gorau. Mae pawb yn ymwybodol fod rhedeg yn helpu eich iechyd ffisegol, ac ond i bwysleisio pa mor bwysig ydyw i aros yn iach, enwedig nawr gyda Covid, mae gennyf ffaith eithaf

yda llawer o ffyrdd arferol pobl i ymarfer corff wedi eu rhwystro gan gyfyngiadau Covid-19, mae rhedeg yn opsiwn gwych i bawb drio am nifer o resymau. Yn anffodus, mae gan y mwyafrif o bobl atgofion negyddol o redeg o’u hamser yn Ysgol Uwchradd. Dydi cael eich gorfodi i redeg rownd cae rygbi ar ddiwrnod oer ddim y ffordd orau i gyflwyno rhywbeth a ddylid cael ei fwynhau, ond dyna sy’n debygol o aros yng nghof pawb. Mae prifysgol yn amser da i redeg ar dermau eich hun, a dechrau edrych ymlaen at fynd allan i redeg yn lle teimlo’n ofidus. Mwy na dim, ac enwedig o brofiadau fy hun, mae rhedeg yn gyfle gwych i gymdeithasu a dal fyny efo ffrindiau. Mae cael y cyfle i dreulio amser efo ffrindiau wrth gadw’n heini yn deimlad gwahanol i gymdeithasu

dychrynllyd gan y “British Medical Journal”. Ar ôl ymchwil ym mis Mai o 400,000 o gleifion Covid, darganfuwyd bod claf gyda gordewdra yn ddwywaith mwy tebygol o fod yn sâl a phedair gwaith yn fwy tebygol o farw o’r afiechyd. Mae rhedeg hefyd yn ffordd dda i ailosod eich meddwl ar ôl neu yn ystod diwrnod anodd o waith, ac yn ffordd wych i ddianc o’r pwysau sy’n dod efo bod yn fyfyriwr. Yn ôl gwefan yr NHS, mae cadw’n heini yn lleihau tebygolrwydd pobl ifanc o brofi teimladau o iselder gan bron I 30%. Mae’n anodd meddwl am reswm i ddim rhedeg pan ydych yn sylweddoli ei fod o’n gwella bron i bob

2. Beth yw’r digwyddiad sy’n codi’r mwyaf o embaras arnat? Diwrnod cyntaf blwyddyn 8, nesi eistedd mewn Hubba Bubba gwyrdd a nath neb ddweud ‘tho fi drwy’r dydd. 3. Beth oedd dy air cyntaf? Banana. 4. Pe fyddet ti ar yr X-Factor, pa gân byddet ti’n ei chanu a pham?

Trafod gyda’r

taf-od

Alaw Fflur Jones

8. Prosecco neu champagne? Prosecco oherwydd bod e’n rhatach. 9. Beth oedd y diwrnod gorau iti ei gael erioed? Diwrnod ‘steddfod, h.y. ar y maes yn ystod y dydd gyda teulu a ffrindiau wedyn Maes B i orffen y noson.

Catrin Lewis

10. Beth yw dy gas beth? Gravy a menyn. 11. Beth fyddet ti’n gwneud yn ystod dy noson ddelfrydol? Mynd mas i Clwb Ifor eto.

Gorwedd gyda’i nerth oherwydd bod e’n diwn a hanner.

12. Pe taset ti’n gallu bod yn unrhyw anifail am ddiwrnod, pa un fyddet ti’n ei ddewis, a pham?

5. Beth fyddet ti’n ei archebu o’r bwyty Indiaidd lleol?

Parot oherwydd sai moyn stopo siarad.

Chicken Makhani.

13. Disgrifia dy hun mewn 3 gair.

6. Pwy oeddet ti’n ffansio pan oeddet ti’n iau?

Cymdeithasol. Optimistaidd. Dramatig.

Yr actor oedd yn chwarae Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter).

14. Pwy fydd yn trafod ‘da’r Taf-od wythnos nesaf?

7. Pwy yw dy hoff fand/artist?

Luke Rees.

Fleur de Lys.

Aled Biston

Hanner marathon Caerdydd: Ras flynyddol o gwmpas Caerdydd. Tarddiad: Jeremy Segrott (drwy Flickr)

Anni Davies

Anni Davies a dwi’n astudio’r Gymraeg a Cherddoriaeth.

EICH TÎM TAF-OD

Annell Dyfri

Yn Trafod gyda’r Taf-od wythnos yma mae...

1. Pwy wyt ti a beth wyt ti’n astudio?

agwedd o’ch bywyd a does dim cost! I gloi, mae ‘na gymaint o resymau i redeg, a dydi o ddim yn gorfod eich lladd chi. Mae o’n ddarn bach o ryddid medrwch chi fwynhau ar ben eich hun neu efo eich ffrindiau yn ystod yr amseroedd anodd yma. Os oes gan unrhyw un gwestiynau am unrhyw beth i wneud gyda rhedeg, peidiwch â phetruso i gysylltu gyda fi. Dyma arhymhellion Tomos ar leoedd da i redeg yng Nghaerdydd: 1) Roath Park (6 milltir o Senghenydd) 2) Bute Park (2/3/5 milltir o Senghenydd) 3) Y Bae (6 milltir o Senghenydd)

taf od Nel Richards

Dwym ac oer: Anni yn mwynhau yn y tywydd braf ac yn y tywydd oer. Tarddiad: Anni Davies tafod@gairrhydd.com www.gairrhydd.com/tafod

TAF-OD

Argymell dileu ADDYSG arholiadau Llwyddiant ymgyrch addysg Hanes Cymru TGAU nes yr Elfed Wyn Jones sydd tu ôl yr ymgyrch addysgiadol newydd yma haf nesaf Aled Biston disgyblion yn gadael ysgol gyda dealltAled Biston

Pennaeth Taf-od

ae Cymwysterau Cymru wedi argymell y dylid dileu arholiadau TGAU o blaid asesiadau ar sail gwaith cwrs ac asesiadau’r haf nesaf. Yn ogystal, cyniga’r corff fod rhai arholiadau Safon Uwch yn parhau i gael eu cynnal yn 2021, ond bod meini prawf ar gyfer myfyrwyr TGAU ac AS yn wahanol. Credai’r corff mai dyma yw’r ffordd orau o sicrhau tegwch i ddisgyblion mewn cyfnod ansicr. Ochr yn ochr â chyngor Cymwysterau Cymru, bydd y Gweinidog Addysg Kirsty Williams hefyd yn ystyried awgrymiadau gan Banel Annibynnol, a sefydlwyd i adolygu cymwysterau yn 2020 a chynghori ar ystyriaethau ar gyfer 2021. Mae myfyrwyr yn pryderi am yr hyn fydd yn digwydd eleni, yn sicr bydd myfyrwyr AS yn poeni gan nad oeddent wedi eistedd arholiadau dros yr haf. Bellach, collwyd 6 mis o addysg, felly a fyddai gofyn i fyfyrwyr eistedd arholiadau yn deg? Ond beth mae staff ysgol yn meddwl o’r argymhellion yma. Dywedodd Catrin Davies o Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr “Bydd cynnal arholiadau yn hwyrach haf nesaf yn golygu bydd y disgyblion yn gallu cael mwy o amser i orffen y cwricwlwm. Ond bydd hwn dim ond o fudd iddynt, os gall athrawon gael cysondeb mewn amser addysgu, hynny yw, bod dim cyfnod clo arall neu salwch difrifol yn amharu ar eu haddysg. Yn fy marn i, dylai cymhwyster TGAU blwyddyn nesaf bod yn seiliedig ar asesiadau athrawon eto, oherwydd yr amhariad yn yr addysgu maent wedi’u dioddef ohono.” Mae’r Panel Annibynnol yn dweud y dylid dyfarnu pob cymhwyster yn 2021 “ar sail asesiad cadarn a chymedrol a wneir mewn ysgolion a cholegau”. Dyfarwnyd arholiadau haf 2020 ar algorithm dadleuol cyn cael ei ddileu a’i ddisodli gan asesiadau athrawon yn y pendraw. Mae’r ymateb gwleidyddol i argymhellion Cymwysterau Cymru a’r Panel Annibynnol o blaid asesu canolog yn hytrach nag arholiadau yn haf 2021. Dywedodd llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Suzy Davies AS i BBC Cymru Fyw “Mae Cymwysterau Cymru yn glir na all system genedlaethol gael ei phrofi na bod yn barod mewn pryd i roi hyder mewn graddau sydd wedi’u pennu’n ganolog.” “Fedrwn ni ddim gadael i griw arall o bobl ifanc wynebu ansicrwydd am eu dyfodol”. Ar ran Plaid Cymru, dywedodd Sian Gwenllian AS “Rydym yn croesawu gweld y Panel Adolygu Annibynnol yn dod i’r un casgliad a dylai’r Gweinidog dderbyn eu cyngor.” “Mae eu cynnig nhw yn rhoi lles y dysgwr wrth galon y system ac yn cydnabod effaith ddinistriol y pandemig ar y criw yma o ddysgwyr”. Bydd y Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams, yn gwneud cyhoeddiad wythnos yma ar argymhellion y llywodraeth ar beth fydd yn digwydd.

Pennaeth Taf-od

m fisoedd bellach, mae ymgyrch Elfed Wyn Jones dros addysg hanes Cymru wedi ennyn llawer o sylw yn y cyfryngau a gwleidyddiaeth Cymru. Ar Dachwedd 4, cafwyd deiseb y gŵr o Drawsfynydd, ‘Rydym yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i greu corff cyffredin o wybodaeth am Hanes Cymru fydd pob disgybl yn ei ddysgu’ ei ddadlau yn y Senedd, a phasiwyd y bleidlais gyda 52 o blaid, 4 yn ymatal pleidleisio a neb yn ymwrthod.’ Golyga hyn fydd y mater yn fynd i Weinidog y Senedd. Cyflwynodd Elfed y syniad dros dair blynedd yn ôl, ac mae ef wedi mynd i’r eithaf er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod ei ymgyrch yn ennill sylw. Fe wnaeth ef gerdded y pellter o’i ffarm yn Nhrawsfynydd i’r Senedd yng Nghaerdydd, 128 milltir. Roedd ef am wneud y daith ei hun, tan fod y clo byr yn atal ei gynlluniau, ond penderfynodd gerdded y pellter ar drac ei ffarm. Nid dyma’r tro cyntaf i Elfed mynd i’r eithaf dros ei gredoau. Ymprydiodd am wythnos yn ôl yn 2018 dros ddatganoli darlledu. Gyda’r ddeiseb wedi ei phasio yn y Senedd, beth yw cynnwys yr addysg mae Elfed eisiau ei gweld mewn ysgolion? Dywedodd wrth Nation Cymru ei fod eisiau gweld hanes Cymru cael ei ddysgu mewn ysgolion i gyd, yr un cynnwys ac yr un safon. Ategodd at hyn drwy ddweud “Ar hyn o bryd, bydd

wriaeth wahanol o hanes ein gwlad… mae’n creu ‘system loteri’ lle bydd rhai disgyblion yn dysgu am hanes yn dibynnu ar eu hysgol a chyfadran”. Beth mae hyn yn ei olygu yw bod hanes Cymru o fewn ysgolion yn amrywio hyd a lled y wlad. Ar lefel TGAU ymlaen, mae’r addysg wedi selio ar adnoddau CBAC, felly mae addysg ledled y wlad o lefel TGAU ac uwch yr un peth. Ond, mae addysg ysgol gynradd hyd at flwyddyn 9 yn gallu amrywio, ac o ganlyniad mae anghysondeb yn y cynnwys sydd yn cael ei ddysgu, yn enwedig cynnwys hanes Cymru. Dyma mae Elfed eisiau gwella, cael cynnwys addysg hanes Cymru gyfartal dros Gymru gyfan. Mae ef eisiau gweld disgyblion Cymru yn dysgu am Feibion Glyndŵr, hanes Merched Beca, Gwrthryfel Merthyr, Datganoli a llawer mwy. Ar noson Dachwedd 4 wedi dadl yn y Senedd, roedd ei freuddwyd wedi cymryd cam yn agosach at realiti. Pasiwyd ei ddeiseb wedi dadl yn y Senedd, gyda 52 o blaid, 4 yn ymatal pleidleisio a 0 yn erbyn. Bydd hyn yn golygu newid yn y cwricwlwm wrth i hanes Cymru cael ei ddysgu mewn ysgolion pan gyhoeddwyd y cwricwlwm newydd, ond beth yn union fydd addysg hanes Cymru yn cael ei chyflwyno yn y cwricwlwm? Dywedodd Elfed ar ei dudalen Facebook “Dwi’n credu mai’r ffordd ymlaen nawr yw sicrhau bod llawlyfrau’n cael eu creu i ysgolion cynradd, uw-

Annerch y dorf: Bu Elfed Wyn Jones yn areithio yng ngorymdeithiau annibyniaeth i Gymru ar sail ei gredoau dros y wlad. (Tarddiad: Lluniau Lleucu) chradd a chweched dosbarth... ac mi ysigrwydd dysgu am y trafferthion, fydd y llyfr hefyd yn helpu athrawon helyntion a gormes yn hanes Cymru. i lunio gwersi”. Collwyd hanes cyfoethog Cymru Mae’r mater yn nwylo Gweinidog mewn addysg hanes Prydeinig, sydd y Senedd nawr, a bydd angen llawer o yn ganolog i ddigwyddiadau yn Lloegr. gynllunio er mwyn sicrhau bod cyn- Yng ngwersi hanes hyd a lled Cymru, nwys trylwyr hanes pob cwr o Gymru mae disgyblion yn dysgu am bolisi yn cael ei gynnwys yn y cwricwlwm tramor America, hanes y Tuduriaid a newydd. Bydd cydweithio rhwng y rheolaeth Natsïaidd. Gweinidog Addysg, Elfed a haneswyr Gyda phasio’r ddeddf yma, gwelwn siŵr o fod yn cael ei gynnal yn y dy- gam tuag at addysg hanes Cymru. fodol. Disgyblion yn cael eu haddysgu am Dylai hanes eich gwlad eich hun fod iaith, diwylliant a chymdeithas Cymru wrth sail addysg hanesyddol unrhyw a Chymreig ar hyd y canrifoedd, cam wlad, credai Elfed. Ni ellir gwadu pw- newydd ym myd addysg.

Alun Wyn Jones: O Fonymaen i’r Llewod a thorri record Steffan Alun Leonard Cyfrannwr Taf-od

ydag Alun Wyn Jones yn torri record nifer o gapiau rhyngwdaol yn y byd rygbi, mae Tafod yn talu teyrnged i’r dyn sydd wedi bod yn ganolog i lwyddiant Cymru dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Steffan Alun Leonad sydd yn edrych yn ôl ar yrfa gampus y cawr wrth edrych ar ei uchafbwyntiau yn y byd rygbi. Wrth i Alun Wyn Jones sefydlu ei hun mewn hanes a chyrraedd y nod o fod y chwaraewr â’r mwyaf o gapiau rhyngwladol yn hanes y bêl gron; dyma i ni edrych yn ôl ar ei gampau, llwyddiannau ac edrych yn ôl at ei wreiddiau’r

holl ffordd ‘nôl ym Monymaen ger Abertawe. Mae’n rhaid ystyried lle gwnaeth stori capten Cymru ddechrau. Fel cefnogwyr Cymru, efallai i ni, ar y diwrnod hwnnw ar yr 11eg o Fehefin 2006 mewn rhan o Batagonia lle gwelom ni wyneb ifanc yn setio i fyny yng nghefn sgarmes Cymru ym Mhuerto Madryn dechreuodd y stori. Ond rhaid ystyried i stori Alun Wyn Jones ddechrau ym mhell cyn hynny. Yn ôl pob sôn, sylwyd ei botensial a’i fri ar gae rygbi mewn rhan fach o Abertawe rhyw 20 mlynedd yn ôl. 20 mlynedd ers i gawr o fachgen ifanc gerdded i mewn i ystafelloedd newid Clwb Rygbi Bonymaen. Mae gweddill ei yrfa yn fwy adnaby-

Ein Bendigeidfran: Bydd perfformiadau Alun Wyn Jones yn aros mewn cof nifer o gefnogwyr Cymru. Tarddiad: David Coldrey (drwy Flickr)

ddus i ni mae’n siŵr. Mae’r ffaith iddo gael ei ddewis i chwarae i Glwb Rygbi Abertawe yn oedran mor ifanc, yn dweud popeth sydd angen i chi wybod am agwedd a’i archwaeth tuag at y gêm a thuag at ei ddatblygiad. “Gwnes i ond gweithio yn agos gyda fe am ychydig flynyddoedd, ond ei archwaeth i wella ei sgiliau ymhellach na gofynion ei safle oedd yn sefyll allan”. – Tony Clement. Nesaf, daeth ei gyfle i serennu ar lefel yn uwch, i’w glwb rhanbarthol, Y Gweilch. Lyn Jones – “Fy atgof cyntaf ohono yw fel bachgen 17 mlwydd oed. ‘Roedd e’n edrych fel seren i’r dyfodol gydag esgidiau rygbi gwyn arno. Ar y pryd, esgidiau rygbi lliw oedd yn boblogaidd. Dyna le ddaeth ei lysenw: ‘Alun Wyn Boots” Mae modd mesur ei gymeriad a’i awydd i fod y chwaraewr gorau wrth ystyried mai un o’i brif wendidau yn ôl un o’i gyn-hyfforddwyr Lyn Jones oedd ei duedd i fethu sylweddoli pryd oedd yn bryd stopio a chymryd cam yn ôl ar gae ymarfer/chwarae. Yr oedd Alun Wyn yn amlwg o’r farn fod y gêm yn flaenoriaeth yn ei fywyd. Y cam nesaf yn ei yrfa, oedd yr un a oedd am ddechrau ei daith i fod yn ffigwr chwedlonol yn y gêm. O’r diwedd fe ddaeth ei gyfle i serennu ar lwyfan rhyngwladol gyda Chymru. ‘Roedd ei gymeriad a’r rhinweddau sydd wedi ei wneud yn gapten arbennig ar hyd y blynyddoedd i’w weld o’r foment cafodd ei ddewis dros ei wlad am y tro cyntaf ‘nôl yn 2006. “’Roedd yn arweinydd ymysg y dynion, ac ‘roedd ei enw yn y gêm yn un gwaradwyddus.” “Fe fyddwn yn rhoi Alun Wyn Jones yn y categori hwnnw ac ‘rwyf yn credu ei fod wedi pasio nhw gyda’r record yma. Credaf mai ef yw’r ail reng gorau yn hanes y gêm, ac yn

sicr mae’n sefyll allan fel chwaraewr gorau Cymru erioed.” – Gareth Jenkins Cafodd Alun Wyn Jones ei ddewis i’r Llewod am y tro cyntaf yn 2009. ‘Roedd ei ddawn ar y cae, a’i ymrwymiad i’r gêm wedi amlygu ei hun ymhellach yn ystod y daith honno i Dde Affrica; dangosodd ei fod yn medru sefyll ysgwydd wrth ysgwydd â rhai o chwaraewyr gorau’r byd. “Fe fydd ei record byd o gapiau yn cynnwys naw gêm prawf gyda’r Llewod. Gemau prawf ydyn nhw, a rhai o’r gemau anoddaf gwnewch chi chwarae yn eich gyrfa.” - Ian McGeechan Wrth i ni fel cenedl, fel cefnogwyr rygbi a chefnogwyr rhywun sydd wedi dangos cymaint o ymrwymiadr roi rygbi Cymru ar lwyfan rhyngwladol yn aml, rhaid ystyried Alun Wyn Jones fel un o oreuon mwyaf chwaraeon Cymru erioed. Dyma ddyn sydd wedi bod yn arweinydd ar gae rygbi ac wedi dangos esiampl gystal y tu hwnt i’r cae chwarae. Er ei fod wedi trechi’r record, ac er ei bod hi’n amser i ni i ddathlu ei yrfa sy’n llawn llwyddiannau; mae’n siŵr bydd Alun Wyn Jones dal yn chwarae ac arwain ar gae rygbi i Gymru am flynyddoedd i ddod, ac mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n gwneud y mwyaf o allu gweld y cawr o ddyn yn gwisgo ein lliwiau ni. Tybed faint mwy o bethau gall Alun Wyn Jones ategu at ei dair Camp Lawn, pedair Cwpan Chwe Gwlad, arwain y Llewod i lwyddiant yn Awstralia yn 2013 a chyrraedd dau rownd gynderfynol yng Nghwpan y Byd, cyn iddo benderfynu hongian ei esgidiau rygbi i fyny am y tro olaf. Bydd perfformiadau ein Bendigeidfran yn y crys coch mewn atgofion cefnogwyr Cymru am byth, mae hynny’n sicr. Alun Wyn Jones. Llew. Gwalch. Arwr Cymreig. Ffigwr chwedlonol yn hanes y gêm.

DIWYLLIANT

‘Next Bikes’ yw’r ffenomenom nesaf yn y byd

Nel Richards sydd yn tanlinellu pwysigrwydd ‘Next Bikes’ yn y cyfnod clo yma Nel Richards

Golygydd Taf-od

wy’n siŵr bod y beic glas yma’n gyfarwydd i chi, wrth gerdded o gwmpas y ddinas hon. Gyda 94 gorsaf wahanol wedi’u dotio o amgylch y lle, mae’r cynllun Next Bikes yn dod yn elfen o fywyd i bob myfyriwr. Dyma ddarparwyr beiciau mwyaf y byd, mewn mwy na 200 o ddinasoedd ar draws 26 gwlad mewn 4 cyfandir gwahanol. Wrth i’r cynnyrch ddarparu technoleg flaengar ar eu beiciau, mae’r Next Bikes yn galluogi gwasanaeth hawdd ei ddefnyddio sy’n cefnogi dinasoedd i greu atebion am deithio cynaliadwy ac eco-cyfeillgar. Am £1 bob 30 munud ar y beic, mae gan fyfyrwyr a staff Prifysgol Caerdydd fynediad at 1,000 o feiciau a 94 stesion o gwmpas Caerdydd; am yr hanner awr gyntaf mae’r gost yn am ddim. Rhaglen ecwiti sy’n anelu at wella hygyrchedd y beics at bobl sydd o dan anfantais economaidd yn ogystal yw’r cynllun. Maent yn ymestyn eu gorwelion, ac yn gwthio i bawb gael defnydd eang ohonynt. Mae Coronafeirws wedi rhoi tro ar

Symud at fyd mwy cynaliadwy?: Cynnydd yn y nifer sy’n defnyddio Next Bikes mewn dinasoedd. Tarddiad: David Denny (drwy Flickr) fyd ym myd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, heb sôn am y byd seiclo. Wrth i gymudwyr ddod yn fwyfwy ofnus wrth deithio ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gan ddod o dan fygythiad o ddal y feirws; mae cynnydd wedi bod yn y nifer sy’n defnyddio beics, gan gynnwys Next Bikes. Symudedd Trefol Tynnodd Deloitte (un o gwmnïau

ymgynghori mwyaf y byd) sylw, mewn astudiaeth ddiweddar, at y rôl bwysig y bydd beiciau yn chwarae yn y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod wrth leddfu tagfeydd traffig, gwella ansawdd aer trefol, ac iechyd y cyhoedd, yn enwedig mewn dinasoedd wrth iddynt ddod yn fwy poblog. Ar y cyfan, mae Deloitte yn rhagweld y bydd nifer y bobl sy’n beicio i’r gwaith yn dyblu mewn llawer

o ddinasoedd mawr ledled y byd erbyn 2022. Yn ôl Bikebiz.com, ym mhrifddinas Denmarc, Copenhagen, mae dros hanner o gymudwyr y ddinas yn seiclo i’w gweithle pob dydd. Cyfateba hyn i 200 milltir o lonydd seiclo. Wrth i fwyfwy o lonydd beics godi ar draws Caerdydd; ai dyma beth fydd yn digwydd i’r brifddinas tybed? Myfyriwr sy’n gwneud defnydd helaeth o’r Next Bikes ym mhrifysgol Caerdydd, yw Steffan Leonard. Dyma beth yw ei farn am y cynllun; “Mae’r system yn ffefryn ymysg myfyrwyr Senghennydd yn sicr, ac yr ydym yn aml yn mynd allan fel grwp o hyd at deuddeg ohonom bron pob nos. Mae’r system Next Bike nid yn unig yn rhoi cyfle i ni fel myfyrwyr gael ychydig o ymarfer corff, ond mae’r cynllun hefyd yn rhoi cyfle i ni weld mwy o’r ddinas mewn ffordd hwylus. Mae’r cynllun yn ffordd gyflym o deithio o un ochr y ddinas i’r llall.” Felly, gyda chynnydd o lonydd seiclo ar heolydd mewn sawl dinas ar draws y byd, amlwg yw cynnydd nifer y bobl sy’n defnyddio’u beics. Boed hyn ar gyfer teithio i’r gwaith, i gael hwyl gyda’r teulu neu’n benodol i gadw’n heini.

DIWYLLIANT

Gwlad y gân? Y corau’n dawedog ar draws Cymru Annell Dyfri

Golygydd Taf-od

r bod y caeau chwarae yn dechrau prysuro, sŵn trafnidiaeth yn cynyddu ar ein priffyrdd a bagiau siopa y stryd fawr yn llenwi, does dim modd ail-gydio yn yr hyn y mae cynifer o Gymry yn ei fwynhau, sef ymarfer neu gystadlu fel rhan o gôr. Ydy wir, mae’r traddodiad corawl, sy’n rhan annatod o’n diwylliant fel cenedl, yn fud am y tro. Yn wir, mae corau ledled y byd wedi gorfod ymatal rhag canu ers sawl mis bellach yn sgil y coronafeirws. Ond beth yw effaith hyn ar yr aelodau, yr arweinyddion a’r gymdeithas yn ehangach? Un sydd wedi treulio cymaint o’i bywyd yn arwain, dysgu a chyfeilio i gorau yw Meinir Richards. Yn Bennaeth ar Adran Gerdd Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin ac yn sylfaenydd ac arweinydd ar Gôr Llanddarog a’r Cylch, mae’r coronafeirws wedi golygu tro ar fyd i’r hyn y bu’n ei wneud ers degawdau. Gyda’r côr yn cystadlu’n flynyddol yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol ac wedi

Ysu am ganu: Bydd y Nadolig ddim yr un peth heb gyngerdd â chorau Cymreig. Tarddiad: Kuba Ryszkiewicz (drwy Flickr) profi llwyddiant ar hyd y blynyddoedd, nododd ei bod ‘yn bendant yn colli cwmnïaeth aelodau Côr Llanddarog. Colli hiwmor a chyfeillgarwch yr aelodau hefyd’. Gyda dyddiadur y Nadolig yn wag am y tro cyntaf erioed, ychwanegodd fod ‘yr ymdeimlad o waith tîm pan yn paratoi ar gyfer perfformiad, boed yn gystadlu neu gyngerdd, yn rhywbeth dwi wrth gwrs yn gweld ei ishe’n fawr’. Unigolyn arall sydd wedi’i ysgwyd yn sgil effaith y coronafeirws ar ganu corawl yw Carwyn Hawkings, un o arweinyddion Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal yng Nghaerdydd. Nododd mai ‘rhw-

ystredigaeth a siom - ymhlith nifer o eirie’ eraill - sy’n disgrifio siwt i’n ni’n teimlo fel aelwyd ar hyn o bryd’. Mae’r Aelwyd yn amlwg iawn ar lwyfan yr Urdd yn flynyddol ac yn gymdeithas i fyfyrwyr a phobl ifanc Caerdydd. Ychwanegodd yr arweinydd ei bod hi’n ‘du hwnt o druenus nad yw’r côr yn gallu cyd-ganu, ond dwi wir yn gobeithio y byddaf yn gallu ail gydio yn yr awene’ cyn hir’. Gydag ystadegau lu yn cefnogi’r ffaith fod ymaelodi â chôr yn ffordd o alluogi unigolyn i ymlacio a dianc rhag pwysau bywyd, mae’n amlwg fod llawer mwy i fod yn aelod o gôr na dysgu’r gerddo-

riaeth a’r geiriau’n unig. Fel un sydd wedi bod yn aelod o Gôr Llanddarog a Chôr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, a bellach yn astudio ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, nododd Owain Rowlands fod ‘bod yn aelod o gôr fel Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal yn ychwanegu at fwynhad bywyd y brifysgol ond ma’ ‘na lot fwy i ganu corawl; o’r elfen gymdeithasol, i’r ochr addysgiadol, i gadw’r ymennydd yn iach’. Ychwanegodd fod ‘cerdd yn gyffredinol yn rhoi pleser i bawb mewn rhyw ffordd neu’i gilydd, ac mae pawb wedi ystyried pa mor bwysig yw hyn yn ein bywydau’. Fel un sydd wedi gorfod parhau â’i ganu yng nghanol y sefyllfa heriol hon yn sgil ei astudiaethau, nododd fod ‘sawl ffordd saff wedi’i phrofi er mwyn gallu cynnal ymarferion, er eu bod ychydig yn wahanol, felly gobeithio bydd corau yn ôl yn ymarfer cyn hir’. Rwy’n siwr y byddai pawb ohonom – y rheini ohonom sy’n aelodau o gorau neu’r rheini sy’n mwynhau gwrando ar gorau a phartïon yn canu - yn cefnogi’r sylwadau hynny. Dyw Cymru ddim yr un fath heb ei thraddodiad corawl. Gwlad y gân? Ddim ar hyn o bryd efallai.

Rob Page wrth y llyw ar gyfer gemau Cymru Aled Biston

Pennaeth Taf-od

rth i Gymru baratoi ar gyfer gemau allweddol yn erbyn Gweriniaeth Iwerddon a’r Ffindir, fydd hyfforddwr y tîm cenedlaethol, Ryan Giggs, ddim wrth y llyw, ond yn hytrach Robert Page, yr hyfforddwr cynorthwyol, bydd yn cymryd rheolaeth. Mae hyn yn dilyn nifer o adroddiadau papur newydd yn dweud bod Giggs wedi cael ei arestio â ‘r amheuaeth o ymosod ar ei gariad. Mewn datganiad, dywedodd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) na fydd Giggs wrth y llyw ar gyfer gemau

Cynghrair y Cenhedloedd UEFA, ynghyd â gêm gyfeillgar yn erbyn yr Unol Daleithiau mis yma. Dywedodd CBDC “Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a Ryan Giggs wedi cytuno na fydd rheolwr y tîm cenedlaethol yn chwarae rhan yn y gemau mis Tachwedd.” “Ein blaenoriaeth nawr yw paratoi’r tîm ar gyfer y gemau rhyngwladol”. Yn ôl papur newydd The Sun, cafodd yr heddlu ei alw i gartref y rheolwr yn Salford. Dywed Heddlu Greater Manchester bod dyn 46 wedi cael ei arestio a’i holi â’r amheuaeth o niwed corfforol ac ymosodiad yn ymwneud â menyw yn ei 30au. Dywedodd yr heddlu fod y dyn wedi cael ei ryddhau ar fechnïaeth

tra bod ymholiadau pellach yn cael eu cynnal. Beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i Gymru? Yn sicr, mae presenoldeb Giggs yn ganolog i’r garfan, nid yw Cymru wedi colli yn ei 10 gêm gystadleuol ddiwethaf. Bydd cael Page wrth y llyw yn lle Giggs yn mynd i fod yn wahanol, ond dylai’r garfan fod yn iawn wrth addasu i’r newid. Mae’r gemau yma yn allweddol i Gymru, bydd chwe phwynt yn rhoi Cymru mewn sefyllfa gref iawn yn y grŵp, a bydd curo’r Ffindir yn rhoi bwlch hyd yn oed yn fwy rhwng y ddau dîm. Mae yna alwad i Josh Sheehan am y tro cyntaf, wedi ei berfformiadau campus i Gasnewydd, mae Tom King yn

cael ei gynnwys yn y garfan hefyd. Dyma’r garfan a ddewiswyd ar gyfer y gemau: Golwyr: Danny Ward, Owain Fôn Williams, Tom King Amddiffynwyr: Chris Gunter, Ben Davies, Connor Roberts, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Mepham, Tom Lockyer, Joe Roson, Neco Williams, James Lawrence, Ben Cabango, Rhys NorringtonDavies. Canol Cae: Jonny Williams, Harry Wilson, David Brooks, Daniel James, Matt Smith, Joe Morrell, Dylan Levitt, Brennan Johnson, Josh Sheehan Ymosodwyr: Gareth Bale, Tom Lawrence, Kieffer Moore, Tyler Roberts, Rabbi Matondo.

TAF-OD 9 Perfformiad gwael gan Gymru yn erbyn Yr AlOwain ap Myrddin Cyfrannwr Taf-od

oedd y gêm yn Llanelli brynhawn Sadwrn diwethaf ddim yn agos i fod o’r safon yr oedd Alun Wyn Jones yn ei haeddu wrth iddo dorri record byd wrth ddod y chwaraewr gyda’r mwyaf o gapiau rhyngwladol erioed. Doedd y gêm chwaith ddim yr hyn oedd cefnogwyr Cymru a’r Alban yn ei haeddu ar ôl aros chwe mis i’r gêm gael ei chwarae. Dechrau gwael gafodd Cymru wrth i Ryan Elias ildio cic gosb ar ôl 9 munud i’w gwneud hi’n 3-0 wrth i Finn Russell drosi. Yr Alban wnaeth barhau i reoli’r meddiant wrth i Gymru wneud nifer o gamgymeriadau gan dorri llif y chwarae. Ond er holl ymdrech yr Albanwyr bu i’r prop pen rhydd Rhys Carre groesi am ei gais cyntaf dros ei wlad ar ôl hanner awr gyda Dan Biggar yn trosi i roi Cymru 7-3 ar y blaen. Er hyn bu i ddiffyg disgybliaeth Cymru adael i’r Alban gael cic gosb gan roi sgôr o 7-6 i Gymru ar yr hanner. Dechrau tebyg fu i’r ail hanner gyda nifer o gamgymeriadau gan y ddwy ochr cyn i’r Alban sgorio o sgarmes symudol i gael mantais o 11-7 wedi 60 munud. Er i Leigh Halfpenny gael cic gosb yn erbyn llif y chwarae i roi sgôr o 11-10 nid oedd yn ddigon wrth i Stuart Hogg gael cic gosb hwyr i’r Alban i roi sgôr derfynol o 14-10. Siomedig a rhwystredig yw’r ddau air a ddefnyddir gan fwyaf i ddisgrifio’r perfformiad o safbwynt Cymru. Mae’n anodd gweld unrhyw fath o batrwm a strwythur yn y chwarae ers i Pivac gymeryd yr awennau ac roedd hyn yn fwy amlwg nag erioed brynhawn Sadwrn. Mae’r mwyafrif o’r chwaraewyr yn edrych y ansicr iawn ac mae Cymru ar y funud y edrych fel eu bod yn sownd rhwng dwy arddull o chwarae. Hen batrwm llawn strwythur Warren Gatland ac arddull fwy agored Wayne Pivac. Yn sicr, ni fydd cefnogwyr Cymru yn obeithiol am y gemau i ddod os bydd perfformiadau tebyg i’r hyn a welwyd ym Mharc y Scarlets yn parhau. Mae gan Pivac a’i griw hyfforddi ddigon o waith i wneud yn yr wythnosau nesaf cyn camu ar y cae yn erbyn gwrthynebwyr fydd yn achosi mwy o broblemau i’r garfan yn amddiffynnol. Mae nifer o gwestiynau yn cael eu gofyn ynglŷn â’r hyfforddwr wrth gwrs. ond mae’n rhy gynnar i ofyn rheiny yn fy marn i. Mae un peth yn bendant, hwn yw’r twrnament Chwe Gwlad gwaethaf i Gymru ei gael ers tro. Mae llawer o waith angen ei wneud cyn gemau caled yn erbyn Iwerddon, Lloegr a Georgia dros y mis nesaf. Yr amddiffyn, disgybliaeth a’r ymosod yn bendant yw’r lle gorau i ddechrau.

Gwaith: Mae angen i Gymru wella. Tarddiad: Rugby Club Nada, Split, Croatia (drwy Flickr)

POLITICS

YOUR Gains for Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party in latest Welsh Political Barometer poll POLITICS DESK T Morgan Perry Politics Editor

Hallum Cowell

Tom Kingsbury

he Abolish the Welsh Assembly are predicted to win four seats in the Senedd, according to the latest Welsh Political Barometer poll, which was published last week. In the latest poll, there’s no clear leading party, were the results to become gospel at the polls next May. A working majority of 31 is required to control the Senedd. Labour are still on track to be the largest party, with a predicted 28 seats, more than 20 years since the party was first elected to lead the then Welsh Assembly. The poll was taken during Wales’ fire break lockdown and represents an increase of three seats since September’s poll. The Welsh Conservatives are set to be the second largest party, with 16 seats, a decrease of three since September’s poll. Plaid Cymru have also seen a decrease in their predicted seat share, with 11 seats projected, down from 15 in the last projections. Perhaps most significantly, the Abolish the Welsh Assembly is projected to win four seats, up from zero at the last poll. Last week, the leader of the Brexit Party in the Senedd,

Contributor

Morgan Perry politics@gairrhydd.com

for one seat in the Senedd, the Liberal Democrats’ performance on the regional list is poor, sitting seventh. The Lib Dems have been overtaken, quite suddenly, by the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, and they are projected to be awarded handsomely in the Senedd, taking four seats. Despite the gains, Labour’s hegemony is still unlikely to be disrupted by the party’s slow advance. The coronavirus pandemic is likely exposing what some will see as gaps in the devolution settlement for Wales. For some, the attractiveness of a single, UK-wide response to the crisis may be enough to encourage them to support Abolish at the polls. The latest polling still projects no return of the Brexit Party, UKIP or Neil McEvoy’s Welsh National Party. There’s also no sign of Caroline Jones, David Rowlands and Mandy Jones, who recently formed a new Independent Alliance for Reform in the Senedd. As with anything in politics – and, indeed, so far this year – nothing is set in stone, and the polling is likely to change between now and the elections in May, providing they aren’t delayed.

Projected Senedd Seats Welsh Labour - 28 Welsh Conservatives - 16 Plaid Cymru - 11 Abolish the Welsh Assembly - 4 Welsh Liberal Democrats - 1 Constituency voting intention LAB: 38% (+4) CON: 27% (-2) PC: 20% (-4) BRX: 5% (+1) LD: 3% (=) GR: 3% (=) Others: 4% (+1) Changes with Aug 28 - Sep 4 Regional voting intention LAB: 33% (=) CON: 24% (-3) PC: 20% (-3) Abolish: 7% (+3) BRX: 5% (+1) GR: 4% (=) LD: 4% (+1) Others: 3% (+1) Changes with Aug 28 - Sep 4

New lockdown rules announced for post-firebreak Wales Caitlin Parr

Dewi Morris

Mark Reckless, defected to the party, giving them their second Member of the Senedd. He’s the second to do-so this year, after Gareth Bennett also defected earlier in the summer. Despite the defections, the party has never had an MS elected under the Abolish banner. The poll was also taken in the same week that sole Liberal Democrat MS Kirsty Williams announced she would stand down at the next election. She is currently a member of the Welsh Government, serving as the Minister for Education, and has been re-elected several times since first being elected to the Senedd in 1999. Given the poll was taken during Wales’ fire break lockdown, which was announced on October 19, the increased share of the vote for Labour does suggest at least some support for the public health restrictions. The Welsh Conservatives have this week been caught short after Boris Johnson announced that non-essential items would not be sold in supermarkets during England’s four-week lockdown. The Welsh Conservatives had previously called for an end to the restrictions. Despite still being in the running

November’s Welsh Political Barometer

irst Minister Mark Drakeford announced this week that there will be a set of rules in place in Wales following the lifting of the ‘firebreak’ lockdown on November 9, but Wales will not be participating in Boris Johnson’s English lockdown. Wales experienced a micro-rendition of the national lockdown which began in March 2020, with all non-essential hospitality, retailers, entertainment, hairdressers and beauticians closed. There was also to be no mixing of households (neither indoors or outside) for the duration of the firebreak, and extended households continued to be temporarily prohibited. Though we have approached the end of the firebreak, it is still important to adhere to restrictions though we are no longer in lockdown. Following Prime Minister Johnson’s recent announcement of the 4 week England lockdown, Drakeford

and the Welsh Government have been keen to reiterate that this firebreak has meant we do not have to participate in a national lockdown this time around. Not only does this suggest that the firebreak lockdown has broken the circuit as planned, but that it also was, as Drakeford described, “a short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and buy us more time”. Though, with the increase of testing in Wales recently we have seen an increase in reported cases prior to and over the circuit breaker period. Many Welsh communities will welcome this news from Downing Street, as it should mean that Wales can expect fewer visitors and holiday makers (even in winter months) from across the border. This was one of the main concerns outlined by the Welsh Government before England’s “unexpected” lockdown. Travel between Wales and England, without a reasonable excuse, was prohibited under both the Welsh guidelines and the English lockdown.

However, travel restrictions have now been lifted within Wales following Drakeford announcing to the Senedd that people living in Wales will be able to travel anywhere within Wales (not across the border) after the lift of the firebreak. This will be a welcome change to many who have been confined to their counties or boroughs under a host of local lockdowns in recent months. To add to this, it was also announced on Tuesday November 3 that now four people from different households will be able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes, and restaurants once the firebreak lockdowns lifts. Though this change has been met with dissent by Plaid Cymru, who have called for the Welsh Government to consider a phased reopening of the hospitality industry to avoid the surge in coronavirus cases following a reportedly successful firebreak ahead of the festive period and harsher winter months. Welsh Conservatives are also calling for some clarity and direct guidance for businesses who are set to

reopen on Monday, though they do support the move to open all non-essentials again as soon as the firebreak lifts. Drakeford noted how “we have listened to those young people, and single people especially have told us how important it is for them to meet some friends and other family members”, and are accommodating this within the new restriction guidelines. Students living in housing with more than 6 people may also be relieved to know that larger groups who live in the same household will also now be allowed to go out together to these establishments, unlike rules over the previous weeks that have restricted tables at pubs, restaurants and cafes to a maximum of 6 - regardless of if you live with 6+ or not. This rule only applies for those from the same household. It has also been announced by the Prime Minister that Welsh residents and workers will be eligible for his extension of the furlough scheme that has been put in place for his England lockdown.

Wales facing “rising tide of poverty” according to a new report Megan Evans Contributor

he BBC have recently released a report that shows that Wales is facing a ‘rising tide of pov-

erty’. The ‘rising tide’ has been impacted primarily due to the rising cases and restrictions that have been imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) shows that they found approximately 700,000 people in poverty, which includes 180,000 children. This is for reasons ranging from low pay, unaffordable housing, and a lack of childcare, which has been exacerbated due to the pandemic, drastically impacting those in lower

paid jobs. Even before COVID-19, almost a quarter of people (equating to 700,000) living in Wales were living in poverty. This also increases the risk of children, as 3 in 10 children are living in poverty. This is due to Wales having lower pay for people in every sector than the rest of the UK. More than a third of jobs across Wales were furloughed, and local areas face a much higher risk of losing furloughed jobs. The Welsh Government has invested £2 billion in affordable housing, but it has been said that more needs to be done for those that are ‘in risk of being pulled under from the economic fallout’ due to COV-

ID-19. This has all happened during a time where Marcus Rashford has fought to have extra free school meals across England and Wales, and free childcare could be beneficial to help close the poverty gap. A poverty in Wales report stated that ¼ of people in Wales are in poverty, Universal Credit claimants almost doubled since the start of the year. In June this year, 200,000 people were recorded to be falling behind on rent and mortgage payments, according to the same report. With the tightening of restrictions, and furlough now being extended for workers due to the ongoing crisis, it is expected to worsen drastically. The JRF are now pressuring the

Welsh Government to develop more childcare services, to guarantee that social rents are affordable, more homes that allow for social rent and a ‘Welsh Benefits System’, which helps all families across the country to aid the struggles that many are facing. Peter Matejic, the foundation’s deputy director of evidence and impact has said, “Families up and down the country are struggling to keep up with rent, and put food on the table- this is not the kind of society that we want to be.” The Government have also stated that they “have made a record investment of £2 billion in affordable housing during the Senedd term, and a 12% increase on 2017-18 in the number of affordable homes delivered.

“This investment is having a significant impact on the delivery of housing that meets the needs of Welsh communities and we are on track to deliver our ambitious 20,000 affordable homes target this term despite the adverse impact the pandemic has had on the housebuilding sector.”

“This is not the kind of society that we want to be.” Peter Matejic

JRF Deputy director of evidence

and impact

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Joe Biden named as US President-Elect Following days of counting votes, and controversy clouding the American Presidential election, it is announced Joe Biden has won Hallum Cowell Head of Politics

Tom Kingsbury Politics Editor

n November 7, Joe Biden was projected to win the race for the White House. While many in the US and around the world had hoped to wake up on November 4 with news of a winner, counting votes took longer than expected. In part due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the significant increase in postal votes. Incumbent Donald Trump failed to secure a second term, a rarity in American electoral history. Joe Biden is now President-Elect of the United States, and will be inaugurated into office sometime in early January. As the Gair Rhydd politics team covered the evening’s events, we saw a sizable early lead for President Trump in many states he was expected to be behind his rival Biden in. Many of these states were integral to the result of the election, and some were states Trump had ‘flipped’ from the Democrats in 2016 but was predicted to lose this time around. In Pennsylvania, for example, early ballot results looked excellent for Trump, and in Michigan and Wisconsin, Trump was ahead by a large margin in the first batch of votes declared. But it seems now these ‘red wall’ states have all now been called for Biden. So the question is: how and why did Trump’s early lead dissipate? This is where the ‘red mirage’ comes into play. In some states, including the three we have focussed on here, early and mail-in ballots were not allowed to be counted until the polls had closed.

Biden and other leading Democrats had urged their supporters to vote by mail or vote early, and in contrast President Trump had been sceptical of mail-in voting and did not encourage early voting. This resulted in a ‘red mirage’ effect, where states released their in-person, on-the-day results first, which leaned Republican more so than mail-in and early votes. The mirage effect showed Trump much further ahead in certain states than he really was, and in states Trump had looked ahead in, Biden gained on Trump over the night and days - following the election. This has led to a sharp increase in Democrat votes in recent days, eroding Trump’s lead in some areas while completely overtaking the incumbent President in others. By the day it looked more and more likely that Joe Biden would become the President of the United States. With many of the states left to be called leaning Democrat, it seemed it would take some huge upset for Trump to win. As the days after the election continued Biden only had to claim a small number of the remaining states, in the end it was Pennsylvania, a state which many had predicted would decide the election, which voted him into office with their 20 electoral votes. Both candidates have been holding nightly speeches, laying out their thoughts on the election. Trump has proven the most divisive, which is a fitting way to end his Presidency, calling the election rigged. Trump’s main argument comes down to mail in ballots, he argues that any votes counted after election night (that would have been November 3 going into November 4) illegal votes. There is no electoral basis or legal groundwork for this argument. Trump argued that he had already won the election, and indeed if voting had ceased on the night he

Politics Editor

igel Farage has applied to change his political party’s, The Brexit Party, name to Reform UK. The party will be branded as ‘antilockdown’, which may present a problem for the Conservative Party as anti-lockdown Tories will have another political outlet to turn to. While the re-branding has been criticised as opportunistic, especially as Nigel Farage called for an earlier and stricter lockdown in March, the party’s chairman, Richard Tice said the UK must “learn to live with” Covid-19 and must not “live in fear.” Farage has said he believes the second lockdown will “result in more lifeyears lost than it hopes to save.” In England, YouGov have found that 23% of adults oppose the second lockdown. If this group vent their frustrations by supporting the new Reform UK (the only party to oppose COVID-19 lockdowns), then Farage may be able to break back into the UK political scene. With the UK’s transitional period out of the EU coming to an end on

January 1, it could be said that the Brexit Party needed a re-brand in order to maintain relevance. Interestingly, commentators have compared the position the rebrand has put Boris Johnson in, to the position Theresa May found herself in when UKIP rebranded to the Brexit Party. UKIP somewhat lost their purpose after their campaign was successful, when the UK voted to leave the EU. However, when the Brexit Party emerged, they were able to lay additional pressure on Theresa May for a harder Brexit and attracted Brexitsupporting Conservatives to vote against her bill and call for her resignation. 34 Tory MPs have voted against Boris Johnson’s second lockdown in England. Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, compared a second lockdown to a ‘totalitarian state.’ The emergence of an anti-lockdown party could give confidence for more right-wing MPs to denounce stricter measures to curb the coronavirus. A similar pattern of rebranding can be observed in the Senedd. The Brexit Party’s Senedd Group have said they will campaign in May’s Senedd election to scrap devolution altogether.

England enters second national lockdown Hallum Cowell Head of Politics

Joe Biden: Complications and controversy delayed the election, with Saturday announcing the President Elect would be Joe Biden. Source: Michael Stokes (via. Wikimedia Commons) would have. The Trump campaign has made a number of legal attempts to stop the counting of votes in states, all of which have been thrown out due to a lack of evidence of voter fraud. However, at least in the eyes of the Trump campaign, this is a battle which is far from over and if the Republican party throws their weight behind these allegations then the election result could be mired in court for weeks or even months to come. It is also unclear whether Trump will be willing to give a concession speech, a tradition for the losing candidate, now that he has lost the election. Biden on the other hand had re-

frained from claiming victory in the election, instead calling for unity among the American people. However, whether they will listen to him is another matter entirely as protests continue across the nation from both sides of the political divide. Upon winning the Presidency Biden once again called for unity among the American people and in what some may call “deep blue” states such as New York and DC there was celebration at this victory. Elsewhere Trump supporters found themselves in a similar state to Democrats after the Republican victory, disillusioned and distraught at the result.

Brexit Party rebranded as anti-lockdown ‘Reform UK’ Dewi Morris

However, two of their members, Mandy Jones, and David Rowlands have joined independent Caroline Jones, to form a new group named the Independent Alliance of Reform, which aims to reform rather than abolish devolution. The Brexit Party’s Senedd group leader, Mark Reckless has joined the Abolish the Assembly Party, meaning the Brexit Party no longer have any seats in the Welsh Parliament. Following the latest Welsh Politi-

cal Barometer from November 3, in May’s election the Abolish the Assembly Party are predicted to win four seats, while the Indpendent Alliance of Reform and the Brexit Party (or Reform UK) are not projected to win any seats. In December’s general election the Brexit Party won 2% of the vote and no seats. This rebrand is needed to give Nigel Farage any hope of re-entering the mainstream political scene in a post-Brexit UK.

Nigel Farage: seeking to maintain political relevency following the end of the Brexit Saga, Farage rebrands his party Source: Nigel Farage (via. WikiMedia Commons)

ngland began their national Lockdown on November 5 and the new restrictions are set to last until at least December 4. The country is in much the same lockdown as the first in March with people encouraged to stay in doors and only leave for exercise, work and education. The new measures mean that pubs and restaurants will be closed, but remain open for takeaway orders, non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues have been closed and people are not allowed to mix households unless they are in support bubbles. Additionally, people are encouraged to stay indoors, schools and universities will remain open and outdoor recreation is encouraged. In line with this new measure the furlough programme has been extended until March 2021 which means those temporarily out of work due to the closure of pubs, clubs and other business will have their wages supplemented by the government. This caused some controversy from Northern England political figures who accused the governmet of only making decions on furlough policy when the South of the country would benifit from it. There have also been warnings from the government of tougher fines if people break the new rules, currently fines sit at £200 for each breach which can double with every offence up to a maximum of £6,400. There has also been critique laid at the government over guidance on care homes. The current guidance says that care homes should set up ceiling-to-floor screens and visitors should be in “vistor pods” or use window visits. Charities and the Labour party have labled these measures as impractical. Care minister Helen Whately said that the new measures would allow people to visit their relatives “in a safe way”. This new lockdown comes as something of a U-turn from their earlier position that there would not be a second lockdown. The Labour party had called for a lockdown in early October so that it would run across half turn, which lasts two weeks in mid-October. Labour’s lockdown recommendation was also in line with the advice from the Scientifc Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

Source: Sandy B (via. Geograph)

12 POLITICS In other news Algeria approves constitutional reforms in referendum Tom Kingsbury Politics Editor

The Ethiopian federal government has been conducting a military offensive in the Tigray region following a recent regional election held in Tigray. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says it was illegitimate since he had postponed elections nationwide because of the coronavirus pandemic. The head of the UN pressed the importance of “an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the dispute”.

Recently re-elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern has appointed the country’s most diverse cabinet in history as she returns to office this week. Among the cabinet are New Zealand’s first openly gay Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson, and Nanaia Mahuta, the country’s first Maori Foreign Minister. The cabinet is made up of 40% women, 15% identify as LGBT and 25% of those selected are Maori. The Labour Party won a landslide in last month’s election, winning 65 of the parliament’s 120 seats.

referendum on constitutional reforms in Algeria has passed, after a November 1 vote. The referendum scored a record low turnout in a major Algerian vote, with just 23.7% turnout, and has received criticism for not going far enough to address the systemic reforms demanded by Algerian protesters in recent years. The referendum put forward issues the Algerian government said would meet the demands of Hirak, a protest movement which was sparked in 2019 after ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika ran for a fifth consecutive term in office, after he took power in 1999. It proposed the re-enactments of term limits, which Bouteflika had removed, setting the maximum amount at two. It set the same limit on terms for Members of Parliament. The referendum also proposed a new anti-corruption unit, and will oblige public institutions to ensure the freedom of Algeria’s active independent press. With changes enacted that furthered freedom of press and sought to tackle corruption, the referendum has been touted by the government as positive progress for Algeria. But critics, including Hirak, say the referendum simply did not go far enough. Protesters have been calling for systemic change for over a year now, and some argue the referendum is an attempt to quell further calls for change. Hirak members were also not in-

Contributor

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has received a record number of signigtures for this petition to investigate Ruport Murdoch’s near monopoly on the media in Australia. Over the three weeks the petition has been live 500,000 people have signed it. Critics have accused Murdoch’s company News Corp, which owns 14 of the 21 metropolitan daily and weekend newspapers in Australia among other websites and TV channels, of pushing a political agenda including denail of climate change. The company has strongly denied these claims.

This constitution gives the president the powers of an emperor. Mustapha Bouchachi. former MP and prominent lawyer

Voting in Algeria: following the recent referendum Algeria will begin rewriting their constitution, although not everyone feels this change goes far enough. Source: Magharebia (via. WikiMedia Commons) shadow over the referendum is the dismal turnout, which undermines the legitimacy of the result. Although 68.8% voted ‘yes’, given that less than a quarter of the electorate actually voted, the proportion that approved the result is just over 16%. And, out of the votes that were made, over 10% of them were invalid or blank. The low turnout has been attrib-

uted by some to a second wave of coronavirus breaking out in Algeria, along with a lack of enthusiasm for the referendum. Algeria’s president, who is currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness in Germany, was elected with the previous record low turnout in Algeria. Before becoming ill, he has isolated after a positive COVID-19 test from one of his colleagues.

Chile begins rewriting their constiution Irina Krasteva

A hotline set up in Hong Kong for citizens to report breaches of the controversial National Security law has recived over 1,000 calls mere hours after it began. People within Hong Kong can anonymously send tips to the police if they suspect others of breaking the law. Protests in the semi-independnet city state have raged for nearly a year against Chinease authority. The new laws illegalise secession, subversion and collusion with foreign nations.

volved in the drafting of the amendments, and feel they have not been fully recognised. The President maintains, for example, significant veto powers over Algeria’s legislature. He can demand a re-reading of a bill in parliament, which would need a two-thirds majority to overrule. He also has what some refer to as an ‘indirect veto’ in the Algerian senate, which he appointed a third of, and a three-quarters majority is needed to pass a law. The referendum also did nothing to counteract the president’s influence over the judiciary, which he may appoint without parliamentary approval. “So the president is directly involved in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government”, said former MP and prominent lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi. “What’s more, Tebboune would also be in charge of all regulatory bodies, including those responsible for auditing government expenditure. This constitution gives the president the powers of an emperor.” Another factor that has cast a

n October 14 2019, no one could have predicted that student demonstrations would turn into year-long protests with 36 deaths and more than 11,000 wounded. It all started with the increasing price of metro rush hour tickets by 30 pesos. The tip of the iceberg was the

(then) Minister of Economy’s statement that if people want to avoid the more expensive fares they should just simply wake up earlier and use the cheaper services. Chile is one of the worst counties in South America in terms of economic inequality. This, at a glance, small change was the spark to provoke millions of people to occupy the streets all around the country. President Sebastiàn Piñera placed

Protests in Chile: The Chilean people have been protesting for almost a year against a government they argue is not working in their best intrests. Source: Carlos Figueroa (via. WikiMedia Commons)

the nation of Chile in a state of emergency following the mass demonstrations. The army was deployed to the streets, in an attempt to suppress the protests, utilising tear gas and violence which led to many losing their lives and even more protestors being wounded. It took over a year of protests for a referendum which would decide whether or not the constitution should be rewritten to be held. Commentators have said that the President had no other choice but to retreat under public pressure. voters were given two choices, firstly if they wanted a new constitution and secondly which body or group should create this new constitution. Electoral officials have said that 7.5 million people came out to vote. The Chilean President said that he hoped Chileanans could “work together so that the new constitution is the great framework of unity, stability and the future” and that “Today citizens and democracy have triumphed, today unity has prevailed over division and peace over violence. And this is a triumph for all Chileans who love democracy, unity and peace, without a doubt.” However, he did not accept his defeat without a fight. His strategy underwent a few transformations throughout the year including; the announcement of a state of emergency and the summoning of the army, the dismissal of ministers who compared the protestors with criminals and calling for a referendum and accepting its results as legitimate. Chile is officially going to draft a new constitution with 78.2% of the votes cast in favour compared to 21.8% against. Moreover, the Chil-

eans chose the draft to be made by a popularly elected body. The present constitution dates from the military regime of the right-wing dictator Augusto Pinochet. It was written in 1980 and led to an unexpected growth of the economy. However, critics have argued that the current constitution benefits the businessman and helps the rich disproportainlly. The current Constitution privatizes a lot of sectors like healthcare, education, and pensions schemes. It is as of yet unclear as to what the new Chilean Constitution may look like. However, there does seem to be a growing left wing movement in the nation and many will be hoping that the new governmental foundation reflects this.

Today citizens and democracy have triumphed, today unity has prevailed over division and peace over violence. And this is a triumph for all Chileans who love Sebastián Piñeraformer Chilean President

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COMMENT

YOUR COMMENT DESK

Molly Govus

Sian Hopkins

Cerys Ann Jones

Izzy Morgan comment@gairrhydd.com

Scheduled operations are being put on hold At what point will these operations take precedent? Cerys Ann Jones

Comment Editor

edical institutions are a central force in battling the coronavirus pandemic, and therefore, all departments have altered their schedule and resources to prevent the transmission of the disease on an unprecedented scale. Leading surgeons are warning that the surge in confirmed coronavirus cases may lead to a “tsunami” of cancelled operation procedures, therefore generating a large backlog within surgical institutions. Operating theatres located in highly contaminated areas began postponing or cancelling elective surgeries in March to preserve the necessary equipment and resources needed for coronavirus patients. Planned procedures were paused to ensure that hospital beds were available for the lockdown period during the spring. Data suggests that more than two million people have been waiting longer than 18 weeks for surgery, with 83,000 people waiting more than a year - up from 2,000 before the pandemic.At the conclusion of the medical crisis, there will be a surgical backlog of at least 3 months, thus translating to nearly 5 million surgical cases. Members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England charity stated that they doubt that the NHS can meet targets to restore theatre operations to pre-pandemic levels. The college body surveyed nearly 1,000 members in September regarding the coronavirus’s impact on surgical procedures and found that only 14% of surgeons were now able to treat the same number of patients as before the pandemic. 48% said that planned operations were currently running at just 50-80% of 2019 levels. President of the college, Professor Neil Mortensen stated: “This is a national crisis requiring a truly national effort across all hospitals – private and NHS alike. As the virus becomes more prevalent again, there is a real risk of a tsunami of cancelled operations unless surgical beds are funded and protected. That means building up theatre capacity and designating beds exclusively for those who need an operation”. The World Health Organisation has warned hospital institutions against neglecting the provision of essential health services, including surgical treatment. Despite the utilisation of personal protective equipment and the divergence of health service staff to the current crisis, many patients will be de-

nied surgical treatment that they would have received during the pre-coronavirus period. A 19-year-old student’s transplant surgery has been postponed for a second time three days before its performance, consequent to the coronavirus pandemic. Mali Elwy, from Conwy Valley, was due to receive a kidney from her brother Morgan Elwy last week, following the cancellation of the first procedure in August. The surgery was set to take place at Royal Liverpool University hospital but was postponed as the area has been placed under tier three restrictions. Dr. Tristan Cope, the Medical Director of Liverpool University Hospital has stated: “Every decision made about patient care is made with their clinicians, based on that individual’s circumstances and best interests. Undergoing a transplant during a period of a pandemic can present more risks than benefits, which is why clinicians, patients, and their relatives have to make difficult decisions about the best course of action”. Mali is currently taking an interruption of study from Bangor University for recovery purposes, but with continuous delays to the transplant procedure, she fears that the time of the recovery process will affect her return to the university next year. She stated: “Obviously we understood why it’s been cancelled because we’ve been seeing how bad it’s been and how many cases they have been having there. We’ve got to the point again where they’re cancelling major operations with treatment being refused because it’s more of a risk to be in hospital”. The American College of Surgeons, an association dedicated to safeguarding standards of care provided for surgical patients, published a COVIDrelated triage containing guidelines for various surgical specialities, thus inspiring individual surgical societies to provide their specific recommendations. Surgical societies urge the postponement of low-risk cases, thus illuminating that delaying operating activity to prevent a surge in coronavirus cases is an appropriate and rational approach taken by hospital administrators. Through undertaking this medical approach, hospital administrators have elected to delay surgical care to conserve resources for the pandemic. The burden of the disease will continue to accumulate whilst patients await their surgery. Progression is a key factor of many diseases, therefore de-

lays in treatment may result in poorer outcomes, and higher mortality rates for patients across a broad spectrum of diseases. For certain cancer types, advancement to later stages can occur within just 4-8 weeks. More advanced diseases at the time of surgery may result in morbid procedure outcomes, which are associated with higher costs. Many diseases are being treated nonoperatively which subsequently increases expenditures. Medical implications regarding surgical delays may increase costs to the healthcare system through the need for treatment for more advanced diseases, which often require more intense and costly treatment. The Nottingham University Hospital Trust has confirmed on Tuesday that it had been forced to cancel surgery for four cancer patient’s consequent to its inadequate critical bed -capacity. The medical director of the trust, Keith Girling, appealed to the wider public to support the hospital by abiding by the government guidelines. In a statement to The Independent, he said: “We’ve had to make the extremely difficult decision to postpone operations for four of our cancer/pre-cancer patients this week due to pressure on our intensive care units from both COVID-19 and non-COVID related emergencies”. Cancer Research UK’s head of policy and development, Emlyn Samuel, responded to the news in disappointment. He stated: “The pandemic has already had a devastating impact on the lives of cancer patients and it’s extremely concerning to hear if patients are not getting the care they need through a second wave. It’s imperative that lessons learnt so far are taken forward to

ensure urgent cancer treatment continues and there are no further delays. COVID protected spaces for cancer services must be maintained to provide diagnosis and treatment safely, supported by frequent and fast COVID-19 testing of all staff – whether they have symptoms or not”. Many diagnostic procedures, including colonoscopies, mammograms, and biopsies are on hold during the pandemic. A delay in the diagnostic evaluation of patients will heavily contribute to the backlog of elective surgeries through a surge in new cases upon resumption of diagnostic procedures. Each surgical department should capitalise on the current interruption to the schedule consequent to COVID-19 through determining a prioritisation order based on the accrual of cases for once proceeding with surgical care is permitted. The ever-changing landscape of the coronavirus pandemic has hindered all aspects of society. Health care providers are undertaking unfamiliar roles whilst trying to navigate themselves and others through a period of uncertainty in a safe, ethical, and moral manner. Predictive models forecasting relapsing and recurring cycles of COVID-19 have been produced, therefore a cohesive and organised framework is needed for surgeons to better manage the disruption of surgery across departments, and to organise treatments for those who have encountered a delay in needed treatment. Surgeons are operating under extremely difficult circumstances, but the safety of the patients is always placed in a position of imperative importance.

A lack of hospital beds: 2 million people have been left waiting for operations for over a year. Source: skeeze (via. Pixabay)

UK’s essential items are raising questions over period stigma Sian Hopkins

Comment Editor

he firebreak circuit lockdown in Wales brought about much tension again, with people facing days in isolation and worries over panic buying. What wasn’t expected however, was some of the strange choices stores like Tesco decided to deem as ‘unnecessary items.’ Under government guidelines, stores and supermarkets could remain open with the sales of ‘necessary items.’ A quote from BBC News stated: ‘The government guidance allows food and drink retailers, newsagents, pharmacies, chemists, building supplies and hardware stores, among others, to remain open. But the same guidance says those that stock a wide range of goods, such as supermarkets, should not sell

things such as clothes and homeware products because fashion and home furnishing stores are not allowed to remain open.’ Although these guidelines couldn’t be considered as having a defined list, it’s arguably not hard to know that items such as sanitary products would be included as ‘necessary.’ This was not the case for one woman at a Tesco store in Wales, who tweeted her experience, according to Metro: ‘Can you explain why I was told today that I can’t buy period pads as I’m sure they are essential to women ?!!! But I can buy alcohol, it doesn’t make sense’. Whilst this may have been a miscommunication at the fault of the store, the unacceptable response to the woman’s tweet, that has since been deleted, blamed the unavailability on Welsh Government guidelines not to sell these items during the firebreak lockdown.

Both Tesco and the Welsh Government responded apologising for the woman’s troubles stating that of course sanitary items were needed to remain on sale, with the government adding ‘necessary items include anything that can be sold in a pharmacy.’ Why would a representative of Tesco even consider sanitary products to not fall under being a necessary item? Do women not need access to products that are essential to dealing with a natural bodily function that they do not choose to go through? There shouldn’t have to be an explanation from the Welsh Government that ‘anything that can be sold in a pharmacy’ should still be available in stores, sanitary products are not a luxury, yet here is another example of how society treats them like one. Only this year in 2020, the British Government announced that the

tampon tax would finally be abolished by the 31st of December 2020. Patrick Collinson from The Guardian wrote: ‘Tampons and other women’s sanitary products currently have 5% VAT added to their price, but this will be scrapped, saving the average woman £40 over her lifetime.’ It has taken years of petitions and protests for this tax to be abolished, as women found themselves arguing the necessity of these products for something they physically do not have control over. Whilst women do not choose to have a period and were still taxed for their access to the products that ‘hide’ or make bearable the event that occurs nearly every month, men’s razors were considered a priority to avoid the 5% tax, because, clearly, these are an absolute essential. Even with the abolition of the tampon tax, many women throughout the UK struggle to afford the ‘luxury’ of

buying sanitary products. With COVID-19, the number of women and girls facing period poverty has risen sharply. BBC News reported that ‘Women unable to afford or access sanitary products have resorted to using items including newspaper, pillow cases, or tea towels.’ Plan International UK confirms these facts with the figures that in the UK, 1 in 10 girls can’t afford to buy menstrual products, while 1 in 7 have struggled to afford them. The very idea then, that it would even be considered that the access to sanitary products should be reduced further, due to them being unnecessary is quite frankly disgusting. The whole misunderstanding highlights how the stigma surrounding periods and women’s bodies has made little progress, regardless of abolishing the tampon tax that realistically shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

SYLWADAU

The rise and fall of the Zoom platform

Zoom has changed the technological game for millions since the beginning of the pandemic, but we need to ask whether is it safe for use?

Comment Editor

Bringing people together: Zoom has provided businesses and families with the face-to-face interaction we have missed out on due to the COVID-19 pandemic Source: mohamed_hassan (via. Pixabay) ther a link that can be shared or even just a password is allowing businesses in some sectors to thrive in what could have been an unfathomably difficult time for certain corporations and therefore is owed some credit. It has also allowed some creative uses such as theatre companies who might have been left totally defunct had it not been for the apps capabilities to stream live, socially distanced performances to the homes of people all around the world who can purchase a link which allows access to the online event. It also could be said to be a saving grace in a personal sense to some over the lockdown with not only the business angle to consider but also the human angle. The application has brought people together in extremely unprecedented ways such as allowing older relatives to see their families (if only virtually for the time being) safely and provided people with a sense of community they might not have previously have had. An unexpected trend to have arisen was the weekly quiz in many households wherein friends, family and even colleagues could come together to do ‘pub quiz’ style events as a way of interacting and keeping the spirits of those around them up during these extremely difficult times. Despite all these positive uses that

Zoom provides its customers with, there are more sinister and dangerous critiques of the platform that must be considered if we’re to be using it on such a scale. The main issue being that Zoom was never built for such large scale usage and therefore the original coding and platform itself may not have been or even still may not be in a state to protect such a wide variety of users’ data and privacy. Concerns have been flagged from many experts to say that governments who use the platform for the sharing of private discussions and information should be extremely cautious as the site could be said to be susceptible to hacks due the lack of infrastructure to support such massive institutional usage. The platform is also said to have the ability to record without participants consent which could therefore be detrimental with a rise in hacking to the brands reputation and could be extremely important in whether the public continue to use the service. Furthermore, its vulnerability to hacking might mean that it is inappropriate for use in schools and other educational institutions in order to protect the privacy of learners and of those who are educating them. The business’ extremely quick change from being a conferencing app

for commercial business use to this widespread use from people’s homes and schools is extremely concerning due to the amount of information that is already in the platforms system which might be at risk due to the strained nature of its infrastructure. The app has no doubt proved itself to be an extremely useful tool that has, to no small measure, united many throughout this tense time for society. However, the concerns raised by technological experts could potentially mean that this app’s humble beginnings could be contributing to the vulnerability of its users data which may be being prayed upon by hackers who are quicker than those Zoom has hired to fix its previous mishaps in the design of the platform. In a world where colleagues now rarely see one another face-to-face and families are only united through a phone screen, it’s hard to not be grateful for such a platform which is still releasing new features to make the ‘work-from-home’ hustle just a little bit easier for us all. The future of the platform, like the immediate future for society, is pretty uncertain but it would be naive to suggest that Zoom hasn’t made some pretty decent strides forward in contributing to a more virtual, interactive and safer world.

‘Zoom is an opportunity that ‘The app itself is easy and shouldn’t be taken lightly’ simple within its concept’ Megan Evans Contributor

oom has definitely changed the way that I learn, for the better as well as for the worse. There is an infinite amount of material online, which I can use to utilise my way of learning and engaging with content, whether that be via an Zoom call meeting for university, or a meeting with the magazine. I have had to adapt to a learning method that I genuinely didn’t think existed, by watching whoever uses screen share to discuss points whilst I am here, with my hot mug of tea in bed trying to make sense of the bullet point notes, and the slightly hazy muffled screens. Relying on the internet so much is quite unhealthy and yet here we are, using an application that I

TikTok’s success as a marketing platform Molly Govus

Izzy Morgan

oom’s stratospheric rise to notoriety as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has led the platform away from being a businessfriendly conferencing app to a household name. It is now used daily by universities, governments, massive corporations and about every other business in order to try and maintain some normalcy in the working day allowing everyone to connect virtually. This has been a vital tool in allowing the corporate world to carry on turning with so much of its key work force unable to work in person. When we look at it from this perspective it seems like Zoom is an extremely good platform wherein we can learn to educate, connect and push society through the pandemic in the best way possible, however, many experts have serious concerns about the large scale usage of the platform. So, why might there be a more sinister side to the Zoom platform than we realise? Zoom has seemingly outrun the other, more traditional video conferencing applications such as Skype and Microsoft Teams this year which is surprising due to the fact that the others were already such respected and well-known platforms. So, why is this? Many have attributed this to the fact that Zoom as a platform is relatively secure for your average user as well as being extremely easy to access and relatively simple to use. The subscription fee is also quite low when you assess how much people are likely to use it when you work at home, if your institution has not already paid for it for you. It is currently being depended on by huge institutions like universities around the world as something that allows them to connect with students and deliver their services online. The scale of Zoom’s speedy ascendance to fame can be assessed just by its stock price in the US. On November 1st 2019, Zoom’s stock price was 70.39 USD and recents figures show that this has risen exponentially to 453.00 USD which was reportedly the cost of the stock on November 2nd 2020. The application’s ability to connect people from around the world with ei-

don’t remember existing until the moment we were put into lockdown. I think that Zoom is an opportunity that shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it has benefited me in ways where I have learnt to participate in discussions via a computer screen. Whilst I find it sometimes hard to show my face during some seminars and meetings, as I am being watched by a large number of people at the same time via various parts of Cardiff / the country for that matter. I think the platform is safe, however, Zoom links that are posted left right and centre can still be abused and hacked, so there are ways that this platform can be even safer, such as by making people type passwords each time, or having a waiting room feature before so you can see exactly who is about to enter a room.

Anonymous Contributor

oom has been extremely beneficial to my online learning; to be honest, it may just be the saving grace when I consider that I’m still paying £9,000 for tuition. Being able to see my lecturers and tutors in real time on video does make a significant difference, even if I’m not able to go onto campus. Without the platform, I don’t think I would get anywhere near the same quality of learning and content from anywhere else without it being face-to-face. Obviously, in-person learning would be better for me, personally, but in this strange time, we have to make do with what’s available to us.

Zoom gives students the ability to continue to learn at a reduced, yet still acceptable, level. Despite all this and how good it is for students with the multiple abilities of chat, video call and interactive whiteboard functions, I’m not sure how secure it is for more private and professional uses. The app itself is easy and simple within its concept, which I think is why it’s grown in use and popularity. In my opinion, the platform just wasn’t ready for the amount of growth it gained due to the coronavirus pandemic. I think fixes need to be made for better security in order to manage its ongoing growth, and in particular if this pandemic continues for many years to come.

here’s nothing quite like wasting time on TikTok in the 21st century. We’ve all been there, endlessly scrolling through our ‘For You’ pages until we reach the bottom. But what is it about this new social media platform that has gotten us all so captivated in its grasp? Every social media platform has its uses. Instagram is renowned for its picture-sharing and selfietaking, Twitter is famous for publishing witty shorts in 280 characters, and Facebook for the ease of networking. But, what about the new younger sibling, TikTok; what has it got to offer that the other platforms don’t succeed in? TikTok encapsulates the brilliant features of every social media into one, and offers so much more. Short videos, up to one minute long, have provided a platform for younger generations to voice opinions, promote small business, and create a mostly supportive platform for people under the age of 30. Arguably, the most significant feature of the app’s marketing successes has come from the fact that most marketers older than 30 have never heard of the platform, giving rise to young business and providing content creators with a young, fresh and modern market. With this comes its instant success in downloads; there were over 1.1 billion installs as of March 2019, and this number has only grown since. Moving away from its former name, Musical.ly and its use of lip-synching videos, users have experimented with the 60-second videos and turned the platform into a multi-media talent haven. Some content now includes comedians showing their stand-up performances, dancers, beauticians and craft fans, with the platform highlighting their talent and sharing it with the rest of its 500 million global users every month. Following Instagram’s hashtag trend, Hashtag Challenges have become very important in gaining views in the TikTok algorithm. These challenges are given a #-tag name, to also make videos more memorable and easy to find on the platform. In terms of marketing, brands can encourage participation in these challenges to reach a wider market, and this also introduces the appeal to work with influencers to kickstart these challenges. So, how can brands use TikTok to promote products? TikTok provides users with their own channel to upload content, automatically giving small businesses an easilycontrolled and modern marketing platform. Additionally, an abundance of trending influencers can work with brands, and influence challenges, which enhances the popularity of the brand and its recognition within the community. There is still so much more to come from TikTok, and I believe we are still yet to see its full influence in power.

ADVICE

YOUR Staying positive over the lockdown period How do you stay positive when Wales continues to move in and out of lockdown? ADVICE DESK W Vicky Witts

Head of Advice

Vicky Witts

Megan Evans advice@gairrhydd.com

Misconceptions about veganism/ vegetarianism Constance Cua Conributor

eeking a vegetarian diet or a vegan lifestyle has become a trend now, as with increasing concerns of the environment, the ethics involved in the production of animal products and health. Here are some common misconceptions and struggles followed by some tips I’ve found helpful! There’s no vegan option when I go to a restaurant! A good tip I have is to simply find and suggest the restaurant yourself! Ask your friends and family about their general preference for that meal and then go onto looking for restaurants with vegan/vegetarian options that you like. It’s easy as most restaurants post their menus online. Ever since I’ve turned vegetarian, this has worked like a charm! My friends loved my recommendations as well, so it’s a win-win. “How do you get enough protein?” There’s actually plenty of choices for protein when you’re eating plant-based! If you’re a vegan, there is still a huge variety of foods that can provide you with the sufficient amount of protein. Examples include tempeh which contains 19 grams of protein per 100 gram, that is even more than eggs at 13 grams! Other protein-rich foods are tofu, soybeans, lentils, edamame, peanut butter, quinoa, nuts, peas… the list grows on and on. Eating plant-based is so much fun and it’s not as restrictive as you think. Definitely give vegetarianism/ veganism a go if you haven’t!

ith a new national lockdown in England beginning on the 5th of November, and the Welsh ‘firebreak’ restrictions lasting until the 9th of November, it can seem like we are going to be living with coronavirus restrictions forever. This kind of thinking, although understandable and very common, can negatively impact your mental health and make lockdown seem even harder. It is important to learn how to find the positives in the pandemic. But how do we do that when it seems like we’re constantly moving in and out of lockdown. Make plans for the future Even though the future seems unclear and unpredictable due to how quickly government restrictions and guidance is changing, planning for future events can give you something to look forward to and prevent feelings of disappointment, or depression. Creating lists of activities such as trips that you want to go on, places that you want to visit or things that you want to do when government restrictions are removed and you are allowed to may have a positive impact on your mental health. If the lockdowns continue to occur, we’ll all need to find new ways of looking after ourselves. It allows you to take a minute to

ignore the stresses of the present day a be excited about the possibilities of the future. It can also be exciting to hypothetically plan trips that you might one day take with your friends, by making presentations of the things that you will visit, the places where you will stay and even how you will get there. It can distract you if you are feeling trapped in one place due to the lockdown. Reflect on the past Although looking forward to the future can help you stay optimistic throughout the pandemic, reflecting on things that you did in the past may also be beneficial. Whether it is something that you did before the pandemic, or just something that you did before the Welsh firebreak or second English national lockdown, reflecting on things that you enjoyed doing in the past should demonstrate that life in lockdown has not always been this way and will not be like it forever. Reflecting on the things that you did before lockdown can also let you appreciate the freedoms and opportunities that you had before government restrictions. When life finally returns to some normality, things that seemed normal or basic to you may feel more exciting and interesting. Look for the positives There have evidently been many things that happened throughout the year that have made it feel as if our time has been wasted being sat

inside or only leaving to do a weekly food shop. Consequently, it can be easy to ignore some of the more positive things that might have happened and solely focus on the negatives, which does nothing to help your mental wellbeing. A good way to overcome feelings of disappointment about the year and all the things that you did not get to do is by looking at the little things that you did during lockdown that may have benefited you. There have undoubtedly been certain things that you enjoyed, although you may not have believed they were

positives during that period because you were busy in lockdown. For example, spending time alone may have made you appreciate and want to connect with your friends more, you may be using time in lockdown to learn a new skill or hobby, or maybe you have just taken time to relax and focus on your own mental wellbeing. However you are currently feeling about the global situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to know that many people are feeling the same way, and that talking about how you feel can make the future seem a lot less bleak.

Staying positive during lockdown: As Wales continues to go in and out of lockdown, it can be easy to fall into a habit of not looking at the positives. Source: avi_avcl (via Pixabay)

How to find your student house during a pandemic Vicky Witts

Head of Advice

hether you are a first-year student living in halls or a student who will be returning next year to continue their studies, arranging where to live and who to live with can seem like an impossible task. There are some tips however, that can make the prospect of renting for the first time seem less daunting. When to start looking There is no right or wrong time to start looking for student housing, and when you decide to start looking can depend on your own individual circumstances. Some people start securing housing for second or third year as early as November or December, however, if you don’t know who to live with next year or aren’t ready to start looking, there should be no pressure to commit to anything quickly. Housing companies will always have housing available, and sometimes don’t release houses until early into the next year. Although it can be good to start browsing company websites so you can get an idea of what you want from a house and what to look out for, you should wait to commit to a house until you feel that you are ready, as most people will have to live with the house and people that they chose to live with for the whole of the next academic year. Who should I live with? Deciding who to live with can be difficult, especially within the current coronavirus pandemic, as many first-year students may not have had much opportunity to meet new people around university due to isolation or government restrictions. It might therefore seem easy to just

Student housing: Finding your student house can be hard, especially during a pandemic. Source: Colin Smith (via Geograph) live with the same people that you did in your first year which is perfectly fine if you find that you get on well with them all. However, you should also consider that private housing comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you may feel that living with a smaller or greater number of people sounds more appealing to you. Living with other friends or course-mates is also an option for many people, however, if you find that you do not want to live with any of the people that you currently know at university, there are still many options. You could choose to live in a one bedroom private flat if you feel that living on your own is your desired situation. Alternatively, you could also look to live with new people that you have never lived with before. There is a section on the Cardiff Students’ Union website where people can advertise if they are looking for housemates as well

as Facebook groups with a similar purpose. What to look out for There are things to look out for when selecting a student house that may aid in your decision. Firstly, you should consider what kind of appliances are supplied and which you require to meet your needs. Some landlords supply you with things such as microwaves, washing machines, televisions and tumble-dryers, whereas others do not, so you should make sure that the house you select can meet your needs. Location may also be a significant factor, especially if you have to be close to a specific building for a lecture or if being close to a supermarket is important to you. Within Cardiff, most student housing is relatively close to the main university buildings, as well as many small shops, however, some are further away than others so deciding where to live can be important. For exam-

ple, medical students might find it better to live closer to the hospital if that is where much of their learning takes place. Whether to have your bills included or excluded from your rent can also be a difficult decision for those moving into private housing for the first time. Arranging your bills via independent companies can often be cheaper than going for bills included with your rent however, having bills included does mean that you do not have to arrange multiple different payments each month which may can become confusing. Ultimately, this decision should come down to what you and your housemates decides is best and easiest for you. Which company should I go with? Knowing which housing company to go with can seem confusing and often of putting due to the many mixed experiences that students seem to have with specific companies. To avoid renting a house with a company that may cause you problems in the future, it is advisable to read online reviews, talk to students who are currently renting with the company that you are looking at using, or speak to the business themselves so that they can answer any concerns that you may have before deciding to rent with them. How to start looking At present it is unlikely that inperson tours of houses will be possible due to coronavirus restrictions. However, you may be able to arrange things such as virtual tours with housing companies if you enquire with them about a specific house that you are interested in. It can therefore be useful to make a list of houses that you are interested and contact companies directly to find out more.

Got questions about housing? Kate, Alex and Matt

We visited Student Advice

cardiffstudents.com/advice

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

YOUR SCIENCE DESK

Holly Giles

Rowenna Hoskin

Mili Jayadeep

Jack Robert Stacey science@gairrhydd.com

New findings show herd immunity may not be the answer to the COVID-19 pandemic Rowenna Hoskin Science Editor

hrough the pandemic, herd-immunity has leached back into the public consciousness. Originally the British government aimed to use herd-immunity as a solution to COVID-19 back in March, leading to the disastrous R-rate and gut-wrenching death rate. Once again, people are debating whether or not herd immunity would be the answer – specifically within the young demographic – where individuals contract COVID-19 and develop immunity saving others, more at risk individuals from the virus. While it may sound like a good idea, considering the low death rate in the younger population, contracting COVID-19 at any age and fitness level can have much wider effects than previously considered. Long-term COVID-19 is a disastrously dehabiliting consequence of the virus and is much more common than one may think. As time goes on, researchers are collating more data and estimates suggest that there could already be millions of people around the world living with “long COVID.” Personal stories and scientific data all point towards this being a debilitating syndrome which follows a COVID-19 infection. While there is not yet an official clinical definition of long COVID, there are growing numbers of people who are reporting the same overlapping symptoms weeks, sometimes months, after their initial infection. Prolonged chest pains, shortness of breath and fatigue are the most commonly mentioned symptoms, others suffer lasting damage to their hearts and lungs, and even blood clots which can cause strokes. “Everyone has fatigue and headache – that’s virtually universal,” says Tim Spector at King’s College London. He has been using the Covid Symptom Study app to analyse the reported symptoms of over 4 million users. “People are getting rashes, fevers, hair loss, pins and needles, muscle pains, diarrhoea … everything on our list,” says Spector. Findings presented at the 29th Congress of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology have pointed towards many long-term covid sufferers having persistent rash-like eruptions – scaly, papules and plaques – which can last from 12 days to 130 days. Many sufferers develop ‘COVID toes’ or chilblains, the swelling to the feet and

COVID-19: Herd immunity was heralded as a soltuion at the start of the pandemic but increasing evidence show it is not the answer. Soure: Radioactive Waste Management (via Gov.UK) hands which can be immensely painful. “We’re not sure what the longer-term implications of that inflammation will be,” says Jennifer Ross at the University of Washington in Seattle. “The skin is potentially a visible window into inflammation that could be going on in the body,” said senior author Esther E. Freeman, MD, PhD, director of Global Health Dermatology at MGH. Long-COVID sufferer, HeatherElizabth Brown, has been hospitalised twice for complications related to her blood clots. She has had to have speech and physical therapy, mental health support and says that she has to take 15 different medications in order to manage her COVID-19 symptoms and their complications. Another problematic aspect of longterm COVID is that the symptoms can temporarily disappear, luring the patient into a false sense of security that the worst is over, only to return. These long-term symptoms can develop in patients who had mild COVID-19 as well as in patients who had more severe cases. Researchers say that due to the wide range of symptoms it is not yet clear as

to whether long-term COVID is a single syndrome or many conditions. “88% - proportion of people hospitalised with COVID-19 in an Italian study who still had symptoms after two months.” Reports by the US Centers for Disease Cotnrol and Prevention (CDC) suggests that some adults have developed a rare outcome of the virus – multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Not all of the adults who developed this had pre-existing health conditions and many get negative tests before they develop symptoms. “There are the symptoms of not feeling well and not being able to do things, and then there’s the organ damage … a scan shows cardiac inflammation or lung damage, for example,” says Nisreen Alwan at the University of Southampton. She is still suffering symptoms of COVID-19 months after her initial infection. Betty Raman at the University of Oxford and her colleagues have examined 58 people with moderate or severe COVID-19. MRI scans revealed tissue abnormalities in the lungs of 60% of individuals, in the lungs of 29%, in the hearts of 26% and in the livers of 10%. Persistent

breathlessness was a symptom for 64% of people and 55% had extreme fatigue. While there is no clear data on the number of long-term sufferers, many different studies imply that long-covid is more common that initially thought. The information from the COVID Symptom Study app suggests that longCOVID can occur in anyone over the age of 18, says Spector. Ross hopes that the research and growing understanding surrounding long-term COVID-19 will shut down the idea of herd immunity as a solution to the pandemic. “There’s potential for harm even in folks who don’t have an initially severe infection,” she says. “It’s a cautionary message to all of us to do what we can to prevent infection.” The only way out of this pandemic is to reduce the spread of the virus. This does not mean sacrificing the health and well being of the healthy population, it means enforcing better social distancing and better track and trace methods – it means finding a cure. In the meantime, let’s stay away from the concept of herd immunity and each other in order to reduce the strain on the NHS.

Streetlights shown to only be responsible for 20% of light pollution Holly Giles

Head of Science & Technology

he sight of a truly dark sky filled with stars is something that up to 80% of the population are no longer able to see due to light pollution. Light pollution is largest in cities where it “lights up the sky” so stars can no longer be seen. Many climate activists have blamed streetlights as a major cause of light pollution in cities. To test this, a team of researchers from Germany, the USA and Ireland teamed up with the American city of Tucson to look at the true effect of streetlights. Tucson has 14,000 street lights

which have a bright and dim setting. The dim setting is normally switched on at midnight to emit 60% of the normal light in a bid to reduce the city’s pollution. For the experiment the streetlights were kept at 100% for 5 nights and then reduced to 30% for the further 5 nights. By comparing the cloud images it was possible to see how much light was caused by street lights. The team found only 20% of the light in satellite images comes from streetlights. This result is important with regards to sustainability and means policy makers need to do more than just police streetlight use. Co-author of the study, Dr John Barentine, explained: “these studies

show that in a city with welldesigned streetlights, most of the light emissions and light pollution come from other lights”. Barentine gave examples of bright shop windows, lit advertising signs, car parks and sports fields as other contributors to light pollution that are often overlooked. Reflecting on these multiple sources of light pollution, lead researcher Dr Christopher Kyba, told: “This does make it more difficult to solve, because there are so many contributors. It means everyone has to get together to decide what lights need to be lit at night, and how brightly”. Speaking specifically about the Tucson smart streetlights, Kyba continued: “Instead of dimming

lights to the same level each night, a city could instead dim to 45% on even days and 55% on odd days. “City residents wouldn’t notice any difference, but that way we could measure how the contribution of different light types is changing over time”. This wasted light is not only important for our climate but also equates to about $3 billion per year being spent on nighttime lighting. This is doubly important as while that money could be used elsewhere, the electricity could be put to more beneficial use, for example to charge electric vehicles to reduce the need for fossil fuels in the day. As Dr Kyba explained “It’s the kind of thing that can be done with

a little bit of cleverness and the will to take action”. It is hoped this research will show policy makers that rules on streetlights are not enough to counter light pollution given off in some of the world’s major cities. By cutting our light pollution we can save money and protect our world. “It’s the kind of thing that can be done with a little bit of cleverness and the will to take action”

Dr Christopher Kyba

Lead Researcher

GWYDDONIAETH A THECHNOLEG

New patch to treat a broken heart developed Alex Brown

Science Editor

he immune system defends itself against threats such as pathogens and even cancer. Immunity can be described as either innate or adaptive. Innate immunity is not specific to these external invaders or threats. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is a specific response as the body recognises the invader. Many cancer treatments use immunotherapy drugs, which are typically aimed at harnessing the body’s adaptive immune response. A new study conducted by a group of international scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine led by Dr. George Hajishengallis who is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and cosenior author of this study. Their results show that a compound taken from fungus known as β-glucan was used to ‘train’ the innate immune system to target cancer. Their findings based on animal models have been published in the journal, Cell. Hajishengallis says, “The focus in immunotherapy is placed on adaptive immunity, like checkpoint inhibitors inhibit the interaction

• • •

demonstrate social Holly Giles

Head of Science & Technology

Too many broken hearts in the world: While broken hearts may dominate our songs and films, they also dominate hospitals with one person being admitted every 5 minutes for a heart attack. Soure: unkown (via Harvard Health Publishing) attack, the cells in the patch secreted growth factors that caused cardiac muscle and blood cell regrowth. After the positive results from this experiment, the researchers wanted to further test the patch on rats, but also expand into experimenting on pigs, as they have a far more similar cardiovascular system to humans than rodents do. Again, the researchers implanted patches into rats after a heart attack. After 4 weeks, rats that had received the patch had less scar tissue,

increased cardiac muscle, and improved cardiac pump function compared to control rats who didn’t receive the patch. Similar effects were also observed in pigs. The patch caused an increased recruitment of the pigs’ progenitor cells to the site of injury and enhanced growth of new blood vessels, as well as decreased cardiac cell death and suppression of inflammation. Previous studies have used blood vessels forming cells or natural blood vessels to vascularise cardiac

patches. This study is the first to demonstrate success in prevascularised cardiac stromal cell patches using micro engineered synthetic blood vessels for treating heart attack damage in large animal models. However, the researchers also highlight that while this research is progressive and exciting, further studies are required to evaluate the mechanism, safety, and efficacy of repair before the technology can be trialed on humans.

New study shows trained innate immunity may have potential in cancer treatments Mili Jayadeep

Sick vampire bats distancing

Contributor

n July 2020, the British Heart Foundation reported that on average, one person is admitted to hospital every 5 minutes due to a heart attack; that’s more than 200,000 hospital admissions in a year. During a heart attack, which is also known as a myocardial infarction, the blocked artery and subsequent oxygen deprivation result in colossal cardiac cell death, blood vessel impairment and inflammation. ACS Biomaterial Science & Engineering have reported that researchers have developed a cardiac patch with minute engineered blood vessels that improved recovery from a heart attack in rats and pigs. To effectively treat a heart attack, lost heart muscle tissue must be regenerated and new blood vessels formed to restore oxygen and nutrients to the cell. Previous attempts at developing patches have all been futile, because all results have either been too cumbersome to manufacture or do not manage to restore cardiac muscle and blood supply in the damaged heart tissue. Previously, Ke Cheng and colleagues tested an easy-to-make cardiac cell patch on rats. The patch contained engineered micro-vessels in a fibrin gel spiked with cardiac stromal cells. When implanted into rats that had experienced a heart

between cancer cells and T cells. The innate immune cells, or myeloid cells, have not been considered so important. Yet our work suggests the myeloid cells can play a critical role in regulating tumor behavior.” Previous work by Hajishengallis revealed the innate immune system stored memory within the bone marrow, specifically in the haematopoetic stem cells which are essentially precursors to myeloid cells. The researchers focused their work on understanding the process by which this happens. However, Hajishengallis explains,“The fact that β-glucan helps you fight tumors doesn’t necessarily mean it was through trained immunity.” They investigated this mechanism further by experimenting on mouse models. They used β-glucan-exposed neutrophils taken from the mice primed to have innate immunity, which were grown in combination with tumour cells. They observed reduced tumour growth in the mice that had the innate immunity-primed cells. To supplement their research, they did bone marrow transplants on mice to support their hypothesis. One group of mice with eradicated bone marrow by means of radiation

were transplanted bone marrow from the ‘trained’ mice. A second group received bone marrow transplants from ‘untrained’ mice. The results confirmed that the innate immunity training shows potential. The mice that received the transplanted bone marrow from the trained mice had a better prognosis with their tumour growth compared to the other group. This was owing to the precursor compounds from the neutrophils in the bone marrow of the trained mice. It seemed that the neutrophils had a cancer-killing quality. The senior co-author and collaborator of Hajishengallis explains: “This is innate immune memory at work.” The scientists offer the explanation to this phenomenon as owing to the trained neutrophils being able to release a greater amount of reactive oxygen species(ROS). Due to ROS’s ability to kill cells, it can be beneficial in fighting cancer as it is able to kill tumour cells. When the team focussed their investigation on the myeloid precursors from the bone marrow of trained animals, they also found differences in gene expression. This meant that these cells were more likely to make neutrophils responsible for antitumour processes. These neutrophils

Word of the week: The Immune System

were a specific type known as tumour associated neutrophils type I (TAN1). Innate immunity led to several changes which aided fight cancerous cells. Epigenetic changes resultant of this also occurred in the bone marrow precursor cells. This caused activation of certain genes and used a particular signalling cascade known as the Type I interferon pathway involved in innate immune training regulation. Furthermore, mice who missed the receptor for Type I interferon pathway lacked the ability to make these trained neutrophils. Hajishengallis confirms, “This is a breakthrough concept that can be therapeutically exploited for cancer immunotherapy in humans, specifically by transferring neutrophils from β-glucan-trained donors to cancer patients who would be recipients.” Although β-glucan is already involved in cancer immunotherapy, the team’s finding creates more possibilities for new cancer therapeutic mechanisms. This approach for the first time links the processes resultant of β-glucan activity to trained immunity. However as with most scientific study, further research is required before trained innate immunity can be fully utilised in treatments against cancer.

The immune system is part of the bodies’ natural defences against pathogens It contains different types of white blood cell, like T-killer cells, B-cells and Memory cells that work in combination to tag the surface of pathogens and then subsequently disarm/kill it. Once your immune system has fought off a pathogen once, most of the white blood cells die as they are not needed any more, but some remain and form memory cells. If the pathogen is ever recognised again, these memory cells multiply and trigger the production of B-cells and T-cells; this is acquired immunity.

ocial distancing is a term that has exploded into our vocabulary in the last year; most of us had never heard of it before, but it is not a normal part of life. Whilst it may be new to us, researchers at the Ohio State University have shown that vampire bats commonly social distance from the group whilst sick. During the experiment the team injected 16 bats with a substance that induced an immune challenge (to simulate illness) and 15 with a placebo. The bats were then reintroduced to our group and three parameters were measured: “We focused on three measures of the sick bat’s behaviours: how many other bats they encountered, how much total time they spent with others, and how well-connected they were to the whole social network,” explained co-lead author Geral Carter. This was possible due to proximity sensors attached to the bats that take measure every few seconds to detect which bats are interacting together. Co-lead author, Simon Ripperger, explained the importance of these sensors: “The proximity sensors gave us an amazing new window into how the social behaviour of these bats changed from hour to how and even minute to minute during the course of the day and night, even whilst they are hidden in the darkness of a hollow tree”. The technology allowed the researchers to monitor the bat in conditions similar to their natural environment so their behaviour is not affected. They found that on average the sick bats associated with four fewer groupmates and spent less time interacting with each partner. The time any two bats spent together was lower if one of the bats was sick. Explaining the results Carter said: “One reason that the sick vampire bats encountered fewer groupmates is simply because they were lethargic and moved around less. In captivity, we saw that sick bats also groom others less and make fewer contact calls. These simple changes can create social distance even without any cooperation of avoidance by healthy bats” A limitation to the study is that it did not use a real pathogen to cause disease which, depending on the pathogen, may change behaviour to make interactions more or less likely. While the study did not use an actual disease it is still important in showing how disease spread through the bat population, an important factor as they are a reservoir for zoonotic disease (animal diseases that then spread across to humans, for example COVID-19). Linking the results to COVID-19, Ripperger added: “Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we feel fine, doesn’t feel particularly normal. But when we’re sick, it’s common to withdraw a bit and stay in bed longer because we’re exhausted. And that means we’re likely to have fewer social encounters. That’s the same thing we were observing in this study: In the wild, vampire bats -- which are highly social animals -keep their distance when they’re sick or living with sick groupmates. And it can be expected that they reduce the spread of disease as a result.” This may be why social distancing feels so hard when we are well, but it is comforting to know that we are not alone in social distancing, nor is it a new phenomenon.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA telescope discovers water on the Moon’s Sunlit Surface Jack Robert Stacey Technology Editor

cientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have made an “exciting new discovery” of water molecules on the sunlit surface of the Moon which, potentially, could sustain the presence of a future lunar colony. Following a recent test of its Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), officials at NASA announced that they have detected water molecules present within soil on the sunlit surface of the Moon. Previously, scientists had indications that water (H20) existed on the Moon however, they were unable to successfully distinguish between water and hydroxyl (OH), a similarly composed element. As published in Nature Astronomy, the data collated by SOFIA identifies the presence of water molecules at Clavius Crater on the Moon’s southern hemisphere; one of the largest craters perceivable from the Earth. Subsequent analysis has determined that each cubic meter of soil on the lunar surface could contain concentrations of water between 100 to 412 parts per million (equivalent to 340 ml) – The Sahara desert, for reference, has more than 100 times the amount of water SOFIA detected. While methods to successfully access this water are currently unknown, these findings call into question the origins of the water in the Moon’s desolate and airless environment. Critically, NASA’s announcement highlights that additional pockets of water, not limited to the cold and dark environment, may exist on other areas of the Moon’s surface. Dr. Casey Honniball, lead author of the newly published results, disclosed that although researchers were aware of the hydration, they “didn’t know how much, if any, was actually water molecules”. Elaborating on the nature of her thesis work, Honniball, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, contended that: “Without a thick

atmosphere, water on the sunlit lunar surface should just be lost to space,” which, as she concludes, means that “something is generating the water, and something must be trapping it there.” Stationed on board a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft, SOFIA’s high-tech telescope is designed to offer scientists a clearer and more detailed observation platform at altitudes up to a maximum of 45,000 feet. Operating alongside the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), SOFIA is equipped with a Faint Object infrared Camera (FORCAST) which can be configured to pinpoint the specific wavelength of water molecules (6.1 microns). Before it was directed towards the Moon in August 2018, NASA attests that SOFIA was used almost exclusively for scientific investigations of “distant, dim objects such as black holes, star clusters, and galaxies”. Essentially, the space agency’s discovery of water molecules on the Moon was part of an unprecedented test observation, aiming to determine whether SOFIA’s apparatus would be able to track the Moon for extended periods of time. Dr. Naseem Rangwala, the Project Scientist overseeing the SOFIA airborne observatory, reflected on the nature of recent discovery: “It was, in fact, the first time SOFIA has looked at the Moon, and we weren’t even completely sure if we would get reliable data, but questions about the Moon’s water compelled us to try,”. Continuing in reference to the significance of locating a source of water on the lunar surface, Rangwala noted: “It’s incredible that this discovery came out of what was essentially a test, and now that we know we can do this, we’re planning more flights to do more observations.” Although, relatively speaking, the amount of water discovered by NASA scientists is small, the discovery will prove to be a fundamental development in human space exploration and, perhaps, could sustain the future presence of a colony on the Moon’s sunlit surface.

Antoher leap for mankind: This finding is a fundamental development in space exploration and may help future colonies survive on the moon. Source: FitzFox (via Pixabay)

Amazon unveils new sustainable shopping platform Catarina Vicente Contributor

s part of its continued commitment to its Climate Pledge, Amazon has recently launched an ‘eco-friendly shopping platform’, where products from certified and sustainable sources will be available for purchase. Boasting around 40,000 products (many of which are common household items), all of the products featured on the new platform have received a certification of sustainability by groups such as Fairtrade International and the Carbon Trust. Although the initiative has only recently become available in the US, the platform is planned to spread in internationally to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the next few months The project itself is part of Amazon’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, intending to reduce the company’s carbon emissions and, eventually, reach a net zero carbon by 2040. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, has described the initiative as a fundamental step in the company’s

plan to “lessen [their] impact on the environment” - A key impact that has only been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as more and more customers choose to shop online. Additionally, Amazon has launched its ‘Compact by Design’ programme which, by identifying and promoting products with more efficient packaging designs, aims to minimize the amount of plastic and cardboard used in packaging. Both of these initiatives are exemplary of Amazon’s effort to become more eco-friendly amidst criticism of its contributions to the carbon emissions which, as a UK Manager at Amazon attests, will also serve as an incentive for selling partners to create sustainable products for the platform. Despite these efforts, environmental activist groups have criticized the initiatives for appearing to be “a token gesture” with little ecological impact. Mike Childs, the Head of Policy at campaign community Friends of the Earth, called for “legally binding standards and regulations” in order to ensure that Amazon meets “the very highest environmental

standards”. In reference to the responsibilities of multinational online retailers, Childs also spoke on the overall clarity of the initiative, questioning that: “will other products be labelled as climateunfriendly?” For now, the company has more extensive plans to meet its goal of net zero carbon by 2040, including electric delivery trucks and a project to become entirely dependent on renewable energy. The 20-year long plan seems promising, but reveals that Amazon still has a long way to go to be considered a truly green company. Ultimately we need legally binding standards and regulations to ensure all products meet the very highest environmental standards, and that every company plays its part in building a greener, fairer future for us all. Mike Childs

Head of Policy, Friends of Earth

Banks fund decimation of the environment according to new study Rowenna Hoskin Science Editor

ome of the world’s largest banks have been criticised by a new study called the Bankrolling Extinction for providing more than $2.6 trillion (£1.9tn) of financing linked to the destruction of the planet’s ecosystem in the last year alone. 50 of the world’s top investment banks, including HSBC, Barclays, Bank of America, Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase, have provided their services to sectors that are directly contributing to mass extinctions and biodiversity loss. The sectors include food, forestry, mining, fossil fuels, infrastructure, tourism and transport and logistics sectors - all of which are identified as drivers of biodiversity loss by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and

Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the UN’s scientific body on nature. Financial institutions are incapable of monitoring their climate impacts due to the limited number of policies that are in place to protect ecosystems when providing loans or other services. A new initiative, portfolio.earth led by finance experts, aims to better understand the role of the finance industry in the destruction of the natural world, is behind the study. Experts have linked $2.6tn of loans and underwriting services as being linked to mass extinctions by matching services provided by investment banks to sectors identified by the UN as the primary drivers of biodiversity loss in 2019. Sir Robert Watson, former chair of IPBES, said that the task of saving the planet must fall on the shoulders of the world’s finance industry. However, the vast majority of banks remain unaware of their impacts on the environment.

“Bank by bank, the report authors found a cavalier ignorance of - or indifference to - the implications, with the vast majority unaware of their biodiversity impacts, or associated balance sheet risks,” he said. “In short, this report is a frightening statement of the status quo.” Changing this mentality is a first priority to drive change, he added. Although the $2.6tn is not necessarily entirely spent on environmentdestroying projects, the report said that banks do not have the necessary systems in place to monitor the projects they fund for environmental harm. The portfolio.earth initiative has called on banks to improve and reform their policies. They must change the disclosure system and the way in which they assess possible environmental damage the financial services are supporting. Governments have been encouraged to hold banks liable for any

damage their activities might cause. An increasing number of investment banks have implemented restrictions on projects to do with coal, Arctic oil and gas and tar sands extraction due to pressure from environmental campaigners and investors since the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement. However, an analysis by Rainforest Action Network in March found that 35 of the world’s leading banks had contributed more than £2.2tn into fossil fuels since the international agreement was signed to reduce gas emissions - they have not asserted themselves within the goals of the agreement. “A global sustainable economy sits at the centre of humanity’s much needed transformation to meet the climate and ecological crises. And at the centre of that sit the banks and the finance institutions whose investments power development around the globe,” says Professor Kai Chan of the Institute of Resources, Environ-

ment and Sustainability at the UNiversity of British Columbia and leading author of the IPBES report. “Imagine a world in which projects can only raise capital when they have demonstrated that they will contribute meaningfully and positively to restoring the planet’s bounty and a safe climate for all? That’s the future this report envisions and builds toward.” It is evident that something must change, the financial aid that banks provide environmentally damaging projects is astronomical considering the fact that, globally, we are trying to reduce gas emissions. In order to do this we must keep our trees and coral reefs as they are natural carbon extractors. Banks must change the way that they check the creditors for adherence to environmental guidelines. They must finance in accordance to the dogma of a green planet; after all, it is the only one we have.

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YOUR Alternative workspaces in Cardiff Central @CAERDYDD The best places to tackle coursework when you need a change of scene DESK I Fflur Trevor

@Caerdydd Editor

Natalie Graham

Fflur Trevor caerdydd@gairrhydd.com

n recent years the marriage of independent coffee shops, mobility of laptops and the availability of public WiFi has given birth to the idea of working remotely. COVID-19 has firmly reinforced these changing norms, attacking the traditional means of work and education for the majority of 2020 and possibly for years to follow. At first the idea of working at home sounds ideal. The morning commute is now a few mere steps to your desk, you are in the comfort of your own home and the tea supply is endless. But the novelty soon wears off, faced with another day of watered down instant coffee and the same street view of Cathays. You need a change of scene. Libraries during COVID-19 For many the idea of working in the ASSL, was formerly associated with last minute attempts to make a deadline or desperately trying to absorb exam content in the early hours of the morning. However like many aspects of pre pandemic student life, this is nothing but a nostalgic memory. Students this academic year return to Cardiff’s new Zoom University. Lectures have been moved online and face to face contact has been limited, this has resulted in many students not having to leave their accommodation for their studies. The University Libraries have reopened for the new academic year, with a booking system in place. Pro-

viding a welcome escape from the four walls of your Cathays bedroom. A click and collect service has been introduced available between Monday to Friday 9:15-16:15 from the following libraries : Arts and social studies library, Health Library Trevithick Library Coffee Shops As we come out of lockdown, the re-opening of Coffee Shops provides a novel change of scene. Coffee shops allow you to change your environment, bring new stimulation, and encourage inspiration. A report from the Journal of Consumer Research has shown that a moderate level of ambient noise, such as the clattering of plates and the grinding of a coffee machine, improves performance on creative tasks. It provides a happy medium of ambient sound as well as avoiding distractions from housemates. There are plenty of Coffee shops spread around Cardiff, cross the river to set up office in Lufkin’s or Kemi’s in Pontcana. Or head towards the city centre. Some coffee shops such as Mec Coffee located in Castle arcade are offering booking slots for people to study. Other coffee shops include Barker coffee/tea room, Coffi Clwb and 200 Degrees. Parks The days are getting shorter and winter draws ever closer, however the few days of Autumn sunshine we have left provide an ideal opportunity to work outdoors. Cardiff has an abundance of parks which provide more than beautiful scenery. Bute

Park, Pendragon Park and Llandaff fields provide a peaceful, tranquil alternative to silent study spaces and cafés. Pubs/Bars This time last year the thought of tackling a University essay sat in a pub, would have been laughable. However we are living in an age where anything goes, and the hospitality industry must do whatever it can to survive. If Coffee isn’t your thing, pubs such as the Tiny Rebel and St Can-

I’d be here this soon! What is Eartha’s ethos, what do you want people to experience when they come to the store? I wanted people to feel like they were entering an outdoor space but indoors! I wanted to create a calm atmosphere, where people could be amazed and hopefully inspired by the bizarre and wonderful architecture of nature and learn about how individuals can incorporate nature into their own homes. Eartha was helped by Crowfunding, do you recommend others to use this resource? Crowdfunder was an amazing tool for myself, as it truly allowed me to start up after 5 months of unemployment. It not only gave me the funds to begin without worrying about being in debt, but it also provided me with a lot of confidence which I needed at that moment in time to have faith in my vision. What lessons have you learnt since opening Eartha? I’ve learnt a lot of lessons mostly to do with the boring aspects of business, such as accountancy, tax and what not! But most importantly I think I’ve learnt a lot about patience and intuition- knowing when a decision isn’t right, or to be aware if you’re taking something in the wrong direction. Speaking for myself houseplants are a great help with regard to mymental health. What are the mental health benefits of keeping houseplants for you? The same for me here, which is why I started this venture in the first place. As you put it, nurturing something and watching it grow, even if slow, is a beautiful and mindful process. I also believe observing the beauty in natural design is great

for the mind. Do you think the use of plants in a therapeutic sense should be increasingly encouraged in terms of mental health? Definitely, I think we are seeing this more in the UK. Where plants are used in social prescribing, to help individuals with their mental health. Getting your hands dirty in the garden and seeing the fruits of your labour has always been highly regarded as something good for the mind. There has been an increased demand for indoor plants in recent years amongst millennials, do you think this is a coincidence or correlates with an increased awareness of ‘wellness’? I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Millennials and generations below are some of the first generations to be so completely immersed in digital technology and the internet, that it feels that houseplants are the natural antithesis for this digital culture, particularly when having gardens are becoming less and less available. Studies show how the use of digital technology, can negatively impact mental health, so it seems to make sense that engaging with nature, even if indoors, could be a remedy for a rise in anxiety and depression. Your article for ‘Time to change Wales’, discusses growing up in a lower socio-economic background. Do you feel as though House plants are a luxury for the wealthy? If so does there need to be more initiatives and ‘pay what you can’ schemes, to enable everyone to have affordable access to plants? I do think that as house plants have become more of a trend and in demand, I’ve seen prices rise, even for myself as a retailer. I try to of-

na’s Ale House have tables and benches available for you to study. Moreover, Motel Nights has transformed their bar into a co-working space which offers unlimited coffee and tea for £15 per person. Not only is this a great way to leave the house (providing you’re not isolating) but it is a fantastic way to support Cardiff ’s local independent shops which have undoubtedly affected during the pandemic and seriously give libraries a run for their money.

Little Man Coffee Co: Little Man Coffee Co is one of the best places to study when you need a change of pace. Credit: Natalie Graham

Drive-in Cinema, returns Eartha; from green shoots, to flourishing plant to Cardiff Natalie Graham

Head of @Caerdydd

treet Food Cinema is Cardiff ’s first dedicated drive-in movie and street-food experience, an exciting take on the age old American tradition. The drive-in cinema screens everything from old classics, such as Blade Runner to Thelma and Louise. Recent releases and modern classics such as Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. After a successful month of screenings in August and September, the drive-in cinema was extended into October for two weeks of Horror films, in homage to Halloween. Like all events this Halloween, Street Food Cinema was forced to postpone due to the Welsh Governments decision to embrace the 17 day firebreak. However the event is back, running 24 horror films between the 10th November- 15th November. Street Food Cinema has taken up residence at Splott Market, in a covered site which means they are unaffected by adverse weather. The Street Food Cinema concept combines drive-in cinema with local independent street food venders. This month you can expect to see Hot Damn Wings, Smoking Griddle, Who Cult Dounuts, Franks and That Street Food Van. Snacks and drinks will be provided by BoBo Soda Bus, Joe’s ice cream, Blakes Popcorn and Flawsome Juices. The event is naturally socially distanced, everyone stays in their cars, booking and tickets are all online. Food and soft drinks are ordered by mobile phone and delivered straight to the car window by roller skating zombies.

Natalie Graham

Head of @Caerdydd

fter noticing a distinct lack of places to buy quality indoor plants in Cardiff City Centre, Stephen Peckham began a crowd funding campaign to open up a plant store that did just that. Eartha has come a long way from when it first opened its doors as a pop up in 2018. After the success of a temporary residency in High Street Arcade, Eartha continued to grow, thriving in another pop up residency at what was previously Blue Honey on City Road. Earlier this year Blue Honey closed its doors for the last time, leaving Eartha’s future uncertain. However after an unsurprisingly successful second crowdfund campaign, Eartha has taken the City Road unit for its own. Of course Eartha’s sole focus are plants, but the business has expanded into a Plant Shop, café and eatery focusing on working with local producers, growers and enterprises. Gair Rhydd had the opportunity to speak to owner, Stephen Peckham about Eartha’s humble beginnings, mental health, the health benefits of house plants and the economic accessibility of plants Did you always envisage having your own larger premises, and the business growing to this point? I definitely wanted to do what I was doing on a larger scale but I’m really pleased that I got to start with quite a humble set up, as that’s what I could manage at the time as I had so much to learn to begin with. In hindsight I’m quite shocked I actually managed to make it work with so few plants and whilst I did have a bigger picture in mind, I didn’t know

fer affordable prices and pay and you feel plants, to try to be accessible but sometimes the market is getting tougher and this can lead to an exclusion of certain markets. I often give out cuttings for easy to propagate plants, so individuals can grow for next to nothing. Having knowledge of which plants are easy to propagate is an amazing tool to for people who want to grow on a small budget! For anyone looking for really accessible prices for plants, I would look towards Bute Park Nurseries who grow on site so can offer amazing prices. I often source plants from these nurseries to be more sustainable but accessible. How has Coronavirus effected Eartha, has it been a major setback for you, or an obstacle you are overcoming? I think for me, lockdown came at a time when I needed to be refurbing and transforming the permanent space, so I have benefitted from having much more time to develop and ‘grow’ the space, which is turns out I needed! I also believe that with everyone being stuck at home or turning bedrooms into offices, it actually helped to improve sales as everyone is wanting to greenify their spaces! Where would you like the business to be in 2 years’ time? I definitely would love to see the space used to benefit many different people in different capacities, but people’s safety is also what’s most important right now. When the time is right, I’m sure we would love to run workshops here and offer events in the evening, such as music or supper clubs. But everything is quite hard to predict now, so we’re not rushing into anything and prioritising people feeling comfortable and relaxed in the space, as intended.

FOR CARDIFF STUDENTS NOT FOR PROFIT OWNED AND RUN BY CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION cardiffstudentletting.com 029 2078 1525

SPORT

YOUR Wayne’s world: Pivac’s first year in charge SPORT DESK O From Gatland’s grand slammers to fifth place finishers within 18 months, can Pivac turn it around? Ben Lovell-Smith Sport Editor

Tom Walker

Freddie Bennett

Ella Fenwick

Ben Lovell-Smith sport@gairrhydd.com

n November 1 2019 after Wales was defeated by New Zealand in the third place play off at the Rugby World Cup, Warren Gatland handed over the reigns as Wales Head Coach to fellow Kiwi Wayne Pivac. A year has passed since then and a lot has changed. With five defeats in six test matches, and a calamitous 5th place Six Nations finish, the appointment would appear to be a complete failure so far. The team inherited were reigning Grand Slam champions and had finished fourth at the Rugby World Cup and the majority of that team remained available. Pivac was appointed coach off the back of his success as Scarlets head coach, where he coached alongside current Welsh defence coach Byron Hayward and backs coach Stephen Jones. In a matter of years Pivac’s side became one of the best sides the Welsh domestic game has seen, expressing an attacking flair that was a real throwback to the famous Welsh sides of the 1970s. Pivac’s Scarlets team was a real breath of fresh air at the time. It directly contrasted with the pragmatic style of Gatland’s Wales, which was not so easy on the eye and was frequently denounced by the media as ‘Warren ball’. However, Gatland was undeniably effective. Under his watch Wales won three Grand Slams, four Six Nations titles and two World Cup semi-finals. The appointment of Pivac represented an intention to break loose from the one dimensional mindset that had prevailed for over a decade. But after a year without Gatland Wales have already lost their winning touch. The attack has been undynamic and the defence has been porous. In their last four matches, Wales conceded 15 tries. Last year they only conceded seven tries in the whole Six Nations tournament. In this respect it has been a disaster for Wales that Shaun Edwards was allowed to leave the set up. Now coaching the French defence, France immediately looked like a completely new side and only missed out on the Six Nations championship title on points difference. They combine a vibrant attack with a ruthless, determined and well organised defence. Exactly what Wales are trying to achieve.

Treacherous Waters: Wales have struggled to come into form under Wayne Pivac. Source: Jeremy Segrott (via Flickr)

Filling Edward’s metaphorical boots as defence coach is former Wales international Byron Hayward who had successful stints as U20 head coach and National Academy skills coach before joining the Scarlets as defence coach in 2014. The position under Pivac really is a poisoned chalice. If Wales are to succeed with this new attacking philosophy, it must be accepted that they will concede more points than under Edwards. Even in Scarlets’ defining Pro12 winning season, the side conceded an average of 16 points per match. Defence was mostly based on damage limitations within a philosophy of simply scoring more than the opposition. The attacking game is yet to develop under Pivac, but that can take years. After all, no other Six Nations team, besides France, have had to face wholesale changes to the coaching set up this season. Adjusting to a new system takes time, especially after 12 years of the same set up. Pivac was not an instant success at the Scarlets. In his first two years in charge at Parc y Scarlets the Scarlets failed to make the playoffs. Finishing 6th and then 5th. It took

time to achieve results. It was the following year they stormed to Pro 12 victory, thrashing Munster 46-22 in the final.

History tells that if given time he can produce a devastatingly exciting and effective team, it is just whether Wales have the patience to entertain him. Ben Lovell-Smith

Pivac has also not had a completely fit squad yet. Jonathan Davies is only just coming back to fitness after a long lay off recovering from knee surgery. Whilst Liam Williams has not yet had a proper crack at the number 15 jersey under Pivac, and offers more of an attacking threat than Leigh Halfpenny. Both Davies and Williams were central to Pivac’s success at the Scarlets and Pivac will hope he can rely on them again at international level. Steadily, a repertoire of youth is becoming available to Pivac too, and they could provide the shakeup that is dearly needed. 23 year-old Cardiff

Blues flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes was given the start against Scotland, he looked dynamic and showed the intent to offload and move the ball that Wales are looking for. Nick Tompkins is electric and has settled nicely into the international stage and looks the obvious replacement for Jonathan Davies when the time comes. Whilst 19 year old wonderkids Louis Rees-Zammit and Ioan Lloyd have made the squad for the first time this year and have a really bright future within an attacking system. The games come thick and fast for Wales, who have four Autumn internationals to come, starting with Ireland in Dublin this Friday. Followed by Georgia, England and a final fixture still to be confirmed, all on consecutive weekends. It is imperative that the losing streak is broken. The pressure is on for Pivac, but there is great talent in the squad as well as a good mix of youth and experience. History tells that if given time he can produce a devastatingly exciting and effective team, it is just whether Wales have the patience to entertain him.

Is Alun Wyn Jones the greatest ever Welsh player? Tom Walker

Head of Sport

espite the heavily disappointing Welsh performance and result for Wales in the Six Nations finale against Scotland, the day was marked by Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones’ record breaking 149 Test match appearances. Jones surpassed the record of All-Black great Richie McCaw’s 148 who retired in 2015. His 14 year-long career has been marked with a long list of personal and national success. Since his debut in 2006, Jones has been part of three British and Irish Lions tours (nine appearances), and four Rugby World Cups (21 appearances) and played in a record 57

Six Nations matches for Wales. His journey to professional rugby started in his hometown Swansea. Jones played his first rugby for Bonymaen RFC. “He was very quiet, polite and gentle as the big lads often are at that age.” explained his Bonymaen coach Kevin Brooks, “He was phenomenal and led from the front. I don’t think he was ever captain of any junior teams, but he was always there to listen and give advice. It was a great time. He then went on to represent Wales at under-21 level and made his aforementioned Test debut for Wales in June 2006 against Argentina as a blindside flanker. It is remarkable that the 35-year-old

has been able to compete at the highest level for such a long period of time. It was only last year he featured in every Six Nations game in Wales’ Grand Slam victory, also being named Player of the Tournament, and leading his team all the way to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals where they eventually lost to South Africa. It would not be a surprise to see the name Alun Wyn Jones printed on the squad list come France 2023 given his immense fitness levels and relative lack of injuries. The Lions Tour next year will certainly be on his mind given his status as still one of, if not the best second row in the world right now. Despite it being the game in which he broke the record for most Test

match appearances, his post-match interview to Wales’ disappointing loss to Scotland was a testament to his character and drive: “It’s got to get better, hasn’t it, first and foremost. We are quite candid on that, as Wayne has been as well. “We go into the Nations Cup with a fresh start. I am pretty sure there will be changes and Wayne will continue giving people opportunities, so it is wide open in that regard.” Jones will lead his team into those Nations Cup games on the back of four consecutive losses, something a serial winner like himself is not used to. The three-time Grand Slam winner will still very much be at the heart of Wayne Pivac’s plan to turn this tough

set of results around as Wales continue to transition away from the long Warren Gatland reign. His leadership and experience, something so hard to find in modern rugby, will be invaluable for Pivac. With Jones still being contracted with the Ospreys until 2021, his career looks like there is no sign of slowing down. His combination of ball handling, scrummaging, sheer physical stature and the intangibles such as leadership and passion for the game, will undoubtedly leave him as one of the greatest ever to play rugby when he eventually decides to hang up the boots. But for now, I hope we don’t have to think of that day for a while longer.

CHWARAEON

The ball’s in their court: Should use their platform more to influence politics? Alex Hall

Contributor

thletes often have a history of being scrutinised in the media, whether it be tax avoidance scandals or the issues regarding their salaries in relation to other professions. Despite this, recent rising stars coming onto the scene have demonstrated what it takes to be a true role model and how they can use their influence on government and social issues. Just look at the recent actions of Manchester United striker and MBE, Marcus Rashford. His perseverance in the fight on child hunger is one that has received a huge amount of acknowledgement nationally during the last few months, with latest efforts raising over £20 million for the FareShare charity by April 2019. In a Sky News interview Rashford states “It’s the government that need the understanding and the best way to do that is to meet the families”. His vocalisations on the topic are crafted with an assured approach to try to help the government rather than oppose them. This is why Marcus Rashford has been applauded for his efforts when speaking out about politics. Even with this endeavour from the Manchester United striker, the government voted against extending free school meals to disadvantaged chil-

dren during the holidays which was a controversial decision given the backing the movement got. The backlash that this received from the media has brought light to an area of concern in society that simply would not have gained the recognition without the influence of Rashford. But why has Rashford’s influence been recognised around the country? He is a young male with a huge social media following, he is one of the most talented footballers in the country and he is also aware of the ability that he has to make a difference in this country. He is a role model for all young people across this nation and a great example for how young athletes coming into the limelight can use their popularity and celebrity status to achieve great things off the field, the important things. Rashford is only one example of the many British sport personalities that are trying to inflict change. After his first win in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton was hailed as an inspiration to the younger generation and his current affiliation with the Black Lives Matter campaign is keeping the issue relevant. The more relevant an issue is made out to be the more likely the government will do something about it. It seems the Americans have also grasped this idea too. LeBron James

Nation’s Hero: Rashford has earnt so much credibility for his work off the field. Source: Кирилл Венедиктов (via. Wikimedia Commons)

has been at the forefront of this week’s Presidential Election expressing his support of Joe Biden and his campaign. This is hugely important for the number of states that are politically balanced. LeBron is a representation of the black community and his popularity in the NBA has encouraged a huge following around the world. The work to mobilize key groups of voters in the Black community will have real impact on the final proceedings and involvement from a key sporting figure can be crucial.

So there it is, the ball is most definitely in the athlete’s court. When they speak out and make their opinions known, it gains media coverage. This coverage has the ability to affect thousands of people and ultimately encourage political change. Sporting stars are supposed to encapsulate all the characteristics of a celebrity and an onus is on them to use their popularity in a positive way. After all, every athlete is a role model and once they grasp that they have the ability to impact thousands of lives for the better.

The effects of bio-secure bubbles on athletes We discuss the issues surrounding the mental well-being of athletes within bio-secure bubbles

World Disney: NBA bubble base in Florida. Source: Greg Goebel (via. Wikimedia Commons)

Freddie Bennett Sport Editor

port has adapted in many ways to these unprecedented times in order to bring fans a viable product during the pandemic. One of these adaptations has been the emergence of bio-secure bubbles for competitions, or even leagues themselves. But the concept of being constantly locked away in isolation for long periods of time has had its critics, and in some the effects are starting to emerge. The bubble works as a way of isolating the players and staff surrounding the game from the rest of society for the length of the tournament which enables them to keep the pandemic at bay. Those within the bubble are

subjected to rigorous testing and are restricted by who they can see and what they can do within their enclosed bubble space, which in most cases is a hotel or a larger resort. However, the strict testing and limited movement has enabled sport to get underway in a pandemic. This year the Indian Premier League (IPL) looks a little bit different. The largest domestic cricket tournament is taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the players are isolated away in lavish Dubai hotels. For players around the world, this is the new life. Moving from bubble to bubble. In particular, cricketers such as Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer have had busy seasons, first playing test matches for England, then heading to India for the IPL and after

this all three are off to South Africa for a series later this month. The inevitable mental effects of feeling isolated and alone for a large period of time could take its toll on the players, and perhaps more should be done to manage their time in the bubble. These three in particular are in high demand as three of England’s best cricketers. But spending months on end in this bubble environment feels for Archer like a waiting game until he is ‘’free again’’. The NBA is another sporting product that shares this uncertain future. In the most recent season, which the LA Lakers won last month, the biosecure bubble concept was used to the ultimate excess. The bubble for the NBA was based in Florida at the World Disney resort in Orlando. For many, this situation would be a childhood dream come true, being locked in at World Disney. Yet, the challenges of being locked down in the bio-secure bubble is having an effect of the mental well-being of some players already. For players like Paul George of LA Clippers fame, the bubble has taken him to places of anxiety and feeling alone. With such a highprofile player speaking out about the impacts of the bubble, hopefully in the future of NBA bubbles, more can be done to limit these kinds of mental health effects. Much like in cricket, the life of a professional basketball player does not leave time for many breaks. Even though one season has just finished, training camps for the next season are

due to be starting November 10, then the games for the regular season will come thick and fast. There has to be some level of player management at this time.

The challenges of being locked down in the bio-secure bubble is having an effect of the mental well-being of some players already Freddie Bennett

Also, tennis is getting used to its future in a bubble. It was used earlier in the year at the US Open and it will be used at the Australian Open in January 2021. According to the organizers, there will be five bubbles dotted around Australia which will be open six weeks prior to the event. Due to improvements in the pandemic in Victoria, it looks like the Australian Open may allow some supporters as well which may allow the athletes to view more easily the positive impact they have on people which could make the bubble life easier. These sportsmen and women are only human and much like the rest of us, may find being in lockdown in a bubble deeply challenging. If this is the immediate future for many sports if they wish to keep continuing, more needs to be done to support player well-being as without the necessary care and attention given, the mental health of the players could become a serious concern.

TEAM TALK w ago in the Cart was not too long diff City column I highlighted goal scoring and creativity as a major issue for the Bluebirds. They addressed this in an impressive manner, with the loan signing of Harry Wilson from Liverpool. The Welshman’s effect has been a positive on Harris’ side. Cardiff have scored in every game since I last wrote, with Wilson himself getting on the score sheet in an impressive draw against former Premier League side Bournemouth. Also contributing more is Sheyi Ojo. I mentioned previously of his positive impact to the Cardiff front line, but the Englishman has only improved since then, scoring against Preston, Middlesbrough and assisting Kieffer Moore’s equaliser against Derby. The Bluebirds most impressive performance however came against Barnsley at the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff romped to a 3-0 victory, their largest winning margin of the season, with goals from Junior Hoilett, Joe Ralls and Wilson. However, a big blow for Cardiff came before their clash with Barnsley with Lee Tomlin ruled out injured with a groin problem. Tomlin’s impact on the side is undeniable when fit, but that seems to be the recurring theme of his late career. The injury forced Harris’ hand in the aforementioned Barnsley game, electing to go for both Moore and German striker Robert Glatzel up top. It will be interesting to see whether Harris pursues with this formation, it certainly gives Cardiff an extreme aerial threat. Manager Harris was very happy with his team’s reaction: “I can talk a lot about the goals we scored, the chances we created, the clean sheet, but I am most impressed with the reaction of my players.” “Obviously, I was honest in my opinion after the game on the performance in the first half at QPR (the 3-2 loss). I was honest with my players at half-time and after the game.” The Tomlin injury added fuel to the fire for Neil Harris. He was frustrated by the EFL’s decision to overturn the five substitutions rule, especially now with an extended injury list. The Bluebirds manager, along with many others, has had to muddle his way through a number of injuries to key players so far this season, put it down to a crammed schedule due to the elongated campaign last term. “I’ve got no issues with the amount of games, it’s not an excuse at all, the schedule is what it is,” Harris said. “where the EFL and the Premier League have really let us down as an industry, the football clubs and, ultimately, they have let their players down, is by not allowing the five subs.” Maybe to Harris’ delight, some members of his squad will be able to get some well-earned rest with the upcoming international break. The Welsh contingent of the squad, including the likes of Moore and Wilson, probably will not have that luxury. There have been signs of growth for Cardiff in the last month, and a few new tactical revelations could improve those performances and results even further.

Reporting by Tom Walker

Rugby Union:

Analysis of Pivac’s first year in charge page 24

SPORT CHWARAEON Alun Wyn Jones: Wales’ greatest ever player? RUGBY

Tom Walker

Head of Sport

ales’ loss to Scotland in the final round of the Six Nations was a momentous occasion for Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones. It was Jones’ 149th Test match appearance which broke the record of All-Black Richie McCaw’s 148. After 4 Rugby World Cups and 3 British and Irish Lions Tours, this marks another brilliant achievement in the 14 year career of Alun Wyn Jones who still looks comfortable at the top level of international rugby. Head of Sport Tom Walker examines his career so far and his standing in rugby history. Continued on page 24

Biosecure Bubbles: How do they effect mental health? CORONAVIRUS Back in defence: Victoria Booth plaing for the Sacracen Mavericks. Credit: Victoria Booth

Freddie Bennett Sport Editor

Booth: ‘I can’t wait for this new O challenge and for the season to begin’ Celtic Dragons sign three Cardiff University students for Vitality Netball Super League 2021 Ella Fenwick Sport Editor

n October 30, the signing window for the Vitality Netball Super League (VNSL) was drawn to a close for all participating teams, ready for the 2021 season to begin. After a short-lived and dysfunctional season of only a singular month of matches, the 2020 season of VNSL was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Cardiff based Celtic Dragons only saw themselves playing in two games and with fixtures being abandoned, they finished the league in ninth place with Team Bath at the top of the table. Despite the abrupt and disappointing end to the season, the Celtic Dragons are remaining positive and eager for the season ahead. With the team recently announcing their squad for 2021, which included the signing of three Cardiff University high performing athletes, they are well underway in preparation to start the season. First to be returning to her defending ways for the season that lies ahead is Biosciences graduate Leila Thomas.

The Welsh international player’s career has already seen Thomas compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and win silver with Wales at Netball’s Europe competition in Belfast in 2019, before taking a year out to focus on her studies. Thomas is looking forward to developing a “feared style of play” and has found herself “more than ready to get back out on court with the Dragons this season.” With Thomas well accustomed to the UK’s top elite level of netball it will be an interesting season to see her back on the court. Head coach, Tania Hoffman has high hopes for Thomas’ return and is looking forward to seeing her be a “massive part of our plans for the defensive end in 2021.” Another player who has also been re-signed for the upcoming season is Annie O’Rourke, who is currently in her second year studying architecture. O’Rourke captained Team Bath age group before moving to Cardiff to study where shortly after she was signed for the Celtic Dragons. Sadly, the season did not run as planned, leaving O’Rourke unable to show what she can bring to the court.

This year however she has been given another opportunity to impress head coach Tania Hoffman who believes the new season will help O’Rourke “take her game to the next level.” New to both the team and the university is first year student Victoria Booth. Previously playing for the Saracens Mavericks age group team, Booth has had some amazing opportunities, one of which was trialling for the England Roses academy. “I have had so many amazing experiences throughout my netball journey too many to fit in, having had some incredible coaches and playing alongside such talented players I feel incredibly honoured, and I am so thrilled to continue my netball with the Celtic dragons and Cardiff University.” Booth is ecstatic to be playing at a top level for the new season and is thankful for the opportunity to play with the Celtic Dragons this season; “This is an amazing opportunity for me to be coached by Tania and play alongside some incredible athletes at the senior Super League level. I can’t wait for this new challenge and for the season to begin” she said. Joining many other athletes in jug-

gling training while in lockdown, Booth has found herself very lucky in the support she has received while connecting with her teams while on zoom, using different creative methods of training while at home “One of the hardest parts I think is having to train alone. I have really missed all my teammates and the competitive spirit of all playing together. “Lockdown has presented so many challenges for everyone and having not played any competitive netball since March I really just can’t wait to get back on the court. “ After the disjointed last season in the netball world, Booth is looking forward to the “many exciting new challenges ahead having signed with the Dragons” and said she “can’t wait to meet and connect with the team developing new relationships and getting stuck into training.” The new season has been arranged to commence in February 2021 and as the only Welsh team in the league the stakes are high for this new squad filled with both fresh talent and a strong defence. It will be exciting to see what the Celtic Dragons will be achieving in 2021.

For more breaking sports news, visit www.gairhydd.com/sport

ne huge change within the sporting world has been the introduction of bio-secure bubbles. These keep the players and staff locked down in a hotel or resort for the duration of a tournament. By restricting the movement of the players and staff and rigorously testing them for Coronavirus, they are able to keep the virus at bay and keep the sports going. However, in some sports this bio-secure future looks set to affect the mental well-being of many players as for extended periods of time they are isolated in a hotel room away from friends, family and the outside world. Continued on page 25

Ball in their Court: Athletes as influencers OPINION

Alex Hall

Contributor

hould athletes be doing more with the platform they have? Marcus Rashford, Lebron James and Raheem Sterling are just a few of an increasing number of sportsmen and women who have begun to use their vast influence and platform to achieve political and social change. There is an age old adage, politics and sport should not mix. Muhammad Ali was heavily criticised for his stand on the Vietnam war. But with the platform that sports profiles command in the modern day, perhaps a time has come where sport and politics should go hand in hand.

Continued on page 25