The
Go Global Issue
Slacktivism city rd food festivals
CONTENTS ISSUE 121 March 19, 2012
The
Go Global Issue
Slacktivism city rd food festivals
@Quenchmag
Ed.Note Do or Die Features Fashion LGBT+ Arts Photos Books Food Travel Music Film
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Editor's Note Once again, Quench
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Do or Die
Do or Die
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Emma Wilford
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Features
The Whole Picture? Deian Richard explores the Kony2012 video and finds reason to criticise its viral marketing campaign. Our X-Factor mentality does not mix well with geopolitics, but millions of us thought it could these last few weeks. Heart of Darkness references were rife as Kony2012 got 40million views in 48 hours and a generation became slacktivists. We shared the link, did a hashtag, then put the kettle on, safe in the knowledge we were doing our bit against the Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA is a theocratic personality cult led by Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, whose brutal tactics have killed, maimed and displaced thousands in central Africa for over 20 years. The atrocities committed by this group have been long documented (they even make an appearance in 2006's Casino Royale), but Kony and his child soldiers have become the centre of global attention, and indeed hatred, as a result of this viral video. son Russell, co-founder of San Diego charity Invisible Children, who plays the inevitable lead role of neo-colonialist, messianic Western saviour. We can easily picture him out there in the jungle himself toting an AK-47 in a bandana (though this is mainly on-centric - not even Ugandan President Museveni merits a mention in the whole 30 minutes, though this is perhaps because he isn't squeaky clean himself. Sanctioned persecution of homosexuals,
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Kony2012's Good vs Evil narrative, and neither does the Ugandan army's reputation for rape. Chercomplex regional politics may be perfect for marketing purposes, to which its popularity is testament, but is it appropriate for solving the problem? by Jason's infant son. Supporting intervention in a 5 year-old can comprehend is perhaps not wise. One can't help but wonder whether the video will cause more harm than good for Uganda. The LRA have not been active there for over 6 years and
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a map notwithstanding. The LRA are also known for their savage retaliatory attacks, so who knows what the future holds for the recovering region?
"The subtext and our
collective response is somewhat darker: kill Kony, the sooner the better.
The video calls for Kony's arrest and keeping US military personnel deployed in northern Uganda, despite there being no plans for their withdrawal. Modest aims perhaps, but the subtext and our collective response was somewhat darker: kill Kony, the sooner the better. The internet has given a new platform for mob mentality under the guise of activism, and is not a healthy development. The campaign doesn't ask for much, merely clicking 'share', but has highlighted our overwhelming approval of unwelcome US interference (convenient at a discovered oil in the region). This video's popularity seems largely due to the fact that we can feel good about ourselves by doing virtually nothing: we click for our collective redemption. Deian Richard
Features
How bloomin' British are you? James Rawlings wonders whether the citizenship test is really a good way to encourage an integrated society. What exactly makes one British? Cream teas? Cucumber sandwiches? Cricket? Don’t worry, you
The recent Channel 4 documentary ‘Make Bradford British’ tried to tackle the underlying
on it, but the government seems to have found the answer with the creation of the Citizenship test. Introduced in 2005, a 75% pass of the 24-question test is requisite for all foreign nationals who wish
our ever-segregated society. With the increasing realisation of the undeniable social malaise that segregation brings, the notion of being ‘British’ is
its goal. The questions which could be the make or break your application of citizenship range from the impossible (for the majority): How many Parliamentary constituencies are there?
question, could be based on the information included in ‘Life in the UK’): What do you do if you spill someone’s pint in a pub? a)You would apologise and offer to by that person
with them As you can imagine, the success-rate statistics speak for themselves, with sample groups showing the number of British-born passes correlate directly to the foreign-born pass rate. Therefore, how and why should we impose a test on potential residents which requires a higher knowledge level than gained being brought up in the UK?
cultures, but purely due the lack of cohesion, communication and integration between those groups, and the subsequent creation of subcultures. This failure feeds ignorance, fear and suspicion within our community, and segregation is beginning to lead to self-perpetuating physical a failure of true integration, where communities theoretically live next to each other, though not ‘side-by-side’. After considering the rationale behind the test, it seems that although some of the questions seem to have been thought up by a dream team of ‘true Brits’ ranging Del Boy to the Queen, it may have a place as a role of educator of new citizens. Admittedly, some of the current content included would be worthwhile and practical to both new citizen and state, helping integration in the transition from customs of different cultures. British culture has progressed a lot from 10 years ago, let alone from century ago, which maybe further demotes this already out-dated test from relevance. Football and Tikka Masala have replaced croquet and elevenses, and the
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a decade old, the test has consistently raised eyebrows, mainly due to the seemingly pointless nature of some of the questions. From laws to age restrictions, demographics to customs, the test and its accompanying guide, ‘Life in the UK’, supposedly consolidates all aspects of ‘Britishness’. However, much of the content
stronger British pride of our unique, diverse and tolerant multi-cultural fabric, rather than a façade of quintessential fallacy. After all, how is knowing your Vikings from your Huguenots going to help integration? If amended to include more contemporary the citizenship test could be effective in making one just that, a better citizen. James Rawlings
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Features
Global Mis-Education We are aware of issues around the world now more than ever thanks to our love for sharing and our compassion towards the struggle for freedom and fairness. But is this enlightenment substantial or are we only fed the blurb, enticing and inspiring but dangerously naive?
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Time’s person of the year, recently following the likes of Barack Obama, the Chairman of the American Federal Reserve, Ben Benanke, and Mark Zuckerberg, in 2011 was the Protester. Those that had sparked global protest movements that featured in countless headlines. From the Arab Spring, to Occupy Wall Street and even the Tea Party movement, these were the individuals that made a greater whole. Through their heroic initiatives that screamed for change, they were the ones that had made the biggest impact. No wonder that when the opportunity arises, people have such a strong desire to stand for something. If 2011 symbolised anything, it was the underestimated power of the people. When the superpowers least expected it, we linked hands and grew larger than anyone could have ever expected. When governments tried their hardest to censor the Internet, these uprisings caught people’s attention around the huge water cooler that is the social media. For once we were speaking and spreading something serious, thought-provoking and most importantly something that could make substantial change to the world. At the same time it served as an education. Never before had the youth of the world held so much knowledge about the Middle East, or likewise had so many Europeans been enlightened Had you thrown the word ‘Hosni Mubarak’ at a student two years ago and chances are they probably would have thought you were mentioning a kebab joint. Kony went from almost complete anonymity to Internet stardom in a matter of hours, thanks to 38 million Youtube views, 13 million Vimeo views and the single most shared piece of content on Facebook all year. Viral means vast knowledge, and most would agree that global awareness is nothing but healthy.
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“When
governments tried their hardest to censor the Internet, these uprisings caught people’s attention around the huge water cooler that is the social media... But do these stories really give us a full picture? And if not, does it pose a danger?
Features of Occupy Wall Street, was a shot taken depicting hundreds of protesters lining the street, with champagne-sipping ‘yuppies’ standing above on a tration and anger below. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, news surfaced that the alleged bankers in the photo were in fact guests attending a wedding. These events are indeed very real and problematic. But can these issues be fully understood through the 140 characters of a tweet or a nalists and bloggers are now asking: Can we educate and advocate without oversimplifying? Alexi Gunner
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What makes these stories so compelling comes down to two main reasons: Firstly, they illustrate something compellingly grand and dramatic. And secondly the ideology behind them are persuasively simple. This is about the 99% against an abusive 1% with an insatiable appetite for power . A world of good people uniting to take down a handful of evil culprits. But do these stories really give us the full picture? And if not, does it pose a danger? In Egypt, over 90,000 Facebook users signed up to a group organising protests and to share hundreds of anti-government videos. Yet when several Youtube clips were uploaded, showing protesters outnumbering and assaulting riot police, they were immediately deleted by the site’s administration. The most publicised image that came out
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Features
The Maasai Tribe
Anna Katharina Caseldine talks first hand to Maika Leitol about our impact (that's you and me), on the indigenous people of the Maasai Tribe... My parents do not believe in hotels. They are convinced they are not ‘for us’. The irony is, that
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time we actually stay in a hotel it seems to end in a disaster. For example, we once broke into the wrong room and two naked tattooed men were far from impressed! I do believe, however, that despite the minor disasters, this mentality has been one of the very best things about being brought up in the Caseldine household, and it meant that when the family uprooted ‘en masse’ to the Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa for a fortnight, we returned in text contact with the Maasai tribe. Yes, surprisingly our family and the Kenyan people own mobile phones. There is nothing like the sight of a Maasai ‘warrior’ in their native clothing, spear in one hand, phone in the other and a pair of iPod headphones protruding from the top of their garments. The Maasai people are the most welcoming, generous, kind-hearted and happy people I have ever met. But being the cultural fanatic that I am, I was curious. What were the effects of tourism on the Maasai people? While they loved to meet us and learn about our way of life, what were we doing to theirs? You didn’t have to travel far before you saw a young boy alone with cattle keeping a look out for lions, nor did you have to travel far before you saw a sweet wrapper... Our safari guide was called Maika Letiol and had grown up in a Maasai village, learning the typical tribal culture and traditions. At the age of 16, he went to Nairobi to be educated, before returning to work in a locally run Safari camp. I had many chats with Mike, and when the opportunity came up to write this article, I emailed him some questions. Below is his response, exactly as he emailed them to me. I have left it unaltered, their words as they have spoken them:
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How has Western education improved the lives of the Maasai people? 1. Healthcare: some Maasai have studied and there are now good doctors serving the community. 2. Schools: We now have many schools in the Maasai land and we are producing good results. 3. Female circumcision: Western education has helped us end this practice. When children go to school they are taught the dangers associated with F.G.M. and educated parents are show an example to the youth by not allowing their girls to be circumcised. 4. Improving our food production: We can now practice crop cultivation and cross breeding our cattle. 5. Communication with the outside world has increased. What are the negative impacts of education?
Western
1. Erosion of cultural values and practices: Most educated people have ditched their traditional way of life and now are so much more aware and into the western way of life. 2. Introduction of varied food and drinks to the Maasai e.g. sodas, juice, rice, sugar etc: Most of these processed foods have chemicals that cause diseases, unlike the indigenous food of meat, blood and milk. 3. Tourists have brought drug and substance abuse to the youths who try to experiment and practice what they see or watch in movies and on the Internet. 4. Many people can now access explicit pornographic materials’ that has enhanced prostitution amongst the youths. 5. Fashion: Clothing has also been drastically affected. Some girls nowadays wear miniskirts, tight jeans and transparent dressings that are totally unacceptable to the community.
Features How long have the masai children been receiving Western-style education? The British forced every family to put at least one child to school in the mid 1940’s. The Maasai people did not like this because the education system interfered with the life stages of the child. School consumed the time when the children would have previously been learning the cultural traditions of the tribe. Also, some Maasai who succeeded in education acquired white-collar jobs in the city and other major towns and they never came back to the community. The idea of education was considered as abomination and only disliked kids were taken to school, so that if they didn’t return to the tribe it would not be a big loss to the family. Are you glad of tourism? On a personal view, I am so glad of tourism coz’ through it, I have secured a job that’s helping me take care of my family. I have also known and interacted with many people.
people?
Need I conclude more than to say my parents were right? The answer is to stay with the locals as guests. Travel and meet new people, but don’t insist they live like us, because if we do, there will, one day, be no places left to travel because everywhere will just look like us. You wouldn’t go to a friend’s house and insist they stocked their fridge with the same food you do would you? So don’t do it to other cultures. The message that stood out most for me from Mike’s reply, was how much we loose from life by our ‘trashy’ lifestyle. As he said to me, ‘ditch the porn, the processed foods and the substance abuse, and embrace life and the community instead. You’ll
Maika Leitol
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Through tourism, we have been able to improve our infrastructure, for example, good roads are being built. Tourist donations have given us health equipment and facilities, many schools have been built and kids sponsored. Women in the Maasai village sell beads and ornaments to tourists thus making ends meet. Tourism has also created employment, as many locals have been employed in the nearby camps and lodges. The government of Kenya generates revenue income through foreign exchange that is brought about by tourism, and through tourism, people interact and get to know each other through sharing of ideas. Many Maasai have been able to travel to other countries through such friends.
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Features
Subculture: BMXing and Skateboarding in Cardiff
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Features
doesn’t lack in culture or entertainment, its alternative subcultures exist and evolve in different ways to that of more easily accessible and popular cities in the UK. There are many active groups in Cardiff representing and pursuing their ideas and hobbies with varying levels of success. Alex Zardis shares his experiences from an underground scene of his own Sitting in a quiet corner of Cardiff are the alter-
Hologram, a Cardiff skate scene video by Nick Ri-
sports represent the spirit of Cardiff as a city that is doing its best to stay culturally active and exciting, while at the same time, being relatively underground and evolving as an up and coming city. Both Skateboarding and BMXing are known as freestyle sports, as they do not follow the same framework of traditional sports, being known for their lack of rules and D.I.Y attitude. This creative freedom and lack of restriction is the beauty of alternative sports, as one doesn’t need to pay a
and have since seen it evolve further, with the development of the Cardiff Bay skate park, an article in Sidewalk magazine and a recently released 20 minute promotion video for the newly relocated city-surf skate shop, (handily situated next door to the best bagel bar in Cardiff - New York deli). BMXing in Cardiff on the other hand, remains underground, consisting of a group of dedicated individuals who haven’t left their passion behind for riding behind, when
you need to do is pick your board/bike, up and go. Despite this, the BMX scene in Cardiff is very small and doesn’t have the same size and popularity of Skateboarding, consisting of a very small group of students and locals. Skateboarding on the other hand has a thriving scene in Cardiff, and I frequently see groups of local and visiting skateboarders around the popular riding spots in the city, (most notably Callaghan square, under the tunnel at the end of St. Mary’s street). Some may know of Cardiff ’s association with skateboarding through in Newport and Cardiff. I was introduced to the
There are many alternative subcultures that exist in cities, of which in Cardiff there are many. The most rewarding aspect of living in a city for a long time, is the discovery of these beatiful subcultures, as they may not be found in the most obvious of places and one can often go years without any acknowledgement of their existence. Cardiff often surprises me when I’m least expecting it, from the development of new riding spots in and around the city, to discovering that secret hidden gem of a pub or club that has a lock in until 6am. There’s a lot out there in these cities that may seem fully explored, but take the opportunity to look a little further and you may discover a new little place or group of people that you never knew about.
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a friend visited from home to see the premiere of
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Fashion
AMERICA
Sequin shorts, Own the Runway, ÂŁ26.99
It's time to grab your sunnies and head to Miami. Draw inpiration from the prettiest pastels found on the highstreet, or clash bright colours to your spring wardrobe, as seen on D&G. What are you waiting for? America's calling...
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Hibiscus Bandeau Bikini, Topshop, ÂŁ30
D&G
features@gairrhydd.com Tribal print dress, River Island, £25
Shorts, Topshop, £30
Midi Skirt, Topshop, £55
Bodycon Dress, New Look, £16.99
Feather earrings, Dorothy Perkins, £7.50
NailRock tribal print wrap, £6.70
ASOS Leather wedges, £60
africa Fashion
Go on safari this season and be inspired by trends straight off the catwalk seen at big names such as Marni, Just Cavalli and Alexander Wang. From tribal prints to feather accessories, go wild!
Marni
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Magnolia Blouse, Miss Selfridge, £35
Bird Locket, Topshop, £8.50
Fashion is jetting off to Asia this season. Intricate Birds, Kimono wraps and silk pyjamas. Step into spring in full bloom.
Bird Watch, River Island, £18
FAR EAST
Kimono Blazer, Vero Moda, £39.95
Fashion
Middle east
Necklace, Topshop, £22.50
Top, River Island, £25
Bracelet, ASOS, £9.99
Trousers, River Island, £30
Sandals, Topshop, £22
Sequin shorts, Own the Runway, £26.99
Jumpsuit, Miss Selfridge, £45
Add a little bit of mystery to your wardrobe and be inspired by the Middle East and its charms. From luxury sequin pieces to statement jewelry, get that SATC-chic feel!
Emilio Pucci
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Fashion
NO MORE SLAVES Every year thousands of people are tricked or forced into slavery. It is the fastest growing crime globally. The UN estimates that there are around 2.5 million victims of trafficking worldwide, but many researchers and campaigners think that number is somewhere closer to 27 million. Clothing company No More Slaves says it exists quite simply so that slavery will not. It brands itself as a company with a purpose. What is this purpose? According to their website, it's to make head-turning clothing for people who care about where the stuff that they wear comes from. Kate Bennett caught up with founder Charlie Blake to talk about ethical fashion and why the industry should change its ways.
The motivation came from a seminar I went to ly heard about it, but I remember being told that of the 27 million people in slavery only 1% will be rescued, and I was so shocked. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Doing nothing wasn’t an option. I wanted to do something positive that people can engage with because slavery isn’t happening years ago or miles away; it’s happening right now, right on our doorstep. The issue is too huge to try to tackle it alone, but I wanted to do something. I didn’t want to start a new project or charity, I wanted to create a company that could support those already on the frontline.
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clothing made in a sustainable way and where people are respected all through the supply chain. It came from a long held frustration of knowing that the clothes I was buying were produced in sweatshops. It's all about quick turn around [in the fashion industry] and it felt really disposable. I didn’t like the fact that there weren’t many viable ethical alternatives, and the ones that existed didn’t appeal to me. I wouldn’t want to wear them out on date or down the pub with my mates. It was important to me to wear something ethical, but also looks good. Furthermore, everyone wears clothing, so it’s a great way to get involved and help make a difference. Clothing is a great way for people to engage with the issue and spread an idea. It is a great vehicle. The fashion industry is renowned for being ethically dirty, and I wanted to model something different and inspire other companies that things can be different.
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In terms of what we do as a company, No More Slaves has two aims. Yes, I want the company to
fund the projects that are already in progress, ple know about. It’s a $32 billion industry a year, which has now overtaken the drugs trade in size. There is a big gap between the scale of the problem compared to the scale of public awareness about it. I wanted to challenge this - not in a preachy way, but in a way that will bring it to the forefront in an accessible, more mainstream way.
Fashion
I do think it’s possible. I think we’ve told ourselves it’s not possible. The model we’ve created in the fashion industry is unsustainable because we have developed a fast, throwaway culture. We want everything to be cheap. We look at the price of everything but not the cost. That’s the reason why it [slavery] exists. We’ve become accustomed to seeing £5 or £10 t-shirts and we don’t think about it. It’s possible to get rid of slavery in fashion but there would be need to be a shake up. Some companies use a lot of hand dying and weaving, and we support that kind of slow fashion. It’s down to the companies already in the mainstream, those already on the forefront, to make a difference. To me it feels a bit like tokenism when you get a small ethical section in a shop. Workers getting fair working conditions in a factory, why is that optional? Why is that not standard? Why is that just in one corner of the store?
I hope we’re not talking about ethical fashion in 5 years, I hope that we’re just talking about fashion. If it’s just an alternative for a certain number of people then we still won’t have succeeded in our aims. Why is there this separation? I have a clear passion about the standards in the industry - we’re so removed from the supply chain. But, there is a call to action. We can feel powerless in the face of what is a huge problem [slavery] but becoming engaged can be as simple as educating ourselves and talking to our friends. Buying a t-shirt could be the great, but what’s important is that we all do our bit. It’s hard for anyone not to be appalled or shocked by the stories and statistics behind modern slavery. For many of you reading this article, it may come as a surprise to know that there are now more slaves than when the trans-Atlantic slave trade was in full swing. But, every now and then, someone is courageous enough to try to change this. Charlie Blake is one of those people. He runs a business that challenges the status quo in an attempt to free people from one of the greatest injustices of our time. He makes it so that all we have to do is buy a t-shirt and we help change the world a little bit too.
For more information on No More Slaves visit www.nomoreslaves.co.uk
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Are we the whole solution? No. Can we realistically make a difference to 27 million people? I’d like to think so, but realistically I think we’re a link in a chain. We’re not trying to compete with other organisations or any charities; we’re trying to be a part of making a difference. When you start to dig into the problem, it’s huge, but just because you can’t be the whole solution, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you can. If one child got rescued because of NMS then it’s worth it. If I ever got to look that person in the eye and know that I got to contribute to their freedom then it would be worth it. I do genuinely think we can do more than that though.
It’s about challenging the whole system. We started off just selling t-shirts with a really bold slogan that got people talking, but as we grow, we’re adding to our range and giving people the chance to buy really wearable clothing with great ethics behind it. You can have all the ethical credentials in the world, but if people don’t want to wear your stuff then you’ve missed the point.
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LGBT+ But it's not all bad news! Kate Gale tells us LGBT+ rights , her inspiring Christmas coming out story.
around the world
usa What tips would you give to young writers in Cardiff keen to sit down and write the first draft? The repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell', means that gay servicemen can now serve openly in the US Military. Individual states passing laws legalising civil marriages demonstrate how things could be changing for the better.
ARGENTINA Although Argentina is the only state in South America where same-sex marriage is legal, LGBT rights are increasingly being recognised across the continent. Guyana remains the only country in which male same-sex relations are subject to criminal prosecution.
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A bill to outlaw homosexuality was recently debated in the Nigerian senate, despite homosexual sex already being punished by up to 14 years imprisonment. The new bill called for up to 5 years imprisonment for anyone who undergoes, aids, abets or witnesses a same-sex marriage.
SOUTH AFRICA South Africa leads the way for LGBT+ rights in Africa. Following the fall of Apartheid, discrimination on ground of either sexual orientation and gender identity were outlawed. In 2006, same-sex marriages were legalised following a constitutional court ruling.
This follows a similar bill which was debated in Uganda last year. The bill sparked international outcry and protests outside Nigerian embassies around the world. In New York, Protester Ifeanyi Orazulike told reporters “We are not illegal.�
LGBT+
RUSSIA St Petersburg recently passed "don't say gay" legor $16,000, on anyone caught "promoting homosexuality." This measure will not only outlalw pride events, but also make any form of LGBT+ advocacy in Russia illegal. In November, Valentina Matvienko, chair of Russia's Federation Council and former governor of St. Petersburg, expressed
"the need for a nationwide ban on promotion of homosexuality," in order to "safeguard children." The measure has been criticised by the European Parliament which passed a resolution reminding Russia of its obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights and other international legislation.
India Although same-sex marriages remain illegal in India, in 2011, a court recognised a marriage between two women from Baghpath in Utar Pradesh. However, the couple were forced to seek police protection following death threats from their community.
There has been an increase in attacks on Indonesia's transgendered community in recent years, often motivated by hard-line Islamic radicals. Trans* people in Indonesia, have no legal protection or right to change their legal gender. In 2010, Alterina Hofan was prosecuted for falsifying paperwork after legally changing his gender and marrying in the USA. The plight of the
trans* community was further highlighted by Evie, a transwoman, who was formerly nanny to a young Barack Obama. She movingly spoke about friends killed in transphobic attacks. Indonesian law and a widespread culture of transphobia, means that neither Evie or Alterina are able to live openly as their true gender.
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INDONESIA
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LGBT+
I say asia - you think...? Sarah Lynn provides an insight into LGBT+ communities in Asia
I say Thailand, you think..? “Ladyboys” was the answer given to me by a friend just recently. That’s pretty much the extent of most people's awareness of LGBT+ rights in Thailand, whereas the rest of Asia is easily dismissed with “it’s still illegal.” But there is a lot more to it than that. ‘Ladyboys’, or ‘Kathoeys’ as they are known in Thailand, are infamous. For example, the Miss International Queen Beauty Pageant, a pageant for transsexual and transgender women from around the world, is often described as “creepy.” However, in Thailand, these women are respected and accepted in their communities, and many hold high As a whole, Thailand is very accepting, with homosexual relationships being a “non-issue.” There are three annual Pride events in major cities. However, same sex marriage is still not legal, and many people still hold old traditional values, accepting, easygoing Buddhist religion. That said, same sex marriages are tolerated, providing they are purely symbolic. In reality, Thailand is quite far ahead of the rest of the region. Just last month, a couple in Vietnam had their wedding ceremony cancelled by the government, after residents of the local district raised concerns over the two women seen preparing for their
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"going against parents' wishes is still very shameful
big day. What surprised me, however, was that no further action was taken. Having lived in Vietnam for three years, I was very sure that homosexuality was illegal in Vietnam, and that just being presumed to be gay would end you up in prison. It is still very much the belief of the older generations, still indoctrinated by propaganda campaigns and laws instilled by the government, that homosexuality is “unnatural,” goes against “Yin and Yang,” and will cause complex psychological problems in the youth. openly gay Vietnamese people. They all kept their relationships very quiet, not daring to go out in public as a couple, and who, to this day, have not come out to their parents. This is understandable, given that family ties are of such great importance in Vietnamses culture, and going against parent’s wishes in still very shameful. Malaysia takes a similar, yet more drastic approach. Being gay there comes with serious consequences, the worse being prison. The conservative, Islamic government endorse traditional values. Yet, there is a thriving underground gay scene, you need only skim the Cedric Ang's blog “Gay boy in the City” to get a taste of it. the LGBT+ movement in southeast Asia. Change is happening, despite religion, government and cultural values. One thing that is certain though, is that there is a lot more than meets the eye. I, for one, would never have guessed that gay bars were allowed to function openly in Vietnam, and that so far, two same sex couples have been allowed to marry.
LGBT+
Parlez En-gay? Laura Gwilliams asks what makes a person's sexuality identifiable from their voice, and does this translate across cultures? Much of what constitutes the stereotypes surrounding gay men and women is the presence of characteristics often associated with the 'opposing' gender. So, in speech, in this may mean a stereotypical gay man adopts certain feminine features of the English language, such as higher pitch and more varied intonation patterns. Interestingly, if a female were to adopt 'masculine' speech characteristics, such as lower pitch and more use of slang terms and swearing, you would be less likely to make a quick-fast jump to their sexual orientation in the same way. This may be because language can serve as a tool for displaying heterosexuality for straight men in a way that is not available to straight women, presenting itself ly generous peppering of 'mate', 'man' and 'bud'. Such talk roughly translates as '…don't worry I'm straight too', and makes deviation from 'masculine' speech more obvious. This display of identity is not something achieved through speech alone, and is often coupled with many other complementary features like body posture, clothing, and topic of conversation. But, you need to know what these things mean in a Referring to someone as 'mate' is just as arbitrary as 'darling' – it's their repeated use in society that gives them their meaning.
western cultures and see if gay men stereotypically align themselves with feminine speech in the same way. In a language such as Japanese, for example, which marks the gender of the speaker, homosexual males may express their sexuality by adopting feminine pronouns, particles and honfemales of their culture. So, if a gay male consciously choses to express their sexual identity through language, it appears this entails learning and using features associated with female speech. Often, however, this social difference between male and female speech is not particularly obvious to non-native speakers, and language features that another culture may label as 'feminine'. For example, the presence of higher pitch and intonation is a 'natural' aspect of certain regional accents, which may mean ‘accidentally’ drawing upon the stereotypical speech of camp males. I end by again emphasising that this is talk about talking based on stereotypes, and that obviously not all gay men use language in this way. Yet, for those who do, it's interesting to see how sexuality can be seen to link with gender across cultures, and be displayed even through such an involuntary aspect of identity construction as speech. Laura Gwilliams
established so far, it's interesting to look at non-
your poetry Am I the rib that shelters the heart or the muscle holding bones apart? Do my bones have a full tattoo of who I am running through and through? or the nerves carrying touch and pains? Why am I the skin, my body's throw? Surely I am just a friend you don't yet know. Matt Jenkins
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Bone White
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Ar ts
Eye of the
Spoken word performer Kate Tempest learnt her craft by rapping in battles at sixteen and can now add playwright to her ever growing list of credentials. With
Wasted is now coming to the Sherman
intensity’ on street corners, decide to start writing scripts for stage? Kirsty Allen So Wasted is coming to the Sherman and it talks about ‘love, life and losing you mind?’ What’s it about?
the decisions we need to make in order to be hap-
and it’s kind of a lovesong to where I‘m from, to
this gain, and all this progress, there are so many
over the UK, it’s not London centric I don’t think, recognise the sentiment that’s behind the writing.
arts@gairrhydd.com
24
Arts -
For students staring graduation in the face that’s something that young people can re-
that’s never read a play, never been to the theatre, You’ve toured the country as a spoken word performer and as the front woman of Sound of Rum so what inspired a theatre crossover?
-
-
that’s one of the biggest mistakes made in the arts -
So you don’t have a drama background?
people, then it speak to people. There’s something being gathered in a space to listen to that story.
been so great to work with, James Grieve the dihelped me more than I can say. I was pretty terri-
more aggressive in the way it’s heard or delivered, -
recommended some great writers to read and some great plays to watch and that really opened
ence. It’s a whole different discipline and one that can do things that rapping and telling poems cant.
in all honesty, I was pretty ignorant of before. Considering that you didn’t have an initial interest in drama yourself do you still think that theatre is a relevant art form for young people? Is it for example, as culturally relevant as rapping?
There are lots of opportunities for new writers to get their voice heard in Cardiff but it can be daunting putting the any tips for any budding script writers?
feeling a connection to plays they’ve seen or read,
You completed your BA in English Literature time there and what did you love to read?
some evening classes and realised that I wanted
all kinds of different things into my pathway that able to sit in the library and read whatever I liked. -
to Uni, and that helped my writing, I think for a
Kirsty Allen
arts@gairrhydd.com
-
25
Ar ts
really loved the ‘open to all’ vibe of the
the Sherman Young Writers group? If this is the case, the shiny new Sher-
for writers and after attending the Sher-
mers. So I arranged a meeting with her
Kelly Jones came a very close second in
How much writing had you dabbled in before penning the play? Not really a lot. I had always wanted to
Hello Kelly, a big well done on a very
arts@gairrhydd.com
26
from and when did you start writing? Well, I’m a writer and performer based
a girls addiction to books which I performed as a piece of work in progress at
Arts How did the Sherman help you to develop your story and your writing skills?
have the ‘child’ that I wanted. This really started
and organise the story in my head. He gave me some fantastic advice which when writing the they do. I feel this program really helped me to Where will your writing go from here? Your play Swings and Roundabouts talks about a young couple’s search for the perfect child in the ‘want it now’ gena
baby
scheme’
idea
come
from?
What tips would you give to young writers in
If you are a budding writer and fancy taking Kelly’s advice, here are two ways you can get involved with the Sherman now:
Script Slam
plays or excerpts for the next Script Slam on and performed by professional actors and then per-
Literacy team to develop their playwriting skills.
arts@gairrhydd.com
‘buy
27
Ar ts
Reviews
White Crow, The Gate
A Provincial Life, Sherman Cymru
National Theatre Wales promise that if their latby the weaker stomachs best describes Act One’s . Based on the Welsh myth ‘Branwen’, follows the violent nation of Wales as its stage, from beaches and independence while trying to protect his siblings -
Having never heard of the myth before, I was Gate theatre, I knew it was going to be an intense help set the scene while the cast perch beside
visionary company like NTW anyway. cial Life, in terms of aesthetics, proves that good
with their faces hidden behind crow masks. Betimes representing the Welsh rioters and at other times as the politician Bran Lyod’s demons, the selves it was of an excellent standard and the cast all performed brilliantly (especially see-
arts@gairrhydd.com
mention needs to be given to Greg Davies for
28
it’s something a little different and I hope people -
Laura Marci
-
which transformed Alison Kitty’s sleek design. life into a rather long evening. Gill’s adaptation is on the heavy side considering that it had been adapted from a short story. is
Kirsty Allen
Photos
Spotlight on Students Dimitris Kyriakopoulos I am a Greek photographer studying Biology in Cardiff University. Photography has been present in my every day life ever since
father bought me for my 15th birthday my
ing my shooting style is of vital importance to me. To be more presice I think that street and candid photgraphy suit me the most
For the chance to get your portfolio featured email: quenchphotos@gairrhydd.com
29
Photos -
exhibitions:
-
Third Floor gallery
-
Richard Renaldi: Touching Strangers
and Ground & River Boys
-
The people portrayed here have never met
of these portraits is truly organic as it is the fruit really is hard to think that these people had nev-
keeps in a piercingly sharp focus to great effect.
quenchphotos@gairrhydd.com
30
More info at: www.thirdfloorgallery.com
Photos Vincent Delbrouck: V.D. -
-
-
rated in time as the perfect image of the artist or the distant creation of a documentary practice.
quench photos@gairrhydd.com
pressed this so beautifully in these photographs. -
31
Books
lost in translation From Larsson to Murakami, foreign-language titles are taking the publishing world by storm. Becca Eustis discusses the art of translation. The Three Musketeers. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Cinderella. Despite these stories originating from across the channel, they are as well known to us as any to come from a British pen. Translated novels have long been an important part of our culture, and the accessibility of books originally written in a foreign language is something we tend to take for granted. However, the style of an author is sometimes lost in translareach a wider audience? Stieg Larsson’s global sensation, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, has spawned two movie adaptations in as many years and introduced the world to the now voguish genre of Scandinavian
books@gairrhydd.com
32
would as many people recognise the direct translation of its original Swedish name, Men Who Hate Women? This is just one example where the translator’s choices completely skew the reader’s perception of a book. Indeed, the translator’s job - translating for sense rather than just literally means that they essentially rewrite the text, and therefore play almost as important a role as the author. In trying to capture style as well as sense, things can easily go awry, and many books do not stand by their stories alone. A story which seems repellent can be made compelling by the style in which it is written, as is the case with Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. The lead character, Humbert Humbert,
is a paedophile and an abductor, but the reader gets caught up in his story in spite of this, thanks to the gripping narrative style. Without this, the story would struggle to endear itself to anyone. The occasional loss of an author’s style and intent is the price that must be paid with translation, but the rewards are great, as translating a text increases its potential audience. Good novels are more than just a collection of pretty words; the words are only the medium with which to relate a story. If you think the story you want to tell that it’s worth telling to as many people as possible, regardless of language barriers. The Harry Potter series has been translated into 67 languagto believe that J.K. Rowling would be anything but delighted to see a child from Britain and one from Indonesia connecting by playing Quidditch together. The translation debate boils down to the age-old war between style and substance. If you believe that the sanctity of prose is not to be messed with, it’s unlikely you’re going to be pro-translation. However, if you think that the primary purpose of a book is to tell a story, then it doesn’t matter if the personal tics and idiosyncrasies of a writer are lost in translation, so long as the soul and essence of their stories remain intact to be read by as many people as possible. Becca Eustis
Books
Reviews
Our take on March's new releases and a timeless classic
A Ship of War by Sean Thomas Russell Bestselling author Sean Thomas Russell’s new novel is set during the French Revolution. Charles Hayden is sent off to destroy a French frigate and gather intelligence from a royalist spy. He discovers that there are plans for an imminent invasion of England, and intends to hurry back to Portsmouth to relay this information. Unfortunately, are taken prisoner. A shipwreck following a storm and a case of mistaken identity befall Hayden and his men as they desperately try to escape so they can warn the Lords of Admiralty. Should they fail, England will be invaded and Hayden will face the guillotine. The author's passion for sailing is transparent in his writing, while the detail and precision with which he describes the characters’ ill fate makes the book interesting for those with a love of the sea. Russell’s novel is packed full of action. Katie Bennett A Ship of War is released on 29 March.
7/10
It is a truly well written book. Despite the writer’s particular attention to detail the story moves forward at a quick pace, making it ideal for those used to the movie experience. James Hayman keeps the reader always wanting to know more with his eloquent portrayal of this dark mystery. Paul Wilkinson
The Chill of Night will be released on 29 March.
8/10
adult love she so desperately craves. I highly recommend this book for the poignant and unique insight it offers the reader through the direct and personal nature of the prose that tastefully Jess Rayner
9/10
books@gairrhydd.com
The Chill of Night by James Hayman If you’re looking for a light-hearted fairytale to send you to bed at night then this is certainly not the book for you. If, instead, you fancy a dark thriller that will leave you afraid to step into the shadows, then run down to the nearest bookshop and grab a copy of The Chill of Night. The novel follows the investigations of homicide detective Michael McCabe as he seeks the killer of the glamorous Lainie Goff. The victim leaves behind a trail of suspects, mostly former lovers, for McCabe to interrogate, but there is a single missing witness and McCabe must call on
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Regarded by many to be the greatest work of one of America’s most critically acclaimed authors, this memoir has consistently graced the bestseller lists. Angelou traces her childhood in a small rural community in the 1930s, giving the reader an insight into her own struggles growing up as a black female during the Depression. In her novel Angelou deals with many painful experiences; lacking a stable home environment she spent much of her childhood being passed between her divorced parents and grandparents. Beautifully written, the depth of emotion makes for a captivating and emotive read, as a
33
Food & Drink
Culture through Cookery Ever tried a cookery class in Thailand or any other far off place? Jack Hansen talks about his experience as an amateur chef in Greece, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka to find out if cooking could be the perfect way to immerse yourself in a different culture‌
Greece My parents own a place in Lesvos, a little Grecian island near Turkey and it was here that I experi-
food@gairrhydd.com
34
Food & Drink
Thailand I took in a village called Pi in northern Thailand,
and try silk worms and other wriggly Thai delica-
market, Red Thai Curry and another curry made
Sri Lanka The last cookery class I did, and perhaps the
India rickshaws which were waiting amongst the green grass and lush trees to take us to the early morning
mediately showed us to a cramped kitchen at the
and chicken, we sat down to gorge on our deli-
food@gairrhydd.com
making a sweet coconut roti served with lashings
35
Food & Drink
City Road Middle-eastern
A celebration of cuisine on one of Cardiff's most culturally diverse roads
more authentic dishes such as potato chap (minced
Lilo residents such as patrons, amidst Mediterranean
food@gairrhydd.com
36
Simone Miche
Japanese
Tenkaichi
Food & Drink
.cn words and phrases that spring to mind when
their Chinese Hot Pot, a thousand year old traditional dining experience which encompases
Chinese
Can Zaman venture is a place which upon stepping inside its lavishly decorated setting, adorned with gold trimmings and coloured glass lanterns, will leave you
Simone Miche
Syrian
food@gairrhydd.com
Simone Miche
37
Food & Drink
Mexican El Paso Paso is an unsuspecting Mexican restaurant that
recommend the Chimichanga as a start, this dish
In the past the waiters have asked how spicy we’d
Alex Zardis
Mezza Luna Indian takeaways along City Road are occasional
Morrocan garlic and lemon marinade and served with toasted
food@gairrhydd.com
38
was perhaps slightly on the watery side making me
Chloe Slade
Think Global Act Rural shows the problems of unsustainable food and local solutions to the
Do you think our engagement with the way we eat and what we produce is disconnected? I think it’s massively disconnected, people just
-
land and mistreating the one thing we’re totally What are the main obstacles to getting people because land is so connected with place and
experience at Riverside?
-
cause right now the only resource we seem to see
What parallels do you see between Think Global Act Rural and the international farmers documented and what Riverside food market is doing? -
Do you get many people from the multi-ethnic communities from Riverside coming to the market?
-
Do you think the way we engage with other
-
-
Think Global Act Rural shows @ Chapter on 24th March. The movement to make Cardiff a sustainable Food City meet on 3rd April in the Glamorgan Building.
food@gairrhydd.com
-
39
Travel
ERASMUS EXPERIENCE
Yasmine Canga-Valles questions Eramus students about the pros and cons of Cardiff life...
travel@gairrhydd.com
40
Cardiff is a well known global university and is in partnership with a lot of universities around Europe. There is then, no surprise that a large amount of Cardiff University’s students come from overseas. So I decided to ask, how do these students experience Cardiff University? How does it feel to leave your country to study abroad? Coming from a multicultural background and after 10 years in the United Arab Emirates, I thought adapting to a new country to carry out my studies would be easy. It was only when I arrived in Cardiff that I realised studying abroad was not just changing country but also a change in culture. In the UAE, although I was abroad, I was constantly in a French environment (home, friends, school). Before this summer, I had never set a foot in the UK and knew very little of its customs. It took some time to adapt. Suddenly, I was speaking English all the time and making
friends with students whose common language was also English. The initial months were everyone is in the same boat! Now I am completely over it! I think the moment I really realised I was in a different culture was during freshers week: I met a British student at the Union and to say ‘hello’ I kissed him on the two cheeks, as we naturally do in France when we meet someone… he did not appreciate it! But I learned my lesson from that… I now really love my life in Cardiff and I am really happy I chose the UK over France to study! I still make some cultural mistakes but I have three years to adapt and understand the UK completely. So how do Erasmus students feel about studying for a year or a semester in Cardiff ? What do they like and dislike? I interviewed three students from France, Finland and Germany…
Travel Mégane, 20. Nantes, France, Studies Languages and Business. “Cardiff and Nantes are twin cities, therefore I knew Cardiff before coming here. I knew Cardiff was a cosmopolitan and friendly town as I had the opportunity to come twice before. So when the time came to choose my Erasmus a professional point of view, I really wanted to improve my knowledge of English and gain an insight into a different culture. I don’t regret my choice! My life in Cardiff is perfect. Really! I enjoy everyday here and do my best to make this year unforgettable. I think Welsh people are really open-minded in many ways and Cardiff is a human-sized town with a lot to do. However, I barely understand British sarcasm but still like
English jokes! Concerning Cardiff as a town I think the public transport system sucks! Sorry guys! My biggest regret, however, is that I did not join any societies (apart from the Erasmus one) and that, unfortunately, have more friends from the Erasmus community than ‘native friends’. I think it’s partly due to the fact that –as you saidit is a “community. Of course I struggled at the beginning, with my school administration, the ferent accents … but I love the city, I met wonderand now I always have my umbrella with me! After 6 months here I cannot really imagine my life without all of this, it is part of it now.”
Iina, 21. Helsinki, Finland, Studies English and French. “Cardiff was actually my second choice but I wrote on my application that I speak Welsh, so I think that's why they put me here. But I'm glad they did - the more I get to know Cardiff, the happier I am to be here. I thought I was going to have more trouble with everything, but so far everyday life has been pretty easy. I love my life as an Erasmus! Though I try not to be "Erasmus", per se - I want to belong here like a native. There's a lot to do as an Erasmus student, a lot of parties to go to - the Erasmus society organises quite a lot of events. I think the Inlike the city as a whole, its atmosphere and the friendly people. I have been here only few weeks
now, but I already have the feeling of belonging. I love that despite how multicultural the city is; everyone gets along. That's something Finns could really learn from. Some things are different from Finland and not necessarily always in a good way, like the food, and the ever-changing weather, but you learn to get along with it. My best memory is how my bag broke in the middle of the street and people rushed to help me. In Finland everyone would've just walked past me. I want to know the locals and other students. I've met some of the local people at the Uni and most of my closest friends are actually other than Erasmus students, thanks to my accommodation at Aberdare Hall.”
“I am not a big fan of large cities, but when you are going to stay in one place for the next 9 months it should not be too small either. That's why I decided to go to Cardiff. It is neither too big nor too small. In addition, Cardiff is in Wales and small countries have always attracted me. It is very rich in culture and has great surrounding nature and landscapes. The University was not really important for me. I was not expecting anything really, but the courses at University are not very hard, to be honest, I feel quite unand full of new things that I could discover. I stayed with a couch surfer and had a bit of guidance and an introduction to Cardiff. There are a lot of parties in general, but frankly, now, life is a bit repetitive. The highlights are of course the trips I do with my friends. I have seen a lot of
Wales and the rest of the UK since I've arrived here. I quite like Cardiff but I am not sure if I would recommend it to others. The "fresher's culture" is huge here and it is pretty much all about drinking. I am not sure if this is the case everywhere in the UK but it certainly is here. A lot of young people don't seem to be able to do any kind of activity without drinking. Maybe I will choose another city next time with more cultural variety like Bristol. The University also does not really encourage Erasmus students to get in contact with natives. There are a few opportunities (tandem programs) but not a lot. There is an Erasmus Society and every Erasmus student is in it. They go out together and party together and stay among the other Erasmus students.”
travel@gairrhydd.com
Philipp Klink, 24. Heidelberg, Germany, English Literature/German.
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Travel
IMMIGRAtion
An exclusive look at how immigrants integrate into Cardiff society Have you ever thought of leaving your country and living elsewhere? Maybe you’ve never considered it, or only seen it as something in the distant future? Are you already living far from home? No matter your situation, the truth is, migration is a major desire in modern society. the “the process of coming to live permanently in a country that is not your own” which means that University International and EU students are not really considered immigrants as their aim is to study temporarily in the country. They do not feel the real implications of immigrations as erasmus students receive a lot of support from the Government and the University itself, so we are automatically integrated into the local environment. Quench decided to take a closer look
travel@gairrhydd.com
42
be a true immigrant in Cardiff. Elsa Antunes is 41 years old and has been living in Cardiff since May 2005. Originally from Portugal, she already considers Cardiff her “second home”. She arrived in Cardiff six months after her husband, so she already had a house but she still needed a job. In Portugal, she had not only left her home and friends but, also, her two daughters who joined her three months later after in a nursing home, but it has not always been like
crisis and several companies she worked for closed immediately. Nevertheless, her overall view as an immigrant in Cardiff could not be more positive; since the beginning she had a “good feeling” about the city and everyone was friendly and helpful. The only main issue that she stresses is about
provide everything for her daughters. Janet Simmons, owner of “Xquisite Africa” on City Road, arrived in Cardiff in the 80s. Her mother was from Ghana but she had already lived in London. At the time, she says, there were no black people at all and no places selling African food. When she started her business (eight years ago) it was the only African shop in Cardiff and despite all her hard work she is proud of her business because “it is more than a shop. It is a way of talking with other Africans”. For her, Cardiff is “nice and clean: a small town with everything you’d expect from a big city”. Overall, the majority of people I interviewed say language barrier, the bureaucracy and loneliness, but they found Cardiff to be a welcoming city with an lots of opportunities for them. Helena Lins
Travel Travel Photo of the Fortnight
Barcelona, by Helena Lins
This spring...get on your
bike
Nursing a hangover, I began to wonder if cycling around Cardiff was the best remedy. As I reached the meeting point at Cardiff Bay, I imagined being greeted by a group of people dressed from head to toe in high-vis lycra. Thankfully, I was wrong. Instead, I was greeted by the friendly tour leader, Pol, who had left the cycling shorts at home and was dressed in comfy trousers and a wisely chosen waterproof. In 2011, Pol (from Belgium but has lived in and loved Cardiff for 23 years) decided to quit his job and started up ‘Cardiff Cycle Tours’ so that he could share his love of this city with others in his own way.
familiar to every Cardiff student, I was not only learning about these areas but also appreciating them in a way that can only be found by cycling through them on a sunny day. The tour ended at The Senedd, worth a visit itself, and the group posed for a photo. Every single one of us smiled rather than sweated, because we had all thoroughly enjoyed the laid-back and informative bike ride. I would recommend taking a Cardiff Cycle Tour with Pol before you graduateyou’ll see Cardiff in a whole new light. Heather Arnold For more information, visit: www.cardiffcycletours.com
travel@gairrhydd.com
Tour, which takes you through a beautiful winding route from The Bay to The Castle and costs £15 pp. The other slightly cheaper option is The Bay Tour, which explores the areas around Cardiff Bay and costs £10 pp. Each of them costs about the same as a trip to the cinema (snacks included), and much less than a night out, but are much healthier and entertaining alternatives. The tours may be designed for tourists but are also perfect for the people who live here. I love Cardiff and, now in my second year living here, thought I knew it pretty well. But this tour showed me just how much Cardiff has to offer. Up until now, I had considered Cardiff Bay a beautiful place for eating at expensive restaurants or looking for the entrance to Torchwood’s underground base. On the tour, we explored the parts beyond the redevelopments. We were told stories of the old Victorian buildings and the history of the
multicultural ‘Tiger Bay’, and it dawned on me that the bay was, and still is, much more than just the millennium centre. We stopped several times on the scenic and winding route. We visited the Castle to hear about Cardiff ’s culture and history, and even as we
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MUSIC
THE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Summer may feel far off as we wade through mounds of deadlines, however, a glimmer of hope comes in the form of the copious music festivals taking place over the summer. So as you stare vacantly at a computer screen wishing your word count would rise, why not book your tickets to one of our selections of festi-
Best of British Bestival
6-9th September £180
With Glastonbury taking a year off (apparently due to a toilet shortage!?) a lot of festivals will be
music@gairrhydd.com
the many contenders, Bestival has really set itself apart in the past to show that, even being a medium sized festival, it really can compete with the big boys. Last year went down a treat and this year Rob da Bank really has brought out the big guns in terms of line up. New Order take a Saturday headlining slot, along with exclusive performances from The XX and Sigur Ross - the latter of which will be nothing less than magical. In fact it’s very hard to say who the highlight of the weekend will be, with the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Rizzle Kicks, Hot Chip, Friendly Fires and De La Soul(!!) all tak-
will see you into the wee hours of the night along with some of the best DJs in the world in the form
I mention there’s a toboggan? I shit you not. Phil Kenny
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Reading/Leeds 24-26th August £205
Get your wellies ready as this year's Reading and Leeds festivals look set to be the highlight of the summer. Plus, the new 'free burger and beer' initiative gives you something more for your monare headliners The Cure, British rock band Kasabian and returning headliners Foo Fightstages are heaps of awesome bands from different genres including: Paramore, Bombay Bicycle Drive In, The Cribs, The Black Keys, Justice and Two Door Cinema Club. If the big names don't take your fancy, there's still Jaguar Skills on the dance stage or the rockier, still-to-be-announced Lock Up stage and comedy tent. With hundreds more acts to be announced, grab a ticket while you still can! Kayleigh Chan
Music
Green Man
17-19th August £125
With Glastonbury taking a year out this summer I know there will be a void that many of you festivalhere to rescue you. Situated in the picturesque Brefull to the brim with stalls, activities and incredible
not yet been announced, many people are holding out for a big headliner (Bon Iver please!), there are plenty of artists new and old to entice you there. Catering for a wide range of music tastes from folk to psych it is no wonder that it has become one of the few British festivals to sell out in recent years. Emma Wilford
Latitude
12th-15th July Latitude have secured a pretty incredible line-up for the festival’s seventh year, boast-
End of the Road
31st August-2nd September £150 recently won Best Small Festival at the sic experience, with a warm, friendly atmosphere in the most beautiful woodland surroundings, there really is no competition. This year, the newly reto headline the Sunday night - their only
equally impressive programme, with White Lies, The Horrors and Wild Beasts. With more acts yet to be announced, the line-up already features a stunning range of artists, -
comedy front, Latitude have recruited Jack Dee, Reginald D. Hunter, Russell Kane, Greg will showcase talent from the likes of Ben-
Calvi, plus two more yet-to-be-announced headliners. Nestled deep in the Larmer The Road offers a myriad of cinema, comedy, workshops and fun, promising to be one of the best weekends of your summer. Jo Southerd
arenas devoted to Film, Literature, Cabaret
Festival DOs & DON'Ts
* Don't leave valuables in your tent * Do take wellies and a raincoat * Don't think your phone will last 3 days * Do take your own alcohol (expect warm beer) * Don't accept strange narcotics from strangers * Don't spend all your money on the food stalls * Do make friends with your camping neighbours * Don't drop your phone in the toilets and then try and get it back (this has happened!) * Do try and see as many bands as you can * Don't worry about getting dirty
music@gairrhydd.com
something to quench any cultural thirst. Jo Southerd
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Music Beach Break 14-18th June £109
Chase and Status. Dizzee Rascal. Friendly Fires. Fresh. High Contrast. Ben Howard. Rusko. Delilah. Beach Break Live is four days and four nights of solid partying, located on an eight-mile stretch of gorgeous South Wales coastline: the only way to celebrate the end of exams and the start of sumBar, Silent Disco and infamous Chai Wallah, plus new attractions including Hot Tubs, a Roller Disco weekend of too much booze, killer tunes, fancy dress antics, giant deckchairs, fun fair rides and constant shisha, you’re sure to leave Beach Break with some shocking memories, and a hangover to match. Jo Southerd
20-22nd July
Tramlines is a venue-based music festival in the
vals have taken inspiration from the SXSW music With its free-entry policy and huge range of music, the festival plays part to well-known mainstream artists as well as local bands and musicians, meaning there is truly something for everyone; it is no
too, with the Devonshire green outdoor stage host-
On A Budget? Don’t fancy spending £200 to see Tinie Tempah again? Or maybe you just fancy mixing it up a bit and enjoying a free-event that you can come and go to as you please. Alex Zardis recommends his favourite free-festivals...
St Paul's Carnival, Bristol 7th July
rade during the day and a Drum and Bass festival during the evening. St Paul’s carnival is a street festival that has a special atmosphere that in my opinion beats the Notting Hill Carnival hands centre of Kelham Island pubs and secret drum in an industrial estate warehouse. I recommend Tramlines, both for its festival and as a chance to
music@gairrhydd.com
46
their dose of festival atmosphere. It is effectively one of the biggest free parties held in an urban environment with sound systems and DJ stands around every corner, you can get lost in the maze of streets to the sounds of dub reggae and drum and bass and without a festival wristband or entry fee in sight. The parade during the day is not to be missed either, with some great costumes to be seen. The acts vary from year to year and are generally unannounced, last year I was able to see Levi Roots take to the main stage singing his Reggae Reggae Sauce classic, and Bristolian legend opportunity to try some of the great food on offer too.
Music Sziget Festival, Hungary 6 – 13 August £163
Go Global
promises to deliver another week of diverse music, non-stop partying and hedonism. Situated on a leafy island in the heart of the beautiful city of Budapest, Sziget offers everything from local and world music to heavy metal, with metal veterans Korn also appearing at this year’s festival. But it’s so much more than music available here. There are numerous other activities available here; from playing a little ping-pong or pool to taking part in cheap here. But best of all, despite attracting over sense of freedom. The streets are not completely spot to take a quick snooze has never been easier at a festival. Post-festival, exploring Budapest is a must, and paying a visit to one of the many ‘ruin
Primavera Sound, Barcelona May 30th- 3rd June
It would be unfair to suggest Primavera is the playground of the pretensious; but with precious few words, it probably gets you somewhere near imagining the stellar line up of
Kit Denison whom are far too numerous to
4-7th July £80
Heineken’s Open’er in the north of Poland is the
Benicassim, Spain
proves that it’s cheaper to go abroad for festivals.
Justice and The xx are set to play. So if you are craving the summer staple that is the music festival but you’re purse is feeling the strain why not head to this festival, after all, I’ve head the pints Emma Wilford
12-15th July £155
If you're after the festival feeling but don’t fancy land then this may be the festival for you. Based sim comes equipped with a water park, a beach, go-karting and some of the biggest acts on the festival scene this summer. This year sees the likes
because if you're one of the very many who arrive when the camp site opens, by the time the be all you have left. But you will be thankful to hear that all the camp sites come equipped with showers, plug sockets and a bar serving food and screen! Phil Kenny
music@gairrhydd.com
Open'er, Poland
Wild Beasts, Girls & Beach House sure to attract fans, there's an especially enticing electronic and dance line up, with SBTRKT, The Field and Jamie XX all sure to bring coinnosseurs of eyes-closed, head-shaking transcendence. Primavera is not shy of bringin' the noise either Japandroids, Sleigh Bells and festival maestros of Post-Rock dissonant ethereality Dirty Three are all sure to supplement the likely already sweaty Barcelona streets. Not to be missed.
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Music
INTERVIEWS Friendly Fires During their tour stop in Southampton, Alexi Gunner phoned up bassist and house music of sound check, a surprisingly calm and chirpy voice picks up: So how is the tour going so far? Yeah really good thanks! The only real negative hasn’t been quite up to scratch lately, which means we’ve had to cancel a few of the dates. I heard it was laryngitis? he travelled around the country on tour he used to get it all the time. It seems to always happen when you sing on a regular basis, and it really hits you when you need your voice the most. I
Any especially memorable gigs? The two Brixtons in London were like career bonkers at both of them. Otherwise Brighton was good as usual, it’s always nice doing a show down there.
Alongside a few remixes, you’ve collaborated with Azari & III on a house track. Will we be seeing any more electronic productions like this in the future? actually I don’t want to reveal anything, you know, in case it doesn’t work out, I don’t want much there haha. I’m sure stuff like this excites you quite a bit, being the avid DJ in the band. I saw you play on the Boiler Room site in December, you were really loving it, playing alongside Carl Craig and all. It’s funny because Boiler Room is so much more intense than it looks streaming live on their site. It really was one of the best DJ gigs I’ve done. Played with Carl Craig in Carlisle out of all places the day after, he’s really fun to be around. Hanson recently started up their own brand of beer. Have Friendly Fires ever had any thoughts about starting an entrepreneurial endeavour alongside the music?
London. Like a late night one, but more upmarket The production on Pala seems to contain a much thicker layer of sounds. Has this changed how you play live at all? I guess so; it’s hard to say. We never play songs live like they sound on the album anyways. There’s a few sounds on Pala where we had to think: how can we replicate this on stage? We always tweak them, you know add extra parts or sounds. There’s always a good response when we play a song live, and everyone knows it off by heart, and then bam! we do something unexpected with it, like add in an extra bridge or something. Seeing a band live should never be the same as listening to their albums at home.
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pizza. But then we started looking into it, and
to make London tap water taste more like let’s economically unfeasible.
Music
Xpress Radio's Phil & Gus catch up with Maverick Sabre on tour in Cardiff Welcome to Cardiff ! Are you excited for your gig tonight? we’ll hopefully keep the energy up; it's been good so far, so hopefully Cardiff will be another one. So how tell us about Maverick Sabre, how did you start out? I got into music from a young age, my dad was
then - do you still have as much control? Of course, I wouldn’t be on a label if I didn’t have full creative control. Obviously, it's a struggle as the record label are part of an industry that make money off music so that’s their main aim. So you have to work within that to get your message out more opinions you have to deal with but I know what I need to do with my life and my music and
roll and he brought me up on very different kinds it. scene, was in that for a couple of years, got back singing again, and sort of formed the sound that is out!
So what do you think of the current state of music these days? It's hard, I won't speak about music in general but I think mainstream music needs to represent the times a bit more. I think over the years we’ve lost touch with connecting and what’s going on in
So your dad's music has been a big part of your life? Yeah I’ve been brought up on it. you can hear that in the music. your style? was reason behind why I do music - he made me realise that music was something powerful enough to do for the love. He never really made any money out of it; he was never a professional musician but he still plays the guitar and writes
and something I still carry with me.
for free via iTunes? wanted a body of work from me and I didn’t have anything out. So I thought, rather than releasing some old ones, added some dub step beats, did
Yeah even U2 did that with Sunday Bloody Sunday... Yeah exactly, and The Cranberries but if you lis-
having a great laugh in clubs, drinking, falling in ing to knock anyone’s type of music because people need to do their own thing, but for me there I mean how can there be riots up and down the county during the summer connected with a lot of young people and the charts be full of young artists and none be speaking about what’s going on? For me that doesn’t make a lot of sense and for me music is a very powerful tool and I fell like were wasting it.
Catch the full video interview online at
music@gairrhydd.com
released it to the people.
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Music
ALBUM REVIEWS THE Ting tings
Memory tapes
SOUNDS FROM NOWHERESVILLE
Player piano
6/10
Top Tracks: *Hang It Up *Soul Killing
Despite the macabre album cover, The Ting Tings’ second studio album, Sounds From Nowheresville is a catchy amalgamation of pop, dance and indie. The lead single, Hang It Up, is a toe tapping number, and is classic Ting Tings. Thus far, the only other single released from the album is Silence, but personally, I think this is one of the more forgettable songs. Lead vocalist, Katie White, may look like a rebelling teenager, but her voice is anything but boring and naive, and she brings a powerful passion in her voice than could best be described as brilliantly brattish. The scrawled handwriting and street
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unruly style that is so distinctive to the band. Without doubt, my favourite song was the infectious , which after a few plays will have you humming it all day. Don’t expect any huge hits like Name or , but this album offers something for a variety of music tastes. From the distinctly reggae-tinged One By One, the almost talkative Guggenheim (no idea why it is called that), to the whimsical ballad Day To Day. In fact, the last three songs of the album are slow In Your Life could pull it off. I commend the Ting Tings on their ambitions to diversify as a band, but in my opinion, they are best suited to the effervescent, energetic numbers, which so suit their overall stroppy teen image and tenacious voice qualities. Rhys Clayton
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6/10
Top Tracks: *Worries *Trance Sisters
up until I was approached to do a review of new album, Player Piano, I was pleasantly surprised by their soft electronica, psychadelic sound. The album sounds like a musical hybrid of
Bicycle features the sound of Congratuations layered by soothing keyboard, critics have named this emerging genre as ‘chillwave’.
er amazing” which seems to ignore the creativity unlikely to crack the mainstream due to their less than catchy lyrics, but questionably, is this even the point? Like Yeasayer, the effects placed over a relaxed dreamy haze over the simple keyboard However, despite a pleasant listen ideal as background after a heavy day, it is the vocally enhanced tracks which are personally preferable. Trance Sisters is backed by a distortion reminiscent to the organic charm of live music, so often lacking in electronica. The usually polished sound of over-production is not present throughout the al. Alice Marriott
Music reign of terror
6/10
Top Tracks: * Crush * Comeback Kid * Demons
edge to the alternative music scene with their noise pop style that included a lack of choruses, a loud electronic sound fused with distorted vocals and alt-rock buzz guitar. The second album from the exciting duo, Reign of Terror, continues most of these traits but takes on a heavier edge and a less electronic feel. The album opens with a live version of True Shred Guitar, which introduces the hardcore sounds and heavy guitar chords. The album seems to delve more into the previous endeavors of prohardcore band, Poison the Well as the emotional focus too stems primarily from his experiences of his father’s death. The album successfully fuses pieces of electro, metal, alternative hip-hop and noise pop genres. Krauss’ distorted vocals, which take on eerie, melancholic, and angry personas throughout are crucial to the music’s dimensions but are often caught up in the heavy instrumentation. The repetitive lyrics with no chorus and often shallow meaning further cause Krauss to sometimes dismusical monopoly. However, often the vocals are not the focus as the duo successfully produces aggressive and physical music; the blurring of lyrics into rhythmic murmurs still brings an extra element to the sound. slowing down and diversifying its sounds with new musical explorations. However, some of the the
tracks, such as Road to Hell and You Lost To are slow and never really come to a head. It but nonetheless shows they can be slightly more diverse. Charlotte Palmer
The jezabels prisoner
7/10
Top Tracks: *Rosebud
The lusciously ethereal keyboard that opens The the rest of the record. There is seemingly no escape from its epic qualities and although another band may have seemed contrived in their quest for this ‘Intensindie’ sound, The Jezabels capture it perfectly. Prisoner octave wail, monumental drumming and developing, broody textures and tracks like Nobody, Nowhere encapsulate this best. Horsehead begins with wobbly, non-descript keyboards but ultimately cascades into the sound we have become familiar with. The fact that this record has been The Jezabels sound even more credible and lead single ruses, regardless of a lack of label interaction. The song rides on peaks and troughs to create an instantly recognisable sound-scape that relentlessly drags the listener through the full four minutes and eleven seconds. created an album of such impressive songs that, perhaps being slightly over-critical, have become lost within one another, yet are beautifully crafted when considered as single tracks. Callum McFadden
music@gairrhydd.com
sleigh bells
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LIVE REVIEWs Let Them Be Heard: Unicef on Campus Buffalo Bar / Koko Gorilaz 22nd/ 24th February quality two night music event with an amazing line up of the hottest bands from Cardiff and Newport. The aim was to let all the children in need be heard; and what a voice! Wednesday rhymed with folk rock at Buffalo blending of charming melodies and irresistible the crowd and got three encores, making you wonhectic set, Horizon kept the crowd passionate with their latest songs and had a hard time to stop play-
Friday began timidly: the solo artist Stew Hume opened the show with his guitar and a loop that permits him to create a unique mix of sounds. Then, time for Wesley to play. Calvin's soft voice and the band's dynamic sounds charmed everyone in something close to perfect harmony. The Dead Beggars Club startled the crowd with their punk with indie guitar melodies.
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understand Welsh, but they managed to communicate through music rather than language. The last song, Sea Shells brought an overall euphoria and prepared the stage for We’re No Heroes. The crowd was more energetic, and their math indie
Hume: a little present for those who waited until the end. Amel Semmache
Florence and the Machine Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 5th March There was an air of impatience amongst the audience as support bands Spector and The Horrors
see one woman and her “machine”. her silhouette, before she appeared looking both ghostly and beautiful in an embellished black cape, and launched into a powerful performance of ity of the night’s songs came from her second album. However, there were also a number of old favourites from her debut album Lungs, such as and Rabbit Heart lar performance of You’ve Got The Love, which
ence sang along. Belting out number after big number, it was a wonder that Florence could still stand when it came to the encore – let alone leap and twirl as she had been doing all night. She closed the show with No Light, No Light; wildly striking a drum whilst managing to look elegant as ever. Florence had
to an almighty roar of their approval.
Music
Labrinth Labrinth, come in... come in to Solus; he entered with the swagger and charisma that one would expect from one of the biggest names in UK music right now. Having the gig in Solus, not the Great Hall, gave it an intimate, yet explosive feel. Kicking off the show was young female rapper, J.O.D. There was a palpable sense that the crowd was a tad inattentive to the young rapper, but I enDot Rotten. His ultra energetic, yet suave set was a perfect foil for what was to come. His biggest hit to date, (I promise you, I was) was performed with the verve you would thing. It is hard to brand Labrinth’s music, as label-
casual music fans, I only knew a few Labrinth
songs, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear the different kinds of music he sang, his distinctive voice, and overall cheeky showmanship. His musical talents are diverse: he plays acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard, piano, drums, bass, synth; and he writes and produces his own and others' music
able gig. This, coming from someone not particularly knowledgeable about hip hop (not that this was the only genre on offer, but still), tells you how great the songs were, and how engagingly the acts
with a glowing smile and shaking, dancing limbs, he was right. Naturally, the big formance of Last Time, which has now become my ear worm. Labrinth, come in....to Solus again soon, please. Rhys Clayton
Hospitality
Allo Darlin'
Great Hall 3rd March
Buffalo Bar
Once again hospitality took over the great hall to bring Cardiff one night of the best drum and bass the industry has to offer and what a night it was. you could have easily mistaken the great hall for a tent in a festival on the night as the atmosphere was electric and never gave up. Netsky and Friction never let the beat stop but the real highlight of the night was of course Cardiff ’s own High Contrast on his home town return no less than a day and before the release of his Fourth LP not disappoint with a set full of old favourites and new hits that set the crowd wild. Hospitality only comes to Cardiff a couple of times a year but this one was well worth the wait and we can’t wait for its return. Phil Kenny
29th February Darlin's tenth show in ten days. The band were on top form as they started off the set with new single Capricornia, followed by the title track from their forthcoming album, . The small but dedicated crowd of fans danced happily as they were treated to a mixture of new material and old favourites, from the likes of Dreaming and to The Polaroid Song. charming throughout, engaging cheerfully with the crowd as she swapped seamlessly between ukulele and electric guitar. No one in the room pleaser Kiss Your Lips, to which you can't help the whole crowd smiling and singing along. Jo Southerd
music@gairrhydd.com
Solus 2nd March
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Film
film
news
Refound Footage and
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Several Psychos
Texan Twists and Turns
No Country for Policemen
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Film
trailer trash On The Road Release: September 2012
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A B C D
Original or Remake? Put your foreign film knowledge to the test and identify whether these images are from the original foreign film or the English-language remake.
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A)Dinner for Schmucks (Remake) B) Let the Right One In (Orignial) C)Godzilla (Remake) D) The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (Original) E) Funny Games (Original) F) Quarantine (Remake)
Answers:
Film
READ IT FIRST With every good book there seems to be a matching movie franchise to follow... Matt Ayres and Fraser Isaac pit lit against flick and decide which to check out first...
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Matt Ayres
Film
WATCH IT FIRST
Fraser Isaac
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Films to watch:
1.Trainspotting 2.Sunshine 3.Slumdog Millionaire 4.127 Hours Anna Hickman
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ALFRED
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Films to watch:
1. Psycho 2.North by Northwest 3. The Birds 4. The 39 Steps
Ceri Paine
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Film Film
FILM Reviews Wanderlust Dir: David Wain Cast: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux,
Henry Boon
6/10 ď€
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JOHN Carter Dir: Andrew Stanton Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe
and Matt Ayres
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4/10 61
The team Issue editor Lloyd Griffiths Executive Editor Gavin Jewkes Features Alexi Gunner, Camilla Flint food Simone Miche & Chloe Slade books Alice Hughes fashion Leonie Roderick, Hann Davies, Lucy Trevallion
The
Go Global Issue
Slacktivism city rd food festivals
travel Clare Baranowski & Lia Martin photos Tom Armstrong & Lucy Chip lgbt+ Hector Roddan, Laura Gwilliams arts Asha Verma & Kirsty Allen music Emma Wilford, Jo Southerd & Phil Kenny film Fraser Isaac, Matt Ayres, Morten Wright
Cover Illustration by Isabel Larner