religion democracy culture politics opinion
Magazine for Europe
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editorial
Editor’s letter Dear Readers,
Dear Readers,
After months of snow and the worst spring in years, in which the Magazine team has worked so hard to bring you a summer issue of a new kind of Interact Magazine, it is finally summer. Oh how the streets transform when the sun comes out: people sit in parks, their faces lit up, their fashion is more colourful and a general feeling of love is in the air… 3 city teams from Durham, London and Leuven in Belgium have been writing, designing and taking photos to publish a great summer read on the topics of European politics, religion and culture. Over 15 weeks the teams met in in their cities to learn the skills needed to publish their own magazine from professional graphic designers, feature writers, editors and photographers; and communicated online to create one big issue. The feeling of the magazine is summery, yet inspiring. The European politics team challenged itself to understand what most politicians can’t even grasp and wrote articles on ‘The Introduction to the European Union and the Financial Crisis’. The religion team explored notions of faith that hardly anyone writes about: Atheism, fashion and Humanist weddings. And to top it off- because we assume that all of this reading makes you quite hungry- a menu that will make you rethink your prejudice for vegan food…Mango crumble YUM.
It’s been a long journey but we have finally made it! The EU magazine is finally here for all of us to read and enjoy. Thanks to the British Council and the EU Youth in Action programme and of course all our aspiring writers, designers and photographers from London, Durham and Leuven (BE). I am very proud to have worked with people from all different experiences and cultures, and you will see that reflected on the magazine through a mixture of religion, culture, politics and reviews on cities, books and films. The magazine gave all the creators the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and to learn more about religions and politics, as well as encourages readers and writers to be able to express their own views. The magazine manages to offer diversity and interesting articles. The team have worked hard in the past 15 weeks putting the articles, layout, concept, ideas and designs altogether. It’s been an exciting journey and experience and would like to thank everyone for their hard work and effort. Now let’s enjoy the summer! I hope you enjoy reading the magazine, as much as we did making it. Enjoy!!
HELENE MATHELEMUSE Magazine Editor
SAMERA RACHYAL Project Editor
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index
Contents religion 4 The Art and Lifestyle Behind Christianity 6 Life is Beautiful 8 The Father, the Son and the Sacred Hitch 10 Fashion Looks East 12 Animal Ethics in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism 14 Humanist Marriages Becoming More Popular 16 Families Behind Bars
fun/summer 20 Why Should I Like Sports/ Why I Like Sports 22 Why McDonald’s is Ruining all Holidays? 24 Ways to Spend the Summer 26 The British Lake District 30 An Extra Shot of Love 32 United States Play
politics 34 The EU for Beginners 36 Yo!Fest: A Could, Should, Would Exercise 38 What we Loved, what we Hated and what we Want to See 42 Terrorism Culture 44 Beginners Guide to the Eurozone Crisis 46 Eight thing to do to enjoy the EU 48 Racism and Gay Rights in The Netherlands: Two Sides of the Same
Coin in Nationalist Politics
wind-down 50 Vegan Day 52 Word Search 53 Meet the Team
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THE ART & LIFESTYLE BEHIND CHRISTIANITY
words Funmi Banjoko design&illustrations&photographs Asia Buczek
Christianity is expressed in different ways using a visual format. There are many Believers of the bible in the world; it has been around for many generations. Many symbols have evolved from other religions. In the beginning of Christianity these symbols where used to signify the beliefs of Christians. But today we see it on clothing on retail stores H&M, River Island and Primark. Here are the top eight symbols for Christians.
Three Rings.This is the most popular Christian symbol, because its represents the relationship between God, The Son and the Holy Spirit which is not seen physically. This symbol is used in mathematics so when you see it remember Christianity . Stars. This picture creates a sense of life, hope and a new beginning. It represent the six days of the creation. This also signifies the birth of Jesus. The same symbol is used in Judaism, The star of redemption i.e. being saved from your wrong ways, this is also known as the symbol of baptism. The colour white and blue star represents your chosen destiny so whenever you see it in the sky follow it. Water. This picture creates a sense of life, hope and a new beginning. It represent the six days of the creation. This also signifies the birth of Jesus. The same symbol is used in Judaism, The star of redemption i.e. being saved from your wrong ways, this is also known as the symbol of baptism. The colour white and blue star represents your chosen destiny so whenever you see it in the sky follow it.
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Cross. The cross, symbolizing the way Christ died, is probably the most widespread Christian symbol, appearing on churches, statues, rosaries and jewellery for example you can get this top-shop and Primark. A cross with the body of Jesus on it is called a crucifix. This symbolises hope, life and life after death.
Fish. The fish is a Greek symbol which was used in the early days to secretly identify Christians and their meeting places. Fishing is mentioned often in the Gospels. Some people use this symbol or cars and there house doors. Dove. The dove has many meanings. It symbolizes the Holy Spirit, but it can also represent Christ or the soul. This also signifies peace which comes from the story of Noah.
Lamb. The lamb as a symbol of Jesus comes from the Gospel of John when John the Baptist calls him the Lamb of God. Alpha & Omega. Alpha and Omega is the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet respectively and symbolizes the belief that God is eternal, the beginning and the end. The letters were used in early Christianity on Roman catacombs or burial places. This symbol is also seen in academic settings schools, colleges and universities.
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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
a n d k n o w le d g e o f a p r o ba ble ye t u lt i m a t e d o o m m a k e s every mo me n t a ll t h e m o r e s w eet.
words Samuel James Wood design&illustrations Asia Buczek
H
ello. My name is Samuel Wood and I am an atheist. Some people feel that this manner of introducing this particular world-view is taboo, as though it is either something that they should only reveal in certain safe company or that it is something to feel ashamed about. Atheism is a growing view of people in this world, particularly amongst the young (1), whilst previous generations are also ‘coming-out’ as atheists. However, it is still a view-point seen as ‘wrong’ or ‘unnatural’ by those of various religious denominations. Atheists are seen as a person with a problem, as though they lack an ability to ‘believe’, and here is the conflict of the situation. I left the church when I was about 11 years old, shortly after being confirmed, and a decade following my christening. I am now 23, an atheist, and not proud but content. My decision to leave the Church of England was owing to my often overly idealistic opinions. Squabbling from church members, and hypocrisy relating to kindness and love in the community left me feeling ‘without’. These people were not giving up their worldly goods to aid another life, nor were they demonstrating the kindness that the definition of our humanity insists upon. I was angry, and so I left. My parents accepted this, and nothing became of that between us. I suppose my example of leaving a religion was much more preferable than examples suffered by others. This was not a case of ‘not all Christians are bad’, as that would be an absurd statement, but it did introduce me to the concept of a person’s will being what made them,
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not their state of belief. Indeed, I have since encountered people of religion that have educated and changed me for the better - and so the focus on the person, and not the religion, grew. However, I originally left the church out of hypocrisy, but I would still pray. Of course, for the good of the world, but mainly for superpowers. Superpowers, such as those enjoyed by the regrettably fictional Superman, would be perfect for saving the world and that was my complete intention. I would pray night after night, and started to realise that this was not going to happen, which was a shame, but now there was a different issue - why? Why was I not given the superpowers that would surely save the world? How annoying - they’d be really useful if I had them. Just think of the forest fires I could put out, or the oil spills I could…punch. And as these sorts of things go, another question arose: why didn’t God just do this himself? This question was the big one, the one that makes you stop and think. And then, the science of the matter got involved, and some things progressed and certain things stopped, and now here I am, disbelieving whilst utterly open to discerned truth. These days I am by far not alone. I am now one of many and enjoy that feeling of not being alone in sharing either a mind-set or an experience. Perhaps it is owing to scientific discoveries, perhaps owing to the infamy of flaws and evils committed by religious establishments, maybe it is owing to the growing community of Dawkins-esque minds, or is it entirely Ricky Gervais? However, I find that it is
essential in understanding an atheist that I make this point here; though grouped, we are not a group. Unlike various faiths, and indeed - very similar to many religious folk, atheists have no leader - they are told what to think and how to behave by no one and this is a blessing. We have the guiding lights of such Luciferian flames as Plato, Galileo, Darwin, Dawkins, Hawking, Hitchens and Huxley, but they do not tell us what to think. They may offer a path of thought, and it is up to the mind and critical thinking of the human in life to decide whether or not to believe. For a person to simply admonish all Gods and to sit and rehearse the words of these men
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without applying critical thinking would be, although nonsupernatural, as much a lack of selfrespect as those willing to blow themselves and others to pieces on the promise of somehow-heavenly virgins being made somewhat more proximate. Many see atheists as those without hope, or without love… for how could it be that those without trust in an afterlife and the love of a deity ever bare to continue? Why not just kill yourself since it is inevitable? Because life is beautiful and knowledge of a probable yet ultimate doom makes every moment all the more sweet. Knowing that I, as a human with the social attributes inherited from a hairier, yet still highly similar species, am capable of as much emotion as awe, hope and love as my Hebrew or Hindu neighbour fills me with a pride that notes to myself that I am good. I believe the phrase of the more anti-religious is: “Good without God”. I find that lacking an afterlife is essential to my getting things done. This ‘lacking’ is really a healthy respect for death and all it brings an end to. This is in no way exclusive to the atheist mind-set, a Muslim and Catholic may seek all the best that life can offer, but respect for the Earthly pleasures we have before us may be seen by them as something merely ‘prior’. For many atheists alongside me, the lack of rehearsals makes the ultimate and only ‘performance’ fierce and unforgettable. Living life is simply all we can do, preparation for the next realm being as redundant as tying your shoes so as to watch television. Many of you, if similar to me in your choice of viewing, who have sat before the offerings of YouTube and scrolled down to see the comments will have noticed that there are a variety of things being discussed (petulantly squabbled). Often, aside from casual accusations of racism, there is the presence of atheist versus religion attitudes, normally becoming arguments. These arguments point towards the main issue of conflict between the faithful and the rest. Atheists can be so owing to these Summer '13 Final magazine 27_07.indd 7
main reasons: personal conflict with the religious establishments, philosophical / scientific reasoning, an unfortunate desire to be smart/part of the alternative, or seeking a secular state for the benefit of all peoples. The faithful can be aggressive towards the ‘rest’ as for someone to have an alternative opinion is immediately infuriating (as atheists also succumb to), and when those people have typically studied a subject that you claim to, or truly do, hold dear to your life’s very basis, and those people then bring about points that contradict your belief the insult is clear, even if unintended. If then we have a intended, fool. Otherwise we have people coping with life and all it brings, much as those that use religion as a reason to be. Atheism is a means to further the species and a means to keep to oneself, it is a manner of sharing the joys of life and dealing with the heavy moral questions that are then twisted by the philosophy of science to become oh so temporary. Atheists know that life is fleeting, and live as such. Meet an atheist and you have met a person of opinions and feelings, speak to them about what this means to them, and you shall meet an insight into their souls and the way that the world is, and has slowly been becoming, if only for the past few thousand years.
1 . http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ census/2011-census/detailed-characteristics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/sty-religion.html
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The
Father,
&
Son
the
By Mathew Oliver
In today’s European society, it is impossible to not encounter people of different faiths, the result of a densely settled, historic continent. However, if the follower of one religion, let’s call it religion A, encounters someone of a different faith, religion B, and proceeds to tell that person that their fundamental beliefs are wrong, outdated, and ridiculous, most people would be disgusted and would perceive this, rightly, as a display of religious intolerance. If the follower of religion A were then to read and publish various books and articles conveying these beliefs, we would most likely begin to think that this person was a bit radical, and rightly so. When religion A is Atheism, however, nobody seems to mind, and all irony is seemingly wasted. Atheism is increasingly being seen as the ‘cool’ thing to be, and the decision to abandon religion is being taken less and less seriously; some people are certainly basing it on what is more socially acceptable. It requires a greater strength of conviction to join a Christian Union in university than it does to proclaim man the highest form of being and adopt an existentialist disposition. In and of itself, however, there is nothing particularly wrong with this shift towards atheism, particularly as the Western world prides itself on the propagation of secular institutions. - page 8 -
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Sacred Hitch
The departed Christopher Hitchens, (I’m sure he wouldn’t approve of me writing ‘may he rest in peace’ here), was a spectacularly intelligent man, and his death is a great loss to the world’s global intellectual community. He wrote very persuasively and with a great flourish, and it’s difficult to read any of his work without appreciat-ing his obvious mental gifts. This has, in many ways, led to Atheism being the belief system for the intellectual. However, when Hitchens writes that ‘I would feel immediately threatened if I thought that the group of men approaching me in the dusk were coming from a religious observance’ and then proceeds to write an entire book employing sophisticated analysisto explain his views, that’s alright. When a person, who has taken the time only to glance through the dustcover of a Hitchens book or watch a five-minute Youtube clip of Richard Dawkins, on the street/in a classroom/in a bar declares that “Ha, you believe in God, that’s stupid’, it’s not quite as justified. Uninformed dogma, what Atheists should deride, is characteristic of many of its adherents. There is also a very concerning habit among atheists to disregard any outside information and employ in argumentation only what they have derived from their prophets: Hitchens and Dawkins, to name the leading two. One of the popular arguments is to say “religion causes wars and unnecessary violence” – the analysis following this claim can often be found to be limited. Peoples have certainly gone to war over religion, there’s no doubt about that, and evidence of such wars has been with us since the Middle Ages. But people always go to war; we’re a pretty ag-gressive species. Oil, political strategy, economic interests are all secular mo-tivators for war, so it’s pretty safe to say that, should we abandon religion altogether, war will cease alongside it. Summer '13
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Antagonisms between individuals, not only states, are also cited as reasons why secular society would represent a type of utopia for the modern world. Religion causes segregation and a lack of acceptance. Again true. But so does ethnicity, weight, gender, wealth, whether someone prefers Coronation Street over East Enders – all are things that are divisive within our society. The route to arriving at a better world, however, is not to glibly say that we should all be exactly the same; homogenous products churned out from the great social machine. Rather, it would speak more for our capacity of humanity and compassion if it could be said that we can embrace each other as fellow men regardless of these petty differences. It’s easy to make a mockery of monotheists. If Jesus really is the son of God, I imagine he, more than anybody, would feel degraded by the way he was always referenced by George Dub-Ya Bush. Likewise, when those of us with a more liberal bent see the rationale for refusing gay rights and female advancement, it is tempting to deride the ideas that give rise to this intolerance, and all of those linked with these ideas, by association. However, it would be incredible for us to think that everyone associated with a particular religion must necessarily harbour fundamental, conservative views. In the enormous expanse that is the world we live in, there are Christians supporting gay marriage, Muslims drinking, and Jews marrying non-Jewish women. Not everybody will agree with their practices, and that’s fine, the debate is welcome, but it goes to show that not everybody who identifies themselves with some form of religion or spirituality is zealous in their views. Atheism is becoming more common by
the day, and the frontiers of monotheism are slowly receding as scepticism continues to recruit irreligious warriors. The question everyone should be asking in this situation is “does it make that much of a difference”. For the vast majority of people who identify themselves with an established religion, their lives would not be radically different if they were to abandon their faith. The lines of division are, in actuality, both small and arbitrary: Atheists think that when they die, they lie in a whole in the ground; those with religion believe that they will go somewhere else. We can never know the answer to these questions (and, if people do rise from the dead speak of the afterlife, we should be too worried about a zombie apocalypse to care), and these differences do not really matter much. Pope Francis has shown his willingness to encourage tolerance and understanding towards Atheists, declaring that his conception of salvation is available to ‘all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone’. And if the head of the Catholic Church can encourage his followers to accept Atheists, it may be appropriate for the unreligious to reciprocate. This trend of Atheistic zealousness looks destined to continue as more and more people in Europe turn their backs on established religions, with statis-tics showing that countries such as France and the Czech Republic have over 30% of their citizens claiming to have no belief in any higher power. Let’s hope that this new wave of scepticism does not manifest itself in door to door conver-sation because, at the moment, that seems to be the direction that seems to be the direction that fundamental-ist atheism seems to want to take. - page 9 -
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Fashion Looks East
Rachel Sharp
Structured, unrelenting silks hug the female form in kimono style dresses adorned with floral appliqués meticulously folded like paper to resemble origami shapes. The feminine fragility of the geisha is juxtaposed by her assertive, confident stride, in shoe boots akin to the ancient tradi-tion of foot binding, and the powerful seduction of her scarlet red pout and harshly defined eyes laid against the base of her porcelain white com-plexion, alluding to a more vivacious essence of the samurai able to both enchant and mesmerize an audience in a single glance. Gatherers are not here to be frivolously entertained by the vul-nerable delicacy of the geisha in the land of Eastern promise. In-stead, the audience here today consists of designers, celebrities and fashionistas gathered in the servile interiors of a contempo-rary building in Italy’s fashion capital to witness the unveiling of Milan’s Spring/ Summer 2013 catwalk show from fashion house Prada. However, this bold clash of East and West is not an unusual en-counter when it comes to the fashion world. For a long time now, fashion has playfully antagonised society’s everincreasing mergence of cultures and faiths and challenged the stereotypes based on a society and its beliefs. Refusing to allow minorities to hide or be cast into the shadows, the fashion industry has kicked open its doors (with its well-heeled feet) to the opulent fabrics of the east and the exterior symbols of religious variety, and em-braced the diversity that this offers to our individual wardrobes. Since the turn of the 20th century, the turban has been catapult-ed from a symbol of Eastern faith to an increasingly elaborate and mainstream fashion commodity. From 1910 onwards, designer Paul Poiret reintroduced the turban into Western consciousness with his Eastern-influenced Oriental designs of turbans deco-rated exotically with plumes, feathers and flowers. Challenging the stereotypical Western female dress code of restrictive corsets, Poiret brought what was a dominantly male accessory to the masses; famous figures Peggy Guggenheim and Gloria Swanson were some of many who embraced this liberation of identity in terms of both gender roles and religion. From here on the tur-ban has gained the prestige of gracing many a Vogue magazine cover. Classic American beauties such as Sophia Loren, Marlene Dietrich and Elizabeth Taylor each wore the turban both on and off screen in their own unique styles, catalysing an army of fash-ionistas to follow suit. Widely believed to have begun life in Persia as a religious symbol, by the 1940s the turban had cemented its social status as symbol for the well-educated, well-travelled inde-pendent woman. Most stereotypically, the turban is associated with Islam, being worn by Muslim men in emulation of the Prophet Muhammad; in this faith it is not part of the female dress. In Sikhism, the turban can be worn by both men and women. Where it was originally a commodity restricted to the elite upper class proportion of the Sikh faith, it is now mandatory for all practicing Sikhs to wear one so as to promote equality. Less widely known, the turban is also associated with Rastafarians, West Indian tribes, Cretan tra-ditional dress, and even a branch of Christianity. Not forgetting that within the individual religions and belief systems, the colour, style, shape and size of the turbans vary greatly between coun-tries and even local regions. With the physical presence of the turban holding such diverse symbolic qualities it is hardly surpris-ing that the top moguls of the fashion world have successfully imparted a new characteristic to the turban as a long-standing, decorative accessory. - page 10 -
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This trend has journeyed from the far reaches of Eastern culture, to Western minority culture, to the catwalks, to high street fashion, and each step the turban has taken on its journey has contributed to its ever-changing design and status. We cannot merely say that Western fashion has taken attributes from the East but that it has also given. As Chanel’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld mused, ‘You don’t get into the details, you reinvent the details’, as cultures borrow these ‘details’ from each other to create a new version of a tradition in a mutual state of interdependence. Yet fashion may be in danger of bordering on secularising traditional eastern faiths. When Lady Gaga chose to don a burkhastyle ensemble to Philip Treacy’s September 2012 London Fashion Week show, the consensus in the media was of horror and opposition whereas the fashion world rejoiced. Further added to this is the controversial modification of these sacred symbols to fit with the latest fashion trend. Designer Carla Dawn Behrle’s ‘Lou Lou’ turban, celebrated in the March 2012 edition of American Vogue, is fabricated from seductive black leather; an uncomfortable mesh of the sacred holiness of a faith with the eroticism of bondage and fetishism? Or a combination of what was once two separate cultures brought together by the power of fashion to portray a now multicultural society where east and west are no longer distinct and separate? This successful collaboration of east and west is perhaps most obviously celebrated by returning our attentions back to the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2013 Menswear collection. In one fashion collection alone, the essence of the multicultural society is captured and the fashion industry paves its way for increasing acceptance of diversity in terms of culture, tradition and faith. Pleated skirt kilts at home in the far reaches of the Scottish highlands, nautical monochrome sailor stripes whilst sipping coffee on the French Riviera, vibrant turbans and intricately patterned harem trousers off the streets of Goa, naturalistic python print sourced from traditional African tribal dress: one man, one outfit but many cultures and sources of origin. We as individuals, like fashion, cannot be simply pigeonholed into one culture or one faith. Likewise, each culture and faith is not exempt from the power that fashion holds in the current world. The iconic speech by Meryl Streep in the fashion blockbuster ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ throws off c ritics o f f ashion as secular and materialistic: “You think this has nothing to do with you”. No one is exempt from fashion. It is not just how people dress but it is an expression of identity which can define an entire historical movement. Would tribal designs, oriental signatures and even Christian cross motifs still be assigned to the exotic minority of the ‘other’ if fashion had not given these a voice and a concrete place in the identity of mainstream culture? Most probably this would be the case. By sporting the latest turban or tribal print design, we are not necessarily subscribing to or, worse, cheapening its significance. We are in fact celebrating the diverse, multicultural identity of our current society. Tradition is not a static state of affairs. It is something diverse, ever-changing, and, for Britain, it is essentially a far cry from the union jack waving, God Save the Queen, stiff upper lip that it is stereotyped as being. Through fashion we are breaking this stereotype, throwing prudish politeness out of the window and merging the best aspects of cultures into an accessible, collective sense of unity. Summer '13 29/07/13 14:22
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Image found on: http://occasiodea.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/fashion-model-photography.html
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religion In this article I will outline the beliefs that Hindus, Buddhists and Jains have when it comes to the ethical treatment of animals. As you will see, their beliefs heavily influence their religious practices and their lifestyles, especially when it comes to diet. These three religions view animals differently than do Jews, Christians and Muslims. While Jews and Muslims, for example, have restrictions on eating pork, these restrictions are not based on ethical considerations, such as non-violence or compassion. WORDS: SAM WOOLFE DESIGN: MONTSE DEL PERAL
Animal Ethics Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions. There are many sub-traditions within Hinduism, but there are two beliefs about humans which seem to dominate the religion’s view on animals. The first belief recognises that humans exist on a continuum with the rest of life and that we are not completely separated from other animals. The second belief says that humans are what life should be like, giving us a status superior to that of any other animal. The concept of karma is central to Hinduism. Karma says that a being will be reborn (or reincarnated) as a particular life form depending on their past deeds. According to Hinduism, if a human lives a life of bad deeds they will be born as an animal. This suggests, by definition, that every animal that exists must have led an immoral life. Therefore, animals are seen as being inferior to humans. However, the belief that humans are on a continuum with animals can also lead to a more positive outlook. The Hindu tradition also claims that all animals have souls like humans and this relates
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to the concept of ahimsa (a principle of non-harm or non-violence). It is a principle which says animals have their own life, their own interests and their own ability to feel pain – we should therefore not harm them or kill them. The moral status of animals is also suggested by the fact that the cow is considered a sacred animal. It is also suggested by the fact that the gods Rama and Krishna were reincarnated as a cow and a monkey respectively. You also have gods like Ganesha (the elephant-headed god) and Hanuman (the monkey god) who have long been worshipped in the Hindu tradition. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) says that the ethical treatment of animals is fundamental to the core of Hindu belief. In the Hindu epic, Mahabarat, Lord Krishna tells his cousin that, “Humans should take from this planet only that which is necessary for our survival” which many Hindus see as an argument against killing animals for meat. According to Hinduism, there can be serious karmic repercussions for taking an innocent life, causing suffering to another animal or supporting it in some way. Someone
can receive negative karma not only for slaughtering a cow, but so can someone who consumes beef, since they are funding the slaughter. Vegetarianism is a common practice among Hindus, with Hindus making up the largest percentage of vegetarians in the world. Spiritual leaders such as swamis, sadhus and gurus are almost always strictly vegetarian, and most Hindu temples do not allow meat products on the premises. Several ancient Hindu texts contain messages about how we should peacefully coexist with animals, show kindness to them and refrain from injuring or harming them. The Manu-samhita says, “By not killing any living being, one becomes fit for salvation”. In the Bhagavad purana we find the line; “Deer, camel, donkey, monkey, rats, creeping animals, birds and flies – one should consider them like one’s own children, and not differentiate between one’s children and these creatures”. The Vishnu Dharma Sutra found in the Manu Smitri argues that, “He who kills harmless and non-violence creatures for his own pleasure will never get true happiness, whether in this
“In some religions animals are seen inferior to humans”
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life, or after he dies”. Hindus justify their vegetarianism based on the following teaching, again, from the same text: “Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures, an injury to sentient beings (beings which can feel pain) is detrimental to the attainment of heavenly bliss; let him therefore shun the use of meat”. Buddhism is similar to Hinduism in its view on animals, which is unsurprising since both religions were born out of the same country. Buddhists, like Hindus, believe that both humans and animals are connected to each other by the laws of karma and the process of reincarnation. In Buddhist scriptures and practices, the teaching of compassion often leads to the ethical consideration of animals. In the Mahayana school of Buddhism, animals are regarded as having a Buddha nature, just as humans do, and this gives them the potential to also become enlightened. The Buddha believed in the concept of reincarnation and argued that all beings living in the animal realm have at one point been our mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, children and friends. Therefore, humans and animals are part of a single family – we are all interconnected. The Five Precepts make up the Buddhist code of ethics. The first of the five precepts bans the taking of life and in its broadest sense would ban the killing of both humans and sentient beings. One of the main focuses of Buddhism is on suffering in the world (the First Noble Truth of the Buddha says that “life is suffering”). Since suffering is something which we want to eliminate, and since animals can also suffer, Buddhists believe we should not inflict suffering on them. A concern for animals is found in Buddhist history too. The first Buddhist monarch of India, Asoka, said he intended to put an end to killing certain animals for food – animals and humans should be equally protected. The First Precept of Buddhism focuses mainly on directly participating in the destruction of life. This is one reason why the Buddha made a distinction between
killing animals and eating meat, and refused to introduce vegetarianism into monastic practice. Many Buddhists believe that the Buddha promoted vegetarianism – most Buddhist monks in China, Vietnam and Korea are strictly vegetarian. However most Buddhists do eat meat in practice. In terms of the Buddhist scriptures, there is some controversy over what Buddhism actually teaches when it comes to eating meat. In the Pali canon, a collection of Buddhist texts, monks were encourages to accept whatever food they were given, unless they were given the flesh from an animal which was killed specifically for them to eat. The Buddha himself ate meat on several occasions. But in the Mahayana tradition, the Buddha disagrees with eating meat. In one text he says “...I teach the harm arising from meat-eating”. In this tradition there is also something called the bodhisattvas vow, which says that anyone who wants to become enlightened must show compassion towards all living things. Jainism is one of the oldest religions, and like Hinduism and Buddhism it finds its roots in India. Its main teachings is ahimsa or non-violence towards all living beings. Only by following a life of non-violence can a Jain get out of the endless cycle of reincarnation. Mahavira is considered the man who gave Jainism its present day form – he said that “there is no quality of soul more subtle than non-violence and no virtue of spirit greater than reverence for life”. Traditionally ahimsa is interpreted in a negative sense, to not cause harm, but modern Jains also interpret it in a positive sense to do acts which promote justice, peace, liberation and freedom. Jains believe that all life is sacred, regardless of faith, caste, race, or even species. As its written down in Jain scripture, “Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture or kill any creature or living being”. In following this teaching, Jain monks may be careful when walking through their temple to ensure they don’t crush any insects. They will also wear cloths over their faces to stop themselves from accidentally swallowing flies
“The Buddha himself ate meat on several occasions”
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and other insects. Violence can be committed in a number of ways and a Jain will avoid committing violence themselves, asking others to commit violence, encouraging others to commit violence, and condoning violence. The principle of ahimsa affects the life of a Jain in a number of ways. Jains are not allowed to do jobs that cause harm, such as those in which trees are cut; the trading in meat, egg, dairy, silk and leather; selling pesticides; selling weapons; digging; circus work involving animals, and zoo work. Since ahimsa is also a positive concept for Jains, they are encouraged to protect the environment and work for kindness towards animals. The principle also affects the diet of a typical Jain. All Jains are strictly lacto-vegetarian, which means that they avoid meat and eggs, but can consume dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter. However, many Jains are also vegans, which means that they involve the consumption and use of all animal products. This is based on the fact that dairy products involves violence against cows. Similarly, honey is avoided because it involves violence towards bees. Strict Jains will avoid root vegetables, such as potatoes and onions, because tiny creatures are injured when the plant is pulled out the ground. Although Jains say that every life form should be protected, they admit that this ideal cannot be fully realised in practice. So Jains try to avoid causing unnecessary harm as much as possible. In addition, Jains are more careful in protecting beings which are more developed (such as humans) than beings which are less developed (such as animals and plants). CONCLUSION The one principle that these three religions rely on, ahimsa, can be a good basis for how people in general treat animals. Currently animals are treated as property and their life is given no value. Chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cows are forced to live in factories, without sunlight and without living space, and where they are subject to horrendous treatment and painful deaths. The Eastern religious principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence, can be adopted by the Western population and help us put an end to these cruel practices which are detrimental to animals, our health, and to the planet as a whole. - page 13 -
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Humanist
WORDS: SAM WOOLFE DESIGN: M. DEL PERAL
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marriages
humanist wedding is like any other wedding – it is a ceremony where the partners can express their commitment to a life-long partnership with each other. It takes place in the company of family and friends, the bride usually wears a wedding dress, there is a wedding cake, vows are recited, and rings can be exchanged. However, humanist weddings differ from most in that they do not take place within a religious context. The person who conducts the wedding is not a religious figure (but a humanist celebrant) and the weddings do not take place in a religious building. They can in fact take place anywhere that the partners deem special enough for the occasion. Humanist weddings are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland where they have been legally recognised since 2005. The Humanist Society Scotland says that they are far outnumbering Catholic marriages, and they could, if trends continue, soon outnumber Church of Scotland weddings. Any couple in the UK can have a humanist wedding, but, outside of Scotland, the marriage must also involve a legally recognised service. In other
words, everyone is entitled to a humanist marriage, but to be legally recognised as married, you will have to make a visit to the Register Offices and be married by a civil registrar. Humanist marriages are only legally recognised in Scotland, New Zealand, Ontario, Norway, Iceland, and Ireland. The British Humanist Association (BHA) is supporting an amendment to the Marriage Bill (going through UK Parliament at the moment) which could give legal recognition to humanist marriages in England and Wales. The BHA Head of Ceremonies has said that, “There’s an obvious unfairness in a law which allows everyone to have a civil marriage but allow only religious couples to have legal recognition for the ceremony based on their most fundamental values and beliefs, conducted by a person who shares them”. The BHA supports gay marriage on the same grounds that they support the legal recognition of humanist marriages – they say it is unfair to deny both groups a choice which religious couples have. The BHA supported civil partnerships for this reason, although they see civil partnerships as a stepping stone towards the goal of full equality. The Marriage Bill that
“These weddings have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005”
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is going through Parliament is proposing to legalise gay marriage and the BHA want to amend it so that humanist celebrants will be able to conduct legal marriages of all couples. The BHA is urging individuals to write to their MP, explaining that existing marriage laws discriminate against humanists, and to also ask their MP to take this issue to the Ministers. Recent figures from the Registrar General reveal that over half of the 29,135 marriages in Scotland in 2011 were civil ceremonies. There were 5,557 marriages conducted by Church of Scotland ministers, 2,486 Humanist marriages and 1,729 Catholic marriages. Humanist marriages appear to be on the rise because they can be catered to the couple’s choices and preferences. Couples organising a humanist wedding can accept some traditions, while rejecting others – some brides may walk down the aisle with their father, or both parents, or perhaps walk down alone. Humanist celebrant Tim Maguire has married couples from many diverse backgrounds, and will meet with the couple before the wedding to make sure that the ceremony unfolds how they want it to, without the necessary formal proceedings that take place in a religious marriage. Perhaps it is time that marriage laws in England and Wales reflect the needs of humanists who, after all, are a rapidly growing group.
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Would like to thank the following people for all their advise, help and guidance during the making of this magazine: Dr. Kolja Raube (KU Leuven) Dr. Susan Frenk (Durham University) Mrs Emma Hall Craggs (Durham University) Mr John Braime (UCL) Mr Oliver Peachey (UCL) Mr Dave van Ginhoven (The Hague University) Mr Wouter van Dam (The Hague University) Mr Alistair Wyllie (Recoat Design) Ms Amy Whiten (Recoat Design) Mr Roy Heath Mr Kwame Lestrade With special thanks to: University of Leuven - KU Leuven University College London Durham University
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Families Behind Bars For the week ending Friday June 21st 2013, 83,706 men, women and children were in prisons and young offender institutions across England and Wales. 10,768 of these were, at the time, being held on remand, pending an innocent or guilty verdict. But what about those on the outside who are left behind. The doting mothers, brothers, girlfriends, and children now faced with not only the practical and emotional separation from their loved ones, but also the inevitability that they too must become quickly accustomed to the long arm of the law, that they too must face the fact that their day-to-day routine also involves being cut off from normal society behind the bars of one of Her Majesty’s Prisons. I went inside HMP Durham Visitor’s Centre to speak with these visitors and gain their own, unique perspectives into how the prison system is impacting on the lives of both them and their loved ones.
“Before my first visit I couldn’t sleep. I was so scared, but then I walked up towards the prison and saw a sign on this little old house saying ‘Visitor’s Centre’. This little quaint house!” Julie gestures around her, with a reluctant laugh, “I mean, the only image I had of these places was what you see on TV, and it’s nothing like it - you know, I mean I’ve never been anywhere like this before. This isn’t part of our world, so I didn’t know what to expect.”
This ‘world’ which Julie is speaking of is, of course, prison. Her 21 year old son Joel is coming up to his 9th week on remand for a drink driving offence, after an extensive catalogue of alcohol-related arrests and police cautions. Presumably this disadvantaged young man is the victim of a family history littered with broken homes, alcohol abuse and petty crime; whose family and friends view him as a scapegoat for society’s prejudice which he is punished unnecessarily for. After all, boys will be boys. But this is not actually the case. The middle-aged lady sat before me in impeccable dress and displaying the utmost courtesy, insists woefully, and startlingly, about her son’s incarceration that: “It had to happen. I think it was actually a good thing, in a way...he’s had time to think about things”, agrees Sarah, girlfriend of the accused and mother of his 10 month old son. There is a deep sense of relief, almost gratitude, from these two brave women, as they reel off an endless list of alcohol programmes that they have emotionally and financially supported Joel through, sadly to no avail. For Joel’s relationship with alcohol is at the root of his criminal activities, and it has taken the law to finally force him to recognise that he is not ‘untouchable’; that his choices are negatively impacting on the lives of not just himself, but those of his family too. “They had a lovely flat, he had a fantastic education, he’s got his own car, a good apprenticeship - he’s always worked, you know - erm, but, we had to get rid of the flat.” Whilst proud of some of the achievements in Joel’s life, none more so than the evidence of rehabilitation, with Joel now free from the temptation of alcohol and acting as a responsible mentor to new prisoners, it is evident hat this has had to come at a high price. Sarah and her son have lost their home, unable to afford the rent as she is suddenly faced, through no fault of her own, with the prospect of being a single parent for an indefinite length of time. Her child, less than a year old, is forming his integral child-parent bond with his father during an allotted 2 hour visit, surrounded by guards and prison dogs. Sadly, social stigma in the modern world pigeonholes these three innocents sat before me under the umbrella of criminality by association. With unbridled honesty, Julie admits that, prior to Joel’s incarceration, she too would have made the same prejudiced assump-
Rachel Sharp
tions of the “way of life” of an individual who has been sent to prison, and “what he has grown up with”. Due to family shame and a sense of embarrassment and guilt that she somehow failed him, Julie admits that: “Work don’t know. Well, my boss knows but only because I was getting upset, so I had to tell him what was going on.” Shockingly, another main reason to keep quiet about her son’s whereabouts is the awful, and yet tragically plausible, concern that it may impact Julie herself changing jobs in the coming months. The few family members and close friends whom she has confided in, provide her with awkward cliches in the futile attempt to comfort her:
“ ‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone’ or ‘Don’t worry, it’s no reflection on you.’ This, to me, shows that people automatically do make a judgement, as they feel the need to try to justify what’s going on. People saying these things makes me think, well, do they think that it is actually a reflection on me!?”
This judgement is something which Aaliyah can easily relate to. Aaliyah is here visiting her brother, Victor; something she has been doing twice a week for the last 9 months. Victor is awaiting a retrial, thereby, just like Joel, he is yet to actually be found guilty of his accused crime. “I thought it was supposed to be in-
nocent until proven guilty, but people just presume that he must have done it, and that he must be bad. And, because he’s my brother, they presume that I must be a bad person too. It’s quite depressing - sometimes I feel like just not seeing anybody.” The sad reality is that the only place where Aaliyah, Sarah and Julie feel that they are free from these prejudices is inside the prison gates; where here a smile from a stranger across the room is a microcosm for an unspoken, mutual understanding that they’re going through the same struggles. Whereas the moment they step back out of the Visitor’s Centre to return to their local communities, that understanding and sense of inclusion seems to disapparate. Normality is reversed and the real dangers of instituionalisation are evident as the justice system begins to be an awkward comfort zone for innocent, law-abiding parties. It is a sorry state of affairs when a little boy is destined to grow up to associate prison with content family memories and a sense of inclusion not available elsewhere in society. In this sense, not only is society ascertaining an unfair judgment on those associated with people in prison, but it is almost encouraging the problem of crime breeding crime. For the time being at least, these families are playing the waiting game, not knowing whether this ordeal will end at trial or progress to a longer sentence and thereby a more permanent need to adjust to family life without their loved ones. And yet, despite the negative effects on their own personal, work and social lives, these visitors are selflessly grateful to the criminal justice system that Joel and Victor and each of them too, might finally be able to move on with their lives away from crime on their release. The unfaltering hope that there is no chance of a relapse back into crime is admirable, and yet harrowingly naive. Latest government statistics display that there is a 1 in 4 chance of offenders reoffending within a year of leaving the judicial system. This means that there is a 50% chance that either Victor or Joel will sadly fall into this category. For the sake of Aaliyah, Sarah, Julie and the future of Joel’s baby boy, who are the hidden victims of crime, voicelessly punished for their noble ability to unconditionally love and support a family member no matter what, I sincerely hope that their faith is not unfounded and that neither Victor nor Joel become the latest figure totted up on the government website.
“Boys will be boys, but this is not actually the case.” - page 18 -
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Images found on: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/flash/Lens/2011/09/20110915-prisons/480-2.jpg and http://prisonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/gknight.jpg?w=475&h=313
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WORDS: NIKKI MOTOHASHI PHOTOGRAPH: MONTSE DEL PERAL
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here are many things I do not understand in this world - I do not understand how people can have lukewarm feelings towards the heaven that is Nandos, neither do I understand how people can watch a cute cat video and not want to scour the internet immediately for every other cute cat video in existence. Perhaps, therefore, I am simple narrow minded - even so, I am surely not the only person completely baffled by the millions of millions who obsess over sport. Those who save religiously to fly across the world and watch matches that may only bring crushing disappointment, or cancel all engagements so that they can prepare for the ‘once in a lifetime’ game that seem to happen every season. Those who sent their ringtones to the grunt of their favourite tennis player and can rattle off decade-old statistics with more readiness than they can recall the birthdays of those closest
Why should I like sports? to them. I just do not get the allure. And, alas, I can never escape from those afflicted because the disease riddles my entire family. My parents are tenniscrazy, to such an extent that finding them hunched over a laptop in bed at 4am, watching footage from matches in Australia, is an unremarkable occurrence. And my brother has picked up the same bad habits. He insists that the whole house submits to absolute silence whenever the football is on - heaven forbid, my music might block the soporific voice of the commentator. It is infuriating, truly, that people who are otherwise fiercely intelligent, are reduced to blubbering wrecks by the simple act of a ball being kicked - or thrown, or whacked. And, worst of all, their hypnotic obsession is funding glorious lifestyles for hundreds of sportsmen. Sure, many work admirably hard and deserve rewards for their talents, but I am hardly the first to point out that their pay is often hugely disproportionate - everyone knows this. Yet people - millions of people - still flock to Wembley in droves, and splurge on merchandise that will be entirely redesigned next season. To my eye, half the world is crazy. - page 20 -
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fun/ summer WORDS: JONATHAN HINE PHOTOGRAPH & DESIGN: MONTSE DEL PERAL
S
ometimes I wonder why I bother following sport. Occasionally, when searching the internet for the live scores in the German Bundesliga, simultaneously watching the Cricket highlights from the night before and making plans to go and watch the evening kick-off in a couple of hours - I find myself wondering if this might, just might, be a waste of my Saturday? Yet there are many reasons why millions of us do follow sport. It can be exciting, frustrating and euphoric, all within the space of a few minutes. It can craft epic narratives of plucky underdogs versus arrogant champions. Every now and then it produces moments of such super-human brilliance that it truly takes your breath away.
Why I like sports? One factor sport possesses, above all others, is to create a feeling of being a part of something big; of being a member of a community. Anyone who got the chance to be at the London Olympics will know exactly how this felt. For two weeks London was filled with fans and athletes from 204 countries, and for decades nations have put their differences aside for this sporting event, even when their relationship is generally a bit more frosty (I’m looking at you, North and South Korea.) Sport has always aimed to promote peaceful engagement between communities and societies. The original Olympic games were an opportunity for rival Greek regions to unite in peaceful competition - after all, the 100m sprint seems a much more civilised way to win respect than by stabbing someone. A central part of this sporting community is its dismissal of privilige. This may seem a strange thing to say when many sports teams are owned by billionaires, employing players who are millionaires. However the bottom line in any sport is ability. You can’t buy a place in the England football team, no more than you buy the Wimbledon Championship. The Brazilian football legend Pele grew up in poverty, kicking around a ball made of socks and rags; Mo Farah came to England from Somalia at the age of 8 barely speaking a word of English; Venus and Serena Williams grew up in the gangland neighbourhood of Compton in Los Angeles. At it’s purest sport doesn’t recognise wealth or status. Its all about ability and that is why so many of us relate to it. So the next time I’m standing in a rainy park watching a dour nil-nil on a Sunday afternoon, I will try to remember that there are millions of others who would happily do the exact same thing.
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Image found on: http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX727_FRANSE_G_20090810184427.jpg
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Donde Esta La BigMac? “Globalisation and big corporations mean that, wherever people go, they always see the same things, and finding something unique becomes increasingly difficult.” Imagine the scene: You are waiting in the airport, with your meticulously packed bags, ticket in hand. This break has been long needed, and after much deliberation you finally settled on your destination. You can’t wait for the chance to see something new, and experience a culture different to your own. You contemplate purchasing one of those key phrases books from WH Smith’s. After a long and tedious flight, you land in your exotic destination, slightly jetlagged, but bursting with anticipation. Then, a sense of the uncanny hits you when you step out of the airport and into your taxi: The driver is wearing a Manchester United top and, as you drive down the streets to your hotel, your surroundings have a certain familiarity. This is because on each corner you can see a Starbucks, a McDonald’s, a KFC, a Costa, an H&M, maybe even a Pizza Hut. Your exotic holiday is nothing more than an expensive trip to an anonymous town centre. The possibility of adventuring into the mysterious, unknown world is fading rapidly, and soon it may be an impossible fantasy. There was once a time when going to a foreign land provided the opportunity to immerse oneself in habits and norms entirely different to life in one’s native land. Food would be different, language would be different, and clothes would be different. In the modern era, however, this vision of the far off land is disappearing. Globalisation and big corporations mean that, wherever people go, they always see the same things, and finding something unique becomes increasingly difficult. Keep your eyes open for guidebooks offering translations of an average KFC menu. Obviously, there is often some benefit to having these recognisable brands in locations that are otherwise daunting to the average tourist. When you are hard up for an idea of what to drink or eat, deciding to choose an already familiar establishment can often seem like the option to take, rather than tentatively pointing at and mispronouncing local specialities. But is this not to defeat the whole point of going abroad? There was a time (well, twelve years) when I was living in Dubai. Twelve years is a long time in Dubai Speak, and I was in a fortunate position to witness many radical changes to the landscape of the country, both economically and physically.
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Matthew Oliver
For all the Ferraris and Lamborghinis frequently presented in the media, Dubai, believe it or not, was once a more cultural place – and if it wasn’t cultural, at least it seemed a bit different to the rest of the world. To some extent it still is, but anyone who flocks to the predominantly touristy places in the city are unlikely to see any of this. There are still a few enclaves that attest to a not-too-distant past, wherein Dubai was not as glamorous as it is now, but even these are deviating away from what they once were. Areas such as Karama, and Satwa, which are populated mainly by wage labourers and small tradesman, are where I will frequently insist on going with some of my more traditionalism inclined friends. These are the places you go for more reasonably priced merchandise and authentic food (Curries, Lebanese food, Chinese food -it’s all there). Imagine my surprise, then, when, during my last visit, I saw signs of ‘civilisation’s’ gaudy encroachment. Now the main streets show signs of abandoning the smaller scale proprietorship that made them once so attractive. Subways and KFCs are springing up, and the arrival of a Starbucks is all but certain. It seems as if this is going to be the trend the world over. McDonald’s has over thirty-thousand branches world-wide. The insidious franchise has burrowed under the skin of one-hundred-and-nineteen countries, and similar infestations of the likes of Burger King, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut are almost certainly approaching these levels of penetration. Pretty soon, it seems, we will be flying to Barcelona to try the Curries, Paris to sample the Pizza, and New Deli to get a Tall Americano. Like anything rare in this world, these differences in culture and heritage must be preserved, and embraced. All hope is not lost, however. We, the people, the soon to be sunburned people, have it within our power to not allow these unfortunate circumstances to blight our holidays, and the solution is easy. Resist the urge to remain in your comfort zone. You’re on an adventure, you’re going to a new and exotic land, and you’re there to broaden your mind as well as tan your body. So be brave, try something new, and remember: half the value of an exotic holiday abroad is boasting about all the amazing things you have experienced that others haven’t, and boasting about unheard of foods in unheard of restaurants is obviously more fulfilling than coming back with only the observed nuances of a foreign Costa.
“McDonald’s has over thirty-thousand branches world-wide. The insidious franchise has burrowed under the skin of one-hundred-and-nineteen countries.” - page 23 -
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Ways to spend
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the summer
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The British Lake District
MATTHEW OLIVER
up
‘
walk steep
But on the
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none of that
the hill towards the stones, What you get out of a holiday can so often depend on what you put into it. Yes, handsome reader, I’m talking about money! And at first, it seems no different in the British Lake District. Thumb through the brochures that come as standard with your stay in a caravan, cottage or hotel, and there’s a mass of opportunities to lose moneyvia gaining entry into posh manors, world famous pencil museums, and even zoos. The Lake District, located in the north-west of England, is most definitely a tourist spot. Towns like Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick are lined with shops and attractions that conform to standard holiday prices. They can be pretty costly if you’re with a big group. -Entrance fees don’t apply to everything, though. So much of the Lake District’s greatness lies in off-the-radar areas, things that resolutely refuse to be spruced up or tamed by tourist agencies and their noble ideas. Navigate the roads up to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, and you’ll find no
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’
matters.
permanent facilities, and certainly no museums with artefacts on show, dug up from excavations nearby. Ha, no: if you’re lucky, you’ll come across a man in a van, who might be able to hand you a leaflet. But on the steep walk up the hill towards the stones, none of that matters. When they first come into view, I’m pretty adamant that you’ll be struck by the same persuasive point I was: it’s better this way. Up there, with no modern paraphernalia but for your own digital cameras and smartphones possessing surprisingly good reception (not that I checked, no, no, no...), it’s like the land that time forgot. These stones are ancient, from before the times of the Romano-British even, and their power is latent. There is a lot that can be enjoyed, if you’re prepared to forsake open-top
buses and classically named ferries. For me, walks in Grizedale Forest hold much the same appeal as hour-long visits to the Stones. Hiking, as we all know, is good for the heart, but it is also much more revitalising to the mind than walled-in gyms could ever be. When various environmental groups campaigned against the selling off of Britain’s forests in 2011, they were onto a good thing: following a forest trail, and being receptive to all the ambience of the forest, is alluring and and therapeutic. And the crucial thing about these trails is that they conform conform seamlessly to the whims of all manner of walkers, from your garden variety Sunday stroller to the battalions battalions of classy 20-somethings who’ve come equipped with all the right gear. Grizedale and its ilk are the
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fun/ summer sorts of place, by the way, where you see someone with a Berghaus and think “They know how to do it!” Here’s a tip, though: hang onto your guide maps! They cost, and many are the families and friendship circles who misplace them and subsequently have to rebuy them every single year. Good grief. With or without knowing the routes, though, you’ll quickly be able to see that Grizedale and Whinlatter present the Lake District in its purest, rawest form. I’d class going to either of these two forests at least once during your trip as an absolute must. People from inner-cities and even small towns rarely get the chance to escape all the concrete and brick and lamp-posts and metal fences and train-lines and double yellow lines. It can be a highly regimented existence, dwelling in a city, and so whisking yourself away to a place where nature just won’t be trimmed is a revelation. It’s fair to say that, across the Lake District, there are many ways to exert yourself. Walking, yes, but also mountain-biking (both Grizedale and Whinlatter have bike routes; on tough terrain too) canoeing, abseiling, all that kind of stuff. The Lake District can be very activity driven. But what if you try to actively avoid becoming exhausted whilst on holiday? What if you’re after respite? For you, worn out soul, there’s salvation. ----------------I used to stay a week in one such tincan, before moving onto deceptively named “holiday cottages” (most of which are, unsurprisingly, just ordinary houses you’d see in Manchester, Hull, or Sheffield, rented out by their owners. Note well: not witches). The thing about caravans is that they’re slammed together for sleeping in, for eating in, and for planning in. Think of them as metal command tents, a base-camp for the traveller. Of course, there’s a roaring trade in luxury caravans, whose rooms are more generously sized and richer in furnishing, but even these don’t hold up to sustained living. Pleasant enough to stay in for a while, the real point of a caravan is to set you off on your adventures. You therefore might reckon cottages to be the superior form of accommodation, but that’s not necessary the case: sure, their TVs tend
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to boast HD functionality, and there’s no doubting that a house-bound shower is the decisive victor in the comfort and convenience stakes, but with a holiday cottage there’s always a danger of sitting down and putting your feet up. Which is all very well, but when there’s a world outside ripe for exploring, it seems a bit of a waste. Perhaps cottages have the dubious honour of being too good. Cheapest and most reliable of all housing is of course the humble tent. Once you’ve bought one (and everyone should really have a tent; it’s a global right!), there’s a load of places you could pay to push your pegs into. Camping, even on a field crawling with other human beings, always feels like an adventure. If you want mornings you can soak up, when the sky as as dim as the current contents of your head, if you want nights you can truly feel one with the world in, then camping out in the rural world is where it’s at. The Lake District offers exactly that. It’s through all this, from stomping up veritable bogland on your way to another personal best in Whinlatter, to sampling the region’s out-of-town restaurants, to buying your place on the next ferry trip around Lake Windermere, that you’ll grow to form a bond with the Lake District. A bond so tight that you’ll be drawn to defend it whenever a friend or work colleague dismisses its charms, and remarks that they’d rather enjoy the much more favourable weather conditions of Barbados, Madrid, or Rome. Selling the Lake District on its weather never goes well, evidently. It’s the kind of place where sayings along the lines of “the sun was dead warm today!” are always exclaimed with mild relief and/ or astonishment. But in trying out the Lakes, you’ll be venturing into a part of Britain that feels almost separate from the rest, as if it’s still a land of myth. Granted, the frequent appearances of cars, motor boats and (occasionally) RAF training jets somewhat punctures that feeling, but it’s certainly a place that, to quote Kenneth Branagh during the London Olympics opening ceremony, is “full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs.” Bleats, moos, and dung, in that order.
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‘
’
One final point:
I have to admit that I have never been to Texas, but I bet the Lake District trumps it for its Kendall Mint cake alone. Summer '13
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“For many of us, coffee is a big part of our daily routine and our social engagements.�
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Coffee Culture
Pagie Whellans
‘Durham doesn’t need any more coffee shops!’ It has become something of a running joke, in my quaint little home town, that there’s absolutely no shortage of places to grab a brew. It’s a tiny little city, that boasts only four streets, but without much effort I have been able to think of no less than 18 cafés and coffee shops. Out in Newcastle at the weekend, we were looking for a particular shop, and I tried to explain, ‘it’s up there, next to Starbucks,’ and then promptly laughed at myself because, well, everything is next to a Starbucks. Even on the most local level then, there is stark evidence of the explosion of coffee culture in the UK in recent years; the popularity of good quality coffee and the demand for somewhere satisfying to sit and enjoy it is still on the rise and rise. And on a Saturday afternoon when I’m standing at the coffee machine in my shop, with a queue out of the door and people struggling to find a seat, I’d argue with anyone who tried to tell me Durham doesn’t need any more coffee shops. The UK now has a plethora of coffee chains operating in its market. The three main players in the UK market are Costa, Starbucks and Caffè Nero, alongside brands such as Prêt à Manger and EAT. Greggs have jumped on the coffee culture bandwagon, opening a number of ‘Greggs Moments’ stores, which bare a strong resemblance to these well-known coffee chains, showing that even companies established for other specialties are aiming to expand into the café market. Which is understandable, given how this market is thriving. According to research by Allegra Strategies, the UK coffee market saw 7.5% growth in 2012, with a turnover of £5.8 billion. UK market leader Costa recently reported a 6.8% rise in like-for-like sales, and with plans to open another 186 new stores in the coming year, this growth shows no sign of slowing down. As well as its high street stores, Costa’s presence is showing up in service stations, supermarkets, bookshops, and even in some branches of clothes retailer Next. Furthermore, Costa has installed ‘Costa Express’ self-serve units in a number of strategic locations, and sells its coffee to be used in pubs and hotels under its ‘Proud to Serve’ banner. Evidently then, barista-style coffee has become much more readily available in recent years, matching an ever-growing customer demand. It is not just about national chains, though. With over 15,700 outlets now operating in the UK, independent coffee shops are also succeeding in this market. This means that there is a choice of experience when choosing where to have your coffee. By visiting a chain store, as a customer, you know what to expect, and should be able to expect the same standards anywhere, so you can always have what you know you like. Independent stores offer a something different, and I find that this is often more personal, intimate and individual, and more of a‘coffee experience’, in the right store. As a barista, I believe that this‘coffee experience’is something special and exciting. I believe that coffee is something to be appreciated on a number of levels, and something to be passionate about. It is 7 years since I started working in the industry, and just as the economic figures have changed drastically in that time, so too has the nature of the products available. Our menu used to contain 4 espresso based drinks: americano, latte, cappuccino and mocha, and a couple of types of tea. Summer '13
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Over the years, the offerings on the menu have increased dramatically to include flat whites, chai, various types of hot chocolate, up to 10 flavours of tea, iced coffee, iced tea, and blended drinks, all of which can be made with any of three different types of milk, decaffeinated coffee, and one of many flavoured syrups. There are so many subtleties that can influence a drink and make it something totally different. This range of options generally splits coffee shop clientele. There are those who have learnt how to order coffee, and know how to get exactly what they want; they’ll order a ‘medium soya half decaf wet extra hot extra shot caramel latte in a large take away cup’, while others will look forlorn and say, ‘I just want a cup of coffee!’, because the huge range of options make it difficult to know exactly what they want. This shows that coffee culture has reached out to all kinds of different people in the UK. It is interesting to see different customers’ attitudes to their coffee experience. There are people in suits on the phone who look rushed and busy and just need their caffeine fix. There are people who come in at the same time every day, for whom their coffee is part of their daily routine. There are families who come and buy sandwiches and cakes for themselves and all their kids, students who sit with their laptops surrounded by papers, groups of friends who sit and laugh across the table. But the one thing that they have in common is their participation in this coffee culture, buying into their coffee experience. As a barista, you become a part of this experience. If a customer’s activity becomes centred around coffee, then the coffee is important. I know many baristas who become so passionate about the product that they are serving. For us, coffee is not just coffee it is an art. Even after this coffee culture explosion, the process of making a perfect cup of coffee goes underappreciated too often. There are so many factors in creating good coffee. It begins with sourcing the best beans, then how they are dried, roasted and stored. For the barista, there is skill in making sure they are ground properly and that this grind is dispensed in the right quantities to ensure perfect espresso. Making sure milk is prepared to the right consistency and optimum temperature is essential. Any mistake at any point in the process will alter the taste of the end product. Furthermore, there is an aesthetic element to creating good coffee; in this vein latte art has become a popular challenge for baristas, using pouring techniques to produce coffee that not only tastes great, but looks incredible too. As coffee culture continues to develop in the UK, and the popularity of quality coffee continues to grow, so too does customer understanding, appreciation and expectation. For many of us, coffee is a big part of our daily routine and our social engagements, and it seems that this is only going to continue to be the case, and indeed become more so. As the market continues to expand and diversify, demand for coffee and café space will continue to grow with it. And on that basis, Durham could probably handle more coffee shops. - page 31 -
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fun/ summer Gap years. It’s what all the cool kids are doing these days. In Studentville, where I spent a good three years of my life, everyone is always talking about their gap year. These people have gone to the furthest corners of the earth, to the most exotic places, doing the coolest things, to ‘find themselves’. It conditions anyone in their late teens and early twenties to panic recklessly about the fact that they haven’t traveled further than Scunthorpe, or had a more enriching experience than that weekend in the caravan in Skegness. I, too, fell into this trap. I had a year out before university, and did the almost unheard of: I didn’t travel anywhere. Then when I got to uni, I realised everyone had seen at least a little bit of the world.
So I decided to cram my cultural enrichment into one summer between my second and third years, when I was supposed to be starting my dissertation, in a demonstration of the ultimate level of procrastination. I say cultural enrichment. I’m going to go out on a limb and say something that nobody else ever dares admit: I like being clean most of the time, and I like being able to get internet access whenever I want. So all of the pre-approved gap year experiences seemed somewhat out of the question. After careful consideration, I decided that the USA was quite outlandish enough, thank you very much.
I also decided that, not being someone to do things by halves, I wanted to see it all at once. None of this two-week holiday nonsense. So that’s how I ended up traveling 13,000 miles in nine weeks around the continental United States. It was the best thing peer pressure has ever forced me to do. So here is a little selection of my highlights, and a couple of things to avoid, that I learned on my jaunt around the States…
United states of Playing it safe Paige Whellans
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Loveliest people – Washington State
The Pacific Northwest generally has a reputation for being a friendly place, and for me it didn’t disappoint. people were all so helpful and hospitable. Normally, when I’m in a strange city, being a woman on my own, or with other equally confused women, I feel like I’ll probably get myself into a spot of bother if I whip out a map or try to google where I could have possibly put the hotel. Not in Seattle. In Seattle, a nice lady went out of her way (without being asked) to tell us how to get to the Space Needle, and what public transport to get, and how long it would take us and at what cost. And after that, we went for lunch, and the guy who owned the café chatted for an hour and gave us free ice cream. Just because. Awesome.
Most breathtaking – Grand Canyon
I know it sounds like a massive cliché, but it is actually true. Blindfolds on, my tour group cautiously all joined hands, and were led across the car park, to what we could only assume to be certain death. Stood in a line, feeling like we were waiting on a firing squad, we were instructed to take off our blindfolds. And in front of us, stretching out into what seemed like forever, was the canyon. Nothing in the whole world, before or since, has ever literally taken my breath away. But this did. And then later, flying over it in a helicopter, as soon as you embark upon the canyon, it feels as though the ground is dropping out from underneath you. And it’s scary. But amazing. Breathtaking: the only word for it.
Best food – Seafood paella, Miami Beach
I don’t know what restaurant this was in. But it doesn’t really matter. Because unless you’re a millionaire I generally wouldn’t recommend it. It was seafood paella, and it was INCREDIBLE. It had a whole lobster tail perched on top. But what we didn’t know, until the bill came, was that it was $112 worth of amazing seafood paella. So now I feel like I have to say that it was the best food, purely to justify having spent the money. Somewhere that I would completely recommend for food though, is Handy’s Lunch in Burlington, VT. It’s your classic American diner experience, U-shaped counter to sit round, watching your food being cooked, bit of banter with the family that run the joint and have done for decades. They’ll even take your picture and stick it on their Facebook page so you can prove you were there. It’ll only set you back about $5. And let’s face it, who even likes lobster anyway?
Favourite ‘off-the-beaten-track’ Unexpected gem – Banff, Alberta -Sturgis, SD A small, otherwise unremarkable, Technically not America (well, not
town in Meade County, Sturgis is home to one of the world’s biggest motorcycle rallies. And luckily for me, we just so happened to be passing through the area in the first week in August when the rally is held. I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun; bikers everywhere, stalls selling random rubbish tailored to appeal to the taste of thousands of metal-heads, packed bars screeching along to Guns ‘n’ Roses tribute bands and the like. Probably not something you’d seek out if you’re not the type to hang out in your leathers swooning over a Harley, but you definitely, should. Summer '13
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technically, it actually isn’t in America), Banff made its name as a ski resort. And a ski resort I’d never heard of, at that. It was just a place on my itinerary that I wasn’t bothered about. And for those who had heard of it, who expects a ski resort to be much fun in the height of summer? But it was amazing. The most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen, lakes and mountains lending themselves to beautiful walks and cycle rides. And just because the ski season is over, it doesn’t mean the nightlife stops. Banff, for such a small place, is full of quirky bars, we even caught a cover band who were good entertainment. A lot happening all year round
Favourite state –South Dakota
People always ask me what my favourite state is, and I suppose this is where most people say Florida, or Texas, or California. I guess South Dakota isn’t such a popular choice. But here is why. Firstly, cowboys are cool: South Dakota made me buy a cowboy hat, and I wore it for the whole of the rest of my trip. Sturgis is in South Dakota, and we’ve already established that it’s fun there. Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota. There’s Native American heritage. The isolated Wall Drug Store, that lures you in with its billboards. It’s just interesting, and there’s a plethora of cool stuff. And it makes you sound more knowledgeable that saying your favourite state is California.
Most random – Spam Museum, Austin, MN
Its website declares that, ‘You can’t truly ever know how great the SPAM Museum is just by reading about how great it is. You have to come here to experience this life-altering pure pork bliss for yourself.’ That’s the truth. It’s a museum about Spam. Full of things to do with Spam. Why? I couldn’t tell you why. I only know that I came out with a head full of facts about Spam, and a bag of Spam golf tees, and some Spam. And I don’t even like Spam. But I was truly amazed.
Least favourite place –Key Largo, FL
The Florida Keys are beautiful. Camping by a swamp in early September is not. I have never been so warm, or had so many insect bites. It was almost, almost, worth it for the snorkelling, because we saw little sharks and turtles, and it’s a gorgeous part of the sea for seeing different fish in crystal clear waters. But, seriously, it was warm. And those bites. If you go to Key Largo, go when it’s cooler. And stay in a hotel. Far, far away from the swamps. So there you go, gap year folk. It is possible to do fun and interesting travel related things in the Western hemisphere. Maybe some day I will branch out into some slightly more obscure parts of the world, and culturally enrich myself further. But hopefully this suffices as a beginners’ guide to how to do fun and quirky things without leaving your comfort zone too much! - page 33 -
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politics JOE ROCHE
A beginners
EU GUIDE TO THE
With the proposed EU referendum looming large on the horizon, it might be that some of our readership is ready to roll up their sleeves and jump into blistering debate on the many faceted and much nuanced intricacies of the European Union. For your perusual we’ve included a quick guide to the history of the EU that will have you up to speed in no time..
Founded at the end of the Second World War in 1945, the European Union began as an attempt to foster a lasting peace between the frequently warring countries of Europe. As an extension of this effort, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy created the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 to further unite Europe economically and politically. Each member state began to oversee these resources equally, as to make it difficult for one member state to mass produce weapons without the consent of the others. The success of - page 34 -
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this scheme showed the benefit of cooperation and joint management across Europe, and the abolition of customs duties and shared control of agricultural resources soon followed. Soon after in 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the UK joined the EU, followed by Greece, Spain and Portugal in the 80’s, with Greenland leaving the community after gaining home rule from Denmark. The ‘Single Market’ act of this time brought with it the ‘four freedoms’: the improved movement of money, people, goods and service. The ‘Schengen agreement’ began to Summer '13 29/07/13 14:22
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fact in 1987, Turkey applied to join the EU, and has still yet to be approved due to its developing economy and poor human rights record. This application has been in the works for over 25 years.
eliminate the need for passports between member nations, giving millions of young people a chance to receive their education abroad. With the nineties came the formation of the EU as we know it today. The Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Amsterdam began to form a European Union focused on protecting human rights and the economies of member countries. People began to look to the EU as a solution to the international concerns of security, defence and environmentalism. In this time, Austria, Finland and Sweden took up their Summer '13 Final magazine 27_07.indd 35
membership in the EU. The noughties brought the introduction of the Euro, standardising currency for many of the European Union’s members. Ten new countries joined the EU at this time, mending the fractures in East/West relations that had previously hindered European development. The 2008 financial crisis, the effects of which still dog nations the world over, lead to improved economic cooperation between member countries. In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon triggered the reform of the EU legal structure, merging three tiers of EU interest into one legal entity and appointing the first President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. Today, the sum of the European Union’s efforts flavour many aspects of British life. Business practice, environmental policy, national security; even the food we eat is affected by EU policy. This said, arguably the biggest contribution of the EU is its improvement of International relations between member countries. Now, if we could just get them to stop beating us in the World Cup… - page 35 -
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Yo!Fest: A could, should, would exercise What we loved, what we hated and what we want to see The European crème de la crème was there. Members of the European Parliament, Commissioners, European Party Officials and Youth Associations from around Europe were invited to take part in a campaign initiated by the umbrella association European Youth Forum, aiming to promote active youth vote in the next European Parliament elections in 2014. However, something just did not go right. The event took place in the heart of Europe; Brussels. For two days, the very posh crowd which usually walks the marble floor of the European Parliament esplanade mingled with a bunch of noisy volunteers running around in colorful sweaters, building music stages and variations of circus tents. The agenda was planned carefully and it involved numerous attention-grabbing events happening simultaneously; visitors had the option to attend debates on unemployment, mobility of young Europeans, sports and culture while interacting with some of the official guests, such as MEP’S or the Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. On the outskirts of the esplanade, representatives of European political parties and about a dozen of youth associations shared information on their aims, goals and activities, trying to attire new members. Each day was sealed with a music concert, cheap beer, and a relaxed atmosphere. Tackling a major issue such as the democratic empowerment of a generation which is more than often characterized as “lost” because of the side-effects of the crisis, Yo!Fest had the potential to be a ground-breaking event in youth mobilization. But it wasn’t.
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It is most likely that people who pass in front of the European Parliament every day will most probably already know what it is. However, due to the lack of advertisement, these were the diffident visitors of the Festival. Social media were barely used for its promotion, whereas important funds went to waste, leading to little audience and minor participation. The European Parliament, which co-funded the event, ensured the involvement of 54 volunteers from different EU origins regardless of their background. Consequently, many European countries with large youth unemployment or vote abstention percentages were underrepresented or completely ignored. That is not to say that Yo!Fest was arid; on the contrary, it was an amazingly professional production. Just barely anyone was there to witness it. Unfortunately, it is not the first time that events related to European values and ideals are self-marginalized through poor communication strategies. Nevertheless, the EU cannot afford more missed opportunities to establish communication channels with the grass-roots especially in times as challenging as these; unemployment is peaking and extremist political movements growing in many member states threaten not only the future of Europe, but also democracy itself. It is only our hope that representatives of undemocratic ideas will not have a place in the next composition of the European Parliament. Maybe next year, Yo!Fest and other similar initiatives will find a way to be more effective by reaching their target audience. We certainly hope so.
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politics
European
youth forum Giving young people
a voice
During their
.
YO! festival
we listened
!
Interview by Lija Postel During the European Youth Forums YO! fest we asked a selection of participants about topics surrounding their views on living in Europe. It was asked what they thought would contribute to a stronger Europe...
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André
Sophie
Niklas
Former European Commissioner
Volunteer
Denmark Visitor
We have not enough of Europe. We live in a world of six billion people -what can a country, even like Germany or the UK, mean in that world? We have 27 member states trying to work things out on their own, instead of cooperating. We have to work together to get to a solution. People blame the European Commission for taking austerity measures instead of blaming their own governments, not knowing that the commission only proposes, and it’s actually them –ie. the citizens- that decide and take action.
I’m here because I want to raise awareness amongst young people to participate and vote more in the European Parliament elections. I think there’s a big role for youth in the European Union. The people here now, will be the people responsible later. If we grow tighter bonds now, we’ll have a more sustainable perspective in the future. We as young people can build an understanding of the European Identity and the European feeling.
The crisis is also in Denmark but it’s not the same as in the Southern nations. In the North we have reasonable unemployment when you compare it to the Southern states and we have a well functioning democracy in general, but there’s always room for improvement. In Denmark people don’t know much about the EU institutions, they don’t participate in the debates and they don’t vote. The most important thing right now is to get the growth back and to establish some free trade areas; the progress has already started with the agreements with Japan and the US. I think that’s one of the most vital parts of the EU – promote free trade, freedom in general, and I think that can be our way back into the world economy.
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Thomas
Wout
Oscar & the Wolf
Coordinator of Yo!Fest
Visitor
Band member
The youth in Europe needs to be more visible, because there’s less and less money for young people. We want to advocate for them, we want to give them the opportunity to go on exchange. The austerity is hitting young people pretty hard. The European Youth Forum wants to amplify the voice of young people, since a lot is happening backstage and does not reach the greater public. It’s not about going to conferences and talk to the same people all the time, but also to really speak up to the media.
Young people have not been voting, even before the crisis. I think it is an issue of young people having lost their trust in politics. Even today, there are a lot of populist promises which will be broken after the elections. The crisis has shown that in reality the markets are in power. Politicians are not being honest about their limited powers in a globalizing world. EU politics is far away from the citizens and therefore hard to relate to them, however, I think that loss of trust is not a problem limited to the EU. I will vote in the next European Parliament elections because I believe that even though the system might be broken, we can only fix it from within.
I can’t wait for the future. It’s nice to be young in a time of challenge; it means we can make a difference. It comes down to being more creative, I think. People are getting more open minded, they are going further than they thought they could. The crisis is an opportunity for change. I would change that people in neighborhoods only live next to each other instead of living with each other. Politicians do not offer solutions; they only want to throw dirt at their opponents. The only current politician I appreciate is Obama.
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Terrorism and culture Blood runs deep
Joe Roche
The dust from an act of terror never truly settles. A psychological toll is taken on those the attack has affected; but not just on those who have lost friends or family, but on a nation as a whole. Increased security, the pouring of funds into antiterrorist agencies – the necessary boxes are ticked and panic is mitigated. Even after the danger is all but eliminated, the culture of the affected nation adapts to this new perception of an enemy within its borders. Subtle effects can be seen throughout our society. Since the 9/11 attacks brought terrorism to the forefront of society’s mind, TV and Film have adapted to the new influence, sometimes retroactively. Many films featuring elements of terrorism or showing footage of the world trade centre were scrapped or postponed, and DVD released of popular films had the World Trade Towers edited out altogether. Spiderman, Zoolander and Men in Black 2 were edited and reshot in order to avoid allusion to the attacks or footage of the towers. Of course, this change has also filtered through into television. The X-Files and its spinoff series ‘The Lone Gunman’ were both cancelled after featuring a story arc in which an airliner is stolen and narrowly avoids hitting the World Trade Centre. Though these shows were dropped in the wake of a tragedy, new hit TV series with anti-terrorist undercurrents began to spring up across the globe: 24, Sleeper Cell and Homeland to name but a few. Now more than ever, terrorists are the go-to villains in our TV shows, movies and even computer games. This said, terrorism afflicts more than the media culture of a nation. The influence people and governments around the world can be seen more clearly than ever before. In the six months following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, the FBI conducted over 455,000 more background checks for firearm purchases than the previous year.
Pro-gun agencies such as the National Rifle Association have attributed this sudden spike to a general unease brought about by the attacks, and gun rights supporters have rallied around this development in their charge to liberalize state laws concerning concealed weapons. According to organizations such as the NRA, the general trend towards pro-gun legislation in the states is linked directly to the 9/11 attacks. The recent NSA scandal perhaps better illustrates the way that terrorism has affected the mindset of a country. Casting harsh light onto the invasion of personal privacy by the US government in the name of national security, the stark implications of a fearful country are clear. Going against the ideals of a nation to protect the ideals of a nation is an infectious logic, one that government should strive to avoid – yet this mode of thinking is rampant within the governments of countries afflicted with terrorist attacks. Racial profiling has also began to run rampant in the wake of recent attacks. On the 22nd of May, Islamic fanatics attacked soldier drummer Lee Rigby in a London street, killing him. In the few months since this attack alone, Islamophobic hate crimes have increased to more than ten times their usual rate, with more than 140 reported in the 48 hours after the incident. According to a YouGov survey of 1,839 adults, there has been an increase in the proportion of people who consider British Muslims to be a threat to democracy – up to 34%. This increase is indicative of a change in our national mindset, and shows damage beyond that of the attacks themselves These changes can be seen all over the world, ingrained into society and popular culture. Given enough time, individual attacks might fade from the public memory, but the resulting changes to law and culture might not.
“Given enough time, individual attacks might fade from the public memory, but the resulting changes to law and culture might not.” - page 42 -
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Images found on: http://www.riskmanagementmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Terrorists.jpg
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Beginner’s
GUIDE TO
the Eurozone CRISIS words Nikki Motohashi design&illustration Asia Buczek
World leaders probably spent more time worrying about the Eurozone crisis than anything else in 2011 and 2012 - and this was a period featuring the Arab Spring, the Japanese tsunami and the death of Osama Bin Laden! What’s more, 2013 looks set to be little different. Yet I, for one, have struggled to keep up with the ebb and flow of the Euro tide. Until recently, even a basic grasp of this financial crisis eluded my comprehension. Judge my political ignorance if you will, but for those who find themselves in a similar situation, here is a quick outline of the essentials:
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What is the Eurozone ‘Eurozone Crisis’ is the shortcrisis?The hand way of describing Europe’s
struggle to pay back debts built up over recent decades. Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain are particularly in the red - these countries are gathered under the brilliantly memorably acronym ‘PIIGS’. However, the consequences of the crisis are more far-reaching: economies worldwide have lost millions in toppling European banks, and will lose millions more as trade links have become unreliable.In other words... the crisis is bad news for everyone.
How did this happen? It is easy to blame the situation on
the ‘irresponsibility’ of the PIIGS: presumably, their governments borrowed too much, making their ruinous levels of debt inevitable. However, the reality is much more complex, given that not all of the struggling countries engaged in reckless borrowing. Spain is a clear example of such relative good behaviour - unlike the majority of its neighbours, the Spanish government abided by the agreed borrowing limit. It did not reap the rewards of its virtue, however: in 2008, the global recession popped the bubble of a balanced budget for Spain, dragging the previously debt-free nation down to the same level of economic hardship as other, less well-behaved countries. The Spanish government is now struggling to cope with a catastrophic fall in house prices, and the worst employment rate in the Eurozone.
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Greece’s route to disaster is, perhaps, easier to understand - not only did its government borrow beyond its means, but exacerbated its problems with rampant overspending and meagre economic production. The true extent of Greek financial instability was largely hidden until 2009, however, due to some creative book-keeping: borrowing statistics were manipulated so that nothing appeared extraordinary. In summary, Spain and Greece represent two extremes in their respective routes to the Eurozone crisis: the former was a perfect pupil, the latter, the class rebel. The remaining countries - the ‘PII’ if you will - fall somewhere in between: to varying degrees, they all failed to generate enough economic growth to keep afloat amongst their debts. However, there is also an overarching guilty party - the Euro. Arguably, the idea that a single currency could meet the needs of 17 different economies was inherently flawed. It certainly appears to be a contributing cause of the crisis - for years, the PIIGS were allowed to borrow at low interest rates, since a fixed rate applied to all, and prosperous countries such as Germany determined the policy. Admittedly, the reckless borrowing of most countries involved in the crisis made their financial failures inevitable, with or without the Euro. But if the PIIGS had retained their own individual currencies, they might have been able to export their way out of turmoil, selling goods on the international market until their respective situations became a little less dire. As it is, this is not possible.
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BAN KRU PTC Y N O I T P U R R O C CRISIS
T B E DFINANCIAL So what is the solution?
Unsurprisingly, there is no magic cure to the crisis - there are simply a number of possible outcomes, some of which are significantly worse than others. Bottom of the list of desirability is the prospect of one of the PIIGS leaving the Eurozone, or defaulting on paying its debts (put simply: refusing to cough up the required sum). This would be universally detrimental - the offending country would suffer from a devalued currency, a banking crisis and plummeting stock markets whilst its weak neighbours would be similarly harmed in the process. Luckily, this scenario is now unlikely; nevertheless, the crisis is far from over and few alternative solutions are considered viable.
The best outcome would probably involve a combination of a stable fiscal pact and stricter austerity measures - in other words, imposing caps on government borrowing and cutting spending or increasing taxes in order to cut the deficit. Such schemes, while far from providing a full solution, and even further from providing a popular one, are, perhaps the only way of rescuing the Eurozone from its crisis. And, on that rather bleak but timidly hopeful note, we reach the end of this slapdash journey through the recent history of Europe’s economic problems. I wish you luck in keeping up with future news from the Eurozone - take solace in the fact that your attempts to keep on top of current affairs cannot possibly be worse than mine!
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8 things to do to enjoy the €U The EU was founded in the wake of WWII to ensure peace amongst nations. Today, it is dividing them as citizens throughout EU member-states question the point of the EU. As the prospect of a so-called ‘Brixit’ or UK exit from the EU looms ever more plausible, I’ve compiled a list of my top eight things not to miss out on before it’s too late… WORDS: KIRSTiN FAIRNIE DESIGN: MONTSE DEL PERAL
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s C r h t y E E o a o r f
Apply for a PHD. The EU recognised that an overly complex application process was preventing researchers from pursuing their studies to PHD level and beyond. By simplifying this process, they facilitated the creation of the EU’s accessible academic community. Universities and research facilities throughout the EU have benefited from the Schengen agreement by being able to appoint the best lecturers and researchers regardless of their country of origin. Pan-European research studies have achieved some innovations that would have been impossible at a national level– such as CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research), which discovered the God particle, is run 20 of the EU’s member states, and combines 10,000 researchers and 4,000 employees from 113 nationalities. The EU has also issued guidance on the publication of research findings in order to ensure that researchers aren’t able to brush failed experiments under the carpet.
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politics Make a tour of Freshers’ weeks. The openborder policy enshrined in the Schengen agreement means that citizens of EU member states can holiday, work, or even settle in any EU country if and when they want to, without having to go through laborious visa application processes. This has promoted better understanding among nations, by providing the opportunity for millions of EU citizens to benefit from exchange schemes. The EU’s ‘Lifelong Learning programme’ gives EU citizens first-hand experience of the lifestyle and culture of other member states. It includes schemes such as the ERASMUS programme, which allows students enrolled at university in any EU member state to study at another EU university, and has been used by more than 3 million EU students since its inception in 1987. But it doesn’t just provide these opportunities for students: the Leonardo Da Vinci programme, which provides work-experience placements throughout the EU, is designed for people who want to gain vocational experience, whilst the Grundtvig programme gives opportunities for adult learners to participate in exchanges.
Buy a straight banana. Without the European Commission’s Regulation 2257/94, we would be eating bananas with ‘abnormal curvature’ left right and centre. Jokes aside, the EU has ensured better food safety across Europe with acts outlining what constitutes safe food, and founding the European Food Safety Authority which carries out scientific checks on every aspect of the food chain, from livestock feed to turkey twizzlers.
Get a job. The EU has ensured better working conditions for employees in all sectors– from restricting the weight of load that employees can physically carry to stipulating the maximum work-load employers can expect. Whilst the concept of ‘Health and Safety’ has been portrayed by Eurosceptics as the illogical creation of paranoid EU bureaucrats, the EU’s regulations on employee rights have ensured that all employers offer their employees a break for every six hours worked; a weekly maximum of 48 hours of work (including overtime); and at least 4 weeks of paid holiday leave every year. Thanks to a directive passed in 2010, if an employee or their partner has a baby they are entitled to at least 4 months’ leave without any threat to their job security and they also have the right to request leave in times of extreme familial distress. Thanks to the EU court of Human Rights, if your employer is not offering you this, you have the right to take legal action against them.
Book a cruise. The EU set out rules governing the safety of passenger ships and aircraft. Its officials inspect every new ship to make sure it is fit for use, and ships are subject to annual surveys to ensure their continued safety. Companies cannot carry passengers on ships that have not received a safety certificate from the EU. Its competition laws have also ensured that air travel remains affordable, meaning that scores of Brits can hit Magaluf in the summer months. If you’re planning a trip this summer that involves flying out of any EU country or into the EU with any company registered in the EU, you’ll be pleased to hear that even if your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 5 hours, EU legislation states your airline must either provide an alternative means of travel or a complete refund. And finally… if you have a holiday romance, do not despair: free movement makes it easy Phone for couples with different nationalities to live together, a friend. Remember without forcing them to get married before they how annoyed your parents are ready. were when they discovered that that phone call you made to your boyfriend in Mallorca had cost half their annual income? Oh, ‘roaming charges’. Well, those days are gone, thanks to the EU’s laws controlling the cost of mobile phone use within EU countries. The ‘eurotariff’ introduced in July 2012 guarantees that no matter where you are in the EU, you won’t have Buy Stock to pay more than 9 cents (plus VAT) for a your Christmas up on milk and text, more than 29 cents to make a call presents. The EU has passed bread. Without the generand more than 8 cents to receive regulations ensuring the safety of all the ous subsidies they currently a call. products available in shops throughout memreceive from the EU, British farmers ber states, including toys and technology devices. would be unable to continue producIt founded an authority for enforcing these standards ing food at the prices they do today. If we and checking that all products imported into the EU are weren’t happy to accept hikes in the price safe for consumers to use: border officials at ports and of basic food products, we would need to airports throughout the EU check every single crate that turn to imported produce, which would comes into the union to make sure that you’ll never get a seriously threaten our farming industry. shock from a dodgily wired hairdryer bought in the EU. It Increasing the distance our food has also passed directives clarifying your rights if you buy travels could also pose problems faulty produce, and helps ensure that perpetrators are for food safety and the punished. environment. Summer '13
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politics
Racism and gay rights in the Netherlands: Two sides of the same coin in nationalist politics Kaitilin Van Baarle
In the Netherlands, where I come from, people pride themselves in being a tolerant, open, and equitable society. Women, homosexuals, and ethnic minorities all have equal rights, as it is claimed. Yet, like in several places in Europe, there has been an increasingly nationalist political movement that openly speaks out against Muslim ethnic minorities, because, as it is argued, Muslims do not share the “progressive” values of Europe. The late renowned Dutch politician, Pim Fortuyn, openly stated that Islam is a “hostile religion”, and a “backward culture”, which is inherently incompatible with the liberal values of the Netherlands. It is also no unknown fact that Fortuyn was openly homosexual, and often deployed his sexuality as a means to distinguish himself from those supposedly backward Muslims. This political approach is referred to by scholars as homonationalism. It denotes the way in which tolerance towards homosexuality is leveraged as a tool for exclusionary, nationalist politics. I always find it is a difficult issue to discuss because I have trouble disagreeing with the notion that all sexualities deserve equal recognition in society, which is perhaps why homonationalism has become so persuasive as a political tool. Many of us would have trouble debating against skewed, racist arguments if we don’t know all the facts and if we can at least agree on the fact that we want to live in an equitable society. The most problematic aspect of homonationalism is, however, the way in which it blatantly ignores facts that might complicated the picture, and paints our world as black and white. In this way, many ordinary people throughout Europe might be duped in supporting racist, exclusionary policies that reek of the pre-World War II nationalist political climate. I can only speak for The Netherlands, and I can say for certain that we actually still have a long way to go with regards to equal rights for alternative sexualities and gender identities. Transgender individuals in the Netherlands are required to alter their bodies through surgery and be permanently sterilized before they can have their gender legally recognized, a policy argued by Human Rights Watch to be a violation of human rights. Maya Posch, a Dutch intersex woman who has appeared on Dutch television, also chronicles on her website her experiences with being pathologized and mistreated by psychologists and physicians. Posch suffers from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of her maltreatment by the medical world in the Netherlands, and has vowed to leave the country in search for a place that has more knowledge and respect towards her condition. In general, among gender and sexual minorities in the Netherlands, there is a desire for being “normal” -only if one can blend into the heterosexual crowd can a person be “tolerated” for their sexuality or gender expression. - page 48 -
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Overall, I still notice general sentiments regarding gender and homosexuality that are extremely problematic and not limited to Muslim ethnic minorities: men can’t do feminine things lest they be considered “pussies” or “gay”, if women don’t shave their legs they’re considered masculine and undesirable, the word “gay” is still flippantly being used as a pejorative, and the list goes on. Evidently, all of us in Europe still exist in a world of restrictive gender roles, regardless of the supposedly progressive values that we live in. I also have trouble believing that all Muslims are as intolerant of homosexuality as is portrayed in the Dutch media. Unfortunately, in my attempts to find information about the experiences of Muslim homosexual youth in the Netherlands, the top search results referred to attacks on homosexuals by Muslims. There is no doubt that the image of the homophobic Muslim is widespread, and that many people tend to conceptualize Muslims and homosexuals as two mutually exclusive binaries. Yet it goes without saying that non-homophobic. Muslims do exist, and that homophobic Dutch people exist. Most importantly, the existence of homosexual Muslims is a reality, and we cannot give our much-needed support with nationalist and racist politics that would only cause them to feel doubly isolated – both with regards to their sexuality, and their ethnic identity. When I was a student in Maastricht, the Netherlands, I remember one of my professors being particularly outraged at a campaign for homosexual youth that advocated “coming out”. Such a campaign privileges only those youth who can come out to their families without risking being banished from their homes, excluded from their communities, or worse. Evidently, the way we deal with sexuality and ethnic identity also goes beyond tactless political rhetoric. It largely has to do with well-intentioned individuals who want the best for sexual minorities but might overlook the fact that those sexual minorities of a different ethnic background might have very different experiences. But dealing with these matters involves a more nuanced approach than a nationalist political strategy that only capitalizes on existing racist sentiments in Europe. As a start, all of us have to acknowledge the many steps we still have to take for full acceptance of sexual minorities, especially those that might not fit within the image that is usually conjured in our minds when we think of homosexuality. In other words, we need to realize that there is a whole spectrum of sexual minorities that still face many struggles: people who are transgender, intersex, men and women who try to break free from gender roles, and especially ethnic minorities who might be any of the above. Rather than simply using homosexuality as a political tool of prejudice, pitting one oppressedminority group against another, we need to be vigilantly compassionate and have a critical understanding of the struggles people face in Europe. Summer '13 29/07/13 14:22
“Many of us would have trouble debating against skewed, racist arguments if we don’t know all the facts and if we can at least agree on the fact that we want to live in an equitable society.”
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recipes Contrary to popular belief, ascribing to a vegan diet isn’t hard. There are plenty of alternatives to eat and in our health- conscious world there are now more options available for people to purchase food that contains no animal products. This day-menu of vegan deliciousness includes ingredients that are easy to find and the meals are easy to make!
VEGAN DAY recipies&photographs Abigail Jackson design Asia Buczek
Breakfast. Should be the biggest meal of the day. As the name suggests, you’re breaking the fast you inevitably took during sleep (unless you’re a sleep-eater, then you’ve got an extra helping - yay?). Here are a couple breakfast recipes you might want to try. Ultra Filling Smoothie ingredients: 1 ½ cups of raw cashew nuts (depending on the strength of your blender you may need to soak the cashews in 2 cups of water overnight) 1 banana 2 cups oats 1 teaspoon of vanilla mixed spice 2 cups water (if you haven’t soaked the cashews overnight) method: blend the cashews and water first until they are liquidised, add the banana, oats and spices, blend all until smooth. Coconut Pancakes ingredients: 4 cups self-raising flour 1 cup brown caster sugar 2 cups desiccated coconut 1 cup all spice vanilla alpro hazelnut milk vegetable oil (for frying) method: mix the dry ingredients first, keep adding milk to the mixture until a smooth batter is formed (you may need to use a whisk to beat away any pockets of unmixed flour), heat a frying pan on high, add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and spoon the batter for your first pancake into the pan, when the top surface of your pancake - page 50 -
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Lunch. A lot of us eat lunch on the go, during breaks at work or university. These lunch recipes are easy to make on a day off at home, or quick enough to prepare the night before a busy day at work.
begins to form air holes, you can flip the pancake on the other side, repeat until all the batter is gone. Vegan Mac&Cheese ingredients: ½ lemon 1 teaspoon sea salt ½ cup coconut milk 1 cup nutritional yeast flakes (this is not bread yeast) 2 cloves garlic a dash of chilli powder and cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons turmeric 1 teaspoon paprika water 200g raw cashew nuts 500 grams spirali pasta (100% durum wheat) method (for the ‘cheese’ sauce): begin to boil the pasta; preheat oven at 180 degrees, blend cashews and water until the nuts are liquidised; add the coconut milk and blend again, add the juice from the lemon, add sea salt, chilli powder and cayenne, garlic and nutritional yeast flakes to blender, add turmeric (it looks like cheese now!), depending on how thick you want the sauce, you can add more water or cashew nuts, the sauce has been made! drain the water from the boiled pasta and mix the pasta with the ‘cheese’ sauce in an oven-friendly dish. put the pasta in the oven for 25 minutes.
Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup ingredients: 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes 1 butternut squash cloves 1 red onion, chopped honey a dash of cayenne pepper olive oil method: preheat the oven to 200 C, peel the sweet potatoes and butternut squash and dice them thinly, drizzle with olive oil on a baking tray; sprinkle the cloves on top, put in the oven to roast until they are soft when a knife is put through them, whilst the veggies are roasting, mix the onions in a bowl with the pepper and more olive oil, fry the onions until light brown, then add 1 tablespoon of honey, continue frying until the onions are golden brown, put the sweet potatoes and squash (minus the cloves) into a blender with the caramelised onions and mix with hot water until smooth, alternatively, you can put the ingredients in a saucepan and use a hand blender.
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recipes Dessert. Vegan sweets are usually richer
Dinner. Technically, we’re not supposed
and sweeter than those that use dairy. Raw desserts in particular use natural ingredients that don’t require cooking - so you get twice the flavour. There are a range of dairy free butters; milk and egg substitutes available to make dairy dessert-making easy.
to eat after 7pm in the evening. These recipes should keep you satisfied till the next morning- they’re also good for a dinner party or pot-luck lunch at a friend’s house.
Raw Ice Cream:
Easy Lasagne ingredients: lasagne pasta sheets (100% durum wheat), all of your favourite vegetables, 3 cans of red kidney beans in chilli sauce 4 tomatoes (chopped) 1 onion (chopped) honey garlic puree tomato puree vegetable oil paprika salt and pepper to taste spices (TIP: to save more time, you can use a can of plum tomatoes instead of chopping your own) method: preheat the oven at 180c; begin to par boil the vegetables of your choice, heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan at a medium temperature and add the onions until lightly brown, add the salt, paprika, spices and tomatoes and stir, add 1 cup of water if contents in saucepan begin to get dry, allow to simmer, soon the tomatoes will begin to form a sauce, add a heaped teaspoon of honey; a teaspoon each of the garlic and tomato puree and stir, add the red kidney beans in chilli sauce and stir, finally, add the vegetables and stir, ensure the veggies are not soft—if they’re soft then you’ve boiled them for too long (they’ll still be tasty, but they won’t have as much goodness in them anymore), easy part: get a Pyrex dish or similar baking tray and spoon the vegetable mixture as a first layer, then top with a layer of lasagne sheets. continue until the dish is full. TIP! for an extra-delicious lasagne, why not save some of the cheese sauce from your mac and cheese and use as a final top layer? , put into the oven for 30 minutes until the pasta inside is soft (you can check with a knife) Summer '13
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Tomato Tagliatelle with Greens ingredients: for the sauce: six medium tomatoes, chopped tomato puree garlic puree 1 red onion, diced 2 tablespoons set honey salt and pepper parsley, thyme, oregano and basil water for the greens, you have your own choice of your favourite vegetables and quantity, but I used: tenderstem broccoli asparagus sugarsnap peas runner beans red onion, garlic and red chilli to taste finally: 100% durum wheat tagliatelle method: heat a saucepan with vegetable oil on medium, add the diced onion, salt and pepper and herbs until the onions are light brown, add the chopped tomatoes with one cup of water and stir, as the mixture begins to thicken, add the tomato and garlic puree and the honey and stir, depending on how thick you want the mixture, you can add water, put on a low heat and allow to simmer, Put the pasta to boil in a separate saucepan heat a frying pan (or wok) with two tablespoons of vegetable oil, add chopped red onion, garlic and chilli, stir fry the vegetables until piping hot (once again, vegetables shouldn’t be too soft), Drain the pasta once it’s cooked through turn off the heat on the pasta sauce and add the tagliatelle to mix, serve on a plate with the stir fried greens.
ingredients: 2 peeled bananas, frozen chopped strawberries, mango slices and raspberries, also frozen 1 cup coconut milk method: put the ingredients in the blender and mix until you get a paste-like consistency- and that’s it! add more coconut milk if you want a runnier consistency.
Mango Crumble: ingredients: 3 large ripe mangoes 4 cups self-raising flour 1 lime; juiced 3 cups sugar 1 cup grated almond mix 2 tablespoons vanilla all spice honey vitalite non-dairy butter alpro soya custard method: preheat oven at 180 degrees, chop the mangoes into long slices; put them in a mixing bowl, add the lime juice, vanilla and a drizzle of honey and mix the contents, cover and leave to marinade, for the crumble, mix the flour, sugar, all spice and almond mix with the vegan butter with your fingers until you get the crumbly consistency, layer a baking tray with the mango mix: not only will you have juicy mango but by now there should be a sweet syrup with it. add it all in!, top the mango with the crumble; put in the oven until the crumble is golden brown, serve with custard (or whip-up some coconut cream instead). - page 51 -
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entertainment
WORDSEARCH Find and circle each of the words from the list below. Words may appear forwards or backwards, horizontally, vertically or diagonally in the grid.
S A E D C I
C Y N J P L
I E H E T D
T I L O I Z I A U R F D P D R M T A F S V H R H
P F I O Z E
P I M J O V
concept Funmi Banjoko design Asia Buczek
C S L A
N H B N M E I X
I N R H H E
N O N I D U
M I M R S T
F N L A I E G H G N P L F I U E T A S W R O I A S U N I L Y V P X E A T K S N T P
S M P S S R H M S
S E E A T G O H N O J D A E P Z B
E T X A T Q E F U X J E P
B R I A E R U T L U C U E
U T A V A S E I U L E E O
K O O C A C Z A I X E D T
L A J O T L E C N A R F A
T A I Z F M D K A O I T I
N O N S M I A I I E O H D
I D H D L U R G I A S P E
I R U P S A Y J A T P X M
E S R I I O M M M
P Q N A S G T D I
Z A X K
Y I C A
J G U E I T
H K I L T U T N T I P N
S R
I I
N M M A M A U E T E
L W R H M M B F W N N N C
H T I A F S E C P
V W E P R O A E E
A H W E
M F Y U
N E A I G L
N Z U O O E G A A R D O A
T R E W P E
S I Y K R D X I C E X I E
T N E M N I
R E T N E I E N E G C A U
V A V S U M
R V I Y U V I O D E T I A
Media Videos France Spring Winter Spain Peace Islam Sun Politics Faith Animals Festival Autumn Religion Germany Hinduism Culture Football Summer Christianity Interact magazine Netherlands Entertainment Art Photography Marriages Life EU
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Meet the TEAM
Send covering letter and 200-300 word example of your writing to Amber at amber@interact-uk.org.uk. For more information go to www.interact-uk.org.uk
HELENE MATHELEMUSE
ABIGAIL JACKSON
ELINA BALTATZI
Graphic Designer ‘Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You’. Dr. Seuss
Writer The White House was originally grey.
Writer Every 20 minutes, 1,851,000 statuses are posted on facebook.
KAITLIN VAN BAARLE
LUCY COPLEY
MATTHEW OLIVER
NIKKI MOTOHASHI
Graphic Designer ‘Be yourself, everyone else is already taken’. Oscar Wilde
Writer The creators of the GIF image have revealed the mini animations should be pronounced ‘jif’.
Writer The dot over the letter ‘i’ is called a tittle.
SAM WOOLFE
SAMERA RACHYAL
SAMUEL WOOD
KIRSTIN FAIRNIE
Writer The moon suffers from ‘moonquakes’.
Editor ‘The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for’. Bob Marley
Writer ‘When the going gets weird; the weird turn pro’ Hunter S Thompson
Writer Salt isn’t added to pasta for flavouring: it helps speed up the cooking process.
JOE ROCHE
FUNMI BANJOKO
Team Leader Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bollea.
Writer In 1977, a radio signal was received from space -but scientists still don’t know it’s source.
RACHEL SHARP Writer The original Nokia text message alert tone spells out SMS in Morse Code.
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Are you aged 16-25? Got something you’d love to tell people about? Why not write for our magazine? We’d love to hear from you!
ASIA BUCZEK
Writer A baby zebra can run just an hour after it’s born.
Summer '13
summing up
MONTSE DEL PERAL Graphic Designer ‘Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them... well, I have others’. Groucho Marx
PAIGE WHELLANS
CHRISSY LIBERT
GRANT PARLOUR
Writer Greenland can’t join FIFA because not enough grass grows there -oh, the irony!
Photographer Honey is the only natural food that never spoils: scientists even found edible honey in the tombs of Egytian edible.
Writer Lobster show no sign of aging meaning that if they escape predators and disease, they could potentially live forever.
Editor ‘Dance with the one you brung’. Billy Bob
...WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO Amber Poppelaars, Miranda Brown, Razeena Khan, Alice Suckling, Beatriz García, Ruth Whetton & Ilja Postel
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- a lollipop is a type of confectionery consisting mainly of hardened, flavored sucrose with corn syrup mounted on a stick.
interact-uk.org.uk
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