Ireland's Big Issue 264 (June 2021)

Digital Edition June 2021 Is 264 Vol 19

Robots are coming for your job.

New Digital Edition Until it’s safe to go back on the streets.

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Letter to my Younger Self – Dave Grohl

Defying Chinese Surveillance Despite living overseas, young Uyghurs say expanding their digital footprint through their activism has made them - and their families - more of a target. Lin Taylor reports.

Foo Fighters singer & guitarist Dave Grohl (52) has a word with his teenage self.

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Robots Are Coming for Your Job & the Fallout Will Harm Marginalised Communities.

The Rebel Countess Sineád Dunlop takes a look at the life of the co-commander in the 1916 Easter Rising, Countess Constance Markievicz who has the first woman elected to parliament.

Constance Gidaris looks at how robots are and will continue to affect the labour market - more so for the marginalised.

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Virus Hunters Hope to Stop the Next Pandemic

The Lasting Effects of Prison Violence Emily Green talks to Prof.

Megan Novisky on the effects of violence on Page 26: Constance Markievicz prisoners The Rebel Countess during and after incarceration.

Researchers calling themselves the ‘virus hunters’ have been tasked with catching thousands of bats to develop a simulation model they hope will help the world avoid a pandemic similar to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 2.8 million people.

Reuters photographers captured them at work. Adrian Portugal reports.

Regulars

20/21 – Photo World 26/27 – Screen Scene 32 - Book reviews

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Excalibur: “A Dream to Some, A Nightmare to Others.”

info@irelandsbigissue.com

Shaun Anthony looks at John Boorman’s passion project, Excalibur.

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Big Issue has featured on Irish streets since the ‘90’s.

To all our readers, vendors and supporters It’s been a difficult time for all involved with Ireland’s Big Issue, Covid restrictions have meant we have been unable to sell the magazine on the streets, since March 2020. We have, however managed to produce a digital version of the Big Issue free of charge to all our loyal readers and supporters since June 2020.

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I would like to thank all who continue to support us in our endeavours, without your help it would not be possible.

Sean (Editor) 5

Issues: Life

Letter to my Younger Self:

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Dave Grohl

ach issue we ask a well-known face to write a letter to their younger self. This issue 52-year-old Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters takes on the challenge.

At 16 I was already fully immersed in music, and learning to write and record and perform. I was a music junkie. So I was amassing this crazy record collection, most of it underground independent punk rock bands.

But I wasn’t only listening to the albums for personal enjoyment. I was learning to play my instruments from them.

record label, but as long as I have a bed, a lamp and an apartment, I’ll make the rest work. I was a romantic, idealistic 16-year-old, I really was. I just thought, OK, the world is mine. I don’t think I knew right from wrong, I thought I’d figure out life just as I figured out these songs.

It’s funny that Nirvana became so famous for this Gen-X ‘darker side of life’ thing, because I truly had a very happy childhood. My parents divorced when I was six or seven years old, so my mother raised me. I think because she was a public school teacher she understood people, especially kids.

She really gave me freedoms that a lot of other kids didn’t have.

I never took drum lessons, I just learned from listening to Led Zeppelin and Bad Brains and The Police and Sex Pistols records.

I didn’t have a teacher to show me how to write songs, I just had a Beatles songbook.

I would sit and play along to Beatles songs, and I started understanding composition and arrangement and harmony and melody and dissonance. And riff and core As an English teacher, a brilliant writer and a teacher and rhythm. So, I was pretty locked into my bedroom at of public speaking, she understood the importance of that age. If I wasn’t on the bus to and from school I was having some sort of creative in my bedroom, just studying these albums. outlet in your life. I would I never felt like I needed more, a sit in my room and write bigger house or a better bike or I was a terrible student in poetry, which was f*cking any of that. school, which unfortunately made awful but who cares; I was for an uncomfortable adolescence because my mother trying to express myself. I look back on my was a high school English teacher at the f*cking school childhood as a very inspired time. And I still wake up I knew I was failing in. I really had little interest in what almost every day feeling like an excited kid. most people thought was the conventional route to take in life. I just thought, when I’m free I’m just going to play My mother and I were, and still are, so music and find a way to pay the rent, because there’s no close. We’ve always been friends. The mother-child dynamic was definitely there but there was also a real way I could become a professional musician. I’m just friendship. She would take me to jazz clubs, we would going to work at The Furniture Warehouse, or at the go see movies together. I think I was the only one of local gardening nursery, or at best an independent 6

my friends who actually enjoyed hanging out with a parent. Our bond was so close that over time I think she developed this faith that I was going to be OK. Being a school teacher, she realised I sucked at school. She understood that, rather than sit in a fluorescent-lit school room and have someone try to teach me Italian, I’d be better off just going to Italy. Living in a squat and having to ask someone ‘Where’s the nearest pharmacy?’

As a parent now myself, it’s hard for me to fathom my mother accepting my just disappearing into Europe when I was so young. I didn’t have a calling card, or money. I would fly standby to Amsterdam and say, OK, I’ll see you in two months, and then send a postcard every three weeks.

I’d lose my f*cking mind if my child did that. That’s a leap of faith, to let your child wander out into the world on their own. But she was right. I was OK. And to this day, my mother and I speak with each other almost every day.

So we record a take, and then it’s time for the vocals, and I sit and watch Paul McCartney singing lead vocal on something me and my friends just recorded. And then he asks me to go in and sing backup. And I say, “OK, what should I do, should I do a harmony?” And he says “No, no, just double exactly what I just did. That’s what me and John Lennon used to do.” If I could go back and tell my 16-yearold self that someday that would happen he would say, you’re f*cked up. No way on earth could this possibly ever happen.

When I first met Kurt [Cobain] and Krist… musically, it was a match made in heaven. But personally, it was a bit off to be honest. Of course we loved each other. We were friends.

But, you know, there was a dysfunction in Nirvana that a band like Foo Fighters doesn’t have.

When I was being raised by a public school If I could go back to any time in my life, teacher, there was never any I remember standing on stage there was a dysfunction money. I mean, we just got with… no, I have another in Nirvana by. We lived in a little 1,300 memory. I think of when square foot house with one my 14-year-old daughter bathroom and a small kitchen, just Violet played her first show. my mother, my sister and I. And we found joy She’s a singer, she’s got an incredible voice. in the simplest things. I never felt like I needed more, a Her band was playing at this little club with a lot of bands bigger house or a better bike or any of that. who were all 10, 12 years old. And my mother came. And I sat there watching my daughter on stage, nervous for Through my life there have been a lot of moments her, because I wanted her to do great. And the next day when I couldn’t believe they were happening. I have my mother called and she said, “now you know what it to say that the biggest would probably be getting to feels like to be a parent watching your child up on stage meet Paul McCartney, and recording a song with him with that funny haircut, crossing your fingers, hoping in my own studio in Northridge, California, with Krist they’ll make it out of there alive. And with all that pride [Novoselic] and Pat [Smear] from Nirvana, writing and happiness and love and joy. Well, that’s how I’ve felt and arranging a song from scratch in one day. Just the for the last 30 years.” four of us. So Paul starts playing a riff. And we all start playing along. And then the stars align and we become Courtesy of INSP.ngo / The Big Issue UK bigissue.com @ connected and the vibe is there and the groove is there.

BigIssue And everyone starts smiling, and it becomes that tide that goes back and forth between musicians when they play. * Foo Fighters CD Medicine At Midnight is out now.

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Issues: Current

Robots are coming ..... (for your job!) and the fallout will largely harm marginalised communities

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he pandemic has accelerated the use of robots in areas where it may be deemed unsafe for humans. In some instances, this is justified. But the increasing prevalence means robot technology has begun to be used when not necessary from the standpoint of spreading Coronavirus.

This will affect the labour market in a way that will disproportionately impact those people on the margins of society. Constantine Gidaris reports.

COVID-19 has brought about numerous, devastating Robots in the workplace changes to people’s lives globally. With the number of cases rising globally, we are also witnessing the The type of labour that these and other robots perform development and use of robots to perform jobs in some or, in some cases, replace, is labour that is generally workplaces that considered loware deemed unsafe paying, ranging for humans. from cleaners There are cases and fast food of robots being workers to used to disinfect security guards health-care and factory facilities, deliver employees. drugs to patients and perform In Canada for temperature example [where checks. In April the author is 2020, doctors based], not only at a Boston do many of these hospital used workers earn Boston Dynamics’ minimum wage, quadruped robot the majority called Spot to are racialized reduce health-care workers exposure to SARS-CoV-2, women and youth between the ages of 15 to 24. the virus that causes COVID-19. By equipping Spot The use of robots also affects immigrant populations. with an iPad and a two-way radio, doctors and patients could The gap between immigrant McDonald’s has replaced cashiers communicate in real-time. workers earning with self-service kiosks.

It has also In these instances, the minimum wage and begun testing robots to replace both use of robots is certainly Canadian-born workers cooks and servers. justified because they has more than doubled. can directly aid in lowering In 2008, 5.3 per cent of COVID-19 transmission rates both immigrant and Canadianand reducing the unnecessary exposure of healthborn workers earned minimum wage, compared care workers to the virus. But, as we know, robots are to 2018 where 12 per cent of immigrant workers earned also performing these tasks outside of health-care minimum wage and only 9.8 per cent of Canadian-born settings, including at airports, offices, retail spaces and workers earned minimum wage. Canada’s reliance on restaurants. migrant workers as a source of cheap and disposable This is precisely where the issue of robot use gets labour, has intensified the exploitation of workers. complicated.

McDonald’s has replaced cashiers with self-service 8

kiosks. It has also begun testing robots to replace both cooks and servers. Walmart has begun using robots to clean store floors, while also increasing their usage in warehouses.

known as BigDog, a robotic pack mule that was used to assist soldiers across rough terrain. In 2012, Boston Dynamics and DARPA revealed another quadruped robot known as AlphaDog, designed to primarily carry military gear for soldiers. The development of Spot Nowhere is the implementation of robots more apparent would have been be impossible without these previous, than Amazon’s use of them in its fulfilment centres. As DARPA-funded initiatives. While the founder of Boston information scholars applying marxist theory Nick Dyer- Dynamics, Marc Raibert, has claimed that Spot will not Witheford, Atle Mikkola Kjøsen and James Steinhoff be turned into a weapon, the company leased Spot to explain, Amazon’s use of robots have reduced order times the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad in 2019 for and increased warehouse space, allowing for 50 per cent a 90-day period. In February 2021, the New York Police more inventory in areas where robots are Department used Spot to investigate the scene of used, and have saved a home invasion. And, in Amazon’s April 2021, Spot Amazon’s use of robots have reduced order times and power was deployed increased warehouse space and have saved Amazon’s costs by by the French power costs by working in the dark without air working Army in a series conditioning. in the dark of military exercises and without air to evaluate its usefulness on conditioning. the future battlefield.

Already, marginalised labourers are most affected by robots. In other words, human labour that can be mechanised, routinised or automated to some extent, is work that is deemed to be expendable because it is seen to be replaceable. It is work that is stripped of any humanity in the name of efficiency and cost-effectiveness for massive corporations. However, the influence of corporations on robot development goes beyond costsaving measures.

Robot Violence The emergence of Boston Dynamics’ Spot, gives us some insight into how robots have crossed from the battlefield into urban spaces. Boston Dynamics’ robot development program has long been funded by the American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

In 2005, Boston Dynamics received funding from DARPA to develop one of its first quadruped robots A McDonalds in Phoenix, Arizona in the U.S. which will be operated completely by robots from 4th July this year.

Targeting the most vulnerable These examples are not intended to altogether dismiss the importance of some robots. This is particularly the case in health care, where robots continue to help doctors improve patient outcomes. Instead, these examples should serve as a call for governments to intervene in order to prevent a proliferation of robot use across different spaces. More importantly, this is a call to prevent the multiple forms of exploitation that already affect marginalised groups. Since technological innovation has a tendency to outpace legislation and regulatory controls, it is imperative that lawmakers step in before it is too late.

Constantine Gidaris is a sessional instructor of cultural studies and critical theory at McMaster University.

Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo

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Issues: Life

The Lasting Effects of Prison Violence

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risoners in the USA witness or take part in extreme amounts of violence during their time incarcerated. This violence has lasting effects physiologically as studied by Criminology professor Meghan Novisky, who co-authored the study ‘Gladiator School: Returning Citizens Experiences with Secondary Violence Exposure in Prison’. Emily Green sits down with Novisky to understand the U.S. prison system and the violence that persists within it.

*** This story contains graphic descriptions of violent acts. *** American prisons are violent places, and while not every prisoner falls victim to violence, most are exposed to violence during their incarceration.

Researchers are now learning that even indirect exposure to violence can have impacts that last long after a person is released.

during their incarceration.

The stories recounted in the resulting report, ‘Gladiator School: Returning Citizens’ Experiences with Secondary Violence Exposure in Prison’, are brutal.

Former prisoners told numerous stories of seeing simple objects weaponised, such as metal locks, which are often packed into socks and swung with force. They spoke of being stabbed, having bones broken and being sex trafficked while in prison. But they also shared many indirect experiences with violence that impacted them profoundly, such as having to clean up the blood of other prisoners.

These experiences Criminology professor Meghan Novisky co-authored can actually the study ‘Gladiator School: Returning Citizens be “what Experiences with Secondary Violence Exposure in criminologists call Prison’ Photo courtesy of Meghan Novisky criminogenic, or “I mopped up blood all over crime producing,” the floor for an hour,” one said Meghan prisoner told researchers.

Novisky, who teaches criminology at Cleveland State Another told of cleaning up after a prisoner cut the University. She explained violent environments can do throat of a well-liked teacher at the prison: “I had to the opposite of what most people expect clean up … and we found her little of correctional institutions. finger in the blood. He (the They spoke of being stabbed, having Rather than rehabilitating perpetrator) had cut her bones broken and being sex trafficked offenders, people can exit finger off; it was in the while in prison. prison at an even higher risk blood. I used so much for additional criminal behaviour bleach in that bathroom … I due to the violence they experienced while just couldn’t look.” incarcerated.

Many of these stories echo the accounts of people who Novisky co-authored a study published last year that served time in Oregon state prisons, examined the lasting effects witnessing violence had on Padlocks as weapons, prisoners cleaning up blood 30 former state prisoners in Ohio who had collectively and other aspects of Novisky’s report appear to be served time across 19 state prisons. Every one of the commonplace in Oregon prisons.

25 men and five women that she and criminology professor Robert Peralta interviewed had either directly “When people get seriously injured in prison, you usually experienced violence or had witnessed it at some point don’t know what happens to them,” said Cody Connel, 10

who spent more than five years inside Oregon state prisons. “And that is a really scary thing when you’re an inmate, you’re like, ‘man, that could be me.’”

Connel, who was released in 2017, suffers from some of the same long-term impacts expressed in the report, such as being easily triggered by loud voices. Joshua Wright, the formerly incarcerated co-host of podcast Walled In, also experiences lingering effects from violence he witnessed.

Wright saw a young man hang himself upon arriving in the prison system, “Sometimes it’ll just pop into my head, like, I’ll be closing my eyes — I’ll blink — and I’ll see that image in my head of this, this young kid dangling from his bunk,” Wright said. “That’s one thing in particular that I still struggle with.”

2015.

But if we brought in what we mean by frequency of violence, or violence exposure, and include not only personal cases of victimisation but also cases where people have witnessed the victimisation of others, violence exposure becomes incredibly common.

I want to draw attention to the name of this report that you wrote. You borrowed the title “Gladiator School” from a former prisoner who described his incarceration in this way. What do you think American prisoners are learning in this environment, this so-called gladiator school, that they then bring with them as they enter back into society?

The concern is that people are learning that violence is normal.

So, I’ll note that in addition to the term “gladiator school,” which symbolises hurt-or-behurt mentality, people also describe their experiences with incarceration as war or combat zones. That’s concerning when you’re thinking about people coming back into the community.

Novisky and Peralta “found that witnessing violence was a significant source of emotional and psychological strain” for “I had to clean up … and we found those they interher little finger in the blood. He (the viewed. perpetrator) had cut her finger off...

To learn more about how witnessing violence in prison affects people after their release, Street Roots spoke with Novisky on Walled In about her report. This is an excerpt from that interview.

Street Roots: What did you learn about the frequency of violence that’s experienced within American prisons during the course of your research for this report?

Meghan Novisky: What I learned is that violence exposure in prison is probably happening more often than people in the community realise.

We do know based on prior research that about 2% of deaths in custody each year are due to homicide, for example. We also know that people in prison face risks for physical and sexual victimisation when they’re incarcerated. One example of that is that 25,000 cases of sexual victimisation were reported to correctional authorities in

And what did some of the people you interviewed say about that? I mean, how did that impact their interactions with other people they might run into on the street or people in their personal lives?

Well, there was just some general struggles as far as things that come naturally for human interaction. So, I remember talking to someone who got a job in retail and had anxiety when they were working because customers were always standing around. And this person felt the need to account for where other people were at all times because of fears they had based on their incarceration experience. It’s anxiety provoking.

The violence described in this report is horrifying. But so are some of the byproducts of that violence that were described to you by people interviewed for this study.

Former prisoners talked about seeing a person badly beaten, but then having no idea of whether they lived or died because they would be removed from the general population and possibly transferred to another prison.

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Others talked about prisoners having to mop up massive amounts of blood after a fellow prisoner was badly beaten. And while your study took place in Ohio, we heard Joshua and Cody talking about really similar experiences right here in Oregon and our state prison system.

And I’m wondering, when correctional facilities have these policies around the aftermath of violence of having prisoners clean up the blood and of taking people out of the general population, what kind of impact do these policies have on prisoners who might not have been directly involved in the violence?

I don’t think we’re going to know the answer to this question fully without additional research looking at impacts longitudinally. We need research studies that are tracking this. However, I can say that based on interviews that I had with people who experienced these byproducts, that they themselves perceive these events as having impacted their levels of anxiety, as having contributed to nightmares — they would have horrible dreams, taking them back to those moments — and in triggering psychological distress, even months or up to a year after release.

So I think the key point here is that narrow views of prison violence, so as looking at violence as having a victim and a perpetrator alone, it really misses capturing some of this collateral damage of prison violence that occurs to others who maybe weren’t the victim or the perpetrator, but were still very much affected.

I definitely saw that in a reporting project I did recently.

I shadowed a man who was released from prison after spending 50 years behind bars, who was also dying at the time of his release. His name was Billy Baggett, and as his life drew to an end, he kept returning to traumatic events he had experienced in prison decades ago. And it seemed he never really found a way to process a lot of this trauma. What do you think we can do as a society to better help heal people like Billy?

beings. Being convicted of a crime should not strip someone of their humanity.

Second, we need to acknowledge the harms that occur inside prison. And I like to point out that in no other context would it be acceptable for people to be violently victimised or exposed to these types of violent circumstances. This standard needs to apply to prisons as well. I think those two things, in combination with continuing to advocate for criminal justice reform and ensuring people like Billy have adequate mental health resources in place post-release so when they return to the community, are necessary next steps to help repair the types of wounds that you’re talking about.

What kind of impact are you hoping that this report will have? And have you seen any impacts already since it was released last year?

I hope the findings of our study serve as a call for more research on the extent of violence in correctional facilities. I mentioned an example earlier about expanding how we think about prison violence, looking at some of those collateral damages related to witnessing violence.

I also hope that our findings provide context about some of the barriers that people face when they’re attempting to reintegrate back into society, when they leave prison, and why incarceration should be a sentence of last resort.

So, environments like the ones described in our report are not therapeutic or rehabilitative. They’re actually what criminologists call criminogenic, or crime producing.

And as far as what impacts we might have seen so far; I can’t say that I’ve seen any direct impacts from the research so far; this study just came out later last year. But I have seen, on a national scale, more conversation about criminal justice reform. I know on the agenda right now is phasing away from use of private prisons, for example. So, I’m optimistic that we’re having more of these important conversations.

Walled In co-host Joshua Wright contributed to this report.

I think the first step to helping people like Billy heal is for society to recognise that prison residents are human

Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo 12

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Issues: Sport

Street League Returns I

t’s back to the future as IHSL prepares to open. Eamon Giles reports.

it has had on the many individuals who have taken part, it is not just about participation in the leagues or the justifiable pride of representing Ireland in the the Homeless World Cup, worthy goals as they are; but reengaging with family, gainful employment, return to education, stable housing and active participation in society are equally important tangible outcomes.

One person’s success cannot be taken in isolation, it can have a huge ripple effect, on family, friends, local community and society as a A ball can change a life- it’s a simple whole.

We are happy to announce the return of the Irish Homeless Street Leagues after the isolation of Covid restrictions, we are at last beginning to get back to the future. It is by necessity a slow return but the important thing is, it is a start.

Irish Homeless Street Leagues (IHSL) was founded by Ireland’s Big Issue editor Sean Kavanagh in 2003 in an effort to engage with young people who had experienced difficulties in their lives and felt that they were disenfranchised from a society that had left them behind.

phrase but one that sums up perfectly what the Football was the key A ball can change a life factor to engaging with IHSL is all about - it’s a simple phrase but individuals, an activity one that sums up perfectly universally liked, one that could what the IHSL is all about foster good health, a sense of self worth and encouraged individuals to get out of their isolation and engage with other people.

IHSL would like to thank all who have contributed to the success of the programme.

The goal was and is to empower people to overcome the negativity of the past and fulfill their true potential.

Football is the catalyst. The journey is not easy and there are many pathways but the important thing is to be a player in life; nobody should be in isolation, on the sidelines watching the game of life pass them by. Put simply - a ball can change a life

Irish Street League

The success of the IHSL can be measured by the impact

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@IrishStLeague Web: www.irishstreetleague.com

Issues: Tales of Hollywood

Excalibur: “A dream to some. A nightmare to others!”

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haun Anthony looks at the making of John Boorman’s epic medieval classic, Excalibur.

John Boorman’s 1981 epic, medieval fantasy Excalibur, the retelling of Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur was, according to Nicol Williamson who played Merlin in the film, “A dream to some. A nightmare to others!”

Boorman who directed, produced and co-wrote the film that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table shot the film entirely on location in Ireland, and renowned for being one of the toughest directors in filmmaking was also dealing with a colossal amount of stress and anxiety which added to his overwhelming pursuit of excellence. Charley Boorman, John’s son (who’s probably best-know for his motorbike adventures with actor Ewan McGregor these days) played the young version of Arthur’s illegitimate son Mordred inbetween watching from the sidelines recalls,

was distracted for years trying to adapt Lord of the Rings and then by directing the Exorcist II: The Heretic, but Boorman, along with writing partner Rospo Pallenberg, returned to Arthur after Star Wars awakened a revival big screen fantasy, and after pitching the idea to Orion Pictures yet again, finally got the go-ahead.

Filming in Wicklow, Tipperary and Kerry

The film was shot in counties Wicklow, Tipperary and Kerry. The early critical battle scene around a castle, in which Arthur is made a knight by Uryens, while kneeling in a moat, was filmed in Cahir Castle in Cahir, Tipperary. The fight with Lancelot was filmed at Powerscourt Estate’s waterfall. Other locations included Wicklow Head as the backdrop to the battle over Tintagel, the Kerry coast as the place from “Excalibur was a quest for my father … I which Arthur sails to Avalon and Childers Wood near remember it was manic on the film set. And we Roundwood Co. Wicklow, where Arthur had these massive castle sets. My comes on Excalibur in the stone. dad was under tremendous The film was shot in At the time, John Boorman was pressure making the counties Wicklow, Tipperary living a stone’s throw down the movie because there and Kerry. road, at Annamoe. was so much going on.

I remember it was a hard one to make – a lot of stress and strain.”

A Revised Version

Of course Boorman had been pitching a film about the Arthur legend from 1969, this was his dream project, but

For those who haven’t watched it, the film is a reworking 16

of the Arthur stories which had been around for hundreds of years – Excalibur is a journey through the life of King Arthur, (Nigel Terry), from him unintentionally withdrawing Excalibur from the stone, to his rule over The Land, the idyllic days of Camelot, the affair between his right hand-knight Lancelot (Nicholas Clay) and Queen Guinevere (Cherie Lunghi), the quest for the Holy Grail, and Arthur’s final battle against Mordred.

films, but the strong-minded director was determined that no one else could swoop around in a black cloak with a steel helmet clasped to his head and fill the role like Williamson and hired him anyway. Charley Boorman as an adult would recollect how Nicol could mimic anyone’s voice perfectly and recalled walking past a room on set one day when he heard his father screaming, telling a cast member off, but it turned out Williamson was impersonating his dad! It was no secret that Boorman was From a perfectionist who Obscure to gave his all and expected his cast to A-Lister bring nothing less than their A game Boorman cast after all, this was the unknowns. His man who went down son Charley the Georgia rapids would recall for Deliverance and how his father put Sean Connery would “just in a red nappy in know” that Zardoz, so despite someone was the constant rain, right for the battling the elements role, irrespective and commanding of fame or an army of future experience A-listers, horses, and so the film launched the careers of many of our practical effects and attempting to bring his Arthurian biggest stars today including Gabriel Byrne, who played dream to fruition - Boorman, despite fatigue, lack of Arthur’s father, the coarse King Uther, Ciarán Hinds sleep loss of appetite and battling who brought King Lot to life and of constant irritability was course Liam Neeson appeared as Mirren & Williamson determined they would Knights of the Roundtable’s, Sir emerge from the wild hated one another but Boorman cast Gawain, Cherie Lunghi played forests of Wicklow them knowing their “natural animosity Guinevere, Patrick Stewart with a gem - and of would be perfect... injected character into the role course they did. of Guinevere’s father and the The casting of Boorman’s enchanting Helen Mirren was cast as daughter Katrine in the role of Arthur’s bewitching half-sister Morgana.

Arthur’s mother Igrayne did seem a tad odd for Problems quickly emerged though when Mirren audiences initially, considering she had a really raunchy, and Nicol Williamson (who played Merlin) ran into nude sex scene with Gabriel Byrne and Corin Redgrave immediate disagreement. The pair had been reluctant and her father was directing, but when she later to work together anyway as seven years previous they’d addressed the issue on the documentary, Excalibur: been in a disastrous production of Macbeth and it was Behind the Movie, she said, no secret that they hated each other with a passion.

“I wasn’t that awkward for me, weirdly…..I think Boorman actually cast them due to their mutual loathing it was very uncomfortable and awkward for Corin and talked them both into taking their roles, as he knew Redgrave and Gabriel Byrne. They had to rip off their “natural animosity would be perfect”. According to the clothing off a 17-year-girl who’s the director’s Mirren, several weeks into filming she and Williamson daughter… but once you’ve been sh*gged by a had grown to tolerate each other and by the last month knight in armour, watched by your father, there’s they had became friends. Interestingly, Orion had told absolutely no looking back.”

Boorman he could hire anyone he wanted for Merlin except Nicol Williamson due to his failures in previous 17

It probably was as embarrassing for Gabriel Byrne who had to hump a pink cushion take after take to simulate close-up sex scenes. Byrne was also a tad apprehensive around Boorman, “We were all very intimidated

by John’s fierce reputation… he was already a legendary director an intimidating presence on set. He marshalled that huge production with a great grace. But you felt you didn’t want to get on his wrong side. There was a rumour going round on the first couple of days that he had fired two dogs, two big Irish red setters… so they were saying, ‘If he’s firing dogs we better keep our heads down…’”

splendour.

Boorman Struggles to Maintain Mental & Physical Health Filming over twenty weeks across various counties took its toll on John Boorman weight was falling off him as he couldn’t eat or sleep, he couldn’t concentrate on anything except the film, sticking to budget, timescales and sourcing extras and extra horses on short notice when mid-shot he’d decide something was missing. It also rained almost non-stop and so, “The sun would come out for 30 seconds and we’d have to catch it.” He’d later reflect, “Excalibur was my toughest film because there were so many elements to it. There was special effects and armour, loads of extras and horses, and complications. It was enormously difficult.”

Boorman wasn’t alone in the stress

stakes; in fact in the first Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne had to hump a pink week one cameraman Helen Mirren cushion take after take to simulate close-up sex had a nervous fall in love

breakdown during the opening battle scene and had to take mental health leave. Then Boorman decided that they should build their own castle interior and exterior sets, “Because it’s a world of the imagination.”

scenes.

It would be in the Wicklow woodland that Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson realised they were falling for each other, which ignited a passionate four-year love affair, “I fell in love with Helen Mirren,” Neeson would later state in an interview. “ Can you imagine riding horses in shiny suits of armour, having sword fights and stuff, and you’re falling in love with Helen Mirren? It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Of course this legend has been interpreted many, many times, from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, to Richard Gere’s Lancelot in First Knight to Netflix’s recent offering, Cursed from Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler, still Boorman’s labour of love remains the classic that eclipses the rest with its romance, magic and epic

Costume designer Terry English who’d been commissioned to creating seven suits of armour was told (with extremely short notice) that they’d no longer need seven but over one hundred!

Charley, John’s son spoke of the huge workload recently during an interview and said, “The stress was caused by the huge scale of what we did. If someone’s arm got chopped off, or there was fire, or smoke, or anything, you had to make it, you had to actually do it. Now you’d just do it with CGI.” Charley went on to say how his father was “a tough 18

people’s safety in cookie” who danger by firing real had “no time for pampering wooden arrow shafts during battle (as he his cast”. In alleged one had flown fact, many of close past him) and the actors and Boorman told him to actresses had been cut, bruised mind his own business and get back to work! and were often in unbearable He may have been a pain due to difficult director, but the armour Boorman expected and Boorman nothing more of his refused to allow cast and crew than them to remove what he expected of it - insisting they himself - perfection, stay in character. and I think that shows Boorman directs Nigel Terry Patrick Stewart, in the quality of the who played King film, which came out Leodegrance on 10 April 1981. would later state how he’d stumble back to the The movie was John The movie was John Boorman’s pièce de camper van at the end Boorman’s pièce de résistance... of the day, exhausted, résistance and to this bruised and covered in day it stands its ground cuts all over his body. as a classic - and on our own shores it boosted the film industry and created a couple of local A-listers like Liam Neeson and Clive Swift who played Sir Ector worked up the courage Gabriel Byrne. to tell Boorman he believed the director was putting

“ riding horses in shiny suits of armour, having sword fights and stuff, and you’re falling in love with Helen Mirren? It doesn’t get any better than that.”

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View of Oia Town in Santorini Island with old Greek Church, Greece.

Issues: Human Rights

Defying Chinese Surveillance D

efying Chinese surveillance, young Uyghurs abroad speak up online Despite living overseas, young Uyghurs say expanding their digital footprint through their activism has made them - and their families - more of a target.

Lin Taylor reports.

minority.

Unwinding for the evening in her Washington D. flat, Uyghur activist Jewher Ilham often has two Despite living abroad, many believe expanding thoughts as their digital she turns on I do feel conflicted every single day. If I speak up about my dad, footprint her laptop: would they torture my dad? Is it going to cause more harm?” through What should their online I watch activism has tonight? made them And will I be - and their interrupted families by Chinese more of a hackers target. again?

“I do feel From her conflicted webcam every single switching day. If I on by itself speak up to her about my laptop’s dad, would cursor they torture moving my dad? Is around as it going to she watches cause more Netflix, it is harm?” said a bugbear Ilham, who left China for the United States in Ilham has learnt to live with since she started 2013 and now works at the global Worker Rights criticising the Chinese government for detaining Consortium. her father, a Uyghur academic, nearly a decade ago.

China for months has pushed back against global criticism of its Xinjiang policies, with officials “When I’m bored, I talk to my laptop and I wave in China’s Foreign Ministry and the Xinjiang and say, government saying the efforts are necessary to ‘Hi, are you watching me? Actually, you shouldn’t counter “lies and slander” by a network of “antiChina forces” abroad. waste your time on me because I have really nothing important or interesting for you to dig “There are some people hired by Western antiinto,’” the 26-year-old labour advocate said.

China forces acting out made-up stories to smear Xinjiang and China abroad and make a living out Ilham is part of a growing chorus of young of it,” the Chinese embassy in Washington said Uyghurs living overseas who are mobilising in an emailed reply to questions about surveilling online and using social media to campaign Uyghurs. against forced labour in China’s northwestern Xinjiang province, home to the Uyghur Muslim 22

Digital Targets

Surveilling the state

In March, Facebook Inc said it had blocked a group of hackers in China who used the platform to target Uyghurs living overseas by infecting their devices with malware that would enable surveillance.

Maya Wang, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the Chinese government has been keeping a close eye on the Uyghur diaspora.

The social media giant said there were fewer than 500 targets, who were mainly from the Xinjiang region but primarily lived in other countries including Turkey, Kazakhstan, the United States, Syria, Australia and Canada.

China has detained over a million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang since 2017, with reports of torture, enforced disappearances, forced labour, sexual violence and other abuses.

“These young Uyghur people outside of China are very right - they are being very closely monitored,” she said.

“When they advocate for their families, they don’t really know if by speaking out they are causing more harm than good.

It is a moral dilemma that is very difficult for someone to bear.”

“The internet is a very powerful tool.

Without it, our cause wouldn’t be where it is. But once your name or your face is in the public domain, you become a target,” said Zumretay Arkin, 27, whose family moved to Canada from Xinjiang when she was a child.

Researcher Darren Byler from the University of Colorado in Boulder said the Uyghur diaspora which human rights groups estimate comprises more than 1 million people - have become more vocal about their plight in the past five years, when news of the camps emerged and they lost contact with loved ones.

“I know that it has consequences. But I’m also thinking about the Uyghurs who are detained, and my family members who have disappeared.

At the end of the day, even if you’re silent, your relatives are going to be targeted anyway,” said Arkin, who works at the World Uyghur Congress.

United Nations experts and rights groups say China has detained over a million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang since 2017, with reports of torture, enforced disappearances, forced labour, sexual violence and other abuses.

China denies any human rights abuses in Xinjiang and says its camps provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism.

“Most Uyghurs in diaspora now realise it’s impossible to go back. They will likely be detained upon arrival. The finality of their exile is what’s prompted many to speak more openly,” said Byler, who has researched Uyghur society in Xinjiang.

“The state is trying to surveil them and they, in turn, are surveilling the state. The internet allows people to ... push back in real time.”

Some young Uyghurs in Western countries say they feel safe going to protests or using digital

23

platforms like Twitter and Clubhouse to criticise the Chinese government - something their older relatives could not do for fear of repercussions.

Born into a tight-knit Uyghur community in Adelaide in Australia, 21-year-old Adila Yarmuhammad said she has a responsibility to speak up, even though she believes her local community is being monitored.

“I do believe that if anything did happen to me or any Uyghur in Australia, we would have that safety. That’s why a lot of us, especially us youth, aren’t scared to do this,” the university student said.

‘Part of my life’ Several young Uyghurs living abroad said they have received threats over the phone and in emails, are relentlessly harassed on social media, and have also been physically spied on.

Alerk Ablikim, a 22-year-old activist whose father was detained in 2017, said he has received threatening emails and has answered cold calls only to hear disturbing screams.

Ablikim, who lives in the Netherlands, said he was concerned that publicly speaking with politicians and the media about Uyghurs could have serious ramifications for his father - that is, if he is still alive.

“I can imagine that he may be suffering because of my actions. And that’s a realisation that I have to live with. It pains me. But I hope he sees that this is important and he is proud of me,” he said.

“It’s a dilemma for me. Either I speak out and try to change the world, even a little bit, or I don’t.

And the consequences of both is that our people will be locked up.”

Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo

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s e k Jo I had been teaching my three-year old daughter the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer: “Lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some E-mail. Amen.”

And one particular four-year old prayed, “And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

This last one is out of the mouth of my co-workers 3-year old son Reese: “Our father, who does art in heaven, Howard is his name....””

There was this little kid who had a bad habit of sucking his thumb. His mother finally told him that if he didn’t stop sucking his thumb, he’d get fat.

Two weeks later, his mother had her friends over for a game of bridge.

The boy points to an obviously pregnant woman and says, “Ah, ha! I know what you’ve been doing!”

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

Six-year old Angie & her four-year old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang & talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. “You’re not supposed to talk out loud in church.” “Why?

Because laughter is the best medicine!

Who’s going to stop me?” Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church & said, “See those two men standing by the door? They’re hushers.”

My Mother taught me LOGIC...”If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the shop with me.”

My Mother taught me MEDICINE...”If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to freeze that way.”

My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD...”If you don’t pass your spelling test, you’ll never get a good job!”

My Mother taught me ESP...”Put your sweater on; don’t you think that I know when you’re cold?”

My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE...”What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you...Don’t talk back to me!”

My Mother taught me HUMOUR...”When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...”If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.

My mother taught me about GENETICS...”You are just like your father!”

My mother taught me about my ROOTS...”Do you think you were born in a barn?”

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My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE...”When you get to be my age, you will understand.”

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...”Just wait until your father gets home.”

My mother taught me about RECEIVING...”You are going to get it when we get home.”

And, my all-time favourite JUSTICE...”One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU -- then you’ll see what it’s like!”

A rather attractive woman goes up to the bar in a quiet rural pub. She gestures alluringly to the barman who comes over immediately. When he arrives, she seductively signals that he should bring his face close to hers.

When he does so, she begins to gently caress his beard, which is full and bushy.

“Are you the manager?” she asks, softly stroking his face with both hands.

“Actually, no” he replies.

“Can you get him for me - I need to speak to him?” she asks, running her hands up beyond his beard and into his hair.

“I’m afraid I can’t” breathes the barman - clearly aroused. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes there is. I need you to give him a message” she continues huskily, popping a couple of fingers into his mouth and allowing him to suck them gently. “Tell him that there is no toilet paper in the ladies room.”

Screen Scene Fatherhood***

Viva Ceol Tíre **

Starring: Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard.

Run Time: 109 mins.

Streaming on: Netflix Available to stream from: 18 June 2021

Presented by: Jo Ní Chéide.

Streaming on: TG4 Catch-Up Run Time: 60 mins Available to stream from: 25 May 2021 Country music videos filmed on location in Ireland and presented by Jo Ní Chéide.

Featuring the likes of Mike Denver, Alishing Mc Bride, Big Tom, Derek Ryan, Rober Mizell, Cliona Hagan and Michael English.

Well worth a watch if the local country scene has your toe tapping!

Fatherhood, directed by Paul Weitz, is based on the book Two Kisses for Maddy by Mathew Logelin which is based on a true story. The film follows Kevin Hart as a single dad who brings up his baby girl after his wife unexpectedly dies the day after giving birth.

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground Productions are presenting the feature. Hart leads an ensemble cast that also includes Lil Rel Howery, Paul Reiser and DeWanda Wise. This is Hart’s first real exploration in the dramatic arena and his performance isn’t bad - unfortunately the film does rely a little too much on stirring up emotion than it does in telling the story. Still, worth a watch.

The Underground Railroad**** Starring: Thuso Mbedu, Joel Edgerton Streaming on: Prime Video Run Time: 10 x1hr Available to stream from: 14 May 2021 Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, this 10-episode drama from Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) chronicles Cora Randall’s (newcomer Thuso Mbedu) desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. After escaping a Georgia plantation for the rumoured Underground Railroad, Cora discovers no mere metaphor, but an actual railroad full of engineers and conductors, and a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Expect something truly special.

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Secrets of the Krays **

The Nevers ****

Contributions from: David Bailey, Micky Fawcett.

Streaming: BritBox Run Time: 3 x 60 mins Available to stream from: 13 May 2021

Starring:Ann Skelly, Laura Donnelly.

Streaming: Sky Atlantic Run Time: 6 x 58 mins Available to stream: Sky Atlantic (currently)

An in-depth look at the most famous gangsters in British history; Secrets of the Krays features revelatory interviews with those who knew the Krays best, including former gang members, relatives and family friends, as well as celebrity photographer and friend David Bailey, the Krays’ lawyers, and police officers involved in bringing them to justice.

In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the “Touched”: people - mostly women who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities - some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quickfisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of... well, pretty much all the forces - to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place. If action-fantasty is your genre, you’ll love this. Stellar performances from Skelly, Donnelly and cast.

Many have never spoken before – including Micky Fawcett who was a key member of “The Firm” from its early days.

The documentary also unveils never-before-seen artefacts, including Reggie’s personal scrapbook documenting the brothers’ crimes, Reggie’s personal photographs, audio recordings from prison, a poem from Ronnie to Reggie, and two unpublished manuscripts from former gang members – as well as MI5 files on the Krays.

True crime lovers will enjoy this!

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey *** Starring:Katie Douglas, Rossif Sutherland.

Streaming: Netflix Run Time: 90 mins.

Available to stream from: 1 June 2021

atching right w e g in b e ’r u o Tell us what y now sueIreland Is ig B @ r te it on Tw

In this true story, a 17-year-old girl uses reverse psychology to get her kidnapper to set her free. When she returns home, the only person who believes her story is a veteran detective who realises she was taken by the notorious serial killer, Bobby Joe Long. Lisa McVey would be the only victim of Long to survive his murderous rampage in which he killed at least 10 women in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.

Not an easy watch but worth viewing.

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Issues: Historical

The Rebel Countess -

S

Constance Markievicz

ineád Dunlop takes a look at the life of the co-commander in the 1916 Easter Rising, Countess Constance Markievicz who has the first woman elected to parliament.

Constance Markievicz, born Constance Gore-Booth in Lissadell, Co Sligo, As a child on 4th February 1868 was the eldest daughter of Lady Georgina GoreBooth and Sir Henry Gore-Booth, an AngloIrish landlord and Arctic explorer. Constance led a privileged childhood, educated by a governess and spent her leisure hours hunting and riding horses (in 1887, at the age of 19 she would be presented at court to Queen Victoria in her Jubilee year, illustrating perfectly the status of the family).

(later chairing a meeting of the Sligo Women’s Suffrage Society in 1896 at the age of 28).

Constance studied painting at Slade School of Art in London, continuing her course in Paris.

In the city of love she met her future husband Casimir Dunin-Markievicz, a very rich artist from a well to do Polish family.

He was known as ‘Count Markievicz’ (although there was some question over the plausibility of his title).

Constance and Casimir wed in 1900, and the following year she had a little girl, Maeve Allys, who When young Constance was brought was 11 she became up by the GoreYoung Constance became deeply concerned deeply concerned with Booth granny that many people were living in penury. the fact that many and granda at people were not living Lissadell. In 1903 like she and her family the newlyweds were, in fact, they were in penury. The famine of 1879relocated to Dublin and started taking part in the art 1880 prompted these feelings and created in her an scene, which was going through a revival. overwhelming concern for the welfare of the poor. Her dad provided free food for his tenants at Lissadell House, Constance and her hubby founded the United Arts Club which also inspired Constance and her sister, Eva. She in 1905. Although on the surface having no political also became interested in women’s suffrage as a girl leanings, the club included many nationalists including 28

Douglas Hyde (who would go on to become the first President of Ireland).

In 1911, Markievicz (43) was arrested for the first time for speaking at an Irish Republican Brotherhood demonstration, which was protesting George V’s visit to Ireland. She handed out pamphlets, threw stones at pictures on the King and Queen and tried to burn the British flag. This encouraged her to join the socialist Irish Citizen Army (ICA), a volunteer force aimed at defending demonstrating workers from the police. She also designed their uniform and wrote their anthem.

Through the United Arts Club Constance met revolutionaries like Maud Gonne, and her politics quickly mirrored those of her new friends.

By 1908, she was heavily involved in nationalist politics and was a member of Sinn Féin and Inghinidhe na hÉireann - Daughters of Ireland, In 1913 during the Dublin lock-out (an industrial dispute a women’s movement established by Gonne. involving over 20,000 workers) Markievicz Constance also helped inaugurate sold her jewellery to help pay for Bean na hÉireann (Women of food and necessities to be Ireland), the island’s first distributed amongst the In 1913 during the Dublin lock-out, women’s nationalist journal. Markievicz sold her jewellery to help pay workers’ families. She also Constance and Maud also ran a soup kitchen for for food for the workers’ families. performed several plays at poor youngsters. By this the Abbey Theatre, which time, her husband had moved illustrated the relationship between to Ukraine to become a war Dublin’s flourishing cultural scene and correspondent in the Balkans (although the growing nationalism. separation was civil) and they continued to write to each other.

The following year Markievicz When the WW1 co-founded started in 1914, Fianna Éireann Constance was a nationalist opposed to Irish paramilitary involvement and youth co-founded the organisation Irish Neutrality that trained League. In the teenage boys to Easter Rising, use firearms, in Constance preparation for participated On her wedding day a war of Irish as part of the independence.

Irish Citizen At its first Army. She was meeting, the revolutionary was nearly thrown out of the second-in-command of a troop at St Stephen’s Green, organisation for being female, but her co-founder Bulmer where according to one narrative, she shot a member Hobson made sure she stayed put and she was elected to of the Dublin Metropolitan Police (who died of his the committee. injuries later). Her unit held out for six days. During the surrender, Constance allegedly kissed her pistol before 29

giving it to a British officer.

The rebels were taken to Dublin Castle and Markievicz was transferred to Kilmainham Gaol (where she was the only female prisoner, out of 70, who was put in solitary confinement.)

From her cell, she could hear the firing squads putting other revolutionaries to death. She was the only female to be court-martialled. During her court-martial on the 4th May 1916, she stated,

have disqualified her. Despite this, her election wasn’t challenged, and her name is recorded in the Parliamentary Paper as an MP. The Irish republicans set up their own provisional government, the Dáil Éireann, and Constance served as Minister for Labour from April 1919 until January 1922. She was the first Irish female Cabinet Minister. She remained a supporter of women’s rights; in March 1922 she gave a speech in the Dáil in support of extending the electoral franchise on equal terms, saying,

“I went out to fight for Ireland’s freedom and it does not matter what happens to me. I did what I thought was right and I stand by it.”

“there has been less physical restraint on “I do wish your lot had the the actions of women decency to shoot me.” in Ireland than in any other country, but mentally the restrictions seem to me to be very oppressive.”

She was sentenced to death, later reduced to life imprisonment, Markievicz left the government in 1922 in protest of the Anglo-Irish treaty, which she regarded as disloyalty. She “…solely and only on account of her sex”. completed a speaking tour of the U.S. and continued to When she heard this she boldly shouted, campaign for the Republican cause. Her revolutionary “I do wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.” views resulted in her being jailed again on several other occasions!

Markievicz was released from prison after 13 months due to the British government granting a general amnesty At the age of 58 she joined the new Fianna Fáil party for those who participated in the Rising. Upon release, in 1926 and chaired its first meeting. She was re-elected she converted to Catholicism. However, she was jailed the following year but took very ill with peritonitis and again in 1918 for anti-conscription activities. Whilst in was rushed to St. Patrick Dun’s Hospital for urgent care, Holloway Prison she was elected for the constituency of and eventually had surgery. After a month long battle Dublin St Patrick’s in the 1918 general election, (66% with the illness she passed away in the early hours of of the vote). She was the first female to be elected to the morning of 15 July 1927, leaving behind a legacy parliament, nevertheless, along with the other 72 Sinn that Irish men and women look back on with pride and Féin MPs, she refused to take her seat as it involved gratitude. swearing an oath of allegiance to the King. Some have argued that Markievicz may not have been permitted At her funeral, thousands upon thousands of people to take up her seat in Parliament even if she had tried, lined the streets of Dublin to pay their respects to the because she was married to a Polish man and women woman who had a heart for the poor and oppressed and took their husband’s nationality until 1948. She had also struggled until the very end for Irish freedom. previously been found guilty of treason, which would 30

Issues: Female

Let’s Go Plastic Free - We Owe It to Ourselves & The Future

S

amantha McMurdock looks at the impact of pads, tampons and pantyliners on the environment and asks why we can’t all take the plunge and go 100% plastic-free, an action that would put an end to contributing to landfill where it takes a staggering 500 years for one pad to break down.

I’d never thought about pads and tampons and and their impact on the environment until just over a year ago. I wasn’t aware that the go-to for most women, the pad is made of 90% plastic - to put it in context, the equivalent of 5 plastic bags. A recent study showed that everyday 700,000 pantyliners, 1.4m sanitary towels and 2.5m tampons are flushed down the toilet - you can imagine the effects on marine life.

It takes 500 years for one pad or tampon to break down - the average woman will discard 10,000 or anywhere up to 15,000 during her lifetime, so multiply 10,000 by every woman in the world ….. It’s a sobering thought!

This is not meant to shame anyone - I consider myself an ethical shopper: vegan, recycle and all the rest of it yet I knew nothing about an environmental issue 50% of the population are contributing to - each month.

Apart from the disposable nature of menstrual products, their flowing into our oceans and blocking up our cities’ sewers, let’s look at the very manufacturing process of the items themselves - the cotton for instance is something we should all be very aware of - cotton being, of course one of the world’s thirstiest crops, then the cotton is saturated in pesticides and insecticides, not to mention the polyethylene plastic (the sticky bit) which is another pollutant. Tampons contain harmful chemicals like rayon, dioxin and chlorine and when they hit landfill, the earth soaks them in and the rest release into the air and groundwater.

also available from Nixit for £45 for those who don’t want their period to interupt their love life). On my quest for the ethical period I discovered Sweet Lavender & Chili Flakes here in Ireland and they not only sell great reusable period-related items but sell lots of sustainable items for everyday living too - not to mention having the most beautifully tailored pads you will find anywhere (lovely pack for €30.50)! Also, by switching to reusables you will save around 94% of your lifetime spend on disposables.

It’s very sad that most of our supermarkets don’t stock a single plastic-free menstrual item but disposable menstrual items are a guaranteed seller and there’s no incentive for them to stock reusables, so do seek out those ethical independent stores like Sweet Lavender & Chili Flakes and let’s start a plastic free revolution.

We females all have a responsibility to take a stand! The average woman is responsible for 150kg of menstrual product waste in her lifetime. There’s no longer an excuse when there’s other options like reusable sanitary products meaning you’re creating zero waste, like pads, menstrual cups and period underwear. I discovered Thinx (period underwear for around £15 a pair) and DivaCup (menstrual cup made from the green ingredient silicone that will last a decade then degrade naturally into the earth, costing £27) a while back and it’s comforting knowing I’m not contributing to landfill (not to mention paying for disposables each month - trust me, these items quickly paid for themselves). For some reason I thought there would be no plastic free period stores in Ireland and so I sent off to the U.S. (for Thinx) and the U.K. for DivaCup (worth mentioning that menstrual discs are

@sweetlavenderandchiliflakes

/SweetLavenderAndChiliFlakes

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Issues: New Book Releases

Patricia Scanlan’s Book Club Patricia Scanlan was born in Dublin, where she still lives. She is a #1 bestselling author and has sold millions of books worldwide. Her books are translated in many languages.

Patricia is the series editor and a contributing author to the award winning Open Door Literacy series.

This issue, Patricia brings her favourite books of the moment.

White City – Kevin Power (Scriber)

From the moment our protagonist, wannabe writer, Ben - we’re never told his surname - divulges ‘I am the bitter only son of a disgraced rich man and I have washed up here in rehab,’ and proceeds to tell us about consorting with fraudsters and war criminals in an effort to beat his father - a banker in Celtic Tiger Ireland - at his own game, we’re hooked.

In White City, Kevin Power plunges us into a world peppered with characters reminiscent of Seánie Fitzpatrick, David Drumm, and their odious ilk, living a corrupt, unprincipled life of privilege, and smug entitlement.

Ben’s father has been arrested on charges of misappropriating €600m. The posh Southside family home, ‘done in cod baroque style,’ in the ‘Great Remodelling of 2004,’ is being stripped. CAB has frozen his assets.

Nonetheless, ‘The Typhoid Banker’ still dines in posh restaurants in Ballsbridge, and golfs in Greystones. Ben’s mother drinks from brandy balloons filled with Chateau Lafite - ‘the contents of her wine rack had escaped the Great Purge’- and frets over the failure of the upbringing of their lazy, self entitled, addicted son.

Ben narrates this in a journal his psychotherapist - the superbly depicted Dr Felix - encourages him to write.

Ben’s father ‘an easy man to disappoint,’ wanted him to

study law or ‘take articles,’ and took the news that his son wanted to study English, ‘the way a snake swallows a small goat’.

Ben’s allowance is cut off, college fees can’t be paid, his PhD postponed, and he has to get a job. His new girlfriend, Clio, an actress introduces him to her drug dealer, Baz, and his ‘coat of many pockets,’ and Ben’s descent into drug addiction begins. Power’s utterly authentic portrayal of the beau monde’s drug culture is riveting, and shocking in its casual acceptance by society.

When he thinks his life can sink no lower Ben meets an old classmate, Mullens, a charming, slick, chancer, who offers him an opportunity to make a shedload of money, along with a group of other ex college acquaintances, ‘The Lads,’ involved in a shady property investment in Serbia. Despite his better judgement Ben gets involved, and, in a coldblooded shafting is left with ‘zero money, zero prospects, and zero hopes.’

Multi layered, with a laser sharp focus on a contemptible sector of Irish society, White City is a dark, cynical, satirical, relatable, immersive read, lightened by hilarious one-liners that often had me laughing out loud.

One of the best books I’ve read this year. Kevin Power is an exceptionally gifted writer and deserves every stellar review White City has received.

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Boys Don’t Cry –Fiona Scarlett Faber & Faber

Joe is 17, a gifted artist and a brilliant older brother to 12-year-old Finn. They live with their Ma and Da in a Dublin tower block called Bojaxhiu or ‘the Jax’. It’s not an easy place to be a kid, especially when your father, Frank, is the muscle for the notorious gang leader Dessie ‘The Badger’ Murphy. But whether it’s daytrips to the beach or drawing secret sketches, Joe works hard to show Finn life beyond the battered concrete yard below their flat. Joe is determined not to become like his Da. But when Finn falls ill, Joe finds his convictions harder to cling to. With his father now in prison, his mother submerged in her grief, and his relationships with friends and classmates crumbling, Joe has to figure out how to survive without becoming what the world around him expects him to be.

Fiona Scarlett has been compared to Roddy Doyle, and Douglas Stuart, with this, her powerful, gritty, authentic and emotive debut novel, that absorbs you from the first page. Joe, Finn, and their Ma, are so beautifully crafted, that the reader is submerged in a maelstrom of emotions as their stories unfold.

Boys Don’t Cry is a resounding triumph and lingers in the mind long after you have read it.

The End of the World is a Cul de Sac - Louise Kennedy Bloomsbury

The secrets people kept, the lies they told.

In these visceral, stunningly crafted stories, people are effortlessly cruel to one another, and the natural world is a primitive salve. Here, women are domestically trapped by predatorial men, Ireland’s folklore and politics loom large, and poverty – material, emotional, sexual – seeps through every crack.

Announcing a major new voice in literary fiction for the twenty-first century, these sharp shocks of stories offer flashes of beauty, and even humour, amidst the harshest of truths.

All human life is here, as Louise Kennedy skilfully crafts a collection of short stories that cover the vicissitudes of life - unhappy marriages, dysfunctional families, living in the aftermath of tragedy – Once Upon a Pair Of Wheels is gut wrenching. Lifted with dry humour and an evocation of rural life, the mysticism of the land with its fairy forts, standing stones, and ancient traditions, The End of the World is a Cul de Sac is a powerful and hugely impressive debut.

How To Be Good With Money – Eoin McGee Gill Books

In today’s economy, where one-job careers are increasingly a thing of the past, workplace benefits are increasingly hard to come by, and the achievement of major life goals - like buying a house or starting a family - often depends on your ability to save, it’s more important than ever that we understand how to get the absolute most from our money. In How to Be Good with Money, author, TV host and financial planner Eoin McGee shares his complete programme for financial well-being. This book is for anyone wondering how best to spend their money, how best to get out of debt and start saving for the things that really matter to them, and how to look after their financial future and retire early.

With up to date information on pensions, mortgages, savings/investments, etc., explained in a very comprehensible style, How to Be Good With Money is relevant to all age groups and provides invaluable information on dealing with personal finances. Highly recommended.

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Issues: Science

Virus Hunters Hope to Stop the Next Pandemic

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esearchers calling themselves the ‘virus hunters’ have been tasked with catching thousands of bats to develop a simulation model they hope will help the world avoid a pandemic similar to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 2.8 million people.

Reuters photographers captured them at work. Adrian Portugal reports.

Researchers wearing headlamps and protective suits race to untangle the claws and wings of bats caught up in a big net after dark in the Philippine province of Laguna.

“If we know the virus itself and we know where it came from, we know how to isolate that virus geographically.”

Beyond work in the laboratory, the research requires lengthy field trips, involving traipsing for hours through thick rainforest and precarious night hikes on mountains covered in rocks, tree roots, mud and moss.

The tiny animals are carefully placed in cloth bags to be taken away, measured and swabbed, with details logged and saliva and faecal matter collected for analysis before they Phillip Alviola, a bat ecologist, takes an oral swab from a bat that was captured are returnedfrom a building at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), in Los to the wild. Banos, Laguna province, Philippines, REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez The researchers call themselves the “virus hunters”, tasked with catching thousands of bats to develop a simulation model they hope will help the world avoid a pandemic similar to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 2.8 million people.

The Japanese-funded model will be developed over the next three years by the University of the Philippines Los Banos, which hopes the bats will help in predicting the dynamics of a coronavirus by analysing factors such as climate, temperature and ease of spread, to humans included.

“What we’re trying to look into are other strains of coronavirus that have the potential to jump to humans,” said ecologist Philip Alviola, the leader of the group, who has studied bat viruses for more than a decade.

The group also targets bat roosts in buildings, setting up mist nets before dusk to catch bats and extract samples by the light of torches.

Each bat is held steady by the head as researchers insert tiny swabs into their mouths and record wingspans with plastic rulers, to try and see which of the more than 1,300 species and 20 families of bats are most susceptible to infections and why.

Researchers wear protective suits, masks and gloves when in contact with the bats, as a precaution against catching viruses.

“It’s really scary these days,” said Edison Cosico, who is assisting Alviola. “You never know if the bat is already a carrier.

“What we’re after is finding out if there are any more viruses from bats that can be transmitted to humans.

We’ll never know if the next one is just like COVID.” 34

The bulk of those caught are horseshoe bats known to harbour coronaviruses, including the closest known relative of the novel coronavirus.

Kirk Taray, a bat ecologist, detangles a bat caught on a mist net that was set up in front of a building with a bat roost at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), in Los Banos, Laguna province, PhilippinesREUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Horseshoe bats figure in two of the scenarios of World Health Organization experts investigating the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

ecologist Kirk Taray.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Humans’ exposure and closer interaction with wildlife meant the risk of disease transmission was now higher than ever, said bat

“By having baseline data on the nature and occurrence Host species, such as bats, usually display no symptoms of the potentially zoonotic virus in bats, we can somehow of the pathogens, although they can be predict possible outbreaks.” devastating if transmitted to Deadly viruses to have originated from bats humans or other animals. include Ebola and other coronaviruses, Severe Deadly viruses to Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and have originated from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). bats include Ebola and other coronaviruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo

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Issues: Current

Crime & Punishment

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rime and what punishment? Russian women pin hope on domestic violence ruling.

In Russia, an estimated one in five women suffer violence from their husband and the law offers little punishment and even less protection. A new court ruling has offered a glimmer of hope to those who want change. Umberto Bacchi reports.

She got slammed against her bathroom door and beaten up for refusing her husband sex. He got off with a small fine.

Russia’s constitutional court ruled that punishment for domestic violence and protection for victims were inadequate, ordering lawmakers to update relevant legalisation.

Welcome to Russia - where an estimated one in five women suffer violence from their husband and where rights groups say the law offers little punishment and even less protection.

‘Nonsensical’ The ruling followed an appeal by a woman who had been “systematically” beaten by her brother. He was found guilty several times but only given fines and community service.

Galina thinks her husband got off lightly and hopes a new drive on domestic violence could mean other abusers wouldn’t.

Russia decriminalised some forms of domestic violence in 2017, with Galina said police initially dismissed her complaint and would supporters saying this not even consider accusations that her husband tried to rape allowed parents to her, saying it was her duty to have sex with him. discipline their children and cut state meddling in family life.

She said her spouse was given a 7,000-rouble ($92) fine Today, beating a family member in Russia is classified as and a warning that were he to turn violent again within an administrative offence and generally punished with a 12 months, criminal charges might follow. fine.

As the clock ticked down on his year’s probation, she said the beatings resumed.

If the offence recurs within a year, it becomes a criminal matter; if a third beating follows that 12-month window, it is again dealt with under administrative law - not as a crime.

“I spent a year running around with lawyers going to the police and other institutions and finally the only thing we could get was this,” Galina, who preferred not to give her full name, said of the court order that put him on notice for a year. Her lawyer said similar cases were common in Russia, where machismo looms large and gender roles are often antiquated. Many women face social pressure to look feminine, find a man and raise children, with family seen as their top priority.

The court said the rule must be revised to ensure that repeat offenders face stiffer punishments - something that activists hope may lead to a broader change in official outlook.

“We would like to believe that the decision ... will become a reason for the legislator to think about the ineffectiveness of decriminalising beatings and the lack of adequate protection for victims,” said Tatiana Belova, a lawyer with the Consortium of Women’s

Yet, now, a new court ruling has offered a glimmer of hope to those who want to change this antiquated setup.

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Nongovernmental Associations.

“I really hope that lawmakers will toughen the responsibility for domestic violence ... (and) do something so that women know they are protected by the law,” she said.

Janette Akhilgova, of Equality Now, a women’s rights group, said police were ill-trained on domestic abuse, that women were often left to collect evidence solo and there was no mechanism for restraining A series of high-profile cases and orders to keep them safe. awareness campaigns Today, beating a family member in in recent years have “Just punishing people Russia is classified as an administrative offence and created a public is not enough,” she generally punished with a fine. discourse around said by phone. “We domestic violence, truly and widely lack any which has made change systemic institutional approach to possible, said Akhilgova. preventing violence,” A 2020 survey by the Levada Centre, an independent The justice ministry did not reply to a request for Russian pollster, found about two in three Russians think comment. domestic violence is a serious problem, and almost 80 per cent back new laws.

What change?

Galina said police initially dismissed her complaint and would not even consider accusations that her husband tried to rape her, saying it was her duty to have sex with him.

The 57-year-old said she still has to share her council flat home with her husband and his mother, as she fears leaving would mean losing a home in Moscow.

“They have been giving me a very hard time,” she said by phone, adding the ordeal has made her feel that women like her have been “abandoned” by the state.

Yet expectations of a major legal overhaul are “too optimistic”, as reform efforts have faced stiff opposition from conservative and religious groups, said Akhilgova.

“A lot of our politicians hold very conservative views regarding family and gender roles,” she said.

Discussions on a 2019 draft law to boost protection have been postponed by the pandemic, despite evidence that COVID-19 lockdowns have exacerbated domestic violence worldwide.

Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo

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Word Power Over the next few issues we’ll be attempting to increase your word power. Have a look at the words below and afterwards see if you know their meaning.

Word

Pronunciation

1. Oligopoly 2. Baccivorous 3. Arcane 4. Avarice 5. Nonplussed 6. Unabashed 7. Convivial 8. Cajole 9. Multifarious 10.Libertarian 11. Enervate 12. Gratuitous

All-e-gop-awl-ee Back-siv-er-us Arr-kane Av-ar-is Non-plusd Un-ah-bashd Kon-viv-e-al Ka-joe-il Mul-tee-fair-e-us Lib-ert-air-e-an En-ir-fate Grat-u-it-us

Answers 1. A situation in which a small number of companies or organisations has control of an area of business, so that others have no share.

2. Feeding on berries.

3. Mysterious and known only by a few people.

4. An extremely strong wish to get or keep money or possessions.

5. Surprised, confused and not certain how to react.

6. Without any worry about possible criticism or embarrassment.

7. Friendly and making you feel happy and welcome.

8.To persuade someone to do something they might not wantto do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises.

9 Of many different types.

10. A person who believes that people should be free to think and behave as they want and should not have limits put on them by governments.

11. To make someone feel weak and without energy.

12. (of something such as bad behaviour) not necessary, or with no cause.

How did YOU score?

How did you do? Let us know on Twitter @BigIssueIreland 38

10 or more – Perfection!6-9 Brilliant.

3-5 Well done.

0-2 Must do better.

D is c o u n

t Corne

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