Gair Rhydd 1072 - 15th February 2016 by Joseph Atkinson

gair rhydd y

gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1072 Monday 15th February 2016 Also in this issue

Advice: Learning to drive while you’re at university P10>>

Funding for University and SU remains in doubt despite reduction to Higher Education cuts

Comment: London bus stunt: Insensitive or justified? P12>>

• Assembly Members opt to reduce proposed £42 million cuts to Higher Education in Wales to £11 million at Welsh budget approval • Vice Chancellor Colin Riordan: “We are not out of the woods yet” • SU President Claire Blakeway criticises Cardiff Central AM for toeing party line

EXCLUSIVE Joseph Atkinson

obs and services at Cardiff University and the Students’ Union remain under threat despite the Welsh government’s decision to reduce a proposed cut of £42 million to Higher Education in Wales to £11 million. Both Vice-Chancellor Colin Riordan and SU President Claire Blakeway have acknowledged the continued uncertainty over the funding of Welsh universities. In an email sent to all staff, Professor Riordan emphasised that the University was “not out of the woods yet” despite three quarters of the proposed cuts to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) being removed at the Welsh budget announcement on Tuesday.

Riordan expressed his gratitude towards the government’s decision to amend proposals to cut funding to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), but stopped short at guaranteeing that jobs that he had previously suggested could be under threat would be saved. At the end of January Professor Riordan emailed every staff member at the University, informing them that the potential cuts to HEFCW would “plunge universities into crisis with no understanding of what the subsequent solution might be”. He also wrote that a cut of 40 per cent or more to public funding for universities in one year was “not reasonable to expect”, especially ahead of the Diamond Review into Higher Education funding and Student Finance arrangements in Wales. However, the Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Rathbone, told Gair Rhydd that Riordan had

“completely over-played his hand” and “compared apples to pears” in the email sent two weeks ago. Ms. Rathbone was critical of the Vice-Chancellor’s approach, stating that he had caused “unjustified alarm about what was being proposed”. When queried on whether she believed that Professor Riordan’s email was a political manoeuvre, Ms. Rathbone said: “I can’t say what his intentions were but his figures were incorrect.” She also took the opportunity to respond to accusations made by Plaid Cymru’s AM Simon Thomas, who had said that the Labour government had “bowed to pressure” from his party. “It’s daft to badge listening to people who put their case coherently as ‘bowing to pressure’; the point of having a consultation is to find out what people think about the way we plan to use their money.

Pictured:

Cardiff University’s Main Building from the Students’ Union. Funding for both institutions is under threat (Photographer: Joseph Atkinson)

Continued on page 4

Politics: An interview with the Wales Green Party leader P20>>

Science: Why you might not be a morning person P26>>

2 EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor Joseph Atkinson Deputy Editors Carwyn Williams Anna Lewis

the free word

Cuts, cuts everywhere And not a drop (of wine) to drink

News Anna Lewis Joanna Beck Toby Holloway Advice Gwen Williams Caragh Medlicott Comment Em Gates Charley Griffiths David Williams Columnist Helena Hanson Politics Carwyn Williams Luke Brett Sam Patterson Science Maria Mellor Lizzie Harrett Societies Aletheia Nutt Taf-Od Rhian Floyd Park Life Vacant Sport Jim Harris James Lloyd Jamie Smith Social Media Editor Jack Boyce Proofreaders Jamie McKay Tom Morris Get involved Editorial conferences are each Monday at 5pm. Proofreading takes place from 5pm on Thursdays in the media office during print weeks. Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com Tweet us @gairrhydd

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. Sometimes, because of deadline pressures, we may make some mistakes. If you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd. com. You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints Opinions expressed in editorials are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

Joseph Atkinson

or as long as I’ve been politically aware and engaged, cuts have been the norm. From culture to benefits, the NHS to local council budgets; you name it, it’s been cut. I’m aware that the economy needs to be brought under control, but the supposed light at the end of the tunnel feels very far away with news of further international economic decline and sociopolitical uncertainty. Ultimately, the cuts haven’t been fair and have hit myself and those around me - my family and friends. “The poor become poorer and the rich get by” this is an accusation that has been levelled at a number of Conservative governments, but the cuts that are the focus of our front page are not Tory-imposed, but have been approved by the Welsh government, the majority of which is made up by the Welsh Labour Party - of course these cuts are influenced by the austerity approach taken in Westminster, but cuts are becoming the norm across the mainstream political spectrum in Britain. So Higher Education in Wales will now have £11 million less to allocate to Welsh universities. While it is a signifi-

cant reduction on the original £42 million, it’s still a significant amount of money, some of which Cardiff University will have to do without, and consequently the Students’ Union. I find it ridiculous that at a time when students are paying (admittedly in the future) through the nose via student loans and maintenance loans, that it looks as though services and jobs at universities are under threat. We’re in a culture where it is becoming normal to pay more and get less in return, and it is justified as being for a prosperous future which just doesn’t look very likely right now. I was at odds with myself as to whether I should mention that the budget for the annual Cardiff Student Media Awards had been cut by two-thirds this week in the front page article. I opted against, as ultimately having one less course at our awards dinner doesn’t stack up to people losing their jobs; their livelihoods. But, the point remains - while I’m going to be close to £40,000 in debt by the time I leave university, it’s hard to see where that money, and the money of the 30,000 other students at Cardiff, is going to better my university experience. And while we like to blame the Students’ Union or University for things here at Gair Rhydd, we usually need

a justification, and it’s not really their fault. Budgets need to be made to sustain an organisation and if that budget is constantly being threatened by multimillion pound cuts, then how can they justify spending money on anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. So we’re left with only what is needed and not what is expendable, and unfortunately it’s the expendable things which make life fun (have you seen The Expendables??) For example, the cut to our Media Awards budget means that we might have to cut back on the amount of wine we’ll have to drink. While some of us may debate whether wine should be classified as expendable or indispensable, I’ve no doubt that when push comes to shove, having actual award trophies to give out may be given preference to. While long-term planning regarding those cuts might mean that poor old us at Cardiff Student Media won’t get that sozzled, it of course has much wider implications for those working at the University and SU. I don’t want to sound too gloomy, but when senior officials at the Uni and SU are championing an £11 million cut to their funding as a victory, then what would count as a defeat? Only this week we’ve seen junior doctors strike over Jeremy Hunt’s proposed

new contract, which looks as though it is set to be enforced despite widespread indignation among the medical community at both the short and long-term implications of the new contract. If people won’t back down on the government’s measures to save money, they’ll be forced to accept it nonetheless. While, as the Vice Chancellor and SU President may say, the majority of cuts have been avoided, there are others coming up on the horizon, in the form of the Diamond Review, that could put even more of a squeeze on services, and something will have to give. Whether that be subsidies for Welsh students’ student loans being scrapped, or absolutely-non-essential student-led services facing the chop, there will have to be cut-backs in the future. I’ve got to a point where I feel lucky that I ONLY have to pay £9,000 per year to be taught at university and an additional £6,000 to live (relatively) comfortably. I feel lucky that I’ll be paying back money well into my fifties, and I feel lucky that we might be able to scrape a few bottles of wine for this year’s Media Awards. I feel lucky because the future of university funding in Wales is on very shaky ground, and it could get a lot, lot worse.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY: GAIR RHYDD 735

17/2/2003

his week we go back to 2003, when Gair Rhydd was a fortnightly paper. The front page splash reported that the Christian Union potentially faced ‘exile’ after sexist and homophobic comments were allegedly made at a public meeting. This raised questions from the Students’ Union President, Caz Noyes, who was concerned it breached the equal opportunities policy of the Student’s Union. This is particularly interesting following the censorship and free speech debate still going on in 2016. In other news, a phantom unicyclist seen around campus was finally identified as Mechanical Engineering student Patrick Moody. He planned to start a unicycle society. Alas, this doesn’t seem to have worked, as no such society exists today. In student media, Xpress Radio created a radio soap titled ‘Woodville Road’, only the second if its kind in the UK. They hoped to make it the next big thing, combining the sauciness of Hollyoaks and the comedy of Neighbours. Sadly, this feature ceases to exist as part of Xpress anymore. Back when Comment was called ‘Opinion’, the main article was bluntly and ambiguously titled ‘Defending the right to kill anyone’. Writer Rhys James explained how a British-born man was found guilty of murder, despite being diagnosed with extreme paranoid schizophrenia. In Rhys’ opinion, it was “beyond description” to carry out a death sentence on a prisoner whose culpability was in question. Other opinion pieces questioned

whether celebrities could ever have any privacy, and that it is hardly surprising that students were being paid to have corporate logos tattooed on their heads. This linked with a news article three pages previously reporting on how students were given nearly £90 a week to show a temporary tattoo of said company logos on their foreheads for a minimum of three hours a day. This was conveniently placed under an article saying how part-time jobs jeopardized academic performance. The letters page didn’t disappoint in providing top comedy opinion from students. My personal favourite came from Dagda, a Philosophy student concerned at the amount of rats congregating around his neighbour’s house, causing him to worry that he was starting a rat army. Thirteen years later, I can safely say the quality of student houses hasn’t changed much. You could also text Gair Rhydd back in the day, however we have now evolved to using social media as a more effective method of communication. In Sport, the Six Nations was understandably the main topic, with the editors rightfully predicting that England would come first. They optimistically thought Wales would come fourth due to the loss of goal-kicker Stephen Jones through injury. The disappointing reality was that Wales came last in 2003. Ouch. It was a good week for Cardiff sport though, with DanceSport and Martial Arts winning their respective tournaments. - Charley Griffiths

EDITORIAL 3

Campus in Brief

Jack Boyce

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The HEFCW estimates that the cost of tuition fee grants is expected to be around £235 million in the current financial year, which is up from £194 million in 2014-15 and even further from £129 million in 2013-14.

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he Severn Bridges could become a part of the public sector as soon as next year, according to WalesOnline. Higher than expected traffic levels means that the money gained from tolls will likely be able to pay off the private company currently responsible for the bridge by October 2017, rather than the previous estimate of April 2018. The two Severn Bridges will become public property once the private company who are responsible for maintenance have received toll payments totalling nearly £1billion. According to MP David Davies, toll prices will likely be cut after the bridges become public property. According to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), the tuition fee policy for Welsh students will cost taxpayers almost a quarter of a billion pounds this year. The HEFCW estimates that the cost of tuition fee grants is expected to be around £235 million in the current financial year, which is up from £194 million in 201415 and even further from £129 million in 2013-14. Shadow Education Minister Angela Burns said of the situation, “The Welsh Government is putting the future of Wales’ universities under further pressure at a time when these institutions are already under severe financial strain.” A new bill has been passed by Assembly Members to ensure that hospitals in Wales have a sufficient number of nurses on duty at all times. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, who proposed the legislation, stated that Wales would be the first country in Europe to have this kind of requirement, and that the “small but fundamental change” will “undoubtedly save lives”. Alongside the bill, nurse training places will increase by 10% in an £85 million package, with extra training places for physiotherapists and radiographers are also included.

National

Prime Minister David Cameron is set to delay holding a parliamentary vote on renewing the Trident programme until after a referendum on Britain’s EU membership has taken place. There was some expectation that the vote to approve the Successor generation of four nuclear submarines would be held in March, but it will likely be delayed until July if the EU referendum takes place in June. MPs will vote on the entire Trident programme, which, if approved, will come into service in the early 2030s at a cost of £31 billion, with a further £10 billion earmarked for contingency purposes. A Manchester student has been found guilty of terror charges after creating a “hub of communication” for other extremists from his home. Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Farah, 20, was also found guilty of helping another Manchester based youngster, Nur Hassan, 19, make his way to Syria. Prosecutor Gareth Patterson pointed towards Jama Farah’s activities across social media and on messaging app WhatsApp as evidence of his support for IS. Jama Farah is related to Zhara and Salma Halane, who at the age of 16 left their home in Manchester in June 2014 to join the Islamic State. A committee of MPs from the Department of Media, Culture and Sport have criticised the BBC for failing to stop excessive payment packages for executives and called for a tougher system and greater transparency to be implemented. The committee’s chair, Conservative MP Jesse Norman, said that, “There is a concern about pay levels and transparency in the commercial parts of the BBC”, along with the proposal to abolish the BBC Trust as it had “lost confidence and credibility”. A BBC spokesperson responded to the proposal to create a unitary board, by saying that “We support the committee’s assertion that the BBC’s independence should be protected”.

International

A prison riot in the Mexican city of Monterrey involving inmates of rival drug cartels has resulted in 52 deaths and a further 12 injuries. Images broadcast on television showed flames emerging from the prison, which became a battleground between the Zetas and Gulf cartels. Jaime Rodriguez, the governor of the Nuevo Leon state, said, “During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas”, before confirming that no gunfire had been heard. Los Angeles authorities have passed a £1.29 billion plan to get an estimated 40,000 homeless people off the streets. The 10-year plan will look to expand the amount of homeless shelters and quality housing available. Last year, Los Angeles declared a state of emergency after its homeless population rose by 12.4 per cent over a two-year period. Officials claim the problem is a result of the rise in unemployment, rising rent and house prices and the prominence of drugs, which city official Sachi Hamai called “the most serious humanitarian crisis confronting our country today”. Los Angeles already spends around $1 billion per year on medical, psychiatric and social welfare costs on its homeless population, which will increase by $150 million over the next two years under the proposed scheme. The club in the centre of the Paris terrorist attacks last November is set to reopen. Le Bataclan, which is located in the 11th arrondissement, was hosting an Eagles of Death Metal concert in front of 1,500 attendees before an attack from three terrorists ended in the deaths of 89 people. The venue was a staple of the Paris music venue, but has been closed ever since the attacks, which IS claimed responsibility for. However, the owners of Le Bataclan have stated that they will do their “best to host events before the end of 2016.”

Pictured: A Bataclan concert before the events of the Paris terror attacks. The theatre is set to reopen (Photographer: Kmeron via Flickr)

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Los Angeles authorities have passed a £1.29 billion plan to get an estimated 40,000 homeless people off the streets.

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4 NEWS

news

Editors: Anna Lewis Joanna Beck Toby Holloway @GairRhyddNews news@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/news

Cont’d: Funding uncertainty for Uni and SU

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Continued from front page

I felt that Jenny Rathbone put the party line before representing the people of her own constituency. Claire Blakeway

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EXCLUSIVE Joanna Beck

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If they were free then it would be fair enough but the amount we have to pay to train on them just takes the piss. Amy Butler

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“It certainly lobbied the Education Minister about the extent of the Higher Education reduction.” Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced the cancellation of £31 million in cuts to HEFCW on Tuesday as the Welsh budget was passed by ministers. The original proposed cut of £42 million would have represented approximately one-third of the Council’s budget. £21.1 million of that was planned to be reallocated to covering student loan subsidies, but Ms. Hutt announced to the Senedd that the money would now be retained by HEFCW, while it would also be given an extra £10 million in order to support students studying part-time courses and research. Ms. Rathbone was keen to praise the additional £10 million granted, saying that it had been “ring-fenced to to support two Welsh Labour priorities”. The President of Cardiff University’s Students’ Union, Claire Blakeway, was delighted with the result of the Welsh Budget, describing it to Gair Rhydd as

“a massive win for the student movement and the wider university sector across Wales. “I feel this really shows the influence and lobbying power that we have in Wales and that students are starting to be taken more seriously by the Welsh government.” Blakeway was also critical of the stance taken by Labour AM Rathbone, who met with the Students’ Union President earlier in the week to discuss the HE cuts. She described her meeting with Rathbone as “disappointing”, citing the AM’s decision to toe the party line, despite the large student population of her Cardiff Central constituency, as being a source of frustration. “I felt that she put the party line before representing the people of her own constituency, which are predominantly students who will be affected by these cuts. “Although it wasn’t a particularly positive meeting, it hopefully influenced her views on the matter as the cuts were significantly reduced from

what was previously envisaged.” Much like Professor Riordan however, Blakeway refused to rule out the possibility of the Students’ Union being affected in future by funding cuts. “The Students’ Union receives funding from Cardiff University as well as generating revenue through its commercial activity. “With recent decisions within the Welsh government to reduce funding into HE, albeit smaller cuts that were initially proposed, it is possible that funding the Students’ Union could be affected. “We are not aware at this stage whether this will have an impact upon Students’ Union funding or service provision.” In a statement, HEFCW expressed its relief at the decision to reduce the cuts: “A cut of 32 per cent to HEFCW’s budget would have had a real impact on universities’ ability to meet Welsh Government priorities. “We are delighted that the contribution of Welsh universities to the economy and society of Wales has been

acknowledged.” The future of university funding in Wales is currently under review, with a comprehensive review by the ViceChancellor of Aberdeen University, Sir Ian Diamond, expected to be delivered by September of this year. The Diamond Review will consider the long-term sustainability of the university funding system at all universities across Wales, where currently Welsh students see a significant proportion of their student loans subsidised by the government. In December Gair Rhydd reported that the Students’ Union would oppose any attempts to change the current system of loan subsidies. Professor Riordan, in his role as Chair of the Universities Wales, had suggested that tuition fee subsidies should be replaced by means-tested maintenance grants. Recent figures suggested that the cost of subsidising tuition grant loans was estimated to be almost £100 million, which led Professor Riordan to brand the system “unsustainable”.

The Welsh budget: University funding breakdown

£42m

Originally to be cut from HEFCW (32% of its budget)

£21.1m Reduction to those cuts

£5m

Additional for part-time students

£5m

Additional for Research

Standards slipping after players injured on allegedly mossy court

he last two weeks of IMG netball matches have ended in injuries with students claiming court conditions at Talybont Sports Centre are to blame. Some of the courts, which cost £20 per game, per team to rent, were reportedly covered in moss which made the surface slippery, resulting in a number of minor, and some more serious injuries. The news comes despite reassurances from those responsible for maintaining the courts that the accidents were caused by bad weather and not negligence. In the last two weeks one student has broken her finger and last Wednesday an ambulance was called after a young women fell and injured her knee on the netball courts at Talybont, Sophie Buchwald, who plays for the Earth Soc netball team, spoke to Gair Rhydd about the conditions: “there was moss all over the pitch and everyone just kept falling, it was a joke. I fell twice but only got bruises and grazes, but one of the girls broke her finger and bruised her back really badly and the captain rolled her ankle and had to go off within the first five minutes”. The following week’s conditions had not changed and more serious injuries occurred. JOMEC player, Amy Butler, described how an am-

bulance was called after one girl injured her knee. “There was a girl lying on the ground that had to be covered in coats and it looked quite serious. One of them had a knee injury and couldn’t move so the ambulance had to be called and the other had an ankle injury”. Butler also commented on the conditions of the netball courts saying: “If they were free then it would be fair enough but the amount we have to pay to train on them just takes the piss”. All of these games were part of the Intra Mural Games (IMG) which allows schools and societies within the University to play each other in a less competitive capacity than the BUCS league. The IMG league has come under scrutiny recently after Gair Rhydd revealed last week that some 11-aside football teams have only played twice since September, despite having paid £250 to participate, due to pitch conditions. The league is run by Cardiff University Sports rather than the Athletics Union, as AU President, Sam Parsons was quick to point out. He did, however, state that the AU “are confident that [facility] checks take place in line with correct procedure”. If students participating feel that the playing surface is not safe for

any reason, they should report to the centre reception.” Gareth Wallwork, the Centre Manager for the Sports Training Village at Talybont, has also reassured Gair Rhydd that regular checks are carried out to ensure facilities are safe. “The facility is constantly maintained and inspected. This winter’s adverse weather conditions have affected all outdoor sports provisions across the UK and due to the volume of wet weather then this will have an effect on any sporting surface. We encourage all participants to wear

the correct footwear to ensure they are participating safely.” Despite Wallwork’s reassurance, Zoe Jones, who plays for the BioSci netball team, told Gair Rhydd that one of the courts was “almost completely covered in moss, our game got cancelled because of how bad the courts were”. This was a week after initial reports of poor conditions. Both Parsons and Wallwork have urged students to report any unsafe facilities and to make sure they are wearing the correct footwear before playing in any match.

Pictured: Netball courts at Talybont Sports Centre

NEWS 5

Hundreds protest against culture cuts

Dan Heard

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The march was a highly creative demonstration of everything we do well in the arts community. Rahab Ghazoul

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Toby Holloway

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Cardiff Castle and the many attractions at Cardiff Bay meant that the Welsh capital scored points for its cultural activities.

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ast Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators marched through Cardiff centre protesting proposed cuts to the arts and culture budget, in a move that could “threaten the future of culture in the city”. Around four hundred people gathered outside the National Museum before marching through the city centre bearing signs and banners, ending at Cardiff Central Library. Cuts of around £700,000 to Cardiff Council’s budget have been proposed, which will fall in line with the government’s stated savings of around £115 million over the next three years. Schemes such as Artes Mundi, an internationally focused arts organisation recognising contemporary visual artists in Wales, and the biggest contemporary arts show in the country, will see their funding slashed, as will the Cardiff Singer of the World competition and the charitable trust Cardiff Contemporary and Arts Active. The cuts come despite groups receiving praise for their innovation in the industry and for inspiring artists, as well as “countless grassroots and community arts projects”, with cuts of around £150,000 affecting them directly. A total of £430,000 to arts venues across the city has also been mooted, as well as the budgets to arts grants, which are expected to be somewhere in the region of £70,000. Over the past three years alone, approximately £100 million has been cut to the nation’s cultural budget. After being debated by councillors back in December, scrutiny committees for Economy

and Culture have been scheduled for the fifteenth and sixteenth of February. The movement has drawn support from far and wide, with notable celebrities championing their cause. Singer Charlotte Church, who in recent times has become something of an outspoken political activist, tweeted her support for the movement, saying: “#cardiff withoutculture looked like a lively march you beauts! Nice work! Cardiff NEEDS to remain a cultural hub.” Speaking exclusively to Gair Rhydd, Rabab Ghazoul, one of the organisers of the march, expressed how pleased she was with the turnout of supporters for their cause: “The media always underestimates attendance figures, we counted closer to a thousand people turning up in the end, and that’s clear to see from the pictures taken on the day!” She said. “That kind of turn-out is fantastic considering the campaign only got underway four weeks earlier, and the support for the march shown by local people who were willing to turn up in awful weather is testament to how strongly people feel about this issue.” “I think the march sent a very clear message to the Council, and I think that message was several fold: first of all, that we oppose these cuts and are united in that opposition. Secondly, a clear message went out about how much the local community, to include the arts community, values the city Cardiff has become, and doesn’t want to go backwards. “Thirdly, the march wasn’t just a bunch of people moaning about

cuts, it was in itself a highly creative demonstration of everything we do well in the arts community, and we don’t wish that very creativity to be undermined and jeopardised. This kind of event doesn’t come about from nothing, it happens because there is already a healthy cultural infrastructure in place that enables us to come together and work together. Take that away and you start diluting the strength and capability of the arts community. I’m particularly pleased we succeeded in mounting a highly creative and celebratory protest, as it drew attention to the very thing we think is under threat if these cuts go ahead.” The protest received messages of support from film maker Ken Loach and Turner prize winning

artist Jeremy Deller, as well as Charlotte Church. According to the organiser: “This just goes to demonstrate how powerful the campaign was, to draw the attention of such people, but also how strongly our cause is felt by a number of highly respected and successful individuals working within the arts themselves.” She concluded: “Overall, we are delighted that so many came to protest cuts to the arts in Cardiff. It’s a vindication that people believe in the power of culture, they get it, they value it. We want to build on that voice, we intend to build on that renewed sense of community, and we intend to go about that in creative and culturally dynamic ways, as you would expect from the arts community.”

Pictured: The New Theatre is currently heavily subsidised by Cardiff Counil (Photographer: Tony Hisgett)

Nor-way! Cardiff ranked as third-best European capital behind Oslo

ardiff has been ranked ‘third best’ capital in Europe, by a recent study. It has moved up from sixth place to joint third, tied with Stockholm, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Belfast came in second, while Norwegian capital Oslo took the crown as Europe’s best capital. The ‘Flash Eurobarometer’ survey was conducted by the European Commission in a total of 79 different cities around Europe and focussed on people’s ‘perception of quality of life’, taking into account a variety of urban indicators. Each city was assessed for people’s lvel of satisfaction with aspects of living that included: health and education, amount of green spaces, house prices,quality of public transport, safety, air quality, shopping facilities and many more. Cardiff ’s St David’s Centre and various arcades meant that the city performed well for its shopping opportunities, while Cardiff Castle and the many attractions at Cardiff Bay meant that the Welsh capital scored points

for its cultural activities. It was a successful week for Cardiff, as the city received further accolades for its renewable energy usage. It was named as the UK’s fourth greenest city, behind Grimsby, Doncaster and Warrington. According to new statistics published by Green Alliance, 16 per cent of Cardiff ’s electricity is provided by renewable energy sources. These include solar panels, wind turbines and other types of green energy. It was revealed that Grimsby generates 28 per cent of its electricity renewably, which is considerable more than its closest rivals - Doncaster had 19 per cent renewable energy, and Warrington had 18 per cent. The announcement comes at a time when the future of renewable energy in South Wales is shrouded in uncertainty. Plans for a £1bn ‘tidal lagoon’ in Swansea Bay have stalled as an independent review of the project will take place, with the purpose of examining the ‘feasibility’ of the tidal lagoon. If it goes ahead, the Swansea lagoon

would be the first of six proposed wave energy projects around the UK coastline, which reportedly could generate eight per cent of the UK’s electricity, and would be operational for as long as 120 years. Construction has already been delayed one year, and the review will

look at the cost effectiveness of the scheme, as well as its potential to deliver the energy and how it will be financed. The review is expected to take six months, and concerns over the future of the Swansea tidal lagoon will persist until its conclusion.

Pictured: Cardiff Bay (Photographer: Fred Bigio via Flickr)

6 NEWS

Anna Lewis

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In the notice of poll announced on the Students’ Union website, there was no mention of any students running for the part-time Woman’s Officer.

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Emily Giblett

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Investment on this scale into creative industries in Cardiff can do nothing but good. Dr John Jewell

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Candidates revealed for Students’ Union elections

he candidates for the upcoming Student Elections have been announced, with three current Students’ Union officers running for the position of president. The news was announced last Monday, ahead of the start of election week on February 22nd. Both VP for Education, Sophie Timbers, and VP for Societies Hannah Sterritt will run for the role of president, alongside part-time Welsh Language Officer Steffan Bryn. Also competing for the coveted position of President are Sebastian Robyns-Landricome, current President of the Socialist Students Society, Nadine Dahan, previous candidate for the VP Welfare position last year, and Alexandra White. With six candidates running for the role, the elections will see more competition than last year with only two officers previously fighting for the position. The position of VP Welfare will see the largest number of candidates competing, with ten students planning to campaign. Candidates include current Womens’ Officer Rachael Melhuish and Ethical and Environmental Officer Daniel Tucker. In a repeat of last year Student Senator Jake Smith will run again for the role, which represents students in all aspects of welfare including housing and sexual and mental health. A large number of students will also run for the position of VP Education and AU President, with eight candidates running for each title.

It was noted that despite the role being held by males over the last two years, this year’s candidates see an equal proportion of both genders. Like last year, seven candidates are listed as running for the VP Societies. Despite being created only last year as the result of the 2015 AGM, the full time officer position for post-graduate students will see six competitors campaign during election week. Meanwhile the full time officer responsible for representing students at Heath Park campus will be fought between two candidates, Timothy Nagle and Nikolai Ciecierski-Holmes. In addition to the full-time roles, a number of part-time roles will be on offer to students. The Black and Ethnic Minorities (BME) Officer, International Students Officer, Welsh Language Officer and the LGBT+ Officer for Women roles will all run uncontested with only one candidate. The Students with Disabilities Officer, LGBT+ Open Officer, Ethical and Environmental Officer all have two candidates running. However, on the notice of poll announced on the Students’ Union website, there was no mention of any students running for the part-time Woman’s Officer. Although the elections are yet to begin, five students have already withdrawn from the competition. The announcement of the candidates marks the first step in the Student Elections process. On Tuesday and Thursday the Students’ Union will host a Question Time for those

running between 19:00-21:00 for the former and 18:30 to 20:30 for the latter. Unlike last year, the elections will fall on reading week for some subjects, including the School of English, Communication and Philosophy. When questioned whether this would affect voter turnout, current Students’ Union President Claire Blakeway explained that campaign week falls on the same week every year to ensure that it does not clash with university events such as deadline and assessments.

She said: “Unfortunately, Students’ Union elections are not the only pressure of the academic calendar and at times, we have activities taking place that can cause conflict. We are aware of a small number of reading weeks and other commitments that could have an impact of candidates and voters.” It was confirmed that despite the timing in past years, voter turnout has continued to increase. Last year 6,231 students chose their favourite candidates, compared to 4,782 in 2013.

Pictured: Campaigners from last year’s elections

Cardiff Met announces specialist media campus

ardiff Metropolitan University has signed an agreement confirming plans to develop a new media and communications campus in partnership with a Hong Kong media company. On Monday a memorandum of understanding between the university, Cardiff Council and Phoenix Education was signed, approving plans to proceed with the multi-million pound project. The new development, housing a media centre and accommodation for up to 2000 students, is expected to boost both the international reputation of the university and the infrastructure of the Welsh capital. Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings, broadcasting on six channels in both Mandarin and Cantonese and boasting an estimated 360 million viewers, will be the first private firm to enter into a partnership of this kind with a university in the UK. A subsidiary of Phoenix Television, Phoenix Education already sponsors media and communications facilities at four universities in China, and is expected to finance the development of the Cardiff campus, with Cardiff Met entering into a long term rental agreement for the site.

Contact with Phoenix Television was first established through Cardiff Met’s Beijing office, which opened in 2014 to ‘develop strategic partnerships with Chinese institutions’ and provide support for international students throughout the application process. The university is well known for international student satisfaction, having been voted ‘Top University in the UK for International Student Support’ (International Student Barometer) six times since 2007. In a statement released by Cardiff Met, Vice Chancellor for the university Professor Anthony Chapman noted that the prospect of developers from the Far East investing in Cardiff-based facilities such as this shows ‘enormous potential’ for future projects. The head of European operations for Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings, Dr Wenguang Shao, representing the media company at the signing, said that “the Phoenix-Cardiff Met School of Media and its related student accommodation will attract the brightest and best in the IT and creative industry sector to Cardiff ”. The plan to build the new campus on a site in the centre of the city will

boost the local economy, creating hundreds of jobs in construction, whilst many long-term teaching and support posts will be generated once the school opens its doors to new students. Speaking to Gair Rhydd, John Jewell, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the school of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University, noted that investment on this scale into creative industries in Cardiff can do “nothing but good” for the city and its reputation as a media

hub. He continued, “this is an exciting project for Cardiff Met. Though the exact details of what the school will offer are yet to be announced, anything that brings investment into Cardiff is positive”. The next step for Cardiff Met and Phoenix Television is to secure an appropriate site for the campus and obtain planning permission for the development. With this in place, construction could begin in as early as the latter half of 2017.

Pictured: Cardiff Met SU (Source: Meetingsbooker)

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8 ADVICE

advice

Editors: Gwen Williams Caragh Medlicott @GairRhyddAdv advice@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/advice

Binge drinking:

Do you know your limits?

George Watkins

“

What I’m keen to do is help students understand a little bit more about what it really means, what its implications can have on your mental and physical health.

”

inge Drinking is a strange term that conjures up images of men and women urinating in alleyways and getting into fights on a rowdy New Year’s Eve. What you probably don’t realise is that a huge amount of students fall into this category, thanks to a student culture that seems to promote ‘the lash’. I’m not trying to preach like a parent, but what I’m keen to do is help students understand a little bit more about what it really means, what its implications can have on your mental and physical health, and ways that you can still have a good time without losing track of yourself. According to the NHS and the National Office of Statistic, ‘Binge Drinking’ is defined as ‘drinking more than double the recommended allowance of alcoholic units in one session’. For men that means drinking around eight units or more, and approximately six for women. To give an example, two large glasses of wine equals six units and four double vodka and Cokes is about eight units. In the context of a night out that really doesn’t seem like a huge amount. In some respects, universities are a hotbed for insecurities and pressure to fit into a defined category that you assume people want you to be. The reality is that stereotypes don’t actually exist. People pretend

that they do to keep up a mirage of a persona. Even though we hear of the ‘initiation’ horror stories every year, where someone loses an eyebrow or eats something absolutely horrific, it isn’t who they are. I know rugby players who fall into some of those definitions, but not a single one that checks out the full list. I don’t drink myself, which suggests I may not have the right to comment on the issue, but I used to, and I’ve experienced it all: the pressure to get another drink down your throat, the pressure to reach a dangerous level of blood alcohol for going on a night out and the pressure to do it as often as your student loan can stretch. What I’m suggesting instead is that you shouldn’t mix up having fun with your friends with getting ridiculously drunk and ending up with a two day hangover. I can understand why some people would suggest that drinking heavily during your late teenage years and early twenties is just a part of growing up. You’re away from home for the first time properly. You’re away from that small town where you had to drink surrounded by old people and farmers, and you feel like you’ve got the chance to be a new person. You try to find someone special on a night out and end up with a one night stand. You regret it the next

day. This is all normal. I’ve ridden my fair share of trolleys down high streets and slept on many a floor when drunk. I won’t tell you to not do anything, because it isn’t my place to, but I’d rather suggest that there are other ways around it. You don’t need to act like a [insert rude word here] because you want to impress your new friends, because really the only thing you’re doing by excessively drinking is hurting yourself. University is surprisingly a place for people to learn how to be adults as well. A fair few people I know have had epiphanies, particularly after the carnage of Freshers, that this culture isn’t them, and I would encourage that view. Moderation is the key word. For example, you don’t eat pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner (even though that would be amazing), because you know your health would suffer. Why be any different with alcohol? The effects on your health are well documented. I’m not the Daily Mail. I’m not going to try to scaremonger you into never touching alcohol again and preaching teetotal for the rest of your life, because I don’t think that’s healthy either. Alcohol is a great bonding agent between friends when it’s controlled. Apart from making you more vulnerable, as in more susceptible to injury or mak-

ing bad decisions, it doesn’t do your head much good. Those patronising teachers in PSHE did go too extreme talking about aggression, depression, mood etc, but what they probably didn’t mention that, according to the Mental Health Foundation, 65 per cent of suicides are linked to excessive drink, and a third of suicides among young people happen while they are intoxicated. Physically it isn’t too kind to your body: infertility, stomach ulcers, brain damage, liver cirrhosis, and hypertension to name a few. The usual suspects. But what’s usually left out is that alcohol does have benefits in moderation. The School of Public Health at Harvard noted that moderate drinking can improve heart health. There’s many more examples of the benefits it can bring, and it’ll vary from person to person. Moderation is the message I’ll leave you with. Teetotal is fine, and drinking is equally fine, but excessive drinking is simply a bad idea. There’s no way to beat around the bush. If you feel you need help, call Alcoholics Anonymous on 08457697555, or get in touch with Student Support. You don’t need to cause yourself so much harm by drinking heavily. Look after yourself and remember to be the person you are, not the person you think people want you to be.

Pictured: Binge drinking is not seen as an issue in the eyes of many students. (Photographer: Tom Anderson via flickr)

“

Really the only thing you’re doing by excessively drinking is hurting yourself.

”

ADVICE 9

Balancing your relationship with your friendships

Charley Griffiths

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There is a common misconception that being in a relationship makes you boring as you spend less time going out.

”

Jenny Medlicott

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Despite my inconsiderate taste buds, growing up I had to find a way to incorporate much needed fruit and veg.

”

ith Valentine’s Day having just passed, it may feel like there has been some segregation between your friends who are in relationships and those who are single. For those coupled up, it may seem like there is a common misconception that being in a relationship makes you boring as you spend less time going out with your friends, and more time with your partner. The reality is that you love both your friends and your other half equally, so this concept doesn’t have to be true! If you ever feel like you can’t win, because you are criticised for spending too much time with your partner than your friends or vice versa, there is really no need to worry; there are easy ways to achieve a healthy balance. After all, both your friends and your boyfriend or girlfriend love you, and should respect if you want to spend some time with the other group. An easy way to do this is to integrate your partner into your social group. Take them to house parties, or include them in a hobby that you have in common to show your

friends why your partner is a great person, and likewise to show your partner why your friends are such fantastic people. Obviously, there are more appropriate times to do this than others. Taking your partner to a coffee and catch up with your best friend who you haven’t seen for ages, or a girls/ boys night out may not be a good option. If you do wish to invite them along to something arranged by someone else, perhaps ask the friend first (especially if it is a gathering at their house). Thing like going for a casual pint with a group may be a better option, especially for the first meeting between your friends and your partner. Letting them ‘tag along’ to every social event may cause your friends to dislike your partner, which no one wants. However, if you are in the position where you don’t see your partner very often, for example those who are in long distance relationships or have different and equally busy schedules, this may not always be an option. If you can only see them at

weekends, that is fair enough, and your friends should understand that. Make more time to see your friends in the week, and save the weekend for just the two of you. This is where planning in advance can come in handy. If there is an event your really want to go to with just your friends, inform your partner in good time. After all, they can use this time to see their friends too. In the same way, tell your friends if you can’t make a certain event as your partner is staying for a few days. This saves you agreeing to go, then pulling out later, as this is inconvenient for everyone. That way, everyone knows where they stand, and this makes you feel as if no one is being left out. At the end of the day, both your friends and partner should understand if you want to spread your time equally between them. If you have a few friends who are in relationships, double dates can also be a fun way to integrate your social and romantic life. Doing this kills two birds with one stone, as you spend some quality time with both parties at the same time, and every-

one has the potential to make a new friend. But if you are reading this as a person who feels like they are the only single person in the group, or your best friend has recently entered a new relationship and you feel isn’t spending enough time with you, there is something that needs to be kept in mind here. New relationships in the ‘honeymoon phase’ need just as much time as long term ones, and please understand that your friend needs to divide their time between two important people in their lives. If you are worried, just talk to them in a mature way. Similarly, if you are in a relationship where you feel like your partner demands all your time and you never see your friends, raise your concerns with them. What I want to stress here is that being in a relationship doesn’t mean you need to lose your independence, or sacrifice one person for another. Only you know what is best for you, so just make your intentions clear to your friends and partner to ensure both your social and romantic life run smoothly.

“

Being in a relationship doesn’t mean you need to lose your independence.

”

Eating fruit & veg as a fussy eater B eing a picky eater isn’t the easiest way of life. Many people hear “I’m a fussy eater” as “I take having food for granted” or “I refuse to try new foods”. But this is honestly not the case. If you think us fussy eaters are just doing it to be difficult, I’m afraid you really have no idea how little fun and awkward it is for us. As a picky eater, I can tell you now, I hate being fussy. I wish I could eat every type of food I’m offered; instead of having to politely but awkwardly decline dinner at my friend’s or force down something I hate. Despite my inconsiderate taste buds, growing up I had to find a way to incorporate much needed fruit and veg into my selective diet, so over the years I’ve developed ways and routines to ensure that this happens. Particularly at Uni not liking many foods means anything green and healthy can disappear from student’s diets completely. While every fussy eater is different, in my personal experience these ways into eating more fruit and veg work for other picky eaters. I first began trialling different fruits as a kid, and took

5 ways...

note of any of the onesI liked or could even somewhat tolerate; then begun a new routine. I certainly had enough chocolate in my diet so I decided to use that as a basis to form a pact with myself; no chocolate till I’ve had at least a few pieces of fruit that day. Not only does it feel rewarding finally making it to that point in the day where you’ve reached your daily target, but it leaves you feeling proud and pretty good about yourself. Besides, doesn’t the wait just make the chocolate that bit sweeter? Giving yourself a reward for eating more healthy things is a great way to start eating more of the good stuff. One of my favourite ways to make sure I get a decent amount of fruit and even some veg in my diet is smoothies. For me the idea of being able to get a few portions of fruit and veg in from just one drink is amazing. Whilst it may seem like an obvious solution, until a few years ago this was an idea that never actually occurred to me; so once I discovered it, I was hooked. As far as I’m concerned there’s literally no downside to smoothies! I mean a thirst quenching, energizing, trans-

portable, delicious and healthy drink? How could you say no? While I can occasionally sneak a bit of spinach of even carrots into a smoothie, I generally struggle much more with getting vegetables into my diet. I have a sweet tooth so the thought of broccoli doesn’t exactly make me jump with joy. As a child, I straight up refused to eat vegetables and any time my mum tried to convince me otherwise it only ended with a tantrum. But as it turns out there was light at the end of the tunnel, more food awaited my discovery. Although I can’t seem to completely alter my taste bud’s natural aversion to vegetables, I’ve found they aren’t quite so bad when diluted with other, nicer foods that I actually like. Perhaps broccoli is not so bad with chicken, or peas aren’t so gross with fish and chips. And maybe if you cut up the veg really small I can manage a heavily seasoned veg stir-fry. Yes, the non-fussy people reading this may be laughing thinking that these really aren’t the healthiest meals in the world but if I didn’t eat vegetables like this I wouldn’t eat them at all. So if you, like me, struggle with

union (check out the SU website for more details) it’s cheap and you can actually order the fruit and veg you want to collect.

3. Make use of your freezer

...to buy food on a 2. Night shopping budget.

Students are terrible with wasting food, so putting food in the freezer will mean that it will last a bit longer. From bread to fruit, freezing things makes food go a little further.

1. Shop Smart

4. Go to the butchers

Don’t go to the places that charge £5 for a banana, getting your fruit and veg from lidl will save you a lot of money. Or make use of the fruit and veg co-op service ran by the

While it may seem more sensible to go to the shops early and get your shopping done when it’s quiet, if you go later in the evening you can grab some bargains in the reduced section, and who doesn’t love bragging about a deal you found.

It’s always hard buying the right amount of meat for whatever meals your planning, but if you go to the butchers they can specifically cut the amount you want and have it

getting in any vegetables at all why not try slowly introducing them into your favourite meals. Fussy eaters have many trials to face and while I still have to occasionally turn down the more adventurous meals my friends make at least I’m getting in some nutrients. Have hope fussy eaters, you aren’t actually going to wither away in a state of malnutrition. Buy a blender and start smallyou’ll get there in the end.

wrapped separately meaning you’ll save more and waste less in the long run.

5. Cook in bulk

When you make a meal, make enough for more than one portion so you can save the leftovers for dinner another time. Cooking it all in one go saves money and hey, leftovers make for lazy meals when you don’t fancy cooking from scratch.

Pictured: Smoothies are a great way to pack in vitamins. (Photographer: Miriam via flickr)

10 ADVICE

Addressing toxic friendships Rachel Barter

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Encouragement of your well-being is an integral part of what makes a good friend.

”

Gwen Williams

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Don’t succumb to any external influences if you do not feel ready.

”

Rachel talks about how to identify and deal with diﬃcult friendships

umans are social animals, evolving to be in groups and relying on this mentality to survive. And friendships are great, in fact they’re fantastic. Not only do they reduce stress, boost happiness and self- worth and improve state of mind but studies have even shown that having a large network of friends can increase your lifespan by 22 per cent. Regardless, quality counts more than quantity. We assign a value to the friendships that we have and maintain, and quite rightly so. Every friendship is uniquely cherry picked by us and intended to make life that little bit more rewarding. So how do some ‘’poisonous’’ ones slip through the cracks? And what happens when such ‘friends’ impact your life for the worse? Toxic friends; they make the good days bad and the bad days worse. And I’m not talking about the people who get on your nerves sometimes, or the people that always seem to bang on about one particular subject and fail to notice your new haircut. Those who make us downright miserable, in one way or another, are much more worrying to our sense of well-being. So, how is it that we can hardly ever tell when we are involved in toxic friendships? Or, at least, never address them? A toxic friendship is unsupportive, unrewarding, stifling, unsatisfying and unequal. Honestly, you probably already know if a friend is toxic. Whenever you’re around them you feel slightly resentful and pretty damn exhausted. They are so very critical of you, whether through subtle hints or obvious statements. Someone who

makes you feel drained, emotionally, financially or mentally. Encouragement of your well-being is an integral part of what makes a good friend. Having a support system when it is required can be unrivalled in contributing to your positivity. If this emotional support is not provided, make sure you are listening to what your friend is saying. It’s impossible to know what’s going on in everybody’s life all the time, so try and take a step back and think of them. If that doesn’t clarify things and there’s an imbalance in the relationship, there’s most likely also a one-sided struggle in play - yours. If you think about it in terms of relationships, you wouldn’t stand for it if your significant other was treating you disrespectfully so much of the time; so why settle for it in a friendship? They have just as much impact on your life and, though we tend to be less ‘picky’ with who our friends are, their behaviour can affect you just as much, if not more, than a relationship. It’s difficult to ignore when someone is consistently bringing your mood down or being outright rude to you. If you’re coming away from every interaction feeling unappreciated, like you haven’t been listened to, or miserable, the likelihood is this will resonate in your way of thinking and affect your quality of life. Finally confronting someone can be nerve-racking, so if they fire back immediately with something along the lines of ‘’You’re being too sensitive!’’ there is no play in motion to acknowledge any problems. They can’t see their own flaws and you’re

Pictured: Branding a friendship as toxic can be difficult. (Photographer: Daniel Go via Flickr)

fighting a losing battle. Accept yourself, accept others and be positive. Sometimes this means accepting that people aren’t going to benefit you and making moves away from seeing them regularly (or at all). Approach the topic delicately. It’s always better to invest time in strengthening a friendship and talking about any issues than cutting someone out of your life for good. Of course they’ve made your life difficult, perhaps even torment, for the

past however many weeks/ months/ years, but they are still a person. They may be aware of what they do as a type of coping mechanism for something going on in their life. They may be completely ignorant to the fact they’ve been borderline abusive, but just need a helpful steering in the right direction. But you’ll never know if you go in all guns blazing demanding they return the friendship bracelet you got them four years ago on a holiday to Portugal.

“

It’s always better to invest time in strengthening a friendship and talking about any issues.

”

Driving: the road to opportunity

e’re all at a time in our lives where we have to master lots of things in a short space of time. You’ve spent the last few months or years adjusting to responsibilities such as managing money, running a household with your friends, balancing your degree with a part time job and generally taking responsibility for yourself in many different ways. In fact, the non-academic side of life is just as valuable if not more practically useful in some ways than what you learn in lectures. One such skill is learning to drive. When I turned seventeen, all of my friends were already learning and some had passed their tests. I wasn’t too keen on the idea but pressure from those around me pushed me to do it. I won’t lie to you, I hated it. Every week, I dreaded the thought of a lesson and got very nervous when behind the wheel. Don’t get me wrong, my driving instructor at the time was lovely and I chose her because she’d

taught my mother twenty years earlier. The truth was, I just wasn’t ready. After several lessons, I gave up because uni was fast approaching. I didn’t mind using public transport for the time being and had bigger things to worry about. Now that I’m 21, I feel like graduation is accelerating towards me, I have to start thinking about my career prospects and the factors that could affect my employability. Suddenly driving has become an important skill to obtain. With so many of us doing well at uni, we need features that make us stand out and although driving seems like a skill that most students would already have, it is surprising how many of us haven’t got it under our belts. I know far more students who hold provisional licences (okay they are primarily used for buying booze but they have one) than a full drivers licence. So if you’ve thought about getting things in gear and taking some lessons, here are some things to

consider: Is it your decision? For some, driving can be quite scary if you are doing it for the first time. Don’t succumb to any external influences if you do not feel ready. If you aren’t comfortable behind the wheel, it may not be the right time for you. If you’re naturally nervous, why not take it slow? There is no rush to learn so don’t set yourself unrealistic targets for when you want to pass. Can you afford it? Driving lessons can be expensive without the added costs of the theory and practical tests. Take a look at your bank account to see if you can budget for it. Have a chat with your parents to see if they could help you out a little. Could you use the money from your part time job? Do you have the time and the energy? Additionally to uni work, some of us have other commitments such as voluntary positions, weekend jobs or internships. Can you realistically spare

a few ours per week for driving lessons without it affecting your work or are you taking on too much? If you’re already stressing about something, don’t add to it. However, some may find it a nice distraction from your degree programme in that case it may be ideal. What is your preferred learning method? Once you have decided that you are going to learn, it’s essential that you find an instructor that you both get on with and whose style of coaching suits you. Why not book a couple of lessons with them initially and see how it goes. If you feel comfortable continuing your tuition with them then great. If not, there are plenty of other instructors. I’m currently in the process of learning again and this time I feel ready to go the distance and finish what I started. You don’t have to be driving your own car immediately after you’ve passed. Getting your licence is enough progress for now. Just enjoy it!

“

Although driving seems like a skill that most students would already have, it is surprising how many of us haven’t got it under our belts.

”

Friday 19th February 20.30- 08.00

ÂŁ

r e t n e o t 5

Raising funds to support homelessness projects

12 COMMENT

comment

Editors: Em Gates Charley Griffiths David Williams @GairRhyddCom comment@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/comment

Re-living 7/7 at Tavistock Square?

David Williams discusses the insensitivity and poor planning of the bus bomb scene for the new Jackie Chan movie that was filmed on Lambeth Bridge, Central London

David Williams

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It seems even the people who knew the explosion was for filming purposes were at unease by the image of the exploding red bus which is still fresh in the minds of many.

”

n the morning of Sunday 7th February, onlookers gazed on to Lambeth Bridge in Central London as a red double decker bus exploded, the roof peeled back and blast of black smoke billowed into the air. Many witnesses feared it was a terrorist attack. It quickly emerged thanks to the prompt response on social media that blast in fact was part of filming for the new Jackie Chan movie ‘The Foreigner’. Lambeth Bridge was in fact closed for the filming, and there was a sign that stated the road was closed, though it mentioned nothing about a blast. Some residents and businesses did receive letters saying that the road would be closed and that controlled explosions would be taking place between 9am and 10am as part of the production. Though it is apparent that the letters mentioned nothing about a red double decker exploding. Despite letters being sent, it quickly became apparent that many residents, onlookers, and tourists were blissfully unaware what was about to happen. The initial reaction was fear, panic, and confusion. Anders Jones, 28, who lives overlooking the bridge told me “I woke up Sunday around 9am and heard a

massive blast, so I shot up out of bed and looked through the curtains to see the wreckage of the bus. My immediate reaction was obviously along the lines of WTF, but then I saw the road closure barriers, lots of people in yellow jackets and a camera crew”. “So I pretty rapidly figured out it was for filming. When shooting James Bond Spectre last year along the river we received multiple letters from the production team detailing what exactly what would be happening, I am disappointed not to be notified about such a large explosion (lots of debris flying around too in the high winds) just 50m from my flat”. When I asked Anders whether he thought the explosion of the red double decker bus was a bit disrespectful he voiced how “a recreation of a double decker bus with the roof torn off after an explosion is a bit too close to the events of the 7/7 bombings for my liking”. Many families of victims of the 7/7 bombings have voiced their concerns online stating the events were insensitive. Even the National Police Air Service expressed their initial fears after observing the explosion from above. It seems even the people who knew the explosion was for filming purposes were at unease by the image

of the exploding red bus which is still fresh in the minds of many. The level of terrorism threat in the UK is currently ‘severe’, which means that an attack is highly likely. With the recent attacks by ISIS on Paris and threats to the rest of Europe, there is no doubt why people are so apprehensive about terrorism. Especially in Central London, the heart of the UK. It is clear attempts were made by the production team to contact business owners and residents in the area but these attempts were not good enough. Reactions would suggest that many did not receive written warning. Even the sign on Lambeth Bridge only stated that the road was closed. The communication with passers by and tourists in the area miserably failed, if that is that any attempt at all. It is down to the fast response by Twitter accounts such as @SE1 that residents quickly learned what was going on. It is the image of the exploding bus which are the main area for concern in the series of events. The 7/7 bombings are something most people have sensitive memories of. Especially in the heart of London where so many people had family and friends caught up in the attacks. The image of the ex-

ploding bus is an iconic symbol. For the makers of ‘The Foreigner’ to film such scenes on a bridge in Central London is highly insensitive. Is there no other bridge in the UK or in fact in the world that the scene could have been filmed on? It could have even been edited with CGI to be placed on that exact bridge. The images of the wreckage were so similar to that of the bus wreckage on Tavistock Square. As a viewer of the news online the first thing that caught my attention was the video of the bus exploding, not the text surrounding it. My initial reactions were fear that it had been a terrorist attack, I immediately connected the images to those of the 7/7 bombings. For me to make this connections and assumptions from the images would suggest to me that it was even worse for those who observed it in person. The decision to film these scenes on Lambeth Bridge was a bad idea in itself. The poor communication is what made a bad idea even worse. The production team failed the public miserably and the council should have also been more active in making sure the correct measures and precautions were acted upon.

Pictured: The images resonated those of Tavistock Sqaure in the 7/7 atatcks. (Source: Wall Street Journal via Flickr)

“

The poor communication is what made a bad idea even worse.

”

COMMENT 13

Male cosmetic surgery is on the up

Francessca Dodd talks about changing perceptions of cosmetic surgery for men

Francessca Dodd

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I’m not advocating cosmetic surgery at all, of course things can always be taken too far and all surgery is risky no matter how routine.

”

Ellise Nicholls

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The ad was seen to promote a unhealthy body image.

” Pictured: The recent XLS medical slimming pill ad features two already slim women. (Source: retoxls via YouTube)

oob jobs, Botox and Lipo: these are just a few of the terms we hear regularly now in day-today life. It’s fair to say that once upon a time the majority of us would have had a clear-cut stereotype of the people that get plastic surgery- the elite, who can afford to look “picture perfect” at all times, without the help of good lighting and a flattering filter. However, it now seems almost unheard of not to know at least one person who has had some form of cosmetic surgery. A rise in cosmetic surgery figures was seen in both genders in 2015. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) announced there were 51,140 surgical procedures last year, an increase of 45,406 from the year before. In the last decade alone, the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery has doubled. This isn’t taking into account the amount of young Brits that go abroad to have cosmetic surgery. Turkey has become one of the top locations for men to travel to achieve their desired look with the help of surgeons. Could it be said that cosmetic surgery is now becoming more of a norm for men as well? Reggie Yates recently presented a BBC 3 documentary called Extreme UK. The series delved into modern British masculinity and the pressures men face in regards to “looking good”. One of the episodes, Dying for a Six Pack, featured four men who had an obsession with getting the perfect body. Two of the men were gymaholics and two of the men had had surgery to enhance their physique.

However, all four had something in common- they wanted to be accepted by society. All of the men featured pushed themselves and their bodies to the limit in order to achieve the look they wanted. For the BBC to make a documentary specifically about this, it clearly has to be a current topic. One of the reasons for this could be the rise in reality TV shows like Geordie Shore. The male cast members are always shown going out, been swarmed with female attention, and having a good time, and of course all the men on the show are “ripped”. Could there be a connection with this and the increase in male cosmetic surgery? However, not all male cosmetic surgeries are to make their muscles more defined. The most popular male surgery was an eyelid reduction, followed by nose jobs, pinning back the ears

and various other cosmetic surgeries that could be seen as more feminine. Figures also showed that the recent beard phenomenon of 2015 lead to a rise in beard transplants amongst men. Beards were a big trend in 2015, however my emphasis is on the word trend. What happens when this changes are men want a clean-shaven look? Cosmetic surgery is permanent and should never be rushed into. Don’t get me wrong ,I’m all for cosmetic surgery. Having had it myself, it would be hypocritical for me to sit here and slate it. Why is it wrong to want to change yourself? I had breast augmentation surgery in November, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. I changed something that I was self conscious about, which affected how I felt about myself. It’s given me so much more

confidence. Is it wrong that physical appearance should give you confidence? I’ve often heard the term “if you’re not happy with something, change it” so why should that be any difference in regards to your appearance? People dye their hair, wear make up and pick clothes that flatter their skin tone. If you really can’t learn to love what you see as a flaw, then go ahead and change it. I’m not advocating cosmetic surgery at all, of course things can always be taken too far and all surgery is risky no matter how routine. But you can’t label what is a good or bad thing for everyone. No one person is the same. Whilst cosmetic surgery for one person may be a dream, it could be another’s nightmare and in that light, I’m glad it’s becoming less of a taboo for all genders.

The slimming pill ad controversy

LS weight loss advertisements have been banned after advertising watchdog receives over 200 complaints. Advertised on three different media platforms, the XLS medical campaign found itself subject to criticism by the ‘Advertising Standards Authority’ (ASA) for proposing an unhealthy approach to body image, the press association reports. XLS Medical, a slimming aid that is readily available online and in

stores, ran a 30 second ad featuring two already slim girls discussing a beach holiday via text-messaging and pictures. One girl recommends XLS Medical, which promises ‘up to three times more weight loss versus dieting alone’, in preparation for the trip. The other girl complains as she will ‘never fit into [her] holiday wardrobe’. The campaign finishes with the girls on holiday posing together for a photo. The advert, which ran on You-

Tube, television and video on demand, sparked a public outrage as the ad was seen to promote an unhealthy body image. ASA, which received 200 complaints, was concerned in particular for the adverts effect amongst young girls. XLS Medical’s parent company, Omega Pharma, was quick to defend the criticisms. The company denied claims of targeting women with low body confidence, saying it wanted to use feelings of ‘holiday preparation’ and ‘elation’ to reach the common goal – reaching a ‘healthy weight’. However, ASA disagreed calling the advert socially irresponsible and premised on the characters poor body image. The girl, who is concerned about fitting into her holiday wardrobe, is presented in the advert as ‘needing to lose weight’ despite her ‘already slim and healthy appearance’ “The combination of her slim build and healthy weight created the impression that, despite her healthy physical appearance, weight loss was still necessary,” said the ASA. “The overall impression created by the ad presented an irresponsible approach to body image and confidence. In that regard, we concluded the ad was

socially irresponsible and, therefore, breached the [advertising] code.” The ASA warned Omega Pharma that they must ‘take care to ensure their products were advertised in a socially responsible way’. The controversial ad was banned from our screens before many of us could see it, but we were quick to hear about it via social media. Members of the public took to twitter to voice their disapproval: ‘I find that XLS Medical advert offensive. The girls in it look like teenagers. Diet pills for teenagers? No wonder they’re so body conscious’ - @KatieDailyEcho. ‘Disappointed with #XLS medical TV ad. Shocking portrayal of a thin woman complaining about not losing enough weight. Regressive advertising’ - @clinicaldarrenm. Clearly, the advert targets a specific demographic of young females. The controversy is clouded by the adverts use of female body image insecurities as a means to determine the purchase of slimming pills; in other words to determine a profit. The media should encourage people to be happy in themselves, not to be pressured to take slimming pills to adhere to a particular image.

Pictured: The number of men seeking cosmetic surgery is believed to have doubled in the last 10 years. (Source: Christian Bucad via Flickr)

“

The controversy is clouded by the adverts’ use of female body image insecurities as a means to determine the purchase of slimming pills; in other words to determine a profit.

”

14 COMMENT

Women should be able to propose on any day

Alex Butterworth

“

The concept of giving women one day every 1,461 days is ridiculously outdated... let’s put rings, not people, in boxes.

”

Sam Saunders

“

I don’t want to create worry and panic where there should be done...no one would bat an eyelid if any other country launched a satellite.

”

ebruary brings with it (arguably) the most romantic day of the year: Valentine’s Day. But this year, we also have the most romantic day for the next four years, February 29th, when women will finally have the opportunity to propose to their partners...really? In a society that prides itself on its progressiveness and the equal rights offered to its citizens, and ultimately for providing a fairer way of life than in many other parts of the world, why is this still a tradition? In this society, the default belief is that there should be equality between the genders. Many even believe that there is ‘no need for feminism’ as we already have gender equality. So why are women still not allowed to propose? Marriage is just another phase in a relationship. You date, you become exclusive, you move in, you get mar-

ried. Good relationships demand mutual respect between partners; there is a need to view each other as equals. But how can you be equal when only one of you is allowed to move the relationship forward? For true equality in the relationship, both members should have equal power and control, and neither should have to wait on the other to be able to express what they want in terms of a future together. One could argue that women can tell their partner to propose, but in that case it would just make sense for them to propose themselves. The concept of giving women one day on four years to propose - that’s one opportunity in every 1,461 days - is ridiculously outdated, as are so many aspects of marriage. The proposal centres around the offering of the ring, a tradition that derives from

the practice of buying your bride, showing how much she is worth in terms of wealth and material goods, with the cost of the ring representing the value of the bride in the eyes of the suitor. Call me sickeningly modern, but I do not want to be valued in terms of a little piece of metal and a rock, or even the thousands of pounds that men are expected to spend on it in today’s society. I believe that my person, my affection, and the opportunity to spend one’s life with me should be incomparable to any monetary value - and that I should feel similarly about someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. Not to mention the fact that it is also sexist and outdated to place that entire arbitrary monetary cost on the male in the relationship; women can’t reasonably claim to be equal but also claim they have the right to avoid

such things, instead perpetuating sexist traditions. All of this doesn’t even begin to address the area of homosexual marriages. Can gay men propose at will but gay women are constricted to one day every four years? That sounds unfair. It sounds unfair for society to dictate to gay women that they have to wait years for an event in their personal lives that all other members of society could experience on any given day. We as a society have accepted gay marriage, I think that should only mean we can accept proposals in that community also, with as much freedom to do so as anyone else. It is definitely time to leave as many outdated, sexist traditions and constraints of marriage behind, and allow gender equality across all aspects of a proposal. Let’s put rings, not people, in boxes.

North Korea launch not a cause for concern

or as long as I’ve been alive, North Korea has certainly been one of the major controversies in the modern world. The country sticks out like a sore thumb; one of the last truly communist countries in the world, as well as one of the most brutally repressive and controlling regimes the world has ever known. Kim Jong-Un and his predecessors have ignored practically every sanction or ruling that the UN has ever tried to put on it, leading to further international distrust and scrutiny. These fears were tested again this week when North Korea successfully launched a rocket, which reportedly carried a satellite, but has been widely suspected by many to have simply been a means of testing the North’s missile technology to prepare for a possible nuclear strike. Coming on the heels of another ‘illegal’ act, the fourth nuclear detonation by North Korea on the 6th of January, the UN has promised to impose tough new economic sanctions on the North, which have so far constituted the closing of a joint industrial park venture between both sides of Korea by the South, as well as Japanese restrictions on ships entering

North Korean waters. In the long run, these could impact the North Korean economy, but as the North have previously closed the park, this seems unlikely. Understandably, there should be a certain level of wariness about the whole situation. Whilst the North has never actually fired a nuclear weapon at another country, there is precedent for military action, as seen when the North fired upon a South Korean boat in 2010. However, whenever an attack seems imminent, the North always gives a large amount of notice, such as in the example just listed. And the South are far from reproach, firing shots at a North Korean boat in October last year. The UN should certainly monitor the situation, but further economic sanctions will probably only lead to further hatred of Western and surrounding Asian countries. Since sanctions have not worked in the past, it is doubtful that the North Koreans will back down any time soon. This was further supported by events on Tuesday, with the U.S. reporting that the North Koreans have restarted a nuclear reactor which provides the

country with weapons-grade plutonium, as well as expanding the site where it is located, Yongbyon, just north of the capital, Pyongyang. Given that the U.S. has estimated that this reactor could make enough material for one bomb every year, I’d forgive the UN for feeling more than a little sheepish. However, as mentioned, their sanctions are unlikely to have a major impact without Chinese support, as they are the North’s main ally, and are reluctant to be involved. Another cause for concern is the analysis that if all Kim Jong-Un was interested in was launching a satellite, he could have asked China to do it for a fraction of the cost. But I don’t want to create worry and panic where there should be none, as many experts believe that recent North Korean posturing could be just that, as the magnitude produced by the most recent nuclear test is not comparable to the device that the North said was detonated, a hydrogen bomb. And to me, it does seem ironic that the U.S. is now worrying about a state using a space programme as smokescreen for testing nuclear missile technology

when both America and Russia did essentially the same during the Cold War. I suppose this begs the question as to why the North Koreans are treated with suspicion when they launch a satellite, but no-one would bat an eyelid if virtually any other country did. The answer should be abundantly clear; the North is a state which won’t share any of the details of this launch with other countries and has also repeatedly refused to co-operate with any other nation. But is this a cause for concern? Probably not. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the North has continuously postured and threatened the West and the U.S. and, apart from the sinking of some North and South Korean boats in recent years, nothing has really come of it. Aside from another ‘peacekeeping mission’, the UN can do very little without the support of China so it should resign itself to the now in place sanctions and continuous condemnation of North Korean actions. It may not be the noblest position to take, but in my opinion it’s the course that’ll probably lead to the most peace, at least for the next few years.

Pictured: Is the concept of a ring outdated? (Photographer: Rory Macleod)

“

How can you be equal when only one of you is allowed to move the relationship forward?

”

“

It seems ironic that the US is worrying about a state using a space programme as a smokescreen for testing nuclear misile technology, when both America and Russia essentially did this in the Cold War.

”

COMMENT 15

Em Gates

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People are saying music isn’t the right forum for politics, which is ridiculous... maybe it takes someone as influentual as an international celebrity to bring it to the front of people’s lives.

”

Pictured: Beyoncé during her performace. (Beyonce via Instagram)

Dan Heard

“

Coldplay faced criticsm on the grounds of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation by many...it does not degrade the culture, it merely magnifies the attractive features to make it more appealing for a Western audience.

”

Beyoncé raising awareness of #BlackLivesMatter

n February 8th, a US police officer shot and killed a 17 year old boy in Texas. David Joseph, an unarmed black teenager, was said to be acting aggressively, but officers despatched to the scene were told that no weapons were involved in something the police have chosen to call a ‘disturbance’. Now, I understand the US gun rules are stupid in themselves, and that in order to protect themselves from people with firearms, it is necessary for the police to carry them also. But in what world is it even an option to shoot an unarmed child who, despite acting aggressively, had no potential for endangering any life around him. This is one of the three deaths caused by the police to occur on Monday 8th February, and the 104th in 2016. To point out the painfully obvious, this is too many. Slowly but surely, these deaths are being brought to the mainstream. The Guardian publishes a daily updated page where you can see every case of death by police intervention. Public generated content such as Twitter hashtags like #blacklivesmatter are becoming trending worldwide topics, and after last Sunday’s Superbowl it’s unlikely that anyone has gone through this week without hearing about the civil rights movement. And that without doubt brings me on to pop superstar Beyoncé, and her new song ‘Formation’. I will admit I am a huge Bey fan, so I thought this may be slightly biased, but then I am also an unashamed leftie, so I think I would feel the same

concerning this issue regardless of who had broadcasted this message. For the Superbowl half time show, the R&B singer lead a troupe of beret clad black women dance in synchronisation, to make a large ‘X’ on the pitch and throw their fists in the air, which of course echoes the Black Panther and Malcolm X movement in the 1960s. The dancers then proceeded to promote the #blacklivesmatter campaign by posting videos demanding ‘justice for Mario Woods’, another incident of the death of a young black man who had been shot by seven police officers late last year. This performance has certainly divided opinion throughout the world, with one side of people glad to finally see oppression and civil issues brought to the mainstream by possibly the world’s most famous black woman, while the other half consider Beyoncé to be naïve, inexperienced and inconsiderate to police safety. I, of course, am in the former category, thinking that the singer may bring civil and racial issues into mainstream debate in the same way that feminism has been brought the front in the last few years. And it seems to not be such a separate issue from Beyoncé’s world anyway! With the singer receiving a lot of criticism in the last few years for not altering her four year old daughter’s natural afro hair, and in her early fame for having the stereotypical nasal features akin to black people, Beyoncé integrated these ideas into the lyrics for the song which she performed at

the sports match, not just to the US, but to the world. I imagine she sings it to empower Blue Ivy, who she wants to be just as successful as her mum, or even just to empower every single black, Latina, Asian, and white girl who thinks that any way they look will hold them back. Why shouldn’t politics be brought in to popular culture? If Meghan Trainor can sing about how she’s so looking forward to shaping the perfect husband, Beyoncé can sing about issues which might actually help and educate society rather than complicate it (Yeah, I’m look at you Meghan). People are saying that music isn’t the right forum for politics, to which I think is a completely ridiculous statement. If the racial biases and police caused deaths aren’t getting sufficient media attention globally, and user generated content is only reaching so far, maybe it takes someone as influential as an international celebrity to stand up and bring it the front of peoples lives. If nothing else, Beyoncé’s performance at the Superbowl has got people talking, and that might just be enough to change the fate of many black people in the US. Maybe, Blue Ivy won’t be pressured into having a nose job, or straightening her hair every day, or have her skin lightened in beauty adverts to make her seem paler. Maybe, when a black person points their phone at an officer they won’t assume it is a gun and open fire. Maybe, just maybe, talking about these issues might bring about change.

Coldplay video faces backlash

n terms of pushing the boat out when it comes to making music videos that are both visually and deeply thought provoking, Coldplay must surely be at the top of the list. Whether we’re talking about ‘The Scientist’, which depicted lead singer Chris Martin walking backwards through city streets and woodlands before reaching the scene of a car crash (for which Martin actually had to learn to sing the song backwards, a task that took him over a month to do) to even the quite bizarre ‘Paradise’, where Martin (in an elephant head and suit) rode a unicycle through the African bush to reach a jamming session with his herd/fellow bandmates. The band have hired the likes of Mat Whitecross (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Spike Island) and Jonas Åkerlund (who has worked with acts such as Metallica, U2, and Lady Gaga) to direct and in truth create videos that are universally praised and admired. Well, that seemed the case until recently, anyway. The release of their new album ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ saw something of a dream collaboration with Beyoncé, featuring on the track ‘Hymn for the Weekend’. Practically a ballad between Queen B and Martin, with a rousing chorus and pounding beat, it is reminiscent of many of the tracks from their earlier, fairly poorly received album ‘Mylo Xy-

loto’. This time around though, it isn’t the song which has drawn controversy, but rather the accompanying video. Filmed across several Indian cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata, we see the band, in one scene, performing on the edge of a river, bathed in the murky light of the sun and covered in bright colourful powder thrown over them by passing children. Beyoncé, meanwhile, appears dressed in what appears to be traditional Indian clothing, either a sari or a choli, striking an almost goddess-like pose. Visually stunning, yes. Thought provoking, most definitely, but for all the wrong reasons. Within hours of the video being streamed online, an enormous media backlash ensued. It was called “deeply stereotypical” by some for using dancers in saris and wrapped garments, walking through temples and crowded city streets. Others bemoaned it as yet another “misrepresentation” of India, a depiction that only a Western band or indeed culture could create. I spoke to Saakshi Shastri, a JOMEC student from Mumbai who is also a massive Coldplay fan. “Hymn for the Weekend, which was shot in Mumbai and released a few weeks back, portrays the colourful Hindu festival of Holi as the backdrop of a visually stunning video,” she says. “However, Coldplay is facing a lot of criticism for this on

the grounds of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation by many. While their opinion is well founded, I do not agree with it, as the video does not degrade the Indian culture, it merely magnifies some of the more attractive features to make it more appealing for a western audience who probably have not seen the festival in its authenticity before.” ‘Hymn for the Weekend’ does not misrepresent the Indian culture, it simply shows the more attractive parts of it such as the powdered colours, priests in orange and the Bollywood film culture, all of which are integral parts of the collective Indian identity but not all everything India has to offer. Coldplay should be given the same privilege that was given out to Major Lazer, Iggy Azalea and Katy Perry, all of whom have shot music videos in India and magnified aspects that they find the most intriguing. Saakshi makes some interesting points, particularly in mentioning how other artists, such as Katy Perry (who performed a “Bollywood” version of her song ‘California Gurls’ at the opening ceremony of the Indian Cricket League a few years ago), and Major Lazer (who’s Indian-set song ‘Lean On’ was a huge hit last summer) escaped controversy with their offerings. Coldplay have actually been here before, with their col-

laboration with Rhianna on ‘Princess of China’ (where she battled Martin and his army of ninja’s with a samurai sword…), yet that too drew little attention over its style. Regardless, the song, like the album, is excellent, and simply showcases a beautiful country at its best.

Pictured: Coldplay were criticsed for Westernising Indian culture. (Photographer: Thomas Hawk)

16 COMMENT

Madeleine Banfield

“

This method of transport from city to city questions the excessive prices of public transport in the United Kingdom.

”

Pictured: Is air travel an alternative to public transport? (Source: Michael Day via Flickr)

Emergence of the Coupon Kid

ordan Cox, nicknamed the ‘Coupon Kid’, has always tried to save his pennies. At eighteen years old, he quite literally went the extra mile with his last money saving technique. After realising that a single train ticket home from Sheffield to Essex was going to be £47, he decided to think outside the box. He discovered that he could get a flight via Berlin and still save £7.72! This questions the excessive prices of public transport in the United Kingdom. Many people have argued that he has not taken into account his carbon foot print, or that a coach would have been a cheaper alternative. But I think that they are missing the point. With the ever expanding world, the concept of travelling and engaging in different cultures is becoming progressively more dominant. Jordan’s handy technique results in people being able to experience a different country, but remain within a budget. This is an enticing concept because Jordan has achieved a lot on his journey home, yet it has not cost him an extra penny. This idea is likely to capture the eye of many passionate travellers. Surely it is the dream, to be able to indulge in a city like Berlin for half a day, and still return richer than if you had just spent three hours flicking through Facebook on the train. The 1017 mile journey that Jordan Cox took home was not exactly environmentally friendly. Indeed, he himself

claimed on his moneysavingexpert.com blog, that ‘even by my usual standards, I’ll admit this is a rather extreme way of saving money’. But the plane was going to take off whether he was on it or not, and I personally would have jumped at the opportunity. This seems like the best of both worlds if you are strapped for cash and time, but still want to travel. The story has been covered by major newspapers which means that Jordan’s challenging of the excessive price of public transport has become an extremely valid point. Although it is a relatively outlandish thing to do, it does not discredit the message it puts across. A single ticket from Swansea to Cardiff is £9.20, and evidently the system has to be questioned when it is more expensive for someone to get a train than it is to drive. In a world where environmental friendliness is becoming increasingly important, surely this is giving the wrong message across. What is the main issue with this money saving tip, is that most people do not have the time to take a twelve hour detour to another country all in the name of saving money. However, if I had a day when I did not have any commitments and this scenario arose, I would find it impossible to let it pass by. In my eyes, this is essentially going abroad for free, because it is money you would have spent on an overpriced train fare anyway. In the future, I will definitely look out for deals.

Google’s new technique of counter terrorism

Kate Elswood

“

Instead of supporting the users’ intention, the ‘AdWords’ will aim to counteract their views in some cases.

”

Pictured: Google is setting the trend for counter terroism. (Source: Sean MacEntee via Flickr)

r. Anthony House (a senior Google executive) has stated that Google is implementing a pilot scheme which will impact the results that appear under the ‘AdWords’the advertisements that are sponsored by Google and are shown at the top of the search results. The content of the advertisements that Google display are already impacted by the intent of the search so that advertising can be tailored to the user. This has helped advertisers to reach their target audience and consumers to see adverts that would be considered relevant to their tastes. However, the new use of ‘AdWords’ will be rather different. Instead of supporting the users’ intention, the ‘Ad-

Words’ will aim to counteract their views in some cases. It is intended that this will be used to prevent extremism. It will be ensured that sensitive searches will trigger counter-terrorism links to be displayed. Now, a search for ‘joining Isis’ on Google will bring up links such as www.counterextremism.com and www.clarionproject.org. Following this, the main body of the search has been unchanged. There is a mix of articles about the reasons why people may join Isis and some based on stories of people who joined Isis or have been accused of attempting to join. This measure maintains a justifiable level of power for Google. If Google had any more power over what we see in our search results, this could cause

people to become far more indignant over the issue. Imposing a limit on extremist search results would be an infringement on free speech. Therefore, this is an appropriate and less extreme way to counter radicalization. Although the measure is possibly as strong as it could be without challenging rights of free speech, it is still a somewhat weak attempt to stop something as powerful as extremism. It is likely that the ‘AdWords’ will just be entirely ignored, as they are by many people on a daily basis. Even if the links do attract the attention of the potential extremists and they actually follow the link, it is unlikely that the websites will be able to alter a view that may already be firmly held. In

fact, such a measure could potentially incite more anger as they are forced to see a website that openly criticises them and people like them. Despite this, the attempt to counter extremism should be applauded. It is reassuring that Google, as an internet power that has an international influence, is taking responsibility for its role in international affairs. However, too much involvement of unelected power could be a risk to the values of democracy. Providing that it does not gain a further political influence and remains loyal to the value of keeping peace, rather than adopting a stronger political view, this measure is a promising indication of the future of Google and its sense of responsibility.

“

Although the measure is possibly as strong as it could be without challenging rights of free speech, it is still a somewhat weak attempt to stop something as powerful as extremism.

”

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THE GAIR RHYDD COLUMN 19

Don’t feed the trolls

How do you solve a problem like controversial misogynists dominating our mainstream media?

Helena Hanson

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If it was up to me we would ignore him. We would stop trying to talk to and understand him.

”

his column is a paradox. Until now I have actively refrained from commenting on controversial figures and their provocative declarations. I don’t like to give entities like Katie Hopkins or Dapper Laughs the satisfaction of a passionate response. Although they are most probably extremely disinterested in my own personal reactions, the principle is all the same. The more we collectively talk about them, allow ourselves to be infuriated by them, or award them the satisfaction of our acknowledgement, the more codswallop they will inevitably spurt. Yet, here I am writing about them. However, this is merely a desperate attempt to advocate the culmination of responding to controversial figures and their opinions. So after this, I propose we agree to never speak of it again? Brilliant. Thank you. The individual that inspired me to disregard my central views on commenting on controversial characters is Roosh V. If you missed the news last week, Roosh is a self-described pickup artist, who has recently acquired international infamy for his incongruous opinions, most notoriously on women and sex. He proposes that living in developing countries is advantageous because the women are easier to manipulate, and that the solution to combatting rape is to legalise it on private property. I have absolutely no interest in responding to such statements and will not bestow valuable word count conversing why his fundamental mind set is skewered. That said, Roosh V has awoken a concoction of emotions in me that has only ever been done once before. This porridge of feelings was also propagated in November of last year by Dapper Laughs. Dapper Laughs, also a self-described pick-up artist and ‘comedian’,

made a livelihood from the humiliation of women and shouting ‘oi oi’ at people in the street. Albeit he had a following, assumedly mainly consisting of those seventeen year old boys who park their Vauxhall Corsa C in the carpark of McDonalds for hours with a McFlurry and wolf whistle at every female that passes, Dapper Laughs was hardly newsworthy. However, after making an extemporaneous rape joke at one of his gigs, he attracted mainstream media attention and gained more interest in a week than the previous three years of making online videos about how to make girls fancy you. The fundamental message that both men impart is that consent is not a decision but a challenge. They teach that when a woman says no, what she is really suggesting is you need to try harder. The likes of Roosh V and Dapper Laughs are, whether they genuinely believe it or not, encouraging young men to see sexual encounters as a challenge, a game to be won. You lose if you can’t convince her to sleep with you. You lose if she says no. If she does say no, she’s playing it wrong. She is a tease. She ruined the game. It took me a while to identify the emotion that both men and the response to them stirred within me. I have since assaigned the emotion as frustration. This, and complete and consuming disappointment. Disappointment in their nonsensical ideologies, disappointment in the followers they lead, but primarily in myself, and everyone else, for caring enough about them to be upset by it. The moment they upset us, or stir a reaction within us, is the moment that they win. The moment you construct a responsive tweet, Roosh V’s Twitter statistics take a boost. The moment you chose to speak about him to a

friend, the greater the stir within the population. The moment you choose to focus your column on him, the moment you inspire a Google search that gives his website a hit (don’t look him up, just take my word for it, he’s a prick ). Every time we speak, write, post or think about them, they are winning. If it was up to me, we’d ignore him. We would stop desperately attempting to talk to him and to understand him, because it is pointless. The moment we begin to discuss why he feels the way he does is the moment we attempt to justify his beliefs, something we must not do. The more Roosh V is asked why he hates women, the greater the suggestion that there should be an adequate response. There isn’t. His desire to create a ‘fat shaming week’ and his belief that ‘anorexic girls make the best girlfriends’, and his supposed general views on consent, women and sexuality are fucked, and that is it. No interview necessary. Further, with the rumour circulating that Roosh refuses to be interviewed by women unless they give him oral sex, it is absolutely, totally, completely, most pleasant to fucking ignore him. Nonetheless, numerous journalists and documentary makers have attempted understand Roosh. Initially, desparation and curiosity would have perhaps led me to question what must have occurred in Roosh’s life to warrant such a passionate distaste for the empowerment of women, a question he is being asked regularly. If my twenty years on planet earth thus far has taught me anything, it would be that some people cannot be reasoned with. Roosh V is a prime example of an individual who does not deserve neither the air time nor the word count. Attempting to have a civilised and rational conversation with

an individual that verbalises the things that he does will inevitably be as fruitful as trying to discuss international politics with a squirrel. The line between genuine unpopular opinion and desperate, empty controversy is increasingly blurring every day. Do I think the likes of Roosh V, Dapper Laughs, and even Katie Hopkins genuinely, honestly believe the bile that they spew? No. Perhaps this is a desperate attempt to preserve my diminishing faith in mankind, but I think the desperate desire for any kind of recognition or fame can outweigh the need to be a respectable and rational individual. Ultimately, I don’t think that Dapper Laughs thinks rape is funny, I don’t believe that Katie Hopkins would really use gunships to stop migrants and I don’t consider Roosh V to honestly fall asleep dreaming of a world where ‘fat shaming week’ is an annual celebration. I think they revel in controversy. I think their personalities require a continual feeding, a kick which they attain from public backlash and upset. Who are they without their controversial opinions? Nobodies? What would they be if they didn’t have someone else to debase, whether that be migrants, or overweight people, or women? Ordinary? Equal? Boring? Although I doubt the three are avid Oscar Wilde fans, I do believe they live by his words, “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about”. Imagine a world where nobody talked about them at all. That is how we win. Would Roosh V still hate women and still be a misogynistic arsehole? Probably, but at least he wouldn’t own the satisfaction of our upset.Probably, but at least he wouldn’t own the satisfaction of our upset.

Pictured: Complaining is what they want you to do. (Phographer: Alan Turkus via Flickr)

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The more Roosh V is asked why he hates women, the greater the suggestion that there should be an adequate response.

”

20 POLITICS

p politics

Editors: Carwyn Williams Luke Brett Sam Patterson @GairRhyddPol politics@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/politics

Introducing the new Wales Green Party leader Alice Hooker-Stroud

Interview by Carwyn Williams

hy are you the perfect leader to take the Green Party into the Assembly

elections? Personally, my values and beliefs are in alignment with the party, I believe in equality for all, sustainability for our communities and decision making being made at the appropriate levels and empowering the communities. I also have a very strong scientific background, in environmental science and climate change. What would be a great night for you on May 5th? Definitely confident we’re going to win seats, probably between one and three, the more the better, the more voice we can give the Green Party in the Senedd the better.

“

I think that a lot of people are really quite tired of mainstream politics.

”

You’re the youngest leader of a UK party, do you see this as an advantage or a disadvantage? I think that a lot of people are really quite tired of mainstream politics. Young people feel disenfranchised, they feel like a lot of people in politics don’t speak on behalf of them, and don’t really relate to them very well. What I offer as the new leader in being a slightly younger person is perhaps a bit of freshness and a bit more of an ability to talk about the issues that are really important to the younger members of our community and get them really involved in politics and excited about what’s going on. There’s a lot of students from England, what would you say to them to encourage them to vote in the Welsh election? I think as many people as possible need to register to vote, that’s the first thing. Wherever you’re located at time, you should definitely vote for the Wales Green Party.

“

We need to be looking at something along the lines of 0 per cent emissions by 2030.

”

Which one of the current Welsh parties in the Assembly do you have most in common with? I think a lot of people see that there are commonalities between us and Plaid for example, but we are a completely separate party. We stand for very different things, our stance on nuclear is very different. We have our own issues we talk about, and our own issues we bring to the forefront of politics. What other policies make the Green

Party distinctively different from Plaid Cymru? I think we look more into the long term. The Wales Green Party recognises that the way that we work our society at the moment, this constant fixation on money and on growth is not actually something that can sit alongside a sustainable future. We need to be looking in a different direction, we need to be looking at what is good for people, what is good for our communities and what works and is sustainable for them in the long term. Plaid Cymru look more at what’s going on right now and what are the quick fixes. So what are the smaller things or changes that we can do to try and poke our environmental record in a better direction. We recognise that we need to flip the problem on its head and look at our society in a different way.

Who would you work with? Would you rule anyone out? If there are other parties who value the same issues in the same way, to the same heartfelt extent that we do, then there is no reason why we wouldn’t work with them but its important that we keep the issues that make us distinct and stay strong on them. What other main issues will you focus on in the run up to the election? We’re going into the elections with two other main priorities which are health and education. We’re seeing not only problems with our environmental record in Wales, not cutting our emissions enough, we’re also seeing massive cuts to our public services that are really damaging to our communities. What we’re putting forward as a party is a system that allows equal access to health for everyone across Wales, especially in communities that are really rural that need that access to services. We need to stop the closures of local hospitals. We need to stop the reduction of GP services in rural areas. Similarly with education cuts, where I’m from in Powys, we’ve seen loads of local schools close down and pupils now have to travel massive distances to get their education. The Wales Green Party believes that people deserve equal access to both education and health. Every party in the Assembly and the Diamond Review have all admitted the current system of tuition fees is unsustainable in Wales. Do you think

it’s unsustainable? I think the system as it is doesn’t seem to work for everyone, and I think there are problems with it being cross-border, so in terms of funding students to go to universities in Wales that might work, but actually now that a lot of students have to pay to go to universities in England, then it’s a system that needs to be refined and worked out. We really need to be getting away from the idea that people need to pay for their university education, that should be shouldered by the state. University education should be open to everybody and shouldn’t leave you with massive amounts of debt that you then carry on into the beginning of your life. Official Green Party policy states that they aim to bring an end to all tuition fees in Wales, and for Welsh learners who choose to study in England. After the NUS refused to include your party in a hustings event, do they take you seriously enough? I think the NUS like many media outlets are in some ways struggling with the diversification of politics. They’re very used to having four voices and four voices only. The fact that lots of people are really upset with mainstream politics, they’re sick of it, they’re sick of all 4 of these parties and what they talk about has meant we’re seeing an opening for other parties like the wales green party, athough a smaller party than those 4 main ones, we really need to get our voices heard because we do resonate with so much of the population. Has the NUS become too politicised? I don’t know if there’s such a thing as being too politicised, more people need to be more politicised. I think at the moment because there’s a disengagement with politics then often people are afraid to be too political. There needs to

be more engagement. One of the things that is good about the constant discussion on what is going on is its heightening people’s engagement in politics. there needs to be a recognition that almost everything we do has an element of politics to it. The Welsh Assembly has power over so many things that govern our day to day lives. If you look at the current Welsh Government, there’s a lot of things they could be doing that they’re not. We’ve got a plan for energy efficiency measures accross Wales that don’t join up the dots, they don’t tie in energy efficiency improvement in peoples homes and a quarter of people in Wales are in poverty, those two things can help each other out if you insulate homes, bills go down and you reduce the amount of energy you use. We launched our LGBTIQ+ manifesto, we want to talk about reversing the blood donation ban on gay and bisexual men, and that is something they have power over in the Welsh Government. How important do you think policies concerning the environment are at the moment? Do you think the UK or Welsh Governments are taking environmental issues seriously enough? I would say that environmental issues should be one of the main focuses that we have currently. Climate change we have known to be a problem for a very long time now and it is only escalation in its seriousness. We need to look at much much much quicker and more stringent targets on cutting our emissions. We need to be looking at something along the lines of 0 per cent emissions by 2030. Something along those lines, something very radical. We have very high emissions in the UK and in Wales; we have a responsibility to to the rest of the world to tackle those emissions and to take climate change seriously.

Pictured: Alice HookerStroud is confindent the Wales Green Party will get seats in the Assembly this year.

“

We launched our LGBTIQ+ manifesto, we want to talk about reversing the blood donation ban on gay and bisexual men.

”

Read the full interview on our new website: gairrhydd.com

POLITICS 21

Sophie Broad

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It was pledged that a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales, was to be planted.

”

Election Spotlight: Environment

ne of the areas of responsibly devolved to the Welsh Government is that of the environment. The Welsh Labour Government has had powers on matters of the environment since 2011. Since then, the Welsh Government has set out a Climate Change Strategy for Wales, promising that they will not only confront climate change but also anticipate the impact it has and will have on communities in Wales. The strategy is striving for a 3 per cent annual reduction in emissions and a 40 per cent overall reduction by 2020. The Welsh Government’s actions in relation to the environment have been praised for their progress in areas such as waste management and recycling. The 5p carrier bag charge, introduced in 2011, has proved to be a huge success. It has meant that there has been a reduction in the number of plastic and paper bags used each year, encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags. Scotland followed suit, passing the legislation in 2014. England finally beginning to charge for plastic bags in October last year. The Welsh Government have also been successful in their “Plant!” scheme. The project began in 2008,

whereby it was pledged, that a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales was to be planted. In 2014, this was extended and an additional tree is now also planted in Uganda for each child born. The scheme was started in an effort to fight climate change and help the environment. One major topic of debate is the planned M4 extension. For some time now, the proposal for a relief road near Newport, estimated to cost around £1bn, has been discussed by the Welsh Government in an effort to tackle congestion in the area. In 2014, the so-called “black route” was given the go-ahead. However, this decision has received criticism from those who believe the environment will be damaged as a result of this new motorway. Plaid Cymru have questioned the necessity of spending such a large amount of their budget on the plans, stating it will be “expensive and environmentally damaging.” Aside from this, there has been clear evidence of the Welsh Government’s initiative to further their environmental policies. The Environmental Bill was passed by the Welsh Assembly earlier this month. The bill, due to become law in March, will set in place strong targets for

cutting emissions, with the aim to reduce them in Wales by 80 per cent by the year 2050. The Welsh Government have been commended for this action. Libby Ferguson, States and Regions Director of the Climate Group, praised the Welsh Government stating: “Wales were among 123 global governments who committed to ambitious long-term emissions reductions at the global climate summit, COP21, in December last year. Only a few weeks after this commitment, The Environment Bill is a clear example of how quickly the government are turning targets into concrete action.” Clearly then, the Welsh Government is taking steps in the right direction in terms of the environment and following up on the pledges made at COP 21 last year. Overall, so far the Welsh Government have a good track record regarding environmental issues. The only main issue is the M4 relief road, which is still facing opposition on both environmental and financial grounds. During the assembly elections, Labour will most likely commit to keeping to their Climate Change Strategy for Wales in place in order to continue the progress they have made since 2010.

Justice?

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange found to be deprived of his liberty, but Government insists this changes nothing

Michael Smith

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Whistleblowers are treated so horrendously once caught, in order to discourage those who would think to follow in their footsteps.

”

ustice. An interesting concept. Historically, it has been poorly executed. It is an idea that comes into question when you consider the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange. Assange currently faces extradition to Sweden over rape allegations, which he denies. Not only this but he faces extradition to the U.S. where he is facing charges of espionage. In order for Assange to protect himself from these charges he has found sanctuary and claimed Asylum in the London’s Ecuadorean embassy since 2012. The reason this has re-entered the public spotlight is due to a UN panel’s ruling on February 4th that Assange be allowed to go free due to the fact he is being “arbitrarily detained” with this being a “deprivation of liberty”. The UK government’s response to this was merely the insistence that the report is not legally binding and therefore “changes nothing”. The UK’s foreign secretary, Phillip Hammond, claimed the ruling to be “ridiculous” and that “Assange is a fugitive of justice”. The precedent set by the UK government to ignore this ruling is expected yet disturbing. It shouldn’t be claimed merely out

of incredulity that the Swedish rape allegations are false, but the environment in which the charges came about leads one to question their validity, having even being dropped on 21st August 2010 only to be mysteriously picked up again on 1st September 2010. Contrary to the popular belief of a so called liberal Sweden, both Stockholm and Washington have a history of clandestine CIA renditions, which can clearly be seen from the capturing and torture of 2 Egyptian political refugees in 2001. This of course is recorded and condemned by both the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, with even victorious civil litigation associated with Sweden’s collusion and complicity with the U.S. As such it is naïve to think the charges are not merely a thin veil in order to allow for US extradition of Assange. If it were true that Sweden really did want to conduct due process associated with these rape allegations, then why doesn’t Sweden sign an agreement to ensure there will be no U.S. extradition? The only logical conclusion then, is once again, Sweden will assist the U.S. with regards to this extradition.

Justice is treated with little respect for whistleblowers (those who reveal wrong doing of the government) in the U.S, so it would be foolish to believe the U.S. would have any consideration for Assange’s human rights. You need look no further than Chelsea Manning who had an abhorrently long pre-trial detention where she was tortured at Guantanamo bay due to giving WikiLeaks information. Does that sound like justice to you? Of course whistleblowers are treated so horrendously once caught in order to discourage those who would think to follow in their footsteps had they access to any pertinent information. In 2008 when Obama was running for the presidency he swore to protect whistleblowers, who are protected by the First Amendment of

the U.S. constitution. Ironically then, Obama (previously a Professor of Constitutional Law) in his first term alone, systematically prosecuted more whistleblowers than all previous U.S. presidents combined. It is of course with wilful ignorance that Obama chooses to act. If U.S. politicians were as concerned about the First Amendment as they are the Second Amendment, perhaps I’d be writing a different article today. Embarrassment on a world stage after WikiLeaks exposed atrocities the U.S. committed, including the killing of tens of thousands civilians is why the U.S. seeks so ruthlessly to charge Assange with contrived claims of espionage. Justice? It is not justice that is being sought. It is revenge.

Pictured: Julian Assange made the cover of Time magazine, and was voted the readers’ choice for person of the year in 2010.

22 POLITICS

Quantitative Easing:

Darius White

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Corporations and governments that were previously indebted to European banks are now obliged to pay their loans back to the European Central Bank.

” Mariana Diaz

How does it affect people living in the Eurozone?

n 2016, the European Central Bank begins a second year of its expanded asset purchase programme. The objective of this programme, also known as ‘quantitative easing’ is to enable the ECB to maintain price stability in Europe. However, the impact of this policy on Eurozone markets is on such a large scale that it may soon begin to affect Europeans in areas where spending, savings and economic opportunities are concerned. Why is the European Central Bank concerned with maintaining price stability? How does this policy work in Europe? And how does it affect people living in the Eurozone? Why is the ECB concerned with price stability? Price stability is considered to be good for producers and consumers alike. If overall prices increase at one per cent one year and five per cent the next, it will be difficult for businesses and families to plan ahead because they don’t know how much they will be able to spend. The main objective of the European Central Bank, which is outlined in the ECB Mandate, is to maintain price stability in the Eurozone. To this end, the ECB has been tasked at keeping inflation growing at a level of close to two per cent a year. Since the 2008 recession the ECB has struggled to keep inflation close to this, with it being as low as 0.6 per cent at one point. The ECB claims that it has exhausted all conventional tools and that it is time to resort to extraordinary measures. Enter QE. So how does the expanded asset purchase programme work in Europe? Every month, the ECB generates 60 billion euros electronically, and uses this new money to buy corporate and government debt from European banks. This means that corporations and governments that were previously indebted to European banks are now obliged to pay their loans back to the European Central Bank. From the beginning of the asset programme in March 2015 to its end in March 2017, the ECB plans to pump approximately 1.44 trillion new euros into the European banking system. That is a sum greater than the

GDP of Spain, which was 1.04 trillion euros in 2014. This process is making prices increase: as there are more Euros circulating in the system, the value of the Euro is be cheapened vs. goods and services. Indeed, in the last year the Consumer Price Index, indicator of inflation, has already risen by 0.4 per cent. So how will this policy affect people living in the Eurozone? To be clear, this article will cover how the expanded asset purchase programme affects people living in Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and other members of the 19 country Eurozone. Because the UK is not in the Eurozone, it will not cover how people living in the Great Britain are affected in depth. Many of the effects and side effects of QE are positive. As a result of QE, inflation in the Eurozone is rising. This means that goods and services in Europe are becoming slightly more expensive. While consumers won’t notice (much), businesses that are struggling as a result of the recession will be able to bring in more of a profit. Also, as more Euros are printed, the value of the Euro currency is being cheapened vs. other currencies. This may have a positive effect on the European economy: European exports will become more attractive. According to the ECB Website, exports have risen 4.4 per cent in the last year. Finally, as banks are able to sell their bad debt to the ECB, they will also have more money to spend. We will hopefully be seeing an increase in lending by European banks to small businesses and individuals in the next months. These positive effects and side effects have been used by the ECB to justify their choice of policy. In a speech given in November 2015, for example, Mario Draghi, the president of the ECB, stated that asset purchases “continue to have a favourable impact on the cost and availability of credit for firms and households”. But there are negative effects as well for Europeans. The expanded asset purchase programme is leading to a

lowering of interest rates across the Eurozone. By purchasing large amounts of corporate and government debt, the ECB is signalling that it has confidence that these debtors will pay back their loans. This means that European corporations and governments are increasingly be able to get loans from banks and other institutions with lower interest rates. Why is this effect negative for Europeans? The pension plans of the majority of workers in the 19 Eurozone countries are formed of government loans to corporations and other governments. When workers retire, they live off the interest generated by the corporate and government loans that their government has issued. As interest rates are lowered and new debt is bought to replace loans that have expired, there will

be less interest generated to support pensioners. In the long-term, we may see more negative effects as well. Experts such as prominent German economist Jürgen Stark have warned about the risks of large scale asset purchases. While it is expected that banks use the money the ECB gives them to issue more loans, they are not obliged to do so. In a conference in April 2015 Stark warned that flooding the banking system with money may sow the seeds of a new recession by encouraging financial speculation. The benefits of applying QE in Europe are manifold. However, given that there are negative effects it seems a bit risky that the ECB has chosen this policy to fulfil its mandate and we should be watchful of their efforts in 2016.

New cross-party movement for an independent Wales

n the last decade, Europe has been a place for many different independence movements. Like Scotland and Catalonia, Wales will also host a new independent organisation. Yes Cymru will be the first non-political movement to diffuse the idea of an independent Wales. Following the strengthening pf independence movements in Europe, YesCymru was born as a cross-party grassroots organisation to help Wales gain independence, meaning that many of their members are sympathisers of various political parties, and that they will try to achieve an independent country along with affiliates of different political organisations. Yes Cymru firmly believes that Wales will benefit if the country is allowed to run their own affairs by being part of an European and international community, which can

only be achieved by being an independent country. Yes Cymru embraces the idea of an inclusive citizenship, whereby anyone who choses Wales as their home, regardless of where they were born, will be considered full citizens of an independent Wales. Showing a more tolerant point of view, and embracing the idea of a cosmopolitan country, Yes Cymru will add Wales to the list of countries that already have a cosmopolitan society model. This organization aims to gain sympathizers through a range of different actions, like social gatherings, or educational activities. Those actions will help to debate the pros and cons of the idea of an independent Wales, among people who are concerned about the notion that Wales should be running its own affairs. Being a non-political organisation,

Yes Cymru differs from other independent parties. This movement is open to everyone who believes in independence for Wales, regardless of their political affiliation. They welcome contributions and membership from all sections of society in order to help create a united Wales, while debating the raising issues concerned with the country’s independence. Their organisation had just been open to members at the end of last year, and their membership is around 100 affiliates. On 20th February, Yes Cymru will hold their first annual general meeting where their officers to the central committee will be elected from their current membership. According to some polls, Welsh independence support is hovering between five and 15 per cent across the country. Yes Cymru recognise that like the Catalan or the Scottish movement,

pulling up the polls is not something easy that can be achieved overnight. Hard work and a good action plan will be key to their success. They consider that is worth mentioning that the Yes vote in Scotland was around 20 per cent between 2009-2011, and now it is just under 50 per cent. Analysing the polls’ results, knowing that this is the first time that Wales will have an independence campaign and the number in favour of an independent Wales can be interpreted as a good base for Yes Cymru to pull up the polls and gain more sympathisers. According to Yes Cymru, self-determination and independence are basic rights for all peoples across the world. Taking this into account, Yes Cymru is determined to help to achieve an independent Wales that will best benefit all of the citizens of Wales.

Pictured: The European Central Bank has been facing some tough decisions. (Photographer: Adam Baker)

“

Anyone who choses Wales as their home, regardless of where they were born, will be considered full citizens of an independent Wales.

”

POLITICS 23

Jamie McKay

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At a time when Putin’s Russia seems increasingly aggressive (...) now does not seem the time for Britain to disarm.

”

Trident renewal date impending

his year the UK makes the final decisions regarding the replacement of the Trident Nuclear Programme. In 2007 MPs backed the renewal of Trident by 409 to 61 votes, but in 2010 the coalition government delayed the decision on whether to press ahead with the programme and how many submarines to order until later this year. Work on the replacement programme cannot be delayed any further however; the Navy’s new submarines alone will take 17 years to build. The Conservative manifesto for last year’s election pledged to replace Trident and David Cameron has reiterated the importance of the UK maintaining its nuclear deterrent. Labour’s official policy has been to support Trident but under Corbyn’s leadership this stance has changed. Cardiff students may have noticed flyers for an anti-Trident march in London on the 19th. 64 years after Britain became the third nation to join the nuclear club, are we on our way out? With the current debate around Britain’s nuclear deterrent the BBC aired a documentary, World War Three: Inside the War Room. The show followed a committee of senior former British Diplomats and Military figures as a hypothetical crisis

unfolded in the Baltic states. The premise behind the exercise will seem familiar to those who’ve been followed the crisis in Ukraine, Russian minorities protest and eventually claim to have founded their own states. Before too long “little green men” (the term used for those “pro-Russian separatists” who happen to carry the latest Russian special weaponry) appear in these rebellious regions. Matters escalate further as British soldiers are deployed under Article 5 of NATO, which considers an attack on one as an attack all and calls on member states to come to the aid of nations under threat. The documentary finishes with Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against NATO fleets and America retaliating with its own tactical nuclear weapons. Immediately after hearing this news the committee are asked to vote on whether to instruct Trident commanders to return fire if Britain is to be destroyed by Russian ICBMs. Two thirds of the committee voted against a retaliatory strike. Having already raised controversy with a scenario that seems all too real amid events in Ukraine and other former Soviet satellite states, the show raised questions to do with the U.Ks nuclear deterrent. Critics stated that the programme is a

Cold war weapon for the Cold war era; indeed the deterrent seemed to have served its stated purpose well. On Newsnight the former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski referred to seeing declassified plans showing planned Soviet strikes against Germany, Denmark and Holland but not the nucleararmed states of France and Britain. In a previous discussion Caroline Lucas, the Green party’s sole MP, argued that Britain should follow the example of South Africa and Brazil, nations who previously owned

nuclear weapons but agreed to give them up. This did not escape Sikorski, who brought up another nation who agreed to dismantle its nuclear stockpile, Ukraine. Previously in control of the third largest Nuclear stockpile in the world, Ukraine gave up control of these weapons in exchange for guarantees from Russia that it would respect their territorial integrity. At a time when Putin’s Russia seems increasingly aggressive, often threatening NATO members in the Baltics and Scandinavia,

Pictured: The Trident nuclear submarine HMS Victorious. (Photographer: Sgt. Tom Robinson)

Osborne’s surplus predictions challenged

The Institute for Fiscal Studies have dealt a blow to the Chancellor’s budgetary targets

Brett Jones

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He is unlikely to want his signature policy suspended when it is widely expected that he will be one of those competing for the top job.

”

he Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) delivered some bad news for Chancellor George Osborne this week. It branded his aim for Britain to be running a balanced budget by 2020 “inflexible”. They said that such a fixed deadline in such an unstable financial global context ran the risk of forcing the Chancellor into the position of having to raise tax rates or cut public spending with very little warning. Such “sharp adjustments”. which could cause severe economic hardship for people who would have very little time to prepare for them, might even have to be made in response to forecasts which later turn out to be flawed. Revising of economic forecasts is hardly a rare event these days. The IFS also pointed out that the Chancellor’s ambition for Britain to begin running a surplus during ‘normal’ economic times had only happened eight times in the past sixty years. Instead the IFS suggested that he could become more flexible about the deadline even to the extent of temporarily suspending his Charter of Budget Responsibility. This would be an unappetising option for him though as he has already seen his reputation for being the great tactician tarnished. He is unlikely to want his signature policy suspended when it is widely expected that he will be one of those competing for the top job now that we know David Cameron will not be seeking a third term. The criticism was tempered by

some muted praise from the IFS, it did note the Chancellor’s plan’s “wmerit of simplicity and transparency’. Although that still makes it a simple and transparent plan that the IFS thinks should occasionally be suspended. This bad news follows the unexpected good news that the Chancellor got from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in November after his budget. The OBR revised upwards its estimated tax revenues which gave the Government more space when it came to tax rises and spending cuts. But the IFS now warns that poor wage growth and a slow growing economy could threaten these increased tax takings. The IFS was officially set up 1969 but had first produced a report in 1964 in response to then Chancellor James Callaghan’s financial plans which they saw as flawed and uninformed. It has been criticised for supporting tax policies that favour those who are well off and when he was Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called its findings ‘complete nonsense’. There has also been criticism from the right with The Spectator calling it ‘the most striking example’ of taxpayer funded studies always arguing for ‘more expensive meddling by the state’. By contrast the OBR was set up in 2010 by the Chancellor who cited the poor forecasts made under the Labour Government. It is led by three people who are appointed by the Chancellor, this calls into question

just how accurate their claim to independence is. In its short history it has been noted that it has delivered some surprisingly good news for the Government. Forecasts are one thing, grim economic realities quite another. Even if all deadlines are met and Britain

does produce a surplus by 2020, the worry for conservatives will be that this is all too late for the average voter to feel the benefits of a healthier economy. As 2020 is an election year, public opinion is usually more significant than forecasts and figures.

Pictured: Budget 2010 (Source: Number 10 via flickr)

24 POLITICS

Trump and Sanders win New Hampshire Rhys Thomas

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Donald Trump bounced back from a disappointing second place in Iowa.

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Dan Heard

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Before being named as a killer. He enjoyed a lifestyle that was the envy of many.

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Clinton suffers and Christie drops out of the race

he New Hampshire first in the nation Primaries come a week after the Iowa Caucuses. It is a place where Presidential campaigns are destroyed or brought back from the precipice - think Bill Clinton in 1992 and his second place finish after a poor showing in Iowa, spinning himself as the “Comeback Kid” and then going on to win both the Democratic nomination and the Presidency itself. Ted Cruz was the big Republican winner last week and there was barely anything between the two Democratic candidates. The results in New Hampshire have turned out quite differently. On the Democratic side Bernie Sanders gained a clear victory against competitor Hillary Clinton. The polls had mostly shown the Senator from Vermont with double-figure leads with Clinton occasionally last having very narrow leads in December and early January - so in a sense his fifteen delegates to nine delegates victory (equating to 60.4% of the vote against 38%) is no surprise. However it is the clearest sign yet that Clinton is not the inevitable nominee with a fifty point poll lead that she was twelve months ago. Sanders’ victory was not just remarkable because of the gradual ground he has gained on Clinton nationwide, but because he beat her in practically every demographic group in the state - Clinton winning voters age 65+ and, not at all surprisingly, voters in families earning over $200,000 a year. The Clinton campaign argued that Sanders was always going to do well in New Hampshire - it’s a mainly white, liberal state and neighbouring Sanders’ home state of Vermont after all, but despite her protestations it’s clear

that the game has changed for Clinton. After happily disregarding Sanders during the first debate, she is now fighting on his turf - talking about issues like how to get big money out of the political process. Expect this contest to go on for a while - Bernie has proved to be a game changer and is making ground with female and minority voters who have traditionally been Clinton loyalists. There was a clear victor on the Republican side too. Donald Trump bounced back from a disappointing second place in Iowa to blow away the Republican field with to finish streets ahead of the chasing pack with a twenty percent gap between him and the next candidate. Ohio Governor and perhaps the sanest Republican John Kasich finished second with Iowa winner Ted Cruz finishing third, narrowly ahead of

Jeb Bush who was one of the many ‘moderate’ candidates (these terms are all relative in the modern day Republican Party) who was banking on a big performance in New Hampshire to bolster his campaign for the weeks and months ahead. Bush’s fellow Floridian Marco Rubio finished just behind him, with Cruz, Bush and Rubio all tied on three delegates apiece to Kasich’s four and Trump’s ten. All those who discounted “The Donald” are looking pretty foolish now - like Nigel Farage in the United Kingdom he has miraculously captured the zeitgeist of white workingclass frustration with the political establishment despite being ultraestablishment himself. As predicted the New Hampshire results have seen some casualties on the Republican side. Portly New Jersey Governor Chris Christie rolled

out of the race in a stunning fall from grace after being the Republican Party’s golden boy back in the 2012 election cycle - with former HewlettPackard Chief Executive and solitary female Carly Fiorina joining him in falling by the wayside. At the time of writing the retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is still sleepwalking through the campaign - he might just pin his hopes on a surprise showing in South Carolina if not dropping out earlier. The next tests for the candidates come on Saturday February 20th - the date of the Democratic Nevada Caucus and the Republican South Carolina Primary. We’re still in the early stages of the nomination period so expect the field to be whittled down even further after this date. It’s still all to play for in the race to be the most powerful person in the free world.

Pictured: Bernie for President. (Photographer: Phil Roeder)

Lord Lucan’s son inherits Earl title

40 years after the disapperance of Lord Lucas, after he was accused of murder

staggering forty two years after his disappearance following accusations of murder, and twenty five years since first being declared legally dead, a High Court hearing has seen the only son of John Bingham, seventh Earl of Lucan, or, as he is more widely known, Lord Lucan, granted his father’s death certificate, resulting in George Bingham inheriting the title. Outside court, Mr Bingham, now the Eighth Lord of Lucan, announced he would be taking up the title “immediately”, bringing and end of sorts to one chapter of the colourful, controversial and hugely enthralling life of one of the most talkedabout characters of a bygone age for Britain. Lord Lucan’s life was never one without incident, even before being named as a killer. He enjoyed a lifestyle that was the envy of many- wealth, power, a love of gambling and a title that allowed him the status he craved and embraced fully. He was known for hiring private aeroplanes for soirees with friends, drove an Aston Martin,

raced powerboats and was once even declined a screen test for the role he perhaps most embodied- James Bond. After being evacuated (to Wales) during the Second World War, he later returned to London and began studying at Eton College, before leaving in 1953 to join the military, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the British Army. It was at Eton, however, where he developed his love and skill at gambling, particularly backgammon and bridge. It was this fascination that eventually saw Lucan leave his job as a merchant banker to pursue gambling as a full time profession, one that would ultimately lead him down the path to his downfall. In November 1963, he married his wife, Veronica Duncan, and in January of the following year, began using the title of Lord Bingham. He had three children, and for a time appeared to live in a state of affluence that few could afford. As it turned out, neither could he. Despite earning the nickname “Lucky Lucan”, in reality, he was anything but, losing far more than he

won, while his often meagre winnings compensated very little. By 1972, the strain was too much, and, with his relationship with his family beyond saving, he left his home in the swanky suburb of Belgravia and moved to a flat in Eaton Row. A bitter divorce case ensued, during which time Lucan began spying on his soon to be ex-wife, recording her telephone conversations and developing a relentless obsession with gaining custody of his children, all of which, coupled with continued massive losses through gambling, left him in perilous financial trouble, leaving his private life in tatters. On the evening of November seventh 1974, Sandra Rivett, nanny to Lucan’s children, was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe in the basement of the Lucan family home. Lady Lucan herself was also attacked, by a man she later identified as her husband, who fled the scene. Lucan, after calling his mother to collect his children, borrowed a friend’s car and drove through the night to a friend’s house in East Sussex, before leaving hours

later. This was the last known sighting of him. The following day, the car was found abandoned in Newhaven, a popular ferry route to France, with blood and a piece of pipe similar to that of the murder weapon inside. And so began the hunt for Lord Lucan. Over the years, there have been hundreds of apparent sightings of Lucan from around the world, from as far away as Australia, South Africa, New Zeeland and even India, where it was alleged he was, astonishingly, living on a hippy commune. While his friends insisted he was dead, it was only in 1981 that, for legal purposes, he was presumed so, and confirmed dead in 1999. Now, with the issuing of the certificate and his title being passed, the story of Lord Lucan is once again in the public eye, as it was for so long all those years ago. Of course, this doesn’t conclude the case, as, alive or dead, it is unlikely the now former Lord Lucan will ever be found, or that the whole incredible, terrible story will ever come out.

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There have been hundreds of apparent sightings of Lucan from around the world, from as far away as Australia.

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26 SCIENCE

science

Editors: Maria Mellor Lizzie Harrett @GairRhyddSci science@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/science

Night owl or early riser? It’s in your genes

Tanya Harrington

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Those who identified with the concept of ‘morningness’ appeared less likely to suffer from insomnia or depression.

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Alice CampbellSmith

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The brain stem involved in the control of breathing, sleep and heart rate is instrumental in orchestrating a sigh.

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ecent research has indicated that the inclination to get out of bed and tackle the day sooner rather than later may be influenced by genetics. All living things follow biological rhythms as a means of survival – and the study of these rhythms is known as chronobiology. Alongside a number of other living organisms, humans work in the circadian rhythm, which spans the length of approximately 24 hours before repeating. By this cycle, people are regarded as being diurnal, which means we are active during the daylight hours and sleep at night. However, there are variations within this model, with some people naturally waking up earlier in the day than others. These variations are known as chronotypes. For example, if you are likely to wake up early in the morning and go to sleep early in the evening, your chronotype is known as ‘morningness,’ and if you are more inclined to wake up later in the day and go to bed further into the night, your chronotype is known as ‘eveningness,’ similar to the commonly used labels of ‘morning people’ and ‘night people.’ Findings from research by chrono-

biologists now highlight the possibility that your chronotype could be influenced by genetic factors. Genetic information, taken from customers at 23andme (a personal DNA sequencing service that allows clients access to information about their genetic blueprints) who identified as ‘morning people’ showed that the majority of them had similarities within 15 parts of their genomes, with 7 of these parts directly relating to the maintenance of the circadian rhythm. As well as this, the research findings also showed that those who identified with the concept of ‘morningness’ appeared less likely to suffer from insomnia or depression – perhaps contributing to the stereotype of morning people being annoyingly happy and cheerful. But, when these findings were put through a Mendelian randomization analysis, no causal relationship was found between morningness and these traits – so, it could be likely that this is mere coincidence, or that with a lack of traits such as insomnia, people are likely to sleep better at night and so are more inclined to self-identify with morningness. Age is also a factor in the identi-

fication with morningness, as the majority of 23andme customers involved in the study who claimed to be morning people were adults over the age of 60. As young people and adolescents are thought to need more sleep than adults, and often display behavioural signs of ‘eveningness’ due to hormonal differences, it could be that although they do not selfidentify as morning people, they can still display similarities with them in their genome. Alongside this, many adults who do identify with morningness may not display genetic signs

of it, but just need less sleep – meaning that the results of the study could be somewhat skewed and that there may be a different number of people who express traits cohesive to morningness than they show. However, genetics are not the only contributing factor to sleeping patters, and changes in diet or routine may always help you go to sleep earlier and feel better in the mornings. Just perhaps go easy on overly zesty morning people – or avoid them until you’ve had some coffee – because apparently, they really can’t help it.

Pictured: Grumpy Cat finds it hard to get out of bed in the mornings too. (Photographer: Ricky Brigante)

Sighing is essential for survival

he notion of a sigh as one of life’s most crucial reflexes has been brought forward by Californian scientists. This key life sustaining process preserves lung function and is linked to neurons in the brain. Interestingly, it also correlates with emotional states. So, what are the mechanisms involving the lungs and brain which are responsible for the extra exhaling? A small set of various neurons act in a similar way to that of a button. When activated can ‘push’ into effect various breathing outputs, one of which can be a sigh. These neurons regulate different types of breath; from sighs and coughs to laughs and cries. The alveoli - small sacs in the lungs that form clusters similar in shape to a small bunch of grapes, then fill up with air, inflating and controlling the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (O₂ and CO₂), and are key structures for the process of respiration. Researchers report that the brain stem involved in the control of breathing, sleep and heart rate is instrumental in orchestrating a sigh. We can even experience a startling

rate of up to 12 sighs an hour! Why is the sigh, essentially an extra breath for an already inflated lung, so important? This process has been found to rely on the smallest set of neurons linked to fundamental human behaviour. So, the key may well be in the simplicity. Prof. Jack Feldman, at University College Los Angeles said, “One of the holy grails in neuroscience is figuring out how the brain controls behaviour.” Working on laboratory mice allowed the team to screen the brain patterns of 19,000 brain cells which could be linked to genetic activity. Interestingly, mice can sigh up to 40 times an hour, over 9 times more than humans. To answer questions about the differences in fundamental life supporting mechanisms amongst species, protein and gene expression studies were conducted. Two laboratories collaborated in the discovery that peptides triggered another set of nerve cells to activate the mice’s muscles and result in a sigh. In humans, sighing becomes part of the survival mechanism. It main-

tains the lungs’ health, whereby if one does not sigh often enough, the alveoli can slowly collapse and lead to lung failure. In addition, sighing certainly corresponds to emotional states. When stressed, (as we have all experienced with coursework or exams) our sigh rate increases. Perhaps regions of the brain involved in emotional states

of stress are going on to release sigh neurotransmitters, however it is not yet known for sure. This research pieces together a ventilation puzzle which could provide much needed information about respiratory system injuries. This is important for clinical settings and provides a direct application for doctors and patients.

Pictured: Functioning in the brain and lungs cause a sigh. (Source: Hey Paul Studios)

SCIENCE 27

Is gluten-free the best thing since sliced bread? Going gluten-free may not be any be any healthier for you

Eleanor Parkyn

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Despite the lack of scientific research or any evidence to actually suggest that gluten-free diets are beneficial to the health of those who do not actually need it, 28 per cent of Americans are following a diet without gluten.

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At one point in my childhood I was forced to sit away from the other children, on a table by myself, in case they contaminated me with their gluten germs.

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f Mean Girls had been set in this decade, Regina wouldn’t have been on an ‘all-carb’ diet, but most likely a gluten-free one. Gluten-free diets are what are suggested as a treatment for individuals with Coeliac disease or an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and some types of oats. There is a difference between being intolerant and having Coeliac; an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten that makes it difficult to properly digest food. Market Research Company Mintel reports that the gluten-free industry was worth over ten billion dollars in 2013, and is predicted to rise by over 50 per cent in 2016. However, a 2013 Packaged Facts survey discovered that only seven percent of the consumers of gluten-free products actually having an inability to process gluten, the remaining 93 per cent of the consumers are buying gluten free products as they believe them to be healthier and will aid them to lose weight. Despite the lack of scientific research or any evidence to actually suggest that gluten-free diets are beneficial to the health of those who do not actually need it, 28 per cent of Americans are following a diet without gluten. Their main reasoning behind this is that we have not adapted to process gluten, which began to be incorporated into our diets 1200 years ago, when other evolved traits have been developed over millions of years. However, people have been drinking milk for roughly the same amount of time, and whilst some are lactose intolerant, many have developed to be able to enjoy milk without becoming deathly ill. Others argue that we eat more gluten based products than previous generations, and this is the reason for the apparent rise in people being diagnosed with intolerances to gluten, however this is also not the case, as twice the amount of gluten was eaten during the late nineteenth century in America compared to the present day. It isn’t so much that more people are becoming intolerant to gluten, or developing an autoimmune disease, but rather that people are only recently becoming aware of such conditions. After a period of bad health as a child, at the age of four it was suggested that I had Coeliac disease. Back then in the Nineties, Coeliac disease and gluten free diets were pretty much unheard of, with only one in 300 adults in the UK recognised to have the condition, but with two-thirds of those undiagnosed. It was safe to say that no one really understood what it meant to have Coeliac disease; at one point in my childhood I was forced to sit away from the other children, on a table by myself, in case they contaminated me with their gluten germs. Definitely not how it works. It is no surprise that public knowledge was so limited, as due to the low number of diagnosed cases, studies into Coeliac disease were fairly small, usually only involving around thirty

people. The outcome of all of these studies though, was the fact that a diet free of gluten is the key way of avoiding many of the symptoms associated with the disease; which include bloating, toilet troubles and constant tiredness. Buying food involved locating a specialist health food shop and spending a small fortune on the tiniest loaf of bread imaginable that had both the taste and texture of burnt rubber. But it had to be done; gluten damages the lining of the gut for those with Coeliac disease, preventing them from being able to digest and absorb food as we are meant to. For children, this can mean that they are unable to grow properly, and are often shorter than they would have been had they followed a gluten free diet. However if Coeliac disease is left untreated over a long period of time, much more serious health problems can present themselves than simply being a bit short. These include osteoporosis, bowel cancer, infertility problems and a higher risk of other autoimmune diseases. Currently the number of people with Coeliac disease is around one in a 100, with many more suspected cases that are currently undiagnosed. The number of people with this disease has clearly increased within the past 20 years, and as such so has the range of gluten free food available. In recent years more and more ‘normal’ foods have become available as a gluten-free alterative. However much of these are freezer type foods such as pizza, chicken nuggets and fish fingers, or an assortment of cakes and biscuits. These products hardly scream out ‘healthy’, which is what has drawn over 28 per cent of all Americans to cut back or eliminate gluten from their

diets. To combat this, manufacturers are producing gluten-free foods that are ‘healthier’ in a more general sense, by making the products also dairy-free and organic. While this may have some potential health benefits, and prove more environmentally beneficial, the prices of gluten-free food are continuing to increase (despite already being ridiculously high) based on the fad diet status that eating gluten-free has developed. This is a negative effect for those who actually have an inability to digest gluten, as they are forced to spend a lot more on products they need to ensure their survival due to the gluten-free ‘lifestyle’ being seen as a ‘healthy’ diet rather than a necessity to some. The US National Library of Medicine have revealed that glutenfree foods cost, on average, 242 per cent more than their gluten filled alternatives. Tesco for example, which provides one of the biggest ranges of gluten free food for a standard supermarket, charges £3.50 for a pack of six gluten-free tortilla wraps, but only 89 pence for eight regular tortilla wraps. Not only are gluten-free products more expensive, but are also always sold in far smaller portion sizes than similar non-gluten-free products. Shoppers are very much aware of this, with a survey run by Packaged Facts revealing that fifty-three percent of consumers considered gluten-free products to be ‘overpriced’. So why do people keep eating gluten-free food when they don’t need to? The main myth that has led to such an increase in people eating glutenfree is that it is in some way healthy for us and will lead to weight loss. Of course, Gwyneth Paltrow was one of

the first celebrities to jump on the gluten-free bandwagon, and countless other celebs have followed suit. While they swear that a gluten-free diet has helped them lose weight, for those of us without the celebrity dieticians and personal trainers, a gluten-free diet may not be all that healthy. Because removing the gluten from foods makes it taste pretty awful, the gluten-free products are crammed with sugar and fat in an attempt to regain some semblance of tastiness; gluten-free products can contain as much as seventy percent starch. This makes the calorific values of gluten-free food almost twice as much as many normal versions of the foods. These products are also low in fibre, meaning that people become hungry much quicker and as a result will eat more. A study by the University of Chicago found that of those on a glutenfree diet, 81 per cent had gained weight within two years of beginning the diet, with over 40 per cent of those being overweight. As well as not being a valid weight loss diet, for those who are not intolerant, gluten is actually beneficial. It provides us with a wide variety of nutrients, lowers blood pressure and supports healthy bacteria in the digestive system. Eating gluten-free products seems like a way of justifying eating junk food by claiming it is healthy. If by eating gluten-free you mean only eating meat and vegetables, then yes, you will probably lose weight and feel healthier (if eaten in moderation), but if you are just using gluten-free substitutes for breads and cakes then it is certainly not the healthier or better choice.

Pictured: The gluten free food industry is booming. (Photographer: Memphis CVB)

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A study by the University of Chicago found that of those on a glutenfree diet, 81 per cent had gained weight within two years of beginning the diet.

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28 SCIENCE

Jeremy Hunt criticised for rash advice

Aislinn McDonagh

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Children usually have rashes on and off for most of their development; nappy rash, sweat rashes and cradle cap being among the more harmless, and impetigo, scabies or eczema more problematic.

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Tom Morris

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The ravens were also seemingly able to visualise which parts of their box were blind spots from the observing raven’s point of view, and hide the food in those areas.

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eremy Hunt has come under fire from the medical profession practically every day recently, so one story which might have been lost under the pile of protest stories was his advice to parents to ‘google’ their child’s symptoms before seeking medical attention. He stated “If you’re worried about a rash your child has, an online alternative – where you look at photographs and say “my child’s rash looks like this one” – may be a quicker way of getting to the bottom of whether this is serious or not.” Now, officially advising people to google their symptoms when you’re the health secretary is probably not the best idea. However, with A&E attendance rising, staffing falling, and the NHS under strain, people do need ways of determining what is an ‘emergency’, and NHS online materials are often referred to as reliable methods of doing this. So, why all the backlash? Well, its because rashes in particular are notoriously ubiquitous in children and difficult to diagnose. Children usually have rashes on and off for most of their development; nappy rash, sweat rashes and cradle cap being among the more harmless, and impetigo, scabies or eczema more problematic. However, these are all very common problems which one would consult a pharmacist or GP about at most. But, rashes can also be indicators of serious diseases – anyone who has seen House more than six times will have heard of the distinctive ‘target’ rash caused by Lime disease, but, other than that,

many rashes look the same regardless of severity. George Reid, a doctor from Leamington Spa, made a Facebook post, which went viral showing the near indistinguishable rashes presented by a child with a normally harmless condition “Henoch–Schönlein purpura”, and one with meningococcal septicaemia who was in a life-threatening position. This uncertainty and variability is true of almost all rashes in children. You only have to look at the range of presentations in meningitis, possibly the best known and most feared childhood rash. NHS choices itself does not provide a photograph, but only suggests the well-known glass test where one presses a glass against the skin to see if the colour fades, indicating a ‘normal’ rash, or stays, indicating something more serious, and reputable sites are few and far between which might provide actual help for an anxious parent. Also, while the pressure on emergency departments and the NHS in general is an important issue for the entire nation, Meningitis Now, a charity which campaigns for meningitis awareness, as well as providing funding and resources around meningitis, branded Mr Hunt’s advice as “potentially fatal”, suggesting that parents should always seek medical advice if they suspect meningitis. They emphasise that rashes are often the last symptom to appear in this notorious disease, and delaying treatment could have dire consequences. The same problems of waiting to

see if your child’s rash matches one on the internet could be said of other childhood diseases like scarlet fever or measles – these can usually be treated by a GP but used to be major causes of death, and can be extremely serious if left untreated. As Dr Reid stated in his viral post, if a doctor cannot differentiate rashes or determine their cause on sight alone, how can a parent of an infant or child, partially blinded by worry, be expected to make the correct diagnosis. More helpful advice might have been to look at the real resources the NHS provides – a rash

questionnaire for parents or adults, and “does my child have a serious illness” FAQ online. Even more helpfully, people should be made aware of the accurate information out there about other signs of infection, such as fever and swelling, or pressure under the fontanel in infants. Rash-gate has been short lived in the media, swallowed under the pressures of the many other NHS stories which fill our papers. However, whether concerned for yourself or your child, rashes remain a difficult balance between harmless irritation and klaxon for infection.

Ravens have been shown to be very clever in previous experiments, where they are able to imagine the social dynamics of groups other than their own, with young ravens having

power struggles and deciding who to pick on much like human teenagers. Later on in life, the ravens enter into long term committed relationships, similarly to human adults.

Pictured: Not-a-doctor Jeremy Hunt (Photographer: Ted Eytan)

Ravens can imagine being spied on

t has long been said that abstraction, the ability to imagine things as they may be in the future and how they are to other people, is a trait only available to humans and animals of close relation such as chimpanzees. It has now emerged thanks to new research at the University of Vienna that ravens can imagine being spied on - and therefore may well have this trait previously thought to be a human exclusive. More specifically, the experiment showed that ravens may have ‘theory of mind,’ which is often what people refer to when they talk about the subconscious. It is the ability to attribute mental states including beliefs, intents and desires in others as well as understanding that they may differ from one’s own. In humans, deficits of theory of mind are seen in people with autism, and alcoholics with brain damage. The study was published by Thomas Bugnyar, Stephen A. Reber and Cameron Buckner in the scientific journal Nature late last year. It is the latest in a long history of research that focuses on the birds,

which are known to be particularly smart for such a small bird-brain. In the experiment, ravens were given the option to take a piece of food, which was placed in their box in front of a window to another box. The birds were taught that a rival raven could be watching them through the window - even if it was closed, as a peephole was also provided. When the window was fully open, and a rival raven could be seen on the other side, the birds were reluctant to take the food- foreseeing that it could lead to a feathery tussle. Sometimes there would not be a bird on the other side, but a recording of raven noises being played from a speaker. This seemed to make the birds think that there was a rival there but that it was not worth worrying about as the rival probably could not see it. Knowing that the observing bird was looking at the original bird is known as a ‘gaze cue.’ The ravens were also seemingly able to visualise which parts of their box were blind spots from the observing raven’s point of view, and hide the food in those areas.

Pictured: That’s so raven (Photographer: Ron Mead)

SCIENCE 29

Hope for reefs as coral is grown in labs

Lisa Carr

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Footage has emerged online of cruise ship anchors tearing through protected regions of seabed destroying coral.

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he world’s corals have been declining at a worrying rate. Up to 80 per cent of all coral in the Caribbean has disappeared in the last four decades and other ocean areas are showing equally alarming statistics. The decline can be attributed to human destruction, rising sea temperatures, steady acidification from carbon emissions, disease and pollution and the outlook for our coral is looking bleak. Existing management and restoration projects can be hard to enforce. At the end of January, an anchor from a private yacht owned by the co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen ploughed into a sensitive protected reef in the Cayman Islands and it destroyed a majority of the coral in the delicate ecosystem. Other footage has emerged online of cruise ship anchors tearing through protected regions of seabed destroying coral and therefore the habitats of many species. However, hope lies in research recently conducted in a lab. A species of coral was successfully reintroduced into a wild population after being cultivated ex situ. SECORE scientists from a non-profit conser-

Science questions: Answered Why does your stomach growl when you’re hungry? Funnily enough, your stomach growls at any point, whether you’re hungry or not, but with an empty stomach you have no food to muffle the sound. The growling happens in your stomach and small intestines when the muscles that push your food through your digestive tract are at work. The food is mixed and propelled through your body along with various gases and fluids. Although this process usually happens when you’re digesting food, activity starts up again when the stomach and intestines have been empty for more than two hours, shifting any leftover food and bacteria and causing the rumbling sounds that are associated with hunger.

vation group in conjunction with researchers from the University of Amsterdam and the CARMABI Marine Research Station in Curaçao have successfully produced coral embryos using fertilisation techniques in the lab environment. This could resurrect troubled species away from unsettled reefs to then be reintroduced in the wild. Introduction of new species members into a wild environment can provide genetic diversity to a population, mitigating the likelihood of an entire population being wiped out by one disease and more hardy coral can adapt to the changing ocean environment. The species targeted in this research was elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata); a keystone reef species with ecological importance that helps defend against storm damage and provides a habitat for a plethora of marine life. This species in particular is critically endangered due to a disease outbreak in the 1970s, therefore researchers hoped to develop a technique that could help the species recover and didn’t limit its genetic diversity like pre-existing ‘coral gardening’ techniques. By collecting the gametes released by elk-

Why do blue Smarties make us hyper? In 2006 the Smarties we knew and loved were recoloured and replaced as part of a drive to eliminate artificial colouring from the sweets due to a study from the Southampton University who linked the dreaded E numbers to hyperactivity in children, leaving sweets companies scrambling to find alternatives. They replaced all the colors, but were unable to find a natural blue dye so were forced to remove the blue sweets from packets. Of course, this caused a spin-off of playground rumours, even after E number-free smarties were introduced in 2008, that the blue smarties make you hyper.

Why does time go quicker when you sleep? Time always travels at the same speed, however when we sleep our perception of time is temporarily suspended. We are unaware of our surroundings, and so five hours can feel like five minutes when you’re asleep. You

horn coral colonies, sexual reproduction could be conducted in the controlled lab environment and new diverse populations could be planted back on the reef and monitored. Seven out of nine colonies survived and continued to grow on the reef, an encouraging sign and the colonies have continued to release gametes indicating sexual maturity. This research provides an inkling

of hope for the future of our reefs, but the troublesome story continues. This technique needs to be refined and will continue to be tested on a larger scale, but for the species to survive and other species to flourish, reefs need to be more protected. For now, the bigger picture is still looking bleak but with great research like this ongoing, perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom.

Pictured: (Above)Healthy coral, abundant with fish (Photographer: Richard Ling) (Below) (Designed by Lisa Carr)

have the memory of going to bed, but your brain doesn’t tend to make new memories overnight, and so when you wake up in the morning it feels as if no time has passed at all.

Why do we lose the ability to hear high pitched sounds as we get older? The average adult is able to hear sounds between 0.02 and 16 kHz, however children can hear up to 20 kHz (or even higher). This gradually fades through a process called presbycusis, the onset of which is observable in people as young as 18. This is because as we get older the cells in your earsw that process vibrations in the air into sound age too - a completely natural process. It can however be accelerated by actually damaging the insides of your ears by listening to loud music, either through headphones or at loud concerts, as the tiny hairs that detect high frequencies are repeatedly flattened. There are numerous tests on the internet where you can test how good your hearing is!

Tweet us your questions to @gairrhyddsci

30 SCIENCE

Spotlight on Cardiff ’s Research

Images of Research: PhD students get a chance to showcase their work in a competition Maria Mellor

“

The bottle she is holding is filled with ‘original’ engine oil to dress the wound.

”

he Images of Research competition runs annually to celebrate doctoral researchers in Cardiff University. They are invited to submit an image that encapsulates their research, and if they make the shortlist the pictures are displayed

“

It’s safe to say fat doesn’t have the best reputation.

”

that lack of information about the harmful consequences of harmful traditional practices is one of the reasons why the practice is still thriving.” She has noticed that the media plays a significant role in informing people about the harmful aspects of the practice. The image shown (top right) is of a chief-cutter who has trained many other cutters in her community. Osuntokun states in her entry “The bottle she is holding is filled with ‘original’ engine oil which she uses to dress the wound after cutting.”

‘Scaredy Fat’

he people’s choice winner was Katie Connolly, who submitted an image entitled “Scaredy Fat”. Her PhD has focused on communicators of cells known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly those released from fat cells. EVs are nanosized particles that are packaged with specific signals to allow one cell to communicate with another. Connolly told Gair Rhydd “My research is looking at how fat cells can secrete EVs to communicate with neighbouring fat cells but also cells

of the immune system called macrophages. I’ve found that these EVs help fat to carry out its normal functions, but also in obesity-like conditions, these EVs may have a negative effect by activating macrophages and cause inflammation within fat.” “It’s safe to say fat doesn’t have the best reputation,” said Connolly for her entry. “This image [middle right] of a ghostly fat cell was captured using a scanning electron microscope which is able to look at the surface of cells in great detail.”

‘Huntington’s Disease: Reaching for a Cure’

D For more science news, visit our new website: gairrhydd.com

‘Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)’

deronke Osuntokun’s research concerns the topic of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - a global concern involving the practise of partial or total removal of a woman’s external genitalia. Osuntokun told Gair Rhydd “It is a gender-specific harmful traditional targeted at girls and women with subsequent harmful and sometimes fatal consequences.” She looks into the media’s views on the practise as part of her research, comparing coverage in Nigerian and UK newspapers, stating “I am of the opinion

in an exhibition for the public to view. The event was held on December 3rd with over 40 images. Judges said “we were overwhelmed by their quality and beauty.” Gair Rhydd spoke to some of the entrants to talk more about their research.

avid Harrison works with The Brain Repair Group, researching Huntington’s disease for which currently there is no cure. It is an inherited condition that damages nerve cells in the brain, gradually getting worse. It can affect movement, cognition and behaviour, but only appears in later life, requiring full-time care in later stages of the disease. The researchers look into whatever they can about it and use animal models in order to learn more. As seen in the photo, rats are used to perform complex motor tasks which involve brain pathways

very similar to those found in people. These tasks can be used to measure not only how well a treatment is working, but also how and why. Harrison wrote “this mouse is reaching for sugar pellets in a staircase box. He has to lie on his belly and use his paws to grasp hold of the treats to lift them to his mouth. He is a model for Huntington’s disease.” Harrison used this test to see how the disease affects the mouse’s dexterity, as normal mice have little trouble reaching the pellets lower down, while Huntington’s disease causes the mouse to struggle.

sign-up ÂŁ15 per person

32 SOCIETIES

societies

Editor: Aletheia Nutt @GairRhyddSoc societies@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/societies

Hannah’s Note:

Hannah Sterritt VP Societies

Come to Candidate’s Question Time!

i everyone, hope you’ve had a great week! There will soon be a lot of information going out about Cardiff Fringe Festival and Go Global, which is between the 6th-12th March. The full list of events will be up on cardiffstudents.com and things are looking good! In other news, next week is the penultimate week before elections and so there are two Candidate Question Time events going on on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th February in the evening. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the candidates run-

Monday 15th February The Students for Life society are hosting a talk offering a medical and ethical perspective on the care of terminally ill children. Dr Richard Hain, a consultant in Paediatric Palliative medicine, is returning to deliver a talk on a fascinating subject. For the last two years, he has drawn a large audience, keen to hear his extensive clinical and ethical expertise. This year, the talk promises to be just as engaging. Dr Hain will be exploring the relationship between children, autonomy and human flourishing. Not to be missed! For further information contact studentsforlife@cf.ac.uk or https://www. facebook.com/events/1661765340754116/ £1 general admission and free for members, Michael Griffiths Building, 19:00-21:00. Tuesday 16th February Give It A Go are holding a speed dating event. Tired of netflix and chilling alone? Has bae proven elusive once again? If you feel like this, or if you’re just looking for some companionship come along for an evening of speed dating! You never know, you might meet THE ONE. So you sign up online and get

ning, as they will be answering questions which often fall outside of their manifesto. I’m also running a workshop on Tuesday 16th in partnership with Cardiff Award, talking about the link between Societies & Employability Skills, because the experience you get in Societies is invaluable for job applications and real life skills. This is something I’ve been working on a lot this year so I’m really happy that this initial plan has come together. If it’s successful, it will be something that we roll out more often to Society mem-

yourself to Y Plas at the right time. We’ll give you a sticker number and a grid form and ask you write a message that you want given to anyone you match with, e.g. “Hey you matched with me! Give me text, 075.......” or “Add me on Facebook! Here’s my full name...”. You’ll get two minutes to talk to each person. If you like the person you’ve spoken to, you note down their number. We’ll compare everyones forms at the end of the night. The next day you’ll receive a message from us to confirm who you matched with and we’ll exchange the information you’ve given us. Simples. In this event we will also have an LGBT+ section so everybody is more than welcome to come along! £2 admission, Y Plas, CUSU, 19:00-21:00. Wednesday 17th Febraury Give It A Go are holding a film night, go and experience an intergalactic adventure and watch The Martian. All you need to bring is yourself, just remember to sign up online. You can bring as much ice cream and as many sweets as you want. Want to know a bit about the film? During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and is left behind by

bers. Just drop me an email if you’re interested! If that isn’t enough evening activities for one week, there’s also a comedy gig on in Y Stiwdio on Monday night with Dave Chawner. It’s free entry and is titled ‘Normally Abnormal’, talking in a comedic sense about sensitive topics such as mental health, eating disorders and identity. It should be a great evening, tackling the stigmas often associated with such topics. As ever, pop up to the third floor if you fancy a chat or there’s anything I can help you out with.

his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. This film recounts how he uses his wits in order to survive the desolate landscape and hopefully return to Earth. Free admission, The Lounge, 3rd Floor, CUSU. 20:00-23:00.

devices for the rest of the day. £15 admission for non-students and £10 admission for students, 09:00-19:00, for more information go to http:// www.cardiffstudents.com/events/11505/7314/

Friday 19th February

If you are interested in learning how to crochet, learning new techniques and meeting other people who are enthusiastic about crafting, join StitchSoc for a great session where they will be sharing their skills, tips, tricks and experience. Whether you are an absolute beginner or have experience in the field, this event has something for you. If you have any crochet hooks and yarn, please feel free to bring them, otherwise resources are available to borrow. £1 admission, Main Building Workshop Room, 13:00-15:00. For further information contact stitchsoc@cardiff.ac.uk.

Join the SU for a night of climbing frames and ball pits at Swansea Playzone. Grab your fancy dress, your vodka slushy and get ready to find your inner child! After Playzone we’ll be taking you into the main club street in Swansea - Wind Street! Here are a few key timings for you to make a note of: 7pm Leaving Cardiff Students’ Union, 7.15pm Picking up at Cochrane Library, Heath Park Campus. 8pm Entry to Playzone, 11pm Shuttle into Wind Street, 2am Swansea Pick Up and 3am Return at Cardiff Students’ Union. Make sure you bring; your ID, your student card, your e-receipt purchase from this event and money for any drinks and/or a McDonalds at the end of the night. Tickets cost £18, 19:00-03:00. Saturday 20th February Go with Give It A Go to see the early art work of a man who inspired a phenomenon, defined an artistic epoch and continues to cause controversy with every lick of spray paint. You may not know that the world-renowned street artist Banksy started his career just across the bridge on the streets of Bristol. In the early to late 90s Banksy, sometimes in collaboration with other street artists such as Kato and Tes, produced an array of satirical and highly political works that would later provide the foundations for his unique artistic style. Though largely treated like vandalism and painted over, many of his original artworks remain - if you know where to look. Turn up at the FRONT of the Students’ Union (Park Place) at 08:45 for a 09:00 departure. Your ticket is fantastic value and includes all coach transport to and from Bristol. Our team leaders will take you on a fantastic walking tour of a lot of early Banksy work - so be prepared for a bit of walking. After the tour you’re free to explore Bristol in your own time and pace. The Give it a Go team will be with you, but you will be left to your own

Sunday 21st February

Give Cricket a go. Designed for all abilities, so come and have a bat, bowl and field. Whether you’ve done it all before, or you’ve never picked up a bat in your life, join Cardiff University Cricket Club for a Give it a Go session at Talybont Sports Hall. 10am-12noon, with no admission cost. Monday 22nd February Don your aprons and bake a cake for charity! Cardiff Volunteering will be accepting submissions in CSEV between 9-11am, with judging 11-12pm and cake sales in the food court from 12-3pm. Prizes for best tasting and best decorated. All proceeds to Cardiff Volunteering! If you fancy yourself as the next Mary Berry, pride yourself on your Paul Hollywood worthy baking or can simply whip up a mean chocolate cake, why not submit a cake for our Great Cardiff Volunteering Jailbake Off! We will be judging your creations under the two categories: best dressed and best tasting, so it’s not all about the looks! We will be then selling the cakes in the food court, with all proceeds going towards supporting Cardiff Volunteering projects! If you’re planning on submitting an entry, please buy a ticket so we know to expect your cake! On your marks, get set... BAKE FOR JAILBAKE! £1 admission, CSEV/Food Court, 09:00-15:00.

SOCIETIES 33

A musical celebration for refugees Lucy Parkinson

“

You do not need to have any experience teaching English, in fact, most of us don’t have any experience apart from the experience we have gained through STAR.

”

Chloe Lavington

“

All these events will be running alongside our regular volunteering projects.

”

Come along to the annual ‘Refugee Rhythms’ gig, hosted by Student Action for Refugees

t’s that time of year again – STAR (Student Action for Refugees) are back with our annual music event Refugee Rhythms, taking place on the Thursday February 25th from 8pm2am. Join us for a night of dancing to live music and eating food from all around the world. This year promises to be our biggest event yet as we have been able to change our venue to Y Plas in the Students’ Union. Tickets are only £5 and are available on the Students’ Union website as well as being available on the door. We’re ecstatic to welcome Afro Cluster back to headline our event, with their afro-funk hip-hop sound. Bass 12 are also going to be providing plenty of brilliant music to groove to, with their own brand of street brass/ riot jazz. Long-term volunteer Larry Black said “We’re all really looking forward to the event as previous years’ Refugee Rhythms have always been roaring successes and a great time has been had by all.” As well as Refugee Rhythms and the drop-in, we also regularly go for dinner after drop-in (so much falafel) as well as hold events such as our Peace Feast, where we gather together to eat a meal and celebrate refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff. Peace Feast is taking place on the Sunday February 21st, in the Cathays Community Centre (on Cathays Terrace). This is our fourth year of running the event, in association with Bridges for Communities. “Peace Feasts are a really lovely way to meet lots of people in the community that you might not usually have

the chance to sit around a table with to share a meal,” said STAR’s Secretary Lizzie Robertson. Student Action for Refugees has been running as a society within Cardiff University for the past eight or nine years. We meet (at least) once a week to provide a student-led service to Asylum Seekers and Refugees, in the form of one-to-one conversation classes and a drop-in with tea and biscuits. If you want to come along and join us in doing so, please do! We are always looking for new volunteers to teach English or even just hang out with people, play table tennis and chat. You do not need to have any experience teaching English, in fact, most of us don’t have any experience apart from the experience we have gained through STAR. We provide all of the teaching materials – unless of course you want to bring something to talk to someone about such as a newspaper. The sessions are on a Wednesday evening from 5pm – 7.30pm in the Trinity Centre on Piercefield Place off Newport Road. New volunteer Sam Alexander tells us “STAR has given me the opportunity to use my skills to help people who need it, it’s been fantastic for everyone involved, 10/10 would recommend coming!” We are always really keen to get new volunteers involved in the planning and putting on events and if this seems like something you’d like to do, just let us know and we can invite you onto one of our subcommittees based around events or English teaching. We usually welcome between 80 and 100

asylum seekers and refugees to our drop-in each week and on a good week we have around 70 volunteers who turn up to teach. We are extremely passionate about providing this service to people seeking asylum and Refugees in Cardiff, as we’re often told by people that they really appreciate having a place where they can come and feel welcome. According to STAR’s Campaigns Officer Tess Eeles (who is also President of Hope Not Hate Society – check them out too!), “volunteering with STAR is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done with my time at Cardiff University.” Campaigning is one of

the most important aspects of STAR, with our history of having campaigned for Equal Access to University for Asylum Seekers, who otherwise would have to pay international fees, which combined with the financial hardship asylum seekers often face means that university is not an option. We’re also campaigning against destitution with a sponsored sleep-out to raise money for destitute asylum seekers, which everyone is welcome to join us in doing! Keep up to date with STAR’s goingson and join us as a society on the union website as well as joining our Facebook page “Cardiff STAR (Student Action for Refugees)”. Don’t miss out!

It’s Student Volunteering Week!

ardiff Volunteering is kicking off Student Volunteering Week 2016 with a student sleepout on Friday February 19th, to raise funds to support work with local homeless charities. On Monday, there’s a day at Amelia Trust Farm helping out with everything from animals to conservation work, as well as “The Great Jailbake Off ” where students can show off their culinary skills or simply munch on some fabulous cakes! Tuesday hosts our Garden makeover, which will lay the ground work for redesigning the unused garden at Grangetown Pavilion and ultimately making it a haven for bugs, bees and the community to learn and relax! On Wednesday we’ll be working with Cardiff and Vale Sanctuary Support to sort through their generous clothes donations, to distribute to local and Calais refugees. Next up is our Blind Bowling event on Thursday, which is a great night working with Cardiff Institute for the Blind, meeting and socialising with individuals with visual impairments and ultimately ending in a game of bowling! Don’t worry, there will be an even playing field as students will

have access to a variety of sim-specs which give an idea of how different impairments can affect vision. On Friday we are hosting our allimportant Jailbreak Briefings for all teams who have entered JAILBREAK 2016 on March 4th-6th! If you’ve entered a team, make sure you attend one of these meetings! Finally, our Volunteering Week ends on Saturday with the sold-out Puppy Power event at Cardiff Dogs Home, raising money and awareness for Friends of the Dogs, Wales. All these events will be running alongside our regular volunteering projects, and we hope there will be something for everyone to get involved with! To sign up for these events visit cardiffstudents.com/ whatson and purchase a ticket. In addition, as you may have seen recently in local media, we are working closely with a group of students to create a student led Safety Walk Scheme, helping students get home from the Students’ Union safely by walking in groups. We are still ironing out the finer details of the scheme, but are holding a talk during the week commencing February 15th to give you some more information and to

sign up interested volunteers! Keep an eye on our website and Twitter pages where we will be releasing the meeting details. All volunteers will be fully trained and equipped with the essentials to ensure everybody is safe at all times. If you’re passionate about student safe-

ty and believe everyone has the right to get home safely after a night out, this could be a great way to get involved. Feel free to email us on volunteering@cardiff.ac.uk if you have any questions, or join the Facebook group by searching “Student Walk Scheme Cardiff ”.

Pictured: The Refugee Rhythms event will be held at Cathays Community Centre

34 SOCIETIES

Sophie Jackson

“

If you missed the first Give It A Go session, or you want to try your hand at another type of needlecraft, there’s no need to worry, as we still have two upcoming sessions in the next few weeks.

”

Joe Rumming

Give it a sew with StitchSoc!

lthough long thought of as the hobbies of grandmothers, recent years have seen crafts like knitting and embroidery find a new lease of life in a much younger generation. Here in Cardiff, proof of this exists in StitchSoc, a brand new needlecraft society formed this academic year which welcomes individuals of all abilities and currently focuses on the practices of knitting, crochet and cross stitch in particular. Despite being such a new society, StitchSoc has already managed to achieve bronze-tier status in its first term alone, with aspirations for a silver-tier rank by the end of summer, and membership only costs £3. After feedback from our members, we’ve moved locations for our weekly meetups this term to the fourth floor of the Students’ Union - you can find us up in room 4H every Tuesday from 7pm to 9:30pm, where we bring our current projects, offer each other craftrelated help, and generally just enjoy the company. If you’re not sure about StitchSoc, or if needlecrafts are for you, our Give It A Go sessions are a great way to try your hand without needing to commit to anything. Most recently, we held our first Give It A Go session of 2016 by inviting people of all abilities to try knitting. Committee members showed examples of all the sorts of things you can do with knitting, providing the chance to look through a number of books, and began by explaining the basic concept. While most attendees were completely new to the craft, there were some who had tried knitting before but needed a refresher. Everyone who showed up finished the session having learnt the basic knit stitch, with some more ad-

vanced knitters learning the basics of knitting in the round. If you missed the first Give It A Go session, or you want to try your hand at another type of needlecraft, there’s no need to worry, as we still have two upcoming sessions in the next few weeks. After a week off for Valentine’s, we’re back in the Main Building Workshop Room on February 21st for a crochet workshop suitable for both beginners and advanced crafters, and then on February 28th for a joint cross stitch and needle felting

workshop. This latter session is the first chance we’ve had to offer needle felting, so make sure you don’t miss out! Both sessions run from 1pm to 3pm and offer a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, taking time out from stressful studies to learn a new skill and meet new people. The Give it A Go sessions are only £1 each for non-members and free for existing members, and optional £5 starter packs are available to buy from StitchSoc, either on the door at the sessions or online on our society

page. Buying a starter kit not only means that you’ll be able to take your work home with you, but will also provide you with the means to keep practising and improving. For more information, and to keep up-to-date with what’s going on, just search ‘Cardiff University StitchSoc’ to find us on Facebook. StitchSoc membership, starter packs and Give it A Go sessions can all be purchased from http://www. cardiffstudents.com/activities/society/StitchSoc/

Pictured: You’ll be in stitches (Photographer: Counselling via Pixabay)

The music society shows no sign of slowing down

he 2015/16 year has seen a lot of activity from the Music Society so far and it seems there will be no let up from them as we go into the spring semester. This semester sees the culmination of the society’s first annual soloist competition with the final concert to be held in the University School of Music on the 6th of March. This coincidently is also set to be the dates of one of the Students’ Union’s biggest musical events of the year with the Fringe Festival’s ‘Music Showcase Event’. In this, the Music Society pull together friends from Jazz, A-Cappella, TCUPS, CUOS, Brass Band, Healthcare Music, Blank Verse and wind band societies to present the biggest night of live music of the year, all held in Y Plas (6:30pm start). This is sure to be an event not to be missed! The New Year also sees the return of the Music Society’s weekly Lunch-

time Concert Series (12:30-2pm every Thursday in the School of Music), in which students perform a huge variety of repertoire from a multitude of different instrumentalists and singers alike. These events show off some of the greatest Musical Talents on a weekly basis and are a great experience for anyone looking to hone their performing skills! Another huge event in the Music Society’s Calendar that will be fast approaching before you know it is their annual ball! This year the theme of which is ‘A Night at the Fair’, a hark back to a traditional 1940s fairground, with bold colour, stripes and more bunting than you know what to do with! The event is to be complemented by the beautiful venue of Cardiff City Hall, a perfect pair in our eyes! With all of the work that the Music Society are doing at the moment, we can only wait and see what they

Pictured: The Music Society puts on performances all through the year

“

come up with next, whether it’s new and exciting concerts, events, or even a play zone trip that we hear

may be on the cards? It definitely seems that as usual, it is all systems go at the Music Society!

This semester sees the culmination of the society’s first annual soloist competition with the final concert to be held in the University School of Music on the 6th of March.

”

Machine Head

Bowling For Soup

Gabrielle Aplin

February/Chwefror Fun Lovin' Criminals

Machine Head

10/03/16, £26 ADV

The Stranglers

18/02/16, £23.50 ADV

18/03/16, £26 ADV

Funeral For A Friend 06/04/16 - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN PVRIS

City and Colour 19/02/16 - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN

Boyce Avenue

08/04/16 - SOLD OUT/

19/03/16, £25 ADV

WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN

Crossfaith

Newton Faulkner

Stiff Little Fingers

19/03/16, £12 ADV

Richard Hawley

Wolf Alice 24/03/16 - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN

28/02/16, £18.50 ADV 28/02/16, £25 ADV

10/04/16, £21.50 ADV

May/Mai Issues

24/05/16, £15 ADV

April/Ebrill

March/Mawrth Theory Of A Deadman

Sunset Sons

03/03/16, £15 ADV

03/04/16, £12 ADV

Bedlam and Lunacy presents: Chase and Status DJ Set plus more

Funeral For A Friend 05/04/16 - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN

04/03/16, from £20 ADV

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All tickets subject to booking fee Codir ffi archebu ar bob tocyn

36 SPORT

BUCS Results: Wednesday 10th February Presented by:

H/A

Sport

Cardiff Team

Opposition

Result

W/L/D

American Football

Mixed 1st

UWE 1st

0-19

Badminton

Mens 1st

University of Hertfordshire 1st

6-2

Badminton

Womens 1st

University of Exeter 1st

8-0

Badminton

Mens 2nd

University of South Wales 1st

7-1

Basketball

Mens 1st

University of Plymouth 1st

69-77

Basketball

Womens 1st

Cardiff Metropolitan 1st

74-22

Basketball

Mens 2nd

Swansea University 2nd

53-38

Fencing

Womens 1st

Swansea University 1st

128-82

Football

Mens 1st

Bournemouth 1st

2-0

Football

Womens 1st

Cardiff University 2nd

1-5

W/L

Football

Mens 2nd

University of Bath 2nd

0-2

Football

Mens 3rd (Medics)

Cardiff Metropolitan 3rd

3-3

Football

Mens 4th

University of Gloucestershire 3rd

0-2

Golf

Mixed 1st

University of South Wales 2nd

5-1

Hockey

Mens 1st

Reading University 1st

3-2

Hockey

Womens 1st

University of Bristol 2nd

3-3

Hockey

Mens 2nd

University of Bristol 2nd

4-0

Hockey

Womens 2nd (Medics)

Bournemouth University 1st

5-1

Lacrosse

Mens 1st

University of Exeter 1st

7-7

Netball

Womens 2nd

University of Southampton 1st

71-39

Netball

Womens 3rd (Medics)

University of Bristol 3rd

38-29

Netball

Womens 4th

University of South Wales 1st

33-27

Netball

Womens 6th

Cardiff University 7th

30-38

W/L

Rugby Union

Mens 1st

University of Exeter 1st

48-7

Rugby Union

Womens 1st

Swansea University 1st

24-5

Rugby Union

Mens 3rd

University of South Wales 2nd

15-26

Squash

Mens 1st

University of Bath 1st

2-3

Squash

Womens 1st

University of Bath 1st

4-0

Squash

Womens 2nd

Bournemouth University 1st

0-4

Table Tennis

Mens 1st

University of Bath 1st

12-5

Tennis

Mens 1st

University of Exeter 3rd

8-4

Tennis

Womens 1st

University of Exeter 1st

12-0

Volleyball

Womens 1st

University of Gloucestershire 1st

0-3

Water Polo

Womens 1st

University of Cambridge 1st

1-6

Wins

Draws

Losses

SPORT 37

The Six Nations: Does it really matter on a global scale?

With European teams now trailing in the shadow of the southern hemisphere game, is too much made of these Championships when there is bigger fish to fry elsewhere? Jim Harris

“

But times have changed and it is the likes of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and even Argentina, who now rule the roost.

”

“

The big issue really is the Six Nations themselves. Do we make too much noise over their importance?

”

here is a huge disparity in world rugby right now. It’s massive. The gap between nations in the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere rugby is arguably the widest it’s ever been. The quartet of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina are better than the Europeans. In fact, they’re miles better. A depressing concept that we must take a big gulp and accept. European rugby, boasting the likes of England, Wales, Ireland, France and more, and headlined by the annual Six Nations Championship, was once the envy of the rest of the world. But times have changed and it is the likes of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and even Argentina, who now rule the roost. The performances of these four sides at last year’s World Cup has put them at the top of the world rankings and is not simply a culmination of the changing times, but marks the beginning of a spell of global dominance by more and more southern hemisphere outfits. It is no new notion that New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have been, and continue to be, powerhouses on the world stage but what really gets the alarm bells ringing north of the equator is the emergence and growth of Argentina. The once-upon-a-time minnows, have secured two semi-final appearances in the last three World Cups; beating the likes of France and Ireland on their way, and as of 2012, were integrated in to the Tri-Nations competition to form what we now know as ‘The Rugby Championship’: a faster, better version of the Six Nations. The Argentinians were top pointsscorers in their Rugby World Cup pool last year: a group which included eventual winners New Zealand; and they did a complete dismantling job of Ireland (who are current back-to-back Six Nations champions) in the quarter-finals at Cardiff ’s Millennium Stadium. In fact, 2015’s quarter-finals consisted of four European nations, with none progressing in to the semis.

For me, there is no argument: if you put any one of South Africa, Australia or New Zealand in this current Six Nations Championships, they would win it hands down. What is growing increasingly apparent, though, is that those ‘minnows’, Argentina, would probably be very much involved in the competition at the right end of the table too. So why is there no competition? Why has European rugby fallen behind so much? Does it start at the grass-roots level? That’s certainly the argument many English football fans have for flailing behind the rest of the world with the round ball. Is it in the professional domestic leagues? Contrary to Europe, the Southern Hemisphere plays host to “Super Rugby”: a league, which as of 2016 will host the best franchise clubs from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Japan, tailored to producing the best talent for Test level. Whilst Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy have their own take on ‘Super Rugby’ in the form of the Guinness Pro12, the rugby on show is, well, not so “super”. In England and France, they have their own leagues, consisting of clubs only from that country. The extent to which this has a bearing on the quality of rugby that transcends to international level is a debate that splits opinion. Former France Head Coach, Phillipe Saint-André, in fact suggested that the exhausting length and brutality of the Top 14 league was of no help to the Test ambitions on Les Blues. Indeed, many have argued that the greater importance put on domestic club rugby in England than anywhere else in the world has had a detrimental effect on the performances of the national side. The big issue really is the Six Nations themselves. Do we make too much noise over their importance? As we saw only last week, the furore that surrounded the Scotland vs England match, not just in the media but from both sets of fans, was unquestionably out of hand. Whilst the beginning of a new Six Nations campaign should al-

ways be greeted with an awe of excitement, this was, put in to context, a Test between the eighth and ninth ranked teams in world rugby. Two years ago, that is a match between Samoa and Scotland: a clash that doesn’t quite capture the imagination. England produced a dogged and hardly convincing display to overcome Scotland by just six points in one of the more scintillatingly dull 80 minutes of rugby you’ll see. Take it back just a few hours, and spectators were treated to a mistake-ridden France-Italy clash that would have inspired few, not least any future kickers out there, with Sébastien Bézy and Carlo Canna missing seemingly routine kicks throughout the afternoon. What the Ireland-Wales game lacked in quality, it made up for in entertainment, but only because of the draw. But where does “entertainment” get you in a results and performancedriven game? The game, whilst ending 16-16, was at times a ping-pong-esque kicking match played out by two teams conscious of not losing rather than being positive and looking for the win: the latter being a trait for which the likes of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have been praised for heavily over the past few years. For Guardian rugby union correspondent, Tom Carey, it is the culture of the Six Nations which has restricted the freedom in some player’s games. Use England for example, they “have players with talent and vision like Jonathan Joseph, George Ford and ballplaying forwards like Joe Launchbury… the Six Nations just doesn’t encourage them to play fast, skilful, attacking, offloading rugby. It values power, control, kicking, territory.” Is the Six Nations just “B-grade” rugby then? Is too much impetus put on matches that aren’t really that big? And are players instructed to play in a restrictive manner? Without question, the rivalry that is generated between countries during the Six Nations often outweighs the importance of team performances and that will inevitably corrupt the true interpretation of a game. Simply beating the opposition is enough in these games; it doesn’t mat-

ter how it is done (England v Scotland is a great example). When they eventually meet the southern hemisphere sides in the Autumn Internationals, or in the summer, the performances will matter and they will get rolled over with ease. N.B. Wales in New Zealand, England in Australia, and Ireland in South Africa later this year. Watch this space. To close the gap, Cary says that the northern hemisphere must utilise more skilful players in their ranks: “I reject the theory that we do not produce skilful players in the northern hemisphere. We just don’t value them enough.” Indeed, England’s James Simpson-Daniel and more recently, Danny Cipriani, were both praised for their positive, flair-play on the ball but were both snubbed by national selectors because of the risk that they bring in their play. The strengths in the southern hemisphere sides comes in their powerful set piece, their physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown, as well as that creativity out wide. These three key elements are what have made them so successful, yet none of the northern hemisphere sides have got them all ticked off at the moment. All of the top teams in Europe lack in at least one of those areas. Fact. The latest appointment by the English Rugby Football Union, of Australian-born Head Coach Eddie Jones now completes a clean sweep of southern hemisphere coaches for the home nations, so will we now see the gap begin to close? Well, Wales have been under the reign of New Zealander Warren Gatland for some time and are still no closer. Improvements have been made in the Irish and Scottish camps under the tenure of South African, Joe Schmidt, and Vern Cotter of New Zealand respectively, but competing at the sort of levels set by New Zealand and co. still seems a long way off. For England and France, the best chance of returning to the top of the world may well come from a re-structuring of the domestic league system, although fans of the Aviva Premiership might hope that Eddie Jones can resurrect things on an international level before such changes may need to be considered.

Pictured: Above: Captains of the competing teams for this year’s Six Nations Championship. (Photographer: Kitbag Blog) Below left: Argentina celebrate after a memorable win over Ireland at last year’s Rugby World Cup. (Photographer: Marc via Flickr)

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The strengths in the southern hemisphere sides comes in their powerful set-piece, their physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown, as well as that creativity out wide.

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38 SPORT

Cont’d: Cobras qualify for play-offs

Continued from back page

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It’s a great way to start the business end of the season. To have achieved six wins and have no points conceded at this stage is a great achievement for all involved. Ben Watkins

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Jim Harris

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Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena is one of the most popular venues on the professional darts circuit.

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Harry Elliott Cardiff Blues Columnist

Cook and the rest of the offense marched Cardiff into another dangerous position. And, after Cook linked up with Higgins once more bringing up first and goal, runningback, Billy Rowlands, was able to punch the ball in following a dive in the left corner. That gave the Cobras a 12-0 lead. The defense, inspired by the will to not concede a point, shut the UWE offense down repeatedly. The Bullets found a rare first down midway through the second quarter but, on the next play, safety Ed Woolcott was able to pick the ball off to give the offense possession in a dangerous position. After exchanging the ball, Cook dipped and dodged his way through tackles to send Cardiff knocking once more. And, following a clever pump fake and blitzing run, Cook battled his way into the endzone for the score. Kicker James Lloyd added the PAT, bringing up a 19-0 lead at the interval. The third quarter remained scoreless with not too much to trouble either side. The fourth quarter continued in the same way as Cardiff began to bed in rookie players. A strong drive by the Bullets came to a halt once more, courtesy of the safe hands of Woolcott, who intercepted again and ran it back to the 40 yard line. With UWE chasing the game, they abandoned the punt and repeatedly tried to advance on fourth down, but Cardiff held strong and their defense

refused to give up any points. Alex Frost, making a rare appearance in the defense due to an injury to Harry Kirkham, made a big tackle in the backfield to stop a threatening UWE play as the Cobras closed the game out for the win and booked their place in the play-offs. Coach Watkins was pleased with the team’s overall performance, commenting: “It was another good all round team game. “The defense will be pleased to shut UWE out but they never really threatened to score, whilst they also gave the ball back to the offense in good field position.” “The offense took their opportunities and scored points though the air and on the ground.” Watkins, who enjoyed a season playing semi-professional football for the Helsinki Roosters in Finland over the summer of 2015, added: “The special teams pinned UWE deep to help both sides of the football out. “We had a good week of preparation that was key and the scout work we do midweek has really shown itself to be beneficial come game day.” The Cobras will have to be patient as they await their play-off fi xture because the season still has a couple of weeks remaining, meaning that there is potential for a few twists to take place. But, for now, Watkins is satisfied that his side have made the postseason: “It’s a great way to start the business end of the season. To have

achieved six wins and have no points conceded at this stage is a great achievement for all involved.” Nevertheless, Watkins wants his players to stay focussed as they look to finish strong, insisting: “It is only the first step for us as we are looking towards the play-offs as a chance to really show what we can do against other division leaders.” Watkins, in his second season at the helm, believes reaching the playoffs has been a long time coming. “It is great, as coaches and players we have been building the team up towards this point for those four years since we were last in the playoffs,” he said.

“Sadly, due to the high turnover of students in the university game, it can take some time to build a team up to the top of the division, but I am really happy with the job everyone has done in the last four years and the years before that to help get this team to where it is.” No other Cobras team has held a 6-0 record without conceding a point, though the 1995-96 team did achieve a 5-0 record with the sixth fi xture being declared a tie. Incidentally, that 95/96 team, led by Neil Harris, reached College Bowl X and the current Cobras team will hope that is a good omen as they attempt to repeat such achievements.

Pictured: Cardiff Cobras in action against UWE. (Photographer: Paul Jenkins)

Cardiff to host inaugural PDC Champions League

t has been confirmed that the city of Cardiff will host the first ever Professional Darts Corporation ‘Champions League’ between 24th and 25th September 2016. The Welsh capital, which already hosts the PDC Betway Premier League once a year, will welcome the best eight players from around the world for a weekend of darting action with the eventual winner picking up a cool £100,000. Cardiff ’s Motorpoint Arena is one of the most popular venues on the professional darts circuit and, as well as the Champions League in September, will host ‘Judgement Night’ in the Premier League on 31st March in front of a sure-sell-out crowd.

PDC Chairman, Barry Hearn, stated that the city and the fans “deserve” top level darts: “Darts is a huge deal in Wales and this was like the general election results for us”, he told BBC Wales Sport. “We picked Cardiff [for the Champions League] because it is the fastest-selling venue we had. Cardiff has consistently won that race over the last three years, so we know there is the demand there.” The PDC event will be shown live on the BBC: the first of its kind to do so, marking the end of a 38year long relationship between the British Darts Organisation’s World Championship and the BBC. “The BBC has a long history of broadcasting darts but this will be the start of

an exciting new era”, Hearn explained. “The Champions League of Darts will bring the very best players in world darts – the top eight from the PDC Order of Merit – to BBC screens for an exciting, quick-fire tournament. “Both live crowds and TV audiences have continued to soar for PDC tournaments in the last year, and it’s a great reflection for us that the BBC were keen to add the Champions League of Darts to their sporting portfolio” he said. The eight players will be split in to two pools of four, where they will each compete for a place in the knock-out stages. The top two players from each pool will progress to the semi-finals, before the £100,000 final on the Sunday evening.

Tickets for September’s Champions League are not yet on sale, however some are still available for next month’s Betway Premier League evening, where fans will be treated to a host of high class matches, including Raymond van Barneveld vs. Michael van Gerwen.

All is a bit quiet on the Cardiff Blues front. Following a dogged 10-3 win over Edinburgh Rugby at the BT Sport Arms Park, the Blues travelled to Italy to take on Benetton Treviso at the Stadio di Mongio on Saturday. At the time of writing, Venetians Treviso propped up the Guinness Pro 12 table without a single win all season ahead of the game against the Blues. Having won their last four Pro 12 fixtures, the Blues would have expected to be victorious in Italy. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed the 2016 RBS

Six Nations is well under way, and the Blues are well represented in Warren Gatland’s Wales squad. Aside from the usual suspects, Tom James is the Blues-man making the biggest impression on Welsh rugby fans, and supporters of the Six Nations in general. Some rugby supporters simply tune in for the Six Nations once a year, and a World Cup every four years, with no regard for club rugby whatsoever (I’m sure you can think of at least one friend who fits this bill). For these people, Tom James is

something of an unknown quantity. However, for those of us who enjoy domestic competitions such as the Guinness Pro12 and the Aviva Premiership, James is a physical winger who has excited for both the Exeter Chiefs and Cardiff Blues. He is keeping fellow Blues winger, Alex Cuthbert, and Cardiff University Medic, Hallam Amos, out of the Welsh starting XV and one cannot begrudge him this, given his form of late is at least deserving of a starting berth. Gareth Anscombe’s late exclusion

from the Wales team that drew 16-16 in Dublin is a slight concern for the national team, but his lay-off is not expected to affect the Blues’ domestic campaign after the Championships. The Blues face Leinster Rugby this Saturday before fellow Irish province, Ulster, visit for back-to-back weekends at Cardiff ’s Arms Park. These are two tough fixtures for the Blues, who lost to both Leinster and Ulster earlier in the season, but, if Danny Wilson’s side are to continue their fine form and their surge up the Pro12 ladder, nothing less than two wins will do.

Pictured: World number one, Michael Van Gerwen. (Photgrapher: PDC)

SPORT 39

CU athletes excel at BUCS Cross-Country

Megan McBrien

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Despite the conditions, it was a great day out with a fantastic team that had strength and depth.

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Jamie Smith

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Russell has been excellent, a lot better than the last two managers who I paid seven or eight times a higher salary to. Vincent Tan

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Shaun Davey Cardiff City Columnist

n Saturday 6th February, Cardiff University Athletics Club (CUAC) took a record number of 60 athletes to Plock Fields, Gloucester, to compete in BUCS, the biggest cross-country race in our calendar. In true cross-country style, the conditions were horrific; constant rain, gale force winds, and sixinch deep mud, but this did not deter our athletes. After war paint and temporary tattoos had been put on and our crosscountry captains had given us a solid team talk, the men’s A-team got underway. They kicked us off to a flying start over the 10.3 km hard slog, battling past the rest of the field towards the finish line. President Dan Nash was first home in eighth out of 334 runners- a fantastic run to watch and Dan’s best result in ‘BUCS XC’. Next through the line were first year athletes Andrew Wright, Thomas MacSwayne and Richard Webb in 51st, 65th and

124th respectively - excellent performances for their first BUCS event. Owen Haswell and Freek van Arkel also had good runs on this tough course, meaning the team finished 12th out of 54 teams - our best male team team finish in the history of the club. Next it was the girls’ race: 6.2km of mud, just mud! Beth Hawling came in fifth out of 583 runners, an outstanding run and one that can leave her hugely optimistic ahead of a potential appearance at the World CrossCountry Championships. To complete the women’s team was female cross-country captain Megan McBrien, in 77th, and Abigail Howarth, in 84th. Meaning the girls finished ninth overall, which, unfortunately, meant that they narrowly missed out on collecting BUCS points, by just four. It was still the best result we have had in a while, though! The men’s B-race brought the event to an end and was by far the

most entertaining race to watch. We had impressive runs from Elliott Hardee (58th), Mike Gaunt (112th), Dan Richardson (139th) and cross-country captain Tom Chandy (150th). 477 people finished the race, highlighting Cardiff ’s efforts with another 16 of our students amongst the remaining finishers. Despite the conditions, it was a great day out with a fantastic team that had strength and depth. We had brilliant support from other members of CUAC who joined us for a

day in the wet, cold and muddy conditions. We now look forward to the last few races of the cross-country season, as well as BUCS indoors up in Sheffield from the 19th-21st February, when we will hopefully be even more successful. CUAC train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.30pm, meeting at the front of the Students’ Union. All abilities are welcome so please come along and try athletics out, especially if you are training for the World Half Marathon in March.

Pictured: CUAC at last week’s crosscountry event. (Photographer: Cardiff University Athletics Club)

Cardiff City: Tan shows support for under-pressure Slade

ardiff City owner Vincent Tan has leapt to the defence of under-pressure manager Russell Slade during a brief visit to the Welsh capital. Tan was speaking at a rare Q&A session with sections of Bluebirds supporters and the media at the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff are unbeaten in four games but draws to lowly-placed Rotherham United and MK Dons have generated further frustration amongst supporters, who are increasingly voting with their feet. With the 2012 League Cup finalists slipping five points adrift of the playoff places, pressure has been mounting on Slade, with many calling for his departure. However, Tan insists that the former Leyton Orient manager is the right man for the job and has surpassed his predecessors. “Russell has been excellent, a lot

better than the last two managers who I paid seven or eight times a higher salary to,” Tan commented. “Did they do a seven to eight times better job? No, they did much worse, lost me tons of money. “If I listen to the so called ‘experts’ in Wales, and I deliberately use apostrophes there, then I just hear Russell is terrible, Russell is this and that. “They forget he came in at a time when I told him to clean up the mess. We’d just had two very well-paid managers who spent an awful lot of money, but in my opinion didn’t do very well.” Many thought Tan was taking a huge risk by appointing a manager who had not really proven himself at this level of football. But the Malaysian is so far pleased with the decision he made. “Everybody seemed to condemn me when I brought in Russell, saying ‘Oh he’s only from the lower leagues’.

But if you always adopted that view, nobody would be given a chance. I gave him a chance and I’m glad I have done,” the 63-year-old asserted. “He is totally trustworthy and I believe he’s done very well. When Cardiff City got promoted I put £20m in to buy players that season for that ‘great manager’ (Malky Mackay). “One of them was a £10 million striker from Denmark who didn’t even play 90 minutes for us and never scored a single goal. Andreas Cornelius was on £45,000 per week. Jordan Rhodes has just joined Middlesbrough for less than £10m. And I bet he’s not on £45,000 a week. “The fans love the previous manager (Mackay), but sometimes football fans get emotional, not logical.” Tan also pleaded with supporters to offer more support for Slade and to be more rational when voicing their judgements. He said: “Please be reasonable,

don’t always hammer the man. Okay, he’s not Tony Pulis, who would have cost us an awful lot of money. “Okay, he’s not one of these big brand name managers. Well, they get sacked too. Who would have thought Jose Mourinho would be out of a job this season? “Sometimes you need to be given a chance and I’ve given Russell one.” Meanwhile, the businessman has announced that he will convert £68m owed to him into equity, promising that in five years’ time the club will have no remaining debts. Tan, who also owns FK Sarajevo, confirmed that he has agreed to writeoff a further £10m, whilst last season he wrote-off £13m and transformed £3m of debt into equity. In order to fulfil his promise, Tan, left with an overall debt of £40m after the aforementioned actions, will convert £8m of that from debt into equity every year without delay.

The Bluebirds are still in the hunt for the play-offs, but in order to achieve those goals they need to address the alarming inconsistency that has plagued their season. Last week’s underwhelming, goalless draw with struggling MK Dons highlighted their inability to capitalise at home and put games to bed. The loss of leading goalscorer, Joe Mason, to Wolves earlier in January looks like a huge mistake for a side struggling to find the back of the net. However, the deadline day capture of Tom Lawrence on loan from Leices-

ter City could be a big coup, and the Welsh Under-21 star could prove pivotal in adding potency to the Cardiff front line. It has also been no secret that the Bluebirds have been on the cusp of the top six all season, yet it looks ever more likely that they will eventually miss out come May. Slade’s side play dynamic football going forward but just lack a cutting edge and a clinical finisher. That being said, Cardiff ’s next couple of fixtures will be crucial to their quest for promotion. They travelled to

relegation threatened Charlton Athletic at the weekend and now welcome fellow promotion-chasers, Brighton & Hove Albion, to the Welsh capital this coming Saturday. Both games could be played in front of the watchful eyes of controversial owner Vincent Tan, who has flown into the UK for crunch talks with manager Russell Slade over the former Leyton Orient manager’s future. The Championship has already seen 13 managers ousted this season, with Derby County’s Paul Clement the latest to be sacked for “not mak-

ing enough progress”, despite sitting in fifth place. Indeed, “progress” is the highest word on the Cardiff City fans’ wish list, and a word not often associated with Slade’s reign. The Championship is the most unforgiving of leagues and even if a new manager is round the corner to take over the helm, The Bluebirds need to start showing signs of evolution, and fast. The points picked up in these next few games will be vital in keeping Cardiff in the Championship play-off hunt and could potentially determine Slade’s future.

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The businessman will convert £68m owed to him into equity, promising that in five years’ time the club will have no remaining debts.

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sport p

Editors: Jim Harris James Lloyd Jamie Smith @GairRhyddSport sport@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/sport

Also this week

Athletics: Cardiff Uni compete at BUCS Cross-Country P39>>

Cobras reach BUCS play-offs following four-year absence

Cardiff City: Vincent Tan gives Russell Slade backing P39>>

• Cardiﬀ University’s American Football team achieve record-breaking 6-0 start to the 2015/16 season • First time Cobras have reached the post-season since 2012 • Head Coach Ben Watkins: “We have the ability to go all the way”

James Lloyd

he Cardiff Cobras booked their place in the 2015/16 play-offs following a comfortable 19-0 shutout victory against the UWE Bullets – the first time the Cobras have reached the play-off stages since the 2011/12 season. Touchdowns from Scott Higgins, Billy Rowlands and the versatile Sean Cook were enough for Cardiff to ease past an athletic Bullets side. It has been a long time coming for the Cobras, who have endured seasons of hurt having failed to qualify for the post-season since 2012. Head Coach, Ben Watkins, believes there’s a long way to go in the season, saying: “The job is not finished. It is an amazing place to be in, but we need to keep driving forward and win these last couple of games of the regular season before making that final push in the playoffs to realise the dreams of the players and coaches.” The coach, who is now amongst the

most successful Cobras head coaches ever with a record of 13-1, a 92.9 per cent winning record, added: “We have the talent and the ability to go all the way in the playoffs, I have no doubt about that. It is just a case of everyone focusing and working hard towards the same goal over the next month to achieve it.” Last season, Cardiff fell agonisingly short of the play-offs despite holding an impressive record of 7-1. Long-time rivals and Welsh compatriots, Swansea Titans, edged the Cobras in a tight battle to pip the Red & Blacks to the only divisional place in the post-season. Cardiff did take revenge at the 2015 Varsity, beating the Titans 19-17 in their own back yard following a close and tense match-up. This year, changes to league structure open up two places, plus a potential wild card for post-season football. On Sunday, Cardiff took on UWE for the second time this season, having breezed past the Bullets in their season opener 16-0. The Cobras travelled to

Bristol’s Filton Wise campus for the fixture – the fourth time that Cardiff have ventured over the Severn Bridge due to the ongoing controversy surrounding use of their home facilities at Llanrumney. With Cardiff kicking off the game, it gave UWE the chance to test the defense of a side who had yet to concede a point so far in the season. The Bullets’ offense had racked up a lowly 40 points across their opening four games and were soon on the back foot, going three and out on their opening drive. The Cobras soon followed suit and the opening exchanges remained scrappy as both sides struggled to adapt to the harsh conditions. Late in the first quarter, Cardiff found the breakthrough. With starting Quarterback, Chris Brinkworth, still out following a knock in the Welsh Bowl against Aberystwyth the previous week, Sean Cook stepped up to fill the void. Cook soon found his groove and picked out Scott Higgins for the opening touchdown – his fifth of the season.

Pictured:

Running Back Rhys Rømo is tackled as standin Quarterback, Sean Cook, watches on. (Photographer: Paul Jenkins)

Continued on page 38

Six Nations: Is too much made of its importance? P37>>

Darts: PDC Champions League coming to Cardiff P38>>