The Badger Fifth Edition (16/11/20)

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16th November 2020

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Official free fortnightly newspaper by and for Sussex students · Printed on recycled paper

Brighton businesses feel lockdown struggle As a city famous for its independent businesses, Brighton is finding it difficult to bounce back after the first national lockdown.

Megan Taylor With the second lockdown underway, many who have so far managed to stay open are becoming increasingly worried about the future of their business.

The Badger spoke with two of Brighton’s independent businesses in the hospitality sector about how they are feeling about the 2nd lockdown.

The current situation: The first business The Badger spoke to was Presuming Ed’s- a quirky café on London Road owned by Richard Grills.

Richard said that his main goal for the business since the first lockdown was to ‘put smiles on people’s faces.’ He said that with everything going on at the moment it is important to retain a sense of community.

When asked how his business is faring since the first lockdown Richard said ‘financially we are doing fairly badly but marketing actually quite good bizarrely. We had a licence for 5 years and people didn’t realise we sold alcohol but since takeaways become more of a thing we got a whole new crowd of people.’

Richard’s café, like most other establishments in Brighton, has been struggling

financially ever since the first lockdown, but luckily for Presuming Ed’s he attracted a new range of customers once people started getting used to being limited to takeaway services.

Richard stated that ‘you have to try and keep positive’.

He relies on customers who enjoy ‘having a good natter and a gossip’, as these are the people that make his business what it has come to be known for, somewhere ‘a bit silly, to give them five minutes of happiness’. ‘even with the government support… recovery is a long way away’ Paula Boujibir-restaurant manager of quaint Italian restaurant Caffe Aldo- talks about how her business was affected by the first lockdown: ‘It’s had a massive impact on our business, not just through the lockdown itself but in the run up during February and March too’ She stated that the business had a ‘greatly reduced income due to the wariness of the public to eat out. This was reduced by approximately half the average income during a normally quiet period anyway.

During lockdown this fell to under a third.’

Caffe Aldo is one of many

News

Biden’s victory & Vienna terrorist attack 3

Comment

EU’s Dairy ban contradiction & Dating politics 9

Features

Joshua Talbot Oliver Mizzi businesses going through financial difficulties since the beginning of lockdown. These difficulties do not just affect the businesses themselves, but the staff who work there too.

Given that we have been in a state of at least partial lockdown since March most businesses either don’t need to or can’t afford to take on new staff. This has sadly meant a huge number of people in Brighton are now unemployed.

Many people who previously had full time jobs, such as those in managerial positions, have now been forced to apply for temporary and part time positions and job search engines such as indeed are seeing 600 applicants per job.

The hospitality sector

ARTIST FOCUS Nina C. Fisher 22-23

seemed to have been hit the hardest with people, as Paula said, being afraid to eat out. She said ‘even with the government support for the business, recovery is a long way away’.

The 2nd lockdown ‘We were prepared for it before but now we are not’ As the infection rates climbed even higher than they did back when the first lockdown was announced, Boris Johnson called for a 2nd lockdown beginning 4 November.

Once this 2nd lockdown was announced many people feared that it would affect the economy as it did the last time, possibly causing yet more redundancies and closures.

Continued on page 3...

Christmas consumerism & Pumpkin waste 13

Arts

Theatre classism & Discover French literature 17

Travel & Culture Satisfying travel cravings & The Level 26

Science & Tech

Euthanasia & Physics nobel prize 29

Sports

Sports watch-list & COVID fixture pile-up 31

Editor-in-Chief Josh Talbot badger@sussexstudent.com Print Production Editor Ellie Doughty Online Production Editor Georgia-May Keetch Print Production Sub-Editor Gurpreet Raulia Online Production Sub-Editor Margaret Arabambi Marketing Managers Alex Norman Sarah Wong The News Team Oliver Mizzi Joshua McLaughlin Sam Kimbley Ewan Vellinga Grace Curtis badger-news@sussexstudent. com The Comment Team Issy Anthony Will Day Libby Mills Joel Renouf-Cooke badger-opinion@sussexstudent. com The Features Team Alana Harris Olly Williams Teddy Parkin Beth Pratt badgerfeatureseditor@gmail. com The Arts Team Jessica Hake Robyn Cowie badger-arts@sussexstudent.com The Books Team Jasmine Smith Eric Barrell thebadger.bookseditor@gmail. com The Music Team Alice Barradale Percy Walker-Smith thebadger.musiceditor@gmail. com The Film & Television Team Yazz James thebadger.film@gmail.com The Theatre Team Elijah Arief Harrison Fitzgerald thebadger-theatre@gmail.com The Artist Focus Team Luisa De La Concha Montes thebadger.street@gmail.com The Travel & Culture Team Hal Keelin Bryony Rule Katya Pristiyani badger.travelculture@gmail.com The Sports Team Charlie Batten Max Killham thebadger.sport@gmail.com The Science & Technology Team Isaac Hallé Eleanor Deane thebadger.science@gmail.com Events and Publicity Jess Dingle Grace Ochieng Proof Readers Yasmine Yaguer Jake Nordland

Editorial Josh Talbot Editor in Chief

Georgia Keetch Online Production Editor

Hello again. Two weeks have passed and we are here with another edition of The Badger, and what an edition it is.

There’s so much news to get to you at the moment that the pages available struggle to take it all.

Since I last wrote here, we have gone from heading blindly into a second national lockdown, with little trust that we will ever return to ‘normality’ again, to finding a potential golden bullet (although we are warned to not see it like that) in a vaccine.

In other news, President Trump didn’t get re-elected in what has to be one of the most divisive campaigns on record and, those of us who are studying away from home were told that we could spend Christmas with our families, so long as we stick to a ‘travel window’ in a way that will apparently make everything COVID secure, once everyone has figured out what it actually means.

There’s so much going on that The Badger is almost afraid to make its fortnightly trip out of the burrow for fear of the radically different world that it might find, but fear not! Our team have been hard at work making sure that this edition is as relevant and engaging for you as a Sussex student as possible.

We’ve got news from overseas and the local, opinions on what’s been going on and features that take a deeper look into some topics.

Arts is rolling out some content to keep you all engaged in lockdown and Travel and Culture are taking a look at The Level in their feature of a local Brighton location with a rich history.

In a bumper three-page Science and Tech section, they look at relevant news in the sector which includes the production of the World’s Tiniest Boat and in Sport, to keep you entertained they have a focus on some sportfocused documentaries you can watch. Have a read, enjoy and, as always, get in touch to get involved!

Welcome to the 5th Edition of The Badger, time has absolutely flown by! This edition covers the monumental shift in American Politics, how to consume more consciously at Christmas and the incredible news about the COVID-19 Vaccine, created by two Muslim scientists; who just so happen to be married.

The Big Debate this edition talks about whether Drugs in the UK should be decriminalised, and the Sports Section gives you a list of all the best sports documentaries to watch over Lockdown 2.0.

The Arts Section has you covered form everything from book, film, to theatre; with an interesting look at classism in the industry.

Travel & Culture has you covered from how to satisfy your travel cravings during this month-long lockdown, to the best walks to get you active this November. News has articles ranging from the Johnny Depp Libel case, to the latest Middle East news and the awful Homophobic attacks that happened to our very own Drag Societies’ Halloween Event.

The Badger team never fail to amaze me in their talent, dedication and genuine love of what they do. I am so proud of the work that they are continuing to produce and to a consistent high standard; and it wouldn’t mean anything if you didn’t read it! So, grab a tea, get back into bed (or stay in bed!) and enjoy the 5th Edition of The Badger.

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The Badger 16th November 2020

News

3

... continued from front Since a second lockdown has been on people’s minds for a while, on top of knowing how they were affected by the 1st one, businesses found they could better prepare this time: Paula states ‘Preparations for the second lockdown were a little easier on one level as we knew more or less what to expect... Coming into the winter months… we will be relying on the delivery side of the business to keep us afloat’.

The government initially stated that any business which was not an off licence or a supermarket would not be allowed to sell alcohol for delivery or takeaway.

Then 11pm on the 3rd of November, 1 hour before lockdown was due to begin, they announced this rule would no longer be in action.

Richard at Presuming Ed’s believes this last-minute change

was because of the amount of backlash they received over the rule. However, this lack of notice meant establishments selling alcohol had a more difficult time preparing and entering the lockdown:

“

‘It was very hard to prepare, initially we were told that there would be no alcohol deliveries or takeaways then 11pm the night before they changed the rules… It got a bit manic; people had already been furloughed.’

‘It was very hard to prepare, initially we were told that there would be no alcohol deliveries or takeaways then 11pm the night before they changed the rules… It got a bit manic; people had already been furloughed.’

Richard said that he now works in the business 7 days a week having not been notified that they would be allowed to

sell alcohol on takeaway and delivery. ‘The night before kind of screwed us. We were prepared for it and now we are not’.

So, what now?

‘I think it’s going to put my business on a knife edge’ After all this doom and gloom the question of what will happen to Brighton’s struggling businesses still remains.

Both Paula and Richard stated that they think it will be tough.

There will be more businesses closing for sure and Richard believes ‘it’s going to put [his] business on a knife edge’. He has gratitude for ‘friends and family support during this tough time’.

As before the government is offering loans such as the ‘bounce back’ scheme for small businesses which will give 100% state backing to loans worth 25% of turnover up to £50,000.

Caffe Aldo is a business who is using one of these loans, how-

ever Paula says ‘even with the government support for the business, recovery is a long way away… we hope that we can welcome our customers back through the door in a safe environment as we have always done previously’.

What is Brighton?

happening

to

Since the first national lockdown Brighton saw many of its beloved shops closing down and many more struggling to gain any revenue. The independent shops in particular often rely on the tourist trade. When the lockdown was announced not only was this tourist trade eradicated but the revenue gained from locals was also reduced.

There was some government funding that was put in place to try to help these businesses stay afloat such as low-interest loans and paying grants for businesses.

Unfortunately for a lot of the businesses this was not enough to keep them open and Brighton saw many of its beloved businesses closing down such as Humpits, Vinyl Revolution, and bigger chains such as Cineworld.

“

“Preparations for the second lockdown were a little easier on one level as we knew more or less what to expect... Coming into the winter months… we will be relying on the delivery side of the business to keep us afloat” Brighton’s independent businesses are finding the economic side of the pandemic stressful as well as the health side. Many small businesses will be suffering through this tough time and will rely on the support of the government, and Brighton locals to keep their business afloat to see them through a difficult winter.

Police called to break up mass halloween parties on Sussex campus Lana Hall Staff Writer A large number of students gathered in University accommodation on the night of 31 October to celebrate Halloween, infringing government guidelines on coronavirus safety. Multiple officers attended Sussex Campus to deal with the Covid breach.

Videos and photos taken by attending students quickly circulated on twitter and other social media, with one depicting a flat corridor crammed with young people, similar to imagery of a club dance floor.

Other clips showcased students attempting to set off fireworks through a traffic cone, just outside the East Slope accommodation halls, as many of the partygoers gathered to watch.

Some of the footage also captured the large group of officers outside the student residence who were called to the scene. A twitter page “@sussexincidents” posted one of the videos of students at the Halloween party tweeting “What Hope have we got ?” and included the hashtag “COVIDIOTS”.

A representative of Sussex Police informed The Badger that officers were called to the scene shortly before 11pm after there were “reports of a disturbance involving a large group of people at the University of Sussex”.

The police issued a section 34 dispersal order, granting officers the power to order people away who were participating in the anti-social behaviour at campus.

It was also reported that they confiscated a generator and sound system after they dis-

A string of comments below the post accused the anonymous submitter of being “salty” for not being invited, and another simply stating, “Grow up”.

University accommodation staff were contacted for comment on the event.

Similar occurrences happened in other counties, with Hampshire police attending 33 Covid breaching events on the night of 31 October. 92 fines were issued by officials in cities across the county, including house parties in both Southampton and Winchester as well as a bar in Portsmouth which received a £1,000 fine for hosting a gathering of twelve people, breaking the rule of six.

University of Sussex covered a gathering of students partying up in Stanmer Park.

Officials have said that there were no injuries, nor were there any arrests on the scene. Yet, it has been made known by police officials that multiple front-line officers had injuries inflicted and experienced verbal and physical abuse whilst attending Covid breach callouts over the weekend.

There are enquiries in underway to ascertain the full events of the on-campus gatherings and find any organisers who may receive a fine of £10,000 for breaking Covid 19 rules.

An official Sussex Police Force News article was released about the breaches in Covid 19 regulation over the weekend of 31 October t, where the Chief Constable Jo Shiner stated that these

breaches are “disappointing and selfish”.

The article lists several other mass gatherings throughout the city in addition to those attended to on Sussex campus. Including a house party of over 100 people at Norwich drive, where the first £10,000 fine in Sussex was officially issued to the organiser.

Chief Constable Shiner has also released a statement within the article, recognising the pandemic is a difficult time for everyone, and is saddened by the portion of people who are pushing the boundaries, and those who are ignoring the government regulations altogether.

He also states “we will be turning up the dial on enforcement where people are blatantly disregarding regulations” as we

“

enter a second national lockdown in England and fines will be issued.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne also reminds citizens that each officer who is called to a scene where Covid rules are broken, “that is one less officer available to support a vulnerable person or catch a dangerous criminal” as she warns policing demand has increased back up to that of precovid levels.

Sussfession5192 a post made on Sussfessions, an anonymous Facebook confessions page advertised for Sussex University students, labelled the students who held the party, along with the attendees “incredibly selfish” and accused them of being “the reason we’re still in this mess”.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne also reminds citizens that each officer who is called to a scene where Covid rules are broken, “that is one less officer available to support a vulnerable person or catch a dangerous criminal” as she warns policing demand has increased back up to that of pre-covid levels.

Students at the University of Hertfordshire were found to be setting off fireworks on the same night, leading to five suspensions and an arrest as armed police attended campus.

All of this took place on the same day government officials announced a second lockdown for England, to last just four weeks until 2 December in the hope families can be united at Christmas without there being severely high health and safety risks.

The Badger 16th November 2020

News

4 Joe Biden wins the presidential election After a long campaign Joe Biden has been announced as the winner of the 2020 US presidential election

Ettie Langridge Staff Writer After a long four days, Democratic nominee Joe Biden has won the presidential race, securing the highest total number of votes ever received, and clinching the presidency over Republican incumbent Donald Trump.

On Saturday 7 November Biden was announced to have won after gaining 20 electoral votes in Pennsylvania, a key swing state in this election.

While the results of Georgia and North Carolina have yet to be announced, the win in Pennsylvania (20 points) and subsequently Nevada (six points), pushed the Democrats comfortably over the required 270 electoral votes (out of a possible 538) to claim victory.

Celebrations erupted nationwide as the results of the knife edge election were announced. Democrats across the country breathed a sigh of relief as they finally received news of the party’s win. Congratulations poured in for Biden and Harris after the announcement, as supporters documented their elation on social media. The news served as a hard blow to Republican party supporters, as hopes for a Trump/Pence second term were dashed. This is the first time an incumbent president has failed to secure a second presidential term in 18 years.

This immense victory brings hope to the Democratic party, who despite winning the presidential race, have been underperforming in the simultaneous congressional races. Republicans continue to hold control of the Senate, while Democrats have kept control of the House, despite notable losses. These factors will have a serious impact on the battle Biden and Harris will fight to achieve their campaign goals during the next four years. With a Republican controlled senate posing a notable challenge for the Democrats to overcome.

The upcoming obstacles did nothing however to dampen the mood of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In his first speech as president-elect Biden vowed to “unify” the country, as he noted it was ‘“time to heal”. Looking to reject the “harsh rhetoric” favoured by his Republican opponent, Biden declared it was time to “stop treating our opponents as enemies”.

Throughout the highly divisive election emphasis was put on 2020’s most pressing current issues, as they inevitably became the battleground on which the

Photo News election was fought. The two campaign’s clashing stances on the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement became a clear focus.

Polarizing the already warring parties (and their supporters) further.

In their first public address it was obvious Biden and running mate Harris looked to switch the tone. Harris, who will not only be the first woman VP, but first African American and Aisan American VP, acknowledged her record-breaking position.

Commending voters who had “ushered in a new day for America”. She noted “the road ahead would not be easy” but echoed the president-elects sentiments of “hope and unity”.

In a move consistent with the strong rhetoric of his campaign previously, Trump responded defiantly to news of the result, warning of oncoming legal challenges to the Democratic victory. Speaking in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump’s lawyer

period. As he continues to try and undermine the legitimacy of the Democratic win by alleging voter fraud. As of Wednesday 11 November Republicans have made legal challenges in six states, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.

“

Now the Democratic presidency has been announced, Biden is looking to quiet these tensions and unify the United States in the coming months, nevertheless the election battle is far from over.

The win will be seen by many as a huge shift for the United States, as the Biden/Harris and Trump/Pence campaigns took opposing stances on key issues including, economy, health care and immigration. Although perhaps the most pressing issue centered around the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden and Harris promised

Lorie Shaull Rudy Guiliani promised that legal challenges would be filed as soon as Monday 9 November.

Joining multiple challenges previously made in the counting

change, as they look to improve testing, provide emergency paid leave for Americans, reinstate WHO funding, and establish clear standards for businesses

and schools to open. With the US death toll currently standing at over 240,000, the Democratic campaign had heavily criticised Trump’s response to the pandemic, which prioritised reopening the economy over robust testing and financial support for those impacted.

Immediately after the announcement, scenes of New York City streets captured the emotion and gravity entwined in this election best. An eruption of cheering, music, and car horns could be heard in videos shared widely on social media from around the city, as celebrations for the Bidens victory began.

New York City had been one of the earliest and most severely impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the US, with over 24,000 deaths reported in the city so far.

Tensions between parties peaked in the period following election day, with each party anxiously waiting to hear the results. As polls closed on 3 November the sustained wait began for the American people (and international onlookers).

Despite fears the pandemic would deter voters, this election marked the biggest voter turnout in the US for 120 years. However states warned upcoming result announcements were likely to take longer due to the alternative ways in which Americans chose to vote.

Increased numbers of early voters and mail in ballots were reported nationally, as many looked to stay safe by avoiding the huge crowds at election day polls. Heavily impacting both the speed at which individual states could count their ballots, and the number reporting patterns of party specific votes.

Favoured methods of voting notably differed between parties. Democrats in particular

favoured early voter and mailin ballots, while Republicans favoured in person on the day voting. These trends further impacted result reporting, allowing Republicans to seemingly take an early lead.

With Democratic leads only being announced late into the vote counts, causing further drama to an already highly anticipated race result.

The combination of slower counting, late stage state flips, and the usual variation in state result reporting, further fueled the uncertainty felt.

While Biden eventually took his expected race lead, the margins between parties were notably much closer than was originally poll predicted.

Trump’s claims of voter fraud, while unsubstantiated, galvanized Republican voter support, intensifying emotion and dividing voters further, with multiple Republican protests reported across the country.

Over 300 Trump supporters were reported to have protested at a Maricopa County Elections department in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday 4 November, demanding a stop of the vote count. With similar scenes reported at Michigan and Nevada counting centres.

Now the Democratic presidency has been announced, Biden is looking to quiet these tensions and unify the United States in the coming months, nevertheless the election battle is far from over. Not only are there immediate legal challenges posed by the Trump campaign to be fought, but the close margins of this election undeniably show a lack of Democratic support within particular areas.

Significantly the Republicans were able to hold battleground states Ohio, Florida, and Texas, while voting figures show some unexpected data in the way specific demographics voted.

With Republicans gaining votes in Hispanic and wealthier demographics, and Democrats struggling to make gains with women voters. Combined with the results of the congressional races, which despite having undeniable individual wins (including Delaware candidate Sarah McBride becoming the first trans state senator in US history), have overall been a fairly disappointing moment for Democrats as a whole.

Now is a time of reflection and planning as they gear up for Biden’s inauguration on 20 January 2021. While much is still uncertain, it is clear the coming months signal a substantial shift for the United States as the transfer of power begins.

The Badger 16th November 2020

News

5

Kabul University attack kills 35 wounds 50 as Afghan security situation worsens Oliver Mizzi News Editor Three gunmen from the Islamic State attacked Kabul University on 2 November, killing 32 students and injuring 50 others in an attack which put the country into a state of national mourning. The attack lasted several hours and finally ended after Afghan, US and Norwegian forces entered the campus and killed the gunmen.

The attack on one of the largest educational institutions in Afghanistan comes at a time when the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. The week prior, a suicide bombing at a Shia education centre in Kabul killed 24 people and injured 57.

The attack was also claimed by the Islamic State.

The recent upsurge in violence has also targeted other key figures in Afghan society, such as Yama Saiwash, a former journalist who used to comment on Afghan politics and current affairs on Tolo News. Saiwash was killed when a bomb that had been placed on the car he was travelling in detonated. Two others were killed in the attack.

These attacks come at a time when the Afghan government and Taliban are taking part in Qatar-mediated peace talks. The talks that started in September – amidst the backdrop of the US-

fighting over the last month. The provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan, Ghor and Takhar have also seen major upsurges in violence, as Taliban fighters clashed with government forces to gain control over districts in these provinces.

“

The Taliban have been accused of refusing to compromise at the talks, and the Afghan government have received criticism from within Afghanistan over their participation.

Taliban deal that was signed in February – have recently stalled, with both sides disagreeing over what the future of Afghanistan should look like.

The Taliban have been accused of refusing to compromise at the talks, and the Afghan government have received criticism from within Afghanistan over their participation. These accusations are due to the contentious nature of the talks. These revolve around the Taliban’s desire for an Islamic system of government that many Afghan’s worry could lead to an infringement on the rights of women, and minority sects within Afghanistan such as the Shia Hazara community.

Although both sides are negotiating over the future of Afghanistan, the talks have

failed to stop a countrywide upsurge in violence, which has seen attacks from the Islamic State and offensive operations from the Taliban and Afghan government.

In October, Taliban forces launched a major offensive towards the capital of Helmand province, Lashkar Gah, causing the displacement of 30,000 people. The offensive was initially successful, with Taliban fighters overrunning government positions and seizing the city’s outskirts. The Afghan government quickly sent reinforcements, including special forces, to stop the city from falling to the Taliban. U.S. airpower was also involved in halting the offensive.

Helmand province wasn’t the only province that saw intense

As well as battles over districts, government checkpoints have been attacked, ambushes have been conducted, and car bombs have been set off in what the International Crisis Group has labelled a ‘deteriorated situation’.

Whilst the Taliban and Afghan government have faced off at the negotiation table and in the field, the US has continued its efforts in hunting al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan - the prime reason the US became involved in what has now become known as either ‘the long war’ or ‘the forever war’.

Recently, this involvement has led to the death of Abu Mushin al-Masri, al-Qaeda’s second in command. He was killed in an Afghan government operation in the province of Ghazni on 24

September, in what the head of the US National Counter Terrorism Centre said is “a major setback for the terrorist organisation”.

The recent violence across Afghanistan has led The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to report that violent attacks had surged by 50 percent in the third quarter of 2020. The UN has also recorded almost 6,000 Afghan civilian casualties from 1 January to 30 September.

Most of these casualties are attributed to the Taliban and the Islamic State. However, many are also attributed to the Afghan government and its allies, with airstrikes being a key contributor to the figure.

According to The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), 15,937 people have been killed in the conflict this year.

Although this is a decrease in casualties when compared to previous years, the UN statistics do not consider the civilian casualties from October and November. Likewise, the statistics from ACLED do not account for fatalities past the 24 October.

With the US poised to leave Afghanistan by May 2021, the Afghan government and Taliban continue to fight, with no peace deal in sight.

Furlough breakthrough for uni catering staff Meg De Meo On Monday 2 November Chartwells staff were told that they would be in receipt of the government furlough scheme until their contracts ended.

They were also told that there would be no change to the timetable of the redundancy consultation process.

This would have meant that Chartwells were using the furlough scheme to pay staff going through the redundancy process.

This is in contrast to the purpose of the scheme, which is the retention of jobs throughout the pandemic.

Max Savage, a rep for Unite the Union at the university, said this amounted to a misuse of public funds in order to move staff from permanent contracts to insecure agency work. He felt that the decision to fire staff during the pandemic would not have a significant effect on Chartwells profits, which showed that it was part of a longer term plan to reduce the

Student groups launched a petition which has attracted over 1300 signatures, staged a protest and have posted pictures tagged with #SaveOurWorkers on social media to raise awareness about the issue. Over £5,000 was raised to support staff facing redundancy.

number of permanent contracts.

Chartwells is a subsidiary of Compass Group UK who made an operating profit of £1.6 billion last year.

A spokesperson for the university said that Chartwells staff deserve “sincere appreciation.”

They also said that the university has

taken action to boost sales at catering outlets, which has fallen by 90%, and that they were working closely with the catering provider. They also highlighted that this was in the context of a nationwide decline in the demand for catering staff.

Chartwells was contacted for comment but did not reply.

“

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Both students and staff were involved in campaigning to prevent these redundancies.

All four on campus unions contacted the university about this issue and Unite, whose members include Chartwells catering staff, continue to provide advice and support on this issue.

A spokesperson for the university said that Chartwells staff deserve “sincere appreciation.” They also said that the university has taken action to boost sales at catering outlets, which has fallen by 90%, and that they were working closely with the catering provider.

Catering staff at Chartwells will now receive 80% of their wages until March as part of the government furlough scheme.

Staff members and those campaigning to keep them on will be relieved, but it waits to be seen whether the catering company will carry on with their employment after Spring.

The Badger 16th November 2020

News

6

Police investigation continues following Vienna terrorist attack Ewan Vellinga

News Online Editor Austrian police are continuing their investigations into a gun attack that occurred in central Vienna on 2 November, during which five people, including the gunman, were killed and 23 were injured.

Police are investigating whether the gunman – named Kujtim Fejzulai – acted alone or as part of a wider network, having been a known Islamic State (IS) sympathiser and having served a previous prison service on suspicion of trying to join the group in Syria.

The attack occurred on a Monday night in central Vienna just hours before new coronavirus restrictions were introduced, with Fejzulai opening fire in six different locations in a popular area for bars and restaurants known as ‘Bermuda Triangle’ that was likely packed due to the incoming lockdown, before being shot dead by police nine minutes into the attack.

It was initially unclear whether there was more than one attacker, with central Vienna remaining closed on Tuesday as police searched for accomplices, before the city returned to normality on Wednesday.

IS has since claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq News Agency, even though there is currently

Pixabay no evidence that Fejzulai was acting as part of the organisation, or even if he had any accomplices or acted alone.

Since the attack 14 people have been detained by the Austrian police who are suspected of having links to the gunman, whilst Swiss police have arrested two others.

Fejzulai is reported to have been known to the Austrian authorities, with the BBC noting that he was sentenced to 22 months in an Austrian prison on 25 April 2019 for affiliation to a terror organisation, before

being released after only eight months.

This has triggered a debate as to whether the attack could have been prevented, with The Guardian quoting Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as saying that Fejzulai’s premature release points to a “faultline in our system” that allows for “a premature release of a radicalised person,” although Minister for Justice Alma Zadić noted that he was released legally and on parole.

The BBC also noted that Interior Minister Karl

Nehammer admitted that a warning from Slovakia in July about “suspects from Austria” trying to buy ammunition in the country was not followed up at the time, quoting him as saying “something obviously went wrong in communication” since the Justice Ministry claims it was not informed.

The attack has been widely condemned, with Chancellor Kurz quoted by Sky News as promising “decisive action against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack”, whilst countries including Germany,

France and the UK have all expressed their sympathy.

The attack is the latest in a number of terrorist attacks across Europe, most recently in Paris and Nice. It has prompted a significant debate around the issues of terrorism and Islamic extremism, with both Kurz and French President Emmanuel Macron urging the European Union to focus more strongly on the issue and potentially introduce reforms.

The attack’s proximity to the Stadttempel Synagogue in Vienna also initially prompted fears that it may have been the target, although it was already closed at the time of the attack, and there is currently no evidence that it was.

However, The Guardian reports that the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (IKG), which represents Vienna’s Orthodox Jewish community, has closed all of its synagogues and facilities across the country and increased security as a precaution.

Britain raised its national terror alert to ‘severe’ following the attack, meaning that a terrorist incident was considered highly likely. Home Secretary Priti Patel stated that this was in response to the recent attacks in Vienna and France, and that people should be on alert but not alarmed.

COVID-19 Vaccine breakthrough sparks both hope and trepidation The scientist behind the first promising coronavirus vaccine trials says he is confident there may be a ‘’normal winter next year.”

Georgia Keetch Online Production Editor The global race for the first effective Covid-19 vaccine is on and a married couple, both physicians, have emerged as the dream team behind one potential inoculation that has shown the most promise so far.

Ugur Sahin, 55, is the chief executive officer of the German biotech firm BioNTech, while his wife Oezlem Tuereci, 53, is the chief medical officer of the firm. On Monday the 9th of November, the Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer stated that the vaccine they were currently developing with BioNTech is 90% effective. Here in the UK the government announced that they have ordered enough doses of the vaccine to cover a 1/3 of the population to start off with.

The scientist couple emphasised how important it was that the global population have to have a high vaccination rate before autumn next year “to ensure success”. Whilst speaking

by what time. Exactly who will be immunised first will depend on where COVID is spreading the most when the vaccine becomes available. Looking at the UK, Older care home residents and care home staff are top of the UK’s preliminary priority list.

They are followed by health workers such as hospital staff and the over 80s. Age is, by far, the biggest risk factor for COVID, so the older you are, the sooner you are likely to be vaccinated.

Not everyone responds the same to immunisation. People will be watching the results in older people closely, because they are most at risk from the virus. History also suggests any vaccine could be less successful in old people because an aged immune system does not respond as well to immunisation.

We see this every year with the annual flu jab. It may be possible to overcome this by either giving multiple doses or giving it alongside a chemical (called an adjuvant) that gives the immune

system a boost.

There is still a lot of work to be done regarding this vaccine by BioNTech, Trials need to show the vaccine is safe - it would not be useful if it caused more problems than the disease.

“

on the Andrew Marr show, Mr Safin said that “Our goal is to deliver more than 300 million of vaccine doses until April next year, which could allow us to already start to make an impact.”. During the interview, he also stated that Pfizer believes it will be able to supply 50 million doses by the end of

this year, and about 1.3 billion by the end of 2021. It is incredibly positive news, especially when considering that About 43,000 people have been given the vaccine, and no safety concerns have been raised.

However, rumours have started to spread online about who will be vaccinated first and

Whilst speaking on the Andrew Marr show, Mr Safin said that “Our goal is to deliver more than 300 million of vaccine doses until April next year, which could allow us to already start to make an impact.”.

There also need to be more clinical trials to show that the vaccine either stops people getting sick; or at least reduce the number who die. There also has to be a safe way of producing the vaccine, as it will be given to billions of people globally. Very importantly, medical regulators must approve the vaccine before it can be given to anyone other than people who have signed up to trial it.

The Badger 16th November 2020

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Homophobic internet trolls attack UoS Drag Society at Halloween event The attack follows a wave of hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community in the UK that has peaked during COVID-19 Aiala Suso Staff writer

Members of the University of Sussex (UoS) Drag Society (DragSoc) were victim to homophobic abuse when their online event ‘DragSoc me to…

Hell’ was zoom bombed. The free event that took place on 28 October was a Halloweenthemed open mic evening of drag performances. This was unduly interrupted when homophobic internet trolls joined the call to spread a message of hate against the participants.

“We hoped to bring people together to enjoy some fun and spooky drag on Halloween”, DragSoc explained.

They made the Zoom call public so that newcomers, family and friends could easily join. They were shocked when some unknown accounts started to post “inappropriate and sexualised comments”. Shortly after, the intruders turned their microphones on “to boo performers” and shared their screens to display “graphic, sexualised and homophobic” content. When these accounts were ejected, “new ones kept

appearing and used the chat box to send derogatory messages”.

The Student’s Union (SU) in a public statement on 3 November said that they “commend the handling of the incident by the DragSoc committee, who acted quickly to end the call and start a new one that was accessible only to members”.

The Sports, Societies, and Events Officer at SU, Annie O’Connor, told The Badger: “It’s deeply upsetting that such a hateful attack on the LGBTQ+ community has taken place.

Homophobia and transphobia (in any form) are unacceptable and we are working with ITS to identify the students responsible.”

The Welfare Officer for LGBTQ+ Society at UoS, Olly Williams, said: “Luckily we haven’t encountered anything like this since the move to online.

I remember our Events Officer flagged up ‘zoom-bombing’ in the early risk assessments and I really didn’t believe it would be a problem, especially in a university environment. It just shows that homophobia is still prolific.”

This was not an isolated event.

Johnny Depp forced to quit movie role after libel case loss Jake Nordland Staff Writer Johnny Depp has lost a highprofile court case against The Sun’s publisher over a 2018 article labelling him a “wife beater”.

Film studio Warner Bros. asked him to resign from the Fantastic Beasts film franchise after the ruling.

The superstar actor, best known from the Pirates of the Carribean franchise, had sued the newspaper for libel claiming its article was defamatory and had damaged his reputation.

But the High Court ended the widely-followed trial on 2 November by dismissing Depp’s claims for compensation, with Mr. Justice Nicol concluding the Sun “have shown that what they published … was substantially true”.

The article claimed Depp abused his ex-wife, Amber Heard, and was headlined: “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”.

The Sun’s legal team relied on a defence of truth, arguing the article was not defamatory because it was indeed true that Depp was a wife beater.

In a 129-page ruling, Mr. Nicol found that 12 of 14 total allegations of domestic abuse had been proved to a civil standard. Ms. Heath gave evidence as a witness for The Sun during the trial.

Johnny Depp’s lawyer hit out against the ruling, calling it “perverse and bewildering”, and said they wanted to appeal.

Supporters of the embattled superstar voiced their support on social media after the adverse verdict. The hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp trended on Twitter, with followers highlighting claims that Amber Heath allegedly abused Mr Depp too.

Warner Bros. have nonetheless asked him to resign from Fantastic Beasts following the ruling, after appearing in the 2016 and 2018 installments of the franchise. Disney earlier confirmed in 2018 that Depp would be dropped from a potentially upcoming Pirates of the Carribean reboot, despite his leading role in the series.

Mr Depp is suing Ms Heath in a separate defamation lawsuit in the US over a 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post that Depp claims caused him to be dropped from the Pirates reboot.

A similar incident happened at Durham University on 5 October. According to the BBC, the “LGBT university association Zoom meeting was ‘hijacked’ by more than 15 people shouting ‘homophobic slurs’”.

A Brighton-based charity that supports under-26 LGBTU people, Allsorts Youth Project, commented on the intrusion at DragSoc’s event: “We’re so sorry to hear that happened, it sounds like it would’ve been an amazing event otherwise!” They also explained that a recent report by the LGBT Foundation “speaks volumes” on “HBTphobia during COVID”.

The report by LGBT Foundation is called ‘Hidden figures: The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on LGBT Communities in the UK’. The report inquires about the specific issues this minority group has faced during the first lockdown. It also sheds some light on the figures that translate those findings into numbers: “LGBT Foundation’s helpline has seen a huge increase in calls about discrimination.

Compared to the three weeks prior, the period from 23rd

March to 12th of April saw a 150% increase in calls about biphobia, 100% increase in calls about transphobia and 52% increase in calls about homophobia”.

According to The Guardian, LGBT hate-crime numbers started to rise long before the global pandemic. The newspaper published an analysis in 2019, after the physical assault on two women who refused to kiss in front of their attackers in a London bus went viral.

Their findings, based on data collated from the Home Office and several UK police forces, show how offences against homosexual people in England and Wales have doubled since 2014, and trebled against trans people. “The rate of LGBT hate crime per capita rose by 144% between 2013-14 and 2017-18 in the UK”.

Brighton-based drag queen Ophelia Payne, who grew up when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and Section 28 was still in force, feels for a younger generation experiencing online bullying.

She hasn’t experienced an increase in hate speech during COVID-19. However, she was

verbally assaulted a few weeks ago near New England House, where she was performing for a video. “A man started to verbally abuse me and attempted to sexualise me”.

“

A Brighton-based charity that supports under-26 LGBTU people, Allsorts Youth Project, commented on the intrusion at DragSoc’s event: “We’re so sorry to hear that happened, it sounds like it would’ve been an amazing event otherwise!”

She highlights the importance of reporting every abuse: “the more instances of abuse towards the LGBTQ+ community that are logged, hopefully the more resources will be applied to combat this”. She adds: “If there has appeared to be an increase in hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community, I would say it might have more to do with the current political climate than the pandemic itself”.

“Brighton does not feel as safe as it used to do, I would have felt safer walking through Brighton 20 years ago than I do now!”.

Sussex sports suspended once more Covid-19 lockdown forces suspension of all on campus activities Grace Raines Staff Writer At 10pm on Wednesday 4 November, Sussexsport temporarily closed following the announcement of a second country-wide lockdown, with on-site facility usage and team sports once again suspended until further notice.

In the wake of Boris Johnson’s announcement of a second lockdown for England commencing on 5 November, sports facilities throughout the country have been forced to close following government guidelines, with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport outlining that both indoor and outdoor leisure centres must close.

The four-week lockdown sees Sussex’s team sports suspended for a second time this term, with meets and practice sessions cancelled until further government policies advise it is safe to do otherwise.

This second suspension comes just two weeks after sports facilities on campus were allowed to reopen, after being previously suspended due to several sport societies members testing positive for

@sussexmensrugby COVID-19 following team trials that took place last month.

Sussex students were notified of the first hold on sports through email correspondence sent on behalf of Pro Vice-Chancellor Kelly Coate on 9 October, which stated all team sport activities would cease temporarily for an unknown period of time, a pause that would last until 21 October.

The official Sussexsport webpage, sussex.ac.uk/sport, details that ‘all memberships will be automatically frozen’ as patrons are currently unable to use the facilities, and that memberships will be extended to account for time lost during this second lockdown.

Simon Tunley, Head of Sport at Sussexsport, says “it’s been great to see so many new and returning students since we

reopened in September”, adding that “we know how important sport and activity is to physical and mental wellbeing, and we look forward to welcoming students back as soon as we are able”. Mr Tunley also encourages students to participate in the “Stay Home with US” programme of online exercises and activities run by Sussexsport, which is available to view on their webpage.

It is unclear exactly when sports facilities will reopen and team sports will resume on campus, however Sussexsport and sports societies alike plan to restart activities as soon as is safe to do so, and as the current lockdown is planned to end on 2 December, facilities are expected to reopen during the early days of December.

The Badger 16th November 2020

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News Where You’re Not

Grace Curtis, News Sub-Editor, reviews some of the big stories from across the country Manchester – Uni students revolt after being fenced in to their halls Hundreds of students living on Manchester University’s Fallowfield campus woke up on November 5 to find that the University had erected a 7ft fence enclosing them in. The controversial fencing (that cost £11,000) blocked off green areas, restricted movement between buildings and obstructed some entry and exit points. In a statement to the BBC, the ViceChancellor Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell said the fencing had been a safety measure and that there “was never any intent to prevent students from entering or exiting the site”. The students responded by organising a protest calling out the University for fostering a ‘prisonlike’ environment and ignoring student mental health. The fence has since been removed.

Doncaster – Hamish the polar bear finds a new home Hamish, the very first polar bear to be born in Britain, has settled into his new home after a 400-mile trip from northern Scotland to Yorkshire. The three-year-old bear was moved from Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie to Doncaster’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park, following a recommendation from the European Endangered Species Programme. The grounds of the new spacious reserves will help Hamish mimic life in the wild by leaving his mother and venturing into adulthood. The ambitious move took months to plan and involved experienced transport specialists, supported by staff and vets from both parks.

Birmingham - Binned Star Wars toys sell for £250,000 A collection of vintage Star Wars toys found in a garage in Stourbridge, West Midlands, fetched more than £250,000 in a recent auction. The toys were left to an elderly couple in their neighbour’s will. The couple did not know the true value of the items and had arranged for a skip to dispose of them. They were ultimately sold by Aston’s Auctioneers in Dudley, West Midlands, in their last sale before closing permanently. May the force be with them!

Doncaster Manchester

Bristol – School named after slave trader renamed Colston’s Girls’ School, named after the 17th Century slave trader Edward Colston, has announced its new name. The secondary school in the Montpelier area of Bristol will now be known as Montpelier High School, after a vote by staff and students. Last month the school decided to rebrand following the Black Lives Matter protests that took over the city in June, during which a statue of Colston was thrown into Bristol’s harbour by activists. The school’s headteacher Kerry McCullagh said it would “allow the school to forge a new identity that represents its diverse and inclusive community”. Following the decision to rename, a list of 10 possible choices were suggested and voted for by students and staff. The new name won with 62% of the vote.

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BADGER needs you!

Birmingham

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Norfolk – ‘Sir Tom Moore’ to be returned to the sea A seal named after legendary NHS fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore is due to be released back into the sea after becoming separated from its mother and falling ill. The baby was found alone in May on Holkham beach in Norfolk Norfolk. Rescuers said the seal, which weighed 20 pounds, would not have survived on its own. Sir Tom Moore was taken to Sea Life Hunstanton’s seal rescue centre for rehabilitation and will be returned to the sea next week.

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The Badger 16th November 2020

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THE BIG DEBATE In The Big Debate this week, two writers debate whether drugs should be made legal in the UK, or if this would have multiple negative effects.

Yes

No

Connor Adolph

Eleanor Deane Science & Tech Editor

The war on drugs has been an abject, costly failure when attempting to meet its public goals - the reduction of ‘illicit’ drug harm, use, and trade. It is estimated that the UK taxpayer pays £400 a year on combating drug use. There are many steps to bettering our drug policy, but the first must be the decriminalisation of ‘illicit’ substances.

Even when we remove core issues in our discourse surrounding the distinction in ‘illegal’ seed ‘legal’ drugs (completely state-sanctioned alcohol abuse is rampant in most Western cultures), the tear on drugs has failed miserably.

Heavy-handed approaches of mass incarceration target minority communities almost exclusively - those charged with drug of-fences tend to be BAME, working class, living with a disability, whilst privileged white politicians can speak openly about drug use, such as in the recent spate of Conservative MP’s ‘coming clean’ about their youthful adventures with illicit substances.

We should then understand drug criminalization to be a wholly oppressive measure, with most of our legislative changes arising from an imported fear characteristic of Western society, stemming largely from America. 55% of federal prisoners in America are there for drug-related offences. Incarceration of vulnerable communities builds large slave-labour prison workforces to line the pockets of wealthy corporations.

An opioid crisis still runs rampant throughout most of America, arising from pills being pushed for profit - and when many became addicted while trying to treat a health condition, addiction then became cemented in these communities.

A state crackdown on opioid use forced those struggling with addiction to become criminals, turning to street-dealers for their fixes. Marijuana was made illegal to criminalise Hispanic communities who used it (hence the name shift from Cannabis to Ivlarijuana) and also to tackle the threat to the slave-powered cotton-picking industry that hemp farming posed.

Psychedelics were demonised in the height of the counterculture revolution of the 70s, their only crime being that they opposed these institutions of power and hierarchy. Opiates were criminalised to target immigrant communities from East Asia. Examples of a `war on drugs’ being used to maintain oppressive status quo and criminalise minority groups can be found extensively throughout drug legislation, and thanks to global pressure, the UK has toed the line.

This is not to say we should not recognise that many substances can pose a

risk to our health (although their potential benefits are often overlooked). The legal nature of these issues is completely, separated from this harm reduction and instead serves a more insidious means.

This is made cease evident by the sheer ineffectiveness of these measures to actually reduce drug use and harm. The British Medical Journal stated that the 100 billion spent annually on drug prohibition has “failed to curb either supply or demand, reduce addiction, or minimise harm’, and this is a view shared by most drug policy experts and scientists. Resistance to law changes comes from corporations and politicians, not those actively researching these substances, and those working directly with members of affected communities.

We should also understand the issues of legalisation of ‘illicit’ substances, namely that control is then given to corporations who can monopolise markets, and commodity people’s use and even addictions - such as in the hyper

There is much to be changed in the UK with regards to legislation surrounding drug use. However, I believe that a blanket decriminalisation of all drugs in the UK would not be an appropriate way to tackle such a complex situation. Instead would argue for more nuanced changes, including prioritisation of improvements in support for those whose lives have been affected by addiction.

Firstly, it is likely that decriminalisation would increase drug use by making drugs easier to obtain and more acceptable to use. Ina 2018 YouGov poll, 26% of 18 to 24-year-olds who had never tried cannabis said they would try cannabis if is teas legalised, which translates to over 1,068,000 people. For the same age group, of those who had smoked cannabis in the past, 14% indicated they would smoke cannabis more often. In the Netherlands, where ‘coffee shops’ were established, adolescent use of marijuana nearly tripled.

Should all drugs be legalised in the UK? capitalist cannabis shops popping up in legalised American states. Such legislation rarely comes retroactively, and so `black-market’ deals are cracked down upon with the extra weight of the drugtax-dollar and jails are still full of those on drug-charges.

Decriminalization by no means goes far enough at tackling the oppression and stigma of current attitudes towards drug use. It does, however, free the market and keep oppressive policing and state intervention away from marginalized communities. Drug charges must be expunged.

It is only in this free state - free from both state violence of incarceration and policing and the neoliberal violence of commodification - that genuine, positive change can occur. We can open community discussions around harm reduction, offer support to those struggling with addictions free from stigma, and begin to tackle the institutional systems such as regulated pharma that maintain such rampant drug addiction in communities.

Decriminalization will not solve the issues of drugs within our society, but it will allow us to approach it genuinely, and honestly. We must be free from the oppressive powers that not only actively create and demonize these addictions but also maintain poor living conditions and oppress marginalisased communities. This is an issue for the people.

With this increase in use, a key argument against decriminalisation is the impact of recreational drugs on health.

For example, there is consistently convincing evidence that cannabis use increases the risk of a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia. Young people are particularly vulnerable to developing a mental illness and there is emerging evidence that adolescent substance use, at a time where the brain is still developing, can increase the risk.

These adverse health effects are also likely to disproportionately affect the mart deprived and vulnerable in society, as these individuals are already at greater risk of addiction and adverse mental health consequences. Even if some people can use drugs safely, this is likely, to come at the expense of those that aren’t afforded certain privileges such as an adequate support network.

Moreover, the criminalisation of certain psychoactive substances gives an unequivocal message to the general public about the harmful nature of a drug to the individual and wider community.

One argument for decriminalisation is that it should be an individual’s choice whether or not they chose to take drugs.

However, it can be argued that an addict may not have a choice once they are addicted. Also, how much choice does an individual have over the socio-economic factors at play that contributed to their

addiction? There are many other areas where laws reduce personal liberty to protect individuals from harm and fro m harming others.

A key argument for decriminalisation is the hope that legal products would be safer for users. However, legal product would be highly taxed in order to curl use so it is likely that illegal manufacturers would still propagate to sell cheaper products that the legal alternatives. Therefore, many individuals would still be at risk of adverse effects by illegal products.

Also, if illegal products were cheap it would likely have the greatest impact on those with lower socioeconomic advantage. Instead of a blanket decriminalisation, there should be a nuanced approach to complex issues, for example with regards to the destigmatisation of people addicted to recreational drugs.

If someone is arrested, this should increasingly be seen as an opportunity for the individual to be supported, especially with young people, who are particularly vulnerable. With improvements in education, the medical profession has made efforts to destigmatise addiction. There should be a greater effort made to destigmatise drug misuse, addiction associated with mental health conditions hroughout the general public.

There should also be improvements which facilitate research into psychoactive substances in order to treat both physical and mental health pathology.

Indeed, cannabis for medical use was permitted from 2018 and is licensed for specialist use to treat spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis and two rare forms of childhood Epilepsy.

Greater resources need to be devot to research, prevention and treatment of ubstance misuse and addiction. Moreover, there is a clear association with substance deprivation and problematic drug use, meaning a key target would be the welfare system. With prevention being better than a cure, as it easier to stop dangerous drug use before its even started, a clear area to support would be the lives and education of young people in the most deprived areas.

If all drug were decriminalised in the UK it is likely drug use would increase and the Illegal market would still propagate, with all the current issues remaining. The approach taken should be based on high-quality evidence and, for the reasons I’ve outlined, a blanket decriminalisation should not take place.

The Badger 16th November 2020

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10 The Danish to my pastry What can we learn from the world’s happiest country?

Libby Mills Comment Online Sub-Editor In January, aka pre-COVID innocence, myself and two friends went on a girls city-break away to CPH (Copenhagen – duh). It was our first time travelling to Denmark and to any Scandinavian country. The closest I had come to any Scandinavian experience prior, were day trips to Reading Ikea where the highlight of the excursion were the 15 meatballs, mash and gravy.

We arrived and were instantly met with a general state of calmness. The airport staff were calm, the taxi drivers were calm, the commuters were calm – what was this strange feeling? We arrived at our beautifully quaint and cosy Airbnb apartment, met with a friendly note, chocolates and some fresh juice. The next couple of days we explored the city. From the to-this-dayunbeatable-danish-pastries, to the Copenhagen Botanical Garden. On our last evening, the three of us got dressed up to the nines and went out for our final meal. We got talking to one of the waitresses, about how relaxed and content everybody seemed to be and how refreshing it was in contrast to England. She explained how it’s

@beesandrefugees because most people tend to have enough. Whether that be money, time, friends or hobbies – people seem to have just what they need. It got us thinking, and we sat there discussing how there was such a stark contrast between the overall atmosphere of the whole city in comparison to the places where we had all lived.

My experience of Denmark intrigued me, and I was eager to learn a little more about this small but brilliant country. I came across Helen Russell’s ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ and was fascinated by the Dane’s overall

approach to life. Helen’s year saw her adapting to ‘Forgetting the 9-5’, exploring the value of ‘Leisure and Languages’ and the all-encompassing importance of ‘Hygge and Home’.

So why is it that time and time again, Denmark – a country with a population size less than London, 5.8 million to be precise – comes out on top in pretty much any happiness, wellbeing or life satisfaction report? Free healthcare and education (including university – I know, no I know) might have something to do with it. As well as subsidised childcare, unemployment insur-

ance guaranteeing 80% of your wages for 2 years whilst you secure another job and an overall well-functioning welfare system. Whilst there is and always will be room for improvement in any country’s level of social security, it seems this contributes to the collective Danish conscience that contributes to their overall level of happiness and satisfaction.

The average working week in the UK is 42.5 hours, which is higher than the European average and 5.5 hours more than the average working week in Denmark. Denmark is also ranked 14th out of 153 countries in The Global Gender Gap Index 2020, with the UK ranked 21st, proving Denmark to be one of the most progressive countries in regards to gender equality; as well as being the first country to introduce civil partnership for same-sex couples in 1989. It seems the recipe that Denmark has created in order to obtain the often unattainable life goals of happiness and satisfaction, is through bridging the gaps between the rich and the poor, having a low tolerance on hierarchical structures and general discrimination.

In her year long exploration of the Danish way of life, Helen

also uncovered the importance of hobbies and social activities in Denmark. Where supermarket workers play tennis alongside lawyers and there is next to no judgement or competition regarding one’s profession or background of work. Happiness economist Christian Bjornskov also shared the nation’s collective knowledge that buying more does in fact – despite what capitalism may tell us – not equate to more happiness.

Instead, the shared beliefs that work, financial security, family and one’s personal freedom is the goal to happiness are what run through the veins of the Danish way of life ‘Happiness is a subconscious process in Denmark, ingrained in every area of our culture’.

As we endure a second lockdown in a year that has been unlike any other, and approach the shorter days of winter – perhaps we can take a little inspiration from Denmark’s practising of ‘hygge’ (hue -guh). Essentially, hygge is a feeling. A feeling of being present and cosy whilst enjoying the simple pleasures life has to offer. So, why not pop the kettle on, turn the phone off and enjoy being a little more present.

The Mary Wollstonecraft statue controversy Roxanna Wright Staff Writer The campaign to honour Mary Wollstonecraft and her efforts in equality and women’s rights launched in 2010. After a decade, the campaign ‘Mary on the Green’ finally was heard and a statue honouring Wollstonecraft, by artist Maggi Hambling, was unveiled in Newington Green, Islington on the 10th November. However, the statue caused an uproar amongst feminists on its inappropriate design.

Mary Wollstonecraft was an 18th century writer, philosopher, and advocate of women’s rights. She is best known for her book ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’, written in 1792. Her book argues that women are not designed to be naturally inferior to men, they only seem to be because of their lack of education.

If women were treated equally to men in terms of education, they would be just as intelligent.

Over 90% of the monuments in London celebrate men, despite the population being 51% women, so it was very impor-

tant to have a statue celebrating the ‘mother of feminism’. After raising £143,000, the campaign ‘Mary on the Green’ was finally listened to and a statue was created. The sculpture portrays a silver-bronzed naked female figure, supposedly representing Wollstonecraft, emerging from a swirled mixture of female forms.

The sculpture was supposed to signify the beginning of feminism, as Wollstonecraft’s book “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” was the first ever piece of literature to discuss and argue against the inequality’s women faced. Bee Rowlatt, chairwoman of the ‘Mary on the Green’ campaign for a statue, said: “Her ideas changed the world.

It took courage to fight for human rights and education for all.” However, the design of the statue did cause a stir amongst feminists, and rightfully so.

Wollstonecraft wanted to be appreciated and praised for her writing, her intellect, and her ideas. She wanted to be seen as a person, not an object.

This is exemplified in her book,

‘The Vindication of the Rights of Woman’, “...men endeavor to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women, intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them, do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts, or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society.”

Wollstonecraft wanted to be heard, not seen as just a weak, inferior, unintelligent woman.

Yet the statue in her honour is a small, barbie-like, naked figure of herself. Wollstonecraft is known as the ‘mother of feminism’ but she has been shrunken and stripped of her clothes.

The designer argued that the statue was naked because “clothes define people and restrict people, they restrict people’s reaction. She’s naked and she’s every woman.” Hambling also stated that she wanted the statue to stand out from the male, oversized statues covering London, “Most male historic statues are way over life-size.

My point was that the female figure doesn’t need to dominate to be powerful.” Nevertheless, I believe that the statue goes against everything that Mary Wollstonecraft stood for.

The male gaze is a theory in which women are looked at as sexual objects through the eyes of men. Wollstonecraft believed that women deserved more than that. She believed that women have been taught and belittled into believing that the most important quality to possess was beauty. She wanted women to become individuals that walked alongside men, not cowered beneath them, “Happy would it be for women, if they were only flattered by the men who loved them; I mean, who love the individual, not the sex”, (The Vindication of the Rights of Woman).

However, the first monumental attribution to her work in London looks at her as a sexual object. It shows no visual tribute to her writing whatsoever. No one would ever dream of creating a naked Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, or Sir Isaac New-

ton statue, so why is it different for Mary Wollstonecraft?

Since the unveiling, people have covered up the statue’s naked body with t-shirts or masking tape in protest. Moreover, people have taken to Twitter to show their anger and disappointment in the new sculpture.

One person tweeted, ‘Dear girls and women. If you speak out about your rights you will end up naked in a public square. Let this be a lesson to you all.’ Another wrote ‘We’re not “honouring” May Wollstonecraft, a pioneer of feminist writing and politics, by reducing her to a sex object. I’ve seen countless statues valorising the deeds of men, and not one of them was stripped of his clothing.’

No statue celebrating a man is naked, so why should a female statue be? Women may have more rights and freedoms now than in the 1700s, however the statue presents that there is still inequality present. Mary Wollstonecraft’s statue should highlight her achievements, not her breasts.

The Badger 16th November 2020

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11

Should you date someone with different political views to you?

Joel Renouf-Cooke Comment Online Sub-Editor The question of whether you should date someone with different political views to your own is a question that’s popping up more and more as we become a more politicised and polarised society.

There is a definite climate currently that you shouldn’t date someone who holds different beliefs to your own, and while this probably makes sense given that in many lifestyles, financial and parental decisions revolve broadly around social and political philosophies, I believe that this is a sad and unproductive place to be in. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the #NeverKissedATory-type rhetoric that circulates throughout specific social circles; tribalism is replacing curiosity and ignorance is replacing tolerance.

Obviously, there is a spectrum when it comes to differing political views and obviously, if the views of the person you are dat-

ing are abhorrent to your own then you could be forgiven for telling them where the door is, but we’re losing the ability of discourse and debate, what’s the use in engaging with politics, when we disengage from one another?

Now, as I’m writing this I’m finding it quite difficult to defend my view that politics shouldn’t matter too much when it comes to dating and I think that’s because what I am suggesting requires a certain level of compromise, which is becoming an increasingly alien concept in modern society; if someone is not with us then they are against us – that’s why cancel culture is such a big thing and its why we’re becoming a more polarised society. The way I see it, human relationships require, no, desire a certain level of respect, and this is the case (or should be) in almost every interaction we make or relationship we form. By outrightly rejecting the possibility that we can meet someone with a different view who we actually like,

we’re vastly limiting our experiences and we’re devaluing the experiences of others. Perhaps I’m biased because my experiences being friends with people with political views that don’t always align with my own hasn’t been the end-of-the-world situation that many think it should be, but I enjoy having conversations which question comfortable views that we all hold, and I think it’s a definite testament to the power of inter-personal diplomacy and humanity when you can both disagree with someone in some instances and also see past that.

Finding common ground is something which more and more of us are going to have to do in the politicised society we’re already entrenched in, we need to train ourselves in talking to people with opposing beliefs rather than cut ourselves off entirely and we need to normalise the possibility of being in a relationship with these people. I’m not suggesting that you should get into a relationship someone after finding out that they’re a

member of the National Front, obviously not, but don’t rule someone out just because they don’t echo your own beliefs; debate them, explain why you believe what you believe and listen to them when they do the same.

You don’t have to marry this person, or even ever see them again but at least you’re engaging with one another – if you believe that politics is so important that it should influence who you go on a date with, then surely that involves also understanding the politics of those you don’t agree with. It’s part of the journey towards a more unified society and a move away from division.

I’m well aware that this view goes against the current grain of society; according to statistics from dating app OKCupid, 2.7 million people “could not date someone who has strong political opinions that are the opposite of theirs” and even in my own experience, in the majority of tinder bios that mention politics, pretty much all of them mention a disdain for people who don’t vote the same,

with comments like “Swipe left if you’re a Tory” commonplace.

Now I don’t have any issue with this in itself, people have their preferences, but I can’t help feeling uncomfortable at the notion that there are people out there who through exercising their right to an opinion and who are generally no less informed than I am (they have just come to a different conclusion based on their unique situations), are ostracised and considered not worthy of interaction, romantic or otherwise. We run the risk, as a society, of permanently closing avenues of discourse with those who we don’t agree with, which is not only dangerous as it makes us all more vulnerable to politicians and ideologists who seek to divide us further by exploiting those rifts, but it also creates a hostile environment for us all to navigate, one which relies on people with different views being isolated and marginalised which I don’t see as helpful for anyone.

A blue lease of life Ellie Doughty Print Production Editor There is no doubt that on Saturday afternoon in the UK, when US media outlets began one by one to call the election, that a large proportion of America and the world breathed a collective sigh of relief. Biden, the new President-Elect, and his VP Kamala Harris will be the duo to evict two white supremacists from one of the most powerful political positions in the modern world.

A well-known feature of the Presidency, the first ‘100 days’ are known as a period of peak popularity amongst supporters, and consequently a crucial period for pushing policy, enacting executive orders and carving out support for bigger reforms. However, Biden’s first 100 days are also overshadowed by the looming presence of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact. As of 15th November, the virus has claimed the lives of 245,777 Americans and the country has seen more than 11 million cases, according to The New York Times. In Biden’s own words: “Folks, our work starts with getting Covid under control.”

In the 2018 midterm elections, the Democratic party won a new majority in the House of

Gage Skidmore Representatives, while the Republican majority in the Senate increased. Currently, the Democratic party is 4 seats away from the 218 needed for the House majority, while Republicans sit at 196. The Republicans are only 3 seats away from a Senate majority at 51, while the Democrats lie at 46. Over recent months the Democrats of Congress have pushed for a Covid relief package worth $2 trillion. The Republican-dominated Senate has made it virtually impossible for this bill to move through the floor, but only time will tell whether Biden’s administration and the Democratic party will find it easier to push policy through under the new shifts in Congress.

While certain legislation is

established through the arduous process of bill production in Congress, the executive branch, Biden’s soon-to-be office, can shape more immediate reform in the shape of executive orders and presidential determinations. Trump issued a total of 193 executive orders during his time in office, many of which were met at best suspiciously and at worst with great criticism for their impact on members of the LGBTQ+ community, issues of immigration and deportation, climate policy and healthcare; to name a few.

Biden has already committed to rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, formally left by the States on November 5th 2020 during the first day of his presidency. He has also committed to

reinstating Obama’s Affordable Care Act 2010, which on the first day of Trump’s time in office, he signed an executive order “to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay” elements of.

Of course, outside of the back and forth nature of executive orders and memorandums, and the mess of the recent pandemic, Biden also has a brave new world of social politics to navigate. During the months of summer 2020, the Black Lives Matter Movement in the United States took on a new lease of life and passion as enraged citizens all over the country protested the brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more black colours who died or were injured as a result of police brutality and America’s deeply ingrained racism. Having many millions of Americans at home, socialising at a greatly reduced capacity enabled the online sphere to reach new lengths of information sharing in the form of videos, discussion and movement spurring. The New York Times shared data from polls estimating that about 15-26 million people in the US participated in demonstrations during this period, making the recent protests the largest movement in the country’s history. Biden’s selection of a woman of colour, Kamala Harris, as his VP, speaks

volumes about the trajectory of American politics at this crucial junction; as she is now set to become the first woman, person of colour and South Asian VP elect after hundreds of white males have occupied the office before her. Spurred on towards his presidency by many millions of further left centred progressives, who voted for him (as the discourse goes) as a means to evict the right-wing Trump administration, his choice not only of VP but of manifesto commitments and policy promises have and will continue to shape his popularity with the American people.

As a self-declared ‘centrist’, Biden will also have to temper the political ground between moderates and more liberal politicians in the Democratic Caucus. He’ll also have to face the conservative Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, now, according to the Financial Times, the most powerful GOP member in Washington post-election. These challenges will certainly prove difficult, as guiding one of the most divided and powerful states in the modern world out of a pandemic, a recession, a climate of disenchanted voters and distrust in government is no easy feat. As the cliche goes, only time will tell.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Comment 12 De-platforming: A way to fight far-right extremism Will Day Comment Sub-Editor De-platforming, the practice of banning individuals or organisations who preach extremist or hateful views from digital or real-life spaces, has become a topic of polarising debate in recent years. It received heightened exposure when, in 2018, leading social media platforms banned a series of high profile far-right figures.

For many, having witnessed these tech giants perpetually facilitate the spreading of dangerous misinformation and extremist ideas, this was welcomed, albeit long overdue. There was, however, significant opposition broadly falling into two camps.

For some, this was ideological; a gross impingement on their liberty, the product of PC culture, and the left’s war on free speech. For others, concerns are more practical, arguing deplatforming is not an effective way of tackling extremism.

In response to the de-platforming of alt(far)-right conspiracy site Infowars, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, labelled host Alex Jones a “prominent casualty in the crusade against free expression”. This isn’t however about “free-expression” and attempts to label it so are

Sean P. Anderson disingenuous. Even when analysing the debate from a perspective of negative liberty (freedom to exist without interference from others) the banning of individuals or groups who express hate speech is justified. There is a fundamental difference between free speech and hate speech. Philosopher and proponent of negative liberty John Stuart Mill acknowledged this: “That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”

The alt-right protest that those de-platformed cause no harm and this restriction of liberty is unnecessary. This is rubbish. Take the case of Richard Poplawski who murdered three

policemen in 2009. Analysis of Poplawski’s online activity revealed Poplawski was a white supremacist, radicalised by conspiracies peddled by Infowars amongst others. This was not an isolated incident, Dylan Roof’s manifesto featured passages on genetics that were nearly identical to those propagated by Jared Taylor, an alt-right “intellect”.

The alt-right can stake no claim to genuinely be concerned with liberty. They may masquerade as its protector, yet this is inherently hypocritical. Take Milo Yiannopoulus for example, he claims to be a protector of free speech yet he denies that right to those who follow Islam - in 2017 Yiannopoulus claimed, “I try to think of myself as a free speech fundamentalist, I suppose the only real objection, and I haven’t really reconciled this myself, is when it comes to Islam”.

The alt-right do not care about liberty. They are the magician elaborately distracting their audience whilst concealing the real trick. Their objections only seek to preserve and proliferate their dangerous and hateful ideology.

Despite opposition to deplatforming being predominantly from the alt-right, a

liberal argument has also developed. Whilst vehemently opposing the opinions of those deplatformed, some claim the best way to tackle their ideas is not to take away their social media megaphone but to engage them in debate. Take Nick Cohen, in a piece for the Guardian he stated, “If you can’t beat a bigot in argument, you shouldn’t ban them but step aside and make way for people who can. It’s not as if they have impressive cases that stand up to scrutiny.”

In an ideal world, of course, this would be the most effective way to tackle far-right extremism. I would enjoy nothing more than to see these alt-right figures squirming when faced with a genuine expert. This argument, however, is idealistic and shows a lack of understanding of how social media has fundamentally changed the landscape upon which the alt-right operates. There’s no need for the alt-right to engage in mainstream debates when these unregulated social media platforms provide the exposure needed to proliferate their extremist ideology entirely unchallenged. This “liberal” argument only aides those whose views they claim are abhorrent.

Although research is limited,

the evidence suggests de-platforming works. When analysing the de-platforming of Britain First and leader Paul Golding (best described as the product of splicing Oswald Mosely and Homer Simpson) in 2018, researchers from the University of Swansea found it, “clearly effective”.

Before their de-platforming, Britain First had 1.8 million followers on Facebook, giving it a global reach. But, when Facebook and Twitter removed its accounts, it ostracised the group, removing their “platform to provide a gateway to a larger pool of potential recruits”. Now operating on Gab, the group has just over 11 000 followers. Gab’s traffic remains low and with Britain First not able to signpost on leading social media sites it’s highly unlikely they will ever generate close to the support they had previously. Doh!!!

De-platforming isn’t perfect, it isn’t an effective tactic in changing the minds of those already succumb to extremist ideology. However, as far-right terrorism continues to take the lives of countless people, it is currently the only justified and practical way to halt the radicalisation of potential far-right extremists.

EU votes Yes on Dairy Ban Laura Chaney Staff Writer On the 23rd October, the European Parliament voted in favour of Amendment 171 which would make it illegal for plant-based foods to include any reference to or imitation of dairy products.

The European Dairy Association stated that the protection of dairy terms is paramount for their sector. EU law already prohibits the use of terms such as ‘vegan cheese’ and ‘almond milk’ but this amendment would extend these restrictions. To put this absurdity into context, the use of ‘semi-skimmed non-dairy almond drink’ could become illegal, as could vegan desserts packaged in a way that visually resemble a yoghurt pot. All designed to allegedly avoid consumer confusion by providing a guarantee that milk really is made from milk.

The EU Commission aspires to make Europe the first climateneutral continent by 2050 with the European Green Deal designed ‘to make the EU’s economy sustainable’. Within this is the EU’s sustainable food policy, The Farm to Fork Strategy, which

was created to make ‘food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly’. It is no secret that to tackle climate change and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we must change our diets. According to The Grocer, globally, every litre of dairy milk produces 3kg of GHG; requires 9 square metres of land and 628 litres of water. Compare this with soy milk which produces 1kg of GHG per litre; requires 0.7 square metres of land and 28 litres of water. Amendment 171 contradicts the EU’s goals. They will make it harder for plantbased food brands to thrive and instead are handing the dairy industry a monopoly over food terms that arguably say more about the food shape and consistency than what the food is made from.

The EU have demonstrated a lack of regard for the climate promises they have set out. It appears their motivations for doing so extend to satisfying large organisations relying on the success of the dairy industry. Oatly, the Swedish oat drink company, states that ‘it isn’t so surprising considering there are

more milk lobbyists in Brussels than actual cows in pasture during the summer months.’ This begs the question of whose interests the EU really has at heart by voting yes to an amendment that will not only damage the environment but also the success of plant-based food brands.

It seems ironic that the milk causing no harm to living beings and having been created to help solve the climate crisis is having to fight these absurd battles. Meanwhile, all this in the name of protecting the interests of a dairy industry that causes severe animal suffering and slaughter. Not to mention, the milk that is harming our planet.

These restrictions will cause serious problems for the plantbased industry. The re-naming and re-branding of their products could lead to high financial and practical strain. Additionally, Politico succinctly explains that it is not just plant-based packaging and labelling that would be affected. Amendment 171 aims to prohibit the use of any dairy term which ‘exploits the reputation of dairy foods.’ This could mean that advertisements

such as Oatly’s ‘It’s like milk but made for humans’ would be illegal. Similarly, as Politico goes on to explain, an advert stating that a product causes ‘half the carbon emissions of dairy butter’ would be illegal. In an age where consumers actively try to lead more sustainable lives, they require this kind of information.

Similarly, removing ‘dairy-free’ or ‘lactose-free’ from products could seriously affect individuals with allergies. Is amendment 171 not making everyone’s lives unnecessarily complicated?

Some comfort can be found in the fact that the EU Parliament voted against Amendment 165, which would have also banned the use of ‘meaty’ terms in plant-based food such as ‘veggie burger’. This was not, however, met with relief from everyone.

The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union believe that meat denominations should be reserved for ‘real’ meat. If the meat industry is so preoccupied with not confusing their consumers, one could argue, for example, that ‘steak’ should really be labelled as ‘beef taken from the hindquarters of an animal’.

We would not want consumers to be confused about what it was that they were consuming after all.

Ultimately, this decision is complete and utter hogwash.

Common sense should be enough to avoid so-called consumer confusion and if it proves not to be, surely a more practical and logical solution would be to make a big ‘plant-based stamp’ on all relevant products absolutely mandatory. This is something many plant-based brands already do. Amendment 171 does not protect consumer interest, who not only rely on plant-based packaging to inform them of the health and environmental benefits but also often desire like-for-like substitutions. The only actor protected is the dairy industry. It seems evident that in the middle of the climate crisis within which we find ourselves, voting in favour of an amendment which contradicts the EU’s goals to tackle this crisis seems bizarre. I have to wholeheartedly agree with Oatly who describe this outcome as ‘wacko’.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Features

13

Some Thoughts On Meditation What would life be like to have your full attention vested into the things that were important to you?

Teddy Parkin Online Features Sub-Editor

Consciousness. It is the fabric of existence. Everything that has ever been experienced has occurred through it.

Take a moment now to appreciate this.

Whether it is the ecstatic joy of sharing love and company with friends, or a niggling itch on your forehead that jarringly persists until rubbed away.

These experiences are conducted through our 5 senses and so here is where our world is.

When we take a step back and become aware of our present experience, we discover what it is that we are. Simply a collection of senses and thoughts. It is our thinking brains that colour our reality with analysis and conclusions. For many of us we are lost in this process. Constantly thinking to serve the perpetuation of self-hatred and judgement that reverberates until these very thoughts become the reality we live. Comparable to the ones and zeros that bring software to life.

Meditation interrupts this process.

By bringing your attention to the raw mechanics of your reality, you can experience consciousness for what it is and not get led astray. By doing this consistently with formal practice, but also within your everyday life, the frequency with which you are lost to the perilous habits of your mind diminishes. An avenue of freedom.

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When we take a step back and become aware of our present experience, we discover what it is that we are. Simply a collection of senses and thoughts. It is our thinking brains that colour our reality with analysis and conclusions.

Many of us see meditation as some esoterica spiritual worship for gurus and monks who are tucked away in the mountains with nothing better to do. Or a means of spiritual superiority, employed by that person we all know, outspoken in their claims of having access to a higher power despite our suspicions that this person is just another f lawed human like the rest of us. These stereotypes overshadow the true utility of meditation. It is accessible, useful and a legitimate means to lead a fulfilling life.

Here is an out of context reminder to

Alana Harris

breathe and take a moment to engage with your sensory experience. Become aware of all your senses sound, sight and the rest then allow your thoughts to come and go, observing each one like a passing sound.

Meditation is much more than a pill for bad health. It is also not comparable to the workout routine which temporarily brings you good feelings through a release of endorphins. It is an engagement with consciousness.

It is the process of establishing your awareness continually. Dropping the past that is gone forever and embracing the future that is yet to come. The beneficial effects of this are almost immeasurable. To apply the traditional metrics of science misses the full scope of value here.

Even so, the scientific literature is growing. In the name of science, here is a plethora of empirical data: Source - https://www.nccih.nih. gov/health/meditation-in-depth With regard to mental health, “In 2014 a literature review of 47 trials in 3,515 participants suggests that mindfulness meditation programs show moderate evidence of improving anxiety and depression.”

With regard to brain functioning, “In a 2012 study, researchers compared brain images from 50 adults who meditate and 50 adults who don’t meditate.

Results suggested that people who practiced meditation for many years

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have more folds in the outer layer of the brain. This process (called gyrification) may increase the brain’s ability to process information.”

And with regard to sleep insomnia, “In a small, NCCIH-funded study, 54 adults with chronic insomnia learned mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a form of MBSR specially adapted to deal with insomnia (mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia, or MBTI), or a self-monitoring program.

Both meditation-based programs aided sleep, with MBTI providing a significantly greater reduction in insomnia severity compared with MBSR.”

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Many of us see meditation as some esoterica spiritual worship for gurus and monks who are tucked away in the mountains with nothing better to do. Or a means of spiritual superiority, employed by that person we all know, outspoken in their claims of having access to a higher power despite our suspicions that this person is just another flawed human like the rest of us .

Bear in mind, studies into meditation are still emerging from a very primitive stage. With the benefits clear to see, it is encouraging to witness the push for further research within the scientific community. Beyond intellectuality, the

value of meditation is becoming understood more widely within culture.

Online communities are growing rapidly. Millions of people are practicing through meditation apps, YouTube and other internet-based outlets.

My own experience with meditation has been profound and illuminating.

I would add frustrating to this depiction. Sitting still for a short period of time each day is much harder than I initially thought. For the last two years, a 10 – 20minute meditation practice has been part of my day, bar some exceptions of course. Slowly but surely the effects have been felt. I have developed tools to effectively manage my anxiety. I am now aware of the absurdity of certain thoughts that I took seriously and sent my emotional state to the cleaners. I can now observe them without imposing such conclusive meaning and decrease the detrimental effects they have had on my life. I am able to react less impulsively to what life throws. I can integrate my values more comprehensively into my everyday actions by taking moments of consideration and my focus is stronger.

By no means is my life perfect but the difference between where I was a few years ago and now is phenomenal.

Meditation has guided me on this journey, and I am truly grateful for coming across it and trusting in the process. A journey that I am still on. It continues to be something of great value to me and I wish to offer some thoughts on it as it may take shape similarly in your life and help you the way it did me.

The app I use is called “Waking Up”. It is run by Sam Harris, a neuroscientist and philosopher, who combines theory with routine practices. This culmination has resulted in a comprehensive tool to explore your mind. The introductory course on the app is a perfect way to begin. The daily meditations are a great way to continue. The theory aspect entails conversations with other prominent meditational advocates and lessons that help you understand exactly what is happening.

Whatever it is, your breath, music, simply being fully immersed in your awareness during a light stroll, set time aside to explore your mind and the extraordinary reality that is our consciousnesses. All the best.

Want to find your inner journalist?

Join one of our Writers’ Meetings!

Fridays 12pm, Zoom Link On Social Medias Josh Talbot

The Badger 16th November 2020

Features 14 Seasonal savings: the untold costs of the holidays Features writers Olly and Laura team up to discuss the impact of holiday consumerism and what you can to be more consumer conscious.

Olly De Herrera Features Sub-editor

H

ow about this as a Halloween fright: 49 thousand tonnes of food-waste.

Research released by environmental charity Hubbub and Unilever reveals the shocking number of edible pumpkins that go to waste every Halloween, at a time when reliance on food banks is at an all-time hig h.

Halloween is now Britain’s third biggest commercial holiday, after Christmas and Easter, and the country’s second biggest party night after New Year’s Eve.

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Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene which give it that distinctive orange colour.

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Puréed pumpkin can be used as a base for cakes and breads, served alone as a dip or stirred into things like porridge or yoghurt.

Vitamin A is essential for many processes in your body, including maintaining healthy vision, ensuring the normal function of your immune system and organs. It also possible to freeze the pumpkin f lesh so you can use it in baking at a later date, simply mash or roast the f lesh and pop it in an airtig ht container or bag before putting it in the freezer.

It is easy to imagine the orange delights to be something that simply materialises mid-autumn, and to not think about the agricultural processes behind the seasonal supermarket staple.

Pumpkins are to Halloween what Fir Trees are to Christmas. Starbuck’s seasonal featuring of the ‘Pumpkin spice Latte’ has amassed a cult following and is hotly anticipated every year as an ode to autumn.

How did pumpkins become so synonymous with the season? Their origin comes from an Irish myth about “Stingy Jack”, a man who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain.

When Jack died, God didn’t allow him into heaven, and the Devil didn’t let him into hell, so Jack was sentenced to roam the earth for eternity.

In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul.

When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S., they began carving “Jacko’-lanterns” from pumpkins, as these were native to the region.

It is easy to imagine the orange delights to be something that simply materialises mid-autumn, and to not think about the agricultural processes behind the seasonal supermarket staple.

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Seven out of ten pumpkins carved for Halloween don’t get eaten In fact, the Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo or Cucurbita maxima) is a variety of squash, a versatile food and a fruit!A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that two in f ive British households carve pumpkins for Halloween and most of those go for at least two pumpkins.

Research Charity Hubbub who conducted the survey also made further concerning observations.

“Seven out of ten pumpkins carved for Halloween don’t get eaten”; this means that all the agricultural growing, harvesting and transportation processes associated with any

Larsgustav - Pixabay agricultural product still take place for a food that has a hig h chance of not being eaten. In a climate crisis, this is a two-fold cause for concern.

There is a strict an environmentally damaging process to growing and selecting perfectly pigmented and shapely pumpkins.

would stretch over 2,500 miles - all the way from the UK to A zerbaijan, where pumpkin pancakes are a national dish. “Over half of those asked said they don’t think of a Halloween pumpkin as food and one in three mistakenly thought that a carving pumpkin could not be eaten”.

By weight, household food waste

Dustytoes - Pixabay

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In fact, if you laid end to end all the uneaten pumpkins of 2018, they would stretch over 2,500 miles - all the way from the UK to Azerbaijan, where pumpkin pancakes are a national dish.

“15 million pumpkins were carved but not eaten in 2018 - enough to make a bowl of pumpkin soup for everyone in Britain”.

In fact, if you laid end to end all the uneaten pumpkins of 2018, they

makes up 70% of UK food waste, according to WR AP. Unilever and Hubbub are urg ing Britain’s pumpkin carvers to join the great #PumpkinRescue and “turn their carvings into cravings”.

This does not mean a stop to carving pumpkins, but rather to encourage the use of the parts of the pumpkins that are normally discarded.

They state that “every pumpkin eaten is a step towards tackling the 7 million tonnes of food and drink that is thrown away from UK homes every year”.

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The RSPCA says squirrels, foxes, badgers and birds all enjoy pumpkin Pumpkin f lesh can be used in muff ins, brownies and pies, soups, risottos, curries and much more. Puréed pumpkin can be used as a base for cakes and breads, served alone as a dip or stirred into things like porridge or yog hurt.

The f leshy part of the pumpkin isn’t the only option when it comes to nutrition. Pumpkin seeds are also edible and packed with nutritional benef its.

The RSPCA says squirrels, foxes, badgers and birds all enjoy pumpkin, but remind people to feed responsibly. It is also important to ensure there is no trace of candle wax, paint or ink that could harm the animals, while rotting or scorched pumpkin f lesh should also not be fed to animals.

Whilst I’ll always enjoy the sig ht of pumpkins and look forward to their appearance in shop windows, perhaps its time to take the opportunity to show the fruit and the environment a little more love by expanding our menus to include this iconic autumnal delig ht.

Its not just Halloween where we need to be more aware of the impacts of our consumption.

Holidays are becoming increasingly more consumerist, which is taxing not only for mother nature but also for the average consumer who is pressured to particiate.

Everyone could benef it from g iving a little more thoug ht to our spending actions aorund the holidays, and perhaps reconnect with the deeper meanings of holidays.

Read on to f ind out how you can be more consumer conscious as the ‘most wonderful time of the year’.

Continued overleaf...

The Badger 16th November 2020

Features Laura Chaney Staff Writer

15

Christmas consumerism

W

ith the season to be jolly nearly upon us, it is important to keep in mind that tis’ also the season not to be wasteful. At the risk of sounding rather grinch-like, looking at some of the facts and figures linked to wasteful Christmas consumption is alarming.

Simply put, more consumption leads to more waste which in turn leads to planet problems.

However, by both consuming a bit less and disposing of waste properly, there are myriads of ways that one can strive to be sustainable during the festive season.

So, what exactly is it that is so wasteful about the merriest time of the year? Let’s start with Christmas trees.

Real cut trees have naturally had their roots removed and so replanting them is not a practical possibility. Similar to a bunch of f lowers, Christmas trees too, will eventually die.

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According to Fresh Start waste management company, each twometre tree will release about 16kg of methane gas as it decomposes.

By simply throwing your tree in the bin this Christmas, it will become one of the six million trees that end up rotting in land fill sites. This is the sad fate of about three-quarters of the UK’s Christmas trees.

According to Fresh Start waste management company, each two-metre tree will release about 16kg of methane gas as it decomposes.

That is a lot of GHG being released each year that could be prevented.

How you may ask? By recycling your tree, it can be turned into wood chippings which can be used in numerable ways, often in local parks or woodland areas.

Recycling your tree has never been easier as local authorities tend to organise special recycling ‘drop off points. ‘Recycle Now’ has a whole page on what to do with your old tree, and even a Locator Tool to find your nearest collection point.

A quick google search can tell you exactly how to dispose of your tree responsibly. An increasingly popular alternative is of course investing in a fake tree. This will not only save you money in the long term, but it is now possible to find very tasteful and festive-looking fakes.

Otherwise, why not buy a Christmas tree in a pot with its roots still attached, that can be re-planted in the garden or re-potted and re-used every year.

Once your tree, real or fake, has been mounted and covered with baubles and tinsel galore, our attention is next naturally drawn to what is found under the tree.

It can be very tempting to get wrapped up (pun intended) in buying a plethora of presents. Whilst going

Wokandapix - Pixabay full Mariah Carey and not caring about the presents under the tree seems unreasonable, caring a bit more about what kind of presents and how many you buy, is not only sensible but paramount.

Almost every present bought this Christmas will contain natural resources from somewhere in the world.

Your phone may contain cobalt from Congo, rare earth metals from Inner Mongolia and copper from Chile.

Overconsumption ultimately leads to resource depletion, environmental degradation and finally to a worsened ecosystem health.

So why not make an active effort not to overconsume this Christmas? This doesn’t have to be as unexciting and tedious as it may sound.

This could be achieved in the form of a ‘maximum spend’ challenge whereby each member of your family cannot spend over a given amount. Or how about organising the ever-popular Secret Santa, through which each member of a present-giving group has to ‘secretly’ buy a present for one member only.

This adds the big element of surprise and can help everyone avoid the pressure of having to frantically dash around buying oodles of gifts. Or, how about a second-hand-only gift rule?

Why not aim to buy all or a portion of your presents second-hand, giving products a second life and supporting good causes. As a student, all of these options could also save you a lot of money. Win-Win.

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British families throw away 226,800 miles of wrapping paper each Christmas. According to the Telegraph, that is enough to go around the world nine times.

Not only the presents themselves, but their packaging is an often-overlooked issue. *Cue shocking statistic*.

British families throw away 226,800 miles of wrapping paper each Christ-

mas. According to the Telegraph, that is enough to go around the world nine times. Why not wrap your presents in re-usable wrapping paper instead?

UK-based start-up company ‘Jessie Danger’ sells re-usable wrapping cloths and bags. Not only can you wrap your presents up stylishly, sustainably and simply, but these re-usable bags are gifts in themselves.

The bags can be used again to keep your books in good shape, or the wraps can be used as tea towels or tablecloths. Or if none of these take your fancy, you can simply wrap a future present up with them and thus the cycle continues.

Now picture this. You have just sat around your fake or real-but-will-berecycled tree and opened your beautiful re-useably wrapped presents.

Naturally, it’s time for the feast. Tradition tell us that Christmas is a time for roasts, over-stocking the fridge and over-eating.

You probably do not need me to tell you that none of this is sustainable.

Why not have a nut roast this Christmas? Or if you’re not quite there, commit to swapping out your pigs-inblankets for the veggie alternative?

Swapping out your animal-products for plant-based alternatives is a hugely impactful and easy way to make your Christmas more sustainable.

If you need any more persuading, Sir Attenborough’s new documentary ‘A Life on Our Planet’ is a great place to start.

Those with the luxury of having the option to reduce their environmental footprint are in fact in a place of privilege.

There are many less fortunate who do not have trees to recycle nor excess food to waste. Another great way to be both sustainable and have a positive impact this Christmas is to give to those in need.

From donating to a charity such as ‘Centrepoint’ who aim to end youth homelessness whereby £12 a month could sponsor a room; donating spare food to much-needed food banks across the UK; or volunteering your time at a charities such as ‘The Real Junk Food Project Brighton’ who aim to redistribute food destined for the landfill and use it to feed those in need, you can make a big difference this festive season.

By making an effort to be sustainable this Christmas, every one of us will not only be taking a small step to help save our planet but will likely be saving ourselves a lot of financial-stress, last-minute shopping madness and frenetic festive activity.

It is no secret that the future of the planet is, to put it bluntly, in grave danger.

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Wikimedia Commons I am not saying that we should not indulge but in the words of Sir David Attenborough, “we must change our diet, the planet can’t support billions of meat-eaters”.

It is no secret that the future of the planet is, to put it bluntly, in grave danger.

Our overconsumption is using up the world’s resources and we must, where we can, make an effort to change our habits and patterns. Christmas is not a period which has to lead inexorably to mass wastage.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we go full-Ebenezer-Scrooge, but I am suggesting that with the year we have had, the time to focus on sustainability could not be more apt.

More frequent and extreme weather events are becoming the norm. From Australia’s wildfires to deadly f loods in South Asia, the evidence is right in front of us that the time to take climate action is now.

Sustainability is not just a buzz word but represents a way of living. A way of living that should, where possible, be incorporated into all of our lives.

Making an effort to be sustainable this Christmas is a great place to start and it should not stop there.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Features

16

The SDGs: 5 Years In Written by Ellena Mouzouris, Ioasia Radvan and Hugh Reed, RESULTS Brighton

T

he Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 clear goals that were set to replace the Millennium Development Goals as they failed to meet their desired targets by 2015.

On 25th September 2015, 193 state governments came together to agree that the 17 goals and their 169 targets would be imperative indicators of sustainable progress.

Last month was the fifth anniversary of the SDGs, and with ten years to go, we must be realistic as to how much progress we have made as an international community. Public awareness of the SDGs appears to be low.

Only 9% of respondents to a 2018 Aid Attitudes survey knew what the SDGs were. According to the UN, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not on the planned trajectory to meet the SDGs and with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation estimating that we have been set back decades in terms of progress, the global community must hold their governments accountable for their pledges. Now more than ever, the need for strong health systems, food security and poverty reduction as a policy and funding focus has become evident.

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The global community must hold their governments accountable for their pledges. Now more than ever, the need for strong health systems, food security and poverty reduction as a policy and funding focus has become evident.

This progress analysis comes at a time where the UK’s approach to foreign aid is changing. In September, the UK government initiated a merger between the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to create the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Mergers such as this one take months, if not years, to complete thus we will not be able to assess its success for some time. However, this also means that as a civil society we must encourage the new department to deliver the same levels of transparency that DFID was previously world-renowned for, as shown in the Aid Transparency Index. The UK government maintains that they aim to maintain their 0.7% GNI contribution to world aid. Due to the impending recession and shrinking UK GNI, this contribution must be spent effectively and for the benefit of those who need it most.

The FCDO will have a significant role to play in encouraging both the UK government and inf luencing other national governments to push for SDG progress. A deeper dive into 3 of the goals will show us how far we

The UN have come, how much or little the UK has contributed and how far we have to go.

Goal 1 is to end poverty in all its forms. More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty. Some progress has been made to address this goal. The number of people living in extreme poverty declined from 36% in 1990 to 10% in 2015. However, progress has slowed. The economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased in 30 years, since 1990.

Goal 2 is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Currently, approximately 690 million people are hungry. If the current trend continues, 840 million will be hungry by 2030. The World Food Programme states that 135 million suffer from hunger as a result of man-made conf licts, climate change and economic downturns. The COVID-19 pandemic will only make this worse, putting an additional 130 million people at risk of acute hunger by the end of 2020. The world is not on track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.

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temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 91% of students globally.

In 2015, the UK government committed to achieving the UN’s SDGs. Critics argue that the UK’s performance has been inadequate in important policy areas including poverty reduction, improving food security and ensuring inclusive education. Per the 2019 Conservative manifesto, PM Boris Johnson has discussed on many occasions the importance of girls receiving at least 12 years of schooling (SDG 4). Furthermore, they make the claim that “we will end the preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children by 2030” (SDG 3.2). The Conservative government see these two goals as a promotion of their “values”. However, their commitment to these goals, even on a domestic level is questionable.

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Goal 1 is to end poverty in all its forms. More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty.

The economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population.

Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Despite progress being made over the past decade towards increasing access to education and school enrolment rates at all levels, particularly for girls, about 260 million children were out of school in 2018. That’s nearly one-fifth of the global population in that age group. Due to COVID-19, the majority of countries announced the

Goal 2 is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Currently, approximately 690 million people are hungry. If the current trend continues, 840 million will be hungry by 2030.

At home, there has been a significant weakening of explicit commitment by the UK government to tackle poverty in recent years. For example, the Child Poverty Act 2010 was repealed in 2016 with the introduction of a Welfare Reform and Work Act in 2016, which meant that there was no longer a legal obligation on the UK government to eradicate child poverty by 2030. The 2016 act has also reduced the levels of social security entitlement, with the direct consequence of increasing the intensity and overall levels of poverty for particular groups (most notably families with more than two children).

Everyday life for the financially challenged will continue to become more stressed and the prospect of achieving SDG 1 will get further away.

The UK is struggling to address malnutrition in all forms. The food system in the UK is one in which calories from

healthy foods consistently cost more than those from less healthy foods.

Households and individuals with insecure income or access to resources are therefore more reliant on those less healthy foods. According to the british medical Journal, the level of adult food insecurity in the UK is among the worst in Europe, and for children, it is one of the worst, if not the worst, performing nations. Childhood obesity is twice as prevalent in the poorest areas of England compared to the richest.

The vast majority of school-age children in the UK are offered appropriate quality education. In 2016/17, 90% of primary and 79% of secondary school in England were judged to be good or outstanding by OFSTED. The UK is a relatively good place to go to school if you are female or from a minority community. FCDO is recognised as a world leader in the promotion and support of education in low-income countries and uses part of the UK’s 0.7% of GNI spent on overseas aid to fund overseas educational initiatives. This, coupled with the growing dissemination work of the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the British Council, is furthering the international reputation of the UK.

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Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

As a community, we must hold the UK government accountable for their actions, in accordance with the claims they make in their manifesto. Both domestically, and internationally, the UK government is renowned for its consistent 0.7% GDP aid contribution. We must ensure that the new FCDO guides this funding to where it is needed most. If these issues are a concern to you then please get in touch with us at RESULTS Brighton on social media to help inf luence politicians to take our concerns to parliament. Additionally, you can complete a simple e-action here: https://results.eaction.org.uk/ nutrition-action-2020

The UN

The Badger 16th November 2020

Arts • Books

17

Discover Classic French Literature Inès Bussat Staff Writer In this article, I am presenting to you a few of my favorite French novels. Being French and living in England, I find comfort and familiarity in reading in my native language. Whether you are keen to put into practice your skills in the language, or just curious in discovering books from the other side of the Channel, this is for you.

Madame Bovary Gustave Flaubert, 1856

Madame Bovary is one of the classics that most French students have to read at some point during their studies. It follows the dramatic provincial life of Emma Bovary, who dreams of the romance in the love stories she reads, whilst married to a man she finds

by

The Stranger is narrated by a man, Meursault, who is depicted as being stranger to his own life. The novel famously starts with: ‘Mom died today. Or maybe it was yesterday, I don’t know.’. Meursault is indifferent and detached to the events he experiences, he doesn’t find interest in love, education and friendship.

The philosophy of Camus is expressed in his novel through the personality of the narrator: life is absurd, meaningless and irrational. This book cannot be explained with so few words, but I promise you that L’étranger will awake lots of fascinating reflections.

Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée by Simone de Beauvoir, 1958 (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter)

boring and lacking in ambition.

The book is beautifully written and was very controversial at the time it was published. I believe this nineteenth century masterpiece can still resonate with readers today.

L’étranger by Albert Camus,

autobiographical novel, written by one of the key female figure of French literature. Duras revisits her adolescence in colonised Indochina.

She explores key memories of this period, including her first sexual experience with a rich Chinese man: her first lover.

L’Amant is a nostalgic collection of intimate thoughts and honest confessions, written in a beautiful and unique style. It draws a portrait of an experience of youth and a discovery of one’s

1942 (The Stranger or The Outsider)

I remember quite vividly reading this book and discovering my passion for literature through its pages.

In this autobiographic novel, the feminist activist and philosopher de Beauvoir narrates the twenty first years of her life and her meeting with Jean-Paul Sartre. We read about her revolt against her bourgeois upbringing and her strong desire for emancipation.

The way de Beauvoir recalls and describes her childhood is truly fascinating and revealing of the inspiring woman she became.

“The way de Beauvoir recalls and describes her childhood is truly fascinating and revealing of the inspiring woman she became.”

Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée is written in an honest and authentic style, introducing readers to the writer of the essay The Second Sex.

L’Amant by Marguerite Duras, 1984 (The Lover) L’Amant

is

another

femininity and desires. I dearly invite any of you to explore this short yet powerful novel.

Review: Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor Kiran Sokhi Staff Writer Dust is a story of love, loss, war and lies in a nation with a history of colonialism and political corruption. The book tells the story of two families: the Oganadas and the Boltons.

It explores how their lives lead them to each other, with Wuoth Ogik revealing the shocking truths of the history that brought them there. The novel confronts prominent societal issues of Africa and exposes the truths of Kenya at the time of Mboya’s assassination.

One of the most appealing traits of the book is that it is written by a Kenyan author: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor. This means that the depictions of societal corruption are written from a narrative of authenticity and accuracy. I think this is really important to the nature of this story, as it is not usual that native authors write about issues their culture has experienced. This is vital to empower the voices of those masked by white authors, who couldn’t possibly understand or comprehend the life of an African woman in the climate of war and political corruption.

It is great to read this book,

knowing that all this talent can be credited to someone who is speaking on behalf of her nation; giving voice to a perspective often silenced by the western world.

One of Owuor’s key themes in the novel is the inaccurate representation of Africa by the Western World. Owuor critiques how western media outlets undermine and misrepresent the extent of the suffering and injustice Kenyans experienced at the time of Tom Mboya’s assassination, the everlasting pain of colonial violence, and the terror of the Mau-Mau killing sprees. The novel highlights the issue of mass media favouring western ‘news’ and neglecting news in the global south, an issue that continues to this day.

Another main theme of the novel is secrets. Secrets reveal the effects of mass corruption on the Kenyan people. Secrets within the government caused the loss of many lives. Victims of war who were kidnapped and murdered never appeared on the official register, meaning thousands of family members and loved ones disappeared without a trace. The novel highlights the complexity of political secrets and withheld information.

Again, Owuor draws attention to a prominent

issue in today’s political climate, as the public is especially

uncertain of the government’s morals and dedication to the

nation as a fair and equal society.

It is very much the government versus the public, and we are well aware of the corruption within governments. This book highlights this, with insight into the functioning of the elite class and their prioritisation of themselves and their money at the expense of thousands of innocent lives.

I think Owour articulates the impact of colonialism at a domestic level in a way that evokes emotion and understanding of its complexities and everlasting effect. The white character Hugh Bolton searches for his father who built the house which the family now live in. Through his journey, secrets reveal themselves as legacy, death, affairs and lies are exposed in a complex web of discoveries. Owour uses the mother character, Akai, to depict the reality of familial expulsion and the painful journey she endured back to Wuoth Ogik because of the actions of a white man who impregnated her and left her at his disposal. She lost everything in her life at the time, left with nothing. I believe this speaks to African experiences of colonialism and expresses the narratives of thousands whose lives were stripped bare as a result of a white powerful man.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Arts • Film & Television

18

Doomed, Drunk, Dancing: ‘Undateable’ Women What’s On Yazz James Film & TV Editor Exploring New York City’s modern woman, her love for her art and her love for love.

High Fidelity (2020)

“Why am I doomed to be left?

Why am I doomed to be rejected?”

Released on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, Hulu’s reimagining of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel sees London’s Robert Fleming become NYC-based Robyn Brooks. In this version, Rob still owns a record-store and they still spend too much time sulking over previous lovers; although, instead of focusing on a straight white man’s fear of commitment, the story now belongs to a mixed-race bisexual woman.

Opening with an intense and emotional break-up, High Fidelity drops us right in the deep end. Immediately, we get up close and personal with a sniffling Rob (Zoë Kravitz) as she is being left by her boyfriend Mac (Kingsley Ben-Adir). A time jump takes Rob on a Tinder date where she meets Clyde (Jake Lacy). Clyde proves himself to be dependable and definitely who Rob should be going for, but her belief that “it’s what you like, not what you are like” means she doesn’t take him seriously.

Rob isn’t undateable because nobody wants to date her – it’s quite the opposite. She’s undateable because she’s too selfish to dedicate time to anyone else. Despite this, Kravitz somehow still makes her attractive, charismatic and painfully cool. It seems that she can get pretty much anyone she wants (an indie

Emily Hyatt Staff Writer

singer included). The one person she can’t have, Mac, is sadly the one she spends the majority of the series pining for.

Her attempt to win him back is through playlist-curation.

Evidently better at expressing herself through music than her own words, Rob’s love for the art form appears to the only way she can communicate her feelings. Ultimately, she makes amends by selling her prized record and by gifting a guitar.

life than romance. The love that Frances really desires platonic.

Obvious Child (2014) dir.

Gillian Robespierre

Frances Ha (2012) dir.

Noah Baumbach “I’m so embarrassed. I’m not a real person yet.”

Featuring my favourite movie quote of all time, Baumbach and Gerwig’s co-written film is one for any struggling artist.

Beautifully shot in black and white, the feature follows the titular character as she attempts to navigate latetwenties life. Like someone from a Demy film, Frances is a classic romantic: dancer, winedrinker and Paris trip-taker.

Dumped by her best friend rather than a lover, Frances finds herself lonely, bitter and broke. Unable to pay her rent, she moves in with the wealthier Lev (Adam Driver) and Benji (Michael Zegen). A lost soul, the protagonist somehow seems to do everything and nothing at all; although it can’t pay her bills, dancing is her source of comfort and expression. She prances through the streets of the city searching for another partner until she begins to search for herself instead.

Although repeatedly referred to as “undateable”, Frances Ha reminds us that there’s more to

“You’re saying that a guy doesn’t want a drunk, pregnant girl in a box?”

Jenny Slate leads Robespierre’s debut feature as Donna, a comedian, bookshop employee and avid over-sharer. Written with Slate in mind, Donna, just like the actress who plays her, seems to be a pro at balancing vulnerability and humour – seen in Jenny Slate: Stage Fright.

After detailing her disappointing sex life, describing “getting rhythmically banged out” by her partner to a Brooklyn bar crowd, Donna is dumped by her boyfriend, who she finds out has been cheating on her with a close friend. Searching for postbreakup comfort in whiskey and wine, the protagonist finds herself on stage drunk and pathetic; rather than comedy,

she shares her elaborate plans to murder the pair.

Accompanied by a friend, the two work at getting black-out so she can forget the embarassing moment. Once again, New York’s favourite nice guy Jake Lacy enters, this time as Max. The pair have more immediate chemistry and spend the night together. But, what seemed like a silly one night stand, gets a lot more complicated when Donna finds out she’s pregnant.

For her, there’s no question as to whether or not she will get an abortion: she schedules the procedure to be as soon as possible, ironically booking it for Valentine’s Day. Within the time in-between, the pair find themselves constantly bumping into each other. Afraid to tell Max the truth, Donna awkwardly dances around the subject until she confronts it the only way she knows how – with her comedy.

The Incredible Jessica James (2017) dir. Jim Strouse “I’m 25 and I haven’t been completely broken by life yet” Playwright and bedroom boogie sensation, Jessica (Jessica Williams) is pretty much impossible to hate. A teacher at a non-profit, her love lies with the kids she works with, but outside of her job, the eponymous character is bright, bubbly and a little bit blunt.

She puts men in their place and won’t settle for anything less than what she wants. Dealing with an ex-boyfriend (Lakeith Stanfield) and dating a recent divorcee (Chris O’Dowd), the protagonist seems able to navigate all kinds of challenges.

Insecure: A Guide to Adulthood

When it comes to shows about adulting and surviving your 20s, Insecure hits the spot.

The name itself expresses the anxiety that comes with navigating adulthood.

Set in LA Insecure revolves around Issa (Issa Rae), her best friend, Molly (Yvonne Orji) and their struggles. The series begins with the pair facing problems in their love-life and career. Issa believes that her long term relationship with her boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis) has gone downhill and wants to pursue a relationship with her old friend, Daniel (Y’lan Noel).

Whereas, Molly is sick of fulfilling short-term flings and wants to be in a healthy relationship.

Although the show focuses on people in their late 20s/30s, it still highlights the dilemmas that

young adults face. For instance, one character gets pulled over by police, their card declined and involved in a threesome - in which they are fetishised all in one day. Insecure is able to highlight the more mature issues that adulthood brings, without breaking its comedic tone. That episode shows that, even when times are positive, there’s always an aspect of uncertainty on whether the day can get worse for black people in America. They’re always left feeling uncertain and doubtful.

Sometimes, TV shows only show positive aspects of the character’s lifestyles, but Insecure isn’t afraid to show the realities of living in LA. At one point, Issa quits her job to fulfil her dream occupation. This causes her to be homeless and allows audiences to see how someone may navigate that trouble. Issa chose not to live with

Molly because she knew their friendship would deteriorate if they lived together. Instead, she chose to move in with her old friend which complicated their strained relationship.

The audience got to witness Issa’s rocky journey to her goal, whilst seeing the horrible consequences she had to endure on the way. This highlights the struggle that adults go through when they realise they hate their job/degree and would rather thrive doing something else. Issa took the risk that so many are scared to.

The series also explores mental health in adults; from postpartum depression to bipolar disorder, Insecure was able to portray the importance of getting help when it comes to mental health and the realities of such medical processes. As adults, we’re fearful of diagnosis

especially getting it at a later stage in life. Thus, Insecure establishes our concerns and even had a side talk show discussing those issues that the character’s face so that we can learn more. The show highlighted how important boundaries were and to be kind as we don’t know what people are going through. As a society, we have to look out for one another as well as ourselves .

Insecure has provided the young black community with an image of ‘adulting’. It’s discussed the dilemmas that black adults face in society whilst maintaining a positive undertone. Insecure presents the reality that it is okay to not have your life together no matter how old you are. It depicts a variety of problems that the audience can relate to and still offers a sense of optimism.

Small Axe: Mangrove dir. Steve McQueen

BBC One have just begun to air McQueen’s Small Axe film collection. Mangrove premiered on Sunday night and the following films are to air each week. Set from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, the films detail stories of London’s West Indian community. A celebration of Black joy, the films are said to bring hope to 2020.

Trial 4 This true crime docu-series tells the story of Sean K. Ellis, a man fighting to prove his innocence. Imprisoned at 19, Ellis spent 22 years locked up.

The series exposes police corruption and systematic racism.

Parasite (in Black and White) dir. Bong Joon-ho This year’s Best Picture winner, Parasite, has been added to Amazon Prime, but now in black and white. Best enjoyed with as few spoilers as possible, the film is full of surprises.

The Queen’s Gambit This Netflix series follows an orphan named Beth as she becomes a top chess player. Based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, the series depicts her attempts to gain acceptance as well as her struggles with addiction.

The Kindergarten Teacher dir.

Sara Colangelo

Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, this 2018 remake is about a passionate pre-school teacher who finds a young poet prodigy in her class. The protagonist’s care for and pride in the boy cause her to cross ethical boundaries.

Wuthering Heights dir. Andrea Arnold Currently streaming is Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic tale. Her take is praised for bringing passion back to the period-drama.

Catch it on MUBI now.

The Badger16th November 2020

Arts • Music

19 A Soundtrack To Lockdown 2.0 Some Tunes To Relieve Those Lockdown Blues.

Rosie Graham Staff Writer

Malibu – Kim Petras If you’ve not had a one man dance party to this song, you’re seriously missing out. Getting your body moving by having a boogie can do wonders for your mental health and is a great way of exerting some WFH energy.

Club Revenge put me on to Kim Petras in my first year, and I am officially obsessed. Petras describes her high-energy, dream-like pop as a “return to colour.”

As we slip into our second national lockdown, it’s easy to feel disheartened and blatantly fed-up. My Spotify playlists were rinsed of all inspiration and I became bored of listening to the same radio shows reporting statistics and misery. So, in an effort to head into this lockdown equipped with a collection of fresh new music, here’s 8 songs to make you feel like the main character of lockdown.

A Hero’s Death – Fontaines D.C.

Released as the title track of their 2020 album, A Hero’s Death is a sheer force of feeling.

Their signature crunchy punk compliments the tender lyrics in a way I’ve never heard before, like something out of an angsty comingof-age movie. Shouting “life ain’t always empty,” on repeat does, actually, solve all your problems.

Helplessly Hoping Crosby, Stills and Nash

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If there’s anything I learnt from the first lockdown, it’s

Simoncromptoreid that not seeing your friends, family, and your favourite latenight kebab shop gets really tough. Sometimes the perfect solution is to wallow and acknowledge that the world is upside down. Crosby, Stills and Nash provide those melancholic folk harmonies to make you feel like you’re in a pine forest in the middle of a rainstorm.

Long Grass – Just Jack, The Easy Access Orchestra

Another track released this year, iconic Just Jack returns with his classic ‘nature rap’.

The upbeat tempo and laidback melody provide the perfect

study soundtrack to keep you motivated and in control. Jack’s easy lyrics remind us that “the end is nearing.”

The Sun Is Up Forever – Joesef Joesef bridges a unique gap between the soft grooves of Tom Misch and the soulful delights of artists like Arlo Parks and Joy Crookes. The uplifting chorus of this song radiates beach-at-sunset vibes and is begging to be taken for a walk along the seafront. For me, this song reminds me of how lucky we are to live in such a friendly, colourful and beautiful city like Brighton.

Entrepreneur – Pharrell Williams ft. JAY-Z

Lockdown seems almost trivial in the scope of challenges 2020 has presented.

Entrepreneur taps into the bank of new music that accompanied the Black Lives Matter revolution in the wake of George Floyd’s Death, expressing, what TIME called, a “celebration of Black ambition.”

Pharrell’s whisper-chants are haunting yet rallying all at the same time as the track poses an encouraging reflection of Black activism.

Lifetime – Romy

Taking inspiration from her band, The xx, and her bandmate, Jamie XX, Romy finally releases

a solo endeavour. Calling on dream pop, euro-style dance bangers and 80s beats, Romy’s new track is an ode to life in lockdown. The euphoric tones and encompassing melodies are reminiscent of The xx’s work, whilst completely fresh in this new dynamic. Magically romanticising the worst parts of lockdown, the lyrics are gentle but passionate; “if this world comes to an end/ I wanna be there, with you.” My housemate describes this song as a “roof-down-latenight-driving-my-life-is-great” moment, and I think that’s perfectly accurate.

Lockdown – Anderson Paak

Anderson Paak never fails to deliver on the jazz-inspired smooth rap from - his newest track, Lockdown, partners this iconic music style with this year’s frustration. Unlike Entrepreneur and other songs to arise from 2020 (The Rolling Stones’ Living in a Ghost Town and Radio 1’s Times Like These remake, to name a few), .Paak introduces a casual intimacy to the contextually loaded track, pulling on BLM protests and the pandemic in his Juneteenth response.

Music News Percy Walker-Smith Music Editor

and London 12/03/21.

song has an attitude about it, made obvious by the playful lyrics. The music video that the band have released is a treat to the eyes and will have you smiling ecstatically at the divalike vocalist Chloe Howard, lying on a passion-red sofa singing the lyrics to camera.

Both the new single and music video, directed by Jay Bartlett, will prove great publicity for the band as they remain open to record labels looking for a promising band to sign. Lime will also be playing The Prince Albert, Brighton on Sunday 25th April 2021

Lime, Brighton Locals Release Playful New Single, ‘Fever’

The Close Encounter Club Continues The Joy of Music For An Online Audience

Brighton Local Band Fur Sign Record Deal with 777 Music Local band Fur have some news that is worth celebrating as we enter the second UK lockdown. The band have been a staple of the Brighton scene for some years and have gained fandom further afield than the standard UK touring circuit.

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With huge streaming popularity in Indonesia, that has led the band to play to huge crowds there. The news of the signing came last week and will allow the band to record their debut album.

With huge streaming popularity in Indonesia, that has led the band to play to huge crowds there. The news of the signing came last week and will allow the band to record their debut album. That has been long-awaited since the band

Julia Nala released their very popular If You Know That I’m Lonely single, with the music video racking up 15 million views on YouTube. The band also recently released their Facing Home Mixtape, a collection of songs recorded at home during lockdown. All of this builds excitement as they venture on to record their debut album.

The band are due to tour the UK early March 2021. Birmingham 04/03/21, Newcastle 05/03/21, Liverpool 09/03/21

Brighton Local Band Fur Sign Record Deal with 777 Music The Brighton-based band, Lime, have released their second single. The track combines broad saxophone, in line with the dulcet sounds of The Style Council, with sharp guitar and dance-inducing drumming. The

The Close Encounter Club has always been a popular jaunt for musicians to showcase their live performances and to end up with three professionally edited live videos.The stage is dressed up to match the name of the club with spooky neon lights and disco balls galore.

These videos are then published

online via The Close Encounter Club website (https:// thecloseencounterclub.com).

The Close Encounters Club Now that the live music scene has been halted by COVID-19, The Close Encounter Club has now begun to live stream performances online for music fans to watch from home tucked up in the comfort of their own bed, watching exciting bands strut about a stage once more. If you are interested in accessing ‘an intergalactic live music venue orbiting planet earth transmitting 24/7’, the link to the club is above.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Arts • Theatre

20

Electoral theatre: Democracy in drama Elijah Arief Theatre Editor Something which I’ve learned very recently is that politics in both the UK and the US is no less theatrical and entertaining than watching a play. You will get the same cheap thrills, suspense, incredulity and second-hand embarrassment by watching a political campaign rally as you would seeing a pantomime around Christmas.

Our engagement with politics is something which we claim is academic and it’s a subject we study from the lens of wanting to better our society, if we engage with political news and keep up to date with the policy makers we can hold them accountable and help to create better change within our lives. These are morally sound excuses for taking an interest in the political landscape. Recently however, it’s been brought to my attention just how much my interest in politics has gone from a healthy academic interest, to a full-blown entertainment medium, in which I am waiting with baited breath, refreshing my timeline wondering just what will happen next. That is

Gage Skidmore not a healthy academic interest, no matter how much I try and pretend that it is.

I can’t blame myself fully for feeling this way however, media co-operations and spin doctors are keen to transform politics into full blown spectacle of which you can view any time anywhere. And its not like this is a recent phenonium, far from it, but I am keenly aware of just how much of politics is just theatre and pageantry. Politics is firstly about people’s lives and working out a system in which

benefits the countries citizens, keeping them safe and making sure everybody has access to human rights.

There needs to be a level of seriousness when politics is being discussed in the media, as so many are disillusioned and non-trusting of politicians that the show acting needs to be stripped so we can start building trust in actual human beings, not actors on a stage.

Its relevant here to mention the current bombastic, offensive and washed up reality TV Star

that is the current US President.

Trump does not shy away from the limelight, rather he seeks effortlessly to engage with the theatrics and take his spectacle all the way to his social media accounts. Thinking back to the 2016 Presidential Elections, we saw pantomime techniques being used to excite and arouse the electorate, with one Trump rally calling on his audience to boo the journalists and press that where present, and another inciting the electorate to chant “lock her up!” in regards to Hilary Clinton. Trump’s tactics are thespian at heart, and in using his outrage, false sincerity and over blown pathos his voters are emotionally manipulated into believing that this a man just like them.

A man who has working class interests at heart, and cares deeply about the working American. Its not just in US politics though, UK politics sees its fair share of political theatre and jestering. One need only to look at the state of our House of Commons every Wednesday during Prime Ministers Question Time to see that often whilst debate and discussion does indeed occur, mostly MP’s are

acutely aware that the cameras are rolling and will act out in order to get attention.

Spectacle and theatre are key to keep the public interested in politics; it needs to be entertaining in order to create intrigue. The general public will have a reaction however positive or negative this is to politicians acting like they are performing on stage. In 2018 previous Prime Minister Theresa May became the infamous ‘Dancing Queen’ at a Conservative Party Conference which garnered a huge response from the UK media, with many people criticising the performance as a way of showing her more ‘human’ side in order to attract public popularity.

It seems as if this attempt at theatrics is another way of perpetuating populism, it seems as if politicians are happy to play a false role if it means securing a decent vote. The downsides however are extreme.

In treating politics as a means of entertainment, we run the risk of not taking it seriously enough and ironically using as it means of escapism when it fact it should be on the most important subjects that keeps us grounded.

Theatre has a class problem Elijah Arief Theatre Editor If you come from a workingclass home, chances are you have a plethora of stories and adventures under your belt and most of them would probably, let’s face it, shock your middleclass peers. When you are born without financial privilege and growing up in Tory Britain, learning life the hard way and from the ground up may give you many life stories and perhaps some wisdom to bestow on others about the harsh realities of the world.

You are probably quite familiar with having to work extremely hard to achieve merits that privileged others would find easy, and as such you would hope to be represented in the Arts by your wins rather than your losses as you can see so easily how hard others of your class work in order to get by in society. Unfortunately, Classism has its sick grip in the Arts world and Theatre is no exception to this rule. To understand the extent as to why this is, going back to the history of British Theatre is key.

During WW2, Theatre kept going despite many playhouses and theatres being bombed and the art seemed keen to involve artists and audiences of all classes, with many

Magnus Hagdorn travelling theatres touring to Northern industrial towns and Welsh mining villages. During those bleak times, Theatre kept spirits alive and made itself accessible to everybody.

However after 1945, middleclass tastemakers set the scene for a more ‘intellectual’ and ‘high art’ theatre club, where gatekeeping and a ‘you can’t sit with us’ mentality became much more present, due to the high amount of money and time that was spent rebuilding the arts after the devastation of the war. This has had a lasting effect on British Theatre, with many working-class people feeling excluded from the in-club that

money can buy you. Money can give you the drama lessons and can send you to private schools dedicated to the arts. In fact, The Sutton Trust published a report in 2016 detailing that 42% of BAFTA winners where privately educated when only 7% of the of the population is privately educated in total.

Furthermore, the culture around going to the Theatre excludes the working classes who cannot afford the dress, the ridiculously overpriced drinks and food and do not understand the etiquette needed as they haven’t grown up around it.

The whole culture of attending a ‘high art’ event is deliberately

alienating, and creates a culture that does not seek to include the working classes, but demands that they change themselves in order to fit in. The stories told within theatre do not include the lives and celebrations of working-class people either, often we are shown stories of middle-class lives being told by middle class people. Theatre that is produced to talk about the lives of working-class people will not focus on the wins and the merits of those lives, but instead will greet its audience in the form of Poverty Tourism, focusing on themes such as drugs, alcoholism and domestic violence. This reinforces and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about working class individuals and helps further the class divide. A theatre company called Zebedee saw nothing offensive in putting on a play in a Hackney pub called ‘Cockney-tivity’ and having one of the characters be pregnant woman smoking. To add further fuel to the fire the tickets where priced at £55.

It seems like admitting theatre has a class problem is an elephant in the room, many people are aware of it but very little is being said about it or tackling the issue at hand. Finding working class voices in theatre isn’t in short supply, in fact there are many people working within the industry who are struggling with

feelings of alienation due to their class differences. “I can think of one specific time where an entire cast of kids and adults sat and had an in-depth discussion about why non-private schools are useless and strange places” Kacey Reed, 22 a working-class artist says. “Be able to show up to rehearsals if it isn’t in walking distance can be a struggle. I’ve felt alienated in every step” What can be done to support working class artists in middle and upper classes spaces seems to be a discussion that needs to be had. The Working-Class Artists Group is non-profit organisation keen to tackle classism in art, and to provide resources and support for working class artists. Their mission statement is to develop a “better and fairer sector” whilst acknowledging that the industry tends to favour capitalism over community.

Fighting your way into spaces where you do not feel welcome is an invisible battle that takes a heavy toll on your psychology.

Many working-class artists end up with imposter syndrome and end up feeling like they have to change themselves and their culture in order to fit in with middle class norms and behaviours. The industry needs to tackle its classism, as we need to be doing better.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Arts • Editors’ Choice

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A new column: Editors’ Choice Editors’ choice is a new column in which the Arts Editors have both the platform and opportunity to share what we are engaging with from the world of the arts. We wanted to create this section so that we are not only being the Arts Editors this year but also have the chance to write as well. We hope you shall discover some up and coming events, ideas, artists, productions, musicians and texts which may peak your interest, as we share what has caught our eye as well as getting us thinking about the events, new releases and ongoings from within the arts. For our first article we wanted to share some of our all time favourite texts; movies, books, podcasts, artists, albums, magazines, social media accounts and our cultural highlights, as a way to establish this new column and also share the types of artistic media we consume and enjoy.

Robyn Cowie Arts Co-Editor Like many this year, the events of 2020 have meant that a lot of things have not gone to plan and rather have turned into the unexpected. I cannot lie, the mutual feeling of 2020 is how many more bad things can happen in this year? And to be honest so many have, which has left me personally at a loss. I felt almost to the point of numbness, I have had the mentality this year of preparing myself for the worst possible outcome, as it is far easier to attempt to live through this year with your guard up, rather than have my optimism once again destroyed by the ordeal which this year has seemingly been.And yet, this week for the first time in a long time, I finally feel hope.

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And yet, this week for the first time in a long time, I finally feel hope.

The events of the US election has given millions around the world a lot to fear and rightly so, the idea of four more years of Donald Trump for many was one of dread and a continuation of his Presidency which has been casting a dark cloud upon the world for many years now. And although, over seventy million Americans, even more than before, did vote for Trump to continue within the White House, it was not to be. And, at least for me personally the announcement on Saturday that Joe Biden, finally, after many days of the world agonisingly waiting to hear, was told he was now not just a Presidential candidate but the President-Elect. And that Kamala Harris shall be paving the way as not only the first ever woman to be Vice-President of the United States but also the first woman of colour to hold the position.

This is not to say that now the BidenHarris ticket has won the election, the monumental divide within American and all the systemic problems which inhabit it have magically disappeared. Or that Biden himself is the perfect Presidential candidate, but it is a step in the right direction. And one which has led to the largest out-pouring of hope that the world has seen all year. And it is with this out-pouring of joy in which I wish to relish in for as long as I can.

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And it is with this out-pouring of joy in which I wish to relish in for as long as I can.

So here are some of my top cultural recommendations, for incase, like me

you wish to savour this illuminating feeling of joy and hopefulness. Then hopefully some of these shall allow that warm fuzzy feeling of optimism to remain for a little while longer. With films and televsision programmes which make me smile, be entertained and also ones which remind me there is a brighter-side of life.

25 Films to make you feel Hopeful: • It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) • Boyhood (2014) • The Farewell (2019) • Freedom Writers (2007) • Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011) • Good Will Hunting (1997) • Hairspray (2007) • Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) • The Sound of Music (1965) • Billy Elliot (2000) • Matilda (1996) • Love Actually (2003) • Indiana Jones Franchise (1981-1989) • Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) • Legally Blonde (2001) • School of Rock (2003) • Up! (2009) • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) • Sister Act (1992) • Paddington (2014) • Dead Poets Society (1989) • Star Wars Franchise (1977-1983) • Mama Mia! (2008) • When Harry met Sally (1989) • Singing in the Rain (1952) 12 T.V. Shows to keep you smiling: • Gilmore Girls • The Queen’s Gambit • Scrubs • Marvelosu Mrs. Masiel • The Great British Bake Off • Sister Sister • The Vicar of Dibley • Lovesick • Modern Family • Sex Education • New Girl • Brooklyn Nine-Nine • Derry Girls • Gavin & Stacey • Sister-Sister

Channel 4publicity

Jessica Hake Arts Co-Editor When it comes to being an adult I think it’s important to acknowledge that adulthood itself is merely just an idea. Once you get to eighteen years old, technically, you’re an adult. Yet still, I’m not sure I feel as though it has quite hit yet (for me nor my friends).

However, in the pursuit of adulthood there are a few artistic creations that have helped guide me along the path away from youth and to my eventual gaining of a mortgage (oh how we laugh, owning property – in Brighton?!).

The first is Dolly Alderton’s book Everything I know about love. My dad bought this book for me during my first year of sixth form after hearing Aldteron talk about her book on the radio and wanting to connect/provide support to his teenage daughter. The book itself details the realities of life. The definition of ‘love’ isn’t forced into the idea of romance, yet instead taken as an emotion that is applicable in so many areas of life; such as, friends, family, career and hobbies.

Coupled with this, her novel of memories is also interspersed with recipes, random lists and humorous anecdotal musings.

varied. Poetry itself can be a truly incredible art form and despite it being slightly tainted due to the aggressive love poetry I received last year, nothing can detract from the simple beauty of Shakespearean sonnets and drunken limericks (both equally valid forms of expression).

Another aspect of my journey into adulthood can be linked directly to music.

Now, fair warning – this is about record players. For my lovely lockdown birthday this year I was gifted a record player by my delightful parents. Alongside this, my mum gave me all her old singles and a couple of albums from when she was my age. Since then I have raided thrift stores and my nans attic, adding to my gradually (but steadily) growing collection. Although records have massively widened my taste and music, making me discover artists and sounds I didn’t know existed, they also forced me into the fundamentals of adulthood. That being ‘be careful with stuff!’. There’s a slap-dash approach to childhood that as you grow up you have to phase out of.

The clumsiness stops being an endearing quality trait and moves on to becoming a genuine concern that your parents and flatmates worry about. Having a record

Snappy Goat

Taylor Herring One aspect of art that has aided my integration with ‘grown-up’ society is poetry. In contrast to the usual writer who explores their poetic prowess (something I’m sorry to say I’m guilty of), poetry had a much more profound effect on me due to my interaction with a poet. Well, I say poet. I really mean an English Lit student with an inflated sense of self-importance.

During my first year at Sussex University I made friends with someone who ended up stalking me around campus and writing hateful love poetry about me. Overall, I would argue that this has shaped part of who I am today. If being an adult is having a collection of memories, then at least my mental scrapbook is wide and

player forced me to take a breath and deal with delicate objects that can be ruined/scratched *really* easily. As well as being a musical education, my indoctrination into the world of vinyl made me realise that even the simplest of activities can give rise to moments of pure joy.

This trio of art has all contributed to my ‘adulting’ experience. The term ‘adulting’ is thrown about my daily life as to describe actions that contribute to ‘making [you] a grown up’, by my flatmate. Adulting is something I used to think was a series of steps that resulted in adulthood; however, reflecting on this article I think I may have to change my mind.

Adulthood, at its core, is just a society of people all trying to be a grown up and ‘adulting’ their way through life’s ups and downs. Whether that be from learning how to treat records with care or avoid stalkers who write worryingly graphic hateful love poetry about you – who are we to judge.

ARTIST T H E A RT I ST S

Artist Focus: Nina C. Fisher It is a common occurrence that during the artistic process, the lines between the author-as-person and the author-as-artist become blurred. More often than not, visual constructions become personal allegories to emotional journeys. This is the case with Nina Fisher’s work, a third-year Illustration student at the University of Brighton. In this interview, we explored her approach to art as a form of therapy, and its relationship to surrealism. We also discussed the material importance of analogue work, and the creative relationship she has with her father.

A lot of your work seems to be tainted by surrealist elements, why is this?

This mainly revolves around the way in which I create my work. Since I draw through free associations, the elements I put together often lead to the creation of bizarre, dream-like images. For me, surrealism is simply a working method; an approach that follows pure instinct and spontaneity instead of careful planning and research. You could say it’s an ‘inverted’ approach; instead of starting with a message and theme, I start with the creation of the image, and it’s only afterwards that its meaning is uncovered.

Another thing that draws me to surrealism is that its vagueness allows people to attribute their own meanings to the work. In a way it’s similar to Rocher’s ink block. An example of this is my piece titled Rumours. Initially, I just wanted to do an illustration about badgers, and the theme that I wanted to get across was that of conflict. Interestingly enough, after I showed it to some people they said that it seemed to have a political message; and that’s when I decided to title it Rumours. It is fascinating to me how pieces change, evolve and mutate according to the viewer.That’s why I often give titles to my pieces only after quite a long time. I need to reflect on them, and come back only until I have discovered their true meaning.

Tell me about the process behind the making of your piece Freudian Dreamscapes.

Freudian Dreamscapes started as an oil painting but eventually it evolved into a collage in which I mixed graphite on paper and photography. When I started the illustration, I didn’t have any specific intentions in mind, I simply wanted to create a painting depicting two human characters.

Words by Luisa De la Concha Montes

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The Badger 16th November 2020

O F B R I G H TO N

However, once I finished the painting, I stepped back and noticed that it had become much more than that. Since I follow a stream-ofconsciousness approach when I’m working, I often end up noticing my own ulterior motives only until after the piece is finished. This was the case with Freudian Dreamscapes. The use of eels and sea snakes –phallic elements, which are recurring symbols in my art– was ultimately an allegory to my conflict with sexual intercourse.

Not being particularly good with words, uncomfortable issues are hard for me to talk about, so by visualising them through my work, I am able to exteriorise them. Painting then becomes a form of therapy, and the associations between the elements in the painting help me realise what is bothering me emotionally. In fact, for Freudian Dreamscapes, I used a photograph of myself and my partner, and now I recognise how appropriate that was.

What is your technique like? How does the physical aspect of the materials play a part in it?

Since I end up blending a lot of different things, I’m not sure what term to use when describing my technique. Currently, because of time management, I have moved my practice to the digital realm.

However, I try not to rely entirely on digital work, as it always felt to me as if it lacked something; it feels too polished, and I actually enjoy the texture and roughness of the paper. So, the strategy that works for me is to work by blending both mediums: I start with a very traditional pencil draft, then I draw everything on different sheets of paper. Afterwards, I scan and digitize them. Finally, I arrange them using Photoshop.The digital aspect allows me to test out different compositions and layouts, whilst the analogue aspect allows me to keep the material qualities such as the texture. For me, a capable artist is whoever is able to adapt their process, and find a way of working that is unexpected for the viewer.

Head to our website to read the rest of the interview

Contact us at: thebadger.street@gmail.com

To see more of Nina’s work...

Website: https://www.ninafisher.net/ Instagram: @ninaf_illustration Email: ninacfisher@gmail.com

The Badger 16th March 2020

Puzzles

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The Badger 16th November 2020

Travel & Culture

25

How to satisfy travel cravings during lockdown Bryony Rule T&C Online Sub-Editor For the travel-lovers and nomads among us, coronavirus and its subsequent lockdowns has undeniably been a challenge. For those who like to always have a trip or holiday planned ahead to look forward to, the pandemic has made this near-on impossible.

From constantly changing travel corridors, quarantine rules and national travel bans, many are having to come to terms with spending much more time in their home country than they may like.

But all is not lost; the feelings, sights, experiences and emotions that travel gives us can still be achieved from home, albeit in a slightly reduced format. Here are some tips to satisfy your travel desires whilst actual travel is momentarily off the cards.

Make a scrapbook from past trips Getting creative is a great way of reminiscing on past trips and holidays. In the age of smart phones, it is all too easy to spend your holiday constantly snapping photos, to never look back on them. Printing them out (there is a great range of cheap apps which make doing this super easy) and arranging them in a scrapbook

is not only incredibly therapeutic, but also means you will forever have a physical record of your memories and experiences. So, grab a glue stick, colourful pens and any other materials you desire, and get arty!

Watch travel documentaries

Whilst most would agree that nothing can compare to seeing amazing places with our own eyes, travel documentaries are a great second best. No matter what you’re looking for, there is a huge array of documentaries to quench your lockdown-induced thirst for travel. David Attenborough’s documentaries are an obvious choice. If you’re after some humour, Jack Whitehall’s Travels With My Father will tick the box. For foodies, Netflix’s Street Food has series’ exploring the lesser-known culinary delights found on the streets of Asia and Latin America.

Mountain provides some breathtaking visuals accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack, and is an incredibly immersive watch.

The Salt of the Earth explores the work of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, who shares stories from his lifetime spent exploring lesser-known corners of the world. A great attribute of travel documentaries is that they allow you to explore and see

Bryony Rule

things that you may otherwise not get the chance to, even in normal, non-Covid times!

Host a themed night with your house

Take a holiday with your housemates from the comfort of your very own kitchen! Pick a country or theme, and dedicate an evening to immersing yourself in the chosen culture – from food, to the music you play, games and activities, get fully involved! Some great examples include Mexican (who doesn’t love nachos); assign each housemate responsibility for a different tapas offering for a Spanish theme; try your hand at making sushi from scratch for Japanese night; or defy the British weather for an Australian themed BBQ! The list is endless, but any destination you pick is a great chance to feel whisked away from the reality of lockdown for an evening.

Take the time to learn a language I’m sure there are many of us who have always wanted to learn a new skill, such as a language, but have never quite found the time. View this lockdown as your opportunity – whether you want to brush up on your GCSE French or learn a completely new language, now is a great time to learn. Duolingo is a brilliant free website and app that has a huge offering of languages and makes learning accessible to everybody.

Practice now will pay off in the future when we are able to travel again, as well as being a fun and stimulating activity to keep you occupied in the meantime!

Plan your dream future trip

Just because it might be out of reach right now, doesn’t mean that you have to stop dreaming about future trips. Draw up a list of places you want to visit, experiences you want to try, and start creating a plan. With this extra time to spend researching, you could look into how to execute your dream trip in a more sustainable way, from looking into alternative transport methods, exploring less-well known tourist spots, and creating a directory of small, locally run businesses to support. Once the time comes for you to head off, you’ll be super prepared and extra excited!

Take a trip to Brighton beach

It might not quite equal sipping a mojito out of a coconut surrounded by palm trees, but we are very lucky to attend a university located on the seaside!

Take a stroll along the pebbles of Brighton beach – granted, it may be a little colder than your usual holiday experience, but sea air is guaranteed to lift your mood.

Take a book, grab an ice cream (or perhaps a hot chocolate!) and sit awhile, taking in the calming sounds, sights and smell of the sea. The cold November weather may make it quite unenticing to head to the beach, but you’re sure to feel better for it!

The Badger 16th November 2020

Travel & Culture

26

What’s on our streets: The Level Hal Keelin Travel & Culture Editor Every week I take a look at one of Brighton’s areas and their landmarks in the hope of seeking out a bit of their history and place in our city. What stories do they hold and what can they tell us about our beautiful town on the south coast?

With a map of Brighton spread out virtually across my screen, it is an unsurprisingly revealing affair. Brighton is comparatively tiny to what it is today and the tale of how a small fishing village battered by storms before overcoming a small revolution of status into a health resort prized by wealthy Victorians can be told by all Brighton school children.

Especially the tale of how Dr Richard Russell implored the rich, royal and famous to try out the medicinal qualities of sea water.

But lets return to the map of 1792 just to give a measure of scale and the magnitude of change Brighton has seen over the centuries in part thanks to the message of Russell. Firstly, a few rows of houses surround what is now the Old Steine. East to west along the coast from here they come to an abrupt end after one or so miles. Where the Laines are today is occupied by dense slum areas. The urban area continues only for a mile or so away from the seafront.

The position of Brighton Station which occupies a prime central location to many today would be totally ridiculous in 1790, this too on the distant periphery to the tiny fishing village. The open market which connects Ditchling road and the level with London Road is on the far edge of town. Hare and Hounds pub sits just outside the towns obvious border, farmland surrounds. St Nicholas church, now a short walk above Churchill square, is the third oldest building in modern Brighton (its valued in the doomsday book of 1086 at a pricey £12), stands – in our map of 1792- on a naked hill overlooking the town below.

It’s easy to forget and difficult to imagine how this tiny stone church of today would have been visible not only to residents below but provided a marker for those out at sea. Perhaps the best and most striking thing the map reveals is the cricket field slap bang in the middle of the modernday Level park. Cricket was played here from the mid-18th century through to 1822. It appears to have held the first informal match between local counties Sussex and Kent. Before cricket it was the site of Bat and trap,

traditionally played in England on good Fridays, a relic of our islands Middle Ages. Instead of cars, buses and taxis clogging up Lewes Road and London Road, in the 1700s it was water and two streams collected on the grassy plains of the level making it prone to severe flooding. Perhaps in response to this the northern section of the

stayed present until the 1950s!

A historical moment came in 1814 as the overthrow of Napoleon Bonaparte was celebrated during the great Peace festival on Level grounds. Then came the coronation of George IV celebrated lavishly on the field with the roasting of two cows for a public dinner. Queen Victoria’s

local community was helped by the inconspicuous fact that it was one of the only spaces left for everyone. In the 1800s it was the only public space around for the general public or the masses; The Valley Gardens, Old Steine, New Steine and Victoria Gardens were exclusive areas of the upper classes. More local and community affairs were also held on the field and it was a regular venue for circuses and fairs, just like today, pre lockdown.

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While the cities of the north established and protected green spaces in the heart of their industrial cities – Birmingham had popular parks by the 1860s (Handsworth) as did Liverpool (Sefton Park) and Derby (The Arboretum) – Brighton was stuck for quite some time believing the fresh sea air was good enough.

Photoc C andrew- (cc-by-sa/2.0)

park was laid out for the Prince of Wales in 1791. This allowed for the expansion of sporting activities and village events to be held on the field: Brighton Toy Fair was hosted here as well as Pony Racing and selling of south down sheep.

In 1807 the level was the site of a boxing match, witnessed by the prince of wales and boxing booths

coronation and celebration came in 1838 while a public celebration came together in 1855 for the nations announcement of peace made with Russia.

These successive events established the level as something of a venue for celebration and recreational pursuits. But its location and significance to the

On the 5th of November 1875 It became the site of -yes you guessed it- Bonfire night but peculiarly enough this was only because the residents of nearby Lewes decided not to celebrate due to a bout of sickness.

Organised by the Brighton Bonfire Boys the parades were confined to the site of the Level for fear of threats and attacks from hoodlums.It was not until the 20th century however that Brighton and Brightonians began paying attention to the benefits that could be brought by green open space.

While the cities of the north established and protected green spaces in the heart of their industrial cities – Birmingham had popular parks by the 1860s (Handsworth) as did Liverpool (Sefton Park) and Derby (The

Arboretum) – Brighton was stuck for quite some time believing the fresh sea air was good enough.

Children playing and skating here is certainly no new phenomenon. Bertie Hubard Maclaren (who also designed Preston Park previously) laid out a boating pool bridges and a pergola for the space between the two busy roads. Over the coming decades in began to grow as a place highly important for the surrounding community and this was none more so thanks to Malaren’s efforts. Children skated on the water in winter throughout the 1940s, although they had to remember to stay well clear of the Royal Engineers who occupied part of the park in 1944, staying until 1955.

In 1979 the skate park was built while 1983 bore witness to a protest. In 1987 came the great storm which wreaked havoc on the city and the park. Elms were destroyed and hauled down by vicious winds prompting the council to respond by planting a

range of different aged trees in their place, pre-empting a similar future disaster. As we can see the level has been a prominent and highly valued space for its community and Brighton in general.

Although it is far and away not the best park or space in the city aesthetically, it is still a highly popular location, offering a break between the busy and congested main roads coming into the city.

Fascinatingly, The Level is still also a space of protest now, most recently I remember joining the crowds for the Greta Thunberg inspired School Strike for Climate in 2019. At a time when cities, school children, parents and supporters of the world united in pressuring their governments and world leaders to take a firmer stand on Climate Change, the Level was one of thousands of squares, parks, town halls and streets hosting a mass movement.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Travel & Culture

27 Walks on in Brighton?

Lockdown 2.0 is here, Hal Keelin, Travel and Culture editor walks us through one of the best ways to stay safe and still sane...

Hal Keelin T&C Editor With the government’s imposition of a second lockdown for England on the 5th of November, Bonfire Night, a night usually reserved for revelry and celebration (at least in my hometown of Lewes) came one of angst and trepidation for some of us.

Even from those lucky enough to have few worries about the new national situation, the announcement can’t have been met with much joy. Yet, while the new restrictions on our freedoms bring sighs frowns and possibly a few tears nationally, we at travel and culture are striving to see the situation as best we can and highlight some ways to stay safe and yet also get us up in the morning. Therefore, as a replacement to our preview section of events we thought it would be a good idea to highlight alternative ways we can get out of our houses, and perhaps most importantly, have a reason to get dressed in the morning. Carpe Diem and all that.

As we all know from last time around, Lockdown brings out in us humans a primal need to escape the confines of our four walls and a roof. It is a paradox – at a time when the use of the time and space outside our homes

curves with the track road so that you walk now towards stammer - Follow the descent around and back down into the university grounds.

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“We saw the sunset and the sky became a gorgeous colour…we knew it was gonna be the last one for a while with the winter and rain coming” Seafront Walks

Live closer to the seafront? why not try a coastal walk to Roedean.

Take the bus out to the marina, and simply walk back along the seafront. That promenade is long isn’t it.

Time; 2 hrs Distance 3 miles Elevation Flat

is restricted and scrutinized like never before; we need the outdoors and its freedoms like never before. It’s simple though really. Getting outside shakes us up, it provides and invites a time of relief and relaxation into the day, it encourages to see what’s truly important in our lives and enables

us to cushion some perspective around our worries and anxieties.

A friend recently told me they’d decided to walk back from campus to their home in the Lewes road area. “That’s a long way though isn’t it” I asked. “Yes” they replied “and its not the nicest walk ever but we saw the sunset and the sky went a gorgeous colour…we went because it was a nice day and I knew it was going to be the last one for a while with the winter and rain coming”. We all have our reasons but the ones my friend spoke about here I think are really important.

knew it was gonna be the last one for a while with the winter and rain coming” With this in mind, below are three walks hopefully all of us at Sussex can do from campus or home in Brighton.

Perhaps you live closer to hove than the marina, if so, walk out of Old Steine and keep going until you get to hove lawns, apparently there’s pirate pedalos over there and yes even in lockdown. To spice it up, at Hove Lawns venture north into town and walk back through Hove taking in the huge and gorgeous Georgian houses of Palmeira square. There’s more to Hove than you thought, right?

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"Instead of moaning, be grateful for what you have and when home make things nice for yourself, with candles, and hot baths. " These are sentiments embraced by a Norwegian, Ida Solhaug, interviewed by the BBC this month who stated that “getting through” lockdown in cold months is all about “really embracing winter for what its worth”. She notes that a change in Brit mentality from one of “enduring winter” to being more positive could be hugely beneficial. Instead of moaning, be grateful for what you have and when home make things nice for yourself, with candles, and hot baths. Some things that are all the sweeter after being out in the cold and after noticing more in nature on a walk, as my friend found.

“We saw the sunset and the sky became a gorgeous colour…we

Walk from Coldean Time; 3 hours Distance 6 miles Elevation 550 metres How: - Start from wild park cross under the Brighton and Hove Bypass - From here follow the footpath that hugs the Ditchling Road out into the country and rolling hills continue up the hill - At the farm take a right that

Time: 1.5 hours Distance: There and back = 3 miles Elevation Flat As you can see and will hopefully find, its easy to find some peace and joy in all this by stepping outside our houses. So wrap up warm get those bootgs and wellies on and get outside!

The Badger 16th November 2020

Travel & Culture

28

Reflections from 11,724km away

Cultural Bite

T&C Sub-Editor Katya discusses her Sussex experience from the other side of the world.

Vegan Jackfruit Chilli

Katya Pristiyanti T&C Print Sub-Editor Coming from a tropical country and being used to the endless sunshine, (partially) clear sky and constant warm weather, I did not expect to miss the cold dreary Autumnal breeze in Brighton. I think we have all heard everyone say that none of us expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. We have been hit with several valuable lessons, reflections of what our future brings out and a heck of a lot of hardships. Through the months we have experienced a lot of phases, and at this point, I think it’s safe to say that it has come to a point where we don’t have any more expectations for this circumstance.

I went home to Indonesia in March when the news of Coronavirus in the UK went viral.

I went back as soon as I could, didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to some of my friends as I was afraid the borders might close. In the beginning, I selfishly relished in being able to go home.

I was hit with a large wave of homesickness earlier in the year and when I could see my family sooner than I expected, I was ecstatic. I remembered coming home and was able to soak in my time with my family. I was also able to see my friends and boyfriend whom I haven’t seen in months as well. For a while, the situation was manageable and I could see a silver lining in it.

Flash forward to August when I started to get anxious about the growing number of cases.

I think every international student at this stage was anxious with the travelling, their living conditions or what the condition of University was going to be

like. From our experience with online learning last term, I found that it was okay. It was not great but they managed it the best they could. After the announcement on distant learning, all of my plans on flying back and having a normal last year blew up.

2 months into Zoom classes and I wouldn’t say that I am not enjoying uni, but I think demotivation and restlessness have become a feeling I am slowly being accustomed to.

I think with some classes, Zoom has become quite normal as we used to often skip those early 9 am classes to watch the online class anyways. Though with more practical courses, it has certainly been more of a challenge. With no reading week and a mountain of tasks, managing time has also been hell to deal with. Time for some reason seems to be going slowly and quickly at the same time. The 6 hour (now 7 because of daylight savings) difference has also made it a very interesting obstacle. As a self-proclaimed night owl, I don’t necessarily mind studying into the later hours, though if I am asked to engage about a 30 page reading at 11 pm, you can probably assume I am one of those people in a breakout room just staring into a screen.

is it when I am only up half of their day, and they are active when my brain is either already mushed for any social interactions or it is already the next day for me.

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I went back as soon as I could, didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to some of my friends as I was afraid the borders might close.

This also brings about my difficulties in maintaining relationships with my friends.

It has been difficult to keep in touch let alone schedule events or meetings with them. Societies have been great in pushing for new connections, though how effective

This also brings about my difficulties in maintaining relationships with my friends.

It has been difficult to keep in touch let alone schedule events or meetings with them.

Being so far away from uni and campus life has made me reflect and question my uni days. I think movies and TV shows have made us have these expectations where uni is supposed to be the best years of our lives, and this has made me question deeply if I had lived through that or if I have forgotten to do that?

Not to mention the constantly rising tuition fee that we as international students are constantly faced with each year.

Am I making use of that? Probably not. Am I going to graduate being able to say that I extracted every possible lesson and opportunity I could have gotten from my studies and uni life experiences?

Debatable.

For a long time, I wish for things to be different, for time to move on quicker, to grow older and to move on to the next phase of my life. I did not realise until now just how much I want things to stay the same and things to not change.

For now, I have booked my flight back in January. If you ask me if I am optimistic about things by then, I am for sure not. But, I hope to soon be complaining about a 9 am class with friends and to hopefully give them a huge hug as I see them in a cap and gown.

pxfuel This super versatile Mexican inspired dish is colourful, warming and packed full of flavour and goodness. You can find tinned jackfruit in most supermarkets; its pulled texture makes it a great meat substitute and perfect for absorbing any flavour you cook it with. This is a great recipe if you’re cooking for a crowd, or ideal for batch cooking.

What you will need: 1 tbsp oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 pepper, sliced 400g tin jackfruit in water 1 tsp cumin 1.5tsp paprika Pinch chilli flakes 200g tin of sweetcorn, drained 400g tin beans of choice (e.g. kidney or black-eyed beans) 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp barbeque sauce 1 tsp brown sugar Dash soy sauce Rice/nachos/guacamole/ lime wedges/coriander, to serve (optional)

Wikimedia Commons

Method Heat your oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and fry for a couple of minutes, until soft.

Add the pepper and fry for a few minutes, before adding the drained jackfruit.

Add the cumin, paprika, chilli flakes and combine.

Add the sweetcorn, beans and half the tin of tomatoes, and give it a good mix.

Next add the barbeque sauce, maple syrup and soy sauce – these can be adjusted to suit your tastes.

Pop the lid on the pan and simmer the chilli on a low heat for around 30 minutes, adding more tinned tomatoes when needed. As the chilli cooks, the jackfruit should soften and start to pull apart – you can use a fork to help break it up.

Add a squeeze of fresh lime, serve with whatever you fancy and enjoy!

Katya Pristiyanti

Bryony Rule T&C Online Sub-Editor

The Badger 16th November 2020

Science & Technology

29

Physics nobel prize 2020 Three scientists win the Nobel Prize for research on a supermassive black hole Amy-Rose Collins At the centre of our galaxy, there lies a heavyweight monster capable of devouring entire star systems in a single gulp. Three Laureates have the beast to thank for this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics. Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez share the prestigious award, being credited with theoretically and observationally demonstrating the existence of our supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.

Black holes were once extremely heavy stars that exploded violently as supernovae at the end of their lives, only to succumb to gravity’s will and collapse to a single point in space. (Note that ‘supermassive’ refers to the sheer amount of matter - like stars and badly driven spaceships - that makes up a black hole, not its physical size.) With a gravitational field so intense, get too close to the centre, and nothing in the universe can travel fast enough to escape its pull - not even the light we need to see them.

Thankfully, from our vantage point 26,000 lightyears away from Sagittarius A*, we’re not likely to be torn apart anytime soon.

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With a gravitational field so intense, get too close to the centre, and nothing in the universe can travel fast enough to escape its pull not even the light we need to see them.

Penrose received one half of the 2020 Prize for proving that Einstein’s mathematical theory of Relativity predicts the existence of black holes.

His unique approach to the problem of collapsing material is widely regarded as the greatest contribution to the theory since Einstein. Pen-

Christopher Dibble rose, who is also known for producing optical illusions

the orbits of the closest thirty stars, which are all far enough away and moving fast enough to avoid certain doom. Genzel explains: “We are seeing not it, [...], we are sensing its gravity”.

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We know that Einstein’s Relativity can’t be applied in the centre of black holes, and there are many theoretical Physicists working on theories such as Quantum Gravity which may unlock the secrets that lurk there.

such as the impossible triangle and Penrose steps, speaking to Nobel Media, recalled “[I started] thinking in a geometrical way, not really solving equations because you know it’s too complicated”.

Prior to Penrose, Physicists were making assumptions about the symmetry of collapsing stars to simplify the equations they had to solve.

In reality, bodies are rarely perfectly spherically symmetrical. The models’ simplicity, paired with calculations predicting a rather bizarre object, meant that many Physicists - including Einstein himself - did not believe that these solutions could be predicting the existence of black holes.

However, in 1965, Penrose published a groundbreaking article describing his creation, ‘trapped surfaces’. He used these surfaces to argue that, even if the collapsing material is not spherical, once certain conditions are met, Relativity indeed predicts the collapse will produce a black hole.

Just years after Penrose’s success, scientists discovered that when matter falls into a black hole, energy is released in the form of incredibly bright electromagnetic radiation called a ‘quasar’. Using this newfound knowledge, an estimate of how common these quasars should be was made. The result indicated that most galaxies should have a black hole at their cen-

tre. In 1971, a paper arguing for the existence of a black hole at the centre of our own galaxy was published. It even gave us some ideas for how to find it, if it existed. If there is something with a strong gravitational inf luence relatively nearby, perhaps we could observe its inf luence.

MPE Genzel and Ghez share the other half of the Prize for the measurement and calculation of Sagittarius A*’s properties. Beginning in the 1990s, each led their own team of Astronomers in the search for evidence of a black hole in the centre of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Our tiny homeworld is situated roughly twothirds out from the centre of the f lat, disk-like galaxy. This meant that Genzel and Ghez’s teams had to use large, nearinfrared telescopes to ‘see’ through the billions of stars and clouds of dust in between us and their target. Their first challenge, however, was

something far closer to home.

The atmosphere that surrounds our planet contains bubbles of gas that shift around each other depending on their relative temperatures, and can make far off objects appear to shift position. This is the same thing that happens around a candle f lame, and is what makes stars appear to twinkle.

To combat the blurring effects of the atmosphere on their measurements, Genzel and Ghez utilised newly available ‘adaptive optics’. In her 2009 TED talk, Ghez described the technology as “kind of like very fancy eyeglasses for your telescope”.

The telescopes’ glasses consist of an additional mirror which is capable of rapidly changing shape in response to the guidance of a laser-created, artificial star. Since the actual position of the ‘guide star’ is known, the image received at the telescope can be used to measure where the atmosphere has ‘moved’ the guide star to, and the secondary mirror adjusted to correct for this unwanted distortion.

Atmosphere, dust, and unfathomable distance traversed in but a few decades, both teams began their clearest observations yet of the galaxy’s centre. But of course, what they were observing was not the black hole itself - for past a certain point, it gobbles up everything we could possibly use to see it - but

The star named ‘SO2’ proved vital in the teams’ calculations. It takes the star just 16 years to complete an orbit around the galactic centre (for comparison, it takes our solar system around 200 million years), which means that astronomers have had time to map its entire elliptical orbit.

By using the data collected, the teams were able to reverse-engineer the properties of the object SO2 is orbiting.

In papers published in 2009 and 2008 respectively, Genzel and Ghez’s results individually found that the object has a mass equivalent to around 4 million times the mass of our sun, and is squeezed into the

Detýnn same size as our solar system.

The only currently known explanation is that the object must be a black hole.

At least, Physicists don’t have a better explanation yet. We know that Einstein’s Relativity can’t be applied in the centre of black holes, and there are many theoretical Physicists working on theories such as Quantum Gravity which may unlock the secrets that lurk there. After this peak into the heart of our galactic neighbourhood, how exciting to know that as our technology develops, we have a potential fountain of knowledge right on our doorstep.

The Badger16th November 2020

Science & Technology Euthanasia and assisted suicide

30

Is it time for the UK to change its laws?

Rosie Marilyn Burgess This week’s referendum in New Zealand, in which euthanasia for people with terminal illnesses was legalised by a landslide margin (62.5% to 33.8%), marked a very important landmark in the case for euthanasia and assisted suicide.

So, what is euthanasia and assisted suicide?

Euthanasia is the practice of ending someone’s life in order to relieve pain or suffering, without any active input from the person themselves.

Assisted suicide, meanwhile, involves the person wishing to die and thus taking an active role in the ending of their life.

When you think of assisted suicide, Switzerland is probably the first country that springs to mind. With services offered primarily by Dignitas, Switzerland allows physician-assisted suicide without a minimum age requirement, diagnosis or symptom state.

It is only illegal when the motivation can be deemed “selfish” - for example, if someone does not want to carry the burden of caring for a sick person.

In 2018, 221 people travelled to Switzerland to seek assisted suicide. 87 of those were from Germany, 31 from

France and 24 from the UK. Services offered by Dignitas are not cheap and can cost up to £3,380. Assisted suicide is therefore simply not an option for those without the financial means to pursue it.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are also legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, whereby there is ‘unbearable suffering and no prospect of improvement”.

Various checks have to be undertaken before assisted suicide can be approved. Canada also allows euthanasia and assisted suicide for adults suffering from irremediable conditions.

Even in the USA, several states now offer legal assisted dying. Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine and Mon-

tana all have laws or court rulings allowing doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. The doctors may write a prescription for fatal drugs, but a healthcare professional must be present when they are administered.

All states require a 15-day waiting period between two oral requests and a two-day waiting period between a final written request and the fulfilment of the prescription.

Palliative sedation in France is also legal, whereby someone can be asked to be deeply sedated until they die.

Meanwhile, in the UK a survey carried out by the campaign group My Death, My Decision (MDMD) discovered that 88% of respondents considered it acceptable for dementia sufferers to receive help to end their lives, provided they consented to doing so prior to losing their mental capacity.

A previous survey carried out by Dignity in Dying in 2015 found that 82% of people supported assisted dying. The data now shows that one person a week is now travelling from the UK to Switzerland to end their lives. Despite this, helping someone kill themselves is, in fact, a criminal offence that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years and is prohibited by section 1(1) of the suicide act 1962. Indeed,

in the UK, euthanasia is considered murder in the eyes of the law.

For many, it is clear that it is time to change UK law.

However, the most recent legal challenges to the UK ban have been dismissed by the supreme court by the lawyers for Noel Conway, a retired lecturer who is paralysed from the neck down by progressive motor neurone disease.

At the moment, arranging an assisted death overseas is a long and arduous process.

Making the journey to Switzerland requires health, creating an immense pressure to make the journey before becoming ill sacrificing quality time with friends and family.

Another negative is that when you have an assisted suicide in Switzerland, you have to be cremated there to avoid legal problems so many people are denied a traditional funeral service. The dying are in need of the help of friends and family to make the arrangements for an assisted death, yet any assistance provided is against the law.

The threat of prosecution and the resulting anxiety for those seeking these treatments culminates often in a botched attempt to end their own lives. These horrendous and often unsuccessful circumstances tend to lead to even more suffering.

Around 53% of deaths in England take place in hospital despite the fact that this is often the least preferred by patients. According to a survey completed by Marie Curie, between 92,000 and 142,500 people in England each year have an unmet need for palliative care. With the addition of new euthanasia and assisted suicide laws as well as providing additional community services reducing hospital stays for the terminally ill, there could be millions of pounds of savings made to an already crumbling NHS. The current laws in the UK are failing to help many vulnerable people in a system where palliative care in the country has its shortcomings.

Longstanding underfunding of palliative care training and services is a major cause of a failure to provide sufficient care in the NHS. With the looming potential problem of an ageing population and changing demographics, longer chronic disease trajectories and more co-morbidities show just how urgent it is to revise the current laws in order to create a more sustainable, widely accepted, patient-centred and cost-effective model for euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The World’s Tiniest Boat Amy-Rose Collins Researchers at Leiden University in The Netherlands, helmed by Drs Rachel Doherty and Daniela Kraft, have created the worlds smallest 3D printed boat. At just 30 micrometers long, it’s the perfect size to drift along a human hair, and is 260,000x smaller than the current Guinness World Record holder for largest 3D printed boat.

You can see the adorable tug boat set sail on the university’s YouTube channel.

The focus of their research is on how the smallest creations - or, ‘microswimmers’ - are able to move, and how this is related to their shapes.

The purpose of this delightful endeavour was to show that 3D printing can be used to produce detailed, tiny objects. Prior to the use of this more sophisticated technolo-

gy, scientists had been limited in the shapes of microswimmers they were able to create; mostly spheres and spirals.

The team used a commercially available microprinter to print a variety of shapes, including a spiral and a spaceship from the Star Trek franchise. The boat in particular has special significance for proving the utility of the technology, however.

Nicknamed “3DBenchy”, short for ‘benchmark’, the boat is a popular tool for owners of 3D printers to test and fine tune their set-ups.

The official website proclaims Benchy-printing to be a “jolly 3D printing torture-test”. The boat’s detail and tricky angles provide a challenge to printers. As we can see, Leiden’s boat is perfectly sea-worthy!

But...how is it sailing exactly?

Natural microswimmers, such as bacteria and sperm, wave long whip-like appendages to propel themselves through their environment.

Scientists employ a variety of techniques to make their synthetic versions move, including using electromagnetism to give them the necessary push. Benchy’s fuel specifically comes from a chemical effect called diffusiophoresis, where movement is caused due to different concentrations of f luids surrounding an object.

Doherty et al. gave Benchy a pretty platinum patch on its stern, then dropped it

into a pool of hydrogen peroxide (the same stuff found in bleach blonde hair dye).

Platinum is a known catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide - it’s good at helping hydrogen peroxide break down into other things.

As the surrounding hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the platinum patch on Benchy’s stern, it is broken down into water and oxygen.

Now there is a difference in concentrations of the f luids surrounding the little boat, with hydrogen peroxide ahead and a mix of water and oxygen behind, exerting a bit of pressure. This pressure on the stern is what propels Benchy forward, into more hydrogen peroxide, where the process begins again. To the team, this revealed another advantage of using a 3D printer to create their microswimmers.

Unlike previous methods,

printing allows much greater control over where the patch is placed on the swimmer, and therefore over which direction it travels.

This test passed, the team hopes the technology can create more interesting shapes for further study of intertwined shape and movement in the realm of the small. Fun though it may be to watch a miniature tugboat glide across the microscope lens, the long term goals for this research reach beyond joy and whimsy. Greater understanding of how microswimmers behave, and how we can create and control our own, may lead to applications in healthcare, such as therapeutic diagnostics and precise delivery of drugs. Not bad for the maiden voyage of the worlds tiniest boat.

The Badger 16th November 2020

Science & Technology

31

Spotlight on sickle cell disease An event report from the Oncology, Haematology and Palliative Care Society (OHP) Colm Kelliher Dr Norris Igbineweka, who is presently a Clinical PhD Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and Imperial College London’s Haematology Department, spoke to the OHP Society of Brighton and Sussex Medical School on Monday 26th October 2020 on the title: “Sickle Cell Disease: A black lives matter disease or a glimpse into the struggle of humankind?” This was an inspiring talk, shining a spotlight on a disease that does not receive enough attention.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is commonly studied in genetics, and many people have heard of it. However, we often fail to grasp the severity of the condition, and how it affects the greater population.

Dr Norris Igbineweka delivered a webinar for BSMS OHP society to inform us of this.

In SCD, a gene mutation leads to abnormally made haemoglobin, which gives the red blood cells a ‘sickle’ shape. These abnormal blood cells get stuck in blood vessels, leading to the death of tissue and inf lammation. This causes great pain and suffering for patients, and it can occur anywhere in the body.

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While the disease is most common in Africa and other areas more heavily affected by malaria (due to SCD’s protective effects against it), there are many people with the disease in the UK. While the disease is most common in Africa and other areas more heavily affected by malaria (due to SCD’s protective effects against it), there are many people with the disease in the UK. People with SCD are living longer due to better treatments like hydroxycarbamide, but they often pass away much earlier than a healthy person. Genetic studies have helped to improve treatment options greatly. Yet, a focus on European populations has likely hindered our ability to treat SCD. Few studies have been conducted in African populations.

Studying typical and SCD

Sickle cells, Wikimedia commons genomes in this group earlier could have led to better treatments for the disease.

We need more genetic markers of disease severity, as well as clinical biomarkers and education about the disease.

The SCD population require a stronger, more inf luential political voice to support them like some other diseases have.

Conditions such as cystic fibrosis affect fewer people than SCD but receive much more funding and attention.

This disparity in research and funding can greatly decrease SCD patients’ quality and length of life.

Studies have shown that the immense pain that the disease causes is sometimes mis-identified by clinicians.

Patients can be labelled as drug-seeking for wanting

pain relief or given too little analgesia.

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This disparity in research and funding can greatly decrease SCD patients’ quality and length of life.

Studies have shown that the immense pain that the disease causes is sometimes mis-identified by clinicians. Patients can be labelled as drug-seeking for wanting pain relief or given too little analgesia.

This disease is invisible to the naked eye, and a lack of understanding often leads to negative outcomes. Undoubtedly, stigma and discrimination play a role too. This has all been documented by NICE and other health organisations. Greater research into

and understanding of SCD today may lead to less disparity tomorrow.

SCD is too often thought of as ‘a disease of black people’.

While it has origins in African areas, it can and does affect everyone. Extrapolation of 16th century data suggest that 20% of British people who view themselves as white have the sickle cell trait.

The pain and chronic multiorgan damage caused causes great suffering in families.

Additionally, the hospitalisation due to this is very costly.

SCD alone cost the NHS £19 million between 2010-11.

Spending money on finding better SCD therapies and treating the co-morbidities of the condition early is important. It doesn’t just vastly improve someone’s quality of

life, as vital as that is, it also helps our greater society.

With more money available, more beds in hospitals will be available for people that need them, and more money can be spent researching/providing treatments for other diseases.

SCD is a condition that must be understood and treated correctly, to improve the lives of all of us.

Overall, sickle cell disease is a serious, painful condition associated with a vast number of co-morbidities. People with the condition can face discrimination in healthcare and day-to-day life.

The ‘invisible’ condition takes a great toll on the individual, but also on society. It is not just a ‘disease of black people’. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to educate people on and treat the condition better. We must strive to overcome the obstacles associated with properly treating SCD to relieve the suffering the disease brings.

If you would like to learn more about SCD, or OHP, please find the BSMS OHP society on social media or visit the YouTube channel (https:// www.youtube.com/channel/ UCo7wAWLUnu22Pnd3qt3xQpA) to look at some of our webinars.

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Unsplash, @nci

SCD is too often thought of as ‘a disease of black people’. While it has origins in African areas, it can and does affect everyone.

Extrapolation of 16th century data suggest that 20% of British people who view themselves as white have the sickle cell trai t.

We would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr Norris Igbineweka for delivering a thought-provoking webinar to our students and staff.

We would also like to convey our appreciation for members of BSMS academic faculty who attended the event: Professor Malcolm WR Reed, Dean of BSMS, who delivered a note of thanks at the event; Dr Tim Chevassut, Reader in Haematology and Consultant Haematologist; Professor Melanie Newport, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health.

The Badget 16th November 2020

Sport

32 Fixture Pile-Up Havoc

Max Kilham In a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, footballing bodies have been forced to squeeze all their matches into a tighter timeframe than previous.

It is therefore no surprise to see a fixture pile-up at this current point in the season, especially for teams playing in European competitions.

In the past three weeks, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester and Arsenal have all played an extraordinary seven games.

A remarkable amount in any footballing context.

During this period, players have been dropping like flies, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the latest to have picked up a suspected soft tissue injury in Liverpool’s match vs.

Manchester City.

This has led to uproar from many of the leading managers in the Premier League, with

Pundit Arena

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the first to express his concerns.

Solskjaer had this to say regarding the fixture schedule: “We were set up to fail.

“Luke Shaw was injured today because we’ve been to Turkey on Wednesday night, got back in Thursday morning and are playing Saturday lunchtime. It’s an absolute shambles.

“I want to praise the boys for the character they’ve shown.

They deserve better than being thrown out here to fail today.

The authorities set us up to fail.

“How can I set us up today for a 12:30 kick-off? City and Liverpool played on Tuesday and play again on Sunday. Who’s responsible? We’ve had enough of that. I’ve had enough.

“Set us up on a Sunday. It’s an international break after. No argument.”

Even before this season, managers had voiced their frustrations at the scheduling, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp consistently the voice of the discussion.

After his star right-back went down on Sunday, adding to the likes of Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Virgil van Dijk on the injury list, it is understandable that Klopp

may be frustrated with the lack of recovery time between games.

The German backed his Norwegian counterpart: “We played after the international break at 12.30 on Saturday at Everton. Some of my players were coming back from Peru.

“These kind of things should not happen.

“I spoke about two weeks ago – in a meeting with the person responsible at the Premier League who organised the fixtures. We cannot change it. It is not about Manchester United, Liverpool and City.

“Usually in the season we all have a (congested) November and December. This year the October is like a December, the November is like a November and the December is still like a December. The 12.30 game – that is a killer. If the Tuesday teams are in contention for the Saturday 12.30 that is OK. But the Wednesday teams should not be.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has had injury troubles of his own, with both star striker Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus out of action until Jesus’ return in the midweek Champions League fixture. This

has resulted in wingers like Ferran Torres being required to fill a hole at the No. 9 position.

He too was concerned at the current fixture scheduling, echoing Klopp’s outrage:

ФК ШАХТЕР “Today the right-back for the national team of England is injured. Tomorrow it will be another player. It is too much,” City’s manager said. “It is so demanding for the players – and is the same for all teams.

I don’t understand how the Premier League understands the situation.

“I remember when I was a young player and I read the news from England – Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger complaining the same thing about what Solskjær is saying.

“I don’t have any optimistic solution.

The two-time Champions

League winner went on to discuss the situation for broadcasters: “They cannot come together because each one looks for himself and his business. My business is to protect my players. LeBron James won the NBA and now he is going on holiday for two months, three months.

“Our guys have eight days because of BT and Sky.” There are fundamental opposing issues at play.

Broadcasters and footballing bodies that want a return to the normal footballing schedule.

Packing games into short timeframes seems to be the solution currently.

On the other side we have those who play and manage the games. The players who get injured, the managers who deal with selection headaches as a result of this and vast medical staff being dragged from corner to corner by the never-ending injury crisis.

It seems unlikely that a solution will be reached in the near future, with broadcasters unlikely to sacrifice revenue in the face of manager pressure. A much larger rebellion is required to convince those at the very top that change is needed.

Sports documentaries to help forget about lockdown Charlie Batten Sports Print Editor Seeing as Boris has decided to put us all back into another lockdown, I thought it might be useful for me to recommend some of the best sports documentaries I’ve seen to try and help get through this dull and depressing time.

The Last Dance.

Realistically, most people watched this during the first lockdown but I felt the need to put it here in case you somehow missed it The Last Dance takes a look at Michael Jordan’s whole career from when he was in college all the way to his second retirement. It contains unseen footage from is final season with the Chicago Bulls and has interviews with some of his teammates, coaches, rivals, and people who simply witnessed his career such as Barack Obama.

What really is the most interesting part of the series is seeing how committed Jordan was to his sport. The way he pushed his teammates to make them better and was so focused on winning is fascinating.

The beauty of it is that you don’t have to be a basketball fan

or even a sports fan to be able to enjoy the documentary because it looks more at Michael’s personality and drive as well as his relationships with others rather than simply focusing on his games and his records.

SteveLipofskyBasketballPhoto Last Chance U. This series focuses on American Football college teams and the players and staff that run it. What makes it so interesting is that it looks at division 2 teams which means they have a lot less money and aren’t as good. What often happens with these teams though, is that they get rejected players who division 1 colleges who are kicked out for bad behaviour which often involves trouble with the law.

This creates is a group of

young guys who are all desperate to make it into professional American football and how the staff at these colleges work hard to achieve their dream.

It is also interesting to look at as an English person to see how American colleges work and especially their sports programmes as it is completely alien to us.

Icarus.

What starts off as a documentary looking into how steroids can affect your performance slowly becomes an expose on the Russian doping scandal and how the state created and controlled it.

This 2017 Oscar winner for best documentary initially starts out with amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel wanting to see how much steroids help athletes as like many others in the world of cycling he was shocked by Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal.

During his time obtaining steroids he gets into contact with the leading Russian antidoping officer and the two become close. This officer later gets accused of being the head of Russia’s state sponsored doping scandal and from here on we get to hear personal testimonies of

what happened, and the dangers Russia pose.

I found this a fascinating documentary because it looks at how far some people would go just to win and how sport can be used as a way of showing off to the rest of the world.

Formula 1: drive to survive.

This Netflix series is a classic sports documentary that looks behind the scenes at formula 1 teams and interviews the people that compete in the sport. Each series follows a specific season and takes you through the highs and lows of each team.

To me I always felt F1 was a very closed of sport due to the money that you need to be a part of it and the fact that all the actual work on the cars is done very much behind closed doors.

What this series does is effectively humanise all the drivers by allowing them to show their personality and their emotions as it’s often hard to tell what goes on in their head when you only really see them in a car with a helmet on.

You also get to see the intricacies of how an F1 team works which again, from the outside it is very hard to understand so if you’re just

getting into F1 or want to get into it this is the perfect series for you.

Bobby Robson: More than a manager.

My final choice is one that I think is an important watch for football fans but also anyone that wants to see sport that’s still played for the love of the game and not just to make money. Bobby Robson was one of the last gentlemen of football, he loved the game, and he loved his players.

The documentary takes you through his managerial career and has many people he worked with or coached talk about him.

The most emotional interview was with Paul Gascoigne who revealed Robson always tried his best to look after him and that when Robson died it felt like his father had died. It paints an incredibly charming and heartwarming picture of football that either we don’t see anymore or doesn’t exist anymore.

I think this is a must-see for all football fans as it creates a new perspective of life in football as well as teaches you about what a great manager and man Bobby Robson was.