Questions with Ed Davey
‘There’s no one bullet to tackle climate change’
Why I stopped hating pop music
‘misogyny is everywhere we turn, inescable.’
The United Nations: the answer to global peace ‘It isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s also a human one’
AI in Medicine
‘AI will become so complex that it’ll function better than the human brain;
The Blue Bicycle
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITOR: YASMIN PATEL
FACTS FEMINISM FILMS GOING VEGGIE LITERATURE LANGUAGE E-WASTE PODCASTS POEMS FASHION
MANAGING DIRECTOR: SAFIYYA ABDULMUJIB DESIGN EDITOR: RAGHVI ARYA
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORS
From the rapidly growing feminist movement to the latest scientific advances and key issues of conexit from the EU, we hope this Blue Bicycle gives you an insight into the world from the eyes of tiffin girls.
SUMMARY
temporary society as we force our
I
WHY I STOPPED HATING POP MUSIC: INTERNALI
When I was twelve, I told my uncle in a spur of the moment lie
girl who doesn’t faint every time she sees a picture of Justin Bie
ning me along, where we followed to listen to hours of 60’s me
perately seeking the male validation for being “one of them”. I d
myself to enjoy the songs - rather, I continued my slow but stea
I went home, shuffled my iPod to Katy Perry, and tried to feel t
waited. But my enjoyment of the song had been tainted and d
boring...how superficial. I’m not like THOSE girls, I thought, muffl
MUSIC
a single common trait. I’m better, I told myself.
It was no coincidence that around the time I started pushing p
respected genres of music to fill the gaping pop-shaped hole in to other girls.
This meant that I was virtually hanging around in a lot of male
constituted “real music”, and, therefore, what constituted “real w
to wear make-up or listen to boybands”, all the comments scre triarchy had brought us up was not all that girls had to be.
But then the rhetoric shifted to ideas that girls who chose to d
nists. That every single girl in the One Direction Wembley Aren ly waiting for one of these “enlightened” girls to walk over and just because of the negative stereotype associated with it.
You can see the same sort of rhetoric being used by people to
ding that erasing under-eye circles with heavy concealer is the s
It places girls into two neatly defined groups - and therefore has
tball and wear trousers and are clever, and those who wear ma
audience, it is placed into the “stupid” category. How reductive
and get full marks on an Engineering paper, to get our nails don
IZED MISOGYNY AND ONE DIRECTION
I
e that I didn’t like pop music, and watched a slow smile light up his face. “Finally!” he said. “A
eber!” He proceeded to invited all my male family members up to the attic, proudly becko-
en grumbling over repetitive scratchy guitars. And I nodded diligently along in approval; des-
didn’t question why they didn’t value current pop music, or why I was trying so hard to force
ady absorption of internalized misogyny in relation to music.
the way the “heart racing/skin tight jeans” bridge in Teenage Dream always made me feel. I
distorted. All I could see now was how stupid I had been before, how girly, how vapid, how
fling all of the individual characteristics of a group of people into one inferior mass based on
pop away, I started searching for other, more rock-y, more screamy, and more male-critically
n my heart, which I had briskly taped over with my newly discovered feelings of superiority
e-dominated spheres and listening to a lot of disproportionately male opinions about what
women”. Interestingly, a lot of this was coming from women themselves. “Girls shouldn’t have
eamed. I felt happy and understood in the comfort of shared opinion that the way that pa-
do typically “feminine” things by way of their own liberty were bad. That they weren’t femi-
na queue was stupid, unaware of her “true self ” as a growly rock music lover, and ultimate-
tell her that, her love for something good and pure, tainted and worsened her personality
o talk about girls who wear a lot of make-up. “She’s caking herself in it,” they complain, deci-
same thing as erasing intelligence and the ability to have meaningful conversations.
s more of a widereaching, more hurtful indication. Girls are reduced to those who play foo-
ake-up and long pink skirts and are stupid. Because pop music has a history of a majority girl
e of our ability to be multi-dimensional and multi-faceted, to wear ten layers of eyeshadow
ne before a rugby game.
I
Considering ourselves as exceptions to our gender for having positive qualit
girls” implies that other girls are less than you. Some people’s idea that eradic
girls for their choices, if they are inclined to like different things to you, constit
of catering to the misogynist opinion that makes female solidarity so crucial in
What is this universal law that music has to have a “meaning” or sound a certa
to be a code for “predominantly male fan base”, in my experience. When Zay
le-targeted magazines, who assumed he had left his “screaming girl” days behin
educated decisions about what music they like, and being able to passionate
ly, Harry Styles is only respected in the mainstream now because he has mad
drums, allowing them to approve someone who teenage girls first discovered
MUSIC
Out of all age ranges, I would say that teenage girls are most likely to be taken
A never-endingly sexist industry supposed to be catering to the tastes of tee
passionate, and for caring about their idols and inspirations.The way that the m
tic and ageist, lumping them into one naïve, stupid, hysterical mass whose gen
ldn’t those critics have felt same if they had been thirteen when Ozzy Osbor
the loss of something that had provided them with honest euphoria or an em lings seen as less important than anyone else’s?
We cannot blame ourselves or other girls for absorbing misogyny because it
te to deny my love for pop to my uncles was a desire to push away what is e that I judged and devalued others for not doing the same. I became an agent
sion and dedication to music and their idols, an incredible thing, no matter wh
to men, and didn’t try it myself, even though I would have enjoyed it, to show
can now listen to 60’s rock and say that I like it because of the way it sounds
am happy to call myself a One Direction fan, because that label now means l of the century.
And so I leave you with a quote from Harry Styles himself, one of the few st can you say young girls don’t get it?” Harry said. “They’re our future.”
I
ties such as intelligence or insight is insulting. Saying that you’re “different from other
cating activities enjoyed predominantly by girls, and disrespecting and criticising other
tutes feminism………. girl-shaming, pitting girls against each other…….Isn’t that kind
n the first place?
ain way to be counted as “real” rather than, what, somehow fake? “Real music” seems
yn launched his solo career, he was only taken seriously by critics after profiles in ma-
nd him by moving on to a more “mature” sound. What is immature about girls making
ely discuss lyrics or particular chord-changes to within an inch of their lives? Similar-
de his solo sound heavier, which apparently is biologically more pleasing to male ear-
d and loved years ago.
as a joke: their hobbies and passions and feelings dismissed without a second thought.
enage girls, even if it is with the end goal of profit, constantly ridicules them for being
media treated girls upset by One Direction’s breakup was nothing short of misogynis-
nuine feelings of upset were laughable just because of their gender and age. But wou-
rne left Black Sabbath, or Roger Waters left Pink Floyd? Wouldn’t they have mourned
motional outlet when they were trying to make sense of the world? Why are girls’ fee-
t is everywhere we turn, inescapable. I learnt that the reason why I was so despera-
expected of girls, which is completely understandable, but I did so to such an extent
in stereotyping boyband fans, ignoring that their screams were an expression of pas-
ho it is aimed at. I automatically judged girls who wore make-up as doing so to cater
w that I wasn’t a “typical” girl, further dispensing misogynist prejudices. I am glad that I
s, and nothing more. I am glad that I wear make-up out of my own free choice. And I
little more to me than someone who thinks “Tell Me A Lie” is the underrated banger
tars who is proud to acknowledge the role teenage girls played in his success. “How
BY LEONIE BELLINI
THE ROLE OF CAPITAL AND JUSTICE IN ADDRESSING INEQUALITY
BY FATEMAH PARSIFAR
Philanthropic organisations are non-profit, non-governmental entities that play a key role in funding projects that aim to close the inequality gap. There have been many questions raised about the approach and priorities of such organisations tackle inequality, and the effect of these projects on the economy as a whole. This was the topic of a remarkable talk at the LSE which I attended. Darren Walker, the President of the Ford Foundation, which is the world’s second largest Philanthropic organisation, gave a speech about one of the foundation’s current projects: a housing programme in the Bay area of San Francisco, Northern California. In an article written in May 2010, the Ford Foundation had announced that it will give $22 - $25 million in grants and funding over five years for Bay Area housing, transportation and policy projects. On this topic, Darren Walker also made an interesting point about how people on a macro level (national or global scale) are mostly welcoming of diversity being established in areas, but on a micro level they would prefer to reside alongside people similar to them. This is one of the less evident challenges faced by philanthropic organisations like the Ford Foundation, that wish to put these housing programmes into practice. ‘We must invest in individuals, institutions and ideas to remove root causes of inequality’. This was one of the most powerful lines in Walker’s talk, which struck me as well as audience members, leading to one of them immediately asking the question regarding the characteristics a person who wishes to lead towards the path of equality should have. Walker’s response was thought-provoking and not clichéd. He proclaimed that a great leader is one who has both EQ (a measure of emotional intelligence) and IQ. These people are the very ones who Martin Luther King is referring to when he said, ‘Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary’. These leaders don’t have to be presidents; we all carry some responsibility to channel and enhance our EQ and IQ to strive for a world of widespread and effective socio-economic and gender equality.
YASMIN PATEL AND SAFIYYA ABDUL MUJIB
CAN THE UNITED NATIONS STILL BE THE ANSWER TO GLOBAL PEACE MOVING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
The supposed upholder of peace, solution to international conflicts and major force of unity with the ability to forge cooperations between all states regardless of their differences. But what does that mean, in practice? We spoke to Laurel Hart, Outreach and Campaigns officer at UNA-UK, looking closely into how this mammoth organisation hopes to progress into the 21st century. Firstly, you work for UNA-UK. How is this different to the UN - and what do you actually do? UNAUK is a charity working closely alongside the United Nations. We not only support the work of the UN but also work as a critical friend, by supporting reforms to make it more effective. For us, it’s about connecting people in the UK to the UN - through explaining what the UN does and why it matters. This way, we go about making these changes by building support for the United Nations in the UK.
There are some negative stereotypes about the UN; such as that it is quite elitist and detached from the everyday person. Do you find that this is an obstacle in getting more people involved in its work? A lot of people in the UK aren’t aware of the UN’s work so it’s mainly about educating people on what the UN does itself. It’s easy to think of it as an ivory tower that people in the UK do not feel connected to, but when you start educating people about how it’s prevented the possibility of a third world war then people realise that actually it is important and plays a vital role in peace and security.
But hasn’t this distance been sparked by the UN’s lacklustre response to many conflicts? There’s certainly been a loss of faith in the organisation from it’sits sometimes misaligned approach, absolutely. The UN is being attacked and forgotten due to its lack of action on certain issues and late responses on intervening. But it’s important to know that the UN’s Secretary-General (the head of the UN) is its biggest critic and that it is constantly trying to improve itself - and that’s really where UNA-UK comes in, by trying to change the way people misunderstand its best aspects and seek reform where needed.
So then what’s been the biggest achievement of the charity to date? We said that the appointment process of the UN Secretary General needs to be a more transparent, open and democratic process. One SG stands for 7 billion people - and that’s quite a responsibility. So we campaigned alongside other societies worldwide, formed several international coalitions and put our case forward - and due to that pressure, the UN actually took this on.There were open debates between candidates for the job, citizens backing certain figures, and more of a holistic election process - that has led to the appointment of Antonio Guterres. We herald this as a particular win.
So the UNA-UK were clearly able to provoke positive change within the UN. But, thinking on a larger scale, what do you think is the biggest problem currently faced by the organisation? There’s no hierarchy - it’s about responding to issues, many of which are equally as important as each other. But ultimately the UN feeds, protects and shelters people everyday. At the moment there are major issues with climate change going on, for example.
Speaking of climate change, would you say President Trump pulling out of the Paris agreement is a particular concern of the UN? Yes. The UN’s purpose is to provide a platform for multinational discussions and to allow our states to build peaceful agreements. This is put at risk by Trump and is a threat to multilateralism - which is evidently a key aim of the organisation. It’s troublesome and problematic, certainly.
Is the UN adequately equipped to respond to climate change? Especially considering the recent wave of natural disasters which are believed to have been more extreme due to human-enhanced global warming. The thing with climate change is that it is heavily linked to other issues. It isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s also a human one: affecting populations, creating refugees and has a psychological impact too. We can’t say whether the UN is equipped - but what is definite is that the UN will certainly look at this issue as a humanitarian one as well, so it will go about its role is in protecting those at risk. All these problems are connected so we will deal with them together rather than separately - that’s really important.
Surely then, the UN must look to reforming itself. Do you feel that current structures such as the Permanent Five (USA, Russia, UK, France and China) having a veto power* on any decisions taken at the Security Council are in need of reform? It’s hard to answer as these are obviously concrete structures as part of the UN, meaning it’s hard to think about the UN if you take them away. Would the UN be better? Would it work more efficiently, more effectively? It’s difficult. I don’t see how eliminating the P5 in the near future it will be part of the UN reform because its unrealistic, and is unlikely to even be part of a useful reform tool. At the moment it’s about small changes. It may be easy to think about these big sky blue ideas of reform such as the United Nations Security Council, but realistically it’s something that will not change in the near future. * having a veto power means these countries can stop or postpone laws being passed by the UN even if every other country supports that law.
What impact, if any, will Brexit have on the UN? Could it be a source of friction within the P5? We have pulled out of EU but the UN is still the main body responsible for restoring international peace and security. The UK, as a member on the P5 Security Council may therefore instead need to use the UN more as it will be more important in ensuring our global position, perhaps provoking a greater effort to avoid friction with other P5 and EU members. Brexit may therefore not risk our position but rather ensure that we have to work harder to combat global issues - the UN has more of a gravitas to it due to this. Just because we have left the EU, it doesn’t meant that it has become any less important but instead it is more important as a means for tackling global issues.
Brexit has certainly created the impression that the UK has become more insular - and there may be a link between this and how in schools, fewer and fewer students are choosing to take Modern Foreign Languages for A-levels or as a degree choice. In light of this how important is learning another language when working in a global organisation such as the UN? It’s really important to be open to speaking other languages. We’re becoming more and more globalised. And particularly because we’ve left the EU - we rely more upon the global network. Language is so important in giving you freedom to communicate with people across the world. Also for young people, jobs nowadays ask for more than one language, so it’s a really important skill to develop.
Talking about connecting young people to the work of the UN, what’s the best way of getting them involved? Obviously social media is great - because it connects people across the country to our work. We can link them to news- stories, campaigns, get people talking about the UN, debating... when you have people coming together on social media, all talking about one issue (via tweeting a particular person for example) then it builds momentum. It certainly doesn’t bring people together in one room - and having discussions and debates face to face are important, so that could be a drawback. Often working with people on the ground can convey a different type of message. But social media certainly is fantastic to grow your movement and access information.
And to finish, in your personal view, why should we continue the membership of the UN? Despite its imperfections, it is the world’s only truly global organisation. It is the best tool that we have to reach global peaceful agreements between states and to tackle global issues. So for us, it does need to be made more effective, but it is the best weapon we have.
As an external-entry member of Year 12, I joined TGS with a limited understanding of the school’s dynamic, its unsung codes of conduct, and ultimately its ratio of work to play. I was excited and highly impressed when it was announced the school would be coming together to raise awareness for breast cancer through a host of unique and exciting events. I therefore decided to use the opportunity of being an observer to the Pink Week festivities as a chance to learn more about the school that I would be calling my institute of learning for the next two years. I later thought I should publish my findings…
5 THINGS I LEARNT ABOUT TIFFIN DURING PINK WEEK 1. There is a strong creative side to the school.
I thought I had Tiffin all figured out; extremely high performing, totally STEM oriented. Then the school channelled its true colours – one colour to be specific – and my perception was tackled by the artistry of the world’s snazziest knitting project, Tiffin’s very own Technicolour Dreamcoat© (it was more like a large tapestry), in all its woollen glory. 2. The number of students here just might rival in size the population of Wales. It is one thing to be told that there are over 35 forms in school, it is another to be caught in a stampede towards the 65 bus, but I can truthfully say there is nothing quite as disorientating as watching a sea of magenta try to heave itself up a flight of stairs in between lessons.. Mufti days might be fun for the younger years, but as a sixth former, it made identifying my own kind ridiculously difficult.
3. Some students have scarily good sales pitching skills. Budding entrepreneurs could learn a thing or two from the Pink Week fundraising organisers. With imploring eyes and vigilant smiles, they convinced me to extend my solidarity with their range of well-made merchandise. After making an initial donation, there was no question about it, I simply had to buy a badge too. And a t-shirt. And a ticket to the ‘Pink Parade’; which I later discovered was not, in fact, a procession of the best-dressed, pink-garment-wearing students… 4. On special occasions, the teachers double up as entertainment acts. The Pink Parade was… an experience. In department groups and double acts, costumed teachers performed semi-choreographed dance routines in the hall to an audience of roaring fans. Underneath the deafening volume of Jason Derulo and the high-pitched screams of encouragement from Year Seven students, you could hear the quiet shatter of my perception of my teachers crumbling to the hall floor, as I engaged in a kind of cringe-infused belly laughter. I may never be able to view feather boas the same way again. Ah, well. It was all in good fun. 5. The school goes big on charity events It would be a gross breach of journalistic etiquette to use slang in an article, but it is impossible to describe the school’s enthusiastic attitude to raising awareness for breast cancer as anything other than ‘extra’.This is an ultimately endearing quality; it is unbelievably charming to see passionate students rallying behind creating awareness of a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of women all over the world. TGS’ events for breast cancer waswere a revelation of what happens when girls come together; there is creativity, humour, social action, and a wonderful sense of community. https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/signs-symptoms-breast-cancer
BY EDEN IGWE
YASMIN PATEL AND SAFIYYA ABDUL MUJIB
CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREEN BUSINESS: QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS WITH MP ED DAVEY
How important are international agreements like the 2015 Paris Accords in responding to climate change? It is an extraordinarily important document – I consider it to be the most important document since the founding of the United Nations. Basically, we built our modern economy on fossil fuels for about 250 years. Now we realise the way we burn fossil fuels means we’re changing the weather systems, sea levels are rising, ecosystems are being hit. It’s unsustainable. So the world has to, within a relatively short period of time, remove its energy systems away from what has propelled it for the past two and a half centuries. It’s a dramatic thing. Is this given enough attention? It seems as though UK politicians focus on Brexit or fighting terrorism. No. Those issues are all important. But climate change is an existential threat. Not necessarily immediately or to this country as much but I’ve been to international conferences where the chief ministers of Pacific Islands would sometimes butt in and say my people go to bed at night with life jackets on, our wells are now polluted with the brine because of rising sea levels. For them it’s existential, they will not have homes. Wow… Why do you think people pay less attention to this? It’s a long way away, it doesn’t necessarily affect them directly. And that’s why you need political leadership, and when people don’t look at the evidence and people do things like Mr Trump does…
What can we do to tackle this then? There’s no one bullet to tackle climate change. As politicians you have to lead and make the case. Also there there has been a massive investment in renewables and in other forms of low carbon technology and we’re seeing levels of innovation within the energy sector that we’ve probably never seen before in human history. You sound quite positive, will there be significant changes soon? Yes It’s because people know that firstly, we’ve got a crisis on our hands and secondly, if you’re the one that gets the pattern for the thing that can store electricity efficiently and safely and practically and cheaply, you’re going to be the successor to the oil and gas companies! That’s a huge incentive! Haha yes. And one of the most fascinating things that proves the point, I’m not just making it up, is the massive reduction in costs of solar panels. And the only people who said the costs would go down fast were Greenpeace and they’re right. It’s been proven, in India last year that in an auction solar power and it came in as 18% cheaper than coal power. That is HUGE.
So it makes solar energy a much more viable source of energy? Exactly. And you don’t read about this in the daily telegraph or the daily mail, they’re just not interested. But the major limiting factor of solar energy is that it can’t stored? You’re absolutely right, I mean the right wing will say all these energy sources are intermittent. They say things like, what happens at night or when the sun isn’t shining? And that’s right, well obviously, we do know that at night the sun isn’t shining! Hopefully most people do. I know, we’ve worked that out thank you very much. Therefore the question is. Can we find a solution to that? And human beings being the innovative, incredible species that we are, we’re finding solutions to it. And once we solve storage, which is the alchemy of energy policy, you know. If you can store power cheaply and safely in a very dense way, it will help our cars, lorries, our vehicles and suddenly we won’t need diesel anymore. We won’t have vehicle emissions to pollute our lungs, local air pollution will be reduced and the rate of human-caused climate change will slow down and what’s not to like about that?
The ultimate goal of feminism is equality between genders. Therefore it can be considered a great feminist achievement that there are more women governing countries than ever before.. But despite these women being important role models for other women, and symbols of growing equality, not all the women are feminists or have feminist policies‌
by Priya Kaler
What Have Female Heads of State Done For Women Angela Merkel – This year, when asked ‘Are you a feminist’, she responded ‘If you think that I am one - please, vote on it. But I don’t want to adorn myself with these feathers.’ This hesitation about labelling oneself a feminist is an example of the constant misunderstanding of feminism and what it stands for. Merkel has rarely spoken publicly about the issues of women’s rights - and while she passed a new law obliging companies to replace departing members of boards with women until they made up at least 30%, women in Germany are still paid 21% less than men (the European average is 16%) and Merkel has not made gender equality a signature issue.
Theresa May – May gave half of top cabinet roles to women, has extended domestic violence protections such as through introducing a law against coercive control when she was Home Secretary, and she has cracked down on FGM. However, the austerity policies of the Conservatives mean that shelters for domestic abuse victims are closing rapidly, much of which May oversaw as Home Secretary. Furthermore, as women form most of the low-paid workforce, and form the majority of carers, benefit cuts will hit women disproportionately hard. Despite May having been photographed wearing a t-shirt that says “This is what a feminist looks like’, it is debatable as to the extent which her policies exhibit this.
Benazir Bhutto – the former President of Pakistan advocated the empowerment of women throughout her time in office. At the 1999 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, she said “In distinguishing between Islamic teachings and social taboos, we must remember that Islam forbids injustice - injustice against people, against nations, against women.” Bhutto was also insistent on confronting those in Pakistan who were attempting to assassinate her because they didn’t believe in women governing nations, risking her life for the benefit of future generations. Though she, disappointingly, failed to improve the lives of Pakistani women massively, Bhutto was a symbol of their potential to be empowered, which is especially important considering the backlash Bhutto faced during her struggle for power.
Evidently, women’s rights are not placed at the forefront of policy. Although Hillary Clinton may be seen to advocate a feminist agenda, thereby normalising the idea of feminism within government policy, her failure may lie in not representing the most marginalised women. And while it is impossible to predict the election of a woman to the highest office, I hope that the rights of women will be focussed on under governments as a central issue, and that they are proud to call themselves a feminist.
Self-promo: Come to Feminist society! Tuesdays at 12:30 in H16, open to years 11-13.
CRISPR What is CRISPR?
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)- pronounced crisper- is a new technology that can be used to permanently edit human DNA. The technique is based on the adaptive immunity of certain bacteria which use a CRISPR-esque mechanism to defend themselves from attacks by viruses. Why has CRISPR replaced other forms of gene editing technology?
What is the current focus of CRISPR research?
· CRISPR is more efficient than previous gene editing technologies. The fact that it also allows scientists to edit the basic format of the mechanism, the gRNA, to target different genes makes it incredibly versatile. To clarify, there are currently tens of thousands of different gRNA strands and this the possibility of editing of millions of genes. · CRISPR can be used to target multiple genes simultaneously, something no other gene editing technology can do. · CRISPR is a simple system, with a relatively low operating cost. This is illustrated by its rapid development.
Currently, the majority of CRISPR’s applications relate to reproductive cells. Therefore, it could be used, in conjunction with embryo screening, to remove genes associated with genetic conditions. However, a definitive breakthrough would occur if CRISPR could be used reliably on stomatic cells (all living cells other than reproductive cells), as this would increase the medical applications of CRISPR ten-fold, without the ethical implications of editing the genes of an embryo. Therefore, scientists are currently researching means of delivering the CRISPR mechanism to somatic cells, investigating methods that range from the use of modified viruses to nano particles. However, as CRISPR is such a versatile system there are doubtless many other avenues of research occurring simultaneously.
By Beth Hayes
What will the future applications of CRISPR be? · CRISPR could be used to correct genetic mutations that lead to the development of genetic conditions. This could include the modification or even
‘deletion of genes known to cause hereditary illnesses.’
· CRISPR is being mooted as a means of treating many conditions, including HIV. Indeed, CRISPR has been used to eradicate HIV from mice, however such treatments are still very much in their preliminary phase. These are merely two examples which illustrate the exciting potentials of CRISPR, however they are by no means the extent of its possible applications.
What are the ethical concerns surrounding CRISPR? There are many ethical concerns surrounding the use of CRISPR. While it clearly has many potential useful applications, it also could lead us down a slippery slope toward excessive gene editing. There are some genes which we can agree are purely malicious; the general consensus would be that the removal of a gene that, for example causes cancer, is the right course of action. However, the applications of CRISPR become more dangerous as we enter the territory of the ‘designer baby’.
The Top 3 Cheap Youth Friendly Venues in London/ Surrey Banquet Records/ The Hippodrome It is an indisputable FACT that the very best thing about Kingston is Banquet Records. Be it the incredible range of 14+ or all-ages shows they put on in the shop, in-store signings or gigs at the Hippodrome at the end of Eden Street. Having been to a good twenty gigs organised by Banquet, ranging from ten-people midday acoustics squeezed in amongst a shelf of records to full-on “I fell over seven times” in a temporarily all-ages nightclub, I’ve never paid much over £10 for a show and even seen some of my favourite artists for nothing.
by Leonie Bellini
Boileroom Guildford For those of you who live in Surrey I’ve heard nothing but good things about this 300 capacity ages 14+ venue and creative space in Guildford town centre, which has hosted major global acts like Ed Sheeran, Foals and Wolf Alice, as well as emerging bands on their first tours - all for very good prices.
Rough Trade East Just off Brick Lane, this famous record shop/performance space is a very hip, very all-ages and mostly very free venue to see and meet some of your favourite musicians (Vampire Weekend, Lianne La Havas and literal Dizzee Rascal have all played here). Follow them on social media for last-minute announcements.
Three Facts To Make You A Tiny Bit Cleverer It seems almost unbelievable but lonelieness can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad 2015). Since humans are social creatures, frequently connecting with other people is so important. So while now is the time when people seem to be knuckling down with revision for summer exams, try not to sacrifice your social life. Or at least revise together.
How is it already the fourth month of 2018?? Time really does fly by and seems to do so even more as we get older. There’s actually a reason for this; when you’re 2 for example, a year seems like forever because it’s half of your whole life so far. When you’re 5 a year is a fifth of your life, which is still a lot, and so on. So as you get older a new year appears to go by quicker because it makes up an increasingly smaller part of your life.
by Safiyya Abdul-Mujib
When we think of pirates we usually picture a scary man probably with an eye patch with an all male crew. However one of the most successful pirates ever was a the female Chinese pirate Cheng I Sao. She took control of the ships after her (pirate) husband’s death and tripled the number of them until she had a huge fleet that plundered along the East Asian coast. She was reknowned for protecting women by killing men in her crew who assaulted them. Outwitting the Portuguese and British naval forces, she retired ridiculously wealthy.
Women can vote. The gender pay gap is smaller than it has ever been. We don’t need feminism anymore. As Johnny from Love Island identified ‘the prime minister is a woman.’ Why should we still be feminists? Yes, we in the UK are led by a woman. But Theresa May is an anomaly in politics; because she is a woman. In the UK only 29% of MPs are - but women form 50% of the world population. Our political figures are meant to not only represent society, but make decisions to improve those who live within it. Yet, politics has become dominated by men meaning that global and national politics is largely absent of the political voice and representation of women.
The second assumption is the feminist movement l the world, 14 million w ble to vote. The idea tha complete international ge have gained it is not only ultimate goal of feminism tween genders.
Third is the gender pay gap is an all -time low o Luxembourg of 5% whic celebrate. But there are how far we have to go. If continue, then the gap b be equal for another 92 live past 103, then it is (st paycheck will always be ence means that from N en in the UK will work fr
Why Should You Ca
s that female suffrage makes less important. Throughout women are still legally unaat we should stop pursuing ender equality because we selfish, but it overlooks the m: for complete equality be-
gap. Yes, in the UK the pay of 14% and the lowest is in ch are definitely figures to e also figures which reveal the current rates of decline between executives will not years. Unless you definitely tatistically) likely your future less than men. This differNovember 10th 2018, womree for the rest of the year.
If you have reacted in shock or anger to any of these facts, then you should call yourself a feminist. Gender inequality is painfully obvious in our world. But if you criticise and reject the feminist movement, then you help reduce the likelihood for change. Don’t focus on the achievements made, rather than what still needs to be done, as an excuse to stop caring.
Self-promo: Come to Feminist society! Tuesdays at 12:30 in H16, open to years 11-13.
are About Feminism by Ashlan Richards
Darkest Hour (PG) Many people would agree that Gary Oldman is long overdue an Oscar, if only for his vast body of work, and perhaps this is the best chance he will ever have. After John Lithgow’s fantastic turn as Winston Churchill in The Crown, it is surprising to see another actor take on this role so soon. And yet, Gary Oldman is terrific as Churchill. He is able to fully transform into the role, with the help of incredible prosthetic makeup, but it is not simply the latex that makes his performance so convincing. Oldman’s ability to be intense, alert and aggressively intelligent, makes this period war film more akin to a political thriller.
Film R
Six films you sh
Get Out (15) Although ‘Get Out’ has been controversially submitted as a comedy at the Golden Globes, it is certainly not a comedic film but rather a hard-hitting social thriller and racial horror, which refuses to be confined to a single genre. Jordan Peele’s ability to create what can only be described as a cultural phenomenon through ‘chilling satire of liberal racism in US’ and sharp writing, is astounding. This is a film deserving of all the acclaim and accolades it receives.
Lady Bird (15) Set in 2002 Sacramento, Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is a semi-autobiographical coming of age story about a confused teenage girl with unrealistic ambitions about university. Known as ‘Lady Bird’, Christine, played sensationally by Saoirse Ronan, is drifting through her final year of high school, primarily concerned with her social life, boyfriends, and daydreaming about her future. And yet, it is a film which never feels overly nostalgic or narcissistic, but authentic and perfectly crafted. It is a deeply personal and honest portrayal about the trials and tribulations of growing up, clashing with parents and troublesome high school romances.
Reviews
hould look out for:
Phantom Thread (15)
Until recently very little was known about Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest project ‘Phantom Thread’. 1950s London creates the backdrop to his portrait of a dressmaker, played by Daniel Day Lewis and his muse (Vicky Krieps). The last time Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson collaborated, it resulted in the Best Actor Academy Award for Day Lewis and nominations in the Best Director and Best Picture categories. Moreover, this is apparently Daniel Day Lewis’ final film before he retires and considering the last film he made was released five years ago, the Academy are unlikely to miss their possibly last chance to reward Day Lewis.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (15) Described as a ‘firecracker’ of a film, prompting its audience to rounds of spontaneous applause at the Venice Film Festival, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is a spectacular story of a mother avenging the death of her daughter, played by a spectacular Frances McDormand. Director Martin McDonagh has created a film which twists and turns, from a modern-day Western, to a comedic look into small town life. This is a bold film which refuses to choose between intense pathos and dark comedy, and yet McDonagh strikes the balance perfectly.
The Shape of Water (15)
This may not seem like the typical film the Academy would be willing to reward, complete with underwater creatures and B-movie thrills; however, this wonderfully wacky romance is a delight. Set in the 1960s, it’s the story of two unlikely lovers, who meet during lunch break at work, in an American research facility. Sally Hawkins plays Elisa, a cleaner who is mute, and falls in love with a dangerous underwater creature, fished from the Amazon. The film soon turns into a thrilling rescue mission, as the government want to dissect the creature and the Soviets want to capture it. Guillermo Del Toro turns the typical “monster” genre on its head, creating a surprisingly heartwarming film.
by Georgia Botros
Go Veggie! Nate Parker’s case stands in striking contrast to those of others I was raised vegetarian, however, from the ages of 10 to 13 I did eat meat - so I do know its temptation. And I can’t lie, there are times when all I’ve wanted is a £1 cheeseburger from the McDonalds Saver Menu. But following our topic on animal rights inYear 9, some research into
the immoral and frankly inhumane conditions in which animals are factory farmed has completely put me off meat, probably for life.
I completely appreciate how central meat is to many people’s diets. It is unreasonable to expect your entire family to turn vegetarian purely to accommodate one person’s dietary choices - I am very lucky that I already live in a vegetarian household. But eating a little less meat in your daily diet not only has a huge impact on you, but also the planet, believe it or not.
There are currently about 20 billion chickens, 1.5 billion cows, 1 billion sheep and 1 billion pigs being bred to meet the huge global demand of meat. If the whole world went vegetarian right now, all 3.3 million km2 of the land used for this farming could be put to other use: that’s close to the area of Africa! This is land that could be used for building houses to provide for the vast population increase, or planting more trees, which would help to battle climate change. Either way, this has a huge impact on our lives and our planet’s future. Over the past few decades, much research has been done into the health habits of people with the longest life spans, and one significant finding is that a vegetarian diet is directly linked to a lower risk of heart attacks or cardiovascular disease. Vegetarians appear to have, on average, lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure and rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than meat eaters. Of course, there are specific situations which are anomalous to this - but overall, many experts say that a vegetarian diet is healthier. And I’d like to bust this myth about vegetarians not having enough protein in their diets. Studies show that a balanced lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (eating milk and eggs - basically not a vegan) isn’t that different to one that incorporates meat.
Another real issue with meat is the ethics of the industry as a whole. For example, chickens are routinely genetically modified and pumped full of antibiotics to grow faster in less time. This has an agonising effect on the animal, as the extra weight cripples their legs and strains their organs. To put this into perspective, if you grew this fast and large, you would weigh 158kg by the time you were two years old. This treatment is immoral by any standard.
So going vegetarian is easy! Try it for a little while and you’ll realise you don’t miss that steak as much as you thought you would. Even going vegetarian for one meal a day, or one week a month, has such a great impact on the environment, your health and your conscience. Worldwide, about 4.5% of the population is vegetarian, but if awareness is raised, this figure could hopefully increase in the future, which would make the world a healthier, happier place.
by Mahika Ravishankar
Angela Merkel
World leader in combating climate change? A frontrunner at the
1997 Kyoto protocol, and the Paris Climate conference, you would think this was the case for the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Whilst her leadership is not to be scorned, recent behaviour has led many to doubt her validity - the prominent environ-
mentalist George Monbiot has called her ‘the world’s leading eco-vandal’. Merkel continues to push diesel cars over the less polluting petrol cars, as diesel cars are central to Germany’s strong economy and high GDP. In 2013, whilst other European governments had decided on a new fuel economy standard for cars to release less CO2 emissions by 2020, Merkel deceivingly stopped this from happening, by allegedly telling the Netherlands and Hungary that the German car plants in their country would be closed, and telling Irish Enda Kenny, then president of the European Council, that Ireland’s bailout funds would be cancelled. Merkel has continued to wrongly mislead people by defending diesel and saying that she would use all of her power to prevent the banning of diesel cars. Whilst greenhouse gas emissions have decreased across much of Europe, in Germany they have plateaued, granting the public with every right to question Merkel’s morals when it comes to climate change. How can this be the same woman that we’ve seen campaign so strongly for a global reduction in emissions for decades? This issue clearly present in Germany can be seen across the majority of European countries: European politicians cannot believe that successful climate policies are compatible with a thriving economy. However, what they have failed to see, or perhaps just failed to care enough about, is that the longer we delay enforcing climate policies, the greater the economic implications will be in the future, as the effects of climate change worsen. So, Angela Merkel. Perhaps it is unfair to discount all of the good work you have done for the environment, but your morals have certainly been brought into question, and you have certainly joined the long list of politicians who value ‘economic success’, over protecting the planet and the future.
by Sophia Nabi
Firstly, it would mean that coalitions would be more likely, which many believe lead to political instability and give far right or far left groups greater platforms despite being in a minority. Secondly, it is more likely that unsatisfactory compromises will be made due to two or more differing political parties sharing power. Swings and roundabouts?
Another possible system is the ‘alternative vote’ (AV). This system allows voters to rank the candidates in or-der of preference. If one candidate has over 50% of the vote, they automatically become leader, however if no candidate has over 50%, the least popular candidate is eliminated, and their voters’ second choice spread across the other candidates. This continues until there is a clear winner, aiming to represent more people. This has similar advantages to proportional representation, in that it is simple and there is less need for tactical vot-ing and means that there is less room for political extremism. However, it can create very biased and inaccurate results, or in the case of the 2015 election, little change from the FPTP system, unlike proportional representation which would have produced drastically different results. Despite the obvious flaws of the system, the last thing the British people want is another vote after such a tur-bulent political year, and perhaps there’s nothing wrong with the attitude ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it’. So, for the time being, electoral reform isn’t likely to be on the cards.
New deep learning artificial intelligence algorithms are showing promise in performing medical work which, until recently, was thought only capable of being done by human physicians. An example of the advancements made in AI technology include researchers at Google who were able to train AI to detect the spread of breast cancer on microscopic specimen images. This method had the same or better accuracy than that of human pathologists - observing minute deposits of cancer can prove challenging. However, the AI can process gigapixel images effortlessly, giving us greater understanding about the development of the cancer and its malignancy. This also overcomes human error caused by inattentive or tired pathologists. Imagine a doctor you could consult at any time, describing your symptoms and then getting a prompt and accurate diagnosis. With the recent spike in trivial GP visits, Babylon, the British online medical consultation service, launched an app this year which offers a medical AI. (picture) It is configured with common medical knowledge and can make treatment decisions based on the individual’s medical history. Babylon then offers an appropriate course of action, without needing a physical examination of the patient. The app is also able to remind patients to take their medication and follow up to find out how they’re feeling. Could the advice offered by AI ever be likened to that of a compassionate and qualified doctor? The service providers acknowledge that certain patients, including those who are pregnant, frail or with mental health problems, will always be best advised to see a doctor in person. A misdiagnosis could evoke fears in the patient and could potentially worsen their health. In addition, respecting patient confidentiality is vital to practising medicine, hence persuading patients to talk to a machine and trust it with their most sensitive information would be difficult. The biggest fear is that AI will become so complex that it will function better than the human brain and in the future, may have the potential to control our lives. Stephen Hawking once said that the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.. The future of AI in medicine looks bright but with patient safety at risk, algorithms must be carefully tested to ensure the technology is safe.
AI AI IN IN MEDICINE MEDICINE NEW DEEP LEARNING ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE ALGORITHMS ARE SHOWING PROMISE IN PERFORMING MEDICAL WORK WHICH, UNTIL RECENTLY, WAS THOUGHT ONLY CAPABLE OF BEING DONE BY HUMAN PHYSICIANS.
BY LUXSIA MANKELESWARAN
Nobel Priz for Literat
In light Prize in itse A brief history of the Nobel Prize Annually, prize ceremonies are held for the Nobel Prize in Stockholm, Sweden, which was first established by Alfred Nobel in 1895. They are awarded for outstanding contributions for humanity in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, Physiology and Medicine. From the first ceremony in 1901, there are now 923 Nobel Laureates. Of these, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to women on 49 occasions‌ but the future is hopeful: whereas four of these occurred from 1901-1920, twenty occurred between 2001-2017! Moreover, the youngest Laureate is Malala Yousafzai, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, aged 17. What would be your Nobel Prize-winning feat and what would you do with the £800,000 prize money?
ze ture
t of Kazuo Ishiguro’s recent acceptance of the Nobel Literature, the Blue Bicycle takes a look at the prize elf and some of the writers it has been awarded to… Kazuo Ishiguro and ‘The Remains of the Day’ When, on the 5th October this year, Kazuo Ishiguro was told over the phone by his agent that he had won the Nobel Prize in Literature, he thought that it was a hoax, “in this time of fake news.” Such an assumption, which Ishiguro recounted to the press that day, unwittingly provides, in so few words, a key to understanding the success of his novels. They come as a much-needed breath of fresh air. The Nobel Prize committee itself acknowledge the “great emotional force” of his novels, in selecting him over other short-listed and book-maker-favoured novelists such as Margaret Atwood, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o and Haruki Murakami.
‘The Remains of the Day’, published in 1989, is the third of his seven novels and served to reinforce his status as one of Britain’s best novelists and received the Booker prize. Told from the first person viewpoint of a butler, it moves between recollections of Stevens’ former days in the England of the 1930s and descriptions of his present actions in 1956, as he embarks on a short motor trip to potentially reunite with a woman from his past. Nonetheless, Ishiguro reflects that, overall, his books seek to relate not only to “personal memory but the way countries and nations and communities remember their past, and how often they bury the uncomfortable memories.” It is these big questions which his writing poses that make reading his novels so rewarding. The act of reading itself requires concentration and commitment and in this way, Ishiguro’s novels form a reminder to occasionally take a step back from the constant news cycle and often invasive influence of social media. Last year’s controversial winner: Bob Dylan As if being considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century was not enough, Bob Dylan also rose in literary news after being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Despite his apparent joy, it took Dylan nearly six months to deliver the lecture which made him credible to receive the 8 million Swedish krona of prize money. This delay indeed added to the huge level of controversy, provoked by the committee’s decision to reward him the literary prize, about the boundaries between lyrics and literature.
Music and lyrics have always occupied a significant position in our culture, influencing politics and societal attitudes. Kazuo Ishiguro himself acknowledges the influence of music on his writing, for - as well as having co-written several songs - he admits that Tom Waits’ song ‘Ruby’s Arms’ influenced his decision-making in his novel, ‘The Remains of the Day’, and that he is in fact ‘great admirer of Bob Dylan’. Nonetheless, the extent to which the words which comprise the songs we love so much constitute literature is debatable. On the one hand, lyrics and poetry can share a number of characteristics, such as a specific form, structure or rhythm; use of imagery; and employment of metaphors and similes. On the other, lyrics in songs are meant to be sung, not read on a page - suchmuch as Shakespeare’s plays which are meant to be acted on stage. It seems that, despite it being a controversial prize giving, it contributed to the continuously developing discussion surrounding the volatile boundaries of literature and art.
By Saoirse Genoni
And yet the desire to learn a new language
But the benefits of language
seems to be dwindling. English is the uni-
being able to mediate Brexit
versal language, the language of business,
ue employees with linguistic
and therefore there is no need for us to learn
language learning has been
another - right? The percentage of students
of your brain, and reduce t
taking European languages at A Level in
Dementia. And of course, fl
England has been falling for over a decade.
gives you an opportunity to
Research conducted by the Guardian and
of other people you might n
British Agency found that ‘young people are
much with just English. Mo
put off learning languages because they think
tural benefits shoul
it is too difficult’. Young people are not entire-
An understanding of history
ly wrong. Learning a language is difficult and
customs. Widening horizon
requires a level of commitment and passion,
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but in turn, it can be incredibly rewarding.
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As Britain prepares to leave the European should all be learning a new language. Acc have a ‘decent and civilised’ European deb value the skills
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In today’s society, growing ever more divided
talks. All areas of work val-
and hostile to foreigners, an understanding
c skills. On a scientific level,
of others which leads to greater acceptance
proven to increase the size
is undeniably important. Plus, in learning
the risk of Alzheimer’s and
about another country, its traditions, and
fluency in another language
customs, we can also gain a more profound
communicate with millions
understanding of ourselves and our own
not have interacted with as
British culture in comparison. It is these new
overover, the social and cul-
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Union, perhaps now, more so than ever, we cording to author John Le Carré, if we are to bate ‘it is now more important than ever to s of the linguist’. By Georgia Botros
The Great African
What happens when a cont waste dump o
In 2010, I watched a three-part, observational documentary called Welcome to Lagos. The lens through which the BBC framed my country of origin and specifically the city where I was born fascinated me. There came a point in the documentary where focus shifted on to the plight of landfill scavengers in an area called Olusosun. These people, gripped by poverty, living in scrap houses, had turned to sifting through waste dumps in search for valuable metals - inhaling toxic fumes of decaying lead and mercury every day. Rather than engage in discourse on this issue, the documentary decided instead to hone in on the rags-toriches story of a man hoping to turn his profits from metal scraps into a hip-hop music career. During this episode, as the camera panned around the grotesque mountains of trash of the Olusosun rubbish dump, I remember watching in an incredibly confused state. Who was buying and throwing away so many computers, microwaves and monitors in an area so destitute? How could so much electronic trash come from a country with such relatively low levels of disposable income? This was my earliest encounter of the waste problem gripping African countries. A problem of the exportation of electronic waste to overseas landfill sites, branded illegal under UN legislation, but happening on an unfathomable scale. A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, published in 2015, predicted that by 2017 over 50m tonnes of electronic waste (comprised of items like computers and smart phones) would be exported illegally overseas. This is a huge problem for several reasons. Financially, this inefficient removal of e-waste was at a cost of $52bn to the global economy in 2015 and it limits the economic growth of developing countries, who do not have enough money for effective waste management methods. Socially, the health of people living amongst “towering hills of fly-infested waste shrouded in smoke from innumerable fires� (As the Senegalese Mbeubeuss waste dump was described in a 2014 article) is at a considerable risk.
n E-Waste Problem
tinent becomes an illegal of the West?
Lead poisoning as electronic waste breaks down is also a significant problem. A further study on the waste dump in Mbeubeuss in 2015 discovered high levels of lead poisoning among children living near the landfill. Environmentally, he process of discarding waste to other countries instead of conducting recycling and waste treatment programmes wreaks havoc. Poisons such as lead, mercury, arsenic, dioxins, furans, and brominated flame retardants seep into the surrounding soil and water. Is anything being done to help? The Basel Convention, a UN treaty signed in 1992 by 53 signatory states, condemned and ordered the heavy restriction of movement of hazardous waste between nations. It was signed in response to public protest of the toxic waste dumps discovered in Africa in the 1980s, and was supposed to force a responsibility on governments to find efficient and resourceful methods to rid their e-waste. It had come from public outcry, a direct challenge to international powers to protect the vulnerable living in waste dumps. However, today, we find this binding agreement brutally and totally dismissed by faceless administrative systems in the West. Watching Welcome to Lagos at 9 years old, I was only partially aware of the landfill process that our electronic trash goes through. I was looking back at my own country of origin, through a Western perspective that downplayed the death and destruction caused by the illegal, systemic waste dumping. Even now, 7 years on, I find it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the problems caused by our wasteful, irresponsible actions. To find out more about this issue, visit Greenpeace’s extensive study http:// www.greenpeace.to/publications/chemical-contamination-at-e-wa.pdf or attend Environmentalist Society every Tuesday 12:30 in H05 for further discussion
by Eden Igwe
How to Get In
They’re not just for middle
Podcasts are actually a medium that can entertain, educate and intrigue with the useful b means that instead of passing the time on your journey to school staring wistfully out of t methods to increase your confidence, or discovering why flamingos stand on just one leg. Personally, I use iTunes to listen to and download podcasts because it’s completely free, co to-deleting from your device once you’ve finished an episode. Another useful feature of iT loaded, making it easier to find new material suited to your interests. However, if you searc to the podcast website and streaming from there. So to start you off on this new podcast-listening phase of your life, I’ve compiled a list of fi The Rookie Podcast – aimed at teenagers, made by teenagers. And stemming from the hugely popular Rookie Magazine (check it out!), this newly created podcast has so far included incredible interviews with Lorde and Winona Ryder, amongst others, and segments including How To Correct People Who Mispronounce Your Name, as well as, Getting Into Astrology. As of late I have started to plan my weeks around when the next episode is out.
Song Exploder – You don’t have to be at all interested in song writing to find this podcast of musicians explain-ing how they created certain songs FASCINATING to the extreme!!! Really accessible with just fifteen minutes per episode, have a scroll through to see if there are any musicians you know. If not, I would recommend Grimes and Natalia Lafourcade.
One Minute Langua an even shorter running t ly one minute learning the episode (there are ten in the perfect way to learn phrases from a native sp if you’re travelling to a co want to know how to say “ in Danish for when it inev in useful in your daily life.
nto Podcasts:
e-aged adults, Trust.
bonus that you can listen to them literally anywhere with a device and headphones. This the bus window, you could be picking up some phrases in a new language, learning about . ontains most of the podcasts I want to listen to, and has some useful features such as auTunes, however, is that it recommends you similar podcasts that other listeners have downch online there are LOADS of other applications you can use, including just going straight
five that I’m currently listening to and LOVING. Enjoy!
ages – With time of literale language per n total), this is a few useful peaker, ei-ther ountry or just “how are you” vitably comes
Homoground – As in virtually every other space ever, the world of podcasts is unfortunately predominantly cis and straight. Focusing on the underground music scene in particular, Homoground features live broadcasts, in-terviews and new music recommendations from LGBTQ+-identifying musicians who don’t often have the chance to get their music heard.
No Such Thing As A Fish – This is probably one of the most well-known podcasts and for good reason; the researchers behind QI discuss the most unusual facts they’ve recently learnt in genuinely very very funny conversations. If you’ve ever wanted to know why you can email trees in Australia or how to put on makeup in space, this is the podcast for you!
by Leonie Bellini
Beneath the Hills I’ve promised to paint it, Frame this place in time: Sheer curtain clouds With morning Seeping through – gold ink Spilled onto the skies Taste of sunlight on my lips And I’m drunk on adventure I run like escaping Cos that’s what this is. The mystic curve of land And the river flows down East So far into the horizon that It might just carry you beyond. And isn’t it a masterpiece? The sky and sunset clouds I wonder all they have inspired And feel the shiver of history.
Many have looked And dared to dream I look again – I don’t feel small I feel powerful in my skin As the light drips over hills Like sweet red wine And I can live for that moment. It feels good to be alive. I swear I will wake for the night No, it is not harsh or glorious It is a gentle blackness With glowing bulbs of stars And the great silver artist in the skies But I can’t help but fall asleep With the starlight Painted on my eyes. by Kutloogh Qureshi
POE
Tragic Tale of a Tiger In a jungle, Roaming around, Fighting for food, Food is all I need, To keep me alive and my family, Suddenly bullets, loud and clear, Fill the sky, fill my ears, I look for my family; they are not in sight, Run away quickly - I need to hide, They mustn’t kill me, not now, I race, I run, I beg for mercy, But do they listen: still no mercy,
EMS
Until at last I cannot go further, I break down into pieces, Why do they want to kill me? I am just an animal you see, I am just like you, but in a different form, I have not committed a single sin, I just want to find my kin, Suddenly, they surround my body, all red, They release the bullet - I’m dead. by Sophia Maniar
Spring/Summer 18 Key trends for summer
by Leila Allan
Want to be part of the next Blue Bicycle team? Watch this space. Next Issue: Summer 2018