The Wall (March 09) by The Phoenix Newspaper

Ex-Hills Road student cycles from Cambridge to Rome

Hills Road releases its very own CD

Controversy over “gay fairytales” in schools

College News page 6

Local News page 3

The Wall

National News page 12

Unemployment reaches 12-year high Laura Ruaux News Reporter

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), there are now over two million unemployed people living in the UK, reaching a high not seen since 1997. The ONS also claim to have seen a 74.1% drop in employment rate for people of working age for the three months up to January 2009, and this rate of increase is expected to continue if not worsen. The UK economic state of recession has put further pressure on the situation of the unemployed as job vacancies are hard to come by and there is serious rivalry for each position. An accountant, Alan Tomlinson, who works to aid firms through difficulties and insolvency said that ‘companies of all sizes and in all sectors are folding by the day, putting more and more people out of a job.’ Some of the people worst hit are those working in the private sector. ONS figures shows that in December 2008 the number of people employed in the private sector had dropped by 13000, to 23.6 million, since September 2008. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has stated that there are now 10 jobseekers for every job vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres and that the rate of unemployment is rising still. The claimant count rose from February 2008, to February 2009, by 595,600. Experiencing a rise of 138,400 in the last month, the largest monthly increase since comparable records by the ONS began in 1971. Brendan Barber, the gen-

NATIONAL Man convicted of murder is freed A prisoner convicted of murder 27 years ago has been released after new DNA evidence. Sean Hodgson, 57, was sentenced to life in prison after allegedly strangling Teresa De Simone, 22, in Southampton. However, new DNA evidence has cast doubt on his conviction and Hodgson has been freed by the Court of Appeal. He is the longest serving victim of a miscarriage. Continued on page 10

ployment always persists even after a recovery starts’. Other accounts published by the British Chamber Commerce (BCC) have also predicted that the

rate of unemployment will increase to more than three million by next year. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has insisted to the commons that they are currently doing everything possible in an attempt to aid recovery from this national state of mass unemployment. He admits that there is an issue with the level of UK unemployment however he remains adamant that there are higher unemployment rates in other countries. Brown claims that it is ‘a matter of personal regret’ that people are losing there jobs and claims once again ‘that is why we’ll do everything we can to get people back into work.’ He also appears to take comfort and find relief in the thought that this is a global issue and therefore seems to think that he is not to blame. However there is conflict as conservative leader David Cameron criticizes Gordon Brown claiming that he has led the UK into the current unemployment crisis ‘without a hint of apology.’ He went on to say that the British public will never forgive or forget this. Despite this ‘blame-game’ the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are taking action. Chairman Lord Turner proposes new rules on lending are put into place which would stop banks from lending too much money during boom periods in the economic cycle. This may include limits on home and personal loans as well as those to private firms. He also intends to restrict what the banks are allowed to do with money during healthy economic times in order to prevent them from taking excessive and unnecessary risks.

LOCAL

SPORT

Photograph taken from Flickr under Creative Commons License. eral secretary of the TUC, said ‘This is another milestone in the return of mass unemployment to the UK’. Many economists are beginning to predict that the level of

INTERNATIONAL Madagascar moves towards new era of hope amidst fears of civil war

Yesterday Madagascar’s political turmoil resulted in the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana as his minsters stepped down in droves and military support finally petered out. Mr Ravalomanana announced his resignation during a radio address, in which he said: “This decision was very difficult, but had to be made. We need calm and peace to develop our country.” Continued on page 13

unemployment in the UK will rise above three million by 2010 as the recession begins to take effect. Barber also said that ‘it will get worse before it gets better as unem-

COLLEGE Hills Road releases its first ever CD!

Cambridge Science Festival is the biggest yet

Fierce Tigers tamed by persistent Gunners

Last Friday, Hills Road was proud to release its first ever CD recording, “The Best of Hills Road.” Comprising some of the best ensemble performances of the 2008 Autumn term, the CD comes complete with a booklet listing the names of all the students who participated as well as other details about the performances.

Last Saturday, the Grand Opening of the 15th Cambridge Science Festival took place at the Downing Site in Cambridge. The Festival this year looks to be the biggest of all Cambridge Science Festivals to date – Cambridge University celebrates its 800th Anniversary this year, and the 2009 Science Festival proclaims a celebration of “centuries of science”.

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 4

Arsenal 2-1 Hull Hull’s cup run, which came within sixteen minutes of taking them to the semi final for the first time in 79 years, was brought to a crushing close last night as Arsenal fought back to book the tie against Chelsea on April 18th. The sense of injustice prevalent amongst Hull supporters was compounded when Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was accused of spitting at assistant manager Brian Horton. Continued on page 26

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Breaking News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

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The Wall Local News College News National News International News

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Sport

The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College s Sarah Gashi s Yuming Mei s Stela Obradovic s Alex Larkinson s s Laura Ruaux s Becca Inglis s Grace Rogerson s Rosie Dean s s Annie Gooch s Erin Corrigan s James Count s Amelia Lupson s s Alex Gibson s Charlotte Mason s Rachel Clarkstone s

Myners denies having approved Sir Fred’s pension Erin Corrigan News Reporter The Royal Bank Of Scotland’s former chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin has come under heavy fire of late for his controversial £16.9 million pension. This week though, Lord Myners has found himself the centre of attention after accusations that he was responsible for signing off the huge £16.9 million pension package. He continually denies that this was the case saying that “The decision on the pension was made by the board directors of RBS. I made no decision,”. He pushed the blame onto former RBS chairman Sir Tom McKillop and another director Bob Scott. However the conservatives have hit back saying that he is seeking to deflect the attention away from him by blaming these two directors. Ministers are now considering to sue the directors if it can be proven that they breached their legal duties as directors of the company. The controversy surround-

ing this event is heightened by another revelation from Lord Myners who states that all of this could actually have been avoided and that it would have been ‘straightforward and simple’ to have dismissed Sir Fred with 12 months salary as compensation. He was however allowed to retire early with a full pension despite RBS facing bankruptcy under his tenure and needing help from the government who now own a 68% stake in the company.

Sir Fred has now promised, after a substantial time of refusal, to only receive a yearly income rather than the lump sum “so long as he can get an assurance from HM Revenue & Customs that the tax man won’t come after him” according to BBC Business Editor Robert Peston. However such an ultimatum is not exactly assuring when, if he keeps his £2.7 million advance, his annual pension income would go down to £555,000, but its overall value is not reduced.

“Third world” NHS Hospital under scrutiny Fritzl pleads guilty to all charges Becca Inglis News Reporter Stafford Hospital has been disgraced since the mortality rate of their vicinity was released. The Healthcare Commission has announced that approximately 400 more people have died between 2005 and 2008 than is tolerable. This was discovered through the use of the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) which measures the number of patient deaths annually to judge the quality of hospitals, resulting in a commission for improvement being raised in 2007. However, these findings were initially rejected by authorised researchers such as BMJ Online and the Birmingham University Team, who claimed that: “Any claims that variations in hospital SMRs reflect differences in quality of care are less than credible.” This was based on analysis that they carried out on Dr Foster Intelligence, a partnership company that publishes yearly league tables for English hospitals based on the SMR and the consistency of seven variables that are regularly tested: gender, age, emergency admission numbers, the coinciding of other illnesses, deprivation, initial diagnosis and the previous emergency admission numbers within the past year. Differences in collection of data across hospitals were said to make this research invalid. However, director of the Dr Foster Unit, Professor Sir Brian Jarman countered, “Hospitals that have taken this approach in the US, UK and other countries have gained a useful insight into mortality at their institution and this has been associated with documented falls in mortality.” A Department of Health spokeswoman adds that despite the doubtful immediate legitimacy of the SMR, “tracking changes in a hospital

through SMRs over time can reveal important information on possible underlying issues in care processes.” There are many factors that can explain an unusual mortality rate, but evading an investigation is inexcusable. The investigation into Stafford Hospital was eventually launched in May 2008 after alarming statistics about the number of deaths within the establishment corresponded with complaints from patients and relatives, revealing many deficiencies in the hospitals quality of care. For example, one Watchdog report uncovered the employment of unqualified receptionists for carrying out primary checks on patients received in A&E, the switching off of heart monitors in the emergency assessment unit due to the incapability of nurses to use them, insufficient numbers of nurses to care for patients, lacking of communication about the quality of care by the trust’s management board, the absence of a qualified surgeon in the hospital overnight and the abandonment of patients in wards near A&E to meet the target four hour waiting period. Of this, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley stated: “It is unacceptable that the pursuit of targets - not the safety of patients - was repeatedly prioritised, alongside endless managerial change and a ‘closed’ culture, which failed to admit and deal with things going wrong.” The trust rebutted with claims that its techniques of amassing data was to blame for the statistics found, and not the quality of the actual hospital. However, this was rejected by the Healthcare Commission, who instead cited low employment count, short supply of equipment, inadequate leadership, incompetent nursing and mediocre training as the explanation. It has, however, been acknowledged that the collection of data has often proven ineffectual as it was only the number of patients treated taken into

account to provide statistics, and not the number of patients cured. This method is now being reassessed. Alan Johnson, Health Secretary, has apologised for this ineptitude and has launched a full inquiry, whilst the chief execute of the trust, Michael Yeates, has been suspended until further notice. “On behalf of the government and the NHS I would like to apologise to the patients and families of patients who have suffered because of the poor standards of care at Stafford Hospital,” says Mr Johnson. “There was a complete failure of management to address serious problems and monitor performance. This led to a totally unacceptable failure to treat emergency patients safely and with dignity. Local patients will want absolute certainty that Stafford Hospital has been transformed since this investigation began.” The Healthcare Commission has now improved its methods by emplacing an alarm system which prompts inquiries when mortality rates reach a certain level.

Above: Alan Johnson, Health Secretary, who has launched a full inquiry into the situation.

Annie Gooch News Reporter Josef Fritzl, the 73 year old Austrian man accused of imprisoning and repeatedly raping his daughter, has this morning pleaded guilty to all the charges brought against him. Fritzl will now face life imprisonment for a string of offences including murder, enslavement, deprivation of liberty, rape, incest and coercion. The trial was due to finish tomorrow after experts had given evidence on the cellar and after the chief psychiatrist had given his assessment of Fritzl, but is now likely to become a sentencing; although it is unclear whether his change of plea will speed up the process. Fritzl had originally admitted all the charges brought against him except those of murder and enslavement and he had pleaded partially guilty to the charge of rape. Yesterday the court was shown eleven hours of video evidence from his daughter Elisabeth, now 42, which is said to have brought about Fritzl’s “change of heart”. Elisabeth was kept locked in a tiny, windowless cellar below the family home in Amstetten, Austria, for 24 years, having been lured below ground by her father when she was just 18 years old. Fritzl has admitted to fathering seven children with his daughter, one of which he has confessed to murdering via neglect. Three of the children which were fathered by Fritzl were brought up in the cellar, while the other three were “abandoned” by Elisabeth outside the house and subsequently adopted by Josef and his wife, Rosemarie, who had no idea that her daughter was being horrifically abused below her feet. Fritzl forced Elisabeth to write letters to her mother claiming she had run away and not to contact her. The abuse came to light in April last year, after the eldest daughter of Josef and Elizabeth was taken ill

and had to be rushed to hospital, forcing Fritzl to release his “second family” from the cellar and leading to his arrest the next day. It is believed that the cramped conditions in the cellar along with the lack of oxygen experienced by the captives led to the illness of 19 year old Kerstin. Her two brothers aged 5 and 18 were said to have been pale and weak when they were finally released, having grown up without ever having seen sunlight or had space to exercise. Fritzl is reported to have rented out parts of the upstairs of his house to tenants, one of which has claimed to have heard knocking coming from the basement, which Fritzl claimed was being caused by a new heating system. Fritzl went to great lengths to keep his underground secrets hidden, including banning all family members and tenants from entering the basement and fitting the cellar with an electric locking door which required a remote and code to unlock. Fritzl had a previous conviction for rape which occurred when Elisabeth was a toddler, but under Austrian law any conviction which does not carry a life sentence is removed from your criminal record after 15 years, meaning that when Fritzl came to adopt his “grandchildren” the offence had been removed from his record and he would have appeared to be a model citizen to the social services. The case has posed many questions about the validity of the Austrian legal system when it comes to dealing with sex offenders and there were protestors outside the courthouse during the trial claiming that “Austria protects sex offenders”. The case has also raised questions about the severity of jail sentences in Austria as, had he not admitted to the charges of murder and enslavement, Fritzl may have escaped with a sentence of just six years, barely a quarter of the time that he imprisoned his daughter for. It is unclear how long Fritzl will go to jail for after his guilty plea but he is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Local News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

LOCAL NEWS In Brief Families living on the Blackwell traveller site near Milton have asked the council for better protection from the noisy A14 and abuse from passing drivers. The A14 has proved a problem when two cars came off the road and veered towards the site. The council were willing to spend on Government grant on barriers for the site, despite receiving abusive emails and letters. Drug dealers jailed Two drug dealers have been jailed after selling class A drugs to undercover police officers at Tesco on Newmarket Road, Cambridge. The undercover operation took place at different locations across Cambridge where the two men supplied the officers with crack cocaine and heroine. The pair were sentenced to seven counts of supplying drugs and two counts of possession at Cambridge Crown Court and have received 42-month sentences for the offences. Guided bus scheme agreement BAM Nuttall and Cambridge County Council have reached agreement after the recent conflict about the guided bus scheme. The conflict arose after the council threatened to employ another contractor due to disagreements in building a section of the scheme around Orchard Park in Arbury. The council have now decided not to go forward with a new contractor and are continuing with their contract with BAM Nuttall. £8 million for a new school A construction company has won an £8 million contract to build a school that will be able to take up to 420 pupils by March 2011. Morgan Ashurst is building the school to replace Shirley School on Nuffield Road, Cambridge. Plenty of jobs will be available as the firm expect to employ about 50 subcontractors from the local area including roofers and plumbers. Clampdown on graffiti artists The council are working with the local police to try and catch the graffiti artists that are causing havoc in Cambridge, especially in the areas of Coleridge and Romsey. Homes, pubs, bus stops and playground have been defaced by the group of taggers that the councillors are so eager to catch. The tag ‘melon’ has been spotted all over Cambridge and the council are urging people to come forward if they have an idea who this tagger is.

Ex-Hills student cycles from Cambridge to Rome Sarah Gashi Editor On 13th March 2009, ex-Hills Road Students Sean McCann and Peter Banks began a cycle ride from Cambridge to Rome, sponsored in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust Addenbrookes Appeal. The charity is dedicated to providing NHS hospitals with units which are designed specifically for treating teenagers who are fighting cancer. Eight have been built in the United Kingdom so far, and TCT plans to build at least a further fifteen – including a brand new unit at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, to be constructed this year. These units are equipped with social and recreational facilities such as musical instruments, games consoles, pool tables and social areas (“chill-out rooms”). The construction of each unit costs upwards of £2million, and so the charity runs a number of fundraising events: concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, various competitive sporting events, and treks and marathons which have included sponsored runners in the London Marathon and now a 2500 mile cycle from Cambridge to Rome. Sean McCann, now 19 and working at Peters Elworthy & Moore, has an interest in the Teenage Cancer Trust that stems from first-hand experience. Sean was diagnosed with cancer while studying at Hills Road Photograph by Toni Munro. at age 18, and as there was no teen- Sean McCann and Peter Banks setting off from Cambridge last Friday. age facility available, he was asked to choose between the adult unit and the I now have to give up the beer and Form College will be holding an inas his treatment finished, taking no child unit for chemotherapy. “After crisps!” formal book sale on 24th and 25th time off to recover – further evichoosing the adult ward, not wanting Sean and Peter have so far March to support Sean and Peter and dence of his immense determination to see the children, I felt isolated… raised approximately £5,300 through to help raise money for the Teenage to complete his ‘A’ levels and take up the Teenage Cancer Trust ward is spesponsorship for their cycle ride Cancer Trust. Book donations should his place with PEM, a local Accountcifically for teenagers and that would and they hope to reach a target of be taken to the Careers Library at the ancy firm. Sean is an exceptional have been a much better environ£15,000. Last Friday they set off from College, and all books collected will young man with a fantastic family ment.” Cambridge (on a tandem) on a route be sold for £1. and friends. Please sponsor him gen Peter Banks, 19, said “Seethat will take them through England, Romie Ridley, Sean’s tutor erously.” ing my friend suffer from cancer was France, Switzerland and Italy before at Hills Road Sixth Form College, told obviously very hard for me, so when arriving in Rome, hopefully twenty us “Sean coped with his diagnosis, Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered the idea arose to do raise money for a days after their departure. They consurgery and chemotherapy with outcharity. Donations can be made for good cause of this nature, I couldn’t tinue to collect sponsorship throughstanding courage and amazing good the TCT Addenbrookes Unit online at say no. So now I’ve been roped into out their cycle ride. humour. I never heard him complain www.justgiving.com/cambridge-tocycling half way across Europe - and once. He returned to college as soon rome-cycle. Next week Hills Road Sixth

Boy pleads guilty to stabbing student Rosie Dean News Reporter The youth who left a 21year-old paralysed is due to be sentenced today at Inner London Crown Court. Oliver Hemsley, a former Hills Road Student was stabbed in the neck eight times last August, in an unprovoked attack in London. He was walking along the road in London with a flatmate when a 15-year-old and several other youths attacked him at random, resulting in Oliver having a severed spinal cord. The 21-year-old, described as a budding fashion designer who had just been offered a place to study a fashion design course at the prestig-

ious St Martin’s School of Art, stood no chance against the youths. Three of the knife wounds were fatal, one piercing his lungs, another his heart and a third, his neck. He immediately fell to the ground in Boundary Street, Shoreditch, central London, with blood pouring from his wounds, before being rushed to Royal London Hospital. Mr. Hemsley, known as Oli to family and friends, had to undergo open heart surgery, before he could be resuscitated, after ‘dying’ on his way to hospital. He received 20 litres of blood in theatre, during the long battle to save his life. He spent five months on a ventilator and is still in a rehabilitation unit. Despite his progress stunning doctors, he is now confined to a wheelchair and needs help to carry out basic tasks. However, Oli has

managed to develop a small amount of movement in his arms, which is an incredible achievement for a boy who suffered such severe injuries. The now 16-year-old attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent on August 20th, 2008. The youth, from Upton Park, east London apparently suffers from an extremely low IQ of 56, meaning his sentencing has been deferred because of psychiatric reports. Today, Oliver Hemsley’s parents have released a photo of him after the attacks in his hospital bed, in the hope that it will help to put an end to knife crime. His brother Will, 26, has talked about his brothers “indomitable will to overcome his injuries”. He added ““It was about 9pm. He was just walking along the street

when his friend was pushed out of the way by a gang of youths and stabbed from behind. It was completely unprovoked. “He had just completed a foundation year and was about to start a fashion design course at St Martin’s after going with some friends to Sweden. Now his life has virtually been taken away” Will has organised a charity bike ride from London to the French Alps to raise money for the constant care Oli will need for the rest of his life, and for spinal injury charities. The 600 mile Ride2Recovery cycle will take place over six days in May, and has already raised £12,000. Not only this, but it is hoping to raise awareness of the problem of knife crime in the UK.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Local News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

LOCAL NEWS

Cambridge Science Festival is the biggest yet Sarah Gashi and Yuming Mei Last Saturday, the Grand Opening of the 15th Cambridge Science Festival took place at the Downing Site in Cambridge. The Festival this year looks to be the biggest of all Cambridge Science Festivals to date – Cambridge University celebrates its 800th Anniversary this

Oscar, the interactive robot.

Learning about the human brain.

year, and the 2009 Science Festival proclaims a celebration of “centuries of science”. There was an intriguing robot called Oscar at the Grand Opening which attracted a lot of attention because it could speak intelligently to people. Children flocked round as the robot asked questions such as “What’s your name?”, “Is this your brother?” and engaged in general conversation. Surprisingly, the robot was also able to ask quite complicated questions

Photo by Yuming Mei.

Photo by Sarah Gashi

such as “Why do you keep on jumping up and down?”. The mechanism that explains how it works is still a mystery. The Grand Opening was followed by a number of events at the Downing Site, at the Guildhall and at other locations around the city. The events will continue in abundance until the close of the Festival this Sunday, the 22nd. Children’s lectures on Saturday included “Science in a Spin,” an exploration of spinning tops, balls, and anything else that whirls around repeatedly, and the highly interactive talk “Computers of the Future” which extraordinarily involved both mousetraps and liquid nitrogen. In the Guildhall, fascinated children watched as a Science Festival Steward at the Psychology table dismantled a plastic model of the human brain and explained its different components. On the other side of the room, another Steward was introducing some children to the wonders of the newest hearing aid technology, complete with automatic directionality (all efficiently explained in layman’s terms by the Steward!) At the New Museums site, a workshop on “Physics of the Bicycle” was held for children aged 5+, allowing them to find out about the workings of a bicycle and to make their own model to take home. For ages 14+ a number of more complex lectures took place, including a talk on “Neuroscience and Education” which explored the biological reasons for learning problems such as dyslexia, and also a panel discussion on “God and Darwin” which took place at Queen’s Lecture Theatre, Emmanuel College. There were also psychometric tests available at the Guildhall to test one’s own IQ, a fun experience for many. At 10:30am this morning there was a workshop at Anglia Ruskin University on Game Development, at which participants could try their hands at creating and interactive computer game. At 1.30pm this afternoon there was an intriguing opportunity to create your own 3D photographs at Anglia Ruskin University, using Photoshop technology. There are many other events taking place throughout the remainder of the Science Festival. This Saturday coming, Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital will be running a “family fun day” 2pm – 5pm at which families can take a guided tour around the fully functional animal hospital. (No pets allowed!) There will be a “hands-on maths fair” at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences taking place in the afternoon, and at Churchill College there will be an opportunity to create your own recycled paper. The festival can only take place thanks to a wide range of sponsors, including the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, Microsoft Research and the Medical Research Council. As part of the Science Festival activities, Cambridge University sends lecturers to schools and sixth

The University of Cambridge celebrates its 800th anniversary this year. Photo by Sarah Gashi form colleges in Cambridge to give talks and run workshops that teach children about their research. This project, the Schools Roadshow, is organised with the National Curriculum in mind and as such is designed to complement the children’s academic learning. Some 160 events have been organised to span the eight-day festival, and these are so varied that they appeal to children and adults of all ages, and to both people with and without a scientific background.

Covering such a wide range of areas (astronomy, psychology, zoology, forensic science and metallurgy included), it is an impossibility to not find something that appeals to you. To find out more about Cambridge’s Science Festival, visit www.cambridgescience.org The website has all the information that you might need about this year’s Science Festival.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Local News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

LOCAL NEWS

23 A-levels in one year - how did he do it? Erin Corrigan

Ali Moeen Nawazish’s A-level results

Local News Reporter Ali Moeen Nawazish, a teenager from Pakistan, passed an insane 22 A-levels and 2 AS levels (the equivalent of one more A level) in one year, completely smashing the previous record of ‘a mere’ 13. In 21 of these he achieved an A grade, including in many of the traditional subjects such as physics, biology, mathematics and geography as well as the newer ones like Critical Thinking. The subject he found most difficult? Well, he claims “it was all easy - except for Chemistry”. Glad I’m not doing that one then. He is now age 18 and in his first year of stuadying Computer Science at Cambridge University. As well as his extensive list of A-levels, Ali is trilingual, speaking English, Urdu and Punjabi fluently. While many of us, myself most defiantly included, struggle with the workload for four A-levels, the obvious question raised is: how on earth did he manage it? Well his answer is: working regularly for ten hours a day. Even with his enormous workload he still managed to play the guitar, edit the school newspaper and socialise. He even said afterwards “I didn’t find it particularly stressful. I enjoyed it. I’ve a thirst for knowledge.” He is now setting up a website called www.itorch.com to help students who find school work difficult.

Ali Moeen Nawazish proudly presents some of (!) his results. This remarkable achievement comes as exam regulator executives are discussing the possibility of introducing the A* grade for A-levels. University admission tutors at popular universities such as Oxbridge are being inundated with

Image © Matt Kirwan - SWNS.com

candidates who achieve the triple A grade requirements, and so the A* grade would enable them to distinguish the good from the brilliant. If the proposal does go ahead it will not come into place until at least 2014 after the A-level

Girls jump for Sarah Oldham Sponsor forms can also be collected from Simon Taylors Hairdressers in Ely, where both girls work and where Harriet is doing a hairdressing apprenticeship. Any donation is warmly welcomed, small or large.

Sarah Gashi Editor Hills Road student Victoria Saville and her friend Harriet Goodfellow will soon be doing a sponsored parachute jump to raise money in memory of their close friend Sarah Oldham, who was tragically killed in a recent car crash. The jump will be taking place on Sunday 29th March in Chatteris and the girls aim to raise as much money as possible by that date. The money will be divided between two charities: The Dogs Trust, a charity that Sarah strongly supported, and Addenbrookes’ Neuro Critical Care Unit, at which Sarah was care for following the accident. The crash occurred on the 12th January, and Sarah was taken to the NCCU ward at Addenbrookes where she stayed until her death two days later. She is sorely missed, and her best friends Harriet and Victoria have decided to celebrate her memory with this outrageously brave parachuting experience. Harriet and Victoria will be jumping from an aeroplane from a height of 10,000ft, and freefalling the first five thousand feet at speeds over 100 mph. In Victoria’s words, “we are both absolutely petrified but know it is going to be so exciting, and Sarah

Left: Sarah Oldham, the inspiration for a daring parachute jump for charity. Below: Harriet Goodfellow (left) and Victoria Saville (right).

would be proud! “We both miss Sarah ever so much and feel that this is the least we can do. We know she’ll be up there in hysterics at how silly we’ll be screaming when we’re jumping!” Victoria and Harriet have raised approximately £1800 so far and continue to collect more sponsorship. To sponsor the girls for their parachute jump, please call 01353699460 to contact Harriet or 01353775900 to contact Victoria.

review, so the current college students won’t be affected. But what will become of existing A grades? They will not be comparable to the new A* grade. Furthermore the threshold for other grades will also have

Physics - A Chemistry - B Biology - A Human Biology - A Mathematics - A Pure Mathematics - A Further Mathematics - A General Further Mathematics - C Geography - A Applied Geography - A Marine Sciences - A Psychology - A Sociology - A Computing - A Applied ICT - A Business Studies - A Urdu Language - A Urdu Literature - A Critical Thinking - A Thinking Skills - A Travel and Tourism - A GP (International) - A English Language (AS) - A General Studies (AS) - A to be recalibrated, and personally I would not want it to become harder to achieve a B or C grade. Another proposal is to follow in the footsteps of some European countries, and reward a simple pass or fail verdict.

New school in Cambridgeshire creates new jobs Grace Rogerson News Reporter Work is rare during the current economic downturn, and as unemployment figures reach an all time high, work is more sparse than it has been in years. However there is some good news for Cambridgeshire with dozens of jobs to be made available with the building of a new school. Morgan Ashurst, who have a firm policy of providing work to those who live locally, won the £8 million contract to replace Shirley School in Nuffield Road due to their experience constructing public sector buildings. A whole variety of tradesmen, from plumbers to roofers, will be needed and it is expected that 50 sub-contractors will be employed to complete the task. Two thirds of the 1960s buildings currently in use, but in a

state of disrepair, will be torn down leaving only one section of the existing school, the dining area and a hallway, left to accompany the new building. A new emphasis on outdoor and hands on learning will be created when the building is fully completed in March 2011. When good weather is forecast children will be able to learn outdoors within the outdoor classroom areas, ‘Insect Banks’ will create habitats for a variety of bugs and will offer a practical approach for children to learn about nature and the exiting pond and its wildlife will receive an upgrade to a new pool which will also incorporate a viewing area for the children. A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said ‘‘Staff, pupils and parents are all looking forward to the new facilities being completed.’’ and I am sure many are looking forward to the availability of new jobs.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 College News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COLLEGE NEWS In Brief Power Cut The school suffered a power cut on Friday afternoon – computer screens went blank, lights went out and the school was plunged into darkness. Fortunately, because of Progress Reviews, most people had already left the site. However, the power cut still caused problems. Members of staff found it difficult to get out of the car park since the ramp could not be lowered. Luckily, there was just enough space to squeeze through between the IN and OUT ramps of the car park, and all were able to get home safely. The power cut also resulted in work losses for pupils. One pupil, Donald Henderson, lost 30 minutes worth of his coursework to the power cut. Though he later recovered some of it, he was annoyed that this could happen at all: “the college should have a generator that kicks in in this situation… I was really focused on the work… now it will probably take twice as long to everything together.” Hills Road Interviews Yesterday all lessons were cancelled for Year 12s and 13s, and over 1000 Year 11s from secondary schools across the county were interviewed to confirm their subject choices at Hills Road for the start of the next academic year. Some current Hills Road students volunteered to be friendly faces for the nervous newcomers, showing them around subject areas and directing them to their interviews.

Hills Road releases its very own CD Sarah Gashi Editor Last Friday, Hills Road was proud to release its first ever CD recording, “The Best of Hills Road.” Comprising some of the best ensemble performances of the 2008 Autumn term, the CD comes complete with a booklet listing the names of all the students who participated as well as other details about the performances. The tracks include several choir numbers, amongst which are Chamber Choir’s beautiful performance of Bruckner’s Ave Maria and their rather more chilling rendition of Daemon irrepit callidus, Jazz Choir’s energetic presentation of the Nigerian traditional song Mangwani M’pulele, and the quite epic performance of Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols sung by the 120-strong College Choir in Great St. Mary’s Church, Cambridge. Other ensemble perform-

ances on the CD include Brass Ensemble’s mischevous Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Big Band’s sultry Moondance, featuring Kat Hardman singing the lead vocal. There are also excellent performances given by Chamber Orchestra and Wind Orchestra. Perhaps most notably, the CD includes Symphony Orchestra’s fantastic presentation at West Road Concert Hall of the first movement of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (the infamously difficult “Rach 3”), of which Xiaotian Shi’s virtuoso piano performance brought down the house, resulting in an extended standing ovation. The recording has been professionally produced and can be bought for £8 from the College Bursary. Parents and other members of the public can purchase from the Bursary via telephone on 01223-278016. This CD is worth buying!

Right: the front cover of the new CD, “Best of Hills Road”.

Lunchtime concert

Becca Inglis News Reporter ‘Viaticus’, one of the Young Enterprise Groups at Hills Road Sixth Form College, has come up with a new inventive way to raise money as part of their enrichment. Using methods that would appeal to their own generation, the group of students have decided to sell hoodies bearing the Hills Road emblem to their fellow students. Any student will be able to purchase their own for a reasonable twenty pounds and will be given the chance to add their own name to the back for just two pounds extra. The hoodies are available in various colours, including french navy, plum and hot pink. This is anticipated to be a great success after the widespread sensation of the Cambridge University hoodie throughout the adolescents of Cambridge.

UPCOMING EVENTS Law Talk Dr T. Arvind of the University of York’s Faculty of Law will be giving a talk at Hills Road this Friday. The talk will take place at 12.45 in the Science Lecture Theatre and will include advice about interview techniques and about studying Law. This will be followed by a workshop to introduce students to York Law School’s problem-solving approach to learning, which will take place during Period 4 - those who wish to attend must obtain permission to miss their lesson!

Below and right: Just some of the colours on offer for the Hills Road hoodies

Driving Advice There will be a Driving Advice Session next Tuesday lunchtime (24th) in the Science Lecture Theatre – very useful for students who are driving already and for those who are currently learning, as it will include tips for the driving test, and general driving advice. Sign up in the Guidance Office. Charles Darwin Conference This year marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin, and 150 years since the publication of his Origin of Species. Next Friday (27th), a conference will be held in Hills Road Sixth Form College to celebrate his scientific legacy. The day will also feature some entertainment in the form of an evolution-themed dance shown by the Dance Performance enrichment group at the college.

Viaticus make Hills Hoodies

Becca Inglis News Reporter Hills Road Sixth Form College successfully showcased a wide selection of its musical talent today in a lunchtime performance from a variety of its students. It was decided that this recital would take place after the positive response that the success of previous similar events have received. The popularity of the musical events was clear from the start, with such a wide turnout that friends of the musicians were forced to stand at the back to enjoy the music. There

was an excellent response from the audience, with each set receiving loud appreciation through applause and yells of enthusiasm. The line-up included Rowan Austin, who has just recorded his first album, with ‘Walking’, Karen Dickman with Lowside Blues, Rafie Faruq with ‘Blues Jam’, Cathy Bains singing ‘Popular’ from the critically acclaimed musical, “Wicked”, Laura Denmar with ‘Fields of Gold’, the Instrumental Award Piano perfoming ‘Scherzo and Trio (3rd movt) of the Brahms Piano Quintet’, Jackson Mathod & Ben Clarke with ‘Rasta Pasta’, Jackson Mathod & Hugo Hymas with ‘Master Beethoven’s 10th’ and Harriet Caddick with an impressive rendition of

‘Notre Amour’. All performers displayed an extraordinary amount of skill, but the group that really stole the show was the final ensemble. Simply entitled “Various Artists” but led by a Tom Curran, they performed a mix of popular contemporary songs that had been arranged by Curran to create a new upbeat hybrid. They could be labelled as obscure and experimental with their combination of violins and an electric drum kit, and the overall effect certainly was eclectic, but the

whole band was effectively drawn together by the remarkable lyrics of ‘MC Jonno’, who belted out the song in such an enthusiastic way that kept the spectators constantly entertained. As staff member, David Walker, remarked before they began to play, you definitely would not have heard anything like that “in the world”.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 College News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COLLEGE NEWS

Student Council makes plans to “go out with a bang” Laura Ruaux News Reporter It seems the Student Council at Hills Road Sixth Form College plan to go out with a bang. As the college year approaches the end and the newly elected student council begin to construct plans to take over, the current student council reveal plans for a Spring Fling. With promises of ‘extreme limbo and mad music’ a buzz of excitement is spreading through the college. The date is set for Wednesday 25th March - a week today - and for many people costume preparations are now in full swing. Although the daring prospect of a strict beach-themed dress code may have some people cringing slightly, it is advised that you do oblige because there are rumours that you may be turned away at the door if you attempt to spoil the fun. Some people get more into fancy dress than others and we can safely expect to see different degrees of extremities of costumes - as was demonstrated at Hills Road’s Christmas Ball, which featured an assortment of costumes encompassing everything from girls with bits of tinsel in their hair to santa hats to complete elf costumes. There was even a competition for the best dressed christmas costume.

The Spring Fling, like the last two Hills Road Sixth Form College balls, will be held at The Junction, a cultural venue known for hosting dance companies, theatre performances, bands and comedians as well as college events like this one. The previous two Hills Road balls at the junction have been a great success, providing good fun, a chance to dress up and time to get together with friends. The events also raised money for charity so whether you’re into dancing and limbo or not there is always a good reason to go. The student council have worked hard all year organising events and striving to make college more fun for all the students. They also recently updated the basement with leather sofas and brand new table football. The newly elected student council for 2009 has a lot to live up to! As the last ball held by the 2008 student council, the tickets for the Spring Fling are being very speedily snapped up - two hundred were sold in four days last week. To buy your ticket, make a trip to the College Bursary as soon as possible - don’t forget your student card!

Hills Road celebrates Red Nose Day “funny for money” style Sarah Gashi Editor

Last Friday was Red Nose Day, and the evidence was all over Hills Road Sixth Form College. Members of the German

Naomi Chamberlain with the Joss Sticks CD.

Photograph by Sarah Gashi.

Society walked the corridors with placards around their necks advertising that they were speaking German for the day, collecting sponsorship as they went along whilst amusing everyone by trying to get through History and Geography lessons speaking only German. There were also sponsored silences, which involved mass amounts of scrap paper to communicate throughout the day. Members of Interact Society strategically placed in the corridors carried collection buckets for our spare change, and various strangely dressed individuals (including Lydia Mahoney in pyjamas, TheatreTom in a Victorian era dress, and some Star Wars characters wandering around) also gathered donations in the humorous and generous atmosphere created by comic relief. The Interactors raised over £60, and TheatreTom raised £150 for wearing the dress! Music students paid up to guess the lowest and highest notes that music teacher Joss can sing, enticed by the prize of a “Joss Sticks” CD – recorded by Joss’s band in 1991 – for the person who guessed the most accurately. After a hilarious College Choir rehearsal in which Joss was made to test his range against the piano, Naomi Chamberlain won the elusive (and coveted) Joss Sticks CD with the guess of F-2 to B1, which for those of you who are musically inclined constitutes a range of about three and a half octaves. Overall, Comic Relief at Hills Road was a successful enterprise and we hope to have as much fun fundraising for Sports Relief next year!

Tom Wilshere (“TheatreTom”) in a dress!

Photograph by Yuming Mei.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 National News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COLLEGE NEWS

Hills Road Robotics Team visit New York! Team Systemetric, Hills Road’s resident robotics group, has been competing in the FIRST Robotics competition every year since 2002. The prestigious competition takes place across the whole of the United States, involving over 40,000 students from 11 different countries. Team Systemetric were the first team from the UK to enter the competition and ever since their rookie year in 2002 they have been regulars at the New York City Regionals. This year they continued that tradition.

Yuming Mei Deputy Editor At 11am on Tuesday the 3rd March, Team Systemetric boarded a flight to New York to take part, as usual, in the New York City (NYC) regional round of the FIRST Robotics Competition. FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” and the FIRST Robotics Competition (or FRC) has now been running for 18 years. In its own words it aims to: “...challenge teams of young people to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard kit of parts and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them into the competitions to compete in games...”

This year, the competition game was called “Lunacy” in honour of the 40th anniversary of the first manned mission to the moon. The details about the game were only released in early January, so all teams had to design and create their robots in a short space of time. Members of Team Systemetric even had to come to school over half-term in order to finish building the robot before the deadline for shipping it over to New York. Even before January, they were busy raising money for the trip by holding hilarious sponsored events like “Cross-Dressing Day” - which raised £500.

The New York skyline viewed from the Staten Island Ferry. The team arrived in New York at 2pm and spent most of the first day finding the hostel, making themselves at home and having a meal out. The next two days were non-competition days and everyone had fun around New York. Everyone decided to go up to the top of the Empire State Building on Wednesday. The views were amazing (see photo below) and everyone took lots of photos. One team member, Will Foulkes, said: “The Empire State Building was particularly great - it offered some spectacular views. Even the other skyscrapers looked tiny from that height.” Others also visited the Statue of Liberty and Times Square and on the next day a smaller minority visited the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

the pound was not as strong as it used to be, many in the team picked up some great bargains. On Thursday, the team also got the chance to meet one of the other Robotics teams taking part in the competition, Team 694. This was a fun evening of ice-skating, socialising and getting to know the other team. Friday was the practice day for the main competition. This was the first time that the team had even seen the robot (christened “Nessie”) since shipping it off back in February. Adjustments needed to be made and the team spent the day getting Nessie ready for the competition which was to take place over the weekend.

The week-long trip to New York therefore represented the culmination of weeks of preparation and hard work - a deserved break after a truly frantic 6 week build-phase.

Team Systemetric displaying their national pride at the New York City Regionals Top Row: Simon King, Sean Tanvir, Ben Temple-Heald, Matthew Farmer, Allan Taylor, Jordan Richards, Matthew Wood, Nick Jones (Captain), Mark Brown Second Row: Thomas Parker, Sam Jeffrey, Vicky Edney, Kate Seymour, Robert Broughton, Jordan Coulson

Bottom Row: Will Foulkes, Abi See, Charlie Bransfield-Garth, Michael Sargent, Toby Hammond, Orry Verducci, Thomas Thornton, John Robinson, Callum Saunders Other members of the team (not in the photo) are: Peter Amey, Nathan Whitaker, Liam Callcut, David Mestel, George Ralph.

Friday: Team Systemetric add the finishing touches to Nessie (the robot). Cross-Dressing Day

Photo by Will Foulkes

The Statue of Liberty at sunset There was plenty of free time on both days and many team members took the opportunity to go shopping around New York. Though

The competition in progress. The object of the game is to use your robot to place the multicoloured balls (called moonrocks) into opponents’ trailers.

In the evening, the team went to the cinema and were able to see the new film “Watchmen” because it is only a 17 in America! Saturday and Sunday were the competition days. The competition took place at the Javits Centre, one of the largest convention centres

in the world - no surprise there since it had to hold over 2000 contestants over 66 teams, some from as far away as Brazil. Put simply, the aim of “Lunacy”, the game of the competition was to pick up game pieces called “moon rocks” and place them in a trailer attached to an opponent’s robot. Specific rules such as the addition of “Super cells” worth extra points close to the end of the game made the competition even more exciting. There was also a 15 second

Some of the breathtaking views from the Empire State Building. Visible: The Chrysler Building, Queensboro Bridge

stage at the beginning where no communication was allowed between the teams and their robots, i.e. the robots could not be remote-controlled as usual. This tested the teams’ programming skills. Lunacy was also a team game, designed to encourage cooperation between the different teams. The game is played between alliances, with 3 teams and therefore 3 robots in each alliance. At the end of the game, points are scored for each moon rock in the opponents’ trailers. Team Systemetric did well on Saturday, coming 3rd overall out of the 66 teams. Unfortunately, they fared a lot worse on Sunday and had dropped down to 29th by the end of the competition. As a result, they did not get through to the finals. However, everyone had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Tom Parker, who has been in Team Systemetric for two years, said “I really enjoyed the trip to New York. The American culture is surprisingly different from our own and I’ve made friendships with Americans which I hope to keep and strengthen.” The New York trip is a part of Robotics enrichment, one of the many enrichments available at Hills Road. There are around 30 places each year: this year, 12 Upper 6th and 16 Lower 6th students took part. Next year, Team Systemetric will return to New York.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 College News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COLLEGE NEWS

Quiz Night raises £405 for charity Yuming Mei Deputy Editor At 6pm on Tuesday 10th March, over 70 students and teachers descended on the Hall at Hills Road in order to compete in a Quiz Night in aid of charity. The event, held as part of Fair Trade Fortnight, was organised almost single-handedly by Upper 6th student Stephanie Binks with just a little bit of help from Mr Welander. The evening was a great success, raising £405 for charity. This money will go to the Ihkwezi Lokusa Centre in Mthatha, South Africa, which works to help train people with disabilities in the skills that they need to make money for themselves. There were 15 teams in the competition in total, with representation from both students and teachers. Taken together, the student teams represented a diverse section of the Hills Road community. This diversity was demonstrated quite clearly in the choices of team names: “The Archaeology Girls”, “Monkey Business Studies”, “Viaticus” and “Team Andy”. Other student teams, such as “Universally Challenged”, “If only we knew”, and “Carlsberg don’t do quiz teams but if they did they’d probably be better than this one” chose names that poked fun at themselves. This was in stark contrast to “The Talent”. There were also 3 staff teams:

A member of the winning team, “www.idonthaveaclue.com”, sporting a large laminated question mark. Photgraph by Yuming Mei. “Staffroom 6”, “Guidance Guys and Gals” and the eventual winners of the competition, “www.idon’thaveaclue. com”. (Do not waste any time trying to access the website because it does not actually exist – it is all just a cruel joke…) Members of “www. idon’thaveaclue.com” also sported stylish blue question marks on their

backs throughout the competition. The quiz itself consisted of 60 questions, split into 6 sections with 10 questions in each section. The picture round was generally considered to be the easiest with many teams getting full marks whereas the Fair Trade round was quite difficult with no-one managing to get more than half-marks. Refreshments were provided to all contestants though Compton Kats decided to supplement their food supplies. This did not seem to help them score well however. As the competition progressed, it became clear that certain teams were definitely not going to win. At this point these aforementioned teams decided that aiming for losing would be a more successful strategy, because there was a special booby prize for the worst team. The final round therefore saw an intense race between “PenguinOnes” and “Compton Kats” for last place as both teams made a concerted effort to lose. As a result, they both successfully scored 0 in this last round. Unfortunately for “PenguinOnes” however, Compton Kats had planned ahead and had already scored 0.5 points in the round before. The wooden spoon prize of a packet of fair-trade biscuits and red noses for all team members therefore went to Compton Kats who burst out into cheers and exaggerated handshakes at being told that they had lost.

Compton Kats decided to supplement their refreshments with junk food from Tesco. Photograph by Yuming Mei. “www.idon’thaveaclue.com” were the winners with 45.5 out of 60 with three other teams coming in at 41 out of 60. There was then a tie-break round which decided the final standings. “Team Andy” came second and “Carlsberg don’t do Quiz teams but if they did they’d probably be better than this one” came third. All in all, the Quiz Night was

a success and everyone had a good time. Stephanie Binks, the Upper 6th student who organised it, said at the end: “It was nerve wracking, especially when things didn’t go according to plan! But I enjoyed it a lot and would do it all over again. I hope everyone had a good time and thank you for coming.”

The Quiz Night took place in the hall at Hills Road. Photograph by Yuming Mei.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 International News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

NATIONAL NEWS

Man convicted of murder is freed Rosie Dean News Reporter A prisoner convicted of murder 27 years ago has been released after new DNA evidence. Sean Hodgson, 57, was sentenced to life in prison after allegedly strangling Teresa De Simone, 22, in Southampton. However, new DNA evidence has cast doubt on his conviction and Hodgson has been freed by the Court of Appeal. He is the longest serving victim of a miscarriage. Teresa De Simone was found dead, partially clothed in her ford escort in 1979, beneath the Tom Tackle pub

where she worked part time as a barmaid. At the time of the court case, DNA tests were not available, but now it is understood that DNA given by Mr. Hodgson does not match that found at the crime scene. Therefore, in November, following requests from Mr. Hodgson’s legal team, a case review was undertaken by Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service. Due to the new evidence, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, a body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice, referred the case to the Court of Appeal after just two days, making it the fastest ever case to be commissioned. At his trial at Winchester Crown Court, the jury found him guilty

in 1982, despite Hodgson pleading not guilty to a single charge of murder. Hodgson did however, make some admissions and has now apologises to Teresa’s family for his actions, and any distress he has caused. The evidence used at the trial was a blood sample found at the scene which matched Hodgson’s blood type – either group A or AB. However, roughly one third of the male population also has this blood type. Friends of Teresa have spoken of their shock that the man convicted of her murder has been released. Barbara Yates said Teresa’s family would be distressed if “justice was not done”. She added: “I keep thinking there’s a person who is guilty who is still out there and presumably has led a normal

life.” Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other senior judges ruled that his 1982 conviction was “unsafe”. He said that tests on sperm found at the scene proved it did not come from Mr Hodgson. “The Crown’s case was that whoever raped her also killed her, so the new DNA evidence has demolished the case for the prosecution,” Lord Judge added. He announced that Hodgson would be discharged and there would be no further trial. Mr Hodgson said he felt “ecstatic”, and thought his day of release would never come, after leaving court for the last time. After spending nearly half of his life in prison, many questions are being raised about how Robert Hodg-

son, now known as Sean, will cope in the outside world. The pace of life has completely changed from before Hodgson was in prison, for example with the introduction of the chip and pin system. His lawyer, Julian Young, has confirmed that he will be seeking financial compensation to the highest amount possible - £500,000. Young also said that Sean Hodgson is looking forward to his future, despite challenges he may face. His brother, Peter Hodgson will undoubtedly support him, shown from having a protective arm around a frail Sean Hodgson while leaving court. A new investigation has been launched into the case.

UK Government reportedly aware of tortured Britons. Amelia Lupson News Reporter During a visit to Pakistan, Naheem Hussain (24), Rehan Zaman (25) and Hussain’s father Fazal were forced to confess to a murder that they say they did not commit through methods of torture. This happened after they were arrested in 2004 supposedly over a land dispute in the region of Kashmir, and since then, they have been held at a prison in Mirpur. When Fazal Hussain fell ill with diabetes and jaundice later in 2004, he was released from custody after agreeing to pay a police bribe of over £11, 000 to stop the torture. This alone seems terrible enough, but the truly horrific part: the British government has been aware of the torture since 2004, but has failed to do anything to stop it. Fazal has said that their torture included being beaten, having their feet whipped, being hung from the ceiling, being kicked, and Mr. Zaman had a fingernail removed and cigarettes put out on his wrists. The three men were denied food,

water and sleep, and forced to watch each other’s beatings. During a press conference on Monday 16th March, Fazal said “For hours my son was on the floor, with two policemen – one holding his legs, one holding his arms – and a third one standing on his stomach, kicking. I was right in front of my son.” When the alleged murder finally comes to trial, Naheem Hussain and Zaman may face the death penalty if they are found guilty of their forced confession to a murder in which two men were shot, one of whom died. Lawyers from the human rights charity Reprieve have said that there is “strong evidence” supporting the men’s innocence, and that the only piece of evidence that Pakistani police have is “a false confession relating to a gun that had never been fired”. An official from British, Foreign and Commonwealth Office visited the three men in prison in 2004, and since 2006 embassy members have been regularly visiting Naheem Hussain and Zaman. A spokesman for the Foreign Office has said “We take any allegations of mistreatment or torture seriously. We

take all cases where British nationals face the death penalty seriously.” This statement doesn’t seem 100% honest, as the British Government had told Reprieve to “keep quiet about the torture” upon instructions given by Hussain’s lawyer – questionable, as it is a criminal offence to cover up evidence of torture, which would be an unusual request from a lawyer, and an even more unusual acceptance from the government. At a press conference yesterday in London, Fazal said “I appeal to the British Government. We are British citizens. Do something, please.” Hussain’s MP Clare Short, appeared alongside the men at the conference, and said she has written to Foreign Secretary David Miliband urging him to encourage Pakistan to release the men, or proceed with a trial. It seems that the government’s response to torture claims recently has been much below the expected standard, as it is are also currently being criticized by human rights groups for refusing to release evidence of the alleged torture at the Guantanamo Bay camp.

Clare Short, who is encouraging either the release of the men, or the procedure of a trial.

Building funds put on hold James Count News Reporter Large amounts of college building plans have been put on hold, with the schools applying and being granted funds only to have them withheld. With total overspending of schools at around 3bn, where is their funding that has been promised by the LSC? Brooklands College, in Surrey, is just one of the colleges that have suffered from the withheld funds. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) had encouraged Brooklands to merge with another sixth-form college and rebuild their old school building. Their plans had been started at the school, with Brooklands having moved out all the staff and students, spending

£80,000 a month in rent for temporary accommodation, and spending 9 million on preparatory work. This was when Brooklands was told that its plans were not yet being given the final go-ahead. The college’s principal, Colin Staff, commented that “This was a successful college which is now in a precarious situation”. He also said ‘If the LSC walk away now, it will take 25 years for us to pay off the money we have already spent’. Without the LSC’s backing, Brooklands will struggle to maintain their good quality of education. Another college, South Thames College in London, has ended up in serious debt due to withholding of funding for building plans. The LSC had told the college that their funding was secure, but now the school has had to take out huge loans that it will struggle to pay back. Their spending

on their building project is now at 70 million, and if the college doesn’t receive it’s funding by the start of April the building will have to be put on hold and the builders sent home. This will be a tough decision that will be “Heartbreaking for the staff and heartbreaking for the students,” according to the college’s principal, Sue Rimmer. The LSC has claimed in a statement it made that “it has always been perfectly clear that full funding and final approval was not guaranteed and that colleges were proceeding at their own risk”. Many schools have suffered from this, because after being told their funding was secure they have gone ahead with their projects, only to be told that their funding was not finalised, and that it was being withheld.

School consturction. Image taken from Wikimedia Commons.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 National News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

NATIONAL NEWS In Brief Innocent man freed after 27-year sentence A man jailed in 1979 for killing Teresa De simone has been released after DNA tests prove he was not at the scene of her murder. Sean Hodgson now becomes one of the longest- serving victims of miscarriage of justice in the UK. His 1982 conviction has been ruled ‘unsafe’ and the case reopened. Self-confessed rapist sentenced to 8-years David Hiddleston, a 74 year old man from Heathall near Dumfries, has admitted he raped a teenage girl on numerous occasions between 1973 and 1980. It is thought she was the victim of 300 attacks which began when she was just 13. On account of his health and age and because he was a first offender he has been sentenced to 8 years in jail. Men arrested for breaking into Heathrow Two people, thought to have been part of the fathers 4 justice campaign group, have been arrested after attempting to gain ‘unlawful access’ to the Heathrow airport airfield. The incident happened late last night. A spokesmen for the airport operator BAA said it was a “misguided and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Heathrow’s passengers”. Amy Winehouse on bail Amy Winehouse had pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault at a charity ball last September. She is accused of attacking a fan who asked for a picture. Amy was later released on unconditional bail and her hearing prolonged to July 25th. Speeding policeman jailed A policeman who crashed his traffic patrol car while driving at up to 122 mph has been jailed for 20 weeks after he supposedly ‘chose to deliberately accelerate, reaching speeds of at least 120mph in the pitch black’ after there was no need to. The driver Sergeant Craig Bannister claimed that his speed was appropriate for the weather conditions, and that he was attempting to find a place to turn off his blue lights after being stood down from the emergency call. Funeral for soldier The funeral of Mark Quincey, one of the two soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA in northern Ireland, is being held today at the Immanuel Church in Highters Heath in his home city of Birmingham. The family statement which was read out by Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis said that “Mark was right at the very heart of our family and we thought he’d be there forever. It is so hard for us to understand why this happened to him. Mark loved life. He was fun, popular and had a brilliant sense of humour, attracting a large circle of friends who he was very close to.”

FSA restricting banks’ risks Amelia Lupson News Reporter Lord Aidan Turner, chairman of the Financial Services Authority will propose new regulations on banks’ lending power as a response to the financial crisis the UK has recently suffered, including tighter rules encouraging banks to publish accounts information and attempting to stop over-lending. Last month Turner has spoke of the change in regulations as a “revolution” rather than a small change, and is expected to force banks to increase the amount of capital they hold, restrict hedge funds by making them disclose more information about the risks they are taking, creating a

clearer division between investment and commercial banks, and preparations to ban risky mortgages and investments. The report is likely to suggest a global crackdown on banking regulations, as there are worries that without the international agreement on these difficult decisions, these changes to the banking system within the UK will lead to banks choosing to simply move away from London. Gordon Brown supports this particular change, having already claimed that an international response is necessary to prevent recent financial problems such as the nationalisation of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley happening again here and elsewhere across the world. Blame for these recent issues has been put upon the tripartite system, which shows the three differ-

ent roles of the Financial Services Authority, the Bank of England and the Treasury, as it has been said to confuse separations between the regulating power that each authority holds upon the banks and markets. While the Treasury is intended to create the regulation structure, the FSA supports individual banks, and the Bank of England makes money available to lenders and searches for problems in the financial markets. The effect of these somewhat overlapping responsibilities is that no single authority knew quite who was looking after the overall financial market. Turner is therefore expected to make divisions between these important bodies clearer so that this type of confusion doesn’t reoccur, or to perhaps even change the entire arrangement, as examples such as the Northern Rock crisis suggest that the

system isn’t capable of overseeing the financial market. The report has come about since the G-20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers just this weekend, in which a dispatch demanding “full and transparent disclosure” of banks debts and assets and was signed, and Turner has noted significant targeted issues. Alistair Darling, Treasury chief, hosted this meeting and has said that he expects the Turner Review to suggest new rules on capital and liquidity, along with decreasing financial rewards for bankers – an issue which has angered members of the public as a number of banks have been “rewarding failure” by paying out bonuses for 2008, a year in which extreme losses were made.

Playschool, park and now to the gym... Grace Rogerson News Reporter Free gym memberships are to be offered to all children under the age of five announced Merseyside council. Thousands of children will become part of this anti-obesity scheme following research which revealed shocking statistics. In Liverpool it has been found that half of 11-year-old boys and 40% of 11-year-old girls were overweight and, even more horren-

dously, that 1 in 20 were clinically obese with Body Mass Indexes of over 30. It is likely their health is being affected by this excess weight. Fitness centres run by Liverpool City Council are to introduce classes for babies and toddlers with activities involving dancing and simple ball games. With one third of Liverpudlian children not taking part in enough exercise up to 65,000 children will benefit from this scheme. Those of between 5-16 years and the over 60s already get free lifestyle memberships and 1,600 low income families are now also going to re-

ceive this bonus so that older children and parents, as well as the youngsters, will be able to make use of fitness centres. A large spectrum of people will now be involved in the Health and Fitness programme and Council leader Warren Bradley believes ‘‘it is our primary duty to do all we can to give our children the healthiest possible start in life.’’ and this is made clear by this initiative, they are the first city in the United Kingdom to provide such a programme. Warren believes ‘‘… in the build up to Britain hosting the

next Olympics, it would be a triumph if we could provide every child in the country with free access to their local leisure centre.’’. His drive to improve the health of Britain is impressive. Let us hope that other councils follow with providing similar health and fitness programmes to this to get our children active and fight the rise in obesity.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 International News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

NATIONAL NEWS

Increase in university fees proposed Rachel Clarkstone News Reporter A group of vice-chancellors put forward the proposal or raising student fees from the current capped £3,500 to a minimum of £5,000 a year or to lift the cap making it possible for universities to charge extortionate amounts of money. Current fears are that fees may rise to around £7,000 which will mean that students will have an overall debt of £32,000 after studying for three years, which is almost twice the average £17,000 expected for a student who is graduating in 2011. A BBC survey of 53 university vice-chancellors showed that the expectations of the increase could be anything from £4,000 to £20,000 a year. The £2000 increase has caused controversy among the government and outrage among the national union of students. “It is extremely arrogant for university vice chancellors to be fantasising about charging their students even higher fees and plunging them into over £32,000 of debt,” said NUS president Wes Streeting who was especially concerned about the effect this will have alongside the current credit crunch. On the other hand, two thirds of those asked wanted the cap on fees to be lifted and more than a half thought that it should either be raised to £5,000 or for there to be no upper limit, making it up to the universities how much they charge. Twelve different University

Grace Rogerson News Reporter vice-chancellors were asked for their views on tuition fees and though they suggested a wide range of figures, it averaged to £6,500 which is over double the current fees and significantly more than the proposed £5,000. Despite the fears that universities would begin to charge the absolute maximum they possibly could, more than a quarter have said that they would not. The increase in fees is expected to deter potential students from applying to University especially due to the suggestion to cap government student loans at £3,000 which would result in students borrowing the money from banks, having to pay it back on a real interest rate rather than a subsided one. This is expected to affect about one million students on undergraduate courses and deter around 100,000 students from applying to university. The opinion of some is that it is vital to increase fees if we wish to keep our world renowned Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge at a high standard, “There is a growing consensus that without increased investment, there is a real danger

News Reporter The government has stepped up attempts to encourage acceptance for people with differing sexualities, it has been revealed. Beliefs that prejudices can arise at early ages have led to the introduction of a new stream of controversial children’s books being introduced in primary schools. This trial policy involves a new series of fairytales being published that include homosexual relationships between the main characters. The idea is that this will make same-sex relationships seem less radical to young children, so that they will grow up considering the concept to be natural, as opposed to “abnormal” and “wrong”. It is also hoped that it will help to cut down the amount of homophobic bullying that goes on in the classroom. “The most important thing these books do is reflect the reality for young children”, project director Elizabeth Atkinson told The Observer on Sunday. “My background is in children’s literature and I know how powerful it is in shaping social values and emotional development.” These books are already being used in fourteen schools across the country for children aged four to eleven years, as part of a £600,

000 government funded experiment, named “No Outsiders”. With full support from National Union of Teachers and General Teaching Council, it has inspired many a school project, including the writing of an “Alternative Cinderella” in lessons. Despite the government’s enthusiastic promotion of this scheme, however, it has met with a lot of controversy. Many parents are concerned that this is not simply a way of raising awareness, but a method of controlling how their children think. “I don’t mind what adults do in mutual consent” says Andy Hebberd, founder of the Parent Organisation group, “but I’m not sure if this should be imposed on children.” It is due to this viewpoint that the online blogging site Spieggel has observed that “maybe it’s [the] parents who need some extra coaching when it comes to tolerance”. The important thing to remember is that the stories are not focused on sex, but simply the love between two people. Far from morally corrupting children, perhaps this could be the shaping of the most sexually-tolerant generation yet.

Right: “King & King”, a fairytale in which the Prince finds something wrong with every Princess his father suggests for a bride, and eventually finds love with a Prince instead.

that the success of our world-leading universities will not be sustained. In a difficult economic climate, there is even greater urgency to find additional funding.” says Dr Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group and representative of 20 large research-intensive universities. Although, Paul Marshall, the executive director of the 1994 Group and representative of 18 leading universities, disagrees with this and thinks that, “A narrow debate on future fee levels will not result in a sustainable solution nor will it secure the investment needed to maintain the world-class contribution that UK higher education makes to the economy and society.” At the moment, these fee changes have been disregarded by the Westminster government who have said, “We made a commitment to Parliament during the last fees review that we would return to the issue only after the first cohort of students paying under the current regime had finished their degrees. We are not breaking that commitment.” However, they have acknowledged that there is an important debate to be had about the issue.

Jude Richmond, 41, a celebrity florist and Millie WhiteheadRichmond, nine and who suffers from cerebral palsy, were reported missing, by their family cleaner at 10 am on Monday, two bodies have now been found. The mother and child were last seen Sunday evening at their home in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. Following the notification to the police of their disappearance a search was began immediately. Inspector Russ Cooper said on Monday that “We’ve had the helicopter up, searching the local area and we’ve had forensic and rescue officers searching the edge of the lake’’ together with forensic evidence being gathered from the family home. It was when the investigation progressed onto searching the lake, immediately behind where they lived, on Tuesday that divers found the two bodies. The first body, of a young girl, was found at around 10.20am while the second, that of a woman, was found roughly an hour later. Miss Richmond had supplied flowers for Hollywood premiers,

various movies, Pink Floyd and the Royal Family and her daughter was also very keen on flowers, together with dogs and ponies. The small business, Camelia Flowers, runs a shop near their home where she relocated to from London a couple of years ago. It has been established that she was under a lot of pressure recently and was described by the Gloucestershire Police as ‘‘very vulnerable.’’ Officers are waiting to speak to Miss Richmond’s husband and Millie’s step-dad, Nick, who has been returning to the UK from Australia. Formal identification of the bodies has not yet begun and is likely to start tomorrow. It is too early to comment on whether the bodies are suspicious, said a spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police, as investigations into the circumstance surrounding the deaths are still being investigated.

Image by permission of Tricycle Press.

Controversy over “gay fairytales” in schools Becca Inglis

Two bodies found missing florist and her daughter?

Wednesday 18th March 2009 National News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Madagascar moves towards new era of hope amidst fears of civil war

Above: Last year vast crowds gathered to celebrate Mr Rajoelina’s appointment as the mayor of Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Alex Larkinson News Reporter Yesterday Madagascar’s political turmoil resulted in the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana as his minsters stepped down in droves and military support finally petered out. Mr Ravalomanana announced his resignation during a radio address, in which he said: “This decision was very difficult and very hard, but it had to be made,” he said. “We need calm and peace to develop our country.” He has been replaced by 34-yearold Andry Rajoelina, the opposition leader and former DJ, who installed himself in the president’s offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops. Today he was given full powers of presidency by Malagasy military leaders. An invitation from Mr Rav-

alomanana to take up power as a military directorate was rejected. Another offer of a referendum to solve the crisis was also turned down. “I accept humbly and with love - I assume as a duty - all responsibility, management and leadership of our beloved country, Madagascar,” Mr Rajoelina said to thousands of ecstatic supporters. He promised “normal life, to security and above all national reconciliation”. This has been seen as a triumph by most Malagasy people, who have grown increasingly discontented by Mr Ravalomanana’s economic policies, including plans to lease one million acres in the south of the Madagascar to the Korean firm Daewoo for intensive farming. Futhermore, around 70% of Madagascar’s 20 million population live on less than $1 a day, and food and fuel prices have recently increased, causing unrest across the island, which is the fourth biggest in the world. Mr Rajoelina had utilised this re-

sentment, and combined with trendy campaigning appealing to young Malagasies, his popularity has risen drastically as a result. Mr Rajoelina had portrayed Mr Ravalomanana as a tyrant who squandered public money, but the former president’s supporters said his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. Mr Rajoelina’s success has also been down to his control of the military: their support for Mr Ravalomanana had begun to waver in February after security forces opened fire and killed about 28 proRajoelina demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo; then, in March, a faction of the army mutinied, and its leader, Andre Andriarijaona, overthrew Madagascar’s top general and named himself chief-of-staff. The military police then said they would no longer take orders from the government. Mr Rajoelina has announced a new constitution (the current one sets a

Image from Flickr, uploaded by Thierry Andriamira.

minimum age of 40 for presidential candidates) and elections within two years, but his ascendance to presidency has been condemned by the African Union, who view the displacement of Mr Ravalomanana as an “attempted coup d’etat”. Until elections are held, it is likely that the African Union will suspend Madagascar. Speaking on behalf of the African Union, Botswanan Foreign Minister Phando Skelemani said: “We don’t think anybody has the right to unseat an elected government by force”. And not everyone in Madagascar supports Mr Rajoelina. Around 2500 people formed a human shield around the palace Mr Ravalomanana took shelter in, and many now fear that their country is on the brink of civil war, with the military battling with supporters of the ousted leader. More than a hundred people have already died in the crisis, and there is a sense of relief that the coup itself was conducted without bloodshed.

Concern at the possible pitfalls of such a movement was also expressed by UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon, who appealed to all parties to ensu-re a “smooth transition”. It is unclear whether Western donors will decide to cut off aid. However, Madagascar’s highest court backed the handover, claiming that “Mr Andry Rajoelina exercises the attributions of the president of the Republic as stated by the provisions of the constitution”, despite Malagasy law saying that the head of parliament’s upper house should have taken over after the president’s resignation and organised an election within two months. The whole affair marks a significant turnaround for Mr Rajoelina who, in February, was sacked as mayor of Antananarivo. Now he controls the military and the government, and bears the hopes and fears of a nation on his young shoulders.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 International News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Long term effects on wildlife at Chernobyl James Count News Reporter It’s twenty years now since the one of reactors exploded at a power plant in Chernobyl, and the area around is still feeling the effects of the radioactive fallout. After part of the power plant blew up, the city and surrounding area were contaminated, and the city was deserted and left a ghost town. A team of researchers working in the exclusion zone that surrounds Chernobyl have found evi-

dence to suggest insect numbers in the area are declining. Their findings show that spiders, dragonflies, bumblebees, butterflies and grasshoppers have all been affected. One of the scientists conducting the research is Professor Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina, who has been working in the exclusion zone for almost a decade. Mousseau and his team have already produced evidence to suggest that bird numbers in the area were declining, and now they have expanded their research to insects, once again finding that the contamination in the area is continuing to have a detrimental effect on the wildlife.

The researchers’ findings and views have been challenged, however, by Dr Sergii Gashchak of the Chernobyl Center in Ukraine. He argues that “Wildlife really thrives in Chernobyl area, due to the low level of [human] influence”. Professor Mousseau has replied that his aim is to use the site to discover the true ecological effects of radiation contamination, and he and the other researchers are hoping to expand their research further, to include mammals and plants.

Right: Chernobyl nuclear powerplant

Battles abroad, battles at home Grace Rogerson News Reporter A third of armed forces families living in ministry defence housing are unhappy with the poor conditions of their homes it was revealed, by parliament’s spending watchdog, on Wednesday. The Ministry of Defence provides housing for 42,000 of those who fight for our country, including

families of the Army, RAF and Royal Navy. 20,000 servicemen and their families move yearly to spend time supporting operations abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq. They face stressful lives and the least they should be able to expect is comfortable homes as a place of refuge. With those in the forces facing longer terms separated from their families they need to know those left at home are safe. Edward Leigh, Conservative chairman of the public accounts committee agreed that ‘‘We ask a lot of our servicemen

and women, so it is the least we can do to house their families in Britain in decent accommodation,” The occupants were deeply unhappy with the condition of carpets, garden, state of repair and general cleanliness of their properties with a staggering 31% stating the conditions were ‘poor’. The families have been coping with these unacceptable conditions of accommodation for some time and those living there have begun speaking out. One wife explained, ‘“We’ve had every-

thing from leaking roofs, leaking guttering… a ceiling collapse… carpets you wouldn’t use in a dog’s bed, let alone in a human house. The list is pretty endless.” Even with people battling to have their dilapidated homes repaired little is being done with one women, after asking her banister to be repaired just weeks earlier, told us “…[it] collapsed as I was coming down the stairs…I was seven months pregnant at the time.’’ The National Audit Office announced it would take 20 years

at current spending levels before all 50,000 defence estate properties would reach the best condition. It must be questioned why those who are putting their lives on the line, to improve the lives of others, should have to fight for their homes to be in a state of satisfactory living.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 International News s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

INTERNATIONAL NEWS In Brief Gambian villages have been attacked by Witch Doctors. Villagers have been taken to secret detention centres and have been forced to drink sacred potions leading to serious health problems. Amnesty International claim that these potions have lead to kidney problems and two people have died. One eyewitness stated that “The paramilitary police armed with guns and shovels surrounded our village and threatened the villagers that anyone who tries to escape will be buried six feet under.” Many of the people forced to drink the potions immediately suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea. Amnesty’s UK director Kate Allen said “The Gambian government has to put a stop to this campaign, investigate these attacks immediately and bring those responsible to justice.” Tourists Killed in Yemen Four South Korean tourists were killed and three other people injured in an explosion whilst posing for a photograph outside the historic city of Shibam in Yemen. The cause of the explosion is unknown and is beginning to look like a terrorist attack but local security officials are claiming it could have been due to the leftovers of dynamite from a nearby mine. Correspondents say that there has been a surge of attacks on Westerners in Yemen previously including two on the US embassy, the second in September 2008 where a car bomb attack killed over sixteen people. Louis Vuitton VS Google The company behind Louis Vuitton and other brands LVMH, is accusing Google of trading the search word “vuitton” to the highest paying buyer. LVMH claims that if this goes on when web users search for Louis Vuitton products they will be met by rival firms selling bogus merchandise. Google spokespersons continue to argue that Google respects trademarks. The case has been referred to the ECJ in Luxemburg and no conclusion is expected for months. Momcilo Krajisnik Sentence Cut Seven years have been cut off the prison sentence of Momcilo Krajisnik the former Bosnian Serb leader. He remains to serve twenty years for the deportation of civilians but his appeal reversed the charges for murdering, persecuting and exterminating non-Serbs during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia. Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic (who is faced with eleven charges of genocide and crimes against humanity himself) testified at Momcilo Krajisnik’s appeal claiming that during the war Krajisnik was “not a member of the presidency”. Karadizic’s testimony was said not to be “sufficient to undermine the extensive evidence” of the control Krajisnik enforced during the war. The new sentence accounts for the time Krajisnik spent in custody since April 2000 and is said to be “severe and proportionate.”

Charlotte Mason News Reporter Family of British actress Natasha Richardson have visited the New York hospital where she remains in a critical condition after suffering serious head injuries in a skiing accident. Richardson’s husband, actor Liam Neeson, their sons and her mother Vanessa Redgrave gathered at her bedside. Richardson, 45, initially appeared unhurt after what was described as an ‘undramatic accident’ but later fell ill and was taken to hospital by her ski instructor. The statement from the ski resort said the actress “fell in a beginners’ trail while

taking a lesson”. “She was accompanied by an experienced ski instructor who immediately called the ski patrol,” it continued. “She did not show any visible sign of injury but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor.” Richardson and Neeson met on the set of Nell, marrying in 1994. She has starred in a number of Hollywood films and acted opposite an 11year-old Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap. But she is perhaps best known for her work on the stage, winning a Tony award in 1998 for her starring role in the Broadway production of Cabaret.

The Pope. The Condom. Does either hold the answer? Grace Rogerson News Reporter Pope Benedict reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to Condoms while visiting Africa. On Tuesday he declared they may even increase the problem of AIDS in Africa, a continent which has already lost 25 million people to the disease in the last 3 decades. The Catholic Church believes not in artificial contraception but instead in approaches such as the rhythm method, which provide no protection against sexually transmitted diseases, and its is believed that fidelity within heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the ways in which to prevent AIDS. Baptised Catholics make up 17% of the African population and with the number of those who practice

Pope Benedict.

Catholicism in the developing world diminishing the continent is seen as vital for the future of the Church. The enthusiasm for the Pope was clear with thousands of joyful people, singing and dancing, there to greet him as he arrived in the capital of Cameroon. The Pope said prior to his trip that he wished to wrap his arms around the entire continent, with “its painful wounds, its enormous potential and hopes”. However his stance on the use of condoms is controversial with many wondering if his belief that HIV and AIDS is “a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem”, and that “spiritual and human awakening” and “friendship for those who suffer” is the solution to the epidemic, is the best belief to uphold when tackling such a rife and deadly disease.

Image taken from Flickr.

Actress Natasha Richardson, whose Wikipedia page is currently under lockdown because she is “involved in a current event – information may change rapidly as the event progresses.” Image from Wikipedia.

Gambian Witch Doctors force 1,000 to drink “potions”

Natasha Richardson transferred to NY Hospital

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Comment and Debate s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COMMENT & DEBATE

Primark: Wrong or Right? Primark shoppers ignore consequences: exploitation and a breach of human rights News Reporter For years, Primark stores all over the UK have been known for selling cheap yet fashionable clothes, popular among teenagers and anyone looking for a bargain. With plans unveiled and work underway for a new store to open in Cambridge, we look at how this will affect the city, and how it is possible for such a giant chain to sell clothes so cheaply. The opening of a Primark store in Cambridge, now the second largest clothing retailer in the UK, is incorporated into a plan to regenerate the shopping area, which has fallen in popularity since the opening of the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre on the other side of town. However, there are fears that when it plans to open in late 2009, other shops near the old John Lewis site on Burleigh Street will lose business, including many of the charity and small shops. Despite this, the director of the Grafton Centre, Michael Wiseman seems keen for Primark to move to the area, commenting that there are few discount stores in and around Cambridge. He believes that the store will be a boost for shoppers. Although many people in the city support the idea, those welcoming the thought of being able to buy shoes for £3, or a top for £2 obviously haven’t considered the real cost to the makers and manufacturers of Primark’s clothes. The chain was at the centre of a row last year, when

BBC’s panorama show “Primark: On the Rack” highlighted the conditions in which people were working in order to produce and sell clothes so cheaply. The Panorama team found

“Those welcoming the

thought of being able to buy shoes for £3 obviously haven’t considered the real cost to the manufacturers of Primark’s clothes.” some of India’s poorest people working long, gruelling hours for the chain in slum workshops and refugee camps – a far cry from the Primark approved and inspected factories. This broke promises of protection against child labour, and disregarded maximum working hours and minimum wages. After the results from the research were shown, Primark cut ties with three of its main suppliers. But these conditions create a serious concern, and provoke questions about who else is exploiting their workforce in order to produce cheap clothes. Panorama exposed people who were working for twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and were allegedly being paid £3 an hour. This is nearly half of the minimum wage of £5.73, further highlighting the disastrous conditions imposed on Primark’s workforce. Following the Panorama show, allegations were made that illegal immigrants were working in

Manchester for the clothing store, for around the same hours and money as over seas workers. TNS Knitwear denies this, but in January Primark launched an enquiry after the company were thought to have breached key employment and immigration laws. This could lead to fines of up to £10,000 per illegal worker, and further fines for tax evasion and employment law abuses. Another worrying factor is that Primark, one of the fastest expanding British retailers are planning to open new stores in Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands in 2009. Not only this, but more stores are expected to open across the UK. The chain already employs 25,000 people in the UK, and possibly many more illegally, that are yet to be found out. After previous allegations, it may be questionable as to how many more illegal workers there are for Primark in the world, being exploited every day to make cheap goods. And with new stores opening all around the world, the demand for more low-cost clothes for the company will increase, leading to the worrying thought that yet

Image by Sarah Gashi.

Rosie Dean

“Demand will increase, leading to the worrying thought that yet more people will be working for Primark”

more people, including children will be working for the company. Primark are certainly not the only ones. Other brands high-

The construction site of the new Primark - Burleigh Street, Cambridge. lighted for exploiting labour include Nike, Gap and Esprit. So is it right? Thousands of people across the country enjoy Primark’s affordable clothing, but do people understand the real

cost to the lives of the people making their clothes? Maybe if they did, some of the most popular chains would not be so accepted by such a majority of the population.

Why buying cheap clothes is ethical - the case for Primark Sarah Gashi Editor “Those welcoming the thought of being able to buy shoes for £3, or a top for £2, obviously haven’t considered the real cost to the makers and manufactuers of Primark’s clothes”? On the contrary, it is my opinion that those welcoming that thought should be proud to do so, since anyone who is more inclined to feel guilty about buying such cheap clothes obviously hasn’t considered the real cost to Primark employees of their refusal to buy. While the long working hours, minimum pay and terrible conditions which some Primark suppliers leave their workers exposed to are inexcusable, there is often no other employment available. Many of the workers are grateful for a job in clothes manufacturing because despite the conditions, the job is relatively stable and provides them with

a regular and permanent income. Many workers will remain in a job for which they work extensive hours in dirty and dangerous surroundings because they earn literally double the wage of a cotton picker – often the only alternative job available – and thus they can more easily feed their families. If we, as consumers, were to completely stop purchasing anything from Primark (or Nike, Gap, Esprit, and others) thousands of people who work for these companies’ suppliers would be made redundant. As Rosie Dean says, after BBC’s Panorama investigation last year, Primark did indeed decide to cut ties with three major Indian suppliers. This is potentially disastrous. Primark is trying to absolve itself from involvement with

“Primark did indeed

decide to cut ties with three major Indian suppliers. This is potentially disastrous.”

these suppliers – and given the scandalous nature of the situation revealed by the BBC, who can blame it? – but cutting these ties will destroy jobs and do nothing to improve the conditions those workers will experience in whatever other employment they may be lucky enough to find. This is not the way. There are less damaging methods of protest than refusing to buy. Write to these companies expressing your concern. Petition retail companies to monitor and implement their policies throughout all of their suppliers. Specifically, it is currently possible to petition Primark, through Labour Behind the Label, not to cut ties with these three Indian suppliers, but instead to find more positive ways of improving the situation of the workers (such as increased monitoring and regulation). We can also join campaigns which exert pressure on high street retailers. I urge you to donate to these campaigns if you are in a position to do so. There are some complex issues to consider for those who try to buy ethically. Doing so on the high street is actually almost impossible -

there really isn’t much that a buyer can be sure was made in acceptable conditions. Many companies make the assertion that their clothes are produced “ethically”, but as the word is not universally defined, one is left to wonder exactly what they mean. “Eco-fashion” and Fairtrade brands of clothing are appearing, but these have only a minimal impact on the garment industry as their clothing

“Some alternative

brands are more hype than substance... persuading a huge retailer like Primark to make small changes will have a vastly more far-reaching effect.” usually only crops up in small and localised sellers. Also, as Labour Behind the Label points out, “some alternative brands are making a genuine ef-

fort to challenge the way the garment industry currently operates; others are more hype than substance.” The fact of the matter is that, short of making all of our own clothes from patterns, it is impossible in the current situation to ensure that our clothes are made “ethically”. Therefore, buying these elusive ethical clothes is an extremely difficult undertaking, and is also problematic because it is likely to have adverse effects on those very slum workshop workers that we, as consumers, want to help. Doing your part to persuade a huge, international clothing retailer such as Primark to make small changes in its policies (or the implementation of its policies) is likely to have a vastly more far-reaching effect than buying some clothes from a tiny eco-fashion store. And, just to reiterate, by “doing your part” I do not mean boycott Primark and never buy there again. Petitions, letters, emails, campaigns, donations.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Comment and Analysis s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

COMMENT & ANALYSIS

Wake up and smell the roses teenagers need lie-ins Alex Larkinson Feature Writer And there we have it. Academics at the University of Oxford have concluded that, after countless smashed alarm clocks and bleary-eyed mornings in class, teenagers do in fact need a lie-in. Russell Foster, of Brasenose College, suggested that students are more alert and better performing in the afternoon as their body clocks are set two hours later for teenagers than adults of children, for reasons thought to be hormonal. Now teenagers have a legitimate – and, better, biological – reason for hiding under the duvet ten minutes before school starts. This research, which followed US scientists in 2002 drawing a similar conclusion, was also affirmed by Dr Paul Kelley, head of Monkseaton Community High School in North Tyneside, who asserted that the best way to deal with this would be to change timetables so that school began at 11. “The research carried out by Professor Foster showed that, from the age of 10, our internal body clocks shift, so it’s good for young people to stay in bed…teenagers aren’t lazy. We’re depriving them of the sleep they

need through purely biological factors beyond their control.” Dr Kelley claimed. These findings and suggestions will raise many triumphant “told-you-so’s” from teenagers who, perhaps in the eyes of disgruntled adults, now have even more reasons to complain about the injustices of their lives. Ultimately, however, the practical application of the research will be limited – when everyone else starts their day at 9, is it realistic that teenagers will somehow operate around the organisation of the rest of the nation? Parents who would usually take their children to school on the way to work would not be able to wait until 11. And some would argue that a timetable change would not increase the amount of hours slept either: it would just result in teenagers going to bed later. However, it does serve the purpose of rationalising one of the negative preconceptions of teenagers that still pervade, to put a dramatic tone on things, today’s society. Untidiness, for example, is not only exaggerated and a stereotype but, with the teenagers who are untidy, can be a psychological reaction to the increased emotional imbalance of their lives. As Dr Rachel Andrew puts it, “[Teenagers] have so much going on in their lives, emotionally speaking, that [tidiness] is not a priority for them”.

This newfound emotional turmoil is a result of the massive influx of hormones, not to mention the physical change being undergone; this is also the cause of the main complaint about teenagers: moodiness. As teenagers go through this often difficult transitional period, they find themselves trying to assert their independence from their parents – but when this combined with the confusion of chemicals inside their ever-changing bodies, the push for independence can often manifest itself as grumpiness, indifference or even hostility. Of course, for those who have suffered the raw unpleasantness of some teenagers, these will just be hollow excuses designed to rationalise bad behaviour; indeed, not every aggressive teenager is suffering from an identity crisis or hormonal angst: some are just plain nasty. And some teenagers are lazy no matter how long they sleep. But it’s nice that teenagers are finally getting some slack. They are often seen as the bane of society, representing the worst aspects of people: laziness, rudeness and an uncaring attitude to everyone around them. And although there are cases when this is true, it’s always good to see that there’s a reason that we can’t get up in the morning, and it’s not just because we spent the evening before doing last minute homework.

Parents to be “held to account” for children involved in gangs Stela Obradovic Feature Writer Gang violence is becoming more and more of a problem with the youths of today but is it really a surprise that this problem is growing if we celebrate television programmes such as ‘Ross Kemp on Gangs’? This programme shows Ross Kemp travelling the world in order to have a deeper insight into the world of gang crime. If we are trying to show the youths of today that this is not the way to live, then why are programmes like this aired on television at prime time acting as an inspiration to the lost young people of our time? Ministers are now arguing that the parents of children involved in gang crime should be “held to account” and that all things possible should be done in order to protect these children from a world of underground crime. Why shouldn’t Ross Kemp be held to account for inviting these children, although not directly, into a world of gang crime? Although there is a clear link between parental

guidance, or lack there of, and children involved in these gangs, there is only so much a parent can do to control their children and their children’s social life. How old must a child be before they can be held accountable for their own actions? Many children get caught up in dangerous gangs and find themselves unable to get out, should they be punished for making mistakes when still only children? Is it fair to punish their parents for these mistakes? Personally I think that we should be targeting gang leaders and older gang members. These leaders should be held accountable for the actions of the entire gang, if this was the case, I’m sure that the number of gang crimes would decrease immediately and we wouldn’t be stuck with such a growing problem with the youths of today.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Features s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

FEATURES

A closer look at Hills Road Debating Society Image by Yuming Mei.

Yuming Mei Deputy Editor

Hills Road Team A: David Mestel & Joseph la Hausse de Lalouviere time, Sophie stepped forwards as 1st Speaker. As the 1st Speaker, she had to define the motion. She did this well, speaking confidently and clearly. Afterwards, she said that she didn’t really believe in the motion so her performance was even more remarkable. Next up was Dan. He also spoke well, developing many good points in favour of the motion. The 2nd Speaker for the Opposition was very aggressive however and took a completely different line of argument. The Hills Road team in 1st Prop position were then left powerless as the members of the 2nd Prop team were unable to address these new arguments properly. They seemed nervous and one of them even ran out of things to say in the middle of her speech. This was a shame as the arguments that they did put forward were good, it was just that they did not rebut the Opposition’s arguments. At the end of the debate, we were told that the result was a tie since the two judges disagreed over the result. There was then a short break for everyone to get refreshments. The competition was now running quite late and unfortunately Sophie had to leave early. All eyes

suddenly turned on me and it was suggested that I take Sophie’s place and represent Hills Road in the next debate. Surprisingly, the organisers made no objections to this and so suddenly I faced the prospect of having to debate myself! The motion was: ‘This house supports the use of child labour in the developing world.’ Fortunately, we were debating against the motion as 2nd Opp. I went with my partner Dan to an empty corner of a room and we

Image by Yuming Mei.

On the 23rd of January 2009, Hills Road hosted the regional round of the Oxford Union Schools’ Debating competition. Hills Road Debating Society entered two teams. Yuming Mei reports… (but ends up debating himself!) It was a chilly Friday afternoon back in January, and it had just been announced on the news that the UK was officially in a recession. But in the Greenhalgh Building the atmosphere of doom and gloom was nowhere to be seen. I joined the members of Hills Road’s Debating Society after school as they were busily preparing the venue (the Greenhalgh Building) for the Debating Competition. They put up posters, re-arranged furniture and helped the new arrivals not to get lost on the way to the venue. By 5pm, most of the 50 teams taking part had made it and thanks to the efforts of the Debating Society, everything was ready. All that was left was to wait for the judges. This ended up taking a while due to a mix-up over timings but, 40 minutes later, the competition finally began. There were two Hills Road teams taking part. Team A consisted of David Mestel & the president of Hills Road’s Debating Society, Joseph la Hausse de Lalouviere. Team B consisted of Daniel Riches & Sophie Fitzmaurice. In the first round, I decided to watch Hills Road Team B for their debate. The motion to be debated was: ‘This house believes school pupils should face mandatory drugs tests.’ They were put in the 1st Prop position, which meant that they had the difficult job of arguing for the motion. After 15 minutes preparation

discussed what our main points were going to be. I was still quite calm at this point and managed to concentrate quite well on the task at hand. However, once in the debating room, the nerves really started to kick in. By the time it was Dan’s turn to speak, I was barely listening to what people were saying. And then it was my turn to speak. I have to say, though I was really nervous, the buzz of actually speaking was amazing. I had quite an easy job since it was easy to argue against the motion, and my partner Dan had laid very good foundations for my final argument. The 5 minutes allotted for my speech passed extremely quickly and I found myself slightly short of time at the end. However, I rushed out a conclusion and the debate was over. The judges then gave us feedback. This time the outcome was a lot clearer. In fact we were told that though the competition was quite close between us and the other Opp team, Hills Road B had won this particular round! This was great news and I began to have hopes of getting through to the next round. It was then time to wait for the results. We chatted excitedly with some of the other competitors in the

debate and met up again with Hills Road Team A. We were just launching into a discussion about the debate when the room went silent. Slowly, the organisers announced the results. The winner was Kings Suffolk A but 4 other teams went through to the next round. One of these teams was Hills Road A. Though my team did not get through to the next round I was happy to have taken part. By then, it was 8:30pm and I realised that I was tired and hungry. The crowds gradually thinned and after helping with the tidying up, I said goodbye to the members of Hills Road Debating Society and set off home. It had been a memorable experience, far better than a normal Friday afternoon.

Debating Competition Factfile: The type of Debating is the British Parliamentary format:

s 4 teams take part in the debate, 2 teams for the proposition (i.e. arguing for) and 2 teams for the opposition (i.e. arguing against).

A chairperson presides over the debate to maintain order.

s Each speech lasts 5 minutes. s The motion of the debate is

the su-bject of the debate and is often phrased: ‘This House Believes…’ The debates held in Debating Society are based on this format. To find out more, join them on Wednesday lunchtimes and get your name added to the mailing list by e-mailing Joseph La Hausse de Lalouviere.

Hills Road Team B: Daniel Riches & Sophie Fitzmaurice

School security and pupil safety brought into question yet again Rosie Dean News Reporter The safety of schools has come under question again this week after 15 people were shot by a 17 year old school boy in Germany last Wednesday. In the last few years, there have been several attacks on school pupils all over the world, raising the question of how safe schools actually are. Despite a £22 million planned to be spent on 14,000 schools in the UK in 1998, many have yet to see the plans come into action. Will it take another shooting closer to home to show Governments the security that needs to be in place in the UK, and the rest of the world? On 11th March 2009, Tim Kretschmer shot nine pupils and three teachers at the Albertville sec-

ondary school in the town of Winnenden, North of Stuttgart. It was a random attack by a “relatively normal boy” which left fifteen people dead, and a whole community mourning. German chancellor Angela Merkel described the shootings as “incomprehensible”, and said “it is unimaginable that in just seconds, pupils and teachers were killed - it is an appalling crime.” Three passers-by were also shot before Kretschmer shot himself dead after a run-in with police. In 2002, there was another shooting on the same scale in Germany, by which 17 died including the young gunman. There have been several other incidents in recent years, with a lower death toll, but just as much shock. In April 2007, a US university shooting killed 33 people. This was described as the deadliest shooting rampage in US history, and shows how easily Cho Seung-hui, 23, entered Virginia Tech University and

committed a massacre. In all of these cases, the shootings were carried out by lone teenage, male killers, where their victims were those who attended the same school. Crimes have also happened closer to home, with a high rate of knife crime in London highlighting the danger of gun and knife crime all over the world in relation to deaths of students in recent years. In 1996, sixteen children and their teachers were shot at Dunblane Primary School by Thomas Hamilton, who then killed himself. The report 10 years after the tragedy shows that many schools still remain unsafe and at risk from intruders. Critics have said that insufficient funds are allocated to put effective security into place in schools. Not only this, but schools where CCTV systems are in place, the monitors are rarely looked at by staff meaning they would not be aware if there was an

intruder. Therefore, the need for higher security to deter knife and gun crime and to ensure the safety of children in schools is being consistently shown. Plans to introduce metal detectors, CCTV, two way radios and keypad entry systems will help to improve the safety of the pupils environment, enabling schools to keep out unwelcome intruders while continuing to be an important part of their local communities. Young people also need to know that if they carry guns or knives to school, there is a higher chance they will be caught before something more serious happens. However, introducing plans to increase the security of schools in the UK is a harder challenge than it seems. Specific school security is down to people within the school, and so without sufficient funds, it is harder to have effective security systems. Therefore, it depends on individual schools to enforce health and safety

measures, and not the government although it seems after so many tragedies have happened, all staff within schools should be doing all they can in order to protect themselves and their pupils. One of the greatest challenges for any education establishment is balancing the need to create an open and stimulating environment that encourages learning, while ensuring that the people and equipment within is protected from the threats of theft, vandalism and physical attack and abuse. Surely schools would rather make sure their students are safe from attacks, and so bringing in security systems will be a good idea for all. This is something that governments need to consider all over the world, and need to provide sufficient funding and facilities to ensure the safety of all children in schools.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Features s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

FEATURES

Denim, dancing, or a cup of tea – all in the name of Diabetes Image by Grace Rogerson

Grace Rogerson News Reporter This year Diabetes UK celebrates 75 years of making a difference, raising awareness and improving lives. Diabetes is a disease that is on the rise. Caused by the inability of the body to produce enough insulin, which controls the levels of sugar in someone’s blood, untreated diabetes can result in the loss of limbs, blindness, and damage to the heart, the nerves and the kidneys; all of which are clearly serious. The rise in obesity contributes to those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, which is tablet and diet controlled – and the number of those who suffer from Type 1, those who otherwise appear completely healthy, continue to be diagnosed with the disease. Suffering from diabetes is a life time illness. Type 1 Diabetes is not something from which you recover and as of yet there simply isn’t a cure, so as a result, following the diagnosis, diabetes has to become a way of life. Diabetes UK works with the public, and diabetics, to make the life long strain of diabetes easier for those who are burdened with the disease. Diabetes is little understood and suffering from a disease that in itself is complex, with no clear cause and certainly no cure, combined with the emotional strain of constantly monitoring what you eat, makes everyday living at some points intolerable and seemingly unfair. Although those who have to manage the condition can continue with their lives, almost to the same level as before diagnosis, controlling the sugar within the bloodstream is a challenging task which one has to be continually aware of. The charity wishes for Diabetics to continue with their lives. Diabetes UK organises holidays where those who suffer from the disease can meet each other and share each others experiences; it runs a Careline to provide support;

it works against prejudices, provides insurance services, support groups and magazines; and perhaps most importantly, raises money to achieve its mission. These activities and services are all in place to improve the lives of millions. 14th-20th June 2009 is Diabetes Week and this year, the 75th year for which this charity has been running, has the theme of “improving lives”. This is the week in which all the activities in place to raise awareness and funds for this life changing

illness come to a climax. With quirky ideas of ways to raise the money needed for the research – research which will hopefully at some point in the future result in the cure of this disease – people come together participating in an assortment of events. It is now time to contribute and get involved! It is fairly likely that at some point in the future somebody close to you, or perhaps even you yourself, will be affected – but even if this is not the case, it is a worthy cause to participate in. If you’re an adrena-

line junkie, rise to the challenge of abseiling, zip slides, parachuting and white water rafting and help those facing the challenging diabetes. If you’re a fan of fear, why not attend a fright night so diabetes becomes less of a frightening prospect to those who have to deal with it? Or simply use fundraising as an excuse to socialise! Hold a “Denim for Diabetes” day at your work place, a dance for diabetics or simply put the kettle on - Care for a cuppa? “Care for a cuppa” is the idea of one big tea-party

raising money for Diabetes UK, and has been very successful in the past. Celebrate 75 years with a cup of tea, a slice of cake, and the feel good feeling of helping one of the most worthy causes to which you could contribute. Diabetes UK – “improving lives”. For more information and ways to get involved, visit http://www.diabetes. org.uk/

Alex Gibson News Reporter

recently proposed a new scheme of “flagged revisions” to combat vandalism. The scheme, on top of the existing policies of page locking and blocking of vandals, would require established, registered users to check and authenticate edits made by anonymous users before they went live. He commented: “We want people to be able to participate, but we have a tool available now that is consistent with higher quality.” I have been using and editing Wikipedia regularly since 2006 and have contributed to numerous pages, several of which have achieved the site’s coveted “featured article” status. I am, therefore, a stern defender of it and often find myself sighing at the negative criticism it receives. I hope that Mr. Wales’ proposal passes; not just to stop vandalism, but also to hopefully silence those critics.

Image from Wikipedia (!)

Wikipedia is undoubtedly one of the most used websites on the internet. Along with YouTube and Facebook it has become a stalwart of the modern Internet Age. The site proudly professes that it is a free encyclopaedia, with its biggest strength being that “anyone can edit” it – all contributions come from members of the public. This strength, therefore, is often cited as the site’s most common criticism. Comedians frequently score cheap laughs by mocking the site’s susceptibly to vandalism and fakery. It is very easy to say that Wikipedia cannot be trusted, and that everything on it must be unreliable. This is a very cheap argu-

ment. Vandalism is a problem, but the vast majority of the site’s millions of diligent editors produce nothing but well-written, high-quality, sourced material. Vandal edits make up a tiny percentage of the site’s use and they are usually reverted within minutes. Besides, anyone with half a brain would be able to realise that Winston Churchill was not a professional Olympic diver who performed all his events in a tutu. This is not to say that vandalism is not a problem. As I write this, the actress Natasha Richardson’s page is in lockdown amid a flurry of edits claiming she had died from the head injuries she sustained in a skiing accident on Monday (at time of writing she is in a “critical condition”). After the widely reported false death announcements added to the pages of U.S. senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd in January, Wikipedia’s founder Jimmy Wales

Jimmy Wales, creator of Wikipedia.

Wikipedia: A user’s perspective on its most common criticism

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Features s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

FEATURES

Anything for an easier life, right? Laura Ruaux and Grace Rogerson take a closer look at the generational divide Teenagers and computers.... Photograph by Grace Rogerson.

When you were young, would your Friday night have consisted of a dinner dance, a bit of a jive, a kiss and a cuddle and home by 10? Or does a drunken house party, a bit of a rave, a quickie in the cupboard and staggering in at dawn sound more realistic? A lot has changed in 50 years. The whole way in which each generation behaves shifts as time moves on and technology advances. Changes in methods of communication and socialising have altered the way people view human relationships. Asking someone out on a date used to be a daunting prospect, risking public rejection and humiliation. Now it takes as little effort as a couple of seconds to send off a text, perhaps with even only a couple of abbreviated words involved. The vast divide between one generation and the next renders concepts such as Facebook simple to some and foreign to others. Social communications nowadays are all about speed and this comes with a significant detachment. Why waste time doing things the old fashioned way when a simple electronic message can convey just as much in a lot less time? Where once multiple phone calls, lengthy conversations and the tedious passing on of messages were the only ways of making your friends aware of when and where the party was, it has now become possible to notify all those classified as friends (with many in fact being virtual or complete stran-

gers) within a matter of seconds using the magic of email. Then of course if they cannot make it, they can easily waste the following day in the office browsing every embarrassing and regrettable moment which someone has kindly captured on some form of digital media - a mobile phone perhaps - in the form of photographs, or if they’re lucky, a video or film. What would once have been a good night dedicatedly organised and sadly missed is now more likely to become a good

night quickly sorted, documented and shared, and one that can never, however much it is wished, be forgotten. Getting to know someone used to be a process which took months and resulted in building a steady relationship. However, with the aid of these social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and the multiple other blogging sites available you can easily browse through someone’s interests and hobbies and get to know them pretty quickly without the need to have ever met them pre-

Media – the hidden demon of the economic crisis? Alex Larkinson Feature Writer The recession is here, and it’s bad. Very bad. Maybe even the worst ever, if some stories are to be believed. As the latest headlines scream the latest awful financial news, it looks like our economic nightmare is only just beginning. In this new, gloomy world, optimism does not appear to be permitted, even in its vaguest forms. On 19 January 2009, business minister Baroness Vadera claimed she could see the “first green shoots” of economic recovery, and the tabloids pounced on her perceived ignorance and naivety, denouncing her as economically inexperienced, even incompetent. No politicians have made the same mistake since. Of course, such criticism was understandable on a day where Barclays announced it was to cut 2,100 UK jobs, Jaguar Land Rover said it was cutting 450 staff and administrators of music chain Zavvi announced it would close a further 18 stores, with the loss of 353 jobs. But this incident was just the latest in a seemingly endless stream of terrible stories, as newspapers seemed determined to put down even the slightest glimmer of hope.

Such determined pessimism is predictable: media thrives off the disasters and catastrophes, and the economic crisis is one of the most all-encompassing ones in recent memory. It’s a guaranteed seller, certainly within the interests of newspapers, and a sustainable success that works on society’s masochistic desire to understand and experience its pain as thoroughly as possible. But is this constant lowlevel negativity about the recession actually contributing to its severity? As people are constantly bombarded with reports of how bad things are, they immediately assume that things are bad for themselves. In fact, for many people, they are better off because cuts to interest rates and falls in inflation have made goods and services cheaper. Of course, the guilt effect must also be taken into account – even people who are aware that their circumstances have not changed are unwilling to be seen spending their usual amount of money when those around them have far less. Cutbacks in spending everywhere ensue, and this deepens the problem. After all, simplification of the economic crisis can essentially conclude that people aren’t spending enough money. Those who have lost their jobs cannot, understandably, contribute to the economy much; those who are unaffected, however,

can – they just won’t because they fear that the conditions being broadcasted 24/7 will affect them in the future. The government understands this, hence the increasingly drastic attempts to encourage spending – interest rates have dropped to 0.5%, the lowest since records began. But when we are being told of the awful stories of bankruptcy and unemployment, and even the slightest speculation of recovery are quickly stamped out, most people are unlikely to be swayed. Our factory, our business, could be next, and preparations need to be made for it. Money has to be saved just in case. And, at least partly because of this, the recession will continue, and so will the pessimism, in a vicious circle well into 2009, and perhaps even beyond. The media will report the growing economic problems, and people will attempt to prepare for them, or will spend less because everyone else is. The economy will therefore continue to splutter and creak, and the media will have further economic problems to report. Of course, things should improve eventually…but we can’t say that, can we?

viously. The idea on which friendships and relationships are based has taken on a whole new dimension. The categories of friend and stranger have become blurred. It seems that someone you may become rather intimate with at a party could be completely random, since being at the same location is considered by many to be enough to make them a person with which you have enough in common. And all you have to do to bail yourself out is comment on their ‘wall’ or send them a quick text message. Texting has now become the morning-after communication. Whether an apology, an explanation or a hint that perhaps you should do it again sometime, the impersonal quality of those few words sent from your phone to another makes this statement somewhat easier than having to face that person in a sober light, with a slight headache, and explain the behaviour of the night before. The public blushing doesn’t have to be endured and if it does occur it can be hidden beneath your bed sheets, nursed with a strong coffee and quickly forgotten until next time. Another dramatic change is entertainment. Entertainment has become almost entirely electronically based with media such as computers, the internet, games consoles and mobile phones dominating the free time of the current youth. Computer games have became a major factor in enjoyment and the time spent with friends

in the evening is usually spent sitting in front of some screen or another. Once there was a generation who spent evenings with a book and were keen on formal dances, and it was activities such as this that pulled people together. Days spent exploring the outdoors and enjoying warm days out and about in the country have been abandoned. This is another sad factor of a technologically advanced society. It is clear that the simple things of previous generations such as receiving of love letters, the building of a romance, and days in the sun are things that are fading into a distant memory. They cannot even be viewed digitally through Blogs because this was a time before computers dominated. The charm of these eras is being replaced by a fast life of friends you don’t know, and nights you don’t, or don’t want to, remember. There is a lot that can be learnt from those who experienced life fifty years ago. It could not be a bad thing to slow down the approach to life and remember that less speed could only result in memories that were more pleasurable, and there to be savoured, and friends that turn those long days, with nothing to do, into days of great enjoyment. However, I am sure there must be a significant amount that they could now learn from us, the generation of the twenty-first century, – after all these changes must be for the better, for an easier life, right?

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Arts & Entertainment s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Simpsons is now the longest-running primetime American series, but who’s still watching? Arts & Entertainment The Simpsons has long secured its place in the annals of televisual history and now can add a further record to its encyclopaedia of brilliance. 20th Century Fox announced earlier this month that the show has been renewed for a record breaking 21st and 22nd season. This will take it past the CBS Western series Gunsmoke as longest-running scripted American prime-time series. Viewership remains at an average of 10 million people per week, and the show won a 10th Primetime Emmy Award last year, but in the eyes of many of its fans, the show has long since lost its status as the greatest show on television. The show began in 1987 as a series of 30-second short segments on the variety show The Tracey Ullman Show. Its creator Matt Groening composed the world’s most famous fictional family, comprising Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson, in 15 minutes before his interview with executive James L. Brooks, where he was scheduled to pitch his Life in Hell comic strip. After initial success as shorts, the show was commissioned as a fulllength season of 22-minute episodes, beginning in December 1989 with the Christmas special “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”. The success con-

tinued and the show built up incredible critical praise and a devoted fan following; the show’s irreverent and satirical humour struck a chord with the world and earned it an immense popularity which will survive for ever. In the eyes of many fans and commentators, the show’s “Golden Age” lasted broadly throughout its seasons 1-9 (1989-1998) and in that period, the show aired some of the finest television episodes ever produced. Episodes like “Last Exit to Springfield” packed a satire of union labour, striking corporate abuse and dental care into 22 minutes, whilst managing to feature detailed parodies of The Godfather II, Batman and Yellow Submarine. Other masterpieces include “Deep Space Homer” (Homer’s hilarious escapade in space), “Cape Feare” (Evil genius Sideshow Bob’s quest to kill Bart whilst performing the entire score of HMS Pinafore) and “The Itchy & Scratchy and Poochie Show” (a brutal satire of the cartoon business, and of the show itself). However, the quality of the show began to noticeable slip during its ninth season, due in part to the work of producer Mike Scully and writer Ian Maxtone-Graham. The show lost its wit, satire and humour, descending into a standard level of mediocrity and ever relying on the conventions it used to mock so well. In his editorial “The Simpsons: Who turned America’s best TV show into a cartoon?”, Chris Sullentrop opines Homer Simpson, painted onto the hillside of Cerne Abbas to promote the Simpsons film.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Alex Gibson

Watchmen finally arrive on the big screen Alex Gibson Arts & Entertainment After years of planning, failed starts, court cases and unhappy writers, the much anticipated film adaptation of arguably the greatest graphic novel of all-time is finally here: Watchmen. The complex 12issue comic book by English writer Alan Moore has at last been transferred to the screen by 300 director Zack Snyder. The story takes place in an alternative timeline during 1980s dystopian America, where costumed vigilantes exist and have fought crime since before the Second World War.

Although the majority of these heroes do not actually have any superpowers, a genetically altered human known as Doctor Manhattan is able to manipulate atoms and is a key weapon of the US government in winning the Vietnam War, and assuring Richard Nixon remains in power beyond his second term. The plot focuses on the murder of Edward Blake, one the superheroes who is known as The Comedian, and it’s investigation by the mysterious Rorschach, and retired heroes Nite Owl and Silk Spectre, which reveals a plot to discredit heroes, which could lead to a nuclear war between Russia and the US. The rights to film the novel were first purchased just months after its release in August 1986 by Law-

rence Gordon, who intended to produce the film with 20th Century Fox. Moore rejected the chance to write the screenplay - opposing Hollywood adaptations of his works out of hand - and Sam Hamm condensed the plot down, completely altering the ending to involve a time paradox. The project never really developed and by 1991 was dropped. Gordon and Joel Silver took the project to Warner Bros., with Terry Gilliam set to direct. Gilliam wrote the piece as more faithful to the source material. After the developing the film for months, Gilliam dropped out, citing the project as impossible to film and Warner Bros. dropped the project. In 2001, David Hayter was

signed on to direct and rewrote the script; surprisingly his version earned Moore’s seal of approval. At Universal and then Revolution, the project twice failed to get off the ground. By 2004, Paramount had become the latest studio to attempt the project, with Darren Aronofsky and later Paul Greengrass attached to direct it. Again the project fell through, this time due to budget constraints. Finally, in 2005, the project returned to Warner Bros. who hired Zack Snyder to direct. Snyder and screenwriter Alex Tse merged the previous scripts to create as faithful an adaptation of the novel as possible, and the film finally entered active production. The film was complete to-

about the show’s decline: “There’s still greatness there, and you get to see a home run now and then, but mostly it’s a halo of reflected glory.” There’s no doubting that the show has declined, and indeed, there are now fewer “classic” seasons than others, but still the show is renewed. Such is its influence, that the show is almost non-cancelable. Whatever the reaction or viewing figures, its two decades on the air have assured that it’s not up to the discretion of the staff as to whether they end it or not. Under the stewardship of Al Jean, it’s unlikely that these events will occur any time soon. The show has its fans – only a minute figure turned away from the show in protest of its decline in quality – but their focus is very much on preserving the “Golden Age” and trying to ignore the rest. The show is still watched, still wins awards, and still makes the odd gem of an episode. It has done enough to ensure a legacy, whatever else it does. But this creates a problem. The show has had such an impact that it will be hurt by ending, but it could damage its own legacy if it goes on for too long. But after all, it’s just a TV show. In 100 years time, what lasting impact will there be? Who will really still care about it? In the words of Chris Turner from his book Planet Simpson: “What happens when we turn off the TV?”

ward the end of 2008, for a March 2009 release. Despite the ending being altered, trailer footage received an overwhelming positive response from the novel’s devoted fan base. It seemed everything was running smoothly, until Fox decided to sue Warner Bros. for copyright infringement. Despite twice dropping the project, Fox claimed they still owned the rights to produce, or at least to distribute, the film. Luckily, this final episode in the drama that is the production of Watchmen was settled, out of court, with Fox receiving a portion of the film’s gross, meaning fans around the world are now eagerly awaiting one of the most anticipated films of 2009.

“Watchmen” film only works if you’ve read the comic Charlotte Mason Arts & Entertainment 6th March saw the release of the eagerly anticipated Watchmen movie, an adaptation of the widely acclaimed 80s graphic novel. Written by Alan Moore (who also penned V For Vendetta), Watchmen is set in an alternative 1985 where superheroes exist, Richard Nixon is still president and the United States won the Vietnam war. However, the US is also teetering on the brink of all-out nuclear war with

the Soviet Union. In New York, an investigation is under way into the murder of Edward Blake, thrown through the window of his apartment. Masked vigilante Rorschach decides to probe further and discovers Blake to be the face behind The Comedian, a ruthless costumed hero employed by the government. Rorschach believes he has uncovered a plot to eliminate costumed adventurers, who had been outlawed seven years earlier, and sets about warning four of his retired comrades. Despite the movie being marketed as a standard action flick, the story is far from the average su-

perhero ‘obtain strange powers in an unbelievable accident, beat up the bad guy to foil his ridiculous plan and save the world’ fare. Gritty and nihilistic, Watchmen is a fascinating exploration of how superheroes would live in the real world. The story’s complex narrative is compelling, something that fails to be captured in the 170 minute theatrical version of the movie (a full four and a half hour director’s edition is expected to be later released on DVD). Watchmen somehow manages the feat of delving deep into human nature, relationships, morality and politics while maintaining a high

enough level of action and suspense to keep you turning the pages. Rereading Watchmen reveals things cleverly hidden in the backgrounds of panels and underlying themes you hadn’t noticed on the first read: Alan Moore specifically set out to display all the things that could be achieved only through the medium of comics. Which is why perhaps the movie just doesn’t seem to pull together. Even at a near three hour run time, the plot is trimmed down to the point where it becomes confusing and incomprehensible to those who haven’t read the comic. Director Zack Snyder’s utter reverence to the source

material makes the film feel more like a static replication of the original comic than a creative interpretation. The pace is relentless – if not in action and violence then in morals - and by cutting most of the cast of supporting characters, along with the back-stories of some of the main characters, it becomes a far less emotionally involving story. So I urge you, if you’re up for a rich and intelligent read, only told through the medium of those funny picture books, pick up a copy of Watchmen.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Arts & Entertainment s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Reviews

Why Slumdog Millionaire won eight oscars

Slumdog Millionaire earned a place in the history books back in February when it took 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Yuming Mei takes a closer look at the film’s themes and the reasons for its success.

Yuming Mei Deputy Editor The basic story of Slumdog Millionaire, for those of you who haven’t seen it, is quite a simple one. It is the story of Jamal, a poor boy from the slums of Mumbai, and his remarkable winning streak on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”. Through a series of flashbacks, the film relates to the audience how each correct answer that Jamal gives on the show is a result of an experience earlier on in his life. For example, the reason he knows the inventor of the revolver is because his brother used a revolver to kill someone early on in his life. Through these flashbacks, British director Danny Boyle is able to give a vivid and compelling though romanticised view of life in Mumbai’s slums and then how this all changes in the space of a decade with the arrival of call centres, high-rise luxury apartments and tourism. The fusion of the factual documentary style of film with the feel-good nature of a welltold love story is what makes Slumdog Millionaire so unique and as a friend of mine said: “just so brilliant”. If you have not yet seen the film, stop reading here. I am about to discuss certain parts of it which would spoil the film for you. However, I fully recommend that you see the film. It has a simple tight plot and a wellbalanced script as well as maybe more importantly, excellent cinematography, a captivating cast (in particular the authentic acting from the child actors), and an acclaimed soundtrack that gives the film a great sense of energy and excitement. But does the film deserve so much critical acclaim? For it is obvious that Danny Boyle has used lots of clichéd devices to make the film more accessible and more commercially viable: just think of the stereotypically depicted American tourists at the Taj Mahal whose car is quickly vandalised (this was particularly stereotypical), the use of the fat policeman in both the chase scene and the torture scenes and the scene at the call centre where Jamal improvises, saying: ‘I am just down the road’ in response to an angry caller from the UK. These three scenes are all variations on motifs rooted in

Western popular culture (in the case of the call centre scene, a motif in UK popular culture in particular). This explains the film’s poor performance at the box office in India. Audiences there would not understand many of the references in the film because the references are anachronistic: though the film is set in India, you have to be in the West to understand the references. Interestingly, the word “Slumdog” itself had to be changed in the Indian release because Indian audiences did not understand what it meant. Maybe by coincidence, but maybe not, other parts of the script also lend well to being understood by Western audiences. For one thing, the characters all speak English very well even though they grew up in the slums. This is not very likely. It is also unlikely for the characters to have been taught the story of the Three Musketeers at school. And then there is the plot itself. The whole plot is that Jamal, by chance, knows all of the answers to the questions. To quote Salman Rushdie on the topic, “It just could not happen”. However, I would argue that Slumdog Millionaire is not meant to be taken as a completely factually accurate film. Many elements of the cinematography are poetic in nature and cannot be taken seriously. This is clear in the scene where Jamal dangles upside down on a rope from the top of the train and tries to steal food through a window. Although both boys get pulled off the train, they miraculously escape unscathed - even though falling head first off a moving train is doubtless quite a dangerous thing. Obviously, this is just a cinematic device and sure enough, when the boys reach the bottom of their tumble from the top of the train, they have aged by 7 years. As for the accusation of using motifs from Western popular culture in favour of more local and therefore less anachronistic themes, there is perhaps an argument that the increased publicity generated from a successful release outweighs the fact that some aspects of the film may give an inaccurate impression of the real situation in Mumbai. The film and the controversy and excitement it has generated causes people to find out more about Mumbai in real life, which can only be a good thing and

The cast and director of Slumdog Millionaire at the Academy Awards. enhance cultural understanding globally. Finally, I think the stereotypes used in the film are no worse than those already existing in society so the film can hardly be blamed for them. Maybe Boyle could have been more ambitious in his treatment of the real issues, but then the film would probably not be as popular as it is now. Interestingly, Boyle actually cites previous Bollywood films as a main influence on Slumdog Millionaire. For example, “Black Friday” is given as an inspiration for the chase scene at the beginning. It is clear that other films have been made previously by Bollywood dealing with similar themes, but they have not been so widely distributed in the West. Slumdog Millionaire’s success is therefore to do with its fusion of Western motifs (aimed at Western audiences) with the successful Bollywood “masala” formula. There is nothing inherently wrong with this unless the film is marketed as something else. Unfortunately, the effect of hype from media sources was just this – raising expectations too high by making people think that the film is a “wonderful tribute to Mumbai and its people” (Sukhdev Sandhu in The Telegraph). It is little wonder then that there has been a backlash against the film for giving a simplified and largely negative impression of India. Raving reviewers set the bar too high. The criticism of giving a negative impres-

sion of India is probably fair since apart from the “Three Musketeers” themselves (Jamal, Salim and Latika) all other characters are somewhat nasty or corrupt. Human rights are not respected and the “Three Musketeers” go through all sorts of trails. But this is to miss the fact that the whole premise of the story is “triumph against all odds”. The nastiness of the other characters is a necessary ingredient to make the triumph at the end of the film feel more deserved. It is therefore “triumph against all odds” that is the main theme of the film: Mumbai is just the backdrop. The film is popular not just because it says that anyone can make it, but also because of the more subtle message that the pain and suffering that you go through first may actually be the reason for your success later. This is the truly inspirational message of the film. There is only one thing left to explain. The film begins with a documentary style opening sequence that reads: Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it? A) He cheated B) He’s lucky C) He’s a genius D) It is written At the end of the film, the audience is told that the answer is “D) It is written”.

Image from Wikimedia Commons. Through the ambiguity of this phrase, the film hits back at all of its critics. The phrase is usually taken to mean “It is destiny” and that Jamal is destined to win 20 million rupees. It would then be a conventional happy ending, in the style of the Bollywood “masala” film. But the alternative meaning is that the film has literally been “written”. This meaning breaks the fourth wall and reminds the audience to reflect that the events portrayed in the film are not the reality. Jamal is only in the situation of being one question away from winning 20 million rupees because the film’s writers made it so. The phrase is therefore also an acknowledgement of the fact that the film has been written in order to entertain Western audiences. With this sudden turnaround in mind, Slumdog Millionaire becomes a great film, maybe even a classic. Criticisms that the story is not believable are countered by the fact that the film acknowledges this fact itself: the story was written, made up. But some of the facts in the story are real. The passive effects of globalisation seen throughout the film are effects that permeate every aspect of our lives. The slums of Mumbai exist, though the characters don’t. The riots that killed Jamal’s mother happened in real life, causing the deaths of over 900 people. The fantastical nature of the story contrast starkly with the reality of life.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Sport s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

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Formula One: A season preview Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The first lap of the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix; cancelled this year because of financial difficultes.

Alex Gibson Sports Editor The economic crisis looks to be having a big impact on the world of sport, and the forthcoming Formula One season will be no different. The season will be one of change on all fronts, as the FIA looks to cut the farcical costs of the sport each year. As a direct result of the downturn, Honda pulled out of the sport. For the first time in decades, it looked as if only nine teams would participate. Luckily Ross Brawn, exteam principle of the Japanese outfit, was able to buy the franchise in early March, re-branding it as Brawn GP. The move saves the seats of veteran

Rubens Barrichello and Britain’s own Jenson Button. While proposals for an optional 90% budget cap and F1-supremo Bernie Eccelstone’s radical point system overhaul (whereby the top three placing drivers would receive medals and the rest of the field seemingly nothing) have been postponed and rejected, other rule changes will come into effect. Just nine days before the beginning of the season, the FIA voted to introduce an edited version of Eccelstone’s proposal. The championship winner will now be the driver with the most race wins, while the existing point system will remain in the event of a tie in race wins and to decide the other table positions. Each driver will be limited

to only eight engines throughout the season. Testing new car modification during the season will be banned, while teams will be forced to share some of their data during race weekends. The slick (or non-treaded) tyre will be re-introduced, having been banned in 1998. The car’s bodywork and wing systems have been completely overhauled, in an attempt to encourage more overtaking; drivers will be able to adjust flaps on their front wings during the race, to increase performance. Additionally, a new braking device will enable wasted kinetic energy to be re-used as a “speed boost” for the cars. That is the technical side of things. In terms of racing there are plenty of things to look forward to. The season ender will also be the

The Green can still dream

showpiece of the year, as Abu Dhabi opens the gates of its new multi-million pound track as the sport continues to development into the Arabic world. However, for the first time in over 50 years, the French and Canadian Grand Prixs will not take place. Both races were dropped due to financial problems. Minus the collapse of Honda, driver changes look fairly limited this year, with Sebastian Vettel’s switch to Red Bull to replace the retiring David Coulthard the only major move. Sébastien Buemi enters the sport as Vettel’s replacement. Perhaps the most visible change however will be for the viewers. After eleven years of coverage on ITV, Formula One will now be shown live and uninterrupted on the BBC.

Erin Corrigan

Italy v Wales Six Nations scrum.

Sports Reporter

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

This weekend sees the final matches of the Six Nations Rugby and Ireland’s hopes remain well and truly alive to take the Grand Slam for the first time since 1948! As it stands Ireland are top of the table with 8 points as a result of wining all of their games so far. Ireland meet Wales on Saturday at Wales’ home ground the Millennium Stadium. It is set to be a tense 80 minutes for both sides because if Wales can beat Ireland by 13 points (and it has been done in the past though not by this margin for 26 years) then they will take the championship, and the triple crown, for the second year running. However if Wales loose or even win by less then this margin Ireland take the championship. With France’s threat out of the way thanks to England’s impressive, and frankly surprising, defeat over France last Sunday ;Wales are the

Martin Brundle will remain as commentator. The season looks set to be one of visual change and cutbacks behind the scenes, but that does not make it any less of a brilliant spectacle. Who will take home the prize this year? After leaving it to the last possible moment last season, Lewis Hamilton is the favourite to win the championship again. His defeated Ferrari rivals Kimi Räikkönen and Filipe Massa are both likely to come back stronger than ever, whilst the exciting younger drivers like Vettel and Robert Kubica are in with a shout. Hamilton begins the defence of his title on March 29 in Australia.

only barrier in Ireland’s path to winning the championship for the first time since 1985. Ireland coach Declan Kidney states simply that ‘Wales will be tough’ and this is certainly true of the defending champions. Ireland have made three changes in their team lineup so far in an attempt to freshen their tactics. After his superb show against Scotland, and being rewarded RBS man of the match’ Peter Stringer is back on the bench. Heaslip takes over from Leamy who is still recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained at Murreyfeild in their showdown against Scotland, and Rory Best is replaced by Jerry Flannery. So can Ireland get the grand slam for the first time in over half a century? Only time will tell. Elsewhere in the competition France will be looking for some redemption if a victory over Italy ensues at the Stadio Flaminio in Italy, and Scotland take on England at Twickenham for the Calcutta cup played every year between these two teams.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Sport s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

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World Cup bids confirmed Alex Gibson Sports Reporter Yesterday, FIFA announced that 11 nations have succeeded in making official bids to host the football World Cups of 2018 and 2022 before the deadline passed. Countries were given the option of bidding to host one tournament, or to try for either. Nine opted for the second option, two for the first. England, Indonesia, Russia, Australia, Japan, Mexico and the United States have all applied to host either tournament, whilst joint bids have come in from Portugal and Spain and Belgium and Holland. Qatar and South Korea have applied to host only the 2022 tournament. FIFA has however hinted that joint bids may be disqualified. With the registration forms received, countries must now prepare and submit their bid presentations by December this year. FIFA’s executive committee will pick the winning applicants in December 2010. Countries must meet a set of regulations to host the tournament, including supplying at least twelve 40,000 capacity stadiums, as well as an 80,000 seat stadium

for the final. FIFA president Sepp Blatter commented: “We are very pleased about the fantastic level of interest in our flagship competition, with all initial bidders confirming their candidature. The diversity and quality of the contenders will make this a very interesting selection process.” On bidding to stage either event, chairman of the English bid Lord Triesman stated “We are maximising our chances of winning the right to host the world’s greatest sporting occasion… are focused on delivering the best bid possible to Fifa.” German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, one of the FIFA board members, stated in 2007 that “In my opinion, there is only one very serious candidate and it is England. I think there is not really a problem to pick a host of the 2018 World Cup.” Blatter meanwhile added that he welcomed a bid from “the homeland of football”. David Beckham, Prince William and Sir Terry Leahy will be part of an 11-strong team composed to sell the English bid. Although, early reports have indicated that many at FIFA would favour the English bid, the nation’s dominance of club football could have some negative effects. Blatter opposes

joint bids, but some insiders believe he would strongly consider an individual bid from Spain. England (1966), United States (1994), Spain (1982), Mexico (1970 and 1986) and Japan and South Korea (jointly in 2002) have all hosted previous World Cups. Next year’s tournament will take place in South Africa, the first ever on the continent, while the World Cup of 2014 will be staged in Brazil. The World Cup has never occurred in Oceania. Due to FIFA’s rotation policy, the cups of 2018 and 2022 could not be hosted in South America, and the 2018 one not in Africa. This also means that, should the 2018 World Cup go to a European nation, the other EU countries would also miss out on the 2022 tournament.

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Sport s The Wall at Hills Road Sixth Form College

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Fierce Tigers tamed by persistent Gunners Arsenal 2-1 Hull

Arsenal v. Hull in September.

Photograph taken from Flickr under the Creative Commons license.

Alex Larkinson Sports Reporter Hull’s cup run, which came within sixteen minutes of taking them to the semi final for the first time in 79 years, was brought to a crushing close last night as Arsenal fought back to book the tie against Chelsea on April 18th. The sense of injustice prevalent amongst Hull supporters was compounded by an incident after the match in which Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was accused by Hull manager Phil Brown of spitting at assistant manager Brian Horton. The game had started in the worst possible fashion for Arsenal: after thirteen minutes, Nick Barmby

saw his shot deflect off Johan Djourou, loop goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and give Hull the lead. But the away side did not rest on their laurels, instead attacking further – Geovanni brought a good save from Fabianski after 22 minutes, and a few moments later Barmby had a second goal ruled offside. Arsenal looked lifeless, but as the first half drew to a close they suddenly piled on the pressure. Andrey Arshavin had a shot superbly blocked by Sam Ricketts, and saw another flash wide. Arsenal continued their relentless attack in the second half, and a goal seemed certain: Abou Diaby rattled the post with a header seven minutes into the second half, and Hull defender Andy Dawson was forced to clear Robin van Persie’s goal bound

header off the line three minutes later. And as the game reached its final third, van Persie drew a fingertips save from Boaz Myhill, before the same striker struck the crossbar with yet another header. The goal had to be coming, and after 74 minutes it did, to the great relief of the Arsenal fans and players. Nicklas Bendtner played the ball to Arshavin; the ball was teed up and van Persie smashed the ball home. Worse was to come for Hull. After Bendtner blazed a shot over the bar, Hull failed to tighten their defence, and with six minutes to go Myhill was beaten to a Nasri free kick by Djorou, whose flick on was met by the head of William Gallas to secure the win for Arsenal. Hull were outraged

– Gallas seemed to be offside when he scored – but the goal stood and Arsenal comfortably held on to emerge relieved but victorious. Brown was furious with the decision: “We haven’t been beaten by Arsenal, and they are fourth top of the Premier League. We have been beaten by a linesman’s decision and a referee’s decision for Gallas’ goal.” And afterwards Brown’s anger was exacerbated by the actions of Fabregas, who denies the allegations. “I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match,” said the 21-year-old midfielder, “I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?” But Brown, who did not

shake hands with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after the match, said: “I was there and I witnessed it, he spat at my assistant manager down the tunnel, that’s their club captain. Hopefully he’s proud of himself. He spat at his feet.”