Pelican Volume 93 - Edition 1 Neolithic - 2022 by UWA Student Guild

Neolithic

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The UWA Student Guild wants to complete our collection (back to 1930) because there are gaps. If you, or your parents, or even your grandparents have copies stashed away – before you throw them away, please consider donating them to the Guild Archive! Please contact the Guild Archivist, Melissa Hetherington for further information. melissa.hetherington@guild.uwa.edu.au +61 6488 2832 2

CAMILA EMMA PRESI TORIAL TORIAL TORIAL G W M reetings Pelicanos!

Welcome to the Neolithic era. This issue is all about new beginnings, creations and innovations. As we enter 2022, there will be new challenges and struggles to face. But do not worry, Pelican Magazine is here to guide you through it all. From giving you a good laugh to delivering the most serious and important news, we will be there for you. Our goal for this year is to continue to represent students on campus. We believe in the power of information and the change it can create. What do you hope to achieve this year? What new things do you want to try out? Lastly, don’t be afraid to voice your opinions, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Pelican for your daily overdose of Neolithic content. -2022 Pelican Editor

hether it be in the old, or in the new - what a time to be alive!

Whether you are living in the past or in suspense for the future, we hope you will join us in this celebration of the prehistoric. Find your 2022 resolution by using Pelican Magazine as your guide! After a long day on the grind I love nothing more than to venture out into the natural elements, sit on a slab of stone and ponder over the Neolithic. Now you can try it too! No matter what 2022 brings, we will be here to give you your daily dose of UWA tea or far too many show reviews to remind you of the beauty that still exists in our universe. To find what else we can offer please read on. -2022 Pelican Editor

an this is kinda crazy. I always dreamed of writing a presi-torial and here I am, doing just that. That may have been a lie. But that’s the point – never could I have imagined when I started my uni journey that I’d be here writing my chaotic ramblings for you (unless you’ve made the wise decision to skip past here to the actual funny and interesting content this issue contains). If you are in fact still reading, whether you’re just starting here at UWA or in your fifth year, I’m sure this year will be filled with so many things that you could never have imagined happening. I hope they’re mostly good things, but the reality is that not everything that happens this year will be great. If you’re ever in need of support, reach out to our student assist team at assist@guild.uwa.edu.au. Godspeed, I hope this semester will be one where all your manifestations come true, where your unifi never drops out and all your assessments are on LMS. Much love x - Ami

INSIDE NEOLITHIC

VOLUME_93

ARTS

16 20

Scotland, Self-Awareness, and my Stone Age Creative Awakening By Abigail Macleod Art is evolving are you? By Emma Horak

ARTWORK

End of an era By Sally Thomas

ASTROLOGY

The Signs, Summaries and Predictions By Holly Carter Turner and Abbey Durant

ISSUE_1

CAMPUS AFFAIRS

06 28

Opportunities for Freshers: From your Mesolithic counterpart By Jelena Kovacevic Same old feeling, new sting – an offshore student’s frustration By by Ananya Rao

COLOURING ART

By Savannah Regan

COMEDY

Welcome to Rock Bottom By Amanda Winton

CROSSWORD

By Anya Constantine

DIVERSITY

36 40

Australia’s ‘Neolithic Problem’ By Owen Cumming The Racial Identity of Culinary Utensils By Crystal Ngo

FASHION

Trend Alert!!: New Body Shape Ready to Make You Hate Yours. By Mary Rose Macdonald

FILM

38 50

Ice Age (2002) review By Ben Marshall Return to soup - (spoilers for Neon Genesis Evangelion & The End of Evangelion) By Giles Chan

FINANCE AND ECONOMICS

24 30

Predictions for 2022 By Brando Arimborgo The COVID-1% By Neha Bolla

What’s ‘neo’ about neocolonialism? The West Papuan Independence Movement: Forgotten Sovereignty By Izzy Hamer

SCIENCE

New Year, New Me … But who’s got the time!? By Tarryn Basden

LIFESTYLE

Harvest: A Tale of the Summer Holidays By May Tia Loo

LITERATURE & CREATIVE WRITING

a fly in amber By Ethan Dodson

SPORT

42 46

Respect in the ‘Entertainment Age’? By Matt Moroney The Media and the Future of Women’s Sport By Libby Caldwell

TECH & GAM

12 52

An Ode to my Prehistoric Consoles By Tremaine Noel New Age: Is Web3 really going to democratise the internet? By Ahmed Suliman

MUSIC

The views expressed within this magazine are not the opinions of the UWA Student Guild or Pelican Editorial Staff but of the individual artists and writers.

POLITICS

The Pelican team acknowledges that the UWA Campuses are located on the lands of the Whadjuk and Mineng peoples of the Noongar nation, the original and continuing storytellers and custodians of their lands. These lands were stolen, and sovereignty was never ceded.

Spotify: The Rise and Fall of Collective Listening and the Local Music Scene By Gabrielle Fitzpatrick

Political ‘Ins and Outs’ of 2022 By Izzy Hamer and Maggie Leung

Edited by Camila Egusquiza & Emma Forsyth Layout by Xander Sinclair 5

Opportunities for Freshers From your Mesolithic counterpart

Jelena Kovacevic believes watching Eurovision live at 3am makes it more exciting.

Helpful hint Go to uni on a Tuesday. This may sound random, but I’ve found by observation that Tuesdays are hugely popular for club activities. Volunteering events, information sessions, and various other activities are conducted around midday during the week.

he day is February 19th, 2021. I wandered aimlessly through stalls of various clubs, vividly adorned, and decorated. Political, cultural, religious, social, and fun clubs are everywhere. Veteran club members appealed to me as I paused to let my fuzzy head absorb my surroundings. Each time I shyly averted my gaze and moved along - since when was I so awkwardly bashful? Having celebrated my 18th birthday just the previous day, I felt inherently inferior to the older, experienced club leaders around me. After an hour, I stood to the side, thinking: “There’s so much I can do.” And yet I did nothing. This sense of hopelessness dictated my first semester at UWA. I felt largely isolated from the vibrant campus life advertised by the university’s website. I felt stuck between the high school mentality of making friends and the opportunistic yet seemingly unattainable notion of networking. ‘Group-hopping’ and being friendly wasn’t sufficient to provide me with a sense of belonging. In 2022, as I approach the beginning of my second year at UWA, I want to give something to the eager freshers who pick up this copy of the Pelican. I want to direct

you to something that will pique your interest and teach you that opportunities exist for all students, and the great thing is that you can begin right away! My number one favourite activity has been Guild Volunteering (GV). I became friends with some of the regular volunteers, and regarded the activities I did as an opportunity to take a pause from my studies and indulge in gratitude and compassion. Seeing the variety of not-forprofit organisations operating across the state has been truly eye-opening. Micro-volunteering sessions are conducted weekly on Mondays and are a great way to make friends, receive transcript recognised hours, and talk to the GV committee about volunteering opportunities both on and off-campus. Club membership gives you a sense of belonging as a UWA student and allows you to build your interests more. However, many people join multiple clubs on O-Day and find their engagement with them depletes gradually over the semester. Following clubs on social media allows you to keep track of when they are holding events. Once this becomes

Art By Pauline Wong habitual, you’ll find yourself feeling like an important part of the club, rather than just an observer. Encouraging your friends to attend events with you may ease the tension you feel when making new connections. It’s better to join a few clubs you are really interested in than to join many half-heartedly. Joining your faculty society is beneficial as you’ll meet people studying similar subjects.

Finally, don’t be limited by false notions of who you should talk to. A lot of students feel confined to certain groups of people - their high school friends, people from their sports teams, or someone they met in their first tutorial. These are good starting points, but they shouldn’t prevent you from branching out to new people. I doubt a third year would deny a fresher the opportunity to talk about their common major.

The next point is subject to personal preference, but I’m a huge advocate for attending your lectures if they are offered in person. This isn’t the most popular point, but attending my lectures has kept me on campus more regularly and has increased my social engagement. It also prevents me from falling behind. I’ve heard too many horror stories of piled-up lecture catchups at the end of the semester to last a lifetime.

University can be daunting, and you’ll find it challenging to navigate this world independently. But having the courage to start something new can be very rewarding in the long run. Have a wonderful first year, dear Fresher.

Go to the ground floor of Reid library. Within a few weeks, you’ll realise that it isn’t exactly the spot for quiet study - no one is safely secluded here. You will often have people approaching you and your friends, and many introductions will be made. This is one of the most popular hangout spots on campus. Additionally, many workshops for English and Math are conducted on the ground floor, along with various other events throughout the semester. So, go on, do some ‘study’ in The Circle.

Helpful hint UniMentors and Student Ambassadors are on campus to help you settle in. Even after the first semester, keep your connections with these older students - they can lend you advice from first-hand experience.

Political ‘Ins and Outs’ of 2022 Izzy Hamer and Maggie Leung

Outs Global: The Petroleum trade war and supply chain falters Wondering why your fuel is still so expensive? Blame OPEC and COVID-19! ECON1101 recap on cartels – Saudi Arabia’s and Russia’s increase/decrease supply of oil has led to surges in oil price, and currently, we’re on the expensive end. Dubbed a “supply chain shortage”, the phrase has become a political buzzword in the last year, and it’s safe to say why considering the shortages in microchips, shipping containers (as not helped by the blockage of the Suez Canal), palm oil, chlorine, and the list continues, that has stunted the global production process in multiple industries - $1.6+ oil prices are definitely so 2021! Global: Youth Political Parties Listen, it’s 2022. We’re adults, and this isn’t mock trials or UN Evatt... Instead of cosplaying Albo or Barnaby for the prospect of beers with Mark, or being socially liberal and fiscally conservative with Dutton, let’s try picking up a new and more constructive hobby for 2022! Global: Election fraud Self-explanatory: sorry, Lukashenko Global: The Taliban’s return to power Self-explanatory again. Global: Politics tutorials No comment.

here are a lot of words you could use to describe politics in the last year... However, looking back, in the Neolithic tradition of looking ahead: what’s in and what’s out for 2022?

Global: Bye Trump, Hi Biden After the riot at the United States Capitol, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the forty-sixth president of the United States. From rejoining the Paris Agreement to the global pandemic, is it fair to say that Biden is doing a good job? Will Trump return? Only time will tell. Global: The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 Here in WA, we might all be up in arms over when the borders will reopen, but for multiple states, COVID-19 still represents: no access to vaccines, online schooling, food shortages,

and international trade dilemma. In 2020, we invested hope in the Post-Covid world, and now we are learning to navigate the Co-Covid era. Global: Space War The global pandemic on earth hasn’t stopped human’s curiosity in space. Millions watched the galaxy through Musk’s spacecraft, SpaceX, which has become the best spread on your bread as you work from home. Australia: AUKUS While to some, a reported maximum of 171 billion dollars of taxpayer money directed towards 8 nuclear-powered submarines by 2040 might seem like a great idea, let’s not forget about our pre-existing $90 billion 12 submarines contract with France’s naval group that has been thrown out the window. Whilst a strategic security pact was made for Australia with the UK and US in the Indo-pacific region, France’s foreign minister has described “trust as being betrayed.” It’s safe to say AUKUS currently stands as a bit of a blunder for Australian foreign policy Australia: Calling Scott Morrison Scomo and Mark McGowan your State Daddy His name is Scott Morrison – not Scomo, Scotty from marketing, or the daggy dad ... Fun politician nicknaming privileges has been too overdone since Engadine Maccas and now the proposal to allow children to drive forklifts.

Ins Not to get too political... but here is the brief list of things we think we can all agree should be in for 2022:

include: the US rejoining, cutting carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, as well as methane emissions, and beginning discussions on climate finance – any step is a good thing, right? Global: Affordable access to RAT tests and COVID-19 vaccines The race of COVID-19 vaccines continues, and so does vaccine diplomacy. From being encouraged to get vaxxed, to getting boosted, and to the missing RAT tests; let’s not forget the voices of the developing countries that continue urging for assistance. Global: Political accountability and protesting Last year, we’ve already seen a wave of nonCOVID related protests globally. People are standing up against their governments – from Belarus, Kazakhstan, France, West Papua, US, and the list continues. In the “global decline of democracy” and swing towards authoritarian practices, 2022 already has begun to show a different narrative. And please, don’t mention the manic power of digital media to stretch the limits of physical social movement in the online space. Australia: Crocodiles in far North Queensland Crocodiles in North Queensland have been getting an awful lot of hate - thanks, Bob Katter, and in 2022 we’re giving them love! Because a thousand blossoms can bloom, and a person can get mauled to death by a crocodile in North Queensland every 3 months! This list could go on as we wait for the Neo trend, which creates the Lithic landscape in the future ahead. Let us know what you look forward to the most in 2022!

Global: Getting one step closer to some decision at COP26 Whilst it would be extremely easy to classify COP26 as an out, the list of possibilities for 2022 politics being categorised as an in is already quite slim – so it’s an in. Highlights 9

Welcome to Rock Bottom Amanda Winton is looking for one of her shoes

veryone’s lives have different moments and periods that they consider their ‘rock bottom’. However, for many people, myself included, the most prevalent ‘rock bottom’ is the Sunday morning hangover. Your eyes are shut. There’s a thumping sound only you can hear inside your head. Your mouth is dry, and there’s a putrid taste lingering on your tongue. You run the play by play of last night, trying to figure out how you got here. You run through the mental checklist. Four drinks at ‘pres’, four drinks at the first bar, started to feel sick there, brief ‘tak-yak’, followed by a happy hour jug of Windsor juice. The culprit has been found. Your head is a blur of what was said the night before “Want a drink? I’m shouting.” “Omg, is that Chloe’s ex behind you. No, don’t look!” “No, you can’t pee there. Get up.” “Nah, my Uber account literally doesn’t work, so random, hey?” And in a voice that unfortunately reminds you a lot of your own: “My round. Who wants to do tequila shots?” You idiot! You have to pay your car rego this week. You crack open your eyes and begin to search for your phone, which, of course, is not in its usual bedside table spot charging. You do, however, see a green bowl next to your bed that you know you need to clean out asap as it usually doubles as mums baking bowl.

Oh well. That can all be done later. In the meantime, you shut your eyes and go back to sleep. ‘FUCK BEING GOOD, I’M A BAD BITCH’ wakes you up from another sleeping attempt. Your 8am gym alarm will most certainly not encourage you to go to the gym today, but at least you will be able to find your phone now. Your first attempt at standing up goes well, but after a few steps, you remember exactly why you should not mix alcohol. As you look down, you are met with a collection of new bruises in different shapes and sizes with no indication of how they got there. Suddenly a series of hazy memories play; falling down the stairs, being pushed out of an Uber, passing out in the toilet when you got home. Yeah, that’ll just about do it. “SICK OF MOTHER FUCKERS TRYING TO TELL ME HOW TO LIVE” leads you to find your phone inside one of last night’s shoes (Not a clue how it got there, nor is there any sign of the other one). Upon inspection, it definitely has acquired more cracks than it had yesterday. 6% battery too. Please, please, please tell me I didn’t try to document my entire night. Okay, let’s evaluate the damage. Start with the worst: Snapchat. Twelve story posts. Three of them with misspelt captions, five drunk selfies, two praising a very average DJ, and two conversations with the Uber driver, James Corden style. Private story? Sorry babes, you put these all on your main.

Unfortunately, you’re well acquainted with the social media drill by now; reassure the messengers of “Hey, did you get home okay last night u were in a state lol”. Apologise for the undecipherable misspelt messages you sent and delete all evidence of you trying to convince a tinder match to come and pick you up. Better yet, just block them on everything to be safe. You crawl back into your doona cocoon that is now in very bad need of a wash and go through your texts. Luckily, it appears only one person decided to interact with you here. With significantly less luck, it’s your mother; “We need to talk about your behaviour. Come downstairs when you are awake.” The allure of the cocoon has grown significantly, even though you can feel your stomach growling. Time will only tell if it needs to expel its entire content or be satiated with a $30 Maccas UberEATS order. As you close your eyes, the post-drinking ‘hangxiety’ takes a full swing as your mind swings from one embarrassing situation to another. Did I really try to flirt with the ‘seccy’ to get entry? You shudder. It’s definitely time for a break from drinking for you for a while. Think of all the money you’ll save. Maybe you’ll finally wake up in time on Sundays to go to the 5am sunrise yoga class people always post about. You feel yourself fall into a hangover induced nap fantasising of lululemon outfits and your new yoga abs when your phone rings. “So, OBH tonight then?” “Go on, twist my arm.”

Illustrations By Alyssa Lewis 11

An Ode to my Prehistoric Consoles Tremaine Noel

onsoles nowadays may have games that look fancy. With great graphics (who can forget the RTX sweat on Shaq’s forehead in the 2K trailer from last year), and seemingly endless branching stories, new consoles do boast experiences that many thought impossible a decade or two ago. However, this article isn’t about these consoles. It’s about prehistoric consoles from the bygone days of my childhood. Consoles that inspired my love of gaming and created lifelong memories. Join me as I present: ‘Ode to my Prehistoric Consoles’.

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) was my first ever console (the one that truly could be considered prehistoric at this point). It came out twentytwo years ago, which for us, uni students, is like an eon ago (hell I wasn’t even born yet and I’m in postgrad right now). I remember my uncle buying me the console when I was four, and the second I turned it on, I became a gamer through and through (much to my parents’ dismay). My first PS2 game, my first game ever, was the Star Wars Episode 3 adaptation. As a rabid Star Wars fan, I was immediately hooked, and if you haven’t played it, I implore you to try and find a copy and do so because it is a surprisingly good ‘hack and slash’ game that adapts the movie beautifully. It was also the first time I realised I needed a memory card (fouryear-old me did not take losing four hours of progress lightly). One thing I am glad for in modern consoles is inbuilt storage. Following the glory of that game was my second game ever, and quite possibly my favourite on the console, Jak and Daxter. Jak and Daxter, for those who don’t know, is a platform game set on an island in which you go on a quest to uncover the mysteries of a strange substance known as ‘dark eco’. This is all done to help Daxter, who was transformed into an ‘Ottsel’ (think a cross between an otter and a weasel) after falling into a vat of dark eco. Young me was enthralled with this game and played it religiously. There was one small hitch in the situation, however. I was four, and four-year-olds are not good at solving puzzles made for adolescents. Yeah, I never finished the game (until I got the remastered version when I was 15). However, it did its job marvelously, and as a result, I was hooked to gaming for life. That is something I will forever be grateful for, as gaming has shaped me as a person to this very day. But this was not the only prehistoric console that impacted me. If PS2 was the hook, the next console was the reel in. Cue the Nintendo DS. The PS2 may have got me hooked on gaming, but the Nintendo DS is what solidified gaming as an integral part of my life. Yes, it may not

seem prehistoric, but the console came out in 2004, eighteen years ago (older than some of you freshers reading this). Move out of the way PlayStation because Nintendo truly captivated young me. I still remember the day I got my Nintendo and the game I bought with it. Pokémon Diamond. Truly a diamond among games. Five-year-old me was hooked and obsessed with that game. I will never forget the sense of pride I had as a child when I finally beat Cynthia (who some of you reading may know is legitimately one of the most annoying Champions in the entire history of Pokémon games). I still have the ‘Infernape’ I used to win (which five-year-old me named, quite creatively, I must say, ‘Flame Ape’). Although the game has been remastered now for the Switch in the form of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, I must say the original still holds a far superior place in my heart. One reason for this is the design and feel of the world. There was just something special about the 2D art style that captivates me to this day (not to mention Pokémon just look way better with 2D sprites than the 3D models that exist in modern games. You can fight me on that). However, in my opinion, what is even more fulfilling is the sense of nostalgia that comes from that original game. Even though the new iteration is functionally identical to the original, it is nowhere near as impactful to me - maybe because it’s not the same as I enjoyed it while I was young (also the fact that Gamefreak has seriously slid in quality when it comes to new Pokémon games, but that’s another article). The thing I value the most is the friends I made while playing the game. Pokémon was not simply a game, it was also a community, and many of my friends (even my oldest friend to this day) were gained as a result of playing this game. I remember being a kid and bonding with other kids over the teams we had, which led us to pretend to play Pokémon on lunch breaks. That’s the beauty of the whole situation. The console not only provided me with individual enjoyment. It was amazing because it also helped me find a community of like-minded people who I could share with the highs and 13

lows of my adventures. Without those games, I would probably have stayed a quiet nerdy kid. Thanks to them, however, I developed a social life and made many friends and memories that I cherish to this day. That sense of community is what drove me to continue gaming and is why I’m here writing this article today with all the nostalgia in the world (even if my dad said that none of it was real). For that, I will forever be grateful to the PS2 console and Nintendo. To sum up, although the new generations of consoles may have games that look fancier and boast internal storage, unlike the consoles of old, they lack the nostalgia and the memories that my old consoles instilled. Yes, it’s nice to boot up my PC nowadays and play the latest triple-A game. However, nothing will ever recapture the feelings of finally beating Obi-Wan as Anakin on the final secret level of the Revenge of the Sith game, or the nights spent hiding a DS under the blanket so my mum wouldn’t find me breaking curfew, nor can the Discord chats beat the many days spent pretending to be Pokémon trainers with my friends on the oval. So, thank you to my prehistoric consoles. You truly instilled a passion and love in me that will never be replaced. Not even by the fancy 2080 super sitting in my PC right now.

Scotland, SelfAwareness, and my Stone Age Creative Awakening Abigail Macleod Ask Abigail about Formula One. We dare you

he year is 2006. I am seven, red-cheeked with matted hair, and entirely obsessed with Doctor Who. I am being taken willingly(dragged begrudgingly) over the ocean on the ferry, from my hometown to the Orkney Islands for a lovely (cold) day trip; dressed in my very cool, funky, and frilly trousers tantalised by the promise of handmade Orkney ice cream. My family boarded the Hamnavoe ferry from the harbour and set sail to new and uncharted lands. Part of everyone’s bucket list in Orkney is to visit Skara Brae – an exceptionally wellpreserved Neolithic village nestled in the sand dunes of Mainland. There lie ten houses that are older than both the Great Pyramids and Stonehenge. People pass by to simply gaze into the past of the roughly-hewn living spaces open to the elements. Little me was not amused.

Entirely unimpressed that my quality time with my ice cream was interrupted by prehistoric houses in the abrasive and cold salt air, I trailed behind my family. Mum prompted me a little: “Look, you can see where their bed would have been. Imagine them warming water over the fire in the cold winter!” I peered over the edge into the sunken houses. “That would have been an oven. That would have been a baby’s crib!”. My little mind wandered. We passed a plaque that showcased what the archaeologists had found when they uncovered the village: stone tools, fish bones, ceramics, and even a dice for games. But, most importantly, JEWELLERY: beads, pendants, necklaces, and brooches. It was like someone had slammed me in the back of the head with a Neolithic frying stone (a-la Looney Tunes). It all rushed to me at once. I was looking at something old. Except not in a “let’s go and see the stained-glass church windows” way. This was both old and human. I had been living in blissful childhood ignorance, and now the rug was pulled from beneath my feet. I was sentient and self-aware. These people were people, they made art, sang, and danced just like I did. I could almost hear the old Orcadian rhythms of the songs whistling between the stones. Skara Brae was Neolithic, but so very alive. The art and artefacts of those long past awoke in me, what would later form my creative spirit and love of history. The tiny carved stones, balls, dice, and figurines were made by someone, just as I drew on scrap paper, or threaded macaroni onto string to make a necklace. The chasm between history and the present was now infinitesimal. And yes, I got my ice cream. As I ate it, I wondered if the little Neolithic seven-yearolds had some, and maybe would have liked to read a page or two of my Doctor Who Adventures magazine.

New Year, New Me.. But who’s got the time!? Tarryn Basden thinks she’s funny but is often proven wrong.…

t’s a new year! A new beginning! A chance to start over!

When the last few years have felt like being trapped on a bus driven through a maze by a narcoleptic catfish, a new beginning is exactly what we need. But what is it about the clock changing from 11:59 pm on the 31st of December to 12:00 am on the 1st of January that makes us think everything is going to change? What is a year? What is time? Centuries ago, we discovered that it takes a specific amount of time for this chaotic little planet to rotate on its axis, making one day. It takes 365.25 days to make one entire revolution around the sun, making a year. But why is the 1st of January considered as the first day of the year? Why not the 1st of July, or the 28th of April? We live our lives by the clock and the calendar, but have we ever stopped to think about why, or how these conventions came to be? Throughout history, humans appear to have always used some form of timekeeping. Archaeologists have found evidence that the 18

Babylonians and Egyptians measured and recorded time more than 5,000 years ago. Even before that, early humans were tracking days marked on mammoth tusks. We take our current calendar mostly from the Egyptians, who followed the three natural cycles:the solar day, the lunar month, and the solar year. However, there have been many different methods of tracking time. Some would measure the day beginning at sunrise, sunset, or in the middle of the night as we do now. Days could have ten, twelve, or twenty-four hours. Years were based on the changing of the seasons, the movement of constellations, or lunar cycles – as we see in the Chinese New Year. Historically, this each to their own approach worked fine. Everyone was living their best life in their own little space in the world. But as society became more globalised, and travel and trade became easier and more common, it started causing problems. Just catching a train was rife with potential catastrophe, as passengers would need to clarify which of the many local time zones they were using to measure their own departure or arrival.

In the mid-1800s, the time revolution began (no, Doctor Who was not involved). Groups began to advocate for a standardised calendar and twenty-four global time zones determined by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. In hindsight, of course, this seems logical. However, at the time, many revolted against the idea, believing that the Western World was trying to impose their rule and quash other cultures. There were protests, workers’ strikes, and even riots as people fought to maintain their own status quo. It wasn’t until the mid-20th-century that we started to adopt a worldwide system. Time is not something that was discovered as much as imposed. The calendar is a made-up convention that everyone has just agreed on to make life - and mostly capitalism - a little easier. That doesn’t mean you can use this article as an excuse not to get your assignments in on time! It means you don’t need to wait until a globally accepted day to make changes to your life. The Earth will keep on spinning, the seasons will continue to change. So, text your crush, eat dessert first, and just make the most of your time.

There were protests, workers’ strikes, and even riots as people fought to maintain their own status quo.

ART IS EVOLVING... ARE YOU? OPINION

Emma Horak has watched several ‘NFT’s for Dummies’ videos and still can’t tell you what one is. 20

aving been forced to stomach the words ‘NFT’s’, ‘Metaverse’, and some variation of that ape print like a dry pill for the past several months. I’ve felt mad with the idea that our current technoscape seems to have been handcrafted by the writers of Black Mirror. I couldn’t bring myself to cast more than cautious curiosity on the possible ramifications it could mean for the art world; a world that would now be championed by coders and lorded over by billionaires. Thankfully, Kid A Mnesia dropped. Given Radiohead’s announced hiatus in 2021, and Yorke’s focus on solo work- news of them reissuing their respected Amnesiac in addition to the even more experimental and respected work, Kid A, caught many off guard. Even stranger still, was the fact that the group had crafted an interactive experience that was part video game and part art exhibition to accompany the new album. So, one night, glass of red in hand, I turned off my lights, donned my headphones and sat down to Kid A Mnesia: The Exhibition. Now that I have finished it, I’m glad that it was never marketed any other way. Set against a fusion of industrial wasteland and

fantastical dreamscape, the game is a welcoming sight to any fan; so representative of what Kid A Mnesia confesses itself to be. Firstly, a return to the past- with some of Radiohead’s most beloved if not, moving, tracks (and sprinkled with Easter eggs of artist Stanley Donwood’s collaborative work.) Finally, an optimistic look to the future; to a space that can remain untouched by pandemics, and where art can be pushed beyond the limits of the ‘physical’ world. As I closed my laptop, I realised that perhaps my conventionalist scope of what art is and looks like had limited how much of it I could experience and enjoy. Being enveloped by an amalgam of trippy visuals and Yorke’s voice demonstrated the true beauty that lies in visual and aural collaboration; bringing a refreshing revival of two fan favourite albums. It was this thought that made me ponder the issue I’d had with the push for the arts to saturate the technoscape, particularly in the direction of recent discourse. The philosopher George Santayana once declared that “...art, like life, should be free since both are experimental.” Whilst the arts sector- particularly after the waves of chaos brought by Covid- would understandably be unenthusiastic about such an extreme statement being enforced. I argue that all art should, in

one way or another, be accessible to everyone, given its pivotal role in expression and human identity. However, our contemporary context sees abandonments of public spaces for the opportunities available in online settings, the greatest example of which being the argued ‘death’ of cinema. Although at first, I applauded the game’s catering to a number of computers and consoles. It was only after finishing and trying to get my friends in on the experience, that I wonder whether the setting of art in the technoscape actually limits our ability to enjoy it. I was overjoyed at the idea of Radiohead creating an immersive experience to accompany such emotive tracks, and not only because it communicated the band’s everlasting innovation. Playing the exhibition was by far the most exciting proof to me of the opportunities that lie in moving art to the Technosphere. However, I believe we should tread with caution towards this promised and celebrated exclusivity of the online art world. So,my questions are these: Should we really trust the technological breakthroughs of those who only give promises with a price tag attached? In a world rapidly turning towards the digital sphere for expression, will space still be made for art on the wall?

Spotify

The Rise and Fall of Collective Listening and the Local Music Scene Gabrielle Fitzpatrick : One of few people on campus targeted (and chased) by the peacocks

ecember rolls in and we are all waiting for the big day to arrive. We’ve spent months preparing in anticipation for it. When we wake that special morning, we open our phones, and it is waiting for us. Our personalised playlist. Our Spotify Wrapped for the year. According to BBC News, the multinational music streaming service, Spotify, has gained more than 172 million users since its conception in 2006. More than half of new members have joined in the last couple of years. During this time most people were confined to their homes due to the pandemic. This is not surprising considering the wide variety, flexibility, and adaptability of the service. Except, what does this mean beyond data and numbers? How has this affected how we listen to music? Furthermore, what has this done to the arts industry? Before we explore this topic further, it’s important to understand the idea of collective listening. Here, music relies on crowd mentality- a group of people listen to the same piece of music at

the same time. The authenticity and humanity that drives this, also drives people to see the artist again. The more concerts and gigs, the more money the artist makes. However, with the rise of technology and change in the listening environment, music has transitioned to become increasingly individualised. The Spotify experience is very private, allowing little or no interaction from the crowd. This is why Spotify is one of the main pieces of new listening technology, fuelling the change in listening from collective to individual. We are handed specific songs on a silver platter, limiting our ability to branch out and explore. The individuality of the listener is both cherished and exploited. We’ve been drawn into a false sense of community where we are becoming more and more isolated. Another issue lies in the fact that the basis of music streaming is like that of social media. Streams parallel with the ‘likes’ of Facebook and Instagram. The more ‘likes’ a song receives, the

higher the popularity and success. However, the number of likes and streams hold more social status than financial gain. As of 2019, Spotify reported paying an artist between $0.00331 and $0.00437 per stream. This is significantly less than a record sale, with the same study showing an artist can earn up to $14 per CD. This seems irrelevant to multi-millionaire producers and artists that are household names, but is detrimental to local, up, and coming artists. If this continues, music genres such as Indie and Alternative, the mainstay of more self-reliant and minimalistic artists, will disappear in favour of songs that can be distributed widely and follow a particular (and basic) formula. Collective listening is what drives the local music force, and when we lose one, we will lose the other. These problems have become more apparent in the pandemic. Whether gigs are scheduled to happen in large arenas or small dive bars, they are becoming increasingly sparse, as gathering in crowds is becoming an increasingly concerning health risk. With fewer options for live music,

the only option for listening to music is to do so online, which is saturated by streaming. Although this sounds positive; a way in which people can continue engaging with the music scene. There are negative impacts in the long run. The longer people stay stuck in their personalised hubs, the less likely they are to go to gigs. The invention and overuse of streaming services such as Spotify has drastically changed our listening habits. As we transition from the collective concert scene to the individualised habits caused by our headphones, it changes not only the way we listen to music but how the music industry functions. It is important to support the local music scene to ensure that grassroot musicians can succeed in this ever changing environment.

Predictions for 2022 By Brando Arimborgo

ccording to ABC News, prices are still expected to increase in 2022 before falling in 2023. However, the fall is not expected to wipe out the gains of the current boom. NAB, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, and Westpac have also concluded the following expectations for 2022 and 2023: • NAB has forecast a 4.9% lift in property values in 2022 and a 4% fall in 2023. • ANZ’s outlook is a 6% price hike next year and 4% drop in 2023. • The Commonwealth Bank expects house prices to rise 7% next year, and is forecasting the biggest price drop in 2023 out of the major banks, of approximately 10%. • Westpac expects an 8% rise in 2022 and 5% correction in 2023. This year, according to ABC News, it’s predicted that banks will be stricter when lending money due to people making offers at auctions that they are unable to pay for. We have already seen banks now giving approximately 5% lower mortgages than they were two months ago, and this is expected to continue occurring. Surprisingly, Perth is currently the most affordable major city in Australia with an average home price of $520,000. This is due to the stricter border restrictions which are keeping interested buyers away from Perth real estate market. If this is the peak of the market, it is quite likely that once borders open it will bring many interested international and interstate buyers. As a result, house prices are predicted to increase a further 10%. Unfortunately, students that are renting a dorm, a house, or a room are also being affected by this market. As houses become more expensive, so does rent. Therefore, accommodation for students is seeing an increase anywhere from 10% to 20%, and is likely to keep increasing once borders open, as more international students come from overseas and look for accommodations. Prices will become higher due to increased demand. COVID-19 has presented us with numerous challenges and unexpected outcomes, and so does the future. It’s almost impossible to predict what will happen in the housing market in the long term. Please keep in mind that this article is general in nature and does not provide any specific advice.

My ‘COVIDISM’ Conjecture Owen Gust’s first name spelt backwards is Newo. Why can’t I be Nemo?

OVID feels like it has become such a grotesque word. I cannot help but recoil and attempt to turn my attention away every time I hear this curse muttered under the breath of a family friend telling me that they missed their annual trip to abuse Balinese shop owners “coz of Covid.” There’s no denying that the last few years will leave a lasting impact on the way we think and interact with one another. For many of us, the Pandemic will likely be the largest global event of our lifetime. And like the overthinking, irritating English student that I am, I wanted to try and conceptualise this movement and change in a world where the presence of COVID-19 has become a fact of life. I admit that trying to classify and name a movement whilst it is happening is impossible due to: the impossibility of predicting the future, the long-lasting effects, and the duration of the pandemic. I instead pose my conjecture, ‘COVIDISM,’ as food for thought, or even a prompt for mindfulness, a way to try and observe the changes occurring and to conceptualise your own discombobulation. I’d like to attempt to define ‘COVIDISM’ as a tendency towards societal scepticism and a return to modernism, mediated primarily via social media and a prominent condition of distrust. I also want to make it clear that I do not refer to ‘COVIDISM’ as a discrete period with a definitive time range, but as a general shift in society that has coincided with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Remember the start of the pandemic? When the horrors of lockdown life and border restrictions were more easily overlooked due to the elusive promise of a brighter future? The manicured, idyllic image of the world stepping out of their front doors after a year of lockdown to find overgrown lawns, herds of deer, and monkeys running wild in the streets, with news of global warming being firmly halted in its tracks. This public innocence and naivety quickly flipped into cynicism as the world became divided by opinions, as the Earth continued to warm, and the world was forced to stay indoors. Promises of hope for the future were snatched from us like a baby deprived of its favourite toy, leaving many sour and mad. Truth and its ramifications within the contemporary COVID world seem intrinsically linked to social media. I’m sure we can all agree that the coercive, erroneous nature of social media, specifically when we consider these platforms as ‘news,’ is now more broadly socially accepted than ever before. We live in a time where algorithms determine what we see, what we hear, and despite our knowledge of the misrepresentative nature of social media, these sites continue to shape our view on current events. An alternative to the “… tendency towards societal scepticism” definition of ‘COVIDISM’ that I previously asserted - is the proposition that it is not scepticism towards other groups such as the Government, but rather a mistrust of the information that is

being fed to them. Although some members of society may form their opinions solely on what they read on their phone, I believe that most people are still exposed to enough breadth of arguments and views within the communal sector to discount social media algorithms as the one and only reason for conflict of opinion. Instead, I believe the rise in global fear and the incessant reminder of the futility of mankind are the major causes of the rise of societal cynicism. A rise in cynicism, and anger, often breeds radicalism in opinions, and creates an atmosphere of scepticism towards groups that do not align with one’s own beliefs. A rise in scepticism, in tandem with the divisive nature of social media as a news outlet, has resulted in a kind of modernist return to polarising truths. The beliefs of pro-vax against anti-vax have created a great ideological divide, within small social circles and, also within, societal discourse. Conflict within friend groups, based upon belief, is now more common in the contemporary world than it has been in years. Personal firsthand divide and conflict breeds frustration and cementation of personal beliefs. The modernist schema of unified truth(s) has been facilitated through division in vaccination beliefs and the alignment of shared global experiences. The pandemic seems to have acted as the loss of innocence for the young, in a way that the World Wars have for previous generations. (I am not comparing the pandemic to either World Wars in terms of global hardship or trauma, but rather as the trigger for the removal of an innate innocence instilled within a contemporary, young society). In summary, I pose my conjecture of ‘COVIDISM’ as a stimulus for thought and discussion, as a way for readers to open a dialogue around this slippery, brooding sense of emotional and social displacement. Although I have painted quite a bleak picture, the removal of a blanket of wilful societal ignorance may be just what we needed as mankind to spur us on to take drastic action over the change in our climate and the state of our planet. 27

Same old feeling, new sting an offshore student’s frustration Ananya Rao

OPINION PIECE

n December 13th, 2021, Premier Mark McGowan finally announced that Western Australia’s hard borders would be lifted. This was something many offshore students like myself have been looking forward to since the day we began our journey at the University of Western Australia (UWA). But two weeks before the opening date the WA Government announced that this plan would be abandoned due to concerns about the Omicron variant. Not once were international students mentioned in the entire address. As of November 2021, I have completed three semesters online from India. I, and many offshore students in similar situations, had prepared to travel to Perth in February. We booked our tickets and accommodations, packed our bags, compiled travel documents, and most of all, let ourselves be excited about the prospect of studying at the UWA campus. It took about ten minutes for the Premier to shatter all those plans. At this point, it is not about COVID anymore. It is more about the WA Government’s incapability to develop its healthcare and quarantine systems. They had two years to make progress and build medical infrastructure to support domestic and international arrivals, yet here we are, back to square one.

The numbers show that WA has a lower number of international students amongst its population compared to other states. Considering this, I may be willing to understand why we are their last priority. However, what I refuse to understand is how they get away with being so disdainful towards students who have invested all their finances and even took out loans to access a global education. We have our education, career, and the rest of our future on the line, and we were let down again, treated like dirty sources of an infectious virus. We are all ready to do whatever it takes to join our universities, even if it means getting PCR tested multiple times and self-sponsoring quarantine requirements. All we ask for is an effective return plan that is more than plain words and false promises, because we lose more than just hope every time we are let down. Many students are unable to get refunds for their tickets and accommodation, and some still have their belongings in storage in Perth. Our only respite has been the knowledge that there are people on campus who have sympathised with our limitations and are trying to help us. Some unit coordinators live-streamed lectures so we could also join in and interact. The International Students Department (ISD) encouraged offshore students to participate in the 2022 Guild elections. ISD invited

nominations from the offshore community and got a Postal Vote system in place so students could make their voices heard by voting from wherever they were. They campaigned for us on the campus through flyers and posters, which contained our photos and bios on them.

First, I believe online students should be given a reduction in tuition fees. We pay for in-person education, but what we receive are recycled lectures, AI-proctored exams, and emotional upheaval. Why should we pay for something we can never get?

Recent updates (or lack of the same) suggest that online studies will be the norm for at least one more semester, if not more. This warrants the need for some concrete changes in the way distance learning is being carried out by UWA. Many students have had to defer their studies by a semester or more because their mental health simply could not take the burden of online existence. Those who continue with their studies face a limited choice of units according to online availability.

Next, it is important to prioritise the mental wellbeing of students who are studying from their homes, as they feel excluded from the student community. We need as much support, if not more, in terms of having access to online helplines or resources that we can turn to.

Last year – my second year – I studied two levelthree units simply because I met the requirements and no other core units were available. Those with practical and laboratory components could not complete units because there was no way to conduct them at home. Architecture students had to build themselves a studio that they would otherwise be able to access on campus and experience hands-on learning for a discipline that very much demands it. It is my sincere hope that things are different this time. For this year, I expect the simplest requirements and modifications to be accommodated.

The principal issue is disseminating information. What good are resources and support if none of us knows they exist? For us to be able to access them, we need information on what they are, where to find them, and how they can help us. Simply stating that “Students must regularly check their emails” is not enough because most of it is not communicated to us directly. This leads to my last point about building a team dedicated entirely to students who pursue their degrees online. Online students deserve equal attention, and for that, UWA must have people whose main job is to ensure their wellbeing and actively work for their welfare – both academic and otherwise

The COVID-1% By Neha Bolla

hen you think of COVID-19, your mind jumps to masks, lockdowns, and deaths. When you think of COVID-19 and the economy, you think of businesses closing, hours decreasing, and government benefits. While the majority of the population found themselves worrying about their health followed by their financial security, the world’s top billionaires were experiencing a very different pandemic to the rest of us. According to a report by Oxfam, “The world’s ten richest men more than doubled their fortunes from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion”, during the two years of the pandemic. Oxfam’s International Executive Director Gabriela Bucher explains that “Central banks pumped trillions of dollars into financial markets to save the economy, yet much of that has ended up lining the pockets of billionaires riding a stock market boom.” Economic inequality is not a new issue, but to see the gap between the rich and poor grow so dramatically, especially during a deadly pandemic, is shocking even to the most cynical. CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, Cassandra Goldie, in correspondence with SBS News, stated “People with the least were suffering the most in the pandemic.” It is truly unfair how those in poverty are being negatively impacted more than ever during the pandemic. While those with more money than they will ever need continue to grow their wealth. Many consider extreme economic inequality as a form of violence, and rightly so. The consequences of it directly harm and even kill. In a report titled Inequality Kills, Oxfam states “Inequality contributes to the deaths of at least 21,300 people a day.” That is just a conservative 30

estimate. The report further explains how these billionaires’ wealth has increased more during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the past fourteen years. It is beyond alarming to learn that less than 1% of people in low-income countries have received a vaccine, while pharmaceutical profits have resulted in the CEOs of Moderna and BioNTech becoming billionaires. Shares in the companies producing vaccines have soared, with Moderna’s (MRNA) share price increasing 700% and BioNTech’s (BNTX) share price increasing 600%, since February 2020. The skyrocketing profits of vaccine-producing pharmaceutical companies has seen the creation of at least nine new billionaires, who have a combined worth of $19.3 billion. This figure is enough to fully vaccinate approximately 780 million people in low-income countries. However, there is a solution, and it is one backed by the United Nations Secretary-General, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and many other organisations – an emergency wealth tax. According to the IMF, “A tax levied on high incomes or wealth would allow governments to meet pandemic-related financing needs”. Domestic and international tax reform would allow them to accumulate resources, enhance basic safety nets, and help to close the gap between the rich and poor, which is at an all-time high. Funds raised through this form of taxation will also allow for equitable distribution of vaccines, especially to those in poorer countries which currently have the lowest vaccination rates. Many people argue that things such as taxing the wealthy are much easier said than done, but an example of a government successfully doing so is Argentina. The government collected 223 billion pesos (approx. $2.14 billion USD)

through taxing people with assets over 200 million pesos. 10,000 people were taxed, with some being taxed up to 5.25% of their assets. Of course, the tax was not without its opposition, some of the most notable opponents being the family of late soccer player Diego Maradona. Another similar but more targeted solution that has been proposed is a one-off 99% windfall tax on the pandemic wealth gains of the world’s ten richest men. This is set to be discussed at the World Economic Forum’s upcoming Davos Agenda, in which the pandemic will be the main topic. It has been calculated that this windfall tax would not only pay to make enough vaccines for the world but also leave these men more than $8 billion richer than they were pre-pandemic. There have been historical precedents for this type of taxation, for example, the French government taxed excess wartime wealth at a 100% tax rate after World War II.

The world’s ten richest men more than doubled their fortunes from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion

The need for tax reforms and introductions of wealth or windfall taxes is stronger than ever. Many billionaires derive most of their fortunes from assets that aren’t taxed until they are sold. Taxing income instead of wealth means that the very wealthy are faced with higher taxes than the richest. Unfortunately, it is the richest of the rich who have seen their wealth more than double, while the incomes of 99% of humanity are worse off because of COVID-19. It is towards these people which tax reforms can be aimed, to help the rest of the population through this pandemic. While the 99% suffer and inequality soars, the 1% see their wealth grow unfathomably. While most of the world is living through COVID-19, a select few are living in the COVID-1%.

Trend Alert!!

New Body Shape Ready to Make You Hate Yours. Mary Rose Macdonald: Frequent UWALL stalker, cheerleader, chad & verified fat girl

wenty years ago the desired body type for women followed Paris Hilton. Ten years ago it was the dreaded Tumblr era of thigh gaps and extraordinary under eating. Whilst five years ago, the overt Kardashian-esque plastic surgery was the ‘it’ look. However, recently the ideal body type is all about being ‘thicc’: big breasts, large butt, tiny waist, and no belly fat. Let’s take it back a step and talk about the ‘body goals’ we all looked up to as teenagers. Thigh gaps, undereating and the classic “Does this make my butt look fat?” We saw celebrities destroy themselves to achieve these unhealthy goals, while we consumed Dolly and Women’s Weekly magazines on how to achieve this unrealistic body type. They told us buying this ab-machine would work, that the diet pill that “definitely didn’t have an intestinal worm in it” would make us skinny no matter how much we ate. But as the times changed and the Kardashian family became more relevant in pop culture, body goals shifted. All of a sudden, the previously dreaded fat butt was the look to die for. Literally, to die for, with gluteal fat grafting procedures, such as Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs), having a fatality rate as high as 1-in-6214 due to pulmonary fat embolism. This procedure is risky even with the most experienced plastic surgeons. This is because you are injecting fat into the buttocks where the inferior gluteal

artery is. A misplaced injection can suffocate the artery or fat can enter the bloodstream, leading straight to the heart. If that doesn’t scare you, then there is always the risk of injecting directly into muscle instead of the tissues above it, accompanied with the risk of infection. Such a popular procedure does not come cheaply, and thus dodgy ‘Wish. com’ versions pose an attractive alternative. Further effects of these cheap botched surgeries include: bruising, sagging, infections, a ‘horrific’ asymmetrical shape and a butt so hard it is like cement. Unfortunately, the rise of social media continued to push the idea of this body type as being: ‘sexy,’ ‘desirable’, ‘thicc’, whilst all ‘natural’. The world rejoiced, embracing these ‘realistic body standards’. Of course, it was a lie. The media pushed the narrative that this was body inclusivity, and we ate it up. Most couldn’t afford the BBLs so we ate more food and did countless squats. But what we got was nothing, or we became overweight for the ‘twerkable butt’. We had a juicy butt, but we also had belly fat and large thighs. We were deemed unattractive again because the Kardashians didn’t have thighs that touched their bellies when sitting down. Major companies capitalised on this, using social media influencers to sell us detox teas, waist trainers, diet pills and weight loss plans. We then fell victim again, eating ‘that shit’ up because we all wanted to be desired and sexy. What we never realised was we played directly into their hands.

inclusivity. There has been a change in body trends that the stores sell to us as body positivity. They still remain unreachable body goals that the regular person can’t achieve without intense workouts with a personal trainer, good genetics, or surgery. If it really was body inclusivity, these products wouldn’t be blasting ads on my social media, these brands wouldn’t be paying thousands of dollars to trick their audience. If the media were really body inclusive, skinny women would be told to eat a burger. We would see the average store having lean, petite, and plus size clothing. Most importantly, we wouldn’t have influencers making 100000s of videos on how to get the perfect summer body in two weeks. No one’s body should be referred to as the hot new style and no one should be risking their lives to be that hot new style. Your body isn’t a trend, it’s a complex structure that is worth more than a number on the scale or clothes tags.

From what I have seen as a verified fat girl, there hasn’t been a shift in body positivity and 33

The Life in a Stone By Owen Cumming

eolithic means ‘new stone’. But, do you know what the neolithic period has absolutely nothing to do with? How new or old stones actually are. But we do need a way to age neolithic artefacts. If an archaeologist reveals a ‘rock’n’ relic or a palaeontologist finds a funky fossil, how can they know whether it’s a new stone (neolithic) or an old stone (palaeolithic)?

A clear blue sky. We’re in Earth’s upper atmosphere. It’s quiet, too quiet. Nitrogen-14 atoms (seven protons and seven neutrons in their nucleus) float around, relaxing in serene atomic bliss.

The answer, my friends, is Carbon-14 dating.

Suddenly…

Since the 1940s, this has been one of the best methods we have for measuring the age of organic material (up to a point, but we’ll get to that later).

Photons descend in a sunlit firestorm! Nitrogen-14 atoms are bombarded by cosmic rays, ripping protons and neutrons asunder! In chaos and confusion, atomic nuclei are rearranged to create Carbon-14 (six protons and eight neutrons)!

Words like radiation and half-life get thrown around in discussions about Carbon-14 dating, and often, the explanation stops there. For most of us, it remains unclear what is really happening or why it’s happening. So, join me now, and picture a scene in a nice, calm, and atomic neighbourhood. 34

Imagine...

Upon seeing what a radioactive monstrosity it is, Carbon-14 becomes unstable (physically, but I think, also emotionally) and begins the arduous task of regaining its former Nitrogen-14 self by turning one of its neutrons into a proton.

Meanwhile, Carbon-12 atoms (six protons and six neutrons) are standing idly by in the atmosphere, watching events unfold, raising their eyebrows at one another. This whole saga occurs at a relatively constant rate. Cosmic rays regularly turn Nitrogen-14 into Carbon-14, while Carbon-12 remains at stable concentrations in the atmosphere. There is a conveniently consistent ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12 atoms at any given point in time. That is very important. We, and every other living thing on Earth, are Carbon-based life-forms, but we’re not picky about which carbon. Through the carbon that plants take in and subsequently the plants we eat, we end up with the same ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12 in our bodies as is always in the atmosphere. When we die, the trapped Carbon-14 continues its yearnful quest to become Nitrogen-14. Half of them manage to eject an electron and make this atomic transformation every 5,730 years. Meanwhile, Carbon-12 continues to do absolutely nothing.

So, when we find a fossil where the ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12 is exactly half the ratio there is in the atmosphere, it’s (roughly) 5,730 years old. If it has a quarter of the atmospheric ratio, it’s around 11,460 years old, and so on. Using this method, we can tell the age of things from a decade up to about 50,000 years. At that point, there’s only about one fivehundredth of the original Carbon-14 left, and things start getting pretty uncertain. Carbon-14 dating allows us to know how and when things lived, giving us a better understanding of early human cultures and our planet’s recent past. By measuring the way atoms change within once-living beings, Carbon-14 dating is essentially measuring the life captured in a stone. P.S. Due to rapidly rising atmospheric carbon levels, Carbon-14 dating will be extremely difficult in the future.

Australia’s ‘Neolithic Problem’ Owen Cumming: A shorter, less charming, less attractive Bradley Cooper.

The deepest divide we see is that imposed by European thought. - Dr. J. Peter White, 2011

eolithic is a bit of a vague term. There’s no exact start or end to the Neolithic period. It just happened at different times in different places around the world. Of course, there are qualifiers for ‘Neolithicness;’ using stone tools being one (hence ‘lithic’), but mainly it is a “dependence on domesticated plants and animals.” Farming, in short, is what makes Neolithic people Neolithic. This highlights a problem in Australian history that continues to undermine and divide our national culture a Neolithic Problem. Australian archaeologist, Dr. J. Peter White first coined “The Neolithic Problem” in 1971. The problem was that old white colonists believed that Northern Australian First Nations people apparently rejected the use of agriculture, despite having contact with existing New Guinean agricultural communities. So, unlike New Guinea, Australia never officially had a Neolithic period (which is false). Not a big deal, right? People can live their lives how they want. Um, no.

To the sophisticated Europeans, not farming was just… savagery! When Europeans arrived in Australia, ‘savagery’ was the definition for stone tool-using cultures, not reliant on agriculture (the twat who wrote that definition was Lewis Morgan). In contrast, by using metal tools, putting up fences, and ploughing neat, orderly fields - the bold, innovative, and enlightened Europeans had progressed beyond ‘savagery’ and achieved ‘civilisation.’ They established ‘civilisation’ as the ultimate goal of human progress. In doing so, they turned a scholarly discussion about the development of new technologies in human culture into an ideological weapon to enforce superiority over others. Enter: “The superior white man.” When the (not so) valiant Captain James Cook ‘discovered’ Australia, he had very clear instructions from the British government: inhabitants of any land he encountered were the rightful and legal owners of that land. Therefore, if a British colony was to be established, the land would have to be bought.

But no payment was ever made. When British people arrived on the coast of what is now known as New South Wales, they believed they saw an unutilised landscape. Cook wrote in his journals: “There are very few inhabitants in this country” and “We never saw one inch of cultivated land.” These claims would come to destroy the lives of First Nations people for generations. A caveat to the British colonisation policy was that if the land was only sparsely populated and had not been cultivated or farmed, it could be considered ‘land belonging to no one,’ or ‘terra nullius,’ and therefore free to take. Coupled with a perverted, “Survival of the Fittest,” inspired view of themselves as the evolved race, British colonists had all the justification they needed to take possession of the land. After all, they were settling it, not invading. Now, aside from being the equivalent of a philosophical skid-mark, the terra nullius argument is simply false. In his book, Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe provides multiple accounts from the journals of Europeans in Australia. They describe a series of prosperous communities across the entire landmass, who “steeped,” “tilled,” and “harvested” the land around where they lived, or if you like, farmed. The only difference is how they did it. First Nations people worked with the natural cycles of the land to cultivate and enhance its

yield. They managed the existing water, fire, and growth patterns across a landscape to maintain wildlife and plant abundance. This was starkly different to agriculture from overpopulated European countries where farmland was strictly divided, sown, and grazed. Whether or not Australia is designated as having gone through a Neolithic period isn’t really important. What’s important is that the same mentality that categorised First Nations people as ‘non-agricultural’ remains prevalent today. As a result, there is a lack of recognition for First Nations knowledge, traditions, and ways of life. Despite growing cultural awareness in Australia about the injustices of European colonisation, the truth of what happened is still not officially recognised. Australia was a land with a collection of thriving cultures that, without a doubt, engaged in sophisticated agriculture. Still, more than that, it had a complex, rich and intricate society that was in no way inferior to 18th century Europe. Yet we still say Australia was ‘settled,’ not invaded, and we still celebrate the day it happened. We still do not include First Nations peoples in our constitution as the original owners of the land. We still don’t fully recognise the value of First Nations cultural knowledge. And, Australia is still not considered to have had a bloody Neolithic period!

Ben Marshall finds himself in The Lion King (1994)

ce Age (2002) is an ostensibly foreign film, situated within a bygone era and populated with long-extinct characters. Its exoticness acts as a mere veneer accentuating a timeless and distinctly human, if not novel, narrative. To the backdrop of a light-hearted children’s romp, it tells a story that reminds us of the strength in solidarity with our fellow beings: how positive action in recognising the intrinsic value of life transcends cold indifference and spiteful retribution. This is best unpacked through the unconventional starring crew: Sid the sloth, Diego the sabre-tooth tiger and Manfred the mammoth, nicknamed ‘Manny’. In terms of species and personality, the three could embody heterogeneousness. When they set out to return a human infant to its family, the film at length portrays the boldness of their task. Whilst every other mammal heads for warmer climates, this discordant bunch chose to brave the fierce cold and challenge deadly predators, as well as the laws of the food chain. In surviving to return this baby, they succeed where their more homogeneously organised contemporaries do not. The film asks us what impelled this action and what allowed it to triumph? The answers are the intrinsic value of life and the subsequent selflessness this motivates. Manny, it is revealed, tragically lost his family to

human hunters, yet never considers abandoning or even killing the babe. In vengeance and logic, he would seem justified in doing so. Sid, an outcast whose family have finally succeeded in abandoning him, is unswerving in his commitment to the cause. The effect of this compassion is embodied by Diego. He is so moved by the unsolicited kindness his new friends demonstrate that he overcomes his biological instincts and the social pressures from his fellow tigers to dispatch Manny, Sid, and the baby. Instead, he saves them from his former allies. We see kindness begets kindness. Upon returning the child, the crew is spared from human attack by the grateful father, whilst their hostile enemies are left to rue their injuries. Thus, Ice Age, admittedly first and foremost a children’s movie, by highlighting the enrichment our heroes find in each other and in the completion of their task, encourages enduring wisdom. Appreciating the pricelessness of our fellow creatures is the right thing to do even when stony unconcern, conventional reasoning, or vindictive malice might suggest otherwise. Ultimately one might say that the thematic offerings mirror the comedic efforts. There are several well-camouflaged gags to amuse older viewers. Similarly, the film’s messaging is clearly oriented toward a younger audience, yet attentive and reflective viewers may be surprised at their reward for investment.

End of an Era - Sally Thomas

The Racial Identity of Culinary Utensils Crystal Ngo’s favourite cocktail is an Amaretto Sour

efined as the years that sparked a revolutionary change in agriculture, it would be unfair to acknowledge the Neolithic era without mentioning food. When it comes to food, there are countless different ways people eat. The tools we use to cradle, cut, or scoop our meals into our ‘gob’ often come with inherent cultural values. Looking back at how our ancestors ate during the Neolithic era: animal bones, wood, and stones were sharpened and polished for the production, preparation, and eating of food. These fascinating tools enabled them to lead

easier and more productive lives by reducing their ‘chew-time.’ Needing less time to chew, meant that our ancestors had more time to enhance other skills instead. Thus, eating utensils became essential to the advancement of humankind and ‘civilisation.’ However, culinary utensils were different between countries, cultures, and religions. For example, the term cutlery – forks, spoons, and knives – was introduced 4000-7000 years ago during the European Middle Ages. While chopsticks were created in China around 5000 years ago.

In Australia, multiculturalism is often celebrated through food. However, we have developed the innate ability to categorise people by their preferred culinary tool.

Sometimes ‘hand-eating’ can be met with disgust due to feelings of uncleanliness, impoliteness, or thinking that it’s just downright…barbaric!

A study by Flower & Swan discusses the impacts of British colonisation on dietary choices in Australia. Colonisation brought a societal, cultural, environmental, and political shift. White supremacy began to dictate laws and actions, and as a result, Australia adopted a Western, more ‘civilised,’ way to eat. The Caucasian social upper-class used silverware, in contrast to those who use their hands to eat. The dietary transition to a Westernised diet created societal and cultural norms which spread throughout the country.

In the case of Australia, forks, knives, and spoons are prevalent in most homes. As stated before, typical Australian dining follows Western standards with the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left. These guidelines are part of a cultural dining experience defined by its ‘table manners,’ and ‘rules,’ which, to many, are essential for cultural belonging and symbolise acceptable morals, politeness, and dining etiquette.

French cuisine is now well-known for its full course menus and ‘elegant’ eating etiquette. Their formal dining comes with specific ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts.’ These ‘rules’ add to the ‘civilised’ outlook that carries French cuisine up on the gastronomical social-class ladder. That’s why French cuisine is imagined as more prestigious compared to non-Western food, resulting in differences in price and cultural value. Now, let’s turn to people who eat with their hands. You might have eaten burgers, fried chicken, or pizza with your hands, but eating with your hands in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and South America is a little different. Many dishes come with rice, and sometimes it gets messy if you haven’t mastered the proper ‘hand-eating’ techniques. But, if you’ve always used utensils to eat, eating with your hands can feel uncomfortable if it isn’t part of your social norm.

Those who do not follow these rules are intrinsically pushed out and down the (invisible) social ladder, leading to forms of racial ‘othering.’ Although we must respect cultures’ dining etiquettes, acknowledging the differences in eating and our colonial past is vital if we wish to be inclusive. By understanding our own cultural dining rules and recognising that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way of eating;we can be less exclusive of how people from different cultures eat. After all, the whole point of food is to be enjoyed through taste and fulfillment with others. Let us celebrate a new age as we move forwards into the new year – a new revolution of breaking down societal norms and acknowledging our indifferences. This article aims not to change your ways of eating, but to challenge our cultural awareness, similarities, highlighting the beauty of eating. 41

By Matt Moroney

Respect in the ‘Entertainment Age’? 42

here is a certain purity to the way in which the sporting arena is perceived as a vessel for championing some of society’s most appreciated values. Respect, ntegrity, and edication are all terms that have been synonymous with sports from its origins in ancient military history, to its decidedly less cutthroat modern-day iterations. While the element of competition is crucial, there is an agreed notion that sport should be played in good faith, with respect to oneself, their opponents, and the game itself. Or at least there was. While watching the recent Australian Open tennis championships, I was reminded of a fact that has become increasingly glaring in recent years: “This is an entertainment business”. I’m aware it’s not a wild concept. Some would argue it always has been. Sport may have begun as a critical survival skill, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out why athletic pursuits were popularized on a global scale. Except, while entertainment was once a by-product of a noble contest, it may now have become the non-negotiable for which respect is sacrificed.

In the modern context, it’s a difficult balancing act. That’s not to say the two cannot co-exist. However, as I watched Nick Kyrgios play out in Melbourne, it became increasingly clear which way that balance is tipping. Kyrgios is a man who has built his brand on entertainment. His lack of success given his talent has been somewhat self-excused, based on what some would describe as “box office” antics. During his recent historic run to the men’s doubles championship at the Australian Open, he and partner Thanasis Kokkanakis riled up opponents, umpires, and crowds to almost unprecedented levels. Mid-point jeering, booing of players, and even court invasions became a regular occurrence in both the singles and doubles draws. Whilst being in clear breach of many of the unwritten (and written) laws of the game, many were quick to call it for what it undeniably was: Entertaining. Kyrgios himself certainly wasn’t shy to point out his influence in rising viewing figures and match attendances, particularly regarding the previously more unheralded doubles competition. After their semi-final win, Kyrgios stated: “I think the Australian Open, for the sport, we need more attention, we need more viewers. My goal is to only bring new fans that may not be following tennis to watch tennis”. Not even his biggest detractors could argue that he hasn’t achieved this. This blurring of the lines between reality tv and sport is a concept with which we should expect to become more familiar. It’s also not a phenomenon that is unique to tennis. Although,

it may be most observable due to the sport’s tradition and emphasis on fair play. From a financial standpoint, drama sells, and sport, now more than ever, is driven by ratings. The question then is what message is being sent to our grassroots teams and aspiring juniors? Clearly, the values that are preached at grassroots levels are no longer required to pursue the sport at a professional level. Some would say it’s inevitable given how high the stakes are. I would argue that it makes it even more important to uphold some level of accountability. We are constantly reminded of how vital a tool sport can be when it comes to teaching children respect, equality, and integrity. These values are still fomented by the biggest global sporting organisations, but you’d be forgiven for questioning their existence when you turn on your TV. There is no doubt that sport is a global business machine. However, its foundation is built on the millions who play away from the spotlight. The example that is set at an elite level inevitably filters down to our grassroots. The values that we seek to develop through sport are as essential as ever and are being increasingly trivialised at the professional level. The mercurial Kyrgios would have you believe this is the inevitable direction we are taking. The relentless pursuit of entertainment is only going to continue, but at what cost? As sponsorships, TV deals, and prize money grows, a decision must be made. Do we bring respect by kicking and screaming into a new age? Or leave it to die a noble death. 43

The Astrological Origins of Stonehenge Caroline Sabater: Caroline collects crystals but only half believes they have magical properties.

Stonehenge was a type of computer able to measure summer and winter solstices.

magine you are standing in a field. The grass beneath your feet squelches from the early morning damp. The sun peeks out from underneath a blanket of mist. This is a special moment, one that only occurs once a year. You can feel the ancient energy that pulsates from the structure before you. At this moment, the summer solstice begins, and you are a part of a tradition that dates back tens of thousands of years. Stonehenge is one of the most recognisable and beloved neolithic structures. Dating back to approximately 9000 BCE, which began at the end of the Ice Age. There are a number of mysteries, questions and conspiracies surrounding the origins and purpose of Stonehenge. There was a time when they were the same – a symbiotic study of the stars, planets, and their meanings. In Hawkins’ book, Stonehenge Decoded, he theorised that Stonehenge was a type of computer able to measure summer and winter solstices. In the summer, the sun can be seen from the Heel Stone, rising in alignment. Then, for the winter solstice, the sun sets perfectly aligned with the Trilothon, two great vertical stones with one atop it.

It is also possible that Stonehenge could have functioned as an early form of calendar. However, there is more to Stonehenge than agricultural practicality. There may be some other astrological significance to the structure, with Stonehenge placed beneath the centre star of Orion’s belt. Which could represent the very essence of the cycle of life and death, mirroring the cycles of the universe. From birth comes death and from death comes birth. This would make sense in relation to the solstices marking the transition of seasons, and its significance for farming and ceremonies. These are merely theorised puzzle pieces to a much larger mystery. No one really knows why the neolithic people built Stonehenge and to what extent they relied on the planetary alignments. Astrology can help us in extracting meaning and guidance from where planets align. It indicates that we are connected to and perhaps at the mercy of these celestial movements. The marking of the solstices can tell us that humans have been looking to the heavens for answers longer than we may have realised.

The Media and the Future of women’s Sport By Libby Caldwell

n this new age of women’s achievement in sport, why does it still seem as though Australia is stuck in the past? Less than 10% of Australian sports media focuses on women in sport. A disappointing statistic in an era of supposed equality. However, all it takes is a scroll through sports clubs’ social media accounts or a stroll through the Perth CBD; where posters from Perth Glory and Cricket Australia are present, with no women in sight, for that disheartening statistic to make sense.

Within a month of 2022, Sam Kerr became Australia’s greatest ever goalscorer. The twentyeight-year-old broke Tim Cahill’s record and shows no signs of slowing down. Only a week later, Ash Barty became the first Australianborn Australian Open champion since 1978. Two of the most popular sports in Australia have women at the forefront. Sam Kerr is arguably the most successful Australian soccer player to ever live, and Ash Barty has proved herself to be a generational talent. The media is directly influencing the future of the next generation of women in sport by minimising the public exposure of women athletes. Girls are not allowed to explore a career in sport as a viable option, leading to one in two girls dropping out of sport from the age of fifteen. Despite this, it should be relatively simple to make progress on these issues. Australia can look to the National Women’s Soccer League in America for an example of garnering success and talent from women, and how that can stem from advertising and other media. How can you attract fans to games and athletes that they are not even aware of ? With an increase in womencentric activity from sporting clubs’ social media accounts, they can exploit a previously underrepresented demographic, with obvious financial benefits. Following smart investment from clubs, athletes can be developed so that there is a steadily increasing circular movement of fans, profits, and talent, with media attention being the catalyst for it all. For now, it’s clear that the Australian media has a long way to go regarding exposure of talented women athletes in our country. With the 2023 Women’s World Cup only a year away, we can only hope that this may kickstart a long overdue era of giving women’s sport the attention it deserves.

a fly in amber Ethan Dodson starts all of his poems/shopping lists on the notes app. If only my hands were amber encasing your fragile skin, if only their touches could keep you safely entombed within. If only my hands were amber. No, they are hands that must tighten they grip in nervousness, fray in anticipation of watching you. I wither, you wither. Bright burning candles melt faster. You are not a fly in the amber, you are the ever-shortening wick. Too bright for amber hands to cool, too fast for amber hands to reach. Who denies a candle its flame? Even if my hands may betray my heart as l falter with the matches. Why must these be hands that light candles? I wither, you wither. Bright burning candles melt faster. My hands, no, they are not amber. But let my memory keep you as you are now, no matter that it will fade, allow me at least that. 47

Harvest

A Tale of the Summer Holidays By May Tia Loo

t is estimated that Australia will soon become the world’s third-largest wheat exporter in 2022. To further understand the significance of farming in Australia we must look beyond the statistics. That’s why I will share with you some of my experiences in the field – the literal fields. This was only my second summer in Western Australia and what a way to spend it! What surprised me the most when researching Australia’s agricultural history is how long farming has been around in the country; and it continues to play a significant role to this day. The Neolithic Revolution (also known as the Agricultural Revolution) is marked by the transition from small, nomadic bands to larger settlements; what we now call agriculture. It’s been over 65,000 years since Australia’s First Nations People began practicing sustainable, agricultural, and farming techniques to feed their communities and livestock. Fast forward to today with advancements in technology and improvements in agricultural strategies, it is fair

to say farming practices remain a large part of Australia’s identity. As an international student who has only lived in major cities such as Singapore, London, and Dubai; working with WA’s largest grain growers cooperative, CBH, has been such a humbling and eye-opening experience! Being involved in the grain harvesting process has without a doubt deepened my appreciation of the local agriculture industry and the products they make, such as common cereals and oats. Witnessing the amount of hard work and effort that goes into producing our store-bought goods made me realise how much we take these products for granted. Furthermore, working in the industry gave me an insight into how nature and its seasons play a significant role in determining the value of crops - which in turn can affect some family’s livelihoods. This led me to think about climate change, the repercussions it has on harvest, and how this could affect the

future of the agriculture industry. For example, my summer work didn’t commence as scheduled, due to weather changes which delayed the onset of harvesting farmed crops. Moreover, experiencing occasional bouts of heavy rain in Cranbrook during the summer was something quite out of the ordinary. On another note, working outdoors for up to 12 hours a day taught me the importance of being outside in nature. From my experience it had a remarkably positive impact on my physical and mental state. It showed me that allowing yourself the time to reconnect and reflect, without everyday distractions, helps to better understand yourself by having a clearer state of mind. Additionally, working outdoors in the midday heat and dust was occasionally challenging. However, I believe that immersing yourself in new, unfamiliar circumstances, and having an open heart allows you to grow and strengthen your mental resilience. Harvest has also taught me that with the seasons, come new beginnings.

Furthermore, with each new beginning, we are given an opportunity to harness these lessons to navigate our lives and perhaps set a new tone for 2022. If you asked me what I thought of the harvest before this experience, I would not have thought much of it. However, now it symbolises so much more than the act of gathering crops. It represents the livelihoods and hard work of friends’ families, the Australian economy, and the urgency for greater environmental action, because climate change is well and truly alive. So, I encourage you to take a moment of your time- it doesn’t have to be long, to reflect on your own ‘harvest’ and how proud you should be for overcoming yet another challenging year. It could be as simple as acknowledging new skills you have gathered, experiences you are thankful for and how you may be able to implement them into the new year. If you’d like to share your ‘harvest’ with us, feel free to contact me on insta @maytialoo. I can’t wait to hear about your experiences and what you will accomplish this new year! 49

return to soup (spoilers for Neon Genesis Evangelion & The End of Evangelion) By Giles Chan

Neon Genesis Evangelion follows: A political ideology and anarchist critique of capitalist civilization that advocates a return to simpler ways of life through deindustrialization, abolition of the division of labour or specialization, and abandonment of large-scale organization and high technology.

n present-day Tokyo-3, an underground military organisation called ‘NERV’ forms the last line of defence between humanity and the ‘Angels.’ We don’t know if the ‘Angels’ are aliens who have arrived from outer space or if they were sent down to Earth by God. But what we know for certain is that if an Angel reaches NERV’s core, it will trigger a global extinction event. Will this mean the end of all life, or is this the beginning of Rapture? 50

Humanity contends with the consequences of advanced technology in a setting saturated with religious ideas about creationism and God. Woven somewhere inside this tangled web is also a story about existence and meaning. It is only at the end of humanity that Evangelion finds the answer to life’s questions. Ironically it would appear that the end of humanity is the answer.

In The End of Evangelion, the world ends and, through a series of unfortunate events, results in all of humanity being liquefied into a single entity covering the entire planet. Everyone has reverted to a primitive state of being as primordial soup, sharing a singular consciousness. This is not unlike the idea of Rapture. The souls of the dead unite with the living and rise to Heaven. Now that the barriers between people have been removed, there is no more conflict. No war, discrimination or animosity. Wouldn’t it be cruel to allow so much pain and suffering to remain in the world? For the characters of Evangelion, this is a simple means to an end. With the burden of consciousness lifted off of humanity’s collective shoulders, nobody ever has to feel ever again. In essence, it is the next logical step after ‘return to monke’ - to return to nothing. Nothing should feel comforting when the world feels like it’s on the verge of ending - perhaps even when it feels like it’s never-ending. We emerged from the primordial soup and became eukaryotes, eventually finding our way onto land. For the past fifty-years, we have been coming up with inventive ways to launch ourselves off this planet. And soon, we will leave

it all behind for a replacement planet. The beginning feels like a half-remembered dream, and the end is nowhere in sight. This is when society must turn to science or religion to help them figure out what it all means, and where to go from here. Evangelion seems perfectly placed between those two areas to perhaps act as a guide. So, the conclusion we’ve been left to consider is whether or not to simply leave existence. In a world where religious faith no longer serves its purpose, and the only choice left is to escape into the digital world, it must seem logical to return to a state of blissful ignorance. But in the final moments of Evangelion, the story takes a turn. Instead of returning to soup, the cataclysm is reverted, and humanity is returned to corporeal form. The threat of extinction has seemingly been averted, and the world begins again. Neon Genesis can roughly be equated to meaning ‘New Beginning,’ and in a show based on a fusion of confusing science fiction concepts and archaic religious mythology, it is explicit in its optimism. It rejects the soup. Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion are on Netflix. 51

New Age

Is Web3 really going to democratise the internet? By Ahmed Suliman

efore our present (and seemingly neverending) pandemic started, it appeared that the internet had successfully permeated every aspect of our lives, and there wasn’t much left for it to take over. However, the necessities created by the COVID-19-era restrictions have demonstrated that there was always room to virtualise more aspects of our day-today activities. From video-calling becoming a dominant form of meeting and socialising to virtual concerts and gym classes, it became clear that we were entering a new world, in which almost any pursuit could be refashioned into an online form, abstracted away from limitations such as locations and travel times.

However, some believe that this era of the internet requires fundamentally reshaping the nature of the web, including its core infrastructure, business models, and user experiences. An online movement of developers, entrepreneurs, and financiers -working under an umbrella term known as ‘Web3’, has become a vanguard for this worldview. The Web3 movement envisions a new internet that is ultimately decentralised, independent from large platforms, and facilitated through blockchain technologies such as tokens and cryptocurrencies. To better understand the argument for Web3, it is important to contextualise the term with what it claims to replace: ‘Web 1.0’ and ‘Web 2.0’. Web 1.0 refers to the early era of the internet, from the early 1990s, concluding after the end of the Dot Com bubble, and before the emergence of large modern platforms around 2004. From an economic perspective, this period was highly competitive and open. It was relatively easy to start a popular website and develop an independent presence online. Many ordinary people created their own blogs, forums, family websites; and used emails to keep in touch with others. While technology giants like Microsoft and Yahoo existed at the time, the web was not dominated by any particular company or set of companies. Many start-ups came and went as they tried to recreate real-world services for an online audience and received significant venture capital funding (prior to the 2000 Dot Com crash).

However, Web 1.0 was slow and primitive by modern standards. It was centred around static websites with limited functionality and didn’t include many of the multimedia, cybersecurity, or usability features, which are common in today’s websites. It rarely invited user input and was mostly a one-way information highway between web publishers and consumers. Web 2.0 marked the transition to the internet we know today. Web 2.0 websites had better interaction between users through social media and dynamic content. They also leveraged improvements in data transfer speeds to build multimedia sites and reliable video streaming, sending more traffic across the internet than ever before. More than anything else, the Web 2.0 era was defined by the growth of mega-platforms which dominate most of the online services we use every day. From Alphabet, for search and video, Netflix, for films and television, or Facebook (and its subsidiaries), for social media and messaging, several large (predominantly Silicon Valleybased) technology companies have grown to become the core foundation of the internet. Even websites not related to these tech giants often rely on their tools, leading to a ubiquitous presence across the online world. For Web3, the goal could be described as taking the technology advancements of Web 2.0 to new levels while restoring the decentralisation commonly associated with Web 1.0. Web3 advocates imagine an internet where payments are driven by ‘Decentralised Finance’ (DeFi)

principles underpinned by cryptocurrencies instead of companies like Paypal or Mastercard. Rather than large social media companies built on the advertising revenues, Web3 social media websites would be hosted in a distributed way in blockchains stored on users’ computers, with the resulting tokens required to log in and contribute. Even more ambitiously, concepts such as ‘Decentralised Autonomous Organisations’ (DAOs), where organisational rules and voting is hardwired into blockchain code, would allow large groups of people to coordinate with trust in virtual, leaderless collectives; and aspire to replace large corporations and other real-world legal bodies. As you can tell by now, it is an understatement to suggest that Web3 is intrinsically interlinked with the blockchain community. The term itself was coined by Gavin Wood, the founder of the ‘Polkadot open-source blockchain project’, which focuses on distributed computing. Web3 visionaries tend to overlap pretty closely with cryptocurrency enthusiasts, including those who dabble in ‘non-fungible tokens’ (NFTs), a framework for verifying digital asset ownership and a breakout trend of the 2021 crypto economy. Outside those circles, the reception of Web3 in the broader technology world has been mixed. Some venture capitalists, such as prominent investors and Andreessen Horowitz partner, Chris Dixon, have been highly optimistic and complementary of Web3’s potential to revolutionise the internet (and make a lot of

money for early adopters). Others like Twitter’s former CEO, Jack Dorsey, have been far more sceptical, with the latter referring to it as “ultimately a centralised entity with a different label”. Paypal co-founder and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, (in)famous for his support of ambitious projects, has also dismissed Web3 as “more marketing than reality”. There is certainly plenty to question in the hype around Web3. It appears that many current Web3 services are not actually decentralised. They rely on centralised platforms to provide adequate user experiences. This point was eloquently laid out in an article by Signal messaging app founder, Matthew Rosenfeld, titled ‘My first impressions of Web3’. Furthermore, there are significant questions around the suitability of blockchain, a technology built around principles of permanence and non-erasure, for use cases where you may want to edit and modify actions easily, such as social media. More importantly, however, adoption has been limited so far. Some estimates place the number of active cryptocurrency users (by far the most popular aspect of the Web3 services) at around 100 million people, significantly below the userbases of previous iterations of the web. It remains debatable whether most users actually value decentralisation to the point of moving away from the services they use every day. This will be the key question in determining whether Web3 is a passing fad or a transformative movement shaping the future of the internet.

What’s ‘neo’ about neo-colonialism? The West Papuan independence Movement: forgotten sovereignty By Izzy Hamer

hen looking at the United Nations (UN) list of Nonself-governing territories, the number seventeen might make you wonder, is that really it? And you wouldn’t be wrong. Whilst decolonisation began for many states in the 1960s, nations such as West Papua, sidelined from the nonaligned movement, were left behind – and are still ignored in discussions of neo-colonialism. West Papua is an island province of Indonesia, located next to Papua New Guinea, with one key difference to its neighbour: it never escaped colonial rule. In 1962, the “Act of Choice” referendum formalised Indonesia’s control over the territory post-Dutch Occupation. With the UN excluded from the electoral process, 1000 hand selected West Papuans voted on behalf of the entire population. Unsurprisingly, the vote was unanimous. Despite later accusations of voting coercion– it fulfilled the UN requirements and responsibilities of the agreement, and West Papua joined the Republic. The referendum constructed the subsequent history of grievance between Indonesia and West Papua – defined by lacking self-determination, racial discrimination, and accusations of structural violence and human rights abuses. The UN Human Rights Office published a statement expressing concern over the violence in the region, stating: “Military and security forces have been reinforced in the region and there have been repeated reports of extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force, arrest and continuous harassment and intimidation of protesters and human rights defenders”. In 2018, an orchestrated attack occurred after the controversial construction of the Trans-Papua highway by the National Liberal Army of West Papua, leaving 55

seventeen civilians and Indonesia military personnel killed. Since the attack, military presence increased in Nduga – where the attack occurred, displacing thousands of civilians. Following this, backlash amounted to a series of mass protests against the Government to regain civil action in the region. In 2019, some footage was shared through social media of Indonesian soldiers racially abusing Papuan University students protesting the Government, in which forty-three students were arrested. Riots and protests erupted through the cities of Manokwari and Jayapura, waving the West Papuan nationalist morning star flag, a banned symbol, which is an act punishable by a fifteen-year jail sentence. Protests sparked again in July of 2021 in response to the renewal and amendment of the controversial special autonomy law. Human rights groups in the region have stated that this may lead to “further marginalization and militarization in the region.” The additions to the law were instated on the grounds of ensuring affirmative action in local politics, as well as boosting funding to healthcare and education and ensuring that the proceeds from the oil and gas sector are directed to fund projects in the region. However, West Papuans have characterised the law as a way for Indonesia to increase its grip on the territory. TAPOL, a UK based human rights group, has brought focus to Article 76, stating that the law will enable further division in the region. Before the law was enacted, students of the University of Cendrawish in Jayapura protested the law, leading to twenty-three arrests. Clashes with West Papua and increased militarisation have continued to be influenced by the economic incentive of the abundant natural resources in the region, which Indigenous West Papuans have declared as harmful for their communities and environment. The $100 billion West Papuan Freeport Grasberg mine is one of the largest reserves in the world of copper and gold and is currently Indonesia’s biggest taxpayer. The mine has brought massive profit – but displaced the local Kamora and Amungme West Papuans of their land. Both groups have described the mine as a threat to their livelihood. Through environmental degradation, the mine has caused diseases, poverty, and oppression since its opening in 1973. The Kamora chief, Hironimus Urmani,

in Tipuka, a down-river village of the mine, said: “We are coastal people, and we depend on the environment,” yet, the trailing sediments from the mine have raised the riverbed, suffocating fish and other aquatic creatures by which the Kamoro economy and diet is customarily based upon. Lacking sources of sustainable income have furthermore been exacerbated by the Indonesian Government’s Transmigration scheme, which has introduced outsiders into West Papuans’ lands. As said by Urmani: “We need to earn money. But now we face major competition from nonPapuan migrants.” Reconciliation attempts have been made by the Indonesia Government. In 2017, President Widodo offered to dialogue about the problems in the region. But leaders of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua rejected his offer, stating it was too late. As described by John Martinkus, author of Paradise Betrayed: West Papua’s struggle for Independence, the nation is “another East Timor waiting to happen” except this time, the likelihood of Australian intervention remains null. In 2014, Indonesia and Australia forged the Lombok Treaty - a bilateral security agreement, which essentially strains any possible Australian intervention in the region even when violence likely escalates. Whilst Jean-Paul Sartre’s ‘neo-colonialism’ is used primarily about the African continent, looking at West Papua’s plight for sovereignty, it poses the question of what neocolonialism really looks like? Or perhaps these nations, in which many Indigenous people live, fell between the cracks of decolonisation, and the International community is only now starting to acknowledge their struggles. To support the West Papuan Independence movement or find out more information, visit freewestpapua.org.

it never escaped colonial rule

The Signs, Summaries and Predictions Summaries: Holly Carter Turner. Predictions: Abbey Durant Illustrations by Sally Thomas

Aries

(May 21 – June 21)

February predictions: Planetary placements suggest financial and academic successes for Aries going into the new year. February brings opportunities to work on professional endeavours, but also balance a social life.

February predictions: Gemini’s tensions arise in the beginning months of the new year. But fear not! February presents an opportunity for adventure and broadening your horizons. Take time to think about alternative ways to achieve your goals.

Aries are often some of the strongest people you’ll meet. This is one of their best and worst traits. They can struggle to express their feelings properly, which can cause them to seem too extreme or jaded about their emotions. You‘ll know they’re feeling something, but what it is is often a mystery.

Geminis are social shapeshifters that are very good at figuring out the social dynamics of their environment. This ability to adapt often gives them a reputation for being two-faced. For them to grow, they need to learn to turn their brain off of warp speed, so others can better follow their thoughts and give them inputs they might not have considered.

Taurus

Cancer

(April 20 – May 20)

(June 22 – July 22)

February predictions: The stars align to predict good financial fortune this coming month! Be wary, and slow down regarding work responsibilities and self-care. Pay attention to details particularly.

February Predictions: A full moon in your sign last month illuminates a good time to connect with family and others. This month may have brought in a new opportunity regarding love and/or friendship.

Have you ever tried to push a wall over? That’s how it can feel to debate with this sign.Taurus, remember this can be exhausting, sometimes people want to be able to think freely without having to reason everything. For friends of Taurus, if in doubt, distract them with food or a good philosophical riddle. This usually works. 58

Gemini

(March 21 – April 19)

Cancers have a reputation for being very maternal/paternal, known to be home makers, and give good support to their loved ones and community. Good parents, know sometimes your darling angel is in the wrong, and the better a Cancer is at assessing who is really accountable the better off they’ll be.

Leo

Libra

(July 23 – August 22)

(September 23 – October 23)

February Predictions: January’s theme for you was getting your health and wellbeing in order. In February, don’t be afraid to slow down and take more time to appreciate the people and things that comprise your daily life, such as coworkers or classmates.

February Predictions: February is a great opportunity to get more in tune with emotional clarity, self-care, and harmony in relationships as Mars is present in your sign. Balancing rest and projects you are passionate about will be good for you this month.

Leos always has a trait that is intense, so it can be hit or miss whether you’ll love them or hate them depending on how this trait is expressed. Younger Leos may come across as a little self-absorbed, but if they grow out of this, they can be some of the most caring, generous people you’ll ever meet.

Libras try to make decisions based on calculation and logic. It is very rare they will ever leap without taking a long-considered look to see what’s at the bottom. As they age, they need to learn how to trust their initial gut response.

Virgo

Scorpio

(August 23 – September 22)

(October 24 – November 21)

February Predictions: The recent full moon was in your sign! Whether organisation to you means rearranging your home, making solid plans with friends, or organising your major events and commitments for the year, make sure to embrace the spontaneity of life as you begin to settle into a new year (such as a cheeky trip to the Tav?).

February Predictions: You should explore and employ problem solving skills in your home and professional life. February suggests continued enjoyment in your personal relationships, but be wary of communication issues continuing until midMarch.

Virgos like being the best, but it’s more for their own self-worth than for others. It is hard to understand how someone can be so self-conscious and self-confident at the same time. They need to make sure they keep a dynamic foundation because their place at the top will be undone if they’re caught without an answer when people expect them to have one.

Scorpios feel like “God Fathers”. Stay on their good side and enjoy the perks, get on their bad side and …. They can be a little blinded by ambition, so they need to make sure they constantly check in with themselves and their environment.

Sagitarius

(January 20 – February 18)

February Predictions: Mercury in retrograde may have affected your communication and relationships, but you have continued strength in your ability to form meaningful connections wherever you go.

February Predictions: Mercury is in retrograde in your sign for half of the month. You may experience setbacks and frustrations but coming out of this period is a great time for reflection, artistic practice, and vulnerability.

They often love to be the life of the party, while this can be very fun it could also be at the expense of other people’s turn in the spotlight. They are often leaders in their own friendship groups, but this doesn’t always mean they are the best person to lead. A wise Sagittarius will use this power to give spotlight to the person who actually knows the answer.

Capricorn

They seem to be desperate to be free of labels except for ones they have self-assigned. If you stick them with a label, they won’t like that. A mature Aquarius will hear you out and ask how they can change. An immature Aquarius will go out and collect other opinions until they hear what they want. This can be dangerous if they don’t challenge their beliefs.

Pisces

(December 22 – January 19)

(February 19 – March 20)

Predictions: February is a great chance to get on top of your responsibilities and work on your set goals for the year. Now is a good time to think critically about professional choices and pathways.

February Predictions: The planetary placements suggest you are suppressing your feelings perhaps in regard to a romantic opportunity where you are giving off mixed signals. February is your opportunity to present your sensitive side more whilst still taking time for yourself.

Their goal? Be their best. A supportive Capricorn will be an amazing motivator and are really good at helping you reach your goals. A more self-orientated Capricorn can be a force to watch out for as sometimes in their climb to the top they don’t look at who they’re using as a ladder.

Aquarius

(November 21 – December 21)

For the first interaction, it can feel like you’re trying to escape Limbo as they decide whether you are friend or foe. They are very in tune with their gut and can be incredibly good at giving advice. However, if they are too proud to see their own flaws, it will throw their gut off balance, and they may come across as being too judgemental and having a large ego.

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SUB-EDITORS ARTS – Emma Horak & Abigail Macleod ASTROLOGY – Holly Carter-Turner & Abbey Durrant CAMPUS AFFAIRS – Jelena Kovacevic & Justine Cerna COMEDY – David Paik & Amanda Winton

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DIVERSITY – Crystal Ngo & Isabella Pietropaolo Fashion – Perry Caswell & Christina Lopez-Mathew FILM – Lewis Orr & Erika Ng ECONOMICS AND FINANCE – Neha Bolla & Brando Arimborgo LIFESTYLE – May Tia Loo & Angela Aris LITERATURE – Cleo Robins & Luoyang Chen MUSIC – Vivienne Chester & Morgan Maruthiah POLITICS – Izzy Hamer & Maggie Leung SPORTS – Matthew Moroney & Libby Caldwell

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SCIENCE – Lilly Litchfield & Tarryn Basden TECHNOLOGY AND GAMING – Ahmed Suliman & Tremaine Noel