Thai Food By Jake Phillips

Thai Food

Jake Phillips

My grandma, Yai, cooks the best Thai food. She was born in the 1950s in the province of Petchaburi, during a period of peace. Traditional cuisine was well-evolved and varied regionally. Yai learned to cook from her mother and other women in the family, eventually inheriting the kitchen responsibilities to save her mum from work. When she matured, she found her way to my grandfather’s heart through his stomach, so my mum says because he left another woman to start a family with her.

My grandfather, Da, quickly became fat, then slowly obese over the years. He was also a smoker, one pack a day, and the poor lifestyle caused an early health decline, heart disease, and finally, death when I was about fifteen. The day before Christmas, we got a call in Australia to say goodbye. My mum and I were closest to him, so we left immediately on a plane for Thailand, unknowingly leaving our entire lives behind.

When we got there, Da made a slight recovery but then rapidly sickened after brief hope. Most of the family got a chance to say goodbye, but I never truly did. Instead, my teenage self was empty and confused because I loved him dearly for his big smile, his kindness, and for how funny he was. One time, he rescued me from a daddy-long-legs spider, grabbed it carefully in his hands, and pretended to eat it, to my horror, then let it go. At heart, he was a gentle trickster, unafraid to be playful, and to laugh with a heavy chuckle before it turned into a severe coughing fit. Yai’s fussing and dieting with him soon became too late.

Da’s funeral was held traditionally at a temple, and we grieved for three days over his displayed body. Many relatives came from the country’s farthest regions to pay their respects. Some old divides within the family were healed but later revived through the emotional turbulence of the week, stoked by the intense gossiping that Thai women are known infamously for. On the fourth day, the body was cremated. The smoke was black, thick, and smelled unusual to us. Monks paraded with brightly coloured strings around the temple and chanted prayers for Da’s soul and our family. Some of the rituals seemed superstitious, out of touch with the modern Buddhism of my temple-going days in Australia.

After Da’s death, we stayed in Thailand for two more years without any real plan to support my grieving grandmother and uncle. Yai established a new purpose by cooking for us, and she became graceful, providing a matriarch figure that our family needed. She cooked in her little kitchen under a dim light, labouring over a gas bottle in the heat to make our favourite dishes. Mine was Khao Khluk Kapi, a sweet and savoury

dish, shrimp paste infused rice with slices of chewy sweet pork sausage, shredded sour green mango, and a chopped omelette with bright red chillies on top. Every mouthful was spicy, sweet, salty, and sour. It’s still my favourite, though I’ve never seen it outside of Thailand, except when my mum makes it.

I’m back in Australia now and all grown up, or somewhere close. A plush orangutan reminds me of Da every night while I’m in bed; the big round face, jutted lip, and one dipped eye are the spitting image to my memory. When I was younger, I’d imagine Da watching over me, snooping about in puzzlement with how odd I was. Now, since I’ve associated him with little orange Xylo, I like to think he’s always here and has gotten used to me.

By writing this, I choose to remember who Da was to me. Not defined by his gravest mistakes, nor glamorised in death, but a reconciled and distant image of a decent man. A regular, old, wonderful grandfather, deserving of remembrance, left behind a sweet little old lady who is still pottering on and well overdue for my visit. So take a moment, if you will, to consider your heritage and family, how they brought you to where you are, and what your country means to you.

Your Guide to the Ukraine-Russia Crisis

Izzy Hamer and Maggie Leung

The biggest headline circulating the news these weeks draws on the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Read below for answers to some of your hot questions about what’s happening in that sphere.

Was Ukraine part of Russia?

Ukraine and Russia were both part of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) which consisted of fifteen countries. In the final years of the Soviet Union, its last leader Mikhail Gorbachev had failed to bring proper social and international reforms. Frustrations from both internal and external bodies had drawn the independence declaration of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. In 1991, an agreement was made, followed by more independence announcements from different USSR countries, including Ukraine. Following the resignation of Gorbachev, the Soviet Union collapsed.

Is the war a one-night stand?

In the past two decades, tensions have been brewing. In 2013, Russia and Ukraine were in discussion towards a Russian-Ukraine trade action plan by which Russia would purchase $15 billion worth of Ukrainian Eurobonds and the cost of Russian oil purchased by Ukraine would be lowered. The desired goal was to foster closer relations through trade. Mass protest against the agreement in Ukraine led to the then president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, not signing the agreement. Subsequently, in 2014, Russia invaded Crimea. This has been a border flashpoint within Eastern Europe - violating sovereignty and International Law. A similar line of logic and ethos has been evoked by Putin to the invasion of Ukraine, despite its freely elected Government, backdropped against US and NATO involvement in Ukraine supporting democracy and Western liberalism within the Government. Russia’s invasion of Crimea was not its first occurrence of invasion in postsoviet states, with its prior intervention in the early 2000s against democratic uprisings in the post-soviet states of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and priorly Ukraine. Based on Russia’s patterns in foreign policy, the power and security contests, and ideological challenge - tensions were rising, and action was bound to happen.

Why did Putin start a war?

Due to the accumulation of tensions in recent years, the Russian army entered Ukraine on February 24th. The invasion can be reasoned from various perspectives. First, Putin observed that his country is under external and ideological threats, specifically from Western Liberalism. He holds a strong belief that Ukraine and Russia are one people.

How is the world responding to the event?

Across the globe, there have been mixed responses regarding action - inaction and support. Germany, staunch in exercising soft power and peace through diplomacy, is sending lethal weapons to support Ukrainian resistance. Similar action has been committed by the US, EU, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Australia has committed to sending weapons, humanitarian aid, and 70,000 tonnes of coal to Ukraine - as a strong ally of the US backing their operation. Action from the UN thus far has consisted of the International Court of Justice ordering Russia to “immediately suspend” military operations in Ukraine. However, the verdict from the ICJ is not binding, the UN has no means of enforcing its rulings, and thus the UN’s action is limited. Furthermore, as a member of the Permanent five of the Security Council, the resolution to globally block Russia’s invasion has been vetoed by Russia. Currently, China has abstained from voting on UN security resolutions regarding the invasion due to the US Congress warning of Chinese military aid to Russia and limited economic measures - there is no supporting evidence of this.

However, the most forthright action is the Western economic iron curtain against Russia through the sanctioning of the Russian Central Bank. As the producer of 12% of the world’s oil, a key player in OPEC, and the core supplier of many of the world’s minerals, Europe, particularly in the past, has been hesitant on mass sanctioning Russia. However, through Initiatives such as Nord Stream 2’s re-branching of the global energy distribution, sanctioning Russian exports and industries were further considered as the escalation of the invasion rose. The US has banned all Russian oil imports, the UK will phase out Russian oil by 2023, and the EU is committed to switching to alternative energy supplies from Russia by 2030. Furthermore, as reliant on many imported goods and components for production in the oil and gas and manufacturing industries, production will soon halter, resulting in business shut down and an increase in unemployment - all further exacerbated through Russia’s exclusion from the global financial system. Western states, including the US, UK, and EU have frozen assets of the Russian Central bank, preventing its use of its $630 billion of foreign currency. Most prominently, Russian banks have been sanctioned from the SWIFT international financial messaging system - used to transfer billions of dollars daily throughout banks and financial systems globally. This has resulted in the doubling of interest rates, crushing Russian industry, particularly oil, rising unemployment, soaring inflation, and thus eroding the savings of Russian citizens.

In regard to Australia’s response, 4000 visas have been issued to Ukrainian refugees with Medicare access and the right to work and study - a drastic contrast to Australia’s treatment of refugees from other countries.

What could this mean for global politics going forward?

Is there really going to be a WWIII? Or are we already in WWIII? Beyond the political significance of the unprecedented barring of Russia from SWIFT - the possible greater acceleration of the conflict to inter-state war is simmering through NATO’s stationing of troops within NATO states bordering Russian and Ukrainian countries. NATO (Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization), is a military alliance formed between twelve states postWWII in 1949 with the prerogative to counter Soviet expansion in Europe, with key players including the US, UK, Canada, and France. Whilst NATO has sent no troops to Ukraine as it is not a NATO state, and it has imposed a no-fly zone over Ukraine. A majority of NATO states have been supplying military equipment to Ukraine. The US alone has already supplied $550 million in weapons, with a further committed $1 billion security aid package. NATO has stated it will not send troops within the state to prevent mass conflict with Russia and nuclear threats. However, its actions have resulted in Putin placing the state’s nuclear forces on “special alert” based on the “aggressive statements” by Western states. The alliance already has troops positioned through Estonian, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania, and Poland since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. With the onset of the current crisis, more troops and naval and air force capabilities are being positioned in this region.

A recurring refugee crisis…

The conflict has been devastating for Ukrainians, with a reported more than 3 million citizens fleeing since the onset of the invasion. A majority of refugees have fled to Poland at approximately 2 million refugees, followed by Romania, Moldova, and Hungary. The EU announced that Ukrainian citizens would be entitled to the temporary protection directive, enabling them to live, work, or study within EU member states for three years. In regard to Australia’s response, 4000 visas have been issued to Ukrainian refugees with Medicare access and the right to work and study - a drastic contrast to Australia’s treatment of refugees from other countries.

The crisis stands as a significant turning point for International Relations: are we at the end of the post-cold war? As the invasion further unfolds, what we need to remember at its core: is the millions who have been displaced and the globally coordinated humanitarian action needed to support those displaced globally due to conflict.

The Signs, Summaries and Predictions

Summaries: Holly Carter Turner. Predictions: Abbey Durant Illustrations by Sally Thomas

April is here, meaning the sky is growing darker, and so are the bags under my eyes as I crawl through mid-semester assignments. The key influences of April are communication, connection, and problem-solving. Venus in Pisces (April 6th - May 2nd) will aid the signs in communicating with friends and Family. Mercury in Aries (March 27th - April 11th) will bring about spontaneity and opportunity for original ideas. Mars in Aquarius (March 6th - April 15) will assist with organisation and finding loyalty.

Aries (Ram)

(March 21 – April 19)

In March it was said that you may be feeling stuck in the planning phase and unsure about your next step. April brings a boost of mental energy, which will help you make a decision and start working towards your goals. It is a month of training, discipline, and self-confidence, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. You can work hard and allow yourself to rest when you need to.

Gemini (Twins)

(May 21 – June 21)

A is for April as A is for Argumentative. Your need to have the final say will be strong and could end up pushing away those you care about. March was about breaking free of restraints, and April is where you finally reflect on how those restraints may have been burdening you. Feeling exhausted, your fuse will be short, which could lead to turning everything into an argument. It will be hard but try to hold your tongue (at least with those you really care about).

Taurus (Bull)

(April 20 – May 20)

April’s energy for Taurus focuses on relationships, particularly the romantic sort. While you will be feeling more spontaneous (and perhaps sexual), it will be a time for contemplation and reflection of things you hadn’t considered previously. It is also a month for helping you feel more physically confident. To balance the two, maybe get in the habit of nice meditative runs by Matilda bay?

Cancer (Crab)

(June 22 – July 22)

The next month brings high levels of emotions for Cancers, as they work on thinking things over and being less impulsive. It is a month for working on self-grounding, improving communication, and empathetic skills. Make sure that while you are working inwards, you aren’t shutting people out. Continue to work creatively as it will help to ground you.

Leo (Lion)

(July 23 – August 22)

March had you breaking bad habits, and now April has Leos wanting to feel free to explore and prowl the town. Awakening your inner… animal… This is a good month to reflect on your independence and sexuality. While it will bring about fun and excitement, actions do have consequences, so make sure you aren’t doing things you will later regret.

Last month was heavy, and Virgos may now be feeling in need of some T.L.C. While it may be tempting to cave to the craving and cling to everyone/everything you love, relax. Those that truly love you aren’t going anywhere. April brings new opportunities and enthusiasm for connection. Things will form at their own pace. Try not to rush them. Language is highlighted this month as you work on communication and the courage to speak out and stand out amongst a crowd. April will be a more positive month for Libras, and familial relations will also improve. Continue your keenness to learn but enjoy family time (remembering family isn’t just those linked by blood).

Libra (Balance)

(September 23 – October 23)

Virgo (Virgin)

(August 23 – September 22)

Scorpio (Scorpion)

(October 24 – November 21)

It is a conflicting month for Scorpios, as you feel restless and full of energy, but there will be a sense of boredom that may make you feel sluggish. Following a somewhat heavy March, you may not quite be feeling yourself again yet. Take this month to gather engaging hobbies as you figure out who you want to be.

Sagitarius (Archer)

Aquarius (Water Bearer)

(November 21 – December 21) (January 20 – February 18)

According to the planets’, paternal/maternal instincts are strong for you this month as you focus on looking after your children. Being uni students most of you won’t have kids yet, so perhaps take a fresher under your wing and show them the ropes? Use these intuitions to better look after yourself, your friends, and your family. Your self-esteem will grow as April progresses, which can be both good and bad. Developing a good opinion of yourself can be an important part of success, but knowing when to be humble is just as significant. This confidence boost may find yourself enjoying some time in the limelight, but be aware that the longer you stay there, the more jealous peers and coworkers may become.

Capricorn (Goat)

(December 22 – January 19)

This is another month of work for Capricorns. As you continue to feel motivated, work will continue to chug along steadily. Cooperation and coordination will be strong suits for you this month, so use this to your advantage to set up new networks and systems. Coordination will also help you maintain a proper work-life balance, which isn’t always a strong suit.

Pisces (Fish)

(February 19 – March 20)

Your mind is a sponge this month and can absorb a large amount of information. This will help you to improve communication, which may bring temptation to use it to manipulate others. As your head absorbs knowledge, don’t get big-headed. Just because you are learning new things doesn’t mean you know the most.